Chapter 4

Ran’s plan to be by Isabelle’s side when she opened her eyes was foiled by the Marquis, who arrived before daybreak. Ran had known the Marquis would come seeking him the moment he entered the capital, but rushing over before sunrise was a considerable breach of etiquette. At present, however, the Marquis was in no state of mind to care about such pleasantries.

Why should he bother with manners when the daughter he had raised so preciously had been abducted by a beast of a man?

The moment Ran stepped into the reception room, the Marquis barked out in a ferocious voice.

“Where on earth have you hidden Belle?!”

“My, my, Marquis. No matter how angry you are, shouldn’t you observe proper etiquette?”

Ran offered a leisurely smile and sat down gracefully on the sofa. Anyone witnessing the Marquis raging without even offering a proper greeting would have gasped in shock. Yet, despite saying as much, Ran did not truly fault the Marquis for his rudeness.

Though he cursed him as a sly old fox, the Marquis was Ran’s benefactor and one of the very few people he trusted. Furthermore, they had forgone formal greetings between themselves for quite some time now—though they still maintained etiquette in official settings, of course.

Huffing and puffing, the Marquis sat down across from him. The only features he shared with Isabelle were his fiery red hair and amber eyes. Unlike the delicate Isabelle, the Marquis—built as massive as a bear—had a face flushed dark red, radiating an ominous aura as if he might explode at any second.

“I have no etiquette to offer someone who has committed a crime.”

“A crime? That hurts my feelings.”

“Abduction is unequivocally a crime.”

Gritting his teeth, the Marquis forced out each word with heavy emphasis. Even facing the Marquis, who emanated a ferocious murder lust, Ran merely smiled brightly.

“Abduction? As you well know, Belle stepped into the Imperial Palace on her own two feet.”

“That was merely to attend a ball. Fine then, allow me to rephrase it. Not abduction, but confinement.”

The sound of the Marquis grinding his teeth echoed through the room, but Ran only laughed with great amusement.

“Confinement, you say. You view me as far too tyrannical. I have simply received what ought to naturally become mine.”

“The promised time has not yet arrived.”

“It is nearly upon us. Isabelle’s birthday is soon, if I am not mistaken. What problem could there possibly be in receiving it a little early?”

The languid look in Ran’s eyes turned chilling in an instant. The promise between him and the Marquis would only expire on Isabelle’s birthday this year. And only a fortnight remained until then. Reminded that he would have to keep his promise to that beast of a man in fifteen days, the Marquis knit his brows.

“The choice belongs to Isabelle.”

“I am aware. Isabelle will undoubtedly choose me, so you had best prepare to send your daughter off.”

“There is still time left, so return Isabelle to me and come visit formally in two weeks.”

The tense battle of nerves persisted. The Marquis showed no intention of leaving alone. Gazing at him, Ran spoke up in a light tone.

“I happened to hear some rather interesting news. Word has it that information regarding eligible unmarried young noblemen from various families is being sent to a certain territory on the northern frontier.”

“Th-That is…”

The Marquis, previously full of momentum, pulled back his shoulders. Seeing the Marquis’s eyelids tremble finely in flustered confusion at the unexpected words, Ran suppressed a laugh internally.

The Marquis’ informants were excellent, to be sure. However, they were a step beneath those under Ran’s command.

If Ran wished to verify the truth, he could have used magic to find out. Yet Ran never used magic on living beings—a principle he kept due to a promise made to a certain young girl.

“Before raising accusations of abduction or confinement, you were the one who broke our promise first, Marquis. Thus, I trust you will generously overlook a mere fortnight. Return, rest comfortably, and we shall meet again then.”

“A-Ah, no. Wait a moment. Please wait a moment!”

Flustered, the Marquis could not bring himself to stop the golden hair as it disappeared through the gap of the door. Regret washed over him—he should have handled matters more swiftly and cautiously. Even so, it was already too late.

