It was literally a pain that tore the heart to shreds.

Having experienced being stabbed with a knife before, Ermendillin knew well what kind of excruciating pain accompanied it. Therefore, when Felio blocked his path, Ermendillin fervently wished that the blade would be directed towards him, not Felio.

From the moment she saw the piercing blade coming out from the back, Ermendillin felt like she might faint, but she held onto her sanity while looking at Felio, who forced a smile through the pain with his battered body.

She had heard through Louise that he was unharmed. Though she wanted to go and check his condition with her own eyes, she couldn’t do so, thinking about Duke Batistin.

It was to the extent that she wanted to visit his room through astral projection or at least his soul.

‘Why? Why go to such lengths for me when it’s suspected that I am somehow involved in my mother’s death?’

The warmth of the cheek that her palm touched and the chilling sensation of tears were still vivid in her memory.

‘If he suspected that I am somehow involved in my mother’s death, why go to such lengths for me?’

She let thoughts of the handkerchief in her hands and the brooch hanging on her left shoulder, which she still held in her arms in her mind. It felt like some puzzle pieces were falling into place, but Ermendillin, who still had lingering scars of betrayal, instinctively rejected further deductions.

‘Don’t jump to conclusions. They are Imperial nobles. Their loyalty to the royal family might be greater than personal grudges.’

Ermendillin made an effort to clear her mind to think of something else.

Then the agony of the decaying flesh that was eating away at her whole body came to mind.

‘That perverted man, how did he raise his daughter? Is there anyone who could go through all that for ten or more years without going crazy?’

She had no intention of absolving the actions of the previous owner of her body, even if she knew about the pain. But there was a certain amount of sympathy for what had been endured.

‘Forget it. Continuously thinking about that agony will only wear out my patience.’

This time, Ermendillin closed both of her eyes altogether. She thought that maybe she could fall asleep if she closed her eyes.

However, what came to mind this time was the green eyes that watched her as her entire body decayed.

“Ah!!”

In the end, a scream of agony burst from Ermendillin’s lips.

People who were alive just a few hours ago had met their deaths due to her curse. She couldn’t comprehend why she could only use curse magic, not a sacred power or any other divine magic.

Ermendillin didn’t regret saving Felio and Valrest, but the aftermath of killing people for the first time was considerable. Countless emotions created a huge whirlpool inside Ermendillin.

Repeatedly, the soul shattered into pieces in the unstoppable, powerful vortex.

‘What if I had been the one stabbed by that knife instead of Felio?’

After all, it was a body that had died once. Was there a need to endure such agony while living in this place where a fiery future called “reincarnation” was planned?

Next time, if something like this happens again, there is no guarantee that the people around her will be unharmed. She might end up watching Felio die right before her eyes.

Ermendillin felt a chill running through her entire body.

Thus, Ermendillin spent the night with wide-open eyes until morning came again.

“The Sage has arrived! To Master Felio……”

She seemed to have dozed off in the meantime.

Having rested her eyes for a while, Ermendillin quickly got up and rushed to the reception room before Luna finished speaking.

“…….”
Thinking about Felio, who had been bleeding throughout the night, Ermendillin suffered. However, at least on the surface, she felt relieved seeing Felio looking tidy.

‘Fortunately, but he lost a lot of blood. Is he okay? Is he still in pain?’

There were many things she wanted to ask, but when she actually saw Felio’s face, her lips wouldn’t easily move. Ermendillin, after calming her heart that seemed about to burst for a moment, ordered Luna and Mago to prepare a simple breakfast.

Thanks to that, they had some time alone.

“Sage. Are you well?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s not a physical injury, right? I healed it immediately.”

“But you lost so much blood…”

“Losing that much blood won’t kill me.”

Ermendillin, on the verge of tears trying to prevent them from overflowing, had aching facial muscles, but Felio had been smiling brightly since his appearance.

“Why are you smiling like that? It doesn’t seem like a situation to be happy about.”

“Why not? Since Her Majesty the Empress is safe, it’s a natural cause for joy.”

His thin and long eyes formed a beautiful half-moon as he smiled.

The smile she had longed to see so much.

However, Ermendillin didn’t find that smile welcoming.

“Sage, listen to me well. If a similar situation arises again, never try to save me.”

“Valrest and I were originally accompanying Her Majesty the Empress for her protection.”