“It feels like my body is in tatters.”

Clea, rising from her seat, bit her lip at the pain still felt in her body.

While thinking it was fortunate that Admund was not present beside her, she also felt regretful.

Now, Clea was someone who gained strength just from his presence nearby.

‘Still, it’s fortunate that I took painkillers before sleeping.’

Thanks to taking the painkillers, the pain was less noticeable than before.

Because of that, there was no problem getting up from her seat.

She examined the large mirror in the room.

‘The blood has been cleaned.’

Until she collapsed, her entire body had been completely soiled due to the blood she had spewed from her mouth.

However, in the reflection she saw now, there was no sign of red blood at all.

“Have you regained consciousness?”

“…Could you call Admund for me?”

“Regrettably, His Highness is not in the temple at the moment.”

As she was examining herself, a voice came from the doorway.

Turning her head, thinking Admund might have appeared, she saw Hayden, who had been present before she collapsed.

Curious about where he had gone upon hearing he was absent, she asked something else first.

“What happened to that man?”

“By ‘that man’, you mean…”

“Don’t ask when you already know.”

She asked what had happened to Lloyd.

If he were still in the temple, there was no way Admund would have left his post.

Hayden, understanding the intent of her question, answered what she was curious about.

“People from the Grand Duke’s family came and forcibly took him away.”

You should have seen that sight, my lady.

Hayden swallowed his following words and smiled brightly.

The scene of the Grand Duke’s people taking Lloyd away was truly shocking.

He was scolded for being at the temple rather than at the Hersher duchy.

Nevertheless, Lloyd showed childish behavior, saying he wouldn’t move until he met Clea again.

In the midst of what could only be described as chaos, even the knights of the Percy family caused a commotion and forcibly dragged him away.

Where else could one see the sight of a Grand Duke’s son being dragged along the floor?

That was what Hayden meant, but completely unexpected words came from Clea’s mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

Hayden was taken aback by words he had never heard from her before.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because in the end, the cause of all the commotion in the temple lies entirely with me.”

Clea said firmly, without any change in expression.

It was an extremely normal answer. She seemed to have grasped the situation well.

Although Lloyd was the one who caused the incident, fundamentally, the reason he came was because of her.

“But that’s no reason for you to apologize, my lady. From my perspective, you are also a victim.”

This was also something Clea was aware of.

Strictly speaking, she could be considered a victim.

The person who suffered the most damage due to Lloyd was none other than her.

However, upon hearing Hayden’s response, Clea wore a subtle expression.

Seeing her expression, Hayden furrowed his brow for a moment and asked.

“Why are you making such an expression?”

“Because I’m surprised.”

“About what?”

“I didn’t think you would take my side.”

“My lady?”

For Hayden, her reaction was incomprehensible.

It wasn’t like the reaction of someone who had just regained consciousness after hovering between life and death.

A normal person would usually be angry, frightened, or at least not react like this.

In his eyes, Clea’s reaction didn’t seem normal at all.

“Why do you think I’ve lived with such a bad reputation?”

“I’m not sure.”

“No, you do know. Someone like you who doesn’t reveal their true feelings to others.”

Hayden felt his inner self was seen through by the weak smile she sent while saying this.

No one had ever seen through Hayden’s inner self before.

Rather than not noticing, people thought the characteristic gentle appearance shown in his expression was his true self, so they didn’t feel the need to look deeper.

“People tend to focus only on what’s immediately visible when it comes to criticizing, even if they know exactly what happened.”

This was the kind of life she had lived until now.

Even though she hadn’t done anything, people were quick to point fingers at her as soon as they looked at her.

Even if they knew the truth, the result would be the same.

Between the Grand Duke’s son who would inherit the family and a young lady who had been practically abandoned by her family, it was clear which direction people would choose.

“Even if that’s the case, I won’t get involved. The affairs of the secular world are governed by God, not by me.”

“I see. So you’re just an ordinary bystander too.”

Though she said this, Clea didn’t particularly mock Hayden.

Clea considered it natural not to expect help. So for her, it felt strange to even call him a bystander.

Looking at Clea like this, Hayden opened his mouth.

“But I can help with other matters. For instance, the temple can correct those false rumors about you that will arise in the future.”

