“She’s the one who said she saw His Grace at the marketplace!”

One maid quickly pointed at another, who had been excitedly telling the story just moments before. Now, her face had gone completely pale.

“Bring that girl here.”

Eglet ordered curtly, turning to the head lady-in-waiting.

Shortly afterwards, Eglet moved to the garden and took her seat with a flick of her finger. Lady Cage understood the gesture and brought the trembling maid forward.

Lady Cage understood the signal and brought the maid forward to stand before Eglet.

The maid fidgeted, unable to speak.

“Would you repeat your story for me?”

“W-well… I-I just saw him, that’s all.”

“Saw what?”

“I saw His Grace, the Duke of White—he was alive and walking down the street.”

Eglet clenched her trembling hands, barely able to steady herself as she spoke.

“Are you aware that a single careless word from you could cost you your life?”

“It’s true, Your Majesty! I swear!”

Even threatened with her life, the maid didn’t take back her words. That alone told Eglet she was telling the truth.

Eglet’s hand began to shake uncontrollably.

“Lady Cage. Send this girl away and summon the Marquis of Etro at once.”

Lady Cage quickly hushed the maid and sent her away, then left the garden to carry out her orders.

‘So persistent…’

Just when she thought she’d finally snuffed out that stubborn life, now there were rumors everywhere that he was still alive. It made her blood boil.

‘It should be our Fedriol receiving all that praise—not him!’

Eglet clenched her jaw in frustration.

A short while later, Jerron entered the garden.

“I heard you were looking for me, Your Majesty.”

Even with Jerron now standing nearby, Eglet didn’t spare him a glance. She simply lifted her cup and drank her tea, offering no other response.

“Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?”

“Marquis of Etro.”

She said quietly, placing her teacup on the table.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“It seems you have something you’d like to say to me. What are you going to do about it?”

“What do you mean, something I’d like to say…?”

With a sudden bang, Eglet sprang to her feet and strode over to Jerron.

“Are you really going to pretend you don’t know, Marquis?”

“Your Majesty…!”

“You should have told me that the Duke of White has returned alive!”

At Eglet’s words, Jerron’s expression twisted as he asked,

“What do you mean by that…?”

His expression showed that he truly didn’t understand. Eglet, aghast, took a step back.

At that moment, a maid entered the garden.

“Your Majesty, His Grace the Duke of White has returned to the capital.”

The moment the maid finished speaking, all color drained from Jerron’s face.

Watching his expression, Eglet let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

“Now, do you understand what you should be saying, Marquis of Etro?”

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

The next morning, Breti awoke not in the library, but in her own room.

‘Did His Highness bring me here?’

She gently stroked the empty space beside her. There was no warmth left where someone had lain.

As she got out of bed, Breti suddenly felt something trickle between her legs.

“…!”

Breti saw a milky fluid running down her thigh and hurriedly wiped it away with a cloth.

Seeing the stain, she was filled with guilt and a sense of shame.

Just as she tried to compose herself and straighten her skirt—

“Miss!”

Bagi’s urgent voice called out.

“What is it, Bagi?”

“Miss, His Highness—His Highness… has returned alive!”

Ah, the news has spread.

Breti sank down onto the bed, overwhelmed by a mixture of relief and guilt flooding through her body.

“Miss! Are you all right?”

Bagi looked at her in alarm, worried by her pale face.

“I’m fine.”

“Miss…”

“Let’s go downstairs, for now.”

Once she had composed herself, Breti went downstairs and found Meliover crying as she clung to Karsten. Karsten gently stroked her back for a long time before noticing Breti. He slipped out of Meliover’s embrace.

“Laterna.”

He began walking toward Breti.

‘Why… why is he coming this way…?’

The closer he got, the harder Breti’s heart beat. She had never expected to come face to face with him again so soon after what had happened the previous night.

When Karsten reached her, he put his hand on her head and gently stroked her hair.

His touch made her whole body tremble.

“Brother…”

She managed to call him, the words barely making it past her lips.

“It’s been a while, Laterna.”

“…What?”

To Breti’s surprise, Karsten acted as if nothing had happened, as if he were seeing her for the first time today.

In that instant, Breti realized what he meant.

‘Is he going to pretend last night never happened?’
‘Does what happened at dawn stay in the dawn?’

Suddenly, she realized that the day he left had felt exactly like this. She remembered the way he’d avoided her gaze, acting as if nothing at all had happened.

A sharp pain pricked at the corner of Breti’s heart.

‘Even though I know it has to be as if it never happened…’
‘How foolish…’

Lowering her head, Breti simply accepted his touch.

“…I was worried about you.”

“Sorry for making you worry. And actually—”

Karsten removed his hand from Breti’s head.

Just as Breti was hiding her disappointment, he spoke again.

“Here, Laterna.”

He held out the thing Breti had given him before he left.

“Why are you giving this back…?”

“It’s to let you know I returned safely.”

Meliover approached and explained,

“Your father always used to return this to us whenever he came home from the battlefield.”

“Ah…”

At Meliover’s words, Breti carefully accepted it.

“Come to think of it, I never properly thanked you.”

“Thanked me?”

“Thank you for sharing your luck with me, Laterna.”

Karsten smiled faintly. That smile made Breti’s heart pound again, refusing to calm down.

“Well then, Mother, I have something to take care of. I’ll be back soon.”

“You’ve only just returned. Can’t you rest a bit?”

“It won’t take long.”

As he spoke, Karsten pressed a light kiss to the back of Meliover’s hand.

Breti watched Karsten’s retreating figure and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

‘Is this really for the best…?’

She supposed it was a relief that he didn’t show anything on the surface. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help feeling hurt by how different he seemed compared to the night before.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

When Ipin drew the poisoned dagger from his cloak and aimed for Karsten’s heart, it all happened in an instant.

But someone was even quicker—suddenly, a blade was pressed against the back of Ipin’s neck.

“So you’re the Jackal.”

Karsten’s cold voice brushed against Ipin’s ear. Ipin squeezed his eyes shut.

After that, Benon quickly gagged Ipin and bound him tightly with chains. Even then, Ipin didn’t say a word or put up a fight.

“Now, let’s contact your master, shall we?”

It seemed Karsten had even known where Ipin kept his carrier pigeon. When Ipin saw the bird perched on Karsten’s shoulder, his face turned pale.

And that wasn’t all—Karsten pulled out a piece of cloth, dipped a quill, and began to write something.

“The Jackal has succeeded in k*lling the Wolf—does that sound about right?”

Karsten even knew all the secret codes that Ipin and his masters used.

Now locked away in the dungeon, Ipin glanced warily around.

Several knights stood watch over him.

‘There’s no way I’ll make it out of this alive.’

Ipin bit down on the leather gag between his teeth.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

Upon returning, Karsten’s first order of business was to interrogate Ipin, the man who had attempted to assassinate him just before they left the south-west.

Throughout the journey back to the capital, Ipin remained silent, repeating only that they should allow him to die quickly and painlessly.

“What about him?”

“He’s in the dungeon.”

“Let’s move.”

Karsten moved quickly, his expression grim. As he descended into the underground prison, the air became thick and damp, and the musty stench stung his nostrils.

Frowning at the smell, he heard someone running towards him.

“Y-Your Highness!”

A knight, one of those who had helped escort Ipin to the dungeon, spotted Karsten and hurried over.

“What is it?”

“Ipin bit his tongue and killed himself.”