After midnight, in the deep of night, a black two-wheeled carriage departed from Great Hill towards Long Bone Street.

Diane, like someone who wished to be buried in darkness, tightly wrapped a black cloak around herself and alighted from the carriage. The back alley of the slums, where even moonlight was obscured by clouds, was eerily quiet.

As if someone had heard the carriage, the door opened before she could knock. Diane quietly entered, and the door firmly closed behind her, blocking the light that had been seeping from the windows.

As if a storm was approaching from the seaside, the old wooden door frames and window frames rattled loudly in the wind. It was a desolate night.

Diane, stepping inside, wrinkled her nose and frowned. A strong vinegar smell pierced her lungs.

“These rascals, trying to polish things. Come, this way.”

The man, clearing away cheap jewels from fencing and vinegar dishes, pointed to a chair with his chin.

“The goods?”

“Aren’t you impatient.”

The man, baring his yellow teeth, went behind the workbench and came back with a small bundle.

“Here.”

The man unwrapped the bundle and spread its contents on the table. Being glass, they were easily scratched, so they had to be handled even more carefully than the originals.

“Well? Are you satisfied?”

The man smiled maliciously, the long scar near his eye twitching. The corners of Diane’s mouth also turned up as she looked at the replicas.

Diane held up the replica sapphire ring with her gloved hand, examining it in the light. It was quite intricate, better than expected.

This level of craftsmanship would be difficult to distinguish even for a princess who had grown up seeing and touching the most precious jewels.

She had believed without doubt that she would become the owner of these.

Thinking about that, it hurt and stung as if a sharp knife was cutting into her heart. This was all because of Olivia Blanchet, that stupid bastard child.

Her mood improved slightly at the thought of all these misdeeds being discovered and that wretched thing taking the blame.

“Finish this one within two days as well.”

Without any words of praise, Diane gathered them up and placed them on the bag she had on her knees.

At that moment, there was a thudding sound. Startled, Diane dropped the bag. The candle flame in the glass cover flickered in the wind rushing through the door crack.

In the wavering light, the shadows of the two people swayed like ghosts. For an instant, the wind died down and an eerie silence fell.

“Just now. What was that sound?”

Diane’s voice trembled slightly.

“Seems the wife fell out of bed again. Don’t mind it.”

The man grinned and placed the bag Diane had dropped on the floor onto the table, as if it were nothing.

Just as he was about to open the bag after undoing the silver buckle, another thud, this time louder, came from the back of the house.

“What’s wrong with this woman today.”

The man said casually, scratching his thigh.

“That’s not coming from upstairs.”

Diane snapped, her nerves on edge.

Even the rattling sound of windows that seemed about to fall off made Diane’s heart freeze. She felt uneasy, strangely anxious today.

“On days like this, the back door always acts up. It’s a miracle if that rotten door doesn’t fly off.”

The man chuckled nonchalantly as he reached into the bag. Diane grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“Go check it out.”

“Come on. I told you it’s nothing.”

“What if it’s the police.”

Diane glared at the man. Looking down at the woman who was acting bothersome out of fear, the man wiped his nose.

“Really now, I told you those black dogs have no business coming here.”

The man was under police protection.

The fact that he could safely conduct business in Long Bone Street, where petty thieves gathered, without ever seeing the inside of the infamous Basta Prison, was purely the result of paying hefty bribes.

So it couldn’t be the police.

“Go see for yourself.”

Diane was adamant.

Damn it, the man cursed as he moved with reluctant steps.

Diane’s heart began to beat irregularly. She had good instincts. Those keen instincts were sounding an alarm. Danger.

Hugging the bag with its buckle tightly fastened to her chest, Diane watched the man’s back as he walked into the darkness, holding her breath. She stood ready to flee at any moment.

The man, scratching his belly, stopped in front of the stairs leading to the upper floor. The faint sound of his wife’s snoring could be heard.

‘You sleep so well. While I’m working at this hour.’

He wanted to quickly receive the job and get to bed.

The man wiped under his nose with his finger and turned to grasp the kitchen door handle beside the staircase.

As he slowly turned the handle, the rusty hinge made a creaking sound. The man opened the door and held up the lamp to illuminate the darkness.

The sink, old cupboard, display cabinet, and cast iron stove appeared and disappeared in turn in the light.

Nothing wrong, see. Tsk. The man clicked his tongue.

