When I opened my eyes, dawn was just beginning to break.

I had fallen asleep late at night, but woke up earlier than usual because Kaius appeared in my dream.

He had discovered my true self.

“Haah…”

A deep sigh escaped between Ariel’s lips as she stared into space for a long time. After calming her trembling heart, Ariel slipped out of bed, feeling she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again.

Standing by the window, the familiar rear garden and greenhouse beyond came into view. It was a scene she would only be able to see a year from now, or even longer. Feeling she should at least take a light walk, Ariel began preparing to go out.

After brushing her hair and finishing her grooming with a light dress, Ariel lastly put on the artifact that would change her appearance.

Though Anna would scold her again, Ariel headed outside alone.

Her steps walking through the rear garden unknowingly led her towards the greenhouse. With a light heart wanting to look around one last time, she stepped over the threshold of the greenhouse.

Before taking a few steps, she heard the sound of the greenhouse door closing behind her.

“Why are you here…”

Ludvian was seen staring at her intently. As he slowly approached, Ariel turned her head to check the back door of the greenhouse. Ludvian walked a little further inside.

“Did you feed me the flowers of this tree?”

The tree his hand was touching was Zafaros.

Had it been attacked by a magical beast? She had fed it thinking that could happen someday, but hadn’t had high expectations.

“Yes… Why?”

Ariel calmly asked back.

“Those flowers are only effective for demons, you said. That white flower tasted good as tea…”

Seeing his red eyes darken, Ariel quickly added an explanation.

“Don’t tell me you drank the tea too?”

Ludvian strode over and grabbed Ariel by both shoulders.

“Take your hands off.”

“Answer me. Did you eat it?”

Ludvian’s behavior like this was because if she died, he would lose his way to kill Kaius.

“Yes. But only a few times. Are you like this because I didn’t send them all to you?”

Ludvian’s face hardened at Ariel’s irritated response.

The image of this woman enjoying tea without knowing she could die left him dumbfounded at first, which soon turned into annoyance and anger.

Fearlessly.

“What’s wrong with you? Let go and let’s talk.”

Ludvian grew furious at the sight of Ariel glaring at him as if his hands on her shoulders were unpleasant. As if she knew he couldn’t kill her. This woman was always brazen.

How dare she.

He was said to not even have blood flowing in his heart among demons.

A mere human woman.

As Ludvian’s eyes reddened further, overcome with intense self-loathing, Ariel’s body was pushed to the dirt floor. Though he couldn’t kill her, he could make her angry and cry. Ariel felt like she would lose her mind under Ludvian’s solid body pressing down on her.

“What are you doing? Get off. Get off! Get away!”

Ludvian began to laugh as the frightened Ariel struggled violently. His long red hair swayed as his head tilted back, seemingly quite satisfied.

Stopping his laughter, Ludvian quietly watched Ariel trying to escape from him. The eyes glaring fiercely at him were still unyielding.

“No. Get off! If you do this, I won’t grow flowers! I won’t grow them!”

His only thought was that he would surely make this woman submit to him today. Easily subduing Ariel’s fierce resistance, Ludvian’s gaze fell on her collarbone. His hand tearing at the front of her dress was relentless. The woman’s desperate screams sounded beautiful enough to erase all of his anger, self-loathing, and humiliation at once. He could make her grow flowers anyway.

After all, this woman dearly loved her parents.

Anna woke up earlier than usual.

It seemed to be because it was the day of departing from Letiana for a new place. Having decided to wear her uniform until entering the duke’s residence, she left her quarters only after putting on her knight’s attire and strapping on her sword. When she stopped by Ariel’s quarters, she wasn’t in her bedroom.

At this early hour, there was only one obvious place she could be.

As Anna hurried towards the greenhouse, a woman’s screams began to reach her ears. In that moment, Anna couldn’t think of anything. She ran to the greenhouse with all her might.

“Lady Ariel!”

When she opened the door and entered, Anna was momentarily stunned by the surprising scene.

Ariel was sitting down, tightly gripping a shovel handle with both hands, and a short distance away was Ludvian, covered head to toe in dirt. His eyes were closed, and flower pots were scattered all around.

“Anna.”

Anna approached and supported Ariel as she struggled to stand on shaky legs. At that moment, Anna let out a low scream.

“Lady Ariel, your clothes.”

“It’s alright. They’re just a bit torn.”

Ariel had thrown dirt at Ludvian the moment he tore her clothes. Fortunately, the dirt got in his eyes and she was able to escape the crisis. While he was faltering, Ariel had crawled to her current position, thrown flower pots, and picked up the shovel handle. Luckily, Anna appeared at just that moment.

Anna tried to draw her sword while glaring at Ludvian, but Ariel stopped that action. Following Ariel’s silent gesture to quietly slip out, the two began to stealthily exit the greenhouse.

“Ariel.”

