It was unexpected. For someone whose life seemed to be a bed of roses, I thought he would be in heaven even in his dreams.

“Lemon, try it next time then.”

“Yes.”

“Close your eyes for now.”

Ansi nodded and closed her eyes. The sound of steady heartbeats coming from close by and the warm temperature enveloping her entire body brought a sense of relief like waves.

“Sleep well.”

“…You too, Damion.”

Although it seemed like she would never fall asleep, her consciousness soon drifted away.

Warmth and heartbeat.

Proof of being alive, not dead.

Feeling that, she fell asleep.

[This is the timeline separator]

Even after Ansi fell asleep, Damion couldn’t easily fall asleep. The woman in his arms was still in a light sleep. He gently stroked her, afraid that she might wake up if he moved.

When he saw Ansi’s pale face in front of the door, his heart seemed to sink for a moment.

It was clear that something had happened. Otherwise, there was no way she would come to his room at this hour with that face.

But the reason was just a nightmare.

It was an absurd reason.

Because it was an absurd reason… he was glad.

The fact that she came to him just because she had a nightmare. It was even more so because she seemed so realistic.

It must be proof that his meaning to her was growing.

Damion lifted the corners of his mouth.

Ansi de Orphe.

My wife.

Suddenly, that proposition felt real.

Damion admitted it.

That acting like a fool who had fallen in love with her quite suited him. It was fun to see her stiff, broken reactions.

She was a woman he brought in only to prevent his death, and he still didn’t know if she could properly fulfill that role.

But it wasn’t bad to have someone in the position of his wife. Her existence was not bad for him at all.

Damion slowly patted his wife’s back.

The sound of the woman’s soft breathing with a peaceful face was nice to hear. Somehow, it felt like it would be good to keep looking at her like this without sleeping.

[This is the timeline separator]

When Ansi opened her eyes, the room was still dark. Only the dim morning light filled the room like fog.

“Are you awake?”

The man approached her. He was neatly dressed.

Come to think of it, she fell asleep in Damion’s room.

Ansi blankly stared at him, her eyes wavering.

It felt like all the blood was draining from her body.

‘…A wine-colored necktie.’

The man was wearing the same outfit as in her dream.

Damion kissed Ansi’s forehead and whispered affectionately.

“Sleep more. Have a good dream this time.”

A familiar situation.

Familiar words.

Ansi reached out and grabbed Damion’s sleeve. His eyes widened in surprise at the sudden action.

Silver cufflinks with pine trees engraved.

Ansi’s blue eyes trembled.

“Are you… going to work already?”

Ansi asked in a shaky voice. She tried to feign calmness but failed. Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on the sleeve she was holding. Damion covered her hand that was clenched so tightly that her knuckles protruded.

“I have some things to take care of. I won’t be too late.”

Ansi knew what he would say next.

Do you like tarts by any chance.

“Do you like tarts by any chance?”

“Ah…”

A small groan escaped Ansi’s mouth. It was clearly the same situation as in her dream yesterday. It wasn’t a dream after all. What she saw was about today.

“I guess you don’t really feel like it today.”

Damion smiled as if he was in a difficult situation.

Ansi couldn’t answer.

Damion’s straight eyebrows narrowed slightly. He sat down on the bed.

“Did you have another nightmare?”

Her reflection in his deep violet eyes was filled with fear.

“No, no…”

Ansi muttered blankly. Damion quietly looked at her, then raised his gaze to look at the clock on the wall.

He brushed her hair that had fallen forward behind her ear and got up from the bed.

“You’ll have a good dream this time. Sleep more.”

Damion, who bent his waist to kiss her forehead once more, turned around.

Ansi instinctively knew.

If he left now, he would cross that bridge just like before.

Then, just like in that dream…

“Damion!”

Ansi, who hurriedly jumped out of bed, grabbed Damion. He looked at her with wide eyes in surprise.

“If you go now…”

Don’t.

Just as Ansi opened her mouth to say that.

“…!”

Suddenly, a chilling feeling brushed against her chest.

It felt like someone was grabbing her heart.

