The next day—

Jaina told Cadel that she would go with him, no further persuasion required.

She had sworn never to repeat the mistakes of the past. However, when she heard that all the saintesses had lost their divine power and that the Elim Tree itself was withering, her resolve shattered.

Elysion’s words lingered heavily in her heart and influenced her decision more than she cared to admit.

“Only the north remains untouched by the dark mages’ magic. It will be the safest place for you, too.”

“Why only the North? You’re human – how can you not know? The lords of the North have carried black mana for generations.”

“Of course, not all black mana is the same. The northern lord’s mana is on a completely different level to the vile power wielded by dark mages who feed on human souls. Admittedly, though, it’s unpleasant all the same.”

In truth, Elysion was not pleased about Jaina leaving the Village of the Spirits.

“Personally, I’d prefer it if you forgot about the human world entirely. But if you’re worried about the other saintesses and the Elim Tree, there’s nothing we can do.”

“If you return to the human world, you must marry a man from the North to protect your divine power. Only then will the Symbol of Binding appear on your body and protect your power from dark magic.”

Elysion told her how she could preserve her divine power outside the village, since she was set on leaving.

The answer was to marry Cadel. She had never wanted to become involved with him again. However, to protect the Grand Sanctuary, the Elim Tree and the Empire, she had no choice.

She did not want to relive that hellish time. Nevertheless, a bitter truth lingered: no matter how many times she turned back the clock, she could not escape her fate of marrying him.

For now, though, restoring order to the Empire was more important than her personal feelings.

So she forced herself to put her turmoil to one side.

Travelling with Cadel by teleportation stone, Jaina arrived in the north. She slowly lifted her gaze to the Grand Ducal Castle.

It was a familiar sight.

Although it was not a pleasant sight, seeing a place she had not looked upon in so long stirred something strange and unsettled within her.

‘I never wanted to set foot here again…’

She had not even imagined she would meet Cadel again.

Perhaps fate truly was inescapable.

“Welcome, Saintess.”

“Please come in, Saintess.”

As she stepped through the castle gates, she was greeted by rows of servants and stewards.

Among them were familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Only then did she realize how small her world had once been.

During her time here, she had moved only between her chamber and the library.

This thought left a quiet bitterness in her chest. Lost in thought, she did not notice the man approaching until he stopped in front of her and bowed.

“You’ve arrived, Lady Jaina.”

Adil was Cadel’s loyal aide.

When she lived here, invisible to everyone, he was the one who showed her where the library was. Unlike his cold and distant master, Adil treated her with easy familiarity, offering small acts of kindness.

While the other servants attended to their duties, Adil was the only person in the Grand Ducal Castle to show her genuine warmth.

Seeing him now, she felt an unexpected surge of nostalgia.

Without thinking, she smiled brightly at him.

“It’s been a long time, Sir Adil.”

For a moment, confusion flashed across Adil’s face.

It was then that Jaina realized her mistake.

She and Cadel were the only ones who had returned with their memories intact. To everyone else in the castle, this was their first meeting. And yet she had greeted Adil as though he were an old friend.

“Ah…”

She faltered, unsure how to correct herself.

Cadel stepped in smoothly.

“Adil likely doesn’t remember crossing paths with you at the festival two years ago. His memory isn’t particularly strong.”

A casual lie.

A lifeline.

“Excuse me? What do you mean my memory isn’t strong…?”

Adil frowned immediately, looking wronged.

“And two years ago was when the annex issue happened, wasn’t it? Do you have any idea how many people I met during that time? It’s impossible to remember every—”

“Yes, yes. Exactly my point.”

Cadel waved a dismissive hand, cutting him off, and began leading Jaina up the stairs. As they ascended from the first floor toward the second, Cadel spoke quietly.

“You smiled for the first time.”

“…What?”

“Since seeing me. That was the first time you smiled.”

“What are you—”

“Was Adil that pleasing to see?”

At his question, Jaina glanced behind them.

The servants following at a distance were far enough away that they would not overhear.

“What are you talking about?”

“Because you smiled only at him.”

“I was simply glad to see him…”

“If we’re speaking of gladness, shouldn’t you be most glad to see your husband?”

Cadel looked down at her, his expression faintly cool. Jaina glanced at him and let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh.

‘Glad? Me? To see you?’

He was the man whose words had shattered her heart before she died.

