Winter handed Race a cold compress. Race's cheek was red and swollen from Raja Michel's hard slap.
"Still hurts?" Winter asked.

"No." Race answered shortly, shaking his head.

"It's still red and swollen," Winter commented again, looking at Race's cheek.

"It's okay, it will heal soon. Why are you here, Winter?" Race asked while still holding the compress to his cheek.

"I came with Father and Mother. I'm sorry about Father's sudden slap earlier. Maybe he couldn't accept that you raised your voice to Uncle Milano," Winter explained.

"Um... I understand."
Race nodded in agreement with Winter's words. Winter was now looking at his cousin with a compassionate expression.

"Race, why did you get so angry? They are your parents. Just because of Ivy, you got so worked up."

Hearing Winter's question, Race looked up and gazed at Winter.
"Just because? Ivy is my wife, Winter. It's not just..."

"I know, Race, but you shouldn't have gotten so angry to the point of raising your voice like that. They are your parents, you should respect them."

"You're right, but you don't know what they said about Ivy. They said this is Ivy's risk, how can they? Ivy is a woman, they themselves asked Ivy to become part of this family. How can they be so indifferent to Ivy's condition right now? At least don't say something as simple as that. They don't know how I feel right now. Maybe you don't know how worried I am about Ivy's condition, Winter."

Race spoke at length, his breath ragged and heavy. His chest felt tight and suffocating. He was so angry, but he understood his position and remembered that Winter, his cousin, was the crown prince. Winter looked at Race with a sympathetic expression; just by looking at Race's face, Winter could understand his feelings. Winter also felt a bit of the worry that Race was experiencing.

"It seems like this is all my fault," Winter murmured.

Race's eyes widened in surprise at Winter's words. He lowered his hand and caught Winter's hand.
"It's true that you were wrong in asking Ivy to become the palace oracle, but this is not all because of you. I am also at fault as her husband. I should have kept preventing Ivy from becoming the palace oracle. Don't blame yourself, Winter!"

"It's true that I'm at fault. I shouldn't have thought that Ivy could be my shield."

"A shield? What do you mean, Winter?"
***
In the western territory.

"Have you heard?" Mrs. Liana asked her husband.

"What?" Mr. Marques inquired.

"Ivy fainted at King Michel's birthday party. She still hasn't regained consciousness and is being healed by a southern healing sorceress," explained Mrs. Liana.

"Fainted? How could that happen?" Mr. Marques questioned, pausing his meal.

"I don't know for sure why, but if they had to resort to using a sorceress, doesn't that mean Ivy is severely hurt?" Mrs. Liana pondered.

Mr. Marques nodded in agreement with his wife, and a moment later, he looked at Mrs. Liana again.

"Could this be the work of our commissioned monster as well?" Mr. Marques wondered.

"Did you once again release a monster into the kingdom like you do every year?" Mrs. Liana asked, puzzled.

"Of course, it's our agreement with the forest monsters. Besides, they want Winter to disappear soon."

"Then why is Ivy the one injured?"

"Perhaps it's Ivy's fate. Our plan to eliminate Ivy during the raid on the ruby and charm stone in Race's base camp failed. So this might be a substitute, and after all, aren't we marrying Ivy to replace Cheris?" Mr. Marques spoke again.

Mrs. Liana gave a faint smile and nodded in agreement. They both fell silent, lost in their thoughts, until a knock on the family room door was heard.

"Come in!" Mrs. Liana commanded.

Before long, a fully clad knight entered and bowed.

"I bring a letter from the eastern territory, Sir, Madam."

"A letter?" Mr. Marques raised a puzzled eyebrow.

"It must be news about Ivy's condition," Mrs. Liana mused.

In the eastern territory, Race is cleaning Ivy's body. Today, Ivy has to undergo healing once again. Ivy still hasn't regained consciousness and looks extremely pale and slightly thin.

"Why aren't you tired of lying down like this all the time?" Race asked while gently wiping Ivy's hand with a wet towel.

"Usually, you'd be talking endlessly and moving around everywhere, Iv. Doesn't sleeping make you tired?"

Once again, Race kept talking to Ivy, even though it was clear that his wife didn't respond to his words in the slightest. Race continued discussing trivial matters, hoping Ivy could hear him and wake up soon. Until Race's hand stopped, and he lifted his head to look at Ivy.

"Are you punishing me for my past actions?" Race asked, his voice trembling as he held back tears.

Race quickly wiped his tears upon hearing the commotion outside Ivy's room. He released Ivy's hand and stood up. Walking out of the room, he found several royal guards approaching with a stretcher. Race furrowed his brow in confusion at the sight.

"What brings you all here?" Race asked.

The four guards bowed as they greeted Race. One of them stepped forward, extending a piece of paper to Race.
"This is an order from the kingdom, Young Master Race."

With a puzzled expression, Race took the paper and read it. His eyes widened in shock. How could this be happening? Race crumpled the paper in his hand, and his face contorted with anger as he glared at all the guards who had come to Ivy's pavilion.

"If any of you dare to take Ivy away, I'll make sure you won't make it back to your homes safely," Race threatened with his furious expression.

"But, it's all an order from the King, Young Master Race."

"To hell with the King's order! She's my wife, how could I send her back to the west in her current condition? If you still want to follow that order, you'll have to face me first!"

Race threw the crumpled paper he held and assumed an aggressive stance against the royal guards. The four guards exchanged glances, though they were all confident they'd be defeated by Race. However, they also needed to respect the kingdom's order.

"Young Master Race, we're just following orders. We don't want to fight you in the slightest. We apologize, but we have to take Young Mistress Ivy."

The four guards persisted in attempting to enter Ivy's room, while Race didn't hesitate to restrain one guard's hand swiftly. He even roughly pushed away a guard who was within reach. He couldn't allow his unconscious wife to be sent back to the West. The guards eventually started to resist Race, and a brawl ensued between them without considering the situation anymore.

"Race."

A faint voice could be heard from Ivy's room, but Race didn't listen as he was busy fighting the royal guards.

Race stopped fighting the guards when he noticed Ivy's room door was open. He rushed towards Ivy, who was slowly walking towards him.

"Race, stop fighting!" Ivy whispered.

Race quickly grabbed Ivy's hand.
"Iv, you're awake? Why did you come out of the room?" Race asked in panic as he saw Ivy walking out of the room.

"Race, please stop fighting! You could get hurt."

The guard who had been fighting Race stopped and looked at Ivy and Race with surprise.
"Young Mistress is awake, what's happening?"

"Let's wait a moment!"

Race and Ivy gazed at each other. Ivy gave a faint smile and then gently held Race's cheek.
"You're not hurt, are you?" she asked.

Upon hearing Ivy's question, Race started sobbing. He tightly embraced Ivy and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you for waking up, Iv."
***