[Alvar’s POV—On the Road—Leaving Frojnholm]

The wheels of the imperial carriage creaked steadily behind me as my horse trotted ahead, hooves striking rhythm against the frost-hardened path. The wind bit cold against my face, carrying with it the scent of pine and smoke from far-off hearths. Normally, I welcomed the sharp air—it cleared the mind and kept the senses sharp.

But today... everything felt heavy. Wrong. Because something was wrong with Leif. And I could feel it.

The way his smile had wavered at the edges. The brittle softness in his voice when he told me to "come sooner."

Leif was never subtle. He laughed too loudly, sulked too openly, and clung too tightly. That was him—vivid, unfiltered, unashamed. And yet this morning, he pulled away. Forced a smile. Wore cheer like armor. As if he truly believed he could fool me.

My jaw tightened. Did he really think I wouldn’t notice?

The moment replayed in my mind again and again: his eyes darting from mine, his trembling fingers when he let go, and worst of all—those words.

"Guess I have to be ready for my first heartbreak."

The phrase cut deeper than any blade.

Gods, I’d wanted to turn back that very instant. To throw aside duty, seize him in my arms, and demand— Who filled your head with such foolishness? Who made you doubt me?

But chains of obligation bound me to this road. To the capital. To responsibilities I could not ignore.

Still, his voice clung to me, stubborn and haunting, just like him.

"First heartbreak."

My grip on the reins tightened until my knuckles burned white.

Leif... what are you so afraid of? That I’ll forget you? That I’ll trade you for duty, for destiny?

Fool. My beautiful, reckless fool. If only you knew—I would burn the whole capital to ash before I let them take you from me.

If he refuses to step foot in that city, then so be it. I will drag the city to him. I will find a way to bring him to me—law, crown, or gods be damned.

Because the truth was simple.

He is mine. And I will not let heartbreak—or fate—lay a hand on him.

"I just have to find a way to make him come to the capital city," I mumbled to myself.

***

[Thorenvald Estate—Same Time—Frojnhom—Leif’s POV]

"Wow..." Nick muttered as he trailed behind me, hands stuffed in his pockets, "it sure feels empty now that so many people left all at once."

My crimson babies padded around us, tails swishing, howling here and there as if echoing his words. The estate was quieter, lighter... too light.

But what about me? Forget the mansion—my heart was the one echoing like an empty hall.

Before I could wallow too much, Baron Sigurd stepped forward with that annoyingly polite bow of his. "My lord... shall we begin?"

I blinked. Nick blinked. Even my crimson babies tilted their heads, ears twitching in unison.

"Begin what, Baron?"

***

[Lief’s Office—Seconds Later]

. . .

. . .

Now here I was. Standing inside the office, trembling like a man about to face his execution. Because before me towered mountains. Actual, snow-capped, civilization-ending mountains

—

—of documents.

Stacks upon stacks. Scrolls, ledgers, decrees, requests, reports... an avalanche waiting to bury me alive.

My crimson babies stared at the piles, then at me, their golden eyes wide with pity. One even gave a sympathetic whine, like "you’re doomed, Mama."

I pointed a shaky finger at the papers, voice cracking. "W-Why... why is there so much?! We worked every day! I never saw this many! What hellspawn cursed me with this!?"

Baron Sigurd smiled serenely, like a devil disguised as a butler. "Until now, the Crown Prince, Princess, and Lord Alvar have assisted with portions of your workload. Did you forget, my lord? You told them yourself: ’If you want to stay here, share my burden.’ "

Nick then lit up like he’d solved a puzzle. "Oh, right! I remember now. You said those exact words with that wicked grin of yours. The ’I’m so clever’ grin. Yep, I totally remember it."

I slumped dramatically to the floor, clutching my head. "This is it. This is karma. The fucking karma of being lazy! I—I’m gonna die buried under tax reports and chicken census scrolls!"

