He was confident that he had vowed to give her everything, certain that this woman would surely remain by his side if he did so.

Yes, she would stay.

Perhaps only a shell would remain attached to his side.

Even if not, it didn’t matter as long as he could make it so.

However, if that kind of thing was all he craved, he wouldn’t have made the vow to give her everything in the first place.

After all, a mere shell could be obtained without much effort.

In fact, it’s quite foolish.

It’s as insane as the effort Mage Blanchet put into trying to hold onto a single word engraved on this sandy beach.

The cravat thrown far away was retrieved by Tiobe’s hand, as disheveled as his heart.

That scene is overlaid with the image of the woman saying she would disappear.

Cassian gently ran his fingers through his hair as he recalled that sight.

For the first time in his life, thirst gripped his throat.

The thought of giving up all the medicine crumbles and flows like fine sand grains rolling on the ground.

Now, there are about 60 days left until his mother’s complete recovery.

The limited time is dwindling moment by moment, like an hourglass with few sand grains left to fall.

Where is this woman’s heart sailing to? He can’t even begin to guess.

No, is he actually ignoring what he can clearly surmise?

What is he doing, holding onto an hourglass that should be shattered?

A self-deprecating laugh escapes from the corner of his mouth.

But there was still sand left, and he had no intention of shattering it.

If he had planned to end it like that, he wouldn’t have started in the first place.

With that innocent face, he whispers to the trembling woman before him.

“I’ll wait, no matter what conclusion you come to.”

“…Yes.”

“Humans don’t wait long in the face of instinct.”

“…”

“Try to hold on.”

The woman trembled slightly, as if she had heard something completely unexpected.

He feels that trembling entirely within his embrace.

“People in love hold on at times like this. They don’t let go.”

“You’re not someone who can be held onto, are you?”

“If I can be held…”

The woman’s eyes wavered in confusion, then met his and curved.

“Then I should hold on.”

The woman’s wavering eyes are fixed on him.

But how those pretty eyes in those eyelids tremble.

By the time the woman no longer needs the medicine, all preparations will be complete, and then this woman will…

Of course, she’ll take my hand.

When that time comes, I’ll make you do so.

They walk slowly along the beach like that.

Holding the woman’s hand that’s cooling to a different temperature than his own.

Looking at the horizon where the sea meets the sky, he guesses who will be the winner of this game in the remaining time.

Someone once said.

The time it takes to fall in love is like the time it takes for waves to erode.

Why is your time so slow like that?

The carriage returning to the capital from the edge of the sea they reached was utterly quiet.

Even amidst that, the woman smiled quite well and looked at him with all her might.

After getting off the carriage that stopped behind the capital, the woman proceeded through the space surrounded by tall buildings as usual.

On those steps, he pushed her down to sit on his leg.

Then he swallowed her breath as if in a frenzy.

The woman’s breath, enveloped in hot heat, is again strangely sensual in this way.

He is clearly crazy, sitting here aroused by the breath of a woman who manipulated him with that innocent face.

Ah, is that why you keep pushing me away because you’ve realized that?

So what are you going to do about it?

In the end, you chose me as your savior, and I just took that hand, so the fault lies with you, not me.

The fragile body that twisted as if flustered soon calmed down as if accepting him.

Over that, the sunset fell as if it would swallow the world.

The sky was filled with a blood-red color as if blending the colors of two people with completely different thoughts.

He didn’t let go of her until the sunset sky shed its red glow.

The man’s kiss lasted as long as an endless eternity.

The sweet yet sensual breath pierced deep into the lungs, making the whole body tingle.

Although it was just a kiss, it all caused tremors and consumed the entire body.

Is this what it feels like to be swallowed by a wave as big as a house?

Despite whispering in a gentle voice, his hands roamed roughly.

As if quenching a long-held thirst.

The occasional glances were sensually curved.

The man’s smile, which seemed to have vanished since the beach, now bore a deep red tinge of sensuality rather than gentleness.

Only the lips were touching, yet the heat was more intense than ever before.

One thing was certain.

This terrible man would be forever etched in her memory.

Whether in ashen gray or blood-stained red.

After a long while, his rough movements gradually slowed and found their place.

The body that had been bound by his hands was only able to step back after being released and finding freedom.

