After receiving treatment from the physician, a maid entered to relieve the tension in Ruth’s muscles. As her hands kneaded his back, waist, and calves, Ruth initially bit his lip in pain. However, he eventually drifted into a peaceful sleep.

In his dream, Ruth returned to his childhood—specifically, to the time before he came to Karileum. It was early evening, and life began to stir in the streets of Vera. Merchants opened their shops and displayed their goods, coachmen woke their horses and cleaned their carriages, and the brothels throughout Vera illuminated their entrances with red lanterns, filling the streets with a warm glow and the hum of chatter.

Inside one of the brothels, beautiful women dressed in colorful garments began applying makeup, the scent of their perfumes and powders filling the building. The soft, fragrant aroma tickled Ruth’s nose as he watched clowns perform tricks, realizing it was time to head home.

“Elsen, it’s time to go back. Visitors will be arriving soon,” young Ruth said, reaching out his hand. Elsen took it without hesitation, and Ruth looked around for Kasha, their companion.

“Where’s Kasha?” Ruth asked.

After a moment’s hesitation, Elsen mumbled, “He just ran off after Rodin’s gang passed by. I think He’s really planning to fight him this time.”

Rodin was the largest and most intimidating boy of their age group in Vera. His mother was a courtesan in another brothel, and he often roamed the streets with his gang, bullying other children. Ruth, in particular, was a frequent target of Rodin’s torment, which made Kasha vow to beat him senseless one day.

“You should’ve stopped him! How could you just let him go?” Ruth said, frustration creeping into his voice. Rodin was twice Kasha’s size and had a gang to back him up. But Ruth wasn’t worried about Kasha getting hurt—he was more concerned about Rodin.

He knew Kasha might actually kill him.

Even though Kasha often dressed like a girl with long, flowing hair, wearing dresses and flashing a smile that could rival any porcelain doll, Ruth knew that inside, Kasha was a spirited and fiery boy. He had the temper and reckless energy of someone adults often called a menace.

“We have to find him,” Ruth insisted.

“Ruth, let it go. Rodin and his gang deserve to be taught a lesson. Don’t forget your arm was almost broken because of him.”

Rodin had pushed Ruth off a small bridge into a stream just days ago, nearly breaking his arm. Since then, Elsen and Kasha had harbored nothing but animosity toward Rodin. But Ruth knew the real reason behind Rodin’s behavior.

Rodin liked Kasha.

“That doesn’t mean we can just let him go! What if he really kills him?” Ruth exclaimed.

“Come on, there’s no way he’d…” Elsen trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. Even he knew Kasha was capable of such a thing.

“Where did he go?” Ruth asked urgently.

After a moment of thought, Elsen pointed in one direction before sprinting off, with Ruth following closely behind. Worry gripped Ruth as he wondered if Kasha had already caused trouble.

Kasha and Rodin hadn’t always been on bad terms. About a year ago, their relationship had soured after an incident. Kasha, who frequently dressed as a girl, had caught Rodin’s eye with his striking black hair, emerald eyes, red lips, and porcelain skin. Believing Kasha to be a girl, Rodin had showered him with gifts like flowers and sweets, while Kasha gleefully accepted them, teasing him along the way.

The problem arose one summer day at the river. As they played, Rodin excused himself to relieve himself under a large tree. To his shock, Kasha joined him, lifting his dress and casually standing beside him. Rodin, realizing Kasha’s true identity, fainted on the spot.

“Didn’t you know? Are you an idiot?” Kasha had mocked him before kicking him while he was down.

Ruth couldn’t bring himself to hate Rodin after that. He pitied the boy, whose innocent affections had been cruelly trampled. Even after being humiliated, Rodin still had feelings for Kasha, which explained why he often targeted Ruth, Kasha’s friend.

Following Elsen’s lead, Ruth eventually spotted Kasha and Rodin, both ready to pounce on each other. Summoning all his strength, Ruth shouted, “Kasha! Don’t fight! If you do, your mom will send you to the Clozium!”

Kasha froze mid-motion. His mother, Rosen, was as fiery as her daughter, and she always kept her word. The mere thought of her threat made Kasha pause. Sensing an opportunity, Ruth rushed to Kasha’s side and grabbed his arm.

“If you don’t come back, what will we do? Don’t fight.”

“But that bastard—!”

“Kasha!”

When Ruth called Kasha’s name with more force, Kasha eventually muttered with a sullen face, as if admitting defeat.
“Fine, damn it! You’re lucky! But if you mess with Ruth one more time, I’ll pee right next to you a hundred times!”

Though it was a rather odd threat, it seemed to work, as Rodin’s face turned pale in an instant. It was a look that clearly said he didn’t want to witness Kasha peeing beside him a second time. Watching Rodin’s pitiful expression, Ruth couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle. It was both pathetic and amusing at the same time.

Despite such a shocking experience, Rodin seemed incapable of letting go of his first love. No matter how much Kasha hit him, hurled harsh insults, or called him an idiot, Kasha remained a dream and an illusion to Rodin.

“Kasha, stop it. Let’s go home. If you keep this up, you’re going to get scolded again.”

Ruth gently grabbed Kasha’s arm and tried to pull him away. Kasha reluctantly swished his skirts and turned to walk away, his steps light and graceful. As he walked, he used his hand to tidy up his messy, long hair.

