“It’s Axel.”

Even though he’s lying down now, I remembered him running with great vigor at a fast speed.

It was a name that suited the horse very well.

“I personally named him after much consideration as soon as I received him as a gift from my parents.”

The fact that he even named him himself made me realize how much he cherished the horse.

“Kaern…”

I called him cautiously.

His slightly moistened red eyes stared straight at me.

“I don’t know who the culprit is yet, but regardless of who it is, I won’t stand by and let them harm someone I value dearly.”

With a strong and resolute tone, he spoke to me as if making a solemn promise.

“Yes. Let’s do that. After catching the culprit, let’s hold a funeral for our Axel.”

I clasped Kaern’s hand that was resting on top of my words.

With my small hands, it was impossible to completely cover his hand, but I wanted my warmth and feelings to offer him some comfort.

“Herena.”

Kaern called my name and enclosed my hand with his own.

In that state, we looked at each other in silence for quite a while.

Afterward, we returned to Kaern’s office.

Sitting on the sofa, I took out the handkerchief from my pocket to give it to him, but then hesitated and spoke.

“I’ll wash the handkerchief and give it back to you. I’m glad to see you’re using the gift I gave you.”
“It’s a gift from you, so of course. You can just return the handkerchief.”

“No, it’s okay. Since I used it in a dusty place earlier, the fabric got a little dirty. I want to clean it and return it to you.”

“You don’t need to go through the trouble. Even if it’s dirty, as the owner of the item, I’m fine with it. Just give it to me like this.”

In the end, I gave up and handed him the handkerchief.

Upon receiving it, Kaern treated the handkerchief with great care, as if handling a precious glass craft, and put it in his pocket.

Distractedly watching his careful actions, I snapped back to attention at Kaern’s voice.

“Asdel is currently conducting investigations in various ways. We might be able to find him soon.”

“That’s a relief. In any case, I sent a letter to Lord Warren.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. I thought I should let him know that he doesn’t have to find the flower.”

“I see. Good call.”

He nodded in satisfaction.

“And…”

Kaern paused for a moment as if he still had something to say.

Then, unexpectedly, he uttered words that caught me off guard.

“I’ve thought about it, and it’s not too late. You should go to study abroad as planned.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Startled by the suggestion to leave, I questioned him directly.

“Even though the matter hasn’t been resolved yet, you want me to leave now?”

“Yes. I’ll handle this matter, so you should leave now.”
Listening to his words, I was dumbfounded by the absurdity of it all. Of course, I understood why he was saying this. Perhaps he was worried about my safety. However, understanding and accepting were two distinctly different matters.

“How can you say that? I absolutely can’t leave like this.”

“Herena.”

Kaern called my name as if suppressing a sigh.

“Do you know the current situation I’m in, Kaern? And you’re telling me to go study abroad? No. I will never leave unless this matter is resolved.”

Normally, I tended to do as Kaern wished, but on this matter, I absolutely couldn’t yield to him.

“Moreover, I’ve already sent a letter to the study abroad department, stating that I won’t go. I can’t change my mind.”

“If you decide to go, I’ll cover all the expenses, so you don’t have to worry about that. Besides, you’ve already helped me enough. If it weren’t for the information you obtained, I wouldn’t even know what kind of flower I used for the poison.”

“I understand what you’re worried about, Kaern. But I decided to stay by your side not because of anyone’s will but as a decision I made for myself.”

His continued words, unaware of my feelings, became increasingly harsh.

I belatedly realized that, in my desperation to convey my intentions, I had uttered words I shouldn’t have said.

“Do you want to stay by my side?”

“What? Yes. So, I mean, I want to be by your side…”
However, Kaern didn’t let this opportunity slip away.

“If you don’t go to study abroad, you have only one choice. Do you understand what it is?”

His eyes glinted sharply, piercing through me like a gaze that grasped me tightly.

Although I quickly understood the meaning of his words, I tried to salvage the situation somehow, but my mind was in complete chaos, and I couldn’t formulate any thoughts.

I couldn’t discern what conversation had just transpired, what I had said, and everything was thoroughly mixed up, making it impossible to make a proper judgment.

So, in a daze, I looked at Kaern and tried to utter any words.

“So, I mean, I…”

However, Kaern didn’t spare a glance at me and continued to press on.

“I suggested studying abroad because I judged that it’s safer for you to leave here alone than to stay here with me. You’ve wanted to study abroad for a long time, so it worked out well.”

Seeing him respond with a relaxed smile further confused my already befuddled mind.

With just one significant slip of the tongue, the issue I had been desperately trying to avoid until now resurfaced.

When I thought about it, he wasn’t wrong.

He proposed marriage to me, and I used studying abroad as an excuse to postpone that marriage.

Now, as I declared that I wouldn’t go for studying abroad, there was no reason for him to postpone the marriage.

However, Kaern, while having the intention to protect me, didn’t harbor any love for me.
And I knew it all too well, and I couldn’t make a selfish decision for myself alone.

In truth, I still wanted to ask him.

Why was he trying to get married when he didn’t even like me?

But I was still too much of a coward to directly ask him that.

I didn’t want to hear those words again, saying that there was no one in his heart.

I didn’t want to experience the disappointment and frustration I felt at that moment again.

So, I had to find a way to stay by his side without getting married.

Time passed gradually.

Kaern, as if willingly waiting for my answer, kept silent, watching me closely.

Feeling anxious, I exerted the maximum concentration I could muster.

And in a flash, something quickly crossed my mind.

‘Why didn’t I think of this before?’

Although I reluctantly agreed yesterday when Kaern told me not to involve him any further in this matter, I didn’t want that at all.

Fortunately, the solution I thought of now was an excellent way to resolve this issue.

Of course, concerning marriage, there might be nothing more than buying time, but that time was incredibly precious to me.

Before speaking, I organized my thoughts once again.

Then, looking at him, I calmly parted my lips.
“So, Kaern’s suggestion is to get married right away if I don’t go abroad for studies, right?”

Kaern nodded slowly.

“I also want to marry Kaern. But I don’t want to do it so suddenly.”

“What do you mean?”

“To get married, there are many things to prepare. Moreover, I can’t fully focus on wedding preparations in the current situation. There are things that need to be resolved first.”

“I’ll take care of all the preparations, so you don’t have to do anything.”

Kaern naturally expected him to say this.

“No. Since it’s my wedding, I want to help with the preparations myself.”

“Herena.”

Kaern’s expression stiffened, seemingly dissatisfied with my words.

“And regardless of when, I really want to go abroad for studies.”

I tried to convey my intentions strongly, making an effort not to pay too much attention to him.

“But…”

I paused and stared into Kaern’s red eyes.

I will definitely protect you.

With determined will, I spoke again.

“If we can resolve this incident, I will prioritize marriage over studying abroad.”

“Are you serious?”

Kaern asked me, looking quite surprised.

“Yes, I’m serious. But I have a request. I want to help with resolving this issue together.”

“That’s not possible.”

He firmly rejected my proposal.

“Kaern.”

“That’s absolutely not possible.”