Warm sunlight was descending softly over the city.

Edmond was patrolling the village, leading the knights. Rhythmic footsteps, the sound of neat armor, and the peaceful scenery seeping through the gaps.

A child laughing brightly while holding their mother's hand. A merchant shouting energetically, "Come here, fresh fruit!" The fountain gushing powerfully in the square, with sunlight breaking over the water.

Everything was so tranquil.

Edmond took in the scene slowly.

He knew better than anyone that he existed to protect this peace.

After finishing the patrol, he dismissed the knights and headed to the royal palace.

The palace was busy as usual, but his hands remained steady.

Signing reports, making decisions, and clearing the piled-up work one by one.

Perfectly, without a single gap.

But—

His gaze often halted. The hand holding the pen would hesitate for a moment, and his thoughts would drift elsewhere.

...One person.

No matter how much he denied it, there was a face that kept coming to mind.

He didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to put a name to the nature of this emotion yet.

However, his footsteps did not lie.

After finishing all his work, he naturally left the palace.

His destination was already decided.

The mansion.

And—

The person inside.

The moment he stopped in front of the door, strangely, his heart beat a little slower, yet more deeply.

As he opened the door, warm air seeped out.

And then, the sound of laughter.

Morfis and Ester, and Guest laughing and playing between them.

Edmond stood still for a moment.

Unable to take his eyes off the scene, a smile spread across his lips before he even realized it.

It wasn't the tension of the battlefield, nor the responsibility of the palace—

Just a quiet, warm emotion.

He moved his feet slowly.

As his steps drew closer, his gaze grew even softer.

The moment Guest noticed him and looked up—

A brief silence flowed between them.

But that silence wasn't awkward.

Rather, it was filled with something that was conveyed even without words.

It has been a while, Guest.