The winter that seemed like it would last forever was gradually showing signs of ending.

The snow that had covered the whole world in white had long since melted away without a trace, and the cold wind that made one wrap themselves tightly had grown much milder.

Along with this, places that had fallen during the recent coup were gradually returning to their original state. The repair work that was expected to take long had been completed faster than anticipated.

Carlos too was on his way back to the palace after going out to inspect a bridge that had collapsed last year and was now completed.

As Carlos entered the capital entrance while riding his horse toward Richard Palace, he slowed his pace. After briefly observing the bustling downtown, he spoke to someone beside him.

“I’ll walk from here. Only Herman, follow me.”

Though he naturally called for Herman, the response came from someone else.

“Your Majesty, Sir Herman has been on leave since two days ago.”

“Ah.”

Belatedly realizing Herman was away, Carlos let out a short sigh. His only sister was sick, wasn’t she? Knowing what Herman’s sister meant to him, Carlos had approved his leave without question.

Moreover, Herman hadn’t taken any time off since the coup. He’d even given him more days than requested, telling him to rest longer. Yet here he was, having forgotten about it.

“Hah…”

Carlos shook his head, mocking himself for completely forgetting something that happened just two days ago. He had been so focused on Ines that he failed to keep track of minor details.

After a brief sigh, Carlos commanded.

“Then Olson. Only you follow me. Everyone else return to the palace first.”

He had realized that since becoming king, he hadn’t actually observed how his subjects were living. So he thought to take this opportunity of being out to walk slowly and gauge public sentiment.

“Yes, understood.”

Following his order, Knight Olson followed behind Carlos. After sending the other knights ahead to the palace, the two slowly made their way through the crowds.

Perhaps because winter was ending, people’s faces were full of vitality. However, it hadn’t been long since smiles had returned to their faces.

Many things had happened here last year. A sudden rebellion had brought bloodshed everywhere. How was it just a month or two ago? Just when peace seemed to have arrived, suddenly nobles’ heads went flying.

No wonder the atmosphere in the capital had been tense. Only recently had peace finally returned. It was now a peaceful time as if the past tragedy was forgotten.

It was while Carlos was passing through the busy market, feeling the people’s mood. His steps suddenly halted as if he’d discovered something.

“Your Majesty?”

Olson, following behind him, questioned. But as if unhearing the knight’s words, Carlos’s gaze remained fixed on one spot. Olson naturally followed his line of sight. What he saw was a small street stall.

They were selling sugar-coated fruit skewers. Carlos approached the stall while staring at the colorful fruits with a contemplative look.

He gazed at the fruits with a thoughtful expression. At the same time, a bright voice echoed in his mind.

‘Carl, I’ve never had anything like this before!’

He recalled Ines’s face as she smiled brightly at him after taking a bite, saying it was so sweet. A smile naturally formed on Carlos’s lips as he reminisced about the past.

He had bought these for her several times whenever they came to the market together. How delighted she had been when she first ate this. The image of her looking at him with sparkling eyes and smiling wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘Should I buy some for her?’

He indulged in foolish fantasies of her looking at him with sparkling eyes again and smiling while saying it was delicious, just like back then. But soon he shook his head, mocking himself for such ridiculous thoughts.

‘That won’t happen.’

What was he hoping for? Bitterness spread across his self-deprecating face. Ines had withered day by day like someone who had forgotten how to smile. He knew he was the cause.

The moment he let go of Ines, who had lost her will to live, he feared she would drift away like dandelion seeds in the wind, never to be caught again.

He was afraid Ines would vanish from this world without a trace. Even if he couldn’t see her smiling face. Even if she groaned and suffered, he wanted to keep her by his side. He knew how selfish and foolish this was. But…

‘I can’t think of any other way…’

Besides getting her with child, he couldn’t think of any other way to keep Ines in this land.

What should he have done? For Ines, what exactly…

Suddenly Ines’s voice flashed through his mind.

‘Give me a divorce.’

Divorce.

Yes, perhaps if he granted her wish, her heart might change. Contrary to his concerns, she might live perfectly fine. She had said being with him was more horrible than death, after all. She might unexpectedly live well…

As his thoughts reached there, Carlos’s brows furrowed.

‘Useless thoughts…’

It was already meaningless to contemplate. What he had done to his Ines was beyond repair.

Those days when they faced each other and dreamed of happiness together would never return.

Carlos turned his head at the painful reality. Looking at the stall filled with memories of Ines felt like watching an unreachable hope. Just as Carlos was about to turn back to continue on his way, it happened.

“Hey there!”

The stall owner caught Carlos as he was about to leave and handed him one of the fruit skewers from the stall.

“Looks like you’re wondering whether to buy or not, so have a taste first. Sometimes people just pass by wondering what this is, but once they try it, it’s so sweet and delicious!”

Carlos blankly stared at what he had received in his bewilderment.

“Come on, try it already!”

Yielding to the owner’s urging, Carlos finally took a bite of one fruit. Sweet sugar filled his mouth. It was sweet enough to make a child smile automatically at the taste stimulating the tongue.

“Well, isn’t it good?”

He answered with a quiet nod. It was very sweet, just like when he had eaten it with Ines in the past. Somehow, that fact made his chest ache.

Everything was the same as it had been, like the fruit in his mouth. No, perhaps the situation was even better than back then. As he had wished, Ines had become his wife, and he, who had been despised by all, had become king.

Yet strangely, he was more unhappy than back then. He had Ines, but didn’t have her. She had lost her smile and abandoned her will to live. All because of him.

Everything was his fault. His wrong choices and one cruel statement had made things turn out this way. Suddenly it became difficult to breathe at this realization.

In contrast to the sweetness filling his mouth, he clenched his fist at the reality of wading through mud.

He wanted to go back. Back to when Ines dreamed of happiness, before she was broken, he wanted to turn back time.

But…

‘Can we go back?’

The more he joined bodies with Ines, the more vitality disappeared from her face, the more he doubted whether his actions were right. He began to question his conviction that everything would be fine once she had a child.

He recalled the doctor’s advice from before.

‘Her Majesty the Queen is suffering from an illness of the mind. Even if her health recovers and she bears a child, nobody can guarantee what comes after.’

He couldn’t bring himself to ask what couldn’t be guaranteed. He was afraid to hear something terrible. He felt like a coward. But in truth, he knew the answer.

With a stiff face, he muttered quietly,

“There’s no way we can go back.”

Ines wouldn’t change just because she had a child. Yes, she would stay alive during the pregnancy. But what about after? After the child is born? After the child grows up? What happens then?

His hand dropped at the questions suddenly ringing through his mind.

Something felt terribly wrong. He realized how foolish a fantasy he had been clinging to all this time.

As he was confused by the crumbling of what he had believed was right, someone shouted.

“Hey! There’s a fire at the palace right now!”

At those words, Carlos raised his head as if he was doused with cold water. Soon after grasping the situation, Olson approached his side. He continued in a grave voice.

“Your Majesty, we should hurry to the palace! There’s… a fire in the Queen’s chambers.”