Was it just my imagination?
I thought I saw something strange in Raizen’s expression when I spoke.
Like the kind of look someone makes when they’re barely holding back laughter…
But the moment I blinked, Raizen’s face returned to its usual, unreadable blankness.
Then he reached out into the air.
A set of clothes appeared in his once-empty hand.
Without a word, he handed them to me.
A white shirt and pants.
Not exactly noble attire for going out, but it was the kind of style you often saw on Crete Island.
I stared at the clothes he handed me for a moment, then turned around.
That instant, I felt something unfold behind me.
When I glanced back, there was a white curtain—something you’d normally only see in a boutique fitting room.
“……”
A gesture that was, arguably, just basic courtesy.
And yet, the fact that it came from Raizen made it feel oddly unsettling.
Because Raizen… wasn’t someone who offered kindness without expecting something in return.
Was this another calculated move to get what he wanted from me?
The clothes too. I’d assumed—perhaps unconsciously—that he’d give me something classically noble in style.
The kind of outfits I used to wear back at the palace.
But instead, he gave me clothes like those worn by the people of Crete Island.
‘Does that mean… he doesn’t plan to force me to come with him?’
Or was this also just part of his game?
But to what end?
I had nothing left to give him.
From the start, the only thing useful about me was my divine power, and he didn’t even need that anymore.
Or… maybe he just wanted to keep me around as a spare, in case something unexpected came up.
As those thoughts spun through my head, a wave of emptiness and self-loathing crashed in.
‘What the hell am I even doing?’
Beating the drum and cymbals all by myself.
Making guesses and assumptions, then drawing conclusions based on nothing.
Had any of it actually meant anything?
Shaking my head, I started getting dressed.
Once I was dressed and drew the curtain aside, Raizen had changed as well.
He was now wearing the outfit he usually wore as the master of the Ruin Guild.
He glanced at me briefly before turning toward the door.
He could have just turned the knob and opened it, but instead, he stood there silently in front of it for a moment.
‘What’s going through his head?’
Unable to shake the curiosity and growing nervousness, I stepped closer.
Raizen glanced at me and gave a faint smile.
It was… different from the smiles he usually wore.
Not that charming, carefully constructed noble smile designed to hide his real intent.
This one felt more like the kind of smile someone wears when they’ve accepted something.
Like they’ve lost, or finally let something go.
And it was… the most human expression I’d ever seen on Raizen’s face.
“Just a moment.”
He murmured softly, placing his hand on the door.
In that instant, a dark red magic circle appeared on the door and began to glow intensely.
Sparks crackled around its edges, almost as if rejecting his touch with violent resistance.
‘He’s undoing a spell…?’
Seeing him dismantle a spell before opening the door gave me a rough idea of what it had been.
Most likely, a barrier to keep anyone—perhaps even himself—from leaving this room.
‘Was he really planning to stay here with me forever?’
It was absurd.
And terrifying, too—how he’d acted on such a ridiculous thought.
And yet… it didn’t feel horrifying.
The fact that part of me was glad—that was what scared me most of all.
‘Then why isn’t this love?’
I bit my lower lip without realizing it, frustration welling up.
He acts that way, and yet insists it’s not love?
‘Do you really think it’s not love?’
The question rose from deep within me.
I reflexively shut my eyes tight and shook my head lightly.
‘No. No, it’s not.’
Raizen had kissed someone he didn’t even like.
He was the kind of person who could do that if it served a purpose.
I couldn’t afford to let myself misunderstand.
If I let myself believe, if I started expecting things again… I’d end up with wounds I’d never be able to heal.
Cutting off the spiraling thoughts, I opened my eyes again.
The magic circle on the door had vanished—probably meaning the spell had been lifted.
At last, Raizen opened the door.
With one hand still on the doorknob, he looked back at me.
“If you step out of this room… you’ll be able to return to where you came from.”
Instead of replying or nodding, I simply looked at him.
My complexion had improved—probably thanks to making it through the rut cycle.
‘But then why did you look so worn out back at the café?’
A question I thought I’d put to rest began to stir again.
The room had been far too bleak to be a space meant for riding out rut cycles with an omega.
The walls bore marks of someone who had been enduring something alone.
Even after the rut ended, nothing had been prepared outside.
There were no servants in sight.
A noble Alpha of dominant status would never go through their rut like this.
Even if they weren’t of dominant lineage, a noble heir’s rut was a crucial matter for the family.
It was always managed carefully—sometimes even obsessively—because it was a chance to ensure an heir.
But the only heir to the Ducal House of Pantheon went through his rut like this?
[That lunatic… I swear, he just endured it every single time!]
At last, Sori’s words—the ones I had tried to forget—came back to me.
“Sei?”
When I stayed silent, Raizen quietly called my name.
I stared at him, unable to say anything.
‘Did you really endure it every time? Why? Was it really… triggered by my pheromones?’
Had he been waiting for me?
Longing for me so much that even my faint pheromones could trigger his rut?
I wanted to ask.
And yet, at the same time, I didn’t.
Because even if he answered, I might not be able to believe him.
But if I didn’t ask, I’d keep suffering from wondering. I’d want to believe him, even if I couldn’t.
Still… I couldn’t let things end like this between us.
I knew I’d never have the courage again if I let this moment pass.
“Then… are you coming to Crete Island too?”
I hesitated, but managed to ask.
Though, somehow it came out sounding accusatory.
I hurried to add on.
“No, I mean… are you still going to show up as the guild master of Luin? Are you still going to come find me?”
Now it sounded even more like I was picking a fight.
I sighed and covered my face.
“I’m not trying to fight, really. I’m seriously just asking.”
As if to offer reassurance, Raizen finally replied.
“The contract’s over.”
His voice was flat—like he was simply stating a fact.
Strangely enough, I felt like my heart had dropped to the floor.
‘Yeah… it’s over.’
I had said those words myself.
But hearing Raizen say them—it still hurt.
‘Let’s just go home.’
I told myself that, just as I took a step forward.
“But you’re not going to give up on those kids.”
Raizen spoke again.
“You’ll keep checking to see if they’re okay, if they’re in danger. And if anything seems off, you’ll jump right in.”
“……”
“The master of Ruin Guild is also very interested in that case. He thinks the temple’s been using the orphanage as a front to carry out some secret agenda. He’s got… quite a bit of resentment toward the temple, you see.”
He said it—about himself—as if he were someone else entirely.
‘Resentment toward the temple…’
“Yeah, I don’t have a small amount of that, either.”
“Oh, really? Honestly, what I want too is to uncover what kind of scheme the temple is hiding.”
I didn’t know why I felt like laughing.
When I was with Raizen, my feelings shifted constantly, without warning.
I still couldn’t forgive him for deceiving me by using my feelings for him.
Every time I faced him, it stung.
I couldn’t trust him, and the thought that he might have another agenda wouldn’t leave me.
And yet—I couldn’t bring myself to walk away.
I liked him but also hated him.
I wanted distance but also to stay close.
He was infuriating but also pitiable.
Conflicting emotions boiled over inside me.
With a feeling of resignation, I let out a small laugh.
“Well, I guess we don’t have a choice.”
“…”
“We’ll just have to form another contract.”
