“Don’t think about anything else today and get plenty of rest.”

Fortunately, as it was only a minor abrasion, Bris came out of her room after confirming that Davian, who had quickly finished treatment, was lying in bed.

However, his face was still full of anger over the matter related to Ibnel.

“That woman must have done it on purpose. To give Lady Davian a hard time. That’s why she called His Majesty to that place.”

Bris became anxious that someone might blame her for this incident. As he was biting his nails nervously while leaving the palace, servants and maids he was usually friendly with approached him.

“Is that story really true, Bris? About the monster escaping……”

“Yes, it is.”

“Oh my. I was really surprised when I heard that story. It still gives me chills thinking about it. What if I had accidentally encountered it.”

It seemed the whole palace was already in an uproar over the monster’s escape. Although the situation was well resolved, the impact was huge. A monster had rampaged in the imperial palace, which should be the safest place.

So it was natural for attention to turn to the person who caused the incident.

“I heard that Lady Davian opened the cage where the monster was confined. Is that true?”

‘What should I do.’

If things continued like this, all blame could fall on Davian. That had to be prevented at all costs.

“That’s true, but if Lady Ibnel hadn’t taken Lady Davian there, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“What do you mean?”

People immediately showed interest in this new story. Nothing was as interesting as juicy gossip.

“I heard that Lady Ibnel was the one who first suggested going there. Even though Lady Davian hesitated because she was scared, Lady Ibnel strongly insisted that they had to do it. You all know how scary that place is.”

“That’s true.”

All the servants, including everyone else, never went near that area with the monsters, even out of curiosity. No matter how thoroughly they were confined, monsters were still monsters.

Bris told the lie without hesitation and with a calm demeanor.

“In that situation, isn’t it natural that Lady Davian couldn’t make a proper judgment? Don’t you think so?”

They all seemed to agree, nodding one by one. Moreover, since she was someone who hadn’t been at the palace long, there was nothing incomprehensible. Plus, just the fact that it was Davian made them more lenient about the mistake.

Once a somewhat favorable atmosphere had been created about her, Bris lowered his voice as if trying to bring up the story secretly.

“But isn’t it strange? Why did she specifically take Lady Davian there? Besides, there were plenty of opportunities to prevent that incident from happening. Why couldn’t she stop Lady Davian when she tried to open the door? They said the two of them examined the monster alone.”

Then one of those listening to her story spoke urgently, as if realizing something.

“Don’t tell me she took her there on purpose.”

“Why on earth?”

“Obviously because she didn’t like Lady Davian’s appearance. Maybe she tried to… get rid of her this time.”

At the conclusion they had drawn among themselves, those engaged in the conversation all wore expressions of horror. Soon they began to unanimously curse Ibnel’s vileness.

“She must have approached Lady Davian with this purpose from the beginning.”

“I thought it was strange seeing them together, pretending to be close.”

“As expected, people from Aodin can’t be trusted.”

Bris held back the laughter that was about to come out as he listened to the story spreading according to his intention. With this, the talk about Davian’s fault would subside, and only Ibnel would be cursed.

“Lia, I’m fine so you can go back now. It’s already night.”

Ibnel, who was reading a book leaning against the bed, said this to Lia, who had been sitting in one corner of the room since the afternoon as if keeping watch.

“I won’t move until I see the young lady fall asleep. Are you planning to secretly go train or something after saying that?”

“How could that be possible? Even I know it’s too much with this arm.”

She showed her bandaged right arm, but Lia didn’t seem to believe her much. It was understandable, as the person who had gone out casually in the morning had returned dripping blood, making her feel like her heart had dropped and reattached.

“I’m so upset. You’ve been getting injured more frequently lately.”

Every time new wounds appeared on Ibnel’s body, it hurt Lia’s heart as if she herself had been injured. And naturally, she began to doubt the decision to stay here.

“Was it really the right decision for the young lady not to leave this place?”

“Lia.”

“Of course I support and stand by the young lady’s decision, but this is different. You don’t need to voluntarily put yourself in such danger.”

Whenever something like this happened, Lia wanted to take Ibnel’s hand and leave the imperial palace right away. At the same time, she was angry at the people who didn’t recognize her sincerity even after all this time.

She was so desperate to the point of getting hurt like this, trying harder than anyone else.

“Even when you get hurt, no one cares, and no one appreciates it.”

Ibnel patted the bed as Lia spoke weakly with her head bowed low.

“Sit here, Lia.”

Although Lia didn’t understand why, she gently sat on the bed as told. Ibnel affectionately stroked Lia’s head.

“As I said before, I’m not doing this to be recognized by anyone. I’m doing it because I want to.”

“But.”

“Actually, until I came here, each day was meaningless to me. I didn’t know why I should sleep, why I should eat, why I should breathe.”

Lia was now listening intently to the sincere feelings Ibnel was honestly sharing.

