Ayan Findley hates Killian who killed his father.

To be exact, he hated him enough to want to kill him.

Before the regression, he couldn’t take revenge on Killian who became the emperor’s husband and self-destructed, but now that Alicia isn’t insisting on marrying Killian, there’s no telling what will happen.

“I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“Are you worried? About me? Or about him?”

“Of course I’m worried about the duke.”

Killian, who nodded without erasing the smile on his lips, whispered in a small voice that he would be careful.

Half wanting to wipe the worry from Alicia’s face, and half wanting to keep seeing that face that worries about him.

Alicia, who watched Killian nod his head obediently with that thought, opened the door and disappeared inside the room.

Killian, who stayed there for a while looking at the closed door, turned his head at the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs.

“Ah! Duke Diaz!”

It was Kasa White, Alicia’s bodyguard knight, and Marisa Hill, her lady-in-waiting.

Kasa White, who would have volunteered for duty in the north if not for the crown prince’s persuasion, was a knight who couldn’t hide her respect for Killian.

She, who had bowed at a right angle to greet him from the moment they first met, was treating Killian with an even more courteous attitude during this trip.

“Where are you going, leaving your post?”

“I apologize.”

Kasa, who bowed, didn’t make any other excuses.

Liking that, he raised one corner of his mouth and lightly tapped her shoulder.

Just looking at how grateful she is for that little thing.

‘It would be easy to use her.’

He starts having these thoughts.

If Alicia finds out about this side of him, what kind of expression will she make?

Will she try to protect Kasa White, saying it’s too much? Or will she say not to do that with a face that looks like she’s about to cry?

Whichever it is, Alicia’s face hating him didn’t come to mind.

“Don’t leave Her Highness alone.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Passing Kasa White who answered vigorously, Killian takes in Marisa Hill who is standing behind her with her head bowed.

Killian, who confirmed that the bracelet on her wrist was shining in the light of the corridor, took his gaze away and moved his steps down the stairs.

Alicia and her party, who spent a night safely at the inn, got on their horses early in the morning and set off for the Sage’s Tower.

Alicia, who was riding a horse she named Jiara because she liked its gentle temperament, was seated between Kasa and Marisa.

It was because Reilly was eagerly eyeing the seat next to her.

“…Can I just go and have a drink?”

Kasa said with a serious face, probably very annoyed by Reilly.

It seemed that Alicia wasn’t the only one who heard it as “I’ll go throw a knife at that guy for a bit.”

“I can get alcohol right away.”

Alicia, who burst into laughter at Marisa’s answer, shook her head.

The two of them seemed to move with one heart and one will only when dealing with Reilly.

“I was taught not to drink when riding a horse.”

“Can’t I just make one mistake and come back?”

“White Knight, as a knight, I think one drink would be fine.”

Is it a determination to somehow get a hit on Reilly?

Kasa’s face was too serious as she fiddled with the sword at her waist, glaring at Reilly.

‘…But I think she said she would throw a dagger, so why does she keep touching the long sword at her waist?’

According to Mina, she definitely said that when she gets drunk, she throws a dagger at someone she doesn’t like, so why is that?

Somehow it felt like she shouldn’t ask the reason for that.

“Alcohol is not allowed, so it’s better to endure.”

Kasa, who loosely dropped her shoulders at Alicia’s refusal, growled again at Reilly who was getting closer.

“Isn’t this too much between friends?”

“I’m not your friend.”

“We’re academy classmates.”

“If it weren’t for that reason, you’d already be dead and buried in the ground, so be grateful to the academy.”

Perhaps judging that it’s impossible to get close to Kasa’s side?

Reilly turned his horse’s head and this time drove his horse next to Marisa.

“I’d like to have a conversation with Her Highness…”

“White Knight has not allowed Viscount’s approach, taking responsibility for Her Highness’s protection.”

“Isn’t it something that can be done if Her Highness allows it?”

“There was no permission from Her Highness either.”

“Your Highness Alicia! If you could just give me a moment…!”

“White Knight has assessed that Viscount’s act of speaking to Her Highness is dangerous. Please stop actions that threaten Her Highness’s safety.”

“What the hell do you think I am?”

“I heard you crossed three legs at the academy.”

“It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”

…At this point, isn’t he enjoying being beaten by Kasa and Marisa?

Looking at Reilly who never gives up even when being reproached by Kasa and Marisa. I thought, with that level of persistence, you can cross three legs at once.

