《The Grand Duchess Escape》 Chapter 1 Your Walk Is Over(1) Asella ran for her life. It was a pitch-black night, even the moon was covered behind clouds and was nowhere to be seen. The path in front of her was dark so it was hard for her to see the way, but she couldn¡¯t stop now. Asella walked through rough branches and thorny bushes, clearing her way with her bare hands, but now wasn¡¯t a great time to think about the pain in her body. Her slender white fingers were now filled with cuts and wounds, but her mind was only filled with only one thought which was running away. ¡®I have to get away.¡¯ Silence befell the forest, and the only things breaking the silence were her gasping for breath and the sound of her weak footsteps. But she knew¡­ Once he found out that she¡¯s gone, his people would chase her relentlessly. The Grand Duke Calix Benvito. Her husband. ¡®Just a little bit, just a little bit more¡­¡¯ Her body wasn¡¯t strong enough to be running through a dark forest, as she spent her whole life doing nothing other than walking in mansion gardens. Right now, her heart was beating like crazy. Even taking a breath seemed like a difficult task; she was running for so long through the rough forest and mountain road that her steps started to get slower and slower due to the severe pain. But Asella couldn¡¯t stop. To stop meant to die. ¡®Oh no¡­¡¯ Her legs began to betray her and failed to keep her standing. She fell on the moist earth. Her long silky silver hair that was tied neatly got loose and scattered around her touching the ground beneath her. ¡®Come on, get up¡­¡¯ She struggled helplessly to lift her body from the ground. Perhaps due to the shock from falling, her body was trembling like a leaf in the face of the wind and her leg was throbbing with pain, but there was no time to delay. Even at this moment, the pursuers were approaching, narrowing her escape. ¡®Please¡­¡¯ But God turned a blind eye to Asella¡¯s earnest wish. ¡®¡­!¡¯ She managed to finally straighten her upper body, but once she did, her body froze¡­. Since when did these people in black uniforms surround her? They were covered in black from head to toe with only their eyes visible. It was hard to identify who they were due to the darkness. But Asella knew. They were an assassination group that controlled the underworld under the name ¡°Karma¡±. Their name alone spread fear in the hearts of all citizens in the Kharmenian Empire. The realization of her chaser¡¯s identity sent goosebumps down her spine. Her body trembled with fear. ¡®I didn¡¯t think he would go this far and send Karma to catch me.¡¯ ¡°¡­¡­.¡± However, even after finding her, they didn¡¯t make any move on her and a strange silence filled the dark forest. Not even the sounds of cricket could be heard. After a moment, the black figures split into two lines, as if making a path, then knelt on one knee. Before she could process what was happening in front of her, someone appeared. ¡°Long time, no see.¡± Her blue eyes widened with the echo of the cold voice and a deep fear started to suffocate her. Someone Asella never thought she¡¯d see was here. Someone who shouldn¡¯t be seen was here. Most of all¡­ it was someone she didn¡¯t want to see. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Her mind went blank, and only meaningless groans escaped her mouth. She felt as if she was dragged back into the abyss and no matter how she tried to escape, all of her attempts failed. ¡°Three days.¡± Calix spoke with an expressionless face. A man whose eyes shone as red as blood, and looked so beautiful as if he was from another world. ¡°You lasted longer than I expected this time.¡± She was on the edge of losing consciousness, breathing under his gaze was difficult. His gaze was putting her under so much pressure that it felt like her body would be crushed at any moment. He continued. ¡°But all of this comes to an end now.¡± It was another way of telling Asella that all of her efforts were fruitless and she should just give up. Her vision became blurry, her world became distorted again. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Before approaching her further, Calix looked at her silently for a moment. Her terrified appearance was like a deer caught in the neck by a predator; she looked pitiful and pathetic. But he couldn¡¯t listen to his wife¡¯s wishes, He would grant her any other wish, but this was one that he could never accept. Finally, he began walking slowly towards her. *** Chapter 2 Your Walk Is Over(2) He walked slowly until he reached her. He knelt down and brought himself to her eye level. While she trembled like a bird struck by an arrow, he brought his face closer and whispered into her ears. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Your walk is over.¡± After saying that, Calix stared at the woman who wasn¡¯t even able to answer. Her blue eyes, that resembled a calm lake, frantically looked around, unable to focus, and her snow-white skin was now pale as if all of the blood was sucked out of her. He could see that her lower lips looked as if it would burst at any moment since she was biting so hard that drops of blood began to form on her lips. Without realizing it, Calix reached out his thumb and brushed it across her lips. It was a gentle move that seemed completely out of character for the current situation, where he was out capturing his wife, who had betrayed him and fled. Every time he reached out to touch her, he could feel her flinch, but he didn¡¯t mind it and continued to carefully wipe away all the blood that came from her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± Calix then leaned to pick up Asella from the ground and held her in his arms. His eyebrows frowned ever so slightly when he felt her lightweight in his arms. It was such a small change in expression that no one was able to notice it. ¡®Same as ever I see.¡¯ She was so light that he could hardly feel her weight. It was hard to tell how she had gotten so far with such a thin body. Was she that desperate? His face began to show off a distorted expression when his gaze had caught sight of Asella¡¯s clothes, which were torn and stained in many places. Her shoes were nowhere to be found, her stockings were ripped off, and every part of her exposed skin was filled with bruises and scratches. Did she hate him that much? To go through the forest, climb the rough mountain and get hurt in the process. All in order to escape from him. His arm that held Asella tightened its grip unconsciously. But no matter how hard she struggled to escape him, he had no intention of letting her go. Asella Benvito was his wife, his woman, both in name and reality. What should he do when they get back? Should he tell her: ¡®Don¡¯t think about running away¡®? or ¡®Don¡¯t dare to try this again¡¯? However, his train of thought didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Ah.¡± As soon as he lowered his gaze to the direction of the sound, he noticed that his wife, Asella, was making a pained face. That was the moment he realized he was pressing his arms around her way too hard, and so he relaxed his grip immediately. Then he reached out to make Asella lean her head against his chest. ¡°No¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better if you sleep.¡± Asella hurriedly tried to detach herself from him in embarrassment, but Calix wouldn¡¯t allow it and held her tighter as if they were glued together. Asella¡¯s body stiffened from the tension. Feeling his wife¡¯s embarrassment, Calix sighed and whispered softly to her ears. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nervous.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do anything.¡± Perhaps due to her escape, her face looked exhausted, let alone her slim body that looked even thinner. She probably didn¡¯t eat or sleep during the time she spent trying to run away. She had to endure it all this time. ¡°It¡¯ll take a while before we reach the castle, so get some sleep.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± There was no answer. However, Calix noticed that her stiff body began to loosen, her eyelids were gradually closing, and her head leaned naturally against his chest. After a while, Asella fell completely into a state of unconsciousness. Calix then looked down at his sleeping wife, who slept as if she fainted, and listened to the sound of her light breaths. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± His red eyes sank deeply. A faint expression was drawn on his usually neutral face. From the time he was informed that she climbed the mountain, he had expected what was going to happen. However, when he laid his eyes on the messy Asella, he couldn¡¯t describe what he was feeling. Nevertheless, the sight of her figure trembling in fear filled his heart with the feeling of discomfort. ¡®But for now¡­.¡¯ The priority was to get back to the castle. Once everything settled down and was returned to its original place, it wouldn¡¯t be too late to think about what comes afterwards. With the sleeping Asella in his arms, Calix took a step forward. As if being in sync, the members of Karma followed him in unison. The mountain trail, which Asella spent hours struggling, wandering and climbing, only took Calix roughly 30 minutes to get down. And at the bottom of the mountain path, a carriage surrounded with the Benvito family knights were waiting for them. Once they saw their lord approaching they bowed down in respect. That was when Calix gave the order. ¡°Head back to the castle.¡± But that.. wasn¡¯t even how the story started Chapter 3 The marriage was decided! It was exactly one day after the arrival of Grand Duke Benvito that the duke and the eldest daughter of Marquis Chartus, Asella, were in an engagement. The quick decision wasn¡¯t out of her family¡¯s consideration for her. Instead, it was to preserve the family dignity and establish a prestigious rank. Asella had been summoned early in the morning by her stepfather, Philip. She reached his office only to be informed of her marriage without prior notice. She roughly clutched the hem of her skirt in order to gather up the courage to look Philip directly in the eye. She barely managed to control her trembling and finally opened her mouth. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m not ready to get ma¨C¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide.¡± She spoke with a faint and desperate voice. ¡°Perhaps¡­ we could look into other suitors¡­¡± But Philip interrupted her harshly. ¡°The only proposal you received came from the Benvito family.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± When she lost the right as the direct heir to her family and was pushed down in the line of succession, the only path left for her was to be used in a political marriage. Sons and daughters of noble families who come of age were to be promised to marry once they found a suitable family. She knew it wouldn¡¯t be any different for her. But she didn¡¯t think it would turn out this way. There were plenty of families who wanted Asella when she was the direct heir to the Chartus family. Until Anthony, whom her stepfather adopted as his son, came. He had yet to inherit the family formally or marry. Despite the dishonourable words that followed her name, Asella was still the first-born daughter to Adele, the former Marchioness of Chartus. It had been a few years, but the nobles still questioned the reason causing Asella to lose her status as the direct heir to the Chartus family. In addition to that, opinions were divided regarding Anthony, who was distant blood of the family, and whether he could become the successor of the family. And due to that, the position of the family heir was still unfilled. And although they weren¡¯t yet ten years old, the Chartus family had another child, Mariel Chartus. Philip, who went out of his way to adopt Anthony, was filled with rage every time he heard such rumours regarding Anthony. Because of this, he would always vent his anger on Asella by shouting and throwing random objects at her. But at that time, the young Asella couldn¡¯t escape and had to endure her stepfather abusing her with brutal violence. Since she had no power or backing, there was no one to help her. When Philip gained status, the servants would hide themselves in places where his gaze wouldn¡¯t reach them, and some of them even participated in the violent behaviour toward Asella. Philip¡¯s harassment was brutally persistent. His abusive language and violence continued for a whopping seven years, during which Asella lost her natural brightness and liveliness. Her blue eyes, which had shone brighter than anyone else¡¯s, somehow became full of desperation. The once freely-spirited child, who wandered all over the mansion, grew up to become a quiet and docile lady according to Philip¡¯s will. It all began with the death of Asella¡¯s mother, Adele Chartus when she was around eleven years old. Philip showed his true colours as soon as Adele died. When the mask of the gentle, good man peeled off, the only thing left was a man full of malicious desires, self-righteousness and a fierce sense of inferiority. Having seized the position of the acting Marquis, he forcibly stripped Asella of her succession by claiming that Adele¡¯s death was related to her. Another reason was because of her failure to display the powers passed down from each generation to the eldest daughters of the Chartus lineage. She was deprived of all her rights by her stepfather. She couldn¡¯t stand up for herself, so several vassals who had been loyal to the late marchioness for the longest time rose up against Philip and his irrational treatment. Unfortunately, after Philip showed them an example of what happened to those who disobey him, no one dared to rise again for Asella. Looking back, even Asella thought that things wouldn¡¯t change much even if she had been a little older at that time. The long-term abuse had made her numb, and her heart had given up already. But she couldn¡¯t just stand still while this happens. Chapter 4 The long-term abuse had made her numb, and her heart had given up already. But she couldn¡¯t just stand still while it happened. As a last hope, she said, ¡°Please show me.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I heard that I received a proposal from another family as well.¡± ¡°Of course not, that¡¯s absurd.¡± It was clear that Philip was lying, but she suppressed her fear, stopped her trembling, and spoke with a low but clear voice. ¡°At the last Palient party, their young master came and told me directly.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He said that he sent a proposal to my family and wished me to think about it seriously.¡± ¡°The Palient young master must be mistaken.¡± Philip wasn¡¯t even trying to hide his blatant lies anymore. And at that moment, Asella was not angry but, rather, terrified. Her mouth went dry, and she could feel the cold sweat rushing down her back. She tried to look as calm as possible while holding her hands tightly to hide her trembling. ¡°Father, it¡¯s my right to see the proposals sent to me.¡± ¡°What right?!¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Of course, it was up to the family to choose who their daughter would wed. However, in the Kharmenian empire, the people involved in the marriage had the right to choose their marriage partner, too. She had the right to choose the partner she preferred from all the received proposals. ¡°Hiding the proposals from me is a violation of empirical law.¡± ¡°What! You cheeky brat!!!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who, just don¡¯t marry me off to the Benvito family.¡± ¡°Will you shut up?!¡± With a loud sound, Asella¡¯s cheek was on fire due to the hard slap she just received. Due to the impact, it was hard for her to support her body, so she could barely stand up straight in front of her stepfather. Soon, however, she felt an even stronger pain. This time, she was no longer able to stand and fell to the floor. ¡°This stupid bitch can¡¯t understand her current situation.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Her cheek that had been repeatedly beaten continued to burn. It seemed that her lips were bleeding as well, as she tasted iron on her tongue. ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough that you killed your own mother?!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°What would Adele think if she saw how pathetic you are?¡± Asella bit her lips without saying a word. She was powerless and couldn¡¯t do anything whenever Philip brought this matter up. ¡®My mother died because of¡­¡¯ When Adele was murdered, Asella was beside her. She witnessed the whole incident, and even seven years later, she wasn¡¯t able to escape the pressuring feelings of guilt. ¡°Do you still think of yourself as her successor?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true¡­ I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have some outrageous expectation that you could be the heir?¡± ¡°¡­no.¡± ¡°Then stay in your room and prepare for the wedding.¡± ¡°Father!¡± She knelt on the floor, her head in front of his shiny shoes. She could give up all of her pride¡­ ¡­if it meant that she could avoid this marriage. ¡°Please consider other suitors.¡± ¡°Why should I do that?¡± ¡°Please. I beg of you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too good for something like you! You should be grateful instead!¡± The empire¡¯s one and only grand duke, Calix Benvito. Young, handsome, wealthy, and full of overwhelming charisma. He was a relative of the emperor, in line to succeed the throne. His lineage was perfect since he belonged to one of the empire¡¯s founding families. He was admired by every person in high society, and everyone couldn¡¯t help but be tempted by his lifestyle. However, she could never marry that man. No matter what. She didn¡¯t mind any other man in the world. Just. Not. Him. ¡°Among other families who sent a proposal, even a count would be fine.¡± ¡°Foolish girl.¡± Philip snorted and continued his mockery. ¡°Proposals? What proposals?¡± ¡°Father¡­.¡± ¡°The fact that Calix Benvito has proposed to you must¡¯ve spread throughout the empire by now.¡± ¡°So¡­?¡± ¡°It means that all the other proposals that you received until now became mere pieces of paper.¡± No Kharmenian noble dared to compete against the will of Grand Duke Benvito. If the news already passed on to the aristocratic society, as Philip had said, there was no longer any chance of matchmaking with any other family. ¡°How¡­ why¡­¡± Asella¡¯s voice was shaking. As far as she knew, she had no contact with the Grand Duke, as he rarely attended imperial parties. She also seldomly attended them after she lost her mother, the late Marchioness Chartus. And in banquets where he was present, she tried her hardest to avoid being seen by him, let alone speak to him. She had never faced him! And most of all, the relationship between Marquis Chartus and Grand Duke Benvito wasn¡¯t even a good one. It started crumbling right after Calix rose as the Grand Duke. Asella has seen her stepfather Philip running wild and venting his anger all the time because of the Grand Duke, as Calix interfered with every business venue he started. And just recently, Philip was troubled with a sudden tax investigation that his business had gone through. Not to mention his speculation that Grand Duke Benvito was controlling the investigation in the shadows. And in the midst of all of this, Calix sent a proposal to Asella! Even with common sense, it was hard to understand. Aside from the obvious reason that only she knew¡­ ¡°It¡¯s a condition to approve Anthony¡¯s succession to the family. You have no right to object, so just do what I say!¡± Philip publicly introduced his adoptive son, Anthony, as the successor for the Chartus family. However, it was yet to be acknowledged by the aristocratic society. And it was because of Asella. Despite being publicly stripped from her title as the Chartus family successor since she didn¡¯t inherit the family¡¯s special abilities, she was still of legitimate birth. Anthony, on the other hand, had questionable birth which made things difficult for Philip as well. And suddenly, a marriage proposal came from Calix Benvito? Philip almost shouted cheerfully in front of the messenger. A marriage between Calix and Asella was the golden key to solve his problems all at once. If the Grand Duke himself supported Anthony, succeeding the family wouldn¡¯t be difficult. If word went out, there would be an endless line of people wanting to invest in Philip¡¯s business. And above all, he would be able to get rid of Asella, who had been an eyesore of his for the longest time. And for the best price! There was no business more profitable than this. ¡°I have no idea what he sees in something like you, but try to please him. Don¡¯t be as stiff as you are now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you go so easily if you speak of this nonsense again.¡± Asella didn¡¯t answer, and a suffocating silence fell upon the office. ¡°Answer.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You won¡¯t answer?!¡± Philip had a short temper. He pulled her roughly, wrapping her hair around his wrist, which caused her neck to bend instantly. Asella swallowed her scream and endured the pain. ¡°You¡¯re a girl who doesn¡¯t know her place!¡± His thick palm struck her face mercilessly. Her cheek, which had been beaten several times already, was now swollen and red as if all her blood had gathered there. It looked as if it would burst at any moment. She gritted her teeth and dealt with the pain. Philip, who was ready to raise his hand again, stopped. He turned and opened a drawer. ¡°You still haven¡¯t gotten over your useless stubbornness.¡± He smiled viciously and began to wrap ¡®it¡¯ around his hand. Chapter 5 Philip hated Asella¡¯s stubbornness. He made outrageous demands and orders to Asella, but whenever she refused them because she thought they were unfair, he subjected her to merciless beating and verbal abuse. Along with the famous line, ¡®you inherited this stubbornness from your useless mother.¡¯ Many of Philip¡¯s accomplishments had begun at the same moment he got married to Adele. Even though he was the third son of a count, the tale of his passionate courtship and successful marriage to the Marchioness Adele Chartus, who had lost her husband, was well known throughout the empire. Philip had demonstrated a sweet and loving fatherly affection. At least when Adele was still alive. However, as soon as Adele¡¯s funeral was over, Philip suddenly changed. When Asella realized that all his actions were nothing but a well-acted performance, it was already too late. In fact, it finally became clear to her that Philip hated her mother to the point of loathing her. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet for a while to the point that I had forgotten.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ ¡° ¡°I have to step on things like you so they don¡¯t dream about retaliating. ¡° Philip slipped his hand through a pair of bright white gloves, pulled something out of the back of a drawer, and rolled it up tightly. Asella closed her eyes, preparing herself for the pain that was approaching. ¡°Whuh-psssh!!¡± The sound of the whip falling on her body pierced the air sharply. She tried to hold her breath and bit her lips. She prevented herself from making any sound, not even a groan of pain. Although this wasn¡¯t the first time she had been whipped, she was still unable to get used to the terrible pain. ¡°Asella, my good daughter.¡± Unlike his brutal treatment, his speech was perfect and smooth. Asella became more horrified by the difference in tone. ¡°Don¡¯t you already know how this will end? I mean, nothing ever changes anyway.¡± ¡°¡­.. ¡° The day Philip first slapped Asella, she held on without giving in. She was confident, and she knew she didn¡¯t do anything wrong. But the merciless stream of beatings upon the child¡¯s body did not stop. The pride of nobility and the honor of the Chartus family collapsed in the face of physical pain. The misery of the surroundings was brief, and a sense of relief came quickly when the pain disappeared. It wasn¡¯t the kind of pain a child who had lost her mother could endure alone. In a mansion with no one to protect her, Asella quickly learned how to survive in her own way. She dropped to her knees in humility. She surrendered her will and desires and faced down in the face of violence. Even as time passed and she grew older, things were still the same. Before she knew it, she had adapted to just giving up. She couldn¡¯t leave the house, knowing that this mansion was a prison where she would be confined and watched. She was so used to it that she couldn¡¯t imagine another life. But at least she knew one thing. The only legitimate way out of this hellish place was through marriage. Asella waited anxiously for her one and only life-saving rope. But at the end of her long waiting was a political marriage to a man she never wanted to marry. On top of her despair in the reality that she didn¡¯t want to believe, the whippings continued mercilessly. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you if you apologize for your bad behavior right now. Come on. Say it. ¡®I was wrong. Please forgive me.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Quickly.¡± Despite his gentle tone, the whipping grew stronger. The thin indoor clothes did not reduce the pain Asella felt. The whip, made by twisting an animal¡¯s fur, was hard and tough. Not long after, the garment was torn. But Asella did not open her mouth. ¡°Oh. You¡¯re going to hold up longer today.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But how much longer can you last?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± The back of her dress, which had been whipped dozens of times, was torn to shreds. Her swollen skin ripped open, and blood flowed from the open wounds, soaking her ruined clothes. ¡®Only those who have experienced this horrible feeling would know¡¯, Asella thought. ¡°Ugh..!¡± ¡°Answer me quickly!¡± Asella didn¡¯t answer until the end. She had endured so much, hoping only to get out of this hell. But in the end, the destination was another hell only with a different name. At the least, she couldn¡¯t even use her own mouth to say she¡¯d be happy to go. Even if it was petty, it was her last remaining pride. Just then, someone knocked outside the door. Only then did the merciless whipping stop. Philip opened his mouth at the door with a frown. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? I thought I told you not to disturb me until I had something else to call for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir! A man from the Benvito family came¡­¡± ¡°From the Grand Duchy?¡± ¡°Yes. They would like to discuss your daughter¡¯s marriage.¡± ¡°All of a sudden?! without a prior notice?!¡± Philip could not hide his displeasure. However, his opponent was Calix Benvito, who held both money and power. While alternating his gaze between Asella and the door, he eventually threw the whip on the floor. He looked at the helpless Asella with eyes filled with a mixture of anger and contempt. ¡°Stupid bi*ch.¡± Philip wiped the sweat off his forehead and threw a dirty handkerchief at Asella. She was exhausted to the point that she didn¡¯t even think of avoiding it. She was struggling just to breathe. All her strength was sucked out that she couldn¡¯t even lift a finger. Philip threw one final cold look at her before turning around. However, once he reached the door and turned the doorknob, he stopped and said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re complaining about me making you a Grand Duchess when you should¡¯ve been thanking me countless times over.¡± Bang. The door shut with a loud sound. Asella looked blankly at the closed door. The demon, who made her life a living hell, dared to demand her gratitude for putting her in the hands of another demon. She tried to stand but, of course, she was unable to and fell to the ground. ¡°Ugh!¡± Asella laid there and started to vomit. Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t eaten anything yet, as she just woke up to the news. After twitching on the floor for a while, the nausea finally stopped. ¡®How could I be grateful?¡¯ The inescapable misery washed over her, and Asella squeezed her eyes shut. Chapter 6 A pleasant laugh broke out in the reception room of the Marquis of Chartus Castle. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that His Highness has a great personality, but rumors don¡¯t give you justice!¡± Phillip was in a good mood like never before. There was no trace of anger that filled him a few minutes ago. It was all thanks to the news delivered by the closest aide of Grand Duke Calix Benvito, Count Ryzen Kadan, who was also a vassal of the Grand Duke. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you for coming all the way here to tell me that.¡± He even shook his hand and made eye contact. However, Ryzen replied bluntly with an expressionless face. ¡°He said he was looking forward to this marriage.¡± It was a high-pitched voice with no emotion. Phillip did not like the man in front of him, but he couldn¡¯t do much about it. He was the one who had to impress Ryzen Kadan at all costs. ¡°Of course! Everything is undergoing preparation without a hitch, so please tell His Grace not to worry at all.¡± ¡°You would¡¯ve known even without me telling you. You are the acting Marquis after all.¡± Phillip¡¯s mood soured at these words. ¡®You cheeky bastard¡­!¡¯ Besides, the servants of Marquis Chartus, and even the nobles, used the title ¡°Your Excellency¡± in front of Phillip. No matter what they said about him behind his back, no one blatantly used the phrase ¡°acting Marquis¡±. Except for a handful. Unfortunately, Grand Duke Benvito was part of that group. Phillip managed to endure being called that by people of similar status and superiors. He had to put up with it. But it was unpleasant to hear a vassal of a grand duke utter the term. If Ryzen Kadan hadn¡¯t been one of Calix Benvito¡¯s closest aides, he would have already slapped him. ¡®And what? You would¡¯ve known even without me telling you. This piece of trash.¡¯ In a word, he meant to silence Phillip¡¯s request. Phillip¡¯s face distorted at the insulting words, but the document that Ryzen had placed on the table caught his attention. With exceptional patience, Phillip changed the subject. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m grateful that you think this much of my young daughter.¡± ¡°He said, ¡®It is natural to think so.¡¯¡± Phillip¡¯s crumpled face quickly unfolded. ¡®If this is natural, that means he can offer even more if she did well!¡¯ A greedy smile appeared on Phillip¡¯s face. As expected, the marriage with the Grand Duke was literally like no other. ¡®This marriage was like a mine that was constantly overflowing with gold!¡¯ Just thinking about it made his whole body feel numb. In the end, he couldn¡¯t stand hiding it and revealed his ugly greed. ¡°By any chance, how much does it produce annually?¡± Since this was happening anyway, Phillip thought that it would not be a bad idea to get a clear answer straight from the horse¡¯s mouth. ¡°The details are in the document, so please read them.¡± ¡°Oh, yes, of course.¡± Only then did Phillip pick up the stack of papers. He hadn¡¯t looked at them before since he wanted to save face, but he had been itching to check them out. ¡°Oh, oh, oh¡­ That¡¯s amazing! So many¡­¡± Phillip¡¯s mouth was full of exclamations as he read the document. It almost looked as if his jaw would drop at any moment. The document, which recorded the types and quantities of gems mined annually, had that much of an effect on him. ¡®You¡¯re a filthy human being.¡¯ Ryzen couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the sight. He could not find the elegance of a nobleman even if he washed his eyes. But then again, he was the one who had sold his adopted daughter out of greed, so what could be the explanation? ¡®Does this guy want to take over the entire Chartus family?¡¯ They were one of the Empire¡¯s founding families. The high prestige and rich history of the Chartus family could not be surpassed by any other. It was also a family that had produced extraordinary people with special abilities for every generation. ¡®Outrageous.¡¯ Ryzen laughed bitterly. How Phillip had attained the position of the Marquis of Chartus was a mystery. There had to be a reason why a stupid, incompetent, greedy person had come this far. It would have been impossible without someone to back him up in the first place. ¡®Although that good fortune is almost gone.¡¯ Ryzen smiled. It was time to begin the real purpose of his visit. ¡°Then lastly¡­¡± Phillip, who was engrossed in reading the documents, looked up at the sound of Ryzen¡¯s voice. Skillfully concealing the disgust that came to his face, Ryzen opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯d like to see the young lady.¡± Chapter 7 Philip was perplexed, but he tried to keep his composure. ¡°Why are you suddenly looking for my daughter?¡± ¡°His Highness sent an engagement present to the Young Lady.¡± Philip bit his lip at the clear and direct answer. It was a kind of customary practice to send gifts to one¡¯s marriage partner during the engagement period, so it was difficult to refuse his request. ¡®Of all things!¡¯ Philip wondered how he could naturally get out of this difficult situation. For the first time in his life, he regretted that he had physically punished Asella. So far, he had prevented Asella from leaving and locked her in the mansion, so the excuse ¡°She¡¯s not here¡± wouldn¡¯t work. But that didn¡¯t mean he could use the excuse that she wasn¡¯t feeling well. This was because it was obvious why Calix Benvito had proposed to Asella. A healthy heir. If he were to hear that the woman he was engaged to was not in good health, this proposal might never have taken place. It all goes back to human nature. If an item was defective, people would try to return it even after using it, much less before purchasing it. For an unmarried nobleman, breaking off an engagement was not a very good look, but if it was Calix Benvito, breaking off an engagement ten times should not be a problem at all. So, there was only a certain answer that Philip could give. He smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth. ¡°Please excuse me for a moment.¡± Philip hurried out of the drawing-room and found his aide waiting for him outside the door. ¡°Sir, are you finished with your meeting?¡± ¡°Bring Asella to me now!¡± The aide looked puzzled with the sudden order. ¡°Right now, sir? Why Lady Asella all of a sudden¡­¡± Philip¡¯s face twisted at once. He wiped his forehead with his palm before he spat out a swear word, frowning. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Sir.¡± ¡°Ryzen Kadan insists on seeing her. He said he would give her the engagement present the Grand Duke sent in person.¡± Philip continued, biting his lips. ¡°She¡¯s probably in my room. Treat her properly and bring her to me. I don¡¯t want Ryzen Kadan to notice.¡± The aide looked at Philip with a puzzled expression. Philip frowned. ¡°What are you doing? Hurry!¡± ¡°The lady doesn¡¯t have appropriate clothes to welcome guests.¡° At that moment, Philip¡¯s face was bewildered. He hadn¡¯t bought her a single decent indoor dress because he didn¡¯t want to waste money on Asella. So far, no one had ever visited Asella, so it had never been a problem. ¡°F*ck!¡± Externally, he was pretending to be a highborn nobleman, acting as if he was a good and loving stepfather to his deceased wife¡¯s children. He couldn¡¯t let Asella look like a beggar in front of the Ryzen Kadan. Philip¡¯s stopped and thought quickly ¡°Get Rebecca¡¯s clothes and dress her.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The aide¡¯s face turned pale. Rebecca was Philip¡¯s old lover; they had promised each other that they would marry after Anthony had successfully inherited the marquisate. Although Rebecca and Philip had not yet been officially married, they had already furnished the best rooms in the Marquess¡¯s mansion to their liking and she was often seen in and out of the house. A pale-faced, dumbfounded aide stuttered. ¡°But then, Miss Rebecca¡­¡± ¡°Shut up and bring it to me right now!¡± Philip cut his words off nervously. If Rebecca found out about this, he had no doubt that she would go wild. He could totally see Rebecca ripping the dress that Asella wore in front of him while screaming, ¡°How could you do this to me?¡± It was infuriating and annoying just to think about it, but there was no other way. He was lucky that Rebecca hadn¡¯t come today. ¡°I¡¯ll explain it to Rebecca. Just put it on her.¡± Rebecca was difficult to deal with, but she was stupid. He could whisper some sweet words to her and she would let it slide. However, there was still a problem. ¡°My Lord, even if I did¡­ it wouldn¡¯t be the right size.¡± Rebecca was about a foot taller than Asella and had a curvy figure. There was no way that Rebecca¡¯s clothes would fit the petite Asella. ¡°Just bring them over and let her try them on. If it roughly fits her, then it would be fine.¡± Philip scolded, and the aide immediately bowed his head and hurried off. ¡®I¡¯d better check it out myself, just to be sure.¡¯ Philip bit his lip as he made his way to Asella¡¯s room. Chapter 8 Asella¡¯s room was in the most secluded part of the mansion. It was a small, shabby room with large trees covering the windows and no proper sunlight. The corridor, which was not maintained properly, smelled disgusting. The dust that had been lying on the floor stuck to the hem of his pants, making him frown. ¡°How annoying.¡± He muttered in frustration. This marriage was just a deal anyway. They were buying and selling people. The arrangements were over already, and he had taken all he could get. All he had to do was to hold a proper ceremony, make it look convincing in the eyes of the public, and hand over Asella. ¡°Does he want to look like a good fianc¨¦?¡± As far as he was concerned, Calix Benvito had paid for the wedding, so there was no reason to give her a gift. He does not know why he would go to all this trouble to send an engagement gift. As he was mumbling, Philip¡¯s eyes caught sight of Asella¡¯s room. The maids were entering with Rebecca¡¯s clothes. A few moments later, a maid came out of the room and told Philip with a dark expression on her face. ¡°My Lord, the clothes do not fit her.¡± Rebecca preferred flashy, revealing dresses that would allow her to show her alluring figure. Needless to say, it looked good on her, but it was very difficult for others to pull it off. Philip clenched his teeth and ordered. ¡°Adjust the lining, cut it up, make it fit somehow.¡± ¡°Sir, but¡­¡± The maid was about to say something, but as soon as she met Philip¡¯s deadly eyes, she stopped talking. ¡°¡­ I will do my best. ¡° The clothes were so big that the hem and sleeves had to be shortened, and there was so much room in the bosom area that the only way to fix it was to sew it. The maid rushed off to find sewing tools. Philip watched her, gritting his teeth. ¡®You¡¯re annoying me right until the end.¡¯ Adele¡¯s two daughters had always been a thorn in his side. Mariel was still too young, so he was able to send her off to a faraway place. He was relieved from one at least, but every time he saw Asella, it would provoke his nerves. He felt the urge to lock her away in a secluded monastery at least several times a day. The only reason he couldn¡¯t do so was that he was sure that the aristocrats would criticize him. The look of annoyance in Philip¡¯s eyes turned uneasy as he stared into Asella¡¯s room. ¡®I just have to pull it off this time somehow.¡¯ The wedding was in a month at most. As soon as Asella was married, Anthony¡¯s succession would be a matter of fact. ¡®We must make this marriage happen, no matter what it takes.¡¯ The Chartus Marquisette had to be inherited by his son, and Anthony¡¯s biggest obstacle was Asella. She had a legitimacy that Anthony could not attain. She had even been educated to be the successor until Adele¡¯s death, so she was the person Philip had to be most wary of. He stepped on her mercilessly so that she would never be able to retaliate, stripped her of everything she deserved to enjoy, and deliberately excluded her from all family matters whether it was large or small. But what the high and mighty aristocracy of the empire traditionally valued the most was lineage. Because of the legitimacy of that bloodline, Anthony¡¯s position has not been consolidated yet. Philip had no choice but to put his life and death on Asella¡¯s marriage. ¡°My Lord.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°We managed to make it work.¡± Philip¡¯s lips curved up into a satisfied smile at the maid¡¯s report. ¡°All right. Take her to Rebecca¡¯s room and get her ready as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, My Lord¡±. ¡°Oh, and¡­¡± Philip stopped the maid as she entered the room again. If Asella spoke nonsense in front of Ryzen Kadan, his plan might fail. But as long as Philip held over Mariel, she would not act rashly. However, he could not afford to let his guard down. And since he had disciplined her excessively earlier, he needed to make sure she would behave properly. ¡°Make sure she keeps her mouth shut and doesn¡¯t say anything stupid. Even a rat will bite a cat¡¯s tail if he¡¯s pushed into a corner.¡± ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± A wicked smile stretched across Philip¡¯s face. Chapter 9 Reasons for Marriage Asella stood blankly and looked with a hazy gaze. She wasn¡¯t feeling well. She had a bad headache to the point she felt her head was about to split at any moment, yet she couldn¡¯t say anything. Besides the fact that her back hurt because of all the beatings she received earlier, her back was still throbbing even after she applied some pain relief ointment. ¡°My Lady, please hold still.¡± As Asella¡¯s body wobbled slightly, the maid, who was tightening the frill around her chest, immediately let out a cold remark. Asella stared silently at the unfamiliar maids. She had seen their faces a few times but knew nothing about them other than the fact that they were Rebecca¡¯s maids. ¡°¡­¡± She suppressed her pain and struggled to keep her consciousness as her vision got blurrier. She then bit her lip and strained her toes to maintain her posture as best as she could. If she were to relax at any moment, she would collapse in a matter of seconds. Looking at Asella¡¯s pale complexion as she bit her lip, the maid smirked as a way to blatantly ridicule her. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing with this expensive dress.¡± The other maids continued to mock her, fixing the sleeves and shortening the hem of the dress. ¡°We will have to throw it away after this. What a waste!¡° ¡°It¡¯s a crime to wear a dress that looks so expensive.¡° ¡°The luxurious dress is going to be ruined. It¡¯s going to look hideous¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re ugly, My Lady, so please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± Rude words kept coming out of the maid¡¯s mouths. It was not the kind of thing someone could say or do to the daughter of a marquis, but they didn¡¯t hesitate in the slightest. Asella endured their insults silently. In a few days, they would become people she would never see anyway. The knights and servants who had sworn allegiance to the Chartus family had been cast out for a while now. All the servants in the mansion had been replaced by those who suited Philip¡¯s tastes. ¡°Ah!¡± A sharp needle pierced her wrist. The needle was quite thick as it was to fix the frill. ¡°You¡¯re a lot more sensitive than I thought, My Lady! It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°I heard you were good at enduring. ¡° ¡°Compared to being whipped, this should be nothing, right?¡± Asella could hear the blatant sarcasm in their voices. Instead of replying, Asella slowly lowered her head and stared at her wrist, which had been pierced by the needle. A small drop of blood appeared on her skin. She stared at it until one of the maids wiped the blood off her skin. Would it turn out differently if she were to say anything? They were right after all; it was better than the lash of the whip. When there was no response from Asella, the maids looked into each other¡¯s eyes and smiled wickedly. ¡°As I thought, you seem to be alright, Miss.¡± The clever harassment continued. The needle continued to prick her body in various places. In visible areas, the pricks were shallow to avoid leaving any scars or marks, and in invisible areas, the pricks were a little deeper. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Are you okay, My Lady?¡± ¡°It was a mistake. Even though I pierced the same spot four times, it was a mistake.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m sure the Young Lady would be able to bear it, right?¡± They burst into giggles, unable to contain themselves. Asella looked at them with a blank expression. If she closed her eyes, would the commotion die down? The subordinates were sensitive to the structure of power more than anyone else. It was Philip¡¯s unspoken rule that the servants didn¡¯t attend to Asella. Asella sometimes thought she resembled a marionette, with her hands and feet tied and being tossed around from one place to another. She even had an expression where it was difficult to tell if she was laughing or crying. Chapter 10 ¡°If you think about Mariel, you¡¯ll behave properly.¡± ¡°You should know what choices you should make for your family.¡± Philip¡¯s frequent threats circled her ears. She hadn¡¯t eaten a single thing, yet she felt like vomiting. The sound of servants talking seemed distant as if it were ringing in her ears; the talking would fade, then grow louder again. Asella felt like she was about to lose consciousness and bit into her the thin flesh of her lower lip. The iron scent that trickled in her mouth seemed to clear her head. For the longest time, she thought she could stand this much, and she thought it was okay. ¡°Ugh!¡± Someone pricked her with a needle deliberately on her back, where her fresh wound was still bleeding. She applied some medicine and bandaged the wound with a layer of dry cloth but that was it. A stinging sensation on the top of her head emerged as her body hair stood up. Her face distorted momentarily. However, she quickly got used to it. She hid her pain behind an expressionless face, then straightened her position and looked ahead. ¡°¡­¡± She was a Chartus, even if her name was only for appearances. A glorious name that had been around since the Empire was founded and handed down from one generation to the next. Regardless of her current circumstances, she was educated to be the successor of this family when Adele was still alive. As time passed, that name weathered, but there were still some things that were deep-rooted and settled in her heart. ¡®To live up to the name of Chartus and never bring shame to it.¡¯ Things like pride and affection for the lineage had been imprinted deep into her bones since birth. Asella applied a faint pressure to her lips as it trembled in pain. She could withstand the throbbing headache and the sharp pain in her back, and she thought, ¡®Her prolonged silence was to blame.¡¯ If she were to open her mouth, a scream she buried so deep inside her would come out without her noticing. ¡°You¡¯re holding it in, My Lady.¡± As she watched Asella¡¯s reaction with curiosity, the maid leaned forward and boldly whispered. ¡°You should. It¡¯s for the Chartus family.¡± It was the only thing she could do for the house her mother had left her. A marriage with a man she never talked to before. ¡°You should gladly accept this proposal.¡± With a knife into her back, a gentle voice spoke, as if soothing a child. The deep scar in her heart was torn open again, and red fluid flowed from the crack. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work out this well, what will the deceased Marchioness think of you?¡± It was a brutal remark. Her heart, which she had thought would not react to any situation she encountered from now on, ached again. Surrounded by dozens of people, she squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her heart palpitate. ¡°You should be grateful that you can do anything to help the family, My Lady.¡± The servants of the mansion were well versed in how to handle Asella, thanks to Philip¡¯s treatment towards her. Whenever he brought up the subject of the previous Marchioness, Asella could not answer him properly. Not even once. The servants who watched him began to use this method themselves every time they needed to. It was a strategy that worked very well at all times. ¡°You have to think about Miss Mariel too.¡± Mariel. The poor child was still very young. Even the insignificant protection Asella could provide was desperately needed. ¡°Turn your body this way, My Lady.¡± Asella moved her feet quietly. The small gesture she made, mixed with the feeling of resignation, was almost mechanical. Even though she was moving on her own, it definitely felt unreal, like it wasn¡¯t her body at all. Her vision was dizzy and things seemed blurry. But she endured because she had to endure. ¡°Well, it¡¯s done. It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± The maid looked at Asella from top to bottom, as if she was inspecting her work. She nodded her head with a satisfied smile on her face. ¡°Now, sit on the sofa as carefully as possible¡±. ¡°Try not to move once you¡¯ve sat down or you might destroy all the stitching we¡¯ve worked hard on.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to look ugly either, do you?¡± The maids skilfully covered up the stitches. Asella just followed without saying a word. There were some things in this world that you know but could not avoid. Also, some things you could not resist. Sometimes, Asella felt distant whenever she recalled the past. Whenever she thought of her mother or her little sibling, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in years, she felt as if her feet were stuck in the sandy desert. It could be a little dull because of the windstorm of time, but it seemed that some things never change. ¡°Sir Kadan will be here soon, but I know you¡¯ll do well, right? It¡¯s for the good of the family.¡± ¡°And the good of Lady Mariel as well.¡± Asella nodded slowly. No matter how hard she struggled, the reality remained the same. After dozens or hundreds of attempts and pain, she realized the fact that¡­ ¡­ it would not change anyway. Asella closed her eyes and prepared for the upcoming humiliation. As she always did. Chapter 11 Finally, the long-awaited call had come. Philip¡¯s impatient face finally lit up. He immediately opened the door to the drawing-room and called Ryzen. ¡°My daughter is ready to meet you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, she is. However, she would like to see you in her room.¡± Ryzen raised an eyebrow, and Philip smiled awkwardly. ¡°She¡¯s usually a healthy child, but today she doesn¡¯t seem to be feeling well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made you come all the way. I hope you will understand.¡± Ryzen stood up without a reply. He had a good idea what kind of ¡°preparation¡± the young lady had been doing. At the behest of the lord, Calix Benvito, the information on Asella Chartus was reported in detail. Of course, the same goes for information on what was happening in Chartus household and her current social status. He knew very well where Asella Chartus stood, and what she was going through. Regardless, Philip¡¯s willingness to not be caught by the Grand Duke alone was worthy of praise. ¡°Follow me this way, please.¡± Philip led Ryzen himself. As they climbed the central stairs, a spacious hallway followed. Ryzen narrowed his eyes behind Philip as he led the two of them. It was a completely different path from the one he knew. The room where Asella Chartus was staying was not in the main building but a separate building. It was in an abandoned and neglected area that was poorly maintained and difficult to use; the farthest corner of the property. ¡°That¡¯s my daughter¡¯s room. She had a hard time after my wife¡¯s death, but I take care of her a lot.¡± Philip pointed to the largest room in the main building, and Ryzen smiled. ¡®Why were his true feelings so obvious from the beginning to end?¡¯ ¡°Your Excellency, Lord Cadan. You¡¯re here.¡± The aide who had spotted them bowed down, turned, and knocked on the door. It was to announce the arrival of Ryzen and Philip. ¡°My Lady, the Marquess and Lord Cadan are here.¡± ¡°One moment.¡± Philip interrupted his aide and approached the door. ¡®It looks good. Nothing bad yet.¡¯ He was going to play the role of a kind father who cared for his daughter since he had brought Ryzen here anyway. It was Philip who had fooled the Marquise when Adele was still alive. Though it had been a long time, it hadn¡¯t been too difficult. The corner of his mouth raised vulgarly. ¡°It¡¯s me, Asella. May I come in?¡± The voice he made was so gentle it gave her goosebumps. ¡°¡­¡± But there was no answer. He knocked again, but the same thing happened. ¡®Why isn¡¯t she answering?¡¯ Philip¡¯s face twisted instantly. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Philip quickly put his face in order and knocked on the door again. Ryzen watched Philip¡¯s expression change with interest. ¡°Asella, aren¡¯t you ready? It¡¯s okay. Be honest.¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯m ready.¡± Eventually, a small answer came from inside. Philip breathed an involuntary sigh of relief, then he looked at Ryzen. ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯ Given that Ryzen¡¯s gaze was directed towards the door, he did not seem to have seen it, fortunately. Philip was relieved as he patted down his chest. His efforts to appear to be a good father and daughter had almost come to naught. ¡®When he leaves, I¡¯ll have to educate her again. What did she do all of the sudden¡­?¡¯ Philip thought silently while grinding his teeth. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go in.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Philip opened the heavy door with his own hands, revealing a lavishly decorated interior with expensive furniture and all kinds of ornaments. As he entered the room, Philip mouthed to Asella. ¡®Behave yourself.¡¯ As if she understood, Asella bowed her head. Then, satisfied, Philip turned and spoke to Ryzen. ¡°This is the finest room in the house. I made it specially for her¡­¡± But Ryzen ignored Philip¡¯s words and walked quickly toward the feeble woman sitting on the sofa. Philip¡¯s eyes widened by his blatant disregard, He clenched his fists that trembled in anger. ¡®I must endure it for now.¡¯ He reigned like a king in the Marquise House, but in front of Calix Benvito, he was nothing but a subject. He had no choice but to bear with his feelings for the marriage. ¡°Young Lady, it is nice to meet you.¡± As he walked in front of Asella, Ryzen lowered himself and fell down to one knee. Chapter 12 Although she was abused and despised, she was about to become the master¡¯s one and only life partner. He bowed his head deeply and offered his courtesy. ¡°My name is Ryzen Kadan. I serve His Excellency, the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Hello, Sir Kadan.¡± Ryzen tilted his head back and looked at Asella, who sat with a straight posture. Her gaunt face gave an idea of the hardships she had been through, but even so, the aura she gave off was that of an aristocrat. ¡°I¡¯ve come to deliver an engagement gift from His Excellency to Your Highness.¡± The box that Ryzen had brought was passed to Asella by a servant. She placed the box she had received on her lap and opened the lid carefully. The servants standing nearby each let out a small exclamation. What came to view as an exquisitely crafted gold jewelry box. Not only was the front embedded with colorful jewels, but the corners were also decorated here and there, highlighting its beauty. ¡®If the jewelry box is this good, then the contents inside should be as magnificent!¡¯ The people who had been watching swallowed hard. Even Philip forgot his outrage and watched Asella¡¯s fingertips with curious eyes. But she only stared down at the box and did not flinch. ¡°Asella, what are you doing? Hurry up and open it.¡± Phillip urged her impatiently. ¡°Yes, My Lady.¡± ¡°Look at what¡¯s inside.¡± ¡°His Excellency prepared it specially for you.¡± The maids helped Phillip and agreed with him. Asella closed her eyes gently and opened them again in silence. Then, she slowly stretched her fingers to unlock the clasp. Clack. With a light sound, the lid of the jewelry box was opened and the contents were revealed for all to see. ¡°Oh, oh¡­ Oh my god!¡± ¡°No way, it¡¯s¡­!¡± Their faces were filled with shock as they took a glance at the contents of the box. Sounds of astonishment erupted here and there. The maids couldn¡¯t even speak properly and their mouths were hanging open. They couldn¡¯t believe what they were witnessing with their own eyes. What appeared in the jewelry box was a tiara adorned with hundreds of diamonds. An heirloom among heirlooms. It was so widely known that it even had another name: The Treasure of the Empire. Each carefully selected diamond was enough to become the main jewel of most ornaments. Even the diamonds positioned in the back corner of the tiara were made of the finest gemstones. Furthermore, it was the work of Rosen, who was known to be the greatest designer of all time. Not only did he take care of the entire design and manufacturing process, but also directly supervised every single diamond cutting that was needed for this work. After completing the tiara, Rosen¡¯s words were also famous. ¡®This tiara is the masterpiece of my life.¡¯ The beautiful accessory that had been worn by the Duchesses of the Benvito family for generations was now sitting on Asella¡¯s lap. ¡°He said you should wear it for the wedding ceremony.¡± ¡°¡­ I will.¡± Asella replied plainly. The beauty of the tiara was truly astounding, but it was the tiara alone. She was well aware of her circumstances and situation more than anyone else. The only product that would be passed back and forth in this marriage would be herself. This gorgeous tiara was just a decorative ribbon to emphasize the product. She quietly closed her eyes. Philip, on the other hand, opened his eyes at the unbelievable sight. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect him to send me the Glory of the Goddess. What the hell is he thinking?¡¯ Philip¡¯s greedy eyes shook with confusion. He tried to figure out what Calix Benvito meant, but his common sense was completely incomprehensible. ¡®The legendary Glory of the Goddess tiara was given as an engagement gift to this little girl¡­¡¯ The mine he received earlier would never compare to the value of this one tiara, even after a hundred years of mining. ¡®What¡¯s going on here?¡¯ ¡®They¡¯ve never even seen each other¡¯s faces.¡¯ ¡®I thought they wouldn¡¯t meet before the wedding.¡¯ The maids exchanged glances with each other in shock and surprise. Soundless words came and went. But no matter how much they tried to think, they couldn¡¯t figure out why. When the crucible of confusion lasted, the first person to come to his senses was Philip. ¡°Asella, what are you doing? His Excellency is giving you such a precious gift.¡± ¡°Please convey my gratitude to His Excellency.¡± Asella expressed her gratitude immediately. It couldn¡¯t have been any more submissive. ¡°I will, Your Highness.¡± Politely answering, Ryzen opened his mouth again. ¡°Your Highness, may I request something?¡± ¡°You may speak.¡± ¡°Can you dismiss everyone in this room?¡± Chapter 13 At these words, Asella raised her head slightly and looked at Ryzen. When she looked into his deep blue eyes, Ryzen added. ¡°I have something to tell you. His Excellency has specifically ordered me to inform you this matter in private, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Very well, Sir. Then¡­¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Asella nodded and replied. But before she could finish her sentence, Philip interrupted. ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± All the people¡¯s eyes turned to him at once. Ryzen did not hide his displeasure and asked. ¡°Acting Marquis Philip, is there a problem?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Philip was speechless. He tried to prevent him from doing so in a panicked gesture, but now, he had nothing to say. ¡°His Excellency is the young lady¡¯s official fianc¨¦ and he had something to say to her before the wedding, but the circumstances were unfavorable, so I came in his stead. Unless you have another reason, please excuse yourself out.¡± Phillip became nervous. Anxiety arose at the thought of what Asella might say to Ryzen if he left. He always kept a close eye on the situation like a hawk and acted cunningly like a snake, but this time he lost his self-control. He became impatient and spat out the words without a second thought. ¡°What kind of a father would leave his daughter alone with a man?! What do you think will happen?¡± Instantly, the air in the room turned cold. A chilly, almost suffocating silence fell between them. Philip¡¯s face grew pale as he finally realized what he just blurted out. When Ryzen¡¯s eyes turned cold. Philip flinched unconsciously. The look in his eyes looked as if he was about to tear him to pieces and swallow him alive, which sent cold sweat down his spine. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard such an insult before!¡± A horrified, somber voice echoed through the room. ¡°I have come to this place on behalf of His Excellency. Can I interpret what the Acting Marquis said as an insult to him?¡± ¡°What! No! It¡¯s not like that!¡± Philip stuttered in embarrassment. His body trembled at the thought of this story entering the ears of the Grand Duke. He would rather be threatened with a knife over this. Anyone who would go against Calix Benvito would meet their end on the same day. Feeling his heart pounding, Philip quickly picked up an excuse and held it in. ¡°I made a slip of the tongue because I cared about my daughter. It was just a mistake, so please let it slide. There¡¯s no need to inform His Excellency of what I said and make him worry, right?¡± ¡°Out of compassion. I see.¡± Ryzen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It was the look he made when he became unhappy about something. But to those who saw this for the first time, it seemed to look like he gave a small smile. The same was true for Phillip, who was very good at reading the moods of others. He assumed that Ryzen was feeling better and talked confidently. The smooth lie came out of his mouth effortlessly. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know because you don¡¯t have children yet, but you¡¯ll feel it when you become a parent. How precious and lovely children are. When I care too much about them, I sometimes make stupid mistakes like this, so I hope you will understand me.¡± If an outsider saw this, they would think that Philips¡¯ words were sincere. Ryzen answered coldly as he listened to Philip¡¯s audacious words. ¡°Very well, Sir. Let¡¯s pretend it didn¡¯t happen.¡± Philip¡¯s face brightened. Fortunately, it seemed that the matter would pass without any issues. After sending Ryzen off, all he had to do was go to the Imperial Palace and get a marriage permit from His Majesty. Philip, who had completed his calculations, continued to speak with a good-natured expression on his face. ¡°Indeed, it seems that Sir Kadan and I are on the same page. Now that His Excellency and my daughter are about to get married, we will be seeing each other often on many occasions. I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°I would like to have a conversation with the young lady.¡± Even though Philip said it with a little servile, Ryzen¡¯s answer was cold. Philip looked at him, puzzled. ¡°What conversation? Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d pretend that nothing happened?¡± ¡°I said that I will accept your excuse that you weren¡¯t trying to insult His Excellency. I never said I wouldn¡¯t converse with the young lady.¡± ¡°H-How could that be¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise, did I ¡®misunderstand¡¯ you?¡± Philip was left speechless, his lips pursed. If he prevented the conversation here, he would be the one who had insulted the Grand Duke. But he couldn¡¯t casually answer that way either. Philip glanced at Asella. ¡®I wonder what that thing he wants to talk about.¡¯ For now, she sat quietly, but again, it was impossible to tell what she would say once he left. He would step on her to stop her from raising her head, but she always caused trouble when he thought she would just stay still. ¡®I have to do something about this, but¡­¡¯ This is a situation where he couldn¡¯t do anything, no matter how hard he tried to come up with a way to get out of this situation. If only Ryzen hadn¡¯t been watching over him. He nailed his words so that Philip could not make excuses. ¡°While the young lady and I are having a conversation, the Acting Marquess will have some time to spare. Perhaps you should go to the Imperial Palace and receive a marriage permit from His Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the end, the only words Philip could muster were¡­ ¡°¡­ Prepare tea for the guest.¡± There was a lot of force in his clenched hands. His anger skyrocketed, but he had no choice. The sound of Philip¡¯s shoes walking away was particularly loud as well. Asella watched his back with a soft sigh. At that moment, Philip suddenly stopped and turned around. When Asella¡¯s eyes met Philip¡¯s, a creepy smile stretched across his face which made her gasp in surprise. Ryzen was sitting with his back facing Philip, so he could not see him. Philip opened his mouth slowly and silently formed the shape of a mouth. Ma-ri-el. Asella¡¯s pale face turned completely white like a sheet of paper. Philip bent his lips as he watched her trembling lips. It seemed to make him feel a little better about being dirty. He got a hold over her sibling and warned her so that she wouldn¡¯t dare slip up. Philip stepped out of the door with lighter steps. Chapter 14 The maid placed the teacup in front of Asella and Ryzen and bowed politely. ¡°¡­ Now that it is quiet, please speak.