For now, Vanessa’s plan was this:

Pretend to go along with Jurgen’s wishes while looking for an opportunity to escape.

She had not even the slightest desire to actually marry that man.

If he had fallen for her and proposed marriage, she might have been a little moved. But he seemed to hate her rather than like her.

Without even properly explaining why.

Suddenly, she thought her life was truly odd. Not only was she unlucky enough to get into accidents frequently, but her first husband was a thug like Leroy, and as soon as she escaped Leroy’s clutches, she got entangled with another madman.

At this rate, shouldn’t I commit myself to a temple?

Maybe I should take vows to dedicate my life to the gods and walk the path of a nun.

Then perhaps by chance, political interests might align, and I could rise to the ranks of a saint?

She shook her head, softly chuckling at her own predicament that led to such vain delusions. Vanessa returned her gaze to the book she was reading. It was one of the few scriptures given to her by the maids who seemed to pity her confined state.

‘Of all things to give me to read…’

It was impossible for religious doctrines to be interesting. Thinking that she was indeed not cut out to be a saint, she yawned deeply. Vanessa was flipping through the pages when she suddenly paused at a certain paragraph.

[The god of wisdom and madness, Vüs, bestowed his blessing upon the hero Ares.]

The blessing of Vüs, god of wisdom and madness.

Something naturally came to mind. Jurgen Drake too― was one blessed by Vüs.

Moreover, he was a ‘power user’.

In the Lavinian religion, those blessed by the seven gods can use the power of the gods.

But most are ‘divine word’ users, clearly limited as they exert power through ‘words’.

However, power users are different.

Depending on how much they are favored by the god who blessed them… they can exert the god’s power as it is.

That’s why power users are very rare. The probability is maybe one or two in a hundred years.

And that rare power user is none other than Jurgen Drake.

It must have been thanks to that power that he was able to become a duke, and become a hero who turned the tide of the Red Front…

‘How old was Jurgen when he received Vüs’s blessing? Come to think of it… I really don’t know anything about that man.’

Vanessa suddenly thought of Garcia. That knight who kept sneering but was somehow not unlikable. He seemed to have a rather loose tongue, so if she asked about Jurgen’s past, he might spill everything…

‘But damn it, I’m confined so I can’t go ask him.’

Vanessa sighed deeply and closed the boring book. At that moment…

Click, click.

Suddenly, the sound of a lock being undone was heard. Judging by the direction of the sound, it seemed to be coming from the balcony.

Vanessa narrowed her eyes and stared at the curtain covering the balcony door. Soon, as the door swung open, the curtain was drawn back and a cold wind rushed in. The one who appeared between the fluttering curtains was none other than…

‘…Escal Drake?’

It was that man, Jurgen’s half-brother.

He approached Vanessa, who was frozen in surprise, with a grin. Vanessa stood up from the sofa, gripping the thick scripture in her hand as if it were a blunt weapon, and glared at him.

Escal bowed politely to Vanessa and asked,

“Your Highness. Don’t you find it stifling to stay inside all the time?”

His attitude, which had changed like flipping a hand after learning Vanessa’s status, was laughably ridiculous, considering how he had leered at her with unsavory eyes before, muttering about chambermaids.

Vanessa replied with a sneer on her lips.

“Whether I’m stifled or not, it’s none of your concern.”

She had actually meant to say ‘you bastard’ but quickly changed her form of address. After all, he was the son of a noble family…

Escal continued speaking, maintaining a friendly expression despite Vanessa’s sharp attitude.

“As a member of the Drake family, I can’t just stand by while our guest is being neglected like this. If you don’t mind, would you like to go out with me?”

He was a man who spoke smoothly and sweetly, as if honey were flowing. That’s why he felt even more like a poisonous flower or snake hiding its venom.

Vanessa, who quickly realized that he was certainly not proposing with good intentions, raised her navy blue eyes sharply.

“I’m sorry, Lord Escal, but I don’t have time to dally with you. I’m busy reading.”

“Outside the door, there are many things more interesting than reading. Please, come with me.”

“Don’t make me refuse three times. I have no intention of going, so please leave now.”

