"You spoke of it in your sleep, Crown Princess," Linone explained, his voice soft, cautious. "I know it’s not my place to pry, but... is there something I should know about your condition?"

Sterlla stood still, her back to him, her breathing shallow. "What condition?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Linone hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "The fact that you’ve been attacked multiple times, yet you don’t seem to show fear, pain, or any of the emotions one might expect."

EPISODE 4
REVELATION

Sterlla stood frozen, her breath heavy and uneven. Her voice trembled as she finally admitted, "I just… am used to it by now."

Linone's brow furrowed, his eyes sharp with concern. "It defies all logic for you to get used to such things. You shouldn't be used to them, my lady. No one should. But be as it may, you can treat me as your shield. Someone to hear your problems, someone to vent to. I’ll be here, Crown Princess." His voice softened at the end, filled with sincerity as he met her gaze, and then he slowly stood from his place by the bedside.

Linone turned to grab his clothes, his movements steady as he reached for his blood-stained shirt and armor. He moved toward the door with the quiet grace of a seasoned warrior, standing just beside Sterlla. For a moment, the air felt still and heavy between them.

"I greatly appreciate you taking care of me, your Highness," Linone said, his voice a formal bow of gratitude. His hand moved to touch the doorknob. "I’ll be off now. Do take care—"

Before he could finish, there was a loud crash. Sterlla had dropped the tray she’d been holding, the sound of metal clattering against the stone floor piercing the silence of the room. Linone froze, and in the next second, he felt her hands gripping his left arm tightly, both of her delicate fingers curling around the fabric of his tunic as if anchoring herself to him.

"Your Highness…?" Linone said, his voice low with concern. He turned slowly, his hand now hovering just before the door, unsure whether to retreat or comfort.

Sterlla’s grip tightened, her breathing labored. Her head hung low, her raven hair falling around her face in disarray. Though she did not lift her head, Linone could hear her sobs—small, quiet sounds that she tried to swallow, as if even in her most vulnerable moment, she was trying to hide her grief. She held onto him like a lifeline, as if the weight of her world was too much for her to carry alone any longer.

Linone didn’t say a word. He remained still, waiting, knowing she didn’t want him to see her in such a state. He had known for a long time that the Crown Princess carried more than most people realized, but witnessing her crumble like this was something he wasn’t prepared for. After what felt like an eternity, her sobs began to fade, her body trembling as her tears left her empty. Her strength gave way, and slowly, she released her grip, slumping down to the floor in defeat. Her hands fell limp at her sides, her shoulders still shaking.

Linone knelt immediately, placing himself on one knee in front of her. He didn’t try to force eye contact; instead, he bowed his head slightly, showing respect for her vulnerability, his voice gentle yet firm. "Crown Princess Sterlla," he began softly. "It is not my place to say this, but please… do share your burden with this friend of yours. You don’t have to carry it alone."

His words struck her deeply. She raised her head slowly, tears still glistening on her pale face. Her eyes, swollen from crying, met his. The light of the early morning outside barely touched the room, but in that moment, Linone could see the depths of her despair reflected in her red-rimmed eyes.

Her lips quivered before she spoke, her voice raw and filled with pain. "Commander Linone… there is something I must confess. I can’t… hold onto this any longer. I just… I can’t." She paused, gasping for air as if the weight of her words was suffocating her. "It’s so hard to bear all this alone. I don’t know what to do… I don’t know what is going on…"

Her tears returned with a vengeance as she continued, her voice breaking with each word. "I die, Linone… over and over again. Every time I die, I return… three days before the event happens. I come back… I fix what I can… but no matter what I do, it keeps happening. Every time."

Linone remained motionless as Sterlla continued to lay bare her heart, her confession pouring out like a dam that had finally burst. She told him everything—about her endless regression, how she relived the moments before her death, how each cycle forced her to correct her mistakes, yet the cycle never broke. Her life had become an endless loop of fear, of uncertainty. Each time, she would see the horrors of her own demise, only to wake again and be forced to face it all over.

By the time she finished, there was only silence. The room, which had once buzzed with Linone’s healing and Sterlla’s quiet strength, now seemed to freeze. The air between them was thick with the weight of her truth. Linone looked down at her, still kneeling beside her, his mind racing with the magnitude of what she had revealed.

Of course, this was hard to believe. Such things were unheard of. A person dying and coming back to life? Anyone would have called her insane, accused her of spinning wild tales or losing her mind under the pressure of royal life. Sterlla herself chuckled bitterly, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "It’s stupid, isn’t it?" she muttered sarcastically, shaking her head. "I sound like a madwoman."

