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It wasn’t that she disliked the idea.

On the contrary, it was something she would have welcomed with open arms.

But after having prepared herself to be left in this place, bruised and battered, being told to leave now felt utterly ridiculous.

“You’re the first person I’ve met who’s so recklessly inconsiderate.”

“Now you realize?”

It was only then that Tristan cracked a sly smile.

She thought she deserved every curse thrown at her, but the response she got was unexpectedly polite.

“Really, I don’t have to marry? I can just leave and go wherever I want?”

“Yes. I’ll remove anything that stands in your way before it becomes a nuisance.”

“Why?”

Why would you do that for me?

Unable to understand, she asked, and he replied,

“Think of it as an act of atonement.”

It was a tempting offer.

So tempting that she wanted to write a contract and stamp it with a seal before he could change his mind.

‘Considering I almost lost my life, it seems fair to accept this as the value of my life.’

Moreover, Sabina had saved people as well.

It wasn’t something she did expecting a reward, but there was no need to refuse an offer willingly given.

‘Of course, that’s how it should be…’

But Sabina was curious about something else first.

Whether there had been some change in his feelings… No, more fundamentally, there was a problem that continued to bother her.

‘Valentine, what exactly is it?’

The most powerful family in Fineta.

No, beyond that level, a family with a unique presence in the whole world.

But they were cursed, generation after generation, to live with the devil’s malice, leading them to madness and death.

People said it was the price for seeking the power of devil in human form, but well…

The Valentine she had seen and experienced didn’t seem particularly obsessed with powerful forces.

Especially compared to the Valois family she had grown up in.

“What does it mean that even killing the Grand Duke couldn’t save everyone?”

Ignoring Tristan’s words, Sabina asked.

It was an unbelievable situation, but it kept seeming like Valentine was sacrificing himself for the sake of many…

‘Have I gone mad?’

If she hadn’t seen the Grand Duke’s rampage, if she hadn’t harbored doubts about Valentine’s circumstances…

‘Such thoughts wouldn’t have even crossed my mind.’

The Grand Duke Valentine was just an unmatched lunatic, and she didn’t want to think any more of it.

Sabina regretted it.

Right.

You told me to give up.

On dreams, life, talent, future, everything.

‘A despicable devil, a bad guy, that’s what you are.’

Sabina was chewing her lips when,

Tristan, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

“If I tell you, you won’t be able to leave here.”

Sabina was momentarily speechless, then moved her lips.

But soon, she closed her mouth tightly and turned her gaze out the window.

It would be foolish to kick away the same opportunity twice for some naive sense of justice and righteousness.

But…

“Just tell me one thing.”

There was something she needed to confirm.

“If the Grand Duke is killed, does the world become endangered?”

“…”

“I don’t think that’s such a big secret.”

She thought it wouldn’t be harmful to know that much.

Because combining everything she had seen and experienced over the past month, she could guess.

The devil’s malice.

The overwhelming urge to annihilate every foolish human from this land.

And the rulers who, despite harboring such a dangerous power, show leniency.

“Is it because the Grand Duke contains the devil’s malice that the world can maintain peace?”

Sabina asked again.

In fact, she might have wanted him to say that it couldn’t be true.

Tristan answered reluctantly.

“…You’ve figured out quite a lot from just one encounter.”

It was the exact opposite of what she had hoped for.

Yet, even with his confirmation, her mood didn’t improve at all.

Instead, it felt incredibly unsettling.

‘Get a grip.’

So, what?

Even if the devil turned out to be a savior in disguise, nothing changed.

Even if Tristan turned out to be a great hero who would save humanity in the future, Sabina had no reason to stay in the Grand Duchy.

To her, he was still no different from a devil.

“Alright, I’ll do as you say.”

Sabina quickly regained her composure and decided to accept his kindness.

However, she never intended to accept it all.

“But leave the Valois family alone. I don’t want to have anything to do with them anymore.”

And if I do seek revenge, I’ll do it with my own hands.

She added that.

Tristan then wore an expression as if he knew she would say that.

“…Did you just smile?”

Sabina asked, slightly disgusted.

“I always smile.”

“That’s what you call a smile…?”

She pointed out his smile because it was completely different from his usual twisted grin.

‘Enough.’

But Sabina decided not to pursue it further.

It seemed he wasn’t even aware of it himself.

“It would be easier for you if you left the revenge to me.”

“Do you think I like taking the easy way?”

