Realizing that there was no point in limiting the fight to daylight hours, Hetar now seemed utterly resolved to win—no matter what it took, even if it meant stooping to disgraceful tactics.

“And we… must protect this place at all costs.”

No one knew exactly when Beart’s forces would reach the southern front. Only one thing was certain: it would be soon.

“What matters now is exactly what you said—breaking through their defensive line. Tonight, Kalang’s army must pierce Hetar’s defenses, no matter what.”

If they could protect Fetchif and successfully push the front into Hetar territory, they might even be able to end the war.

Whoever took this place… would take victory.

With a firm and commanding voice, Edric continued the meeting. There was no point in dragging this war on any longer. It had to end—now.

After the heated discussion ended and silence returned to the Supreme Commander’s headquarters, someone came to see Edric.

It was Major Isaac Lennox.

After enlisting, he had volunteered to serve directly under Edric at the front lines. He believed that if this war were to end, he would be the most effective means to do it.

Standing before Edric, Isaac bowed his head respectfully, then got straight to the point.

“Please entrust it to me, Your Grace.”

Edric, understanding exactly what he meant, shook his head firmly in refusal.

But Isaac did not back down.

“It’s the only way.”

Edric’s sharp blue gaze locked directly onto Isaac. Isaac did not look away.

“I have no wife or child to take responsibility for. I’m not the heir to the Lennox family, either. If I disappear, it won’t bring ruin to the Count of Lennox. Of course… I can’t say I won’t think of the family I leave behind. But if I can give my life in service to my country, then I believe that is enough. I believe I am the most suitable person for this task, Your Grace.”

Edric continued to gaze at him in silence. He knew better than anyone why Isaac Lennox had come to him. There was only one option left.

Hetar had launched this war with overwhelming military power prepared in a short time. Kalang’s soldiers, charging with outdated rifles, fell before they could even return fire.

Even those who stepped over their comrades’ corpses continued to fall. Meaningless sacrifices piled higher by the minute.

In order to secure victory, they had to break through the front tonight. Isaac was offering himself to be the sacrifice that would pierce that line.

But for the Supreme Commander of this war, Edric Descartes, it was a burden he could never bear lightly. Nor was it something that could be entrusted to just anyone. It was a mission that could not allow hesitation or deviation.

And there was no doubt—Isaac Lennox was the most qualified man for it. Edric thought so as well.

Isaac continued, his eyes unwavering with conviction.

“I came here as a soldier of Kalang. And I want to uphold that honor to the very end—as a soldier of Kalang.”

When Isaac finished and stepped out, Edric slowly lowered his eyes. Bloodshot from countless sleepless nights, his gaze did not follow Isaac out the door.

Only after a long silence passed did Edric begin to prepare himself to enter the battlefield.

And his eyes, too held no hesitation.

Today, Kalang had to seize the upper hand. Planting the national flag in Fetchif. that was their only goal. And the one thing that must be achieved.

Edric dressed in full uniform and pulled his cap low over his eyes. It was time to march to war.

Isaac, already clad in his battle gear, sat at the desk with unwavering posture, his entire body radiating the resolve not to allow even a sliver of mistake.

Outside, the blue of dusk was fading. Night had fallen—black and still.

Perhaps… very likely, it was the last night he would see alive.

Now alone, Isaac let out a bitter smile he hadn’t shown to anyone.

He opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of stationery. A letter—most likely to be delivered to his family after the war ended. It would be his final words.

It would’ve been a lie to say he wasn’t afraid. There was, of course, a deep sorrow at the thought of his life ending this way.

But ever since he had become a soldier of Kalang, the idea of an honorable death had always quietly existed within him.

And to offer his life in such a meaningful sacrifice, wasn’t it a glory in itself?

So he decided to write a cheerful and courageous letter. To ask that his name be remembered, passed down forever, as a shining light of honor for future generations.

