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nThey had all become part of the Imperial family after they were discharged.

n“No, they might have been here even before you went abroad.”

n“Oh… So I’m just now seeing them?”

n“I guess so. One of them may have come back a second time. And the other one… well, uh, that one is unexplainable.”

nThe Emperor was lost in thought, tapping his armrest.

nHe could barely make out Levisia in his head, who was said to be close to his nieces, nephews, and youngest these days. Although she had entered after her discharge, she was the one who had never paid much attention to him.

nWhy all of a sudden…

nIt was a bit weird to say this, but the emperor had never once thought anything good about his nieces and nephews, who’d taken after his older sister. Their thought process was cleverer than anyone else, so he didn’t think they would move for no reason.

nThat is except for Levisia. In some ways, they followed her around—she seemed to have no outstanding aspect. And not only his nieces and nephews but also his bright son.

nThe Emperor, who took that very strangely, was somewhat convinced.

nThey were such extraordinary young people that they may have seen things that ordinary people weren’t able to.

n“Maybe there’s something latent in the girl that only you guys can recognize that I didn’t recognize.”

nAfter hearing him say that, Aurora’s eyes grew wider, then she nodded with a smile on her face.

n“That is really possible.”

nComing out into the hallway after their conversation was done, she stood blankly and thought for a while.

nWhich way should I go first?

nThree choices came up in her head.

nThe first one was to go see her siblings who’d come out to greet her.

nThe second…

nGo and meet the one who had come back a second time—which was rare to do.

nBut from what I heard Merril was the first one.

nLightly tapping her fan on her chin, Aurora gave up her disappointment, consoled herself, and thought of the last option.

nLevisia..

nAurora had pretended not to know her but already knew about her through sources.

nThe one who had stolen the hearts of Lidan, Siaphyl, Elizabeth, and Merril.

nFrom what I saw, even Cassian seems to take notice of her…

nEven while talking with them earlier, she’d realized that all of their attention had been on Levisia. Even worse, even Cassian.

nThis worry of hers did not last long. She said, after tapping the end of her hand on her palm,

n“Good. I’ve decided. Please let me know where Levisia is.”

n“Okay.”

nAurora walked away humming after giving orders to a servant.

nShe was very excited to see how Levisia was, who was the Kraidens’ center of attention.

n* * *

nIt was right after she’d torn away from the other Kraidens that she felt a presence following.

nWho is that?

nThe other person continued to follow her without narrowing their distance, talking to her, not going their own way.

nThe clacking footsteps in the hallway sounded like male dress shoes, but she had no idea why they were following her.

nEh… I don’t care.

nMy room for the night was just a little way up the hall, so if they’re following me because they have something to say, they’ll say it before I get there, she thought, turning the corner. Then she stopped in her tracks.

nWhat’s that?

nThe footsteps behind her had sped up as soon as she turned the corner. Now it sounded like they were running.

nIs it because I’m out of their sight?

nWas there someone spying on her? Who? And for what?

nShe raged through her thoughts, then she stopped. Without taking another step, she turned around. If it were a man following her, he had no choice but to turn this corner anyway.

nLet’s see who it is.

nShe was curious about the steps lurking behind her. If it was someone she didn’t know, she could interrogate the person who ordered them to follow her.

nWhen she was thinking about this and that, a man hurriedly appeared around the corner.

nAnd their eyes met.

nAt that moment, his expression, which had seemed surprising, was now twisted. She knew that face.

nShe was surprised by the unexpected culprit and stepped back.

n“You…”

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