“Do you think you can leave the castle without my permission?”

His growling voice in her ear was like a predator’s warning, the sound made in excitement before tearing into its prey.

“You will live with me for the rest of your life. Until you die.”

You can’t leave my side.

Despite Raphael’s terrifying words, Amelia’s eyes blinked slowly, trying to focus.

“So give up on this nonsense about divorce.”

Ah, her stomach churned again. Along with it, a headache began to surge. The throbbing pain traveled from her temples to her eyes. Through her blurry vision, she could still see Raphael’s fierce face.

“Ah…”

He seemed to be saying something more, but she couldn’t hear it. She couldn’t understand why he was reacting so violently to her request for a divorce. Wasn’t the only thing connecting them the scent?

She hadn’t expected Raphael to react so sensitively. She thought he would accept the divorce as if he had been waiting for it… From his perspective, there was no reason to hold onto her. He should have welcomed her departure. Or was it because she wanted to take Leonel with her?

“…lia!”

If that was the case, she could understand why he was so angry. There was no way Raphael Lloyd Siegfried would be afraid of her leaving. But her ears had been ringing since earlier. It felt like she was hearing a buzzing sound…

I can’t take it anymore.

Her stomach felt awful. The persistent headache made her eyes close involuntarily.

“Amelia!”

If she closed her eyes here, it would look like she fainted because he refused her request for a divorce. She tried to stay conscious, but it was no use. Through her dimming vision, she saw Raphael’s shocked face.

Don’t make that face. You’re not really worried.

“Now, now! Call all the doctors and priests right now!”

She was sure she had fainted, but she could hear everything around her. She could also feel Raphael’s hands lifting her. His trembling hands held her tightly with desperate urgency. His shouts to bring people quickly were the same.

The urgency in his near-shouting voice made the surroundings buzz with activity.

“Damn it.”

Raphael held her so tightly that she worried he might crush her. He seemed to be out of his mind. She never thought his body would tremble, but it did. The trembling of his hands didn’t seem like him, making it hard to believe.

What would he think, seeing her collapse after asking for a divorce?

“Are they still not here?”

“S-Sorry…”

Raphael could have used magic, but even after bringing her into the castle and laying her on the bed, he didn’t use any. Didn’t he know healing magic?

“T-The priests said it would take some time.”

“What did you say?”

“They said it would… take some time…”

Even with her eyes closed, she could imagine the expression on his face. The suddenly chilling atmosphere in the room was enough to make her uncomfortable. She wanted to open her eyes and get up, but she couldn’t. It was strange that she couldn’t move a single finger despite all her senses being so vivid.

“If they say it will take time, kidnap them and bring them here by force.”

Raphael’s terrifying tone, as he spoke through gritted teeth, made the room fall silent. His voice was so chilling that even she, lying down, felt a shiver.

“Mother!”

She wanted to respond to Leonel’s startled voice, but she couldn’t move. It felt like all the strength had drained from her body. She was conscious but couldn’t do anything. She didn’t understand what was happening. She just felt a bit nauseous…

She had been feeling nauseous recently. It started after spending the night with him. She had become sensitive, almost like a pregnant woman. But that was an absurd hypothesis. She and Raphael had never consummated their marriage.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“Did Father do this?”

“Right now, your and my energy is dangerous for Amelia.”

Dangerous? She didn’t know what was happening to her body. Was this some predetermined fate for the original Amelia? Was she going to die soon? If that was the case, it was incredibly unfair. She had taken all the bitter medicines Raphael had given her.

“I’ll stay with her, so Father, please leave.”

Amelia had never heard Raphael and Leonel talk alone before. She didn’t know what they talked about when they were alone. But the cold atmosphere between them was surprising. At least in front of her, it wasn’t like this.

“I’m better than you. You can’t even control your power properly.”

“Isn’t it better than yours, who would cause a disaster if you relaxed even a little?”

They bickered even in front of her. But it was always within the realm of playful banter. Now it was completely different. It was like walking on thin ice.

“Your power is still leaking even when you try to suppress it.”

Leonel feared Raphael. But now, Leonel showed no signs of fear.

“Remember that you’ve only recently awakened.”

“I know that…”

Leonel had awakened? That couldn’t be. Leonel had told her not long ago that he hadn’t awakened yet. Moreover, he didn’t have the golden eyes that were a sign of awakening.

“You’re also a dangerous factor.”

“……”

“Wait outside until the priests arrive.”

She couldn’t understand what was being said. Why was everything happening without her? Leonel awakened after becoming an adult. That was the original story. He couldn’t have awakened at this age.

She wanted to question it immediately, but her damned body wouldn’t move. Neither would her voice. Why did Leonel hide his awakening from her? He had no reason to keep it a secret from her.

“Y-Your Grace! The priests have arrived!”

She desperately wanted to let them know she was fine. Was she going to become a vegetable like this? She realized how agonizing it was to be conscious yet unable to move.

“You are…”

“This is a critical situation; introductions can wait.”

Who was that? It wasn’t an unfamiliar voice, but… it didn’t sound like the usual priests.

“Hurry up and treat her. She hasn’t woken up since earlier.”

“To treat her, Your Grace, you need to leave the room.”

“What?”

The voice and tone were somewhat familiar. Who was it? The priests Raphael usually called in would never speak to him like that.

“You know it’s because of the opposing natures.”

Without being able to open her eyes, she was frustrated not knowing who it was.

“If you don’t leave…”

“Hurry and treat her. If she doesn’t wake up, you’ll be held responsible.”

Raphael, who had withstood the argument with Leonel, finally left. Though he warned them through gritted teeth.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“……”

Even she didn’t understand why she had collapsed. She wasn’t particularly ill… it was strange that she couldn’t move. Her stomach had just felt a bit… off?

While lying there, her headache and nausea continued. But the moment the man spoke, or rather, when he entered the room, the discomfort in her stomach subsided. At the same time, her throbbing head felt clear.

“You should be able to get up soon.”

Strength slowly returned to her limp body. A warm energy flowed into her.

“Ah……”

Her voice, which had been trapped, was freed. The owner of the voice was someone she had seen before.

“It’s Enoch. I greeted you once before; do you remember?”

Why was the high priest from the Blackford Temple here? Blackford and Siegfried were quite a distance apart.

“I’m glad I arrived in time.”

“How did you… get here…?”

“Your Highness, if you stay with His Grace, the Grand Duke, you will die.”

His kind and sincere face remained unchanged, even as he spoke such frightening words.