Izer’s life was already ruined. William Winston, no, Celian had made it so.

The only reason keeping him alive was Renéee. It was too pitiful. To drag such a man further into the mud. Even though all the Duke would gain from this was a vulgar pleasure.

Harris stood up and walked to the corner. Celian stiffened as she saw the man pick up the hunting rifle hanging on the wall.

He pointed the hunting rifle at Celian and asked.

“When I can make that face shed tears of blood without lifting a finger, why wouldn’t I do it?”

The seemingly splendid mansion was a hunting ground. The owner of the hunting ground had the ability to decide the life and death of the game. Harris Chesterfield was the hunter, and Celian Berienne was the gun.

The prey was Izer Chesterfield. Harris hung the hunting rifle back in its place.

“Do well.”

The hunt had begun.

* * *

The woman’s hand trembled as she closed the door.

Celian walked carefully, trying not to make any noise. She didn’t want to be caught with her swollen face and face unnecessary questions.

The door with the broken lock opened easily with a click. Even though it was a space that couldn’t protect her at all, she felt relieved to have entered her own sanctuary.

“Hic…”

She collapsed as soon as she entered the room. She couldn’t see properly anyway because of her tears.

The woman who had been crying silently without even turning on the light raised her head. The sense of reality that long poverty had given her told her,

Crying won’t solve anything.

She knew. As soon as dawn broke, she had to leave with Beth. Away from the capital to somewhere far.

But where?

Celian was overwhelmed with despair. There was no place within Treven where Chesterfield’s influence didn’t reach. Even if she could manage, what about Beth? Could Beth, who needed to go to school and see the world, avoid the Duke of Chesterfield?

Celian wiped her tears and stood up. The judgment that she couldn’t stay in this house any longer prevailed. She was about to grab the empty suitcase she had put in the corner.

“Trying to run away?”

“……!”

There was someone standing in the doorway that had opened weakly. The man’s red eyes, leaning askew against the doorframe, stopped at Celian’s bag.

“I told you to leave earlier if you were thinking of running away.”

As Izer lit the lamp, the dark room brightened. Celian bowed her head deeply and babbled.

“This wasn’t a place I should have come to. I’m sorry. If I had known you were here, young duke, I wouldn’t have come.”

“Why?”

Celian’s mind snapped to attention. She shouldn’t speak carelessly.

But it was already too late. The man took a step into the room. With a thud, the door closed. In the small room left with just the two of them, Izer stared at her intently.

With one glance, her earrings fell off. With another glance, her necklace came undone. The next glance seemed to untie her dress and pull it down. Feeling as if she was being stripped bare, Celian trembled.

He asked again.

“Why wouldn’t you have come if I was here?”

“Well…”

Because I ruined your life. And, because it seems I have to ruin it once more.

Celian hesitated for a moment. Should she tell him the truth now? That his adoptive father ordered her to seduce him and then abandon him ruthlessly. That he threatened to sell her to William Winston if she didn’t.

Perhaps Izer would help her. Because he hates the Duke, he might suggest that we turn the tables on the Duke instead.

Just as Celian was about to open her mouth, the man’s finger brushed the wound on her cheek.

“You were hit. I see why you were trying to run away.”

“……”

“I thought they dressed you up to spite me, but seeing you return in this state, it seems it was for the Duke’s own satisfaction?”

Celian’s blood ran cold.

The person who had intruded into her room and was now mocking her was not Izer Ren, but Izer Chesterfield. Only the appearance was the same, the inside had completely changed. It wouldn’t be surprising if this Izer Chesterfield, who hated Celian, would push her back and tell her to spread her legs under William Winston.

Izer acted as if to prove her thoughts. The suitcase she was holding moved to the man’s hand. The thud of the bag being put down made Celian’s heart sink.

“That noble person wouldn’t have swung his fist without reason…”

Izer asked casually. The man, who hadn’t changed his clothes yet, was still in the same formal wear he had worn at the dinner.

