Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The sound of the horses pulling the carriage filled Breti’s ears.

It felt like her first time going out since entering the ducal estate. Whenever she’d been under Karsten’s watch, she couldn’t even leave the house without his expl*cit permission.

‘Come to think of it, even if I left right now, he wouldn’t know.’

The thought flashed through Breti’s mind—that Karsten had no idea where she was or what she was doing at this very moment.

‘Maybe I should just run away. If I disappeared somewhere, would I finally feel at peace?’

The truth was, ever since she’d spent that night with Karsten, Breti had been living each day weighed down by guilt. That guilt made it hard for her to look Meliover in the face, and even seeing the servants was difficult.

But the hardest thing of all—

‘It’s me. I’m the one who can’t let go, who keeps clinging to those memories.’

She didn’t know why Karsten had reached out to her that night. But the real reason she couldn’t push him away was that she had always harboured a forbidden desire for him.

Breti hurriedly shook her head, desperate to chase those thoughts from her mind.

‘Don’t be foolish, Breti.’

She had no intention of sneaking away while Karsten was gone. She worried about Meliover, and she also felt guilty toward the servants who had cared for her so well. She would never leave the ducal estate without Karsten’s permission.

‘Just once.’

There would never be a second time—never again would she cross that line with him. She resolved that what happened between them would remain a single, isolated mistake.

“Lady.”

Just then, Gabriel, who was sitting across from her in the carriage, called her name.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Gabriel asked, a faint smile on his lips.

“Oh, forgive me. I was just thinking of my brother, out on the battlefield…”

Gabriel chuckled softly at her answer.

“You two really are alike, you know.”

“Sorry? In what way…?”

“The truth is, the reason I came to see you today was because your brother asked me for a favor.”

“A favor?”

“I always knew your brother was especially devoted to you, but while he’s on the battlefield, he asked me to look after you.”

Breti looked up in surprise.

“My brother… asked you?”

“Yes. That’s why I’ve come to visit you, knowing you’d be here alone.”

Breti found Karsten’s intentions completely unreadable.

“After what happened last time, your brother was very upset, he was furious over the trouble his elder brother caused you.”

The more Gabriel spoke, the less Breti understood what Karsten was thinking.

“Why would my brother be so concerned about that…?”

“Karsten has missed his sister for a very long time after she disappeared.”

“Ah…”

“His love for her is profound.”

Now, Breti began to understand, just a little, why Karsten had asked Gabriel to look after her. He cherished his sister so deeply that he must have worried for her safety.

Breti’s heart ached for no clear reason.

“I want to apologize for what happened that day.”

Gabriel suddenly said, bowing his head to her.

Startled by his abrupt apology, Breti shook her head.

“No, Your Highness, you don’t need to apologize. I’m all right.”

“How could I not? It’s only right that I do.”

“…Thank you.”

Breti glanced at Gabriel. It was hard to believe he and Fedriol were brothers—they looked nothing alike. She vaguely recalled the faces of the emperor and empress she had seen that day. Comparing those memories, Gabriel was the spitting image of the emperor, while Fedriol took after their mother, the empress.

As Breti studied Gabriel’s vivid red eyes, she quickly looked away.

“I suppose I don’t resemble my brother much, do I?”

“Oh, it’s not that…”

“It’s only natural that we don’t look alike.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m not the Empress’s son. My brother and I have different mothers.”

Breti was startled by how candid he was with her.

“Is it all right to tell me such things?”

“It’s not official, but everyone who needs to know, knows.”

Breti suddenly recalled that she hadn’t seen Gabriel among the royal family at the ball. Perhaps this was the reason he hadn’t been present.

For a moment, she felt a pang of sympathy for him.

“If you don’t mind me asking, could you tell me about your mother?”

“My mother passed away.”

Moved by his words, Breti fidgeted with her hands and spoke gently.

“I know it may not be my place, but may I say something?”

“Of course—whatever you wish.”

“I believe that for those left behind, the greatest way to love someone who has passed is simply to live on—to survive, no matter what.”

Breti suddenly remembered what her own mother had told her before she died.

“Breti, promise me you’ll live a very happy life… and only when you’re old and gray, then you can come to be with me.”

Even as her life was slipping away, her mother had worried most about the years Breti would live alone.

“For your mother’s sake, Your Highness, I hope you’ll do the same.”

“…”

“I believe that’s what she would want.”

Breti smiled softly. Gabriel stared at her for a long moment, silent. It wasn’t until the carriage began to slow that he finally spoke.

“Thank you, my lady.”

A look of relief crossed Gabriel’s face, as if he had finally found an answer he’d long been searching for.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

In front of the Allecci shopping district, a carriage bearing the crest of the Marquisate of Etro rolled to a stop. The moment people spotted it, they quickly moved aside—no one wanted to risk drawing the attention of whoever would step out.

“Hurry up, will you?”

Sure enough, the youngest and most treasured daughter of House Etro fixed the coachman with a look of annoyance as soon as she stepped down.

“I told you, today of all days…”

She started to complain as if she had something important to do, but suddenly stopped in her tracks.

‘Why is she here…?’

The sight of a man and woman walking side by side was all too familiar. One was the Second Prince, Gabriel, and the other—

‘His Highness’s sister?’

It was Laterna, Karsten’s sister.

Sierra clenched her fist the moment she recognized her. The reason for her anger was what had happened at the Imperial ball. She’d finally gotten her chance to dance with Karsten and had felt as if she was walking on air—until the Second Prince suddenly interrupted, bringing news of Laterna.

At that, Karsten had rushed to his sister’s side without so much as a backward glance.

Because of it, Sierra had become the target of snide looks and laughter from the other young ladies nearby. Her face flushed red with embarrassment, but she quickly composed herself and strode toward them.

“Oh my, hello!”

As Sierra approached, the two—deep in conversation—looked up at her in surprise.

“Lady Etro, isn’t it?”

“Your Highness, Prince.”

Sierra offered Gabriel a brief, graceful greeting. Breti, without realizing it, found herself staring at Sierra in a daze. The way Sierra moved showed the mark of someone raised on etiquette lessons from an early age—she exuded an old-world elegance that Breti, who had only hastily learned the ways of nobility, could never match.

“Miss Laterna, it’s been a while since we last met at the Imperial ball.”

“It has.”

With a subtle, condescending glance, Sierra looked Breti up and down before turning to Gabriel.

“It must be fate for us to meet like this. Your Highness, may I show you around today?”

“If Miss Laterna has no objections…”

“Miss Laterna, is that all right?”

Sierra’s golden eyes sparkled as she asked, leaving Breti unable to refuse.

As soon as Breti gave a reluctant nod, Sierra promptly took Gabriel’s arm and led the way.

Gabriel glanced back at Breti with an apologetic expression, but Breti managed a reassuring smile, letting him know she was fine.

Just as Breti began to quietly follow them, an old woman’s voice called out and made her stop in her tracks.

“Young lady.”