Listening to the sound of the door from behind, Ail quietly approached the window and looked out at the garden. The world was filled with a blue hue. It was the end of summer. The hot but refreshing air filled the garden, and the sunlight was so strong that it hurt his eyes.

It was on a day like this that he first met Ruth. He was a new commander of the knights, following Kamiel, and was a man much taller and older than Ail. His neat appearance, quiet demeanor, and refined way of speaking were almost too perfect. It was hard to understand why someone like him would become a knight. Knowing his background, Ail had a prejudice that made it even harder to see him in the knight’s uniform. But he turned out to be unexpectedly capable, diligent, and responsible. Above all, he was different from the others in the palace. He was kind-hearted and righteous. He couldn’t betray others or distrust them, and he always did his best to protect the things that mattered to him.

He was a good person. So good, in fact, that even when he was hurt and abandoned, he would endure it and wait patiently, able to do anything for others.

Now, that person was angry with him. The intensity of it was something he hadn’t expected. Ail had thought he would endure it, just like before, suppressing his feelings and calming himself down, believing that Ruth would eventually look back at him.

Ail was wrong. He had made a mistake. He had underestimated Ruth. Or rather, he had taken his obsession with Ruth too lightly.

If he could turn back time, he would want to. If he could return to four years ago, he would treat him kindly. No, even if he could turn back just a month ago, he wouldn’t have pushed him into a trap or driven him into the worst situation.

If he could go back, he would. He would go back to that time and ask him to stay by his side.

If he refused, Ail would beg and plead until Ruth changed his mind. Before Ruth bent down to beg for him, Ail would be the one to beg him.

Just stay with me… Don’t go. Stay here with me, beside me.

Please protect me like before.

But time has passed, and it can’t be undone. The consequences of his arrogance and excessive self-love were now clear.

He had thought it was no big deal. He had tried to keep Ruth by force, with cruel, underhanded tactics, and threats. He thought it would be enough if Ruth just stayed next to him, breathing and existing like a part of him.

He didn’t want to admit that Ruth was important to him. He couldn’t accept the fact that this ordinary, kind, and beautiful knight was such a vital part of his life. Ail had always thought that grand and powerful things suited him, that he should be with someone who shared his ambition for the continent, someone who could dream with him and provide strength.

He didn’t think someone like Ruth, who was gentle, unable to bear the sight of a small animal dying, who dreamed of a modest life with children, could be a fitting match for him.

Before Ruth had even spoken of leaving, Ail had considered killing him. He thought Ruth would be an obstacle, something to get rid of. He thought it was necessary to kill him.

Now, reflecting on it, Ail realized how foolish that thought was. If Ruth hadn’t said he was leaving, Ail would have quietly sent an assassin to kill him. And once he saw Ruth’s corpse, he would have understood the truth. He wouldn’t have been able to live in this world without him, and slowly, he would have gone mad. He would have died alone, crazed by loneliness and pain.

It was only natural for Ruth to want to leave. He knew Ail well enough to sense what he might do. Ruth was trying to leave out of a desire to survive. Ail had held him back and was now slowly driving him to death. In the end, the result was the same. Ail was a murderer.

And yet, Ail still thought this was better, because Ruth was still alive. At least, for now, he was still holding on…

So…

Ail clenched his eyes shut as a heavy sensation settled in his chest. He knew it was impossible to turn back. If that was the case, the only thing he could do was to push forward. Marrying Salina and taking Ruth as a concubine would be a sacrifice, but it could also serve as a starting point for a new beginning. Establishing a new relationship might be an attempt in itself.

For now, he intended to confine Ruth in this space and give him whatever he could. He would bring his mother and younger sister into the palace, and if he kept Kamiel close, Ruth might eventually ease his heart. Salina would become his empty vessel, but the concubine would belong to Ruth. He had sworn to his mother that he would take no other wives. He also intended not to have children. These were the only things he could offer Ruth. Whether he wanted them or not, Ail simply wanted to do this for him.

And perhaps, someday, Ruth would understand.

