Laughing with a playful tone, Merche listened quietly to the story Carla was jokingly rambling about without much thought.

“I once thought about dating him for a bit. Of course, thanks to you becoming the successor, I ditched the idea. Still, his face comes to mind sometimes. How should I put it… Despite having such a noble appearance, his personality is also very lofty? It’s not for nothing that they get criticized for being stuck-up. They act like they’re the only aristocrats. Ah, and most of all, he has a younger sister, and her personality is…”

Even while saying many unkind things about Ardor’s sister, Carla’s expression was joyful.

The face that couldn’t stop smiling was simply childlike and innocent.

But suddenly, in the midst of continuing to talk, Carla abruptly shut her mouth.

As if she had a terrible nightmare, dark clouds gradually covered her bright face.

“Merche. I just imagined something really scary, but this can’t possibly become reality, right?”

“What did you imagine?”

“…Rude Lupinus chasing after you…”

After saying it out loud, Carla quickly gauged Merche’s reaction.

Ah. She’s sensitive to this name. Did I mention it for nothing?

Her pitiful eyes trembled and rolled. Merche was special.

Among the people Carla had seen in this world, Merche was one of the strongest and most affectionate towards her.

So she didn’t want to be disliked.

Anxious, Carla carefully observed the subtle change in Merche.

The moment she heard the name ‘Rude’, Merche flinched briefly, but her vivid blue eyes rippled as if a tepid hue was spreading, and that was it.

At the end of the silence, the gaze she met was calm and cold.

“It doesn’t matter even if it becomes reality.”

Because she wouldn’t be dragged around by that person anymore.

Merche closed her eyes.

She recalled the man she had encountered in the vast night sky on a snowy night, and the chilly wind of that day.

For some reason, while other scenes were hazy as if torn away, only one scene was clear.

That man knelt down, and it was she who made him do so.

At Merche’s command, Rude crumbled.

His eyes twisting unbearably, his voice screaming with rage. Yet, none of the pieces of those moments were unpleasant.

Rather, what engulfed her was delight.

Merche vividly remembered that thrilling and intense sensation that pierced through her entire body like lightning.

You can’t wield me. I also have the right to do so to you.

Her delicately sculpted eyes and mouth drew a splendid smile.

If Carla’s concern became reality, if that man stood before her. She would not forget to tell him just that.

With a faint anticipation seeping in, Merche turned around.

For several days, the sky was gloomy.

When snowflakes, purely white unlike the ash-gray dullness, began to fall one by one, the swiftly running carriages and procession gradually came to a halt.

From the beautifully decorated white carriage, a woman wearing a uniform as white as the carriage stepped out.

The attendants around her, holding items to act as a screen, couldn’t move an inch.

The woman didn’t even pay attention and stopped them with a gesture.

“It’s fine. I’m not so fragile as to need protection from mere snowfall like this.”

Knowing her stubbornness, the attendants stepped back.

In the gap created by that much space, a man who had just set foot on the ground approached.

“The weather is cold. We need to spend the night here. Don’t stay out for long and go inside the carriage.”

“We’re going to camp out?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a waste of time. If we go a little further, it’s the main territory of Venenum. Why don’t you reconsider?”

“Huana Ardor.”

At the lowly uttered name, Huana flinched and shrugged her shoulders.

“What? I didn’t say anything wrong. Rather than struggling like this and suffering, it’s better to push harder and arrive faster even if it’s tough for now. That’s rational and…”

“Don’t just focus on the goal in front of your eyes. Don’t you see them?”

While folding her arms in dissatisfaction, Huana obediently looked to where her twin brother, Fabio, was pointing.

At his fingertips were the group of attendants and escort knights that she had just bitten.

“Is there a problem with them?”

The moment she raised her gaze and met his eyes. Huana’s complexion turned grim.

Those eyes. Eyes that looked down on her as utterly foolish.

As always, the surging emotions that welled up settled down coldly.

What’s the point of getting angry when she can’t even express it anyway? She had to endure it. Just as she had done all this time.

Trying to look straight into his emotionless eyes, she straightened her slumping back.

Contrary to Huana’s efforts, an icy cold gaze, colder than ice, flew in like a blade.

“They are struggling. Because you refused the previous few encampments, their stamina has dropped to less than half. If we push through this time according to your will, someone will faint before long. Is that still not a problem?”

