When darkness had fully swallowed the villa.

After finishing his bath, Ahazan dressed himself without assistance and quietly returned to the bedroom. The room, lit only by the faint glow of candles, was so silent that even the sound of breathing seemed absent.

Two beds stood on either side of a window set into the middle of the wall.

After glancing between them briefly, Ahazan wordlessly moved to the bed on the left. It was the inevitable choice, Clodine already lay asleep on the right, but it would not have mattered regardless.

It had been Ahazan who had ordered the single bed to be separated into two from the start. He had also deliberately remained outside with the soldiers so that Clodine could fall asleep first in peace before he entered.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he rested his elbows on his parted knees and clasped his hands together. His gaze drifted toward Clodine’s back on the opposite bed.

Her white nightdress was thin, the fabric tracing the lines of her body. Above the blanket, her round shoulders and the faint outline of her shoulder blades stirred something in him.

For a moment, he seemed caught in the sight, then passed a hand over his face to steady himself.

Though he did not particularly wish to, he reached out and gently pulled the blanket higher, covering her up to her neck.

‘She must have been exhausted… enduring a wedding she never wanted.’

Even now, the aftershock of the ceremony still churned in his chest, leaving him unable to sleep. And yet, he felt no resentment toward her for falling asleep first.

Watching her rest deeply, he felt his own fatigue easing.

All day he had tried to occupy his thoughts, but like a repeat mark on sheet music, they returned again and again to the image of her walking toward him at noon.

Dressed in radiant wedding attire, approaching from afar, she had been more beautiful than even the version he had seen in his dreams.

It would not have been an exaggeration to say surviving the war had been worth it just to witness that moment.

The day he had waited for his entire life had finally arrived.

He did not begrudge it.

‘If only this day had been that kind of day for you as well.’

As he silently shaped the impossible wish within his chest, Clodine stirred.

Without thinking, he held his breath.

She slowly turned over, facing him.

Her eyes remained closed. She seemed deeply asleep.

“Clodine.”

He mouthed her name without sound, yet his heart pounded.

After a brief hesitation, unlike him, he whispered her full name softly.

“Renia Clodine von Lernando.”

What was it about that name that made blood rush through his entire body?

He cleared his throat quietly, attempting to steady himself.

Not long ago, he had wielded a sword relentlessly on a desolate battlefield. And now, unable to manage a single small woman, he sat awake at night like this.

‘Until you truly want me, I will not force anything.’

What nonsense he had spoken.

He continued to watch her peaceful face, separated from reality.

Would the day ever come when you want me? When you—

The thought circled endlessly in his mind.

At last, he tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling, letting out a deep breath.

“The gates of hardship have swung wide open.”

He spoke plainly, the subject unmistakably himself, then rose from the bed.

He needed cold air.

***

Even with her eyes closed, Clodine could sense how bright the sunlight was.

She opened her eyes slightly, then winced and shut them again.

But only for a moment.

Startled, she abruptly sat up in bed.

Her eyes scanned the room.

Ahazan was nowhere in sight.

‘When did I fall asleep?’

She gathered her fallen hair with one hand, thinking back to the previous night.

Merian had helped her change. After that, she had taken a bath. The water had been hotter than usual, and by the time she stepped out, she had felt drained.

‘Did I fall asleep right after?’

That would explain why she remembered nothing afterward.

Clodine exhaled with a conflicted expression and closed her eyes again briefly.

She had planned to pretend to be asleep again, as before, to avoid awkwardness when facing Ahazan.

And yet she had truly fallen asleep.

Not only that, she had slept deeply. Unlike the night before, her body felt refreshed and light.

How could she have slept so soundly in this situation?

Rising fully from the bed, she draped a shawl over her shoulders and wrapped it carefully around herself.

When she opened the door, servants waiting outside entered with water for washing and a change of clothes.

“Have you seen His Majesty?”

She asked calmly, though she still felt unsettled.

The servants bustled about, assisting with her morning preparations as they answered.

“His Majesty has already gone down to the dining room for breakfast.”

