The cold dawn air filled the study.

Across the table, with steaming teacups between them, Elkan and Astrid sat facing each other. Although they had exchanged greetings at the banquet the previous day, this was the first time in two years that they were sitting alone together.

Yet, Astrid did not find Elkan unfamiliar. For the past two years, they had shared numerous letters, discussing various matters.

“You must still be recovering from your travels… Are you all right, Elkan?”

“I am a knight, after all. But, Your Grace… are you well?”

Elkan’s gaze landed on Astrid’s pale, gaunt face. Her hollow eyes and the harsh changes to her appearance overnight spoke volumes about the struggles she had endured.

“If I said I was fine, it would be a lie. But I don’t want to sound weak, so I’ll just say… I’m managing. For now.”

Lowering her head, Astrid brought the teacup to her lips. Her loose hair fell forward, perfectly concealing her wan profile.

‘What happens when the time for managing runs out?’

Elkan swallowed the question that threatened to escape his lips. There was nothing he could do. What right did he have to interfere? Yet simply observing the situation as it unraveled felt unbearable.

‘If she endures and endures until she finally breaks…’

What would happen then? Caleb’s actions were his own, but Cliff without Astrid was unimaginable.

‘Caleb may have brought this on himself, but what about Cliff? That cannot happen.’

Elkan had shared countless exchanges with Astrid through their letters—discussions spanning estate management, battlefield updates, supply lines, the Cliff’s Tears, and even potion research.

If all their written conversations were compiled, it would form a thick volume of history.

‘Her husband, the Grand Duke, never once replied to her letters, though.’

Sipping the tea Astrid had offered, Elkan let out a bitter laugh.

Caleb, who had the habit of reading Astrid’s letters and storing them carefully in a box, never once replied. Yet he would secretly read Elkan’s correspondence with her whenever given the chance, which now seemed almost comical.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking to see how things are going at Cliff.”

“But I already report on that. Why are you reading letters addressed to me? You’re not a thief, are you?”

“What? A thief?”

“Stealing isn’t limited to taking physical things, Your Grace. When you told her to handle estate matters herself, what changed your mind? What’s gotten into you?”

“Why? Is there something in the letters you don’t want me to see?”

“…Excuse me?”

“They’re too long. My letters are only three pages, but these are five… six… seven?”

“…Good grief.”

At the time, Elkan had dismissed it as some new form of mischief. Looking back now, the memory took on a peculiar meaning.

The letters contained little more than brief personal updates, so what was there to scrutinize? Why had Caleb always been so on edge about them? Elkan hadn’t realized it then, but he had a better sense now.

After that, Caleb began openly reading Elkan’s letters. Later, he even brazenly demanded to see them outright.

“…Now that I think about it, I’m curious.”

As he murmured to himself while stroking his chin, Astrid tilted her head in confusion.

“Elkan? What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, no, Your Grace. Your face looks so drawn after just one night. Did you stay awake all night?”

“It happens often, you know.”

She spoke as though it were nothing, but it was obvious her mind was troubled, likely because of Elena. Elkan looked at Astrid’s weary face with a pang of sympathy.

In his mind, there was no concern for Caleb. Caleb Lionel was the sort of man who, even if briefly affected, would soon carry on with his life as though nothing had happened.

That was the kind of man Caleb was. Even when faced with the death of his only family—his mother—he had carried out his duties as the lord of Cliff and the commander of the knights without faltering.

‘It would be the same this time. Even if Elena’s situation caused him to lose Astrid…’

Caleb would not waver. Even if he hadn’t recognized it as love, he would quickly regain control of his emotions—Elkan was certain of that.

That was the Caleb he had always known and the Caleb he needed to remain. As the protector of Cliff, the final barrier of Croatan, Caleb had a duty to prioritize the nation and the territory above his personal feelings or safety.

‘So I don’t worry about him. But…’

What worried him was Cliff, which would suffer from Astrid’s absence, and Astrid herself, who would have to start a new life after losing everything.

He couldn’t let that happen. While he couldn’t turn the tide entirely on his own, he wanted to do everything in his power to help.

Though Cliff hadn’t given him life, it had raised him. And as for Astrid, as her friend, Elkan cared deeply for both.

‘Still, I can’t stay here forever.’

Placing his teacup down, Elkan gazed at Astrid. She tilted her head curiously and followed suit, setting down her cup.

“I thought you came about the potion work. Is there something else you need to say?”

“Yes, I did come about the potion work.”

“…”

“And also, there is something else I need to say.”

“What is it…?”

“If, one day…”

“Go ahead, Elkan.”

Astrid, sensing his uncharacteristic hesitation, swallowed nervously.

“One day, I hope you’ll agree to listen to me. Just once.”

“…What?”

“It may sound presumptuous, but I think of you not only as my lord’s lady but also as a friend.”

“…Elkan.”

Surprised by his confession, Astrid’s eyes widened. Her luminous eyes and flushed cheeks reflected her joy.

“So please, trust me. Promise me that one day, no matter the situation or how reluctant you may feel, you’ll listen to me.”

“…”

“I assure you, it won’t be anything that harms you.”

“…All right.”

Rather than asking what it was about, Astrid agreed without hesitation, bringing a smile to Elkan’s face.

“Thank you. I promise I’ll never betray the trust you’ve given me. And one more thing…”

“Yes?”

“If it ever becomes too much to bear, come to me. I’ll help you, no matter what.”

“…As a friend?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Elkan hesitated before laughing.

“Well, it seems I foolishly let my feelings slip. Yes, as a member of Cliff and as a friend. Does that trouble you?”

“No. It’s… very comforting.”

Elkan’s candid response brought a smile to Astrid’s lips.

Matilda, Edith, Cradoc, and Elkan—after two years in Cliff, these people had become an integral part of her life. It was hard to pinpoint when it had happened, but they now stood firmly behind her.

That realization filled her heart with both gratitude and sorrow. She had won over everyone’s hearts except the one she desired most—Caleb’s.

****

Boom!

A deafening explosion was followed by a sharp scream.

“Ahhh!”

The pot, filled with a mixture of molten magic stones and other ingredients, had exploded, spilling its contents everywhere.

It wasn’t the first accident. Repeated mishaps had caused Astrid numerous injuries—thankfully, minor ones like burns and scratches. Yet, experimentation always carried inherent risks.

Matilda, Edith, and Cradoc had often panicked, begging her to stop the experiments immediately. But Astrid’s stubbornness had always prevailed, leaving them no choice but to yield.

Though she appeared gentle on the surface, Astrid was unyielding once she set her mind to something. There was no one in Cliff who could dissuade her from her decisions.

Eventually, Cradoc gave up and commissioned protective gear from the blacksmith.

“Phew. If not for this steel mask, I might’ve been burned,” Astrid muttered, letting out a sigh of relief as she removed the mask covering her face.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and the door to the study burst open with a bang.

“Your Grace, what’s going on?”

“…Marquis Chase?”

The unexpected visitor was Chase.

‘Wasn’t our tea-time appointment scheduled for another hour? Did I get the time wrong…?’

Perplexed, Astrid glanced at the pocket watch resting on the table.

“There’s still time until our meeting, but I was wandering around the castle to have a look when I heard the explosion and rushed over. Are you truly all right?”

Chase’s concerned gaze swept over her face and hands, carefully examining her. Before she realized it, the two of them were close enough to feel each other’s breath.

“Uh, well…”

Astrid stammered, flustered by his proximity, when—

“Your Grace! What happened?”

“Are you all right, Your Grace?”