The beast had seized her tail, and far from letting go, he had swallowed her whole from tail to crown in a single bite. Experiencing a deep sense of defeat, the Marquis had to return alone in his carriage.

Two weeks from now, on her upcoming birthday, when her sealed memories returned, Isabelle would resent him. Picturing her amber eyes filling with resentment toward him, the Marquis rubbed his face roughly and let out a heavy sigh.

***

“Is it alright to send the Marquis off like that?”

“If not send him off, then what?”

At Halo’s cautious question, Ran’s eyebrows shot up. Sensing the darkening aura around him, Halo realized he had made a mistake.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing. I was informed that the Young Lady has just woken up. Shall I have breakfast prepared?”

“Yes. It would be best to eat breakfast together.”

As the topic shifted to Isabelle, Ran’s demeanor softened smoothly. Following behind Ran as he walked with brisk steps toward her room, Halo wiped his palms—damp with cold sweat—against his trousers. Just as he had been warned yesterday, keeping his mouth shut regarding anything concerning the Young Lady seemed to be the wiser choice.

Upon arriving at the door, Ran changed his golden hair back to black. Halo wanted to ask if there was truly a need to go that far, but he held his tongue. He refrained from intruding unnecessarily, fearing he might draw a harsh glare. Once his hair color had completely shifted, Ran stepped into the room.

Having likely just washed up, Isabelle—her hair still dripping wet—was bundling herself tightly in a duvet.

“Your hair is still wet. You might catch a cold. Shall I call a maid for you?”

“A-Ah, no. It’s alright. If I stay like this for a bit, it will dry in no time.”

At the mention of calling a maid, Isabelle turned red and shook her head. Narrowing his eyes as he wondered why on earth she was acting that way, Ran soon grasped the reason. She seemed embarrassed by her attire.

Recalling the garment he had instructed to be handed to Isabelle today, Ran stared at her as if intending to pierce right through the blanket. At that intense gaze, Isabelle flinched and pulled the blanket even tighter around herself.

“In that case, I shall dry it for you. Come here.”

“N-No, I don’t want to.”

Though Isabelle was cute as she shook her head to signal her refusal, Ran was someone who always carried out what he set his mind to do.

When he snapped his fingers with a sharp click, the duvet wrapping around Isabelle’s body soared up into the air.

“Huh? Ah!”

Seeing the blanket float up until it nearly touched the ceiling after being parted from her body, her eyes went round for a fleeting moment before she bent her knees and curled up as much as possible, struggling to prevent her body from being exposed.

“W-Were you a mage?”

“As you can see. Ah! I used it on an object, not a person, so I haven’t broken our promise.”

“Pardon?”

It was Isabelle’s first time even learning that he was a mage, so she tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what he meant by referencing a promise. Leaning his hips back against the dressing table, Ran smiled as he looked at Isabelle, who resembled a small animal curled up to the utmost degree. Unlike his elegantly upturned lips, his eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Is continuing to show me your opening like that a sign asking me to drive myself inside you to next morning? While that would be a welcome turn of events for me, of course.”

“Eek! Wh-Where are you looking?!”

Because she was crouching with her knees pulled up, her bare lower body—devoid of undergarments—was completely exposed. Hastily dropping her knees, she tugged down the hem of her dress. The garment, held at the shoulders by thin straps, was deeply scooped at the chest and exceptionally short in length. Were she standing, it wouldn’t even cover half her thighs. Moreover, the fabric was even thinner than the chemise she had worn yesterday, leaving her pink nipples and the dark forest beneath clearly visible.

Isabelle glared at him with eyes full of resentment for giving her such a garment. As if oblivious to her mood, Ran swept his tenacious gaze over her body. At his dangerous look, overflowing with desire, Isabelle swallowed dryly.

“It suits you well, just as I expected.”

“Please give me different clothes.”

As if it were utterly impossible to stay dressed in such a outfit, Isabelle demanded other clothes, but he merely chuckled.

“As you know, I would prefer it if you wore nothing at all. If that is what you wish, I shall have them take even these clothes away again.”

