When she opened her eyes, Elaina was in a narrow attic.

In that attic room of the Aswald family mansion, which was so disgustingly cramped.

Elaina, who habitually rose from the worn-out bed, reflexively looked into the mirror with a very blank expression.

In the mirror, there was a dirty girl covered in grime.

Startled, Elaina fumbled her cheeks with her hands, looked around aimlessly, and repeatedly covered and uncovered her mouth.

“I think I had a dream……”

A very magical dream.

A dream that seemed like a lie, where she laughed and enjoyed herself with someone lovely.

But she couldn’t remember it well.

However, to the little girl reflected in the mirror, it seemed that such things would never happen to her in the future.

She didn’t know how sweet and presumptuous the dream was, though she couldn’t remember the details.

But what awaited Elaina, who had awakened from her dream, was only a cold reality.

The attic ceiling covered in cobwebs, the old dress full of tears and dirty marks everywhere, the blue bruises and wounds that colored her face like a colorful drawing paper.

In a little while, Melvin, Melissa, or Leila would come up, grab and shake my hair, or shout nonsense again, right?

But fortunately, only a hazy fog could be seen outside the window.

Of course, it seemed that the dawn would break soon, but Elaina thought it was rather fortunate to suffer while awake than to be humiliated while sleeping.

After all, with the latter, she could at least hug her stomach and roll on the floor before being kicked, or tightly close her eyes before being slapped in the face, thus being able to prepare herself mentally.

“…….”

Elaina, who let out heavy sighs one after another, began to habitually massage her broken ankle. The ankle that had just been sprained a while ago was always swollen, cold, and painful when she woke up.

On Elaina’s chubby face, a bitter emotion that didn’t fit her age at all seeped out.

Yes, this is my reality.

Not a dream that I can’t even remember properly.

Elaina was a child who gave up quickly, resigned swiftly, and silently conformed to reality. After she could not even walk properly, her personality changed so firmly.

Perhaps it was because she didn’t even have the strength to hope for or expect anything.

Or maybe it was because she knew that even if she did, only disappointment would return.

Elaina’s gaze, which had been weakly massaging her ankle, turned back to the broken and cracked mirror.

Elaina stared intently at her dirty and bruised face like that, and……

“Still……”

She muttered softly like a mosquito without realizing it.

“I think I was very happy too……”

But the more pleasant the dream, the more cruel the reality before her eyes felt. Elaina, hugging her knees and bowing her head deeply, was lost in thought while fiddling with her fingers for no reason.

…Why did Ren abandon me and leave?

Does he even know that I’m this hurt?

If he finds out, will he feel sorry?

…He didn’t get hurt like me, did he? The valley water swelled quickly.

Should I go to that valley again tomorrow? But it will take a long time again because I’m not used to my injured leg.

“…….”

Elaina’s gloom didn’t seem to go away easily. It couldn’t be helped. At this time, Elaina actually lived day by day like this. This moment was just a process.

Young Elaina endured and endured, and in the end, she abandoned all her dreams, emotions, and memories.

She even abandoned her sparkling self like that.

Soon, Elaina slowly raised her head. Then, with a face that couldn’t be more gloomy, she looked out the window in the ceiling.

The sky filled with hazy fog seemed to be telling her about her future.

That she would live alone like this for the rest of her life, suffering in pain without feeling any happiness, and die. Without ever meeting her beloved mother or Ren again……

Suddenly, transparent tears began to pool in Elaina’s blue eyes.

Fear and confusion. Longing. Loneliness.

Embracing those emotions that she didn’t even need to know the names of yet, Elaina burst into tears without even making a sound.

And it was at that very moment.

[……Before going to this war, I made a wish to the Emperor.]

Someone’s voice, which was very unfamiliar.

[The wish I made was this. To take Elaina Aswald, the half-fledged cripple and illegitimate child of the Aswald family, as my wife. So you’d better not think about refusing.]

But strangely, it seemed familiar too, and began to be heard distantly like a dream.

[Hello, Elaina Aswald. Good evening. But I said I would give you time to think, not time to marry another man.]

A snickering laugh.

