Chapter 32

‘Did I fall asleep?’

 

The moment he saw Lilithia, the tension wrapped around Freyer’s body dissolved. His memory of how he had fallen asleep was hazy, but one thing was clear.

 

‘I didn’t wake up drenched in cold sweat.’

 

Even when he only closed his eyes for a moment, nightmares always followed him. But this time, a different warmth wrapped around him. It had been a peaceful dream—no memories of his childhood trembling in fear, no image of his mother coughing blood with her eyes closing.

 

Freyer slowly lifted his eyelids.

 

“Lilithia.”

 

Lilithia was asleep, half-collapsed over the sofa, breathing softly. She was the only person he believed could stop his nightmares. And now he was certain.

 

“Lilithia. You were the key that stopped my nightmares.”

 

He stroked her lemon-colored hair.

 

“Uunng…”

 

“Is it uncomfortable?”

 

She whimpered at the touch and shifted, causing her forehead to peek out. A faint smile tugged at Freyer’s lips.

 

“Cute.”

 

After a long, lingering look, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Staring at her sleeping face, he whispered,

 

“Is this what happiness feels like?”

 

 

***

 

 

‘Warm.’

 

Her fingertips brushed against soft blankets. Something warm wrapped around her entire body. Everything about the well-heated room was perfect—except the corset crushing her ribs.

 

‘I should’ve worn something comfortable.’

 

She twisted around, trying to fix her posture. The discomfort wouldn’t go away. Eventually, she lost her patience and, eyes still closed, felt around for her corset’s laces.

 

‘Found it!’

 

But the laces were tangled from all her tossing and turning, and her fingers weren’t enough to fix the mess.

 

‘I don’t want to open my eyes…’

 

She braced herself for the blinding morning sunlight and cracked her eyes open. But what slipped through her lashes was dim light—far softer than sunlight.

 

And she realized the scenery before her was unfamiliar.

 

‘No way. I fell asleep…?’

 

She retraced her memories. Freyer had grabbed her wrist, not letting her return home. But something wasn’t right.

 

‘I was definitely in the drawing room. So why am I in a bed?’

 

And in such a warm, soft bed at that. She feared knowing how exactly she ended up here.

 

Shff—

 

The sound of a page turning.

 

She lifted the blanket slightly to look. Freyer sat by the window reading.

 

‘Oh no…’

 

She needed an exit strategy. Fast.

 

‘Right. Pretend to still be asleep and think.’

 

She shut her eyes tightly and rolled over with a sleepy groan.

 

“Mmm….”

 

‘That should be convincing.’

 

Knock knock—

 

Someone entered the room.

 

“Your Highness. What shall we do with the carriage?”

 

‘Carriage? He’s going somewhere? Good.’

 

With Freyer gone, she might escape without awkwardness.

 

‘Hurry up and go.’

 

Freyer closed his book and spoke.

 

“Hmm… I had a carriage prepared to take Lady Lilithia back to the manor. But since she hasn’t woken yet…”

 

She perked up.

 

‘A carriage… back to my house?’

 

“Then I’ll send the carriage back for now, Your Highness.”

 

“In that case—”

 

‘No, no, no!’

 

Panic shot through her. She shot upright out of the blanket.

 

The silence was painful.

 

‘Act like you just woke up. Act.’

 

She stretched and yawned loudly.

 

“Haaam…”

 

She blinked rapidly.

 

“Oh my. Why am I here?”

 

The young butler with amber hair and Freyer both stared at her with an unreadable look.

 

‘That looked natural… right?’

 

Freyer smiled.

 

“Jaybil. No need to send the carriage back. Lady Lilithia is awake.”

 

“Haha! Perfect timing.”

 

“I must have dozed off.”

 

“You must’ve been exhausted from running the trading company. You were asleep—I was quite startled.”

 

‘Who fell asleep first? And who didn’t let who go?!’

 

But she kept quiet and forced a smile.

 

“Yes… I guess I’ve been overwhelmed lately…”

 

The butler looked at Freyer.

 

“Your Highness, why are you sitting in such an uncomfortable spot?”

 

“I couldn’t let a guest sleep on the floor.”

 

Freyer rolled his shoulder, deliberately hinting he’d carried her. The butler’s gaze drifted toward her.

 

“Haha…”

 

She smiled awkwardly and sprang to her feet.

 

“Well, I… I should get going!”

 

Freyer nodded and said to the butler,

 

“Escort Lady Lilithia.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

The butler quickly opened the door for her. She practically sprinted.

 

“Thank you for everything!”

 

“It was quite an entertaining time, Lady Lilithia Baimery.”

 

Entertaining?

 

She didn’t find any of it entertaining.

 

She said nothing and followed the butler to the carriage. Once she stepped inside, he said,“I hope to see you again soon, Lady Baimery.”

 

She gave another strained smile and shut the door.

 

 

***

 

 

Ivailo’s voice thundered.

 

“HOW did the information about the domain war leak!?”

 

Even shouting didn’t cool his rage. He slammed the desk. Papers fluttered off and scattered across the floor.

 

“Ah—!”

 

The secretary scrambled to gather them.

 

“Damn it.”

 

Ivailo collapsed into his chair and rubbed his forehead. He called out, “You.”

 

“Y-yes, Your Highness.”

 

The secretary stood, trembling with the stack of papers clutched in his hands.

 

“Have you spoken of the domain war to anyone else?”

 

“W-why would I? Of course not…”

 

If rumors spread, the Empress and Crown Prince’s image would take a devastating hit.

 

‘Freyer. You approached me because you knew I’d panic.’

 

He’d failed to stop a war and was already labeled a useless puppet. That alone was enough to make him cautious—and suspicious.

 

That was why he’d kept everything secret, even blocking all access to the region.

 

“Through what route did the story spread…?”

 

“I-I truly don’t know.”

 

“There’s a rat inside.”

 

“N-no way!”

 

The secretary shrank back, repeating useless excuses. Ivailo’s gaze sharpened.

 

“Why do you think I keep you by my side?”

 

The secretary froze, then lowered his head.

 

“B-because of Your Highness’s… generosity…”

 

“Yes. Because of my generosity, you—a lacking man—stayed at my side. I thought a pitiful man would at least be obedient. I dug my own grave.”

 

His words stabbed deep. The secretary bit his lip.

 

“Pitiful… I see…”

 

Expressionless, Ivailo stared down at him.

 

“Yes. Pitiful.”

 

Tears welled in the secretary’s eyes.

 

“Your father is dead, your mother half-paralyzed, and you support a young sister. A miserable background. I thought you’d do anything for your family.”

 

“…”

 

“And yet you blunder like this.”

 

“I… because of me…”

 

“And I pay the price.”

 

The secretary dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.

 

“P-please don’t dismiss me! I’ll— I’ll do better!”

 

Ivailo sneered.

 

“Do better?”

 

“Y-yes! P-please give me a chance!”

 

“I’m not asking much.”

 

He lazily twirled a pen between his fingers.

 

“For the new plan, contact the mages immediately. You can do at least that, can’t you?”

 

“Yes! Of course! I won’t disappoint you!”

 

“This is your last chance.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

Ivailo raised one corner of his mouth.

 

“You underestimated me, Freyer.”