The moment she realized this fact, the emotions she had barely suppressed grew uncontrollably, and Evelia found Liurian more likable today than yesterday. It was a proposal that she heard about through her father at that moment.

There was no reason not to accept it. Though it began with a political purpose, she believed that if she devoted herself wholeheartedly to him, they would undoubtedly become a good couple.

But that belief did not last long, and it shattered into pieces.

[Oh, Your Highness finally made it here. This is my private space, I explicitly told you not to come here for any reason.] [Your Majesty……] [Since we’re like this, why don’t we greet each other? Rellia, greet. This is the crown princess, Evelia Caroline. And this is my Rellia Nette, whom you probably know well.]

A few days of not being able to find a single hair, Liurian was said to be suffering from a severe cold, so the crown prince’s palace was immediately sought without delay.

He was said to be suffering from a severe cold, but his complexion looked as good as ever.

And by his side were Liurian and Rellia Nette, who were rumored to be real women through real emotion.

“It just won’t do.”

Evelia, lost in thought, lifted her head at the sudden sound of a voice.

“I have to tell the Duke to find another medicine that’s good for insomnia.”

Faylin said that with a stubborn expression. Evelia hurried to stop her.

“No, Faylin, there’s no need for that. A different doctor won’t be able to find the cause that the royal physician couldn’t.”

“But His Highness has been struggling for over a month now. He can’t sleep like this, and the fact that they only say it’s temporary without prescribing any medication is really too much!”

Faylin clenched her fist and exploded in anger. She even seemed on the verge of tears.

That alone made Evelia feel greatly comforted.

Faylin was her only friend who understood her in this cold palace. So she had no choice but to stop Faylin.

She was a member of the royal court. If she took an unverified medicine because of her noble status and happened to get sick, not only Faylin but everyone involved with the medicine would be unable to escape punishment.

“I’m really okay, Faylin. Last night…… Last night, there was a reason I couldn’t sleep.”

Evelia tried to reassure Faylin with a forced smile, but the evasive reason only increased Faylin’s worry.

“A reason? What happened last night?”

Faylin took a step closer, eyes blazing, and asked. Evelia was unintentionally at a loss.

“That’s…….”

The face of Liurian she saw at dawn came vividly to her mind again. At the same time, Evelia felt suffocated.

“……His Majesty has returned.”

After a moment of hesitation, she sighed and told the truth. But Faylin’s face was one of incomprehension.

Faylin chewed on Evelia’s words several times before finally looking at Evelia with confused eyes.
“Your Highness? Surely, you mean His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?”

Evelia gave a short nod. Then Palelyn’s face began to pale.

An unintended silence followed. After a while, Palelyn, choosing her words, let out a deep sigh.

“So, His Majesty has commanded us to have breakfast together too…….”

“Yes, right. It must be because of His Highness.”

A bitter smile crossed Evelia’s lips as she answered.

Even though she had the man she had longed for in her hands, Evelia was not happy for even a moment.

Even though her husband, who had kept her awake with worry, had returned, there was nothing but a stifling feeling in her heart.

He had merely returned, and yet that alone was enough to completely shake her daily life.

And yet, in the heart of the man who shook her so, it seemed that there was not even a single place for her.

Is that all? His words to get along well from now on felt like they were opening a dreadful hell, and it took her breath away.

Evelia let out a heavy sigh. She knew that she had to go, no matter what, since the Emperor’s command had fallen, but her feet were already faltering.

Another sigh began to rise.

It was an unusually uncomfortable morning.

(This is a time separator.)

Sunlight poured into the splendid banquet hall. Beneath it, Liurian, who had been standing alone, crossed his arms and squinted his eyes.

“…….”

His broad shoulders rose and fell at a steady beat. Aside from that, there was no other small movement to be found in him.

His head throbbed. It was because he hadn’t slept a wink all night.

It was his home that he had returned to after a very long time of roaming through dangerous battlefields, and his heart was noisier than ever.

It began with the Emperor’s command that he had heard as soon as he had arrived at the imperial palace.