Leopold, Evan, Hyle, Noah. The four men crouched in the bushes.

A castle emitting a sinister aura towered, asserting its presence.

“There, that castle you see.”

Noah said, glancing at Leopold.

“To think there was a castle here. Why have I never seen it before?”

After retiring and returning to Kolnman, he thought he had thoroughly searched Helmir Forest while hunting demonic beasts.

Hyle tilted his head in confusion.

“How do we get inside?”

Considering Ariel was captured in such a menacing-looking place,

Leopold wanted to storm in right away, but doing so might lead the crazed dark mages to take Ariel’s life.

“……I know of a secret passage.”

Noah hesitantly confessed.

Having revealed the existence of the secret passage, he could no longer use the excuse that he stumbled upon this castle while hunting demonic beasts to protect the border as a lord of White.

‘So audacious, to be in cahoots with dark mages.’

Leopold felt an urge to slash his neck right then. He glared at Noah as if to devour him and gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist.

“How do you know such a thing, Duke?”

Evan asked Noah with skeptical eyes.

“After everything is settled, I will explain everything.”

“Is there any other reason? It sounds like you’re in league with the minions of the Demon King.”

As soon as Noah finished speaking, Hyle sarcastically remarked.

The dark mages were the culprits behind creating demonic beasts that put innocent people of Kolnman in danger.

It became crystal clear that someone holding the position of a Duke in the Atlan Empire was in league with those villains, so Hyle couldn’t speak kindly to him.

“Really?”

Anger began to frost over Evan’s eyes.

“……First, we need to rescue Ariel. Where is this secret passage?”

Leopold asked Noah.

‘Once Ariel is safely rescued…… I’ll kill you even before you get a chance to reveal everything.’

Leopold suppressed the fury swelling in his throat.

“Right here.”

Noah Diaz shuffled his feet on the spot.

Thump, thump-

Something was beneath his feet.

Evan stepped forward and brushed away the dirt with his hands, revealing a wooden cover.

“May I open it?”

Noah nodded at Evan’s question, and Evan immediately grabbed the handle attached to the cover and pulled it upwards.

Creeeak-!

“Impressive.”

A smile formed on Hyle’s lips as he looked down at his feet.

“This was created by the royal family who lived in this castle as an escape route.”

“Do the dark mages know about this passage?”

“They shouldn’t know, Your Majesty.”

Before time was reversed, the Demon King, who had an immortal body, vividly witnessed the nascent state of Atlan transform into an empire.

‘I saw with my own eyes this castle being destroyed.’

While the royal family escaped through the escape route to another country, the people were mercilessly killed or dragged away as slaves.

Right after fleeing to White, Noah informed Diaton about the existence of such a fortress-like castle in Helmir Forest.

But to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, he did not tell Diaton about this escape route.

“Where does this escape route lead?”

“The backyard of the castle.”

Leopold’s gaze met Evan and Hyle.

They nodded simultaneously.

“I’ve lived long enough, and I have no regrets about living or dying. I’ll go in first.”

Without waiting for a response, Hyle immediately jumped into the darkness.

“Come down. There’s nothing here.”

Hyle’s voice echoed.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Evan, Leopold, Noah. The three men jumped into the darkness one after another.

***

Knock, knock-!

Bill knocked on the door.

“Everything is ready.”

Click.

The door opened, and Diaton appeared. His pale face flickered with madness.

“It’s a pity that those hiding everywhere can’t see this scene.”

“If you had just told me to call them earlier.”

“I didn’t have the energy to care about that. Now, where do we go?”

Diaton looked at Bill with sharp eyes, causing Bill to flinch and hastily open his mouth.

“Ah, follow me. It’s hung in the front yard.”

Bill started walking first, and Diaton slowly followed behind him.

“Have you prepared well?”

“As you ordered, we hung the Empress of Atlan on a pole and stacked firewood below her.”

Never did Diaton imagine that he would be the one to burn the body of 「Ariel Clark」, whom even the Demon King gave up his divine authority to resurrect.

‘Noah Diaz and Leopold Diaz will tremble in agony when they find out.’

“Hahahahaha-!”

