Milena didn't even wait to hear Kalion's reply before turning and walking away.
"That look on her face... it's irritating."
Once Milena and Ashdel had completely left the training grounds, Kalion spoke in a detached tone.
"She's even more troublesome now than when she used to cling to me like a beggar. Before she leaves the Grand Duke's castle, I should break that rebellious spirit of hers."
It sounded like he was talking to himself.
But a man stood beside him, his face hidden deep beneath a hood.
"Heh heh. Leave it to me."
The man's voice was hoarse.
"I'll make sure she walks to that wedding altar of her own free will."
As he spoke, he pulled a silver chalice from inside his robe.
Without hesitation, Kalion drew his wooden practice sword across his palm.
A thin line opened in his skin.
Dark red blood slowly dripped into the chalice.
The more the cup filled, the wider the hooded man's grin became.
"Everything for Lady Lariette."
"Yes."
Kalion's voice was cold.
"For my wife."
Beneath his black hair, silver-gray eyes gleamed obsessively.
Twisted possessiveness.
Obsession.
Madness.
All of it swirled inside that gaze.
Milena couldn't even remember how she'd left the training grounds.
Her mind was consumed by a single thought.
I need to get out of here.
The moment Lexion told her Ashdel was being beaten by his father, she'd run without thinking.
Had Kalion ever made her feel this threatened before?
"A second child."
Those words planted a horrifying fear inside her.
Children weren't something people simply created because they wanted them.
What Kalion had really meant was obvious.
He intended to crush her beneath his authority and take her by force.
If she stayed here—
Something far worse than a forced marriage awaited her.
Every instinct screamed at her to run.
"Aunt."
Ashdel's voice broke through her panic.
Milena looked down.
Her palm, wrapped tightly around the boy's hand, was slick with cold sweat.
Suppressing the tremors running through her body, she'd been dragging him farther and farther away from Kalion.
"Aunt, are you okay? Aunt Milena!"
Milena startled and stopped.
"Ah."
Only then did she truly look at Ashdel.
She'd been so shaken by Kalion's insanity that she'd completely forgotten about the child.
Taking a deep breath, she forced her racing heart to calm down.
Then she knelt in front of him.
"Ash, are you okay?"
His face was still pale.
Ignoring the worried look he gave her, she immediately checked his condition.
"Aunt?"
The moment she rolled up his sleeve—
She froze.
A bruise covered his arm.
If his arm looked this bad...
How much worse was the rest of his body beneath his clothes?
She'd expected the worst.
But seeing it with her own eyes made rage boil inside her.
How badly had Kalion beaten his own son?
As anger replaced fear, the trembling finally stopped.
Milena already knew Kalion didn't care much for his son.
But this?
Was this really necessary?
Kalion Luxen.
That man didn't deserve to be called a father.
And he'd spoken those disgusting words right in front of the child.
"Ash... does this happen every time?"
Training with the Grand Duke.
Education for the heir.
That was what everyone called it.
But in reality—
It was one-sided violence.
Only now did Milena realize the truth.
Back when she'd been blinded by her feelings for Kalion...
She had never properly checked on Ashdel.
Every time she accompanied him to the training grounds, he'd looked unhappy.
But whenever he said he was fine, she'd simply accepted it.
She'd even convinced herself:
The Grand Duke is teaching him personally. It must be helping.
Even when Ashdel had been younger.
Even then.
"Ash, I..."
What had she been doing all this time?
She'd been right beside him.
And yet she'd never noticed his pain.
A mad father.
And an aunt whose eyes had been fixed solely on that man.
How much had this child endured between them?
"Aunt, it doesn't hurt. I'm okay."
Even now, Ashdel worried about her before himself.
His small, unsteady hand rose to gently touch the cut on her cheek.
The wound Kalion had left behind.
Blood still stained her skin.
Ashdel frowned as though he were the one hurting.
"I wanted to go."
His arms wrapped tightly around her neck.
His voice trembled.
His reddened eyes were full of helplessness.
"I'm sorry, Aunt."
"Sorry for what?"
"I just... don't be miserable because of me. I won't be a burden. Just... please don't abandon me."
Milena couldn't answer immediately.
The small voice was overflowing with hope.
Now it was Ashdel's arms that were trembling.
What was he so afraid of?
She could see the fear in his eyes.
When she remained silent, he clung to her even tighter.
"Please don't hate me because of Father."
"You and the Grand Duke are separate issues."
Milena's reply was firm.
Was he afraid of being left alone?
His mother might not return for who knew how long.
Could she really leave this child behind?
"Aunt, I did something wrong."
"What is it this time?"
"You don't want to marry Father. So I tried to do something about it... but I failed."
Milena let out a quiet sigh.
At the sound, Ashdel flinched.
As if he'd expected to be scolded.
Because of him.
He had confronted the Grand Duke.
Even knowing the difference in strength.
Even knowing he'd get hurt.
What am I to this child?
Someone worth suffering for.
Someone precious enough to endure pain.
And suddenly, Milena understood.
She'd spent her entire life wanting to be loved.
But she already was.
She had been receiving more love than she'd ever realized.
From this small child.
"Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't. But your face..." Ashdel said anxiously. "You need treatment. I'll go get medicine from a healer."
The wound from the sword aura-infused practice sword was sharp.
But not severe.
Milena shook her head.
Then she pulled him into her arms.
The warmth of his small body calmed the turmoil inside her.
This tiny existence—
Was the only comfort she had in the cold and lonely Grand Duke's castle.
What should I do?
The marriage contract.
Her escape.
All of it suddenly seemed less important.
Ashdel mattered more.
"Aunt?"
Thinking about the boy's future, she hesitated briefly before speaking honestly.
"I don't hate you, Ash."
His eyes widened.
"Not even once have I ever thought you were a burden."
"..."
"And I never will."
Ashdel blinked rapidly.
Then, as certainty settled into his heart—
A brilliant smile bloomed across his face.
"Really?!"
Joy radiated from his entire body.
The two of them, both battered and disheveled, slowly stood up while supporting one another.
A warm moment between aunt and nephew.
Neither of them noticed the shadow silently following behind.
"Hm."
From far away, beyond a window, Lexion tilted his head.
He stood atop the highest spire.
"I thought I'd killed that rat."
His red eyes narrowed.
"I'm certain I snapped its neck."
With the eyesight of a top-tier knight, Lexion stared at the figure trailing behind Milena.
His expression turned cold.
The shadow moved like an assassin.
Concealing its presence.
Using perception-distortion magic.
Even beneath the bright moonlight, its outline remained difficult to notice.
A fierce northern wind swept past him.
The paper in his hand fluttered.
"I was planning to make a little deal with this..."
Inside his grasp—
Was the very thing Milena had been desperately searching for.
The marriage contract.
Just as he'd suspected, the holy document had been stored in the High Priest's quarters.
"Tch."
"Something keeps getting in the way."
A deal only worked if everyone involved stayed alive.
"So."
"What's the best move here?"
His crimson eyes calculated profit and loss.
Milena Lastia.
She wasn't nearly as foolish as the rumors claimed.
Until he found the mana-infused jewel he was searching for...
Watching her a little longer might not be a bad idea.
Decision made, Lexion stepped off the edge of the spire.
His figure vanished into the raging northern wind.
And he threw himself into the darkness below.