〈Take it easy, Iella! With Father gone, are you going to act like this too?〉

‘It’s unfair.’

Yes, I still felt wronged. My unsettled heart remained in turmoil.

This hellish life feels like an endless loop.

“Rather……”

What if you set me free again? Since this was a life I never wanted, I have no attachments to it. If I pursue that path, perhaps I can finally end things properly this time?

Haaaah.

As I exhaled deeply, the pain in my heart gradually subsided. Only then could I lower my gaze to the crumpled letter.

‘Allen Pelar Ribatris…..’

Such a detestable name. Once my husband, the d*mn ex-husband to whom I had dedicated my entire life.

Now he finally inquires about my well-being. At this point, when almost a month has passed since our wedding was called off.

I smoothed out the crumpled letter and continued reading from where I’d left off.

His pitiful guilt for failing to look after me, his self-pity over his dying father, and then.

[I’ll visit you soon. Can you wait until then? I love you, Iella.]

After confirming the last line, I immediately stood up. Without hesitation, I threw it into the fireplace and dusted off my hands.

It felt as though filthy sewage had stuck to my eyes and hands, making me feel disgusting.

I wished I could see the flames blazing right now, but it was unfortunate that I couldn’t.

※※※

I went down to the dining room for breakfast. My brother Iankar, who was already seated, frowned upon seeing me.

“Are you getting any sleep at all?”

“Huh?”

I could only stare blankly at him, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

After a moment, he took his eyes off me and casually spoke while starting his meal.

“I heard you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.”

“……How did you know that?”

“Does it matter?”

“No, it’s not that important, but……”

Taking a seat across from my brother, I gave him a look that demanded an explanation.

Though my nightmares had decreased, I still woke up intermittently. I wondered how my brother knew about this.

“Your maid has quite the voice. So loud and clear that it sticks in your ear.”

“Ah……”

That makes sense. So Enya, worried about me nodding off like a sick chicken every morning, had been talking about it everywhere.

While I was considering whether to say something about it, my brother suddenly continued in a grave voice.

“It won’t work, Iella.”

In an extremely resolute tone.

Not fully understanding, I had to ask again.

“What won’t?”

My brother silently stared at me for a while. After a moment,

“Whatever it is you’re thinking about.”

“What exactly won’t work?”

“Everything you’re currently contemplating.”

At that moment, I was at a loss for words.

I was simply impressed that my brother had precisely identified what I hadn’t even decided for myself yet.

But why did his words stick in my throat like a thorn? I couldn’t even respond as I fixed my gaze on him.

“You look very curious? Iella…… do you know something?”

“What?”

“You. Whenever you make that expression, you always end up causing trouble.”

“……”

I unconsciously touched my face with my hand. I was curious about what expression I was making, but without a mirror, there was no way to know.

‘I thought so,’ my brother’s eyes seemed to say, and the dining room fell silent again.

At that moment, only my heart was pounding loudly while even the sound of silverware against dishes was careful.

‘Should I tell him?’

I glanced at my brother’s face. His expressionless face seemed busy only with chewing his food meaninglessly.

‘No, he won’t allow it.’

Given the timing, how could I possibly say I wanted to travel to a dragon’s habitat? He would obviously say I was crazy.

‘What should I do? If I change the location, it might somehow work……’

“What are you doing?”

My brother suddenly addressed me. He glanced at my face, then lowered his gaze to my plate, which hadn’t decreased much.

“Ah……”

“Don’t pick at your food. Eat properly. Don’t tell me you’re getting sick again.”

“……Alright.”

Several minutes after I answered and started moving my hands, my forehead began to feel hot. When I looked up, I saw my brother, who had already finished eating, watching me with his arms crossed.

He seemed displeased that the food on my plate was decreasing so slowly.

When I gave him a questioning look, my brother frowned deeply and said,

“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t dawdle.”

‘But you just said it won’t work.’

After putting down my fork because I had completely lost my appetite, I immediately met my brother’s gaze. And finally, I blurted out the words that had been circling in my mind.

“I was thinking about taking a trip.”

