Ellis returned to the main house after that. The knight cried so much that her eyes were visibly swollen, but she exhibited no signs of frailness.

She marched back to her master with a raised chin and stiff shoulders, oozing with charisma.

As I watched her back turned from me, my heart ached for Ellis. It's the back of a knight who swore to dedicate her whole life to the imperial princess.

She was a kind, loyal, and strong character.

But in the end, she was a mere extra like me.

"There you are," A familiar voice spoke behind me while I'm brooding somewhere in the forest. "Ellis told me I'd find you here. Did something happen?"

The leaves crunched beneath his feet as Haniel sat beside me. His jet black hair was fixed into a messy low bun, and he was wearing a white shirt tucked into a pair of black trousers. So handsome.

I noticed the crossbow hanging on his back. How unusual to see him carrying a weapon other than a sword. So he's capable to be a marksman as well.

I eyed him. "Where have you been?"

"I went out with the others to hunt for dinner," He patted his lap, signalling me to lay down. "Gotta put food on the table so my crush won't starve."

His cheesy words made me smile. I did as he told me and rested my head comfortably on his lap.

The trees erecting in the skies were filled with yellow leaves that made me feel warm. I wasn't particularly fond of fall, but the shorter days and the moistened air were starting to grow on me.

Moreover, it's the season when we reunited.

"Callie," He cleared his throat. "How's your body?"

I tilted my head in confusion. "It's okay?"

"I see. That's good." Haniel faked a cough. "My deepest apologies for being too rough on you."

I blinked twice when I realized that Haniel was referring to our intense intercourse last night.

I smirked playfully. "It's fine. I also enjoyed how you pounded on me like your life depends on it."

His cheeks flushed. "S-Sorry."

"You grabbed me by the hair and slapped my butt cheeks. You rammed so hard I thought I will die."

"You can stop. I'm reflecting on my actions." He covered his face in embarrassment. "My bad."

I wanted to tease him more, but he seemed utterly apologetic so I stopped. It's not like I didn't like it.

"I'm kidding." I giggled childishly. "It was great."

I removed his hands from his face, and Haniel was still as red as cherry. While holding his two hands, I stared at his long and bony fingers. I want them.

"What's the matter?" The mage softly inquired.

"Well, the truth is..." I looked away and changed the subject. "I told Ellis everything a while ago."

"Oh," His eyes widened. "What did she say?"

"She only cared about Her Highness."

When I glanced over him, there was a poignant smile on his face. It looked like he was genuinely sympathizing with the knight whose fate was ruin.

"No one loves the princess as much as she does." Haniel commented. "I understand her feelings, because I feel the same towards you, Callie."

For a moment, we indulged in silence. Only the fairly strong wind swaying the leaves could be heard, like music pushing the trees to dance.

Now that I think about it, this might be the last day we will see each other. Alistair is due to report to Princess Odette tomorrow, and His Grace will be taking me with him when he leaves for the palace.

I pursed my lips. "I'm going to leave tomorrow."

"Hmm," He gave me a small smile. "I know."

"I will be with Grand Duke Averill most of the time." I stared at Haniel. "Are you worried?"

For a moment, he was taken aback. But then the wizard smiled at me before caressing my head.

"No," He whispered. "Because I love you. Should you ever find yourself wanting him again, I won't resent you. Whatever makes you happy, I'll yield."

"But I don't want you to yield, Haniel."

He flinched.

"I'm all yours now. Why would you give me up to another man? I chose you. I want you. I love you." I reached for his face. "There's no need for you to be selfless. Be greedy. Own me. Monopolize me."

His face softened. "Do I have your permission?"

"Yes."

"Then don't think of him." His purple eyes stared at me with burning desire. "Even when you two are together, I want you to think of me alone."

"That's easy." I smiled at him. "What else?"

His jaw clenched. "Don't smile at him."

"You're the only one who can make me smile."

"Don't touch his hands." he added.

I chuckled. "Not when I lust over your hands."

I could almost hear a string snapping from him. His face leaned down on me and he claimed my lips without any warning. Unlike his usually soft kisses, he ravished my mouth rather hungrily.

"Callista," Haniel called me, his purple eyes focused on me. "Come back to me. I shall wait."

"I will," I replied, short of breath. "I promise."

Up until now, I only served one purpose: to die.

When I think that I have to forfeit my life in order to advance the plot, fear engenders within me. Not for the fact that I will die, but because I will have to leave Haniel behind and he will be left waiting.

Even so, no matter how many times I have to die for this story to end, I'll always come back to him.

---

The empire can only bask in the light of one sun.

Only one person can wear the crown and rule over the unified nations of the Cecilian Empire.

Presently, the emperor has two legitimate children who are eligible to claim the throne. The firstborn, Louisiana Odette von Solaris, the princess who initially had no interest with political power.