Alicia, who was shaking her head with that thought, quickly turned her head away from Reilly, who winked at her with a playful face the moment their eyes met.

As expected, you shouldn’t deal with a crazy person.

‘Let’s ignore him.’

Alicia, who was deeply grateful to Kasa and Marisa, the iron walls on both sides, looked straight ahead.

Killian’s back figure, who was driving a horse at the head of the party, came into her sight.

Alicia, who had obtained his permission to gather information on variants, felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart and was able to fall into a deep sleep.

Thanks to getting a good night’s sleep without even dreaming, her body felt light today as well.

“From now on, we have to run on paths that are not maintained.”

Kasa, who glared at Reilly who was fidgeting next to her with all her might and then checked ahead, spoke to Alicia.

Although it was the horse running on the road, running on a maintained road and running on a road that was not well-maintained was a considerable fatigue to the rider as well.

“We may have to climb mountains. You have to be careful not to let go of the reins.”

Alicia nodded at Kasa’s advice.

Although Killian was at the head of the party, the center of the party was Alicia.

The first goal of those driving horses in a form that enveloped her was to protect Alicia safely.

After Killian, who grasped the terrain, conveyed the direction to go and the precautions, those surrounding Alicia shared the information, and Kasa, as a representative, conveyed it to Alicia.

So the advice flowing from Kasa’s mouth right now was no different from what Killian was saying to Alicia.

If Mina had heard it, she would have said, “Even if that’s the case, isn’t it too much for the conclusion of everything in the world to be Duke Diaz?”

In other words, it was saying “Whatever happens, it’s Killian in the end.”

Since it had been too long since she had him in her heart, her thoughts had become fixed in that direction, so she couldn’t change it overnight.

‘I can change it slowly one by one.

It will be easier to change my mind if I don’t see him at all.’

Alicia, who comforted herself like that, pondered in her head when she should tell the emperor that she would find a groom from abroad.

The sooner the better, but… it would be better to prevent and convey that first.

The ‘thing’ that Alicia thought of in her head was the tragic event that happened at the crown prince’s birthday celebration.

‘It’s also the last mistake I have to correct.’

Alicia lost too much because of that incident.

She lost her elder brother, lost Sienna, and lost the emperor.

Some may refute that she gained the position of emperor.

However, Alicia had never wanted that even once.

‘So I have to stop it. If I can just stop that, I can leave Erregon without any worries.’

If everything goes according to her plan, Alicia will be able to have a wedding before the end of this year.

Leaving the side of her beloved family will be a very heartbreaking thing, but she was confident that she could leave with a happy heart, relieved by the fact that it was not a permanent farewell.

“Your Highness. This is the entrance to the mountain. Among the mountain ranges stretching to the east, the terrain is not too steep, but there are many wild beasts, so you have to be careful in driving the horses.”

“Thank you.”

Alicia, who escaped from deep thoughts at Kasa’s voice, put strength into her hand holding the horse’s reins.

Killian’s back, who was still driving the horse at the very front, could be seen.

‘This is the last spring I can see Killian.’

Alicia still didn’t know about the ‘special request’ the emperor made to Killian.

If she knew what it was, she wouldn’t have been able to look at Killian’s back with such a melancholy expression.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

Alicia, who straightened her posture at Kasa’s voice lightly warning her to be careful, slowly drove her horse into the woods where trees were dense.

From now on, there’s no telling what will pop out from where to threaten Alicia.

Of course, to harm Alicia, you have to deal with those surrounding her first.

‘I can’t just tell them to protect me unconditionally. I also need to find a way to protect myself.’

Alicia had not yet found the thorns to protect herself.

‘Let’s find it slowly.’

As we walked along the forest path crowded with giant trees, the blue sky was gradually covered by branches stretching lushly toward the sky.

At the same time, the colors inside the forest gradually deepen.

Looking at the shaded areas, the green was so dark that it could be mistaken for black.

Such colors of the forest reminded her of Killian’s deep eyes.

It was the moment she thought so.

“Everyone stop!”

Derek, who had moved ahead to scout the road, quickly returned and joined the party, raising his voice.

“Your Grace, there are monsters a hundred meters ahead.”

“How many?”

“Two. They are rapidly approaching this way.”

“Estimated time of encounter?”

“It’s fast. Time calculation is meaningless.”

Alicia, who felt the air surrounding her getting heavy while listening to the conversation between the two, shuddered.

Those who were on full alert were glaring in the direction Derek had run from, placing their hands on the hilt of their swords, waiting for Killian to give orders.