⌜Isn’t anyone going to help her up? Oh, how pitiful. Where is the Duke of Evergail now?⌟

Eyes everywhere, only looking at her.

Piercing eyes. Suffocating eyes.

The dark red monster that slowly grew and started to devour her alive.

Just when she began trembling terribly with fear of suffocation, the floor jolted like a whirlpool, sucking her in before settling down again.

The murmurs subsided, and ordinary noise took their place.

Helena swallowed dryly and pressed her fingernail into the palm of her hand.

‘It hurts.’

It was reality.

She was relieved to have escaped the past illusion without much commotion. It hadn’t come as viciously as before.

She slowly closed and opened her eyes, and this time, he was staring intensely at her.

‘Is it my illusion that those eyes look sad?’

As Helena let go of her aimless thoughts, Ian put the dress back in its place.

Almost simultaneously with the clink of the hangers, his voice followed.

“I have no intention of forcing a taste that doesn’t suit you. But Helena,”

He carefully pulled her hand toward him and gently rubbed the nail mark left on her palm.

“It’s not the dress that stands out because it’s flashy, but because it’s you.”

“……I suppose so.”
“I was a misfit from the start.”

Helena dropped her head. Ian’s grip on her hand momentarily tightened.

A woman who couldn’t hate others, ending up hating herself. He gently lifted her chin, holding her gaze.

Her clear blue eyes were too dazzling to despise.

“If there are people who can’t stand the brightness, there are also those who recognize it.”

Their eyes trembled slightly as they met.

Ian pressed his thumb on Helena’s lower lip, ensuring she wouldn’t bite and hurt her tender skin. The red flesh compressed softly with a light elasticity.

“I know it’s not easy to choose only the words that make you smile… But I wish you could hear only those that make you happy.”

He swallowed the words that urged her to keep him by her side. Giving her assurance was cruel, both to her and to himself.

He wasn’t in love with her. He simply wished for her happiness. Therefore, he shouldn’t cross the line.

Just being present and doing his best for her was his role. It was the worst to force affection on someone who was left with only ashes after burning everything.

He hoped such a situation would never arise until the very end.

‘Don’t forget why you’re here.’

Ian gently stroked her lips, finally releasing his hand. He clenched his teeth secretly.

Helena fluttered her eyelashes, hiding her eyes as she stuttered.

“I, that’s, that’s…”

Words to make her smile? To feel joy?

‘Has there ever been someone to say such words to me?’

She wanted to say it was impossible, but the words wouldn’t come out easily.

After a few more shifts in her gaze, she changed her words.

“It’s hard right now.”

Her thin shoulders sank slightly with her exhale.

Ian, having quickly composed himself, moved on to the next clothes rack. Pretending to be calm seemed as easy for him as blinking.

He picked a black dress with crimson accents and handed it to the clerk, then casually chose some clothes for himself and paid for them.

Holding a large paper bag, Ian led Helena outside.

Releasing his hand from the silver-carved door handle, he curled his lips into a smile.

“Then I’ll smile for now.”

It was time to return to being a faithful anonymous knight.

He wanted to always be sincere in front of Helena, so spilling his sincerity was enough.

“I’m quite enjoying this moment.”

“……?”

“I’ll smile for you instead, so you must pay me back later. Is that acceptable?”

Ian squinted his eyes and smiled against the pouring sunlight.

However, Helena’s face showed displeasure.

She was annoyed with herself.

She almost carelessly gave away a piece of herself again. She couldn’t afford to lose even a fragment of what she had.

‘If I hadn’t met Eugene…’

The demand for a smile instead of money was absurd. Leaving all easier paths, he always chose difficult words.

Yet, Helena ultimately nodded.