“Of course not.”

Tristan lifted the corners of his mouth.

That smile, again.

Every time he smiled like that, her nape used to feel chilly, but now, it strangely made her clench her fists.

She wanted to punch him right then.

“It seems you’ve eaten something wrong. Since the Pope is here, it would be better if you received treatment too.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Yes.”

Sabina answered nonchalantly to his playful question.

There was no longer any reason for them to grab each other by the collar and snarl.

“Hmm.”

Tristan then slightly shifted his gaze, showing an awkward reaction.

‘It should have been time for him to speak nonsense with a relaxed tone and expression.’

People change so much.

If it’s not because he ate something wrong, could it be that his time is up?

“Do you realize that you’re behaving strangely?”

At that, he let out a short sigh and brushed his face with his hand.

It was strange.

Every action he took since waking up was unnecessarily human.

‘And clumsily human at that.’

There was no change other than the fact that Sabina had almost died.

Of course, normally people would comfort and care for someone who has narrowly escaped death, but has the Grand Prince ever been normal?

Sabina pondered for a moment and then pointed at Dwayne, who had followed Tristan.

“I accidentally found out that your aide is terminally ill.”

Me? Terminal?

Dwayne was bewildered by suddenly becoming a terminally ill patient, but he kept his mouth shut and assessed the situation.

Tristan glanced at Dwayne for a moment, then turned his head away without any attachment and responded briefly.

“Oh well.”

…Is that all?

“I’ll compensate you generously for your life, so make sure to properly hand over your duties before you go.”

“I knew you would say that.”

“Every human dies. You’ll surely fall into hell, so go ahead and find a good spot there.”

“That’s a novel curse. But I hear there are levels in hell, and I’m not sure if I can reach the deep level where the Grand Prince will end up. It seems our fate ends in this world.”

Dwayne spat out casually.

Their exchange of curses seemed quite routine.

“Anyway, why are you here? Get out now.”

“Yes, I’m regretting coming here myself. I’ll gladly leave.”

The aide bowed and left the room.

‘His personality hasn’t changed.’

He was exactly the same as usual when dealing with Dwayne.

Sabina scrutinized Tristan’s reactions from beginning to end, then asked,

“Do you like me?”

It was a question as sudden as a bombshell.

She was not the type to be clueless.

And she certainly wasn’t the type to pretend not to know something when she did.

Besides, Tristan was not someone who deserved her consideration.

‘Normally, I would have shown consideration.’

After all that she had endured from him.

His abusive words up until now made this question seem like a mere trifle.

“…What?”

Tristan responded with a hollow laugh.

He was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by the unexpected attack.

Me?

Like you?

The words ‘me’, ‘you’, and ‘like’ seemed to orbit separately in his mind.

Even though it was a simple combination of words known to a three-year-old, it felt oddly unfamiliar, as if he was hearing it for the first time.

Should he deny it?

Or should he mock her for her delusion?

Tristan pondered which reaction would appear more natural.

And at the same time, he realized.

The moment he pondered over it, he was already doomed.

“Ha.”

The next hollow laugh he let out was a mockery directed at himself.

Tristan, wearing a complex expression, slowly raised his hand to cover his mouth and turned his head.

As if not doing so would lead to him saying something he shouldn’t.

“Is it true?”

Sabina reached out her hand.

She then caught Tristan’s long hair, which fell to his waist, and tucked it behind his ear.

The tip of her fingers touching his ear caused it to redden rapidly.

“It is true.”

Tristan growled fiercely, then trailed off.

Because Sabina was staring right at him, having just become aware of his feelings.

Her clear eyes looked straight at him.

The vivid redness that had made Tristan fall for her at first sight did not leave his face.

“But what should I do? I don’t like you at all.”

“…”

“Is this treatment unfamiliar to you?”

Sabina, mirroring the line she had heard during their first encounter in the carriage, laughed.

The corners of her mouth curled up in a seductive curve.

She laughed heartily, revealing her pearly whites.

It was hilarious.

Truly, too funny.

‘Ah, that’s why…’

It had been too strange when he suddenly said he would let her go.

The reason he acted that way was because she had become an existence he could no longer trample on.

Because she had become exceedingly precious to him.

“Tristan.”

Sabina softly called his name, tilting her head towards him.

As if she would kiss him.

Being so close, Tristan could be felt momentarily holding his breath.

“Are you really going to let me go?”

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