“No!”

The duvet was still floating in the air, and though it was embarrassing to even call this clothing, the mere thought of not having even this was terrifying. Isabelle looked at Ran with a resolute gaze, as if declaring she could never let it be taken away.

“Hahaha!”

A refreshing laugh filled the room. Bursting into a pleasant chuckle, he approached Isabelle, took her hand, and pulled her up to her feet.

“Once I dry your hair, I shall give you other clothes, so do not worry. However, when I visit tonight, I would appreciate it if you accommodated my taste.”

“Th-This kind of clothing is your taste?”

Led by Ran’s hand to sit on the chair placed before the dressing table, Isabelle looked at him with a bewildered face.

Whether as an affirmation, Ran offered a bright smile. Speechless, Isabelle stared with a blank face at his reflection in the mirror. Beyond the glass, she saw him lifting her hair and pressing a kiss to it.

Even while lightly brushing his lips against the ends of her red hair, Ran never took his eyes off her. Feeling as though her face was burning up under his blazing gaze, Isabelle averted her eyes, lowering her head.

Hearing the sharp snap of his fingers, she raised her head, and a towel that flew out of nowhere landed lightly in his hand.

At the magic unfolding continuously before her eyes, Isabelle’s mouth parted inadvertently. Using magic so casually was not a common sight, making it rare to witness magic right before her eyes like this. But her admiration was short-lived. Soon, at a thought that surfaced in her mind, she turned her gaze toward Ran, who was gently drying her hair with cautious hands.

“Why aren’t you drying my hair with magic?”

“Are you curious?”

Seeing his delightfully curved lips, Isabelle nodded. Every time his hands passed through her hair, her toes tingled and heat seemed to rise. If she stayed like this, she felt he might notice the strange sensations spreading through her body. She wished that if he could dry it cleanly all at once with magic, he would do so.

“I promised in the past. That I would not use magic on living beings.”

“You don’t use it on living beings?”

“Yes. However, if you allow it, My Lady, I shall dry your hair with magic.”

To say he promised, yet claim he would use it if she allowed it—Isabelle became curious as to what that could possibly mean, but she shook her head at the gaze testing her.

“It’s alright. I don’t wish for you to break your promise because of me.”

“Is that so? What a pity.”

He seemed regretful over something else rather than being unable to use magic, but Isabelle couldn’t ponder any further on what that might be.

For even though he was clearly just drying her hair, his touch and gaze felt dangerous. Clenching her toes tightly, Isabelle tried to numb her senses by thinking of other things.

“For some reason, you have become aroused again.”

An undisguised amusement was laced in his voice. She wanted to deny it, but her hardened breasts had raised her nipples erect. The woman reflected in the mirror was blatantly excited to anyone to who looked.

Flushed cheeks, slightly parted red lips, and nipples that looked ready to burst through the thin fabric. And feeling her lower body flinching and beginning to tighten, Isabelle bit her lip.

She couldn’t even make excuses about it being due to an aphrodisiac like that night. Her body, having learned the touch of a man, swelled with anticipation every time his hands touched her. How could she ever forget the ecstasy that made her entire body throb with a heat that felt as though it would burn her from head to toe?

Isabelle felt like bursting into tears at her own shameless state. Leaning down to embrace her from behind as she looked thoroughly dazed and ready to shed tears at any moment, he whispered. His breath against the nape of her neck was scalding.

“You are not the only one who is aroused, so do not worry. I become excited merely by thinking of you.”

“Ah…”

Burying his lips into the nape of her neck, he met eyes with the Isabelle reflected in the mirror. Then his hand softly cupped her hardened breast.

“I would love to fondle your pretty breasts a bit more, but I shall wait until tonight.”

“Ha-ang…”

Sweeping his thumb over the sharply erect nipple, his hand moved away. At even that light touch, a moan laced with regret slipped from Isabelle.

‘Regret? I feel regret?’

