Dining room.

“What was the reason for your intended outing?”

The man who had finished his meal in an instant was intently observing the movement of Delphine’s utensils.

There was no need to explicitly state that he wouldn’t leave until she finished the soup in front of her.

His gaze alone, resting his chin on the table and staring at her, conveyed his intention.

Fortunately, the soup wasn’t difficult to swallow.

‘How should I answer…’

After hesitating for a moment, Delphine replied while slowly bringing spoonfuls to her mouth.

“…There are some things I need.”

Even to herself, it sounded like a poor excuse.

The mansion had everything, and usually, servants were sent to buy necessary items.

“I want to choose a dress. I prefer to select it myself.”

So Delphine hastily added.

She thought he would naturally consider it an excuse, but the man unexpectedly furrowed his brow with a serious expression.

“It’s still too soon for you to go outside the mansion. There are some… matters left to resolve.”

The moment he uttered the word ‘resolve’, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

However, he quickly returned to an elegant and gentle expression, smiling at her.

“I’ll finish it as quickly as possible.”

Delphine awkwardly smiled back while swallowing her soup.

What exactly did he need to do?

Well, it seemed that finalizing a treason case and pardoning the daughter of a major criminal would require several procedures.

Perhaps yesterday’s events made her newly aware of her situation.

Delphine was freshly realizing how much the man had contributed to the fact that she was still alive and well.

The man who had patiently sat waiting for her to finish her soup finally stood up.

Judging by how he glanced at his pocket watch inside his jacket, it seemed his departure time was approaching.

“Although going out is difficult, how about taking a walk in the garden instead? It will surely refresh you.”

Even in the midst of this, he didn’t forget to add this suggestion for her.

Delphine looked at him for a moment, then nodded silently.

“Wow. The garden has become like this…”

“It seems they called in a gardener and completely redid it. My goodness. It’s so pretty.”

The maids who came out for the garden walk kept exclaiming in admiration.

Delphine pulled up the shawl wrapped around her arms with a dazed feeling.

Surely when she looked out the window yesterday, the garden landscape was utterly desolate.

The weather was entering the end of autumn, with cold winds starting to blow.

Nevertheless, the garden before her eyes was filled with bright flowers.

It seemed they had transplanted flowers grown in indoor greenhouses.

“It’s all rare flowers. It must have cost an enormous amount of money, miss?”

Betty exclaimed dramatically.

Anna, who had been continuously expressing admiration beside her, also carefully asked.

“Baby… no, madam. It seems the master also said something to the guards?”

Yesterday she couldn’t even pass the mansion’s front gate, but today the guards even knelt on one knee before her.

“Please forgive yesterday’s rudeness, madam.”

Even the way they addressed her had changed.

‘Madam… they say.’

“…Well, yeah.”

Delphine insisted on sitting in the garden for a while despite the cold weather.

The wind felt refreshing even to her chest, as she had been confined indoors for so long.

Being in the mansion kept reminding her of that day’s bloodbath.

Of course, everything had been restored exactly as before, making the memory of that day gradually fade like a dream.

On the contrary, the memory of Ioan, the slave boy who disappeared three years ago, was becoming clearer, which was truly perplexing.

“It would be terrible if you catch a cold. Shall we go in after a little while?”

Anna, who always treated her like a child, nagged.

Having been with her since birth, Delphine understood her concern.

“Yeah. I got it…”

Mumbling weakly, Delphine plucked a purple iris growing nearby.

‘This isn’t a flower that blooms in this season…’

Planting it in the outdoor garden at this time of year would make it wither soon.

Yet, to decorate the entire garden like this in just one day.

Setting aside how it was possible, he truly was an unfathomable man.

At that moment, as if reading Delphine’s mind, Anna, who had been braiding her luscious red hair, suddenly spoke.

“You’re so beautiful, it’s no wonder the master went to such lengths.”

“…Anna?”

Do you really think so?

As if hearing the question she had swallowed, Anna spoke again.

“I’ve known you since you were little, miss. I always knew you’d marry a noble person and live a life filled with love.”

Delphine let out a small chuckle at the innocent words of the nanny who raised her.

