This time, her worry about Killian disturbed her peace. She couldn’t shake the feeling of covering his face with a cloak when one of his piercings was missing.

‘The scar isn’t small either. Plus, with all the tattoos removed, it must have been very noticeable.’

What if Killian was the one who ordered the magical tool that could see through magically altered appearances, as Onyx had discovered?

What if he had seen her true appearance from their first meeting and knew her identity? What if everything had been exposed from the very beginning…?

‘Then what would happen?’

Terrible imaginings followed one after another. I deceived the whole world and ran away, but what should I do if that lie is exposed? If this enormous secret is discovered by Jediel, and by Louisa and Hugo as well…

‘It’s too horrible. I’ll never be forgiven. No one will understand me.’

She was scared. She was afraid of being pointed at by people. And… she was terrified that this time she might really die.

‘The imperial princess who deceived the entire empire! The villainess who betrayed history!’

‘Those who commit crimes must be punished! The crime of deceiving all imperial citizens is by no means light!’

‘May the villainess fall into hell!’

She seemed to hear the voices of people pointing fingers at her and hurling curses. Veronia covered her ears with trembling hands and closed her eyes.

Then this time, their eyes, glinting with madness, were glaring at Veronia. Looking closely into their pupils, she could clearly see the gleaming blade of a guillotine.

‘Gasp!’

Veronia was so startled that she opened her eyes wide and sat up in bed. Haa, haa, haa… Her breathing became rapid as if she had been running.

‘Calm down, Veronia! This is the bedroom, and Jediel is sleeping soundly beside you. What you heard earlier was all nonsense, and what you saw was all an illusion. It’s just a phantom created by your fear!’

So please, pull yourself together! Veronia took a deep breath as she admonished herself.

“Inhale, exhale…”

She was able to find stability only after focusing on her breathing for a long time. The conclusion she reached after doing so was one:

‘I have to get away from Killian!’

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, Sandra’s hands trembled as she read the newspaper article.

“This… this…!”

The newspaper contained the full account of how Caspian had ruthlessly murdered a pickpocket. It particularly emphasized the point that he had attacked the culprit from behind while they were being dragged away in handcuffs by the patrol, questioning Caspian’s character.

“These rotten things! Who are they to dare mention the character of a member of the imperial family!”

The article didn’t end there. Sandra continued reading, grinding her molars.

The story continued with an account of a healer who saved a child severely injured in a carriage accident. A long, tearful interview with the child’s parents praising the silver-haired healer followed.

“What… what is this? They dare to publish such nonsense as an article in the newspaper! How dare they…!”

The newspaper article concluded by emphasizing the stark contrast between one who takes lives and one who saves them.

[… Every day, we encounter various incidents and accidents. There, we hear stories of those who kill people and those who save people.

I hope that the incidents and accidents we brush against today will not be enormous calamities that shake our lives. I hope we brush against those who save people rather than those who kill people.]

“Crazy fools! How dare they publish such garbage as an article in the newspaper! Trash! How dare they insult the imperial family?”

Sandra slammed the newspaper on the floor and stomped on it vigorously. Her face, filled with anger, flushed red and blue.

“You worms! You rotten things! Ugh! Aaargh!”

Even screaming in rage didn’t quell her anger. Her carefully arranged dress became disheveled and her hair messy.

It was then. Knock, knock, knock, along with the voice of the maid outside the door was heard.

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Prime Minister Drea has arrived.”

Sandra sat down, taking deep breaths. She tidied her disheveled hair and smoothed her clothes.

After her breathing had somewhat stabilized, Sandra’s red lips slowly parted.

“Let him in.”

As soon as the order was given, the door opened and Killian entered with steady steps. Killian furrowed his brow at the sight of the newspaper lying torn on the floor. He could guess what Sandra was about to say.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. Did you have a peaceful night?”

“Does my face look peaceful to you now, Prime Minister?”

“…”

“If you had come when I called for you yesterday, you could have prevented this kind of newspaper article!”

Sandra’s breathing became rough again. She seemed to have no intention of hiding her anger even in front of Killian, shouting vehemently. She was like someone who had lost their reason.

