“Your movements… When you received an attack you couldn’t dodge, you pressed yourself against my shoulder. It felt familiar.”

Just as I feared.

“Is there really nothing you haven’t told me?”

Trying to appear nonchalant, I replied.

“I don’t know what you mean by not telling something.”

“You’re like an onion, no matter how much I peel, there’s always more.”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

Why does he keep saying it’s nothing? That’s even scarier.

I don’t want him to find out that I saved him from the Black Insect.

Because then, things would get complicated. That fact is tied to my past.

Fortunately, Arcadia turned away.

I let out a small breath of relief when he said,

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Do you want to hear it twice?”

“…….”

“You might understand in time. Just don’t rebel. As long as it’s not that, I won’t ask anymore. My apprentice.”

“Apprentice?”

Leaving those words, Arcadia walked away without looking back.

What did he mean by ‘thanks’?

…Does he know but won’t confirm it?

‘Thank you, Arcadia.’

But an apprentice?

Oh, Arcadia. This mysterious and challenging Deputy Commander.

Walking listlessly, even a short distance felt long.

Lost in thought, I reached the spring.

Unlike my troubled mind, the spring was infinitely clear and pure.

Early spring green moss spread like a soft carpet on the rocks surrounding the spring. Tall trees from the nearly primal forest cast green shadows over the water.

It was utterly peaceful and serene.

I sat on a flat rock where the moss was sparse and dipped my bare feet into the spring.

“Sigh…”

Letting out a long breath, I finally felt alive again.

The water was cool and the air so clean it seemed to refresh my insides.

I playfully moved my feet in the water, causing tiny droplets to jump and create gentle ripples on the surface.

As the ripples settled, my reflection appeared in the water.

A young woman just reaching adulthood, with pale cheeks and rosy lips, was in the spring.

Slightly upturned, crescent-moon-like eyes with sky-blue irises and long silver eyelashes. Half of a straight, distinguished nose and a small button nose. Similarly half-revealed, neither too thin nor too plump rosy lips.

‘This is me.’

A pang of emotion hit my heart.

I scooped up the cold spring water in my hands and washed my face. Then, carefully rolling up my trousers to avoid getting them wet, I stepped into the spring, making sure no one was around.
Even if only for a moment, I wanted to shake off the dust of the south before leaving tomorrow.

I longed to wash away everything – sweat, dust, and the stains on my heart.

Removing my mask and loosening the collar of my shirt to keep it from getting wet, I bent down to submerge my head and face in the spring water.

‘My hair has grown quite long. Maybe I should tie it up…’

Ah, it feels refreshing.

After thoroughly cleaning my hair, I raised my head, and at that moment, my eyes met with those of the Grand Duke, who was awkwardly perched on a nearby tree.

“Ah!”

“Sorry!!!”

Startled, the Grand Duke hastily jumped down from the tree.

“What, what are you doing here, Your Grace?!”

Surprised, I instinctively closed the front of my shirt.

“Ah, it’s not what you think! I didn’t mean to watch. I missed the timing to come down. I saw you coming and didn’t know what to do, then it seemed rude to leave abruptly…”

Finally, I understood the situation.

“I wanted to let you know I was here before descending, but you seemed so engrossed. I thought it would be more awkward if I was caught sneaking away…”

“……?”

I understood.

The Grand Duke, usually so composed, was now awkwardly stammering excuses. It was like a cold northern wind suddenly becoming hesitant.

“I’m sorry. I was going to call out to you, but you seemed so happy entering the water. So, I didn’t.”

Our eyes met again. He averted his gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Your Grace.”

My calm voice seemed to make him look at me like a downcast puppy.

“I didn’t notice Your Grace was already here, lost in my thoughts.”

It was true.

Normally, I would have sensed his presence, but I was too preoccupied with my conversation with Arcadia and seeing my true face for the first time.

“Too relaxed, I guess.”

I felt sorry for inadvertently disturbing the Grand Duke’s rest.

“But, Your Grace, how did you know about this spring?”

He seemed a bit flustered as he replied.

“Ah, well. I enjoy walking at dusk. I found this spring while walking here the day before yesterday.”

“A walk?”

“Yes. It helps clear my head of clutter and frustration.”

His words hinted at his inner turmoil, easy to guess.

“I see… Then I did interrupt Your Grace’s respite. I am sorry.”

“That’s not the case.”

He replied slowly.

A moment of silence followed.

The setting sun cast a slanted golden light over the spring.

I watched the Grand Duke, Sion Belphegor, caught between embarrassment and confusion.

His obsidian hair fluttered in the crimson wind.

It was as if I caught a fleeting moment, something precious and rare.

With a forced cheerfulness, I spoke up.

“Your Grace, I promised to help the colonel prepare dinner soon. It’s our last night in the south, so we planned a special meal.”

“…….”

“I’ll take my leave then.”

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

The Grand Duke bent down to pick up my towel from the rock.

“Dry yourself off and take your time. You might catch a cold if you stay wet.”

He turned and left the forest before me.

Holding the towel, I watched him walk away in a daze.

The first golden hues of spring gently settled on his shoulders, unaware that the imperial flag adorned with golden lucerna would soon arrive here.

I meticulously dried my silver hair with the towel he handed me.