Raphine looked at Zerkan wearing the commander's uniform and riding on a white horse, and choked her heart.

* * *

'I'll be fine....'

The ceremony was held from dawn.

I was worried about Zerkan, who had been out since dawn, and had barely slept.

It was grand and tragic, but it was never gloomy or heavy. The faces of the soldiers were overflowing with pride and confidence.

Of course, Raphine was also unable to sleep, but the situation was different with Zerkan, who had to leave immediately.

Violet and Adrian also waved to the family with bright expressions.

Zerkan, who commanded the knights with a strong appearance, was very bright and cool.

Raphine's heart was pounding at his beautiful appearance, but she was also resentful.

'Since the war is decided, talk to me. If so, from the beginning....'

Raphine bit her lips tightly. It was sad and sad that I couldn't enjoy the sweet time with Zerkan for a long time.

But time will pass quickly, and Zerkan will return safely with everyone.

"Raphine."

Zerkan got off his horse and approached Raffine.

He sat down on one knee and kissed the back of Raphine's hand. Everyone held their breath and watched the two of them.

Raphine tied the prepared handkerchief to his wrist. It was an act full of love.

"oh!"

"Oh my goodness...!"

Due to the actions that occurred after that, the nobles opened their eyes wide and muttered.

Zerkan, who got up, gently pulled Raphine's neck and kissed her.

Raphine wrapped her arms around Zerkan's neck as if waiting.

"I heard that the two of you got along better...."

"Oh my God, you are beautiful."

Everyone looked at the two with happy smiles and applauded.

After the brief kiss, Zerkan gave a small smile.

"Wait."

As Zerkan tried to return to the knights waiting for him, Raphine grabbed his wrist.

"Take this."

What Raphine gave was a cloth pouch. Everyone looked at it with curious eyes to see what was in it.

"... It would be nice to take it out when no one is around."

At Raphine's words, Zerkan guessed, "Ah...." and handed it over to the assistant.

The assistant received it and immediately tied it to the waist of the horse that Zerkan was going to ride.

"I will be back."

Raphine greeted her with a smile without a word. I wanted to say, 'I'll wait' or 'I'll miss you.'

A cold wind blew behind Raphine's back as she watched the advance team's back.

The day long ago was also a day with such a cool wind.

Just like one day when they were very young, the three main characters of Rafine went to the battlefield again.

"Sir, what the hell is that?"

At the question of Assistant Percy, Zerkan looked back.

"It was previously given to you by Vision. What is it? I am dying of curiosity."

Even with his ejaculating tone, Zerkan didn't care.

But Percy has been persistent in asking.

Zerkan eventually opened the cloth bag and showed it only briefly to Percy.

"no...."

As soon as she saw the contents, Percy frowned. I thought it was something like a precious cherished item only for the two of us....

'What's that old teddy bear? Could it be that the Crown Prince couldn't sleep without a doll?'

But it can't be. Because in the last war, Zerkan had never come close to such a thing.

if so....

'Is it like His Majesty's attachment doll?'

Percy's expression changed as if chewing on astringent persimmon.

'I think it means hugging and sleeping instead of Bienha at night.'

I felt it when we kissed goodbye, but I never dreamed that they would be like a chicken skin couple.

Again, it was clear that the rumor that the Crown Prince was displeased with His Majesty was false.

Percy frowned as she watched Zerkan open her cloth pockets again as if to hide something precious.

But the day the first battle took place.

After witnessing that the cute pink teddy bear that the High King had cherished suddenly turned into a giant bear that reached 3 meters and attacked the beasts.

Percy was determined not to ever be stingy with the Crown Prince and his wife in the future.

After the advance squad was dispatched, Raphine intentionally spent more busy days.

The family worked harder to commute to the Sapphire Palace so that Raphine wasn't depressed or afraid.

Even then, when she had time, Raphine visited the Crystal Palace or thought about business with Orpana.

I thought it would make the time go by faster, but it didn't have to be.

