“Since this place is out of others’ sight, feel free to relax.”

In the center of the table were large covered dishes.

The banquet, composed of a variety of dishes, made Ertel feel more awkward than pleased.

She was perplexed as to why she was receiving such treatment.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you showing too much mercy to a criminal?”

“A criminal? Why would you think of yourself that way?”

“I deceived Your Majesty about my origins.”

“…….”

“Didn’t that anger you, Your Majesty?”

Pedro made a sound of curiosity and waved his hand dismissively.

“I wasn’t angry.”

“Pardon?”

“I was simply driven by the desire to learn more about you.”

Amid the peculiar atmosphere, the meal began.

“I’ll cut it for you.”

Pedro personally carved the pheasant dish with a knife and placed it on Ertel’s plate.

If Henry had been there, he would have glared at the king, questioning why he was showing unnecessary kindness to a commoner.

Pedro hoped Ertel would feel comfortable around him.

“It’s been about three days. Have you given it some thought?”

“……Yes. You asked me to become your ally, Your Majesty.”

“That’s right.”

“May I ask something?”

Ertel looked directly at the king.

“Is Your Majesty’s goal, like mine, to kill Icarus?”

“……!”

The directness of her question left Pedro momentarily parched.

Strangely, despite knowing little about Ertel, there was something about her that made him want to confess everything honestly.

“If I could kill him, that would be ideal, but my ultimate goal is the downfall of the Juan family.”

“!!”

“His younger sister has just entered my palace as my concubine.”

“A concubine? A concubine who could one day become Your Majesty’s queen…?”

“Yes, that kind of position. But I have no intention of taking anyone from the Juan family as my primary wife—not in the slightest. I only accepted her because Duke Juan pressed the matter.”

“Ah…”

“In this situation, I need to increase the number of people on my side, even if it’s just one more.”

Ertel quickly grasped the meaning behind Pedro’s words. “On my side”—he was referring to her.

“Me?”

But she found it difficult to understand, so she couldn’t answer immediately.

“Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“I am just a lowly woman of maidservant origins.”

“…….”

“How could someone as powerless as I help Your Majesty? What exactly do you see in me to ask for my alliance?”

“No, you are not powerless.”

“Pardon?”

“I can’t explain it clearly in words, but I feel it. There’s something special about you.”

“……!”

“I’m certain you will inspire me greatly.”

Pedro instinctively sensed something extraordinary about Ertel. He just couldn’t articulate it precisely.

Ertel had already made her decision back in the bathhouse.

Compared to Icarus, Pedro seemed far more virtuous and trustworthy.

However, she ultimately decided she couldn’t fully open her heart.

‘With a fate like mine, I can’t trust anyone in the end.’

Ertel had to protect herself—from this world.

She had to consider every possible outcome and take a conservative approach.

That was the only way to ensure her survival.

So, even though she felt a favorable impression of him, she said, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

She couldn’t readily accept his proposal.

Pedro’s eyes momentarily reflected a sense of sorrow as he saw Ertel’s face harden with discomfort.

“Though we share the common goal of killing Icarus, I’m too preoccupied with just taking care of myself. I have other important matters to attend to as well. I don’t think I can stay by Your Majesty’s side and assist you.”

“Hmm…”

Pedro tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment.

It felt as if he had confessed love to a woman only to be rejected.

At that moment, Pedro realized he had unknowingly started to covet this woman.

“…I was too hasty.”

The spark of desire in his heart didn’t diminish—instead, it burned brighter.

Though briefly discouraged, Ertel’s rejection ignited Pedro’s competitive spirit.

From this moment on, he resolved to take his time and put more effort into winning her over rather than giving up.

Unaware of his feelings, Ertel tidied up her utensils and offered her final words.

“Thank you for keeping me safe in the inner chambers for the past three days. I’ve already imposed on you enough, so I will take my leave. If I stay here any longer, it might cause trouble for even Your Majesty.”

“Will you be alright on your own?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.”

He wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard her answer and stop her from leaving.

“Then, farewell.”

Her departing figure was dazzlingly beautiful. It was as if a radiant turquoise glow emanated from her back.

Watching her disappear, Pedro felt his chest tighten.

‘I wish she wouldn’t leave…’

Even though he had only known her for a short time, her retreating figure already tugged at his heart.

‘What is this feeling?’

And he couldn’t understand himself.

