And the one trapped inside was none other than her. Amelia began to grasp what kind of situation she was in. Wasn’t she supposed to be transported to the temple?

“Right now…”

However, instead of a temple, she was confined in a dark, prison-like place. Even she could tell that this wasn’t a temple. She had never heard of a prison in a temple. From the other side, Enoch was smiling at her. It was that same kind, gentle smile.

“Mother…”

“Leonel!”

It wasn’t just that his voice was trembling with tension. The roughness in his voice, as if it would soon fade away, made Amelia realize something was wrong.

“Are you okay? Where does it hurt?”

“It seems the effect is finally taking place. Honestly, I didn’t believe it.”

Effect? She didn’t understand what he was talking about. Seeing Leonel’s pained expression made Amelia anxious. His wheezing breath was too faint.

“High Priest! Do something quickly…”

She was about to shout for help for her sick child, but she couldn’t. The moment she saw Enoch’s face, her mouth shut. His gaze was like looking at a filthy bug. There was clear, unabashed hatred and contempt.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“……”

“That you must abandon Siegfried.”

Enoch still looked devout and pious as he said those words. She couldn’t stop her body from trembling. She knew he disliked Siegfried, but she didn’t know it was to this extent. After all, Siegfried hadn’t caused Enoch any significant harm.

“Let us go back. We won’t go to the temple.”

“It’s useless. I don’t have the power to open this prison either.”

A prison, as expected, it was a prison.

“But rest assured. This place isn’t dangerous for Your Highness. This prison is made solely for Siegfried.”

Made solely for Siegfried? Is that why Enoch is struggling so much? She began to feel terrified seeing Leonel’s now pale complexion. There was only one being who could do such a thing.

The goddess Elaina. That goddess hated Siegfried.

“Even though we brought along an unexpected burden, I’d say this is still a success.”

“…Was this all the goddess’s doing too?”

It had been planned from the start. And she had been foolish enough to fall for it.

“No, that can’t be. The goddess despises such actions.”

“Then why…!”

“This was my own decision.”

If it wasn’t the goddess’s command, why did he kidnap her? And even prepare a prison detrimental to Siegfried?

“Do you resent me? But in the end, Your Highness will be grateful.”

Amelia tried to reach through the bars at his nonsensical words. But she couldn’t reach out as it appeared. It was as if there was a wall blocking her from reaching outside.

“What nonsense are you spouting! Put everything back immediately!”

“Do you still not understand the situation?”

If it was Enoch’s decision, there was still a chance to change his mind. Leonel was in danger. Seeing his condition worsen, Amelia grew desperate. It was best to comply if he had any demands.

“Who, who…?”

But she was startled by a voice coming from elsewhere. It wasn’t just Enoch; there was someone else here.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

Slowly, the figure emerged from the darkness. Bright hair contrasted with the black shadows. It was silver hair she had seen countless times in the mirror.

“Oh, should I call you by a different name now?”

***

“By the way, Enoch brought something unnecessary.”

“I’m sorry. But it won’t be a major problem.”

What they referred to as unnecessary was likely Leonel. Amelia pulled Leonel behind her protectively. If she had known this would happen, she would have left Leonel behind and come alone…

“Your Highness’s consent was necessary for the transfer…”

“Well, there was no choice. It’s not ordinary magic.”

So that’s why they needed her consent? Everything had been a lie. Their plan to create fakes was probably not executed either. Should she be relieved? Raphael would notice their absence.

“The young duke has not completed his awakening. He will be sufficiently controlled by the prison’s power, so don’t worry.”

“Really? I heard he was a bit lacking.”

Murky purple eyes scanned Leonel from head to toe. Overwhelmed by disgust, Amelia met the gaze and tried to hide Leonel as best as she could. Enoch overlooked one thing. Leonel had completed his awakening. That meant he wouldn’t be controlled as they thought.

She had to hope for that. She prayed that Leonel wouldn’t be in complete danger.

“Now leave. From here on, it’s imperial family business.”

Imperial family business. So it wasn’t just Enoch’s plan. The scale was too large for him alone. Kidnapping the Grand Duchess and the young duke required backing from the imperial family.

Why hadn’t she realized it sooner? If the temple was hostile to Siegfried, the imperial family was favorable to them.

“Prince…? Isn’t this against our agreement?”

“Oh, what promise did I make?”

“You clearly promised! You said you would let me step down from the position of high priest.”

Step down from the position of high priest? She didn’t understand what they were talking about.

“Did you really believe that? No matter how powerful the imperial family is, they can’t exert such power over the temple. Besides, our Emperor doesn’t even have a saintess.”

“That’s why I brought the saintess!”

“There’s no way they would expel a well-performing high priest. Manpower is precious.”

She began to understand why this was happening. For some reason, Enoch had handed her and Leonel over to the imperial family.

“And even if you become a commoner, your parents won’t come back. You know that, right? They’ve already taken their share.”

Did Enoch’s parents sell him to the temple? Enoch, resisting in defiance, was dragged away by the knights.

“Now the obstruction is gone.”

“…First Prince.”

Patrick didn’t even glance at the wailing Enoch. Neither did she. In the end, he had pushed someone else off the cliff to save himself. His face looked even more sinister than the last time she saw him.

Was this when Patrick started using drugs? It seemed like it was a bit later…

“It’s nice to see you again.”

“I’m not happy at all. Open this door immediately.”

“It’s useless. That door can’t be opened.”

Amelia frowned at that. Normally, prisons had doors. But this one had no entrance. Iron bars descended from the ceiling, surrounding them on all sides.

“Is it true?”

She didn’t let her guard down as Patrick looked at her back with an intrigued gaze.

“What are you talking about?”

“That Siegfried loses its power when it comes here. It’s true.”

Patrick spoke as if he had heard this from someone.

“But it’s a bit pitiful, isn’t it? No matter how much Siegfried’s blood is mixed in, half of it is my blood.”

Despite his words, his tone was completely mocking. Leonel was her son, not some unfortunate member of the imperial family.

“Leonel has nothing to do with the imperial family.”

“Whoa, no need to glare at me like that.”

Patrick’s mocking shrug made Amelia clench her fists tightly. She wanted to rush at him and beat him up.

“Do you know why I brought you here?”

“I don’t care about that. It’s better to send us back immediately. Raphael has probably noticed we’re missing by now.”

At the mention of Raphael’s name, Patrick burst into loud laughter. It was a stark contrast to his previous fear of Raphael.

“Raphael Lloyd Siegfried will come here?”

Patrick’s continuous laughter, as if it was the funniest thing, made her uneasy.

“That guy will never come. Have you really forgotten everything?”

“What… have I forgotten?”

Come to think of it, the Empress had also asked if she had forgotten everything. She had no idea what they meant.

“This place is a prison made specifically for Siegfried.”

Patrick’s jubilant purple eyes gleamed in the darkness.