I couldn’t remember how I returned to the palace.

It couldn’t be helped.

I had lost consciousness.

Was it because of that last smile that was so beautiful it hurt my heart?

Or was it because I had taken responsibility for the original tyrant?

I ended up with a severe cold, probably due to swimming in the middle of the night.

“Even real fools don’t just jump into lakes on moonlit nights.”

Franz nagged, standing with his arms crossed at the head of the bed.

I buried my head in the pillow and spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Shut up, Franz…”

“Where in the world is there a teacher who just skips classes?”

“Think of it as a vacation.”

“How irresponsible. Tsk.”

“Baron Douglas agreed to take care of you until I recover.”

“I hate that even more! How are you going to make up for this massive damage?”

Franz puffed up his cheeks.

He looked just like a squirrel that had fallen from a tree while carrying food in its mouth.

“Please be quiet. My head feels like it’s splitting every time you talk.”

“It’s because you keep moving. Stay still. The towel is falling off.”

Franz dipped the towel that had slipped from my forehead back into the basin with a splash.

He struggled to wring out the excess water with clumsy hands.

Franz placed the towel back on my forehead, looking pleased with himself.

He didn’t seem to notice my damp hair and bed sheets from the dripping water.

“Elizabeth is lucky. She has such a caring student like me.”

“That’s right. It’s the family’s pride. The caring Crown Prince.”

“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even have gotten proper nutrition.”

Behind Franz, who was holding his nose high, I could see a steaming bowl of soup.

It was a special soup that Franz had badgered the imperial chefs to make.

The soup was full of unidentifiable ingredients like fish heads, bird feet, and sharp wood pieces.

It was dark green in color and smelled of pungent medicinal herbs, making my stomach churn just looking at it.

It was probably his way of showing concern, but everything felt bothersome and annoying.

“Franz. Can you leave me alone?”

“Are you saying I’m a nuisance?”

Franz’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

‘Yes. I feel like my lifespan is rapidly decreasing because of you. I might really die if I eat that soup that looks like melted Hulk.’

But I couldn’t just ignore my student’s sincerity, could I?

Especially when that student was the Crown Prince who spewed venom at every opportunity.

“I’m worried I might pass my cold to the precious Crown Prince.”

It was a decent excuse. My quick-wittedness had improved.

Joy flashed across Franz’s lime-green eyes before quickly fading to a sulk.

“I’m tough. I don’t catch colds.”

“That’s good. I’d be more troubled if you got sick.”

I meant I’d be troubled having to deal with his fussiness on top of nursing him.

But Franz seemed touched again.

“Now go back to the Crown Prince’s palace. Be a good boy, okay?”

I reached out from under the blanket and stroked Franz’s golden hair.

The hair on a child’s crown was smoother than silk, making me want to keep touching it.

Franz was like a wolf fighting for territory, but when stroked, he became as docile as a sleepy puppy.

I had no choice but to pat him whenever I could.

“I’ll bring you a get-well gift later.”

“Your thoughts alone are enough, Franz.”

“I’ll bring a gift you’ll remember, so look forward to it.”

It would be best if he didn’t come at all, but I responded with a gentle smile.

As soon as Franz left, I drank the medicinal decoction and fell asleep.

When I hazily woke up, the sun was setting.

I took a few spoonfuls of thin vegetable soup instead of the bizarre jelly-like Hulk soup.

Drowsiness kept washing over me.

As if unwilling to let go of this rare rest, my body sank back into the bed.

It was difficult to assess my condition with Morathynthia’s eyes.

I had no choice but to trust the court healer and rest well.

‘Why isn’t Nikolai coming to visit? His lifesaver is bedridden because of him…’

For the first time in a long while, I didn’t dream of the guillotine.

There was no Claudia, no crowd gathered to watch the execution.

But Nikolai kept appearing, bewildering me.

It was even more so because I had never seen him like this before.

– Nikolai marching with me on a jet-black stallion.

– Nikolai beating down thugs in the slums.

– Nikolai cutting through the water with perfect form to save me from drowning in the lake.

– Nikolai giving me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!

It was similar to when little Nikolai appeared and confused my mind.

There was a difference though.

Unlike the annoying little Nikolais, the Nikolai in my dreams only said things harmful to my heart.

His words echoed in my ears.

“You saved me, so you take responsibility, Elizabeth.”

“I saw it clearly. He looks like a madman to me too.”

Is it okay to expect a little?

No one plays games with their life at stake, right?

Would even a playboy say to take responsibility so easily?

It was still ambiguous.

Whether Nikolai really meant to die on impulse, or if he was threatening me in an eccentric way.

I wanted to believe in him one last time, even more desperately.

I was so eager and anxious that I didn’t even realize I had completely forgotten the rules of the seduction game.

Afraid of being disappointed and cast aside by Nikolai again.

A few days later, Careth came to visit with a white handkerchief covering his mouth.

“His Majesty the Emperor does not usually pay sick visits.”

Seeing his businesslike tone and cold gaze, it seemed the demonic charm had worn off.

I thought about seducing him again, but decided to put it off for now.

“Why not?”

“It’s the law. His Majesty’s body is the foundation of the empire, isn’t it? It would be a disaster if he caught an illness.”

“It’s just a simple cold.”

I tried my best to hide my disappointment.

