Two days had passed. During that time, the imperial physicians were coming and going to the Crown Princess’ residence, and the entire Imperial Palace was focused on one place with worry. Of course, Lucas was no exception.

“Serena, are you awake?”

Lucas had thought that her being unwell after being kicked out of the Crown Princess’ residence that night was just an excuse.

Knowing the ways of the Imperial Palace better than anyone, he only thought that the Empress was shielding the Crown Princess and felt somewhat resentful, so he deliberately pretended not to know.

“It’s my fault. I… didn’t even know you were this sick.”

Contrary to Lucas’ expectations, rumors circulated the very next day that the Crown Princess was suffering from a high fever. Even then, he ignored it. However, after directly hearing the physician’s report today and seeing her lying in bed, his heart shattered.

“Why did I think like that?”

It was none other than himself who had brought Serena to this Imperial Palace. So he should have been her greatest support, but he felt guilty for being resentful without knowing she was sick, just because his feelings were hurt over a trivial quarrel.

“Your Highness…”

Serena, with a wet towel on her forehead, struggled to lift her eyelids and looked at Lucas.

“No, you don’t have to say anything.”

Perhaps it was because she had taken in too many memories at once, but a fierce fever had come, just like when she first entered this world.

At first, he had only heard that she was suffering from a high fever, but now that he was directly experiencing that pain, it was not something to be taken lightly. Especially in this era, suffering from a high fever was almost a matter of life and death.

“I’m sorry for only coming now. I… no, it’s all my fault.”

It wasn’t Lucas’ fault. Moreover, at first, Serena’s illness was an excuse, so it was understandable for him to pretend not to know. However, she didn’t even have the energy to make excuses now, nor was it necessary.

“The physician said you’ve passed the critical point, so don’t worry about anything.”

Regret, self-blame, and worry were evident in Lucas’ dark eyes. That was his true feelings that Serena had been trying to turn a blind eye to all this time.

“Don’t think about anything, just wake up healthy like before, that’s all that matters.”

Lucas tightly held Serena’s hand that was under the blanket. It was a temperature full of fear that he might lose her hand in this life.

“Your Highness, I apologize, but the Crown Princess has just had her fever go down and needs more rest. The medicine will likely make her very drowsy.”

“I see. Alright.”

Lucas, nodding his head reluctantly at the physician’s words, looked at Serena again.

“Rest well and wake up soon. At least energetic enough to kick my shin again.”

What a great memory that was. But for a moment, Lucas’ eyes seemed to be moist. Serena wanted to say something in response, but she had no choice but to close her eyes due to the overwhelming drowsiness.

As soon as she closed her eyes, it felt like she was having a distant dream. In a world of pure white, the memories of her past life gradually faded, and in their place, the name Serena was more vividly engraved.

– The 99th bet is my victory.

A voice she had heard before rang out. It was… the same innocent and mysterious voice as when she became Serena.

– Well done. I had high expectations for you. I guess human souls need to have similar pain.

And it was still an incomprehensible sound.

“Who… are you?”

Serena barely squeezed out her voice. Even that voice seemed to echo inside her head, and it was difficult to speak any more words.

– I am everything and nothing. I had everything but nothing remains. I have countless beginnings and countless ends. And… the will of this world.

So what the heck are you saying?

– You don’t need to know. You wouldn’t understand anyway.

The voice answered as if reading Serena’s mind.

– But remember what I’m about to say. You are my last chance.

Will I be able to remember in this subconscious space even after I wake up?

– You strongly realized your own existence within the flow of this story. At that moment, you escaped the dominance of the story. Because you realized this was just a story.

The moment Serena decided to live a real life, she became a being with a will that escaped the flow of this world.

– Yes, there were two conditions for awakening. To become Serena, and to break free from the limitations of that character called Serena.

Indeed, she had once accepted and lived Serena’s life, and then rejected that predetermined life again.

– This story can never reach the 100th time.

Why the 99th time of all things? And why her?

– But it hasn’t been fully completed.

In the first place, she had no memory of properly reading this story. But of course, she thought there would be an end.

– A story that hasn’t been properly finished repeats itself and gains will. It’s the world’s instinct to always seek a complete ending.

Every story should naturally have an end.

– Not everything is so lucky. In fact, your life also ended abruptly in the middle.

Just as people want to fully construct their lives, or want to have meaning in their own lives, does a story also desire an ending?

– Our story is within you. When the time comes, you will be able to realize it. But… you have to make the choice.

