It seemed that Marquis Würetti, now as before, had no concern whatsoever for his daughter’s well-being or feelings.

He was always someone for whom practical gain mattered more than his children.

Roina wondered on one hand just how much he would need to trample House Asheter before his vindictive nature would be satisfied.

Even if he hadn’t intervened directly, he couldn’t be free from responsibility for the previous duke’s death.

Watching the marquis trying to use Conrad for political games after the previous duke, she felt as if her breath was being choked off.

“Roina, this is all for your sake. How long do you intend to live as society’s laughingstock?”

The marquis let out a deep sigh and shook his head as if looking at a pathetic existence. As if all of this were her fault.

Roina knew that rebelling here wouldn’t benefit her at all.

‘For now, it would be best to take this and leave.’

Only then could she avoid her father’s pressure for the time being.

With trembling hands, Roina picked up the glass bottle containing the aphrodisiac.

Only then did the marquis gesture toward the door as if he had no lingering attachment.

“You may leave now.”

“……Yes, I’ll be going first.”

After briefly bowing, she left Dillon Trading Company with the medicine bottle hidden in her bosom.

※※※

Returning to the estate, Roina finished bathing and changed into a chemise.

Then she sat by the window, feeling the cool autumn breeze coming through the slightly opened window.

“Just how does Father expect me to……”

She let out a low sigh while staring blankly at the medicine bottle in her hand.

She knew she would never use it, yet she had no choice but to bring it.

Absolute obedience toward her father.

Others might find it hard to understand, but it was something possible because she was a Würetti.

‘I don’t want to lose anyone precious to me anymore.’

The more Roina resisted the marquis’s will, the more people close to her were eliminated.

The last person who remained by her side was……

Aila Würetti, her younger sister.

Ultimately, only if Roina didn’t go against the marquis’s mood would her only sister be safe.

If not, all the harm would be directed solely at Aila.

Roina’s complexion darkened as she fell into contemplation.

“What should I do with this medicine?”

Giving Conrad an aphrodisiac was impossible from the start.

Even on nights when they were obligated to share a bed, nothing happened between them, she was told.

When Sophie told her that story, Roina could easily accept it.

Surely he would hate and despise even the slightest touch of her fingertips.

“So it would be best to dispose of this.”

Roina decided to secretly discard the glass bottle containing the aphrodisiac.

With no future imaginable with Conrad, having a child was truly absurd.

Just as she was about to lift her body leaning against the window with a self-deprecating smile—

Knock knock—

Along with a sudden knocking sound, Conrad’s low voice was heard.

“I’m coming in.”

Since she had definitely told him this morning that she would visit Dillon Trading Company, there was no reason for him to look for her.

But before she could be flustered, the door burst open, and Roina hid the medicine bottle she couldn’t conceal behind her back.

“What brings you here?”

Conrad moved with heavy steps toward the window where she was standing.

Then he answered in his usual businesslike voice.

“Their Majesties will be visiting soon.”

“……Their Majesties?”

“They’ve expressed their intention to attend the banquet.”

With the completion of House Asheter’s harbor construction project that had taken several years, Conrad planned a celebration.

This was because a project deemed nearly impossible when construction began had been successfully completed.

The guests invited to this banquet included conservatives as well as the bourgeoisie and emerging forces.

Since Conrad had the emperor’s trust, the emperor also expressed his intention to attend this banquet.

‘I heard the emperor often visited the ducal family over the past three years.’

Of course, at that time Roina was said to have never left her bedroom, using the excuse of poor health.

Whether news of her visit to Dillon Trading Company had spread quickly, the emperor reportedly sent word that he looked forward to meeting her at this banquet.

Thus Conrad had no choice but to entrust her with preparing the banquet to invite conservative nobles.

Banquet preparations are usually handled by the mistress of the house.

“Various other conservative families will also be joining.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Roina nodded calmly.

Yet she bit her lower lip, not wanting to be caught with the medicine bottle.

‘I need to dispose of this medicine quickly.’

Conrad, who was about to show her the guest list for the banquet, gazed at her with cold eyes.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.”

Just as Roina was about to shake her head and step back—

CLATTER—

The medicine bottle in her hand fell onto the carpet, rolled, and stopped at Conrad’s feet.

‘……!’

Roina stared at the glass bottle with bewildered eyes, unable to close her mouth.

Then Conrad, lightly picking up the object that had fallen in front of him, raised one eyebrow and asked.

“What is this?”

“That’s…… well, you see.”

Bewilderment spread across Roina’s eyes. She had been caught with a strange medicine bottle by the man who already despised her.

‘How do I explain this to you?’

As her heart began racing, Roina took a small deep breath.

Conrad alternately looked at the medicine bottle in his grip and her, then wore a bitter smile.

“It seems Marquis Würetti gave this to you.”

“……!”

When Roina pressed her lips together, neither confirming nor denying, he tilted his head and asked back.

“What, are you trying to kill me now too?”

“That’s not it, Conrad. You know I wouldn’t do that.”

“Well, I don’t know how you expect me to believe that.”

Roina, feeling as if her heart had plummeted, hurriedly denied it.

Nevertheless, Conrad seemed convinced that the glass bottle contained poison.

Well, with the evidence right before his eyes, it would be strange if he didn’t think so.

The man with deep eyes flashing watched her with sharp eyes.

Meeting that gaze, sorrow spread like a tide in Roina’s violet eyes.

“I’ll explain everything. I know you can reasonably misunderstand. But—!”

“I have nothing more to say to you. I’d prefer if you stayed out of my sight from now on.”

Perhaps because the events from four years ago suddenly came to mind, Roina gripped her skirt tightly.

Then she moved her lips and asked a question close to pleading.

“Can’t you…… trust me just once?”

The end of her voice trembled precariously.

Conrad wore a sneer close to contempt.

“If you can prove it, I’ll consider it.”

At the condition he presented, Roina’s face instantly hardened.

“Prove it……?”

“What, can’t you do it?”

Even at his sarcastic counter-question, she couldn’t find words to say.

Her violet eyes looking at the man holding the medicine bottle shook mercilessly.

‘You want me to…… drink this medicine?’

Did he think she couldn’t drink the potion, or did he really want her to drink it.

Roina tried to fathom her husband’s intentions, but her mind couldn’t keep up with the situation.

In stark contrast to the gentle kindness she had seen long ago, only hostility remained in the man’s golden eyes.

‘You still…… me.’

How much more resentment and hatred had he cultivated during their married life?

Roina suddenly felt her mouth going completely dry.

Even while confused about still not recovering her memories, his contempt for her seemed clear.

‘You want me to disappear like this.’

Those words rose to her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

She could almost hear Conrad’s answer naturally reaching her ears.

Roina knew that his distrust had started with her father.

Therefore, the only thing she could do was prove it directly.

She felt throbbing pain near her heart.

‘What else could I call this emotion?’

Roina still loved Conrad. Even though her love had already been shattered.

She thought the past three years would have been the same.

Removing the wistful smile that had spread across her lips, she soon broke the bleak silence.

“I suppose I should prove it as you said.”