But the fact that I even mentioned this meant I was waiting for Nikolai’s visit, making my whole face flush.

“Miss Elizabeth. Have you heard of the Netherflower plague?”

“I heard it was a disease that brought the empire to crisis 20 years ago. It causes red spots like flower petals and smells like rotten flowers, right?”

“Countless citizens died from the Netherflower. It was so terrible that rumors spread that you could die just by making eye contact with a patient.”

“Wasn’t the Netherflower completely eradicated?”

“…There’s no harm in being careful, is there?”

But I wasn’t an ordinary patient.

Wasn’t I the hero who saved the emperor?

He could at least send a handwritten letter, couldn’t he?

Is he going to make the excuse of being busy again?

Careth spoke indifferently as he watched me twisting the bed sheets.

“Stress is not good for recovery.”

“It’s not contagious, so please don’t concern yourself.”

“I’d like to, but I keep worrying.”

“?”

“Even if His Majesty hadn’t ordered it, I would have come to see Miss Elizabeth. I was curious about your condition, if your recovery was going smoothly.”

“Why were you curious?”

“I’d like to know too. It’s troublesome and perplexing.”

‘Careth is someone who only cares about work… Could he have been affected by continuous seduction?’

I was curious to see the results of this new experiment.

I didn’t feel entirely guiltless towards Careth.

If he knew it was all to prevent the bloodshed that was to come, he would have willingly participated.

“His Majesty told me to deliver this.”

Careth held out a small box.

For a moment, my heart fluttered.

It was the size and shape of a box that would typically contain a ring.

“It’s a long-standing custom in Hartmann not to visit a sick person empty-handed.”

“So that’s why Franz said he would bring a gift too.”

Careth cleared his throat, seemingly displeased that I called the Crown Prince by name.

I quickly changed the subject, lowering my gaze.

“Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“This is my gift.”

“You prepared something too, Sir Careth?”

“Isn’t it just custom, as I said?”

Careth turned his head to the side, avoiding eye contact with me.

His face, which had been nothing but cold, was slightly flushed.

It was too clear to be a misconception.

Unlike Nikolai’s gift, Careth’s was large and heavy.

“It’s a book.”

“I was getting bored just lying down, thank you.”

“It’s the Imperial Chronicles and Morathynthia Theology.”

“That will be helpful.”

“I heard you were interested in the Goddess of Healing. This book was obtained through Cardinal Arkansaw, so you’ll find it interesting.”

“Is it a book not available in the imperial library?”

“That’s right. My business is done, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Careth gave a slight bow.

It was a concise but proper gesture, lacking nothing in etiquette.

‘He’s acting strange today. He seems to be in a hurry all of a sudden?’

As I tilted my head in confusion, I turned my attention to the box Nikolai had given me.

I wonder what’s inside.

I was torn between wanting to open it right away and wanting to guess its contents.

I held the box to my ear and shook it.

There was no sound.

It had almost no weight.

I suspected it might be an empty box.

As I was about to untie the ribbon with a pounding heart, there was a knock at the door.

“Marquis Douglas Nettleton and Lady Nettleton have come to visit.”

As soon as they heard the news of my illness, the deer siblings expressed their desire to pay a sick visit.

It was only today that I was finally in a state to face guests.

The message I sent was just an hour ago.

Thanks to the two who came to visit, putting everything else aside, I felt energized.

“Elder sister Elizabeth. How are you feeling?”

“I’m glad to see you seem to be feeling better, Elizabeth.”

The deer siblings comforted my tired self with kind voices and dazzling beauty that brightened their eyes.

Their faces were full of worry, but I could feel them being careful not to make a fuss in front of a patient.

I was happy that these kind people, with their innate delicate consideration, liked me.

“This is our get-well gift.”

The deer siblings didn’t forget to bring gifts either.

I unwrapped the gift package with joy.

“The pink potion must be Susan’s gift, and this is… a knife?”

I tilted my head as I pulled out a dagger crafted with extraordinary skill.

Douglas, a man of letters, gave a knife as a gift?

Someone who detests violence?

I unsheathed the palm-sized dagger.

The bluish blade glinted, proving it was small but certainly a fine sword.

Pink and red jewels were set in the silver handle.

“It’s a dagger for self-defense. It’s light, so it will be easy for you to carry.”

“What an unexpected gift.”

“Having guards doesn’t guarantee perfect safety. Always be careful.”

It wasn’t just Nikolai who kept an eye on my every move.

They must have heard about what happened to me in the slums.

Douglas’s card was written in elegant handwriting:

– I hope you stay safe wherever you are. Don’t hesitate to attack if necessary. I will always support you. –

Some men would have taken issue with the fact that I went to a dangerous place late at night.

They might have lectured me to behave myself, taking this incident as a lesson.

But Douglas gifted me a dagger instead of nagging.

He must have conveyed his will to not bind me with the customs of the world, and to respect my choices no matter what happens.

“Thank you so much, Sir Douglas.”

“I’m grateful that you accept it with joy, Elizabeth.”

Douglas’s eyes softened.

His deep brown eyes, as vast as an expansive prairie, gently shook me.

It was as if he was whispering for me to remember that I wasn’t alone, that he would always be by my side.

Not wanting to lose to her brother, Susan chimed in.

“Please look at my gift too. I developed a medicine that will surprise you, elder sister!”