¡± With the sound of the door closing, they were the only two in the room. The pleasant aroma of the steamy cup of tea diffused into the stale air. Asella stared at Ryzen in a way that wasn¡¯t too rude. She didn¡¯t want to give the impression that she was observing him, so she stared down at the tip of her nose without making proper eye contact. ¡®This man¡­ is a member of Count Kadan¡¯s household.¡¯ The Kadans were the leading vassals of the Benvitos and produced some of the best knights of the country. ¡®He has no openings.¡¯ He did not touch any food on the table, not to mention the tea. In a way, it was on purpose. There have been people who were mean and would put tricks in their food. It could be poison, truth serum, or sleeping pills, so one had to be careful. Any other person would have taken a sip of tea out of courtesy. He was a very serious person, almost like a brick wall. She felt as if she didn¡¯t need to bother to find out what kind of man her husband-to-be, the Grand Duke Calix Benvito, was like. Letting out a small sigh, Asella opened her mouth first. ¡°Did you have anything you want to say to me¡­?¡± The answer was unexpected. ¡°Nothing in particular.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°His Excellency ordered me to stay for as long as it takes to finish a cup of tea with My Lady.¡± Tilting her head as if she were trying to figure out what he was saying, Asella asked again. ¡°May I ask why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about that. I only followed what I was ordered to do. Are you uncomfortable?¡± ¡°No.¡± With a brief answer, Asella looked down to the spectacular tiara that was still on her lap, shining gorgeously, as if making its presence known. ¡®He said you should wear it for the wedding ceremony.¡¯ To someone else, it might seem like a loving gift from a husband who cared for his future wife. But Asella knew better than anyone that it was not for romantic reasons. It was a kind of sign. A sign that indicated that she belonged to him. There was no reason for her heart to be overjoyed. No reason for her to rejoice at this luxurious gift. Philip had ordered her to thank the Grand Duke, who wasn¡¯t even there, but Asella had a strong feeling that no matter how she reacted, Calix Benvito wouldn¡¯t care much. ¡°¡­¡± Ryzen, on the other hand, observed Asella closely. Of course, it was his lord¡¯s orders, but he also developed a strange curiosity regarding her personality. That was because Asella was very different from what he had imagined. Whether she wanted it or not, the world had a lot to say about Asella Chartus. The tragic daughter of the Marquis who lost her mother in an unfortunate accident; the failure of Chartus; the one who has yet to awaken her own abilities; the loser who was even stripped of the title of successor¡­ Ryzen also heard a lot of rumors and gathered information under the order of the Grand Duke. However, seeing Asella in person was very different from what Ryzen had in mind. No rumor could fully speak of her. Years of abuse had taken its toll on her body, but it couldn¡¯t take away her natural noble soul. She behaved docilely as if she knew nothing of disobedience, but at certain moments her eyes would light up. She spoke only a few words, but they were not thoughtless, and her actions were calculated but precise and controlled. He was quick to notice that she was wearing clothes that didn¡¯t belong to her. It looked like they prepared it in a short time, but Ryzen¡¯s keen eyes were able to find the odd wrinkled, poorly-made stitches here and there. The extreme lack of movement must have been due to the fact that she knew they were poorly sewn and was afraid it might rip apart. It was already odd to be forced to wear clothes that didn¡¯t belong to her, yet it wasn¡¯t that strange since the one who was forced was Asella Chartus. Ryzen¡¯s gaze slowly shifted to her face. ¡®Is she injured? If not¡­¡¯ As she looked down at the tiara with dry eyes. Her lips looked like they would bleed at any moment. She seemed to have tried to hide it by wiping it clean and applying makeup to her lips. If he had to guess, it was a recent wound. Her straight posture was steady, though her eyes were flinching as if she was standing on the edge of a cliff. Pretending not to notice, Ryzen averted his gaze and immediately began to speak slowly, though he felt it was unlike him to do so. ¡°There is no need to endure all of this, My Lady.¡± Asella lifted her head at the unexpected words. ¡°Especially since you¡¯re going to be a Grand Duchess.¡± Asella did not respond but remained silent for a while. The tea had eventually cooled down. When it was time for Ryzen to leave, he stood up, and at that moment, Asella finally parted her heavy lips. ¡°¡­Thank you for your kind words.¡± It was small and quiet, yet it was a clear tone. Chapter 15 At the same time, in the Emperor¡¯s office¡­ ¡°That¡¯s the most interesting thing Calix has done in a long time! And from all families, no less.¡± Fernandez, the Emperor ruling the Harmenian Empire, gave a small smile. He examined the document in front of him with an amused expression and asked the person standing beside him light-heartedly. ¡°Duncan, what do you think of this?¡± Duncan was the illegitimate son of a viscount. He had risen to the position of the Emperor¡¯s closest aide solely on the basis of his superior swordsmanship and had worked by the emperor¡¯s side for many years. Duncan bowed his head politely as he answered. ¡°They will only obey your orders, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a matter of fact.¡± But then again, it wasn¡¯t a question that Fernandez wanted to get an answer to either. He hated those who expressed their opinion in front of him or acted cocky around him. At a meeting, he had memorized the names of every nobleman who had been outspoken without knowing the subject and had even annihilated them by charging them with treason. ¡°Chartus. I never thought I¡¯d hear that name again.¡± Fernandez tilted his index finger at an angle and swept it across his chin. Duncan, sensing the emperor¡¯s intentions, asked cautiously. ¡°Shall I release the Dogs?¡± A secret unit under the direct control of the Emperor was commonly known as the Emperor¡¯s Dogs. They didn¡¯t hesitate to follow any order from the Emperor, including murder, abduction, and torture. They didn¡¯t need any justification or a reason. Brainwashed from an early age, they were willing to commit suicide if the emperor said so. ¡°No, the eldest daughter of Chartus has no power. It¡¯s not worth investigating.¡± Fernandez shook his head and said sarcastically. ¡°Surprisingly, Philip seems to have a lot of patience. If I were him, I would have discarded that waste instantly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Being the cunning businessman that he is, he probably planned to sell it off for a large sum later. He got what he wished for since he got a mine of gems for that useless thing.¡± Fernandez spat out a pair of mocking words in a condescending tone. Then, as if suddenly remembering, he furrowed his brows. ¡°Well, there was a second person, wasn¡¯t there? Did you say her name was Mariel? How old is she this year?¡± ¡°She¡¯s about to celebrate her tenth birthday.¡± Fernandez¡¯s gray eyes flashed coldly at Duncan¡¯s answer. ¡°Get the Dogs. Keep an eye on her, and if she shows any signs of developing special abilities¡­¡± A foul smile appeared on the Emperor¡¯s face. ¡°Look for the opportunity and kill her.¡± * * * In the office of the Grand Duchy Palace, a man was receiving a report. As he stood behind an antique mahogany desk with his back facing the large window, his shadow draped across the room. The dark sunset behind the man made him look like the God of War. His tall figure, broad shoulders, and muscular body could not be concealed by his outfit. ¡°That¡¯s all to report for, Your Excellency.¡± Having finished his report, Ryzen stepped back and waited breathlessly for his lord, Calix Benvito, to give an order. There was a brief moment of silence, then a low, cool voice spoke. ¡°Ryzen.¡± ¡°At your service.¡± The man turned his body slowly and his face appeared. It was as captivating as if it was a painting. His dark black hair was slightly disheveled, even giving the impression that he was a descendant of a celestial being. A pair of aggressive hostile eyes stared at Ryzen, making him swallow hard. It had been several years since he served under His Excellency, but he still got an instinctive creepy feeling whenever he made eye contact with him. It wasn¡¯t just limited to him. Even high-ranking nobles could not make eye contact with this young Grand Duke, let alone exchange words with him. A man who had spent several years on the battlefield naturally had an air of danger surrounding him. Some felt fear in his presence, and others felt awe. Ryzen was closer to the latter. ¡°Make sure the news of the marriage gets out on a large scale. Make sure everyone knows about it, even the villagers in the remote countryside.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow your orders.¡± It was not a romantic story to boast widely about one¡¯s marriage and Calix Benvito was a man who acted strategically. Take it if necessary, throw it away when it becomes useless. Rather than showing off his marriage, this was more like a kind of declaration that Asella Chartus was his. And this was another perfectly calculated step. Ryzen felt a bit of sympathy towards the future Grand Duchess. ¡°What was it like to meet her?¡± Ryzen didn¡¯t even know what the question meant, but he decided to refrain from speaking. Whatever the reason, he was the one his master had chosen to meet the lady. He could not arbitrarily judge and speak about the person who would soon become the mistress of the family. ¡°As I reported to you earlier.¡± A firm answer came from the mouth of the loyal vassal. ¡°In your opinion, is she not capable at all? In developing special abilities, I mean.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Is there any chance she will awaken it in the future?¡± ¡°Not at the moment, no.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Calix¡¯s indifferent face sparked with interest for a moment. His sharp mouth pulled into a smile. ¡°If that¡¯s your judgment, then we¡¯ll see.¡± It was rare for Ryzen to be this certain. Then again, the likelihood was one out of two. The woman really didn¡¯t have any special abilities, or she was such a good actor that Ryzen couldn¡¯t catch her. ¡°She could be hiding her abilities.¡± ¡°Why would she bother to do so?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see, won¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t there an exception? Maybe it was Mariel Chartus.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Offspring were rare in the Chartus family. In one generation, only one girl was born; the others were boys. The only case of a second girl being born was when the eldest daughter had passed away. Even then, no boys had been born for the past 300 years. This was a family lineage where only one female was born to be the head of the family. This was the reason why there was currently no official support for the Chartus family. As a result, many thought at one point that the Chartus bloodline would soon die out, but contrary to expectations, it had continued to live on until now. ¡°The second daughter of Chartus?¡± Hence, the birth of Mariel Chartus caused a tremendous buzz in the Empire. Because it was an unprecedented event, all kinds of wild and groundless rumors circulated in the social circles. The only thing that put the rumors to rest was a word from her mother, the Marquise Adele Chartus. Chapter 16 ¡°I swear by my name and my special abilities that they are both my daughters.¡± There was nothing to complain about anymore because the mother herself said so. In this way, Mariel Chartus became the second child of the Marquise¡¯s family. However, only three years later, Adele was attacked and murdered by an unknown man of suspicious origin, making the Marquise of Chartus fall into Philip¡¯s hands. ¡°Her tenth birthday is approaching.¡± ¡°Report back as soon as you receive confirmation.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± Calix continued with a faint smile. ¡°If the child develops a special ability, she¡¯ll be the next Marquise.¡± He spoke in a strange tone as if he was confidently stating a matter of fact. In fact, he ignored his promise to support Anthony¡¯s succession to the marquisate in return for the marriage. However, no one in this room cared about that. Likewise, Ryzen opened his mouth calmly. ¡°Philip believed that his son would soon be promoted to the rank of Marquis.¡± ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t know that it will hasten his expulsion.¡± He was a fool who was so blinded by the piles of gold in front of him that he couldn¡¯t even see the cliff right in front of him. To Calix, he was a man not worthy of taking the time to even talk about. ¡°You can¡¯t let that idiot sit on the Marquise¡¯s seat, not in the presence of a legitimate female heir.¡± Calix brushed his dark hair lightly, approaching the desk with slow steps. Then he stopped and opened his thin lips to continue the conversation. ¡°She is lucky to have survived until now.¡± It was a meaningful remark. Ryzen asked cautiously. ¡°Did the Emperor have any words to say about ¡®that¡¯?¡± ¡°None.¡± ¡°It seems that the Emperor is aware of your concerns.¡± ¡°I suppose he decided to see if there is anything useful for him.¡± Calix said sarcastically. He tilted his head to the side and looked at the desk. He glanced briefly at the Emperor¡¯s seal, stamped clearly on the marriage license, and then at the signature next to it. Asella¡¤Chartus. The handwriting was elegant and neat. Calix¡¯s long fingers gently pressed down on the woman¡¯s name. ¡°Did you notice anything else?¡± Ryzen gasped. His lord had never asked more than one question regarding anything, yet now he did. Two questions about Asella Chartus. Of course, he could have replied in the same way he had earlier. It would have been a smart way to pass the question by without complications. But he pictured that person who was sitting there naturally, despite knowing everything. ¡°She seemed to be a good person, better than the rumors about her.¡± The words flowed out of his mouth. A slightly surprised expression appeared on Calix¡¯s indifferent face. It was not often that Ryzen spoke so favorably of someone. ¡°Did you speak to her in private?¡± ¡°Yes, but there was nothing special about her besides what I reported. She is a woman of few words.¡± ¡°By the way, why did you make this judgment?¡± At that moment, Ryzen was speechless. Even he didn¡¯t know why he said so. His mission today was to deliver the Lord¡¯s engagement gift to the future Grand Duchess and to observe whether or not she had awakened any special abilities. The encounter was extremely brief. The conversation consisted of a few words before he left the room. However, he had no idea why he felt that way. In the midst of thinking, Carlix¡¯s interrogation continued. ¡°It¡¯s a bit early to finalize your judgment around her, isn¡¯t it?¡± Realizing that he had been rash and a bit thoughtless, Ryzen acknowledged his mistake and said. ¡°I am sorry, Your Excellency. I judged prematurely.¡± Calix narrowed his eyes. Although he had known Ryzen for quite some time, this was the first time he had seen him as strange as he was acting today. It was quite interesting in its own way, so Calix decided to tolerate his aide¡¯s mistake. ¡°How are the preparations for the wedding?¡± ¡°It¡¯s proceeding without a hitch.¡± ¡°Any requests from Chartus?¡± ¡°There were a few, but the budget is sufficient to cover them.¡± ¡°Do whatever she wants. Anything.¡± The immense wealth of the Benvito family had already surpassed that of the Imperial family. Whatever Chartus demanded was a trifle, like a tiny bit of sand on a wide beach. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. And-¡° Ryzen asked after a brief hesitation. ¡°Do you wish to arrange an appointment with the Young Lady?¡± Political marriages were common in aristocratic society. They were constantly recalculated to secure unity and alliance between the families and to guarantee the interests of the family. However, since the relationship involved becoming husband and wife anyway, most noble families had a long betrothal period before marriage so that the two parties could get to know each other. It usually lasted a year or more, or six months at the very least. However, the wedding date that Calix Benvito had set was only a month from now. ¡°It¡¯s better to arrange a meeting with the lady and get to know her¡­¡± ¡°No need.¡± Cutting off his sentence with a single word just as a sharp blade, Calix turned his attention to the documents in his hand. It was true that Ryzen¡¯s reaction was interesting, but it wasn¡¯t enough to make him want to meet her before their marriage. She was just a woman who would become his wife anyway because of her value. It didn¡¯t matter what kind of woman she was, as long as she was good enough. If she had the ability, she would do the best she could as the Grand Duchess, and if she didn¡¯t, she would just do whatever she could. There was no need to waste time. **** Chapter 17 As soon as Philip returned from the Imperial Palace, he went directly to the annex where Asella¡¯s room was located. ¡°Speak. What did you and Sir Kadan talk about?¡± Ryzen was the most difficult type of man for Philip to deal with. He rarely uttered unnecessary words, was very loyal, and could not be coaxed or intimidated. If he tried anything half-heartedly, he would get the wrong end of the stick. In fact, Philip had had a bad experience whilst trying to make connections with Ryzen when he found out that his business was stranded due to the influence of Calix. This was the reason why Philip couldn¡¯t treat Ryzen recklessly even though he despised him. Even to this day, he could not even utter a single word to Ryzen, so he scolded Asella instead. ¡°What was that thing he couldn¡¯t say unless the room was empty?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything special.¡± Asella replied, moving her lips carefully. She was telling the truth. There was nothing special in their conversation, except for the brief exchange before Ryzen had left. Philip¡¯s face twisted, and he assumed that Asella was trying to hide something from him. ¡°That¡¯s why I asked you what you mean by that.¡± When Asella failed to give him a satisfactory answer to his follow-up question, Philip¡¯s face turned bright red with anger. Expecting what was about to come, Asella flinched and closed her eyes. A few moments later, she didn¡¯t feel any pain whatsoever. She opened her eyes slowly, and to her surprise, Philip was clenching his hand. This man, who always raised his hand at her whenever he felt like it, was now holding back! That alone was surprising. Of course, there was a reason for a change in Philip¡¯s behaviour. ¡®What the hell was he thinking for giving this to her?¡¯ During this, Philips¡¯ gaze remained fixated on the jewelry box, which sat on his desk. It was so extravagant and luxurious it looked foreign in this small and dull room. The tiara ¡°Glory of the Goddess¡± had several meanings. It was a jewel and an ornament of astronomical value on its own, a work of art of the highest quality in the empire made by the craftsman of the century, Rosen, and finally¡­. The mistress of the House of Benvito. All previous Grand Duchesses wore this tiara when appearing in official occasions. However, this did not mean that the tiara belonged to the Grand Duchess personally. It was the property of the Benvito family and had been passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom. However, Ryzen did indeed refer to the tiara as an engagement present. He meant to state that it now belonged to Asella as her personal property. ¡®I don¡¯t understand his ulterior motive.¡¯ Calix Benvito had no love for the woman who would become his wife. Philip was confident of this all along. Furthermore, wasn¡¯t the Grand Duke hostile towards Chartus? It was obvious what a proposal under such circumstances would mean. Asella would have to live with just the dazzling title of the Grand Duchess. She would live her life where she could not leave, a life with little to no affection, and maybe she would encounter things she couldn¡¯t say in public, like what happened here. It was for this reason that Philip was pleased with this marriage. Adele Chartus, the previous Marchioness, was graceful and an elegant woman. It was only with the help of ¡°him¡± that Philip was able to marry her. Unlike what was known to the world, Adele wasn¡¯t in love with him, nor was she blinded by the second love that came her way. In any case, even after marrying her that way, Philip suffered from an inferiority complex during the entire time Adele was alive. It was to the extent that even now, seven years after her death, he was unable to escape from his own remorse. She was a woman of status, title, wealth, not to mention an extraordinary appearance. The thought of throwing the life of her eldest daughter, Asella, into the abyss made him shudder with joy. Not to mention the fact that it was a great way to make that happen without the need to worry about the attention of the nobility. That would be like blowing your nose without touching it. Philip had nothing to lose. ¡®Having an heir is important.¡¯ It seemed that Calix was trying to pay the proper amount to get the tool he needed to produce his successor. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s the other way around. If the Grand Duke accepted Asella as his wife, in its own way, it was good. Benvito¡¯s wealth and connections were beyond imagination. If he could invest even a small amount in Benvito¡¯s many businesses, it would be a great gain. With the Grand Duke¡¯s connections as a foundation, perhaps he would be able to form a close bond with the Imperial family as well. ¡°Princess Veronica was about the same age as Anthony.¡± The more he thought about it, the more he couldn¡¯t think of a better opportunity. After finishing his calculations, Philip¡¯s anger disappeared from his mind like a melting snowflake. ¡®She¡¯s more useful than I thought.¡¯ Then it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to strike in advance. Philip relaxed his face and his lips curved into a sneaky grin. ¡°You must be in a lot of pain¡­ especially your wounded area¡­¡± Asella was surprised by the sudden gentle tone in Philip¡¯s voice. There were usually two cases when Philip would speak this way: when he was conscious of other people¡¯s eyes on him, or when he wanted to get what he wanted through physical punishment. And right now, Philip and Asella were the only ones here. Asella¡¯s body began to shudder slightly. Her lips quivered in horror, and she bit her lips shut with all her might. ¡°I guess I was a little harsh earlier. I did it out of anger so don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You need to get treatment as soon as possible. I¡¯ll send a doctor.¡± Up until now, whenever she got sick or suffered from pain throughout the night, no one in the castle would care for her, nor would they summon a doctor to give her proper treatment. It was only when she was in a very severe condition that they had no choice but to bring a doctor in because they didn¡¯t want her to die due to a lack of proper treatment. However, this was not the case with wounds from whipping. ¡°I will call for a priest when the wounds are healed. It would be better to use their divine power to erase the scars.¡± Phillip smiled widely, for he did not want to send damaged goods. Chapter 18 Asella guessed the reason for Philip¡¯s change in attitude. He wanted to get rid of the scars on her body before she got married. He knew that it would not do any good to show her disfigured body to the Grand Duke. That was fortunate for Asella. ¡°Madame Efredieu should be here soon. She¡¯s going to fit you for the wedding and reception dresses, so get ready.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°Oh, and¡­¡± Philip added just as he remembered. ¡°If you need anything, just tell me. I¡¯ll prepare whatever you need.¡± This remark was so funny that Asella had to suppress the giggle that was trying to escape her lips. The Benvito family was supposed to pay for the entire wedding. If the wife took the husband¡¯s last name, specifically in Asella¡¯s case, the wedding would take place in the bride¡¯s house, but the man would pay for the wedding. Decorating the chambers where the bride would stay was also an important task. But in return, the woman would bring a reasonable dowry with her such as an inheritance or a private property, which was arranged in advance. The opposite was true when the head of the family was a woman and therefore the husband had to take his wife¡¯s family name. However, Philip refused to provide a dowry when he married Adele since his family¡¯s circumstances were too difficult to do so. Meanwhile, he received all the necessary expenses for the marriage. In other words, the Benvito family paid for the wedding dress, the flowers, and decorations for the ceremony, the food for the reception, the invitations, and all other necessary expenses. Thanks to Philip¡¯s proud blabbering, this matter reached the ears of Asella from the servants. ¡®A shameless man.¡¯ He didn¡¯t even know what the word ¡°shameless¡± meant. The only time this happened in the aristocracy was usually when one of them was remarrying or a fallen nobleman. Then, it was difficult to arrange a dowry by any means. For that exact reason, Philip, the third son of a poor count family, married Adele empty-handed. However, Asella¡¯s wedding was neither. The young lady of the House of Chartus, an Imperial marquis family, was getting married, but she passed the cost on to the other party without a proper dowry for the trivial reason that it would be a burden. As soon as this shameless and brazen story became known by everyone, rumors naturally began to circulate. They sold her. Indeed, they did. It was true. But at least he could hide it from the public! No matter how distasteful he was, he could at least do that. In aristocratic society, honor was the most important thing. No matter what the circumstances were internally, as long as it didn¡¯t show up, it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. The property that could be given as her dowry was only a small fraction of the vast fortune that Adele had left behind. If Philip spared any of that money, he could save the family honor, but no, he chose to drive the family reputation to the ground just to save some of that money. This would serve as the excuse to justify his actions afterwards, no matter what Archduke Benvito did to her. ¡®¡­ It¡¯s okay.¡¯ She knew that it was too late to get out of Philip¡¯s clutches. But Calix Benvito was no better than Philip. Her blue eyes roamed the room until they stopped at the jewellery box placed carefully on the table. ¡®But perhaps Mariel could¡­¡¯ Asella remembered a seeming possibility. It was the hope that perhaps that tiara might be of some use to help her sister. If she succeeded, Mariel¡¯s circumstances might improve, even if it was only slightly. She might even be able to live a different life than the one she had. Asella thought of the words written in Mariel¡¯s last letter, which gave strength. She clenched her hands into fists. Philip¡¯s mouth curved at the sight of her. ¡®Thinking about useless things again.¡¯ It was Philip who had started out with nothing and ended up in the position he was in now. Even without looking, it was obvious what the young girl was thinking. Philip was the first to make the move. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much it, Asella. You¡¯ve inspired me to reconsider your worth.¡± Turning her face back to the voice she had heard, Asella met Philip¡¯s creepy smile. Her body naturally stiffened at the mocking look in his eyes, and her pupils trembled slightly. Philip¡¯s venomous eyes slowly scanned Asella. She had a face similar to her mother¡¯s fair face, but it was unlikely that the one and only Calix Benvito would be so easily taken by looks. However, this was still a mystery. ¡°You don¡¯t think¡­ I¡¯m going to use that tiara to do something crazy, do you?¡± Asella felt suffocated. Philip¡¯s calm voice continued. If anyone didn¡¯t know, it sounded like the kindest and gentlest father in the world. ¡°Yeah, for example¡­ the act of deceiving your husband with your looks and sweet talk, and using him for your own gain.¡± It was a threat, spoken in a terrifyingly gentle voice. ¡°You¡¯re a good girl. I have nothing to regret if Mariel doesn¡¯t open her eyes tomorrow.¡± Philip whispered with a gentle chuckle. ¡°¡­!¡± Asella¡¯s body flinched. The small flame of hope was quickly trampled on and extinguished. Chapter 19 Philip watched Asella as her body shuddered like a dying animal with a cruel smile on his face. ¡°Even if it didn¡¯t, I will feel lonely when you leave.¡± ¡°F-Father¡­¡± ¡°I figured it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to have someone else come to take your place.¡± Asella¡¯s eyes twitched in shock. Mariel. Her only sister. This was Asella¡¯s weakness and the reason why she had been living in this mansion without defying Philip in any way. Three years ago, when Mariel made a small mistake, Philip got extremely angry. ¡°You stupid bastard! How much do you think that¡¯s worth?! You shattered it into pieces!¡± ¡°I made a terrible mistake. I¡¯m sorry, Father.¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Just before Philip¡¯s hand reached Mariel, Asella stood firmly against him. With the single aim of protecting her sister in mind, she mustered the courage she didn¡¯t usually have at that moment. It was her first and last act of rebellion. ¡°If you hit Mariel, I will not stand by and watch.¡± ¡°And if you don¡¯t?¡± ¡°How long do you think I¡¯ll¡­ keep my eyes closed, ears closed, and mouth shut?¡± No matter how ruined Asella¡¯s position was, he could not prevent her from doing the essential social activities. Even if the aristocratic society had a decent view of Anthony, if she were to say or do anything against that, it would cause a big scandal. As he looked for a way to strip her from her title and kick her out of the family, the only thing that remained was her political standing, and it wasn¡¯t long before she had her debutante. The plan was to have her participate in important social events, including the Imperial banquets for the New Year¡¯s and Founding Festival, so that she could be sold off as soon as a suitable marriage partner appeared. However, it was at these important events that Asella could expose Philip¡¯s true colours and for raising his hand on Mariel. ¡°How dare you threaten me?¡± Philip¡¯s expression twisted grimly. His angry face turned red as if it were about to burst with steam. He gritted his teeth and shouted. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re gonna get away with that?¡± ¡°But you won¡¯t be able to achieve what you want.¡± Philip was the guardian of the future heir to the Chartus family. As such, when stories circulated that he had abused his daughter, the official bloodline heir, in order to make his own adopted son the heir, Anthony¡¯s succession to the marquisate would be far from certain. The nobles were a group that cared not only about their own interests, but their prestige and appearances. If it was just the vassals of the Chartus family, he might be able to push them aside with force, but he couldn¡¯t make enemies with the other nobles. In the end, Philip could not raise his hand to whip Mariel after that day. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to see your face, so go to your room and lock yourself in! Don¡¯t even think about crawling out until I call you again!¡± Asella patted herself on the chest, thinking that she was lucky that the issue ended at that level. However, Philip¡¯s retaliation continued. A few days later, he sent Mariel to a villa in the southern part of the Marquisate. The Marquisate of Chartus was relatively close to the capital, but even so, it took four days by carriage to reach the southern part of the Marquisate. One night, when Asella went to a banquet that Philip had ordered her to attend, she found Mariel¡¯s room empty and cried all night. She couldn¡¯t even greet him properly, and she couldn¡¯t sleep for a while because she felt guilty that she had left the little girl alone. A month later, she received a letter. The letter was carefully written in Mariel¡¯s childish handwriting. [Dear Sister, I¡¯m doing well here. The weather is warm and everyone is kind.] Asella read the letter over and over, thinking of Mariel, who must have worked very hard to write it with her clumsy little hands. ¡°Perhaps it was for the best¡­¡± It¡¯s not like she was going to stay here. If Mariel could live comfortably, it might be better for her to leave. Of course, there had to be a price to be paid for her sister¡¯s safety. ¡°You do know that it¡¯s only through your hard work that Mariel is doing well, right?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t care about Mariel anymore?¡± Philip used Mariel as leverage whenever necessary, and Asella could not disobey a word he said. She could not dare to speak back. She wondered if her little sister, now alone and far from home, would get hurt if she disobeyed. Just like now. ¡°When someone is kind to you, you have to be able to accept it gratefully. Otherwise, I might change my mind and it might come back to bite you in the neck.¡± ¡®Do you understand, Asella?¡¯ Philip¡¯s venomous eyes curved softly. His cracked tongue twitched as he whispered terrible words. Like a doomed animal, Asella¡¯s will was instantly broken. As the withered plants and dried branches turned into dust, the faint budding of hope vanished, leaving only ashes behind, as if it had always been such a thing. ¡°Just because something upsetting happened, you shouldn¡¯t have to keep recalling it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you understand?¡± Philip reached out and lightly tapped Asella on the shoulder. The touch of his hand on her shoulder gave her goosebumps and caused her stomach to feel nauseous. She even had an instant urge to cut off the part where he touched. She thought that being lashed by a whip might be better. But she had to respond. ¡°¡­ Yes, Father.¡± Asella barely answered, blinking away the tears in her eyes. The expression on Philip¡¯s face became less stiff as he smiled after listening to her answer. Only then did Philip smile, and then they heard the butler¡¯s voice from outside. ¡°Your Excellency, Madame Efredieu Boutique just arrived. They are waiting in front of the house.¡± ¡°Just in time.¡± Philip said with a satisfied smile. ¡°Tell them to come in.¡± Chapter 20 The reputation of Madame Efredieu, who ran the most exclusive boutiques, was truly remarkable. Even aristocrats would wait months in advance to reserve a dress made by her to order. ¡°Madame Efredieu, someone from the Marquise Chartus mansion has come to see you.¡± When Efredieu heard this from one of her staff members, she was puzzled at first. No wonder. She had never received any order from the Chartus before. It was strange, considering that they were one of the few marquise families in the Harmenian Empire and had two young daughters in the family. The servant who faced Madame Efredieu immediately stated his business. ¡°I¡¯ve come to ask for a wedding dress for the young Lady.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. If I may ask, when is the wedding?¡± ¡±Next month, Ma¡¯am.¡± Efredieu, who had been flipping through the calendar to check the dates, paused. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a bit of a problem. I¡¯ve got a lot of orders here. I¡¯m sorry, but my schedule is so packed¡­¡± Just as she was about to decline the request¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sure the making of the Grand Duchess¡¯s wedding attire will be useful to Madame in many ways.¡± Madame Efredieu doubted her ears. ¡°Grand Duchess?! The young Lady¡¯s marriage partner is the Grand Du-¡° ¡°Yes. It is His Excellency Grand Duke Calix Benvito.¡± A wedding dress for the new Grand Duchess of Benvito. This was on a whole different level than anything she had ever done before. It would have been impossible to say no. She couldn¡¯t miss this chance at all costs. She immediately postponed all the booked dates, leaving an entire month open, and apologized to her clients. It took more than half a day to send gifts and apologies to the other customers. The problem could have been easily solved if she had mentioned that the reason was to make a wedding dress for the Grand Duke¡¯s bride, but she had no choice because the matter was kept under wraps until an official announcement was made. Anyway, having successfully cleared up her schedule, Efredieu, along with her staff prepared to visit the Marquis Chartus residence excitedly. ¡°I¡¯m curious to see what kind of person the young Lady is.¡± Efredieu openly spoke to the employees who rode in the carriage with her. ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°His Excellency has decided to marry her! The Grand Duke himself!¡± ¡°Have you ever seen the young Lady¡¯s face before?¡± At her staff member¡¯s question, Efredieu shook her head. She has only heard the name of Asella Chartus, but had never seen her face. ¡®I was told that three years have passed since her first d¨¦but¡­¡¯ Madame Efredieu¡¯s luxurious boutique also served as a salon, and she was able to secure quite a variety of connections and sources of information. Despite this, there was little to no information about the two daughters of the Chartus family except for the occasional rumor. However, Efredieu had a relatively vivid memory of the deceased Marquise Adele Chartus. Therefore, she was convinced that the young lady she was about to meet was a considerable beauty. ¡°Hello, nice to meet you. I am Madame Efredieu.¡± Finally facing Asella, Efredieu realized that her thoughts about the lady were completely wrong. The reason why she was able to become the most famous dress designer in the Empire in the first place was because of her natural sense of beauty. In Efredieu¡¯s eyes, Asella was a person who could not be simply described with the word beauty. Her deep blue eyes and shiny, wavy silver hair were features that could only be seen in the direct lineage of Chartus. Just like her mother, Asella had her own unique presence. The natural elegance and grace that overflowed from her small body left Efredieu speechless for a moment. ¡°I am Asella Chartus.¡± At Asella¡¯s greeting, Efredieu got back to her senses. ¡®It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Chartus. Ah, no, from now on, you will be Her Highness the Grand Duchess.¡± The clever words were accompanied with a cordial smile. Soon after, with Efredieu¡¯s meaningful glance, her boutique staff began to spread out dozens of fabrics and laces in front of Asella. Asella nodded at her recommendations while listening calmly to Efredieu¡¯s explanation. She was familiar with Madame¡¯s reputation, so it wasn¡¯t a bad idea to leave it entirely to her, and as long as the design wasn¡¯t too flashy, she was fine with it. ¡°Well then, may I take your measurements?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The anxiety surfaced on Asella¡¯s face. ¡°Will you be the one to take the measurements?¡± ¡°Uh, yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°I would like for the Madame to remain, and everyone else to leave.¡± Madame Efredieu could guess the reason behind this request. The high-ranking nobles did not want to be touched by the commoners. Efredieu was also an aristocrat, though she was of a lower rank, but she could run her boutique for the nobility because of that. She also hired the daughters of fallen aristocrats or those in poor circumstances for the same reason. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, Your Highness. Our boutique hires only impeccable people as employees.¡± Efredieu clarified the status of the employees indirectly. ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°What is the reason then?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want to show my body to others.¡± Efredieu tilted her head at Asella¡¯s answer. Nobles were generally accustomed to showing their bodies and being served by other people¡¯s hands. They ate, washed, and changed their clothes in the same manner. Servants were expected to work as the hands and feet of their masters. It was normal for a noble family, especially the Chartus family, to live their lives without the need to raise a hand. It was a little odd. But Efredieu was skilled enough to run the best boutiques in the empire, and she was quick to meet the needs of her customers. ¡°Will you all please leave for a moment?¡± All the boutique employees, except for Efredieu, left and the door was closed. ¡°Your Highness, excuse me for a moment then.¡± ¡°Madame Efredieu.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I would like you to pretend that you don¡¯t know anything about it, even if you do.¡± The out-of-context statement made Efredieu even more suspicious. However, Asella stopped talking completely after that one line. Chapter 21 Efredieu, who had been tilting her head for a while, approached Asella. She skillfully untied the straps of her dress. After a short moment, the Madam realized what secret this noble lady was trying to hide. The thin undergarment was slightly transparent. Her upper body was almost completely wrapped in bandages. The dried bloodstains on the outsides of the bandages were closer to black than red. ¡®No way¡­ how could this be real¡­¡¯ There were rumors that Philip, the acting Marquis, was not too pleased with his two stepdaughters, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be like this. Who would believe the fact that the daughter of a distinguished and high-profile noble family was actually being cruelly abused? Efredieu was speechless. At that moment, the warning that was given to her when she entered flashed through her mind. ¡®Anything you see or hear in here must not leave the premises of this room. Please keep that in mind.¡¯ One of the servants who greeted Efredieu¡¯s team at the main gate gave them that threat. With the threatening words they heard, they had no idea what would happen when they entered the premises. Most aristocratic estates placed a high value on security, and Madame Efredieu was the right person for the job. If she was not careful with her words, running a salon or a dressmaking boutique for the nobility would be out of the question. She was good at keeping her mouth shut, pretending not to see and hear. However, she was surprised to hear that threat in such a place. She wondered what it might be that they were keeping so secretive. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s because of this¡­.¡¯ Efredieu¡¯s movements came to a complete halt at the shocking sight before her eyes. The dress was still draped over Asella¡¯s shoulder. She was still overcome with shock, making her unable to move. A low voice echoed in the quiet space. ¡°I trust you¡¯ll keep my secret.¡± ¡°Absolutely, of course.¡± After coming to her senses, Efredieu gulped and quickly continued to take Asella¡¯s measurements. She could see how embarrassed the young lady, who had just reached adulthood, was feeling, and the amount of shame she was enduring. Once Efredieu finished the procedure faster than ever, she pulled up Asella¡¯s dress again and fastened it tightly. Sensing Efredieu¡¯s consideration, Asella expressed her gratitude in a faint voice. ¡°Thank you for your efforts.¡± Madame Efredieu was basically a businesswoman, so she didn¡¯t say or do anything unnecessary. However, today was not the only day she couldn¡¯t let it slide. She chose her words carefully and spoke as far as she could, without overstepping her boundaries. ¡°I will make you the most exquisite dress. You will be the most beautiful bride in the world.¡± But Asella, who would be the most unhappiest bride in the world, just smiled faintly. * * * * The marriage had been officially announced. The news of the Grand Duke¡¯s engagement shook the Imperial social circles. The two families that had been in conflict with each other until now reconciled through marriage, and the world was buzzing with the announcement of their new beginning. From the top-class daily newspapers to the low-class newspapers, there was no shortage of articles on the front page, so much so that there was not a single person in the Empire who did not know about it. They were the talk of every gathering everywhere. [Calix Benvito sent a letter of proposal to Asella Chartus]. Asella saw how many false stories could be made up from that one fact alone. [Two years ago, the war on territorial expansion and conquest to enhance the glory of the Harmenian Empire ended. The Grand Duke Benvito, who had led an undefeatable march to the forefront of the war, successfully won the last battle and gloriously returned to his homeland. The Grand Duke fell in love at first sight when he met Asella Chartus at the victory celebration banquet held at the Imperial Palace and waited patiently for her to come of age before finally proposing to her¡­] * * * Asella read the article slowly. Earlier, Philip told her to see it for herself. She had been prepared since the moment she took the article, but at the last moment, she couldn¡¯t help but put more pressure in her hand. The edges of the paper crumpled slightly under her slender fingertips. ¡®¡­¡¯ Asella¡¯s head sank to the ground. The article was really romantic, but it was a story made up of mostly lies and only a few facts. It was a false story that was disguised as truth. But since the story was so perfectly put together and spread widely, people accepted it as the only truth. It was a sweet and romantic story that they were fascinated by. It was the story of a cruel war hero, known for his lack of blood and tears, who fell in love at first sight with the lovely young lady. No one wanted to know the bitter truth behind the story. She was the only one who suffered from holding the truth alone, which had sunk deep into the sea. * * * Meanwhile, in the main building of the mansion, another person was screaming in anger. It was Rebecca Vallouse, Philip¡¯s girlfriend. ¡°Oh my God! My clothes!¡± Rebecca screamed as soon as she entered the room. Her cherished clothes had been completely torn apart by sewing marks and needle holes. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? How did my clothes get like this!!!¡± Rebecca grabbed the nearest maid by the collar. Chapter 22 ¡°Well, what happened was¡­¡± The maid trembled in fear as she explained what had happened a few days ago. ¡°So you made my clothes like this for her to wear? You¡¯re calling that an excuse?!¡± ¡°We¡¯re ordered by the lord. We had no choice¡­¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Rebecca shouted. Her fierce movements caused her alluring red hair to flutter around wildly. ¡°You have no idea how hard I worked to get this! I¡¯ve waited three months to finally get it!¡± Unable to contain her anger, Rebecca swiped the tablecloth from the table. As the tablecloth swept away, the tea cups, which had been placed on top of the table, spilled onto the floor. The sound of glass shattering from the cups and plates echoed loudly in the room. The maids were at a loss at what to do. ¡°Please calm down, Madam.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Rebecca wanted to pretend to be a marquise, even though she was not married to Philip, and Anthony had not inherited the marquis position. For this reason, all the servants at the Chartus mansion referred to ¡°Rebecca¡± as ¡°Madam¡±. ¡°Where the hell is Philip? What is he doing that¡¯s keeping him from coming here until now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone out for a bit. He¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Out? Interesting!¡± Rebecca spun around and slammed the door behind her, causing the startled maids to rush to follow her. ¡°Philip!¡± ¡°Oh, Rebecca.¡± As Rebecca opened the door to look for Philip, she found him standing in front of the door, planning to enter. Philip greeted Rebecca as if he had been waiting for her forever. Rebecca narrowed her eyes at him and an angry voice followed. ¡°If they said you were out, why are you here?¡± ¡°I just got back. I just had to stop by somewhere.¡± ¡°I sent a message that I was coming today! But how could you do this?¡± ¡°Rebecca.¡± Philip held Rebecca¡¯s shoulder, trying to soothe her, but she replied by throwing the dress she carried at his feet. ¡°Here, explain this to me.¡± Philip frowned as he looked at Rebecca. He was used to her nagging and whining all the time. She couldn¡¯t go a day or two without finding something new to whine about, but lately, it had become even more tiresome to keep up with. Despite being irritated and fed up on the inside, he flashed a fake smile and soothed Rebecca. ¡°Why are you doing this again? There were circumstances, you know.¡± Philip tried to laugh it off, but Rebecca wasn¡¯t going to let it slide. Her eyes became more sharp. ¡°So what the hell was the reason?!¡± Philip briefly explained what happened, but unfortunately to little avail. Rebecca¡¯s lips twitched and her face turned red as she screamed. ¡°So you ended up messing up my dress for her to wear! Why this of all things?! You know how much I cherished this dress¡­¡± Rebecca continued to scream over and over, stomping her feet in frustration. Every time Rebecca exploded like this, it was very difficult to stop her. Philip tried to control the frustration that was building up in him. ¡®I don¡¯t think I can take this temper tantrum anymore.¡¯ It was only through backing and luck that Philip had been able to get this far, and Rebecca¡¯s contribution wasn¡¯t small. Although she was only from a viscount house, she was the only child of the Vallouse family, who had amassed great wealth through various successful business investments. The Vallouse couple had smothered their daughter with love and affection. They had struggled to conceive her, so they listened to whatever she requested. Thanks to their love and support, Rebecca grew up to be a na?ve and ignorant young woman. When Philip met her, it took no time to recognize her personality. Philip pretended to accidentally encounter Rebecca. He was a tall man with deceptive speech and manners that allowed him to manipulate others. Her encounter with Philip reminded Rebecca of the fated love she had read in romance novels. Her heart was captivated by his fake kindness and tenderness, and before she knew it, she was completely and hopelessly in love with him. [Don¡¯t even think about appearing in front of my daughter again!] Philip was already married to Adele, and Viscount and Viscountess Vallouse were fiercely against him. [If you separate Philip from me, I¡¯ll just jump out of here and end my life!] However, when Rebecca made a fuss that she would die if it wasn¡¯t Philip, the Viscount and his wife had no choice but to give up trying to persuade her. All the Viscount and his wife could do was do as their daughter wished and just try their best to prevent their affair from coming to light. They continued to meet in that way, and after Adele¡¯s death, they were able to reveal their relationship. They didn¡¯t look favourably in the aristocratic society, but that didn¡¯t stop them from dating. If anything were to happen, neither of them had a spouse. Chapter 23 ¡°Philip, when can we get married? My parents are already waiting for us to get married. Their health has been declining a lot lately¡­¡± Seven years later¡­ Rebecca had always asked Philip to marry her, but he had always procrastinated with excuses. He couldn¡¯t let Chartus, who was almost in his possession, go by marrying Rebecca. ¡°How long in the world do I have to wait!¡± ¡°When Anthony becomes the Marquis, it will be good for you too. Just be patient a little longer. Do you understand?¡± There was only one heir in the Vallouse family. If she wanted, she could become the next Viscount of the Vallouse family. She could live as a stepmother in a marquis¡¯ household or the head of a self-made family. If Rebecca had been a little more rational, she would have been able to judge what was in her best interest, but she had fallen in love to the point where her judgment was weak. Because of this, Philip had been able to use Rebecca¡¯s many skills to his advantage. ¡°Rebecca, you know I couldn¡¯t help it. Please understand, my love.¡± Philip soothed Rebecca with great patience. Fortunately, his efforts were paying off. Rebecca¡¯s anger eased a bit. ¡°It was my favourite dress though. Do you know how upsetting and frustrating it was for me?¡± Rebecca¡¯s lips twisted into a pout with a sulky expression. Philip realized that she was already acting as he wanted her to. He whispered, with a meaningful smile on his face. ¡°But thanks to you, we can get married.¡± Rebecca¡¯s eyes widened to the point of popping out of their sockets. ¡°Marri¡­age?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is it true¡­?¡± ¡°The Grand Duke has agreed to help Anthony inherit the family line. Let¡¯s get married as soon as Anthony becomes the Marquis¡­¡± A scream escaped Rebecca¡¯s lips, though it was different than before. Soon, the rims of her eyes were red. She was on the verge of tears. ¡°Philip!¡± Rebecca wrapped her arms tightly around Philip¡¯s neck. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m the happiest person in the world right now.¡± A sneer escaped Philip¡¯s lips. But he casually wrapped an arm around Rebecca¡¯s waist, as he always did. With his other hand, he gently stroked her back. ¡°I love you, Philip.¡± Rebecca looked happy as she rubbed her cheek against his chest. But before long, a wry smile appeared on Philip¡¯s face as he looked down at Rebecca. and the cynical look in his eyes shone coldly. ¡®Marriage, huh?¡¯ Rebecca was nothing more than a golden goose. She was the woman he used to make Anthony a marquis and to give wings to his ambitions. The Vallouse family was quite useful for making connections, not to mention money. Philip used Rebecca to solidify his and Anthony¡¯s position and ally himself with the aristocratic society. In addition, he took all the money from Rebecca for various incidental expenses to enjoy his expensive hobbies and even bought luxury goods. If he were to use his own funds he would run out of money in no time just to fund his lifestyle. He had to save up his own money and just use it if necessary. To cover his expenses, he simply told her that he needed some money and she would secretly give it to him. This was literally an endless supply of funds. There was no other woman in the world that was easier to handle than her, as she was witless and selfish. He just needed to please her moderately. Where would he find a more convenient woman around? ¡®But there¡¯s no need for that anymore.¡¯ This long play would finally come to an end the moment Anthony becomes the Marquis Chartus. Rebecca was sobbing as she buried her face into Philip¡¯s chest. Philip¡¯s expression, on the other hand, was hauntingly cold. But as he patted Rebecca¡¯s head, he whispered in the sweetest lover¡¯s voice the world had ever heard. ¡°Rebecca, we¡¯re almost there.¡± Rebecca¡¯s value will soon be over. Chewing a tasteless piece of gum would only make your jaw hurt. When the time comes, she will suffer the most miserable consequences. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. That¡¯s possible, right?¡± From an invisible angle, Philip twisted his lips and smiled coldly. **** Chapter 24 There was one month between the day of the proposal and the wedding. No marriage in the aristocracy had ever proceeded in such a short amount of time without a proper engagement period. In addition to being outrageous, the short duration between the day of the proposal and the wedding could be perceived as an insult from the other party¡¯s point of view. The shorter the engagement period, the less time they would have to prepare for the wedding. But Philip and Anthony had put their lives on the line for this wedding, and Benvito¡¯s name made it all possible. The wedding preparations went on steadily without the need for Asella to do anything. The invitations were neatly arranged and delivered to the distinguished families of the empire. Madame Efredieu¡¯s beautiful dress was finished, and the Chartus mansion was constantly receiving supplies and items to be used in the ceremony. One week to go. As the wedding date drew nearer, Asella began to feel uneasy. Her heart would beat rapidly all of a sudden as she gazed out the window blankly. She paced around the room in circles over and over, feeling irritated as she bit her nails. Then, late at night, she would try to fall asleep. Last night, Asella tossed and turned and dozed off into the night. But still, she would open her eyes again a few hours later. The faint light of dawn was shining through the window. The room looked gray as if it were foggy. She felt as if she couldn¡¯t sleep any longer in bed anyway. With a low sigh, Asella got up and walked to the window. She thought while looking down at the sky where the dawn was gradually starting to rise on the quiet mansion with blue dawn light. ¡®I¡¯m going to die soon¡­¡¯ Her husband-to-be, Grand Duke Calix Benvito, chose her personally, and there was only one reason for him to do so. *** Asella wondered how long she could hold on to her life. He might not kill her right now. She might live a year at the most, a few months at short. How would she die? At least she hoped it wouldn¡¯t be too painful, whatever the method he used. ¡®But when I die, Mariel¡­¡¯ There was no one to protect the child. Once her value was gone, Mariel was bound to be Philip and Anthony¡¯s next target. There was no way to save herself now. But even she couldn¡¯t let her sister, who was not even ten years old yet, go down the same path. [You must please His Excellency. Don¡¯t be as stiff as you usually are.] Asella closed her eyes as she recalled Philip¡¯s words. They were brutal words to urge obedience, but at this moment, Asella knew they were the truth. ¡®I must endure¡­ even for a little bit.¡¯ As long as she survived, as long as she endured, she could protect Mariel. Asella kept pondering again how she could keep herself alive longer once she got to the grand duchy. Then, the sound of horses¡¯ hooves coming from outside stopped her from any further thoughts. A carriage was coming through the main gate of the mansion, coming in from the wide pathway across the gardens. Who could it be at this early hour? Asella¡¯s eyes narrowed. She thought Philip or Anthony were coming back from their outing but the carriage didn¡¯t have the family crest. Unusually, her curiosity was aroused. Asella kept watching the carriage closely. It was not long before the carriage stopped and the door opened. As soon as someone stepped out, Asella slammed the door and stormed out of the room. Chapter 25 It was still early in the morning; the time when the servants would wake up and begin their chores. They were in the middle of their preparations for the day when their eyes rolled back into their heads because Asella was running across the hallway. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Asella spent most of the day in her room. Even when she roamed around the mansion, there was hardly a sound of footsteps. Not a single person would feel her presence around. They would just be startled to find her walking past them. And now, they saw her running! She was even holding onto the hem of her skirt with both hands so she could run a bit faster. It was no wonder they were astonished by the scene. Meanwhile, Asella wasn¡¯t paying attention to other people¡¯s eyes. All she could think about was that she had to get out as fast as possible. Her breathing became so heavy and out of breath, by the time she was able to reach the mansion¡¯s entrance, as she struggled to find air, she spoke one word. There stood the person whom she had wanted to meet, even in her dreams. ¡°Mariel!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± With her silvery cotton candy hair fluttering in the air, Mariel was cradled in Asella¡¯s arms. She hugged her little sister who, unbeknownst to Asella, had grown so much. She gently patted the head of the child with the silver hair and blue eyes that looked just like her own. It had been exactly three years since Asella last saw her. ¡°¡­How have you been?¡± She could barely speak as she struggled to hold back her tears. ¡°I¡¯m well. What about Sister?¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Asella held her sister¡¯s hand in hers. She wanted to go to her room as soon as possible and tell her what she couldn¡¯t tell in front of all these eyes. However, Mariel asked anxiously, pulling her hand slightly. ¡°Sister, what about our father?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. He¡¯s not here right now.¡± Asella reassured her worried sister and went back to her room, closing the door behind her. They were lucky. If Philip and Anthony had been in the house, it would have been difficult to spend time alone with Mariel. They had been away for two days on a business trip, and the problem seemed to be quite serious, so they hadn¡¯t been able to return until now. On the other hand, Mariel, who was scheduled to arrive around tomorrow morning, arrived earlier than expected. The timing was perfect. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, Mariel.¡± It had been three years since Mariel had left the Marquis¡¯ residence in the capital. She hadn¡¯t seen her since then. Phillip had refused to give her permission, using the excuse that Mariel was undergoing medical treatment. The then seven-year-old Mariel was now about to celebrate her tenth birthday. Asella carefully stroked her beloved sister¡¯s plump cheek as if she were touching the most precious thing in the world. Then, Mariel looked up at her and smiled. The sight of Mariel¡¯s innocent blue eyes that curved in a cute way naturally warmed Asella¡¯s heart. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, but they were not awkward; it was as if they had always been together. Then, suddenly remembering her sister¡¯s last letter, Asella began to talk to Mariel. ¡°Mariel, what about your studies? Are you working hard?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s really, really fun. It¡¯s really interesting.¡± She answered confidently, bringing her hands to her mouth as her lips formed a circle. As Asella nodded her head, Mariel pressed her mouth to her ear and whispered. ¡°Mrs. Etmant says I¡¯m the smartest kid she¡¯s ever taught!¡± The Marquis¡¯s villa to which Mariel had been sent to was in Elven, a beautiful scenic resort city. It was known for its beautiful scenery and year-round pleasant climate, which attracted visitors from all over the empire. Thanks to this, although Elven was not very large, it was quite wealthy with various tourist incomes. Since there were so many people coming and going, the rumors were quick to spread. Philip couldn¡¯t help but be aware of them, as people took a lot of interest in the young Lady of Chartus family after she had moved down there to recuperate. It was for this reason that Viscountess Etmant, a well-known educator in the region herself, was chosen to take over Mariel¡¯s education. It was a bitter pill for Philip to swallow, but he could not bear the thought of people talking about how he was neglecting his sick stepdaughter by sending her away from home. ¡°She said if I do well, I can get into the Academy!¡± ¡°The Academy?¡± The Academy was an institution that gathered the Empire¡¯s most famous and brilliant talents. Since it was a place where talent was recruited solely by ability, not everyone could enter just because they were aristocrats. If they had the ability, even commoners were given the opportunity. Asella praised Mariel happily. Then she asked a few questions, in a way that the child did not notice. ¡®There¡¯s a possibility.¡¯ And before long, she realized that the child was much more clever than she had thought. ¡°Mariel, do you want to join the Academy?¡± Mariel couldn¡¯t answer immediately and hesitated. When Asella urged her gently, the child¡¯s words finally came out honestly. ¡°Actually, I wrote to Father and told him what she said¡­¡± Before she could hear the rest of the story, Asella could fully grasp what Mariel would say next. ¡°But I didn¡¯t get a reply.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Even if I asked him again, he wouldn¡¯t allow it anyway, would he?¡± Mariel¡¯s shoulders slumped as she finished speaking. Looking at her deflated sister, a part of Asella¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Mariel¡­¡± Asella was just about to reach out her hand to the groaning child. The door suddenly slammed open with a bang. Startled, Asella turned her head away. Philip was standing near the door, very angry. Her heart skipped a beat. She hurried to hug Mariel, who was terribly frightened. The child¡¯s face turned pale with fear when she saw Philip. ¡°Take Mariel away now.¡± Philip distorted his face and ordered the maids standing behind him. ¡°Father, wait a minute, please listen to me.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Asella barely opened her mouth, but only threats came back. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you taking her out right now?¡± ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°Mariel!¡± Several maids came up and took Mariel away from Asella. Asella showed a feeble gesture of resistance, but that was it. ¡°Asella Chartus, I thought I taught you not to make me repeat myself.¡± Philip warned. As soon as her thin fingers that held Mariel loosened, the maids disappeared with Mariel, as if they had been waiting for her. Philip¡¯s cold voice fell from above Asella¡¯s stunned face as she looked at the door through which her sister had left. ¡°I was going to arrange a proper meeting with you to sit with Mariel when she arrives, but you couldn¡¯t resist and did this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Philip ordered the servant around. ¡°She is not allowed to take a single step out of this room until the wedding day, nor is she allowed to see Mariel.¡± Asella went pale. Her frail body wobbled as she lost her balance. ¡°If you defy my command one more time, you will never see Mariel again.