A keen brain, innate cunning, strong and tenacious vitality that somehow overcame difficulties even in dire situations… Since Herisys, this was the first person with such qualities.

The Duke had already guessed.

“What problem has arisen for Her Majesty? To the extent that she can’t even fabricate evidence?”

“……”

The fact that Isaris couldn’t answer was an answer itself. The Duke chuckled and began to deduce one by one.

“Is her body not well? Can’t she see? Is she too weak to give orders? Or, is her body fine, but her memory is not working well?”
He observed the opponent’s expressions, throwing one by one. And he became certain that the final conjecture had hit the mark. In that moment, Isaris’s gaze shook the most.

“Well, well. Memory loss.”

“It’s partial memory loss. I can’t remember only the events of the past few days; everything else is fine.”

Isaris had to reluctantly disclose the truth. It was because he disliked his lord being treated like a fool.

“That’s fortunate. It’s a relief.”

The Duke’s genuine relief was felt by Isaris as well. Not because of complete memory loss but due to the fact that he had completely forgotten the events of the accident day.

Either way, it wasn’t important to Isaris.

“So, you won’t leave the capital.”

He returned to the original point. Then the Duke replied.

“There’s no reason to leave.”

“No guilt? Or, no evidence?”

The Duke found Isaris’s pointed question amusing.

Isaris knew there was nothing more he could do. Now, he had to leave this place. Before that, there was one more thing he wanted to ask.

“Since there’s no evidence, please tell the truth without any worries. Why did you try to harm Her Majesty, the Empress? Why do such things to a powerless and weaponless fragile woman…?”

Isaris felt his fist involuntarily clenching at that moment. If only he could, he wanted to kill this cunning snake.

At that moment, the Duke spoke.

“Not because she has no weapon?”

“……?”

“Because there is a sure weapon that can incapacitate me and make people on my side. That must be the reason.”

Isaris momentarily seemed not to understand what he was saying. Then the Duke chuckled and said.

“If we assume that I committed such an act, let’s talk. There’s a reason for everything. Of course, I have never done such a thing.”
“If I were to assume that I committed such an act, let’s say so. There’s a reason for everything. Of course, I have never done such a thing.”

The Empress’s palace, returning after six days, showed no change from when she left.

Receiving greetings from the people, Liz returned to her residence, feeling a mix of freshness and emptiness in the resumed daily life.

Perhaps due to the moments that had become familiar, where she hadn’t left Hershis’s side for even a moment, being alone now felt strangely awkward.

‘Should I go back to the main palace now?’

On a morning when she slept alone and woke up alone after a long time, Liz suddenly thought about it. However, she immediately shook her head.

‘No, not yet.’

The bed was just a bed, but she had things to do. It was challenging to live under the same roof as a sharp-witted man like Hershis.

Moreover, there was Ishar, who was just as sharp-witted.

“Ah…!”

The forgotten memory about Ishar suddenly came to her.

On that day, when she asked about the circumstances of the accident, he had said.

‘I also have a handle.’

What could the handle be? Did it mean that my accident was not accidental but planned?

‘I need to find out.’

After quickly taking care of the morning at her residence, Liz summoned Rosa. Although she was on duty today, being inside the Empress’s palace meant she could respond promptly to the summons.

“Sorry for disturbing your rest.”

“No, Your Majesty. Please speak.”

“Where is Valdemion now?”

“He is probably inspecting the East Ravines Office with the officials from the Finance Department. I heard it was for maintenance work ahead of the National Foundation Festival.”

Ishar was relatively close to the Empress’s palace. It seemed like she could go and find him in person.

After telling Rosa to wait downstairs, Liz made preparations to go out.

She planned to walk to the East Ravines Office under the pretext of taking a stroll.

Wearing a dress suitable for indoor and outdoor activities with a thin amapo bolero, Liz left her residence. However, as soon as she stepped into the corridor, she was unexpectedly blocked by a wall.

Liz’s face hit the chest of the person who suddenly appeared, and she almost fell backward.

Fortunately, the person who had blocked her path supported her waist before that happened.

“Where are you going?”

“Her… Herh.”

Liz, calming her startled chest, spoke.

“Just… I was going to take a walk in the courtyard.”

That was all she could say. She couldn’t say that she was going to meet Ishar to inquire about the uncertain circumstances of the accident to a man who had just recovered.

“Why are you here at this hour? You, who haven’t fully recovered.”

“I’m completely fine.”

“Lie. You still have a headache.”

“Everyone has headaches.”

“Where’s that sophistry? Go and take a rest. Don’t wander around.”

“I know my body well, and a headache like this won’t make me feel better.”

“Then… What should be done to get better?”
“When the matter is resolved, it will naturally get better.”

The matter… Liz didn’t know what matter he was talking about, but she nodded anyway. It was because she realized that they were continuing their struggle in an uncomfortable posture.

Hershis effortlessly lifted Liz, who had leaned over.

“I have something curious to ask.”

Lowering his gaze, he said.

“Why are you holding it so tightly there?”

“……?”

Liz also looked down where his gaze was directed.

Then, her two arms tightly encircling her lower abdomen, like a sturdy barrier, came into view…