Hayden frowned as he walked towards the place where he sensed an evil aura.

He couldn’t understand it.

He had clearly seen the faces of many people while officiating the wedding ceremony.

Although there was an evil aura emanating, he hadn’t felt such a concentrated energy at all.

That’s why he had been relieved, but shortly after the reception began, he suddenly felt a strong energy.

“It’s definitely here.”

He, who had been dealing with the nobles, hastily withdrew from his seat and moved towards where he sensed the energy.

The place he arrived at was in front of a lounge with the emblem of a certain family hanging.

‘House Hersher.’

Recognizing the emblem, Hayden felt an inexplicable sense of unease rising.

In fact, it wasn’t that he hadn’t had any doubts while walking.

He had somewhat expected it, thinking that Aria, with her terrible disposition, wouldn’t let today pass quietly.

But as it became a reality, he felt tension.

‘What kind of mischief has she done?’

She had appeared initially carrying a curse in her body that even she didn’t fully understand.

Keeping in mind that she could do anything outrageous, he knocked on the door.

“Is anyone there?”

Seeing the light seeping out from under the door, he assumed someone was inside.

Since Aria hadn’t appeared at the reception, the probability of her being here was the highest.

However, as if his guess was wrong, no sound came from inside.

Not even the common sound of breathing.

“Excuse me.”

If there really was no one there.

Then it would be fortunate if this uneasiness he was feeling now was just needless worry.

But upon opening the door, he let out a gasp at the scene before him.

“…How vile.”

Along with the candles that hadn’t yet gone out, there was a foul smell coming from one side of the bed.

On the bed lay someone wearing a dress identical to Clea’s.

With the area around the heart stained bright red.

“Just what kind of deed is she committing?”

He approached the person lying on the bed.

Looking at the pale face that didn’t even twitch, Hayden thought.

“Not just a villainess, but a witch.”

Aria, who had not only transferred the curse to another person but was now employing yet another trick.

Although he didn’t know what her plan was, it was obvious that it was related to Clea, so he hurriedly returned to the banquet hall.

* * *

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, my sincere congratulations.”

“I hope only good things happen between the Imperial Family and Your Highnesses.”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Clea, who had returned after meeting Lloyd, felt a headache coming on.

It was a sudden headache, but she thought it was nothing serious.

Thinking complacently that it was due to overexertion recently, she tried to smile and respond.

But it must have been too obvious to someone.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Admund, who had been absent for a while, appeared.

He looked at Clea with his usual smile.

“May I take the rain away for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss just the two of us.”

“Oh? Alright.”

At Admund’s words, all the people around Clea withdrew.

Clea looked at Admund who had appeared before her.

He held out his hand to her.

Seeing this, Clea quietly took his hand.

‘His hand is still warm.’

A hand that remained large and warm.

Holding his hand, Clea felt a momentary sense of peace in her heart.

Admund gestured towards the terrace to Clea, who had become a little more at ease.

Clea nodded and headed towards the terrace.

Until they reached the terrace, neither of them spoke.

Clea was suffering from the persistent headache, and Admund was looking at her with a bitter expression.

As they reached the terrace, the door closed and the curtains were drawn, creating a moment just for the two of them.

“It reminds me of what you said to me on the terrace long ago.”

“Isn’t that too distant a day?”

The one who broke the awkward silence first was Admund.

Clea was pleased, knowing which past Admund was referring to.

That moment when she faced him on the terrace like this, thanks to him holding onto her, her vision that had seemed black and white slowly began to fill with color.

“I’m really grateful to you for that moment.”

She remembered pretending not to care whether he held on or not, but inwardly desperately hoping he would.

“I too have been able to enjoy such pleasant days because I met you.”

Looking at Clea beside him, Admund laughed softly.

While he was happy to be with her like this, on the other hand, it was bittersweet.

Admund’s hand gently touched Clea’s cheek.

He had many things he wanted to say to her.

But not knowing how to start, he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.

‘Why are you making such an expression on a day like today?’

Clea, who had been quietly observing Admund, decided to wait quietly for what he was going to say.

However, that was only for a moment.

She looked at the back of her hand with her wavering vision.

“Ugh.”

“Clea.”

