Although it was not a particularly loud sound, a subordinate, sharp as a ghost, caught Aiger’s muttering and asked,

“Oh, are you coming this way?”

The subordinate, who had been rambling on about how dangerous it was, was now rubbing his bloodstained cheek and grinning. Even the old woman holding a hook, covered in things one wouldn’t want to know about, stepped aside.

However, Aiger merely cast a look of disdain at them before rising to his feet.

“Clean it up. As slowly as possible. I’ve heard everything I need.”

“No, please! Just kill me in one blow!”

With a single command from Aiger, the fate of the alchemist—one of the perpetrators who had kidnapped commoners and children alike to conduct unspeakably horrific experiments—was sealed.

One day, those involved in the research team working to create the elixir of immortality, as the emperor desired, would undoubtedly meet the same end as him.

Aiger glanced down at his spotless shoe tip and the blood pooling beneath his every step before leaving the underground chamber, walking toward the light.

* * *

Knock, knock, knock.

It was close to midnight.

Raylin, who had been reading a book on international trade with the lights on, was about to speak when she lifted her head.

She had instinctively prepared to grant permission to enter at the sound of the knock, only to realize that it was far too late at night for someone to be visiting her room.

Had she misheard? Just as the thought crossed her mind—

Knock, knock, knock.

The knock sounded again. Raylin reflexively gripped the emergency alarm cord tightly, cautiously glancing toward the door.

Knock, knock.

But the next knocks drew her gaze in a different direction.

“The window?”

The sound was coming from the large window leading to the balcony, where she sometimes sat for tea on pleasant days.

Oddly enough, her tension melted away.

Had she overreacted just now? Had she been too paranoid?

She was in Greuga Manor, not Catherine’s domain.

That meant she was safe. Not completely, of course… but still.

If the visitor harbored ill intentions, they wouldn’t have bothered knocking in the first place.

Relaxing her shoulders, Raylin tilted her head before cautiously drawing back the thick curtain.

The moment she caught sight of the silhouette beyond the small gap, her eyes widened.

“Your Highness?”

Aiger, who always appeared without so much as a sound or a trace of presence, stood on the balcony and gave her a slight nod.

Raylin quickly pulled back the curtain and threw the window open wide.

The cool night air carried Aiger’s distinct deep, bitter scent, overpowering the drowsy atmosphere inside.

“What brings you here at this hour? Did something bad happen?”

As she instinctively pulled him inside, bombarding him with worried questions without a hint of suspicion, Aiger silently observed her before suddenly asking—

“What is your relationship with Catherine Sillion?”

Raylin’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected question.

Aiger said nothing further and simply stared at her.

His deep blue eyes, reminiscent of the winter night sky, locked onto her green ones, which carried the essence of spring foliage.

Aiger’s gaze burrowed into her, unrelenting and searching.

The silence stretched, heavy like a curtain, before Raylin finally parted her lips several minutes later.

“If I told you there was no special reason, would you believe me?”

“There’s no reason not to. As I’ve said before, your words…”

“You believe me.”

When she had warned him about the possibility of Lady Mifaro’s abduction, Aiger had been willing to trust her.

No—he had never once ignored her words, even before that.

Because of that, Raylin could tell what he wasn’t saying.

If she didn’t provide a proper answer, he would be disappointed.

Though ‘doubt’ was the only thing hovering around him now, what if, moments later, disappointment was added to it…?

Fear gripped Raylin at that thought.

She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want Aiger to be disappointed in her.

More than dislike—it terrified her.

A sudden wave of anxiety rushed in, forcing Raylin’s lips open. But no words came out.

Should she tell the truth?

What truth?

That Catherine Sillion was a lunatic, obsessed with delusions, and his greatest enemy?

That she knew because she had experienced it firsthand?

That she, too, had been killed by Catherine, only to return to the past after her death, and was now keeping an eye on her to prevent it from happening again?

Even if she only revealed a fraction of the truth, she would be the one branded as insane, not Catherine.

But… she had to say something.

As Raylin grew pale, the life draining from her face, Aiger let out a quiet sigh and said—

“If it’s something you can’t answer, then that’s enou—”

“I don’t want to lie.”