Isabelle was startled by the thought that crossed her mind. Wondering if he, who still hadn’t taken his eyes off her, might have read her inner thoughts, she read his expression, but Ran merely kissed the nape of her neck once more without any particular words before straightening his body.

“Then I shall bring you other clothes as you wish. And though it is a bit late, shall we have breakfast?”

“…Yes.”

Shortly after he stepped out, maids entered the room carrying undergarments and an indoor dress. Hiding under the duvet, Isabelle told them to leave the clothes and step out, but the maids did not budge. It was likely at his order. Letting out a sigh, Isabelle stepped down from the bed.

Most nobles did not treat servants as fellow human beings, acting without hesitation regardless of their actions. However, the servants of the Marquisate in the North were like family. Having grown up in such an atmosphere, and being quite shy by nature, displaying a body covered in the traces of a man to servants required immense courage from Isabelle.

When Isabelle pulled back the duvet and stepped out of bed, the maids seemed briefly startled by the scrap of cloth—hardly fitting to be called clothing—and the traces of lovemaking remaining all over her body, but they quickly composed their expressions and began performing their respective duties.

Upon slipping into well-fitting undergarments over a body that had been draped in a mere single layer of cloth, Isabelle felt a strange sensation, as if she had suited up in armor. With each layer of clothing added, the image of a shameless, crude woman reacting to a man’s touch vanished, and the familiar noble lady was reflected in the mirror once more. Only then did Isabelle breathe a sigh of relief. Her red hair was combed until it glistened, then tied half-up to neatness.

The deep green dress suited Isabelle’s fair skin exceptionally well. Though the chest area felt a bit excessively low-cut, recalling the outfit she had been wearing just moments ago made even this seem like no exposure at all.

Bothered by the vivid red love bite remaining on the nape of her neck, she kept glancing sideways into the mirror, prompting a quick-witted maid to bring a choker adorned with a ruby and fasten it around her neck. Once powder was applied above her collarbone, it seemed it wouldn’t be visible unless looked at closely up close. Only then did Isabelle exhale a sigh of relief.

Ran, who entered not long after the maids withdrew, was also dressed in a more formal attire, having likely changed his clothes. Unlike when they were together moments ago, seeing his neatly tied cravat gave her an odd impulse to untie it, making her hands twitch. And to undo his shirt buttons and touch the firm chest hidden beneath…

‘Wh-What on earth am I thinking?’

Startled by her endlessly unfolding fantasy, Isabelle halted her thoughts. Her face flushed hot with embarrassment. Ran asked worryingly why she was acting that way, but Isabelle glossed it over as nothing and focused on the meal.

To the point where her worries throughout breakfast about him acting mischievously seemed laughable, Ran was exceedingly polite.

However, whenever she showed signs of wanting to step outside the room or contact the Marquisate, he radiated a chilling aura, leaving her unable to bring up such matters any further. Since he was someone who even wielded magic, the threatening thought that he might hold human lives in even lesser regard struck her, sealing her lips tight.

Granted permission to do anything so long as it didn’t involve stepping out of the room, Isabelle chose reading to pass the tedious hours.

Though a well-tended garden was visible outside the window, it was far from enough to deduce where this place was. While stepping out the door was impossible, she could at least step out onto the terrace, so she surveyed her surroundings with a sense of tension.

She contemplated escaping through the terrace, but the room Isabelle occupied was on the third floor. For Isabelle, who had never engaged in exercise in her daily life, escaping via the terrace was an impossibility. Pushing the rising disappointment to one side, she began reading the books the maids had brought in abundance.

***

The room was filled with panting breaths and a dense, heavy fragrance. Intermingled between the gaspings of pleasure were moans laced with pain. The metallic smell of blood, which even the dizzyingly thick fragrance could not conceal, further stoked Ludwig’s cruel instincts.

“Ah… Please stop, please stop, I beg you.”

“How dare you make demands of me? Shut your mouth.”

