“Have you decided what to do next?” Silvio asked. Idyllia stared at her knees and quietly replied.

“…Please, let me think about it a little longer.”

“Can I ask what you’re unsure about?”

“Huh?”

“Being unsure…does that mean you’re considering staying in the secular world?”

“I’m not interested in the court. But…”

“Because you’re here, Silvio. That’s why I find it so hard to leave. If I step through the gates of the convent again, this time I’ll never see you again. Thinking that makes me keep delaying my decision…”

As she struggled with how to respond, she lifted her face and saw Silvio staring at her. His intense gaze made her nervous.

“…Unexpectedly, I ended up working by your side, and I find it enjoyable. I’m happy to be of help to you…”

Hearing her hesitant answer, Silvio clenched his fists as if struggling to hold something back.

“Don’t say things like that.”

“Why?”

“Don’t test my self-control.”

“Self-control?” She didn’t understand. He had been keeping his distance, acting more formal than ever, avoiding being alone with her even though their time together was running out. How could saying that being by his side was enjoyable test his self-control?

“Please don’t say strange things.” She stood up, her heart in turmoil, and tried to leave. He grabbed her wrist, his grip strong and determined.

“What’s wrong? You know how I feel, don’t you?”

“…Feelings?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. My feelings haven’t changed since the day we first met.”

“Stop it…” She begged him not to confuse her anymore. His words swayed her so easily, threatening to undo her resolve. She resisted his grip.

“You said you had no intention of marrying anyone…”

“You heard that? It was a misunderstanding—”

“Let go of me…!”

“Listen to me, Idyllia…”

“Let go!”

“I said I have no intention of marrying anyone else but you!”

“────…”

Idyllia’s eyes widened, and Silvio nodded.

“If I were to marry, it would be you.” He reiterated, looking at her with a pained, earnest gaze.

“But I—I’m ashamed of what I’ve done. I couldn’t trust you completely, and there were times I held you violently. I don’t deserve forgiveness.” He released her hand and looked up at the sky.

“I don’t know how to atone for my actions.”

“Please stop,” Idyllia shook her head frantically. “There’s no need to punish yourself.”

“But you… You never opened your heart to me while I was mistreating you. At first, I thought it was because you were under your sister’s influence, but it wasn’t that, was it? I must have hurt you terribly. Is that why?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then what is it?”

“I… I thought of it as a punishment for myself…”

“Punishment?” He echoed, not understanding. Idyllia nodded earnestly.

“When my sister demanded that I go to you, it wasn’t just because I was coerced. In the end, I chose it myself.”

She had felt that suffering awaited her and had chosen that path over a peaceful life.

“I couldn’t forgive myself for what happened five years ago. I wanted you to hate me and make me suffer.”

“…What?”

“I needed to be punished. No matter how hard I tried to atone, your parents would never come back…”

Tears flowed as regret overwhelmed her. Silvio, looking panicked, reached out to her.

“Idyllia…”

“Your mother was so kind. She accepted me immediately, looked after me… And yet, I was involved in the plot that led to her death…”

“Idyllia, stop!” He embraced her impulsively, but she continued her confession.

“Five years ago, when I thought you had died too, I decided to spend my life atoning for it.”

She had resolved to never seek happiness, to live in a way that honoured Silvio and the Fontana family, whose lives had been taken cruelly and unjustly.

“I can’t allow myself to be happy…”

“I said stop it!” His fierce shout interrupted her self-reproach.

“Don’t think that way.” His large hand stroked her back soothingly, calming her turbulent emotions. After a while, he spoke again.

“As the surviving heir, I have responsibilities. To reconcile with the Leveaux family and rebuild the Fontana family—that’s my mission. I’ve only recently come to see it that way.”

“Silvio…”

“At first, I was consumed by the desire for revenge,” he admitted. “After securing the truce, I planned to slowly bring about the downfall of the Leveaux family.”

“But spending time with you changed my mind. I wanted to move forward, to be with you and find happiness for both of us. Yet, I was always plagued by the guilt of betraying my lost family by being with the daughter of the Leveaux family.”

“Silvio…”

He held her tightly as she tried to pull away.

“When I heard there were many survivors from the Fontana family—and that you had saved them—I can’t tell you how happy I was.”

“────…”