Returning to the imperial palace, Valentino suddenly recalled the words Julietta had spoken, her face looking as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment.

“……I don’t want to talk with you right now, brother.”

Julietta had risen from her seat, leaving him speechless. Where had things gone wrong? How could their relationship ever return to how it once was?

No—had their relationship ever truly been good to begin with? This lingering doubt had plagued him throughout the entire carriage ride.

Perhaps he had merely mistaken patience for affection. Only now did it dawn on him that his kind younger sister might have silently endured everything, making him falsely believe they shared a close sibling bond.

Someone called out to Valentino as he entered, his blank expression betraying his inner turmoil. It was his direct superior from the Imperial Treasury Department, also part of the imperial staff.

“Valentino! You, who’s always buried in paperwork—what’s this? Taking half-leave to rush off somewhere?”

“Just briefly—I was visiting my younger sister.”

“But why do you look so… Ah. I see.”

His superior patted Valentino’s shoulder, as if understanding everything.

“You’ve been so busy lately, stuck inside the palace all the time. This must’ve been your first visit since the imperial banquet, right? Of course your sister would be upset.”

“How do you know my sister is angry?”

His superior’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were hearing something strange.

“How could you not know? She was the youngest daughter, so deeply loved in the Orbetian household. Leaving her abandoned in a duke’s mansion just because you’re busy—of course she’d feel hurt. Before marriage, she dined and talked with her family every day. Then suddenly, she’s sent alone to a completely unfamiliar place. No matter how well her husband treats her, she’ll still feel lonely.”

The words, spoken as if they were obvious, pierced Valentino’s heart like a sharp arrow. After all, he could count on one hand the times he’d shared a meal or conversation with Julietta.

Those moments were so buried in ancient memories that he could barely recall them.

“Well, even I haven’t seen my married sister in nearly two months. But then again, she lives far from the capital. At least I send letters often.”

The more Valentino listened, the heavier his gaze became. He didn’t live far from the capital.

This was the first time he’d visited the Ferhaem Dukedom. The only letter he’d ever sent was within the first month after her marriage—and that had been the last.

“What kind of love from family is this…? Have I truly neglected Julietta all this time without even noticing?”

A flood of questions swelled inside him, filling every corner of his being.

“Still, Valentino, seeing you like this… I feel like taking leave and bringing my sister her favorite desserts. She absolutely loves Schucrets—they’re only sold near this district.”

His superior’s final words scraped painfully across Valentino’s chest. Ah. How was it that he had never once deeply considered his sister’s feelings?

“……I don’t know.”

“Hm?”

“I didn’t know what food she liked, what her married life was like, or why she tried so hard to push me away. Because other matters always came first, I never even thought about her feelings.”

His sudden confession left his superior momentarily speechless.

“What?”

A bitter, self-mocking laugh slipped through his lips.

“Haha… Ha. I’m truly a fool. How can I claim to care for my sister when I don’t even know her favorite food?”

“Valentino, are you alright? You look… unwell.”

Valentino stepped back, avoiding his superior’s concerned hand, and bowed politely.

“I’m fine. I’ll go in first. Please rest and come in whenever you’re ready.”

Recognizing the clear refusal, his superior simply nodded without pressing further.

“I see……”

Valentino walked down the imperial corridor, struggling to compose his emotions, but regret rose from beneath his feet like floodwater.

Only now, like a fool, did he realize: Julietta hadn’t suddenly pushed her family away—she’d merely reached the point where her long-festering wounds finally burst open.

***

A letter arrived from Brother Valentino. More letters followed, as if all the ones delayed until now were finally being delivered at once.

I ran my fingers over the neatly folded corner of the letter.

“I simply don’t feel like reading it.”

Even when Brother Valentino had abruptly visited, he’d been in such a rush that he’d only said, “Let’s talk another time.” That alone had frightened me.

I realized there was nothing left for me in staying any longer, so I tore away my attachment and tossed it aside carelessly.

I thought I’d already shed all my tears—but my vision blurred anyway.

“……Still, wouldn’t it be so simple to just turn around once? What’s so hard about that?”

I used to think it was only natural that he wouldn’t turn back. But now I realized—how much I’ve changed.

I picked up the letter, as if to throw it away, then put it back down. Instead, I crumpled the innocent corner of the letter and shoved it into the drawer.