A pitch-black whip coiled like a serpent around the woman’s rope-bound body. Across her skin, stripped bare of even a single piece of cloth, were countless red welts drawn and beads of blood forming, but Ludwig paid them no mind as he flicked his wrist.

Crack! Crack!

Every time a laceration opened on the woman’s delicate skin, madness swirled in his eyes, and his groin swelled wildly.

“Mmmph, mmgh!”

As the woman’s moans grew louder and the wounds multiplied across her body, the man tied up in ropes on the chair beside the bed cried out in agony. Though his voice was unintelligible due to the gag in his mouth, it was easy to tell he was spitting curses at Ludwig standing before him.

His eyes were bloodshot, so congested and bright red as if they might pour blood at any moment, and his body was stained with blood flowing from innumerable knife wounds.

“To think that even while his woman is put through such a state, he is aroused and erect… truly like a beast. Is it not so?”

“Hng… Hu-ugh.”

The woman wept, lowering her head in a desperate struggle to avoid looking at the rope-bound man. Watching her, Ludwig chuckled with amusement and used the handle of the whip to lift her chin, forcing her head to turn toward where the man was bound.

Their eyes met in midair. The gazes they exchanged were filled with profound worry and despair for one another. Escaping this hellish place felt as though death was the only way out.

The bound man was aroused regardless of his will due to a drug he had been forcibly made to swallow. Knowing that full well, his rage surged at Ludwig’s display—acting as if he were an entity lower than a beast, getting excited even while his woman was subjected to suffering. Yet the more furious he grew, the more the demon before him reveled in delight and excitement.

Tears spilling from his rage-filled eyes mixed with blood, dripping down to trace red lines along his face.

“Yes, those eyes—I like them. It would be even better if you thrashing about a bit more.”

Meeting those eyes filled with rage directed at him, an insidious desire enveloped Ludwig’s entire body. Revering in that thrilling sensation, he extended a serpent-like tongue and licked his lips. His penis, fully swollen with excitement, clamored for him to let it run wild.

At the sensation that tingled through his whole body, Ludwig undone his trousers, retrieved his penis that had expanded to a massive size, and stroked it lightly with one hand. Then, grabbing the weeping woman by her hair, he pulled her head up. Extending his tongue to trace a long lick across her cheek—stained with blood and tears—he tasted the saltiness of despair and the metallic tang of pain.

Giggle. A laugh drenched in madness poured from Ludwig’s mouth.

In contrast to his satisfaction, the woman, consumed by terror, trembled violently.

“Now then, hurry and bring joy to your master.”

“N-No… Mmmph, mmgh!”

His erect penis drove mercilessly into the woman’s small mouth. The woman shook her head frantically, trying to spit out the disgusting thing filling her mouth, but holding her down by her hair, Ludwig kept her from moving.

“If you do not do it properly, your man will have to bleed a little more.”

When Ludwig whispered softly in a demon-like voice, displeased by her resistance, the woman choked back her tears and barely managed to roll her tongue in her narrow mouth to stroke his penis.

“Haah. Yes, like that. You are doing well. Suck harder.”

As the woman began to move, a satisfied groan burst forth. Yet as if that were not enough, Ludwig moved his hips, thrusting in and out of her narrow mouth. Though a choking, coughing sound could be heard from her, he paid no mind and satisfied his greed. Then, just as abruptly as he had moved at his own whim, he withdrew his shaft from her mouth.

Forcing the bewildered woman onto her stomach, he immediately parted her legs and drove his swollen, bursting penis deep inside. There was no gentle caress or foreplay.

Far from being aroused by the sudden invasion, her inner walls—parched bone-dry—felt as though they were burning. The woman screamed at the violent thrusting that ruthlessly stabbed as if tearing her apart down below. Yet Ludwig drove his hips roughly as if such things were none of his concern.

The delicate woman’s body swayed back and forth like a leaf shaking in the wind. Ludwig hurtled toward climax, but the woman plunged deep into despair.

The hellish time, which felt as though it could only be escaped through death, came to an end thanks to a sudden knock at the door.

