Kailhart grit his teeth and pulled Isabel even tighter into his arms.
Whether it was intentional or not, her fingers—taut with tension—raked down the bare skin of his back, leaving red marks across his tense shoulders. Even her trembling fingertips felt vividly alive. Every movement was honest, raw to the very top of her head.
The determination—the impulse—to reclaim her completely echoed in his ears all over again. He had no idea when they would reach the end.
‘I’m okay, Isabel. As long as you’re safe—whole—that’s all I need. Even if we’re thrown into a living hell, locked away from the world, we’ll still have each other. Always.’
As soon as Isabel appeared in the palace garden, a dark-skinned woman rushed up and cried out.
“Isabel!”
Without warning, she pulled Isabel into a tight embrace, exclaiming over how long it had been.
“Yes, it’s been a while, Tania.”
They’d met back in their academy days and had stayed close ever since. Tania, who had once been half a head taller than Isabel, now seemed almost a full head taller.
“Wow, I can’t believe it! I thought we’d definitely see each other again after graduation, but then you just disappeared. I can’t believe you just disappeared like that. Wasn’t that a bit harsh?”
Locking her arm tightly around Isabel’s, Tania tugged her close. The easy, unguarded touch made Isabel feel, for a moment, like she was fifteen again.
Unlike her hazy memories from when she was thirteen or fourteen, her memories of that time with Tania were clear and vivid.
“Haha, you’re right…”
A faint smile spread across Isabel’s lips.
She gently patted Tania, who continued to grumble.
After discovering the truth about her birth as a child, Isabel was taken to the capital by strangers she had never met before. There, she met her biological father, Avignon. Under the guise of providing her with an education, he quickly sent her away from the country to the academy.
“But Isabel, what on earth…”
Tania’s eyes had narrowed, her hand stopping mid-pat on Isabel’s back. She grabbed Isabel’s slender wrist, her wide eyes filled with concern.
“Why are you so thin?”
“Ah, well…”
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me that bastard’s starving you. Come on, you can tell me—hurry up.”
Tania and Isabel first met at the academy. As they were the same age, Tania approached Isabel first and said that they should get along. She was just as outgoing back then as she is now.
At the time, Tania was a crown princess. Before Kailhart’s ascension and territorial expansion, her homeland was one of the richest monarchies in the south of the continent.
No matter how carefree Tania seemed, Isabel could always sense the seriousness beneath the surface, and how she quietly tried to shoulder the burden of the crown. Isabel often saw echoes of Isaya in her. Although she had never said it out loud, that was the reason why Tania had always stood out to her.
“It’s really nothing like that, so don’t worry.”
But Tania only frowned harder, clearly unconvinced. Seeing her friend so concerned brought back memories of childhood that Isabel had nearly forgotten—a time when her only worries had been her grades.
She had never coveted the throne. Instead, she had simply supported Isaya as she devoted herself to her role as Crown Princess and immersed herself in her studies at the Academy.
“I’m really fine, Tania.”
Looking back, it struck her just how peaceful and good those days had been. Isabel let out a faint, wistful breath.
“But aren’t you tired? I heard your schedule’s been packed since this morning.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ve always had stamina to spare! Besides, I’m here with a diplomatic delegation—one schedule’s much like another.”
As Isabel looked at her, she pictured Tania facing off against Kailhart with a smile at the diplomatic event earlier.
“Honestly, I’d already sorted out most of the important stuff in paperwork before coming, so I used this as a chance to see that guy’s face again.”
Tania clicked her tongue, drawing even closer to Isabel.
“Aww, let’s not talk about work right now. Isabel, it feels strange just standing here, why don’t we go somewhere more comfortable?”
“Go somewhere? Where did you have in mind?”
“Well, it’s been ages since I’ve seen your room. How about it? I want to see how you’re living here these days.”
Tania said, signaling to Isabel’s attendants to give them some space.
“Sure, let’s do that.”
Isabel replied with a soft smile.
“Hey, it’s been forever since I’ve seen you smile like that.”
As they walked back to Isabel’s room, they reminisced about their old classes together.
“Oh, Isabel! Have you heard the news? That professor has finally retired. Apparently, she ran off with her favourite student and went into hiding!”
“Wait—don’t tell me, with that so-called protégé?”
“Yup. She denied it so adamantly, too! I swear, most scandals in this world end up being love affairs.”
The conversation brought back memories for Isabel of the carefree days she had spent walking around the academy with Tania after class, chatting about nothing in particular.
Tania’s attendants trailed behind them at a respectful distance, remaining silent. Soon, they arrived at Isabel’s room, still lost in conversation.
“You haven’t changed at all — you only keep the bare essentials, huh?”
Tania remarked, glancing around. The room was spacious, with high ceilings, but contained little more than the necessities.
After a brief pause, Tania’s brows knit in curiosity. She quickly ushered her attendants out, closed the door, and turned to Isabel.
“Isabel.”
“Yes?”
“Are you really living here?”
Tania asked. Isabel nodded. Aside from the central library, this room was almost her entire world these days.
‘Is something wrong?’
She glanced around the room, but saw nothing unusual.
“But why…”
Tania paced the room, her gaze searching for something. She looked over the tall windows, the huge bed big enough for several people, the pristine table and chairs, and finally turned to Isabel.
“Why aren’t there any paintings in here?”
Ah, the paintings… Isabel swallowed dryly.
“Don’t tell me you got rid of all of them?”
It felt as if she’d been struck on the back of the head. Tania’s gaze narrowed further when Isabel didn’t answer right away.
“You don’t paint anymore?”
“……”
“Why not? You used to love it so much.”
But Isabel couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Painting had been her longest hobby—something that had always brought her joy.
And yet, she had forgotten all about it. Completely, utterly. She’d been too busy just trying to survive.
“I’m no art critic, but I still remember a few of your abstracts. The colours and shapes were unique and beautiful.”
She could still recall the way oil paint spread on canvas, the scent of the paints as she brushed them on, the thrill of finally capturing the image she’d envisioned. All of it.
“I just… I’m not in a place where I can do that anymore.”
She had genuinely forgotten. In fact, she hadn’t even realised that she had forgotten.
A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Her legs wobbled beneath her and she had to bite the inside of her lip to steady herself. Tania looked down at her and let out a quiet, pained sigh.
“I wasn’t sure at first, but now I am.”
Tania gripped Isabel’s shoulders tightly, her voice trembling as she called her name.
“Is it true, then? The rumor?”
“What rumor—?”
“That you’re living as… well, as the emperor’s—his… you know. Like you’re nothing but his possession.”
‘Ah. You mean, am I living as Ka’lhardt’s trophy?’
Isabel couldn’t answer right away—because it was true.
A single moment of silence was answer enough. Tania’s fists clenched, her eyes trembling with fury.
“That bastard Kailhart…”
She cursed under her breath.
“This… This isn’t right.”
“Tania.”
“How hard must things have been for you, that you even forgot something you loved so much?”
Isabel quickly tried to calm her, but Tania only raised her voice, unable to contain her frustration.
From the outset, Tania had every reason to resent Kailhart. Following his coronation and the subsequent expansion of the empire’s territory, Tania’s father, the late king, was forced to pledge loyalty to Kailhart in order to preserve their nation. He bowed his head to the stone floor on numerous occasions in an attempt to minimise their losses.
It was humiliating, but it was the best option available to them at the time. Even now, those memories lingered painfully in Tania’s mind.
“Wait, Tania.”
Isabel grabbed Tania’s trembling arm.
“Do you even realise how you look right now?”