Was it an optical illusion?

The clock hands on the back of her hand seemed to be spinning rapidly.

Admund caught Clea as she nearly collapsed, her strength leaving her body, and let her lean against his chest.

Clea looked up at Admund, who was looking down at her with anxious eyes.

She forced a smile and said to him.

“I’m fine.”

She wasn’t fine. Her heart was in turmoil. Because he was wearing an anxious face at such a happy moment.

‘My mindset has changed too.’

It had been a succession of days when she thought it didn’t matter if she died at any time.

One day, she even thought about taking her own life instead of just waiting.

But now it was different.

Clea didn’t want to die.

The greatest driving force that makes people live their lives is dreams.

Living each day to fulfill the hopeful dreams one holds.

Before she knew it, she too had come to hold a dream. The dream of living happily by his side.

Perhaps because of this, Clea looked down at the sudden pain.

Her pure white dress caught her eye.

“I won’t die right away. First, I’ll sleep a bit, and when I wake up, I’ll solve this curse.”

Having forgotten she was terminally ill due to her happiness, she stated her goal.

That goal was to be freed from this pain as soon as possible and spend many days with him.

Clea hoped that Admund would be reassured after hearing her hopeful goal.

She wanted him to know that at least she hadn’t given up on life yet.

But he wore a sad expression after hearing those words.

“Admund, will you stay by my side if I close my eyes for a moment?”

“Yes, I’ll be by your side.”

With her eyes closing, she ended up asking him.

She wanted to alleviate his anxiety, but she was anxious too.

She was afraid that if she closed her eyes now, she might never open them again.

“Don’t do that. There are so many people who need you, not just me.”

She wanted to be greedy, but she couldn’t. He was the Crown Prince and had many duties.

Although she wished he could always be by her side, she could be satisfied with just his answer.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll stay by your side until you’re not anxious anymore.”

At his confident appearance, her anxiety also diminished a little.

Clea tried to respond to Admund with gratitude.

But before that, Admund covered her lips first.

A moment later, something entered Clea’s mouth. That pill-like thing emitted a fishy scent.

‘Admund?’

Clea tried to push him away in surprise.

However, the more she tried to escape, the more Admund tightened his embrace to prevent her from running away.

Only after she had swallowed the unknown thing did his arms finally loosen.

Released from Admund’s hold, Clea took a breath and asked him.

“What did you make me eat?”

Her vision gradually becoming clearer and her mind becoming sober.

If it had been something ordinary, he wouldn’t have made her eat it without any explanation.

Moreover, red blood was flowing from his lips.

Just as Clea was about to ask him again with an anxious gaze.

“I think I’ll be taking a rather long rest.”

“Admund.”

“Please take care while I’m collapsed.”

“What are you…”

“I love you, Clea. I didn’t want to see you die.”

With those words, Admund collapsed.

Clea was bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

“Admund, come to your senses. Admund, Admund!”

Clea called his name repeatedly as he lay collapsed. But he didn’t move at all.

Clea’s vision gradually blurred.

The only fortunate thing was that she could still hear his breathing.

That was the only reason she could maintain her sanity right now.

“Haa, haa.”

But then, someone burst through the closed terrace door.

Clea’s gaze turned to the intruder.

“…Hayden.”

“Your, Highness the Crown Princess.”

He spoke while panting, having run so urgently.

But that wasn’t what was important right now.

“Explain to me what’s going on with this situation.”

She wanted to know what had happened while she had been distracted by someone like Lloyd.

If he had barged in like this without even asking for permission, there must have been a good reason.

“Your Highness, first the Crown Prince…”

Meanwhile, Hayden’s gaze was fixed on Admund.

Hearing his words, Clea gritted her teeth.

As Hayden said, Admund’s condition was what mattered most right now.

“If we go out like this, there will be chaos. So please help.”

“Command me.”

No matter how urgent, they couldn’t go out like this.

“Please call Oberon and Rupia.”

“No need to call, my child.”

“…Your Majesty.”

If people found out that Admund had collapsed, there was a high possibility that many would be shaken.

So Clea was trying to find a way somehow, but unexpectedly, Odin appeared behind Hayden.

“I’ll help.”