¡± Philip smiled faintly as he stared at Asella. Asella, feeling as if her hair from the top of the head to the tips of her toes were frozen, clenched her fist desperately ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had to discipline you.¡± Philip¡¯s eyes gleamed viciously as he looked down at Asella. He intended to tighten the reins and muzzle on Adele¡¯s daughter for the last time, whom he had tamed for so long. * * * In her dream, Asella was walking through the garden. Her vision seemed more restricted than usual. The beautiful trees in the garden seemed larger and more massive for some reason. She reached for a tree and stopped when she saw a small, chubby hand. As she slowly lowered her gaze, she saw short legs and shiny, black Mary Jane shoes. ¡°This is¡­¡± Asella hurriedly spun around. At that moment, her vision turned red. ¡°No!¡± The child¡¯s body stiffened as she realized that something terrible had happened. There was no time for this. She immediately pulled herself together and headed back the way she had come. Her little feet kept kicking the ground without stopping. Tears poured endlessly from her young face as she called out to her loved one. ¡°Mother!¡± Her most beloved person in the world. Her beautiful and dignified mother. ¡°A¡­se¡­lla¡± When she finally found her mother, Adele was in critical condition. The family crest on Adele¡¯s heart was soaked with blood and no longer visible. Her uniform, which had been as white as a snowfield without a speck of dust, turned bright scarlet red. Her vision was so blurred that she could barely see her mother. Wiping away her tears with her arm, she called out urgently for her mother. The white hand, soaked with blood, cupped Asella¡¯s small hand. Several moments later, the child¡¯s hand felt the touch of her mother losing its warmth, and became as cold as metal. Asella remained silent as her mother¡¯s voice became hoarse. ¡°¡­Benvito¡­ beware of him¡­¡± Adele¡¯s mouth moved as she whispered something to her. ¡°¡­P-Promise me¡­ please¡± Adele smiled faintly as her daughter nodded despite the terrible circumstances of her mother. It wasn¡¯t long before blood gushed from Adele¡¯s mouth as she coughed bitterly. ¡°Mother..!¡± As Asella felt her mothers grip loosen, her spirit fell into deep darkness once again. **** Chapter 26 Asella woke up with a shiver. Struggling to catch her ragged breath, she looked out the window to see that it was still midnight. She slowly lowered her gaze to stare at her body through the wide negligee. She could see smooth, clear, flawless skin without a single scar. It was thanks to the priest, whom Philip had called to heal her. Her entire body was damp with cold sweat, but her white clothes were clean, not even a speck of blood. ¡®Why did I dream of that time¡­?¡¯ It was a memory that Asella wanted to forget forever. When she was a child, it had sometimes appeared as a nightmare, but at some point, she stopped dreaming about it. Now, for the first time in years, that memory came back to her in a dream. ¡®Mother¡­¡¯ Her mother¡¯s will and wish, which she had forgotten, reappeared on the surface once again. ¡®I¡¯m not sure.¡¯ She had promised to honor it, but since she couldn¡¯t seem to keep it, she tried to forget it instead. Then, as if blaming herself for forgetting her promise, she had the dream again. ¡®What should I do? Asella asked her beloved one. But obviously, there was no response. *** The day of the wedding¡­ In the midst of the excited crowds, Asella remained calm and silent. She shone like the moonlight on a dark, silent, desolate wasteland, where even the wind did not whistle. Her body was wrapped in a pure white wedding dress, adorned with all kinds of precious jewels. Her delicate makeup was applied carefully on her pale face, showing off her beautiful features and exquisite beauty. Her long silver hair, which trailed below her waist, was brushed dozens of times with a faintly scented flower oil. Finally, a gorgeous tiara, the ¡°Glory of the Goddess¡±, was placed over Asella¡¯s head. After all the preparations were completed, Madam Efredieu got up and gave a low exclamation. ¡°As I expected, you are truly beautiful.¡± Like a pearl that shone dazzlingly even when it was buried in the soil. Like a lotus flower that bloomed beautifully even in the mud. Efredieu¡¯s eyes gazed at her in genuine amazement. She had made clothes for many people in the past. Naturally, she had seen many famous people in the social world. They were all equally brilliant and elegant people. But she was convinced that none of them could compare to Asella Chartus, not even close. Not only was she beautiful in appearance, but the radiant dignity and elegance she displayed was something she was born with. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so beautiful, My Lady!¡± ¡°You look like a doll!¡± Asella smiled bitterly as she listened to the boutique staff¡¯s admiring voices. She was well aware of the fact that her current position was not much different from a well-packaged doll on a display shelf. ¡°You look more beautiful when you smile, Miss. Try smiling a little brighter.¡± The voice sounded somehow recognizable. Asella turned her head and saw a familiar face. ¡°Please practice smiling from now on so that you can greet His Excellency with a brighter expression.¡± It was the maid who had one day stuck a needle in her wrist while making fun of her in a hushed voice. ¡°This is all for the good of House Chartus.¡± The maid whispered her last words as she brought her mouth closer to Asella¡¯s ear. With the palm of her hand covering the edge of her mouth, her voice was so quiet that only Asella could hear it. Asella bit her tiny lips and nodded. The maid finally gave her a satisfied smile and stepped back. The maid next to her started another topic as if she had been waiting for it. ¡°Come to think of it, did you hear that?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. There was a lot of news this morning.¡± Although she didn¡¯t know what it was, Asella didn¡¯t want to hear it. It was evident to her that the maids talked to her only when they had something to torment her about. ¡°It was absolutely amazing.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised when you hear about it, My Lady.¡± The information that Asella typically received was limited. Philip did not want her to know anything about the family. ¡®You just do what I tell you to do. Don¡¯t try to get ahead of yourself.¡¯ However, matters of the marriage were the only thing that was conveyed to her in detail without her wanting to know about it. ¡°His Excellency, the Grand Duke has been kind enough to send Chartus an additional box of gold bars.¡± ¡°As a wedding gift.¡± ¡°I heard that the amount is equal to Chartus¡¯s three-year budget.¡± Each of the maids revealed the information they knew. They acted as if they were having an ordinary conversation. Still, Asella realized they were exchanging highly sophisticated and calculated words. These were the same maids who had never let Asella know a single thing she wanted to know. There was no reason for them to suddenly be this friendly. ¡®Mariel.¡¯ Things like the safety of her one and only sibling, for example. Asella had spent the last week trying to obtain a bit of information about Mariel from the maids who came in and out of the room. However, they pretended not to even listen to Asella¡¯s questions, let alone answer them. They only pushed what she didn¡¯t want while thoroughly ignoring what she really wanted to know. ¡°Aren¡¯t you glad?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I guess she hasn¡¯t realized it yet.¡± Asella kept her mouth shut like a clam and showed no sign of reaction. The atmosphere subsided instantly, and a cold silence hovered in the air. ¡°Well, it seems that Miss is quite nervous. I was also very tense at my wedding.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, you didn¡¯t sleep well last night.¡± ¡°As I thought. I¡¯m sure everything will be fine Miss, Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± As Madam Efredieu skilfully took care of the situation, the maids made clever remarks. Thanks to this, the situation was sorted out smoothly. After a brief silence, there was peace once again in the atmosphere. That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°His Excellency, the Grand Duke, is here.¡± **** Chapter 27 ¡°His Excellency, the Grand Duke, is here.¡± From the moment the proposal arrived until today, the day of the wedding, Asella had never met Calix Benvito. She was heavily restricted from going outside, and he had never visited her. ¡°Finally, he arrived. I¡¯m sure His Excellency is eager to see his bride.¡± Asella turned her gaze away from Madame Efredieu¡¯s comment. As soon as Assella saw the door open quietly, she lowered her eyes instantly. She was too frightened to face him. She remained frozen in place but finally opened her mouth to say a few words of greeting. ¡°I am pleased to meet you, Grand Duke.¡± Following Asella¡¯s greeting, the people who were in the room with her lined up to pay their respects. But there was no response from him. Instead, the only sound was the click of shoes as he crossed the room and approached her. ¡°Asella Chartus.¡± The voice, which seemed to resonate deep into the earth, was low enough to give her goosebumps. ¡°Raise your head.¡± Asella felt dizzy at his sweet scent in the air. Her legs spontaneously gave out, and she felt like she couldn¡¯t even breathe properly. She thought of a conversation she had heard at a banquet a while back. ¡®That¡¯s right. It smells like wine or chocolate?¡¯ ¡®The young lady? I know all about how she deliberately approached His Excellency before.¡¯ ¡®Did you notice that?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s weird that you didn¡¯t know that! By the way, what kind of perfume are you wearing?¡¯ The scent was too overpowering for her nose. Her body almost staggered for a moment, but she barely managed to keep her balance by focusing on the strength in her legs. Calix Benvito was right in front of her. ¡°Can¡¯t you hear me?¡± The terrifying voice made its way to her ear. ¡°Or are you pretending not to hear me?¡± ¡®How can someone be so wonderful?¡¯ ¡®Is that all? What about the scent wafting through the air?¡¯ Calix reached out with his long fingers and held Asella¡¯s chin. The force of his touch lifted her head helplessly. Startled out of her daze, Asella gasped as she faced the piercing eyes of her enemy. She hurriedly turned her head away and averted from his gaze, but it was to no avail. The firm grip on her chin did not falter. Eventually, Asella squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re just so nervous.¡± The Grand Duke drew his mouth into a smile, and in a flash, his face stiffened again. He looked around slowly with an eerie blank expression. The people who were staring at him jerked back and lowered their heads. Even though their eyes only met for a moment, it sent a shiver down their spines, as if they had been thrown out as bait in front of a raging beast. In the midst of the tension that filled the air, everyone waited breathlessly for the Grand Duke¡¯s following words. ¡°Everyone, get out.¡± As soon as the order came from Calix, everyone moved quickly. It took less than a few seconds for Calix and Asella to be the only ones in the room. ¡°Open your eyes.¡± Unable to refuse, Asella slowly opened her eyelids, which had been closed tightly in fear. ¡°Look at me properly.¡± His black hair, a trait of the Benvito family, looked as if it had been ripped out of the thread of the night and woven together. His bright red eyes looked as if they had been filled with blood. The glint in his eyes seemed to hold a hint of madness, causing Asella to shudder. ¡°It looks good on you.¡± Hesitating for a moment, Asella noticed that Calix was now looking at the tiara. She uttered what she was taught over a few practices. ¡°I¡¯m thankful for the gift you sent me.¡± As soon as she opened her mouth for the first time, Calix thought her voice was so pure. He slowly began to run his thumb down Asella¡¯s chin, holding it firmly, while she was completely frozen by the unexpected gesture, but she stood still and accepted his touch. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, Your Excellency.¡± Calix smiled in satisfaction at the soft answer that came out of her small lips. ¡°How much do you know about me?¡± ¡°You are the one and only Grand Duke of the great Harmenian empire.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°The head of the Benvito family¡­¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Though Asella¡¯s words were muffled, Calix demanded a response. ¡°¡­¡± The young and wealthy head of the Benvito family, the Empire¡¯s one and only Grand Duke; in addition to that, he was the best groom candidate in the Empire, both in name and reality, with outstanding looks. Countless terms were used to describe Calix Benvito, but the most famous among them were Harmenia¡¯s war hero, the bloody grand duke, the battlefield slaughterer¡­ Four years ago, he had made his appearance in a war that was already doomed to defeat. He was 18 years old; a young man who had succeeded to the Grand Dukedom less than a month before. The war nearly ended with multiple defeats and devastating losses. The Empire was about to surrender and give up all its southwestern lands; however, his arrival turned the tide. Everything that was alive died in his path. Each time he swung his blade through the air, several dozen soldiers fell to the ground, dead. The sight of him on the battlefield, drenched in the blood of the enemy troops, was enough to terrify even his allies. What made the soldiers tremble with fear even more, was his emotionless face, which never changed its expression even as he mercilessly sliced people to pieces. Chapter 28 There was a time when the nobility had nothing on their secret table of discussions aside from the new Grand Duke of Benvito. In particular, there was the incident where the previous Grand Duke Benvito, who was in good health, handed over the Grand Dukedom to his son as soon as he came of age and then suddenly died. Most of them were speculative conversations at the gossip level. Still, the stories were plausible for the most part, though others still had their odd twists. But with the news of the glorious victory, the rumors were soon to disappear. All that was left was a victory chant and a grand feast of celebration. ¡°Why can¡¯t you answer me?¡± As Asella hesitated, unable to speak further, Calix smiled in amusement. ¡°Do you know why I chose you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°We both know that it isn¡¯t true.¡± Calix¡¯s lips curved into a more profound smile, but unlike his smiling lips, his eyes were not smiling at all, giving her a creeping feeling. As a result, she couldn¡¯t help but swallow her dry saliva. ¡°You know what kind of person I am.¡± ¡°Let me go¡­ please¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± Asella shuddered with the fear that racked in her body. The thought that he would kill her someday seized her mind. Calix was right; she knew him. Based on all of his appearances, he was the perfect aristocrat. People were easily dazzled by his wealth, prestige, superior lineage, mesmerizingly beautiful appearance, and outstanding abilities. While people were so enamored by his war achievements, it was that sometimes they forgot the cruelty hidden within. The truth was, Calix Benvito didn¡¯t even bother to hide his true self. ¡°You know, war is quite something.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this¡­¡± Asella managed to shake his hand off, but it was to no avail. He held her face even tighter. ¡°Especially if the spoils are worth anything.¡± Calix leaned down and put his lips close to Asella¡¯s ear. Goosebumps rose on her neck as his hot breath brushed against the sensitive spot. His red eyes shone, and for a moment, a strange sense of possessiveness filled him. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± Asella felt as if the land she had been standing on was going to collapse in on itself. She was clearly reminded of her place in the world, right here, right now. She would not be able to break free of Calix Benvito. She would live her whole life as his family, as she was now, and die as his grand duchess. Even at death, the name of Benvito would remain on the monument of her tombstone. The Chartus name would be gone forever. ¡°It will be your name for the rest of your life.¡± He declared in an expressionless face before making his way out of her room. Yes, today was her wedding, and there was absolutely nothing to do to escape it. * * * * ¡°My Lady, it¡¯s time for you to go.¡± Asella attempted to brush off his words and straightened her back without saying a word. Her dress, painstakingly crafted by Madame Efredieu, flowed down her slender body like waves. The pure white dress, lavishly made of silver threads and the highest quality laces, created a clean and beautiful silhouette. The dazzling glow continued from the top half of the dress, where transparent jewels dangled all across it. As the two maids fixed the hem of the dress and carried its tail, Asella started moving slowly. Her movement was as smooth as a stream of flowing water. The weather was miserably lovely. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was blue and clear without a single cloud. The garden in front of the marquis¡¯s mansion was crowded with people, and it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that there was no place to step foot in the spacious garden. After facing the vivid green grass, Asella finally raised her head and was momentarily dazzled as she faced the tremendous amount of people. ¡°Please come this way.¡± Asella put pressure on her legs as she stepped forward slowly. She was standing in the middle of a lawn with a long white dress wrapped all around her, but as she followed the path, her eyes met with the sight of the Grand Duke, Calix Benvito, as he stood there. He too wore an all-white ceremonial gown. Only the brooch that secured the long cape, which came down from his shoulders to near his calves, shone with gold. Asella shifted her bouquet to one hand. She gently lifted the hem of her dress with both hands and bent her legs slightly in greeting. Her legs trembled, but fortunately, it wasn¡¯t showing from this angle. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Calix remarked, nodding briefly and extending his hand to Asella. Her lake blue eyes fluttered as if she didn¡¯t know what he meant, and Calix began to laugh lightly. ¡°You have to hold it.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Asella slowly raised her hand to hold his. He stared at her fragile hands, trembling nervously. Then, just as the woman¡¯s fingertips were about to touch his palm¡­ He grabbed the white, delicate hand as if to snatch it away. ¡°¡­!¡± Startled, Asella nearly shook his hand away. Due to the ongoing trauma of abuse and violence, she was not accustomed to touching someone¡¯s hand. As she recalled the horrifying moment of pain and suffering, she broke out in a cold sweat. Asella breathed heavily in the field, holding her chest as it rose up and down. She was just so nervous that she didn¡¯t even know what to do. But before she could even calm down¡­ the wedding ceremony began. Chapter 29 The noisy place suddenly became quiet, and the magnificent music played by the orchestra filled the air. Trying to remain oblivious of the many stares directed at her, Asella walked along the path covered with white silk. Whenever she was about to stumble, Calix would put pressure on her hands to help her regain her balance. Halfway through, she almost lost her balance and fell, but he quickly grabbed her by the waist and saved her from a disgraceful fall. Asella stuttered and hurried to apologize in a hushed tone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Relax. Is someone trying to eat you?¡± At last, after what had been far too long for Asella, the two of them made their way to the end of the aisle. The one who had come to witness their marriage was one of the only three priests in the capital. An embroidered pattern by the hem of the priest¡¯s vest, which represented a temple, was clearly visible. ¡°The Grace and Blessing of the Hernia Goddess be upon this place today¡­¡± The priest¡¯s words were surprisingly brief. Mainly because Calix had threatened that if they dragged out time with unnecessary rumbling, their head would not be safe. After the brief words of blessing, it was time for the wedding oath. ¡°I do.¡± Immediately after Calix Benvito¡¯s answer, the questions followed Asella. However, she failed to answer in a timely manner. ¡°Lady Asella Chartus?¡± Asella slowly raised her head. There was a hint of suspicion on the High Priest¡¯s face as he stared at her. She recalled the name by which the High Priest had called her just a moment ago. Asella Chartus. Yes, she was Asella Chartus¡­ for now. But as soon as she opened her mouth to say her vows, the glorious name of her family would be stripped from her. And there would be no turning back¡­ forever. ¡°Asella Benvito. That¡¯s the name you¡¯ll have for the rest of your life.¡± Calix Benvito had declared. The silence of Asella grew prolonged. Each of the guests smiled contentedly, thinking at first that their new bride was trembling and unable to answer properly because she was nervous. Some of them exchanged small whispers as they recalled memories of their own weddings. However, no reply came from Asella, and eventually, a small commotion broke out among the nobles in attendance. Each of them had their eyes opened widely in curiosity. Some of them even stood up from their seats. Then, for a moment, as if it was planned, silence filled the air. The nobles looked around and at each other, wondering how to interpret the situation. ¡°Asella, The Lady of Chartus, give your sacred wedding vows.¡± Asella turned her head like an articulated doll and looked up at the man who would soon become her husband. His blood-glazed eyes were not looking directly at her but only stared straight ahead with a smile that seemed to be painted on his face. He should know better than anyone what was going on right now¡­ His extremely indifferent attitude, as if he did not care about any situation, was possible because he knew what her answer would be in the end. She gently lowered her gaze. Then she uttered the words that could never be retracted. ¡°I do.¡± The frozen atmosphere instantly eased, and sighs of relief escaped from everywhere. The same was true for the High Priest who stood in front of them. In the case of political marriages promoted by the family, there were rare occasions where the couple would refuse the pledge, saying that they had other people whom they loved. This time, Asella was trembling at the thought that something similar might happen. Regardless of her true intentions, she was fortunate to be able to complete the ceremony without any problems. ¡°Your Excellency, the wedding rings.¡± The High Priest wrapped the rings in his hands in an overlapping fashion, finished his blessing, and handed them to Calix again. Calix gently raised Asella¡¯s hand, and a moment later, the ring made its way onto her slender ring finger. Asella got Goosebumps at the feeling of the ring fitting around her finger as if it was tailored for her and her alone. How did he even know what the size of her finger was? She realized that he might know far more than she thought. She was dumbfounded when she came to the thought that he probably knew each and every single detail, even the shameful parts that she wanted to hide. The ring on her finger felt like a shackle around her neck. ¡°With the Goddess¡¯ blessing, I now pronounce the two of you husband and wife.¡± With the concluding words of the High Priest, rose petals danced above the heads of Asella and Calix. All the guests rose to their feet and celebrated the birth of the new couple with thunderous applause. There were cheers, exclamations, and whistles all around. The behavior was somewhat out of line when it came to etiquette. Still, some things should be tolerated generously in a joyous event like a wedding. Their eyes lit up in anticipation of what was to come. Meanwhile, having just completed her wedding vows, Asella was feeling endlessly crushed. Her spirit plummeted to the unseen depths of despair. All she knew was that it was over. She listened to the applause flowing into her ears, touched the white dress, and glanced vaguely at the rose petals that fell to the floor. The fresh petals, moist and watery rose petals, looked as if they were soaked with tears. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± Asella trembled at the voice coming from above her head. A shallow and deep voice. She knew he was looking down at her, but she didn¡¯t remove her gaze from the hem of her dress. No, she couldn¡¯t¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Calix watched the woman as she had no response other than a tremble. She was avoiding his gaze for a while now. It seemed as if she was trying to hide it, but it wasn¡¯t working. At that moment, he became somewhat irritated. His hand made its way to raise her head slightly, and only after putting a bit of pressure on her chin did he see her face. Her light blue eyes fluttered. ¡°What shall we do now?¡± Calix¡¯s red eyes looked as if they were piercing deeply into her soul. ¡°Although I suppose what everyone is expecting is clear.¡± ¡®Expecting what?¡¯ Only then did Asela¡¯s eyes twirl around. The guests standing up from their seats and clapping their hands, the countless rose petals falling from the sky, the ear-piercing cheers, and even the face of the High Priest staring at them with satisfied eyes¡­ ¡°You may now kiss the bride.¡± With the High Priest¡¯s words, Asella¡¯s body froze. Chapter 30 Calix observed her. He could see the blue veins on her hands as she clutched her pure white dress. He also noticed her hands trembling. Ever since he first saw Asella Chartus, he could sense the feelings she had for him. Fear and terror. He hadn¡¯t done anything yet, and she was already scared. That wasn¡¯t a bad thing, though. From the beginning, he had intended to seat her in the position of the Grand Duchess. As a doll who was afraid of Calix, she was docile, quiet and a person of a few words. Calix opened his mouth, concealing his poisonous self behind a perfect smile. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this brief.¡± He leaned forward, putting pressure on the hand that held her chin. However, words he had never imagined came to his ears. ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°What?¡± Calix looked down, unsure of where it was coming from. His red eyes met the frail body that still trembled. Her small lips parted again. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?!¡± Her reaction was as if he was playing a joke on her. She quickly followed with her thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t like it¡­ either, do you, Your Excellency?¡± Since when did she know him? In this ridiculous situation, Calix stepped back and tilted his head; this was extremely uncomfortable. He began to doubt that the woman who stood before him was aware of her own position. From all the information he had gathered, her response was unexpected. Momentarily, his mind became distorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d hit it off so well.¡± As the cold words struck her, her surroundings froze in an instant. The man¡¯s brutality made Asella tremble like a bird struck by an arrow. Watching what was happening in front of him, the complexion of the High Priest turned pale. Looking at the new couple, he had been feeling uneasy for a while now, and now a problem had occurred. The Grand Duke¡¯s face had hardened entirely to the point it almost looked numb. It was then that the High Priest was wondering how to overcome this difficulty. Asella¡¯s lips parted slightly, and she spoke in a small voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± This was so absurd that Calix was about to burst out laughing. When was the last time someone spoke to him mindlessly? There were probably as many enemies of his as there were grains of sand on the beach, but no one had ever dared to say ¡®No¡¯ frankly to his face. Perhaps not even the Emperor. ¡°I misspoke.¡± Asella kept her gaze lowered and continued speaking. His eyes narrowed at the submissive appearance without a trace of her earlier attitude. He didn¡¯t know what on Earth she had in mind. Now, she was regretting her mistake while Calix was trying to figure out the truth behind her words. ¡®I made a mistake¡­¡¯ Calix Benvito was the man who held her own fate in his hands. If she wanted to survive as long as possible, she had to ensure she didn¡¯t go against his feelings. ¡®I should have stayed still¡­¡¯ But a kiss? To kiss on the lips with a man who wanted to kill her and therefore bought her. An instinctive sense of rejection arose, and before she could thoroughly think about it, it escaped her lips first. Even if she regretted it now, there was nothing she could do to change it. On the other hand, Calix remembered the words he had heard just a moment ago. Compared to the unmarried young ladies of the typical aristocracy, Asella Chartus had almost no social activities at all. She had never been in a romantic relationship, let alone an ordinary one; she didn¡¯t socialize with aristocrats, and not surprisingly, she didn¡¯t have anyone to interact with. The data he had received so far confirmed this fact. ¡®Perhaps because it¡¯s her first time.¡¯ Calix¡¯s sharp gaze struck Asella. Unable to turn her head, she averted her eyes to the side, clueless as to what to do. Her pale, white face showed signs of regret for what she had just said. She was an unpredictable woman in many ways. In fact, the reports of Asella Chartus were surprisingly little compared to those of other famous people. If she had at least awakened her abilities, there would have been something there. Still, there was no sign of that, and if there were people she interacted with, something would have come out of it, but she had absolutely nothing. Since she spent most of her day at the Marquis¡¯ residence, and even then, she stayed in her room, there was no way there would be any incidents or information to keep an eye on. The only thing that was reported from the source that he had planted in the Chartus residence was that she was being abused by her stepfather, Phillip, and that she was subjected to regular verbal abuse and violence. Other than that, there was nothing special about her. She was a woman who was the rightful heir but lost her entire family to a stranger who did not even share a drop of blood with Chartus. Calix just thought she was timid and petty. ¡°What the¡­?¡± He thought he could freely control her as he wanted, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. She was not so stupid nor thoughtful as he had assumed. Although she appeared to be soft and weak, she also had a surprising determination. ¡®I can now understand why Ryzen reacted the way he did.¡¯ Calix¡¯s lips tightened. The woman who had tried to appear as a puppet said, ¡®I¡¯m not a puppet.¡¯ Well, it wouldn¡¯t be fun if he didn¡¯t see her struggle. It was the moment when the incredibly boring theatrical performance instantly became interesting. Now that he had planned and directed it himself and even stood as an actor on stage, Calix could do anything. Chapter 31 Calix was looking forward to seeing her reaction. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± The intimidation placed on the call brought Asella¡¯s gaze slowly towards him. Seeing his face reflected in her glassy blue eyes made him feel a subtle pleasure and he didn¡¯t know why. He slowly bent over again. He liked the way she was staying quiet, unlike before. A relaxed smile appeared on his face. ¡°Well then¡­¡± Calix brought his mouth next to Asella¡¯s ear. His lips parted, followed by a low whisper. It was words only she could hear. ¡°What are you going to do about the kiss?¡± He could feel the woman¡¯s slim body stiffen under his fingertips as he gripped her chin. Eventually, the woman began to tremble slightly. Her blue eyes, which reminded him of a beautiful ocean, couldn¡¯t focus and roamed all over the place. Calix raised the corners of his mouth into a chuckle. She looked even more bewildered by his laughter. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so surprised. Did you think marriage was just child¡¯s play?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m¡­¡± Her lips quivered as her voice flowed so beautifully. It was a hushed voice that echoed the air around him. Come to think of it, it reminded him of the voice he had heard earlier when they talked before the ceremony. However, having uttered a single word of denial, she could not continue and stopped speaking. Calix felt a little bit too bad about it. ¡°You¡¯re still going to say no?¡± Calix watched intently as her clear eyes slowly blinked several times, hiding beneath her silvery lashes a few times. Asella lowered her head. ¡°¡­No.¡± Her red lips caught his gaze as she answered obediently. Calix released the fingers that had been cupping Asella¡¯s chin and reached out again to cover both of her cheeks. His large hands covered not only her cheeks but also her ears. Her eyes widened at the unexpectedly warm and soft touch. He was a calm and cruel man who could be stabbed and not bleed a drop of blood. She seemed to involuntarily think that there would probably be cold blood flowing through his body. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped; there¡¯s a big crowd here.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you are not confident, you can close your eyes.¡± Asella closed her eyes quietly. She felt much better when her vision was blocked, and she was surrounded by darkness. She was glad she didn¡¯t have to stare at him and kiss him. Calix stared down at Asella for a moment. She was a small woman who barely reached up to his chest, much smaller than her mother, the late Marquess Adele. Her slender frame looked magnificent just by the way she stood. He recalled the feel of her hands as they had walked down the wedding aisle together. The hands that had felt bony had no strength at all. When he had grabbed onto the waist of the woman who had staggered and nearly fallen, he had suspected that Philip had starved her. Her skin was particularly pale and translucent, probably because she hardly ever went outside. Her pale, elongated face, blemish-free, looked younger than her actual age, as she had just come of age. Her long, silvery eyelashes were lush. Her forehead was round, with delicate eyebrows. She had a straight and deep nose, slightly flushed cheeks, and small, naturally red lips. All in all, she was a woman of elegance. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± Calix stared at her, but the High Priest called him over. For some reason, the feeling of being interrupted gave him an inexplicable sense of displeasure. ¡°Witnesses of the sacred wedding are waiting for you.¡± What sacred marriage? Calix turned his eyes away from her and looked away. Before long, he returned with an icy face that didn¡¯t contain a single fragment of warmth and asked, looking at the High Priest. ¡°We don¡¯t necessarily have to kiss. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°¡®No, after the marriage vows are over, the couple must¡­ Oh no, Sir!¡± The High Priest who had denied the question rushed to change his words at the deadly glare flying at him. He had an eerie feeling that if he opened his mouth to tell the Grand Duke in front of him that he was wrong, his body might be scattered all over Mount Kelton tomorrow. ¡°Then it won¡¯t be a problem.¡± Hearing the conversation between Calix and the High Priest, Asella¡¯s stomach settled. Perhaps it was because she had closed her eyes, but the rest of her senses felt even more acute. One of the most surprising things was the fact that his hands were warmer than she expected. Back when they held hands, and now the temperature transmitted through her cheeks. Calix closed his eyes and looked at her again. Suddenly, he felt the need to look again at those clear, blue, lake-colored eyes hidden under her eyelids. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, say so.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t regret it then.¡± Her head moved from side to side again. It was a small but obvious gesture. Each time the soft cheek between his hands rubbed against the palm of his hand, a small smile crept on his face. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable with the idea. Still, again when he asked her a second time, she closed her eyes, squeezed her mouth shut, and shook her head incessantly. She was more stubborn than he had thought. Calix decided it would be better to finish quickly. As he lowered his upper body, Asella could smell the strong scent of Calix¡¯s body. It was a sweet scent that made her feel dizzy. It felt like she would faint at this point, and Asella barely grasped at her consciousness, which was growing dimmer by the moment. After a while, something warm settled on her forehead. Chapter 32 It seemed as if she could faintly hear people¡¯s curious responses, but that was short-lived, and the ceremony was filled with loud applause and cheers. As soon as she opened her eyes, she stared at Calix, unable to hide her surprise. But he had already turned himself to the wedding hall. ¡°As a consideration to my shy bride, this is how far it goes.¡± Calix spoke with a smiling mask on his face. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll join me in this act, anyway. For your own sake.¡± Asella was dumbfounded for a moment, but her worries were short-lived. As Calix Benvito said, this was on a stage, and she was just another actor; sold or not, overflowing love or not even a handful of affection, desperate or filled with hope. People were looking for a fantasy story and didn¡¯t care much if it was the truth or not. They would really like to see a happy bride excited for her new beginning in life. Even if it¡¯s an illusion¡­ Now that she realized that, there were certain things she would have to do. Asella carefully reached for Calix¡¯s arm. Calix, on the other hand, raised his eyebrows at the unexpected action. ¡°If possible, please participate in this performance, Your Excellency.¡± Asella said as she kept her gaze on the guests. ¡°For me, Your Excellency.¡± Then Calix smiled in amusement as if he was enjoying the situation. ¡°Sure.¡± Then he reached out his arm and wrapped it around her waist, embracing her entirely at once. ¡°¡­!¡± Asella¡¯s body trembled, trapped against Calix¡¯s chest. She could feel his strong upper body in contact with her back through the thin dress. A dizzying sensation that she couldn¡¯t explain caused her vision to flicker, and her legs gave out. ¡°You have to be careful.¡± Calix supported her with a strong, firm arm. He whispered as he leaned down so that his chin reached her small shoulder. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if we show them properly.¡± Asella¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The sensation of being close to another person was too raw for her. When Asella flinched at the bewilderment of the situation, Calix clicked his tongue lightly. ¡°Pfff. You seemed properly prepared, so I was trying to help¡­¡± There was a hint of sarcasm in Calix¡¯s voice, but the frazzled Asella was utterly oblivious. ¡°I guess I did something wrong.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± While Asella¡¯s mind spun wildly, she uttered a reply. ¡°I was just a bit embarrassed.¡± Asella took a quick breath. After several deep inhales and exhales, her startled chest began to calm down. Calix noticed the change in her and smiled. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Calix slowly loosened the arm around Asella¡¯s waist. He stepped closer beside her, and they stood side by side, then naturally held her hands. She hesitated for a moment as the contact she had thought was over continued again. The man¡¯s body heat that transmitted through his large hand was surprisingly high. ¡°Asella?¡± Calix called, and Asella gasped. The sound of her name coming out of this man¡¯s mouth gave her a strange feeling. She lifted her head at an angle and looked at Calix. For some time now, he, too, was staring at her for some reason. ¡°Come on. Everyone is waiting.¡± Asella nodded and averted her gaze to the guests in front of her. After a moment, a smile slowly spread across her face, like sunlight on a clear wave. And so, Asella smiled beautifully and brightly, with the face of the happiest bride in the world. * * * After the wedding, a grand party followed. As it was a union of two of the most powerful families in the empire, the aristocrats who participated in the wedding were varied. In addition to the high-ranking nobles of the capital, the Emperor¡¯s congratulatory envoys were also present. Despite the fact that it was a gathering of prominent figures, most of the people gathered wanted to have a chance to speak to the Grand Duke and his wife. However, instead of the Grand Duke, who made people¡¯s hearts go numb just by facing him, many of them chose to approach the young Grand Duchess, who made a light impression. It was based on the idea that catching the attention of Benvito¡¯s Grand Duchess was not a bad choice. Besides, it would be even better if they could exchange a few words with the Grand Duke because of it¡­ There were several reasons for their decision. Among them, there was no arguing with the fact that the tiara, which was flaunting its presence above Asella¡¯s head, played a significant role. Chapter 33 There were several reasons for their decision. Among them, there was no arguing with the fact that the tiara, which was flaunting its presence above Asella¡¯s head, played a significant role. ¡°Oh my god, look at that sparkle.¡± ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see the Glory of the Goddess in a wedding hall.¡± ¡°I thought I was mistaken.¡± ¡°Did you hear that it was an engagement present?¡± ¡°Before. I can¡¯t tell you how surprised I was.¡± ¡°Well, rumors can be unreliable, can¡¯t they?¡± Asella Chartus- no, rumors of the new Grand Duchess, now Asella Benvito, had circulated even before the wedding. Nobles were a race that pretended to be honorable and clean on the surface. Still, they loved gossip more than anyone else, regardless of age or sex. The topic of many social gatherings often began with a bad word about someone and ended with an accusation. As such, Asella, who had taken her position next to the most coveted man in the aristocratic society of the Harmenian Empire, Calix Benvito, was forced to be on their cutting board from time to time. Naturally, the majority of the rumors were not good. ¡°I got the wrong idea because I heard rumors saying that she didn¡¯t even have a dowry ready.¡± ¡°I mean, does the Benvito family need a dowry in the first place?¡± The story of Philip¡¯s refusal to provide a dowry spread through the servants¡¯ mouths in the mansion. As Asella predicted, it only made the rumors grow worse. Of course, it was before the wedding. ¡°But His Excellency, the Grand Duke, really cherishes her¡­¡± ¡°Did you see how he kissed her on the forehead?¡± ¡°Yes! Also, what he said after that while everyone was watching! I¡¯ve never seen him acting kind and gentle in my life.¡± The same thought passed through their heads at the same time. ¡°Come to think of it, I heard it was love at first sight.¡± ¡°I saw the article come out too. I didn¡¯t think it was possible.¡± Although it was rarely the case, even among the nobility, marriages were not always arranged for political reasons. A relationship based on love and affection¡­ Of course, such a case was very rare enough to be talked about over and over again and maintain the news headlines for weeks. But those who witnessed the kissing of Asella and Calix wondered if perhaps this union was that kind of marriage. He was a Grand Duke known for his lack of mercy, cruelty, and ruthlessness in the way he handled things. ¡®But it seems that the great Calix Benvito had an exception for this rule.¡¯ This fact alone was a reason enough for them to try to look good to the new Grand Duchess. * * * Asella was preoccupied with the congratulations being showered upon her. In fact, all she had to do was listen to the people around her whispering and nod her head a few times. But there were more than one or two such people, and after a few repetitions of this, a feeling of intense exhaustion washed over her. Last night, she was filled with anxiety and had a restless night. Early in the morning, she was taken by the maids to prepare for the wedding, a long bath, fixing her hair, makeup and wearing the wedding dress. In the midst of the constant tension, without a moment¡¯s rest, her overworked body ached. ¡°Asella.¡± It was Calix who came to her rescue. Asella flinched for a moment. She still wasn¡¯t used to her name coming out of his mouth. When she finally managed to clear her throat, she parted her lips and answered. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± Calix dismissed the crowd that had gathered around Asella. Or, more accurately, the nobles whose feet had gone numb as soon as he approached quickly left the scene¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t the dress uncomfortable?¡± After a bit of hesitation in her reply, Asella nodded. Her dress, made by Madame Efredieu , was made of the most lustrous and lightest fabric. It had surprisingly little weight compared to its volume and length, and it was stretchy and easy to move in. It was not too revealing; due to that, there was no need to be aware of people¡¯s eyes and cover up anything. But it wasn¡¯t as comfortable as her daily clothes. Calix looked at Asella¡¯s face, which seemed even paler than before, and he knew for sure that he was right. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for a while? And change your dress.¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡± ¡°There is no one here who would dare complain about the Grand Duchess taking a break.¡± Calix glanced elsewhere, and a maid approached them. He gave her a brief greeting. ¡°See you later.¡± The maids led Asella to Rebecca¡¯s room. It was also the place where she and Calix would spend their first night. They were going to spend the night there and leave for the duchy early tomorrow morning. It was a very short schedule, considering the fact that a wedding reception for a noble couple usually lasted for several days. However, for the first time in a while, she was rather glad when she heard about it. ¡°Your Excellency the Grand Duchess, I will help you change your dress.¡± When the title she had been called by was changed, Asella realized that she was now married. She had left her family, become someone¡¯s wife, and her last name had changed. ¡°Could you turn your back for a moment?¡± The maids were speaking much more politely than before. They were also more careful in their manners. The difference was so evident that she could feel the change. They also saw the wedding clearly with their own eyes and heard the conversations between the invited guests. Thanks to that, they made the quick judgment that staying low and being humble would help them stay safe. She felt a little miserable at the sight of them. As time went on, she became used to giving up and letting go, but every once in a while, something inside her ached. It was the same now, too. People¡¯s attitudes changed drastically even when the Grand Duke had shown a little favor. The servants of the mansion, who had neglected her and had treated her carelessly, had utterly changed their colors and flipped their attitude. He was right when he had said, ¡°For your own sake, act.¡± And so, Asella was miserable. The reason why they changed was not because of herself. ¡°What dress would you like to change into?¡± Asella slowly looked through the wedding party dresses the maid had brought her. Like her wedding dress, they had all been made by Madame Efredieu, and they all looked magnificent. ¡°This.¡± ¡°A good choice, Your Excellency.¡± She didn¡¯t actually care what she wore. All the dresses in the line were white, and those dresses weren¡¯t made for her but for the people who would see her. On the wedding day, the two main characters wear white. It was the same for the ceremony and for the reception that followed. It meant that they should draw their future together as if they could draw anything on a white paper. But Asella did not have any expectations for that kind of future. Chapter 34 Philip¡¯s smile extended to his ear. ¡°Congratulations, Sire!¡± ¡°You got yourself a son-in-law from House of Benvito! You¡¯ve literally hit the jackpot!¡± ¡°You only have great things ahead!¡± Before long, the nobles crowding around Philip couldn¡¯t hide their envy as they congratulated him, dropping somewhat odd congratulatory words here and there. ¡°It won¡¯t be long before the young lord is called the Marquis of Chartus.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried because he is still lacking quite a lot.¡± ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re also very humble.¡± Philip replied, trying to hide his true feelings out of courtesy, but he could not hide his bright face. It was a very successful wedding. ¡®She caused a bit of trouble during the wedding vows, but..¡¯ When Asella stood still, not giving her marriage vows, Philip nearly ran to her, grabbed her by the hair, and made her cry out her answer. He kept up a facade of calm and composure, considering the location. Still, he was worried that the marriage would be turned upside down. ¡®I begged her so much. I¡¯ll have to give you another stern lesson later when I get the chance.¡¯ After threatening her with Mariel, it was just a matter of manipulating her into a suitable bride since that soft girl would not be able to resist if she was worried about her sister. ¡®I¡¯ll have to pave the way right from the start so that she doesn¡¯t get cocky because she became the Grand Duchess.¡¯ He was worried about what would happen if the Grand Duke wasn¡¯t satisfied with Asella. But fortunately, her useless fair face seemed to have done its part. The reaction of the Grand Duke was not as bad as expected. No, it was much better than he had expected. ¡®But that doesn¡¯t really mean he¡¯s really into the girl.¡¯ Calix Benvito was a man who had it all. If he wanted, he could have as many women as the stars. The story of a man falling in love at first sight with a girl enough to make her his wife would pass as a joke at best. ¡®I suppose he thought she could be worth using.¡¯ It didn¡¯t require a grain of affection and was useful in its own way¡­ For the Grand Duke, Asella would be such a thing. Philip¡¯s mouth rose into a smile. With Mariel as a hostage, he would continue to use Asella without reservation. ¡®She won¡¯t be able to say anything to the Grand Duke anyway.¡¯ What Calix Benvito had wanted from the start was a docile doll; Philip knew this better than anyone, as he had been the one who had pushed for the marriage. The Grand Duke was not a man who cared in the slightest about the external appearance of whoever became his Grand Duchess. Still, the clueless nobles, who knew nothing about it, seemed to have misunderstood the wedding. In any case, this situation could not have been any more convenient for Philip. ¡°His Excellency, the Grand Duke, seems to be quite taken with the young lad- oh, I can¡¯t call her that anymore¡­ with the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°I heard he gifted ¡®The Glory of Goddess¡¯ as an engagement gift.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the geode mines and the gold bars, but is it true?¡± The words that were coming from all around roused Philip¡¯s spirits. The time flew by when he was talking to so many people constantly. ¡°It seems that Her Excellency the Grand Duchess had gone to change into her reception dress.¡± ¡°His Excellency, the Grand Duke, is nowhere to be seen as well.¡± The ceremonial attire, with its complicated details, was inconvenient to move around. Normally around this time, he must have gone to change into a more comfortable outfit, so it was not surprising. Philip looked around. He could see Rebecca in the corner of the garden, chatting with the wives. ¡°By the way, where did the young lord go?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I think I saw him over there earlier, drinking wine.¡± ¡®I didn¡¯t see Anthony for some time.¡¯ ¡®Where did he go?¡¯ Even though he was worried that he might have caused an accident, this time, he was so busy handling the nobles that he couldn¡¯t keep an eye on him. Philip suppressed his discomfort and flashed an amiable smile. ¡°I think he¡¯s gone to rest for a while. He had a lot of trouble preparing for his sister¡¯s wedding in the past few weeks.¡± ¡°He certainly must have been busy with many things, not to mention handling the business. It¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s tired.¡± They nodded their heads in agreement at Philip¡¯s clever explanation. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± Taking the opportunity, Philip quickly wrapped up the conversation and escaped the room. He had to find Anthony as soon as possible. Chapter 35 Philip urgently called in a nearby butler. While he was preparing for the reception, he rushed to the lord¡¯s call. ¡°Sir! What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Anthony?¡± ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t Master Anthony there?¡± The wedding banquet was scheduled to begin soon, and the servants were extremely busy. ¡°What? Isn¡¯t little Anthony here?¡± The wedding banquet was scheduled to begin in earnest soon, and the servants were in a tizzy. In the kitchen, dozens of different dishes were being prepared without a pause. Carrying the food also required a lot of manpower. Setting the table and setting the tableware was also a challenge. There was literally a mountain of work. The same was true for the butler, who had to adjust and arrange what the servants had to do from time to time. Of course, he didn¡¯t have the time to find out what Anthony was doing and where he was. ¡®Damn it! Where the hell did he go?¡¯ Philip was annoyed. ¡°Despite all the times I told him to be quiet and stay close to me.¡± Anthony hadn¡¯t listened to him. He felt like grabbing him by the back of the head and locking him up somewhere out of sight, especially when he found him drinking from a bottle of wine as soon as the wedding was over. Of course, after the wedding, simple drinks and beverages would be served, but no one would try to get drunk as soon as the wedding ended; it wasn¡¯t something any noble would do! But for the most part, they carried cups filled with liquor around for decoration until the atmosphere was ripe. When they did drink, it was only to have a conversation and quench their thirst once in a while. This was because each of them had their own agenda to carry on. For the nobles, someone¡¯s wedding was also a momentous social occasion. It was a place where people could meet naturally, exchange dialogue, and make connections. No one wanted to waste such an important occasion over a mere drink. Philip was on the edge of losing his mind. ¡®Anthony! It¡¯s still midday. What are you going to do if you¡¯re drunk already!¡¯ ¡®What would this father of yours do if you¡¯ve already fallen drunk?¡¯ Anthony loved to drink. In fact, the word ¡®love¡¯ was a very simplified expression. He was an alcoholic. Above all, Anthony was a lousy drunk. At least the nobles were not quite aware of it since Philip, who had attended all the important banquet together with him, had looked out for him. Still, once Anthony got drunk, he was a real thug. There had been a few times when Anthony had caused an accident, and Philip had been able to contain and cover it up. ¡®Where and what is this idiot doing?¡­!¡¯ However, on this big day, when all the important guests were gathered for the wedding, Anthony started drinking! Once Anthony had a drink, he couldn¡¯t control himself. He often drank until he became unconscious, and after that, he did all sorts of crazy things. This was the reason why Philip, who was unfazed by most things, felt impatient. ¡°I should have held him somehow.¡± While he was chatting with the nobles who were calling out to him, Anthony slipped away. It would have been a relief if he had just got drunk and fallen asleep somewhere. ¡®I¡¯ll go look for Anthony and surely will hear from him soon.¡¯ Philip was consoling himself by suppressing the anxiety that was rising in him. ¡°Go, go!¡± Philip¡¯s aide hurried over to him with a pale face. ¡°I¡¯m in serious trouble¡­.¡± * * * Anthony was in a great mood today. There was no reason not to be. It was only a matter of time before Asella, the woman who stood as a thorn in his side, was finally married, and now the House of Chartus and the Marquisate would be his to claim. As soon as the news of Asella¡¯s marriage was announced, the attitude of the nobles, who had not adequately acknowledged him before, shifted immediately. He received numerous invitations every day, even from the high-born aristocrats whom he had never been able to meet before. Moreover, the sight of the Grand Duke at today¡¯s wedding was as good as putting wings on Anthony¡¯s future. Every noble who came up to speak to him was trying to appease him. It was clear from the look on their faces. ¡®No one will dare to ignore me anymore!¡¯ Even if he stayed still, he was unable to stop himself from letting out giggles. ¡®When I became a Marquis, I wouldn¡¯t have to listen to my father¡¯s nagging every time he sees me.¡¯ ¡®Ah, I¡¯m sobering up¡­¡¯ Now that the Grand Duke had become his reliable backer, there was no one to stop him from going further. Still, Philip was obnoxious and kept nagging him, ¡°Don¡¯t do this, don¡¯t do that.¡± It was horrible. Philip yelled at him and tugged at his ear just to empty a few of the wine and champagne glasses that were lined up here and there. Anthony¡¯s mood became sluggish as he remembered that situation. ¡®I¡¯m the Marquis and not Father!¡¯ Anthony was annoyed by Philip¡¯s attitude of interfering with his every move. He didn¡¯t know how much longer he was going to be able to let himself be a puppet in Philip¡¯s hands. Perhaps the irony was that whenever Anthony spoke to nobles about his father, he laughed and replied as if Philip was the best father in the world. Anthony stood by his father¡¯s side with a sullen expression on his face. But then he snuck out when people crowded around him. ¡®Wish I could find a place to drink where my father couldn¡¯t see me¡­¡¯ It had been a month since he had the chance to have a sip of alcohol after being dragged from place to place by Phillip, who said he was going to teach him how to run a business. ¡®It was terrible.¡¯ Anthony shook his head. Today was the day he was going to enjoy himself in a way he had never enjoyed before. Anthony exchanged pleasantries with the nobles who pretended to know him and walked to the table. The clear glasses of liquor that lined up on the table looked delicious. Anthony picked up a glass without hesitation and began to fill it one after another. The champagne and wine glasses were emptied one by one, and Anthony became dizzier and dizzier, as if he was floating on a cloud. As soon as he sobered up, his rational mind faded. ¡®If only I could go out for a while.¡¯ All sorts of happy fantasies wandered through his mind. Anthony¡¯s face relaxed as his mood began to improve. His manners were long gone. The neatly tied cravat had disappeared before he knew it. He unbuttoned his shirt, undid his cufflinks, and rolled up his sleeves. Still, the heat was rising due to the alcohol, and it was frustrating. He needed to find someplace cool. He took advantage of everyone trying to push their own agenda and left the banquet hall with a large bottle of champagne in his hand. He occasionally saw people trying to talk to him in a more private place, but no one interrupted him. Anthony was walking down the corridor in high spirits when he heard something. ¡°Ho¡­¡± The maid who was carrying the dishes caught his eye. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this maid before¡­¡± Anthony¡¯s insidious gaze scanned every inch of the maid from head to toe. Chapter 36 She had quite a pretty face. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat of her busy work. She seemed to be out of breath, and every time she inhaled and exhaled, her upper body heaved up and down. Anthony stuck out his tongue and licked his lower lip. A filthy lust was welling up in his head, and his body was on fire at the same time. Maybe it was the alcohol, but it felt like his body was burning even more. ¡®A mere maid cannot refuse my orders.¡¯ He was an aristocrat and soon to be a marquis, and the woman in front of him was a commoner at best. He didn¡¯t have to even try that hard; a single threat of termination was all it took. ¡®Just do as you¡¯re told, so you don¡¯t lose your job.¡¯ A vile smile escaped his twisted lips. The maid who was struggling to carry the pile of plates stopped for a moment. She bent over, set the plates down, and patted the sweat from her forehead with her apron. At that moment, Antony grabbed her wrist tightly. ¡°Who¡­! Young Master!¡± The maid, Cecile, exclaimed out loud. Anthony¡¯s face and the strong scent of alcohol emanating from his body quickly made her grasp the situation, and her face turned pale. She looked around quickly for help, but there was none. Anthony approached her with a sly grin. ¡°You must be tired from working.¡± Anthony chuckled and rubbed her wrist, squeezing it tightly. It was blatant harassment. Cecile¡¯s face grew heated with shame. But the fear she felt was even greater. She had heard stories of such incidents happening to servants who often worked for noble families. In most cases, they had no choice but to accept it for fear of losing their jobs or incurring the wrath of their aristocratic masters. But she had no idea that this would ever happen to her. ¡°I-It¡¯s fine.¡± Cecile¡¯s voice trembled. Anthony became even more aroused at her terrified gaze. ¡°I think I can help you, you know, make your life easier here.¡± ¡°No, Sir, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so reserved.¡± ¡°¡®I appreciate your kind words, but I really don¡¯t mind¡­ Ah!¡± Cecile squealed at the strong force that twisted her wrist. She tried to pull her wrist, but Anthony¡¯s grip was so strong that she couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°I mind. Now, stop talking nonsense and follow me. It will be over soon.¡± Cecile¡¯s face was colored with astonishment. She struggled with a blue face, but Anthony restrained her tightly. ¡°Oh, no!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± As she struggled, Cecile¡¯s head bumped into his head, making a loud thud, followed by a slap on her face that was strong enough to make her eyes twitch, and soon, her cheek began to swell. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful for a maid, but where do you think you¡¯re touching? Hitting your master? Do you have a death wish?¡± Tears flowed from Cecile¡¯s eyes as he spoke. ¡°Get up. I will forgive you for what you just did if you behave yourself now.¡± Cecile¡¯s body was dragged across the floor by Anthony¡¯s grip. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me say get up?¡± Just then, in this desperate situation, Cecile sensed someone¡¯s presence in the hallway. As she turned her head hurriedly, she saw shadows coming from the other side. ¡°H-Hel¡­ please help me!¡± Cecile yelled, completely forgetting who she was and the identity of the person who held her. She was so terrified that her reason flew out the window. All she could think of was that she had to get out of here at any cost. ¡°What? Who¡¯s there¡­?¡± Anthony¡¯s face, too drunk to notice that anyone was coming, instantly crumpled. Following Cecile¡¯s gaze, his eyes turned to the person walking towards them. At Cecile¡¯s cries, the person walking in the hallway paused for a moment, then started to walk again. The distance gradually drew closer. And then finally, the figure of that person became visible. A groan of despair flowed from Cecile¡¯s mouth, while Anthony¡¯s expression was elated. ¡°What are you doing? Just stand up quickly and walk; don¡¯t scream for help.¡± Anthony looked down at Cecile with one side of his mouth slightly raised. She was trembling, frightened, and began to beg him for mercy, placing her hand on his grasping wrist. ¡°Master¡­¡± ¡°Do you know what happens to people who disobey orders?¡± ¡°Please forgive me!¡± Cecile¡¯s body shuddered as she shook her head violently. Her face was already a mess of tears. ¡°Now, you know exactly what you have to do. Right?¡± Anthony¡¯s eyes glistened with dirty lust. ¡°You should consider it as an honor? How often do you get the chance to serve your master with all your heart?¡± Anthony stared blankly at Cecile¡¯s body and tugged on her wrist, which he caught, and she staggered to her feet. Chapter 37 Cecile¡¯s desperate gaze fell to the ground. She tried to hold it in, but even though she pressed her lips together, the sobs kept escaping endlessly. If she did anything to upset the master, only God knows how worse it might get. As Anthony chuckled, the person from earlier walked up in front of him. It so happened to be Asella. Behind her were several maids and servants of the house. Anthony, who knew better than anyone what the servants had been doing to Asella, opened his mouth in mockery. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Asella?¡± Asella did not answer. Instead, she stared silently at Anthony with a blank face, not showing any real emotion. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the banquet hall.¡± Her gaze shifted smoothly to Cecile, who was standing next to Anthony. ¡°Just say your greetings and move. Why are you lingering so long?¡± Anthony¡¯s face twisted in frustration. ¡°What¡¯s a newlywed bride doing here leaving her guests behind?¡± ¡°I went to change my clothes.¡± Asella answered in a low voice. Anthony looked at her quickly and saw that she was wearing a simple reception dress, not the fancy wedding dress she had been wearing earlier. ¡°Go ahead since you¡¯re done. Don¡¯t waste your time wandering around.