“Ah…. Surely not!”

He could not erase the image of the woman swiftly wielding her fierce sword, her golden hair swaying with every movement.

‘Could that knight… have been Lailea?’

It was only a supposition, yet he was certain. He had heard that Carlo’s escort knight had joined the war in the Northern Territory, so she must have come to the shop to look at the weapons.

The woman whose swordsmanship had seemed overwhelming was undoubtedly Laila—or Lailea.

“That truly was my little sister… my Lailea.”

Theodor could not forget what he had felt when he first saw Laila.

His heart still ached with the tenderness and sorrow he had experienced, as though seeing his younger sister again after so long.

‘How could I have seen her and still failed to recognize her?’

He had been a worthless older brother seven years ago, and he remained one now.

“Go to Carlo immediately and verify the truth.”

Despite his anguish, Theodor did not forget to issue an order to his shadow knight.

“And tell Nathan not to return after the war ends. Have him go to the capital of Circlezia and protect Lailea.”

“Yes.”

Theodor wanted to leave for Circlezia immediately, but he decided to act wisely instead.

If he was going to bring Lailea home once he had confirmed the truth, it was crucial that nobody found out she was alive.

As the crown prince, every eye would undoubtedly turn towards him if he made a move. Therefore, no matter how much he longed to see his sister, he had to be patient.

‘I should also send a letter to Princess Renoa.’

Theodore began moving swiftly.

***

As expected, the war in the Northern Territory ended in a victory for the Circlezian Empire.

The imperial forces celebrated together, enjoying festivities that continued late into the night.

Everyone praised Laila as the hero of their victory, yet she was nowhere to be seen.

Away from the boisterous celebrations, Laila sat with Nathan.

Perhaps because they had spent so much time together while enduring such brutal experiences, there was no awkwardness between them; only comfort.

“Shouldn’t you go and look after the Adelina Imperial Army?”

Nathan was the commander of the Adelina forces sent as reinforcements.

Now that the grueling war was over, it was naturally his duty to commend them for their accomplishments.

But Nathan remained beside Laila without saying a word.

“It’s all right. By now, they have probably eaten and drunk so much that they are too intoxicated even to notice I’m gone.”

“You should rest as well, Sir Nathan….”

“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”

“….”

When she continued to say things that seemed designed to push him away, Nathan asked her outright.

Laila hesitated, but did not avert her gaze.

Although Nathan could be playful at times, he was always thoughtful and had been a great source of strength throughout the war. It was inconceivable that Laila would find his presence uncomfortable.

“I only meant that you should go and relieve all the stress you’ve accumulated because you won’t have any fun staying with me.”

“Yes, that is precisely what I am doing.”

‘Does he mean that being with me relieves his stress?’

When Laila regarded him quizzically, he merely smiled without saying anything.

Why was he acting like this today? From his lonely smile to his listless voice, he did not look like a knight who had just emerged victorious from a war.

“Dame Laila.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask you an impertinent question?”

“Yes.”

He had never been discourteous before. Therefore, Laila nodded without giving it much thought.

“Are you in love with Lord Carlo Siren?”

“…!”

Had she known he would ask such a question, she would never have given him permission.

Laila’s blue eyes hardened, and the atmosphere turned cold. Her belief that Nathan would never be disrespectful had been completely mistaken.

“Sir Nathan. That is….”

“I know that you hate wielding your sword against people.”

Nathan’s face was bitter, devoid of its usual smile. Sorrow filled his refined features.

“I also know that you wield your sword not to kill, but to protect.”

In that short time, he had learned a great deal about Laila—even the identity of the person in her heart.

“Yet you endured until the very end for the sake of the person you love. And that person is Lord Carlo, is he not?”

“That has nothing to do with you, Sir Nathan.”

Laila stood up abruptly and tried to leave.

However, she could not bring herself to push Nathan away when he seized her hand urgently. He was looking at her so sorrowfully that she could see he was on the verge of tears.

Laila knew that expression well. It was the same one she wore whenever she saw Carlo smiling at another noblewoman.

Being there with Nathan suddenly became uncomfortable. His feelings for her were far too clear.

“Release me.”

“Do you truly have no memory of me?”

“…!”

“Do you not remember laughing with me and walking through the rear garden of the Imperial Palace?”

‘What…? What is he talking about?’

Laila tore her hand away from his as though she were having a fit.

She was suddenly afraid. The longer she looked into Nathan’s eyes, the more she feared that her lost past would resurface.

