It was two hours ago.

27 Dustin Avenue.

Logan Redford visited the dilapidated apartment, muttering the address, which wouldn’t be surprising if it collapsed right then.

At that time, he was in a very bad mood. This was because Victoria Owello kept repeating that if it was about Marien, he should ask Sidney Warden.

Logan bounded up the stairs with his long legs. And he pushed open the door with a broken doorknob and went inside.

No sense of caution at all. Clicking his tongue, Logan entered and came face to face with… Walter, who was coming out with a wet towel.

“Captain, what brings you here?”

“Sir Asner, aren’t you on duty right now?”

“Ah, there’s no one to take care of Sidney… ahem! Sir Warden at the moment.”

“Return to your post.”

Logan passed by Walter and stood in front of the half-open door. From behind, he heard Walter’s request to take good care of Sidney.

Logan Redford hesitated in front of the half-open door.

Sidney Warden.

With a brilliant mind and excellent swordsmanship, along with proper conduct and a strong sense of responsibility… everyone liked him.

As time went on, more people sought out Sidney Warden. Sidney’s response to those who clung to him uselessly was always the same.

Maintaining a proper distance with indifferent eyes and an expressionless face… no different from how he treated Logan.

Such a ruthlessly cold person.

Sidney Warden, who only showed interest when provoked with harsh words. Even that was unbearably cold, as if it were a bother… but even that was enough to make one feel alive.

It wasn’t funny at all.

That Logan Redford would obsess over and act childishly towards another man like an idiot. But this soon became an undeniable fact. Because no woman could excite him.

Until he met Marien, that woman.

His body heated up at her question. Finally, his senses and body responded.

Was it because of the alcohol? Or was it a man’s base desire? Either way, Logan Redford welcomed that excitement at the time. Even if it meant being treated as if he were trying to seduce a woman with absurd words…

“…I need to find Marien.”

Logan Redford muttered to himself as he entered the bedroom. Because Marien had proved that there was no problem with his sexual identity.

The most noticeable thing was the faded wallpaper.

An ambiguous color that made one wonder if it was originally blue or green, a wardrobe tilted from age, an old bed that looked like it belonged in a military hospital, and a window where the curtains fluttered even when closed.

Logan would bet that everything except the clothes and bedding had been left by the previous owner.

How insensitive does one have to be to use furniture and a bed that someone else had used without even knowing who?

Logan shuddered in disgust and glared at the person he had been trying hard to ignore.

Ah, I should have just left. He regretted it as soon as he saw Sidney sleeping like a corpse.

The pale face contorted in pain and covered in cold sweat, the blood clots stuck to his lips, the faint breath through dry lips devoid of moisture… it took only a moment for Logan to return to square one.

No. Not anymore.

Thump, thump, Logan walked towards the bed, denying the disturbing emotions.

Looking down at the red hair spread out on the white pillow, he thought of Marien’s luscious blonde hair.

On Sidney Warden’s haggard face devoid of blood, he superimposed Marien’s rosy cheeks flushed with pleasure.

Instead of the precarious breath that seemed about to cease at any moment, he imagined Marien’s moans of ecstasy… Logan overlaid Marien onto every aspect of Sidney Warden.

Finally, a smirk of satisfaction appeared on his face.

But as tears welled up in Sidney’s eyes, his vision blurred.

Damn it. Just as he was about to turn away.

Logan’s head turned involuntarily at Sidney’s call. He was crying with a pitiful expression.

As always, Logan sat at the head of the bed and placed his hand over Sidney’s eyes. Hot tears and sobs wet his palm.

A nightmare. The beings that torment him are mostly his father, Huey Warden, and his brother, Anthony Warden.

Sidney Warden seemed to feel some sort of guilt and debt towards them. It wasn’t a pleasant subject, nor was he particularly curious about it.

But…

Logan flinched at the words that came out like a monologue. The muffled sobs gripped him and pulled him into the swamp.

No more. Logan shook his head and withdrew his hand.

Sidney slowly opened his eyes. His drowsy green eyes took in Logan and shook violently.

The suspicious look and voice full of displeasure were all equally displeasing.

Logan was not shaken by him, and he was quite grateful for Marien, the woman who had helped him not to be.

Thanks to her, Logan was able to lift Sidney up and push him towards the bathroom.

