Chapter 11

“Y-Your Grace…!”

As soon as Celia saw Cedric, she released Alicia’s collar.

With her hand gone, Alicia could finally breathe, coughing uncontrollably from the strain on her neck.

She clutched her throat with both hands, struggling to catch her breath.

Her throat still felt blocked from the force of Celia’s grip.

Once her coughing subsided, she breathed heavily.

Hyperventilating, dizziness washed over her.

But she couldn’t collapse now, not with Cedric present.

She forced herself to breathe slowly, calming her mind.

As her dizziness faded, she looked ahead to see Celia and Cedric.

Mikael had come to Alicia, clutching her skirt as if afraid to let go.

Celia, realizing her mistake, had turned pale.

Her arm, once raised to strike Alicia, now hung limp in Cedric’s grasp.

He threw her arm aside and spoke in a subdued tone.

“I knew you were childish, but I didn’t realize you were hopeless.”

Cedric bared his fangs like a snarling wolf.

Barely maintaining his noble composure, he was surely sharpening his rage beneath it.

Even Alicia felt suffocated by the icy atmosphere.

Cedric’s appearance turned the spring garden into a winter ruled by the frost king.

His overwhelming charisma froze everyone.

Not just Alicia.

The maids who had been with Mikael cowered in the corners, trembling.

In the tense atmosphere, Alicia quickly looked at Mikael.

‘He’s shaking.’

The child was restless at Cedric’s appearance, nervously fiddling with his hands.

Everyone else, like Mikael, watched Cedric in silence.

Alicia seized the moment to pull Mikael’s arm toward her.

He was startled, but soon let Alicia pull him into her embrace.

She hugged Mikael tightly and whispered in his ear,

“Young Master, don’t worry. I’ll be right here. Remember I promised to protect you? Just trust me.”

But Mikael’s body was stiff with tension.

He was so nervous, his body was rigid.

Alicia gently stroked his small back, hugging him closer to calm him.

Just then, Celia threw herself to the ground, trembling and begging Cedric for mercy.

“P-Please forgive me just once, Your Grace!”

Her trembling body and tear-filled eyes showed her desperation.

Her expression was so fearful, she looked like a villain begging for life in a movie.

A doomed prey before a top predator.

Celia fit that description perfectly.

“Forgiveness?”

Cedric swept his hair back, flashing a chilling smile.

He twisted one corner of his mouth like a madman.

Everyone watched, anxious with every move he made.

No one could predict what he’d do next.

Cold, merciless.

A man like an emotionless robot.

The only emotion Cedric ever showed was anger.

The people of the ducal residence followed him because he enforced strict rules and order, keeping peace.

He never bothered anyone as long as they followed his rules.

That was the rule of Kaspar’s ducal residence.

The maids had been able to work peacefully because they never provoked Cedric.

If anyone disturbed his order, not only would the peace be broken, but their lives wouldn’t be guaranteed.

Now, Celia stood at that boundary.

She became the example of what happens to those who break Cedric’s order.

Celia froze at Cedric’s cold tone and sharp gaze.

She bit her lip, about to burst into tears.

Through her trembling shoulders came Cedric’s angry voice,

“After doing this, you beg for forgiveness?”

“….”

He seemed to be referring to Celia’s attempt to strike Alicia.

Celia rubbed her hands together, begging for mercy.

The murderous look she’d shown earlier was gone.

Now, she was like a condemned prisoner fighting for her life.

The prideful noblewoman was now groveling before Cedric, less than a worm.

Her pride was nowhere to be found.

She didn’t care what others thought anymore.

She was threatened by someone she could never defeat—or even face.

Celia, hanging by a thread, was pitiful.

At the same time, Alicia felt this was the true power of Duke Kaspar.

He overwhelmed her with just his expression and presence.

How could Celia ever dare challenge him?

Celia, crying in terror, clutched her skirt tightly.

Given her personality, she probably wanted to grab Cedric’s trousers and cry, pleading her innocence.

But she couldn’t.

Who was Cedric?

The man who led the empire’s great battle to victory!

How could she dare touch the clothes of such a great and dignified man?

Impossible.

Celia, her face twisted, pleaded with Cedric,

“I-I was wrong! I’ll never do this again! Please, please spare me!”

Her sobbing was so pitiful it was almost disgusting.

But Cedric ground his teeth and spoke coldly,

“How unpleasant.”

Anger had overtaken his reason, making him colder than ever.

He was so frightening, not even a whimper could escape.

The novel said Cedric was intimidating and heartless, but Alicia never imagined it would be this extreme.

Just watching him, she broke out in a cold sweat as tension filled the air.

Cedric’s cold rebuke made Celia’s tear-stained face turn blue.

She trembled, unable to speak.

With that one word, Cedric had decided Celia’s fate.

In the icy silence, Cedric finally gave his harsh order.

“Throw her out of the ducal residence immediately. And never let her set foot here again.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Armand replied and nodded to the knights standing by. They grabbed Celia.

“N-No, Your Grace! Please forgive me just once! If my father finds out, I…!”

But Cedric said nothing, only stared at Celia.

“….”

Seeing his gaze, Celia flinched and bowed her head.

He looked like a wolf eyeing its prey.

It was terrifying enough to make her knees weak.

Alicia instinctively covered Mikael’s face with her arm, so he wouldn’t see Cedric.

Seeing him would only make things worse.

Alicia herself was scared, but Mikael mattered more.

Protecting him was more important than her own fear.

As Celia was dragged away, Cedric finally looked at Alicia and Mikael.

……!

‘Why is he looking at us?’

Why suddenly?

Cedric’s unexpected behavior made Alicia’s heart race again.

So far, Cedric had shown no interest in them.

He had only thrown Celia out to protect his own reputation, because she had tarnished his authority.

Alicia expected him to leave right after expelling Celia….

But….

He took a few steps and came right up to them.

Just a hand’s breadth away.

It was the first time Alicia had been this close to Cedric.

Cedric, as big as a mountain, lowered himself and looked back and forth between Alicia and Mikael.

His gaze was so wolf-like it made Alicia feel a sudden wave of fear.

His sharp eyes made her feel like a deer cornered at the end of a path.

Even now, Alicia worried that Cedric might scold Mikael.

Would his fierce gaze wound the child?

Would he say something that would trigger Mikael’s dark transformation?

Yet, strangely, another thought crossed her mind.

Up close, Cedric’s face looked like a sculpture.

He was so perfectly handsome, it was as if the gods had specially chosen to create him.

Not a single pore was visible.

His skin was smoother than Alicia’s.

So that’s what porcelain skin looks like.

Even in this situation, Alicia was mesmerized by his face.

But then, her rational mind stopped her from being seduced.

‘No, Alicia. Don’t fall for it.’

Why do something so dangerous!

Besides, Cedric was arrogant.

And Alicia hated people who were selfish and arrogant.

She almost fell for such a person.

Like plunging into ice water, she snapped back to her senses.

Thinking again about Mikael and Cedric’s relationship, anger returned.

Still, she had to suppress her personal feelings.

Alicia reminded herself internally and avoided Cedric’s gaze.

But he followed her gaze, studying her intently.

His eyes landed on her face, making her feel burdened and embarrassed.

Cedric leaned in so close their faces nearly touched, and Alicia held her breath.

But as his warm breath brushed her skin, her body froze.

Every time his breath touched her face, her heart felt like it was shaking in an earthquake.

If he came any closer, she might collapse.

Mikael seemed to feel the same, burrowing deeper into Alicia’s embrace.

Cedric raised one eyebrow and muttered unpleasantly to himself,

“How irritating.”