He lowered his hand that had been brushing her wound and firmly pressed her collarbone.

“Did you resist?”

Celian barely breathed and answered. The room was small, and they were close. Too close.

“Nothing like that happened.”

“Right. The one thing worthy of respect about that guy is that he doesn’t look at other women besides Mother.”

He stared at her again and asked. His finger was now removed.

“I heard you had an appointment today. Did you postpone it?”

“Yes. Until tomorrow…”

“Must have been disappointing.”

His tone was indifferent. Celian hesitated before answering.

“I’m going to see my sister.”

“…I didn’t ask.”

It could have sounded like a joke, but Celian noticed the satisfaction in his words. She didn’t know why. She could only guess that he liked her attitude of confessing first as if admitting guilt.

In any case, it was certain that her answer had a positive effect on the situation. The man who had been acting as if he would harass her at any moment turned his back without resistance.

As he was about to leave the room, he opened his mouth as if he had just remembered something.

“Next Saturday, there’s a social gathering at the house. Percy needs to make an appearance too. You know that Miss Berienne needs to accompany Percy, right?”

It was common for a governess to accompany a young child to a gathering. Children didn’t stay at adult gatherings for long, and the governess’s role was closer to standing behind the child and assisting for that short time.

If it’s a Chesterfield social gathering, it would be for the nobility. It meant that her father’s friends would be coming in droves.

She thought it would happen someday, but it was too soon. Celian moved her lips blankly. Izer continued, looking over her dress.

“I’ll prepare the clothes for you.”

The clothes she wore today were too luxurious for a governess to wear. If she went out like this, people would only say that Celian Berienne had become the duke’s mistress. A simple and neat dress would have been sufficient.

That’s how it should have been.

* * *

The living room was filled with the cheerful voices of young men.

“It’s been a while, Izer! Show your face more often. Why do you keep cooped up at home like that?”

“There’s nothing interesting out there anyway.”

At Izer’s response, the young man, Jade Schwenn, patted his shoulder vigorously. Jade, the second son of the Schwenn Count family, was the same age as Izer.

“The ladies don’t think so. I don’t know how many questions I get about why Young Duke Chesterfield doesn’t come whenever there’s a gathering. It’s only so many times I can shield you by saying you’re staying loyal to your fiancée who’s studying abroad, Izer.”

“Tell them to understand. I’ve been busy touring the local territories for a while.”

“It is the farming season.”

Another man’s voice naturally chimed in. Izer turned his head towards him. William Winston shrugged his shoulders.

“What? It’s true, isn’t it?”

Nobles don’t usually go around checking their territories during the farming season. They can collect the same taxes whether it’s a poor harvest or a good one.

In that sense, Izer, who cared about the lives of his territory’s people, was quite refreshing to the young noblemen of his age.

Differences tend to elicit reactions one way or another. Some admired him, while others belittled him. And in this case, William’s remark was equivalent to saying, ‘You’re not noble-like.’

But William Winston was neither brave enough nor qualified to belittle Izer Chesterfield. The man, realizing his verbal misstep, closed his mouth.

Izer stared at William and replied.

“That’s right. My territories are so scattered that it took ages just to go around them. It seems there have been a lot of things happening in the capital meanwhile. So… how does it feel to be free again?”

William had recently been ‘divorced’. It was the result of his womanizing. William’s face reddened slightly, but it wasn’t clear whether it was due to the alcohol or shame.

Jade broke the frozen atmosphere. He always played the role of mediator between the two friends.

“Why is the mood like this when we haven’t seen each other in a while? It’s not like we won’t see each other again, come on. Drink up! Izer, are we going to drain all the alcohol in this house today?”

“Do as you please.”

While William Winston was unpleasant to look at, Jade was a good fellow. Izer clinked glasses with Jade.

When putting down his glass, Izer noticed that he had habitually used his left hand again.