Isabel met the crown prince’s drunken, unfocused green eyes with a cold gaze.

“I did not realize Your Highness took such interest in my marriage.”

She tried to pull away, but the crown prince only tightened his grip, shoving her back against a pillar.

Her shoulder struck the hard surface with a dull thud, and Isabel frowned at the surge of pain as she glared at him.

“What do you think you’re doing, Your Highness?”

“Isabel, you were meant to be my wife. That is, if the Duke and Duchess of Lewen hadn’t committed their crime and met such a miserable end.”

Half out of his senses, the crown prince seemed not to hear her at all, grinning foolishly as he continued.

“I asked His Majesty what crime they had committed, but all he did was grow angry. It makes one wonder, doesn’t it? Aren’t you curious?”

Unable to tolerate him any longer, Isabel shoved him hard.

Despite how roughly he had pushed her, he staggered back easily, letting out a low, drunken chuckle as his gaze swept over her from head to toe.

“Yes… that defiant look. I do like it. I wonder what it would have been like if you had become my crown princess. Unlike the Duke of Francia, I would have cherished you every night.”

As she wondered just how much longer she had to endure his absurd words, something caught her eye behind him.

“Just imagining breaking that arrogance of yours… how intoxicating it would be. In bed, you must be so beau—what are you doing?”

Without warning, Isabel reached up and pulled the pin from her neatly styled hair.

Startled, the crown prince paused, tilting his head in confusion.

In an instant, her carefully arranged blonde hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

“Your Highness, be careful.”

Holding the sharp pin aloft, Isabel faced him.

The crown prince, watching her through half-lidded eyes, took an unsteady step back.

“A-Are you planning to stab me with that?”

She did want to stab him.

But what needed to be dealt with now was something else.

“Your Highness, please stay still.”

At her words, he narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.

“Why? So you can stab me in one go if I don’t move?”

“There’s a snake.”

“What?”

“There’s a snake behind you.”

“What nonsense is that? In all my life, I’ve never seen a snake in Anita—!”

As he shouted, a chilling sound came from behind him.

“Th-there really is a snake—Aaaah!”

His face drained of color as he turned, and in that instant, a snake lunged forward, jaws wide open.

Without hesitation, Isabel hurled the pin.

The snake narrowly avoided it and vanished into the bushes in a flash.

The crown prince stumbled back in terror, then collapsed to the ground the moment it disappeared.

“A—a snake… how could…!”

Isabel looked down at him with clear disdain.

“It seems the snake appeared after hearing Your Highness’s nonsense.”

“What did you say?!”

He snapped his head toward her, glaring.

Unbothered, Isabel continued coolly,

“It may return if it hears more of your nonsense, so I suggest you withdraw. I will have someone search for it.”

“Th-the snake will come back…?”

Muttering blankly, the crown prince scrambled to his feet and fled in a panic.

Isabel watched him run with a look of disbelief—then, her gaze sharpened as she fixed it on the pillar across from her.

“Come out.”

At her command, someone stepped out from behind it.

Arkin.

Isabel stared at him coldly.

“I don’t know how you managed to smuggle a snake into Anita, but that alone is enough to have your head taken for treason.”

Arkin approached her at an unhurried pace, giving a casual shrug.

“Could I simply stand by while that man toyed with you?”

Up close, his expression seemed noticeably subdued.

“And what of it?” It’s just a small snake — hardly treason. It belongs to a friend of mine — just a hatchling that happened to come with my things.”

As he extended his arm, the snake that had vanished moments before slithered out of his sleeve.

Startled, Isabel took a step back instinctively.

Arkin tapped the snake lightly on the head as though it were an adorable pet. The creature blinked its red eyes once, then slipped back into the folds of his clothing.

Isabel stared at the sight, momentarily dazed.

Then, all of a sudden, Arkin stepped closer.

He studied her face carefully, then his brows drew together in a faint frown.

“You look worse than when I saw you a few days ago. You seem… suffocated.”

Appearing out of nowhere with a snake in tow, he was worrying about her again—just as he had when they first met.

‘What… are you?’

As Isabel looked at him, confusion filling her eyes, his hand suddenly reached out and gently brushed her disheveled blonde hair behind her ear.

“Shall I help you breathe?”

“What—!”

Before she could even process his words he suddenly lifted her into his arms and leapt into the air.

“Aaaah!”

Terrified, Isabel squeezed her eyes shut and clung tightly to his neck.

❖ ❖ ❖

‘What in the world is happening?’

She was certain they were somewhere high—very high.

But how…?

‘Is he even human?’

Her thoughts spiraled wildly, when his voice whispered softly by her ear.

“Open your eyes.”

“No!”

Panicked, Isabel tightened her arms around his neck.

At that, Arkin let out a quiet laugh.

