I needed to find a way to escape this prison.

But D’hiver’s hold was like a web, and Teslai had been right.

Even though I had become an archmage, I was nothing more than a fledgling compared to him—unable to even reach his heels.

I had always thought magic was the one thing I could rely on.

And yet—in the end, I had no choice but to depend on him.

“Grant me one request.”

At my voice, D’hiver’s lips curved slightly.

“Let me hear it.”

“There’s something my mother left for me. I want to see it.”

“Hmm.”

He let out a quiet sound, then stared at me.

Within those red eyes, my bare, pale form flickered briefly.

“Why is it,”

He leaned closer, lowering his head to my ear.

His breath, hot against my skin, traced along it.

“that you keep saying you need someone else?”

“In my world, you’re all I need.”

A breath I could never forget brushed against the back of my neck.

His lips grazed my shoulder, sliding down along my back.

“Violette.”

The sudden rush of sensation made me draw in a sharp breath.

My hand clenched the sheets, trembling.

“I want to be the only one in your world as well.”

He spoke as he pressed kisses along the line of my spine.

His breathing grew rough, uneven with something close to excitement.

“I told you, didn’t I? That I’d become your love. The very thing you longed for… the reason for your life.”

His hand, wrapped around my waist, slid slowly.

Familiar fingers traced over me, and I tilted my head back, letting out a faint, unsteady breath.

“So this is your love? Locking me up and keeping me all to yourself?”

“Then you—”

The hand that had been roaming over me stopped.

“What is it that you even want?”

His voice from behind me had hardened, just slightly.

“You don’t want this, you don’t want that… Do you even know what this ‘love’ you’re so desperate for is?”

I couldn’t answer.

What was it?

What was this thing called love that I craved so desperately?

“You’re the one who doesn’t love me. You were just lonely. You hated being alone, so you would have accepted anyone by your side. Isn’t that right?”

My lips parted slightly.

Was that… true?

“I couldn’t stand that, so I claimed you. I wanted you to look at me alone. If something gets in the way, of course I’d have to remove it.”

At last, a mocking tone slipped into his voice.

“Like Honore.”

“How…?”

My lips trembled.

How could he say that name so casually, the name of the one he killed?

“How can you even speak that name?”

“Oh, Violette.”

At the anger in my voice, he clicked his tongue, likely wearing a crooked smile.

“At the very least, it seems your feelings for that one were more sincere than what you feel for me.”

I almost wanted to laugh.

No—he was wrong.

Honore’s death had shocked me, yes—but it had not left this kind of lingering pain.

If what I felt for D’hiver wasn’t love, then it wouldn’t hurt like this.

If I hadn’t trusted him—if I hadn’t loved him—then his deception wouldn’t have torn me apart this way.

“…You asked if I know what love is.”

Frozen stiff, I barely managed to move my lips.

He answered for me.

“That’s right. You don’t.”

“No… I think I do.”

At my quiet murmur, he let out a small laugh and asked,

“Really? Then what is it?”

“At the very least—”

I clenched my fist.

Dark creases formed against the white sheets.

“It’s not what you’re giving me.”

“Ha… haha…”

D’hiver finally let out a laugh.

The hand that had been touching me withdrew.

Then he rose to his feet.

His gaze, now completely cold, settled on me.

For a long moment, he simply looked at me.

Then, brushing his hair back out of habit, he finally spoke.

“…I’ll think about your request.”

With that, he turned to leave—an unspoken refusal.

I grabbed him.

“You’re just going to go?”

Even I, twisted as I was, let the sarcasm slip.

“Why? You like it, don’t you—sleeping with me. Or am I wrong?”

“Yeah, I do. Who in the world wouldn’t enjoy being with the one they love?”

He answered indifferently and pushed the door open.

Then, glancing back at me, he added coldly,

“But not right now.”

Bang.

The door shut.

I bit my lip, staring at the empty space he left behind.

Was I going to wither away here, forever—by his side—in a relationship like this?

“…Are you a fool?”

At the sudden voice, I turned my head.

Teslai was staring at me.

…Only then did I realize I wasn’t wearing anything.

Startled, I yanked the blanket over myself and let out a small cry.

“Ah!”

“What are you so embarrassed about?”

A quiet chuckle followed.

