Their kiss deepened and lingered endlessly. Even as Karsten’s warm breath swept across her parted lips, Breti’s tears continued to fall.

When he finally pulled away, he didn’t release her, but instead gathered her into his arms and carried her towards the sofa. Laying her down gently, he bent down again and claimed her lips in another fervent kiss.

Each time his breath brushed her teeth, Breti tried to ease the pain in her heart. Yet, mercifully, the more he kissed her, the fewer tears she shed.

When her sobs finally stilled, Karsten drew back, his gaze falling on her reddened, tender lips, marked by him. A heat stirred in the pit of his being.

Suppressing the pull of desire, he gentled his touch, caressing her hair.

“Breti.”

“…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner.”

At the sound of his voice and the stroke of his hand, fresh tears welled in her eyes. They slipped down her lashes, and Karsten brushed them away one by one.

“Breti.”

He whispered again, pressing soft kisses to her eyelids.

Feeling his lips upon her skin, Breti’s voice broke in a low murmur.

“You must come back safely.”

She knew only too well that he could not ignore the summons to leave. The decision had been made. Now, all she could do was pray that he would return to her side safely. She wished for this again and again with all her heart.

“Of course.”

Karsten lifted the small pouch he had taken from her earlier, pressing a kiss to it before smiling.

“Ah.”

Suddenly recalling something, he helped Breti sit upright. He took a small object out of his coat and placed it in her hand.

“Here. I wanted you to have this.”

Breti carefully opened her palm. Resting there was a pendant set with a gem the very color of her own eyes.

She lifted her gaze, looking from the jewel to him, her lips trembling.

“Your Grace…”

Breti soon realized that the pendant could be opened, so she reached out and lifted one of its sides.

“Not now.”

Karsten immediately stopped her hand. As he slipped the pendant around her neck, he spoke softly.

“Open it when I depart tomorrow.”

At his words, Breti’s heart collapsed in on itself with a heavy thud.

“Tomorrow?”

She had thought there were at least a few days left. But finding out that he was leaving the next day was unbearable. Her hands began to tremble violently.

“Ah…”

Karsten brushed her cheek, then pressed a gentle kiss to her hair.

“Tomorrow?”

“The situation on their side worsened. We’re forced to move earlier.”

“Your Grace…”

Hearing the quiver of tears in her voice, Karsten pull her close once more. He stroked her back in soothing motions, hoping to calm her racing heart.

“I’m sorry.”

He whispered the same apology over and over again, while Breti buried her face in his neck, desperate to absorb every last trace of him. But it was never enough. The more she felt him, the fiercer her longing became.

When her trembling finally subsided, Karsten began to pull away.

However, her arms were firmly wrapped around his neck, preventing him from moving.

Climbing onto his lap, Breti clumsily bit his lower lip.

The desire he had restrained so carefully surged up from deep within him once more. Her unsteady breath filled his mouth, driving all thoughts of restraint from his mind.

As he felt her breath weaving through him, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

Moments later, they broke apart and Breti leaned her forehead against his.

“There’s one more thing I want from you.”

“…Breti.”

A strained groan slipped from him.

“Give yourself to me tonight, Your Grace.”

So that I can truly feel you.

So that I won’t be afraid while you’re away.

Please, give yourself to me.

Her desperate gaze tore at him, and again Karsten let out a pained sound.

“Ah… Breti.”

His mind knew it was wrong, but instinct—the fierce urge to claim her—overtook his body.

“Your Grace.”

When she buried her face against his shoulder, her silken hair brushed his neck, breaking the last of his restraint.

Unable to resist her any longer, Karsten lifted Breti into his arms and carried her toward the room adjoining his office.

Laying her carefully upon the bed, he captured the lips that had tempted him so mercilessly, biting down with a hunger that left her breathless.

Breti clung tighter, pulling him into her as she felt his breath seep into her mouth.

“More… more.”

She pleaded as if even a moment apart was unbearable; her lungs strained for air, yet her lips still sought his.

As though he understood her heart, Karsten kissed her again and again.

Soon, they shed every last piece of clothing, their bare bodies pressed together.

His hardened desire brushed against the delicate place between her thighs and, at the slightest touch, Breti trembled with unfeigned response.

And at last, when he entered her fully, joining her in the deepest way—

“Have I ever told you my middle name?”

Karsten pressed his lips along the curve of her neck as he spoke.

“Ahh—ah, nghh! N-no!”

“Luke.”

“Hhh—ahh!”

“That is my middle name.”

“Ahh, nghh, ahh!”

Even as her body shuddered violently beneath his relentless thrusts, Breti did not miss his words. Luke—the one who brings light. So fitting a name for him, unlike Adrian, which meant darkness.

“Breti.”

“Nghh—ahhh!”

His movements became more forceful, driving deeper still. Finally, when their rhythm reached its fiercest peak, Karsten drew in a ragged breath and whispered into her ear.

“Remember me.”

In answer, Breti wound her arms tighter around his neck as if vowing never to forget.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

Back in the Imperial Palace, Gabriel could still hear Karsten’s voice echoing in his mind.

“I am a b*stard, Gabriel.”

Over a decade had passed since they had first become friends, yet Karsten had never once revealed such a truth. The weight of it hit Gabriel hard, leaving him feeling shaken. He had always suspected that Karsten was hiding something, but he never imagined it would be this serious.

Gabriel acknowledged the truth with a bitter smile.

“He is no different from me, after all.”

For he, too, had been born of an emperor’s mistress.

And yet, unlike himself, Karsten never seemed cowed. Gabriel found that enviable, and it only made him realize how weak and cowardly he truly was.

And then—

“Fedriol is not His Majesty’s blood.”

Gabriel was thrown into confusion by these unexpected words.

“Brother is…”

To think his brother was not the emperor’s blood. Then how had Karsten come to know this?

“If he is truly not His Majesty’s son, then whose blood does he carry?”

“I can’t say for certain yet, but I do have someone in mind.”

Karsten had promised that once everything was confirmed, he would tell him. For now, he revealed the most important reason.

“I’m telling you this because it means there’s a possibility you could inherit the throne.”

The throne. From the moment Gabriel was born, it had been the one thing he was forbidden to dream of above all else—untouchable, unreachable, forever beyond him. And now, to be told there was a chance…

Gabriel dragged his hands down his face, as if to steady himself, before reaching for the bell. Soon, the chief attendant of Narki Palace appeared.

“Yes, Your Highness. You called for me?”

“Prepare for me to visit the temple first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, I will inform them in advance.”

“No.”

Assuming Karsten’s words were true, this was no time to sit idly by.

“I’ll have to move quietly.”

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

In the stillness of dawn, the sound of raindrops against the window rang louder than usual.

Tok, tok.

Startled by the sudden patter, Breti opened her eyes. The room was cloaked in darkness, and she found herself still in Karsten’s arms.

Tok, tok.

Hearing the rain again, she gasped and quickly slipped out of his embrace.

‘Adrian!’

Her heart leapt at the fear that Adrian might have appeared. Yet Karsten lay fast asleep, his eyes closed peacefully.

Breti waved a hand gently before his face.

He did not stir—did not sense a thing, and remained lost in slumber.

‘Adrian…’