“Your Highness, stop…”

“I know.”

Smiling, Benjamin pressed his forehead against hers instead of his lips.

“Get up quickly. I miss you. And there are things to do.”

Swoosh.

Taking advantage of Yurisien’s momentary relief, Benjamin kissed her again. However, just as he was about to let go, Yurisien, whose face was now even redder than before, exploded in frustration. She pushed Benjamin away with a forceful “Ugh!” Worried about Yurisien, who was about to collapse, Benjamin desperately tried to find her.

“Too… tired…”

Yurisien collapsed.

It felt like being lifted above the water’s surface. It felt like a splash brushing against her cheek. At times, it felt as if her breath was being cut off. Desiring to move forward, swinging her arms chaotically, and then, at the moment when her lungs were filled with air.

“Huak!”

Yurisien opened her eyes wide. Wet with sweat, Uergen and Benjamin were looking down at her with concern.

“You’ve woken up!”

“Yurisien!”

Uergen and Benjamin shouted simultaneously. Yurisien, with a bewildered expression, looked around and then clung to Uergen in confusion.

“Ah, Father.”

With a somewhat dazed voice, Yurisien looked up at Benjamin. He closed his eyes lightly and nodded. It meant that this was reality.

“It’s fortunate… Truly fortunate…”

Uergen’s slightly choked voice could be heard. Yurisien, who had been panting like being underwater, was caressed by Uergen’s hand, gently stroking her back.

“I’m sorry. You must have been surprised.”

“No, what are you sorry for?”

Hugging Yurisien tightly, Uergen wiped his teary eyes. The heartbeat felt against the pressed chests was extremely fast. Uergen, who had been anxiously holding back his feelings, slowly began to shed tears. Yurisien, who was panting as if her breath was stuck, comforted Uergen’s back with a gentle touch.

“I’m sorry. You must have been anxious.”

“It’s okay now. It’s okay…”

Uergen, embracing Yurisien, whispered while wiping the tears from her eyes. Benjamin, who had been playfully smiling at the sight of Yurisien, who looked cute like a baby cat, simply smiled happily. After a brief eye confrontation with Benjamin, Yurisien, who had been playing with him for no reason, asked while looking around.

“But… how do I wake up?”

However, there was no returning answer.

“Your Highness?”

When she looked ahead again, there was no one there.

“Your…!”

Yurisien desperately tried to find Benjamin, but it was in vain.

“Too… tiring…”

Yurisien collapsed as she was.
She took a sip of the water Daisy brought, looking down at the transparent glass. Uergen’s slight tremor caught her peripheral vision. She couldn’t imagine what expression he might be wearing.

“So, it was hard to come back.”

“…But you did come back.”

Uergen lightly touched Yurisien’s slender shoulders.

“I mean back to where your real mother is.”

His voice was calm and affectionate. When Yurisien looked up, Uergen was smiling gently. Daisy quickly approached, taking the empty cup away. Yurisien nestled into Uergen’s embrace.

“Still, it was good that I could say everything I wanted to my mother.”

“Yeah, as long as it’s not painful and bad memories for you. That’s how dreams are.”

Uergen also hugged her. The couple held each other for a long time.

By the time Yurisien had fully recovered, two days had passed. In truth, Uergen wanted Yurisien to rest more and preserve her strength, but the situation was not favorable.

“The former leaders of the Heaven’s Bridge have awakened. Is that really true?”

Yurisien was shocked by Jorge’s words, who played a crucial role in overcoming the curse. They had resurrected as undead on the day she woke up. Jorge spoke with a deep sigh.

“With this, not only the Solzerion Empire but the entire world is in danger. There’s a risk of being occupied by the undead and becoming a land of death.”