Edan glared irritably at his older brother.

“It’s that woman I like. I don’t like someone just because they have similar colors. Don’t pull that useless crap again. I’ll kill you.”

Killian shook his head with an expression of weary exasperation.

“I give up, I give up. But Edan—do you seriously believe that woman even exists?”

“She exists.”

“I didn’t want to say this, but you’re clearly out of your mind.”

“Maybe I am. Doesn’t matter.”

“Man! No one else knows her. You said I just forgot, but who the hell is she? And even if we generously assume that’s true a hundred or a thousand times over, why are you the only one who remembers her? Isn’t your memory just faulty?”

“Brother. I will never forget Latieana.”

“Then how can you be so damn sure?”

At that, Edan smirked crookedly.

“I swallowed a pill a few years ago.”

Killian’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“What kind of pill?”

“A pill that, under certain conditions, imprints the other person permanently into your brain so you can never forget them.”

“What?”

This time, Killian stared at Edan as if he were truly insane.

“It’s a pill made from the Blue Heart of the Bluebird. If you take it and look at someone, you’ll never forget them for the rest of your life.”

“That kind of pill existed?”

“Not anymore. It was a one-of-a-kind potion created by the Archmage for the woman he loved.”

“Then why did you take it?”

“At first, I didn’t know it was made with that intention. And honestly, no special reason. I just wanted to engrave her. That’s all.”

Should I believe this? Judging by his actions, it actually sounds plausible. Edan’s face, leisurely and unnecessarily relaxed as he spoke, looked genuinely happy for the first time in ages.

“Anyway, it’s not strange that only I remember Latieana—it’s natural. And I actually prefer it.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s mine.”

In a world where no one else knows you, I alone remember you. You belong to me. Entirely, exclusively mine.

Edan’s red lips curved smoothly into a smile as he thought of Latieana. The gentle late-summer sunlight settled softly upon his flawless face. The breeze drifting in through the open terrace swept his hair aside as if tenderly stroking it, fully revealing Edan’s handsome features.

He seemed perfectly normal—except when talking about that mysterious woman. He actually took such an absurd pill?

Could he have gone mad because of it? I should probably order the mages to brew him an antidote. While Killian was lost in these thoughts, Edan abruptly turned around.

“I’m leaving.”

Killian shouted after the retreating back, long legs striding away without hesitation.

“Hey, man! What about the princess?”

“Say she’s come down with some illness.”

“What illness out of nowhere!”

“Well, something contagious should do.”

“…You’re really insane.”

Killian, who had abandoned all imperial dignity while talking to Edan, let out a deep sigh.

***

A few days later, Edan was at the Mage Tower.

Since Killian became Emperor, he had been investing heavily in training mages—not only because witches were still scattered across the Empire, but also to prepare for unforeseen dangers in future generations.

“…!”

Suddenly, Edan, who had been conversing with the mages, furrowed his brow sharply.

“Why—why are you like that, Your Grace? Was there something unsatisfactory?”

“No. Nothing. Carry on.”

“So, the Great Blessing period will arrive in the North.”

“…When exactly?”

“Next spring!”

The mage raised his voice excitedly.

The Great Blessing—a phenomenon occurring once every five hundred years. This transformation, unique to the North, created breathtaking scenery unseen anywhere else. As all the ice melted, distinct seasons would emerge clearly for anywhere between thirty to ninety years. The first spring of this era would bring an extraordinary harvest. It was astonishing news, deserving more than mere celebration—but Edan merely lifted one corner of his mouth.

“I see.”

After exchanging a few more words with the mages, Edan left the Mage Tower. Moments earlier, during the pause in conversation, someone had trespassed into the old fortress. Edan had left the magical traps connected to the fortress active—and someone had triggered them.

“You’re heading to the old fortress again?”

Direct teleportation from the Mage Tower to the fortress was impossible. So when Edan arrived first at the Ducal Castle, Ruben called out to him.

“I’ll be back.”

“It’s probably just a cat or a dog again, like last time.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Edan teleported to the fortress. Evening had already fallen. As always, he sensed no human presence—but he wasn’t disappointed.

The traps reacted to anything touching the fortress walls, and every time they triggered, Edan went. He held onto the faint hope that perhaps Latieana might return. Even after repeating this fruitless task dozens, hundreds of times, Edan never once grew bored or annoyed by it.

“They say spring is coming.”

Entering the Archmage’s secret chamber, Edan scanned the chaotic piles of books scattered everywhere.