“But the moment I picked up the gun to protect you, I felt like I was breathing properly for the first time in a long time. And I wanted to live properly.”

The burning sensation that had consumed her entire body at that time was still deeply engraved in Ibnel’s heart. And she wanted to believe there was a reason she opened her eyes here.

“Moreover, how can you say there’s no one who cares about me? I have you, Lia. As I said before, you’re all I need.”

“My lady……”

Although Lia tried hard to hold back, her eyes gradually reddened as she clearly felt the affection and trust filling Ibnel’s eyes.

“Actually, when I look at you, you remind me of a younger sister. So.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

It was something she had felt since first seeing her, but looking at Lia reminded her of Aran. Even the way she cared for her was exactly like her sister.

Thinking of Aran still made her heart ache and feel sad, but she no longer felt helpless like before. Rather, it made her want to gain strength.

“So I don’t regret saving you then, and ending up here because of that. Never.”

“My lady.”

“What’s wrong? Are you crying?”

When she bowed her head low, Ibnel asked in bewilderment, but then Lia suddenly lifted her head again.

“No, I’m not. I won’t cry anymore.”

She completely wiped away the tears that had slightly welled up with her hand. She didn’t want to show any more weakness, if only to repay this gratitude and thankfulness.

“Thank you for saying that. I’m so happy. But please don’t get hurt anymore in the future.”

“Alright, I’ll be more careful from now on. I’m sorry for worrying you today.”

Ibnel hugged Lia tightly. Understanding her feelings, Lia also remained quietly in her embrace.

“Then you have to go to sleep right after finishing reading that. Understood?”

“Okay. I got it, so you can go now.”

Only after emphasizing it several times did Lia seem reassured and leave her room. Left alone, Ibnel turned a few pages of the book but then closed it, remembering Lia’s earnest request.

‘I should go to bed early today.’

Although the throbbing had lessened due to the medicine, she still felt pain with every movement. But when she unconsciously looked at her bandaged arm, fresh red blood was already seeping through.

“I guess I’ll have to change the bandage.”

The court physician had left various medicines and bandages in her room, just in case. It was fine up to the point where she found them and unwrapped the blood-soaked bandage, but since it was her right arm that was injured, it wasn’t easy to wrap it.

No matter how many times she tried, it was only sloppy.

‘Should I call Lia after all?’

As Ibnel was contemplating, she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was Lia who had returned, she opened the door without hesitation.

“You came at a good time, Lia. I was just about to ask……”

But the person who came to see her was someone truly unexpected.

“Your Majesty?”

Ibnel couldn’t help but be surprised to see Shuher standing there out of nowhere. She looked behind him just in case, but he was alone with no one else.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

Although she asked curiously, there was no immediate answer from him.

In fact, Shuher had impulsively come to Ibnel’s room on his way to his own room. He kept thinking about that last image of her being held by Peldin.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

Shuher’s eyes, searching for words to say, caught sight of the bandage Ibnel was holding and her exposed injured arm.

“Were you changing the bandage?”

“Ah, yes. Blood was seeping through. But it’s not easy with just my left hand, so I was about to call Lia.”

Looking at the deep wound that had cut into the flesh, he spoke impulsively again this time. Before that cold reason could even react.

“I’ll do it for you.”

“Pardon?”

This time Ibnel really couldn’t believe her ears. So to understand what Shuher had said,

“Your Majesty, you’re saying you’ll wrap the bandage? Personally?”

The very person who had uttered such a surprising statement remained calm.

“Wouldn’t that be less troublesome for you too?”

“Well, that’s true, but.”

After considering for a moment, she nodded, not wanting to call Lia in the middle of the night as he suggested. After all, since he had offered first, there was no particular reason to refuse.

“Then I’ll ask for your help. Ah, please come in.”

Ibnel opened the door wide, and Shuher hesitated slightly before stepping inside. Then he slowly looked around the interior.

To describe the feeling, it was just Ibnel herself. Clean, with only necessary items, not cluttered.

In that aspect alone, it was similar to his room, but there was one big difference. It was that human warmth could be felt.

Instead of cold air and loneliness, it was filled with warmth and coziness.

“Even if you look around like that, there’s nothing particularly special. It’s hardly changed since I first started using this room.”

Ibnel sat down on the bed first and held out the new bandage to him.

“If you’re done looking, please wrap the bandage now.”

Taking it from her, Shuher sat down at a slight distance from her. Without delay, Ibnel extended her injured arm towards him.

“You can wrap it around the wounded area here.”

Shuher looked at that arm and then pulled her wrist to move her arm so that he could see the wound clearly.

“Ah, I guess it would be better if I move closer?”

Ibnel closed the distance until their shoulders were almost touching, thinking solely of his convenience. At that moment, as her scent brushed his nose, Shuher’s hand gripping her wrist tightened.