Nikolai arrived at the Canary Room.

He sensed that something was terribly wrong.

All the soldiers and knights were collapsed.

They were neither dead nor injured.

Empty bottles of alcohol, jerky, and biscuits were scattered on the floor.

The lock was hanging limply.

His heart sank.

“Elizabeth?”

He rushed into the room.

Elizabeth was nowhere to be found.

Her dazzling smile was gone.

Her lips that used to pout coyly were gone.

The cherry blossom scent that always drove Nikolai crazy was gone.

Everything had vanished without a trace.

‘Did she leave…?’

The floor beneath his feet seemed to sink.

He couldn’t breathe in or out.

His clenched fists trembled.

‘You’d go this far to escape from me?’

Unrestrained killing intent shot out from Nikolai’s teal eyes.

Sorrow swept over him.

The reality of being abandoned even brought on a dizzy spell.

Noticing the emperor’s anger, the captain of the knights kicked his subordinates with his boots.

“You fools! Get up this instant!”

The disoriented knights and soldiers blinked their eyes.

Glaring at their dazed faces, Nikolai muttered.

“Explain what happened.”

It was a toneless, frosty command.

The knights sprung up and straightened their posture.

The ominous aura emanating from Nikolai seemed to have sobered them up.

“We apologize, Your Majesty! Please spare our lives!”

“Where is Elizabeth?”

“Isn’t she inside? Oh no…!”

The color drained from the knights’ faces.

The captain of the knights shook his head.

It seemed to mean that their lives were now over.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the knights began to offer excuses one by one.

“Lady Elizabeth wanted alcohol. She gave us lots of gold coins and asked us to buy the best kinds of liquor.”

“We sent a servant to buy twenty bottles of top-quality alcohol. The bottles wouldn’t fit through the food hatch, so we briefly unlocked the door.”

“After tasting the alcohol, she told us to pour it all out. She said it tasted terrible. When we said it was a waste of expensive liquor, she told us to drink it…”

Unable to contain his anger, the captain of the knights raised his voice.

“You drank while on duty?! Are you out of your minds?!”

“We don’t know why we drank it either.”

“Stop spouting nonsense. Are you trying to shift blame until the end?”

The pale-faced knights glanced at Nikolai and answered.

“We apologize, but Lady Elizabeth said she would take care of the aftermath.”

“She told us to tell Your Majesty that we were simply deceived if any problems arose. Please kill us, Your Majesty!”

It was Elizabeth’s scheme from start to finish.

She had even won over the indifferent Careth to her side.

She had brought down even Nikolai with her captivating scent.

For her to seduce the knights was easier than twisting a child’s wrist.

“Your Majesty. Lady Elizabeth left a letter!”

Nikolai clenched his molars.

If he didn’t, the groan he had been holding back would escape.

−Your Majesty.

This was all my doing from beginning to end.

The maids, guard knights, soldiers, servants, liquor dealers, and others.

They were all simply used by me.

Punish me.

Please forgive the innocent ones.

It must be hard for you to understand why I had to leave like this?

I have something I must take care of outside.

I want to do it with my own hands.

I’ll explain everything to you someday.

If Your Majesty gives me the chance.

If it becomes known that I ran away, I’ll be branded a real criminal.

It will look like I fled because my crimes were discovered.

Let them believe they have won.

That’s the only way I can find a chance to strike back.

I believe Your Majesty will handle this well.

So that this escape won’t be in vain.

It’s a bit strange to say this while running away, but…

The security in the imperial palace is very lax.

Please replace the captain of the knights and reorganize the security system.

Especially for the crown prince’s palace.

Lastly, please give my regards to Franz.

Tell him to stay healthy until I return.

I’ll miss him.

Perhaps very much.

−Elizabeth

I looked back at the imperial palace from the dark forest.

The moon hanging behind the spires looked especially pale today.

Nikolai’s beautiful face would be even paler.

‘Did he read the letter? He must have been very surprised. He might never forgive me…’

The ground beneath my feet was dark.

My future was the same.

The enemy was tenacious and strong.

Suddenly, I felt cold.

Douglas draped a thick shawl over my shoulders.

“Elizabeth. Are you alright?”

“What about you, Sir Douglas? Helping a fugitive is a serious crime.”

“I simply went for a walk with a friend.”

“His Majesty will interrogate you harshly.”

“I’m rather grateful.”

“Pardon?”

“Thanks to His Majesty, I can help Elizabeth.”

Douglas smiled.

