“If you’re still tired, then let’s leave early tomorrow morning.”

The prince left the place.

A flustered Mobi asked me.

“Lady Esdel, what happened yesterday? The prince is different than usual.”

“…”

I couldn’t reply. If I raised my face from the bowl of porridge, tears seemed like they would fall.

The prince’s footsteps completely went upstairs and faded away.

‘Why are all my nerves still focused on you?’

Mobi muttered.

“Well, you were separated, so Lady Esdel wouldn’t know. Maybe he has a lot to think about since we’re going to the islands.”

The next morning, we departed for Haras.

Located at the southern end of the north, it was a place of rare greenery, as General Mobi said, but his words barely registered.

“There are many cows and sheep, so the dairy products are delicious there.”

“Mobi, is that all you think about, food?”

“Then you don’t eat. I’ll only buy for Yora.”

“I like it.”

The sun was rising over the horizon.

“Let’s go!”

The prince rode ahead.

I followed him from behind.

Throughout the ride, and even when we stopped for a break, the prince never gave me a glance.

It wasn’t that he was intentionally ignoring me; it felt like he was deliberately turning away from my existence.

‘Killing someone for someone, teaching someone to dance, saying inappropriate things just to see someone smile, wanting to live not as a prince but as a man for someone. It was all a first for me.’

And I trampled on his firsts.

The inn at Haras was small but quaint and clean.

Fortunately, there were enough rooms, so I chose a small one to enter.

Being alone, various thoughts cluttered my heart.

Thoughts I couldn’t complete last night due to sadness, bloomed in my head and settled heavily.

‘Ah… Esdel. My white butterfly.’
‘White butterfly. You definitely called it a white butterfly.’

It wasn’t just a metaphor likening me to a butterfly.

Why did you mention the existence of an assassin who doesn’t exist now and will not appear in the future?

You’re not like me, having returned to the past. You don’t remember losing everything to the white butterfly in the past.

I chuckled bitterly.

‘Esdel, you’ve gone mad. Such nonsense.’

I got up from the bed and looked out the window.

Perhaps you really thought of me as resembling a white butterfly. Then even more so, my actions would have been hard to understand.

The wide, blue plains, turned red by the sunset, stretched out a step away.

Suddenly, I remembered the moment I looked at the wild garden of the Grand Duke’s castle with him.

It was a beautiful night garden. The field of wildflowers, like a vast sea under the silver moonlight.

But what was more beautiful was his presence, the time we spent together.

‘Should I have stopped there?’

That alone was more than enough happiness.

I closed my eyes.

That’s when it happened.

The sound of horseshoes came from afar.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a knight with platinum hair riding a silver horse, coming towards me.

‘Arcadia!’

I was overwhelmed with joy and hurried outside.

“Arcadia!”

Arcadia, who had arrived in front of the inn, smiled brightly at me.

“Are you speaking informally to me now?”

“Sorry, Vice-Captain. I’m just so happy to see you.”

Then he showed a gentle smile.

“You know I’m dismissed. Just call me Arcadia.”

“Yes. Huh?”

“The Grand Duke?”

Joyfully, his first words are about the Grand Duke.

“Is he inside? Where is he?”

“General Mobi should know.”

“Why don’t you know? You’re his close aide. Have you become negligent?”

“No!”

“Haha, I’m just joking. Ah, there’s Mobi coming down.”

Mobi ran towards us.

“He’s waiting for you, Sir Nugent.”

“Ah, not even giving me a moment to breathe.”

He smiled again and followed the general into the inn. I cautiously followed Arcadia and asked.

“Do you need me for something?”

“No, I have something to discuss with His Highness alone.”

He said it with a smile, but his tone was firm.

“Understood.”

He gave a light smile and then went upstairs.

I stood blankly on the stairs, listening to the fading footsteps of Arcadia, heading towards the Grand Duke.

Suddenly, I felt envious. And scared.

‘Am I becoming distant from the Grand Duke? Is that what’s happening?’

No, I didn’t want that.

I smiled bitterly at myself.

‘Such a contradictory heart towards you.’

I slowly returned to my room.

After entering and leaning against the door, I let out a low sigh.

I thought for a long time.

‘What could they have to talk about alone?’

I was curious.

If the situation hadn’t been like this, I would’ve nonchalantly knocked on the Grand Duke’s door. But the reality that I couldn’t do so saddened me.

‘Be brave, Esdel. You can’t keep going on like this with His Highness.’

I had kissed him, and that’s how we got here. I have to be the one to untie the knot.

I stepped out of the room again.