Valentin admitted with a shy expression, unable to resist their gazes and questions.

“Yes, that’s right. There’s not even a shred of doubt about my husband’s love and trust.”

At the direct confirmation from the person himself, they were even more moved, clutching their chests saying it was romantic.

Then an atmosphere formed of people dispersing to return to their seats, with only 10 minutes left in the intermission. Valentin also promised to go to a cocktail party with the Princess after the performance ended completely, before moving on.

How many steps had he taken?

Amidst the busy people, a familiar voice spoke in Valentin’s ear.

“Do you really have that much trust in your husband?”

Valentin turned his head at the rather harsh voice.

“Your Highness the Prince Consort.”

It was Evener.

For a moment, Valentin thought it was as if darkness had called to him.

Valentin greeted him curtly, put off by the prickly gaze and words that seemed to have thorns stuck in them somewhere. But he paid no attention to Valentin’s perfunctory greeting. Rather, as if such things didn’t matter at all right now, he came closer and whispered to Valentin again.

“Do you really believe perfectly in his love?”

“…Yes.”

Valentin nodded, looking straight into the other’s haggard and bloodshot eyes. His watery eyes, which could appear provocative at a glance, were intense and powerful.

“I believe in my husband. I’m certain there’s deep trust between us.”

“Really?”

Evener laughed with a somehow dejected and amused face. Then he quickly grabbed Valentin’s hand.

“Come with me. I’ll show you something very interesting.”

“…Evener!?”

Ignoring that they were calling each other by the names they used as boys, Evener quickly dragged Valentin along. With a worried feeling at his appearance of being excessively focused on one thing as if entranced, Valentin kept calling out to him as he was pulled along.

“Where on earth are you trying to go…? Let go. I don’t want to go.”

He was anxious. What was he trying to do again.

“No, Valentin. You have to see. You have to see what I saw too. That’s right. Then you’ll understand my feelings.”

“What on earth…!”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

They had arrived at some corner on the same floor. He had pulled him along so frantically he was almost running. Evener covered Valentin’s mouth with his hand. Then he pointed to a darker place with his index finger.

The movement of his hand somehow felt sluggish.

“Shh… Look over there.”

“…?”

“Your husband that you said you believe in so much.”

There he was, right where the thin, trembling, resentful finger was pointing.

Valentin’s husband, whom he said he believed in completely.

‘Reynard…!’

And another person was standing with him.

A faint scent of omega pheromones could be felt in the air. It was a fresh and attractive scent like summer fruit.

The hem of a gorgeous dress and black hair barely visible behind Reynard’s large back. It was Lady Sabina Akal. The two seemed to be conversing very closely. As if whispering words that absolutely no one else should hear. In this dark space. It resembled the appearance of an intimate, deep secret meeting.

The moment Valentin identified the two people, thud. It felt like his heart stopped.

His heart, hardened like a stone rolling on a gravel path, rattled in his dry bones.

“Do you still have not even a shred of doubt in your love and trust?”

Evener’s despairing question cut into Valentin’s ears.

“I really didn’t want to tell you anything. Even though I saw it by chance.”

Evener’s desolate and unpleasant fingers grabbed Valentin’s arm. The strength in his grip gradually increased. As if caught in the hooked feet of a giant hawk or eagle. His nails dug into the clothes.

“But you keep making me like this. You keep making me bad, Valentin.”

“……”

“How can you boast as if you alone are happy like that? Then I want to tell you the truth too.”

“……”

“I want to let you know my pain too, right?”

Though it was like the devil’s whisper, Valentin later recalled this moment and thought it was similar to someone bleeding profusely, torn and injured in a thorn bush, grabbing Valentin passing by and asking for help, pulling him into the hell where he was. Like a drowning person discovering someone floating well beside them and clinging to them to survive, sinking together.

‘What… What on earth is this? What am I seeing right now?’

The scene before his eyes was confusing. It was unbearable, becoming hazily turbid as if ashes had been sprinkled on his head. His heart, which had already been uneasy lately, smoldering bit by bit with sparks of anxiety, was tangling up again. As if what he had calmly soothed in his chest and quietly put to rest had only been temporary.

Like a human who had been strong against Satan’s whispers falling.

Falling into the mud pit happened in an instant like that.

Valentin shook off Evener’s hand that was gripping his arm tightly.

“Let go!”

And leaving him there, he ran.

He kept running.

Forgetting even that his swollen belly was painfully out of breath, he just kept running to escape that dizzying and bewildering place.

‘No. It can’t be.’

Valentin frantically pushed through the crowds. Through people laughing and enjoying themselves in anticipation of the 2nd act about to begin. While he alone embraced a filthy heart.

“Oh my!”

“Please be careful!”

“What in the world…?”

Ladies’ skirt hems were stepped on and fans went flying at Valentin’s rough movements. Not knowing he was knocking gentlemen’s canes to the ground, Valentin just ran and ran until he finally reached stairs that looked dizzying below…

Right then.

Thump!

Someone’s hand forcefully pushed Valentin’s back from among the confused crowd.

‘Huh…?’

The slender body floated in the air.

The pitifully dazed body.

That sad piece.

The fragile thing carrying life.

Helplessly tumbled down that steep, precipitous, dizzyingly high place.

*

“Kyaa!”

“Someone fell here!”

“Someone please…!”

Screams that seemed to tear time to shreds burst out everywhere, filling the space.

“Valentin!!!”

But even the crowd’s sharp shattering sounds cannot match the cry of the one who chased after the fallen person. Especially if that is also someone who dearly loves that fallen being.

Reynard, who had jumped down the stairs several steps at a time, carefully lifted the body that had rolled and rolled and finally reached the floor. The arms holding him were trembling violently.

The body that had already lost consciousness lay limp in its alpha’s arms. A thin red line of blood flowed down his forehead, seeping into the fluffy hair in his ear, and his left arm was bent at a strange angle pointing in an odd direction.

“A doctor! Call a doctor immediately!”

A huge roar burst out, mixed with desperation as if a beast were wailing.

Some despair that seemed to be endured yet could not be endured.

It was a violent misery that made those watching open their eyes wide and let out sighs.

People tangled together in confusion and commotion.

“Valentin…. Please. Please… Wake up.”

Reynard’s large hand trembled as he wiped away the stream of blood on Valentin’s forehead. As if unable to understand why such a terrible thing was flowing on your body.