What on earth was happening right now?

The soft lips gently touching his angular cheeks. Her fleeting warmth that brushed past him. And her breathing that seemed a little more excited than usual. Despite seeing and hearing all of that, he couldn’t believe it at all.

So Sinclair just stared blankly at Elaina in front of him, showing no movement. No, he couldn’t move.

“……”

The one who initiated the kiss was just as flustered. Without a chance to control herself, Elaina only belatedly realized what she had done after removing her lips from his cheek.

Sinclair’s face was fully reflected in her faintly trembling blue eyes.

What could Sinclair be thinking now? Could he be feeling unpleasant or uncomfortable? She had assured him that there was no need to worry, but now she had blatantly done something strange. Was he rendered speechless in disbelief?

“Uh……”

Slightly turning her head and averting her gaze from Sinclair, Elaina unconsciously covered her mouth with the back of her hand and muttered.

“S-sorry.”

“……”

“I didn’t mean to… No, saying that would make it even weirder.”

“……”

“What I mean is… um……”

Elaina glanced around like a debtor being chased by a loan shark, slightly bit her lips, and repeatedly fiddled with her slightly disheveled hair.

But her hesitation didn’t last long.

Turning her head again to face Sinclair squarely, Elaina parted her lips with a slightly trembling voice. But without hesitation.

“I’ll be honest. I just wanted to.”

Yeah, could there even be a clear reason?

There were too many moments that stirred up waves in Elaina’s heart, which had been living a dry life, crumbling like desert sand every single day without fail after losing her legs. Especially today, even more so.

So, she couldn’t explain it simply.

But she didn’t want to just gloss over and pass by the emotions she felt either. That would be too cowardly. Not only to Sinclair but also to herself……

“Why?”

But Sinclair seemed to need an exact reason, as he asked in a low voice.

“Why… did you want to? To me. Of all people.”

It might be a stupid question, he knew that. Perhaps he shouldn’t even know.

But he wanted to hear it directly from Elaina’s voice.

The meaning behind her trembling breath. The hidden intention of her lips that gently touched him. The emotions brought forth by the shadows gathered on her tightly closed eyelashes……

“……”

Elaina stared at Sinclair for a moment without giving any answer. Then she pondered deeply. The answer to his question.

And not long after, she slowly parted her lips.

“Because your gaze towards me has been too warm lately.”

As if the coldness you showed before was deliberately fabricated.

“Because your voice calling my name has also been too affectionate lately.”

Elaina, whenever I hear that voice subtly reciting my name, my heart keeps fluttering.

“Also… the time I spend with you like this… is enjoyable and makes me happy……”

Because I find myself in the middle of these affectionate days that I thought would never come again.

Yes, those were the reasons.

“If it made you uncomfortable, I won’t do it again. I promise.”

Did it make me uncomfortable?

That you won’t do it again if so?

Sinclair thought that out of everything Elaina had said so far, what he just heard was the most ridiculously stupid. Even among all the foolish things she had dragged into her life endlessly.

……In the past, he would have thought so. That he had built walls knowing you would do this. So don’t even think about worrying again. That he considered their relationship as a contract, nothing more. Nothing less.

But now he couldn’t say such things.

Elaina was right.

Without realizing it, Sinclair had looked at Elaina warmly and called her name affectionately. Even as he tried to hide it and struggled to suppress his own emotions.

Also, despite insisting that these impulses were merely due to guilt.

Sinclair instinctively realized.

No matter what lies he spewed, Elaina would no longer be easily fooled like before……

“Sinclair…?”

When there was no response even to her honest answer, Elaina’s voice calling Sinclair’s name trembled slightly.

Was he really displeased? Finding it absurd?

But the Sinclair reflected in my eyes didn’t look like that at all.

“……wasn’t.”

And it was only after a considerable time had passed that Sinclair parted his lips with an unsightly, cracking voice.

“Pardon?”

“I said I wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“Then……”

“……I didn’t dislike it either.”

