As my blurry eyes opened, the first thing I saw was Cahilin’s face. Cahilin, who had been silently staring at me, spoke.

“Are you awake?”

Nodding my head, I sat up, and he supported me, placing a pillow behind my back.

Then, he sat down again, gazing at me with an indescribable look in his eyes. How should I respond when asked about what happened with Floria?

However, what came out of Cahilin’s mouth was concern.

“How’s your body? The palace’s healer said there’s nothing wrong, but do you feel dizzy?”

“I’m okay.”

Come to think of it, my body, covered in ashes earlier, was now clean and dressed in new clothes. I raised an eyebrow when I saw him frowning.

“What are you thinking? The maids bathed you while you were sleeping.”

“Oh, right.”

“Disappointed?”

“Not at all.”

I coldly rejected Cahilin’s playful response. It was usually a conversation full of teasing, but now it felt so reassuring. It had been that way since I heard Cahilin’s voice outside Floria’s room.

“Can you stop talking now?”

“What do you mean?”

I tilted my head at his unexpected remark.

“Your weakness that got caught by the Second Prince.”

“What is…?”

Just as I wondered why he was asking about that, Cahilin casually tossed something onto the blanket.

It was the bracelet he had left as collateral. I always wore it on my wrist, but when did he take it off? Looking down at my bare wrist, I then shifted my gaze to the bracelet.

‘Why…’

Unable to understand the reason, I furrowed my brows, and Cahilin nonchalantly explained.

“It’s a bracelet enchanted with a listening spell.”

“…What?”

Shocked by the unexpected words, I opened my mouth wide. Did he just say that I was being eavesdropped on right now? No, the attitude of the person saying such a thing was too shameless.

Chills ran down my spine, and at the same time, I felt bewildered, so I shot a glare at Cahilin.

“Are you a pervert?”

“What’s a pervert? The wording sounds weird.”

“You’re talking about someone like you who casually eavesdrops on others’ private lives!”

I crossed my arms, covering my chest, and stepped back, keeping a distance from Cahilin. He raised his hand.

“Wait, first of all, let me apologize for giving you this bracelet without your knowledge.”

“First of all? Is this how someone apologizes?”

This guy, was he so unattractive that he was a pervert? I scanned Cahilin from head to toe, trying to stay as far away as possible.

His hands, lifted as if to show that he was harmless, were disgusting beyond description. I wanted to leave the room immediately, feeling like I couldn’t stand being in the same space.

Damn, did I die and come back to life to encounter a pervert right in front of me?

“That crazy look in your eyes seems understandable, but let me clear up one misunderstanding. I didn’t give this to you for the purpose of eavesdropping.”

“Nonsense! Just get out of my room.”

Whether he was the First Prince or whatever, I tried to get up to chase him out, but he grabbed me and forcefully sat me back down. When I resisted by pushing his hand away, Cahilin quickly continued speaking.
“This bracelet only works when a specific person is nearby. That specific person is your sister and my brother’s wife, Floria De Hillick, that woman.”

I furrowed my brows, wondering what he meant.

“I intended to monitor her activities through you. I knew from the beginning that she wasn’t just a kind woman as spoken of in the world.”

His eyes were excessively sincere to be a lie. I looked at him suspiciously.

“…So, does that mean this bracelet eavesdrops only when Floria is present?”

If he tried to restrain Floria through me, it made sense. It was similar to Floria putting me in the First Prince’s palace.

So, both sides were using and manipulating me. Ha. A bitter laugh escaped unintentionally.

“You’ll probably feel upset. I think I made a mistake. But I don’t regret it.”

What is this crazy guy talking about? Grinding my teeth, I threw a pillow at Cahilin, who effortlessly caught it and continued speaking.

“Thanks to me, I saved you.”

“…What?”

“I was curious about your weakness. So, I used a little trick. If I had known it would turn you into this, I swear I wouldn’t have done it.”

Cahilin’s expression showed deep regret. His face softened.

“Still, thanks to this bracelet, I could save you at the right moment. If it weren’t for this…”

I frowned at the thought, not wanting to imagine it. Cahilin, with a serious expression, looked into my eyes.

“Now tell me. The weakness tied to that woman. I want to hear it precisely from your mouth.”

Whenever he looked at me, there was always a playful expression, but now, his face was serious and devoid of the usual mischievousness.

His violet eyes were pure. I felt only worry, regret, and profound anger towards someone. And strangely, he seemed a bit desperate.

‘Why is this man doing this?’

I couldn’t understand why this man was looking at me with such an expression and gaze. Then, Floria’s words came to mind.

‘Wouldn’t it make more sense if that lady he’s fond of is you?’