“It's exhaustion due to exhaustion.”
“Today you should not do anything at all, and rest completely.”
After I cried for a long time and woke up, my body did not move.
I thought Hilaria's body was strong as iron, but it seems that it is not.
Or perhaps when my soul settled in this body, its endurance decreased!
Anyway, the important thing is that I was not able to go to the palace despite the Emperor’s summons.
In the midst of my astonishment at my situation, the magicians came running to me at dawn.
Among them were my two students, Louis, standing crying sadly among the wizards.
Ah, my head hurts.
“Our Lady, Head of the Tower...”
“How could a lady…”
“The Duchess is sick!”
They were all either nobles with titles, wizards, or sorcerers who were my followers, so the titles were varied, but the tearful looks were the same.
“Our Lady!
What shall we do!”
“Enough noise.”
Ah, you're all annoying.
Get out.
But the magicians became even more excited when they heard my irritated voice.
This sounds ominous.
“The Emperor is the one who caused Our Lady’s illness!”
“Right!
Because of what happened yesterday!”
No, that's not the case.
Of course, I can't say it's not exactly like that, but it's not what you think!
I was exhausted as I tossed and turned in the gate!
Hilaria is not a weak person to the point of collapsing because of the injury to her dignity from a confrontation with the Emperor!
But the magicians, contrary to their custom, did not understand my clear words, but rather understood them in their wrong way.
“We were not faithful.
We did not know that Our Lady was suffering psychologically like this...”
“Just trust us!
Today, we are the ones who will be attending the palace meeting!”
“Those who are awake, how dare they!”
Please, stop fighting.
The only comfort is that I'll be fine tomorrow, right?
I glanced at the status window sparkling in the air.
[Congratulations!
You have developed an abnormal condition due to increased fatigue of body and soul.
Time remaining to heal: 12:03:35]
Yes, this phrase is the problem.
Congratulations?
Does the system congratulate me on my abnormal condition?
Are you finally crazy?
'Give me the reward now!'
I stared with a look full of doubt and suspicion, and clear words flashed through the situation as if they were confirming her innocence and justifying that she had not caused any harm.
[Tipping point ection completed.
We congratulate you on your wonderful choice.
As a reward for saving a life, you received a shard of ????.
Your influence has increased dramatically.
The fusion of body and soul increased slightly.
As the harmony of the soul and body progressed, the use of magic became easier.
Side effects are reduced.]
It seems like a lot has happened, but nothing bad seems to be happening.
Because the body was not mine, it seemed that the soul was not in harmony with it.
Is this why it's so difficult to use magic?
But is this one thing, or is there something else?
Where is the direct reward?
After all this effort?
After all that suffering in the portal because the status window did not appear?
'You should give me more!'
I stared inteny, and the status window flashed as if it was afraid of my gaze.
[You have achieved an amazing achievement!
Guidance points and rewards for completing accumulated tasks are calculated.
You can unlock one spell now.
Choose the spell you want to unlock.]
Look at this.
Why does the system seem like it's trying to calm me down by giving me so much?
I expressed my inner dissatisfaction, then relaxed my grip.
Well, anyway, unlocking an extra spell works to my advantage.
'I have Fire Spear, an offensive spell that is a uess disaster.
I have a mobility spell.
So the points I can choose now are either defensive or offensive spells.'
Well, it's obviously going to be a defensive spell.
I'll need her for training.
At that moment.
“Madam, so…”
“Don’t worry about palace matters, we will definitely take care of it...”
What?
“What's wrong?”
As I was staring at the status window, I heard the witches crying and muttering something, then running out.
“What the…”
But Louis, who was going out with them, came back with quick steps, and looked at me with teary eyes.
“Louis?”
Why even you!?
He called me “teacher” silently with his trembling lips, then he grabbed!
He held out his hands with both hands forcefully, wiped away his tears and ran out.
What is this?
What's going on!
I was just thinking for a moment, what happened during this time...
“I don’t know, it doesn’t matter.”
Honestly, it's all annoying.
“I'm going to sleep.”
My body was constantly aching, and my skin was prickling everywhere.
Maybe the medication I took had a sedative in it, as my eyelids felt heavy.
'Choose to open a defensive spell...'
Before I lost consciousness, I pressed the defensive spell and closed my eyes.
It doesn't matter.
Let me be first.
As they say, a ghost that dies after eating is elegant, and a ghost that dies after sleeping will be elegant too.
'I'll think after I wake up...'
Can anything happen in one day?
“Didn’t I ask the Duchess to come to the palace?
Where is the head of the tower, and why did you only come?”
The wizards responded to the Emperor's arrogant words with angry looks.
The awake people, as usual, tried to lose their temper at this rude behavior, but they remembered what happened yesterday and closed their mouths.
The Emperor's calm gaze swept over the mages.
Usually, they would have muttered, "Do you think we avoid dirt out of fear of it?
Because it's disgusting!" Then they avoided his gaze, but they were unusually brave.
“Our Lady is sick.”
“Yes, after such injustice, it is natural for it to be so!”
“She can't move a single leg, so today we're going to convey her opinions for her!”
The Awakened muttered.
Is it possible that the Duchess was upset by yesterday's events and therefore refused the Emperor's orders?
No one in that hall believed that Duchess Ariel was absent due to a real illness.
They assumed it was just discontent, rebellion, or protest against the emperor.
Therefore, those who were awake expected the Emperor to become very angry.
Because summoning the Duchess today was a sign of reconciliation to overcome the bad events and talk.
The Emperor does not apologize.
This is the prestige of the king.
But he conceded and summoned the Duchess again.
It was a signal of reconciliation.
The Duchess was supposed to understand this meaning.
But she refused, which meant insulting the Emperor.
'Something unpleasant will happen.'
Perhaps due to yesterday's events, a major rift may arise between the Emperor and the Duchess.
While most of those present were angry and worried, some smiled with hidden meaning.
'Maybe...will it work?'
A smile carries a different meaning, like a slippery fish that causes trouble.
After a long silence, the Emperor spoke.
“Let's start the meeting.”
A sigh leaked out.
Some questioned the Emperor's transgression, some felt relieved, while others clicked their tongues angrily.
b
While everyone in the meeting hall was deep in their thoughts, Caesis was alone in the seriousness of his thoughts.
The Duchess is sick.
Duchess Ariel, at this very time.
'Is it because of what happened yesterday?
Could the Duchess really be ill from a psychological injury?
This doesn't make sense.
Surely there is another reason.'
The problem was knowing this reason.
While the witches and Awakened were noisily exchanging opinions as usual, Cayces' eyes became deeper and deeper.
He was absorbed in only one thought.
The scene of him grabbing the back of his neck was stuck in his mind.
'If I had remembered everything clearly, it wouldn't have mattered.'
So he couldn't believe his memories.
What happened in the subconscious, and the fragment of memory he brought from there.
Why?
Why the hell?
‘Duchess Ariel.
Hilaria.’
Why were you there?
Or is there someone who has a face that is unbearably similar to hers?
Whether he mistook it subconsciously or saw it clearly, none of it made any sense.
He laughed at that idea, considering it nonsense.
He thought he saw an illusion.
He was thinking that he would confirm the matter by seeing the Duchess today.
But the Duchess is sick.
That woman who does not bleed even if she is pricked with a needle.
Years ago, when a severe cold broke out, she was the only one who went to work with a healthy face, so why now?
He felt tight in his chest.
‘Unless she entered the gate and her body collapsed.’
If this is not the case, then what is the reason that makes that woman sick...!