A cold wind entered through the open window. To feel the chill, Kirona crawled across the bed toward the window. She leaned out, facing the breeze.

Just a little more. 

Just a bit more. 

Suddenly, she lost her balance. Her vision swayed. The feeling of an imminent fall overwhelmed her, but Kirona couldn’t resist. It hurt too much; she thought it might be better to just die. 

At that moment, someone lifted Kirona. Her motionless body floated up effortlessly like a dandelion seed. It felt like she was being rescued from deep waters, and she could breathe freely again. 

Instinctively, Kirona clung tightly to the person’s neck. His face was hidden in the darkness. Who could it be? 

The body she touched was solid, clearly a man. Among the servants, there were few men. She could probably figure out who he was if she thought about it. But her feverish mind wasn’t working as usual. Instead, Kirona gave up thinking and just gasped for air on his shoulder. 

Soon, he whispered in her ear. 

“Does it hurt a lot?” 

“It hurts, it hurts so much.” 

And to think that’s even a question! Can’t you see my condition? 

She felt anger that someone had finally come, but at the same time, she was grateful that someone had come at all, and Kirona couldn’t bring herself to scold him. She cried, forgetting all the dignity she was supposed to uphold as royalty. 

“My mother said royalty shouldn’t cry.” 

“It’s alright to cry. You’re only twelve years old, after all.” 

His cold hand touched her feverish forehead. It was cool and pleasant. He smelled like the wind from outside. Kirona burrowed into his embrace like a wounded animal. 

“My body feels like it’s on fire.” 

“Then hurry up and call the royal physicians. I’ve rung the bell several times, but no one has come.” 

“They’re not coming because they can’t, not because they don’t want to. Don’t be hurt by it.” 

He held Kirona close, whispering quietly. His coolness tempered the fever, and sanity returned—or so she thought, but something felt off. 

An unfamiliar voice, an unfamiliar smell. Instinctively, Kirona pushed him away. 

“Who are you?” 

No answer came. Buried in the darkness, he seemed more like a shadow of something than a person. After a while, his whisper tickled Kirona’s ear again. 

“I’ve been thinking about what you might look like… Princess, you surpass my expectations.” 

“…” 

“You’re even cuter and more adorable than I imagined. I wish I could keep you just for myself, forever.” 

As she tried to probe further into his identity, her vision blurred. She was wrapped in a strange man’s cloak and his cool presence. Kirona collapsed into his embrace. The world went dark. As she sank back into unconsciousness, Kirona gasped like a fish out of water. 

Who are you? 

* * * 

Twelve years old. 

Shivers began one evening after swimming. Fever followed. Throughout the night, Kirona suffered and sought out the imperial physician, Emma, the next morning. Emma prescribed only fever-reducing herbs and left without stating the diagnosis. 

It was the first time the renowned doctor had left without a word, but when someone pointed this out, no one was seriously worried. Marie gave Kirona ice, shrugging off the severity of her condition. 

“It’s just a severe cold, he didn’t mention it because you know how strong our princess is, right?” 

Indeed, Kirona had been a healthy child, not even a sniffle in the coldest winter. When a plague that claimed a third of the empire’s children reached the palace, she was up and about in just three days. 

At five, she rode horses across the plains; at six, she shot arrows in the forest. Illnesses common among other children were foreign to her. Such robust health made even good wishes seem superfluous. 

“Oh, Your Highness! What are we to do?” 

“Call the physicians immediately!” 

“Your Highness, open your eyes! You mustn’t lose consciousness!” 

But this time was different. Despite the herbs, Kirona’s fever didn’t subside. The fever continued, and she lost consciousness. 

Physician Emma Hugin arrived the next day, having prepared for the worst. He risked his life to tell the emperor of Kirona’s condition. 

“It’s Tetra Fever. There’s nothing we can do at this point.” 

No one believed Emma’s words. Kirona’s mother, the Empress Midas, was furious and denied it vehemently. She grabbed the doctor’s collar and shouted. 

“I valued your skills highly because you were admirable, but are you now mocking me? She’s only twelve. Born healthy, never seriously ill. Check again; it can’t be.” 

“There’s nothing we can do. Your Majesty, I wouldn’t lie at the risk of my life. You know what Tetra Fever is.” 

Tetra Fever. A rare disease with an unknown cause and no known cure.