It’s modest. A heart with almost no desires.

The more I contemplated that fact, the more bitter my mouth became.

The man looking at me was undoubtedly much younger than me and infatuated with a puppy love.

But that’s what stimulated my guilt.

“A confession in such a situation. Do you think it suits the occasion?”

“I believe it’s enough to express my determination.”

“Determination?”

“Starting today, I won’t leave your side.”

“Who decided that?”

“It was the Royal Knights who saved you.”

“……Royal Knights?”
The landscape felt both familiar and unfamiliar, and the reason I thought so was that this place was the royal palace.

I squinted at the pattern of the royal family I found belatedly on the wall. Of course, what I should truly be surprised about was not that.

“And, from today, I am a member of the Royal Knights.”

“A member of the Royal Knights? You?”

“The royal family deemed this attack a threat and decided to take separate protective measures for Lady Countess Crayton. From now on, a Royal Knight will accompany Lady Countess Crayton as a guard.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Of course, it would have been impossible alone. However, I am not alone.”

Seeing Cheshire smirk so much that his fangs were visible, a realization struck me.

The man who sent Cheshire here without my knowledge.

“The one wanting to protect you is not just me.”

“…What’s the meaning of protecting someone like me?”

“That would depend on each person’s perspective.”

“…”

“As no one can fill the void left by Merial for you, for me as well. In the end, it is not for you but for the decision I made for the temple that I am here.”

His eyes, filled with unwavering conviction, don’t waver. That was frightening.

“Even if I say this, your perspective won’t change. But that’s the same for me.”

“…”

“Just as you judged according to your position, I will do the same. I will protect you, who does not spare your own body.”

“…I’m not the person you used to think I was.”

“That doesn’t matter. And as I mentioned before, I am willing to be used in any way.”

That wouldn’t be good.

I tried to object, but Cheshire spoke faster than I did.

“And what I haven’t mentioned is that, regardless of what you used to think, at least from my perspective, you haven’t changed. If you had changed, you wouldn’t have said such harsh words to me.”

“…”

“If you were going to use me, you should have pacified me instead of speaking harshly. Even if you try to be cruel and harsh, it won’t work. However, whatever appearance you show, the you I see has always been the same.”

I couldn’t understand what he meant by saying that I hadn’t changed, but at least Cheshire’s eyes, saying so, were firm.

“I am younger than you, and I am not a noble. Thanks to that, I knew from the beginning that I am a tree you can’t even look up to. I folded it hundreds, if not thousands, of times more. Still, I had no choice but to be like this.”

“…”

“Because you were a person who had no choice but to be like that. You were always a good person.”

“I’m not a good person; you just want to see me that way.”

Although I turned my head because I couldn’t bear his direct gaze anymore, I couldn’t ignore the stinging sensation of his piercing gaze.

“Well, what can I say? In the end, even that is my choice.”

“…”
“As you contemplate the end, I am in a position where I do not want to accept that. Therefore, this will be my first and last action against your opinion.”

“…”

“And, although I shouldn’t say this in front of you, I also do not know what kind of child Merial is. I only think that she would want what I want.”

What Merial wants.

Even though I clearly knew the answer, I pretended not to know and covered my face with both hands.

I knew better than anyone that Merial wouldn’t want revenge.

But I couldn’t bring myself to agree with Cheshire’s words.

Because I didn’t have the forgiveness. For those who killed my daughter.

And for not being able to protect my daughter from them.

Unable to persuade Cheshire, I eventually decided to rest.

It was difficult to move my body, and more than anything, it was because the attackers needed more time to come to their senses, according to Cheshire.

Cheshire said that the attacker showed symptoms commonly seen in abtal addicts in the slums, and when he observed the symptoms, it seemed like the addiction had been going on for a long time.

‘I hope they come to their senses quickly so that I can get useful information.’

Although I decided to rest, I couldn’t sleep, regardless of fatigue. Since Merial’s death, I had developed a habit of letting my thoughts run wild when my body wasn’t moving.

In the end, I gave up on sleeping and got up.

Whether the poison was still poison even in small amounts, or whether it was due to the energy to detoxify it, I wanted to feel the cold wind.

However, my steps stopped before reaching the balcony. I heard the sound of the door. The tension in my body, which was on edge due to the attack, reflexively subsided as I confirmed the visitor, but it tensed again when I saw the visitor.

“…”

“…”

A silence as heavy as the descending darkness permeated.

Even though our eyes met, not one of us readily opened our mouths.

After a while, the visitor spoke first.

“I thought you were sleeping.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

I should have asked something else first, but it belatedly dawned on me in the heavy atmosphere.

Staring into the pitch-black eyes that were as colorless as the darkness, I weakly crumbled my lips.