“My face has returned.”

This is the power of the holy sword.

I could feel it without taking off my mask to check.

As the Grand Duke had comforted the 14-year-old girl called a monster, the unbroken side outside the mask was my real face.

The boy who first defeated me with a sword since I was born, he had asked.

[Why do you cover the beautiful side of your face with a mask?] [Because the broken side is my real face……] [I don’t think so. To me, the hidden side seems real. Wouldn’t it be better to live showing your beautiful face?]

The 17-year-old Grand Duke had said.

Back then, I desperately wanted to believe those words. Because I didn’t believe him.

‘You were right.’

“Where is His Grace the Grand Duke?”

I asked Arcadia again, covering my flowing tears with both hands.

“……He is gravely ill.”

“!”

I collapsed on the spot.

I clawed at the floor, unable to say anything.

Arcadia handed me Ventus’ image stone. Lewine, the head maid who had somehow entered the room, said.

“We thought we’d lost it and searched for a long time, but it was in front of the infirmary where you were. It should have recorded everything since then. It might even show the Grand Duke saving you. Watch what you want to see…… and please show us as well.”

Lewine went outside.

“Image stone. Grand Duke…… His Grace.”

Then the image stone began to glow a transparent green. It projected images onto the wall where the holy sword had been.

The Grand Duke, his arm blackened by the spreading poison, plunges the holy sword into my shoulder. The blue light of the holy sword envelops me.

The holy sword that had protected Belfast for a thousand years disappeared like that.

“Ugh…… uuuugh.”

I broke down sobbing.

Everything about the Grand Duke pierced my heart.

[This is the timeline separator]

The floor right below the holy sword room.

As I opened the bedroom door and entered, several doctors looked at me. As I approached, they were startled by my presence and stepped aside.

I saw the Grand Duke lying in bed.

His face was pale.

His shoulder exposed outside the bandages was more blackish-red than before.

I spoke to Arcadia who had followed me.

“Why didn’t you stop him! His Grace should have been…… first.”

“I wanted to save you too. My duty was to keep you breathing while His Grace waited for the holy sword’s response.”

“!”

“We couldn’t lose the first Sword Master in history.”

I collapsed by the Grand Duke’s bed.

“Don’t blame me, Esther.”

Arcadia said.

“Blame? No. I’m so sorry…… I can’t lift my head.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Please save him, Arcadia. Please save the Grand Duke.”

“I’m doing my best. The Grand Duke is my closest friend before being your lord. My desire to save him is no less than yours.”

“!”

“Fortunately, his breath has returned, look carefully. See how his chest rises and falls under the blanket? His breathing has returned.”

“!”

It was true.

I couldn’t help but shed tears again.

“It’s really hard to assist our Grand Duke, isn’t it? He’s high-maintenance. We just saved him from monsters, and now he risks his life to save you.”

“Hic……”

“Esther, will you watch over His Grace for a moment? I need to bring medicine. We must give it to him on time, or our Belfast will throw a tantrum. He couldn’t stand being hungry even as a child, our Grand Duke.”

“……Yes. Yes, Arcadia.”

Arcadia’s face contorted as if sad, as if happy, as he looked at me. Then he lowered his head.

After a while, he placed his hand on top of mine.

“Thank you, Esther.”

‘?’

I looked up at him with my tear-stained face. He was smiling at me.

Was it my imagination that tears seemed to glisten in his eyes for a moment?

“I’m looking forward to seeing your real face that has returned. But you should show it to His Grace first, right?”

He lightly patted my head and stood up.

“I need to warm up the decoction. Watch over my friend.”

“Yes.”

Arcadia closed the door that had been open as he went out.

Only the Grand Duke and I remained in the room.

‘Pull yourself together, Esther. His Grace’s well-being comes before your emotions right now.’

The Grand Duke’s bedroom I entered for the first time was a large, achromatic space.

A somehow lonely and quiet space.

The Grand Duke lay sleeping with his eyes closed on the huge bed in the center of that space.

That sight was so heartbreaking.

I’m scared. Afraid that the Northern Grand Duke might never open his eyes like this.

I approached the bed where he lay. Next to the bed was a small chair without a backrest.

I sat there. Then, very carefully, I looked at the unconscious Grand Duke’s face. As if my gaze might hurt him.

Pale face, black hair damp with cold sweat.

The beautiful and fearsome blue eyes that always gazed at me were closed and unseen.

‘I want to see them.’

Without realizing it, I placed my hand on his cheek. And carefully brushed a few strands of hair stuck to his cheek behind his ear.

My hand kept trembling, so I had to hold my breath.

“……Your Grace.”

I called to him very quietly.

Of course, there was no answer.

My body trembles.

Why…… does your face from my previous life, fading away on the execution ground, come to mind?

I did nothing for you as you were dying. Just handed you a few sips of water, that’s all.

I couldn’t even free your cold body from the iron chains.

And now I can do nothing again.

That is wretched and painful.

‘Wake up.’

“Wake up quickly, Sion Belfast. What am I supposed to do without you?”

The dirty and lowly white butterfly has staked this life on you.