One of my crimson babies tried climbing the desk, pawing at a ledger like it was ready to help. Another one jumped into my lap, tail wagging as if to say "Cheer up, Mama, we’ll file with you."

"Don’t—don’t look at me like that!" I groaned, pointing at the mountain. "This isn’t a battle you can win! They’ve multiplied while I wasn’t looking!"

And that’s how my day began. Not with Alvar’s arms, not with a kiss, not even with breakfast—

—but with paperwork.

Hell itself bound in ink and parchment.

***

[Leif’s Office—Night]

SLAM!!!!!

The sound echoed like thunder across the office as I smacked my poor desk with both palms. Papers jumped in fright, ink bottles rattled, and my crimson babies perched on the shelves hissed at me for disturbing their nap.

"I don’t want to work anymore!" I wailed, slumping dramatically until half my body slid off the chair. "I am fucking tired.

Tired to the core. Too tired to even be called a gorgeous rainbow human. Ughhhh... I’m basically a soggy pancake at this point."

Knock. Knock.

I groaned, my cheek still pressed to the desk. "Co...me...in..."

The door creaked, and Sir Ronald stepped in. "My lord—" He froze, eyes widening like saucers as he took in my corpse-like state sprawled over the table. "MY LORRRRDDDDD!!!! Are you alive?!"

I weakly lifted one hand and waved it like a dying fish fin. "Yes, yes, I’m very much alive. Don’t start planning my funeral yet. Who will pay for the catering if I’m gone?"

He let out a sigh of relief, though his brows remained furrowed. "But... you seem..."

"Like a corpse?" I supplied, giving him a crooked smile. "It’s okay. This is my natural state after drowning in paperwork. Now—" I snapped my fingers weakly, "—just tell me what happened. I’m too tired to play charades."

Sir Ronald straightened, regaining his knightly composure. "Oh, right. I came to ask for permission, my lord."

I squinted. "Permission?" My suspicious tone sharpened. Then I sat up just enough to glare at him with the full force of my electrified yellow eyes. "Sir Ronald. If you are here to ask for leave, I swear on all the holy beer mugs of this land—"

He flinched, holding up both hands. "N-no, my lord! Not leave! I wouldn’t dare abandon you in this battlefield of papers."

"...Good." I narrowed my eyes further, just to remind him of who was boss. "Continue before I die of curiosity. Or exhaustion. Whichever comes first."

He cleared his throat. "The villagers... they wish to celebrate. Since the Thorenvald territory has now officially been declared independent, they want to hold a grand event in your honor. And we knights..." He hesitated, then added, "we all wholeheartedly urge this request too, my lord."

I blinked. "...An event?"

He nodded eagerly. "Yes, my lord. A festival, with feasting, dancing, and merriment. A day to celebrate your leadership!"

"Ohhhh." I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. Then I grinned. "Why would I say no, Sir Ronald? Go have fun. If you need funds, I’ll sic Baron Sigurd on it immediately."

Relief washed over his face as he smiled. "Thank you, my lord. However... the villagers also request that you attend as the main guest of honor."

I perked up immediately. "Main guest?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Well, if there’s going to be delicious food, beer flowing like rivers, and maybe—just maybe—a fried chicken with an apple in its mouth..." My grin stretched ear to ear. "Then count me in! "

Sir Ronald laughed softly, bowing his head. "Thank you, my lord."

I waved him off with the casualness of a lazy emperor. "Go on, go on. Tell them their lord will grace them with his fabulous presence. I shall prepare my stomach."

He bowed again before exiting, leaving me alone with my crimson babies. I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms high above my head.

"Hahhh... maybe things aren’t so bad," I muttered, already imagining the taste of sweet mead and fried meat on my tongue. "A party, beer, food, dancing—yes, yes, life is looking good."

I smirked, already humming a happy tune. "I guess I’ll be having a great time for a while..."

But as the shadows deepened across the office and the cold wind whispered against the windows, a shiver ghosted down my spine.

Who would have thought... that such a simple event would lead me straight into danger?