Himierd’s voice, which was snappy, sounded like that of a tired and angry person. She also seemed like someone who couldn’t control her irritation due to layers of accumulated fatigue.

In reality, she was in such a state. From having to enter the royal palace inconspicuously to avoid the eyes of those who were hostile to her, it was an unbearably humiliating ordeal.

Laila stared intently at Himierd, who was rubbing her brow. The way she occasionally took angry breaths made her look like she was contemplating how to scold a child who had spilled a milk jug.

She’s about to spill it now. Laila thought. I’m going to knock over the milk jug she cherishes so much.

“What are you trying to do by using Eustar?”

Himierd’s fingers suddenly dropped from her brow. If she hadn’t exercised patience, she might have rushed at Laila and strangled her.

“What are you talking about?”

Laila spoke again.

“The fact that I shouldn’t be here, that Eustar’s companion shouldn’t be a witch… Isn’t it because the fact that I’m a witch becomes a weakness for Eustar? Why shouldn’t he have any weaknesses? Isn’t it because you need Eustar for something you want to do, Marchioness? You need him to be flawless, without any weaknesses. Isn’t that right?”

Himierd’s face turned pale.

“How dare you say such things.”

She said sharply. She was so agitated that she didn’t realize that such a reaction was giving Laila even stronger conviction.

Himierd raised her voice again.

“How dare you say such things! Do you think I’m trying to use His Highness the Prince for my own selfish interests?”

“It might not be to fulfill your selfish desires, Marchioness.”

Laila replied calmly. On the other hand, Himierd was in a very flustered state. She honestly hadn’t even thought that Laila would display this level of insight. She hadn’t expected her to confront her in the first place.

Himierd had to struggle not to flee from Laila’s eyes that were staring straight at her. For someone who had always seized the upper hand in battles through meticulous planning and bold execution, this was an incomparably embarrassing situation.

After a long silence, Laila spoke again.

“Does Eustar agree with your plan? Is it what he wants too?”

Himierd’s lips trembled.

“You’d better stop this impertinent talk here, witch.”

She felt an inexplicable discomfort as she addressed Laila as ‘witch’. At the same time, she inwardly shuddered at the urge to cling to Laila, crying and begging for help for no reason.

What on earth am I thinking? Are you going to run to your mother’s room like a child who’s just woken up from a nightmare, Sui?

I can’t do that. Himierd thought. I won’t do that. She put more strength into her upright posture and nailed it down.

“This is not something for you to interfere with.”

Laila felt Himierd’s anxiety and directionless fear intact. She didn’t know how she could feel it, but… she could clearly tell that the confused emotions being transmitted to her were Himierd’s.

Laila said.

“Are you going to overthrow the king and put Eustar in his place instead?”

For a moment, Himierd heard Laila’s voice as if she had shouted at the top of her lungs. She was so startled that she almost fell backwards as she stumbled.

However, the surroundings were quiet. There was no sound of the employees outside being startled and flustered. Laila had spoken that quietly. Just loud enough for Himierd’s ears right in front of her to hear.

Laila nodded as if she could tell the answer just by looking at Himierd’s expression. Then she took a couple of steps back.

“If that’s the case, I should tell you that there’s no need to be so desperate to drive me out, Marchioness.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Himierd hastily asked back. It was a voice lacking composure that anyone would recognize as that of someone caught in the act of trying to steal. Moreover, unlike just before, it was a voice that had lost its edge.

She was no longer Marchioness Himierd who controlled and manipulated the royal officials. She was young Sui who had woken up crying from a nightmare. Laila was the only one who could reassure her and pat her back to make her have good dreams.

Laila said.

“This was something I didn’t want either. I didn’t come here to participate in this kind of thing. But Eustar asked me. He asked me to follow the will of the king… His Majesty.”

“His Highness the Prince? That can’t be…”

“Go and ask him yourself. But everything I’ve said is true, and I won’t become his real wife. I don’t know what Eustar wants, but once he achieves what he desires, I’ll leave. To a very far place, where no one can find me.”

To a free place. Laila swallowed the last words internally as she looked at Himierd. Freedom! It was a word that felt even more distant because it was so desperately desired.

True freedom, which she had never experienced even once until now, seemed like an absurd imagination from a fairy tale.

Some days it seemed so close that she could almost grasp it, but with just one blink of an eye, reality that would never change would rush in like a wave and sweep away the imagination.

But Eustar will be able to make it happen. Laila thought. He won’t break his promise.

