Natasha knew the identity of the man standing behind her. It didn’t take long to realize.

The moment he grabbed her, the moment he whispered softly in her ear, the information was inevitably etched into her mind.

“……”

She didn’t bother to answer. She didn’t turn around to confirm if the man’s identity was indeed Sieghart Asthart. She just stood frozen like a statue, silently staring ahead.

“Are you trying to drive me mad?”

Natasha didn’t answer this time either. Because she didn’t know how to respond. She couldn’t figure out the intent behind the question.

What reason did the man have to go mad because of her escape?

Ah, was it because she didn’t act according to his plan?

She should have gone back to the Asthart duchy hand in hand with Grand Duke Ksant as Sieghart had planned, but instead she threatened the Grand Duke by cutting her neck like a madwoman and ran away?

While Natasha was thinking about the fundamental issues, Sieghart growled as if urging an answer.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t be able to find you after you left me behind?”

The lowered beast-like voice burrowed into Natasha’s ears.

No, how could I have arrogantly assumed that I had completely escaped your gaze?

She had long anticipated that the great Duke Asthart would someday find her and manipulate her so pettily like this.

Every time Natasha blinked, the number of passengers boarding the ship decreased. Puff puff, the ship’s rough breath announced that departure was imminent.

“Let go of me, Your Grace.”

“……”

“If you don’t let go, I’ll bite my tongue and die.”

The vibration from the other’s body transmitted to Natasha’s back. The closely attached body squirmed and finally the arm caging Natasha’s chest was withdrawn.

Thanks to this, she no longer needed to mention how lightly she regarded death and how much sincerity was contained in her words just now.

“Don’t chase after me anymore. The moment you appear in my sight again……”

“How cruel of you to casually utter words that are no different from torture.”

“What did you say?”

“Isn’t the very act of you heading to the Galonde Empire with just one knight a suicidal act? Every step you take is no different from biting your tongue every second, yet you’re telling me to stupidly just watch?”

The man’s tone was strangely off. Yet it consistently revealed a dullness as if suppressing something.

But there wasn’t enough room to block the anger that was subtly leaking out, and shallow anger was being expressed towards Natasha.

“I told you, I’ll give you everything, just stay by my side.”

It was an attitude of being uneasy about the woman trying to leave.

“If you order me to bring Letius’ heart, I’ll bring it without hesitation. I’ll reclaim your world, your kingdom, and hand it over to you. If you command me to live a life of atonement, I’ll do so.”

“……”

“If you don’t want to see my face, I’ll cut off my face, if you don’t want to hear my voice, I’ll cut out my tongue.”

The voice crying out shackled the woman’s feet. The voice resonating at the intersection of sorrow and despair scattered like a choked breath.

“So, please, Natasha.”

Don’t leave.

The mirage crossed between the two and slowly faded. Leaving a lingering impression with the detached voice once again.

For some reason, the unstable emotions she firmly believed had been scattered into the sea seemed to remain at Natasha’s feet. Even though this was the only moment to push him away and leave, her feet stupidly wouldn’t move.

‘Pull yourself together, Natasha. Please.’

The line of passengers boarding the ship across had already run out. Even the staff helping with boarding seemed about to go inside now.

If you’re foolish, there’s no answer, Natasha.

Quickly push the man away.

The inner voice urged Natasha.

Yes, she had a mission that must be accomplished. Didn’t she have to reach the Galonde Empire with Sir Dante, who had boarded the ship ahead, and meet the emperor?

Even if it was a crazy act no different from suicide, as Sieghart had said.

“Bringing Kyle’s heart and reclaiming the Charliee kingdom, he says.”

Finally, a cold voice contrary to her delicate parted lips burst out.

“Even if everything is said to return, there won’t be my people in the reclaimed land.”

“……”

“You said you’d do anything, so I’ll ask. Then, will you bring my family back to life? Sieghart.”

There was only one way to shut Sieghart’s mouth.

Mentioning Natasha’s misfortune that the man had contributed to long ago.

“Bring my family back to life like you saved me. Even if you have to sacrifice yourself, somehow.”

“……”

“Then I’ll consider forgiveness.”

The sound of the man’s breath that had been invading Natasha’s ears had been cut off at some point. He became quiet as if he had utterly forgotten even the act of breathing.

