I couldn’t forgive Rumps for making me think like this. Moreover, I blamed myself for not taking proper action. I felt like I was going crazy with guilt for instilling fear in Schmidt and a sense of powerlessness in Rublion.

Clank.

At that moment, someone approached the balcony. It was Schmidt.

“We need to go find Anna and Ranson.”

Schmidt staggered, clutching her head. Askal hurriedly approached and grabbed her, saying,

“I’ve sent all the elite knights from the family. So, young lady, please wait here.”

She shook off Askal’s arm.

“I need to see with my own eyes. I need to know who dared to touch them.”

“Young lady… please. It might be dangerous.”

Schmidt walked steadily towards the balcony. Then, embracing the crying Rublion, she said,

“Were you scared? I’m sorry.”

“…”

“You know, Rublion. Even if you don’t need me, I need you.”

The child’s sobs grew louder in her arms.

“This didn’t happen because you called me mother. It was bound to happen someday, and it’s that person’s fault.”

“Hic… sob.”

Schmidt let go of Rublion and rolled her shoulders.

“Duke, please come with me. While I rescue Anna and Ranson, you protect me.”

While Askal hesitated, Schmidt went into the room and took out a box as thick as an arm from the closet. Then, loading bullets into the revolver inside, she said,

“I’ll do anything to protect my people.”

He quietly watched Schmidt, who seemed to have already made up her mind. Judging by her expression, it seemed futile to try to persuade her.

We rode on horseback, following the marks left by the knights, with the Duke.

Throughout the journey, the Duke suggested that I might reconsider even now, but I had no intention of doing so.

‘It’s been a while, revolver.’

I learned shooting from my father when I was young. While not exceptional, I was skilled enough to hunt small game without difficulty.

Of course, I hadn’t fired since taking charge of Black Swan, so I’m not sure if I can perform well.

“Did you learn to shoot?” the Duke sitting behind me asked cautiously.

“I learned from my father when I was young.”

“Hmm, I suppose that’s possible, being the Baron Deli’s daughter.”

He asked various questions about shooting, but I couldn’t answer. Not only because I only learned to shoot and didn’t know much about firearms, but also because I was too worried about Anna and Ranson to speak properly.

“Young lady, Duke Rumps might have taken the maid to lure you out.”

“I suspect as much.”

“And who knows what he might do once he lures you out.”

“Indeed.”

We had entered a forest path by now. It was dark, making it difficult to ride quickly.

“Even so, I can’t not go.”

“I understand. But I can’t help but worry.”

The Duke’s warm hand touched the back of my hand holding the reins.

“Trust the words I said about protecting you. I’ll use everything I have to keep you safe.”

I turned my head slightly to look at him. Our eyes met.

“Yes. I’ll trust you, Askal.”

The Duke struck the reins hard. The horse neighed and started galloping with all its might.

After locking Anna alone in the room and coming out, Maybel couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling. It was definitely a face she had seen somewhere before.

‘Where have I seen it…’

Tall with piercing eyes. A sharp nose and unusually large hands.

“Ah.”

Maybel recalled rumors about the illegitimate child of Duke Teravita. When she was young, she had visited Teravita Castle with her father. The brown-haired boy she encountered there had left quite an impression with marks all over his body.

Looking at him now, he resembled that boy from her childhood quite a bit.

“Wait.”

The knight performing his duty in the yard of the abandoned warehouse withdrew his raised sword. Ranson was face down in the dirt, barely able to lift his head.

“You, do you know who I am?”

He gave no answer. Maybel nudged his abdomen with her foot.

“Hey, tell me.”

“…I don’t know.”

“Really?”

Suddenly intrigued, Maybel wiggled her fingers, and a knight quickly approached and knelt on one knee. She sat comfortably on the knight’s thigh, using it as a chair.

“This is interesting. Hey.”

Despite seeing her beautiful smile, Ranson didn’t even blink.

“It was when I was ten. I saw you at Teravita Castle.”

Maybel tore Ranson’s shirt with her sword.

“You had been whipped so much that your clothes were in tatters and your flesh was all torn. The scars on your back looked just like a spider.”

On Ranson’s exposed back, whip scars clearly resembling a spider were visible.

“I was going to ignore you, but my father, feeling sorry, gave you a piece of bread. Then he kindly asked, what’s your name?”

Maybel stood up from her human chair and caressed Ranson’s back.

“That child answered that his name was Lamberson. Lamberson Teravita.”

A wrinkle formed between Ranson’s brows. She didn’t miss this subtle reaction.

