The candle stuck in the candlestick doesn’t intensify its flame. The slight black soot emanating from the sheet touched by the small flame made Bake’s face pale.

“What are you trying to do! It’s dangerous!”

“Don’t come. If you do, I’ll blow your face off right away.”

“You can’t. You’re not that kind of person.”

“Whether I can really do it or not, you can find out for yourself. Do you want that?”

“…….,”

Raising his voice, amusingly, Bake just wavered and couldn’t easily approach me. I still sneered with my lips without lifting the candlestick.

“However you’ve thought of me until now, I’m Crayton. No one can dare to touch my body without my permission.”

“You’re my wife.”

“If I’m truly your wife, you can’t force this kind of relationship.”

“Why? Is it because you don’t like seeing someone like me when your first love appears?”

“What?”

“No need for lame excuses. Do you really not know why I’m doing this? It’s because of Viscount Piren.”

“That person, no. Whatever I say, you won’t believe it. Fine. Think what you want. But, if that’s the case, shouldn’t you be more careful with me?”

Eventually, the flame caught onto the sheet. However, I was still in the same place. I just stared at Bake without running away, without lifting the candlestick.

“I don’t have to be you.”

“Riviana.”

Only then did Bake seem to realize.

I swallowed my breath roughly. The acrid scent mixed with burnt odor pierced my nose, and my throat stung. Initially, the weak flame gradually intensified, but I still held my ground.

“I’m sorry! I must have lost my mind for a moment! I must have been too drunk. Do you know that everything I just said was a mistake?”

“It wasn’t a mistake; it revealed your true feelings, didn’t it?”

“No! I wouldn’t do that!”

Bake waved his hands as if trying to dispel the situation. His staggering body seemed not to have completely rid itself of the effects of alcohol, but his eyes were certainly clearer than before.

But I didn’t know when he might change. Instead of relief, I tightened my grip on my hands.

Thud, the sound of cloth striking ears felt strangely alien.

“If not, do as I say. Stay away from the slave issue.”

“That’s…”

“Can’t you do it?”

“……”

“Even though it might be difficult right away, I’ll try to handle it as soon as possible. For now, just come out of there. It might become really dangerous if you stay like this.”

Bake ran his hands roughly over his face. But even looking at his appearance, which seemed like he might cry at any moment, I felt no sympathy. Without changing my expression, I pointed to the door with the hand not holding the candlestick.

“You leave the room first.”

“What?”

“My problems will be dealt with by me. So, you leave.”

“Is that so[Dash]?”

Bang, bang! With the loud knocking, Bake’s face crumpled.

“I told you not to disturb me!”

“I’m, I’m sorry! There, it seems like something important, so you should come out quickly!”
“Unavoidable? Why? Did the world split in two? If not, put it out right now[Dash].”

“Attack!”

“Attack?”

They succeeded.

The moment I heard the news, my hands relaxed involuntarily.

Viscount Piren succeeded in opening the castle gate, and from now on, his subordinates disguised as slaves would flood into the castle.

Peace was over.

“Lady, over here.”

Cheshire, who entered the castle during the chaos, gestured to me, looking around.

“Are you all right? Nothing happened?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

Pretending not to notice his eyes shining yellow with worry, I tightened the hood even more. It’s not difficult to endure the pain, but I hastily walked with Cheshire’s help, unable to completely erase the traces of the struggle.

Even without looking in the mirror, I could tell. My skin bruises easily with even a minor impact, and by now, my body would be covered in bruises. But despite that, I walked cautiously with Cheshire’s assistance.

I have to endure. If Cheshire finds out about my condition, he will never take me with him.

“I knew Your Excellency was not an ordinary skill, but I didn’t expect you to achieve results so quickly. Honestly, I thought it would take three or four more hours.”

“It’s a grateful matter.”

I replied briefly and quickly got on the carriage.

Although I had only glanced out the window to survey the situation, I quickly understood.

Viscount Piren’s army was more than the rumors. Like a pair of weasels, they quickly occupied the Nagata Castle.

It was a sudden attack, and considering the fact that I had given them the blueprint in advance, it was an astonishing speed. Although they were at a numerical disadvantage compared to the soldiers stationed in the castle, they did not have proper weapons since they were disguised as slaves.

It was a frighteningly remarkable skill. How many things must have happened to accumulate such skills is beyond my imagination.

I grabbed the reins. Otherwise, I felt like I would look back.

But I couldn’t do that. If my older brother is really a traitor, even more so.

I bit my lip.

“Let’s go faster.”

“It’s fast enough now.”