Like a riddle that had remained impossible to solve no matter how hard he tried, only to unravel all at once—so too was the darkness surrounding Seiyad gradually lifting. Clues implicating the Crown Prince’s deep entanglement with a Devil began aligning one after another, and Seiyad uncovered hidden truths with each passing day. As the realization settled in, a bitter scoff escaped him.
‘What a fool.’
He couldn’t help but find himself utterly pathetic. The very person he should have killed had been right beside him all along, and yet he’d remained blind, focused only on distant shadows. Caught in the Devil’s trap, he hadn’t even realized he was the bait—consumed instead by a blind hatred for Ressas.
If Ressas hadn’t killed him… if time hadn’t been reversed… by now, he would’ve—
Seiyad had never once allowed himself to consider the life that might’ve continued on. It simply wasn’t in his nature to dwell on things that hadn’t happened. He saw no point in stirring up emotions over pointless what-ifs. But upon hearing the words Aster had delivered through Tiaki, a chilling image took hold of him.
Had he survived after committing a massacre that would forever be etched into history, his entire domain—and every member of his family—would have suffered. As for Seiyad himself, even if by some miracle he’d avoided execution, he would’ve been reduced to an empty shell of a man.
“Duke, are you all right?”
Tiaki noticed the silence that had taken over Seiyad, who had gone still from that sickening thought. As he shook off the grim fantasy, Seiyad gave a small nod.
“I had something on my mind. You said it was a snake-like shadow?”
“Yeah. It suddenly appeared out of nowhere—so strange I couldn’t ignore it. When I tried to take a closer look, I got this eerie feeling like the shadow and I locked eyes. I was already freaked out and thinking of hiding, but then… I saw something even worse.”
Tiaki wore a confused expression, like even he didn’t fully understand what he’d seen. Frowning, he tapped the corner of his eye with one finger.
“The Crown Prince suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, then slowly turned to look in my direction. And his eyes… they were pitch black. I’ve never seen anything so grotesque in my life. I was terrified. Then he called for the knights. By the time I looked again before running, his eyes were back to normal. I ended up like this after being chased all over by them.”
…Seiyad had never witnessed Aster in such a state. Did that mean the transformation only occurred under certain conditions? Listening to the description, it felt eerily similar to a Devil taking possession of someone’s body.
What Tiaki had seen was undoubtedly significant. It was a miracle he’d survived after witnessing a secret that should have cost him his life.
“Your concealment skills are nearly impossible for ordinary knights to detect. Yet they still found you?”
“They knew exactly how to handle me. They shot fire arrows at me, closed in with torches from every direction, and broke my stealth. I was on the run for days. When I heard the Duke was heading south, I made this my destination—but of course, the Crown Prince was already here. I couldn’t just show myself. Anyway, that’s the end of my glorious little adventure.”
After recounting what had happened, he looked at Seiyad with a hint of curiosity.
“Did you already know and send me to spy because of this? What exactly is the Duke looking for?”
Seiyad took a moment to organize his thoughts. Ultimately, his mission was to eliminate the Devil. And for that, he needed just cause to strike at the Crown Prince. It wasn’t as if Aster’s position could be challenged on a whim. There wasn’t even concrete proof that he was the Devil. With anything less than solid evidence, it would only look like a smear campaign.
“Tiaki, do you know the Devil from the founding legends?”
“The Devil? Of course. The one who tried to devour the sun and plunge the world into darkness. Nina’s the one who knows all those stories. Don’t tell me… you’re saying that Devil from the old tales is real?”
“Seems you’ve been out of the loop. Stories have been spreading all over the South—go and look into them. The previous Duke of Shildras awakened the Devil. I believe it’s now bonded with the Crown Prince.”
“A lot’s happened in just a few days, huh? Hmmm, actually, that would explain a lot. What if the snake-shaped shadow I saw was the same memory serpent I glimpsed back when I used Kurthu? I always thought it belonged to the former Duke… but if it was the Crown Prince instead…”
Tiaki was quick to accept the implausible. His theory aligned closely with what Seiyad had already suspected.
If Nir’a—the snake-like figure that appeared during the time his mother was being framed—had originated from Aster, then the faceless youth in Jasper’s memory was most likely Aster himself. Having all the right people in the right place at the right time was far too deliberate to be coincidence.
‘You really played me for a fool, Aster.’
Seiyad clenched his fist without realizing it. The rage simmering in his chest had no immediate outlet. It wouldn’t be extinguished until the one who’d disgraced his family lay dead. His nails dug into his palm, breaking the skin and drawing blood.
The pain was grounding—something he could endure. Gritting through the stinging burn, Seiyad gave Tiaki his next command.
“From now on, quietly spread the rumors—use every contact you can. Wherever there are whispers of the previous Duke, sneak in and amplify the stories. Make it known that a Devil’s seed has infiltrated the royal family. Let the tale reach the palace: that a Devil with a serpent’s shadow now wears the guise of a royal.”
If someone else had seen what Tiaki had, or could, suspicion might begin to circle Aster within the palace itself. And if it reached the king, he wouldn’t be able to ignore it. If, by that time, Seiyad could uncover proof of the Crown Prince’s true nature, he’d have his justification to strike.
“So does that mean the Crown Prince will be replaced?”
Without expression, Seiyad tilted his head slightly and looked down at Ressas, who was leaning against his shoulder. He gave a small nod.
“Only if Prince Ressas inherits the throne will any of you get what you want. So cooperate.”
“When have I ever turned down a request from the Duke? Still, if a Devil really is on the loose… a lot of people are going to die. Nina said that too. That a Devil will do whatever it takes—kill everyone in the world, if necessary—to get what it wants.”
