“What’s wrong, Margaret? Who frightened you like this?”

At the question, Margaret looked up at the ceiling, then down at the floor, scanned her surroundings once, and finally managed to meet Thea’s eyes.

“Lady Winter. When are you planning to leave this estate? Is there… something urgent keeping you here?”

“Nothing urgent, but the Grand Duchess hasn’t been very willing to meet with me, so I haven’t finished our conversation yet. I suppose I’ll leave once we’re done talking?”

Even though Thea responded like it was no big deal, Margaret’s fear showed no signs of fading. In fact, her body trembled.

“Margaret… my dear confidant. What on earth has you so terrified?”

Thea spread both arms, beckoning her over.

“I’ll give you a proper hug.”

Margaret must have keenly recognized that silent signal, because she hurriedly stepped in front of Thea and bent at the waist.

Then, pressing her lips to Thea’s ear, she began to whisper.

“The Grand Duchess is trying to trap you and Lord Acel.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It seems the Grand Duchess is planning to incite a rebellion. She appears to have chosen House Winter to supply the resources. It was clearly written in the report I received today. But my lady, was there no trouble with House Yut? It looks like they tested things there first.”

“They tested it?”

“Yes, and it seems like it was a rather unpleasant kind of test. When you met with the Grand Duchess today, did she say anything about it?”

The interrogation-like conversation continued, and Thea’s complexion turned deathly pale. She had a sinking feeling.

Now she understood why the Grand Duchess had spoken apologetically about House Yut, why she’d asked if Thea had received any separate contact from the Countess, and why Acel couldn’t easily leave his post.

Once again, he must have tried to handle everything alone without giving her any information.

He didn’t seem to even imagine that this fact would make Thea even angrier.

By the time she forcibly suppressed the rage surging through her, the maid had returned with a tray in hand. The maid’s eyes darted back and forth at the ominous atmosphere between the two.

Seeing this, Thea smiled nonchalantly.

“You’re back? Set it down over there.”

“Your guest doesn’t look well. Should I escort her to the infirmary?”

“No, that’s fine. Rather than escorting her to the infirmary, could you call Count Winter here? I have a feeling this friend of mine won’t last until dinner.”

The maid seemed to understand, judging by how she gestured toward Margaret’s pale face.

She then hurried toward the corridor, saying she’d fetch him right away.

Thea watched her go, then turned to Margaret.

“Now we can have a proper conversation, don’t you think?”

She’d been worried the whole time that the Grand Duke’s household staff might overhear their conversation.

“It’ll take quite a while to bring the Count here. I said some unpleasant things that gave him a headache.”

“Did you two fight?”

“We didn’t fight—I just stated reality.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Margaret found it bewildering how Thea kept bringing up reality out of nowhere, but the question that immediately followed left her no choice but to set aside her confusion.

“Margaret, how much of my debt remains?”

“Debt? Which debt are you referring to?”

“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about the debt House Yut owes to House Winter.”

She couldn’t leave until she paid it all back, could she? It seemed the time had come to find out how much was left.

“Well, from what I know, it’s well over 100 million gold.”

“100 million gold? That’s insane. How could anyone lend that much money?”

It was an amount that would be tight even if you worked yourself to the bone for a lifetime. Countess Yut had spent that astronomical sum in an instant.

The silver lining was that Thea was such a capable businesswoman that if she worked like she was dead for about ten years, she could pay it back.

“Good, make it so I can pay it back immediately.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because even as we speak, Countess Yut is spending money freely. My lady, have you never read the contract?”

At Margaret’s question, Thea nodded. How could she have looked at the contract when she’d only recently learned there even was one?

“Can you explain why it’s impossible? Even if she’s spending freely, if I put the trading company up as collateral and work myself to the bone, it’s not like I can’t pay it back.”

“The contract itself is structured so that as long as you maintain married life with the Count, there’s no debt to repay. That’s why Countess Yut spends so freely without worry. You didn’t think Count Winter would actually collect that money, did you?”

In other words, because Thea was a Winter, the debt didn’t matter.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Lady Thea, but the moment you separate, interest of five hundred percent will be added.”

