“Send my daughter—Sveta?”

“Or would you prefer to come and receive the money yourself? Would that be acceptable to you?”

“Ah… that would be rather…”

It would indeed be unbecoming to go and collect the money in person.

The Marchioness of Matwood’s residence was frequented by many foreign nobles. Since she was already frowned upon in society, it would be better to send Sveta instead.

“Very well. I’ll send my daughter.”

“Then I shall expect her.”

Click.

Alyona closed the lid of the box and dismissed Dalia with a wave of her hand, as one might dismiss a servant.

Without realizing it, Dalia rose and left the bedchamber.

Only after she had walked halfway down the corridor did she become aware of a vague sense of discomfort. But the feeling did not linger long.

“Yes. It was the right choice. If I don’t have that necklace, I’ll fall ill for certain. This is practically preventative medicine.”

Forcing down the unease that tried to surface, Dalia turned toward Sveta’s chamber.

“That’s right. Health comes first. If I say I might die from the strain, would Sveta dare refuse?”

As she pondered what words she might use to coax her, Dalia found herself standing before a familiar door.

***

“So, Mother… you want me to go to the Marchioness Matwood’s residence and collect the money?”

Sveta blinked slowly.

She could hardly believe it.

An opportunity she had never imagined had just presented itself.

Of course, Alyona Matwood hadn’t summoned her for any good reason.

Cruel harassment. Perhaps even public humiliation.

Clearly, something like that awaited her.

‘But if I can meet Viscount Meriner this way…’

It would be worth it.

Dalia spoke in a coaxing tone.

“You’re to become the duchess someday anyway. Wouldn’t it be good for you to grow closer to her? Why not go and be agreeable for once?”

“…All right.”

“If you refuse, I’ll send Lady Nora instead— hm?”

“I’ll go to the marchioness’s residence, Mother.”

Her adoptive mother’s eyes rolled in confusion for a moment. Then she clapped her hands in delight.

“Yes, that’s it! You’ve made the right choice. Well done, Sveta. See? How lovely you are when you don’t insist on being stubborn.”

“….”

The corners of Dalia’s lips twitched upward.

“Go tomorrow afternoon. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Having said everything she wanted to, Dalia pursed her lips. However, she could not conceal her pleasure, as her cheeks lifted high beneath her eyes.

An awkward silence fell between them. There was nothing more to discuss.

“I’ll be going now.”

Dalia rose with a beaming smile.

“Yes, Mother.”

As Sveta escorted her to the doorway, Dalia turned once more and said.

“My daughter. Do you know how well you’ve been behaving lately? Bringing you home was worth it.”

‘My daughter.’

Once upon a time, those two words used to keep her awake at night.

Even when her adoptive mother slapped her or pulled her hair without warning, she was content.

Because she had a family.

But now, those hollow words no longer stirred her heart.

A faint, bitter smile crossed her face.

“Is that so?”

“Of course it is! Come see me as soon as you return tomorrow. Understood?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Dalia soon disappeared down the corridor.

Sveta let out a small sigh and was about to re-enter her chamber when she stopped abruptly.

She found it strange that her adoptive mother had been allowed in without interference.

Hadn’t the knight assigned to guard Lady Nora stopped her at first?

If so…

“…Sir Pailin?”

She whispered softly into the empty air.

At once, Pailin revealed himself.

“Sir!”

Delighted, Sveta stepped quickly towards him. She instinctively reached out her arms, but quickly pulled them back in again.

“It has been some time, my lady.”

“Are you all right?”

“…Yes.”

He lowered his gaze, seemingly to avoid her eyes. His familiar features remained unchanged: sharp eyes, thick brown lashes, and sun-kissed skin.

Despite his severe injury, he looked no different to how he had before.

“I’m so relieved, Sir.”

“I am relieved as well that you are unharmed.”

Sveta looked up at him, her eyes brimming.

“I won’t let you be placed in danger again.”

“…That is what I should be saying to you, my lady.”

“Is it?”

Sveta let out a small laugh as she noticed the tips of Pailin’s ears turning red.

‘Is he still not fully recovered?’

She worried, yet doubted he would answer honestly even if she asked.

“Then I’ll go inside.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Sveta suddenly turned around after entering her chamber.

Their eyes met.

Had he been watching her?

In an instant, Pailin averted his gaze. As befitted a knight, he moved swiftly and precisely.

A faint note of admiration touched her voice.

“I’m truly glad you’ve recovered, Sir.”

“…Yes. I am as well.”

However, he looked far too composed to be someone who claimed to be glad.

Sveta stared at him.

Now, even his neck was turning red. She was genuinely concerned for his health.

‘I should ask a physician about him.’

Then she closed the door.

***

The next morning, Sveta visited the office.

“His Grace is out at the moment. Is there anything you would like conveyed?”

At the aide’s courteous inquiry, Sveta shook her head and turned away.

‘I was wondering how I would obtain permission.’

