“Lady Ertel, the Duke explained that you had to disappear for unavoidable reasons and assured us you would return to the mansion. He told us not to be shaken and to focus on our duties.”

“……!”

“That’s why I’ve been here, organizing the curriculum while waiting for you to return.”

Hearing Sarah’s words, Ertel became even more confused. She couldn’t fathom Icarus’s intentions.

He clearly knew she had tried to kill him at the wedding. And yet…

‘Even knowing I tried to kill him, could he seriously be thinking of going through with the marriage again?’

If not, she couldn’t understand why he was so certain she would return to the mansion.

Unaware of Ertel’s turmoil, Sarah cheerfully asked, “My lady, are you back for good now? May I let everyone know?”

That was out of the question. Ertel bit her lower lip and shook her head.

“I’m not back.”

“……?”

“I’m sorry, Sarah.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to continue learning from you anymore.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I have no intention of marrying Icarus.”

“What? …Did something happen?”

Sarah’s face darkened, as if a shadow had fallen over her.

Should she reveal the truth to this kind-hearted woman? Could she trust her?

Ertel hesitated for a moment before asking about Icarus’s whereabouts.

“Where is Icarus now?”

“The Duke said he would be away for a while with his aide, attending to some important matters. He mentioned leaving the mansion during that time.”

At that moment, Ertel realized her prediction had been wrong.

‘So he went out to search for me himself.’

Most likely, he would head to her father. Icarus might believe that her father, as her only living relative, had influenced the ruined wedding.

If that was the case, there was no reason for her to stay here. She felt as though she had come at the wrong time.

“Sarah, I’m sorry I can’t explain everything to you. I have to go now.”

“Go? My lady?”

Sarah, who had no idea what was going on, felt nothing but frustration. But she couldn’t press Ertel for answers.

The Ertel she hadn’t seen in so long seemed strangely detached.

“Take care, Sarah. If it’s fate, we’ll meet again.”

With those words, Ertel turned to leave through the window but paused.

Suddenly, the king’s words flashed through her mind.

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

Though it might take a long time for the king’s wishes to come true, Ertel couldn’t shake her sense of unease.

If such a thing were to happen, Sarah, who had been associated with the Juan family, wouldn’t escape unscathed either.

Ertel stopped and gave Sarah a piece of advice.

“I won’t be coming back here, so don’t wait for me. Look for another household to work for. It’ll be better for your safety, Sarah.”

Not understanding the meaning behind her words, Sarah tilted her head in confusion.

But before Ertel could climb out the window, Sarah grabbed her arm.

“My lady, you seem like you need help.”

“Sarah, that’s…”

“You must have your reasons for not being able to say anything, right?”

Feeling guilty and unsure of what to say, Ertel simply remained silent.

Nodding as if she understood, Sarah gently took Ertel’s hand and spoke.

“I attend the Scan Church every Sunday. If you ever need my help, come find me there.”

>><<

Icarus searched every corner of the cabin in Yukai Forest and even combed through Elruk.

Ertel was nowhere to be found.

He reasoned that since her goal was to kill him, she wouldn’t have gone far.

Beside him, Amar voiced his concern.

“This is unsettling. Could she have been kidnapped by another gemstone hunter?”

“That’s unlikely. No one knows she has the gemstone.”

“That’s what I think too, but…”

“If she had been kidnapped, we would’ve heard something through our informants by now.”

“Hmm. Then how did Ertel find out about the gemstone inside her?”

Their views on this matter differed, but Amar was convinced his theory was correct.

Even Icarus, who had hoped there was another reason, eventually conceded. Her attack on him could only have been driven by one reason.

‘So, she found out.’

Faced with this undeniable truth, Icarus clenched his jaw slightly.

Regardless of how she had learned about it, the weight of her life would now be unbearable. The harder she struggled to survive, the more she would be pursued by hunters for the rest of her life.

Thinking about her circumstances left Icarus feeling strangely conflicted.

Suddenly, he recalled someone.

It was the man he had seen from the carriage when he and Ertel entered the palace—Adin le Agnes, the head of the Agnes family and Ertel’s biological father.

He also remembered what Ertel had said while taking a bath.

[This is my one and only wedding…I wish my real family could be there.]

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it.

But if she was aware of her father’s existence…

In the Kingdom of Tiamor, the only people who knew about the gemstone inside her were Icarus and, possibly, Adin le Agnes.

‘Could it be?’

If the two had met, it was highly likely that Ertel had learned about the gemstone inside her. He hadn’t considered this possibility until now.

Making a quick decision, Icarus abruptly turned his horse.

“We’re going to the Agnes Marquisate.”

“…What?”

Before Amar could grasp the situation, Icarus galloped off without hesitation.

>><<

The horse sped toward the Agnes estate and stopped at the garden entrance.

Icarus dismounted confidently and strode forward with a determined expression, exuding an aura that left no room for retreat.

He addressed the gatekeeper firmly.

“Let me through. Icarus de Juan is here.”

At the time, Adin was sitting idly by the fireplace, lost in thought. He had spent a long time letting the hours slip by in contemplation.

Hearing that someone had arrived, he rose for the first time in a while.

“It must be an unwelcome guest.”

Adin, now understanding the situation, stepped into the courtyard with his butler.

Though he had only heard of the Juan family, this was his first time meeting Icarus in person.

He immediately guessed that Icarus had come because of Ertel.

Adin recalled his daughter, who had shown up in a torn wedding dress not long ago.

‘She’s being hunted.’

The man who had been called her fiancé now stood before him, resembling a hunter in pursuit of prey.

The murderous intent emanating from Icarus made Adin feel slightly overwhelmed.

Icarus greeted him with a relaxed smile.

“Greetings, Marquis Agnes.”

“The Duke of Juan, the busiest man in Elruk, has come all the way here. What brings you here so urgently, without even sending a message first?”

“I’ll skip the formalities and get straight to the point.”

“…….”

Adin tensed at the sudden shift in demeanor.

“Where is Ertel?”

“…What are you talking about, Duke Juan?”

“I mean the daughter you abandoned long ago.”

“…….”

“She was supposed to be my bride. But she suddenly disappeared before my eyes. I searched the capital but couldn’t find her, so I came to you, her father.”

“You’re being quite rude to me.”

“Just answer the question.”

Adin tried to appear unaffected. After all, hadn’t he abandoned his daughter to avoid conflict with Icarus in the first place?

But now, after all this time, they were facing off like this. It felt like a cruel twist of fate.

“Ha…”

Adin let out a deep sigh and continued.

“You already know I abandoned my daughter. How would I know the whereabouts of a child I discarded long ago? I didn’t even know she was going to marry you. I don’t know how she grew up or what she looks like now. Coming to me was a mistake.”

“Is that so?”

Inwardly, Adin prayed for his daughter’s safety.

Though he had given her a harsh answer when she had come to him, he didn’t wish for her misfortune.

Icarus nodded slightly, and Amar drew his sword, pressing it against the butler’s neck.

Adin shouted in alarm.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“If you don’t give me even the smallest clue, I’ll kill your servant.”

“Do you even realize what you’re doing, Duke Juan?!”

“Marquis Agnes, for years, we’ve had no reason to clash. Do you want to break that peace now? All you have to do is answer my question. You recently met the daughter you abandoned, didn’t you?”

“……!!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Seeing the devilish glint in Icarus’s eyes, Adin finally came to his senses.

“Duke Juan, remove your sword from my man at once.”

“Do you think I won’t kill him?”

It was a moment of extreme tension.