Before he could finish, Raylin cut in.

“So please… just wait a little longer. There’s something I want to tell you, Your Highness. But I need time.”

She hadn’t planned to say that.

Yet her mouth had moved on its own.

And in that moment, Raylin realized—

If there was anyone she could reveal her deepest, darkest secret to, it would be no one else but Aiger.

Only him.

Aiger didn’t say anything.

But his silence was an affirmation.

As the ‘doubt’ lingering around him faded and was replaced by ‘patience,’ Raylin suddenly felt a lump rise in her throat.

Even though she hadn’t offered a single insincere excuse, he hadn’t questioned her further.

He had simply… allowed it.

And for some reason, that felt so…

“I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour. I’ll take my leave now.”

Just as Aiger left a brief farewell and was about to depart—

“Ah, Your Highness.”

Raylin stopped him just before he could leave.

Though he didn’t reply, he obediently halted and turned his head. Seeing this, she smiled brightly and made a suggestion.

“Since you’ve come at night, why don’t you stay the night?”

“…What?”

Raylin, who had just casually dropped a statement closer to a bomb than a proposal, boldly tugged on Aiger’s sleeve as he raised a questioning eyebrow, as if he had misheard.

“I said, stay the night.”

He placed his hand over her much smaller one and spoke firmly.

“My lady, no matter how engaged we may be, this is… I thought it was not my place to say, considering I came to your room unannounced at this hour, but I’ve changed my mind. Why did you open the door so easily just now? What if it had been someone dangerous instead of me? What if it had been someone with… another purpose, rather than just your life?”

For once, Aiger spoke at length, and his words trailed off in an unusual way.

“Huh?”

Raylin, listening in confusion, blinked and tilted her head.

Then, two seconds later, her face flushed bright red, and she cried out in shock.

“No! That’s not what I meant! Not at all!”

She nearly threw his sleeve aside, shaking her head so vigorously it was dizzying.

Though Aiger nodded at her response, a strange sense of dissatisfaction bubbled up in his chest.

Was it something she needed to deny so adamantly?

They were engaged, after all.

Chastity before marriage had long been considered an outdated custom, so an engagement was the most reasonable…

Without realizing it, his thoughts began to drift toward a direction he had firmly cut off earlier. But then, Raylin’s next words completely severed that train of thought.

“For your insomnia. I told you I would help treat it, didn’t I?”

Raylin pressed a finger against her own chest as she spoke.

“You did.”

Her cheeks were still flushed, but her round eyes were utterly clear, devoid of even the slightest hint of ulterior motives or impure intentions.

A silence stretched for what felt like an eternity.

Then Aiger covered his face with both hands and let out a long sigh.

What the hell was he thinking?

No, he wasn’t thinking anything strange…

“…Fine. How do you plan to start?”

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, he asked in a subdued voice.

Raylin reached for his sleeve again but hesitated and withdrew her hand before answering.

“For now, would you lie down? It’s my bed, but… if you’re particular about the mattress, sheets, or pillows—”

“I’m not.”

If he had been, he wouldn’t have survived on the battlefield.

Even those who were picky at first found themselves collapsing onto the bare ground after spending a few days rolling around in a war zone, where losing a limb or head was an everyday occurrence.

Aiger replied indifferently, then, without much hesitation, lay down on the bed, its white, soft blanket partially folded back.

Contrary to its delicate appearance—one that seemed like it might be too fragile even for someone wrapped in cotton—the bed was surprisingly firm, without sinking too much.

“That’s… a relief.”

Raylin reflexively pulled the intricately embroidered blanket over him. However, she avoided looking directly at him, her gaze darting around the room instead.

She hadn’t expected this, but now that Aiger was actually lying in her bed…

It felt impossibly awkward.

Who else, aside from herself, had ever dared to lie in the treasured bed of Greuga’s precious daughter?

Feeling restless, Raylin’s eyes rolled around as she chattered aimlessly.

“Is it uncomfortable? If anything bothers you, please tell me right away. It might not be the most comfortable bed for you, but the goal is for you to feel as relaxed as possible.”

Aiger answered plainly.

“I’ve never had a comfortable place to sleep, so this is more than enough.”