“…….”

Elaina, lying alone on the cold sheets devoid of warmth, once again found it difficult to fall asleep today.

It had been quite a while since she had lain down, but she remained silent, her lips closed, staring only at the ornately decorated ceiling.

While she felt immense pressure about the upcoming founding ceremony, her first as the Crown Princess, at some point during these long nights, Elaina’s mind began to fill with thoughts other than worries about the ceremony.

Why hasn’t Sinclair returned?

Is he really alright?

Is he still spending time with that expression? That look as if he’s all alone in the world.

Today…….

It would be nice if he came back.

But even as dawn approached, there was still no sign of Sinclair, and Elaina’s night continued to deepen in loneliness.

It was around this time, as Elaina was sinking into these futile worries unknown to the person in question.

When the sound of someone’s presence began to be heard from beyond.

“…….”

At the sudden sound of someone’s footsteps, Elaina quickly turned her head towards the tightly closed door.

And at that moment, the door opened.

It was Sinclair.

Looking very tired.

And still, like that day, not seeming to be in a good mood…….

“……Sinclair.”

Elaina, rising from the bed, looked at Sinclair and carefully uttered his name.

Sinclair briefly met Elaina’s gaze, then strode into the bedroom. He then slowly took off his outer garment.

“I thought you’d be asleep.”

Sinclair, who had now approached the bed, looked down at Elaina and said.

“It’s late.”

“…….”

“So you should go to sleep now. Don’t mind me.”

Something was still off.

The words Sinclair uttered conveyed a clear sense of distance.

Of course, they hadn’t been close before either, but she had never felt this kind of feeling before.

Elaina hesitated for a moment, then slowly moved her lips.

“Schuler told me. That you were very busy with many things to take care of here and there. That’s why you couldn’t return.”

Sinclair didn’t answer.

“Still, I was worried.”

“…….”

“Wondering if perhaps something had happened.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

Sinclair, sitting on the edge of the bed, replied briefly.

“And you certainly don’t need to know what’s happening to me.”

“……Have I done something wrong?”

Elaina asked.

“Why are you suddenly treating me like this? Sinclair.”

Elaina was a consistently straightforward person, then and now.

When there was something she didn’t understand, she would immediately ask questions, and if a misunderstanding arose, she would try not to let things escalate.

Unlike the Emperor or Hister, she never spoke in roundabout ways, and was always honest with her feelings.

Very different from Sinclair, that is.

“I heard. You’re making good use of Lady Leggers.”

“Yes. After all, Lady Leggers is the person who can spread rumors the fastest in Edenbell, and you needed to turn around people’s opinions during this opportunity, regardless of how things turned out.”

Elaina replied as if it were obvious.

“I told you then, didn’t I? That I would repay my debt to you.”

[I think your personality changed a lot after that…….]

“So I simply made the wisest choice among the things I could do. Because I want to help your dream come true somehow.”

[It was as good as shattering the dream of definitely escaping from the Aswald family. In fact, it was my leg that was broken, but my heart ended up breaking too…….]

The words of the Elaina before him and the Elaina from a few days ago alternately pierced Sinclair’s ears. Sharp like an awl, and keen like a well-honed sword.

“I told you then too. Don’t do unnecessary things.”

“……Sinclair?”

“Don’t do anything. Not a single thing. Just for one year, unless it’s unavoidable like this founding ceremony where you have to appear before people as my Crown Princess.”

Elaina’s expression turned to one of bewilderment at his cold response.

But that was only for a moment.

Elaina returned to her usual dry expression and said to Sinclair.

“You’re saying you don’t need my help, Sinclair.”

“That’s right.”

“Did you dislike that I was presumptuous and stepped forward without knowing my place?”

“…….”

“Or were you worried that I might foolishly become attached to you, caught up in playing the role of Crown Princess? That I might cling to you unnecessarily when you don’t even care about me.”

There was no response, but sometimes silence can be a clearer answer than any words.

So Elaina said with a slight, bitter laugh.

