The season was quickly heading toward midsummer. Two days before the festival, Ruth was inspecting the knights’ formation for the festival’s security arrangements with the roster and Kaelen. Since that day, things between Ruth and Ail had remained awkward. Over the past four years, while they occasionally clashed due to differing opinions, such awkwardness never lasted more than a day. Since their relationship wasn’t emotionally charged, they would usually move past such moments smoothly. However, this time the tension had lingered far longer.

Using the excuse of his injured hand and urgent duties, Ruth avoided going near Ail, and Ail, in turn, made no effort to seek Ruth out. As a result, rumors spread throughout the palace that the two had fought over Ail’s flirtations. The story grew exaggerated as it passed through various mouths, with some even claiming that they had broken up. Ruth chose to feign ignorance, unwilling to waste energy addressing idle gossip. Others, however, seemed to care a great deal.

“Commander, Deputy Commander Kamiel is waiting for you in your office,” a knight informed Ruth as he was heading back to his office after completing inspections. It seemed Kamiel, too, had come to check on things. Hearing about others’ excessive concern over his and Ail’s alleged issues reinforced Ruth’s awareness of Ail’s influence. Ruth sighed. If we break up, we break up—why is everyone so worried?

“I see,” Ruth replied shortly. Since he was already planning to return to his office, he headed back to the golden palace, sending Kaylen to Ail as he made his way to his own workspace. Crossing the garden quickly, the bandages wrapped around his hand fluttered in the breeze. Clicking his tongue, he tried to adjust the bandage, but the wound on his hand stung. Perhaps because of the summer heat, the wound was healing slowly.

Thinking it might be time to disinfect and rewrap the injury, he roughly tied the bandage back and entered the building. The interior, while cooler than outside, was still filled with warm air. Thankfully, the low humidity made it more bearable. Letting out a light breath, Ruth went straight to his office and opened the door. Kamiel, who had been waiting for him while seated on a chair pulled in front of the desk, stood up to greet him.

“Have you been waiting long?” Ruth asked casually as he moved to sit at his desk. Kamiel also sat back down, smiling as he replied, “Not at all. I just got here.”

Watching Kamiel’s kind smile, Ruth returned a faint one of his own, leaning his arms on the desk. Noticing the bandages on Ruth’s right hand, Kamiel frowned.

“Your hand still hasn’t healed?”
“Ah, no, not yet.”
“Wasn’t it a glass cut? How deep was it?”
“Ah, well… it was pretty bad,” Ruth replied vaguely.

Although he had heard about Ruth’s injury, Kamiel had assumed it was a minor cut. Ruth, being cautious by nature, would rarely make such mistakes. It was surprising to think the glass shard might have lodged deeply enough to still require bandaging.

“How hard did you grip the glass? Did you fall while holding it or something?”
“Something like that. Anyway, what brings you here today? Is there something urgent to discuss?”

Shifting the topic swiftly, Ruth managed to divert Kamiel’s attention. With the upcoming festival coinciding with Ail’s coming-of-age ceremony, there were many inter-departmental issues to address.

“There’s some debate about the security measures,” Kamiel said, obliging the change in subject. “Some are saying we’ve deployed too many personnel and should use the city guards for the banquet instead.”
“We can’t help it. The hunting competition is the next day, so we’ll need security for all three days regardless.”
“Then how about collaborating with the city guards next year instead?”
“Deciding that just two days in advance is too sudden.”
“No, I meant next year. This year is already set.”

Kamiel’s casual suggestion made Ruth realize that the topic wasn’t his primary concern. After all, by next year, Ruth wouldn’t even be in this position—whether he returned to Vera or stayed in the capital, it was clear he would have to leave the Order. This was common knowledge among those familiar with the palace’s inner workings. Kamiel, of all people, was unlikely to be unaware of it.

“You didn’t come here just to say that, did you? What’s on your mind?”
“…To be honest, I’m worried.”
“About what?”
“His Highness doesn’t seem to be in a good mood lately. Did you two have a big fight?”

So, that was it. As expected, it was the same old concern. Ruth shook his head, as though he had anticipated the question.
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what’s going on? You and His Highness both seem… off lately.”
“I’m busy, that’s all. As for His Highness, maybe it’s just one of his mood swings.”

Kamiel looked at Ruth with a slightly suspicious expression, as though unconvinced by his indifferent tone.
“You’re being unusually cold.”

Sensing the rising doubt, Ruth quickly changed his approach.
“Well… it has been four years.”

Kamiel tilted his head, unconvinced. “That doesn’t seem like the issue here. It’s not like you to act this way. Is this about the son of Viscount Lindmay? Or is it something to do with His Highness’s upcoming ceremony?”

Kamiel knew Ruth’s personality well—too well for Ruth to deceive him easily. Ruth wasn’t someone to talk indifferently about people he cared for. Though Ruth sensed that Kamiel was onto something, confessing the truth wasn’t an option. Lowering his voice, he muttered, “It’s not like that.”

