As soon as Kai returned from the Fairisles mansion, he noticed the somber air around the Ryujin estate. The people were gloomy and forced smiles at him as he passed by. He wondered what was wrong until Remi told him to go see Ocean in the office.

Apart from them, Kai could sense the presence of the two Supreme Dragons who had arrived the other day. He had no idea who they were, but he had briefly been introduced to them by Ocean. However, Ocean hadn’t let him stay there for longer than a few minutes before sending him off.

The presence and sight of the two Dragons had been overwhelming as well as breathtaking.

Kai wondered if they had done something as he apprehensively walked toward Ocean’s office.

Kai knocked on the door and walked in at Ocean’s call, finding him walking across his desk toward the sofas.

Roan and the aides also stood up, but instead of heading to the sofa they all bowed to Kai and then shuffled out of the office.

"Kai," Ocean called, then gestured for him to take a seat on the sofa.

Kai walked over and sat down as told.

He then looked at Ocean, who also plopped down on the armchair in front of him. Kai found himself leaning forward as worry gnawed at his insides, but what Ocean told him was beyond his expectations.

Kai stared at Ocean for a long moment, too shocked to process what he had just heard.

"Sol left?" he repeated.

Ocean nodded.

"Why? And where?!" Kai asked quickly.

"I don’t know, but he said he will be back," Ocean said calmly.

Kai’s jaw clenched and he shook his head, rising to his feet.

"This won’t do. We must bring him back!" Kai announced.

Ocean looked at him.

"He’s sick and so weak. What if he gets into any danger? And he also needs healing, right? Master, how could you let him go?" Kai almost shouted.

Ocean watched him wordlessly before Kai asked, "When did he leave? Did he take the communication brooch with him?"

Ocean sighed.

"He’s long gone. And-"

Ocean pulled out Sol’s communication device from his pocket, making Kai scowl.

"H-How could no one know when and how he left? I-I’m going to go look for him."

Kai was about to rush off, but Ocean spoke, "Don’t."

Kai turned with wide eyes, in disbelief, "But Master-"

"He has chosen his path," Ocean said. "I had told him when I took him in that he could leave whenever he wanted."

Kai looked close to defiance before he walked up to Ocean.

"That won’t do, Master! You were mad at me when I went out without telling you, and you’re so calm now that Sol has gone somewhere? He needs to be brought back home!" Kai insisted.

Ocean exhaled deeply. His shoulders slumped.

"We can’t," Ocean said. "Let him be for now. He has promised me that he will return."

Kai was at a loss for words before he said,

"I can’t let it be, though."

Kai stood up straight and announced,

"As the Young Master of Ryujin, it is my responsibility to protect our people."

Ocean looked at Kai for a long moment before rising to his feet. He looked down at Kai’s determined expression and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Kai," Ocean said, "Sol... is a part of us now. So trust him a little."

Kai blinked.

"If he has promised he will return, then he will return," Ocean continued. "Besides, he isn’t weak. He can take care of himself."

Kai couldn’t say anything after that, even though he wanted to.

"Do you want to go and stay at Grandfather’s for a while?" Ocean asked. "Our guests will be staying for some time."

Kai pursed his lips and looked down. He wanted to go right away and look for Sol. He was worried sick, but since Ocean had strictly said no, he couldn’t do anything.

"I’ll stay here," Kai said in a low voice.

But then his eyes widened slightly as he felt Ocean’s arms wrap around his shoulders.

"Ma-"

"I understand," Ocean said softly. "I also want to bring him back, but this is his decision. And as the future Master of Ryujin, you must also learn to let go of the ones who want to leave, Kai."

Kai felt tears well up in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything as he clutched the fabric of Ocean’s coat, burying his face in his chest.

Ocean patted his back softly.

Then he suddenly recalled Carlos. The news of Sol leaving had distracted him for a while, and he had forgotten about what had been reported to him earlier.

At Valmest, night had already fallen when Nyx heard the news.

Earl Kirkland and Matthis had escaped from the dungeon.

Nyx stared at Sir Hopkins in disbelief.

"We are investigating who helped them and where they might have gone," Sir Hopkins assured her. "Please do not worry, My Lady. We will find them."

Nyx forced a smile and nodded. Sir Hopkins bowed before taking his leave.

The moment he was gone, Nyx reached for the nearby table, gripping its edge to steady herself as her knees threatened to buckle.

She had expected this.

Carlos might be the Prince, but Valmest belonged to Earl Kirkland. Once Carlos left, the Earl would undoubtedly return to reclaim everything that was his.

Including her.

Nyx shuddered at the thought.

Without wasting another second, she rushed out of her room.

Her footsteps echoed through the corridor as she made her way to Carlos’s chambers. When she reached the door, she knocked quickly, barely able to hide the urgency in her movements.

"Come in."

Carlos’s voice came from inside.

Nyx pushed the door open and stepped in.

"Yo-"

The word died in her throat.

Carlos stood before her wearing nothing but a white bathrobe, loosely tied around his waist. His damp blond hair clung to his forehead and neck, droplets of water trailing down the strands and disappearing beneath the collar of the robe.

Nyx immediately turned around, her face flushing a deep red.

