For some time now, Amar had been pondering a decision on his own. After much deliberation about whether to share it with Icarus, he finally mustered the courage today.

“Please remove Lisa from her position as Ertel’s exclusive maid.”

“…What?”

The unexpected mention of a name caused the duke to turn his head.

“Ertel is ultimately Your Grace’s prey, isn’t she? There is always unpredictable danger lurking around prey. Moreover, Ertel herself is bold enough to attack Your Grace directly, with a temperament that’s far from mild. Despite being a woman, she has considerable martial skills. Who knows what kind of trouble she could cause? Serving a wild horse-like woman like her is no easy task.”

“So?”

“Lisa is still young and has not worked in the mansion for very long. There must be someone more suitable for the role. Please replace her with a more experienced servant.”

It was the first time Icarus realized how much Amar seemed to care about Lisa. Finding it strange, Icarus countered.

“What’s the problem? From what I can see, Lisa seems to be doing her job well.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Lisa herself. She’s good at her work.”

“If your suspicion is about Ertel, let it go. Her aggression is solely directed at me, not at innocent people. Moreover, she doesn’t treat subordinates poorly. So, there’s no need for such unnecessary concerns.”

Icarus spoke as if he knew Ertel well. His confident tone left Amar exasperated once again. Furrowing his brow, Amar raised his voice.

“Why do you keep defending Ertel? And how well do you really know her?”

“Is this defending her?”

“Regardless, please remove Lisa.”

“Is that the only reason? Simply because she’s serving Ertel?”

In truth, Amar’s request wasn’t all that difficult. Replacing a maid was a trivial matter that didn’t require serious discussion—just a word would suffice. However, Icarus wanted to dig into Amar’s seemingly serious demeanor and uncover his true intentions.

They say love and a cold can never be hidden.

The duke crossed his legs and smirked slyly.

“You, you like her, don’t you?”

Anyone with half a brain could notice it. At the sudden, straightforward question, Amar avoided eye contact as if he had been struck in a vulnerable spot. His face and ears quickly turned red.

“Get a grip, Amar.”

“Pardon?”

“Even though she’s a maid of noble birth, she’s still leagues apart from you. Think about your reputation in Elruk. As my aide, your name has risen in stature. You could end up with a far more remarkable woman, yet you’re infatuated with a mere household servant?”

“It’s not… it’s not like that.”

Amar wanted to say, “It’s not a relationship, it’s unrequited love,” but he swallowed the words. Icarus, looking as though he couldn’t understand, asked again.

“Amar, don’t you have any ambition?”

“It’s not that.”

“If you’re by my side, you should have goals and dreams as grand as mine. Be a man.”

Just as Icarus was stubborn, Amar was equally so. Normally, Amar wouldn’t back down, and now, blinded by love, his master’s words telling him to give up on Lisa fell on deaf ears. He put on an even more earnest expression.

“Regardless, Your Grace… please consider my request.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Amar, visibly uneasy but finally receiving an answer, lowered his head and left the room. The only one left in the study was Icarus.

“Hmph.”

In the silence that followed, his heavy eyelids lowered. Just as Lisa occupied Amar’s thoughts, Ertel filled Icarus’s mind. He recalled her resolute face as she bit her lip.

“Was it guilt over ruining the wedding…?”

He couldn’t understand the reason. Then, suddenly, he realized he was thinking about her far too much. There were plenty of other tasks he needed to focus on besides Ertel. He had to expedite the marriage between his sister, who had been made a concubine, and the king.

“Ertel, stop appearing in my head.”

He shook his head side to side, trying to dispel her lingering image.

***

Back in her private room, Ertel was still in a daze.

“What was that?”

When she used her healing power, she had seen an emerald-colored aurora emerge. Her chest swelled with emotion. The contents of the book had been true.

‘I thought I was powerless…’

In a hopeless situation, it felt like she had found a glimmer of hope, as if a new path had opened. In truth, when she healed his hand, she had thought, “It probably won’t work.”
And then she immediately regretted it.

She had used such a precious ability to heal the wound of an enemy.

‘What on earth is attractive about that man?’

Suddenly, she missed her father. She wanted to tell him this joyous news, to say that she could be of help to him.

But she had to endure. At least for another year and eight months.

She knew well that this was the only way to save her father and her family.

‘Please, stay healthy until then.’

Knock, knock.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. It was Amar who had come to visit her room. Judging by the sharp look on his face, he seemed to have come to say something.

‘Why is he here?’

As he arrogantly crossed his arms, Ertel tensed up as well.

“Your Grace.”

Still, he didn’t fail to address her properly. Amar forced a smile, his stiff lips twitching slightly.

“Just because you’ve become a duchess praised by everyone, don’t let your guard down.”

After her remarriage, Ertel’s status had risen dramatically. Every day, she received dozens of letters from young ladies asking to have lunch with her.

“If you were that concerned, you could have sent a servant to deliver the message.”

“I can’t let it seem like I’m disregarding you by sending a servant.”

“…”

“Otherwise, what would have been the point of your strategic marriage with His Grace? Don’t you agree?”

Ertel had never acted arrogantly just because she had become a duchess. No matter how much Icarus provided for her, she never allowed herself to be carried away.

So, she was bewildered by the sudden warning from the aide.

“What is it you want to say to me, Amar?”

“…”

“I assume you’ve heard about what happened in the library.”

“Don’t forget that I’m always watching you from behind.”

Amar’s radar towards Ertel was fully activated. After Icarus had been injured, Amar blamed himself for letting his guard down.

If only he had been more vigilant, such an incident wouldn’t have occurred.

“If you attack His Grace again or entertain any foolish thoughts…”

“…”

“I will kill you myself.”

“…”

“Even without His Grace’s orders.”

It was pure, unwavering sincerity. His eyes, steady and unyielding, radiated loyalty to Icarus.

The sudden threat was not effective—it provoked more irritation than fear.

‘What a display of loyalty.’

Ertel didn’t let her feelings show on her face. Instead, she smiled as warmly as possible, attempting to ease his unease.

“Hm. I understand your concerns, Amar. But don’t worry. I agreed to this strategic marriage with clear intentions. I won’t do anything to harm my family. So, let go of your anger. I have no desire to take any more risks, given the destiny I was born into.”

“…”

“I don’t want to lose my only precious blood relative, either.”

Her voice even carried a faint tremor, completing the perfect act.

For a moment, her gaze seemed so filled with melancholy that Amar almost believed her.

Finally, Ertel drove the point home.

“I will dedicate my life solely to the prosperity of the Agnes family. I’ve decided to accept my fate.”

She managed to maintain her composure and smile until the end.

Because of this, Amar, though briefly confused, thought to himself, ‘What a cunning woman.’

Her smiling lips contrasted starkly with her eyes, which were filled with venom. Amar didn’t miss it.

‘She lies so easily while smiling.’

As expected, Ertel was a woman who could never be underestimated. She had once pretended to be docile while pointing a knife at her master.

In any case, to maintain the appearance of peace, Amar forced an awkward smile.

“For now, I understand your thoughts, Your Grace. And please treat Lisa well. It’s a small request.”

With that, he left.

After the aide departed, the smile on Ertel’s face immediately vanished.

Once again, she regretted healing Icarus’s scar.

‘I shouldn’t have done it. Helping that man only to be threatened with murder by his lackey… what a joke.’