After losing consciousness once, everything changed. The Empress’s palace was filled with a lonely coldness, like that of an abandoned palace.
The staff of the Empress’ palace had been drastically reduced in order to quarantine the Empress infected with contagious disease. Occasionally, I would bump into the few remaining courtiers in the palace, and they would shudder at the sight of me. It felt strange whenever I witnessed their reactions.
Initially, I thought they were afraid of me because they worried that the contagious disease the Empress was suffering from might spread.
I wondered how bad the rumor was about my disease, as everyone who looked at me seemed to pale, as if they had seen a ghost.
Because of this, I felt uncomfortable moving as freely as I used to. On the other hand, there were more guards stationed around the Imperial Palace than usual. It felt more like a prison than a palace.
My gaze unintentionally went to my left hand. It was still wrapped in white bandages. I had seen it when I applied medicine and changed the bandages. It bore deep marks from something very sharp.
Theo avoided answering, saying that we had overcome a difficult situation and that we should take it slow. Stella didn’t say much either, saying that my health comes first.
It wasn’t just Theo and Stella. I had a strange feeling that the entire palace was hiding something from me.
“You look much healthier since Lord Claflin visited.”
Stella said with a faint smile. A pleasant aroma rose from the teacup she brought me. Since I couldn’t leave the Empress’s palace, I had no choice but to enjoy the occasional tea break like this.
Theo has been staying at the Empress’s palace ever since. To the outside world, Theo and I were like affectionate lovers.
The paramour had taken the risk to provide care to his beloved Empress, who was suffering from a terrible contagious disease.
He spent most of his time with me. We would share tea, chat, play chess, and occasionally make small bets.
On exceptionally good days, we would sit together and read novels that were currently popular among imperial citizens.
These were the happiest and most peaceful days I’ve ever had in this world, even though they lasted only a week or so.
Ian allowed it because he knew that my body was not in a normal state.
Since meeting Theo, the inexplicable symptoms that were difficult to explain don’t appear anymore. Except when Ian was involved. There was only one occasion when Ian entered the Empress’s Palace after I woke up.
At the sight of him, all the unpleasant feelings swirled around like they would explode. It was a different sensation than before. My breathing quickened, and my vision blurred. I felt like I was going to black out again.
My heart, once again, burned as if engulfed in flames. Ian’s face contorted in bewilderment at my distress.
<Haah…… Haah…….>
<Lethenia.>
Then Theo, who had been watching from afar, rushed forward and stopped him. In a warning tone, he spoke coldly to Ian.
<Her Majesty needs to rest, so it would be better not to take another step here.>
With those words, Ian had no choice but to leave.
‘Now, speculating, considering the symptoms so far, the stories told by Linus, and the mark near my heart, putting it all together, it was clear that Lethenia’s body was connected to a demon.’
<If you’re someone cursed by a demon, there’s no way potions affecting emotions would work on you.>
If Linus’ words were true, then every confusion I felt whenever I saw Ian was undoubtedly related to the demon. However, there was still a lingering question.
‘Why do I only feel this way when I see Ian?’
Could it be because every source of Lethenia’s distress was Ian?
In any case, when considering that the Demon influences human emotions, it’s certain that what maximizes Lethenia’s negative emotions is the Demon’s doing. That’s why the love potion didn’t work.
Perhaps, starting with my possession, everything might be related to him.
I’ve heard that a pact with the demon always requires human commitment and sacrifice. I wonder what Lethenia hoped to accomplish with the demon that day.
I let out a naturally heavy sigh. Recalling the appearance of the Demon, whose appearance I didn’t even know, made my mood sink into a pit.
But Theo said he knew how to fix it, so I decided not to get impatient and just wait for the right time. Whatever that might be,
<What is the solution to my problem?>
I asked Theo once, but he replied that he couldn’t reveal what that solution was. It was because my body was connected to the demon, so he couldn’t casually disclose that.
This sent a chill down my spine, as it somehow implied that the demon was watching my every move. As my mental state became unstable, a slight headache struck again.
“What deep thoughts are you having?”
Theo approached me and sat across from me. My expression seemed darkened by complicated thoughts. Seeing him like this, it felt like a pleasant light descended into my dimmed vision.
One good thing about the palace being so noisy and unusual was that I could see his face every day without any interference.
