Oddly, she felt reassured that all these cold attitudes were not directed at her. Moreover,

She could also think that, thanks to this, she would be able to sustain her tough life without dying.

Liz’s tension eased, and she lost consciousness in Hersis’s arms,

Hersis hugged her limp body even more tightly.

“Where is this?”

The bed canopy was unfamiliar.

It took a while for her to realize that it was unfamiliar.

Because she had just woken up from sleep.

Liz turned her head to one side while lying down.

Although thick blackout curtains covered the window, the light seeping through the bottom couldn’t be hidden. Seeing the light shatter so white, it must be morning, or at least around noon.

This time she turned her head to the other side. A wall was in the distance, far enough that it didn’t fully enter her still-recovering vision.

The furniture had an antique charm.

That sideboard, shining without any polish, was undoubtedly made of mahogany.

The same was true for the wall console, the bedside table, and even the armchair; all were mahogany.

Furniture that would barely find a place in a noble’s reception room was plenty in this room.

And there would be even more outside this room.

That meant this place was…

‘The imperial palace.’

Liz propped herself up on the mattress.

She wanted to look more closely.

Then she saw more clearly than when she was lying down, and felt even more certain.

‘Scary.’

A place where restrained splendor and refined antiquity harmoniously merged, yet the first emotion that struck Liz was fear.

It was a strangely oppressive space.

There was no coziness. However, it might feel that way because she recognized this place as the imperial palace.

‘I have to look around more.’

It was just as she was about to swing her legs outside the bed.

Thud, thud.

Someone seemed to be coming this way.
Liz quickly lay back down, pretending to sleep.

Click.

The door opened and someone entered.

‘Could it be Hersis?’

Her body tensed up abruptly. She always felt this tension when facing him.

“Still asleep?”

Fortunately, it wasn’t Hersis.

The voice that reached her ears was that of a woman.

She soon felt the woman’s cautious touch on her forehead.

“Your fever seems to have gone down.”

Only then did Liz realize.

‘I had a fever.’

Well, it wouldn’t have been strange. She had been trembling with anxiety throughout her stay, and had twice faced the risk of a fall.

It was only natural for her cells to throw a firework festival now that the tension was lifted.

The woman pulled the quilt up to Liz’s chest. She paused momentarily as if checking for other issues, then soon left the room.

Once the footsteps faded away, Liz slowly opened her eyes and got up.

Since they had checked that she was sleeping, it was unlikely that anyone would enter for a while.

Liz extended her legs out of the bed and set her feet on the ground.

Furry slippers were placed on the floor. She carefully slipped her feet in, and the fluffy fur pleasantly wrapped around her bare skin.

Liz took a walk around the room.

Not a speck of dust was on any piece of furniture. It was clear they were cleaned every day, every hour.

Then, she felt not only oppressive but suffocated. The realization that she had to continue living here weighed heavily on her. She wanted to escape.

‘Maybe the outside view will make me feel better.’

Liz turned and walked toward the window.

She slightly parted the curtain and looked outside. A spontaneous ‘Ah!’ escaped her lips.

The majestic building she saw outside looked familiar.

The grand place with a golden dome and a spire on each face. Kain… no, Hersis. It was the building they had snuck out to see one night.

It was the Frené Palace, the symbol of the Luzenia Royal Family.

Thinking of Hersis sitting there, commanding his vassals from that throne she had yearned for that night, Liz felt oddly proud.

This allowed her to naturally smile, forgetting the suffocating burden she felt just moments before.

Click, Click.

The sound of hooves hitting the marble floor echoed again.

Was it the same woman from before?

Liz hurriedly threw herself back onto the bed.

In the process, her nightgown rolled up, revealing her thighs, but she didn’t have the leisure to pull the quilt from under her back to cover herself.

‘Ah… who cares. They’ll probably think I tossed and turned in my sleep and cover me up.’
The door opened and then closed.

The footsteps of the servant who entered the room stopped beside the bed.

However, they just stared without covering me with the blanket, I felt it through my eyelids.

‘What’s the matter? Never seen a woman with her nightgown rolled up?’

The next moment, Liz heard a whispering voice as they leaned down toward her.

“Is this an invitation to devour you?”