For a moment, it felt like all the effort of coming back had been for nothing, just to die like this.

‘It can’t end like this.’

If death was inevitable, then it should come only after the Imperial Family and Theodor had been thoroughly disgraced, leaving them with an indelible mark of shame.

‘I must burden them with an unbearable humiliation…’

It was the only way to die properly.

At that moment, as her eyes closed and the fall began, something firm yet soft touched her head and shoulders.

“……”

A familiar scent wafted in.

It was the smell of wood, a mixture of cinnamon and burnt tones, mixed with the scent of leather from the hut and fresh pine needles.

“Sir Kallian?”

She whispered before opening her eyes, feeling a breath close to her ear.

“Your Highness, the Princess.”

Elliope slowly raised her head. Her body was pressed against a man’s firm chest, as if she had leapt into his embrace.

It seemed that Kallian had grabbed her in a rush to catch her before she fell completely. As a result, he had held her haphazardly, causing her cloak to come undone. Her thin chemise was wrinkled and pulled up and down in a disorderly fashion.

The chemise caught his hand and he pulled it tight, revealing her beautiful neck and the delicate hollow between her bare br*asts. If Kallian had pulled just a little harder, even the edges of her small *reolas would have peeked through.

The fabric around her thighs was also pushed up, revealing a glimpse of her hips. It was the kind of compromising situation that, if witnessed by anyone, would have caused scandal for both Kallian and her.

But despite the circumstances, neither moved.

“……”

At another time she would have been frightened and pushed him away, but now she didn’t feel the urge. Despite the fact that only a few days had passed, the familiar, unique scent of wood was strangely comforting and Elliope was surprised by her own reaction.

‘Finally, you’ve come to see me.’ 

No, perhaps he hadn’t come to see her, but to keep an eye on her.

Even in the midst of the confusion, a sensation – sharp, heated and utterly indescribable – crossed her chest. It felt like a taut string of nerves, ready to snap at any moment.

‘Like this.’

Why did she feel as if he might undress her and touch her, just as he had in the hut? 

Why did it feel as if, as in her dreams, he was going to cast aside concerns of time, place or propriety, strip her n*ked and bury his face in her br*ast?

Elliope subtly squeezed her legs together in response to the dizzy sensation coursing through her. 

Perhaps aware of the movement, Kallian let out a soft sigh. 

The warmth of his breath brushed against her neck and chest, tickling the fine hairs that had risen on her skin. Her slender neck arched back involuntarily. 

“I thought you were hurt.” 

“……” 

“But it seems you’re fine.”

“Th-thank you…”

Elliope was about to finish her words when Kallian slowly released her and lowered her gently to the ground. 

Through the thin soles of her slippers, she could feel the rough texture of the earth beneath her feet. Even that sensation was strangely unsettling. Her whole body was on edge because of the man standing nearby, making her hypersensitive to every touch and feeling. 

When she turned her eyes back to Kallian, it happened. 

“Your Highness? Your Highness!” 

Emma’s worried voice called from the open window on the second floor. She must have gone back into the room and panicked to find Elliope gone. 

“Your Highness! Where are you? Your Highness!” 

Emma’s repeated cries caused a commotion in the annex. The sound of knights scurrying around the annex spilled out into the night, adding to the growing chaos. 

Elliope hesitated, unsure whether to answer or remain silent. 

Just then, Kallian’s hand slowly reached out to close her cloak. His touch was deliberate, though it gave her the fleeting impression that he wanted to remove it rather than fasten it. 

‘That’s a strange thought.’

She said to herself. After all, Kallian had rejected her proposal. 

And as if to prove it, he did not run off with her in his arms. Instead, he held her gently by the shoulders and led her back to the annex. 

The knights who had gathered at the entrance, disturbed by the commotion, widened their eyes as Kallian entered with Elliope. 

“H-huh?” 

“Your Highness, the Princess?” 

Amidst the dazed voices, a calm but cold tone cut through the air. 

“What kind of formation is this to protect the princess?” 

“Y-yes? That is…” 

“The princess wandered into the garden and got lost.” 

His words, delivered with icy precision, made the guards – who had been chattering and laughing earlier – freeze in their tracks. 

Kallian was, after all, the greatest knight in the Duchy of Ilmos. To the guards, he was not only their superior, but also a figure of immense respect and fear. Even the slightest reprimand from him was enough to make them tremble. 

“We are deeply sorry.”

“But we didn’t see her go by…” 

“You didn’t see her, or you didn’t bother to look.”

Kallian remarked, his tone calm but unmistakably sarcastic. 

At his words, the guards lowered their heads even further, unable to meet his gaze. 

“We are truly sorry…”

“I’ll take the rest of the watch for tonight.”

“But, Sir Kallian-” 

“The Duke has already agreed.” 

At these words, the assembled knights reluctantly scratched the back of their heads and began to disperse. Kallian, without a word of explanation, followed Elliope all the way to the second floor and even into her room. 

“Your Highness!” 

Emma, clutching a dress in her arms and looking as pale as a sheet, brightened at the sight of Elliope. But her relief quickly turned to alarm as Kallian stepped in behind her and she gave him a suspicious look. 

