Due to surveillance magic, I couldn’t take a step outside the room. I was worried that Marquis Hu would quickly learn about the internal affairs of the aristocratic house through me.

The Marquis couple also avoided meeting as much as possible. Whether it was because of the mood or not, just having the Marquis couple enter the room made my head feel pressured, and I felt dizzy in my ears.

As if the surveillance by the Marquis was getting stronger.

If I knew exactly how the surveillance magic worked, I might find a clue to solve it.

After much contemplation, I began to pat the underside of the desk. Dust piled up on my fingertips.

Since it was ‘surveillance,’ Marquis Hu wouldn’t be able to know about the underside of the desk that was invisible.

Under the shelf, I slowly started writing. I couldn’t check with my eyes, but my hand moved freely.

And before I knew it, I had successfully written down the complete process and solution of the surveillance magic. Suppressing the desire to check the writing and leaning over the desk, I slightly infused magic.

An image immediately appeared in my mind. The initially faint image became clearer as I concentrated. I could see everything around the place where I cast the spell. The dusty floor, the wood grain on the desk, my fumbling hand.

When I flicked my fingers a few times, the stiff sound echoed in my mind like an echo.

Goosebumps covered my whole body.

Just as I could see everything around the desk, Marquis Hu seemed to be watching everything without missing a detail, as if filming me with a camera and listening to everything.

I withdrew the magic and quickly stood up from the desk. In that case, it seemed best to pretend to be lying still on the bed.

But I got up too quickly, and for a moment, dizziness struck.
My vision turned pitch black, and I staggered.

Just before hitting the floor. Thud, someone caught me. Strong arms wrapped around my back slowly lifted me up.

I breathed heavily, leaning my head against the solid body.

But strangely, my head became even more dizzy. The pressure I felt before attacked me again. As if someone was watching me closely.

Even in the hazy view, only the dazzling silver hair was vividly visible.

“No.”

I immediately pushed Kirian away. If Marquis Hu wanted to observe someone the most in the aristocratic house, it would undoubtedly be Kirian.

Although my throat screamed in pain, the rigidly firm body was clearly felt under my fingertips.

“Go away.”

Staggering back, a strong grip seized my arm. A firm touch, whether to control or support, I couldn’t tell.

“N-no.”

As I pushed Kirian away, his hand dropped without strength. I held my throbbing head and tightly closed my eyes. However, the sensation of pressing my head became even more intense. Deafening ringing echoed in my ears.

I had to get Kirian out right away.

“Get out.”

But Kirian didn’t move. Although it wasn’t visible, I felt his gaze watching me intently.

When Kirian didn’t budge, I eventually fled. I had to leave here immediately. To a place without Kirian, where Marquis Hu couldn’t see Kirian.

The place I fled to recklessly was the wardrobe hanging in the room. I tried to close the door behind me, but it was immediately blocked.

“Sister.”

As Kirian entered the wardrobe, I instinctively stepped back.

Click.

The sound of the door locking behind Kirian was heard. We were trapped in darkness.

As nothing could be seen, the headache gradually subsided. But the ringing in my ears persisted.

It seemed like Marquis Hu was still eavesdropping, even though nothing was visible.

I plugged my ears.

“Oh, don’t say anything.”

But Kirian took one step closer.

“I…”

A pleasing voice covered the ringing.

“…am I that disgusting?”

The voice was rough but faintly trembling.

“What are you talking about…”

As Kirian approached, a cool and bitter scent wafted in.

“Did it make you feel disgusting enough to abandon even the loving foster parents?”

Kirian breathed heavily, a single step away.

“Was it terrible?”

Although the voice was calmly resigned, a subtle tremor lingered.

“What nonsense is this…?”

Kirian chuckled.

“No need to pretend. I already heard everything from the Crown Prince of Kusya. Because the aristocratic life was so terrifyingly nerve-wracking, you’ve been planning for independence since childhood. Suddenly disappearing was a new beginning for you, according to Sister.”

“That’s not…”

When the ringing in my ears intensified painfully, I couldn’t help but stop speaking. Marquis Hu was listening to every word I said.

The words rose to the tip of my tongue. It wasn’t because I wanted to leave.

Even while I was away, I awaited his news the most and felt the most heartache as much as I waited. Not once did he disgust me, not once was he terrible. On the contrary… I missed him the most.

“No.”

However, instead of all those words, only a feeble phrase slipped out.

Even I couldn’t explain the swirling thoughts in my mind, and I resorted to vain excuses.

“He’s my only younger brother… Why would I find you disgusting?”

As the ringing persistently echoed, my head throbbed painfully.

“Younger brother.”

A bitter laughter was heard.

“Sister was never a sister to me.”

At the moment when I tried to ask what that meant, a low voice echoed.

“It’s different for a woman.”