“…?”

Verche stared at Claude in disbelief at his sudden words.

Thinking she must have misheard, she simply stared at him, waiting for his words to make sense.

But Claude, perfectly composed, continued.

“Roughly four years and six months ago, I murdered my father in front of my grandmother’s grave and buried the body in the Avril Forest. It was a thoroughly premeditated act.”

“……!”

The Avril Forest lay within Cassel territory and was a sacred grove where former Dukes of Cassel were traditionally buried.

“I did it because he killed my mother.”

Verche’s mind spun with confusion.

‘Why is he confessing so easily?’

“W-wait, hold on—what are you saying? You killed the late duke? Even if that were true, why did you  tell me?”

Claude pressed on, as though he hadn’t heard her question at all.

“By now, Your Highness must also know the truth. My father used the Orksectum to drain all of my mother’s divine power.”

“……”

“I have kept that secret locked in my heart because, the moment it became public knowledge, it would fully expose the ties between House Cassel and dark magic.”

In order to acquire the vast quantities of Orksectum he needed, the late Duke had become involved with more than one coven of black sorcerers.

At last, Verche grasped what he was driving at.

“So, Your Highness, what I have just told you is a grievous stain on House Cassel.”

Indeed — it was.

Verche remained silent, letting him continue.

Claude unclasped his hands, which had been neatly folded on his knees, and —

“One more thing.”

—straightened from the deep recline of his chair.

“I possess proof of my patricide.”

“….”

“I can place that evidence in your hands, if Your Highness will allow my servant to enter.”

‘Evidence…?’

A short, bitter laugh escaped Verche.

Now she understood.

The duke had come today for one reason only: to exchange evidence.

“I’ll put my evidence on the table – in return, tell me where Diana is.”

When Verche finally nodded reluctantly, Claude signalled with a flick of his hand.

A Cassel retainer who had been waiting outside came in, carrying something wrapped in white cloth. He placed it neatly on the table and withdrew without a word.

Verche’s gaze fixed on the bundle.

‘A sword, surely?’

Claude untied the fabric himself. Inside was exactly that: a sword engraved with the crest of House Cassel.

Beside it was a map marking the place where his father’s body was buried.

And—

— there was a small box. Claude opened it deliberately slowly.

“—!”

Inside was a lock of hair, black as night—the same color as Claude’s.

Maintaining a neutral expression became impossible.

“My father’s hair.”

Claude said evenly, meeting her gaze. He nudged the items towards her across the table.

“If I break my word, Your Highness can use this evidence to expose everything. It is House Cassel’s darkest secret.”

Hair of that shade of black was exceedingly rare. Taken together, these items were more than enough for the crown to bring House Cassel to trial.

Verche bit her lower lip.

‘Is this duke really mad?’

“All I want is one thing, I need confirmation that Diana is alive.”

Verche could see it now — the madness blazing behind the young lord’s eyes.

House Cassel meant nothing to him at that moment. He would endure every scandal, watch his lineage crumble, and lose everything if it meant finding his wife.

“Why go to such lengths?”

In response to the crown princess question, Claude let out a faint, humourless laugh.

But he gave no answer.

Instead, Verche’s gaze dropped again, this time to the heavily bandaged wrist on his left arm.

It couldn’t be… and yet, given how heavily it was wrapped, the thought crept in and wouldn’t leave.

“…”

She chose not to ask.

‘So be it. For a trade of this weight… this is enough.’

With a long sigh, Verche finally spoke.

“…Diana is alive.”

“…”

Claude’s blue eyes blazed like fire.

A vivid, undeniable light lit up his gaze — a light that had been absent for a very long time.

“She left for the Awenze continent at dawn on the morning after the Night of Shadows. I’ll give you the location of where she’s staying.”

Claude closed his eyes as though the last missing piece had finally fallen into place.

As though he had finally gained everything he had been searching for.

***

The journey took three full days.

Hans had desperately tried to stop him, unable to understand why his master was so determined to cross the sea to a distant land without warning.

“At the very least, please wait until your health has fully recovered.”

Hans said but Claude refused to listen. He was determined to see Diana again, even if it cost him his life.

And so he arrived in the Kingdom of Millain on the Awenze continent.

It had been a painfully long journey.

As soon as he stepped off the ship, he was bathed in golden sunlight from every direction.

“…”

He surveyed his unfamiliar surroundings with a blank expression.

Everything here seemed to move at a slower pace, exuding a peaceful calm — the complete opposite of the structured, seasonal Empire of Azenta.

Here, the wind was always gentle.

The skies were always clear, with rain only falling on rare occasions.

It was easy to see why Princess Verche had chosen this kingdom for Diana to live in peace and solitude.

The moment he stepped into the port city, Claude understood.

“Millain Kingdom…”

He murmured the name softly to himself as he read it on a signboard before setting off.

Although he knew nothing about Awenzea before he boarded the ship, he had studied the basics during the voyage. Now, at least, he could hold a simple conversation.

Despite the city’s serene, laid-back atmosphere, Claude’s heart was racing.

Tightly clutched in his hand was a small, creased and worn slip of paper that was falling apart from having been read so many times.

It was Diana’s new address, given to him by Princess Verche.

He left the port behind and caught a public carriage.

The peaceful landscape rolled by outside the window — strange and unfamiliar, yet beautiful in its foreignness.

Soon, the view shifted. Rows of identical houses appeared, far from the bustle of the harbour and quieter, more residential.

‘One of these houses…’

Diana was here. Somewhere close by.

The mere thought sent a rush of heat through his body.

His wife, whom he had thought was dead, was alive.

Even now, it still felt impossible to believe.

At last, the carriage came to a stop.

Although Claude had already memorised the address, he had chosen to disembark slightly further away.

The sound of his polished shoes echoed against the neatly laid stone path.

A warm breeze blew against his coat.

The shadows of the leaves danced across the pavement like ripples on water.

The further he walked down the idyllic path, the more his purpose—the reason he had come there—blurred.

Did he have the right to see her again?

‘What if I only cause her more pain?’

His steps slowed.

Then he stopped entirely.

It was only then that he realised he had entered a quiet, sunlit village.

Rows of large, identical houses stretched out in every direction.

Each house was surrounded by a low fence, and lush greenery bloomed within, with flowers and vegetables being carefully tended.

He stood frozen to the spot, still clutching the slip of paper bearing Diana’s address.

He was almost there.

Just around the corner was the place she now called home.

After lingering for a moment, he finally forced himself to move again.

As he turned the corner, his eyes fell on a modest red-brick house.

It wasn’t much different from the others — just a simple home with a low fence, unassuming in every way.

The only noticeable difference was the slight sense of newness.

Unlike the neighbouring houses, which had gardens brimming with plants and decorative signs, this one still looked as though someone had just moved in.

“……”

Claude stopped in his tracks.