In the eyes of Duke Perdia, his son’s gaze gleamed.

‘You’ve grown up.’

Suddenly, the extent of his son’s growth became strikingly apparent to him.

As the heir of Perdia, his son had always been careful, concealing his inner thoughts and intentions. But now, he was openly asking questions.

Following Carlot, even Jansi’s attitude towards his own father has changed.

What had caused his two sons to change? He already knew the answer.

Their expressions regarding Elodie had changed. If that was the case for them, could he himself be any different?

 “Father.”

When there was no response, Jansi called out to him again.

“I don’t know.”

Despite the tension, Duke Perdia’s response was short and firm. Jansi scrutinized his father’s face closely.

‘It’s clear that you know something,’ Jansi thought.

Even so, what could he do? There was nothing he could do against the head of the family.

While his brother and father exchanged glances, Carlot looked at the sleeping Elodie with a sullen face.

“If this continues, and sister never wakes up…….”.

As if in response to his words, Elodie’s eyelids trembled and then slowly opened.

 “……!”

In that single moment, the entire Perdia family turned to look at Elodie in unison.

***

After a long period of sleeping, I woke up to a splitting headache, as is often the case. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by a truly terrifying sight.

‘Wh-what? ‘

I doubted my eyes for a moment; I expected to wake up alone, or maybe with Martha, but that wasn’t the case.

 There were not one, not two, not three, but four Perdia´s! Startled and shocked, I jolted up, blinking my eyes, unable to say anything. The first one to speak to me was the Duchess.

“You’re awake, Lili. How’s your body feeling?”

“I’m fine!”

In truth, my head was pounding, and I suddenly got dizzy from sitting up, but I didn’t mention that. Then, Carlot, who had been sitting next to the bed with his arms crossed, mumbled in a low voice.

“As if you’re fine. It’s been three days since you fainted!”

Three days? Really three days?

 “For that long?”

“Yeah! Do you have any idea how worried we were?”

Carlot’s voice was filled with anger. I was just feeling flustered.

‘We…….worried.’

That sounds like every single person in the room with the surname Perdia was worried about me. Strangely, no one denied that they were worried.

‘Did they really worry about me? The people of Perdia?’

As always, I couldn’t help but wonder how strange it felt to hear that someone was worried about me. The impact of those words was indescribable.

“If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, let us know, Elodie”, said the duke.

“Well, my head is throbbing a little……”

I tried not to say it until the end, but I couldn’t help but let out a weak sound, that was not like me.

I’m afraid that if I say I’m sick, they’ll pay more attention.

 Was it necessary to say? I looked up timidly and made eye contact with the Duke.

Duke Perdia, who had been looking down at me, strode up to me.

 “……?!”

His firm, calloused, large hand with thick bones covered my forehead.

“No fever.”

“Uh, I must be in pain from sleeping for a long time.”

“Just in case, it’s better to see a doctor. If there’s anything else uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to say.”

“Yes.”

Nodding my head with a sense of reassurance, I suddenly realized something. I hastily held onto the duke’s arm that was resting on my forehead.

“Father! Is your shoulder, okay?”

The incident from three days ago.

The moment Greed called out to Irkala, the beasts surged toward me. At that moment, the duke’s shoulder was ruthlessly pierced by the beasts’ claws as he shielded me from its attack.

The memory was still so vivid that it would come back to me vividly whenever I closed my eyes.

The bleeding had been so severe that he could have collapsed right there on the floor. But was he really, okay? Outwardly, the Duke’s face was unaffected, though his robes were clearly tattered.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you really okay?”

“I said I’m fine.”

Words alone couldn’t put me at ease. Holding onto his arm as if it were my last lifeline, the duke chuckled lightly.

“Why. Would you believe me if I took off my clothes here to prove it?”

Then, Jansi, who was standing behind, cleared his throat.

“Ahem.”

“Sister, before you worry about Father, worry about yourself first. Father usually recovers faster than ordinary people.”

Saying so, Carlot added in a small voice, “And also, please take care of our eyes.”.

Actually, that seemed to be the point.

“I’m glad you’re okay…”

Feeling like I might become a shameless daughter who wants to see her father’s bare body, I quickly let go of the duke’s arm.

 Ahaha. I was awkwardly chuckling when coincidentally, my eyes met with Jansi’s.

Jansi smiled gently and called my name.

“Lili. You know.”

“Yes.”

“Can you explain how you closed the rift?”

 “Ah, that.”

Yeah. I didn’t think I could just gloss over it.

Especially not when it came to Jansi Perdia, who had a personality that demanded to know everything before their peace of mind could be restored.

 What do I need right now? Acting skills that could rival Hollywood!

 I clasped my head with both hands and mumbled in confusion, as if to say I was puzzled.

“I, I don’t know either.”

I’m in the dark for now. I know nothing!

“I don’t remember. When I came to my senses, I was in front of the altar… Ugh. My head…..!”

It really did hurt, so my pained act was quite convincing.

“Lili? You don’t have to push yourself. Relax.”, reassured me the Duchess.

The Duchess, who was sitting on the bed, gently stroked my back. I didn’t expect her to be this concerned, so my body stiffened in surprise.

 “I suppose it’s because you’re the Savior of Ishtar or something. You’ve fallen into the temple before, haven’t you?”

Carlot laid out his own guesses while preventing Jansi from prying further.

‘Carl, nice move.’

But it’s still too early to feel relieved. Jansi is quite persistent.

“Really, you don’t remember anything at all?”, he asked again.

“I’m sorry for not being of any help, brother.”

I murmured pitifully and hunched my body. As I was inwardly admiring my own abominable performance, a stern voice came from above.

