‘Illeon has forgotten me.’

Perhaps it’s what she wished for. She hoped he wouldn’t suffer. She wished for Illeon’s happiness. She never harbored selfish desires for her own happiness with him. She envisioned a peaceful life with Karina within the tranquility of everyday routine.

However, the time Elysia spent with Illeon was so profound that it felt like an indelible stamp on her heart. Leaving the original story was a way to liberate Mariela from suffering. The fact that the cause of her unhappiness was so close, herself, was painful.

Depression and pain, despite being metaphysical concepts, have the characteristic of being contagious and hereditary.

‘I’m not happy.’

While someone might be satisfied with their own life and live each day happily, Elysia had never felt such a feeling for even a single moment since birth.

So, why, even when she firmly believed she was ‘Wonyunji,’ did she never think such thoughts about ‘Elysia’?

Elysia, a woman with everything—beauty, a good home, and even referred to as a candidate for the High Priestess due to the special blessing of a god—why was she so unhappy?

Would Elysia be able to endure watching a man who whispers love to her every day share his sadness and mental pain with her?

Therefore, Elysia was someone who couldn’t give anything to Illeon from the beginning.

If he wanted her body, she thought she could give it to him willingly; that was the only thing she could do for him of her own volition.

She truly was foolish. Perhaps she was receiving retribution for what she had done to Illeon.

Elysia pretended to forget him, and Illeon forgot her.

She couldn’t complain or have the right to be hurt.

Still, her heart ached so much that she clenched her trembling fingertips and barely hid them in the palm of her hand.

‘Her Highness the Princess probably won’t even think about it.’

Since she was going to leave anyway and be forgotten, she couldn’t afford to show a wavering appearance.

“Well then, what you’re saying is a bit exaggerated and doesn’t matter anyway.”

Leve spoke.

“False religions and faith can disturb people’s minds. However, someone who seriously responds while claiming that all the supernatural powers they talk about are true may objectively appear strange.”

“I understand.”

“I have the power of ‘Oder,’ so I’m aging not much and have more strength than others. But I don’t really feel or live with this grace every day. I don’t live my life deeply feeling thankful prayers to the god who bestows this favor on my body every day.”

Leve’s eyes became intense.
“It seems my judgment was wrong, seeing what happened to Illeon. If these people can mock someone to this extent, they could do even worse.”

To Leve, Illeon’s simple manipulation of memories seemed shocking.

“Is there no way to undo the suggestion?”

“There is.”

Mariela explained, “There are usually two methods, but one of them cannot be attempted.”

“Why is that?”

“He needs a tool. It’s the same tool used when creating a curse using Your Highness’s blood. If that tool is available, an antidote can be made.”

“Can’t it be taken away?”

Mariela gave a weary response to Leve’s question.

“He is almost omnipotent in this place, like a god. It would be good if we could take it away, but we don’t know where he has hidden it.”

“What is the other method?”

“Your Highness overcoming the suggestion themselves.”

“Overcoming it?”

“Suggestion is like confining oneself in one’s thoughts and covering them with a fake exterior. So, the original consciousness is being forced. The alter ego will endlessly fight against suggestion to return to its original self. In the mind.”

“Hmm. So, in the end, it means it’s uncertain.”

“…Yes.”

“To have to helplessly watch that despicable gaze without any assurance is absurd.”

Leve didn’t hide her displeasure, and Mariela, in front of her, shrunk as if she had become a sinner.

Then, Leve looked straight at Elysia.

“Elysia.”

“Yes.”

“How about not leaving?”

“What? Your Highness.”

Mariela jumped at Leve’s sudden words. However, Leve didn’t even glance her way and continued to look at Elysia.

“Isn’t going against the prophecy, going beyond the story, a cowardly choice?”

“Your Highness! Such words…”

“Mariela.”

Leve turned her head sternly to look at Mariela.

“I understand that you’ve done your best. I can tolerate you not being sane when it comes to my child. If I had known there were people doing such things to Illeon, I would have reduced them to dust even if I had to grind them into pieces. Well, of course, I still think that way.”

Mariela asked with lips trembling, seemingly afraid of the next words coming out of Leve’s mouth.

“But as a mother, I can’t agree with your judgment.”

“Your Highness.”

“You must be aware of those people. They don’t understand. They don’t know them well.”

“Yes, they don’t know.”

Leve asserted firmly.

“But I know how to raise a child. I mean, you shouldn’t raise them to show their backs and run away from cowardly and vile enemies. Your Highness.”