IMT 18

~Chapter 18~

I shouted excitedly, but Cassian responded differently than I expected.

“Is that so? Then first, can you tell me what happened while I wasn’t there? I don’t think I can leave until I’ve heard your story properly—I’d be uneasy otherwise.”

His expression, though trying to soothe me, was not pleasant. Even his unusually gentle tone felt off.

It seemed like whatever happened in his household was more serious than I thought.

And at a time like this, he even felt the stirrings of first love—I couldn’t imagine how complicated his feelings must be. I had to make sure I didn’t cause trouble too.

I calmly recounted what had happened at dinner: that I had vomited blood, and that Mikhail had rushed in and moved me here.

“So that means the emperor touched your body?”

Cassian’s expression darkened. I couldn’t tell exactly what part of that made him upset, so it was hard to choose how to answer.

“Oh, no. There’s no way the emperor personally carried me here—he’s far too important for that.”

I hadn’t confirmed it, but even logically, that made sense.

“That’s a relief.”

Cassian looked at me with a slightly irritated gaze, then placed one hand on my forehead and said:

“From now on, don’t get entangled with the emperor. It’s unpleasant.”

I thought that if someone I liked had a friend lingering around, I’d feel annoyed too, so I quickly replied:

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

Cassian smiled faintly.

“Good girl, Evie.”

Evie. That was the nickname Cassian used for me. He only ever used it when he was in an especially good mood.

Was he really that pleased that I promised not to get close to Mikhail?

Ah, I see. Cassian didn’t even realize it, but he had been very aware of Mikhail!

Oh no. Cassian’s progress is moving fast. He’s already past the phase of denying his feelings. At this rate, it’s likely to turn into Cassian’s unrequited love…

“Ugh.”

I swallowed a sigh of frustration and covered my lips with my hand.

Cassian got up.

“You asked me to get croquettes, right?”

“Oh, are you going to get them?”

Please, just do that. I’m hungry. I lifted both hands to my chin and looked up at Cassian. He let out a soft chuckle and stroked my head.

“Yes. I’ll go now. It won’t take long. You’re stable enough for now, but you might vomit blood again, so don’t move too much. Can you do that?”

“Of course.”

I smiled, and he stood at the door, waving his hand.

“Just in case, I’ll tell the emperor what’s happening before I leave.”

“Okay.”

He waved and smiled contentedly.

The kid—he’s just using me as an excuse to see Mikhail’s face again, isn’t he? But since I’m lenient, I forgive him. Enjoy seeing Mikhail, and don’t forget the croquettes.

Cassian scoffed. Thinking back, he still didn’t believe the words of the black-haired woman.

‘She hates being apart from me this much, yet what would she care about some other man?’

What the woman said was ridiculous speculation. She probably just wanted to stir up trouble with Evelyn.

If not, maybe it was the empress feeling uneasy about her husband, the emperor, showing interest in Evelyn. After all, it was true that the emperor paid attention to Evelyn.

‘I don’t know why I let her words shake me.’

Cassian scolded himself for just a few minutes ago as he opened the door. At the same time, he met the eyes of a waiting servant.

“Master Wizard.”

“Tell them she seems stable for now. I need to go fetch something urgently for Lin, so I’ll be away briefly.”

“Is that all I need to say?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. I will report immediately to His Majesty.”

After seeing the servant rush away, Cassian walked down the corridor.

Moonlight had already begun filtering through the windows above, casting long shadows.

He tilted his head to look at the sky. The yellow moon peeked through the clouds, shining brightly over the palace.

Though countless people lived here, the palace was completely quiet. Even the knights guarding the entrance were frozen like statues.

Stepping outside, the garden came into view. A warm breeze carried the faint scent of flowers.

‘It is peaceful here. But I can’t remain here with this vague sense of unease.’

Evelyn needed a new home.

Thinking about where the Vivace queen could not reach naturally brought one place to mind.

He stopped abruptly.

‘Should I return to Twalin now…?’

As soon as Cassian left and the door closed, I slipped down from the bed. I needed to remove the blood-stained clothes.

It wasn’t because I was sentimental about the dress that couldn’t be exchanged for money. It was just too cumbersome to wear.

The dried blood along the front chafed my skin every time I moved.

I shrugged off the dress and recalled what had happened at the banquet.

Ensou’s behavior had been truly strange.

Shouting at Mikhail as if he were at fault, treating her own son Joshua like a stranger…

I shook my head quickly, remembering that I, who had fled in fear of my stepmother and stepbrother, had no reason to worry about others now.

