The heat that had existed between them vanished as if it had never been there.
Cold air seeped upward from the stone floor, spreading through the room.
The chill cooled not only her body, but also the tangled storm of thoughts inside her mind.
Only then was Milena able to properly look around.
The grotesque figures that had worn Lariette's face were now nothing but charred remains engulfed in flames.
The surrounding area had been completely devastated.
Lexion's body had been covered in wounds moments ago, yet now only dried blood remained.
She wasn't much better.
The thin indoor dress she had been wearing was shredded by thorns, torn in countless places, and blood stained the exposed skin beneath.
They both looked terrible.
Still, there was one small blessing.
The overwhelming exhaustion was slowly fading, and strength was beginning to return to her body.
Not enough, however, to push away the man leaning against her.
And certainly not enough to carry him out.
"What do I do...?"
The moment she tried to stand, a low groan escaped him.
Heat radiated from his body.
"Lexion?"
He was burning up.
Like a living furnace.
Startled, she hurriedly pulled away from him.
In her current state, there was no way she could drag a man an entire head taller than herself.
I need to get out first.
The stone door that had been tightly sealed was somehow open now.
If they stayed here any longer, they would both collapse from illness.
She searched desperately for something to cover him with.
But quickly gave up.
Most of the chamber had been consumed by fire.
Nothing remained intact.
Nothing warm enough to help him.
"Just hold on a little longer."
When she stepped outside the hidden chamber, the hallway beyond was silent and drowned in darkness.
She turned back and looked at Lexion, still lying inside.
That door... it won't close again, will it?
The place felt strangely familiar.
Then realization struck.
"What kind of sane person builds a secret room inside a memorial hall?"
She had passed this place countless times.
Never once had she imagined something like this existed beneath it.
Forcing herself to set aside her worry for Lexion, she turned away.
First, she needed to find soldiers and have him moved.
More importantly—
No one could ever discover what was inside that room.
The memorial hall had been built in the style of a grand temple.
There were lodgings for priests and attendants.
Prayer rooms.
Resting chambers.
Since the High Priest was currently visiting, many members of the temple were staying there.
Normally, however, the building remained nearly empty.
Only scattered candles flickered throughout the enormous structure.
A cold wind drifted through the corridors.
At the center stood the Grand Duchess's coffin.
Perhaps because of that, the entire place felt like one gigantic tomb.
Shivering, Milena quickened her pace.
She didn't even have a coat to throw over her torn nightdress.
All she could do was move faster.
"Have you arrived, Your Grace?"
"Yes."
Just as she was about to step outside into the gardens, a familiar voice froze her in place.
"How did it go?"
"Preparations are complete. Milena Rastia will enter willingly and alone."
"And where is Milena now?"
"She's with the failed vessels. The brainwashing is finished, so she'll obediently follow Your Grace's commands."
"This attempt must succeed."
"Do not worry. We've inscribed the ritual throughout the hall so the priests won't notice."
"Worry?" Kalion scoffed. "The only thing I worry about is Lariette's soul."
The man clicked his tongue.
Milena frowned.
What nonsense is he talking about? Lariette's soul? Lariette is alive.
Hidden behind a stone pillar, she listened.
That voice...
It belonged to the man who had come to her room.
Kalion... what are you doing?
Do you actually believe Lariette is dead?
"Once the wedding is complete and they become husband and wife, it will be much easier to take control of Milena Rastia's body."
"I know."
Kalion's voice remained calm.
"I only hope Lariette can safely settle within Milena's body."
Body.
Soul.
Descent.
The words made Milena's head spin.
She could barely process what she was hearing.
"Haha. The dolls all failed, and the original body has been dead for five years already. A living vessel is far preferable."
The man laughed.
"Besides, wouldn't the Grand Duchess prefer her own sister's body over that of a stranger?"
A freezing wind swept through the empty corridor.
At some point, the frantic pounding of Milena's heart turned ice-cold.
They were planning—
To offer her body to the dead Lariette.
"We've placed the Grand Duchess's belongings throughout the hall," the man continued. "They'll guide her soul back."
Ah.
So that was it.
That was why Kalion kept giving her Lariette's possessions.
Why he dressed her in clothing Lariette might have worn.