When she opened her mouth, she felt a fear that seemed to twist her heart tightly. Or as if it would rip out her heart and feed it to the dogs, a frightening and cruel feeling swept through her body.

Suddenly, her father’s words from long ago came to mind.

〈The people of Rubels have the power to protect their wives or husbands. Ansi, when you get married, I’ll tell you about it.〉

It sounded like a joke. Her father, who often told her imaginative stories for his stiff daughter, so Ansi ignored those words as well.

But now, she knew.

What story her father was trying to tell her.

〈Power comes with responsibility. So actually, I hope you pretend not to know about that power. Because you are more precious to me.〉

She also understood what the lonely added words meant.

‘I… saw this man die in advance.’

She had no idea what was going on.

But one thing was clear.

If she opened her mouth now. And if he didn’t cross that bridge at the appointed time.

That incident would become something that never happened.

If she stopped him, he would exist tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, just like he was in front of her eyes now.

〈Power comes with responsibility.〉

The chilling and frightening sensation just now. She still didn’t know what the result of that would be.

However, she still couldn’t let this man go now.

Damion de Orphe was a necessary figure for her revenge. Only with this man could she enter the center of Orphe.

So it was for her, not for him.

Damion must not die today.

“Ansi?”

Ansi opened her mouth to the man who was worriedly examining her.

“Don’t go.”

Ansi hugged the man. Damion’s body stiffened rigidly. Ansi burrowed further into his embrace.

Then she turned her gaze to the wall clock.

5:25 AM.

There were about 20 minutes left until the time she saw in her dream.

“What’s wrong?”

Damion, who had stiffened in surprise, hugged Ansi back. Ansi did not know how to answer his question.

The bridge will collapse soon, and you will die there. So don’t go.

She couldn’t easily say such words.

Honestly, even she herself was not confident yet.

Would that really happen today? Was it actually just déjà vu? Or had she gone crazy?

So if she was really crazy and the bridge didn’t collapse. Wouldn’t this man also find out that she was crazy?

Instead of being caught, Ansi decided to use this man’s heart. Just like how he comforted her last night, she would ask him to comfort her a little more this time.

“I just had a scary dream.”

“You did after all?”

Ansi nodded her head greatly. Damion gently stroked her hair.

“I’ll call Simon. It will be a little better if you’re together.”

“I need Damion.”

“I want to, but I have an early business meeting. I’ll come back after taking care of that…”

“It’s okay to be a little late. Stay with me for just 30 minutes, no, 20 minutes. If you leave, I feel like I’ll have nightmares again.”

Since childhood, had she ever thrown such a tantrum without reason like this?

Even though she knew how important time commitments were in business.

Even she thought it was a difficult request to accept.

It seemed like this wouldn’t work. What other reason could there be? Ansi’s mind swirled.

“At least have a quick breakfast before you go. When you have a meeting, your mind will work better that way…”

The confidence in Ansi’s voice gradually disappeared. How could she only think of such foolish reasons? Her voice shrank.

Should she really run and puncture the tires of the car he would ride in? Or…

“I will.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll do that, Ansi.”

The man readily agreed. Ansi blankly looked up at Damion.

“The chef makes good sandwiches. Then do you want to eat together too, Ansi?”

Ansi pressed her lips tightly together and nodded her head greatly.

[This is the timeline separator]

It was early morning, but the servants were starting their activities.

“Oh my, Master, Madam! What brings you to the dining room?”

The head maid Elma spotted them and widened her eyes as if puzzled. The chef Lautie rushed out from inside, startled.

“To have breakfast before leaving.”

“You, Master?”

Elma asked back, frowning her face. It was understandable. The young master never listened even when told that having breakfast would lead to a more energetic day.

“I heard Lautie’s sandwiches are excellent.”

That’s when the madam spoke in a clear voice. Her transparent, bead-like eyes turned to Lautie.

“That’s true, Madam!”

Lautie laughed awkwardly and bowed his head. And he immediately went inside to make sandwiches.

Seeing that, Elma let out an exclamation of surprise.