“You don’t have to believe me. But isn’t it the duty of the Crown Princess to prevent anything that could potentially threaten Your Highness’s safety, even if just a little?”

A look of bewilderment spread across Casius’s face.

At that moment, I realized.

Even if I went crazy, I couldn’t save Casius.

“If you have time to worry about other people’s territories, keep your father in check properly.”

“If you don’t believe me, at least send a reconnaissance team to investigate…”

“Stop this nonsense and just go back. It seems your head is hurting, not your leg.”

Indeed, it was absurd for someone from another family to know something that even Tikan, the young lord of Rosemary, didn’t know.

Especially Vivian Snowfell.

I came to my senses only when the sound of Casius’s horse hooves had faded a bit.

*

A chilly wind clawed at Casius’s cheek.

The veins on his fist gripping the reins bulged.

‘Did she think I would listen if she pulled such a ridiculous stunt? Why is she so persistently trying to prevent me from reaching the peak?’

Casius suddenly had a strange thought.

‘Is there really something hidden there that shouldn’t be discovered?’

Rationally, it didn’t make sense for a Snowfell person to have hidden something in Rosemary, but Snowfell always defied his common sense.

The more he thought about it, the faster Casius galloped.

He had no intention of giving in to anything Vivian wanted.

After a while.

The horse kept stumbling, letting out rough cries.

Just as Casius and Tikan sensed something ominous, a massive crack spread across the ground, the space shook, and arrows rained down like a shower.

Tikan quickly drew his sword to deflect them, and Casius swiftly dodged the attacks as well.

Both men had experienced such traps many times on the battlefield.

However, it was the first time they had encountered such powerful arrows, leaving both men visibly shocked.

‘Who on earth would do this in Rosemary territory?’

Casius frowned as he glared at the arrows stuck in the ground.

Noticing the arrow shafts turning black, both men spoke simultaneously.

“Poisoned arrows.”

“We must hurry and get out of here, Your Highness.”

As they gathered themselves, an arrow swiftly flew towards Casius’s back.

“Your Highness!”

Tikan’s ashen cry echoed through the air, and Casius realized it was already too late.

In that instant, his body was lifted into the air and then fell to the ground.

Casius lifted with trembling hands the slender weight that had covered his body.

The one who had shielded him was none other than Vivian Snowfell.

‘…!’

Vivian smiled faintly at Casius.

As if she was glad to be able to die in his place.

*

Casius quickly picked up Vivian and mounted his horse, heading straight for the Rosemary mansion.

The Rosemary family physician, who had quickly prepared at Tikan’s order, examined Vivian’s condition.

Casius’s gaze at the blackening arrowhead was subtle.

The healer’s diagnosis came quickly.

“Fortunately, it missed the heart. However…”

Casius pressed the hesitating healer who had lowered his head.

“However, what?”

“The poison has spread too much, it could be dangerous.”

“You mean she could die?”

“We’ve used an antidote, but tonight will be critical.”

Casius’s brow furrowed slightly at the healer’s words.

Even after he left, Casius remained motionless for a long time.

‘I never intended to owe Vivian a debt like this. Why on earth did Vivian do such a thing?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

The fact that she would put herself in danger like this.

Honestly, before Vivian jumped in, Casius had been convinced that Snowfell was behind the trap.

After all, when Rachel was being considered as Crown Princess, Snowfell was the one who most wanted to eliminate her, so it was entirely possible.

And remembering how Snowfell had been trying to do something to Rosemary until recently…

But now that the situation had turned out like this, Casius was confused.

‘If the trap was really set by Snowfell, why did Vivian try to prevent me from going up?’

There was no reason for them to advertise what they had done like this.

It would make sense for Snowfell to cover it up and pretend not to know, whether she lived or died.

However, Casius’s twisted thoughts quickly led to a distorted conclusion.

‘Well, she hasn’t conceived an heir yet, so she still needs me.’

To go this far, even risking her life, for just that one thing. It was ridiculous, but there was no more rational explanation.

And how absurd were her words about having precognition and such.

Casius’s bitter thoughts made the woman before him appear even more detestable.

“When we return to the palace, look into Vivian and Duke Diarob’s relationship.”

Tikan was momentarily surprised by the unexpected order but soon bowed his head.

“Understood.”

After that, only a quiet stillness filled the room.

Vivian’s occasional groans were the only thing that broke the silence.

Vivian, covered in cold sweat, gradually turned pale.

