The low murmur brushed against Breti’s ear. When she turned her head, Karsten was standing there, his gaze fixed on her.

Just the sight of his face sent a rush of relief through her body, so overwhelming it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

“It’s time we left. Come here.”

As he extended his hand toward her, Breti took it without hesitation.

Feeling her hand settle into his grasp, Karsten gently drew her in, shielding her behind him as if to hide her from view.

Watching the exchange, Fedriol clicked his tongue softly, as though in regret.

“I’d heard the duke’s love for his sister was extraordinary. It seems that was true.”

“She’s the sister I found with great difficulty. No amount of affection feels enough.”

Fedriol nodded, as if to say he understood.

The closer he came, the more violently Breti’s body trembled. Holding her hand, Karsten could feel every shiver coursing through her.

‘She’s trembling like this…’
‘Then why didn’t she push him away? She always used to push me away so easily.’

Karsten swallowed down a curse as he fixed his gaze on Fedriol.

“Karsten, my brother went to where your sister is.”

Gabriel, the second prince and Karsten’s close friend, had delivered the warning. The moment he heard it, Karsten had abandoned the dance mid-step, flinging Sierra’s hand aside and hurrying to Breti’s side.

Tightening his grip on her hand, Karsten said firmly,

“With Your Highness’s permission, we’ll take our leave.”

“Leaving so soon? A pity, Duke, when it’s been so long since you’ve come.”

“I have a departure tomorrow.”

At the word departure, Breti’s trembling stilled. Her mind flashed to the small pouch tucked safely against her chest. She should have given it to him long ago, yet she had kept it in her hand until today.

“Ah, yes. I heard there was some trouble along the border with the Duvali Empire.”

“That is correct.”

Fedriol stepped closer, his voice low as he passed by Karsten.

“You must be weary, Duke. To take my place, it will demand no small effort.”

His last glance lingered on Breti.

“Laterna.”

Karsten stepped in front of her, blocking her view. As his broad chest cut off Fedriol from her sight, a strange sense of relief spread through her.

“Let’s go.”

Karsten seized her wrist.

When they stepped off the balcony and back into the hall, countless eyes turned toward them. But Karsten paid them no heed, leading Breti forward without pause.

He didn’t release her wrist until they stood before the carriage they had arrived in.

Just as he was about to speak sharply to her—

“Karsten, were you planning to leave without greeting an old friend?”

A man approached them.

From his attire, Breti immediately recognized him as a member of the royal family and quickly bowed with proper courtesy.

“Your Highness the Prince.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady.”

He was none other than Gabriel, the second prince, who had warned him about the danger facing Breti.

“Laterna, you must be tired. Go on ahead and rest.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Karsten still hadn’t offered Gabriel a greeting. He simply stood there, eyes fixed intently on Breti as she stepped into the carriage.

Even after the door had long since closed, his gaze remained fixed on it.

“Hey, Karsten.”

If Gabriel hadn’t spoken, he might have gone on staring until dawn.

Karsten finally turned his head, bowing briefly.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“Karsten, speak to me plainly.”

Gabriel said with a playful tap to his shoulder.

“…Gabriel.”

At the sound of his name from Karsten’s lips, Gabriel tapped his shoulder again with a light hand.

“So you really did find your sister, then.”

Gabriel was one of the few who knew just how tirelessly Karsten had searched for her. Hearing that his friend had finally found his long-lost sister, he couldn’t simply sit idle—so he had left the hall to find him.

“Yes. I found her.”

“Congratulations, Karsten.”

Though he spoke the words of celebration, Gabriel studied him with curious eyes. He had expected Karsten to be overjoyed, practically beside himself with happiness. Yet for some reason, there was little sign of emotion in him.

“How is your mother’s health?”

“There’s been no major change, but it seems she’s improving.”

Gabriel nodded, then asked quietly.

“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow for the southwest.”

“Yes.”

“Only a few days ago you returned from clearing the southern Harridge, and now they’re sending you off again…”

Gabriel’s brow furrowed as he glanced back toward the palace.

