Ivy remained silent, gazing out of her bedroom window. Since returning from the palace, Ivy had secluded herself in her room. Race hadn't come home; he was at his parents' pavilion. Ivy rubbed her face gently and took a deep breath.

"So, this is how Race prevents everything we've been through from happening again. Should I be grateful that in the end, I can leave Race without hurting him, as he's the one letting me go?" Ivy mumbled to herself in monologue.

Ivy smiled wistfully, thinking about her fate. Shortly afterward, Ivy's smile vanished.

"Does this mean that I'll be sent back to the west like this? Do I have to return to being the Marionet princess?" she said again.

Ivy stopped talking to herself when her room door was knocked on. She looked at the door, raising her eyebrows in confusion.
"Who is it?" she asked briefly.

"It's Gareta, Miss Ivy. There's a guest waiting for you in the living room," Gareta replied from outside.

"A guest? Who?" Ivy asked softly.

Ivy got up from her seat and walked toward the door. She opened it slowly, and Gareta smiled at Ivy after seeing her come out.

"Who's here, Gareta?" Ivy asked then.

"I don't know; I'm not sure. All I know is that he's looking for you," explained Gareta.

Ivy became more confused and curious about who had come. Finally, she nodded her head and walked out of her room. Gareta followed Ivy to the living room. When they arrived, Ivy looked pleased to see the person who had come to meet her.

"Tesla," Ivy called out, then ran towards him, embracing her only friend warmly.

"Iv, how have you been? Finally, we can meet again," Tesla said, returning Ivy's hug warmly.

"I'm fine, thanks to you, Tesla. You're right; we finally get to meet again. I thought I wouldn't have a chance to thank you."

Hearing Ivy's words, Gareta raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Thank you for what?" he wondered.

"No need to thank me; I'm glad I could help you, Iv."

Ivy nodded in agreement with Tesla's words. Shortly after, Ivy released the hug and smiled at the woman, who was no less beautiful than Ivy.

"Let's go to my room; there are many things I want to share," Ivy said.

"Um, there are a few things I need to tell you as well. All of this is for your and Race's well-being," Tesla said mysteriously.

Ivy furrowed her brow, and Gareta grew even more curious. Who was this tall woman in front of them? And what connection did she have with Ivy and her young master?
***
Race had just returned from his parents' second pavilion as morning approached. He walked wearily toward his and Ivy's room. Gareta stood before the room, looking puzzled, catching Race's attention.

"What's going on, Gareta? Why are you here in front of my and Ivy's room so early?" Race asked when he was close to Gareta.

Gareta looked at Race and appeared panicked. "What's the matter, Gareta? What happened to Ivy?" Race asked, concerned by Gareta's expression.

"I'm sorry, young master; I couldn't take care of Mistress Ivy properly," Gareta said.

"What do you mean, Gareta? What happened to Ivy?"
Race no longer listened to the continuation of Gareta's words. He forcefully entered Ivy's room without waiting any longer.

Race was shocked to see the empty room devoid of Ivy. He rushed back out and approached Gareta.
"Where is Ivy?" Race asked in a panic.

"Mistress,,,um..."

"Don't stammer, Gareta! Quickly tell me where my wife went!" Race snapped, worried that something had happened to Ivy.

"I'm sorry, young master Race. I couldn't prevent Mistress Ivy from leaving. Here's a letter from Mistress Ivy for you," Gareta said, handing a brown envelope to Race.

Race took the envelope and quickly opened it. He read Ivy's letter carefully, shaking his head, unwilling to understand its contents.
"This is not what I meant, Iv," Race said, running out of his pavilion.
***
Ivy found herself inside a horse-drawn carriage with Tesla. Since her departure the previous night, Ivy had remained silent, gazing out the window. Tesla, understanding Ivy's need for space, refrained from disturbing her.

After some time, Ivy looked towards Tesla.
"Tesla," she called softly.

"Yes?" Tesla responded promptly.

"Is it okay if I join you in the south? Will I not be rejected like in the East?" Ivy asked, growing anxious about whether her arrival in the South would be accepted.

"Hey, why ask such questions? Didn't I invite you to the south, Iv? And one more thing, Race isn't abandoning you, Iv. He agreed to let you go at my request, and it's for your own good too," explained Tesla.

"I know, but if he loves me, why wouldn't he fight for me? Letting me go like this, doesn't that mean he's throwing me away, Tesla?"

"No, Race isn't throwing you away. He agreed to let you go, but he's resolving all the issues that might arise later. The Marionet family has just received punishment for their actions towards you, Winter no longer needs healing magic as all the charms you created and the soul binding on Winter are permanent, and Race has concealed all the secrets of who you really are. Race has also prepared a place for you in the east because he knows there's no suitable destination for you to go. Have you not thought about why Race is doing all this? To protect you, Iv."