“Then why is it like this? Both you and His Highness have been acting strangely lately. Are you hiding something from me?”

Kamiel, who usually kept a certain distance from Ruth, was unusually persistent today. His insistent probing left Ruth feeling uncomfortable, and he stared at Kamiel with a startled expression.

“Why are you saying that?”

“Elsen told me you’re planning to return to your hometown. Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Ruth felt cornered. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell Camiel—it was just that he hadn’t found the right time to bring it up. He hadn’t considered that Kamiel might feel hurt by this.

“Oh… That’s because… I wanted to wait until it was confirmed before telling you.”

“Isn’t it already decided? They said even a house has been arranged.”

Kamiel, having heard the news from Elsen, had even planned to ask His Highness if Ruth could live in a personal residence to keep him in the capital. Kamiel thought Ruth simply found it burdensome to remain in the palace after the prince’s marriage and hoped living outside the palace might change his mind.

“Ah, that’s… I’m in an awkward position. I can’t stay here forever, and if I have to leave the knighthood anyway, I’d rather go back to my hometown.”

“Then what about moving into a personal residence?”

“I don’t want that.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t want to be here anymore.”

“If it hurts you this much, wouldn’t it be better to talk to him directly? His Highness doesn’t seem to have any idea what’s going on. Why are you making all the decisions on your own? Leaving someone you love like that… it’s not like you.”

Kamiel didn’t want Ruth to leave the capital. He understood Ruth’s character well enough to know that leaving was likely a reaction to the pressures of reality after the prince’s marriage. If that was the case, Kamiel thought Ruth should stay, even if it meant living in a personal residence. He believed people should live alongside those they loved. To him, running away from a situation imposed by harsh realities was unacceptable, especially for someone as devoted to love as Ruth.

“I just want you to be happy. If you have any issues with His Highness, talk to him and work it out,” Kamiel urged, his concern evident.

Ruth’s conscience pricked him. Kamiel’s worry weighed heavily, and lying to someone who cared so much for him felt increasingly painful. Perhaps, Ruth thought, he should have been honest from the start—at least with Elsen and Kamiel.

Feeling cornered, Ruth lowered his gaze and clasped his hands together on the desk.

“You can’t just leave His Highness like this. That’s not who you are. Why are you putting yourself through this?”

Kamiel’s uncharacteristic persistence made Ruth realize just how deeply his friend cared for him, which only amplified his guilt. For a moment, Ruth impulsively decided to tell Kamiel the truth.

“There’s no need for that, Kamiel.”

“If it’s difficult for you to talk about, let me—”

Ruth raised his head and met Kamiel’s gaze, speaking firmly.

“There’s nothing between us.”

Kamiel’s face momentarily froze, clearly not understanding what Ruth meant.

“…What do you mean?”

“His Highness and I… we’re not in a relationship. We just decided to pretend. It keeps my father’s eyes away from him.”

Kamiel pressed his temples with his fingers, as if trying to process what he’d just heard.

“Ruth, what are you saying right now?”

“I mean exactly what I said. We’re not in a relationship. We just agreed to this arrangement. That’s all. It was a strategy to keep His Highness safe.”

The straightforward explanation left Kamiel exhaling sharply in disbelief.

“What?”

“That’s all it is.”

“And you expect me to believe that? Even if that’s true, you’re not the type to play along with something like this.”

“I made a deal with His Highness.”

“What kind of deal?”

“If His Highness can safely ascend the throne, he promised to call off his engagement to Erita.”

Kamiel was now openly flabbergasted, staring at Ruth in disbelief.

“What in the world have you gotten yourself into?”

“It’s not me. His Highness planned it all. I didn’t know things would escalate like this. I just thought I was protecting him—his life. You know I’m not great with politics.”

“Then why… This makes no sense. None of it makes sense.”

Kamiel shook his head repeatedly, still muttering about how strange it all was. While Ruth’s explanation was straightforward, Kamiel couldn’t reconcile it with everything he’d observed, especially not with the prince’s behavior.

Kamiel hadn’t believed the rumors at first, knowing Ruth’s professional demeanor. If there really had been a romantic relationship, Ruth would have asked to be reassigned. But instead, Ruth had openly flaunted his affections. That contradiction had initially seemed suspicious, but Kamiel had been convinced by Ruth’s subtle expressions of love—gentle, affectionate, sometimes anxious yet always restrained. The prince’s behavior had also seemed unusually tender, and his reaction to Ruth’s supposed departure just days ago had been uncharacteristically serious.

“This doesn’t add up… Even if it’s all an act, it doesn’t make sense.”

Seeing Kamiel struggle to reconcile everything, Ruth finally offered an apology.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you the truth, but I couldn’t until everything was settled.”

“Elsen doesn’t know either?”

“No. I didn’t tell him.”