As he revealed his true feelings to Elaina for the first time, Sinclair felt a distinct sense of defeat.

What the hell was he trying to do now?

If he eliminated even the will to suppress these endlessly rising emotions, what would he do in the future?

Sinclair smiled miserably.

“……”

But unlike Sinclair, Elaina was already looking at him affectionately, smiling like sunshine. Just like how Ely used to.

……So Sinclair couldn’t add any more words.

Just like how Ren used to be.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the attack, the emperor still remained unconscious.

It would have been better if they could at least hear that his condition was improving, but unfortunately, the current situation was far from it.

[……The situation is not good, Your Highness the Crown Prince.]

The emperor’s physician, whose face had turned pale from staying up all night and constantly monitoring his condition, said to Hister.

[We managed to stop the bleeding somehow, but the most important thing is his recovery. But as you know, His Majesty’s health was already poor in the first place……] [……] [If he continues to remain unconscious like this, it will become dangerous. I apologize.]

In a way, it was already a predetermined course. As the doctor said, the emperor was old and in poor health. He already had several chronic illnesses.

Even if a young and healthy man was attacked by a lion to that extent, it would be questionable whether he could survive. The chances of a frail and weak emperor recovering in good health despite being in such a state were extremely low. It would be close to a miracle.

But Hister did not give up.

[……Save him by any means necessary.]

Instead, he grabbed the poor doctor’s collar and shook him like a madman, threatening.

[If His Majesty passes away like this, I will also behead all those who cared for him. Of course, that includes you!] [Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince……] [3 days. I’ll give you exactly 3 days. Within that time, make sure His Majesty regains consciousness somehow.]

It was an unreasonable demand no matter who looked at it. How could they save someone who was already steadily crawling towards the threshold of the afterlife?

So, Hister decided to take a step back.

[You don’t have to fully revive him.] [Pardon…?] [It’s okay to use excessive medication. Even if there are side effects, I won’t hold you accountable!]

……At the very least, leave just enough for what he absolutely needed.

[Just make him lucid for about half a day! His Majesty still has something to do! You understand what I mean!]

The doctor nodded with an even paler face than before. Of course, it was due to coercion, but that wasn’t what mattered now.

He must wake up and testify.

That this incident had nothing to do with him.

And that the real hidden culprit was Sinclair Butler.

A gnashing sound of teeth grinding could be heard from Hister’s tightly closed lips.

And it was at that very moment.

“……Lord Hister, it’s Liam.”

“Come in.”

As soon as he answered, a man dressed in black attire entered Hister’s bedroom, bowed, and greeted him.

It was his bodyguard knight.

“How is the investigation I asked you to conduct?”

“The nobles of the five families are divided.”

Damn it. Hister cursed and rubbed his forehead.

“The Heswin Duchy, Wilter Barony. Rockford, Fredrick Duchy, and Lundberg Grand Duchy are all in a precarious state. Especially because of the attitude shown by Duke Heswin at the Grand Council, the situation seems to have escalated further.”

Duke Heswin.

The one who kept mediating and read the ledger presented by Sinclair.

Also, the one with the most influence among the five shining families of Edenbell……

“Since Anelli also attended, the nobles participating in that gathering will continue to add their words. First, it would be the Henad and Denhel Duchies, and the Elai Barony.”

Hister let out a hollow laugh at Sinclair’s movements that were secretly but strongly tightening their grip on him. As if he had gone crazy.

‘If the emperor doesn’t regain consciousness within 3 days……’

Then everything might fall apart.

No, it will fall apart. The rapid division of the five families, who had always maintained a deep trust with the imperial family, was proof of that fact.

……But Hister still had a chance.

‘If you use such despicable tactics, Sinclair……’

I’ll also use a move that matches your level.

Clumsy and petty like you, but the most rational and perfect move to bring you down.

“Tell them.”

Having finished his thoughts, Hister looked at Liam and said,

“It’s time to move.”