“It’s been a while,” Rohana said, walking toward Aurelia. Tension filled the space between the two women as they faced each other.

“You’re no longer the Empress, so I don’t need to address you with formalities, do I?”

Aurelia’s brow furrowed.

“Yes, of course. Feel free to speak as you wish.”

Her doll-like face emitted a mechanically clear voice, and her eyes, as always, gleamed with rapid thoughts.

“In any case, capturing Serin turned out to be a good move for us. It’s fortunate, and I’m grateful.”

Aurelia bit her tongue in frustration. She had disliked this plan from the start. She knew that without going to such lengths, neither Kaiden nor R.D. would have accepted her.

But she hadn’t expected Rohana to remain so calm.

“Don’t mention it. There’s nothing R.D. or I wouldn’t do for ‘Kark’.”

Rohana narrowed her eyes, looking down at her.

“Yes, thank you for the help.”

A crack appeared in the pretty facade Aurelia had been trying to maintain.

“There’s no reason to turn down good resources, after all.”

Rohana smiled sweetly.

Aurelia’s golden eyes glared at Rohana, who spoke to her as though she were a subordinate.

Rohana found her easier to look at without the forced pretty expressions.

Without a word of farewell, Aurelia turned sharply and disappeared. Franz followed after her. As Rohana pulled her gaze away from them, Isla spoke to her.

“Duke Delcliff,”

Kaiden nodded briefly, as if it were expected, and Rohana followed Queen Isla.

***

The room they entered was luxurious, with soft cushions spread about, and tapestries in a rainbow of colors decorating the walls and floors—works that must have taken ten years to make.

“Duchess, I beg your forgiveness.”

The queen bowed her head. Rohana quickly shook her head.

“Anyone would have done the same.”

She separated public duty from personal matters. The queen had made the right choice. Kaiden had too.

It was all in the past now.

“Duke Delcliff never intended to ally with R.D. If it hadn’t been for Serin, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Isla spoke quickly.

“It’s ultimately my responsibility for failing to protect the princess.”

Rohana lowered her gaze and shook her head.

“Please don’t. Your Majesty is being too hard on yourself.”

Rohana bitterly thought that in any world, those with a conscience must carry the burden of guilt.

“Let’s just focus on what comes next.”

Isla was a strong queen. It had been impressive that Shatonwell wasn’t absorbed by the Empire during the Unification War, and it was Isla who had held onto that for two generations.

Of course, one day they might clash again, and Isla could even become a threat to her, but for now…

Rohana asked the question she had been holding back.

“How is Princess Serin?”

“She was a bit shaken, but she seems fine now,” Isla answered slowly.

“Would you like to see her?”

Rohana eagerly nodded, then quickly stopped herself.

“Oh, no.”

Rohana was known for resembling her father, with her jet-black hair and unusually vivid violet eyes.

“Maybe next time… next time.”

Now wasn’t the right time to see Serin.

“Please send her my regards. Tell the princess I’m truly relieved that she’s safe.”

Isla’s eyes blinked softly, and then, as if she had just remembered something, she moved her hand.

“Oh, and…”

She handed over an old book.

“It’s about the incarnation of monsters. When all the magical books were burned, Shatonwell was the last place to preserve such records. You won’t find this information anywhere else.”

The heavy, ancient paper bore durable, clear writing.

“This will be useful.”

Rohana nodded slightly, taking the heavy book in her hands.

***

The palace, still recovering from the aftermath of the battle, was bustling with activity. Every now and then, the sound of sobbing or muffled screams of anguish could be heard.

Sharp stares, surprised and confused, followed Rohana as she passed by. Feeling uneasy, she quickened her pace.

When she reached the guest reception room, it was empty. It seemed Kaiden had already left, and Rohana felt a bit deflated.

The low furniture typical of Shatonwell had soft cushions on them.

Rohana sat on one of the long chairs. It was more like lying down than sitting.

‘Will this be okay?’

When she closed her eyes, a familiar heavy weight seemed to drag her heart down from the depths.

She told herself she could separate public duty from personal feelings. Isla’s sudden abduction attempt, the temporary alliance between Kaiden and R.D.—she could accept all of it.

But beyond whether or not it was acceptable, was this really the place where she belonged?

Could she live watching Aurelia brazenly carry on as if nothing had happened?

At that moment—

Click.

The door opened. It was Kaiden. Rohana startled and quickly sat up.

“Why… are you surprised?”

“Oh.”

Without realizing it, Rohana slowly spoke.

“I thought you had left.”

Kaiden silently closed the door behind him. The sound of it locking echoed, and he strode toward her.

As he approached, he knelt on one knee, gazing down at her with a calm intensity, as if giving her time. Sitting like that, his broad shoulders stood out even more.

“Given the situation, you must be busy,” Rohana said.

Kaiden furrowed his brow for a moment, then slowly took off his outer garment. The discarded piece of clothing was thrown onto the sofa beside Rohana.

