A few minutes earlier—just before Breti disappeared.

After making sure Karsten and Benon were out of sight, Bagi tugged lightly at Breti’s sleeve, fidgeting with her hands.

“Um… My lady…”

It was clear she wanted to go look at something.

Understanding, Breti patted Bagi’s shoulder and asked,

“Why, Bagi? Is there something you’d like to see?”

“Yes, may I… just go take a quick look over there?”

She pointed toward a nearby food stall. As always, Bagi’s love of eating was no secret, and her eyes naturally drifted to the festival’s mouthwatering treats.

“So it’s your first time at the capital’s festival too. I suppose there are many things that catch your eye.”

“Hehe.”

Breti smiled gently and brushed her hand over Bagi’s head.

“All right, go on. Ah, wait a moment.”

Just as Bagi was about to dash off, Breti caught her by the arm, pulled a handful of coins from her purse, and pressed them into her palm.

“Here. Eat as much as you like.”

“My lady, I have money too…”

“Save it. You’ll need it later.”

“My lady…”

“You can’t come back until you’ve spent it all.”

At Breti’s firm words, Bagi bowed reluctantly in gratitude.

“Thank you, my lady.”

“Go on, then. Hurry.”

With her lady’s permission, Bagi immediately ran toward the stall she had been eyeing.

Watching her retreating back, a faint smile softened Breti’s lips.

“Ah—wait!”

Suddenly remembering something, Breti called after her.

“Bagi! I’ll be at the spot where the lanterns are easiest to see! Tell my brother for me!”

But had Bagi heard her at all? Judging from the way she ran, brimming with excitement, it seemed unlikely.

Breti let out a small, helpless laugh as she watched her.

‘She’ll be back down quickly enough.’

With that thought in mind, Breti turned around and started walking briskly towards the lanterns.

Drawn by their light, Breti wandered towards a hill near the village. Unlike the noisy heart of the festival, the place was quiet.

As soon as she found a spot halfway up the hill with the clearest view and sat down, a cry of wonder escaped her lips.

“Wow…”

From the streets below, it had been difficult to see the lanterns through the glow of the torches and lamps. But here, above it all, she could finally take in the breathtaking view.

Lantern after lantern floated skyward, their lights forming a glittering trail that resembled a river of stars flowing through the heavens.

Breti had only planned to watch for a little while before heading back, but she soon lost all sense of time, mesmerised by the view.

Gazing quietly at the lanterns, she murmured to herself.

“They look so free.”

Rising above the world, drifting effortlessly through the night sky—the lanterns seemed as light and unbound as feathers.

‘And compared to them…’

Her own circumstances could not have been more starkly different. Her current situation, and even the foolish heart she secretly harbored—all of it weighed heavily on her shoulders.

“My dear child.”

The sound of Meliover’s voice suddenly surfaced in her memory, and Breti let out a small, happy laugh. She couldn’t help but smile when she thought of the Duke’s household and the people who had cared for her so sincerely.

‘But…’

If she were to leave this place one day, could she really erase everything she had experienced here? Could she forget it all and return to her former existence?

‘No.’

She knew that she could neither forget nor go back. She was certain that she would carry them in her heart for the rest of her life and live on alone with that weight.

Breti lowered her head with a long sigh.

A single tear slipped free and fell to the ground.

“Foolish girl…”

Once her tears began to fall, they refused to stop.

Breti was just wiping the tracks from her cheeks when—

“Breti.”

Karsten’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

Startled, she quickly wiped away her tears and jumped to her feet. When she turned around, she saw that Karsten was looking at her. His complexion was pale, as if he had been drained of colour.

Reading his expression, Breti hastily wiped away the last traces of moisture on her face and stammered.

“Ah, you were looking for me, weren’t you? I’m sor—”

She never finished. Karsten strode forward and pulled her into his arms without warning.

Caught off guard, Breti looked up at him in shock, pressed against his chest.

“Y-Your Highness…”

In that instant, she caught sight of Benon in the distance—he had followed Karsten up the hill.

Flustered, Breti tried to wriggle free, but his grip was far too strong. Avoiding Benon’s gaze, she whispered softly,

“Your Highness, Sir Benon is right behind you…”

But before she could finish, Benon was already turning away, making his way down the slope.

Breti remained in Karsten’s arms, her expression helpless, not knowing how to handle the situation.

Then Karsten finally released her, his voice rising in a sudden rebuke.

“When you go somewhere, you should at least tell me where you’re going!”

At his outburst, Breti’s shoulders shrank back instinctively.

“I—I’m sorry.”

Karsten looked at her closely, gripping her shoulders as he let out a deep sigh.

“No… I didn’t mean it as a scolding…”

“…”

“I was worried.”

His voice was quieter now, and the sincerity in it was unmistakable.

Breti lifted her head slightly, searching his face as she asked,

“…What?”

She didn’t understand what he had just said. Was she worried? Shouldn’t she just accept his criticism in silence in situations like this?

“I was worried when you suddenly disappeared.”

“…Why?”

The question slipped from her lips before she could stop it. She knew she wasn’t in a position to demand reasons from him, yet the words had already escaped.

Karsten pressed a hand to his brow and added,

“I was afraid something had happened to you. Or that you might really be gone.”

An awkward silence stretched between them.

“Why are you pretending not to know?”

“…What do you mean?”

Breti’s eyes widened, not understanding his words.

“The kiss I gave you during the Imperial Hunt.”

At that, her breath caught in her throat.

‘That time…’

She had been certain it was Adrian’s will—his other self—that had kissed her. It had been raining, the world around them swallowed in sudden darkness. She had even seen the telltale glint in his eyes, the one that always came with Adrian’s emergence.

If Karsten remembered that moment… did that mean Adrian had never appeared at all?

Then why—

“I… I…”

Breti faltered, her voice trembling with confusion. And before she could gather her thoughts, Karsten pulled her into his arms once again.

“…!”

At the touch of his hand against the back of her head, Breti’s body trembled faintly.

Sensing her reaction, Karsten softened his touch, gently stroking her hair. Under that endlessly tender hand, Breti’s trembling eased, and little by little, she began to calm.

“It wasn’t some moment of madness.”

“Y-Your Highness…”

“Perhaps it truly is my heart.”

‘His true heart?’

Breti’s heartbeat thundered in her chest.

“I know your feelings aren’t the same as mine.”

“…”

“I don’t ask for anything.”

“…Your Highness.”

“I’ll come closer to you—slowly. Step by step.”

Breti’s eyes welled with tears at the sincerity in his words, spilling down her cheeks.

Seeing her cry so wretchedly, Karsten’s heart twisted. He stroked her back and held her close, his eyes closing with quiet heaviness.

‘She’s been carrying such a heavy burden over that moment…’

“Breti.”

Hearing her name on his lips made her tears stop as if by magic. He had always called her Laterna. Hearing him call her by her real name made her feel as if she had finally been given herself back.

“To me, you are a star—so bright, I can scarcely dare to look up at you.”

“…Your Highness?”

“If I keep gazing at you like this, it feels as though you’ll vanish at any moment.”

With those words, Breti’s heart raced even faster.

“That’s why I forced myself to pretend, to push my feelings aside. But not anymore.”

“…”

“I want to keep you by my side, Breti.”