Carlos had hidden behind a false mask, playing the part of a devoted husband.

Isaac pretended to be a steadfast superior and an honorable commander that she could rely on, even if only for a moment.

No matter what name or face he wore, he had deceived her time and time again.

If she believed a single word he said now, she would be called a fool.

She had no intention of ever trusting him again.

She didn’t even want to hear his voice.

Kay’s expression tightened with bitterness at her cold reaction.

When he said he would lay down his life if that’s what she wanted, he wasn’t joking. He meant every word.

However, he could never allow her to become the emperor’s puppet in his place, even if it cost him his life.

In a steady, unshaken voice, Kay spoke again.

“In that case, let’s do this.”

Sarah looked at him warily, unsure of his intentions.

Kay continued calmly.

“If you want to kill me, then do it.”

Before she could unravel his meaning, he spoke with unmistakable resolve.

“One condition. One week.”

…One week?

As confusion flickered across her face, Kay added.

“If I can block every attack you make for one week, you will leave the capital.”

If she left the imperial city—left the emperor’s reach—he was willing to lay down his life without hesitation.

“If you attack me at any time, without warning, I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”

He was ready to plunge into the fire with the emperor if that was what it took to keep the emperor from ever touching her again.

“If I die in the process, I’ll make sure no one can ever suspect you.”

Even dying alongside the emperor would be better than seeing her become a puppet like he had.

Whatever fueled him now felt less like a belief and more like an ingrained conviction.

Sarah couldn’t lower her guard.

Was he risking his own life just to send her away?

Without telling anyone?

“How am I supposed to believe you?”

For all she knew, he could be speaking sweetly only to arrest her the moment she turned her back.

At her wary, distrustful glare, Kay’s expression twisted into something bitter — almost resigned, as if he had expected nothing else.

He tightened his grip on the blade still buried in his shoulder.

As fresh blood slid down his trembling fist, Sarah’s brow furrowed sharply.

“If anyone tries to lay a hand on you, I’ll offer them my neck myself.”

The way he pulled the blade even deeper, as if to prove that his vow was no empty promise, made Sarah’s skin crawl.

Looking into his unwavering, burning eyes, she had an eerie feeling of certainty that he would kill himself if it meant protecting her.

There was no real risk to her in this bargain.

If she failed to kill him with a single blow, the plan would be over, as failure would mean death or capture.

However, he was offering her not one chance, but a whole week of them.

And it would all be carried out in absolute secrecy.

As long as he didn’t change his mind, she had nothing to fear.

Sarah yanked her sword free from his shoulder without hesitation.

This time, even he couldn’t hide the pain; his back curled inwards and his brow tightened as the torn flesh split open further.

She watched him coldly as she spoke.

“In one week, you’ll die by my hand.”

Kay’s lips curled faintly upward.

“…I look forward to it.”

Above all, he desired to die by her hand.

Of course, though, if it meant protecting her, he would never allow it.

Instead, he would swallow another monster and meet the lowest, most wretched kind of death — a fitting end for a monster like him.

That was his final plan.

** ❋❋❋ ❋❋❋**

Jay placed the bouquet on the gravestone and stood looking at it in silence.

Ever since she left the Imperial City, this had been the place she always came back to. Sarah’s grave.

She tried to come once a year, whenever she could.

Was it guilt?

She wasn’t sure.

She had never felt guilty about anyone who had died on a mission before.

She had never visited a grave like this before.

Yet Sarah was the one exception.

The bond formed from watching her for years under the guise of duty could not fully explain it.

Jay herself couldn’t fully understand the feeling.

It was strangely reminiscent of losing an old friend.

At that thought, Jay let out a soft, self-mocking laugh.

An old friend?

Perhaps… if Sarah had been raised like them — like hunting hounds molded into monsters.

Or maybe… yes, perhaps.

Maybe Jay had admired her.

The ordinary Sarah, whose father loved her fiercely.

