“What’s this, Jorfe? Still not asleep? Was your back aching from trying to sleep on a decent bed for once?”

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest? Who?”

“The Queen.”

“...What?”

“The Queen came to see Alpheus .”

…

“Ha, that woman’s something else. Coming to him first after all that happened?”

“Maybe that’s exactly why. She might want to settle things directly. Or perhaps, like me, she’s curious about Alpheus’s intentions.”

“Either way, this should be entertaining. Not that anything major will happen.”

“You’re so carefree, Seha. Meanwhile, I’m anxious Alpheus might mess up somehow.”

“Mess up?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“Alpheus, that idiot? Don’t be ridiculous. The guy who’d turn himself in to the guards for accidentally spitting on the road? As if he’d have the guts to approach the Queen. If that witch even touched his hand, he’d probably die of shock on the spot.”

“So, you trust Alpheus?”

“It’s not trust—it’s just that he’s that much of a harmless fool. You know what kind of person he is.”

“Yes, you’re right. Alpheus is truly upright. I’ve never met anyone with such a pure heart. It’s like he was destined to be a hero from the start.”

“Exactly. That kind of naive fool couldn’t pull off anything serious.”

“Yet, even when the previous hero turned traitor and almost seized the throne, people said the same thing.”

…

“So when someone as noble as Alpheus decides to commit his first act of rebellion, I can’t even begin to imagine what he might do.”

A chill seeped through the autumn window, frost blooming faintly in the middle of the clear glass.

It’s already that season, I thought, running my hands over my arms.

Yet despite the cold air, I felt beads of sweat. It wasn’t hard to pinpoint the reason. The maid, perhaps noticing my unease, asked cautiously,

“Are you feeling unwell, my lord?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Then let us proceed.”

A rare display of resolve. This maid was likely handpicked, further evidence of how meticulously Mirian had planned this clandestine meeting.

Wherever this path led, it would not end with the capital or the princess.

This was to be a true midnight rendezvous.

The thought brought another wave of nervous perspiration to my palms.

By the time sweat dotted my brow, the maid halted her steps.

“Please enter. Her Majesty awaits inside.”

“Then allow me to adjust my attire briefly. The journey has left me somewhat...”

“There’s no need. You should go in at once. Her Majesty dislikes waiting.”

Typically, one would be expected to ensure their appearance was impeccable before meeting a royal, but the maid hurried me instead.

Perhaps it was her way of signaling that the meeting would be purely businesslike.

“Very well. I’ll open the door now.”

“...Ah.”

Lost in thought, I barely registered the door creaking open.

At the sudden moment of confrontation, I straightened my collar and lifted my head.

A piercing gust of wind hit me.

Despite being late autumn, the air was unnaturally frigid—so cold that even the maid at the door shivered slightly.

And there, in the center of that icy gust, she stood.

“...”

“...”

Through the wide-open window, her white hair shimmered under the moonlight, swaying gently.

Mesmerized, my gaze trailed down to her pristine neck, drawing me in like a spell.

Her skin was paler than snow, her complexion flawless compared to my scarred hands.

Without thinking, I stared. Only when time’s ticking hand echoed in my mind did I snap out of it.

By then, she had already turned her head toward me.

Her face, pale from the cold night air, held an unearthly beauty akin to a sculpture.

Everything was just as it had been three years ago—the day I first fell in love with her. She hadn’t changed a bit.

Even her voice, sharp and cold enough to sting, was the same.

“You don’t kneel?”

“...”

“Why not?”

Her words, so curt, struck like a whip.

Yet instead of yielding, I stood tall and replied,

“My faith lies with the compassionate Aeldir, and my loyalty is sworn to the bow and arrow.”

“Once you step into this castle, you are all my subjects.”

“I entered as a guest of this kingdom, and no law here demands that guests bow their heads.”

“The sage has taught you too much.”

Her tone dripped with derision, though her lips did not curve into a smirk. After that brief exchange, she dove straight into the heart of the matter.

“My daughter tells me you wish to apologize to me.”

“That’s correct.”

“I didn’t think it warranted an official meeting, so I summoned you here ahead of time.”

“I believed a formal apology was necessary.”

“Officially, your words back then were brushed off as an elf’s jest. In this situation, clinging to rules and propriety holds no weight.”

Her voice was still as bone-chilling as ever. What she said next froze me to the core.

“So kneel. Now.”

“...”

“If you truly wish to apologize.”

