Unlike the warmth of the day, the chilly wind of night swept through the northern palace. Ruth, sitting by the pond as he used to as a child, stared absentmindedly at the branches swaying in the wind. Though he was old enough and had the rank to own private housing, Ruth still lived in the knights’ quarters. There was no particular reason to leave the royal palace, nor did he see the need to spend money on a house. He was saving all his stipend from the kingdom to fulfill his mother’s dream—someday returning to Vera, building a small house, and taking in abandoned children to raise them. Thanks to his promotion to commander, his income had grown far beyond what he earned as a regular knight, bringing him closer to his dream faster than expected.

Sitting beneath the tree he always leaned on, Ruth was lost in thought about his future. A smile played on his lips as he imagined leaving this place and living peacefully in his hometown, but his reverie was interrupted when someone lightly tapped his shoulder.

“Ah…”

Looking up, he saw Elsen smiling in the dark. Ever since he repeatedly refused Kamiel’s persistent requests over the past four years to transfer to an administrative position, Elsen had become the deputy commander of the 2nd Knight Division.

“I knew I’d find you here.”
“Where else would I go but here?”

Ruth chuckled and tugged on Elsen’s arm, pulling him to sit beside him. He dropped down next to him with a thud and picked up a stone, tossing it into the pond.

“If it’s that hard, just say so.”

The stone created ripples on the calm surface before sinking below. Watching the water, Ruth turned to Elsen, confused by his words, but Elsen sighed.

“You never talk about what’s on your mind, so I worry about you.”
“Why? I’m fine. I was just planning my future.”
“Yet every time someone enters His Highness’s chambers, you come and sulk here.”

Ruth suddenly recalled the news he had overheard about Ail bringing in a new servant today. He had never shared details of his contract with Ail with either Elsen or Kamiel. Since neither of them had questioned him about it, he hadn’t felt the need to explain. As a result, they both seemed to believe a false rumor—that Ruth was heartbroken by Ail’s philandering ways.

“Oh… it’s not particularly because of that.”
“It’s always the case.”
“… Was it?”
“Yes.”

Though he hadn’t done it intentionally, it seemed his visits to this spot coincided with the days Ail brought someone new into his chambers. It couldn’t be helped, he thought.

“Well, maybe so.”

This time, Ruth picked up a stone and threw it into the pond. Whoever Ail brought into his life was none of his concern. It was a farce, a relationship where they used each other. There was no love in that.

“I’m worried about you.”

As Ruth reached for another stone to toss, Elsen spoke again.

“Why me?”
“Once the coming-of-age ceremony is over, His Highness will marry. When that happens, you’ll have to leave the palace.”
“I know.”
“What will you do? Can you handle living apart from him?”

Elsen’s serious question almost made Ruth burst into laughter. Handle it? What relationship was so deep that separation would be unbearable? The idea was absurd.

“I’m not going to die over something like that.”

Ruth replied with a slight smirk, but Elsen frowned and stared at him intently.

“No, people can die over things like that. They really can.”

Elsen’s voice was heavy, almost suffocating, and Ruth looked at him in surprise. In the quiet moonlight, Elsen’s face was close to tears. His expression startled Ruth, and he quickly realized his words had been thoughtless. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Elsen beat him to it.

“A person can survive being slashed with a sword or pierced with an arrow. But feelings like that—they can kill someone so easily. Far more easily than swords or arrows.”

It was undoubtedly a confession rooted in Elsen’s own experiences. Ruth knew how much he still struggled internally with what happened to Erita, no matter how well he tried to hide it. He had been careless.

“… You’re right. I spoke without thinking. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I just worry about you. If Erita enters the palace, I might ask you to leave His Highness’s side immediately.”
“I understand.”

He understood Elsen’s heart well enough. If Ail broke his promise, Ruth was prepared to leave the moment Erita entered the palace. To ensure that, he had saved enough money and even purchased a house in his hometown of Vera through Kasha. Everything was ready—she could leave anytime without hesitation.

“Elsen, if… if Erita enters the palace, would you leave with me?”

At Ruth’s question, a flicker of confusion passed through Elsen’s eyes before he regained his composure. He looked at Ruth and replied calmly.

“I won’t leave.”

“Are you staying here?”
“Yes. Just being in the same palace as her makes me happy. If my presence ever becomes a burden to her, I’ll leave… but until then, I want to stay here.”

Though it had been four years, the rumors about Erita and Elsen had faded away like smoke. However, if similar rumors were to arise after Erita entered the palace, Elsen would have no choice but to leave. Ruth’s words were meant to prepare him for that eventuality.

“Then, come back when the time comes. I’ve bought a small house in Vera. Kasha took care of everything, so that’s where I’ll be. You can come anytime. Kasha and I will welcome you.”

As Ruth spoke and patted Elsen’s shoulder, Elsen smiled and replied, “Thank you.”

Seeing the calmness in Elsen’s expression, Ruth also smiled. Then, raising his gaze to the sky, he noted how unusually pale the moon looked tonight. Absentmindedly, he thought about how this was around the time he had first met Ail. With that fleeting thought, he leaned her head against Elsen’s shoulder.

It was a serene night, one that seemed incapable of foretelling any turmoil.

—

Time was passing in a blur. Around this season every year, Ruth found himself overwhelmed with preparations for festivals and the hunting tournament. Having delegated Ail’s protection to his deputy, Ruth had been buried in paperwork. After quickly completing the allocation of participants for the hunting competition, he was now reviewing the roster of knights assigned to the outer defenses for Ail’s upcoming coming-of-age ceremony, which was just two months away.

The festival was significant, but Ail’s coming-of-age ceremony—marking the first prince’s in 30 years—was monumental. Even the trainees would be mobilized to serve as escorts for the city parade. It was no simple task.

As he reviewed the selected knights and trainees, a knock came at the door. Without looking up, he absentmindedly called out, “Come in,” while continuing to examine the documents. His deputy entered, looking unusually tense.

“Kaelen, what is it?”

Kaelen, who had worked with Ruth for the past four years, was his peer. The second son of a respected family, he was already married and the father of a son and a daughter. Ruth held him in high regard for his easygoing and honest nature, but seeing him look so anxious was unsettling.

“Um… His Highness has summoned you.”

Since their last tense encounter, Ruth hadn’t seen Ail. In the past, when he was inexperienced, he would foolishly take on Ail’s personal security himself, working late into the night to catch up on paperwork and exhausting himself. Now, however, he had grown more efficient, dividing responsibilities with his deputy. Surely Ail understood that his absence was due to his workload.

“Is there a problem?”
“If you mean externally, no… But internally, there seems to be something going on.”
“Why?”
“His Highness kept a boy he spent the night with by his side for some time, but this morning, he suddenly got angry and sent him away.”
“Why?”