“But why do you kidnap handsome men specifically?”

At Ren’s sudden question, Vivian let out an embarrassed laugh.

“It’s a bit shameful given the method, but… Actually, I’m looking for someone.”

Why use kidnapping as a means to find someone?

Ren was curious, but decided not to ask further.

If Vivian didn’t want to talk about it, he didn’t want to force an answer either.

But as if sensing his doubts, she carefully added an explanation.

“The truth is, I know the person I’m looking for is handsome, but I don’t know exactly what he looks like. So I’m holding them captive to observe their behavior.”

“Is that why you kidnapped me as well?”

“That’s right. Because Ren is handsome. Actually, you’re the first person I’ve kidnapped.”

“I’m honored, Lady Vivian.”

Until then, Ren had not known that he himself was the Callys that Vivian had been searching for.

However, the situation changed drastically when he accidentally discovered documents while cleaning Vivian’s desk.

On a paper labeled ‘For submission to the Gerald Information Guild’ were several pieces of information about ‘Callys’.

That the prince believed to have died at birth was actually alive.

That he was born with the ability to manipulate shadows, a power that only a select few of the royal family could possess.

As Ren read through the document, his heart felt like it was dropping to the pit of his stomach.

Because a special ability had manifested in him about a month or two ago.

He looked at the black masses that were helping him organize the desk.

Seeing these things move according to his will despite having no precise form, his heart became heavy.

Everything matched perfectly with the description of the ‘shadow ability’ that Vivian had written down.

The more closely he examined the document, the darker his expression became.

It was an undeniable, clear fact.

That he was the person Vivian was looking for.

After pondering what to do, he decided to ask her directly.

Even thinking about it himself, it wasn’t a problem that could be easily answered.

“Lady Vivian, if you were to meet the person you’ve been looking for, what do you plan to do?”

She answered without any hesitation, as if the answer was already decided.

“Then I’ll quickly send him to where he’s supposed to go. Once he’s well-adjusted, I plan to leave this neighborhood.”

“Where he’s supposed to go? What exactly…”

“He has a kind of destiny he’s been burdened with since birth. The same goes for me. My role is to help him walk that path well.”

“…”

“You probably don’t understand what I’m saying, right? Don’t worry about it. Once I find him, I’ll take care of the rest.”

For a moment, a bitter taste spread in his mouth.

It meant that if he was discovered to be Callys, Vivian would leave him no matter what.

Having everything happen as Vivian wished was far too important to Ren.

He desperately wanted her to be as happy as the happiness she had given him.

So he clearly needed to help her fulfill that destiny, but…

Ren simply couldn’t let go of their daily life together.

The light he had finally found after nineteen years of harsh prison life.

He didn’t want to let it go for reasons he didn’t even properly understand.

‘What even is destiny in the first place.’

He had to choose. Whether to fulfill her wish or pursue his own happiness.

The anguish didn’t last long.

‘Please forgive my selfishness.’

Just a little, just a very little more.

He decided to be greedy.

Now that he had made a decision, what he had to do was clear.

First, he moved to destroy the Information Guild that might discover his identity.

He went to the headquarters of the Gerald Information Guild, destroyed the building, and took down the guild members.

In the process, the Master who was the guild leader swore loyalty to him, and thus Ren became the de facto owner of the guild.

Thanks to that, he could easily block information about Callys that would have otherwise reached Vivian.

Once he had the guild in his hands, the things he could do increased.

As the number of kidnapped handsome men grew, the search to catch the culprit became more active.

Ren used the guild to thoroughly investigate the investigators and did his utmost behind the scenes to ensure they would never think Vivian was the culprit.

He meticulously destroyed all evidence she had accidentally left behind and willingly eliminated people who could become witnesses.

As long as he wasn’t caught by her, Ren employed every means and method.

Fortunately, Vivian was simple-minded.

Despite her careless nature, she mistakenly believed it was all due to her own skill that she hadn’t been caught.

She never imagined it was Ren’s doing.

So he believed he could continue this life forever.

However, more and more people began to know that she was the handsome men kidnapper, and even friends appeared for her who had no one but him as an acquaintance.

