When Rude finally managed to escape the influence of the sleeping pills and open his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the musty smell of dust and the bitter scent of medicinal herbs.

The noises, people’s voices, and all sorts of miscellaneous sounds were things he had never experienced in the quiet mansion where Merche had left him.

Even the blanket covering his body felt unfamiliar.

As soon as his mind became clear, Rude sprang up from the bed.

“…What is this again?”

It was a series of surprises he had never experienced while living as a slave in the arena.

Waking up in a completely unfamiliar place. At this point, he wasn’t even angry, and a dry laugh escaped his lips.

“Oh. You’re awake, patient?”

Seeing him get up, a man approached. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a doctor.

The doctor, who exuded the scent of all kinds of medicines, carefully examined Rude from head to toe and smiled brightly.

His face showed a hint of relief.

“When they said someone had found you in the forest, I was really worried, but fortunately, you’ve recovered quickly! Youth is the best, indeed. Still, patient, from now on, don’t just lie down and sleep anywhere like that. What if a beast had bitten you?”

He was too talkative, and his voice was so loud that half of it went in one ear and out the other, but there was one thing Rude couldn’t ignore.

Raising an eyebrow, Rude slowly asked again.

“…Who found me in the forest?”

“Ah, yes, that’s what happened.”

“Which bastard?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you deaf? Understand it at once. Which bastard picked me up?”

Found him in the forest. Who could have possibly taken him out of the secret mansion he was stuck in and thrown him into the forest?

What kind of nonsense…

…Ah. Damn it.

Come to think of it, there was only one person capable of that. Merche Ashtad.

The only person who could take him out of the arena, bring him to the secret mansion, and then take him out again.

“Was it a woman who brought me? A damn pretty woman. Blonde hair and blue eyes. Pale and looks like a noble to anyone. Right?”

“Ah, no. The person who carried you here looked like an ordinary hunter.”

“…A hunter? What kind of bullshit is that? Stop lying and speak straight, before I rip that mouth of yours.”

“Why, why are you being so scary…? I’ve done nothing wrong except treat you, the patient!”

Seeing the doctor looking genuinely aggrieved and even tearing up, it seemed he wasn’t lying.

Then it meant someone other than Merche had brought Rude here in her stead… But why go through all that trouble?

He was suddenly abandoned without a reason.

Merche Ashtad. That damn woman had abandoned him.

−…I’m sorry.

The words she had whispered before he fell asleep. Was this what she meant?

He felt indescribably foul. He wanted to tear someone apart, even if it meant jumping back into the arena.

Clenching his fists with murderous intent, his nails dug into his flesh, causing a tingling pain.

“Warren, sir! I, I think you need to go out right now!”

At the sudden call from his assistant, the cowering doctor slowly raised his head.

The assistant’s eyes, who had come running while panting, were filled with bewilderment, tension, and a hint of fear.

“What’s the matter?”

“Outside… The Lupinus family’s knights have barged in outside…!”

Before the doctor in the clinic could even go out, black boot steps trampled the cluttered floor and entered.

Knights in ceremonial attire with black base and dark purple patterns filled the narrow interior in a line.

The knights, who had lined up in perfect order, took a step back, and a knight who seemed to be the leader cut through between them.

“What brings the knights of the Lupinus family here…?”

“It’s a family matter. We ask for your cooperation.”

At the gesture to shut up and step aside, the doctor turned pale and hurriedly moved his body.

The knight paid no attention and naturally moved his steps.

The sound of the sharp heel of his boots stopped in front of the old bed. It was in front of Rude, who was standing with his head tilted.

After silently appraising Rude’s face for a moment, the knight suddenly straightened his posture.

He bowed his head with unprecedented politeness, and the knights standing behind him also bowed their heads in unison.

“Noble one. We will escort you to the family estate.”

There was no other elaboration. So it was natural for Rude’s face to contort. Rude asked fiercely.

“…What are you trying to do? Escort me where? Explain, don’t just shut up.”

The knight, who had raised his bowed head, momentarily twitched his eyes slightly.

Although he quickly erased it as if it had never happened, Rude, who was sick and tired of such reactions, noticed it.

Contempt, disgust, a cold gaze toward the lowly being below.

Just because Rude had uttered a single word, the knight judged him as inferior.

The smile on Rude’s lips deepened twice as much.

“I don’t know where you want to go, but I’m not going. Absolutely not with the likes of you. I’m not going anywhere.”

“…It’s a Lupinus event. Are you not afraid of the consequences of refusal?”

