“It’s a big event where everyone gathers. Are you really not going to attend?”

Ilarid’s face, framed by white hair, tilted to the side with a playful look in her eyes, just like when she handed over the invitation.

A sigh involuntarily escaped Lebel’s lips at the sudden situation.

Was it as if a green fairy from a fairy tale had jumped out and sprinkled a handful of magic dust? What was happening before his eyes felt as unreal as something occurring in a dream.

Only the faint weight resting on his body reminded him that this was reality.

Lebel had to resist the urge to immediately rise and kiss those green eyes.

‘Is this… my conclusion to my expectations?’

Although he could have resisted sufficiently, he willingly responded to Ilarid’s movements. Something he tried hard to suppress, yet inwardly desired. However, it was a feeling he clearly needed to let go of.

Everything according to her will.

It’s my role to pave the way.

There exists a set line. It’s just not visible to the eye.

Lebel was barely walking a tightrope. Every moment of close physical contact with Ilarid was a precarious test.

So he decided not to expect. He decided not to fully believe in the language of love that Ilarid whispered.

Extravagant expectations tend to return as massive disappointments.

‘If this heart becomes a hindrance to you…’

Although it should never happen, he hoped she wouldn’t hesitate because of an insignificant person like Lebel.

It’s enough to be this close, even if just for a moment. Isn’t it already too much to enjoy such times?

His heart ached once again. Though he tried his best not to show it, he couldn’t erase the shadow that had subtly settled between his brows.

Ilarid read the momentary distortion and gently placed her thumb on his forehead.

“Am I heavy?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why is my ‘shadow’ so slow to answer?”

The silver veil draped over Lebel clearly revealed its presence in the dark room. He reached out as if removing a screen, tucking Ilarid’s hair behind her ear.

The warmth of caressing each other had long become familiar. Starting from light playful touches, the lingering caresses gradually sparked small embers.

“I’ve already ordered all the clothes. I wrote the invitation myself. I even carefully melted the wax and perfectly stamped the seal. Are you really not coming?”

Her casually thrown words were laced with undisguised affection and mischief. Right above Lebel, a mischievous smile shone brightly.

‘…So you were such a bright person.’

If not for that tragedy, by now she would have lived an active life, laughing well and peppering it with appropriate jokes.

She would have become Empress Ilarid, a kind-hearted empress who didn’t hide her warm heart and expressed it to all.

A hard life of putting on a tough mask so as not to appear weak, not to give them even one weakness to exploit.

But the solid mask covering Ilarid’s face had already shattered before Lebel.

Lebel gently took Ilarid’s fingertips playing at the end of his chin. And as always, he lightly kissed her fingernails.

I intend to love all your emotions that you’ve hidden and struggled not to express all this time.

Even if I don’t receive them in return.

“I will obey Your Majesty the Empress’s command.”

Ilarid’s bright face filled Lebel’s entire field of vision.

It was a few hours later that the envelope sealed with the Empress’s seal was opened.

When he tried to open the letter envelope right away in the bedroom, Ilarid quickly stopped Lebel’s hand.

‘Later, read it when you get back.’

There was an inexplicable urgency in her restraint. The thick feeling at his fingertips was evidence that there was something else besides the invitation.

Maybe there’s another task she wants me to do. Lebel only thought that much of it.

The white and clear energy just rising from the horizon began to announce its presence to the world. Light suitable for reading a letter began to fill the world.

Was it just his imagination? The moment he opened the wax-sealed envelope, a familiar scent rushed in. It was the scent of the lady he had longed for so much.

No, maybe it’s because the rose garden is nearby. Lebel thought nothing of it as he took out the invitation.

The contents of the invitation were simple. Formal details like “To Your Honor” and the time and place. Lebel only imagined Ilarid’s fingertips as she wrote them down.

As Lebel had expected, there was one more sheet of paper inside the envelope. Would it be a mission written down, or other precautions?

The texture of the paper was as soft as skin. Afraid it might crumble at the touch of his fingerprints, Lebel unfolded the lady’s trace with trembling hands.

The day’s first sunlight touched Ilarid’s flowing handwriting.

My beloved Lebel.

All movement stopped. The sun leaving the horizon, the wind brushing through the trees, Lebel’s steps, and even the time draped over the world.

Beloved, my, and the name.

Lebel put down the letter for a moment. As unrefined breaths flowed out, his hands tensed. He couldn’t bring himself to read the next sentence.

What expression did Ilarid have when she wrote the word ‘love’? Did she write it down casually like a formal phrase, or… did she write it carefully, feeling a bit unfamiliar?

I erased and rewrote the opening many times. It’s my first time writing this kind of letter, especially to a man.

The word ‘first’ that Ilarid wrote sweetly enveloped the tip of his tongue. A soft energy lingered on his parched lips as well.

I’m used to writing instructions and formal greetings, but I’ve always been dishonest with my own heart.

It’s embarrassing, but maybe… I fell for you from our first meeting, which I disguised as a coincidence.

How foolish of me, approaching to recruit you first?

The feelings that started from the inevitability built up once, twice, were heavy. Lebel could feel the weight Ilarid must have felt right on the paper.

I remember the first breath you gave me.

The breath we shared, bodies pressed together in the shade of a tree.

It was the first warmth I received from a strange foreigner. That’s why it was even more special.

Although I denied it in my heart until the end, I couldn’t let it go and came this far.

