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I looked at the place where I could hear a strange breathing while being hugged by Kylian, and Phileal, who was holding back his laughter from afar, caught my eye.
I realized that this was real.
I’m screwed.
Why the hell was he here?
“

.”
After I glared at him with resentful eyes, the corners of Kylian’s eyes drooped to an expression that seemed to fit the Kylian I knew. Besides, I was still in his arms, and he looked so perfect that I wondered if he was fine even though he wore uncomfortable clothes all day.
Well, even when he was my husband, I had never seen him disorganized except in the bedroom.
“That’s a misunderstanding. Duke Percival purposely gave me the wrong directions.”
“Dad did? Lies.”
“It’s true. Believe me.”
Of course, it’s not like I completely didn’t believe what he said. Father had always been displeased with Kylian, so it’s likely that he did something like that. Above all else, if it was related to my safety, there is a high probability that he would not have trusted Kylian.
“I wanted to clear up the misunderstanding that day
”
“Huh
”
His golden eyes were full of moisture, and after a few blinks, it ran down his cheeks and touched my cheek. I felt strange because of the warm tears.
“I was going to tell you right away that day. But you didn’t want to talk to me, Wife.”
Indeed, that’s what happened. I was kidnapped and it was so hectic, so I wanted to avoid talking to him. I also couldn’t show how hurt I was. As the Young Duke, my value as a hostage was higher than that of the saint, Lilith.
The temple of the Goddess of Life was not a place where they would pay ransom for the saint, who would be able to recover as long as she did not die, and above all, the temple was not very favorable to Lilith.
Because they felt that she had lived outside her so long that she frequently broke the temple’s rules, and that the temple’s image kept falling because of Lilith.
It was different from Father who mobilized all the family’s manpower to save me and chased after the kidnapper to the end.
Of course, all the kidnappers were captured and handed down the death penalty. But after I got back, he caught them all so they wouldn’t die peacefully. For example, he tried to find their families and have them receive the same punishment.
But I didn’t want the kidnapper’s fault to be passed on to the family, so I stopped him from doing that.
My father had held executions to set an example for the people and by showing the people of the territory as if for entertainment when the kidnappers were brutally slaughtered by the knights.
At the time, of course, I didn’t know that. When I found out, I was also disappointed with Kylian who didn’t stop. Because I didn’t think they would mock death in that way, no matter how wrong the kidnappers were.
“There were many other days after that.”
“I was going to tell you. If you didn’t keep telling me about my destiny
”
Come to think of it, it was also my fault. After returning to the mansion, I only relied on the Duke. But then, Kylian had a good relationship with Lilith. Of course, there would be no place for me between the female lead and the male lead, and I didn’t want to feel miserable at that time, so I wanted to be with the Duke Percival more.
Besides, at that time, I had to stop my father because it seemed that even the family of the kidnappers would be executed.
It was the first time my father had been so angry and rejected me.
“Since then, you avoided me a lot, Wife.”
Drip, drip. The tears fell as he sighed and closed his eyes tightly.
So that’s why you hate me? I don’t listen to you properly, I lived like a bad wife, I bullied you, and argued with you every day? Why did such a wife die in your place?
I didn’t feel good seeing him cry. There were a mountain of questions to ask, but my mouth did not open, and Kylian’s grip on me grew so strong that it was harder to hold my breath.
“She is your destiny.”
“How can you say that again
!”
His eyes flashed as bright as the sun. I struggled to meet his eyes, so I pushed his cheek with my hand, and his wet lips touched the palm of my hand, giving it a ticklish feeling.
“Wife.”
“Uh
! Wait a moment
!”
He kissed the palm of my hand and stamped his lips on my wrist.
“Wife. You can’t go anywhere anymore. I’m not going to let that happen.”
“Wa, wait! Kylian!”
“Yes, Wife.”
He answered my words properly, but his actions did not at all. My body tensed as his nose was getting closer.
The problem is,
“AH!”
At that moment, I returned to my original body.
“AH! I should have told you!”
“Anais.”
When I opened my eyes, I saw Lewarren.
“

.”
Lewarren’s face standing in front of me looked serious, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have seen. After all, I remembered that I said it was not like a dream.
Obviously he was lying in bed before I fell asleep, and I was taking care of him. But now I was the one who’s lying in bed, and Lewarren was the one who’s taking care of me. Perhaps that was why I felt I took away the patient’s bed.
“What’s wrong, Lewarren?”
“