Through her, Jay had been allowed to glimpse that impossible dream, if only for a moment.

She had even forgotten the mission at times, wishing that Jay might be truly and eternally happy with her. Yet she had always known that such a dream could only end in heartbreak.

With a faint, bitter smile, Jay turned away and left the cemetery.

Her destination was always the same.

After returning to the Imperial City, she went to the small dining hall to get a meal.

The tower had a modest mess hall used exclusively by the hunting hounds.

The maids would prepare the day’s food rations, set them on the table, and then quietly leave.

Not that the hunting dogs ever ate properly.

Aside from El, most of them rarely touched their meals.

Still feeling hungry after visiting Sarah’s grave that evening, Jay pushed open the door to find Serena already inside.

She was the first new member since the Hunting Hounds were formed.

She had also been the first woman to be appointed to the Third Knight Order.

In every way, she was an intriguing woman, and strangely familiar.

Jay gathered a bowl of soup and a piece of bread, then sat down opposite her.

“Eating dinner only now? Didn’t you eat with El?”

Serena had arrived late on purpose so that she wouldn’t have to share a table with the others.

She had smiled and exchanged greetings with them earlier, but, truth be told, they were accomplices — they had helped Jay murder her father.

She was afraid that her true feelings might show, so she kept her distance from them as much as possible.

“I got hungry late.”

Sarah answered quietly, keeping her gaze lowered as she ate.

Jay offered a small smile and began her own meal in silence.

As she lifted her spoon, her eyes drifted towards Sarah’s plate.

She barely used her spoon, only her fork — just like someone Jay had known.

She never touched water or soup while eating either.

Jay blinked, then gave a subtle shake of her head.

Eating habits like that could belong to anyone.

Besides, this Sarah was fragile; she was nothing like the sharp, muscular woman Jay remembered.

This Sarah had a limp — no matter how extraordinary her abilities, they could not erase a physical disability entirely.

Jay was thinking of that Sarah only because she had just come from her grave.

That had to be the reason.

Jay dismissed the thought and continued eating.

** ❋❋❋ ❋❋❋**

Sarah stood on the roof of the outbuilding which served as Kay’s quarters, scanning the grounds intently.

Everything appeared calm and undisturbed.

He had kept his word — not a hint of her true identity had been revealed.

He told her that she could attack him at any time during the week, but she couldn’t just storm in blindly.

If she wanted to kill him cleanly and without arousing suspicion, she needed to find the perfect moment: when he was alone, unseen and silent.

Once she had confirmed that the area was clear, Sarah moved towards the window.

Unlocked.

Her brows creased.

It was almost as if he were expecting her.

Frowning, she eased the window open and slipped inside, sword in hand.

She knew this place well.

Years ago, when she was an imperial maid, she had visited his quarters once, so finding his bedroom was easy.

Just as she had expected, Kay was seated at the bedside, waiting for her.

“You’re late.”

His shirt hung open, revealing the fresh bandages on his shoulder.

No guard was raised.

There was no weapon in sight.

However, given his ability to draw from a pocket dimension, he could summon one at any moment.

Sarah didn’t hesitate.

She lunged at him, aiming her sword straight for his heart.

Unlike earlier that morning when he had allowed her blade to pierce his shoulder, he caught her wrist in a single fl*id motion, stopping her mid-strike.

In that instant, she found herself straddling him on the bed and held firmly in place by his grip.

She forced herself to ignore the solid heat of his body beneath her legs as she snarled.

“Fight properly. Draw your sword.”

As she pushed the blade towards his throat, their bodies pressed closer together.

Before she knew it, they were entangled on the bed, their closeness resembling that of a newlywed couple sharing an intimate moment.

Kay let out a faint, self-mocking smile.

Then, with his eyes darkened to the deepest shade, he looked up at her.

“I said I would block your attacks.”

“I never said I would fight you.”