At that moment.

Hertian returned to the townhouse instead of the palace after bringing Annette.

It was to bring Annette back promptly.

He sat in a chair and absentmindedly touched the enchanted ring on his hand.

“Shall I just check this and go out?”

After giving Annette the enchanted necklace connected to the ring, all that was left was to use the ring.

“Every time, she says it’s okay, and yet, I end up buying things like this.”

After his confession, Annette hid her pain extremely well.

Even though it was evident that her health was deteriorating.

She always responded with “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Perhaps that made him even more anxious.

Without much hesitation, he activated the ring.

A white light indicating the activation signal lit up and disappeared on the ring.

And it was when Hertian, feeling no change in his body, tried to stand up.

Thump.

In an instant, his body lost balance, and he fell to the floor. His muscles felt as if they had solidified like sandbags, making it impossible to move. All he could do was breathe to avoid losing consciousness.

“Ha.”

Hertian continued to breathe heavily.

He was a warrior who had endured various training and wars. To survive, he had undergone strenuous training.

But because he had physical strength, he had never suffered injuries as an adult.

So why did he suddenly become vulnerable to pain?

Hertian groaned in agony from the strange pain spreading throughout his body. Only after taking a deep breath could he move and get up from his seat.

He was enveloped in a foggy feeling, as if water had entered his ears, making him unable to think clearly.

If an ordinary person were in this state, they wouldn’t be able to think or act normally.

Hertian looked around his study.

Moving each muscle felt difficult, as if sandbags were attached to them.

“Annette lives like this?”

His forehead wrinkled with a dark expression.

It couldn’t be.

There must be something wrong with the item.

So, he believed that excessive pain was infused rather than her actual pain.

But only after he emptied a glass of cold water did he acknowledge that his current state was Annette’s physical condition.

Thirst that couldn’t be quenched with just water.

He opened the sugar compartment on the table and added five sugars. After savoring the full sweetness in his mouth, he seemed to understand now.

“There’s a reason Annette liked sweet things.”

It was because he couldn’t endure it in his right mind.

In order to bear this weight, he had to swallow something this sweet that could make his mind clear when he was on the verge of losing consciousness.

She had neither medicine nor divine power.

“In this condition, it’s impossible to live.”

Annette never talked much about physical pain. Like someone who had let go of everything. She endured it as if considering this pain a part of herself.

“But there’s nothing I can do.”

He just wanted to be there for her, supporting her when her condition worsened a bit, without overwhelming her.

In the midst of more intense pain than expected, he felt self-blame.

Even if he understood her pain, there was nothing he could do.

He was at a point of self-blame.

Suddenly, all the pain disappeared, and his body began to feel light. Just like before activating the ring.

But Hertian quickly reminded himself of someone.

The one who took away all physical pain.

Someone who experienced the feeling of losing all senses when being next to them.

To the extent that he didn’t know if there were any wounds on his body.

“You went to see Serdis.”

Recalling old memories, he cautiously raised his body to inspect the wounds. The abilities were indeed remarkable. The wounds on the reddened skin had blood clotting, but he felt nothing.

After wiping away the blood, Hertian put on his outdoor clothes. At that moment, the butler entered the study. The carriage was ready.
“The carriage is ready. Also, a letter has arrived from the palace, sir.”

“From the palace to here?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if it’s urgent, but it seems like they sent it here.”

When Hertian opened it, there was news stating that the duel had been canceled.

“Serdys personally canceled the duel?”

He crumpled the paper and sighed.

“Why is she so diligent while she’s in pain?”

Just yesterday, she had said she would fight in her own way, and in the end, Annette fought in her own way and won against Hertian.

There was no room for rebuttal; it was her victory.

Hertian chuckled self-deprecatingly as he put down the statement from the palace. It was the moment he was about to move to fetch Annette.

“Master!”

He lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor. The only thing that glittered was the ring on his hand.

The vague feeling felt as if he were walking in a dream.

It was like walking on a meadow tickled by the toes, with the fresh scent of blossomed flowers carried by the wind gently brushing the long hair.

In my view, adorned with a light chiffon dress, I walked through the field with joyful steps.

Suddenly, I found a small well.