Feeling overwhelmed just by looking, Vienne wiped away the tears streaming down her face. Upon spotting the approaching Kairon, she was taken aback, quickly standing up.

“G-Grand Duke…!”

“How is the Grand Duchess?”

“Fortunately, her fever has subsided. She’s currently taking antibiotics and painkillers and has fallen asleep.”

In addition to the injuries from the area where she was struck by the 2nd Prince, Idel, who had personally stabbed her thigh, had developed an infection. Throughout the night, her body had been boiling with fever, but now she was finally peacefully asleep as the fever subsided.

“Good job. Take a short break outside.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Vienne deeply bowed her head and left the room.

“…Idel…”

Only Idel and Kairon remained. The unyielding poker face that Kairon had maintained all along crumbled entirely. As if recalling the memories of that time whenever he saw the scars remaining on her body, an uncontrollable rage surged from deep within him, distorting his features.

Save, save me! I didn’t do this because I wanted to! E-Everything… is a plot by my mother and brother!

I see. Soon, they’ll follow you. Go ahead first without worries.

At the moment when Kairon, infuriated by the disgusting face of the 2nd Prince selling even his own blood for his life, was about to put a bullet into him, Idel’s faint voice halted him.

Kairon… No…

Idel…!

Barely opening her eyes, she looked at him with pleading eyes filled with the meaning that summarily executing the 2nd Prince in this manner was not allowed. Seeing Idel like that, Kairon’s gaze wavered, and eventually, he lowered the gun he had been aiming at the 2nd Prince’s forehead. Only then did Idel seem relieved, closing her eyes again.

As expected, the Grand Duchess is wise! Look! At her figure embracing me…

Shut up.

When the 2nd Prince, delighted that he had staked his life, spoke without a sense of reality, Kairon, with a merciless expression, flicked him away. The 2nd Prince, thrown against the wall, groaned in pain.

Th-Thank you for sparing…

Yeah, I spared you. Because the Grand Duchess wanted it.

At Kairon’s words, a glimmer of relief appeared in the 2nd Prince’s eyes, suffocating from the lack of breath. However, soon his pupils were dyed with the light of deep despair.

Live, but dying might be better.

Ugh…!

Approaching the 2nd Prince, Kairon gripped his neck with one hand and asked, the 2nd Prince wheezing and coughing.

P-Please spare…

Sure, I’ll spare you. Because the Grand Duchess wishes it.

In Kairon’s words, a light of comfort briefly appeared in the suffocating eyes of the 2nd Prince. However, soon his eyes were colored with the light of deep despair.

Live, but dying might be better.
In front of the terrified 2nd Prince, the scene quickly turned pitch black along with tremendous pain. Even though Kairon had avenged the 2nd Prince to the extent that his life barely clung on, Kairon’s anger was still unrelenting.

‘Unforgivable…’

The one he found most unforgivable was neither the 2nd Prince who committed the act nor Empress Lisandro and 1st Prince who schemed it. It was himself, who left Idel alone in a perilous moment, and only arrived after she had exerted all her strength and struggled.

Kairon’s eyes, filled with painful intensity, turned towards the woman in front of him. His deep blue eyes, gazing at Idel, swirled intensely with emotional turmoil.

‘No one will hurt you anymore.’

Straining his backbone, the sensation coursing through his entire body was similar to when Idel was kidnapped, but something was different. Back then, he had vowed not to let those who put her in danger go unpunished, but…

‘Even if I have to stake my life… I must.’

What had changed was his determination. The urgency to keep an irreplaceable existence by his side was vividly engraved in his eyes.

If you want to protect her… Stake your life.

The words Kairon said to Rainian were, in fact, words he spoke to himself.

Holding her hand as if never letting go, Kairon slowly lowered his head. As if swearing, he gently pressed his lips onto Idel’s hand.

From the slender area where the pulse beat, he felt the familiar and warm scent of hers. Following that scent, his lips, carrying the warmth of a living body, passed over her remaining arm and the bruised cheek in turn.

Having kissed her above the long eyelashes, he recalled the radiant emerald green pupils that sparkled beneath the closed eyelids.

To me, Grand Duke is the most important.

Even though they had clearly drawn the line of their relationship, the straightforward pupils that always looked at him with unwavering affection were desperately missed in this moment. Now, he felt he could say it without hesitation while looking into those eyes.

“……Me too.”

His voice whispered softly into her ear as if reciting a poem. Unlike the serene face of hers sleeping peacefully, his face had no trace of composure and was devoid of any leisure, just like the throbbing heartbeat surging through his veins.

He wanted to convey this emotion that seemed to burst forth at any moment to her right away. As if trying to control himself, he tightened his fist and exhaled deeply with a hint of blood.

‘Not yet…’

The time for the duel was approaching. He had never let his guard down for a moment in all the battles he had participated in so far. In places where bullets rained down, one could not predict what unexpected situations might arise.

Because he had not let his guard down, he could make a preemptive move. Although he had always vowed not to let those who put her in danger go unpunished…

‘Even staking my own life… Definitely.’

If there was a reason that had arisen to come back.

“I’ll be back.”

His lips, filled with fragrant breath, descended onto her lips. His lips, which had lingered for a moment, dropped with a deep sigh filled with regret.

“Just wait a bit.”

Kairon glanced at Idel’s sleeping face one last time. Finally turning away, he reluctantly moved his unwavering steps.