Even though Viare felt normal when ordering the bouquet, as she prepared to present it to Dension, her heart grew fluttery and warm. Calming her racing heart, she offered the bouquet to him with a tender smile.

“Sion, would you accept these flowers?”

“…What is this?” Dension asked, slightly taken aback by the unexpected gift.

“They’re dahlias.”

Silent for a moment, Dension looked at the red dahlias, symbolizing ‘Your love makes me happy.’ Viare wanted to convey her feelings through them, hoping to remind him that she was always by his side despite the challenges he had faced.

‘I hope this gives you strength.’

Although she intended to comfort him, Dension just stared at the flowers, causing Viare to feel a bit nervous.

‘Does he not like them?’

However, noticing the moisture in his eyes, Viare let out a sigh of relief, realizing he was moved. She playfully pouted and shook the bouquet lightly, offering it to him again.

“Sion, aren’t you going to take it?”

Dension, with a soft smile, took the dahlias with one hand and wrapped the other arm around Viare, saying, “Thank you for bringing me here today.”

Hearing the tearful edge in his voice, Viare just listened, understanding he appreciated her bringing him to this place.

‘Everything will be alright, Sion.’

Viare felt a sharp pang in her heart seeing Dension’s tears for the first time. She wrapped her arms around his tall frame, gently patting his back.

“Silly. What’s there to worry about when I’m with you?”

Although Dension had always bravely faced his challenges, especially those involving the nobility, Viare realized anew that he was still her age.

‘I wish you’d rely on me sometimes.’

Feeling heavy-hearted at the sight of a weary Dension, Viare wished to be by his side always.

“It’s true. You’re by my side…”

“…Sion.”

Dension hugged Viare tightly, as if trying not to lose something precious.

‘You must have been so troubled.’

Understanding the depth of his pain and anger from the audience with the emperor, Viare caressed his head gently.

“Viare, you can’t leave me.”

‘Where would I go?’

At his mumbled words, Viare, puzzled why he would ask something so obvious, assured him.

“Of course. I’ll always be by your side.”

Dension visibly relaxed upon hearing her firm response.

Unable to understand what had made him so fearful, Viare simply wished to support him through his precarious times.

Despite the tears soaking into her dress, she chose to ignore them this time.

Concluding her reminiscence, Viare sighed deeply and covered her face with her hands.

‘Only one year left…’
With only one year left, Viare urgently needed to uncover the truth to prevent his demise. Even if this life diverged from the previous one, as long as the target remained unchanged, he would be killed. Among the many achievements in her current life, clues tied to his death were still insufficiently gathered.

“Sion, I’m afraid of losing you again. That’s why I’m scared.”

Her heart, growing more desperate as time grew short, was engulfed in suffocating anxiety. Night after night, she woke up drenched in sweat, haunted by nightmares of the past.

That cursed day, which she could never forget, still tormented her. If it were to repeat itself, she couldn’t bear a world without him. Protecting him was also a way of protecting herself; thus, Viare never showed how taxing the process was.

If it meant safeguarding Dension, she was prepared to endure even greater challenges.

Her work at the mansion often lasted into the late hours, and unable to sleep, Viare decided to head downstairs. If there was any wine left in the kitchen from the cellar, she planned to fetch a bottle to quench her thirst.

It seemed the servants had retired for the night, so she relied on the dim light to navigate to the kitchen.

“Is someone still here?”

Surprised by the faint light, she reached the kitchen to find someone sitting at the multipurpose table.

“Who’s here?”

Startled, the figure turned out to be her younger brother, Gaisen. On the table, there were only an empty wine glass and a bottle of wine.

“You’re not planning to drink, are you?”

Annoyed yet concerned that her underage brother was attempting to drink, Viare scolded him with a slight frown.

Caught off guard by his sister’s sudden appearance, Gaisen set down the unopened bottle of wine, stuttering in confusion.

“Sister? What… why are you here?”

“I couldn’t sleep. But since when do you drink?”

“…I haven’t started yet.”

Judging by his embarrassed look, it seemed he was telling the truth. However, Gaisen added:

“I’m almost of age, can’t you just let it slide?”

Viare, unable to help but smile wryly at her brother’s earnest gaze, remained firm, yet tender.

“When you’re of age, then it won’t be too late to drink. I’ll get you some grape juice instead.”

“Really, sister? That’s too much!”

Gaisen shrugged as if asking what the problem was, prompting a soft sigh from Viare.

Sitting opposite her, Gaisen watched in betrayal as Viare poured herself the wine he couldn’t have.

But soon, he would realize his tolerance was much like their father’s.

Viare recalled a past event when Gaisen, unaware of his limits, got drunk at a banquet and had to be carried home by a nobleman.

Fiddling with the wine glass, she decided to ask about the key she saw in the office the previous day.

“What was that key about yesterday?”

Gaisen, who was sipping grape juice, almost choked at the sudden question.

“A key? What do you mean…”

“The new key Fabian brought.”

“…Sister, please don’t misunderstand, I say this for your sake.”

“Go on, I won’t misunderstand. Tell me.”

After some hesitation, Gaisen finally spoke with resolve.

“Father… I mean, the Duke of Ruschev, doesn’t want a third party meddling in this matter, even if it’s his daughter.”

According to him, the Duke was extremely averse to any disruptions in his plans.

Viare knew this all too well.
The Duke knew Viare had no intention of coveting her brother’s position, hence he trusted her with responsibilities. However, while allowing her to oversee the ducal household’s internal affairs and manage the trading company’s operations, the Duke kept her in the dark about Burnard’s 34th Street connection.

He firmly believed his daughter was completely unaware of that place.

Viare never resented this concealment. On the contrary, she considered herself fortunate for not being discovered or interrogated by him thus far. The only inconvenience was the restrictions it imposed, considering there were many spaces within the mansion she hadn’t entered or even knew existed, a fact she learned through Gaisen.

“So what you’re saying is, you can’t tell me any more than this?”

“Yes, I can’t speak carelessly about that domain.”

‘Can’t speak carelessly…’

Viare had endlessly pondered why her father hid information about that insignia from her that day.

‘There must be a secret even my father couldn’t reveal.’

The most plausible inference was an organization hidden even by the royal family, yet information about it remained elusive.

‘If Dension’s death is indeed connected to the royal family…’

No matter who the culprit was, Viare was determined to avenge him, ready to inflict the same terrible pain he suffered and shatter them completely.

“Viare, you look pale. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just a bit of overdrinking, I guess.”

Concerned, Gaisen’s expression grew troubled, to which Viare responded with a faint smile.

Hiding her crumbling emotions had become all too easy for her.