“What? What kind of trip?”

“Just to get some fresh air.”

“Is that all?”

My brother scrutinized me thoroughly, as if trying to discern my true intentions.

His gaze seemed to say that if I had even slightly different thoughts, he wouldn’t let me off easily!

I had to take a deep breath quickly.

“So, where are you planning to go?”

Though his gaze remained sharp, his voice had softened somewhat.

“To the Everis villa.”

“Everis?”

“Yes, I want to rest there and meet an acquaintance.”

“Do you have acquaintances there?”

“……I want to see Lorena again.”

“Lorena? Sounds familiar……”

My brother muttered the name several times, then snapped his fingers as if he suddenly remembered.

“Ah! Viscount Soriano’s daughter who briefly served as your maid? But, Iella.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you chase her away? I remember she ran out crying at the time?”

I was amazed at my brother’s memory. Or was that incident so shocking?

‘Well, I suppose it could have been.’

After that day, I never took in another maid. Even if I had wanted to, there was no one who would voluntarily enter my service.

“What was the reason again? I recall it was something quite trivial.”

My brother became pensive, with one hand supporting his chin.

I decided to maintain ignorance rather than explain the reason. It would be too embarrassing to admit that I had dismissed her simply for stepping on the hem of my dress.

Instead, I spoke up to redirect the previous conversation before my brother could further indulge in his imagination.

“I made some mistakes back then, so I want to apologize and perhaps strengthen our relationship.”

“Hmm.”

Still with his chin resting on his hand, my brother shifted only his eyes toward me. His expression clearly showed disbelief.

I swallowed silently and asked,

“So, will you allow it?”

“Hmm……”

He hesitated like someone making a difficult decision.

With the wedding called off and the Emperor at death’s door, leaving the mansion at this time could give rise to all sorts of rumors. His concern was understandable.

To avoid pressuring him, I raised my hand toward a servant standing at a distance. The servant soon approached me.

“Bring me some tea.”

Though I pretended to be composed, I couldn’t help feeling anxious inside.

But even before the servant could return with tea and dessert, my brother’s blue eyes turned to me. His decision came earlier than expected.

“Fine, taking some time to clear your head doesn’t sound bad.”

“Thank you.”

“But.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t do anything else. Just stay quiet and come back. Understood?”

His gaze flashed sharply as he looked at me.

※※※

After that, my travel plans proceeded swiftly. Once my brother made a decision, he never looked back, and soon the day came for me to leave the mansion.

Before boarding the carriage marked with the Roberos ducal family crest, I turned to look at my brother Iankar. He was watching me with a complicated expression.

I suspected he might be having belated regrets.

But it was already after he had sent word to the Everis villa and made the excuse that I was traveling for health reasons, so he couldn’t take it back.

“I’ll be going, Brother.”

After briefly uttering what might be my final farewell, I boarded the carriage without hesitation.

Shortly thereafter, my carriage began racing down the main avenue of the ducal residence without delay. As it gained speed, my brother’s figure visible through the small rear window grew increasingly smaller.

‘I’m sorry, Brother.’

The words I couldn’t express were silently lost beneath the clattering of hooves.

※※※

Thud!

The document in his hand fell limply onto the desk. Iankar had to consider whether he had misheard.

But judging by the expression of the knight who had just rushed to the ducal residence, it seemed he hadn’t misheard.

“What did you just say?”

The knight, who had been hesitating and merely watching, carefully reported the situation again.

“……It seems there’s been an unexpected development. These aren’t men who would fail to report without reason.”

“……”

“Moreover, Lady Lorena Soriano was also strictly prohibiting visitors.”

“So…… you’re saying Iella has completely disappeared…… is that it?”

“……Yes.”

“Ha! Haha!”

Iankar couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. The well-behaved girl had vanished without a trace as soon as she left for the Soriano viscountal residence.

Even the men he had attached to monitor her movements under the guise of protection.

‘Of course. How could you possibly change?’

At that moment, an inexplicable sense of betrayal washed over him.