Being human, Casius felt a subtle emotion watching her fighting for her life in his place. But that was as far as it went.

He was even angry at himself for feeling such emotions.

‘Have you already forgotten what Snowfell did to Rachel in your past life?’

This woman is one of the Snowfell people.

‘And that’s not all.’

Vivian was the main figure who had separated him and Rachel.

Looking at Vivian writhing in pain, Casius cruelly muttered.

“You must not die now.”

Just then, with a red flag announcing a telegram, a Wolf Door knight hurriedly entered.

He reported urgently to Tikan, not even catching his breath.

*

On a quiet night when everyone had left.

A long dream began.

I am walking through a spring where cherry blossom trees are in full bloom.

As cherry blossom petals flutter down gently onto my heart.

A rough and clumsy, but warm and large hand touches mine.

I know instantly, without looking, that it belongs to Casius.

“I told you. I won’t leave you alone.”

A snow-white smile, so beautiful it seems it might crumble if touched, is on his face.

His silver hair, shining brilliantly like the Milky Way pouring down, sways gently in the spring breeze.

Behind him, our memories, shaped by magic, are rippling.

“I’m sorry. For coming late.”

After I came back in time, I was the one who didn’t approach you, Casius… Why are you apologizing?

You had to pay such a price to save me, so why are you saying such things? Then what does that make me?

But perhaps because it’s a dream, those words didn’t leave my mouth.

Before I knew it, he had naturally taken my hand.

“Got it.”

Casius smiled mischievously, holding a small cherry blossom petal in his other hand.

A pink petal that didn’t suit his large hand at all.

“They say if you catch this, your love will come true.”

I wanted to tell you even now, as you smiled so brightly holding that.

That it was all a lie. To let go of the hand holding me.

But my mouth wouldn’t move, as if cursed.

Before I knew it, Casius’s unique blue eyes were brimming with me.

And that image slowly changed to Vivian Snowfell.

It was a nightmare.

I wanted to let go of consciousness, but I couldn’t.

In the distance, Casius was waving his hand.

With a faint smile, as if telling me to hold on until the end.

Yes. I must cross this vast sea. For you who are waiting for me.

*

‘Gasp.’

As I opened my eyes, tears fell in drops and my blurry vision cleared.

Only then did the familiar ceiling fill my view.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Only when I heard the commotion did I come to my senses.

Only Marianne was visible around me. The pain in my shoulder that felt like it would tear apart throbbed in my head.

All the while, my eyes searched for only one person.

‘Casius… didn’t come?’

He wasn’t visible throughout her fuss.

I thought he would at least show his face after I took a poisoned arrow for him.

A bitter smile came out of disappointment, but I wasn’t that sad. I hadn’t expected it anyway.

Hilter, the Wolf Door’s physician who soon entered the room, examined me for a long time.

As blue energy filled my body, a comfortable feeling enveloped me.

“It seems you’ve passed the critical point now. However…”

“What is it?”

Hilter, after gauging the situation, continued speaking.

“The scar on your shoulder won’t disappear.”

As a scar on the body of the Crown Princess was inherently a big problem, Hilter kept watching my reaction.

Marianne urged Hilter several times, but nothing changed.

She even shed tears.

“Don’t cry. Someone might think I’m dead.”

I gestured to the embarrassed-looking healer as well.

“You can go out too.”

The healer, who seemed to feel guilty for not being able to heal the scar, hesitated for a moment before finally bowing and disappearing outside.

As I tried to get up, Marianne quickly approached and supported me.

“Are you alright?”

If Marianne is here, does that mean what happened today has already reached Duke Diarob’s ears?

A headache struck.

“It’s nothing.”

“How can it be nothing? You’ve been lying down for two days already.”

‘Two days? Has that much time already passed?’

Well, considering it was a poisoned arrow, it was close to a miracle that I was even able to get up like this.

“How did this happen to you?”

‘How? Has the reason for my condition not been publicly revealed yet?’

“There was just a bit of an accident.”

Seeing Marianne nod, it seemed it really hadn’t been revealed.

That was fortunate.

If this matter reached Duke Diarob’s ears, he would try to amplify the problem.

It was impossible to know what kind of impact that would have on Rosemary territory.

It seemed I needed to meet Casius first and coordinate our stories.

If I just kept my mouth shut, he would want to cover up this issue more than anyone.

But the chilly atmosphere around felt like a funeral, and something felt off.

‘Surely nothing has happened to Casius?’

“What about His Highness?”

“Ah, that…”