He didn’t know when that would be, but until then, he would do his best for him. Even if it meant trying to piece together a shattered glass, it couldn’t return to the way it was before, but Ail would gather the pieces one by one, hoping for a better future. That was all he could do now.

—

The sharp nerves disrupted his sleep. Ruth, who had barely slept, got up every hour, sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his head. His brain felt like it was about to break. His stomach, having vomited everything he ate, was wracked with excruciating pain, and his mind was a mess. Even his eyelashes and fingertips trembled, as if in a seizure. His chest felt as though it was burning with fire.

He thought he might lose his mind. How could he calm these terrible feelings? They were intense, hot, and overwhelming. He couldn’t control them with his normal willpower. It was a situation that was hard to bear with a sane mind.

It almost seemed better to just go mad.

Ruth sat there for a long while when he heard a knock on the door. It sounded like Meryl. Since tonight was the last night of the banquet, Ail wouldn’t have time to visit.

“Come in.”

He answered in a hoarse voice, but there was no response. Meryl wasn’t the type to joke around. Something felt strange, and as he stared at the door, he heard another sound—a thud. This time, the noise came not from the door but from the floor outside it. Then, a loud male voice spoke.

“I apologize. I dropped my sword on the floor.”

Ruth found this odd. Normally, swords were strapped to a thick belt around the waist. Unless they were drawn from their sheath, they wouldn’t easily fall. A sword dropping would be a mistake only a trainee would make.

As Ruth thought this, his eyes were drawn to the floor. He saw something white sticking out from a light brown rug. No, it wasn’t white. It was a flashy pink envelope, something often used by Kasha. This must be the knight that Kasha had bribed.

Ruth, pushing his hair aside, quickly stood up and ran toward the door. His legs almost gave way for a moment, but he stiffened his muscles and rushed forward, grabbing the letter. He tore open the envelope in a hurry and began reading.

By the time he finished the last line, Ruth was clenching his fists tightly.

Kasha was on his way here. Ruth quickly turned his head to check the time—it was almost midnight. The letter had likely been placed there long ago. He had been too slow in discovering it, wasting time in bed. The sound he had heard earlier was probably a signal meant for him.

The banquet had likely started an hour ago. The final banquet for the prince’s coming-of-age ceremony would continue until the next morning. Ail would be tied up in the banquet all night. If Ruth was going to escape, now was the chance. There was no time left. And soon, he would be dragged into the harem.

Time was running out. He had to make up his mind quickly.

Should he leave or not? If he didn’t take Kasha’s hand now, he might never leave this place. But if he left now, what would happen to his mother and Leia? He didn’t care about the Kaizel family, but his mother and Leia were different. If someone could protect them, that would be good. Then, he could leave without worry…

Nervously biting his nails, Ruth looked at the clock again. He needed to find an excuse to go down to the basement. Even if he wasn’t going to follow him, even if it wasn’t his choice to be in the palace right now, he still wanted to see him. It felt even more desperate when he thought it might be the last time.

He wanted to see Kasha. He missed him terribly.

As he thought about it, Ruth made up his mind. He quickly burned the letter in the candlelight and tossed it into the fireplace. Then, he changed into some simple clothes and tied his hair back. He couldn’t leave, but he hadn’t resolved to stay either. Without realizing it, he started looking around the room, gathering what he needed. His heart was leading him more than his rationality, preparing for anything.

There was nothing important in the palace that he had to take with him. If he was thinking about escaping, he would have to take something valuable, but those things were too big and obvious. So, for now, he would take things he could hold in his hands…

At that moment, Ruth noticed the necklace that Ail had given him, lying on the table beside the bed. He couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh. Despite thinking he couldn’t escape, he was still searching for things like this. And of all things, he had to notice the symbol of the Jenin family on it. That kind of thing would be easily noticed and couldn’t be sold. Yet, he found his eyes drawn to it, stopping on it.

At some point, he began to feel sickened by his own obsession with the necklace. Why was he chasing after his traces like this? Why did he want to take even a single thing Ail had given him? And before that, why was he preparing to leave despite saying he couldn’t? His contradictory feelings were both ridiculous and bitter.