‘Am I worth enough for you to give up the holy sword you’ve protected for over a thousand years?’

I spoke words in my heart that I couldn’t utter because my throat was choked up.

Carefully, I reached out and held his hand that had come out from under the blanket.

Your hand that you once extended to me was truly warm. But now, this hand is cold.

Without realizing it, I buried my face in his hand.

If I could, I want to give you my warmth.

I kissed the back of his hand.

‘This is my kiss for you. My true feelings that I may never be able to convey.’

Only now have I realized.

That I have been looking at you, Your Grace the Northern Grand Duke, for a very long time.

An unreachable being living in a different world from me, and so I missed you even more.

I respected you, and so I felt more guilty.

Having driven you to death, I dared to look at you.

The guilt somehow became longing, the longing somehow became love.

The sincere feelings offered to you by the woman who destroyed everything of yours.

‘Please wake up, Your Grace.’

That is all I wish for.

[This is the timeline separator]

I let go of the Grand Duke’s hand at the sound of someone outside the door.

It was the doctor who brought the medicine.

The doctor said that Arcadia had instructed him to ask me to keep watching over the Grand Duke’s condition.

“Sir Nugent asked us to let you stay with His Grace for about an hour. We’ve used all the medicines we can…… If there are no major crises, he’ll probably open his eyes in a few days. We’ve employed all the medical arts of the North. For you as well, Sir Knight.”

The doctor gave me a warm smile.

“Thank you, doctor.”

“You’re a patient too, Sir Knight……”

He handed me a bowl of medicinal decoction.

“You must drink this.”

I took it and drank it all. The doctor said.

“In the carriage coming to the castle, we really thought you were going to die. His Grace put his hand in your mouth to stop you from biting your tongue in pain as you were dying. Your blood mixed……. really……”

The doctor shook his head as if he was only saying it now.

After the doctor left, I kept looking at the Grand Duke.

Night fell outside the window, but I didn’t even notice the time passing.

I held his hand and buried my face in it again.

[This is the timeline separator]

How much time had passed?

I opened my eyes to the dawn light seeping into the room.

Someone seemed to have come by, as a warm fur cloak was draped over my shoulders.

I slowly raised my body. Afraid that my movement might harm the injured Grand Duke.

The blue dawn light settled on the unconscious Grand Duke’s face.

I shielded that light with my body. Afraid that this light might wake the ailing him.

Then I realized I was still holding his hand.

I looked down at his large hand.

I ended up kissing his palm once more.

‘Because it’s the last time……’

God, please forgive me.

I kissed his wrist.

I kissed the hollow where his elbow bends.

And I pressed my lips to his upper arm, his injured shoulder. Then I lifted my head to see his sleeping face.

‘!’

The Grand Duke was looking at me with his eyes open.

For a long time, we just looked at each other like that.

Finally, he spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Is this really a new assassination technique?”

“……”

Tears burst forth. I couldn’t say anything.

“You’ve come back to life, Esther. I’m glad.”

He looks at me.

When you nearly died, is that all you have to say when you open your eyes? That you’re glad I’m alive…… Is that it?

That’s when.

His right arm pulled me onto the bed.

‘Your Grace?’

He embraced me in his arms. It was a strong force that could crush me.

“Esther.”

His voice calling my name was hot.

“Your Grace?”

“……Thank you for living.”

“……Your Grace.”

My tears flowed down his forearm.

He loosened his strength and pulled me up towards his face.

“This is really…… a new assassination technique? Because it feels like my heart will burst.”

“!”

It’s my heart that feels like it will burst, Your Grace.

His right hand carefully cradled my head.

And.

His lips touched my forehead.

It was a long, long…… kiss.

Shortly after, his mouth touched my eyes, where tears were flowing.

His lips were hot.

After a moment, he said.

“Thank you, my knight. So put away your tears.”

“Your Grace.”

I couldn’t say anything but call him. I was afraid he would notice my rapid breathing.

He released me.

I got up and got off the bed. And I looked at him.

The Grand Duke said.

“Whatever you’ve been through, I won’t ask until you tell me. Instead, forget the painful memories. Black magic and such will never again entangle you from now on.”

“Your Grace.”

Stupidly, all I could say was ‘Your Grace’.

The emotions taking shape in my chest are all things that cannot be put into words.

“Your Grace.”

“I’m listening……”

“Your Grace.”

“……”

“Thank you, truly. Really…… I’ve received a debt of gratitude I can never repay in this lifetime.”

“……I should be the one saying that.”

He said.

“What have I done for Your Grace to say such things?”

I asked, getting worked up without realizing it.

“Indeed, Esther.”

Indeed?

It was a serious situation, but I almost laughed.

Then the Grand Duke gave me a smile like the cool northern wind.

Suddenly I wanted to show you what miracle you had worked in me.

“Your Grace. My face……”

Instead of words, I took off my mask.

And gathering my courage, I gazed at the Grand Duke.

Seeing my face, the Grand Duke’s eyes widened.

Then an unexpected expression.

His face became a mixture of sadness and an indecipherable emotion.