“Why the ring Ren gave me all of a sudden?” Elaina reflexively touched her hand, but Ryan slowly continued with a slightly furrowed face.

“It’s definitely a familiar ring…”

“…This ring?”

“Yes. And it seems like I saw it a very long time ago. If it’s not rude, may I ask where this ring is from? Your Royal Highness.”

Why are there so many people interested in this ring? As if some tremendous secret is hidden in it.

However, Elaina was not much different either. She had thought about it several times. If she finds out who the owner of this ring is, she might be able to find out Ren’s whereabouts.

“It was a gift I received a long time ago. I can’t give you any definite information about who gave it to me.”

Doesn’t know who gave the ring?

It was a ridiculous answer. The sapphire ring on Elaina’s finger was clearly not an ordinary ring to anyone’s eyes.

So, for example, it’s the kind that only a woman of a very noble status can wear…

Beyond the usual nobility at that.

“May I take a look at the ring?”

It was strange. Why was that ring bothering him so much? Ryan carefully asked, and Elaina hesitated for a moment but eventually took off the ring and handed it to him.

“…”

Ryan, who was examining the ring closely, flinched in surprise. His gaze stopped at the seal clearly imprinted inside the ring.

“…Ah, I heard about that. They said it’s a seal that can’t be found anywhere in Edenbell.”

“…”

“They said it’s the seal of another empire. The guard knight told me.”

“Azteca.”

At the sudden unfamiliar name, Elaina’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“It’s the seal of Azteca. To be precise, a seal that only the imperial family can use…”

What?

“It’s probably a ring owned by the Aztec imperial family. And the guard knight is right. Azteca disappeared long ago after being defeated in a war with Edenbell.”

Elaina made a dumbfounded expression at the unexpected identity of the ring.

…How could Ren have such a precious ring?

No, he said it was his mother’s ring.

Then was Ren a member of the Aztec imperial family?

“…”

Ryan’s expression as he looked down at the ring remained extremely serious.

Azteca. How and where have I seen this ring with the seal of a fallen imperial family…?

That’s when it happened.

A very old.

And not very meaningful.

A memory from sometime long forgotten flashed through Ryan’s mind.

“…”

That’s right, the Empress of Edenbell.

The one killed by Yuria.

And the mother of Prince Sinclair.

…But she doesn’t know who gave her the ring?

And receiving it as a gift was a long time ago?

Ryan looked at Elaina with a face full of bewilderment, but Elaina looked back at him as if she didn’t understand.

“Sir Ryan…?”

Could it be that Prince Sinclair…

Has known a woman named Elaina Aswald long before the wedding?

While hiding his identity.

But why hasn’t he revealed it until now? Why?

…Perhaps, was there a reason he shouldn’t reveal it?

“What’s wrong? Sir.”

He didn’t know what to say. And he couldn’t guess whether telling the truth would help or harm him.

So Ryan simply handed the ring back to Elaina without being able to open his mouth easily. Then he silently watched her put the ring back on her finger.

“The person who gave you that ring…”

And he asked.

“What does it mean to you, Elaina?”

“Well.”

“…”

“Once he was a dear friend, and once he was a very cruel and sad memory.”

Elaina slowly continued.

“And now, I don’t even want to resent him, I just want to forget him.”

Ryan’s eyes, gazing at her, shook greatly as they caught the moonlight.

“That’s all. Does that answer your question?”

“…I see. I understand.”

My guess was right after all. Elaina doesn’t know that the person who gave her the ring and Sinclair are the same person. And for some reason, it’s clear that she had a falling out with Sinclair when they were young.

If she finds out the truth?

Then…

Would Elaina leave Sinclair?

It was right at that moment when Ryan was having such fleeting thoughts.

“…Elaina.”

At the sudden low voice, both Elaina and Ryan reflexively looked up.

There they saw Sinclair looking down at them with a face that was somehow stiffly hardened.

“I was worried when I heard you left for the gathering without a word.”