When she opened her closed eyes, his figure finally came into full view.

What was there was a completely disheveled libertine who was hard to believe was Blanchet’s successor.

Who could imagine that the outwardly cold successor of Blanchet actually had such a face?

Her heart was racing and her breathing irregular.

It was ridiculous to feel this way over something so minor, considering how many passionate nights she had actually spent.

It must be because of what the man said today.

The man’s words spread through her mind like paint dissolving in water.

Those words telling her to hold on while looking at her. Those words asking if she would do so if he let himself be held.

As if he would really do so, deep waves were spreading and flowing in his red eyes.

A cool breeze overlapped the space and her hair fluttered.

Watching that quietly, he gently reached out and smoothed it down.

The gentle touch was so different from just moments ago that it rather raised questions.

She thought he was angry, but was that not the case?

Afterwards, he slowly moved his steps to see her off for the last time.

As usual.

He seemed somewhat angry on the steps earlier, but what was this gentleness now?

The more she looked, the more confusing his intentions were, impossible to even guess.

As usual.

The man now held her hand again with a gentle expression.

In contrast to the rough movements from earlier, a kind and warm temperature enveloped her hand.

He only let her go when they were about to turn the last corner.

It would be natural, as people would be bustling about once they reached the main street.

In fact, kissing her there earlier was rather uncharacteristic of him.

After looking at him, who was utterly unpredictable, she bid farewell with a bright smile like a lover and hurriedly turned to leave.

She could feel his gaze stinging as it followed her from behind.

The more she felt it, the faster her steps became to escape that shadow.

Only when she entered the palace gates, where she was certain to be out of his sight, did she finally let out a long breath.

She leaned against the wall to catch her breath, trying to cool down the heated flush.

With each inhale and exhale, the man repeatedly appeared and disappeared in her mind.

On the way back to the Blanchet mansion, Cassian suddenly stopped the carriage.

Tiobe approached the window where his lord was seated.

“What’s the matter?”

Raising one hand lightly, he spoke in a languid voice.

“There’s something I need to see for a moment.”

Cassian’s gaze was fixed on a certain tall building.

The building, which appeared to be a jewelry store, stood out with its luxurious exterior even in the city center.

Among them, what caught his eye was a splendid ring sitting in the display window.

Tiobe’s gaze naturally followed to the same spot.

The ring, made in a coupling design, was using a classic sales tactic.

Ever since such a ring appeared in the ending of a popular play in the empire, that design had long been established as one for proposals.

‘But why would my lord need such a ring…?’

Such rings were only necessary when one had a fiancée.

He was currently planning to break off his engagement with Lady Fiochel.

Moreover, considering my lord’s usual disposition, a proposal ring seemed utterly out of character for him.

Of course, Tiobe knew how good a person his lord was, but that was a separate realm from the word ‘romantic’.

The lord he knew was so far removed from romance that it would be fortunate if he didn’t enter his own wedding as if going to his funeral.

No, Tiobe believed without a doubt that anyone who knew his lord would say the same.

But a ring…?

Tiobe couldn’t hide his bewilderment at his lord’s actions.

After much pondering, a new hypothesis formed in Tiobe’s mind.

‘Could it be that he intends to propose to Yuriel?’

Recalling ‘that person’ who usually made him pale, his lord didn’t seem to be a particularly affectionate person.

Perhaps Tiobe thought his assumption might be wrong.

‘Could my lord be considering that person as the mistress of the duke’s household…?’

Just as Tiobe’s reasoning was about to scatter in confusion, Cassian’s voice resonated through the space.

“Place an order with Jeweler Raneclede.”

Tiobe held his breath.

Jeweler Raneclede.

He was the most honored and prestigious among jewelers.

It meant that among noble ladies, wearing a ring crafted by him was enough to be a point of pride.

Tiobe tried to hide his surprised look and focused only on his duty.

“When you say order, specifically what do you mean?”

“For an engagement ring.”

An engagement ring… Was his prediction really correct?

However, his lord’s face was so bleak it was hard to believe he had uttered such a romantic word.

His expression was as austere as a parched desert.

‘To think a man bringing up the topic of proposal would have such a face.’

What could his lord be thinking?

Tiobe struggled to compose his dizzying thoughts, bowed his head, and retreated from his position.