《In The Depths Of Shame, Love Exists》


 Chapter 0

    A man with his hair neatly tucked behind his forehead rushed up the stairs. His eyes were red as if they were on fire.


    Even though a sniper is planted in case of an unforeseen situation, no gunfire is heard.


    Stupid bastards. How can you only do things this way when youve been paid so much!


    Damn it! What are you doing!


    The man shouted at the sniper right in front of him. His maddened eyes were like a frantic beast impatient to catch the prey in front of him. The man gritted his teeth and took the snipers gun and put it over his shoulder.


    You bastards, I will kill you.


    The man who placed his eyes on the scope and found the target at once had to stop his finger at a completely unexpected presence when he was about to pull the trigger.


    Thump Thump


    The heat that had risen to the top of his head cooled down, and only the sound of his heart rang in his ears.


    Only then did he realize why the skillful sniper couldnt pull the trigger and just stared in vain.


    A beautiful white dress, finely raised brown hair, and an elegant neckline that were troublesome due to the constant attention below them. On top of the horse was the bride who had married him.


    The man just stared blankly at the woman moving away. The hair and hem of the clothes slowly fluttered in the wind. Her brown hair, brightly colored by the sun, shone dazzlingly.


    The man who regained his senses burst into laughter. Visible veins were seen on the arm clutching the gun.


    Is it anger or is it a feeling of betrayal. The man fixed the gun, uttering a small curse through his gritted teeth.


    A small body was seen swaying gracefully along the movement of the horse. His palm remembered the touch of those slender ribs. Thinking of the bullet that would be lodged there, the muzzle went down on its own and touched his leg.


    Will it be uncomfortable to move if I hit her legs.


    However, it was difficult to aim because the legs were covered by the pure white dress. If the horses body is hit by a mistake, the woman riding on it will be thrown out into the stone field. If you run at such a high speed and fall on the stone floor, there will be no place for you to thrive.


    Then, should I hit the guy who is also riding the horse


    Even that was impossible because of the woman behind him. If he does something wrong, the woman may get hit. Even in this damn situation, his head was all about that woman.


    The man didnt even move to the point where the gun over his shoulder became shabby, he just looked at the woman who was moving away.


    Bang!


    At that moment, a gunshot was heard. The trembling man hurriedly looked at the woman. Fortunately, the bullet just hit the floor and no one was hit.


    Who told you to shoot!


    The sniper, who was holding his position and aiming again, was hit by a sudden kick and looked up at the man with a bewildered expression.


    Put the gun down.


    His hair, which had been neatly tucked, became messy and gave off a dangerous atmosphere with his bloodshot eyes. The frightened sniper put down his gun and raised his hands up.


    The man looked at the two people who were now so far away that they turned into dots. The hand holding the gun trembled slightly, and he tightly clenched his teeth, causing his jaw muscles to swell.

 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    Liv Ragnell


    How could you do that!


    Its already done.


    What? I didnt know anything, so whats done!


    The woman, with her soft brown hair tied together, shouted to the man in front of her with a face that seemed to cry.


    Do you know what state our family is in now?


    Her family has been on the wane for a long time. In Livs opinion, it was a natural result.


    It wasnt even a great family in the first place. Just a baron in a small estate. Although it was once booming in trade, most of it was taken away, and the financial situation was only what it is now.


    In contrast to her father who does not know development and just insists on the old, the world has changed rapidly.


    It was natural that those who did not change were taken away and left behind.


    But, this is something I never thought of.


    But what do you mean by marriage! I dont like it!


    Anton flushed as he looked back at his daughters impudence for the first time.


    No, you have to!


    Why!


    Should I have told you earlier? Are you waiting for words to come out of my mouth that our Ragnell family is on the verge of collapse?


    The baron family has long since disappeared!


    Liv Ragnell!


    When Anton slammed his fist against the desk, Liv stepped back in surprise. His eyes were filled with unbearable anger as he looked at his daughter.


    But Liv was not wrong.


    Abolition of the status system. It had already been more than four years. They were no longer Baron Ragnell.


    If you mess up like that one more time, I wont let you go.


    Anton Ragnell was truly a noble. The attitude of the nobility, the mindset of the nobility, the clothes of the nobility. All for the honor of the baron family. That was the whole of his life.


    Even when the status system was abolished, he was never distracted. Nobles are born with different blood from the beginning, and it is not determined by the system.


    A father like that told me to marry that man.


    Liv had to close her eyes tightly at the shameful memories that penetrated her body when she remembered the mans face.


    It was an unforgettable memory that haunted her all her life. Her own shameful feelings that no one could understand. Her existence felt so small that she couldnt go out for a while.


    If you cross a bridge in a carriage, you will see a city several times larger than Hale, where Liv lives. Its name is Lesbourne. It was a place where the slums and the nobles were separated by a single road in between.


    People called the slums there a back alley. It was said that all sorts of evil things that people could not imagine happen there.


    The man was from there.


    Not only did he become an adopted son of a neighboring countrys wealthy family, but he suddenly returned to the empire one day and became a soldier and was favored by the emperor. He was Livs marriage partner.


    I would rather marry another man I dont like him!


    Its already done.


    Then why didnt you talk to me about something so important? Its my marriage, why!


    Why do I have to tell you that?


    Ah, father.


    Liv looked at Anton with tears in her eyes.


    If you hadnt meddled and made a scar on your face, our family wouldnt have been so shaken.


    Anton looked at the scar on Livs right face with a dissatisfied look. The dark red, distorted scars was a burn caused by Liv being hit by a falling fireball when she was a child.


    Livs mother was beautiful. Liv, who resembles such a mother, has been loved by everyone since childhood. Anton also used to look at Liv with a face full of expectations. Until she got a burn on her face.


    There was no man from a lowly family who would marry a woman with a large scar on her face. Anton looked at Liv with an even more dissatisfied look when no news had been heard even though she was at a marriageable age.


    Liv was a rascal of the family who grew up eating Antons abuse.


    I, I did nothing wrong It has nothing to do with me that the family has become like this.


    Youre good at making stupid noises. All you have to do is get married to help your family. If you cant do that, how can you say its not your fault?


    Anton lashed out at Liv.


    This is an opportunity you can never miss. Youll never get married like this again. It takes a little bit of his origins, but its nothing compared to your flaws, so dont take it too seriously and just get married.


    For Liv, the origin of the man didnt matter at all. To be honest, there would be no family who would reject him just because of his origins. He was the perfect man for everyone to covet.


    So why choose her. Liv had no wealth or power enough to cover her shortcomings.


    what will father receive in exchange for marriage.


    Anton only made a squeaking noise, but didnt say anything.


    What did the man ask of us?


    He didnt ask for anything.


    What?


    He didnt ask for anything.


    There was no way he didnt want anything.


    Anton muttered next to her, He must be greedy for Ragnells blood, but it was absurd. If he wants, he can marry a family with more power.


    She was afraid because she couldnt figure out what the man thought of marrying her. Liv bit her lip gently.


    Father please. I dont want to get married.


    The Emperor himself appointed him as captain. In the past, a captain had the same rank as a knight, so in a way, it was similar to a baron. So stop nagging and get married. Hes the only man who can take that nasty scar of yours. And wasnt that guy the adopted son of the Vergo family? Its a great opportunity for us.


    I dont like it! I dont want to marry that man! I hate it!


    Squeak-


    Then she heard the door open.


    Both of them looked at the door at the same time. There stood a man in uniform who had made a buzz in the social world for some time.


    He took off the military cap he was wearing and entered the study naturally. Seeing the butler who was at a loss after the man who came in, it was clear that he heard the conversation the two had.


    I must have chosen the wrong day.


    The high nose and strong chin were noticeable because he turned his black hair back and showed his forehead. Everything was dark for this man. Dark black hair, copper-toned skin darker than others, and


    Liv quickly averted her gaze from the black eyes she met suddenly.


    Its been a long time. Lady Ragnell.


    She could feel her heart pounding from the low voice that stuck in her ear. Liv took a step back from the man much bigger than her. The man looked indifferent, only looking down at Liv.


    Shes the only one who is agitated. This is why she didnt like this guy.


    After the man appeared in social circles, Liv was in a hurry not to run into him. Even when she was in the same room with him, she felt insignificant and uncomfortable as if she was wearing clothes that didnt fit.


    Your lips are bleeding.


    When she swept her lips with her tongue, she felt a bitter taste. The cause of the trouble was that she couldnt control her anger and bit her lip.


    Lets see


    Liv coldly slapped the large hand approaching her without realizing it. Then, as if surprised by herself, she opened her rabbit-like eyes and looked at the man.


    The man moved his hand several times and smiled softly, as if his sharply slapped hand hurt quite a bit.


    Oh, Im sorry. I must have been mistaken for a moment.


    He shifted his gaze toward Liv and looked at Anton. The eyes looking at him had a different sharpness than when he looked at Liv.


    We are not married yet. Isnt that right, Baron?


    Well


    Anton only smoothed his mustache and glanced at Liv, but said nothing.


    I have come to tell you something more pressing than that. This time, Vergo decided to make a deal with a new country, and I want to put Ragnells name on the goods I will send there. What do you say, Baron?


    Liv was very disgusted with the title Baron he gave at the end of his sentence. It sounded like a sarcastic remark as if they were just barons.


    If you ask a stranger who you think is the most noble person here, you will naturally choose that man. She felt unsightly with the expensive accessories and dresses wrapped around her.


    I have no reason to object.


    They urged me to get the goods quickly, so I plan to finish everything by next month.


    .


    But I have no relationship with Ragnell, so I dont feel like putting that name in?


    She got a sense of what he was trying to say. Liv clenched her fists.


    I hope to get married within this month. What do you think, Baron?


    I dont want to.


    Liv desperately mouthed towards Anton.


    Unlike the pale Liv, the man was so relaxed that he even looked arrogant.


    That lowly bastard


    Anton had a strong resentment within him, but it soon subsided. The proposal he made was very attractive. After a short deliberation, he opened his mouth.


    I see.


    Liv couldnt stand it any longer and opened the door and left.


    The man sat naturally on the sofa nearby. Anton approached the sofa without saying anything.


    Sit down, Baron.


    The owner of this place is obviously Anton, but from the looks of his actions, he seems to be the owner.


    The room was quickly filled with acrid smoke when the man took a cigar from his inner pocket, put it in his mouth, and lit a fire.

 Chapter 2

    Dane. It was the mans name.


    The Vergo, whom he adopted, is a family from a country called Aiden, which excelled at making weapons such as guns and artillery, and was also a place that led huge mercenaries. The fame of the Vergo family was so famous that it extended to the empire where Liv lived.


    No one expected that a man who had been adopted into such a great family would suddenly abandon everything and return to the Empire.


    It was not long before he even abandoned his last name, Vergo, and appeared in the social world with the two characters of his name,Dane[1].


    It was also the first day she faced Dane since childhood.


    All the scattered families gathered at the ball hosted by the emperor.


    The nobles who formally asked each others well-being under the splendid chandelier immediately brought up the topic.


    The Emperor is too much. He gathered us together in one place like this just for the sake of that lowly bloodline.


    An era of peace.


    The word war has long since disappeared, but big and small things have happened constantly and tormented the people of the empire.


    Has everyone been through an era of peace for a long time. The nobles, who had the duty to protect the country, only took care of themselves, and no one came forward.


    At that time, it was Dane who took the lead on behalf of the nobles. Dane led the troops to settle disputes around the border, which he was particularly reluctant to do.


    The fact that an unknown man appeared out of nowhere and guarded the border eventually reached the emperors ears, and the emperor headed to the border to meet him in person. No one knows what words were exchanged between the two that day.


    A few days later, Dane broke into the rebel base, the empires biggest trouble, killed the chief and decapitated him and sent him to the emperor. The emperor, who appreciated Danes credit, asked him to enter the empire and become an imperial soldier.


    Those who wondered why someone who was not an imperial citizen fought for the Empire were astonished to find out later that he was a child in the back alley that was adopted by the Vergo family.


    The most despised place in the empire was the back alley. People living in the back alleys were spit on the street for no reason, and they were always pointed at. It was obvious that if he, who was from there, returned to the empire, the gazes on him would not be good.


    Contrary to everyones expectations, however, he returned to the Empire under the Emperors orders and became an Imperial soldier.


    Countless envy and jealousy of the nobles poured out towards him, who quickly became the emperors most favored soldier. Because he once abandoned the empire, the word traitor always stuck behind him like a tag.


    A dirty traitor from the back alley. That was the word for him.


    Todays ball was organized by the emperor himself to commemorate the mans appointment as captain.


    By the way, has anyone seen his face?


    I heard he looks pretty good.


    No wonder his father is a man who used to sell himself in the back alley.


    Oh my, is that true? The man continued to speak among the astonished women who were covering their faces with a fan.


    Thats why he said he has no last name. He said he couldnt come back to the Empire and use his lowly fathers last name, so he didnt attach anything at all.


    What about the woman who gave birth to him?


    Maybe she abandoned him and ran away?


    The story for him was so endless that she didnt know where and to what extent it was real.


    Liv, who had her hair down and covered the scars on her face, took a glass of wine and moved to the corner.


    A small moan could be heard in Livs ear. Knowing that they were a man and woman who enjoyed secretly making love, she did not turn back. She lifted the glass she was holding and took a drink.


    The whole thing was pathetic. Without any worries, haha and hoho smiles, and a perfectly dressed outfit. Everything didnt seem to suit them.


    They were just lucky to be born into nobility. And she wasnt much different either.


    It was a terrible self-loathing that started as a child.


    At some point, all the nobles began to look like pigs. Greedy pigs.


    The pig also gives birth to a pig, and a new pig is born. The ancestors may not have been pigs, but all descendants became pigs. She herself, caught in the gap, was no less than a pig.


    When Liv poured all the wine in the glass into her mouth and was about to lift the second glass, a strange scene unfolded. Everyone in the hall was looking at someone in unison.


    Liv also naturally turned her head to where peoples eyes were directed.


    The man was dressed in a uniform like any other officer. The angled hat on his head made his sharp eyes look deeper, and the blue uniform matched the mans dark skin very well.


    I can see why such rumors were made.


    The woman who had just heard his dirty gossip looked at him and said. Everyone seemed to agree even if they didnt say anything.


    He was so beautiful that it was natural for womens eyes to gather. His thick upper body and well-proportioned legs made him stand out even more.


    Youre here.


    Colonel Elbern greeted Dane.


    Colonel Elbern was quite famous as a young man, and his reputation remained unchanged even as he grew older. The other officers, who looked at Dane with discontented faces, were forced to smile as Colonel Elbern welcomed him like that.


    Standing next to a stout man, the young officers who had never suffered before did not feel like soldiers at all. What kind of sense of duty do you have in the job you inherited as if it were just natural.


    What nobility is. Anton often said. Nobility refers to a person with dignity. He rules the country with dignity and grace. At those words, Liv once firmly believed that she was a special person for a moment.


    Among the nobles, Dane was the most brilliant. The person who just took over cannot surpass the person who won it by himself. He was the most dignified man here. Only he seemed to deserve it.


    The more Liv looked at him, the more shabby she felt.


    The only thing he doesnt have is his origin.


    Thats right, but dont you think he can make it no matter where he came from?


    The noble ladies glanced at Dane with meaningful eyes. Even if they say a lot of gossip when they cant see the person, when he looks pretty, people want it.


    His only flaw was his origin. Thats all he can fill. It was okay to have fun and make him a lover. The woman, who had been immersed in such thoughts while waving her fan gently, stopped her hand when her eyes met the cool, shining black eyes.


    The woman immediately changed her mind. It was impossible to keep such a man as a lover. Hed rather be a husband.


    He was a man from a back alley and had dirty rumors, but she was too greedy to take her eyes off him.


    Among the girls with glowing eyes, Liv was moving against the wall as inconspicuous as possible.


    I want to get out of here quickly.


    Liv scoured where Anton was. He seemed preoccupied with the conversation.


    Ah!


    While walking looking at Anton, she bumped into someone. The glass she was holding fell to the floor, making a sharp noise. Everyone looked at her at the sound of the hall ringing.


    This, are you okay? Im sorry, Ive been distracted.


    The young man took a handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to Liv.


    It, its fine.


    The floor can be slippery, so take my hand and come this way.


    Liv was wearing a slightly high heel, so she didnt refuse and took his hand and moved.


    While wiping her wrists with a handkerchief, she looked at the wine and glass fragments scattered on the floor, and she looked up at the persistent gaze that she suddenly felt.


    In the distance, Danes black eyes met her eyes.


    Why are you here?


    She heard a sound she didnt know if it was just her hallucination.


    Liv felt like her whole body was immersed in hot water. She felt her face heat up and quickly lowered her gaze.


    Then.


    Then, with a smile that she barely practiced again and again, she greeted the man in front of her and moved her trembling legs.


    She heard the man talking to her to wait for a moment, but she didnt have time to answer because of the heavy gaze she felt from afar. Liv had to walk with strength on her feet to keep herself from running.


    * * *


    Returning to the mansion, Liv could not sleep easily even though the night was deep, and for a long time she tossed and turned in the blanket.


    A faint sound of a carriage came through the window. It was the sound of Anton returning to the mansion.


    Soon after, I heard the sound of someone going up the stairs. Liv covered herself with a blanket and held her breath. It was a habit that started after she had a scar on her face.


    If even the slightest breath escaped, her father would open the door and enter immediately. She was terrified of the sound of her father climbing the stairs.


    She started hearing hallucinations in her ears. Her fathers screams and sharp bursts of something breaking. A cold gaze looking down at herself as if she was trash and a pain so great that she couldnt even breathe.


    Liv grabbed the blanket as hard as she could.


    As she heard the door shut, she poked her face out of the blanket in a visibly relieved gesture. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead from how tense she was for a brief moment.


    Outside the window, she can see the darkness. The appearance of stars embedded in the night sky reminded her of someones black eyes.


    Even though they only met for a few seconds, it was as vivid as if they had been together for a long time.


    Everyone looks at him. He doesnt shy away from any gaze and looks around with an indifferent expression. He was like a huge rock that would not be shaken by any stimulus. He was the exact opposite of herself, who was easily shaken by even a small stimulus.


    As she recalled his face, she felt an unpleasant palpitation again.


    She had no choice but to attend the ball at the order of the emperor, but she would not run into him anymore because she had no intention of going to the ball.


    Liv closed her eyes to shake the thoughts of Dane that kept coming to her.


    TL Notes:


    [1] Dane () has only two characters in korean.

 Chapter 3

    ¡°Lady Liv.¡±


    The butler, who was quietly calling Liv, took something out of his arms and handed it to her.


    It was a letter. The corner was crumpled up in an ugly way, as if it had come a long way.


    Liv took turns looking at the butler and the letter with astonished eyes. Then she quickly hid the letter in her arms, entered the room, and carefully opened it.


    Dear Liv, how are you? I¡¯m returning to Hale soon. I tremble at the thought of seeing you after a long time. Please stay healthy until I return.


    ¡®Oh, my God, Lohan¡¯s coming back to Hale!¡¯


    Liv couldn¡¯t control her trembling emotions and ran around and jumped. She read it again and again, just in case she read it wrong.


    Then, holding the letter carefully, she pulled out a box from the depths of the desk drawer and opened it. It was full of letters. Liv opened the letters one by one for the first time in a very long time.


    Liv, I can¡¯t believe this place I live in is so different from the world we know. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m happier than I was in Hale. You¡¯re okay, aren¡¯t you?


    Dear Liv, I can¡¯t control my trembling emotions, so I can¡¯t write properly. Please understand. My dearest friend became a member of Parliament. He¡¯s just a peasant¡¯s son!


    My dear Liv, how are you? I can¡¯t sleep at night because of the thoughts that come to me. If you hadn¡¯t loved me, I wouldn¡¯t be here. I love you.


    Liv, have you read the book {Towards the Wasteland}? It¡¯s my favorite book.


    I don¡¯t think I can write a letter to you for a while. I have something to take care of. Don¡¯t worry about me. I love you.


    After this letter, Lohan did not send a letter for a long time. Liv was very worried about him, but had no one to ask, so she had to suffer alone.


    Lohan was Liv¡¯s younger half-brother.


    One day, a woman and a boy who seemed to be dying visited Ragnell¡¯s mansion. The woman claimed that her child was Baron Ragnell¡¯s son.


    Sadly, no one considered him to be Anton¡¯s son, as Lohan resembled his mother. It was simply dismissed as a lie to enter Ragnell¡¯s mansion by a mad woman suffering from poverty.


    Anton said he would accept them to work in the mansion because they looked pitiful. Everyone praised Anton¡¯s generosity, but Liv thought differently.


    As soon as she saw young Lohan, she felt an unknown attraction. He was really her younger brother.


    Seeing that the cold-hearted Anton didn¡¯t throw them away, it was clear that Anton, like Liv, had guessed something.


    The mother of Lohan came here for the purpose of feeding and putting him to sleep, working in the mansion and living a normal life without complaint.


    At the time, Liv was young and did not understand the meaning of half-brother. She didn¡¯t feel particularly remorseful for Lohan and his mother, as Mrs. Ragnell died prematurely of postpartum disease before she could even walk.


    Since the big scar on her face, Liv has been lonely. She was just happy because she thought that she had finally found a friend to play with.


    By the time she was old enough to understand everything, Lohan¡¯s mother died of an illness. She couldn¡¯t hate Lohan because she felt a sense of sympathy at the sight of him crying in her arms.


    He was already the only younger brother of Liv. How could she ever hate her poor little brother.


    Anton, on the other hand, regarded Lohan as a disgrace to the family. It was because Lohan¡¯s mother was a serf[1].


    Lohan was officially the son of a serf. Anton thoroughly hid Lohan¡¯s identity, and all the employees except the butler thought of him as a young servant of Liv.


    Anton sent Lohan to another country abruptly when he was already somewhat an adult. When he left without saying goodbye and Liv was alone and thirsty for longing, the butler secretly handed her a letter.


    It was written that he was doing well, that he was sorry for not being able to say goodbye, and that she should not reply. How much she cried as she held the letter in her arms.


    Unfortunately, the first letter was found by Anton and was torn to shreds and burned. To Anton, Lohan was no child. The disgrace of the family that should not be caught by others. He was her brother.


    Liv touched her face with her fingers. Passing through the soft flesh and approaching the eyes, she can feel the rough flesh like a grain of wood.


    She, too, was a disgrace for Anton. Inside the lonely mansion, they relied on each other. Without Lohan, Liv might not have been able to live until now.


    It has already been 9 years since Lohan left. Liv wondered how her brother had grown up.


    ¡®If Lohan returns to Hale this time, he will be accepted as his child. Because my father needs a proper successor, not an ugly me.¡¯


    *


    ¡°And where are you off to?¡±


    Liv stopped walking down the stairs and looked back. Anton stared at Liv with disapproving eyes.


    ¡°I was intending to sit by the lake and read a book¡­¡­¡±


    In fact, she was planning to stop by the bookstore and buy some books, but she didn¡¯t bother to bring it up.


    ¡°You can read books at home, so why go out?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been inside the house for a few days, and I feel stuffy¡­¡­¡±


    Liv was intimidated and muffled her words.


    Anton didn¡¯t like her going outside. Even though no one knew the scar on Liv¡¯s face in Hale, he always wanted to hide her.


    Liv showed Anton the big hat she was holding.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cover my face with a hat and go out¡­¡­¡±


    Anton looked at Liv with a frown on his face and then flitted past her. It was a permission to go. She was choked up by the permission she had barely obtained.


    Even after Anton passed, Liv could not get out of her position for a while, stroking only the hem of her skirt. Whenever she felt this way, she wanted to break into pieces and disappear from the world.


    *


    The strong sunlight had been shining for quite some time, so she felt happy. It was the perfect weather for reading a book as the gentle breeze was moderately cool.


    It is quite a distance to walk to the bookstore, but she did not get into the carriage because she wanted to feel the pleasant sunlight.


    Hale was a very small town facing the sea. There are so many unique stones that if one looked around, you could see a lot of buildings made of stones. However, there were too many stones to yield a decent crop, and food was always Hale¡¯s biggest problem.


    When she arrived at Hale¡¯s downtown area, she saw a group of people gathered together. Liv couldn¡¯t hide her discomfort and walked with her head down in her hat.


    At the end of the alley, a bookstore can be seen. Liv stepped inside. The bookstore owner didn¡¯t seem to recognize Liv because she was wearing the hat so tightly that she only gave her a formal greeting.


    Slowly, she swept through the books on display. The rough texture on her fingertips pleased her.


    Liv picked out a few books she liked and took them to the owner. As if to relieve her stuffy life in the mansion, her chosen books were always about heroic adventures.


    The only bookstore owner in Hale who exchanged greetings with Liv has not responded much as he had not recognized Liv yet. Liv hid her voice and picked up her pen to continue her timid prank.


    Do you have a book entitled {Towards the Wasteland}?


    She wondered what the book that Lohan enjoyed reading was about.


    The owner read the note that Liv had written.


    ¡®A mute.¡¯


    The bookstore owner, who had been doing business here for more than 20 years, hated being bothered. Even when a customer asked to find a book, he only pretended to find it roughly, but never found it properly.


    But this time he searched the book diligently for that poor-looking lady.


    However, after a while, the owner of the bookstore returned with a dejected face.


    ¡°There is no such book.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a lie, it was the truth. The owner thought deeply about something, and then added.


    ¡°There is a big bookstore in Lesbourne. There are no books that aren¡¯t there, so why don¡¯t you go there?¡±


    Then he kindly told her where to ride the carriage and how much the rental fee would cost.


    Liv paid for the book and headed out.


    ¡®Lesbourne.¡¯


    Lesbourne, a city very close to Hale, was one of the most crowded cities after the capital. She often visited there to hang out with her friends until she got hurt.


    Liv was worried. She hasn¡¯t been anywhere other than Hale and the ball since she got a scar on her face. She wondered how Lesbourne, the splendid city she remembered, would have changed.


    ¡®But¡­¡­¡¯


    She shook her head at Dane¡¯s black eyes that flashed in her mind.


    ¡®That man is no longer in Lesbourne.¡¯


    He said he lived in the capital. There was no reason for such a successful person to still wander around the back alleys.


    After thinking for a while, Liv decided to go to Lesbourne after a very long time.


    *


    She arrived later than she expected because the wheel of the carriage fell out in the middle. It may already be dark by the time she returns home from her visit to the bookstore.


    ¡®My father will hate it if I return home late.¡¯


    However, these concerns were swept away as soon as they entered the center of Lesbourne.


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡­¡±


    It wasn¡¯t the Lesbourne she knew. The city, which had a proper balance between the old and the new, was filled with only the splendor and the new, and it shone brilliantly.


    The streets and shops in her memories are now nowhere to be seen. Everything has disappeared and changed. Liv, who was watching the crowd go by, had to taste the loneliness of not knowing.


    ¡°Do you know where the bookstore is?¡±


    It was nothing short of a first trip, so Liv spoke cautiously to the woman in a fancy hat. The woman, who was glancing at Liv¡¯s outfit, didn¡¯t open her mouth and pointed in the direction with her chin. Liv didn¡¯t mind her offensive behavior.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Liv asked two more times and finally got to the bookstore.


    It was a huge bookstore that could not be compared to Hale¡¯s bookstore. Liv looked at the store with a surprised expression and stepped inside.


    TL Notes:


    [1] Serf is an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord¡¯s estate.

 Chapter 4

    The bookstore owner welcomed her warmly.


    ¡°Is there a book called {Towards the Wasteland}?¡±


    ¡°Of course. There is.¡±


    The owner answered confidently and disappeared into the pile of books. Meanwhile, Liv looked at the book leisurely.


    Unlike Hale¡¯s bookstore, where dust was always on the cover because it was not cleaned properly, there was not a single grain of dust to be seen here.


    ¡®The owner must be very diligent.¡¯


    Liv smiled slightly, remembering the lazy Hale bookstore owner.


    ¡®Margot Halton, Shale Julian, Hughes Urban¡­¡­¡¯


    As she recited the names of the authors written under the titles one by one, she imagined a book with the word ¡®Liv Ragnell¡¯ placed side by side here. Just imagining it gave her a deep sense of fullness.


    At some point, she vaguely wanted to write. She wanted to let someone know about hope and the joy of imagination by being called a writer rather than Lady Ragnell.


    It was fine even if she was full of jealousy and inferiority because of her pathetic writing skills. She wanted to fill her current self, which is nothing more than an empty shell, with something.


    ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t find the book no matter how hard I try.¡±


    Liv opened her eyes and turned back.


    ¡°I was confident that all the books sold in the Empire were here¡­¡­¡±


    The bookstore owner looked visibly depressed.


    ¡°Ah, maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s a book from another country. I got a recommendation from someone from another country.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Is that so?¡±


    The owner pondered for a moment and continued.


    ¡°Then shall I get it for you?¡±


    ¡°Can you get it?¡±


    ¡°Just in time, there are trade merchants who are traveling around the country and anchored in the village. Would you like me to ask the merchant?¡±


    ¡°How long will it take?¡±


    ¡°The ship is leaving tomorrow¡­¡­ So, I¡¯ll probably be back here in a month.¡±


    ¡®A month¡­¡­¡¯


    She didn¡¯t know when Lohan would arrive in Hale.


    ¡®I hope to read the book before Lohan arrives.¡¯


    After agonizing over it, Liv asked him to do so. The bookstore owner brought some paper. On the paper, he wrote down her name and the address of Ragnell¡¯s mansion.


