Their lady has finally awakened.

A ray of hope shone through the darkened castle.

Diana observed Calliope with the feeling she was still dreaming.

Calliope held Diana close, constantly massaging her arms while burying his face in her shoulder.

Diana’s body trembled when she felt moisture seeping through the fabric.

‘This can’t be.’

“Cal, Callion…”

At Diana’s call, Calliope raised his head.

At the same moment, the moisture filling his golden eyes spilled down his cheeks in streams.

Diana’s eyes wavered.

Tears?

Why? When he doesn’t even love her.

Just because she regained consciousness, he sheds tears.

It makes her keep wondering.

‘What am I to you that you’d cry for me?’

Tears welled up in Diana’s calm green eyes too.

He was crying for her.

That single fact alone—

She felt happy enough to die right then and there.

“Dian? Are you still unwell somewhere?”

Calliope massaged Diana’s arms and caressed her cheeks with a flustered face.

“My lord, I’ve brought the physician!”

The physician approached and examined Diana’s condition.

Calliope held Diana’s hand beside her with a tense face.

After finishing the examination, the physician rapidly wrote on paper.

“The detoxification is already complete. If you focus only on recovering your strength from now on, you’ll recover quickly.”

At the positive result, Calliope let out a sigh of relief.

How terrified he’d been that she might leave his side.

How much he’d blamed and regretted himself for bringing a noble lady from the capital, who’d lived a luxurious and comfortable life, to this barren west out of his own greed.

“Callion, can we talk?”

Diana’s voice was still small and choppy, seemingly blocked by something.

“Of course. Everyone leave. I’ll stay here.”

At Calliope’s instruction, everyone left the room.

Once alone, Diana asked about what had happened.

“Duke Scar’s party left the castle several days ago. Here, Lady Eleonora left you a letter. Read it slowly later.”

“Thank you.”

“Former Marquis Helena and Calven have been permanently exiled from Aquitaine territory for attempting to assassinate the mistress, and forbidden from using the Aquitaine name.”

“You really granted my request.”

Diana smiled faintly.

She hadn’t expected him to go this far.

Joy bubbled up deep in her chest like foam.

However, the next words left even Diana flustered.

“All the servants have been replaced, and among your ladies-in-waiting, I’ve stripped the Norman lady of her position as well.”

“Callion? All the servants too?”

“I kept everyone you care about, so don’t worry.”

“No, it wasn’t necessary to go that far…”

“It wasn’t enough.”

“…?”

Diana stared at Calliope with wide eyes.

Calliope drew in a breath, seemingly pained.

“I should have eliminated the elements that could endanger you sooner. I was too late.”

“Callion, I’m fi—”

“I’m sorry.”

“Callion…”

Calliope closed his eyes tightly with a face enduring pain.

His long eyelashes moved softly.

“My greed broke you. Still, I hope you’ll stay by my side. I’m sorry.”

“Callion. This was something I did. You know that.”

Those lips speaking the truth he wanted to avoid felt resentful. Calliope stubbornly pressed his lips together and dropped his gaze downward.

If he opened his mouth, resentment and reproach would pour out.

However, Diana was quite satisfied that what she’d done had not only succeeded but even provided justification for a purge.

Diana couldn’t fathom Calliope’s emotions.

He’d always been polite yet emotionless toward her. This time too, he’d return to normal without concern. Like nothing had happened.

That was the Calliope Aquitaine Diana had known for ten years.

“I’m glad it ended successfully.”

Diana spoke in a rather light tone to ease the atmosphere.

But at those words, the air froze cold.

Calliope looked directly at Diana with a savagely contorted face.

His face, seemingly holding back anger, was brutal enough to make even Diana flinch momentarily.

“What did you say?”

His voice, spitting out each syllable like chewing them, resembled a massive beast more than a person.

Diana cleared her throat unnecessarily and spoke calmly.

“I said I’m glad. This incident created justification to eliminate the forces supporting the former marquis, and also…”

“What on earth are you saying right now!”

Diana’s shoulders trembled at the explosive shout.

Because this was the first time she’d seen him this furious and angry, Diana’s mind was in complete chaos.

It was something she’d been confident would succeed.

Even if slightly dangerous, it was natural to attempt the option with higher success probability.

Because Diana herself was in a precarious position.

So she’d hoped a little.

That Calliope would acknowledge her and perhaps offer some praise.

But the situation before her was the complete opposite.

“Why are you angry?”

“You drank poison, and you’ve just awakened after ten days.”

“Yes. Because I deliberately controlled the amount.”

She hadn’t intended to die.

Because there was much left to do.

There was burning pain when swallowing the poison, but it wasn’t as bad as her miserable previous life.

Diana found Calliope’s sharp gaze burdensome and fiddled with the blanket edge unnecessarily.

