That day was the middle of a summer when the sunlight beating down was especially strong. Skin darkened under the midday sun, and no matter how much one wiped away, sweat poured down like rain.

Still, on the surface, it seemed like a day no different from usual.

Ellie came to the valley with her face still covered in colorful bruises that hadn’t faded, and Ren, whose fingernail marks on his face had become faint but who still desperately wanted to find his mother’s body, also came to the valley.

But that day, Ren was not in a good mood.

It was because of a strange anxiety that kept raising its head.

And the person who planted that anxiety was none other than Yuria.

[“I hear you’ve been going out very frequently lately, Your Highness the Crown Prince. They say you leave the Imperial Palace almost every day.”]

As always, Yuria, who had adorned her body and face excessively luxuriously and extravagantly, approached Ren as he was about to head to the valley.

…They were never on speaking terms to begin with, but it became even more so after his mother’s death. Yuria didn’t even glance at Ren. As if what happened that day had nothing to do with her. Just like the Emperor had done.

[“It hasn’t been long since the Empress passed away. It seems our Crown Prince has better recovery abilities than I thought.”]

Ren didn’t respond to Yuria’s words. He just silently glared at her.

[“Well, I suppose it’s not a bad thing. Of course, the lowly subjects are gossiping that the motherless prince is going out to play every day without fail even though his mother just died, saying he’s not fit to be Emperor at all, but I can take care of that much for you. As you know, I have more power than everyone thinks.”]

But Yuria continued speaking.

[“However, I hope you’re always careful. Dangers lurk everywhere outside the palace, and sometimes unexpected things happen. Especially for curious and adventurous young children like Your Highness, it’s much easier to get caught up in accidents.”]

‘Outside the palace’?

Ren thought that statement was a bit absurd. If he had to pick the most dangerous place in the world for him, it would undoubtedly be the Imperial Palace of Edenbell.

Ren had seen it many times. Even before she was finally killed by Yuria, his mother had constantly been in danger.

For example, collapsing after drinking poisoned tea.

Or nearly dying from side effects after receiving a prescription for her chronic illness, unaware that her personal physician had fallen into Yuria’s hands. Things like that.

But Ren wasn’t careless enough to easily dismiss the idea that Yuria had uttered those ominous words for no reason.

It was ominous.

Something was.

“Ren.”

Ellie, unaware of Ren’s feelings, still greeted him with a bright smile.

Not wanting to pass on his anxious mood to Ellie, Ren smiled as usual, but Ellie’s face quickly hardened.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

“Did someone bully you again? Your father? Your stepmother?”

Ellie asked with a worried expression, not knowing that Ren’s father and stepmother were the Emperor and royal concubine of Edenbell.

“…No. It’s fine. I’m just a little tired. Don’t worry.”

“You’re lying.”

“Really. Actually, I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Why?”

Ellie was always that kind of child. If she was curious about something, or if there was something she didn’t understand, she would constantly struggle to find the answer.

Knowing this already, Ren answered in a small voice.

“I kept thinking about what you said yesterday…”

“What did I say?”

“That you like me…”

It wasn’t a lie anyway. Yesterday, even after returning to the palace, Ren had tossed and turned for a long time, unable to fall asleep.

“Why does that bother you? Did you dislike it?”

“Ah, no. It’s definitely not that. I was just a little surprised…”

“Then I’ll make sure you’re not surprised.”

“Huh?”

“I like you, Ren.”

Ellie said with a lovely smile.

“From now on, I’ll tell you every day so you won’t be surprised when you hear that I like you. That should do it, right?”

Ren’s cheeks turned slightly red as he lowered his head a little.

How could she be so true to her feelings? So honest? So brave? So confident?

How could she shine so brightly?

Just like the blazing sun, brilliantly…

“You know, Ellie. Today…”

We should just go back.

Ren hesitated unconsciously as he was about to continue.

It was because of the vivid new bruise on Ellie’s face.

[“I get beaten every single day, so at those times I have to run away to places that are as inconspicuous as possible. But no matter where I go, they find me like ghosts.”]

