Finally, having seemingly made up his mind, Kyron slowly walked toward me. When he was close enough that I could reach out and touch him, he opened his mouth.

“You can’t go see the fireworks. I don’t like that fireworks tradition.”

To me, who had been waiting intently for his response, it was a deflating remark.

This wasn’t an answer to my question.

I was angry.

“Does it matter right now that you don’t like the tradition?”

“Yes. If nothing else, I hate that fireworks tradition.”

He sounded like a stubborn child, saying he didn’t like it, so I couldn’t go. Did he have bad memories associated with fireworks or something?

This had nothing to do with the reasons I couldn’t go. Did I now have to consider Kyron’s preferences when deciding my actions?

“If you really want to go out, pick another day. Not the day of the fireworks.”

“I don’t want to go on any other day. I want to go that day.”

“Why?”

“Because no one is helping me. I have to save myself.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m being misunderstood because of the Saintess. It’s unfair. So I need to clear up the misunderstanding. I’m going to take action, somehow.”

“I can take care of that issue for you.”

“You?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was genuinely funny.

It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in his abilities—I didn’t believe in his willingness.

“You’re going to take care of it for me?”

“Yes. So just stay here where it’s safe.”

Our conversation was going nowhere. It felt like we were walking in circles. I wanted this conversation to move forward.

I stopped speaking, took a deep breath, and stared out the window.

What should I say to Kyron?

“…Why are you stopping me from going out and telling me to stay safe inside?”

Still looking out the window, I slowly turned my gaze back to my husband.

“You don’t even love me, do you?”

At that moment, Kyron looked as though he had been struck. Perhaps he hadn’t expected someone as inherently gentle as me to say such a thing.

“If you explain your reasons, maybe I’ll be able to understand.”

I was willing to wait however long it took for his answer.

Why did he always make things difficult for me? Why did he choose me as his marriage partner, and why wouldn’t he even let me be sick?

I had always been curious, and today, I wanted to know.

Finally, Kyron’s lips parted.

“You’re too weak. That’s why I need to be by your side. I’m just fulfilling my role as your husband.”

“…Is that really all there is to it?”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“That’s all there is to it.”

His role as a husband.

To me, that sounded like he was telling me not to expect love from him.

That he couldn’t give me such a thing. So I shouldn’t ask him again.

“You’re not going to the fireworks. Just keep that in mind.”

With those final words, Kyron left.

Being left alone was always my fate.

***

As promised, the Emperor’s personal physician arrived.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Haha, it wasn’t far at all. His Majesty deeply wishes for your speedy recovery, so of course, I had to come.”

It was incredibly reassuring to know that the Emperor cared about me.

“I should visit His Majesty soon to express my gratitude. I’ll prepare a gift, even if it’s insufficient.”

The Emperor seemed like a generous person. I couldn’t understand how someone like the Crown Prince could have come from him.

“Are we doing more tests today?”

“No, Madam. I didn’t come here for tests today.”

“Then what brings you here?”

Since every visit from a doctor had been for seemingly pointless tests, his words were unexpected.

“I came to share the results of my research. Do you remember the title of the book I showed you last time?”

How could I forget? The title was Diseases: The Curse of Divine Power. How could I forget the ominous word “curse”?

“I remember.”

“I’ve conducted further research into that book and related topics.”

“Did you find anything useful?”

The physician nodded gravely. I swallowed nervously, waiting for his next words.

“Divine power is a force that has a positive effect on humans. It’s a blessing from the gods. If you’ve experienced the sweetness of ‘Divine Power Release,’ you’ll understand.”

I remembered the mysterious feeling of the Divine Power Release. I nodded.

“But sometimes, a kind of side effect occurs. Since the side effect stems from divine power, it’s difficult for human knowledge to identify its cause or provide a solution.”

His explanation aligned with my condition—no doctor had been able to identify the cause or offer a cure.

“Side effects manifest in various forms, but they often involve specific symptoms in the body, such as the recurring coughing and blood spitting you’ve experienced.”

“I see.”

I nodded as I listened to his explanation, but my mind was still full of questions.

“The title of the book used the frightening word ‘curse,’ but if you think about it, it’s not really a curse. It would be more accurate to say that it’s a blessing from the gods, accompanied by side effects.”

“A blessing from the gods…”

“Even recalling what happened at the annex…”

He had been at the annex that day, and although he had arrived a bit late, he was one of the first witnesses. He also knew of the Saintess’s claim that I possessed divine power.

“The assumption that you possess divine power, and that the side effects of it are causing your illness, seems quite plausible. Perhaps the Saintess was able to sense your divine power.”

The fact that I had moved the ‘Priest’s Stone‘ also supported the idea that I possessed divine power.

“Through my research, I felt as though the fog that had clouded everything was gradually lifting. I believe I can identify the cause of your illness.”

The physician’s face was bright, as if he had made a significant discovery.

I possess divine power, and it is the source of my illness. To cure the illness, I must resolve the side effects of this divine power.

“I see. Now we can approach this illness from a new perspective. It might be better than repeating meaningless tests and drug administrations. Thank you. Without you, I might never have figured this out.”

The physician truly deserved credit. No one else could have made such a discovery.

“It’s nothing, Madam. I’m simply glad to be able to help.”

He smiled kindly, like someone who had just solved a major problem and felt relieved.

However… my heart was not as light as his. There were still parts obscured by fog, fundamental questions that remained unanswered.

I quietly asked the doctor, who was still smiling.

“But… why do I have divine power in the first place? Divine power that wasn’t detected when I was younger.”

If I had truly received a ‘blessing from the gods,’ what was the reason for it?

The physician hesitated at my question.

“That… I have not yet discovered, Madam.”

For the first time, the physician couldn’t answer my question. Perhaps it was the most important question of all.

Since I had failed to persuade Kyron, I planned to secretly sneak out of the duchy.