“…”

Her breath caught in her throat. Although the soles of her feet tingled from being overly strained, driven by the pride of not being able to lose like this, she hastily refuted.

“So what? Is it better for them to drag on like this? Think rationally, think like an Ardor. We don’t have much time. If we dilly-dally and Fondo makes the first move? If Ardor is put at a disadvantage because of that? Will you take responsibility for the loss then?”

“I’m disappointed, Huana. It’s an overreach bordering on absurdity. Think back on what Mother would say if she saw you like this.”

“Don’t bring up Mother! …In the first place, don’t you think your decision to come here was wrong? Not Lupinus, but Venenum? They have Fondo and Aquila on their side. We should have gone to Lupinus first, not Venenum. Or to Sano!”

“…Sigh. Enough. Lower your voice. You are damaging the prestige of Ardor right now, Huana. Don’t make any more mistakes. I don’t want to be disappointed in you any further either.”

As if not giving Huana any more chance to speak, Fabio turned his back.

Watching his receding figure, Huana clenched her fists so hard it hurt.

Her whole body trembled with a sense of defeat and humiliation, blurring her vision.

Just because you were born grasping some plausible authority.

I worked harder, more desperately than you for a longer time. But why you, why the likes of you!

Melted snow flowed down her cheeks like tears. Biting her lip, she fixed her distorting mouth into a round shape.

Rude Lupinus. The man who made her father kneel and became the head of the family half a year ago.

She would make that man hers. No matter what it took.

Then she would be able to suppress Fabio, who had stolen the successor position by being born with a more outstanding authority.

Suppressing the jagged emotions that tried to surface, Huana smiled. Putting on an elegant face as if nothing had happened, she called the attendants.

“Let’s stop here for today and rest before leaving. We’ll depart again when it’s bright. You’re all very tired, right?”

“Oh, no. We’re just deeply moved that you’re considering us like this… Thank you so much, Young Lady.”

“…No. There’s no need to thank me. I merely made a judgment befitting an Ardor.”

Praising her as expected of an Ardor young lady, the attendant bowed obsequiously.

Huana looked at the ash-gray sky without looking at him.

The darkness was just like her. Huana, who was unlike an Ardor.

It was a rare sunny afternoon when she heard the news that the Ardor procession had arrived at the main territory.

Unlike Lupinus, where the main building consisted of a large castle and several annexes, the main building of Venenum was in the form of several large mansions gathered like a village.

Of course, none of them exceeded three stories.

Because three was just the right number for their sacred animal, the snake, to climb up.

Around the time when the sun had slightly descended through the sparse lines of the tree grove, Merche was staying in the mansion assigned to her.

Opening the window, it was nice to have the sunlight coming in.

Feeling drowsy in the languid mood, she deliberately requested coldly brewed tea.

“Young Lady. A letter has arrived from your younger sibling.”

“…Ah. Thank you, Madam.”

“You’re welcome.”

The pupils that had been blankly out of focus blinked and returned to normal.

There stood Madam Martin in her usual neat attire.

– Please. Let me serve the Young Lady.

When Madam Martin found out that Merche had run away to Venenum, she said she was shocked as if struck by lightning.

And she said she was pushed in front of Merche as if by fate. It was a moment she couldn’t go against, she had also said.

Merche didn’t fully understand Madam Martin’s words, but she accepted her plea-like request.

At times, Merche felt a sense of kinship with Madam Martin.

In the sense that they were both escapees who had narrowly escaped from the nightmare named Genovefa, more desperately than anyone else.

Even now, Genovefa often appeared in Merche’s dreams. Especially on days with bad weather.

Fortunately, the weather was good today.

Swallowing the tea water cold enough to make her head feel numb for a moment, Merche opened the letter.

These days, I’ve started reading difficult books. In a little while, I might become smarter than you.

…Anyway, nothing much is going on with me and there are no particular problems, so don’t worry. Please stop telling me not to get sick and to eat well without skipping meals.

Ah, right. Did you tell Karin to take me out for walks? Cancel that right now. My legs hurt so much from going up and down the hill every day. You have no idea how much she nags me…

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…But Sis. The fairy tale book I gave you before, have you read it?

I don’t know why you never talk about it. You must have something to say to me about it.

It can’t be, but just in case. If you haven’t read it yet, read it right away.]