Even with the empress, there was not a single night he went by without being with another woman, so his mother tried somehow to have a child, a means to secure her position in the imperial palace.

But the moment Karaf was born and let out a robust cry, she wailed in despair as she saw his black hair.

The last hope, the child, was not an existence that brought her glory, nor one that gave her freedom. He was nothing but a burden that only left disgrace to the empire.

With a face full of hatred, she glared at Karaf and screamed,

“You ruined my life completely! If only… if only you hadn’t been born, I would have…!”

She screamed hysterically, shaking her head.

“Those eyes are horrible. You’ll end up walking the same path as your father. There won’t be a single person who will love you in this world…!”

The moment her last words overlapped with the voice of the assassin, Karaf gasped and woke up from the nightmare.

“Heuk… Heuk…”

Holding his head, which felt like it would split open, with one hand, he breathed heavily.

Those words were buried deep in his heart like thorns, and they would never leave.

He, who had not learned to love because he was not loved by his parents, could not possibly love anyone.

“Vanessa… What happened to Vanessa? Was she found?”

Karaf, like a soulless person, frantically brushed the bed sheet where she had once lain.

But that spot was utterly devoid of warmth.

Karaf clenched his fist on the sheet.

…She left his side.

No, those damned mongrels snatched her from him.

He must get her back. He must get her back at all costs.

Karaf, like a drunkard, picked up a whole bottle of liquor from the table and gulped it down.

Numerous empty bottles were already rolling on the floor, but he could not control himself.

His hand trembled as a trickle of alcohol flowed down his throat.

Finally, he roughly set the bottle down on the table and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

His red eyes glowed like flames in the darkness, filled with rage.

“…Durran.”

At his heavy call, Durran, who had been standing guard outside the door, immediately entered the room.

“You called, Your Majesty?”

Karaf’s eyes sharpened as he spoke.

“Prepare for the operation.”

Realizing that he had made up his mind, Durran solemnly bowed his head and responded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Karaf pulled out a ring he had made for her from his bosom.

It was a unique ring, created by summoning the empire’s most exceptional ring craftsman.

He clenched the ring tightly in his hand.

He would never lose her again.

Even if she came to hate him, even if it meant pinning down a butterfly’s wings or breaking them, he would make sure she never left his side.
That was the only way to protect her, he firmly believed.

Asha, who had talked to Jackal all night and fallen asleep on the bed, suddenly woke up.

Warm sunlight was coming in through the window.

Had she unknowingly fallen asleep in bed with Jackal?

Asha was startled and jumped up, but the man who should have been lying in bed was nowhere to be seen.

Moreover, she was snugly covered with the blanket he had been using.

He must have laid her in bed after she fell asleep while tending to him, and then moved aside.

Despite being the patient, his actions were so gentle that Asha’s face turned red.

When she casually threw a thin shawl over her shoulders and went outside, she saw the Rikaions returning from an early morning hunt.

Since they had abandoned all their food while fleeing, they were going out to hunt for provisions every day.

“……Asha, sister! We caught a huge wild boar today!”

When Najee spotted Asha and cheerfully called out, waving his hand, the surrounding Rikaions simultaneously let out a wolf’s howl and cheered fervently.

It was their unique ritual for celebrating a hunt.

Asha’s eyes widened when she spotted the enormous wild boar that they were dragging behind them, bound with ropes.

Gebrave grinned and said, laughing,

“We’re going to have a wild boar party tonight to celebrate. Look forward to it, sister.”

At those words, Asha unknowingly widened her eyes, covered her mouth with her palm, and imitated the wolf’s howl.

Everyone burst out laughing at her intense reaction.

While the Rikaions were preparing the game, Asha decided to milk the goat for Jackal’s breakfast.

She found the goat in the stable and vigorously milked it with both hands, then warmed it over the fire and came outside.

Waiting for her, there was a grey horse anxiously pacing in front of the door.

It was Jackal, who had gone out for a while and was worried when he didn’t see her upon his return.

“……Jackal, sir!”

Asha ran to him with joy.

“Where have you been? I didn’t see you all morning.”

At Asha’s question, Jackal recalled the events of the previous night.

Last night, he had carried Asha, who had fallen asleep on the bed while tending to him, and laid her down on his bed.

He was about to lie down on a blanket under the bed to allow her to sleep comfortably when Asha suddenly pulled him close, and they ended up lying on the bed together.

He was momentarily flustered and lay still, frozen in shock, but Asha mumbled something in her sleep and pressed her body closer to him.

Her careless action made Jackal’s heart race so wildly that he thought it would burst out of his chest.