‘A danger signal?’

D*mn it. Why at the palace? Don’t tell me it’s the prince?

Light suddenly leaked from Constantine’s eyes as he increased his speed.

He ran through the darkness. Even at maximum speed, anxiety consumed him faster.

He arrived at the sky garden after passing through the wide garden in an instant.

As the distance shortened, her figure began to appear more clearly.

Though from this position he could only see her back on the stone platform. And beyond Saena, he saw the hem of a dress in a different color.

‘A woman. Then not the prince? But why the danger signal…’

He briefly slowed his pace. He wasn’t sure if it was a situation he should intervene in.

But soon, he had to face a shocking situation.

“…Saena!”

When Saena grabbed the woman who rushed at her, he caught the metallic reflection from that hand. It was definitely a blade.

‘D*mn it!’

He shouldn’t have hesitated even briefly earlier. He shot out Caligo’s power while explosively increasing his speed.

‘No!’

Before he could fully reach her, he saw her body falling over the railing. Watching that small body fall through the air, it felt like his heart was falling with her.

‘Caligooo!!’

He opened his power to the maximum and spread a net toward her.

He had to catch her without even a single scratch.

The power surged so intensely that it created a storm of energy around Constantine.

* * *

“She must be insane.”

After catching the falling Saena, he immediately launched himself up to the sky garden. And there he found the Hebeta.

Not the prince but the Hebeta?

Did living in the imperial palace make everyone go mad?

“Hic.”

She tried to turn and flee with a pale blue face but failed.

“Kyaaah! No–!”

He bound and trapped the Hebeta in the shadows. She was imprisoned in pitch-black darkness where she couldn’t even see her own hands. Though he knew the Hebeta was trembling and wailing in that space where both sound and sight were blocked, Constantine didn’t care.

The image of Saena floating in mid-air seemed seared into his mind. It still felt like his heart had stopped.

‘How dare she…’

Even Caligo fell silent at the coldness emanating from Constantine.

“Hide her in the secluded back garden for now.”

Though the urge to tear her apart right now surged up, Saena came first.

He briefly considered leaving Saena at the palace and calling a doctor while dealing with the Hebeta, but he didn’t trust it.

Normally he should formally hand over the Hebeta for trial, but he didn’t trust that either. When the imperial family’s reputation was involved, wouldn’t it likely be swept under the rug?

No, he couldn’t trust the prince.

It was obvious the prince would use this incident as an excuse to keep summoning Saena to the palace for witness statements and confrontations.

Hebeta was about to be divorced anyway. From the looks of it, this seemed like an independent crime, and given what he’d seen of the prince’s personality, he likely wouldn’t react much even if this woman disappeared.

Though the time trapped in shadows would be terrifying and horrible, like being stuck with sticky darkness all around.

‘You reap what you sow.’

That was what he wanted anyway.

* * *

Flutter.

Her eyelids trembled briefly before she woke up.

Her dreamy eyes seemed not yet returned to reality, staring into distant space.

Was she alright? No, it seemed not.

Her body started trembling, perhaps recalling the terror of death.

“Saena.”

It’s okay. I’m here.

He held and patted her, hoping his feelings would reach her. He only felt sorry he couldn’t get to her side faster.

Remembering that moment when her body was in danger, his killing intent toward the Hebeta leaked out again, but he barely controlled it, worried it might affect Saena.

“…Constantine?”

“Yes. It’s me. Are you coming to your senses?”

She called his name, seeming to have regained consciousness. Though surprised at how naturally she called his name unlike before, this wasn’t the time to be happy.

He needed to check if she was okay first.

“You lost consciousness… and came here. A doctor will arrive soon. I treated the wound on your arm, but I couldn’t check other places… Are you alright?”

Though he caught her as she fell, it could have been a serious accident.

“I don’t think… I’m hurt anywhere. I seem fine.”

He had been so shocked when he saw her arm stained with blood.

He immediately tore the sleeve and treated it with antler potion, but he couldn’t check other places.

Though she said she was fine, people often don’t feel pain when shocked, so they should observe a bit longer. Besides, wouldn’t she have received a big psychological shock too? It was a situation anyone would worry about.

He carefully examined her complexion.

“Um… you saved me, right?”

Her purple eyes shone beautifully as she looked up at him with round eyes expressing gratitude.

‘She seems… more okay than expected.’

Was it just an outward appearance? Or was she really okay? It was hard to judge.

