Instead of greeting formally, Eustar approached the bed and sat beside Ord. Gently grasping Ord’s frail hand, Eustar asked with a concerned expression.

“Why aren’t you lying down?”

Ord turned to look at him with a smile. Eustar’s heart sank at his peaceful appearance, as if he might fly away at any moment.

“With two welcome guests arriving, I was sitting up to greet them.”

Ord’s touch patting Eustar’s hand was gentle, slow and weak like an old man’s. Eustar felt his heart sink again, but tried not to show it.

“I’m glad you woke up safely.”

Ord said. Eustar forced a pained smile and gripped his hand tighter.

“Now if only you would get better, elder brother, there would be nothing to worry about.”

Ord nodded slowly, but instead of agreeing with Eustar’s words, he silently gazed at his face. Eustar would long struggle to find the right words to describe that look.

Ord looked weary, like a pilgrim whose faith wavers at the end of a long journey. He also seemed dejected, as if he had lost an opportunity right before his eyes without achieving anything he wanted.

“Eustar.”

When Ord quietly called his name, Eustar was overwhelmed by a childish urge to run away.

“Yes, elder brother.”

As he answered, the smile on Ord’s lips deepened. Ord’s frail body, like a candle flame in the wind, shifted slightly as if about to topple over.

“Do you think I was a good king?”

Eustar blinked, biting the inside of his lip firmly as he nodded resolutely.

“Of course.”

“Was I brave enough as the master of the knights?”

“Of course. You were as brave as a golden-maned lion, elder brother.”

Ord stared even more intently at Eustar’s face. The light pooled in his eyes flickered, dimming and returning repeatedly, clearly visible to Eustar.

“Was I a good elder brother to you?”

A tear rolled down Eustar’s cheek. He bowed his head, still holding Ord’s hand. Eustar’s shoulders shook violently as he burst into sobs.

“…Of course, elder brother. Of course you were.”

“Then my life was not entirely in vain.”

When Eustar raised his head, his eyes were bloodshot. His face was contorted and wet with tears. Eustar shook his head, clutching Ord’s hand as if pulling it.

“Who, who would dare say your life was in vain? Who could say such a thing? No one can. They can’t.”

Ord gently patted Eustar’s head as he finally broke down crying, then turned to face the window.

The night sky dotted with pale stars swelled like a sail caught by the wind. A warmth-filled darkness enveloped Ord cozily before retreating. It felt like the touch of a loved one.

“I thought I had done my best while alive, but looking back, there are more regrets. Perhaps that’s true for all people. Those who can be satisfied at the end of life must truly be blessed.”

Eustar, almost lying on the bed, shook his head vigorously. He looked like a child throwing a tantrum, not wanting to be separated from his parents.

Yet he had never thrown tantrums as a child. Eustar’s childhood, forced to mature too quickly, was another of Ord’s regrets. A burden on his heart.

“Don’t say such things.”

Eustar forced out the words through a tight throat.

“Don’t say that. Your end is still far off, elder brother. Still…”

Ord, who had been patting his head, spoke.

“Eustar, look at me.”

Stubbornly hunching his shoulders, Eustar slowly raised his head. The scent of salt wafted from his ragged breathing.

Ord reached out to wipe Eustar’s cheek. Touching the feverishly hot skin reminded him of long ago, when Eustar was sick and couldn’t sleep a wink.

“Did you hear from Laila?”

Eustar nodded hesitantly. Letting out a long sigh, he pressed his stiff eyes with the back of his hand and said,

“That the Decepter disappeared.”

“Is that all you heard?”

“She said there was much I needed to hear from you.”

Ord smiled faintly.

“That child was considerate of me.”

Eustar cut him off.

“But I won’t listen now. When you’re healthy, then…”

“You were my brother, my comrade, and like a son to me.”

Eustar exhaled sharply and gripped the sheets tightly. If he could, he wanted to stop Ord’s words.

It felt like as long as he didn’t pour out everything in his heart, Ord wouldn’t leave forever. It was an unreasonable, forceful thought, but if he could hold onto Ord’s life that way, that’s what he wanted to do.

