“Without such things, life becomes too harsh if you just run for a single goal. She told me not to live like that. She said I should have something that could be a source of joy in my heart.”

“…….”

“So, yeah.”

Reyna felt a bit embarrassed as if she had talked too much.

“…I’ve been living doing what I wanted to do in my own way. Really.”

And once again, she thought about how much strength the person in front of her had been to her for the past five years.

You can’t say that you were my joy.

Like the catharsis of reading a story about an ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan flying away from the mud.
In the midst of sorrow, it feels like receiving a response to the long-standing support.

The joy when everyone recognizes someone only you knew.

He gave Reyna such pleasures for five years.

Reyna quietly looked at the candlelight shadows flickering in the corner.

Even though nothing could be said.

She was thankful.

“…….”

The unasked question came to mind again.

The question she almost impulsively asked several times.

Can we part ways?

But Reyna familiarly swallowed that question.

Because she couldn’t bear her own feelings afterward.

If you were to be my ruler and stay by your side.

If you told me you were my comfort, asked me to remain as your lover.

I convinced myself, deceived myself, and felt confused,

I didn’t have the confidence to mistake it for love and not hesitate.

So, Reyna didn’t ask.

She didn’t want to become his flaw.

Because he was a grateful person.

“…….”

With his arm hanging over the bedhead, Arthur, who had been looking straight ahead, suddenly moved his hand and pulled Reyna’s head towards him.

Tuck.

Reyna ended up leaning against Arthur while sitting.

“…….”

“You look tired.”

“…….”

“It also seems cold.”

“…….”

Reyna couldn’t answer and just leaned on him.

Chirp chirp chirp…….

“Miss~! Please wake up now~!”

“…….”

Reyna opened her eyes absentmindedly.

Brodie’s voice, singing in a higher tone than usual, penetrated her head, which couldn’t recover immediately due to lack of sleep.

“Miss~!”

For some reason, her voice sounded elated.

“Did you sleep on the big bed today?”

“…….”

Since a spare bed was brought into the room, Reyna often slept on it.

Arthur would offer her the big bed, and even if Reyna lay down first on the spare bed, eventually, Arthur, unable to endure the narrow bed, would awkwardly move to the big bed.

But last night, Reyna fell asleep first.

After talking noisily until dawn, she suddenly became exhausted, and at some point, she fell asleep deeply.

Reyna looked blankly at the empty space beside the bed.

Rustle.

The sound of pulling the curtain was heard.

“Lord Arthur left early in the morning.”

And the approaching Brodie, not realizing Reyna’s still dazed state, rolled her over to the side and covered her with a blanket, then pulled the sheet under her body.

“…….”

Then, with the blanket in hand, Brodie squatted behind Reyna and smoothly slid a fresh sheet behind her back.

After putting Reyna back in her original position, Brodie took the old blanket from under her and handed her a new, clean-smelling blanket.

“…….”

… Okay…

I shouldn’t get used to this.

Reyna sat up, buried in the bed.

What time is it?

The sunlight by the window, which pushed the shadows in the room more than usual, was felt.
Reyna looked at the wall clock and realized that she had overslept more than usual. Brody, perceptive to Reyna’s fatigued face, asked, “Are you very tired?” “Yeah. I slept late yesterday,” replied Reyna. Due to talking until late at night, her voice became hoarse. “…Ahem. Sorry.” Brody quickly clapped her hands and laughed. “Oh, don’t mention it.” Brody skillfully cleared the crumpled bedsheet into the laundry basket outside and returned with a glass. Reyna took the glass and asked, “How about today’s treatment? Didn’t Taylor come?” However, the moment Reyna heard Brody’s answer, she froze, unable to swallow the water.
“Yes! The patient I was taking care of mentioned feeling a bit unwell, so the visit got delayed.”

…What?

Reyna stared blankly at Brody.

Is she unwell?

Grandmother?

In an instant, her mind went blank.

“Is she… very unwell? Anything else…?”

“Yes?”

Brody, looking at Reyna’s face, asked hesitantly.

“Do you know her?”

“…”

Reyna hurriedly stepped outside the bed, starting to dress.

Perplexed, Brody approached and asked,

“Miss? What’s the matter? Is there anything I can help with?”

Reyna, with a pale face, stopped and turned to her.

“Summon Sir Caelum…”

No.

Sir Caelum must have gone to have a conversation with Duke Julius, so they wouldn’t be able to meet now.

Even if they could meet, it couldn’t interfere with important discussions related to me.

“No, summon Sir K.”

That was the last thing Reyna said before being kidnapped.