“I’m a fool too. In the end, I can’t even throw it away—I just keep hoarding them in my drawer.”

I had boldly told Yezar to forget about old loves, yet now I could feel my heart sinking down on its own. I slapped both cheeks sharply.

“Enough. I’m throwing away this gloomy mood!”

I wasn’t endlessly lonely anymore. Leaning against the window, I listened fondly to the loud training sounds coming from outside.

I straightened my body and instinctively strapped on the sword beside me.

***

At noon, the sun hung high in the sky. The sunlight was unbearably harsh. The training ground’s surface, soaked with summer heat, burned hot beneath our feet.

Sweat dripped steadily from the tip of my chin. The moment our well-forged blades clashed fiercely, a gust of wind stirred up.

At the same time, dust flew into my eyes. Blinking against the sting, I could still feel his breath—soft, warm puffs even in the middle of sparring.

I called out to him in protest.

“Yezar! We’re in the middle of sparring!”

“Yes, my lady. I know.”

Yezar smiled cheerfully, completely unperturbed. Then, to my surprise, he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the corner of my eye. My grip on the sword instantly weakened.

I could hear the knights watching us burst into teasing laughter.

“My lady, go ahead and swing that sword as you are!”

“Showing affection during sacred sparring? How improper!”

“Well said!”

‘This sparring is ruined.’

As I lowered my sword and rubbed my eyes, Yezar’s hand gently cupped my cheek, as light as a butterfly settling down.

Then he lowered his head, studying my eyes closely. His gaze—clear and deep like a summer sea—held mine steadily.

“Don’t rub your eyes. Just blink gently.”

I blinked rapidly, and the dust escaped along with tears. His hand gently wiped the tears away. The corners of my mouth, which had been drooping, lifted upward.

“I think I’m alright now.”

“It’s dangerous to be kind to your opponent during sparring.”

“If my opponent is you, my lady, I can endure even being struck.”

He was clearly joking—yet it sounded utterly sincere. I sheathed my sword and exhaled sharply from the heat.

‘It’s hotter than I thought.’

The sunlight was excessively harsh. I saw Ember and the other maids approaching with damp towels, handing them out.

I gladly accepted the cool towel, cooling the heat that had built up in my body. Yezar looked up at the clear sky, seeming to feel the heat too.

“We should head inside now. Your face is red—whether from the sun or something else.”

“You’ve been sweating nonstop too, Yezar. Let’s go in and rest together. The knights need a break as well.”

As if waiting for those words, a cheer erupted from the knights.

Training under a harsh commander in this scorching sun must’ve been unbearable, even without saying a word.

***

Having taken a refreshing shower, I shook off the sluggish mood from earlier that morning. Moving my body had been an excellent choice to avoid sinking into melancholy.

I was lightly tapping my still-damp hair with a towel when I heard the creak of the door opening.

It must’ve been Lopi returning—she’d gone out saying she’d forgotten something earlier.

“Lopi, would you dry my hair for me? It’s still wet.”

At my request, someone approached. But the footsteps weren’t Lopi’s usual lively, light steps—they were cautious and heavy.

‘Huh? That’s not Lopi. Then who…?’

Before I could turn my head in confusion, a man’s firm hand gently took mine. Warmth spread from his fingertips.

“May I dry your hair, my lady?”

Yezar had come to serve me personally. Flustered, I rolled my eyes.

“Y-you don’t need to do something like this!”

It was a polite refusal. But he ignored it, gently tapping my wet hair with the towel.

“It’s fine. I’ll dry it properly so you don’t catch a cold.”

Thankfully, I wasn’t wearing just a thin robe this time, so it was acceptable. Yet the sensation of his hand pressing the towel against my damp strands, his fingers occasionally tangling in my hair, strangely made my toes curl.

He cradled my head, carefully untangling a knot at the end of my hair. When his hand brushed past my ear, gently cupping and rubbing the tip as he swept my loose strands aside, I involuntarily tensed.

A peculiar sensation prickled across my entire body.

‘This isn’t good….’

Even though it was unintentional, my body’s reaction made me feel a little perverse. I stiffened deliberately, trying to suppress the warmth rising in me, and lowered my gaze.

Then he leaned closer and spoke to me.

“My lady, you smell wonderful.”

His sharp nose brushed against my delicate skin, as if savoring my natural scent.