As Kasha walked out, his fingertips twitched.

He definitely reacted to my voice.

But perhaps only I saw it, as everyone else was ready to strike.

“Wait, hold on.”

“Get ready, everyone.”

My words seemed unheard, and Prizia gave the command.

Kasha approached where people were gathered.

Before Prizia’s hand fell, I shouted.

“Everyone, stop!”

“Young lady!”

Ludvion tried to stop me, but I was faster.
I pushed through the crowd and headed to the front.

Kashaar was standing in place.

The moment our eyes met, Prizia tried to protect me. From afar, if it weren’t for his deep voice.

“Dangerous…!”

“…Eilin?”

Kashaar only recognized me.

Everything around became quiet.

I steadied my voice amid the palpable tension.

“Yes, it’s me. Are you back to your senses?”

This time, he didn’t answer.

His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to confirm whether I was real.

Sensing the threat in his gaze, Ludvion tried once again to hide me.

“It’s dangerous, Eilin.”

“I’m fine.”

Brushing past Ludvion, I moved forward.

Kashaar didn’t attack even as I approached. Instead, he seemed more confused.

“…You didn’t leave… No, did you leave and come back?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been in the palace all along.”

When I hinted that it’s absurd to leave such a splendid fiancé, Kashaar closed his mouth.

‘He still doesn’t seem to be in his right mind.’

Even so, can’t he stop destroying everything around?

For whatever reason, he reacted to my voice.

I tried to calm him down by calling his name as much as possible.

“Kasha…”

“Lies.”

Firm and devoid of reason, his words cut through.

Kashaar still smiled with glinting eyes.

“You’re still lying.”

His gaze seemed to penetrate me.

Unable to move in my rigid state, his outstretched hand pulled me closer.

“But you’re still beautiful. It seems like I’ve completely lost it.”

Exhaling a slow breath, Kashaar gently caressed my face, confirming several times if I was real.

“Kashaar? Kashaar!”

Startled, as I wriggled, he whispered in my ear.

“Keep calling.”

It sounded like a normal conversation, yet it felt dangerously intense.

Holding their breaths, all eyes were fixed on him and me.

After a brief silence, I asked, “Where are you going?”

“To a place where we can be together.”

Kashaar gave a short answer and headed toward his room.

Luckily, it seemed only the Star Pavilion had collapsed, so most of the central structures in the palace remained intact.

With me in his arms, Kashaar lay down on the bed.

“Um, Kashaar?”

Carefully calling out, but all I received was an obsessive gaze.

His strong arms enclosed me, exerting pressure that felt like it would never let go.

Perhaps because the madness had subsided recently.

His eyes looking at me…

‘He seems anxious.’

The fearful gaze paradoxically gave me courage.

As I tried to pull my hand away to free myself, he strengthened his grip on my arm.

“Where are you going? I also want to check if you’re really my fiancée.”

Jokingly, as I said that, the pressure eased a bit.

Through the small gap between Kashaar and me, I took my hand out and gently caressed his head.

The silky blond hair tickled between my fingers.

As I chuckled softly, his red eyes widened a bit.
“It’s true. Why did you do that earlier? I was surprised.”

As if trying to speak, his dry lips moved slightly.

“…You.”

“Why me?”

When I asked, Kashaar’s pupils slowly dilated.

Soon, his eyes closed. His rough breathing and heartbeat gradually slowed down.

I muttered quietly, wondering if he might be sleeping.

“Kashaar? Are you really sleeping?”

As expected, there was no answer.

Perhaps because the tension was released. I, too, felt my body relaxing.

It seemed like we had been embracing for a long time.

Although I tried to get out somehow, the one who held me didn’t make a move.

‘He’s not letting go.’

It seemed difficult to leave.

It was frustrating, but compared to when everything was being smashed, this was much better.

I decided to take comfort in Kashaar being quiet.

I might have been on the verge of falling asleep myself.

The door opened silently.

“…Mikhail?”

When I opened my swollen eyes, Mikhail was there.

It was awkward to show me being held by Kashaar. I tried to get up, but he still didn’t let go.

Instead, Mikhail seemed even more surprised and quickly urged me.

“Please stay still.”

Although I wondered why, I couldn’t leave anyway, so I decided to stay quiet.

Instead, I muttered like an excuse.

“I suddenly fell asleep.”

“Sleeping is one way to forcibly control magic.”

Suppressing magic that rages in an unstable state of mind was not common.

Unless someone made you faint, putting you to sleep was the best option.

“Please stay with him until he wakes up on his own.”

It was almost a plea rather than a request.

Understanding Mikhail had been difficult from the beginning.

He confessed to me, speaking as if it might be because of me that the lord’s madness erupted.