    ¡°I will send you a letter when the book arrives.¡±


    Liv left the bookstore after saying thank you.


    The sun was slowly starting to set. As the weather got colder, the days got shorter.


    ¡®Oh no. I don¡¯t know where to rent a carriage.¡¯


    She looked around with the intention of asking the person who was facing her, but there was no one passing by unlike a while ago when it was crowded.


    Liv was in a hurry. Panicking, she ran through the alleys, unsure of where she was. The winding alleyways reminded her of old memories with a nostalgic feeling.


    ¡®I often played hide-and-seek with my friends in a maze of alleys¡­¡­.¡¯


    After a relentless run, the alleyway finally comes to an end, and a gap between the larger roads unfolds.


    A back alley that exists behind a splendid city. So it was an unforgettable place.


    While Lesbourne was brimming with splendor, it remained dreary and felt more gloomy than before. Liv looked at the back alley in front of her with the road in between. It was a place she had never forgotten.


    ¡°Why did it not change at all.¡±


    Then it wouldn¡¯t come to her mind as vividly as it does now.


    A damp breeze carried a musty smell from the back alley.


    *


    ¡®Liv, do you know what this smell is?¡¯


    The smell reminded her of her innocent childhood when she knew nothing.


    ¡®What smell?¡¯


    ¡®Smell it well. It¡¯s musty and smells weird. It smells like a rain-soaked animal.¡¯


    ¡®I had followed my father before and smelled a pig. It smelled like this.¡¯


    At a glance, the children of nobles, well-dressed, covered their noses and frowned. Although she couldn¡¯t smell anything, Liv held her nose, pretending to avoid the foul smell.


    ¡®Do you see that across the street?¡¯


    Liv turned her head in the direction the child was pointing. It was a shabby place that did not fit at all in such a beautiful city.


    ¡®It¡¯s called the back alley.¡¯


    ¡®Back alley?¡¯


    ¡®Yes, my father says pigs live there. It¡¯s also a pig that speaks human language.¡¯


    A pig who speaks human language?


    Liv was very surprised to hear the words for the first time in her life, and opened her big eyes even wider and looked at the back alley.


    ¡®Can we go there to see?¡¯


    ¡®What?¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m curious about the pigs that talk to humans. Is the building so shabby because it¡¯s a pig? If we go and help, wouldn¡¯t we live in a prettier place than now?¡¯


    ¡®No, my father told me not to go in there because all sorts of dirty things are in there.¡¯


    Liv stared at the back alley with a curious face and crossed the road. They shouted from behind to come back immediately, but Liv couldn¡¯t hear them at all. Her head was full of talking pigs.


    When her feet finally reached the back alley, Liv felt a chill hovering there. Obviously, there was someone living there, but she instinctively faltered at the heat that she felt.


    Someone spoke to Liv as she was toggling between curiosity and fear.


    ¡®Go back.¡¯


    Liv looked at the place where the sound was coming from, her shoulders shaking. A boy appeared in the dark house where there was no sunlight. Did it get stained because it was in the dark? The child¡¯s hair and eyes were all dark.


    ¡®This is not a place for a kid like you to come in. So go back.¡¯


    Liv said bluntly, feeling a bit offended by being treated like a child by a child smaller than her.


    ¡®There¡¯s a pig who speaks human language here. Do you know?¡¯


    The child simply shut his mouth and looked at Liv.


    ¡®I¡¯m not familiar with the geography of this place, so can you find it with me?¡¯


    As soon as she finished speaking, Liv was pulled back by a rough grip.


    ¡®Go away, you pig bastard!¡¯


    The boys who came with her hid her, blocking Liv¡¯s front.


    ¡®How dare a stinky pig talk!¡¯


    ¡®Go away!¡¯


    The boys spit out harsh swear words and spit at the place where the boy was standing. What pig bastard, Liv was bewildered at the sight of violent boys she had never seen before.


    ¡®Guys, stop it. Let¡¯s go.¡¯


    ¡®¡­¡­I¡¯m not a pig bastard.¡¯


    The child came out of the door. He was obviously a little smaller than them, but he didn¡¯t feel small. It was because of those dark blue eyes.


    ¡®Stupid one. The pig bastard is you, not me.¡¯


    ¡®What, what did you say!¡¯


    Liv said nothing and looked at the child. The child was not intimidated by the humiliating situation at all. Rather, it was the well-dressed ones who were intimidated.


    ¡®Look carefully. Who is it that eats everything they are given and gets fat. Is it me? Or you?¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t talk nonsense! I¡¯m not fat!¡¯


    The child laughed when he heard that.


    ¡®Right, not yet.¡¯


    The child, who had been thinking for a while, lowered his gaze obliquely and opened his mouth again.


    ¡®No, you wouldn¡¯t even know if you got fat. Because the world you live in is full of pigs.¡¯


    ¡®This¡­¡­ this¡­¡­ this bastard!¡¯


    It was when a boy couldn¡¯t contain his anger and tried to jump at the child.


    ¡®Dane!¡¯


    Someone approached with a loud voice.


    He was a tall, slender, adult man. Thick eyelashes created a shade under the eyes, creating a gloomy atmosphere.


    ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯


    The man looked in Liv¡¯s direction. Children, dressed in expensive clothes, were nobles to everyone. The man frowned and grabbed Dane¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡®Let¡¯s go.¡¯


    Dane made eye contact with Liv before turning around. Liv couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his eyes as if possessed. So was Dane.


    It wasn¡¯t until he turned completely out of sight that Liv realized that she had been staring at Dane, barely breathing, clutching the sleeves of the boy next to her.


    The children there soon forgot what happened that day. For them, that day was nothing but dirty filth that they had accidentally stepped on. Just bathe once and wipe it off and it¡¯s over.


    But Liv could never forget. Rather, it became clearer as each day passed, and as she got older, she understood the meaning clearly.


    That child was right. The pig bastard was them.


    Lazy nobles who do nothing but eat and sleep. A person who reigns above others even though they have everything ¨C luxury and pleasure. The people around her are all pigs, so she doesn¡¯t even know she¡¯s a pig. What a penetrating statement.


    Liv even stopped eating and drinking for a while. She felt like a greedy pig and couldn¡¯t do anything. She was useless not only in the empire but also in the Ragnell family.


    The person from the back alley who left the Empire returns!


    After learning that the protagonist of a newspaper article she happened to read was the boy she met when she was young, Liv felt like she had fallen into a pit she couldn¡¯t get out of.


    The newspapers were full of his stories. Every time she read it, she felt so low that she wanted to hide.


    What did he think of her when she was young? A pathetic noble girl who was just born lucky? An immature pig bastard? It was unbearably and excruciatingly painful.


    *


    Liv wiped her face with her slender hands, revealing her bones. She was still stuck on that day.


    She didn¡¯t want to think about him, but her mind kept thinking of him, and her eyes continued following his articles. Even though she knew it would be painful, she kept confirming his existence. It was something she couldn¡¯t understand herself.


    ¡®Anyway, I¡¯m glad I came wearing a hat.¡¯


    Liv touched the hat once and turned back. Her back was as fragile as a bird soaked in rain.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell.¡±


    Then an unfamiliar voice rang in the empty street. Liv¡¯s body stiffened.

 Chapter 5

    A desolate space with all the small windows. In the middle of the floor, where cold air is emitted, a man with a rope tied to his wrist is lying down in a bloody shape. By the look of his small heaving chest that is softly breathing, it appears he is still alive.


    Drip¨D Drip¨D


    There was the sound of the faucet turning and the sound of water pouring out.


    ¡°Captain, I will keep an eye on him.¡±


    Dane, who was washing his hands in front of the cold sink in the corner after finishing the torture without much profit today, burst into laughter at the soldier¡¯s words.


    ¡®Captain, it¡¯s a ridiculous title no matter how much I hear it.¡¯


    He wiped his dripping hands with a towel nearby. In the mirror above the sink, he saw his messy hair and blood smeared on his face. Dane picked up the towel and wiped the bloodstains.


    As he threw the bloodstained towel at the soldier next to him, he received the towel and took a stiff and tense salute posture.


    It was definitely daytime when he entered the torture chamber, but when he came out, he saw the darkened sky.


    ¡®Fucking asshole. You¡¯ve dragged on a lot of my time.¡¯


    Dane frowned nervously as he looked at the sunset dyed red in the sky.


    Even after investing for such a long time, he has not achieved any results. He was very uncomfortable with the feeling of wasting his time unnecessarily. On top of that, it smells damp. It smelled like rain.


    The weather in Lesbourne was always fluctuating and unpredictable, and it wasn¡¯t once or twice that he was in a foul mood.


    ¡®Good thing I came with a carriage.¡¯


    He rummaged through his pants pocket with his right arm, which had become heavy from using his strength, and pulled out a cigar from the case and walked out into the street, biting it. It was time to go back to the sun.


    Once he has stepped out of the back alley, you¡¯ll know for sure. The fact that the place that suits him is not under the sun, but in a dirty and ugly back alley. He was born with all sorts of filth, even if he washes it, it won¡¯t go away.


    As Dane was walking slowly towards the carriage, a woman caught his attention.


    A light green dress and an unadorned gray hat that doesn¡¯t go with it. With her entire face covered, all he could see was her mouth and chin. Dane¡¯s gaze did not fall from the woman who was standing still, staring blankly at the back alley.


    He immediately recognized who the woman was.


    Liv Ragnell.


    Baron Ragnell¡¯s only daughter.


    Not long ago, she briefly showed her face at the ball and quickly disappeared.


    ¡®Thanks to you, I had a very boring time¡­¡­.¡¯


    He was given a ridiculous position as captain and had to attend a pathetic ball. It was all because of that woman. But where was she¡­¡­


    Dane¡¯s eyes lit up fiercely as he looked at Liv. Anger, irritation, and affection. His eyes wandered around somewhere.


    Damn. He was chewing on a cigar that wasn¡¯t even lit as swear words kept coming out of his mouth for no apparent reason. The cigar was painfully crumpled by the relentless force.


    Liv, who had been standing still, turned around, and Dane¡¯s feet moved on their own in order not to miss her. He spat out the cigar he was biting, neatly tucking his messy hair back, and put on a clumsy mask.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell.¡±


    The first word that came out of his mouth felt familiar as if he had practiced it over and over again. As if he had been thinking and thinking about this situation for a very long time.


    Liv couldn¡¯t easily turn around. Despite a voice she only heard from afar, it was a voice that was deeply engraved in her head. How could she forget.


    Dane warned in a low voice as Liv moved her feet, pretending not to hear.


    ¡°You¡¯d better not go there unless you want to be in trouble.¡±


    He came a step closer.


    ¡°This back alley, which looks like nothing has changed, has actually changed a lot. So it¡¯s better to be careful when the sun sets like now. Especially if it¡¯s a woman like you.¡±


    Liv swallowed her saliva.


    ¡®The owner of the bookstore didn¡¯t recognize me because of the hat¡­¡­ How did you find out?¡¯


    Her body trembled with tension.


    Tsk. Dane misunderstood the gesture and clicked his tongue.


    ¡°I said something useless. There is no need to be afraid.¡±


    As Dane got closer to Liv, she turned back in surprise.


    A wide chest wrapped in a white shirt was visible. As she raised her eyes upwards along the buttons of his shirt, she saw his solid neck through the unbuttoned collar of his shirt.


    He was definitely a child who was one span shorter than her, but now he has grown to the point where she has to look up.


    It was disconcerting to see him so close, whom she had always seen through newspapers and rumors. Liv quickly averted her eyes like a mouse in the sewer who felt the light as soon as she made eye contact with him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take my carriage?¡±


    Liv was taken aback by the totally unexpected suggestion.


    ¡°It, it¡¯s fine. I was just about to go for a carriage ride.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of renting a carriage, it¡¯s probably going to be difficult.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡®I want you to take that hat off.¡¯


    Dane felt uncomfortable because he could not see Liv¡¯s face properly. At the ball, she hurriedly left her seat and didn¡¯t show her face, and now he can¡¯t even see her face properly because of that damn hat.


    ¡°As you can see, Lesbourne has a large floating population. By now, most of the carriages will be out in other areas.¡±


    Oh my. Liv cursed her old-fashioned naivety. Why didn¡¯t she think that there would be no carriages? Of course, she felt like an idiot who believed she would be rich.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to my carriage. I¡¯ll take you to the mansion.¡±


    Liv shook her head and stepped back unconsciously.


    ¡°Oh, no. That¡¯s all right.¡±


    Even in this open place, her heart beats so fast that she can¡¯t get her head together, and cold sweat was already running down her back at the thought of being alone in the narrow carriage. She might even open the door of the carriage and run out while it¡¯s moving.


    Dane saw that and raised his eyebrows slightly.


    There was a strange feeling that she was avoiding him, but he thought she was just a cute shy person. But now that he saw it, it wasn¡¯t. She was definitely avoiding him. She also appears to be trembling.


    ¡®Am I that scary or am I unpleasant.¡¯


    Either way, he didn¡¯t intend to retreat.


    Dane reached out his hand to Liv with a languid smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Liv stared at the hand as if it were horrendous. The thought of touching that hand made her feel like her body would melt.


    ¡®Why am I like this. Why do I feel so terrible. Why do I want to run away and disappear when I stand in front of him.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t know either. She just felt like her legs were going to lose strength and collapse and her heart was beating so fast.


    Dane waited patiently. As he stared at her tightly closed lips under her shaded hat, waiting wasn¡¯t that difficult.


    The cover allowed Liv to be free from other people¡¯s gaze, but that was the case with Dane as well. He looked at Liv¡¯s lips and small chin at ease.


    A tiny mole is visible on the tip of her chin.


    ¡®I remember it wasn¡¯t there before.¡¯


    Dane went past the mole and looked down at her slender neck. He was entranced by the soft neck seen through the fluttering fabric so much so that he wanted to touch it.


    Dane, who had difficulty taking his eyes off her neck, imagined the other half hidden in her hat this time.


    ¡®Are the eyes hidden there terrified of me. Or is she frowning at the lowly man who dares to reach out to her.¡¯


    He wanted to take off her hat and check it out right now.


    If she¡¯s scared, he wants to soothe her gently, and if she frowned because of displeasure, he wants to make her more unpleasant.


    Dane waved his hand lightly.


    ¡°My hands are slowly getting numb.¡±


    With moderate intimidation.


    Liv had a lot of thoughts in her head.


    She wonders if she can get accommodation with the money she has now. She had never slept anywhere other than her home, but she felt like she could do anything in this current situation.


    Should she just contact her father? Liv shook her head immediately. If she does that, she may never be able to leave the mansion forever. She thought she¡¯d rather borrow money from him than ride his carriage, but it was terrible as it is.


    Liv bit her lip with her front teeth. It was one of the things Anton hated the most, saying it was not noble. There was no way that it wouldn¡¯t come into Dane¡¯s eyes when only her lips were visible. Her chewing her lips touched his insides.


    ¡®This is a bit dangerous.¡¯


    The idea that once came to mind spread out of control. For example, he wants to put his teeth into that white neck. He wants to put those pitiful lips that are constantly chewing in his mouth and gently comfort them.


    He wants to¡­¡­ grasp that white hand that he can see slightly at the end of her sleeves. Every single gesture of hers began to look distorted.


    If only Liv could look him in the eye, she would have stopped chewing her lips right away, but unfortunately, Liv fell into her own thoughts and didn¡¯t notice.


    Drip¨D


    Droplets of water spread over the finely laid sand. The erratic Lesbourne sky finally dripped water.


    The sudden drop of cold raindrops freed them from their own thoughts.


    The weather in Lesbourne, which has always annoyed him, is very pleasant today. Dane waved again at Liv.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have a choice anymore.¡±


    After he finished speaking, the rain that had been falling one or two drops suddenly turned into a heavy rain shower, digging into her clothes. The rain seemed to push her back and urge her to make a choice.


    She couldn¡¯t help it anymore. Her lips, which seemed to never open, began to open little by little.

 Chapter 6

    Liv stared at the window stubbornly. If it hadn¡¯t been for the sound of horses¡¯ hoofs treading on the muddy ground and the sound of raindrops hitting the top of the carriage, there would have been a quiet silence between them.


    Her face itches. Liv wanted to raise her hand and touch her face. She was concerned about the scar hidden inside the hat.


    There was no one in society who did not know Liv Ragnell. It was an open secret that Baron Ragnell¡¯s only daughter had a large scar on her face from the burns.


    Anton sent Liv to the ball at a younger age than others to get her married early. The ball she was forced to go to was terrible. People looked at Liv and talked to her, and she had to endure the shame alone.


    Whenever she attended a ball, she always had her hair down to cover the scar, however, people¡¯s attention was focused on the scar that was visible whenever the wind blew her hair. She felt like a clown herself.


    Fortunately, as time passed, people lost interest in Liv. Now, even when she showed up to the ball, no one pretended to know her. Even her close friends did not greet her.


    It was rather comfortable. She just had to sip a drink in the corner and pass the time in moderation.


    It has become rare for others to look at her scars, and now she is very concerned about it for the first time in a long time. He won¡¯t be able to see it properly because it¡¯s covered by the hat anyway.


    Liv pretended to smooth her hat and made sure her face was properly covered. Nevertheless, the anxiety did not subside easily.


    Compared to Liv, who was looking at the window with a lot of tension, Dane¡¯s face sitting in front of her looked very calm.


    ¡®You¡¯re more stubborn than you look.¡¯


    The hand that he reached out to go to the carriage and the hand that he held out when she climbed the carriage. Liv never held his hand.


    On top of that, she didn¡¯t even glance at his side. He had to caress the corners of his lips because he thought he would keep smiling like a madman.


    ¡®Will it still be the case when you get out of the carriage?¡¯


    He was already curious.


    ¡°How do you feel coming to Lesbourne after a long time? Hasn¡¯t it really changed a lot?¡±


    Liv couldn¡¯t say anything for fear that if she opened her mouth, a trembling voice would come out. Dane did not react much as if he expected Liv to not answer.


    ¡°No matter how beautiful a place is, a sewer is necessary.¡±


    Liv quickly realized that the sewer meant the back alley. Whenever she hears the topic about the back alley, she feels a sense of guilt for some reason that digs into her chest. Dane did not miss the subtle reaction.


    ¡°How was it. How do you feel about seeing the sewers of the Empire?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­it¡¯s not a sewer.¡±


    She spat out with emotion.


    ¡®Why are you saying that. He¡­¡­ he¡­¡­ he definitely lived there. How could you describe the place you lived in that way. It is clearly a place where people live¡­¡­ So why.¡¯


    ¡°Then what shall I say?¡±


    Liv didn¡¯t say anything and shut her mouth again. Dane asked Liv again, perhaps regretting it.


    ¡°A pigsty?¡±


    Liv hardened at the words stuck in her ear and turned her head to Dane. He was looking at her with a very relaxed face.


    She wasn¡¯t the only one who remembered. He didn¡¯t forget that day either.


    Liv struggled to remain calm.


    ¡°¡­¡­ Just, a village.¡±


    ¡°Village?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Just a small village.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha.¡±


    Dane couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the innocent Liv¡¯s words. The rigid carriage was filled with Dane¡¯s laughter.


    Dane stopped laughing and looked at Liv with a happy face.


    ¡°Then why were you so scared a little while ago? If it was just a village, there would be no need to be so scared by what I said.¡±


    ¡°Anywhere is dangerous at night¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous everywhere at night¡­¡­ So is it the same for the nobles?¡±


    When Liv, who didn¡¯t understand what he said, couldn¡¯t answer, Dane brought his face closer to her as if telling a secret story.


    ¡°As you know, I am from a humble background, so I do not know much about nobles. Do nobles really keep their dignity at night? When it gets dark, everyone tends to have a bad heart.¡±


    Liv couldn¡¯t answer that easily. As you get older, no matter how much you are confined in the corner of a village, you will naturally learn something.


    They pretended to be noble on the outside, but the nobles were the same anyway. Sometimes it was ugly and sometimes it was dirty. How can they say that they are the only ones with dignity.


    Liv opened her mouth with difficulty, struggling to figure out what to say.


    ¡°¡­¡­the status system has long been abolished. Now there are no nobles.¡±


    Waiting for an answer with a pleasant expression, his lips stiffened with her unexpected answer.


    ¡®Abolishment of the status system¡­¡­¡¯


    There were no nobles now.


    Dane couldn¡¯t forget the day he fell into an endless sense of loss. Everything he¡¯s been doing was just for one thing. His long-cherished desire shattered in an instant.


    He had to revise his plans urgently. Because of that, he moved around the back alley again, but he had no regrets. This was the only way left for him.


    Dane looked at Liv silently for a long time before opening his mouth.


    ¡°What does the lady think of the abolition of the status system?¡±


    Liv¡¯s mind became complicated by a question she had never thought deeply about.


    Anton, who was running wild at the time, gradually calmed down as time passed. It was because the status system disappeared only on the surface, but everything remained the same. Anton smiled contentedly, saying, ¡®Look, the truth does not change.¡¯


    Liv recalled what she thought.


    She was scared of the rapidly changing world, and she was briefly depressed by the unfamiliar feeling that she was no longer a Baron Ragnell. She observed the family¡¯s servants and maids, and headed to the center of Hale to secretly listen to people¡¯s reactions.


    Finally, she remembered the man in front of her. A figure of him who would be more pleased than anyone else that the status system was abolished came to mind.


    But everything remained the same over time, and she was worried that he might have been disappointed. She didn¡¯t even know why she was thinking like this.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s an inevitable wave of society.¡±


    ¡°Inevitable?¡±


    ¡°The world is already full of big and small revolutions. The abolition of the status system is also one of them.¡±


    The neighboring country was in turmoil not long ago. Peasants were protesting fiercely against the landlord. It was a very small article in the newspaper, but Liv read it over and over again.


    These small embers continue to be fanned around the world. The world is constantly changing. If you don¡¯t let yourself keep up with the flow of change, the country will fall behind.


    ¡°You seem to have a pretty positive view, Lady Ragnell.¡±


    Liv smiled sadly.


    It wasn¡¯t a positive thing. Rather, she is still useless now, and she was afraid of how much more useless she would become in the future. Nevertheless, she wanted to humbly accept the changes in the world.


    ¡®You¡¯re the exact opposite of me. You¡¯re going to keep moving forward, but not me.¡¯


    Dane¡¯s toes entered Liv¡¯s eyes. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she curled her toes.


    It was a moment when she wanted to hide somewhere. Self-loathing, which had been quiet for a while, ran wild in front of her.


    Silence passed between the two of them at the end of those words.


    Unlike Liv, who feels fear just thinking about the future that has yet to come, Dane felt the present he had hoped for so much by looking at the woman in the same space as him.


    *


    The carriage stopped in front of the Ragnell Mansion and the door opened. The rain that had been falling steadily stopped as they approached Hale.


    Before Liv could get up from her seat, Dane stepped out and reached out. Liv didn¡¯t hold his hand again this time.


    No one came to meet her. Liv lowered her head lightly and walked alone into the mansion. The damp grass made a soggy sound.


    A faint smile appeared on Dane¡¯s face as he looked at Liv¡¯s back. As soon as he couldn¡¯t see her, he took out a cigar from his pocket and lit it.


    It was sadly a short meeting.


    In the pitch-black darkness, white smoke faintly scattered. Each time the cigar is sucked in, the flame at the end glows red and then disappears.


    Dane glanced at the mansion with sharp eyes. It¡¯s small and old.


    The size of the mansion means power, and the shabby degree means history. Thus, it could be said that the Ragnell family has a deep history, but is not very powerful.


    Dane took in a deep breath. The flames burning red in the dark revealed Dane¡¯s greedy eyes.


    The plans that he recorded in his head were messy and he devised new plans. When the plan was outlined to some extent, Dane threw his cigar to the ground and climbed into the carriage.


    After sitting face to face and talking in person, he felt urgent. It was unclear whether he would move as planned.


    *


    Liv entered the room safely and sighed. Anton, who had gone out to expand his business, has not yet returned home.


    She stood in front of the window and looked out. She could see from a distance that the carriage did not leave and was standing there.


    She raised her hand and touched her chest. She had just gotten used to the sensation, but her heart was still beating rapidly.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡­¡±


    Liv took a deep breath and tried to calm down.


    She never expected to sit alone in the carriage with him and have a conversation. Perhaps because she was so nervous, she couldn¡¯t remember what she had talked about with him.


    ¡®By the way, why was he still in Lesbourne? I¡¯m sure he¡¯s staying in the capital. Did he go there to remember the past for a while?¡¯


    Soon after, the carriage moved. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the moving carriage. Liv stood in the room and watched the carriage moving away.


    Strangely enough, her mind was complicated.

 Chapter 7

    Young maids gathered in one corner and giggled. Hearing the sound, Liv approached with a curious face.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°M, Miss!¡±


    One of the maids hurriedly hid the item she was holding behind her back. Her face flushed, and she couldn¡¯t even look at Liv. Liv gave a friendly smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry. Our voices were too loud, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to scold you, I¡¯m just asking because I¡¯m really curious.¡±


    Liv was quite generous, especially with the young maids, who followed her very well. The maids exchanged glances with each other and showed the hidden items behind them.


    ¡°Would you like to read it, too, Miss?¡±


    ¡°A book?¡±


    Liv received the book from the maid.


    ¡®It¡¯s a romance novel.¡¯


    It was the perfect book to attract the interest of girls who have just gotten rid of their childishness. Liv smiled softly and flipped the book.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already read it. There are a few other books, but that¡¯s the most interesting!¡±


    It was cute to see her looking up at her with bright eyes and talk. Liv gladly took the book.


    As Liv was flipping the book and climbing the stairs, the door to the study on the second floor opened. Anton and a strange man came out of the study.


    ¡°Ah, here she comes.¡±


    It was the first time Anton had looked for Liv when someone visited the mansion. Liv, who was about to enter the room, hid the book on her skirt and timidly approached them.


    ¡°Liv, say hello. This is Count Rayleigh.¡±


    ¡°Liv Ragnell.¡±


    ¡°Carl Rayleigh.¡±


    As soon as the man, who seemed a little cold, smiled with his eyes bent, his expression softened. When Liv felt uncomfortable with Rayleigh¡¯s constant gaze, Rayleigh talked to her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t remember me either.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You ran into me at the ball last time. Don¡¯t you remember?¡±


    It was the man she bumped into at the ball. Liv hastily apologized.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. That¡¯s when I was distracted¡­¡­.¡±


    Rayleigh smiled.


    ¡°I am not asking for an apology. I¡¯m just a little sad that you don¡¯t remember me.¡±


    Liv looked away, not knowing what to do.


    ¡°Next time you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you have a meal? Hale¡¯s seafood is very special.¡±


    When Anton asked, Rayleigh nodded happily.


    ¡°Since you say it¡¯s special, I really want to try it. Why don¡¯t you join us, Lady Ragnell?¡±


    Anton looked surprised and answered before Liv.


    ¡°Yes, Liv, come along, too. Why don¡¯t you introduce Hale to the Count before eating?¡±


    Liv reluctantly nodded at Anton¡¯s gaze urging an answer.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame that I have to leave soon because of my tight schedule.¡±


    ¡°The door of the mansion is always open to the Count, so don¡¯t feel pressured to come.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Then I look forward to the next meeting.¡±


    Rayleigh greeted Liv and Anton with a friendly smile. His seemingly urgent steps appeared hurried.


    The brief meeting passed like breathing, and only Liv and Anton remained alone in the hallway.


    ¡°Even though he is still young, he is a man with good business skills. His reputation is not bad.¡±


    Anton glances at Liv.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s suddenly showing interest in you, but if the opportunity comes up, take it.  It may be an opportunity you will never have again.¡±


    Liv, who understood what opportunity meant, blushed in contempt and bowed her head.


    For Anton, Liv was a commodity, not a child. A product whose value has been lost due to such a large flaw. Since a person who was curious about such an existence appeared, he seemed to be looking forward to it.


    Liv was depressed at the thought that the only value of her life was marriage for her family.


    *


    The gentle waves reflected on the lake were as peaceful as ever. Liv closed the book she was reading and stared blankly at the lake.


    Anton¡¯s daily invitations to the mansion to expand his business left the Ragnell¡¯s employees frantic. However, Anton¡¯s expression was always dark as the result did not turn out as he intended.


    The sparks started to bounce at Liv.


    ¡®If only you didn¡¯t have those scars! If you hadn¡¯t been so sympathetic, men would have lined up in front of you!¡¯


    ¡®You useless fellow who can¡¯t do anything!¡¯


    The abusive language uttered under the influence of alcohol became more extreme by the day. In the end, Liv was unable to stay in the mansion and had to go outside.


    Her eyes, looking at the lake with unfocused eyes, showed severe depression. It was something she always experienced, but she couldn¡¯t get used to it no matter how much she suffered through it.


    As the lake moved in the wind, Liv¡¯s heart also trembled. Liv, assimilated with the lake, wanted to fall into it and rest forever. The desire to become one with the lake and flow to and fro came up over and over again.


    It was when Liv took a step closer to the lake as if she was possessed.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell?¡±


    Startled by the sudden sound of a voice, she turned around and saw a man she had seen from somewhere looking at her. It was Carl Rayleigh.


    He approached with a soft smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. Lady Ragnell.¡±


    ¡°Count Rayleigh¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Well, {Everyone¡¯s Lover}¡­¡­ It¡¯s a very famous romance novel.¡±


    Liv¡¯s face turned red when Rayleigh said the title of the book she had put on the floor.


