I couldn’t openly deceive someone who knew everything.

“You don’t respond to antidotes either.”

Evan, who had been listening to the story, calmly wrote down the details.

“When I was young, it wasn’t like that. My brother, Lian, died after his body weakened, and since then, no matter what medicine or method I tried, my body didn’t improve.”

“Even your late brother Lian didn’t respond to medicine?”

I nodded, pretending not to be saddened.

It was a dreadful memory for me, like opening a box that you know is filled with grotesque bugs. Even so, I forced myself to open it. Inside was, as expected, a dark past.

“…Lian tried every possible method. Even when father donated a large sum to the temple and had him treated by high-ranking priests, he gave up when the treatment didn’t restore his strength. All that remained were potions and herbs. After Lian’s death, I spent endless hours in the laboratory mixing and drinking medicine.”

As I finished speaking, the atmosphere became heavy.

This was why I didn’t want to talk about it.

“But there was one good thing. No one can poison me. So, at least I won’t die so easily. That’s a relief.”

I listed the positives, trying hard to appear okay.

But for the two of them, it seemed sadder.

“Let me wipe the moisture off my glasses for a moment.”

Evan turned around and wiped away his tears.

“I won’t talk anymore if you cry.”

At my words, Evan returned to his place. His nose was red.

“Alright. Can I ask about your research then?”

“No. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Recalling each detail at that time was out of the question.

“If I was impolite, I apologize, Your Grace.”

Shaken by his firm attitude, Evan immediately apologized.

“I said I didn’t want to talk about the research. Not that I won’t give you the research data. My laboratory at the marquisate is still there. I’ll bring the data from there. Verify the rest with that.”

Evan’s round eyes, already quite round, widened like a full moon.

“Thank you. After thoroughly checking everything, we will proceed with the research.”

“Don’t waste too much time. I think everything is a waste of time after a few years. It’s enough to think that I wasted my time.”

“It’s my role to exert effort for the nobility.”

“Don’t blame me later.”

Seeing that he would receive the research data, Evan seemed a bit uplifted.

“Since we’re going to reveal everything, should I show you my mark as well?”

“Would that be acceptable?”

“Of course.”

“No. Call me His Grace, not Your Grace.”

Evan’s question was directed at Hertian.

“Was it you?”

After contemplating deeply, Hertian reluctantly agreed.

“Please show the lady’s mark.”

“Then, I’ll show you.”
I sat down and lowered my shoulder seams, and then tidied up the long hair that hung down, bringing it forward.

“Do you see the wings dying? While Lian’s petals bloomed lushly day by day, there was no change in the pattern for me after the first bud formed.”

Even now, after several years in this state, it remained the same.

“It did grow peculiarly, didn’t it?”

Purple buds with green leaves. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

Perhaps it didn’t look good to the two of them either, as no one spoke.

‘Is it gruesome to look at?’

About two minutes passed in silence.

I discreetly lifted my dress and flipped my hair.

The two exchanged glances.

“It looks quite strange.”

I felt disheartened, thinking my pattern was not very pleasing.

Still, I had to live with it all my life, so it wasn’t that strange.

“I shouldn’t have shown it for no reason.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that, Your Grace, what you mentioned and the current pattern…”

Evan trailed off.

“It’s not something else; it’s just that the pattern is slightly darker than when you showed it to me last time.”

Hertian intervened on Evan’s behalf.

“If that’s the case, just say so. I’ll check it myself.”

Since I hadn’t been able to check every day while on the cape, I didn’t know it had gotten darker.

“Come to think of it, no. It seemed darker when viewed in the bright light.”

“Really? Alright.”

Hertian put the cloak back on me.

Meanwhile, Evan brought out a new piece of paper.

“Your Grace, do you happen to remember the changes in Lian Yeongsik’s pattern?”

“Of course.”

When we were very young, both mine and Lian’s patterns were just small and cute leaves, but his started growing gradually and blossomed.

“He began to weaken, and there were changes in the pattern. As the flower bloomed, Lian became weaker, as if the flower was feeding on Lian’s energy.”

So, as long as I was still in the bud stage, I wasn’t going to die, I reassured myself.

“Before one season passed, the flower bloomed gloriously, and Lian, in the most fragile state, withered and died. It’s hard for me to say that directly. I’ll send you a drawing later along with the research data.”

“Thank you. We’ll be waiting for the data.”

Hertian’s face had been dark since earlier.

I asked what was wrong, and after hesitating for a while without answering, he finally stood up.

“I will be going to the emperor. Please rest for a while, my lady.”