It was only until the second child, Dion Alexandro von Solaris, targeted her that the princess had no choice but to flee and retaliate against her brother.

Even though Prince Dion was officially declared the crown prince, he sees the princess, who was second in line to the throne, as a potential threat.

Therefore, he wants to kill Her Highness in order to establish his position indisputably. How cruel.

"The success of this whole operation heavily depends on the two of you." Princess Odette shifted her gaze between me and Alistair.

The day for us to depart for the capital has finally come. Princess Odette and our fellow comrades were seeing us off before we board the carriage.

"Kallen," Her Highness looked at me. "You know what you have to do, right? I'm counting on you."

"Yes, yes." I blew a sigh. "I have to stop His Majesty from consuming poison, and if your crazy brother finally decides to kill him, I should protect him."

"Right," Her face looked tense. "If any issue arises, reach out to the grand duke in a discreet manner."

Like hell I would, I thought to myself.

My eyes landed on Ellis, who stood firmly beside the princess with her arms crossed. This time, she had her helm on so her whole face was concealed.

Even so, I could feel the knight staring at me.

This might be the last time that I'll get to talk with her. After all, if I die during this arc, I'll wake up in her body next... unless Ellis dies before me.

Even though the time we spent together was short and far from pleasant, Ellis is an individual who has earned my respect for her sense of loyalty.

"Ellis," I walked up to her and wrapped my arms around her ironclad body. "Stay alive, alright?"

"Yeah, right." She snorted. "So you can take over."

"No," I smiled ruefully. "Because you're the knight of the most honorable woman in this empire, and you need to protect her so take care of yourself."

She scoffed. "You don't need to tell me that."

After that, I shifted my gaze to Haniel. He looked so serious, his purple eyes piercing through space.

"Haniel." I called him affectionately.

"Any chance that I might change your mind?" He asked earnestly. "If you don't want to do this, we can still run away. Screw the imperial princess."

"You do realize that I'm here beside you, right?" Princess Odette remarked with a straight face.

"Sorry, but I have to do this." I told him firmly.

"Hmm," Haniel stared at me. "I love you."

"I love you, too." My eyes watered with tears.

Haniel embraced me in his strong arms. Ironically, the mage seemed so weak as if he had no strength to let me go. "I'll see you in the next arc, Callie."

The truth is, I don't want to do this at all.

I know that being sent to the palace is no different from being trapped in the enemy's cage. But even if I escape and deviate from the plot, I'd still die.

I learned that firsthand during the previous arc, when I tried to flee to the south with Haniel.

And so, in order to avoid complications, I'd rather follow the story and fulfill the role assigned to me.

For the last time, I looked at the ironclad knight.

Goodbye, I mouthed to Ellis with a sad smile.

Shortly, I boarded the small carriage with Grand Duke Averill and we left the camp. I was feeling emotional, but I refrained from looking back in fear that my resolve might melt in an instant.

As the carriage moved away from the campsite, we were engulfed in nothing but silence inside.

The grand duke and I sat opposite to each other, but none of us dared to lock gazes. Alistair sat with his arms crossed while watching past the window. Unexpectedly, he looked impervious.

Compared to before, his golden eyes no longer held the same glimmer. He used to fix his silver hair upwards, a hairstyle that made him look classy and mature, but now his hair was down.

"Isabelle." he called without looking at me.

My brows furrowed.

"Would you have preferred a girl or a boy?"

My chest heaved. Did I hear that correctly?

"Do you want to die?" I glared at him. "You must be insane, bringing up my dead child to my face."

This time, Alistair turned to me. "It was our child. Don't I have the right to talk about its existence?"

"No." I answered firmly, my whole body trembling in anger. "Not when you're the one who got both of us killed in the first place. You better shut up."

"I didn't even know you were pregnant!" He said defensively. "Had I known, I wouldn't have left-!"

"Forget it." I scoffed. "What's the point of speaking about it? I don't want to waste my breath on you."

He looked so hurt. "I know you still love me!"

There's a saying that forgetting your first love is as difficult as forgetting your first snow. To an extent, it must be true. No matter how much time passes, the feelings you had in that moment stays fresh.

I remember my first love so vividly. I remember being in love with this person. I remember how my heart ached in a good way in his presence.

No matter how much I want to forget, I couldn't.

This person was already a part of me.

He's my own history, the beginning of my story.

Still, fools learn from experience, while wise men learn from history. I've been a fool once, and now I'm wiser. I learned the hard way from this man.

"Hey," My face darkened. "Don't get me wrong. I'm only talking to you out of respect for the princess."

Alistair remained quiet with his bloodshot eyes.

"I still love you? Don't delude yourself." I stared at him. "You know what you are to me right now?"

"Stop." His jaw clenched. "Don't say it."

"Nothing." I said through gritted teeth. "You're nothing to me now, Alistair Kirsten de Averill."

---