Only a few days remained before their planned move to Silverstel.
When they had first arrived at Vent Castle, they had brought only one large bag — a few of Denian's clothes and some basic belongings.
But now, after three years of living there, Yuliana realized there was much more to pack.
As she folded Denian's clothes, her gaze drifted to the window.
The cold winter had passed, and the land was now touched by spring winds. Tiny buds were sprouting across the earth.
She remembered — it had also been winter when she first entered this castle.
From that day on, there had never been a single moment of comfort.
Life here had always felt like wearing clothes that didn't fit — awkward, stifling, and heavy.
Yet, the halls of this castle were filled with traces of Denian's childhood — his first, second, and third years of life.
Yuliana smiled faintly and gently touched one of the tiny outfits Denian had worn as a baby.
'Maybe, at last, the long winter is ending. Maybe spring is finally coming — a spring where Denian and I can dream of happiness.'
Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed Denian's gloomy face.
"Denian," she asked softly, "is something bothering you?"
Unlike her excitement about leaving Vent Castle, Denian's expression was full of quiet displeasure.
He wasn't a child who easily showed annoyance, which made Yuliana even more worried.
Lowering herself to his eye level, she placed her hands gently on his small shoulders.
"Won't you tell Mommy what's wrong?"
Denian hesitated, chewing his lip before mumbling, his eyes lowered.
"You said he'd come back after a hundred nights…"
"Hm…?"
At first, she didn't understand, but then realization struck — he was talking about Kallian.
He remembered what she had said to comfort him — the vague promise that Kallian would return after a hundred nights.
Struggling to find the right words, she began awkwardly, "Denian, that's…"
"What if Uncle Kal can't find us?"
"…"
"He doesn't know where we're going."
They had only spent less than a week together, but Denian had clearly grown very attached to Kallian.
Lloyd had always been busy with imperial affairs, and with no children his age around, it was natural that Denian had warmed up to the man who played with him so freely.
And maybe it was because they shared the same black hair…
'He doesn't even know Kallian is his father,' she thought, her chest tightening painfully.
She pulled her son into her arms, stroking his back gently.
"Denian, when we move to the city, you'll make new friends your age."
She forced a small smile, trying to sound cheerful.
"And once you start playing with your friends, you'll forget about Uncle Kal soon enough."
But that wasn't what Denian wanted to hear. His eyes filled with tears.
"You said he'd come back after a hundred nights…"
"Denian…"
"He said he'd teach me to ride a horse and make me a wooden sword…"
A pang of frustration pierced Yuliana's heart.
'Why did Kallian make promises like that — ones he could never keep?'
He had no right to leave the child with such hope.
As she sighed, Denian's trembling voice cut through her thoughts.
"Did Uncle Kal run away because I'm a monster…?"
"What…?"
Yuliana's eyes widened in shock.
"What are you saying, Denian? You're not a monster."
"You always told me to be careful… but I got scared that time and it came out…"
He was talking about the moment when the fiery and shadow energies had flared from his body before Kallian.
"Denian knows… I'm a monster. That's why my dad left us, right?"
Tears streamed down his round cheeks as he spoke.
Yuliana froze, devastated.
She had never imagined her child carried such thoughts inside his small heart.
Her chest felt like it was being torn apart as she looked at him — trembling like a frightened bird.
'What kind of feelings have you been hiding, my sweet boy? What kind of thoughts have been growing inside that tiny head?'
He was so young — only four — and had never once complained about not having a father. She had never guessed he blamed himself.
The realization crushed her.
'I should have seen it. I should have known how heavy that absence felt for him.'
Overcome with guilt, her lips trembled as tears welled in her eyes.
"No, Denian… that's not true…"
'You're a blessing, my precious child.'
'When you took your first breath, when your tiny eyes met mine — light returned to my world.'
'For you, I could give even my worthless life. You are the most beautiful, precious gift I could ever ask for.'
'Who could ever dare call you a monster?'
Her heart ached unbearably.
To hear her four-year-old son call himself a monster — it felt like the sky itself was collapsing.
She wanted to say so much, to tell him countless reasons why it wasn't true — but all she could do was whisper, over and over, "It's not true…" as sobs shook her voice.
Denian looked at her through teary eyes and muttered,
"Liar…"
Then he turned and ran out of the room.
"Ah…!"
Yuliana tried to stand and follow, but her legs gave out beneath her, and she sank to the floor.
A maid who had just entered quickly rushed to her side.
"My lady."
Barely able to speak, Yuliana gasped, "Please… check on Denian."
"Yes, my lady."
The maid bowed quickly and hurried after the boy.
Left alone, Yuliana buried her face in her hands and began to weep.
'I never wanted to hurt him. I only wanted him to grow up loved — to feel safe.'
Tears blurred her vision as her chest tightened painfully.
'Where did it all go wrong…?'
'Was it when I decided to run from you?'
'No… I don't regret that. I already know what would've happened to us if I had stayed by your side.'
She wiped her tears, staring blankly out the window.
'Perhaps both Denian and I need time to prepare — to face our own spring.'
Layla hurried after Kallian, who was striding out of the mansion.
"Kallian! Where are you going?" she cried.
Kallian turned his head slightly, his tone calm but cold.
"I'm going to bring Yuliana back."
Layla froze in shock.
"Does that mean… your memories have returned?"
"Why? Do you have something to feel guilty about?"
His voice was sharp and icy, making her bite her lip.
"The vassal meeting is soon," she said anxiously.
"I'll be back before then."
With that, he stepped into the carriage without another word.
Layla could no longer stop him.
If his memory had returned, all her lies would soon be exposed.
But the truth was, Kallian's memories were still incomplete.
Even so, from the notes his past self had written — and from the worn photograph he had held so many times — he already knew enough.
Or rather, his heart knew.
'She's the one. The woman I loved.'
How they had fallen in love — he, the lord of Valdormer, and she, the daughter of his sworn enemy — no longer mattered.
Everything suddenly made sense.
'That's why she felt so familiar. That's why I was drawn to her.'
Though their marriage had lasted only half a year, the realization filled him with overwhelming emotion.
'Even if I don't remember, I must have loved you deeply. That's why even now, without those memories, my heart tightens whenever I think of you.'
Kallian clenched his trembling hands into fists.
And then — Denian.
His heartbeat quickened wildly.
The thought that had only been a guess now felt dangerously close to the truth.
'That child… must be mine.'
He would confirm it face-to-face — every truth, every hidden memory.
With his heart burning and trembling with anticipation, Kallian set off toward Vent Castle.