16. Return to the Imperial Palace
The curse placed on Elise’s body had already been half broken from the moment of possession—it was only a half-complete spell. As soon as the curse had been cast onto the real Elise’s body, for some unknown reason, her soul had been consumed, and half of the curse had been lifted.
‘So does that mean my soul from the real world ended up inhabiting what remained of Elise’s body?’
She didn’t know why it happened, but all the circumstances seemed to align. What mattered more to Elise now was that, since the curse had been lifted, she had to return to the Imperial Palace. If only she had been the only one to know that her curse had been lifted, it might have been better. Then she could have hidden the fact and stayed by his side a little longer. Two conflicting emotions welled up within her. It was fortunate that she had survived because the curse had been broken—but at the same time, she no longer had any justification to remain at the ducal residence.
“Lady Elise, are you alright?”
Damon approached her, his face pale with concern.
“I-I’m fine.”
“You don’t look well. Please, sit here.”
Damon took her hand and guided her back to the bed. The warmth of his hand made Elise’s heart ache.
‘I don’t even want to let go of this hand…’
As the emperor Roan’s concubine, she didn’t know when she would ever be able to see Damon, the Grand Duke, again after returning to the palace. Now that she had come to like him so much, the sudden prospect of parting made her feelings grow even more intense.
‘What should I do? I want to stay by his side a little longer…’
Her tears were not from the relief of surviving, but from the sorrow of an unexpected farewell. Moreover, in the original story, Elise was killed by the Empress in the palace. Thinking about that made her even more unwilling to leave the ducal residence.
‘I don’t want to go back to the Imperial Palace!’
Unaware of her inner thoughts, Michael approached and asked politely,
“If you are feeling unwell, I can use more healing power.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Seeing Elise’s reddened eyes, both Michael and Damon were simultaneously taken aback.
“I sincerely thank both of you for lifting the curse. However, my mind is a bit overwhelmed right now. Could you leave me alone for a moment?”
‘She must be in shock.’
Damon’s red eyes filled with sympathy. The situation they had feared had come to pass. A trusted companion had turned out to be a spy, and upon her suicide, the curse had been lifted by unknown means. The sense of loss and confusion must be overwhelming. He could understand Elise’s complicated emotions.
“Very well. His Majesty the Emperor is waiting, so I will report that the curse has been lifted as soon as possible.”
Without understanding Elise’s feelings, Damon spoke somewhat coldly.
‘What should I do!’
Thud. Elise suddenly burst into tears and collapsed onto the bed, burying her face.
“Ah, Lady Elise!”
Michael quickly approached the sobbing Elise.
“Father Priest… sob…”
‘What am I supposed to do…’
She couldn’t confide in anyone, which made her feel even more suffocated. Even Reyna, the only person she had opened up to, was no longer by her side. Elise grabbed Michael’s robe and wept.
“…May I stay by your side for a moment?”
At Michael’s question, Elise nodded while still lying face down. Everyone else quietly left the room, leaving him alone with her. Heim and Jeremy wore heavy expressions, saddened by Elise’s condition. As he closed the door, Damon looked at Elise, who was lying on the bed and crying, with a tender gaze. Still, he felt relieved that Michael—of all people—was the one comforting her.
“Sob, Father Priest…”
Elise spoke while sobbing, and Michael looked at her with compassion.
“Please help me.”
“How may I assist you?”
The woman his closest friend had feelings for was now clinging to him in sorrow. What was causing her the most pain? Michael wished to help her in any way he could.
“Truthfully… I don’t want to return to the Imperial Palace.”
“!”
Tears streamed down Elise’s luminous eyes. Michael felt a sharp pang of sympathy.
“I don’t want to be the Emperor’s concubine either!”
Because, in the original story, Elise was killed by the Empress.
‘So she didn’t willingly become the Emperor’s concubine!’
To Michael, tears were the same for everyone—but the tears of the woman before him seemed almost like something different altogether. They were as beautiful as dew glistening in the morning sunlight or as clear as crystal. As a priest who had heard countless confessions and witnessed innumerable tears born from suffering, he had never seen someone whose crying moved his heart so deeply. Perhaps it was because her emotions were so desperate.
‘This is dangerous.’
Even for Michael, who had little attachment to worldly desires, Elise was momentarily unsettling. Priests are often more vulnerable to the suffering of others. He thought of Damon.
“If His Majesty commands your return, you cannot refuse for now.”
One could not disobey an imperial order. Michael continued seriously.
“But I will work with the Grand Duke to find a way.”
“With the Grand Duke?”
At the mention of Damon, Elise’s face brightened instantly.
‘Oh dear… her feelings are so obvious. How can Damon not realize it?’
Michael felt pity for the two, who were unaware of each other’s feelings, but there was nothing he could do. Intervening carelessly or relaying messages on their behalf could backfire.
