Evening came and I was by Luden’s side. Since my return, Luden hadn’t left my side.

“Luden, I’m fine now.”

“I’m not fine.”

Luden said this and held my hand tightly.

“When I think I might never have held this hand again, I still feel dizzy.”

“Me too.”

We were sitting on the sofa. He silently held my hand, caressed my cheek and eyes, then kissed me. After a light kiss, I cupped his face with my flushed cheeks. I felt his warmth as we kissed again.

In truth, I could only regain stability because Luden was beside me. When someone entered while Luden wasn’t there, I still felt anxious. Luden seemed to have noticed this.

A knock sounded. I flinched instinctively. Luden quickly stood up and walked to the door.

“Who is it?”

The door opened and a knight stood there. I could feel relieved because he was an imperial knight.

“What is it?”

“Lord Alsellon urgently seeks Lady Annelia. He’s throwing a tantrum, saying he won’t eat unless you bring her.”

Alsellon was indeed the mastermind behind this incident. But he wouldn’t have planned it alone. That’s why we needed to interrogate him further to catch the ringleaders.

So it would be troublesome if he died.

“Understood.”

Luden grasped my hand.

“That bastard can die.”

“We haven’t caught the remaining conspirators yet.”

“His Majesty and I will handle that.”

“I want to do it too.”

I spoke firmly.

“I want to catch those who kidnapped me with my own hands.”

My eyes wavered. My voice, filled with determination, reached Luden. Seeing my expression, Luden sighed.

“Instead, go in with me.”

“Of course. If I had to go alone, I wouldn’t meet him.”

I could act this way because Luden was by my side. Luden seemed convinced and followed the knight with me to Alsellon’s room.

Why on earth did he call for me? The magic had already worn off.

“I can guess what he’ll say.”

“Really?”

“There’s only one thing he wants from Annelia.”

Luden looked at Annelia. He hoped she would do as she wished, regardless of what choice she made.

“Do as you wish, Annelia. Don’t think about me or anyone else.”

“Understood.”

At Luden’s words, Annelia nodded. For now, she planned to meet Alsellon.

* * *

Annelia opened the door and entered. Unlike when she saw him a few days ago, Alsellon was in terrible condition. His pale face showed how much mental anguish he had endured.

“Why did you call for me?”

Annelia stood before Alsellon with Luden. Trapped by magic in a barrier that prevented him from moving beyond a certain space, Alsellon couldn’t approach them.

Annelia raised her head. Alsellon knelt before Annelia.

“Tell me how to escape from this emotion.”

He bowed his head.

“How to escape?”

Annelia pondered, then whispered to him.

“Tell me your accomplices and I’ll tell you.”

Alsellon’s eyes wavered.

“You’re going to tell anyway. Isn’t it better to die with your accomplices than alone?”

“If they don’t confess…!”

“I’ll use the same method. You confessed too.”

Annelia was right.

“Even if you don’t tell, if I use the magic one more time…”

“I’ll do it!”

Alsellon shouted desperately. When Annelia said she would use the magic again, his whole body broke out in goosebumps. Cold sweat flowed automatically.

“Millen and Princess Lorina.”

When their names came out, Luden’s expression hardened and Annelia was also surprised. Of course, she wasn’t surprised when she heard Millen’s name, but why Lorina?

Annelia couldn’t understand. Lorina chasing after Luden was ancient history. And Lorina had a different lover now. At her reaction, Alsellon gave a bitter smile.

“Someone who has everything like you wouldn’t know.”

“What do I have?”

“You have everything people want. Money, status, appearance, and even a devoted husband.”

“Lorina is jealous of that?”

“Yes, especially jealous that Kajiian cherishes you.”

“…Really.”

Annelia was dumbfounded. To be jealous when there’s no one else to be jealous of—Lorina had so much. Why couldn’t such a woman be satisfied?

It was unfortunate, but the truth still needed to be revealed.

“I think we need to tell His Majesty.”

Annelia looked at Luden and spoke.

“I think so too.”

“Now, hurry and tell me! How can I escape from this?”

Annelia looked at him quietly.

“Comfort your wounded self.”

“What?”

“You probably didn’t want the Marquis Charlot position from the start. There must have been some reason it turned out that way, and it started from a past wound.”

Saying this, Annelia pointed to his heart.

“Look back at yourself who cried in the past. And embrace him. That’s the only answer.”

At Annelia’s words, Alsellon frowned.

“Why should I embrace that foolish bastard!”

“That’s why you can’t escape from the emotion.”

Annelia’s words became a blade. Alsellon stood frozen until Annelia left.

* * *

Kajiian, Alsellon, Annelia, and Luden were together. Alsellon told Kajiian who the accomplices were as promised. Until now, they couldn’t interrogate him because Alsellon only cried, but now it was possible.

“Lorina really?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Kajiian stood dazed in shock. He couldn’t believe Lorina had reached into something like this. He couldn’t give her the emperor’s throne, but hadn’t she grown up without lacking anything? So why?

“Princess Lorina is very greedy. She has strong pride too. How bitter must she have felt to be pushed aside by a mere duke’s daughter?”

