The silence was as long as the night.

Neither Elaina nor Sinclair said a word. Only an uncomfortable stillness settled heavily between the two.

And not long after, the first thing Sinclair did when he fully regained consciousness was to shake off Elaina’s hand.

But he couldn’t even do that properly.

Where such strength came from, Elaina gripped Sinclair’s hand with all her might and absolutely refused to let go.

Just as Ren wanted to do for Ellie in the dream……

“Your hand.”

“……”

“You kept reaching out and screaming.”

Sinclair’s face suddenly hardened.

Intoxicated by the strong medicine, had he perhaps said something strange? Something that Elaina should never know.

That is, something that could lead her to deduce that I am that Ren…….

But unable to inquire about it first, Sinclair looked up at Elaina with briefly wavering eyes.

“You clearly said you didn’t know earlier.”

As if she had seen right through Sinclair’s mind, Elaina slowly continued.

“The name Ellie.”

Sinclair faltered slightly.

“It seems that was a lie as well.”

What on earth did I say, and how much? Sinclair stared at Elaina while trying his best to hide his facial expression.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“……”

“I’ve been plagued by nightmares the whole time due to the medicine, so I might have talked nonsense. Ellie is a very common name. There was one among my maids, and one among my mother’s maids too. But seeing how you keep asking, it seems there must be some extraordinary meaning to the name Ellie that I didn’t know about.”

Elaina didn’t give any answer.

She was just thinking about one thing.

‘Ren……?’

The shining golden eyes and hair. Although both golden eyes and blonde hair were common colors in Edenbell, for some reason Sinclair’s appearance caught her eye today.

‘But Ren…… said he was born into a noble family. A viscount family even lower than Melvin.’

Ren had clearly said so at that time.

That he was born into a noble family, but a woman who came in as a concubine threatened his and his mother’s position. And that the young son born to the concubine might become the head of the family……

‘And above all……’

Ren always wanted to leave this cursed Edenbell. With Elaina.

He had actually promised several times. If either of them had to leave first, he would definitely come to get the other.

Could someone who wants to become emperor by even starting a rebellion be Ren?

And could that lovely and warm Ren…….

Really be Sinclair?

“Why are you silent?”

“……”

“After pushing me like you’re interrogating an injured person over one lowly name.”

Yes. My Ren doesn’t speak like that. Elaina still remembered. That face that smiled brightly every time he called the name Ellie, just like her mother had……

Elaina looked down at Sinclair silently for a moment, then slightly loosened her tight grip on his hand.

And she thought she wasn’t sure.

Why she had held onto Sinclair’s hand, which always only gave hurtful words……

Was it because Sinclair had been crying endlessly, in a way that didn’t suit him at all? Was it because he looked so pained? Was it out of pity?

“If you’re done with the interrogation, get some sleep.”

Sinclair spoke again.

“I have no idea why I have to listen to this nonsense.”

“It’s not over yet.”

Elaina said firmly, as if cutting off Sinclair’s words.

“…What?”

Then Elaina slowly reached out her hand. And very carefully wiped Sinclair’s face, still wet with tears, with a towel.

Only then realizing that he had been crying as always, Sinclair bit his lip hard.

“It seems you had quite a terrible nightmare. To shed so many tears.”

“……”

“You said it was strong medicine, so it seems that wasn’t a lie.”

Sinclair showed no reaction at all. Instead, he abruptly shook off Elaina’s hand that was gently wiping his face, and turned his back.

“I thought about it. The whole time you were sleeping.”

Looking at his back, which had somehow become familiar now, Elaina said in a low voice.

“Why you went so far to save me.”

“I already told you that…!”

“Of course you did. But it didn’t seem very logical to me.”

At Elaina’s brazen words, Sinclair let out a small snicker despite his messy state.

That’s right. You’re still the same, Ellie. Only I have changed.

“I know well that you dislike me meddling unnecessarily. So I know that you were uncomfortable, and that you kept not returning to the Prince’s Palace because you were afraid I might do something strange while raising false hopes.”

