The two of them savored what little time they had left. On their days off, they would spend hours tangled in bed—kissing, making love, falling asleep in each other’s arms, and waking to shared laughter.

‘The air’s grown so much colder.’

Reina closed the window and pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Every time she felt the chill of approaching winter, she was reminded anew that her time here was running out. She had said they should part quietly, so no one would even notice she was gone. After all, there would be countless farewells like this in the future, so there was no need to give it too much meaning.

She had little to take with her—just a few clothes and the earrings Zephion had given her. That was all she needed.

Absentmindedly, she touched her earlobe. Since the day he had given them to her, she had never once taken the earrings off. She had never cherished anything so dearly before. She used to think it strange to grow attached to an object, but now that she had something she could never trade for anything else, she finally understood the feeling.

Her gaze lingered outside the window before she slowly walked toward the table, the steady tap, tap of her cane echoing through the small house.

‘It’s already getting dark. He should be here soon.’

With winter drawing closer, the sun set earlier, and Zephion began arriving much sooner than before.

‘It’s a little cold. Maybe I should light the fire ahead of time.’

She stared blankly at the dust-covered fireplace. He had likely been outside the whole time, out in the forest no less, so he was sure to be chilled.

Approaching the hearth, she placed a few pieces of wood from the small stack beside it and struck the flint with a sharp crack, crack.

“Mmm…”

Sparks flew, but the wood refused to catch. Rose had always managed so easily. Reina frowned and tried again. She had gotten used to lighting candles, but kindling logs required a different skill.

‘Maybe if I light a candle first and carry the flame over… it might burn better that way.’

As she pushed herself upright with her cane, a knock sounded at the door.

‘Right on time. I thought he’d be here soon—but already? I should have lit the fire sooner…

Regret tinged her thoughts as she made her way to the door.

“Pipi, are you cold? The fire’s not—”

She opened the door with a smile, only for her eyes to widen in shock.

Standing before her was a man who should not have been here.

For a moment, her mind went blank. Her heart pounded violently. She hurried to close the door, but Kaelid was faster, his hand seizing it before she could shut him out.

Reina stumbled back, but her legs refused to obey. The hand gripping her cane trembled violently. She wavered, then collapsed onto the floor as the man leaned down before her, his face rigid with cold resolve.

“Trying to run?”

“……”

“For a while, I thought you’d been kidnapped.”

He slowly smiled, the twisted curve of his lips foreshadowing what was to come. Dread coiled inside her.

“Did you have fun? Reina.”

Kaelid grasped her pale chin, forcing her to look up.

‘What should I do?’

Her thoughts tangled into chaos. Did Zephion know this man was here? Could she run again? Or had he… already killed him?

The possibility that Zephion might already be dead sent a shiver through her entire body.

‘No. He might not know that I ran away with Zephion.’

If she pretended she had fled alone and meekly went with him, maybe Zephion would be spared. Of course, Kaelid would undoubtedly try to find him again. But wasn’t that better than being taken without any chance to resist at all? Deep down, she knew he had to know. Still, she couldn’t let herself be dragged away without even a fight.

“You came here looking for me, didn’t you? To take me back to the estate…”

Reina forced the tremor from her voice as she spoke. Kaelid gave a low, cruel laugh.

“I should have killed that bastard.”

“You… you mean Zephion?”

“I told you, Reina. To remember your place.”

“Why… why are you bringing Zephion into this? Has he… disappeared too?”

She feigned ignorance with desperate resolve. His lips curled into a crooked smile.

“I knew how he looked at you.”

“……”

“Don’t bother with pathetic lies.”

“I swear—”

“Playing house with him, were you?”

Her eyes fell to the ground. So he had already heard everything from the villagers.

“I… I told you I wanted to leave.”

She lifted her blue eyes to his, her voice barely steady.

“I said I wanted to leave because I was sick of you.”

A large hand slowly caressed her cheek. Reina clenched her trembling hands into fists.

“Zephion only… only took me away—ah!”

“All your fault, then?”

Kaelid’s gentle tone was betrayed by the brutal slap that followed, striking her cheek hard enough to send her crashing to the floor. Her head and cheek throbbed from the impact, the sound of the blow echoing as her body hit the ground.

“Hh… ugh…”

She let out a faint groan as Kaelid seized her chin, brushing back her disheveled hair with deliberate care before asking again.

“Say it again.”

“…I… I said I wanted to leave. Ah!”

Another sharp crack split the air as his palm struck her once more. Just two blows, and the inside of her mouth had split open, the metallic tang of blood spreading across her tongue.

“Again.”

His voice dropped, low and merciless, as he swept back the strands of hair falling across her face.

“……”

When she pressed her lips tightly together, his blue eyes gleamed with a cruel light. His large hand swung down again, striking her without hesitation.

Reina collapsed against the floor, gasping for breath. The ringing in her head was so loud she could hardly think. Kaelid’s hand fisted in her hair and yanked without restraint.

“Ahh… ugh…”

Blood slipped from between her lips as she struggled to sit up against the brutal force, terrified her scalp might tear away under his grip.

“Again.”

She glared at him. She already knew the answer he wanted.

‘He wants me to say it—just like back then, when he killed his Father. That I was r*ped. That I was taken by force. That’s the answer he’s waiting for.’

If she said it, perhaps he wouldn’t handle her so roughly. But she couldn’t bring herself to. Saying those words would mean denying everything she had shared with Zephion.

Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she clutched at the hand tangled in her hair, desperately trying to pry it away. He didn’t budge.

His face hardened as he waited in silence for her reply. Then, once again, his hand came down.

“Aghh!”

The blow landed so harshly she could no longer even fall. It felt as if every strand of her hair had been torn out by the roots.

“Again.”

Reina clenched her teeth.

“I seduced Zephion!”

At her words, the man’s face twisted in fury. The slap that followed was so much harsher than before it knocked the breath out of her.

“Again.”

“I told you already. I just wanted to leave.”

The meaningless exchange repeated over and over. Kaelid’s face remained stone-hard as he kept saying again, and Reina, lips sealed tight, finally screamed back in defiance.

Her cheek had swollen so badly her vision blurred. Her head spun, and she no longer had the strength to hold herself upright. Each time she staggered, his grip in her hair yanked her back up.

Her whole body trembled. Kaelid’s breathing grew ragged, his expression seething with rage. For a fleeting moment, she thought he might kill her right here—and perhaps that would be better. At least then, if Zephion was still alive, he could escape alone.

Perhaps realizing he would never get the answer he wanted, Kaelid finally released her hair. Reina collapsed to the floor, her body too weak to even lift a finger.

‘What happened to Zephion…?’

She prayed he had managed to get away. Blood poured from the torn inside of her mouth, the pain so sharp it felt almost wrong to remain conscious.

Kaelid stood over her in silence, the narrow house filled only with the sound of their ragged breaths.

Then, a shout rang out from outside.

“Reina! Reina!”