Aiwis recalled the spirit mage who calmly accepted the sword as if he had already anticipated his own death.

“A spirit mage who stepped forward to save people, knowing he would die if he revealed his power. The Empire and the Great Temple that do not dispatch holy knights unless sincerity is shown. Which side is wicked?”

“……”

“It was also strange. If spirits created the rift, why does the power of spirits inflict terrible pain on demonic beasts? As someone who has heard about the evil power of spirit mages from a very young age, it was extremely difficult for me to solve this mystery.”

Aiwis straightened his back.

“Then I heard rumors. The forest goddess who purified the polluted forest. As fate would have it, the place where that goddess was located was in the country of the Grand Duke who possessed the flames that annihilated demonic beasts. I thought this could be dangerous. So I intercepted incoming news and sent several letters requesting a meeting with the Grand Duke and Lady Franche.”

Aiwis smiled slightly.

“It seems you burned them without even reading them though.”

“So?”

“Pardon?”

“Is that a reason for me not to kill Valde Erteun?”

“Ah, please be a little understanding. I needed to confirm exactly what Lady Franche possessed. Also, if that power was what I thought it was, I had to give a warning.”

“You don’t know your place, Lord Brede. You dare to warn the princess?”

As Floyd took a step closer, Aiwis was startled and stepped back. But Floyd did not stop and kept walking toward him.

“Listen well, Aiwis Brede. The princess does what she wants to do. No one can stop what the princess does. Whether it’s the damn Great Temple or the Empire, they cannot stop what the princess wants to do.”

A haze shimmered around Floyd. The tips of Aiwis’s hair began to singe.

“Do you understand, Brede?”

“Although the Grand Duke’s power is strong, it’s not enough to face this entire continent. The Grand Duke’s recklessness will put Lady Franche in danger as well. If the Grand Duke cherishes Lady Franche, he should exercise restraint.”

“Exercise restraint?”

Floyd twisted the corners of his mouth upwards.

“There’s no such word in my life.”

“Grand Duke. Do you really intend to turn the Empire and the Temple into enemies?”

“Anyone who blocks the princess’s path is my enemy.”

“Even if this Torkan becomes a sea of flames?”

“Have you forgotten?”

Blue flames shot up along Floyd’s arm.

“I’m the one who burns things, Aiwis Brede.”

Aiwis knew that Floyd was being very lenient with him. Though his heat warmed the air making it hard to breathe, at least the fire at his fingertips did not burn Aiwis.

But his recklessness made Aiwis’s chest feel tight.

“I did not come to fight with the Grand Duke. I don’t want to become your enemy either. I just wanted to have a brief conversation with Lady Franche…”

Boom-!

Aiwis’s voice was drowned out by the thunderous sound.

The flames Floyd shook off caused an explosion when they touched the seawater. The sprayed water created a hazy mist. The salty smell grew stronger.

In the hot mist, only Floyd’s gray eyes were clearly visible. His eyes, flashing with anger, annoyance, and irritation, were shining as if about to devour Aiwis.

“Leave quietly, Lord Brede. I don’t want to kill you too.”

+++

Although Aiwis’s disgusted gaze pierced his back, Floyd did not look back.

Yes, he would be disgusted. If Roxiana had seen this sight, she probably would have had the same look in her eyes.

Since Aiwis knew a lot about spirits, there would be much information Roxiana could find out if she talked to him. Knowing this, but feeling anxious and afraid, Floyd did not want to let them meet.

Fearing that Aiwis might take Roxiana away from here, that Roxiana might decide to rely on the Great Temple, that she might leave him.

Afraid of that, he arbitrarily snatched away and crumpled the choices laid out before Roxiana. How pathetic and nauseating.

Although he felt nauseated by his own pettiness, he had no intention of reversing his decision. Even if Roxiana’s gaze did not reach him, even if her heart was elsewhere, he wanted at least her body to be close by.

‘What a terrible person.’

Knowing he had no right to block her choices, he felt self-loathing for cowardly trying to cover her eyes and ears. He was full of greed despite being unable to love properly, unable to escape the past.

-“If Your Highness tells me to become an impudent seductress on your bed, I will become that as well.”

I should have just told her to do so then. If she had become my own seductress on my hard bed, sharing body heat with me and showing me sides of herself that others couldn’t see, if we had revealed everything to each other like that.

Then would I not be this anxious?

