How much further did they walk through that hellish scene?

After climbing a winding stone staircase, they arrived at an area with a clear view of the execution grounds.

“Your Majesty, I have brought her,” Freddy announced.

At his words, Maxim turned to look.

When his gaze landed on Rosé standing beside Freddy, he gestured for her to take a seat.

She walked over to the chair, and as Freddy pulled it out for her, she sat down, recalling the previous night’s events.

From her seat, she silently studied Maxim’s profile once again.

He lounged back in his chair, his long legs casually propped up on the table. He sliced an apple into small pieces with a jeweled dagger, eating them individually.

Every time the sharp, blue-honed blade brushed his lips, Rosé held her breath. A single slip could slice through his tongue in an instant.

A barbarian…

In Solstern, if a member of royalty or nobility behaved this way, people would frown and click their tongues in disapproval.

Even as she internally cursed him as a savage, Rosé couldn’t take her eyes off him—his presence was simply too overwhelming.

At last, after showing no interest in her arrival, he finally spoke.

“This happens about once every two weeks. As you said, this is a barbaric land, so barbaric crimes occur frequently. What were you thinking as you walked here?”

Rosé paused briefly before answering.

“You brought me here to scare me off.”

At her candid response, Maxim let out a chuckle.

“So, do you feel like running away now?”

“No. But I feel reassured—at least you don’t completely hate me.”

He turned his head toward her as if asking what she meant.

“If you truly despised me, you would’ve just killed me or sent me back to Solstern. There’d be no need to go through the trouble of dragging me here just to test me.”

Maxim had already seen her clenching her fists, struggling as if walking through hell. And yet, she was putting on a brave face before him.

For a brief moment, he found her attempt at composure rather endearing.

“You’re not going to ask me to show them mercy? One of them could be your brother or father.”

“There’s nothing more irresponsible than telling someone to show mercy to heinous criminals. This region borders the northern tribes, making it even more dangerous. I understand that measures like these are necessary for maintaining order.”

As she spoke calmly, Maxim smiled wordlessly and stood from his seat.

“You’re quite rational.”

He slowly approached her, stopping just behind her chair.

Rosé remained still, only lowering her gaze to watch his shadow on the ground.

‘Why is he suddenly doing this?’

Tension crept up her spine as she bit her lip slightly.

Then, in an instant—

“Gasp!”

She felt the cold blade of his dagger press against the nape of her neck.

The icy sensation was so sharp, it felt as if her throat would be slit open at any moment. Goosebumps erupted all over her body.

“What is your real reason for coming here?”

Maxim whispered into her ear.

She could feel the faint tremor in her throat beneath his grip.

“Reason? What do you mean by that?”

Rosé asked calmly.

“The moment you lie, your pretty head will be separated from your body.”

Maxim stroked her soft, slender neck with his palm.

Rosé realized that Maxim had investigated her to some extent. In this situation, lying to escape was more dangerous than telling the truth.

“I came here because I didn’t want to marry Kasiax. You’ve already done some research on me, so you must know that much.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“You saw it yourself. He sent people to the forest to kill me. If he can’t have me, he’d rather see me dead. That man is a demon.”

To be honest, Maxim had also found it suspicious.

Why would Kasiax send her all the way here only to try and have her killed?

But considering Kasiax’s cunning, he could easily stage such an act to deceive him.

“If he were only after me, he wouldn’t have gone this far.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since you seem to know quite a bit about me, I’ll be straightforward. He isn’t just after me—he wants my family and our wealth. Whether or not I marry him, he will destroy my family.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“The only person capable of stopping him now is you. The old emperor is nothing more than a puppet at this point.”

“So, you came here voluntarily to use me?”

Hearing her audacious plan, Maxim’s nerves tensed.

“I won’t deny it. But is this only for my benefit?”

Maxim tightened his grip around her neck.

“Don’t play word games with me.”

“It’s not wordplay. No one knows him better than I do. You already know that I was his lover and a leading candidate to be the crown princess.”

“Which also means you could be his spy.”

“Then take me hostage. Extract information from me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need you to deal with that bastard.”

As he pressed the blade harder against her neck, a thin red line appeared, a faint trickle of blood seeping out.

Rosé didn’t resist. She simply closed her eyes, showing no fear of death.

Only then did Maxim withdraw the dagger.

“Even if you send me back or kill me here, you’ll keep facing problems because of him. If you just remove Kasiax, I’ll have no reason to stay. I won’t expect affection from you or demand compensation. Our end will be clean.”

Maxim scoffed. He chuckled as he observed her, already speaking as if she were planning their eventual separation.

“So, are you proposing a contract marriage?”

“Yes. Think of me as an ally against a common enemy. I swear I will risk my life to help you eliminate Kasiax.”

“And what power do you have to offer? Do you think you’re worth it?”

“If Kasiax went as far as trying to kill me because he couldn’t have me, I must hold some value.”

“Then what is it you truly want? Why go to such lengths?”

“I want only one thing. For Kasiax to disappear from this world, so that my family will no longer be threatened. Let me help you until then.”

Maxim let out a scoff. Lowering his eyes, he leaned in and whispered into her ear.

“I’ll repeat it—your help is unnecessary in removing Kasiax. What I need is a real wife to warm my bed. How about that?”

Rosé knew he was deliberately provoking her, so she didn’t respond.

“Surely, you didn’t come all this way without considering that possibility? Sharing a bed with a beast like me.”

Maxim sneered.

“I have no intention of interfering with your personal affairs. As long as we avoid suspicion, I ask that you treat me with the basic respect befitting a wife.”

“So you won’t care even if I sleep around?”

“Th-That’s…”

“Are you suggesting I parade around like some rutting animal in front of my subordinates?”

Maxim pressed further, enjoying her flustered expression.

“If that’s what you think, then I won’t refuse my duties as your wife. But I doubt you even see me in that way.”

Rosé felt utterly humiliated having to say such words aloud.

Before coming here, she had mentally prepared herself for this scenario.

As a bride sent like a tribute, she had no right to refuse her so-called marital duties.

She had steeled herself.

But hearing Maxim bring it up so directly, face-to-face, left her too overwhelmed to meet his eyes.

She could grit her teeth and endure if he were some hideous old man or a monstrous creature.

Compared to the pain of losing her family and her house falling to ruin, there was no disgrace too great to bear.

But it was different with him—this man who resembled a wild beast. The very thought of it was impossible to process.

She felt as if she would be throwing herself into the jaws of a predator.

Rosé reminded herself again why she had come this far and taken such a risk.

“If I am to fulfill my duties as your wife, then I trust you will also grant me full authority as the mistress of this castle. I don’t intend to play the role half-heartedly.”

Maxim listened to Rosé’s words, his gaze slowly drifting to her neck.

He had only meant to make a small cut to intimidate her, but the blade was so sharp.

The wound oozed a thin trickle of blood, staining the delicate skin around her throat before trickling downward.

Even as the blood seeped into the front of her dress, Rosé never once raised a hand to touch the cut—not from the beginning nor even now.

Watching this, Maxim felt inexplicably unsettled.

He could have just killed her with a single strike.

Whatever this woman’s intentions were, he did not need to deal with her personally.

Why was he even entertaining this nonsense because of such a small woman? The thought was both ridiculous and frustrating.

“Freddy.”

His sudden outburst of irritation summoned Freddy immediately, as if the man had been waiting close by.

“Take her and treat the wound.”