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Chapter 04
The Way to Win Back a Childhood Friend’s Heart
I still think about it.
If I had thrown away my polite letters and instead taken a ship to meet you directly, would something have been different?
“What is this?”
“As you can see, it is a royal death notice.”
It takes at least five days for a letter to arrive there. And at least the same amount of time for a reply to come back.
Considering the timing, he planned to wait just two weeks. If there was still no answer by then, he would take leave— even if it was improper—and rush to the Kingdom of Benzel to see Fey.
Until Marquis Elias Igniel, his father, suddenly called him, Dante believed today would be just another normal day.
Until his father handed him a black envelope stamped with the royal seal.
Why did he call him instead of his elder brother, the next head of the family? Dante tried to suppress the rising sense of unease spreading through his body.
“Whose… death notice is this?”
Seeing his usually loud and confident father struggle to speak, Dante immediately lost all his calm.
He snatched the letter from Elias’s hand. His hands trembled violently as he read it.
“That can’t be true.”
“Dante.”
“That’s impossible. Why Fey—”
“She is a princess. Show proper respect.”
“But how can this make sense, Father?”
Fey is dead.
The cold wording of the royal letter felt completely unreal. Dante thought of Fey’s letters still carefully kept in his desk drawer.
“Just a week ago, she sent me a letter saying she was well! So why—!”
As Dante shouted in despair, Elias looked at him with a bitter expression.
“…No one knows what will happen in life.”
“Even so!”
“Anyway, the royal family will enshrine her and hold the funeral three days later. The family will need to attend— Dante!”
Before Elias could finish speaking, Dante ran out of the office.
Leaving behind the shocked servants, he headed straight for the stable and mounted his horse, riding toward the royal palace.
His neatly styled golden hair was whipped wildly by the wind.
It can’t be.
Even if it was his duty, it would be a lie to say he never worried about her living in a foreign country.
Even if it was considered improper, he had sent small gifts and letters. That was why.
Call it meddling if you want. He didn’t care if she thought it was unnecessary worry.
“Hey, aren’t you Sir Dante? You cannot enter the palace right now—!”
The moment he reached the palace gates, Dante got off his horse and rushed inside through the slightly open entrance.
Ignoring the confused guards, he ran toward the stone coffin storage hall in the western part of the palace.
“Wait! You can’t go in like that!”
“Stop him!”
“Ugh, what kind of strength is this…!”
As a longtime friend and servant of the kingdom, that was all he could do.
But how—
“…Fey.”
How could you return like this?
He broke through the soldiers trying to stop him with almost inhuman strength and finally reached the center of the storage hall.
Creak.
The coffin lid opened.
Inside, on a sheet of pure white cloth, lay a woman.
Dante softly called her name.
There was no response.
She wore a white funeral robe, her face more mature than he remembered. As he looked at her peaceful expression, his strength left his legs.
Thud.
He collapsed to his knees and stared at her face endlessly.
Soldiers surrounded him, not to restrain him, but to block the area tightly.
Footsteps came from behind.
“What is all this commotion about?”
“Dante!”
He slowly turned his head.
Familiar faces stood at the entrance.
Julio, standing beside Fabian, quickly walked toward him in shock.
“…Brother.”
“So you heard the news.”
“Fey won’t wake up. This can’t be happening…”
Julio clicked his tongue as he looked into the open coffin. He had expected Dante’s reaction, but this was beyond anything he imagined.
Where was the calm, composed younger brother known for his devotion?
His messy hair, unfocused eyes, and trembling hands clinging to his arm made him look like a lost child.
“I told them not to let anyone in.”
“I’m sorry. They resisted more than expected…”
“Enough. The blame is not on you.”
Fabian waved the soldier away and approached.
Dante looked up at him.
“Her body…”
“What?”
“There are bruises on her arms. Scars on her calves. Her ankle is slightly twisted.”
Dante spoke slowly, as if carefully tasting each word. His eyes grew sharper.
“What is the cause of death of the princess?”
“They said it was an accident.”
“What exactly kind of accident?”
Fabian did not answer.
Dante continued, agitated but firm.
“This needs a proper investigation. There must be a conspiracy. Otherwise, how could something like this—”
“Are you going to repeat that nonsense again?”
“It wasn’t nonsense last time either!”
“You’re jumping to conclusions. It was just an unfortunate coincidence.”
At that, Dante’s eyes flared.
If Julio had not held him back, he might have struck Fabian.
Julio quickly intervened.
“Your Highness, please stop. This is in front of Princess Fey.”
“Even you are going to lecture me, Julio?”
“Yes. If you continue, I will truly get angry.”
Unlike his usual easygoing tone, his firm warning silenced Fabian.
Julio patted Dante’s shoulder and stood.
“As her old friend, I beg you. Please give my brother time.”
“Time?”
“Time to grieve and accept the princess’s death.”
Fabian gave a cold laugh.
“This is a royal matter. Do you think outsiders should interfere?”
His voice turned sharp.
“People might misunderstand. A holy knight sworn to God… and a princess who is already ‘married.’ How interesting the rumors will be.”
Julio looked at him calmly.
Fabian clicked his tongue.
“Fine. Until the funeral. After that, step back.”
“…Understood.”
“Your sister is truly fortunate to have such a loyal servant.”
Fabian turned and left the hall.
Dante stared at the coffin for a moment, then slowly closed its lid.
Three days later.
Dante stayed beside the stone coffin like a guard dog protecting its master.
He hadn’t tried not to sleep, but his mind remained strangely clear.
After tonight, the funeral would take place. And after that, Fey would truly be gone forever.
Leaning against the coffin, Dante looked up at the ceiling.
“Fey.”
He hadn’t spoken her name like this since becoming an adult.
Funny. He ignored her when she used to call him, but now only after her death could he say it.
What a useless thing etiquette was, to make her feel so distant.
“…Do you still remember the game we used to play when we were children?”
