128. Knock, Knock—Did Someone Forget Me?
Perwyn gazed at Roselia for a long time.
It felt as if he had taken the longest, most winding road just to arrive at this point—only to end up missing each other after all.
A wave of belated regret tormented him.
He should have listened to Roselia’s words sooner.
He should never have uttered those cruel words that couldn’t be taken back.
Now, the arrogance and stubbornness of the past stabbed him with deep remorse.
If only he could turn back time—if only he could right his wrongs…
But what was left was nothing but regret, spilling down like lingering sorrow.
He covered his eyes with the palm of his hand.
“Wait… are you crying right now?”
“…It’s sweat.”
“Who sweats from their eyes?”
Roselia was startled.
She reached into her dress for a handkerchief, only to sigh. She had already used it to staunch his bleeding earlier.
After a moment’s hesitation, she brushed his hand away from his face.
Then, with a careful touch, she wiped the tears at the corner of his eyes. Clear droplets clung to her fingertips.
He really is crying.
“Your Highness.”
Roselia met his gaze.
Since she was, in a way, rejecting him, she should at least offer words of comfort.
Unfortunately, comforting words weren’t exactly her strength.
“…If someone sees this, they might get the wrong idea. Please stop crying.”
“Heh.”
Was that supposed to be soothing, or a scolding?
Perwyn’s lips curved faintly at her clumsy consolation.
He quietly looked up at her face—the sea-blue eyes unable to hide their confusion, the finely drawn nose, the slightly pursed lips.
Her lovely face looked down at him, drawing his gaze without effort.
Slowly, he reached for her hand and placed it over his own.
The moment their skin touched, Roselia flinched.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
Without a word, he guided her hand to rest over his chest.
Roselia instinctively followed the motion, only to snap her head away.
Until now, she hadn’t noticed, but because she had been tending to his wounds, his shirt was left half-open.
A chill from his body reached her late—but beneath the loosened fabric, broad shoulders and a solid chest showed. His abdomen, lined with taut muscle, peeked through faintly.
Why does his body have to be this perfect too?
A handsome face paired with a body sculpted like marble—God was truly unfair.
Perhaps because he had lain so long on the cold ground, his body radiated heat. That warmth traveled directly into her palm.
Thump, thump, thump.
His heavy heart pounded rapidly beneath her hand.
Roselia felt herself being swept away by the atmosphere.
Flustered, she tried to pull her hand back, but his grip had grown stronger—she couldn’t escape.
Perwyn’s gaze on her grew more intense.
And then—
“Prince Perwyn!”
Heavy footsteps echoed from afar.
The search party had finally found him.
At that moment, the strength drained from Perwyn’s hand, and Roselia swiftly withdrew hers.
Though he regretted letting her go, he released her without protest.
“Where on earth is the Crown Prince!”
“Please calm yourself, Your Majesty. The knights have gone out to search for His Highness. We’ll hear news soon.”
The courtiers struggled to soothe the Emperor’s fury.
By now, the orange glow of dusk had fallen over the land.
All participants of the royal hunt had long since returned—everyone except Crown Prince Perwyn.
With every passing moment, the Emperor’s impatience and anger grew heavier.
A monster rampage had already broken out during his absence, and now the Crown Prince himself was missing.
Then, someone shouted, pointing toward the forest.
“His Highness Perwyn! He’s coming back!”
At once, all eyes turned in the same direction.
Perwyn appeared, supported by Brecht and the royal guards.
Beside him was Roselia.
“O–oh! My son!”
The Emperor rushed toward him, etiquette forgotten.
But joy quickly faded into horror when he noticed the bloodstains spreading across his son’s abdomen.
“Perwyn! What happened to you? How did you get hurt like this?”
The Emperor immediately ordered the palace physicians to be summoned. But a minister hesitated.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but all of the court physicians are currently attending to Lady Shylo. It may take some time to bring one here.”
“There’s no physician to tend to the Crown Prince?!”
“I beg your pardon…”
Hours earlier, Lady Shylo had insisted on returning to the palace, claiming her condition wasn’t improving.
Unable to stay away from court for too long, the Emperor had allowed her to leave. Shylo had sulked, and to console her, he had ordered every physician to devote themselves to her care.