¡± But Asella remained standing, her gaze fixed in one place. It was Cecile¡¯s wrist in Antony¡¯s grip. His grip on Cecile¡¯s wrist was so firm that her hands were completely white with no trace of blood. Anthony¡¯s patience reached its limit as he hurriedly tried to send Asella to enjoy his private amusement. ¡°Go!¡± He yelled. The servants who were behind Asella flinched in fear. Anthony¡¯s temper was well known even among the servants of the house. He would often raise his hand on servants, flirt with the maids, and even sexually harass them. Unlike Philip, who was more interested in flattery, Anthony was reluctant to do anything of the sort. He was arrogant and obstinate, so it was best not to be seen by him. This situation was just one of the many accidents that Anthony had caused and would continue to do so in the future. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t enough for the maids to be violated by Anthony; she would be blackmailed by Philip and thrown out empty-handed. (Help me.) Behind Anthony¡¯s back, Cecile¡¯s sad face formed a small plea with her mouth. But the servants turned their cold gazes away from her pathetic gaze. It wasn¡¯t like they didn¡¯t feel sorry for what happened, but the other party was a stranger anyway. Their own safety was their priority. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me telling you to go?¡± At the sound of Anthony¡¯s angry, hoarse voice, the only person who remained unconcerned was Asella. She stared at the heir to Chartus, whose breath was ragged with anger. Her brother, Anthony Chartus. Philip had told her he was a distant descendant of Chartus, but Asella did not believe him. ¡®Sounded just like something that Philip would do.¡¯ A fact that even Philip didn¡¯t know was that Chartus was a family that thoroughly oversaw even the illegitimate children born to the Chartus family. The reason behind it was pretty obvious; this was how rare and precious their descendants were. ¡®Asella, Currently, the only people who have inherited the blood of Chartus are me, you, and Mariel.¡¯ The last of those illegitimate descendants died out almost a hundred years ago. It was a story that Adele had told Asella directly when she was still alive. So it was easy to guess the circumstances of Anthony¡¯s birth. He was probably Philip¡¯s bastard son. ¡°Get lost now!¡± What was so upsetting about this situation? He could live the rest of his life under the name of Chartus. He would be called by the name of Chartus until the day he died, and even after death, he would continue to be called by the name of Chartus. ¡°Please let go of that hand.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anthony asked back in disbelief. Asella turned her gaze away from Cecile, who was staring at her pleadingly, and repeated the exact words as if confirming them. ¡°I told you to let go of her hand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°You¡¯re picking on innocent people.¡± Asella answered with a composed look on her face. Anthony¡¯s face immediately distorted, and he nervously let go of the maid¡¯s wrist. With a short cry, Cecile was thrown to the floor, terrified, and curled up against the wall in the corner. Anthony¡¯s mouth twisted up in a comical way. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± A grim look appeared on his contorted face. Anthony took a threatening step forward, and the servants backed away. But Asella did not flinch. She only raised an eyebrow at the unpleasant scent of alcohol coming from Anthony. Anthony¡¯s sense of judgment was disturbed by her attitude. He was always alone, always pretending to be noble, dignified¡­ And there stood the noble and blessed Asella Chartus. Just standing by her side, he felt as if his shabbiness had been thoroughly exposed. Despite years of abuse and harassment, he had never been able to defeat her completely. It often felt like she was arrogantly looking down on him from a high place, even when he made her kneel before him. Each time she did that, he felt dirty. It felt as if he was rolling in filthy mud. He took everything away from Asella, but he couldn¡¯t get rid of his inferiority complex. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet for a while, but now it seems like you forgot your place.¡± Harsh words, not lacking in the slightest, came out of his heated brain. ¡°Why? Just because you think you¡¯re the Grand Duchess, something has changed?¡± However, Asella, who was used to hearing worse swear words, calmly replied. ¡°I. am. the. Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The marriage you and father forced on me made me the Grand Duchess.¡± Anthony¡¯s raised his eyebrows. ¡®What game is she playing now?¡¯ Just as his anger began to rise, Anthony¡¯s eyes caught sight of the servants around her. They were all Philip¡¯s. He had something on his mind, but he drew a sneaky smile on his mouth. ¡°You seem to be having the wrong idea.¡± Chapter 38 ¡°It seems like you are misunderstanding something.¡± Anthony decided to tell his step-sister exactly where she stood. It was mainly as a way to humiliate her. ¡°You were sold out.¡± The sarcastic remark fell on Asella¡¯s ears. ¡°Grand Duchess? What a joke. Do you think Benvito will be looking at you? That Calix Benvito?¡± No, Asella had never had such an illusion. She was no longer a child with fleeting dreams and vain expectations. The hope she once had was long gone. If hope were things that could come true, she would still be a Chartus. ¡°How dare you act arrogant when you¡¯ll just end up abandoned in a back room for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re married, it doesn¡¯t mean you can act all crazy.¡± Asella smiled faintly, not replying. ¡®Because it¡¯s true.¡¯ It was insulting, but nothing could have explained her position more clearly than that. A disappointed expression spread across her snow-white face, blooming like a haze. But when Asella slowly lowered her eyes and lifted them again, her face was back to its usual expression. She, who had been silent as if her lips were glued shut, finally opened her mouth. ¡°However, that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°So?¡± Anthony¡¯s face distorted as he expected Asella to apologize and bow. ¡°You¡¯ve been rude to me, Brother.¡± ¡°What does it matter?¡± ¡®You¡¯re being sold as a tool for succession.¡¯ Behind Anthony¡¯s voice, there was another sound, albeit small. Still, it was definitely there; a small mocking laugh, but that wasn¡¯t just it, though. There was another chuckle from the servants behind her, small but clear. In fact, they all thought so, and they didn¡¯t even bother to hide it. It was Asella, for God¡¯s sake! The one who was despised as a nuisance by the Marquise household. They¡¯d seen through how she was treated, and they¡¯d even had fun watching her struggle. It was one of the recurring topics of their conversations to predict whom Asella would marry upon reaching adulthood. ¡®I thought it might be some old, fat nobleman with a lot of money, far from the capital¡­¡¯ However, the one who she ended up marrying was the Empire¡¯s one and only Grand Duke. The owner of the bluest blood, the noblest man in the nobility, who even had the right to succeed to the throne. Even the direct descendants of the Imperial family could not recklessly act against him. Calix Benvito was a man who could even take hold of the Imperial throne if he wanted to. Such a grand duke sent a letter of proposal directly to her. He even displayed his affection toward her at the wedding. It was a preposterous scene that he wouldn¡¯t have believed if he hadn¡¯t witnessed it with his own eyes. Logically, all the servants knew that they should be careful, but deep down, they didn¡¯t want to admit it. ¡°Now that you know, get lost.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you hear me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Cut it out and go back to the banquet hall.¡± Asella, who had been standing still as if held back by the insults and mockery, finally stepped forward. Thinking he had gotten his way, Anthony chuckled. ¡®Hurry up and leave, so I can have my way with the maid.¡¯ Nasty thoughts came back to his mind. His mood started to lighten up again. He turned around, unbuttoning his sweat-soaked shirt. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Anthony screamed. As Asella walked past him, she leaned over and reached for the servant. ¡®It¡¯s enough to make me the only unhappy person at this wedding.¡¯ Asella didn¡¯t even glance at Anthony. Instead, she addressed the servant on the ground. ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°Cecile, My Lady¡­¡± ¡°When did you come to this mansion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a little over a month.¡± Cecile stood up with Asella¡¯s help, still gazing at her with her tear-filled eyes. ¡°Wipe your tears.¡± ¡°My Lady¡­¡± Cecile accepted Asella¡¯s handkerchief with both hands, still trembling with fear. ¡°Go on, then. I¡¯m sure you have a lot of work to do.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Cecile could not answer confidently. Anthony was on the verge of doing something threatening. The servants gathered behind him as he shook with anger. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± However, Cecile stopped hesitating at the warm, soothing voice and turned around to pick up the plates behind her. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± A dull noise, a muffled scream. Asella¡¯s body fell to the ground. ¡°My Lady!¡± Cecile, who had turned around, let out a short scream in surprise. The plate she was holding broke, creating a loud noise in the hallway. After a while, the hallway became so quiet that not even the smallest breath could be heard. Chapter 39 ¡°It¡¯s a wedding. I thought I¡¯d tolerate it¡­¡± Anthony walked up to the fallen Asella with a large step. Asella was dumbfounded. He was right. It was her wedding day. She had some idea that he was drunk and irrational and that he would be angry at her for interfering with what he was about to do. However, she still thought he would try to suppress his nature and control himself. Even Philip had acted cautiously today. But she was mistaken. Anthony was far more inconsiderate than Asella had thought, and he did not feel the need to suppress his nature for such a reason. The fact that Asella had interfered with his business only made him more enraged. ¡°The only thing you could do was toss your pride away and beg, but where did the pretense of being a savior come from?¡± Anthony grabbed Asella by the collar and lifted her straight up. Her body was forced up like a dog pulled on a leash. Her frail body half-floated in the air. Asella felt a strangling pressure on her neck as she held Anthony¡¯s fist around her neck. But she was unable to resist the firm grip of a drunk person. ¡°No! Please don¡¯t do this, Young Master!¡± ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Cecile grabbed Anthony¡¯s leg and held him back, but to no avail. Instead, she was thrown straight to the floor with a wild kick. He kicked Cecile¡¯s body a few more times and then stopped. ¡°Hey, you! Go and get a priest.¡± ¡°Yes? Oh, yes, yes!¡± The servant, who had looked aghast at Anthony¡¯s words, understood what Anthony meant and rushed off. ¡°How arrogant.¡± Her hair, which had been carefully braided into a side braid, was now gripped violently. Asella tried to shake his hand off, flinching, but there was no way she could. ¡°Where¡¯s the nearest empty room from here?¡± ¡°At the end of that hallway, around the corner¡­¡± Before the servant could finish his reply, Anthony turned his hand to wrap Asella¡¯s long hair around his wrist. ¡°Go and get a new dress and a whip. Watch for anyone passing by.¡± Education was necessary for those who misbehaved. ¡°Let me go!¡± A groan escaped Asella¡¯s lips. She was in a lot of pain from the impact of her body hitting the floor so hard. Anthony¡¯s intense smell of alcohol was making her feel like she was about to pass out. Due to the wide gap in power, it was not long before Asella¡¯s body was dragged across the floor. She tried to keep her feet on the floor to avoid being dragged, but her efforts were futile. That was when it happened. ¡°Now.¡± A low, eerie voice echoed down the hallway. ¡°What on earth is happening here?¡± Their eyes were wide open in shock as they recognized the owner of the voice. Even Anthony¡¯s mouth dropped open, and he stared blankly at the person walking towards him. His hand, which had been dragging Asella, released. The sound of the man¡¯s shoes echoed through the hallway. The man¡¯s massive shadow approached in the blink of an eye and landed on Anthony¡¯s head. ¡°Gasp!¡± With a thud, Anthony¡¯s body was flung against the wall. Blood poured from his head as it hit the hard stone wall, but Anthony didn¡¯t even have time to think about wiping his head. He was looking down at himself with a frightened look on his face. ¡°Your Highness, are you all right?¡± Ryzen reached out his hand to help Asella. ¡°Let me help you.¡± ¡°On my own¡­ I can stand on my own.¡± Refusing Ryzen¡¯s offer, Asella straightened up, pretending to be unconcerned. She felt his worried gaze turn to her cheek where Anthony had struck her, so she gently turned her head away. It was devastating. No matter how well known it was to them, it was another thing to have them see it in person. Tears were threatening to flow, but Asella bit her lip and held them back. Even this insult and misery was a role that she had to endure. As Asella endured this humiliation, she felt as if her body was being crushed. Faced with an unexpected situation, Anthony could not even think of closing his mouth that was agape with shock. A stunned murmur flowed from him. ¡°Your Highness, Grand Duke¡­ how did he get to this place¡­¡± As soon as Calix¡¯s blood-colored eyes met his, Anthony¡¯s body stiffened. The anger that had consumed his mind earlier was utterly drowned out, and a terrible fear filled the place. Anthony felt as if he had to say something, so he began to speak. ¡°Oh, you misunderstand! I just had an argument with my sister for a while! It was going to take a long time to talk about it, so I was trying to discuss it for a while elsewhere¡­¡± ¡°Misunderstand?¡± As cold anger rose in the Grand Duke¡¯s face, Anthony noticed that something was wrong. ¡®No way¡­¡¯ A terrifying sensation pierced through the nape of his neck. His lips went dry, and a shiver ran down his spine. Clearly, something was wrong. ¡°Your Highness, let me- let me explain. I¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s going on¡­¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The cold command made Anthony¡¯s face turn as pale as a corpse. He tried to make some kind of excuse, but all he could do was pout like a fish out of water. Ignoring the trembling Anthony to his own devices, Calix turned to look at Asella. Her appearance was clearly disheveled. Her white dress was wrinkled and stained. Her soft, silver hair, which was falling in waves down to her waist, was now messed up and tangled. Eventually, his gaze reached Asella¡¯s face. One of her pale cheeks was red and swollen. It was the mark of a beating that was obvious to anyone who saw it. Asella ¨C he knew how Asella Chartus had lived here. Nevertheless¡­ For some reason, the sight of the woman biting her lip as she stared down stimulated his nerves. At that moment, his blood ran cold. ¡°How dare you?¡± A short moment later, Anthony began to scream in agony. Chapter 40 ¡°Ugh! S-Save¡­ Aah! Aah! Ugh!¡± Anthony¡¯s body bounced like a ball as Calix continued to kick him in the gut. Even though it looked like he was kicking at random, it wasn¡¯t. He was kicking him in the areas that would hurt the most. Bam, bam, bam. A dull noise echoed throughout the hallway. Anthony tried to shrug and escape but to no avail. He struggled to stand up and tried to escape, but the Grand Duke¡¯s knights caught him, and he was thrown back in front of Calix. Anthony was in terrible pain, and foam began to form around his lips. He struggled to alleviate the pain, but that was all he could do. The Grand Duke stopped kicking him when Philip came running towards him, calling out. ¡°Your Excellency!¡± Philip trembled when he saw his son lying on the floor as if he was dead, But he didn¡¯t dare to stand in the way of the Grand Duke. Calix¡¯s red eyes scanned the surroundings slowly. Goosebumps ran down the spines of the people there, as they looked so lifeless, unlike how they looked just a while ago. ¡°What¡¯s going on there?¡± ¡°I think I heard some noise from over there. Didn¡¯t you hear anything?¡± The end of the hallway began to buzz. People were coming this way to find out what exactly was happening. The noise made Calix turn around and move faster towards Asella. Her pale face reflected in his expressionless eyes. Her pale eyes wavered slightly as she stared down the hallway. Her hands fisted her skirt so tightly that the bright blue veins protruded from her pale skin. It was such a disgrace. She was ashamed of how this situation would appear to others. At the sight of him getting closer, startled, Asella stepped back, but he was faster than her. Instantly, the distance between them narrowed. ¡°¡­!¡± In a flash, Calix¡¯s firm arms tightened around Asella¡¯s waist. Bewildered, Asella pushed him hard, but Calix did not budge. Rather, he tightened his grip and pulled her even closer to him. The pointless rebellion came to a halt. Asella could not look at Calix, nor could she push him away, for that matter. She was dizzy, and her gaze dropped to the ground. Calix looked down at Asella, who was embarrassed and didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Lean against me. You don¡¯t have to let others see your face.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Asella¡¯s mouth dropped open as she finally realized Calix¡¯s intentions. She stood with her back against the crowd of people. She leaned against him, so they wouldn¡¯t be able to see her swollen face. ¡°Ryzen.¡± The Grand Duke¡¯s loyal aide knew what to do only by his master¡¯s calling. Following Ryzen¡¯s gesture, the Benvito¡¯s knights blocked those approaching from afar. ¡°Bring me the veil.¡± A short command was given, and soon a delicately crafted veil was handed to Calix. The veil with colorful embroidery on the edges was wide enough to cover her face and hair, resting softly on her shoulders. Calix, who had placed the veil over Asella¡¯s head himself, asked to confirm. ¡°Is it uncomfortable?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± The suffocating veil was not a subject she would complain about at this moment. It gave her a sense of relief that at least she didn¡¯t have to show her swollen face in front of so many people. As soon as he was assured that the veil was firmly in place, Calix turned his head away. Anthony, who had come to his senses in the meantime, was slowly getting back on his feet with the help of Philip. Philip shouted for a doctor nervously. But none of the servants could do so because of the Benvito knights who surrounded the area with a grim presence. ¡°What are you doing just standing! Go and get a doctor, quickly!¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± Calix interrupted Philip¡¯s words. His arrogant smile made Philip feel as if he had been thrown into a field of blowing snow and wild wind. A chilling sensation rose up on his lower back, making him shiver. ¡°A mere piece of trash with no title or rank insulted the Grand Duchess.¡± Calix¡¯s red eyes had an eerie, mysterious glow to them. ¡°And the ones who were supposed to be protecting their master were just standing idly by and watching.¡± The servant trembled as they stood in their place. The Grand Duke expressed it indirectly, but it was a clear insult, for they knew exactly what he meant. With the exception of Cecile, who collapsed unconscious, none of them tried to stop Anthony or restrain his actions. From watching the Grand Duke¡¯s aggression towards Anthony and the tenderness he had shown towards the Grand Duchess, they realized something¡­ How wrong of a choice they made¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t stand still if you touch my things.¡± Hearing what his lord had said, Ryzen¡¯s brow furrowed. He was a capable vassal of the Grand Duke. Naturally, he knew the personality of his lord; he didn¡¯t like doing unnecessary work and left it all up to his subordinates to do so. But because of some worthless piece of trash that didn¡¯t know their place, he began to do things he didn¡¯t need to bother doing. On top of that, it was his lord¡¯s wedding. Calculations quickly went through Ryzen¡¯s mind about how to dispose of Anthony¡¯s body and how to keep the mouths of those who were watching the whole thing shut. His lord was a possessive man. It didn¡¯t matter what thoughts Calix had of her, now that Asella Chartus became Asella Benvito. All that mattered was that she was his wife and the only one with the surname Benvito aside from the Grand Duke. ¡°Death will be the only thing that awaits the dog that bites its master.¡± As soon as Calix had finished, the Benvito knights drew their swords. As the heavy metallic clang sound echoed eerily in their ears, the servant of Chartus let out a short scream as they gasped for air. Chapter 41 ¡°Ugh! S-Save¡­ Aah! Aah! Ugh!¡± Everyone fell to their knees, some sobbing and pleading. ¡°Please spare me!¡± ¡°I was wrong! Please have mercy..!¡± The people who had laughed and mocked Asella earlier disappeared, leaving only people lying down and begging for their lives. It was a pathetic and boring change. Calix clasped his hands together and looked down at his wife without showing any emotions, then turned away. Anthony¡¯s body stiffened as he met his gaze. His body trembled with instinctive fear as he thought of the merciless beating he had taken earlier. The alcohol had long since worn off, and he was sober. As Anthony was unable to say anything, Philip quickly made an excuse. ¡°Your Highness! My son was just-¡± ¡°Drunk? Is that the best excuse you can come up with?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Intercepting what he was saying, Philip stuttered after he heard the Grand Duke. He could hear the aristocrats talking behind his back. Before he knew it, both ends of the hallway were surrounded by the Benvito knights; behind them, numerous aristocrats gathered. ¡°What¡¯s going on there?¡± ¡°It seems that the young Chartus lord had insulted Her Highness, the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®insult¡¯¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It seems that His Highness the Grand Duke is furious¡­.¡± Philip clenched his fist and bit his lip. ¡®That stupid son! I told him to be careful, but he had to get drunk and cause a scene!¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an accident that could be masked by random lines. ¡°Your adopted son¡¯s name is¡­¡± Philip came to his senses at the sound of the Grand Duke. Calix¡¯s voice sounded low and deep as if it would bury him into the ground. Now was not the time to blame his son; he had to get out of this situation somehow! With a swift turn of his head, he found a suitable excuse, but Calix¡¯s words were faster. ¡°Anthony, I think you said.¡± Quick-witted people had noticed that Calix had left out Anthony¡¯s last name. But whether that was intentional or not, they couldn¡¯t tell¡­ ¡°Your Excellency¡­¡± Philip stuttered. His mind, which had always been agile, was not working properly now, as if it had stopped functioning. ¡°I think you know better¡­ what your adopted son has done to my wife.¡± Calix¡¯s red lips curved in a beautiful arc. A dangerous smile appeared on his ravishingly exquisite face. On the other hand, his red eyes, which gleamed in vivid colors, were not smiling at all. The contrast was so terrifying that Philip¡¯s mind went blank, as he almost lost his balance and stumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll discipline him. This will never happen again¡­¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Calix cut off Philip¡¯s words coldly and lowered his gaze to meet with the woman in a veil who was docile in his arms; she remained silent throughout the situation. ¡®What shall we do now?¡¯ Pfff, a small laugh came out from the Grand Duke¡¯s lips, causing those in the surrounding area to panic. Moreover, even his subjects, Ryzen and the Benvito knights, were surprised. It was rare for the Grand Duke to laugh like this. And from their past experience, it was never a good thing. ¡°Asella.¡± Asella flinched in his chest as she hadn¡¯t expected him to call her. After a moment, however, a calm voice came from within the veil. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Your brother¡­ I¡¯ll give you the authority to punish him as you see fit.¡± Although her face was hidden within the veil, Calix could notice her shifting around. Her small hand clutched and released the hem of her skirt several times. ¡°¡­¡± Meanwhile, Asella was trying to determine Calix¡¯s intentions but gave up, realizing that it was a pointless attempt. Now that she was able to measure his intentions, she wondered what she could do and what she could refuse. Knowing that this was a test that she was being put to, Asella decided to take Calix at his word. She decided to simply assume that he had entrusted her with the disposal of Anthony. ¡®The extent is what matters.¡¯ He should not be punished too harshly. After all, Anthony was a nobleman, who would inherit the Marquis title, and above all, Mariel was in the hands of Philip and his son.. If they harbored a grudge over this and wanted to harm Mariel, she had no way to stop them. On the other hand, she couldn¡¯t punish him lightly either. The crime of insulting the Grand Duchess wasn¡¯t trivial; it could be interpreted in the same context as insulting the Grand Duke. As proof of this, the Grand Duke¡¯s knights had their swords drawn and were ready to take down anyone involved at any moment. Many thoughts flashed through her mind in the short time she had, but none of them were easy to settle on. Struggling to decide, Asella eventually chose the right approach. ¡°How¡­ How far can I go?¡± She decided to ask the Grand Duke directly. At that moment, a strange feeling crossed Calix¡¯s face. His hostile eyes flashed with interest. He stared into her calm eyes. Although she was wearing a veil, her blue-colored eyes were vivid, showing through the veil. ¡®How far could she go? She¡¯s bolder than expected. After all, you¡¯re not just obedient, are you? Then, for you, gladly.¡¯ ¡°As far as you want.¡± Calix tightened his grip on Asella¡¯s waist. Her eyes widened at the small vibration transmitted through their arms. It was fun to see her pretending to be calm on the outside while being very nervous. When he brought his mouth to her ear, her tense body flinched. He smiled softly at her honest reaction and opened his mouth. Chapter 42 When he brought his mouth to her ear, her tense body flinched. He smiled softly at her honest reaction and opened his mouth. ¡°If that is what you wish for.¡± People around them held their breath, trying to listen to the conversation between the two. Meanwhile, Anthony was as quiet as a corpse. A thin, icy silence hovered over the place. Calix¡¯s stern gaze scanned the people who stood there one by one. Then he whispered to Asella in a gentle voice for all to hear. ¡°You can even kill them if you want.¡± A chilling silence fell upon the place for a moment. There was no one here who had not noticed the eerie meaning of Calix¡¯s words. ¡®What the hell has he done?¡¯ ¡®Still, they¡¯re a brother and sister; she wouldn¡¯t go that far.¡¯ The nobles looked at each other in disbelief. It was frustrating enough that they didn¡¯t know the exact reason behind the situation in front of them, but they were sure that something unusual was happening. In the end, their gazes settled in one direction. The Grand Duke was looking down at his bride, and the Grand Duchess was being held to his chest. What was she thinking? There was no reply coming from her beneath the veil. The people waited with bated breath for her response. At that moment, the silence that had been holding their breath was broken by someone¡¯s voice yelling. ¡°You¡¯re going too far!¡± It was Philip, and his voice reflected the bewildered emotion in it, regardless of his attempt to somehow maintain his composure. His face, which had turned red, could not hide his frustration. But Calix was unconcerned and gave him a sharp warning. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Why do you torment people so much? This is outrageous. It was just-¡± ¡°Just?¡± A frown crossed Calix¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that someone who is supposed to be the acting Marquis would be so incapable of grasping the situation.¡± He was definitely smiling, but his face didn¡¯t feel like he was smiling at all. At the sound of Calix¡¯s voice, harsh like a winter wind that stung his skin, Philip began to grow numb. ¡°If I dispose of it myself, I won¡¯t be able to see anything good.¡± As if he had been waiting for this, Ryzen held up a sword with both hands and held it out to Calix. Grabbing the handle, he spun the sword lightly and held it upright as the sharp silver blade of the sword shone brightly. As he faced the sharp blade that seemed as if it could tear his body apart even at the slightest touch, Philip realized that he had no choice in the matter. ¡°I will obey Her Highness¡¯ command!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So please, put your sword back!¡± Philip began to beg with his back bent as if he was almost folded in half. His pride was thrown out the window before the fear of death that was right in front of him. He had no time to feel shame or contempt. Calix watched him for a moment, then turned his gaze to Asella. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± He asked. She slowly closed her eyes behind the veil and opened them. ¡®Perhaps this is an opportunity.¡¯ Philip and Anthony, or whoever they were¡­ they could not ignore the decisions made here. Everyone in this room was a witness to what had happened today. ¡°Yes.¡± With the small gesture of Asella¡¯s head, the long veil fluttered. Calix loosened his arms grip around her waist and stood behind her. Naturally, Asella turned to face Phillip. ¡°¡­¡± Up until now, she had no choice but to stand down and watch helplessly. But if she could use this opportunity¡­ All she needed now was the courage to do something for her sister. She felt like she was about to burst into tears, and she clenched her fists. It was not easy for her to open her lips and speak. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You said you will accept whatever punishment you¡¯ll be given.¡± Apparently noticing Asella¡¯s hesitation, Calix spoke up, which gave her the courage she needed. She uttered the words which, in normal cases, would never be able to say. ¡°Please send Mariel to the Academy.¡± The Imperial Academy was one of the best educational institutions in the Empire. It offered the highest level of education and produced outstanding talents under the best professors. ¡®If she could only get in¡­¡¯ She was a bright child. Once Mariel is at the academy, her talent will thrive, and she will quickly make a name for herself with her superior skills. ¡®She won¡¯t be sold off like I was.¡¯ Mariel would spread her wings out there. She could have a different life than she did. ¡°¡­Then I will spare Brother¡¯s life, and the others too.¡± This was the only gift that this powerless sister could give to her one and only younger sister. Chapter 43 There was a small murmur amongst the nobles. The fact that all previous emperors had graduated from the Academy and viewed it as an essential qualification made the Academy¡¯s status very high in the Harmenian Empire. Every nobleman dreamed of sending their children to the Academy, and just being accepted to the Academy was an honor to the family. Graduates were treated well wherever they went, and many of them became close assistants to the Emperor as a result of their association with the Academy. It was only natural for anyone with talent to try their luck. However, the words of the Grand Duchess gave the impression that Philip was blocking his second daughter from entering the Academy. The nobles watched the situation closely, alternating between Asella¡¯s and Philip¡¯s faces. Philip was struggling to manage his expression. ¡®This damned woman!¡¯ It drove him mad, but there were too many eyes watching. Philip looked around, judging the atmosphere and averting his gaze from the nobles. Questions popped up on each of their faces. They wondered why the Grand Duchess had to go so far to demand something that should usually be encouraged. Philip¡¯s keen mind raced to find a suitable way to respond, but nothing good came to mind. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ It would have been easy to handle if Mariel was a foolish child, but that wasn¡¯t the case. But what if rumors about how he went out of his way to prevent her from entering the Academy when she had the potential spread? He would be stigmatized for not only depriving his eldest daughter of her right to inherit the house but also preventing even the education of his second daughter, who was more than qualified. While Asella¡¯s case was justified as being related to her mother¡¯s death, Mariel¡¯s case was different. ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ Philip pressed his trembling lips together, trying to force a smile onto his face. Asella¡¯s demands were things that were taken for granted; saving her brother¡¯s life without damaging her pride with absurd demands for an apology, she preserved the honour of her family while preserving the dignity of the Grand Duke. In the meantime, Calix Benvito¡¯s threat to kill Anthony was by no means empty words. Philip¡¯s gaze followed the sword of the Grand Duke without leaving it even for a second. Just imagining what that sword did in the last war made his hair stand on end. ¡°What will you do?¡± As the Grand Duke spoke, Philip had no choice but to answer. ¡°You speak of the obvious, Asella.¡± If he had to meet her demands anyway, it would have been better to reverse this atmosphere. It was the most favourable way for him. ¡°As long as Mariel can pass the test¡­¡± He added. ¡°I think you misunderstood something.¡± Calix cut off Philip¡¯s words. He wasn¡¯t going to be fooled by a clever game of words, not in the slightest. ¡°Mariel Chartus won¡¯t fail the test.¡± ¡°What?¡± Philip asked back with a puzzled expression. ¡°Because if she fails the test, your son¡¯s head will fall with it.¡± ¡°Wha- This doesn¡¯t make any sense¡­!¡± In a surprise, Philip stammered and shouted. Anthony¡¯s face turned pale as he stood there, supported by the servants. Calix dismissed his remark. ¡°The condition my wife set is to ¡®send¡¯ Mariel Chartus to the Academy, not just giving her the chance to take the exam.¡± At that moment, a satisfied expression appeared on the faces of the nobles. To send a child to the Academy required a huge investment. Occasionally, there were people born with unmatched talent. However, most of them were ordinary people. In the end, it was the person¡¯s own effort, study, and hard work that decides if they got to enter the Academy. Since one had to prove one¡¯s excellence in front of a room full of high-profile people, the success or failure of the entrance exam depended on the quality of education one had received from an early age. ¡°You have to provide her with the best teachers so that she can get into the Academy.¡± Philip could not say anything. His body trembled, and his mouth gaped like a carp fish. His greedy face was filled with nothing but shock. Calix laughed coldly as he watched him, unable to control his expression even slightly. ¡®Funny.¡¯ Compared to what Phillip had taken from the two daughters of Chartus, this was a drop in the ocean. It was funny to see him refuse to let go of something that didn¡¯t belong to him in the first place. But how long would this be possible? Calix narrowed his eyes as he thought of his private conversation with the Emperor not too long ago. He would face a miserable end if he was foolish and couldn¡¯t see a single inch ahead. Calix could only estimate the time. He could see a future where Phillip ruined himself without needing Calix to do anything, so up until now, he ignored it, but today he changed his mind. And there was another thought that changed. ¡°No, rather¡­¡± ¡®It¡¯s not like me to do this,¡® Calix thought even as he spoke. He rarely changed a decision once he had made it. He was a person who did not regret what had already passed, nor did he cling to the past. In other words, it wasn¡¯t his way to change a decision he had already made. However, an exception to this rule was now being made. ¡°Mariel Chartus¡¯ education might as well be handled by us.¡± ¡°Wh-What does that mean?¡± ¡°Or are you confident in what you can provide for her?¡± Philip swallowed hard. Anthony¡¯s neck was at stake, so he had to send Mariel to the Academy at all costs. However, even the rough estimate of the cost of education was shocking. It was even more difficult to find a reliable teacher since all teachers that were renowned for their abilities were already hired by other families. Furthermore, the selection exam was only a few months away. Time was running out. ¡°Perhaps¡­ Are you saying you want to sponsor her?¡± As the thought flashed across his mind, anticipation crept across Philip¡¯s face. With the support of the Benvito family, the job of sending Mariel to the Academy would be much easier. ¡°Sponsor?¡± A short answer came to Calix¡¯s mind. ¡°I suppose you could say that.¡± Calix lowered his head, and the woman with her eyes wide open in surprise looked back at him. ¡°Asella.¡± The man¡¯s cold face suddenly softened. The change was so subtle that if one wasn¡¯t a very sharp person, they wouldn¡¯t notice it. ¡°Shall we take your sister with us back to the Duchy?¡± Instantly, Asella¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Chapter 44 She almost yelled a ¡®No¡¯. Fortunately, she was able to compose herself and swallowed the words that were about to escape her mouth in the back of her throat. Fortunately, her face was covered by a veil. ¡®Mariel..!¡¯ She couldn¡¯t manage her expression very well. Her teeth clashed and clicked together. Her whole body shivered as if she felt a chill of fear that went deep into her bones. Her mother¡¯s last words began to fill her head as she continued to speak, coughing up blood again and again. ¡®Beware of him¡­ Benvito¡­¡¯ ¡®Pr-Promise me¡­ Please¡¯ ¡®Be careful around Calix Benvito.¡¯ ¡®Promise me that you will survive and protect Mariel.¡¯ Her mother left this last wish with her as she took her last breath. However, none of those promises followed. She had married Calix Benvito, struggled to keep herself alive, and Mariel was still in Philip¡¯s hands. She felt terrible about that, and for the past month, she couldn¡¯t even dare to recall happy memories of her mother. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®I can¡¯t take Mariel away with me.¡¯ One day, Calix Benvito would kill her. She had no idea when that time would be, and if she took Mariel, even the child¡¯s safety would be uncertain. The Grand Duke was more dangerous than Philip. She felt dizzy from the chaos of her thoughts and dazed as if she¡¯d been thrown into the demon¡¯s enormous claws. ¡®Pull yourself together, Asella.¡¯ She finally managed to pull herself out of her reverie. Even if she had to give up everything else, she had to protect Mariel. ¡®Even if it meant giving up on me.¡¯ When Asella¡¯s trembling lips finally parted, she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°No, you can¡¯t!¡± Philip screamed. With Mariel in hand, he could continue to extract the sweet juice from Asella. In any case, now that Asella was the Grand Duchess, she would be useful in many ways. As long as Mariel was with him, Asella had no choice but to accept his demands. No matter how much Asella cared for Mariel, whether she was her biological sister, Philip was still Mariel¡¯s legal guardian, and he had custody of the child. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! We¡¯ll do our best to help Mariel pass the Academy¡¯s entrance exam¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re testing my patience.¡± Calix¡¯s face oozed annoyance along with boredom. He ruffled his jet-black hair and continued speaking. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you, Philip.¡± ¡°Wh-Wh-What are you saying?¡± ¡°I find the sound of animals barking quite unpleasant and difficult to listen to.¡± Philip¡¯s face instantly reddened at the words, which lacked even the barest amount of courtesy. But he couldn¡¯t even open his mouth in front of Calix. The knights of Benvito remained surrounding them. It was very easy to imagine a scene where a single word from the Grand Duke would cause dozens of blades to strike simultaneously. Finally, Philip grew silent, and Calix turned to face Asella. ¡°Asella, tell me what you want. What do you want me to do?¡± The moment she met his persistent gaze, she realized that she could not avoid answering. Her clear light blue eyes trembled. ¡®You¡¯re the one who killed my mother.¡¯ There was only one piece of evidence that her dying mother had handed it to her before she let out her last breath. It was a button with a strange pattern engraved on it. But obviously, it had a close connection to her death. In any way¡­ ¡°Do you want us to take your sister along?¡± How could he, who was only fifteen years old at the time, do such a thing? At first, she couldn¡¯t believe it. But then, three years later, the previous Grand Duke Benvito, who had been in good health, died mysteriously. After assuming the title of the Grand Duke, Calix Benvito became the leading figure in countless victorious battles. Her doubts were becoming more and more convincing. ¡®I can¡¯t take Mariel with me. It¡¯s the right thing to do¡­¡¯ Asella, who made up her mind, finally parted her lips. ¡°I thank you for the kindness and compassion you have extended to my sister and me, but-¡° ¡°Asella.¡± However, the words she managed to speak were cut off in mid-sentence. ¡°It¡¯s better if we take your sister with us.¡± He said as if he knew how she would respond. ¡°You¡¯ve been apart for so long.¡± ¡°¡­Your Excellency.¡± ¡°If you want, I can arrange for her room to be right next to yours so that you can see her any time you want.¡± Asella couldn¡¯t understand Calix. He was trying to convince her as if he had to take Mariel. But why? Her suspicions grew, and her fears amplified. It was then that Asella was about to shake her head in haste at the chilly sensation that crept up the top of her head. ¡°Mariel Chartus would be happier with you.¡± His voice was low and calm, even intimidating in a way that was impossible to resist. There was no way she could defy his will, nor could she take Mariel to such a dangerous place. Asella bit her lip. At that moment, she felt an overwhelming sense of regret; she shouldn¡¯t have brought up Mariel in the first place. She had tried to give her sister wings, but she had ended up choking her. The bitterness of the shame that she had ruined everything with her rash action was too much for her to handle. Tears welled up in her eyes. Asella couldn¡¯t take it anymore and closed her eyes tightly. That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°Asella.¡± Chapter 45 She almost yelled a ¡®No¡¯. Fortunately, she was able to compose herself and swallowed the words that were about to escape her mouth in the back of her throat. Fortunately, her face was covered by a veil. ¡®Mariel..!¡¯ The bitterness of the shame that she had ruined everything with her rash action was too much for her to handle. Tears welled up in her eyes. Asella couldn¡¯t take it anymore and closed her eyes tightly. That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°Asella.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. Asella couldn¡¯t take it anymore and closed her eyes tightly. That¡¯s when it happened. ¡°Asella.¡± A sweet scent filled her nose, and she felt a warm sensation on her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t bite your lips.¡± Before she knew it, he was close enough that she could almost feel their bodies touching, even with her eyes closed. The man¡¯s long fingers gently brushed her injured lips. ¡°Are you worried about your sister¡¯s safety?¡± Shivering, Asella nodded slowly while her eyes were still closed. Calix let out a soft sigh. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry that much.¡± Even though he said it with his own mouth, he couldn¡¯t understand himself. He didn¡¯t know why he was putting himself through so much trouble when he could just ignore Mariel Chartus, regardless of what might happen to her. ¡°I promise you. Your sister will be safe.¡± Why was he even making this promise? But fortunately, his efforts paid off. Her eyelids, finely feathered with silver lashes, blinked slowly, and finally, the blue eyes that had been hiding revealed themselves. As soon as her eyes met his as if to confirm his words, Calix felt his throat burning. He couldn¡¯t help but feel thirsty. That was why words that sounded like excuses came out of his mouth. ¡°I swear upon my name, upon my family, I promise you.¡± ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Asella met Calix¡¯s face directly, probably for the first time today. It wasn¡¯t that she trusted him. However, ¡®Even if she stays here, Mariel won¡¯t be safe.¡¯ This thought that struck her like a thunderbolt was more like enlightenment. Once this man had decided to kill someone, it didn¡¯t matter where they were. Mariel was staying at the Chartus mansion; nothing and absolutely nothing could block Calix¡¯s way. ¡®If I can endure until Mariel can get into the Academy¡­¡¯ There were only a few months left before the entrance exam. Assuming this chapter was translated by layl, assuming she could manage to survive until then¡­ Having made her decision, Asella nodded her head. ¡°Please keep your¡­ promise¡­¡± She uttered the word ¡®promise¡¯ even though she didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Yeah.¡± His response was indifferent, but his hands on her face were soft, and with a gentle gesture, he fixed her slightly disheveled veil. ¡°I guess that leaves only one thing left to do.¡± A few moments later, he turned over, and his eyes were much colder than before. Anthony, who had been standing there like a person unable to say anything, shuddered at the icy gaze. ¡°You need to apologize.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it common sense to ask for forgiveness when you make a mistake?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Excellency¡­¡± Anthony was surprisingly indifferent. ¡°I see you haven¡¯t come to your senses yet.¡± Calix drew his sword again without hesitation. Anthony¡¯s face turned pale as Calix approached him with the sound of a sword scraping the floor. ¡°Wh-Why are you like this, Your Excellency?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the one you should be apologizing to.¡± ¡°Th-Then¡­ to whom ¡­¡± Anthony¡¯s eyes, which had been roaming around, finally met Asella¡¯s. No way¡­ His eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ve already settled this by letting Mariel go to the Academy!¡± Anthony exclaimed in frustration. Then Calix laughed. His bloodshot eyes glowed with a dangerous gleam. ¡°So, you won¡¯t do it?¡± At that moment, Anthony¡¯s jaw suddenly began to tremble. Every hair on his body, from head to toe, stood on end. A cold sweat started to run down his spine. That laugh was a clear warning. Fear swept over him as if he had been thrown straight into the mouth of a raging beast. Anthony couldn¡¯t hold back his voice. ¡°Ha, I¡¯ll do it! I apologize! I apologize!¡± Calix was a bit taller, so Anthony had to look up at him. The intimidation that oozed from the man made his body shiver. He made a quick apology and kept avoiding the situation. Gritting his teeth and trying to choose the right words, he heard an unbelievable tone. ¡°Get on your knees.¡± ¡®What?¡¯ Anthony looked at Calix with a stupid look on his face, oblivious to the situation. Kneeling to Asella? He had never imagined it. Not even once. It was always the other way around. ASELLA was the one who kneeled. ¡°Kneel. Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± His face lit up with humiliation, but as soon as he met the Grand Duke¡¯s bloody, red eyes, the tiny amount of courage he had left was gone. Anthony turned his eyes toward his father for help, clinging to the last straw, but Philip also shook his head. There was no other way. Anthony¡¯s head, finally facing reality, dropped. His body slowly leaned downward. He bent one knee and put the other foot on the floor. Eventually, the other knee touched the floor completely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Asella.¡± His trembling lips finally parted, and he apologized. His ego was damaged, and he felt like grabbing anyone at random and beating them. He barely spat out those words, and he sat up, thinking it was over. Thud. The sword pierced the ground in front of him. Anthony¡¯s eyes went blazing up and down. The sword was buzzing between his two hands on the floor. His face, which had hardened, reflected on the cold, silver surface of the sword. A voice, so low and dark that it made his hair stand on end, rang in his ears. ¡°I don¡¯t remember allowing you to call my wife by her name recklessly.¡± Anthony swallowed his saliva. It was right after he had seen the overwhelming force that made the sword pierce through the marble floor right in front of him without an inch of error. A deep fear pressed down the back of his neck. Anger quickly subsided in the face of fear, leaving only the instinct of survival to take over. ¡°Sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.¡± However, there was no response. He looked up for a moment to check and saw that Asella was standing in a motionless pose. Then, he saw the Grand Duke standing beside him with a twisted smile on his face. ¡°Please! Please forgive my rudeness!¡± Anthony slammed his forehead on the floor. Chapter 46 She almost yelled a ¡®No¡¯. Fortunately, she was able to compose herself and swallowed the words that were about to escape her mouth in the back of her throat. Fortunately, her face was covered by a veil. ¡®Mariel..!¡¯ The bitterness of the shame that she had ruined everything with her rash action was too much for her to handle. The incident was brought to a close when Asella accepted Anthony¡¯s apology. As Calix began to walk, holding her waist for support, a rare scene unfolded as the crowd of nobles split into two sides of the corridor at once. Not even a breath could be heard in the wide corridor as the Grand Duke and his wife, and the Benvito knights passed between them with ease. ¡°Well, if you¡¯ll excuse me¡­¡± Philip ended the banquet swiftly by saying farewell to his visitor. Anthony, in shock, staggered roughly and disappeared while supported by his servants. It was a really messed up wedding reception. On the other hand, the people who attended the wedding had similar thoughts. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see what just happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how it happened, but I didn¡¯t expect His Excellency to be so scary.¡± ¡°This is how much he loves Her Highness, I guess.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think we should get this news out as soon as possible?¡± What was certain was the fact that tomorrow, the story of the Grand Duke¡¯s love for his wife would spread like wildfire throughout the Empire. * * * Calix mocked as he entered Asella¡¯s fake bedroom, which had initially been Rebecca¡¯s room. ¡°You want me to spend my wedding night in a room like this?¡± In an instant, all the blood was drawn from Asella¡¯s face. Rebecca¡¯s room was the most well-maintained room in the residence of the Marquis Chartus. It was large, luxurious, and the decorations were all high-end. It was nothing compared to Asella¡¯s room, which had a simple bed, desk, and dressing table. It even had been redecorated for today¡¯s wedding, with new curtains and carpets. ¡®I guess he doesn¡¯t like it.¡¯ The Benvito family was not exactly a simple household to please. She couldn¡¯t imagine how grand the Grand Duke residence would look like. ¡®What should I do¡­?¡¯ Asella bowed her head, unable to find the words to reply. This made her wonder if she would be able to spend the night with him safely today. She had to appease his displeasure somehow. That was when Asella¡¯s hand tightened. ¡°Ryzen.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°We¡¯re moving up our schedule and leaving for the duchy today. Prepare accordingly.¡± Asella glanced up at the conversation between them. ¡®Why? We haven¡¯t even spent our wedding night yet¡­¡¯ Before the panicked Asella could say anything else, Calix gently lifted her veil and asked. ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± She pondered for a moment. But then she quickly shook her head. He didn¡¯t like this room. No, he hated it outright. Whether it was today or tomorrow morning, nothing was going to change much, so it was better to go along with his wishes as much as possible. There was one thing that bothered her, though. ¡°I don¡¯t think Mariel is ready.¡± As she spoke, she finally realized that she hadn¡¯t seen Mariel all day. ¡®But she attended the wedding, right?¡¯ Certainly, her little sister¡¯s eyes twinkled as she waited to meet Asella¡¯s gaze. However, it didn¡¯t even occur to her to look for Mariel. She could say that she was so nervous and scared that she couldn¡¯t focus on anything, but it was just a poor excuse. Asella felt so bad and sorry for her sister, how much she must have been lonely after three years of not seeing each other. But for now, Asella felt fortunate to be leaving this place with her sister. ¡°The preparations are going to take some time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Asella¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise. ¡°Thank you¡­ Your Excellency.¡± Upon hearing her answer, Calix¡¯s eyes narrowed because of the strange tone in her voice. ¡°We¡¯re not in a rush, so take your time to get ready.¡± However, when Asella¡¯s eyes widened at his words, Calix felt even more disturbed. ¡°Thank you.¡± With a slight nod, Asella left the room. For some reason, Calix couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her until she disappeared at the end of the corridor. Chapter 47 Standing in front of the closed room, Asella loosened her grip and took a deep breath. When she was about to knock on the door, it swung open, and suddenly a figure dug into her chest, shouting. ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°Mariel.¡± Asella¡¯s face lit up instantly. Mariel looked up at her, her large eyes sparkling. ¡°How did you know I was standing here?¡± ¡°I kinda sensed you¡¯re coming, Sister.¡± It seemed like Mariel had been waiting all day for her to come. Asella patted her little sister¡¯s head gently, still feeling sorry for her. Until now, they had not been able to see each other even though they were in the same mansion due to Philip¡¯s orders. The servants had made sure that the two of them had different schedules. So although Asella had been pacing the premises more frequently than usual because of the wedding preparations, they had never met. ¡°But Sister, why are you wearing a veil?¡± ¡°¡­.Ah, that¡¯s because¡­¡± Although she couldn¡¯t see Asella¡¯s swollen cheeks under the veil, Mariel¡¯s face suddenly became serious. ¡°Sister, no way, not again¡­¡± ¡°No, Mariel.¡± A quick denial, but Meryl was sharp enough to notice. The child pressed her lips together. Her eyes were heated, almost on the verge of tears, but she held back so hard that she didn¡¯t shed any tears. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go in.¡± Asella hurried her by holding her hand. But Mariel couldn¡¯t take her eyes off her, and as soon as she entered the room, she burst into tears. ¡°Are you in a lot of pain?¡± ¡°Mariel.¡± Asella slowly leaned forward to meet her sister¡¯s gaze and wrapped her hands around Mariel¡¯s chubby cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m going to be fine, Mari. You don¡¯t have to worry. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Asella sensed that she did not want to embarrass her as Mariel nodded reluctantly. ¡®My sweet sister..¡¯ Asella¡¯s heart ached every time she thought of her only sister. When Adele had given birth to Mariel, her sisters¡¯ father, Claude, had suddenly died of an illness, and by the time Mariel was three years old, Adele had lost her life in the attack. Unlike her, who had at least some memories of her parents, Mariel didn¡¯t have any. ¡®She didn¡¯t have the luxury of being pampered¡­¡¯ She lost both of her parents at a very young age when she couldn¡¯t even remember their love, and at the age of seven, she had no choice but to leave her sister and be sent to a faraway land. This made her sensible at too young of an age. It was pitiful. Asella rubbed Mariel¡¯s cheek sympathetically. The child rubbed her plump cheek against the palm of her hand with a smile on her face. Then, as if suddenly remembering, she shouted. ¡°Oh! I saw you at the wedding, Sister!¡± ¡°Did you?¡± ¡°Yes! I was at the very front. You looked like an angel that came down from the sky!¡± ¡°I see.¡± Just as Asella¡¯s face was about to be clouded with remorse and guilt, Mariel snuggled against her chest. ¡°Congratulations on your wedding, Sister.¡± For a moment, Asella didn¡¯t know what to say. She could pass off as many words of congratulations as she needed from a stranger, but she didn¡¯t want to deceive Mariel about her true feelings. While Asella hesitated to reply, Mariel looked up at her. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re leaving to live with His Highness, right?¡± At these words, Asella¡¯s got back to her sense. This was not the time to be doing this. ¡°Mariel, I actually need to talk to you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to the Duchy with me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mary asked with a blank expression on her face. A smile spread across Asella¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to take the Academy exam now.¡± Mariel¡¯s eyes widened. She repeated what she had just heard over and over again in disbelief. Moments later, Mariel stammered and opened her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re lying! You¡¯re saying this because you don¡¯t want me to be upset, right?¡± ¡°Did I ever lie to you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡± Mariel shook her head violently and thought. ¡®Sister always keeps her promises, but¡­¡¯ Mariel¡¯s eyes widened, and after thinking about the conversation for some moments, she opened her mouth. ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Really.¡± Her face instantly brightened. ¡°Sister!¡± With a delightful squeal, Mariel jumped into Asella¡¯s arms. ¡°Does it make you this happy?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± She screamed with a violent nod, and Asella let out a small laugh. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t cause trouble there. Understood? Study hard and make sure you pass the entrance exam.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Mariel giggled with an honest smile on her face. ¡°He did seem like a good person, but it is true.¡± Stroking Mariel¡¯s hair gently, Asella hardened at the words she suddenly heard. ¡°Who do you mean?¡± ¡°His Excellency the Grand Duke.¡± For a moment, Asella¡¯s pupils fluttered wildly. ¡°You¡¯ve spoken to His Excellency?¡± ¡°Yes! He told me I was a good girl and patted me on the head.¡± Instantly, goosebumps broke out all over Asella¡¯s body. The shock hit her like a dull hammer to the head. When the hell did that happen? Calix Benvito was far from warm or kind. He was not that kind of a man who would be nice for no reason, not even toward a child. ¡®Mariel Chartus¡¯ education might as well be handled by us.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s better if we take your sister with us.¡¯ ¡®Mariel Chartus would be happier with you.¡¯ His words came to her mind like a spark. ¡®No way¡­.¡¯ If Calix Benvito was not only targeting herself but Mariel as well. If that¡¯s what he was really after. She felt dizzy and unsteady. ¡°Sister, are you all right?¡± Mariel grabbed Asella¡¯s staggering arm and looked up at her with concern. When Asella saw her sister¡¯s anxious face, she suddenly fought against the fear that was rising in her. She had to remain calm and make a decision. If she made a mistake, she could completely screw things up and put Mariel in danger. She opened her mouth, feigning indifference. ¡°Mariel, listen to me.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°On your tenth birthday, maybe¡­¡± Mariel might be able to awaken that ability. Perhaps she didn¡¯t know if it would actually happen or not, but even for her, her younger sister was brilliant. ¡°If you do develop a special ability, you must not tell anyone about it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Asella swallowed hard. She couldn¡¯t honestly tell the child that it was dangerous, that there would be people after her life. ¡°Because it¡¯s important. You know that important things must be kept secret, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you either?¡± ¡°No. No. You can¡¯t tell anyone, even me.¡± Who would know where the eyes and the ears of the Duke could be. It was better not to bring it up at all. ¡°So when can I tell you?¡± ¡°When you are able to protect yourself.¡± As she finished speaking, Asella pressed her lips together lightly. The fact that the only thing she could do to protect her sister was this request was painful. ¡°I understand.¡± Mariel nodded, seeming to agree with Asella¡¯s words. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± After she reminded her sister several times of this matter, Asella tried to soothe her heart. ¡®We have to be prepared in case something happens.¡¯ There was no such thing as a perfect secret in this world. If Mariel¡­ If Mariel made it and awakened her powers, she could not hide it forever. Especially with Calix Benvito keeping an eye on Mariel. She had to find a way. Chapter 48 In the room that had been prepared separately for Calix, the unique smell of new furniture was in the air. Philip had demolished two large rooms, made them into a new room, repainted the walls, and changed the furniture and other accessories. Of course, all the costs were borne by the Benvito family. ¡°Your Excellency, this is Ryzen.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Ryzen had just returned from cleaning up the aftermath. Among the many things he had to do, he had to take care of the problem of Cecile, the maid who almost suffered a terrible thing earlier. He arranged for her to find another job with enough salary so that she would not have any difficulty in earning a living for the time being. The maid was so impressed that her knee felt weak, and Ryzen gave her a short reply. ¡°The Grand Duchess ordered it, so you should be grateful to her.¡± ¡®She¡¯s a strange person indeed.¡¯ Ryzen did not dare to disrespect his lord¡¯s wife, but her behavior was surprising. The unethical behavior of the rampaging Anthony Chartus was already known to him. She as well, who must have been through it for a long time, couldn¡¯t be ignorant of the fact, and it didn¡¯t take much to realize that it would be better to pretend that she didn¡¯t know and turn a blind eye. However, she did not overlook it. She directly approached the maid who was in danger and reached out to help her. Even in a situation where there were only enemies on all sides. Ryzen remembered the first time he had met the Grand Duchess a month ago. ¡®She was quite unexpected.¡¯ He had some information about the Grand Duchess he had to obtain after researching at the order of his lord. However, the only content about her personality was vague and mostly useless. Ryzen had a hunch that she was as unpredictable, just like his master. ¡°Your Highness, all of your instructions-.¡± Ryzen opened his mouth to report on the progress of events, but Calix held up a hand to stop him. There was only one thing he wanted to know. ¡°Have you informed the castle?¡± It was a short question, skipping the back and forth, but Ryzen didn¡¯t rush to answer. ¡°Yes. It will be completed by the time we get there.¡± By now, construction should have begun on a room for Mariel Chartus in the Grand Duchy, right next to the Grand Duchess¡¯s bedroom. The journey from the capital to the Duchy took about a week. With no time to spare, all available personnel of House Benvito had been reassigned to work on and decorate the room. Calix added in a casual tone. ¡°Bring anything you think the children will like. Toys, anything. She¡¯ll be very anxious about the environment.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned that as well.¡± Calix nodded, remembering his wife, whom he had spoken to for the first time today. Her blue eyes, filled with concern for her sister, kept flashing across his mind. ¡®Because if Mariel Chartus suffers, she wouldn¡¯t be able to adapt as well.¡¯ He was the one who would be bothered by that. Calix firmly believed that his reason for caring about Asella, which was unusual to him, was to avoid making things uncomfortable for himself in the first place. At Calix¡¯s side, Ryzen quietly stroked his nose. In fact, there was another matter that the Grand Duke had instructed regarding construction, and he emphasized in particular. A thick soundproof wall was to be built on the wall between the two bedrooms. Initially, the general principle was to leave both rooms on the side of the Grand Duke¡¯s and the Grand Duchess¡¯s bedrooms empty. ¡®But since he promised Her Highness to set up the room right next to hers¡­¡¯ Mariel Chartus was too young to understand ¡®adult night activities.¡¯ (note: I know¡­ shame.. but it isn¡¯t smut.) ¡°Construction is proceeding perfectly; you need not worry.¡± Of course, he did not have to report to his lord on such trivial matters. Ryzen Kadan was a capable aide. At that moment, a high-pitched alarm buzzed through the otherwise quiet space. He checked the time on his pocket watch and pressed the button on the side of the watch. Then the noise, which had been coming at a steady pace, stopped. ¡°I will prepare tea, Your Excellency.