She couldn’t fully grasp the meaning, but somehow she felt her heart accepting it. After all, the choice depended on her will.

‘Repeated destruction is not originally the will of this story. It’s just that… blocked by the wall it couldn’t finish, it repeated the wrong cycle.’

What happens to a story that doesn’t end?

And the life of a person who couldn’t find any meaning?

‘Yes, save us and yourself from that pit of futility.’

The surrounding pure white gradually turned black. The darkness that devoured everything seemed to suck in even light, turning it into nothingness. Like the futility at the end of this world and where the story abruptly cut off.

She could instinctively know. That darkness would devour all existence and return it to nothingness.

Should a story that has stopped disappear without becoming anything? Just like herself in her past life, who died without accomplishing anything?

“No. I’m tired of not accomplishing anything.”

As the darkness approached, Serena mustered all her strength. Now, no matter who she was, she wanted to find meaning. Because she was done ending in futility without knowing what was what.

‘Open your eyes. You are the protagonist.’

And just before Serena’s existence was sucked into that futility, she dramatically opened her eyes.

“Serena.”

In a moment of confusion, Lucas told her who she was. Seeing his low, ardent voice and dark eyes, she realized that her existence still remained here.

“Your Highness…”

She called out to him, but couldn’t say more. As if her mind had been overworked, her consciousness kept fading. Regrettably, it was time to sleep again.

Lucas’ expression was unusual when he arrived at the Empress’ palace. Although the physician repeatedly reported that she had passed the critical point, his pacing steps were filled with impatience.

“Since when exactly did the Crown Princess have a fever? Was the fever this high even when Your Majesty sent the head court lady to tell her to take care of herself?”

Isabel, the Empress’ head court lady, suppressed her bewilderment. The Empress’ good intentions to shield the Crown Princess had unfortunately resulted in the worst outcome by sheer coincidence.

“Lucas, calm down as the physician said she is fine. You are being agitated.”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess suffered a life-threatening high fever! You should have informed me from the beginning when you sent the head court lady!”

If she had not interfered, it would have passed as the Crown Princess being sick alone, but Adeline’s misplaced consideration ended up concealing the urgent situation.

But it was also difficult for the Crown Princess, who had just passed the critical point, to say that she wasn’t sick at first.

“At that time, the physician also said it wasn’t that serious, and I thought she was exhausted from not long entering the palace.”

“But she was suffering from a high fever to the point of being on the brink of death?”

Lucas was angrier at himself than anyone else right now. He wanted to hit his own mouth that had blabbered on about her achievements in the council, ignoring Serena’s feelings about suddenly coming to live in the Imperial Palace.

He had even felt very resentful when he heard the news that she was sick.

“So what exactly did the head court lady see? She said she went to see the Crown Princess directly…!”

“Your Highness, I apologize, but this servant…”

As Isabel bowed her waist, the Empress immediately raised a hand to stop her.

“Lucas.”

Adeline called his name lowly and stared at him intently.

“Don’t vent your anger in the wrong place.”

The Empress understood her son’s state of mind better than anyone. With that personality, he would be blaming himself even now. But projecting that anger onto others was not right.

“That will not help anyone.”

“But Your Majesty, the Crown Princess in the past also…”

“I already heard from the physician and the Crown Princess’ head court lady. They said she also suffered a life-threatening high fever once when she was at the ducal residence.”

Lucas nodded. At that time, he only knew that such a thing had happened, but he didn’t have much feelings about it. But now that Serena was suffering before his eyes, he was so anxious that he couldn’t stand it.

“The head court lady had the records from that time, and since the Crown Princess’ fever has gone down and she is stable, she will wake up soon.”

At the Empress’ assertion, Lucas finally stopped his pacing. But his expression was still full of worry.

“Even though I want to stay by her side, the head court lady dissuades me…”

“If you’re there, she will be distracted. Let her rest for now.”

Lucas reluctantly nodded and then fell into thought for a moment.

“Your Majesty, perhaps to Luana…”

Before he could even finish, the Empress shook her head firmly.

“You can only ask that child about the weather.”

There was no way it would be good to carelessly mention something that could be a matter of life and death. Lucas knew it well too, but he had a foolish thought out of desperation.

“Please keep this matter a secret within the palace for now. I will appeal to His Majesty myself.”

At Lucas’ words, Adeline also nodded. If rumors spread that the newly married Crown Princess had just passed the brink of death, there could be talk of bad omens.

Right now, it was the only thing Lucas could do for his wife.