Hes right, my lady. Dont get up yet. You should take a good rest for a while.

But

If you insist, let me give you a pillow, so you can lean on it.

AhThanks, Sein.

Carsein helped me lean against several pillows, then pulled up a thick blanket and covered me.

Tilting my head, I looked at Carsein because he looked different up close. With his neatly trimmed hair, deeper eyes and sharp aura, he was very different from the old him that I used to know.

Has something happened to him while I was in bed?

When I looked at him again suspiciously, Carsein, who was tidying up the blankets, asked, tilting his head to the side, Whats the matter, Tia?

Oh, nothing. By the way, where is my father ?

Hes still in the Imperial Palace. He is coming back soon.

I see.

When I answered with a subdued voice, Carsein, who looked at me silently, said to the High Priest, Your Eminence, why dont you take a short break? I think you had better explain what happened since you arrived here after her father arrived.

Sounds good. As her poisoning has been neutralized, I think I can take a break. See you a little later, Lady Monique.

Ah, yes.

When the High Priest disappeared, Carsein approached me carefully, sat at my bedside and put his hands on my cheeks. At that moment, I felt his hands suddenly hardening with a twitch.

Sein, whats wrong?

He murmured as he hurriedly pulled me hard.

Huh?

Your cheeks feel warm

Sein.

What a relief! I feel so relieved now. Its so fortunate that you received treatment before it was too late

When he kept reciting the words with a hoarse voice, I lifted my wobbly arm and patted his back slowly.

Initially, I tasted bitter for some reason. If I had hurriedly called for help when I felt something was wrong, I would not have ended up in this situation. I thought I caused trouble to many people around me because I took my condition too lightly.

Carsein, who had been burying his face in my shoulder for a long time, carefully disengaged me from his chest and stroked my cheeks gently with his large hand.

Never again

Huh?

I thought I could never see you again, Tia. I thought I couldnt hear your voice.

Sorry.

So, dont be sick, Tia. Please! I dont want to see you sick anymore.

Yes, I wont be sick.

I felt heartbroken when he looked at me with tearful eyes. He stopped when I was trying to lower my head out of a sense of guilt, and said in a subdued voice.

Dont feel that way, Tia. You know its been a while since weve seen each other like this.

Sein.

I missed you a lot, Tia.

Me, too. When I barely smiled at him, he looked a bit relaxed.

At that moment, I heard somebody knocking on the door. Shortly afterwards, Lina stepped into the room and said, bowing to me, Marquis Monique has just come.

Oh, let me go downstairs, so please take care of the lady.

Yes, Sir Carsein.

Watching him giving her instructions casually, I was dumbfounded because I didnt know he was close enough to instruct her like that.

As if he noticed me gazing at him, he smiled slightly at me and walked out of the room, saying that he would escort my father here.

Lina approached me cautiously and looked at me crying.

My lady, youve regained your consciousness! What a relief. Im so happy.

Its been a long time, Lina. How have you been?

How can I keep well when you are sick? You have been lying in bed so long.

Well, what month is it now?

It is the twenty-first day of the last month of 963 by the imperial power.

I see.

When I fell, it was the third day of the tenth month. If so, has almost three months passed since I fell? How about the political situation for the past three months? What about my instructions to my subordinates? What about Jiun?

Suddenly, my head was pounding. When I moaned, putting my hand on my forehead, she hurriedly helped me keep my balance, and said, Are you okay, my lady? Should I bring the High Priest right away?

No, Im okay. He will be back here any minute.

But your condition is

If I feel I cant stand it, let me call him.

Got it. Then, before your father arrives, Ill wash your body a bit. Please wait.

Then she came back a little later with a basin full of warm water. She wiped my face and body with a wet towel, then washed my disheveled hair. Lastly, she changed my sweaty nightgown and gave me a mirror with a proud expression.

I looked at myself reflected in the mirror. My face, which I saw in three months, seemed very pale, but it was not bad as I just washed.

I let out a sigh. As Im seeing my father after a long time, I didnt want to show him my haggard look.

Oh, I look better. Thanks, Lina.

Youre welcome, my lady.

Lina, who smiled softly, went out with the basin. A little later a man stepped into the room. He was none other than my father.

Its been a long time, Daddy.

Yes, honey

His haggard face and trembling navy blue eyes. I could feel how concerned he was about me when he held my hands tightly.

When I smiled brightly, he pulled me to his chest silently. I rubbed my cheeks like a child, with my face buried in his strong chest.

I missed you a lot, Dad. Im so glad I can see you again like this.

Oh, you look a lot better than before, my lady, said the High Priest playfully, entering the room.

I pulled my body from my fathers arms and bowed to him.

You have saved her life, Your Eminence. I dont know how I can repay your help. Thanks so much.

Youre welcome. I could have arrived a little earlier, but something unexpected took place I am very sorry for Lady Monique, he said, sitting down after adjusting his long robes. His long white hair was dazzling.

Oh, Id like to greet you again. May the blessing of life be with you. Im Secundus, the second root of Vita.

Ah. It looks like another High Priest seems to have returned to Vita.

Strictly speaking, thats not true. Well, Ill talk to you later. Its top secret.

Pardon? Ah yes.

Tell me later? If its a top secret, isnt he supposed to say he cant tell me?

I looked at him suspiciously, but the High Priest smiled slightly and said nothing.

Since the Spear of the Empire is here, let me explain to you. Well, Lady Monique has been poisoned by two different agents.

Two?

Thats right. Originally, chanting a charm to neutralize the poison is intended to drive away the harmful energy in our body, so it is not uncommon to know exactly what the poison is. Fortunately, I have experienced this specific poison before. As the royal doctor said the same thing, I think its almost certain.

What kind of poison?

At my asking he said with a serious look, I need to confirm one thing first, my lady. If you take this poison for a long period of time, you feel dizzy and very much nauseated. You feel jammed up on the inside, you are out of breath often and your mood is up and down often, For example you suddenly get annoyed or angry at the slightest thing. Is that correct?

Only

Yes, exactly.

Thats exactly what this poison is all about. I think you were sick because of this poison. Your poisoning was not that much, but when the poison in your blood increased over time, it threatened your life. The frightening thing about this poison is that it will ruin a womans body if she continues to consume small amounts for several months.

Really? My heart sank at that.

No way Is the ominous sense I have right now really being realized in front of me?

My eyes turned to my father. When I saw him frowning in agony, I tightened my grip on the blanket unconsciously.

If you take this poison, your womb will dry out. Accordingly, it is difficult to have a baby or to give birth to a baby safely. In a word, it means that you would infertile.

Suddenly, one thing came to mind. In the past, when I lost his baby miserably, I asked the royal doctor nervously. I felt like I was falling into hell, hearing the doctor saying he was sorry, with his head down.