Water dripped steadily.

Erica sank into the bathtub in her room, hugging herself with empty eyes.

‘Am I really that dirty?’

She knew she wasn’t. They had simply misunderstood and judged her based on rumors. But even Duke Felix, who she thought would believe her, had turned his back. 

She didn’t want to continue training with the soldiers who had humiliated her. Their contemptuous stares frightened her.

Erica crouched down, resting her head on her knees.

“I survived. Let’s not be greedy for more.”

Duke Cox, who had brought her to the brink of death, was dead. Since she had avoided the greatest danger, perhaps she could give up on becoming Duke Felix’s wife or obtaining an official knight title.

“Let’s go home… Erica Mills.”

She wanted to return to her father, to the place where she was born. There, she felt no one would humiliate her. After her bath, Erica changed into a dress. Unlike usual, she managed fine without maids attending to her.

There was no place for her here. It had taken her too long to realize this was the wrong place for her.

‘I did whatever it took to survive, and I survived. That’s enough.’

Erica went to find the butler and asked to borrow a carriage. The butler provided one without comment, and Erica returned to Count Mills, her father.

When Erica arrived, Count Mills dropped everything and came out to welcome his daughter. He embraced the dejected Erica.

“Are you alright, Erica?”

It was the warm embrace of her father that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Erica forced a smile, not wanting her father to worry too much. But she definitely felt more at ease here than at Duke Felix’s mansion. This was where she was born and raised, and the people here were on her side.

Count Mills prepared sweet snacks and hot milk tea for Erica.

“I heard Otis died. Are you okay? I heard you were there when it happened…”

For a moment, Erica trembled as she recalled Otis’s gruesome appearance. Seeing this, Count Mills stroked her back.

“Oh dear, it must have been quite a shock.”

“Father, I was kidnapped by Otis. I never went with him willingly.”

“I know. I believe you.”

Erica felt reassured by Count Mills’ words. At least her father seemed to believe her. If only Otis were still alive, she could have somehow explained the situation, but with both Otis and his knight dead, few people knew the truth.

Even Viscount Green on Ophly Island had thought she was there with Otis as his fiancée.

‘Ah! The café owner might know something!’

Maybe the café owner could explain things to Duke Felix? Erica’s heart raced.

“Um, Father.”

Just then, the butler came running in breathlessly.

“Count Mills! An invitation has arrived from the Imperial Palace!”

“An invitation?”

Count Mills took the invitation from the butler. He nodded as he read the invitation stamped with the imperial seal.

“It’s for a party to select the Crown Prince’s bride. But Erica is supposed to marry Duke Felix, so why such an invitation…?”

Erica bit her lip firmly.

[I’m sorry, but I can’t trust you]

She had a bad feeling.

‘Duke Felix clearly wants to break off our marriage. This marriage never offered him any benefit anyway. Perhaps he told the Crown Prince to invite me too? To get rid of me?’

Count Mills tilted his head in confusion and handed the invitation to Erica.

“Do whatever you want. Wouldn’t attending the party be a good change of pace?”

Her previous desire to attend imperial parties had been solely because of Otis. But with Otis dead, she had no particular reason to go. Duke Felix floated through her mind, but he disliked parties and probably wouldn’t attend.

“I don’t really…”

“Then I’ll be in my study for a while. Butler, about the estate’s products…”

Watching her father and the butler leave, Erica placed the invitation on the table. She sipped her warm tea to cleanse her palate.

Duke Felix might be angry that she had left his mansion without saying anything. She couldn’t help it if he called off the wedding, accusing her of being irresponsible.

‘We don’t suit each other.’

Letting him go felt more comfortable than trying to hold onto him. Even if Duke Felix married another woman, she could simply forget and move on. Half of her wanted to see him, and half didn’t. How should she sort out these feelings?

‘He’s probably already done with me anyway.’

She liked the city and parties. New dresses and accessories weren’t bad either, but she still yearned for an official knight title. However, becoming an apprentice under another knight didn’t seem promising.

‘Lord Kai was the one who gave me a sword. Every time I wield it, I’ll think of him…’

The only person her heart acknowledged was Duke Felix. They had lived in the same house, rolled around in the same bed. 

She had fallen asleep in his arms every night, intoxicated by his scent. Even if she thought they didn’t suit each other now, it was difficult to organize her feelings.

Erica grew depressed.

Just then, Murray approached stealthily while wiping the table. Her eyes widened when she saw the invitation on the table.

“My goodness! Is that an invitation to the imperial party?”

