Before Ciela arrived, I arrived 15 minutes early and met Killian.

Since the invitations always specified the exact minute, and since he had previously waited for me at the Imperial Palace, I knew I could meet him at the appropriate time.

Killian had already entered the room before I arrived, and I said to him,

“I have a request.”

“You call someone to a place like this and say ‘request’? Have you even thought about my proposal?”

“Yes. I’ll give you my answer once this situation is over.”

“Why should I bother playing along with you in this mess?”

“Then should I just turn around and leave?”

Honestly, I was a bit intimidated by Killian’s unexpectedly cold reaction.

“Fine. Go ahead, say it.”

Thankfully, he changed his mind.

“Someone will arrive soon—do not, under any circumstances, step out from behind the curtain until the conversation ends.”

“What?”

“Even if you get angry or feel like interrupting, you must hold back.”

“What’s your game?”

“Promise me.”

“Hah.”

Despite sounding exasperated, Killian slumped onto the sofa. It was his silent consent.

Now that the conversation with Ciela had ended, Killian looked down at me, his crimson eyes gleaming like flames flickering between strands of jet-black hair.

“My request ends here. And as for your previous proposal—I still decline.”

Though Killian’s murderous gaze made it hard to breathe, I looked straight up at him and finished my sentence.

Then Killian’s gaze passed over me and turned toward Ciela.

“K-Killian….”

Ciela’s voice trembled desperately.

Even without turning around, I could tell how deeply she was drowning in despair.

I heard the sound of the glass she’d been holding slip from her fingers and roll across the floor.

Just as Killian’s gaze shifted to Ciela, I slowly turned my eyes toward the men standing beside him.

The eyes of all three men met mine, one after another.

Hillstain, who had brought Ciela, and Ruben, who had brought Edan.

And… Edan, leaning sideways against the windowsill, hands tucked into his pockets.

Only now, as my senses returned, did I realize how calmly these lunatics had eavesdropped on the entire conversation.

Edan, meeting my gaze calmly, said nothing.

“Edan.”

It was the moment I took a step toward him.

A cold, low voice from Killian sent chills down my spine.

“Hillstain Mathias.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Even Hillstain’s expression, usually playful, was now completely serious as he answered quickly.

“Depending on your answer, I’ll kill you.”

“….”

Since he wasn’t even asking—he was outright threatening to kill him—I whipped around. Ciela’s eyes, just as shocked as mine, trembled helplessly, overwhelmed by fear.

“Tell me if everything you said earlier was true.”

Hillstain exhaled lightly and frowned.

“I can’t even guess what answer would spare my life.”

At that moment, blue light erupted from Killian’s body—not just toward Hillstain, but with enough force to shatter the entire room.

Too stunned to move, I stared at Killian—when a familiar touch brushed against my wrist.

Without a word, Edan pulled me behind him. Ruben didn’t move, but his expression had stiffened. Hillstain assessed the situation, then looked at me and laughed weakly.

“If my head rolls, Lady Latieana, it’s your fault.”

The room was completely engulfed in terrifyingly intense blue light.

“Answer.”

The moment Killian’s icy voice rang out again, Hillstain spoke.

“I don’t know what answer you want, but yes—it’s all true.”

Hillstain glanced coldly down at Princess Ciela and quietly muttered,

“I never imagined Her Majesty the Empress would order me to pretend to like you. Impressive.”

Terrified, Ciela turned away from Hillstain’s mocking gaze and curled herself tightly inward.

“K-Killian….”

Sweat dripped from her forehead, soaking her hair—Ciela was paralyzed by fear.

“Will you… spare me?”

“Shut up.”

Thankfully, Killian’s magical aura gradually subsided.

As the blue light faded and the room returned to normal, Edan slowly pulled the arm he’d been holding.

“Let’s go.”

That was when Ciela raised her voice.

“It’s not just me! Duke Edan also used Killian! He knew everything and still sided with me! He helped me!”

With legs trembling as if she might collapse at any moment, Ciela took one step toward Killian.

Killian remained utterly silent and motionless.

“You’re not disappointed in me alone! Say something, Your Grace!”

Honestly, this woman—there’s a limit to how much you can play the victim or act pitiful before anyone cares.

Seeing Ciela turn toward Edan, I stepped forward.

“Do you even know why you did it?”

“Of course! For my brother’s sake…!”

“What does that even mean?”

“Th—”

Ciela couldn’t answer.

Naturally, she couldn’t. Claiming to act for her brother while siding with the woman who betrayed him? That makes no logical sense! Even I didn’t understand until I heard Edan explain. What is she even deluding herself about?

