Chapter 7.4

Alone in the dim room, with not a single ray of light, fear surged up, but Erika tried to endure it bravely.

However, as time passed, the fierce wind rattling the window sounded more and more terrifying.

She tried to calm herself with her eyes closed, but her body trembled uncontrollably despite her efforts. It felt as if something might jump out at any moment, and she felt a terror that constricted her entire body.

If she cried out for help now, Baron Dunmoa would surely threaten her to accept marriage with Young Master Morton.

That could not be allowed. Better to endure the fear than to accept such an absurd proposal.

To overcome her fear, Erika tried to think of anything at all. As long as she could keep her resolve not to accept the Baron’s proposal, anything would do.

Then, as if waiting for this, Kai came to mind. His gentle voice, his handsome face, his kind actions. Perhaps she thought of him all the more because she knew she would have to marry another man.

How would he react if he knew she had disappeared?

Even knowing he disliked her, she found herself wishing—absurdly—that he would worry about her.

Even knowing she would be abandoned, she wanted to cling to him pathetically. That was how much regret for Kainel still filled her heart.

I miss him. I want to see him right now.

The more she thought of him, the more she missed Kai desperately. She wanted to return to his side.

If he regains his memory, will he resent me?

Then, thinking that Kai might have met with the people of the House of Grand Duke Hartwig and regained his memory, her once-warm heart turned cold in an instant.

I must let go of these feelings.

She repeated to herself, over and over, that she had to sever her feelings for him, but she could not.

She had already decided to let go, yet she still clung to lingering feelings for him, and she thought herself a fool for it. Still, even in the darkness, just thinking of him seemed to make her fear disappear.

“What’s this? Still holding out?”

Baron Dunmoa had expected her to beg for her life when left alone in the dark, but Erika did not move as he wished, and he was greatly flustered.

Having tasted freedom once, she was no longer susceptible to threats, and that irritated him. At this rate, even if he went to the trouble of bringing Erika back, it would be useless. If she ran away again, it would be over.

Even if the Morton family forgave her once, they would not forgive her twice. And if the rumor spread that she had run away twice, no noble family would ever accept Erika.

That could not be.

His once-docile daughter had changed, and there must be a reason for it. Baron Dunmoa considered why Erika had changed and came to one conclusion.

It was said she had a husband… Could it be that she wants to go back to that man?

He had not gone to the village to check himself, but after sending someone to investigate, he heard that the runaway Erika had a good relationship with her husband.

How dare she get married without his knowledge?

He was so outraged that he barely managed to restrain himself from rushing over and wringing her neck with his own hands. Fortunately, this news hadn’t reached the Morton family yet, but if it did, it would be a disaster.

He had already received half of the money the Morton family demanded. If rumors spread that she had a husband and had already been with another man, they would immediately call off the marriage and demand the money back. That would be a catastrophe.

He had already spent all the money, so Baron Dunmoa had nothing to return. Therefore, before the Morton family found out, he had to erase the existence of her husband by any means necessary.

So he ordered his attendant to kill Erika’s husband. As long as that man disappeared, even if the Morton family later found out Erika had been married, it would be useless without the person involved.

Just thinking about Erika’s husband disappearing without a trace made him laugh.

* * *

Erika had to remain locked in a windowless room for three days, unable to eat or drink. They told her to marry Young Master Morton, but at this rate, she felt she would die before that.

No, maybe that was for the best?

Suddenly, she thought that choosing death might not be so bad compared to marrying a man for revenge. Her future was bound to be miserable, so was there any reason to keep living?

She had endured this long, listening to Charlotte’s words about forging her own path, but now she had no strength left.

On the fourth day, an unexpected person came to see Erika. It was her half-sister, Eva.

“What the— You’re really locked up.”

Threatening a maid, she forced open the locked door and entered, looking quite surprised at Erika’s state. It seemed Baron Dunmoa hadn’t told her anything.

“Serves you right.”

After mocking her to her heart’s content, Eva untied the ropes binding Erika. It was truly unexpected, as she had never thought Eva would help.

“Why did they bring back a girl who was doing fine as a commoner? You suit being a commoner better, don’t you think?”

As expected, Eva hadn’t untied her out of any concern for Erika. Rather, it seemed she didn’t like the Baron’s decision to bring Erika back after leaving the family.

“Y-yes, that’s right. I actually lived better after leaving the family.”

“Good, as long as you know your place. Hurry up and leave.”

“I do appreciate your help, but Father won’t just let me go, will he?”

Being freed from captivity didn’t solve anything. If Baron Dunmoa set his mind to it, he could find her again, just like this time.

So Erika decided to probe Eva’s intentions to find a way to sever her ties with the Dunmoa family for good.

Eva began to get agitated, not liking Erika’s answer.

“Why aren’t you leaving even when I’m helping you? Don’t tell me you’re dreaming of becoming the Grand Duchess?”

She was about to be forced to marry Young Master Morton, and now, out of nowhere, Grand Duchess? Erika couldn’t understand Eva’s words. But since Eva wouldn’t help for no reason, and wouldn’t mention Grand Duchess out of nowhere, Erika decided to provoke her a little.

“It would be nice to become the Grand Duchess, wouldn’t it?”

“What?”

Eva’s face twisted with anger, and she grabbed Erika’s wrist, pulling her toward the door as she shouted.

“Did you really think you’d become the Grand Duchess just because Grand Duke Hartwig proposed to you? Know your place. It was just a misunderstanding.”

Grand Duke Hartwig proposed to me?

It was so absurd she could hardly believe it, but seeing Eva so upset, it didn’t seem like she was making it up.

At that moment, Erika remembered the day Eva had suddenly come and grabbed her by the hair. She had been angry for no reason, and just like now, she had been agitated.

Could it be that he really proposed to me that day?

Erika decided to probe Eva’s feelings once more.

“I heard talk of a proposal that day you grabbed my hair. Is that proposal still valid?”

“Valid? Of course not! There hasn’t been a letter of proposal since then, so it’s over. Don’t get your hopes up! Just go back to living as a commoner!”

Through Eva’s words, Erika realized her guess was correct. Eva was helping her escape because she was afraid Grand Duke Hartwig might send another proposal.

Why would he propose to me if he dislikes me so much?

Erika recalled Grand Duke Hartwig’s suspicious behavior the last time they met before she left the Dunmoa family.

He had hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he hadn’t said it…. Could it be that he was trying to propose to me that day?

Her will to survive, which had faded, began to rise again. There was no way she would let herself die of starvation or marry Young Master Morton now.

She had to meet Grand Duke Hartwig immediately. She needed to find out if he had really proposed, and what his intentions were.

Even if it was out of resentment, she didn’t care. Just knowing he had thought of marrying her gave her the courage to survive here.

If they met again, she wanted, for once, to reveal the truth about everything that had happened, and to share her feelings as well.

She had been a coward, always afraid of hearing harsh words from him, but if things were going to end badly anyway, she would rather confess her feelings first.

Of course, she didn’t expect his feelings to match hers now. But even if she was rejected, even if she was dragged back to Baron Dunmoa, she didn’t want to leave anything to regret.