Akan sat across from Robellia. The visits and the sudden warmth between them had become so natural that they could both feel it. Though she had never really explained it, Robellia was simply happy.

The lost ten years of memories, including the times Akan had beaten her or strangled her, were dismissed as if they had never happened. It was a fragile and precarious peace in every way.

Akan looked at the empty wall. The servants, not knowing the full story, thought that Robellia was a favoured mistress because of the Emperor’s frequent visits to this place. As a result, the pictures that Robellia painted every day according to her wishes were hung on the wall, just as they had been when she was twelve.

But the images on the canvases were far from the work of an innocent child. Each was a jumble of colours that made it impossible to distinguish between heaven and earth. But when Robellia called it a flower, it became a flower; and when she called it a bird, it became a bird.

“Ah, cake.”

As Akan watched, the servant carefully placed the cup of tea and the plate of cake on the table. When Akan saw the cake with white whipped cream and a strawberry on top, his brow furrowed. Although the decoration was slightly different, it didn’t seem much different from the cake Akan had used when he had tamed Robellia.

Suddenly, Robellia reached out with her bare hand and, using her thumb and forefinger, picked the strawberry from the cake and popped it into her mouth.

The casualness of the gesture brought back an old memory, one that hadn’t appeared in his nightmares. When they had eaten the cake Lady Suther had brought, Robellia had done the same. As Akan saw the tension leave his eyes, his expression slowly relaxed.

“Eat this too.”

As Akan pushed the plate in front of her, Robellia quickly picked up the strawberry and ate it again. A chill ran through his heart, which had been as calm as the eye of a storm.

“Robellia.”

“Yes?”

Robellia looked up. Akan took a cloth and gently wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth. Her cheeks flushed, Robellia shyly lowered her gaze, focusing only on Akan’s hand.

“Finish the conversation we had yesterday.”

“Okay.”

Robellia’s stories were simple, everyday things. She would mention how the sauce on the fish dish at dinner the night before had been particularly delicious, or how a bird had built a nest in a tree in the garden. These small, insignificant details seemed almost unreal, and these conversations went on for hours every day.

Akan listened to Robellia’s words in silence. The one sitting before him was no rogue who had seized the throne. It was as if Robellia herself had returned to a time in the past.

But Akan could not forgive Robellia. Just because she hadn’t forgotten and kept searching for him did not erase the crime of causing his father’s death. Still, the endless kindness Robellia showed young Akan was so sweet. It was as if he wanted to stay in that moment, in a time when everything seemed to stop.

“So I… the bird…”

Suddenly, Robellia stopped speaking. The sparkle in her eyes was replaced by a dark, cloudy haze. Her eyelids fluttered slowly. It had become a common occurrence of late. Akan watched Robellia calmly.

“The bird… the bird…”

The corners of her eyes, which had been trembling, flushed a deep red. Robellia squeezed her eyes shut, as if to hold back the pain. She let out a deep sigh, her chest, adorned with a large ribbon, rising and falling heavily.

Robellia slowly opened her eyes. Her clear, violet-blue gaze met Akan’s.

“Where did I leave off?”

“You said you caught the bird.”

“No, I didn’t catch it!”

Robellia puffed out her cheeks, her face flushed. Her voice rose again, like a song.

This warm illusion existed only in a small box. Akan and Robellia were like two dolls, facing each other and spinning endlessly inside. When the spring was completely unwound, the music would stop. Akan decided to close the box before the song ended. To do this, he had to get out of the box.

“Robellia. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

“Mm…?”

Finally Akan broke his silence. Just for today. Just until tomorrow. Too many days had gone by like this. That was enough. Only one of them had to leave the box.

“Do you remember where I used to live when I was a child?”

“Four days from the capital…”

“That’s right. If you go another day from there, you’ll reach the northern border.”

“Mm…”

Their afternoon together was short, but filled with beautiful things. While Robellia spoke of rare flowers that could only be found in the palace, Akan told stories of things found far from the palace, in the capital. Like vineyards stretching to the horizon, or mountains covered in snow all year round. But for a conversation that began with such topics, the flow of their discussion was somewhat unexpected.

“It’s a place with many mountains and uneven land, so there’s only one small village.”

Robellia nodded, not understanding why Akan had suddenly brought up such a subject. After all, he had become Emperor and would continue to live in the palace.

“I have already found a place for you there. Lady Reinin will look after you. But you won’t live like a princess.”

“Are… are you kicking me out?”

Robellia’s eyes widened in shock. After being treated so kindly, he was now telling her to leave. Akan continued to speak calmly, not meeting her eyes.

“It will be better than staying here. Don’t mention you’re royalty. Just live there, look at the mountains or the sky and live like that.”

Akan still hated Robellia. Something he thought had been erased long ago still clung to a corner of his heart. If he could, he wanted to remove it before his eyes and remember that Robellia had died in the fall, before his calm heart began to rage again.

Robellia gently placed her hand on Akan’s, which was resting on the table. Akan quickly pulled his hand away and moved it under the table. Robellia’s eyes trembled with fear. Instead of looking at her, Akan kept his eyes on the floor.

“Why, why? Can’t I just live here?”

“You’re not a princess anymore.”

“I know. You’re the emperor now. Then… let me live here, please…”

“It’s for your own good. Go live somewhere in peace.”

It was a lie. It was deception. Akan just wanted to avoid the contradiction between the urge to kill Robellia and the memories he wanted to protect.

“I don’t want to… I don’t want to go. Is it because I’m bothering you?”

Without a hint, everything was already decided. Akan’s mind was made up. Robellia, who had risen, sank to the floor at Akan’s feet. She tried desperately to meet his gaze, but Akan remained unmoved.

“I… I want to work here. I can learn and do it.”

“Robellia, Robellia.”

Only then did Akan’s gaze turn to Robellia, but it quickly retreated, as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have. Tears filled Robellia’s eyes. Like a small animal cast aside by its mother, Robellia clung desperately to Akan’s leg.

“I won’t disturb you. I’ll just stay here quietly. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, Akan. Please…”

“Prepare to leave within three days… I’ll force you out if I have to.”

Akan removed Robellia’s hands and stood up. There were no harsh words or rough actions, but his resolve seemed unshakable. Robellia, no longer able to cling to him, lowered her head. Drop by drop, the tears that had finally overflowed fell to the ground.

Akan couldn’t understand. It was strange for him to feel pity. The emotions he thought he would never feel – for Robellia or anyone else – left him bewildered.

Revenge against Robellia would end here. But he couldn’t bring himself to talk about forgiveness. Avoiding the feelings he couldn’t explain, Akan closed the box.