“What?”

Rasillia frowned.

“The Delarta prophet… Did they appoint a new prophet in the meantime? Why would a prophet request something from a sorcerer?”

At the right moment, Rescal grabbed Rasillia’s hand.

Rasillia’s hand was cold. It didn’t show on her face, but she was in a state of profound surprise.

“It’s not a newly appointed prophet.”

“Then…”

Before the answer, Bardim unconsciously twisted his lips. Just thinking about Lady Cartahena Pheleion brought back the same uncomfortable anxiety.

“The name of that prophet was Rasillia, Your Majesty, the Empress.”

While Rasillia was in shock with her mouth wide open, Bardim finally brought out what he really needed to say.

“And she had the same appearance as Your Majesty.”

“…!”

A silent astonishment echoed through the air in the room.

“That… Does that mean Lady Pheleion is living with her body switched… Is that what it means?”

The number of people increased.

Rian couldn’t stand just listening and joined in.

Pippi, who had been with Rian lately, saying that she couldn’t bear to see Rescal anymore, also took a seat together.

Bardim couldn’t help but sigh as he looked at the now palm-sized Pippi.

“He must not have died at that time.”

Rescal embraced Rasillia and pressed his lips to her forehead.

Pippi scolded him, saying, “Look at this mess while I can’t even sit on your palm,” but unfortunately, everyone was too shocked by Bardim’s words to comfort Pippi.

“How… I thought he was definitely dead.”

Rasillia closed her eyes and opened them again.

She could still recall it anytime. The pain Flotha inflicted as the knife plunged into her back.

Even so, it was hard to understand that she didn’t die, and it was even harder to believe that Cartahena Pheleion had fully recovered from all injuries during that time.

“He used sorcery to change bodies completely before dying, Your Majesty.”

“I think so too.”

Both sorcerers nodded simultaneously.

“If he had been alive, there would have been a way to heal the injuries. There would have been priests with healing abilities in Delarta.”

“But the temple in Delarta said that all the priests had changed… Well, there could still be a priest with healing abilities, though.”

Rasillia clenched the edge of her skirt with a painful expression. Seeing that, Rescal gently clasped her hand. It was a small contact, but it unexpectedly became a warm comfort.

Rasillia smiled softly, remembering the reason why Rescal had insisted on not having physical contact.

Strange behaviors of Rescal that seemed incomprehensible until now were, in fact, easy to understand. Everything made sense if one thought that he considered himself responsible for everything.

“If the request was to return to the original body, I won’t easily give up.”

Dekan grasped something with a serious expression.

Rian choked up, raising veins on her neck.
“Nonsense. Is there a place where the royal palace can return just because it wants to come back? What they did, pretending to be real all this time, is nothing short of betrayal. The people of the Pheleion family should be grateful that their lives are still intact.”

“No one denies that, Sir Sigres. However, unless the Pheleion family’s actions are publicly punished, it will not end like this.”

“Can’t we punish them publicly, Your Majesty?”

Rian asked with an excited face.

But it wasn’t that simple.

“The Empress’s permission comes first. But if I express my opinion, I don’t think it’s time yet, considering that the truth about Rasillia’s birth is still a secret. The only Duke who knew the answer hid himself suffering from dementia, and even with the Shield of Silver using all their intelligence, they couldn’t trace his whereabouts.”

Rescal firmly held Rasillia’s hand.

“If the Empress’s name is indeed Pheleion, we can’t label that name as treason.”

“Ah… Then, are we just going to watch them continue to use the Pheleion surname?”

Unable to find a way to release her rising anger, Rian clenched her fist. Bardim, with his violet aura flickering in the wind, widened his eyes and then blinked in surprise.

“It seems that being me is quite awkward.”

Rasillia slightly furrowed her brow.

Rescal held Rasillia’s hand for the third time. Rian and Dekan exchanged glances, wondering why Rescal let go instead of just keeping a grip if they were going to be bothersome.

“That’s definitely not true.”

Rescal said to Rasillia with the most affectionate voice he could muster.

So, the others looked at each other in surprise. Although they understood Rescal’s intention to comfort Rasillia, the low and sincere whisper sounded strangely intimate.

“There’s only one case where you might find me awkward. And that’s something I can accept, even if it never changes for a lifetime. So, nothing else matters.”

It was clear what that one case was, even without saying it out loud.

Rasillia considered it fortunate that Rescal didn’t express his thoughts in words, stating that he had only that thought in his mind.