 “Jansi, that’s enough. Don’t bother a person who’s already sick.”

It wasn’t really sick, yet it felt like I had turned into a patient. With the Duke of Perdia around me, Jansi couldn’t continue his inquiries.

“Yes, Father. I’ll call the doctor.”

As he left the room, Jansi’s gaze shifted somewhere. When I saw where his gaze was directed, I was taken aback.

Jansi was showing a defiant gaze? To the Duke of Perdia? It was unthinkable.

 The Jansi I knew was the kind of person with a strong desire for recognition from the Duke of Perdia. No, I quickly dismissed that thought.

 ‘It doesn’t matter if it’s like the original. It doesn’t have any significance anyway, since it never existed in the first place.’

Even if it’s considered manipulated records, the essence is still the memories of a past life. I couldn’t completely dismiss it, but I no longer wanted to be entangled in those thoughts.

Many things had already changed.

Facing the worries of the family member of Perdia all on my own was something I couldn’t have imagined in the past.

Both my relationship with these people and the things I need to do from now on.

Let’s face them properly. Without running away.

‘Okay. I’ll give it a try.’

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***

“Well then, rest easy for now”.

 “Sister, I’ll come back tomorrow!”.

Thud.

As the Duchess and Carlot exchanged greetings and left the room, I was left alone.

No, to be precise, I wasn’t completely alone.

 “Hey.”

Silence. I chuckled softly. It was the response I had anticipated, but I wasn’t giving up.

“Hey. Black fox.”

[Not Black Fox!]

The name “Black Fox” seemed to irk Greed, as he quickly replied.

 Suppressing the urge to give him a good squeeze out of sheer annoyance, I asked him.

“Do you know how close I came to dying because of you?”

 [No! It had nothing to do with me!]

“What? This fox guy?”

[I don’t know anything. I have no memories. Ahh, my head hurts!]

Whether he had picked up something from my acting earlier or not, Greed only repeated that he didn’t know anything.

“Hah, that’s what it comes down to, huh?”

I raised the corner of my mouth and removed the sealing stone from around my neck.

[What are you doing?]

 “…….”

Without responding, I came down from the bed and picked up something from the table.

 [He, heuk!]

Recognizing what it was, Greed winced. The corners of my mouth twitched at the stronger than expected reaction.

“Rejoice. From this day forward, it is the six deadly sins.”

Mwahaha.

After throwing the sealing stone on the table, Greed cried out desperately as I smiled like a villain while holding up a fruit knife.

 [Aaahhhh! Spare me!]

 “Not a chance.”

Without hesitation, I slammed it down.

Thud-.

 [Whoa, wha…….]

As I had planned, the knife landed right next to the seal stone.

 Just a little slip, and it would have pierced the sealing stone right through the side.

I had no intention of discarding Greed’s useful ability. I just wanted to give him a scare.

Whether Greed actually thought I was going to break the seal stone or not, its mournful cries stung my ears.

[Sniff, sniff. Sob…]

“Quiet.”

[Gulp.]

The power of justice made Greed listen. I smiled in satisfaction.

 “I see, the sword is the answer to a sin that won’t listen.”

 [Heuk!]

“I can see you truly hold your former master in horrid regard. It’s truly a tearful loyalty. But that won’t do, traitorous sin. Don’t forget we’re in a contract right now.”

[Well, Irkala, I miss her so much that I can’t…..]

“Enough?”

[F-Fine! I won’t do it again!]

I liked the resolve in his voice, but I warned it in a stern voice.

“For a week, don’t leave the sealing stone. It’s a punishment.”

 [Hic…….]

Disregarding Greed’s pitiful whining, I casually ignored his voice as I searched through the drawer next to the bed.

Just as I retrieved the communication magic tool, a familiar voice reached me from outside the door.

“Miss!!!”

Martha rushed toward me, flinging the plate of food onto the table.

‘My meal……’

I struggled to avert my eyes from the spilled soup and tried to reassure Martha.

“Well, since I’m not dead, it’s okay.”

“Don’t even joke about it! Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

Come to think of it, there was someone who cared about me. A person who is not Perdia, but who sincerely cares about me.

 “Thank you, Martha.”

Why are you suddenly saying that? Don’t say farewell-like things to me as if you´re about to die.”

As I suddenly thanked her sincerely, Martha seemed uncomfortable and replied with a grimace.

 I avoided getting too emotional, as expressing more gratitude might make her burst into tears, so I changed the subject.

“Martha. Would you mind gathering up any newspapers or magazines that were published while I was asleep?”

 “I knew you’d say that, and I’ve already collected them all.”

 “Just as I expected from you, Martha.”

 “I’ll get them while you eat. Oh my, doesn´t it looks like the soup has decreased by half?”

 “…….”

“Just have this for now!”

After Martha had me sit on the bed, she set up the meal for me. I cautiously ate what was left of the soup. However, just as Martha was about to leave, she turned back to me.

 “But Miss, while you were asleep, Black hasn’t been around. What should we do?”

[I’m right here!]

Ignoring Greed’s shout from within the sealing stone, I responded as if genuinely not knowing.

“Really? Maybe he went out.”

“Oh no, what should we do then?”

[I didn’t go out!]

“He’ll probably be back later. Don’t worry about it, Martha.”

“Yes…”

 [Martha!!]

One day she said she didn’t like him, the next she said she had grown attached to him, and Greed called her as if they had been lovers for a thousand years.

 Naturally, Martha, who could not hear him, quickly left the room.

Afterwards, I checked the newspapers and magazines she had brought with her and raised my eyebrows.

“There’s just so much about Elodie…”

From beginning to end, it was all about me!