“That name you keep bringing up—who exactly is she?”
“Oh, Nina was the leader two generations ago. She’s an old lady now who looks after the children that end up in Desertus, or finds those like us. She’s like a mother to all of us.”
As Tiaki spoke, a soft expression came over him. His sharp features relaxed, and he gave a crooked smile.
“Nina used to investigate a lot, trying to trace our roots. If you visit her sometime, it might actually help you, Duke. She can’t travel far anymore—her body’s too weak now.”
Since people like Bridehit who knew much about the past were especially valuable at times like this, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to meet her at least once.
“Where do I go to find her?”
“Head west. Where the sun sets, the traces of night are strongest. That’s where many ancient stories are buried.”
As they spoke, Ressas stirred faintly. The cheek that had been resting on Seiyad’s shoulder shifted slightly, and then, like a baby animal burrowing in for warmth, he nestled his face against him. Though it was about time to set off with the sun rising, Seiyad remembered how tired Ressas had looked yesterday. He wanted to let him sleep just a little longer. Seeing him so deeply asleep tugged at his heart.
“We’ll talk more later. For now, get some rest. When I head to Bridehit’s territory, join me then.”
Worried he might wake Ressas, Seiyad whispered as quietly as he could. As he considered whether to lay him down since his posture looked uncomfortable, Tiaki suddenly spoke.
“Now that I see it, maybe the prince isn’t the only one who has feelings for the Duke. You’re seriously attentive. You like him that much?”
Seiyad frowned at the teasing tone, clearly displeased. When his expression screamed What nonsense are you spewing?, Tiaki looked even more surprised.
“What’s with that look? You’re not seriously going to scold me now for being improper, are you? Expecting manners from a guy like me—get real.”
“It’s because of that nonsense you just said.”
“Haha! So even the Duke gets flustered.”
“Looking after the prince is a basic duty. Don’t twist that into something strange.”
“If that’s all it is, last night’s conversation sure sounded like one only lovers would have.”
Seiyad’s mouth shut tight at that. Hadn’t Tiaki been unconscious and on the brink of death?
“Were you pretending to sleep?”
“‘Pretending’? Don’t be creepy. I was drifting in and out—heard bits and pieces of the conversation by chance. I didn’t even catch the whole thing. I just remember you getting jealous, then I passed out again.”
Seiyad’s head began to ache from Tiaki’s endless nonsense. At the word jealous, his brows drew together, clearly showing his discomfort. That kind of word was meant for someone in love—certainly not for him. The reason he’d confronted Ressas was simply…
“Jealousy? Me?”
“Then why else would you care so much about whether or not he’d kissed someone? Anyone could see how smitten the prince is with you, so ease up a little, will you? Life’s too short to hold back when you’ve got a rare connection like this. Treasure it. A guy like you could use something like that.”
For a moment, Seiyad was left speechless, unsure where to even begin scolding Tiaki. Somehow, the way he’d been caught off guard only made it worse. It poked at something inside him. Unwilling to entertain the conversation further, he stiffened and dismissed Tiaki with excessive seriousness.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Even jokes have limits. Rather than wasting time on impossible fantasies, worry about your own condition. Go.”
If he had enough energy to run his mouth like that, he was clearly well enough. With a lopsided grin, Tiaki shrugged.
“There’s no such thing as impossible if you’re willing. If you want something, there’s always a way. Quit scowling and try smiling a little, Duke. I’m off. Don’t forget what I risked my life for.”
Tossing and catching an apple in one hand, Tiaki sauntered out of the barn. Seiyad stared in the direction he’d vanished, expressionless, then let out a quiet sigh and turned back. His mood eased a little as he looked upon Ressas’s sleeping face. Seiyad had been exhausted too, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to relax and simply watch him.
Why did it matter so much?
Whatever Ressas had done with someone else—why did it matter?
A strange mix of shame and fear welled up inside him, as if some vulnerable part of himself had been exposed. Tiaki’s blunt words, though absurd, had managed to hit a nerve that Seiyad hadn’t realized was even there.
‘You like him that much?’
The question echoed in his ears. Did I really seem that way? For the first time, Seiyad examined his own heart. The truth was, Ressas had always been someone he’d resolved to hate. His mind constantly reminded him that he shouldn’t care for him more than necessary. Everything they’d done together—he had always believed it was for a purpose.
I…
I… you…
As Ressas’s head gently slid downward, Seiyad caught it with care and laid him across his thigh. Sunlight filtered in through the gaps, threatening to disturb his sleep, so Seiyad raised a hand to cast a shadow over his pale face. Watching the soft frown ease from his delicate brow, Seiyad was struck by a heavy, unfamiliar emotion that he couldn’t quite name. His chest felt tight, as if something was quietly pressing down on it.
Tiaki’s question had stirred something deeper than Seiyad expected. Until yesterday, his only concern had been Ressas’s feelings, Ressas’s actions. But Tiaki had pointed at Seiyad’s own behavior. And that forced him to look inward—to ask what he truly wanted.
The answer didn’t come easily. All he knew was that, right now, what he wanted most was for Ressas to sleep peacefully, undisturbed.
It was a feeling not unlike the way he’d watched over a young Cecilia until she fell asleep—but it was also far deeper, far more potent. An impulse to brush his fingers against those long lashes. A desire to taste those soft pink lips. These urges suddenly surged in Seiyad’s chest. Startled by his own feelings, he hesitated—then, almost instinctively, covered Ressas’s eyes with his hand.