This time Sinclair didn’t answer.

“I’ll say it again, I have no such intentions at all. And……”

And…….

Elaina trailed off uncharacteristically.

[Danger…… it’s dangerous…… hurry……]

That back view of him jumping in front of me without a moment’s hesitation.

[I would appreciate it if you didn’t try to summon the Crown Princess alone while I’m not around. If you have something to say, send someone. Don’t waste time serving lukewarm tea and such nonsense.]

His disheveled appearance that day, looking as if he had rushed over urgently for anyone to see.

[I’m the one who has Edenbell’s rascal wrapped around my finger enough that I don’t even have to walk around like this myself. Smile confidently like that. Your appearance today is too lovely to just be anxious. Enjoy it to your heart’s content. People’s gazes are fixed on your beauty, not your damaged leg.]

The clumsy warmth that constantly tried to understand her feelings, even when it seemed not to.

[Did they say your leg can never be fixed?]

And the equally clumsy concern.

[You smile quite enticingly for a half-wit. Keep doing that from now on. At least just now you didn’t look like a half-wit. In fact, you’re not a half-wit at all, right?]

The kindness hidden behind frivolous jokes, always telling her to smile.

[Now all the territories of House Aswald will be yours. To be precise, all their money and lands will become the Empire’s. I was thinking of returning them to you.] [You saw clearly, Melvin. That’s what you need to do now. Crawling like a dog and begging like a fly. Before my patience truly runs out while indulging in your insane wordplay.] [No matter how much of a rascal prince or abandoned child I am, I’m still royalty. And you dared to kidnap and try to sell off a woman who would become the wife of royalty?]

The reassuring feeling of someone taking her side and protecting her, which she had felt for the first time in her life.

[You look surprised that it’s emptier than you expected.]

And even the Prince’s Palace that looked as empty, desolate and lonely as a tomb……

Everything, without exception, came vividly to mind.

With all the harsh words she had heard from him completely forgotten.

“…Sinclair, while I’m by your side, I’m going to do what I want to do.”

“What?”

“Helping you.”

“I told you then too, not to do such things−”

“You were worried that I might do something presumptuous, right? I said there will absolutely be no such thing. Then there’s no reason for you to worry needlessly, and I can still help you.”

“Ha……”

“Whatever the reason, am I such an inadequate woman that I can’t even do that much for a man who risked his life to save me? Is that how I appear in your eyes?”

No, that’s not it.

You still shine brightly like the sun, beautiful like midday waves, pure like the first snow of winter, and wise like an old scholar.

Sinclair closed his eyes tightly with a pained expression.

“I’ll take that as permission.”

“……”

“So don’t tell me to do this or that anymore.”

Yes, I should be able to do that much.

Strangely, it seems to mirror my own loneliness perfectly. At least I can stay by this man’s side who has always been thoroughly alone, and be on his side.

Even if we are to part ways.

No, maybe it’s possible because we are to part ways. Elaina smiled faintly to herself.

“Go back to sleep, Sinclair. I’ll stay by your side.”

……Whether it was because of such a dream, or because of other emotions, Sinclair could no longer be resolute towards Elaina, nor could he spit out any more unpleasant words.

He simply tried to appear as if he was ignoring Elaina as much as possible, not giving any more answers and closing his eyes with a face distorted by sadness while turning his back.

Thus, amidst the storm of numerous emotions, what Sinclair felt most strongly was…….

Ridiculously, a sense of relief.

Because Elaina, Ellie, who was as lovely as back then, was taking care of him in this injured state. Because she was staying by his side.

Unlike Elaina’s damaged leg, and Sinclair who had become ‘Edenbell’s rascal’…… at least that fact remained the same.

As promised, Elaina stayed by Sinclair’s side until he fell asleep again.

She dozed off just as dawn was breaking, and just a few hours later.

She heard completely unexpected stories.

From Schuler and Glen who had barely made it back alive.