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve read it, too. I remember that it was about a man who was everyone¡¯s lover who met a woman and settled down, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°I tend to enjoy reading romance novels, even though I may look like this.¡±


    ¡®Romance novels¡­¡­ This man?¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re laughing at me right now for reading romance novels, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°N, no. It¡¯s just amazing.¡­.¡±


    ¡°That book is very famous. Everyone pretends not to read it, but there are probably many other men who read it besides me. Unlike them, I¡¯m an honest type.¡±


    Liv smiled awkwardly and nodded her head.


    ¡°By the way, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I was passing by in a carriage and got off for a while because I liked the scenery. The houses are very unique.¡±


    ¡°Hale has a lot of stones, so most of the houses are made of stones.¡±


    ¡°I see. In particular, this place blends well with the lake and feels like a painting.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I like this place the most, too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I might have interrupted you with your reading.¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    Rather, he pulled her up, who almost fell into the water.


    Liv turned her head and looked back at the lake. The deep puddle feels like a beckoning to come. She knew all too well that death awaited her if she followed it.


    The lake was her shelter. Whenever she felt unbearable suffering, she came to the lake to clear her mind. After pouring out her feelings into that wide puddle, she was able to stand up again.


    However, as the days passed, the meaning of rest gradually changed. Not a rest to live, but a rest to give up everything.


    Rayleigh¡¯s eyes saw a clean profile of Liv, without a single scar. He scanned her face with a fresh expression and spoke to her.


    ¡°It must be quite a distance to Ragnell¡¯s mansion, but I can¡¯t see the carriage.¡±


    ¡°I like to think while walking, so I don¡¯t bother riding a carriage in Hale.¡±


    As Liv answered and straightened her head, the wind scattered her hair. Between the strands of hair, a scar that did not match the beautiful face was seen. Rayleigh looked at it.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you walk to Ragnell¡¯s mansion with me? I think now is the right time to think.¡±


    *


    Rayleigh and Liv walked side by side.


    The two had a lot in common. Their love for reading and when they think of freshly baked apple pies, their mouth waters. They like plain things rather than glamour, and even losing their mother at an early age was similar.


    If there was only one difference, it was the degree of affection they felt for their own estate.


    ¡°As it is a place I love, I thought that everyone living there would be happy. I thought I needed money to do that, and as I increased my business one by one, I became as busy as I am now, but I have no regrets because I got such good results.¡±


    Liv, on the other hand, had little affection for Hale. The only things she liked about this place were the lake and the shabby bookstore.


    ¡°You¡¯re really amazing.¡±


    ¡°No. I was just lucky. Doesn¡¯t the lady also care about Hale?¡±


    Liv averted her gaze and lied.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s where I was born.¡±


    ¡®How would it feel to love the land where you were born and raised.¡¯


    Liv was a little depressed.


    But that feeling was fleeting. Rayleigh was a very pleasant conversation partner. Liv was excited about the person she had not met for a long time and talked without realizing the passage of time.


    In a pleasant atmosphere, the two arrived in front of Ragnell¡¯s mansion. Liv hid her regret and called Rayleigh.


    ¡°Count Rayleigh. I had a great time today.¡±


    ¡°How about calling my name, Carl, instead of Count?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°The title of Count has long since disappeared, so I want to be called something other than that.¡±


    Liv looked at Rayleigh with unfamiliar eyes.


    Although the nobility had long since disappeared, nothing had changed. The same was true of the title. Liv had no choice but to follow the opinion of the majority.


    ¡°If the Lady doesn¡¯t mind, please call me Carl.¡±


    Liv¡¯s eyes lit up. Rayleigh was the first to say this.


    As she felt the pleasure of meeting a person she knew by chance on an unfamiliar street, she felt like she became close to him somehow.


    ¡°Well, um¡­¡­ Carl¡­¡­ I¡¯ll head inside.¡±


    After saying goodbye, Liv was about to enter the mansion when Rayleigh hurriedly stopped her.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell, can I come over for a meal next time?¡±


    There was a slight tension in Rayleigh¡¯s expression. Liv replied kindly.


    ¡°As much as you want.¡±

 Chapter 8

    It was when Liv was just about to climb the stairs in the center to get to her room.


    ¡°Miss!¡±


    It was the maid who handed Liv the book. She ran with a happy expression on her face as if she had been waiting for Liv to arrive.


    ¡°How was the book?¡±


    ¡°It was so much fun.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡±


    The maid¡¯s face brightened and she spoke softly.


    ¡°I was worried that you might think it¡¯s not fun, but I¡¯m glad. I have a lot of other books, would you like me to lend you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it. I didn¡¯t cut in your reading sequence, did I?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve already read it all. And for a while, everyone was talking about Aiden.¡±


    Aiden was the male protagonist in the novel.


    ¡°But he¡¯s a playboy, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a playboy, but he only looked at one woman later on. I really like that. Everyone¡¯s taste has changed to a brown-haired man.¡±


    Liv and the young maid went up the stairs together.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I used to like men with dark hair like me, but now I like men with brown hair like Aiden. What about you?¡±


    Black hair flashed in Liv¡¯s mind.


    ¡°I, well¡­¡­ If I had to say, black hair?¡±


    She opened the door and Liv motioned for her to come in. As the maid followed Liv into the room, she saw a well-made wooden desk, giving off a quiet atmosphere.


    Liv opened the desk drawer, pulled out a square box, and handed it to the maid. The maid received it with a curious expression.


    ¡°Can I open it?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    When she carefully opened the box, she saw a row of pebble-sized chocolates lined up neatly. The maid looked at Liv with wide eyes.


    Chocolate was expensive, making it difficult for the common people to buy.


    ¡°It¡¯s in return for lending me an interesting book. Share it with the other children.¡±


    Liv loved chocolate so much that her desk drawer was always full of chocolate.


    ¡°Thank you. Miss! I¡¯ll eat well!¡±


    The maid thanked Liv with a very excited face.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    As Liv handed the book, the maid quickly received the book with her other hand, nodded and left the room.


    Liv opened another box of chocolates, put one in her mouth and sat down on the chair. The chocolate melted thickly in her mouth. Liv picked up a pen, savoring the chocolate flavor that filled her mouth. Then she began to write intently on a blank piece of paper.


    She never missed a day of writing. The thoughts that came to mind that day, a short poem, and the appreciation of reading a book. The subject was varied. Writing was Liv¡¯s only hobby, along with reading.


    *


    ¡°Oh, Count Rayleigh.¡±


    Anton greeted Rayleigh with a pleasant expression. Liv, who thought that they would not be able to meet until next month, was surprised that they met sooner than expected.


    Rayleigh greeted Anton and looked at Liv. When Liv greeted him with a welcome expression, Rayleigh¡¯s expression changed to that of a fresh young man. Anton did not miss that expression.


    ¡°The food will get cold. Come this way.¡±


    The three of them were seated in a huge hall with a variety of food lavishly laid out.


    Thanks to the skillful chef, the food was very tasty and the atmosphere was pleasant.


    ¡°What do you think about Hale¡¯s seafood dishes?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth bragging about. It¡¯s one of the best seafood dishes I¡¯ve ever eaten. I envy you for being able to eat this fresh seafood because the sea is right next to you.¡±


    ¡°If the Count makes up his mind, he will be able to eat Hale¡¯s fresh seafood every day.¡±


    Despite Anton¡¯s meaningful words, Rayleigh just smiled, pretending not to know.


    ¡®I¡¯m sure you¡¯re interested in my daughter¡­¡­.¡¯


    Impatient at Rayleigh¡¯s vague attitude, Anton decided to take a risky gamble.


    ¡°Oh no, I forgot.¡±


    When Anton looked at the butler standing by the door, he approached.


    ¡°What time were we supposed to meet?¡±


    The butler, who had been with Anton for a long time, read his mind at once and matched the false rhythm.


    ¡°It¡¯ll probably be tight even if you leave now.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, oh no.¡±


    Anton, with his hand on his head, looked at Rayleigh with an apologetic expression.


    ¡°Count, it seems¡­¡­ I made a mistake. Either this person or I are getting older, so we often get confused about our appointments. The Count contacted me first, so I was happy to make an appointment for a quick meal. Now I just remembered my previous engagement.¡±


    Liv looked at Anton with a stunned face.


    ¡®How could my father who morbidly hates to have his honor tarnished make such a mistake¡­¡­!¡¯


    On top of that, the other person was a Count. It was hard to believe.


    The butler just kept his eyes down with an expressionless face. Liv was the only one who was bewildered.


    Despite Anton¡¯s rude behavior, Rayleigh looked at him with a soft smile rather than feeling displeased. But there was an obvious sneer mixed in it. He seemed to have noticed Anton¡¯s trick of leaving him and Liv alone.


    ¡°I understand. I just came to eat today, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much. Judging from your expression, it seems to be very important, so you may go.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Count. Let¡¯s have a proper conversation next time. Liv, please take good care of the count.¡±


    ¡°F, father.¡±


    ¡®Are you really leaving like this?¡¯


    Anton hurriedly left the hall before Liv could even get up from her seat.


    The atmosphere, which was as soft as flowing water, hardened in an instant.


    ¡®What on earth was father thinking¡­¡­¡¯


    Liv, who had been staring at the door where Anton had exited with bewildered eyes, looked carefully at Rayleigh. Rayleigh looked thoughtful as he cut the clam on the plate with a knife.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Count Rayleigh. This has never happened before¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m worried that the Lady is uncomfortable eating alone with me.¡±


    ¡°No way! I was just worried that the Count might have been offended¡­¡­.¡±


    It was the first time Liv had ever experienced such an absurd thing.


    ¡®Where in the world can you see someone who has an appointment with a guest and just disappears. And my father who always talked about noble values?¡¯


    ¡°It must be very urgent.¡±


    Rayleigh took the knife and placed the trimmed fish on the plate.


    ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you decide to call me by my name when we were alone?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Never mind. I am rather happy that there is one less mouth to eat delicious food.¡±


    At his playful words, Liv gave a slight smile.


    She looked at the door where Anton disappeared, sighed deeply inside, and then focused again on her meal.


    *


    Rayleigh was a man who had the ability to put others at ease. Thanks to this, it made Liv feel like she was talking to an old friend throughout the meal.


    After dinner, Rayleigh suggested going for a walk, saying it was a pity to say goodbye after the meal. Liv readily accepted it, and the two walked through the garden inside the mansion and continued their unfinished conversation.


    Since Liv spent most of her time in the mansion, she was curious about the outside world. The one who asked was Liv, and the person who answered was Rayleigh.


    While Liv was enthralled with his speech that moved freely between seriousness and lightness, she didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. Their conversation continued like water from a fountain gushing out continuously.


    They decided to take a rest on a bench on one side of the garden.


    Rayleigh, who couldn¡¯t see the garden properly because he was talking to Liv, finally looked around the garden. Then, a fountain in the middle of the garden caught his eye.


    Although there was no significant difference from other fountains, the fountains here looked special. Hale¡¯s stone pattern was the first thing that caught his eye.


    ¡°Do you like the fountain?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really unique. The appearance is no different from the fountain in other gardens, but it looks like that with just one pattern. Lady Ragnell may not be very impressed by it, but it keeps my eyes on it.¡±


    ¡°You seem very interested in architecture.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I like it. Although I¡¯m a businessman now, I used to want to be an artist. In particular, I was very interested in sculpture and architecture.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you sad that you gave up on the path of an artist?¡±


    ¡°Rather than regret, it is now just a memory of the past. I have come too far to go back that way.¡±


    Liv asked him aloud, unable to hide her disappointment.


    ¡°¡­¡­ have you ever been to the square?¡±


    ¡°No. I haven¡¯t been there.¡±


    ¡°Then, next time you come, how about going to the square? There is also a fountain there, and it feels different from here.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡­¡±


    Rayleigh hesitated for a moment, then looked at Liv.


    ¡°Are you coming with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because I like watching it together with someone more than watching it alone.¡±


    Is it because he has many similarities with her? The conversation she had with him was enjoyable, and even though this was the second time she had a proper conversation, there was no discomfort. Liv nodded, and Rayleigh smiled contentedly.


    Not long after Rayleigh left, Anton came in. As soon as he returned to the mansion, he looked for Liv first for some reason.


    ¡°What did you talk to Count Rayleigh?¡±


    ¡°Just¡­¡­ We just had a normal conversation.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to see him again next time?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­We decided to go to the square together the next time we meet.¡±


    Anton, who looked at Liv with a firm expression, began to laugh. It was the first laugh he showed Liv.


    ¡°Well done! You¡¯re still not very useless!¡±


    Anton patted Liv on the shoulder and climbed the stairs with a smile on his face.


    Heat rose near the shoulder where his hand touched. Liv released the tension she had when Anton¡¯s hand approached her. She couldn¡¯t figure out what kind of useful thing she had done that made him so excited.

 Chapter 9

    Rayleigh came to Liv as promised. They went out to the square to see the fountain and had a good time walking around the streets together.


    After that, Rayleigh¡¯s visits continued. For Liv, who has always been alone, Rayleigh¡¯s visit was precious. Liv was always happy to welcome him, and the two would take a walk or sit by the lakeside and read books recommended to each other.


    He was very kind and didn¡¯t even stare into her scars like everyone else. Liv liked him that way.


    As Rayleigh¡¯s visits became more frequent, a rumor began to circulate in the society. It was a rumor that Lady Ragnell and Count Rayleigh were preparing to get engaged.


    This absurd rumor is now almost a fait accompli[1] in people¡¯s mouths. However, Liv, the person involved in the rumor, was spending her usual time without knowing anything.


    ¡®It¡¯s going to rain.¡¯


    The sky has become overcast. Liv, who was sitting alone in the lake and reading a book, got up from her seat.


    It would be a disaster if it rained before she got home. It¡¯s okay to change clothes, but once a book gets wet, it can¡¯t go back to its old form.


    The darkened sky began pouring down rain little by little as Liv got closer to the mansion. Liv, who kept her book in her arms and was busy moving her feet, stopped walking when she saw a familiar carriage standing in front of the door.


    ¡°Carl?¡±


    ¡®He didn¡¯t say he was coming today.¡¯


    Liv approached the carriage.


    ¡®No, it¡¯s not his carriage.¡¯


    When Liv, who checked the carriage, stepped back, the door opened and someone came out of the carriage with an umbrella open.


    A blue uniform was seen under the black umbrella.


    Liv hardened on the spot. Her mind, which had been constantly warning her not to let water come into contact with the book, could not think of anything.


    The man who looked up at the raindrops falling in the sky turned his head. Raindrops fell on the uniform, leaving dark marks. Liv¡¯s eyes are drawn to the cool black eyes.


    It was Dane.


    She thought she¡¯d never see him again. Even if she met him, she thought she would just pass by him at the ball, surrounded by people, for a while.


    Liv could feel the strength in her hand as she gripped the book.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Dane opened his mouth first, breaking the silence that flowed between them. Liv, who didn¡¯t even know she was looking at him, was startled by the voice and hurriedly averted her eyes.


    ¡®Why is he here?¡¯


    After that day, like lightning striking in the dry sky without reason, he would suddenly appear in her head and stir her, who had been calm. At that time, she forced herself to do other things and erased her thoughts.


    ¡®He shouldn¡¯t be in this place.¡¯


    Her quiet heart was beginning to heat up. It was starting again. This strange feeling was like an uninvited guest who she didn¡¯t want to meet.


    ¡°Your clothes are getting wet in the rain. Come this way.¡±


    The raindrops, which had fallen one or two drops, completely became a rain and soaked Liv¡¯s body and the earth. Come to think of it, it rained like this that day, too.


    Liv was so focused on Dane that she didn¡¯t even know that the book in her hand got wet.


    ¡°Come over here.¡±


    When Liv showed no signs of moving despite the urging, Dane let out a small sigh and approached her. As he got closer to her, Liv¡¯s eyes wandered to the ground.


    Dane reached out his hand. Liv closed her eyes at the tickling sensation that climbed up her back. She had to give her legs strength so that they wouldn¡¯t stumble.


    She could hear the sound of the wind escaping from her mouth. When Liv opened her eyes, Dane lifted Liv¡¯s hand and made her hold the umbrella. Liv¡¯s hand was wrapped in a big hand.


    ¡°You seem to hate it.¡±


    The warmth and feel of another person on the back of her hand was unfamiliar. Dane handed Liv the umbrella, then turned and entered the mansion.


    Drip¨D Drip.


    She heard the sound of rain falling on the umbrella. The warmth felt from the handle of the umbrella that was handed over melted the frozen Liv.


    ¡®Where is he¡­¡­.¡¯


    Liv almost ran after him.


    ¡®What am I even trying to do running after him? Share the umbrella and use it together?¡¯


    That wasn¡¯t it.


    Her hurried footsteps slowed down again.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know. What the hell do I want to do?¡¯


    Liv didn¡¯t get any closer, but silently followed Dane.


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s still raining¡­¡­¡±


    When he opened the door, he immediately ran into the butler holding an umbrella. The butler looked surprised to see Dane. Liv said as she stood still, looking at Dane with a bewildered look on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯d better bring father.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡­ I understand.¡±


    The sound of hasty footsteps drifted away to the central stairs, and silence fell again between them.


    Dane entered Ragnell¡¯s mansion. It was a picture she had never thought of.


    Liv was about to go crazy with her heart beating rapidly without notice. She took a step back just in case he could hear her heart beating.


    ¡°Are you uncomfortable?¡±


    Anton¡¯s rough footsteps were heard before she could say no.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you. Baron Ragnell.¡±


    Dane took off his hat and greeted Anton lightly on the stairs. Anton frowned.


    ¡°Liv, you stay in the room.¡±


    Liv went up the stairs without saying a word in the serious atmosphere.


    From behind, Dane followed Liv¡¯s figure with his eyes. Anton soon descended the stairs as Liv turned around the wall and disappeared from view.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the reception room.¡±


    ¡°Let us.¡±


    Dane, who was walking along Anton, looked back, and saw over the wall that was not visible above the stairs.


    His eyes could see Liv entering her room. He cast a brief glance there and turned his head away.


    The reception room door was closed. Anton stared at Dane with fierce eyes and sat on the sofa alone without telling him to sit down.


    ¡°Why did you come here? I never invited you!¡±


    Dane, who was looking around the reception room with eyes full of interest, sat cross-legged in front of Anton and took off his hat.


    Neatly pulled back hair is visible.  He brushed the rain off his robe.


    ¡°I was wondering why the Baron wasn¡¯t looking for me. At this point, I thought that you would still be able to find me, but no matter how much I waited, there was no news, so I came here on my own feet.¡±


    Anton slammed the table loudly with his palm.


    ¡®How dare this vulgar bastard¡­¡­¡¯


    Dane was actually at ease. Rather, he showed a small smile on his mouth as if the current situation was pleasant.


    Anton¡¯s fist quivered.


    ¡®I knew it. For some time now, that guy has been cleverly blocking the way of the Ragnell family.¡¯


    The contract that ends after signing has been overturned several times. When he investigated who was behind it and found out that it was Dane¡¯s work, he was so angry that he couldn¡¯t stand it.


    ¡°How dare you cross the path of the Ragnell family when you are just a traitor born of lowly origins. It¡¯s not about the money, you just want to get on my nerves. But why?¡¯


    Most of the contracts that Dane intercepted were contracts that had no significant profits. There was nothing to interest him.


    Anton looked intently into Dane¡¯s face, wondering if he might have held a grudge against him as a child, but it was definitely a face he had never seen before.


    ¡°Are you done looking?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­the reason.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Why are you intruding on our business and obstructing it?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean obstruction, they chose me because I offered better conditions.¡±


    ¡°So why! I¡¯m asking you why you¡¯re doing that!¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡­¡±


    Dane raised his hand and rubbed his chin.


    ¡°Just, I just wanted to come.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to see what the Ragnell family looks like. If the baron had invited me earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have interfered so much. No matter how long I waited, the letter didn¡¯t come, so I came to see you first despite the rudeness. I¡¯ve always wondered what this place looks like.¡±


    ¡°You impudent bastard! Are you kidding me? Do you think it makes sense that it was only for that reason?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, why did you ask?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡­ this¡­¡­ How dare you, a man from the lowly back alley, in front of me¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, but what can you do? The vulgar me now has more money than the Baron. As the Baron knows, money and power are all there is to the world, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°So, isn¡¯t the baron, a nobleman, throwing away his face and making a deal with his daughter? Just for money.¡±


    ¡°You filthy rat! Shut your mouth right now!¡±


    ¡®This old man¡¯s vocal cord is good.¡¯


    Dane raised his hand and suppressed his desire to pick his ears. Or else, that red, hot face might burst. It would be difficult if he died now.


    ¡°Baron Ragnell is using his daughter as a last resort¡­¡­ It¡¯s something that everyone already knows. The baron who values ??face so much doesn¡¯t seem to care about his daughter¡¯s face.¡±


    ¡°What do you know when you are from lowly origins! Everything I do is for the family, and what I do for the family is ultimately for the child!¡±


    Dane snorted.


    ¡°Carl Rayleigh has nothing but shimmer on the outside. I¡¯m really curious as to why you chose such a nobody.¡±


    ¡°Is there nothing to see? Don¡¯t you know that from your own eyes? Considering the flaws my daughter has, I¡¯m so grateful.¡±


    Dane¡¯s face hardened. It was a face that held back his anger.


    ¡°He¡¯s a crooked guy. I¡¯m sure the baron heard that he didn¡¯t have good hand habits[2].¡±


    ¡°Everyone has a flaw. If not for that man, who would marry my daughter?¡±


    ¡°How about me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    TL Notes:


    [1] Fait Accompli ¨C a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.


    [2] It means that he has the habit of beating others.

 Chapter 10

    ¡°If you¡¯re good enough to send your daughter to a guy who has bad hand habits, how about me?¡±


    Anton thought he had misheard the words that he said naturally.


    It was ridiculous and absurd that the words he erased immediately from his head became clear when he saw his smiling smug face. Anton¡¯s face grew redder.


    ¡°This¡­¡­ damn¡­¡­.¡±


    Words could not come out of his mouth properly and dispersed. He seemed to have difficulty controlling his rising temper.


    ¡®You¡¯re nothing more than just a lowly jerk!¡¯


    A hot fire lit up in his stomach[1]. It became the starting point, and a thunderous shout erupted from deep within.


    ¡°How dare you! How dare you!¡±


    Anton reached out to strangle Dane. His bloodshot hands trembled in anger. Dane was nonchalant as if expecting this reaction.


    The hand that stopped in front of his face could no longer come closer and curled up. No matter how he said he was born, now he was a man of the emperor. And Vergo is standing behind him.


    Dane leisurely watched Anton¡¯s bloodshot figure.


    ¡®I heard he¡¯s quite polite, but I don¡¯t think so. Ah, it¡¯s because he is in front of a vulgar guy.¡¯


    Suddenly, he remembered the woman who stubbornly refused to hold his outstretched hand. If he had forcibly held her hand at that time, would she have been angry with that face? He can¡¯t imagine it because she always has her eyes down and he can only see her calm figure.


    Liv¡¯s face overlapped Anton¡¯s. With her face red and a frown on her face, she yells at him.


    ¡®Damn it, it¡¯s serious. Very.¡¯


    Dane sighed briefly.


    He¡¯s been like this ever since he got into the carriage with her. He was troubled because everything seemed to be about her. The desire, which he had been forcibly holding back by stubbornly turning a blind eye, was so uncomfortable that he wandered from place to place like a horse that had been loosened since that day.


    Dane got up roughly from his seat, sweeping his face at his ridiculous appearance to the point where he could laugh. This is enough.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave for today. See you next time.¡±


    ¡°What are you!¡±


    ¡°You might as well think about the suggestion I made again.¡±


    There was only one thing he wanted. If it doesn¡¯t go his way, he¡¯s going to take it by force. So please choose the easy way. Dane sincerely prayed.


    ¡°Damn child! You¡¯re not going to stop there?¡±


    Dane opened the reception room door and walked out. The butler standing in front of the door immediately entered the reception room. He can hear the relentless sound of breaking and crushing.


    Dane glanced at the closed door and walked forward. The rigid footsteps of military boots echoed through the corridor.


    After passing through the passageway with several meaningless paintings, he came to the stairs that Liv had climbed. No one had climbed the stairs, and the water trails from Liv were still there.


    As Dane moved his gaze along the water stains, Liv¡¯s figure, who was walking up the stairs holding the hem of her skirt, followed like an illusion. The stains that continued one drop at a time disappeared behind the wall at the end of the stairs.


    He feels anxious because he can¡¯t have the food he wants to eat the most and little by little, his sorrow is eating him away. Unfortunately, however, the space he was allowed today was up to here.


    He finally stepped inside the mansion he had always looked at from the outside, but instead of being satisfied, he was left with only regret. There was no end to human greed.


    He forced his feet off the ground and left.


    ¡°Count Rayleigh, what the hell are you doing! There¡¯s no way!¡±


    It had been less than three days since Dane had visited Ragnell¡¯s mansion.


    The study door burst open with the butler¡¯s urgent voice. It was an unscheduled visit, but Anton stood up to greet Rayleigh as if he had already expected it. As he entered the study, his face was full of anger.


    ¡°I heard that Dane had visited here.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°For what reason did he come here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a reason to tell you every little thing about my family.¡±


    Rayleigh quickly noticed that Anton¡¯s attitude toward him had changed strangely. With fierce eyes, Rayleigh gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Baron Ragnell, what the hell are you doing with me?¡±


    ¡°Count Rayleigh, as you know, our family is going down. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I was well aware of that fact. That¡¯s why I cling to you with the feeling of grasping at straws.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t think I can send it to you for my daughter¡¯s happiness.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of doing it now?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? For my daughter¡¯s happiness.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense and be honest.¡±


    Rayleigh looked at Anton with glaring eyes. He had a completely different face from his harmless appearance. He took off the mask he had been wearing for so long.


    ¡°How much did that bastard say he would give you?¡±


    Rayleigh grew annoyed at the sudden change.


    All the scandals involving Rayleigh were true.


    No nobleman would give his child to a violent man. Only Anton tried to hand over his daughter even after hearing the scandal. For Rayleigh, who had no marriage partner, this marriage was an opportunity that could never be missed.


    Rayleigh also liked Liv quite a bit. He had to try not to frown every time he saw the scar, but he really liked the face on the other side without the scar.


    It was enough to cover it with something, whether it was hair or a pillow. She was a country bumpkin who knew nothing, and even had a docile personality, and she seemed to accept everything he did. So he chose Liv.


    He was the gentleman who rescued the poor woman whom no one wanted. Everyone would praise him for being great, and he would be able to rebuild his reputation that had fallen to the bottom.


    Everything was perfect.


    ¡°How much did you pay to hand over your daughter to a back alley bastard? I¡¯ll double the price he said.¡±


    ¡°He said he¡¯d give me everything.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°He said he would give it all.¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±


    Rayleigh started laughing as if he had heard something very funny.


    ¡°You believe that? What happened to your head?¡±


    However, Anton¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, and Rayleigh¡¯s expression slowly hardened.


    ¡°On what grounds do you believe that?¡±


    Anton brought a document that was lying on the desk. Rayleigh snatched the documents.


    ¡®Dane¡­¡­ Ragnell?¡¯


    It was written that Dane would have the surname Ragnell and that within five years all his property would belong to the Ragnell family.


    Rayleigh¡¯s hands trembled. Crazy bastard. He¡¯s out of his mind. Otherwise, there was no way to write this ridiculous contract.


    However, the contract in front of him is not false.


    ¡®You¡¯re going to hand over all your property to Ragnell? To get a woman with a hideous face that no one wants, either?¡¯


    It¡¯s ridiculous. Such an absurd contract could not have been real. Rayleigh threw the contract on the desk like trash and left.


    Anton lifted the contract that was lying helplessly on the desk.


    A few days ago, a letter arrived in front of him. The sender was Dane.


    He remembered the unpleasant feelings of the day and thought about tearing it apart, but he was curious about what he had said, so he opened it.


    The contents written in powerful handwriting were simple and clear.


    Instead of getting Ragnell, I¡¯ll give you all of mine.


    He found out what he meant by reading the enclosed contract.


    Is this what it means to catch someone off guard? Anton had to swallow his dry saliva, holding a contract with an unbelievable content.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell!¡±


    Rayleigh climbed up the stairs. The maid who was cleaning the second floor looked at him with surprise.


    ¡°Where is Liv?¡±


    ¡°The Lady is out. Maybe in the lake¡­¡­.¡±


    Rayleigh stepped roughly down the stairs.


    When he arrived at the lake on horseback, he could see Liv. Liv sat looking at the lake. Rayleigh got off the horse and called Liv.


    ¡°Liv!¡±


    Liv looked back. Her eyes widened when she saw Rayleigh running towards her.


    ¡°Carl?¡±


    He hastily hugged Liv. Liv looked perplexed and struggled with her arms.


    ¡°W, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Liv was confused because she had never held hands with him. Liv reached out and pulled him away.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Rayleigh just stared blankly at Liv¡¯s face. All he could trust was this woman¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Will you marry me?¡±


    ¡°Yes? That¡¯s¡­¡­ All of a sudden¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°As soon as I saw you, I fell in love at first sight. That¡¯s why I came to Hale every day to see you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°We have a lot in common. Don¡¯t you know too? So marry me. We will surely live happily. I¡¯ll make it that way. I will dedicate my everything to make you happy.¡±


    His eyes were filled with eagerness. He wasn¡¯t kidding, he meant it. Liv was troubled by the sudden proposal.


