Knowing that surrender meant certain death, the chancellor refused to yield peacefully and even forged a blood pact with demons to stand against Blake.

In the original story, Sikar Blake, who had expected the battle to end swiftly, ended up fighting for over five years against an unexpectedly massive demonic army.

This time, since he left after reading my memories, the war won’t drag on as long as in the original—but peace won’t come quickly either.

Whether it takes one year, two years, or even five years like in the original, no one could tell.

Considering our safety, Sikar excluded Vika Lamberst from the campaign. He must have been deeply worried about leaving me—utterly powerless—and young Kian Blake alone in this vast ducal estate.

Vika handed me the bundle of keys to the estate and said,

“The Duke instructed me to deliver this. He said that from now on, you, Madam, must oversee the entire estate.”

As he spoke, Vika looked somehow relieved.

“Also, this is the key to the vault. Inside are jewels, gold, and various precious metals. The Duke said you may use them as you wish—so you won’t feel lonely in his absence.”

For now, I accepted the keys and replied,

“Feel lonely? Why would the Duke think that? I’m not lonely at all.”

But Vika scratched his cheek, clearly unconvinced by my words.

“Your eyes droop at the corners, your gaze is unfocused, and your pupils lack any spark—it’s obvious you’re feeling down.”

From Valije’s death to the Duke’s departure for war—the string of sudden events had genuinely weighed heavily on my heart.

Perhaps, too, I’d unconsciously leaned on Sikar more than I realized.

“I suppose I’ve been distracted thinking about future matters—that’s why I looked that way.”

“While the Duke is away, I’ll assist you, so please don’t worry too much about what lies ahead.”

“Thank you for saying that, Vika.”

“As you know, Madam, I have sharp hearing, and no soundproofing magic is placed on your room—so if you call for me from inside, I’ll come immediately. No need to trouble yourself summoning a servant.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Then I’ll head upstairs now.”

As I watched Vika turn to leave, I suddenly remembered something I’d meant to ask him.

“Ah, Vika.”

At my call, Vika paused and turned back.

“Yes?”

“I have a question—do you know of any language where a word sounds similar to ‘thank you’?”

“Similar-sounding word?”

“Yes.”

“What could that be?”

Vika thought for a moment, then suddenly seemed to recall something.

“Could it be ‘Kumama’?”

“Kumama?”

“It’s Elvish—for ‘Take my soul.’ But why are you asking?”

So that’s what it meant? No wonder he blushed.

The thought made me laugh.

Perhaps because I chuckled, Vika, who had been staring blankly at me, asked with a puzzled expression,

“But why are you asking about that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just wondered if someone had misunderstood that phrase.”

At that, Vika pulled out a notebook and pen from his pocket and began writing. His handwriting was quite swift.

“Vika? What are you suddenly doing?”

“Oh, the Duke ordered me to write and send him letters whenever Madam exhibits strange behavior.”

“V-Vika?! You don’t need to write that!”

“I’m sorry, Madam. But this is part of my duties.”

True enough—knowing Sikar’s temperament, if Vika disobeyed his orders, Sikar would surely find some way to make him suffer.

I briefly considered grabbing Vika’s arm to stop him, but I knew he wouldn’t listen—and anyway, Sikar would eventually find out regardless.

“Well then.”

I called out again to Vika, who was about to enter his room.

“Ah, Vika!”

Vika turned to me with an expression that clearly said, “What now?”

“Is there something you need me to do?”

“No—it’s not that. I just realized I never properly thanked you. Thanks to you eliminating the nightmare spirits, we’ve been able to live peacefully. I’m truly grateful, Vika. I should have told you sooner—I’m sorry I didn’t.”

Vika showed no sign of being moved, but neither did he act haughty. With his usual calm, emotionless gaze, he simply said,

“I did go through quite a bit of trouble.”

“Ah, yes. That’s… true.”

Vika turned as if to finally head upstairs—but at that moment, Andrea entered the parlor.

“Madam. I have something to report.”

Andrea’s face was unusually unsettled. What on earth could be happening?

“Andrea. What is it?”

“The royal guards have arrived.”

The royal guards? Immediately after Sikar’s departure? What could this mean?

Seeing my alarmed expression, Vika frowned and stepped toward Andrea.

“What’s going on?”

“Her Majesty the Queen wishes to see Madam.”

“Why would the Queen summon our Madam?”

“I’m not sure myself. But Her Majesty’s personal carriage has just arrived at the front courtyard.”

“I see. If the Queen sent her own carriage, we can’t refuse. Tell them I’ll come down shortly.”

“Yes. I’ll relay that.”

Vika’s expression hardened. He, too, seemed uneasy about the Queen summoning me while Sikar was away at war.

But as he said, since the palace had gone so far as to send the royal carriage, I had no choice but to accept the summons.

The Queen summoned me to the receiving chamber. Vika had instructed me to call for him immediately if anything seemed even slightly amiss—he’d be waiting outside.

