Her family had betrayed Elia, but at least she knew exactly what kind of person Rockfort was.

This world hadn’t changed. Only Elia had experienced death and returned with bitter regrets. Perhaps being by Rockfort’s side would be safer.

“Why is everyone so concerned about this mere life.”

Elia looked at her immobile legs with a bitter taste in her mouth.

This was evidence that her blood sister, Cecilia, had tried to kill her.

“Even when I ask Your Majesty to kill me and get rejected, my family…… tries to kill me.”

Her mother had readily used Elia for dangerous tasks. Cecilia had suggested they die together, and even her uncle Daniel had given her poison. Telling her to take it one drop at a time, slowly leading to death.

“Cecilia denied it, mother was hasty. And the same goes for uncle……”

Elia took out the medicine bottle Daniel had given her. It was from this small bottle that destruction began.

When Elia encountered that medicine bottle again, she almost screamed without realizing it.

—Be careful, Elia. Brother got you medicine that works well for your legs. He said to take one drop per day…….

There seemed to be no malice in Briana’s eyes.

But sometimes being too innocent was also a sin. Just as Elia had been in the past.

—Did uncle really give you this?

—Of course.

The thought of ‘perhaps’ was quickly shattered when she opened the bottle and smelled it.

How could she forget after drinking that medicine, writhing in pain, and dying?

—Ah, uncle…… doesn’t know.

—Elia?

He had only heard the core of the incident related to Cecilia, not knowing that Elia had delivered that medicine bottle.

It was all too careless.

—Elia? Why are you making that expression…….

—Aunt.

Instead of asking her to believe her, Elia pulled a silver ornament from her hair and dropped a single drop of the medicine on its tip.

—Oh my, such precious medicine……!

—Look.

Seeing the pointed tip of the silver ornament turn dark blue, Briana collapsed where she stood.

Elia merely exhaled a breath of disbelief.

—This ornament was given to me by mother. She said it’s silver specially alloyed to detect poison, passed down from my maternal family, the Belests.

Everyone had been too careless.

—But neither mother nor sister…… never thought to suspect family. That’s why I was exiled and had no choice but to die.

The sin of not suspecting blood family was so terrifying.

It wasn’t that Daniel was clever; the shackles of family were just too strong.

—Why would brother want to…… you.

—I’ve seen this medicine before. It was an abortion drug that mother secretly tried to give to Cecilia…… I happened to…… know it was poison, and when I tried to switch it with another medicine, this disaster happened.

Vaguely, she remembered confronting her mother at the end.

Perhaps Lorelaine’s words then were true. That it wasn’t a deadly poison, that it wouldn’t endanger life.

That might have been what Daniel told Lorelaine. Because that deadly poison came back to Elia through his hands.

—Now, I’m starting to understand his mindset a little.

Rockfort’s cold purple eyes, which constantly suspected everything, even her family, were right.

At least, he was not foolish because he was wary of everything, and he didn’t need to die pathetically.

—Aunt, I won’t leave. Instead, take Hannah with you. And please keep everything a secret from uncle.

—Elia…….

—It’s alright, I don’t plan to die from this poison. Will you help me make sure of that?

It was too horrific a pain to experience twice.

—Elia, are you…… certain? The decision you’re making now will change your life. You can’t turn back, ever.

Already, this fate could not be reversed.

—Yes…… I know.

But she didn’t want to die in vain. Especially not for someone else’s desires.

Hadn’t Elia already lived a painful life only to die that way?

“This time, I won’t give it to anyone. Living or dying…… I’ll do it by my own will.”

So the only option left was to confront it.

* * *

The next morning, Peterson approached Daniel, who was openly displaying his discomfort, and reported something.

“Did he really declare that?”

Thud, Daniel’s fist struck the side table.

He had already heard that the Emperor had come to the ducal residence last night to check on Elia’s well-being, but the news that he had loudly declared their engagement enough for the entire mansion to hear was absurd.

“Why Elia of all people? His Majesty would have barely even met her properly.”

There were too many aspects of Rockfort’s behavior that couldn’t be explained by simply honoring the former Emperor’s marriage arrangement.

