"Why are you here? Monster!"

"What is this? This is not my room!" Mila shouted after waking up again in the world of the novel. She was expecting to wake up to reality after experiencing such excruciating pain.

The renaissance décor of the ceiling and the European style of furniture inside the large room are making her distressed worse as it's proof that she's not back in her own world yet.

"Madam, please calm down. Your wound will open up." an old man said to her while pushing her back to lie. The man is wearing a butler outfit.

"Who are you? Get off of me!"

What makes Mila even more furious about her situation is that she is surrounded by strangers.

Although she could recognize Robert, he is also a person he just met and can be considered a stranger as well.

She became hysterical. She badly wants to go back to her world, but the fear of experiencing pain again is making her feel frightened of her current stay here if she doesn't wake up soon.

She was actually becoming scared of everything.

A city gal that always relies on modern technology can never survive in a savage world that is filled with dangerous events.

War, battle, magic, and mythical things are only nice on screen and paper.

It is not good to actually experience it.

She wants to escape, but where to?

She doesn't even know who sent her here or why she was sent to this world.

"Why me?"

"Is there something I need to do to go home?"

Her mind was filled with questions.

Questions about what she needs to do next to survive.

Her paranoia overwhelms her and she starts to become scared of every single thing that exists inside the novel.

"It's better to leave her alone." While shaking his head, the priest said.

"But is it safe to leave her like that? She might hurt herself." Robert asked, while he shielded everyone from the random objects Mila was throwing.

"Do we need to tie her up?" the plain woman asked.

"No. She'll get worse if we treat her harshly. How about letting the closest person to the duchess take care of her? She might calm down." The priest suggested something, which made everyone look at each other.

"Okay, let's call Christopher." Robert instantly thought of Tope as the closest relationship to Mila.

"Isn't it the young master's fault that the duchess became like this?" The lady in waiting whispered to each other.

"It was not Christopher. It was the dragon." Robert corrected them, then gave them a deathly glare.

"Ah, Yes sir. " The ladies flinched, and they bowed their heads to apologize.

"Bring Christopher here." Robert ordered, but the ladies didn't move instantly to his order.

"Why aren't you moving?"

"Actually, the young master is outside, waiting." they said, with a hint of fear in their tone.

The people inside the castle can't forget the dragon and intentionally avoid the young master due to fear.

"Really?"

Robert walked out of Mila's bedroom and saw Tope sitting on the floor.

"Toppe. Why are you there and not entering?" Robert gently asked. He looked at the child with pity.

Christoper (Tope) went back to his human form and succeeded in controlling his dragon form, with the memory of the dragon intact in his head. He became aware of how he killed and harmed a lot of the Duchy's knights and people. The thirteen-year-old child wanted to burry himself and didn't want to appear to anyone again. However, death also scared him.

"Uncle, I am sorry."

Beads of tears start to form in the child's eyes. He remained hugging his knees while sitting at the side of the hallway.

"It's not your fault." Robert comforted the child by sitting beside him.

"But, father... mother... because of me," he said fidgeting.

"Tope. You need to be strong. Your mother needs you." Robert whispered. He felt ironic that he had said the same thing to Mila before.

Both mother and son are experiencing despair and loss, but it is only the two of them that can make each other better.

Robert wanted them to feel better, but he could not do anything other than stay by their side.

Additionally, from now on, the child will face more hardship as he is now a candidate to be the next king.

The power that everyone desires is now attainable for Christhoper.

"What should I do? Uncle?" Tope wiped his tears and forced his eyes to stop crying. "What can I do to make my mother feel better?"

Robert smiled because of Tope's determination and love to Mila.

"For now, stay with her, take care of her."

"Is that all?" Tope asked while blinking his eyes. He is close to his mother. That is why the thing Robert said is easy for him.

"Yes, stay with her even if she kicks you out. Don't stop caring for her, even if she says she hates you. Don't leave her even if she says such harsh words." Robert said while combing his finger through Tope's jet-black hair.

"Does my mother say she despises me?" Tope asked with a shaking voice.

"She didn't, but she might."

Hearing Robert's response, Tope's shoulders slumped down and he gazed down at the floor, looking gloomy.

"But remember, she never meant any harsh words, she says. She is sick, that is why. She might regret it later, so I hope you forgive her."

"Yes, uncle! I'll do my best!" Tope's determination returned, and he stood up from sitting, which Robert followed.

"Remember, if she starts to physically hurt you, you need to leave." Robert warned.

"But you just said, I need to stay by her side?" Tope was confused.

"No. I know you are a strong kid that can understand your mother's harsh words, but if she became violent towards you, it would be a different story. Okay?"

Tope nodded his head and asked a different request. "Then uncle, can you ask everyone to leave? I want to stay with my mother only."

Tope is still ashamed of himself, which is why it's still hard for him to face anyone other than his family. Robert understood this and replied to Tope with an "Okay."

Robert then takes the servants and priest out of the room and hopes for a better outcome with the mother and son's interaction.

Tope stayed in the room next door and waited for everyone to leave, then he quietly went inside Mila's room.

Tap!

Tope reflexively caught the vase Mila threw at him.

He calmly put the vase on the floor and approached his mother.

"Why are you here? Monster!"