“…Murray.”

Ella frowned at her frivolous attitude. Murray rejoiced as though she had received the invitation herself.

“Lady Erica! Even if you don’t become the Crown Prince’s bride, many prestigious nobles attend such parties! There will be plenty of eligible noble men besides Duke Felix!”

“…What?”

“Rumors are spreading throughout town that Duke Felix won’t marry you! You should find another match before things get more miserable!”

Murray’s eyes sparkled brightly. Ella pushed her aside for her rude remarks. Murray fell to the floor with a thud.

“Murray! What are you saying to our lady? That’s just a rumor! Duke Felix hasn’t said anything to the Count yet!”

“But it’s true the wedding has been postponed! And the Duke was in such a hurry before! With Lord Otis dead after your elopement, our lady might have to grow old and die a v*rgin! We need to find a solution quickly!”

Listening to the two maids argue, Erica realized the situation was worse than she thought. Everyone was saying Duke Felix’s heart had drifted away from her. Erica herself wasn’t certain either. After all, Duke Felix hadn’t believed her.

‘Human hearts are so fickle. I never thought I would come to like Lord Kai more than Otis. So Lord Kai’s heart could change just as easily.’

Unrequited love is painful. Especially when it seems hopeless or when everyone says it won’t work.

Erica fingered the golden invitation stamped with the imperial seal. Just because Duke Felix disliked her didn’t mean she wanted to attend the imperial party, especially one to select the Crown Prince’s bride. What should she do with this invitation?

‘Since it’s a party to select the Crown Prince’s bride, the Crown Prince will definitely attend. So…’

Murray and Ella were arguing loudly in front of her.

“Both of you, stop.”

At Erica’s sharp tone, Murray and Ella fell silent. Originally, Erica had a difficult personality and was known to scold her maids frequently. But recently, she had been too lenient, leaving the maids anxious about when the time bomb might explode.

While everyone was watching cautiously, Erica said:

“I think I’ll sell the invitation.”

“What? But why? Such a precious thing?”

“Instead, I’ll use the money to give you all bonuses.”

Murray and Ella’s eyes widened at Erica’s words. Murray looked at Erica with disbelief.

“All the maids here? Or just Ella and me?”

“What have you done to deserve it just being you and Ella? Of course I’ll give it to everyone.”

Lower-ranking nobles probably hadn’t received invitations, so selling it to them seemed like a good idea. Her father’s business had been struggling, and the employees hadn’t received bonuses in a long time. Since the invitation was entirely hers, she felt free to use it as she wished.

“You’ve all been working without holidays, so I’ll give you bonuses.”

The maids who had been cleaning all shouted in excitement. They repeatedly bowed to Erica, expressing their gratitude. Some maids, like Murray, tried to appeal to her, but others worked quietly without drawing attention. She wanted to make sure everyone received money.

‘I should treat them well.’

Duke Cox was dead, but there was no guarantee another Duke Cox wouldn’t emerge. Having stepped out from under Duke Felix’s shadow on her own, she felt she needed to protect herself. Erica entrusted the disposal of the invitation to the reliable Ella.

“Take it to the auction house that opens in two days. You’ll get more money than selling it directly, so that’s more beneficial.”

“Yes. Should I inquire at the auction guild?”

“Yes. Oh, and buy about seven sets of training clothes.”

“Training clothes?”

“I don’t mind if they’re what commoners wear. I can’t exercise in a dress.”

“Yes!”

She thought there must be ways to become a knight even without being Duke Felix’s apprentice. She would think of Duke Felix every time she wielded a sword, but she would train harder each time to forget. After sending Ella off, Murray approached.

“Lady Erica! Don’t you have any tasks for me?”

Murray’s hands seemed to have roughened during their time apart. But that was normal for maids. In the past, Murray had been exempted from harsh labor because she was Erica’s personal maid. Now Murray was wagging her nonexistent tail in front of Erica, hoping to become her personal maid again.

“No. I don’t.”

Erica climbed the stairs to the second floor, giving Murray no room for hope. In her room, she read through the numerous party invitations on her table.

Some invitations were from high-ranking nobles, but they had likely sent them to hear about her affair with Otis. They might have invited the subject of the rumors to spice up their parties.

Erica threw such invitations in the trash. After filtering through them, only one remained.

An invitation to her friend Cora Grey’s party.

“I should attend this one out of loyalty.”

It might be better to hide away until the rumors died down, but Duke Felix’s face kept lingering in her mind, making it difficult. She wanted to return to happier times, no matter what.