This was better.

She had no wish to waste the opportunity presented by his absence.

Without hesitation, she headed for the carriage.

‘What if they refuse to take me?’

A brief flicker of unease crossed her face.

However, when the coachman saw that Pailin was riding behind her, he immediately opened the carriage door.

Relief washed over her like a quiet breath finally released.

The journey to the marchioness’s residence was short.

As Sveta stepped down from the carriage, Pailin dismounted and moved to her side without a word — silent and steadfast, like a shadow bound to her steps.

When they reached the grand gates, a servant was already waiting. He bowed deeply, as though their arrival had been anticipated all along.

“Please follow me.”

“Wait a moment.”

Sveta looked up at Pailin.

“Sir. I’m sorry, but I’ll go in alone.”

“That is not permitted, my lady. I have orders from my lord.”

“His orders…”

Imprisonment or protection?

Although Aiden’s command leaned far closer to the former, Pailin chose to interpret it as the latter.

She was grateful for that.

“But you’ve already disobeyed him, haven’t you?”

“….”

Caught off guard, he parted his lips but found no words.

“I didn’t mean to put you in a difficult position. Thank you for not stopping me from coming. Maybe you respected my wishes. If something were to happen, you would protect me yourself.”

She stepped closer.

He instinctively stepped back.

“…Yes.”

“But once I go inside, it’s obvious I’ll be humiliated. I don’t want you to see that.”

Pailin faltered.

Sveta watched his lashes tremble.

“…”

“Please.”

At last, he nodded.

“Thank you, Sir.”

Offering him a bright smile, Sveta turned away. The servant led her inside with impeccable courtesy.

***

Amid the red blossom, scattered like fallen stars, sharp, brittle laughter rang out.

It was just laughter.

Yet to her, it sounded like mockery.

Sveta quickened her pace and turned the corner of the flowerbed.

In the center of the garden, surrounded by exotic, unfamiliar blooms, stood a gazebo unlike anything she had ever seen before. Its stone roof swept dramatically upwards at the edges.

Alyona noticed her at once.

Slowly and deliberately, she curved her lips into a smile.

“Come closer.”

All four of the young ladies seated around the round table turned to look at Sveta in unison. They appeared to have been enjoying refreshments.

Sveta approached, keeping her back straight and moving at a steady pace.

Alyona tilted her head.

“Did you come on horseback?”

“…Pardon?”

The question was so abrupt she could only repeat it.

“I heard you were dragging a wild horse around. I suppose that’s what you’d expect from a barbarian. Once I become duchess, that beast will be the first thing I get rid of.”

“….”

Whispers fluttered through the air.

Unlike in Czernok, there was no loud, cackling laughter; only muted murmurs could be heard.

Judging by the way they nodded to one another, they were undoubtedly speaking ill of her.

At least, as central nobles of the capital, they maintained a certain degree of refinement.

“….”

Sveta stood in silence, waiting for Alyona to speak again.

A thin line of sweat slowly made its way down her spine.

She had chosen to wear black on purpose, anticipating the possibility of being pushed to the ground or having tea thrown at her. At least the stains wouldn’t show.

But Alyona did nothing.

None of the humiliations she had braced herself for came to pass.

Instead, she was simply left standing there beneath the relentless sun.

The dress she had chosen so carefully now felt like an instrument of punishment. It clung to her, trapping the heat.

It was suffocating.

Each breath dragged harshly through her dry, unsteady chest.

Through the faint rasp of her breathing, she could hear the bright, lilting voices of the women carrying on as though she weren’t there at all.

“I heard the wedding will be held after the May Festival next year, Lady Matwood.”

“Of course. I’m already having my gown tailored.”

They spoke as though Sveta were no more than a decorative plant—unworthy even of a glance.

‘Let this end quickly.’

She dabbed at the sweat on her skin as discreetly as possible, moving carefully to avoid provoking them.

Gowns. Autumn banquets. A villa for the winter season. A wedding planned for next spring. Renovations for the duchess’s bedchamber —

One topic flowed into the next in a dizzying blur, and Sveta endured it all in silence, her teeth clenched tight.

The sunlight pouring down her back felt as though it were piercing her lungs.

A faint shimmer clouded her vision.

The brightness grew overwhelming, tilting the world unsteadily around her.

Just as she thought she could not withstand another second, Alyona finally turned to look at her.

“Oh dear, how careless of me. With all the wedding preparations, I forget the smallest things.”

She laughed loudly and signaled to a servant.

A man standing nearby took a large leather sack from a basket on the ground and handed it to her.

It was almost as tall as her calves.

The moment she took it, her body lurched forward.

Thud.

The sack crashed to the ground.

Sveta barely managed to regain her balance and tilted her head.

‘What on earth is inside to make it this heavy?’

The impact had loosened the mouth of the sack slightly.

When she caught a glimpse of what was inside, she let out a stunned breath.