“You’ve always borne so much, Karsten.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Karsten gave a faint, dry laugh.

“Since when did you acquire such abilities, Gabriel?”

But Gabriel’s expression remained grave.

“I’m not joking, Karsten.”

After making sure no one was within earshot, Gabriel lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Not long ago, the Marquis of Etro paid a visit to the Empress’s greenhouse.”

“…”

“It was shortly after you found your sister.”

“I see.”

“It may well have been he who spread the rumors about your sister.”

Even at those words, Karsten’s expression hardly shifted. He looked like a man who had already foreseen every move on the board.

Placing a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder, Karsten spoke.

“I have a favor to ask, Gabriel.”

“A favor? What sort?”

“While I’m in the southwest, watch over my sister for me.”

Karsten’s gaze had already drifted back to the carriage.

“That’s hardly a difficult request. No need to make it sound so grave.”

Gabriel said lightly, giving his shoulder a playful tap.

But Karsten’s face showed no sign of softening.

After a brief farewell, Gabriel returned to the banquet hall, while Karsten climbed into the carriage.

Inside, Breti sat quietly, her posture composed. When he had last seen her, her shoulders had been trembling violently, but now the trembling seemed to have subsided.

Karsten rapped twice on the carriage door.

“To the ducal mansion.”

The sound of the horses soon followed, and the carriage began to move.

Not a word passed between them as silence stretched on.

At last, Karsten broke it.

“Why didn’t you push him away?”

Breti startled, her shoulders quivering faintly.

“You’ve never hesitated to stand boldly before me.”

Karsten’s brow furrowed as he recalled the Breti who had always met him head-on.

“I feared that showing discourtesy to someone of such high rank might tarnish my reputation as Lady Laterna.”

She answered softly, biting down on her lower lip.

Silence settled over the carriage once more.

“If anything had happened to you there, it would have brought far greater disgrace upon the name Laterna.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

“If anyone dares try such a thing again, meet it as you normally would. Don’t just stand there like a fool and let it happen.”

“Yes. I will.”

Breti’s reply was quiet, almost timid. Even after hearing her answer, Karsten’s anger refused to subside. The image of Fedriol harassing her kept replaying in his mind.

‘D*mn it.’

A sudden headache made him pinch his brow in irritation. As he pressed firmly against his temple, trying to drive the pain away.

“Um… Your Highness.”

Breti spoke up cautiously. Karsten only turned his gaze on her in response.

“I heard you’re to depart for the southwest tomorrow.”

Her fingers fidgeted nervously in her lap.

“I made something… something I learned from your moth.…”

“If you have something to say, say it properly.”

Karsten cut in, his tone edged with command.

Startled, Breti hesitated, then—as if summoning all her courage—pulled a small pouch from her sleeve.

“They say carrying this brings good fortune, so… I thought…”

Karsten stared silently at the pouch she held out.

“I heard that the late duke always carried one into battle as well.”

In that moment, a memory stirred—of his father receiving something from his mother before riding off to war, back when Karsten was a boy.

“It may not look like much, but I pray it brings you the same fortune, Your Highness.”

Their eyes met, holding for a breathless instant in the dim light. Then Karsten broke the gaze, taking the pouch gently from her hand.

The moment he did, rain began to fall.

Drip, drip.

As the thin raindrops pattered against the carriage roof, Breti look out with a face full of worry.

‘What should I do? I can’t shake the fear that His Highness’s departure tomorrow will not go smoothly.’

Karsten said nothing. He merely watched her, her worried expression reflected faintly in the carriage window.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

Back at the ducal mansion, after changing out of her gown, Breti was startled by the sound of the rain, which had grown heavier. She stepped onto the balcony.

‘His journey tomorrow will be a harsh one…’

Her thoughts were consumed by Karsten’s impending departure. The thought of him traversing rough, distant roads weighed heavily on her heart.

Just as she turned with a sigh to leave the balcony—

Creak.

The door connecting to the balcony suddenly swung open.

“…!”

Startled by the sound, Breti turned—and her eyes widened in shock.