Chef was taken aback by Giovanni’s hardened expression.

“Well, I didn’t think that would be important…”

“In the future, let me know immediately about that woman.”

“Yes, understood.”

Giovanni furrowed his brow.

“Why is the princess going to such lengths?”

The suspicions about Igraine were not clear. While she was cooperating with them, making her an accomplice, no one had noticed that yet.

The basis for persecuting her was solely Arist Dorlencia’s one-sided accusations.

“Maybe she just dislikes that woman.”

“…”

“Perhaps the resentment from the incident where she was chased by the Shadow’s assassins hasn’t subsided. Just looking at what she did at the lake makes it seem that way. And… doesn’t the princess like the prince? Perhaps she noticed that he has feelings for that woman?”

As if he didn’t know about that, Giovanni’s forehead creased deeper.

Chef shook his head nervously, biting his tongue.

“Now that the princess has set her sights on her, that woman’s life will become difficult. It’s better for us to cut ties before it becomes annoying. We might get involved if we’re not careful.”

They had a record of stealing various items from the kingdom. While there weren’t any national treasures among them, it would be quite troublesome if anyone became suspicious.

“That woman will become my subordinate.”

“Just for the position of a subordinate…”

“Talented individuals aren’t easy to come by.”

“But in the end, she didn’t provide substantial help to the prince. The assistance came from us, and Rodolfo has agreed to cooperate with us. If we’re looking for the Empire’s underground water source, he would be more helpful than that woman.”

Even as he spoke, Chef felt a bit uneasy.

But perhaps Igraine was no longer in a position to fulfill her obligations in their relationship.

If that were the case, it was only natural to let go, yet there was a lingering discomfort, as if something was amiss.

“She was a woman I never liked from the beginning. She may have cured the illness, but…”

Unconsciously furrowing his brow in arrogance, Chef was startled as Giovanni got up.

Surprised, Chef asked, “Where are we going?”

“Anywhere.”

“… Are you joking?”

Without a reply, Giovanni sighed, and when Chef asked where they were going, he said, “I don’t even know where I was exiled!”

“It’s likely a desert near the kingdom. It would be tough for a woman who grew up only in the kingdom. Moreover, since the job unexpectedly failed, there’s a possibility that the Shadow’s assassins are after her. Time is of the essence.”

“But we don’t even know where she is…”

Before Chef could finish his sentence, Giovanni walked away confidently. Staring at Giovanni’s retreating figure, Chef wore a bewildered expression.

It was unprecedented for Giovanni to move so openly.

While Giovanni and Chef were exploring the nearby desert, avoiding the eyes of the kingdom’s soldiers, in the Duke’s residence, Karstatuna.

The Duke’s room in Karstatuna was spacious and clean, but somehow it felt desolate.

Having struggled with insomnia all night, it wasn’t until dawn that she finally managed to fall asleep, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

“Ugh…”

Her face, turning from side to side, was marked with deep wrinkles, and painful sighs escaped her lips repeatedly.

To check if her tormented mistress was sleeping well, a maid, who had just come in, was shocked and rushed over.

“Miss, miss!”

Shaking her shoulders and tapping her, the maid couldn’t figure out what had happened as Karstatuna couldn’t wake up.

The maid’s earnest plea seemed to reach her. When Karstatuna suddenly opened her eyes, the maid’s heart almost dropped.

Her eyes, wide open and dilated, emitted various dark energies due to the expanded and untethered black pupils.

“Miss!”

Calling her once more, Karstatuna’s focus returned.

“Heuk, heuk.”

A gasp of breath burst from her lips. Tears that hadn’t fallen gathered along her cheeks and jawline.

“Did you have another nightmare?”

Hastily helping her up, the trembling maid handed her a warm tea with a calming agent.

However, Karstatuna couldn’t seem to calm down.

The maid grew increasingly concerned about her worsening insomnia.

After becoming friends with Princess Laratu, it seemed to have improved somewhat, but nights when she couldn’t sleep at all hadn’t completely disappeared.

“The nightmare was always the same.”

Karstatuna mumbled absentmindedly.

The nightmare was monotonously constant.

A peaceful and warm scene where tearing screams shattered the tranquility. Unrealistically beautiful scenes of animals and people playing together on a field were abruptly shattered by piercing screams coming from the vast meadow.

Sounds of crunching. Flesh being chewed. Madness trying to consume more.

Humans devouring humans.

It was an indescribably horrifying scene, but it would have been better if that was all.

However, Karstatuna knew the identity of the ‘human’ being hunted by humans.

Marta.

Oh, Goddess Marta.

‘I’m in pain. I feel like I’m going crazy.’