Perez's statement that he has collected 'as many as possible' books are true.

"Where did you get all these books from?"

"I brought it from the Imperial Library in the Central Palace, and these herbal medicine books were the ones I had originally."

The looks of turning the pages while answering seemed very familiar.

With a sudden thought, I asked Perez.

"Perez, by any chance, have you been researching Tlenbrew's drugs by yourself?"

Look.

Perez's shoulders shuddered.

And if there was no answer, it was evidence.

Perez would rather lie to me than say nothing.

"Thanks."

"..."

Perez's ears turned red when he looked at the book without saying a word.

I smiled silently and picked up a book.

Yeah, it doesn't suit my personality to leave everything to Estira and relax.

it would be more convenient to do whatever it takes to find the last piece of Tlenbrew's medicine.

While we spent time reading in the library, Caitlyn and Kylus took turns delivering food and drinks.

"Ugh, my waist."

How many hours have passed?

I raised my head in pain when my back was suddenly hurt.

It was already past afternoon.

Looking at Perez, who was sitting on the other side, he still hadn't taken his eyes off the book.

Beside him was a mountain of books he had already skimmed through.

It was when I was looking out the window because I didn't want to disturb Perez, who was concentrating.

"Shall we go out for a moment?"

Suddenly, Perez looked at me.

"The garden is pretty nice for a walk."

Contrary to Perez's simple impression, the gardens of Poirak Palace were very beautiful.

As if knowing that the owner of this palace often visits the garden, all kinds of flowers and trees naturally blended together around the promenade.

"Oh, this flower... Isn't that the flower you sent me before?"

I asked, pointing to a red flower that looked familiar somewhere.

"That's right. Bomnia flowers."

"It's a different season than you sent me this flower?"

"Previously it had bloomed and fallen last spring. But for some reason, it seems to bloom once more this year."

"What? that's interesting. It blooms twice a year."

I approached and smelled the sweet scent of the flower.

Tock.

Perez picked a bomnia flower and handed it to me.

He tore off the sweet petals and put them in his mouth.

"If I keep following this road, what will I find?"

"Central Palace Hall."

"Like that..."

When I moved my body a little, my head seemed to clear up.

How far did we walk?

At the end of the road, the hall that Perez spoke of seemed to be visible.

And there is a person who was just walking through the hall, that I didn't want to meet.

"Let's go back."

"Okay."

Perez answered with a frown on his forehead as if it was bothering him at all.

We turned around and tried to go back the way we came.

"Hey, there you two."

Until an unlucky voice dares to follow us.

"Whoa."

I already have a bad feeling.

I engraved my patience, turned around, and greeted.

"Hello, His Majesty the First Prince."

"Yes!. You were right!."

Astana approached with an unlucky smile.

Perez was already staring at Astana with cold eyes.

Feels like he's about to draw a sword like last time.

Let's just go quietly this time.

I swore so.

But that promise was immediately shaken by Astana's words.

"I heard that Gallahan Lombardy had a fatal disease?"

"You crazy bastard."

Without realizing it, cursing came out of my voice.

Astana widened her eyes in surprise.

"You dare to curse at me..."

Watching Astana squirm silently like a goldfish, I tried to calm my mind again.

I was so angry because it was about my father.

But, ominously, I saw something from Astana's face.

It was a grinning smile as if he had found a weakness that could haunt me.

"Your father is dying, and you are hanging out with that lowly man in the Imperial Palace. Are you really his daughter?

"Stop."

Perez next to me said in a low voice warning him.

But Astana shrugged her shoulders once and continued to sarcastic.

"If it were my father, I would never leave his bed for a moment. After all, I don't mean to say that lowly things are lowly for nothing."

"Astana."

"Your mother is a wanderer of unknown origin, so it's obvious."

"Shut your mouth."

Perez said while placing his hand on the handle of the sword.

"I know, wanderers sell themselves to anyone to find a place to sleep for a night..."

Slap!

Astana's face turned to the side with a loud sound.

Red handprints slowly appeared on his cheeks.

It was me who slapped that cheek with all my might.2

"You hit me...?"

Astana touch his cheek with one hand and murmured.

I stared straight at him.

Tears flowed involuntarily at the outrageous anger.