For some time now, Dana had been the one to start Yuena’s mornings. It was a task she’d somehow ended up with after Tilla was imprisoned, and since there had been no objections, it naturally became her responsibility.

After doing it for a while, she’d gotten the hang of it, and it wasn’t particularly difficult work, so she had no complaints whatsoever. In fact, she was even pleased—it felt like proof that she could be trusted with this much at least.

‘It’s convenient that Miss wakes up late. I wonder if she’s up yet?’

Dana carefully opened the door, carrying a towel and washbasin. Click—the sound echoed through the room. The interior was still dark, the curtains not yet drawn. First, she’d set the washbasin on the table……

Huh.

Dana, who’d been heading toward the nearby table, stopped dead after only a few steps. An unexpected figure had caught her eye.

“Uh, um……”

She froze for a moment, then opened her mouth to give a morning greeting, but Iophe, who was leaning against the headboard, raised his hand and went, “Shh.”

Dana closed her mouth and nodded. Then, without realizing it, she backed out of the room. She was still holding the washbasin she’d meant to set down. Standing in front of the door for a while, rolling her eyes, Dana thought:

……When am I supposed to go back in?

If Tilla had been here, she would’ve given a clear answer. Dana let out a small sigh at her own clumsy service.

❀ ❀ ❀

The Yuena that Iophe knew wasn’t like this. She’d been the type to act as if she’d forgotten everything soon after, no matter what happened—like when she’d swallowed that poisonous plant not long ago.

But not this time.

‘What on earth happened that day she went to town?’

The face that had cried all night long came to mind every time he blinked. If she’d at least wailed out loud, it wouldn’t feel this suffocating. She wouldn’t tell him what was wrong but just let tears fall, burning him up inside.

‘She hasn’t done anything since that day.’

All she does is hole up in her room, killing time.

‘This is killing me.’

He’d thought so many times that it would be nice if Yuena would just stay quiet, but now that he was experiencing it, nothing was more agonizing. He’d rather she secretly cause trouble like before. Iophe bit his lip as he scrawled his signature on the documents in front of him.

“Marcel.”

“Yes?”

“Go out and get some cookies.”

“What? Cookies? Did you just say cookies?”

Iophe Hertus looking for cookies……? Marcel wondered if he was hearing things and pinched his own cheek. Iophe muttered without taking his eyes off the documents.

“Yeah. Those ones that look like cat tongues. She likes the ones from specialty shops.”

She likes things just like herself. He’d thought so before, and his opinion hadn’t changed now.

“Cat tongues…… Langues de chat?”

“I think that was the name. No, I’m certain. That’s it, so get those.”

Marcel’s face went blank as he rolled his eyes, and in that brief moment, Iophe, growing impatient, stood up.

“Never mind. I’ll go myself. I need to head out now.”

“N-now? But there’s still so much left for you to review by today!”

Whatever. Iophe grabbed his coat and put it on.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Miss……”

“……I don’t want to do anything.”

“But you still need to eat……”

I had no appetite. What difference would it make if I ate this today? It would be no use at all. It wouldn’t affect my ending in the slightest. When I put down my spoon, Dana, standing before me, pleaded.

“The chef put in special effort, you know.”

She kept chattering on. I tasted it myself, and it’s amazing. Especially this soup. It’s incredibly savory with cream and beef, and the vegetables inside are fantastic too. Also……

While I listened to Dana’s soup hymn with one ear and let it out the other, Juan knocked from afar. When I gave casual permission with a hand gesture, I saw him enter carrying a tray. I slumped against the chair like melted ice cream and stared at him.

“What is it……”

“Urgent news from the capital.”

“For me……?”

Father again? There’s no one else who would know I’m here besides Father. I slowly opened the envelope. The very first page of the letter bore the seal of the imperial court.

‘Not Father. The imperial court…… Then is it about Berta’s lawsuit?’

News like Alfi’s painting appraisal being complete, perhaps. When I’d faced the imperial court’s seal, that’s what I’d expected.

[Certificate of Content]

Huh?

[Recipient: Hertus Gallery, Yuena Idebald

Sender: Suave San

I have contracted to exhibit one hundred paintings at Hertus Gallery. However, this contract contains terms that are excessively burdensome and unfair to me, unlike typical contract terms, so I am notifying you of contract termination.

Additionally, matters related to penalties shall be discussed through the court.]

In other words, Suave San is, in my past life and this life alike, a son of a b*tch to me.

He claims it’s because of excessive contract terms, yet he’s filing for termination, not nullification.

