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Yes. There’s no reason to do what. Why would anyone do such a thing? So, everything Yoris said is a lie. Or the drug is fake. It can’t be that His Highness’s words are false. So—
I don’t know! I really don’t know!
“Wake up, wake up already!”
Allice approached Raios and slapped his cheek. It was something she could never do normally, but perhaps because she was drunk, she grabbed his hair and shook it as if she was wringing it out.
“Wake up, I said!”
But Raios was still deep in sleep. Not even his eyelids fluttered, which only increased her fear.
“Wake up, wake up, you fool, you idiot!”
Slap! Slap! Slap!She hit Raios, who knows how many times.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking on the door made Allice startle and lift her head.
Knock, knock.
Allice swallowed her saliva.Who could it be…?
Then,knock knock. Another knock sounded.
“Open the door.”
It was a familiar voice.
Allice, sobbing, lowered her head and then staggered, barely able to move her drunken body, and opened the door.Creak—The door opened.
“What’s going on?”
Allice looked up, her eyes red and swollen.
Brilliant, golden hair as if it was gilded. A man with a young and handsome appearance, like a young man of her age…
“Your Majesty the Former Emperor.”
It was the former emperor, Wilhelm, who looked at her with worried eyes.
“Have you been drinking?”
“Sob, yes, yes.”
“It seems you’re having a hard time.”
The former emperor glanced back and forth between his son sleeping on the bed and Allice, who was crying drunkenly.
“What about the crown prince?”
“H-He’s asleep. Deeply asleep, won’t wake up.”
“Is that so?”
Then Wilhelm naturally entered the bedroom. As if it was his absolute right to do so, Allice instinctively stepped back.
“I would like you to tell me what happened.”
Thud.Wilhelm closed the door.
“Why are you crying like this? And Raios, that useless fool, why is he falling asleep while his fiancée is crying?”
Allice’s heart trembled. The man, as beautiful as a cathedral’s angel statue, asked kindly, making her head dizzy. She ended up confessing while sobbing as if bewitched.
“A-Actually… I wanted to… have my first night with His Highness together… but I was ignored.”
“Oh dear.”
“A-After drinking, he got drunk, s-said he was tired, and fell asleep, not waking up.”
Tears streamed down her face. Fear, misery, doubt, confusion, all these emotions mixed with the alcohol, twisted in her head.
“I-It was for His Highness, that’s why.”
Maybe because she was drunk, Allice lost her reason and blurted everything out mindlessly.
“I-I love His Highness more than anyone, so I hated that he continues his engagement with Sister Dana, whom he doesn’t love, so, so,huuu.”
“I see. You wanted to break their engagement in preparation for the holy trial.”
“You’re such a good girl.”
Before she knew it, Allice was crying in Wilhelm’s arms. How long had she cried?
“Lady Allice.”
“Sniff, yes?”
“It seems like a problem I can help with.”
Wilhelm lifted Allice’s chin. His golden hair, the very symbol of the imperial family, gleamed so brightly that Allice momentarily lost herself.
“The crown prince is deeply asleep due to alcohol.” Wilhelm gestured towards his son. “If he’s that drunk, he might not remember what happened tonight.”
“What do you mean…”
“It means he might even forget he held Lady Allice.”
Allice immediately understood the meaning of Wilhelm’s words. Clearly, she got it.
“Y-Your Majesty.”
Allice’s eyes widened. Her crimson eyes reflected Wilhelm’s blond hair like starlight. It got closer and closer, and closer… Close enough for their breaths to touch. After a moment’s hesitation, Allice closed her eyes, signaling her consent. Their shadows overlapped.
A moment later, Wilhelm lifted Allice in his arms and laid her down beside his deeply sleeping son.
Allice mumbled in confusion. “W-What if H-His Highness wakes up?”
“It would be even better if he wakes up.” Wilhelm laughed as if the thought pleased him. “I like it when my son suffers.”
He loves it when His Highness is suffering?Confused by the incomprehensible statement, Allice blankly looked up at the former emperor but soon turned her head towards Raios, who was sleeping beside her.
The Crown Prince Raios, whom she dearly loves. The Raios Geranze that she loves to death, madly in love with. The man she had a crush on since she was very young, long before Dana loved him, no, even before Dana appeared. She had loved only him for a very long time. But why, why…
“Me too,” Allice murmured with her lips stained black. “I wish His Highness would wake up too.”
But no matter what happened afterward, Raios did not wake up. Even if the world crumbled, he wouldn’t wake up. It was only after twelve hours had passed that Raios finally opened his eyes.
Crazy b*tch.
“Lady Danae Windsor!”
“Lady, are you alright?!”
Crazy b*tch. Crazy b*tch. Crazy b*tch!Before she knew it, Dana was gasping for air, face down on the floor. She felt like vomiting and retching.
“What are you doing! Call a doctor at once!”
Then, a gentle woman’s hand touched her shoulder. Dana was startled and flinched.
“Si-Sister, are you okay?”
Get away. It’s really disgusting!Dana wanted to push that hand away. She wanted to scream and curse Allice Windsor for being a crazy b*tch.
She has a nerve. How could she commit such an act? And how can she stand here so confidently, really, she’s out of your mind, truly-
But then what?
Then, a calm voice questioned in her head, cluttered with confusion and chaos.
So what? Save the surprise for later and think about your next move. What are you going to do now?
Dana breathed heavily, barely managing to hold onto her thoughts. She forced herself to think calmly.
Raios would return soon. And he would receive the judgment of the soul. If that happened…Raios’s innocence will be proven. Then, breaking off our engagement becomes impossible.
Her engagement with Raios would continue. That would mean ascending to the position of the deputy head would be out of reach, and the deputy head’s ring would become even more distant—
Raios must not be allowed to undergo the judgment of the soul. The trial had to be stopped. Right now, somehow.
Therefore, Dana,
“Kyaa, Sister!”
Choose to simply pass out. It was easy. She just had to stop the effort to stay conscious.
If the trial participants lost consciousness, the trial couldn’t continue. It would be paused and rescheduled for a second trial later on. Somehow, by then, somehow— damn it, even if she had to sacrifice her own chastity, she had to make the annulment happen…
“What happened?”
That’s when it happened. The door opened with a creak, and Raios’s voice could be heard. Could it be that he has finally returned?
Raios Geranze, you’re out of your mind too.She couldn’t understand what he was thinking at all…
Raios’s scream pierced her ears. That was the last thing Dana heard before she completely lost consciousness.