The sharp scream made Ren’s ears ache, yet he still could not properly regain his senses. As his upper body tipped weakly over the balcony railing, a thick arm caught him.

Kuuung—.

A heavy crash rang out a moment later.

Cracks spread through the marble balcony floor, dust billowing upward.

Through his blurred, hazy vision, the first thing Ren saw was a vivid sapphire-colored light.

Bright blue light, like dawn breaking first across the horizon.

Ren frowned and slowly parted his lips.

“Geloman......?”

“Ren.”

Geloman called his name in a deep, weighty voice. Every time he spoke, the body supporting Ren seemed to vibrate faintly. Ringing filled Ren’s ears. Nausea rose so violently he felt he might throw up at any moment, and he bit down hard on his lips.

“Are you alright?”

The ground felt like it was swaying beneath him. Ren could not answer and only blinked blankly.

The careful gaze examining him so closely felt strangely embarrassing, and as Ren turned his eyes away, he saw a black figure leaping down.

KWAANG! BOOM!

The balcony shook violently as if it might collapse. Broken stone fragments flew upward, one slicing past Geloman’s cheek. Geloman knocked away the pieces flying toward Ren’s face as he turned his head. Gray hair brushed against Ren’s forehead.

“Ren—!!”

Ah. He had thought the ringing in his ears was tinnitus.

But no. It was Temar screaming so hard his voice was tearing apart.

“What... what the hell.......”

Temar’s face was full of confusion. He shoved Geloman aside and grabbed Ren’s arm as Ren stood practically collapsed against Geloman’s chest. The hand clutching him so carefully, as though he might break, gradually tightened.

Even Geloman looked startled by the sight of him, his pupils widening slightly. He tried to stop Temar, but Temar would not budge. Geloman simply continued supporting Ren’s body firmly and waited for Temar to regain his senses.

“Why.......”

Ren had no idea what had just happened. Everything was spinning already, and now Temar was shouting too, leaving his mind completely blank.

Why was he making that expression?

The sight of Temar’s face twisted in agony—a look Ren had never once seen before—felt both unfamiliar and ridiculous.

It was only a brief stumble from a headache. What was the big deal?

“Ren. Ren. Tell me honestly. Is there... is there something you’re hiding from me?”

His voice trembled violently. Temar looked terrified.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Ren barely managed to force the words out.

“I asked if there’s something you’re hiding from me!”

Temar shouted suddenly, then immediately froze after seeing Ren flinch at the sound of his voice.

“Ren. I’m... sorry. Is there something you’re hiding from me? From me? Hm?”

His voice pretended to be calm. The slow, deliberate words desperately wanted Ren to deny it.

What was his brother so afraid of?

What was terrifying him enough to make that face?

Thick lips split pale and dry from being pressed together too tightly.

Hair whipping in the wind and stabbing at his eyes.

Beyond the strands hanging over his gaze like a curtain, Ren could see his shaking eyes.

The moment he saw them, something surged up violently inside him.

You’re afraid of what I might be hiding, brother?

Something hidden? Of course there is, brother. A lot.

But don’t worry. I’ll hide it better from you.

So stop worrying.

“There’s nothing like that!”

You know I’d never say the things you don’t want to hear. Even if the sight of your back as you walked away still feels lodged in my chest like a thorn.

As he gave Temar the answer he wanted, Ren felt the headache that had briefly calmed begin spreading through him again. He felt like grabbing onto something and vomiting everything out.

Looking at the way Temar’s brow relaxed with relief—while anxiety still lingered faintly between his eyes—Ren forced himself to act unconcerned.

“I just lost my footing while looking around for a second. What’s with you? You’re not acting like yourself.”

Temar flinched at Ren’s words. Ren ignored it and kept talking.

It felt like he had to keep saying something, anything, to reassure Temar.

Ren criticized the ruined terrace Temar had smashed apart and mocked his simple-minded personality. Little by little, color returned to Temar’s face, and he began scolding Ren for nitpicking the royal castle. His words broke off awkwardly every so often, as though he still felt guilty.

“Are you really alright?”

Geloman, who had been silently watching the brothers, asked bluntly. The kindness he awkwardly tried to imitate was swallowed whole by his heavy bass voice, leaving his tone somewhere in between. Even so, the effort behind it sounded strangely gentle.

