I felt my breath catch, as if my heart was making a loud noise while dropping to the floor.

I slowly turned toward the source of the sound.

“Hazel.”

Clear footsteps echoed as I stared at the figure approaching me, frozen in place.

“You, what are you doing there…?”

It was the question I wanted to ask. But no words came out. My ability to stop magic was almost at its limit.

***

Leopold barely managed to catch Hazel as she collapsed in front of him.

The Marquis Aaron, who had followed, anxiously wiped the sweat from his forehead repeatedly.

“What on earth is going on… We were really taking good care of her! We ensured her meals and sleeping arrangements were comfortable—”

“Show me to the bedroom.”

He barely restrained himself from speaking harshly and cut him off with a threatening tone.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, the marquis closed his mouth and hurriedly led the way.

Hazel, in his arms, was pale, without a hint of color. From beneath the hood, her hair, once a shiny silver, had turned jet black.

Leopold knew all too well what that meant. Even if she hadn’t genuinely resolved to die, it was difficult to remain calm in this situation.

He felt like he was going to go mad with anger—angry at himself for not arriving sooner, and at Hazel for making such a choice after already experiencing death once.

Should he have ignored the fate of this country and simply taken Hazel away? Then he wouldn’t have to see such an ominous hair color. This second life was obtained solely for her. Hazel should never sacrifice herself for others again. She must not live like this without truly experiencing life…

The marquis stopped in front of a room and asked.

“Here we are. Should I call a doctor?”

“There’s no need.”

The guards, startled by the sudden commotion, exchanged glances. The marquis, who entered first, barked orders, causing them to hurriedly carry out the sleeping maid and disappear.

Entering the bedroom, Leopold glared at the marquis, who was still lingering. The man hesitated, avoiding his gaze, and finally spoke after some deliberation.

“Then, I will assume the plan proceeds as scheduled.”

He seemed worried that an unexpected variable might ruin things. Even in this situation, it was infuriating.

Leopold wanted to hit him but managed to nod instead. Only then did the marquis, looking relieved, bow slightly and leave the room.

Leopold carefully laid Hazel on the bed. Her rough breathing seemed to be gradually stabilizing.

Since healers naturally heal themselves, if left alone, Hazel would soon recover and get up. Her hair color was already returning to its original silver.

Yet, despite this, he was helpless against the overwhelming sense of anxiety. Faced with a brutal scene he never wanted to encounter again, even in dreams, he found himself kneeling.

Hazel, lying there without color, was merciless. As if mocking him, the nightmarish memories became vivid. He involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut, but nothing changed. The image of Hazel struggling alone in pain during the time-reversal magic kept overlapping.

‘This is my fault again.’

He wasn’t as strong as before and shouldn’t have gotten hurt unnecessarily. He shouldn’t have been complacent, thinking it was okay to watch from afar, but should have stayed by her side, never leaving. No, he should have prevented Hazel from leaving the capital in the first place. Even if she resented him…

How many times must he repeat the cycle of regret over his foolish decisions? Every choice made to protect Hazel seemed to put her in danger.

He wanted to beg for forgiveness, but he couldn’t say a word. If Hazel learned the whole truth, she would truly despise him for deceiving her.

The guilt that had been building up overflowed down his cheeks.

***

Was it a dream?

At the end of my gaze stood his silhouette. Strangely, it seemed as if his shoulders were shaking, as though he were crying. I wanted to confirm this, but my barely open eyes felt too heavy.

Unable to resist the drowsiness, I closed my eyes again. When I opened them, it was deep into the night. The hair I glimpsed in the moonlight had returned to its original color. It was the first time my always-proud silver hair felt so disappointing. After all, it meant the plan had failed.

Should I really break the window and jump out this time? As I entertained this reckless thought and began to rise, I met eyes with a figure lingering near the window.

“…Leopold.”

I hoped I was seeing things due to the side effects of the magic-stopping state. My heart began to race uncontrollably.

He slowly approached, silhouetted by the moonlight.

“You did something reckless.”

For some reason, his voice, though reproachful, sounded weak.

