This time it was Ella who laughed.

Condemning someone over something like that……

Ella was too exasperated to find words. She was also angry.

“That’s nothing more than a story invented by people who put others down to make themselves look better.”

“……”

“Something spread by fools who can’t prove their own superiority over others in any other way. I have no interest in being played by something that ridiculous.”

“……”

Ella’s hand came to rest against Haven’s cheek.

“Surely you don’t think I’d see you differently because of something like that? I asked only because of your health, Haven.”

“Ella.”

“Tell me, does it hurt?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“I’m glad. Then don’t worry about anything else.”

Ella smiled warmly.

Nothing in Marian’s memories had anything to do with the color of Haven’s eyes.

It was something even she didn’t know, but if there were reasons he couldn’t speak of it, she had no intention of prying.

‘As long as he keeps his promise……’

Nothing else mattered.

Whatever Ella’s true feelings were, Haven seemed genuinely moved by her words.

Everything he wanted to say was in the way he looked at her. That he would protect her at the cost of everything he had……

She could feel it plainly.

Ella knew her choice had not been wrong.

Slender arms wound around his neck.

“Ella, I……”

“Shh. I know, Haven.”

I know what you want to say.

Haven’s near-whisper was stopped by her lips.

Ella’s hands pressed gently with purpose. A fitting reward for something endearing.

As sweet, faint breath flowed between them, red began to seep into Haven’s eyes again.

Ella smiled, meeting those ruby-bright eyes.

“They’re beautiful, Haven. I mean it.”

“Hah……”

The reason Haven had been barely holding onto snapped in an instant.

Hot desire mixed into the space between naturally parted lips. Tongues wound together without a gap, holding each other close.

Haven pressed into her with single-minded intensity. As though unwilling to part, he savored her fully in the warm, close space.

In a brief moment of separation, ragged breath escaped.

“Hah, Haven.”

“Ella…… just a little more……”

“Mmph.”

Ella willingly received Haven as he came at her from a different angle.

His heartbeat was as relentless as the breath tangled between them. She almost worried it would burst.

“Ella…… Ella……”

Every time Haven whispered her name with longing, Ella was swept up in a strange exhilaration.

She gripped his silver hair like tightening a leash.

She couldn’t tell whether the tingling in her ears was coming from inside herself or from the insects in the night.

The kiss grew deeper and richer. Even the air, dyed in the color of night, seemed to glow red.

“Mmph…… hah.”

At last, their lips parted.

But Haven’s thirst wouldn’t settle.

At this rate, he clearly wouldn’t be able to stop. He had to fight hard to press down the rising heat.

A quiet night. The sweet scent brushing his nose was pulling at him.

This contradictory scent of relief and excitement at once.

Everything about Ella was both stimulation and peace to him.

His vivid red eyes were filled entirely with her. The eyes holding her trembled faintly.

‘Is this normal……?’

Even feeling her, pressing into her, it was never enough.

The desire toward Ella surged out fiercely, as though it had been waiting for her touch.

‘Did you know that wolves share life and death with their lifelong mate?’

‘They become imprinted on the one to whom they give their virginity. The traits of the Wolf Clan begin to manifest through the person they spend their first night with.’

Meivia’s words surfaced without warning.

Could this irrational desire and possessiveness truly be because of a racial trait?

Was it really?

‘A feeling this vivid……’

This blind devotion that made it not matter if his body were shattered to pieces for her sake……?

“Haven, why?”

“……”

No. No.

It wasn’t that. This was a genuine emotion, his own dark and consuming heart.

He had already desired Ella and given her his heart before they ever spent that night together.

So this was entirely sincere.

“Haven?”

“It’s nothing, Ella.”

Haven pressed a light kiss to Ella’s slightly swollen lower lip.

Ella spoke with a reluctant air.

“I really do have to go now.”

“Right……”

Haven let out a quiet sigh and moved his feet, which didn’t want to leave.

***

Back at the Lake Wellea chapel, Ella stood before a small mirror.

With just the saintess‘s robes, she seemed to have found herself again. Blood stains were scattered across the white fabric, but it didn’t matter.