He thought, at least I was able to spend time with my family before this. That brought comfort—because what would remain were happy memories.

He poured his heart into a single page, pressed the ink deep into the paper, folded it carefully, and sealed it.

All he wished for—was that the grief of those left behind would not linger too long.

He hoped, instead, they would feel pride. That they would forever remember Major Isaac Lennox of Kalang, the man who protected his homeland with honor.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Isaac lifted his hand and pulled out another sheet of paper.
And quietly, he began writing a second letter.

There was someone—someone who had remained in his heart all this time. From the moment he first saw her, she lingered at the edge of his vision, drawing his attention, making him want to protect her.

There was a fragile woman he had longed to shield.

It was enough, just to watch her from afar. Enough to know that he could be of help in some small way. That alone brought him a bit of happiness.

But then—

That woman had crumbled all at once. And so, he helped her.

He had always known she was someone he could never approach. He had never once dared to wish for more.

He simply hoped that she would be happy. That her smile would never fade, that the light in her violet eyes would never disappear.

He pressed those unspoken feelings onto the page, a heart that even death could not deliver.

And when he finished the letter, shorter than the one before, he read it slowly from beginning to end.

It was the first and last time he allowed himself to truly look at the feelings he had always known—yet had no choice but to turn away from.

And it was enough.

There was no hesitation in the hand that placed the final letter into the flames. Just being able to take it out, even in this way—was enough.

‘Please be happy.’

He left behind only a heart that had once known joy—a heart that could still write, even if it could never send, a letter that would never be delivered.

***

After a long silence, Yuis finally spoke to Leif and the head maid, who stood before her with their heads bowed.

“…Very well. I’ll do it. Since I’m the only Descartes left.”

If this was the duty given to her, then she wanted to carry it out properly. So that Edric wouldn’t have to worry. So that he could let go of his concerns for this place and return safely.

Yuis still couldn’t understand Edric’s way of doing things.

‘He never asks me what I want. He never tells me anything. And yet again…’

But if his deceptions now felt like love…

‘Then what am I supposed to do?’
‘Have I, too, already stepped into the path of a flawed love?’

Yuis couldn’t bring herself to resent Edric. In the end, he had protected her. He had kept her safe.

‘Can everything that happened between us really be called only Edric’s fault?’

As the night sank deep into darkness, Yuis stared out the window, her violet eyes filled with the sorrow of everything she carried.

Her breath came in shallow gasps. Her chest ached.

The wounds that Edric had left her with might never fade. But the ones inflicted by Terian, Jerome, her parents and her homeland had never come close to having the same impact.

She had never expected anything from them. But she had expected something from him. And that’s why it hurt more. That’s why she wanted to leave his side.

The pain he caused her tore through her heart as if cut with a blade.

Despite spending so much time together, neither of them could bring themselves to speak the truth.

Was it really only his fault?

Her eyes began to well up. She had always believed there was no way he could love her. That someone like him could never love someone as insignificant as her.

And yet, in his own way, he had been protecting her and loving her.

There were moments—warm, fleeting moments they had shared together. Even when they were out of sync, even when they hurt each other, what held them close, without a doubt… was love.

‘Why didn’t I see it then?’

She had been so certain it couldn’t be love, she never once stopped to truly look at his heart. And not even her own.

The moment Yuis realized her desire for him, the very first thing she did…was bolt the doors of her heart and pretend not to feel anything. She locked it away so tightly that even she couldn’t see what was inside.

Because she thought—he was someone she must never dare to want.

“I want you.”

His low, cool voice echoed in her ears like a ghost.

She had believed what he wanted was simply someone to fulfill the role of Duchess of Descartes. That if that position was upheld, it didn’t matter who the woman was.

And maybe… for a time, that had been true.

But then… when did that begin to change?

All the time they had spent together began to resurface. The subtle expressions unique to Edric. His gestures. The way he spoke. His scent. His steady embrace.

Every part of him.