Just as the two reached the greenhouse door, Ludvian’s subdued voice was heard. As Ariel flinched, Anna stepped in front of her back and drew her sword.

“From now on, don’t eat the white flowers. It’s dangerous. And.”

Ariel turned her head to look at Ludvian, who seemed to have regained his senses. He had already stood up and was standing facing her precisely, though unseen.

“A message will be sent to the duke’s residence soon.”

“I don’t want to see your face anymore, so I’d appreciate it if you send someone else to the duke’s residence.”

The moment Ariel’s words ended, his eyes opened. His reddened eyes looked ghastly.

Ariel and Anna ran out of the greenhouse door together. Stopping halfway down the path, Ariel looked back towards the greenhouse. Seeing no sign of Ludvian, she finally let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Lady Ariel, what happened?”

“I don’t know either. I have no idea why he suddenly acted like that.”

Just then, as Ariel was slowly shaking her head, a low, subdued voice reached her ears.

“What’s going on?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Ariel let out a surprised gasp. Flustered by Kaius’s unexpected voice, Ariel remained still without turning around.

“Didn’t you say you would come at noon?”

Since the festival day, Kaius had assigned his knight to Ariel. This was a different country, and he was a guest, so he had instructed not to intervene unless it was a dangerous situation. He had rushed over as soon as he received a report that Ludvian had chased Ariel into the greenhouse from early dawn.

As Kaius carefully examined her appearance, his brows furrowed slightly. Her hair and dress were a mess, covered in dirt. Just from that sight, he could roughly guess what had happened, and his gaze deepened.

Hadn’t he given up?

Kaius’s gaze turned towards the greenhouse as he sensed a presence from that direction. His eyes gradually narrowed as he looked there. Duke Beloas’s appearance, walking towards them, was no different from Ariel’s.

Kaius strode behind Ariel and pulled her tightly against himself. Surprised by Kaius’s action, Ariel squirmed to break free from his arms, but he didn’t waver in the slightest.

“Stay still.”

Ariel’s face turned red at the sensation of his warm lips brushing her earlobe more than the voice heard in her ear.

“Um…”

Just as she was about to ask why this man was suddenly acting like this in the morning, Ariel also saw Ludvian approaching. Finally understanding the meaning of Kaius’s words and actions, Ariel stopped moving.

Ludvian’s gaze was directed at Kaius behind her back. His red eyes were still ghastly.

“What’s going on so early in the morning? Duke Beloas.”

Kaius’s voice was terribly cold. Though unseen, his eyes were probably not much different from his voice. While his gaze towards her was frightening, thinking of that gaze directed at Ludvian made her want to cheer him on.

While having the nonsensical thought of “Go, bad eyes!”, Ludvian’s gaze turned to Ariel’s face. Anger filled Ariel’s eyes again as she looked at Ludvian.

“Ludvian, I told you I don’t want to see you. Please go back.”

As those words ended, Kaius turned Ariel’s body to face him. Ariel quickly crossed her arms to cover herself, but his expression had already sunk coldly, seeming to have seen her torn clothes.

Feeling burdened by his direct gaze, she averted her eyes, and he pulled the back of her head to embrace her against his chest.

It was then that Kaius’s sword was drawn. The Elbartan knights standing a little distance away swiftly formed a semicircle on either side of the two. The sound of swords being unsheathed was chilling.

“This is for the crime of startling my woman.”

Kaius’s right arm holding the sword swung.

“This is for the crime of dirtying my woman’s clothes.”

Once more.

“This is for the crime of interfering with our beginning.”

Kaius’s voice pronouncing the crimes was so dry that no emotion could be felt. All that was transmitted through her forehead pressed against his chest was the vibration of his voice; everything else was calm.

As if just doing what had to be done.

The slow beating heart and seemingly peaceful breathing. Only the movement of the arm swinging the sword and the hand firmly pressing her head were different from usual.

Realizing this fact, Ariel’s rapidly rising and falling chest gradually calmed as well.

“Duke, you may leave now.”

With those final words, Kaius released Ariel’s head. Ariel’s eyes widened slightly as she turned her head. A thin line of blood was visible on Ludvian’s cheek, and cut strands of hair fell one by one. Looking closely, the clothes on his arms and legs were also cut.

Could Kaius kill Ludvian? No, that would be too dangerous a gamble. They had clearly said both would have to risk their lives.

Let’s move according to plan. Safely.

Putting those thoughts aside, Ariel looked at Kaius again.

“Your Grace, I will be going in now. I need to prepare for departure. Anna, let’s go.”

Watching Ariel bow while covering the torn part of her clothes, Kaius let out a quiet sigh.

He lifted Ariel into his arms without hesitation.

“Miss Anna, please lead the way.”

Kaius walked with long strides, guided by Anna. Lemon, Carsen, and several Elbartan knights followed behind in an orderly manner. Left alone, Ludvian wiped the blood from his face and smiled. It was a smile that seemed oddly joyful.