“Why is Father here?”

The moment she heard the Marquis’s name, the light, buoyant feeling that had enveloped her just seconds earlier disappeared. For a moment, she wondered if he had come to deliver the antidote, but he would never do that in person.

Moreover, as far as she knew, visits to a foreign country required prior notification. Yet here he was, having appeared without saying a word.

‘Did he come to see for himself whether I’m behaving properly?’

Selina sprang up from the bed, her face drained of color.

“There’s no need to rush.”

Calix rose first and stopped her as she tried to get up.

“Take your time and get ready. I’ll meet them first.”

He stood up, finished getting ready in a matter of moments and left the room.

Although she had gained a little time, she was still uneasy. Selina hurriedly got dressed and did the bare minimum of preparation. With no time to spare, she skipped any adornment and left wearing only simple attire.

It was then that she encountered a man pacing outside the reception room.

‘That man…’

Broad-shouldered, with black hair and black eyes, he had the aura of a wild beast. She had definitely danced with him once in the Empire.

‘Right—Commander Waldemar came with him.’

Things had been so chaotic back then that she hadn’t even managed to learn his name properly. However, since they had met before, she hesitated over whether to greet him. At that moment, the man turned around and their eyes met.

“It’s been a while.”

Unlike her hesitation, Waldemar greeted her at once—his lips even curved into what looked like a friendly smile.

“…It has been a while.”

The moment she heard the Marquis’s name, the light, buoyant feeling that had surrounded her just a few moments earlier disappeared. For a moment, she wondered if he had come to deliver the antidote, but he would never do that in person.

Moreover, as far as she knew, visits to a foreign country required prior notification. Yet here he was, having appeared without saying a word.

“His Lordship the Marquis is inside.”

Waldemar offered a polite greeting and opened the door to the reception room. Seeing that he had no intention of saying any more than was necessary, Selina simply nodded and stepped inside.

“Do you truly believe it is acceptable to visit a foreign country without so much as a word of notice?”

The air in the reception room was razor-sharp. The moment she crossed the threshold, it felt as though an immense weight had been placed on her shoulders.

Calix and the Marquis were seated at the table, with five or six servants standing nearby. Even they appeared subdued, as if crushed beneath the oppressive tension filling the room.

“I apologize for arriving without notice, but I hardly consider it improper.”

The marquis replied, his lips curling into that familiar, irritating smile.

“After all—my daughter. My own daughter was abducted. What parent wouldn’t lose their mind over that?”

Selina inhaled sharply, without realizing it. She had wondered what could have prompted the Marquis to visit Thalia unexpectedly, only to discover that she was the reason for his visit.

“I couldn’t rest until I saw my daughter’s condition with my own eyes. Since we’re on the subject, is Thalia investigating this incident properly? I hear the culprit was left alive. Left alive after daring to abduct the Grand Duke’s wife? Are you telling me you spared them? Or is this a biased investigation just because Selina happens to be my daughter?!”

Mid-sentence, he flew into a rage and slammed his fist down on the table.

The table was solid enough that it didn’t so much as creak, and Selina found her father’s display almost laughable.

‘What is he trying to gain this time, to act so passionately?’

The Marquis had never cared about Selina’s safety. His intentions were clear; he was exploiting this incident to gain leverage over Calix.

Calix, for his part, did not so much as blink, whether the Marquis ranted or accused him of bias. He merely looked at the man before him with clear irritation, as though eager to remove the nuisance as quickly as possible.

“Father.”

Selina felt it was time to step in and calm the increasingly tense atmosphere. She disliked seeing her father pretend to be a devoted parent, but more than that, she did not want Calix to feel stressed first thing in the morning.

“If you came because you were worried about me, then you can put your mind at ease. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

She bowed deeply on purpose.

It was only then that the Marquis seemed to notice her. He cleared his throat in surprise and a look of irritation flashed across his face at being interrupted. However, since he was playing the role of a concerned father, he quickly smoothed over his expression.

