Ail, who had won this year’s hunting competition, returned to the royal villa and was enjoying the banquet marking the competition’s end. Having secured victory with overwhelming results, Ail tossed the gemstone and flowers awarded to the champion straight to Ruth. While the crowd marveled at his exceptional archery skills, they whispered among themselves in confusion. But Ail paid no mind.

Admittedly, his actions were foolish, even in his own eyes. This wasn’t part of the original plan. Yet, for some reason, this time he wanted to showcase his best self—though not to assert his prowess. He simply wanted Ruth to remember his true nature, even just once.

“I didn’t know you were so skilled with a bow. We must have all been fooled until now,” Salina remarked, smiling as she approached him. She had attended both yesterday’s party and today’s banquet. Her gentle tone was met with Ail’s curt reply.

“I was in a good mood.”

“Oh? It seems the Commander Kaizel of knight’s Order had quite the passionate night.”

“Passionate enough to burn to ashes.”

Ail casually downed his drink in one go. His mood was at an all-time low. Truthfully, he was tempted to leave for the imperial palace immediately, but that would feel like he was letting Ruth control his emotions, so he resisted.

“By the way, the commander didn’t attend the banquet,” Salina noted.

“I told him he didn’t need to. He’s too precious to be displayed in front of others.”

“Still brimming with affection, I see. Somehow, I feel sorry for Erita.”

Salina’s probing comment was met with Ail’s sharp retort.

“A consort is a consort. A lover is a lover.”

“A wise and straightforward answer,” Salina replied with a soft chuckle as she refilled his glass. Her actions, graceful and coquettish, made Ail smile faintly. People often treated him this way—kindly, whether for power, wealth, or his favor. They worked tirelessly to gain something from him.

But Ruth was different. He never acted for Ail’s sake, only silently observing. That quiet resistance was unbearable. Even when Ail tried to seduce him, Ruth simply rejected him as if indifferent.

The more Ruth tried to leave, the more Ail wanted to keep him—so much so that the thought of binding him, even by severing his legs, became a persistent noise in his head.

How could he break that stubborn will of his?

Ruth was absurdly tenacious. Even during the festival, when everyone else indulged in revelry, he remained unshaken, unaffected even by Ail’s advances. His resolve only fueled Ail’s burning determination to break it.

“Erita hasn’t shown her face. That’s a pity,” Salina said. “I could never compete with the commander, but I’d at least like to see her.”

“Why? Are you coveting her position?”

“Of course. It’s something anyone would desire.”

“Anyone may desire it, but not everyone shows such naked greed.”

“If I didn’t, Your Highness wouldn’t even glance my way.”

She wasn’t wrong. Had Salina not been so proactive, Ail likely wouldn’t have noticed her at all. The imperial palace was filled with beautiful women, and even the most striking flower could be lost among many. In that sense, Salina was a clever woman.

He was starting to take an interest in her. She was smart and unlikely to complicate things unnecessarily.

Ail took a drink, idly wrapping a strand of her long hair around his fingers before whispering near her ear, “So, would you like to strike a deal?”

Salina smiled knowingly, replying with ease, “Of course. What do you want?”

Satisfied with her quick and confident response, Ail placed his glass down and smirked—a sly, cunning smile. He thought he might be able to achieve his goals easily with her help.

“Do you know,” he began, “that everything that happens during the festival returns to nothing? No one is held accountable. Would you like to play the role of my lover during this time?”

His words carried no emotion, but Salina understood his intent and smiled brightly.

“It would be an honor.”

“Even if, after the festival, I act as if I’ve never seen you?”

“You’re not the type to do that. But even if you were, I wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m not afraid of the commander. That man is mine.”

Ruth was undoubtedly his. Ail had no doubt about that. Contract or not, Ruth was within his grasp. No matter how much he tried to escape now, in the end, he would remain in Ail’s hands. Ail would ensure it—by any means necessary.

“And?”

“I fear my fiancée’s eyes. It’s such a nuisance, don’t you think?”

Ail’s cryptic words prompted Salina to redirect the conversation.

“You owe loyalty to your maternal family,” she said, echoing his words from the previous day. Ail smiled, seemingly pleased.

“Of course, I owe loyalty to my maternal family. But there are pesky little rats in the way. If someone were to take care of them for me, I’d be most grateful.”

“Are you planning to kill two birds with one stone? That’s an impossible ambition.”

“Catching the rabbit can lead to catching the bear, can’t it?”

Salina immediately understood Ail’s metaphor.

“Erita will attend your coming-of-age ceremony, won’t she?”

“She will.”

“I’ll have to see her then, to judge if she’s truly a match for me.”

Realizing Salina had grasped his intentions, Ail smiled and brought her hair to his lips in a gesture of admiration for her cunning.

“Women are terrifying.”

“Not as terrifying as you, Your Highness. I must admit, I didn’t know you could be this frightening,” Salina said with a smile.

Ail laughed softly. “Of course, you wouldn’t know. If you did, you’d throw off your shoes and run. He’s quite a coward, you see. When I get angry, he trembles in fear, though his stubborn responses are oddly charming.”

“A pitiful butterfly,” Salina mused playfully. “Don’t grip him too tightly, or he’ll break.”

Her jest was met with Ail’s chilling smile as he whispered with an icy gaze, “It doesn’t matter if he breaks. As long as he’s still breathing.”

The sheer coldness in his words made Salina shiver, but she quickly composed herself, maintaining a serene smile as she took his hand and whispered into his ear.

“You’re a cruel man.”

Ail let out a hearty laugh at her words. The more he saw of her, the more she pleased him. She was sharp, understood him perfectly, and knew exactly what he wanted. This was a woman who would help him achieve his desires, fully prepared to accept the price of doing so.

He had set aside the political complexities for now. There was only one thing Ail truly wanted: for Ruth to kneel before him, begging to stay by his side. That was all.

He would make Ruth regret ever thinking he could leave Ail of his own accord. Determined, Ail took Salina’s hand and led her onto the dance floor. Wrapping an arm around her slender waist, he couldn’t help but think of Ruth’s waist, which he had held earlier that day. Though his body was gaunt and bony, it still stirred Ail’s desires. He wanted that body—he couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else possessing it.

Forgetting all about his contract with Ruth, Ail became singularly focused on finding a way to reclaim him.

Thus, summer began.