In the chaos of that moment, shards of affection might still have lingered for her. But once he lay hidden and sorted everything out in silence, what would be left in his heart would surely be nothing but dark emotions.

No matter how she struggled, she had ended up here. The moment she had asked for Zephion as her prize, fate had been sealed. No matter how desperately she tried to resist, she couldn’t change its course.

Reina closed her eyes tightly, then forced them open.

“Rose, in the meantime… nothing happened?”

“Nothing worth mentioning.”

But Reina could hear the truth in her voice—that things had not been fine. She could easily imagine what Kaelid had done to them after she left. Perhaps the fact they were even still alive was a miracle. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he had drawn his sword on them in one of his rages.

“He’s the worst kind of man.”

Reina gave a bitter laugh as she murmured the words. Rose gazed down at her for a moment, then gave a faint, dry smile.

“Yes. Truly the worst.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You should never have come back.”

“I know.”

Her answer was flat, almost empty, as she turned her head aside. Outside the window, the scenery was unchanged. Only the season had shifted. Just a single season. And she knew she would never forget this autumn for as long as she lived.

“During that time… were you happy?”

“Yes.”

She answered firmly, without hesitation. She had been happy. And it was a grief all its own to know that she could never return to that time again.

“I’m glad. That you were happy.”

“I was happy.”

It had to end in the past tense. Because now Zephion knew everything.

Reina turned her gaze back to Rose. The woman, staring quietly at her battered face, let out a short, weary sigh.

“Yuta has suffered a great deal.”

“…Is that so?”

“He was your guard, after all.”

Guarding also meant watching. Naturally, they would have laid all the blame on him.

“So he’s still alive.”

“He nearly died.”

“Could you call for Yuta?”

“Yuta has gone back to the main estate.”

“…I see.”

Reina let out a long sigh. It was only natural—he had let his charge escape, so he could no longer be trusted with her protection. That meant someone else would be assigned to guard her. She disliked the thought.

Her bond with Yuta was not something easily replaced, and he knew her secrets. They say distance makes the heart forget. Perhaps, one day, he might even want to confess everything to Kaelid. That was something she had to prevent at all costs.

Besides, now that she had returned, she had to continue the role of the imperial princess.

‘Selfish.’

A faint, bitter laugh escaped her lips. What else was she, but the worst kind of woman for Yuta? She had used him until the end. Not out of love—only seduction and convenience, only what she needed from him.

When Kaelid’s anger cooled a little, she would have to ask for Yuta to be reassigned to her. Even showing such insistence might arouse suspicion, but she couldn’t give him up.

‘At least it seems he doesn’t yet know about what lies between Yuta and me. That’s something.’

If she endured a few days, obeying the man’s every demand, his boiling rage would surely cool. When it did, loosening his grip with whispered words in the aftermath of their time together would not be difficult.

After all, it was she who had broken Yuta—so it was up to her to mend him.

“Rest a little longer, my lady.”

“Yes.”

Rose pulled the blanket back over her and quietly left the room.

In the silence that followed, Reina thought of Zephion.

When they met again, what would his eyes hold? Contempt? Hatred? Resentment?

His golden gaze had always been so warm.

She let out a long sigh and closed her eyes.

If she slept now, she felt certain she would dream once more of autumn.

***

Reina endured in silence, obediently accepting Kaelid’s every demand.

For the first few days, he spoke no words at all, using her only with violence. It wasn’t until a full week had passed that he finally said something unrelated to that.

His large hand clamped down on her cheek. The spot he had struck before still ached, not yet healed.

“You think that if you behave, I’ll let my guard down again.”

“I’ve never thought that.”

“Yet sometimes you have a way of stoking my anger.”

“……”

“You’d better be careful from now on, little sister.”

Kaelid’s lips curved in a twisted smile as he slowly leaned closer.

“This time, I don’t plan to forgive so easily.”

“Then… will you never forgive me?”

He laughed softly, as if already knowing what choice he would make.

“That’s the dreadful part. That in the end, I will forgive you.”

Reina lifted her hand and gently stroked the one gripping her cheek. The tempting gesture made his breathing grow heavier.

“But there won’t be a next time. Twice is enough for me to tolerate you running from me.”

His lips hovered close enough to touch.

“Next time… no, even if I so much as sense another man near you, I’ll sever your arms and legs myself.”

“……”

“You know better than anyone—I mean every word.”

Her mouth went dry. One look into his mad eyes told her he was more than capable of carrying out the threat.

“I know.”

Feigning composure, she slipped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

And once again, Kaelid consumed her completely.

***

By the time the bruise on her cheek had begun to fade to a faint purple, Yuta returned.

Kaelid had suspected the nature of their relationship, but Reina did not yield. She told him that assigning another man to her would only risk giving someone foolish ideas. In the end, Kaelid agreed to bring back Yuta—the one with whom there had been nothing at all.

It had been only three months, yet he looked worn and hollow. A scar she had never seen before marked his face, and a wound at his throat, half-healed, was still visible. Reina gazed at him quietly before speaking.

“I’m sorry.”

The man gave no reply. His eyes lowered, his silence heavier than any words. Her heart sank all the more at the sight.

She remembered long ago telling him that, if she left, she would leave him behind. She had never truly believed it would come to this.

After a long silence, Yuta finally spoke, his voice as rough as the scars on his body.

“It seems… I didn’t teach Zephion enough.”

“You did well.”

“If that were true, my lady, you wouldn’t be here now.”

He slowly raised his head. The thinness of his face made him look almost unfamiliar.

“This isn’t your fault, Yuta.”

‘If there was a fault, it was that I became a burden.’

Because of her, Zephion had been forced to his knees before Kaelid.

His gaze lingered on her, darkening as though stained with something heavier.

“Did you… love Zephion?”

Her lips parted soundlessly. She hated herself for calculating first whether answering would be safe. If she admitted it—if she said she loved him, still loved him—would Yuta turn away? Or would he remain by her side, as he always had?

“…I did love him.”

Reina answered slowly.

Yuta did not look surprised. As though he had expected such an answer all along.

“I see.”

“Yuta.”

“I will not change.”

He answered firmly, his gaze steady on her.

“If that’s what you’re worried about, you can rest assured.”

It was impossible to treat him the same as before. She had loved Zephion. She now knew what that feeling was. Even if lying with Kaelid was something she could not resist, the thought of being with Yuta again in that way no longer crossed her mind. Hadn’t one of the greatest reasons she’d been able to keep him close been those rare nights they had shared?

“I… I can’t be with you like that anymore, Yuta.”

“If not that, then does it mean I can’t stay by your side?”

“No. No, that’s not what I mean.”

When Reina tugged him gently, the man quietly stepped closer. He took her hand, pressing his lips firmly against the back of it.