Leonard sits beside Sir Rowan's bed in the dimly lit room.
The blood-soaked clothes are gone.
In their place, he wears a heavy winter outfit fit for a wandering adventurer of the northern territories a long black coat lined with dark wolf fur around the collar, layered over a charcoal tunic reinforced with blackened leather plates. Silver clasps shaped like ravens hold the coat together, while dark gloves conceal the scars on his hands.
The outfit makes him look older.
Colder.
Like someone who has already buried too much.
He sits quietly and waits.
For his father.
Sir Rowan's chest rises and falls heavily beneath the blanket.
For a long time, nothing happens.
Then his fingers twitch.
His eyelids slowly part.
His vision remains blurred from Harlan's sleeping medicine. For several long seconds, he simply stares at the ceiling.
Then his eyes lock onto Leonard.
The knight freezes.
His breathing stops.
The room becomes too silent.
Far too silent.
Leonard immediately leans forward.
"Father?"
Rowan's eyes widen.
The word escapes him like a prayer.
"Leonard..."
Leonard smiles weakly.
"I'm here."
Rowan continues staring as though he is looking at a ghost.
The streets flash through his mind.
The blood.
The screams.
The crowd.
Leonard's limp body.
The weight of his son in his arms.
The desperate sprint toward Harlan's den.
The fear.
The helplessness.
His vision blurs again.
Not from the medicine.
From tears.
"No..."
His voice trembles.
"No..."
Shaking hands reach forward.
His fingers touch Leonard's face.
Warm.
Alive.
A broken sound escapes Rowan's throat. Half laugh. Half sob.
Then he pulls Leonard into a crushing embrace.
"Thank the gods..." His shoulders shake violently.
"Thank the gods..."
Leonard feels Rowan's grip tighten.
Tighter.
As though letting go would make him disappear. "I thought you would die."
His voice cracks.
"I thought I would lose you."
Leonard lowers his head "I'm sorry."
"Don't."
The reply comes instantly.
"Don't apologize."
Rowan buries his face into Leonard's shoulder.
For the first time in years, the Captain of the Knights looks small, weak and human.
"I couldn't save you."
Leonard freezes.
Rowan laughs bitterly.
"I was supposed to protect you."
"Father—"
"I was supposed to protect everyone."
His hands clench.
"The Princess."
"Luan."
"You."
His voice drops lower.
"And I failed all of you."
Silence fills the room.
Leonard looks away.
"Luan..."
The name alone is enough.
Rowan closes his eyes.
Neither of them speaks after that.
The grief between them needs no explanation.
Eventually Rowan wipes his face roughly.
His expression hardens. Not because the pain is gone.
But because there is still work left to do.
"What's happening now?"
Leonard exhales.
"Sir Azik came."
Rowan immediately frowns.
"Just as I expected."
Despite everything, Leonard almost smiles.
"He's waiting in the parlor."
Rowan shakes his head. "Of course he is."
He slowly rises from the bed.
Every muscle protests. Every bruise reminds him of the day.
"Then let's hear what that scheming bastard has planned."
Upstairs, Princess Elsbeth sits alone. Curled into the corner of the bed. Her knees pressed tightly against her chest.
The room is dark.
Quiet.
Yet she can still hear them.
The bells.
Faint.
Distant.
Chiming somewhere inside her mind.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Luan.
Luan.
Luan.
The name repeats endlessly. She cannot stop hearing his voice.
Cannot stop seeing the flames.
Cannot stop seeing him smile while burning. Her fingers tremble.
Then suddenly—
The bells stop.
Elsbeth freezes.
Something warm brushes against her shoulder. Like a gentle hand.
Or perhaps only a memory.
She turns quickly.
Nobody is there.
Her eyes widen.
And then she remembers.
The black book.
MERCY.
With trembling hands, she grabs the ancient book from the bedside table and presses it against her chest.
For several moments she simply stares at it.
The room remains silent.
No words.
No guidance.
No miracle.
Yet somehow... Holding the book makes the darkness feel a little less suffocating as though MERCY is still listening.
Even if they cannot answer Elsbeth lowers her head.
"Oh MERCY..."
Her voice trembles.
"I forgot."
Her fingers tighten around the worn cover.
"Even after you did so much..."
A bitter laugh escapes her lips.
"And now I'm asking for help again."
Slowly she opens the book.
Blank.
She turns a page.
Blank.
Another.
Blank.
Another.
Blank.
Her breathing becomes uneven.
Faster.
She turns the pages desperately.
Blank.
Blank.
Blank.
"Please..."
Her voice barely exists.
Another page.
Nothing.
"Please."
Another.
Nothing.
Tears drip onto the empty parchment.
"Please answer me."
Silence.
"Please..."
Nothing.
She lowers her forehead onto the book.
The room remains still.
No answer comes.
No divine words appear.
A soft knock comes from the doorway.
Elsbeth raises her head.
Layla stands there.
The little girl looks frightened. Not of Elsbeth but for her.
Slowly, Layla walks over and wraps her tiny arms around the Princess.
"The fairy brother will come back soon."
Elsbeth freezes.
