Even after the carriage started moving, Renév and Icar remained silent for a while, sitting quietly.

“……. ”

“……. ”

Though he always thought he wanted to see her even when she was in front of him, today, Renév’s appearance captivated him even more. However, Icar made an effort not to make eye contact with Renév.

Watching her in a different look than usual felt like being with someone else, making him tense.

Therefore, the soaring heat didn’t seem to cool down easily.

‘Peace of mind…’

Icar repeated it to himself.

Yet, unable to control himself, Renév cautiously spoke.

“Your Majesty.”

Icar responded without looking at Renév.

“What is it?”

“If you’re feeling very tired… Can I help you?”

What, help?

A wry laughter burst from Icar at Renév’s suggestion.

“Ha…”

Did he think she would be pleased and happy to help him in such a difficult situation?

“Your Majesty, the words Young Ae is saying now, do you know how dangerous they are?”

Icar growled, narrowing his steady gaze. Renév nodded slightly and added with a soft voice.

“Because… you seemed to be having a hard time.”

Icar licked his dry lips.

If only he could peek into that small head to see what she was thinking right now.

‘If you’re confident, why don’t you…’

Icar forcefully suppressed the words that were about to burst out.

She probably knew nothing about Icar’s struggles to control himself, exerting all her might.

‘Can you be satisfied with just playing around? Surely, she will demand more from you?’

A gentle smile in Icar’s mind said that. Then, a malicious laugh, another small Icar, intervened.

‘Just don’t think about anything and leave it to Young Ae. It’s hard to endure right now. Right?’

Icar’s instinct and reason began to clash.

Without knowing such thoughts, Renév opened her mouth again.

“Your Majesty? Are you okay?”

Icar, with deeply furrowed brows, glanced at Renév. And at that moment, their eyes met.

Slightly raised eyes looked both cheeky and charming, like a sly cat.

The faint blush on her cheeks and the red lips looked incredibly tempting.

In the end, despite enduring, Icar’s patience snapped.

Renév opened the carriage window, letting the hot air inside dissipate.

As they entered the bustling city, the carriage’s speed gradually decreased.

She looked out into the world beyond the window.

People in the streets were moving busily, some looking at the carriage with curious eyes, and others being cautious, wondering if there was a precious person inside.
And the moment the carriage turned into the square.

“……!”

A familiar place came into view.

The place where my neck had dropped, following Patrick. As the carriage approached that place, a complex mix of emotions, like suppressed anger and sorrow, resurfaced.

The memories of the moments just before death continued to play in his mind like a short film.

‘Don’t think about it… It’s already a thing of the past.’

Renév repeatedly whispered to herself, as if brainwashing herself.

Nevertheless, the events of that day kept spinning around in her head. Ironically, she had been making constant efforts for three years not to recall that time.

Every time she recalled the events of that day, various negative emotions and self-destructive thoughts gnawed at Renév.

But it couldn’t be helped. That’s why she had deliberately buried it until now, until the opportunity for revenge presented itself.

Despite knowing that, her fingertips trembled delicately. Renév clenched her fists tightly.

“……?”

At that moment, Icar’s large and warm hand enveloped Renév’s tightly clenched fist.

Icar covered Renév’s trembling hand.

“Are you cold?”

Saying so, Icar pulled Renév towards him like a product.

Icar’s expression was indifferent, but his gaze was warm. And within that, concern for Renév was evident.

“……I’m not cold.”

“I am a bit cold.”

He embraced Renév like a teddy bear.

And he patted her back.

‘Should I confess everything to Icar as it is?’

Renév hesitated for a moment.

If she could vent all the words inside her now, she might feel refreshed for a short while.

However, these emotions were like a homework Renév had to solve.

Emotions transferred to someone else wouldn’t disappear; they tended to accumulate inside the recipient.

As she had endured well so far, it seemed better to control the emotions that had risen.

Renév leaned her face against Icar’s broad chest, focusing on her breath.

“……. ”

Quietly held in his arms, comforted by Icar’s affectionate patting on her back, the agitated emotions gradually calmed down.

Unlike when her neck had dropped, it was now infinitely peaceful and vibrant outside the busy street.

By passing through that place, the scenery outside the window showed a different place, and Renév could finally escape from the painful memories.

Her troubled breathing gradually regained stability.

“Young Ae, you’re not asleep, are you?”

Icar asked while gently stroking Renév’s lower back with his calm, low voice.