[I’m the person who holds and shakes the rotten scoundrel of Edenbell in my hand to the extent that I don’t have to walk directly like this. Smile with that much confidence. You’re too precious to just be anxious.]

The warm warmth that hugged her body tightly.

[Get away…… It’s dangerous…… Hurry…….]

The large, wide back that blocked the way.

[If I untie it like this, it might get a little better. The pain might subside too.]

The touch that carefully took off the shoes and massaged the ankle without any fuss.

[It was a…… happy day, right? It must have been a good memory.]

The low voice that settled quietly in the ear with a crackling sound.

[Shall we have our debutante?]

The big hand that was held out with a chuckle at her sudden words.

[I was captivated from the moment I first saw you. Just as rumored. To the extent that I came back after a great victory and even wished to His Majesty the Emperor to marry this woman…… Like that, just perfectly.]

The confident voice that echoed through the large hall.

[Would your mother like it too? I think…… it’s not too bad.]

That hill where the flower trees were in full bloom and the blowing wind was warm.

[I’m back.] [Huh?] [I’m back, Elaina.]

The greeting whispered while suddenly pulling her into an embrace.

[Welcome back. You’ve worked hard.]

And the answer she gave.

The fog slowly lifted over Elaina’s eyes, which reflected the hazy sky.

And……

[When I was young, I had a firm idea of what kind of person I was…… but now I don’t know well.]

This time, her own voice, which sounded a little unfamiliar, was heard.

[So I’m thinking of figuring it out little by little. Even if it takes a long time. Because a life where you don’t even realize what kind of person you are is too miserable.]

Completely different from now, having lost all hope and sparkle.

The original self that she had regained very difficultly.

[Before I hurt my leg, being able to run fast was one of my few strengths. But now I have a new forte.] [……A new forte?] [Yes. No matter how far it is. And even if it makes me terribly tired, I have the tenacity to keep walking without giving up. I don’t think this is too bad either. There are many people who can run fast, but there aren’t many people as persistent as me.]

That’s right.

The one who made me able to stand up again even with my broken leg.

The one who reached out to me from that deep, deep abyss like an endless nightmare.

The one who helped me regain my original self……

It was only you.

“Sinclair……”

Through Elaina’s slightly parted thin lips, his name flowed out like a spell.

And, over the blankly loosened blue eyes……

The golden sun, which looked just like Sinclair’s eyes, revealed itself.

Always sparkling brilliantly like a jewel, but sometimes exuding a cold chill like ice.

But whenever it looked at me, it shone with a different light……

Those unique eyes.

[Elaina.]

It seemed to be heard suddenly.

Somewhere beyond, Sinclair’s voice frantically calling her name.

[Wake up. Please……]

As if enchanted by something, Elaina, who had been sitting blankly, slowly got up from her seat. Although she staggered for a moment due to the pain in her broken ankle, she endured the pain with fortitude.

[Elaina……]

Along with Sinclair’s voice that kept being heard, the sun that had been looking at her through the window seemed to get bigger and bigger.

Before long, the sun swallowed Elaina’s body without a moment’s hesitation.

Very affectionately and warmly.

Just as Sinclair’s eyes always did when they looked at her.

And Elaina slowly woke up from her sleep.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Elaina!”

Is she still dreaming?

Even while hearing Sinclair’s voice, Elaina had an absurd thought with a blank expression.

But perhaps it was a natural illusion. The golden eyes looking down at her were the same color as the sun that had engulfed young Elaina in her dream.

“Are you alright?”

“…….”

“Elaina, please say something……”

“Sin…clair……”

At the cracked voice that she barely squeezed out, Sinclair finally made a blank expression like Elaina had earlier.

And then, just like that, he buried his face near her chest.

“…….”

The huge body, several times the size of Elaina’s, was trembling slightly. The large hand that always drew the sword decisively swept over her shoulder endlessly.

Elaina, Elaina. Sinclair constantly uttered Elaina’s name as if he were a person who could only say that.

Elaina did not answer.

She just stretched out her still slightly trembling arms and hugged Sinclair tightly.

Just as he had always done for her.

……And with tears in her eyes, she remained still for a long time.