The dinner table at Shatonwell, adorned with olives and grapes of various colors like floral decorations, brought back old memories.

As Heath was lost in thought, Queen Isla slowly entered the dining room.

“You’re already here?”

“Just checking things,” Heath replied, crossing his arms. Isla quietly gazed at him.

In his neatly tailored white shirt, he appeared rigid and full of discipline, a far cry from how he used to be. He was still kind and gentle to everyone, though.

Isla spoke slowly.

“Why do you think the young lord of Hanover came?”

“Well… maybe some persuasion?”

“What is our Duke thinking?”

Heath furrowed his brow slightly.

“I noticed it the moment he came up the stairs. He got startled just because his wife almost tripped. Is that really the same Duke who didn’t flinch even when a man’s head was cut off right in front of him?”

Isla made a fuss, but Heath remained silent.

“You’re quieter than I remember.”

“I just don’t feel like talking to you.”

The handsome man smiled as he tossed out cruel words.

“Don’t you think you should show some respect to the queen?”

Her green eyes, playful as they were, still held a tinge of sadness.

“Looks like we’re really just friends now.”

“Being friends is the best outcome, don’t you think?”

Heath’s cruel words were as soft and sweet as ever. Isla shrugged.

“That’s harsh.”

“What’s done is done.”

Isla glanced up at the handsome man standing next to her, then turned her gaze away.

‘What’s done is done.’

She gathered herself and continued.

“So what does Kaiden Delcliff plan to do?”

She tilted her head.

“Do about what?”

“Is he going to continue his marriage?”

“Probably. They are married, after all.”

“Married, huh…”

The word “married” made Isla bite her lip subtly, as if no one would notice.

“Why don’t you ask him yourself, instead of asking me?”

“You’re being too much. Can’t you give me a little bit of information, for old times’ sake?”

Heath smiled faintly, but his smile was hollow. Isla narrowed her eyes. For some reason, she felt a sudden, sharp pain in her chest, as if she’d been cut.

She saw something different in his eyes.

Just as Isla was about to speak again, a calm voice came from behind.

“My goodness, the table setting is beautiful.”

Rohana entered with a bright smile, followed by Kaiden with his usual indifferent expression. Yet even with that blank look, his eyes never left her for a moment.

Isla, recalling her own past, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of something like jealousy.

‘Heath, are you okay?’

When people like me, who’ve given up, see those who haven’t, it sometimes makes us angry.

“Where’s Princess Serin’s room? She seemed upset earlier, and I feel bad about it.”

How did someone so kind-natured manage to get this far?

It was said that she had even shot an arrow at Lazar, and there were reports that Caladrius had protected her.

Who exactly is she?

Pushing aside her complicated thoughts, Isla smiled brightly.

“If you head to the third floor, you’ll see it right away. It’s the most beautiful door, right in the center.”

Rohana smiled and brushed Kaiden’s arm as they began to walk.

Kaiden watched her leave before turning his gaze back to the room.

He was still tall with broad shoulders, silver hair, a perfectly straight nose, and a sharp jawline, just as before.

The man who never showed emotion now had a visible expression, even if it was just from his side profile.

“Uh-oh. I might actually get jealous,” Isla thought as she blinked her long, dark lashes slowly.

***

Princess Serin lay sprawled on her bed, still pouting.

“How dangerous can a festival really be? It’s so unfair.”

After throwing all her temper at Austin, even he had shaken his head and said he’d step out for a while.

Looking out the window, colorful fabrics hung long in celebration of the festival.

“So unfair…”

It was utterly unfair. Even after returning, no one had said a word to her. Her mother had always been that way, Kaiden wasn’t that type, and Heath just smiled but remained cold.

She had expected Rohana to say something. She had been so excited, thinking they were getting closer, but it was disappointing beyond measure.

‘I’ll make sure to show just how upset I am.’

If she did, Rohana would probably smile with those long, beautiful eyes and be extra nice to her. Serin grinned with satisfaction.

Rohana was smart and kind, but unlike her mother, she wasn’t scatterbrained. She was just the kind of adult Serin liked.

Knock, knock.

There was a sound, but it didn’t come from the door. It came from the window.

“Huh?”

Serin practically rolled across the wide bed. Her small feet touched the floor as she slowly walked toward the window where the sound was coming from.

Her room was on the third floor. It wasn’t easy to hear knocking up here.