Usually, Sandra rarely raised her voice due to image management, but her attitude in dealing with this incident was different from usual.

‘Well, it’s understandable since Prince Caspian has taken a direct hit from the media. The prince’s character, which had been kept tightly under wraps until now, has been laid bare to the public.’

Killian had to wait for Sandra’s anger to subside first. He bowed his head deeply and said,

“I apologize, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. Yesterday, I drank too much and couldn’t bring myself to come to the palace.”

“The Prime Minister drank too much? Let’s say that’s true for now.”

Sandra glared at Killian, her whole body trembling. Her thin, painted eyebrows twitched restlessly.

The entire noble society knew that Killian didn’t enjoy drinking. Yet he made the excuse of drinking too much just yesterday! You expect me to believe that? Sandra snorted and opened her mouth.

“So how do you plan to handle this situation, Prime Minister?”

“The fervor for the coronation is at its peak. Wouldn’t it be better to let it pass quietly without any mention?”

“Is that the best you can think of?”

“It is, Your Majesty.”

Sandra was not at all pleased with Killian’s answer. But she couldn’t think of any other solution either.

“What kind of person is this healer who saved a child who was almost dead?”

At Sandra’s question, Killian suddenly inhaled sharply.

‘Finally, it’s come.’

He had expected it, but hearing it directly made his breath catch and his heart race. But he couldn’t show it. Killian opened his mouth, maintaining the calmest expression and voice possible.

“She’s not a priestess affiliated with the temple, just an ordinary healer.”

“An ordinary healer with divine power strong enough to save a child on the brink of death?”

“I don’t know the details either, Your Majesty. However, I heard that her divine power can only heal children, not adults.”

“Only able to heal children… That’s unusual.”

Sandra seemed to ponder deeply at Killian’s explanation.

“It’s said that yesterday was the first time she treated a patient with such severe injuries.”

“Ah, then she’s not much to speak of.”

“…”

“Only being able to heal children, and little experience treating severely ill patients.”

Killian was relieved at Sandra’s words. There was a high possibility that she would no longer be interested in someone deemed insignificant.

But his expectation was off the mark. Sandra’s eyes gleamed maliciously.

“If she’s nobody special, that’s even better.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?”

Sandra curled up one corner of her mouth neatly and said,

“If she’s nobody special, wouldn’t she be delighted with just a little help from the imperial family?”

“…”

“Isn’t she someone who can’t gain attention with her skills alone? But if the imperial family gives her a little help, she could easily gain attention, so she’d be grateful for that, wouldn’t she?”

Hohoho, Sandra laughed coquettishly. Killian understood what she intended, but he couldn’t understand how one could reach such a conclusion through any way of thinking.

Killian kept his mouth shut and waited for Sandra’s next words.

“I need to meet this healer.”

At Sandra’s words, Killian’s eyes wavered for a moment, losing his composure. And Sandra didn’t miss that.

‘Oh? He’s flustered? Why?’

Sandra stared at Killian as if to penetrate his mind, but she couldn’t get any other clues. Killian, who soon regained his composure, said in a polite tone,

“Yes. I will arrange a meeting as soon as possible after the coronation festival ends.”

Sandra shook her head, apparently displeased about something again.

“No. It doesn’t matter even during the festival. The sooner the better. Please arrange a meeting immediately.”

“I will obey your command, Your Majesty.”

Killian bowed his head and answered respectfully. But inwardly, he vowed never to let the two meet.

[This is the timeline separator]

For some reason, Onyx’s office in the Information Guild was unusually busy.

Due to the nature of their work, the Information Guild often carried out tasks individually. Especially Onyx, who preferred to work alone more than others, but this time he unusually summoned several subordinates. It seemed to be quite an urgent matter.

Onyx spoke quickly in a businesslike tone,

“Look into the weaknesses of Coslow Magic Tool Workshop in the MacBurney family. There’s information they won’t divulge no matter how much money we feed them, so we need a powerful weakness that can make them spill it.”

The subordinates wrote down Onyx’s orders in their notepads without missing a single letter. Looking at the subordinates vigorously moving their pens, Onyx continued,

“Personal or business-related, anything is fine. Dig up whatever you can find.”

“Understood, Vice Chief!”