But there was one person at this moment who couldn't accept Chloe.
It was Andrew.
'I heard the Princess has been gravely ill lately—I suppose that's why our lord prepared the sacrifice.'
He'd wondered how the ritual could be conducted without a holy relic, and whether it would even be effective.
But then the sacrifice had offered itself up on the altar and willingly given its life.
Andrew had heard the story from others too late and come running.
His gaze was fixed on the bloody bowl that Callius held.
As soon as Andrew had heard that the ceremony was being held, he'd run home frantically and carried Hillen on his back.
"Brother..."
"Is it hard, Hillen? Just hang on a little longer. Just a little longer."
"Okay..."
Hillen simply nodded as instructed, not knowing what Andrew was trying to do.
Andrew pushed his way through the crowd, carrying his weakly clinging sister on his back, and stood at the foot of the altar.
Amidst the cheering and clapping throng, Andrew called out to Callius.
"My lord!"
Only after calling out several times did Callius's gaze finally turn to him.
"What is it, Andrew?"
"I have a request! Please use that blood to heal my little sister, Hillen! She's in so much pain! Please...!"
The cheers of the people who had been celebrating gradually died down at his earnest plea.
Callius gestured for Andrew to bring the siblings up onto the altar.
"I'll examine Hillen's condition."
Callius reached out to Hillen.
Andrew set Hillen down. As she staggered unsteadily to her feet, he quickly placed her hand atop Callius's.
Callius lightly cut the back of Hillen's hand, drawing blood.
Just as he had discovered Chloe's curse in the past, he delicately read the life force contained in Hillen's blood.
But soon, Callius's expression turned puzzled.
'...?'
With Chloe, it had been clear that her life force was draining away along with the curse—but no such problem could be found with Hillen.
Callius remembered Ilya's teachings.
"They say that even the healthiest person, if their mind is sick, becomes like someone with an ailing body. But even divine power cannot heal a disease of the mind."
"The most important thing is for the patient to have the will to eradicate the disease. They also need help from those around them. It's not an easy task—either for themselves or for those who care for them."
Callius knew that Andrew's mother had also died from an illness similar to Hillen's.
Even then, Ilya had been unable to cure her.
Callius felt deep sympathy for Hillen and Andrew, but he had no choice but to repeat the prescription Ilya had given long ago.
"Hillen isn't physically ill, Andrew. It's not something I can cure."
"That—that can't be! My lord! Please..."
Andrew shook his head as if unable to accept it and clung to Callius's feet.
"Just as you did for the Princess, please let Hillen drink the blood of the sacrifice! Please! If it's that sacrifice—a divine spirit—surely Hillen's illness will be cured! Wasn't it sent by the gods? Wasn't it?"
Callius looked down at Andrew with pity.
"It would have been impossible even if there had been a holy relic, Andrew—not merely a spirit."
"That can't be! It can't be..."
Callius knelt down, patted Andrew on the shoulder, and whispered gently.
"Hillen's disease can only be cured by you, Andrew—not by medicine or divine powers."
"What...?"
Callius emphasized his words.
"I'll give you time off, so devote yourself to caring for Hillen. She needs you, Andrew—not miracles."
Andrew looked up at Callius as if unconvinced.
"My lord! But...! My lord!"
He clung tenaciously, refusing to release Callius's leg as his lord turned away to console himself.
Hawick, unable to stand by any longer, approached and tried to drag Andrew away.
"Andrew, that's enough."
"Commander, please... please, my lord!"
"Didn't you hear what your lord said? Don't make a scene on the sacred altar, Andrew."
"Commander!"
"If you keep this up, I'll have to forcibly remove you."
Finally, Hillen stepped forward.
"Brother, please stop. Don't do this..."
Only after Hillen clung to him with her faint voice did Andrew finally release Callius's hand and descend from the platform.
The ceremony ended, and though the people felt sorry for Andrew, they soon forgot about him and formed a long procession to the castle—praising Chloe, who had become the mistress of Ronheim.
Andrew was not included in that long line.
He carried Hillen on his back and chose a road with no people to return home.
Chloe watched Andrew's back until the very end.
I watched Andrew's back as he carried Hillen and walked back to the village alone.
'That expression...'
I'd seen the look on Andrew's face when he turned around. I think I was the only one who saw it.
'It wasn't good at all.'
Andrew's face showed neither disappointment nor despair.
Rather, I saw a sense of betrayal and anger toward Callius.
I clearly saw him glaring at Callius—as if he wanted to kill him—in that last moment.
'Am I the only one who saw this?'
I looked around to see if anyone else was paying attention to Andrew.
But everyone gathered here had their eyes on me.
I had no choice but to let Andrew and Hillen go as they walked away.