>><<

Ertel unintentionally resigned herself to a life of wandering.

If she couldn’t rely on her father’s home or the royal palace, there was only one place left for her to go.

She thought there was no point in delaying.

Having already aimed her blade at Icarus, she knew he would stop at nothing to find her.

‘Instead of living on the run, perhaps…’

Wouldn’t it be better to aim for Icarus’s death once again?

Thus, Ertel drove herself to the edge of the cliff.

Equipped with a bow and a sword, she headed toward Icarus’s mansion.

She hid herself in the bushes, observing the windows and surroundings of the mansion for a long time.

The security seemed lax. There didn’t appear to be many people inside.

‘How many people did he send out to search for me?’

It looked surprisingly easy to infiltrate.

Ertel assumed Icarus wouldn’t be among the search party looking for her. She expected him to stay behind and guard the mansion while delegating the task to his subordinates.

Keeping herself concealed, she approached the first-floor wall of the mansion. She climbed over the wall with ease and moved toward a corner window.

As expected, there were no guards there either.

She managed to slip inside the mansion effortlessly.

‘This is too easy.’

Having lived there for a month, she knew the layout perfectly.

At that moment, she hoped Icarus would be asleep in his bedroom, making everything fall into place.

She crept around silently, like a cat. She already knew the schedules of the attendants and maids, so she avoided detection.

But something felt off.

‘Not even the aides are here.’

Neither Amar nor Icarus was anywhere to be seen—not even a strand of their hair.

The mansion was eerily quiet. The unnatural stillness felt strange.

‘I’ll start with the study.’

Icarus’s study. It was a forbidden space he had strictly prohibited her from entering when they lived together.

That made her want to enter it even more.

Her cautious steps eventually brought her to the study.

She looked around and, hearing no signs of anyone, moved inside.

‘What could he be hiding here?’

Opening a drawer under the desk, she found various documents.

‘This is…’

Reading the contents, Ertel felt her strength drain.

Perhaps she had expected it all along, but seeing it with her own eyes still hurt.

There were portraits drawn to find Ertel as a child, information about the Agnes family, particularly Adin’s weaknesses, and meticulous plans to obtain the Kaiya Stone.

There were even notes detailing the methods by which he planned to kill her to extract the gemstone.

‘It hurts…’

Ertel’s face darkened, as if she had taken a dagger straight to her heart.

She stood frozen, like ice, staring blankly into space.

Even though she had already experienced betrayal, it still stung.

Knowing that he still intended to kill her made her feel bitter.

Despite knowing nothing had changed, and despite knowing he wouldn’t protect her, she felt foolish and pitiful for having shown him any vulnerability.

Perhaps because she lingered in the study too long, shocked by what she had read, she failed to hide when someone opened the door and entered.

“Oh, my lady…!”

It was Sarah Stewart, the live-in tutor Icarus had once introduced to her.

Ertel quickly moved, grabbing Sarah from behind and covering her mouth.

“Mm…!”

She didn’t sense any hostility from Sarah.

But she couldn’t afford to let her guard down.

Letting her guard down would only make her a fool.

Ertel closed the door and locked it. Then, she dragged Sarah to a corner and tied her up.

“Shh. Be quiet.”

“Mmph…!”

Even while restrained, Sarah reached out her hand.

It seemed she wanted to reassure the anxious Ertel.

Sarah gently clasped Ertel’s hand with her own.

“……!”

Startled by the warmth, Ertel released her hold over Sarah’s mouth.

“Lady Ertel, don’t be afraid.”

“……?!”

“I won’t harm you.”

Despite the sudden situation, Sarah showed no fear.

On the contrary, she seemed to welcome Ertel’s presence.

Ertel’s face showed a slight crack of confusion at the unexpected reaction.

A moment of silence passed between them.

Holding Ertel’s hands tightly, Sarah spoke.

“I’ve been so worried about you. Ever since that commotion at the wedding, you disappeared. I wondered if you were wandering around aimlessly, all alone.”

“Ah…”

“But now that I see you’re safe, I’m relieved.”

Relieved?

‘Why would Sarah worry about me?’

After all, she was the one who had stabbed Icarus and tried to escape.

Why would someone worry about a person like that?

Finding Sarah’s reaction puzzling, Ertel cautiously asked, “…What did Icarus tell the people in the mansion about me?”