“When I was young, your hands were small and soft, but now they are much bigger and rougher than mine.”

When did the children who used to fit in my arms grow up so much? Sophia smiled faintly, the corners of her mouth lifting.

“I was as happy as if I had the whole world when you returned. Even now… if you care for me, I wish you would turn a blind eye to the Empire’s problems.”

“…Mother.”

“But that is not what you or your father would want.”

Sophia raised her head to meet Derl’s eyes. Both her husband and son were soldiers to the bone. In this situation, they would consider retreating and running away a disgrace worse than death.

Her son was no longer a young child who would throw tantrums in her arms. He had his own firm thoughts, a path he wanted to follow, and life values he could not compromise on.

Sophia loved her husband, who was like an unbending tree. She hoped her children would also grow up to be such people. Looking at them now, it seemed that wish had already been fulfilled.

Therefore, Sophia could not bring herself to stop Derl.

“Do what you think is right.”

Sophia carefully hugged Derl. A lump rose in Derl’s throat. He hugged his mother back.

“I’ll be back.”

“You must come back healthy, alright?”

“Yes.”

Derl nodded, knowing it might be a promise he couldn’t keep. Believing this promise, this determination to return, would protect him.

Derl slowly pulled away from Sophia. And walked towards the door.

“Derl.”

Ansi, who had been biting her lip hard, urgently called out to him. Derl turned around. And grinned at his sister, who was glaring at him reproachfully.

“I’ll write to you, Ansi.”

“…Okay.”

Derl turned back again.

In the end, Ansi couldn’t hold onto him any longer.

The door closed. Just like two years ago, only Ansi and Sophia were left here alone.

“…Get some rest, Ansi.”

Sophia smiled with effort and went into her room, closing the door. Is it really alright to send Derl away like this? Ansi, who was about to knock on Sophia’s bedroom door, stopped at the sound of faint crying.

The suppressed sobs pierced Ansi’s heart.

She leaned against the wall next to Sophia’s bedroom door.

She felt confused and empty.

At that moment, she desperately wanted to see Damion. She wondered what it would have been like if he had been by her side. And at the same time, the anxiety that had been rising since she heard the news of the war reared its head again.

Is Damion coming to Maren?

To avoid missing each other, it would be better to wait for him. But what if he had already gone to the front lines like Derl?

The anxiety swelled enormously with each passing second.

Ansi went to her room and took out some writing paper.

She wasn’t even sure if the letter would reach him. But she wanted to talk to him somehow.

To tell him that she was still waiting for him in Maren. So please, come here.

All eligible men in the Empire had to participate in the war. However, high-ranking aristocrats had options.

They could choose to some extent where to be stationed, and thus also lower the likelihood of their lives being threatened.

This was also the case for Damion.

Retreating to a safer location. For the sake of his life, that would be the rational decision.

But from the Empire’s perspective, it was different. The Empire needed Damion, who was once called Belgader’s war hero.

“I’ll get straight to the point. Volunteer for the front lines.”

Colonel Raonil, who had come to see Damion, said in a low voice. He was someone Damion had spent several years with when he was in the military.

It had already been nearly two years since Damion left the military. But Raonil was convinced Damion’s skills had not rusted yet.

Damion also did not underestimate himself on the grounds that it had been a long time since he left the military. War tactics and business had many similarities.

Both required meticulous strategy, composure, and timing, and both were areas Damion was confident in.

Damion pondered for a moment.

If he did not accept Raonil’s proposal, he would certainly be able to go to a safe area. He could preserve his life while conducting a nominal command.

But in the long run, he wondered if it was right to stand back.

The north was currently being invaded, but Rezen’s goal was clear.

Unlike Belgader, which bordered the sea to the south, Rezen was a completely landlocked country. It was sufficiently clear from the situation so far that Rezen wanted access to the sea.

Then the reason they had decidedly attacked Belgader now was also for the southern sea.

Rezen was a country with quite strong military power. If Rezen was not properly stopped at the beginning, they would come down to the south with unstoppable momentum.

