Henry lightly tapped her shoulder.

“Camilla, why are you looking like that? We need to go to the next trading post quickly.”

“…Henry. I can’t endure it anymore.”

Upon hearing those words, Henry, confirming where her sharp gaze landed, let out a long sigh.

“I also regret the special carriage incident. But there’s no need to be so disappointed, Camilla.”

“…”

“It’s 2 million Lutras per special carriage. Since we invested an excessive amount, the Duchess will eventually regret it too.”

Reacting nervously to Henry’s calm words, Camilla shouted irritably.

“It’s not because of that, Henry!”

“…Then?”

Even to Henry’s question, Camilla remained silent for a while with pursed lips.

At that moment, she was repeatedly recalling the gaze of the Duchess Rebecca, who had been looking down on her.

The day she was caught having an affair with Henry, and even today.

Rebecca looked at her as if observing a vulgar Cortisan.

“…Dignity. That woman keeps touching my dignity. I can’t bear it.”

Is that all?

If the Duchess were to say something about her and Henry’s relationship to her husband, Count Dimitri…

All the efforts she had made for her remarriage with Henry would surely turn into nothing.

Along with that, she would lose her current position as the Countess and the fame of a socialite in an instant.

“Henry.”

Snapping.

Camilla’s eyes, which had been anxiously biting her nails, became even more sinister.

“I really… want to kill that woman.”

The carriage was now running through the last forest path leading to the Duke’s castle.

I opened the window and felt the refreshing breeze from the forest.
“I opened the window and felt the refreshing breeze blowing in from the forest. Adrian, watching me, smiled faintly as he heard me humming.

“You seem very happy,” he remarked.

“Of course, I am. Adrian won’t know what mindset I had for this deal.”

This deal was a stepping stone for economic independence after the divorce announcement.

Certainly, to make a living for a lifetime, I would need to earn a bit more, but…

Even the first successful step made it feel like my mood was soaring.

“Now, all that’s left is to win over the hearts of the half-blooded vampires…”

It had improved compared to before, but there were still many half-blooded vampires who hated me.

Rumors of my change had spread only within the Grand Duke’s castle. Some still didn’t believe those rumors.

“Well, it’s strange for grudges to disappear easily just because you hear a few good rumors.”

Now, I needed an official occasion to announce the fact that I had changed.

“When the investment returns start to come in, it would be good to start a business for the half-blooded vampires.”

Lost in thought, I was nodding my head.

Suddenly, clatter! The carriage shook as if it had caught onto something, and with the sound of the horse’s neigh, it came to a sudden stop.

“Huh…?”

Due to the abrupt impact, my body leaned forward without resistance.

“Miss Vi!”

Adrian reflexively threw himself at me.

At that moment, when I was struggling to breathe, Adrian’s gentle breath could be felt close by.

“Are you okay, Miss Vi?”

Unconsciously raising my head, our eyes met.

Surprised by how close we were, our eyes blinked rapidly.

For a moment, the radiant violet eyes quickly descended.

My eyes, cheeks, nose, and… lips.

Finally realizing Adrian’s gaze lingering in one place, I hastily turned my head.

“Outside… something seems to have happened, Adrian.”

Adrian, seeming to have just regained his composure, slowly released the hand that had been holding onto me.

“I’ll go check.”

Click―.

Adrian opened the carriage door and stepped outside.

Alone, I could finally release the breath I had been holding.

“Adrian, something has definitely changed.”

I began to sense a strange atmosphere from Adrian after the Duke Dimitri’s banquet.

Adrian, who always wore a gentle and refreshing smile.

But since that day, opaque emotions occasionally flashed in his eyes directed at me.

Not clear, but deep and intense emotions.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt such a desire towards someone.”

That night, I remembered his words he casually mentioned.

The carriage door opened, and Adrian returned.

“Miss Vi, the situation outside is not good. Please do not go out; stay here.”

Adrian urgently grabbed his sword that was placed in the corner of the carriage as he spoke.”
I hurriedly grabbed his sleeve as he tried to go that way.

“Adrian, what on earth is happening?”

“It seems like there has been a murder while the coachman stopped driving and inspected the carriage. The knight next to us is in the same situation.”

“…What?”

“Even stranger… there is no trace of the culprit at all.”

Adrian’s forehead gradually wrinkled.

“It seems like we’ve fallen into a trap.”

“A trap? In that brief moment when the carriage stopped? I didn’t hear any sound.”

“…It might not be the work of ordinary humans.”

“Then… you mean it could be the work of the half-blooded vampires?”

I couldn’t hide my alarmed expression.

‘Have the half-blooded vampires already started attacking me? They shouldn’t know me as the Grand Duchess yet. This is strange…’

Unintentionally, my eyes narrowed in anxiety.

As if trying to reassure me, Adrian spoke in his calm voice.

“It’s not certain if it’s the work of the half-blooded vampires. It could also be the deeds of ‘humans’ using dark magic.”

After finishing his words, Adrian enclosed my hand that was holding onto his sleeve.

“Don’t worry, Lady Vi. Even if I have to stake my life, I will definitely protect you.”

Trying to contain my surprise, I nodded.

Then, Adrian, who had stepped out of the carriage again, stood in front of the door and spoke again.

“I will drive the carriage. Even if you hear any noises outside, absolutely do not come out.”

“…Alright.”

With a forced gentle smile, he closed the carriage door right away.

As soon as the door closed, his eyes, visible through the window, had become stern.

Adrian soon became vigilant around him and headed towards the coachman’s compartment. Eventually, the carriage started moving again.

After a while of traveling like that…

Hee-yahng!

The sharp scream of a horse echoed through the forest.

At the same time, the carriage began to shake more dangerously than before.