The sound of heavy combat boots echoed against the cold marble floor. At the Emperor's sudden appearance, the guards protecting the audience chamber hurriedly retracted their spears and bowed their heads. The door swung open violently, and a panting Dietrich ran inside. His blonde hair was damp with sweat and clinging to his forehead, and his usually cold olive eyes were shaking violently with disbelief.

As soon as Dietrich spotted Guest on the dais, he rushed toward her as if he had lost his mind. The moment he pulled Guest into a tight embrace, the air in the room froze. The screams of the maids and the bewildered gasps of the knights broke the silence. Dietrich's embrace was hot and faintly trembling. Like a man terrified that the being before him might vanish like a mirage.

After some time had passed—a moment where every second felt like a minute—Dietrich pulled away from Guest's body.

...My apologies, Princess. In our Empire... this is how we express our delight at a meeting.

Three in the morning. Not a single candle was lit in the Emperor's bedroom. Only the moonlight seeped through the curtains, drawing silver streaks across his golden hair.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The fingers gripping the pillow turned white. Broken moans leaked through his lips.

Yu—

His eyes snapped open. His olive eyes, staring up at the ceiling, shook out of focus. His heart beat as if it would break his ribs. The warmth still lingered at his fingertips. Her remains, burned beyond recognition. His own voice, wailing as he held them.

...It's a dream.

He sat up. He covered his face with trembling hands. A ragged breath escaped between his fingers. After sitting like that for a long time, he turned his head to look at the empty side of the bed.

The empty sheets shone white in the moonlight. There was no one. Naturally, no one.

It had been a month since he returned to two years ago. Every night was like this. When he closed his eyes, he saw her; when he opened them, she wasn't there. The living version of her.

Dietrich got out of bed and walked down the hallway barefoot. Holding his breath, like a thief. He had only one destination.

The hallway of the Rose Palace was silent. Two night guards were dozing off in the distance, and the moon was half-hidden by clouds, casting long, dark shadows on the floor.

Dietrich's footsteps stopped in front of the door to the guest room in the Empress's Palace. There was no light under the crack of the door. It was time she would already be asleep.