¡± Ryzen took out a square silver case from his pocket. When he pressed the center of the lid, the surface shifted slightly downward, and a silver needle popped out, causing a small cut on his finger. Sealed with a special magic, the case was designed so that only a specific person could open it. As soon as a single drop of blood seeped through, the case was opened with a crisp sound, revealing an unidentifiable black powder. Ryzen boiled the teapot and poured hot water into a cup with a skillful move. He measured out the powder with the teaspoon inside the case and added it to the water. The black liquid gave the impression of poison rather than a ¡°tea.¡± Calix stared at it and swallowed it in one gulp as soon as he was handed the cup. ¡°¡­¡± Tasteless, odorless tea¡­ It was a tea that he would most likely have for the rest of his life but he wouldn¡¯t get used to its taste until he died. Calix was terribly displeased whenever he drank this tea. It was like evidence that reflected back on the power of the curse that had been passed down through his bloodline, and the more he thought about it, the colder his blood got. ¡°Ryzen.¡± He placed the empty cup on the table and called out to his aide in a low voice. Chapter 49 ¡°Ryzen.¡± He placed the empty cup on the table and called out to his aide in a low voice. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Prepare to de-register Mariel Chartus.¡± The random order took Ryzen by surprise. He never questioned the reasons behind his master¡¯s orders in the slightest, but this time he couldn¡¯t help but wonder. One unexpected thing led to another. ¡®Why in the world¡­¡¯ There were specific reasons why his master had chosen the current Grand Duchess as his marriage partner. And what was requested regarding the secret agreement with the Emperor had already been prepared. It was just a matter of putting it into action at the right time. Ryzen began to speak cautiously. ¡°Your Highness, if that happens, Mariel Chartus¡¯ status will be downgraded.¡± When a family is de-registered, the family name will be removed. Her status will be lowered from noblewoman to commoner. But Calix responded casually, as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal. ¡°Her biological father is Claud Loctorin.¡± Claud, who was Adele¡¯s first husband, was the only direct descendant of Viscount Loctorin. However, he fell in love with Adele Chartus and married her, becoming Claud Chartus. The first heir of Loctorin abandoned his own family line, leading to a forced succession to the other side of the family. But the main problem was with the genetic disease in the Loctorin family. The disease manifested itself in an irregular manner. Because of this, many people in the Loctorin family lived short lives, and Claud himself died early because of this. From the time Claud married Adele nineteen years ago until now, the head of the Loctorin family had changed a whopping four times. To make matters worse, last year, an epidemic broke out across the Loctorin territory, killing all the blood relatives who were eligible to take over the family. ¡°One thing, the Viscounty of Loctorin¡­¡± ¡°The family line has not yet been obliterated.¡± Family names were usually kept for a year in case any blood relatives appeared, and the estate, land, and titles were to be returned to the royal treasury after that. ¡°And Mariel Chartus is also of Loctorin bloodline.¡± ¡°Do you intend to let her inherit the House of Loctorin? But Mariel Chartus is too young.¡± Under Imperial law, both men and women must be 18 years of age to reach adulthood before inheriting the family line. If the lawful heir was a minor, a guardian was required. ¡°There is no suitable guardian, is there?¡± To become a guardian, one had to at least be from the same bloodline or a legal family member. This rule was created because too many people wanted to take over the guardianship of a person¡¯s property or have other plans. ¡°You know that there is a perfect person for this position around.¡± Ryzen, who had been thinking for a while, opened his eyes wide. ¡°Do you mean Her Highness?¡± Ryzen was extremely confused. When you become a guardian, you effectively have the authority of the family head, such was the case with Philip Chartus now. When Asella becomes Mariel¡¯s guardian, she will also become the head of House Loctorin. And this was something that had never been allowed to any previous Benvito Grand Duchess. ¡°She is a woman who received her successor¡¯s education from Adele. She won¡¯t be perfect from the get go, but she¡¯ll get better.¡± Ryzen gulped hard. He could not dare to guess his master¡¯s intentions. ¡°Will the Emperor allow the succession? I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll try to make a secret deal to benefit from a yet non-existent human weapon.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just take in a child who is not even ten years old. I don¡¯t care if he will create a fuss over it.¡± He didn¡¯t seem to care about the Emperor¡¯s objections. Thanks to that, it was Ryzen who grew agitated. ¡°Your Highness, the Emperor has his eye fixed upon the next special ability holder from the Chartus family.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve often heard that he didn¡¯t like my marriage. I thought that guy Fernandez was on drugs when he sent a congratulatory envoy.¡± Calix was sarcastic as he spoke the name of the Emperor with confidence. ¡°Information indicates that he was using the Imperialist nobles to apply pressure on the temple.¡± The temple, the counterpart to the Imperial power, was the thorn in the current Emperor¡¯s side. And Chartus, the family line that was said to have been blessed by the goddess Hernia, was inseparable from the temple. Now that it was in Philip¡¯s hands, there was a complete absence of communication¡­ ¡°It¡¯s fine now because she hasn¡¯t yet awakened her abilities, but Mariel Chartus is already a target.¡± Benvito¡¯s informants had already noticed and reported that Mariel had the Emperor¡¯s dog attached to her a month ago. Calix¡¯s red eyes sank coldly. ¡°Yet he is only the Emperor¡¯s dog. Deal with every last one of them before we enter the duchy.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± Ryzen, who had answered politely with a bow, asked for confirmation. ¡°Shall we leave a mark?¡± He meant that he would deliberately make it obvious to the Emperor that it was the Grand Duke¡¯s doing. Calix twisted one side of his lips. ¡°Certainly.¡± By now, the fact that Mariel Chartus was leaving with him must have reached Fernandez¡¯s ears. Then there was no reason to avoid or hide it. It was to make an example out of it. That Mariel Chartus was under his protection¡­ ¡°Please send Mariel to the Academy.¡± A voice floated to the surface for a moment. Calix slowly made his way to the garden. Before he knew it, evening darkness had fallen over the land, and the area was dimly lit. She had been to her sister¡¯s place a while ago, so she must have finished her preparations by now. ¡°Please keep your promise¡­¡± There was even a hint of desperation in her quiet, lake-like eyes. The woman¡¯s blue eyes constantly wavered as if she couldn¡¯t believe him, but she had no choice but to hold onto him. Calix turned and walked toward the door. Ryzen called out to his master in confusion. ¡°Your Excellency, where are you going?¡± Calix, who was about to grip the doorknob and turn it, stopped his movements for a moment. Her mouth curled into a strange smile, creating a soft impression that only lasted a moment. ¡°To pick up my wife.¡± Chapter 50 PR: Liz Ryzen was taken aback by surprise. He hastily rubbed his eyes and again looked at Calix. But his master had returned with his usual expressionless face. ¡°Get ready. I want to be ready to travel as soon as Asella gets ready.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± The door slammed shut, and Ryzen looked at the closed door with a dazed expression on his face. ¡®I must have seen it wrong.¡¯ He must have been mistaken for a while. So far, he had been overwhelmed by the work that was falling on him, and he seemed to be imagining things. ¡®Could His Excellency make such an expression?¡¯ Having served as Calix¡¯s assistant for many years, there were certain things Ryzen was sure of. His lord was basically a man who showed little to no emotions. As he stood beside him, it was as if he was looking at a moving iceberg. A ruthless and beautiful man whose ruthless and measured temper suited him perfectly. ¡®But if I¡¯d seen it right¡­¡¯ Ryzen gulped. He couldn¡¯t explain it exactly, but he felt as if something about his master had changed, even slightly. * * * Calix stood in front of Mariel¡¯s room. The servant immediately tried to knock on the door, but he was stopped abruptly. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What?¡± As the servant looked puzzled and confused, Calix briefly added. ¡°Tell her that I¡¯m waiting outside once she comes out.¡± His brow narrowed slightly as he walked out of the hallway he had been walking through. ¡®What a useless thing.¡¯ Although they were married, they had only known each other for less than a day. And even then, today was the first time they even had a face-to-face conversation. That was if the words they exchanged could be called a ¡°conversation¡±¡­ Obviously, this marriage didn¡¯t mean much to Calix. But he couldn¡¯t leave the Grand Duchess¡¯s seat vacant forever, and now there was a woman who fit all his requirements. He had chosen her for her current value and future potential, and paid a reasonable price for it. That was it. Naturally, he didn¡¯t have any interest or much liking for the woman who would be his wife. Compassion, trust, respect, love. None of these were considered by Calix to be ¡°necessary¡± in a marriage. What room was there for such frivolous and meaningless feelings in the act of necessity? And yet, why? Why did he suddenly decide to meet the woman? Why did he suddenly feel the need to pick her up? Even he couldn¡¯t understand his own actions. * * * On the other hand, Philip was having the worst day of his life. The wedding had been nearly perfect, but Anthony had made a mistake and ruined it. He was exhausted from trying to clean up the mess, and his body felt like it was burning with anger. Yet, when he saw Anthony lying on the bed with injuries in his entire body, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold him. He was so badly beaten that not a single part of his body was left unharmed. Wounds were covering him from head to toe, and his face was all bruised to the point where his features were barely recognizable. Finally, after hours of treatment, the priest rose up to his feet, and Philip hurried to ask him. ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Yes, he will feel better after a few days of rest. He has to be careful with his movements for the time being, so please keep that in mind.¡± Philip was relieved, and then, a servant entered the room, gasping for breath. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°His Excellency, the Grand Duke, is leaving for the Duchy today.¡± ¡°What? Is that true?¡± Startled, Philip immediately ran outside. ¡®If something else happens¡­!¡¯ What if there were problems between Asella and the Grand Duke¡­ It wouldn¡¯t be much of a serious problem. Even if it was just that, he was terrified about what had happened earlier, and now he was starting to worry that this marriage might have been ruined. As soon as he spotted Calix in the distance, Philip hurried up with a smile on his face. Fortunately, the Grand Duke¡¯s expressionless face was much like usual, but it was still too early to feel relieved. Philip asked cautiously, suppressing his nervousness. ¡°Your Excellency, I heard that you are going to the Duchy now. Is that true?¡± No answer came back. He looked at Calix¡¯s face with a fixed gaze. ¡°Is there any reason why you are in such a hurry? The sun is setting, so why don¡¯t you stay here tonight¡­¡± ¡°You look awful.¡± Calix cut off his words in one breath. His firm attitude made it clear that he didn¡¯t want to hear any more. Philip¡¯s face hardened for a moment; then, he quickly regained his composure. With what Anthony had done, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he was in a bad mood, but no matter what the reason was, Philip had to attempt to please him. ¡°If there is anything you are missing or need, please let me know, and I¡¯ll-¡° ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh.¡± Calix said sarcastically. ¡°How much longer do you plan on fooling me?¡± All the blood instantly drained from Philip¡¯s face. ¡°The Grand Duke noticed!¡± Usually, the new couple would stay in one of the rooms on the wedding¡¯s first night. The bride¡¯s room or another room is prepared for the wedding night. Today, however, it was neither. If Calix took issue with the fact that Rebecca¡¯s room had been presented as if it were Asella¡¯s room, things could get ugly. It was considered an act of deception against the Grand Duke, and Philip could be punished severely for that. When Phillip realized this, his mouth closed tightly as if it were sealed with wax. ¡°¡­¡± When the insect¡¯s voice, which was hovering and disturbing his thoughts, disappeared, Calix leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes. He was disgusted. From first glance, the room he entered was far from Asella¡¯s taste. Even without the prior information he had gathered, he could recognize the actual owner of this room. If anything, even if it were a small and shabby room, he wouldn¡¯t have felt so dirty if it was really the room she used to live in. Not knowing why he felt so bad, Calix was frustrated by the discomfort building up inside him. In fact, he didn¡¯t even realize that his displeasure was due to Asella. In the end, innocent people were sacrificed because of this mess. Calix didn¡¯t even glance at the nearby Knight Commander but ordered in a dry voice. ¡°As soon as we reach the Duchy, assemble the entire Order.¡± The Knight Commander gasped in surprise. Because of their owner¡¯s nature, Benvito¡¯s knights lived under strict discipline. It was unimaginable that they would even dare to do things poorly or neglect work or training. Nevertheless, on days when Calix inspected the knights, half of them would end up with broken bones and in need of bed rest for several days. To put it simply, there was no one who could stand up against his monstrous swordsmanship and power. When the knights received the news, they turned pale and shuddered at the fear they were about to face. Chapter 51 ¡°Your Excellency, preparations are complete.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Calix stared at the window of Mariel¡¯s room. The room through the window was still clearly lit. A black shadow flickered in the background, indicating that they were still packing up their belongings. ¡°Please send Mariel to the Academy.¡± Perhaps it was because she was her only blood relative. But Calix had never felt any particular emotion for his blood relatives. He didn¡¯t have any siblings, to begin with, and even then, he didn¡¯t feel that much affection for his parents. His mother had died soon after giving birth to him, and his father had been as cold and ruthless as Benvito¡¯s bloodline usually was. Even his son was no an exception. When the previous Grand Duke Benvito met his end, Calix was on the battlefield. He did not return to the Duchy, even though the tide of battle was already turning and the odds were indeed in his favor. There was only a brief report that the funeral had been successfully held written by Ryzen. So the emotions Asella was showing her sister were a bit unfamiliar. After a moment of pondering, Calix¡¯s red eyes narrowed as he spotted something. The lights in the room went out. A moment later, the door opened, and a small woman descended the stairs, holding the child¡¯s hand. Her steps were swift as she made her way toward him. But it was such a graceful walk, like flowing water, that only someone with a sharp gaze would have noticed. Asella crossed the wide path in the middle and stood in front of Calix. Her face was slightly flushed as if to prove that she had come in a hurry. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to keep you waiting.¡± There was a short gap between her words as if she was out of breath. ¡°Mariel, you have to greet His Excellency.¡± ¡°Hello, Your Excellency.¡± Calix nodded lightly. Then he glanced down at the relatively small suitcase she held in one hand. Not one of the servants outside had stepped forward to help her with her luggage, and despite the fact that the Marquise¡¯s daughter was leaving the house, not one of them came to her departure. Calix once again realized her standing in the family. When Ryzen, always on the lookout, quickly approached her and asked for her luggage, Asella hesitated for a moment before handing over her suitcase. ¡°Is that all of your luggage?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± To put it bluntly, her luggage, in a good way, was simple, but objectively, it was shabby. While feeling a little shame, Asella prepared to answer the question that would follow soon. It was a luxury to ask others to understand when she couldn¡¯t easily convince herself. But for some reason, he did not ask her further. Instead, Calix¡¯s sharp eyes went to the man who had been standing in the background. Under his gaze, Philip slumped to his feet. ¡®That¡¯s terrible.¡¯ There wasn¡¯t a single decent part in him, no matter how they looked at him. A cold contempt flashed across Calix¡¯s face and then disappeared. Ryzen also fully understood his master¡¯s displeasure. No matter how bad it was in the past, Chartus was still a high-class noble family of the Empire. Refusing to pay a dowry was one thing, but this was just¡­ terrible. ¡®The Marquise¡¯s daughter is getting married, and they only prepare such modest luggage.¡¯ If this bag was filled with jewels, that would be one thing, but considering the weight of the bag he just received, it was evident that there were only some clothes in it. ¡®It doesn¡¯t look like there will be any servants coming along with her.¡¯ Typically, when a daughter of a noble family gets married, there would be a few servants moving with her to her husband¡¯s house to take care of her and serve her on the trip. However, the fact that there was no one to come along with her only meant that the Grand Duchess had been living without an attendant all this time. ¡®Was it not enough to rob his dead wife of her entire fortune?¡¯ Ryzen took back his comment that Philip¡¯s level was at rock bottom. This guy was trash¡ªa disgusting scumbag who lived as the filthy shit of the world. At this point, Ryzen regretted very much that his master had not cut off even one of Anthony¡¯s arms earlier. Chapter 52 Despite Ryzen¡¯s wishes, Calix did not take any particular action. Instead, with a calm expression, his gaze traveled from Philip, the Marquise¡¯s servants, to the mansion and then to Ryzen. ¡°Your Highness, this way, please.¡± Asella was nervous about the somewhat cold atmosphere, but she tensed up when Ryzen spoke politely to her, but she quickly calmed down and turned to her sister. ¡°Mariel.¡± When Asella took her hand while applying some pressure, Mariel simply nodded. As soon as they had walked a few steps with Ryzen leading the way, the line of knights split into both sides, and the carriage came into view. There were no special decorations on the carriage, except for the Grand Duke¡¯s emblem engraved in gold on a purple background. However, it was a vast carriage pulled by four horses. The polished, pristine surface of the carriage indicated the hardness of the wood that had been used to build the carriage. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Can you please help Mariel instead?¡± When Asella declined to be escorted with a gentle tone, Ryzen smiled and replied. ¡°Of course, Your Highness.¡± Taking Ryzen¡¯s hand, Mariel stood on the large steps and started climbing it slowly. Soon, a small exclamation came out of the carriage. As soon as Asella, who was following her sister up the stairs, caught a glimpse of the interior through the open door, she stopped at the edge of the door. ¡®Oh my god!¡¯ She thought she would not be surprised since she had heard of the Grand Duke¡¯s wealth before. But she was arrogant; the carriage in front of her was the ultimate definition of luxury as if to mock Asella¡¯s expectations. It was so glamorous that it made her eyes go dizzy. The long sofas on either side of the door were spacious enough for her to lay down and sleep. To ensure that it would not get dark at night, a chandelier made from magic stones was in the center of the carriage ceiling. The interior, including the walls and doors, were covered with a solid woven fabric of dark green silk with gold threads, making the wood parts of the carriage not even slightly noticeable. The floor was covered with a large woolen carpet made from the fur of a giant, long-haired beast, and for some moments, Asella wondered if she could step on it with her shoes on. It was only then that she realized the kind of caliber the Benvito family was. ¡°Sister, come! It¡¯s so soft and fluffy here!¡± Sitting on one side of the sofa, Mariel waved at her with a smile. The child pressed down on the colorful sofa with her palm and burst into a happy smile. Only then did Asella step into the carriage as if she were slowly being led. With a low sigh, she slowly ran her hand on the sofa that was covered in red fabric. the texture was fluffy as if she was feeling a baby¡¯s skin, and it snuggled tightly around her palm. As soon as they sat down, Mariel exclaimed with a glowing face. ¡°I think it¡¯s even better than our bed. Isn¡¯t that right, sister?¡± ¡°¡­ Yeah.¡± ¡°It is just like what Viscountess Etmant told me! His Highness, the Grand Duke, is very rich.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± ¡°She said that Sister is lucky to be married to such a man and that all the noble ladies of the Empire who are not married would envy you.¡± Asella couldn¡¯t answer when her sister was looking at her with such a happy face. ¡®It¡¯s like complaining when you¡¯re given a seat that everyone fights to get it. It wouldn¡¯t be enough even if you got on your knees and thanked him.¡¯ That was what Philip said. ¡®You¡¯re fortunate to be able to marry the Grand Duke. You should be grateful for it.¡¯ ¡®Is that so?¡¯ She now wondered if he was right. ¡®No, not at all. That man isn¡¯t anything to be envious of¡­ He came to get me¡­ Mariel¡­ us¡­¡¯ Asella¡¯s mind went blank. It was as if her entire soul was being sucked into a muddy pit that she couldn¡¯t even grasp the depth of. Her mind sank into the darkness with a sense of loneliness that words could not describe. ¡°But I think His Highness is much more fortunate.¡± Mariel¡¯s cheerful voice drifted into her ear, lifting her from her depths to the surface. When Asella finally came to her senses, she looked at her sister, and Mariel smiled brightly at her. ¡°Because he welcomed someone as splendid as Sister as his wife!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I have never seen anyone kinder, prettier, or wiser than you, Sister. I¡¯m sure His Highness feels the same way.¡± Mariel burst out laughing. But Asella couldn¡¯t laugh¡­ She knew better than anyone that the Grand Duke would never feel the same way about her. For if he had cared for her in the slightest, he would not marry her in this way as if he was making some kind of purchase. ¡®Mariel, he is trying to kill us. Perhaps¡­ your sister will not live long.¡¯ She must protect her sister. This was the only reason Asella wanted this marriage for. He was the only one Asella wanted in this marriage. ¡°Thank you..¡± Asella said while having a sad smile on her face. Asella was lucky that she was still wearing the veil because her quick-witted sister would probably read all her expressions. Chapter 53 ¡°Sister.¡± Mariel walked up to her and hugged her tightly. ¡°I love you more than anything in the world, Sister.¡± The child¡¯s warmth traveled to Asella, and the warm, fuzzy feeling made her eyes flush slightly. ¡°I love you, Sister.¡± For some reason, the tip of her nose was cold, and she felt her throat tighten, and she couldn¡¯t answer right away. ¡°I love you too.¡± Only after a few minutes did the words finally come out of her lips. However, for Mariel, it was a good enough answer. The child giggled and dug deeper into her arms. Yawn. After a moment, she covered her mouth with the palm of her hand and let out a long yawn. It was pretty late. Although it was relatively bright, thanks to the lights lit here and there in the garden, Mariel usually would have already been asleep a few hours ago. ¡°You look tired.¡± Even though the party didn¡¯t start until a later time of the day, the family had a lot of work to do. Mariel must have been preparing since dawn to receive the guests. She was probably exhausted, even if she didn¡¯t show it to Asella. ¡°You must be sleepy, Mariel.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m not sleepy!¡± ¡°By the look in your eyes, you have fallen asleep a long time ago.¡± She shook her head in denial and turned away so that Asella wouldn¡¯t be able to see her face. Asella patted her sister¡¯s head and soothed her. ¡°You should go to bed early, so you can wake up early tomorrow.¡± ¡°But I want to talk to Sister more.¡± A trickle of disappointment drifted out of Mariel¡¯s voice. At the same time, she yawned several times and rubbed her sleepy eyes. Asella pulled a large blanket from one of the shelves and draped it over Mariel, tapping on the sofa beside her, gesturing for her to lay down. ¡°You can talk to your sister every day now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll eat together, take walks together, sleep together¡­.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± Mariel¡¯s sleepy eyes were fluttering, but suddenly her eyes widened, and she exclaimed. ¡°You can¡¯t sleep with me! Sister needs to sleep with His Highness!¡± In an instant, Asella¡¯s face turned bright red. She stammered and asked. ¡°Wha- Who told you that?¡± ¡°Viscountess Etman! She said that when a man and a woman get married, they sleep in the same bed, and if they sleep together holding hands, they can have babies. She said Mother and Father did it every day. That¡¯s how my sister and I were born¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mariel.¡± Asella hurriedly interrupted Mariel¡¯s words. Now, she was really fortunate that she was able to hide her hot face behind a veil. Her face was so hot that it was almost steaming. ¡°Ah, I get it. Go to sleep now, okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mariel could no longer stand how heavy her head felt; her eyelids slowly went up and down before her eyes closed completely. Within a few minutes, the sound of her steady breathing spread silently through the carriage. She gently stroked her sleeping sister¡¯s forehead, and after a moment, she got up and sat down on the seat across from her. When she turned her head to the side, she could see through the wide window. ¡®I couldn¡¯t see the inside of the carriage earlier.¡¯ Looking closer, she realized that the window had no hidden layer to conceal the inside of the carriage. ¡®I suppose the windows were also made of magic stones.¡¯ She had no idea how many magic stones had been used for this one carriage. Giving up on the thought, she averted her gaze. She turned her attention to what was going on outside the carriage; what she faced was the back of that man, Calix Benvito. When did he change his clothes? Instead of the formal white wear he had worn earlier, he was wearing a black uniform. While the white ceremonial dress contrasted with his black hair and created a luxurious and bright aura around him, the black uniform absorbed his atmosphere and created a sense of intimidation that made him hard to approach. He was a man who looked good in black. ¡®¡­Pathetic.¡¯ In a situation where she might lose her life at any moment, how could she be leisurely inspecting and evaluating the appearance of that man? It was a passing thought, but Asella judged herself over it. Then, she saw Philip approaching the Grand Duke with a hesitant look on his face. As soon as the dialogue between the Grand Duke and Ryzen was over, he called out to him. ¡®What are they talking about?¡¯ Philip had a smile on his face; he was used to hiding his emotions well, just like a snake. After a while, Philip¡¯s face, which at first had a demeaning air around it, brightened beyond recognition. It was the look he got when he got what he wanted. ¡®Why on earth¡­¡¯ Phillip was looking this happy, but his smile didn¡¯t mean anything good for her no matter how she thought of it. Asella watched them as the corner of her heart was filling up with anxiety. It was then that Calix Benvito turned around. ¡°¡­!¡± At that moment, Asella flinched back, trembling like a fish out of water. His bright red eyes were staring at the window of the carriage exactly where she was sitting. The window was made of magic stone, which made it impossible to be seen from the outside. Even so, she was surprised by the way he looked at her as if he could see every inch of her. Her body naturally curled up, and she froze. When she saw Ryzen saying something to the Grand Duke, the man nodded his head indifferently and gave a short command. A moment later, a soldier came out leading a large black horse. ¡®He isn¡¯t riding this carriage with us?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t see any other carriages, so she assumed that they would use the carriages along with the Grand Duke since the carriage had so much space. However, he seemed to be riding a horse. Regardless, she felt fortunate. The man mounted his horse without a moment¡¯s delay and grabbed the reins tightly. Several knights followed him and mounted their horses. ¡®I suppose we¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡¯ However, he turned his horse in the opposite direction of the carriage. Asella¡¯s eyes blinked quickly. ¡®Weren¡¯t we leaving together?¡¯ Before she could find an answer, the horses began to gallop off, leaving a cloud of dust in their path. Their figures quickly became smaller as they moved further and further along the road. Soon they disappeared entirely from view. Asella couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of Calix¡¯s back until he was completely out of sight. Chapter 54 At the time when Asella was in the carriage staring down at the sleeping Mariel. Calix was giving instructions to Ryzen. ¡°I will follow your orders.¡± After that, Calix added, thinking of the slender, light-weight figure he had felt when he helped Asella to her feet. ¡°Make sure there are no shortcomings. It won¡¯t be easy since she will have to ride in a carriage for a whole week.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± It was a challenging journey for a woman who had lived in the mansion all her life. She would be spending a week on the road. She would also have to take care of her younger sister, and there would be many difficulties he could not think of, let alone imagine. But she obviously wasn¡¯t going to mention those difficulties. He remembered how Asella had looked when they were supposed to kiss after their vows. He could clearly see her shaking her head stubbornly when he told her he wouldn¡¯t do anything if she didn¡¯t want to. ¡®I guess she felt she had to accept it.¡¯ Even if it was something that she didn¡¯t want¡­ This marriage was no different as well. He knew how Asella felt about marrying him from the very first meeting. ¡®¡­¡¯ Her glassy blue eyes were filled with an indescribable fear. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of feeling reserved and nervous towards the husband she met for the first time. The reason why she agreed to marry him, despite her fear of him, was probably¡­ ¡®Mariel Chartus.¡¯ It was probably for the sake of her only sister. If she refused to do it then, who knows what Philip would do to the child in revenge? She was very attached to her sister; something that Calix noticed right away. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± Somewhere along the way, Philip had crept up to him. Calix, whose thoughts were interrupted, frowned instantly. ¡®What¡¯s he doing here?¡¯ Philip¡¯s eyes were greedy as he rubbed his hands together. He studied Calix¡¯s face and opened his mouth carefully. ¡°I have something to tell you, Your Excellency.¡± Calix raised his chin in annoyance; it was as if he meant, ¡®Cut the chase and get straight to the point¡¯, which, in all honesty, was something Philip had been waiting for. ¡°It¡¯s about the gold bars we¡¯ve agreed on; only half of the amount came, so I was wondering what happened¡­¡± Calix turned his head to the side without replying. He looked at Ryzen, demanding an explanation, and Ryzen nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Excellency. Half of the amount was brought from the residence in the Royal capital, but the rest was coming from the Duchy and has been delayed. I have been informed that they will arrive within the next few days.¡± ¡°I see! I see!¡± Philip exclaimed in delight. Calix looked down at him blankly and spat the words out. ¡°I¡¯ll give you twice as much.¡± ¡°What?¡± Philip¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Instead, give me Mariel Chartus.¡± ¡°Um, what does that mean¡­¡± ¡°Give up custody, parental rights, everything.¡± Philip¡¯s face darkened; he was stunned by all means. This was not something he had expected at all. But that didn¡¯t stop his mind from calculating what was happening quickly, trying to figure out why the Grand Duke would make such a sudden proposal. ¡®I don¡¯t think it¡¯s because of Asella alone, right? Is it for the possibility of Mariel¡¯s awakening?¡¯ Mariel¡¯s tenth birthday was just around the corner. Because of this, people around the area were paying close attention, waiting for her awakening and what abilities she would acquire. In that aspect, Mariel was quite a valuable commodity. Even if she didn¡¯t have any other abilities, it was okay because he could just keep her around for a few more years and sell her off to the right family at the right time when she came of age. But could he get this much of a price for Mariel¡¯s marriage? The enormous wedding present he received this time was only possible because Asella¡¯s partner was Calix Benvito. ¡°Four times the amount.¡± Philip gasped. Four times the amount of gold he was about to receive! It was a tremendous amount of money that left his mouth hanging open. At the same time, Philip calculated that he might be able to get a little more out of her, depending on what he does next. ¡°You know, Your Excellency, Mariel is my precious daughter. How can I exchange her for money? Even if you gave me a million gold, it would still be nothing.¡± ¡°Therefore?¡± Calix was starting to lose his temper. He didn¡¯t feel the need to continue this tedious conversation any longer. He brushed his flowing hair and looked at Philip with a cold expression. Under the icy cold gaze, Philip shuddered hastily and added a few words. ¡°Oh, of course, Mariel would be delighted to spend time with her sister, so¡­¡± Philip, who had been watching the situation, cautiously brought up the actual topic. ¡°As a father, I already feel really lonely as my eldest daughter has gotten married and is leaving me, and now I have to let my second daughter go as well? Please try to understand my feelings a bit more¡­¡± Ryzen¡¯s face distorted relentlessly as he listened in silence. Ultimately, what Philip was asking for was more money. His behavior was no different from trading goods, making Ryzen want to throw up. Even though he was a nobleman, he couldn¡¯t find any grace or nobility in him. ¡®What a disgusting human being.¡¯ A deep contempt flashed across Ryzen¡¯s face as he looked at Philip. It seemed that it was not the arms that needed to be cut off but his head, which was full of cunning and vile thoughts. ¡®Truly, the previous Marquis Chartus was not very lucky, was she?¡¯ There was a reason why Adele had remarried Philip, but Ryzen still felt that Adele should have refused to marry him by any means necessary. ¡®I don¡¯t think there was any way around it.¡¯ Even so, Philip¡¯s words did not seem to stop. Shortly, Calix¡¯s patience reached its limit. ¡°Stop.¡± Chapter 55 Calix interrupted Philip as if he could no longer listen. ¡°Ryzen.¡± At his master¡¯s request, Ryzen handed Philip the document he had prepared for him. The document, which began with the title ¡°Termination of Parental Rights¡±, indicated in tiny letters that he would give up on his parental rights and custody over Mariel. However, what surprised Philip was the amount of money he would receive in return for his consent, written at the bottom of the document. ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten times the amount.¡± Philip¡¯s pupils fluttered violently. He raised his head in surprise, unable to keep his mouth shut, while the Grand Duke¡¯s cold face reflected in his disbelieving eyes. Calix said in an indifferent voice. ¡°Sign it.¡± Philip trembled at the amount of money he couldn¡¯t even fathom. He picked up the pen with a trembling hand. Without bothering to check, Calix turned away to see the carriage in which Asella was riding. The windows were made with magic stones so that no one was able to see the inside; however, he could see the inside effortlessly. Thanks to that, he was able to make eye contact with her from inside the carriage. He watched as her large eyes fluttered. Her eyes only met his, but she was scared as if she was looking at some kind of a monster trying to eat her. He didn¡¯t like it. Definitely not. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± Ryzen came up behind him with the signed papers. ¡°The papers will be processed by the end of the day tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get the Emperor¡¯s approval; you go on ahead.¡± Ryzen paused. ¡°You will head straight to the Imperial Palace, Your Excellency?¡± Removal from the family register could only be filed by the family itself, but the registration procedure for noble families was very strict as the Emperor¡¯s official approval was required beforehand. It was a way to prevent the number of noble families from growing. This was because there was an overflow of noblemen who were not faithful to their families. However, for the Benvito family, this was mostly just a formal procedure. ¡°Your Excellency, isn¡¯t it a bit late to be doing this now?¡± The sun had long since set, and the whole area was shrouded in darkness. The doors of the Imperial Palace were already closed, not to mention a private audience with the Emperor. But Calix replied as if it was no big deal. ¡°He sent for me earlier; even if I go now, he will hold an audience with me.¡± For some reason, it was the Emperor who had sent word that he wanted to see him. Of course, if it wasn¡¯t for his decision regarding Mariel Chartus, Calix was going to ignore the Emperor¡¯s request and return to the Duchy. Calix gave a short order. ¡°I¡¯ll join you as soon as I¡¯m done. Name a few knights with good stamina and excellent physical strength.¡± * * * As if the chamberlain had been waiting for him, he led Calix to where the Emperor was. He walked towards the large rose garden. The surrounding area was bright even late at night, with magic stones and other lights everywhere. When he spotted Calix, Emperor Fernandez greeted him with a big -not to mention fake- smile on his face. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t coming¡­¡± The Emperor had just been enjoying a cup of tea leisurely at a table placed in the middle of the garden. ¡°I was honestly surprised when I suddenly received the news that you were on your way.¡± Looking with curiosity at Calix, who had barged into the Imperial Palace this evening, the Emperor opened his mouth. ¡°Would you like a drink?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Calix brushed off Fernandez¡¯s suggestion in one swift breath. ¡®This arrogant bastard.¡¯ The rejection, which came without a second thought, made Fernandez curse Calix internally. Fortunately, he had spent so much time as an Emperor that it had become a habit for him to make expressions that did not reveal his true feelings. He hid his grumpiness and continued to talk with an innocent smile on his face. ¡°There must have been a good reason why you came all the way here without sending a word ahead.¡± Without replying, Calix placed the papers he had brought on the Emperor¡¯s table. Fernandez¡¯s face, which had been wearing a sly smile until that point, immediately distorted as soon as he confirmed the contents. The removal of Mariel from the Chartus family and her entry into the House of Loctorin was absurd. ¡°Grand Duke, do you really think I would approve of this?¡± But Calix didn¡¯t even blink. Instead, he answered in an annoyed tone. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time.¡± What Calix meant for the Emperor was, ¡®Don¡¯t act all high and mighty when you have no option but to approve and sign the papers¡¯. It was such a blatant provocation that it was impossible to think of it as a word uttered against the Emperor. Fernandez¡¯s eyes were filled with anger. But what made Fernandez even angrier was the fact that he could not raise a single hand against this young and arrogant Grand Duke. The Emperor needed Calix¡¯s power, and at the same time, he was afraid of his power. No matter what he said, he couldn¡¯t make an enemy out of the Grand Duke. In the end, all Fernandez could do was utter sarcastic remarks as a joke. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve never met the young lady of the Chartus family before. It seems you liked her more than you expected when you actually saw her in the wedding hall?¡± For a moment, Calix¡¯s red eyes grew cold. Chapter 56 ¡°I remember she was quite the beauty, but not enough to make me all crazy about her, so what in the world is it that makes you so¡­¡± Crack. The Emperor¡¯s words were interrupted by a sudden sound. Fernandez¡¯s gaze traveled down slowly, reaching the marble table. The table was cracked from the middle, with Calix¡¯s hands holding it on both sides. Fernandez gulped as he looked at the table, which was broken as if it was a butter cookie split in half. ¡®This is definitely not human power.¡¯ A maniacal power was passed down from generation to generation in the Benvito bloodline. Witnessing this firsthand, Fernandez realized once again that the Grand Duke in front of him was no ordinary human being. As soon as his eyes met with those hideous glaring red eyes, every nerve in his body tingled; it made him feel as if his body was on fire. ¡°Please don¡¯t speak of my wife carelessly. It¡¯s unpleasant.¡± Calix said, chewing on every single letter. It was a rude thing to say to the Emperor of a country. But the emotion Fernandez felt was closer to fear than anger. Calix¡¯s indifferent face was enough to spread fear throughout the Emperor¡¯s heart. Although he was barely able to maintain his composure, he was actually so horrified that goosebumps broke out all over his body. It felt like being thrown naked in the middle of a snowfield in front of a raging beast. Before he knew it, the faces of the attendants beside him had gone entirely white. He could clearly see their bodies trembling and quivering. Hiding his fear, Fernandez tried to put a smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. What are you getting all serious about?¡± It hurt his ego to be trying to appease the young Grand Duke, but he had no choice. However, when he tried to force a smile onto his stiff face, he ended up making a strange expression that was more like crying than laughing. Even though Fernandez was the first to offer his hand, killing his pride, Calix did not budge. He gulped hard at the killing sensation that threatened to devour him at any moment, piercing his skin sharply, ripping it apart. ¡®This monster..¡¯ A family that was established independently from the Imperial family at the time of the founding of the Harmenian Empire. Unlike most noble families, the Benvitos occupied a unique position in the Empire. Officially, they were rooted in the Empire and were high-ranking nobles who were given titles and territories. However, the vast territory owned by the Benvitos was too large to be called a humble estate. Moreover, their powerful military strength was difficult for the Empire to oppose. A territory not far from the capital¡­ a land that could rival an ordinary kingdom. It was just like a blade resting beneath his chin. Because of its mighty power, the public referred to the Grand Duchy as the Grand Duchy of Benvito, even though there was no official name for it. ¡°Also¡­¡± After a time in which he could not even breathe, Calix finally opened his mouth. His murderous gaze turned to the Emperor. Fernandez turned pale with the gaze that made his heart sink just by looking. ¡°She¡¯s no longer the young lady of Chartus. As of today, she is officially a member of the Benvito family.¡± His intense red eyes grew even darker, glowing with a blood-red hue. Fernandez answered hurriedly. ¡°Yes, yes, of course. Now that you¡¯re married, she¡¯s the Grand Duchess. I guess I wasn¡¯t thinking clearly, Grand Duke.¡± However, Calix¡¯s expression did not seem to change even after the Emperor¡¯s reply. ¡°Grand Duke?¡± Calix tilted his head to the side. His sculpted, flawless face was so expressionless that he couldn¡¯t sense any emotion whatsoever, but he had a strangely dangerous air about him. ¡°Do I need to repeat myself?¡± Calix asked in a cold voice. The Emperor¡¯s gaze fell on the documents that the Grand Duke had brought with him. ¡°Do you want to waste time on something you¡¯re going to do anyway?¡± Calix placed his hand on the table, which had been split in half, in order to continue the conversation. It was practically a threat. ¡®Damn it!¡¯ Fernandez found himself unable to refuse Calix¡¯s request. He didn¡¯t even have a good excuse. Mariel Chartus was clearly of Loctorin descent. Now that the rest of the family¡¯s bloodline was dead, she and her sister were the only two heirs. Fernandez clenched his fist as hard as he could to hold back his anger. A taste of iron spread from behind his lips. He signaled through his clenched teeth. ¡°Bring me the sealing wax.¡± It was only then that the dangerous atmosphere that had been driving him crazy finally subsided. Him mentioning the sealing wax was admitting his defeat and obeying the Grand Duke¡¯s wishes. As soon as the attendant had successfully melted the sealing wax, Fernandez pressed his ring onto it. After a few moments, the vivid pattern of the seal revealed itself. With the approval letter given by the attendant in his hand, Calix walked out without hesitation. The Emperor, who was watching him, suddenly asked. ¡°What is going through your mind, Calix Benvito?¡± Calix came to a halt. For a brief moment, Fernandez had the hope that he might get an answer from the Grand Duke. It was a foolish illusion, of course. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡± Chapter 57 Calix stepped out of the rose garden. Instantly, the Emperor¡¯s face turned cold. A creepy silence fell over him; it was almost as if you could hear the sound of a needle falling on the grass. The attendants who had been watching anxiously beside him turned pale. Soon, murderous magic, fueled by the Emperor¡¯s anger, began to fill the garden. It felt as if they were being crushed by a huge rock, and the attendants fell to their knees, unable to bear the pressure. ¡°Your Majesty, Your Majesty!¡± But Fernandez did not spare them a glance. His eyes were bloodshot with rage. The anger ready to burst out now came out through his clenched teeth. ¡®CALIX BENVITO!¡¯ Every member of the Harmenian Imperial family was born with a unique magical ability, but among them, Fernandez was remarkable in many aspects. His natural magical powers and magical senses were unmatched. This was the reason why, as the third prince of the second empress, he was able to overthrow all other princes and princesses and ascend to the throne. After gaining the Imperial throne with his power, he neatly eliminated all the blood relatives who might have posed a threat to his position. If there were any noble families in his way, he suppressed them without mercy. In the early days of his reign, with daily executions, there was not a day that went by when blood was not dried on the guillotine. Either way, it helped make Fernandez the most powerful Emperor to wield power in the history of the empire. The only problem was that the process hadn¡¯t been accomplished by Fernandez alone. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ Like all emperors before him, Fernandez had to rely on the help of Benvito. The current stable reign would not have been possible if the deceased grand duke¡¯s predecessor had not completely wiped out his political enemies. However, that name, although it was an aid to him, was also one that disgusted Fernandez. Benvito was his enemy. Even after making it to the glorious throne, the feeling of being in Benvito¡¯s shadow had always placed him somewhere between subtle shame and displeasure. Recalling that moment made Fernandez¡¯s mood instantly turn sour. The anger became so strong that he could not measure its intensity. The attendants, feeling the pressure tightening around their necks to the point where they couldn¡¯t even breathe properly, squirmed and spat out pleading words. ¡°Your Majesty, please¡­¡± ¡°Stop, oh my g- Please stop¡­.¡± Fernandez¡¯s indifferent eyes turned to them. To him, ordinary people were nothing more than a bunch of ants walking around on the ground. He snapped another finger and added more force. The attendants crawled, showing the whites in their eyes, and foam was rising in the corners of their mouths. Now they couldn¡¯t even speak, their whole bodies quivering in agony. But Fernandez¡¯s face, watching over them, was stern and dull. ¡®For one so powerful.¡¯ Even though such a mighty power belonged to him¡­ It didn¡¯t work on Calix Benvito at all. There was a time when Calix was still the young lord of the Benvito family. Fernandez had once tried to cast a control spell on the young boy behind the eyes of his predecessor. And he messed up badly. ¡°Stop it, Your Majesty.¡± The boy¡¯s beautiful face turned into a slight frown. There was even a faint hint of annoyance in his expression. At that time, Fernandez¡¯s magic had reached a certain level. If he hadn¡¯t become an emperor, it wouldn¡¯t have been too difficult for him to become the master of the magic tower. However, the boy not only recognized the powerful subjugation magic but even bounced it back. The way he said stop without a change in expression was that of a perfect ruler. It was probably from that moment on. Perhaps it was then that Fernandez grew to feel both hatred and fear of Calix¡­ ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Someone¡¯s voice snapped Fernando out of his thoughts. Duncan was about to enter the garden. ¡°Have I summoned you here?¡± Fernandez asked, raising one brow. Duncan, who could understand the meaning of the dreary question, answered calmly. ¡°I am sorry, Your Majesty, I have something to report on the matter you ordered, so I came to see you in a hurry.¡± Fernandez¡¯s gray eyes turned dull. His eyes were sharp as he assessed how serious the matter was. Duncan, who had carefully clasped his hands together, gently lowered his head and caught the Emperor¡¯s eyes. ¡®It¡¯s because I¡¯m still so weak.¡¯ A twisted smile crossed over Fernandez¡¯s face. It was ridiculous to see him trying to save things like insects. However, Duncan was a loyal subject, to Fernandez¡¯s standards at least. He examined Duncan slowly, top to bottom. ¡°I see.¡± Initially, he had planned to toy with them until his anger was lifted, but since this was a request from his loyal subject, he decided to show mercy. Fernandez retracted his magic, and simultaneously the attendants began to roll on the ground in pain; sobbing moans flowed from their mouths. ¡°Clean up!¡± The other attendants came in and quickly rescued those who had been affected by Fernandez¡¯s magic and carried them away. The broken table, the teacups that had fallen on the pristine lawn, the broken plates, and the scattered refreshments were all cleaned up in an instant. ¡°Follow me, Duncan.¡± Duncan followed closely behind at Fernandez¡¯s gesture. The Emperor opened his mouth as he strolled down the rose-filled path. ¡°Calix Benvito came to visit.¡± ¡°I heard.¡± ¡°After removing Mariel Chartus from the Chartus family, he came and demanded her entry into the Loctorin family.¡± Duncan paused. He immediately asked back as he quickly fixed his expression so that it wouldn¡¯t be noticeable. ¡°You mean Philip has agreed to this? He¡¯s not the one to give up so easily, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°I suppose he was given a handful of money or something. He even married off the eldest daughter of Chartus on the pretext of inheriting the marquisate.¡± Fernandez gritted his teeth as he continued talking. Chapter 58 ¡°I should have looked into it from the moment the Grand Duke said he was going to marry that woman.¡± It was strange in itself that Calix Benvito, who had never had a one-night stand, let alone a lover, suddenly decided he was going to get married. Besides, the marriage was finalized immediately, without even having a proper engagement period. He didn¡¯t like the fact that he was marrying the eldest daughter of the Chartus family, of all people, but he had no choice. There were no reasons to oppose the marriage, and by the time the word reached him, the public and the noble class were already rejoicing over the union of the two families. ¡°I didn¡¯t dare think I¡¯d have to worry about it since she¡¯s a woman who can¡¯t awaken her special powers even after turning eighteen.¡± It was the second daughter of Chartus that Fernandez was interested in anyway. He had no interest in the eldest daughter, whom he had already destroyed with his own hands, and no longer had any regrets over. However, Philip was blinded by money and even sold off the second daughter; an unexpected miscalculation on Fernandez¡¯s part. ¡°I wondered why he would bring a useless woman as his wife, but this is what he had in mind from the very beginning.¡± Social circles and newspapers everywhere labeled the union of the Benvito and Chartus families as a ¡°romantic match¡±, but Fernandez didn¡¯t believe it. Like minds tell like minds apart. If there was anyone in the world who was the farthest from the word love, it was Calix Benvito. ¡°I should have delayed approving the marriage until the second child was ten years old.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect he would be able to get her that way¡­.¡± Having been severely struck on the back, Fernandez tried to suppress his anger. He felt like he wanted to strangle himself with all his might. ¡°Your Majesty, should I send for the dogs we placed there to return?¡± Now that things had come to this, it was highly likely that the Grand Duke was also aware of the existence of dogs sent by the Emperor. ¡°No, they might come with unnecessary things, so dispose of them.¡± If something went wrong, they might grab the attention of the Grand Duke¡¯s side, and things could get ugly. In any case, the Emperor¡¯s dogs were merely replaceable. If they were not enough, they could be replenished, and when they were no longer needed, they could simply be discarded. ¡°The number of dogs has decreased considerably. Take this opportunity and replenish while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This time, get me something I can use. They¡¯re going to die in a blink of an eye without accomplishing anything for me.¡± Of course, many of them were discarded by order of the Emperor, but Duncan did not dare mention that. ¡°Duncan, are you listening?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, Your Majesty.¡± There was a slight pause in Duncan¡¯s answer, but Fernandez did not notice. He asked, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Okay. What happened to what I ordered the other day?¡± ¡°As you instructed, I released them at the entrance to the Kelton Mountain cliff road.¡± The road from the capital to the Duchy was relatively good, so it was easy to travel back and forth between the two. Except for a single fact that you had to cross through Mount Kelton¡­ There were two ways through Mount Kelton. You could either go around the mountain or pass through a narrow cliff road. The first method was smoother, but it took more than two weeks. On the contrary, the cliff road was rather rough and steep but could reach the Duchy within five days if one hurried. Because of this time advantage, many people, including merchants, preferred it. ¡®There is no doubt they will use the cliff road.¡¯ Fernandez was confident. It was Calix Benvito who finished the wedding preparations in just one month. There was no way he would choose a road that would require him to spend more time than needed on the road when he could get back to the Duchy in less than a week, even if they were traveling slowly. ¡°I heard he departed after sunset. Is that right?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. No matter how fast he is, he might be able to reach the start of the cliff road by dawn tomorrow at the latest.¡± Fernandez¡¯s cold eyes flashed. ¡°Are you sure you set the target properly?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. As soon as they smell it, they will hit right away.¡± From the dogs planted at the Chartus house, they managed to retrieve items that were used by Mariel Chartus which they used to set targets. The demonic beast they had freed would attack her before she could do anything. It was only then that a satisfactory smile crawled to Fernandez¡¯s face. ¡°It is a sight to behold.¡± People believed that Emperor Fernandez was only a great magician, but in fact, his true nature was something else. He was a black magician, so powerful that it was difficult to find anyone even remotely comparable to his skills across the continent. He was particularly skilled in curses and illusions and could summon a demonic beast and, after appropriate brainwashing, turn it into a puppet that would listen only to his commands. The use of black magic in the Harmenian Empire was absolutely forbidden. If it was used and discovered, it was punishable by death. Therefore, the fact that the Emperor secretly learned and used black magic was absolutely secret and must never be discovered. The only people who knew this tremendous truth were Fernandez himself, his loyal servant Duncan, and Empress Veronica. TL/N:Veronica open the door please¡­ if u know u know :))) ¡°Yeah. Come to think of it, isn¡¯t it simple, Duncan?¡± Fernandez unleashed the demonic beasts that had been painstakingly saved for this moment. His cunning eyes widened. His thin lips twisted, and he smiled cruelly. ¡°Whether she gets married or joins another family.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough to just kill them all?¡± Fernandez grinned as he looked at his loyal servant while Duncan lowered his eyes in silence. ¡°I hope they get to the cliff quickly.¡± At least, before Calix Benvito reaches where his little wife is. A cruel smile appeared on the Emperor¡¯s face. Chapter 59 The comfortable carriages provided a smooth, steady ride on the road that lasted for several hours. There was hardly any rattling, shaking, or noise. Thanks to that, Mariel slept soundly without waking up. Asella watched her younger sister sleeping peacefully with loving and affectionate eyes for a while, then turned her gaze outside the window. It was so dark outside that she could hardly see the change of scenery. However, having a rough idea of the timing, Asella guessed based on the amount of what looked to be trees. ¡®We must be passing through Mount Kelton.¡¯ The light emanating from the back outside the window faintly illuminated the surrounding area, while the carriage maintained a steady speed as it moved along the somewhat steep mountain road. ¡®I wonder where he went?¡¯ She recalled the back of a man who had disappeared riding a large black horse that resembled him. At first, Asella thought they would wait until he returned, but no. The carriage departed immediately after he left. And until now, the Grand Duke had not returned. Asella recalled the man¡¯s eyes, looking through the window as if to pierce her. His hostile red eyes remained in her mind with their utterly vivid color. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± That was when Asella let out a small sigh that no one could hear. Rattle The carriage suddenly stopped. * * * Calix leaped on his horse as soon as he left the Imperial Palace. The horse, which had also been his predecessor¡¯s horse, was raised to run immediately as soon as its owner mounted. ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°Roger.¡± With a firm grip on the reins, Calix commanded, and the knights quickly caught up behind him. ¡®Why?¡¯ He questioned himself For some reason, Calix was irritated by the uneasiness that started devouring him. The men who escorted the Grand Duchess were all the Benvito family¡¯s most elite knights. They were no match for a pack of petty bandits or the occasional appearance of beasts that lurked along the mountain paths. There was no reason to worry. And yet¡­ He had a strange feeling that he had to hasten. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Calix motioned his horse to speed up, and the distance between him and the other knights, who were barely keeping up with him, quickly widened. It was not long before Calix disappeared entirely from their sight. * * * ¡®I wonder what¡¯s happening?¡¯ Asella attempted to lean her forehead slightly against the window. The temperature difference between inside and outside made her breaths turn white next to the windows. ¡®Is the road blocked?¡¯ According to people, since it was a mountain road, unexpected things often happen at any given time and in different circumstances, such as a large tree falling or rocks flooding and blocking the road. ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t be surprised if the carriage suddenly stopped.¡± As she remained silent in her seat, she recalled what Ryzen came up with and said to her before their departure. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± When the steady tiny vibrations caused by the moving carriage suddenly stopped, Mariel opened her eyes. Asella spoke with deep affection toward her sister, who now sat up rubbing her eyes, trying to wake herself up. ¡°Mariel, you can sleep a bit more.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still night. When it¡¯s time to get up, I will wake you up.¡± ¡°Okay¡­.¡± Mariel, who had been yawning for a long time with sleepy eyes, sensed something had changed and faltered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mariel?¡± ¡°The carriage doesn¡¯t seem to be moving.¡± ¡°Yeah, the road¡¯s a bit congested. Wait a little longer, and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡± But as soon as Asella finished her line, someone knocked hurriedly on the carriage door. ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s Ryzen.¡± ¡°Sir Kadan?¡± When Asella opened the door, there stood Ryzen with a serious expression on his face. He pulled out the sword at his waist. ¡°Your Highness, you are not to step outside the carriage from now on.¡± ¡°Sir Kadan, why all of a sudden¡­¡± ¡°Whatever happens, and no matter what sounds you hear, you must not leave the carriage. It is weak, but it is the safest place to be, as it is covered with protection spells.¡± Behind Ryzen, she could see a line of knights formed, ready to battle. She hurriedly looked around, and before she knew it, through the window, she could see armed knights standing tightly at each side of the carriage. ¡°Please say you¡¯ll do as I say.¡± ¡°I will¡­ of course.¡± After moments of hesitation, Asella nodded her head. Finally, Ryzen¡¯s stiffened face brightened a little. ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright. Don¡¯t worry too much. Please wait a moment.¡± And with that, the door was closed. As he picked up his sword and walked away, clenching his teeth, Asella knew that something unusual was happening. ¡°Mariel, come closer to me.¡± Mariel, too, noticing the strange presence, hurried to her sister¡¯s side. ¡°Did you hear what Sir Kadan said? We must not get out of the carriage.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And you shouldn¡¯t leave my side either, okay?¡± Mariel nodded and jumped into Asella¡¯s embrace. As she felt the child¡¯s petite body tremble faintly. Asella patted Mariel lightly on the back and whispered softly in a low voice. ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Although she was the one who said that, in reality, she was just as anxious as Mariel. Similar to the Grand Duke, his aide, Ryzen Kadan, was also not one to show his feelings and emotions on his face. But earlier, she could see a hint of tension on Ryzen¡¯s face as he repeatedly asked her not to leave the carriage. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Asella instinctively fought back the fear rising in her and patted Mariel on the head. A muffled silence fell over the place. Chapter 60 It was actually a short time, but to her, it seemed ten times longer. Asella¡¯s ocean-colored pupils shook anxiously as she gazed out the window. The moment when the surroundings were engulfed in breathtaking stillness was like entering the center of a storm. ¡°Kuaaaaah!¡± With a monstrous wail that tore through the air, a huge demonic beast emerged. Asella hurriedly wrapped a blanket over Mariel¡¯s head when the little girl tried to raise her head. The sound alone ran a shiver down her spine. ¡°What¡¯s that noise outside, Sister?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Cover your ears. Do you understand?