Despite the presence of the great guest called the ‘Saint’ in the annex, the atmosphere in the castle remained unchanged.

‘I heard that only the servants in charge of that place are having a hard time.’

According to what I heard from a servant, Eshtra was apparently throwing all sorts of tantrums at not being able to leave the annex.

‘Then they said she’s remodeling the annex as she pleases.’

Her personality was so different that it was hard to see her as the same character from the original work.

As if to emphasize that she was an uninvited guest, there was no trace of the temple at the rare evening banquet.

‘Is it okay to just leave it be?’

The existence of Elsius was unsettling, like carrying a small bomb.

“Eileen!”

“Young princes!”

My deep thoughts were interrupted as I embraced the children running towards me.

Even after not seeing them for just a day, the children had grown. While it was admirable, I felt a surge of regret wondering what if they grow up too quickly.

“You two grow every day.”

“Yes, I’m going to be an adult soon!”

“Me too.”

It was indeed an adorable response.

But there was someone who couldn’t just let such cuteness pass by.

“Growing up quickly will only be a loss for you.”

I could see mischief swirling in Kashar’s eyes.

But it was difficult for the innocent children to notice.

“Why?”

“Because then you won’t be able to be held by Eileen like this.”

Kashar said as he demonstratively held me in his arms.

“Who would hug a fully grown adult for being cute.”

“What are you doing!”

I protested in a lowered voice, but Louis had already fallen into the trap Kashar had set long ago.

“That’s not true, I’ll still be cute even when I’m an adult!”

His voice trembled, full of anger.

Unlike him, Evan, who seemed to have realized it was a joke early on, stepped back and clicked his tongue.

“Well. I don’t think so.”

Kashar’s lips twisted.

It seemed he had taken a liking to teasing the children and wasn’t likely to stop easily.

“Stop saying weird things to the young princes!”

“That’s right, you bad big brother!”

“Eileen, I wasn’t fooled.”

Different retorts followed one after another.

Sometimes adults are more childish.

Before Louis could start crying, I was able to put Kashar back in his place.

“Now, you two sit down as well!”

“Okay…”

Louis’s tone was full of dissatisfaction.

As everyone sat in their places, the empty seat became more noticeable.

“Oh, where is Mihail?”

The seat belonged to Mihail.

At my question, Louis answered as if he had never complained before.

“Eileen, something’s strange with big brother Mihail.”

“He didn’t even bring us lunch, and suddenly he’s not coming out of his room.”

Evan’s testimony followed.

‘That’s strange. Did something happen?’

Mihail was more diligent than anyone else in this castle.

He wouldn’t have locked himself in his room without reason, but it was hard to guess why.

“I see. So did you have lunch?”

“It’s okay, Eshtra took care of it instead.”

“Yeah yeah, Babito brought what he made!”

The chicks chirped energetically in response.

But soon after, they shot me worried glances, seemingly concerned.

“I’m worried about big brother.”

“He might be sick!”

“I’ll look into it. Don’t worry too much, you two just eat your dinner.”

“Okay.”

The children nodded their heads.

After the evening banquet ended, back in the bedroom.

I tried to contact Mihail through Eshtra.

But all I got back was that he was fine.

“I’m sorry, but he said to tell you he wants to be alone. He also said he’ll make sure there’s no problem in taking care of the young princes tomorrow.”

“I see. He didn’t look sick, did he?”

“No. He just seemed a bit low on energy.”

What could have upset Mihail in this castle?

‘Could he have received contact from the Empress? If not that, then…’

The only other possibility was the guest staying in the annex.

‘If they happened to run into each other… he might have fallen for her.’

Even if fate didn’t work on Kashar, it was different for Mihail.

I stopped my thoughts for now and sent Eshtra back.

“Alright. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Have a good night.”

Eshtra left the bedroom.

A hand reached out from his bed, which had become like my own room by now.

“Eek!”

My head hit the bed as my waist was pulled from behind.

I pinched the cheeks of my fiancé, who was being particularly mischievous today.

“You scared me!”

Even though I was pinching the soft flesh, it didn’t seem to affect his handsome face at all.

Losing strength, I let go of my hand, and he took it and placed it on his cheek.

“I wish you would only care about me.”

His golden eyelashes looked sorrowful as he lowered his eyes.

And once again, I became weak.

“…I’m doing that right now, aren’t I?”

“I wonder.”

He gave an ambiguous response, neither affirming nor denying.

Soon, the agile beast climbed on top of me.

“You’re most dangerous on the bed, you know.”

For words coming from the most dangerous man right now, they lacked credibility.

The dark night was flowing.

Just before falling asleep, I looked at the table with bleary eyes.

There, the cursed teddy bear… no, Hayangi, was sitting quietly.

‘Hayangi needs to open the door.’

The only one I could ask about Elsius was Denuare.

But I didn’t dare to open the door, fearing that Kashar might go berserk again.

‘Is there no other way to meet?’

Like a way to meet without necessarily opening the door.

‘I’m sleepy.’

Even as I continued to ponder, my body’s strength was completely drained.

I surrendered myself to sleep.

It seemed I had fallen asleep like that.

A moment later, when I opened my eyes, it was neither reality nor the mart.

‘Fog?’

Sparse dry trees were rising through the thick fog.