“Did you understand what the Caladrius said? Did you communicate with it, by any chance?”

At Kaiden’s question, Rohana quietly searched her memories. It had been so chaotic at the time.

“Rohana, about R.D.’s affairs…”

“Rescuing Princess Serin is the priority,” Rohana quickly interrupted him.

“You don’t need to say any more.”

Kaiden pressed his hand to his forehead, as if feeling a headache.

“Rohana.”

Kaiden’s grip tightened. As he forcefully pulled at the leather straps securing his armor, there was a tearing sound.

“Can I ask you one favor?”

Before she realized it, he was down to just a shirt, and he slowly extended his arms, enclosing her within them. The shirt had slipped up slightly, revealing defined muscles. Rohana slowly nodded.

“Stop saying that you’re okay.”

His voice carried a hint of a roughened breath.

“Sometimes I wish you would…”

He paused, biting his lip as if choosing his words carefully.

“No, at least with me…”

The air between them grew denser with each passing second, and his voice, now so low it was almost a whisper, sounded deeply sensual.

“I wish you would tell me that you’re *not* okay.”

Rohana’s violet eyes wavered.

“I’ve committed enough sins, so it’s only right that I hear that from you.”

All the grand, magnanimous words she had prepared since morning—”Don’t worry, I’m separating work from personal feelings, saving Serin was the right choice”—floated away like clouds.

“This situation isn’t fair to you.”

Could she have been truly fine with everything?

Of course not. Understanding it in her mind was one thing, but her heart being okay with it was entirely different.

Kaiden’s persistent gaze seemed to read her inner turmoil, and as he read her trembling expression, his voice grew even more intense.

“You can resent me for everything regarding R.D. as well.”

His long fingers gently brushed her hair aside.

“You deserve to do even more than that.”

Rohana quietly looked at him. It was a distance she had never felt from him before.

“But don’t get too involved in what’s happening here.”

He was kind, tender, and yet, he was sincerely pushing her away.

“What about me being someone who can control monsters, and the fact that Lazar said I’m necessary?” Rohana suddenly snapped, feeling defiant.

“You could have died yesterday.”

“I think I’ve already proven I can take care of myself.”

Her breath felt caught in her throat, and her body felt weighed down as if shackled. Kaiden, seeing Rohana’s unusually aggressive response, stared coldly at her.

“If you were to die now, it would be disadvantageous to us.”

Rohana’s brow furrowed at his cold words.

“Stay safe, if possible.”

Kaiden stood up as he spoke. In that moment, Rohana grabbed his wrist.

“What is this?” Her voice trembled with disbelief.

“Shouldn’t you be apologizing to me, explaining things?”

“I thought I already apologized.”

“No, you just said the situation would be disadvantageous for you.”

Kaiden’s brow furrowed as his eyes narrowed. His lips parted slightly, but then they closed tightly again.

“You should explain and think about what to do next.”

“You don’t need to do that anymore. I can’t say anything about you increasing your magic power as per the contract, but I never agreed to fight a war together.”

Kaiden stepped closer, pulling her in by the wrist he held.

“Don’t you think you’re being shameless?”

Kaiden tilted his head slightly at the sound of her trembling voice.

“You killed even Axton of the Kark tribe to win favor with the emperor, only to betray him again now. That should have made it clear.”

Kaiden’s voice was calm and cold.

“I’m always shameless. Trying to act polite all this time must have been exhausting for me.”

Their gazes met, their eyes locked in a tension so thick it was almost suffocating.

“But I still have enough conscience to tell you to hate me. If you don’t want to, you can run away even now…”

Kaiden gave a slight tug to the arm he held, pulling Rohana closer. She almost fell onto him as he sat, looking up at her with his dark eyes.

“A contract is a contract. You should still keep your end of the deal.”

For a moment, Rohana’s brow furrowed as she saw his wavering gaze.

“I see.”

She forced a smile, trying to appear calm, and Kaiden responded with a faint smile of his own.

“At least you’re honest.”

“I’ve always been honest.”

“Even when it comes to our relationship?”

“Extremely honest.”

As Kaiden pulled her even closer, their bodies were now almost pressed together. His face, which had come near enough for their lips to almost touch, carried a complex expression that was hard to read.

Rohana let out a slightly rough breath.

Suddenly, Kaiden remembered something that Heath had said to him ten years ago, and he let out a small, ironic laugh to himself.

“One day, you’ll find yourself in a shameless situation like this and understand.”

“What is it?” Rohana asked.

“I just remembered something from the past.”

At that moment—

Knock, knock.

A very careful but firm knock echoed through the room.

Rohana immediately pushed herself off him and stood up.

Kaiden resisted for a moment but finally gave in, standing up as well after hearing the knock, which seemed like the final warning. He let out a small chuckle as he rose.

“I’ll see you later, then.”

Rohana silently watched Kaiden as he left the room.

Her gaze then turned to the table where Isla’s documents lay. Slowly, her slender fingers began to turn the pages of the book.