It almost looked as if there was an unspeakable affection between the Emperor and Elia.

“If I ask the person directly, I’ll get an answer.”

“However, Lady Elia is refusing all visitors, saying she’s unwell. Even Lady Kayla’s request……”

“Elia is still a lady of House Theon. Do I, the head of House Theon, need permission to see her?”

Peterson bowed his head. With Briana gone, there was no one to protect Elia.

Besides, no matter how much commotion the Emperor had caused, Elia was still a lady of House Theon.

“My poor niece is bedridden, so of course I should look in on her. Isn’t that the role of the family head?”

“Your Grace’s words are correct.”

“Then, go immediately and convey my message.”

“Yes.”

Hoo, left alone, Daniel sighed.

He had focused only on eliminating Cecilia and the former duke and duchess, never imagining that Elia, who had no power whatsoever, would stand in his way.

“……She’s just a nineteen-year-old lady.”

He had managed to bring down his brother Beriat, who to him seemed like an insurmountable wall, with his own hands, so there was no way he couldn’t handle Elia.

* * *

From early morning, the imperial physician came to examine Elia’s body. After changing the bandages on her legs, Elia felt refreshed.

“It’s truly fortunate that feeling has returned to your left leg. And the wounds on your right leg have completely healed.”

Hannah couldn’t hide her joy as she massaged the unbandaged leg and arm.

“The imperial physician’s skills are the best in the Empire, aren’t they? Since he said you’ll be able to walk again, there’s nothing to worry about now.”

Last night, Hannah had returned to the ducal residence without sleeping at all because she was worried about Elia. Though she couldn’t hide her fatigue, she looked extremely happy.

“Actually, during the last examination, he looked concerned because you still had no feeling. But he said that since you’re young, your bones will heal quickly, so you just need to eat well.”

While Elia herself hadn’t given much thought to walking again, Hannah clearly had.

Seeing the worry in her wrinkled eyes that Elia might never walk again made her feel both sorry and grateful.

“Don’t worry about anything, Miss. By next year…… you’ll be completely healed.”

“Mm.”

Elia responded to Hannah’s affection with a faint smile.

Indeed, where would she be next year? Would she even be alive?

Concerns she couldn’t share with Hannah welled up, but her thoughts were interrupted by a knock.

“That must be Dain.”

Besides Rockfort who barged in suddenly, it was obvious who would come to this bedroom.

“Tell him to come in.”

She had been expecting news soon.

“Miss, just now the new duke said he wanted to meet you personally.”

Though Dain’s expression was stiff, Elia nodded as if it were nothing.

“Um…… since you’re still unwell, perhaps it would be better to postpone?”

“Dain, come closer.”

At those words, Dain walked over and looked at Elia. His straightforward, inexperienced personality was clearly reflected on his face.

“Hannah, listen well too. Uncle is now officially the Duke of Theon. He is someone we must absolutely obey.”

Elia deliberately hid her hostility toward Daniel and continued calmly.

“Most importantly, don’t say things like ‘new duke.'”

Dain had previously been slapped by Daniel for using the wrong title. There was no need to repeat the same mistake.

“He is both the master of this house and the head of House Theon. Just as everyone followed father before…… make sure to obey him.”

“But, Miss. Our duty is not to obey the duke but to protect you.”

“You need to stay safe to protect me.”

Indeed, both of them could only nod at those words.

“And I wanted to meet uncle too.”

Elia glared at the empty space. Now that the poison that had taken Cecilia’s life in her past life had returned to Elia’s hands, it was time to face his true nature.

“Dain, go tell him it’s fine, and Hannah, brush my hair again.”

When both hesitated, Elia smiled brightly.

“I know I need to be careful around uncle. Don’t worry. I’ll protect my rights.”

“Then I’m reassured.”

The usually taciturn Dain rarely showed emotion, but he bowed deeply and left the room. Hannah carefully brushed Elia’s flowing platinum blonde hair.

Not long after, there was a knock announcing Daniel’s arrival.

“That’s enough. Tell uncle to come in. I…… can’t move.”

“Yes.”