Lebel began to move his body that had stopped. But his footsteps were not returning to the garrison. His footsteps, getting faster and faster, were heading towards the Empress’s palace.

When I realized that warmth had continued from the past… the lock I had put up came undone in an instant.

The wind cutting through the dawn brushed Lebel’s cheek and scattered. The light still needed a little more time to completely fill the world.

…Just as you said you’d live for me, I want to try living for you too.

At first, I tried to consider it just an immature emotion. I was so busy denying and suppressing it.

I might not be able to fully embrace you, who came into my life like a flame.

But I’ll never forget the promise to make it so you can call my name in the light, no matter what happens.

Lebel engraved the last sentence he had committed to memory. Then he kicked off the ground and ran towards his destination. Although running was familiar, his breath rose to his chin in an unusually strained manner.

Perhaps it was because his heart was beating more fiercely than usual.

My beloved accomplice.

Thank you so much for promising to walk this path with me.

With each rising breath, an indescribable emotion welled up. When he arrived in front of the Empress’s palace, uncontrollable breathing tormented his body.

The bedroom window was still open. As always, Lebel climbed up to the balcony in one breath.

He almost slipped due to his strangely trembling hands, but he didn’t mind. It would become one of the secrets he’d carry to his grave, after all.

Ilarid flickered between the white curtains.

Like the hazy figure he had once encountered in a dream.

Ilarid was still wearing her white nightgown, having just gotten out of bed. He stepped back inside, barely catching his breath.

“Lebel?”

Ilarid looked with surprised eyes at the ‘shadow’ that had returned against the light. At this time, he should have arrived at the garrison. The unfolded letter entered her startled eyes.

“…You read it.”

I thought writing would be better than speaking to convey sincerity, so I chose this method.

I thought you’d read it after returning to the garrison, but you’re quite fast. Lebel moved his steps towards the inside, piercing through Ilarid’s sheepish smile.

Before Ilarid could stop him, blue eyes bored into her. Too close, she thought, but in the gap of that thought, dry lips touched hers.

It was rough, but the sensation was too hot and fierce to forget. Due to his strong arms and hands holding her so she couldn’t push back, they naturally ended up in an entangled position.

‘Soon the maids will…’

But the flames surging over her bewilderment were too fierce to control. Ilarid decided to throw herself onto the blue flames.

Finally, between the parted lips, only silence and hurried breaths existed. Her name rang out, breaking the silence.

“Ilarid.”

Sunlight poured in like arrows through the open window. The darkness that had hung in the bedroom no longer existed.

The entire room was filled with light, and Ilarid’s name was called. A calling beyond the title of Empress. Ilarid.

“This is my answer to your letter.”

He still held her letter in one hand while caressing her small cheek with the other. Following the flow of his fingers, Ilarid’s expression wavered like fragments of reflected light.

“I love you, Ilarid.”

The dazzling declaration flooded in with the sunlight.

Does one’s vision darken when it’s filled with too much light? Even though Lebel was standing right in front of her, she couldn’t see him properly.

Ilarid closed her eyes right there. She couldn’t look at him straight on. She only called Lebel’s name with a trembling voice.

“Lebel…”

“May I… continue my reply?”

The gaze between the two was affirmative. Lebel bent down again, and Ilarid clung to him, continuing the long reply.

A knock came like lightning. Soon Lynette and Alice called for Ilarid. With the sound of “Your Majesty the Empress,” the door clicked open.

The maids’ view included the wide-open window, the fluttering curtains, and the Empress’s back. No other presence was felt.

“You’re already up? But what’s the matter, your face is bright red…”

Afraid that her risen breath might be detected, Ilarid barely spoke with her head bowed low and her mouth covered.

“Because of the… window…”

“The window? Is there something outside?”

Since it was morning and the shadow had already left, there was no one to come in through the window. Alice tilted her head and approached the balcony.

Only the everyday scene of the sun having left the horizon was in place, the outside view was just peaceful.

Ilarid quietly touched her lips. Only a small warmth remained where Lebel had left.

Is this what it feels like when someone’s world fills with light? It was a tremendous event that would affect today’s work in many ways.

**

Awen Jahar opened his eyes groggily in the special suite of Hotel Wenley. Light leaked in a straight line through the slightly opened window. As if he really didn’t want to get up, a low sigh escaped his lips.

“I wonder how far our brother Lindein has come?”

Awen barely lifted his head buried in the pillow and muttered. Then he picked up a red hair that had fallen on the white bedding.

Soon, as if a wick was burning down, fire suddenly caught. Small sparks enveloped his fingers, spinning round and round.

The flames, which had been bustling about as if given life, gradually subsided. They lingered around Awen’s ear as if whispering, then disappeared leaving only small soot marks.

“Today, or tomorrow.”

He carefully lifted and cleaned up the soot at his bedside. The manager here is quite picky, you know.

If you’re fooled by his smiling face, it’s perfect for ruining your life. He chuckled as he loosely tied his long hair with a hair tie and then drew the curtains.

After the Eastern Continent’s envoy arrived in the capital, they planned to formally set up trades with the capital’s merchant groups. Hearing that the owner of the Jahar merchant group had entered the capital, there would probably be many people lurking around the hotel cafe or lobby.

“Until then, I should stay put as quietly as possible.”

There was also brother’s caution. On the surface, we came in for full-scale trade with the Western Continent, but we have a different agenda. The corners of Awen’s mouth curved into a diagonal line as he looked out the window.