+++

Two spirits each took on the roles of Floyd and Aiwis, relaying the conversation between the two men. Each word flowing from the spirit playing Floyd’s role pierced Roxiana’s heart, and unable to bear it, she closed her eyes.

-“The princess does what she wants to do. No one can stop what the princess does.”

I see. So that’s what you think.

Now I am nothing, unable to even accept your heart, and yet you still think that way.

Then why don’t you just leave me alone too. Don’t show signs of worrying about me and just abandon me. If you coldly neglected me, it would be easier than this. It would be a little easier for me too.

What should be focused on was Aiwis’s remarks related to the spirit mage, but only Floyd’s words were embedded in her heart.

There were countless things to think about, but only you were stuck in this heart like a thorn.

Even after the spirits’ play ended, Roxiana remained sitting on the bedroom terrace. The sun that had been shining far away slowly set, sprinkling orange twilight before disappearing. As the sky that had been red was covered with blue darkness, starlight began to shine one by one, illuminating the darkness.

She sat there for a long time, not even noticing that her hands had become numb from the chilly wind.

Then, sensing a presence, she turned around to see Petria tending to the fire in the fireplace. Her careful actions showed consideration not to disturb Roxiana.

As Roxiana left the terrace and went inside, Petria said with a bright expression:

“Princess, shall I prepare dinner?”

Checking the wall clock, it was a bit late to eat dinner.

“It’s alright for today. Tell the chefs to rest. You should go in too, Petria.”

Petria observed Roxiana’s depressed mood, then obediently answered and left.

Roxiana looked around the bedroom reception room. Adelia flowers everywhere, on the ceiling, walls, decorations, and sofas. His heart, which had filled this room to prevent Roxiana from thinking of death, felt burdensome and lovable today.

When she left the bedroom, Robert was standing in the hallway.

“Robert, go in and rest.”

“Where are you going?”

“To the Grand Duke.”

Actually, she had no thoughts. She may have thought that if she just walked a little, her turbulent heart might calm down. But after saying it out loud, she felt it was the truth.

“To see His Grace.”

She wanted to see Floyd. Even though she had seen him just hours ago, it felt like she hadn’t met him for a very long time.

After confirming Robert’s bow, Roxiana walked down the hallway. Her steps, which were slow at first, quickened as she descended the stairs.

Not knowing what she was going to do when she met him, or what she was going to say, Roxiana just walked.

She didn’t even notice the knights on guard and passing employees greeting her. Fluttering her skirt, she passed through the arch of the Lily Palace, crossed the wide road, and turned onto the path leading to the main palace. At that moment.

He leapt into Roxiana’s eyes.

He was sitting on a bench under a large tree in front of the main palace. Sitting with his back bent, he was tearing off pieces of a large loaf of bread with his mouth, then tearing off a few more pieces to throw to the large eagle in front of him. The eagle would then raise its head and skillfully catch the pieces of bread.

At that peaceful scene, Roxiana was at a loss for words.

Floyd seemed so calm that she doubted whether she was the only one swept up in the storm of emotions.

“Since the princess came here, animals have been gathering at the Grand Duke’s Palace.”

Floyd said as he threw pieces of bread to the eagle. The eagle grabbed a large piece of bread and spread its wings to fly off. But it didn’t go far, perching on a nearby tree and looking down at the two of them while working its beak.

Floyd slowly turned his head to look at Roxiana. Only then could she see that he was not calm at all.

He looked very tired.

As if he had fought with many emotions. As if he had waged a fierce war but still couldn’t win.

“Why aren’t you sleeping.”

His attitude of worrying about Roxiana’s sleep while he himself was so tired made her heart ache.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Shall we go for a walk then?”

His behavior, exactly the same as usual, rather stabbed Roxiana’s heart.

Roxiana didn’t answer and walked over to sit at the end of the bench. Then she fixed her gaze on the spot where the eagle had just been sitting. He also took his eyes off Roxiana and stared at the same place.

Even though there was no eagle there now, the two of them did not take their eyes off that spot as if something very rare was there.

While looking straight ahead, Roxiana could sense his subtle movements. The elbows resting on his knees, his clasped hands, the tension in those hands as they tightened and relaxed.

Because Roxiana also kept tensing and relaxing her hands, she could understand what was contained in his movements.

She didn’t know before, but now she knew. Once she knew, it was so piercing that she couldn’t pretend not to know.

Not anymore.