I didn't even know how the night passed. I stayed awake the whole time and faced the morning with tired eyes.
During the night, maids came in, cleaned the room, and even treated the wound on my neck before leaving.
It probably meant one thing—
They wouldn't let me die until the Emperor satisfied his disgusting desires.
I stared blankly at the door.
There were still soldiers guarding outside.
They only opened the door for food or treatment. No one else was allowed in.
Even outside the terrace, guards kept walking back and forth.
Clink—
I looked down at the restraints on my wrists.
Without my ability, I was just an ordinary woman.
Even with my power, all I could really do was start and stop small flames.
I wasn't skilled with a sword. I wasn't especially strong either.
…So why was I thinking of him?
Kallian.
If I had listened to him and left the imperial palace sooner… would this have happened?
"I don't care where you go. Just run somewhere the Emperor can't find you."
"This is my only request."
I couldn't forget how his shoulders shook as he cried while holding my hand.
Or how warm his tears felt.
"I saw it with my own eyes, Yuliana… you and Denian dying at the hands of the Emperor… again and again…"
The past life he talked about was very different from mine.
What kind of life had he lived?
That look in his eyes—
I knew it too well.
The loneliness and pain of repeating life over and over… without being able to change anything.
For me, that reason was Denian.
No matter how many times I tried… the ending never changed.
The one thing I wanted—
Even if it cost my life—
"I don't want to lose you… please…"
Maybe… what Kallian was trying to change…
At that moment—
Knock knock.
The door opened, and a maid walked in.
Was it time to change my bandages?
As I stared blankly, the maid bowed and said:
"Since the terrace window is broken, you've been ordered to move to another room."
Ah…
Right. The window had been broken when Lloyd came to save me.
Cold air had been coming in all night, but I hadn't even noticed.
The maid grabbed my arm firmly, almost forcing me to move.
She led me out like I was being taken somewhere.
For a moment, I thought—
What if I pushed her and ran?
But even if I escaped…
This was still the imperial palace.
I didn't even know where I was.
There was no way I could escape on foot.
Despair filled me.
…Was Denian safe?
Had the Emperor already gone after him?
Then suddenly, the maid whispered:
"Denian is still in the palace."
My whole body froze.
"Don't turn your head. I am one of Lord Lloyd's people."
…One of Lloyd's subordinates?
So not all of Silverstel's knights had been captured.
Even though Lloyd rushed in recklessly to save me… he had still prepared something like this.
"A carriage is ready. Leave now, take Denian, and go straight to Silverstel."
There was no time to hesitate.
Denian came first.
The maid pushed me into another room and quickly changed my clothes into a maid's outfit.
My restraints were still on, but she hid them under layers of cloth.
To others, I just looked like a maid carrying laundry.
Then we moved through the palace.
We passed other maids and soldiers, but no one paid attention.
Finally, we exited through the back gate and ran to the carriage.
The knight drove straight to where Denian was staying.
But—
Denian wasn't there.
"Denian… where is Denian?"
The maid in charge of him answered nervously:
"The Empress… said she wanted tea with him and took him."
…The Empress?
My hands started shaking.
"Think carefully. Unless you want your son to end up like Lloyd."
Was I too late?
Was the Empress also working with the Emperor?
Everything she had done before… was it all fake?
But there was only one thing I could do.
Go get Denian.
Outside, the female knight asked anxiously:
"Where is Denian—"
"I'm going to get him."
"…Where?"
"To the Empress's palace."
She tried to stop me.
"It might be a trap. At least you should escape first—"
"Are you telling me to leave my son behind?"
She couldn't answer.
"Even if I can't escape, I will not abandon Denian."
I had already lost him once.
I would never abandon him again.
Even if this meant walking into danger—
I was his mother.
And to him, I was everything.
I held the knight's hand and said quietly:
"If I come out safely with him, I'll return here. If I don't…"
I left the rest unsaid.
Then I got into another carriage and headed to the Empress's palace.
At the Empress's Palace
"Your Majesty… Lady Yuliana has come…"
The Empress, who was having tea with Denian, looked surprised.
"Really? Bring her in at once."
Before the maid could finish speaking, I rushed inside.
Ignoring the servants trying to stop me—
I saw Denian.
He was safe.
Relief made my legs go weak.
The Empress hurried toward me.
"My goodness! Yuliana, what happened to you?"
"Your Majesty… forgive my rudeness…"
Denian looked at me.
"Mother?"
I quickly hid the restraints behind my skirt so he wouldn't see.
The Empress told the maids:
"Take Denian aside for a moment."
She led me to a table hidden behind trees.
I kept glancing at Denian, but nothing seemed wrong.
The Empress still looked kind.
"What happened?"
She sounded genuinely concerned.
She helped me sit down.
"No one can enter the Empress's palace without my permission. You are safe here."
I studied her face carefully.
She still seemed kind…
But I couldn't be sure.
"I want to take my child and leave."
She looked worried.
"What happened? You can always ask me for help."
If she wasn't on the Emperor's side…
Maybe she could help.
It was a gamble.
But I had no other choice.
"How much do you trust the Emperor?"
It was a dangerous question.
But the Empress only looked surprised.
Then she smiled bitterly.
"Yuliana… even in marriage, you can't know everything about your partner."
That was true.
I slowly spoke.
"The Emperor… tried to violate me."
The Empress's smile disappeared.
But I continued:
"Nothing happened. Please… help me."
For a moment, her face stayed expressionless.
Then she spoke calmly—
Too calmly.
"Yuliana… that is not violation."
My heart stopped.
"That is called receiving the Emperor's favor."
I froze.
…What did she just say?