Ruth bit his lip slightly and walked over to the table. He picked up the necklace from the box and wrapped it loosely around his hand, then made his way toward the door.

One necklace should be fine. It was the first thing he had ever given him. Even if it was something precious to his mother, it held no value to Ail, so it should be okay.

When he eventually forgot about Ail, he would throw it away.

When his feelings for him faded, he would discard it without hesitation.

It would only be until then. Emotions of someone as foolish as him were long-lasting and persistent, so they had to be dealt with slowly, over time.

As he reassured himself, Ruth opened the door and glanced back at the knights guarding the door.

“Where is Meril?”

He asked because the knight who usually guarded the door was nowhere to be seen. In response, Genus, a knight who had recently joined the order, bowed his head and answered.

“He’s on duty in the early morning today.”

“Ah…”

That was a relief. If Meril wasn’t around, there was no one to follow him and be a nuisance.

“I’ll just be walking around the palace for a moment. It’s hot, so I’ll spend some time in the basement, but no one needs to follow me. I’m not leaving the palace.”

The oppressive heat continued without a single cool breeze even at night. Ruth had been too caught up in his self-pity to notice, but even at night, the air was stifling, and sweat ran down his body from just sitting still. Going to the basement on such a day was a perfect excuse. While other palaces used their basements for storage, the northern palace had rooms downstairs designed for specific purposes. In times of war, the underground was naturally safer than the upper levels. As a result, the basement rooms were just as elegant and well-maintained as those above ground.

Ruth was planning to take advantage of this fact. The basement rooms, always impeccably tidy and with a temperature that stayed comfortable even in the summer heat, were a good place to rest during the sweltering days.

“That’s not allowed. His Highness asked that you be accompanied anywhere outside your room.”

“It’s still inside the palace.”

Ruth firmly responded to Genus, whose words were full of loyalty. At that moment, one of the knights beside Genus grabbed his sword sheath. Seeing that signal, Ruth remembered that this knight was the one who had handed him the box.

“Then you can follow me. One person is enough, right?”

Ruth pointed directly at him. Genus, initially taken aback, eventually nodded after a moment of hesitation.

“Understood. But the basement is dark. If you want to cool off, wouldn’t the garden be better?”

“The garden’s already too hot. I’d prefer to cool my head in a cooler place.”

Ruth responded with surprising calmness and a composed but bold lie, then turned and began walking toward the end of the corridor, where the stairs were. He walked slowly, making sure not to give away any signs that he was up to something, trying not to alert anyone. He had to act as though nothing was wrong, just like always. If even a hint of suspicion arose, it could ruin everything. Without speaking a word to the knight following him, Ruth finally reached the end of the corridor and descended the stairs. As he descended, he felt the heat on his skin dissipating with the cool air of the basement.

“I’ll light the candles.”

A knight, carrying a candle from the first-floor corridor, carefully descended the stairs and lit a wall sconce attached to the long wooden staircase. With each step he took, the area around the stairs lit up, and Ruth began descending as well.

Room seven, on the basement stairs. The large mural on the stone wall to the right of the door. And the seven swords hanging on that wall, one of them with a red jewel-encrusted hilt.

The door had a set time for opening and closing, and once it was opened, it wouldn’t open again for a month. So, Ruth had to make sure to time it correctly. If Kasha was already inside, he would meet him… and then…

Reaching the door to the seventh room, Ruth stopped and turned to look at the knight. The knight, expressionless, stood silently. Ruth gave a slight bow, then accepted the candle the knight was holding and stepped inside the room. It was completely dark inside. As the room was in the basement, it was naturally darker and damp. After lighting the candles placed around the room, Ruth looked around, seeing the mural on the stone wall. On the small table beside the bed, a small clock sat. There was still some time before midnight.

Ruth, with the necklace wrapped around his left hand, felt the moment to make a decision was fast approaching.

Before midnight and before that door opened, he had to make up his mind. Whether to leave or stay.

He had to decide.