Milo:

  I paced back and forth in General Haruto’s quarters, unable to sit still. My mind kept racing, replaying every detail from earlier that night. We had given Orla the bottle—the one Jin-hoon had handed her back in the forest—and then slipped away before anyone could notice. Now, I was stuck here, waiting for word from the servant I’d spoken to—Seo-yeon. She promised to get a message to the general the moment Orla woke up. But that promise felt like it had been made hours ago, and every second without news dragged on like an eternity.

  I didn’t know why General Haruto was so set on saving Orla, but at this point, I didn’t care. As long as we had the same goal, we were on the same page. He wasn’t anything like Daiki from ADRIIFT—Daiki would’ve said something by now, made a snide comment, anything. But Haruto? He was different. Everything about him demanded respect. He didn’t need to speak much—his presence alone carried enough weight to do all the talking. And for some reason, that made me trust him in a way I never expected.

  I almost wished this was the real Daiki. Haruto had something Daiki never did—an intensity, a sense of duty beyond just charm and good looks. He was relentless, driven. And right now, I needed that. Orla needed that.

  The plan had been simple. Seo-yeon had helped us sneak into Orla’s room while the palace was quiet, which was no small feat. It was heavily guarded. Timing had been everything. But Seo-yeon had moved us past the guards like she knew every rotation, every hidden passage, like she had done it a hundred times before. When we found Orla, she was in bad shape—unconscious, pale, barely breathing. My chest tightened at the memory, but we didn’t hesitate. Haruto handed me the bottle Seo-yeon had found in Orla’s satchel earlier, and I tilted it past her lips, hoping, praying it would work.

  But nothing happened.

  She just lay there, motionless.

  We had no choice but to slip away into the night before anyone caught us—again with Seo-yeon’s help. Being in her chambers after hours was bad enough, but two men who weren’t the king? That would have been a scandal. Haruto didn’t say much—just gave me a nod to follow. I had nowhere else to go. The kitchens were no longer an option; if I went back, I’d be thrown out or worse. And I wasn’t about to leave Orla. So now, I was here, pacing in the general’s quarters, waiting—hoping—for any news.

  The room was spacious but simple. A desk covered in scrolls and papers sat in the corner, candlelight flickering over stacks of documents. Haruto sat at the table, quietly working through what looked like orders and reports, completely unfazed. Meanwhile, I was unraveling, unable to shut off my thoughts.

  Every so often, I glanced at Haruto, trying to read him. But his face was a mask—cold. He didn’t seem indifferent; he was just controlled, like nothing could shake him. I wished I had that kind of discipline.

  Out of nowhere, his voice cut through the silence.

  “Kozō, quit pacing.”

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  I stopped mid-step, blinking at him. Kozō? I’d never heard the word before, but the way he said it… it sounded like an insult.

  Haruto looked up, his eyes sharp. “You’re making me dizzy.”

  I opened my mouth to apologize, then shut it. I was pacing because I didn’t know what else to do. How was I supposed to sit still when Orla’s life was on the line?

  “I just…” I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “What if the bottle doesn’t work? What if she doesn’t wake up?”

  Haruto’s gaze didn’t waver. When he spoke, his words were as sharp as his blade. “Then you’ll die. Plain and simple.”

  I swallowed hard. He wasn’t being dramatic. He was telling me the truth. If the antidote failed, there was no way I was walking out of here alive.

  Haruto studied me for a long moment before stepping away from his desk. The flickering candlelight made the sharp angles of his face look even harsher as he moved toward me.

  “Why are you here?” he asked, his voice low but firm. “You’re smart enough to survive the kitchens, but you don’t belong in the palace. So tell me—what are you really doing here? Are you a spy?”

  I stiffened. “I’m not a spy.”

  Haruto’s hand hovered near the hilt of his katana. He wasn’t convinced. And honestly? I didn’t blame him. Nothing about me fit into this world. But telling him the truth? He’d laugh me out of the room—or worse. If this was really playing out like the script of the drama, then who the hell was I supposed to be?

  I rubbed the back of my neck, avoiding his gaze. “If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t believe me.”

  Haruto cocked his head slightly, the corners of his mouth tugging into something that was almost a smirk. “You two have something, don’t you? You and the fairy.”

  “What? No, that’s not it. It’s not like that,” I scoffed

  But Haruto’s expression didn’t change, as if he’d seen right through me. “I’ve known about the queen’s plans for a long time. None of the other consorts the king has taken a liking to have ever drawn attention like she has.” His voice dropped, becoming almost thoughtful. “I see why. There’s something about her. She stands apart.”

  My chest tightened at the way Haruto talked about Orla, like she was something special to him too. It made my skin crawl, and I didn’t like it. Not one bit. There was something in his tone, a strange admiration, or maybe something worse. Was he in love with her?

  I gritted my teeth, but I let him keep talking, not daring to interrupt. If I didn’t play this smart, I’d lose any chance to keep Orla safe.

  “If there’s one I would save,” Haruto said quietly, “it would be her. The others? They never had a chance, not with the queen’s hand in all of this. But the fairy... she’s different.”

  There it was again, that edge in his voice, like Orla was more than just a target to him. She was something else, something valuable, and not just to the king. My fists clenched at my sides, but I forced myself to stay calm.

  “You want to save her?” I asked, my voice a little steadier now. “Then we’re on the same side.”

  Haruto’s eyes flicked over me. He didn’t answer right away, but his gaze held mine for longer than I expected.

  Before he could say anything, the door to Haruto’s quarters swished open, and Seo-yeon came rushing in, her face flushed and her breath labored. She bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for air.

  “She’s… awake!” Seo-yeon managed to say between breaths, her eyes wide as she straightened up, wiping the sweat from her brow. “The Ladyship… she’s awake!”

  My heart leapt into my throat, and I shot a glance at Haruto, who immediately stiffened, his gaze sharpening. Without a word, he strode past Seo-yeon, his presence commanding as ever.

  “Are you sure?” Haruto asked.

  Seo-yeon nodded frantically. “Yes, General! Gyeong was with her. She’s weak, but she’s awake.”

  Orla was awake. The antidote had worked.

  Relief flooded through me, my legs almost giving out. She was alive. She was okay.

  But there was no time to savor the victory, as Haruto turned to me. “Let’s go. We need to see her.”

  ?Sky Mincharo