‘This is where the hole-in-the-wall shop is.’

The dream had somehow connected to a new subspace.

“What, was it possible to connect with dreams?”

“Because that’s what you wished for.”

Gasp. What a surprise!

I swallowed my breath at the sound coming from behind.

“I’m on my way to work now.”

Denuare went around to the back of the shop and opened the front door for me.

“Welcome.”

“Ah, yes.”

I awkwardly accepted the greeting.

‘I feel like a regular customer going to work with the boss.’

When I was with Denuare, I sometimes got confused about whether this was reality or inside a book.

“What brings you here today?”

“I have something I want to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

I thought he would say no, but he listened attentively.

“You said before that you could only call one possessed person at a time, right?”

“I did.”

“Then is it impossible for another possessed person to appear while I’m here?”

“…Hmm.”

Denuare tilted his head.

He scratched the groove of the old wooden table with his finger and asked.

“Have you found someone who appears to be another possessed person?”

“Yes. She acted as if she knew the original work perfectly.”

Not to mention the suddenly appearing talking rabbit.

There were more than one or two suspicious points.

Denuare, who had been listening to me, finally spoke.

“The existence of possessed people simultaneously is not impossible in itself.”

His long white hair covered the wooden table.

“If the person you mentioned is truly possessed, it means I didn’t call them.”

“Then?”

To my question, Denuare raised his head with a cold, expressionless face.

“Be careful. It absolutely must not go according to the original work.”

With those chilling words, thick fog enveloped everything.

“Wait a moment!”

The hole-in-the-wall shop was disappearing before my eyes.

No, it was I who was disappearing.

“…Gasp!”

When I opened my eyes in surprise, sunlight was flickering at my bedside.

I had woken up from the dream.

‘What does it mean?’

Being expelled from the shop was a secondary issue.

I pondered over what Denuare had said.

Denuare and Elsius had no connection.

That meant a third person I didn’t know had brought in a new possessed person.

‘It’s just a hunch for now, but.’

I needed more concrete evidence.

I raised my body to get out of bed.

As always, Kashar’s arm was wrapped around my waist.

“Kashar?”

The strength of the arm around my waist remained constant.

There was no response from the one who was always awake before me.

‘He’s not waking up.’

No matter how much I tried to wake him, there was no movement.

I barely managed to remove his arm and pulled the cord at the bedside.

Immediately, the maid Mein entered.

I called out to her with a pale face.

“What…”

“Call Mihail!”

“Yes, yes!”

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the maid hurriedly left the bedroom.

Not long after, Mihail entered.

“Kashar won’t wake up. Is there something wrong?”

Having witnessed his frenzy before, I couldn’t help but be more tense.

“This is…”

Mihail stretched his hand towards him.

Then I could see Kashar’s red magic fluctuating.

“He’s forcibly entered a sleep state to suppress his magic. It’s not a big problem, but he’s likely to continue sleeping until he stabilizes again.”

It was something that happened to stabilize the magic in his body as an aftermath of the frenzy.

“Then until when?”

“Judging by the state of his magic… he should wake up either today or tomorrow.”

A sigh finally escaped.

“…Haa, really. Always making people worry.”

My heart, which had been startled thinking something was seriously wrong, was still pounding.

“Mihail, please help me get out.”

“Do you have somewhere to go…”

“I can’t just stay like this until Kashar wakes up.”

When I protested like that, Mihail reluctantly pulled me out of Kashar’s embrace.

“He might wake up suddenly. Please stay near the lord.”

“Where would I go? I’m just going to check on the young princes for a moment. Call me with magic if it’s urgent.”

“…Understood.”

This time too, his displeasure was evident.

He seemed certain that something would go wrong if I were to be even a little apart from Kashar.

‘It would be good to check when Kashar is asleep.’

Now might be the chance to directly observe Elsius’s movements.

‘But first, I should check on Mihail and the kids.’

If Mihail really did meet Elsius, I might be able to hear something from him.

Coincidentally, Eshtra was standing in the corridor.

“Eshtra. Is Mihail in his room?”

“No. He just went down to the kitchen. He seemed better than yesterday.”

“That’s good to hear.”

If he was feeling better, it would be easier to ask him questions.

So I was on my way to the kitchen.

I encountered familiar backs on the way.

“Young Lord Louis, Young Lord Evan?”

“Ah, it’s Eileen!”

The chicks greeted me happily.

“Where are you going?”

“Um. To the kitchen. We’re worried about big brother. They said he’s here.”

“I’m also on my way to the kitchen. What perfect timing. Shall we make snacks together? Mihail would like that too.”

At my words, Louis and Evan’s faces brightened.

“Really? Yes yes. Let’s make snacks!”

“I’ll do it too. I have to teach Mihail big brother.”

“Then let’s all go together.”

Somehow, it felt like we had become a ‘Cheer Up Mihail’ expedition team.

And so we all arrived at the kitchen entrance, but the atmosphere was very strange.

Especially Babito, who was fidgeting in front of the door, was the highlight.

Even after seeing me, he still looked troubled.

“Ah, future madam, you’re here?”

“Why is the atmosphere like this?”

“Well…”

The door was slightly open.

What I could see through it was.

‘Mihail and… Elsius?’