Declan experienced the anxiety radiating from Carter and his subordinates firsthand. He felt the precarious atmosphere hanging over him more acutely than anyone else. Whenever he woke in the morning to the throbbing pain spreading across his neck, he often thought: I might actually die like this. If watching her from the shadows reduced him to this state, what would happen if he couldn't see her at all? Were it not for the obligation born of love—the need to ensure her safety

Her encounter at the Brahms Flower Festival suddenly flashed through her mind. Had he let her go so easily back then only because he planned to annihilate those who threatened her afterward? Looking at his demeanor now, it was obvious he had intended to keep her in the dark. The realization that he had been courting trouble for her sake stirred a foreign emotion deep within her. As that feeling threatened to evaporate her logic, he muttered like a weary sigh. [Declan] "I thou

Vanessa unfastened the top button of her collar. The tiny click echoed sharply between them, a minuscule sound that felt inexplicably intense. The second and third buttons followed, her movements growing quicker and more decisive. As her fingers reached for the fourth, they suddenly froze. [Vanessa] "......" Her gaze locked onto his exposed abdomen. A colossal scar, one she had never seen before, marred his flesh. The jagged, stitched line stretched roughly two hand-spans, ru

The sight of her reacting so vividly—so full of life—finally began to dissolve the dread that had clung to him like a second skin. How terrifying it had been just moments ago, pulling her from the crushing depths. The sight of her pale face, her chest still and silent, had plunged him into a personal hell. If only he had been faster. If only he had hurried…… Though her fall wasn't his fault this time, Declan felt her mortality so acutely that every misfortune seemed to be his

Her senses remained muffled, as if trapped inside a vat of heavy water. Sounds reached her ears through a damp, distorted filter. [Declan] "…nessa, Vanessa!" The voice vibrating against her eardrums lacked clarity. Still, the recognition that someone called her name forced a frown onto her face, and a crushing pressure surged from her lungs. Vanessa erupted into a hacking cough. When her eyes finally fluttered open, she met his face, half-buried in the shadows. He looked ghas

[Bandit] "Hey, catch her!" [Bandit] "Get back here!" Her lungs expanded until her throat burned like a raw wound. Every swallow felt like a choice between thorns and fire. Her legs trembled, reaching their absolute limit, but stopping meant death—or a fate so hollow she would pray for death. She squeezed every ounce of strength from her failing muscles. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm of survival. Frigid winds whipped across her face, stinging like physi

Vanessa scanned the chaos with frantic eyes. The horse, spooked after its legs had buckled, already galloped into the distance. She turned her attention to Sir Siden. Though the bleeding had stopped, he remained unresponsive. Leaving him behind tasted like ash in her mouth, but staying meant certain capture. She drew a sharp breath—a silent apology—and bolted. [Vanessa] "Huff... huff......" Clutching her aching shoulder, she plunged into the depths of Mount Siltria. Tommy blo

Vanessa waited for Siden to lower the hammer before rushing forward to inspect the drawer. Inside the locked compartment, parchment lay in a thick, unruly stack. Siden pulled the entire pile out and placed it on the floor. The top layers depicted ordinary nature scenes—colorful flowers and trees rendered in the same paints she had seen on the table earlier. However, as she flipped through the pages, the botanical sketches gave way to portraits of a single person. The moment s

If he had discovered even a single clue, he would have shared it. His expression of regret rang entirely sincere. [Vanessa] "Actually, another one arrived just now." [Former Count] "What? Today as well?" She lowered the letter onto the table. The Former Count sighed, his face a map of confusion and growing concern. She kept her voice light, attempting to ease the heavy atmosphere. [Vanessa] "That is why I believe it is time for me to return to the capital." [Former Count] "To

Ice coated her fingertips. Was I... trembling? Three years had passed, and she believed she had finally shaken off the weight of the past. Yet, dust-like remnants of those years still clung to the corners of her heart, forcing her to acknowledge his presence. That uncomfortable sensation always surged through her whenever they stood face-to-face. However, one thing had changed. Today, the pain that usually accompanied her nerves was nowhere to be found. [Declan] "The short ha

His blue eyes, stripped of their usual menacing edge, appeared unfocused and clouded. He carried the haggard look of a man who had spent several consecutive nights awake. She scrutinized his face before speaking. [Vanessa] "If this is about the medical expenses, my offer still stands. If today’s incident strained your injury, send a letter to the Evarn estate and......" [Declan] "You know that’s not what I want to talk about." His plea sounded fragile, a desperate attempt to

[Dina] "My Lady? What are you doing?" Dina tilted her head, clutching the bouquet she had retrieved from the center of the plaza on Vanessa’s behalf. A brilliant, vermillion sunset slowly consumed the sky. Vanessa stood motionless, her silhouette bathed in that radiant, distant glow. A sharp pang pierced her chest. The sight of a small child cradled in a parent’s arms nearby struck a chord deep within her. It’s alright. Over the years, her perspective had shifted. She told he