“…With Count Korod happening, when would I even have the time?”

“That’s unfortunate. Well, that’s not what’s important. Next year is what really matters, right? You’ll soon be an adult.”

Seeing Elena with a complicated smile of celebration and concern, Vivian’s unease grew larger.

The witch’s sacrifice.

Finally, the time to pay the price was drawing near.

Vivian knew it too.

Indeed, the witch’s power had been a great help.

The spell that could detect the presence of poison in food was thanks to Kyle, so that was one thing.

The spell that could detect lies from people was incredibly useful.

Based on that, she could separate enemies and allies and solidify her standing within the castle.

She had also managed to set a spell to listen and, while not part of her own power, eliminate Count Korod.

And Kyle’s life, too.

It wasn’t just strength that helped.

The stability that came from strength was also a significant aid.

Because of that, she could trust and pursue harsher policies.

So now, she needed to prepare to pay the price.

To pay it and gain the authority to wield even greater power.

But what would she have to sacrifice?

Unlike when she first decided to become a witch as a child… she had many precious things now.

She had come to understand why it was said that as one grew up, they should be able to recognize what is truly valuable.

“…Master?”

“Yes?”

“…What will I have to sacrifice?”

Finally, filled with fear, Vivian asked.

From the moment she posed the question, her heart raced, and she was too scared to even move to hear the answer.

From the moment she learned that the Allen family had nothing to do with her family’s death, someone had grown far more precious to her.

“I can’t know, Vivian. How would I know what’s most precious to you?”

Elena came down from the window and approached Vivian.

Then, soothingly, she placed her hands on both of Vivian’s shoulders and lowered her stature to whisper in her ear.

“But you must be prepared. If you cannot sacrifice, it’s you who will be in big trouble.”

“…What?”

“All the energies you’ve accumulated will leak out of your body. You’ll lose the witch’s power and be hunted down. You know how persistent those guys from the Ras cult can be.”

“…So what will I have to sacrifice? What do witches usually sacrifice?”

As Elena brushed Vivian’s red hair, she provided examples.

“One witch before sacrificed her two eyes. People surprisingly cherish what they see with their two eyes more than you think. Books, paintings, people’s expressions, cute animals, beautiful landscapes… etc. Losing those along with sacrificing one’s eyes must be quite precious.”

“…?”

“Some sacrifice their tongues. Their ability to speak. They can’t express what they want to say and have to live listening to the nonsense of others their entire lives. It’s hard to assert oneself or defend oneself. Each word is indeed very important.”

Vivian knew those things meant something to her too, but it felt unlikely she’d sacrifice such things.

“…Is it possible to sacrifice a person?”

“What?”

“…Someone who was precious…”

She tried to deny it and push it away, but she couldn’t help but think about that possibility.

Elena answered, easing Vivian’s worries.

“It… could be possible. But it’s rare. It’s unclear if that existence even ‘belongs’ to you. Besides, there’s something different when it comes to women.”

“What do you mean?”

Elena’s hand reached Vivian’s lower abdomen.

She applied gentle pressure to Vivian’s belly.

“…Here. Just like me.”

Elena herself had said she sacrificed her womb to gain the witch’s power.

At that time, Vivian had considered whether to sacrifice her womb as well, but she had brushed it off with the idea that she would have to make a choice as an adult.

And now she understood.

She realized what it meant to sacrifice her womb.

“…Ah.”

Elena spoke lightly as if to lighten the atmosphere.

“…What a huge price to pay, isn’t it?”

Vivian’s breath grew rough with fear.

“Though I’m not sure, you’ll probably… lose this part.”

“…”

“Many children and a future with the man you love… that will be lost because of this. You’ll probably have to give up the heir of Rondore whom you’ve loved dearly as well. It will be the moment you let go of the role the lineage has bestowed upon you.”

Vivian caressed her belly.

…My child.

…My family.

The hazy imagination of a future without them made her hands tremble even more.

It felt as if she had a faint hope tucked away deep in her heart.

Oh, I see.

Vivian unknowingly acknowledged it.

…This must be the most precious thing of all.

“You’ll be okay, Vivian.”

Elena whispered.

“…You can adopt a child. As long as you exclude the desire for it to be my child, you’ll be able to live happily.”

For some reason, tears sprung to her eyes.

It was an incomprehensible kind of tear.

“…You survived. You’ve made it this far. Let’s just think about that.”

Vivian nodded.

Even in this sense of despair, there was hope.

Deep down in her heart, there was a small part where she felt at ease.

The thing she would likely sacrifice would be her womb. The children she might have with the person she loves… and even the future of Rondore.

She would sacrifice all of that.

But one thing remained. With that thought, she secretly took a breath of relief.

…Kyle remains.

That alone was a reality she could find solace in.

As long as she had Kyle, she could overcome any hardship.

It had always been like that. As long as she was with Kyle, she endured everything.

So it would continue to be that way.

Even if she had to sacrifice… no matter what.

As long as she had Kyle, she was fine.

“Vivian, say-”

“-When it’s all over.”

As Vivian mulled over her past, she whispered to calm her heated body.

“…What?”

Kyle asked as if he couldn’t believe it.

But Vivian repeated the same words.

“…When it’s all over.”

First, she had to make the sacrifice.

It was something that would happen soon.

She needed to sacrifice her womb as planned and ensure Kyle did not have to sacrifice himself.

“…When everything is over, then ask again.”

“…You mean you want to?”

Vivian kept evading the question.

“I… I’m not yet an adult. I have one more year to go before I’m an adult…”

“What does that even matter-”

-“Besides, you said there’s a war coming. Do you really want to think about that? Who knows how long this war will last?”

