“You’re lovely, Breti.”

Each time his lips brushed over her trembling fingers, every sense in Breti’s body lit up with heat. Startled by the rush of sensation, her voice shook.

“Y-Your Highness…”

“Yes, Breti.”

The sound of her name on his lips made her flinch. Every time he called her by name, Breti felt—if only for a moment—as if she were no longer someone’s stand-in, but truly herself.

“Why?”

Karsten pressed a brief kiss to her cheek as he asked.

But Breti couldn’t bring herself to voice the questions swirling inside her. She wanted to ask what his actions meant—if this was something real, or just a mirage that would vanish by morning. There were so many things she longed to know:

‘How will things change between us now? Why are you acting this way all of a sudden?’

More than anything, she wanted to ask that.

But the fear that he might disappear the moment she spoke kept her silent. Even as her body was laid bare before him, not a single question left her lips.

“Ah… hngh!”

All she could do was submit to his touch, releasing helpless moans between her clenched teeth.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

The next day, at dawn, there was a bustling atmosphere around the Duke’s estate.

“Hurry up and finish your preparations. We need to move quickly!”

Karsten barked the order, watching the staff’s sluggish movements.

At his command, everyone picked up their pace. Once he’d confirmed the preparations were moving swiftly, Karsten stroked the mane of the horse that would carry him to the battlefield. Today, he and the knights of House White were setting out for the southwestern region. It was a large operation, with many people involved.

As he checked over their final preparations, his hand absently tracing the horse’s mane, Karsten’s thoughts flickered back to dawn.

He’d woken just as the sky began to lighten, half-n*ked in bed.

‘Have I developed a new habit I never noticed before?’

He had never been like this—not once in his life. The strangeness of it struck him.

Even back when he woke up in the hallway, Karsten couldn’t shake the strange feeling that lingered in his chest. He frowned slightly, lost in thought.

‘What is it, really?’

What was this peculiar sense of déjà vu?

Trying to brush off the unease, Karsten pulled out the pouch Breti had given him the day before. He drew out the tag inside and stared at it.

“Fluke.”

He quietly read the word engraved on the tag, then tucked it back into the pouch. His grip tightened around the small bag.

‘Luck, huh…’

He’d gone to countless battlefields, but not once had he ever wished for luck. He only ever moved according to orders, never putting much stock in the idea of fortune. But this time…

‘Maybe, just this once, I’ll need a bit of luck.’

With that, Karsten carefully tucked the pouch away again and looked up, just as the captain of the knights arrived to report that preparations were complete.

“What’s that? Did you get it from a lady?”

The captain grinned, asking with a teasing tone.

Karsten’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Why do you say that?”

“You seem to be holding onto it quite dearly.”

The captain replied, unbothered by Karsten’s icy tone.

Karsten didn’t bother to respond and looked away.

“It’ll be a long journey. Make sure everything is ready.”

“We’ve already finished preparing for the departure.”

Karsten glanced around the area for no particular reason.

Only then did Karsten realize that quite a few eyes had settled on him. The looks they gave him were hardly different from the captain’s—curious, quietly amused.

It was rare to see their usually icy lord holding onto an unfamiliar pouch so carefully.

Avoiding their gazes, Karsten cleared his throat.

“It’s something from my sister.”

He said, his voice spreading out as if making an excuse.

The knights exchanged subtle looks of disappointment; apparently, they’d all been hoping their lord finally had a woman in his life.

“Now that you mention it, the young lady isn’t around.”

The captain said, glancing about. Karsten cast a sidelong look at the window of Breti’s room. Not seeing any sign of her, he guessed that her visit to the palace yesterday must have taken quite a toll.

“She’s likely tired from yesterday. Don’t cause a commotion.”

“Yes, sir!”

The captain replied, quickly moving on.

Just then, another knight approached and reported.

“Your Highness, madam has come out.”

Karsten glanced briefly at his mother, Meliover, as she approached from a distance. Then he turned his attention to the knight who’d brought the message.

“What was your name again?”

The knight flinched and answered quietly.

“…Ipin Underhill, sir.”

“Alright.”

Karsten replied indifferently, moving past him.

As Karsten walked up to Meliover, she called out to him tearfully.

“Karsten…”

“Mother.”

He said softly, taking her hand with a gentle smile.

“If you cry every time, what am I supposed to do?”

“There isn’t a mother in the world who can easily send her child off to war.”

“…Mother.”

Karsten quietly drew her into a gentle embrace, patting her back as he waited for her tears to subside. After weeping in her son’s arms for a long while, she finally managed to stop, clutching his hand tightly.

“My son, please, come back safe and sound.”

“Yes. I’ll return safely.”

Karsten answered with a faint smile.

Suddenly, as if she’d just remembered something, Meliover grabbed his hand and asked.

“Did you receive luck from Laterna?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“That’s good. She put so much care into it…”

She put her heart into it.

At those words, Karsten’s fingertips stilled for a moment. There was no real reason for it, so why did it affect him?

“She prepared it so earnestly, thinking of her brother. I’m sure you’ll be blessed with great luck.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Karsten gently patted the back of her hand before carefully withdrawing his own. Meliover waved him off, tears spilling down her cheeks once again. Karsten, feeling a bit awkward, waved back before heading to his horse.

As he was about to mount, Tess approached and murmured quietly.

“Your Highness, is it really all right to leave her alone while you’re away?”

“….”

“What if she tries to run away or something unexpected happens…?”

Karsten placed his hand over his chest, where he’d tucked away the pouch Breti had given him.

“She’ll be fine.”

His voice, assuring them that everything would be fine, was steady and unshakable.

Mounting his horse, Karsten called out to those around him,

“There must be no weaknesses in this campaign!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Now—move out for the southwest!”

The drums signaling their departure echoed through the air.

Meanwhile, Breti—still dazed from the night before, after everything that had happened so suddenly with Karsten—opened her eyes. Memories of last night flashed through her mind, and she turned pale as she glanced anxiously at the spot beside her.

“He’s gone…”

There was no sign of him anywhere. Just then, the distant sound of drums reached her ears.

“They’re leaving…!”

Hurriedly throwing on her robe, Breti rushed out onto the balcony. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Karsten at the head of the troops.

“Your Highness…”

She called out softly, but there was no way her voice could reach him.

‘Please, just once—look back. Just once. Just one time…’

With longing written all over her face, Breti watched Karsten’s distant figure.

Then, suddenly—

“…!”

Karsten turned around and looked straight toward her. Even from far away, Breti could feel their eyes meeting in the open air.

“…Your Highness.”

Breti called out to him softly, but all she received in return was Karsten’s distant, emotionless gaze. As she met his eyes, Breti’s own gaze began to tremble.

Soon, Karsten turned away, coldly breaking their brief connection. Even that indifferent look slipped away, but Breti couldn’t tear her eyes from his retreating figure.

Watching his cold, distant back, Breti whispered under her breath,

“To you, last night…”

‘What did it mean?’

She swallowed the words she couldn’t say aloud, watching him until even the sight of his back disappeared from view.