Clea moved her steps with half excitement and half fear.

If Admund was not yet in a fully recovered state, honestly, it would be better to let him rest a bit more rather than meeting him.

But she immediately got up from her seat at Oberon’s words that he was desperately looking for her.

‘Will his condition be alright? Has he perhaps changed like Emperor Roderick?’

What she feared was because of the book she had come across in the meantime.

The materials given by Hayden and the ancient book of the Hersher family that Barwin had obtained.

Thinking about the past events learned through the two books, there was a sufficient possibility that the same thing could happen.

It is said that Emperor Roderick changed like a lie and fell in love with Isabel Hersher.

‘If you come to like her too.’

Clea sighed in front of the door.

“Then I’ll just have to half kill you.”

With the thought that he would remember if she beat him up until he realized who he truly loved, just as she was about to open the door, the door opened from the inside first.

“Haha, this is too scary to even lie about.”

Inside stood Admund. Moreover, it was a completely whole Admund, not with the pale face from before he collapsed.

Clea rushed into his arms.

She buried her face in his chest and said.

“I was worried about what to do if you didn’t wake up.”

“I’m sorry. For making you wait.”

Admund held her in his arms and whispered softly.

Clea had thought that Aria might have played some other trick as she watched him not wake up for several days.

However, Hayden said that Admund’s condition was improving as time passed.

Especially after she visited, the speed became even faster, he said.

Clea was able to endure somehow because Hayden told her that he would definitely wake up someday.

“Don’t ever do something like this again.”

Clea relaxed at Admund’s warmth that she felt after a long time.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t promise that.”

“Admund.”

Clea called his name with dissatisfaction.

Admund kissed her and said.

“If it’s related to your life, I will do the same thing again.”

“Don’t even say that.”

Feeling both grateful and sorry towards him, Clea hugged him and didn’t let go.

* * *

“Haa, haa.”

Aria looked around. Only Aria was in the now deserted street.

She had been almost running, trying to somehow escape from the people constantly chasing her.

Perhaps because of that, she felt pain in her ankle, and her arms ached as if they would break.

Her sensitized nerves made her extremely tired.

Wanting to rest even a little, Aria wanted to meet Barwin as soon as possible.

‘He will surely help me.’

Even though her family couldn’t understand her, he was different.

The image of him always smiling brightly and trying to grant whatever she wanted left a strong impression.

He was like a prince from a fairy tale.

So Aria trusted him and handed over her ancient books and other items, which could be said to be her everything.

If those were to fall completely into Clea’s hands, there would be nothing left in her possession.

Because she had to protect them somehow, she had to trust Barwin who said he would hide them.

It was her last hope.

“Ha, now it’s even raining.”

Aria came to her senses at the rain falling little by little from the sky.

She had certainly left the mansion around late lunchtime, but the time had already passed evening.

She was hungry after wandering around all day. Moreover, her clothes were torn here and there or stained dirty.

Her mood kept sinking, but Aria was holding onto the thread of hope as much as possible.

She told herself that if she could just get through this, it would be possible for her to become an empress with everything like Isabel Hersher.

‘Now I just need to move a little more.’

It was extremely fortunate that she had found out where Barwin lived once before out of curiosity.

If it weren’t for that, she would have been wandering aimlessly the whole time.

‘First, let’s take a bath. Then I want to drink tea.’

She was glad that she would soon be free from this suffering.

A moment later, Aria finally reached the main gate of Viscount Rockin’s residence.

Despite being just a viscount family, the mansion’s grandeur was extraordinary.

In terms of finances, it could rival or even surpass a marquis family, so there were gatekeepers standing guard at the main gate.

“What business brings you here?”

The gatekeeper spoke to Aria rudely first.

Aria was already in a very bad mood after experiencing various things today.

But because she hadn’t appeared riding in a carriage as usual, she tried to understand and overlook his attitude.

Not wanting to cause any trouble to embarrass Barwin, who always helped her, she suppressed her temper as much as possible and answered.

“I’ve come to see Barwin.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but we are close, so if you let him know I’m here, he will surely let me in.”

The gatekeeper kept checking Aria’s face as he spoke.

