Tia.

Please tell me, Daddy.

Yes, thats right.

I expected that I broke into an empty smile.

Poison, poison? Just as I thought the pro-emperor faction couldnt touch Jiun because of Gods possible punishment, I thought that the noble faction couldnt touch me because I could hear Gods prophecy. I felt I let my guard down too early.

Can the doctor neutralize it?

.

It looks like he cant.

Currently, Im trying to catch the mastermind, and the emperor ordered them to find the High Priest and bring him to the palace.

Even if you catch the criminal, there is no guarantee that you can get an antidote, so its probably the best policy for me to stick it out until the High Priest arrives.

Yes, thats right.

He smiled bitterly. Compared to the past, my physique improved a lot, but I wondered if I could hold out until the High Priest came.

Did you discover who was the suspect?

The maid who served you at the 1st Knights Division.

Oh, I see.

She was the maid I scolded for her sloppy job. When I asked her, she was always late.

I unwittingly let out a sigh. If so, the reason that the crown prince sent me a set of silverware teacups was because he wanted to prevent this kind of danger in advance. I should have paid more attention to his motivation, but I didnt because I was absent-minded. If I had discovered it earlier, I would not have gone through this.

Did you find out who ordered the maid?

No, because the maid has already been killed.

As expected I broke into a bitter smile.

What should I do now? If I cant find the mastermind, I wouldnt be able to raise my head before the emperor. It is impossible to punish the suspect with circumstantial evidence. I needed decisive evidence, but it was impossible because the maid was already killed.

At that moment, something came to my mind suddenly.

Oh yeah, I knew it.

Daddy, Im not so sure but maybe we could find the mastermind.

Really? How?

On the second day, there was an attendant who gave me a soft drink. He said the crown prince sent it to me, but I think we need to double check.

Got it. Let me check him out immediately.

As if the medicine didnt take effect any more, I was feeling a loss of energy rapidly.

I hurriedly spoke to my father, who was standing up.

Daddy.

Um?

Im sorry I was sick like this

Im fine. So, just focus on regaining energy and getting better, he said with a hoarse voice.

I nodded, looking at him leaving the room. After burying my hazy head on the pillow, I fell deeply asleep.

I woke up at the strange feeling over my body.

Someone was touching my face. His warm fingers touched my forehead, then came down gently and stroked my cheeks.

The moment I tried to open my eyes in surprise, I stiffened at the cool scent from the man who adjusted his posture. Is it the crown prince?

Its the first time you havent avoided my touch.

My eyelashes trembled at his whispering. Yes, he really did come to me. How did he get here?

I didnt want to see you sick like this. You are so cruel to me.

I really didnt want to see you so pale again. Whats the matter with you? I want to know why you hate me, but you know I cant even ask because you might be freak out again?

My heart became heavy when he sighed deeply as he was frustrated. I knew at some point that his attitude toward me was prudent and cautious, but I didnt know it was because he felt that way.

Forgive this selfish man who couldnt tell you I would free you, though I knew you ended up being in this situation because of me. Currently, Im looking for the High Priest. So, stay alert and in good heart until then. Please.

He put his hand on my face cautiously, took off the hair stuck to my face and swept it over the back of my ear. I felt goosebumps and curled towards his soft hands as he touched my cheeks. My heart skipped a beat for fear he might notice I was awake, but fortunately, he got up with a sigh.

The sound of his footsteps faded away, and the door was closed.

I tossed and turned on the bed for some time because of confusion before taking a catnap.

But I woke up again when somebody shook me cautiously.

Who is it this time?

When I blinked my blurry eyes, someone helped me raise my body.

His voice was familiar to me.

Tia.

Oh, Sein!

Yes, its me.

Long time no see.

Yeah, its been a long time since Ive spoken to you.

When I leaned my upper body on several pillows stacked against the bed, I felt something cold touching my lips. He held my hand tightly when I flinched.

I was told its time you took medicine, so I asked to come here. You have to swallow it even if it tastes bitter. Got it?

Sure. I gently put the cup to my lips and drank the bitter liquid. The poison was taking the turn for the worse, the dosage of the medicine was gradually being increased.

When I shuddered at the bitter taste, Carsein hugged me silently. Something reddish shimmered in my blurred vision.

Your body is cold.

Really?

Yes.

I see I responded slowly. Thats why I missed his warm chest.

When I lifted my sagging arm and wrapped his back, he tried to make me feel warm for some time, then said, Tia.

Huh?

You must survive. Please.

Yes, I will.

Good.

He carefully laid me on the bed and pulled a thick blanket over me, then swept my hair dishevelled on the pillow. Feeling his gentle touch, I was again sucked into the darkness I was accustomed to. I was in deep sleep now.

I found myself more and more sleepy everyday. Now, even after taking the medicine, my mind didnt clear. I felt somebody coming and going in my room, but I could not see anything. It has been a long time since I could not see, and I could hardly hear at some point. All the senses that existed in me were gradually disappearing.

Day after day, I took medicine when somebody woke me up, then fell asleep. It was even hard for me to realize where I was, who I was talking to, and what I was saying.

I was gradually dying in the middle of time when I couldnt even know whether I was alive or not.

Then one day my senses also began to come back gradually. Thanks to this, I could hear somebody calling me clearly.

my lady.

I had to recall what it meant.

What does my lady mean? Obviously, it refers to the noble familys daughter. Why is he looking for her here? Am I a nobles daughter?

Who am I? Oh, I am Aristia La Monique. The daughter of the proud Marquis Monique family.

Oh, if so, is he calling me now? Who is the man calling me repeatedly? Whose voice is it that I seem to have heard from somewhere?

I cautiously opened my eyelids, which I had closed because I couldnt see anything at some point. Although my eyes were still blurred, my vision was much clearer now. Something white came into my view.

Flash.

White waves came to me, making a rustling sound.

Flash.

A human figure appeared in my vision.

Flash, flash.

Whenever I lifted my eyelids, the cloudy fog surrounding me was cleared away.

When the thick and dark fog finally cleared, a man shining white in a clear world came into my vision.

Now, you seem to have recovered your consciousness, Lady Monique. Im sorry for coming late.

Only

Your Eminence.

His white hair hanging down to the ground, transparent green eyes, and mysterious voice echoing into the air were familiar to me.

The one who is loved by Vita, and one of the six High Priests in the whole continent. He was the High Priest that I met before.

Have you come to your senses, Lady Monique?

Ah

While I tried to raise my body in a hurry, I almost fell because my arm that was supporting my body collapsed. Someone came to support me quickly. Something like red threads scattering in the air caught my eye.

You shouldnt get up yet, Tia.

Sein.