As he had expected, only the worn-out side door behind the table was flapping in the strong wind. It was an escape door hastily installed just in case.

“Not even an ant here.”

As he raised his voice mockingly and turned to leave the kitchen, it happened.

With a loud bang, the back door suddenly fell forward. The startled man quickly turned around. Several lights rushed in, shouting.

“Don’t move!”

Silver stars on black caps glinted in the darkness.

Damn it. It was the Londos police.

“You stupid woman. You brought the black dogs with you!”

The pale-faced man threw the lamp hard at the police.

With a crash, the oil lamp that shattered on the table instantly engulfed the tablecloth, burning fiercely. The quiet house suddenly turned into pandemonium.

The man ran headlong towards the stairs, shouting.

“Run!”

Diane was already gone.

She, who had been frozen white with fear, had started running towards the front door the moment she heard the thunderous sound of the door falling.

I can’t be caught here.

Her throat tightened. Everything was falling apart.

Diane, clutching the bag containing the jewels to her chest, fumbled with shaking hands to undo the lock. Behind her, she heard the man’s cry to escape. The double, triple latches refused to open easily.

Please!

Her breathing quickened. Sweat soaked her back.

Please. Open quickly.

Finally managing to undo the last lock, she roughly opened the door and rushed outside.

A strong wind whirled around her. She instinctively squeezed her eyes shut. When she blinked her eyes open a couple of times to run to the carriage, Diane’s heart sank.

“!”

This can’t be.

Under the black night sky, a red light appeared. A man leaning casually against the carriage took a deep drag of his cigar and slowly exhaled the smoke. The smoke dissipating into the air seemed like a dream.

Why.

Why are you here…

Diane felt chills. Her chattering teeth made a clicking sound.

She hoped it was a nightmare that this man was here. It had to be. But.

Johan Leopold.

Unbelievably, that man was right before her eyes.

Diane’s legs gave out and she collapsed on the spot. The tails of the man’s long coat fluttered in the fierce wind. The man pushed off from the carriage and approached with a languid gait.

Get a grip, Diane. It’s not over yet.

“…Du, Duke.”

Even in this desperate situation, she racked her brains to survive. It was instinct.

Diane suddenly opened her eyes at the cold shock. She had lost consciousness after being slapped during the interrogation.

How long had she been dragged here?

A small light on the table flickered in the darkness. As her vision gradually brightened, Diane’s fear became more certain.

This is not a dream.

She was still sitting in the chair with handcuffs on, and water droplets were dripping from her head, which had been doused with cold water. She felt dizzy with despair.

The only thing that had changed was that Johan, that man, had come.

Johan pulled up a chair and sat across from Diane. He crossed his legs and put a cigar in his mouth. The cigar tip glowed red between his black gloves. He was perfect as always today.

In contrast, Diane’s appearance was a mess.

Her wet hair clinging unattractively to her forehead and cheeks, her eyelids blackened from running mascara. Her cheeks swollen from being slapped and her split lip. She looked worse than a drowned rat.

Diane felt ashamed but didn’t avert her gaze. Though her head felt like it was about to split open, she focused. She knew this was her last chance.

“Du, Duke…”

Her lip must have been split, as pain shot through it every time she made a sound. Diane put on a pained expression and pitiful appearance as if she had endured horrible torture. Tears welled up in her eyes.

The gaze that met Diane’s call remained impassive.

“It wasn’t me. Actually… actually, ugh.”

Pain flared in her swollen cheek. Her mouth, not having had a sip of water, felt dry and cracked, stinging.

“Du…”

Overcome with emotion, she took a gasping breath.

“The Duchess.”

With each labored breath, the scent of cigar smoke mixed with the damp, musty smell of the underground interrogation room flowed into her nostrils.

“I was being blackmailed.”

She shed the tears she had been holding back for this moment. Tears fell incessantly onto the back of her handcuffed hands.

“I’m, I’m sorry, Duke.”

Diane lowered her head and trembled slightly.

The pungent cigar scent wafted over. Curious about Johan’s expression, Diane slowly raised her face. Their eyes met. At that moment, she shuddered at the look in his eyes. A cold sneer passed through his deep ash-gray eyes.

Johan stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray. With a neat movement, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button.

“Do you want to get out of here alive?”

The low murmur reverberated in the interrogation room. Diane’s eyes twisted in anguish.