Lou’s severed head was displayed. As a criminal who dared to harm someone destined to be part of the imperial family, she wasn’t even given a funeral.

And the Dronay family collapsed on its own without the Crown Prince needing to lift a finger.

The Duke of Dronay died of a heart attack upon witnessing the tragic death of his cherished only daughter, and the Duchess committed suicide. It was a hollow downfall for the Dronay family, once the pillar of the empire.

Pinion looked at Lou’s head hanging on the castle wall.

Even in death, her eyes, which never found peace, had long been pecked out by crows.

The empty eye sockets were as vivid as reality.

But it was all just a dream. He was always thankful for that.

If you’re going to die, die by my hand. You must not die somewhere unknown, by someone else’s hand.

The Crown Prince whispered as he gazed at Lou’s severed head.

* * *

The next day, as soon as I confirmed that Iscallion had left, I hurriedly took out paper and a pen.

Once again, it was time for the Ouija board. Drawing large O’s and X’s, I fervently chanted the incantation.

“Are you here?”

When I cautiously asked, a long, white arm suddenly appeared from behind me.

A cold hand grasped mine and led it towards the circle. Turning around, I saw Janet looking at me with a face full of self-loathing.

“Master……. Summoning me with such a shabby ritual? Please don’t tell anyone you summoned me with this. And you should tear that dreadful summoning circle immediately.”

‘What must the Sun God, who was summoned by this shabby ritual, think…….’

Knowing that even a vampire felt ashamed to be summoned by this ritual would restore Janet’s pride.

But now was not the time for idle chatter.

“Was there any trouble?”

“After you disappeared, the castle was in an uproar. The Crown Prince and Roengreen were so pale. With their eyes bloodshot, they searched for you so frantically that I almost mistook them for my kin.”

As expected. Even though I anticipated it, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Bring me my bag.”

Though grumbling, Janet quickly fetched the bag.

I took out a sleeping pill from it. It was a very strong sleeping pill that could make someone sleep for three days with just one dose. It had no side effects and was highly effective.

Just as he had given me a sleeping pill yesterday, I intended to use the same method.

‘Originally, it was to help me sleep through my headaches…….’

Anyway, the biggest hurdle now was my acting skills. Would the sharp-witted Iscallion fall for my act?

After sending Janet back, I waited for Iscallion to return.

As night fell, I heard footsteps ascending the stone stairs.

I crouched in a corner with a sorrowful expression like a tragic heroine.

But perhaps because of my anticipation for an escape, no tears came.

As a last resort, I pinched my thigh hard. Only then did tears well up in my eyes.

Seeing me sobbing as soon as he opened the door, Iscallion looked visibly flustered.

“Lou, are you crying?”

It seemed he had completely abandoned calling me ‘sister.’

Well, I didn’t care what he called me anymore.

How did my last hope end up like this?

“Crying won’t help. I still won’t let you go.”

Just as I was sinking into renewed despair, Iscallion, perhaps misunderstanding, cupped my cheek and turned me towards him. Then he licked the tears that were starting to dry.

I tried not to show my shock at his bold action and carefully reached out to him.

“I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’ve been thinking while I was alone. I was wrong, Leon. I didn’t realize how much you loved me…….”

Iscallion shuddered as I gently hugged his broad back.

“Stop doing bad things. I’ll stay by your side.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. So tell me what you’ve done. Let’s fix it together before it gets worse. Okay?”

“You’re treating me like a complete fool, aren’t you?”

As expected, it was a failure to deceive Iscallion with such acting.

Worried that I might have only provoked him, I cautiously lifted my head.

My eyes met Iscallion’s, which were burning as if they could explode at any moment.

There was no other choice now.

I hurriedly kissed him before he could express his anger through actions. Iscallion trembled as if he had been burned.

He hugged me desperately. It was completely different from the shy kiss last time.

“Ha, Lou…….”

Suddenly, my body was pushed backward, and I almost swallowed the sleeping pill I had hidden in my mouth.