She removed the wig she had been wearing, and her full platinum hair spilled loose.

“If I leave now, the timing should be about right.”

Dressed as a saintess, Ella absently touched her lips.

Haven’s traces were gone, but a faint pulse lingered in the slightly swollen skin.

As though his heartbeat had been left behind in her lips.

The corners of Ella’s mouth curved upward.

“How long will it take……”

Until news of Haven’s victory reached her.

The anticipation rising carefully in her deepened her smile further.

“I should go get at least a little sleep.”

Perhaps because some of the tension had released, exhaustion came flooding in late.

Well, it made sense.

‘It was a night with a great deal happening.’

The visit to the Deloa Guild, the unexpected encounter with Haven. On top of that, confirming the mana filling her body, and then having a spell performed on her.

Any one of those would have been overwhelming on its own, and experiencing several at once had left her several times more drained than usual.

“Still, at least I don’t have to take toho leaves anymore. That’s something, I suppose.”

Ella gave a weak, quiet laugh.

She had just stepped out of the chapel when,

In the early dawn mist rising from the lakeside, a dark silhouette flickered.

‘Who is that?’

The crown prince had given orders that no one was to disturb her while she was offering purification prayers.

It wasn’t limited to servants and maids. Even the knights standing guard didn’t approach this area on the days Ella went to the chapel.

‘Everyone would know I came here last night.’

Without letting her guard down, Ella called out loudly toward the figure.

“Who is there?”

At her voice, the silhouette’s movement paused briefly.

But the dark shadow didn’t show itself.

“I asked who is there.”

Ella stepped forward one step at a time.

The unusually thick mist made it impossible to see even a short distance ahead. And yet the silhouette of the dark figure remained strangely distinct.

“Tell me who you are at……. ah!”

Ella caught her hem and stumbled.

Her exhausted body wouldn’t move the way she wanted. She was about to fall with no way to stop it.

In that instant, a rough hand wrapped around her shoulder.

“Are you all right!”

A man’s voice came along with a sudden rush of dry grass scent. A dry fragrance that couldn’t belong to this damp air brushed her nose.

The silhouette confirmed she was unharmed and quickly stepped back from Ella.

“I, I apologize.”

Ella straightened and turned her gaze.

She recognized the man and her expression shifted with mild surprise.

“You are……”

It was the gardener Joi, whom she had encountered in the crown princess‘s rear garden.

It was the first time she had seen him since the day she entered the palace.

“Joi, right?”

At the sound of his name, Joi’s shoulder gave a small flinch.

“What brings you here?”

“……”

“You can’t possibly be unaware of the order His Highness the Crown Prince gave.”

“Th, that is……”

Joi stumbled over his words and hesitated.

The situation was unwelcome enough given how tired she already was. Even the saintess‘s smile she always wore wouldn’t come.

‘Something about him is off.’

Ella gave up on hearing his reason.

Every moment she spent here was a waste. All she wanted was to lie down and rest her exhausted body.

Ella’s voice dropped a note.

“If this becomes known, you will be punished for defying the order.”

“……”

“So as far as today goes, you were never here. And from now on……”

“I came to give you this.”

Joi cut her off and held something out abruptly.

“……What is this?”

What he held out was a glass bottle filled with dried flower petals and leaves.

The bottle, smaller than a palm, was packed with leaves whose species couldn’t be identified.

“It’s a sleep aid I made. If you breathe in this scent before sleeping, it will help your body recover.”

“A sleep aid?”

“Yes. I heard your sacred pain has been severe…… I hoped you could at least sleep soundly. I can guarantee its effectiveness.”

Receiving an unexpected gift left Ella somewhat bewildered.

It was even more so because she had just been feeling wary of him a moment ago.

“It seemed like you were overdue to come out, so I worried and ended up coming in here. I apologize. I’ll take my leave now.”

Joi bowed deeply and offered his farewell.

While Ella stared at the bottle with a slightly dazed expression, he turned and left first.

“Thank you, Joi.”

Her belated thanks hadn’t reached him before he was gone.