Christine stood leaning against the doorframe, silently watching Theodora. In Theodora's arms, Maxime was fast asleep, his face weary yet peaceful. His breaths were slow and steady, and Theodora’s hand gently brushed over his face. He would not wake until the following night at the earliest.

“You did well,” Christine said, though her voice was cold and distant. Whether her tone was warm or utterly frigid, Theodora didn’t turn her head toward Christine. She only nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

“Thank you for giving me that needle,” Theodora said, glancing at the fine needle lying on the shelf. Christine’s gaze followed, landing on the needle’s blackened tip. It was coated with a potent sleeping agent, a preparation Christine had made long ago after Theodora had secretly come to her with a desperate request.

It had been after Theodora returned from Maxime’s engagement ceremony and learned the full truth about Maxime’s curse. That was when she had approached Christine in secret.

“What’s going on?” Christine had asked at the time, her voice even colder than it was now.

“Help me,” Theodora had said, getting straight to the point. Christine, startled by her directness, had invited her inside. Theodora looked visibly worn out, her appearance haggard. Folding her arms, Christine waited for Theodora to speak.

“If Maxime joins this battle, if he fights the Behemoth, he will inevitably use his aura,” Theodora explained.

Christine bit her lip and nodded. “That’s true. I’ve tried to convince him not to fight...”

Clenching her fists tightly, Christine had struggled to find words. Theodora shook her head in response.

“No, we need to make sure he is sent somewhere safe,” Theodora insisted.

Christine couldn’t outright refuse the request but had asked one last question, almost as if she was trying to change Theodora’s mind.

“This can never be forgiven.”

Theodora’s reply had been resolute.

“Even if that’s true, I don’t want Maxime to risk his life anymore. I don’t want him to be in danger... Even though our engagement was forced, I wish he could just forget about everything—me, the knights—and live safely.”

Christine had sighed deeply.

“I...”

It was clear Theodora wouldn’t back down, and Christine found herself agreeing with her.

“I’ll bear the burden,” Theodora had said firmly.

“And you think I’d just let you do that?” Christine had replied, sighing again. The more she looked at Theodora, the more she realized how much the two—Maxime and Theodora—shared a similar stubbornness. Christine swallowed her bitter feelings and finally asked:

“So, what’s your plan?”

Preparing the needle coated with a potent sleeping agent had been an easy task for a mage like Christine. But the guilt, the feeling that she was doing something terrible to Maxime again, was harder to suppress. It was a burden she would have to carry.

As Theodora gently brushed Maxime’s hair aside, Christine didn’t move to take that place beside him. After all, Theodora had taken responsibility for all of Maxime’s resentment.

“Maxime will eventually be consumed by the curse, won’t he?” Theodora asked quietly, looking down at him.

“Yes. It’s too late now,” Christine replied, her voice firm. There was no hope to be found in her words. While Maxime might not yet be fully aware of the curse, both women knew its nature: a curse that would strip away his identity, erase his memories, and leave him a lifeless shell.

“If we’re to avoid hurting him further, we’ll have to follow his family’s wishes,” Theodora said, her expression twisted with pain. She knew she would have to leave Maxime completely. Just when she had learned the truth, just when she had managed to apologize once.

“This time, I won’t step aside.”

Yes. Rather than let Maxime become a mindless puppet, a hunting dog for the Benning family, it was better to hide him away somewhere unreachable. This was the moment Theodora chose to defy her family and her father for the first time.

“In my heart, I want to ask you to come with me... but I can’t.”

In battles like these, the presence of a mage was essential, especially someone as skilled as Christine. Christine nodded, understanding.

“All we can do is hope for his safe arrival,” Christine said as Theodora stroked Maxime’s hand one last time before standing.

“I’ll make sure Maxime is included in Count Agon’s retinue when he leaves.”

Gently, Theodora placed Maxime’s head on the pillow. Christine watched him silently, her gaze unwavering. Then, in a slightly irritated tone, she asked Theodora, who was still unable to tear her eyes away from Maxime’s face:

“Was the kiss really necessary?”

Theodora flinched. Did she think I wouldn’t notice? Christine thought. Theodora turned toward her, her expression calm, though clearly forced. Christine’s cold, green eyes met hers head-on, and she noticed the faint tremble in Theodora’s stormy gray eyes.

“What are you talking about?” Theodora said, feigning ignorance.

“Really?” Christine pressed, and Theodora abandoned her pretense, letting her voice trail off.

“Commander? Maxime has a fiancée, you know...”

“I had no choice but to kiss him to inject the needle into his neck,” Theodora said, blushing. If that’s the excuse you’re going with, Christine thought, narrowing her eyes. Theodora averted her gaze, pretending not to notice. Christine was about to say more when Theodora raised her hand, signaling the conversation was over.

“Let’s just focus on moving Maxime,” Theodora said sharply, cutting off any further discussion. Christine sighed and shook her head, leaving the room to summon the soldiers. That was her small gesture of consideration for Theodora.

After Christine left, Theodora took one last look at Maxime, lying asleep on the bed. She hesitated for a moment before pulling up his shirt to reveal his body, which was marked with countless scars.

There were surely even more scars now than there had been months ago. The successive battles with monsters, the incident when she and Maxime had fallen together... His body had endured tremendous strain and suffering. She traced each scar with her fingers, reliving the pain of every wound.

One scar, in particular, stood out—a long one running from his chest to his abdomen. Theodora placed her hand over it. Beneath that cursed scar, a faint heartbeat pulsed. Biting her lip, Theodora lowered his shirt again.

I’m sorry, Maxime.

Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t wipe them away. She simply held his hand for a moment before pressing her lips to his forehead in a final farewell. This was it—her true goodbye to him. With that, she let go of his hand, and it slipped from her grasp.

“I’ll be going now,” she whispered.

As she left the room, Christine returned with the soldiers.

“What’s the situation, Commander?” one of the soldiers asked.

Theodora glanced back into the room at Maxime’s sleeping figure before turning to face them.

“He’s an injured soldier. Prepare to transport him to the rear.”

On the day the Behemoth finally appeared, the horn of war echoed across the battlefield. The most elite warriors from the kingdom had gathered, and morale was high among the soldiers, eager for the first large-scale battle in a long time. Among them were the elite troops defending the snowy peaks of Kips, battle mages dispatched from the Tower of Magic, and knight orders representing the most prestigious martial families.

At the forefront of the army, gleaming in silver armor, the elite knights of House Benning marched proudly under their banner. Their commander, visor raised, displayed the stern, determined expression of a knight atop their steed.

Among them were those who had faced the Behemoth before, survivors of the war 15 years ago, now taking up their duty once again. The massive army, numbering in the tens of thousands, waited for the order to advance.

The supreme commander of the army stood, staring at the grand force before him, nervously swallowing as he thought of the impending confrontation with the monsters from the wastelands. His heart raced in a way it never had before, even though he knew he needed to remain calm.

It’s time to go.

The words of his aide seemed like a distant echo. Nodding reflexively, the commander drew his sword from his side, raised it high into the sky, and shouted with all his might:

“Advance, all forces!”

The sound of drums reverberated, and the low, majestic call of horns pushed the soldiers forward.

The army moved like a massive river, flowing toward its destination. Watching the advancing soldiers from the rear, Count Neil Euler, the chief secretary, let out a sigh of relief.

“With such a large army and so many talented people, surely they can defeat that Behemoth.”

Standing next to him, Baron Emil Borden nodded in agreement.

“Yes. The kingdom has certainly grown stronger since the war 15 years ago, and many new knights have been discovered.”

Borden’s calm voice betrayed no sign of concern.

“The kingdom will not be defeated.”

Count Euler nodded firmly.

“That’s right. We cannot lose. His Majesty even assigned some of his elite royal guards and soldiers to defend the capital. We must not betray His Majesty’s trust.”

A natural flatterer, Borden thought, narrowing his eyes as he observed the chief secretary. Or perhaps he was a man of integrity, unshaken by the immense power of his position as chief secretary, loyal to the core.

Either way, Borden was curious to see how this man’s expression would change. He noticed the count frowning in confusion as he watched the soldiers.

“The Benning family seems to have sent many troops. I didn’t expect so many to remain behind,” Euler remarked.

The truth was that the soldiers weren’t advancing. Even as the main force moved forward, the soldiers of House Benning remained stationed throughout the royal city and palace. Something wasn’t right, Euler thought.

“...Emil,” Euler called out, turning to Borden with a stern expression.

“Yes, Count?” Borden replied with a faint smile.

“Why are the Benning family’s soldiers still here?”

Borden shrugged.

“Who knows...”

The count’s expression hardened as he stared at Borden. His voice trembled slightly with fear.

“Emil... What is the Benning family planning?”

Borden smiled slyly.

“You mentioned earlier that the royal guards are deployed, and many of the capital’s forces are on the front lines, didn’t you?”

Color drained from Count Euler’s face.

“No... No... Are you telling me that you and the Benning family...”

“You misunderstand, my lord,” Borden replied, still smiling. “The capital’s defenses are lacking. Should any outsiders attack, would there be enough to defend the palace properly?”

So,

Borden spread his arms wide.

“We’re merely stepping in to protect the capital. What is there to worry about?”

“You’re mad... Absolutely mad! The Benning family, sworn protectors of the kingdom, aren’t they afraid of committing treason?” Euler shouted in disbelief.

Borden chuckled softly.

“No, my lord. As one of the kingdom’s nobility and the Benning family’s ally, this is simply our duty. It would be treason not to act.”

Count Euler’s face contorted with anger.

“The remaining loyal guards and soldiers of the capital won’t stand by and let this happen.”

Borden shook his head.

“We shall see. Anyone standing in the way of defending the royal capital would be committing treason themselves. And...”

His cold eyes gleamed.

“Do you really think this is all we have?”

The grinding of teeth echoed in the tense silence. Borden smiled, satisfied with Count Euler’s clear loyalty to the crown.

“Damn you... You’ve been raising an army in secret!” Euler shouted, his voice filled with fury.

Feigning ignorance, Borden replied nonchalantly.

“Can you really defend the palace with numbers alone?”

“What do you mean by that?” the furious count demanded, his patience finally breaking. Borden remained as calm as ever.

“They’re coming,” Borden said, gesturing toward a group approaching the palace.

Euler’s eyes widened in shock.

“The mages from the Tower...”

Figures in robes, their faces hidden under hoods, slowly approached the palace. Euler’s thoughts raced, realizing the full extent of the alliance between the Benning family and the Tower of Magic. He took a step back from Borden, trembling.

One of the hooded figures suddenly appeared at Borden’s side. When did he get here? How? Euler looked around in panic. The hooded man glanced at Euler before turning to Borden.

“We’re ready, Baron.”

“Thank you for your loyalty to the kingdom,” Borden replied smoothly.

“It’s only natural to follow the leadership of such a loyal house as the Bennings...” the hooded mage said, his voice dripping with mock sincerity as he eyed the retreating Count Euler.

“We’re offering you a chance, my lord,” Borden said, extending his hand to Euler.

“What will you do?”