‘Especially when they are not confident in their own feelings—interference would likely have the opposite effect.’
In Michael’s view, Damon seemed unaware of his own emotions. Moreover, their circumstances were complicated. Elise was already the Emperor’s concubine, and Damon served the Emperor as a Grand Duke. Even if they became aware of their feelings, it would not be easy to act on them.
‘What should be done…’
Seeing both of them entangled in painful love, Michael already felt uneasy.
“Since Lady Elise was originally a member of the ducal household, there may still be a way.”
At those words, Elise’s eyes widened. Life returned to her previously sorrowful gaze.
“I will speak with His Grace the Grand Duke. And I will also find a way to contact you.”
“Thank you.”
Only then did Elise manage to regain some composure. Reyna’s situation was shocking, but her immediate concern was her own survival. The black mage had not yet been captured, so she could not feel safe. Even if she returned to the palace, she might be killed at any time.
‘So if I could find a way to leave the palace again, that would be wonderful…’
Having calmed down, Elise wiped away her tears and sat properly. Seeing this, Michael cautiously asked,
“May I offer a prayer to help restore your strength?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you. Please do.”
Michael took both of Elise’s hands and closed his eyes. Elise followed suit. As unintelligible incantations flowed from Michael’s lips, a warm, radiant light poured from their joined hands.
A report was sent to Emperor Roan by Damon:
“Lady Elise’s curse has been lifted. However, due to the spy taking her own life, we were unable to uncover the identity of the black mage.”
The messenger pigeon, which had departed with the letter tied to its leg toward the palace, returned with a reply in less than half a day.
“Now that the curse has been lifted, return Elise to the Imperial Palace without delay. Immediately.”
“Immediately”—it was already night, but it was an imperial command. Elise had to depart at once.
As before, the people of the ducal residence quickly prepared Elise for departure.
‘We have to leave this suddenly?’
Elise couldn’t steady her heart at the unexpectedly swift farewell. It had only been a few days since she began to recognize her feelings, and she hadn’t even had the chance to express her gratitude to those who saved her. The warmth and firmness of his embrace, the euphoric kiss that made her entire body melt, and the gaze he had given her—all of it still lingered vividly in her memory.
‘I never even got to confess my feelings…’
Her steps felt heavy with regret. But she had no choice but to go.
“Lady Elise, we hope to see you again. Please take care until then.”
The people of the ducal residence came to see her off. Elise expressed her gratitude. Michael smiled gently and said,
“We will meet again.”
“…Thank you so much for healing me.”
Michael then asked kindly,
“May I occasionally send letters to check on you?”
Ah! So this was the “way to contact her” he had mentioned—using his position as a priest who treated her as an excuse to stay in touch. Understanding his intention, Elise quickly replied,
“Of course. You are my savior. I will also ask His Majesty and arrange to invite you to the palace.”
“Thank you.”
Perhaps Michael would coordinate with Damon and communicate by letter. It felt like a single drop of rain in a parched land, but Elise gathered herself and turned away.
Damon was already standing by the carriage that would take Elise back to the palace, ready to escort her. Wearing his black uniform as before, he said nothing, and his expression gave no hint of his thoughts. Elise felt her heart grow heavy.
“Please get in.”
Damon extended his hand. After a brief hesitation, she took it and stepped into the carriage.
“Lord, please take care. Lady Elise, farewell.”
With Jeremy and Heim’s final farewells, the carriage door closed with a thud, and the carriage carrying Elise and Damon departed. Countless thoughts swirled in Elise’s mind.
‘What if this journey to the palace is the last time I am with Damon?’
Her heart tightened anxiously. She wanted to say something, anything—but her mind was too unsettled to speak. Being alone with him in the confined carriage made her heart race.
After a long silence, he spoke first.
“Once I have finished my duties, I will come to retrieve you.”
What did that mean?
“Would that be acceptable?”
Finish what duties? Retrieve her? When?
“You mean… you will come for me, Grand Duke?”
“That is correct.”
Was this something arranged with Roan? Or had he already discussed it with Michael? Either way, if it meant she could see Damon again, it didn’t matter. She felt as if she were grasping at a lifeline.
“Alright.”
“…Thank you.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for lifting the curse.”
Elise bowed her head in gratitude. Even as she spoke, she felt as if tears might spill at any moment.
‘No, I can’t cry here. What would Damon think…’
He might notice her feelings. She had not even properly confessed yet, and now they were parting. She could not afford to break down in tears and make a spectacle of herself, as if she were confessing through her emotions. She struggled to hold back her tears. Damon remained silent, gazing at her feet.
Rattle. At last, the carriage came to a stop.
“Welcome back, my Elise!”
Before the carriage door had fully opened, Roan rushed forward and called out.
In the end, she had returned—to the side of Emperor Roan, who had been waiting for Elise herself.
