The Duke and Duchess said nothing. Their silence was affirmation. Without Ricardo and Rochester’s help, we should have died 7 years ago. So I know I have no right to resent them.

But Rochester should have left me to die with my family.

Instead of just taking me out and placing me here.

Of course, in this situation, there was no way for me, a destabilizing factor for the Emperor and the ducal family, to freely leave this duke’s residence.

“It means I can only wait for news of when my family died.”

They were silent again this time. So I had no choice.

“Or I could stake my life as collateral.”

“No.”

After being silent all this time, the Duchess gave a firm answer this time.

“That’s a foolish choice. If you die, the Emperor would have nothing to regret.”

“Doesn’t my existence still have meaning for the Rochester family?”

“That may be true, but… If you take your own life, as long as the Saint exists, it will just end up following the prophecy. It means we wouldn’t have much to regret either. In fact, God… turns away from those who throw away their own lives. No matter how great their abilities may be.”

Ah, damn it. I had to bite my lip hard to stop a harsh word from escaping. Is it really God who creates such a terrible situation that makes one want to die, but then doesn’t even let them die?

“Besides, even if Ricardo takes pity on you and protects your family, how long would that last? The Schneiders are a very persistent bunch.”

The Duchess was right. If I staked my life and asked them to protect my family, maybe Ricardo would protect them like he did 7 years ago.

But Rochester’s star had risen and my existence had been exposed. It meant the situation had changed drastically. Could I really fully secure my family’s safety that way?

I clutched my head, forgetting the Duke and Duchess were there, as a pitch-black feeling of despair washed over me.

“There is one way…”

“A way?”

“Yes, the only way to save your family.”

With the Duchess’s words, a ray of light shone into the pitch-black darkness.

She gave me hope and stood up from her seat. She walked to the window and stopped in front of the scenery Ricardo had painted. With her standing in the painting, it finally seemed complete.

“The safest place in this empire, no, in this world, that can protect your family from Emperor Dermaier is right here in this Rochester ducal residence.”

“I know that well.”

“And there’s only one way for another noble family to enter my family.”

Does that mean my family could receive their protection inside the Rochester ducal residence? Inside this mansion larger than most domains?

“Please tell me that way.”

The faces of Jonathan, Sabrina, and Lady Pennel flashed by. If I could just know a way to save them, I felt I could get down on my knees and lick the Duchess’s feet right now.

Were they this precious? Those I had always considered an incomplete, half family.

“Betrothal.”

Ah, betrothal.

“Pardon?”

“The union of Rochester and Pennel. That alone will be the only way to protect your family from Emperor Dermaier. Even the Emperor wouldn’t dare order the extermination of a family promised in marriage to Rochester.”

“Wouldn’t it be more effective to just put a knife to my neck in front of the young lord?”

Kup, I heard the sound of someone stifling laughter in front of me. I glanced at the Duke, but he was drinking tea with an expressionless face. I tilted my head and turned my gaze back to the Duchess. To gauge if what she had just said was sincere.

At once, a face so serious it seemed to have never told a lie in its life turned towards me.

So is it time for me to go lick Ricardo’s feet now? While begging him to marry me.

“Then what happens to the Saint? I thought she was destined to be the young lord’s partner from birth.”

It felt somehow sinful to be having this conversation while thinking about marriage to him, but I couldn’t see any other way.

“That’s true, but… We need to put out the urgent fire first.”

“…”

“Anyway, once the Saint becomes Ricardo’s partner later, you’ll have no more use…”

My blood ran dry as she trailed off and left things hanging.

“The Schneiders won’t be so desperately trying to exterminate the Pennel family like now.”

The Duchess’s words meant that once Ricardo married, the situation would be a bit better than now. Once he married the Saint, I wouldn’t be such a bothersome existence.

“I’m not saying to get married right away. Even an engagement is enough reason for Rochester to protect Pennel.”

“You mean you’ll hold both me and the Saint in your hands.”

She shook her head and smiled faintly. It looked like an angel’s smile, or perhaps a devil’s.

“You misunderstand something, Lady Pennel.”

Her voice was so chilling it was hard to believe she had seemed gentle until now. I involuntarily swallowed dry saliva at the sudden feeling of pressure.

“You are already in Rochester’s hand. I’m not asking you to choose that.”

“Ah…”

Her words were an undeniable fact. For whatever reason, the Duchess was now showing me mercy. To give my family a chance to live, if only temporarily.

What is pride in the face of absolute power? Once my thoughts were organized, my decision was quick. When I make up my mind, I don’t hesitate.

Living safely even one more day. That was my goal.

At 10 years old, dying from cold and hunger and coming back to life, I learned to the bone.

Death leaves nothing behind. It’s not the kind of fear that fades just because you’ve experienced it once. Death always meant darkness, ruins, and literally the end.

“Then Duke, and Duchess.”

My eyes briefly met the Duke’s. His eyes sparkled brightly. As if this situation was very interesting.

“Do you two agree to me being engaged to the young lord, even if only briefly?”

“Lady Pennel.”

“Please call me Lienne, Mother.”

Kekup, once again I heard the Duke clearing his throat.

“Darling.”

The Duchess, who had sternly called her husband, slowly walked from the window to where I was sitting.

My heart was pounding like a man proposing marriage and waiting for acceptance. No, was it the feeling of a person with their head on the chopping block? Whatever it was, with one word from her now, my family could either die or live.

“Actually, I don’t have a choice, Lienne.”

My prospective mother-in-law called my name so kindly.

“A Rochester who has completed their awakening can no longer really be called someone’s child.”

“…”

“So you don’t need to ask for my consent or permission.”

The Duchess, who had approached by now, gently stroked my cheek with her soft hand. The warmth felt from her hand was even warmer than my face, and my gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

“Soon Ricardo will become Rochester itself.”

I was about to ask the head servant to arrange a meeting with Ricardo, but changed my mind. Though we were on the same floor, it was not easy to meet him. If I requested a meeting, it would be tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, and that’s only if he was staying at the ducal residence.

Knowing my family’s lives were hanging by a thread, sleep naturally wouldn’t come.

I paced around the room, ears pricked, waiting for him to return. After some time passed, there was a bit of commotion from the slightly open window.

‘He’s here.’

Straining my hearing, I could even hear the servants bustling about with short steps. After the outside disturbance settled, I waited a bit longer.

For a woman, especially a noble lady, to visit a man’s bedroom in the middle of the night was unthinkable. If anyone saw, it would lead to an irreversible scandal.

Of course, a scandal might actually benefit me now, but even so, my face wasn’t thick enough to openly go looking for him.

When all footsteps had quieted and the same silence as before returned, I gathered my courage and left the room.

Knock knock, as I tapped on the door, “Um…” I began softly, and Ricardo’s reply came from inside.

“Come in.”

He probably said that without thinking it would be me, but since I had received permission, I flung the door open. Right away I wondered if it was a good idea as the room was dark. But the curtains were wide open, and moonlight was streaming in through them.

And he was standing there in that light. With only one shoulder bare.

“Ah…”

A gasp escaped me without realizing. Perhaps it wasn’t the voice he was expecting, as Ricardo slowly turned around.

As our eyes met, thump thump, my heart that had no sense of time or place and had thrown away all pride, began to pound fiercely.

Of course, he showed no mercy. Ricardo stared intently into my eyes as he twisted his shoulder to remove the shirt hanging on only one side. Both shoulders and the well-formed muscles beneath were revealed in the moonlight.

I reflexively closed my eyes.