I let out a mocking laugh toward Gillian, who collapsed with a pale, frustrated face,then walked toward where my escort was waiting.

The gatekeeper looked at me with concern and asked,“Are you alright, Duchess? You don’t look well.”

“I’m fine. I need to leave this place now, so prepare the carriage.”

“Understood, Duchess.”

I handed the note I received from Gillian to Hersia, who was looking at me with deep concern.“It seems this is where the former lord hid my assets.”

“Thank you… But I’m worried because you don’t look well, Duchess.”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

Though I said I was fine, I was anything but fine.

No matter how I tried to change my expression,the words I heard from Gillian were too shocking.

I wondered whether I should tell Seo Yeon about this or not.As Gillian said, knowing it might bring unease and fear.

I think I finally understood why Sikar kept telling me not to disappear.

His desperate feelings reached me, and my heart ached.

But rather than succumbing to fear,I decided that from now on, I should focus on finding the conditions for leaving this placeand the reasons I’m still here.

Hersia, still worried about my expression, kept looking at me.“Duchess, Gillian didn’t say anything harsh, did he?”

“It was nothing. I just suddenly felt a bit sick, so don’t worry, Hersia.”

“It’s not because of me, is it? You’re not sick because of me, are you?”

I grabbed Hersia’s hand as she looked at me, flustered.

If it weren’t for Hersia, I wouldn’t have gone to see Gillian,and I wouldn’t have learned this truth, leaving Sikar to suffer alone.

I was suddenly grateful for her. Always a helpful friend, Hersia.

“Hersia, make sure you recover that money and stop fighting with Aron.And hold your wedding. Time is too short to just love each other.From what I see, you two can’t live without each other.”

And they really are like that. That’s probably why they fight so passionately.

Even while saying she broke up with Aron,Hersia went to Gillian for the sake of marrying Aron,showing how much she loves him.

Hersia tightly gripped my hand, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Really, it’s not because of something Gillian said, right?”

“I told you, it’s not. Do you think I’d just sit there and take it if the former lord said something?I’d have burned all his hair off with this magic wand.”

Only then did Hersia let out a small laugh, wiping the tears pooling in her eyes.

“Then that’s fine. I was really worried.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, so go on now.And next time, make sure you bring a wedding invitation, alright?”

Hersia gave a shy smile and nodded.

Even as she left, she kept turning back to wave at me, looking apologetic.

⭐⭐⭐

When I arrived at Daisy Palace, Seo Yeon was already there.

Seo Yeon looked at me with an embarrassed, apologetic expression.“I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly during our conversation, Duchess.”

“It happens. Don’t feel bad about it.”

I suddenly wondered if Seo Yeon also knew we could disappear.

“Seo Yeon.”

“Yes, Duchess.”

“How did you end up coming to this place?”

Seo Yeon let out a sigh, as if complaining.

“To be honest, when I came here, I felt a bit wronged.”

“May I ask why?”

“I was actually an orphan. My lifelong wish was to find my parents.That day, I heard I had found my parents and thought I’d finally fulfilled my wish,but then I learned they had passed away.”

“Oh no, that must have been so upsetting…”

Seo Yeon sighed again, as if filled with regret.

“I really didn’t want to live anymore. I couldn’t hope for anything.I’m ashamed, but I poured sleeping pills into my mouth.And then I came here.And here, I met you, Duchess, and Reidox too.So I think my life has been sufficiently rewarded for that.”

As I thought… my guess was right.The conditions for coming to this place from that world were consistent.

When you feel your life is at its most miserable, you come here,and when you achieve your desired purpose, you return to your original place.Is that the way of this place?

That’s why Reidox suddenly canceled the wedding. Because he was afraid Seo Yeon would disappear.

But as far as I know, Seo Yeon wanted to hear Lucy call her “Mom” more.

But that was just something she told me.Maybe she really wanted the wedding with Reidox.It’s better to be cautious, so it’s probably fine to leave it as is.

“But Duchess, why are you asking?”

“Have you ever thought about why we came to this place, Seo Yeon?”

Seeing Seo Yeon tilt her head as if she didn’t know,it seemed she truly had no idea.

Seo Yeon thought for a moment before answering.