“I was just thinking about how to live from now on.”
I stopped my dark thoughts and answered him in a relatively cheerful voice.
Strangely, when he came closer, my head felt clearer.
Surprisingly, whenever symptoms, such as abnormal heartbeats or feeling my energy drain throughout my body, tried to recur, they subsided immediately when I was near Theo.
At first, I thought it might be the power of the sacred stone he handed me, but as time passed, I became more convinced.
Being close to Theo not only alleviated the symptoms strangely but also made me feel as energized as ever.
Thanks to this incident, I didn’t have to see Ian, whom I wanted to avoid so much, and I could stay close to Theo. It felt like a small reward for all the mental suffering I had gone through.
“I got permission to stay in the Riven Palace. We should be able to leave in a few days.”
Theo announced the good news. For the time being, we’ll be staying at the Riven Star Palace in the northwest. I used the excuse that I was going to seek medical care due to my poor health.
Since it was known that I was suffering from a severe contagious disease, I couldn’t move a step from the Empress’s Palace.
I’m sure some of the Empress’s people will accompany me to the Riven Palace, but the security there would be much looser than in the heavily guarded Empress’ Palace.
Just getting out of this stifling palace made me happy, and the fact that I could be with Theo even there made my heart flutter.
Taking advantage of my illness, Theo managed to get what he wanted from Ian, one by one.
Since he entered the Empress’s Palace, my illness hasn’t recurred, so Ian had no choice but to fulfill his demands.
I couldn’t help but wonder why Ian was so submissive after I collapsed for a few days, but well, it doesn’t matter now. For now, all I wanted to think about was my few remaining days with Theo.
I said what I’d been thinking about.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Can you teach me how to make macarons?”
At my unexpected request, Theo’s eyes widened slightly. Macarons were a gift he, disguised as a spirit, personally prepared to comfort me.
Somehow, I felt that I would miss the macarons Theo gave me even after going to Ios. I thought it would be good to learn the recipe before going there.
Whether he understood my thoughts or not, Theo raised the corners of his mouth slightly and nodded slowly.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“When you do the piping, be careful not to make the dough too thick, or the shape will be ruined when baking.”
I tried to hold back my laughter as Theo, wearing an apron, explained the precautions when making macarons.
With a serious look on his face, Theo gave me a few tips on how to make macarons.
The way he kneaded the dough and piped the meringue gave him a professional vibe.
Although it looked quite complicated when explained, before I knew it, a chocolate macaron, not much bigger than a Choco pie in my past life, was effortlessly made in front of me.
The macarons in mud past life were much smaller than this, but I didn’t bother to tell Theo that.
Now, even that had become a precious memory that would remind me of him.
On the other hand, the macaron I made following him looked awkward somewhere. Even the appearance was lumpy and bumpy.
Unconsciously, my forehead wrinkled. I didn’t need to taste it. It was a perfect failure.
“I guess mine’s a bust.”
I said with a gloomy expression. Seeing me like that, Theo took a bite of the macaron I made.
As my poorly made macaron crumbled in his mouth, I found myself tensing without realizing it.
The expression on his face was so subtle that it was impossible to know what he was thinking.
“They’re delicious.”
“Really?”
Theo looked at my skeptical expression and casually took another macaron I made and ate it.
“I’m serious. This is the first time I’ve ever tasted such a fantastic flavor.”
Although he said that, Theo’s expression seemed strangely uncomfortable. But he kept saying how delicious they were and ate them one by one.
Still suspicious, I followed suit and picked up one of the macaroons. He suddenly stopped my hand and said firmly,
“Don’t touch it. They’re too delicious, so I’m going to finish this one.”
Instead, Theo handed me a smooth macaron that he had made. It was perfect, just like the one he made back then.
“To make it exactly like yours, I need to practice a bit more.”
“I somehow feel like I’ll miss these lumpy macarons.”
His playful words made me burst into pleasant laughter. We finished enjoying the macarons and were about to leave the kitchen when I noticed a clear glass bottle on the counter. It was the sugar I had used to make the macarons just now.
Reaching out to put it back in place, I made a strange discovery. There was small writing on the glass bottle filled with white powder. As soon as I confirmed that the writing said ‘salt,’ my face turned red with embarrassment.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Happy New Year!
Omg.. Theo is soooo sweet.. Please Stay with him…