The wind had become quite cool. Damion brushed his hair that had fallen forward.

Now, he was able to walk quite well even without crutches. He did not put any special effort into practicing walking.

He just did it every day according to a set schedule. As time passed, he naturally became able to walk to this extent.

Damion stopped on his way to the hospital and looked at the trees. The leaves that had boasted a deep green throughout the summer were gradually changing color. This too was an utterly natural phenomenon that came with the passage of time.

However, Damion was angry at this obvious principle. That everything in the world changes and develops.

Because somewhere, there is still something that does not change.

He entered the hospital building with his mouth firmly shut.

Today’s newspaper had a feature article analyzing the results of the participation in the war by Brigada, an ally of Belgader.

Belgader had already recaptured most of the north. But they were struggling to fully reclaim all the territories.

Rezen, driven into a corner, engaged in even more aggressive battles and drew in surrounding nations. As the war prolonged, the Belgader army was also getting tired.

In this situation, Brigada’s participation had a greater effect than simply adding numbers.

As the absolute military power increased, the morale of the Imperial Army rose. With the increased size, there was a sense that they could do it with just a little more effort, boosting their momentum.

The Imperial Army advanced again with unstoppable force. With this, victory drew much closer to Belgader.

It seemed the end of the war was not far off.

However……

Damion opened the ivory door. Inside the hospital room, Sofia was sitting and blankly staring out the window. Seeing her sunken eyes, Damion struggled to lift the corners of his mouth.

“Mother. The wind is cool. Why don’t you go out for a walk?”

“Oh, Damion, you’re here. No. I’ll stay here.”

“Then go in and get some sleep.”

“No. It’s okay.”

“You don’t look well. Ansi will be surprised if she wakes up.”

“…Yes, that shouldn’t happen.”

Sofia smiled bitterly, pressing one cheek with her hand. Knowing Damion would try to send her home somehow, Sofia didn’t insist any more and left the room.

Damion approached Ansi lying on the bed.

Even as time passed, Ansi remained the same. Her time did not flow as if it were preserved. She just lay there with a pale and still face, just as she had at first.

Damion reached out with a towel to wipe Ansi’s hand. Her small hand entered his.

Damion’s brows furrowed.

Her hand was warmer than usual.

“Ansi?”

It seemed that as time passed, a change had finally come to her as well.

Damion did not know whether it was a good thing or not.

The first floor of the Sobelvio mansion was filled with the noise of numerous soldiers. Food of much better quality than usual was placed in front of them. It was a place to celebrate the successful battle against Rezen and the recapture of Chelsha.

It was also to take a breather with proper rest, having only rushed forward non-stop until now.

With the success in recapturing Chelsha, all the key areas had been recovered, so it could be said that the war was really nearing its end.

The end of the war was not far off. They were directly feeling that fact with their own skin here, right next to Rezen.

The Rezen army could no longer hide their face anticipating defeat even in front of the enemy. It was not difficult to drive out such people.

Hope naturally sprouted.

Sobelvio was the perfect space to express that hope.

Although the interior was somewhat disarrayed after Rezen’s army had swept through, just being in Sobelvio made one feel uplifted.

There was no need for anyone’s permission to stay in the empty mansion during wartime, but the unit they belonged to had Damion de Orphe, so the soldiers could enjoy their excited mood with an even more comfortable heart.

Laughter and jokes full of joy and delight were exchanged. They talked about things they wanted to do when they returned, places they wanted to go, and people they wanted to see.

The commander left the seat early to let them enjoy the occasion.

Not long after, Damion, the commander of the 1st Unit, also got up from his seat.

“Why don’t you stay longer, sir?”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I’ll be in the annex, so curse me out if you want.”

With a light laugh, Damion took his military coat. He nodded to the soldiers bowing to him and left the main building.

But when it became time for no one to see his expression, his face fell terribly.

Damion was not happy at all in that space full of joy.

How could he be happy.

Without that woman, how could he possibly.