Now he could end it. With Marien, that woman, even his shaking heart would become as solid as a rock.

Until then, Logan Redford was confident.

However, even this did not go smoothly.

For some reason, Sidney Warden tried desperately to hide Marien. Like a mother protecting her young, he pushed and pushed Logan away.

He even went so far as to deny that Logan would have come to visit him. Then what was it when he took care of Sidney every time he fell ill on the battlefield?

Logan was so dumbfounded he could barely speak.

But that anger was only momentary.

The more resentful he felt towards Sidney, the more presence Marien, that woman, gained. Beyond just a one-night stand, she became a rival to push Sidney away.

If Marien was agreeable, even marriage would be fine. Although the intention to chase away his passion for Sidney was impure, he planned to provide sufficient compensation and do his best.

Everything was perfect.

If he hadn’t seen the red mark engraved on Sidney’s nape.

Strangely, while Marien’s face was hazy, the mark he had personally made was vivid in his mind.

Why? How? Why was that on Sidney Warden’s nape?

At that time, Sidney Warden showed considerable signs of embarrassment. Even the sight of him gritting his teeth and insisting he wouldn’t answer satisfied Logan Redford.

It was like watching prey that had already been caught.

Sidney Warden and Marien. If those two were the same person? Then…

Just like when he embraced Marien from behind.

Logan lowered his face to Sidney Warden’s nape. His lips didn’t touch, but he could feel each of Sidney’s fine hairs standing up, just as Marien’s had.

The body scent, warmth, and even the feeling when embraced were all exactly the same as Marien in his memory.

Amidst the confusion, Sidney spoke as if reproaching him.

Don’t like it? Logan Redford’s eyes flew open. Along with that, the reality he didn’t want to acknowledge stood before him.

Sidney Warden.

His red hair could not become Marien’s blonde hair.

His cold green eyes could not become Marien’s blue eyes that seemed to hold the clear sky.

Above all, the damn Sidney Warden was a man.

An artifact? What if he used an artifact that changes appearance? No. He had never seen or heard of an artifact that precise.

Yet, Logan Redford decided to trust his instincts. Because all his senses were screaming that Sidney Warden was Marien.

He demanded that Sidney tell him how, where he met Marien, and what kind of relationship they had.

If he avoided this too, Logan vowed to wring Sidney Warden’s neck to escape this hell.

Looking up, Logan discovered Victoria Owello and Ernest Holden entering through the broken front door.

Logan Redford gestured for the two to shut up. And so began Sidney Warden’s story.

Sidney Warden, recalling Marien with dreamy eyes and voice, and the gentle smile that spread across his face made Logan Redford’s heart sink.

Logan, who had already lost his heart, couldn’t question Sidney Warden’s murmurs.

Because the voice mixed with gasping breaths was more charming and sweet than a siren that bewitches humans.

Sidney Warden said he met Marien a year ago. That’s right. The Crown Prince had given him the train ticket.

He said Marien entered Sidney’s compartment. And he claimed that she boldly chose Sidney Warden.

And that Sidney Warden willingly gave up his seat to such a bold Marien? How could that cold-hearted person do that?

But as if not allowing Logan Redford’s doubts… Sidney Warden chuckled and whispered.

He even nodded several times as if telling him to believe his words. Logan Redford asked questions to keep Sidney’s voice from stopping.

More, more, more whispers. As he wished, Sidney Warden’s story continued.

He seemed entranced by the lovely smile and voice whispering like a song.

That was the last. Like a candle losing strength as the wick burns out… the smile faded from Sidney Warden’s face.

No matter how many questions he poured out, Sidney Warden’s face didn’t light up again. In the end…

After uttering those words, Sidney Warden’s shoulder hit the door with a thud. Only then did Logan Redford realize what he had done.

But belated regret was meaningless.

Because Sidney Warden had already fallen into the arms of his lover, Victoria Owello. The door closed as if there was no room for Logan to interfere between them.

Logan Redford, who had been staring blankly at the door, took out his pocket watch.

8:32 PM, 2 hours and 10 minutes had passed since he came here. He put the pocket watch back in his pocket and muttered.

“Only 10 minutes have passed…”

Just then, Ernest Holden, who was coming out of the room, was startled to find Logan. Logan pushed past the blocking Ernest and entered the bedroom.

“I have something to check.”