Ren didn’t like it, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Because if he suddenly eliminated people like Ludovica or Melphis due to their deepened friendship, both Vivian and those pursuing her would find it suspicious.

In fact, the bigger reason was…

That her smiles increased as she met them.

Having seen that happy smile, Ren had to accept this situation even as his own position became precarious.

That daily life with her that he had precariously maintained…

The date he had dreamed of over and over.

Today, which should have been the most perfect…

Everything came crumbling down.

The fallen magical beast.

The small shadow masses sprawled beside it.

He wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t.

The all too obvious situation kept reminding him that this was reality.

“Wait a moment, Ren, you…”

Not knowing what to say, I just examined Ren’s face.

He wore an expression as if he had been caught doing something.

‘Could it be that he knew he was the person I was looking for and hid it?’

Such a doubt crossed my mind for a moment.

‘No. It can’t be.’

Thinking about it, I had never properly explained to Ren who I was looking for.

I had only asked him to let me know if he found any handsome men so I could kidnap them.

‘Right, he wouldn’t have known. How could Ren have known that he himself was the person I was looking for.’

I felt a little betrayed that he hadn’t revealed to me that he could control shadows, but I could understand.

The existence of the shadow ability was proof that he was royalty. He probably didn’t want to reveal his identity.

Since I had never directly told Ren that I was looking for someone with the shadow ability, it was entirely possible.

So his face being full of guilt must be because his hidden identity had been revealed.

It absolutely couldn’t be an expression he was making because he had been caught knowing he was the person I was looking for. I hope it wasn’t, please.

‘If Ren knew that and hid it from me, it would really be…’

The feeling of betrayal would be indescribably huge.

The first person I got close to after leaving the Schmidt family mansion.

The only person I had relied on and trusted the most over the long years.

There was only one such person, Ren, and surely he wouldn’t have deceived me knowing the truth.

After a long silence, I finally parted my lips.

“…Did you realize all this time that the Callys I was looking for was you?”

“…”

But Ren couldn’t answer. I grew anxious. Afraid that he had really been deceiving me all this time.

“Say something. Come on? You didn’t know either, right?”

“…”

He still gave no answer, only biting his lip.

That sight shattered the last hope I had been clinging to.

“I said speak! Why can’t you answer? You didn’t know either! You didn’t know you were Callys!”

Not knowing whether I wanted to be angry or cry, I could only shout loudly.

I cried out as if screaming. Thick teardrops were already hanging from the corners of my eyes.

Either way, I had finally met Callys whom I had been searching for so long…

Strangely, I wasn’t happy at all.

It was hard to look straight ahead.

I grabbed his shoulders and hung my head low. Then I spoke between sobs.

“Please, *hic*. Tell me it’s not true…”

The longer the silence stretched without an answer, the more strength naturally entered my hands gripping his shoulders. My arms trembled.

“…Lady Vivian.”

At the voice calling my name, I raised my head slightly.

Still not having the courage to face him directly, I only stared at his chin.

Just then, I caught sight of a small droplet rolling down his cheek.

Surprised, I quickly examined Ren’s face.

He was crying. Looking at me with eyes full of apology.

Finally, a voice flowed out between his bitten lips.

“I’m sorry. …I’m sorry.”

It was an apology, but also an admission.

Ren had known all along that he was Callys, and despite knowing I was desperately searching for him, he had pretended not to know.

An indescribable feeling of betrayal. I wanted to run away from this place.

I let go of the hands gripping his shoulders and tried to turn around and leave.

“Lady Vivian, where are you going?”

Ren urgently grabbed me, tears still not wiped away.

His eyes, which had always looked at me gently, were filled with worry.

But I didn’t care.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to talk anymore right now. I need some time. So let go.”

“But it’s late, so let me at least escort you home.”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t follow me. I’m not going home, I’m going somewhere else.”

“Where are you going at this hour…”

“If you keep holding onto me, I’ll hate you even more. Let go quickly.”

At the words that I would hate him, he was startled and immediately loosened his grip on my arm.

If he hates being hated by me this much, why did he deceive me?

“Ren, go back to the hideout. I’m going somewhere else. And just in case, don’t even think about attaching shadows to me.”

After shouting firmly, I ran away.

My heart ached as if it had been scraped with sandpaper.