“Ah, Sinclair…”

“Judging from the looks of it, the gathering just ended. Seems I came at the right time.”

The words he uttered were full of affection, but why were his eyes looking at Ryan so cold? Elaina flinched slightly at his sharp golden eyes that she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It’s time to return to the palace now.”

Sinclair slowly reached out his hand and carefully helped Elaina up.

And he glared at Ryan’s coat that Elaina had been sitting on with all his might, as if he really disliked it.

“…Greetings to Your Highness Prince. I am Ryan Henad.”

“Yes, I know.”

Sinclair, who had now turned his gaze to Ryan, answered in a voice colder than ever.

“Schuler!”

As soon as he called out the name, Schuler, who had been waiting ahead with the carriage, ran over.

“The night air is cold. Put the Princess in the carriage and wait.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Elaina’s eyes reflexively turned to Ryan. She wanted to say goodbye, but for some reason, she felt like she shouldn’t.

As if Ryan wasn’t unaware of that uncomfortable atmosphere, he gave Elaina a slight nod and offered a short greeting.

With that, Elaina disappeared with Schuler, and only Sinclair and Ryan were left in the silent night garden.

“Your father made quite a fuss.”

And, it was Sinclair who broke the silence first, as expected.

“The Henad family getting involved in this political strife. It’s quite surprising. Understandable, though.”

“…It’s true that the Henad family did not participate in political strife, but I have no intention of following that idea. So I made my choice.”

Sinclair was silent for a moment. He just glared at Ryan with a face full of ridicule, and only after a long time did he part his lips with a very low voice.

“What.”

“…Pardon?”

“What did you choose?”

“Naturally, I chose Your Highness Prince Sinclair…”

“Ha.”

Suddenly, something like a sneer escaped from between Sinclair’s lips. He laughed as if he had heard the funniest story in the world.

Ryan looked at Sinclair with a puzzled expression at his inexplicable behavior…

“Ryan Henad.”

Sinclair continued in a voice full of ridicule.

“Pretending not to know even though you do, it’s really annoying.”

At Sinclair’s sharp voice, the tips of Ryan’s fingers hidden under his sleeve cuffs trembled briefly.

…Is Prince Sinclair saying he knows my feelings?

But he didn’t show any signs or hints. He thought he had endured it with all his might. But how on earth.

For a moment, it felt like the world was turning white before his eyes.

“If your reason for trying to help me is related to the Princess, you’d better change your mind while I can still turn a blind eye.”

Sinclair, who had somehow come up to Ryan’s nose, looked down at him ominously and said.

As if this place was his place.

“I have no intention of selling my Princess to gain the support of the nobles.”

“…”

“Even if it’s of her own free will. No, especially then.”

From the moment Elaina said she met him at the gathering, he didn’t like it. The man named Ryan Henad himself.

And the moment he saw Elaina and Ryan sitting together in front of him, Sinclair clearly understood the root of the discomfort he had been feeling.

That man had personal feelings for Elaina.

It was obvious at a glance. In a way, it was natural. A person in love could only recognize another person in love.

But how dare he.

By what right does he hold Elaina in his heart?

It was truly absurd.

“You’d better heed my advice, Ryan Henad.”

Ryan’s eyes, filled with Sinclair, shook wildly.

“My sword can cut down anyone.”

“…”

“Especially those who hide personal feelings under the pretext of a cause, as many times as it takes.”

That was the end. Sinclair stepped back slightly from Ryan with a smile on his face as if nothing had happened. Then, as if he had no lingering attachment, he turned his steps toward the carriage without looking back.

Soon after Sinclair boarded, the carriage began to run smoothly, turning its wheels.

“…”

Left alone, Ryan just watched the carriage carrying Elaina move away. Until it completely disappeared from his sight.

And he thought.

…If revealing the identity of the person who gave that ring becomes a weakness for Sinclair.

Then, perhaps he still has…

A chance.