From the day before, the atmosphere within the Pophia Palace had been unsettled. The reason was simple: the mood of its mistress, Eglet, had grown dangerously sharp.

Sure enough, as she dressed, Eglet’s expression twisted.

Smack!

With a sharp crack, the cheek of the maid attending her turned red.

“Again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Without so much as a moment to soothe her swollen cheek, the maid hurried off to fetch another gown. Even as other attendants helped remove the dress she had been wearing, Eglet’s expression showed no improvement.

The words she had heard from Karsten the day before rose once more in her mind.

“But then, is there truly any secret in this world that can remain hidden?”

That had been as good as declaring that he knew Fedriol was not Raician’s blood.

‘He should have died there…!’

Why had he returned alive, only to cause so much turmoil? Eglet was consumed by rage at the fact that Karsten had survived. Trembling with fury, she slumped onto the sofa.

Struggling to control her anger, she noticed the tray of letters that Lady Cage had delivered not long before. A pitch-black envelope among them further unsettled her fraying temper.

“What is this?”

She frowned as she examined its appearance. Unlike other letters to the Empress, which were made of fine paper and envelopes in an attempt to curry favor, this one was rough to the touch and cheap to look at. Eglet let out a short, scornful laugh.

Even worse, there was no crest impressed upon it; only plain sealing wax. Her brows knitted tighter.

She was about to shove the letter aside when she suddenly froze.

“…”

A strange sense of familiarity lingered about it. After a long hesitation, Eglet broke the wax and unfolded the contents.

‘I know the card that will aid in Duke White’s downfall.’

From the very first line, Eglet’s fingers trembled violently. The informal wording, which lacked any honorifics, deepened her scowl.

[Two days from now. Eshilt Inn. Be sure to come alone.]

The letter contained only two lines. The fact that the sender had not revealed their identity sent Eglet into a furious rage.

“Outrageous!”

Having read every word carefully, she burst into a rage and crumpled the paper in her hand. She stood up and threw the letter on the floor.

“How dare they—how dare they, in this place! Laila! Laila!”

At Eglet’s furious call for Lady Cage, the maids carrying her garments trembled where they stood. Pushing past them, Lady Cage appeared.

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

“How could such a disrespectful letter possibly find its way to me?”

Snatching up the discarded letter, Lady Cage swiftly pushed the others away.

“Leave us.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

At her command, the maids filed out of Eglet’s chambers. Only once the room was empty did Lady Cage approach and speak in a low voice.

“Please calm yourself, Your Majesty. Too many eyes are watching.”

Only then did Eglet begin to regain control of her temper. She collapsed onto the sofa, breathing heavily and clutching her head in both hands, before closing her eyes.

“At once, at once I should say…”

She meant to order the letter destroyed, yet strangely, the words refused to leave her lips.

Opening her eyes again, Eglet spoke quietly.

“Bring me that letter.”

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

Since Karsten’s safe return, the condition of Meliover had gradually begun to stabilize.

Feeling how much her condition had improved, Breti had been happier than ever in recent days. She was just leaving the room after watching the peacefully sleeping Meliover when—

“Breti.”

Karsten’s voice came suddenly, startling her.

She turned, eyes widening at the sight of Karsten dressed differently than usual.

“Come.”

Wearing plain clothes like those of a commoner, he held out an outfit Breti often wore during her time in Aurora.

With a bewildered look, she asked,

“All of a sudden? And what is this outfit?”

“The temple.”

“So suddenly…?”

“You will come, won’t you?”

There was an unusual insistence in his voice that made refusal impossible.

Moments later, Breti changed into the simple clothes he had given her and left the room.

“Is Sir Benon not coming with us?”

“No.”

Even Benon, who was usually inseparable from Karsten, was absent this time.

The two of them slipped quietly through the back paths used by the ducal estate’s servants and headed towards the temple in secret. However, they did not go there directly. Instead, they took a route that led them through the Allecci marketplace.

It was as Breti’s attention was briefly caught by the stalls of street vendors that—

“…!”

Karsten suddenly seized her hand. Startled by the unexpected touch, Breti glanced around with wide eyes.

“Y-Your Grace…”

“With so many people here, what if we were to lose each other in the crowd?”

“But…”

Glancing around nervously, worried that someone might recognise them, Breti tried to pull her hand away from his. Sensing her intention, Karsten laced his fingers firmly through hers instead.

“Just for today, I want us to be nothing more than an ordinary couple.”

“Your Grace…!”

Before she could say more, Karsten pressed a brief kiss to her lips and continued,

“And I don’t want to hear that title from you.”

“Then… how should I…?”

“You already know.”

“What do you mean?”

“My middle name.”

The instant he spoke of it, Breti’s face flushed crimson, recalling the moment she had first learned it.

As though reading her thoughts, Karsten brushed her cheek lightly with his hand and asked,

“Why?”

At the subtle tone in his voice, Breti’s face burned even hotter, as if it might catch fire. Karsten chuckled at her reaction and urged her,

“Go on. Say it.”

“N-no, how could I…?”

“Hurry.”

Pressed by his insistence, Breti bit down on her lower lip. After a moment’s hesitation, she carefully parted her lips.

“Luke.”

Hearing his name from her, Karsten looked at her with unmistakable satisfaction.

“That’s right, Jenna.”

At the sound of her own middle name spilling from his lips, Breti’s eyes widened in startled shock.

“H-how…!”

Startled, Breti stared at him, and Karsten answered her expression with a faint smile, gently brushing her cheek.

“I remembered.”

“…Remembered?”

“Yes.”

At his words, a flush of color returned to Breti’s face.

“I remembered the moment you saved me as well.”

At that, Breti’s emotions welled up uncontrollably. Until now, she had felt as though she had never existed in his memory, but the thought that he had regained it melted the knot in her heart instantly.

With a soft smile, Karsten pressed a brief kiss to her cheek.

“I’ll never forget again, Jenna.”

“…Yes.”

Still smiling faintly, Karsten took her hand and led her forward.

They made their way slowly towards the temple, pausing to browse the street vendors’ stalls and watch the performances taking place on the street. By the time they arrived, a large crowd had gathered outside the temple, forming long queues to await their turn to enter. Some people had come alone; families stood together; and many couples — like Karsten and Breti — stood hand in hand.

The longest queue was, of course, for couples who wished to light candles. Lovers waited their turn, lit the candles, and prayed for their future together.

“They say that couples who light a candle here will have a bright future ahead of them.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. And I thought we might pray for ours as well.”

‘Our future.’

Upon hearing these words, Breti’s face clouded over slightly. In the Empire of Pensia, it was absolutely forbidden for a noble to love a commoner. She and Karsten were well aware of that. How could their future possibly be bright?

The thought ached her chest, but sensing her distress, Karsten raised her hand and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles.

“They say if the flames entwine when the lovers light their candles, it is the god’s answer—that their wish will be granted.”

“A wish?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing that word, Breti allowed herself a moment of hope, carefully controlling her expression. Soon it was their turn, and they lit the candles on the stand together.

With both hands clasped together, Breti closed her eyes.

‘May His Grace become whole again.’

She wished for Adrian to vanish completely, leaving only Karsten, so that he would no longer suffer. Beyond that…

‘Please, let our meeting endure.’

Please, let this forbidden bond continue on, somehow, someday. Breti prayed with all her heart.

And then—

“Oh my!”

“Look over there!”