And that someone was none other than the Emperor.
Only then did Siervian realize who it was that was sitting by her bed.
"Siervy?"
As soon as she heard her father's voice, she cowered. Fear rose up because the dream still lingered in her mind.
When she tried to sit up reflexively, there was a gentle touch on her shoulder.
"Lay down."
In a situation that was hard to believe, she lost strength in her body.
Ah, she came back to the past.
Then, it was something that hadn't happened yet.
'It's cold.'
Even though she had realized where she was now, the coldness of the dungeon still made her tremble.
She tightly clenched the blanket tucked around her. As she curled into herself, this was the best position so that she could warm herself up.
But suddenly, there were wisps of light coming from the side.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: It must be cold.
The air suddenly became warm, as if it was never cold. Her father was using magic.
Surprised, she straightened up and lay down on her back. Then, the Emperor arranged her blanket.
A warm touch briefly hovered over her forehead, then it disappeared.
'Why is Father here?'
It was a belated question.
Siervian felt uncomfortable that she was just lying down without greeting the Emperor first, so she looked around.
"Siervy. What happened?"
After hearing this question, she remembered that she had met the mage Antonio and fainted.
Did he come here after hearing the news that she had collapsed?
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: No matter how much the palace doctor examined, he said there was no abnormality in your body.
While she was unconscious, the palace doctor seemed to have dropped by for a visit.
She recalled how, in her previous life, she would always wake up alone even when she was sick. That time was still so vivid to her.
Perhaps it was because she saw a familiar face while she was off guard.
"Are you sick? Tell me, Siervy."
Maybe that's the reason, but the moment she heard her father say that nickname, tears formed in her eyes.
However, her rational mind desperately tried to control her body.
Don't be a bothersome child. You might lose this warmth.
"Sebi is fwine."
"…Please just tell me. What happened?"
Antonio's face came to mind again.
He was a shameless stranger who visited the dungeon where she was detained. Several times.
'Hmm. You poor thing, Princess. No, you're not even a princess anymore. Why did you do such a terrible thing, huh?'
He knew it best in the world that she did no such thing.
She still couldn't understand why he did that, why Antonio had to come by several times just to mock her.
He was a mage who she never had contact with before.
"Siervy, tell me now."
Her father's stern tone seemed to be enough to press her and confess everything right away.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: I feel like I'm going crazy. I'll have to call the doctor again. Is it magic? It couldn't be that the culprit is a mage who could surpass me.
But her father's inner thoughts continued to fluctuate with concern for her. Rather than the cozy blanket around her, it was this fact that comforted her.
So the emotions that kept bothering her came out. These were words that she couldn't stop from uttering.
"Mmh, I-I'm scawed."
She was scared that she would be abandoned someday. And she was scared that she would be framed for something she never did.
But all of that didn't happen yet.
To confess something like this, she'd have to explain her secret. So she could only say this much now.
"You're scared?"
The Emperor's face hardened as he heard the miserable voice of his daughter.
Her small body was trying to hold back her tears, and it couldn't be any sadder than this. He carefully touched her forehead that was damp with sweat.
"Siervy."
Siervian wanted to keep his hand over her for as long as possible, even if one day this would not happen again.
This warm hand.
"Just rest for now."
The Emperor tried to get up and leave the room.
She forced herself to pretend to be okay.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: How dare.
However, an unusual status window came up heavily.
Without having time to wonder about her father's thoughts as he left the room, Siervian fell asleep again.
"He still hasn't confessed?"
There was a man tied up and bound in a dark underground cell.
With mana restraints around the bastard, the wriggling, plump body was on his knees.
And there was a small child in front of him. Still, the mage continued to shake his head.
"Yes, Father. He's a persistent bastard."
On behalf of the Emperor, who had left for a while, the Crown Prince was investigating this man.
The childlike appearance that he usually showed in front of Siervian had all but disappeared.
"T-T-This is unfair, Your Majesty."
Antonio quickly groveled to the Emperor and complained.
The Emperor looked down at the man's desperate expression, his eyes cold.
He couldn't control the anger that had risen earlier.
"What have you done to my daughter."