“If you could tell me your identity, I will contact inside.”

Although she was very displeased with a mere gatekeeper repeatedly checking her face, she endured and said.

“Aria Hersher.”

Upon hearing her name, the gatekeeper said to wait a moment and went inside.

“Arrogant bastard. When Barwin appears, I should tell him to cut that one first.”

Seeing that, Aria thought that Barwin would soon appear in person and welcome her warmly.

As she thought about resting inside while receiving his hospitality, the rain gradually intensified.

“When is he coming?”

The gatekeeper who said to wait a moment didn’t appear for a long time.

Without an umbrella, Aria was truly like a drowned rat.

Yet Aria didn’t budge from that spot and waited.

People passing by on the street gradually began to recognize Aria and gather around.

As Aria became nervous about that, just as she was about to try knocking on the door, the gatekeeper returned.

“Ha, why are you so late? You checked with Barwin about me, right? Then quickly open the door.”

She completely erased her gentle attitude and demanded the door to be opened quickly.

But the gatekeeper only stared at her coldly.

Aria sensed something strange.

“What are you just looking at? I said open it!”

Despite Aria’s urging, the gatekeeper stood still.

Then, as Aria approached the door, he finally opened his mouth.

“Our viscount said he doesn’t know such a person.”

“What?”

“So wouldn’t it be better if you leave now?”

At first, Aria thought she had heard wrong.

That’s because she never thought a mere gatekeeper would say such things to her.

Then she doubted if she had come to the wrong house.

Otherwise, there was no way Barwin would present her with such humiliation.

But the emblem drawn on the door was clearly that of the Rockin family.

“Call Barwin, right now!”

Aria rushed at the door. But the tightly locked door didn’t open.

Watching that scene, the gatekeeper said with a frown.

“The viscount is busy with official duties now. And he is not someone who can meet just anyone.”

“What have you been saying since earlier! I told you I’m close with Barwin!”

Although his manner of saying he couldn’t meet just anyone was very arrogant, that wasn’t important right now.

Aria had to meet Barwin somehow.

Her most important possessions were in his hands.

She had to meet him and talk somehow.

“Strange. The viscount says he doesn’t know you.”

The gatekeeper said with a sneer on his lips.

She tried to say something with her eyes wide open, but the gatekeeper left his spot as if he wouldn’t listen anymore.

Aria kept calling after the gatekeeper, asking where he was going and that the conversation wasn’t over yet, but he didn’t stop walking.

“Could she really be crazy as the rumors say?”

“Even so, now she’s doing this even to nobles she has nothing to do with.”

“I heard she was expelled from the Hersher family, but she still thinks she’s a noble.”

“Huh, I knew she’d be like this since I saw her at the academy.”

Although people were talking about her this way and that, Aria couldn’t leave her spot.

Because Barwin had her most important possessions right now.

If she couldn’t get those back, her life would be as good as over.

So she was thinking of staying put to get them back somehow, but.

“Aria.”

At the chilling voice coming from behind her, Aria’s body froze.

“So you were here.”

Hearing the voice, Aria didn’t want to turn around.

If she met eyes with the owner of the voice now, she didn’t know what would happen.

But she had to turn her head reluctantly at the sound of footsteps gradually approaching.

The person she faced after turning her head was the man she hated more than death.

“I’m having the worst days imaginable because of you.”

“Don’t come any closer, Lloyd.”

The neat and elegant appearance he used to have in the past was completely gone, and now he looked utterly like a beggar.

His clothes were tattered here and there, and there were small wounds all over his body including his face.

Yet there was a smile on his face. A smile that would give anyone the chills.

Aria looked at the crowd around her.

She hoped anyone, it didn’t matter who, would pull him away from her.

But people avoided her gaze.

“I said don’t come closer!”

Seeing Lloyd, they rather distanced themselves further. They too were afraid of Lloyd.

They didn’t want to get involved and catch stray fire.

They didn’t know what hardships they might face if they got involved with someone who had no attachment left to life.

In the end, as Lloyd came right up to her face, Aria trembled.

“It’s time to resolve the issue between us two.”