“What is it! I told you to wait until I called you!”

Shouting peevishly as if his mood had been ruined, Ludwig pulled out of the woman’s body. Once the heat that had flared up cooled down due to the intruder, he tossed the woman onto the bed without a trace of lingering attachment. Pulling up his trousers carelessly and stepping out the door, waiting servants immediately swarmed to adjust his attire.

“If it is nothing important, I will not let it slide. What happened?”

“A messenger has arrived from the Ruby Palace.”

“Damn it! Haah… Fine. Dispose of those two in there.”

Ludwig spat out a curse in irritation at his yet unfulfilled desire. However, it was already too late to go back inside and satisfy it.

Knotting his brows in disappointment, he soon moved his steps outside and climbed into the prepared carriage.

Carrying him, the carriage sped off toward the palace at high speed.

***

Before the servant could even announce his name, Ludwig boldly opened the door and walked inside with long strides.

The Empress was drinking tea in the spacious reception room. Her brown hair, elegantly styled in an updo, was adorned with large jewels, and the dress she wore was extravagantly lavish.

Showing her clear displeasure, the Empress did not even bat an eye at Ludwig’s entrance; she finished her tea and elegantly set down her cup.

Her execution was so flawless that not even a faint clink could be heard as she placed the cup on its saucer.

“Now that you are here, sit.”

“What is it this time?”

Ludwig grumbled, sitting down with a loud thud, completely disregarding all decorum. The Empress merely knit her brows slightly at his impolite behavior, quickly returning to her refined composure.

However, her expression soon darkened once again.

“Ludwig. What on earth is wrong with your hair? And couldn’t you have washed off that pungent perfume and the smell of blood before coming?”

“I assumed it was urgent, so I came straight away. Shall I go back then?”

Ludwig replied curtly, blatantly mussing his disheveled golden hair even further. Disapproving of his every action as she did, the Empress would surely have found fault with him even if he had arrived impeccably dressed.

“Tsk, what language… Can you not conduct yourself as befits royalty?”

“If I act like royalty, will I get the position of Crown Prince?”

Ludwig glared at the Empress, gritting his teeth. As the First Prince, he had been raised from a young age hearing his mother, the Empress, tell him that he would become the Emperor. Having been compared to the Second Prince since childhood was insulting enough, but now he resented the Emperor for refusing to invest him as Crown Prince even after that bastard had vanished.

Still, he hadn’t worried much, believing that once the bedridden Emperor passed away, he would be the only one left to inherit the throne. However, three years ago, the vanished Second Prince, Feiran, returned and claimed the title of Crown Prince.

The throne that had felt almost within his reach vanished in an instant. Swirling with hatred for Feiran, who dared to take what was his, Ludwig couldn’t stay still for a single moment. The simmering heat inside him was somewhat appeased by satisfying his lust.

Even today, unable to suppress his surging rage, his stomach had turned at the sight of a sweetly smiling couple out on the street. He had intended to order his subordinates to kidnap them so he could play with them to his heart’s content. However, his mother’s summons had rekindled the unfulfilled heat within him.

At this very moment, a madness surged up inside him—a urge to grab anyone, tear their clothes to shreds, whip them, spread their thighs, and drive his shaft inside to tear them apart. The moment he left the Ruby Palace, he felt he needed to fetch at least a prostitute to release some of this buildup. Reading Ludwig’s thoughts without much difficulty, the Empress let out a heavy sigh.

“Have you forgotten that there are eyes and ears everywhere? Watch your tongue.”

“Hmph. Since I couldn’t even become the Crown Prince, are you telling me to live without even saying what I want to say?”

“They say Feiran has softened after falling head over heels for a woman, but exercising caution never hurts.”

“A woman?”

Ludwig’s eyes widened as if he had heard something unexpected. A Golden Lion, my foot—to hear that the ice-cold war demon now had a woman intrigued him.

