Felix vehemently scolded Caliph with an intimidating force. The appearance of such fierceness left Caliph speechless.

In the face of Felix’s stern warning that sounded like a blasphemy, Caliph reasoned with himself.
However, Caliph couldn’t do anything. It sounded like a curse, but it was undoubtedly a warning.

“…Are you implying that Evelia is in danger right now?”

“It means she could be in danger at any time.”

“Please, I don’t have the patience to figure out the meaning behind your words. Just tell me straight.”

Contrary to the word “please,” Caliph glared at Felix with sharp eyes, ordering him. However, Felix knew that, at this moment, this was the best Caliph could do.

Taking a deep breath, Felix, now composed, answered with a perfectly organized voice.

“Not yet.”

“…”

“But it means it won’t be strange if she’s in danger at any time.”

“…”

“As I mentioned before, the evil aura thrives on human emotions and swells in size. The negative emotions like hatred and resentment are their stocks.”

“…”

“In other words, the minds of people like Yustia and Relia are the optimal places for them to thrive.”

Caliph sighed with relief at Felix’s words. It was clear that there was no perfect reassurance, but the fact that Evelia was not in immediate danger was enough for now.

Caliph took a few deep breaths, making an effort to regain composure.

Felix’s fierce momentum, which was almost like anger, had somewhat subsided, but what was certain was that there was no time to spare.

As Felix said, if the minds of Yustia and Relia were the optimal places for the peculiar force to thrive, there was even less time. Caliph needed to come up with a way to deceive them again about his identity.

Caliph, as if on the verge of passing out, grabbed his head, forgetting about the fatigue that had overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, a heavy knock echoed in the quiet bedroom.

Caliph’s gaze, which had been directed downward, sharply turned towards the closed door, drawing a sharp line.

After a while, the door opened, and a messenger entered.

“Your Highness, a messenger sent urgently from the Empress’s palace is requesting a meeting.”

The words of the messenger were not a trifling matter. It seemed that Relia had conveyed his name to Yustia during this time.

Perhaps having the same thought, Felix’s worried gaze felt directed at me, but Caliph didn’t look at Felix.

He just headed straight to the Empress’s palace, starting to calculate the attitude he should take.

“Phew.”

Yustia took a deep breath, sinking deeply into the sofa in the reception room.

This was the place she sought after receiving a positive response from the messenger she had sent. Normally, she would have eagerly awaited her son with joy, but today, tension had strangely built up.

How could she not be tense? The son who would come to her soon would either be the son she chose or the son she abandoned. Unable to have any certainty, she couldn’t put her mind at ease.
Excessive tension made the already throbbing head even heavier. Was that all? Since facing Relia, the heart that had consistently pounded anxiously seemed to burst if she let her guard down for even a moment.

Yustia repeated deep breaths several times. She needed to pull herself together. At least at this moment, she had to face the situation more squarely than ever.

Contemplating this thought, she wiped the sweat that had poured out vigorously from her palms and tightened her throat with prepared tea. Nothing had changed significantly, but it felt like her heartbeat had regained stability.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Terot’s voice came from outside the door. It felt like the anxiety she had barely suppressed was erupting again, but Yustia tightly sealed her lips and answered in her usual voice.

“Welcome him in.”

Simultaneously with her response, the tightly closed door began to open slowly. And soon, the familiar face of her son filled her pupils.

Yustia didn’t take her eyes off him for even a moment. It was the moment when she had to determine whether he was the son she chose or the son she abandoned.