Seemingly pleased with Lena’s compliance, Wesley patted her shoulder and said to Herdin, “Since it’s come to this, let our knights help out. We should find her quickly before the situation escalates.”

Herdin, staring at Wesley with a chilly gaze as if acknowledging his great favor, mounted his horse and headed into the forest.

Wesley, taking Herdin’s lack of response as approval, freely deployed the Duke’s knights to start searching for Blair.

“She’s probably around here somewhere.”

Casually looking around, Wesley, deep in the forest, finally found what he was looking for.
In a place overgrown with randomly grown trees, there was a dilapidated house, once used as a residence by forest keepers.

Wesley discovered it and smirked.

In that abandoned house, Blair, kidnapped under his orders, was likely held captive.

Wesley, disguised as a knight, instructed the kidnapper to bring Blair to the ruined house. He also told them to stage the situation if they hear horse neighing.

As if the two were having a secret meeting there.

‘I wonder how the Duchess, who acted so high and mighty, is holding up.’

And the expression on Herdin’s face when he sees his wife in such a state.

Even imagining it was thrilling to the point where it was difficult to control his emotions.

Wesley, trying to conceal the constantly rising smirk, asked Herdin, who was leading the way, “Did you hear voices from that ruined house? Should we take a look?”

Without saying a word, Herdin dismounted and approached the house. Wesley followed, anticipating his reaction.

At that moment, the sound of Herdin’s footsteps, who entered the ruined house first, abruptly stopped.

‘Is this for real?’

Wesley entered the house, expecting to see Herdin’s shocked expression at the sight of Blair in disarray. However, contrary to expectations, as soon as they entered the house, Wesley’s face stiffened.

‘What in the world…’

There was no one there.

Thirty minutes ago.
Blair opened her eyes laboriously, as if waking up from a deep sleep.

The first thing she saw was the collapsing ceiling covered with cobwebs. Sunlight seeping through the ceiling gaps reflected on the spiderwebs, sparkling.

‘Where am I…?’

Blair blinked, trying to focus her blurry vision, and only then realized that her mouth was gagged.

Simultaneously, her last memories returned.

Waiting for Lena for a moment, getting off the carriage to go to where Lady Celdon’s mansion was. In that moment, someone covered her mouth from behind.

She had been kidnapped by someone.

As she came to terms with reality, her heart began to pound rapidly.

‘Who? Why?’

At that moment, footsteps approaching from behind accompanied by an unfamiliar male voice reached her ears.

“Isn’t it about time you woke up a bit?”

Blair quickly closed her eyes before the man could see her.

The man, who had come close, forcefully grabbed Blair’s chin.

“Really beautiful, dirty but beautiful.”

“…”

“It’s a bit boring just to watch quietly.”

The man’s rough fingers touched Blair’s lips, exuding a palpable sense of lust. Despite the creepy touch, Blair desperately held back.

A short while ago, based on the man’s words as he waited for her to wake up and her instinctive intuition, she inferred that revealing her wakefulness now would not be a good idea.

“Hmm, I should probably get some water before you wake up completely.”
The man stood up and moved away from Blair. Soon, the sound of water splashing reached her ears. Blair, hearing the sound, opened her eyes slightly.

The man was urinating in a corner of the abandoned house.

Although he was wearing the attire of a knight, he didn’t seem like one. While the family crest engraved on the knight’s right arm looked plausible at first glance, upon closer inspection, it seemed poorly done.

Blair quickly surveyed her surroundings. Fortunately, her arms and legs were not tied. It seemed like she thought she could overpower a man alone.

And there, a sizable wooden plank was visible nearby.

‘If I hit that man’s head with this, will he lose consciousness?’

But what if he doesn’t lose consciousness immediately? Then, she would be caught by that man.

‘Maybe he won’t kill me.’

If he intended to kill her, he would have done it already. Or maybe he’s waiting for the right moment.

In any case, killing him immediately would create difficulties.

Then, it was worth a try.

Gradually, the sound of water diminished.

Blair held her breath, quietly stood up, and grabbed the wooden plank. It was quite hefty, but using both hands, she might be able to swing it.

This was her only chance.

Blair swallowed her saliva, lifted the wooden plank to strike the man’s head.

However, just as she was about to bring down the plank on the man’s head…

“Huh? You were awake?”

The man turned around and chuckled.