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Even after Robert lost his head, the rumors spread through the castle like an excited parrot.

There was someone else who truly took the lives of the Duke and the Prince.

It was explicitly acknowledged by them, confirmed by the informant.

Jade Allen had only a small stake in it; he didn’t have a direct hand in their deaths.

Similarly, Kyle Allen had been wrongfully burdened and ended up staying on this land.

Those who knew Kyle were too shocked to speak.

Everyone living in the Castle of Rondore knew just how hard he had grown up.

His outstanding skills and strong character were not gifts but the results of blood, sweat, and tears.

However, people chose to overlook this because of their negative perceptions of him.

Now that everyone knew he was innocent, Kyle was transforming from a monster into a victim.

His body testified to that.

It told the tale of how harsh his life had been.

Just a slight drop of his broad shoulders revealed burn scars around his neck, and there were gashes all over his body, not to mention his half-chopped ear… for a 20-year-old, these were serious marks.

Vivian, who was closest to him, couldn’t find any words.

Her share in the reasons for his suffering was significant, making it even harder for her.

It had been two days since Kyle learned the truth, yet she hadn’t been able to say a single word to him.

“…”

Kyle was by the riverside again today.

Leaning against a nearby tree, he gazed at the flowing water.

Sometimes he threw pebbles, sometimes he closed his eyes to continue thinking, and sometimes he laughed aimlessly.

Vivian watched all those moments from a distance.

Each time he seemed to regret the time he had spent, Vivian’s heart tore a little more.

Those moments of laughter became her nightmares.

The sound of that scream echoed in her ears every night.

She had never seen Kyle struggle so much in his life.

Understandably so.

What must it feel like to realize you’ve been dragged to this land for no reason?

What must it feel like to know you sacrificed and suffered for no reason?

While Kyle was not the type to lament about it, she could tell that unexpressed questions were swirling chaotically in his heart.

Seeing the shaken Kyle, Vivian wanted to support him.

Just as he had always been there for her, she wanted to be his strength now.

She knew she once hated him enough to almost want him dead.

Now, looking back, there was really no reason to hate him, yet… those feelings still remained vivid in her memories.

That trace remained like a brand, affecting their relationship.

It was still hard to express her honest feelings to him.

What if she made a big change and he ended up getting tired of her?

Afraid that this thin thread connecting them would snap, Vivian felt like she’d go mad.

So, even though she wanted to support him, she couldn’t get close.

Especially considering how her own appearance would reflect on him.

“…”

But she gritted her teeth.

Today marked two days already.

She couldn’t just let things go without speaking to Kyle.

Whatever it took, she needed to address this issue and move forward.

Everything was over.

Wasn’t happiness all that was left?

So…

“…K-Kyle.”

Vivian approached Kyle with the brightest voice she could muster.

“Ah, you haven’t had breakfast. I prepared some food, so let’s—”

“—Just a minute.”

But the moment Vivian stepped closer, Kyle spoke without even looking at her.

For some reason, his attitude felt like a chilling ice sheet.

Of course, Vivian knew that couldn’t be true.

She had sinned greatly against Kyle, but she wanted to believe their relationship wasn’t weak enough to break over this.

His heart must still be directed at her.

If she didn’t believe that, she’d lose her sanity.

If Kyle got angry and annoyed, she thought it would feel better in some ways.

But he didn’t do that.

He was probably just rationalizing that Robert was at fault, holding back the anger that rightfully should have been directed at him.

“…Just give me a little time, Vivian.”

Kyle whispered.

“…”

Vivian had to hold back her tears, struggling to suppress the words she wanted to say.

She yearned for him to look her way and speak.

She felt she could only relax if she saw those black eyes.

As always, it felt like she could only endure if he looked upon her with warmth…

Vivian squeezed her eyes shut, pushing those feelings down.

She knew Kyle must be feeling even more cornered.

“…Alright, Kyle.”

So she nodded and took a step back.

Then, she distanced herself so Kyle could have the time he needed.

****

“Hah!!”

Vivian woke up sweating profusely in the middle of the night.

As she fumbled around her surroundings, she slowly exhaled.

‘Hahaha…!’

Kyle’s laughter echoed in the back of her mind, fading away.

It was already a mirage-like fading nightmare, but the horrific dream kept her heart racing.

“Is… is anyone there?”

Vivian shouted hurriedly.

The feeling of being alone was incredibly ominous.

‘It’s Yanes. I’m outside.’

“W-where’s Kyle?”

Vivian blurted out the unexpected question.

Yanes, who had been silent, finally answered.

‘He’ll probably be at the lodge!’

Vivian quickly took out her necklace with trembling hands, blowing strength into it.

Listening closely, she heard various, peaceful breaths resonating.

“Hah…”

Only after hearing that sound could Vivian relax.

She needed every fiber of her being to calm her racing heart.

Why was she so afraid?

She had to trust Kyle.

No matter the circumstances, Kyle had always stood by her side.

He had faced mountains of adversity for her until now.

He got through all that, and while he surely knew, only happiness was left.

Didn’t they even talk about having children together?

Kyle wasn’t the type to leave.

That was for certain.

They were tied together too tightly to separate.

Good or bad, they were already entangled in ways they couldn’t undo.

If she just gave him some time, everything would be alright.

Then, he would come back to her.

He had asked for time, right?

She just had to believe and give him space.

Then he would gather his thoughts and smile again.

She had to have that faith.

Vivian summoned the maids to change her sweat-soaked clothes and lay back in bed.

She closed her eyes, but sleep didn’t come easily.

****

It was all over.

It was all over, wasn’t it?

No matter how many times she repeated it in her head, it was an idea hard to accept.

Everything was supposedly finished now, and there were no more hardships left.

Vivian’s foes were buried underground, and only happy times remained.

She tried to think that way, but her problems felt like they had just begun.

The maddening rage and the hollowness had only fought for a moment.

She thought.

…It wasn’t Vivian’s fault.

Vivian didn’t know.

It was all Robert’s doing; it was Robert’s mistake.

Both she and Vivian were victims.

It wasn’t intentional.

It had been her choice; no one forced her to protect Vivian.

It wasn’t just guilt and sin that motivated her; those were mere external excuses—she felt something more complex for Vivian.

“…”

And as she made that realization, she felt an overwhelming terror.

…Why on earth was she defending Vivian at this moment?

This abnormal reaction only made her chuckle bitterly.

It had already been four days since she sat by the riverside, trying to sort her thoughts.

Even now, she couldn’t easily hate Vivian; it made her feel an unbearable anxiety.

Regardless of what anyone said, results were results.

It was true that Vivian had placed her in the Punishment Unit.

It was also true that she had been hurt while trying to protect her.

She couldn’t return home because of her, and she couldn’t see her mother’s grave or tend to her father’s sickbed— it was all her fault.

These results wouldn’t change, so did she really need to understand Vivian?

Vivian had never offered that understanding in return.

But why was she doing this?

Why was she still at it?

She had never been this way.

But when it came to Vivian, she always felt like she had to make an exception.

What was the reason? She couldn’t figure it out.

No, she had a guess but was ignoring it.

“…Hah.”

The cold weather fully exhaled her breath into the air.

It felt like her hometown was calling her.

Was this also a sign?

Perhaps her mother was trying to reach out to her.

She didn’t turn her head away.

Because Vivian was standing right beside her.

But now was the time to talk.

Vivian had waited long enough.

“…It was hard, wasn’t it?”

She opened the door to conversation.

 

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