Though slightly dry on the surface, his lips were incredibly soft and moist on the inside. What gently dug into the gap between her parted lips was even softer and more tender.

It was a kiss she had longed for. But…

‘That’s enough. I shouldn’t go further.’
Liz’s maternal instincts screamed at her. It was time to push him away. However, surprisingly, he withdrew first.

His lips smoothly traced her nose, moved up to his forehead, and then completely deviated to leave a reverent kiss on the straight scar from the carriage accident.

He pulled the blanket over Liz’s chest while supporting her head with his hand and said, “Get some sleep, your face says it all.”

Liz sighed in relief inwardly.

‘Luckily, it ended with a kiss.’

As Herisys lowered his arms, Liz turned to the side and rested her head on his chest.

Thump, thump. The sound of the heartbeat echoed in her ears.

It was the heartbeat she had been checking every moment for the past few days, and today, it seemed even faster.

Liz’s eyelids gently closed at the reassuring sound of the heartbeat, more calming than ever in the past few days.

It was a comfortable sleep achieved after several days.

Montaner Duché’s face was full of anxiety as he constantly moved back and forth in the room.

His hands were marked with numerous red scratches, and there were black scab marks from self-harm on his lips. Finally, he spoke as if spitting out.

“Why is it Her, not that woman, who got hurt? Why?”

It was an unthinkable situation.

Everything was perfect.

They had administered a measured excitant to the empress, and the effects were gradually appearing after the riding ceremony started and half an hour later.

The plan was to relieve the severe burning sensation in the throat that felt like horses running through it by rushing to the river like crazy and dropping the rider on their back.

The only variable was, of course, Herisys, but the Duke was convinced that he wouldn’t back down from a horseback competition. He knew his nephew was particularly competitive when it came to horse riding.

Bang! The Duke forcefully slammed the table in frustration at the incomprehensible failure.

“The woman should have fallen off. Her head should have been smashed.”

Liz falling alone could be blamed on her inexperienced horseback riding skills. Such incidents were not uncommon.

However, if Herisys had been in that position, the story would have been different.

He would have seen it, and it could have been clear that the horse the empress rode was in the same frenzied state as the one I gifted her, the one that almost killed me in my youth.

‘And in the past, I gave her that horse.’

Back then, Heris was so innocent that he could be fooled by the words, “The horse seems to be in heat,” but not anymore.

When he wakes up, he will surely call all the relevant people and accuse them. It seemed too clear that he would charge the mastermind behind with treason.

Duke Montaner was in despair. It was right then.

“Ah… that’s right!”

Suddenly, he stopped walking. As if he had a good idea, the anxiety disappeared from his eyes, and the corners of his mouth went up.

‘It’s better this way. Let’s send him to my parents now.’

It was the cleanest solution.
Censorship is an issue, but if you look, there might be toxins that don’t respond to censorship. The world is vast, and there are many poisons.

The Duke pulled the reins.

‘Resolve carefully, act swiftly.’

He always taught young Herisys that way. So, now it was his turn to lead by example as a mentor.

“Your Excellency.”

Aaron, the operative, entered. The Duke was about to give orders but hesitated when he read an unusual expression on the operative’s face. He asked, “What’s the matter?”

“A pilgrim has arrived.”

Pilgrim. Among them, they called the spies planted in the palace that.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, he accurately stated our secret code.”

If that was the case, the spy was confirmed.

The Duke’s face tensed with anxiety. It was unclear whether the news the spy brought was good or bad.

“Where is he?”

“In the secret chamber.”

“Let’s go.”

With a determined face, the Duke left the room. Eager to hear whether the news was good or bad, his steps quickened.

The secret chamber was the farthest room on the west side of the main building. Since there was only an empty guest bedroom on the same floor, there was no concern about eavesdropping.

Although Claire Beryum’s room was on the same floor, it was at the eastern end. Moreover, she was a foolish woman who paid no attention unless it concerned herself. So, there was no need to make the effort to go all the way to that remote place.

As soon as the Duke entered, a man wearing a white pilgrim robe, pressed down over his head, stood up to offer a greeting.

“Just sit.”

The Duke said. There was no time to waste on useless formalities.

As he sat on the main seat, the pilgrim also took his place.

“What happened? Has the Emperor awakened? Is he still wandering aimlessly? Is the Empress still by the Emperor’s side like a pet, not moving an inch?”

“Ask one question at a time.”

At the familiar voice, the Duke’s eyes widened.

The man moistened the robe. Then, the dim light smoothly wiped the monocular glasses.

“Va… Viscount Valdemion, how did you…”