That evening, the Egelbaemot troops withdrew.

“I don’t understand.”

Ophelia frowned as she looked down at the map while sitting in a chair in the tent.

“They agreed to negotiate with me, but they’re retreating?”

Idren approached the woman who couldn’t take her mind off the problem even though it was time to sleep and said,

“They probably didn’t expect me to return, so they’ll need time to revise their plans.”

“But does it make sense for them to withdraw so easily?”

“There’s no reason why not.”

And Idren kissed his confused wife. Suddenly, he remembered advice that resolving situations with displays of affection wasn’t healthy for relationships, but he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

But the kiss didn’t seem to wash away the thoughts in Ophelia’s mind. Idren soon realized that Ophelia had been thinking of other things the entire time they were kissing. When their lips parted, it was because of what she suddenly said.

“…I didn’t expect Netepel’s servant to help the Second Princess.”

Ophelia furrowed her brow as she recalled what had happened earlier this morning.

Before dawn, the Second Princess had come to their camp. She had brought with her the servant of Netepel, whom Ophelia had seen a few times before.

She hadn’t looked into the details, but from what she heard, he had helped her cross the river.

It was unexpected that Netepel’s servant had assisted in the escape of someone his master had captured, so Ophelia had ordered him to be detained for a while.

“Everyone has two sides to them.”

Idren lifted his smart and capable wife into his arms. Ophelia wrapped her arms around his neck.

As he carried her towards the bed, Idren recalled what the old servant had said.

“It was because I failed to serve my master well that this result came about. I was only trying to make amends, even if belatedly. I had no other intentions.”

What was even more surprising was that Talia Runtalis had taken the servant’s side.

“…He’s been taking care of that bastard since he was young, so he must have been shocked by this situation.”

The woman had spoken with a hint of profanity, as if her teeth were chattering. Given the circumstances, Idren understood her to some extent.

After laying his wife on the bed, Idren stroked the silver-gray hair scattered across the pillow. Ophelia, who had been staring up at him intently, asked,

“Are you going back to the capital?”

Idren hesitated before answering.

“No, we’ll leave Edegrun empty for a while. I’ve prepared a separate entourage for you, so please go to the south for a while.”

“Why?”

“It’s my wish for my loved one to be in a safe place.”

“Then follow my wish to be with my loved one.”

That meant she wanted to stay with him.

More than anyone else, Ophelia should not be in Edegrun, so Idren kissed her cheek and urged her again.

“Don’t do that, please go to the south. I’ll come get you as soon as I sort things out in the capital.”

And after a moment of silence, he added,

“I love you.”

It wasn’t just to ease the anxious atmosphere.

Idren truly loved Ophelia. Moreover, he thought it was quite fortunate. Hadn’t such a brilliant person like Ophelia appeared in his life?

Later, when someone described his life, it was right to be grateful for the fact that they would write Ophelia’s name.

So it was right to use the will he had left for Ophelia until the end.

Even without his subjectivity, that was the right thing to do. Idren thought of the scene he had seen this morning.

To be precise, the falcon with wings spread wide, fluttering beside the Sigrasal tree.

“I brought the Leden throne to you.”

The woman whispering that looked truly lovely and amazing. At that moment, Idren once again confirmed what he had always thought. Ophelia could do anything.

She was someone who could cut through an even wider sky than the silver falcon on the blue cloth.

Idren hoped that his beloved woman would have the opportunity to spread those abilities. Life is only once, so he wished for her to live without regrets.

If I can only support such a woman, I would want for nothing more.

For that to happen, there must be nothing in Ophelia’s way, so he had secretly ordered Penrel.

“Tie this to an arrow and shoot it across the river.”

Inside was a message calling Netepel Runtalis to the royal palace.

Idren intended to meet that man, who would surely be an obstacle to his wife’s future, alone. No one else was needed. The Second Prince seemed to be able to manipulate those around him as he pleased.

However, he could only pose a physical threat to Idren himself and nothing more, so Idren planned to use that to deal with the man. Even if he himself was harmed in the process, he would endure it.

As it happened, Sigrasal Castle was said to be completely empty. Ophelia had made it so.

Ophelia probably had some plan of her own for doing so. It was surely a dangerous plan, just like his own.

But there was no reason for Ophelia to take risks when he was there. Burying his face in his wife’s neck as they embraced, Idren vowed to fulfill his duty as a husband this time.

It was then that Ophelia pushed him away.

Ophelia climbed on top of him, making him lie on his back looking at the ceiling. Idren realized that the woman’s expression had hardened fiercely.

Impatient hands pulled at his shirt strings. Idren grabbed the woman’s hands, which were unusually hasty.

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

But contrary to her words, Ophelia kissed him roughly. His lip was slightly torn by her teeth. When he finally tasted the tang of blood, Idren realized that her emotion was different from anger.

Ophelia wiped the blood from his lips after breaking the kiss. Idren furrowed his brow and said to the woman looking down at him,

“You don’t need to be anxious. Don’t you know how much I love you?”

Ophelia glared at him, then slid her arm from his chest to his shoulder. A small sigh fell onto his chest along with her body.

