Such an incredible truth, the words didn’t immediately register in my mind.

‘What does this mean?’

The heart Evelyn spoke of, the experiment. These words connected with what Hadel once said about my heart being the same as his.

I asked back in a slow tone.

“…Are you saying that Hadel’s heart is actually my real heart?”

Instead of a clear answer, Evelyn gave an ambiguous smile.

“Since there was no one to transplant it to, later even animals… It seems you woke up in one of those.”

“My goodness. This must be insane. How could they do such a thing.”

It was ultimately an affirmation. After chewing on my lip for a moment, I recalled that Espen was alive.

“Then perhaps Espen too…?”

Does this mean Espen also had a heart transplant and is still alive because of it?

Evelyn didn’t answer this time either.

She bowed her head politely.

“Have a safe journey back.”

On the way back, even while riding the horse, my mind was filled with nothing but Evelyn’s words.

‘I really don’t understand.’

It’s easy to say, but even if such an experiment is theoretically possible, could it actually succeed?

To begin with, it didn’t make sense that Espen, who had caused a mana outburst, was still alive until now.

‘If Espen is behind this, all the pieces fit together.’

That was the conclusion in the end. Espen is alive. And he’s conducting various experiments to save me.

‘Even controlling the royal family.’

It was clear he had control over the royal family, as the experiment couldn’t be carried out without the king’s help.

‘But how?’

The conclusion felt so unreal. I sat there in a daze for a moment.

My body swayed lightly. I almost slipped off the horse, being lost in such deep thoughts. If Hadel hadn’t caught me, I would have fallen.

“Ah.”

Even while I was in confusion, Hadel remained unshaken.

“Be careful, Marian.”

“Thank you.”

He must have many questions of his own too.

Warm mana flowed in through his palm touching me. Usually, that warmth would have reassured me, but today even that bothered me.

‘It wasn’t Hadel’s mana being absorbed by me. It was my mana, trying to return to me.’

Now all the puzzle pieces fit together.

‘No wonder Hadel is always in pain. Of course, since it’s not a heart that suits him in the first place. I thought it was strange that mana kept overproducing even though he wasn’t in a mana outburst state…’

Perhaps because I kept wearing an anxious expression, Hadel pulled on the reins.

“Are you alright? Should we rest before continuing?”

I nodded.

“That might be good.”

“We’ll rest for a while before going on.”

Everyone stopped their horses without much comment. And they routinely spread out their seats and prepared to rest for a while.

While one person let the horses rest, another scooped snow into a pot, and yet another lit a fire. They were going to boil the snow in the pot to make tea.

As I stood there blankly watching, Hadel reached out his hand to me.

“Shall we walk together?”

“Yes.”

My head was complicated. I rather wanted to walk.

‘There are things I need to say to Hadel too.’

I stared at Hadel’s profile as he walked beside me. His strong-looking eyes were gazing straight ahead. Even though he had clearly heard Evelyn’s story with me.

Unable to hold back any longer, I called out to him first.

“Hadel.”

As I stopped walking, he took one more step out of habit before turning to look at me. I clenched both my fists tightly.

“Why aren’t you asking anything?”

After saying those words, I felt a choking sensation in the back of my throat. I realized my feelings somewhat dully.

‘I was anxious.’

Anxious that Hadel, knowing the whole situation, might resent me.

It seems I had given more of my heart to Hadel than I thought.

‘What if Hadel says he never wants to see me again?’

Having the other person hold the initiative in the relationship felt like they were tightly gripping my heart.

I carefully raised my eyes to look at Hadel. Unable to contain my curiosity about what expression he would have. And at Hadel’s gentle gaze looking back at me, I froze again, this time for a different reason.

“I was waiting until you tell me.”

“…How do you know when I’ll speak?”

“It’s fine even if I don’t hear it.”

How can he speak so nonchalantly while putting himself at a disadvantage? Feeling frustrated, I glared at Hadel. Hadel answered with a cool smile.

“As long as you’re by my side, that’s enough for me.”

“…Fool.”

Hadel smiled as if pleased despite my rebuke. His smile made even me, facing him, want to smile.

I slowly opened my mouth. Thanks to Hadel’s reaction, my lips parted more easily.

“I’m not actually a ferret.”

Even now, I couldn’t easily assert that my true form was human. What I’m talking about now was my soul.

Princess Marian, who led the fight between humans and other races 100 years ago.

That was me.

Hadel slowly nodded upon hearing my confession.

“It doesn’t matter either way.”

His large hand cupped my face. A strong heat was felt from his hard palm. It was similar to the feeling of Hadel’s red eyes looking at me.