    ¡°I have¡­¡­ I have never thought of you like that¡­¡­.¡±


    Rayleigh hurriedly grabbed Liv¡¯s forearm. Liv frowned at the heavy touch.


    ¡°Do you know what your father is up to?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°He is trying to sell you off to a lowly man.¡±


    ¡°What do you¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Dane, that bastard made a deal with your father. On the condition of marrying you.¡±


    ¡®I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s talking about. Marriage¡­¡­¡¯


    Liv only looked up at Rayleigh with a dazed face.


    ¡°Your father is going to send you to that guy. A delicate woman like you doesn¡¯t fit in with a guy who came from the back alley. You¡¯ll know from the rumors too. The fact that his father sold himself in the back alley. Where do you think his blood came from? You¡¯ll never be happy if you marry him! That¡¯s why!¡±


    ¡°Stop! Stop!¡±


    Liv roughly removed Rayleigh¡¯s arm and lowered her head. It was uncomfortable to hear Dane¡¯s rumor coming out of his mouth anymore.


    ¡°Please stop¡­¡­ Say no more.¡±


    ¡°Liv¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡­ I¡¯m so confused right now¡­¡­ I need to go today. Let¡¯s meet next time.¡±


    ¡°Liv!¡±


    Rayleigh reached out to Liv again, but Liv flatly rejected his hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t follow me!¡±


    Liv felt uncomfortable with Rayleigh¡¯s hands. She didn¡¯t want to hear anything.


    She started running without caring about her appearance. She was going to go back to the mansion right now and hear for herself how this happened.


    Liv, who returned to the mansion, hurriedly opened the door to the study. It was a place she had never opened on her own since she was hated by Anton.


    Anton sat down in his chair, letting out a ragged breath and watching Liv come in. From his calm appearance, Liv knew that what Rayleigh had said was true.


    ¡°How could you do that!¡±


    Liv shouted at Anton in a screaming voice.


    But he had already decided everything.


    TL Notes:


    [1] A hot fire lit up in his stomach is used to describe someone who is ready to do something with passion and determination. In this case, his anger rose to the highest point that he has no regard for his face (pride) anymore and is ready to say (do) anything.

 Chapter 11

    A study filled with acrid smoke.


    Liv left and Dane and Anton sat opposite each other with a table between them. Dane lit a cigar and spoke to Anton in an arrogant tone.


    ¡°You must have changed your mind in the meantime. You welcomed me so kindly.¡±


    ¡°Ahem¡­¡­ There will be no reversal of the decision, right?¡±


    ¡°I have no intention of doing so, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    In spite of what he said, Dane seemed to be out of his mind. Anton glanced at him.


    ¡®It seems like he got offended by the conversation I had with my daughter.¡¯


    His pride was hurt because he had heard that she would rather marry another man. In addition, he himself was so overcome with emotion that he said useless things. He would be in despair if he pretended this never happened when he already came here.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s because my daughter is very confused by the sudden news of the marriage. Don¡¯t worry too much because I¡¯ll try to talk to you. That child will eventually accept the marriage.¡±


    Dane let out a hazy smoke without saying a word.


    The quiet and calm lake of Hale resembles her. Sometimes, when life was overwhelming and he wanted to be comforted, he went to the lake.


    Everybody has such a day. Every day feels meaningless and you just want to die.


    Watching from a distance as she sat alone on the grass and calmly read a book would bring an indescribable sense of ease to him. When she wasn¡¯t in sight, he would look at the lake where her eyes would have touched countless times, soothing his empty heart.


    The image of her rising up urgently from the sudden shower, bringing a basket of food and eating while looking at the lake, lying down and enjoying a nap, and walking around the lake and thinking deeply about something.


    The driving force that caused him to rise again was there. At some point, the lake became his shelter. His own secret resting place that he doesn¡¯t want to show anyone.


    But today, an uninvited guest appeared at the shelter.


    When Carl Rayleigh, who had come on horseback in a hurry, took Liv in his arms and said something with a mournful face, she hurriedly ran away. The man who was left alone could not leave and looked around, looking at the back of the woman who was moving away.


    It was like a play. The main characters were the two of them and the villain was him.


    Dane sucked his cigar deeply.


    He already knew their relationship. In the first place, he didn¡¯t think it would be easy. The old man, blinded by money and power, could be controlled, but it was a different story if it was her heart.


    ¡®No, it¡¯s not bad. Wasn¡¯t it all reported?¡¯


    Nevertheless, there is a clear difference between what was told and what was seen with his own eyes.


    Anton handed over the contract. Dane checked Anton¡¯s signature and put it in his inner pocket.


    He¡¯s done with his business. Even though things turned out as planned, he felt very dirty. He knew the reason too well.


    ¡®Did the woman who ran out go to that man?¡¯


    ¡°May I ask you something?¡±


    Dane, who was rubbing the cigar into the ashtray, moved his eyebrows to signify a question.


    ¡°It¡¯s out of order to ask this when it¡¯s already done, but why Ragnell?¡±


    Anton knew he had many better options. Ragnell needed him, but he had no reason to be a Ragnell.


    The cigar was crumpled in the ashtray without mercy. Even though the embers had already died and only ashes were spitting out, Dane did not stop. He seemed to be deep in thought, and he looked like he had heard a funny thing.


    ¡°Do I have to answer?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better not ask useless questions. You just have to take what I give you.¡±


    Dane rose from his seat and touched his hat and said, ¡°Well then.¡± Through the slowly closing door, Anton was seen sitting with a dumbfounded look.


    It was when he was about to get out of the mansion and into the carriage.


    ¡°Are you really going to marry me?¡±


    A voice as delicate as a single flower was heard.


    Liv was standing by the gate with trembling eyes, looking at Dane. Her eyes are red from how much she cried.


    Dane lowered his foot from the carriage and approached her.


    ¡°Do you not like it?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°The marriage? Or me?¡±


    Liv replied that she didn¡¯t want to marry as if she were sacrificing solely for the sake of her family. But when asked if she didn¡¯t like him, she didn¡¯t say no.


    ¡®It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like him. It¡¯s just uncomfortable. Because¡­¡­ I become conscious of everything when I stand in front of him.¡¯


    Dane, who had been patiently waiting for Liv¡¯s answer, asked again.


    ¡°Then, Carl Rayleigh.¡±


    ¡®Carl Rayleigh?¡¯


    ¡°Are you disappointed that you couldn¡¯t marry Carl Rayleigh? You cried so much that the corners of your eyes turned so red.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°What was so good about him? If it¡¯s something I can do, I¡¯ll try.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ I don¡¯t know why his name comes up.¡±


    ¡°Because your marriage partner was Carl Rayleigh.¡±


    The look on Liv¡¯s face was one of complete surprise when she heard what he said.


    ¡®Marriage partner?¡¯


    Liv had thought of Rayleigh as just a like-minded friend.


    It is now that she understands her father, who has been kind to her for a long time. In addition, Rayleigh¡¯s sudden proposal¡­¡­.


    ¡°I had no idea. My father set me up with him¡­¡­ I¡¯m not in that kind of relationship with him.¡±


    It was obvious. Her father must have been happy at the thought of finally being able to sell the troublesome product.


    Liv¡¯s head fell horribly down like a broken branch. It was miserable. Women of noble families have always been treated like this. She was fed up with dealings under the guise of marriage.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t want to show this to him. He is the only one¡­¡­¡¯


    Compared to him, her life was unsightly. She doesn¡¯t know what to do. Liv¡¯s face contorted.


    ¡®Why is it that only embarrassing things happen in front of this man? Why do I get smaller when I stand in front of this man? Why¡­¡­ am I this small and insignificant?¡¯


    ¡°As long as you didn¡¯t know. That¡¯s just a thing of the past. Now you have to see the reality.¡±


    His voice softened.


    Dane carefully lifted Liv¡¯s disappointed face with both hands. He could see her messed up face as she burst into tears. It was cute to see her lightly sniffling.


    ¡°I am your marriage partner, not Carl Rayleigh. I can¡¯t change it anymore.¡±


    Dane brushed her tear-soaked cheeks with his thumb. As Liv¡¯s eyes and nose turned red, she bit her lips, trembling, and new tears dripped down her cheeks.


    ¡®Ah¨D I can¡¯t stand it.¡¯


    Dane held Liv in his arms. Liv hugged him without any resistance. He could feel her slender frame and the trembling of her sniffling body was also conveyed.


    Half of it was to really to soothe her, and half of it was because of his petty mind that had not forgotten what he had witnessed in the lake.


    It didn¡¯t matter anyway. Whatever the reason, he was happy to hold her in his arms.


    ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t want to get married.¡±


    Liv, who was tucked into his broad chest, whispered softly. Dane lowered his face to Liv¡¯s ear and spoke in a clandestine voice.


    ¡°Is it because I¡¯m from the back alley?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who you are¡­¡­. I just¡­¡­ I never wanted to do it like this¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be sold like this. I think the only reason I was born is for this¡­¡­ I¡­¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­¡­.¡±


    Overcome with emotion, Liv¡¯s crying grew louder.


    Dane admitted his mistake. He also did not intend to rush in this way.


    She might get scared and run away, so he was thinking of approaching her very slowly and with all his heart and soul. But the arrival of Carl Rayleigh made him impatient, and everything was messed up.


    ¡°Shhh¡­¡­ Stop crying, Liv. I didn¡¯t take your feelings into consideration at all. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Liv leaned over to the warm hand that brushed her back.


    Unlike him, who burns without being extinguished even by a strong wind, she, who is only a tiny candle, is easily extinguished by a small wind. It was an insignificant life. That¡¯s why she was distressed.


    ¡®I wish he would swallow me. If he swallowed me and erased me without a trace. Then I wouldn¡¯t have to hate myself like this¡­¡­.¡¯


    Liv let out a rough breath as if vomiting in his firm chest.


    ¡®What have I done?¡¯


    Liv, who stopped crying, came to her senses and came out of his arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been out of my mind for a moment. Then I¡¯ll go in now. And¡­¡­ Please think about the marriage again. I really don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve given you my arms for a long time, but I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re throwing it away like this¡­¡­ This is¡­¡­ It is no different from the appearance of a male prostitute who was abandoned and left to take care of the bed.¡±


    ¡°Yes? What do you mean¡­¡­ No, it¡¯s not!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it suits me?¡±


    ¡°Stop saying that. You¡¯re not that kind of person!¡±


    ¡°The rumors about my father are true. He was quite a famous man among the ladies. Did I say that I have good dexterity¡­¡­¡±


    She doesn¡¯t know what kind of reaction he expects from her and what she should say to him. Does he want her to frown as if she has heard something dirty? Or does he want her to comfort him warmly?


    ¡°A father¡­¡­ is not someone you can choose.¡±


    That was all Liv could say. Just as she couldn¡¯t choose her father, so did Dane. If only parents could be chosen, there would be no unhappy children in the world.


    Dane laughed lightly.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell, do you know that you confuse me? Am I unpleasant or pitiful? I¡¯m confused, so I don¡¯t know how to treat you.¡±


    ¡°T, that is!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t make eye contact as if you don¡¯t want to see me, but you talk to me as kindly as you do now, and you act as if you hate touching my hand more than dying, yet you still let me hug you in my arms. I don¡¯t know what the Lady is thinking at all.¡±


    Liv was speechless. Even she doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with herself, so what should she say to him?


    Her feelings for him were full of inexplicable things.


    ¡°Then let me ask you one question. Am I unpleasant?¡±


    Liv looked up at Dane with a distant face.


    He wasn¡¯t unpleasant. He wasn¡¯t like that to her. Liv shook her head.


    ¡°Then¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Liv!¡±


    Someone called Liv anxiously. Turning his head, Dane¡¯s expression hardened as soon as he recognized who the protagonist of the voice was.


    Author¡¯s Thoughts


    Hello, everyone~! Eica, here. As usual, this is an edited machine translation. So, if you find any mistakes, please do not hesitate to inform me.

 Chapter 12

    ¡°Liv¡­¡­¡±


    It was Carl Rayleigh. His hair was a mess because he had such a hard time. He approached Liv deliberately ignoring Dane standing in front of her.


    ¡°Get out of this house right now. Come with me. I¡¯ll set you free. You don¡¯t intend to marry that filthy bastard, do you?¡±


    ¡°Carl!¡±


    Liv glanced at Dane anxiously. Rayleigh didn¡¯t even like it, so he stopped between Dane and Liv and grabbed Liv¡¯s hand ferociously.


    ¡°Come to your senses, Liv, if you marry that bastard, your life will be miserable!¡±


    It was the first time Rayleigh was so excited.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry for the child you¡¯re going to have? Aren¡¯t you worried about a child who will be pointed at for the rest of his life? It¡¯s too much for you! You know that! You are only from a Baron family on the edge of the countryside, so how are you going to handle things later!¡±


    Oh my, Dane swallowed a laugh that was about to jump out at the pathetic man¡¯s behavior. He was annoyed by the situation, which was like a third-rate novel, but it didn¡¯t look like he needed to do anything.


    With a pale face, Liv stared at Rayleigh. Only then did Rayleigh realize what he was saying.


    ¡°Liv, that¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, look at the reality right now. I never said that to shame you.¡±


    Rayleigh cupped her head with his hands and looked at Liv with a pathetic face, but her expression was cold.


    ¡°I had no intention of marrying you from the beginning. So please stop.¡±


    ¡°Liv!¡±


    ¡°Let me ask you one question. You told me that you wanted a man of ability to be treated regardless of status or power. Was that a lie?¡±


    Of all the conversations she had with him, it was the words that touched Liv the most.


    Of course, it was something that Rayleigh, who had already grasped Liv¡¯s tastes, had uttered to win her favor, but she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°No, I meant it. But there is no such thing as perfect equality in the world. There is a difference wherever you go.¡±


    ¡°That includes the Rayleigh and Ragnell families.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take my words for a leap[1], because I¡¯m talking about that guy and us, not you and me.¡±


    ¡°Dane, you better go back. I¡¯m so sorry to have you hear this.¡±


    ¡°Equality? That¡¯s good. Abolition of the status system? Good! It¡¯s good. But do you want me to give equality to that filthy bastard? That¡¯s a joke. What equality is there for the pig bastards in the back alley?¡±


    ¡°Carl Rayleigh!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what kind of crap that bastard is doing behind the scenes. The only thing he grew up watching was dirty, so wouldn¡¯t there be more things he could do than others? Otherwise, does it make sense to have come this far? How dare such a pig bastard!¡±


    ¡°Dane, go. Please go.¡±


    ¡°Those bastards are muddying the water! Liv! If you stick with that guy, you¡¯re going to get dirty! So with me¡­¡­ Please come by my side. I know you want to get out of this house! I¡¯ll make it happen. I¡¯ll set you free. So please¡­¡­ Please¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv closed her ears and looked only at Dane. There is no displeasure or anger on his face. He just stares at her quietly. That made Liv¡¯s heart ache even more.


    ¡°Damn it! Liv! Where are you looking? Wake up! You want to be tied up and pointed at? Do you want to tarnish your reputation for that one petty bastard!¡±


    ¡®Please don¡¯t listen to him anymore and leave. Please.¡¯


    Dane turned his foot as if he had read Liv¡¯s earnest wish. Liv looked at his back as he left.


    Dane¡¯s carriage left with a heavy whirling. Liv didn¡¯t take her eyes off the carriage until it was gone. Rayleigh called out to Liv nervously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever appear in front of me again.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see your face again.¡±


    ¡°Liv, have you already finished talking to that bastard?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Liv, we got along, didn¡¯t we? You were comfortable next to me and I liked you too. You admit that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never thought of you that way. I¡¯m sorry if you misunderstood me. And I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t want to marry anyone.¡±


    Rayleigh gritted his teeth.


    ¡°You¡¯d better think about it. Because I¡¯ll be your last chance. Who would truly love a woman like you? I¡¯m the only man who can truly love and cherish you.¡±


    The cold reality of hearing from other people¡¯s mouths was sharp enough to make her bones ache. Liv gasped in intense pain.


    ¡°¡­¡­it¡¯s my life. You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Liv Ragnell!¡±


    The scars on her face always held her back. It¡¯s nothing new.


    ¡®Yes, it¡¯s nothing new. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m fine¡­¡­ this is like a wound of glory. I just did the right thing.¡¯


    Liv constantly whispered in her heart so as not to be hurt any more.


    ¡°If it¡¯s because you¡¯re offended by what I said a while ago, I¡¯ll apologize. I¡¯m out of my mind right now, so I keep talking nonsense. How could I be sane? You were taken right in front of me! Hm? Liv¡­¡­ I¡¯ll kneel in front of you and apologize for the rest of my life if you want. So please¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv turned to enter the mansion. Rayleigh grabbed Liv¡¯s forearm with a ferocious look on her face, but let go, being wary of the sound of an approaching carriage.


    Rayleigh gritted his teeth as he looked at the disappearing back of Liv.


    Leaving the closed door behind, Liv sighed heavily. She was confused by the sudden rush of events. The emotions she had suppressed were rising and swelling up, and the tears she had been holding back flowed out.


    ¡°My proud daughter.¡±


    Anton approached Liv, who bowed her head with her face covered. Contrary to the gloomy days before, his face was bright and satisfied.


    Anton hugged Liv. Liv was horrified by Anton¡¯s unfamiliar arms.


    ¡°I knew you could do it. That¡¯s my child. The daughter of the great Ragnell.¡±


    An unknown compliment continued to dig into her stomach and drop her into the abyss. Ragnell, daughter of the great Ragnell, everything is for Ragnell.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t want to live like this. I¡­¡­.¡¯


    Anton pulled Liv away from his chest. Tears continue to fall from Liv¡¯s eyes, looking haggard.


    Anton smiled and wiped Liv¡¯s tears. His daughter¡¯s face, which looked like it would break if he hit it, didn¡¯t come into his eyes.


    He couldn¡¯t stand Dane who left after spitting out cheeky words and followed him, but Anton unintentionally overheard Dane and Liv¡¯s conversation.


    ¡®Pure Love.¡¯


    That was all the impression he had.


    Sometimes, a third party can accurately grasp what the other party does not fully understand.


    ¡®The only reason you¡¯re doing this nonsense is because of pure love, you¡¯re a crazy bastard.¡¯


    It was a good thing because he got a huge profit thanks to it, but he laughed at the thought that a lowly bastard could do nothing.


    Count Rayleigh¡¯s desperate plea was heard. A satisfied smile appeared on Anton¡¯s face.


    Anton was oblivious of his daughter crying because of the fullness that spread throughout his body. He knew nothing about how desperate her face was, how humiliated her brown eyes were.


    He was just busy thinking about how things would unfold in the future. But it was a worry that made him happy.


    Liv, on the other hand, resented everything.


    Damn Ragnell,


    Damn Ragnell,


    Damn Liv¡­¡­..Ragnell.


    Liv constantly resented herself for not being able to do anything.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell has entered.¡±


    Dane didn¡¯t leave and parked the carriage nearby, lest Rayleigh show his hand habits. The carriage began to move again as the coachman who had been watching the situation sat down.


    The look on Dane¡¯s face as he stared out the window was so amusing that it was hard to tell that he had just heard insulting words.


    ¡®I thought you would react strangely sensitively whenever we talked about the back alley, but that¡¯s what it was.¡¯


    It was easy to see that her childhood memories had taken root in her head in a solid form.


    Even so, he expected that the noble child, who grew up beautifully, would be surprised by the harsh words she heard for the first time, but his guess was off the mark.


    ¡®Did you just think that I would be hurt by that?¡¯


    Every time Carl Rayleigh spoke out, the way she looked at him and was fidgeting from nervousness aroused in him a sadistic feeling and it was hard to resist.


    Life in the back alley is not smooth for anyone. Even a small child¡¯s senses were numbed and did not blink at most things. The word pig bastard was as common as the chirping of a bird.


    ¡°Equality? That¡¯s good. Abolition of the status system? Good! It¡¯s good. But do you want me to give equality to that filthy bastard? That¡¯s a joke. What equality is there for the pig bastards in the back alley?¡±


    It was a statement he was sick of hearing.


    He did not wish for equality. He did not wish for the abolition of the status system. He didn¡¯t want to bring down the one who reigned above. It¡¯s enough for him to rise up.


    When he saw the lake that had thrown his mood to the bottom, he remembered the small back he had touched in his palm and the soft smell that lingered on the tip of his nose.


    He didn¡¯t know if what she felt for him was sympathy or guilt, but he knew it was a good emotion to take advantage of. And he¡¯s intending to take full advantage of that feeling.


    Dane clenched his fists lightly, remembering the soft woman he held in his arms.


    ¡®You have no idea. How long I¡¯ve been waiting for this day.¡¯


    The long-awaited goal he desires is not far off.


    ¡®Please don¡¯t let her see through my ugly nature until the very end.¡¯


    Dane looked at the dazzling sun and prayed with no faith whatsoever.

 Chapter 13

    Liv stood in front of the window and looked at the back of the carriage that had picked up Anton. She saw a newspaper on the desk.


    A few days ago, the newspaper published an article about Liv and Dane¡¯s engagement and continued to harass Liv with ridiculous gossip.


    The most excited person was Anton. When the news of her engagement to Dane drew people¡¯s attention to the Ragnell family, Anton, who had always been the one inviting, was now the invitee and was very busy moving around.


    It had reached a point where she could no longer resolve it. Everyone found out about Liv and Dane¡¯s engagement and sent her congratulatory letters and gifts.


    Liv didn¡¯t open anything. All she did was sit helplessly in her room and read the newspaper filled with gossip.


    ¡°Miss, the captain is here.¡±


    There was a knock on the door, followed by the maid¡¯s voice. After hearing what Liv said about her fianc¨¦, she called him Captain in front of her.


    Dane continued to visit the mansion after that day and tried to meet Liv, but she refused. Even today, Liv was silent as she lay on the bed, burying her face in a pillow. A couple more times, the maid¡¯s voice was heard, and soon the sound of footsteps faded.


    ¡°Haaa¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv hid under the covers. She wanted to run away somewhere.


    A knock on the door could be heard in Liv¡¯s ears as she closed her eyes and tried to keep her composure. It was an unfamiliar sound that wasn¡¯t the sound she always heard.


    ¡°Lady Ragnell, you¡¯d better open the door yourself before I open it.¡±


    ¡®Oh, my God.¡¯


    Liv jumped out of bed. It was Dane¡¯s voice.


    Liv walked up to the door with a bewildered look on her face.


    ¡°If you have come all the way to the door, please show me your face now. If the lady doesn¡¯t open it, I¡¯ll open it right now and enter.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve given you enough time.¡±


    He opened the door a step ahead of Liv, who was in a hurry to lock the door.


    It was the first time they had seen each other since that day. He was stronger and bigger than he was then. Liv hurriedly turned her head to hide her scar.


    He skimmed through the area beyond Liv. A desk cluttered with paper and a pile of unorganized blankets came into view.


    Liv blushed and tried to close the door, but he slipped his foot through the crack in the door to prevent her from closing it.


    ¡°Please leave. My mind hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve come too far for that?¡±


    Dane¡¯s gaze turned to the newspaper on her desk.


    ¡°There was already an engagement article in the newspaper, and Baron Ragnell was already taking advantage of it. It would be a real chaos if we suddenly break the marriage. Are you confident that you can handle it?¡±


    Liv looked at him with sorrowful eyes. His eyes were unwavering.


    When she was young, she once saw a rat caught in a mouse trap while secretly going down to the kitchen in the middle of the night with Lohan. Feeling the presence of someone, the rat cried relentlessly and struggled to escape.


    As Lohan and Liv faltered in disbelief at the sound of the tearful cry, the servants passing by heard the sound and came down to the kitchen. Then the rat¡¯s fierce cry gradually diminished, and finally fell silent.


    The rat, who was struggling vigorously to escape, gave up hope that he could live because of the increased number of legs. She learned resignation from a rat that day.


    She looked like a rat now.


    Perhaps she had been expecting a day like today for a long time.


    ¡®Marriage for the sake of the family was inevitable¡­¡­.¡¯


    It¡¯s just that she¡¯s a little more surprised that the target is Dane.


    Dane stepped out of the gap in the door.


    ¡°I will be waiting for you downstairs. Come out when you¡¯re ready.¡±


    When Liv came out in her outdoor clothes, she saw a carriage. Dane was standing next to that.


    She didn¡¯t want to be alone with him in the narrow carriage.


    ¡°¡­¡­ I want to walk.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The two walked side-by-side. There was no destination, no conversation. Liv, who was looking over the wooden fence, spoke first.


    ¡°Is the article in the newspaper your doing?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    There was no lie on his face as she looked at him to uncover the truth.


    ¡®It¡¯s my father.¡¯


    Liv braced herself for a fall. She guessed it, but just in case.


    He must have seen her crumbling face. In the end, her father chose money and honor over her. She was only just that to her father. It was more painful than she thought when faced with reality.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the article. After all, it¡¯s just a crude piece of writing written according to one¡¯s own taste in order to get attention.¡±


    The newspaper, which published the news of Dane and Liv¡¯s engagement, continued to write articles viciously criticizing Ragnell as the days went by.


    The engagement was made because Anton Ragnell caught Dane¡¯s weakness, and while comparing Liv and Dane¡¯s appearance, the high-nosed Liv Ragnell did not understand her situation and refused to meet him.


    ¡°Do you know when I first saw the lady?¡±


    A soft voice settled in Liv¡¯s ears. Dane looked ahead as if he didn¡¯t expect an answer.


    ¡°The sound of laughter across the gloomy street made me wonder what kind of idiot was laughing like that in this gutter-like reality.¡±


    As a child, Liv¡¯s main stage was the alleyways of Lesbourne. As she played in the tangled alleyways, the last thing she faced was always the back alley.


    ¡°That was the first time I saw you. Even though I knew you were a noble child who would never get involved with me, I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes off you. So you don¡¯t know how happy I was when you stumbled into where I am. Although it was the day that I deeply realized my plight.¡±


    It was foul play to talk about childhood stories. Especially if he uttered such vulnerable words, Liv had no way of dealing with it.


    When Liv¡¯s hardened heart remembered that time, it cracked and she could not shake off the hand that was gently grabbing her. A large, rough texture can be felt in the palm of her hand.


    He sat Liv on the fence and knelt down on one knee. After that, he grabbed the hem of Liv¡¯s skirt and brushed off the mud that she didn¡¯t even know was buried in her skirt. The parched soil scattered like dust and fell to the floor.


    ¡°The one who wrote the article knows only one thing and not two. The man was willing to be used in order to marry the woman, and when the high-nosed Lady Ragnell did not meet him, he visited every day and begged her to let him meet her. Shouldn¡¯t it be written like this?¡±


    ¡°Why are you doing this to me? As you can see, I have a big scar on my face¡­¡­ Our family won¡¯t be of any help to you.¡±


    Dane smiled subtly as he looked up at Liv from below.


    ¡°I remember the Lady laughing over the smallest things. Don¡¯t you do that now?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­that¡¯s when I was young. Everyone changes over time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not wrong to see someone who hates being touched by my hand allow me to even touch the hem of her skirt like this.¡±


    Liv blushed and pulled up her skirt, and Dane let go of the hem of her skirt without any regrets. Under the hem of her pulled skirt, Liv¡¯s ankle was slightly exposed.


    Dane carefully grabbed Liv¡¯s exposed ankle and gently rubbed it with his thumb.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have a marriage that won¡¯t lack anything.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful dresses made of soft fabrics, a variety of food you¡¯ve never eaten, and gorgeous jewelry. I will make you the most beautiful and precious lady. Everyone will envy you. You just have to enjoy that gaze to your heart¡¯s content.¡±


    Is it because of the warmth that touched her ankles, or because of the tenderness of his voice? An unexplained feeling of weariness swept through her entire body.


    A married life that hadn¡¯t even happened yet was pictured in her mind. As he said, she was living a more peaceful marriage than any other lady.


    But this is so weird.


    ¡°And you? What¡¯s left of you after you give me everything? I have nothing.¡±


    The hand that was gently caressing her ankle slid under her skirt and brushed her calf. Soft flesh rubbed against the man¡¯s hand. Liv inhaled a trembling breath.


    ¡°I have you, don¡¯t I?¡±


    Dane kissed her small knees above her skirt. Kneeling on one knee and kissing a woman¡¯s tiny knee, he was like a pure martyr.


    But unlike his seemingly faithful lips, his rough hands tickling her calves and his eyes looking at her as if they were eating her were irreverent. Still, she can¡¯t shake him off. In the end, Liv closed her eyes as if to run away.


    Her feet rested helplessly on Dane¡¯s thighs. The man¡¯s pants got dirty because of the dirty shoes. The man didn¡¯t even budge as if he didn¡¯t mind it. Rather, he made sure that even one knee touched the ground so that she could comfortably raise both of her feet.


    The large hand that gripped between her calves and ankles kept wiggling, unable to keep still as if he had touched something hot.


    He was not a pure believer. He was just a mere human being. A desire sprang up in front of his eyes.


    ¡°Haaa¡­¡­¡±


    Dane sighed as if he was holding back. Liv trembled at his hot breath. The hand that looked like it was going to come up to her calf pondered for a moment, then came down and touched her ankle.


    He tightened his grip on her ankle, then immediately relaxed and began to caress her. She felt a hand gently caressing her ankle.


    Liv opened her closed eyes and looked at Dane. Because of the snow, she couldn¡¯t see what kind of eyes he had. She didn¡¯t know why, but she missed his eyes.


