“The condition has worsened.”

“…….”

“We are using various medicines, but due to the severe weakness… it’s going to be really difficult if it continues like this.”

On the bed, Hyir, who had fallen asleep with labored breathing, was present. Grace and Ashed looked at Hyir while listening to Hwanggoong-yi’s words.

“Is it getting much more serious?”

“Yes, we’re doing our best, but… as I mentioned, the situation is not good. It might be good to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

The worst-case scenario.

Both Grace and Ashed knew exactly what Hwanggoong-yi meant. Soon after, Hwanggoong-yi left the room. Grace and Ashed, left in the room, maintained silence.

“……Ashed, it seems like you’ll have a hard time for a while, but there will be a lot to do.”

“Yes.”

Although not well-known, as time passed, Hyir was becoming weaker. The problem wasn’t just the body; there were separate issues.

“You, you…”

Hyir, who knows when he woke up, blinked his eyelids with difficulty and gasped for breath. Hyir’s gaze was fixed on Ashed.

“Why are you still here?”

“…….”

“Why haven’t you caught those impure Ulfrems yet? Why are you still here…! Is it because you conspired with them? To kill me?”

Trembling hands, Hyir threw the pillow nearby. The thrown pillow hit Ashed’s face, and Grace quickly tried to soothe him.

“Stop it, Father!”

“Why? Seeing you stop me, are you also on the same side as that guy now? These, these…!”

With his hand clutching his chest as if it were difficult to speak, Hyir collapsed. Even in the midst of a brief uproar, Ashed looked at Hyir with unfocused eyes.

In fact, this kind of thing had happened more than once or twice. Since the attempted murder incident by Ashed, the two had avoided each other.

No, it was more accurate to say that Hyir, who seemed anxious, avoided Ashed. Hyir thought that since he had tried to kill Ashed, at any moment, Ashed could join hands with Vellion and come to kill him.

Since then, Hyir had been haunted by nightmares and started muttering meaningless words.

In reality, the fear that Ashed, who was actually a victim, should have had, was distorted by Hyir’s anxiety. As a result, both physically and mentally exhausted Hyir had to spend half of his day in bed.

“Let’s go out quickly.”

Grace, who was mediating the situation, smiled at Ashed, pretending to erase signs of fatigue. After looking at Grace for a moment, Ashed left the room without saying a word.

“Oh, by the way, didn’t they say there would be guests from the Lunan Empire today?”

“Yes. By now, they should have arrived.”

“Right. Since they’re nobles, we’ll have to deal with them… And with your father’s current condition, it seems like you’ll have to take charge of the upcoming hunting ceremony. Are you okay with that?”
Ashed took on numerous tasks as soon as he became an adult. Grace knew this better than anyone else. As she looked at Ashed with a worried expression, he smiled as if to reassure her.

“Yes, I can handle it.”

“…….”

“Auntie has already helped a lot. That’s enough.”

Servants and knights were approaching from a distance. Ashed’s steps naturally moved toward them.

“I’ll go ahead now.”

In a blink, Ashed was surrounded by people. Advisors and servants beside him began reciting the next schedule, and Ashed simply listened to their words.

“…….”

Grace’s face watching Ashed’s back was filled with concern.

“Welcome to the Helium Empire.”

Reception room of the Imperial Palace.

The chamberlain looked at the two men and women sitting in the spacious reception room, then bowed his head.

“Please wait here for a moment. If you need anything, please let us know anytime.”

Even though the chamberlain spoke, the two men and women remained silent. However, their attitudes were slightly different. The man had an indifferent gaze, as if he didn’t need anything, while the woman, clinging to the man, looked around with curious eyes.

“His Imperial Majesty will be here soon. Until then…”

Before the chamberlain could finish his words, the door to the reception room opened. When Ashed entered, the two people stood up from their seats. Ashed’s gaze turned toward them.

“Welcome to the Helium Empire. I am Ashed, the Crown Prince of the Helium Empire.”

“…….”

“His Imperial Majesty couldn’t make it to greet you, so I had to do it in his place. Please understand.”

The man was the first to respond to Ashed’s greeting.

“No, thank you for the warm welcome.”

“You must be tired from the long journey; please, have a seat first.”

Although the conversation flowed naturally, the greetings between the two were very formal. Reading the atmosphere, the woman next to the man looked at Ashed with a slightly anxious face, then glanced at the man. Soon, her cheeks reddened when she saw Ashed’s face.

“Nice to meet you. Are you Princess Maylin?”

“…….”

“?

“Oh, yes, yes! Nice to meet you.”

Even with Ashed’s greeting, Maylin, who seemed lost in thought, hastily opened her mouth. Watching his sister like that, Damian, who was looking at her, finally took a seat.