No sooner had Veronia finished speaking than Jeremi and Roen appeared.

“Thank you for your efforts, Your Highness.”

Veronia frowned as she gazed into the resting chamber.

“Is the Duke still far from waking?”

Jeremi carefully checked the time.

“He will wake soon; I shall bring the Duke out now.”

Veronia, looking weary, watched as they lifted the Duke from the coffin.

A few days earlier, Sikar had abruptly traveled to the snowy mountain with Durion and waited for Jeremi and Roen.

“Do you intend to use this place as your hideout?”

“My apologies, Your Highness. But I have urgent matters to discuss.”

Veronia turned to Durion, who sat there with a dazed expression.

“Do you know what this is about?”

“Ho, could it be that Your Highness believes the Duke is so kind?”

Since Durion himself had followed along without understanding anything, he absentmindedly blurted out the question, forgetting his manners toward the princess. Veronia shot him a glare.

“What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing.

Sikar hadn’t revealed why he gathered everyone, but it was clear it wouldn’t be good news.

While Durion sat sullenly, Roen and Jeremi arrived.

Veronia stared at Sikar as if urging him to speak.

“Now that everyone is here, speak. Why did you summon everyone to this place?”

Sikar explained why Seo Yeon had disappeared, omitting that this was a novel world, and stated that those with black eyes came from another world.

Though Veronia found Sikar’s explanation unfamiliar at first, she thought it plausible, since this world also had demon and elf realms.

“So, they are people from another world, like elves or fairies?”

“Something similar.”

“But it seems one cannot freely traverse space and time?”

“Just as Your Highness understands. If my wife disappears, I will never see her here again.”

Jeremi and Roen, who had been listening silently, gaped in shock.

“Then… the woman who was the Marquess household’s nanny… that is, Seo Yeon… has vanished?”

“That is why I wish to ensure my wife does not disappear. Please help me carry out my plan as intended.”

However, when Sikar explained his plan, the reactions were unfavorable.

Durion especially spoke with a bewildered, as-if-the-sky-were-falling expression.

“What? Duke?! What do you mean? You must die?!”

Sikar covered Durion’s mouth as he widened his eyes and raised his voice.

“I mean I must die temporarily. Pretend to be dead. That is why I need Jeremi and Roen’s help.”

Simply pretending to be dead would not deceive Kian, who possessed holy power.

Thus, Jeremi and Roen had to create confusion within Kian’s holy power.

But since they could not deceive Kian indefinitely, they had no choice but to come to the snowy mountain and hold a funeral.

For Sikar to awaken, he needed the snowy mountain where Veronia resided.

Only then could Sikar emerge from the coffin.

When Sikar promised to donate half his fortune to the Grand Temple, Jeremi and Roen immediately agreed to assist without hesitation.

But Veronia cared nothing for such wealth.

Asking to use the same resting chamber as Valije if Sikar were to die was not a difficult request.

But Veronia, disliking the idea of deceiving Kian, initially refused the request.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay by Kian’s side until your heart freezes solid?”

“There is no time for that. Please help me. If the King resolves to heal me, I will have no other recourse. Please protect my wife.”

“If you are gone, Kian will lose his father twice.”

“Therefore, I shall search for a solution during this time. If I cannot find one, then I must accept death.”

Feeling the Duke’s sincerity, Veronia could not refuse.

While Veronia recalled that moment with bitterness, Sikar awoke from the coffin.

In the hands of the awakened Duke were the paper crane and rosemary Kian had placed there.

He stared at them for a long while, then placed them back inside the coffin.

“I shall leave these inside the coffin. If I truly die later, please ensure they are preserved with me.”

Veronia moved to pat Sikar’s shoulder in sympathy, then withdrew her hand.

“Such a thing is not difficult.”

“Thank you for your help today, Your Highness.”

“What will you do now?”

“I must first visit my grandmother. I should at least show my face before my grandson dies.”

“I believe the Duke will find a way. Somehow, find a way and take your coffin from beside my husband.”

“I shall do my utmost.”

He fervently prayed it would be possible. Next time he returned here, he hoped it would not be like this.

Due to Sikar’s death, the palace became endlessly dark and heavy.

Upon hearing the news of his passing, Andrea collapsed as if crumbling and wept, and the numerous servants who had served with him since the Duke’s residence likewise could not stop their tears for a long while.

Kian, who overnight lost his dependable right-hand man and foster father, came to my room early in the morning and spoke with a face full of worry.

“How about having a meal together here with Mother and going for a walk? What do you think?”