“Both, I see.”

Unlike her coldly set face, the golden eyes reflecting Elaina seemed to be tinged with subtle sadness.

But she couldn’t show it.

She knew that would be deceiving Elaina…….

“Yeah, that’s about right.”

So this was the best option.

“I won’t even care about you, and I won’t hold you in my heart. But it’s true that I was worried you might get the wrong idea, and I didn’t like you stepping forward to help unnecessarily.”

“…….”

“As I’ve said many times, we just need to appear as a perfect couple in front of people. That’s all there is to the contract. I hope you haven’t forgotten that.”

This was all Sinclair had to say after returning after a long time. He lay down on the bed without a hint of hesitation or lingering attachment, and turned his back on Elaina coldly as he always did.

Soon, a silence as heavy as lead settled over their bedroom.

‘Yes, such reasons…….’

As Elaina stared blankly at Sinclair’s back, various emotions seeped onto her face.

What had I been expecting? Why had I worried about Sinclair, not knowing my place? What did I think I could help with?

Sinclair had never once wished for such things from me. And he never will.

……I did something foolish.

Every moment I had tried for him until now. Every moment I had cared, concerned about his hurt feelings. It all seemed to mock me.

As if to say, why did you do such unnecessary things?

Elaina let out a silent, bitter laugh as she lay there.

If that’s what you want, then I’ll do it. After all, I have no choice in the matter. I just didn’t know my place and didn’t realize it.

It’s enough to just play the role of Crown Princess convincingly. From now on, I won’t engage in any futile efforts. I won’t worry, I won’t care.

Since Sinclair does the same to me.

Elaina thought to herself.

Eventually, she forced herself to close her eyes. Because she had to be faithful to the contract, as Sinclair had said. Because she had to perfectly act as the Crown Princess tomorrow.

But strangely, she tossed and turned for a long time, finding it much harder to fall asleep than before Sinclair had returned.

……Tonight, the night felt especially long.

[This is the timeline separator]

“The preparations are going well, I presume.”

In the gloomy underground waterway.

Someone’s voice echoed ominously, cutting through the air.

“Yes. We’re doing our utmost. Of course, we’ve checked several times today as well.”

The one bowing his head and groveling was one of the most renowned figures in Edenbell.

Someone whom people always looked up to and respected, whom everyone praised day after day for having great spiritual power.

That is, the High Priest of the temple.

“If, thankfully, God’s will is with us, he won’t escape death, and even if things go slightly awry, he won’t avoid serious injury at the very least.”

“Hmm…….”

“In the former case, there will be nothing more to do, but in the latter case, you may need to put in a bit more effort. But his condition will certainly be serious, so there will be various ways to deal with it somehow. Regardless of the order, he will surely die.”

……However, the words he uttered next seemed far too distant from the position of High Priest, who should live worshipping God and leading a pure and righteous life in anyone’s eyes.

“I was a bit worried, you know. This matter is very important to me.”

“Of course you would have been. I understand completely.”

“But hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. It seems I’m quite fortunate in terms of human resources. To be able to use such a capable High Priest as my subordinate.”

“You flatter me, Sir Hister.”

Hister laughed.

“Good. With you by my side, God’s will must be with me as well.”

“It will be. Certainly.”

“Then I shall look forward to it.”

As Hister finished speaking, the old High Priest bowed deeply, paying his respects.

Hister snickered with a short laugh, then slowly began to walk through the underground waterway filled with a fishy smell.

‘Yes. Either way is fine.’

Whether he dies on the spot by good fortune, or suffers serious injury.

And whether that unfortunate one is Sinclair or Elaina.

Either way, when tomorrow comes. When the moment arrives for Sinclair to perform the ceremony at the temple, we’ll know for sure. The outcome of this interesting event.

‘I’m really looking forward to it.’

I’ve never looked forward to a founding ceremony this much before.

Hister thought to himself, wearing a sinister smile.

With an expression dripping with sincere joy.