A strange laughter echoed throughout the castle. Diaton couldn’t hold back the laughter leaking from his mouth.

Imagining their expressions when they find out Ariel Diaz was burned to ashes…

“Too delightful.”

A shiver ran down his spine, spreading a tingling sensation throughout his body.

Shortly after, they descended the stairs and opened the giant iron door with the power of magic.

Spring days were still short. Although not much time had passed, the sky had turned red.

“It seems even the sky is celebrating.”

Behind Ariel, who was hanging from a pole, the sky was dyed red.

Diaton chuckled as he approached Ariel, who was hanging from the pole.

He checked that Ariel’s hands and feet were securely tied to the pole.

‘In case the magic is undone by any chance.’

Using the power of the Demon King’s wings again, Diaton made Ariel fall into a near-death state.

But he did not know the limits of that ability.

‘I don’t know under what conditions the magic would be undone.’

Well, I’ll find out in time.

Diaton’s gaze moved to Ariel’s face.

Ariel’s face, which had been flushed with vitality, now looked as pale as a corpse, and her head drooped weakly.

Diaton stepped back. Twisted emotions appeared on his face.

Then he stretched his hand towards the sky.

A small spark ignited from his hand, and the spark grew larger.

“Goodbye.”

I hope you slowly feel the pain and reach death.

Huh-!

Diaton exhaled sharply and threw a fireball towards Ariel.

***

I lost consciousness.

It felt like I was thrown alone into the darkness.

‘Leopold Diaz…’

The familiar name floated up to my mind. I faintly remember the moment I thought I might be in love with him.

I also remembered the moments I struggled to push him away after the wedding.

But sometimes, my firmly made-up mind would crumble.

When Leopold’s eyes dizzyingly scanned me. When I saw the love brimming in his eyes within his tight embrace overflow right before my eyes.

A desire for him blossomed in Ariel’s eyes.

When my initial resolve wavered, I repeatedly told myself not to give my heart to Leopold.

‘I’m sorry, Leo…’

Ariel’s apology echoed emptily.

Soon, the times she spent nights with him unfolded like a panorama in Ariel’s consciousness.

Ariel watched it like she was watching a movie.

Her everyday life with Leopold.

Him in her eyes.

Her in his eyes.

She began to watch with tears welling up in her eyes.

***

As Leopold laid her on the bed, her bright golden hair scattered across it.

Soon his lips landed near her collarbone.

His face buried in her collarbone came close to her ear. His rough breathing stimulated the tender fuzz.

Then,

“That look you give me. It makes me think you want me.”

He uttered painfully.

Ariel turned her head to meet Leopold’s gaze.

Leopold captured her skin in his eyes. His dark amber eyes had already deepened.

Feeling choked by the shirt filled up to his neck, Leopold roughly tugged at the buttons with his fingers. The shirt buttons came undone one by one.

“Your, Your Majesty…”

Her breath came from deep within, bringing heat to her face.

Ariel’s chest vibrated irregularly but did not stop.

Her eyes were stained with anticipation and ecstasy. Ariel didn’t want to be caught looking like that, so she raised her arm to cover her eyes.

‘This is too stimulating. What should I do if I keep looking?’

But that was only for a moment. She slightly lowered her arm and glanced sideways. From his thick and strong neckline to his firm chest, were revealed between the unbuttoned shirt.

Ariel’s pupils scanned over him.

“You make me embarrassed.”

Leopold leaned forward. They were at a distance where they could feel each other’s breaths. Finally, their lips met.

His hand gripped her nape. A promise that he would never let go of her no matter what filled his chest.

Their lips, upon meeting each other’s, were enveloped in a warm sensation.

Leopold gently traced her lips with his tongue and lips.

Overwhelmed by dizziness, Ariel tightly closed her eyes and grasped his shirt collar with both hands.

Leopold smiled beautifully and then lightly bit Ariel’s lower lip.

“Ah-!”

Caught off guard by the stimulation, Ariel’s lips parted. Then his tongue entwined with hers. Ariel completely entrusted herself to him.

As Leopold lifted his upper body and detached his lips, Ariel’s hands that had been holding onto his shirt collar fell down.

He threw off the cumbersome shirt and brought his lips to her neck.