Jake, clad in a robe and hood, scanned the situation around him, his eyes narrowing sharply.
He had already assessed the unusual circumstances through the reception hall’s window, but he never expected the scene to be akin to a natural disaster.
His gaze, now even sharper, settled on Edmund.
“Duke, explain yourself. I heard about the rebellion, but no one mentioned that monsters were appearing in your territory and engaging in battle. This is as unexpected as my presence at today’s banquet.”
Edmund, who had been staring at Jake impassively, raised an eyebrow.
“This is actually quite convenient.”
“Convenient?”
Casting Jake a brief, indifferent glance, Edmund silently turned toward the open door.
As they passed each other, Edmund spoke into the air.
“Lead the army.”
Jake’s eyelids twitched at the words that rang in his ears. He turned to look at Edmund, who was walking away.
“W-Wait a moment! Are you seriously asking me to take command of the knights?”
It was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.
Everyone in the empire knew that his expertise lay in academia, not military strategy. And yet?
Edmund suddenly stopped in the dimly lit corridor, his back to the soft lattice-patterned moonlight.
“Etricia has been kidnapped.”
Jake froze at the low, subdued voice, staring at Edmund’s back with a speechless expression.
His face, clouded with shock and horror, also held something else—something peculiar. But it wasn’t pity or sympathy.
Instead, it was a strange sense of doubt.
Edmund seemed far too rational and composed.
‘How is that possible? The woman he loves has been kidnapped…’
“Do I seem calm to you?”
As if reading his thoughts, Edmund’s sharp question made Jake flinch. But he quickly regained his composure and answered resolutely.
“Yes, you do.”
“Calm, huh?”
Edmund neither denied nor confirmed the statement.
He merely turned back to Jake with cold eyes.
“I am simply following her will.”
Jake frowned at those words.
Following her will?
That didn’t match the image he had of Edmund.
He had only seen Edmund once in an official setting.
At that time, ministers leaving the meeting chamber had clicked their tongues, muttering that the man was clearly made of ice. They had even whispered that if he had shown even the slightest interest in power, he might have used his reputation as a hero to stage a coup.
Just then, Edmund had walked past them, indifferent to their words. Even as they scrambled to explain themselves, he paid no heed, simply continuing on his way.
Gossip and rumors had no effect on him.
At one point, the Emperor himself had made the flippant remark that Edmund was just a man craving attention. Jake had frowned at that comment but, after that incident, finally acknowledged something.
He had come to admire Edmund—not as the empire’s revered hero, the Duke of Mipedian, but as the man himself.
That was why he had been so shocked when he first heard the scandal involving Etricia.
‘To think that anyone could capture his interest…’
At first, he had suspected that their relationship was merely one of convenience.
But upon arriving here, he had seen it with his own eyes.
The way Edmund looked at Etricia. The way he smiled at her.
Anyone who witnessed it would have understood immediately.
“So, will you do it? That is all that matters to me.”
It was more of a command than a request.
Jake let out a wry chuckle and shook his head.
“For my dear friend Etricia, I would do anything you ask. But leading an army? You know who I am.”
“I do.”
Jake’s shoulders twitched.
Hearing that acknowledgment, he felt as if his most hidden weakness had been exposed.
It was then that he realized something.
He had never wanted Edmund to know that he was often called the ‘useless crown prince’—a man utterly incapable in battle.
Jake raked a hand through his hair and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Of course, you would know. No one can hide the sky with their hand. No matter how long you’ve been away from the capital—”
“Your Highness.”
A flat voice cut him off. Jake blinked slowly.
Lifting his head from its half-bowed position, he met a pair of striking golden eyes.
Their sharp, unwavering gaze captivated him.
Jake immediately understood.
This was merely a statement dictated by the chain of command.
And yet, strangely, it felt like reassurance.
A powerful emotion surged within him.
He didn’t want to turn away from those eyes.
He couldn’t refuse this request.
