I stared at Kallian, forgetting even how to breathe.
He looked at me quietly and asked in a low voice,
"Are you alright?"
The gentle softness in his tone made me realize something instantly.
His memories still hadn't returned.
Before he lost his memory, he had always been cold and forceful toward me.
An inexplicable sense of relief settled in my chest.
At that moment, Cesar, whose wrist was still held tightly by Kallian, twisted his arm as if trying to break free.
But Kallian's grip didn't loosen at all, and Cesar's face twisted in pain.
"Let go of me! Lord of Valdormer!" Cesar shouted.
Embarrassed by the many eyes watching, his face flushed red with anger.
Kallian merely looked down at him indifferently.
"Then you should let go first."
The sharp, icy gaze he directed at Cesar was completely different from the one he had shown me.
Cesar flinched under that pressure, then shouted back out of wounded pride,
"That woman is no longer Valdormer's! This has nothing to do with you, so stay out of Heister's family matters!"
"Why would it have nothing to do with me?" Kallian replied coldly.
"I haven't divorced her."
"What…?"
If he had no intention of cutting ties with his runaway wife, how could it make sense for him to wage war against her family?
While Cesar stood frozen in shock, a booming voice rang out from the crowd.
"What is the meaning of this!"
At the Emperor's angry voice, Cesar instinctively loosened his grip.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea as the Emperor approached, with Lloyd beside him.
Because Heister had long maintained friendly relations with the imperial family, Cesar forced an awkward smile and tried to smooth things over.
"It's nothing, Your Majesty. My foolish younger sister shamelessly showed her face here, so I was merely trying to discipline her."
The Emperor frowned.
"She is a guest I personally invited."
"Yes, that's why I planned to take her back to Heister and— what?"
Cesar had assumed I was merely following Silverstel's lead into the banquet.
Hearing that the Emperor himself had invited me, his face went blank.
Meanwhile, Lloyd stepped between Cesar and Kallian and moved close to my side.
"Yuliana, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I didn't expect Heister to act so recklessly in such a public place."
"It's nothing. Don't worry."
Even as he said that, Lloyd seemed more conscious of Kallian than of Cesar.
Then Lloyd noticed the red mark around my wrist and frowned.
"You should have that treated first."
"It's really alright."
Not only Lloyd, but Kallian's gaze also landed on the red mark around my wrist.
I deliberately avoided looking at Kallian.
Lloyd wrapped an arm around my shoulders and gently guided me.
"Let's move somewhere else first."
As I reluctantly followed him, Kallian took a step toward me as if he had something to say.
But the Emperor's voice stopped him.
"Doesn't the new lord of Valdormer have something to discuss with me?"
I glanced briefly at Kallian's side profile as he halted at the Emperor's call.
Then I turned my back on him and walked away with Lloyd.
"It would be better to see a physician," Lloyd said.
I shook my head.
"It's not that serious."
At that moment, a shadow fell in front of us.
When I looked up, the Empress stood there with two attendants, wearing a gentle smile.
"The heir of Heister has committed a discourtesy toward His Majesty's guest. I should have been watching over you more closely. I apologize."
"N-no, Your Majesty," I replied quickly, bowing deeply.
The Empress smiled kindly and turned to Lloyd.
"Leave her treatment to my attendants. Sir Lloyd, please return to the banquet."
Lloyd looked troubled.
"No, Yuliana and I will return to our quarters—"
"The new lord of Valdormer is openly asserting his presence at a royal banquet. Would it be appropriate for the future lord of Silverstel to leave his post?"
The comparison to Kallian made Lloyd stiffen, his lips pressed tightly together.
Future lord of Silverstel?
I froze, hearing this for the first time, but Lloyd didn't notice my reaction.
He bowed respectfully and stepped back.
"Please take good care of Yuliana."
"There's no need to worry. Please return," the Empress replied.
Lloyd turned to me.
"Come back to the banquet once the treatment is done. I'll be waiting."
After glancing at the Empress, I nodded.
In the imperial palace, no one except the Emperor could refuse the Empress's request.
As Lloyd walked back toward the banquet hall with heavy steps, the Empress led me to a nearby reception room.
"This is my fault. I should have stayed by your side."
Seated on the sofa, I let the attendants tend to my wrist and shook my head.
"No, it was my carelessness."
The attendants quickly applied medicine and wrapped my wrist with a thin bandage.
After they bowed and left, the Empress gently placed her hand over mine.
"To tell you the truth, I have no siblings, and no children."
Her sudden words made me look at her in confusion.
She smiled warmly.
"You feel like a younger sister to me, Yuliana, so please think of me comfortably."
As she lightly stroked my bandaged wrist, she murmured,
"Heister has always been rude and foolish, both in the past and now."
A strange chill ran through my chest at her touch.
Yet she only continued smiling kindly.
"Without the Emperor's boundless mercy, that family would have been wiped out long ago."
A cold sweat slid down my spine at her eerie smile.
'Is this really pure kindness?'
'Or is she testing me?'
"That's why they should naturally devote absolute loyalty to the Emperor. Don't you agree?"
I could only swallow dryly, frozen in place.
After paying my respects to the Empress and leaving the reception room, I leaned weakly against the wall, my legs trembling.
It felt like a headache was starting.
The Emperor and Empress looked benevolent, but their unexplained favor and the Empress's meaningful words kept bothering me.
It was only the first day of the banquet, yet my head already throbbed.
While I stalled here, Jared must be safely preparing the escape route.
Letting out a deep sigh, I began to walk again.
The closer I got to the banquet hall, the heavier my steps became.
I didn't think I could endure the contemptuous stares pouring in from all directions.
Walking through the dark corridor, contrasting with the brightly lit hall, I chose to hide in the shadows rather than step into the light.
I opened the door to a dark terrace, intending to take a breath before returning.
The cool night air brushed my face, easing my headache.
But soon, I regretted that decision.
Standing on the terrace—
Under the moonlight, Kallian stood there, silent as the night sky, staring at me.
Startled, I turned quickly to open the door again, but he moved faster.
Thud—
His large hand blocked the terrace door.
I was trapped between the unmoving door and his broad chest.
His roughened breath brushed against my back.
Holding down my trembling heart, I spoke coldly.
"What are you doing?"
He remained silent for a long moment.
Then, in a low voice, he said,
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Confused, I turned my head slightly.
His deep violet eyes were fixed entirely on me.
"That you're my wife…"
Startled, I quickly looked away.
"It's just the past."
"I don't think we ever divorced."
His voice felt dangerously close to my ear.
"Please move your hand."
But he didn't budge.
"Even if it's the past for you, it's my present."
'You can't even remember the past properly.'
As that thought lingered, his voice cut in clearly.
"Because Denian is my son."