“I am nothing more than a sword.”

“Y-You’re in human form right now.”

“Is that so? Then I shall return to a sword.”

Before I could respond, a bright flash filled the room.

When I peeked out from the blanket, a clear, beautiful sword lay on the floor.

“You’re oddly sensitive about the strangest things.”

His voice echoed directly in my mind.

He sounded almost amused.

“Shall I offer you some advice?”

“…What?”

“That man—if you simply smile at him right now, wouldn’t he give you anything you want?”

“…I don’t feel like doing that.”

What was there to smile about?

If anything, he should be the one begging.

“Child who holds the right—an easy smile can be sharper than any blade. Do not lose your composure.”

Though no wind should have existed in the tightly sealed room, a soft breeze brushed past me.

It felt as if Teslai was gently stroking my hair.

“Now then… shall I help you?”

“…What?”

“If you wish to leave this place, I can assist you.”

At those words, my head snapped up.

The blanket slipped to the floor.

“You can?”

“I am a divine sword. For a brief moment, I can grant you power that surpasses even D’hiver Keith. With that, breaking this barrier would be nothing.”

It was tempting.

Too tempting.

But…

I had already been deceived by Teslai once.

So I asked sharply,

“You’re not trying to trick me again, are you?”

“Of course I have my own motives.”

The admission came far too easily.

And he didn’t stop there.

“This is the first and last time I extend my hand to you. I cannot interfere any further beyond this. So—let us form a pact.”

A pact.

A sacred promise made before something absolute.

One that could never be broken—except by death.

But…

I already had a pact with D’hiver.

I couldn’t die.

And Teslai, as a sword, was immortal.

So even if one of us broke it, what meaning would it really hold?

“Does something like that even matter to us?”

“That’s a fair point.”

Strangely, it felt as though the sword nodded.

“If I break this pact, I will lose my power as a divine sword. My soul will meet its end. And you… will wander forever, alone, caught between life and death.”

It was a terrifying consequence.

But right now, I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about the future.

“…Alright. What kind of pact is it?”

“If I grant you power, I will fall into slumber for a time. During that interval, think carefully. Will you become a transcendent being… or not?”

There was nothing to think about.

“That won’t change. If killing D’hiver is the only way… then I’d rather die.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

“That would be the greatest punishment I could give him.”

“…Your mind may yet change.”

It sounded as though Teslai smiled meaningfully.

“You can decide when I awaken again. Now—”

Light burst forth from the sword.

It moved toward me.

“Have a pleasant dream, child.”

And then, there was silence.

No voice followed.

Crawling closer, I reached out and touched Teslai.

The overwhelming, sacred presence I had felt before was gone.

Lifting the sword, I stood.

After putting on my clothes, I reached out toward the door, half-expecting the same result.

Crackle!

The barrier still reacted, pushing my hand away with a sharp current.

I pulled back and stared at the door.

Then, as I would when casting magic, I spoke a command.

“Open.”

Creak…

A sound followed.

The door that had rejected me so many times opened as if it had all been a lie.

Cautiously, I stepped outside.

Nothing stopped me.

The barrier had been broken.

A laugh slipped from my lips.

Before D’hiver could return, I quickly cast a spell heading for the Silcania estate.

The wind wrapped around my body.

Soon, the familiar yet unfamiliar garden came into view.

What my father had hidden earlier, it had to be something my mother left behind.

Certain of it, I slipped quietly into his room.

Perhaps because it was daytime, no one was around.

I pulled open his drawer.

It had been sealed with magic, but breaking it was easier than breathing.

At the very back, I found a carefully hidden box.

How precious it must have been.

Even the cloth wrapped around it carried that sense of care.

Strangely enough, it seemed my father’s feelings for my mother had never faded.

With trembling hands, I opened the box.

Inside were neatly arranged magic stones.

I picked up the one placed deepest within and activated it.

Slowly, an image formed in the air.

It looked like my sister’s room.

And there, stood a woman with golden hair, breathtakingly beautiful.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Deep, red eyes met mine.

For a moment, it felt as though our gazes truly connected.

Instinctively, I reached out but my hand passed right through the illusion.

Lowering my hand in quiet emptiness, I saw her blush faintly, as if shy.

Then she whispered,

“Hello, my child.”