Damion walked the dark promenade alone. He moved his steps for a long time, relying on the faint moonlight seeping through the trees.

The annex came into view.

He entered the annex alone. The moon seen from the second floor of the annex was much brighter than what he had felt on the promenade. A serene lake and lush forest. A beautiful night scenery unfolded before his eyes.

It was a spectacular view.

However…… there was no particular feeling.

There was a time when he wanted this place that had been Kardian’s exclusive property. Now it was ridiculous to think about why he had wanted it so badly.

〈When the war ends, I will make a decision regarding the Viscount. I want to follow your intention on this, so think about it.〉

The emperor’s words came to mind.

Ludkaos had arrested and imprisoned Kardian based on evidence of his betrayal. But his punishment had not yet been decided.

It was out of concern that the morale of the allied forces would fall if it became known that none other than the Viscount of the Orphe family had handed over confidential information of the allied forces to the enemy.

So the fact that Kardian had been arrested was also a secret.

In fact, the answer was predetermined. A traitor must be severely punished for the crime of treason. That was natural.

But one thing holding Damion back was the emotion Ansi would feel when Damion was executed along with Kardian.

He did not want to see her fall into sorrow.

So he was still delaying the answer.

“……”

Damion, who had been lost in thought for a moment, turned his body. He picked up the receiver and called the hospital. This was also something he had been putting off.

If it were his usual self, he would have called as soon as he arrived at Sobelvio. But he couldn’t do that today.

Today, when everyone was sharing joy and hope, if he heard the news that there was no particular improvement in Ansi’s condition as usual, it seemed it would hurt a little…… no, a lot.

It seemed he was gradually becoming afraid of hearing the same story every time.

A few regular beeps were heard.

Soon, a hospital staff member answered the phone as usual. It took a little longer than usual to connect to Derl.

− ……This is Lubelsa.

“How is Ansi?”

− …….

Derl did not answer. Damion frowned. He opened his mouth again to check if the call had been disconnected.

“Major Lubelsa?”

− ……Not good.

The moment he heard those words, Damion felt like his heart was falling into the abyss.

His face stiffened blankly. He couldn’t gauge what kind of expression he should make.

Not good. What? What is it that he’s saying that?

Countless questions scattered in his head without taking shape. Damion repeatedly opened and closed his mouth.

Derl spoke again. His voice was also trembling.

− She suddenly developed a fever. No matter what we do, it won’t go down. It seems tonight will be the critical point.

“Why……”

Why, when her condition that had always been the same changed.

Contrary to his fear until just now that her condition would remain the same forever, Damion now became terribly afraid of her change.

Because he had such thoughts. Is that why God is tormenting Ansi?

His face distorted terribly.

It was as painful as if his heart was being torn apart. It was excruciatingly bitter and painful. He was seized by an illusion as if the scene before his eyes was swaying and mixing. He just wanted to die like this.

“……I’ll go.”

Damion barely squeezed out the words and hung up the phone. He should have called earlier. Then he could have visited her hospital a little sooner.

Even though he knew there was nothing he could do even if he said he was going, he regretted everything.

Damion moved his steps to the first floor to leave the annex.

That’s when it happened.

“Hello.”

A familiar voice rang in his ears. Damion whipped his head around. The woman who had been sitting on the first floor sofa stood up.

It was the goddess Amor.

The goddess who showed Ansi Damion’s death, thus inducing her to throw away her life to save him.

Damion fiercely glared at her and strode closer.

“Didn’t you say you could end the contract with Lubelsa early?”

“I told Ansi the method. She’s the one who refused.”

“You should have persuaded her. You should have made her break the contract, even by force.”

“I’m so sorry. Gods are not ones to break the will.”

“Thanks to that, do you know what situation Ansi is in right now?”

“I know. She will die tonight.”

Amor said it as if it were nothing. A chilling sensation ran down Damion’s back.

Ansi would die.

Damion couldn’t accept those words that came out of the goddess’s mouth at all.