Lying in bed beside Denian, I gently patted his shoulder while lost in thought.
Kallian's tearful words kept echoing in my head.
"I went back in time again and again… dozens of times… just to save you."
At first, I thought it was ridiculous.
Kallian—a regressor?
But I myself had returned eleven times.
And since Lloyd also remembered his previous life, there was no guarantee I was the only one who had regressed.
Even so, even if what Kallian said was true, I had no intention of going with him.
If his words were true, then he had watched Denian die in previous lives while remembering everything.
The Kallian who adored Denian was the one who didn't remember the past.
From his speech and behavior, it was clear he hadn't remembered either his past life or even his memories with me in this life until recently.
He had only just regained everything.
How could I fully trust a man like that with Denian?
It seemed Kallian had expected my reaction.
"I know it's hard to trust me… I could kidnap you and Denian by force if I wanted. But I don't want to be controlling anymore under the excuse of protecting you."
As he said that, his face twisted in pain.
As if he had already seen that ending before.
"So I'll beg you like this. Take Denian and run immediately…"
His desperate plea didn't feel completely like a lie.
There had to be a reason he was begging like that.
I couldn't believe him entirely—but as a mother, my instincts told me he wasn't lying.
My instincts told me to leave the imperial palace.
So, to the man kneeling and begging, I agreed.
It was painful to see him acting so unlike the Kallian I knew.
And honestly… I also felt uneasy about the Emperor.
I gently brushed the bandage on Denian's forehead.
Then, though I thought he was asleep, Denian whispered softly.
"Um… you know…"
I looked at him in surprise. He fidgeted with his fingers.
"I actually saw everything…"
"What did you see?"
He hesitated, then whispered,
"Uncle Kal appeared like a hero from a storybook and saved me and Mom."
I thought he had fainted immediately from the fall—but apparently he had seen Kallian.
At that time, I had been so focused on protecting Denian that I barely noticed Kallian's arrival.
Denian continued softly,
"But when I opened my eyes, I was in bed… and Uncle wasn't there."
His discouraged voice made me press my lips together.
"He really saved us, right?"
I gently stroked his forehead and carefully kissed his injured brow.
"Yes."
Denian's face brightened instantly.
Then, shyly glancing at me, he said,
"I want to say thank you to Uncle…"
It would be alright to let him say thank you.
After all, Kallian had gotten hurt saving us.
Suddenly, I remembered him crying while holding my hand. I stiffened.
Pushing those thoughts away, I answered calmly,
"When morning comes."
Denian smiled widely and hugged me.
Holding him close, I smiled bitterly.
"So for now, go to sleep."
"Okay—"
Soon, he fell asleep.
Looking at him, I turned my gaze toward the quiet moonlit palace night.
It was unusually silent.
The Next Morning
I stopped Lloyd, who was about to go meet the Emperor.
"Can we talk for a moment? Just briefly."
Surprised, Lloyd smiled.
"Of course."
In a nearby sitting room, I carefully asked,
"Can we move up our return to Silverstel?"
I wanted to keep my promise to Kallian.
His desperation didn't seem fake.
And he had risked his life for me and Denian.
That didn't mean my heart had forgotten the past.
But he didn't seem to be lying.
Lloyd looked troubled.
"We're returning in three days anyway."
I had expected that.
"After yesterday's incident, I'm not feeling well."
The doctor had said my injuries were minor—but after-effects were possible.
Lloyd had carried me when I fainted.
He nodded heavily.
"Alright. I'll request it when I meet His Majesty."
Relief washed over me.
Perhaps I also didn't want to clash with Kallian anymore.
And regardless of the Emperor and Empress's kindness, I still felt uncomfortable in the palace.
I called a maid and began packing.
Meanwhile – Kallian
Kallian had recovered enough to move normally in just one day.
Those with special abilities healed faster than ordinary people.
His head had been injured, but the rest were minor wounds.
He dressed carefully, even putting on a neat coat.
He might see Yuliana.
Since she always kept her promises, she might leave today.
Before that, he wanted to see her and Denian—even from afar.
Just then, a Valdormer knight burst in.
"Kallian-nim! An urgent message from the main Valdormer estate!"
The letter bore his father Darkin's seal.
Kallian opened it—and his face hardened.
Heister had attacked Valdormer without any declaration of war.
Based on timing, the border might already be breached.
So suddenly?
Had they waited for him to leave?
He thought of his recent clash with Cesar of Heister.
Cesar, the future head of Heister.
Perhaps this was his doing.
"Where is Cesar?" Kallian asked.
"The Heister heir and his wife left the imperial palace yesterday."
"Damn it!"
Kallian slammed the table.
War with Heister had been inevitable.
But this sudden attack—
And in every past life, Heister had always been deeply involved in Yuliana and Denian's deaths.
He had destroyed Heister multiple times in previous lives.
Yet in the end, the imperial family always killed Yuliana.
But this time would be different.
He had finally found a clue to oppose the Emperor.
And to unlock that clue, he needed Heister.
"I'm returning to Valdormer immediately."
He had to move before the main forces collapsed.
As he hurried toward his carriage—
His eyes froze.
Yuliana and Denian were walking toward him.
Time seemed to stop.
Denian ran ahead.
"Uncle!"
Kallian came back to his senses.
Seeing Denian with a bandage on his forehead darkened his expression.
Not noticing, Denian bowed politely.
"Thank you for helping us! Mom said we must thank people who help us!"
Kallian gently patted his head and bent down to his level.
"Yes. Good boy."
He looked at Denian for a long time.
Then Yuliana stepped forward.
"Are you leaving today?"
He stood and faced her.
"Please… don't forget the promise you made."
She pressed down the strange pounding in her chest.
"I don't fully trust you… but this time, I'll believe you."
That seemed enough.
"That's all I need."
His gentle smile—so unlike him—made her feel strangely uneasy.