“I know.”

What can I do when I’m anxious because I know? Ophelia grumbled, lying on top of him. Idren embraced the woman sprawled on top of him.

“Shall we just sleep like this tonight?”

“No, I don’t want to.”

And Ophelia pushed him away. It was quite a sulky action, but since he couldn’t give her what she wanted in this situation, Idren just endured the pain in his heart.

Ophelia got off him and left the bed. Idren watched her back. Ophelia was picking up something from a corner of the room and doing something with it.

When she turned back, Idren could see what was in her hand. The woman was holding an uncorked wine bottle and a glass.

Ophelia poured the wine into the glass and took a sip as if to show him. Idren blinked at the unusual sight, for the first time since their marriage.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you drink alcohol.”

It was then that Ophelia kissed him. The wine flowed into his mouth. Idren’s eyes widened in surprise.

After making him swallow the liquid completely, Ophelia smiled. Her clear blue eyes curved beautifully.

“It’s my first time doing this too.”

The woman who whispered kissed his forehead. Idren smiled back at that unbelievably tender action that had momentarily stunned him. But soon the woman’s figure began to slowly blur.

When he opened his eyes again, Ophelia was not in his arms.

He had been shoved into a carriage heading south.

[This is the timeline separator]

The weather is gloomy.

Ophelia rested her chin on her hand as she looked down into the well.

The well, which her husband had once thrown himself into, looked pitch black. It was so dark that one couldn’t see what was inside.

Lisana said it would rain today. That old woman, who had lived twice as long as her, knew how to read the weather.

If it’s going to rain, it would be nice if it didn’t come too late. Looking into the deep, dark hole made her think that. Sigrasal Castle was a historic place, and Ophelia didn’t want it to become unusable.

Damage was unavoidable, but she hoped it would collapse only to the extent that it could be restored.

It was then that she heard footsteps. Someone who had been waiting in the distance was approaching. Ophelia raised her head and greeted her pretty childhood friend whose face was half-hidden.

“Hello, Netepel.”

“Ophelia?”

And Netepel frowned slightly.

“I was supposed to meet the Duke.”

“Yes.”

She already knew this fact. Thanks to Penrel showing her the paper Idren had written.

“Your Highness, I think you should check this.”

The loyal knight knew what choice was best for his master.

After confirming what her husband was plotting behind her back, Ophelia overturned his plan.

It was cute that he was trying to protect her, but she didn’t want to agree to it.

As she was reminiscing about the face that had been filled with bewilderment just before falling asleep, as if he had realized the situation, Netepel asked her a question.

“Where is your husband, and why did you come out?”

Idren would be in a carriage heading south by now. Ophelia wondered what he might be doing. Had he regained consciousness? She felt regret that she should have kissed him one more time before leaving.

Isn’t it a typical tradition to receive a blessing from your lover before doing something dangerous?

But even if she regretted it, Idren wasn’t here. Reminding herself once again of this well-known fact, Ophelia lowered her eyes. She tapped the well covered with red moss with her finger.

“When you said you could do anything for me, honestly, I thought it was nonsense.”

How can a person put someone else above themselves?

And Ophelia looked at him straight on. Meeting those clear blue eyes that were vivid even under the cloudy sky, Netepel furrowed his brow.

Though she was speaking to him, it seemed as if she was overlapping him with someone else in her gaze.

“But really, when you love, you can do anything.”

And Ophelia added, as if telling him not to misunderstand.

“Of course, what you said was nonsense.”

The definitive statement made him feel unpleasant. Netepel asked the woman who kept being sharp only towards him.

“Where is the Duke?”

“Why do you keep targeting him?”

Ophelia really didn’t like Netepel’s way of thinking. Anyone would dislike a damned bastard interfering in the life of a husband who knew nothing but love.

Ophelia disliked that more than Netepel being irritating in front of her.

“You should hate me. I killed you. So why do you keep bothering my husband?”

At those words that sounded almost vicious, Netepel let out a hollow laugh. Ha.

“This is why, this is why you’re like this!”

Ophelia doesn’t understand.

At first, Netepel had no interest in the Duke of Aglante. Though he was now desperate to kill him, until a few years ago, he didn’t care what was happening in the neighboring country.

But then the Duke proposed to Ophelia.

And Ophelia, how long had it been since her beloved fiancé died, and she fell for that man so quickly?

When the man who had everything also got Ophelia, Netepel could no longer stand it.

“Because you cherish that man, I want to kill the Duke.”

If she had cherished her dead fiancé to that extent, he might have tried to understand.

Dead things tend to become poignant. Moreover, Haslen Rakmata was the kind of man that people like Ophelia would like. Don’t wounded women usually love gentle men?

But the Duke of Aglante wasn’t like that. Netepel approached the woman leaning against the well and said,

“I can’t understand you.”

“What?”

“How can you have the Duke in your heart?”

He had a brain too.

Ophelia had lured him to a remote place and then attacked him. At that time, Netepel couldn’t understand why she had done such a crazy thing. There was no reason for Ophelia to hate or dislike him at that time.

But now he saw that it was all to be with the Duke of Aglante.