Quickly regaining my senses, I passed the round pill to him.

Iscallion, who swallowed the sleeping pill without realizing it, stopped moving for a moment.

“What did you feed me?”

He asked fiercely, pressing down on my shoulders.

Honestly, I was scared. But instead of hitting or threatening me, he clung to me pitifully.

“Don’t go. Stay here.”

Iscallion pleaded with a wet voice. Perhaps the drug was taking effect, as his strength gradually left his body.

He resisted until the end but eventually collapsed into my arms.

His large body heaved heavily as it pressed down on me.

Even in this situation, I felt a strange sense of pity and held him tightly.

“Lou…….”

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of everything. Just sleep well until then, okay?”

He mumbled something, but I couldn’t make out the exact words.

I patted him until he fell into a deep sleep. Once I confirmed he was asleep, I summoned Janet and quickly left the tower.

I first went to find Gined, but he wasn’t there.

For now, I hid under his bed. Even though I knew he was deeply asleep, my lips felt dry, fearing Iscallion might appear at any moment.

How long had I waited?

Finally, the door swung open. Glancing up, I was relieved to see Gined, not Iscallion.

“Sir!”

I quickly crawled out from under the bed with a mix of relief and joy.

Gined, who was about to enter the room, stopped in his tracks.

It dawned on me that I must have looked like a ghost. I awkwardly stood up, forcing a smile.

“The space under the bed is quite cozy. Haha…….”

I made a meaningless joke to hide my embarrassment. Without any warning, I was suddenly hugged by him. His body, which I thought would be cold as the moon, was surprisingly warm.

‘Am I… being hugged by Gined right now?’

Since he was a male lead who would never initiate contact in such a way, my first emotion was doubt.

I called his name softly, wondering if something had possessed him too.

“Sir……?”

“Thank you for returning safely, lady.”

Gined whispered, burying his face in my hair. His voice shook with intense emotion. I had never seen him so uncontrolled, and it greatly surprised me.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and slowly stepped back.

His blue eyes, whose thoughts I couldn’t read, were the same as I remembered.

His large hand carefully brushed my forehead. Only then did I feel my sweat-soaked hair. I must have been quite tense since escaping the tower without realizing it.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I was just a little surprised…….”

It was more than a little surprise. The emotions he had shown still lingered, leaving me dazed.

“Yes, it was all Iscallion’s doing. I don’t know exactly what he’s planning, but…….”

“I understand. Now, do not leave my side for a moment.”

Since I had indeed faced trouble from acting on my own, I nodded obediently.

“But where has Shahar gone?”

“Shahar…… is lost.”

Hearing Shahar’s name intensified my already severe separation anxiety.

I clasped my hands tightly to hide my unease.

I didn’t really want to meet him, but I had to report my safe return, so I reluctantly went to find the Crown Prince.

Gined naturally followed closely behind me.

“Now I’m seeing illusions. Or is it still a dream?”

The Crown Prince muttered as he looked down at me.

In just two days, he looked completely disheveled. He must have been alone, lost in delusions, talking about dreams again.

Pinion walked past me with a bitter smile.

Watching his back, I whispered to Gined.

“He doesn’t seem to be in his right mind.”

“His Highness was very worried about you.”

‘Worried, as if.’

I chased after him, shaking his shoulder and pinching his arm hard.

“This isn’t a dream.”

Instead of getting angry, the Crown Prince stared blankly at his pinched skin and then at me.

“Is it really you?”

Only then did sanity return to the Crown Prince’s eyes.

Before he could commit the atrocity of hugging me, I quickly hid behind Gined.

The Crown Prince looked very displeased but couldn’t bring himself to scold me.

During this time, Gined explained what he had found out.

I was shocked when I heard about the underground prison.

“There are missing people in the underground prison?”

“Yes. It seems they were trying to summon something using them.”

“Is there a transcendent being worth summoning, even kidnapping the High Priest?”

“We couldn’t find out anything except that it’s an ancient demon or something equivalent.”