“Lord Hillstain.”

“Yes?”

“Please explain clearly so Her Highness doesn’t lie again.”

“…What?”

Ignoring Hillstain’s bewildered stare, I turned to look at Killian.

“Excuse me first.”

Killian’s lips remained tightly sealed, his thoughts unreadable.

He must have many things he wants to say to her alone.

He called her his “first love, cruel as it was.” Even if Ciela lied, Killian truly loved her.

I grabbed Edan’s arm and left the townhouse with Ruben.

***

“Let’s walk a bit.”

At the bridge before the Dukedom Palace. Only after stepping down from the carriage did Edan finally speak.

We walked toward the bridge leading into the palace.

“Cold?”

“I’m fine. I’m still warm.”

I must’ve gotten so heated during the conversation with Ciela that my body temperature had risen. The damp wind on the bridge, which normally would’ve felt chilly, now felt refreshing.

“The capital has only just entered autumn, but up north, winter will be here soon.”

“It’s the North.”

Edan draped the robe he’d been carrying over my shoulders.

“You know you’ll catch a cold if you swing between hot and cold like that?”

I’d noticed since earlier—Edan’s demeanor was different from usual. His actions were gentle, but somehow… awkward. Even standing this close, he avoided meeting my eyes.

“Edan, I’m sorry.”

He must’ve been angry to have overheard that conversation in the same room. I opened and closed my lips several times, wanting to ask if he was angry—but in the end, I just apologized.

Edan walked on silently.

Beyond the neatly paved stone bridge, the Dukedom Palace glowed serenely in the dark. Its light shone even brighter against the gloom of the North. It reminded me faintly of Edan himself, and I spoke again.

“I’m sorry. But you still care about Lord Killian, don’t you?”

Back at the townhouse, Edan had said—with frightening eyes—that his feelings had changed. But he was still conflicted.

I know Edan well.

If he truly had no intention of reconciling with Killian, he wouldn’t have spoken so ambiguously—he would’ve drawn a firm, clear line.

He would’ve said, “I refuse to reconcile.”

“I can’t let my own pain make you raise a sword against your brother. I don’t want you to do something like that to someone you care about.”

It was true I was angry because Killian had wounded my neck.

But if I let that tear them apart, then I’d be no different from Princess Ciela.

Whatever the reason, whatever the circumstance.

Back in the Archmage’s secret chamber, when Edan spoke of childhood memories with Killian, his face had looked genuinely happy.

Even though they’d been little kids trapped in a grim situation, possibly for life.

“Once your conversation with Princess Ciela ends, some misunderstandings will clear up. You should talk properly with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Though he gave no verbal reply, Edan’s footsteps adjusted to match mine—a silent acknowledgment that he was listening.

“About how you stayed silent when you were falsely accused because of Princess Ciela.”

I lifted my head and swept my wind-tousled hair behind my ears.

“I’ve thought about it carefully—you endured it all for Killian’s sake.”

At that moment, Edan stopped walking.

“I already told you. My selfishness was part of it too.”

When Edan looked down at me, I met his gaze.

“Maybe. Five percent? Ten percent?”

“….”

If it weren’t true, he would’ve denied it outright. Instead, he just narrowed his eyes.

“Even if it was selfish, few people can endure unjust situations so steadfastly. You knew, didn’t you? The stress Killian was under. That it was all for your sake.”

I’d wondered why Killian had pushed so hard to ascend the throne so young.

He’d been Crown Prince since childhood, and his only rival—Edan—had always been his loyal, loving brother.

Though demon beasts occasionally appeared, the Empire had plenty of powerful mages to handle them.

By all accounts, the Empire was peaceful; the Emperor and Empress were healthy, and there was no foreign threat. He could’ve waited until a reasonable age to ascend naturally.

The only reason Killian fought to claim the throne immediately after turning twenty was, no matter how I thought about it, one thing alone:

Edan, who fought demon beasts most often, could not receive direct healing from the Holy Maidens.

The promise Killian made as a child—to grant Edan freedom—could only be fulfilled if he surpassed Empress Henzela. Edan knew this, so he willingly played the villain.

Because, like the current Emperor, he knew Killian’s naturally gentle heart was hard to change.

And because he understood how betrayal, sorrow, and despair—unexpected emotions—could twist a person beyond recognition.

“Edan, don’t try to carry everything alone. Be honest with me. Sometimes, just talking to someone else makes things better. I’ll listen to anything. I’ll always be on your side.”