“…Insufferable.”

Caleb muttered resignedly, watching Elkan. But Elkan, having achieved his goal, was completely unbothered by Caleb’s grumbling.

It was then—knock, knock. A sharp, orderly knock preceded the entrance of the grand duke’s personal steward into the study.

“Your Grace! An urgent message.”

The steward held out a crimson envelope, sealed with the royal insignia.

The color red was rarely used—reserved for only the most critical messages, typically concerning the king or royal family.

The two men froze, their eyes meeting in the air.

“His Majesty was perfectly fine just recently…”

“It’s not His Majesty. It’s the Crown Prince.”

“…What?”

Elkan’s eyes widened in shock.

The Crown Prince, a healthy young man of twenty-five, was the last person anyone would expect to hear such news about.

“They say he fell from his horse and passed away. We must head to the capital immediately.”

“…!”

Elkan’s face drained of color, disbelief etched into his features. His shoulders stiffened, but soon a heavy hand rested firmly on them.

“I…”

Elkan’s voice faltered, and his head drooped. Without a word, Caleb gripped Elkan’s shoulder tightly for a moment before letting go.

It was a silent gesture of comfort and encouragement, one Elkan understood through their long years together.

“I must inform Her Grace as well.”

“I’ll do it.”

Caleb gave Elkan’s shoulder a light pat as he rose from his seat.

Knock, knock.

“I need to speak with you, Caleb.”

The voice from beyond the door belonged to Elena.

“I’ll leave you to speak privately. I’ll inform Her Grace.” Elkan said softly, having composed himself by now. Caleb hesitated briefly but gave a small nod, granting permission. Elkan promptly left the room.

“…Caleb, what are you planning to do?”

Elena wasted no time, questioning him as soon as she stepped into the study. She didn’t even wait to take a seat, looking as if she were being pursued by something.

“This is not the time for this.”

“You’re saying it’s not your concern? You made a promise! You’re obligated to keep that promise. Things can’t go on like this.”

“The Crown Prince has passed away.”

“…What?”

“I understand how you feel, but we’ll talk about this after the funeral. Nothing takes precedence over this right now.”

“…Fine. But I have one condition.”

“What is it?”

“You can’t go alone with Astrid. I may not hold noble status anymore, so I can’t enter the palace, but I’ll accompany you on the way there.”

“…Elena.”

Caleb’s dark, sunken eyes glanced over Elena’s delicate features. Gone was the confident and poised woman he was accustomed to. In her place stood a shaken figure consumed by unease.

“Don’t refuse me, Caleb. You’re obligated to keep your promise to me.”

“…Fine.”

“We love each other, don’t we?”

Elena spoke of love, but her face betrayed no trace of joy—only a grim, distorted expression.

“…”

“You told me yourself. No matter what, you’d honor the contract and I will not covet the mining shares.”

“…”

“You haven’t forgotten those words, have you?”

“…Of course not.”

“Then keep loving me, Caleb. Until I say otherwise.”

“…”

“Even if it means hurting someone you care about.”

Caleb immediately understood who Elena was referring to when she said “someone you care about.” His gaze grew even darker.

“Of course. The contract won’t be broken. Rest assured.”

At his assurance, the tension drained from Elena’s body as if it had been a lie. Her rigid expression softened, and a faint smile began to return.

“…Thank you.”

“Spare me the formalities. I’m just repaying a debt I owe you.”

His tone was icy.

“Aren’t you being cruel, Your Grace?”

“Don’t you think you’re the one being cruel?”

“What have I done?”

“Get a grip, Elena. You say you love me, but look at your behavior. It’s not like you.”

Elena looked at him, puzzled by his cold accusation.

“What are you even talking about…?”

“It’s not me who’s wavering. It’s you.”

“…What?”

“Have you noticed how strange you’ve been acting ever since Chase showed up? Look at yourself, Elena. Don’t waste your time giving me shallow advice.”

“…Ha.”

Caleb’s words struck deep, like a dagger piercing her core. Elena’s expression hardened, but Caleb didn’t stop. He drove his point home with even more force.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like what you’re hearing? The truth tends to be unpleasant.”

Elena clenched her lips tightly, muttering curses under her breath.

“…You’re not just hitting a nerve—you’re grinding it into dust, Caleb Lionel.”

“I could go further if you’d like. Shall I?”

Caleb’s smirk curled up mockingly, and Elena instinctively knew that pushing him further would lead to an ugly confrontation. Despite her frustration, she decided to let it go for now.

