Chapter 24: Tangled Story IV (part 1)

At the end of her heart-wrenching cry, Reina’s tears finally stopped.

Then, she began to speak.

“When a month passed after we started exchanging letters, you said you wouldn’t be able to send any for about a week. And then… Anna suddenly disappeared.”

Tears still shimmered in her eyes.

She looked dazed, as if her soul had left her body.

“I don’t know why. The letter she left behind was not for me. Everything was fine up to that point. It even ended with a note saying she’d return soon.”

I could imagine it clearly.

Even in Anna’s abrupt absence, Reina clung to the promise and endured.

I pictured her standing strong, swallowing her sorrow, believing with all her heart.

“And what about His Excellency, Duke Richard?”

“My father told me not to worry too much and let the matter go quietly. From what I heard, it seems Anna said goodbye to him before leaving.”

That struck me as odd.

The Anna I knew was someone who seemed to belong solely to Reina Rogelia.

To put it bluntly, it felt like her entire world revolved around Reina.

Yet while Anna left only a simple letter for Reina, she had said a personal goodbye to Duke Richard.

It made me wonder—was Duke Richard hiding something?

“It’s been over three years since Anna left. But there’s been no word. I’ve asked my father, but he won’t say a thing.”

What must she have felt all that time?

I couldn’t even begin to grasp it.

“If she hadn’t left that letter… I would have given up sooner. Then I wouldn’t have held on to a promise that could never be kept. So stupid. Truly.”

Reina’s lips curled into a bitter smile—a smile of someone who had finally given up.

“So? Are we done now? Was that the story you wanted to hear?”

Reina looked at me with clouded, violet eyes.

I glanced at the wall clock. It was already past 8:50.

Technically, it was time to head to class. But I didn’t want this conversation to end.

[…But there were no letters, no visits—not even to the ball I attended!]

She had shouted those words through tears earlier—but I didn’t truly understand what she was saying.

I could say with certainty: during the six months I was allowed to write, I sent three letters every week.

I kept sending them, even when there were no replies—trusting that there had to be a reason.

As for the balls, I attended every one I could.

But I was always told that Reina couldn’t attend due to her family’s circumstances.

No matter how I looked at it, it felt like someone had intentionally tried to sever the bond between Reina and me.

And if anyone had the power to do that…

“…Duke Richard.”

No one else came to mind.

But why?

The letter exchange had a set period—six months.

Even if we didn’t meet at social events, we were bound to see each other again at Arcana.

There was no logical reason to cut ties so forcefully.

“If you have nothing more to say, let’s end it here. Class is starting soon.”

There wasn’t enough time to dig deeper.

And without solid proof, I was hesitant to suspect Reina’s father.

“I’ll go first.”

Reina rose from her seat.

Our first class was history, a common liberal arts subject for first-years. It would’ve been fine to go together.

But Reina clearly had no intention of doing that.

“Reina.”

“…?”

Just as she was about to open the door to the counseling room, I called her name without thinking.

I thought she would ignore me and leave.

But to my relief, she paused and turned around.

Even though doubts still clouded my heart, I needed to say it.

“I will never betray you. No matter what.”

“…Liar.”

It was the truth.

But Reina gave a short, cold reply and left the room.

Still…

In that moment, she looked like she was smiling—just like she used to.

***

“But what kind of promise was that?”

[You said you’d help me! That you’d come running if I was ever in trouble! You said you wouldn’t leave me alone! That was a promise!]

That was another thing Reina had said.

But the strange part was—I never made such a promise.

Not me.

If that was the case… then maybe it was a promise Reina made with the real Ike.

Her story ends in beheading—alone, with no one by her side.

But what if Ike had been her closest childhood friend?

What if he really had made that promise?

Then why… why didn’t the real Ike keep it?

I couldn’t understand.

***

[Third Person POV]

“Liar.”

With a faint lift of her lips, she spat the word at Ike.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she was smiling.

When was the last time she had felt like this?

As she reassured herself, something in her long-dormant heart began to stir—just a little.

She felt… a little better.

***

[Reina’s POV]

“By the way…”

Something still didn’t sit right.

Ike had listened to everything, but looked genuinely confused.

It didn’t feel like he was lying.

When I looked into his eyes, it felt like something was waking up inside me.

If you think about it… nothing good ever came of Ike breaking that promise.

Still, since our family is the second duke’s household, it was never really possible to cut ties entirely.

“I definitely heard my father’s name earlier.”

Ike must have thought the same.

If someone tried to weaken our bond—

Even if they couldn’t break it completely—

There’s only one person who could’ve done it.

My father.

Richard Rogelia.

But… why?

I didn’t know the reason.

If that’s the case, there’s only one thing left to do—

Talk to him when we return home over the holidays.

“…For now, it should be fine to entrust this to Ike.”