A cold wind was blowing. Despite it being mid-summer, the night seemed particularly dark, with an unusually dim moon. Ruth, sitting alone in his room, faced the window, feeling the breeze seep in, staring out into the night with a vacant expression. He had been about to sleep, but now, perhaps because the effects of the medicine had worn off, he could no longer hear it. He hadn’t been able to eat much either. Pressing his forehead with his hand, he had leaned against the chair for a long time, but in the end, he stood up.

He felt that taking a walk might clear his head a little. Since childhood, he had been used to moving his body, so sitting alone in the room was torture. He had lived for 13 years surrounded by boisterous boys his age. Now, asking him to sit alone in a room and pass time was more of a torment than anything else. In fact, he even began to develop a paranoid thought that Ail might have chosen this method just to torment him.

Unable to bear it any longer, he walked toward the door. But just as he reached it, the door opened from the outside. Thinking it might be Meril, Ruth faced the door, but when Ail walked in, his expression stiffened. He hadn’t expected him to come, and half of him was surprised to see him, but the other half was surprised at himself for feeling glad about his presence. A strange anger, mixed with the throbbing pain in his head, weighed on his heart.

After closing the door behind him, Ail took two steps forward and stopped. Ruth could smell alcohol on him. Frowning slightly at the strong, fragrant scent, he asked, “What is it?”

In response to Ruth’s calm question, Ail silently stared at him. The look in his eyes was full of pain, intense and almost desperate. Ruth, for some reason, felt uncomfortable with that gaze, so he lowered his eyes.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Ruth spoke in a curt tone, unable to bear the intensity of Ail’s gaze. Still, Ail didn’t respond.

A suffocating silence hung in the air for a moment. Ruth could feel his whole body tingle from the weight of Ail’s stare. If Ail had something to say, he should say it and leave. If not, it would be better for him to just leave now. Ruth couldn’t stand standing there in silence, being watched. And when Ail looked at him so sorrowfully, it made his own heart waver, as if he had done something wrong. It was like being a cruel mother pushing away a helpless child, and Ruth’s voice broke in frustration.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll leave. I was about to go for a walk anyway.”

As he moved to avoid him and walk toward the door, Ail’s hand grabbed his arm. His heart raced in that instant.

“Let go.”

Ruth said in a cold voice, and only then did Ail open his mouth.

“Talk to me.”

The scent of alcohol wafted between Ail’s lips. He seemed to be drunk. The hand holding Ruth’s arm wasn’t tight, and the pain he felt was probably just his imagination.

“Let go and talk.”

In response to his weak voice, Ruth spoke in a slightly gentler tone. Ail’s hand immediately released his arm. Ruth, surprised by his unusually obedient behavior, wondered what had happened to him. He lifted his gaze to study Ail’s face.

In that moment, seeing the deep shadow on his face, Ruth’s heart tightened. His golden eyes, now tinged with sorrow, were staring at him. Without realizing it, Ruth found himself reaching toward Ail’s cheek.

Suddenly aware of his own unconscious actions, Ruth snapped back to his senses, quickly lowered his hand, and turned away from him, walking toward the table. As he waited for Ail to approach, Ail slowly walked over and sat down at the chair in front of the table. After a moment, Ruth sat across from him and opened his mouth.

“Talk.”

“……”

Ail remained silent again. His silence made the heavy air in the room settle.
Ruth found this tense atmosphere uncomfortable. It felt suffocating, and he couldn’t bear it.
“You came to say something, didn’t you?”
Ruth urged him, as if telling him to speak. Ail understood what Ruth meant, and with a bitter voice, he replied.
“… I just came to see your face.”
In that moment, Ruth felt a sharp pain in his chest. He couldn’t understand why Ail would say such things with such an expression now, or what he wanted from him. Yet, despite his confusion, Ruth felt his heart waver at Ail’s words. His chest fluttered at the idea that Ail had come to see him and his face.
It was foolish. Stupid, idiotic. He knew very well that if he got his hopes up, only he would be hurt. But his heart wouldn’t listen. He should hate Ail. He should let go of him and abandon everything. But when Ail looked at him with those eyes, he wanted to reach out. He wanted to ask why, what had happened, and comfort him.
Ruth fought against the growing softness in his heart and steeled himself, speaking coldly.
“Now that you’ve seen my face, you should go.”
He tried to reject Ail as coldly as possible, as if telling him to leave quickly now that he had seen him. Ail muttered in a slightly deflated voice.
“… It’s my palace. I can stay as long as I want.”
His words were true. This imperial palace was now all his. He could stay anywhere, as long as he wanted.
So, Ruth decided to stand up.
“Then, stay alone. I’m going for a walk.”
Ruth stood up, deliberately avoiding his gaze, but Ail asked in a slightly stiff voice.
“Do you not even want to look at my face?”
His voice squeezed out, filled with pain, and Ruth wavered for a moment. However, he quickly replied with a calm tone.
“Do you think I want to look at you right now?”
At these words, Ail fell silent again. He lowered his head, avoiding Ruth’s gaze. While Ruth felt sympathy, he quickly reassured himself that he should not be swept into unnecessary pity. After all, this was probably just an act. Just like how Ail had deceived everyone around him for four years, he was now trying to deceive Ruth as well. Whatever his goal was, he was clearly trying to stir Ruth’s heart to get something from him.
He couldn’t waver. If he showed any weakness, he would be lost. There was nothing left for him to gain by dealing with Ail anymore. If he gave in now, he would have to give up his very soul. He had already given everything. If his soul was taken as well, nothing would remain. Ruth Kaizel would disappear without a trace.
He had to protect himself. Coldly and decisively. He needed to suppress the emotional appeal and keep his resolve firm.
After a brief silence, Ail spoke again, breaking the tension.
“Cruel.”
At his words, Ruth scoffed.
“To hear such words from you, Your Highness, is laughable.”
“Everyone gets hurt.”
Ail’s words made Ruth respond.
“Not you.”
“I can be hurt too.”
“No. You don’t get hurt. You can pretend to be hurt, but you can never truly be hurt. You probably don’t even know what it means to be hurt. It’s not about scratches on your arms or legs, or a sprained ankle. It’s about your heart. It’s about your soul. You, who don’t even have a heart, can’t possibly feel pain.”
Ruth spoke flatly, turning his back on Ail. His words pierced through Ail’s mind sharply, striking deep into his heart.
Ruth Kaizel was a quiet and kind person. He was always friendly and gentle with everyone, extending a hand to comfort those who were hurt. He was so delicate that he couldn’t even look at the moment when a small animal’s life was taken. He wasn’t someone who could speak such cruel words. He didn’t know how to hurt others with his words.
That’s why Ail’s heart hurt even more hearing Ruth speak like that. If this kind person was now saying such cruel things, it made Ail realize just how much anger and hatred Ruth felt toward him, and it was unbearable.
Ail’s eyebrows twitched slightly. It was fortunate that Ruth had his back turned. He was grateful that Ruth couldn’t see the turmoil in his face. Struggling to suppress the lump in his throat, Ail spoke in a voice that trembled slightly.
“What do you want me to do?”
“…… I don’t want anything.”
“You must want something.”
Ruth fell silent for a moment in response to his question. After a while, without turning to look at Ail, he finally answered.