Four hours ago, Melissa secretly moved to new quarters. She moved without letting anyone know, not even informing her maid or Rael.

With the Emperor’s vassals, Reizen, and the knights still at the hotel, there would be no cause for suspicion.

The new residence was the Asphalia Hotel.

It was a foreign-owned hotel known for having the strictest security in the Sys Empire. It was operated with funds pooled by kingdoms that weren’t on good terms with the Sys Empire, used as a refuge when foreign delegations felt their lives might be in danger.

‘I never imagined I’d end up here.’

Had the rain stopped?

It had been pouring as if the sky had holes in it. Thanks to that, no one was suspicious when she hurried along with Erich, covered in a robe.

Melissa tried to open the palm-sized window to check the weather outside but gave up. The handle was so stiff it wouldn’t turn, as if no one had ever opened this small window before.

Perhaps the metal in the joints had rusted, as iron powder came off on her hand.

“Ugh.”

The smell of rust was overwhelming on her hands. She went into the connected shower room to thoroughly wash her hands with soap, then returned to sit neatly on the sofa.

She could hear the clock. Tick-tock…

It was the clock placed on top of the mahogany bookshelf beside the sofa. It was also the only tool to know the date and time outside. Melissa moved it to the sofa table where she could see it better.

She pulled out a few interesting foreign books from the shelf to flip through them, but when she looked at the clock, only 5 minutes had passed.

How long would she have to stay here?

The surroundings were excessively quiet. The loudest sounds were her breathing and the clock. If she listened carefully, she could hear the guards patrolling the corridors periodically and the rattling of their rifles against their bulletproof vests. Occasionally when they exchanged jokes in foreign languages and giggled, Melissa would smile gently too.

But despite her composed face, her hands were clammy with sweat, and she was unconsciously biting her nails. The nail on her left middle finger was torn so much it bled.

“Ah.”

Seeing the blood made her heart start pounding heavily. That’s when she heard uneven footsteps in the corridor.

It wasn’t a guard.

Someone was humming a tune as if drunk, leaning their heavy body against the wall, and Melissa’s eyes immediately lit up.

‘It’s Reizen.’

It must be him.

Melissa hurriedly organized the books she had scattered about.

Reizen didn’t want her to go to Selheim. Of course, he needed her because of the brand’s side effects, but she thought the deep and intense emotional connection between them played an even bigger role.

Him coming back now must mean he caught the spy? The spy was probably… Sion.

After killing Moore, he had rushed through the investigation and funeral using the bereaved family as an excuse.

At the time, he had vaguely explained it away as mistakes in the investigation due to being overcome with grief over his friend’s death. The nobles didn’t care about a commoner’s death anyway, so it hadn’t become a big issue.

Reizen was probably the only one who had kept paying attention and investigating this.

Then when had Reizen known he was the spy?

When he returned to his territory from the capital, he left Sion, his closest aide, behind for a month, citing the need to delegate capital duties.

When Melissa went to his office, Sion’s desk was already completely cleared out. As if it belonged to someone who would never return.

When he came to the prison, he seemed to think she was the culprit.

‘Then was it right after he saved me?’

That timing seemed most likely.

When the two of them married, Melissa spent time avoiding Reizen out of fear. The man had suffered both the pain of the brand and betrayal.

“Ah.”

That feeling when betrayed by someone you cherished.

Melissa knew that misery all too well. It must have felt like his heart was crumbling. But memories being what they are, they were too precious to easily let go of. How difficult it must have been. How much must he have hesitated and hurt alone…

She wanted to hold Reizen tight.

Just as he had done for her when she had given up everything, she wanted to be a source of rest for Reizen too.

The humming grew louder outside the door.

Melissa opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

Though she was hearing it for the first time, the melody was as beautiful as a memory. Some parts sounded like a military song painting a hopeful future. When she finally reached the source of the gentle humming.

The drunk man smiled hazily and called out a name. With eyes that looked sorrowful, as if filled with all the longing in the world.

“…Roana.”

Another woman’s name.

“…”

Her heart dropped. The clump of emotions smeared across the floor, bleeding.

Only after it fell and smeared did she realize.

How heavy those emotions had been.

Melissa’s lips fell into a straight line.

She was angry but couldn’t express it. She couldn’t throw a fit about him calling another woman’s name when his eyes looked so desperate.

She noticed traces of unwiped blood on his chin.

The strong smell of alcohol made her head spin. He must have smoked so many cigars too, as the thick scent permeated his whole body enough to make her throat feel raw.

He was thoroughly broken.

“Reizen.”

Melissa unclenched her fists.

She smoothed her brow and sat down facing him with a gentle smile. Seeing the woman’s peaceful expression, a slight alertness returned to Reizen’s eyes.

“…Mel?”

“Yes.”

It’s me, Melissa.

Melissa whispered near his ear as she embraced his neck. Reizen lowered his upper body, twice as large as hers, and buried his face in her small embrace.

The strong smell of alcohol wafted and she felt as though she were hugging a barrel of liquor. He wrapped one arm around Melissa’s back and leaned into her.

Then soon he started humming again. This time it was a melancholy tune in a low key.

What could this song mean as it rang sadly in Melissa’s arms? Was it a requiem for a fallen comrade, or a love song for someone beloved?

The melody that had first seemed beautiful now felt terrible.

“Are you alright?”

Guards patrolling in the distance appeared. Melissa composed her stiffened expression and stood up.

“Yes, I’m fine. Could you please escort this person to his room?”

“Of course.”

The guard readily agreed and approached.

It was unclear how long the two had sat there. Only her tingling legs told of the time that had passed.

Her ankles throbbed and ached. As she limped along, clinging to the wall and letting out shallow breaths, Rael’s words came to mind.

“Don’t avoid reality, whatever it may be.”

Melissa returned to her room with a bitter smile.

* * *

Reizen seemed to have nightmares throughout the dawn. Melissa used his arm as a pillow, staying close and patting his chest. When she did, the man’s expression would ease for a while.

As soon as dawn broke, he got dressed.

“You’re leaving already?”

The effects of alcohol probably hadn’t worn off yet.

Melissa, who had gotten up with heavy eyes still drowsy from sleep, watched him bustle about. His hair was still wet, suggesting he had just bathed and dressed.

Though he looked somewhat haggard, he was still a dazzlingly beautiful man. He came over and pressed his lips to Melissa’s forehead.

“Go back to sleep.”

Reizen laid Melissa back down on the bed and covered her with the blanket. His touch as he stroked her hair was incredibly delicate and gentle.

‘This is why I get confused.’

Because he’s naturally so affectionate.

Because he’s someone who genuinely cares for and likes those around him. If it had been another woman beside Reizen instead of her, he would have been just as gentle.

As a husband and brand companion.

Reizen rolled up his shirt sleeves and put on an expensive watch. Melissa, lying in bed watching him, asked.

“What happened… you won’t tell me anyway, right?”

Reizen’s eyes widened slightly at her resigned words. His handsome face seemed to stiffen for a moment.

“Why? Have you decided not to ask anymore because I might only tell you half the truth?”

“…I don’t want to fight.”

When Melissa mumbled in a weak voice, Reizen laughed softly.

“I didn’t know you were such a pacifist.”

Why did he have to scratch at her insides like this?

Melissa couldn’t just take it lying down and tried to get up from the bed. Reizen, who had somehow come right up to her, pressed one finger against her forehead as she tried to raise her upper body, making her lie back down.