The rain began to gradually subside from dawn.

Since Sinclair kept holding onto her feet all night, Elaina held on with all her might, feeling guilty about falling asleep first.

But whether it was because she had been confined in the carriage all day, or because she was facing this valley after a long time… Elaina felt extremely tired, and eventually dozed off alone in the late dawn.

And when she opened her eyes again, surprisingly, she saw Sinclair’s face looking down at her.

“…Huh?”

It didn’t take long to realize that she was lying with her head on Sinclair’s thigh. So Elaina unconsciously made a stupid sound, and Sinclair chuckled as if he found it absurd.

“After sleeping so soundly for a while, now you act surprised like this?”

Then he said teasingly to Elaina.

“Well, if you’re a person with a conscience, you should. It’s been hours since I lost all feeling in my thigh.”

It did seem likely. When Elaina fell asleep, the sky was still pitch black, but now it would not be an exaggeration to say the sun was high in the sky.

“I-I’m sorry. I fell asleep without realizing…”

“I’ll consider that apology enough. I was the one who laid you down when you were nodding off like a chicken anyway. If we’re going to assign blame, I’d say it’s fifty-fifty.”

Sinclair flashed a grin, then slowly opened the carriage door. And then, completely contrary to what he had just said, he got out of the carriage as if nothing was wrong.

See. He can walk just fine.

“I’ll go check on the situation in the valley for a moment, so wait here.”

Sinclair, with his arms on the roof of the carriage, looked at Elaina who was now sitting with her legs together and said,

“It won’t take long.”

With that, the carriage door closed again.

Left alone in the carriage, Elaina still had a dumbfounded expression on her face.

She tried to guess how much weight she might have put on him by resting her head on the back of her hand, and was in a fluster, belatedly tidying up her disheveled hair.

Amidst all that fuss, Elaina’s gaze suddenly fell on none other than her own damaged leg.

“…”

The scent of Sinclair still lingered on her bare foot with the shoe removed.

Numerous emotions began to leak from Elaina’s face as she looked down at her right leg.

…Who else in the world could treat me so kindly?

And so nonchalantly at that.

As if it were the most natural thing…

Elaina’s touch on her damaged leg, which Sinclair must have caressed for a long time throughout the night, was tinged with a sorrowful emotion.

“Seems there’s no problem.”

And Sinclair, who had returned at some point, spoke as he climbed into the carriage.

“The weather is nice and clear, and the swollen valley water has all drained away. The knights and Eric’s soldiers are preparing to depart now, so we just need to wait.”

“Ah, yes. That’s good.”

“Are you hungry by any chance? Judis and Anna were asking very carefully.”

“…You mean Judith and Anna.”

“If you understood, isn’t that enough? You have a habit of fixating on strange details.”

No, just because I understood doesn’t mean it’s alright. Elaina made an exasperated expression at Sinclair’s still brazenly shameless response, but then she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“…You’re laughing? Are you mocking me right now?”

“Haha…”

“It seems like you’re looking down on me as an idiot who can’t even remember names.”

Elaina’s laughter grew louder at the sudden unreasonable accusation, and Sinclair tried to frown slightly, but that effort didn’t last long.

Before he knew it, he too was laughing along with Elaina.

Just as he always did, following Eli’s laughter like magic.

“Tell me honestly, Elaina Butler.”

“About what?”

“Are you going to tell Judith and Anna? That I’m a fool who can’t even remember their names properly.”

“…”

“That would be very troublesome. As you know, I have an image of being a scoundrel. But if a false rumor spreads that I’m stupid, what will happen to my reputation? I should only be one or the other. Even I can’t be both a stupid scoundrel.”

Elaina was now holding her stomach and laughing at Sinclair’s continued nonsensical ramblings.

In the end, her laughter didn’t stop until Schuler and all the knights and soldiers had finished preparing to leave, and the carriage started moving.

That clear laughter echoed loudly over the valley that had now regained its appearance as Eli and Ren’s refuge… rather than the recklessly swollen valley it had been.

Just like before.

[This is the timeline separator]

House Henad.

Unlike other nobles of Edenbell, they have little interest in power, but ironically boast a presence and honor no less than theirs, that prestigious ducal family.

From past generations, they continuously produce those who excel in scholarship and consider it an honor to nurture future scholars.

And Ryan Henad, the only son of this generation of House Henad, was sitting blankly in his study.

“…”

Unlike yesterday when heavy rain poured down, the weather was bright, and through the slightly opened door gap, the gentle spring breeze that quietly blew in and puffed up the curtains was incomparably sweet.

