At this moment, a woman stood in a secluded room on the top floor, peering out the window through the curtains.

From this vantage point, the stables were clearly visible.

By coincidence, Sarah, who happened to be in the room, witnessed something no one else could see.

It was Ertel, bound at the wrists with ropes and confined.

‘Lady Ertel!’

She recalled the time not long ago when Ertel had infiltrated the Duke’s study.

The Ertel she had seen then was very different from the one she saw now.

Appearing in a torn dress, Ertel had seemed precarious, projecting an air of someone who had no choice but to grow strong because she had no one to rely on.

Sarah had suspected that there was a complicated story behind her.

‘This is shocking.’

At the same time, she remembered the scene of Icarus locking Ertel in the stables. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Sarah had witnessed it.

‘What on earth happened between the two of them…?’

Realizing something unusual was going on, Sarah’s heart raced.

Fearing that someone might notice she had been watching, she quickly drew the curtains shut.

Then, pretending as if nothing had happened, she walked down the corridor, trying to maintain a calm expression.

Other servants spoke to her without suspicion.

“When are you finishing for the day, teacher?”

“I thought I’d greet the Duke before leaving.”

“But why is your face like that?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“You look startled. Your face is very flushed.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I got so absorbed in reading a book that I must have overheated.”

With that plausible excuse, she hurriedly descended the stairs to the first floor.

At that moment, Icarus was entering through the front door, and the two naturally crossed paths.

Sarah greeted him respectfully.

“You’ve returned, my lord. I was meaning to ask you something. By the terms of my contract, I’ve taken up residence here, but how much longer am I expected to stay in this house?”

“Is there something bothering you? Are the meals not to your liking?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that there’s no lady for me to educate, so I was wondering how long I’d be left organizing the curriculum.”

“Didn’t you take the contract for the money? You’re still being paid generously, whether there’s a bride or not. Or is it not enough?”

What exactly was Icarus planning to do going forward?

Sarah’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked,

“Are you saying Lady Ertel might return as your bride?”

Icarus was already deep in thought.

Should he follow Amar’s suggestion and drug her, turning her into a slave?

“My lord?”

Sarah persistently called his name.

“The bride,”

Icarus finally spoke.

“She will return.”

“……!”

“I’m sure of it.”

Sarah was surprised, but the one most shocked by Icarus’s statement was undoubtedly Amar.

The moment his suspicions became reality—that Icarus might harbor feelings of sympathy for Ertel—was here.

‘Why is the Duke acting this way? After everything that’s happened, he intends to resume married life? Why… with such a dangerous woman?’

Since Icarus emphasized bringing her back as the bride, it clearly implied marriage.

As a result, Sarah now had a valid reason to stay in the house.

“I understand your intentions, my lord,” she said before leaving for the day.

Left alone, an awkward silence lingered between Icarus and Amar.

“My lord? What exactly are you planning?”

“I’ve been thinking so much that I’m exhausted.”

“My lord!”

“I need some rest.”

“…….”

“We’ll talk later.”

With that, Icarus headed to his bedroom, leaving things for another time.

>><<

<Past midnight, in the dead of night>

Cold winds seeped through the gaps in the stable walls as the temperature dropped.

Ertel leaned against the wall, gazing at the stars through a crack in the ceiling.

The bustling noise of the day had given way to a serene night, which helped calm her nerves.

“Lady—.”

A faint voice pierced through the silence.

“Lady Ertel.”

It was the voice of Sarah Stewart.

Everyone else was fast asleep.

“My Lady, I brought you water. Please drink some.”

Ertel weakly stretched out her hand to accept the water Sarah offered. She had been parched.

“It’s you, Sarah….”

Sarah felt pity for Ertel’s disheveled appearance.

“Thank you. Water is enough for me. Now go, Sarah, before someone catches you.”

“No one else knows you’re locked up here, My Lady.”

“But how did you…?”

“I happened to see it from a room on the top floor. I saw you, tied up like a captive.”

“……!”

“Why is the Duke treating you so harshly?”

It was Sarah’s most fundamental question.

“What happened between the two of you?”