¡± Somehow she managed to keep her composure, but Asella¡¯s hands were trembling as she covered her sister with the blanket. She was extremely tense, with a feeling that every tiny blood vessel in her body was shrinking. The creature was in the shape of a massive wolf. But its size was far greater than that of an ordinary wolf. Its sharp fangs, if you could call them that, were sharp enough to tear off a human¡¯s frail neck in one swift motion. Its claws, like hooks, were so large and sharp that they could split open a man¡¯s stomach and rip out his internal organs in one stroke. Even after fully revealing itself, the beast did not move. It scanned the area, moving its head slowly as if searching for prey, and looked through the knights. The strange, bright yellow eyes shone even in the darkness. At that moment, Asella¡¯s eyes faltered anxiously. She made eye contact with the beast. Heup Asella covered her mouth with her palm and swallowed a scream that was about to burst out. Soon after, the chilling cry of the hungry beast shook the entire mountains. Despite the ear-splitting roar, the creature¡¯s gaze was fixed on Asella who was still inside the carriage. ¡®No¡­¡¯ It wasn¡¯t¡­ It wasn¡¯t her it was after¡­ ¡®Mariel!¡¯ At her shocking realization, Asella gasped for air. The beast¡¯s yellow eyes gleamed as he observed the small figure in the carriage. It was then¡­ Asella¡¯s thoughts were suddenly cut off. An unbelievable sight began to unfold before her eyes. ¡®Impossible¡­¡¯ The creature wasn¡¯t alone. Another pair of yellow eyes formed in the darkness, and another, and another in a row, forming a pack of demonic beasts¡­ ¡°Shoot magic bullets! Secure your sight!¡± With Ryzen¡¯s shout, there was the sound of something being launched here and there. The bright light from the magic bullet erupted, and the area quickly became as bright as daylight. However, the situation that came to light was not at all encouraging. The knights were surrounded inside by what seemed to be more than a hundred of them, and at that horrific sight, Asella went completely pale. ¡®How is this happening?¡¯ Due to the nature of demonic beasts to usually move individually, it was extremely rare for them to appear in a pack. Moreover, it was impossible for so many demonic beasts to appear all at once without it being orchestrated by someone else. ¡®Who? Why on earth?¡¯ ¡°Quaaaar! Kiaaaaagh!¡± The first demonic beast to appear roared with its sharp fangs displayed, and the others began to move in unison. The Benvito¡¯s knights, who were formed in line, quickly entered the battle. ¡°Aim for the vital point! Cut down the neck or pierce the eye!¡± The elite knights led by Ryzen defended the attack fairly well, but the demonic beasts were clever and strong. Above all, they were outnumbered, as three or four knights had to deal with a single demonic beast. As the battle continued, the distance between the knights and the carriage gradually widened ¡°Stay close to the carriage! Protect Her Highness!¡± Ryzen shouted as he sliced the throat of one of the demonic beasts. However, no matter how many of them he cut, new ones appeared from god knows where. It seemed that the demonic beast was rushing in to seek out the strongest of the knights, and Ryzen stood there, never giving any openings. Eventually, there was a gap. ¡°¡­!¡± Asella raised her body immediately as she spotted the beast rushing toward them, keeping a watchful eye on her. As soon as she enveloped Mariel with her whole body, the beast came running furiously and plunged straight into the carriage. There was a great impact on the carriage, and Asella¡¯s body leapt up from the sofa and hit the opposite carriage wall hard. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Sister! Sister!¡± She could not bear listening to the screams that escaped her sister from the sudden pain, so Mariel called her desperately through the blanket that blocked her vision. Asella let out a painful gasp and struggled to answer. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°Huh, but Sister! Just now-¡° ¡°Mariel, I told you not to worry, didn¡¯t I?¡± Her tone was clear and determined, so Mariel couldn¡¯t help but nod. ¡°Come this way and hide behind me.¡± After Asella sent Mariel to the opposite corner of the wall under attack, she stood in front of it as if to block the way. Bang! Chapter 61 Bang! As the beast collided with its body again, the carriage jolted as if it was about to break. Even with the protective magic in place, it was only a matter of time before the magic would break at this rate. Asella hurriedly scanned the inside of her carriage. A shelf that had fallen to the floor due to the attack of the demonic beast stood out, so, without hesitation, she took the shelf in her hand and opened her mouth. ¡°Mariel, listen to me carefully.¡± Asella took a deep breath and steadied her voice. Mariel must not sense how scared she was. If she did, she might be so terrified that she might miss her chance to escape. ¡°If I tell you to run, take off the blanket and run away immediately without any questions!¡± ¡°Then what about you, Sister?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you from behind, so don¡¯t look back; just look ahead and run. Can you do that?¡± Mariel noticed that Asella¡¯s voice sounded different than usual. This time, instead of her usual warm, gentle voice, it was as sharp as a thunderbolt. She was scared. From the sound of the impact and slamming on the carriage, to the roar of something she couldn¡¯t identify, to the screams of the people, to the horrifying sound of blades colliding with something hard. The whole thing was a frightening and terrifying experience for a child. ¡°Yes, I can do it!¡± But Mariel shouted louder. She knew that only then would she be able to give her sister some reassurance. ¡°Yes, I believe in you. My Mariel will pull it off.¡± Asella grabbed the edge of the shelf tightly. Her legs had lost strength, and it was hard even to stand properly, but she pulled herself together, thinking about her sister. She had to buy time so that, in case of an emergency, Mariel could escape. Eventually, after a series of attacks by the beast¡¯s clutches, the window that had withstood the danger began to crack. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Having barely disposed of the clutches that had blocked his view, Ryzen realized the situation of the carriage and hastily exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve got to get out of here!¡± But it was already too late. With an ear-splitting sound from the window shattering, the head of the beast barged into the carriage. Asella struck the beast¡¯s head hard with the wooden shelf. ¡°Kraaaa! Kraaaa!¡± A stream of saliva dripped from the open mouth of the ferocious beast. Its pupils dilated like reptilian eyes, scanned the inside of the carriage quickly, and located its target in the blankets. The beast¡¯s pupils became extremely dilated, and it flashed bizarrely. After a while, the beast began to tear off the wall under the broken window with its sharp claws. The cold outside air came in through the cracks and spread all the way through the inside of the carriage. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the carriage was utterly destroyed at this rate. ¡°No!¡± Asella let out a scream. ¡®Mother, please help me. Please.¡¯ ¡®Please don¡¯t make me regret my decision to travel to the Duchy with Mariel.¡¯ Asella swung her arms around madly. She was so terrified to the point she couldn¡¯t think of anything else to do. Every time she slammed the shelf against the hard skin of the beast, her arm shook violently as if it were crushed, but she couldn¡¯t even feel the pain, as if her sense of pain had simply vanished. Her mind went blank, and even the ear-splitting sound disappeared at that moment. ¡°Sister!¡± Mariel¡¯s sharp cry pierced Asella¡¯s ear. She came back to her senses as if cold water had been poured on her. She turned her head and saw her sister trembling under the blanket. Asella bit her lip tightly. If she collapsed, it would be the end of everything. From the gap between the broken pieces, she noticed that the number of beasts seemed to be less than earlier. The knights were fighting one by one against the beasts, and she could see Ryzen running toward her, cutting off the beasts that blocked the way. ¡®A little more¡­ if I can just hold on a little longer¡­¡¯ However, her hopes were not satisfied. The side of the carriage collapsed entirely with the sound of crashing. The carriage shook violently as the beast roared loudly, lifting its large torso and slamming it to the floor. ¡°Kyaaaaaaaa!¡± ¡°Mariel!¡± The beast¡¯s gaze grew dim with the target within sight, and its pupils flickered as they adjusted to the target. Finally, at the moment when the beast¡¯s large body leaped forward, with its mouth wide open. Suddenly, the body of the beast fell backward. ¡°Mariel¡­!¡± Before she had time to think about what was happening, Asella hugged Mariel from behind. She felt her sister¡¯s small body tremble with fear and horror; she tightened her grip around Mariel and squeezed her eyes shut. The terrible scream of non-human beings shook the surroundings. The other sounds heard were the sound of something heavy and stiff being sliced, the dull vibrating sound of it falling to the ground, a sound no one could ever imagine. Instantly, the area fell silent. As if the earlier commotion had been merely a dream. Asella¡¯s mind was a complete mess. She had terrible dizziness. Her trembling body could not move properly, she felt nauseous, and her chest was heaving. She was not sure if the trembling was coming from Mariel or if she was creating it herself. She felt like she was going to pass out if she didn¡¯t do something, so she drew in a deep gulp of clear air. At that moment, a sweet aroma swooped into her nose. It was a scent too strong to not be remembered. A seductive scent that could not be erased from her mind even after just experiencing it once. Asella slowly lifted her slumped head and opened her eyes. At first, she could see nothing. But after blinking several times, Asella soon realized that what was in front of her eyes was a black uniform. Her gaze slowly turned upward. A person with a large and sturdy upper body was completely shielding her, while the cloak fixed on the broad and sturdy shoulders fluttered around them. His dark, messy hair was flowing down over his tightly bitten lips and his face was so expressionless that she couldn¡¯t even grasp the meaning behind it. His vivid red eyes looked somehow dangerous. The man¡¯s low voice flowed into her ears, breaking the deep silence. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± It was her husband. Chapter 62 Calix looked down at Asella, who was crouching. He dropped to one knee and lowered himself to the floor, but her gaze was even lower than that. When she raised her gaze a bit to look at him while she was holding her sister protectively, her face was completely pale. Perhaps it was because of the great shock, but her light blue eyes swayed from place to place, unable to focus on him. ¡®I¡¯m in trouble.¡¯ He wanted to say something to her, but he couldn¡¯t think of anything appropriate to say. He had never comforted anyone before. He had never said warm words of consolation or soothing to anyone. He never had to. Until now. ¡°Am I late?¡± In the end, this was the only thing he could finally utter in a calmly dry voice. At the same time, Calix realized that the words he had just said might not be the right ones in this situation. It was not like he spat poison with his words, but that one question, for some reason, made Asella shudder. It would have been better if that did that¡­ ¡°Hey-¡° Just like a high tide, tears began slowly to form in Asella¡¯s eyes as she raised her head slightly. He was bewildered by the unexpected reaction. ¡®Should I have said something else? But is there anything, in particular, I could say in these circumstances?¡¯ Calix¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as the small figure in front of him started trembling. Tears began to spill from her eyes like a river that overflowed. Tears streamed down her white cheeks and down to her chin before falling to the ground. ¡°No, no¡­¡± She shook her head from left to right as if she was attempting to answer his earlier question even in such a situation. Calix couldn¡¯t help but reach out his hand toward her. His large warm hand gently caressed her cheek. The touch of his hand was so warm that Asella opened her eyes wide in surprise, despite her vision being clouded with tears. His hand, which had held the sword for so long, was firm. But the hand that stroked her cheek and wiped away her tears was too delicate and cautious. He stood there, waiting silently until she stopped crying. ¡°Were you scared?¡± He asked, showing apparent concern about her but didn¡¯t she know how to answer the question. ¡®Calix Benvito worrying about someone other than himself? Absolutely not. It can¡¯t be.¡¯ Her mind was so confused that she forgot to answer. Calix¡¯s gaze, which had been fixed on Asella for some time, moved downward to ensure she was unharmed, but a frown appeared on his face when he looked down. The hem of her long sleeves, which had been down to her wrists, had been completely ripped off to the elbows and were now in shreds. Her arm that was revealed between the unrecognizable sleeves was covered in scars. Right next to him, he could see a shelf that had been shattered and scattered on the ground. When he saw the blue bloodstains of the beast dotted all over the shelf, he started to get an idea of what went on. ¡°Can you show me your hands?¡± ¡°What?¡± Not knowing Calix¡¯s intentions, Asella flinched and stammered. There was still a faint trace of tears in her eyes. ¡°Just a second.¡± After brief hesitation, Asella loosened her arms that were embracing Mariel, then cautiously held out her hand. Calix¡¯s face instantly became distorted. Her beautiful white hands were cruelly messed up. All her nails were broken, and the back of her hands and arms were deeply scratched and still bleeding. Fine pieces of wood were stuck in her palm like a thorn, most likely caused by the broken wooden shelf. It was no exaggeration to say that there was not a single unharmed place from her hand up to her elbow. The rough fur of a magical beast could easily damage her hand just by brushing against her soft skin. ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine.¡± She said in a hushed voice. She pulled her hands from him awkwardly and hid them behind her back. Calix raised his eyebrows. This was by no means a wound that could be described as fine. ¡°Give me the medicine, and I¡¯ll apply it myself. I¡¯ll make sure it doesn¡¯t bother you¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Calix could not believe his ears when he heard the words she had just said. ¡°¡­You¡¯ll do it on your own?¡± With a chilling voice, his face hardened. Asella suddenly became afraid. She was already frightened with what she¡¯s just been through, and him now interrogating her with the look in his eyes? she shuddered in fear¡­ ¡®What¡¯s going on with him?¡¯ Asella bit her lip in frustration. What could have upset him? After a short pause for thought, her eyes fell upon the utterly wrecked carriage which collided with the image of him ordering for the preparation to return to the Duchy immediately when they were back at her home. He must have intended to move as quickly as possible, and now he was angry that his schedule had been disrupted because of her. Her body involuntarily shrank under the man¡¯s gaze, who was staring at her with an utterly stiff face. ¡®I must make an excuse¡­ Otherwise ¡­¡¯ Asella managed to open her lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, My Lord.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± As Calix¡¯s brow furrowed, Asella hurriedly continued her words. ¡°The carriage is destroyed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She continued, ¡°As a child, I¡¯ve ridden horses before. I will manage to keep up with you and stay out of your way. If you give us a few moments, we will be ready to leave immediately¡­¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Calix interrupted Asella. Chapter 63 ¡°Stop.¡± Calix interrupted Asella. ¡®It¡¯s driving me crazy.¡¯ Her hands were in such a state, but she spoke of treating herself, worrying about the damaged carriage, and even offering to ride and follow them on horseback. With palms like that, it would be impossible for her to even have a firm grip on the reins; she would be lucky if she didn¡¯t fall off the horse. Above all, Calix was angry at Asella¡¯s apology. She had made no mistake. She had suffered severe physical injuries in the accident that nearly took her life. Naturally, he would hold the escort guards accountable for what happened and give them a proper punishment, but she took the matter as if it was her own fault. ¡®Philip must have taught her that.¡¯ He recalled the despicable face of the one who was basically selling his step-daughter, and, as if that wasn¡¯t enough, bargained over the price as well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Excellency. I have educated her with all my heart and soul. I¡¯m sure she will become a gentle and obedient wife.¡± ¡°A young noblewoman like this is rare,¡± he said with a face filled with a strange sense of satisfaction and perhaps even joy as he laughed. Considering what she had been through with Philip, it was no wonder that she was trying to please him so much. *** ¡°If she doesn¡¯t behave, you can always use a whip to educate her.¡± ¡°You want me to raise a hand on my wife?¡± ¡°No way! I misspoke, Your Excellency! I was just joking.¡± *** It was an interaction that had not particularly bothered him until this moment. But for some reason, this conversation came to mind now, and he didn¡¯t know why. It bothered him. Such a hideous person unleashing his inferiority complex and anger on his step-daughter, he must¡¯ve educated her to accept everything as her fault. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what I¡¯m hearing now. Why are you apologizing?¡± ¡°What?¡± Her watery blue eyes blinked and trembled slightly. She became nervous, obviously wondering if she had said something wrong. ¡°If anything, you should receive an apology. You¡¯ve been injured so badly.¡± ¡°Um, I¡¯m really fine. This doesn¡¯t really hurt that much.¡± Calix tightened his clenched hand unintentionally. The nobility were people who considered the dust that entered their eyes more fatal than a battle wound, especially since the Empire was a country with a more strict status system than the rest of the world. Even on the battlefield, there were commanders of noble birth who refused to obey orders and drove all their subordinates to their deaths. Of course, such men were executed by military law without exception¡­ Moreover, it went without saying that the young lady, who grew up in such a family, was still of noble birth. But to have been injured to such a state and not utter a single word of pain or even a small groan¡­. That meant she was used to it. Such pain. Now, he was filled with rage that he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Ryzen!¡± Ryzen, who was cleaning up nearby, rushed to his master at his lord¡¯s call. ¡°You called for me, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Go get the doctor. Now.¡± Since this was a rather large convoy, there were physicians among the members. Well, it was ¡®were¡¯ since this statement was true until just a few moments ago. ¡°The physician was killed in the attack just now; I have contacted the Capital residence to send additional people-¡° ¡°So you¡¯re saying there are no doctors?¡± Calix cut him off coldly. A shiver ran down Ryzen¡¯s spine at the cold atmosphere; his master was clearly furious. ¡°Ryzen, I ordered you to keep my wife safe.¡± His cold voice subsided faintly, but his fierce red eyes flashed with anger. ¡°What is all this?¡± For a moment, Ryzen did not understand Calix¡¯s words. All of them were almost in great danger, but fortunately, they were safe thanks to the Grand Duke, who arrived on time. The damage might have seemed bad, but it wasn¡¯t that serious, not as much as it could have been. ¡®Then why is My Lord in such a-¡® Ryzen¡¯s confused gaze passed through the Grand Duke and moved to the slender woman next to him. Tattered hems and open wounds. His eyes opened wide in shock. ¡°Your- Your Highness¡­!¡± It was then that he realized what he had missed, and Ryzen¡¯s face turned blank. As his lord began to slaughter the beasts, the first thing he had to do was to make sure of the Grand Duchess¡¯s safety and well-being. Reflecting back, it was no surprise that she was injured since the impact was so severe that the carriage was destroyed. However, the only thing he did was the trivial task of removing all the remaining beasts and cleaning up the scene. Having been attacked unexpectedly and being too reassured by the fact that the Grand Duke had arrived, he made a terrible mistake. No, this was not a mistake; he dared not call it in such a way. ¡°What would have happened if I had been even a little late?¡± Ryzen immediately knelt down and lowered his forehead to the ground. There were no excuses to be given to his master. It didn¡¯t matter what the scale of the beast¡¯s attack had been or how hard he and the other knights had done to fight it back. What mattered was that he had failed to carry out his master¡¯s orders properly. The fact was that they caused injury to a precious individual who should not have been injured, not even by the slightest. ¡°Do you have anything to say?¡± There was nothing he could say even if his head were to fall off right there. Ryzen answered with his head down. ¡°I will accept any punishment for the crime of failing to follow your orders.¡± ¡°You know, no further explanation is necessary.¡± Calix raised his body and drew his sword. The blade, which had cut through dozens of beasts in one stroke, was smooth and free of any bloodstains. Feeling his master¡¯s eerie energy approaching, Ryzen closed his eyes tightly. Chapter 64 ¡°Your Excellency.¡± A voice stopped Calix as he walked slowly toward Ryzen. His red eyes went to the bloodstained hand that gripped the sleeves of his uniform. His gaze traveled from her thin wrist, which seemed to break even by the slightest tough, to her round shoulders that trembled anxiously, and then to her slender neckline. Asella shook her head with a pale look on her face. ¡°This is the kind of wound that heals quickly, so¡­¡± ¡°Where are you, Sister?¡± ¡°Mariel!¡± Asella was startled by the child¡¯s voice coming from the side. Not having much time to spare, she had forgotten that she still had the blanket on Mariel. She quickly took the blanket off and spoke to her sister. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was stuffy, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine! It wasn¡¯t stuffy at all!¡± Asella quickly covered her arm with the blanket so the child would not notice her wounds. Watching the sight in front of him, Calix remained silent for a moment. It wouldn¡¯t be good to perform this type of punishment in front of a child. He knew better than anyone that the punishment, in his own way, did not look very presentable to anyone, child or not. His brow furrowed for a moment, then he pulled back the sword he had drawn. Even with all that was happening around him, Ryzen kept his head bowed, waiting for the punishment to come, when his master¡¯s words fell on his ears. ¡°There won¡¯t be a second time.¡± Ryzen raised his head with a puzzled look on his face. He also heard what the Grand Duchess said, trying to appease his master¡¯s anger and defend him at the same time. But he did not expect that his lord would actually do what she asked. The Grand Duke was not tolerant of the mistakes of his subordinates, and he was a ruthless master who had never made any exceptions until now. ¡°Bring some medicine.¡± But Ryzen was quick to grasp that the exception had just been made. He immediately rushed over and brought the entire bag that the doctor was using, and his master gave another order. ¡°Take the child with you and take care of her.¡± Asella, who was listening, hastily tightened her grip on his sleeves and spoke in a low tone. ¡°Your Excellency, there might be some beasts outside¡­¡± She did not want to send her sister outside where the corpses of the demonic beasts were laid. It would have been better for Mariel to stay with them, even if it meant Mariel would have had to watch the shocking state of her arm while she received treatment. ¡°They should have finished cleaning things outside by now.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There is absolutely nothing for you to worry about. I promise.¡± Hesitantly, Asella finally nodded. Moments later, the two of them were left alone inside the half-destroyed carriage. Calix started by taking out the necessary items from the doctor¡¯s bag, which contained all kinds of tools and supplies. When one of the knights brought steaming clean water and pieces of cloth, all preparations were complete. When the cloth, soaked with warm water, covered the top of the wound, Asella let out a short cry reflectively. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°Not really; I was just a little startled¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be sorry.¡± Calix, who responded briefly, concentrated on his work again. It was strange for Asella to see him wiping her arms, the back of her hands, and even between her fingers with that warm cloth. He even picked a needle and heated it up to pick the fine shards of wood that penetrated the palm of her hands, but before he began, he said. ¡°I can give you some numbing elixir if you want.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I think the wound will probably hurt like hell when I have to disinfect it. Are you sure you don¡¯t mind?¡± Asella missed the timing to answer again. It was hard to understand his behavior since a while ago. If he didn¡¯t think she could handle it by herself, he should have let someone else do it. She couldn¡¯t understand why he would go to the trouble of doing it himself. She told herself, ¡®Do not interpret his action in any way; you must not fall for his act.¡¯ This was not a kindness based on love. The Grand Duke was not a man to do favors for no reason. ¡®He might be trying to kill us after we let our guard down, so don¡¯t get too relaxed.¡¯ Asella reflected many times, but she ended with the same conclusion. She must not forget the fact that the Grand Duke was trying to kill her and Mariel just because he showed some fake acts of kindness. ¡°Do tell me if it hurts. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Calix used a heated needle and started to remove the wooden shards from her wound. As soon as her palms cleared up, the tingling pain she felt with the slightest movement disappeared too. ¡°This will sting a bit.¡± As soon as he opened the lid of the bottle containing the disinfectant, the strong smell of it filled his nose, making him frown at the unpleasant scent. As he soaked a clean cloth full of disinfectant and patted the wound with light touches, Asella¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡®Hurt like hell?¡¯ Contrary to his words, the pain was not nearly as bad as one might have thought. It was a special solution produced by a wizard to reduce pain. But since Philip had never permitted the use of any high-end medicine to Asella, this was the first time she had ever been exposed to them. The wound was disinfected in a matter of seconds. Asella was amused and gently brushed her arm and the back of her hand. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then is there any discomfort? I¡¯m sure I took out all the shards.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± She mumbled the words, unsure if she could answer frankly. But she hesitated and opened her mouth when she saw the man¡¯s gaze on her as he silently awaited an answer. ¡°It¡¯s just that you seem familiar with things like this.¡± Their eyes met¡­ Chapter 65 When their eyes met, Asella thought that his eyes resembled those of a ferocious beast. Once her gaze met his, it was so intense that it made her feel like she was unable to move, like someone was holding her captive. His red eyes were more like a dark crimson than a bright crimson. It was reminiscent of a stagnant puddle of blood. ¡°¡­¡± Then again, she wasn¡¯t the only one who couldn¡¯t take her eyes off. Calix lost his words as he stared at Asella¡¯s face. It was surprising seeing the woman who wouldn¡¯t even make eye contact with him suddenly stare straight into his eyes as she spoke. ¡®Ah.¡¯ The sudden realization hit him; his wife was not wearing a veil. It seemed to have slipped off during the attack. The swelling in her cheeks had somehow subsided considerably thanks to the treatment she received before her departure. ¡®White.¡¯ This was the first word that came to his mind. Her overall impression and atmosphere were so. Transparent, pale skin looked like finely crushed pearls, and dazzling long silver hair flowed down her back like waves. More than anything else, her blue eyes reminded him of the clear waters of the pale seashore. Everything in her looked the exact opposite of him to the point it made him wonder if there were other people like this. ¡°Your Excellency?¡± ¡°¡­On the battlefield, there are many times when you are forced to do everything yourself¡­¡± Calix answered indifferently. He had spent several years on the battlefield, where people died every day. In dire situations, there were countless times when he had to pull out blades and arrows from his body on his own. There were even times when he had to cauterize* the wounds without anesthesia in order to prevent them from rotting. ¡°Almost done.¡± With light moves, Calix slathered the medicine generously on her wound and wrapped her hands with a clean bandage. When he was done with the treatment, he had Asella completely bandaged from her elbow to the back of her hand. Her fingers were the only thing that had survived from being covered by the white bandages. ¡°You will have to endure this for a few days. I¡¯ll call the priest as soon as we reach the Duchy.¡± Asella nodded. ¡°You¡¯re breaking out in a cold sweat.¡± Glancing at the area surrounding her forehead, Calix added in a casual, nonchalant tone; then, he pulled something out of the pocket of his cloth. It was a black handkerchief. A handkerchief without a single decoration or embroidery, frankly, it was so pitch black that it looked bizarre. Asella accepted it without a second thought and held out her hand to receive it, but she stopped when she realized what she was doing. ¡°Let me wipe it for you.¡± As Calix approached her, Asella involuntarily took a step back. ¡°I-I can do it.¡± ¡°With that hand?¡± Calix asked, leaving her at a loss for words. Even though he had treated her, her hands were still not free. While she hesitated, he leaned over again. His unique scent swept over her, and she felt the soft touch of the cloth touching her forehead. ¡®¡­Something is not right.¡¯ It seemed as if heat was blooming every place where he lightly tapped her skin. Although it was just a hand wiping away sweat, her face began to burn. As the strange sensation that she could not understand continued, Asella could not hold back and bit her lip. ¡°Ah, thank you. Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wipe the rest on my own.¡± It was a somewhat stubborn request. Calix looked at her for a moment, avoiding her gaze, and held out the handkerchief. Asella accepted the handkerchief carefully. ¡°Thank you very much. I will definitely return it later.¡± However, she kept fiddling with the edge of the handkerchief instead of actually using it. Calix watched the scene silently. To him, she didn¡¯t look like she would ever use his handkerchief. Perhaps she didn¡¯t like it because it was his. For some reason, it made him feel slightly bitter. * * * ¡°Your Excellency, the barracks have been set.¡± Calix straightened up at Ryzen¡¯s report. He turned to Asella, who was staring at him, not comprehending what was going on, and added an explanation in an uncharacteristic manner. ¡°We¡¯re going to stay here today.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t be moving?¡± The time was dawn, and it was blindingly bright outside with the morning sun pouring down. It was moderately warm, and the weather was clear and easy to move around in. It was just dawn, and the idea of staying here just had her puzzled. ¡°Additional personnel will join us in the capital; also, we need to replenish our supplies, and we have the wounded and injured to deal with too.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think that far ahead. Sorr-¡° ¡°And¡­.¡± Asella flinched; she was about to utter her apology out of habit when her words were interrupted. It was as if he didn¡¯t want to hear her apology. ¡°I¡¯ll have to bring you a new carriage.¡± ¡°¡­Carriage?¡± ¡°The carriage you and your sister were riding¡­ It¡¯s broken.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going on horseback?¡± ¡°You say that when your hands are in such a state?¡± Calix clicked his tongue as he asked. Asella looked down at her hands. He was right. It was hard to hold the reins properly in such a state. Feeling like a lousy and useless piece of baggage, Asella¡¯s heart sank heavily. ¡°When we travel, we have to ride horses for nearly ten hours a day. Your body can¡¯t handle that.¡± Calix said, looking at Asella¡¯s petite body. It was hard to believe that she was a direct descendant of Chartus. She was even more so than the southerners of the Empire, who were known for their relatively small stature. His speculation- no, this was not speculation; he was certain that one of Philip¡¯s methods of abuse might have been starvation just by looking at her. Calix unintentionally reminded himself that he would step back into that house and deal with him properly. ¡°The barracks may be inconvenient, but it¡¯s better than a broken-down carriage. Can you get up?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Asella answered as if she had been waiting for him to ask. She gathered her strength to stand but sooner than later; she slumped back. Perhaps it was because of the bandages she was wrapped in, but it was difficult for her to balance her hands. Moreover, her legs, which had loosened from their tension, were not strong enough to bring her up to her feet, no matter how hard she tried. ¡°Um, just give me a minute, I can-¡° Calix pressed the area between his wrinkled brow as he watched her. It was hard to tell if she was trying to test his patience or if she was just trying to appear all tough in front of him and that she didn¡¯t need his help; either way, he had been patient enough that it was starting to feel a bit frustrating. ¡°Did you say you would ride a horse like that?¡± It couldn¡¯t be helped. She couldn¡¯t walk, so he had no choice but to hold her in his arms, he thought as if making excuses to himself on why he should hold her. _______________ cauterize /?k??t?r??z/ ve CH 66 With a low sigh, Calix lowered himself and approached Asella. She was startled and jerked back as if struck by lightning, to which he replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so afraid. I¡¯m just trying to take you to the barracks.¡± He heard a gasp for breath and looked at her face; her blue eyes that were afraid of him pierced right through him. Calix, who had never had a single regret in his life, felt something close to that feeling at this moment for the first time. Back at the wedding, he might¡¯ve done things to threaten or intimidate her, just a little bit. ¡°You can¡¯t even stand up, let alone walk. I¡¯ll just take you there right away; just bear with it for a moment.¡± It was also the first time he looked back on something that had already happened¡­ a decision he had already made. A thing that he never thought necessary. He regretted that he had added fear to his wife, who was already afraid of him anyway. ¡°Then¡­ please do.¡± A few moments later, the affirmative answer flowed in a calm, quiet voice that sounded like a sigh. Calix felt a faint sense of relief the moment he held the petite woman in his arms. But the feeling, which surfaced, was way too faint to be noticed, even by him. * * * At the Grand Duke¡¯s barrack, Ryzen, as usual, was making tea. It was a black tea with a rich texture that ordinary people would feel unpleasant just by looking at it. And as usual, Calix gulped it in a sip. ¡°There is no way that so many demonic beasts could have appeared out of the blue. There must have been some intervention by someone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there was.¡± ¡°But who would do something like this¡­¡± ¡°I wonder who it could be.¡± Calix leaned back, resting his weight on the back of the chair. His face appeared casual and expressionless, but his slightly twisted mouth reflected a sharp cold smile. ¡°You mean the Emperor, sir? But it¡¯s so obvious? Why do such a thing then?¡± Ryzen shook his head as if he couldn¡¯t understand. There were mixed interests between the lord and the Emperor. Especially since the Emperor needed Benvito¡¯s strength, he would not dare to soil the relationship between them. ¡°He seems impatient. Poor man.¡± The expression on Calix¡¯s face showed no sign of pity for anyone. ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± It was time for Ryzen to carefully assess his master¡¯s feelings and inquire about his intentions. ¡°My Lord! It¡¯s Zeke!¡± A powerful voice was heard outside the tent. Simultaneously, Ryzen¡¯s face crumpled. The voice¡¯s owner was his sworn enemy. To be precise, though, it was more like a one-sided relationship, with Ryzen unilaterally nagging at the other. Nevertheless, the loud voice calling Calix did not stop. ¡°My Lord! I am here, My lord!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Is he not here? Did he go to see Her Highness?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Ryzen rubbed his forehead in silence. He was a noisy guy anyway, with a lot of unnecessary chatter. Soon a fiery young man with flaming red hair entered the tent. He had probably just turned 20 years old. He had a young face, a sturdy build, and a messy appearance that made him look like a criminal at first glance. Ryzen almost started nagging, forgetting that he was in front of the Calix. ¡°It has been a long time, my lord! I hear a swarm of beasts has appeared. Are you hurt?¡± ¡°As you can see.¡± ¡°Pathetic! The knights outside are a bunch of weaklings; if My Lord swung his sword¡­ ugh!¡± Ryzen mercilessly elbowed Zeke in his ribs. It was a clear sign not to make a slip of the tongue. Zeke winked as a sign that he understood and quickly changed the subject. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s Her Highness? I heard the carriage was destroyed. Is everything all right? No, what in the world was she guilty of that they sent a swarm of beasts to hunt her down?¡± Ryzen, who was listening next to him, closed his eyes. Ryzen didn¡¯t think Zeke would change the topic to that of all things! Honestly, he really wanted to zip that damned mouth shut and hang him on the wall. ¡®If he keeps that up, I¡¯ll strike him again.¡¯ He could feel his master¡¯s mood sinking rapidly. Even though it was midday, the temperature in the vicinity had dropped considerably. But even with Calix¡¯s expression growing as cold as a glacier, Zeke¡¯s thoughtless words continued. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why I mentioned it to you before, My Lord?! We should just behead the Emperor!¡± ¡°Zeke!¡± Ryzen stopped Zeke¡¯s words without delay, but it was too late; the water had already been spilled. CH 67 The moment Zeke finished speaking, Calix¡¯s mouth curved up neatly in the shape of a crescent moon, and his cold red eyes glowed. Ryzen guessed what was going to happen next and sighed quietly. Not only was Zeke demoted for his behavior before he left for his last job, but Ryzen was now witnessing in real-time, right in front of his eyes, the scene of Zeke being demoted again only a few minutes after he returned. ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound so bad.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± However, his master¡¯s words, which came unexpectedly, made Ryzen almost mistakenly think that he had misheard him for a moment. Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with his hearing. ¡°When you receive a gift, of course, one must return the favor.¡± A cold smile appeared on Calix¡¯s beautiful face. Zeke¡¯s complexion brightened quickly. He began to shout excitedly on his own before Calix could order anything. ¡°Yes! Let me do it! Let me do it, okay?¡± His figure was not different from a puppy who was eagerly wagging his tail and trying to be charming in front of his master. But the matter of what he was begging to do was frightening. ¡°You know, My Lord, I am the best at doing those things!¡± To put it in a little more detail, things like separating head and body in a beautiful and clean way. ¡°Leave it to me! I¡¯ll approach secretly and quietly, then poof!¡± Ryzen laughed in his mind. Zeke and the Fourth Karma he led were certainly the farthest thing from the word ¡®quiet¡¯. ¡°I¡¯m sure the kids are feeling down, and their bodies are going stiff because they haven¡¯t been able to move for a while. I¡¯m going to take this opportunity to take them out for a warm-up and wipe that place clean in one shot!¡± ¡°How?¡± Zeke was boasting about what he could do before his movement came to a halt. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you, how do you plan to do that?¡± Zeke looked amused. Unfortunately, making plans using his brain was not his area of expertise. ¡°The Emperor is no ordinary man. Do you not know how he succeeded to the throne?¡± ¡°No matter how great a man he is, he¡¯ll die once you cut his head off!¡± Ryzen sighed as he stood next to him. He was still the same as ever, jumping around like a horse with horns up to his butt, unable to stay still. If it weren¡¯t for Zeke¡¯s monstrous swordsmanship, nerve, and reflexes, it would be outrageous to make him one of the commanders leading a Karma unit. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just go straight into the Imperial Palace, find out where he is, and do it quietly?¡± Zeke pretended to quickly draw his hand, making a beheading gesture with his hand. ¡°Haa¡­¡± Ryzen didn¡¯t even bother to hide his sigh anymore. What was happening before him was so ridiculous that he was speechless; he could not help but laugh. God blessed Zeke with many talents, but he did not give him a head to think with. Fortunately, his master came to a conclusion similar to Ryzen¡¯s. ¡°I was wrong.¡± ¡°What? What do you have in mind?¡± Instead of answering Zeke¡¯s counter-question, Calix turned his attention to Ryzen. ¡°Ryzen, you will take care of the Fourth Karma, just as you have done so far.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow your orders.¡± Ryzen was the commander of the First Karma, and when Zeke was demoted, he assumed the Fourth Karma unit along with the First. And when at last he thought that his workload would be reduced when Zeke came back after a period of self-reflection, that stupid mouth of his made that impossible once again. This was absolutely not very happy news for Ryzen, who was suffering from an excessive workload alone. ¡°My Lord, what about me then?¡± Calix¡¯s cold eyes turned to the immature and ignorant beast. ¡°You will have to go back.¡± Zeke opened his mouth wide like someone who had just heard the most shocking words in the world. The look on his face was incredulous. Ryzen could already tell what was coming for Zeke. As if to prove that the saying that the mouth was the source of all evil, that lousy mouth of his wouldn¡¯t stop getting him into trouble. It hadn¡¯t been an hour since he returned, and he was already ordered to go back. You reap what you sow. Ryzen expressed his deepest condolences to his best friend and best rival. Of course, only in his mind. Meanwhile, Zeke, who came back to his senses, hurriedly opened his mouth. ¡°Where do you want me to go?¡± ¡°Where?¡± Calix leaned back against the armrest of his chair and placed his chin on the back of his hand. ¡°Is there anywhere besides the capital?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± Zeke screamed. Thanks to his remarkable natural survival instincts, he knew now what he had to do. He finished assessing the situation quickly and knelt on the floor. Holding hands together as if begging, he looked up at Calix with a desperate look in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything you want, just don¡¯t tell me to go there!¡± The blood drained from Zeke¡¯s face as he remembered his life in the capital. Goosebumps rose all over his body as he thought of the past few months where he had had to be confined to that dreaded Grand Duke¡¯s mansion. Zeke whimpered like a desperate dog and whined. ¡°Why not? Shouldn¡¯t it be nice and comfortable?¡± It was a place where nothing ever happened. Calix pulled his red mouth tightly and laughed. That soulless, bright smile Calix showed made Zeke¡¯s mind go blank. Needless to say, for an average person, it was a place of work that provided a peaceful and comforting living without much effort. But to Zeke, whose stimulation was the joy and pleasure of life, it was a hellish place. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a place so boring and tedious in my life! If you send me there again, I¡¯d rather die!¡± ¡°Then die.¡± ¡°My Lord!¡± Despite Zeke¡¯s cry, Calix did not bat an eyelid. His way of thinking was always concise and clear. Wild beasts cubs needed to be pushed off the cliffs once they grew older, and if they died? Well, it couldn¡¯t be helped. ¡°I can never go to that awful place again! If you keep me here, I¡¯ll do anything! I¡¯ll even clean the knights¡¯ toilets every day! No, just kill me already!¡± Zeke¡¯s pleading continued, and Ryzen, who was watching, shook his head. The only thing that could tame the beast¡¯s cub was another beast. Zeke, who behaved stubbornly and acted recklessly without a single fear in the world, couldn¡¯t even move in front of Calix. ¡°Ryzen.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Drag him out.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ryzen bowed to his master, and with a swift motion, he grabbed Zeke¡¯s arms. ¡°Wait!!! Wait a minute!¡± Driven to the cliff¡¯s edge, Zeke spat out whatever came to his mind. ¡°I-I saw the Emperor¡¯s dogs on the way back!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you did.¡± ¡°I took care of every single one of them, all of them! You have nothing to worry about!¡± Calix motioned with a wry look on his face. It meant to drag him away as quickly as possible. Zeke hastily shouted. ¡°We caught one of them, the strongest looking one, alive! I tied him up nearby just in case¡­¡± ¡°Hold.¡± For the first time, Zeke¡¯s words caught Calix¡¯s interest. ¡°Elaborate.¡± CH 68 The Emperor¡¯s ruthless fury caused the atmosphere in his office to freeze. The fire that had been flickering in the fireplace was extinguished in an instant by the piercing chill. The sinner who provoked the Emperor to such rage silently fell down to his knees and accepted the Emperor¡¯s wrath. ¡°Duncan Lysak.¡± Fernandez called out as he spat out the name of the loyal servant who knelt in front of him. ¡°¡­Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Duncan barely managed to open his mouth to answer, and even with effort, his voice trembled as he spoke. He could feel a force pressing down on his entire body as if it were about to crush him to the ground at any moment. ¡°Report again.¡± Duncan closed his eyes tightly. But he had to recite again the report he had just finished. ¡°The demonic beast we had deployed on the cliffside attacked the target as planned but failed to eliminate it. Also, the dogs were all killed before they could complete their mission¡­¡± ¡°What the hell were you doing!¡± Fernandez slammed the desk in his office mercilessly. With a thud, the papers that had accumulated on the desk crumbled and scattered on the floor. He tried to suppress his anger, and then, a low, contained voice spread throughout the office. ¡°What are you going to do about that?¡± ¡°I have no words to say¡­¡± Duncan¡¯s head slammed down so hard that his forehead hit the ground. He knew how much Fernandez was holding back his anger now. ¡°All the beasts are now gone, the targets safely fell alive into Calix¡¯s hands, and the dogs died at the same time.¡± His powerful army vanished overnight. An existence that might be the biggest threat to him in the future had survived. There was even a probability that vital information or weaknesses had been handed over to the enemy on a silver platter. The worst imaginable situation had occurred. ¡°If you give me a chance, I¡¯ll take responsibility and¡­ Cough!¡± In a flash, Duncan¡¯s body was suddenly lifted into the air. An invisible, powerful force gripped his neck and choked him. In an instant, Duncan¡¯s mind went blank. ¡°Cough¡­! Your Majesty, cough, Your Majesty¡­!¡± Duncan struggled in pain as he grabbed his neck with both hands and wriggled his feet in the air. The oxygen was quickly being sucked out of his lungs. Fearing that he might die and the dizzying sensation might be because he could suffocate at any moment caused tears to flow from the corners of his eyes. Fernandez observed Duncan¡¯s appearance nonchalantly and opened his mouth. ¡°How do you think you¡¯re going to get out of all this?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­uhh¡­¡± ¡°You seem to overestimate your abilities.¡± Instantly, the force that was tightening around Duncan¡¯s neck dissipated, and his body fell straight to the ground. ¡°Hah, hah..!¡± Duncan gasped for air; as soon as the air started to rush back to his lungs, he felt his head throb. His heart raced so fast to the point he felt it would explode, but his body had no energy at all. Fernandez¡¯s cold gaze pierced over Duncan¡¯s body. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance to solve this, just like you said.¡± Duncan immediately knelt down and bowed to Fernandez. It was merciful that the Emperor did not immediately tear him limb from limb and kill him. ¡°Duncan.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Duncan gasped for breath and barely managed to answer. He, too, was the Emperor¡¯s dog; the chief of dogs, to be exact. The tattoo of obedience imprinted on the inside of his wrist itched so vividly today. It was as if to imprint the despair that he could not break free of these shackles forever. ¡°If you fail to handle this matter again¡­¡± There was no trace of warmth in the Emperor¡¯s dry voice as he spat out his last act of mercy. ¡°Not only you but all other members of the Lysak bloodline will not survive my wrath.¡± * * * The journey to the Duchy had been going on for several days. ¡®It¡¯s been five days already.¡¯ After that day, when Calix personally carried Asella, who the demonic beast had injured, to the barracks, the two had not engaged in a single conversation. It would be more accurate to say that they never had the opportunity to do so. Her husband was always busy. When travelling, he would ride his horse without rest, and after dark, he would spend several hours in the barracks meeting with his aides. She did not know what was going on, but she could at least guess that it was something important and serious. Even though Ryzen was busy, he would visit Asella from time to time to inquire about her well-being and to check on her physical condition, but not the same could be said about Calix. ¡°Your Highness, did the food suit your palate?¡± ¡°It was delicious. Mariel liked it too.¡± After lunch, Asella replied quietly, looking down at her napping younger sister. ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable in any way?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Fortunately, Asella¡¯s wounds were healing, albeit slowly. Moreover, the tedious and peaceful travel of the past few days had even provided her with some sense of stability. Ryzen, however, frowned a bit at Asella¡¯s reply. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯re still using respectful language when addressing me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just not used to it.¡± Now being the Grand Duchess, Asella was higher in status, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t just treat him like any other servant of her husband¡¯s. For a start, Ryzen himself was a count, a vassal of Calix, and not any normal vassal at that, but the closest aide to Calix Benvito among all of his other vassals. It meant that he was not someone she could treat carelessly. CH 69 Ryzen, who had been watching her stubbornly closed lips for a few moments, sighed and changed the subject. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, Your Highness, we are planning to make it to the castle today instead of camping out.¡± ¡°You mean we will be on the move all night?¡± ¡°Yes, if we do that, we will be able to reach the castle by dawn.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind either way, but¡­¡± She trailed off. She was staying in the carriage anyway, so she had no problem with moving through the night. The problem was for the soldiers who would have to march all night. ¡°We have no problem either. Everyone has enough stamina left. Then, may I tell His Excellency that you don¡¯t mind progressing through the night?¡± Asella gave a small nod. ¡°Thank you for your patience thus far.¡± Ryzen said sincerely. Difficulties, both minor and significant, inevitably arose during travel. But their new mistress of the Grand Duchy had not once expressed a single word of complaint, nor did she show a hint of displeasure on her face. She was a person of too few words, but that could not be called a shortcoming. ¡°I cannot express how grateful I am that you endured the difficult journey so well.¡± ¡°You prepared well for the journey.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job, Your Highness. Then, I¡¯ll see you around later this evening.¡± After greeting her politely, Ryzen closed the carriage door. Shortly after, the carriage began to move again. Contrary to Ryzen¡¯s concern, Asella had not felt any discomfort in particular during the past few days. The carriage that had been sent from the Grand Ducal residence in the capital was spacious and comfortable, comparable to the previous one. The heating was also perfect, making it warm even on chilly mornings and evenings. The sofa that doubled as a bed was perfect, except that it was a tad narrow. Still, it was much more comfortable than the barracks. Inside the moving carriage, Asella looked out the window, as she always did during this trip. ¡®That man-¡® As she looked out, every once in a while, when the road would make a big turn or something, she could see the figure of the man leading this march through the window. This was the case now. There he was, the man on a black horse as dark as his hair color. ¡®Doesn¡¯t he ever get tired..?¡¯ It was a long journey, and he could just use the carriage with her, but instead, he opted to personally lead the men on horseback. In the evening, like the rest of the group, he rested in the barracks. Of course, being the Grand Duke¡¯s tent, it had to be more spacious and comfortable, but it was by no means comparable to the comfort of a carriage. Either way, they had a completely different sphere of activity. He never came to see her, let alone exchange a conversation. Although it couldn¡¯t be, Asella went so far as to even think that Calix might be deliberately avoiding her. ¡®But¡­¡¯ Strangely enough, however, there were often times when she felt this impossible feeling¡­ a feeling that he was somehow watching her, though she didn¡¯t know how or from where. * * * Late at night, in the Emperor¡¯s bedroom¡­ Fernandez, who had been sleeping alone, woke up feeling an intense thirst. He saw a bottle on the table. Usually, he would have checked to see if it was poisoned with the stick he always uses, but his thirst was so intense that he had no time to do so. He tipped the entire bottle and drank the water without even bothering to pour it into a cup. After emptying almost half of the bottle, the thirst that had been driving him crazy was finally quenched. ¡°¡­Damn it.¡± The dream he had was also unsettling. This aroused considerable discomfort since it was unusual for him to dream in the first place. Perhaps it was because of what Duncan had reported to him during the day. If it had been someone else, he would have ripped out his tongue for saying such a thing and then cut off his limbs and killed him. But since it was Duncan Lysak, he endured his anger and chose to spare his life based on the loyalty Duncan had shown so far. Realizing that he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep when he lay down again, Fernandez sat up in bed. He went slowly around the room in large circles, pondering. Whenever he ran into a problem, this was his personal way of finding a solution. ¡®I need to find a way to get the girl out of that house.¡¯ The Grand Ducal Castle of Benvito was no different than a fortress. Not even spies, let alone assassins have been able to set foot inside. So far, many people have tried to access it for their own various purposes, but all of them have died, no exception. So as long as Mariel Chartus stayed there, it was difficult to get a hold of her. ¡®Still, surely there must be a way.¡¯ It was that suspicious ¡®Calix Benvito.¡¯ There was no way for a half-hearted deception attempt to fool him. It had to be natural enough to arouse no one¡¯s suspicion yet good enough to make them take the bait. While Fernandez struggled¡­ ¡®Hmmm¡­?¡¯ On the table where the water bottle was placed, a piece of paper the size of a postcard caught his eye. ¡®Was there something like that?¡¯ He was drinking water while still half-awake from sleep, so his memory was not clear. Fernandez made his way toward the table. It was a familiar paper of good quality with a smooth, dense surface. It was the same type of paper he always uses. But he did not understand why paper used only in the office was here. Under the faint moonlight, he caught a glimpse of the words on the paper. ¡®What does it say?¡¯ Because the room was too dim to see clearly, Fernandez flicked his hand to generate light using magic. But at that moment, his head began to spin around, and something gushed out from deep inside his body, causing a few drops of tears to gather in his eyes. Gasp¡­ In the brightened bedroom, the Emperor¡¯s blood mixed with reddish-black lumps soaked the floor. As he vomited blood from his mouth, his trembling eyes never left the sight of the paper, which was now soaked with blood at the edges. The elegant and antique handwriting belonged to a familiar person. The content was brief. [How do you like the taste of water?] CH 70 An inexplicable tension flowed through the Imperial Palace. For the past few days, the Emperor had been confined to his bedchamber due to his poor health. The Emperor¡¯s personal guards were stationed in front of his bedchamber. Everyone¡¯s access was extremely restricted. Only a few people were allowed to enter the bedroom. ¡°Here you are.¡± Duncan, who attended the Emperor as usual, checked on him. ¡°How is your health, Your Majesty?¡± The news that the Emperor had been poisoned was kept confidential. All who knew the truth were Duncan, who was the first to find the collapsed Fernandez, the Emperor¡¯s dog that guarded his bedchamber, and Princess Veronica, who investigated the poisoning. ¡°It¡¯s a mess.¡± Fernandez replied, his face twisting. ¡°The rest of my mana still isn¡¯t responding.¡± Mana flowed naturally through his body at all times, However, after being poisoned, he could no longer use it. It was as if the magical power had solidified near his heart. His body gradually recovered and the flow of magic power began to return little by little, even though it was only about half of the power he originally had. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Your Majesty. You will recover it soon.¡± ¡°Veronica has identified the type of poison that was used. And if my guess is correct¡­¡± Fernandez trailed off as he spoke. ¡°The mana won¡¯t be coming back.¡± Calix Benvito¡­ That damn Calix Benvito used just about the amount to put him in this state and not kill him on the spot. Fernandez¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. ¡°But Your Majesty is immune to poison, right? Over time, it will naturally detoxify¡­¡± ¡°I thought so too, at first.¡± Ever since he was a prince, Fernandez had ingested small doses of poison to improve his tolerance to poisons. Any Imperial family with a desire for the throne naturally went through such a preparatory process. The highest, most prestigious position in the Empire was not just given. Thanks to this, he was immune to most kinds of poison. Except for one. ¡°The Grand Duke used the secret formula of the Benvito family.¡± ¡°Is there such a thing?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t ingest the antidote within a day, you will die.¡± The Duchy¡¯s poison, the method of production, the antidote formula, were passed on only to the head of the Benvito family. This was the reason why Fernandez was not immune to this poison. There was no way to do anything about it because it was an impossible poison to obtain in the first place. ¡°He knew I wasn¡¯t immune to that poison, so he must have chosen it on purpose.¡± Duncan could not hide his surprised face at the story he had never heard. He looked at Fernandez with a flustered face, hastily regained his composure, and opened his mouth to speak as he stammered. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a poison in the Benvito family!¡± ¡°Because the existence of such a poison is not widely known.¡± Once the lethal dose of poison was used, the person infected will die in less than 24 hours. He didn¡¯t know what ingredients were used to make the poison or its antidote, but even a divine treatment, provided by a priest, would not save the poisoned person from death. ¡°The only way to survive is to take the antidote. Otherwise, you will bleed to death from every hole in your body.¡± Somehow, he imagined the dreadful sight, and Duncan involuntarily swallowed his dry saliva. Fernandez mumbled in a dry tone. ¡°I have seen a man who was poisoned by it. He begged me to kill him.¡± It was a terrible poison. Not only does it start working on a body shortly after ingestion, but it also causes horrendous pain and suffering. So often, victims who were unable to endure the pain committed suicide in the process. ¡°I woke up alive, so I put aside the possibility of that poison. However, that was not the case.¡± Fernandez continued his story with an angry look on his face. ¡°They diluted the poison enough to keep my life and not to kill me. Still, if it hadn¡¯t been for the magic power, my body would have been torn apart.¡± At times, the magical power functioned like a living organism. If the master faced a critical situation, the magic acted on its own for the master¡¯s survival and protection. Fernandez¡¯s magical power blocked the progress of the poison for its dying master. ¡°Then what are you going to do?¡± ¡°We need to get the antidote.¡± Now? Isn¡¯t half the Emperor¡¯s magic already gone when it worked to slow the poison¡¯s progress? Just as Duncan was questioning this, the Emperor¡¯s blank face turned momentarily agitated. Fernandez gritted his teeth and said. ¡°The poison will not dissipate without the antidote.¡± ¡°Do you mean to say that the poison is still in Your Majesty¡¯s body?¡± ¡°I can only guess, but it¡¯s most likely the case.¡± The mana that gathered around his heart and didn¡¯t budge was probably meant to prevent the poison from further spreading. If he took the antidote, the poison would disappear, and his mana would naturally return. ¡°Would Calix Benvito offer the antidote obediently?¡± ¡°No, he wouldn¡¯t.¡± This was an example. A clear warning that if he ever laid a hand on his things again, he was not going to let it go. Rage flared in his veins. ¡°There¡¯s something about Mariel Chartus. Otherwise, there is no reason for him to react the way he did. For Fernandez, other possibilities were not worth considering. So, for example, that Calix¡¯s anger was caused by his wife¡¯s wounded hand. ¡°That guy would have expected me to be in this state.¡± His mood, which had been dull and sluggish earlier, was now ready to plunge and break through the ground. Fernandez¡¯s voice sank sharply. ¡°He must be waiting for me to offer him a deal.¡± Fernandez¡¯s face contorted oddly in a mixture of anger at being so easily beaten and shame at having to say something so disappointing. The Emperor¡¯s uneasy feelings were also conveyed to Duncan. Then Fernandez drew in his breath for a while, clenched his fists, and began trembling in anger. Perhaps if his body had been normal, there would have been no possessions in the bedroom left unruined. After a few moments like that, the Emperor finally calmed down. ¡°But that¡¯s as far as he can go.¡± It was thanks to one thought that popped into his head. ¡°Because he needs what I can do.¡± As long as Fernandez has ¡®it¡¯. And as long as Calix Benvito needs ¡®it¡¯. ¡°Then, at the very least, he can¡¯t kill me.¡± That was the Emperor¡¯s only solace at this moment. CH 71 5-6 minutes 26.01.2021 TL: Leila Editor: Liv PR: Liz Join Patreon to read advance chapters https://www.patreon.com/Leila0530 The procession moved without rest throughout the night. When Asella, who had unintentionally fallen asleep, woke up, the morning sun was faintly penetrating into the carriage. ¡®I think we¡¯re almost there.¡¯ Before she knew it, the scenery outside the window had changed considerably. She wondered how far they had traveled. A huge, gray castle slowly began to appear in the distance. This was Grand Duke Benvito¡¯s Castle. The solid and heavy gate stood out from a long distance. The castle walls, built with piled-up square stones, looked sturdy enough to stand against any kind of intrusion. After passing the gates, the carriage continued along a straight road for a while. The road was wide and surrounded on both sides by huge trees growing in tight packs, almost like a forest. Then the field of vision widened to reveal a garden of tremendous size. Asella couldn¡¯t help but let out an exclamation. ¡°Oh my god¡­¡± Delicately carved statues and sculptures could be seen among the hundreds of different kinds of trees. In the center of the garden was a long rectangular pond, making the mansion, located at the edge of the pond, seem to be floating on the water. The ancient-looking mansion was majestic and glamorous even from a distance. The shimmering yellow surrounding the frames of the square windows was definitely made out of gold. The mansion¡¯s magnificence, which far exceeded her expectations, quickly made Asella feel overwhelmed. ¡°Mariel, wake up.