Recently, I had been spending more time at the cottage than at the castle.
"Waaaah!"
I held Denian in my arms as he cried desperately and touched his forehead.
Thankfully, the fever had gone down a lot.
Denian's high fevers didn't respond well to ordinary medicine, so bringing in a doctor was meaningless.
In my first life, Denian also often suffered from high fevers.
Back then, I had only thought, 'He's just a weak child.'
But now, I realized all these symptoms were similar to what I had experienced just before awakening my own power.
In the past, Denian's high fever had also disappeared right before he awakened his ability.
Already, I could see an orange glow at his fingertips. It seemed his power was about to fully manifest.
Fearing that someone might notice Denian's ability, I wrapped him tightly in cloth.
That was why, lately, I had been spending most of my time in the cottage.
'Somehow… I feel like I mustn't let the servants inside the castle find out about Denian's power.'
Even after he finally fell asleep, Denian's hands were still glowing faintly red.
'I had wished in this life that Denian wouldn't inherit my power…'
Luckily, I couldn't see any sign of Valdormer's power of Dark Command yet.
In the past, Denian's Valdormer ability hadn't appeared until he was about three.
Thinking about a child who would have to carry the abilities of both houses made me worried already.
While Valdormer and Heister were at war outside, the fate of a child who bore both houses' powers felt truly tragic.
As I laid the sleeping baby back on the bed, I suddenly felt someone's eyes on me and froze.
Then, pretending nothing was wrong, I walked calmly to the window.
Placing my hand on the wall beside the window, I sent out a small stream of fire energy.
I could control my ability enough to release it through the wall.
A moment later, a startled scream came from outside.
"Aah! Mother!"
A maid, her skirt caught on fire, rolled frantically on the ground.
The one secretly spying on me through the window was none other than the maid who had been sent from the castle to assist me and Denian.
Slowly stepping outside, I looked down coldly at the maid rolling pitifully on the ground, trying to put out the fire.
"Since when have you been spying?"
Under my sharp gaze, the maid panicked and bowed deeply.
"S-Spying? Never! That's absurd!"
"Then why are you here, when you should be at the castle?"
Looking increasingly nervous, the maid pressed her forehead to the ground.
"I was only following Lord Lloyd's orders, to watch over Madam and young Master Denian in case something happened."
Lloyd's words came back to me—how he had told me I could relax here, that this space was only for me and Denian.
'He acted like it was all for my sake, but all along he placed someone here to watch us?'
I had known about Lloyd's double-sided nature for a long time, but had chosen to ignore it.
He only showed that side of himself in matters related to me, and I had thought, 'Maybe it's my fault he's like this,' and forced myself to look away.
But I didn't want Denian to be dragged into his shadowy schemes while he smiled kindly to my face.
Honestly, it was disgusting and unsettling.
By now, all of Lloyd's actions that were 'for my sake' began to feel suspicious.
He had explained to me that Valdormer had sent out even more pursuers to find me, which was why I shouldn't leave the castle.
But would Valdormer really deploy so many people to search for me while waging a large-scale war with Heister?
They must be desperate just to fill their ranks for the war.
I still believed Kallian was involved in Denian's death.
But logically, in this life, Kallian didn't even know I had been pregnant with Denian.
'That means there's no real reason for him to still be searching for the daughter of his enemy's house, someone he spent barely half a year married to, over a year later.'
Maybe this entire situation was a stage Lloyd had built—a puppet show.
Blinded by his devotion, I had failed to see the strings.
But now, the strings tying my hands and feet were becoming clear.
And I didn't want those strings to bind Denian as well.
Holding Denian in my arms, I returned to the castle.
Today, by chance, Lloyd was also returning.
Waiting quietly for him in the dining room, I watched Lloyd approach with a bright smile.
"Yuliana, have you been waiting long?"
He gently brushed my shoulder, but I kept my expression blank and stared at the table.
Sitting opposite me, still smiling, Lloyd asked,
"Are you mad because I made you wait? And Denian—is he asleep?"
"…"
Whether he didn't notice my coldness or chose to ignore it, he smiled and signaled for the food to be brought.
I stared straight at him and spoke slowly.
"Did you order my maid to spy on me and Denian?"
At last, Lloyd froze.
Seeing my face, he seemed to realize excuses were pointless, and spoke soothingly.
"I only did it to protect you and Denian, in case something happened. You don't like having soldiers or servants nearby."
"No matter how you dress it up, it's still surveillance, Lloyd."
"…"
For an instant, Lloyd's face hardened.
But it was only a flash. He quickly smiled again and said,
"I'm sorry. From now on, I'll never assign anyone to you without your permission."
"No. That won't be necessary."
I stood up, even though the food hadn't arrived yet.
"This isn't right. Denian and I should leave this castle."
Lloyd quickly stood too and gently grabbed my hand as I turned to go.
"Yuliana, it's my fault. I'll be more careful from now on."
'Be more careful?'
To me, it sounded like, 'I'll just be more careful while doing the same thing again.'
I pulled my hand free from his grasp and said coldly,
"Tell me the truth. Is Kallian really still sending people to find me?"
It was the same question I had asked before.
Back then, he had avoided giving a straight answer.
Now I wanted a clear reply.
"…"
But his silence told me all I needed to know.
Feeling there was nothing more to hear, I turned to leave.
At that moment, Lloyd's large hand gripped my wrist roughly.
Startled by his unexpected strength, I looked at him.
There was anger on his face.
"The man who is wiping out Heister's bloodline with war—if he knew about Denian's existence, do you think he would just leave him alone?"
His words struck me speechless.
I had already feared in my heart that Kallian might have harmed Denian for a similar reason in my previous life.
Reading my turmoil, Lloyd's voice softened.
"Right now, maybe the war comes first. But once it ends, he will come for you."
Lloyd spoke with certainty—like someone who knew something about Kallian that I didn't.
I forced down my unease and said firmly,
"So what you're saying is… he isn't looking for me right now."
As I tried to pull my wrist free, Lloyd gripped it even harder.
"Maybe not now. But if he finds out Denian inherited Heister's ability, it could become even more dangerous."
My heart dropped.
"You… knew? That Denian inherited Heister's ability?"
Lloyd didn't answer.
'Of course. He's been watching Denian through my maid from the start. He must have noticed.
No—maybe not just through her. The soldiers and servants here were probably all his eyes.'
'Is that why this place always felt so suffocating?'
Anger surged up inside me.
I forcefully shook off Lloyd's hand and headed for the door.
"Yuliana!"
This time, I didn't plan to turn back.
No matter how grateful I had once been to him, this was too much.
I reached for the door handle to leave when—
Clang.
A chilling sound rang out.
Startled, I turned my head.
Lloyd had drawn a sword from its sheath and was holding it to his own wrist.
I stared, speechless.
"Lloyd… what are you doing…"
Too shocked to speak properly, I heard his calm voice.
"If you leave, I will die."