“Your Grace. Excuse me, but could I hear an explanation of what this is about?”

I asked back.

“Sir. Have your eyes perhaps been damaged without my knowing?”

“Pardon?”

“If not, there’s no need to particularly ask me.”

A few seconds later, Sir Guillaume’s mouth slowly fell open. I never knew this b*stard who had not a shred of humor could make such a dumbfounded expression. However, in any case, it was the right time to escape.

“Well then, I should go order the princess’s new dress. Everyone carry on.”

When I quickly turned around and moved my feet, Melissa and the maids hurriedly followed. I heard over my shoulder the sounds of people who had been frozen like salt statues finally flustering to attend to the princess. And also heavy footsteps urgently closing the distance.

“Your Grace.”

Thud. However, just as I was about to ignore everything and leave, Sir Guillaume overtook me and blocked my path, so I eventually had to stop. His first words as he surrounded himself with the knights he’d brought like shields were these.

“I simply cannot believe it. Have you truly gone mad?”

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped at the familiar reproach. How could nothing have changed like this?

— Have you truly gone mad?

It was the same in the past. Sir Guillaume faithfully followed your orders and monitored me locked in the tower. He was so stubborn he wouldn’t allow me even a midnight stroll. Just once. I tried to escape taking advantage of loosened surveillance, but discovery came quickly.

— Sir, please.

— I cannot.

— Just once! If you let me out just once, I’ll only look from afar and come back!

— Go inside.

Bang. The iron door closed firmly before my eyes. I heard the sound of chains rattling as they wound tightly around the handle. I cursed him in a fit, but Sir Guillaume silently finished his duty like a deaf man and left the door.

“It seems the one who’s gone mad isn’t me but you, so would you please step aside?”

So why would I want to exchange more words? However, Sir Guillaume again half-listened to my words. He gestured with his chin to make the knights step back, then extended one hand to me. As I stared blankly down at it, unexpected words urged me on.

“His Highness ordered me to bring you.”

“What?”

People with something to hide inevitably show it. Sir Guillaume let out a small sigh and shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not because of this.”

“Then?”

“I don’t know well either, but you can explain what just happened while you’re going anyway.”

He looked ready to drag me by force if I refused. It can’t be helped. When I resigned myself and placed my hand on his arm, a faint sigh flowed over my head in relief.

I deliberately walked with my stride considerably narrowed, but when I came to my senses, I was already before a familiar door. Sir Guillaume, who had the followers step back, stood me there and politely knocked on the massive office door.

“Your Highness. I’ve brought her.”

“Come in.”

“Let’s go.”

Sir Guillaume, who stepped aside, spread his palm and pointed inside.

Your office, made by opening up two rooms, was spacious with high ceilings. During the day, it filled with sunlight, and around evening, you could see the sky beautifully colored with sunset through the window. The bookshelf filling one wall was neat with books and rare ornaments, and when you opened the door, there was a wide desk bent along the wall on the immediate left. It was so large and solid that it was quite suitable for someone like me to lie down on.

“Did you cut yourself again?”

I was newly immersed in sentiment when I came to my senses at the harsh voice. As I was puzzled not knowing the meaning, bang. You kicked your chair and approached me with a terrifying momentum.

“Explain.”

A large shadow fell over my head, and hot body temperature touched my skin. The hand that generously gripped and pulled my wrist. When I followed the tenacious gaze further past it, I saw bloodstains here and there on my fingertips from scratches. They must be wounds from my skin being scraped when the glass bottle broke earlier. Good eyes. How did you see so quickly what even I didn’t know because it didn’t hurt at all?

I attempted evasion for now.

“It’s nothing.”

“So what happened.”

“……”

“Sir Guillaume.”

“Hear it directly yourself.”

After a brief exchange, the ball eventually came back to me. But Odil. As you know, my natural patience isn’t very long. Especially when facing a persistent gaze like now, my whole body itches wanting to run away.

“It’s nothing much. I had a small quarrel with the princess.”

At the words I awkwardly brought out, Sir Guillaume added flesh to them.

“Usually one wouldn’t call the act of striking someone’s head with a wine bottle ‘small.'”

“Wait. Why did you leave out the part about it failing?”

I immediately protested. I wouldn’t feel wronged if I’d actually hit her! However, as I was fuming with anger, a low sigh came from above my head.

“Ha.”

