Since receiving the vial of poison from her sister, Idyllia had spent sleepless nights. A few days later, Silvio returned to the room late at night as usual, after finishing his work. Idyllia, who was preparing tea, was met with his stern gaze.

“Do you know a man named Gustave Jurois?”

She gasped at his first words. Looking up instinctively, she saw Silvio watching her intently as he spoke plainly.

“Last night, he was attacked by a robber in the city and killed.”

“Wha…?”

“Most likely, he was murdered.”

“…No…”

Immediately realising it was her sister’s doing, she stood frozen, holding a tray with a teapot and cups. Silvio continued coolly.

“How unfortunate. To be buried under false charges. Well, he was a greedy man who didn’t work hard, so it’s somewhat of a relief that he’s gone…”

“Innocent?”

When she asked back, placing the tray on the tea table, he responded with an inscrutable look.

“The man who came to me in a hurry that night wasn’t Jurois. It was someone else. Robert mentioned Jurois’s name to test you. To see if you were trustworthy.”

“…”

Idyllia’s eyes widened. It had been a trap. The king, hearing Gustave Jurois’s name from her sister, believed that his confidant had betrayed him and was in league with Silvio, so he had him killed. And Silvio was now convinced—that Idyllia had given her sister that name.

(What have I done…!)

Her careless actions had cost a man his life. She was horrified by the enormity of her sin. Silvio wore a twisted smile.

“What’s the matter? You look pale. Is it so surprising that you were the one being manipulated all along?” Silvio’s voice was calm as he took a step closer.

“Robert sympathised with me. He handed this over, begging me to wake up.” He held a small glass vial—the one her sister had given her.

“That’s—”

“It was found in your belongings. It’s not perfume, so we had it examined. The results were shocking.”

“…”

“It’s poison. A single dose could kill instantly. Mixed into food daily, it would cause an incurable illness within a month.”

“…”

Without a word, her body began to tremble. Despite her resolve, Silvio’s anger was terrifying.

“Did you plan to use this on me?”

“…Silvio…”

“When we first reunited, I still harboured a deep hatred for the Leveaux family. I wasn’t entirely free of suspicion that you and your sister might be plotting against me.”

He gripped her slender shoulders, shaking her.

“But then, seeing your efforts to mediate between me and the Leveaux family, my thoughts began to change. You seemed unchanged from five years ago. I was ashamed for ever doubting you. No matter who else doubted you, I decided to believe in you… to believe in you completely.”

His moonlit eyes were filled with a sorrowful determination.

“It was my way of atoning for the disgrace I brought upon you when we reunited… because of my selfish obsession.”

“Silvio—”

“And this is the result!!”

His furious shout reverberated through the room, making the windows rattle. Idyllia responded with a trembling voice.

“…You shouldn’t have trusted me…”

“Idyllia!”

“I’m not someone who deserves your kindness…”

She spoke the truth haltingly. He shook his head, still gripping her shoulders.

“…I can’t believe it.”

“I wanted to end everything…”

She looked up at him, her eyes revealing the pain of betrayal.

“I wanted to be free!”

“Is it really you, Idyllia…?”

Silvio, bewildered, embraced her tightly.

“Is someone making you say this? Are you being threatened? By that malicious queen?”

“No!”

She responded with a muffled voice, and his grip tightened.

“Then there must be a reason! There has to be…”

He asked, but she shook her head, denying it over and over. She rejected every attempt he made to understand.

“No matter how hard we try, we can never go back to five years ago.”

“Stop…”

“It’s painful. Please, let me go…”

“Stop!!”

He hugged her fiercely, shouting.

“You… you were my goddess, forever pure. I believed in you…!”

“…I’m not that.”

She confronted him with the harsh reality, even as he clung to the past.

“I’m just an ordinary person who values my own life…”

Struggling against his strong embrace, Idyllia pleaded.

“Let me go…”

By the time she realised it, Silvio’s chest, against which she pressed her cheek, was trembling slightly.

“──To be free… you tried to kill me…?”

His voice was shaking.

“Does that mean you can’t stand being by my side…?”

Was he crying? She wondered.

(No, he’s laughing…?)

Confused, she saw him eventually raise his head, his throat rumbling with chuckles. His rugged face twisted with a smile he couldn’t suppress.

“You no longer love me, do you?”

“…Silvio…”

“Fine, I’ll release you. But first, I’ll make you pay for your betrayal. Get in the room,” he commanded with the detached tone of a superior officer. Then he reconsidered, “No—here is fine. Less hassle.”

He pointed casually at the tea table with his chin. “Put your hands on the table and lift your skirt.”

“…”

Idyllia stared at Silvio, who seemed like a different person, unable to find words. He repeated his order briefly, “Hurry up.”

His voice remained calm, but there was an undeniable authority in it. Intimidated, Idyllia took a step back, then another. Before she could flee, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back with force.