“Yes, sister.”

At least she could communicate with her youngest sister, who was still young. Jane knelt in front of her sister sitting on the bed and met her eyes.

“Ann. The money I sent…… Did it really go to mother’s medicine?”

Ann slowly shook her head while looking directly into Jane’s eyes. At this expected answer, Jane sighed and lowered her head, and Ann hesitantly began to tell what she had seen and heard.

“Sister Widna said she had to give it to Ed…… That she needed money to marry Ed. And brother Eden……”

“What about brother Eden?”

“They say he beat someone again. He needed money to avoid going to trial.”

The situation became clearer. Most of the money she had sent, except for a small portion, had been used for her siblings’ affairs.

‘Mother must know too.’

Jane was certain her mother knew about this situation. But she couldn’t get angry at her mother who could barely get up due to illness.

“……Ann. Watch the house for a moment. I’ll go to the market and buy you some candy.”

“Okay.”

The tightness in her chest from frustration was suffocating. Jane thought she needed to go out for a walk and left the house. And just as she moved away from the front of the house, someone called out to her.

“Are you perhaps Jane?”

“Who……”

“The one who works at the imperial palace…… That’s right? You look just like your mother.”

When she raised her head, a middle-aged woman with a warm appearance stood there. She smiled at the puzzled Jane and pointed to the side.

“Ah! You must be seeing me for the first time. I’m your neighbor living next door.”

“Ah…… Perhaps Mrs. Bane?”

“My goodness. You know me?”

“Yes. I heard from my mother. That you’ve been helping our family……”

The middle-aged woman was a neighbor who often appeared in her family’s letters. Like Jane’s family, Mrs. Bane had many children and Jane had heard that she looked after Ann and kept her sick mother company. Jane’s face brightened with recognition, and Mrs. Bane chuckled and said,

“Since we’ve met by chance, come have a cup of tea at my house.”

“Yes.”

Jane considered refusing but nodded. It seemed good to greet a neighbor who had apparently helped quite a lot.

“Come in.”

“Then excuse me.”

Jane smiled and entered Mrs. Bane’s house. But shortly after, her face hardened at the family situation she learned about through Mrs. Bane.

“What? Our house will soon be auctioned off?”

“Your mother didn’t want to worry you so she tried not to tell you…… But since you seem to be the only one working in the house, I thought I should say something.”

“……”

“One person your brother hit with something can’t get up. But she couldn’t send her son to prison when his body isn’t well either…… Your mother put up the house as collateral for a loan.”

* * *

Yerena felt very uncomfortable with Jael and Juul who attended to her when Jane was absent. Like Alicia, they had become stiff toward Yerena at some point. Because of this, she minimized situations where she needed their help from the start.

“I want to be alone for a while.”

“Yes. Then I’ll come back in a bit.”

It was the same now. As soon as she descended the tower, Yerena sent away Jael who was beside her. Then she sat on a large rock in front of the tower and observed the blooming flowers and living creatures moving about.

The strange golden light that depicted life and objects was fascinating no matter how many times she saw it. Suddenly, Yerena remembered when she held hands with Alicia. Though she had thought it was an illusion, thinking about it now, the world she briefly saw then was exactly like this.

‘Does the Goddess of Light really exist?’

Given the situation, even such thoughts crossed her mind. But she was the empire’s goddess. Yerena shook her head, deliberately denying the existence of the Goddess of Light.

‘Whatever the reason, I’m fortunate to be able to see the world like this. How beautiful. The living things.’

Unlike objects, things with life undulated with deep vibrancy. Though her eyes tired quickly because of this, Yerena came out of the tower daily recently because it was so fascinating to watch.

‘Judging by its movement pattern, it’s a butterfly.’

It was just as Yerena was shifting her gaze to follow a flying butterfly. Having turned her body without realizing, her eyes caught a large golden figure.

The guard knight, Roshan. The presence of this guard knight who stuck to her like a shadow was the reason the priestesses easily retreated at Yerena’s command.

Yerena immediately took her eyes off him and stood up, stepping on a round pebble beneath the rock. Her ankle twisted slightly, and her body tilted forward. In that moment, a golden light approached her like an arrow.

“Watch where you’re going.”

Thwack. Yerena struck his hand away without replying. Though she tried to ignore him, her heart fluttered whenever he approached and showed concern for her.

