It was in the early dawn, just as the day was breaking, when Elaina, who had fallen into a light sleep, regained consciousness.

“……”

The first thing Elaina did as soon as she came to her senses, blinking her eyes quietly with a drowsy face, was to look to her side.

Sinclair was still asleep, keeping her company.

Elaina, who had used her own hand as a pillow, just silently gazed at the sleeping Sinclair.

[……I liked hearing that crackling sound. It was warm, like you said. I would fall asleep without realizing it, and when I woke up at dawn, my mother was always lying next to me.]

Then suddenly, she pondered over what Sinclair had told her last night.

[I think those were the happiest times. My mother, who would lie down with me on the hard ground without waking me up…… It made me feel how much she loved me. So when I opened my eyes, I would burrow into her arms like a puppy.]

Though Sinclair might not love her as the Empress did…… she now understood a little of what his words meant.

The warm heat. The crackling sound. Lying together on the hard floor all night, sharing warmth under one blanket. The faint light of dawn.

Even the sense of security that someone was still by her side when she woke up from a light sleep…….

“……Huh?”

What caught Elaina’s eye as she gazed endlessly at Sinclair was the notebook peeking out from his embrace.

The one that contained the amusing diary entries of young Sinclair.

Elaina slowly reached out and grasped it very carefully.

[It was…… a fun day, wasn’t it?]

“……”

[It will be a good memory, right?]

Elaina quietly got up from her spot and found a quill pen and ink placed in the corner of the fireplace. Then she lay down again next to Sinclair and opened the notebook.

You’re right.

It was a very enjoyable day.

Perhaps it was the only time I’ve spent in Edenbell without any worries, just having fun.

A soft smile spread across Elaina’s pale face.

She slowly began to write on the page right next to where young Sinclair had last written, long ago.

And she quietly made a wish.

That someday, even after she’s gone, there will come a day when Sinclair can fill this notebook.

And if possible, when he looks at the page I’ve written…… that Sinclair too will be able to smile a little as he remembers today.

“……”

After finishing writing with great care, Elaina slowly closed the notebook.

She put the notebook back into Sinclair’s embrace as if nothing had happened.

Though she couldn’t burrow into his arms like young Sinclair did with the Empress, Elaina instead carefully covered his body with the blanket that had been pulled more towards her side.

Then she too covered herself with the blanket and lay down again, looking at Sinclair.

One span.

The distance between the two people under the same blanket was just one span, but strangely, it felt as if she was in Sinclair’s embrace.

Is it because of your breathing tickling my ear?

Or is it because of your warmth enveloping my whole body even when I’m still?

Whatever it was, it felt good.

Elaina gazed endlessly at Sinclair like that, then slowly closed her eyes and began to drift back into a pleasant early morning sleep.

……And it was just a few hours later when unexpected news arrived.

[This is the timeline separator]

Before noon, an unexpected guest arrived at the Empress’s villa.

It was Eric Connor, with a pale face.

“……I came straight here as soon as I heard you were here, Sir Sinclair.”

Sinclair, who had just woken up after hearing the news of Eric’s visit, looked at Eric with a slightly annoyed expression, and Elaina thought it was somewhat impressive how Sinclair openly showed his emotions like that.

“There was an incident at the Imperial Palace yesterday.”

But even this seemed very familiar to Eric, as he continued speaking without minding.

With a voice that trembled slightly.

“The Emperor was attacked.”

“……”

“In the sacred hall, no less.”

“Is that so?”

“As expected, Sir Sinclair, you planned……”

Eric suddenly stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. Then he looked at Elaina with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Sinclair said in an nonchalant voice, noticing his gaze.

“Elaina is……”

But that was only for a moment, as Sinclair closed his mouth just as Eric had done.

……My wife? She already knew I was going to do something anyway?

Unable to find the right words, Sinclair glanced briefly at Elaina, then slowly parted his lips.

“My person.”