At Hayden’s words offering help, Clea widened her eyes and looked at him.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. If it’s because of what I just said, you don’t need to worry about it.”

“I’ve already started to worry. So don’t decline.”

“You really don’t need to help from the temple.”

“Actually, it’s not helping.”

Hayden approached her closely.

That unsightly darkness he had seen in Aria was still present in her eyes.

But it was different from Aria’s.

It wasn’t just the ugly darkness that resided there, but something else that sparkled like stars also existed.

‘I wonder how you would react if you knew that a curse given by others is eating away at your existence that should have originally shone.’

Although numerous reactions came to mind, Hayden didn’t bother to say them.

Instead, he smiled brightly and said.

“Because no one knows how things will turn out later.”

He held out a vial containing a reagent to Clea.

Seeing it, Clea asked Hayden with her eyes.

What was the reagent in this vial.

Hayden answered.

“It’s a medicine that will alleviate your pain somewhat.”

“Don’t you know of a way to cure this, rather than just this?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that either. However, there’s a story in an old book at the temple about someone who experienced similar symptoms to yours. I happened to remember it and brought this medicine.”

Her curiosity about why he had brought such a thing wasn’t completely satisfied yet.

This isn’t an illness, but a curse.

In the original work, it was described as ‘a curse that might appear once in hundreds of years’.

Is it even plausible that they had prepared medicine in advance for such a curse?

But Clea withdrew her suspicious gaze.

“Should I drink it right away?”

“Whether it’s real or fake will be revealed once you drink it.”

As it was more important to know if the medicine in her hand was effective, Clea wanted to try it.

She would know if this medicine truly calmed the pain blooming in her body once she drank it. She poured the medicine directly into her mouth.

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in her action.

She seemed like someone who would calmly accept death even if it came right now.

‘The difference is so clear.’

Aria hoped for unconditional help to survive.

Hayden felt refreshed by Clea’s demeanor, which was different from Aria’s.

To be so calm while knowing what curse she’s under, and even that she’s living on borrowed time.

“It’s effective, isn’t it?”

“Didn’t I say? That it’s medicine to alleviate your pain.”

She was surprised not long after drinking the medicine he gave her.

The tightness and pain she felt in her chest were slowly subsiding, though not completely.

It could still be said to be painful, but she couldn’t help but be glad that the pain was lessened to this extent.

“Ah, right. I forgot to tell you one thing.”

She looked at Hayden with an expression that seemed to ask if there was still something to say.

“A guest has come for you, young lady. Would you like to meet them?”

“That’s unexpected. To think even I would have a guest.”

Thinking it might be Aria after Lloyd, she sighed.

If she encountered bothersome things in succession, it felt like her body wouldn’t last. Just as she was about to refuse, Hayden spoke first.

“They introduced themselves as Viscount Rockin.”

At the mention of Viscount Rockin, Clea wore a puzzled expression.

She was perplexed as to why that person would appear here now.

But with the next words, she soon understood.

“They said to relay that they came to offer help.”

In truth, it was a person she didn’t need to meet. Still, interested by the mention of help, she said:

“Please tell them I’ll meet them.”

After all, there was no harm in meeting.

* * *

“Admund, please listen to me.”

“I’m listening, so speak. Why did you send Lloyd to Clea?”

On the way to the Hersher duchy, Admund had heard from Oberon.

That this wasn’t the first time Clea had coughed up blood.

Apparently, she had already coughed up blood once when she met Lloyd before.

When he heard this news on the way to the Hersher duchy, Admund was about to demand why Oberon hadn’t reported it.

But when he heard that she herself wished for it not to spread, Admund clicked his tongue.

At the same time, he became even more furious with Aria.

She must have heard everything from Lloyd. She must have known this and still sent him to Clea.

Unlike when they first met, Admund’s gaze had turned cold.

Facing his changed attitude, Aria trembled in fear.

It felt like if things continued like this, he would come to completely dislike her.

So she answered recklessly.

“I hated that you only cared about that villainess! So I wanted to separate her from your side, even if just for a moment!”

It was words uttered with the hope that he would understand her feelings, but she had made the wrong choice.

“Who are you to do that?”

“A-Admund.”

His intention to scold her a bit strongly completely changed.

“What kind of relationship do we have for you to make such judgments on your own?”