At that moment, there was a clicking sound as the window opened.

****

Bardi stood with his arms crossed, quietly observing the items hanging on the wall. His reddish-brown hair glowed even more vividly in the evening sunlight.

A snow-white fox fur scarf.

A thick, luxurious royal cloak made of bright red velvet, and a golden steel armor, symbolizing the emperor.

There had been a long and arduous journey to obtain these items. Even more effort was required to secure them before the previous emperor’s death.

Bardi knew that with the situation regarding Rohana, more than effort, time was needed. So, he had decided to wait, and he had waited. For a very long time.

And now, everything was ready.

Except for one thing.

A knock echoed through the spacious office. Silvius entered with a red carrier pigeon. A small encrypted note was tied to its leg, which he held in his hand.

“Your Majesty.”

“What about that matter?”

“It’s finally prepared.”

It was something that had been in the works throughout the winter.

“And Brandt? What is he up to?”

“As expected, they’re all on high alert. If this continues, the name ‘Rohana Hanover,’ symbolic of the Arin clan, will become a joke. It’s obvious to anyone that she belongs to that group…”

As Silvius rambled on, he abruptly stopped, sensing the cold air.

“Silvius.”

“Yes!”

“Watch your words.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How can Rohana do any more among those monsters? Rather than lament that we can’t save her sooner, we should act faster.”

Silvius quickly dropped to his knees, alarmed by Bardi’s sudden anger.

“I apologize, Your Majesty! I spoke out of turn.”

“Enough.”

Bardi replied cynically as he sat on the chair, swiftly writing a short message in his hand.

“Send the pigeon to Brandt. Make sure it reaches him quickly.”

Silvius, like the soldier he was, marched over and took the note. The rolled-up paper was tied to the pigeon, and it flew off into the sky once again.

As Bardi fell back into his thoughts, he spoke once more.

“Rohana wouldn’t obediently follow Brandt’s orders, would she?”

The poor captain would be thoroughly abandoned by his sister. Then the narrow-minded Brandt would have no choice but to rely on Bardi, just as Gregory Hanover had once done.

Rohana would be utterly alone.

“But the most beautiful aspect of this is not that.”

Bardi grinned.

She had once cried every day when mere maids were beaten by her father.

“Guilt, huh…”

He had only realized later, once his mind had cleared, that guilt was the most effective way to shake her. If the people around her got hurt, if she became a real burden to Kaiden, whom she held so dearly now…

She would inevitably return. Return to the only place where she wouldn’t have to feel guilt.

‘To me, where she can hate to her heart’s content.’

Bardi Rentworth, who had observed Rohana Hanover for a long time, was confident she would eventually choose to return to him, no matter how much she despised it.

Bardi picked up the crystal glass from his desk. He had been drinking more than usual. The amber liquid swirled as he moved the glass.

“I’m sorry it had to come to this.”

Bardi muttered a hollow apology to himself.

“One day, you’ll thank me.”

Why mention breaking off an engagement over such a lowly woman?

‘You were as foolish as I was.’

Bardi furrowed his brow and asked another question.

“Is there still no sign of Aurelia?”

“It seems that Lazar has deliberately hidden her.”

Despite the rebellions stirring across the territory, it was still difficult to track down the whereabouts of R.D., Lazar, or Aurelia.

“Keep searching.”

Bardi ordered, tilting the glass, and Silvius saluted before leaving.

***

“Princess.”

Rohana greeted the servants standing by the entrance before slowly opening the door.

The spacious parlor was decorated in vibrant colors to suit the princess’s taste. The hues matched her hair and eye color so perfectly that Rohana couldn’t help but smile—it was just so characteristic of her. Yet something felt off.

“Princess Serin?”

She knocked on the bedroom door. The thick wooden door echoed with a soft thud. The maid standing nearby widened her eyes in confusion.

There was no response.

Rohana slowly opened the door. It seemed empty.

“Wasn’t the princess supposed to be here?”

The maid shook her head, clearly bewildered, and quickly began searching the area. Rohana opened another door, this time leading to what appeared to be a study.

Again, no one was there.

Suddenly, her heart began to race with anxiety. Rohana’s steps quickened.

Thud.

Thud.

The art room, the dressing room, the large chamber filled with magical tools.

She was nowhere to be found.

The servants standing nearby shook their heads vigorously. Just then, Austin appeared in the hallway.