She turned her body to return to the tower. But she couldn’t move a single step forward. The man had grabbed her wrist—not forcefully, but firmly.

“What is this……”

In her bewilderment, Yerena murmured, forgetting even to struggle. The man narrowed the distance, unconcerned about her deeply furrowed brow. Then he asked with emotion in his voice,

“How long will you continue like this?”

* * *

He thought he should endure it. After all, he understood why the princess before him treated him this way.

But in his impatience, ‘Kian’ finally crumbled. Seeing her managing well on her own even after the maid went on vacation made him anxious. He could no longer bear her showing no interest in him and not allowing him near.

“What are you doing? Let go.”

The thin wrist that barely fit in his hand rattled in his grasp, seeming like it would slip away if given the slightest gap. The man felt his hand touching Yerena burn like fire, yet he didn’t loosen his grip.

“I’ll let go if you promise me.”

“What?”

“Greet me like before. Acknowledge me and speak to me first. Occasionally make me tea and command me to sit in front of you.”

“……”

“If it’s troublesome to speak, just nodding is fine. Even if you just allow me at the doorway, let me stand there and watch. Even an occasional glance is enough. Just don’t pretend not to see me or treat me like I don’t exist.”

Once broken, his patience flowed away rapidly like sand. The thoughts he had barely contained burst forth.

Of course, still hiding his true identity and status.

Seeing she couldn’t escape, Yerena stopped trying to pull her hand away forcefully. Instead, she spoke sharply with a crumpled face,

“Why should I?”

“……”

“Why should I do that?”

She seemed more terrified than angry. The man knew that what pursued Yerena was the guilt of showing interest in a knight from an enemy country. However, though she might suffer from guilt, she shouldn’t pretend not to see him anymore.

“Because I can’t bear it any longer if you don’t.”

Because he wouldn’t just watch it anymore.

“I need your attention. I do.”

The deceiver seemed to have not even a grain of conscience. While hiding everything most important to the woman, he only laid out his desire to be acknowledged.

At the man’s words, Yerena closed her mouth and lowered her head, pretending not to hear. She could simply ignore such words, just as she had been ignoring the man until now. If she did, she wouldn’t be scolded. She wouldn’t have to suffer from her family’s accusations in nightmares.

“……I love you.”

But Yerena had to raise her head again. The man’s direct words that followed couldn’t be ignored unless she covered her ears and screamed.

Yerena froze, her eyes opened as wide as possible. Then the deceiver, with hot ears, revealed the rest of his pure feelings as if stammering,

“Truly.”

* * *

Liliana, who had been lying on a long couch stroking a white cat, stretched and got up. The captured cat seized the opportunity and quickly moved its body to run far away. Liliana thought the cat’s white fur would go well with red, then called Luna.

“Luna. How are things going? Did that commoner girl seem like she would move as instructed?”

Liliana asked what she wanted to know as soon as Luna entered. Having already laid some traps, she planned to properly use the maid attached to Yerena.

“Yes. From what I found out, her family is in terrible shape. Though she takes home a decent wage, they’re drowning in debt…… A pathetic sight.”

“Good. What did she say about the bait?”

“She looked like she would do anything for her mother’s medicine.”

“Hmm……”

“Should I send someone to make sure?”

“Yes. Persuade her well and hand over the prepared item. Of course, it must be delivered before she enters the imperial palace. And any traces of contact between us and that commoner girl must be erased well. Understand?”

“Of course, Your Majesty the Empress.”

As things went according to plan, Liliana’s mood improved, and she relaxed her expression and smiled. Coupled with her pure appearance, her smile looked even warmer.

But the picture-perfect face didn’t last long. Looking at the sky outside, Liliana immediately thought of the most detestable person in the world and clenched her fist. She frowned deeply and asked Luna,

“……That filthy wench? Is Roshan still by her side?”

“Yes. Definitely. And I checked what I mentioned before……”

“And?”

“From his attire and other details, I’m not sure of the exact reason, but it seems His Highness is disguising his identity and going to the tower as a guard knight. I don’t know whether the Sedas wench knows this fact or not.”

Her hands itched with murderous intent. Liliana rose from her seat, contemplating what to feed the cat that had just escaped from her.

“Whatever the case, it doesn’t matter. That wench must die.”

A voice filled with k*lling intent settled in the room. And not long after, a sound like an animal being torn apart briefly echoed through the Ivory Palace before quickly stopping.

* * *