He hadn’t realized this would prove such a blunder.
“There may be no physicians, but healers are standing by. They can at least provide temporary treatment,” another official said cautiously.
The Emperor groaned and rubbed his temple.
As the healers tended to Perwyn’s wounds, the arena buzzed with agitation.
The hunt had ended with no official victor. Yet Perwyn had returned gravely injured. And Roselia, who had been watching from the stands, had come back at his side.
The spectators were in an uproar, their voices loud enough to reach the Emperor himself.
A minister approached him quietly.
“Your Majesty. Since no winner has been declared, how shall we proceed?”
“Is this truly the time to speak of winners? The Crown Prince is badly hurt!”
As the Emperor roared in anger, Perwyn walked forward steadily.
“If it’s a winner you seek—then I am here.”
“…My son?”
Before the astonished Emperor, Perwyn knelt on one knee.
“I was delayed because I had to retrieve this. I ask your forgiveness, Father.”
He presented the Emperor with the ceremonial sword.
Gasps rippled through the audience.
“Look! His Highness found the sacred sword!”
“Then the Crown Prince is the champion of this hunt!”
The Emperor’s jaw dropped, and the stands erupted with excitement.
One of the ministers stepped forth and proclaimed Perwyn’s victory.
“Waaaaah!”
As cheers thundered, Perwyn raised the sword of victory toward the crowd. The ovation only grew louder.
Amid the storm of applause and admiration, Perwyn extended his hand toward Roselia.
“My lady.”
The setting sun painted his face in fiery light.
In his hand gleamed the brilliant sword.
He offered it to Roselia with sincerity—though a trace of hesitation lingered.
“This was brought back for you. I would like you to accept it… though if you refuse, I can only abide by your choice.”
A faint, bitter smile tugged at his lips.
Roselia hesitated.
Even while pierced by a blade, he had leapt into a waterfall just to keep his promise.
Somehow, in this moment, she felt she could accept it.
For at least his effort and sincerity were beyond doubt.
“…Thank you, Your Highness.”
Her warm hand settled over his.
And at last, a true smile spread across Perwyn’s face.
It was a perfect happy ending.
Perwyn and Roselia looked at each other—an undeniably fitting pair.
The crowd erupted in cheers, as though to bless the beautiful lovers.
But in that flawless ending, one man stood isolated—Cayenne.
He stared blankly at Roselia.
【Warning: You have failed to claim the Knight’s Proof, the Token of Glory!】
【Failure results in … ???】
Red warning messages floated before his eyes, but none of them registered.
【Time until regression: 29 seconds remaining.】
The countdown had begun.
Cayenne looked at them, consumed by wretched despair.
Perwyn handed Roselia the sword, and Roselia accepted it without hesitation.
Satisfaction lit the man’s face.
【…22 seconds remaining.】
I should have killed him then.
Loss and powerlessness gnawed at Cayenne’s mind. That seat should have been his.
If only he had eliminated Perwyn at that time—would he now be standing by Roselia’s side?
【…16 seconds remaining.】
No. That wasn’t true.
No matter the circumstances, he would never have stood beside her.
He had never been allowed such fortune.
【…9 seconds remaining.】
She was someone far beyond his reach. Too precious to even covet, too radiant to taint with his desire.
Unreachable feelings were agony itself.
Shame for his own insignificance burned him. His self-loathing was punishment enough.
【…5 seconds remaining.】
His vision blurred.
Life had never been on his side.
Even the one miracle that had graced him slipped away through his fingers.
No matter how he tried to cling, fortune that had never been his returned to its rightful place.
A hot sting welled up in his eyes, obscuring Roselia’s figure.
Cayenne felt himself being erased from the world.
【…0 seconds. Regression initiated.】
He wasn’t afraid of death.
Only one thing terrified him—
That in the next life, Roselia would not be there.
【System reboot… regression in progress】
Cayenne closed his eyes.
His world slowly crumbled apart.
“……”
Pling!
【???: (;´・`)】
【???: Sorry to butt in at such a dramatic moment, but…】
【???: Is your hobby collecting penalties or something?】
【???: You’re taking every single one possible. Even worse than me.】