Yes, my person.

Better than saying wife, better than saying she already knew everything anyway.

What I want.

Because being my person means it can continue regardless of time and position.

It wasn’t just Elaina who was surprised by Sinclair’s unexpected words. Eric was the same.

In fact, he had never heard Sinclair refer to someone like that before. Even Schuler, Glen, and himself, who had shared intentions with him for a very long time, had never heard such words.

“……I see. I apologize, Lady Elaina.”

“No. It’s alright.”

Even as she said this, a subtle blush appeared on Elaina’s pale face.

“So, is the Emperor dead?”

“He’s not dead, but his injuries are said to be life-threatening. It’s no exaggeration to say that all the doctors in Edenbell are at the Imperial Palace.”

“The Prime Minister was found dead, I assume?”

“Yes…… but he wasn’t found in a presentable state.”

“He was eaten, I suppose.”

Sinclair said with a smirk.

[Now, it’s time to choose. Victim or perpetrator. Which one appeals to you more?]

That day.

When he met the Prime Minister in the underground waterway.

[Honestly, your end will be the same no matter what you choose. You’ll die. But which is better? Dying while holding onto your position as the esteemed Prime Minister until the end, or having all your dirty deeds exposed to the world and being stoned even after you’re buried in your grave?]

What he gave to the Prime Minister while saying those words was a small drug.

A colorless, odorless poison that causes instant cardiac arrest and death. Leaving no evidence.

The Prime Minister must have known too. From the moment Sinclair uttered those words to him, there was nowhere to escape.

So the Prime Minister probably called the Emperor to the sacred hall, then opened the door to the underground waterway. And as Sinclair had done, he must have taken the poison while watching the Emperor being attacked.

Just as Sinclair had instructed.

“It’s fortunate he didn’t die.”

“Pardon?”

“If the Emperor were to die now, Prince Hister would immediately ascend to the throne.”

“……”

“It seems our father has a soft spot for his son. To move according to my wishes like this. And with that old, sickly body of his.”

……What on earth is that rascal Sinclair thinking? Eric felt a chill run down his spine, but Sinclair’s expression remained the same as usual.

“……But we’ll be the first to be suspected. Everyone knows, don’t they? That Sir Sinclair is the only one who would dare target the Emperor in the Imperial Palace.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“Pardon?”

“How could I have done such a thing when I wasn’t even in the Imperial Palace the day before the incident, or even on the day it happened?”

“……”

“Moreover, if the Emperor had been attacked somewhere else, it might be different, but it was in the sacred hall of all places. Everyone knows that Edenbell’s temple always stands with the Imperial family.”

It was then that Elaina belatedly realized. Why Sinclair had suggested this quiet outing. Why he said they needed to leave the Imperial Palace for a while.

“Anyway, it’s time to head back now.”

Sinclair said as he stood up.

“You should wait outside too. Since you’ve come all this way, it makes more sense for us to return together.”

“……Understood.”

Eric bowed politely to Sinclair and Elaina, then quietly left the room.

And in the villa, only Elaina and Sinclair remained.

“……”

Elaina’s blue eyes were full of concern as she looked at Sinclair.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t guess what he was planning to do next, but it was too dangerous.

What if, contrary to Sinclair’s plan, this incident actually puts him in trouble…….

“You know what?”

As if reading Elaina’s mind, Sinclair asked with a grin.

“I’m better at these kinds of fights than you might think. In fact, it might be more accurate to say I have a talent for it.”

“……”

“Because I’ve been through it countless times since I was young. Alone.”

Yes, he had experienced and initiated countless such power struggles. Always hiding behind the Emperor and Yuria, using others as shields and unfolding cunning schemes, unlike the gloomy Hister Butler.

……Because there was no chance of survival otherwise.

This time was no different. Still, all the cards were in his hands.

Therefore, Sinclair dared to be confident.

That he would ultimately hold the winning hand.

And that he would never lose someone again.