At Hister’s words, Elaina wore a hollow expression as if the world had collapsed.

“And one more thing to tell you.”

As if he was very satisfied with Elaina’s state, Hister laughed briefly and continued.

“Tomorrow morning, I’m thinking of cutting off your fingers and sending them to Sinclair. And by lunchtime, your wrist. Then when evening comes, I’ll cut off your only remaining good leg.”

“……”

“Regardless, Sinclair will arrive at this castle, but wouldn’t this level of amusement add a bit more dramatic effect? I’m also very curious as to what expression he’ll make as he rushes here. Of course, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to see it or not.”

Those were Hister’s final words. As if he had gone mad, he cackled in a very unpleasant sound, then left Elaina alone in the room.

Not long after, Hister’s order to stand guard perfectly so that not even an ant could escape was heard, and Elaina was finally left alone in deep silence.

“Sinc…lair…”

On top of Elaina’s fingers that were touching the ground, transparent tears fell onto the ring with a blue gem resembling her eyes.

…Just what had she done?

On that day when her right leg was permanently ruined, Elaina was not the only one trapped. Sinclair was the same.

He was still lingering on that day, endlessly atoning to Elaina and driving himself to the edge of an endless cliff.

Into the hell of guilt.

Even while Elaina was unaware of it.

[In the end, you always drove my life into the gutter. Always without fail.]

And the one who pushed Sinclair’s head, which was already sinking into a deep, deep quagmire, was none other than Elaina herself.

[Should I cut off my leg? Should I ruin myself just like you, Elaina?] [What meaning would that have for me? Even if you do that, will it change the fact that I’m in hell right now?]

“Hck…”

Between Elaina’s lips, which she was biting with all her might to the point of drawing blood, a groan mixed with tears burst out.

…She was not unaware of the fact that Sinclair still loved her despite everything.

But she didn’t want to stay by his side and watch it, nor did she want to remain with him.

It wasn’t simply because she wanted Sinclair to suffer more.

[I have never loved you even once. I was just trying to use you. That’s all it ever was. And of course, even now, I don’t love you.]

On that day, the words she spat out to Sinclair like a dagger turned out to be ridiculously full of lies… Elaina was realizing it belatedly.

If she hadn’t loved him, it wouldn’t have hurt so much.

She wouldn’t have tried to understand Len, who had abandoned her somehow, and so it wouldn’t have been more painful.

Rather, it was the opposite.

Nevertheless.

Even while misunderstanding that young Len had abandoned and fled from her, and even after learning that Sinclair had approached her while hiding the whole truth…

Elaina still loved Sinclair.

That’s why she couldn’t forgive him even more.

She had no intention of resenting him, asking why he didn’t say anything to her and made them both suffer so much.

She already knew too well.

The fact that Sinclair did not bring up that day’s events again and clear up the misunderstanding was because, as Hister said, he did not want to rationalize his actions in front of Elaina.

Elaina’s resentment, now that she knew everything, was directed towards a completely different place, not Sinclair.

…It was towards Elaina herself.

If she had tried a little harder to consider his feelings… If she had listened a little more to Sinclair’s sincere words…

If she had trusted Sinclair just a little more, she wouldn’t have had to hear the truth of that day from Hister in this way.

And she should have told him.

That I, too, waited for you for a very long time.

Every single day since then.

That even when I was wandering the streets limping after being beaten, my heart would drop to the floor with a thud countless times whenever someone with the same black hair as you passed by.

That there were so many days when I cried because I hated and was ashamed of myself for not being able to forget even while struggling to do so.

Also, even though he approached me while hiding the whole truth…

That I was grateful for everything Sinclair Butler did for me.

That even though I pushed you away again and again, you always remained in my heart without fail.

Sinclair had never driven Elaina’s life into the gutter.

Whether he was the hurt boy Len or the scoundrel of Edenbell… he always came into Elaina’s life like a miracle and held her hand.

So instead of resenting him, she should have said thank you.

“……”

Elaina, who was shedding tears silently, suddenly looked down at her slightly twisted right ankle.

And then, she quietly recalled the day she went to the Empress’ villa.

Sinclair’s touch, which had been anxiously caressing her ankle endlessly inside the carriage.

Also, his golden eyes that somehow looked strangely sad.

…What was Sinclair thinking at that time?

What was he feeling?

If she had randomly grown up while trapped in the shadow of Len, who had abandoned her forever, Sinclair would have been suffering for a lifetime, caught by the guilt that constantly chased him.

It could have been just a memory from sometime, an inevitable thing, and he could have completely forgotten Elly while rationalizing it… but Sinclair did not do that.

He found her again and saved her from that deep, deep mire.

Perhaps Sinclair had longed for Elly much more than she had missed Len.

And he must have been in pain. For a very long time, alone. Without being able to tell anyone.

“I’m sorry…”

I have to say it.

Elaina wet her face with tears without even finishing her meaningless monologue.

And she thought.

Even if she couldn’t face him and give a sincere apology…

Even if she couldn’t express her true feelings for him that were engulfing her like rough waves, tearing at her heart even at this very moment…

She would protect him somehow.

Even if it meant losing her life.

* * *

It had already been several days.

He had been running like crazy without proper rest or sleep, but Sinclair’s mind was rather regaining its senses as time passed.

‘…Just a little further and I can save Elaina.’

It was literally the case. He had already run more than half the distance, so he could reach the castle where Hister was within half a day at most. If he continued advancing at this speed, it seemed he might arrive even before dawn.

‘We must return safely. With both Elaina and Chaz.’

…It was the moment when Sinclair was strengthening his resolve and putting force into his hands gripping the reins.

In the far distance ahead, a horse was running towards them.

“…That direction isn’t towards the castle, is it?”

Viscount Wilter, who was urgently riding his horse like Sinclair, looked at Sinclair with a puzzled expression. Schuler, who was beside him, was the same.

“I will go and check. Please wait here for a moment.”

Sinclair eventually stopped his horse with a slightly hardened look, and Schuler began to move forward while slowing down.

As Schuler waved his hand largely as if to stop, the horse running from the opposite side also gradually slowed down.

After making sure the horse had completely stopped in place, Schuler slowly set foot on the ground and carefully approached the horse.

…On the saddle of the horse, which had looked empty, there was a small pouch attached.

After calming the horse and taking the pouch, Schuler returned to where Sinclair, Viscount Wilter, and the soldiers were.

“What is that?”

Viscount Wilter asked with a puzzled expression, frowning, and Schuler shook his head as if he didn’t know either.

“I will open it right away. If Hister sent it, it might be something dangerous.”

After finishing his words, Schuler slowly opened the pouch in front of Sinclair, Viscount Wilter, and Rex.

Then, with slightly trembling hands, he took out the black something that was inside.

“……”

In an instant, Sinclair’s face crumbled like a withered leaf that would crumble with a single touch. The rest of the party was the same.

“Th-this… how… how…”

Sinclair, who had dismounted from his horse, hurriedly approached Schuler, who couldn’t even properly string words together.

Soon, Sinclair snatched what Schuler was holding and looked down at his hand with a faintly pale face.

What was inside the pouch was something Sinclair knew very well.

Black as night and glossy like a jewel. So much so that whenever he caressed it, it would pleasantly tickle his fingertips as if it were silk…

Elaina’s hair.

“Y-Your Highness…”

The party, unable to utter a word, stuttered softly with pale faces, and Sinclair stood as if frozen like a statue, silently looking down at Elaina’s hair.