When Ail returned to the room, an awkward air lingered. He approached Ruth, who had been sitting by the window waiting for him. Ruth, seemingly lost in thought before Ail’s arrival, quickly stood up and quietly stared at the ground.

A brief silence passed, heavy and tense. Sensing the weight in the room, Ail glanced at Ruth and decided to speak first.
“Salina was here because I asked her for a favor. That’s why she came.”

For some reason, Ail sounded as if he were making excuses. He didn’t need to explain anything about Salina to Ruth, yet he found himself doing so almost defensively. As he spoke, he looked at Ruth, unsure of why he felt compelled to justify himself. Meeting his gaze, Ruth calmly raised his head and spoke softly.
“It’s fine. It must have been important for her to come at this hour. But there’s something I need to tell you.”

Surprised that Ruth initiated the conversation, Ail responded willingly.
“What is it?”

Ail sat in the chair by the window while Ruth remained standing, speaking in a quiet voice.
“Kamiel visited today.”

“Kamiel? Oh, right. Why?”

“We discussed the knight deployment for the coming ceremony. I allowed him into the room on my own.”

As Ruth finally got to the point, Ail’s expression stiffened slightly, but he soon let out a sigh of understanding.
“So that’s why you were unusually soft today. Feeling guilty about it?”

Ail crossed his legs and grumbled, his tone slightly irritated. However, his response was calmer than Ruth had anticipated. Bowing his head slightly, Ruth apologized.
“I’m sorry. It was just part of my responsibilities—”

“If it’s about work, it couldn’t be helped. I pulled you away from your tasks too abruptly.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Ail grew irritated by Ruth’s overly formal and distant demeanor. Just moments ago, Ruth had been more natural and at ease in his presence. Ail found himself missing that casual attitude. He wished Ruth would complain or snap at him as before, even hurling impolite words in frustration.

“Don’t defy me. If you don’t, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“I always keep my promises.”

The mention of “promises” struck a painful chord in Ail’s heart. He was fully aware that their relationship was bound only by an agreement. It was only natural since he had been the one to chain Ruth to him. Hoping for anything more now would be absurd—or so he told himself. He had no expectations of Ruth.

Ruth was nothing more than an insignificant person. Someone who offered him no real benefit, a pawn in the scheme of his enemies, just another unremarkable individual. Ail told himself that his obsession stemmed solely from Ruth’s defiance, from the fact that he couldn’t completely control him. Ruth was simply someone who knew too much and therefore kept his distance.

He wanted nothing more.
All he needed was for Ruth to stay by his side. To remain until Ail had his fill of him, until he grew bored. To move quietly according to his commands. That was all he required—or so he tried to believe.

“Yes, a promise must be kept.”

A painful pang pierced Ail’s chest. He ignored it, pulling Ruth closer and embracing him. Resting his head against Ruth’s shoulder, Ail closed his eyes and asked in a small voice,
“Are you fully healed now?”

Understanding the question, Ruth replied quietly.
“…Yes.”

“Then I suppose tonight, it doesn’t matter.”

As he spoke, Ail began to untie Ruth’s belt. Ruth offered no resistance, surrendering to Ail’s touch. Tonight, Ail was inexplicably gentle. His hands moved softly, and his kisses were tender, so unlike their first encounter. Ruth felt a mix of wonder and sadness at the difference.

Though his mind grew hazy from the blissful, delicate touches, a deep sorrow welled within him.

In two days, Ruth knew he would have to lie to Ail. It was unavoidable, yet guilt gnawed at him. If only Ail had remained as forceful as before, Ruth could have resisted more easily. But with Ail acting so gently, his resolve began to crumble.

What a cursed personality. Why did he feel weak in front of someone he should hate, someone he ought to fear?

“If it hurts, don’t hold back,” Ail murmured.

As he kissed the corner of his eye and spoke softly while still joined with him, Ruth’s heart trembled. The unfamiliar sensation left him grimacing slightly as he caught his breath.

“I’m fine,” he murmured.

“I told you,” Ail replied, his voice calm and steady. “If you follow me quietly, I won’t do anything cruel.”

True to his word, Ail paused, giving Ruth time to breathe properly. For a fleeting moment, Ruth found himself wondering if this man had always been capable of such consideration. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t recall any memories of such kindness.

Ail’s exaggerated displays of warmth when around others might have fooled some, but Ruth knew the truth—this man had never been gentle when they were alone.

Not even as a child. Back then, Ail had seemed almost devoid of a heart, lacking emotion or connection to others.

So when had he become this gentle?
And why only with Ruth?
Would Ail truly treat him this way as long as he obeyed?

Even though he knew better, Ruth couldn’t stop his heart from hoping. Pulling Ail closer, he wrapped his arms around his neck.

He hated himself for it, but he couldn’t silence the weak part of his heart that longed for something impossible. If Ail felt even a sliver of emotion for him, if blood truly flowed within that cold heart, how would he respond?

Ruth liked kind people. And if Ail’s kindness was reserved solely for him, he knew he would fall deeply, uncontrollably. Even if Ail built walls to shut others out, if he tore down that barrier just for Ruth, he might throw everything away to be with him.

Knowing it was futile, Ruth cursed his own shallow desires and forced himself to stop thinking. It was pointless to dwell on such things. Now, he needed to focus on what was important—what he could and must do. Everything else would have to come later.

—

The plan progressed steadily. On the afternoon of the day Kamiel was set to leave for Mount Endia, urgent news arrived from Ruth’s family home. His mother had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Ruth waited in the room, prepared to meet Ail, who had returned upon hearing the same news.

Sitting across from each other in the quiet room, Ail said nothing and merely stared at Ruth. That gaze felt accusatory, as if Ail saw through his lie, and Ruth struggled to calm his pounding heart.

“I heard,” Ail finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was heavy.

Ruth clenched his fists tightly, responding with steady determination.
“Please grant me permission to leave.”

“No.”

“She’s in critical condition. I must see her.”

“She’s not going to die right this second, and your visit won’t change anything.”

Ail’s inhumanly cold reply made Ruth sigh inwardly. Of course, he had expected this reaction. Ail wasn’t someone swayed by such sentiments. But there was no other excuse. Ruth needed to use his mother’s illness as a reason to visit the Kaizel estate and buy time to contact Kamiel. Even if there was no news, he needed to confirm things for himself.

“Please. This is important to me.”

Lowering his head, Ruth spoke with a tense, earnest voice. Ail muttered irritably in response, his voice laced with displeasure.
“…Why are you so obsessed with your family?”

“That’s normal.”

“Not everyone is like you.”

“Perhaps, but for me, family is the most precious thing.”

Ruth wasn’t skilled at lying, and the anxiety of potentially being caught made him sit rigidly, his shoulders stiff. Watching Ruth’s strained posture, Ail clicked his tongue.

“You’re such a helpless fool.”

Though he couldn’t understand it, seeing Ruth so tense and earnest made Ail believe in his worry for his mother.

“Fine. But you must return by tonight. Take the Third Order of Knights with you. Who knows what could happen?”

Ail’s surprisingly easy agreement left Ruth momentarily stunned. Seeing the surprise in Ruth’s eyes, Ail teased him.

“If you don’t want to go, you can stay.”

“No, thank you. I’m grateful.”

Ruth quickly expressed his thanks, fearing Ail might change his mind. Ail stood slowly, prompting Ruth to rise as well.

“I’ll give the orders. Leave in a bit. I still have matters to attend to.”

“Yes.”

Ruth followed Ail as he walked to the door. Just as Ail reached for the doorknob, Ruth grasped his arm and pulled him back.

“Why?” Ail asked, turning to look at him.