The lips that persistently clung together made it feel like no matter how much they collided, it was insufficient.

Every time Lacrahann initiated a kiss, Vercheria approached first, creating a unique sense of satisfaction.

Lacrahann slid his fingers through her hair.

The sensation of the soft blonde hair enveloping the skin felt pleasant.

He pulled the small head, bringing her even closer, and pressed his lips deeper.

Vercheria’s scent always reminded Lacrahann of spring.

Once, he had gone to Dernisys with his father, living in the northern region where there was only winter.

On the opposite side of the prosperous empire, there was a beautiful country preserving all four seasons.

From spring to summer, summer to autumn, and again from autumn to winter.

Just imagining that weather sometimes overwhelmed his heart.

The soft and warm weather sensation enveloping the skin came to mind.

Vercheria’s scent resembled spring.

It made flowers bloom, and from within, a refreshing sensation of fruits bursting forth.

If possible, he wanted to leisurely savor that feeling for a very long time.

Lacrahann slowly detached his lips from her.

As Vercheria, who had closed her eyes, lifted her eyelids, he saw her dreamy golden eyes halfway closed, gazing at him.

Lacrahann wiped her saliva-covered lips with his thumb.

He didn’t believe everything written in books, and he wasn’t taking her to the border area for just one reason.

“They say it doesn’t rain in just one village.”

“Just one village?”

“Yeah. People there are having a hard time because of the drought.”

Recently, she had only heard stories of the prosperity in the north, so Vercheria found it strange.

“Why is that village the only one like that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we’ll get a sense of it if we go.”

Lacrahann was curious about everything they could experience together with Vercheria.

“Yes, let’s go. We might find out when we get there.”

Vercheria also wanted to take care of the people Lacrahann hadn’t looked after, guiding him.

If they went together, all her efforts would become Lacrahann’s responsibilities.

With their respective goals, the two began to move towards the border area, descending from the tree.

The emperor’s carriage entered Lacrahann’s castle.

Following the carriage, Dylan’s horses crossed the bridge leading down from Lacrahann’s castle.

“Heuk, heuk.”

Far away, Groovy was running belatedly.

Groovy originally rode with Dylan’s horses, but today, he didn’t ride a horse because he was busy accompanying the dogs.

However, since the plan failed, the dogs were all sent back to where they belonged.

But in the meantime, the group had prepared and set off to Lacrahann’s castle.
Surprised, Groovy ran after them belatedly, but catching up with the carriage and horse’s speed proved to be too challenging.

Despite thinking that he had enjoyed many good things since coming out of the underground prison, his stamina couldn’t keep up.

Still, he had to join the group, so he ran hard.

Running and running, he had come this far.

Eventually, the door closed in front of him.

Groovy didn’t know how to request to open the door again.

“Ha, this is crazy. What should I do?”

Groovy sat down on the floor.

He had spent a lot of energy dealing with the dogs since morning, running, and not even having breakfast.

“Should I just wait for the door to open?”

The people who went in first didn’t notice that Groovy was missing, and there was no response from inside.

Groovy sat on the floor.

With his legs stretched out, he sat still. From behind, a rustling sound was heard.

Surprised, Groovy turned around, and one of the dogs he had been with just now was exposing its teeth and growling at him.

Krrr.

Groovy slightly expressed irritation towards the dog.

“Why are you growling at me even when I didn’t ask you to follow! You could’ve just stayed away.”

The dog that growled at Groovy closed its mouth.

Then it sat on the floor, attached its bottom, and washed its face.

“Amusing.”

Groovy turned his head to the other side, looking at the natural scenery visible from the castle.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and unknowingly, he stood up from his seat.

“But if I can’t get in like this, does it mean I’m not needed even if I’m not here?”

Honestly, that was the case.

If no one followed him to this extent, someone should have noticed and come out by now.

But no one looked for Groovy.

“Hmm.”

Groovy hesitated for a moment, then slowly, very slowly, began to walk in the opposite direction of the path he had taken.

Just in case someone came out of the castle and could correct it right away.

However, no one came looking for him no matter how much he walked.

Vercheria was walking through the forest with Lacrahann, as if taking a stroll.

Lacrahann wasn’t a talkative person, making him an excellent partner for organizing thoughts while walking.

Vercheria felt the need to organize everything that had happened so far in her mind.