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there. We¡¯re about to get out of the carriage.¡± Asella nudged her sister, who was rubbing her eyes from sleep. Mariel sat up without complaining. It must have been a frustrating and difficult journey for the child. And yet, she didn¡¯t whine or show any signs of distress. Asella couldn¡¯t measure how grateful she was because of that. ¡°Just a little more patience and you can rest in your room.¡± ¡°Yes, Sister.¡± The carriage came to a stop. Asella let them know she was ready to get out of the carriage with a light tap on the door. Soon the carriage door opened. Mariel got off first with Ryzen¡¯s help, and Asella was about to follow. Then an unexpected figure appeared. ¡°¡­Your Excellency?¡± To her surprise, Calix stood there holding out his hand to her. Asella faltered by the door, unable to hide the bewilderment on her face. ¡°Asella?¡± Her name was the first thing that came out of the mouth of the man whom she hadn¡¯t seen in the past few days. The sound of his low-pitched voice was so strange that it took her breath away. ¡°Take my hand.¡± In contrast to his indifferent face, which didn¡¯t show his true feelings, his hand stretched out toward her without wavering. After a brief hesitation, Asella placed my hand over his palm. He slowly led her down the steps, holding her hand. At last, with both feet on the ground, Asella leaned her head back. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. Everywhere from the entrance of the mansion to where she stood, the knights and servants of the Grand Duke¡¯s Castle were standing in line. It was in perfect order as if soldiers were lined up. An old butler, who had a wise appearance and gray strands scattered along his head, bowed deeply before them in a respectful manner. ¡°Your Highness, this is¡­¡± ¡°Asella Benvito, my wife.¡± At Calix¡¯s words, everyone bowed at once. ¡°Do your best to help the Grand Duchess to adapt to this place.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± The steward answered politely and continued his words. ¡°I have made preparations as Your Highness ordered.¡± Calix, who nodded his head lightly signifying that he understood, turned his gaze. Asella was speechless, gazing blankly at the scene before her. She noticed his gaze a moment later. As soon as he turned to face those bright blue eyes, which were shimmering beautifully, Calix felt a small urge. For a moment, he wanted to tease her. His lips, which had been tightly pursed in a straight line, curved as if painted, and a smile appeared on his handsome face. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°What?¡± He kind of liked the way her eyes rolled back in confusion. As he approached her, not breaking their eye contact, her clear light blue eyes began to flutter. Although her eyes trembled with panic, she did not back away nor did she avoid looking him in the eye. As she did that, a strange sense of satisfaction arose inside him upon the sight of her. Calix put his lips close to Asella¡¯s ear and opened his mouth with a low smile. ¡°You choose.¡± Asella shuddered. They were too close. His lips were almost touching her body. His hot breath and vibrations that seemed to caress down to her ear, his terribly low voice, and his deep scent made her feel even dizzier. ¡°Your bedroom? Or¡­?¡± He whispered in a voice only she could. ¡°The bridal chamber?¡± CH 72 Asella¡¯s failure to answer in a timely manner wasn¡¯t entirely her fault. Her mind was messed up from the dizzying stimulation she had never experienced before. Her eyes fluttered like a newborn calf as she repeated the words she heard again in her mind. ¡®Oh..!¡¯ Her ears immediately began to turn bright red. Her expression was usually calm and she didn¡¯t show many emotions so watching her expression change so rapidly into embarrassment made Calix feel strangely amused. Suddenly he was curious about other expressions on her face that he had not seen yet. For example, her face when she felt joy, happiness, or pleasure. ¡°Sister, what¡¯s a bridal chamber?¡± A clear, innocent voice rang out. When Asella hurriedly turned her head, she was met with Mariel, tilting her head as she looked up at her with a face of pure innocence. ¡°Mariel, that¡¯s¡­¡± Asella¡¯s mind went as pale as a blank sheet of paper due to the embarrassment that surged over her. How could she explain this to an innocent child who didn¡¯t know anything?! As Asella hesitated, trying to find something to say, Mariel¡¯s face brightened and said, ¡°Ah! I understand!¡± and nodded understandingly. ¡°His Highness, the Grand Duke made you a new room too, right?¡± Asella tried to open her mouth but looking at Mariel, who looked proud like a puppy waiting to be praised, how could she say anything at this lovely sight? In the midst of all this, Mariel, thrilled by the fact that she had found out herself, exclaimed happily. ¡°Since you and His Highness are now a couple, I figured you¡¯d be spending some quality time together! You know, get to know each other, talk and play together.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°But¡­ what do you adults do for fun?¡± ¡°Pfft..!¡± Suddenly there was laughter heard from one corner. Mariel¡¯s eyes, which had been smiling brightly, grew round like those of a startled rabbit. ¡°Zeke.¡± Ryzen, who was standing beside her, called out his name as if to warn him, but that didn¡¯t prevent Zeke from laughing. Zeke smirked and spoke. ¡°You might not know this because you¡¯re still young, My Lady, but I can tell you that newlyweds are the ones where sparks ignite just by making eye contact. Day after day, night after night. and every- Argh! Why are you hitting me!¡± Zeke squealed, but Ryzen didn¡¯t bat an eye when he hit his best friend in the back of the head. With a talkative mouth like his, he could go on and on for months. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense.¡± ¡°What did I say wrong?!¡± After being hit, Zeke began to whine as he rubbed his head with the palm of his hand and closed his eyes, but Ryzen, who completely ignored his cold stare, added nonchalantly. ¡°If you want His Excellency to keep you around, go ahead and continue.¡± ¡°¡­Ha!¡± Zeke, finally realizing what crime he had committed, trembled as if he had been splashed with cold water. His head, stiff as a malfunctioning wooden doll, turned slowly to the side. ¡°Eh¡­ Ehhh¡­!¡± Sure enough, Calix was twisting one corner of his mouth. ¡°Is this a new suicide method?¡± ¡°No! Never! Not at all!¡± Crazy bastard. It was too harsh to comment on a friend, but Ryzen, who stopped Zeke from getting his head and body separated today, was qualified to say so. He could bet on the cranberry candy he had hidden under his office desk that if he had left Zeke to speak for another second, it would have been his lord¡¯s well-wielded sword, not the palm of his hand, that struck Zeke in the back of the head and the situation in hand would get ugly really quick! No one wanted this to happen, especially not on Her Highness¡¯ first day in the residence! Fortunately, the butler had grasped the situation well in that short period of time and skillfully said the appropriate words for this situation. ¡°Your Excellency, the room for Lady Mariel has been prepared too.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, how about we take a look there first?¡± Calix turned his gaze away and looked at Asella. Her cheeks were still burning in embarrassment, and a red hue remained down to the nape of her neck, making it almost look like the neck of a fawn. Shall we leave it at that? He enjoyed seeing her flustered, but that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to overdo it with his teasing. ¡°Sounds good.¡± What if he pushed her a bit too hard and she burst into tears? He would be the one troubled if that happened. He didn¡¯t like the idea of her crying, even though there was no reason for him to be troubled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go check out your sister¡¯s room?¡± Asella blinked slowly several times, and after a moment nodded, looking visibly relieved. A smile crept across Calix¡¯s mouth. He turned his gaze to the gray-haired old butler. ¡°You will be responsible for showing them the way.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± At the loyal butler¡¯s reply, Calix turned around. No, he tried to turn. ¡°Ah..!¡± CH 73 Calix sought the direction from which the sound came. Once the sight of Asella entered his field of vision, he was at a loss, his hostile eyes softened as he glanced at her in puzzlement. It took him a few moments to realize that he had been holding his wife¡¯s hand until that moment. ¡°Oh.¡± Calix withdrew his hand, slightly embarrassed. It seemed that ever since he held her hand to escort her earlier, he didn¡¯t let go until now. This was so strange that even he was surprised. He disliked physical contact with anyone so much that he attended imperial banquets without a partner. And yet¡­ He felt somewhat upset. The feeling of her hand, which he felt through the glove, remained faintly, tickling the corner of his heart. It was small, soft, and warm. He wished he could have held onto it a little longer. ¡°Sister! Your hands are so warm!¡± But his cold-hearted wife had already slipped the hand he held to her sister. Mariel grabbed Asella¡¯s hand and swung it back and forth in her grip with great delight. (tl: to think Calix would say this¡­ I read it multiple times before writing it¡­ lmao) Calix felt a strange sense of defeat to a child who was not even 10 years old. Fortunately, the feeling did not last long. One of the knights who was guarding the gate rushed to deliver important news in front of Calix. ¡°Your Excellency! Your Excellency! A messenger has arrived from the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°Right on time.¡± Calix said sarcastically in a nonchalant tone. The timing of the messenger who had arrived at the castle once he arrived as well was astonishing. Then he turned to Asella. ¡°I thought we could have dinner together since it¡¯s your first day here, but it¡¯s going to be difficult.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± Asella¡¯s reply was sincere. She was not confident that she would be able to have dinner with the Grand Duke face to face. Calix, who watched her closely as if observing her, opened his mouth. ¡°I hope you like your room.¡± His words were vaguely phrased as if he was somehow trying to be considerate of her. Asella was at a loss as to what to say and wasn¡¯t able to open her lips to speak. Calix felt her hesitance and said. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later.¡± The butler, who was waiting for Calix¡¯s okay, approached quickly. ¡°Your Highness, My Lady, I¡¯ll guide you through the castle. This way please.¡± Asella, who had hesitated for a moment, immediately began to follow the butler¡¯s lead. Somehow, it felt as if someone¡¯s gaze seemed to follow her while she walked away, but she shook her head, hoping it was just an illusion. * * * ¡°Wow!¡± As soon as the door opened, Mariel¡¯s eyes widened. Thanks to Asella¡¯s grip on Mariel¡¯s hand, she was able to prevent the child from running into the room while screaming. ¡°It¡¯s just like the princess¡¯s room in the fairy tale!¡± Mariel exclaimed excitedly. The refreshing yellow colored wallpaper and light green curtains gave the room a fresh appearance. The furniture was overall white-toned and glamorous, and the floor was covered with a fuzzy rug that gave a sense of warmth. The spacious bed was decorated with an extravagant canopy of delicate lace embroidery. All items appropriate for a child were also in it. A bookshelf in one corner of the wall was filled to the brim with books. Various toys for play and even musical instruments were available in different types. Among them, what caught Mariel¡¯s gaze at once was a large stuffed bear placed in the center of the room. The child¡¯s eyes lit up like a bright star. ¡°Can I touch it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Mariel ran as if she had been waiting for it, and jumped into the stuffed bear, which was bigger than her own body. A thin smile appeared on Asella¡¯s face at the sight of her sister, who seemed to be enjoying herself greatly. CH 74 ¡°This is¡­¡± Asella¡¯s face turned pale and her words trailed off. The old butler hurriedly asked at the sight of her face. ¡°Is there anything you don¡¯t like about the room?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She had prepared herself to some extent since she saw the room prepared for Mariel. But now, Asella realized it was a fruitless effort. That was how unimaginable the space was. It was so much more glamorous than she had ever imagined that she was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the butler was getting more and more anxious. ¡°We didn¡¯t know what you liked, Your Highness. We arranged it arbitrarily, but we can change anything to suit your taste.¡± He continued talking, becoming restless because of his hostess¡¯s lack of response. ¡°If you let me know what is lacking, I will rectify it immediately.¡± It had been almost 20 years since they had a hostess in the Grand Ducal residence. Over the past month or so, when their master had decided to get married, the servants of the Grand Duke had prepared this space with painstaking attention to detail. In addition to the existing rooms, they expanded the space by opening up the adjoining room and erecting a wall to separate the reception room from the bedroom. Everything was replaced, including the wallpaper, window frames, and even the door, leaving only the framework. The furniture, bedding, curtains, and even small accessories used were all carefully selected of the highest quality material, no detail was neglected no matter how small, to the extent that it was comparable to walking into the Imperial palace with their attention to detail. From the tables to the crystal vases filled with fresh flowers, he poured his heart and soul into each and every item of furniture. ¡°Your Highness¡­¡± The butler¡¯s mouth went dry with nervousness as he looked over at the still stiff-faced lady. As time passed, his mind turned white as if it had been bleached. ¡®I¡¯m in trouble!¡¯ It had been almost thirty years since the elderly man had served in the Benvito household. He served the current Grand Duke, of course, as well as his predecessor, from the time he was around Mariel¡¯s age. As such, it was essential for him to be sensitive to his master¡¯s feelings and respond tactfully. He swallowed his saliva unconsciously. The Benvito bloodline had been merciless, cruel, and ruthless for many generations. His master, Calix, in particular, was a man born with a particularly strong bloodline trait, and his outstanding ability was not to be underestimated, nor was his temper. ¡®His Lordship won¡¯t forgive this¡­¡¯ He had certainly seen it earlier when he greeted the Grand Duke and Duchess. His master¡¯s gaze, which had been cold and chilly, surprisingly softened only when it turned towards his wife. At first, he thought it was an illusion and doubted his eyes, but it was not. Thanks to this, he could be sure. Going forward, the fate of everyone in this residence depended on a single word out of the Grand Duchess¡¯s mouth. The old butler closed his eyes. He barely parted his lips, feeling as if he were about to step into the fires of hell. ¡°Your Highness, please, if there is anything wrong¡­ please say something ¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, apologies.¡± Suddenly, Asella, who came to her senses, finally opened her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful it feels too much for someone like me..¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not! Not at all!¡± Asella¡¯s eyes widened as she saw him exclaim loudly. ¡°His Excellency¡¯s orders were to make sure you have everything you need. Anything! Even the tiniest little thing, please just say the word.¡± ¡°I will..¡± The old butler finally took a breath, and his stressed stiff face finally loosened. Just in time, he heard a rustling sound coming from outside the open door when a woman entered the room with a smile. ¡°Ah, I see you have finally arrived, Your Highness.¡± Just as she was about to open her mouth to ask for an explanation, someone appeared. Asella was meeting this person for the first time. She was a beautiful woman with pale blonde hair neatly brushed back, had brown eyes, a mesmerizing shade, similar to ripe chestnuts in a cold winter, and wore silver-rimmed glasses. She was well-dressed in a simple navy blue dress without any extra accessories, but upon closer observation, the dress was made of high-quality material. The skirt was clean and wrinkle-free, and the collar was perfectly angled. She was probably in her early thirties at the most. She was dressed in seemingly simple attire, but her sharp gaze made a strong impression on Asella. ¡°Your Highness, I greet you for the first time. I am Margo Romaine. It is an honor to welcome you here.¡± It was a perfect greeting from a noble lady, without a single inch of error. And her name.. confirming Asella¡¯s thought that the person before her wasn¡¯t a normal woman¡­ CH 75 ¡°If it¡¯s Romaine¡­¡± Asella had heard of this name before, as it was one of the major vassals of the Benvito family. Along with the Kadan family, it was a historic and prestigious noble family that had produced outstanding military officers over the generations. Reading Asella¡¯s expression, Margo nodded in response. ¡°Yes. My husband, Richard, is one of the aides, serving His Excellency the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Ah, you must be the countess.¡± ¡°As of today, I am only a subject of Your Highness. Please speak to me comfortably.¡± A model noblewoman. Even if it was only for a moment, Asella was able to see through it. Her tone was formal and polite, and her demeanor was so confident that there was no room for error. It was not difficult to guess her character from her appearance, which did not allow even the slightest deviation. ¡®Probably for monitoring purposes¡­¡¯ She wasn¡¯t accompanied by a single servant from the Chartus household, so whether Asella wanted it or not, she had to choose a lady-in-waiting to attend to her from the Grand Ducal residence. ¡°I have selected a dozen or so more maids to serve Your Highness. Would you like to select one in person?¡± ¡°No need, I trust that you did a good job in selecting them.¡± It didn¡¯t matter much to her who would be her maid, after all, they would all be the eyes and ears of Calix Benvito, monitoring her and Mariel¡¯s every move. This place was a huge and brilliant prison; a place designed to make the prey within feel calm and at ease. It was seemingly comfortable and peaceful, yet they would never be able to take a step outside the transparent iron bars. Recalling the heavily armed soldiers who guarded the walls, Asella let out a low sigh. ¡°Then, may I proceed with selecting attendants for Lady Mariel as well?¡± ¡°That would be¡­¡± Unlike earlier, this time Asella pondered for a while. The overall purpose was probably the same, surveillance, but if possible, she didn¡¯t want Mariel to notice it. She would have preferred to assign a maid with a bright and compassionate personality, but it was difficult to find out such a point just by looking at them for a while. ¡°Then how about this, I¡¯ll put the children I¡¯ve selected into several pairs and take it in turns to serve the young lady. How about you watch and make a decision after that?¡± Margo, who read Asella¡¯s hesitation, continued quickly with her words. Reassured at last, Asella nodded, her expression relaxing. ¡°That would be great. Thank you.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Margo responded with a gentle smile. After that, the conversation proceeded a bit more smoothly, and as time went on, Asella gradually became more relaxed. As Margo skilfully led the lively conversation, she managed to identify Asella¡¯s food preferences, her favorite outfit styles, her hobbies, and so on. The butler, who was watching them, was frankly amazed. ¡®She¡¯s just an impressive woman indeed.¡¯ Before marrying Richard Romaine, Margo was the second child of the Blair family. With her fine looks, brilliant speech, and excellent academics, at one point in time, she was one of the most brilliant figures in the social circles. But today, the nickname that followed Margo¡¯s name was. ¡®Blair¡¯s eternal gem in the rough.¡¯ People outside who did not know her circumstances might regard it as a compliment, but for Margo, this was an insult and humiliation beyond comparison that she couldn¡¯t even bear to hear it. An eternal gem¡­ A gem that can never be transformed into a jewel. ¡®Hiding this precious talent in the mud. I couldn¡¯t think of anyone who would do such a thing, unless of course, they had to be crazy.¡¯ There were even rumors that the previous Count Blair was intimidated by her. Margo was a talented young woman who had graduated eight years ago at the top of her class from the Political Science Department of the Royal Academy. Her achievements were so outstanding that one of the professors in that department openly wanted her to be their successor. Had Margo¡¯s goal not been set to succeed the Blair family, she would probably be a professor at the Royal Academy by now. However, the position that Margo so much desired went all the way to her brother. When Margo strongly objected to this, the previous Count Blair forcibly arranged the marriage of his daughter to Richard Romaine and threw her out of the family. ¡®Although the family turned to a disastrous failure because of this.¡¯ Margo¡¯s brother, the current Count Blair, was not capable or qualified enough to lead the family house, so much so that he was known as a stupid promiscuous man, and sometimes labelled as a ¡°foolish clown.¡± He was obsessed with drinking, and because of his awful drinking habit, he managed to waste a lot of his family¡¯s wealth in a matter of few years, not to mention, due to his continuous nightly adventures, he had two illegitimate children in less than five years. His wife, unable to take it any longer, filed for divorce, which she had been granted right away, and even his few remaining possessions were taken and paid to his ex-wife as alimony, leaving him penniless. The name of Count Blair, which had been praised for so long, was tarnished beyond repair. This was the end of the story as the world had predicted it would be. ¡®I knew it would happen eventually.¡¯ He shook his head unconsciously as he recalled the past, and then there was a knock on the door. ¡°Your Highness, the priest has just arrived at the castle gate.¡± A servant announced the priestess¡¯s arrival. CH 76 The priestess¡¯s hair turned white due to her old age. With a careful hand, she undid the bandage that was wrapped around Asella¡¯s arm. Checking the wound that the demonic beast had left on Asella¡¯s arm, the priestess¡¯s face brightened slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know who took care of it, but there is no infection and it seems to be healing well. Once you receive the divine treatment, it should heal without leaving any scars.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Asella recalled that day, when Calix Benvito arrived in a critical situation, just before the clutches of the beast got to her. Thanks to his arrival on time, she and Mariel were both safe. ¡®I still don¡¯t understand why.¡¯ He even treated her wounds personally for some reason. He had the same casual look on his face as he carefully observed her injured arm and tended to it. Judging by the reaction of the old priestess, she was not mistaken when she thought his hand movements seemed skilled. ¡°The attending physician must have great skills. It is not easy to treat a wound received from a demon as neatly as this.¡± ¡°His Excellency treated me.¡± ¡°You mean His Excellency, the Grand Duke himself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± For a moment, surprise flashed across the priestess¡¯s face. But as she lived long enough, she managed to quickly hide her expression and changed her words with a gentle smile. ¡°I see, that¡¯s good to hear. Then, Your Highness, I will begin with the treatment. I¡¯ll pour divine power into the wound now. If you find it too hot, just let me know.¡± Warm, soft, and fuzzy sensations enveloped Asella¡¯s arms first. The damaged flesh moved up, and the torn area healed completely. Once the scars were gone and her skin smoothed out, the warmth spread thinly over her entire body, every lingering fatigue was instantly gone, and her body felt completely refreshed. ¡°The treatment went well, but please be careful since it¡¯s a new layer of skin after all.¡± ¡°I will be careful.¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see¡­¡± The priestess looked at Asella with a beaming smile. It was a warm gaze, like a loving grandmother looking at her granddaughter. ¡°May I give you a small gift before I leave, Your Highness?¡± ¡°A gift?¡± ¡°Because I want to wish you happiness and good fortune in your future. I would very much like you to grant this old faithful¡¯s request.¡± Asella¡¯s eyes widened. Those who had been watching the event exclaimed in joy. ¡°To give me such a precious thing¡­¡± ¡°There has never been a place where I had to use it before, but the moment I met you, Your Highness, I knew it was meant to be given to you. If you will allow me, I would like to offer you my blessing.¡± The blessings of the goddesses were so precious that it was very difficult to determine their value. To begin with, it was rare for a priestess to be able to give a blessing. It was an ability that came only after spending a long religious life, and even then, once a blessing was given, it generally took a year or so before a priest could give a blessing again. ¡°It would be a great joy for me if you would accept it.¡± After pondering for a few moments, Asella accepted. ¡°Then¡­ I will accept it gratefully.¡± Asella raised herself, bent her knees slightly, and bowed her head. The old priestess stood before her and spread her palms over the top of her head. ¡°I offer you the blessing of the Goddess Hernia, the source of this world, the origin of life, and the beginning of everything¡­¡± A dazzling light blazed out of the old priestess¡¯s body. A brilliant glow of colorful lights quickly engulfed Asella¡¯s entire body, and an indescribable power flowed into her. A small shudder ran through Asella¡¯s body at the sensation of the power traveling through her bloodstream, awakening each and every cell of her body. It was a powerful force, but it was not rough or impassive. Rather, it felt stabilizing, as if she was protected and secured. It was as if she had regained something she had longed for and cherished. ¡°May the blessings of the Goddess Hernia always be with Your Highness.¡± When Asella roused again, there was a clear joy on the old priestess¡¯s face that could not be concealed. ???????? ? ???????? The Grand Ducal Castle of Benvito was nothing less than a heavenly fortress. As soon as one passed through the castle, a straight and wide road continued ahead, surrounded on both sides by dense forests. ¡°Priestess, are you sure you don¡¯t want to take a carriage?¡± ¡°I appreciate your concern, but there is no need to worry. When you get old, it will be very nice to take a walk and enjoy the beautiful scenery.¡± The old priestess, Roshan, who had turned down the offer, moved away from the castle at a surprisingly quick pace. When she reached a point where the soldiers¡¯ eyes could not see her any further, she quickly changed direction to the deserted forest. After confirming that no one else was within a certain radius, Roshan stopped. ¡°Teleportation magic: The Holy City of Hevium, main hall of the Great Temple.¡± A white light surged out from the land where Roshan had stepped. When the cylindrical pillar of light completely enveloped her body and disappeared, the landscape around her changed entirely. CH 77 ¡°Master Roshan, I welcome your return. Her Holiness is in the Hall of Prophecy.¡± Nodding lightly at the priest¡¯s words, Roshan hurried to her feet. She was already well past middle age, but there was no hesitation in her movements. Her eyes, filled with flames, were as sharp as ever. Perhaps her somewhat cheerful appearance could be the result of the existence she had met today. She was getting impatient, even though she had already been waiting for so long. Roshan¡¯s footsteps toward the hall were getting faster and faster, to the point that she was almost running. To anyone who knew Roshan, this was quite a surprising scene to witness. As the gate of the hall of the prophecy came into view, Roshan started running through the hallway, and before she reached the door, the door swung open with a magic spell. Roshan was met with the back figure of a being with wavy, pale pink hair flowing down all the way to her feet. ¡°Your Holiness!!!¡± Roshan cried out loudly to her. The person standing in the center of the Hall of Prophecy slowly turned herself around. The overflowing divine power traveled with her as she moved. The amount of sacred power was so great that even an ordinary person could feel it as they approached. It was even more intense to Roshan, who already had sensitive senses as the head priestess. Roshan was lightly shaken. Even though she had faced this power countless times, she still felt astonished each time. ¡°May the blessing of Goddess Hernia always be with you, Your Holiness. I, Roshan, have returned after completing my duties.¡± ¡°Oh my, High Priestess Roshan, you have returned.¡± On her mature face, her mystical golden eyes sparkled brightly. The first messenger of the Goddess Hernia, the sovereign of the Holy Province of Hevium, underwent a change in the color of her eyes as she completed her awakening. The being known as the saintess was the host of this grand divine power. Her eyes, which looked as if they had been embedded with amber-colored gems, turned to face Roshan. ¡°Did you gain anything from your trip, Master?¡± ¡°Judith.¡± A small smile appeared on Roshan¡¯s mouth at the familiar way the Saintess referred to her. Judith was originally one of Roshan¡¯s disciples. She raised her like a daughter from the moment the young Judith arrived at the Hevium when her divine power was discovered for the first time. Eventually, a year ago, the previous saint entered their eternal rest, and Judith had her awakening as a saint. ¡°How did it go? Was it her?¡± Excitement flashed across Judith¡¯s beautiful face. From that moment Roshan had gone personally to the Duchy of Benvito for confirmation, and until now, Judith had been unable to leave the Hall of Prophecy. ¡°Come on, Master! Tell me!¡± Judith bit her lower lip tightly and squeezed her hands together. Her white knuckles revealed how nervous she really was. Roshan took a deep breath at the sight of her. ¡®What should I tell her?¡¯ She wanted to say something that sounded plausible, but in the end, all she could get out was a short answer that didn¡¯t make sense in the slightest. ¡°Yes-¡° ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s right¡± Judith remained silent for a moment. Despite the fact that it was the exact response she had been waiting for so long, she did not have any reactions whatsoever. Then, for a moment, clear drops began to form at the corner of her eye and trickle down her cheeks. Shortly after, the tears kept pouring out endlessly. But Judith¡¯s face was shining brightly with emotion. ¡®I found it. I finally found it.¡¯ ¡°I didn¡¯t know that there were two children with special abilities.¡± ¡°And one of them was Hernia¡¯s chosen one.¡± Finally, Judith¡¯s lips parted in an empty smile. She lightly brushed her wet and glistening cheek with the back of her hand. ¡°It makes me feel so betrayed by Adele for keeping this a secret, even from us.¡± ¡°I can understand her in a way, they say, to deceive your enemies, you must deceive your allies first.¡± Furthermore, their enemies were no ordinary opponents. However, while Judith and Roshan were waiting for the right time to step in, Adele¡¯s two daughters had to live through horrific abuse; a fact that they only learned when they had a priest visit the Chartus family residence last month. ¡°If I had known how those children were living, I would have taken them out by any means and any way possible.¡± ¡°And you would risk it by bringing them to this dangerous place?¡± Judith could not answer and kept her mouth shut. CH 78 The Grand Temple was not a safe place. There were spies mixed in with the employees as well as among the priests. Top-secret information that had obviously been treated as confidential was somehow leaked out and came back as a sword aimed at them. It was no exaggeration to say that the eyes and ears of the enemies were circling all parts of the temple, except the Hall of Prophecy, which was protected by the absolute power of the Goddess. ¡°If those children had been brought to the temple, they would have been an immediate target. Even if the Hall of Prophecy was safe, once outside the door, there would be enemies on all sides, and I wonder how long they would have been able to hold out.¡± ¡°I understand. It is just because I feel sorry for them. I¡¯m sorry that I hadn¡¯t done anything to help them back then.¡± Judith replied with a long sigh. The dangerous part was not merely spies passing on information. There were well-trained assassins, masking their true identities like ordinary people, strutting freely in the temple area. Just a few days ago, one of the priests had met a questionable death, and the atmosphere in the temple was restless. ¡°It¡¯s precisely why we didn¡¯t do anything that we managed to protect them. Just imagine what would have happened if the temple showed interest.¡± Adele, who left the world without a word of any kind, forced the two of them to go through countless trials and errors over the past seven years. But thanks to that, the two successors of Chartus, the one with a special ability, and the one chosen by the Goddess, were able to survive. But Judith¡¯s worries only grew. ¡°Still, I can¡¯t believe that the man she married is Calix Benvito, of all people. Seriously, he should have killed that filthy dog Philip long ago.¡± Some harsh words escaped Judith¡¯s mouth. ¡°This is not what Your Holiness, who must take care of the world, should be saying.¡± ¡°It is also a crime against God to let a man who deserves to die live.¡± ¡°Look, I can¡¯t win over you with words.¡± ¡°I wonder, who do you think I take after?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t saying it¡¯s me, are you?¡± ¡°Goddess Hernia, I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Judith took a praying posture with her hands crossed in an exaggerated gesture. Then she smiled meaningfully at Roshan who was slightly frowning. Roshan shook her head as if she couldn¡¯t stop Judith and opened her mouth again, this time with a serious look on her face. ¡°Maybe this marriage was part of Adele¡¯s big picture, too.¡± ¡°Why though?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that.¡± Her head growing more complicated, Roshan rubbed her temples harder. That damned Adele. Adele had been blessed with the divine ability to foretell the future, almost a god-like ability. There was no way they could have guessed Adele¡¯s scheme by themselves. At any rate, she was selfish while she was alive, and still was even long after her death. ¡°I cannot fathom it. Why would Adele choose Calix Benvito of all people?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t explain it, but somehow it just feels like it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous, Master! You know that too! His power is way too dangerous.¡± While the power passed down through Chartus¡¯ direct lineage was a gift of the Goddess Hernia, the source of the terrifyingly powerful power coming down to the Benvito family was unknown, to the point that even the term ¡°demonic power¡± was often linked to the Benvito family in the public eyes. ¡°This absolutely cannot be the intention of Adele. Perhaps it was just Calix Benvito¡¯s move with Mariel¡¯s awakening in mind so he would have a chance to use the child¡¯s power to his own advantage.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impos- never mind, your words must be right.¡± Roshan almost said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Even though all the given circumstances and conditions supported what Judith said. ¡®Why?¡¯ The face of Asella, whom she had just met, came to her mind. This was the first time she had seen the child since she last saw her seven years ago before Adele¡¯s death. Although she had grown up, she was able to recognize her with no difficulty because she still looked like she did when she was a little girl. Although she was quite worried at the mention of a wound sustained by a magical beast, when she unwrapped the bandage, Roshan found that it was perfectly treated. While she was relieved, she couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. ¡®I can¡¯t believe the Grand Duke treated her personally,¡¯ That Calix Benvito. The Grand Duke himself! It was a shock, almost like being smacked in the head with a hammer. ¡°This is not the time to speak nonsense! The Grand Duke may hand over the children to the imperial family! We must seek them before that happens!¡± Judith, who had no idea of Roshan¡¯s mixed feelings, exclaimed irritably, biting her lip. Although the Grand Duke and the Emperor were not on good terms now, there was no telling what would happen in the future. ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t say it, I already gave Asella a portal to come to the temple.¡± Judith¡¯s eyes rolled back in surprise. ¡°Really? How did you do that? It¡¯s not as if there were no eyes watching your every move in that place?¡± ¡°I pretended to pick up a dropped item and gave it to her, although I couldn¡¯t explain how to use it.¡± Roshan stared earnestly at Judith. The firm determination of certainty came over her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Judith. The child is doing the best she can in her own way.¡± CH 79 ¡°¡­And so the princess, along with her companions, decides to go rescue the prince, who was trapped in the castle. ¡®Just wait a minute, my prince! I will get you out!¡¯ The princess made up her mind firmly. The next day, at dawn¡­¡± Asella, who had been reading a fairy tale, gently tilted her face. Mariel, who had been listening to the story with a curious face earlier, was now sleeping peacefully. ¡°Good night, Mariel.¡± She placed a light kiss on her sister¡¯s forehead and lifted her body up carefully while trying to not wake the sleeping child. When she left the room, she was greeted by the knight who had been waiting for her. The same one that guarded her and Mariel as they were traveling to the Benvito residence. ¡°Your Highness, I will escort you to your room.¡± Her room was right next door. It was only a few steps away, but the security was tight for a reason she knew well. Asella let out a small sigh and nodded as she accepted the thorough surveillance. As she walked through the Grand Duchess¡¯ private reception room and into the bedroom, she heard Margo¡¯s voice. ¡°The one on the left is not bad, but I prefer the one on the right. The one on the left has too many decorations and would be quite inconvenient. The one on the right is moderately glamorous, the material is soft, and the delicate embroidery would suit Her Highness.¡± In the space connected to the dressing room, Margo and the other attendants were in the midst of a conversation over a few silk nightgowns. Warm air was leaking through a gap in the open bathroom door. In the middle of the bathroom, she could see a large bathtub with a cloud of steam rising from it. Upon spotting Asella, Margo approached her quickly. ¡°You¡¯re back! Your Highness.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. By the way, this is¡­¡± ¡°I was preparing for your bath to be taken care of.¡± In an instant, Asella¡¯s face was dyed with embarrassment. ¡°The two maids here will tend to you.¡± The two young-faced maids bowed deeply and greeted her. ¡°I am sure you will be satisfied with their service. They have a gentle and relaxing touch. Also, we¡¯ve prepared a variety of massage oils. Do you have a particular scent you like?¡± ¡°Wait-¡± Asella was not used to having others tend to her; not for daily necessities, and of course not when taking a bath where she had to show her body to others. This was largely due to the fact that she had lived without a maid during her time in the Chartus mansion. Although the scars on her body were now gone, she was still not comfortable with the idea of showing her body to others. Margo noticed her hesitation and asked. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Asella opened her mouth with a troubled look on her face. ¡°Mrs. Romaine, I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not planning on taking a bath.¡± ¡°What?¡± Margo fixed her glasses and asked back as if to ask what she was talking about. ¡°Perhaps you didn¡¯t like these girls? If so, I will send for other maids to come and tend to you.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± ¡°Then why are you¡­¡± Asella was extremely embarrassed. She had no proper reason for refusing. However, she was completely uncomfortable showing her naked body to a stranger. Fortunately, Margo was quick to read Asella¡¯s expression. She turned to the maids and said. ¡°Please leave us.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Once the maids left the room and only the two of them remained, Margo asked Asella cautiously. ¡°Your Highness, if it is not rude of me, may I ask why you don¡¯t want the maids to tend to you?¡± Asella didn¡¯t have an answer. No, she could not answer. She could not say that she had lived without a single person to tend to her until her marriage, or that until just a few days ago. To say that she had so many scars all over her body that she could not even see her own skin until recently. This was when Asella bit down on the tender flesh inside her lip. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me if you don¡¯t want to. I was just asking if our service was insufficient.¡± Margo spoke softly to her. ¡°No, not at all.¡± Margo smiled gently as Asella shook her head in reply. ¡°I am glad to hear that. But in any case, Your Highness, if you need us later, you will call us again, right?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Asella nodded. ¡°Then¡­¡± Margo graciously explained to Asella how the bathroom works, and the various equipment provided. She then gently bowed her head in greeting and silently excused herself. Left alone in the bathroom, Asella slowly looked around the interior. Just like the bedroom, the bathroom was dazzlingly gorgeous. A view of the deep night was reflected through the wall opposite the large gilded tub. Her room was located on the third floor of the mansion and it was quite high. It was easily comparable to the fourth floor of an ordinary building. It had a view of the garden, which was bathed in bright moonlight. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, you can¡¯t see the inside from the outside at all.¡¯ Margo explained when Asella was startled to see the transparent walls that allowed her to see through to the outside. ¡°It can¡¯t be seen from the outside.¡± Asella reassured herself and slipped out of her cloth and carefully climbed into the tub. Fresh rose petals floated in the bathtub, and the water smelled wonderful most likely because there were bath salts dissolved in it. translated by leila. As she slid her body deep into the warm water, her tensed and stiff muscles gradually began to relax into the warmth. ¡°Look at the time¡­¡± Another day had passed. The passing of time was not a very pleasant thing. ¡°Mariel¡¯s birthday is coming up soon, and yet¡­¡± She thought about it the entire time she¡¯d been on the way to the duchy, but couldn¡¯t come up with a good way to do it at all. A small sigh rose and scattered like mist in the spacious bathroom. ¡°¡­¡± ¡®How much time had passed?¡¯ Suddenly, Asella noticed the fact that the moon outside the window had shifted from its original position by a few inches to the side. ¡®I¡¯ve been here too long.¡¯ Asella stood up hurriedly. Having stayed in the hot water for so long, she felt slight dizziness when she stood. She felt slumped and dragged her now limp and tender body to slip her arms through the bathrobe she¡¯d left in one corner of the bathroom. Who knows, perhaps Margo would be waiting for her all this time¡­ ¡®Let¡¯s just tell her to get a good night¡¯s rest and she¡¯ll see her tomorrow morning,¡¯ she thought, as she came out of the bathroom. ¡°..!¡± Asella barely managed to suppress a bursting scream. Someone was in her bedroom. CH 80 Calix leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs in a relaxed, slow motion. His carefree posture radiated the arrogance of someone who had been a man of power since birth. It was downright impudent, an action that no one would take in the presence of the Emperor¡¯s messenger, but for some reason, it didn¡¯t seem at all out of place. ¡°Your Excellency, the Grand Duke.¡± Calix stared at the messenger silently. The strange chill in his somber gaze caused the messenger to flinch. What the Emperor wanted was obvious without asking. After all, he would be demanding an antidote to the poison he had consumed a few days earlier. ¡°Hey, just quickly say it! My lord is busy. He¡¯s a newlywed, so he and his wife have a lot of things to do. Don¡¯t just stand there and waste time-¡± ¡°Zeke.¡± Zeke was quickly cut off by Ryzen¡¯s piercing gaze. Of course, after all, he didn¡¯t forget to raise his sword threateningly toward the people the Emperor had sent. The messenger, afraid at the chance that the sword might reach him, took two steps backward and opened his mouth in a low tone. ¡°I bring you a gift that His Majesty has bestowed upon His Excellency.¡± For a moment, Calix¡¯s eyes narrowed and he chuckled cynically. However, the messenger, completely oblivious, gestured to the Imperial knight and said, ¡°I¡¯ll open it.¡± The knight quickly opened the lid of a large box and dozens of familiar silver cases were neatly arranged in the box. Ryzen took one of the cases, checked the powder inside, and nodded toward Calix. Then the messenger opened his mouth confidently. ¡°His Majesty has always said that he is concerned about His Excellency¡¯s health,¡± the messenger said. ¡°This is news to me.¡± A hint of displeasure flashed across the faces of the Emperor¡¯s messenger and the Imperial knight for a moment. He quickly adjusted his expression, but Calix was not one to miss it. A mischievous smile appeared on his beautiful face. To a person who didn¡¯t know better, it looked like an artwork coming to life. ¡°I was a little surprised that the Emperor would do something so out of character all of a sudden.¡± But with an expression that did not seem surprised at all, Calix leaned his body against the armrests of the sofa. Like a drowsy black leopard, the figure was seemingly bored, but there was a certain sense of primal intimidation that overpowered the atmosphere. In the dangerous atmosphere of an approaching threat to be bitten in the throat at any moment, the messenger shuddered involuntarily. ¡°So, what is the price of this ¡®gift¡¯?¡± It was an incredibly rude attitude to show upon receiving an item that the Emperor himself had given, but no one dared to criticize Calix. Unfortunately, it was the Emperor who was at a disadvantage in the current situation. ¡°His Majesty said that you would understand if I asked for the Benvito keepsake.¡± ¡°That¡¯s funny.¡± Calix did not hide the leaking chuckle, while Zeke had burst into brazen laughter. Hell, even Ryzen, who had been standing by his side expressionlessly, tried to suppress his laughter at what was happening before him. The messenger grew sullen at the reaction of the three men, but there was nothing he could do about it except stand in his place in a daze. ¡°So that¡¯s what the Emperor told you? He wants me to send him a family heirloom?¡± ¡°Well, yes. He said that this much will suffice, as a sincere expression of gratitude for the blessings he has bestowed upon you.¡± ¡°Blessings, huh?¡± He was as cunning as a serpent. Ryzen, who was listening up until now quietly, furrowed his brow and commented on the sly emperor. The Emperor was a man who could not even trust his own family, so it was not difficult to assume that the Emperor had kept the fact that he had been poisoned a secret. Also, the fact that the antidote was only available to Calix, the head of Benvito¡¯s family¡­ Perhaps the only other person who would know the secret was the Emperor¡¯s dog, Duncan Lysak. So even in the situation where they came with regrets to get the antidote, the messenger was capable of ranting shit about a gift and blessings. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re misunderstanding something.¡± Calix¡¯s thin, red lips twisted coldly. The message shrugged at the chilly atmosphere. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call this a blessing.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that, Your Excellency¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a ¡®deal¡¯.¡± To be more precise, this was not even remotely close to being a fair deal. From Calix¡¯s standpoint, there was absolutely no reason why he should have to comply. He was just curious about the price tag the Emperor had provided, so he just played along for a while. However, it was a waste of time. Calix ruffled his hair in frustration. He decided to end this tedious and frustrating conversation. ¡°Tell him that I shall make use of his gift.¡± He spat out a nonchalant response to the troublesome flies. ¡°So what about Benvito¡¯s heirloom?¡± The flustered messenger hurriedly asked in a panic. Calix lazily tugged at his mouth like a predator who has cornered his prey. ¡°Why should I give you that?¡± Realizing that he had been made fun of, the messenger¡¯s face twisted in shame and anger. His face reddened with agitation, making him forget that he was in the presence of the Grand Duke, and he exclaimed. ¡°How can you say that? That¡¯s absurd! You can¡¯t just act like that instead of repaying His Majesty¡¯s kindness.¡± ¡°When did I ask for this?¡± The man¡¯s eyes glowed like a ferocious beast as he spat out the words dryly with an expressionless face, making the messenger unable to utter a word. He was choked with a sense of intimidation that he dared not approach. ¡®I can read his actions like an open book.¡¯ Calix¡¯s blood-colored eyes looked over at the silver cases without showing any emotions. A supply enough for a year; it was slightly tempting, but it was a medicine that the Emperor had sent regularly once a month so far anyway, and would have to continue to send in the future. That was if he wanted to live, too. Of course, when the Emperor decided to go with the ¡°kill me and you die too¡± mindset, the story changed. But Calix was very well aware of the fact that the Emperor was not a man who would make such a reckless choice. ¡®That greedy man would never do such a thing.¡¯ Standing before the gates of hell, he was a tyrannical man who was willing to survive even if he had to toss the lives of a hundred innocent people into a pit of fire. Zeke, who was watching with great fascination, suddenly interrupted. ¡°By the way, Mister messenger.¡± ¡°Wh-What is it?¡± ¡°Can I take that back to the Imperial Palace myself? I don¡¯t think your master will let it slide. Well, you know his personality more than I do.¡± The blood quickly drained from the messenger¡¯s face as he recalled the Emperor¡¯s wrathful fury. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to die?¡± Zeke pulled up his hand to his neck in a decapitating motion knife. The messenger tried to look nonchalant, but he could not suppress the cold sweat that broke out on his temples. He couldn¡¯t respond and kept his mouth agape for a while. Calix, enjoying the situation, finally made his last remark. ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± CH 81 The back of the messenger who had to return to the capital empty-handed looked pitiful. ¡°You¡¯ve put in a lot of effort coming all the way here. I hope you have a safe trip home.¡± ¡°Good luck on your way back.¡± As always, Ryzen bid them a courteous farewell. Likewise, Zeke muffled a giggle next to him. Of course, there was no need to explain that this series of actions made the messenger extremely displeased. Zeke, having had enough entertainment for the day, vanished quickly after he had to check his unit. As soon as Ryzen returned to the Grand Duke¡¯s drawing room, his pocket watch rang. Calix quietly opened his mouth as he watched Ryzen turn off the alarm. ¡°Time flies, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The alarm was designed to ring precisely at the same time every day. Although he knew it couldn¡¯t be helped, Calix was sick and tired of the familiar sound. ¡°The Emperor must have gone through a lot of trouble to produce such a large quantity.¡± ¡°What trouble? It isn¡¯t like he makes it himself.¡± ¡°In any case, the only person who can activate the Holy Chalice is the Emperor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see how such a detestable name as ¡®Holy Chalice¡¯ is appropriate for such a thing. It seems that the first emperor also had a nasty taste.¡± While Calix crushed the founding Emperor of the empire and his founder with harsh words, Ryzen picked up a silver case from the box. As a matter of fact, this month¡¯s supply had just reached the bottom of the box yesterday. But even if it was prepared a few days earlier, the Emperor wouldn¡¯t send it out; he would wait a few days after it ran out before he would send it to the duchy. Knowing that this was a silent demand to bow down to the Emperor, his master would not bend. ¡°Judging by the dark and glossy color, it seems that he took a lot of care in preparing this.¡± After checking to ensure the medicine dissolved well in the water, Ryzen soundlessly placed the teacup in front of Calix. Calix, who had been looking down at the tea as it swirled, immediately sneered through his tightly pursed mouth. ¡°The Emperor is going to be pissed.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you didn¡¯t bother to give him the antidote?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He felt a little better when he thought of how angry the Emperor would be when he learned that he wouldn¡¯t get what he wanted. ¡®Well, who told him he could touch my wife? When I went all the way to warn him? It was the Emperor who ignored the warning and fired the first shot. A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye.¡¯ This was how he lived his life so far; what was given to him must be repaid tenfold. ¡°Since he was the first to pick a fight with me, I have no choice but to reciprocate with pleasure.¡± Calix poured the now cold cup of tea down his throat as he recalled what had happened a few days earlier. It was the memory of when he saw the demonic beast attacking the carriage which Asella boarded. It felt as if his blood was flowing backward. An incomprehensible rage surged through his body, and when he came back to his senses, he found that the entire surrounding area was already filled with the dead bodies of the beasts. And when he saw that she was safe in the half-destroyed carriage¡­ He felt¡­ something subtle but obvious¡­ relief. ¡®Nonsense.¡¯ Calix mocked the thought that popped into his head because it didn¡¯t make any sense. Asella Benvito. She was just his legal wife, a woman he had brought in thoroughly for a clear purpose. In any case, it was true that he needed a successor and didn¡¯t have much time. However, since they attacked the only other person with the name Benvito besides himself, of course, retaliation had to be made to protect his honor. But that was all. ¡°Your Excellency?¡± Ryzen¡¯s voice came to his ear as he fell into thought. Calix, who had emptied his cup, lowered it to the table and calmly opened his mouth. ¡°How did the treatment go?¡± His wording was vague, but it was clear to whom he was referring. Ryzen had just heard from Margo, whom he had run into in the hallway on his way here after seeing off the Emperor¡¯s messenger. ¡°She is recovering nicely; it won¡¯t leave any scar. She is now spending some time with Lady Mariel after they had dinner.¡± In fact, the last line was an unnecessary addition. But Calix did not bother to point it out, either. Then silence drifted into the drawing room. For that not-too-short period of time, all Ryzen did was faithfully wait for his master¡¯s words. Calix, leaning against the sofa, stayed there in silence while thinking. At some point, the sun¡¯s rays, which had illuminated the vast land at sunset, faded away. As the night fell, the surrounding area quieted down. After a long pause, Ryzen broke off the silence and carefully began to speak. ¡°I may be presumptuous, but may I ask you one question, Your Excellency?¡± Ryzen swallowed dry saliva as the Grand Duke¡¯s eyes fixed on him. Even though he had served him as his lord for a long time, there were times when he made his hair stand on end when facing his intense gaze. ¡°Say it.¡± Fortunately, the Grand Duke¡¯s permission was granted. Taking a deep breath, Ryzen slowly opened his mouth. ¡°Tonight, are you going to visit Her Highness¡¯s bedchamber?¡± CH 82 And after bathing, Calix, dressed in a light shirt, headed for his wife¡¯s room. ¡®Since it¡¯s the first night.¡¯ He thought to himself to justify his action. Regardless of the circumstances, they were legally married. Having their first night was both a right and an obligation. Although many factors played a role in a marriage between nobles, the main purpose of the marriage was to ensure the succession of the family line. Therefore, if a person did not spend their wedding night with their spouse after officially welcoming him or her, this was a clear insult to the other party. It meant that they didn¡¯t think highly of the other person. This was not much different from not wanting a successor from their spouse. Of course, the family status would also drop to the ground if this news were to spread. The status of the spouse whom their partner did not respect was no different from a fallen leaf rolling around here and there, and in some cases, servants openly disregarded them. But of course, unless they were crazy or had a death wish, none of this residence¡¯s servants would dare to do such an arrogant thing to his wife. ¡®I¡¯m not going to let a woman bearing Benvito¡¯s name be the subject of rumors.¡¯ There was no other reason. He just didn¡¯t want her reputation to be tainted by his own actions. Calix rationalized his out-of-character behavior with a rather appropriate reason. ¡°Your Excellency, you are here.¡± The Grand Duchess¡¯s attendants and knights, who were waiting outside the room, bowed politely when they saw him coming. Then, the intelligent-looking woman who stood at the front was also a familiar figure to Calix. ¡°You came.¡± ¡°It is your Excellency¡¯s order, so of course, I must obey.¡± Margo replied with a light bow. Count Romaine, who led the Third Karma, remained on the border outlying the duchy, with the exception of one or two months a year. He was able to do so mainly because of his wife, Margo Romaine, who was a woman of great abilities. She led the Count¡¯s family on behalf of her husband with her outstanding skills. It was a month ago that he sent a letter to Margo to request her presence in the castle. As soon as she received the message, she sorted out the important affairs of the house. Then, after entrusting the rest of the work to her trusted assistants, she came to the castle. ¡°I will make sure to compensate you for your loyalty.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s an honor to serve Her Highness.¡± She might be a bit of a stiff person, but she handled her work with utmost care and diligence. She was recommended by Ryzen, and Calix gladly agreed, as he too was aware of Margo Romaine¡¯s skills. ¡°Is Asella inside?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± It seemed that she had chosen to stay in his bedroom rather than in her new room. After all, it was their first night together, so a familiar space would be better. Calix lightly nodded in approval of his wife¡¯s choice. Margo turned to look at the maid and nodded lightly, and the maid beside her quickly opened the door. ¡°I hope you have a peaceful evening.¡± With a polite greeting, the door closed behind him. For some reason, as Calix stepped inside, he felt as if his heart was beating a little faster. The empty space was silent except for the sound of his footsteps. It was so quiet that not even the smallest sign of a human presence could be felt. ¡®She must¡¯ve gone to sleep.¡¯ It was late in the evening after all. She must have been tired and exhausted from the long trip. She might have stayed up waiting but then couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to sleep, and he was okay with that, it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t understand how she must have felt. His wide steps led him to the bedroom in no time at all. ¡®Where is she?¡¯ Calix¡¯s eyes narrowed at the unexpected view. The empty bed slowly came into view. As the breeze blew through the slightly open window, the embroidered canopy of the pillar bed swayed. ¡°Asella?¡± His low voice echoed softly through the room, but there was no answer. For a moment, an uncomfortable thought flashed through Calix¡¯s mind: the refusal of the wedding night. Looking back, she was a woman who had also evaded kissing him at their wedding. She might¡¯ve not displayed her dislike of him but it was obvious that she didn¡¯t like him either. Calix¡¯s feelings sobered as he recalled the way she barely accepted the kiss because she couldn¡¯t endure the situation. Her red eyes were deeply hazy with a darker shade than usual. ¡®So she hid¡­¡¯ Just as he was twisting his lips in a terrible feeling of displeasure that he couldn¡¯t explain, he noticed a small light leaking through a crack in the closed door on the right side of the bedroom. Haa, he sighed in relief. ¡®There you are.¡¯ Right. Calix cleared out the assumption he had earlier about his wife. His wife might be a bit timid, but she was in no way a thoughtless woman. She even went all the way to bring her cherished younger sister with her to this place and had no reason to do anything irresponsible before or after. ¡®¡­¡¯ He could faintly hear the sound of rustling water through the closed door. Unconsciously, his feet moved in the direction of the sound. With a click, he turned the doorknob and the door opened smoothly, revealing a short passageway. On both sides of the brightly lit passageway were bathrobes, pajamas, and toiletries. Beyond that, a translucent glass door leading to the bathroom came into view. Calix walked inward like a man possessed by something. The glass door was fogged with steam due to the temperature difference between the hot air of the bathroom and the cooler passageway. Inside, a white figure appeared to be moving. The sound of running water pierced his ears vividly, it was no longer the faint rustling he had heard earlier. He unconsciously reached for the glass door and stopped, suddenly realizing what he was doing. ¡®¡­!¡¯ He turned his back immediately. His body was hot, even though the weather was not exactly warm. As soon as he slipped out of the passageway to escape and closed the door that led to his bedroom, he raised a large hand and cupped one side of his face. ¡°¡­Crazy.¡± His whole face was burning as if his body was on fire. Even in the midst of it, the thought of a blurry silhouette from the other side of the translucent glass door made his mind dizzy. A hot sigh leaked from his mouth and dissipated into the air. ¡°I¡¯ve gone crazy.¡± Roughly brushing his hair back, he could feel the dampness of his barely-dried hair between his fingers. He finally realized how hurriedly he had come to see her. No wonder he was somewhat thirsty. It was an inevitable choice that Calix reached for the wine bottle on the table. CH 83 ¡°Ah!¡± Asella gasped in a startled breath as she opened the door. It was not Margo, nor any of the other maids. The slow shadow moving in the faint light at the bedside certainly belonged to a man. It was a man, and one with a strong physique. She instinctively stepped back. An intruder? No, that thought hadn¡¯t occurred to her from the start. It was ridiculous to even think that the knights of the Grand duchy would allow an intruder that easily. A man who could enter the Grand Duchess¡¯s chamber freely without seeking permission in advance. There was only one such man in this castle. ¡°Wh-Who¡¯s there?¡± And yet, this was all Asella could manage to get out of her mouth at last. Feeling pathetic and stupid at what she said she pursed her small lips together. ¡°Why are you here¡­ Is there anything I can help you with¡­?¡± She struggled to keep her composure but completely failed. Her voice was shaking with strain, and her words trailed off. She heard no response from the man, but she knew that he was staring at her. She couldn¡¯t help but notice his intense gaze, which seemed to penetrate through her body. While she was puzzled, not knowing what to do, Calix began to walk toward her. ¡°D-Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± Asella hastily grabbed the front ends of her nightgown and exclaimed, causing Calix to halt. However, his stride was so wide that the two were now only a few steps away from each other. The flickering candlelight created a dark shadow over Calix¡¯s face. Between the dark shadows of his face, his bright red eyes shone like rubies. His hair, messy and disheveled, was somewhat erotic. At the sight of this seemingly dangerous figure, Asella swallowed her breath quietly. He then asked, tilting his head slightly to one side. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Th-That ¡­¡± Asella stuttered. It was a question that, on its own, did not make much sense even if she thought about it herself. With the ceremony officially authorized by the Emperor, the couple had only one last procedure left to complete. ¡®The first night¡­.¡¯ It was certainly a thing she had mentally prepared herself for until the day before the wedding, but before she knew it, she had completely forgotten about it. She was oblivious to the overly concerned attendants about the nightgowns, the rose petals floating in the bathtub, and all the scented body oils that lined up the bathroom. ¡®Don¡¯t be nervous, Asella. This is natural. You knew it was coming. It has to be done.