“…”

Gulping, Vivian moved closer to Kyle.

Though it seemed unlikely, she didn’t want to see him grow distant from her like this.

Now laden with guilt that she could never wash away, Vivian even resorted to being cute with him.

“C’mon, Kyle, we almost got there, right?”

“…”

“We’re… in a situation where only the last enemy remains. After that, we can do as we talked about… go for walks… drink together… maybe dance a little… right?”

“…And make a child?”

“…”

They couldn’t have a child. It would only hurt more at the moment of separation.

Vivian hadn’t forgotten for a moment that she was a witch.

But now she couldn’t push Kyle away any longer.

He was her benefactor, who had protected her.

There was no reason to push him away… he was her treasure.

As long as she didn’t lose him, she wanted to keep him close.

Though there would be no children, she was gradually painting a future with him.

There was no longer any reason to keep him at a distance.

“…When everything is over.”

Kyle nodded, closing his eyes at Vivian’s unchanging answer.

“…I’ll ask again then.”

****

Four months passed since Keila’s visit.

The preparations for the war against Robert Rondore were in full swing, and evidence that he was after Vivian’s life kept surfacing.

Vivian’s suggestion to face trial on this land had long been overlooked.

We prepared for war, and Robert seemed to be busy fortifying himself as well.

However, the atmosphere within the castle wasn’t all that heavy.

No, at the very least, the air between Vivian and me wasn’t that heavy.

In fact, it flowed lighter and softer than ever.

It was likely due to the subtly changing attitude Vivian had towards me.

It was hard to explain, but for some reason, she seemed a bit friendlier and more charming.

There had certainly been times when she struggled… but now, perhaps she had come to overcome it. That look was nowhere to be found.

Perhaps it was because Nesto revealed his true identity and Robert was one of the two people who had been targeting Vivian. She may have been a bit downcast for a moment.

Or it could simply be that she was experiencing a sensitive time that visits women monthly. I honestly didn’t know.

Regardless, it was clear that Vivian’s demeanor had changed.

Especially since she had decided to stay by my side after rejecting both the royal family’s proposal and Keila’s proposal; this goodwill had deepened.

I, too, felt the same way.

When she asked me to propose to her again after everything is over, her words became my strength.

Our child, Vivian and mine.

…Wouldn’t it be adorable?

It was funny thinking about children before even having sex, but who cares, right?

If I were to go back to my hometown, I’d need to have a child there too.

So it’d be better to have one with Vivian… I’d rather stay here.

“Hey! Kyle, what are you doing?”

“Get down, you idiot!”

And so, in this relieved atmosphere with Vivian, I embarked on some odd actions to see her smile.

I climbed up the castle walls like a little goof.

I knew that if I entered through the window like this, Vivian would laugh more than if I just walked in through the door.

“Oops!”

“…Are you an idiot?”

The moment I climbed through the window, Vivian, who had been waiting quietly, asked.

Yet contrary to her harsh words, her lips were full of laughter.

“Why do you think I’m an idiot? I’m doing this to see that smile.”

“Here.”

I pulled out the flower I had tucked into my chest and presented it to Vivian.

Vivian stared at the flower for a long while before slowly accepting it.

She couldn’t take her eyes off just a single flower.

The lord of Roktana, head of the Rondore family, the girl who resurrected a fallen lineage, the nightmare of the Korod family, and soon, the person who would cut off Robert Rondore’s head.

To others, she was someone to tremble at, but to me, she hadn’t strayed far from the sobbing girl I met at 13.

She was a comrade who had pierced through the long darkness alongside me.

“…Are we having a child?”

I joked with a laugh as I spoke to Vivian.

Vivian let out a faint chuckle before replying with a subtle smirk.

“…How many times do I have to say it? Talk about that when it’s all over.”

She wiped away a tear that had gathered in the corner of her eye with her pretty finger.

Could people know the feelings of looking at a woman who showed tears over just a flower?

Even if the world said I was crazy, there was a definite reason I’d want to stake my life on this.

And whenever I thought this feeling might be a curse, darkness enveloped my vision.

To maintain my sanity, I had to imagine, even if just a little, that this wasn’t a curse.

“The preparations for war are going well, right?”

I asked her while hanging out the window.

From what I could see, it looked like she was having a hard time preparing the documents.

Vivian leaned her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands.

Her familiar scent of flowers tickled my nose as she sighed.

“It’s going well.”

“Let’s finish this war quickly, Vivian. I can’t stand waiting.”

“…”

Vivian wore a faint smile.

Now, she didn’t react as strongly to my approach as she used to.

I had no idea what change of heart had come over her, but the person who constantly denied their feelings had vanished.

Perhaps it was from the moment she declared she would stay beside me and told the royal family so.

As she didn’t push me away, I poured out similar words to that of a proposal, while Vivian accepted them with a smile.

There had been a peaceful period in our relationship that felt unreal.

It was indeed hard to come back to this.

Due to the fact our families were intertwined in hatred.

But now, finally, we both were showing each other nothing but genuine emotions.

“…”

“…”

Vivian rested her chin on her hands, gazing at me with dull eyes.

A faint smile on her lips, but sticky emotions melted in her eyes.

I stared at her, trying to clear my head, and said,

“Time is consuming too much. I should get going. Stay strong.”

Just as I was about to leave, Vivian’s hand touched my cheek.

“…I love you.”

She murmured.

“What?”

Feeling confused, I asked back, but Vivian shook her head.

“…No.”

And then she lowered her head and lightly brushed her lips against mine before turning away.

“See you later, Kyle.”

I savored the soft sensation from her lips in response.

“Alright, see you later.”