In an instant, the faces of the Count and Countess, whose true colors had been exposed, turned bright red as if they were being strangled.

Eugene looked around slowly and continued to speak sharply.

“There must be a reason why I chose Helena over you. Don’t dare to test my judgment. Unless you want to be branded like the cattle that end up on your tables.”

“Your Grace!”

Unable to stand by any longer, Christine burst out in anger, but Eugene calmly turned back to Count Baron. He placed his hand on the Count’s shoulder, pressing down slightly as he leaned in.

“Don’t trust my mother too much. Let me give you a piece of advice for your own sake – when you don’t have much, you should know how to bow appropriately if you want to survive long. Even when plowing a field, the insolent sprouts are the first to be pulled out. Of course, you should at least know who the farmer is.”

There were only two men in Instantia who could refer to the prestigious Baron family, with its vast wealth, as insignificant or compare them to mere weeds.

The King and the Grand Duke of Evergail.

The King of Bohemia was known for his generous nature, but unfortunately, the man standing before the Count was the Grand Duke of Evergail.

And he was in a very foul mood.

“The mining rights negotiation scheduled for two days from now is canceled.”

“Y-Your Grace! I made a mistake-”

“Do I look like someone who would reconsider his decision because of a belated apology? How could you distinguish the farmer with those eyes of yours.”

The Count’s face went blank at the clear sarcasm.

Eugene removed his pressing hand and stepped back. Though he had only taken one step, the crowded corridor suddenly cleared a path.

Eugene walked through it leisurely, as if nothing had happened.

A sliver of a moon hung in the middle of the dark night.

It was quite late, but Eugene opened the door without hesitation. Immediately, a small figure darted out and threw itself into Eugene’s arms, as if it had been waiting.

Eugene let out a slightly exasperated chuckle and raised his hand to gently stroke Natasha’s back.

“It’s late, why aren’t you asleep?”

“My body must have known you were coming here, Your Grace. Somehow, I wasn’t sleepy at all.”

Natasha lifted her face from Eugene’s chest and met his eyes. His face, which she was seeing after several days, looked a bit rougher than the last time she saw him. Natasha’s eyebrows drooped.

“I’m upset.”

“Did something happen?”

“Your face is hurt, isn’t it?”

Her smooth hand slowly traveled up the firm surface of his chest, finally stopping as it cupped Eugene’s cheek.

The soothing body heat and the scent of amber. These irresistible elements mingled with the tranquil atmosphere of the night, wafting around them. Eventually, Eugene relaxed his expression as he pulled his hand from Natasha’s back towards himself.

“It’s not something for you to worry about.”

“How can that be helped? I worry about it more than my own body.”

“You really don’t need to worry. It’s just…”

Eugene’s words trailed off momentarily. It was because he had never deeply considered Helena’s departure, or rather, this whim she was indulging in. He had only tried to set it aside, like a sudden blemish that appeared one day.

Helena’s existence should remain insignificant, as it had always been and should continue to be in the future. It shouldn’t bother him. He had an obligation to live a normal life.

That was why he had come to see Natasha. Because she made him feel lacking when he should always feel complete.

‘I have no choice but to plug the hole with a new piece.’

While he was briefly caught in this conflict, Natasha squirmed. She pressed her curves further into the gap of his neckline as she began to speak.

“I heard that the Madam left because she wanted a divorce. I wonder if there was any discord…”

As soon as Natasha trailed off, Eugene’s relaxed face suddenly tensed.

“Who did you hear that from?”

“I-I spoke out of turn. Please forget it.”

“I asked who spread such nonsense.”

“…”

Despite Eugene’s urging, Natasha remained silent, lowering her head.

With no other choice, Eugene moved his hand from supporting her back to grip her arm, quietly pressing her.

“Natasha.”

It was a much softer tone. Knowing that it was quite a considerate tone for him, Natasha raised her eyes again.

However, contrary to expectations, her face was calm. There was a faint trace of being intimidated by Eugene’s demeanor, but she didn’t seem frightened.

Before Eugene could express his slight surprise, a clear voice emerged.

“If you promise not to punish that maid for my mistake…”

Eugene’s eyes blinked slowly. It was because of a sense of déjà vu, as if there had been a similar situation before. Of course, it wasn’t pleasant.

“You’re too soft, Natasha. A person shouldn’t be so-”

⌜Madam Tara is my person. If you want to drive her out, drive me out first.⌟

The source of the déjà vu finally became clear in the form of a woman. The blue eyes that had remained as straight as a sharpened blade, even with a pale face, flickered in his mind.

Madam Tara was still guarding her bedroom, yet its owner had left.

To disperse the unwanted image, Eugene ended his interrupted sentence with a deep sigh.

Natasha, who had been quietly observing him, gently tugged at his shirt collar to get his attention.

“Are you promising, Your Grace?”

Her usually innocent eyes were curved even more downward.

Eugene reluctantly nodded. At the same time, he slightly tightened his grip on Natasha’s arm, signaling her to reveal who it was.

Fortunately, Natasha wasn’t as stubborn as Helena.

“It’s Aida. Aida told me.”

Eugene’s brow furrowed at the forthcoming answer. Realizing the meaning behind that wrinkle, Natasha secretly smiled to herself.