“I never regretted saving you. I’m only sorry I couldn’t be a more perfect brother to you. You were a flawless brother to me.”

Eustar looked at Ord again. A chill ran through him, as if something icy was piercing his body.

“I owe Laila a great debt. Without her, my soul could never have been redeemed.”

The pale green eyes, brimming with tears, slowly widened. Something unwanted was rapidly approaching Eustar.

Something massive that couldn’t be stopped or avoided… was flying towards him like an arrow, riding the slope of a downhill.

“What do you mean?”

Ord’s gaze fixed steadily on Eustar.

“I was the contractor of the Decepter, Eustar.”

At that moment, for some reason – perhaps because Eustar’s own consciousness was fading –

Ord’s voice didn’t sound clear. It seemed to come from somewhere far away, another place.

“What… what on earth…”

Ord continued.

“But I was always anxious whether the Decepter would keep its promise to me. I always worried about you, unable to live a normal life as the medium of the contract.”

“Elder brother!”

“That’s why I needed Laila. For your sake.”

Eustar could barely speak now. His heart pounded as if it would burst with each breath. There was a metallic taste on his tongue. He had bitten it without realizing, hard enough to draw blood.

Ord exhaled a short, labored sigh and said,

“Being born a witch, she would have been helplessly drawn to you at first. But now you know too. She truly loves you. Just as you do her. So… Eustar, cherish Laila so you have no regrets. Savor your life, and fill it only with good memories. Instead of remembering those who are gone, live while looking more at the faces of those who remain.”

Ord smiled as he finished speaking. For a moment, his face, with nothing left but bone and skin, looked as graceful and beautiful as a god’s. Eustar would remember that smile vividly for a very long time. It was an expression impossible to forget.

“I’m sleepy.”

Ord’s body slowly tilted as he spoke in a whisper. He lay down straight, without even covering himself with the sheet. His eyes narrowed to slits. Eustar belatedly widened his eyes and shook his head.

“No, elder brother. No. Don’t fall asleep. It’s not… time for you to sleep yet. Talk with me more.”

Ord’s eyelids moved sluggishly. He felt more comfortable and unburdened than ever before. His body felt light, as if he could fly away.

“Alright. When your brother… wakes up, let’s talk again…”

His breathing slowly diminished. Eustar shook his head, touching Ord’s cheek, then grasping his hand that still held warmth.

“No.”

Eustar pleaded.

“Don’t sleep. Don’t… fall asleep yet. Just a little longer… talk with me.”

There was a hissing sound. It was similar to air escaping through a thin pipe.

Ord’s chest, which had risen slowly and shallowly, gradually sank.

That was the last.

It was the moment Ord Hyanmorik’s soul finally gained freedom.

The news of King Ord Hyanmorik’s passing was first conveyed throughout the palace.

In place of the missing chamberlain Baso, Count Tommen, dressed in black cloth, circled the palace once to announce the king’s death.

The court ladies cleaned Ord’s body, changed him into new clothes, and carefully placed the corpse in a coffin.

Though his healthy appearance from long ago was nowhere to be seen due to his prolonged illness, the older officials circled Ord’s coffin, mourning his brief yet brilliant younger days.

While the nobles circled the coffin in mourning, Laila sat in her room, quietly gazing out the window. She heard six bell tolls spreading to every corner of the capital. It was the bell announcing the king’s death to the kingdom’s people.

“Lady Kristrad, shouldn’t you go see His Highness the King’s younger brother?”

Mel, who had been restless, asked. Her eyes were red like others’. She had cried for a long time upon hearing the news of Ord’s passing.

Laila shook her head, still looking out the window.

“Now is the time to leave Eustar alone.”

“Is that really so?”

Laila blinked and smiled faintly. It was a bitter, empty smile.

“Yes. It’s better to leave him alone now. The speed of coping with grief differs for each person. The same goes for managing wounds. I’ll know when he needs me. So don’t worry, Mel.”