His fist on the desk gradually tightened. Even as his knuckles turned white, he didn’t release his grip. The result of his careless decision was too pathetic.

‘I shouldn’t have allowed it in the first place.’

It felt as though someone was whispering to him.

‘I shouldn’t have pitied her.’

With bulging eyes, he struck the desk violently.

Bang!

His uncontrolled emotion suddenly erupted. Simultaneously, Iankar abruptly stood up. Then, with flashing eyes, he growled at the knight.

“I’m going to the Soriano viscountal residence. Right now!”

※※※

‘Is he very angry?’

Sitting quietly in the swaying carriage, I had such thoughts. It had been over five days since I disappeared, so by now the mansion must be in complete chaos.

After walking out of Everis on foot to avoid my brother’s tracking, it took two days, and another two days to reach the next village to evade my brother’s pursuit.

And only today was I finally able to board a carriage, but I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feelings that kept following me.

‘I should have at least said a proper goodbye.’

But I couldn’t go back now.

I placed my hand over my heart, which was loudly announcing its presence. This heart hadn’t been quiet for a single day since I set out on my journey.

So it’s almost as if……

‘You seem to be responding.’

At first, it was just an impulse. Life had been overwhelming, and whenever I thought of the dragon’s death, my heart would react.

Sometimes splitting pain, sometimes pain like being cut by a knife. And sometimes pain like being tightly gripped, making it hard to breathe.

I may have unconsciously suspected that all of it was related to the dragon. Perhaps that’s why I’m now heading toward its habitat.

And as if confirming my thoughts, the heartbeat resonating in my chest was gradually accelerating. As if it couldn’t contain its joy.

‘This is strange.’

Yes, everything was strange. The fact that I survived, this heart that doesn’t feel like my own.

While sensing those pulsations, a voice suddenly came from the front.

“Are you feeling unwell? Are you alright?”

Looking up, I saw a woman holding a child of about five or six years old, looking at me with concern.

“I can’t see your face.”

As she said, I currently had my hood pulled down low. To avoid suspicion, I wore pants and a loose chemise that male commoners might wear, with a robe over them.

It was an appearance typical of travelers going long distances, so the woman didn’t seem particularly suspicious of me.

Nevertheless, to avoid revealing my identity, I simply nodded instead of answering.

Understanding my gesture to mean I was fine, the woman soon turned her attention back to her child.

After traveling much further, the carriage stopped as it entered a village, and a man’s voice called from outside.

“Stonewood! Passengers, come out and gather your belongings!”

As the people filling the carriage exited one by one, the woman who had been concerned about me also left with her child.

And as the last to disembark, I bowed slightly to the coachman and immediately boarded another carriage heading to my next destination.

After traversing as much distance as possible by carriage, I finally reached the entrance to the Grow Mountains.

The bustling crowds had disappeared, and now only barren land met my eyes.

“Now I’m really almost there.”

Beyond this point would soon be the Valley of Flames, and beyond that would be the gorge where the dragon dwelled.

Thinking about it, I almost felt as though the massive dragon might appear before my eyes at any moment.

“Wait.”

After speaking to a creature that couldn’t hear me, I slowly began to move.

※※※

The inside of the cave, without a single point of light, was dark and desolate. I even doubted whether that creature was really here.

Step, step. Thump, thump.

All I could hear were my footsteps and the sound of my heart that seemed ready to burst.

Relying only on the flickering light and all the sounds I was making, I continued walking deeper.

“It didn’t seem this extensive from outside.”

The vibrations created by my voice echoed along the cave walls with a humming sound. It felt like something might jump out from inside and devour me at any moment.

‘How far do I need to go?’

The hand gripping my bag strap tightened.

The interior of this cave, the dragon’s habitat, was surprisingly deep. It almost felt as though it cut through the entire mountain range.

Feeling as if I had fallen into a different world, I turned around to look back at the path I had come from. Even the light that had formed the boundary with the outside had long since disappeared.

Gulp, I swallowed.

It wasn’t because of fear.

A strange tension. Anticipation for something waiting for me while holding its breath. I was even starting to feel excited.