But when she looked up at Linone again, expecting to see doubt or disbelief in his eyes, she was met with something else entirely. His face wasn’t twisted with confusion or skepticism. Instead, he looked at her with concern, worry, and above all, understanding. There was no rejection in his expression. There was no judgment.

Linone slowly reached for her hand, not forcefully but gently, as if giving her the space to pull away if she needed. "It’s not stupid, my lady," he said, his voice quiet yet firm. "It’s terrifying. What you’ve gone through… no one should have to bear that alone."

Sterlla’s breath hitched again, but this time it wasn’t because of fear or sadness. It was relief. The dam had broken, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t have to carry this terrible burden on her own. She had been heard.

Sterlla's hands trembled as she suddenly grabbed Linone by the arms and pulled him into an unexpected embrace. Her body shook with raw emotion, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I was so alone... I was so afraid, Linone." Her words broke the silence in the room, hanging heavy between them.

Linone stood still, his muscles tensing as he found himself in her arms. He didn’t hug her back, out of respect for the boundary that separated their roles, fearing that any move might be a line crossed. But he didn’t push her away either. Sterlla was not just the crown princess—she was his friend, and as her friend, he knew she wouldn't lie about something like this. Her tears, her words, her desperate pleas—they were real, and he knew he had to trust them.

Time passed slowly. Neither of them moved, caught in the heaviness of the moment. Sterlla eventually pulled away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized the full weight of the situation. Linone stood there, shirtless, with nothing but bandages wrapped around his wounded stomach. Her gaze, unbidden, flickered to his chest before she jerked back, her hands fluttering nervously at her sides.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Commander Linone," she stammered, stepping away quickly as her face reddened. "I didn't mean to—"

Linone quickly bowed, his voice steady. "If anything, it’s my fault, my lady, for being in such a state—"

"Come on, don’t say that," Sterlla interrupted, regaining some of her composure as she dusted off her gown, the color in her cheeks still lingering. She moved toward the large, ornate dressing table in the corner, pulling open a drawer beneath the polished mirror. From within, she retrieved a long black and blue overcoat adorned with sparkling gems—blue and white like stars scattered across the fabric—and a cavat pinned with a brilliant sapphire. She walked back to Linone, holding it out to him with a slight grin. "Here, wear this. It belongs to Simore. The maid accidentally left it behind when she took the laundry this morning. I was keeping it here to tease him later when he panics looking for it, but you can borrow it for now."

Linone took the coat from her hands with a nod, his fingers brushing the fine fabric. "Thank you, my lady." He hesitated for a moment, then added softly, "You look good when you smile." His words were quiet, but they carried a weight of sincerity that made Sterlla freeze for just a moment.

He turned, giving Sterlla a view of his broad, muscular back as he moved to the chair beside the bed where his blood-stained shirt and armor lay. He placed them carefully on the chair before straightening the overcoat, flapping it once to smooth out any wrinkles. Sterlla’s eyes involuntarily lingered on his back, noting the rigidity of his shoulders, the strength in the way he carried himself.

She spoke before realizing her thoughts had escaped her lips. "Do all fighters have such broad shoulders and rigid backs?"

Linone, now buttoning up the final clasp on the overcoat, glanced back at her. There was no trace of mockery in his expression, only calm professionalism as he turned to face her. Though now dressed in the elegant attire, the contrast of his commanding presence remained, and Sterlla was reminded of the scars hidden beneath the fabric—physical proof of his dedication to his duties.

"I’ll come back," Linone said, breaking her thoughts as he picked up his bloodied clothes. His voice was gentle, but it held a promise. "We’ll talk more about your situation, Crown Princess. I’ll do everything I can to break this cycle for you."

He made his way to the door, pausing just before he stepped out. His gaze lingered on her for a brief moment, softer than it had been before. "I am the only one, with broad shoulders and a rigid back as you said," he added with a teasing smile. "I work hard to maintain my health, so I can keep the citizens safe. I’m glad someone noticed." And with that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Sterlla sank to her knees, covering her face with both hands, her embarrassment finally crashing over her like a wave. "I said that out loud," she groaned, her voice muffled by her hands. "How embarrassing..." Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of relief and mortification swirling in her thoughts.

It was a strange moment, one filled with a vulnerability she hadn’t let herself feel in a long time. But now, perhaps, she wasn’t as alone as she had once thought.