"I-I’m sorry, Your Highness," she stammered. "I’ll come back later."

Carlos raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face.

"Why are you being shy?" he said casually. "We’re engaged."

"S-Still..." Nyx muttered, clearly flustered.

Carlos tilted his head slightly, clearly entertained by her reaction.

Then his tone softened.

"You came here in such a hurry," he said. "It must be something important."

Nyx hesitated before slowly turning back around.

Carlos had moved slightly, now leaning his hip against the table behind him, his arms crossing loosely over his chest.

The robe shifted faintly with the movement.

Nyx’s gaze flickered up- then betrayed her.

For just a second, her eyes lingered on the pale skin visible at the open collar of his robe before she quickly forced herself to look away.

"I... I..." She stuttered again.

Carlos smirked.

"Is my appearance distracting?" he asked.

Nyx’s cheeks burned even brighter. She forced her eyes upward to meet his.

"Earl Kirkland and my stepbrother escaped from the dungeon," she said.

Carlos stared at her for a moment, his expression completely impassive.

Nyx waited for a reaction.

When none came, she asked anxiously, "A-Aren’t you going to do something? They will return once you leave this place."

Carlos hummed softly.

"They won’t."

Nyx’s hands clenched at her sides.

"I-I knew this would happen..." she said bitterly. "It was foolish to hope that we would ever be free from those two. Valmest and I will once again-"

Carlos watched her quietly.

He hated seeing her like this- small, helpless, and weighed down by fear.

"Trust me, Nyx," he said.

She looked up at him.

"They won’t ever come back."

"How can you say that?" She demanded.

Carlos answered without hesitation.

"Because they’re dead."

Nyx froze.

Her mind took a moment to process what he had said.

"What?"

"I killed them," Carlos said in the same detached tone. "They won’t ever return to harass you or this territory again."

Nyx stared at him in stunned silence, "Y-You..."

Carlos pushed himself away from the table and walked toward her.

He stopped right in front of her.

Close enough that the warmth radiating from his body brushed against her skin, yet still leaving a sliver of distance between them.

He lowered his head slightly.

Cold droplets from his damp hair slid down and landed on her forehead.

"Are you scared of me?" he asked quietly. "Now that you know I killed them... do you see me as a monster?"

A chill ran down Nyx’s spine.

Carlos’s eyes looked like molten lava, glowing faintly in the dim light. His usual arrogance was gone.

Instead, something far more dangerous- and far more vulnerable- lingered in his gaze.

"No," she said.

Her voice had dropped to a whisper before she even realized it.

Slowly, she raised her hand and placed it against his cheek.

His skin felt warm beneath her cool palm.

Her thumb brushed gently along his cheekbone.

Carlos tilted his head slightly, leaning into her touch.

Then he lifted his hand and wrapped his larger, warmer one around hers, holding it in place against his face.

"I will keep my word, Nyx. You will never again have to face anyone who would harm you or your territory."

He spoke with a smile so enchanting that everything else around him seemed to pale in comparison.

Nyx found herself staring at his lips.

Carlos leaned forward.

He pressed his forehead gently against hers, his nose brushing softly against her own before his lips met hers.

At first, the kiss was gentle- tentative, almost as if he were testing how far he could go.

Nyx stood frozen.

She neither pushed him away nor recoiled.

Taking that as permission, Carlos lifted his other hand and cupped her face. His fingers slid into her soft hair as he leaned closer, deepening the kiss.

His warmth surrounded her.

For a moment the world seemed to fall silent.

Her body felt soft against his as she unconsciously leaned closer, and the faint scent of her filled his senses.

It was intoxicating.

Nyx often seemed distant, almost like a hollow doll merely going through the motions of life. Yet Carlos could see the real her hidden somewhere beneath that fragile shell.

He wanted to bring her out.

To give her enough warmth and light that she would finally step out of that emptiness and live freely.

And when that day came-

He wanted her to belong to him completely.

Nyx lightly tapped his shoulder.

Carlos pulled back slightly, only then realizing that even he needed to breathe.

They remained close, their foreheads still touching as they both drew slow breaths.

Nyx reached up and touched her lips.

They felt warm and swollen beneath her fingers.

Her entire face flushed crimson and she quickly stepped back.

"G-Good night, Your Highness," she stammered before quickly turning and rushing out of the room.

Carlos watched her leave.

Then he chuckled softly and touched his own lips.

He had never enjoyed a kiss that much before.

In the past, noble ladies from the capital had practically thrown themselves at him, but craving one woman so intensely was something entirely new to him.

It was a strange feeling- a dull ache settling somewhere in his chest.

Yet the sensation was sweet.

Painful, but pleasant.

And he wanted to savor it.

Carlos changed out of his bathrobe into his nightwear. As he did, his gaze fell upon the blue pendant resting on the vanity.

He had been wearing it less and less lately.

After all, he and Ruel had become a perfect team, and he needed Ruel’s strength if he wished to win this Trial.

Carlos looked up at his reflection in the mirror.

His eyes instantly turned black.

At the same moment, the windows swung open and an intruder slipped inside soundlessly.

Ruel, now in control of Carlos’s body, turned toward the figure and smiled.

"Welcome."