But like someone who heard nothing.

“Hyah!”

Cedric, who leaped onto the horse, vigorously swung the reins.

Only the sound of rain falling heavily filled the place where Cedric had disappeared.
The startled wife turned her head slowly at her son’s sudden movement, still feeling unwell. She approached Elina, who stood gripping her arm held by Cedric, and asked, “Elina, why did you come back alone?”

Elina looked back with teary, wavering eyes and said, “As I mentioned, I thought Lamane had already left with Madam.” Tears welled up in her large eyes. “I couldn’t find Lamane no matter how hard I looked, so I guarded the entrance and asked the butler. Trusting the butler’s words, I came back alone. I don’t understand why Cedric suddenly got angry with me. It’s so unfair!”

Tears streamed down Elina’s cheeks, and the Duchess, who had been watching closely, let out a thin sigh. “First, your head must be hurting a lot. Let’s go inside and rest.” Elina, who had been shedding tears endlessly, briefly glanced at the Duchess moving away.

‘What is it? Is the Duchess suspicious of me now?’

Normally, she would comfort her.

She shifted her gaze from the forced tears, wetting her lips, to the empty space where Cedric had run off.

‘Why couldn’t Cedric handle Lamane like that?’

The day Cedric came to her after the rose-scented perfume incident.

‘It’s better not to think you’re an exception.’

She thought Cedric was acting.

To avoid the chaos caused by the royal decree ruining the marriage.

‘If something happens to Lamane. Today will be the last day you can breathe.’

But the look in Cedric’s eyes she saw a while ago was sincere.

‘What? Could it be that he really likes Lamane?’

Elina, with an angered expression, let out a bitter laugh.

‘Sion will handle it properly today, so there’s no need to worry.’

For now, both Sion and Lamane quietly dying was most beneficial to her.

Even if someone suspected Lamane’s death, there was Sion at the center, so there was nothing to worry about.

‘Please, quietly die for my sake.’

In the pouring rain, her eyes, covered in obsessive attachment, gleamed fiercely.

“Who are you?”

Behind Lamane’s sensitive voice, a chilling silence settled.

“I asked who you are.”

Lamane’s eyes, full of vigilance, stared at the woman in front of him as if piercing through.

“Madam. Seriously… What are you talking about? And who are you?”

Clara, with a displeased expression, raised her hand in the air as if telling her to calm down at the end of her bewildered voice.

And she slowly moved her still foot.

“It would be better for you not to move from there.”

In Lamane’s dark voice that felt ominous, Clara’s toe, touching the ground, abruptly stopped.
“I will determine whether it’s a misunderstanding or not.”

“…….”

“Why did you take me to such a secluded place? What do you intend to do?”

Cedric’s stern gaze slowly roamed over Clara’s face.

“I found it suspicious that you approached me from the beginning. Your strange behavior, constantly bringing up the Marquis of Haribo’s story to lower my guard, doesn’t make sense.”

The woman standing in front raised her eyelids sharply.

“Who gave you orders to act? Is it Sion?”

“I really don’t understand what you’re talking about. Instead of doing this here, how about we go to a quiet place and talk?”

Lamane twisted his lips slowly.

“Why can’t people do anything to me because there are too many of them?”

“That can’t be true. I really think it’s absurd…”

The woman with a blurred voice suddenly looked up at the sky.

Drip, drip, splash.

‘Rain? Why now?’

Lamane, who had turned his gaze to the sky, furrowed his brow.

The sky suddenly darkened, like night.

Thick raindrops began to fall.

Voices from the garden party area began to murmur.

Nobles, trying to avoid the sudden downpour, started to move busily.

‘I should get out of here for now.’

The space where people’s gazes disappeared might be dangerous.

Instinctively sensing a red signal, he quickly turned his body.

Shoo-ah-ah-ah.

“……!”

Suddenly, it began to rain heavily to the point where nothing could be seen.

“Kyaak! What is this?”

“Hey, hey! Hurry, take cover!”

The party scene turned into chaos.

People rushing aimlessly to the mansion.

Lamane, holding up the hem of his dress, followed those leaving the garden party area.

‘This is not an ordinary rain.’

Rain pouring down as if it would swallow the world.

The sound of rain hitting the lake echoed fearfully.

Fear rushed in.

But when he started moving towards the people without stopping.

“……Kyaak!”

Suddenly, a white cloth covered his vision.

Brakes seemed to be applied, and as he stepped on muddy water, his steps came to a sudden halt.

The large tent in the party area collapsed in front of her.

At the moment when people’s eyes were blocked from the direction towards the mansion.

“You’re unnecessarily quick-witted.”

Amidst the sound of rain.

“Seize him immediately!”

Clara’s voice echoed.

“……!”

Two big men blocked Lamane’s path.

Eyes tinged with confusion flickered, and tightly sealed lips crumpled.

‘These men knocked down the tent.’

Thinking desperately that he had to run away, at that moment.

Thud!

With a strong impact hitting his head suddenly, his vision turned white.

Clunk.

The small body collapsed lifelessly onto the water-soaked ground.

“For now, since it could be dangerous, tie his hands so he can’t do anything. And quickly move him so that people don’t see!”

As consciousness faded away, Clara’s voice faintly reached his ears.

‘Sion’s doing, after all.’
Shivering, Lamane raised his eyelashes, which were about to be submerged, and twisted his body.

“Let go… right now… let go… ugh!”

He writhed to avoid losing consciousness.

His delicate body, crushed by the ruthless hands, was messily dirtied by the muddy water.

“Give me that.”

Along with Clara’s voice echoing once again.

Thud!

Once again, a strong impact struck his head.

In an instant.

The world was engulfed in darkness.