Rain quietly poured outside the palace windows.
Soft.
Steady.
Cold.
Sabrina stood silently near the balcony while staring at the dark skies above the kingdom.
Something about rainy days always made her uneasy now.
Because in her previous life—
Disasters always seemed to begin during the rain.
Behind her, several maids quietly prepared tea while the atmosphere inside the room remained calm.
Too calm.
Sabrina slowly tightened her fingers against the balcony railing.
Because she remembered.
This was around the time it started.
The enemy kingdom beyond the northern border.
The sudden attacks.
The missing military supplies.
The nobles secretly selling information.
And eventually—
The war that destroyed everything.
Her chest tightened faintly.
She remembered the reports Alexander used to receive late at night.
The exhaustion hidden behind his eyes.
The injuries he never spoke about.
Back then—
She never paid attention.
Because she was too busy following Charles.
Too blind to notice Alexander was carrying the entire kingdom alone.
Guilt quietly settled inside her chest again.
"...Princess?"
Sabrina blinked slightly before turning around.
Alexander stood near the doorway wearing his black military uniform, rainwater still faintly visible near his gloves and shoulders.
As always—
He looked composed.
Calm.
Untouchable.
But Sabrina noticed the exhaustion hidden beneath his crimson eyes immediately.
"You just returned?" she asked softly.
Alexander nodded once.
"There was an emergency council meeting."
His voice remained steady.
But Sabrina noticed it.
The slight tension in his shoulders.
Something happened.
Immediately—
Her memories began resurfacing again.
In the previous timeline—
Around this exact time—
The northern fortress was attacked unexpectedly.
Because someone leaked the kingdom's military routes.
Sabrina's heartbeat quietly became uneven.
No...
It starts now.
Alexander walked closer before placing several documents carefully onto the table.
"The northern border has become unstable recently," he explained calmly. "Several supply routes were attacked during the past few weeks."
Exactly like before.
Sabrina slowly lowered her gaze.
She remembered this.
At first, everyone believed it was simple bandit activity.
But it wasn't.
It was preparation for war.
And hidden among the nobles—
Traitors already existed.
Alexander quietly studied her expression.
"...Princess?"
Sabrina immediately looked up slightly.
Alexander hesitated briefly.
Then softly—
"You look pale."
Concern again.
Always concern first.
Even while carrying the kingdom on his shoulders—
He still worried about her first.
Sabrina forced a small smile.
"...I'm alright."
Alexander clearly didn't believe her.
But before he could speak again—
A servant suddenly entered the room hurriedly.
"Your Highness! Your Grace!"
The servant bowed deeply while looking nervous.
"A merchant caravan from the northern border has arrived requesting emergency audience."
Alexander's expression sharpened immediately.
"Bring them in."
The servant nodded quickly before leaving.
Moments later—
Three exhausted merchants entered the room wearing soaked cloaks covered in mud.
One of them immediately dropped to his knees.
"Your Grace... the northern roads are no longer safe."
Alexander's crimson eyes darkened slightly.
"What happened?"
The merchant swallowed nervously.
"We were attacked again."
Again.
Sabrina's fingers slowly curled tighter.
The merchant continued shakily.
"But this time... they weren't ordinary thieves."
Alexander immediately noticed the wording.
"...Explain."
The merchant lowered his voice slightly.
"They moved like trained soldiers."
Silence filled the room instantly.
Even the rain outside suddenly felt louder.
Alexander's expression became colder.
Dangerously colder.
Sabrina felt her chest tighten.
Because she remembered this exact moment.
The beginning of everything.
In the previous timeline—
No one reacted quickly enough.
And because of that—
Thousands died later.
Alexander quietly asked several more questions while Sabrina listened silently nearby.
Every answer matched her memories perfectly.
Supply routes.
Ambushes.
Disappearing patrol units.
Someone was feeding information outside the kingdom already.
And Sabrina knew exactly where it eventually led.
Charles.
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Not yet.
But soon.
Very soon.
Meanwhile—
Alexander noticed Sabrina becoming strangely quiet again.
Too quiet.
After the merchants finally left—
Alexander turned toward her carefully.
"...Princess."
Sabrina slowly looked up.
Alexander hesitated briefly.
Then softly asked—
"Did something frighten you?"
The question almost shattered her heart.
Because even now—
He still thought about her emotions first.
Sabrina stared at him silently for several seconds.
Then suddenly asked—
"...If war happens again... will you go to the battlefield?"
Alexander froze slightly.
The room became quiet.
Rain echoed softly outside.
Then calmly—
"Yes."
No hesitation.
None at all.
Because protecting the kingdom was natural to him.
Sabrina's chest tightened painfully.
Because she remembered what happened to him during the war.
The injuries.
The sleepless nights.
The blood.
And eventually—
The dungeon.
Without realizing it—
She suddenly grabbed his sleeve tightly.
Alexander looked visibly surprised.
Sabrina lowered her head slightly.
"...Don't die."
The words slipped out quietly.
Broken.
Fearful.
Alexander froze completely.
Sabrina immediately realized what she said and looked away quickly.
"I-I mean during the war—"
Before she could continue—
Alexander gently placed his hand over hers.
Warm.
Steady.
"...I won't."
Soft.
Certain.
As though he truly meant it.
Sabrina slowly looked up toward him again.
And for one painful moment—
She remembered another version of him.
Covered in chains.
Bleeding.
Smiling weakly while telling her not to cry.
Her eyes stung faintly.
No.
Not again.
This time—
She would protect him first.
Even if she had to change the entire future herself.
Meanwhile—
Outside the palace—
Far beyond the kingdom walls—
Several shadowed figures quietly stood inside the rain.
One man slowly lowered the hood covering his face.
Cold eyes.
A cruel smile.
Then quietly—
"The kingdom has started noticing."
Another figure spoke calmly.
"It doesn't matter."
A map of the kingdom rested across the table nearby.
And several noble family names were already marked in red ink.
Including—
Evermont.
The man smiled faintly.
"By the time they realize the truth..."
Lightning flashed violently outside.
"...It will already be too late."