    ¡°Dane¡­¡­.¡±

 Chapter 14

    His head, which had been bowed down, was raised immediately at Liv¡¯s voice. The desire he had barely suppressed flared up again when he made eye contact with Liv. Liv was caught up in the heat emanating from him, unknowingly reaching out and caressing the ends of Dane¡¯s hair.


    Dane hurriedly pulled her hand away. He didn¡¯t even wonder why she was touching his own hair. He just looked at Liv with a gaze full of desire.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Dane, who looked at Liv in silence, very slowly buried his face in the palm of her hand. The black eyes that hadn¡¯t fallen on Liv for a moment closed gently when he touched the palm of her hand.


    As Dane rubbed his face against the palm of her hand, she felt the rough bridge of his nose and his chin. It was a completely different sensation from touching a dog or cat, which made Liv unfamiliar. He let out a hot breath incessantly in her narrow palm.


    He looked as if he was begging for something. He longed for it desperately and passionately.


    His breath was palpable in the palm of her hand. Liv¡¯s heart also heated up as her palms absorbed the heat.


    The wind blew, but it could not dampen their scorching heat. The emotions that had been rising bubbled up, scattering the remnants of emotions here and there.


    Dane opened his eyes and looked at Liv. Lost in reason, his eyes landed on Liv¡¯s face. His gaze ran down her eyes and stopped on her lips.


    Her red lips trembled as she felt his gaze. Dane straightened his bent knees and slowly began to approach Liv.


    Liv put her hand on his shoulder to stop him, but it was useless. Liv¡¯s arm bent, unable to stop the approaching Dane. She looked at the face that came towards her, as if possessed. Her open eyes slowly closed, and her closed lips began to open.


    Thwack!


    At that moment, a heavy sound was heard in the distance. Liv, who had escaped the burning desire first, hurriedly pushed him away, and he looked up at Liv with hazy eyes.


    ¡°You have to be careful! If you do it so hard, you¡¯ll hurt your wrists!¡± (said by an outsider)


    It was the sound of wood chopping coming from a private house beyond the fence.


    Dane, who was exhaling a hot breath as he looked at Liv, looked at the place where the sound was coming from, as if he had only heard the sound. There was a hint of embarrassment on Liv¡¯s face as she glanced down at him with a flushed face.


    After assessing the situation, Dane closed his eyes and let out a hot sigh. He seemed to be trying to control his own desires.


    Dane struggled to return to his seat after how long it had taken him to bend his knees.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Liv didn¡¯t know what to say to his words, so she just nodded.


    Dane again began to brush off the dirt from the hem of her skirt with his hands. If it weren¡¯t for his strained and bulging hands, it would have been hard to believe that this man had just been panting from Liv¡¯s palm.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful! Miss!¡±


    The maid exclaimed as she looked at Liv wearing a purple dress and a gorgeous necklace. It was Dane¡¯s gift for today¡¯s ball.


    Through the mirror, she could see a woman with one of her hair down to cover her scar.


    ¡°Oh my, it really suits the lady!¡±


    Liv responded with a smile. But her face quickly darkened as she looked in the mirror at her beautifully decorated self. As beauty was added to her body one by one, the time to go to the ball drew near, making her heart heavy.


    ¡®I¡¯m sure everyone read the article.¡¯


    Thinking that everyone had read the falsely written article made her feel depressed. She couldn¡¯t stand in front of them with a smile on her face. She hated the ball, which she didn¡¯t like, even more.


    Standing next to him, she was afraid that she would look too shabby.


    ¡°Miss, the captain is here.¡±


    As Liv took a deep breath and walked out of the room, Anton came out first and was waiting for Liv.


    ¡°How beautiful! Liv, if they see your beautiful eyes, no man will be able to resist you.¡±


    Anton, who had always glanced at Liv with displeased eyes, had now turned into a loving father and treated her well. There was a faint smell of alcohol on him.


    ¡°Did he prepare the dress and necklace? Heh, he has a good eye. I¡¯m going to be a little late because I have work to finish. You¡¯ll be the star of today¡¯s party anyway, so it won¡¯t matter. Go ahead and enjoy yourself.¡±


    Anton gently patted Liv¡¯s shoulder and walked into the study. Anton kept going outside, but at some point he locked himself in the study and didn¡¯t come out.


    Her shoulders twitched as if there were worms crawling.


    As she stepped outside, she encountered Dane, who was waiting in front of the carriage. He looked at Liv with disapproving eyes as she approached him.


    ¡°I regret that I chose that outfit for no reason.¡±


    Liv¡¯s heart pounded at his words and fell to the bottom.


    ¡°¡­¡­does it not suit me?¡±


    ¡°No. I like it so much that it¡¯s annoying. I can¡¯t believe I have to show this to everyone¡­¡­¡±


    Liv quickly took the lead before he could finish speaking. She was followed by Dane who was smiling silently.


    Before getting into the carriage, Dane held out his hand to her. Liv, who was agonizing, put her hands on top of it, and she felt a strong force.


    Liv entered the carriage and took a seat. As Dane sat across from her, the carriage began to move with a rattling sound.


    It¡¯s already the second time she has been in his carriage. She was still nervous and uncomfortable. Liv looked out the window, ignoring his eyes staring at her since earlier.


    Nothing had changed since the first meeting. Even then, Liv had turned away from his face, and he sat right in front of her and looked at her.


    A fence passed through the window. Liv lowered her gaze at the memory that reminded her of the fence.


    It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t aware of the secret things that happen between men and women. But she never thought she would do such a thing in broad daylight, even in the middle of the street.


    And then, instead of pushing him away, she almost kissed him. The heat of the day flowed softly from her ankles held by Dane.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ Nothing.¡±


    It was not nothing. Dane didn¡¯t have to meet her gaze to see clearly what she was thinking.


    He was also a little disconcerted about that day.


    He sat her down to soothe her seemingly depressed mood, but he was swept away by the atmosphere and couldn¡¯t control his emotions. He only remembered holding Liv¡¯s ankle, but he didn¡¯t remember much after that.


    ¡®All I wanted to do was lift her skirt and dig into it.¡¯


    When he remembered her moist lips, impure thoughts came to mind, and the waist of his pants became uncomfortable. Dane fixed his posture.


    ¡°You think too much.¡±


    ¡®Of course I like that too.¡¯


    Dane saved his words as he looked at Liv with a dissatisfied expression on his face.


    ¡°By the way, your face looks pale. Did you have trouble sleeping?¡±


    He casually utters something that might be rude. In fact, she hasn¡¯t slept well for days.


    ¡°It¡¯s because of the ball.¡±


    Liv¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as they have face[1], they won¡¯t speak out. Behind our back, well, they can say whatever they want.¡±


    Dane grabbed Liv¡¯s hand and kissed the back of her hand.


    ¡°No one will be able to tarnish your honor. There¡¯s no need to be afraid.¡±


    She could feel his lips touching her gloved hand. Dane kissed her fingertips and smiled seductively at Liv.


    Even with that smile, Liv¡¯s mind was not easily relieved.


    ¡®That¡¯s not it. In the first place, I don¡¯t have any honor that can be scratched¡­¡­ What I¡¯m afraid of now is¡­¡­¡¯


    Since it was a ball in Lesbourne, the carriage stopped quickly after a while. When the coachman opened the carriage door, Dane stepped outside first and reached out to Liv.


    Liv put her hand over his. As Liv slowly descended from the carriage, Dane grabbed her hand and led her naturally into his arms. It looked like they were clasping their arms affectionately.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Liv stepped forward cautiously. Unlike her lips drawing a line, her eyes were full of worry and she couldn¡¯t smile.


    ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Looking at them like this, they¡¯re like a perfect couple.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t know what it may have been like inside, but everyone reacted favorably, so Liv was a little relieved. Perhaps she was more sensitive than usual because of the absurd content of the newspaper.


    It was only after greeting most of the people at the ball that she could finally take a breather. She had never experienced such hospitality before.


    Liv sipped the wine that Dane brought and moistened her throat. Her other eye that was covered was stuffy today.


    ¡°How is it? Am I not right?¡±


    Liv smiled softly at his words. Strangely, the rest of her anxiety was also calmed by his words. Dane opened his mouth as he looked at her fingers fiddling with the glass.


    ¡°May I ask you a question?¡±


    Liv nodded as she sipped her wine.


    ¡°Why did you run away from me that day?¡±


    ¡°That day?¡±


    ¡°The day you broke the glass at the ball.¡±


    Ah.


    ¡°Why did you run away?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ what do you mean by run away? I just headed back early because I was tired.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would know.¡±


    Liv looked perplexed.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you run away as soon as I came?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve waited for that day?¡±


    ¡®He waited for me?¡¯


    ¡°I came to such a trifling place to meet you. How can you run away in such a hurry? Thanks to that, I had to spend a boring time at a ball that didn¡¯t mean anything.¡±


    Liv blushed, not knowing what to do when someone spoke to her.


    ¡°Congratulations. Lady Ragnell.¡±


    TL Notes:


    [1] It can also mean ¡°having honor and dignity¡±.


    Author¡¯s Thoughts


    Hello, everyone~! Eica, here. As usual, this is an edited machine translation. So, if you find any mistakes, please do not hesitate to inform me.

 Chapter 15

    He was a middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard. Liv recalled his name in her memory.


    ¡°Ah, Lord Bencarter.¡±


    Nardelli Bencarter.


    He had a long relationship with Anton, and she had occasionally encountered him at the mansion.


    Liv greeted him very warmly in order to escape the awkward situation.


    ¡°Congratulations. Lady Ragnell. In fact, I can understand why there was so much buzz with the news of your marriage. Even from a distance, the two of you together look like a painting and I can¡¯t take my eyes off it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°By the way, isn¡¯t Baron Ragnell coming?¡±


    ¡°My father said he was coming a little late. Do you have anything to say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s really hard to see the Baron these days.¡±


    Bencarter glanced at Dane. Dane held out his hand.


    ¡°You can call me Dane.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Nardelli Bencarter.¡±


    The two shook hands briefly.


    ¡°I had heard rumors about the Lord.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about what kind of rumors it might be, not just one or two.¡±


    ¡°Haha. Aren¡¯t the most popular people the most talked about?¡±


    The two exuded a cordial atmosphere and talked naturally.


    Liv, who had been moderately engaged in the conversation, was suddenly intoxicated by the heat of the sweltering hall and could not concentrate on the conversation.


    ¡°Are you okay, Lady Ragnell?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    As Dane approached to support Liv, Liv stopped him.


    ¡°I¡¯m a little hot inside, so I guess I¡¯m getting drunk. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Where would you like to sit for a moment?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll go outside for a moment and cool off. Please continue your conversation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you.¡±


    ¡°Dane, there¡¯s still daylight. I¡¯m fine, so you can continue your conversation.¡±


    With Dane showing signs of concern, Liv said goodbye to Nardelli Bencarter and left.


    There is a small terrace where one can smell the fresh air when opening the large window. As Liv turned back, her eyes met Dane, who was looking at her.


    When Liv beckoned at the window saying she would be there, he reluctantly moved along with Nardelli.


    When she opened the window and stepped outside, she could see a well-kept garden. The cold breeze made her feel the heat and the drunkenness go away.


    Liv rested her chin on the railing and stared blankly at the dimly lit garden.


    Click¨D


    Then someone opened the door and walked in. Liv looked back in surprise, wondering if he had already finished talking.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    It was not Dane who faced her. Carl Rayleigh was standing in front of the door with a thinner face than before.


    Staggering with a glass of wine in one hand, Rayleigh approached. Liv nervously looked at his seemingly cold appearance. Contrary to her fears, however, he passed Liv and headed for the railing.


    The relationship with him had already been severed. There was nothing more to say, nothing more to hear. Liv moved her feet to get out of the terrace.


    ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it when I saw the article, but it was true.¡±


    Rayleigh, who was looking out at the garden with a glass of wine on the railing, grabbed Liv at those words.


    ¡°When I saw an article that described you as a temptress, I laughed. I know you¡¯re not that kind of person at all, but you put out such a false article¡­¡­ And then all of a sudden, my mind got complicated. Am I wrong? Is that really who you really are? I was tormented by all kinds of fantasies about you.¡±


    Rayleigh frowned.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t even come to see you because I was afraid you would look at me coldly. The only place I would hang onto was your article on a piece of paper. Struggling with longing day by day, I read that Dane is forced to marry you because of his weakness found by Ragnell. A weakness. That¡¯s ridiculous. He has by no means no weakness at all.¡±


    Rayleigh took a sip of his drink and turned around.


    ¡°I was convinced there. Ah, Anton Ragnell and the bastard joined hands to publish a fake article! Poor you, you can¡¯t do anything and are stuck in the middle!¡±


    His lips twitched sneeringly.


    ¡°But today I saw that it wasn¡¯t like that either.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°You like him very much.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Am I right?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. You¡¯re very drunk.¡±


    ¡°That you¡¯re so infatuated with that bastard, Dane.¡±


    Liv¡¯s body stiffened at his mocking voice.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to marry anyone? I was a fool to be relieved by such a lie.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say anything you don¡¯t know. I have no choice but to marry him.¡±


    ¡°Stop lying, Liv. Then why are your eyes like that?¡±


    She doesn¡¯t know what this man is talking about.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking at you ever since you came in here with that bastard. I knew as soon as I saw that your eyes were different from before!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie! I, I haven¡¯t changed!¡±


    It was nonsense.


    ¡®No, I have no choice but to marry him according to my father¡¯s wishes. If this marriage won¡¯t happen, Ragnell would be really ruined. So, as a Ragnell¡­¡­ For Ragnell¡­¡­¡¯


    Liv was horrified by her unwitting repetition.


    For Ragnell.


    It was always a word that made her suffocate. But now, she spits out those words constantly, as if she were reciting a spell.


    ¡®Why would I¡­¡­¡¯


    Liv¡¯s eyes shook.


    Rayleigh gulped down all the remaining alcohol, feeling thirsty.


    ¡°Are you pretending to be na?ve, or are you really na?ve¡­¡­ If it¡¯s the former, you¡¯re a really great woman. You¡¯re really great.¡±


    Rayleigh staggered over to Liv, blocking her way.


    ¡°Do you want me to tell you why he wants to marry you?¡±


    Liv¡¯s head warned her not to listen anymore and to get out of here at once.


    ¡°You¡¯re just right. A noble is a noble¡­¡­ There¡¯s nothing special about it, so it¡¯s suitable for touching.¡±


    Rayleigh laughed nastily.


    ¡°Even if he was Vergo¡¯s adopted son and was favored by the emperor, wouldn¡¯t it be a pain in the ass if he accidentally touched a noble woman? Think about it, Liv. Which would be easier: the noble woman smiling over there, or you?¡±


    Liv looked at the woman she saw through the door. When Dane first appeared at the ball, she was one of the ladies who had been keeping an eye on him.


    ¡°You know what? That woman came before you. She approached Dane first. And yet he chose you. Why did he do that? You¡¯re a noblewoman, too. Love or what, you won¡¯t say such unrealistic words, will you?¡±


    ¡®And you? What¡¯s left of you after you give me everything?¡¯


    ¡®I have you, don¡¯t I?¡¯


    It was like a spring breeze. Those words entered Liv¡¯s heart and melted her frozen heart in an instant.


    ¡®But what if¡­¡­ What if I misunderstood what he said? In fact, if the meaning behind it is not the warmth I understood, but the reason Carl Rayleigh said¡­¡­ What happens to me then?¡¯


    ¡°I told you so. You¡¯d be unhappy if you married him. You¡¯ll end up playing in the palm of his hand. What man in the world would truly love a woman with unsightly scars like you.¡±


    The scars around her eye suddenly began to throb and hurt.


    ¡°But I am different from him.¡±


    Rayleigh grabbed Liv¡¯s hand.


    ¡°After tonight, I¡¯m really going to erase you from my memory forever. This will be the last time. Come to me. I really love you with all my heart.¡±


    In the midst of her confusion, Liv¡¯s hand refused to touch anyone else. The hand held by Rayleigh was uncomfortable, as if she was wearing clothes that didn¡¯t fit. She had already been tamed by someone else.


    There was a suffocating silence. Liv responded by slowly pulling his hand out of her grasp. Rayleigh looked at Liv with her eyes wide open and said, ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so stupid.¡±


    Rayleigh made a filthy smile and struggled to speak, and couldn¡¯t contain his anger and threw the glass to the floor.


    With a clanging sound, shattered glasses were scattered on the floor. But because of the sound of the music, no one inside was aware of the situation on the terrace.


    She was afraid. If she stayed here any longer, she felt like she was going to be crushed by his hands this time.


    Liv grabbed the door, avoiding Rayleigh, who was glaring at her as if he was about to kill her.


    ¡°I wish you a happy marriage with the vulgar back alley bastard. I¡¯ll keep my eyes open and watch.¡±


    His words were like a curse. A curse that she would never have a happy marriage.


    When Liv opened the door and stepped inside, a whole different world unfolded. Unlike the terrace, which is full of tension to the point of breaking a cold sweat, everyone here is dancing with joyful faces.


    Leaving the soft melody behind, Liv walked forward, as if fleeing. Her slow-moving feet gradually became faster and eventually became running.


    As she left the terrace, the fear went away, and embarrassment filled the place.


    ¡®My eyes on him have changed? No, I¡¯m just being forced to do it! I hate him! Whenever I stood in front of him, I felt so shabby that I always wanted to hide. Carl Rayleigh was mistaken. I am¡­¡­ I¡­¡­¡¯


    Her feet stopped. A cool breeze swept through Liv. Coming out of the building, Liv stood in a daze, leaning against the wall.


    ¡®Then why didn¡¯t I think of breaking up with him even after hearing that?¡¯


    Her thoughts drifted away.


    There was a click and the sound of the door opening, and a pair of men and women who appeared to be lovers came out. Because she was hidden behind the wall, they couldn¡¯t see Liv.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll live better if I get some fresh air. It¡¯s too hot in there.¡±


    The man said to the woman cooling off with a fan.


    ¡°By the way, isn¡¯t it surprising? I didn¡¯t know that Lady Ragnell, who was so quiet, would do something like this.¡±


    Author¡¯s Thoughts


    Hello, everyone~! Eica, here. As usual, this is an edited machine translation. So, if you find any mistakes, please do not hesitate to inform me.

 Chapter 16

    ¡°Didn¡¯t she have a scandal with Count Rayleigh?¡±


    ¡°She must have chosen Dane after weighing the two. A sane woman would not choose Count Rayleigh. Anton Ragnell is also a truly ungrateful father. No matter how urgent it is, I wouldn¡¯t think of making such a man my daughter¡¯s spouse.¡±


    ¡°But I guess that Dane¡¯s distribution is also not as big as I thought. To think the one that he chose is only Ragnell.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you can¡¯t fake the environment you¡¯ve lived in. All he can think of is Ragnell. The back alley and Hale are close, so the name Ragnell is probably familiar to the man who lived in the back alley.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, aren¡¯t Lady Ragnell¡¯s scars disgusting?¡±


    ¡°Such scars may be mon in the back alley. A scarred woman and a man of low origin, aren¡¯t they a pair that goes well together?¡±


    Liv¡¯s hunch was right. The worries that had kept her tossing and turning for days eventually became reality.


    Because of her insignificant self, he was treated the same way. It was a situation she had been afraid of all along.


    ¡®It¡¯s not too late. Even now, if I cancel the marriage, Dane can marry into a Duke¡¯s family. If that¡¯s the case, he won¡¯t hear that.¡¯


    Liv took a deep breath.


    ¡°No. That can¡¯t be done. Then Ragnell¡­¡­¡±


    ¡®Why am I suddenly doing so much for Ragnell, who means nothing to me? But every time he hears something like that, it hurts me, too. If I let him go, everything will be solved!¡¯


    ¡°I hate it!¡±


    The thought of Dane marrying someone else would break her heart. Rayleigh was right. This was her true heart.


    Liv eventually buried her face in her hands. As the wall collapsed, emotions flooded in like a tide, creating a deep pool. Falling into it, Liv finally faced the feelings she had been hiding.


    In the depths of shame that lay within her, love existed for Dane.


    ¡®How could I not love him! He was a man I looked up to.¡¯


    However, pared to him, she was too insignificant to show her love.


    She could now understand the desire to run away from him whenever she stood in front of him. The more she loved him, the more she felt a terrible sense of self-loathing.


    The thought of wanting to be held in his arms and eaten as it is, came to mind. It was the sincerity that came out of her weakened heart.


    ¡®Now I understand why I wanted to die so much after being caught being treated like nothing more than a tool¡­¡­ Why was I so entranced when his touch stroked my legs¡­¡­ I think I know now. I am¡­¡­ I¡­¡­.¡¯


    At first, it was a wound, but it grew and became a longing, and before she knew it, it turned into love.


    She has long admired and loved him at the same time.


    ¡®The pig bastard is you, not me.¡¯


    The mere thought of what he said was painful, and she always followed his existence by rummaging through the newspaper.


    Liv covered her face with the emotions that burst out even though she tried to stop it. She couldn¡¯t bear it as she had been suppressing it for a long time.


    ¡°That guy¡¯s not going to stand in our way, is he?¡±


    ¡°Wife, do I look like a man to be beaten by such an inferior bastard?¡±


    Footsteps can be heard amid the chuckles. Liv immediately recognized who the owner of the footsteps was.


    Liv lowered the hand that had covered her face and looked at him. Seeing him, who was looking for her from place to place, with his ragged breathing was lovely.


    Even without Dane¡¯s effort, Liv was already in the palm of his hand.


    Dane frowned and approached Liv, who was pale and tired.


    ¡®Did something happen while I was away? This is why I didn¡¯t want to leave her alone.¡¯


    ¡°If that bastard stands in my way, I¡¯ll make him cry like a pig. Then wouldn¡¯t he shed tears because he missed the back alley?¡±


    Through the wall, he could hear the laughter of a man and a woman. Dane easily recognized that they were talking about him.


    A woman tormented by his own gossip, pale and tired of it. Dane quickly finished assessing the situation and had to struggle not to reveal his satisfied feelings.


    ¡®This situation is always wele.¡¯


    Dane felt like giving them a kiss of gratitude for criticizing him.


    His annoyance subsided and a sense of joy rose. Her pale face, which bothered him, was now pleasing to him.


    There was a sense of pleasure in his eyes as she looked at him with a mixture of all kinds of emotions. He wanted her to feel more sympathetic and sorry for him than she did now.


    As Liv stepped closer like a baby who had just taken a step, and hugged him in her arms, a thrill shook his whole body. Dane immediately lifted her face and suppressed the urge to kiss her ravenously, and acted a lie with a pitiful voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It means nothing to me.¡±


    Using sympathy and pity could easily make a person weak.


    ¡®If I dig into that gap, you will never be able to get away from me.¡¯


    Stupid Dane.


    He would not have known. That even without playing pitifully, Liv was already in love and ready to throw whatever he wanted.


    The crowd disappeared and the chirping of grasshoppers filled the void. The neat sound of the stinging grassworm calmed her overwhelming emotions.


    Dane asked, gently stroking Liv¡¯s back.


    ¡°Did anything happen while I was gone?¡±


    Liv shook her head without saying a word.


    ¡°¡­¡­ I met Carl Rayleigh on the terrace. Did he confuse you again?¡±


    Liv shook her head again. Dane pulled Liv out of his arms and scanned her face, so that he wouldn¡¯t miss a single emotion of hers.


    ¡°But why do you feel so down? If it¡¯s because of what they just said, don¡¯t mind it. I am not swayed by such words.¡±


    Liv nodded.


    She knew better than anyone that he would never be swayed by any words. She was the only one who was weak.


    A person who is in love is no different than exposing his fragile inner skin, and struggles with pain from even a small wound.


    ¡®I¡¯ll be like this forever.¡¯


    Liv knew that every time she heard Dane¡¯s gossip, she would feel guilty.


    In the event that he made a mistake and was blocked by his origin, he may regret this day and feel heartbroken. Still, her selfish greed could not let him go.


    ¡°Dane, are you really satisfied with me? There must be many people who want you more than me, and you can raise your honor by marrying the Duke¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°Carl Rayleigh must have said something useless.¡±


    As Dane tightened his arms around Liv, she felt herself sink deeper into his arms. She could feel his warmth on her cheeks leaning against his chest.


    ¡°Forget what he said. My thought of marrying you remains the same.¡±


    ¡®Why? Do you even love me?¡¯


    The question that tickled her throat dispersed before it could get out. The question was already meaningless.


    Even if he gave an answer that he was marrying her because he loved her, her heart would not believe him. Even if he was taking advantage of her, Liv couldn¡¯t let him go now. No matter what answer she heard, it would be painful, so she was better off not asking.


    She would find out what his true feelings were later, so there was no need to be impatient. She just wanted to enjoy the serenity of being in his arms, not knowing anything.


    It may be a moment that would never e again. Liv closed her eyes, feeling his warmth.


    ¡°I guess your father doesn¡¯t intend to e.¡±


    Liv and Dane boarded the carriage earlier than the others. The magnificent building that could be seen through the window was lit up by an unfinished ball.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be late to take me home and then go home? I would rather have called a carriage.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to stay in Lesbourne today, so you don¡¯t have to be sorry.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you staying in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Since I have to move around busily, I have prepared places to stay in various places. I¡¯ll have to put it on Hale soon. So whenever you miss Hale, you can go and rest there.¡±


    Dane seemed to mistakenly believe that Liv loved Hale. Liv did not correct this by saying no this time. She wanted to be seen as an ordinary person who loved her estate just like any other Lord¡¯s children.


    ¡°There¡¯s the Ragnell mansion, is there really a need for it?¡±


    ¡°I want a place where we can be alone. A place where no one can disturb us.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡±


    Just the two of them¡­¡­. Liv hurriedly lowered her gaze at the embarrassing imagination.


    ¡°Shall we have the wedding in Hale?¡±


    ¡°Not in the capital?¡±


    ¡°If you want the capital, we can.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    Given his fame, she naturally thought he would hold it in the capital. Liv pondered and said she wanted to do it in Hale. In fact, it doesn¡¯t matter either way, but the capital felt unfortable because it would attract too much attention.


    Dean nodded without a sign of concern.


    ¡°All right. Let¡¯s prepare.¡±


    As they talked about this, she realized that she was getting married to this person. The marriage notice, which used to be half-forced, now flows casually.


    Liv remembered the day she had gone to Lesbourne to buy a book and then returned home in his carriage. At the time, she never dreamed that she would be like this with him.


    She was still nervous and anxious in front of him, but now that she knew where this feeling was ing from, she wasn¡¯t as overwhelmed as before.


    ¡®If I live with him, won¡¯t the day e when I¡¯ll be fortable with him?¡¯


    Right now, she couldn¡¯t imagine it.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv quickly brushed off Rayleigh¡¯s words that had popped into her mind. There was no need to pay attention to what that angry person said.


    ¡°It seems like the lady doesn¡¯t like the ball very much.¡±

 Chapter 17

    At Dane¡¯s words, Liv nodded.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡­ I don¡¯t like meeting and talking to people, and I don¡¯t like the loose dresses I wear to balls because it¡¯s unfortable.¡±


    Liv urgently added, remembering whose gift the dress she was wearing was now.


    ¡°Um¡­¡­ This is fine, though. It¡¯s not particularly unfortable¡­¡­.¡±


    The fragile-looking fabric that wrapped around the entire dress was beautiful, but no one looked at it. Liv couldn¡¯t think of anything to say, so she just rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have asked you about your taste beforehand.¡±


    ¡°No! It¡¯s not like that. That¡­¡­ I also like purple. And since a day like today is more special than any other, it¡¯s natural to wear such a fancy dress. When I tried it on, it was so beautiful that I was satisfied with it too¡­¡­ And¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Now that I know you hate balls and unfortable dresses, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯m sorry I sent you the dress as I pleased.¡±


    ¡°It is really true that the dress is beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll prepare more fortable clothes. By then, we¡¯ll be a couple and share the same bedroom, so it¡¯ll be easier to get to know your tastes.¡±


    When he said they¡¯d be sharing the same bedroom, she felt embarrassed.


    The image of him rubbing his face while clinging to her legs came to mind. His eyes that looked at her as if they were eating her, tinged with desire, and the crude hands that brushed her legs down without permission.


    ¡®Actually, what he wants is my body.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t know if he loved her or not, so she kept having terrible thoughts.


    The carriage stopped, and Dane grabbed Liv as she was about to enter the mansion.


    ¡°I probably won¡¯t be able to e to Hale for a few days. I tried to clear my time, but I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯ll finish my work as soon as I can.¡±


    Liv nodded, trying to hide her regret. Then he brought Liv¡¯s hand to his face with a slight anguish on his face.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you sad? I am very sad.¡±


    Liv couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut as he rubbed his cheeks on her palm and kissed it occasionally. She didn¡¯t know what to do when he became like this.


    When Liv couldn¡¯t find anything to say, Dane smiled bitterly and let go of Liv¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget me just because I won¡¯t be here for a few days.¡±


    ¡°How can I forget you?¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­¡­.¡±


    Dane trailed off.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you go in.¡±


    Liv headed for the mansion, feeling his presence behind her back.


    It had been so long since she had been close to him, and she already missed him at the thought of not seeing him for a few days. A human¡¯s heart was truly cunning. The voice that was pushing him away changed in an instant.


