Herman, who had returned to the palace after a long time, crossed through the castle. He was heading to inform Carlos, who was said to be in the Lily Palace, about new information he had heard from Viscount Delmonsi.

Throughout his journey to the Lily Palace, Herman recalled his conversation with Delmonsi. The words from his mouth were truly shocking. It was none other than the fact that the Queen possessed a sacred ability called healing power. Moreover…

‘Strictly speaking, it’s not healing power but rather the act of transferring others’ wounds to her own body. What do you think was the reason His Majesty, who had been limping, suddenly became able to walk perfectly overnight? And do you really think it was a coincidence that the Queen started limping at the same time?’

According to Delmonsi, it was also the Queen who had healed Carlos’s leg in the past. Saying that was her ability. And when Marquis Descartes and his close associates discovered this fact, they exploited the Queen’s ability. It was when His Majesty had temporarily left the capital under the pretext of inspecting the territory.

‘I will tell you the list of those who exploited Her Majesty’s ability. They should all be punished for high treason!’

He added that he had never exploited the Queen’s ability himself and that when he later learned the truth, he had tried to stop them. Herman clenched his fist as he recalled Delmonsi’s words again.

‘Is that really true?’

While the truth needed to be verified, when piecing together the circumstances of what had happened, it all made sense. Because of this, Herman’s steps quickened as he planned to report this fact to Carlos as soon as possible.

Just as Herman reached the Lily Palace, when he was about to knock on the bedroom door to call Carlos, who was said to be with the Queen, he heard a woman sobbing through the door.

It was an explicit conversation between the Queen refusing, saying she didn’t want to, and Carlos continuing his actions while ignoring her opinion. Herman’s brows furrowed. He felt like he had eavesdropped on his master’s private life that he shouldn’t have heard.

‘I should probably come back another time.’

Just as Herman was turning away, judging that it wasn’t an appropriate time to deliver the news, Jeff, the head servant, stopped him.

“Herman.”

Jeff took Herman to a quiet place and carefully spoke.

“It would be better not to come near the Lily Palace for a while.”

Even without detailed explanation, he could roughly guess the circumstances. It would be for the same reason he had just heard at the door. After hesitating for a moment, Herman asked Jeff.

“Since when? His Majesty being like this…”

“It was around when you had just left the palace. At that time, Her Majesty tried to take her life again. I suppose His Majesty was feeling urgent.”

This meant the situation had been going on for at least two weeks. Jeff covered his master’s faults with a plausible excuse.

“But is this really alright? Her Majesty hasn’t been long since losing her child…”

“This is a private matter between husband and wife before being about the king. It’s not something we can discuss.”

Herman closed his mouth at Jeff’s words. There was nothing wrong with what he said. Perhaps if it had been his previous self, he would have just looked the other way. But perhaps because of hearing Delmonsi’s story, Herman somehow felt sorry for the Queen.

‘If Delmonsi’s words are true, then His Majesty’s leg…’

Queen Ines must have healed it. And in return, she became a cripple herself.

Herman was at a loss for how to deliver this news now that things had come to this.

He was also worried about Carlos’s reaction upon learning the truth. He had added scandal to the Queen’s disability without knowing any of this, hadn’t he? If he heard this news, even the subjects who had resented and hated Ines might feel some sympathy for her.

Just as Herman was letting out a heavy sigh at the absurd reality, the bedroom door opened and Carlos appeared. Looking disheveled and his whole body soaked in sweat, he appeared like someone who had just finished intense exercise.

Carlos, seemingly intending to return straight to his office, instructed Jeff.

“Call a maid to clean the bedroom. And tell them never to leave Ines alone.”

“Yes, understood.”

Jeff bowed his head as if already familiar with this. Only then seeming to notice Herman, Carlos casually asked.

“What brings you here?”

Belatedly coming to his senses at his question, Herman answered.

“Ah, I’ve dealt with almost all of Descartes’s remaining followers as you ordered, Your Majesty. We also caught Viscount Delmonsi who was trying to leave the country.”

“Good work.”

“However…”

Just as Herman was about to bring up what he had heard from Delmonsi, Carlos cut off his words as if remembering something.