Although regaining her memories should have been a good thing, her aching heart was screaming at her not to do it.

“You have taken this joke too far. I… do not wish to see you again.”

“Dame Laila!”

Laila dismissed his tears as a joke, trying to erase her fear.

She hurried as far away from him as possible, crushing the past that kept threatening to rear its head.

‘He must have been joking. He often played lighthearted pranks, after all.’

Even though she knew how heartrending the tears falling from his sorrowful eyes had been, Laila deliberately turned away.

“Forget everything. We’re returning to the capital tomorrow anyway.”

Tomorrow, she would finally be able to fall into Carlo’s arms, which she had longed for so desperately.

She wanted to forget everything that had happened here while resting in his familiar embrace.

“Carlo….”

***

“So, have you made your decision?”

“Yes.”

At the very moment the confused Laila was desperately longing for him, Carlo was facing the duke.

Carlo’s expression was somber.

He looked as though he had given something up, yet his lingering hesitation remained painfully evident.

‘I should… refuse the marriage.’

If he refused, the duke would undoubtedly keep his secrets from Carlo. But he could not forget Laila’s final words.

Therefore, he intended to work with Theodor to uncover the evidence based on what he had learned so far.

‘Yes, we will surely find the evidence. So the marriage….’

He had fully intended to say that he would not marry Roselina. But the duke’s next words changed everything.

“What if your mother is still alive? What would you do then?”

***

The Circlezian Imperial Army had finished preparing to return to the capital.

Standing a short distance away, Laila watched Nathan exchange farewells with the commander of the imperial forces.

“We will never forget the friendship the Adelina Empire has shown us.”

“Congratulations on your victory.”

“It was all thanks to your assistance.”

They exchanged courteous farewells.

The Adelina Empire’s intervention had further elevated Princess Lenoa’s prestige. Although Laila’s achievements had been particularly notable, they would not have been possible without Commander Nathan’s steadfast support.

When the meeting ended, Nathan’s gaze settled on Laila.

Before she could look away, he approached and stopped in front of her.

“Dame Laila.”

“Have a safe journey home, Sir Nathan.”

It was her farewell to the man who, in such a short time, had become her savior, the friend who comforted her, and the source of her confusion.

Nathan lowered his head slightly with a sorrowful smile.

“Please return safely as well, Dame Laila. From now on, I hope you will live your life for yourself.”

“….”

What did he mean, saying she was not living for herself? Laila pursed her lips at his words, which sounded as though he were telling her to stop tormenting herself.

He had undoubtedly meant well, but exhausted by the war, she turned away even from his warmth.

“Dame Laila.”

When she raised her head, Nathan held out his hand to her in the same way that he had when shaking hands with the commander.

When she took it, he tightened his grip slightly and pulled her towards him. Then he whispered in a low voice.

“We will meet again soon. Until then, stay safe.”

“…!”

Declaring that this was not the end, he raised the corners of his lips in a broad smile.

At his smile, as refreshing as a spring day, a strange ripple passed through Laila’s frozen heart.

***

“I will marry her.”

At the very moment Laila was returning to the capital bearing news of victory, Carlo betrayed her.

“Are you sincere?”

The duke questioned him with a solemn gaze.

“Yes. I sincerely wish to marry Lady Roselina. I will also sign the pledge you mentioned.”

His gaze did not waver, and his voice was resolute. Carlo appeared to have already made his decision and was perfectly composed. Yet his red eyes seemed strangely unfocused.

‘Laila will… understand.’

Despite him hurting her countless times with his madness, she had always understood and accepted him. Surely Laila would stay by his side this time, too?

Carlo repeated those words to himself, forcing down the inexplicable unease gnawing at him as he faced the satisfied duke.

“Good.”

The duke opened his desk drawer and took out the pledge he had prepared in advance. Just as he had explained, it bound Carlo to marry Roselina and assist the duke no matter what.

When the pledge was placed before him, Carlo hesitated. A sudden sense of foreboding constricted his heart, warning him that there would be no turning back once he had signed it.

“From now on, it will be only you and me.”

When Laila told him to cast aside his womanizing façade after the war, her eyes had held both desperation and resolve. What if she did not forgive him? What would he do then?

“Lord Carlo, what is the matter?”

Noticing his hand hesitate, the duke urged him to continue.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

‘No. Laila will understand everything. She always has.’

The feelings she had held for seven years could not possibly change in an instant.

Was she not the only person who loved even his darkest and most wretched parts?

So everything would be all right.