“If he bothers you one more time, tell me right away. I’ll end him for good.”

Muttering in a harsh tone, Kasha stopped walking and turned to Ruth, brushing his fingers over the wound on Ruth’s face that had been caused a few days ago when Rodin pushed him from the bridge. Seeing Ruth nod to indicate he was okay, Kasha gently cupped Ruth’s cheek with a warm hand and caressed his face with utmost care.

The touch was so tender and cautious that it almost brought Ruth to tears.

“Kasha… ”

In the hazy moments of awakening, Ruth unconsciously muttered the name. The warmth of the hand on his cheek felt so vivid, as if Kasha was right next to him, comforting his wounds. Smiling, Ruth reached out to touch the hand resting on his cheek, unable to resist the temptation even though he knew it was just a dream. He lifted his heavy arm and grasped the hand on his cheek, feeling it flinch slightly at his touch.

“So, even illusions can be held,” Ruth thought with amusement as he let out a small laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

The voice came from right above him, snapping Ruth fully awake. Opening his eyes, he found Ail sitting beside him on the bed, his hand on Ruth’s cheek. Realizing the hand he had grabbed belonged to Ail, Ruth quickly let go and pushed it away.

“I apologize,” Ruth said, bowing slightly to acknowledge his discourtesy.

Ail glanced at his hand, now tossed aside, with a faintly bitter expression and asked leisurely,
“Who’s this Kasha?”

Recalling the name he had murmured, Ruth gave a bitter smile and sat up slowly.
“A childhood friend. I just dreamed about him for the first time in a while.”

“And that’s why you were smiling?”

“Yes… something like that.”

Ruth’s memories of Kasha were mostly good. Perhaps because Kasha had an inherently sunny disposition—except for the rare occasions when he was furious. Smiling faintly, Ruth brushed his hair back, and Ail, observing him intently, reached out to take Ruth’s injured right hand, now unwrapped and revealing its scars. The wounds had nearly healed, but they still weren’t fully safe.

“You’ll have scars left behind.”

As Ail stared at the deeply ingrained scar, he felt an odd satisfaction. The mark that would remain on Ruth’s body forever pleased him. To Ail, it was a brand—a sign that Ruth belonged to him. Ruth had no control over this; his every part was now in Ail’s grasp.

The scar symbolized that Ruth could neither escape nor determine his own fate. Ail’s reasons for holding onto Ruth weren’t entirely clear, but one thing was certain—he didn’t want to let this beautiful, loyal creature slip from his grasp.

Fixating on the scar, Ail raised Ruth’s hand and pressed a kiss to the wound. Startled, Ruth widened his eyes, his expression tinged with fear as he stared at Ail. Amused by this reaction, Ail chuckled lightly.
“No sense of charm, is there? Couldn’t you at least pretend to be shy?”

“Why would I?” Ruth replied, frowning slightly in confusion.

His puzzled expression seemed to amuse Ail, who raised Ruth’s hand again, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ruth stiffened, unsure what Ail intended. Noticing Ruth’s reaction, Ail smirked like a mischievous child.
“How does someone so timid ever become a knight? You hate hunting, have a soft heart, and are so easily frightened… it’s fascinating.”

“I’m not timid. It’s just… ”

Ruth wanted to say, “You’re the one I’m afraid of.” But he couldn’t bring himself to say it, instead trailing off into silence.

Watching Ruth with a softened gaze, Ail suddenly pressed his tongue to the scar on Ruth’s palm. Horrified, Ruth tried to pull his hand away, but Ail gripped his wrist tightly, his strength enough to make Ruth gasp in pain.

“It hurts. Let go.”

Ail gazed at Ruth with a sultry expression, his penetrating stare making Ruth’s face flush red. Ail was openly teasing him, and Ruth could feel the intensity of his gaze throughout his entire body. When Ruth deliberately looked away to escape the tension, Ail leaned in close and whispered in a low, almost taunting voice,
“Knights shouldn’t say they dislike pain. You’re truly fascinating. From the moment I first saw you, I thought you weren’t fit to be a knight… and you’ve proven me right.”

Ignoring the provocation, Ruth maintained his composure and firmly said,
“Please let go of my hand.”

He spoke formally and calmly, trying to resist Ail’s manipulations. Ruth understood he couldn’t afford to be drawn into Ail’s games. Despite their years together, Ail remained an enigma—an unpredictable, dangerous presence Ruth couldn’t fully grasp.

Ail, visibly displeased by Ruth’s formal tone and rejection, frowned slightly. His irritation was clear.
“If you’re going to be my consort anyway, you could at least act a little sweeter. Haven’t you ever heard of charm?”

“I’m not here because of love, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to act that way. If you’re looking for someone charming, you’d be better off finding someone else.”

Bored by Ruth’s blunt response, Ail let go of his hand abruptly. Rubbing his wrist where Ail had held it, Ruth slowly stood from the bed. But the moment his feet touched the floor, a sharp pain shot through his back, causing his knees to buckle. His legs trembled, unable to support his weight.

Ail, lounging on the bed with an amused expression, watched Ruth closely, as though observing a curious spectacle. Ruth, determined to move, took a single step forward out of sheer stubbornness but immediately collapsed to his knees as his strength gave out.

Watching Ruth kneeling on the floor, sweat trickling down his face, Ail chuckled, clearly entertained.
“Where do you think you’re going?”