She was working this hard for the future—shouldn’t he recognize it a little?

Then again, by his side were many loyal knights who’d risk their lives to protect him. Thinking that way, what she’d done felt insignificant, leaving a bitter taste.

When you try your best but feel a wall, people can’t endure the wretchedness.

The only difference is how long that wretchedness lasts.

“Diana. Step back from this matter from now on.”

Calliope spoke to Diana in a resolute voice.

Diana couldn’t hide her bewilderment and hastily grabbed Calliope’s sleeve.

“What? What are you suddenly saying? That’s impossible!”

Would she be isolated, alienated, and abandoned again?

She hated that more than death.

“Callion. Not telling you in advance was clearly my fault. I’m truly sorry. But there were concerns about leaks if I conveyed and coordinated the plan beforehand, and there wasn’t time. Please trust me!”

“…Do you think I’m angry over such trivial things?”

Calliope let out an empty laugh.

Diana raised trembling eyes to look at him. He had exactly the eyes of a wounded beast. Diana instinctively closed her eyes at the feeling of her heart sinking with a thud.

She was afraid. To face him directly. Calliope was walking a precarious tightrope between helplessness and rage. Anger surged at Diana for treating her own body carelessly.

Why would she try to harm herself when she was more precious than anything?

The achievements gained that way brought no joy whatsoever.

“Diana. Why don’t you cherish your body?”

“I do cherish it. But this incident was unavoidable. To achieve the goal.”

“This goal of yours.”

“Weren’t we working toward the same objective? Protecting Aquitaine and bringing down the tyrannical emperor. Destroying this empire.”

Objective.

Only then did Calliope understand why he and Diana were so misaligned.

Diana thought she could use even herself as a tool for the objective.

She even took it for granted. Yet she couldn’t bear to see Calliope himself get hurt. With that frail body. With those thin hands. She’d swallowed poison and endured.

“Diana. That’s not my objective.”

“What? Callion, we clearly…!”

“Diana! Don’t you understand?”

“Understand what?”

“What I wanted was simply to live happily with you. That’s all.”

“…Happiness?”

“If I shouldn’t covet even happiness, I wished to be with you even in h*ll.”

“…Callion.”

“But I was mistaken. I just wanted to see you smile.”

Diana’s throat tightened, unable to say anything.

His earnest confession, evident in his low voice, sounded painfully clear.

“Diana. You only need to say what you want. I’ll achieve it all.”

“…You know what? Love and vengeance are alike.”

“Dian.”

“They’re the most intense and fierce emotions humans can feel. And no one else can do them for you.”

Calliope finally couldn’t hold back and grabbed both of Diana’s arms.

Like someone in agony, he buried his face on her knees and shouted like sobbing.

“Please! Please… couldn’t you trust me just once? Diana, please!”

“…Callion, I want to rest. I’m sorry.”

Calliope raised empty eyes to look at her.

Endlessly.

But no further words came back.

Calliope staggered up and left the room.

After that, Emily, Annie, Lien, and Evelyn rushed in, worrying over her and bringing fresh water and medicine.

Diana had to spend the entire day soothing them.

Only when night came did Diana worry about Calliope, who’d sent no word, and shakily took a step from the bed.

His wounded eyes weighed on her mind.

* * *

Calliope spent the day at the training grounds. Like someone possessed, he cut down straw dummies and cut them down again. Even after all the training knights left, Calliope swung his sword and swung it again. If he rested even a little, it felt like the pain would devour his soul.

His thoughts were entirely focused on Diana.

Why wouldn’t she rely on him? Why wouldn’t she trust him? Why did she treat herself like a tool? Why couldn’t he make her happy? Why had Diana devoted her soul to revenge? Had she perhaps lived a life similar to his?

But when he’d investigated, there was no such information.

Thud. The sword stopped.

“If I… if I distance myself.”

Would she become safe?

Despair crept up from beneath his feet again. Calliope threw down his sword and leaned against a wooden pillar. When someone who’s lived for survival dares to dream of something else, how hopeless it is.

“What am I supposed to do here?”

The helplessness that he might be able to do nothing for her tormented him.

The moment Calliope squeezed his eyes shut, he sensed a presence very close by.

That he, sensitive enough to handle sword energy, hadn’t noticed someone approaching this close meant the other person was a strong expert.

“Callion?”

His tense body relaxed instantly.

Calliope looked at the other person with a slightly absurd feeling.

“Diana?”

Diana approached wearing a light shawl and plopped down beside Calliope.

“Your expression bothered me. I feel like I did something wrong.”

She spoke cautiously, looking somewhat anxious and frightened.

Natural. Those who’ve never lost have nothing to fear. Diana, on the other hand, had lost everything.