Bang.

The woman ran out of the room in tears. Her clothes were still in disarray, as if she hadn’t even bothered to fix them.

Budier clicked his tongue and scolded her as he ushered her into the inner chamber.

The elegant room was in a mess, covered with soldiers’ blood, sweat, and dirt, but what truly worried him was something else.

The reception room inside was in disarray, with shattered teacups and scattered objects. The emperor sat there, dressed impeccably in clean loungewear, wearing a purple robe without a single blemish.

“Arrest everyone involved with Franz Soyez.”

Budier bowed his head and urgently responded.

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”

This was an operation that could not fail. Losing that princess from Shatonwell was already a problem, but the failure of the bomb they had spent half a year preparing, and the cliff they were supposed to create with it, was devastating.

‘It was a complete waste of winter.’

From the soldiers’ reports, Kaiden had apparently climbed up that very cliff.

With the help of a monster, no less.

Budier shuddered inwardly. How could anyone have predicted such a thing? Gregory Hanover had already been imprisoned as a criminal, and Budier feared he might share the same fate.

As he bowed deeply and started to leave, the emperor called him back. When he turned around, he was met with a sharp glare from the emperor’s piercing blue eyes.

“And if you ever bring such vulgar women into my chambers again, you can be sure it won’t just be her head on the line—yours will roll as well.”

Budier bowed so deeply his forehead almost touched the floor, then carefully backed out of the room.

As soon as Budier left, Bardi threw the glass that had been sitting on the desk.

The beautifully crafted glass shattered into pieces.

It wasn’t just the failed kidnapping operation that he couldn’t bear, but something else was twisting him up inside.

Rohana.

‘Why do you insist on staying in a place that treats you like that?’

If Rohana had been in front of him, he would have choked her until she answered.

Why!

Why!

Even if her neck snapped, he would make her answer.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and a few women entered, perhaps unaware they were not supposed to disturb him. Bardi narrowed his eyes at them.

“I thought I said not to let anyone in.”

However, the eyes of the person who had opened the door were different. They were cold and resolute, as if on a mission, and she greeted him with a respectful bow.

“What is it?”

Bardi looked up at the woman, bewildered. She whispered softly.

“Sir Budier sent me. He said it was urgent.”

“Get out.”

The woman gave a small bow and left without a word.

***

Ten years ago.

At the top of an abandoned tower in Nopthal, Heath opened his heavy eyelids, which were drenched in blood.

“If you’re going to kill me, just do it.”

Kaiden, wiping the blood from his chin, frowned.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Heath smirked weakly, his voice laced with disbelief.

“You’re going to spare me? After this?”

Their gazes met. Kaiden threw his blood-soaked armor onto the ground with a thud. He had no fear as he stood before the friend who had just become his enemy.

“Enough.”

Heath let out a bitter laugh at Kaiden’s calm voice. He knew about R.D.’s extremist faction that sought to dethrone the half-blood prince.

But he hadn’t expected Kaiden to do “something like this.” Though, in the end, it had earned him the emperor’s trust and kept Nopthal safe.

What good had five years of companionship been?

“You killed my father.”

“Yes.”

Heath’s brow furrowed.

“And I tried to kill you.”

“I know.”

Kaiden’s dark eyes looked down at Heath without any emotion.

“If you don’t want to kill me, should I just die on my own?”

“Were you always the type to make threats about dying?”

Heath bit his lip at Kaiden’s cold, sharp words.

“Don’t be dramatic.”

“Stop talking. Just do what you have to.”

Heath thought, ‘It’s not like Kaiden hasn’t cut the neck of a traitor before. Why would I be any different?’

“Enough.”

Suddenly, Kaiden’s sharp gaze made Heath fall silent.

“I’m not going to kill you.”

“Why not?”

Their gazes clashed again.

“You knew that the mission… was ordered by Axton, didn’t you?”

At that moment, Heath’s face, which had been filled with fury, lost its tension. Of course, he had known. Axton had little time left to live, and he had always told Kaiden to use his inevitable death for political gain.

“Wait for the right moment,” Axton had said.

Heath knew this, but out of frustration, he had still drawn his sword on Kaiden. He didn’t want to forgive him. No matter the circumstances, he hated Kaiden Delcliff, the man responsible for Axton’s death, the man with Rentworth’s blood running through his veins. He hated him enough to want to kill him.

The mission had failed, and Heath had been betrayed by Lazar, leaving him ousted from R.D. altogether. Kaiden, who was much younger than him, spoke.

“Make your choice.”

