Alicia was very uncomfortable with the current situation.

How could the next emperor of the empire, Adrian, be bowing his head respectfully to Killian and expressing gratitude?

This was Alicia’s own thought, as she had become unable to objectively see her position and value in Eregron due to her enthusiastic self-deprecation before and after her regression.

“It is the duty to protect a noble person of Eregron. It is not something to be thanked for separately, so I would appreciate it if you would refrain from such excessive courtesy.”

Moreover, Killian’s equally polite attitude confused her as well.

Although Killian was a nobleman who knew how to change his attitude according to the place and situation, his basic demeanor was ‘arrogance’.

That didn’t change even if the subject was the emperor, and since it only added a little more politeness than when dealing with ordinary nobles, it often provided fodder for criticism from pro-imperial nobles.

Of course, he always brought in achievements to offset this, so no noble ever criticized him directly.

‘If it were the Killian I know, he would have just said “Yes” and left it at that here…’

But not just one, but two sentences, and so long at that?

Although going back in time was a big deal, Alicia hadn’t done anything to make Killian change.

At most, she had just sent a letter saying she wouldn’t like him anymore.

That single letter alone wouldn’t have changed Killian this much.

They say that people can change with very small triggers, but this is Killian we’re talking about, isn’t it?

If he were the type to change so easily, he wouldn’t have been so cold after seeing Alicia’s desperate heart before the regression.

‘He did change after marriage, becoming more disgusted with me, but that was unavoidable because I acted a bit too clingy.’

…If self-deprecation becoming as natural as breathing is a side effect of regression, I guess I’ll have to endure it.

Alicia barely swallowed the sigh that had risen to the tip of her chin, and turned her gaze away from Adrian and Killian, who were somehow glaring at each other, to the emperor.

Although the emperor and the crown prince were together, Alicia had no intention of staying in the same space as Killian for long.

“Father.”

“…Hm? What is it, Alicia?”

The emperor, who had been lost in thought while looking at Adrian and Killian, responded a little late to Alicia’s call.

That behavior felt a bit strange, but for now, leaving this place was urgent.

Pushing aside the momentary question that had arisen, Alicia opened her mouth towards the emperor.

“I was thinking of returning to my room now.”

“Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m just… a bit tired.”

“I see, I understand.”

The emperor, who had glanced at Killian for a moment, nodded.

He must have realized the reason why Alicia was trying to leave this place quickly.

At his permission, Adrian and Killian, who had been having a silent battle of eyes, simultaneously looked at Alicia.

“Ari, are you feeling unwell?”

“I think it’s because I rode in the carriage for too long.”

“I see, then go ahead. I’ll come visit you later. Let’s talk then.”

Adrian, who had hurriedly approached Alicia’s side and lightly grasped her hand, waved at the head servant.

It was a signal to come and support Alicia.

“I can walk on my own.”

“But…”

“Really, I’m fine.”

“Alright, if you say so…”

Alicia, who had stopped the approaching head servant with her eyes, walked up to the emperor and slightly bent her knee in greeting.

Alicia gave a slight eye smile to reassure the emperor, who was nodding with a worried face and lightly waving his hand.

And until she left the audience room, Alicia deliberately kept her face expressionless and avoided Killian.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

She thought she had managed her expression well and calmly, but seeing Aimee, whom she met as soon as she opened the door, looking worried with such a face, it seemed she had failed at managing her expression.

“I’m fine.”

“The journey must have been too tiring for Your Highness. Please go ahead. I’ll prepare your bed.”

“Where’s Mina?”

“Without even being told, she went ahead a while ago saying she would prepare a bath.”

Alicia let out a small laugh as she looked at Aimee, who answered in a somewhat proud voice, saying that Mina wasn’t completely lacking in work skills.

Although she tries not to show it, Aimee was a very affectionate person.

As much as she had high expectations, she also had many worries, so she often nagged, but in places where Mina wasn’t present, she often showed signs of caring for her like this.

“That’s good. I wanted to soak in warm water.”

“It would be better if she could be a little more composed.”

“Being lively is Mina’s charm.”

“That child is too lively.”

Alicia’s dark face gradually brightened as she walked and talked with Aimee.

Aimee’s expression wasn’t bad either, consistently talking only about Mina, as if she had noticed Alicia’s desire not to think about Killian.

At least until they met two men walking from the opposite direction as they turned the corner of the corridor.

“We greet Your Highness Alicia.”

With long silver hair and purple eyes, and an atmosphere reminiscent of a gentle scholar, he was Marquis Anderson.

And the man standing behind him, Reilly Anderson.

