* * *

Raphine, who was walking with her head resting on Zerkan's shoulder, while being supported, glanced around.

A little while ago, I saw a lot of servants... When they arrived at the Sapphire Palace, no one could even see their nose.

It was because Zerkan ordered Raffine with her hand, so everyone should go away.

And when the two entered the Sapphire Palace.

"Rafi...."

Zerkan, who was about to call Raffine in the quiet hallway, stopped.

"Ugh."

It was because Raphine, who suddenly fell out of her arms, shook her shoulders and started stretching.

As if they were very tired of the moments supported by Zerkan.

"...."

"under.... I am really tired today."

Raphine muttered in a tired voice. I wanted to quickly lay down on the bed and go to sleep.

Raphine went into the bedroom first, and Zerkan followed Raphine at a slow pace.

Zerkan felt strange every time this happened.

The moments when Raphine, who had been kind to me, disappeared as if nothing had happened.

It feels like the friendly air around me disappears like a mirage.

'Is everything really a lie?'

Those who have tasted the mirage wander through the desert to taste the sweet illusion again.

Zerkan remembered what Raffine had said before in front of the emperor.

"And another person who must have been as hurt as Her Majesty... I will comfort you.>

At that moment, was Raphine's kindness the act of solving it like homework in front of other people? Or was it sincere?

Zerkan stood there for a long time and pondered.

Raphine's mind could not be guessed, but one thing was clear.

Even if Raphine's words and actions were false, at least the feelings he felt at that moment were true.

* * *

That night.

Raphine slowly got up as she heard the sound of even breathing next to her.

Because of today's events, Her Majesty's Majesty must have suffered greatly.

Raphine wanted the pain to be a pain to heal, not to dig through the wound.

It's like the red pill is very painful.

And Zerkan too.

Raphine glanced at Zerkan and pulled the blanket up to cover her neck.

The sleeping Zerkan's face was as beautiful as an angel. In fact, rather than that, she was bewitched like a devil who stole the angel's beauty.

"...."

Meanwhile, her lips are so red and thick. Raphine kept her eyes on Zerkan's lips and had to close her eyes tightly.

Although it was awkward and she couldn't comfort her openly, Raphine carefully placed her hand on Zerkan's chest.

Raphine's hand gently patted him on the thick blanket, calming him down.

At least, I wanted it to be a comfort enough to not have nightmares.

* * *

Empress Rebecca, detained in her bedroom for several days, was very mortal.

'However... How could you do this to me?'

On the first floor, visible from the window, armed soldiers were standing by at all times, day and night.

I felt like I was locked in a boring prison. No, it was like a prison.

Even the wind couldn't get in because it was secured from the outside so that even the window could not be opened.

It was so exhausting that I couldn't breathe.

The only entrance, the door, was opened twice a day, only when the attendant brought food.

Each time, armed soldiers intercepted Rebecca and threatened her to escape.

No matter how evil he tried, he never let him out.

Rebecca bit her lip and pondered.

Just then, I heard a smart knock on the door.

"It's a meal."

When it was time to eat, the door opened and soldiers armed with armor came first and stopped the empress.

The servant left the plate of food on the table and hurried out. The soldiers did not relax their tension, watched the empress and then escaped.

The empress turned to the table with a wrinkled face.

The food they brought twice a day was terrible. For the empress, who has a particularly picky taste, it was hard to even get a drink.

Without even thinking about eating, she lifted the plate of soup.

Then I saw a small folded piece of paper.

Camilla, a maid loyal to the empress, has been writing letters since yesterday. Rebecca hurriedly unfolded the paper.

The contents that Camila had ordered to find out were written in small letters.

As the rumors spread that Empress Rebecca was detained, the news that the aristocrats on the empress's side were only looking at each other.

'under! That's amazing.'

Even Viscount Tedler's forces were actively moving as if they were waiting only for this opportunity.

They say they are meeting to write a letter to dethrone Empress Rebecca....

"Damn it, damn it!"

It was terrible to feel that his well-being depended on a father he hated so much.

Rebecca grimaced and compulsively chewed her wounded lips. The gun's eyes were disorganized with impatience.

'What do we do?'

Rebecca, who continued to read the note, stopped. The PS left at the end gave her a small smile.

The corners of Rebecca's lips trembled and rose strangely.

This was my last chance.

Rebecca quickly wrote down her reply with trembling hands.

* * *

It was late at night. The door to Empress Rebecca's bedroom, which had been tightly shut, opened.

Empress Rebecca, wearing a black robe, quickly escaped as if waiting for the door to open.

squeaky.

The large door was locked again. Like it's never been opened.

As Empress Rebecca disappeared into the darkness, a soldier who had gone to the bathroom ran behind him.

"Isn't it great?"

The soldier who had been guarding the door alone for a very short time nodded.

"Why do you keep getting sick to your stomach today?"

The soldier who went to the bathroom tilted his head and rubbed his stomach.

Meanwhile, Rebecca moved secretly to the promised place.

Camilla, who was waiting at the back door on the first floor, found Rebecca and bowed deeply.

"Let's go, my queen."

"yes."

The timing was good. The soldier who was standing in front of Rebecca's visit today was Camila's longtime lover.

Rebecca took this opportunity and decided to go see Viscount Tedler.

I was very proud of myself, but now was not the time to be proud of myself.

'Anyway, as much as the dethronment must be stopped.'

The aristocrats on the empress's side will also take advantage of this opportunity to claim the dethronment of Rebecca.

But if all the Viscount Tedlers agree to dethrone... She was really finished.

Even now, isn't it a situation where Viscount Tedler wants to step forward before the nobles on the empress's side even step forward?

So, in order not to be deposed, Viscount Tedler had to work together to persuade Viscount Tedler.

'Never as much as dethroned! I can't let everything I've been protecting so far fall...!'

Rebecca was going to throw away her pride, face, or whatever, and knelt before Viscount Tedler and prayed for help.

'I'll show your compassion and help me just once. At least once if it's a father....'

Rebecca got out of the castle through a secret door and rode along with Camilla.

* * *

Tedler's house.

In the dark room, the candle on the desk flickered.

Whew.

A harsh wind blew in through the cracks in the window.

"Who are you?"

Viscount Tedler, noticing someone's intrusion, quickly turned to the window.

"... father."

Viscount Tedler's eyes narrowed when he saw the intruder. It was a familiar voice.

'How does Rebecca feel? What channel?'

But the Viscount was convinced when he saw the face behind Rebecca's back.

Camilla was an escort knight and maid who had been given to Rebecca by the Viscount a long time ago, and was a person of great skill in various fields.

Viscount Tedler twisted the corners of his mouth and smiled.

shudder.

As Camilla closed the window, the room became silent. The flickering candle also found its center again.

Viscount Tedler raised his chin and said arrogantly.

"How did a detained criminal come to this place?"

"...."

Rebecca approached the Viscount as if she had no time. Then he knelt down in front of him.

Viscount Tedler narrowed her eyes and looked down at her daughter.

"father...."

"Father, that's a name I haven't heard from your mouth in a long time."

When the Viscount answered sarcastically, Rebecca shrugged her shoulders and sobbed apologise.

"I was wrong, Father."

"...."

"Please help me just once. Please stop as much as you can dethrone. please...."

"Hey, what a funny thing! How could you, who looked down on me so much until a few days ago, do something like this."

"From now on, I will be faithful to my father's words as I used to. So please...."

Rebecca rubbed her palms and pleaded earnestly.