Among them, one stood out—a black book. Tracing his finger across its open page, Edan murmured once more.

“How can spring come when you’re not here?”

The words reflected in Edan’s eyes.

It was something he had considered attempting many times.

‘Edan, promise me. No matter what, swear you’ll never use black magic.’

Latieana’s words had chained him, preventing him from acting. Irritated, Edan hurled the book aside.

***

“Ruben.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Someone touched the fortress walls.”

“The walls?”

“It looks like they dug into the earth and rolled stones nearby. Have it repaired.”

“Yes, understood. But how long will you keep maintaining that place? You don’t use it, and you’re short on time anyway.”

“Forever.”

The answer was simple. Ruben pressed his throbbing temples and headed toward the servant assigned to manage the fortress.

“An animal seems to have disturbed the fortress garden wall. Repair it and ensure nothing gets in again.”

“Yes, sir!”

The servant replied energetically but looked puzzled.

He’d been tending the place for three years and had never seen any animal capable of rolling stones. Moreover, though the fortress stood apart from the village, the hillside was wide open—not exactly a place animals would frequent. Wondering curiously, he arrived at the fortress and, without thinking, simply locked the gate.

***

“Why are there so many people?”

Inside the carriage, Edan frowned as he surveyed the crowds gathered for the lantern festival. Ever since appearing at the coronation, things had become annoyingly complicated. People in the North occasionally recognized his face, but after the coronation, people from other territories had also flocked in pointlessly, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

“Step down, Your Grace.”

Flanked by knights on either side, walking through roaring crowds, Edan thought of only one thing.

I want to see Latieana.

No other words were needed. Just once—just once, I want to see you. That was all he thought about.

Shortly after, Edan, representing everyone, was the first to release a lantern into the sky. As he descended from the podium, he noticed Ruben standing nearby with an odd expression.

“What is it?”

“Your Grace.”

“Why so uncharacteristically hesitant? Speak.”

“I think I saw someone with pink hair. Large eyes, clear sky-blue irises—exactly matching the description you’ve given.”

Edan’s demeanor changed instantly. With chillingly cold eyes, he demanded,

“When?”

“I saw her among the crowd just moments ago. But the sunset glare made it uncertain—I might have been mistaken…”

The woman Edan sought had remained unfound despite three years of searching across the entire Empire. No one even remotely resembling her had ever been found.

Yet, while scanning the crowd for suspicious figures, he’d accidentally spotted her—and couldn’t help but be stunned.

Hair the color of cherry blossoms, like the sacred white trees of the temple. Eyes clear and blue as melted ice. Large eyes, snow-white skin, petite frame.

He knew immediately. If the woman Edan described were to be physically manifested, she would look exactly like this.

Because her identity was ambiguous and she was likely dead, Ruben had hesitated before speaking up. And Edan snatched the black robe from Ruben’s hands and immediately turned to run.

“Your Grace!”

Pulling the robe over his head, Edan ran frantically. Once along the path he’d just come, then back again. Each second felt like a minute, each minute like ten. Scouring the festival streets like a madman, Edan grabbed the arm of a passing pedestrian.

“Hey! Have you seen a woman with pink hair?”

“Huh? Oh—the crying woman earlier? She walked that way just a moment ago…”

It was the opposite side of the riverside festival street. A path thick with darkness. Two men were following a woman. Edan moved ahead and blocked their path.

Beautiful, wavy hair rippling like water. That sweet scent only you carry. Even from the back, he knew.

It was Latieana. My real, true Latieana. The princess he had searched for so desperately now stood right before his eyes.

Edan chased off the vermin with a murderous glare and stood silently, waiting for her to turn around. But when Latieana turned, she flinched backward in fear. Only then did Edan entertain a doubt he’d never considered before.

Could Latieana have forgotten me? Come to think of it, didn’t she just mention having a lover…?

But his hesitation didn’t last.

Doesn’t matter if you forgot.

I’ll fill you with me again. Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, how you lived without me—none of that matters. You’re alive, standing right before my eyes. That’s all that counts. I won’t ever let you go.

“Where are you going?”

Her large, clear blue eyes widened, trembling uncertainly.

“Latieana.”

Her lovely peach-toned skin, her cheeks soft enough to touch—they were exactly as he remembered.

“I’m asking you.”

Suppressing the impulse to crush her into his arms until her bones cracked, Edan shoved his hands into his pockets and tilted his head as he stared at her.

“Where are you going?”

Remember me. I still remember you.