I quickly removed my dress and walked to the bathroom.

I turned the faucet, and hot water poured out—perfect for a bath.

After waiting a moment, the tub filled with warm water.

I rubbed my blood-stained chest in the tub, then suddenly remembered something and turned sharply to look in the mirror.

“Ugh!”

The reflection made me gasp.

The blood around my mouth had dried, making it look like a beard.

Kyaa! I screamed inwardly and covered my face with both hands. Looking again, it was grotesque—like I had become a catfish.

Had I really been making all that noise looking like this? I shivered as memories of my actions up to that moment resurfaced.

‘What are you two doing right now?’

Oh my god!

No wonder Cassian had been smiling—my face looked like that.

My face flushed hot. I wanted to disappear into a hole out of embarrassment.

Crazy. Absolutely crazy.

I stared at the mirror quietly and noticed someone had wiped my face. My chin, which should have been covered in blood, was clean.

But why just the chin? If you’re going to wipe it, do my cheeks too!

Though I grumbled at the kind person who had wiped the unconscious girl’s chin, I felt I had to, or I couldn’t endure the embarrassment.

I kept recalling how primly I had glared at Cassian and Mikhail.

“Past me… why did you do that?” I hit my head with one hand and used the other to wet my face and scrub away the blood.

Because the blood had already dried, it was hard to remove. Only after soaking my face did it come off.

I sighed, seeing my face red from scrubbing.

Ah, the fishy smell. Ugh.

Cassian too. If my face was covered in blood, he could have wiped it or at least said something. I grumbled and got into the tub.

I intended to relax in the warm water and let the fatigue go, but suddenly, a loud voice rang out.

“Lin! Lin! Where are you?”

Startled, I curled up deeper into the water.

Who was it?

“Lin!”

I considered shouting that I was here, but if the visitor opened the bathroom door, that could be bad. So I huddled deeper and closed my mouth tightly.

If I stayed quiet, they’d assume I wasn’t there and leave. Go away quickly. Go away.

I silently chanted ‘go away’ like a spell, holding my breath.

Soon, the visitor’s voice faded.

“Gone?”

I waited a bit longer, but no voice came.

“Phew. Finally, I can wash properly. By the way, where did the person the Countess of Rethel said she would leave go?”

It would be nice if someone waited outside in a situation like this. I reached for the wooden box holding the perfume.

“Lin isn’t here?”

Upon hearing the report from the head servant, Mikhail jumped up.

Lin had just regained consciousness not long ago. The report that the wizard had left to fetch something urgently for her had just come in.

If so, Lin should be in her room.

“Yes. I checked with my own eyes. There was no one in the room.”

The head servant, Robert, wasn’t one to fabricate or scheme. Moreover, he had gone to Evelyn’s room only to deliver Mikhail’s orders.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Only the dress that Lin had been wearing earlier was left on the floor.”

“The dress?”

Mikhail stared blankly at the head servant, then thought of Cassian.

“And him? He wasn’t there either?”

“If you mean the wizard, yes. He wasn’t visible. He said he’d step out briefly to fetch Lin’s medicine, didn’t he?”

That was true. But what if that explanation was a ruse? What if he intended to escape the palace with Evelyn?

It didn’t matter why Cassian would take Evelyn out of the palace.

All that mattered to Mikhail was Evelyn’s whereabouts.

“Also, the knights reported seeing the wizard leaving the palace alone. He was definitely by himself.”

A long crease formed between Mikhail’s brows. Frowning, he tilted his head to look at the head servant.

‘It’s not him? Then what could have happened?’

The line of thought was natural.

Where would a person who fainted after vomiting blood go? They would have no energy to do anything.

Then? Someone must have waited until the wizard left to interfere.

Naturally, the image of the person hostile to Evelyn came to mind.

The one who had spoken rudely and treated Evelyn carelessly.

“Damn it! Ensou!”

Mikhail shouted, leaping up from his seat.

“I’m going to the empress’s palace immediately!”

“Your Majesty! Why are you suddenly going to see the Empress?”

“She harmed Lin!”

“Eh?”

The head servant’s eyes widened in surprise.

But he couldn’t dispute Mikhail’s words.

He couldn’t think of anyone else who could have harmed Evelyn except the Empress.

“Robert, think about it. Who in this palace could harm Lin?”

There were very few who disliked Evelyn without being naturally hostile or twisted in character.

Although the Empress was suspicious, she was the only plausible suspect.

Instead of trying to stop Mikhail, the head servant quietly sent a swift messenger to the Empress’s palace to announce the emperor’s impending visit.