Cariadra, grappling with some truths she had been told, seemed to malfunction. Her black eyes spun in confusion as her gaze alternated between Lee Ji-yeon, who wore a wry smile, and me, comfortably nestled in her embrace.

"Is Lee Ji-yeon... the queen...?"

"Um, we don't really know the details either. Someone from somewhere has been keeping secrets, sealing their lips tightly."

Lee Ji-yeon coughed lightly and glanced down at my head. Caught in a daze of sleepiness, I twitched my shoulders.

"There were reasons it was hard to speak..."

"This incident too?"

Her voice dropped an octave, piercing my eardrums. I shrank back under her cool green gaze, likely referring to the incident a few days ago when Baek Ah-rin was saved.