Guided by the maids, I sat alone in the empty receiving chamber. Soon, the Queen entered with a light smile, dismissed all the maids, and took her seat.

“Welcome, Duchess.”

“Have you been well, Your Majesty?”

“I heard the Duke departed for campaign today. I thought you might feel lonely, so I invited you here. I hope it’s not inconvenient?”

“Not at all. I’m honored you summoned me, Your Majesty.”

The Queen smiled pleasantly, but her smile felt somehow awkward and uncomfortable.

“I’m deeply grateful for the Duke’s rescue of Hersia.”

“It was merely my duty.”

“Thanks to that, His Majesty’s trust in the Duke has deepened. Which brings me to my point, Duchess Blake.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I, too, wish to get along well with you.”

“I shall always await your summons, Your Majesty.”

“Hersia tells me you’re a free spirit, unbound by formal etiquette. Please don’t stand on ceremony with me—speak freely.”

“I shall do so, Your Majesty.”

“And please accept this.”

With a gentle smile, the Queen pushed toward me a glass jar filled with tea leaves.

“What is this, Your Majesty?”

“I hear you enjoy milk tea daily after meals. I prepared the finest quality for you. Please accept it as a token of my goodwill.”

“I’m deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

“Just say ‘thank you.’ It’s much simpler.”

“But how could I possibly—”

“Everyone here obsesses over etiquette—it’s suffocating. You wouldn’t understand.”

“I failed to grasp Your Majesty’s true feelings.”

“Have you found life difficult since coming to this foreign land?”

It’s not that the foreign land is uncomfortable—it’s being in another world that’s the issue.

Still, I forced a smile.

“Thanks to His Majesty’s grace, I live without discomfort, Your Majesty.”

“His Majesty is truly merciful.”

Merciful? A king who purges countless people to protect his throne?

“The Blake family desires nothing more than Your Majesty’s mercy and grace, Your Majesty.”

“The Duke Blake, how shall I put it—he’s a man so difficult to approach. But you, Duchess, are truly very different from him.”

“Though the Duke may seem cold on the surface, he has warm qualities too.”

The Queen briefly smiled lightly, then covered her mouth with her hand.

“You may be the only person who thinks the Duke is warm.”

Then, after a few more chuckles, she lifted her teacup.

“Please drink.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After drinking a little more tea and exchanging small talk in the receiving chamber, I exited the Queen’s quarters and saw Vika waiting outside with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“Oh, Vika. You’re still here?”

“If I went farther away, I wouldn’t hear your conversation clearly—so I waited here.”

“The night dew is still chilly—weren’t you cold?”

“It was a bit cold, but bearable. I have something to tell you—please get into the carriage quickly.”

“Yes. Let’s go, Vika.”

We walked quietly, in silence.

The moment we boarded the carriage, Vika started it moving and said,

“The Queen gave you tea?”

“Ah, yes. This.”

I held up the glass jar of tea I’d received from the Queen. Vika immediately snatched it from my hands.

“I’ll take this.”

“What? Why would you take the tea the Queen gave me?”

Vika stared blankly at the tea leaves inside the jar and said,

“I don’t know if this is the Flower of Poison.”

“What? Flower of Poison? What does that mean?”

“There’s a flower called the Flower of Poison—if you brew and drink it a thousand times, you’ll die from poisoning without even realizing it. A flower that leaves no trace, even if you’re assassinated.”

“Oh, I think Durion mentioned something like that before—a flower you brew and consume a thousand times over a thousand days.”

Vika gaped, clicked his tongue in exasperation, and said,

“That fool got it wrong. It’s not a thousand times over a thousand days—the Flower of Poison only becomes toxic after being brewed exactly a thousand times. But during those thousand brewings, the smell is so strong that only someone in a completely deserted place could do it. After a thousand brewings, it becomes a perfect poison herb. And if processed into something like black tea, no one can tell it’s the Flower of Poison. If you drink even a single cup, you’ll die a thousand days later. But until a week after death, no signs of poisoning appear on the body. And by the time a week passes, it’s impossible to determine whether the death was from poisoning—you’d assume it was just a heart attack.”

“Then how can you tell if someone was poisoned by this flower?”

“In snowy mountains, bodies don’t decay—so confirmation is possible there.”

Such a flower actually exists? Even if Vika hadn’t intervened, Sikar had already warned me never to accept or consume anything unless he gave it to me personally—so I’d planned to just display the tea anyway.

I nodded understandingly.

“I see. I understand your intention, Vika. I’ll never drink that tea.”

“If even a single hair on your person is harmed, the Duke threatened he’d make me pay—so please follow my instructions from now on.”

Though he spoke bluntly, I was still grateful to Vika. I smiled brightly and replied,

“Yes. I absolutely will, Vika.”

Vika frowned slightly, as if my smile made him uncomfortable, and turned to look out the window.

With a personality like that, no wonder he gets along with Sikar. Even with his blunt demeanor, I quite liked Vika for all the effort he put into helping me and Kian.

Though he probably wouldn’t care at all whether I liked him or not.