He wanted to prove that this trust was not misplaced.
So… he had to do it.
Jake clenched his teeth.
“Damn it…”
For the first time in his life, he was overwhelmed by an unfamiliar emotion.
His eyes reddened, and he bit his lip hard before suddenly cursing and turning away.
Pulling at the cord around his neck, he yanked off his robe, casting it aside.
His gaze, now resolute, locked onto the hall.
“Consider this a debt to be repaid in the future.”
“I will skip the formalities.”
With that, the two men strode off to their respective duties.
Edmund swiftly exited the mansion, bypassing a knight who had just fetched a horse from the stable.
Mounting the steed, he wrapped the reins around his hand and spurred it forward.
Beneath the full moon, cutting through the dense autumn air, he rode.
‘Etricia.’
The one who had once pulled him back from the brink of death.
I feel like throwing up.
I slowly opened my eyes, disturbed by the discomfort in my stomach…
I felt like throwing up.
I slowly opened my eyes because of the strange feeling under my chest.
My body was so heavy that I couldn’t move properly.
When I barely opened my eyes, I saw I was in a forest full of trees and plants. The sun was shining softly through the leaves, so it must have been morning.
Sniff. I wrinkled my nose to chase away the salty smell.
The sound of waves hitting and the cool sea breeze told me I was near the ocean.
“Ugh.”
But a few seconds later, the pain I had forgotten came back, and now there was not a single place on my body that didn’t hurt.
The end of my black dress was torn, and my exposed thigh was scratched by weeds, stinging painfully.
I was already worn out from using Purification, and on top of that, I had been kidnapped. Of course, I felt like this.
I turned my head. My hands were tied and leaned against a tree trunk.
‘No wonder my wrists were hurting.’
I groaned and twisted my body here and there, but there was no way to loosen the rope.
Haah… After struggling for several minutes, I gave up and slumped back against the tree.
I didn’t know how long I had my eyes closed, trying to calm my breathing.
Then, my senses became more focused on the direction of the wind, the sounds of birds, and small animals moving through the leaves. That’s when I heard someone’s presence break through the peaceful background noise and reach my ears.
A shadow soon appeared near my face.
“Etricia.”
Before I could even think, I knew who it was and slowly opened my eyes.
Lunox was standing in front of me with his hands behind his back, standing against the sunlight.
He leaned closer, placing one hand on the tree and smiling lazily. He tilted his head as he looked at my lips and moved closer.
His round forehead, sharp nose, and firm jawline made his face dangerously good-looking.
His seductive red eyes, like he would devour you, and his shiny, night-colored long hair gave off the exact feel of someone who seduced women to survive.
But no matter how beautiful he looked, he wasn’t good enough for me.
Because I knew someone who shined even more than him.
The one and only moon that lights up my world.
Just before his lips touched mine, I turned my head sharply and glared at him with eyes that almost hurt.
Lunox blinked dumbly and then let out a mocking laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.
He looked down at me, took his hand off the tree, and stood up lazily.
“Just give up already, Etricia. That guy won’t be able to find you.”
I turned my head back with a firm look.
“What are you talking about?”
“I threw the tracking magic tool that was on your collar into the sea.”
What…?
My heart began to tremble slightly.
Lunox looked at my shocked face and smiled slowly, brushing my cheek with the back of his hand.
“Give up. You already failed to seal me with the magic stone. There’s no way to seal me now.”
His bright red eyes, full of fake kindness, narrowed coldly. In his eyes, I could see myself, frozen with shock.
“Ah… Innocent Etricia. I think I’m really starting to like you. Your expressions show everything.”
Ugh. His words gave me goosebumps. I shrank my shoulders and looked at him with wary eyes.
“Haha. Your lover will never find this place once we leave.”
“Leave?”
Lunox smiled, gently folding his eyes. His sweet voice flowed like waves—soft and drifting.
“Look over there, Etricia.”
Then he chuckled and gently lifted my chin to turn my head.