* * *

'No, why only two weeks have passed.'

It feels like at least 3 months have passed...

Unlike the daytime, when I was busy meeting people, time passed particularly slowly when the sun went down.

At sunset, Raphine wore a thick robe and strolled through the gardens of the Sapphire Palace.

Behind him were two escort knights following quietly. As I walked, I arrived at the front of the Seogung Palace where Zerkan lived as a child.

In front of the magnificent building, a huge statue of the first emperor made of gold caught my eye.

'When I was young, I thought that statue was too big and scary.'

Even after the sun went down now, it didn't feel scary at all.

Rather, I felt like a friendly grandfather.

It was then.

In the distance, a silhouette could be seen as if someone was sitting on a bench in the Seogung Garden.

One of the escort knights stood in front of Raphine and blocked her.

"Wait."

Despite Raphine's words, the knight carefully looked at the owner of the shadow.

The shadow, sitting alone on the bench, slowly got up and approached.

The moment his face was revealed in the light of a street lamp. The knights bowed their heads in embarrassment.

It was Antonio.

His complexion was a little drier and duller than the last time I saw him, but on the contrary, he seemed more comfortable.

"Would you like to sit down for a while?"

When Antonio asked, the knights froze and looked at Raffine.

Raphine nodded, and the two knights looked at them from a distance away.

The two sat on a bench a little further apart. Antonio looked at the large statue for a long time before speaking.

"When I was young, it was so nice to have an older brother. So I wanted to get to know you."

"...."

"Then I realized that I was a being that I couldn't help but hate. From then on, I hated him even more."

Raphine stared at Antonio's side face.

"I purposely dug up my brother's weakness while boasting and showing off his father's love."

"I like you."

"...."

Raphine took a deep breath at the confession that flew in ignoring the context. I thought I had made up my mind, but it didn't seem like that.

"Your brother has everything, but not me. you can see it look at me.... What's left of me, unlike my brother?"

"Raphine, please... "

"I'm sorry, but I'm not the one to make up for your shortcomings."

"...."

"But it must be somewhere, someone like that."

"I am...."

"I will definitely be able to meet you. So...."

Raphine showed a warm smile. At the friendly smile he showed for the first time, Antonio couldn't force his heart on Raphine any more.

"It's okay to be a little more comfortable."

Antonio bit his lip without saying a word and lowered his head.

He buried his face in his palms, shaking his shoulders for a long time. Raphine did not reach out and pat him on the back or wrap her shoulder.

I just sat there and waited, looking at the statue of the first emperor, until Antonio stopped crying.

That alone was enough for Antonio.

* * *

"I'm going to renounce my position as a prince, you mean?"

the emperor asked in an angry voice. Antonio, who arrived early in the morning, spoke out of nowhere.

Giving up the position of a prince and leaving the imperial castle.... The emperor never imagined that what he had only seen in the history books would become one of his sons.

"It's because of your mother."

"You will not give up until the very end."

When the emperor's gaze touched, Antonio smiled comfortably. It was a light smile, as if he had laid everything down and emptied his mind.

The Emperor realized that no words could convince Antonio.

I had only one thing to say.

"... I'm sorry."

"...."

Antonio didn't answer. Say it's okay, and vice versa.

"...."

"Tell me the news often."

After Antonio had left, the Emperor buried his head in the palm of his hand.

From one day on, the emperor had a hard time surviving each day.

Sadness and frustration, remorse and regret, and despair.

Everything shook him, but it was the one will that made him stand firm.

The will to overcome everything as an emperor.

But now I don't know. His father had suggested that he bring in a concubine to keep the empress's family in check.

At the time, I thought what my father said was wrong, but... In the end, he made Rebecca the Empress, as the Emperor had said.

So many people have been hurt and broken by that choice.

But now, there was nothing to blame for the dead father. Everything was your decision.

I don't have time now.

It was time to put an end to the problem that had haunted him for so long.

It was the only true way to repent of one's own faults.