    Before opening the door, she looked back and saw that he was still standing there without going. Liv took one last look at him, opened the door and went inside.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. Miss.¡±


    ¡°Where did father go?¡±


    ¡°The master is in the study.¡±


    ¡®Still in the study? What in the world is he doing without ing to the ball?¡¯


    Liv headed to the study. As she approached her father¡¯s space, which had always frightened her, she swallowed her saliva and knocked on the door with trembling hands.


    But there was no response from within.


    ¡°F, father?¡±


    On the right side of the stairs was Liv¡¯s room, and to the left was Anton¡¯s bedroom and study. It was a study that made it difficult for her to be on the same floor. But today, she did not leave.


    Liv mustered up the courage to carefully open the door and step inside. There was no one inside to the extent that the tension was palpable.


    A wind blew from somewhere and dropped a piece of paper on the desk. It was the wind ing in from the window at the end of the study.


    Why was that door open in the middle of the night? With the chilly air, Liv entered deeper into the study to close the window.


    Tak.


    When she closed the window, the wind that had been blowing her hair stopped. Liv lifted a piece of paper that had fallen to the floor.


    It¡¯s in Hale.


    It was a unique handwriting that was scrawled hastily.


    ¡®What, it¡¯s in Hale?¡¯


    Dudududu. A gust of wind shook the window violently, begging her to open it. Looking at the window with anxious eyes, Liv found herself reflected in the window.


    A woman wearing a purple dress and standing in front of a desk holding a paper. Naturally, her gaze was fixed on the five paintings that she saw over her head.


    Liv¡¯s hand holding the paper strained.


    It happened before the scars appeared on her face. Anton suddenly removed all the bookshelves from one wall and started nailing them by hand.


    Bang! Bang!


    The books on the bookshelf shook with the sound. Young Liv watched from behind as the nails were hammered in. One, two, three, four, five¡­¡­ Anton nailed five nails into the wall and hung each of the paintings he had prepared in advance.


    It was a portrait of the predecessors of Ragnell. Whenever a portrait with only the upper body was hung on the wall one by one, Liv stepped back.


    All five portraits were hung, and Anton looked back and smiled brightly. Liv had no choice but to flee on the spot. The ten eyes behind Anton were horribly frightening.


    It was the same as then. The five pairs of eyes reflected in the window looked at Liv.


    Thud!


    Then a loud roar was heard over the bookshelf. Liv came to her senses, as if she had woken up from a dream.


    As she turned her head towards where the sound came from, she felt a slight vibration. Before she could grasp the situation, she heard a loud bang again, and the bookshelf was pushed toward Liv.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Liv slammed her body against the pushed out bookshelf and slumped in front of the desk next to her. Unable to e to her senses from the strong impact, she crouched down.


    Eventually, the leaning bookshelf fell over and spat the books relentlessly over Liv, who was underneath. A thick book hit her on the head. Liv couldn¡¯t e to her senses as she was flooded with books. Her whole body ached. She could only hear a beeping sound from her deafened ears.


    A portrait fell to the floor. The gaze of the fallen portrait was strangely directed at Liv.


    It was not over yet. An explosion was heard again through the overturned bookshelf. The sound of someone screaming, breaking and smashing could be heard over and over again.


    ¡®What is this¡­¡­.¡¯


    A bookshelf was blocking her view, so she couldn¡¯t see anything. In the midst of the chaos, Liv lost consciousness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get up.¡±


    As she raised her body, Liv groaned at the pain she felt all over her body.


    ¡®Where is this?¡¯


    No matter how much she blinked, her blurred focus wouldn¡¯t return. Feeling anxious, Liv tossed and turned.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Someone gave her a small pat on the shoulder. It was Dane.


    ¡°What¡­¡­ happened¡­¡­¡±


    Every time she spoke, her head rang, so she couldn¡¯t keep her senses.


    ¡°There was an explosion at Ragnell¡¯s mansion.¡±


    She remembered the sound of bursting and breaking.


    ¡®An explosion¡­¡­.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s safe here. Close your eyes a little more.¡±


    Dane covered the corners of Liv¡¯s eyes with his palm. His warm warmth led her to sleep.


    Liv opened her mouth with a sudden thought.


    ¡°What happened to everyone else besides me¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°All employees have been evacuated to a safe place.¡±


    It was a relief. There were many other things she wanted to ask.


    Liv overcame the pouring sleep and gave strength to her eyelids, but her half-opened eyelids could not resist gravity and trembled.


    Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t meet her father who was said to be in the study.


    ¡°Father¡­¡­ Where is father¡­¡­.¡±


    There was a clear trail of blood on Liv¡¯s neat forehead. Dane wordlessly wiped her blood-stained forehead with his hand.


    ¡°Shhh¡­¡­ Close your eyes a little more.¡±


    At the gentle touch, Liv¡¯s eyelids eventually lost their strength and surrendered.


    Dane looked at Liv as she fell asleep and then lowered his hand and lightly rested it on her left chest.


    The small rise and fall of the chest and the deep throbbing proved that she was alive. He was so grateful for it that he buried his face on Liv¡¯s hand that came out of the blanket.


    Even as she fell asleep, Liv stroked his face with her fingers. It was a very fragile force, like a willow puppy brushing against him. He was grateful for her small movements.


    When he heard the explosion in the carriage going back after taking Liv home, he prayed that it wasn¡¯t there. Please grant this absurd request of mine.


    But against the wind, beyond the hastily turned carriage stood the miserably ruined Ragnell mansion.


    ¡®No¡­¡­. No¡­¡­.¡¯


    Dane entered Ragnell¡¯s mansion with an ashen and frightened face.


    Inside was a plete mess. Dane climbed up to the second floor, pushing away the employees running around with confusion.


    The explosion occurred on the left, so the right side looked relatively intact.


    When he first visited Ragnell¡¯s mansion, Liv had climbed the stairs and disappeared to the right. So her room was definitely on the right. She must have headed to her room as soon as she arrived to take off her unfortable dress.


    Yet, his anxious heart kept turning to the left.


    Dane ran to the left and opened the door that he could see right away. As soon as he saw the horribly ruined interior, he immediately knew that this was the site of the explosion.


    ¡®Liv!¡¯


    Dane called out to Liv anxiously. After frantically scanning the room, Dane found Liv lying between the desk and the bookshelf.


    Dane pulled Liv out of the gap urgently.


    Blood was dripping from her head and her beautiful dress was a mess. When he checked the tip of her nose, he felt a faint breath.


    He, who had never believed in God in his entire life, finally acknowledged the existence of God.


    ¡®God, thank you! Thank you!¡¯


    He hugged Liv with a vehement face and constantly expressed his gratitude to the God he had denied.

 Chapter 18

    It had been a few days, but he still remembered that day vividly, so he had to check Liv¡¯s breath again and again.


    The warmth of her hand touching his cheek was warm. Feeling the faint warmth spread throughout his body, Dane closed his eyes.


    As Dane stepped out of the bedroom, a man was standing right next to the door.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind even the smallest things, so if something happens, tell me right away.¡±


    As he brushed his tousled hair back, he saw blood on his palms. It was blood from Liv¡¯s head.


    The clothes he couldn¡¯t change into were also a mess of dust and bloodstains. As he wrapped his bloody palms around his chin, he smelled a faint smell of blood.


    ¡®What kind of bastard?¡¯


    When Liv¡¯s life and death became certain, anger flared up, and his five senses that had been lost slowly returned, stimulating his reason.


    ¡®What kind of bastard dared to do something like this?¡¯


    The fragile face he had shown in the bedroom was gone, and only anger filled his face. His bulging jaw muscles showed how much he was holding back.


    If they were caught, he would kill them in the most painful way. All sorts of torture methods came to mind.


    ¡®Death will be your only salvation, so you should hope that you stop breathing quickly.¡¯


    Dane headed for the Ragnell mansion with sharp eyes.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t find any clues. According to the employees, there were no outsiders visiting for several days, and the study was on this floor, so it was difficult to enter from the outside.¡±


    It was difficult to ignore an incident like the bombing and the explosion that took place in a noble¡¯s mansion. The man who came out to investigate after receiving instructions from the imperial palace was still at a loss as to how to finish the work, so he was glad to see Dane.


    ¡°On top of that, as you can see, the study is like this¡­¡­ There was nothing to salvage.¡±


    The study was a mess. Unable to withstand the strong explosion, all the window glass shattered, and all the bookshelves spilled, leaving hundreds of books strewn about. Even if the intruder had left a clue, it would have disappeared without a trace.


    ¡°The explosion appears to have occurred in a secret room next to the study.¡±


    Looking at the torn portrait strewn across the floor, Dane headed to the place led by the man.


    The place where Liv was found caught his eye.


    The bookshelf on the desk and the thick books that filled between them. That served as Liv¡¯s shield. Without anything, she might have been even more injured than she was now.


    Remembering the time he found her, he missed the warmth of her being in his bedroom. He wanted to rush to her side right now and feel the proof that she was alive.


    ¡°Here it is.¡±


    Beyond the study of Ragnell¡¯s mansion was a secret room that no one knew. It was probably only known to Anton Ragnell and his closest aides.


    ¡°It was¡­¡­ a secret room.¡±


    But the secret room was blown away by the explosion, and now nothing existed. One can see the sky through the gaps. It was fortunate that the entire mansion was not blown away.


    ¡°A piece of clothing believed to be Anton Ragnell and body parts were found under the mansion. Charles Gordon, the butler who went missing after the explosion, was thought to be the prime suspect¡­¡­ However, last night, a body that looked like Charles Gordon was found under the mansion. The two were probably caught up in the explosion together.¡±


    Anton Ragnell and the butler of the mansion died. The body caught in the explosion was torn mercilessly and could not be found.


    Dane already had a headache about how to tell Liv about this news.


    ¡°Is Lady Ragnell awake?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She is safe and sound.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I¡¯ll visit you again when the lady recovers to some extent. There is no way to find any clues here now, so further investigation is pointless. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I am of the same opinion.¡±


    ¡°This is *sigh*¡­¡­ The wedding will be moved forward unfortunately. I hope the lady gets well as soon as possible.¡±


    The man left without regret as if he had waited.


    They would do anything as long as they accepted bribes, so they didn¡¯t expect much in the first place. On the contrary, he was grateful for turning it off quickly.


    Dane stood alone and looked around the ruined study.


    On the day of the explosion, he had to remain here, scouring the area for possible traces or riding a horse to search the surroundings for suspicious persons.


    But there was no way he could leave her side, who was caught up in the explosion and could not open her eyes. Now that a few days have passed, even the slightest possibility of finding traces has disappeared.


    Unable to control his simmering emotions, Dane kicked the bookshelf with his foot.


    ¡®Carl Rayleigh, that bastard. Maybe he did this with ill intentions towards the Ragnell family. Or did a bastard who held a grudge against me do this?¡¯


    Dane gritted his teeth. He wanted to catch the guy right away and crush his face with his feet.


    The cruel nature that he had hidden tightly in front of Liv was revealed. In his mind, Dane imagined something he couldn¡¯t even put into words. But contrary to his simmering heart, the Ragnell mansion gave him no clue.


    Eyes full of vicious energy wandered through the piles of books and found a piece of paper. Dane went through the pile of books and picked it up.


    It¡¯s in Hale.


    The handwriting that was unique enough to be memorable was not Anton¡¯s handwriting.


    This was the only strange trace he found here. Dane folded the paper and tucked it deep in his pocket.


    ¡°Wele back, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Lady Ragnell wake up?¡±


    ¡°Master!¡±


    A servant ing down the stairs spotted Dane and called out urgently. Dane sensed something was wrong and ran to his bedroom.


    When he opened the door roughly and entered, he saw Liv with her head down and her ears covered. The doctor was standing in front of Liv with a serious expression.


    ¡°Liv.¡±


    Dane approached Liv. Without realizing he had arrived, Liv only looked at the duvet with blank eyes. Dane carefully wrapped his arms around Liv¡¯s face to make her look at him, and only then did Liv¡¯s eyes fall into his.


    Liv opened her trembling mouth, and a hoarse voice came out.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡­ My left ear is weird¡­¡­. I can¡¯t hear anything¡­¡­.¡±


    If it was on the left, it was where the blood flowed. But the blood was clearly flowing from her head, not her ears. There was no way he didn¡¯t know because he had even stopped the bleeding with his own hands. He looked at the doctor in a hurry.


    ¡°I listened to the lady and examined her ears, but I didn¡¯t see anything wrong. I suspect that the impact on her head caused the problem.¡±


    ¡°Is there any chance for her hearing to e back?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ That¡¯s¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not sure either. If she¡¯s lucky¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Damn, does it make sense that you don¡¯t know?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There is no special trauma, so the only way is to wait and see¡­¡­¡±


    Dane stared at the doctor with his glaring eyes at the words that felt insincere, and Liv trembled and sobbed.


    ¡®Damn it!¡¯


    The first thing to do was calm her down. Dane sat down next to Liv and hugged her in his arms.


    ¡°I just thought my mind was blank, but it wasn¡¯t¡­¡­. I can¡¯t hear¡­¡­.¡±


    Due to the unbelievable reality, Liv couldn¡¯t finish her words and cried her heart out.


    Dane cursed his helplessness to do anything and hugged the collapsing Liv with an ashen face.


    ¡®Damn it! Damn it! What the hell is this¡­¡­.¡¯


    Dane couldn¡¯t believe what had happened in an instant. Liv¡¯s scream-like sobs echoed through the bedroom.


    A single candle flickering precariously in the darkened room created a shadow. The shadows casted by the candles shook together as one body whenever the candle flickered.


    Liv, exhausted from crying, fell asleep and lay on Dane¡¯s arm.


    Lying down, Dane stroked Liv¡¯s left ear with a gentle touch. It was so peaceful that he thought the situation a while ago was just a dream.


    Liv¡¯s eyelids moved slightly. Dane said, kissing Liv on the head.


    ¡°It¡¯s still late at night. Sleep more.¡±


    Liv, who suddenly woke up, focused on her ears.


    It wasn¡¯t a dream. One of her ears was still deaf. Even his hand stroking her ear made no sound, and could only be felt.


    Believing that there would be nowhere else to fall, Liv was pained by the situation in front of her.


    ¡®Why only me¡­¡­. Why am I the only one experiencing this kind of ordeal? Is it because I don¡¯t have enough scars on my face that I can¡¯t hear in my other ear anymore?¡¯


    Dane carefully wiped Liv¡¯s tears away.


    ¡°It¡¯s a temporary condition, so it will recover on its own over time.¡±


    Liv cried so much that her eyelids would be hurt by the slightest touch.


    ¡°The lady knows how lucky I am, right? I¡¯ll give you all my luck. So you don¡¯t have to worry about anything. It will e back naturally in time.¡±


    Dane kissed Liv¡¯s ear as if he were blessing her.


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t e back, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to get it back to normal.¡±


    His voice blew like warm rays of sunshine.


    It was amazing. Struggling in deep frustration, she returned to the shore again at his word.


    Little by little, an unfounded faith that seemed like a foolish thing to be true began to bloom.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just that my ear was startled for a moment. It will return when I get some rest.¡±


    ¡®Yes, it¡¯s going to be okay. As he said¡­¡­ Eventually, it¡¯ll all e back.¡¯


    Liv dug into his shoulders and nodded. Dane pulled Liv closely who was clinging to him tightly. Far from feeling unfortable in his arms, she was glad.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay¡­¡­. It¡¯s going to be as he says. It¡¯s alright¡­¡­. I don¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡¯


    Feeling his touch patting her on the back, Liv closed her eyes again.

 Chapter 19

    ¡°Liv?¡±


    When no answer was heard to the knock on the door, Dane nervously pounded on the door. But there was no response.


    Dane hurriedly turned the doorknob. But even the doorknob was locked and did not turn.


    ¡°Liv! Are you inside? Liv!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m inside!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? The door won¡¯t open.¡±


    ¡°P, please don¡¯t e in today.¡±


    Liv said, standing at the door.


    ¡°Is there perhaps a problem?¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened! Just¡­¡­ Please call someone to help me.¡±


    ¡°You can tell me now.¡±


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t do that. Please call a maid. Please.¡±


    The hand that was touching the doorknob stopped at the sound of pleading. Liv was reassured that he would soon call a maid.


    Liv went into the bathroom attached to the bedroom this morning and was startled to see her own face.


    Her hair was tangled and hardened with blood, and her face was bruised and blue. She couldn¡¯t believe that she was standing in front of him with this look. It even seems to smell. Liv¡¯s shocked face quickly turned to crying.


    She could feel a scab when she touched her head carefully. It didn¡¯t hurt even if she pressed it, so maybe she could wash it now. She didn¡¯t want to stand in front of him like this anymore.


    Click.


    Then there was the sound of a key turning, and Dane opened the door and walked in.


    Flustered, Liv showed signs of trying to escape, and he quickly grabbed her arm. Liv leaned back, wanting to get away from him even a little bit.


    ¡°Why on earth are you like this? Please let me know.¡±


    Liv struggled to pull out her caught arm, but Dane wouldn¡¯t let go. When he didn¡¯t seem to want to let her go until she didn¡¯t speak, Liv eventually opened her mouth obediently.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to show you this.¡±


    Dane didn¡¯t seem to understand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to show you this dirty appearance of mine!¡±


    Only then did Dane see Liv. Liv was so ashamed of the way he looked at her that her visible skin turned all red.


    ¡®How can this woman be adorable in this situation?¡¯


    His heavy heart, wondering if something had happened, was relieved by the woman¡¯s plaints.


    ¡°Wait for a moment.¡±


    Dane raised his hand and traced Liv¡¯s head. Liv frowned and closed her eyes because this situation was so terrible.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve healed well. It¡¯s okay to touch the water now as long as it doesn¡¯t touch your wound.¡±


    Liv said, covering her reddened face with her hands.


    ¡°Then call a maid.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡­. I would like to do that, but unfortunately it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°There are no maids in this mansion. I didn¡¯t bother to hire people because I was only staying here for a while.¡±


    It seemed difficult to wash her hair by herself. While Liv was thinking about what to do, Dane said.


    ¡°Can I do it for you?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Washing your hair. Let me help you.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I can do it myself.¡±


    ¡°But if you touch the wound, it might open up again.¡±


    If the wounds were aggravated, she would have had to show him her dirty appearance for a longer time.


    ¡®But¡­¡­ I¡¯m so embarrassed to go into the bathroom with him¡­¡­.¡¯


    Liv, who was torn between embarrassment for different reasons, said in a small voice.


    ¡°Then¡­¡­ Please.¡±


    In the bathtub filled with hot water, Liv sat down, covering her body with her hands as much as possible. But the thin chemise was of no use as it was wet.


    Her entire face was exposed in front of him when she was gently moistened with water on her head.


    When she came back to her senses, Liv had shown him her scar at some point. He didn¡¯t even look at her scar as if he were observing, nor did he look displeased, so she almost forgot that she had shown him her scar.


    Today, as she was worried about her scar, she stuttered and touched the scar, but Dane pulled Liv¡¯s hand away and kissed it. Liv smiled shyly and slipped her hand into the warm water.


    Dane stroked Liv¡¯s hair with a gentle touch. It was his first time washing someone else¡¯s hair, so his hands were awkward. On top of that, Liv didn¡¯t cooperate, crouching hard, making it even more difficult to wash her hair.


    Bubbles entered Liv¡¯s eyes, and the splashed water kept flooding her face. When Liv raised her hand for the fifth time and wiped the overflowing water from her face, the already tense atmosphere disappeared, and she somehow burst out laughing.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think my touch is funny.¡±


    ¡°I just can¡¯t help but laugh.¡±


    Dane laughed along with the voice full of laughter.


    The sound of rushing water and the steamy bathroom was unbelievably cozy. Liv¡¯s shoulder, which had been very tense, slowly loosened up from fatigue.


    Dane caught the back of Liv as he nodded. Seeing her leave her back to him in a defenseless state brought him indescribable emotions.


    Dane looked at Liv¡¯s back with trembling eyes, then took her hair and kissed her. The scent of fragrant soap filled his nose.


    Spending a normal day with her in his space. This was all he wanted.


    ¡®You never knew how much I wanted you.¡¯


    He¡¯d rather not let her know anything. If she runs away because she feels overwhelmed by this, what should he do with himself who has already tasted the sweetness? He would do anything to catch her and put her back next to him at all costs.


    Even he was disgusted by his grotesque sincerity that flowed out even in such a calm situation. So she should not know.


    Spotting something, Dane pulled Liv¡¯s hair aside. A different wound can be seen on her neck exposed above the chemise.


    Dane raised his hand to caress the wound. Liv, who had been dozing off at the sudden touch, opened her eyes in surprise.


    ¡°Uh¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv was taken aback by his hand caressing her neck.


    ¡°D, Dane?¡±


    Her loosened shoulders tensed again the longer his hand touched her.


    ¡°T¡­¡­ There¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    As Dane pulled her chemise down a bit, another wound was revealed. Scratches were also visible on her spine. It was a wound he hadn¡¯t noticed because he was paying attention to her head and ears.


    ¡°Can you stand up for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Yes? Ah¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t do anything. I just want to check something with my own eyes.¡±


    Dane put his hand under Liv¡¯s arm and raised her up. The water-soaked thin chemise clung to Liv¡¯s body, revealing her skin.


    Dane¡¯s hand ran over Liv¡¯s back. A faint mark can be seen over the chemise. Perhaps it will be clearer than it is now if she took off her clothes. Dane traced the marks with his fingertips.


    Liv clasped her hands in front of her chest and closed her eyes. She was ashamed that the shape of her body was revealed because of the clothes that stuck to her body.


    ¡®Why is he doing this all of a sudden?¡¯


    The hand that had been stroking her back grabbed Liv¡¯s forearms and turned her to look at him. When he grabbed her crouched arm and slowly spread it to the side, Liv¡¯s arm spread helplessly even though he did not use any force.


    The tip of her chest that rose above her clothes was visible. As he passed through her flat stomach and lowered his gaze downwards, a dark triangle-shaped wound was vaguely seen.


    Closing her eyes, Liv shuddered at her cooling body temperature.


    It was as if she was naked now. She could feel his gaze all over her body without having to see it. She felt a strange thrilling sensation, and at the same time, a sense of shame.


    Even though he let go of her arms, Liv was motionless because of his hands touching her collarbone. He rubbed his fingertips around her collarbone, slowly descending towards her chest.


    ¡®I want to see his face.¡¯


    A shameful desire that she didn¡¯t even know existed within her popped out of nowhere. She wondered what kind of face he was making while looking at her body. Was it the face immersed in pleasure he showed her in front of the fence? Or was he as embarrassed as she was and couldn¡¯t even look at her properly?


    Liv, who was in agony, opened her eyes hesitantly despite her shame.


    Her anticipation cooled down as if it had been splashed with water when she looked at his face. There was only sadness on his face, and no desire.


    The touch she thought was lust was not when she opened her eyes. The only place he touched was the spot with the black bruises. Dane did not even give an unnecessary touch in the first place.


    Liv looked at him fondly as he looked at her body with a serious face.


    ¡®How can I not love a man like this?¡¯


    He was so sweet and so lovable to the point of tears.


    Thanks to her crouching, the front part of her body was not severely beaten by the book. Her back was probably worse than this. He was worried that he had not noticed this. Was it so bad that he had such a serious expression?


    Dane rolled up the sleeves of Liv¡¯s clothes. Her forearm was full of thin cuts from the books.


    ¡°Does it not hurt?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    The wound, which had already formed a scab, did not hurt. It was so numb that if he didn¡¯t press the wound, she wouldn¡¯t even know it existed. Rather, it was Dane, not her, who looked hurt. His eyes continued to wander around her wounds.


    Dane, who had been sweeping Liv¡¯s arms, held her in his arms. A drenched chemise wets Dane¡¯s clothes. Feeling his clothes getting wet, Dane thought.


    ¡®I wish the wounds could be passed to me along the spreading waters¡­¡­ If that were the case, I wouldn¡¯t separate you from my body for a moment.¡¯


    He wanted to take all the wounds and not let her feel even a bit of pain. He was glad she was okay, but he always hoped that she wouldn¡¯t get hurt anymore.


    Man¡¯s greed knows no bounds. Even more so if it is something related to love.


    Dane forted himself by burying his face on Liv¡¯s shoulder.

 Chapter 20

    As Dane opened the door and entered, he saw the back of Liv standing in front of the window. He leaned against the door and stared at her for a moment. He could not get enough of the sight which he had only imagined in his head, no matter how much he looked at her directly.


    When Liv spotted him, Dane pulled off his leaning body and approached Liv.


    ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t hear you calling me again.¡±


    Not being able to hear in one ear was more unfortable than she thought. Her sense of direction became dull, and she frequently failed to hear him calling.


    ¡°No, I was just watching you because you were so beautiful in the moonlight.¡±


    As Dane hugged Liv from behind and kissed her on the head, Liv patted his hand that touched her stomach as if she were used to it. The distance between the two, which always maintained a certain distance, stuck tightly and did not fall apart.


    ¡°What were you looking at?¡±


    ¡°If you look from here, you can see Hale. There, that¡¯s Hale, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. If you follow this road, you will find Hale. Others might not see it well because it¡¯s far away, but you managed to notice it.¡±


    The view of Hale through the window was the reason he chose this house.


    He would sometimes suffer from severe insomnia, and when he did, he would stand here and imagine the inside of the Ragnell mansion that he had never visited.


    What the study looked like, what kind of food was usually served, and what kind of flowers the garden was full of. When he imagined her and thought of her walking around it, the painful night of not being able to sleep turned into a sweet rest.


    Liv looked out the window and asked.


    ¡°How many days have I been here?¡±


    Has it finally e? Dane had a plicated face.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably been a fortnight or so.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­but why hasn¡¯t my father contacted me? Did something happen to father?¡±


    Even though he said they were going to get married, this was so strange. There was not a single formal letter from her father.


    ¡®Maybe he doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here. Or¡­¡­ Does he not care about me anymore?¡¯


    When he said nothing, Liv turned back.


    ¡°Dane?¡±


    After a moment of silence with their eyes in contact, Dane spoke with a heavy expression.


    ¡°Liv, don¡¯t be too surprised and listen.¡±


    Liv was taken aback by the unusual atmosphere.


    ¡°Baron Ragnell was caught up in the explosion and died the same day.¡±


    After a very long silence, Liv asked again.


    ¡°Father¡­¡­ was caught in the explosion and died?¡±


    Liv was bewildered, as if she had heard nonsense.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry I only told you now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. I was definitely the only one in the study. Perhaps the explosion did not happen on this floor but on the first floor?¡±


    ¡°The explosion happened in the study on this floor. To be exact, it was a secret room next to the study.¡±


    Liv had no idea the secret room existed.


    ¡°In there was Baron Ragnell and the butler. They were caught in the explosion and died on the spot.¡±


    After speaking, Dane looked at Liv with bated breath, so as not to miss a single expression. Liv¡¯s eyes trembled in utter confusion.


    ¡®My father is dead? Father¡­¡­ Father¡­¡­.¡¯


    It was ridiculous. Her father was not a man who would die in vain. He was a man who would survive and give his life for Ragnell.


    Everything that had happened so far felt like a dream to Liv.


    ¡®The fact that my ear had bee like this, the situation of staying in his mansion, and everything he says now is not true, but a dream. I¡¯m not waking up in my dream right now.¡¯


    It was a very long dream.


    ¡°Now that the lady has woken up, there will be a funeral in a few days. I couldn¡¯t delay it any longer. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    The two bodies that had been mangled by the explosion were so similar to each other that it was impossible to tell who was who. Dane, thinking about what to do, decided to bury the two together in one place.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be better to be buried together than to be buried mixed up? Dane didn¡¯t bother to tell Liv about it.


    ¡°Why are you telling me so late¡­¡­ to me¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t tell you because it hadn¡¯t been long since the lady woke up.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve met my father so you know! My father¡­¡­ He¡¯s not the kind of person who would die ghastly.¡±


    Dane thought so, too. He never expected Anton to die in vain.


    Even if the two had a bad relationship, they had a father-daughter bond that was inseparable. Death was the only thing that could perfectly separate them, but it was such a dangerous idea that Dane had put it aside.


    But to leave like this¡­¡­ He didn¡¯t know if he should like it or not.


    ¡°Who did this?¡±


    ¡°We are currently investigating, but it will be difficult to find out because there are no traces left from the explosion.¡±


    Liv looked down at the floor with blank eyes. It was clear that a corner of her heart was in pain, but no tears came out.


    She couldn¡¯t hear, and now she couldn¡¯t even cry? Perhaps her tears dried up because she had been crying for days.


    ¡®Tears haven¡¯t been made yet, so there¡¯s nothing to shed. Right, that¡¯s it. That must be it.¡¯


    ¡°Liv. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Take me to Ragnell mansion. I need to check it. I, I just can¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°It is late at night now and it is dangerous. I will take you as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. I haven¡¯t touched anything, so everything will be the same.¡±


    Liv wanted him to take her there right now, but she held back. She has to go to sleep quickly to wake up in the morning.


    Liv walked to the bed like an emotionless doll and lay down. Dane was a little relieved because he had even thought of the worst-case fainting situation.


    Dane pulled the duvet up to Liv¡¯s neck. Liv slowly closed her eyes.


    Liv hurriedly ran towards the stairs, but was roughly caught by a hand and dragged back to the study.


    ¡®Liv, say hello. They¡¯re Ragnell like us.¡¯


    Young Liv, who had run away at the sight of the portrait on the wall, was seized by Anton and placed in front of the portrait.


