Because every time he asked about Elysia, both Mother Lefna and Butler Bernar wore awkward expressions and were reluctant to answer.

‘Being involved in a scandal in the clergy must have had a reason.’

While wondering if it was because he hesitated to bring it up, on the other hand, he was puzzled about why the princess, her mother, kept a priest who had only suffered a scandal by her side.

But when she saw the woman walking with two handsome male priests during the sponsorship, it felt like a profane curse.

Even the gratitude she felt just a while ago when Carina allowed her to hold her hand, and the joy she felt when the cherished woman stayed at her house, all vanished.

The reason for his hurried steps was a mix of anxiety and anger.

Why?

There was no room for questioning.

When she approached Carina and the men, Elysia smiled.

It wasn’t a radiant smile as if the whole world was bright.

Rather, it was a slightly pitiful expression.
Objectively, there are many commendable expressions for praising a beautiful woman raising the corners of her lips.

The charcoal burning and fading away turned red as it flared up briefly in the passing breeze, gradually cooling down.

Elysia’s laughter seemed faint and fragile.

Even so, why did the woman who was expressionless as a stone when she came into the mansion, suddenly surrounded by men, show a facial expression that she didn’t show to me? Was that why she got so angry?

“How delightful.”

Even when I turned around, it was a forced and ridiculous remark.

“How was it when Carina smiled for you?”

There was another woman who meant something to me. However, I couldn’t understand why he was getting so excited.

“Sigh.”

Illeion frowned and covered his head.

The terrible pain started then.

‘Why?’

It was the moment when I questioned my inexplicable behavior just a moment ago.

It felt like there was a living bug in my head.

It was a feeling of something tearing apart my thoughts from the inside.

And somehow, this feeling was familiar.

‘Eyes. Similar to the feeling when I tried to treat my eyes.’

The pain Illeion suffered, like a convulsion, every time something tore at his eyeballs from the inside while trying to heal them. It was an indescribable feeling, but it was too similar. The pain that had been deeply engraved into my body over the past two and a half years was now being reproduced not in my eyes but in my head. In this situation, Illeion was extremely perplexed.

“Something’s wrong.”

The eyes that hurt every time he tried to heal them.

A painful head every time he tried to think.

“Ugh.”

However, Illeion’s thoughts were soon wiped away by the merciless agony.

Empress Seraphina sat across from Sabiel.

“How’s your body?”

“Thanks to your concern, I’m much better now.”

Seraphina carefully observed her son, who had regained his color as the pallor he had before disappeared. After directly confirming Sabiel’s condition, she slowly raised the teacup.

“Why did you call me in such a way?”

After glancing around, Empress Seraphina lowered her voice.

“The Siren’s Hope has sunk.”

“What did you say?”

The ship was a vessel built by Empress Seraphina with great care.

Sabiel had committed some reckless acts there several times. Unlike on land, whatever he did on the water left no trace. The ship was also the one he took when he wanted Elisia Uter.

“Suddenly the Siren’s Hope sank?”

“Her Highness managed to escape.”

“Are you saying that my sister fled? It’s absurd. It’s a trap to catch Oder.”

Originally, the information transmitted by the Divine Representative from the God was a secret that only the one who ascended to the throne could hear.
Seraphina believed that her son would sit in that position, so to alleviate Sabiel’s endless inferiority complex, she revealed the secret to him.

“Then, won’t it be difficult for you, Mother?”

When Sabiel thought of his mother, who shivered as if she could recognize him no matter how much he disguised himself, his expression stiffened.

“There is no evidence. However, the Crown Prince should know as well.”

Empress Seraphina bit her lower lip as if she were angry.

“Before the ship sank, I offered Oder’s blood to the Divine Representative. They said they would take Illeion’s eyes again. Although the curse was undoubtedly complete, it seems that he did not lose his sight.”

“I will go and see.”

“Directly, Your Highness?”

Sabiel raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

“If you want to catch a lion, you have to go to the lion’s den.”

I have to go see for myself. Beyond escaping from Lev, Sabiel was desperate to know what the god took from Illeion’s eyes.

Since the visit to the sanctuary, Illeion had been acting strangely.

“Karina, I’d like to know what food you like.”

“What do you like?”

“Yeah.”

Illeion put down the knife and asked, leaning back in his chair.

“The chef at the Grand Duke’s castle, Chevalier, is quite skilled. Anything you like, Lena. I want to feed you what you want.”

“I’m not picky. I eat anything without hesitation.”

“Is there nothing you particularly like?”

The conversation they had during dinner was very ordinary. And Illeion’s words, full of favor, were deeply heartfelt.

However, Illeion’s words and expressions seemed to be at odds. While he verbally cared and showed interest in her, his gaze fluctuated between affection and coldness.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

Every time his eyes changed as if staring at her, Karina felt the urge to run away.

“It would be nice if you could tell me anything comfortably.”

Karina shook her head.

“You know I’m a daughter of Harington, right? I grew up on the outskirts of the border, near the boundary. I didn’t grow up being picky about anything.”

Illeion echoed her words.

“Yeah, you said it was near Lake Lorel.”

“Lake Lorel?”

“At Lord’s Keep, even the floor is made of dirt. Didn’t you say it was fun to watch the capital with a dirt floor?”

“I never said that. I’ve never been to Lake Lorel.”

“No. When we went to Café Cardinal, you definitely said that…”

Illeion’s gaze once again wavered uncomfortably.

At that moment, Karina suddenly felt like she knew something about Illeion’s condition.

‘Is he perhaps confusing me with Rona?’

It seemed that Illeion, even though he knew that Elisia was Rona, appeared to be treating her with caution.

Rona.

Lena.

The woman who worked as a maid by his side, having lost her memory.

It turned out that it was Elisia who used to be a noble lady named Rona.
And Elisia was pushing Illeion away.

‘But why me?’

She had doubts, but it seemed unlikely that she would get an answer even if she asked. Anyway, Illeion was completely infatuated with me right now.

Karina became impatient.

It was unlikely that Illeion had suddenly developed deep feelings for me.

At first, she thought he might have felt a connection to me now, but considering Illeion’s past actions, something was off.

‘For whatever reason. Anyway, it’s an opportunity for me.’

Karina rinsed her mouth with juice, peering at the opportunity like a predator targeting its prey.

“It would be better to rest early.”

When Illeion, who was concerned about her collapse, escorted her to the Grand Duchess’s bedroom.

Karina wrapped her arms around Illeion’s neck with a subtle touch, hanging onto him.

“I want to be with you tonight.”