I silently looked up at Leopold, who was now standing by the bed. His faintly glowing profile showed no expression.

Eventually, he leaned down to check my condition. His eyes, like a beautiful swamp one could never escape from once stepping in, watched me intently. Then, his long fingers reached out and lightly brushed against my face.

Frozen and unable to move, I turned my head sharply in embarrassment and asked harshly on purpose.

“Did you really side with the marquis?”

The shadow cast over the white blanket gradually receded.

My heart wouldn’t stop pounding noisily. Was it because I met someone I thought I’d never see again in such an unexpected place? Or was it because I feared he might have truly allied with Marquis Aaron?

As if confirming the latter, Leopold remained silent.

Yes, this was the kind of work he did—expanding the empire’s influence and building a stronger nation.

I found it amusing that I felt disappointed in myself for expecting anything when I had acted as if I had completely severed ties with him.

“What exactly are you doing, coming all the way to a foreign country?”

My voice, sharp with tension, trembled slightly. Was there any way to resist him? Any way to help Raphael…?

“To save.”

Leopold suddenly spoke, uttering words I found hard to understand. I turned back to him. His eyes were still fixed on me, but I couldn’t grasp their deeper meaning. I returned his gaze blankly and managed to ask again.

“…What did you say?”

His gaze, which had been on me all along, scattered. He spoke again, his voice dry.

“The man you saved. I won’t let him die.”

“Raphael…? How do you know him?”

Startled, I widened my eyes as he reached into his pocket, pulled out a neatly folded note, and handed it to me. I quickly unfolded it to see the carefully written sentences.

“Why do you have this…?”

“I got it from him.”

“Oh my goodness. My magic worked!”

I covered my mouth and looked up at him.

Leopold slowly knelt on one knee, looking up at me in turn. His face, which I thought was indifferent, somehow seemed softer.

“I didn’t know you could use magic.”

“It was my first proper attempt, too. I was so anxious because there was no news. Earlier, I tried to escape to somehow inform you about the situation here. The marquis and his wife imprisoned me! Though they didn’t cause any special harm. So, you’re on Raphael’s side… Ah, I’ve been talking too much by myself.”

We weren’t at all in a position to be this friendly. Leopold disliked chatter. I felt foolish for having babbled on excitedly.

Why do you wear an expression that makes it seem like you’ll listen to anything, I chided internally as I passed the ball to him.

“Anyway, what happened?”

“The marquis approached me first, claiming he was protecting you.”

“Protecting? What a shameless person.”

“Exactly. It was strange. I didn’t think you left to be under someone else’s protection.”

“That’s…”

I had just become a wife and had left my injured husband without a proper explanation, so how absurd it must have seemed.

I never imagined we would reunite like this, so I didn’t feel the need to explain at the time. I vaguely thought that even if we met by chance later, we’d meet as complete strangers.

When I couldn’t continue speaking due to the awkwardness, he shook his head slightly as if it didn’t matter.

“It’s okay. I’ll hear the reasons later. Anyway, while investigating the facts, I found out that the missing prince of the principality had returned alive. To Aaron Rumatera, who was about to be named the heir, he must have been a thorn in his side.”

“You’re well informed about foreign affairs, too. Yes, judging by his attitude towards Raphael and the rumors, the marquis seemed like a man with a strong lust for power.”

“He’s not that smart, though. To dare take the lady of the Lawrence family hostage.”

Not as a healer named Hazel, but as the ‘lady of the Lawrence family.’ Before and after the return, my position to him remained unchanged. Should I be grateful that it was this nominal position that brought him here?

I felt upset, hurt, and pained.

I had been trying hard to cleanse my heart of its stains from you, but here it is getting messy again, just like how spilled tea easily seeps into fabric.

“Indeed. To mess with Lawrence, he’s fearless. You’re such a formidable person.”

I deliberately smiled brightly. I would not let him see any of my distress, so I could remain a polite stranger to him.

“How did you meet Raphael? Why do you have the note?”

At that moment, the moonlight was obscured by clouds. Simultaneously, Leopold’s face darkened slightly.