Dekar.

At the mention of the Runan Empire, everyone recalled that name. However, no one uttered the name. Delina was the same.

It couldn’t be said that the person was associated just because the poison originated from the Runan Empire. There was no evidence.

“But now I understand.”

The vivid conversation between Ailey and Celine, and the medicine Celine showed, which felt as real as reality. Delina, recalling the dream, was convinced. Celine must have received the medicine from Dekar. Through Damian, no less.

“Surely the box I saw at that time must have contained medicine.”

The odd condition of Jen and the rapidly deteriorating Munn. The artificially spread smoke in the forest and the poison on the bullets. Piece by piece, a series of events fit together like a puzzle, completing a picture in her mind. The one behind those events was undoubtedly Celine.

“That means the reason the five of them were particularly obsessed with Celine and showed violent tendencies at that time…”

She must have manipulated their minds and bodies with drugs. So they could move solely for her. Realizing this, Delina shivered her shoulders.

“Miss, are you okay? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

Felix, seeing Delina’s worsening complexion, asked with concern. Betty left the room to call a doctor, and Verlion’s face also stiffened.

“Celine, where is Celine?”

When Delina asked urgently, Verlion and Felix fell silent for a moment.

“Miss, to be honest, since that day, the situation has become quite confusing…”

Felix glanced briefly at Verlion, as if asking if he could speak. Verlion then nodded.

“Miss Celine is not in the capital right now.”

“What? Then?”

“She went near the border. With… those five people.”

Delina felt her heart sink. While it was surprising that Celine wasn’t in the capital, what was more shocking was…

“Right. Definitely at that time…”

The eyes she met just before losing consciousness were identical to those she had seen in the middle of the flames in the square in the past. Delina quickly turned on the screen.

Red and clear letters appeared before her eyes. Hiding her trembling hands under the blanket, Delina asked again.

“Why? Why did those five suddenly go with Celine?”

“Well, the condition of those five… I can’t put it into empty words. Even though Miss saw them being poisoned right in front of her, to act like that… There were not just one or two strange things.”

“What, what…”

“I don’t know if it’s right to say this… but they really changed like different people. The momentum of those five was so fierce that no one could say a word, and only Miss Celine could talk to them while being around.”

“What?”
“Not only that, but she has also asked what year it is now, and sometimes she seems to find the surroundings strange. Above all… after seeing the king’s message, and… that…”

As if he couldn’t bring himself to say it, Felix looked at Verlion for a moment before Verlion spoke.

“He asked if I escaped from the palace. Why I’m still alive.”

“What?”

In shock at the unbelievable words, Delina opened her mouth, but upon thinking about Verlion’s last words, she reconsidered.

‘Not knowing the current year and treating the king’s message as if he were dead. Perhaps, perhaps…’

In Delina’s mind, the eerie eyes of the five pairs she had seen just before collapsing from the poison came to mind. The characters on the screen changed to ‘Black Curtain,’ and the five people instantly changed like different people. Only Celine could be with them.

By combining what I witnessed and the stories from Felix and Verlion, I could formulate one hypothesis.

‘Perhaps those five have not returned to the past in the same way? So they obsess over Celine and engage in activities like going to the border…’

It was unpleasant to imagine, but it was the most plausible story that could explain the current situation. Perhaps they, too, have returned. Those who caused the empire to fall, plunging people into fear and chaos.

“Well, well… Why did they go to the border?”

“We don’t know the exact reason for that. But since they brought the army and went to the border, people probably think they’re starting a war.”

At the mention of war, Delina’s heart began to pound. The situation was turning strangely. It hadn’t been long since the incident occurred, and there was too much information pouring in. Delina tried to organize her thoughts.

“Your Highness, are you going to the border?”

If Ashed declared war on the Runan Empire, even the nobles of the Helium Empire would have to participate. The Duke of Ulfheim was no exception.

“Even if I go, the main purpose is to be cautious.”

“But still, if you encounter the other side, you’ll fight. Leading the knights.”

“…”

‘Not just the king. Surely Duke Diamond, Viscount Elpisha, and Count Florence…’

If a full-scale war broke out, the damage to the empire was inevitable. Delina knew more than anyone the terror of war.

“The senator has arrived.”