“In the past, whenever I saw Fernando, a smile would naturally appear, and my eyes would keep wandering to him. But now, it’s not like that anymore. Seeing such clear water and calmly appreciating it is evidence that my feelings for Fernando haven’t returned. It wasn’t like this before.”

“And you’re sure there are no lingering feelings at all?”

“Yes.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Well…”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Etien responded with a sense of ‘that’s just how it is.’
“If I had just liked him, there might have been lingering feelings. But I gave my heart to Fernando to the extent that my entire world was just him. Since I wholeheartedly loved him, it was easy to let go. Now, rather than lingering regrets, my heart feels content.”

Etien smiled brightly as she looked at Leharht. Their eyes met at close range, and Leharht captured every nuance of Etien’s expression.

‘What’s this?’

Leharht made a blank expression while looking at Etien, who smiled at him. Etien honestly revealed the feelings she once had for someone, and her smile seemed to convey a refreshing sense of relief.

It strangely looked too beautiful. Leharht thought he had also laid bare his abilities and found contentment, but Etien seemed even more content than him. She appreciated and treasured her new life.

“I had… strange taste.”

“Huh?”

Etien, who was preparing to descend the mountain again at Leharht’s mumble, asked.

“I…”

Leharht raised his head. He stared at Etien standing against the backdrop of the setting red sun, seemingly enchanted. In a very small voice, he muttered.

“I think I’m in love.”

Falling for someone unexpectedly happens more easily than one might think. Amidst the crumbling world, Leharht realized that falling for someone doesn’t only occur in the midst of encountering someone with whom fate entwines but can also happen as casually as a water droplet hitting a rock, leaving a mark, just like that.
Leharht fell for her, who had liked someone other than himself, and confessed and laid bare those feelings.

Etien shook hands with Leharht, who seemed somewhat absent-minded. “Aren’t you tired now? The sun is setting, and we need to descend quickly.”

Should I carry her down? It was when Etien muttered, considering shaking his shoulders.

“Huh?”

Leharht, still wearing a vacant expression, had his hand grabbed by Etien. She made a surprised sound.

“Etien.”

Leharht’s gaze refocused, and he returned to his usual self, or rather, not quite the same. Normally carefree and relaxed, he now had a stern expression.

“How have I treated you so far?”

“You mentioned it before. Treating me like a younger sister…”

“Yeah, that’s right. But I won’t do that anymore.”

“What?”

In response to his nonsensical statement, Etien looked at him as if she couldn’t understand. It was impossible to predict how the conversation with this man would flow and where it would lead.

“I won’t treat you like a sister but as a woman.”

“You… I’m sorry for saying this, but are you out of your mind?”

If there were others, it would be absolutely unthinkable, but now, with just the two of them, well, maybe anything goes? Leharht’s words were unexpected to the point that Etien couldn’t comprehend.

With a strange look, Etien stared at Leharht. However, he seemed pleased, smiling as if he found the conversation amusing.

“You still have two years to become an adult, right?”

“…But why?”
“I’ll wait. Until then, I won’t do anything and behave very quietly.”

Leharht stood up from his seat, stretching. He seemed genuinely in a good mood.

“Your Highness, I’ll say it again in case you’ve forgotten, but my family comes first. So, there’s a chance I might not be able to save Your Highness.”

Even though I, the only one he had trust in, didn’t explicitly promise to protect his life, he seemed pleased. Wanting to make sure, Etien emphasized once more.

“Yeah, I got it. I’ll manage to survive on my own. Just occasionally tell me a bit about the future.”

“Is that all?”

“Is there anything else you want to hear from me besides saying that I’ll handle it on my own?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Feeling uneasy, Etien looked at Leharht, but he continued to smile.

“I don’t know. Let’s go now.”

Etien gave up on trying to understand the inner thoughts of the crown prince and lowered her head. She turned away as if he didn’t want to wait for her to put on her shoes. However, Etien, as if something had come to her mind, turned her head.

“He died from falling.”

Etien, who suddenly spoke to Leharht, added a little more.

“I didn’t see it myself, but that’s what I heard. Anyway, many people saw it, so falling seems plausible.”

“I died riding a horse?”

Etien nodded her head and turned it directly. She didn’t know what future she would reveal to him going forward, but for now, she had conveyed the most important future to him.
“Later, don’t say something like I didn’t help you. That’s why I’m telling you.”

As Etien muttered a few more words, Leharht’s laughter echoed.

“Also, don’t act like you know what it means to wait.”

Feeling that he was trying to treat her as an equal, Etien drew a line.

“Even if I come back to the past and seem completely normal… My heart is burnt black, so it’s pitch black.”

She no longer wanted to risk everything for the feeling of liking someone.