Ansi’s eyes wavered.

A mark of love greater than the wound of betrayal. How good it would be if that was all she had left him with.

When the guilt that had grown as much as her vengeance weighed her down, she wanted to forget everything.

She wanted to ignore the fact that the excitement and happiness she felt when she met Damion’s eyes, held his hands, and kissed him were not complete.

Then, a calm suggestion came from Damion.

“How about leaving with me? Leaving Orphe behind, both from me and from you. To a place where no one knows.”

Ansi’s gaze trembled.

In a place where no one knows, living with this man as if nothing had happened…

It was such a sweet suggestion. If she was going to be stuck either way, unable to move forward or backward, perhaps it was right to go to a place where nothing could be seen.

Still, wouldn’t it be okay?

Hadn’t she suffered as much as she could until now?

Rationalizing that way, Ansi wanted to set herself free. She didn’t want to just take a short break, but to stop here. She wanted to lean on this sweetness and fill the void in her heart that felt empty.

“…Alright.”

A quiet answer flowed from Ansi’s lips.

“Let’s do that.”

As she spoke it out loud, her hazy determination took shape. Cover everything, throw it away, and leave with this man. It was a difficult but clear decision.

As if he had been waiting, Damion kissed her again. Ansi gripped the sheets at the soft sensation enveloping her lips.

The affectionate kisses continued. They were also cautious, as if exploring an unfamiliar and unknown territory.

But only for a moment, as Damion supported the back of Ansi’s head with one hand. He delved deeply into her. Even though they were tightly pressed together, he pulled her close as if it wasn’t enough.

Ansi raised the hand that had been gripping the sheets and grabbed Damion’s shoulders. She clung to him, unable to even breathe properly. Her heart felt like it would burst.

The man’s embrace was extremely solid, and her heart was racing to the point where she couldn’t think of anything else right now.

Ansi thought that today, she might be okay with showing him the pattern on her back.

Ansi looked at the large clock attached to the platform wall. There was still a considerable amount of time left until the train carrying Sofia arrived.

Perhaps due to the heat, there were hardly any people who had come out early to wait for the train. As a result, the platform was quite quiet. Ansi, standing somewhere on it, stared at the empty tracks.

Under the scorching light, the tracks connected the far, invisible ends. Originally a path that created the rush of trains, but now with nothing on it, it was just an empty space.

Suddenly, she was reminded of the abandoned tracks she had seen while living in the south. They said construction had started when the railroad industry was in the spotlight, but it was halted for various reasons. She couldn’t understand why those tracks came to mind now.

She stayed like that, lost in thought for a while. Soon, people began to appear sporadically, and before long, they filled the platform.

Then, with a loud noise, the train pulled in. Ansi searched for Sofia with her eyes. She thought it would take a while to find her due to the crowd, but unexpectedly, she could find her easily.

Because people glanced at and avoided the woman who was running towards her, looking pale as if she might fall over.

“Mother!”

At Ansi’s call, Sofia whipped her head around. As soon as their eyes met, she hurriedly moved towards Ansi.

“Is Damion okay? Ansi, are you alright?”

“Damion was discharged safely, and I’m fine.”

“Really? Let me see.”

Not reassured by Ansi’s answer, Sofia examined her here and there. Only after completing a few instructions like walking and clenching and unclenching her fists did Sofia’s expression relax a little.

“I was really… traveling comfortably without knowing you had gone through such a thing.”

Sofia reproached herself.

As soon as she returned to Belgader by ship, she was so surprised to see the news about Damion in the newspaper.

She immediately contacted Ansi. Ansi said she was fine, but she always says she’s fine even normally, so she couldn’t believe those words. So she canceled her plan to visit the south with Merhen and headed to the capital.

“It’s okay. He woke up well.”

“How much heartache our daughter must have suffered.”

Sofia cupped Ansi’s cheeks. Ansi lifted the corners of her mouth as if to say it was alright.

“Is Damion at home? I think I should see his face.”

“He went out. He said there was piled-up work.”

“A patient shouldn’t do that.”

Sofia sighed worriedly.

Ansi agreed on that point, but since he seemed to have almost recovered his strength, she ended up letting him go. On the condition that he wouldn’t overdo it and would return before dinner.