From what he’d observed so far, she didn’t seem the type to openly share her troubles and ask for help.

However,

“Let’s end this here between us.”

Perhaps appearances weren’t everything after all.

Saena dropped another shocking statement like an ambush.

— Wow! This woman! She’s very smart! Yes, good thinking, woman. My master is a very bad guy. Go home quickly!

“……”

Why on earth did she reach that conclusion? Was there something wrong with what he just did? What did he miss?

No matter how much he pondered, he absolutely couldn’t understand what thought process led to that conclusion.

“…May I ask why?”

— What reason could there be! She just doesn’t like you, master! Men shouldn’t be clingy!

All he did was rescue and worry about her, so why?

He had to ask in the end.

“I think I need to get married.”

“……”

— Hahaha. Good thinking, woman. Master isn’t husband material, right?

And at that answer, he became even more confused.

‘Marriage? Suddenly?’

Didn’t she say she was against marriage? Why did she change her mind?

No, putting that aside, why did she need to push him away? He couldn’t understand at all.

‘Am I that lacking?’

…Is it because I’m too old? Not charming enough?

Though he didn’t know the exact reason, he couldn’t believe the reality that he couldn’t even make it onto the list of potential marriage candidates.

“I don’t even make it as a candidate? Am I… that inadequate?”

“…What?”

“What part of me is so unsatisfactory? Tell me and I’ll fix it.”

“…Well.”

Perhaps he had been wrong to be too familiar? Maybe it had been wrong to try touching, embracing, and staying in contact whenever he had the chance.

“I should have… shown more restraint…”

The regret was immense.

— Yes, you beast of a master. Regret always comes too late. Turning around and leaving gracefully is the only way to maintain dignity now. Come on! Let’s leave with a flourish!

He couldn’t think of any way to resolve this situation.

“It’s not about you, Duke! It’s my personal circumstances…”

Then Saena made a troubled expression before speaking. About the prince’s recent behavior, the Hebeta, and her own decision.

“…I see.”

He could understand why she thought she needed to get married. Though he still couldn’t accept why he wasn’t even a candidate.

Though she made excuses that there wasn’t anything wrong with him, in the end, she was still saying no to him.

What could he do?

“Don’t look for another man.”

— Master! Have you no pride!

He could only beg. He could only speak directly.

“Am I… not good enough?”

I already feel like I can’t be with anyone but you.

“No, that’s not it… I’m too lacking for you, Duke…”

Lacking, she says.

“That’s not true at all. If you’re willing, I want to be that man.”

Please.

“Choose me.”

— You’ve really lost your mind! Come to your senses! Master! You’re the Duke of House Kramer, the Oathkeeper of the great Caligo, with a thousand years of…

He looked at her earnestly.

“Whatever worries or difficulties you have, let me help you resolve them.”

“……”

“I will be your answer.”

Hoping his desperate wish would reach her.

“Are you really… okay with someone like me?”

— No, why is this woman like this now! Hey woman! Don’t say two different things!

Perhaps his feelings had gotten through. She showed a positive response.

“Of course. I desperately want this.”

“…You mean marriage?”

Marriage. Even better. He could legally call her his. Keep her by his side.

All his previous thoughts about marriage disappeared.

“If you’ll allow it.”

— Master! Please don’t do this! Marriage?! Don’t get married, okay?

What did it matter?

“Tomorrow even.”

— Was I too noisy? If you don’t get married, I won’t talk anymore in the future! I’ll control myself!

He could get married. No, he wanted to make it happen.

— No, I won’t speak at night at all!

If it could be anyone, choose me. Me.

— No, no! I’ll only talk a little during the day too!

I’ll be your best man.

— That’s not okay either?! Then… then… I’ll only talk when you tell me to!

Just nod your head. If you’ll just permit it…

“Let’s get married.”

— Please just don’t get married! Master!

She finally accepted his desperate wish.

“Ah, Saena…”

— Nooo! Don’t!

His heart pounded. It felt like he had just gone through an incredible battle.

Unable to contain the emotion of the moment, he pulled her into an embrace. Though he heard a short cry, he hugged her even tighter.

— Don’t…!

He smiled as Caligo’s voice faded.

The smile that bloomed on his face seemed to be from satisfaction at finally having her, or perhaps relief at not losing her. No, it seemed to be for reasons beyond that.

Without knowing exactly what emotion he was facing right now, he simply smiled.

An irrepressible smile was drawn like that.

The season in his heart bloomed like spring.