He had inherited the silver hair and purple eyes characteristic of the Anderson family, and his shoulder-length hair was neatly tied back in half.

With his neatly dressed clothes and gentle smile, it was enough to draw the favor of others.

However, the moment Alicia confirmed the curiosity filling his purple eyes, she couldn’t help but stiffen like someone who had been doused with ice-cold water.

“Marquis Anderson and… the young marquis.”

Reilly, who in her nightmare told her with cold eyes to kill Killian.

The moment she met him, Alicia felt as if someone was choking her, unable to breathe properly.

This must surely be reality, but the ground she stood on seemed to shake.

“Your Highness!”

Aimee, who quickly supported the staggering Alicia, gestured to the servant following behind.

It must be a signal to call for a doctor.

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m fine. Did you come to see Father?”

Alicia smiled as she firmly grasped Aimee’s hand supporting her and struggled to straighten her shaking body.

A member of the royal family should not carelessly show weakness.

It was the same even if the person standing before her was the leader of the pro-imperial nobles.

Alicia deliberately ignored Reilly’s gaze standing behind the marquis and put strength into her toes standing on the ground.

Recalling the nobles who used to pounce on her, their eyes flashing, whenever she showed weakness before her regression, helped a little.

Back then, she really had to grit her teeth and endure alone.

‘But now it’s different.’

She had a brother she could lean on, a father she could rely on, who were alive.

‘So it’s okay.’

Moreover, since her engagement to Killian had been undone, there was no need to accept the poison Reilly had handed her, telling her to kill him.

So it’s okay.

Alicia took a long breath and composed her rough breathing.

“I ended up showing an unsightly appearance to the marquis.”

“How long has it been since you left for recuperation? I’m worried that you might have returned too early.”

“I think I’m just a bit tired. I’ll feel better after a good sleep, so don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Alicia lowered her eyes, not wanting to see Reilly’s figure visible over the marquis’s shoulder, and slightly raised the corners of her mouth as she struggled to suppress her anxious heart and opened her mouth.

“The Crown Prince and Duke Diaz are in the audience room.”

“Yes, I know.”

“It seems His Majesty called for you. Please go ahead.”

“Really…”

“It’s okay, really.”

Alicia, who had hurriedly answered lest any other words might follow, slightly bowed her head and moved her steps to leave the place.

It was a bit difficult to deliberately move her legs slowly, trying to move quickly so that the marquis and his son wouldn’t have strange thoughts, but fortunately, no other problem blocked her way.

As he watched Alicia’s retreating figure, the marquis turned his eyes to his son, who was looking in the same direction with a face that didn’t hide his curiosity.

“Why are you making such a suspicious face?”

“You know I take after you, Father?”

“I don’t make such faces.”

“Right. You hide it well.”

The marquis sighed softly at his son’s glib voice and shook his head.

It seemed that his son’s wicked curiosity was raising its head again.

“Why did she return so soon?”

“Probably because of the spring banquet.”

It seemed that the object of curiosity this time was the princess.

The marquis answered his son’s question indifferently and was about to move his feet, but another question from his son stopped him.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that it was a recuperation she left for, using illness as an excuse to avoid attending the banquet?”

“They shouldn’t know. If they want to breathe properly and live in His Majesty the Emperor’s empire.”

“You say such terrifying things so casually.”

“You’re the one who should do something about that smiling face while saying such things.”

Who on earth did he learn to smile like that from?

The marquis definitely didn’t think he had learned it from himself.

“Well, anyway. Why did the princess, who had left the imperial palace as if fleeing when she heard the news that the duke was returning, come back with him?”

“Now we’ll be able to know the reason.”

It was a urge to move now.

Reilly wanted to talk a bit more with his father about the princess who somehow gave off a different atmosphere from what he knew.

However, the person waiting for them was the emperor, so he had to stop here.

The two had entered the imperial palace on the emperor’s order.

It was because the emperor, who had heard the news that the marquis had recently started to move in earnest to hand over his position to his son, had called for Reilly as well.

It was quite a pleasant thing that the emperor recognized him as the next owner of the marquis family, but…

“If I say I’m going to chase after Princess Alicia and ask… Father would kill me, right?”

“You think I’d end it so simply? Me? I prefer more troublesome methods.”

“Is that how you say you’d make me wish I were dead instead?”

Reilly, who burst into a small laugh, shook his head and followed his father who had started moving before him.

As his father said, they would soon know the reason.

Reilly smiled as he looked at the large and splendid door of the audience room where the answer to satisfy his curiosity was waiting.