“The kidnapper from before…!” 

“Not a kidnapper, Emma.”

Elliope hastily corrected herself, forcing a calm tone. She didn’t want Kallian’s reputation to suffer any more because of her. 

“He wasn’t trying to kidnap me then. He was helping me.” 

“But…” 

Emma trailed off, clearly unconvinced, her eyes flicking between Elliope and Kallian.

Emma glanced uneasily at Kallian, her concern obvious. Elliope stifled a sigh and called to her. 

“Won’t you help me get ready?” 

“Ah, yes… yes, of course…” 

Even after her response, Kallian made no move to leave the room. His continued presence clearly unsettled Emma, who finally couldn’t hold her tongue. 

“The lady is about to dress. Are you just going to stand there and watch?” 

“My apologies, but I have orders to follow.”

“Orders?” 

Kallian tilted his head slightly, then fixed his gaze on Elliope. 

“I’ve been ordered to keep an eye on Her Highness, to make sure she doesn’t wander off again.” 

“…” 

His words, spoken with perfect composure, left Elliope momentarily speechless, while Emma’s expression twisted with frustration. 

“After all, you almost disappeared once upon arrival.”

Kallian remarked, his tone convincingly pragmatic. 

Elliope found herself smiling involuntarily at the absurdity of it all. To be dressed and groomed under the watchful eyes of a knight – how fitting it would be if Theodor had orchestrated such a humiliation for her. He must have been eager to see her suffer such indignities. 

And in truth, she’d just been caught trying to escape, so she couldn’t argue against the precautions. 

But it was only Emma who looked pale and nervous. 

‘Even if they knew what he’d done to me, they wouldn’t dare impose such a thing.’ 

Elliope thought to herself, the corners of her lips twitching slightly. After all, she had undressed for Kallian more than once. Wearing only a chemise and underwear while being dressed and groomed now felt far from humiliating. 

“I will stay here, as I cannot disobey orders.”

“…” 

“But I have no intention of insulting a lady’s honour.” 

Kallian, having said his piece, turned to face the wall, his posture unwavering. Emma, though visibly concerned, glanced at the clock and began to dress Elliope. 

Elliope, however, couldn’t stop her thoughts from drifting to the man standing with his back to her. 

“…Ah.” 

Emma suddenly let out a small gasp. 

“What is it?” 

“I forgot the accessories.”

Emma replied, her tone regretful. 

“Go and get them. We’re running out of time.” 

“But…” 

“I wouldn’t do to show up without a single piece of jewellery, would it?” 

After a moment’s hesitation, Emma left the room, leaving Elliope alone with Kallian. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, the silence between them was broken. 

“Were you trying to escape?” 

Kallian’s voice cut through the silence, low and steady, his words carrying a edge that sent a shiver down her spine. 

A belated follow-up question caused Elliope to turn her head. 

Kallian, who had been standing with his back to her, had now turned his head to look directly at her. His gaze, cold and unyielding, fixed on her as he asked, 

“Why?” 

“Do you ask because you don’t know?”

Elliope replied instinctively, her hand brushing over her lips as if to stifle her words. 

Of course he didn’t know. From Kallian’s point of view, it seemed unfathomable that a princess of the Imperial family would try to betray her own house and flee. That was why he asked so seriously – why would she try to run away? 

“You…” 

“I don’t want to be the Duchess.” 

The words burst from her lips in a quick, sharp retort.

Elliope half expected Kallian to ask her, as he had in the hut, perhaps again, if she hadn’t come here with the intention of becoming the Duchess. 

“But you’ve come this far without protest, haven’t you?”

At his words, Elliope let out a weak, bitter laugh. 

“Did I have a choice?” 

Since waking up in the hut, and throughout their journey, the two of them had barely exchanged words. Elliope had simply assumed that she would end up at the Duke’s estate with Kallian. After all, the negotiations were as good as over. 

Kallian had simply watched her in silence, his gaze steady but unreadable. 

“Choice, you say?” 

“Forgive me, Sir Kallian.”

Elliope said, her voice tinged with quiet defiance.

“From the moment I met you, I knew who you were – Kallian Icerick, the famous knight.” 

Elliope did not elaborate on how she knew who he was, nor did she feel the need to offer an explanation. 

“It never occurred to me to run away from someone like you. If I’d tried, I’d have been caught within ten paces.”

“And yet, after accompanying me this far, you tried to escape.”

“Because you weren’t there until just now. As for the others, I thought I might have a chance to avoid them.”

She admitted frankly, feeling strangely relieved to be telling the truth. 

Kallian’s expression remained inscrutable as he stared at her. His blue eyes resembled the glaciers said to drift across the North Sea – unfathomable depths hidden beneath a smooth, icy surface. 

After a long pause, he spoke again. 

“You still do not wish to become the Duchess?”

“Yes.” 

“Even after meeting His Grace, the Duke, in person?” 

Elliope replied firmly, almost reflexively. 

“No.” 

At that moment, she thought she saw a strange gleam in Kallian’s eyes – something uncharacteristic and fleeting. 

It was almost like a spark of intense exhilaration, as if a quiet exultation had momentarily escaped his usually composed demeanour.