With every step he took, breathing became harder. The air was chilling, yet it didn’t freeze his lungs. Instead, his feet burned, snow slipping into his boots, which were far too short for the deep pile of snow.

Draped in the thin cloth, Yusha shivered, fog escaping his mouth as he panted.

His steps came to a sudden halt when he spotted a strange figure standing at the end of the white path—near a narrow bridge.

Yusha tilted his head to the side, eyes narrowing as he tried to identify the person. The figure began heading his way.

Panicked, Yusha turned on his heels.

Why is he coming here?!

The thought echoed wildly in his mind.

"...!"

"Wait!"

Although he could hear the man’s voice, Yusha didn’t stop—at least, not until his own body betrayed him. He stumbled over the icy, hardened snow, falling harshly to the ground. His face slammed into the cold surface, his pale skin turning red immediately.

But his only concern was his stomach.

He managed to shield it just before the impact.

By the time he tried to push himself up, the person who had been following him had already caught up.

Without a word, a large pair of arms helped him to his feet.

Yusha looked up, dumbfounded.

Maybe this person didn’t mean any harm—nor was he someone working under Liam. Otherwise, he would have rushed to notify the count the moment he spotted him.

A sigh of relief slipped from the young elf’s lips.

"Do tell. Are you alright?" the man asked, lowering himself until he was eye to eye with Yusha, who was still seated on the ground.

Yusha nodded, almost embarrassed for having run away the instant he saw him—as if the man were a monster.

"But what are you doing here so early in the morning?" the man asked.

"I–I..." Yusha’s voice faltered. He lowered his gaze, fingers curling into the thin cloth draped around his shoulders.

The man studied him for a moment—too quietly. His eyes swept over Yusha’s trembling frame, the lack of proper clothing, the way he stood as if ready to bolt again.

"If you don’t want to say, then don’t," he said at last. His tone was calm—too calm. Maybe he was accustomed to seeing people such as Yusha. "But you shouldn’t stay out here. Not at this moment, at least. It’s snowing heavily."

Yusha hesitated.

"Why don’t you come with me?" the man continued, gesturing vaguely ahead. "I’m heading toward the capital. There’s shelter along the way."

Yusha frowned.

The offer felt... strange. Too convenient. Too quick.

Who would invite a stranger to follow them at dawn? A suspicious man appeared out of nowhere, offering warmth and help without asking anything in return.

Every instinct screamed at him to refuse.

But then—

Lord Liam.

The thought alone made his chest tighten. It wouldn’t take long before the count realized he was gone. When he noticed his absence, he would search. Every corner.

Perhaps out of love.

Or out of dread—that Yusha would birth the child without his permission.

He always did find him in the past, after all. Even when he wasn’t even hiding.

And if Yusha stayed here—alone, stuck in the snowstorm, unable to leave—he wouldn’t last long enough to escape.

Then he remembered.

Ren must still be at the capital. Not much time must have passed since he and Liam had left to defeat the rampaging dragon. Yusha didn’t recall it being defeated, but his presence here meant Liam had done his work. He would never compromise on that anyway.

His fingers trembled as he pressed a hand against his stomach.

"...I was heading there too," Yusha said quietly.

The man’s brows lifted slightly, unsure if he had heard properly.

"The capital?"

Yusha nodded.

"Yes." His word was carried away by a strong gust of wind, but the man heard it—clearer this time.

A pause followed. Brief—but oddly suffocating.

"Then we’re going the same way," the man grinned. "Name’s Hans," he introduced himself, standing up. He extended his hand.

Yusha looked at the hand extended his way, confused. However, he didn’t take it. Instead, he stood on his own, brushing the snow off his clothes and skin.

"My name is... Yusha."

Hans gave a short nod, turning toward the bridge ahead. "Come on. Before the snow gets worse."

Yusha stayed still for half a second—then followed.

Not because he trusted the man. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

But because staying meant certainly being captured by the master he had escaped.

They boarded a wagon bound for the capital as dawn slowly bled into the horizon. Yusha didn’t speak a single word during the journey, sitting stiffly at the far end of the seat, his hands folded in his lap as if holding himself together.

Though he already knew the stranger’s name, he avoided looking at him, afraid that even a glance might incite questions he didn’t want to answer.

Hans, however, talked endlessly. He spoke of the roads, the weather, the capital’s markets—words spilling from his mouth without pause.

At first, Yusha listened out of politeness. Then it became noise. Each word grated on his nerves, his jaw tightening as he stared out at the snow-covered road, reminding himself to stay calm.

By the time they reached the capital, his body ached from sitting for so long. Still, without hesitation, he headed straight for the palace.

Standing before the gates, surrounded by towering stone and armed guards, he felt small—smaller than he had in a long time.

Still, he gathered his courage and asked for Ren. The guards exchanged looks before delivering the answer that made his stomach sink.

"He had already left. With the Imperial General."

The words echoed in his head as he stepped away from the palace, his thoughts spiralling.

He is... gone. Was I gone for too long?

He wondered. After all, he was still unsure of how long it had been since he left the capital with Liam.

Just then, he saw Hans. The man stood near the gates, leaning casually as if he had been waiting all along.

Why is he there?... Weird...

Yusha thought.