While Edenbell was enjoying a spring-like spring after a long time, Ryan’s face wore a dry expression like late autumn.

[I met her a few times. Before she became the Crown Princess.]

Ryan’s hand, ruminating on the conversation he had with Elaina just recently, was reaching for the books piled high by the window.

[…One day, curious about what book she was reading, I secretly asked the bookstore owner, and even stood in the same spot to read it myself…]

Ryan’s words were not a lie.

It must have been shortly after returning from studying abroad in the neighboring empire. That’s when he encountered Elaina Aswald, famous for being that half-wit cripple.

Ryan still vividly remembered. In front of the window of the old bookstore. Her figure, standing with her back straight, elegantly reading a book using the dazzling sunlight as illumination…

[I worked so hard following the books she read that, well. I gained more knowledge from reading those books than what I learned studying abroad.]

At some point, Ryan started buying the books Elaina had been reading, one by one.

Her reading taste for novels and poetry didn’t really match his own, and sometimes it was difficult just to read them, but Ryan endured it. Even though no one forced him to.

Maybe he just wanted to know.

What color her world was.

It was ridiculous. Even though he didn’t know what color Elaina’s world was, Ryan gradually sensed his own world becoming more colorful.

Although Ryan had been endlessly wandering without knowing what to do after returning to Edenbell, Elaina’s books were constantly teaching him various emotions.

Did she also read this line out loud and have the same thoughts as me?

Did she also think this metaphor was beautiful and wish she could see it in person?

Did she also.

Did she also…

But ‘that woman’ stopped appearing at the bookstore at some point. Even when he asked the owner, he only got the answer that he didn’t know either.

And the next news he heard was that Elaina had become the wife of Sinclair, the scoundrel.

[The story about wanting to confirm if the rumors circulating were true was a lie. In fact, I wanted to express my gratitude. Because it was Your Highness the Crown Princess who became the only joy for me, living day by day without any pleasure.]

If Elaina were not in her current position. If she were still reading books in that old bookstore, basking in the warm sunlight, Ryan would have said something a little different from that.

[As a member of the royal family, it’s greatly regrettable in many ways that someone like Lord Ryan is not in public office in Edenbell. It would have been of great help. But Prince Sinclair always craves talented individuals with ability and skill like you, so I hope our paths will cross in the future.]

…And if that were the case, you wouldn’t have given such an answer either.

Ryan wore a bitter expression as he aimlessly stroked the spine of the book placed on top of the high stack of books.

“…Ryan.”

And at that very moment.

His father, with a somewhat stiff expression, entered the study.

“Yes, Father. Please speak.”

Ryan said, facing him after taking his hand off the book.

“I heard the news. The Crown Princess has newly joined Lady Annelie’s gathering. Now stop attending that gathering.”

Ryan’s green eyes calmly looked at his father.

“You know too. That House Henad must never be caught up in political strife under any circumstances. Especially with the current royal family.”

“…”

“Don’t break our creed. Besides, you already know. What my heart thinks about our family avoiding political strife.”

“Yes, I… understand well.”

“Then quickly send someone to Lady Annelie-”

“But Father, didn’t you always teach me?”

Ryan asked his father in a flat voice.

“That stagnant water rots, but flowing water never does.”

“…”

“I understand your heart, Father. I’m not unaware. However… I didn’t devote everything to scholarship to rot while stagnant.”

“…What?”

“I… don’t want to live such a life.”

“What is the reason?”

Despite daring to speak against his will, emerald eyes identical to his son’s were filled with puzzlement rather than anger.

“Is it because of the person who made you buy those books that don’t suit you at all?”

“…”

“…You mean the Crown Princess.”

Ryan didn’t give any answer, but he seemed to already know the correct answer from that alone, and his face hardened.

“If that’s the reason, it’s even more unacceptable.”

Then he continued in a firm voice.

“Go out and get some fresh air. It will help you organize your thoughts a bit more. I’ll send someone to Lady Annelie, so don’t do anything.”

That was the last of it. Ryan’s father left before his son could say anything more. As if he were afraid of Ryan’s reaction.

“…”

Left alone in the study again, Ryan quietly looked out the window for a moment…

Then shifted his gaze to the books he had bought following Elaina.

He had no intention of flirting with a woman who already had a husband. He was also well aware that such behavior would bring disgrace to Elaina.

But, just.

“…Can I meet her”

Just…

“again…?”

He wanted to talk a little more, to look into her eyes a little more.

Even knowing that even that wouldn’t be easily allowed, that once he achieved everything he wanted, he would desire even more than that.

Ryan smiled bitterly.