“Well then, shall we start again?”

Maybel turned around and sat on her human chair.

“Do you know who I am?”

“…Maybel Rumps.”

“Correct.”

Her broad smile could rival that of a goddess of beauty.

“Now then, illegitimate child of Teravita. Why were you with Baron Deli’s daughter?”

“…”

“Well, if you won’t answer, I can always hear it from the maid inside. She has ten fingers, so I can ask ten questions.”

“Don’t touch her.”

“Why?”

“…She belongs to the young lady of the baron.”

“Hmm.”

Maybel’s silver eyes gleamed sharply.

“Do you perhaps like that pink-haired woman?”

Ranson kept his mouth tightly shut. The eyes of a predator who had found its prey stared intently at him.

“Ahahaha!”

Maybel laughed loudly, seemingly in a good mood.

“I was just going to scare the baron’s daughter a little, but luck has come to me on its own feet.”

She gently stroked her silver hair braided to the side.

“Illegitimate child of Teravita. I’ll make you a duke. Join hands with me.”

Ranson, lying on the ground, twisted violently. Then, glaring fiercely, he answered.

“I have no intention of becoming a duke.”

“Is that so?”

Maybel kicked Ranson’s abdomen with her foot. A single yelp burst from his mouth.

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I’d rather do nothing than be poison to the young lady of the baron.”

The red lips on Maybel’s snow-white face curved pleasantly. The slightly raised corners of her mouth were chilling.

“Don’t you have siblings too?”

At her question, Ranson’s expression hardened.

“Do you like that woman enough to exchange all your siblings for her? Is it okay if I kill all your siblings?”

Though she asked cutely with her lips pursed, it was a question that revealed her cruel nature.

“Just try touching them! I won’t stand still!”

Ranson shouted vehemently. Maybel kicked his abdomen once more.

“If you want your siblings to be safe, it’s better to follow me. Who knows? After I make you Duke Teravita, I might separate that woman from Duke Artenbach.”

Ranson’s brown eyes shook violently.

“You can take that woman as your spoils of war. How about it? Isn’t it quite a tempting offer?”

“Impossible. My father…”

“People die for truly trivial reasons. When that old duke dies, you can just embrace your three-year-old half-sibling.”

Ranson raised his head stiffly. Staring at Maybel, he asked,

“What’s your real intention?”

“Real intention…”

Maybel caressed her lips with her finger. Then, as if decided, she answered.

“Alright! I’ll tell only you.”

She stood up from her human chair and approached Ranson. The knights tactfully lifted him up.

“I plan to make Duke Artenbach my man and combine our family’s power.”

Maybel’s delicate fingers traced Ranson’s rough jaw.

“Don’t be surprised yet. What I intend to do is not simply to increase power.”

The sound of multiple horse hooves was heard from afar. Maybel whispered softly, “Finally,” and then spoke into Ranson’s ear.

“I’m going to become the emperor of this empire. Tidga will fall, and a new imperial family will be created under the name of Rumps.”

She grinned, then turned around, lightly pushing Ranson’s chest. By now, the knights of the Artenbach Order had surrounded the warehouse.

The sound of clashing blades filled the quiet forest. I was sweating from nervousness.

“How much further do we need to go?”

“Right ahead.”

He nodded towards the front. Looking closely, I could see the Artenbach knights and Duke Rumps’ Silver Knight Order engaged in battle.

“Young lady, stay by my side no matter what.”

The Duke drew his sword. I also took out the revolver from my jacket pocket.

“Anna seems to be inside the building.”

We stopped the horses a little distance away. Dismounting quietly, I carefully approached the warehouse with the Duke.

Perhaps because they were too busy fighting, there was no one guarding the warehouse. Still, we cautiously opened the door without lowering our guard.

Creak.

The sound was quite loud. The Duke signaled to me that he would enter first. Though not perfectly, I understood the gesture and nodded.

Sticking close behind him as we entered, the warehouse was in a state too terrible to look at. Black marks were scattered everywhere, and there were pools of blood.

The pungent smell made me nauseous. But I couldn’t give up here, so I continued to follow him.

“Are you alright?”

The Duke whispered softly while facing forward. I answered that I was fine.

We arrived at the only closed door in the warehouse. I thought Anna and Ranson must be here.

I took a stance ready to fire the revolver at any moment. Simultaneously, the Duke opened the door.

And what I saw was a terrified Anna, a cowering Ranson, and Duke Rumps with silver hair reflecting the moonlight.