Chapter 8

The grace period Raphael set was not generous. Estelle chose a maid among the servants who was discreet, enjoyed a bit of luxury, and would not betray her trust, to help plan her departure from the Dukedom.

Thanks to the dignity maintenance allowance she had saved up without spending, Estelle could bribe her maid Emily enough to ensure her cooperation.

She requested the information guild to connect her with bandits, and prepared a scenario where she would be ambushed and kidnapped on the way to the western villa under the guise of a retreat…. She matched every detail, waiting anxiously for it all to unfold as planned.

Meanwhile, Raphael would pass by her in the main residence, give her a slight smile, and whisper that he was always waiting for her answer.

Every time, Estelle’s heart dropped and her mouth went dry. The certainty that if her plan failed, Raphael truly could be ruined, became clearer.

With a week left in the grace period, she suddenly announced that she would leave for the western villa.

Duke Pellia was not pleased, but considering the sudden news of Duke Blythe’s death and the period of searching for the next match, he judged that her fragile state was due to confusion.

He thought it might be better to let her leave for a while rather than risk trouble by keeping her in the main residence.

In the end, he reluctantly permitted it, instructing her to return immediately after spending two weeks at the western villa. Estelle agreed. If her plan succeeded, she would be crossing the border, not returning to the Dukedom after those two weeks.

Before heading to the western villa, Raphael watched her climb into the carriage with a faint smile. She still could not read his true feelings from his expression.

With a week left and Estelle still not having given her answer, she suddenly decided to enjoy a retreat at the villa…. Most of all, she had pleaded with Duke Pellia for a favor she would not normally ask, to leave the main residence, yet Raphael did not interfere at all.

He simply said,

“Do you really have to go?”

That was all. Since it was a journey she had to take, Estelle didn’t even reply. She turned her back to him.

After Estelle boarded the carriage, Emily, whom she had recruited, followed. Once everyone was aboard, the coachman grabbed the reins, and they steadily moved farther from the main residence.

She kept her eyes fixed on the window until the main residence was out of sight. Raphael too disappeared from view, and she swallowed dryly. If she succeeded in escaping, she would have no reason to return to the main residence, nor would she see him again. She wanted to have even a short conversation with him, but barely managed to resist.

She etched his figure as the last memory.

‘Sorry, Raphael.’

Estelle muttered bitterly to herself.

Emily, sitting across from her, stared intently at Estelle’s face. Estelle could not hide her bittersweet expression in front of her maid. She tried to shake off her gloom, but only managed to do so belatedly….

“My Lady, I’m sorry.”

Emily spoke words Estelle could not understand. Estelle tilted her head, unable to immediately ask what she meant, missing the timing.

Two days passed. As they approached the western villa, Estelle finally understood her maid’s words. She had been betrayed.

At this point, the bandits should have appeared and attacked the carriage, but as they traveled through the mountains, no one showed up. By the time Estelle realized her plan had failed, everything was already coming to an end.

“Is that all? Is that really all, Estelle? It can’t be.”

Raphael, who had relentlessly pursued her escape, raised the corners of his mouth in a fierce smile, seemingly unconcerned about the blood splatter on his cheek.

Perhaps because she had witnessed the bandits being mercilessly slaughtered, the sight of him smiling—something that should have been beautiful—felt chilling today.

The madness emanating from him tightened Estelle’s breath.

She could not utter a single word and fainted.

***

When Estelle regained consciousness and sat up, she found herself alone in a bedroom.

She had desperately run through the bushes, so she should have had small wounds from dirt and branches…. Yet while she was unconscious, she had been changed into a clean chemise and her injuries had been thoroughly treated.

She jumped up from the bed and looked around, realizing why the place seemed familiar. It was the western villa.

She had ended up right at the villa, which had only been a pretext for her escape.

Since Raphael had caught her not far from the villa, it was not strange that she had been brought here after fainting.

But accepting this situation was not easy—her head spun and her stomach churned. It didn’t take long for her to realize this was reality.

Through the curtains covering the window, faint sunlight poured in, making her aware it was not evening.

Click.

A servant suddenly entered the bedroom. Estelle was startled and almost collapsed. Through the open door, she could see two knights standing guard.

The servant immediately closed the door and bowed to her as she awoke from her faint. The servant, showing no sign of surprise, introduced themselves briefly.

They would be attending her during her stay at the villa….

Then,

“Are you feeling well? The Master instructed us to take special care of you. If you feel ill, I will call a doctor. Will you wait a moment?”

The servant straightened up and asked politely.

Estelle hesitated, unable to answer right away. She immediately realized whom the servant meant by ‘master.’

Instead of answering, she asked back.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“One day.”

“Is Raphael not here now?”

“No. He stepped out for a moment. He said he would return after finishing some business at the main residence. He said it would take about a week.”

Estelle had no intention to keep to Raphael’s grace period, but he had taken the initiative to buy more time.

He will return in a week…. She had no idea what business he needed to finish at the main residence, but having failed to escape, she was now like a bird trapped in a cage.

Estelle, swallowing repeatedly, could not ask the servant any more questions and sat on the bed.

She feared the punishment she would have to face, unable to escape Raphael’s grasp. After having killed Duke Blythe, she wondered what choice he would make by holding onto her.

Estelle felt weak, wondering if he would choose to destroy himself. The servant, seeing her like that, eventually left the bedroom to call a doctor.

***

It took Raphael about five days to return to the western villa from the main residence. He had shortened what would have been a week-long trip by finishing his business quickly.

Upon entering the villa, he was attended to by the servants and immediately went to see Estelle.

Estelle, who had spent her days at the western villa with nerves frayed, barely ate at all.

When Raphael opened the bedroom door, he was able to see her sitting in the armchair.

Estelle wore a slightly dazed expression at his sudden appearance, but quickly composed herself. She hadn’t been able to rest comfortably, so her complexion was poor.

Raphael had expected that, upon facing Estelle at the western villa, his emotions would erupt. Yet, when he actually encountered her, it was not anger but a mix of resentment and affection that stirred inside him. At the same time, he felt sorry for her. Even though he was the one who had confined Estelle to the villa….

“Have you been well?”

He had handed her the emerald ring, entrusting his fate to her, yet she continued to avoid him. He felt resentment, wondering why she had chosen such a foolish escape…. He wanted to reproach her, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

At his concern-laced question, Estelle bit her lower lip. Her green eyes wavered side to side.