‘Penalties? He’s confident he can pay them.’

“Haha……”

Is this what they call being stabbed in the back? The back of my head that Suave San struck throbs—no, it’s downright painful. It beat my soul that had briefly escaped.

……That bastard…… Ha…… Haha……

Right. Even when I go, I need to make those who treat me like this know clearly who I am. So they’ll never forget, even in death. I picked up the utensils I’d thrown down.

“Miss!”

Dana’s eyes lit up with emotion.

“Bring everything over there too.”

“Yes!”

I put the food Dana offered into my mouth and chewed. Honestly, I couldn’t really taste it. My appetite hadn’t returned, after all. I was just mechanically stuffing food in like refueling for battle.

“You were eating.”

At the voice from above my head, I nodded with my cheeks puffed out. It was a reflexive action. ‘I need to eat to have the strength to wield a knife. I need to eat right now.’ I kept muttering to myself internally.

……But who is it? At the belated question, I looked up to find the voice’s owner was Iophe.

“Are you better now?”

Right, I cried. In front of this person…… My ears felt like they were burning. Suave San’s betrayal had the effect of snapping me back to reality like cold water being poured over me, and it came with the side effect of making my behavior over the past few days embarrassing.

Iophe set down what he’d been holding onto the table. It was a box with a pink ribbon.

“Dessert.”

He briefly revealed the box’s identity.

But do I look too ridiculous right now? I tried to quickly deal with the food I’d stuffed in my mouth, but my cruel mouth wouldn’t move as I wanted and just slowly chewed.

“I’m relieved.”

Iophe’s fingertips brushed against my cheek. I looked up at him stupidly, not knowing what to do. ……He was smiling. My appearance must really be too funny right now. Now not just my ears but my whole face burned.

‘Of all times, when I’m eating like a pig……’

I wanted to cry a little. It’s unfair for someone with that kind of beauty to barge in when someone else looks hideous. I turned my head away from Iophe. The warmth that had touched my cheek faintly receded. I swallowed the food with all my might, then said:

“I need to…… I need to return to the capital.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

Iophe said we could depart tomorrow and left. After he went out, I picked up the cup on the table and gulped down water. My insides felt hot.

“Wow! These are all langues de chat!”

Dana said as she unwrapped the box with the pink ribbon. She arranged the langues de chat prettily on a plate and held it out to me.

‘Langues de chat……’

When I bit into one, the crisp texture and sweetness I knew spread through my mouth. This is delicious. It was sweet enough to make my nose tingle.

❀ ❀ ❀

That night, I told Tilla to retrieve the poisonous plant hidden in the library.

“Here it is.”

“Hide it until the capital…… Take it to Idebald.”

“Yes.”

After Tilla left, I unfolded the recipe I’d obtained from the forest witch again. A single worn piece of paper with complex formulas tangled together.

‘Even if I make this, it’ll be useless to me anyway.’

It’s just a pointless recipe. I folded the paper carefully and lay down, but sleep wouldn’t come. After going to the capital and resolving the Suave San matter, what should I do?

‘I’ll know who’s behind it all, but.’

That only made my feelings more complicated. After all this is over, what am I supposed to do? The chances of me surviving now are slim. Because there’s no medicine.

‘In the end, is exiting the only option?’

I’d prefer it not be a shabby ending, if possible. Though I don’t know if that’ll be up to me. I tossed and turned, then got up and headed to the window—dawn was already breaking.

‘I didn’t sleep a wink.’

I’ll sleep all day in the carriage, so it won’t be a problem. When I opened the terrace door, cold air caressed my cheeks.

‘Should I walk a bit?’

Thinking that I’m leaving tomorrow makes me feel sentimental for no reason. I should go back and tell Father that the garden was wonderful.

‘Come to think of it, I went out saying I’d choose a birthday gift in return but didn’t buy anything.’

I left my room and went down the stairs. It was dawn when the servants would be asleep, so no one was in sight.

‘It wouldn’t be proper to forget about it after receiving such a grand gift.’

Father loves Hertus, so it would be nice if I could think of a gift related to that.

‘Birthday gift…… Birthday gift……’

Before I knew it, I was outside the castle. Entering the garden, I recalled how I’d rummaged through every corner of this place claiming to look for medicinal herbs.

‘That really was foolish.’

Looking back, my behavior was enough for Iophe to treat me like an idiot or incompetent. But the fact that it was growing in that unknown place in the basement connected to the library—probably no one else would’ve known either. I muttered to myself.

“What are you muttering about so much?”