Under normal circumstances, she would have shoved him away and slapped him.

But not now.

The sound of rushing wind around her was anything but ordinary.

Cursing him under her breath, Isabel clung to him even tighter.

“Put me down this instant! Take me back to where I was, or I’ll k*ll you! That pin won’t be used on a snake—it’ll be driven straight into your throat!”

“Haha, don’t worry. I won’t let you get hurt.”

“If you won’t hurt me, then why bring me somewhere this high?! Put me back immediately! If you do, I might even forgive you—!”

“Open your eyes and look.”

Arkin chuckled softly, his voice gentle.

“It’s all right, Isabel.”

“All right—how could this possibly be—!”

Her voice, nearly breaking into a sob, faltered—and, drawn by his calm tone, she slowly opened her eyes.

Her tear-blurred vision blinked once… twice—and then widened in shock.

‘…Oh my…’

The vast night of the capital, Anita, stretched endlessly before her—glittering as though countless stars had descended upon the earth.

The palace of the Calium Empire stood atop a cliff, making such views familiar—yet this was different.

Standing at the very highest point of the palace, the scenery felt entirely new.

Isabel gazed at the breathtaking nightscape, as though entranced—forgetting even that she stood atop a dizzying height.

The suffocating weight that had filled her chest seemed to vanish, replaced by the open, boundless expanse before her.

Seeing her fall silent, captivated by the view, Arkin let out a quiet laugh.

Unaware even of his presence, Isabel simply stared ahead.

For a long moment, Arkin watched her, then turned his gaze to the world she saw.

Below the cliff where the palace stood, countless golden lights spread across the city, surrounded by towering double walls.

Beyond them, the dark sea shimmered under the night sky.

So peaceful, it almost felt like a dream, as though the horrors unfolding across the Empire did not exist.

“…From here, the corruption of the land feels like nothing more than a dream.”

Arkin’s gaze deepened as he took in the tranquil scenery.

“Do you know why this land became corrupted?”

“…What?”

Startled by the sudden shift in tone, Isabel turned to look at him.

The playful smile that had lingered on his face was gone.

With calm, sunken eyes, he continued to gaze over the serene capital as he spoke.

“It’s because the Calium Empire soaked this land in blood. And yet the Emperor does not care. He has no intention of fixing it—only of filling his own coffers.”

His voice was flat, almost devoid of emotion yet the hatred within it was immense.

Far deeper, far heavier than even the hatred Isabel carried within her.

Isabel, who had been watching him in silence, finally spoke.

“From the Emperor’s perspective, there is no reason to resolve the current situation. As long as the capital, Anita, remains safe like this. His authority is at its strongest right now.”

Arkin, who had been looking ahead, turned to her.

“With the land corrupted, nobles who can no longer live in their territories now cling to the Emperor to survive. If the land were restored, they would all return to their domains. And if that happens, wouldn’t the Emperor’s power weaken? He will never resolve the corruption.”

Arkin studied her quietly, then asked.

“Do you believe the capital of Anita will remain untouched forever?”

Without hesitation, Isabel answered.

“It has remained untouched until now. It will continue to do so.”

“So you think that as well.”

At his words, Isabel met his calm, unreadable gaze in silence.

On the night they first met, she had dreamed of a black wolf.

His eyes, they were like that wolf’s.

The longer she looked, the more she felt as though she might be completely drawn in.

Isabel quickly turned her head away.

“…You should watch your words. You might bring trouble upon Prince Morita, whom you are protecting. Do not stand out unnecessarily. You are already conspicuous enough as it is. Though I don’t know how someone of an ancient race like you came to serve as his guard.”

Her unexpected remark made Arkin’s brow furrow.

“You’ve figured out what I am?”

At first, she hadn’t.

She had only thought him unusual because of his imposing build and the color of his eyes.

But after seeing him a few times, she was reminded of the ancient race she had once encountered in Anita long ago.

He carried the same presence.

She had only tested him with her words, but it seemed she had been right.

“I once saw a sl*ve from an ancient race who looked like you. Your appearance alone is far from ordinary.”

“We belong to no one. We are not sl*ves.”

At her words, his eyes twisted sharply, filled with hostility.

Isabel watched the anger and hatred within them without flinching, then asked,

“What is your name?”

For some reason, she suddenly wanted to know.

But the man simply shook his head, his expression sullen.

“I don’t want to tell you.”

Isabel frowned.

“It doesn’t seem like such a great thing—to know a name.”

“You wouldn’t remember it anyway.”

At that, Isabel let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“My memory isn’t that poor. Do you think remembering a single name is difficult?”

He looked at her silently for a moment, then suddenly leaned in close.

So close that their breaths nearly touched.

Fixing her with a piercing gaze, he asked.

“Can you promise you won’t forget?”