When she instinctively shrugged her shoulders, Chetter inhaled deeply, taking in her scent.

“The fragrant smell mixed with the scent of blood is a bit bothersome…”

“I’ll just wash my hands and face quickly.”

“If you’re tired, there’s no other choice. Do as you wish.”

Chetter took her to the upstairs bedroom. Knowing they would arrive, someone had brightly lit the room and stoked the fireplace.

After gently placing Hinael on the bed, he pointed to the wardrobe.

“I’ve prepared extra clothes in advance, so take them out and wear them.”

Adding that he would soon bring washing water, Chetter now showed a regretful expression.

“I didn’t intend to use such rough methods. If things had gone as planned, we would have been married. Ah, I’m not blaming Your Highness, but pointing out the savagery of the northern beast.”

He dared to call the First Prince of the Empire a beast. It was impossible to gauge how much vile nature was hidden behind his gentle smile.

Despite knowing his cruelty well.

Instead of showing irritation, she first checked if there was any room for persuasion. She spoke cautiously to Chetter, who was smiling broadly.

“Count Phil, my marriage with His Highness the First Prince is practically a treaty between the two countries. Prince Viant didn’t steal your woman.”

“Hinael Flake.”

The smile disappeared from his face in an instant.

Chetter turned his neck stiffly, clenching his teeth so hard his jaw muscles bulged.

“How can you mention that man in front of me? After all I’ve done to bring you here!”

Far from persuading him, her words only provoked him. Hinael immediately changed her approach.

With a look of regret, she softly appealed to him.

“I understand that you wanted to take me as your wife. But I was in a situation where I had no choice. You know well that it was an order from His Majesty.”

“…”

“I feel sorry. I also thought I would marry you, Count.”

“It’s not too late even now.”

As soon as he saw a glimmer of hope, his eyes shone brightly. Like a beast blindly charging towards its goal, his eyes gleamed.

Chetter approached quickly, knelt on the floor, and grabbed Hinael’s arms with both hands.

His gentle voice spread like an incantation, as if to reassure her.

“Though it’s too late for you to officially become my wife, I’ll make sure you find your rightful place someday.”

“My rightful place?”

“You should become the Countess.”

“What about Mie?”

“Well, we can worry about that later. The important thing is that my heart will always belong to Your Highness. I can swear on the honor of my family.”

Madman.

How dare he sell the noble honor built by the ancestors of the Phil family.

“Hinael Phil… Calling you this finally gives me a sense of belonging.”

Hinael recalled her past life.

Due to the atrocities committed by Chetter, who was bewitched by his mistress, she was driven out of her rightful place. He firmly believed that his affair was love and that absurd belief made him view his lifelong partner as an intruder.

Blinded, his rationality was paralyzed.

Even now, Chetter was tempting Hinael to become his mistress.

Hinael had no intention of falling for such a ludicrous proposition.

Chetter’s mistress? The very thought made her want to vomit.

‘How can you do this to Mie, who was so happy to become your wife? You wretched man…’

Only Mie ended up pitiful in this situation.

If she could, she would separate the two right now.

Hinael bit the inside of her cheek painfully.

“Anyway, now that you’ve escaped from the northern barbarians, all that remains is to be happy under my protection.”

“The fact that the Count has taken me will soon spread.”

“Haha! How innocent you are… Do you think I would go around bragging about this without losing my mind? If I stay quiet, that man will take the blame. Why would I do otherwise?”

Hinael was collateral for the peace agreement. If she couldn’t be found, Lutz would lose the collateral.

If they failed to take her, Lutz would be in trouble. In that case, Varsel would shift the blame to Lutz, and the balance of power between Sarr and Trycas could be reversed.

While they might not be able to defeat Trycas by force, they could at least reclaim the canal city of Baisha.

For Chetter, it was enough to hide Hinael in a secure place.

‘Chetter, things won’t go as you wish. Since it’s a disadvantageous situation for him, he will do everything to find me.’

What worried her was that Chetter might violate her before Lutz arrived.

The mere thought of such a horrific scenario made her barely held rationality begin to scatter.

“Anyway, don’t torment yourself with idle thoughts and get some good sleep tonight.”

Chetter let go of her arm and stood up, pressing his hand on her thigh. His large hand squeezed her soft flesh, and his thumbs pressed the insides of her legs.

Hinael’s pupils trembled as she tensed up. Then, the man, who had been patient until now, finally kissed her cheek.

“I’ll be back soon.”

As soon as Chetter left, Hinael rubbed her cheek roughly. Even being covered in filth would have felt less disgusting.

She quickly scanned the room.

The only escape route besides the door was the window. However, the shutters outside were tightly nailed, blocking even sunlight.

Just then, she heard the sound of a lock being fastened from outside.

“What, what are you doing? Why are you locking the door?”

“Because we haven’t fully trusted each other yet. Once you are completely mine, I’ll gradually give you more freedom.”

She had anticipated such a situation since her abduction, but actually being locked up left her speechless.

No doubt, he would use the room next door to keep an eye on her. Or worse, he might not leave the bed in this room from tonight.

“Haa… What should I do?”

Even though she tried not to despair, the grim reality kept crushing her hopes. She couldn’t think of any way to escape.

If she lost her purity while being helpless, there would truly be no place for her to return.

“Your Highness. Please come quickly. Please save me.”

If only Lutz would rescue her from Chetter, she would do anything he asked.

Would he have found the ribbon string from my negligee?

It was a faint hope, but who knew if such a thin string could be noticed in the vast forest.

Hinael looked down at her blood-stained clothes and threw the cloak Chetter had covered her with onto the floor.

“Disgusting.”

She then untied the shawl wrapped around her feet and threw it away.

She felt as if her life was a thorny path no matter where she stepped. She sighed deeply into the air.

Even though she tried to hold back, tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Nushka, what sin have I committed to deserve such a punishment? I don’t even ask for blessings. I just… want to live an ordinary life.”

Even if her life wasn’t threatened, she felt she could survive just by breathing.

Was that too much to ask…?

Hinael buried her face in her hands.

Though he said he would be back soon, Chetter quickly returned and unlocked the door.

“Here’s some water for washing.”

He placed a basin and a clean cloth on the table and turned around. On seeing the clothes strewn on the floor, his face contorted with anger.

“Are you perhaps angry with me?”

His eyes began to gleam unnaturally. Just before he could erupt, Hinael quickly made an excuse.

“The smell of that man’s blood was so strong that I couldn’t bear to wear them. I’m so grateful that the Count prepared clean clothes in advance.”

“Ah, I see. To bring you here, everything must be perfect. All the items in the wardrobe are yours, so please change into whatever you like. Rest well, and I’ll bring dinner later.”

“Thank… you.”

Far from being thankful, she wanted to strangle him right then and there.

She barely managed to squeeze out her voice, and Chetter took it as a sign of her accepting reality.

He smoothed out his frown and looked at her lovingly before leaving.

“Hoo…”

Hinael took off her ruined negligee and opened the wardrobe.

It was filled with nothing but fancy dresses. She chose the most comfortable-looking dress and put it on, then grabbed any pair of shoes that fit from the bottom of the wardrobe.

“His mood swings are so severe, who knows when he’ll snap.”

If his lust flared up, he might break in and assault her.

She quickly washed her hands and face and looked around the room.

Despite the heat radiating from the fireplace, she felt a chill. It seemed she had caught a cold.