Edmund opened his eyes, confused about where he was. He was in a bed, and to his sides, other men were in beds, in a room that he recognized as one of the Duchess's mansion rooms. One maid passed in front of the bed, looked at him surprised, and ran out, which confused him.

  ‘Well, that is a normal reaction.’ Edmund sigh.

  Looking around and trying to adjust himself in a better position with the pillow on his back, he noticed that under the sheet, he was naked. The thought of one maid cleaning his body made him look deep and concentrate on a red mark on the wall, but regret pulled him back to reality, and his shock ?subsided.

  ‘I need to go back to work.’ He used the sheets to cover himself and tried to escape Ted.

  Ariadne entered the room and saw Edmund trying to get out of bed?. When Edmund tried to get up, he came crashing down to the floor, surprising him.

  ‘It was that bad?’ Edmund spoke to himself.

  ‘Peasant, what are you doing?’ Ariadne looked at him on the floor.

  ‘I’m just doing my daily exercises.' He looked up and smiled at her.

  ‘So you are just fine, hum?’ She pulled a fan from a pocket inside of her jacket.

  ‘It’s not like you would help me or something, ok.’ Edmund crawled his way back to his bed.

  Everyone in the room laughed, which made Edmund sigh as he positioned himself on the bed again. He thought he saw a smile on her face directed at him for a moment, but it vanished behind her fan.

  ‘Wait, why haven't you helped me get up?’ Edmund looked at the group standing to the left.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Ethan, Leah, Alon, Alya, and Rita spoke in unison.

  ‘Ok… ‘ He rolled his eyes.

  ‘Now you will have new clothes, Edmund.’ Alya spoke in an enthusiastic tone.

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  ‘Isn’t that great?’ Leah smiled at him.

  ‘What is happening? Am I going to die?’ Edmund looked at them, confused.

  ‘Now you will have an ?allowance to buy things; it’s a reward for what you did.’ Ariadne looked at him for a moment but looked away right after.

  ‘?? That is so good. Thanks, Duchess; I will forgive you for almost killing me.’ He smiled at her.

  Ariadne closed her fan and approached Edmund seriously. The young man looked at her, confused. She grabbed him by the throat, and he held her arm in response. With his eyes widening, Edmund looked at the group.

  ‘Wh... are you, doi...? Hel... me...‘ Edmund tried to gasp for air.

  ‘How dare you? Forgiving me?’ She pulled him closer to her face, lifting him from the bed.

  ‘Your Highness, you are going to kill him.’ Eliza came running and held Ariadne’s arm.

  ‘It. Ov… ‘ Edmund rolled his eyes as his vision blurred.

  The duchess let go of him, and his body crumbled to the ground. She took a deep breath and looked around her with a sad expression. It was quick, and she didn’t care to notice everyone's looks. The only thing Ariadne felt was instant shame from what had transpired.

  ‘I’m sorry; take care of him.’ She opened her fan again to cover her face and walked out.

  Edmund passed out, and the mark of her hand was visible on his neck. Alon, Rita, Ethan, and Alya stood there like nothing had happened. They shook their heads in disapproval and sighed. The soldiers on their beds looked at Edmund and one another with disapproval.

  Eliza put her hand on his neck. As the bright light appeared, the redness faded, and a calmer expression overtook him. Outside the room, Ariadne looked out the window and saw people coming, like days before, to see their loved ones.

  ‘Thank you for saving our son.’ A gray-haired couple saluted her but closed their eyes.

  Ariadne instantly felt warmth from her heart, which calmed her like a subconscious reflection. She smiled at them but stepped closer to the couple immediately after that.

  ‘It was nothing; be strong, and everything will be fine.’ She hugged the two.

  The two experienced a surge of happiness compared to the first day they visited when Eliza said their son would be fine while looking at him breathing on the floor. Tears poured from their eyes, but their arms didn’t reciprocate the hug. Ultimately, when she stepped back and smiled, they just stood there, admiring her smile momentarily.

  ‘Ho, what happened? Did I harm you two?’ Ariadne looked distressed.

  ‘No, these are tears of joy; I can’t explain.’ The gray-haired A-Dam man looked at the Chatzi female to his side.

  ‘Yes, I just feel so happy.’ The gray-haired Chatzi woman smiled at the duchess.

  ‘If you are okay, there is no problem; I feel happy for you two. Ask Eliza to look at you; say that I asked to.’ She spoke while opening the door of the room.

  ‘Thank you, your highness.’ They entered the room.

  Ariadne returned to the window and the side. More people came, but before entering the room, all saluted her. She noticed not by looking but by feeling that some were praying as they walked towards her.

  ‘I need to talk to the peasant about this; I don’t understand what is happening to me.’ She thought to herself.

  If she concentrated enough, Ariadne could feel the same thing from a distance toward the city; it couldn’t be pinpointed, just that direction. Remembering the first time ?at night when she was having a cup of tea, from that day on, it only became stronger; now it feels so good that she is becoming inebriated from it; there was no time. She didn’t feel good unless she interacted with Edmund.