    Even though it was a painting, she hated the horrifying gaze that looked down on her. No matter how hard she struggled to free herself from the peering gaze, she couldn¡¯t escape Anton¡¯s grip.


    Anton¡¯s eyes flashed with madness as he alternately looked at the portrait and Liv.


    ¡®Father, I¡¯m scared.¡¯


    Despite the child¡¯s crying voice, Anton did not loosen his grip on Liv.


    ¡®What do you mean by scary? We¡¯re a family that shares the same blood. The spirits of our ancestors dwell in the mansion we live in. It is all thanks to them that you and I are able to wear beautiful clothes and eat our fill without getting a handful of dirt on our hands. So shouldn¡¯t we do something too? Liv, like me, should swear an oath in front of them. I will definitely live for Ragnell.¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t want to! Let me go!¡¯


    ¡®This! Are you going to pretend you didn¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been receiving? I shouldn¡¯t have raised you if you¡¯re this ungrateful!¡¯


    Liv looked at Anton with frightened eyes.


    ¡®In the distant future, what you have to do will surely e. When that time es, you just have to follow me. Sweetheart. So please grow up beautifully.¡¯


    Anton grabbed Liv¡¯s head and pinned it to the portrait. Young Liv was powerless.


    ¡®My lovely daughter. Liv Ragnell.¡¯


    She hated that voice so much that it gave her goosebumps.


    The more Liv closed her eyes and struggled, the stronger Anton¡¯s strength grew. Her head felt like it was about to explode as she was being held in the big hand.


    ¡®Help me! Please someone help me!¡¯


    She kept crying out even though there was no one to help her. Without a face ing to mind, she anxiously looked for someone.


    ¡®You useless bitch! You ruined it! You ruined all my plans!¡¯


    Her father¡¯s hand gripped her head and pressed down on her scar, and she heard the voice full of irritation she had always heard.


    ¡®You¡¯re just a useless pig who only knows how to eat! Get out of this house right now! Now!¡¯


    ¡®No! No! I don¡¯t want to!¡¯


    Liv woke up struggling.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­ Ah¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv¡¯s body was drenched in cold sweat. Anton¡¯s hand, which had gripped her face, was vivid. Her whole body ached as if she had been beaten.


    ¡®My father is dead? No, that¡¯s not possible!¡¯


    Liv raised her trembling body and stepped out as if possessed. The sky was cold without the sun. Only moonlight illuminated Liv.


    Outside, Liv looked around with anxious eyes and stumbled toward the stable.


    The sensitive horse jumped up and cried in surprise at the sudden arrival of Liv. Liv hurriedly calmed it down.


    ¡°Will you help me out? I beg you. Please¡­¡­.¡±


    The horse calmed down little by little, as if it had read her desperation. Liv, on the other hand, still looked uneasy and precarious.


    With trembling hands, Liv saddled the horse and hurriedly rode out of the mansion on horseback.


    Descending from the horse, she opened the door to the Ragnell mansion and entered. There was no one to greet her, only the cold air.


    As she frantically climbed the stairs, Liv tripped and fell.


    ¡®If I open that door, my father will be sitting there.¡¯


    With staggering steps, she opened the door to the study.


    She stumbled through the messed-up study. The study, which had always suffocated her, had bee a mess and was no better than a ruin.


    Liv, who was walking around blankly, did not see the frame lying under her feet and stepped on it and slipped. A torn portrait was seen on the floor where she had fallen.


    The portrait, which fell to the floor after failing to withstand the explosion, was lying on a pile of books with only the edges sticking out or was torn unsightly.


    ¡®My father is really dead¡­¡­.¡¯


    Only then did a sense of reality pierced through her body. A cry like a scream came out of her mouth.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­ Ah! Ahhh!¡±


    Liv cried out as she looked up at the sky.

 Chapter 21

    ¡°Father! Father¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv succumbed to the overwhelming sadness that surged up and slammed her head on the ground. It was so painful. While she was curled up among the bookshelf, her father must have felt the explosion with his whole body in the secret room.


    ¡®He must have died with his limbs torn without even having the chance to scream. What did my father think then? Was it heartbreaking to die so vainly? No, did he even think of me a little bit?¡¯


    Liv cried like a beast. No matter how much she hated him, he was Liv¡¯s only father. There was no one by her side anymore.


    Liv looked around blankly with dispirited eyes. There was no sense of presence in the mansion.


    ¡®I¡¯m really alone.¡¯


    She shuddered at the fear that came flooding in.


    The moonlight coming in through the broken window comfortingly caressed the back of Liv¡¯s head. But Liv did not feel any comfort. She just laid on the floor and cried out incessantly.


    How much did she cry? Liv looked up as she felt a sharp paper piercing her fingertips. It was a torn portrait.


    Liv, who was looking around with blank eyes, fixed her gaze on the desk that had lost its owner. Something flashed across her mind as she stared at the desk and portrait with tears streaming down her face.


    Freedom.


    It was freedom.


    Her father has always been a subject of fear and hatred. Liv always wanted to be accepted by her father, but he didn¡¯t give her any affection because of her ugly face.


    So she was distressed. She couldn¡¯t love herself.


    Anton was like a demon sucking Liv¡¯s life. Liv was slowly dying in Anton¡¯s arms.


    But then such a father died.


    ¡°Hu¡­¡­ Heukk¡­¡­ kuk¡­¡­.¡±


    Her eyes, which contained nothing but infinite sadness, were filled with different emotions. Liv¡¯s expression began to crack.


    The ruined portrait was awfully pleasant, and her father¡¯s study, which had lost its authority as it turned into a mess, strangely brought a sense of liberation. She kept trying to persuade herself that she shouldn¡¯t be like this, but her emotions spiraled out of control.


    She felt freedom that she had never felt before, and at the same time, she felt disgusted at herself for feeling this kind of emotion.


    ¡®Am I grieving or rejoicing at the loss of my father now?¡¯


    Liv¡¯s feelings kept fluctuating.


    Freedom.


    Sorrow.


    Joy.


    Pain.


    Exhilaration.


    Guilt.


    Fear.


    As emotions fluctuated for a short period of time, fear emerged again.


    Anton kept Liv out of the world, making Hale her everything, instilling guilt and frustration, not even giving her the courage to enjoy freedom.


    The joy was short-lived.


    ¡®What do I do now? I don¡¯t have anyone¡­¡­ No one by my side¡­¡­.¡¯


    Liv trembled from the rush of loneliness and fear.


    ¡°Liv?¡±


    At the sudden sound of a voice, Liv turned around and a man with his face covered approached her. Liv flinched in fear and stepped back.


    ¡°Liv! It¡¯s me! Lohan!¡±


    ¡°Lohan?¡±


    He approached Liv, who was plopped down.


    ¡°Lohan!¡±


    As Liv collapsed into Lohan¡¯s arms, Lohan whispered that he was glad in a voice like a sigh. Liv said as she cried in Lohan¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Lohan, father¡­¡­ Father is dead.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so scared. I¡¯m so frightened and terrified¡­¡­ But¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Liv¡­¡­ It¡¯s okay.¡±


    How stupid of her. How could she forget Lohan? Liv was not alone. She had a brother.


    Her one and only brother. Lohan.


    Liv slipped out of Lohan¡¯s arms and ran her hands over his face. Unlike before, his face, which had changed to a firmer appearance, showed that he had become a full-fledged adult. Liv asked in an anxious voice.


    ¡°Lohan, are you really back to Hale? Father is dead now, so why don¡¯t you just come and live here? Let everyone know who you are and live as Lohan Ragnell.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m unattractive, so everyone will welcome you. So you don¡¯t have to worry. You can¨D¡±


    ¡°Liv, I¡¯m not coming back to Hale.¡±


    At Lohan¡¯s firm words, Liv paused.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Liv, but Ragnell now means nothing to me. I just came to see your face one last time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Lohan! Is it because you hate me? I was afraid of father, too. I was as afraid of father as you were!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that, Liv. How could I hate you? I could never do that.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you doing this? You don¡¯t like Ragnell? Now that we¡¯re the only Ragnell left, you can do everything you want. I will follow your words unconditionally. I¡¯m not greedy for anything! If, if you could only just be by my side¡­¡­¡±


    Lohan shook his head.


    ¡°Liv, do you remember my letters?¡±


    Tears dripped down the floor.


    ¡°I was in so much pain from being kicked out of this house and abandoned. Every day was painful because I felt like my very existence was denied. The affection you gave me was my only salvation.¡±


    Lohan kissed Liv¡¯s head and thanked her.


    ¡°And when I finally came out of the world of pain, I saw a completely different world.¡±


    Lohan grabbed Liv¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Liv, I am so grateful now that father kicked me out. Thanks to him, I was able to get out of the pain on my own.¡±


    He spoke up, looking determined to do something.


    ¡°Liv, I can¡¯t come back to Hale. Because I am a rebel.¡±


    Liv forgot to breathe at Lohan¡¯s words. A rebel.


    ¡°Damn it! I wasn¡¯t going to tell you! I just want to see your face one last time¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Lohan? A rebel¡­¡­ What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I will overthrow the emperor and achieve complete equality.¡±


    Liv¡¯s mouth fell open. All rebels were beheaded. Those who were caught as rebels were brought in with their limbs broken and their throats cut in front of everyone.


    ¡®You¡¯re going to do such a dangerous thing?¡¯


    ¡°Are you¡­¡­ Are you out of your mind?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    There was no fear in his face as he spoke with a bright smile.


    Lohan shone brighter than ever. He was no longer the child hiding behind her and who was conscious of his father. Liv couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his face. As time passed, her brother changed.


    ¡®Why¡­¡­ Why did you change like that, leaving me alone? I¡¯m still the same. I couldn¡¯t move here at all.¡¯


    Liv swallowed her sorrow and asked.


    ¡°Why are you going to do such a thing? You could lose your life.¡±


    ¡°I loathed the blood of the serfs that flowed through me. If I hadn¡¯t been born like this, I would have lived a different life. He constantly resented my mother and cursed me.¡±


    Lohan smiled bitterly.


    ¡°But I realized it after spending a lot of time in disgust and pain. It¡¯s not my fault. I was just born. My mother and I were just born. It¡¯s not me that¡¯s wrong, it¡¯s the world. So I want to change the world. I want to get rid of my identity and give everyone a chance to live a better life than now.¡±


    ¡°Even if¡­¡­ Even if you die?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I feel like I¡¯m living my life now.¡±


    Lohan was no longer coming back. His confident answer spontaneously made her think so.


    Liv hugged Lohan. She was obviously a little taller than him, but now he was well over her height and was about to walk away.


    ¡°You¡¯ll go even if I tell you not to go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see you anymore¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°I liked you as soon as I saw you. Did you know? You are my one and only brother.¡±


    Lohan buried his face in Liv¡¯s shoulder, not wanting to reveal the tears in his eyes.


    ¡°Of course. My mother and you were the only family I had. I thank father for not giving me the surname Ragnell. That name would have been a stumbling block for me now.¡±


    Lohan said in a small voice.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know each other anymore. So you should never, ever pretend to know me no matter what I do. I¡¯m not your brother anymore.¡±


    Liv burst into tears.


    ¡°You¡¯ve become a crybaby since I didn¡¯t see you.¡±


    As he wiped her face, Lohan¡¯s face was full of regret and affection.


    ¡°Lohan, someone is coming. We have to get out of here now.¡±


    Hearing the voice of an unfamiliar woman outside, Lohan quickly pulled Liv away and stood up. Liv¡¯s breathing quickened at the impending separation.


    ¡°Take care of yourself. Liv.¡±


    Seeing Lohan¡¯s back as he was about to leave, her heart tightened.


    ¡°Lohan, Lohan! Don¡¯t go! Please, please don¡¯t leave me!¡±


    Liv collapsed and looked at Lohan with a miserable face.


    ¡°Hu¡­¡­ Heuk¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv was afraid of being left alone.


    She couldn¡¯t do anything by herself. She knew that she was so ugly right now, but she couldn¡¯t stop crying. She was afraid of freedom. She was so scared that she wanted to die because of the sudden feeling of being left alone.


    ¡°If you leave me behind, I will have no one. So please don¡¯t go!¡±


    ¡°Liv, you¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°We have to get out of here quickly! If we don¡¯t leave now, we might get caught!¡±


    Lohan stopped approaching Liv at the sound of his comrade¡¯s urgent voice. Looking at her with confused eyes, Lohan eventually turned away.


    She heard the sound of Lohan and an unknown woman hurrying out of the mansion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡­. Don¡¯t go¡­¡­ Please¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv ended up being left alone on the cold floor. She curled up in fear and sobbed for a long time.


    ¡°¨D!¡±


    Then someone grabbed Liv¡¯s forearms as she crouched down and pulled her up.


    It was Dane with an angry expression on his face.

 Chapter 22

    ¡°Damn it! Did you come here riding a horse late at night, knowing what would happen to you? Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d take you here tomorrow morning?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how surprised I was to find out you were gone? Do you know how I came here after seeing the horse disappear from the stable?¡±


    Liv sat in a daze, looking at Dane who was screaming with anger.


    ¡°I thought you were kidnapped by an unidentified assailant! Or perhaps you went to take your own life! What if you lost your balance while riding a horse and fell! I was afraid something might have gone wrong, and I¡­¡­ I!¡±


    Dane gritted his teeth and glared at Liv. Her face looked somewhat unstable because of how much she cried.


    Damn it! Damn it! Dane, who cursed harshly, eventually held Liv in his arms and said soothingly.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up¡­¡­ I¡¯ll do whatever you ask me to do¡­¡­ Why¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡®Right, I have Dane.¡¯


    Liv hugged him.


    ¡°Please embrace me.¡±


    Dane shuddered at the breath tickling his ears. Liv spread her legs and climbed onto his lap and clung to him tightly. Her white shining thighs were exposed beneath her raised clothes.


    ¡°Please embrace me. I beg of you, please embrace me.¡±


    Liv clung to him with all her might. She was afraid that even the last person left in front of her would leave her. All she had was her body. This was all she could give him.


    When Dane didn¡¯t respond, Liv pulled his face to her chest. She could feel the shape of his face over her thin chemise.


    Dane was distracted by the thick body scent that crept through his nose and the soft touch on his face. The flesh on his body and the voice begging to be embraced were like a sinkhole. Even as he struggled to get out, he was sucked underneath endlessly.


    ¡°I beg of you, please embrace me. It could only be you. You¡¯re the only one I have.¡±


    In the end, Dane couldn¡¯t stand it and put the soft breast that touched his face into his mouth.


    A large hand touched Liv¡¯s back and pulled her closely. Liv¡¯s body curved like a bow, and a wet sound came from Dane¡¯s mouth.


    The fury that had welled up upon seeing her turned into lust.


    Dane let out a ragged breath and rubbed his face to get a little more flesh into his mouth. Liv felt her soul being sucked into his mouth. She found a sense of security in his uncouth strength.


    The hand that had reached behind her back ran down her hips and gripped her derriere. Liv lifted her derriere with the force of his grip and Dane toppled her on her back.


    Dane, who had buried his face in her slender neck and thoroughly enjoyed it, and stopped all movement the moment he raised his face to kiss her.


    Reading his hesitation, Liv pulled Dane with her legs, and their lower bodies touched each other. Liv clearly felt his heat touching between her legs. She knew all too well what this meant.


    ¡°Quickly¡­¡­.¡±


    But Dane could not move. Liv was crying. With a very distressed face.


    ¡°Are you scared?¡±


    ¡°I am not scared.¡±


    ¡°But why are you crying like that?¡±


    Liv shed tears without saying anything. As Dane tried to pull himself away, Liv clung to him urgently.


    ¡°No! Please! Please embrace me! You said you¡¯d do whatever I wanted!¡±


    She looked anxious as if she was being chased by something. He could feel Liv¡¯s wetland touching his heat, but he couldn¡¯t hold her in this state. Dane suppressed his desire with all his might and left her body.


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t go! Please don¡¯t go! Don¡¯t go!¡±


    Liv pulled him down as hastily as a drowning man, but he did not heed her wants. Dane picked Liv up and sat her on his lap.


    Liv looked restless and anxious. Avoiding his touch to see her face, she kept trying to stick to his body by burying her face around the back of his neck. Dane let her do as she pleased. When Liv hugged him with all her might, Dane hugged her with the same force, and when her hug weakened, he swept Liv¡¯s back.


    What she needed was not a touch of lust. Dane crushed his rising desires and waited patiently for her to calm down with a tender touch.


    The movement that continued to rustle in his arms had finally stopped. Liv fell limp in his arms like melted, mushy butter.


    After a long wait, Liv spoke.


    ¡°My father is really dead¡­¡­ The butler died, my mother died¡­¡­ I have no one anymore. You¡¯re the only one by my side.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Everyone left. So¡­¡­ I¡¯m so scared. If even you leave me¡­¡­. I¡­¡­ I¡­¡­.¡±


    Maybe I¡¯ll die. Liv gasped for fear as the mere thought of it gripped her.


    ¡®I don¡¯t have the confidence to live on my own. I¡­¡­ I can¡¯t do anything. I need someone by my side¡­¡­.¡¯


    Dane, on the other hand, fell into ecstasy in an instant.


    Her words were like the heavenly sound of music. With just a few words, Liv led Dane to heaven.


    He wanted to gently caress her body, and hold her in his arms while whispering sweet nothings that he would never leave her side as he roughly penetrated inside her.


    Beyond Liv, he could see the messed-up study. Dane stared at the secret room, where only the shape remained and let out a cry of joy in his heart.


    ¡®Anton Ragnell, I worship your death! I pray that you may go to heaven.¡¯


    Anton¡¯s death was a gain, not a loss.


    Dane soothed Liv, who was trembling with anxiety. Apart from being ecstatic, Dane knew all too well what fear she was feeling right now.


    ¡®Even if I thought that they were disgusting beings, a family is a family.¡¯


    He remembered the time when that guy, his father, died and he was alone. He hated him terribly, but when the man died, he felt like he was driven to the edge of a cliff.


    ¡°Liv, I will never leave your side.¡±


    It was you who saved my life.


    Dane cherished the pitiful angel who lay in his arms.


    The funeral was held solemnly.


    A coffin was inserted into a pit that was dug beforehand. Liv stared at the coffin being buried in the ground with an emotionless face.


    Anton, who prided himself on being a nobleman more than anyone else, became entangled with a commoner and was buried in the ground. Of course, all of this was done with the permission of Liv, the only Ragnell.


    It was a humiliating end for Anton Ragnell.


    When she opened her eyes, she saw Dane¡¯s face sleeping soundly. Sleeping side-by-side in a cozy bed has now become a daily routine.


    Liv looked at Dane¡¯s face. He never once said anything about that day that embarrassed even her.


    ¡®I only believe in you now.¡¯


    As Liv slipped into Dane¡¯s arms, his hard, broad body wrapped around her. It was warm.


    She buried her face in the nape of his neck and stroked his shoulders, feeling a subtle but disparate touch over the thin fabric.


    Liv slowly scanned the area with her fingers, and the range was quite wide. Just as she was about to lift his clothes to see what it was, Dane grabbed her hand to stop her when he opened his eyes.


    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡±


    ¡°You have a scar on your shoulder.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a scar from my childhood.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t lucky.¡±


    ¡°Can I have a look?¡±


    Dane looked at Liv and shook his head.


    ¡°I will show you next time. For now, just pretend you don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it doesn¡¯t hurt. Except for the fact¡­¡­ that the wound had reopened when it was about to close up, and reopened again, so it kept bothering me for a couple of years.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m completely better now. It took a really long time.¡±


    Dane pressed his lips to Liv¡¯s forehead. Liv closed her eyes and felt his lips.


    She felt indescribably comfortable and at the same time she was afraid that everything would disappear immediately.


    ¡®Please don¡¯t let this tranquility be broken.¡¯


    Liv tightened her arms around Dane. The last thing she had left was Dane. She did not want to lose him to anyone.


    All the frantic events came to an end and the day of the wedding that felt far away had arrived.


    Early in the morning, Liv and Dane headed to a small temple located in Hale. Hale could be seen outside the window in thick fog.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a short trip after the wedding? When we return from the trip, the Ragnell mansion will completely return to its original form.¡±


    ¡°Is it okay if I leave?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine. There¡¯s a place I really want to show you. Have you heard of Berserin?¡±


    ¡°No, I have not.¡±


    ¡°It is a city in a country called Aiden. It¡¯s a very beautiful place. You¡¯ll probably love it. If there¡¯s anywhere you¡¯d like to go, please let me know. You can freely go wherever you want.¡±


    Liv nodded. Through the window, the familiar view of Hale passed by. Was it because of the fog? The image she had seen countless times was unfamiliar today.


    ¡®Be free.¡¯


    It was a word that was far from her. But the words continued to linger in Liv¡¯s head.


    According to the etiquette that they could not meet until the ceremony began, the two were to be separated in front of the temple. Dane lifted Liv¡¯s hand and kissed it sadly.


    In the room where Liv entered, a maid had been waiting in advance to help her change. As soon as Liv entered, the maid greeted her briefly and touched Liv¡¯s clothes.


    The clothes she had been wearing were removed, and a brilliant white dress touched her body. The maid instantly turned Liv into a beautiful bride.


    However, in front of the mirror, Liv¡¯s expression looked somewhat anxious.

 Chapter 23

    The maid asked with a worried face.


    ¡°Are you uncomfortable somewhere?¡±


    ¡°No, I am not. Maybe it¡¯s just because I¡¯m nervous. I just have to wait here until the ceremony starts, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Where is Dane?¡±


    ¡°Sir is waiting for the ceremony in the building across the street.¡±


    ¡°I see. Thank you.¡±


    Brides sometimes need some alone time. The maid said to call if she needed anything and left the room.


    Alone in the large room, Liv revealed the true emotions she had been suppressing.


    Looking through the mirror, the woman¡¯s face looked pale and tired, looking uneasy like a sheet of thin ice that might break at any moment. If he was next to her, she would be fine, but if he was not around, she would instantly be in this state.


    Liv slumped down in the chair and buried her face in her hands.


    As time passed, what had happened in the mansion became clearer. It was what she really felt.


    ¡®I gave myself to him. I threw myself at him, begging him not to let me go.¡¯


    Liv bit her lip as she looked at herself in front of the mirror.


    ¡®I¡¯ve been like this since the beginning.¡¯


    A being that can only live by living off of others. A being who is unstable and unable to do anything without restraint. That¡¯s the kind of person I am. No matter how much I tried to deny it, I was that kind of person.


    ¡®If it wasn¡¯t for Dane¡­¡­ what would have become of me now?¡¯


    Perhaps she would be under Carl Rayleigh¡¯s feet and begging him to please take her away, showing all kinds of pitiful looks.


    Liv stood up and paced around the room. A rush of anxiety and agitation crept in over her.


    She didn¡¯t know why. Again and again, inexplicable anxiety rushed in and swept through Liv like a wave. She tried to suppress it, but she just couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡±


    Liv, who had been pacing incessantly in the room due to anxiety, looked out the window. There was no one.


    She needed Dane. Every time he saw her acting like this in the Lesbourne residence, he would always hug and reassure her. She wanted to see him, even for a moment.


    Without thinking, Liv stepped out of the window and started running.


    After passing through a long passage, Liv saw a building in front of her that looked exactly like where she had stayed. Holding her breath, she approached the window and raised her tiptoes and looked inside.


    She saw Dane. And beside him was an unfamiliar man who was of a similar age to him. Liv quickly lowered her head.


    ¡®Who is that man?¡¯


    He was dressed splendidly to be called a servant who helps change clothes. Liv looked up again and looked through the window.


    While the man sat in a chair and drank tea leisurely, Dane stripped off his clothes, revealing his bare upper body. Liv saw a scar across his shoulder. That was the identity of the touch that she felt at her fingertips.


    It was only for a brief moment as he immediately put on his clothes, but the scar was clearly familiar to her. It was a scar similar to the one she saw every time she looked at herself in the mirror.


    Liv couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his shoulder as she seemed to remember something.


    ¡°How does it feel to finally pay off your debts?¡±


    The man rose from his seat and walked to the window. Liv hurriedly lowered herself.


    ¡°To abandon everything and come back to this rotten country just because of a childhood memory. Does your bride know this?¡±


    Dane did not answer. Liv¡¯s eyes were confused as she lowered her head and stared at the finely laid grass on the floor.


    ¡°I heard that Liv Ragnell had been neglected all the time because of the burn marks on her face. Do you feel guilty for the woman who is ruined because of you? I had no idea you were such a good guy.¡±


    ¡®I am ruined because of Dane?¡¯


    Liv, completely unable to comprehend what the man was talking about, held her breath at the sudden flash of an old memory.


    It was a painful memory that she had buried deep in her heart because she wanted to forget it.


    There was a fire. Fueled by the fierce wind, embers completely engulfed one of Hale¡¯s tallest wooden buildings. The flames were so large that it could be seen from a distance.


    Liv, who was still a child, begged the maid to take a look. That day, her life was turned upside down.


    A piece of burning wood fell from the sky towards a boy. Watching the blazing flames, Liv ran towards the boy without thinking.


    Something hot hit her face and Liv passed out.


    When she opened her eyes after everything had ended, she saw the pained eyes and horrified expressions on the faces of the people around her that made her scream.


    And like that, Liv¡¯s face was ruined.


    ¡°Shut up, Nolan Vergo.¡±


    Nolan shrugged and drank his tea.


    ¡°Your father that has passed away will come out of the coffin if he witnesses you in that state right now.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to talk nonsense, get out right now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m about to leave anyway. I have no intention of watching your pathetic wedding to the end.¡±


    Nolan stood up, opened the door, and turned back again.


    ¡°When you¡¯ve paid your debt to the woman, come back. I¡¯ll leave your seat empty. You know that everything in this country is of no use to you. Don¡¯t be so stupid anymore.¡±


    Even after the man left, Liv couldn¡¯t get up from her seat for a long time.


    Through the window, she could hear Dane changing his clothes. It felt as if a large rock was lodged in her throat. Fearing that she might make noise, she desperately closed her mouth.


    Liv returned the way she had come, giving strength to her weakened legs.


    ¡°Miss!¡±


    A maid wandering about in search of the missing bride spotted Liv and grabbed her.


    Then a voice was heard. The maid quickly hid Liv behind a pillar in case anyone saw the bride¡¯s appearance.


    ¡°Have you still not let go of your lingering feelings?¡±


    ¡°Father is like me. Don¡¯t scold me for no reason.¡±


    It was the daughter of the Duke who had expressed interest in Dane at the ball. Her face was full of dissatisfaction as if she still hadn¡¯t let go of her feelings for Dane.


    ¡°His feelings are bound to fade over time anyway. Eventually, he would realize that all that remains is honor and power. We just have to wait for that moment. Now, I¡¯ll just let him play with love to your heart¡¯s content.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way the Emperor would grant a divorce so easily.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, even the Emperor would prefer his favored person to marry me rather than an insignificant noblewoman. And since the Baron died, what¡¯s left of Lady Ragnell? That guy is a Vergo. Wouldn¡¯t it be great if someone from Vergo came into our family?¡±


    The Duke did not answer whether he felt the same way as his daughter.


    ¡°Two years. In two years, that man will change.¡±


    It was not something a bride-to-be should hear. The maid furtively glanced back at Liv and saw that her face trembled and was pale and tired, as if she was going to vomit at any moment.


    The most important thing when working with nobles was to be silent. The maid immediately erased from her mind what she had just heard.


    The maid cautiously dragged Liv.


    ¡°I will be at the door. If anything happens, please call me right away.¡±


    The maid with pity in her face closed the door and walked out. Big brown eyes stared blankly into the air.


    ¡®You were that boy then. So it was like that.¡¯


    Liv smiled at the reflection of herself in the mirror. In the mirror, a shabby woman with her hair covering her scar sat, wearing a pure white dress that didn¡¯t match her.


    ¡®So it was like that.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t understand why such a coveted man had chosen her. No one loved her. Even though she knew it couldn¡¯t be love, she thought to herself that it might be love.


    It wasn¡¯t love after all. The whole reason why he was marrying me was to pay off his debts.


    ¡®When you¡¯ve paid your debt to the woman, come back. I¡¯ll leave your seat empty.¡¯


    ¡®His feelings are bound to fade over time anyway. Eventually, he would realize that all that remains is honor and power. We just have to wait for that moment.¡¯


    Unlike Liv, who no one wanted, everyone wanted Dane.


    She only has Dane left, and she keeps trying to take him away.


    ¡®Why am I such a greedy person? I would rather have been someone who doesn¡¯t know light like any other person from the back alley. If only he were such a frivolous man who was only after the hem of my skirt¡­¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have felt this way. If I was the only one who recognized him and gave him his resting place when others kicked him for being dirty¡­¡­.¡¯


    Liv¡¯s breathing became ragged.


    ¡®In the first place, he should have had his face ruined like mine!¡¯


    If his face was ruined like hers, no one would have known his beauty.


    She was chagrined. This was not fair. He became like this because of him, but nothing changed for him.


    Jealousy and inferiority make a person sink to the bottom. Liv wanted him to be dirtier and be pointed at than anyone else in the world. May he feel the anxiety and restlessness she feels right now. She wanted him to be the one to endure the terrible self-loathing, not herself.


    And she hoped that she would be his sole savior.


    Liv was sick of her nauseatingly disgusting heart.


    She remembered Rayleigh¡¯s sarcastic words about wishing her a happy marriage.