It was really time for the ship to depart. Puff puff! The ship that let out a fierce sound once again began to move gradually.

Gripping the railing, she turned around to face Sieghart for the first time.

The gently blowing wind ruffled the man’s hair wildly. The handsome face hidden by the auburn hair was slowly revealed when the wind calmed down.

The fact that Sieghart’s face, encountered after a long time, was calmly beautiful and also refined was boringly obvious.

Rather, what caught her attention was the red eyes that seemed strangely lonely. Even though they fully contained the sunset that Natasha had turned her back on, they looked like the flames were dying out instead.

Natasha opened her mouth resolutely towards it.

“Sieghart Asthart. You begged for mercy with my trust. So I’ll beg for neglect with my life.”

“……”

“This is the only atonement you can make.”

Natasha stepped back as the object approached her closely. The railing hit her back and the cold chill of the winter sea wrapped around her ankles. As if to inform that the place she would fall was a deep and cold abyss.

“The moment you chase after me, I’ll jump. I’ll fall into the deep sea where you can’t find me and disappear forever. Really.”

Then the man stopped abruptly.

Again, Natasha didn’t need to mention how sincere she was about death.

“As you said, going to the Galonde Empire with Sir Dante alone is dangerous enough to be considered a suicidal act. But whether I die, get hurt, or suffer, you don’t care and just stay still.”

“……”

“Yes, like in the past life. Act insensitively like when you reacted indifferently even as I knelt and crawled miserably at your feet. Sieghart Asthart.”

Natasha had no time to check his final expression.

Whether it was her will that led her, or because she moved hurriedly to board the departing ship, she couldn’t know. However, there was no reason to deliberate on it.

Likewise, the reason why she didn’t turn around to check Sieghart’s whereabouts after boarding the ship was also trapped in a maze.

She stopped abruptly in the corridor after entering inside. Whether the tension had eased, her two legs that had been supporting her body couldn’t properly fulfill their role. In the end, she helplessly collapsed in front of everyone.

She didn’t feel good.

On a day when she should feel the best.

She was in pain as well.

On a day when she should feel the lightest.

Sir Dante gradually revealed himself, calling Natasha’s new name, Ellis, from afar.

After discovering the woman sitting on the floor, he quickly ran over and lifted up the body that had gone limp like wet laundry.

Natasha, who entered the cabin on the ship, blankly stared at the small window in the room. Because she needed a place to throw her scattered gaze.

“Did something happen?”

After a while, Sir Dante carefully spoke up.

Natasha, who had been half out of it, finally focused on the situation. As she turned her head, she saw someone looking at her with a worried face.

Contemplating whether to announce her reunion with Sieghart, she chose to conceal it. Sir Dante, who would already be on edge, would obviously be more troubled if he knew about it.

“Sir Dante, you know. If I could have chosen an easier and simpler path by borrowing someone’s strength…”

She cleverly changed the subject. She drew Sir Dante’s attention with a new topic that wasn’t without self-interest.

“Um, that is… if I could attempt the rebellion in a more comfortable and certain way instead of sacrificing myself, would it be right to go that way? Since it could prevent the sacrifice of the knights.”

The sharp Sir Dante would easily realize that the protagonists of this story were Sieghart and Natasha.

But isn’t it better than informing him about the reunion with Sieghart?

No, perhaps Natasha deliberately brought up this strange topic because she wanted to hear the answer to that question.

And Sir Dante…

“No.”

“What we must protect with our lives is our country and you, Princess. Your sacrifice is the country’s defeat. So please proceed on the path that makes you happy, Princess. You can act selfishly.”

“…Sir Dante.”

“Our failure to protect the country that day was the beginning of all misfortunes. Your sacrifice is not needed at all to correct our mistakes.”

Sir Dante was always a kind person who only gave the words Natasha expected.

“Yes, Sir Dante. I won’t look back on the past. Let’s definitely succeed with the plan in the Galonde Empire.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Thanks to this, she too could fully organize her troubled mind.

Natasha repeatedly brainwashed herself that rejecting the man’s offer was the right thing to do.

After three days passed, the ship carrying the two finally reached the port of the Galonde Empire.