It was the first smile she had shown since that day’s incident.

Both Anna and she knew that this was an impossible lie.

There was an old saying in the empire that “red-haired women are fierce.”

And Delphine secretly thought that this ancient superstition might be true.

Since childhood, she had been unusually proud and quick-tempered.

Her father, who had tried to use her to enter the imperial palace, had worked tirelessly to break this temperament of hers.

He must have been worried that she might cause problems in the imperial family in the future.

‘Yes. That must be it.’

That’s why her once affectionate father suddenly became cold towards her.

That’s why she became so lonely in this mansion without even a mother.

…To the point of relying so much on a mere slave boy.

“…I thought you would, being such a strong person.”

Love, love indeed.

She recalled the gaze of the man who had been intently observing her.

The man who was now her husband.

Was that the look in the eyes of someone in love?

This morning too, as always, he left the mansion perfectly dressed in his decorated uniform.

He said he managed District 3.

…What exactly did he do?

Pryde strode down the long corridor covered with red carpet without hesitation.

Symbolizing the emperor’s authority, the audience hall was extremely long from the door to the throne.

Originally, one would have to approach with small steps, not daring to raise their head.

However, the emperor, leaning on his throne, merely welcomed him as he approached with one step of his long, muscular legs, his head held high and stiff.

“Oh, you’ve come. My faithful subordinate.”

Pryde bowed his head perfunctorily.

The aged emperor twisted his lips mischievously.

“So. Is married life as good as expected?”

There was a strange mockery in his tone.

He must mean, are you satisfied after insisting on taking the daughter of a traitor?

“Yes.”

Pryde answered simply.

At this insolent behavior, dissatisfaction immediately clouded the old emperor’s face.

When a single gesture could lead to beheading outside the palace and the downfall of a family, there were no nobles who didn’t tremble before him.

But there was a reason he could behave so arrogantly.

“…District 3. This time it’s the western region.”

The emperor ordered grumpily.

District 3. Those parasites living in that abandoned land had been showing signs of rebellion lately.

They claimed they wanted to be granted the right to live like humans.

The reason they couldn’t easily suppress the struggle of these humans, who were less than worthless insects, was simple.

The capital of the empire was structured with the imperial palace at the center of District 1.

Surrounding it was the commercial District 2.

And encircling District 2 was the factory area, District 3.

Therefore, District 3 occupied almost the entire capital.

If the problem was with nobles living in District 1, they could simply wipe out the family.

But the only person who could effectively prevent the sporadic coups occurring in that vast area was this man.

A man strangely strong and disgustingly cruel.

“You refused all those women I offered you.”

The old emperor couldn’t help but add another comment to his subordinate with an expressionless face.

“No matter how famous the Pembrook family’s daughter was for her beauty, tainted by treason…”

“District 3, west.”

To dare interrupt the emperor’s words.

Sparks flew from the eyes of the old and arrogant one, but Pryde simply added calmly.

“I’ll exterminate and return, Your Majesty.”

“Hmph. Additional troops from the imperial army…”

“Not necessary.”

Only then did the emperor’s anxious expression fade at the words that he wouldn’t have to sacrifice his knights.

The emperor knew what that man was called by the people of District 3.

A devil even God couldn’t save.

A murderer who brings blood wherever he goes.

“Fine. Then I don’t want to see your face for a while, so withdraw.”

Pryde bowed his head and left the audience hall with the same unhesitating steps as when he entered.

One of his knights quickly followed behind him.

As Pryde headed towards the stable where his war horse was resting, he suddenly thought.

She had reacted sensitively to the smell of blood.

Thinking of the woman who had trembled slightly standing at the door of the women’s quarters, he suddenly felt an unbearable thirst.

Loosening the tie that had been choking his neck, he muttered in a rough voice.

“…Clothes.”

“Pardon, my lord?”

“Prepare an extra set of clothes in my office.”

It was an order without apparent reason, but there was no question.

Pryde added in a low voice to his subordinate who immediately saluted.

“No need to follow. I’m going alone.”

I need to empty this surging instinct.

…To stand before her again with the face of an innocent husband.

With this resolution, Pryde slowly left the imperial palace.