“Then at least have a cup of tea with me. After all, I am Jurgen’s only brother and I’ve come as your guest today. Surely you won’t coldly turn me away?”

“……”

Vanessa frowned severely, thinking what kind of man is this, and was about to utter words of refusal again when suddenly,

Escal suddenly approached Vanessa and took something out of his pocket. Before Vanessa could step back, instinctively sensing the threat, a damp, moist cloth covered her mouth.

“Mmph…!”

What Escal had taken out was a handkerchief. It was soaked with an unknown liquid.

As the scent of a strong chemical stung her nose, Vanessa staggered precariously. Escal quickly caught her as she was about to collapse to the floor.

“Shh, stay still.”

He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered.

“You’re so pretty and you even smell nice. Your hair is as soft as silk, and your smooth skin is like velvet. You’re really too good for a monster like Jurgen Drake.”

He held her preciously, as if she were a lover. Vanessa struggled to resist, but for some reason Escal had done something that made her body unable to exert any strength.

Carrying her with her arms and legs limp, Escal headed for the balcony. Vanessa glared at him, struggling to keep her eyes open as they kept trying to close.

She spoke each word with difficulty.

“You… bas…tard…”

“Such a lovely voice, but such harsh words.”

“I’ll… kill… you…”

“Seems you have a fierce temper too. …Well, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is―”

He slung her over his shoulder and grabbed the rope he seemed to have climbed up on, lightly like a swallow.

“―whether you are precious to Jurgen or not, that’s what we’re going to find out.”

Hearing those words tinged with laughter was the last thing Vanessa remembered before she lost consciousness.

Deeply sunk in the sea of unconsciousness, Vanessa had a strange dream.

A boy with jet-black hair and blood-red eyes was begging Vanessa not to abandon him.

Who could this boy be?

This dream… what is it about?

I don’t have such memories.

[I will never abandon you. I promise.]

I’ve never… made such a promise either.

Transparent tears flowed from the boy’s beautiful red eyes. The moment she thought how pretty that jewel-like color was, Vanessa woke up from her dream.

“Ugh…”

As soon as she regained consciousness, a terrible headache hit her. Vanessa blinked her frowning eyes slowly, holding her forehead. What came into view was… for some reason, a blue sky.

“Are you awake?”

A gentle voice was heard nearby. Vanessa struggled to raise her body, feeling the floor where she was lying with her palm.

The rough touch of wood against her skin.

She was now on a small boat.

“I was worried because you kept sleeping. The sleeping drug on that handkerchief wasn’t even that strong.”

Escal, who was sitting opposite her holding the oar, said with a sly smile. Vanessa gritted her teeth, enraged by his brazen behavior. Enduring the headache and dizziness, she demanded in an angry voice.

“Where is this? You crazy bastard, kidnapping someone out of the blue?”

“This is, as you can see, a lake in the outskirts outside the outer castle. Don’t worry, it’s not far from Rivadel Castle.”

As the small boat they were on was floating in the middle of a wide lake, it seemed unlikely for Vanessa to find a way to escape from Escal.

It would have been good if she knew how to swim… but Vanessa had lived avoiding water since childhood. She had nearly drowned dozens of times.

“Don’t be so harsh, and try to enjoy this leisurely boat ride in this scenic lakeside. Your Highness.”

“……”

Escal kept smiling regardless of Vanessa’s murderous glare. The madness clearly visible in his dark green eyes flickered like flames.

“And let’s watch together. Whether Jurgen will rush here to save you, or not…”

✦ ✦ ✦

“Disappeared?”

“Yes, and this note…”

Jurgen roughly snatched the note handed over by the maid. His golden eyes flashed sharply as he quickly read the words on the paper.

“Escal…”

Jurgen muttered that name as if spitting it out, crumpled the paper carelessly and threw it into the fireplace, then grabbed his sword and coat and strode across the office towards the door.

His pupils were filled with a fierce killing intent as he violently flung the door open.

For a moment, his irises tinged red before turning golden again.

Jurgen muttered with a cold sneer.

“It seems my brother has grown tired of living. To the point of wanting to die.”