At that time, he had told Prince Mahanas that he would add more to the bride price if he would give Ophelia to him.

If Ophelia had known about that, it made sense that she had tried to eliminate him.

Ophelia coldly sneered at him.

“Of course you can’t understand. It’s not the kind of love you’re talking about.”

How can she be so definitive? Netepel thought that if he could, he’d like to open her head and see. He didn’t know what she was thinking with that small head to be so self-centered and dogmatic.

No, instead of just thinking about it, he could actually open it up and see. Netepel changed his mind. As he approached the woman, he said,

“Ophelia, you made me like this.”

It was even better that the Duke wasn’t here. His goal had been Ophelia from the start anyway, so he just needed to capture her and take her away. Netepel clenched his fist.

Ophelia stared at him blankly and then nodded.

“Yes.”

It was a docile agreement, but somehow it felt off. Netepel narrowed his eyes.

“If you’re trying to kill Idren because of what you believe to be that love.”

It was then that Ophelia picked up the lantern that had been placed on the edge of the well.

“Then I have no choice but to kill you, to protect my love.”

She threw the lantern she was holding onto the ground. The flames instantly shot up behind her. The circular blaze around the well meant only one thing.

It was clearly a trap that had been pre-soaked with oil.

Trapped in that snare, Netepel stared with astonished eyes at the woman who seemed about to burn along with him.

[This is the timeline separator]

Smoke was rising from the castle he had ridden to in haste. Judging by the location, it was the garden with the well.

And there was only one person who would set fire to the castle now. Idren, shocked, rushed hurriedly to the garden. And what he discovered was a huge ring of fire blazing around the well at its center.

It was obvious who had started the fire. Anyone could see it was pre-planned, so it must have been Ophelia’s doing.

Why on earth was his wife doing this? For the first time, Idren resented Ophelia’s ability to execute. With creativity and drive that were second to none, he simply couldn’t handle her with his capacity.

If it weren’t for Talia Runtalis’s help, he wouldn’t have been able to chase after her.

“This repays my debt.”

The Second Princess came to him saying she had something to say, dismissed those around, and gave him a horse. It had to be done secretly because all the royal knights were tasked with taking him south.

Idren approached the well, which was hidden by flames, calling his wife’s name.

“Ophelia!”

It was then that the woman popped out from between the rising flames.

“Idren?”

Looking closely, there was a gap in the flames. Perhaps that part was designed not to catch fire. Idren ran to her, barely holding back the tears that threatened to spill.

Ophelia, who ran towards him in return, asked,

“Why are you here?”

“And you…!”

And Idren was about to question her about what she had done. But the moment he opened his mouth, a terrible cry came from behind.

“Idren Sigrasal!”

Hearing the cry filled with killing intent and pain, Idren hurriedly hid the woman behind him. The Second Prince of Egelbaemot was coming through the flames.

With skin blackened in places, something was dripping from one eye he clutched. Idren frowned at the sight, which looked as if half his face had been badly cut.

“Why is the Second Prince like that?”

Then Ophelia raised the dagger in her hand.

“I stabbed him.”

“…I see?”

He thought she had come empty-handed, but it seemed she had thoughtfully brought a weapon.

Thinking that far, Idren realized he had almost been swept up by her again. At any other time it might not matter, but now was not the situation.

He grabbed Ophelia’s wrist and said,

“We need to talk after we get out of here.”

How could she instigate Penrel and Heizel to kidnap him?

“It was Her Majesty the Queen’s order. We will gladly accept any punishment for it.”

He still gritted his teeth thinking of the two corps commanders who spoke as if they had planned it beforehand.

“No!”

Ophelia, caught by him, struggled. Idren held her even tighter so she couldn’t escape.

“This is not the time to be stubborn!”

“No! I have to drop Netepel into that well!”

“Then I’ll do it! You get out of the castle!”

Even at this moment, Netepel Runtalis was approaching them.

Idren’s face contorted at the Second Prince who had already come very close. If he could, he wanted to carry Ophelia out and leave her outside just like this.

Then Netepel, who approached them, opened his mouth and made a bizarre sound.

[Sigrasal.]

It was a voice that sent chills down the spine.

Idren instinctively sensed what it was. It was another god.

That thing calling itself the god of Sigrasal had not spoken to him since he returned to Ophelia.

But what it had said still remained in his mind.

[Desire deceived its own believer and devoured the body…]

Was that what it meant?

Approaching with a body dripping with pus and flesh, something wearing the shell of Netepel Runtalis bent its legs.

[I have won.]

Knowing it was about to pounce on him, Idren pushed Ophelia away. Soon, the man’s hand, dropping chunks of flesh, grabbed his neck. As always when touching the Second Prince, a dirty, unpleasant feeling rose up.

[Only I, only I have gained a new body…]

Twisting the wrist of the thing muttering incomprehensible nonsense, Idren almost begged Ophelia who had tumbled a short distance away.

“Please get out of the castle!”

Ophelia seemed to understand his intention, fortunately. Idren felt relieved seeing her run off somewhere.

But that relief was short-lived as Idren realized where she was heading and shouted.

“Ophelia!”