“Well… maybe when I felt my life was too hard?”

I nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. I think we came here at the moment we felt the most hardship.”

“Did you also go through something difficult before coming here, Duchess?”

I nodded as if to say yes.Seo Yeon thought deeply, then clapped her hands as if it made sense.

“I think you’re right, Duchess! I was really struggling back then too!”

And then I said cautiously,“So, I was thinking, maybe there’s also a condition for leaving this place.”

“A condition for leaving?”

“Yes. For example, when we achieve the purpose we wanted.”

Seo Yeon shook her head as if she didn’t know.

“You mean we leave this place when what we truly want is fulfilled?”

“Yes, I think that might be the case.”

Seo Yeon looked at me as if to say, “No way,” and I just gave a small smile.

Yes, even if I say it, what Reidox said is right.It’s better not to say anything more to her.

“By the way, the Marquis apologized to me.He said he’d explain the reason soon, but for now, he has circumstances he can’t talk about.”

As expected, Reidox was going to tell her soon.Then there’s even less reason for me to say anything.

I just smiled as if to say it worked out well.

“I knew it. The Marquis isn’t someone who’d do that without reason. That’s great.”

Seo Yeon smiled shyly, as if embarrassed.

“You probably have a lot to talk about with the Marquis today, so go on in.”

Seo Yeon stood up, looking both embarrassed and eager.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Duchess.”

After Seo Yeon left, I skipped dinner and paced my room, lost in thought.

I needed to think about what I truly wanted. What could it be? What is it?

To be honest, since coming here, nothing has gone badly enough for me to desperately want something.

Pushing Gillian off the throne was bound to happen naturally,and with Kian here, Sikar’s curse being lifted was also bound to happen naturally.

If there’s something I desperately want enough to make me disappear from this place…maybe it’s wanting Sikar’s curse to be lifted.

But other than that, I couldn’t think of anything specific.

By the way, if Sikar comes, he’ll see my memories, and I don’t know what I should say.

Though he’s been coming back late these days, today he was especially late,and while waiting for him, exhausted, I fell asleep.

⭐⭐⭐

When I opened my eyes at the sound of movement, I don’t know how much time had passed,but Sikar, with a deeply furrowed brow, was holding my hand.

Seeing his extremely angry expression, I snapped awake.

“When did you get here?”

“Gillian said something to you that he shouldn’t have.”

Seeing his furious face, it looked like he was ready to draw his sword and go after Gillian.

“Sikar, calm down. Right now, there’s something more important than the fact that I know!”

“There’s nothing more important than that.”

“No, there is. We need to find the reason.If Gillian is right, then surely when I achieve my desired purpose, I’ll vanish from this place.”

Sikar gritted his teeth, as if someone was trying to take me away.

“I’ll never let that happen.”

“I know. But it could happen.So, let’s think about Gillian’s punishment after we find the cause.”

Sikar, who had been running his hand through his hair in anger, looked at me with a pained expressionand then pulled me into his arms.

“I’ll never let you go. Don’t worry.”

“It feels like you’re the one worrying more.”

Sikar hugged me tightly, as if terrified I might disappear.

“Part of me doesn’t believe it’ll happen, but part of me is scared.What if you really disappear? Sometimes I can’t sleep thinking about it.”

To calm the frightened Sikar, I deliberately changed the subject.

“By the way, it seems you already told Reidox. Is that right?”

As expected, Sikar reacted quickly, pulling away from me.

“Yes. That’s why he canceled the wedding.”

“But what Seo Yeon really wants isn’t marriage.The Marquis doesn’t know that yet, does he?”

“Seo Yeon doesn’t want marriage? Then what does she want?”

“Seo Yeon wants to be truly recognized as a mother by Lucy.”

Sikar nodded as if he understood.

“If that’s the case, that’s a relief.Given Lucy’s personality, it won’t be easy for her to accept Seo Yeon,so we can rest easy for now. I’ll tell Reidox about it tomorrow.”

I agreed that Lucy wouldn’t easily accept Seo Yeon as her mother.

Recalling my recent conversation with Lucy,it seemed she still wasn’t ready to accept Seo Yeon as her mother.

At least, not until that matter is resolved.