In truth, Sikar Blake had never actually broken Vika Lamberst’s oath.

If Yura Blake were to see that Vika was still alive despite Sikar’s death, she would not believe he was truly gone—thus, he had no choice but to claim the oath had been broken.

Of course, if Sikar died while the oath remained active, Vika would have shared his fate—so he had attached the condition that the oath must be broken beforehand.

“In the end, you made a foolish choice. Stupid Duke.”

Vika clicked his tongue mockingly at Sikar, but the mockery didn’t last long.

“You won’t benefit from provoking my temper.”

“I only said it because it’s ridiculous you’d resolve to die over just one ordinary human.”

“You wouldn’t understand the pain in my heart at the mere thought of someone vanishing from this world.”

“In another sense, I might understand a little. I’d probably get a bit bored if you died. That idiot Durion would likely trail after me constantly, after all.”

“That aside, did you look into what I asked?”

“You mean the humans with black eyes?”

“Yes. With your eyes and ears that see and hear far, you should find them faster than I can.”

Vika tilted his head back with an amused expression, gazing at the sky.

“You’re right. And this time, I found something very interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“The very thing you’ve been searching for to the point of death—it’s right here.”

“The thing I’ve been searching for to the point of death…?”

Vika shrugged, looking deflated as he watched Sikar stare at him in confusion.

“We made our oath because of that thing. You really don’t remember?”

Sikar recalled the time he first met Vika. Then…

“Could you possibly mean the Ancient Resurrection Tome?”

“Yes. The thing is right here. But even if you had it, you couldn’t revive your parents now. They say corpses reduced to white bones cannot be brought back. But if you die, I could bring you back.”

“So where exactly is that thing now?”

“Hear me out to the end. If you die by the curse, I’ll bring you back—but only if you do something for me in return.”

“I didn’t realize you wanted everything from me, Vika.”

“Give me your power to command spirits.”

There was no trace of grand ambition in Vika’s eyes—he simply regarded that power as a fairly useful tool for protecting himself.

“You’re asking for our race’s innate ability?”

“Yes. With it, at least I’ll never be dragged around again by someone like you.”

But Sikar had no intention of passing on the Sitars’ innate power to Vika. And above all, even if the Ancient Resurrection Tome existed, he had no desire to be revived.

“Even if I died and came back to life, the curse wouldn’t vanish. And even if my curse disappeared, Yura would vanish as a result. So whether I live or die doesn’t matter at all. The only thing that truly matters is ensuring Yura remains here safely.”

“I thought that was useful information, but it turned out useless.”

“No. That information was quite useful.”

Sikar smiled toward Vika.

“I’ve learned something very good. Well done, Vika.”

Vika leaned back, glaring at Sikar with disgust.

“What’s with that expression? Don’t smile at me. It gives me chills when you do.”

“I need to find that thing. Where is it now?”

“What’s the point of finding something useless anyway?”

Sikar lifted the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.

“Did you forget? Valije’s corpse hasn’t decayed at all.”

Vika muttered, “This madman has finally gone even madder,” then laughed.

“That cute king will probably be pleased.”

“If Valije comes back to life, Yura won’t pressure me so much for treatment. Even if I’m not beside Kian Blake, his real father will be there. That way, I can stay longer beside Yura.”

Vika stared at Sikar with a face full of chills.

“You’re really… insane, aren’t you?”

“Duchess…”

Hersia let tears drop one after another, her face filled with deep embarrassment.

“To think of marriage just because it suits me, in this situation? It’s unthinkable, Duchess. How long has it been since the Duke passed away? To marry already? It’s impossible…”

Hersia pleaded with me, tears streaming down her face as if begging me to rescind the order.

“How immense the grief must be from losing a loved one… Even if I can’t fully imagine it, please allow me time to share this sorrow with you, Duchess. When you’ve truly become more at ease, then I’ll be the first to tell you my wedding news, alright?”

“We’ve shared enough sorrow already. I don’t want to make Hersia feel gloomy. The Duke wouldn’t have wanted that either.”

After all, Sikar had always wanted me to be spirited and strong.

He would have wished and hoped more for me to live as I did before, rather than drown in sorrow. I couldn’t afford to stay lost in grief.

“Duchess…”

Hersia grasped my hand, wiping her tears.

“You’ve always wanted me to marry Aron, haven’t you? Everything’s prepared now—I don’t want us to cause another misunderstanding between you two. You understand my feelings, right?”

Hersia leaned against my knees and cried for a long while.

“I will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me, Duchess.”