Alsellon nodded, seemingly understanding Lorina.

“So I approached her.”

Just touch a person’s dark side a little and it blazes up. Knowing such darkness well, Alsellon easily broke Lorina down. To make her directly participate in this matter—she surprisingly agreed to participate easily.

“Still, there are things you should and shouldn’t do!”

Kajiian’s face flushed with anger. Disappointment in Lorina and numerous emotions were passing through him.

“Anyone else?”

“There’s Millen Rosaline.”

Kajiian clenched his fist. Millen Rosaline having resentment toward Annelia was one thing, but why Lorina? Just because she couldn’t have Luden?

“We’re going to the capital immediately.”

First, investigating the truth of the matter was a priority.

* * *

Lorina was preparing for a date with her lover like usual. She had put on a beautiful dress, done her makeup, and was pondering which bag to carry.

Just then, the door opened and the imperial knights entered.

“What’s going on?”

Lorina was flustered. The imperial knights only moved on the emperor’s orders. But for them to come to her—she was engulfed in anxiety.

“His Majesty has ordered Princess Lorina to be confined. From now on, you cannot meet anyone and cannot leave your room.”

“Do you think that makes sense?”

Lorina shouted at them. Her father must be doing this because he knew she was involved in Annelia’s matter. But there was no evidence yet that she was directly involved.

“What did I do wrong?”

Lorina said this and glared at them. But the imperial knights didn’t budge.

‘I must insist I didn’t do it no matter what.’

Lorina thought this and quickly pretended to be confused.

“I have no idea why Father is doing this.”

There was no evidence left. Alsellon said he had eliminated everything. Unless Alsellon directly confessed, they couldn’t know.

And Alsellon wouldn’t confess unless absolutely necessary. Hadn’t she felt while directly planning the matter how thorough that man was?

Thinking this, Lorina planned to actively claim her innocence.

* * *

Caromiel looked at Millen with resentful eyes. When he received word that Millen would be confined by the emperor’s order, he felt like he would explode.

No matter how hateful, he was still his older brother. Yet to do such a thing to his daughter! 

When Luden said he would find Annelia, he too had been searching everywhere. Before he could even feel relieved at finding Annelia, he was shocked to hear Millen had conspired in this matter.

“Brother, I’m wronged!”

Millen shouted that it wasn’t true.

“I was trying to get along well with Annelia.”

Millen shouted to Caromiel to help him as he was dragged away by the imperial knights. But since the emperor had directly ordered it, he had no authority to intervene. And he didn’t want to stop it either.

Everything would be revealed when Annelia and Luden came. And he planned to personally attend the interrogation.

* * *

When word spread that the imperial knights had detained Lorina and Millen, high society was turned upside down. Those who used the counseling center also heard the news.

“Well, well.”

Laysia gathered those close to Annelia for tea time at the imperial palace. Reytan was also there.

“This matter cannot just be overlooked!”

The people who had received comfort through Annelia all said the same.

“That’s right, to kidnap such a person.”

“She must have suffered terribly.”

They wanted everyone involved in this matter to be thoroughly exposed. This included a considerable number of high-ranking nobles.

“This time I’ll step forward directly.”

At Reytan’s words, everyone turned their heads.

“The imperial family will properly investigate this case.”

The imperial family investigating meant the emperor would directly step in. The people invited to tea time considered the time they spent with her very meaningful in their lives. Even without Annelia requesting help, they stamped their feet wanting to help her.

“Please.”

Laysia clenched her fist. She too planned to help her husband and do her best to investigate the case.

* * *

While I briefly closed my eyes, I felt someone caressing my cheek. When I drowsily opened my eyes, Luden was looking at me with gentle eyes.

“Why are you looking at me so tenderly?”

Luden smiled softly.

“No matter how much I look, I keep thinking how fortunate it is that Annelia is alive.”

I think I know what feelings he had while searching for me. I too was so scared by the anxiety that I might never see him again.

“Can you go outside alone?”

“I’m still scared.”

After this incident, it was hard to go outside unless I was with someone. Because I thought someone might kidnap me. Maybe it was natural after experiencing such a thing.

“If you need to go out, please take an escort.”

Sometimes I just went out, but now I couldn’t do that. Even when going to the counseling center, I had to take escort knights.

“Understood.”

“If Annelia disappears again, I might die.”

“Luden.”

“I truly thought my heart was burning up.”

Luden embraced me tightly.

“Can Luden be apart from me?”

He too had side effects from this incident.

“I don’t know.”

He was anxious I might disappear. We had become people who could only feel at ease when together.

Sigh, it seems like using magic to break this would help. I paused as I was about to use the power on myself without thinking.

“Luden, about this power.”

I looked at my hand.

“It’s a very good power, but it’s also too dangerous.”

Until now, all those I counseled had embraced their past selves. When emotions welled up after finding the self they had previously turned away from, they regretted and embraced their past.

But Alsellon was different. He rejected himself to the end, saying he hated his weak past self, and remained continuously possessed by past afterimages.

There was no guarantee such a case wouldn’t arise when operating the counseling center. Luden pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Do as you wish, Annelia.”