Tesla tried to explain everything, ensuring Ivy understood Race's intentions. Ivy, however, remained silent, absorbing Tesla's explanations.

"Don't think negatively; I'm taking you away early not because Race is evil. I'm afraid that you, who always think about others, might disappear earlier, and we won't be able to see you again," Tesla continued.

Ivy fell silent, looking at Tesla with a sad expression. She had prepared herself to leave the eastern territory, especially Race, but she had never anticipated the pain it would bring to her heart.
***
Two years later

The atmosphere of the palace was so bitter, so many guests came tonight. Race just came in wearing a gray shirt, and looks so neat. Race then approached the event logger and kicked the man's shoulder.

"Is everything ready?" asked Race later.

"Oh, young gentleman Race, everything is ready," replied the recording officer of the event.

Race smiled and bowed his head slowly. "Well, try to make tonight's event go smoothly and without the slightest disturbance. Make sure everything is safe for the guests of the invitation especially for the Crown Prince," Race commanded.

"Okay," the short protocol of the event nodded his head.

Race then passed away, leaving the guy to see all the preparations for the event. Tonight is the night of Winter's conquest as king of the Eastern Territory. In the next two weeks, Winter will marry a daughter of the Northern Territory. The acquisition of the northern territory Race uncovered the evil of King Okra, who was planning to attack the eastern empire and yielded excellent results. In addition to acquiring the northern territory, Race could secretly be an intermediary for Winter to be the husband of the beautiful princess of the northeast.

Race was spreading his gaze all over the palace, and then his eyes focused on the opened royal roof. Race could see the expression of the protective veil that Ivy used to use first. Race's face turns sad now, and her eyes start to fade.

"How are you, Iv? The protective veil that you never rolled, the veil still protects us here," said Race, who missed Ivy so much at the moment.

Race's shrinking tears quickly because it's already beginning to melt without being held back. When Race felt a slow applause on his shoulder, he looked at the man who hit him.

"Winter."

"Em, this is me." Guess Winter.

"No, for what? Our relationship is over, he may have lived happily somewhere," Race said.

"Em, you're right. Even maybe she's married again now, isn't it just a fool waiting for someone who doesn't love her?"

Race quietly listened to Winter's words, and he began to think. "Is that true?" Race asked.

"Of course! Even if he wasn't as stupid as the guy who took this off. If you love her, then why did you cancel your marriage to Ivy? Isn't that what you call a fool, Race?"
There's Winter, who's starting to get upset with his cousin.

Race tried to digest what he heard, and a moment later, he smiled faintly and nodded slowly. "I may be foolish, and even more foolish when contemplating Ivy's happiness without me," he said.

Winter sighed in frustration, unable to comprehend Race's current mindset.
***
Months after Winter's wedding, a mysterious illness struck the royal family. King Michel, Queen Nami, Lord Milano, and Lady Maria were all afflicted by a disease that attacked their entire bodies. Their skin blistered as if touched by fire, and even Princess Keyla, Winter's wife, fell victim to the ailment. Only Winter and Race remained unaffected.

Race and Winter were in a private room when they met and discussed. Winter continued to sip red wine from his glass without saying a word, while Race, who had developed a phobia of red wine since Ivy's near-death incident, struggled to breathe as he watched the red liquid enter Winter's mouth. Race unbuttoned his top and took a deep breath to calm himself. Seeing Race's discomfort, Winter inquired, "Race, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Race lied.

"Why is your face so pale then?" Winter pressed.

"It's nothing, don't worry! Winter, can we discuss the crisis we're facing now?" Race redirected the conversation.

"Ah, you're right."
Winter placed the wine glass he had been drinking on the table. Race looked at the glass, and his breathing became even heavier. He turned his face away, trying to hold himself back.

"Do you have a solution for this mysterious epidemic? The palace health experts have given up on treating our parents, and now my wife has the same illness," Winter said.

"Can't we seek help from the people in the northern region? Isn't the best health expert from Queen Keyla's homeland?" Race suggested.

"That's it. Before my wife got sick, she mentioned healing magic. Do you know anything about it, Race?" Winter asked.

Race was shocked and looked at Winter. He couldn't answer Winter's question straightforwardly, as it might raise suspicions and lead to more questions later.

"Race, answer me! Do you know about healing magic?" Winter pressed.

"No, I have no knowledge of that," Race lied.

"I thought you knew. Well, I'll gather information from the Doha health expert. I heard he has a lot of information about sorcerers who can perform healing magic," Winter concluded.

Race fell silent, hearing Winter's words. For some reason, Winter's words made Race remember Ivy, who had always been Winter's protector.
***