‘You’ve really gone mad, Iella.’

Yes, everything was strange. The fact that I had survived, this heart that didn’t feel like my own.

The restless heart in my chest was telling me that the dragon was somewhere beyond here.

‘Do I really want to die?’

I wasn’t regretting this journey, but such a thought suddenly occurred to me. There was no way to explain this heart-fluttering feeling.

Being excited at the prospect of death was no different from being a pervert.

Some time later.

A faint breathing sound came from not far away.

‘It’s him.’

Gulp, saliva slid down my throat with a sound. I was so cautious that I stopped walking and focused all my senses on my hearing.

Hssss— hss. Hssssss—

The thin breathing sound, continuing unsteadily, seemed precarious.

※※※

“What… is this?”

At the end of the pitch-black cave, what I discovered in the deepest part was a black dot darker than the darkness itself.

If not for the continuous breathing sounds, I might have thought it was dead. The small creature, curled up tightly, was only taking rough breaths.

I approached right in front of it and bent one knee to examine it.

At that moment, the curled-up creature painfully raised its head. Dull eyes that seemed about to fade met mine.

Thump!

A clear heartbeat. A red gaze both familiar and unfamiliar. I knew the creature’s identity.

“Dragon.”

When I spoke, the creature trembled. There was no trace of the imposing presence that had once threatened me.

In my memories, it had always been intimidating, and when I dreamed, it even inflicted the pain of tearing my flesh. But now…

“What in the world……”

Despite coming prepared to die, the creature’s appearance was too pathetic. At this rate, rather than entrusting it with my end, it seemed I could crush it with my small strength.

With each step I took, the creature’s body trembled and shook. Yet its eyes remained fixed on me.

Was it a last shred of pride? Despite knowing the roles had reversed, it didn’t blink once.

I took one final step to close the remaining distance. Then I knelt on one knee and reached out toward the creature.

The red glow that had been watching me disappeared into the shadow cast by my extended hand.

※※※

A red-haired woman walking in the garden suddenly stopped. It was because of the brown-haired maid who caught her eye.

“Why is she being so mopey over there again?”

As if things weren’t troubling enough, seeing that maid sighing heavily and looking tearful every time she appeared was quite irritating.

“Fabian.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Please keep her out of my sight. She’s really getting on my nerves.”

“As you mentioned before, we’ve already moved her quarters to the garden annex.”

“What? When?”

“Two days ago.”

Eek! The sound of grinding teeth reached the butler’s ears, but he simply shook his head without showing any reaction.

“Then tell her to stay in her room. Just seeing her reminds me of that time!”

“Understood, Miss.”

Following orders, the butler approached the maid and said something while patting her shoulder.

Watching this, the woman ended up recalling the memory she had erased countless times. All because of that blank-faced maid.

“Ugh, Iella Roberos!”

Looking down at the letter in her hand, Lorena Soriano’s face contorted. She had to struggle greatly to calm her surging emotions.

‘So she wants me to take in that maid?’

There should be limits to shamelessness. Lorena directed her unfiltered harsh gaze.

In response, Enya trembled without knowing why.

‘Really, she’s doing such a cute thing?’

The scrutinizing gaze continued for a moment. Soon, the butler who had been hovering nearby approached and asked about the matter.

Only then did Lorena snap back to her senses.

She couldn’t relay the contents of the letter as they were, so instead of answering, she gave an order to the butler. First, she needed to verify if Iella’s words were true.

“Send someone to Lake Mineka right now.”

The butler briefly showed confusion at the instruction to look for Roberos family members there, but soon left to carry out the order.

About two hours later, two knights and a coachman of Roberos were dragged into the mansion by the servants.

Judging by their unconscious state, it seemed something had been done to them.

Seeing this, Lorena had to frown deeply. The contents of the letter were true. So she couldn’t help but voice her thoughts.

“She’s crazy. Absolutely crazy.”

Yes, this could only be described as crazy. She had thought it unlikely, but to try to involve her in such a scheme again. There couldn’t be a worse connection than this.