The Countess released Rachel from her embrace and stepped back.

“Rachel, are you really alright?”

Another concerned voice followed—it was Viola.

“Yes. But how is everyone here at this hour?”

Rachel answered plainly while looking around at the people gathered around her. Darkness had already fallen outside, and she was surprised that everyone had been waiting near her room until this late hour.

“We were worried about you, that’s why,” Viola answered Rachel’s question.

Rachel pressed her lips together as she examined each person who had entered the room. Despite the late hour, they had all waited out of concern for her. Looking at them, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. She was both grateful and sorry that so many people were worried about her.

When she thought about how these same people must have experienced and mourned her death in the world she had abandoned through time regression, she couldn’t shake her feeling of guilt.

Before long, the high priest arrived at Rachel’s bedroom. Despite the late hour, he diligently examined her condition. Warm holy energy enveloped Rachel’s body as she surrendered herself to the priest’s hands.

With each pass of the holy energy, the stiffness in her body gradually eased.

After carefully checking Rachel’s condition, the priest withdrew the holy energy he had infused into her body.

“Your body was strained from suddenly receiving magical power. I’ve treated you, but you should rest for a while.”

“Thank you for coming at such a late hour,” Count Pluret expressed gratitude to the priest on Rachel’s behalf. The priest smiled before leaving the bedroom.

“How are you feeling? Better than before?” Viola asked as she approached Rachel’s side.

“Yes. Much better.”

“That’s a relief.”

While Viola was expressing her relief, Tervan, who had been quietly observing Rachel, turned to leave. He moved as quietly as possible and exited the bedroom. Noticing this, Ryan followed after him.

Count Pluret observed them leaving and spoke up. “Since rest is important, we should leave now too. I’m truly thankful you’re safe, my daughter.”

“Sister, are you really okay?” Erika asked.

“Of course. Your sister is fine.”

Rachel smiled at Erika, who still looked gloomy. “It’s late, Erika. You should go rest too. You must be tired from waiting for me to wake up.”

“Mmm,” Erika mumbled in response.

Count Pluret smiled gently and turned around. “Let’s all leave so Rachel can rest.”

“I’ll come again tomorrow,” Viola said.

“Get plenty of rest,” added the Countess.

Rachel watched as everyone left the bedroom. However, two people remained—the maid Catrin and Edward.

While Catrin’s presence made sense, Rachel was puzzled that Edward stayed behind and gave him a questioning look. He approached her in response.

“May I have your hand?” he asked.

“Pardon?”

When Rachel looked up in confusion, Edward nodded slightly, indicating he wanted her to extend her hand. As the bewildered Rachel held out her hand, Edward took something from his pocket and placed it on her palm.

“This is…”

It was a necklace with a transparent jewel. Rachel couldn’t fail to recognize the strange magical energy emanating from it.

She looked up at Edward with wide eyes, clearly demanding an explanation.

“It was left behind where the demon’s contractor died. It must be the Tears of Licorice you’ve been looking for. I thought you might need it, so I brought it. Since you’ve been searching for it.”

“…Thank you.”

Rachel carefully cradled the Tears of Licorice in both hands as she looked up at Edward. He gazed down at her with his usual gentle expression, then hesitantly began to speak.

“The Crown Prince seems to care for you a great deal.”

Rachel’s lips curved into a smile as she reflexively thought of Ryan.

“Yes, it seems so.”

Edward wasn’t so oblivious that he couldn’t understand the meaning behind her smile.

“Do you feel the same way?”

“…”

Rachel fell silent for a moment, unsure how to respond to Edward. She knew that Edward had feelings for her, which made it difficult to gauge how her affirmation would affect him. Yet she also knew that lying to him now would be an even greater deception.

“Yes,” she answered simply.

Edward’s expression froze momentarily at Rachel’s brief response. But it lasted only for a moment.

“I see. That’s good.”

After these short words, Edward pulled his lips into a smile—the same smile he always wore when looking at Rachel.

“Then I’ll be going now too. Rest well.”

Rachel nodded in response.

After Edward slowly turned and left the bedroom, only Rachel and Catrin remained. Rachel stared at the door through which Edward had departed, then shifted her gaze to the Tears of Licorice.

Her greatest concern had been leaving behind the people who cared about her. Once she became aware of their feelings, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon them. Especially knowing this would be the last time—that made it even harder.

But she needed the Tears of Licorice to fulfill her contract. Knowing how much Creon had done for her, she couldn’t ignore her obligation to him. Then, like a miracle, the Tears of Licorice had found its way into her hands. Creon would surely be overjoyed when he learned of this.

Finishing her thoughts, Rachel looked up at Catrin.

“Catrin, what happened to my belongings?”

“I’ve put your things away, my lady.”

Catrin answered with a voice thick with emotion. She too had apparently been holding back tears while waiting for Rachel.

Grateful for Catrin’s concern, Rachel smiled silently.

“Have you been crying?”

“No, I… I haven’t…”

Rachel’s simple question seemed to trigger Catrin’s emotions even more. Rachel gave a bitter smile as she watched the maid fighting back tears.

“I was just so worried about you, my lady…”

“I’m sorry for making you worry. This won’t happen again, so please don’t cry. Besides, I’m perfectly fine.” Rachel shrugged her shoulders a few times, and Catrin swallowed her tears and nodded.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re safe. I’ve been constantly anxious since you said you would join the monster subjugation team. Please promise me you won’t go anywhere dangerous again, if only for my sake.”

“Yes, I promise.”

Catrin smiled faintly at Rachel’s agreement.

“But why did you ask about your belongings?” Having composed herself, Catrin suddenly remembered Rachel’s earlier question, certain there must be a reason behind it.

“Did you also put away the red necklace that was in my pocket?”

“Yes, I did. But why do you carry two identical necklaces?”

“I have my reasons.”

Rachel gave a vague answer, finding it difficult to explain that one necklace contained the sealed demon while the other was a replica. Fortunately, Catrin didn’t press the matter further.

“Could you bring me the necklace?”

“Yes. Should I bring both?”

“Yes.”

Rachel asked for both necklaces since Catrin, being far removed from magic, wouldn’t be able to distinguish which one contained the sealed time demon Creon.

After Catrin left the bedroom, Rachel felt a sense of emptiness. Just moments ago, the room had been bustling with people and overflowing with energy, but now it felt cold and desolate. Though Rachel was accustomed to this atmosphere, today the room felt particularly unfamiliar.

* * *

As Tervan exited the bedroom, Ryan immediately followed him out.

“Lord Sanchez.”

He called out to Tervan, who was walking down the corridor.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with you.”

“…”

Tervan stopped abruptly in his tracks. After a slight pause, he turned to face Ryan.

Ryan calmly waited for Tervan’s response.

After a moment’s hesitation, Tervan nodded.

“Yes.”

Once Tervan agreed, Ryan asked a maid waiting outside to guide them to a suitable place for conversation. Though he preferred not to use someone else’s facilities without permission, Ryan felt he had no choice as this might be his only opportunity.

The maid led them to a small reception room on the third floor.

The two men entered and sat on opposing sofas, neither speaking for some time. An awkward, heavy silence settled between them.

Tervan was the first to break the silence.

“I know you called me because of Rachel.”