“……Arasila, it was for you.”

Realizing his mistake too late at her suddenly changed expression, Frederick was silent for a moment before speaking. At that, Arasila gave a cynical scoff.

“Cut the nonsense, Frederick. Just how much have you been deceiving and manipulating me?”

Frederick only narrowed his brows, saying nothing. It was as if he was silently pressuring her, as if to say that should be enough.

Seeing that intimidating attitude reminded her of something else. The anonymous high-ranking imperial official involved in Demian’s assassination.

Could it be Frederick as well? Arasila asked in a voice closer to certainty than doubt.

“During the subjugation of monsters in the West, was it you who tried to kill Demian?”

“Arasila, you and I have known each other for 7 years. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?”

“Don’t change the subject. Answer me straight.”

Arasila leaned forward, speaking in a firm tone.

At that, all expression disappeared from Frederick’s face. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his chin and looked down at Arasila arrogantly.

“How rude, Lady Vandermir. Are you daring to accuse the Crown Prince of being a criminal without evidence?”

“……Your Highness’s attitude is proof enough. You’re the type to clearly say no when it’s not true.”

Frederick neither denied nor confirmed. Looking at him with a strange expression, Arasila spoke in a cracked voice.

“I still believed in you.”

Because you were the friend who helped me even in the prophetic dream where my sister died.

So even when Frederick showed strange behavior, she only kept her distance, not cutting ties immediately. She believed that this was just temporary, and he would return to normal someday.

He was a true friend who readily extended a helping hand when she was in trouble, so she didn’t want to easily push him away either.

But it wasn’t so. Frederick had pretended friendship to fulfill his selfish desires, toying with her under the guise of being a friend.

While pretending to respect Arasila, he actually interpreted and judged her words as he pleased, trying to lead her according to his own wishes.

Realizing this fact, Arasila felt a sense of betrayal that cut to the bone.

Thinking that all those moments when she had been sincere as a friend were lies to Frederick, she felt her heart grow cold.

Not even a shred of lingering attachment or affection remained.

“Our relationship ends here.”

“Arasila, are you throwing away a friend because of that man? Why, now that you’re married, has a man become more important than your dreams?”

Frederick persistently blamed Arasila until the very end. With her eyes reddened, Arasila glared at him and said.

“You’re showing your true colors completely. Is this your real self?”

“You vaguely felt that I liked you, didn’t you? Did you really think the favors I showed only to you were without any expectation of return?”

“Yes, just as the favors I showed you were.”

Arasila stood up abruptly, bowing her head politely towards him.

“I’ll be going now, Your Highness. From now on, we won’t be meeting alone.”

It was a courtesy she rarely showed even at official events.

For a long time, the two had been friends who didn’t need to stand on ceremony.

“I didn’t say you could leave.”

Despite saying so, Arasila paid no heed and turned around. Glaring at her as she left on her own accord, Frederick said in a loud voice.

“You’ll regret this, Arasila! I’m the one working to ensure you’re not punished for harming a member of the imperial family! Without me, you’ll be punished!”

“You don’t need to do that anymore.”

Arasila, who had already reached the door and placed her hand on the doorknob, retorted coldly. Frederick bit his lip hard.

“Don’t be ridiculous…… You’re destined to come back to me someday, Arasila. The fate between us can’t end like this.”

“No, Frederick. That won’t happen.”

Arasila said, still with her back turned.

“We’ll never go back to how we were before.”

Those were her final words. As soon as the door closed, the two were completely cut off.

And so, the friendship between them came to an end.

Forever.

The carriage returning to the mansion suddenly changed direction. Lost in thought, Arasila didn’t notice this fact.

Only when the carriage stopped did she realize they had arrived at a strange place.

“What’s this, why did we come here? I’m sure I said to go home…”

As Arasila opened the window to scold the coachman, a gentle voice stopped her.

“I gave the instructions. Please don’t be angry.”

Arasila turned her head to look in the direction of the voice. Demian was standing in front of the window, smiling faintly.

The autumn sunlight shattered brilliantly on his silver hair and golden eyes.

“……Demian?”

“I ordered the coachman to come here instead of home when your business was finished.”

Blue eyes blinked slowly. At her expression that seemed to ask why, Demian smiled widely and said.

“Winter is coming soon. When it gets cold, it will be hard to go out, so I want to enjoy the late autumn streets with you now while we can.”

He pointed with his finger to the walking path connected to the park. Half of the trees planted around it had lost their leaves and were bare.

Now was indeed the perfect time to see the colorful leaves of the remaining trees before they fell too.

“If that’s the case, you should have told me in advance.”

“I kept it a secret in case you might not be able to finish your business fully.”

When people know someone is waiting, they naturally become impatient. So Demian had waited silently.

So that Arasila could come out after shedding all the affection of seven years.

He reached out his hand to Arasila through the carriage window.

“Will you walk with me?”

“……Alright.”

Arasila answered with a faint smile and came out to take Demian’s hand.

The two walked slowly down the street.

Brown leaves fluttered in the cool autumn breeze. When even these leaves fall, winter will come.

This will be the fourth season the couple, married in spring, will greet together.

Demian glanced down at Arasila. The sword-shaped necklace on her neck sparkled like sunlight on a lake.

A satisfied smile secretly bloomed on his lips.

“Did you have a good conversation with His Highness?”

“Yes, we decided to cleanly cut ties.”

Arasila answered calmly, then soon frowned and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Demian. You almost died because of me. I should have been more perceptive and realized Frederick’s feelings and been wary.”

It was something that had been bothering her constantly after learning the whole truth. To think it was Frederick, not the Vandermir ducal family, who had tried to kill him.