“I told you. I don’t need children either. I just want to live quietly with you. That’s the same whether you’re just an ordinary ferret or a cursed human.”

A mischievous smile played on his straight lips.

“If anything, I’m a bit disappointed now. When you were a ferret, I used to bathe you and put you to sleep.”

“Ugh, I thought I was going to burst from embarrassment back then.”

I soon got used to it, but until then, bath time was the biggest hurdle in adapting to the Grand Duke’s residence.

‘Come to think of it, there’s nothing left to hide from Hadel anymore.’

How many times have we bathed together already? I shrugged my shoulders.

“100 years ago, I died after causing a mana outburst. It seems someone collected the shattered pieces of my heart to try and revive me.”

Hadel, who had been listening to my story seriously, asked a question.

“The person who did that experiment was yesterday…?”

“Yes. Yulnisia. She was my friend. She was by my side, closest to me, even when I died.”

Remembering Yulnisia, my voice, which had just lightened, sank again.

“Your heart is actually my heart that shattered 100 years ago.”

My throat tightened. I continued speaking, fidgeting with my fingers. Hadel’s misfortune, the overproducing mana. The cause of that was due to my heart that didn’t match him.

“All your misfortunes are actually because of me. Can you still treat me the same as usual after hearing that, Hadel?”

Hadel, who had been quietly listening to my words, furrowed his brow. He retorted as if dumbfounded.

“…You call me a fool, but the real fool is you.”

“What!”

After all the effort I put into saying these things!

My eyes narrowed instinctively, bristling at being called a fool. Hadel hugged me. And as if soothing a crying child, he gently patted my back.

“In the end, it means we’re complete when we’re together. You without a heart and me with a mismatched heart.”

“T-That’s…”

When he put it that way, this situation sounded romantic. I raised my head to protest that no matter how prettily it’s wrapped up, that’s not right.

Hadel was looking down at me with a smile without a single crease.

“And it’s not because of you. Did you beg to be saved? If anything, you tried to die with relief, right?”

“T-That’s true.”

“Then why is it your fault? The bad guy is the one who tried to revive you without even asking for your opinion.”

Hadel hugged me tightly.

“So don’t say it’s your fault.”

“Hadel.”

With tears welling up, I raised both hands and hugged him back.

It took a long time to go, but coming back was faster. When we arrived at the estate, many people came out to greet us.

“You must be tired from the long journey.”

“Did your business in Neris go well?”

Hadel nodded coolly and answered.

“They said they would start buying heenary coal from this winter.”

“We should make it quickly then.”

“We’ve gathered a lot of firewood while you were away, Your Highness.”

It was natural for that topic to come up since exporting heenary coal was the main purpose of visiting the territory.

But with my mind full of my own problems, I was just tired.

The butler, noticing that I hadn’t said a word, whispered to Hadel.

“But why does the young lady look so dispirited? Don’t tell me the proposal failed?”

“…Something like that happened.”

Could you both speak a little quieter about that?

‘Was I the only one who didn’t know about the proposal?’

This was also quite embarrassing when I thought about it, but I lacked the mental energy to dwell on it in many ways. As I buried my face in my palms, looking tired, Hadel suggested to me first.

“Do you want to rest in your room, Marian?”

“Hadel, what about you?”

“I’m going to the training grounds. It seems we need to start making heenary coal diligently from today to meet the quantity.”

“I see.”

Yes, it’s good to see him working hard as a lord.

As I nodded and walked towards my room, Hadel followed right behind me.

I turned around and held Hadel’s hand.

“What is it?”

“I want to watch you fall asleep before I go.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m an adult, aren’t I? I can sleep well on my own.”

So go do what you need to do.

When I pushed his back like that, Hadel, unlike his usual self, spoke weakly.

“I just want to stay with you a little longer.”

“…”

His intentions were transparent, but I couldn’t push him away because my heart had softened.

As I lay down on the bed, Hadel carefully tucked the blanket up to my neck. Then he sat down beside me.

The touch of his hand stroking my hair felt familiar. Narrowing my eyes at the ticklish sensation, I shook my head.

“Hadel, you’re busy. Go quickly.”

“I’m not that busy.”

“You said you need to make heenary coal.”

“Nothing is more important to me than you.”

Hadel muttered as if regretful.

“If that hadn’t happened, we could have spent a little more time together in Neris. You seemed to like the festival.”

“It’s not that I particularly like festivals.”

I corrected Hadel’s words, blushing on both cheeks.

“…I liked the time I spent with Hadel.”