.”
His expression was not good. If he was angry, I should have seen the furrowed forehead, the wrinkled brows, and his hunched nose just before he spit out abusive words. But his expression looked a little far from anger.
“Your hair color changed and then came back. And
”
“Uh
”
“Your heart stopped for a moment.”
“Huh?”
“

.”
“That’s not good? That’s dangerous for Lilith!”
Then, this time, he made an incredulous expression. Originally, he wasn’t the type of person who had such a lot of facial expressions.
“Are you still worried about Lilith at this moment?”
“I’m borrowing her body for a while, so of course I am!”
“

.”
He sighed and went silent. He shook his head whether he was dizzy, and put his palm on his forehead and said,
“Sleep a little more.”
Alright. I’ll go to sleep and go back to my original body to convince Kylian. The next time I see Kylian in person, I must tell him to forgive me now.
I can see why he kissed my hand. It is right that he should receive it, as he is originally from the imperial family, but he used to kiss the back of my hand often.
“Hey, Lewarren.”
“I am listening.”
“I must convince Kylian quickly.”
“

.”
“I’m already dead
 Since I have been living in a human body for a long time, I keep wanting to stay here more and more.”
“I understand.”
He will probably stay by my side until I fall asleep. With that thought, I let myself go as soon as my strength ran out.
I fell into a deep sleep without even dreaming for the first time in a long time.
* * *
“Where are you going?”
“Where you have to be.”
“What are you talking about?”
When Phileal said he was taking me to Kylian’s room, he was dragging me in the wrong direction. Besides, he was holding my wrist so I couldn’t escape.
Looking closely, Phileal’s hands were also messed up. I wondered if he was also learning swordsmanship, so I looked closely but then saw that he had no calluses. I frowned at the thought that maybe it was because of the abuse he had suffered as a child.
“Phileal.”
“Yeah.”
“You have to tell me where.”
“I told you, where you’re supposed to be.”
Maybe I should give up talking to Phileal. Whenever I asked about this, he seemed to give an answer to ‘that’ rather than to ‘this’.
“Why are you taking me?”
“So you will give me the hair?”
“You’re really
”
“Yes, a pervert.”
As he smiled and spoke, I regretted what I said yesterday a little. Because I didn’t know he was trying to save the high priest with my hair.
So I just followed without a word. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to communicate with Phileal anyway, and I don’t think he’s going to give me a proper answer.
We passed through several secret gates and passed through black passages several times to reach our destination.
When I got there, I could see why he had brought me here.
“
Dad?”
It was too glamorous for a prison. However, the walls were transparent like glass, and the inside seemed spacious. Like a doll’s house.
“

.”
“Dad!”
He had a ragged beard and a mess of hair, but my father, Duke Percival, was sitting in his chair and reading a book, as neat and dignified as he had been before.
“
Lilith Isadora.”
“Ah
 But! Dad, I’m actually
!”
“Are you here to mock me again?”
“What?”
Bang! The book flew in front of my eyes with a sound. It hit the clear glass in front of me and fell, and I stiffened in bewilderment at his behavior toward me.
“Obviously I warned you. If I leave this place, I will surely avenge my daughter.”
Dad couldn’t have done this to me. I have never seen him like that. Why was he so aggressive?
“Ah
 What do you mean?”
“Wait a little bit more. I will make sure to personally twist that neck of yours.”
“Ah, li-listen, to me
”
“If you’re going to pretend to be my daughter again, you better stop.”
Acting like his daughter? Lilith? Duke Percival spoke as if he brought a steak knife to a carotid artery.
“Do you want me to make a fuss over you again, you wench? Then will the damn Emperor bastard trust you again this time?”
“No
 Please listen
. To me
!”
“I’ll count to three.”
It was a sharp knife for a meal. However, blood was pouring out when it was pressed so hard that it was really going to dig into his neck. Perhaps because I was suffocating, my thoughts had already flown away, and my hands were shaking.
“Dad!”
“Three
 two
”
“I-I will go! I’ll leave!”
When I looked at Phileal, his eyes were wide open, perhaps he was also flustered. What’s going on with this? It’s a good thing my father is fine, but why was he doing this to Lilith?
And acting like a daughter! Why would Lilith? Phileal, who was watching the situation from the side, spoke up.
“It’s real this time.”
It took me a while to understand the words, even as I was led out by Phileal’s hand.
“So you’re saying it was fake before?”
“Do you want to know?”
The white snake smiled brightly and bowed his back. Then he spoke in a voice barely audible to my ear.
“Yes, Anais. It was Lilith Isadora who brought us to this Imperial Palace.”