“Come to think of it, you wouldn’t know since you’ve been outside the palace these past few days. Word has it he hid a woman away in the Sapphire Palace. He’s kept it so tightly under wraps that no one even knows which noble family’s young lady she is.”

“She’s in the Sapphire Palace, you say…”

Tapping his fingers on the table as he lost himself in thought for a moment, Ludwig curled the corners of his lips into a smirk and laughed with delight. His dull, murky blue eyes gleamed with a cruel light.

The Empress went on rambling that now was a time to lay low rather than harbor foolish ideas, but not a single word registered in Ludwig’s ears properly.

***

The sound of rain echoing in her ears, a pitch-black view.

Isabelle had been reading under the bright sunlight until moments ago, so she blinked her eyes in surprise at the sudden change. As her vision gradually grew clearer, Isabelle realized she was dreaming.

It was the exact same scene she had seen dozens of times. The man standing a short distance away from Isabelle still refused to show his face. Today, too, if the man turned his head toward her and moved his lips, she would wake from her dream.

Even though she knew it was a dream, Isabelle let out a sigh of disappointment. As she stared at the droplets of water gliding down the man’s body, he turned his head and moved his lips.

“Belle…”

“…!”

It was the first time—the first time she had ever heard the man’s voice. Before a startled Belle could offer any reaction, the man’s voice echoed continuously.

“Stop being stubborn now and let’s go back…”

“N-No.”

The man’s voice was filled with deep concern. The voice shouting ‘no’ was unequivocally her own. Though it sounded a bit younger than her current voice, it was unmistakably hers.

How could a dream feel so realistic?

Isabelle marveled to herself.

She felt the man let out a sigh and step closer. Even knowing it was a dream, her heart throbbed wildly and pounded out of control.

“You promised we could meet again.”

“But…”

Though the face of the man who stepped closer remained blurred, his chillingly blue eyes were vividly etched into her mind. Those eyes meeting hers so affectionately resembled someone she knew.

Who was that?

Isabelle fell into thought with a confused mind. Just a little more, show me your face just a little more.

Unfortunately, however, her silent cry was cut short by the voice of a maid waking her up.

Opening her eyes belatedly, the orange glow created by the setting sun was bathing the terrace in light.

Having slept in an uncomfortable posture for quite some time, every inch of her body screamed in pain as she moved.

Asking the maid for a warm cup of tea, Isabelle paced around the room. Recalling those blue eyes—deep as the sea—that had gazed at her so tenderly in her dream, a certain person naturally came to mind.

‘Ran…’

Calling out his name quietly inside her mouth, unable to bring herself to utter it aloud, it felt strangely familiar. And what was this emotion surging within her? Sorrow? Longing?

An emotion Isabelle couldn’t comprehend churned inside her, begging to be let out. She felt as though simply calling his name aloud might make her feel better. Isabelle opened her mouth.

“Ran, Ran…”

Unable to hold it in, as the name burst from her lips, a young girl’s voice calling out “Ran” echoed in her head like tinnitus.

Over the girl’s voice, the silhouette of a boy’s back standing upon a white snowfield appeared like a phantom, filling her mind. Turning around at the girl’s voice, the boy curled his eyes gracefully and smiled.

Unlike his blurred face, meeting those chillingly blue eyes—vividly felt—made her heart pound like crazy.

Though he felt a bit more youthful than now, those eyes belonged to him. A harsh northern wind blew fiercely between the girl and the boy. The girl curled inward, and the boy rushed over in haste. The wind blew his hat away in the process.

The boy’s golden hair rippled in the wind. As she stared blankly at that golden light, an intense pain surged over her as if her head were splitting in two.

“Ugh.”

Isabelle clutched her head. She couldn’t pull herself together due to the violent pain washing over her, as if she had been struck with a blunt weapon. Helplessly collapsing, she couldn’t even manage to utter a single plea for help.

“Young Lady!”

The urgent cry of the maid entering with the tea rang out. Confirming the sight of the maid rushing toward her through her fading vision, Isabelle completely lost consciousness.