“Finally, I’ll get to see Hersia wearing the dress I gifted you? You’ll be the most beautiful autumn bride in the world, Hersia.”

Wiping her tears, Hersia frowned as if worried about the approaching wedding.

“Now, the only person who’ll come to my wedding is you, Duchess. Lady Seo Yeon isn’t here, Lady Roen is busy… and Lord Vika has left us forever…”

Truly, there’s no one left to come.

Not long ago, it felt bustling with people—now everyone has scattered and gone.

“But still, many people will attend.”

Even now, numerous nobles continue sending congratulatory gifts to my doorstep, eager to stay in my favor.

Naturally, they’ll attend the wedding of my handmaiden, Hersia.

“Next time, I’ll greet you together with Aron, Duchess.”

“No, I’d prefer to see you and Aron at the wedding venue. An outdoor wedding before winter arrives would be splendid. Oh, and I’ll send a letter to Lady Roen.”

“No, Lady Roen must be busy…”

“Even if busy, one must attend a friend’s wedding. That’s enough for today, Hersia. Now it’s time to begin wedding preparations.”

Hersia bowed deeply in gratitude and left.

Perhaps I told Hersia to hold the wedding because I wanted to distract my mind.

I examined the dress Hersia had once gifted Sikar and me, hoping we’d wear it to her wedding. Beside it hung Sikar’s suit.

I had hoped we’d dress side by side and attend Hersia’s wedding…

The fact that it’s now impossible saddened me deeply.

Without Sikar beside me every day, tears would flow even when I sat still—and even while rummaging through the wardrobe, tears would fall.

Suddenly, without realizing it, tears would well up and spill over, and I’d often find myself dazed.

Grief was far harsher and more painful than I’d ever imagined.

But I must endure it. He chose death because he desperately wished for me to remain here.

To make his death meaningful, I must live well with Kian Blake more than ever.

Wiping my flowing tears, I thought this to myself.

“If only I could go and wipe her tears…”

Sikar sat atop a tree alongside Vika. Watching Yura through the window, his heart ached because he couldn’t draw near to her.

Vika considered pushing Sikar off the branch but quickly realized this was a man who’d never fall alone—and lowered his hand.

“You said you came to investigate something, but really you came to see the Lady?”

“I need to see she’s well to ease my mind. And thanks to that, I’ve learned some good information too.”

“Good information?”

“It seems Hersia’s wedding will happen soon. While Roen and Jeremi Iker are here, I can steal the Ancient Resurrection Tome.”

Vika eyed him suspiciously, doubting whether he was serious.

“You’re really planning such a risk just to revive Valije? Even if you succeed, the Grand Temple won’t let you off easily.”

“What can they do to someone destined to die anyway? That’s nothing to worry about. As long as I can spend even a little more time with Yura, that’s enough. Besides, I can also find Kian’s true father—nothing could be more urgent to me. But who exactly holds the Resurrection Tome? Is it still in the Grand Priest’s chamber?”

“I don’t know that far. But as I said yesterday, promise to share your power with me, and I’ll give you all the information I know.”

Sikar turned to look at Vika with an expression as if to say, “That’s really funny.”

“Vika. If I set my mind to it, I can see your memories anytime. I have no reason to trade with you.”

Vika looked at Sikar with a face that said, “Oops, too late”—but the moment had already passed.

Sikar gripped Vika’s arm and refused to let go.

“Let go of this! Let go!”

Even as Vika shouted and thrashed his arm, Sikar kept holding on with an evil smile.

Following Sikar’s orders, Vika had informed Yura the oath was broken and immediately came to hide within the Grand Temple.

As a Dark Elf hybrid, Vika’s habit was to sit in trees and rest whenever possible.

Then one day, his sharp ears caught a conversation about the Ancient Resurrection Tome. He was certain one speaker was Roen, but couldn’t identify the other voice.

“The Ancient Resurrection Tome is right here.”

“The Ancient Resurrection Tome… you mean the ancient artifact said to revive the dead?”

“The first king entrusted the Ancient Resurrection Tome to this Grand Temple to prevent the Recador bloodline from ending. Now, the current king is the sole remaining royal of Recador, so we must protect him well. Preserving the Recador royal bloodline by safeguarding the king is also our duty.”

“W-why are you telling me this?”

“Your time to know has come. But this secret must never leak to anyone else.”

Having fully reviewed Vika’s memories, Sikar smiled in satisfaction.

“So the Ancient Resurrection Tome is definitely somewhere inside the temple.”