“Selina. Are you truly unharmed? Do you have any idea how worried your mother and I were when we heard you’d been abducted?”

With exaggerated concern, the Marquis wrapped his arms around Selina and inspected her as though checking for injuries.

After checking her over, he looked visibly disappointed to find her completely unharmed.

“Now that you’ve confirmed your daughter’s condition, I think you’ll take my leave.”

“How heartless. Should I not stay at least a few days to see how Selina fares—and to make up for lost time between father and daughter?”

Calix let out a light sigh. His gaze shifted to Selina, as though asking for her wishes. She hesitated for a brief moment, unsure how to respond—

“…It has been a long time since I last saw Father. I think it would be a shame to part right away.”

‘I still haven’t received the antidote from him. Just until I get it—until I can make that medicine…’

This time, she planned to take the antidote brought by the Marquis and meet the apothecary introduced to her by Calliope. If the apothecary was as skilled as claimed, recreating the antidote should be straightforward.

Once that was done, she would finally be free of the Marquis’s grasp.

‘So until then—don’t provoke him.’

Having made up her mind, Selina spoke carefully.

“Father did violate the laws of this land, but… would it be possible for him to stay just a few days?”

Meeting her violet eyes, Calix released a quiet breath.

“Two days.”

He addressed the marquis directly.

“Stay for two days, then return to the Empire. Once the investigation is concluded, I will personally deliver the full results.”

“Two days is far too short—”

“Is that a problem?”

“…No, I wouldn’t say that. Hahaha.”

The marquis threw his head back in loud laughter. Calix turned away, clearly displeased by the sight, then spoke to Selina.

“Spend some time talking with your father. I’ll step out for a moment.”

“Ah… thank you.”

With that, Calix left the reception room.

As soon as he was gone, the marquis swept his gaze over the remaining servants and issued a command.

“Why are you all still standing around? I’ve come to have a serious conversation with my daughter. Leave us at once.”

The servants hesitated, glancing around as though unsure whether they should really leave. However, when Selina nodded too, they withdrew from the reception room awkwardly.

Consequently, only Selina and the Marquis remained in the vast room.

‘Now that we’re alone… he’ll strike me, as always.’

The Marquis had always dismissed everyone else when he was alone with Selina for one reason only: to take out his anger on her away from prying eyes.

Perhaps he was furious that she had failed to discover Calix’s weakness. Whatever the reason, Selina braced herself, preparing to endure his rage.

But—

“My child. I heard the abduction was quite horrific. Are you truly unharmed?”

The marquis examined Selina’s face with a look of concern.

Startled by this unfamiliar attitude, she instinctively stepped back.

“I was told you were threatened with arrows the moment you arrived in Thalia. If it was going to be like this, I should never have sent you to such a dangerous place.”

He continued speaking gently, as though nothing were amiss.

‘What is he plotting this time?’

Had Selina encountered this version of him for the first time, she might have doubted his kindness. Yet part of her might still have dared to hope that it was genuine.

However, Selina had known the Marquis for far too long.

“Here. Take this first.”

The marquis produced a small vial from his coat. Inside, the antidote sloshed faintly.

Just as Selina reached out to take it—

Crash.

Without warning, the Marquis dropped the vial onto the floor.

As Selina stared at the shattered glass and the liquid spreading across the floor, she immediately realized that her worst fears had come true.

“And yet.”

The Marquis gazed down at the shards for a moment, then wiped all warmth from his face. When he spoke again, his voice was so cold that it made her skin crawl.

“I came all this way, concerned for your condition, to give you the medicine.”

As he slowly lifted his head, his face resembled that of a crimson-eyed beast.

Selina flinched and tried to retreat, but he seized her slender shoulders in a crushing grip and held her in place.

“I hear you’ve been searching for an apothecary.”

The expression Selina had struggled so hard to maintain collapsed in an instant.