“I’m fine. You can let go of my arm. I don’t need help walking. More importantly, how did you even get here?”

“I sensed you and looked down. Then I saw you staggering. You seemed dizzy. You should see a physician first.”

“I said I’m fine.”

Geloman only nodded.

Even when Ren snapped at him, he merely nodded in acknowledgment, making it impossible to start an argument.

“Ren!”

Luman rushed in, his face drained white.

The moment he confirmed Ren leaning against Geloman, he let out a deep breath. He had been so startled that even the tiny hairs standing on end across his face were visible to Ren.

“Are you unharmed?”

“Your Majesty. You came all the way here as well?”

Ragniel leaned slightly inward and looked around the balcony. Giselle stood beside him like a shadow.

Ragniel’s gaze swept over the gathered faces before settling on the shattered railing.

Clicking his tongue once, Ragniel smiled faintly and spoke with something close to a sigh.

“Thank goodness. Ren, do you happen to suffer from any chronic illness?”

His tone was casual, as though he were merely asking whether Ren had eaten.

“The trip here was difficult.”

Ren was grateful his body lacked strength.

Otherwise, he might have visibly flinched.

He had nearly been exposed several times already, and perhaps all those close calls had made him better at pretending nothing was wrong.

It still felt strange and unpleasant that complete strangers kept noticing his condition more clearly than anyone else.

But this feeling was no longer new to him, so Ren simply let it pass.

“We should let Ren rest and return upstairs. There are still matters left to organize, aren’t there?”

Luman’s voice was unusually serious. He tried to smile at Ren, but only a faint curve managed to form at the corner of his lips.

After entering the room, Giselle did not ask about Ren’s condition even once. Instead, he watched Luman with a subtle expression, as though dissecting him piece by piece with his eyes.

“Yes, we should. I’ll instruct the physicians to take proper care of him. Rest comfortably.”

Ragniel patted the back of Ren’s hand several times before turning away first. Giselle, Luman, and Temar followed behind him.

Geloman stayed behind. He laid Ren down on the bed himself, then waited for Jepeto and the royal physicians to arrive, firmly instructing them to take proper care of Ren.

After shutting the balcony doors, Geloman placed a hand against them and muttered something under his breath. The floor rippled violently for a moment before settling as though nothing had happened.

Geloman slowly looked around the room once before turning toward Ren.

Cold eyes that seemed incapable of emotion.

A towering body as immense as Mount Geroa itself.

A massive frame overwhelming even compared to the other Heroes, with a stiffly set mouth.

And yet this man, who looked farther from gentleness than anyone—

“You need to recover quickly. Otherwise you won’t be able to learn swordsmanship.”

—offered concern that carried no heaviness.

At those words, the tension abruptly drained from Ren’s body. He stared at Geloman, then suddenly jerked his head up and hurriedly called out to him before he could leave.

“Geloman!”

“Do you need something?”

Ren hesitated before speaking.

“...My friend came to the capital. He said if he ever came here, he’d come see me. Maybe he left a letter for me at the royal castle or something.”

His voice shook from tension.

Would Geloman get angry over such a personal request?

Without realizing it, Ren swallowed hard.

The brief silence felt unbearably long to him. Just as he had the urge to start biting his nails, Geloman’s answer came from above him.

“I’ll look into it and let you know.”

“Th-thank you.”

Ren’s eyes widened.

Really...? You’ll just do it that easily?

That was exactly what his expression seemed to ask.

“Then I suppose you can finally rest properly now?”

Geloman took only a step or two before reaching the bedside.

Without hesitation, he placed a hand on Ren’s head and gently stroked his hair. The hand resting there did not feel heavy at all. The servant remaining behind to attend them lowered his head deeply, struggling to hide his shocked expression.

Geloman gave a small laugh, removed his hand, and added,

“Ah. I think you should reconcile with your brother already. He couldn’t even focus during the meeting.”

“......!”

He left so suddenly that Ren missed the chance to get angry.

What the hell!

I thought he was secretly considerate!

Where did that ridiculous nonsense suddenly come from?!

This wasn’t some simple fight with his brother!

These were much older feelings. More complicated. Completely tangled together!

And he just says to make up?!

Ren exploded before he could stop himself.

“It’s not like that! It’s not—!”

But Geloman had already disappeared.