My gaze reflexively shot up. From where my eyes landed came the sound of grinding teeth. Your thick chest swelled and deflated greatly with each deep breath as though suppressing anger. Veins bulged menacingly on your clenched jaw. Ah, Odil.

I was entranced.

It had been a long time since I’d seen you this enraged. My fingertips itched with pleasure at your appearance being swayed by none other than me. I can still make you like this. So you probably haven’t completely forgotten me yet either—that expectation.

However, the misplaced pride was brief. I momentarily forgot the princess was also involved in this matter. Perhaps you were indignant because of that woman, not me. Thinking the opposite way, my throat went dry. Already forgetting the satisfaction from just now, I already wanted to run away. I didn’t want to have confirmed from your mouth the fact I suspected.

“You!”

That’s when it happened.

“Are you confessing right now before me that you attempted to harm the princess? Have you truly gone mad?”

My ears rang from the thunderous interrogation. The grip on my wrist also tightened considerably, causing dull pain. In the gap when I was dazed not knowing what to do, my body was pulled forward by the force pulling without consideration.

“I no longer understand what you’re thinking at all. Don’t you know the princess’s background! She is Gorgon’s bloodline and the Holy Kingdom cardinal’s offspring. Even knowing this fact, do you think the King of Gorgon will stay still? The nobles? How long…… do you think I can protect you?”

I, who had been standing on tiptoes due to our height difference and leaning all my weight on you, barely caught my balance and avoided staggering. Nevertheless, the gap between us was so small that from afar, one might mistake it for me being in your embrace.

“Protect?”

But Odil. At that very moment, you felt more distant than ever.

“Did you even intend to?”

My lips twisted at the fine-sounding excuse. Isn’t that right? Trying to shift responsibility to me with just such an excuse. How can you be so consistently cruel to me, no. To us!

“You said you loved me. You promised me eternity! You were the one who threw away all those vows first, so what will you do to me now?”

Stars burst inside my eyelids. It was absurd. My stomach twisted at the pathetic deception and bile surged up. I struggled wildly like a foal convulsing from oleander. Like oil had been poured on a half-dead ember. I convulsed like that ember had all transferred to my body.

“Let go!”

Yes. That was literally a convulsion. There’s no other way to explain at that time. However, I didn’t know how to handle myself like that either. It was a violent impulse like oil had been poured on a half-extinguished ember. Like someone was forcibly splitting my belly to turn my insides out for display.

“Please stop with the delusions!”

However, you ultimately didn’t let me go. Even when my pointed heels kicked your legs wildly, you didn’t bat an eye. Rather, I exhausted myself. My knees suddenly gave out completely, and as my body tilted, I felt a cold sensation on my curved back.

“!”

My eyes reflexively squeezed shut. However, what touched my back wasn’t a hard wall but burning warmth. You had slipped your hand between me and the wall in that instant.

I was already leaning against you, clinging. Your panting breath was fully felt above my forehead. The distance that had closed enough for our noses to touch seemed like we could kiss if I just turned my face slightly.

Really, it seemed like we could.

“Father left me countless friends and enemies. The noble faction has already gained enough power, and I’m already dizzy just blocking them! I don’t have time to indulge your ridiculous whims, understand? How long must I……!”

Ah. When exactly was our last kiss?

I blankly traced distant memories. Confessing, I wasn’t listening to your words even then. I was just exhausted from resisting the impulse to kiss you as much as I wanted to stab a knife into your heart.

Yes. It’s truly absurd and pathetic, but I’m still this obsessed with you. Perhaps this had already left the realm of emotion and was some fixed ending. Probably because I had loved you too long, too deeply, too naturally.

It was probably because of that when an absurd thought suddenly occurred. If this emotion hot as flames and tragic as a blade was a matter outside my will. Perhaps this was my very fate.

“Are you even listening? Or is what I’m saying ridiculous?”

It was quite a convincing sound. Isn’t that right? If the source of these contradictory emotions striking me without warning, reason, or logic isn’t fate, then what could it be?

Moreover, thinking that way was more comfortable. It can’t be helped. It wasn’t my will. It was naturally meant to be that way.

Naturally……

“……Stop.”

“What?”

I panted a little. The hypothesis I created came back around and stabbed me. That’s right. If there’s a fate given to me, there must surely be some life thread that struck you without warning too. Then this might be your fate.

Loving her instead of me.

“Please step aside.”