“Resorting to threats right after a single rejection? Yeah. But still, I’m not going. If you’re so desperate, kneel down and beg. Plead that you really want me to come with you. Then I might consider it.”

“I repeat, it’s a Lupinus matter. Please reconsider.”

“So what? What’s Lupinus anyway?”

Ha. Look at this. At the words asking what Lupinus was, the knight displayed clear anger.

In front of the pupils swirling with animosity beyond disgust, Rude scoffed.

Yes. This is normal. These guys are the right ones.

Merche was just a strange exception.

In this world, all nobles, and by extension, all people who weren’t slaves, despised someone like him as naturally as breathing. Because he was lowly. Because he was vulgar in every way.

To Rude, who only laughed unpleasantly as if asking what they were going to do about it, the knight gritted his teeth and said.

“Please, reconsider.”

“I said no. Are the ears on your head just for decoration? Can’t you understand words, why.”

“…If you insist, it can’t be helped. I apologize in advance.”

What? The moment he tried to ask back like that.

Smack!

Someone approached from behind without a sound and swiftly struck the back of his neck.

Swallowing the curse he couldn’t spit out in time, Rude collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

Merche greeted the morning no different from usual.

She washed her face with the water Karin brought, got dressed with the assistance of the maids, and ordered them to bring ice-cold water.

With her golden hair draped down like it had been drenched in honey, she sat upright with not a single strand out of place.

Soon, loud footsteps approached her on the couch.

“Young lady! Something terrible has happened…!”

Forgetting to even knock, Karin barged in hurriedly.

When the maid following her stopped with a glass of water in hand, looking puzzled, Merche snatched it away and set it down on the table with a bang.

The violent movement caused water to spill and wet the surroundings, but Merche didn’t scold her and drank the water from the glass.

“In the castle, a strange guest has arrived at the castle, and that’s…”

“Karin.”

“Oh, what should we do? He looks just like the lord… They say he might be the lord’s son!”

“Yes. I understand, Karin.”

Merche soothed Karin’s shoulders, which were rising and falling rapidly.

“Calm your breath and speak slowly. Talk again once you’ve settled down.”

Holding up the glass of water, Merche joked without even smiling.

“Would you like a glass of water? It seems like you need it more than I do.”

“…Young lady. Now’s not the time for jokes. I’m serious, you know? A man who might really be the lord’s son has come to the castle!”

“I see. How surprising.”

“What about Lord Komeo?”

At the unexpected question, Karin closed her mouth tightly.

Merche smiled at her so faintly it was hard to notice and asked.

“Was he happy?”

“…Happy is an understatement. I heard he even hugged him and wailed.”

“If Lord Komeo is that overjoyed, it should be called a celebration for the entire castle rather than a terrible event. But I’m worried he might collapse from exhaustion, so I should tell the maids to keep him hydrated.”

“Young lady!”

Unable to hold back, Karin shouted.

“Are you serious? This isn’t a situation you can just overlook by being kind. What if that person even demonstrates control over the wolves in front of everyone… Then…”

“Then it would mean that person is of the lord’s bloodline.”

Merche turned to Karin, who looked like she would cry if touched.

The pupils trembling restlessly with anxiety faced the endlessly deep blue sea.

It’s calm. As if it would swallow you whole. Karin’s tear-stained eyelashes quivered.

Just as Karin unknowingly grew tense and swallowed her dry saliva, Merche spoke gently.

Her voice was so calm that it would make the listener feel chilled to the bone.

“If I’m taking someone else’s place, it’s right to return it to the original owner. There’s no other way.”

“…”

“I know your heart that worries about me. I’m truly grateful for that, Karin.”

She rose smoothly from the couch. Then she asked Karin.

“Where is that person now?”

“…In front of the wolf troops at the training ground. The lord said he would test his authority.”

The training ground was a good location. If she went out to the balcony here, it would be visible at a glance.

Merche approached the window where the sunlight was shattering and pushed open the glass door.

When she lightly leaned against the railing at the end of the round-shaped balcony, the vast view of the training ground unfolded beautifully.

Rude was there.

The slender and sensually built man standing in front of the wolves, with the Lupinus couple lined up behind him.

His black hair, twice as curly as hers, fluttered in the wind.

Soon, a momentary tension flowed in the silence.

Then, the moment the entire wolf troops lay down submissively like a wave, Merche held her breath.

It wasn’t my place from the beginning. This wasn’t mine.

As if he had eyes on the back of his head, Rude whirled around and looked this way at the same time as the realization.

He, those persistent violet eyes, were precisely fixed on Merche.