~Chapter 3~
I pushed away the memories that had flashed through my mind and looked at Mikhail.
He still had a sad expression.
He really seemed to believe that I was going to die.
The reason I coughed up blood was because of the medicine I had been taking—a magic suppressor that blocked the flow of mana so no one could track me.
In Vivace’s royal palace, there was a magic tool that could detect the unique mana of the royal family.
There were only two ways to avoid detection:
Either block your mana flow with medicine… or die.
Since I ran away to live, dying was not an option.
So I chose the medicine.
Its side effect was occasionally coughing up blood. Usually, I managed it quietly at night before sleeping, so it had never been a problem.
But today was different.
On my way back to the palace, I suddenly coughed up blood inside the moving carriage.
And sitting right in front of me… was Shadow.
My escort—no, my watcher.
Even after seeing it, he didn’t react at all.
I had thought, as expected of the Emperor’s knight, not even shaken by that.
But I never imagined he would report it to Mikhail.
The misunderstanding about me having only six months to live also came from this.
To explain properly, I had to talk about Cassian.
Cassian was my childhood friend, a mage from the Mage Tower.
He also had a healer’s license—which all mages were required to have.
Because of that, I was able to cross the border easily as his assistant and enter Krelas.
From there, I applied for the Emperor’s secret request.
A contract Empress.
Surprisingly, the process of being hired was easy.
I found it strange, but I didn’t question it. I needed that position.
After being hired, I made an excuse.
I told Mikhail I had a chronic illness and needed medicine from a doctor outside the palace.
He offered palace physicians, but I refused.
I said it was nothing serious and only asked for permission to go out regularly.
In truth, it worked because palace doctors couldn’t read mana flows in detail.
After getting permission, I had Cassian open a small clinic in a hidden alley near the capital.
Whenever I needed medicine, I would go there.
No one suspected anything.
And since doctors often closed their clinics to gather herbs, it wasn’t strange that his clinic opened only when I visited.
But I never expected it would cause such a misunderstanding.
“Six months is the limit. Prepare yourself.”
What Cassian meant was that the medicine was reaching its limit, and I needed to be careful of Krita’s pursuit.
But someone had overheard.
Even though I thought we were alone.
The guard must have misunderstood and reported it exactly as it sounded.
And on top of that… he had seen me coughing up blood.
Now the situation couldn’t be denied.
And the amount of blood I cough up will only increase…
Anxiety filled me.
Now that Mikhail knew, he wouldn’t ignore it.
Coughing blood meant my suppressed mana was trying to break free.
According to Cassian, if I didn’t release it, my mana paths could be completely blocked—leaving me crippled.
So I couldn’t even stop it.
To clear the misunderstanding, I would have to tell Mikhail the truth.
But that meant revealing everything—
That I hid my identity.
That I entered the palace under a false name.
That I was not “Lin.”
Would he accept that?
Absolutely not.
He might even execute me for deceiving the Emperor.
No. I can’t die like that.
I felt stuck, with no way out.
My head throbbed.
I wanted to run to Cassian, grab him, and demand a solution.
But Mikhail wouldn’t let me go that easily.
So in the end… I had to persuade him.
Why did I have to test my persuasion skills at a time like this?
Still… if I was desperate enough, maybe it would work.
“Your Majesty, it’s all a misunderstanding. I’m not dying. Coughing blood is nothing serious.”
I spoke with exaggerated sincerity, like an actor on stage.
But—
“Even after I say all this… you still want to leave me?”
…That wasn’t the response I wanted.
Why did ending a contract sound like “leaving him”?
I couldn’t argue with the Emperor.
Maybe I wasn’t desperate enough.
Fine. One more try.
I gently pulled my hand away and bowed my head.
“The contract period has ended. I am simply saying goodbye. It has no special meaning.”
But—
Mikhail grabbed my hand again.
“It has no special meaning, so stay longer. Don’t you need a place to treat your illness?”
No, that’s not it…
I pulled my hand back and spoke more urgently.
“I appreciate your kindness, but if I stay, it will only cause more trouble. So please—”
Before I could finish—
“Do I have to lock you up and force you to receive treatment for you to listen?!”
What is wrong with him?!
Why was he getting angry?
Wasn’t desperation supposed to work?!
I was more desperate than anyone!
Then Mikhail lowered his voice.
“I don’t want to regret this again… so please stay with me. …Lin.”
At that moment, I realized something.
He was more desperate than I was.
…I lost.
Just as I accepted that—
Something suddenly rose from deep inside my chest.
A sign of mana backlash.
I glanced outside.
The sun had already set.
It was the usual time I coughed up blood.
Damn it… I thought I’d be fine after earlier.
Panic rose.
I might throw up blood right in front of him.
That must not happen.
I swallowed it down and quickly spoke.
“I understand… I think I’m too tired. I need to rest.”
I had no intention of staying in the palace, but I had no choice.
“Thank you for accepting, Lin. Go and rest.”
Just as I expected, he let me go immediately.
I turned and hurried out of the room.
My condition was worsening faster than usual.
At this rate, I might collapse in the hallway.
And if that happened—
Rumors would spread throughout the palace that I was seriously ill.
Even the Emperor couldn’t stop that completely.
And I—
I was someone hiding my identity.
I could not attract attention.
No… not now… Cassian, you never told me it would be like this.
His words echoed in my mind again.
“Six months is the limit. Prepare yourself.”
Was this what he meant by preparation?
Not fighting the Queen—
But this?
My thoughts raced as I hurried down the hallway.
I should have asked him more earlier.
But now it was too late.
I need to get back to my room before anyone sees me!
I rushed toward my quarters—
But suddenly, I was blocked at the entrance of the Empress’s palace.
By maids.
I didn’t have personal maids.
Only Countess Retel, the head maid, attended me—and she already knew about the contract.
But she always left before sunset.
And the sky was already dark.
So it wasn’t her.
Then who…?
As if answering my thoughts, someone stepped forward from behind the maids.
A small woman.
Her black hair flowed like ink, and her pale skin stood out clearly.
Her dark eyes slowly lifted.
It was a face I had seen countless times in the game.
Eunsu.
I gasped inwardly.
She was really here.
