“I shouldn’t be doing this now.”

Until Bernar raised his concerns, Illeon had been having such thoughts.

Because of Elescia.

Illeon acknowledged that he was excited about spending time with her at the Grand Manor. Initially, it was fortunate just to find the woman who disappeared like smoke. Then, he was delighted that he could see Elescia every day when he visited Duke Yuter’s residence.

However, when he was awake in the same house, when he called her, it wasn’t possible to be with her all the time like Rona, who stayed by his side. Slowly, the prohibition on Elescia came, and when she rejected his proposal, he felt his patience drying up.

Elescia is not enough.

Even though he thought he never took his eyes off Elescia, did he only store in his heart the sight of her filling the hunger in his heart? He didn’t know that Bernar noticed.

‘Elescia seems to be distancing herself again.’

Colliding and arguing consume mental strength, but it is necessary for the relationship to progress.

How can they know what was left unsaid? Without colliding, can they adjust to each other?

But Elescia withdraws and avoids like she’s frightened.

Bang.

Illeon clenched his fist.

Now he seemed to know more clearly. If Elescia has that personality…

“I have to catch her several times.”

Fortunately, that was something Illeon could do well.

“Elescia!”

Late at night, Elescia’s small room was bustling.

When Iris, Roben, and Escho came, the room felt crowded.

“I’m really relieved that you’re back.”

Tears welled up in Iris’s eyes, who had a smile on the corners of her eyes.

“We’ve been in touch the whole time.”

“Still.”

Elescia first encountered Iris near Café Cardinal when she lost her memory. Iris was surprised and shocked when Elescia didn’t remember her. Then, Elescia confirmed that she had regained her memory through a message from Messenger sent by Mariela.

This was the first time Iris and Elescia, who remembered her, faced each other since she returned. After Elescia safely arrived in the Berbero of the Nanku Continent and decided to leave Hadumsha with Gillian and Mariela, Iris also planned to leave Hadumsha with them. It became a failed plan, to say the least.

“I was so worried. Sontec himself used potent drugs without any regard.”

She couldn’t stop worrying, thinking, ‘What if she doesn’t wake up even after making the antidote?’ Seeing Iris, who laughed and cried without letting go, Elescia felt sorry.

They must have been worried about me like this.

They were the ones who helped Mariela and made efforts to send Elescia out of the original work.
Illeon impulsively headed to the Grand Manor upon hearing the news of his blindness. Moreover, he even jumped off the ship heading to the Nanku Continent.

Meeting them after betraying their help, although it was a long-awaited reunion and felt welcoming, the guilt couldn’t be avoided.

“Sorry. I’m sorry, everyone.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve caused a lot of trouble during this time, and things turned out like this.”

“No, Miss. Why would you say such things?”

While saying that, Iris glanced at Roben and Escho. Like Elescia, Iris entered Hadumsha to help Mariela, but Roben and Escho sided with Mariela, having received the trust. Their perspectives could be different.

“There’s no need to worry about it, Iris. We are following the will of the gods, but we also hope for Elescia’s happiness.”

“Right. The gods didn’t say a word about Elescia deciding to change the original. Maybe everything here is as they wish.”

Elescia was surprised. Since choosing Illeon, she had closed herself off from listening to the words of the gods.

Some things pass the point of no return.

Jumping off the ship felt like that to Elescia. So, she was afraid that she might hear something contradictory to her choice from the gods’ words.

It was fortunate that the gods did not say anything to Roben and Escho about that matter.

Since it was late, they decided to discuss other matters later and the men withdrew first.

Left alone, Iris looked at Elescia with emotionally charged eyes.

“Miss, can I hug you just once?”

“Iris.”

When Elescia called her name and warmly embraced her, Iris, who had been holding back tears, finally burst into tears.

“Oh, really… I’m so relieved.”

“Sorry.”

“What are you talking about?”

“For not remembering you back then.”

Elescia smiled with a gentle look, a perplexing smile. That face, that smile, matched the Elescia Iris remembered. So Iris shed even more tears.

“Just remembering me is enough for me. And that you’re alive.”

At those words, the smile disappeared from Elescia’s face.

“Yeah. I’m fortunate to be alive.”

The ship I boarded sank.

The news came as a shock when Mariela allowed her relationship with Illeon and her father, Gillian, with a pale face, rushed in.

“I went to the harbor. To check on you… to find out about your news…”

At that time, everyone was excited, so they casually brushed off Gillian’s words about going to the harbor to hear my news.

“Elescia, I have something to tell you.”