To drive home her point, she began to murmur in a delicate voice.

“Actually, lately it seems like the accessories you gifted me have been disappearing one by one… Even if the circumstances seemed pitiful, I shouldn’t have overlooked bad habits, whether of hands or mouth… It’s my fault. Please forgive me, Your Grace.”

“Raise your head, Natasha. It’s not your fault.”

Eugene gently lifted Natasha’s chin. Natasha’s hidden intentions became even clearer.

Aida would not be seen in the mansion from tomorrow. Whether she could find employment elsewhere without a letter of recommendation was uncertain, but it was no longer her concern.

‘It’s safer to discard a maid with a loose tongue after using her once.’

As she erased Aida’s name from her mind, Natasha gently released the hem of his clothes she had been holding.

‘For a man, it’s best to let go until he seeks it himself.’

Even though she hadn’t been pulling, when Natasha’s hand fell away, Eugene’s face showed a faint trace of bewilderment.

Looking at him with satisfaction, Natasha completely stepped out of his embrace.

“I’m sorry for keeping such a busy person for too long. You should go now, Your Grace.”

She took two or three steps back, then gracefully bent her knees before straightening up and bowing.

“Please drop by again when you think of me. I’ll always be waiting for you here.”

A ray of sunlight gently tickled her nostrils. The light, soaking through the white lace curtains, carried the languidness of a weekend afternoon.

Helena blinked her eyes slowly and wiggled her legs. Amidst the sound of clean sheets crinkling, she felt the arm around her waist tighten.

She could sense the drowsy pressure against her back without having to turn around. The scent, heavy yet constantly inviting, lingered warmly on her skin along with her beloved man.

She could also feel the slight roughness of stubble that had grown overnight on her nape. Helena let out a small laugh, as if it tickled her.

“What time is it now, Eugene?”

“I’ll chase Madam Tara away when she comes, so sleep more.”

Eugene answered with a deep breath. Then he slowly moved his knee that was wedged between Helena’s thighs.

The sensation of rubbing against each other with just a thin layer of negligee between them felt unfamiliar. Helena involuntarily flinched. Her red hair, which he had brushed aside, blazed even brighter in the morning sunlight.

Although it was commonplace for newlyweds to wake up like this, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation every time. He was a man who always made her tense and yearn with just a touch.

“Mmm…”

Helena fidgeted unnecessarily, trying to hide her eager response. As she did so, the feeling of flesh that seemed inseparable disappeared.

Just as she thought the air settling in place of his warm body temperature was cold, a voice that made her shoulders tremble immediately filled the empty space.

“Good morning.”

Eugene said, pressing his lips against her bare back after lifting the negligee. The vibration of his voice, along with his hot breath, was transmitted directly through their touching skin.

“Eugene…!”

Unable to bear the tingling sensation, Helena twisted her body. The air suddenly became sultry.

She tried to remove the large hand wrapped around her waist like shackles, but her wrist was immediately caught and pulled even deeper.

“Stay still.”

The small wet sounds repeatedly overcame her feeble struggles. His lips, which seemed to devour each joint as they moved up her spine, were extremely hot, moist, and lovely.

The act, which continued as if branding her as his own, was filled with overwhelming love. It was so touching that Helena couldn’t help but smile.

The smacking sounds of kisses dominated the air for a long time before stopping at her lower back. By then, the weight embracing her had become even heavier. Helena panted softly.

“You’re heavy, Eugene.”

At that moment, the pressure became too much to bear.

“Heavy?”

Eugene’s voice was terrifyingly gloomy. The sweet baritone from earlier had completely disappeared. It was only chilling enough to raise goosebumps on the skin it touched.

“If you couldn’t handle me, you shouldn’t have dared to set foot in Evergail in the first place.”

The happy morning began to shatter in an instant.

Being swallowed alive.

Crushed.

Pulverized.

She couldn’t breathe.

There was nothing she could do except scrape her blocked vocal cords in search of a breath. A very sleepy voice barely managed to come out.

“Save me, save, save me Eugene…!”

It was a nightmare.

“Did you hope that I would love you even in your dreams? How disgusting.”

It was a nightmare that had swallowed even reality.

‘No, no.’

You who say such things don’t know.

“No!”

Helena burst out a breath and suddenly opened her eyes.

Her chest rose and fell greatly in sync with her panting breaths. When she brought her hand to her forehead, it slipped due to the cold sweat that had formed.

Helena wiped away the sweat with the back of her hand and looked around. The inn she had stopped at on her way back to Praeterita. The small room was no different from when she had fallen asleep.

The half-open door of the cheap wooden wardrobe, the rough-textured blanket, the stained wallpaper, the empty space.

A room that was alone, just as when she had entered alone.

-Stay still.

‘It’s always only me who stays the same.’

Even though she had closed the windows tightly, the empty space beside her felt chilly. As if no one had ever sat there for a long time, even though it wasn’t the first time. It only felt cold.

Helena curled up her body without getting up and closed her eyes again.

Please, let the dream, the dream…

‘I’m not lonely.’

Continue. Hold her even if dressed in a nightmare.

She needed warmth, even if it was a lie.