Behind me, the door closed with a soft click. The message was clear: uphold the minimum decorum and bow your head while you still can.

But even then, I did not kneel. Instead, I took a step closer to her and offered a polite nod of my head.

“I sincerely apologize for my reckless behavior and any offense it may have caused you.

Though it is merely a verbal apology, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“You still refuse to kneel. Why is that?”

“If it’s not a crime that requires death as atonement, I don’t kneel lightly to apologize. This is not mere male pride but also the will of His Majesty, the King.”

“As I’ve heard, you’re a stubborn man. But mocking and insulting the Queen is a crime worthy of death, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Expressing love is not a crime.”

At that, her eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. A tiny crack appeared in her icy facade, and that slight fissure sent waves of disturbance through my heart.

So, even you show emotion sometimes. Though her momentary vulnerability didn’t last, once a crack forms, it’s rarely so easily sealed.

“For someone here to apologize, you’re rather brazen. If the Princess knew, she’d be quite shocked.”

“This has nothing to do with the Princess.”

“Are you sure about that? Do you know how often she speaks of you to us?”

“I do. No doubt, she has spoken of me endlessly.”

“Then you must also know how deeply she loves you.”

Her words cut deeply, a reminder of the Princess’s sincere feelings that had collided with mine time and again over the years. And the Queen wasted no time exploiting that weakness.

“Just earlier, she mentioned that she wanted to avoid any scandal before her marriage to you.

The girl is already envisioning a future where you’re by her side.”

“I do not share those feelings. I’ve never once given her a definitive answer.”

“Your intentions are irrelevant. Everything has already been decided. Within six months, you’ll marry the Princess and become the kingdom’s powerful heir apparent.”

“Even the Princess has no right to impose such a decision on me.”

“Oh, really? Is expressing love also not a crime?”

She tilted her head, throwing my own words back at me. Her long lashes fluttered, revealing her softly glowing amethyst eyes.

“Sometimes, it can be a crime. When you love someone you shouldn’t, you’re punished not by law but by custom. It’s different from the Princess harboring affection for someone who doesn’t return it.”

“Is that so?”

“Once you’re in the King’s domain, not even a chick can be taken without permission. While His Majesty is lenient, he knows when to be strict.”

“I understand that.”

“Then continuing to act this way—could it be that you’re plotting to assassinate His Majesty?”

The suggestion was tossed out lightly, yet it was not something that should ever be spoken in the royal palace, least of all by her. But she was a witch, and this was a clandestine meeting room. Here, such words could pass as jest.

Even so, it wasn’t a question I could answer lightly, so I kept my mouth shut. She watched me for a moment, then turned her gaze to the window.

“There’s nothing more to say. If you’re done as well, let’s end this conversation here. And as you know, don’t mention anything about tonight to the Princess.”

“...”

“Now, leave.”

Even at the end, her voice betrayed no emotion. She simply turned her back, her words clipped and hollow, more like a statue of ice than a living being.

You, who took my first love without even intending to, remain as willful as ever, even at this moment of reunion. Unconsciously, I let out a bitter laugh. Dismissed as if I were no more than a trivial servant.

But I didn’t leave the room. Instead, I took another step toward her.

“When half a year had passed after the Princess was kidnapped by the dragon, His Majesty made a desperate proclamation. He said he would grant anything to the one who brought her back.”

“Why are you still here?”

“The King never utters idle promises. That vow remains valid, no matter how difficult it may be to fulfill.”

“You...”

“Even after the Princess returned, the King publicly reaffirmed his promise before the gathered nobles and citizens who had come to celebrate.”

I took another step toward her, and this time, she turned her head back to me.

“If, at that moment, I had asked for the impossible, it would have been foolish and wrong. But I did not ask for the impossible.”

“I told you, there’s nothing more to say tonight.”

“What I asked for from His Majesty was something he could grant, something neither vague nor ambiguous.”

“Alpheus ...”

“My request was clear from beginning to end.”

By now, the distance between us had shrunk to a mere handspan. I could smell the subtle fragrance that clung to her.

When the tips of our shoes nearly touched, I reached out and gently lifted Mirian’s chin. Drawing her closer, I met her gaze.

“I have no intention of waiting any longer.”

“Wait...”

“Mirian.”

For the first time, her amethyst eyes flickered with emotion. Watching her delicate trembling, I whispered softly.

“If possible, tonight, I will take you with me.”