It must be fine. I must not be shaken. There is no reason for me to hurt or falter.

After all, he was never mine. He’s a man who will abandon me one day. That’s why I’ve worked so hard to cut out any budding emotions from the start. Now, of all times, I must not let myself fall for such a man.

He’s someone who could leave me at any moment.
He’s someone who can be as cruel as he wants.

I cannot let myself care for him. The moment I lower my guard, the one who gets hurt will be me. Even his current kindness is nothing but a passing whim. He might even be trying to gain complete control over my heart, only to discard me afterward. He’ll leave me abandoned in some forgotten corner. Once he’s taken this pitiful affection from me, he’ll act as if it never meant anything to him and walk away without a second thought.

I mustn’t let myself waver. I must never open my heart to him.

But no matter how many times I resolve myself or how much effort I put into it, his gentle demeanor makes my chest ache.

Maybe I truly am a hopeless fool.

“Ruth.”

His voice calling my name made my heart leap. It was the first time he’d ever called my name so tenderly.

What has changed? What is this tension, this almost painful ache in my chest?

“If you’re in pain, just say so. That’s the only way to treat it quickly.”

“I’m fine. Really.”

“You’re…”

Ail was about to ask Ruth something else when they both noticed a presence approaching from the distance. The rustling of hurried footsteps crossing the garden made them turn their heads simultaneously. Emerging from the dark garden was Salina, moving briskly toward them.

“Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour. May I have a moment of your time?”

Salina, catching her breath after hastening over, spoke with urgency. Ail responded curtly, feigning annoyance.
“What is it?”

Salina glanced briefly at Ruth’s expression before continuing.
“It’s an urgent matter. This will only take a moment.”

Salina’s unusually tense demeanor made Ail suspect something serious had happened. He released Ruth from his embrace.

“…Return to your room.”

The sudden loss of his warmth left Ruth feeling a pang of sadness, but he suppressed it and answered calmly.
“Please, speak with her.”

Ruth’s voice was more formal now, and he gave a slight nod to Salina before walking back the way she had come. Pretending indifference, Ruth turned his back on Ail and Salina, but his entire body was alert, his nerves on edge.

This has nothing to do with me, he told himself. Stop caring. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, it was no use.

It was Ail’s fault. He kept unsettling him.

If only he had been cruel instead. That would have been easier. If he were cruel, he wouldn’t have fallen for him. If he were cruel, it would have been so much easier to hate him.

This sentiment, this emotion, was worthless. It was nothing more than trash that Ail would laugh at and discard. Nothing more, nothing less.

I must cut it off. Pull it out at the roots.

Once everyone had left the garden, Ruth finally disappeared inside the building. Only then did Salina check their surroundings before beginning to speak.

“I apologize for coming so urgently. It seems I interrupted a pleasant moment.”

She was right. It had been a rare, peaceful conversation with Ruth, and Salina had disrupted it.

“What is it?”

“Elsen and Erita have escaped.”

Ail’s expression darkened at the unexpected news.
“How did they escape?”

“During the preparations to move to the capital for your coming-of-age ceremony, they seized a carriage and fled. Although we drugged them, it seems they managed to vomit it out.”

Ail had confined Elsen and Erita at a Kaizel family villa near the capital, planning to have them “found” during his coming-of-age ceremony. Spies had already been planted, and the search was gradually being shifted from the Virel region to the capital. Now, their escape threatened to complicate everything.

“Did they see your family’s crest?”

“No, they left in such haste that they likely didn’t notice the location either. Even if they deduced it was my villa, we can redirect suspicion toward the Kaizel family. The real problem is if the Kaizel family finds them first.”

“That must not happen. Where did they flee?”

“They initially headed for the mountains near the border with Clozium, but they’ll likely head for the capital soon. By now, they must realize the situation and will try to prove their innocence.”

“Fine. Send the letter. Inform our contact to report that Erita and Elsen fled from their estate.”

“From the Kaizel villa?”

“Yes. The plan has changed. Handle it quickly. And you know what to do if the worst happens.”

The “worst” referred to the possibility of Elsen and Erita uncovering the truth. In that case, assassins would eliminate them, using arrows marked with the Kaizel family crest to shift blame.

“Understood.”

Salina nodded, grasping his intentions. After a brief hesitation, she voiced her lingering question.
“And if they’re brought back, what will you do with them?”

“We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”

“I need a definite answer. Are you going to break off your engagement with Erita?”

“Even if the situation was unavoidable, I can’t make a woman who eloped with another man the crown princess. The engagement is already nullified.”

At those words, Salina’s face lit up with relief as she smiled brightly.
“Thank you. Then, I’ll proceed to the next steps.”

Unlike when she arrived, Salina now carried herself with calm composure and elegance as she bowed respectfully and turned to leave. In the distance, her maids, who had been waiting, greeted her with deep bows as she approached. Watching her figure disappear into the distance, Ail clicked his tongue quietly. The atmosphere that had finally begun to ease had been completely shattered by her interruption.

As he thought about returning to his chambers to console Ruth, Ail turned slowly and began walking toward the Golden Palace.