As Calsion left the garden, Yulifa, who had been waiting, approached him with a question.

“Aren’t you worrying too much, Your Highness?”

“Watch your mouth.”

“…Captain.”

Yulifa pursed his lips. From the commotion earlier, it seemed that April had figured out Calsion’s true identity. Having witnessed her expression change right in front of him, he couldn’t help but notice.

“It appears the future consort has already realized who you are, Your Highness.”

“At least she has her wits about her. I thought everyone here was a fool.”

At Calsion’s cynical remark, Yulifa immediately fell silent.

“I’m here in person at the duke’s residence, and this is the extent of it. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t come.”

“Your Highness.”

“They dared to treat my intended consort so carelessly. Am I supposed to just endure this?”

“Still, it’s one of only two ducal families in the empire.”

“Hah!”

“And it’s also the family of your future consort.”

“What does that matter?”

All expression vanished from Calsion’s face. As his emotionless eyes turned to Yulifa, he lowered his posture as much as he could.

“Whether it’s a duke or anyone else, if they get in my way, I’ll cut them all down. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, but… There are still many eyes watching since we haven’t been in the capital for long.”

At Yulifa’s attempt to dissuade him, Calsion fell into thought. The half-bloods staying in the imperial palace meant nothing to him. If anything happened, he could cut them down without hesitation.

‘But she might think differently.’

Since he hadn’t heard April’s thoughts yet, he couldn’t decide how to deal with the Duke of Bright’s family. Still, Calsion told himself that the bride group the duke had promised would never be sent elsewhere.

As he saw a cold light flash in Calsion’s eyes, Yulifa squeezed his eyes shut. Watching Calsion try to act playful and gentle toward April, he’d almost forgotten what he was like on the battlefield. As the memories returned, fear flickered in Yulifa’s gaze.

“In that case, let’s wait a little.”

“Yes.”

“And whether my consort has realized it or not doesn’t matter. For now, keep calling me Captain.”

“As you command.”

Calsion never intended to hide his identity in the first place. He only called himself the knight captain because it would be inconvenient for his movements if word got out that he was a prince. He hadn’t expected the Duke of Bright to be so thoroughly silent about his identity out of fear, but it was actually better that way.

‘I got to see the truth of the duke’s household.’

But what he was really curious about was April’s thoughts. Would she still defend such a family, or would she stand by his side? He was curious to see which she would choose. He’d seen many people who couldn’t let go of their attachment to family and suffered because of it.

‘Maybe I’m the same.’

As the image of the emperor, who had forced him to marry April in order to stay at the palace, flashed through his mind, Calsion clenched his fist. Whether before he left the palace or now that he’d returned, his father, the emperor, had never changed. He was always the same person.

He showered affection on his other children but not on him. That was the emperor now, and his father. And Calsion still couldn’t cut him off.

“His Majesty has summoned you to the palace.”

“When?”

“In the near future.”

“I’ll return to the palace in two days.”

“I’ll prepare.”

Calsion, who had been gazing at the setting sun, gave the order and Yulifa bowed deeply.

“There may be blood tonight.”

The duchess wouldn’t sit still after seeing her beloved daughter harmed.

“But it’s strange. Why does she treat her daughters so differently?”

Calsion’s muttered words scattered into the air.

***

Late at night, April couldn’t sleep. Wendy’s words, blaming her for the bird’s death, kept echoing in her mind.

She tossed and turned, but the guilt wouldn’t fade. Lying in bed, April suddenly sat up and paced by the door. She thought maybe a walk in the garden would help her feel better.

Just as April was about to open the door, she sensed movement by the window and something flashed through the air. If she hadn’t ducked in shock, the flying blade might have pierced her chest.

‘An assassin…?! Could it be the duchess?’

She wanted to call for help, but no words came out. Seeing the gleaming blade aimed at her, April tried to dodge, but at that moment, the bedroom door burst open and Calsion entered.

“Watch out—!”

Before she could even shout, Calsion moved first, thrusting his sword at the intruder. The blood that splattered onto his face felt unreal.

Just as April was about to scream in shock, Calsion reached out and covered her mouth.

“Quiet.”

“Mm!”

She felt like crying. It was the first time someone had actually tried to kill her. The duchess had always looked at her with murderous eyes, but to actually send someone to kill her… Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

“Are you all right?”

There were no warm words of comfort. Yet for some reason, those few words brought tears to her eyes.

Leaning into Calsion’s arm as he held her, April wept. After witnessing two deaths in a single day, it truly was a sorrowful day.

Feeling Calsion awkwardly patting her back, April soon lost consciousness.

***

The next day, April woke up in her neatly cleaned bedroom. But as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Calsion standing in her room.

“I have to leave for a while.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

April, who hadn’t slept properly after what happened the previous night, looked haggard. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, Calsion clicked his tongue.

“Are you all right?”

“Oh, yes…”

“That’s a relief.”

She wasn’t all right at all, but April had no choice but to answer that way. Nothing would change even if she said otherwise. She couldn’t erase what had happened, so she just had to endure it. She was used to enduring.

She was also relieved that there was no pity in Calsion’s eyes as he looked at her. If he had pitied her, it would have been harder to bear.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I probably won’t be coming back to the duke’s residence.”

“I see.”

“So, give it to me.”

Calsion held out his hand to April. She stared at his hand for a moment, her sleep-deprived mind slow to process.

‘Why is he holding out his hand?’

As she remained still, Calsion, growing impatient, spoke first.

“The handkerchief.”

“Oh, the handkerchief… What?”

“I saved your life, didn’t I?”

Calsion asked as if she’d already forgotten what happened yesterday, his face full of shamelessness.

April couldn’t help but laugh at Calsion’s attitude, continuing to say what he wanted regardless of what had happened the day before. She wondered if maybe he was acting this way for her sake.

‘A proud and noble man insisting on getting a single handkerchief…’

Smiling softly, April reached toward the nightstand by her bed. There was only one handkerchief left that she had embroidered herself. The duke’s family never gave her expensive gold thread, not even an allowance.

She had picked up leftover thread from Wendy and embroidered the handkerchief herself. Even the fabric was from one of her old dresses that had become too small, which she’d cut up and made into a handkerchief.

To April, the handkerchief was more than just a handkerchief—it was proof of how fiercely she had survived in the duke’s household. As she took it out, she gently traced her embroidered name, “April Snow,” with her finger.

“Don’t lose it.”

“Lose it? Me? Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Calsion scoffed as if she was saying something ridiculous. Smiling slightly at his response, April handed him the handkerchief. Taking it in his hand, Calsion nodded to her.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

“I’ll leave someone here.”

“All right.”

No more words were needed. Calsion opened the bedroom door and left, leaving April behind in the duke’s residence.

The knights Calsion left behind began guarding the duke’s residence and monitored everyone who entered April’s room. Because of this, not only the servants but even the duke’s direct family members couldn’t enter April’s room freely.

After that day, April’s door was never opened again. Designers came, saying they needed to prepare her wedding dress, but that was all. April didn’t take walks in the garden or go outside. Even though it was a royal marriage, the wedding was to be held without even an engagement ceremony.

Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, the wedding day was just around the corner.