“Anyway, I’m really glad you’re both okay. Please take good care of Damion.”

“Yes.”

Seeing Sofia’s relieved face, Ansi’s heart felt heavy instead.

If her plan had succeeded, how would Sofia, who was left behind, have felt and looked? Perhaps it was fortunate that the plan failed, even for Sofia’s sake.

Ansi kept looking for excuses to be content with the current peace. To give up her lingering desire for revenge and to be happy with that man.

“Let’s have lunch together, Mother.”

Ansi linked arms with Sofia. It was an action she hadn’t done before.

In any case, she was in peace now. So Ansi decided to put aside other thoughts and enjoy the current tranquility.

After lunch, the carriage Ansi was riding entered the mansion. Simon, who had been waiting for her, came out. As Ansi entered the mansion, Simon took her hat and told her.

“Madam, you have a guest.”

“Is that so?”

Ansi narrowed her brows slightly. She hadn’t heard that anyone would be visiting. It seemed to be Damion’s guest.

Anyway, since he was absent now, it was right for her to greet the guest.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Viscount Kardian.”

Ansi raised an eyebrow.

Why was that man here? She was wrapped in an ominous premonition for some reason.

“He’s waiting in the drawing room, shall I tell him to wait a little longer…?”

It was an obvious reaction for her, who usually doesn’t show her emotions, so Simon asked carefully.

Ansi shook her head.

“I’ll go now.”

Whatever his business was, it was better for her to go than to have Damion meet Kardian.

Ansi entered the drawing room. As the door closed, Kardian, who was sitting languidly on the sofa, looked up. He smiled softly.

“Where have you been?”

“I have no obligation to tell you.”

“You’re so cold.”

“What brings you here?”

“First, sit down, Ansi. Where is there a person who treats a guest like that?”

“I’m not leisurely enough to entertain an unexpected guest.”

Ansi’s reaction was adamant like a huge wall. Kardian stared at Ansi for a while, then finally gave up and nodded.

“I came because I have a favor to ask.”

“Tell me. I’ll pass it on to Damion.”

“It’s related to Mion, but… it’s a favor I want to ask of Ansi. I hope you’ll agree to it. Ah, and don’t tell Mion.”

Ansi’s brows furrowed. Judging by Kardian’s casual expression, he seemed to believe without a doubt that Ansi would naturally grant the favor.

But whatever that bastard asked for, Ansi had no intention of granting it. Especially if it was related to Damion.

“Go back.”

Ansi turned her body.

Kardian should be grateful that Ansi wasn’t stabbing him right now. It was solely thanks to Damion that he could keep his life.

If it weren’t for Damion, she would have driven Orphe into the mud. If they hadn’t made each other their purpose in life, she would have stabbed Kardian to death and had plenty left over.

“You should grant it.”

Kardian’s voice was full of laughter. His languid voice was just relaxed. As if he really had a card Ansi couldn’t ignore.

Ansi moved her steps, ignoring him. But the next moment, she stopped dead in her tracks, feeling like her heart was sinking.

“Derl de Rubelsa is alive.”

Ansi slowly turned to Kardian.

It was an unbelievable story.

Because Derl died in the war with Parma.

It was the result of the gruesome battle she and her father had fought a year and a half ago.

“What on earth…”

Her voice trembled pathetically. After taking a deep breath, Ansi asked.

“What on earth do you mean by saying that?”

“I just told you the truth. That your elder brother is alive.”

“Lies.”

“Did you confirm your elder brother’s corpse?”

“…”

Ansi was at a loss for words.

She couldn’t confirm Derl’s corpse. Because he had disappeared without a trace when the bomb exploded. Only his clothes were placed in Derl’s coffin.

Ansi had also held out hope. Since they couldn’t find the body, maybe he was alive – she had such absurd imaginings. She even had visions of Derl appearing in front of her mother, who was looking for her father and elder brother as if nothing had happened, and answering her.

But Derl didn’t return.

Even until now.

“I know where Derl de Rubelsa is.”

“Do you think I would fall for such a ridiculous lie?”

“I can bring him in front of Ansi, too.”