She could still recall the look of irritation and faint disgust on his face as he told her not to involve him and Violet in rumors about their supposed affair. It was as though her love had been nothing more than a nuisance to him.

And now he expected her to be pleased?

From the beginning of their marriage, he had cared for no one but himself. He neither understood nor tried to understand how others felt.

So this should not have surprised her.

And yet, watching him lie so effortlessly and offer to help her without the slightest change in his expression felt strangely unfamiliar.

In a voice low enough that only he could hear, she asked.

“Since when did you become so good at lying?”

“Who said I was lying?”

Cadel arched one well-shaped brow as he looked down at her.

“You said I met Sir Adil two years ago—”

“That wasn’t a lie.”

His tone remained calm.

“Two years ago, during the festival, you came with your family to handle the monster that appeared behind the event grounds. Adil and I were there as well.”

He shrugged lightly.

“Adil may have been preoccupied and failed to notice you properly. But we did cross paths.”

Jaina stared at him, clearly unconvinced.

Cadel added, as though wronged.

“I truly did not lie.”

She let out a sigh as they continued climbing the stairs.

“Yes, yes. Of course you didn’t.”

To be fair, Cadel wasn’t one for telling outright lies. If he wanted to hide something, he simply wouldn’t mention it.

Looking back at the gifts he used to give Violet — necklaces, bracelets, and earrings — it was clear that this was his approach.

Violet would visit her almost daily, proudly showing off the jewelry he had given her.

Feigning modesty, she would wear a guilty smile, as though apologizing for being the only one to receive such fine gifts. But beneath that smile lay a subtle sense of superiority.

‘How did I treat her back then…?’

She could not remember everything clearly.

But she was certain of one thing: she had tried. She had tried desperately to swallow the jealousy burning inside her.

Yet human hearts are not so easily controlled.

Every time she saw Violet wearing the jewelry that Cadel had given her, sparkling beautifully in the light,

Every time she saw Violet standing at his side—

—and every time it rained in the north,

—she felt envy twist inside her.

This jealousy built slowly and quietly until it finally erupted over something small and insignificant.

One day, Violet proudly showed off a ring set with a black gemstone, the same shade as Cadel’s eyes, and Jaina finally lost her temper.

Until then, Jaina had endured somehow.

Cadel had given Violet necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, but never a ring.

Perhaps that was why she had managed to restrain herself until then. But the moment Violet appeared, smiling as she always did and lifting her hand to display the ring—

Jaina’s hand moved before she could stop it.

She struck her.

In truth, she had never cared much for jewelry. She had grown up in the Grand Sanctuary as a saintess, only to be taken away by a man who claimed to be her father and forced to live in a commoner’s household. Any desire for material things had long since been stripped from her.

So why had she lost control?

Because that black gemstone, identical in color to Cadel’s eyes, once held a very different meaning for her.

“This black gem is very special to me. It resembles your eyes.”

“My eyes?”

“Yes. Look.”

“…I see.”

“If I turn it into jewelry and wear it, I’ll feel as though I’m always with you.”

“…When this urgent matter is resolved, I’ll summon a jeweler to the castle.”

“…What?”

“You said you wanted to carry a gem that resembles my eyes. I’ll call for a craftsman. Have whatever piece you desire made.”

He had said that.

And yet—

The first piece crafted from that gemstone had not been given to her.

It had been given to Violet.

A ring.

Violet wore it boldly on the fourth finger of her left hand.

There had been no time to demand an explanation.

After striking Violet, Cadel tore her heart apart with words alone.

Jaina’s brow furrowed faintly. A painful memory resurfaced and her chest ached. She turned and continued climbing the stairs, trying to push the past away.

But no matter how hard she tried, the memories clung stubbornly to her thoughts.

‘Violet must still be here.’

The realization hit her like a reflex.

A sharp, instinctive wave of resistance rose within her.

Her face stiffened as though carved from stone.

Jaina swallowed dryly and forced herself to steady her breathing.

‘It has nothing to do with me anymore.’

Whatever had happened in the past, her heart was different now.

When she first married Cadel, she did so simply to escape her home.

Then, foolishly, she fell in love with him.

She did not realize that it was a love that would never be returned.

But now, having lived through everything, she knew that this marriage had a purpose.

And that purpose did not include love.

No matter how foolish she had once been, she would never sacrifice her life for love again.

In this life, at least, she would never love Cadel Edgar again.

“Welcome, Saintess.”

And then—

Violet appeared at the top of the third-floor stairs.