“Ah, Jeff. Come to think of it, I’m worried about having just a maid in the room. Last time something happened even with a maid watching. Rather than that, it might be better to tie her hands so Ines can’t do anything else. With something that won’t hurt her wrists.”

It was Herman, not Jeff, who reacted to Carlos’s words.

“Pardon? Are you saying you’re going to tie Her Majesty to the bed?”

“Just for a while. Until Ines becomes pregnant, I’m still worried.”

“…”

Herman stared at Carlos’s face as he casually talked about imprisoning his wife. His eyes seemed unable to make rational judgments due to anxiety about possibly losing Ines.

‘Should I really deliver this news in such a state?’

As Herman was lost in worried thoughts, Carlos asked.

“You seemed to have something else to report?”

“Ah…”

Herman, who had been conflicted between simply reporting according to his duty or waiting until the situation improved, shook his head.

“It’s nothing.”

“In that case, you can go home for today. You’ve worked hard, so take some rest for a while.”

Fortunately, Carlos seemed uninterested in his report and quickly turned away.

“…Yes, understood.”

Herman bid him farewell with proper courtesy, though with an uneasy feeling.

The luxury residential area near Richard Palace was one of the districts where nobles lived. Herman’s house was also located quite close to Richard Palace. It was a house that Carlos had granted him after the successful coup.

Returning home after a long time, Herman loosened his choking tie and lay down on the sofa.

“Huu…”

Resting his head on the sofa headrest as if tired, he closed his eyes and recalled what had happened earlier. He felt guilty about not reporting to Carlos what he had heard from Delmonsi.

“But to tell that now…”

He couldn’t predict at all how the situation would unfold afterward. Carlos had never been able to make rational judgments when it came to the Queen. Look at him now. Isn’t he doing such things because the Queen tried to take her life?

Should he, as a subject, give advice? Just as he was deep in contemplation, Mrs. McCullin, the house maid, burst through the door.

“Lord Herman!”

Herman instinctively rose at her urgent voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“You need to go to the second floor right away!”

Herman’s face darkened rapidly at the mention of the second floor. That was where his sister Haley stayed.

When he rushed up to the second floor in one breath, he was greeted by his young sister having a seizure.

“Haley!”

When he arrived on the second floor, Haley was writhing on the bed, screaming. She seemed to be struggling even to breathe, barely managing to exhale while choking.

“Calm down, Haley. It’s alright. It’s just a dream.”

Herman began to soothe his sister as if familiar with this situation, having experienced it several times before.

Haley had been r*ped by Duke Claudia’s son in the past. Afterward, his son set fire to his sister’s body to destroy evidence. Because of that, Haley’s body still bore terrible burn scars from that time.

Thanks to Carlos’s help in bringing the continent’s best doctors for treatment, the scars had improved from before, but even that seemed too much for Haley.

Herman bit his lip as he saw the scars briefly visible on the back of her neck. Just as he recalled that bastard’s face when seeing these scars, it seemed Haley too remembered that day whenever she saw her scars.

“Brother…”

Though Haley’s seizure subsided somewhat upon seeing Herman, as if feeling relieved, her body was still shaking severely.

“It’s okay now. It’s just a dream. Just a terrible nightmare. Such things won’t happen anymore…”

Herman hugged his pitiful sister even tighter. Her small body was trembling, perhaps still vivid from the nightmare.

‘If only there weren’t any scars…’

She could have escaped from the terrible nightmares a bit faster. Then she could have lived happily, dating like other peers and wearing pretty clothes. He felt sorry for his sister who couldn’t enjoy what other women did.

He would do anything for Haley, his only remaining family. If he could take her scars onto his own body instead, he would gladly do so.

As Herman was biting his lip in grief, suddenly Delmonsi’s words echoed in his ears.

‘Her Majesty the Queen possesses healing power.’

At that moment, Herman, recalling Ines’s face, traced his sister’s scars with his hand.

“Perhaps…”

Just then, as he was staring at Haley’s scars with an unreadable expression.

He clenched his fist as if having made some decision.