Himierd glared at Laila with a face as white as a sheet of paper. Her hands, hidden by the skirts of her dress, were clenched into fists and trembling.

“How can I believe your words?”

“Whether you believe it or not, nothing will change. But I know who I am. Marchioness, I know much better than you do. I mean, I’m aware enough of my place.”

At her words, Himierd momentarily felt embarrassed. But it didn’t last long. Himierd actively drove away that emotion.

Himierd said.

“I’m going to have Mel report in detail about you, would that be alright?”

Laila let out a chuckle.

“No matter what I answer, you’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you, Marchioness?”

“Yes, that’s right. If Mel refuses, I’ll have someone else do it. I need to keep you under my watch. Until I can feel at ease.”

Laila’s eyes blinked slowly. Like the inside of a well-ripened pomegranate split open, her red eyes without deceit reflected Himierd straight on.

“I don’t mind. Do as you wish. As I said before, whether you believe me or not, Marchioness, nothing will change. Until the last day comes.”

Until the last day comes. At those words, Himierd felt a chill run down her spine for some reason. It was because she had no idea what Laila was waiting for and hoping for.

“…Alright. I’ll try to believe you. At least I’ll pretend to believe.”

Laila nodded. Himierd, as if she couldn’t delay any longer, quickly turned and left the room. The sound of hurried footsteps faded away… and Laila collapsed onto the bed.

The tea had gone cold. Laila stared blankly at the castella cake that was crumbling and losing moisture, then closed her eyes. And she fell into a deep sleep as if fainting.

—Creak…

A small sound came from somewhere.

What’s that sound? Laila thought with her eyes closed. It seemed like a sound she had heard somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember where.

—Creak… Creeeeak…

Her whole body felt as heavy as a cotton soaked in water, and she couldn’t move at all. With her eyes closed, Laila tried to trace where the sound was coming from.

At her feet… No, it seemed closer than that. It also seemed to be moving constantly. What was at her feet seemed to be moving up, further up…

—Creak…

Laila’s eyelids fluttered. The sound was now coming from her bedside. And it didn’t go anywhere. It stayed there.

It’s a rocking chair. Laila thought. It was a thought that suddenly came to her like a beam of light shining into a dark hole. It was the sound of that rocking chair in her house, her mother’s, slowly moving back and forth.

But this isn’t home.

Why can’t I move my body?

A low moan escaped from Laila’s lips. Her body, which had felt as heavy as cotton soaked in water, now felt like a solidly hardened rock. The creaking sound continued. It remained at her bedside.

—Creeeeak… Creak… Creak, creeeeak, creak, creak!

“Laila.”

Laila’s eyes flew open with a breath that sounded like a scream.

Her body, lying face down on the bed, trembled. As she turned her gaze here and there, Laila tried to move her fingers that were gripping the sheet a little.

She thought her stiffly set joints would break with a snap… but that wasn’t the case. Her fingers moved smoothly. Although she felt like she might lose consciousness due to fatigue, it wasn’t difficult to move her body.

“Laila, are you alright?”

Eustar. Laila thought. His voice was heard nearby. As she turned her head, she saw his face illuminated by a warm-colored light.

“Eustar?”

“Are you okay? It seemed like you were having a nightmare.”

Laila, blinking in confusion, slowly raised her body. Then she looked around.

“What’s wrong?”

Eustar asked. Laila belatedly became flustered when she realized she was still in the room.

Her confusion grew even more when she confirmed that the outside of the window was covered in pitch-black darkness, and shadows pooled like swamps in every place the lamplight didn’t reach. It was clear that night had fallen while she was asleep.

Laila said.

“Is it… really dark outside now? Has it become night?”

“That’s right. You must have been very tired. Seeing how you slept without waking up.”

I was tired. Laila thought. Himierd had come, and before that, she had to extend her hand to countless people whose faces and names she didn’t know. Until her fingers felt frozen stiff.

Laila looked at Eustar with round eyes. If it was the middle of the night and this was her room, why was he here?

“…Yes, I was tired.”

When she answered, Eustar smiled gently. It was his usual soft expression. His hand lightly touched Laila’s forehead. As if checking for a fever.

“You must have been. I was tired too, so how much more for you?”

His palm on her forehead felt cool and pleasant.

As Laila unconsciously closed her eyes, Eustar let out a pleasantly resonating laugh and cupped her cheek. His smooth and neat fingers carefully touched the tip of Laila’s ear, and around her lips.

“Why did you close your eyes, Laila?”