'There are too many people right now. Besides, I can't be certain that Sir Andrew harbors ill intentions toward Callius just from his expression alone.'
As we returned to the castle, welcomed enthusiastically by the people, Callius asked:
"What are you thinking about so intently? You haven't said a word the whole way here."
Only then did I confess my true feelings to Callius.
"I'm worried about Sir Andrew. Do you think it was all right to send him away like that?"
"It'll be fine. I have close colleagues who'll look after him."
"Is that so..."
Since Callius said that, I felt a bit awkward pressing further.
'Should I say I was concerned about his expression? It was as if Callius had taken away something he desperately wanted...'
I quickly shook my head internally.
"No. It's like I'm just trying to slander him. It would only cause discord. Let's not do that."
But then, as if seeing a vision, Lhasa's words and actions unfolded clearly before my eyes.
"Don't forget the clues I show you."
Lhasa had not given Andrew bread, but rather scolded him.
"I have no bread to give you."
"Do not covet the bread that is not yours."
The image of Lhasa came to me like a waking dream.
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through my head.
Andrew's expression—as though something had been taken away from him.
Bread that was not his share.
'This sacrifice wasn't originally intended for Hillen. Sir Andrew didn't take anything... so is this what it means to covet what belongs to another?'
But Lhasa had said the clue was definitely related to my death.
"Don't let death consume you."
"I can't tell you everything, but I can give you a clue."
Lhasa's actions had started like that.
'Wasn't what Lhasa said only referring to Kavala's curse?'
After thinking about it carefully, I replaced the word 'death' that Lhasa mentioned with the name 'Kavala.'
If we interpret this as 'You must not let Kavala consume you,' then...?
Andrew.
His sister, Hillen.
And Tirena—the maid of Kavala whom I saw in my past life.
The shadow of death cast by Kavala.
Puzzle pieces were spinning in my head, trying to find their place and fit together.
But just as they were about to click into place—
My thoughts scattered as Callius placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Chloe?"
"Ah!"
I'd been so lost in thought that I looked at Callius in surprise.
"What are you thinking about? How many times have I called you?"
"I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"I asked how you were feeling."
"Oh! That's right!"
Only then did I remember that Callius had prepared the sacrifice because of my curse.
"Come to think of it, my body feels really light!"
I'd been so preoccupied all the way to the castle—listening to the cheers of the people—that I only now realized I'd returned smiling and without stumbling even once.
I'd been so happy to be accepted into Ronheim that I hadn't had time to think about my physical condition.
Overcome with excitement, I found myself jumping around in front of Callius.
"I can even jump! Isn't it amazing? How is this even possible?"
I was so thrilled that I didn't even think about how I must look—I just flapped my arms and ran around the first-floor hall like a bird.
Normally, I would never have done something like that—but standing there with so many people cheering had made me giddy without realizing it, and my mood soared.
"I feel like I'm flying! Didn't I just float a little?"
How long had it been since I'd felt like kicking the ground like this?
I genuinely felt as though I was hovering a foot above the ground.
"I think I'm completely better!"
I was thrilled by the joy of being able to escape my stuffy bed and the clarity of mind I hadn't felt in so long.
What wouldn't make me happy and moved right now?
I could still hear the shouts of "Long live the Marchioness!" ringing in my ears.
It was a dreamlike day in every way.
As I was running around laughing, Callius suddenly caught me mid-stride.
Even though I felt like I was bursting with energy, I was helplessly stopped by Callius's hand—as effortlessly as if he'd caught a fluttering piece of paper.
Callius's face was calm, composed.
"Then you really might fly away."
"Huh? That's not possible."
Callius spoke firmly, his expression serious.
"From now on, please only... 'flap your wings' in front of me. I get anxious that my wife might fly away somewhere."
Huh...?
My wife... is... feeling uneasy...
I couldn't bring myself to say anything aloud, so I looked down at the floor and muttered internally.
'What, what are you even saying?'
But then, unexpectedly, another voice chimed in from behind Callius.
"Then I'll run over there and catch her!"
It was Alex, the red-haired knight.
'Come to think of it, there were other people here too!'
I realized far too late that the knights and servants had been watching us the entire time.
Why? Why did I think it was just Callius and me?!
'What—what did I just do...!'
I felt dizzy with embarrassment.
Unaware of my mortification, Callius spoke to Alex with perfect calm.
"If my wife ends up in your arms, you'll be in serious trouble."
"Huh? Me? I'd be fine..."
"Because I'd be very tempted to beat you to a pulp."
"Ah...!"
...What on earth is this conversation?
In moments of joy, shadows linger.In laughter, warnings echo.And in celebration—danger quietly takes root.
But for now, in this precious moment of light,she chooses to be happy.
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