“Fine. I get it! I understand what you’re saying. Let’s just keep it civil—at least on the way to the palace.”

“…Of course.”

The conversation over, Caleb stood abruptly. He was intent on finding Astrid immediately, his steps quick and purposeful. However, he stopped suddenly after only a few strides.

“What now? Weren’t you in a hurry?”

Elena frowned impatiently, but Caleb didn’t answer. He scanned his surroundings sharply instead.

“Are you alone? Where are the other maids?”

Startled by the sudden question, the steward quickly bowed his head.

“Yes, Your Grace. A maid assigned to cleaning was here briefly, but that was all.”

“…I see.”

Caleb stared at the attendant responsible for maintaining the office in silence. His gaze, cold and piercing, watched beads of cold sweat forming on the man’s back.

“Well, what would you possibly gain by lying to me?”

With that, Caleb turned without hesitation. Elena followed closely behind him. Soon, the empty hallway was left with only the attendant, hunched over and staring at the marble floor.

“…Phew.”

He let out a deep sigh and slowly straightened his back, drenched in cold sweat.

***

Caleb headed straight to Astrid’s laboratory. However, she wasn’t there. Disappointed, he turned to leave, only to encounter an unexpected figure.

“Elkan? Didn’t you say you were going directly to Astrid?”

“I did stop by as soon as I left His Grace’s office. However, the Grand Duchess has gone out.”

“…Gone out?”

The unexpected response furrowed Caleb’s brow deeply. Astrid typically spent most of her day in the laboratory unless she was eating or sleeping.

‘I heard she was holed up in the lab since dawn…?’

The sudden outing stirred an ominous feeling within him. Caleb’s gaze darkened with unease.

‘Did I push her too hard because of the Chase situation?’

He recalled Astrid’s composed demeanor as she tended to his injuries with precise, deliberate care, her tension evident in her trembling hands.

Even after perfectly dressing his wounds, her hands, hidden behind her back, trembled faintly. The memory sharpened in his mind.

At that moment, Caleb suddenly realized.

The woman who always faced life’s harsh realities with a calm, gentle expression was silently enduring so much by his side. Only now did he truly see it.

‘I told her not to endure everything… Foolish of her.’

While he couldn’t help the situation with Elena, he had no desire to hurt Astrid over Chase’s matters. Yet, he couldn’t tolerate leaving a lunatic whom even Elena found burdensome near Astrid.

He wanted to expel Chase immediately, ensuring he wouldn’t come near Cliff. However, a formal contract with the marquis’s family had already been signed, solidifying an alliance.

Even as the master of Cliff, Caleb couldn’t expel him at will.

‘Of all times…’

On top of his inner turmoil, the Crown Prince’s death added to the chaos. Thinking about accompanying Astrid and Elena to the royal palace suffocated him.

“…So, where is Astrid now?”

“Well… That is…”

Elkan hesitated unusually before answering, a pause that Caleb’s impatient frown couldn’t tolerate.

“Chase? That bastard?”

“…Yes. Since the weather is nice, the two of them went for a stroll in the outdoor garden.”

Though it was likely a business meeting, Elkan added “together” out of personal feelings.

Before Elkan could finish, Caleb stormed off. Watching his menacing figure disappear, Elkan clicked his tongue.

“What on earth are you scheming with Lady Elena? If you’re going to do it, at least do it properly! This half-baked approach… What a mess.”

It seemed a contract had been made with Elena, yet no matter how much he probed, Caleb remained tight-lipped.

‘Astrid is the only one suited to be the Grand Duchess of Cliff. Shaking her resolve like this… How do you plan to handle the consequences?’

Elkan firmly believed no one could fulfill the role of Grand Duchess better than Astrid. If only she could remain by Caleb’s side, he’d feel more at ease.

Lately, it was evident to Elkan that Astrid was struggling under the weight of the situation. The thought troubled him deeply.

‘The precarious balance between the three of them… It’s bound to collapse eventually.’

That moment would likely come when Astrid could no longer endure and chose to give up on Caleb.

Elkan silently lifted his gaze to the grand Cliff fortress—a place that had taken him in, raised him, and given him purpose. He loved Cliff dearly and wished for its peace to last forever. But, regrettably, that wish seemed far from reach.

Though the second monster subjugation had ended, another kind of war seemed to be brewing within Cliff.

‘…Fighting monsters might be the easier battle.’

The weight of the looming conflict pressed heavily on Elkan’s heart.

***