It was a smile as soft as moonlight, but with the power to drive away darkness.

Douglas lingered by my side like the moon orbiting the Earth.

He didn’t come too close.

Nor did he drift too far away.

A man who maintained an appropriate distance, waiting for me to reach out my hand.

I didn’t have the nerve to face him.

“I’m sorry for only contacting you when I’m in trouble.”

“I’m grateful that you think of me when you’re in trouble.”

“I’m taking advantage of your kindness, Sir Douglas.”

“Would it be too foolish to say I’m grateful you’re taking advantage of me?”

Douglas tilted his head.

His bright and innocent expression made me laugh without realizing it.

“Yes. That’s really foolish.”

“I hear that sometimes.”

“You seem to be enjoying this.”

“The moon is bright today, and the air is clear. I’m truly happy to be able to walk with Elizabeth on such a nice day.”

“We might as well enjoy it for a moment. The pursuit team will be after us tomorrow.”

I elbowed Douglas in the side.

For a moment, the look in Douglas’s eyes as he gazed at me heated up.

Like a boy wanting to fly beyond the moon’s shadow towards the sun.

“We’ll be together while we’re on the run, won’t we?”

“Sir Douglas.”

“I’d be happy to be your fiancé, or your friend. Or just anyone. Even if I’m nothing at all.”

“…”

“Let’s run away together. As far as we can.”

Douglas gently took my hand.

It was a careful gesture, as if handling a young baby.

I could sense hesitation mixed with fear.

But it was hot.

So hot that I couldn’t think for a moment.

Paradoxically, the reason I couldn’t push Douglas’s hand away was because of Nikolai.

‘Nikolai’s hands are much thicker and rougher. He often grips so tightly it hurts.’

Even at this moment, I was thinking of Nikolai.

I was dwelling on his hands, his body heat, his scent.

Knowing it would hurt both men, I still couldn’t control my heart that kept leaning towards him.

Me, using Douglas as needed.

Douglas, helping me silently.

Nikolai, swallowing the anger rising from my empty space.

How did we three end up like this?

What if I gave up on Nikolai?

What if I took Douglas’s outstretched hand?

Wouldn’t everything be neatly and cleanly resolved?

Why is the heart so uncontrollable?

What is affection?

What is love?

Why do we ignore the straight path and seek out the rough trail?

“Is it because of His Majesty?”

The smile on Douglas’s lips remained the same.

That made his loneliness stand out even more.

It struck my heart, not my conscience.

An inexplicable heat spread through my chest.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t.

“Elizabeth Emster will be branded a villainess. His Majesty will be praised as a just emperor who doesn’t even spare his lover.”

“I escaped because I was frustrated. I want to catch those who are framing me myself.”

“Not to protect His Majesty?”

“Sir Douglas, you think too highly of me. It’s embarrassing.”

“Elizabeth has many secrets. It’s sad.”

I quickly looked up at the word ‘secrets’.

Douglas’s brown eyes were still deep and gentle.

I didn’t miss the unfamiliar heat in those eyes.

‘Has he noticed something? He knows the original Elizabeth best, after all. He might have heard about me from Claudia.’

Douglas was the first person to accept me as ‘Elizabeth’.

He was also the person who supported me with unchanging affection.

There were times when he was annoying and uncomfortable.

But without Douglas, it would have taken many times more time and effort to adapt to this world.

Thinking that Douglas might suspect me, a feeling of pitiful loneliness washed over me.

This too must be a selfish feeling.

Douglas spoke to me as I lowered my gaze to my feet.

“But I like Elizabeth’s secrets too.”

“Sir Douglas?”

“Whatever secrets they may be. Elizabeth is just Elizabeth.”

Suddenly, my eyes grew hot.

A warm breath rising up to my throat.

Did he know about the knot that I couldn’t tell anyone about, that was so cold and painful?

And the desire to lean into his embrace at this moment.

‘I wanted to meet a man who would understand and cherish everything about me. I wanted to spend my life with such a man. Douglas is the man I dreamed of, so why do I miss Nikolai so desperately?’

A man who doesn’t even know he’s arrogant.

A man whose actions are unpredictable.

A man who always makes me anxious because of that.

A man who hurts me.

Why does it have to be him?

My heart ached at how foolish I was being.

“Let’s go. The pursuit team might already be on the move.”

Once again, I pushed Douglas away.

Douglas already knew.

Otherwise, he couldn’t wear this fragile smile that seemed about to break.

“Don’t worry, Elizabeth. By now, that person must have started moving too.”