Necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and more. We couldn’t possibly carry them all, so the shopkeeper agreed to send them to the mansion.

As we left the shop, I said to Iscallion,

“Now that jewelry store has become very special to us. It’s the place where we bought our first gifts for each other.”

“Sister…”

Iscallion’s voice trembled with emotion. I turned away from him and murmured nostalgically,

“But if Arcadia falls, the kind shopkeeper and the precious memories of exchanging gifts will all disappear.”

I didn’t have the charm to capture his body and heart like Lina did. Iscallion’s status was too high to be swayed by money and power, and it was impossible to subdue him by force. Therefore, the only option left was to appeal to his emotions.

“What?”

“Just talking to myself. Let’s go.”

After walking a bit further, we bought two refreshing lemon sodas from a street vendor. I took a sip of mine first. It was tart and cool. Then I handed the new drink to Iscallion.

“Not that one.”

Iscallion ignored the new drink and took the one I had sipped from. Why did he insist on taking the drink someone else had already started? He really had strange tastes.

Anyway, watching the handsome boy holding lemon soda was a refreshing sight in itself.

“Is it good?”

“Yes. It’s cool and sweet.”

“But if Arcadia falls, the street vendors selling sweet and cool soda and the precious memories of sharing soda together will all disappear…”

Iscallion, just about to take a sip, put the drink down with a sour expression.

“Why do you keep saying things like that?”

“Just because. Hurry up and drink. You’re thirsty.”

I smiled brightly, pretending to know nothing, and pulled him along. As we wandered around excitedly, the day turned to dusk. Lights began to turn on everywhere, and in the distance, the palace shone brightly like a giant chandelier. There would be another lavish banquet there tonight.

“Do you remember the first time we danced?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks to you, I wasn’t intimidated in front of the Crown Prince. Thank you.”

“You can use me for things like that anytime. It’s fine as long as it’s for you, sister.”

“But if Arcadia collapses, the palace will fall too.”

“What have you been talking about since earlier?”

“Then we’ll never be invited to a banquet again. The excitement we felt while dancing will be gone…”

“……”

I glanced at Iscallion’s expression and asked in a sad voice,

“The thought of our memories being destroyed is terrible. Don’t you think so too, Leon?”

His eyes wavered for a moment.

“Of course, I don’t like that.”

‘Got it!’

I quickly scanned the sky. I had no intention of repeating the mistake I made in front of Gined. But today, I wasn’t looking for the moon.

I pointed to a particularly bright star in the eastern sky. It was the wolf star, Seirios.

“It’s really beautiful.”

Before imprisoning the wolf in the abyss, the sun god plucked out its eyes and placed them in the night sky. That was Seirios. To ordinary people, it was just a beautiful star with a unique legend, but to the descendants of the wolf, the Pontos family, it held special meaning.

Anyone born with the wolf’s blood had to keep any oath made under Seirios. Breaking it would result in blindness as punishment.

“Shall we pray to that star? So that our precious memories don’t disappear and Arcadia continues to prosper.”

Iscallion didn’t reply. Instead, he stared at me intently. His usual vacant expression was gone, replaced by the sharp gaze of a wolf assessing its prey. This was probably his true nature.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Huh? Knew what?”

I feigned innocence, but cold sweat trickled down my back. Iscallion grinned and whispered in my ear,

“Did the stone tell you? That I’m from Pontos?”

Meanwhile, my smile faded. He was sharp. I realized I couldn’t bluff my way out of this any longer.

“T-That’s not it.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re smart enough to figure it out eventually.”

“Your origin doesn’t matter. I just want to continue getting along with you.”

“I don’t want our memories to disappear either. But sometimes, things can’t be helped. We can make new memories. Better, more exciting ones.”

‘Crazy bastard…’

“You don’t have to worry about anything. If the imperial capital is destroyed, I’ll take you and your parents to Pontos. And we’ll have the grandest wedding in the world.”

For once, I was at a loss for words. It was a childish and selfish idea, but coming from Iscallion, I couldn’t ignore it.

“So, I should just forget about my homeland and marry you?”

“Yes. I’ll make you happy. Pontos may be harsh, but living standards won’t be worse than here.”

“But Leon, why are you so sure I’ll go with you? I have the option to stay here.”

Iscallion looked taken aback, as if he hadn’t considered this.

“You don’t want to come with me…? Why? It’s dangerous to stay here.”

He couldn’t hide his confusion. Despite his terrifying plans, seeing him waver at my words made me feel pity.

‘He’s trash, but…’

Facing his hurt eyes, I felt like I was the villain.

‘Well, a handsome face can’t be blamed.’

It was all the environment’s fault. He had been on the run from assassins sent by his uncle since childhood, so it was natural he didn’t understand the significance of home.

I shook my head slowly.

“I can’t be happy by your side.”

“Why? I can give you anything you want. A mansion, jewels, everything. If you want to be Empress, I’ll take the throne for you.”

“But a broken homeland can’t be replaced. Some things are irreplaceable.”

Iscallion didn’t understand my words. Realizing we’d just go in circles, I returned to the main point.

“So, you can’t make that promise?”

“I don’t want to. The Emperor is too annoying. He keeps making unreasonable demands. Even when I try to ignore him, he keeps spouting nonsense.”

“Just endure it for one more year.”

In the latter part of the original story, the Emperor abdicates to the Crown Prince and goes into seclusion. The virtue of an Emperor male lead in a fantasy novel is diligence and sincerity. Pinion would be too busy fixing the rotting empire to worry about Pontos’s independence.

“No. It’s too frustrating!”

His loud voice drew the attention of passersby. I quickly patted his back to calm him down.

“Okay, okay. Leon is frustrated.”

Thankfully, it worked. I subtly threw out another bait.

“But I didn’t expect you to have such scary thoughts. I thought you were an obedient and innocent little brother…”

“I’ll always listen to you! I promise.”

“Then can you promise to always protect me?”

“Of course! Don’t worry.”

Iscallion quickly swore to Seirios. This guaranteed my safety.

“Hehehe…”

My quiet laughter made Iscallion flinch.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“Sorry, Leon. Unfortunately, your plan won’t work. Because I’m the new master of Acheron.”

I shrugged as Iscallion stared at me with his mouth agape.

***

“Count Philip hasn’t visited lately. Did you two have a fight?”

Seren asked while making the bed. Naturally, she had become a fervent admirer of Iscallion from the moment she first saw him.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then why hasn’t he come? My joy in life is gone. If I hadn’t seen him, it wouldn’t be so bad, but now that my standards are raised, he’s left… It’s so cruel. Now no other handsome men catch my eye…”

Muttering gloomily, Seren glared at me.

“Apologize to him immediately. It’s obviously your fault. You should’ve sorted things out with His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“I told you, it’s not that.”

I recalled that day. When Iscallion found out I was the new master of Acheron, he was so shocked he couldn’t speak for a while. Just as I feared he might start destroying the streets in anger,

“You’re amazing, sister! You’re the best!”

Iscallion shouted, just as I was looking for a chance to slip away.