Why everything had felt so wrong.
Milena almost laughed.
At this point, nothing could surprise her anymore.
"I pray all our efforts haven't been wasted."
"There is no reason to doubt it."
Kalion's voice was terrifyingly certain.
"Once Milena Rastia's soul is burned away, the Grand Duchess will take possession of the body."
His gaze darkened.
"And then I will finally know peace."
The conversation was ending.
"The troublesome woman will disappear soon enough. Endure a few more days."
Milena thought it was over.
Then the unfamiliar man spoke again.
His voice dripped with malice.
"But..."
He smiled.
"What if Milena Rastia's soul refuses to disappear?"
A test.
A deliberate question.
Kalion answered without hesitation.
"The body must remain intact."
His silver eyes were cold.
"So I can't use a blade."
Milena's heart shrank painfully.
Something icy crawled down her legs.
A dark shape brushed past her feet and slipped beneath her skirts.
Gasp—!
Before she could scream—
A massive hand covered her mouth.
Tap.
A tiny sound echoed.
Kalion's gaze immediately shifted toward the pillar.
"If we use a more reliable method, the soul will certainly—"
"Wait."
He raised a hand.
The other man fell silent.
Kalion's sharp eyes swept the area.
"What's wrong, Your Grace?"
Click.
Click.
Click.
Kalion began walking toward the pillar.
Toward her.
Toward the place she was hiding.
Every approaching footstep tightened the knot of terror inside her chest.
The hand over her mouth never moved.
Primal fear consumed her.
If he finds me...
I'll die.
I don't want to die.
When Kalion stopped only a few steps away, Milena squeezed her eyes shut.
Then—
A gentle voice brushed against her ear.
"Shh. Calm down, my lady."
Her eyes flew open.
The hand covering her mouth—
It belonged to Lexion.
When did he get here?
He stood directly behind her.
Holding her against him.
Shielding her silently.
As Kalion drew dangerously close, Lexion snapped his fingers.
A concealment spell wrapped around them both.
And at that exact moment—
"Meow~"
A black cat suddenly darted out from behind the pillar and appeared before Kalion.
The same cat that had brushed against Milena's skirts moments earlier.
"A cat?"
The other man laughed.
"A stray cat in a sacred place? The priests must be feeding it."
"..."
"As expected of Your Grace. You don't miss even the slightest disturbance."
Was it really the cat?
Kalion stared behind the pillar.
Looked carefully.
Found nothing.
After a moment, he frowned and turned away.
Then he left with the man beside him.
Only the wind remained.
Silence settled over the memorial hall once more.
Lexion maintained his vigilance until the very end.
Only when he was certain they were gone did he look down at the woman in his arms.
"My lady?"
His hand felt wet.
Too wet.
Turning her gently toward him, he saw it.
Tears.
Large tears sliding down her pale face.
"Damn it."
Lexion's crimson eyes darkened.
Without saying a word, he wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"I was planning to scold you for leaving me behind."
His voice was lower than usual.
"But... was what that man said really enough to hurt you this much?"
Slowly, Milena looked up at him.
Her emerald eyes were still trapped in shock.
Sad?
She hadn't even realized she was crying.
Bloody tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I..."
Her voice trembled.
Fear.
Anger.
Sorrow.
All tangled together.
She had been discarded for Lariette's sake.
Her entire life had been manipulated.
Controlled.
Engineered.
It was so utterly pathetic.
So unbearably cruel.
"I'm angry."
The moment the words left her lips, her beautiful face twisted in agony.
Not because she had lost love.
Lexion was completely mistaken.
This wasn't the grief of a woman abandoned by the man she loved.
No.
She was furious because she had never been treated as a person.
Only a vessel.
A container.
Something to be used for Lariette.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
"At least you're feeling something."
Lexion quietly accepted her anger.
He watched the tears continue to fall.
The emotions she thought had dried up long ago still remained.
The humiliation.
The betrayal.
The unbearable rage.
Milena bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
Lexion carefully slipped a finger between her teeth.
"You're hurting yourself."
"..."
For some reason, that small gesture calmed her.
Just a little.
The storm inside her chest weakened.
Closing her eyes, she leaned against his warmth.
And for the first time since learning the truth—
She allowed herself to rest.