“Is that true?”

Sever’s voice was excessively unstable.

His trembling voice seemed precarious, loaded with every emotion imaginable.

For me, who had only ever seen him appear cold enough that not a drop of blood would come out if pricked with a needle, this was a face I’d never seen before.

No, could anyone in this world make him show such an expression?

‘Surely not.’

I automatically assumed his shock was due to the black magic.

Whether that was true or not didn’t matter.

What mattered was that I believed it, and that it was the most logical and reasonable conclusion.

“Then, will Your Majesty wake—”

“That’s difficult for now. She regains consciousness occasionally, but she’s mostly asleep.”

“……”

“Estria cannot meet anyone right now.”

“Can she wake up?”

“Who knows. That’s why I’m here—to solve this.”

“……”

“So, will you reveal this to the outside?”

At Lerrhagen’s question, Sever’s lips tightened. His face remained filled with shock.

However, the emotions flashing across his cold face indicated he was slowly regaining his composure.

Looking at Sever’s face, I sighed deeply.

The situation had deviated significantly from my plan, leaving me confused, but I couldn’t intervene now.

I couldn’t understand why Sever was reacting so strongly, but I simply attributed it to his chivalrous spirit.

Again, whether this was true or not didn’t matter.

Everything would make sense if not for the fact that learning I had lost consciousness due to black magic had disturbed Sever Kelliard so much.

‘Given the circumstances.’

I bit my lip slightly.

Although the plan had gone awry, seeing Sever’s reaction, it didn’t seem completely ruined.

After thinking it through, I spoke.

“Someone attacked Mother’s room a few days ago.”

Sever flinched at my sudden voice. He narrowed his eyes again and coldly muttered.

“Who was it?”

“The person I recently announced as my first brother. He attacked Mother’s room. And behind him must be the one who made Mother like this.”

“You mean the intruder—”

“Yes, I accepted him. Mother wanted it that way. She said he was bait sent by the enemy. How could we not take the bait?”

“…Such recklessness.”

“Mother was always reckless.”

“Princess.”

“If she hadn’t been reckless, she wouldn’t have become emperor. I think the Duke knows that better than anyone.”

How many people in history had purged their siblings to become emperor?

It was a throne literally gained through blood, without power struggles or elaborate schemes.

I had to bear the weight of that blood, and that was the price for my power.

Sever stared at me quietly, his thoughts unknown in response to my words.

When I met him in the past, I was older than I am now, and he didn’t know my face from when I was six or seven, so I wasn’t worried he would see through my identity.

However,

“You can tell the outside world that Mother was affected by black magic. But if you do, this empire you love will instantly become everyone’s target.”

“……”

“What will you do?”

By now, even Sever Kelliard should understand.

Sure enough, Sever’s eyes twitched. Soon, he looked at Lerrhagen and spoke.

“Is this why you granted me an audience today? To investigate black magic?”

“This wasn’t Estria’s original plan. You know she distrusts you. But we didn’t expect you to recognize the puppet magic.”

“……”

“I won’t comment on the consequences of your own actions, but I will say this: the choice is yours.”

Lerrhagen’s voice had subtly changed from before.

It still had that low, resonant quality, but his tone seemed to strangely attack Sever.

Sever remained silent at Lerrhagen’s words.

I maintained a tense expression.

I didn’t know how Sever would react. Even if he agreed here, I couldn’t know how he might betray us outside. However, for now—

“I understand.”

That’s when it happened.

Sever spoke, “I will investigate the black magic.”

“Ah, and about Mother’s condition—”

“Your Majesty’s well-being is crucial for the empire’s stability. Don’t worry, Princess. However…”

“…?”

“Starting today, I’ll return not only to the Knight Order but also to the Senate.”

Sever’s answer was cleaner than I expected.

Given his character, this choice wasn’t particularly strange, but nevertheless, his earlier reaction had been somewhat unexpected, making me feel uneasy.

But still.

“If rumors about Mother’s condition spread, Father will never let it slide.”

Though childish in tone, it was a n*ked threat.

At my words, Sever smiled bitterly.

“Before that, I won’t let it slide.”

“……”

“One mistake is enough.”

I didn’t know what mistake he meant.

