Lloyd stared coldly at Kallian and spoke.
"When I arrived at the castle, they said you had left Denian behind and gone alone to the cottage. I found that strange…"
As he raised one hand, the sound of marching boots echoed from behind. Five imperial soldiers appeared at his back.
"Good thing I brought soldiers with me," he said coolly.
The soldiers, wearing armor engraved with the imperial crest, drew their swords.
Kallian reacted instinctively — stepping in front of Yuliana to shield her.
That simple movement made Lloyd's expression twist with anger.
It looked as if he were the intruder, and Kallian was the one protecting Yuliana.
Then, Yuliana stepped out from behind Kallian and walked over to stand beside Lloyd.
Kallian frowned slightly in confusion.
"You two… know each other?" he asked quietly.
Lloyd's brows furrowed — Kallian was speaking as if he didn't recognize him.
Yuliana's tone turned cold.
"You should leave now."
Her deliberate choice to stand beside Lloyd and put distance between herself and Kallian left him momentarily stunned.
Now that he thought about it, Denian's hair color was just like Lloyd's.
He had assumed the boy only resembled Yuliana, but looking at that pale hair, one troubling thought came to mind — one he didn't want to accept.
"Didn't you say Denian had no father?"
Yuliana knew exactly what he was thinking, but she didn't bother to deny or explain.
"Would you really believe the words of a three-year-old?"
She was right — she had never once said Denian's father was gone.
It was Kallian who had taken the child's innocent words at face value.
Ignoring his question, Yuliana turned to Lloyd and spoke calmly.
"He's just a traveler who lost his memory. He was about to leave anyway, so please tell your men to lower their swords."
At that, Lloyd finally understood why Kallian seemed so strange.
A guest who'd lost his memory…
He studied Yuliana silently, as if to confirm what she truly wanted.
She didn't even glance at Kallian — her stiff posture made it obvious she was uncomfortable having him here.
If that was the case, Lloyd didn't understand why she had taken him in at all.
Still, he gestured to his men.
The soldiers, who had been standing tensely with their blades raised, slowly lowered them.
Even then, Kallian didn't relax.
He might not have his full memory, but he still recognized the imperial insignia on their armor — and it made him uneasy.
Something about Yuliana standing among those soldiers felt wrong. His chest tightened with a strange sense of dread.
Suppressing that feeling, he asked quietly, "Are you truly all right…?"
Yuliana still didn't look at him.
"I will be, once you leave this place," she replied coldly.
"…"
Seeing her standing straight and composed beside Lloyd, Kallian could only give up.
"Thank you… for everything," he said softly.
Without another word, he bowed politely to Yuliana — who didn't even glance his way — and walked past the soldiers, leaving the cottage.
Lloyd watched him go, his eyes sharp and wary until Kallian finally disappeared from sight.
Only then did he turn to Yuliana, his expression dark with anger.
"…Why was that man here?"
Yuliana, looking tired of the interrogation, turned to head back toward the castle.
"He was injured and lost his memory. I simply let him stay for a while."
Suddenly, Lloyd grabbed her wrist and pulled her around to face him.
The unexpected strength in his grip made her eyes widen.
"Did you pity him because he's Denian's biological father?"
"He doesn't even remember who I am," she said quietly.
Lloyd let out a hollow, bitter laugh.
"And you think that makes it acceptable?"
"Why should I have to justify myself to you?"
Her cold tone was sharp — a clear warning that he was crossing a line.
Lloyd's grip slackened. Yuliana slipped free from his hand and immediately moved away.
She needed to gather Denian's belongings from the cottage — things she hadn't taken when she left in a hurry the previous day.
Lloyd stared after her, a troubled look on his face.
"Have you forgotten how that man treated you? Why you had to flee here with Denian in the first place?"
Yuliana said nothing.
As he watched her small back, Lloyd suddenly frowned, an uneasy thought striking him.
"Wait… did he meet Denian?"
It hadn't been intentional. She had only saved Kallian by chance — while she happened to be with Denian.
When Yuliana didn't deny it, anger flared in Lloyd's eyes.
"Are you out of your mind? He may not remember now, but what if his memory returns? What if he realizes Denian is his son?"
It was rare for Lloyd to lose his composure like this, and Yuliana's expression hardened.
"Even if that happens, it's none of your concern."
Lloyd raked a hand through his hair irritably, his tone twisting with frustration.
"What, do you want Denian to meet his father now? Did you suddenly grow soft, thinking he's still the boy's parent?"
His words cut deep — far beyond what was acceptable.
Yuliana glared at him fiercely.
'How could he say that?'
She knew exactly how Kallian felt about Denian — knew what he would do if he discovered the truth.
There was no world where she would ever intentionally let them meet.
Her lips trembled as she bit them hard.
Still… she couldn't deny that she had allowed them to spend time together.
She had trusted Kallian's request, and because of that, Denian had been exposed to danger.
Lloyd was right — she should never have let Kallian in at all.
Seeing the guilt harden her shoulders, Lloyd's tone softened.
"We need to move somewhere else immediately. Who knows when he'll regain his memory and come back here."
Yuliana looked startled. "Move? Where?"
Ignoring her hesitation, Lloyd continued calmly.
"To Silverstel. Come with me — I've already arranged everything."
She had indeed been planning to relocate once Kallian left — but Lloyd had no place in that plan.
"No. Denian and I won't go to Silverstel."
"Then you mean to stay here?"
"No. Denian and I will go elsewhere — on our own. I don't want to rely on you anymore."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
Her voice was firm, unwavering.
Lloyd frowned, but then tried to soften his tone, speaking gently.
"If I'm by your side, he won't realize Denian is his son."
But Yuliana shook her head.
Even if Lloyd stayed, it was only a matter of time before Kallian remembered.
He had already seen Denian's dark spirit energy — the truth would come out eventually.
"There's no need for that anymore," she said quietly. "I just don't want to be involved with either of you any longer."
Lloyd's gentle expression suddenly hardened, his eyes turning cold.
"You're comparing me to him?"
"That's not what I meant," she replied quickly. "Don't you see? I just want to start over — somewhere no one knows me or Denian."
Her voice trembled, pleading — but Lloyd's face remained cold as ice.
"You speak of 'starting over' so easily," he said slowly.
There it was again — that same chilling look from long ago.
The one he'd had when she'd tried to leave him once before — the look he'd given her before dragging a blade across his own wrist to stop her.
"To you, the past is nothing but a burden, isn't it? Including Valdormer… and me?"
Yuliana froze under his gaze, her breath catching.
"I'm sorry," Lloyd said softly, though his tone was anything but gentle. "But I can't allow that."
His cold hand closed tightly around her wrist once more.
"My new beginning… includes you."
"Lloyd!" she gasped, struggling to pull free — but his grip only tightened.
"Don't even think of leaving me. Even if I die, I'll still stay by your side."
Yuliana stared at him, horrified — and then Lloyd gave a bitter, almost mocking smile.
"Ah… but I suppose I already did die once — and here I am, keeping that promise."