Unless House Yut disappeared, she could never escape it—and now she finally understood why people said she’d be a Winter until the day she died.

Thea could never return to House Yut.

“Ha, ha, ha…”

The truth was brutal. Upon reaching one truth, another despair arrived to wave its hand at her. How could things be so horrific?

She was sick of it all. It felt like the world was testing to see how far her patience could stretch.

With staggering steps, Thea moved backward, further back, until she stopped in front of a wide-open window.

If she just leaned her body over slightly from here, something very interesting would happen… Whether she lacked the courage, or whether her naturally gentle disposition held her back, she couldn’t quite take that final step.

The situation seemed to shock Margaret tremendously.

“Lady Thea? That’s dangerous. Come over here.”

“Do I look like I’m about to jump?”

“Not exactly, but if you’re leaning against a windowsill—an open one at that—anyone would worry.”

“Really? Anyone would worry? Then I’ll ask that person when he arrives soon.”

Would he worry, or would he shout loudly?

“Either way, it’ll be interesting.”

Just as she giggled, thinking that whatever ending came would be interesting, the maid brought him at exactly the right moment.

Acel quickly scanned the scene in the room, seeming to assess what was happening—though everyone knew it was a useless exercise.

Finally, he fixed his gaze on Thea, who appeared to be hanging by the window.

“My lady, what are you doing there?”

“The breeze was so refreshing, I was cooling my head.”

“In that position?”

“What’s wrong with this position? Margaret said I looked like I might fall at any moment… What do you think, dear?”

When she asked if he thought she looked in danger, as she’d said before, he gave no answer. More precisely, he seemed not to know what to say.

That’s how shaken he was. All because of her action of leaning against the windowsill.

Thinking everyone was being far too overprotective, she gave a bitter smile and decided to move to a safe location as they wished.

If she stayed any longer, it seemed like a major commotion would break out.

When she sat back down in her proper place as they wanted, his face finally relaxed, and he began to gently placate her.

“My lady, I don’t know what’s wrong, but please stay safe. Didn’t you nearly get hurt not long ago when you swayed badly from dizziness?”

“Did I do that?”

He remembered so well something she didn’t even recall. It had been a minor accident she’d brushed off lightly, but apparently not for him.

It wasn’t even something worth getting worked up over, yet he reacted so sensitively—he seemed quite different to her.

‘Was Acel always like this?’

She didn’t think so.

His attitude, which had changed so much in just a few days, captured Thea’s attention.

Not that it changed her mind about leaving him.

Just because a little kindness came her way didn’t mean the accumulated feelings would disappear. It wouldn’t matter how nice he was now—he should know that.

Thea was exhausted from the repeated emotional battles.

As she listlessly swept her gaze through empty space with increasingly unfocused eyes, he must have decided he couldn’t let this continue, because just as he moved in front of her—

A maid from the Grand Duke’s household came rushing in breathlessly.

“Terrible news! You two need to return to House Winter immediately!”

“Terrible news?”

Margaret’s face scrunched up in displeasure. What was all this fuss about when they’d only just arrived from House Winter not long ago? 

The maid making such a scene about terrible news made no sense.

If there were problems at the estate, Margaret would have known and brought the information herself.

Despite Margaret’s clearly displeased attitude, the maid paid no mind and carried out her duty.

She approached Thea, bowed, then straightened as she delivered her message.

“Word has come that the former Count is in critical condition.”

“Father is in critical condition?”

“Yes, he suddenly lost consciousness and is hovering between life and death. Dr. Brown is treating him, but the situation is extremely urgent, so they’re requesting that you both return to the estate.”

Now they understood why she’d told them to hurry back to the estate. When the former head’s life hung by a thread, who wouldn’t move?

A perfect excuse to leave the estate had conveniently appeared. Who could have known such a thing would happen?

‘The Grand Duchess couldn’t have known either.’

That they’d be able to leave this place with the excuse that the former Count was critically ill.

Thea clenched her fist tightly, celebrating this unexpected turn of events, and spoke to the maid.

“Oh dear. I should see Her Grace the Grand Duchess before we go…”

“I’m sure Her Grace will understand, given the urgent situation.”

“Then could you relay the message for me?”