Kaiden knew full well that Heath resented him, even though he understood everything.

A cold wind stirred the blood pooling on the ground.

“Will you truly let me kill you the next time we meet?”

Kaiden knelt beside him, showing him a dagger.

“Or will you join me properly from now on?”

Many words had been used to describe Kaiden: cold logic, animalistic combat skills, a brain that could see several steps ahead. But in this moment, Heath realized something.

Even after being betrayed by a friend of five years, Kaiden remained calm.

Seeing right through the traitor.

“Why are you giving me a chance?”

“Because when a person faces death, they tend to make surprisingly good choices.”

Heath frowned at the strange, almost superstitious answer, which was uncharacteristic of Kaiden.

“And what reason do you have to trust me?”

“Trust you?”

Kaiden spoke again.

“As I’ve said before, I’m only giving you a chance.”

Silence fell between them.

Heath bit his lip and looked up at Kaiden. When he saw the wavering look in Heath’s eyes, a knowing smile tugged at Kaiden’s lips.

His deep eyes seemed to say, ‘See? I knew you’d come around eventually.’

It was then that Heath realized—painful acceptance.

His way had failed.

“Lazar will try to regroup the remaining forces.”

Kaiden spoke slowly.

“Then I’ll need your help even more.”

His voice was calm. Kaiden looked at him with narrowed eyes. Silence lingered.

Heath slowly rose to his feet, his sea-blue eyes locking onto the young ruler. Then Kaiden added:

“Do your best. By my side, in your own way.”

“As I’ve said before, I don’t intend to start a reckless war like R.D.”

His dark eyes were filled with complex thoughts. He seemed to still need some time.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me anymore.”

Heath spoke sincerely.

The way I believed in has failed.

R.D. has failed.

To end these miserable thirty years, a new approach was necessary.

“Protecting Nopthal and our people comes first.”

With that, Heath extended his longsword and offered a formal bow. Kaiden touched his sword to Heath’s, completing the oath.

“Looking forward to working with you.”

Kaiden looked at Heath incredulously at his sudden, brazen use of informal language.

“Are you going to keep talking like that, even after joining under me?”

“Yep.”

Heath tilted his head and smiled.

“As I expected, you really have no sense of propriety.”

Seeing the disbelief on Kaiden’s face, Heath decided to continue this way.

“Someday, when you find yourself in an equally shameless situation, you’ll understand.”

“Don’t act like you’re all grown up.”

Heath chuckled slyly.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

In an instant, a white arrow flew from his fingers, and two people fell from the tree with a dying scream.

“Take care of dangerous people right away.”

Kaiden frowned as he looked up at Heath.

“Your magic is still lacking.”

“I’ll improve soon enough.”

Heath replied.

***

Lost in old memories, Heath watched Rohana emerge from Brandt’s special containment room.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course.”

In truth, not much had been said. Brandt had simply claimed his innocence, while Rohana, indifferent to whether or not he was innocent, had nothing more to say to him. There was something more pressing.

Something she hadn’t told Kaiden.

“My Lady, there’s no need to see them right now.”

The dusky twilight was falling, and the moon had risen. Rohana casually tossed her hastily braided hair over her shoulder and shook her head.

“No, I really want to meet them.”

At her words, Heath let out a soft sigh of resignation and slowly led the way. As she watched his back, Rohana suddenly spoke.

“Heath, before we go.”

Heath looked down at her with a gentle expression, as if asking what it was.

“I haven’t told Kaiden about it yet.”

Rohana looked up at him. For a moment, Heath’s eyes wavered. Rohana gave him a soft smile, as if to ease his sudden discomfort.

“It doesn’t seem like we’re at the point where I can ask him such things.”

Heath forced a smile.

“Keeping secrets from your husband? That’s not good.”

Rohana laughed softly at his usual teasing tone. Something in her quiet laugh made Heath’s eyes darken without him realizing it.

“My Lady, I don’t know what it is, but…”

Rohana slowed her steps and looked up at him.

“For now, give Kaiden some time.”

Her previously lively eyes hesitated for a moment. She smiled faintly at Heath’s teasing, but there was a touch of bitterness.

“He’s still rough around the edges, isn’t he?”

“Yes, somewhat.”

It was becoming clear to her now—the way he bottled things up, only to explode suddenly.

“Still, Kaiden is someone you can trust.”

“Like you, Heath.”

‘No, definitely not like me.’

Heath swallowed the words he couldn’t say and shrugged awkwardly. Rohana’s smile, which had momentarily brightened at his joke, slowly faded.