The Asheville carriage continued moving through the sleeping streets of Citadel.
Cold midnight winds brushed softly against the carriage exterior while silver moonlight flowed across the polished black roads outside like liquid light beneath the endless night sky. The city had grown quieter now. Most noble gatherings already ended, and only distant lanterns and occasional carriage wheels disturbed the silence resting over the western capital district.
Inside the carriage—
Warm golden mana lamps glowed softly against velvet-covered walls.
The atmosphere remained heavy after their earlier discussion.
Not uncomfortable.
But thoughtful.
Deep.
Kel quietly sat near the opposite seat while his dark eyes rested against the passing moonlit scenery beyond the window curtains. His expression remained calm as always, yet something within his earlier words lingered strangely inside the carriage atmosphere.
Betrayal.
Trust.
Human worth.
The topics themselves carried weight beyond simple noble scandal.
Meanwhile—
Reina silently observed him.
And slowly—
She moved her hand across the small distance separating them.
Then gently—
She rested it atop his hand.
Warm.
Soft.
Unexpected.
Kel slightly blinked afterward before lowering his gaze toward her fingers resting quietly over his own.
The silver-haired matriarch looked toward him calmly.
"Not everyone is the same, Kel."
Her voice sounded soft beneath the quiet carriage atmosphere.
"Some people truly understand loyalty."
Silence followed softly afterward.
The carriage wheels echoed steadily outside.
Then finally—
Kel quietly replied.
"All people are different."
Another pause.
"But…"
His dark eyes lowered slightly.
"…all people become similar when their own interests are involved."
Inside his mind—
Sairen quietly listened.
Meanwhile—
Kel continued calmly.
"No one is completely loyal forever."
The mana lamps flickered softly around them.
"In the end…"
His voice remained quiet.
"…everyone is born alone."
Another pause followed.
"And dies alone."
The carriage atmosphere deepened further.
Kel's gaze slowly shifted toward the passing moonlight outside again.
"What exists between those two moments…"
Another breath escaped him quietly.
"…is merely people trying to fulfill their desires."
Reina silently listened without interrupting.
Kel continued.
"During that process…"
"We create relationships."
"Alliances."
"Friendships."
"Families."
The cold moonlight reflected faintly within his dark eyes now.
"We convince ourselves those connections are meaningful because they help us move toward the lives we believe we were meant to live."
Another pause.
"And when someone else desires the same thing…"
A faint coldness entered his expression.
"…or desires something conflicting…"
The carriage wheels echoed again.
"…they become enemies."
Silence.
"That's how factions are born."
"Why loyalty divides."
"And why betrayal exists."
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"You really think too deeply about humanity."
Kel calmly replied internally.
"Because humans are complicated."
Meanwhile—
He continued speaking softly toward Reina.
"Even cheating itself usually comes from calculation."
Reina quietly narrowed her silver eyes slightly.
Kel calmly explained:
"Material gain."
"Physical satisfaction."
"Emotional fulfillment."
"Attention."
"Security."
Another pause followed.
"Most betrayals are simply desires outweighing restraint."
The carriage became quiet again afterward.
Then eventually—
Reina softly sighed.
"You truly think too deeply for someone about to turn fifteen."
Kel slightly smiled faintly.
"I just try seeing things from as many perspectives as possible."
Another pause.
"To understand different people properly."
The atmosphere remained calm now.
Yet beneath Kel's voice—
Complexity lingered heavily.
"Sometimes…"
His eyes lowered slightly afterward.
"…that creates conflict inside my own thoughts."
Reina quietly observed him carefully.
Then softly—
"What kind of conflict?"
Kel remained silent briefly.
Then finally—
He answered.
"Take tonight for example."
The cold moonlight drifted softly through the carriage windows.
"I don't feel particularly bad for the viscount."
Another pause.
"And I don't fully pity his wife either."
Reina listened quietly.
Kel calmly continued.
"The viscount spent his life handling noble responsibilities."
"Managing territory."
"Maintaining status."
"Building wealth."
Another pause.
"Likely believing he was doing those things for his wife's happiness too."
The mana lamps flickered softly.
"Meanwhile his wife probably felt emotionally neglected."
"Lonely."
"Unwanted."
"So she searched elsewhere for attention."
Silence.
"And when the truth emerged…"
Kel's gaze remained distant now.
"She begged forgiveness."
Another pause followed.
"Some naïve nobles will pity her."
"Some noblewomen will justify her actions emotionally."
"Some men will support the viscount completely."
"Others will condemn him."
The carriage atmosphere deepened further.
"But none of them truly understand the full situation."
Kel's voice stayed calm.
"Because humans judge everything from their own emotional perspective."
Another pause.
"And eventually…"
"…the viscount will likely become cruel toward her."
Reina's fingers slightly tightened over his hand.
Kel continued.
"He'll treat her like property now."
"A commodity."
"Something broken that still has political value."
The silver-haired matriarch quietly lowered her gaze.
"And some people will support his actions."
"Others will hate him for it."
Another pause.
"Some noblewomen will eventually call him abusive."
"But…"
Kel's expression remained unreadable.
"No one can fully judge another person's emotions through their own limited feelings."
Silence consumed the carriage afterward.
Then quietly—
Kel added:
"So honestly…"
His gaze drifted toward the moonlight once more.
"…I don't particularly care about the viscount situation itself."
The words should have sounded cold.
Yet strangely—
They didn't.
Because beneath them—
Something deeper existed.
Eventually—
Reina softly asked:
"Then why did you say betrayal disgusts you?"
Silence.
The carriage rolled slowly beneath the sleeping night roads.
Inside his mind—
Even Sairen quietly waited now.
Then finally—
Kel answered softly.
"Because even though I can predict human behavior…"
Another pause.
"…watching it happen still reminds me how worthless people can become."
The atmosphere sharpened quietly afterward.
"But at the same time…"
His dark eyes slowly lowered toward Reina's hand resting atop his own.
"…I think about the people beside me."
Another faint pause.
"Those willing to risk their lives with me."
"Stay with me."
"Believe in me."
The mana lamps reflected softly within his eyes now.
"And then I realize…"
Kel's voice lowered slightly.
"…those kinds of people are worth everything."
Reina quietly stared at him afterward.
And slowly—
The carriage itself seemed quieter than before.
Kel continued calmly.
"So my thoughts spiral constantly."
"How can humanity be both worthless…"
Another pause.
"…and priceless…"
"…at the same time?"
The silver-haired matriarch remained completely silent now.
Then finally—
Kel softly exhaled.
"And eventually…"
A faint calmness entered his expression.
"…I reached one conclusion."
Reina quietly asked:
"What conclusion?"
Kel slowly looked directly toward her afterward.
"I only truly care about my people."
The words landed heavily inside the carriage.
"Those I consider mine."
Silence followed.
Then softly—
Reina repeated:
"…And those you don't consider yours?"
Kel answered without hesitation.
"They're pieces on a board."
Another pause.
"Pawns."
The moonlight illuminated half his face softly now.
"I'll move them however necessary to reach my goals."
The carriage grew silent again afterward.
No hesitation existed inside his voice.
No guilt.
Only truth.
And strangely—
Rather than frightening Reina—
The honesty itself affected her more deeply instead.
Because once again—
Kel showed her exactly who he truly was beneath all masks.