Celestina had expected a flicker of frustration. Maybe even anger.
But Azriel's calm response caught her completely off guard.
"You're not angry?"
A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head.
"What kind of person would I be if I got upset at you for not indulging my selfishness?"
'I guess he's right…'
There was no real reason for her to accept this engagement—it hadn't been an order, after all. If anything, it was more selfish of their parents to have sprung it on them without warning.
If she blamed anyone, it wasn't Azriel.
It was them.
"Though… can I ask you something?" he asked.
She raised an eyebrow but gave a small nod.
"…Why do you want to be a hero?"
The question startled her.
Her brows knit together, confused and slightly defensive.
Why would he ask that? It wasn't exactly a secret—Azriel, being a prince, would have access to everything. The incident for her revenge was public knowledge among all clans.
But something about his tone unsettled her.
It wasn't curiosity. It felt… personal.
She'd never told anyone, not even her closest friends, the real reason behind her resolve. Only her parents knew.
As if sensing her hesitation, Azriel continued.
"When Uncle Ragnar and my parents left earlier, your expression… reminded me of someone I used to know."
'Someone he knew…?'
She tilted her head, unsure what he meant.
"It looked like you were thinking about something painful. Something—or someone—you hate. And want revenge for."
"…!"
Her eyes widened.
She thought she'd been composed. Even if she had zoned out earlier, she was certain she hadn't shown anything on her face.
'Was I really that transparent…?'
Either she had misjudged herself… or underestimated Azriel.
Perhaps both.
He gave a small, almost apologetic smile.
"Looks like I was right, huh? Sorry. You don't have to tell me. It was rude of me to ask."
Celestina bit her lip.
"…No, it's fine. You're right."
Azriel stayed silent, simply listening. That made it easier to speak.
"The reason I want to be a hero… is for revenge."
He didn't interrupt.
"You probably already know, but seven years ago… when that attack happened, my grandparents were among the victims. I loved them. Maybe even more than my parents, since Mom and Dad were always so busy. I spent more time with them growing up…"
She let out a quiet bittersweet laugh.
"Back then, I truly felt like a princess. Everyone spoiled me. I had everything I wanted. I thought that would last forever. But I was naive. The skinwalkers' attack shattered that illusion—and showed me how cruel this world really is."
She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but Azriel didn't reach out to comfort her. He didn't even speak.
He just watched.
She smiled through the tears.
"How cruel of you… shouldn't you comfort an almost crying princess?"
Azriel grinned.
"I don't see the girl in front of me as someone so delicate that she needs comforting from someone like me."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"…Anyway, ever since that day, I've promised myself I'd get revenge."
"Even though your father already killed those skinwalkers?"
"The skinwalkers aren't the source of all this tragedy in our world. It's the void realm. Until the day the void realm is destroyed, countless other grandparents, parents, or children will keep suffering. I will make sure to destroy the void realm and kill those creatures with my own hands... that will be my revenge."
"I see."
Azriel let out a slow breath, his eyes drifting to the empty couch where their parents had sat.
Anyone hearing her words—seeing her face—would think she was mad. That she was chasing an impossible goal.
And maybe she was.
But Azriel didn't mock her.
He didn't try to stop her.
He simply said—
"…How admirable."
"!?"
Her head snapped toward him.
He hadn't even looked at her—his eyes were still fixed ahead.
But there was a soft smile on his lips.
"What did you just say?"
"I said… you have an admirable goal."
'My revenge… is admirable?'
She blinked in disbelief. The last thing she'd expected was praise.
"There was someone I knew," Azriel said quietly.
"He wanted revenge, too. For his family."
Azriel's gaze lingered on the couch—as if, in his mind, someone else was sitting there.
A bitter smile crept onto his face.
"That boy's little sister, mother, father… everyone he loved. Gone. All taken from him by a single man. After that, he had nothing left. No reason to wake up. All he had was hate. But he was too weak to do anything about it."
'Was he talking about the void realm? Was he with that boy? So he wasn't alone all this time…?'
Celestina frowned, trying to place the pieces.
She knew Azriel hadn't been in any known conquered area of the void realm. That meant he'd been somewhere… unknown.
And yet, he hadn't been alone.
"But it wasn't just that man's fault," Azriel continued.
"Just before it happened, the boy had a huge fight with his family. He pushed them away. He didn't listen. Afterward… he realized they'd died thinking he hated them. In a way, he blamed himself even more than the one who killed them."
"…Did he ever get his revenge?"
Azriel chuckled, though something about the sound felt off.
"He didn't. He gave up."
She stared at him.
He turned to meet her eyes.
"But that's why I admire you," he said.
"You're willing to do what he couldn't. You're just as powerless as he was—but you're still standing. Still fighting. Even if people will call you crazy."
She'd never expected anyone—anyone—to say something like that.
To not try and talk her out of it. To not look at her with pity or condescension.
Instead, he acknowledged her. Respected her.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
He simply nodded.
"It looks like we've taken too long," he said, glancing at the clock.
An hour had passed.
'It felt like five minutes…'
"We should probably go let them know we don't agree to the engagement."
"Right…"
They both stood.
But her thoughts were still on that boy. The one who had lost everything.
There had been something in his voice—a weight—that made her wonder.
As she reached for the door, she suddenly heard his voice behind her.
"Celestina."
She turned.
Azriel stood a few steps away, smiling mischievously.
His next words made Celestina doubt what she had heard.
"Once we truly love each other," he said softly, "let's get engaged."
"…"
"…"
"…H-huh?"