"My daddy said he only had to go somewhere."
Layla smiles a silly little smile. The kind only children can make.
"So don't worry, brave princess." She proudly pats Elsbeth's shoulder. "I'll pray every night."
Her smile widens. "And when I get bigger, I'll help you find him too."
Something breaks inside Elsbeth.
Not painfully.
Gently.
Like ice beginning to thaw.
She pulls Layla into her arms.
"Thank you..."
Her voice cracks.
"Thank you, little one."
For a moment neither of them moves.
Then Elsbeth gently strokes her hair.
"It's very late now, Layla. You should go back to bed."
Layla nods obediently.
"Goodnight, Princess!"
She waves both hands before disappearing through the doorway.
Outside the room, the adults prepare for a coup.
SMACK!
Rowan's palm slams against the table.
"How dare you put my son's life and the Princess's life at stake!"
His finger points directly at Azik.
"This is madness!"
He looks at Leonard.
Then back at Azik.
"Everyone knows Patrin isn't safe. There are monsters out there."
Azik doesn't even look up from the map.
"Stop speaking as though Leonard is a infant."
His voice remains calm.
Cold.
"The boy has walked through places your knights wouldn't survive a week in."
Rowan's jaw tightens.
Azik finally raises his eyes. "And there is no other way." He gestures toward the map.
"If you have a better plan, enlighten me."
Silence.
"The King will lock Princess Elsbeth away sooner or later."
Azik folds his arms.
"You know it. I know it. We all know it."
His voice softens slightly.
"Do you truly want her to face all of this alone?"
Rowan looks away.
Leonard steps forward.
"Father... Sir Azik is right."
Rowan remains silent.
"I know the dangers of Patrin."
Leonard's voice is steady.
"I know the beasts out there."
He pauses.
"But what's happening here is worse."
His eyes darken.
"The people wearing crowns and robes are far more dangerous than any beast they don't just kill you they destroy everything around you."
He takes a deep breath.
"I promise I'll come back alive." His gaze never leaves Rowan. "And I'll bring Lady Elsbeth back alive too."
He places a hand on his father's shoulder.
"Please help us."
"Do your part here."
"Erwin and Layla will stay with you."
Then Leonard says the words he has avoided for years.
"When this is over, Father..."
Rowan looks up.
"I'll stop running."
The room grows quiet.
Leonard meets his gaze.
"No more adventuring."
"No more disappearing."
"I'll stay."
Silence.
"But right now..." His eyes drift toward the ceiling.
Toward Elsbeth's room.
"I can't abandon her."
For a long moment Rowan says nothing.
Then he exhales.
A tired smile appears. "As if I could say no after that." He steps forward.
Pressing his forehead against Leonard's. "I'll do my part." His voice grows firm. "And I'll make sure you come back alive."
A pause.
Then:
"I believe in you."
Azik claps once.
"Good."
He looks toward Grace. "It's settled."
Grace rises from her chair.
"Everything is nearly prepared." Her gaze moves between them.
"We leave for Patrin tomorrow. If there's anything you need, get it now. The journey ahead won't be kind."
Leonard nods.
Then—
Creak.
Everyone turns toward the staircase.
Elsbeth stands there trying to move quietly.
The black book rests in her arms.
Their eyes meet hers.
Leonard immediately rises. "Lady Elsbeth—"
She flinches. Not because she fears him but because every face reminds her of Luan.
Rowan.
Leonard.
Erwin.
Everyone is there but Luan isn't. Her grip tightens around the black book then, without saying a single word, she turns around and walks back upstairs.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Like a ghost returning to its grave.
The bedroom door closes.
Grace watches the staircase.
"What is that book? I remember seeing it in her room."
Leonard follows Elsbeth's retreating footsteps with his eyes. "It was with Lady Elsbeth when I first found her and Luan." He shrugs.
"It's been around ever since." I checked it once. Every page was blank his expression softens.
"But it's precious to her." He looks toward the stairs. "And right now... I think we should let her be."
Azik nods.
"I'm taking my leave." He fastens his cloak.
Take care of yourselves.
Outside, his carriages wait beneath the moonlight.
Grace follows him toward the door. Before leaving, she slips a folded note into Leonard's hand.
"Meet me here when the sun sets tomorrow."
Then she leaves.
The house grows quiet once more.
Upstairs, Elsbeth lies on her bed.
The black book rests on her chest.
She stares at the ceiling.
No words.
No thoughts.
Only memories.
Luan holding her hand even when he burns and smiling despite the pain.
Luan offering his body because the floor was dirty when they were locked in the tower.
Luan.
Always Luan.
Tears slide down her cheeks.
She doesn't cry.
The tears simply keep coming.
Then she notices something.
A faint warmth against her chest.
Elsbeth blinks.
For a moment she thinks she imagined it.
Then the light pulses again.
Weak.
Slow.
Like breathing.
Her fingers tremble.
The room remains silent.
No answers.
No miracles.
No voice from beyond.
Yet the darkness does not feel endless.
Elsbeth presses the book tightly against her chest and closes her eyes.
A single fragile thought remains.
Hope.
And tonight... That is enough.