‘A life savior.’

However, he was not simply someone who saved a life.

To Sergei, Joseph was also the person who taught him how to take the first steps towards a new life.

‘Or should I call him a life mentor?’

Ten years ago, in a sea of suffocation where the merciless fog of death quietly tightened its grip.

For those adrift there, all that remained was to quietly sink beneath the black waters, resigned to their fate.

Including Sergei himself, no one dared to struggle in the face of nature’s overwhelming presence.

But among them, the smallest and youngest boy stepped forward courageously.

He was a beautiful boy with eyes the color of the sea, filled with desire and purpose for life.

“Impressive. Then how did you come to actively volunteer for such a dangerous task?”

“Well… Actually, there was someone who told me I must survive no matter what.”

…That answer.

It was a fragment that had broken off and completely fallen away from Joseph’s memory.

Something that even the great Mage Emperor Joseph, with his perfect memory, could not recall no matter what he did until the moment of his death.

Only Sergei remembers that conversation.

“I see, your first love.”

“…I know someone like me shouldn’t dare to hold such a person in my heart. But I still wanted to get a little closer, so I came all the way to their hometown like this.”

The beautiful boy said with a pure smile.

“Actually, they entrusted something to me… but I ended up losing it.”

He said he still wanted to return it no matter what.

He said even if he couldn’t find the exact same thing, if he made something similar and brought it, they would recognize him.

So he came all the way to Landgritz and started working as a sailor, he explained.

He said he knew her name. Although he didn’t say it, Sergei at the time didn’t think much of it.

He never imagined that the object of affection for a 17-year-old commoner boy could possibly be Lieselotte.

But now, looking back, all the puzzle pieces fit together.

The connection and relationship between Lieselotte and Joseph was even deeper and stronger than Sergei had imagined.

As if he himself had become a foreign object.

‘Ah, no.’

Sergei cut off that train of thought.

He didn’t want to become a defeated dog that tucked its tail without even putting up a fight ever again.

There were no exceptions, even if the opponent was Joseph, his life savior.

Besides, there was the most important reason why he had a chance.

‘Lord Joseph doesn’t know that he loved Lieselotte.’

He had lost it. His emotions were erased, leaving only purpose. Like a beautiful doll that was nothing but an empty shell.

Now, he was a being with only the obsession to live.

Yes, the boy with lively sea-colored eyes was gone now.

He had become an alien existence with red jewel eyes like glass marbles.

How fortunate it was, in a way. That what existed between the two of them now was only a matter of mutual interest.

“Lord Joseph…”

Ah, his voice slipped out without him realizing.

Sergei flinched in surprise, but in front of Joseph who had already responded with a “Yes?”, he couldn’t just say it was nothing.

Yes, now he couldn’t avoid it. It was also a moment he shouldn’t avoid.

Swallowing hard, Sergei opened his mouth.

“I sincerely want to help you, Lord Joseph.”

At that, Joseph blinked once. He looked momentarily flustered at the warm words suddenly offered.

All the more reason for Sergei to continue calmly.

“And from now on, I intend to help you be free from the pain of Chronomancy. So that you can achieve your goal of living out a normal lifespan.”

“…That’s sudden, but truly, thank you for those words.”

A smile full of goodwill appeared on the beautiful man’s lips.

“If you help me, I will not forget your kindness.”

“Ah…”

“Whenever you need my help, I will be your most active ally.”

And at those following words, Sergei too met his gaze with a comfortable and gentle smile.

It was a kind thing to say. And…

It was also what Sergei most wanted to hear in this moment.

Joseph’s top priority was his life.

And Sergei’s top priority was Lieselotte Karin Daiern.

It was still her.

After a fortnight’s journey, our carriage finally passed through the white tree-lined road leading to Landgritz Castle.

White tree-lined road, what an amusing expression.

But it was quite apt, considering the fully bloomed magnolias lining the road all the way to the castle.

Landgritz Avenue, the shade of magnolias.

Famous as the first flower to herald spring, the magnolia was also a symbol of Landgritz, which had blossomed now by pioneering new trade routes.

Well, perhaps that’s an old story now. The current Landgritz is declining due to the head of the family who only deals with black money under the table.

So rather than an era of brilliant white flowers, it’s more a time of ugly fallen petals being trampled underfoot.

Clop-clop, clatter, rumble.

While I was absentmindedly looking at the magnolias outside the window, the carriage came to a stop.

As Loretta exclaimed excitedly, “We’ve finally arrived!” there was a knock-knock on the carriage door. It was a signal asking if it was alright to open the door.

With Loretta knocking back in permission, the carriage door soon swung wide open towards Landgritz Castle.

At the same time, as if on cue, a white hand reached into the carriage.

“I’ve been waiting, Lieselotte.”

“…”

Surprisingly, it was Nergal who was waiting to escort me.

This isn’t funny at all.

Someone who wouldn’t even look at me when I was at the Imperial mansion, now comes out personally to greet me and even offers an escort.

Anyway, I took his hand and got out of the carriage. Only then did the familiar sight of Landgritz’s domain castle come into view.

Unlike Daiern Castle with its sheer cliff moat, Landgritz boasts its majesty atop a seaside cliff.

“Was the journey difficult?”

“I’m tired and would like to rest early.”

No, more than that, I wanted to finish my business as quickly as possible and return to Daiern.

I had already decided to withdraw my heart from Landgritz, my hometown and paternal home.

But Nergal, unaware of my cooled feelings, was naively kind.

“Oh my, I didn’t think that far. I’ll make sure you can rest right after greeting the guests. It would be better to postpone the prepared banquet to a later time.”

I was taken aback by his attitude, so markedly different from during my husband’s funeral or my last visit to the Imperial mansion.

It was hard to believe this was the same person who always told me to endure, that it was all for my own good, to maintain etiquette and put up with a little discomfort, spouting nonsense.

Nevertheless, there was no need to rebuke the master in front of so many Landgritz servants.

I decided to keep my mouth shut for now.

“I assume the carriage behind is your companions.”

Speaking in a friendly tone, Nergal immediately headed towards the carriage carrying the other two people.

As the carriage door opened and the two alighted, he welcomed them and first of all provided us with our accommodations.

Lord Joseph and Sergei were assigned guest rooms facing the seaside with adjoining entrances. And in my case…

“Lieselotte, you can stay in the room you used until you got married. I thought that would be more comfortable for you, so I had it renovated.”

“…”

“After all, this is your paternal home.”

My steps, which were naturally heading towards the next guest room, came to a halt.

While I was bewildered, I was guided to the room I had used in my childhood.

Seeing the space where all the things I had used remained intact, and the furniture and decorations I had liked neatly repaired, my heart fluttered strangely.

In this way…

I didn’t want to know that there was still some affection left in me for Landgritz, which I thought I had already abandoned.

‘Nergal, you spineless fool.’

I can’t understand what he thinks he can gain from me now by doing this.

Why? Does he think that if he’s suddenly nice to me like this, I’ll leave some of Landgritz’s inheritance?

With these twisted thoughts rising, I glared at him with my arms crossed.

“I appreciate your kindness, elder brother. Though I don’t know what wind has blown to make you suddenly act like this towards me.”

“Let’s talk about that slowly while you’re staying here. For now, you must be tired from the long journey, so get some rest.”

“No, I won’t be staying that long. I plan to return to Daiern right after achieving my purpose.”

Before my heart could soften any further, I asked urgently.

“When will I be able to receive my inheritance?”