I looked at Raven’s face, which was gradually turning paler, and added a bit more divine power to keep him from dying.

Even if someone objects, your father, Lord Riraneph Houjak, probably won’t care.

“…How much have you seen?”
“Just because someone claims to have known you for a long time doesn’t mean you can trust them.”

The image of my mother warmly smiling in my heart sparkled like a star and soon disappeared into the darkness.

I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them.

“Raven, I hope you can be a strength for Revenpell.”

In case I’m not there in the future.

“If it’s you, I believe you can be a strength for Revenpell.”

I hope many people stay by Revenpell’s side.

So that he won’t be lonely, and the nights of the boy who was lonely in his childhood won’t repeat.

It was all just my selfishness.

I tightly sealed my lips, wearing a pondering expression like Raven.

‘Even if you roughly agree with a lie, it would have been okay.’

I sat crouched, silently observing Raven, who was deep in thought. Seeing him seriously contemplating made me smile with relief.

“Don’t think too long. Your face is extremely pale right now.”

“…Ha.”

Raven sighed with a mixture of regret, then stared at me with a strong gaze before nodding slowly.

“…I will do as the Empress says.”

“Excellent choice.”

In case Raven changes his mind, I sent divine power.

Treating a person, especially someone who is dying, was a first for me. It wasn’t like changing Revenpell’s appearance or making a flower bloom; it didn’t heal instantly.

“Healing a dying person is more challenging than I thought.”

I could keenly feel the fluctuation of power in my body. It was the first time I exerted power alone like this without Mu, and I didn’t know if Revenpell had taken more power from me recently.

“…Empress…”

Meanwhile, Raven’s complexion returned. He had regained some strength, and he slowly lifted his slouched body.

I watched with fascination as Raven, whose condition was improving rapidly, stared at me with wonder.

“There are others behind.”

Raven’s gaze passed behind me, heading to where Clint and Phoebe were.

“So, when your body is better, return today. And officially visit the palace tomorrow.”

“…What if I decide to run away?”

“Well, then.”

The flow of blood from Raven’s head stopped.

“I must not be good at judging people.”

Watching the rejuvenated Raven, I slowly withdrew my hand. At the same time, I felt a wave of dizziness and unease.

I quickly reached out to touch the ground.

If I hadn’t touched the ground, I would have collapsed on the road where Raven was lying down.

“Empress!!”

Phoebe, who must have seen my staggering figure, shouted loudly. The sound of footsteps approaching quickly could be heard.

“Raven, there’s nothing good about Phoebe knowing that you’re lying here.”

“But…”

“Tomorrow at the palace. If you have questions, ask tomorrow.”

With one hand touching the ground, I waved the other toward Raven. Alternating between watching the swaying Raven and the approaching Phoebe, I hesitated.

“Go, already.”

“But what about the Empress…”
“If your sudden recovery is exposed, they might investigate the details. Do you want to put me in a difficult situation?”

“…!”

Raven bit his lip with a dismayed expression. Then, hastily, he got up.

“Tomorrow. I will visit the palace tomorrow.”

Leaving his last words, Raven fled into the darkness, hiding his body.

“Hey! Hey!!! Are you not there?!! Empress Teriel!”

Phoebe, who approached frighteningly as Raven fled, hurriedly supported me, shouting.

“Phoebe, my ears hurt. And if you shout like that, everyone will see us.”

“But that guy! Are you okay?! Any injuries?!”

“I’m fine.”

“Lord Clint! Why are you just standing there! We need to chase after them! How dare that Raven…!”

“No.”

I took Phoebe’s hand, stood up from my crouched position.

“No need to chase. He was just a child.”

“A child?”

“Yeah. I woke him up because he was lying down unconscious. He got surprised and ran away. I got startled and lost my balance, so that’s all.”

“Really?”

Phoebe looked at Clint to confirm. Clint nodded silently when I signaled with my eyes.

“Whew. That’s a relief. …Empress Teriel, you shouldn’t ignore him just because he’s a child. Even if he’s a chased one, you never know what trouble he might cause.”

“I understand. I asked you to stay away because I thought you might be surprised when you see Clint. I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”

“Of course!”

Phoebe flicked my stained skirt with her hand, pouting.

“The dress you wore today was really beautiful. It’s all dirty now.”

“It’s okay. You and Clint saw me in the pretty dress. That memory will stay in Phoebe and Clint’s minds as a beautiful dress, right?”

“It’s still very beautiful!”

Phoebe, dispelling her distressed expression, smiled warmly.

At that moment, the sound of a carriage approaching from a distance was heard. I turned my head, and there was a groom urgently driving the horses toward us.

“Let’s go back.”

Smiling through the throbbing headache, I laughed. I thought I shouldn’t use this much power at once.

Before nightfall, Revenpell came to find me early.

“Revenpell? There’s still plenty of time… What’s the matter?”

“I heard you went out today and felt dizzy.”

Whether he had heard a report, Revenpell’s face was tinged with concern.

“Did Clint say something again?”

“No. Your maid did.”

Revenpell led me to the bed, examined me with his eyes to see if there were any injuries.

“Teriela, your health seems not to be good, so she came to ask for permission to prepare a medicine with the finest herbs. …Is that okay?”

“I know you must be busy without Mu. Are you okay?”

“Not me. You. Are you okay?”

Once again, he came running, putting aside his own affairs. This man truly never fails to defy expectations.
If it’s my work, I’ve never postponed it even once.

“Revenpell.”

The more you prioritize me like this, the more curious and eager I become to hear your sincerity. I summoned the courage to utter his name and held his hand.

“Why did you kiss me yesterday?”

“……!”

Revenpell was taken aback as I took his hand first. However, he quickly recovered and squeezed my hand firmly, as if to prevent me from escaping.

“…Once I say it, it might be irreversible.”

Revenpell raised the hand with clenched fingers and pressed his lips onto the back of my hand. At the edge of the gaze directed at me, I felt a profound obsession.

“Can you handle it, Teri?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

I, too, held Revenpell’s hand firmly.