“Sarah….”

“Is it something you can’t tell me?”

Ertel hesitated for a moment.

She knew Sarah approached her without any ill intent.

“Go back, Sarah.”

“So there is something going on, isn’t there?”

“If you stay here any longer, you’ll get caught. I can’t let others get into trouble because of me.”

“Sigh….”

With a sigh, Sarah handed her something—a small knife she had brought just in case.

“I’ll cut the ropes for you.”

“……!”

“Run away quickly.”

Sarah freed Ertel’s wrists with the knife.

Her hands were suddenly free, but Ertel felt dazed.

This was her chance. No one would notice in the dead of night.

Ertel stood up abruptly.

“Thank you, Sarah. I won’t forget this favor.”

“Please escape to somewhere safe.”

“You should be careful too.”

With that, Ertel dashed out of the stable.

She ran past the chilly air and over the hill.

But then, she stopped.

She had forgotten something.

“Ah….”

Hadn’t she come here of her own accord in the first place?

‘Why am I running away?’

She had come to save her one and only father’s life.

The scene that would unfold after her escape was clear in her mind.

‘This is pointless.’

Adin’s face lingered in her thoughts. Even if she escaped, Icarus knew her weakness was her father. He wouldn’t leave him alone.

In the end, Ertel turned back.

Sarah’s efforts to help her had been in vain.

Ertel returned to her place, curled up, and stayed there. She didn’t need the ropes anymore.

Hugging her knees, she stayed awake through the night.

>><<

Early the next morning, Amar visited the stable and was startled.

“……!”

On the ground were the remains of ropes that had been cut with a knife.

And Ertel, with sharp eyes, was staring straight at him.

The icy look in her gaze made Amar hesitate.

“Who untied you?”

“…….”

“Won’t you answer?”

“Does it matter?”

“What?”

“I’m skilled in martial arts. I could’ve bitten through those ropes if I wanted to. Honestly, the ropes were annoying, so I’m glad they’re gone. But what’s the problem? Even with the ropes gone, I’m still here.”

Amar was left with one burning question. Despite being free, she hadn’t escaped.

Why?

No matter how much he tried to understand her, he couldn’t.

Frustrated, Amar scratched his head and asked,

“Why didn’t you run away?”

“…….”

“You could’ve easily escaped.”

Recently, Amar had been utterly confused about everything.

Most of his confusion stemmed from his master’s uncharacteristic behavior and this woman he couldn’t figure out.

Ertel stared at him as if nothing mattered.

“Ugh, both of them are driving me crazy.”

What on earth was going on?

Scratching his head irritably, Amar left the stable.

>><<

When Amar reported the incident to Icarus, a storm brewed in his heart.

He was struck by the news as if hit by an unexpected blow.

His lips tightened, and his brows furrowed.

Ertel had a chance to escape but chose to stay.

‘What are you planning now?’

Icarus headed to the stable himself.

As Amar had described, Ertel sat there, her hands free, yet unmoving.

She glanced at him briefly.

‘So, you’ve come.’

Icarus’s bitter gaze swept over the room.

A bowl of potatoes Amar had left for her sat untouched.

It was clear she hadn’t eaten anything but water.

With an emotionless expression, Icarus asked dryly,

“You freed yourself, so why didn’t you run?”

“Even if I run, you’ll use my father as bait again.”

“You know me well.”

He was filled with questions.

Why would she risk her life for a father who had tried to abandon her when she was two years old?

“Icarus, I have a question.”

Ertel decided to have an honest conversation.

“Once you extract the gemstone from my body, what do you plan to achieve?”

Icarus’s brow twitched at her question.

To him, she seemed utterly detached, as if she had lost all tension.

“Are you curious?”

“Yes, I am. You’ve destroyed my life. What is it that you’re so desperate to achieve?”

“The sun of the Eastern Continent.”

“……!”

“In other words, the Juan Empire.”

His words, spoken so plainly, struck Ertel like a thunderclap.

Icarus’s eyes shimmered as he envisioned his distant ambition.

“Is it really okay to reveal such a grand secret to me?”