Thus, with a smile blooming across his face, Luias arrived in the Kingdom of Rubere in secret.
Before setting out, he followed the information Rex had quietly gathered, heading to the place where Dahlia was said to be today.
As he carefully scanned the narrow path she was known to take, hidden among bushes and trees, he spotted her figure in the distance.
The moment he took a step forward to approach her—
Clang!
Someone's sword swung toward Luias.
In the blink of an eye, Dius's sword intercepted it.
"Identify yourself."
Dius glared coldly at the silver-haired man before him.
The man appeared younger than Dius, yet the strength behind his sword was in no way inferior.
"State your identity first."
The man spoke in a cold voice, stepping forward as if to shield something from Luias's view.
Luias immediately understood whom the man was protecting.
The direction he blocked. The person he guarded.
He was undoubtedly Dahlia's knight.
"Are you Princess Dahlia's guard knight? I am her friend. I did not come to harm her."
Yet the knight's blue eyes remained icy, his vigilance unbroken.
Luias slowly raised both hands and stepped back. Since he had come in secret, things could not escalate.
"…I will not approach any closer."
Only then did the knight slowly lower his sword.
Still watching Luias and Dius with sharp eyes, he asked quietly.
"Then why is the princess's so-called friend sneaking up from behind the bushes?"
"Well… that is…"
As Luias hesitated, choosing his words, the knight added coolly.
"If you do not give me a reason, no matter how high your status, I cannot allow a suspicious individual to approach Her Highness."
"How dare—"
Offended by the knight's firmness and perceived rudeness, Dius moved to draw his sword again, but Luias extended an arm to stop him.
"You are right. One must have such resolve to serve as Dahlia's guard knight. I merely wished to see her after a long time. I would appreciate it if you stepped aside."
Luias's voice remained gentle, yet within it lay a quiet authority and a chill beneath the calm.
Their gazes crossed.
After a moment of contemplation, the knight looked at Luias once more.
"Please wait here."
With that, he turned and headed toward Dahlia.
At that moment, Luias saw her smile brightly at the knight.
A faint ache pierced his chest.
After the knight whispered something to her, Dahlia turned her gaze toward the bushes.
Their eyes met.
"Oh? As!"
Dahlia ran toward him, her face alight with joy.
Seeing her again after years—more mature, breathtakingly beautiful—made his heart feel as though it might stop.
As she drew closer, Luias steadied himself and spoke.
"Lia… it's been a long time."
He smiled warmly at her.
"Why haven't you come to the capital even once all this time?"
"…I'm sorry. Things were complicated in my family."
Dahlia looked at him with concern.
"Are things better now?"
"…Yes. A little better."
Luias naturally shifted his gaze to the man standing beside her.
Dahlia followed his eyes and turned.
"Is he your guard knight?"
"Ah, yes. I didn't ask for it. He just insists to be my guard because he worries about me."
When Dahlia smiled fondly at the knight, Luias felt his chest tighten.
"Lun, come closer. I'll introduce you."
At her gesture, the knight stepped forward.
"As, this is Lun. A royal knight. Lun, this is Sir As. He's a friend who helped me once."
Hearing Dahlia refer to him as "Sir," the knight called Lun studied Luias with cold suspicion.
But soon, he bowed politely.
"Dahl—"
"Ah—Lun! You've got something on your mouth!"
Dahlia hurriedly covered his mouth with both hands.
He had been just about to say 'Her Highness.'
Dahlia still believed that Luias thought of her as Lady Lia, after all.
The knight looked momentarily startled, but soon his expression softened beneath her touch.
He, too, seemed to grasp the situation.
Luias understood at once.
'The way he looks at Lia… That is not the gaze of a mere knight toward his liege.'
It cut sharply into Luias's heart.
"I am Gwynnslun, Lady Lia's guard knight."
The knight introduced himself respectfully.
'So Lun is a nickname… Did Lia give it to him herself?'
Luias nodded with a strained smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
A brief silence followed.
"Um… Lia…"
"Yes?"
There were so many things Luias wanted to ask.
Whether to reveal his true identity.
What her relationship with the knight was.
Whether she had heard of the Empire's proposed marriage.
Yet no words came.
"…I only stepped out briefly. I think I should head back now."
"Already? We've only just reunited…"
"I'm sorry. But we'll meet again someday… can I come visit you again?"
Deep down, Luias sensed that this might be the last time.
"I'm always in the capital. Come whenever you have time, As."
Her bright smile seeped painfully into his chest.
Luias gently gathered a lock of her red hair and pressed a soft kiss to it.
As though it were a farewell.
"…Yes. I hope we meet again."
He turned slowly and walked away.
And when he looked back one last time, he saw Dahlia smiling brightly at the knight.
That smile stabbed straight into the center of his heart.
All the way back, Luias kept thinking—
'Where had I gone wrong? When I failed to reveal my identity at our second meeting? When I rejected the King of Rubere's political marriage without hesitation? Or from the very first moment, when I introduced myself with the false name and status of 'As'?'
At the time, he believed whatever he had done was the best choice.
But it was already too late to change.
Dahlia's heart was no longer his.
Or was it ever?
Only then did regret come crashing down upon him.
***
He heard news of Dahlia again several months later.
That day, Rex kept glancing at Luias repeatedly.
Unable to endure it any longer, Luias asked,
"What is it? Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"Well…"
"Just say it. Whatever it is, I won't get angry."
After hesitating, Rex finally spoke.
"I've recently heard news regarding the Princess of Rubere…"
At the mention of Dahlia, Luias sprang to his feet.
"What is it? Did something happen to Lia?"
"Well…"
"Spit it out!"
Pressed by Luias's urgency, Rex could no longer hesitate.
"The Kingdom of Rubere has recently decided to form a marriage alliance with the Western Continent. I'm sure their reason is likely to keep the Empire in check, or to prepare for war—"
But Luias was no longer listening.
"…Lia is being sent to the Western Continent?"
He murmured quietly, yet heavily.
After stepping back and letting go, it would not even be that knight—but the Western Continent?
He could not allow her to be sent there.
"Rex, send a diplomatic letter to Rubere immediately. Inform them that the Aureum Empire wishes to form a marriage alliance."
"Your Majesty! Do you have any idea what they might demand?!"
Rex exclaimed in shock.
"It doesn't matter what they demand. This marriage must happen."
Rex, who had watched him for years, knew.
He knew the weight of the feelings Luias held for the Princess of Rubere.
Breaking Rubere's alliance with the Western Continent was one thing, but an alliance between the Empire and Rubere would bring no benefit whatsoever.
Yet now, there was no one left who could stop Luias.