Arasila felt guilty that the danger had originated from her.

“Don’t say that. It’s not your fault. It was His Highness the Crown Prince who tried to kill me, wasn’t it?”

Demian, who had experienced such unnecessary guilt several times before, replied firmly. He hoped Arasila wouldn’t suffer from unnecessary guilt like he had.

Moreover, he wasn’t without fault in this matter either. Thinking he should honestly confess his part as well, Demian carefully opened his mouth.

“Actually, I lied to you.”

“What lie?”

“I knew the high-ranking imperial official who ordered the Western monster subjugation operation was connected to Duke Grant, but I didn’t tell you.”

Since Duke Grant is Frederick’s blood relative, Arasila would have immediately realized who that person was upon hearing it.

If he had shared the information earlier, she might have been hurt a little less.

Acknowledging that he had been selfish, Demian bowed his head.

“I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“Ah, no. But why didn’t you tell me? Because Frederick was my friend?”

Demian hesitated and shook his head. While that was a consideration, the fundamental reason was different.

“More than that, I was afraid you might realize His Highness’s feelings because of me…… I didn’t want to be the one to make you aware of it.”

“Why? Were you anxious I might break the contract midway and go to Frederick?”

“No. I just……”

He knows Arasila isn’t that kind of person. She has a strong sense of responsibility, so even if she were to go to Frederick, she would fulfill the contract first rather than unilaterally breaking it midway.

What Demian was anxious about was not the termination of the contract, but losing Arasila.

Even if it’s a relationship destined to end someday, he didn’t want to see the end so soon.

“It felt like I finally had someone on my side after so long, so I didn’t want to lose you. I’m sorry, my lady. I only thought of myself.”

At this half-honest answer, Arasila was silent. After being lost in thought for a while, she opened her mouth and said.

“I’ll accept your apology.”

“……Really?”

“Yes, come to think of it, you didn’t exactly lie. You just didn’t mention a fact you knew.”

Probably if Arasila had vaguely sensed something and asked, Demian would have told her without hiding it. He’s not one to lie to Arasila.

Arasila grabbed Demian’s arm with a stern face, stopping him.

“But if you do it again, I won’t let it slide. Tell me everything without hiding anything. Because…… we’re husband and wife.”

Lake-blue eyes gazed at Demian clearly and transparently.

“As you said, I’m on your side, and you’re on mine.”

“……”

“People on the same side should be honest with each other.”

“You’re right.”

Demian nodded with a chuckle.

Now Arasila too recognized Demian as fully on her side.

Although their relationship started with a contract, both of them now know that this relationship is not composed entirely of lies.

They may not be a real couple, but they’re not completely fake either. An unclear but intimate feeling clearly lingered between the two.

“I’ll definitely do so next time.”

“Good.”

A bright smile spread across Arasila’s lips. The corners of Demian’s mouth also loosened.

The two naturally held hands again and continued walking.

“By the way, how will you handle the Magic Tower matter? I’ve gathered evidence to prove that Travis fellow’s crimes.”

“Thank you. I was planning to properly prepare a place for Travis within this week.”

The corners of Arasila’s mouth drew a smooth arc. She was preparing to pay back not just Travis, but the entire Magic Tower as much as she had received.

It was widely revealed that the adultery scandal between Frederick and Arasila was a rumor spread by the White viscounty.

It wasn’t Arasila who broke the news. She wanted to implicate the Grant duchy as well, but Frederick had preemptively cut ties.

The White viscounty received tremendous criticism and finger-pointing, and issued an official apology.

When public opinion still didn’t subside, the entire family decided to go down to their territory and reflect for a while.

Nora, who had just returned to high society, was naturally kicked out again. This time with her mother.

‘It’s not a very satisfying result.’

Perhaps because she knew Nora had been unwillingly used, Arasila didn’t feel a sense of triumph even when Nora was socially condemned and punished.

Arasila clicked her tongue at the newspapers that had attacked her now rushing to publish articles defending her, and lost interest.

What was important to her now was something else.

The Magic Tower, to which she had devoted a third of her life.

Even if she was called strange, even if she was pointed at as foolish. Arasila never stopped and ran only for her goal.

She had been prepared that the path she had to run for her dream wouldn’t be entirely smooth. That’s why she never regretted her choice even once.

However, she couldn’t stand having all the time she had spent be denied even for a moment because of the old-fashioned and vicious people of the Magic Tower.

Arasila wrote down words on paper one by one, conveying such feelings. Beside her sat Colin, organizing documents.

“Colin, thank you for helping.”

“It’s nothing, madam. I’m glad I could be of even a little help.”

Colin pushed up his glasses and smiled gently. Currently, he was helping Arasila on Demian’s orders.

As a capable and knowledgeable aide, he was very useful in many aspects.

“I think it would be better to apply the concept of compensation rather than reparation here.”

“Ah, I see.”

Arasila constantly discussed with Colin, revising and re-revising the words on the paper.

Finally putting the last period, she smiled contentedly and patted Colin’s shoulder.

“Good work. Thanks to you, I was able to write smoothly.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

Colin answered humbly, preparing to leave while tidying up his seat, when he suddenly asked as if he’d just remembered.

“My lady, shall I submit that document on the way for you?”

“No, I’ll go and do it myself. That way it’ll cause more of a stir.”

It would be better for Arasila to step forward herself to attract people’s attention.

She saw Colin off and immediately prepared to go out. Though modest, she was dressed elegantly, exuding an inexplicable dignity.

Getting into the carriage, she ordered the coachman.

“Go to the courthouse.”

“Yes, madam.”

The coachman drove the horses. The carriage carrying Arasila sped down the street without hesitation.

The empire was turned upside down the next day.