¡¯ If things had gone according to plan, the wedding night would have been done a week ago, but due to unavoidable circumstances, it had only been postponed until today. Asella took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. But unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t a very smart choice. The more she inhaled, the more the sweet scent wafted her way, to the point that she felt light-headed. The scent of Calix Benvito¡­ Despite having experienced this many times before, she was still very far from being used to it. It was an intoxicating scent that made her eyes go giddy. ¡®Why on earth¡­?¡¯ No matter how strong the scent of perfume was, she had never had such a reaction to it. Yet, she could not understand why his scent seemed to be so strong. No, she felt as if the scent intensity was getting stronger and stronger as time went by. Her head was spinning with a terrible feeling of dizziness. Her legs naturally gave out, and her body staggered as if she had lost her sense of gravity. ¡°You have to be more careful.¡± Calix approached in a blink of an eye and took hold of Asella¡¯s waist with a firm grip of his arm. She could not bear it anymore and squeezed her eyes shut. There was not a single ounce of strength in her legs, let alone her entire body. It was as if she were a marionette with broken strings. She probably would not have been able to support herself and stand without his support. Somehow that very fact alone was so frightening that Asella shivered slightly. ¡°Are you cold?¡± The breath she felt against her skin made every single hair on her body stick out. She hoped she was just mistaken about the intoxication she felt hearing the low tone of his voice, and with her eyes still closed, she finally answered. ¡°No, I was just a little surprised¡­ it was so sudden.¡± ¡°Is there any other reason?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Something else seemed to mix in between the sweet scents that filled the space. Something that blurred people¡¯s consciousness and made them feel clear about their feelings. She couldn¡¯t be certain, but that didn¡¯t mean she wanted to confirm it or anything. ¡°Perhaps you wished I wouldn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Because of her blocked vision, her other senses seemed more acute and alert. Now that he was holding her close in her arms, almost as if he was embracing her completely. Their tightly pressed bodies, with no gaps between them, conveyed the warmth of the man who had become her husband. She could vividly feel his strong arms wrapped around her body and his sturdy, muscular frame through the thin fabric of her gown. ¡°Open your eyes.¡± After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth. His voice was clear yet muffled, and there was even a hint of impatience in it that she couldn¡¯t make sense of. ¡°Asella, look at me.¡± CH 84 After a moment of hesitation, Asella opened her eyes and saw the intense gaze of a man standing before her, his unwavering gaze locked on her. His blood-colored eyes gleamed dangerously, filled with a strange warmth. She felt her breath catch in her throat at the prospect of the inevitable. She knew it. She was already prepared for it. She was not a child who did not know how an affair between a man and a woman was conducted. It was something that everyone getting married must go through. Nevertheless, what was the reason for this horrible fear? It only took a moment for her body to stiffen like a hard piece of wood. Not even a little voice escaped. Her small lips opened and closed soundlessly. ¡°Relax.¡± Calix¡¯s hands went to the back of Asella¡¯s knees. Before she could realize it, her body was floating in the air. Startled, Asella struggled against his chest, but it was only a feeble gesture to him. ¡°Shhh, stay still.¡± The man¡¯s big strides across the room did not hesitate nor falter. Her body was soon wrapped in fluffy sheets. The soft feel of the fabric against her skin, the rustling sound that emanated from the surface of the new bedding. Her senses, sensitive as they could be, picked up on even the smallest of things that would normally have passed by her unnoticed. The shadow of a man standing deep in the room, his back to the moonlight, hovered over her. She couldn¡¯t see his face properly because of the way the moonlight was distributed throughout the room, but she could tell. The fact that his red eyes were glowing like red flames as he stared at her. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t move, she was almost like a trapped animal. All she could do was shiver for a few moments. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Calix slowly began to roll up his loose sleeves. The gaze fixed on her remained insistent and persistent. Beneath the sleeves, which were now folded up to just above the elbows, his firm arms, tightly knitted with small muscles and no gaps, were fully revealed. Before long, he had even undone three buttons on the collar of his shirt, which had been neatly closed, and he leaned back on the bed. It was only a moment before her body was trapped between his firm, masculine arms. Asella¡¯s mind went blank with a dizzying sensation as if her head was going to fall off. *** It was a strange thing. Usually, physical contact with others would always cause him nothing but discomfort. It was harmless, however. He had vaguely guessed it from when he was escorting her before, but despite the fact that he held her so close that their bodies were touching, he was not uncomfortable. On the contrary, he liked it a bit. He was a tad disappointed that she looked too frightened¡­ Calix¡¯s gaze reached his wife¡¯s clenched fist, which he was holding earlier. She was putting too much pressure on it, that the knuckles of her slim fingers had turned white. She was a woman who rarely interacted with men. It would have been even stranger if she had not been nervous ahead of her wedding night. But her frightened appearance strangely aroused his sadism and desire to conquer and made his lower abdomen painfully stiffen. ¡®I didn¡¯t think she truly had no idea about tonight.¡¯ The startled appearance that she had when she saw him. The nightgown that she had obviously chosen was too monotonous to be for a bride on her wedding night. This dress was too loose and rather than showing off her figure, it was designed to conceal it completely, and the sleeves draped down to her wrists. The skirt was so long that it barely exposed the ankles. The neckline, too, was of a standard cut that didn¡¯t much below her collarbone. Nevertheless¡­ It was more sensational than a naked body without a single threat. Calix blamed the innocent glass of wine he had just consumed for the heat that was rising in his body like a blazing flame. Perhaps it was the liquor that made his mind clearer and thoughts more honest. ¡®Beautiful.¡¯ Her silver hair, scattered in the middle of the wide bed, glistened under the delicate moonlight. The pure white neckline appearing above the nightgown that neatly concealed her body was strangely arousing. The red lips on her face, which was whiter than snow, were quite alluring. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± When their eyes met, the way she hastily swallowed her breath and avoided his gaze reminded him of a frightened deer. And a naturally fierce beast never missed its prey. ¡°Asella.¡± Her long eyelashes fluttered softly like a butterfly¡¯s wings. His normally emotionless red eyes began to devour his wife¡¯s features one by one with intense desire. It felt weird but at the same time, he was unable to do anything but covet every detail of his wife. Her slightly red cheeks, her flushed neck, her fingertips that tensed and trembled slightly, her soft, slender body that he could catch glimpses of through her sheer nightgown. Finally, she seemed to stop blinking and turned to face him, he felt an irresistible thirst arise within him. ¡°Tell me now if you don¡¯t want to and I¡¯ll stop.¡± But unlike his words, his low, resonant voice held a deep hint of obsession that he would never let her escape regardless of what she said. Calix moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue as he relentlessly followed Asella¡¯s gaze, which wavered like a wave. ¡°¡­¡± She remained docile without a word of rejection. His red lips curved in a seductive arc. The hunger that had tormented him for a while was now unbearable. An eager desire arose to swallow the small lips that were about to open at once. There was no reason why he should refrain from doing so, no reason why he should hold back. She was his wife. If he wanted, he could take her as much as he wanted. It would not be a problem in the slightest. For some reason, Calix quite liked that fact, even though he thought his desires were quite vulgar. ¡°Asella.¡± He lifted her chin gently. Her blue eyes, which had been blurred and out of focus, grew wider and wider. If he were to kiss those small lips, he wondered what kind of a face she would make. ¡®I¡¯m really curious.¡¯ In fact, he was also a man who could have any woman he wanted if he so desired. It was not just because of the power and wealth he held as the head of the Benvito family. His outstanding appearance earned the admiration of many. He was born with a handsome face and a spectacular frame. Many women dreamed of spending a single night with him. ¡°I¡¯ll make it an unforgettable night. I promise¡± There was no reason to hesitate. CH 85 There was no reason to hesitate. On the other hand, Asella was distracted from the moment she faced Calix. Suddenly tossed into such a situation, there was no way that her mind could have reacted decently. When she barely recognized the man as her husband, she was already staggering as if her body was intoxicated by the sweet fragrance wafting out from him. ¡°Asella, look at me.¡± His tone was so low that it made the tips of her fingers go numb. When she finally came to her senses and opened her eyes, she was met with the red color that glowed vividly even in the darkness. She locked her gaze on him as it was. The hot, hard flesh of the man she had touched conveyed a sensation she had never experienced before. Every part of her body that came into contact with him tingled, and even the hairs on her body stood up. His scent, a mixture of rich chocolate and well-aged wine, stirred her mind without hesitation. The raw sensation dampened her brain to the point that she couldn¡¯t regain her rationality, but soon her body, which was out of her control, froze completely. Her senses became so acutely alert that she could even hear his breathing, but when it came time to move, she couldn¡¯t move a single fingertip. The next thing she knew, she was lifted off the ground and Calix led the way. Moments later, she found herself lying on the fluffy bed. Asella watched vaguely as he unbuttoned his shirt so roughly that it was almost ripped off. She had no idea what was happening. The moonlight shining behind the man¡¯s back was especially bright and warm. His silhouette stood out against the bright light. The tight-fitting shirt that hugged his body perfectly failed to cover his solid physique and toned build. After spending several years on the battlefield, his body was so perfect that it was hard to spot any flaws. Despite the fact that his tall body was packed with muscles in every crevice, it gave a sleek feeling rather than crude. Even the statues in the temple were not as splendid! As the angle changed, his face was revealed. ¡®Beautiful¡­¡¯ It was for a moment, but surely that¡¯s what she thought. The story of the devil, who appeared in the most beautiful form in the world to enchant humans, flashed through her mind. It was said that once possessed by the devil, the person crossed a river of no return. And just like those words, it was an absolute beauty that could not be denied nor could it be resisted. In the moonlight, his face glowed white. The long, fine lashes along his eyes created a dark shadow beneath his eyes. ¡®I promise I¡¯ll make it an unforgettable night.¡¯ That moment when her eye met the blood-colored eyes.. ¡°¡­!¡± A dreadful voice, which should not be able to hear in this place, penetrated Asella¡¯s head like tinnitus. ¡°Go and please His Excellency. Don¡¯t be as stiff as you are now.¡± The voice that lingered like glue in her ear was the voice of the one whom Asella had always feared. She trembled like a fish abandoned on land. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t care what happens to Mariel.¡± The ear-splitting, horrifying threats were enough to make her face turn as white as a sheet of paper. ¡°N-No¡­!¡± Asella stretched out her arms, spitting out the words in a desperate cry. ¡°Because education is necessary for those who don¡¯t have a good head.¡± She shook her head violently, and then pushed the man¡¯s chest in front of her with all the force she could muster. ¡°Come on, beg you did something wrong!¡± Whiik. The sound of the whip slicing through the air pierced her ears. The stifling fear began to suffocate her, shaking her mind with fear and making it impossible for her to think properly or rationally. Asella flinched at the horrible noise and phantom pain that echoed in her ears. ¡®We have to run away. We can¡¯t stay here. He will kill me. He will hurt Mariel.¡¯ ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to!¡± The unwanted physical contact constantly reminded Asella of her dreadful fear. She was more accustomed to the harsh touches rather than the gentle ones, to the sensation of the whip tearing at her skin rather than the warm embrace. Even though she tried her best not to be conscious of it, the learned fear could break through her unconsciousness at the most unexpected moments and paralyze her thinking. The fact that she was caught by the man she was afraid of completely and utterly volatilized even the rationality that she had retained intact. Her heart pounded like crazy, and raw fear consumed her. CH 86 ¡°What the¡­!¡± Calix¡¯s eyebrows rose at the sudden change in his wife¡¯s demeanor. The woman, who not so long ago was being held to his chest and behaving as if she would accept him at any moment, suddenly refused to even make eye contact with him. ¡°Why are you doing this all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Get away from me!¡± ¡°Asella!¡± Calix held her wrists as she tried to get out of bed. This action frightened Asella even more. She screamed with a tearful look on her face. ¡°Let me go! Let me go! I don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? Asella! Talk to me!¡± ¡°Get your hands off my body!¡± It was a clear rejection. ¡°What?¡± Crack. Something that had been striving in Calix¡¯s head even then snapped. His heart, which had been vigorously pounding, and the heat that was rising in his body, dropped to a cold, chilled state in a matter of seconds. It was immediately replaced by a cold fury that dominated the place. Calix gritted his teeth. The man who had never been rejected from anything in his life was refused by his wife? He couldn¡¯t bear to accept it. His red eyes flashed sharply, like a ravenous beast that had lost its prey right before his eyes. The way his eyes looked made Asella even more frightened. She desperately tried to escape from him, frantically struggling to get out of his grip, but all her efforts were in vain. ¡°Where are you planning to go?!¡± Calix quickly caught her as she was trying to get away from him and pressed her body down to the bed. Asella¡¯s wrists were grabbed by his large hands and then pulled up over her head. Her lower body, which was struggling, was pinned down by his legs and she could not move. The only part of her body that remained free was her head, which she shook vigorously from left to right, but even then, Calix¡¯s other hand moved to hold her chin in place and forced her gaze to fix on him, and then her relentless movements ceased. Asella groaned at the faint pain she felt in her wrist, but he did not loosen his grip. ¡°Asella Benvito.¡± The voice uttering his wife¡¯s name was frighteningly low. His face looking down at her, now completely blank, looked cold without any trace of warmth. Calix gritted his teeth and asked. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± The cold voice made Asella shiver as if she had been splashed with ice-cold water. Her head, which had been overcast as if by a fog, became all clear. At the same time, her mind was thrown back to reality after having wandered through an illusion of her time back at her family residence. ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± What Asella had finally noticed when she came back to her senses, was the blood-colored eyes of a man who seemed ready to seize his prey and bite off its neck at any moment. Goosebumps rose all over her body. Was this what it felt like to sink into the deepest part of a glacier while still alive? A stifling silence fell across the room for a few moments. ¡°Um, I¡¯m¡­¡± Asella¡¯s body trembled pitifully. She was too scared to even carry on a proper conversation. However, the look in Calix¡¯s eyes as he stared at her was as cold as ice. ¡®How can I refuse the first night?¡¯ If this was what she had done, then it would be considered an outrageous act. ¡°If someone saw your reaction, they would think I was raping you. Do you really hate me that much?¡± At the mocking question, Asella shook her head hurriedly. It felt as though she had to say something. ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡­¡± ¡°Did my touch make you feel disgusted?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡± She parted her lips with much difficulty, but she didn¡¯t know where to start when she was ready to say it out. That she suddenly heard Phillip¡¯s voice and got scared? That she was scared because she remembered the abuse she endured? And that was why she lost control of her rational mind and spewed the words out without thinking? Anything she would say would only be an excuse. She would be lucky if he only let her off with some ridicule. ¡®He wouldn¡¯t believe me. He¡¯ll just think that I¡¯m a crazy woman or a liar at the very least.¡¯ Asella eventually fell silent. Her demeanor alone was enough to mislead Calix. His thin lips twisted coldly as he began to speak. ¡°You know¡­¡± Although this was an arranged political marriage, he had no intention of neglecting his duties as a husband. At least that was what he had in mind. The same was true for their first night. She was his wife, and there was no such thing as divorce in the Benvito family, and any child born between him and her would be the one and only heir to the Benvito family. ¡°I would rather have you be honest with me from the beginning.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just say, ¡®Don¡¯t touch me because it¡¯s uncomfortable¡¯.¡± He felt even worse as he recited each one of these words in his own mouth. The feverish excitement that had gotten him all hot and worked up just a moment ago was nowhere to be found anymore. ¡°If you had just said that, we wouldn¡¯t have had to go to all that trouble.¡± He thought she was just surprised. There was no particular sign of disapproval when he held her to his chest or when she was in his arms. Not even when he took her to bed. He could see her fragile body trembling a little, but he assumed it was from nervousness because it was her first time experiencing something like this. But he had no idea that she was actually disgusted and disliked even the touch of his fingertips. ¡®I didn¡¯t even know that was the case.¡¯ He was the only one who had an idiotic illusion. The way she looked up at him so beautifully, and the silly thought that maybe she wanted him, too¡­ It was the first time for him as well, but he was also confident in his own abilities. The Benvito bloodline excelled in that area as well. He even had a faint hope that after this night, he might be able to get a little closer to his wife, who had shrunk back in fear from him. When he said he would give her a night she would never forget, he meant it. ¡®Pathetic bastard.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t manage his facial expression because of the dirty feeling that was filling him, it felt as if he was covered in mud from head to toe. He could not easily name the raw emotions surging from deep within him. He thought it was the intense rage he felt because of the damage to his self-esteem, but the actual emotion he was feeling was misery, pure and simple. Calix gritted his teeth as he shuddered at the dreadful and gruesome emotion he had never felt before. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d let a woman into my life as a wife¡¯s life who didn¡¯t even know what her marital duties were.¡± The anger was evident in his low-toned voice. ¡°How long do you intend to remain quiet for?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Finally, Calix¡¯s patience began to run out. Despite the insult of being rejected on the first night, and the shame of being all excited on his own, which damaged his self-esteem in a way never happened before, he had held out so long because he thought she had her own reasons. He wanted her to say anything, even if it was a lame excuse. But she was stubborn, and her lips remained shut. Then, when Asella avoided his gaze, Calix completely let go of the last string of patience he had been holding. CH 87 Feeling something was twisting within, he sarcastically remarked. ¡°Now that I look at it, you were a completely useless woman.¡± A string of words that he deliberately used to hurt her continued to come out. Calix knew he was acting low. Still, he hoped to elicit a reaction from her in this way. He wanted her to get angry and yell back at him. That way, he could manage to suppress these unexplainable and heated emotions. ¡°To think that you wouldn¡¯t even fulfill your responsibilities.¡± Asella quietly bit the inside of her mouth. People of nobility do not marry for love. Political marriages came with obligations, and most were bound by some kind of contract. Due to Philip¡¯s daily boasting, even Asella knew that Calix had paid a high price for this marriage. But on the other hand, she did not know what he had demanded from this marriage. She could only assume he had a request or two, perhaps even more. Because they had received that much from him. ¡°¡­¡± In any case, her refusal could not be explained by any reason. That was why Asella had not even opened her mouth under Calix¡¯s sharp word. She didn¡¯t even dare to look him in the eye. She was already so used to the words that wracked her self-esteem and muddled her mind that her head began to ache. Frankly, she was just¡­. ¡­Scared. ¡®Useless.¡¯ She cannot afford to be of no use to this man. She had to somehow prove her usefulness to him, because only then would she and Mariel be able to survive. She had to demonstrate her value in order to sustain her life here for even a little while longer. It was obvious with a woman who had nothing to offer in a union arranged between aristocratic families, Providing a successor, was in some way, the simplest and most certain way to do so. ¡®But¡­¡¯ No matter how much she thought of it, she didn¡¯t see him wanting to share a child with her. Would he really want an heir with a woman he would soon kill by his own hand? Perhaps all Calix Benvito had wanted from the start was a body for momentary pleasure. But even knowing that didn¡¯t change the fact that it is what it is. Refusal was not an option she was allowed to make, and she had to comply with his desires whenever and wherever he wished. ¡®So¡­¡¯ It was not too late. If she went ahead and clung to him and begged¡­ ¡°You won¡¯t even say a single word, is this it?¡± However, as much as Asella¡¯s hope was lost on her face, Calix was the first to get up. The pressure on her body was lifted in an instant. ¡°Okay, sure.¡± Calix chuckled. The thought that she would react in any way when she heard his awful words was crushed. His wife didn¡¯t even flinch. It was as if nothing he ever said would generate any sort of reaction out of her. And he was not generous enough to put up with such a blunt refusal. ¡°Let¡¯s do whatever you want.¡± At the threatening tone of his words, Asella shuddered and although he noticed her fingertips trembling slightly in fear, he pretended to be ignorant of his wife¡¯s fears. He turned his body without much delay and fled out of the bedroom. He did not even pay attention to the greetings of the knights who were guarding the door as his state of mind was completely disturbed. ¡°Damn it.¡± Although he didn¡¯t realize it, there was an increase in the pressure in his steps as he walked down the dreary, dark corridor, and his hands remained clenched tight throughout the entire way. Trying not to think about it, but his mind was busy contemplating her behavior, which he didn¡¯t understand at all. Then, absurdly irrational assumptions crossed his mind. ¡®No way.¡¯ She didn¡¯t have another man in her life, did she? Or was there someone else she cared about? Maybe because it wasn¡¯t even a marriage she wanted in the first place. She might want to leave him in the future and go back to the other man¡­ Calix halted with a chatter. ¡®That¡¯s ridiculous.¡¯ It was an outrageous presumption. His informants, who boasted of their thoroughness and efficiency, had infiltrated everywhere in the Chartus family. Her usual human interactions were so limited that he could count them on his fingers, a fact that Calix himself knew with more certainty than anyone else. Still, the reason why he even came up with such an outrageous idea was because there were so many things about her behavior that he couldn¡¯t comprehend. After pondering for a reason for a while, Calix eventually stopped thinking about it. ¡°There is nothing to think too deeply about.¡± He even said it out loud, although there was no one around to hear him, it was as if he was trying to convince himself. She was a person with the title of a grand duchess. A successor was needed, but if Asella refused, then there were plenty of other options. It meant that it was not worth the trouble to bother with it in detail. If this and that didn¡¯t work out, he was fine with ending the family line with him, and that would be the end of it. But of the many ways Calix could think of, there was no such option of him having a child with someone other than his wife. But this fact was something he was not even aware of himself. ¡°¡­There is no need to worry about it.¡± Calix murmured as he roughly brushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead. Clack, clack. The footsteps that had stopped for a while began to thud through the corridor once again. CH 88 Left alone in the bedroom, Asella looked up at the ceiling in silence. She thought maybe she should have caught him before he left the room, maybe try to say something to him. She kept pondering as regret crept into her heart. ¡°To think that you wouldn¡¯t even fulfill your responsibilities.¡± Calix Benvito was right. Although it was Philip who had pushed for this marriage, it was she who had signed and said the marriage vows. The circumstances of the situation and whatever threats she had received before were now quite simply not his concern, to put it calmly. And indeed, the responsibility was completely put on her. However, why did she feel such sadness making its way to her heart? Her lips were pursed tightly. If she had not done so, she would have burst into tears right away. She blinked away the few droplets of tears that formed under her eyes. ¡®At the end of it, it¡¯s all my fault, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Tomorrow the word would spread around the castle that the Grand Duke and his wife didn¡¯t even have a proper wedding night. And she was certain that he would never come to find her ever again. She had to win his heart back. Before things could get any worse or reach a point beyond which there was no way to recover. ¡®What am I going to do?¡¯ Asella thought, biting her lip nervously. She should go see him tomorrow at the crack of dawn. But then it may be inconvenient if she went too early, then around lunchtime? Still, going before his meal might be a bad idea¡­ People were usually more sensitive when they were hungry.. so she should see him after his meal, but he might be busy later¡­ ¡®I should go and see him¡­ ¡® But¡­ to begin with, would he actually be willing to see her? He might refuse to even see her face and if he refused, she would have to wait outside his door until he came out. If she managed to see him that way, she¡¯ll apologize for today, and then¡­ Asella paused at the thought that suddenly struck her. Would he be willing to give her another chance? The image of the man who had unleashed his cold anger with all his might came back to her mind. The voice that had condemned her was still fresh in her ears. It was by no means an easy emotion to resolve. ¡°Still¡­ I have to do something nonetheless.¡± Anything¡­ She had an important person to protect. Asella prayed. Please let his anger ease a little during this long night. May she find the courage to face him again tomorrow. ¡°For Mariel¡¯s sake.¡± She squeezed her eyes shut against the emotions that were rising inside her. But it was no use. The pillow was soaked by the fine stream of water that ran down her cheek and to her ear. A hushed sob wound its way around the quiet room. * * * The next morning, Margo came to the Grand Duchess¡¯s room. It wasn¡¯t a very early hour of the day. After having received a message from Ryzen that the Grand Duke had begun attending to his duties, it was only right that she should be tending to the lady of the house at this time, and there was also some news to inform the Grand Duchess for the day. ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s Margo.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Asella¡¯s voice was as calm and composed as ever, but somehow the tone seemed different from yesterday¡¯s. ¡°Everyone wait here.¡± Feeling somewhat uneasy, Margo decided to be a little cautious. She reasoned that it would be difficult to show the traces of the first night since their new hostess was the type that didn¡¯t like having maids tend her even for bathing. ¡°Your Highness?¡± Margo cautiously entered the bedroom and paused. On the morning of her first night, she saw the woman sitting quietly by her bedside, her dress in immaculate condition, and the bed looking far too neat to be used by anyone. What these figures meant was so obvious. Margo was taken aback for a moment but quickly collected her composure. The first thing that came to her mind was the maids waiting outside the door to be called in. Although every servant of the Benvito household received a thorough education on being careful with their mouths, as usual, there were always some exceptions. However, Margo began to tend to Asella by herself, as if nothing was wrong. Asella expressed her appreciation for the consideration Margo had shown for her in a nonchalant manner. But since she had yet to eat breakfast, Margo wondered if she should break the news to her. It was only a matter of time before she would find out anyway. After a short hesitation, Margo opened her mouth. ¡°Your Highness, you know that Lady Mariel¡¯s tutor was supposed to come here today, right?¡± ¡°Yes, is there a problem?¡± Asella inquired, trying to keep her composure. But Margo noticed that the slender woman in front of her was slightly trembling. Just¡­ What on earth had happened last night between the Grand Duke and his wife? ¡°I received word that he could not come because of a sudden emergency.¡± Asella¡¯s heart sank. She couldn¡¯t quite remember the words that followed. Her mind went blank when she heard that the scheduled tutoring session had been called off at the last minute. Her heart began to pound madly with anxiety. After a moment of silence, Asella opened her lips and barely managed to spit out these words. ¡°Where is His Excellency at the moment?¡± * * * Thanks to the luxurious carpets covering the floor, there was no sound at all, even though two people were walking. ¡°This way, Your Highness.¡± Margo turned around the corner first. As they walked down the dazzlingly glamorous corridor, Asella clutched her hand as if in prayer. The high-ceilinged corridor was lined wall to wall with extravagant tapestries and famous paintings. The sparkling ornaments placed at each side where the pillars stood were so extravagant that one had to be careful even when looking at them. After a short walk, a finely carved oak door appeared. The servants bowed their heads in gratitude when they spotted her. ¡°This is His Excellency¡¯s office.¡± The large door that went all the way to the ceiling was quite intimidating. ¡°I will wait for you until you come out.¡± Asella was about to refuse, but then she saw the look on Margo¡¯s face and was about to say something but stopped when she noticed the concern that oozed from her seemingly blunt face. Margo glanced at the attendant who stood before the door to announce her visit. ¡°Your Excellency, Her Highness has arrived.¡± And a brief silence drifted through the hallway. CH 89 What if he didn¡¯t open the door? What if he asked her to go back to where she came from? Or worst case scenario, what if he ignored her altogether? As Asella waited with an impatient pout on her lips, the heavy door slid open and Ryzen appeared from behind. ¡°Come in, Your Highness.¡± She blinked swiftly. As he was the closest associate of the Grand Duke, she assumed that he had guessed what had happened last night. Even if he had not heard it directly, he remained as polite as he was yesterday. ¡°I¡¯ll be outside. Please take your time to speak with His Excellency.¡± After a brief silent bow, the door closed. The Grand Duke¡¯s office had an overall profound and serious atmosphere. It had a dark interior decoration, including the wallpaper, so it was not very bright. Calix¡¯s desk was at the very end of the office, which had three long, wide windows in a row. Despite her entering, he continued to casually flip through his papers. Asella hesitated, unable to approach him easily because of his cold demeanor and a terrible silence reigned for a while. After standing there for what seemed like forever, Calix asked in a cold tone, not taking his eyes off the papers. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have something you wanted to see me about?¡± His voice, which was usually low-pitched, was even deeper, indicating his disturbed state of mind. Asella hid her fingers, which trembled faintly repeatedly, under the hem of her long-sleeved dress. She felt like she was walking a tightrope on the edge of a cliff. If she was not careful, she would crash far below. This was a quite dangerous act. She clenched her hands so tightly that the bones on the backs of her hands became noticeably white, hoping that the light makeup she had Margo apply would hide her tense face. Finally, after taking a deep breath, her low-pitched voice poured out. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± His calm voice was chilling. Just as before, he was still not looking at her. Asella squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. She barely managed to open her lips, hardly able to get the words to come out, which she prepared and practiced all night. ¡°I came to¡­. apologize¡­ for yesterday.¡± She wished she could have expressed something more fluently, but she wasn¡¯t very good at expressing her thoughts. ¡°Apologize?¡± Calix finally raised his eyes. His cold, emotionless stare made Asella tremble like a herbivore pierced by a sharp spear. The awfully blank expression was terrifying. ¡°You¡¯re early. It seems like the night is over already.¡± Asella¡¯s lips moved urgently. The conversation must not end here. ¡°Yeah, I wanted to come and see you last night, but it was too late at night and I didn¡¯t know where you were.¡± ¡°So you purposely waited until dawn?¡± ¡°I was so distracted last night that I came to my senses and found myself¡­¡± Calix twisted one corner of his mouth. After scanning Asella from top to bottom, he followed up with a sarcastic remark. ¡°In the midst of all this, it seems you had the time to dress up.¡± ¡°This is¡­.!¡± She was about to respond that she had dressed up just to meet him, but then she opted to remain silent. He wasn¡¯t going to believe her no matter what she said. ¡°Seeing you get all flustered in this situation, I can at least tell that you don¡¯t mean what you say.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± ¡°You may leave now.¡± Calix calmly declared. But Asella couldn¡¯t go out. Because if she left, it would be the end for her and Mariel. She had anticipated the possibility that he would not meet with her. She was even prepared to kneel down if it came down to it. At least he was still willing to talk to her for now, this alone was a good start. In all honesty, it was better than ten other hypothetical situations she had thought of last night. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me tell you to leave?¡± ¡°Oh, I still have something to say.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to say to you.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ really, just a little bit. I won¡¯t waste your time. Your Excellency, please¡­¡± Calix stared at the woman standing in front of him. Her voice, which trembled slightly, was pitiful. Although he promised himself that no matter what she said, he would not fall for it. It bothered him to see her struggling to stand with her frail body, which looked as if it would collapse at any moment. It couldn¡¯t be helped. His twisted heart began to soften a little. He rested his chin against the back of his hand and then shook his head. ¡°What do you have to say?¡± By instinct, Asella realized that now was the last chance he was going to give her so she had to pick her words carefully. ¡°I know that no words can excuse what happened yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You must have been offended by my foolish behavior. Believe it or not, I never meant to insult you. I sincerely apologize, Your Excellency.¡± Asella said with her eyes still downcast, but she could clearly feel his gaze fixed on her. She bit her lip in tension and impatience. After a considerable time, Calix finally opened his mouth. ¡°Are you done?¡± CH 90 ¡°You must have been offended by my foolish behavior. Believe it or not, I never meant to insult you. I sincerely apologize, Your Excellency.¡± Asella said with her eyes still downcast, but she could clearly feel his gaze fixed on her. She bit her lip in tension and impatience. After a considerable time, Calix finally opened his mouth. ¡°Are you done?¡± He asked coldly and Asella felt her mouth go dry. She squeezed her hands together tightly as she struggled to form a complete sentence. It was difficult for her to keep her voice normal, especially when there was a hint of crying in her voice. ¡°If you give me one more chance¡­ I can perform really well this time. I will do my duty as your wife.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Calix stopped her mercilessly as he raised his eyebrows. ¡°I have no interest in forcing a woman to my bed when she clearly doesn¡¯t like it.¡± That was the first time that someone had pushed him the way she did last night. But if he had known she didn¡¯t want him in the first place, he wouldn¡¯t have laid a single finger on her. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like it. I¡¯m telling the truth. From now on, I¡¯m never going to do anything like what I did last night-¡° ¡°Stop.¡± Calix cut her off in one swift motion. He couldn¡¯t quite hear her as her voice broke into a whisper. Throughout the period she was talking, she looked like she was about to cry, and even now, trembling with fear while picking out words to say that she doesn¡¯t really mean. ¡°I don¡¯t need those words. I have no intention of forcing you to do something you don¡¯t want to do.¡± But Calix immediately regretted the words he had uttered. After he said that, tears erupted from Asella¡¯s eyes and began to flow down her pale cheeks. ¡°Wh-What will happen to my sister then?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Please tell me what you want me to do. I¡¯ll do as you say¡­¡± Calix¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He couldn¡¯t grasp the flow of the conversation at all. But before he could make sense of the words, her body began to shake violently. ¡°Asella!¡± Calix leapt to his feet. In a flash, the distance between them, which had been quite wide, decreased, and then he wrapped his arms around her waist. As she was buried in his firm chest, Asella barely managed to raise her trembling eyes to look up at Calix. At that moment, he felt the faintest ache throbbing in the corner of his heart. Why on earth¡­? Why was she so desperate? ¡°You promised to help her. You said you would support her so that she could go to the academy. I did this, it¡¯s all my fault¡­ But Mariel .. that girl is innocent, she didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± Among the scattered bits and pieces, Calix finally figured out what this was all about. She had been terribly frightened by the news that her tutor was unable to come due to circumstances. Perhaps she had made a hasty assumption that he was angry with her over last night¡¯s events and was punishing her for it. Was that all he could see in him? Did she think he was a person who would vent his anger on a child just because she refused to sleep with him? What kind of person was he in her head? He felt the blood running through his veins turn cold and the atmosphere suddenly froze for a moment. Asella took a deep breath and clenched her frame tightly. ¡®Damn.¡¯ Calix tried to manage his distorted expression as he didn¡¯t want to scare her more. ¡°That teacher had to go to the academy as an invited professor and it was unavoidably canceled. Ryzen is looking into it, and a new tutor will be here within a few days.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± Instantly, Asella blinked at him with her big eyes and tear-stained face. Calix felt something strange, he hastily avoided her gaze and answered. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true, so stop crying already.¡± He had a gut feeling that he should leave this place quickly and that he should not stay with her any longer. He then lifted Asella into his arms. She was as light as a feather. Carefully lowering his wife onto the wide sofa, he turned around like a man being chased and said. ¡°Stay here while I call Margo for you.¡± Then he left his office without hearing a reply. CH 91 Ryzen was quick to notice Calix¡¯s apparent agitation. He was so cautious that he dared not speak to him, his lord was showing mixed emotions that were difficult to put into coherent form under his blood-colored eyes that were shifting back and forth. Has he ever seen his lord like this? No- Never. Ryzen shook his head. He was a master who did not show his emotions easily. To him, emotions were like traces that had weathered and dulled over the years. Never had he seen his brow furrowed even when he was slicing through an enemy army on the battlefield. But now¡­ Ryzen swallowed dryly at the intuition that something was about to happen. ¡°Ryzen.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the knights¡¯ training grounds.¡± The ominous feelings were definite. * * * The knights of the Benvito family were experiencing hell. The rigorous training was going on for several hours now since the morning. Although all knights had been trained through all kinds of ordeals and performed numerous missions, this was not a level they could endure. But none of them could say anything in the deadly atmosphere of the training ground, where it seemed that any one of them could be killed at any second. ¡°Stand up.¡± ¡°Your Highness, no more¡­ haha, I can¡¯t¡­ Haa!¡± ¡°Next.¡± Calix called the next victim with a blank look on his face. The faces of the knights waiting for their turn gradually turned white. Half of the knights had already turned to corpses and were scattered around the training grounds like wet laundry. The other half was not in very good condition either. Still, there were only two people who still seemed to be in decent condition. Zeke and Ryzen. ¡°Tell me honestly. What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing at all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! There must be a reason why the lord suddenly makes all this fuss in the morning!¡± Zeke persistently urged him to reply, but Ryzen turned his head away without replying. ¡°It¡¯s good to spar with knights once in a while but at this point, it¡¯s just torture.¡± Zeke glanced at Calix as he murmured. Even though he was competing with all the knights, his lord did not seem to get tired; heck, there wasn¡¯t even a drop of sweat on his face. Meanwhile, the knights seemed to be a strand away from dropping dead. Just then Ryzen checked his watch and murmured. ¡°Two minutes and thirty seconds. This one is enduring quite a bit longer than the others.¡± Before he knew it, the sparring match was over and the next knights staggered towards Calix like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse. Zeke clicked his tongue. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I envy the boys who went out scouting at dawn. No wonder they wanted to follow them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have the opportunity to spar with his excellency in person.¡± ¡°That might be true for a monster like you. These guys will probably have to lie down and recover in bed for a couple of days.¡± Meanwhile, another poor victim fainted and was carried away. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t tell me?¡± ¡°Nothing happened.¡± ¡°Then what about the state of the lord? Why is the groom, who should be getting along with his bride by now, standing in this dull training ground beating up these pitiful souls?¡± Zeke¡¯s ability to read the atmosphere was running at a rapid pace, this was the same ability that helped him survive in the slums where he had no one to take care of him as a child, and it turned out to be quite useful up until now. ¡°Did my lord get stood up last night?¡± ¡°¡­. No¡­¡± ¡°No shit! You took too long to reply! No way!¡± Zeke¡¯s eyes widened as he unexpectedly guessed the right answer by randomly asking the right question. ¡°Really? You mean to tell me that the lord was stood up, not the other way around?¡± ¡°Watch your words, Zeke.¡± Ryzen tried to restrain him, but to no avail. Excited, Zeke forgot his place and began to fuss gleefully. His eyes lit up like a puppy who has found a new toy that piques his interest. ¡°I didn¡¯t see that coming. Surprisingly Her Highness is more formidable than I expected.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking too loud. That¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°I thought she was the quiet and docile type, but I was completely mistaken.¡± ¡°I told you to stop.¡± Ryzen anxiously tried to cover Zeke¡¯s mouth. He cast a glance over to confirm, fortunately, Calix was still sparring. But given Zeke¡¯s habit of getting louder when excited, it was no longer safe. ¡°I wondered why the lord was giving out deadly vibes today, but I finally understood. So the reason for this mess is because the bride kicked him out on their wedding night, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Who was kicked out?¡± ¡°Lord¡­!¡± Zeke retreated, frightened as if he had seen a messenger from hell. ¡°Lord, Lord!¡± He screwed up. That was the first thought that came into Ryzen¡¯s head as soon as he saw Calix. The situation was out of control to the point that he even felt dizzy. Calix, who, not long ago, was over there wielding a wooden sword against the knights, was here before he knew it. Zeke asked with an awkward smile. ¡°D- Did you hear that?¡± Crazy bastard. Ryzen cursed at Zeke. Indeed, he was a guy who was as transparent as glass when it came to what he was really thinking. Still, if you have an empty head, you could at least be tight-lipped. ¡®I should have stitched that bastard¡¯s mouth shut sooner.¡¯ While Ryzen was regretting his decisions, Calix had a big smile on his face as he stared at them. Seeing his master laugh so much was definitely not a good sign. It was very bad. ¡°You guys must have been feeling relaxed lately. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± The calm voice was even more horrifying. Although he was clearly smiling, Zeke shuddered. That beautiful smile on Calix¡¯s flawless face gave him goosebumps. Ryzen closed his eyes as he thought. Please, let¡¯s hope it¡¯s not a spar on the training ground. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three hours. A hundred laps, run.¡± CH 92 Asella was with Mariel at the time when Zeke was making the ridiculous rounds on the training grounds for his fooling around and Ryzen for the crime of having him as a best friend. Asella¡¯s reddened eyes had settled down enough to be adequately hidden by her makeup, thanks to Margo¡¯s tender care and ice packs. ¡°Mariel, weren¡¯t you scared last night?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t scared at all because I slept hugging a teddy bear! I even saw Goddess Hernia in my dream!¡± She was worried that she might have heard the noises last night, but fortunately, Mariel seemed to have slept soundly. With a relieved heart, Asella now had to relay the news of the tutor to Mariel too. ¡°His Excellency has promised to find you a new teacher to help you. We¡¯ll have a splendid teacher soon, so let¡¯s just wait a little longer.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll be fine, so don¡¯t worry too much, Sister.¡± Mariel nodded. Her attitude showed no signs of disappointment but rather a confident attitude. ¡®She wanted to attend the academy so badly¡­¡¯ Asella patted Mariel¡¯s head, feeling sorry for her sister, who was anxious but didn¡¯t show any signs of distress on her face because of how little time was left before the entrance exam. The child¡¯s soft hair wrapped snugly around her hand. ¡°Ah!¡± Mariel, who had been silently enjoying Asella¡¯s touch, suddenly clapped her hands as if she had remembered something. ¡°Sister, did you get to go to the garden by any chance?¡± ¡°No, but what about it?¡± ¡°They have flowers blooming all over the garden, and they told me it¡¯s very pretty. They even said they have a glass greenhouse in a sunny part of the castle!¡± Mariel exclaimed as her eyes glistened with excitement. ¡°We should go there too!¡± Asella wore an awkward smile. She had no idea if she could walk around the castle without permission. Furthermore, she was afraid of how Calix, who was upset with her, might react, as she didn¡¯t want to upset him further. ¡°I asked the maid earlier, and she said if I wanted to go, I should just tell her to go with me!¡± Asella turned to look at Margo. The woman nodded her head in affirmation and answered. ¡°Yes. I heard the flowers in the greenhouse are in full bloom since the weather has been warm recently. It would be nice to enjoy a cup of tea while admiring the view of the blooming flowers.¡± ¡°But I have not yet obtained His Excellency¡¯s permission.¡± ¡°I was instructed to be ready to take a walk whenever you wish, Your Highness.¡± But Asella did not feel comfortable making the decision. She might have done so if it had been yesterday afternoon, but now she had a change of heart. Margo, reading her expression, added. ¡°Your Highness is the Grand Duchess and hostess of the Benvito family. Apart from a very few spaces used only by the Grand Duke, there is nowhere you cannot go to in this castle.¡± A tiny flutter ran through her blue eyes. What was Margo talking about? Hostess? The word didn¡¯t fit her situation at all. ¡®How come¡­¡¯ Asella remembered the cruel and merciless Lord of the Benvito family, her husband. The man who had assassinated her mother, Adele, would one day kill her and Mariel too. ¡®I thought he would be harsh and cruel to me.¡¯ She was prepared to the extent that she might be locked in a room and have her comings and goings controlled or her activities restricted. The thought that she might be beaten if she made any mistake also came to her mind. Frankly, it was not as if husbands using violence against their spouses was an uncommon practice among the nobility. ¡°Sister! Sister! What are you thinking about so deeply like that?!¡± Mariel¡¯s lively voice broke through Asella¡¯s thoughts. ¡°¡­It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we go? I wanted to take a walk earlier, but I held back until now from going so we can go together! Let¡¯s go, hmm?¡± Mariel kept urging her tirelessly. She tried to coax her out, but a child¡¯s stubbornness was truly amazing. Eventually, Asella agreed to follow along with Mariel. ¡°Instead, it¡¯s only until sunset, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, okay!¡± Mariel¡¯s blue eyes sparkled brightly. Asella smiled at her sister¡¯s bright smile. Her aching heart seemed to settle down, even if only by a little bit. CH 93 ¡°Mariel, you¡¯re going to fall down if you don¡¯t be careful.¡± ¡°Whoa! Sister, look at these flowers! The buds shrink when you touch them!¡± Mariel paced around the greenhouse tirelessly, shouting exclamations. Asella watched the scene with concern that her younger sister, who was running around enthusiastically, might fall over and get hurt. It was a very warm room. It was partly due to the warmth of the greenhouse itself, as well as the simple stove that had been kept burning. The interior was as cozy as a room, thanks to the preparation made in advance by the servants, including tables, chairs, blankets, and other small accessories. ¡°Wow! This looks delicious!¡± Mariel¡¯s exploration of the greenhouse finally ended when Margo placed hot tea, cocoa, and freshly baked cookies on the table. Asella gave a small smile as the faint aroma of the tea rising from the cup seemed to relax her tense mind that had been on edge this whole time. ¡°Thank you, Margo.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. We¡¯ll be waiting outside, so if you need anything at all, please feel free to call us anytime.¡± Margo said, pointing to a round crystal ball on a small table. It was a device that could be used to summon servants, just like the traditional rope or bells. She had heard that it was originally so precious and used only in the Imperial Palace since it had to be enchanted with a high-purity magic crystal stone, but surprisingly, there were many devices like this crystal all over the Grand Duchy. ¡°Delicious!¡± Mariel took a big bite of a cookie filled with chocolate chips and squealed. ¡°Mariel, you can only eat two of these.¡± ¡°Even though there are so many?¡± ¡°Too much sweet food will make you sick.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Mariel complained with a disappointed look on her face and puffed out her cheeks, but shortly afterward she regained her cheerfulness. She even took one large cookie and offered it quickly to Asella. ¡°Eat some, Sister! Delicious food tastes even better when we eat it together!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As Asella reached out to take the cookie from Mariel, she heard the words, ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Mariel¡¯s bright face suddenly hardened. The child¡¯s eyes narrowed as if to confirm something, then immediately exclaimed in horror. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your wrist, Sister?¡± Within the long sleeves, Asella¡¯s wrists were red and bruised. It was only then that Asella also noticed the bruise on her wrist. It looked as if someone had squeezed it tight and released it. When and how? Looking back, she remembered what had happened last night. It seemed that when the Grand Duke had caught her trying to escape, the force of his strong hands had caused this to happen. It was not surprising, since her skin was easily bruised from even the lightest grip. At the time she didn¡¯t know it hurt because she was too startled, and afterward she was in a hurry and suddenly felt the pain as well, but she didn¡¯t have time to worry about it. Asella hastily tucked her wrists between the hems and tried to hide them. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Nonsense, it can¡¯t be! I saw it for sure. There was a bruise!¡± ¡°I just bumped into the table by accident. It will heal in a few days, so don¡¯t worry about it too much.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± Mariel, who had approached Asella¡¯s side before she knew it, looked up at her with tears in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll blow on it for you, then. I¡¯ll pray to Goddess Herniya, too.¡± According to legend, if someone prayed sincerely to the goddess for someone who was sick or injured, they would be cured quickly. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Mariel. You don¡¯t have to do this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that Sister, hmm?¡± Hoping that her sister wouldn¡¯t be worried, Asella tried her best not to show her bruised wrist. But Mariel held her sleeve and insisted, so she gave up one of her wrists. ¡°It looks painful.¡± Mariel, who had been touching Asella¡¯s wrist where the skin had turned into a reddish-black shade, gently cupped Asella¡¯s wrist in her plump hand and closed her eyes. ¡°Goddess Herniya, please quickly heal my sister. Please don¡¯t let it hurt.¡± Mariel¡¯s prayer continued. ¡°And please don¡¯t let her catch a cold, too. My sister gets cold quickly and easily catches a cold when the weather suddenly changes. She gets a fever so bad that she stays sick for days. That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t go on walks often, even though she enjoys going outside for walks. So please keep her warm tomorrow, the day after that, and the day after that.¡± Asella¡¯s heart sank at the consideration of her sister, who remembered even the most trivial details about her. But Mariel¡¯s prayers did not end there. CH 94 But Mariel¡¯s prayers did not end there. ¡°And help my sister get close to His Excellency, too, so that they can always get along without fighting, to always be happy together, and to have beautiful babies who look like my sister.¡± ¡°Mariel!¡± Embarrassed, Asella shouted at Mariel without thinking. Mariel, who had been absorbed in her prayer, was startled by her voice and opened her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sister?¡± Mariel tilted her head with an innocent look on her face. Then Asella managed to get things back under control. ¡°Let¡¯s just stop and eat the cookies now. They taste better when they¡¯re warm.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t finished my prayer yet¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough now, I feel like I¡¯m already getting stronger.¡± ¡°Really? Do you think Goddess Herniya will hear my prayer?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Acela replied softly, pushing the cookie plate in front of Mariel. Only then did the child¡¯s serious expression loosen, and with a giggle, she climbed back up into her chair and sat down again. She continued her conversation, swinging her feet, which couldn¡¯t reach the floor. ¡°I hope you get better soon because you know when you get a bruise, even the slightest pressure can cause it to tingle and hurt.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mariel. You prayed for me and I will heal soon. Somehow even my wrist doesn¡¯t seem to hurt either¡­ Eh?¡± Asella, who casually dropped her gaze to her wrist began to blink in disbelief. Her wrist was visible through the sleeve that moved up slightly when she raised her hand to hold the teacup¡¯s handle. It was the wrist that Mariel had wrapped her hands around just a moment ago. To her surprise, her wrist was perfectly clear. ¡®No¡­ impossible.¡¯ Unintentionally, Asella covered her wrist again. ¡®I must have seen things wrong.¡¯ But her mind already recognized the truth. Her heart began to pound faster. She tried to compose herself and slowly rolled up her sleeves, which were adorned with luxurious lace. ¡®¡­!¡¯ An unmanageable surge of emotion came over her as she examined the status of her wrist. The bruise marks that had been so clear on her wrist only moments before had faded. The pain was barely there. Compared to the other wrists that Mariel had not touched, the difference was clearly visible. It was as if they had been healed by a priest. Asella barely lifted her head to look at Mariel. ¡®Healing power?¡¯ Not knowing what was going on, Mariel opened her eyes wide like a startled rabbit. ¡°Mariel, could it be¡­¡± Asella covered her mouth with one hand. Realization hit her hard as if she had been struck by a thunderbolt from the top of her head to her toes. Despite the fact that she had been prepared for this, the timing was just too sudden¡­ ¡°No¡­ my birthday is still more than one month away ¡­¡± Yet there was one truth that this startling thing indicated. Mariel had awakened her special ability. Mariel sat alone at the table by her window, contemplating today¡¯s events. The night was getting deeper and the stars were sparkling in the sky. ¡®Sister looked very pale, but she¡¯s going to be okay, right?¡¯ As Mariel tended to her sister¡¯s wounds, Asella noticed that she had awakened her special powers and her face paled. ¡°Just keep on what you¡¯ve been doing so far. Don¡¯t tell anyone the fact that you can use your special powers, and of course, you mustn¡¯t show it. Do you understand?¡± Asella said with a bit of horror in her expression ¡°Yes, Sister. I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± ¡°If possible, you should also refrain from making contact with other people. You might start using your abilities unintentionally too, I know it¡¯s inconvenient, but you have to be careful.¡± As Asella repeated her urging, Mariel nodded meekly in an attempt to reassure her sister. ¡®I¡¯m sorry for deceiving you, Sister, but-¡° While Asella learned that Mariel had awakened her ability for the first time today, this was not entirely true. Mariel had been going through the awakening process long before she even came to attend the wedding. ¡®I wish I could have determined my ability sooner.¡¯ Since her awakening was not yet complete, she concealed the fact that she had manifested abilities. It was based on her natural instinctive belief that an imperfect power would become a weakness. She deliberately did not tell her either, fearing that Asella would get worried. Letting her know about the awakening today was most likely an impulsive act. ¡®But I couldn¡¯t just let Sister¡¯s wounds remain and turn into a scar.¡¯ Mariel sighed softly. ¡®It would have been nice if I had been able to use my powers to heal it perfectly¡­¡¯ Due to her incomplete awakening, she could barely heal one wrist halfway. Thanks to that, she was able to come up with a new plan, though. As Mariel was carefully pondering what she was going to do from now on, she heard a knock at the door. CH 95.1 ¡°My Lady, may I come in?¡± ¡°Enter.¡± A quick answer came as Mariel jumped to her feet and slipped back between the sheets. A maid opened the door and came in, placed a jug of water and a glass on the table next to the bed, and pulled Mariel¡¯s bed covers up to cover her neck. ¡°Well then, get some rest, My Lady. If you need anything at all, you can always call me with the crystal ball.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Mariel replied. The maid couldn¡¯t help but smile in response to her brave reply. Then, Mariel smiled and opened her mouth again. A low voice, utterly different from the one she had just spoken with, came out. ¡°Now, then, tell me.¡± ¡°My Lady?¡± The maid, who was about to leave when the tone suddenly changed, turned around and looked at Mariel again, startled. ¡°What is it that you want to know about, My Lady?¡± For a moment, a foreign hue appeared in Mariel¡¯s eyes. It was a signal that meant that her ability to manipulate people was activated. Of course, the maid was utterly oblivious to such power. ¡°What is the remainder of His Excellency the Grand Duke¡¯s schedule?¡± A light flashed from Mariel¡¯s eyes. The maid¡¯s pupils widened, and immediately the shine faded from her eyes. Once Mariel¡¯s power took over the maid completely, the maid turned into a puppet that would move according to her master¡¯s will, becoming Mariel¡¯s hands and feet. ¡°I am not sure, My Lady.¡± ¡°Then look into it. Try to find out as much as you can, as quickly as possible. If you find a servant who has that information, just make eye contact with me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The maid nodded her head and left the room with a completely possessed look on her face. As the sound of the maid¡¯s footsteps outside the door slowly faded away, the foreign hue slowly faded from Mariel¡¯s eyes. She was lying on the bed but suddenly began to mumble, and she sat up again. ¡°I wish it had started a little sooner.¡± The ability to manipulate people was the power Mariel had started experiencing this morning for the first time. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s a useful power, but¡­¡± Mariel began to reevaluate the information she had gathered about the ability to manipulate others. ¡°It requires eye contact with the target, and it lasts for a short period of time. The range of its use is also limited since it cannot be used on those with a strong mentality.¡± ¡°It is better to give up this power by all means.¡± Mariel thought long and hard before coming to this conclusion. The Chartus family¡¯s awakening includes manifesting different abilities. This and related information was passed down confidentially from one Chartus family head to the next and the next. All that was known to the world was that they had received the blessing of the Goddess Herniya and that the beginning of the Chartus family coincided with the founding of the empire. The reason for this thorough secrecy was simple. This was because, upon awakening, all the necessary information would flood into their minds. ¡°Will I be able to try other abilities soon?¡± There was another unique trait of the Chartus¡¯ special abilities. It was that their abilities manifested themselves differently depending on their personal characteristics. There were various types of abilities, such as magic, illusion, healing, regeneration, manipulation, mind-reading, and sorcery. ¡°It would be nice if I got a powerful ability, and if it was more than one, even better.¡±