However, Sever had agreed to investigate the black magic, and I was somewhat relieved by that fact.

‘But how did he recognize that it wasn’t me?’

If he had simply read the flow of magic, he should have also detected my magic flow beside Lerrhagen and realized I was Estria.

But that didn’t seem to be the case.

‘Perhaps there’s another reason.’

Of course, there was no answer.

* * *

“That was too reckless!”

After the audience, Sever returned to the Knight Order.

As soon as he left, I went to the garden with Lerrhagen and immediately confronted him.

“Even if he saw through the puppet magic, how could you speak so carelessly?”

At my sharp voice, Hasis, who had been waiting for us, approached with surprised eyes and lowered himself beside me.

“What’s wrong? Did something go wrong?”

“Sever found out I was affected by black magic. Of course, he doesn’t know I turned into a child; he just thinks I lost consciousness due to black magic.”

“What?”

“And this dragon is the one who told him.”

Hasis naturally turned his gaze in the direction my index finger was pointing.

He looked at Lerrhagen’s indifferent expression at the end of my finger, and seeming to grasp the situation, he touched his forehead.

“Master.”

“Was there a better solution in that situation?”

I flinched at Lerrhagen’s calm words. In the end, I bit my lip tightly and turned my head with a “tch.” Yes, I knew it too – Lerrhagen had made the best choice in that situation. And honestly, the method I had in mind wasn’t much different from his.

‘I was going to say I was away dealing with a black magic attack.’ But in reality, this excuse was only a temporary measure. Knowing this made me even angrier – angry at my own predicament that made such a situation inevitable.

Hasis looked at me and sighed deeply with a “hmm.” He watched me carefully before speaking. “But the fact that you came to the garden means it was resolved well, right?”

“For now. Whether it’s truly well resolved remains to be seen.”

“Then it’s fine. Did the Duke promise to keep the secret?”

“Yes. But who knows, just in case.” I bit my lip again, and a metallic taste spread from my lips.

“…Yes, given Sever’s character, he’s someone who keeps his word.” If he had a treacherous personality, I wouldn’t have thought of using him for the investigation. However, a good outcome doesn’t negate the risk Lerrhagen took. But since I was also planning to take a reckless gamble, I eventually cooled down.

“I’m sorry for getting upset.”

At my words, Lerrhagen raised an eyebrow. “Was that being upset?”

“But still, give me some warning next time.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“……”

Well, at least he didn’t refuse – at least he said he’d think about it. If there’s one thing I regret in my life, it’s being born human. In my next life, I should definitely be born as a different species and become their leader. But I had the ominous feeling that even in my next life, Lerrhagen would still look the same.

Hasis patted my shoulder, seeming to understand my expression. We were rarely forming an unnecessary bond of sympathy in the face of Lerrhagen’s character.

“By the way, I didn’t expect Sever to react like that. Honestly, he’s the type to jump in if a citizen was attacked, but to react so strongly when told I was attacked…”

“……”

“He never even acknowledged me. I didn’t think he hated black magic enough to get angry about what happened to me.”

I finally changed the subject.

At my question, Lerrhagen slightly narrowed his brow, then suddenly asked an out-of-nowhere question.

“Did you ever tell Sever you wanted a dragon’s head when you were young?”

“…What are you talking about now?”

“You didn’t?”

Like I would be crazy enough to covet a dragon’s head.

Lerrhagen’s questions were always random, but this one was particularly absurd.

However, Hasis seemed to notice something, making a strange expression before asking me:

“Hey, is that Duke really your enemy?”

“Of course. Though there’s a princess now, if I die, the throne will go to Duke Sever according to national law. I’m the only royal bloodline left in the empire.”

“No, I mean, does he really hate you?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then what about you? Do you hate him too?”

This time, the answer didn’t come immediately. Soon, I smiled slightly.

“Of course.”

Hasis narrowed his eyes at my answer.

Then he nodded and stood up.

I sighed deeply. Still, I had obtained Sever’s agreement.

Given Sever’s character, he would search for the culprit with burning determination if black magic was involved.

He mentioned returning to the Senate—that must also be because of the black magic.

He probably thought that my being attacked was connected to the nobles.

However,

‘I didn’t expect him to show such an intense reaction.’