While riding in the carriage on our way to the Imperial Palace, nothing eventful happened.

I had been worried that duke Angellus might try something during the travelling process to eliminate me, but luckily, that fear proved unfounded.

‘Having the Imperial soldiers with me means he can’t make any hasty moves.’

In case something happened to me on the way, we can pass the blame to the other party. Duke Perdia was indeed a formidable opponent.

I was taken to a luxurious guest bedroom in the western annex under the pretext of quarantine.

Everything in the room, from the furniture to the bedding, was top-notch. However, it still couldn’t compare to the bedroom Duke Perdia had prepared for me in his mansion.

As far as I knew, the western annex was a building used when nobility visited the Imperial Palace.

I didn’t think they would send me to a hidden underground dungeon, but the hospitality was more elaborate than I expected. Not that I felt any better about being treated like this; it was merely for show, a way to avoid causing any scandal later on.

“Anyway, it’s still a prison. A high-end prison.”

Nobles sure treated their prisoners well.

‘Are they trying to deceive the public?’

With the Emperor lying in bed for the world to see, I couldn’t imagine him issuing orders for my arrest. So, the culprit had to be the Empress.

Did she try to manipulate her son Beltran into delivering me to her, but things didn’t go as planned? She didn’t seem to pose any immediate threat to my safety, but it was best to remain cautious. While inspecting the room for any hidden magical devices, a voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

[Since there’s no one here, can I go out?]

‘No.’

[…… aww].

Without any sign of remorse, Greed kept trying to pop out at every opportunity, driven by his insatiable greed. I responded calmly, resisting his attempts to surface. There didn’t seem to be any magical devices in plain sight that I could detect.

I tried to act as non-suspicious as possible in case I hadn’t spotted them.

After a while, a person who appeared to be a servant came in, put down some refreshments and left without saying anything. Greed greedily aimed at the sweets.

[I want some snacks too].

‘I’m not going to eat them.’

[Why not? The poison won’t work].

‘Just because it doesn’t work doesn’t mean it’s not painful.’

[I want to eat it even if it were poison!]

‘No, you can’t.’

While it didn’t seem like there was any poison in the snacks, I didn’t want to take any chances.

Even if there was no poison, eating them could still lead to discomfort.

I couldn’t let my guard down as long as there was no guarantee of safety.

Even in this situation, called quarantine and meant as confinement, there were advantages.

It’s about being able to have time alone.

Ever since I woke up after fainting during the festival incident, I hadn’t had any time to myself in the mansion.

With no one to disturb me now, I could immerse myself in my thoughts.

Naturally, my mind drifted back to my conversation with Ishtar.

‘Mum! Where is she?’

[She is in an unreachable, deep place.]

‘What can I do to wake my dad?!’

[My fifth child, searching for a dream…]

First, Mom.

I couldn’t know where the unreachable place was, but I was certain that she was alive.

Since I confirmed that even the god Ishtar could not reach her, there was no way I, a mere human, could find my mother.

Next, my father.

‘She said child. The fifth child.’

Ishtar called me a child, too.

Not only that, but Mother and Raeyan were also Ishtar’s “children.” In other words, the beings Ishtar called children were those with the power of heroes and their descendants.

It seems that in order to wake up my biological father, I have to find the “fifth” of the seven families, including the two destroyed families…….

‘By what criterion are you ranked fifth?’

I recalled the powers of the Seven Families I’d read about in a history book not long ago.

<Light> of Wallent.

<Darkness> of Vietan.

<Destruction> of Perdia.

<Purification> of Severes.

<Regeneration> of Angellus.

<Mutation> of Kreundel.

<Prediction> of Apellites.

The only other clue was ‘dreams’, but dreams were not among the powers Ishtar granted to heroes. ……Maybe? As soon as one thought occurred to me, I called out to Greed.

‘Greed.’

[Hmm, why do you call?]

‘Among the sins, is there an ability related to dreams?’

[Why should I tell you?]

His uncooperative attitude irritated me. He seemed stubborn, especially since he couldn’t come out, and I denied him snacks.

‘I’ll give you all the cookies.’

Upon hearing that, Greed immediately responded.

[There is!]

“Oh! Who is it?!

[Sloth!]

Sloth. If it is sloth-.

“The Kreundel family!”

The House of Kreundel had sealed the sin of sloth.

I recalled the Duke of Kreundel.

I had never spoken to him, but I remembered seeing his face from afar at formal events.

He was an unmarried young duke, considered a prospective bridegroom candidate in high society along with Jansi and Carlot.

My initial joy at discovering his identity was short-lived as I immediately fell into despair.

‘There’s no connection…!’

I thought, who would give their sin to a woman from an unfamiliar family like me for no apparent reason!

***

At the moment when Elodie was screaming.

Duke Perdia was occupied with catching up on his postponed external appointments during the family’s closure.

While touring the areas within his jurisdiction with his proxy, he sensed a familiar presence approaching.

“Father!”

His second son, Carlot, who had nothing but training on his agenda today, dismounted from his horse and stood before him.

“What brings you here, Carlot?”

“Why aren’t you answering your communication device?”

“I must have left it behind.”

The communications tool was so new that he sometimes forgot he had to carry it.

Today was no exception. As expected, Carlot quickly reported the situation.

“A representative of the Duke of Angellus swooped in with some imperial soldiers and took Sister Lili away.”

“……what?”

Elodie had told him to tell him when the Duke of Perdia returned home, but he couldn’t wait until then.

‘What if something happens to my sister in the meantime?’

Carlot remembered the previous attack.