That place where Ansi was. And even Maren, the place where Damion had lived.

“I volunteer.”

Damion readily spoke, having finished his deliberation.

There should be no threat whatsoever to Ansi’s residence. He did not want to make her feel anxious that Rezen might reach the south either.

She had to be in definite safety.

For that, Damion decided to do his best to stop Rezen now.

“Thank you. You don’t know how reassuring it is to have you.”

Raonil nodded, his voice noticeably brighter. He judged that with Damion, there was a high possibility of gaining the upper hand.

“However, I have one condition.”

“Name it. I’ll agree to anything I can do.”

Raonil spoke willingly. Then Damion opened his mouth.

Ansi, who had been rummaging through the empty mailbox for a while, lowered her gaze.

There was still no reply from Damion. She didn’t know if the letter hadn’t arrived or if he hadn’t replied yet.

Then, feeling a presence, Ansi raised her head, her eyes widening.

“Madam!”

Roma was walking towards Ansi’s house. It was the first time seeing her since the day she met Damion.

“Have you been well?”

“How is…the capital?”

“I want to say it’s fine, but honestly, the atmosphere isn’t very good. Rezen hasn’t come down to the capital yet, but everyone is scared. It seems many people are moving to the south. Now, this is a reply to your letter.”

Roma took out an envelope from her bag and held it out. The handwriting on it was Elize’s.

Ansi hurriedly unfolded the paper. Inside, it was densely written that she was safe and sound, so Ansi should take care of herself.

It was a relief that Elize seemed to be alright.

Ansi raised her head to look at Roma’s hands. Even though she knew they were empty, she couldn’t let go of the futile hope.

“Is there…no news from Damion?”

“That man went to war, Ansi.”

Ansi slowly nodded.

So that’s why he couldn’t reply to the letter. It was within the expected range. Since Belgader had started conscription, Damion was no exception either.

But he would have been deployed to a relatively safe area. Thinking she should send a letter there, Ansi asked again.

“Do you know where Damion is?”

“He’s at the front lines. Carrying out an operation to recapture the north that was taken by Rezen.”

Ansi’s gaze faltered.

“…The front lines?”

“Yes. I heard he volunteered to go there.”

“…”

Ansi’s legs swayed. She strived to keep her balance and lowered her head.

She was the daughter and sister of soldiers. She had seen multiple times through documents how many casualties occur and how miserable the scene is when a war of this scale breaks out.

She also had the experience of losing her father and brother in the battle with Parma, which was not very large in scale.

So she…knew how high the chances were of Damion losing his life when he was at the front lines.

Ansi looked up at Roma blankly.

“…Where exactly did he go?”

“I can’t tell you that. Because I think you’ll go looking for him if I do.”

It was definitely true. She wanted to go find Damion right this moment. Towards such Ansi, Roma spoke again.

“Ansi, I came to see you this time for a separate reason.”

Roma said calmly.

“Break my mirror with your own hands. If you break the mirror by Rubella’s hands, the contract ends. Otherwise, the contract surrounding you won’t end until you die.”

Ansi narrowed her brows.

The contract surrounding her.

Exchanging lifespan to save her companion’s life.

Breaking the mirror means she will no longer have that dream. It means she won’t be able to foresee Damion’s peril and thus won’t be able to save him.

“…I can’t do that.”

“Ansi, you can’t go on any longer.”

Roma spoke firmly.

“You know there’s not much left, right?”

Ansi was not unaware of what her words meant.

The heart-shaped mark on her waist, which she checked after returning from the masked ball where she last met Damion, was now almost full.

Perhaps, no, surely the next time would be the last.

“If you break the mirror now, the lifespan that was going to be reduced also becomes void. Then you lose nothing, Ansi. Besides… rather than being in agony, unable to do anything even though you know what will happen, it’s better not to see from the beginning.”

If she saves Damion one more time, Ansi will lose her life then. If she’s not really going to die for the other person, it’s better not to see.

But Ansi shook her head.

“Then…I definitely can’t break it.”