Fernand turned away without saying a word. As if he had already anticipated the rejection, he calmly returned to his original position.

Etienne couldn’t speak to him or grab him. Offering awkward consolation would only deceive Fernand.

Watching Fernand’s retreating figure, Etienne placed her hand on her chest. Rejecting the confession she had longed for from Fernand was bitter.

Etienne, who had been staring endlessly at Fernand, was about to move when she saw something. The spot where Leharht had been earlier was now empty.

“He must have seen it.”

For a moment, curious about what Leharht might be thinking, Etienne walked towards the empty side. She didn’t want to engage in conversation with anyone at the moment.

No one could stop Fernand. The same applied to Hanna. After he publicly confessed and was rejected by Etienne, no one dared to approach him.

Fernand’s expressionless face seemed calm, as if nothing had happened. However, knowing that his heart was not as composed.

“If only Etienne hadn’t come alone…”

Hanna couldn’t suppress her boiling anger, tormenting her bruised palms. She pressed her fingernails into her palm, recalling the moment Etienne appeared earlier.
I couldn’t understand why the Crown Prince, Leharht, didn’t appear when I expected him to. Anyway, Etienne appeared alone, and Fernand immediately went straight to her.

Hanna, watching Fernand pass by as if she hadn’t seen him, made a complicated expression. Although she knew that being rejected by Etienne meant an opportunity for her, her heart was still uneasy.

“Now you belong to me.”

However, Hanna, who quickly revealed her restless feelings, muttered lightly and turned away while watching Fernand pass by.

Meanwhile, Fernand had no intention of staying in this place any longer. He had met Etienne, had a conversation with her, and even received an answer to his confession, so there was no reason for him to linger.

“Speak to me sometimes.”

Fernand suddenly stopped at Leharht’s voice.

Leharht had ignored everyone until now, but Fernand instinctively halted at his voice. Leharht leaned against a pillar, not looking at Fernand.

“I wonder how it would have been if my ability was with you.”

It was an utterly incomprehensible statement, but Fernand turned to face Leharht.

“If I had the power of time instead of water… You wouldn’t be feeling unjust like this right now.”

“Is this related to Etienne?”

“It would have been related to Etienne if I said it was.”

Shrugging, Leharht detached himself from the pillar and walked away, leaving behind the anticipated figure.
“Why doesn’t she accept my feelings? Why isn’t it me? Why should I only stay by her side as a friend?”

Leharht murmured as if asking if this was Fernand’s innermost thoughts.

“If you had my power, you wouldn’t have thoughts like, ‘Why is it not me, but the Crown Prince she looks at?'”

If that were the case, Fernand would have realized that he made himself wait endlessly for Etienne.

Seeing Fernand’s narrowed eyes, Leharht smirked. Even though he had been rejected by Etienne, Fernand was listening attentively to his words.

It was amusing to witness Fernand unable to completely empty his feelings for Etienne and still harboring regrets.

“I wanted to say it’s a shame that you couldn’t do that.”

Leharht never properly explained from the beginning to the end. He just wanted to tell Fernand that he wasn’t the only one who got rejected.

Because Leharht knew how wholeheartedly Etienne had loved Fernand.

Leharht, who had stopped Fernand’s steps and selfishly finished speaking, turned away.

“The power you possess.”

However, Fernand’s voice held Leharht back. Leharht looked back at him.

“Can it not affect me?”

“Do you want me to tell you what I know?”

“Yes. Why can’t I avoid feeling unjust?”

It was a request for Leharht to reveal something between Etienne and himself. Leharht sighed heavily, tears streaming down his face.

“I don’t know either.”
In response to his whimsical answer, Fernand’s brow furrowed, and Leharht’s laughter deepened.

“I just know that’s how it is.”

So, Fernand knew that Etienne loved him, but he had never dreamt of scenes related to her.

“If you see it, I’ll let you know.”

Leharht turned away with a smile. The impulse to openly declare to Fernand that he was Etienne’s lover was tempered by their recent conversation.

“Oh, right.”

Leharht, as if remembering something, half-turned his head and looked at Fernand.

“Rejecting the confession of the Duke’s heir won’t have a big impact, even if you reject the Second Prince’s proposal. I don’t know if he deliberately aimed for that in a public setting, but…”

While Fernand seemed impulsively confessive, Leharht didn’t fully accept it. He grinned at Fernand.

“Well done.”