He remembered Elodie letting go of his hand without hesitation during that attack. Apparently, it had been the work of Duke Angellus. There was no guarantee that the same person wouldn’t try to take her life again.

There was little difference between then and now.

He failed to stop Elodie from being dragged into danger.

He was incompetent.

Still.

As Carlot regained his senses, he realized he was already riding on a horse outside the mansion.

His heart wasn’t settled, and his hand holding the reins trembled incessantly.

Duke Perdia’s golden eyes turned cold upon hearing Carlot’s report.

“They purposely took advantage of my absence.”

“Sister Lili told me to contact the Temple of Ishtar.”

“Very well. I understand.”

Carlot’s trembling subsided a bit.

He had faith that if it were his father, he would be able to rescue his sister soon.

“You’re going straight to the palace, aren’t you? I’ll come with you.”

But the Duke of Perdia’s answer was unexpected.

“I’m not going to the palace.”

“……?”

“I’m returning to the mansion.”

Carlot had assumed that his father would immediately go to rescue Elodie and protested.

“We need to storm the imperial castle and bring her back!”

“Carlot, don’t be rash.”

“But the opponent is Duke Angellus! What if something happens to her in the meantime?”

“You’re being foolish.”

Under his father’s reprimanding glare, Carlot stiffened.

Sylvester explained to his agitated son.

“If you lead troops to the imperial castle right now, that would be considered treason.”

It was likely that Duke Angellus’ actions were not unilateral but part of a joint effort with the imperial army.

The Empress would have some involvement in this matter since she held most of the emperor’s authority while he was incapacitated. Defying her wishes would be tantamount to defying the emperor himself.

“But……!”

The Duke of Perdia asked sternly, cutting off any protest.

“Why didn’t you prevent Elodie from going in the first place?”

“Well, that’s because…… I took the initiative, and my sister…….”

The duke’s question was answered.

Okay.

He thought that was odd.

Why did she step forward when the recent Elodie, even if they had managed to push their way into the manor, would have been waiting for the duke himself to return home.

She must have tried to protect her frantic little brother but ultimately been swept away by the situation.

No wonder Carlot was more agitated than usual.

It must be because of guilt.

“Is that all Elodie said?”

“…….Yes.”

“Let’s go back.”

Duke Perdia halted his external affairs and mounted his horse. He looked back at his son.

Carlot, though pretending otherwise, was still trembling.

“Elodie is stronger than you think, Carlot.”

“Huh…?”

“So, believe in her.”

The Elodie from the past would have been defeated. But the present Elodie would be fine.

“If we’re going to rescue her, we need to do it for sure.”

He laughed bitterly as he recalled what had happened.

“The trampling part comes afterwards.”

***

I hid Greed under the blanket and placed the plate of cookies inside.

‘Pig.’

[I’m not a pig; I’m not a fox… I’m Greed!]

Crunsh, crunsh.

As I was staring blankly at Greed eating sweets.

Knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door.

I pretended to be asleep, hoping whoever it was would go away, but it was a futile effort.

Bam.

With a resounding creak, the door opened without permission.

Stepping in boldly was none other than the Second Prince, Beltran.

It seemed he didn’t know I was awake because when our eyes met, he hesitated and took a step back.

“Oh, I thought you were sleeping.”

“I greet you, Your Highness, the Second Prince.”

“Did I wake the Lady?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry about that.”

Beltran chuckled, showing no signs of genuine remorse.

“I heard that the Lady is isolated in the annex. I got worried; you know? Thought I might keep you company or something.”

“It’s alright, Your Highness. It would be best for you to return to avoid any misunderstandings.”

As if the rumors about dating that guy weren’t bad enough, if rumors spread about us having a secret rendezvous, everyone would think I was involved with Beltran.

‘Ugh, I hate this!’

I’d rather remain unmarried for life than have rumors circulate that I’m dating such a good-for-nothing. Despite my strong feelings, Beltran, seemingly oblivious to my displeasure, ignored my dismissal and closed the door behind him.

“It’s okay, Lady. The servants have already been discreet.”

‘Just advertise it boldly then.’

Since he had come in so blatantly, there was no stopping the rumors. Did that rascal even realize how careless the servants could be?

“Well, if you need anything, just tell me.”

“I’m fine.”

“Is there something you’d like to eat or perhaps some reading material I can fetch for you?”

“I’m okay.”

Despite my repeated refusals, Beltran didn’t give up, either because he was clueless or pretending to be so.

“You don’t need to decline.”

“You don’t have to pay me any mind, Your Highness.”

“I’ve heard the princess is in quite a bit of trouble, how could I pass you by?”

‘Just walk away, please…’

No matter what I said, it seemed like he wasn’t going to leave.

I stared at Beltran, eager to talk as I please, but he blushed and averted his gaze.

“Well, anyway, the reason I came to see you, Lady, is to offer my help.”

“And how are you going to help?”

“I’ve heard that the Lady is in a difficult situation. A meeting is about to take place.”

As I nodded, Beltran continued speaking.

“My mother may have permitted this meeting, but I can do my best to put a stop to it.”

“Your Highness?”

I asked with the implication of, ‘You, really?’ But it seemed to come across as, ‘Wow, you’re doing this for me?’

Beltran nodded enthusiastically with a confident expression.

“Yes, if the Lady desires it, I will tell them to release you immediately.”

I asked without any expectations.

“Then, would you please tell them?”

“It’s not that simple. There’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

Beltran, this time, looked directly into my eyes with a serious tone.

“You have to marry me, Lady. That’s the condition.”

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