“He has been waiting for Your Majesty to wake.”

Clodine felt inexplicably unsettled by the servants’ words.

“Next time, just wake me, you don’t have to wait until I rise.”

“But His Majesty gave strict orders that we must not wake you.”

“He also told us to dress you in something comfortable rather than formal attire. How about this dress, Your Majesty?”

The servants relayed Ahazan’s instructions with barely concealed excitement. Feeling oddly embarrassed, Clodine nodded at the pink dress they held up without even examining it closely.

After a somewhat flustered preparation, she made her way downstairs in light, comfortable clothing, just as Ahazan had requested.

In the brightness of morning, the villa felt entirely different. It seemed better suited to warm sunlight than to crimson dusk or oppressive darkness.

As the servants had said, Ahazan sat alone at the small eight-seat dining table placed at the center of the room. He had just lifted his teacup when he noticed her entering.

“Good morning.”

He wasn’t smiling, yet there was something unmistakably pleasant in his tone.

Clodine considered returning the greeting but changed her mind and quietly took the seat opposite him instead.

Looking at the teacup before him, long gone cold, she spoke flatly.

“Don’t wait like this next time.”

Though her voice sounded almost cold, Ahazan only let out a soft laugh and propped his chin on his hand.

“And if I don’t wait like this…”

She was about to respond, but the playful gleam in his eyes made her close her mouth.

“If I don’t, should I just sit beside you and watch you sleep until you wake?”

Clodine stared at him in disbelief, momentarily speechless.

Ahazan raised a brow as though expecting approval.

“Would that be acceptable?”

“Of course not.”

She refused quickly, as if afraid of what he might say next.

He only smiled in silent amusement.

No sooner had they settled than servants began filling the table with dishes, brightening it with color. Soon it was covered with all manner of food.

They ate in silence.

Only the faint clink of cutlery occasionally broke the stillness.

“Later, I was thinking of going to the river for a swim. Would you like to come?”

As the meal neared its end, Ahazan broke the silence again.

Clodine paused, looking at him without answering.

He took a sip of tea and added leisurely,

“I know. You can’t swim. I’ll teach you.”

At the end, he murmured softly. ‘Though it’s long overdue.’

Hearing that, Clodine lowered her gaze and picked up her cutlery again. She idly prodded the grilled fish on her plate with her fork.

After a long pause, she lifted her head.

“Fine. Let’s go together.”

Her curt reply drew an unexpectedly pleased smile from Ahazan.

They agreed to go at noon and finished their meal. Yet even so, an odd tension lingered over the table.

***

The river was not far, so neither horse nor carriage was used.

Servants and soldiers followed at a respectful distance as Ahazan and Clodine walked side by side across the open field, dressed lightly for swimming.

The path was alive with flowers, butterflies, birds, and small woodland creatures. For once, Clodine allowed herself to focus solely on the quiet comfort of nature.

By the time they reached the riverbank, the walk felt far too short.

She inhaled deeply, taking in the shimmering golden ripples dancing across the water. Simply gazing at the scene seemed to simplify the tangled thoughts in her heart.

Without hesitation, Ahazan removed his outer garment and dove into the river.

His white shirt clung thinly to his solid frame as it soaked through. With effortless strokes, he glided through the water, surrendering himself to sunlight and gentle currents.

The gleam of his golden hair and the warm bronze of his skin were almost disarmingly captivating.

“It’s not too cold,” he called up with a reassuring smile.

Sunlight reflecting off the water cast bright patterns across his face.

No matter what she felt inside, she could not deny that he was, in every sense, a remarkable man.

“Will you come in? I’ll hold you, Clodine.”

He extended his hand toward her from the water.

Clodine looked down at the large, steady hand offered to her.

Then, just as he had done earlier, she began removing her outer garment.

Dressed in a sleeveless white top and knee-length trousers, she looked simple, almost like a young girl.

Ahazan swam closer, lifting his arms to support her properly.

But just as he reached for her—

Clodine, as though she needed no help at all, brushed past him and boldly threw herself into the river.