“…”

[“So I came to this valley. Because my family members are people who don’t care to go to such trouble because of me. Anyway, if I wait until nightfall and go back, they’ll all be asleep, so I just have to endure a little…”]

If he said to just go back now, Ellie would be beaten again. And she would come back in an even worse state.

Ren hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking.

“…Let’s just look around a little, then spend time near the entrance of the valley before leaving.”

Even if something happened, the entrance was directly connected to the capital. It wasn’t far either. So it seemed it would be safer.

Yes. That’s what we’ll do. Ren thought to himself, not knowing at all how much he would come to regret his words.

“You’re saying that because you’re tired, right? Okay.”

Fortunately, Ellie nodded as if agreeing, and the two began to walk towards the valley.

[This is the timeline separator]

As expected, there was no particular harvest.

No matter how much they searched the valley, there was no trace of the Empress’s body, and before they knew it, a red sunset like blood began to settle over the clear valley.

“The Hilden River is connected to this valley, isn’t it? I thought if she just floated away as people say, we could find her around here…”

Ellie murmured softly with a sad expression, knowing how much Ren wanted to find his mother, but Ren didn’t look at her.

Instead, he was glaring into the distance.

At first he thought it was his imagination, but now he seemed to know for sure.

The fact that someone was watching them.

Also, the clear killing intent emanating from this gaze that he kept feeling…

“Anyway, let’s look again tomorrow…”

“Ellie, we need to go back.”

“…Ren?”

“Hurry. Let’s go quickly.”

It wasn’t a situation where he could explain the reason, nor could he do so.

Ren, standing in the middle of the valley with Ellie, looked at her with an urgent expression.

And that was the moment.

When four men wearing black masks suddenly appeared at the edge of the valley.

“Run, Ellie!”

Ellie, who hadn’t noticed the men’s presence but realized they were in danger, hurriedly started moving with splashing sounds at Ren’s shout.

They couldn’t go to the shore. The men were guarding the left and right shores of the valley like sentries in pairs.

For now, they had to somehow move forward and escape.

“Huff, hah…”

The harsh breathing of Ellie and Ren as they fled against the current echoed ominously. But children’s steps could not outpace adults’ steps. Especially in water.

‘Again, because of me…’

Am I going to lose again? This time not my mother, but Ellie. I should have died with my mother back then. Then Ellie wouldn’t be in this danger.

Red blood reflected on the tender lips bitten with all his might.

‘Their target is probably me anyway. Then… if I lure them away, Ellie will be safe…’

…won’t she?

It was at the moment he was having such a fleeting thought.

“Kyaaah!”

When Ellie’s piercingly sharp scream was heard.

As he hurriedly looked back…

“Re… Ren!”

He saw Ellie, her ankle caught between large rocks, unable to move at all.

“My foot… my foot…”

Ellie cried out, reaching out her small white hand as if asking for help. Startled, Ren reached out his hand to help Ellie, unable to even breathe properly.

No, he was about to reach out.

[I, I’ll save you!]

If only he hadn’t heard his own incredibly stupid voice from that day.

If only Ellie’s tiny hand hadn’t overlapped with his mother’s hand for a moment.

[I’ll pull you up, so just hold on a little longer. It’s not difficult. I’m sure I can do it…]

For a moment, Ren’s expression went blank.

[I, I let, let go.]

The brief warmth he felt so clearly.

[Mo, Mother, I could, could have saved, saved her. Be, because of me. She died.]

And the hand he let go of so quickly.

The last moment with his mother, which he still remembers terribly clearly.

…What if the same happens to Ellie?

What if I grab your hand like I did then, and let go of you just like I did then?

What if you die because of me too?

No. I can’t lose you like that too. Then I really won’t be able to go on living anymore.

“I…”

Ren unconsciously took a step back with a dazed expression.

“Don’t leave me alone…”

“I, I…”

“Help me, Ren!”

Along with Ellie’s ear-splitting scream, he saw one of the masked men approaching his direction.

Holding a small but very sharp dagger in his hand.