Though I had no appetite and no desire to walk, I could not ignore Kian’s effort to do something for me, so I forced myself to rise cheerfully from my seat.

Kian prevented the servant from sprinkling salt on his food.

“From now on, do not sprinkle much salt on the food I eat.”

Perhaps he was troubled by Sikar’s last nagging remark. Seeing him like this made my heart ache even more.

Even while eating, Kian could not properly finish his meal, constantly watching me.

“Your Majesty, I am fine, so please do not worry too much about me. Above all, do not forget that your health matters more than mine.”

Whether because he had already lost Valije once, or perhaps because of me, I could not tell—but Kian smiled more bravely than I expected.

“If Mother is well, then I am well too. I will take better care of you.”

Kian, who moved me daily, was surely going through a difficult time himself, yet still tried his best to comfort me.

Merely having Kian beside me gave me tremendous strength.

“Please stop worrying about me and take better care of Lucy, who will become Queen. Lucy must be struggling greatly without her nanny.”

Kian tightly embraced my waist, as if to soothe me.

“I love you.”

Overwhelmed with emotion and on the verge of tears, I could not reply, only turning my head away while gently stroking Kian’s hair.

Because I had arranged to meet Reidox at lunchtime, I could not walk with Kian for long.

“I would like to walk longer with Your Majesty, but I have an appointment with the Marquess, so I likely cannot.”

“Mother, then shall we take a walk again after dinner tomorrow? I heard a light stroll after lunch benefits mind and body.”

I was inwardly even more grateful to Kian for caring about such things. Kian, who moved me every day.

I gently stroked Kian’s hand, which tightly held mine and would not let go.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

After sending Kian off and returning to the palace, Reidox was already waiting for me.

“You called for me.”

Reidox’s face was still gaunt. Did I look the same to him?

“You must be struggling greatly…?”

“The Duchess must also be struggling greatly…”

“It is difficult. But however hard it may be, we must not let others neglect their duties because they are watching us.”

Reidox narrowed his eyes slightly, as if not understanding my meaning.

“My apologies. I did not grasp the Duchess’s intent.”

“I called the Marquess for no other reason than Hersia and Aaron.”

“Aaron and Lady Hersia?”

“I heard Aaron asked you to officiate their wedding. But since your current situation is unfavorable, the wedding has been postponed. Judging by Hersia’s personality, she will likely postpone the wedding again because of me. But I think the two of them should not delay their wedding on our account.”

Reidox sighed softly, as if realizing his oversight.

“I did not consider that. My apologies, Duchess.”

“Then, please meet Aaron directly and tell him to proceed with the wedding.”

“Yes. I shall follow your instructions.”

“This is not an order, but a request.”

“I understand, Duchess. And thank you.”

They say hearts resonate silently. How could I not understand his feelings?

I am just as sad, but I do not wish my sorrow to spread to others.

Now is the time for those two to be happy. Just as Sikar always wished for me to grow stronger, now I must become strong myself.

That alone is how I can continue loving him, even if he is dead.

Although Sikar had recently visited the Grand Temple with Reidox, he had to depart quickly without time to meet his grandmother. This time, he sought out his grandmother, Hillis, first.

Fearing someone might spread rumors of having seen him, Sikar pulled his hood low to cover his face as he walked.

Thus, Hillis did not recognize Sikar at first, but when he lifted his hood, she smiled brightly as if realizing who he was.

“Grandmother. It has been a long time.”

“Oh, Sikar. How long has it been? Somehow, Yura visits here more often than you, my own grandson. What wind blew you here?”

“I missed you too much, Grandmother.”

“You didn’t quarrel with Yura, did you?”

“Why would we quarrel? We didn’t. Grandmother, I have a request: please keep secret from my wife that I came here.”

Hillis watched him quietly, then nodded as if understanding.

“A harmonious household requires listening well to one’s wife, Sikar.”

“I always listen well, Grandmother. But this one time, I could not obey my wife’s words.”

“I do not know what the matter is, but it must resolve well. Understood, Sikar?”

“Of course, Grandmother.”

Sikar smiled outwardly, but inwardly clenched his teeth.

“Rest well, Grandmother. I shall return in the evening.”

“Yes. Do so.”

After meeting Hillis, Sikar went to the rear courtyard of the Grand Temple.

Entering the empty, deserted courtyard, Sikar surveyed the surroundings and calmly sat on a suitable bench.

Soon, Vika leapt down from a tree and landed beside him.

Vika looked at Sikar with an expression of utter annoyance.

“Insufferable fellow. As promised, you must break the oath before you die.”