    ¡®If I marry him, I will have to live with this disgusting feeling for the rest of my life.¡¯


    He did nothing wrong. Running to save him was all my choice. Even so, she couldn¡¯t stop her heart from wishing that he was ruined.


    She couldn¡¯t figure out where it went wrong.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have forgotten the child I saved in the first place¡­¡­ I had to hate him, curse him, and make sure I would never fall in love with him. The moment I recognized him, I had to shout in anger that my whole life was ruined because of you.¡¯


    She had to point fingers at him for being dirty and spit on him like everyone else. She shouldn¡¯t have loved that child.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have loved you. I should never have loved him¡­¡­.¡¯


    She wanted to escape. She wanted to get away from the endless repetition of emotions and thoughts.


    Liv burst into tears of pain.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a happy day? Why are you sitting like that?¡±


    The sun, hidden by the mist, shone brightly beyond the window. Liv looked at the man who climbed through the window with his back to the sun as if possessed.


    ¡°Lohan¡­¡­.¡±

 Chapter 24

    ¡°I thought of seeing a beautiful bride. But to see you with such a sad face. You are not crying like that because of me, are you?¡±


    Behind Lohan, who was smiling brightly, a person with the face covered with a robe followed.


    ¡°Lohan¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Lohan sat down in front of Liv. His gentle smiling face comforted Liv.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly leave Hale after separating with you like that. Come to think of it, I think I only thought about myself. Meeting and parting must have been sudden for you.¡±


    Liv couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Lohan. He felt relaxed and calm. Despite being in a similar situation to herself, he grew up remarkably. She felt ashamed of herself for not having changed anything.


    ¡°Liv?¡±


    Lohan called Liv again, who was strangely looking at him without speaking.


    ¡®Will I also be able to change if I follow you?¡¯


    Her father, who wanted to lock her up in the house, was no longer in the world. Liv was now free. She wanted to stop hiding and hating herself.


    ¡®If I leave Hale and see a new world, I might be able to become like Lohan.¡¯


    The main characters in Liv¡¯s favorite novels always stand at a crossroads of choice. Depending on what they choose, they can live a normal life or a dangerous one. And the main characters always make the hardest and most dangerous choices.


    Finally, her mouth opened up after she had been hesitant to say it because she thought it was a ridiculous idea.


    ¡°Take me with you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Take you? Where to?¡±


    A thought flashed across Lohan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Liv, don¡¯t tell me.¡±


    ¡°I want to follow you. Take me with you.¡±


    The person wearing a robe, who was wary and was looking out the window, turned to Liv.


    Lohan, who was taken aback, calmly humored Liv.


    ¡°Are you worried about me? Don¡¯t worry. At that time, I was also very emotional, so I spoke a little exaggeratedly. It¡¯s not as dangerous as what you are worried about.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I also¡­¡­ I also want to be a rebel. Anything is fine. I want to get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Is it because you don¡¯t like the person you are marrying? I also roughly recognized who he was, but not this one. Do you know what it means to be a rebel?¡±


    ¡°I know. However, I¡­¡­ I want to get out of here. I want to abandon Hale, abandon Ragnell and just live as one person. Didn¡¯t you join the rebels to do that? Therefore, me too.¡±


    Lohan stood up with a stiff face. His expression, which had been soft, suddenly froze cold.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear it. How can you, who have been a noble all your life, become a rebel? You¡¯re saying things that make no sense.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be difficult at first, but I can do it! I beg you! Take me with you! I want to get away from this place! I want to be free! Lohan¡­¡­ Please¡­¡­ You said you loved me¡­ So please take me¡­¡­. Hng? Don¡¯t abandon me.¡±


    There was a knock on the door.


    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±


    It was the voice of the maid. Liv hurriedly replied that it was nothing and looked at Lohan as if pleading. Lohan shook his head and turned back with a determined face and approached the person who was wearing a robe.


    ¡°This is good enough. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    However, the person wearing the robe looked at Liv without moving.


    ¡°Are you not going?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take her?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­what did you just say?¡±


    Liv looked at the person wearing the robe.


    ¡°She appears really eager to come with us, so why not let her join us?¡±


    ¡°Liv has been raised as a noble until now! What could she do? She will definitely be a burden.¡±


    ¡°She cannot do anything because she lived as a noble¡­¡­ It¡¯s funny that you¡¯re saying that to me.¡±


    Lohan frowned.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But Liv is different from you. She cannot be a rebel.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you think, but your sister seems to think differently.¡±


    The person wearing a robe approached Lohan and tapped his shoulder with a finger.


    ¡°And in case you forgot, I am your boss. Even if we have a close relationship, shouldn¡¯t you not cross the line?¡±


    Lohan nervously stepped back.


    ¡°Seeing your messed up face makes me want to take her to the rebels all the more.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute, this is not a matter for us to decide on our own. You should at least consult Mr. Gregory!¡±


    ¡°If I go to consult Mr. Gregory, wouldn¡¯t this fragile bride be eaten by Dane? This is the only time we can take her.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    The one wearing the robe lightly ignored Lohan¡¯s fierce stare, and walked over to Liv who was sitting down and took off the robe.


    Long brown hair that was tied and a large scar running across the face stood out.


    As soon as Liv saw that face, she recognized who she was. If one were a citizen of the Empire, one would have heard of her at least once.


    ¡°Deborah¡­¡­ Lofen.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this such an honor? To think that you know my name.¡±


    Deborah looked at Liv with interest.


    ¡°At first, I thought you were just a crybaby.¡±


    The woman¡¯s attention was on Liv¡¯s scarred face and her watery eyes.


    ¡°Do you know what it means to be a rebel? You will become an existence whose life will be threatened by the emperor. You would never dream of beautiful clothes, delicious food, and a comfortable life like now, and if you were caught, you would be tortured in agony, decapitated, and then your head would be hung in the middle of the square. Nonetheless, are you really going to follow us?¡±


    Liv never once thought that this would happen to her. Just imagining it made her fingertips tremble.


    Nevertheless, she desperately wanted a new life.


    Liv nodded. Although her tears welled up, they didn¡¯t fall.


    The woman looked at Liv and laughed.


    As the wedding ceremony began, the blue sky appeared perfectly.


    Standing in front of the altar, a number of nobles could be seen behind Liv and Dane. The high priest read the Bible in a calm voice. But Liv couldn¡¯t hear anything.


    ¡®Can I really leave him? Just having him standing next to me calms my anxious heart, but can I really be happy if I leave him?¡¯


    The anxiety she felt in the room now felt like a mirage. She felt like she had made a reckless decision after being frightened by an empty illusion.


    ¡°Dane, do you swear to take Liv Ragnell as your wife and be with her for the rest of your life?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Liv Ragnell, do you swear to take Dane as your husband and be with him for the rest of your life?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ I do.¡±


    The long Bible reading came to an end, and the high priest finally announced that they had become a married couple.


    They faced each other. There was regret in Liv¡¯s eyes as she looked at Dane. As soon as she saw his face, her wavering heart easily collapsed.


    Dane grabbed Liv¡¯s face and gently kissed her lips.


    ¡®In a moment, this place will be a mess.¡¯


    Liv closed her eyes to stop the words that were about to burst out.


    ¡®It¡¯s already spilled water. There¡¯s no turning back now.¡¯


    However¡­¡­ Nevertheless¡­¡­.


    Her confused heart mercilessly cut itself.


    As soon as her lips fell and she opened her eyes, all she saw was Dane¡¯s face with a bright smile. He had a very happy face, if only not because of Liv¡¯s delusion.


    What does my face look like right now? She was about to forcibly raise the corners of her mouth just like him, but he saw the Duke and his daughter over Dane¡¯s shoulder. They were looking at them with expressionless faces.


    After that, she saw a completely unexpected figure. It was Carl Rayleigh. As soon as he made eye contact with Liv, he stood up and turned around.


    Facing them, I remembered each emotion that had driven me to the edge of the cliff before the wedding ceremony. It wasn¡¯t an illusion. Even my nauseated heart that wished he was at the bottom of his life was all real.


    Her confusion calmed down and the thought that she shouldn¡¯t marry him came to her mind.


    He would not be happy if he was with me.


    ¡°F, fire!¡±


    As if to convince her of her thoughts, the building where Liv had stayed caught fire. The sudden fire engulfed the building like magic, and it emitted pitch-black smoke.


    Panicked nobles screamed and exited the temple, and the high priest hurried down from the altar in a hurry with assistance. A man ran to Dane¡¯s side.


    ¡°S, someone set a fire!¡±


    Dane frowned at the stupid answer.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I told you to keep an eye until the wedding ceremony is over to make sure nothing happens, right?¡±


    ¡°I, I am sorry.¡±


    Dane was conscious of Liv next to him, so he didn¡¯t say much. He didn¡¯t want to show her this side of him.


    ¡°I will bring Lady Ragnell¡­¡­ my wife to the carriage.¡±


    His expression as he corrected ¡®wife¡¯ to ¡®Lady¡¯, although it was only for a brief moment, showed all sorts of emotions.


    Dane wrapped his arms around Liv and made his way to the back of the temple. The place was already in chaos with countless carriages.


    A carriage was in front of Dane as if it had been waiting. It was his carriage. Dane led Liv into the carriage.


    ¡°Go to Lesbourne mansion first. I¡¯ll finish this soon and return.¡±


    Liv frantically grabbed his hand, which might be her last.


    ¡°Liv?¡±


    Dane grabbed her hand and thought that Liv was frightened when he saw her not saying anything, and he hugged Liv in his arms and stroked her back.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I will finish my work safely and return to the Lesbourne mansion. So don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°I love you.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t take it any longer. Liv finally revealed the feelings she had been hiding.


    Even if he doesn¡¯t love me, I still love him. If I didn¡¯t convey what I felt, I would regret it for the rest of my life. If not now, I would have to part with him without ever being able to speak my mind.


    ¡°I love you, Dane.¡±


    Dane¡¯s body stiffened at Liv¡¯s words.

 Chapter 25

    Once the words started to come out, she couldn¡¯t stop them any longer.


    ¡°I love you. I¡¯ve been thinking, thinking, and thinking of you for so long.¡±


    If I don¡¯t say it now, then I may never have the chance.


    ¡°I love you, I love you. My Dane¡­¡­ I love you.¡±


    If it was going to end like this, I should have shown it all on the day I first realized my love for you.


    I wouldn¡¯t express my love in just this way. I¡¯ll whisper my love in your ear every day, and show you my everything while being in your arms every day. The time that had passed was so heartless.


    ¡°I¡¯ve loved you for a very long time. How can I not love you?¡±


    Dane urgently sought Liv¡¯s lips.


    A soft tongue slipped between Liv¡¯s lips and ran wildly inside. A strong force pushed Liv backwards, her back touching the carriage. Their tongues intertwined frantically, and they breathed in each other¡¯s sweet breath.


    Dane pulled his lips away and looked down at Liv. There was an indescribable exaltation in his eyes.


    He scanned Liv¡¯s face with trembling eyes, and gently brushed Liv¡¯s chin again. Liv opened her mouth and gladly invited him.


    The two did not separate until all the carriages were gone. Dane said, pulling his lips away with difficulty.


    ¡°Get inside the carriage. Only if you move can I get out of here.¡±


    This moment was regrettable for Liv as well. Liv ran her eyes and hands over his face. Dark eyebrows and a high nose bridge, soft skin, plump lips and, finally, eyes resembling a lake.


    Dane gently closed his eyes and entrusted his face to her.


    ¡®I will never forget this face.¡¯


    Stroking his face, Liv kissed Dane one last time. Her soft lips softly settled on his.


    ¡°Dane, don¡¯t get hurt.¡±


    A carriage passed through the road at a noticeably slow pace. The carriage trailing behind it couldn¡¯t stand it and sped ahead. Only the slow carriage remained in the narrow street, rattling and moving very slowly.


    The coachman, who was pulling the horses in a black robe, soon stopped the carriage, got off his seat, and opened the carriage door. Liv looked at the coachman nervously.


    ¡°There¡¯s a boat waiting for us on the border of Hale and Lesbourne. We have to ride that to leave this place.¡±


    The coachman was Lohan. He took off the robe he was wearing and handed it to Liv as he got out of the carriage.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to change your clothes, so cover it with this.¡±


    The dress was covered with a robe and had lost its color. Lohan, who had a stiff face all along, asked Liv.


    ¡°Do you really want to go?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­ I know what you¡¯re thinking. I am not reliable. I don¡¯t know how to do anything. I¡¯m stupid.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡±


    Lohan sighed.


    ¡°I joined the rebels, determined to do everything. But, you¡¯re different. If something happens to you, I¡­¡­ I¡¯m not sure if I can bear it¡­¡­ I¡¯m afraid something will happen to you.¡±


    With just the two of them, Lohan revealed his soft heart. Just as Lohan was the only family left for Liv, Lohan had only Liv left. He wanted Liv¡¯s safety more than anyone else.


    From his face that was about to cry remained the young Lohan whom Liv remembered. When Lohan cried, she would soothe him by stroking the nape of his neck. Lohan, who was taller than her, lowered his head as Liv touched the nape of his neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    At Liv¡¯s answer, Lohan let out a long sigh. Liv never seemed to want to change her mind.


    Lohan pulled Liv¡¯s hand away from the nape of his neck and turned back. He needed time to accept it.


    Moments later, Lohan made up his mind and wiped his face roughly. Then he untied the horse from the carriage and dragged it in front of Liv. As Liv got on the horse, he sat behind her and grabbed the reins.


    ¡°Hale will already be guarded by soldiers, so we have to go to the port through Lesbourne. Hold on tight.¡±


    On the border of Hale and Lesbourne was a port that had long since been abandoned. From there, they had to escape by boat.


    Liv held onto the running horse tightly to keep the robe from slipping off. But it wasn¡¯t long before they had to stop the horse. The road to Lesbourne was already encamped and guarded by soldiers.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have wasted that much time in front of the carriage!¡¯


    Lohan looked around. There was no escape route in sight. There was no way left. He turned the horse around without hesitation.


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking of going to Hale, right? Go this way. No one knows this place. If we go through the grass thicket, we¡¯ll find a temple.¡±


    Lohan drove the horse into the grass thicket that Liv was pointing at. The twigs touched their bodies. Liv wore the hat attached to the robe to protect her face. A branch sticking out scraped Lohan¡¯s face, creating a scratch.


    As Liv said, after passing through the grass thicket, a temple was seen. The beautiful temple was filled with acrid smoke, making it difficult to see ahead.


    ¡®Ms. Deborah must have easily escaped.¡¯


    Lohan glanced back and looked at the temple.


    Their plan was to start a fire and cause chaos, take Liv away, and then, at the appropriate time, Deborah would hide in the smoke and escape. It was a sloppy and hastily issued measure after discovering that there were snipers on top of the temple.


    The weather, which had not been windy, slowly began to change. With this much wind, the smoke may be lifted away in an instant, revealing their presence. They had to get out of range of the sniper as quickly as possible.


    Lohan swung the reins to make the horse run faster.


    ¡°Keuk!¡±


    ¡°Lohan!¡±


    At that moment, a bullet flew from behind and pierced Lohan¡¯s right forearm. In an instant, his right arm lost its strength and missed the reins. Soon after, another shot flew and grazed his left shoulder. Lohan lost his balance and his body tilted.


    ¡®They¡¯ve already found us!¡¯


    If they stop here, they might get caught. Lohan clenched his teeth and grabbed the reins properly again.


    Lohan¡¯s trembling arm caught Liv¡¯s eye. His clothes were already soaked in blood. This was too hard.


    Being a rebel always meant facing this situation. Liv now knew what choice she had made. The terror and fear of not knowing when to die might be more painful than her frustration and inferiority.


    However, Liv had already made the choice and had to take responsibility for it. Nothing could have been changed if she would only be protected in Lohan¡¯s arms.


    Liv decided to take a risky gamble.


    ¡°Lohan, stop the horse.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Stop the horse, Lohan! If you carry on like this, you will die!¡±


    ¡°If I stop the horse here, we¡¯ll both die!¡±


    ¡°No, we won¡¯t die! So trust me and stop the horse!¡±


    Liv grabbed the reins and pulled it back, and the horse turned around. Thanks to this, the bullet narrowly missed the side of the horse¡¯s torso.


    Lohan had no choice but to stop the horse. Liv hurriedly threw off her robe and came down to the ground. A dazzling white dress appeared.


    ¡°Liv! What are you doing!¡±


    Before Lohan could say anything else, Liv climbed behind him. The reins naturally fell into Liv¡¯s hands. Liv drove the horse with her dress fluttering.


    Liv¡¯s slender body was not enough to hide Lohan.


    ¡°It¡¯s very hard, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m sorry. If I had been strong, I would have supported you steadily.¡±


    ¡°Is that something to say in this situation? You might get shot! And if they find out who you are!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s fine? If this was all you thought, I would have never stopped the horse!¡±


    Lohan shouted in a dither.


    ¡°You won¡¯t hear any more gunshots.¡±


    ¡°What nonsense is that! Even this distance is not enough.¡±


    Lohan finally realized that no bullets were coming now.


    ¡°What are those bastards up to now?¡±


    Lohan struggled to turn his head to see what had happened and looked at the temple over Liv¡¯s shoulder. However, the temple was already too far away to grasp the situation with the naked eye.


    As Lohan was about to look forward again with an uncomfortable face, he found Liv biting her lip and holding back her tears.


    ¡°Liv? Could it be that you got shot?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­¡­ just¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡®The bullets are really not flying now.¡¯


    Liv closed her lips tightly and didn¡¯t speak.


    Lohan, who was looking at Liv with shaking eyes, opened his mouth to ask something, then turned his head to look ahead. He didn¡¯t want to know or ask anymore.


    He erased from his mind the expression on Liv¡¯s face that he had just seen, as well as the desperate confession of love he had heard from the coachman¡¯s seat. He didn¡¯t know what had happened between the two, but everything had already ended.


    A fierce wind swept Liv¡¯s eyes and blew the tears away. Liv entrusted her body to the wind.


    ¡®Who would believe me if I said I had never ridden a horse through such a beautiful wilderness in my life in Hale?¡¯


    Liv looked at the sea in front of her and felt true freedom. The smell of the sea and sunlight that she always smelled was unfamiliar.


    So this was what freedom was. She shivered with excitement and burst into tears at the same time. This was true freedom.


    But there can be no perfect happiness. In exchange for gaining freedom, she lost her love.


    ¡®No, I didn¡¯t.¡¯


    Liv shook her head. Her love was eternal.


    Liv did not lose her love, she was leaving for love. Being by Dane¡¯s side may encroach on an ugly love and drag him to the bottom.


    ¡®I hope Dane will eventually be unhappy, and live off of me.¡¯


    Liv had already tasted the dirty truth in herself.


    She did not want to ruin Dane. She just didn¡¯t want to be tied down by guilt or responsibility.


    She remembered the brief moment when she was married to him.


    ¡®This is enough for me¡­¡­.¡¯


    Liv laughed bitterly.


    On the blue sea, a woman runs towards the blazing sun. Bathed in the light of the sun, the woman throws off her transgressions and is finally born again.


    ¡®May Dane forget everything about this place, and return safely to his country.¡¯


    Love and freedom, freedom and love.


    It was a painful happiness.

 Chapter 26

    Returning to the temple, Dane was irritated because he couldn¡¯t see well in front of him due to the acrid smoke. He wanted to settle it quickly and roll around in bed listening to Liv¡¯s sweet whispers of love.


    He remembered the voice and face that said ¡®I love you¡¯. There was something suspicious that filled her every word.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect to hear that so soon.¡¯


    It was okay if he could never hear it forever. A favorable impression, or even sympathy, was enough.


    ¡®Enough? No, you¡¯re never satisfied with that, aren¡¯t you?¡¯


    Dane laughed at himself for blatantly lying.


    ¡®Right, I¡¯ll never be satisfied. I will make Liv love me at all costs.¡¯


    Fortunately, thanks to the appearance he inherited from his father, it was not difficult to deal with women. He had long noticed that Liv liked his appearance.


    She would often stare blankly at his face, but when he noticed, she would turn her head away to hide her face. Her nervous face reflected in the window was lovely.


    He wanted to go back quickly, embrace Liv in his arms, and beg her to tell him that she loved him again. She must have arrived at Lesbourne by now. Dane¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts about Liv.


    ¡°Did you catch the culprit?¡±


    ¡°We have found a suspicious person and are chasing him. It was a man who covered his whole body with a robe.¡±


    It was uncertain if he was involved in the explosion at Ragnell Mansion.


    ¡°Master!¡±


    Someone came out through the smoke. It was a familiar face.


    ¡°The carriage! The carriage is gone! Everyone ran out of the temple, and thinking that something big had happened, I ran to the carriage, but the carriage was nowhere to be seen! For now, I hurriedly called for a carriage for your wife to ride¡­¡­¡±


    It was the coachman. The coachman who was driving his carriage.


    But the carriage was gone. It was definitely his carriage that was in front of him. It was unmistakably Dane¡¯s carriage.


    ¡°What do you mean by that? I¡¯m sure the carriage,¡±


    Dane didn¡¯t finish what he was saying and kept his mouth shut. Dane, who was reviewing the situation carefully, shouted with a pale face.


    ¡°Horse! Bring the horse!¡±


    Shit, shit, shit, shit!


    He climbed on top of the horse dragged by a soldier and hurriedly rode it. As he left the temple, the smoke disappeared and he could see clearly ahead.


    Stupid bastard! Damn it! Damn it!


    He wanted to bite his tongue off at the stupid mistake. The carriage certainly belonged to him, but the coachman was different. He didn¡¯t remember his face because he was wearing a robe, but he wasn¡¯t that small.


    His fingertips trembled with anxiety. Dane kicked the horse on the side to make it run faster.


    He saw his carriage stopped on the side of the road. But the horse that pulled the carriage was already gone. Dane let out an anxious breath and looked around.


    There are only two ends to this road. Lesbourne and Hale.


    ¡®I just came from Hale, so it¡¯s not Hale.¡¯


    He rode his horse towards Lesbourne. On the open road, only the sound of the horse¡¯s hooves could be heard.


    Dane, who had been riding furiously, noticed something and suddenly stopped. There was a sense of difference that could be seen through the bushes. Looking at the broken branches and the shape of the horse¡¯s hooves on the ground, it was clear that someone had entered.


    Dane¡¯s eyes flashed.


    ¡®There must already be soldiers blocking the road in Lesbourne¡­¡­ That guy must have discovered it¡­¡­ Then the only place to escape to is Hale!¡¯


    The direction of the broken branch proved it.


    Dane went through the bushes without hesitation. Someone had already passed through there, so a path was made of its own, making it easy to pass.


    Tang!


    As he exited the bushes, he could see the temple and hear gunshots cutting through the air. The smoke that had filled the area around the temple disappeared and he could see quite a bit ahead. The gunfire came from a sniper stationed above the temple.


    He turned his head in the direction where the bullet had flown and saw someone running away on horseback. He instinctively knew it. It was that guy.


    It was too late to follow the man. Following him would only hinder the sniper.


    ¡®If I had not ridden the horse too late and ridden to Lesbourne, he would not have gotten this far!¡¯


    Dane became enraged when things went awry consecutively. It seemed as if someone was deliberately playing a prank so that he couldn¡¯t reach Liv.


    First of all, he had to keep that man off the horse. But he didn¡¯t have a gun. The only thing he could trust was the sniper at the temple.


    Dane dismounted from the horse and ran towards the temple. As he climbed the stairs, he couldn¡¯t hear the constant gunshots. If just a little bit of time was delayed, he would be out of range.


    ¡®Stupid bastards. How can you only do things this way when you¡¯ve been paid so much!¡¯


    ¡°Damn it! What are you doing!¡±


    Dane shouted at the sniper right in front of him. His maddened eyes were like a frantic beast impatient to catch the prey in front of him. Gritting his teeth, Dane snatched the gun and put it over his shoulder.


    ¡®You bastards, I will kill you.¡¯


    Finding his target immediately with his eyes on the scope, Dane was about to pull the trigger when a completely unexpected presence forced him to halt.


    Thump¨D Thump¨D


    The heat that had risen to the top of his head cooled down, and all the sounds around him were cut off, leaving only the sound of his heart ringing in his ears.


    Only then did he realize why the skillful sniper couldn¡¯t pull the trigger. The reason why he was just staring in vain even though the man was only riding away on horseback in the open field.


    A beautiful white dress, finely raised brown hair, and an elegant neckline that was troublesome due to the constant attention it received from below. On top of the horse was the bride who had married him.


    ¡®It was clearly a man on horseback¡­¡­.¡¯


    Dane just stared blankly at Liv, who was moving away. She was not a ghost.


    The hair and hem of the clothes slowly fluttered in the wind. Her brown hair, brightly colored by the sun, shone dazzlingly.


    Visible veins were seen on his arm clutching the gun. Was it anger or a sense of betrayal? Dane let out a small curse through his clenched teeth and fixed the gun.


    A small body was seen swaying gracefully along with the movement of the horse.


    His palm remembered the touch of those slender ribs. Thinking of the bullet that would be lodged there, the muzzle dropped on its own and touched his leg.


    ¡®Should I hit her leg and make it difficult for her to move?¡¯


    However, it was difficult to aim because her legs were covered by a pure white dress. If the horse¡¯s body was hit by mistake, Liv who was riding on it would be thrown out into the stone field. If she runs at such a high speed and falls on the stone floor, there is no way she will live.


    ¡®Then, should I hit the guy who is riding the horse with her¡­¡­.¡¯


    Even that was impossible because of Liv who was behind him. If he does something wrong, Liv may get hit. Even in this damn situation, he was still thinking about Liv.


    Dane had already lost his fighting spirit. His eyes kept getting hot. Dane did not even move to the point where the gun over his shoulder became useless, and he just looked at Liv who was moving away.


    Bang!


    At that moment, a gunshot was heard. Dane¡¯s body trembled. He hurriedly checked Liv¡¯s appearance. Fortunately, the bullet just hit the floor and no one was hit.


    Dane¡¯s eyes were bloodshot.


    ¡°Who told you to shoot!¡±


    The sniper, who was holding his position and aiming again, was hit by a sudden kick and he looked up at him with a bewildered expression.


    ¡°Put the gun down.¡±


    His hair, which had been neatly tucked in, became messy and gave off a dangerous atmosphere with his bloodshot eyes. The frightened sniper put down his gun and raised his hands.


    Dane looked at the two people who were now so far away that they had turned into s. The hand holding the gun trembled slightly, and he tightly clenched his teeth, causing his jaw muscles to bulge.


    He could only constantly hear ¡®Why?¡¯ in his head.


    ¡®Why¡­¡­ the hell¡­¡­ are you driving the horse away?¡¯


    ¡®I love you. I¡¯ve been thinking, thinking, and thinking of you for so long.¡¯


    ¡®I love you, I love you. My Dane¡­¡­ I love you.¡¯


    His lips and ears still remember her warmth and voice. It is not an illusion. He clearly remembered the face that looked at him with moist eyes and said I love you.


    His eyes that had been staring at the place where Liv had disappeared melted from the heat and fell limp.


    ¡®That can¡¯t be a lie¡­ She loves me.¡¯


    Perhaps Liv was threatened into riding the horse. The man sitting in front of her may have shoved a gun into Liv¡¯s stomach and forced her to do so. Maybe he knew in advance that he wouldn¡¯t be able to shoot Liv, so he let her ride in front.


    He made a mistake. They weren¡¯t heading to the temple. He had to chase after them on horseback, not with a gun. He had to somehow appease the bastard and save Liv.


    He doesn¡¯t have time for this. He had to quickly release the man and scour Hale.


    When Dane came down to the bottom of the temple, he saw three men sprawled in a corner.


    ¡°Who are those stupid bastards?¡±


    ¡°Those are the soldiers who were chasing the suspicious person¡­¡­ We brought them back after they were hit by sleep poison and collapsed to the floor.¡±


    Dane kicked the man lying in front of him. Fortunately, the man opened his eyes right away.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Where is this¡­¡­.¡±


    Dane grabbed the man by the collar. The half-asleep man opened his eyes wide after seeing Dane¡¯s face.


    ¡°You must have at least seen one. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill all of you.¡±


    ¡°Yes? Yes?¡±


    In the aftermath of the sleep poison, the man had a splitting headache. On top of that, Dane was glaring at him with ferocious eyes, so he was afraid to speak.


    Dane pulled the dagger out of the man¡¯s right thigh and brought it to his neck.


    ¡°S-Save me!¡±


    ¡°If you want to live, think of anything right now!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡­ Uh¡­¡­.¡±


    However, only a moan came out of the man¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Pathetic bastard!¡±


    Blood flowed from the neck where the blade touched. The terrified man finally remembered something and shouted.


    ¡°I-I saw something! I saw a scar!¡±


    ¡°Scar?¡±


    ¡°Yes! There was a big scar on the face!¡±


    Once he was enlightened, memories flowed out one after another.


    ¡°A scar ran through the middle of the face¡­.. A woman! It was a woman! It was a young woman with brown hair!¡±


    It was uncommon for a woman to have brown hair and a large scar on her face. He needed to call a painter right away and have him paint. As Dane stood up to give instructions, a person suddenly flashed through his mind.


    A woman who wore a robe that was drawn over her eyes pointed a gun at him. The brown hair that he had seen at first glance and the scar that ran across her face were clearly embedded in his mind.


    ¡°Deborah Lofen.¡±


    A noble woman who cut her face with a knife and was driven out of the family.


    Rebels.


    Dane¡¯s face chilled.