The black hunting dog, released from its leash, bared its teeth at her with a vicious growl, keng-keng! Terrified, Rosie collapsed helplessly onto the snow.

Callios trudged through the deep, sinking snow and closed the distance in an instant.

“So this is the loyalty the Moavis family swore to uphold?”

He looked almost insane with fury.

Grabbing her trembling body, he hauled her up roughly and strode into a nearby villa. She was either shivering from the cold or from fear.

He threw her onto a bed in a warm room, and she was too stunned to think.

Why had she been captured? How had their plans been leaked?

Her mind in chaos, she looked up at Callios. He spoke with an overwhelming, almost savage presence.

“I keep every promise I make to the end. So you will keep yours as well.”

Rosie, dazed, asked weakly.

“…Aren’t we breaking off the engagement?”

His thick eyebrows twitched, and he suddenly lowered his head to grip her ankle as if he might snap it.

Watching her tremble in fear, Callios growled.

“Break it off? Is that what you want?”

“N-No, that’s not…”

“Then there’s no problem. We’ll proceed as promised.”

“But people said you and Princess Isildoa were going to be married. Someone like me shouldn’t—”

In that moment, his cold voice fell like frost.

“Between the words of fools who’ve never even seen my face and my words—whose do you trust more?”

“…Callios. I trust you.”

His k*lling intent, which had swelled to the point of seeming about to explode, slowly subsided at her answer.

Only then did he truly seem to see Rosie, trembling before him. He hesitated, then returned to his blank expression.

Adjusting the strap of his sword, he turned away, exuding a frigid calm.

“The engagement will remain. So abandon any thought of running.”

“But…”

He turned his head slightly and cast her a chilling look.

“If you want me to turn your sister’s country into ashes, then go ahead—try running.”

Startled by the threat of war, which he seemed fully prepared to wage, Rosie hiccupped with fear. Callios never spoke unless he meant it. His words, heavy with sincerity, drained all the color from her face.

Rosie promised that she would not run away again until the wedding.

Only then did Callios look satisfied, gently taking her chin and tugging lightly as he warned:

“I don’t want what’s mine belonging to someone else without my permission.”

He didn’t see her as his fiancée or as his affectionate partner. He saw her as property. She was a promised spoil that he was furious to lose.

The next day, Callios departed for another expedition, conquering neighbouring nations one by one. With the emperor — his closest friend — supporting him entirely, he expanded their territory without restraint. As a celebrated war hero, no place was untouched by his blade.

How was she supposed to escape a man like that?

Rosie buried her face in her knees.

This time, she had to do it alone. She had never had anyone to rely on to begin with.

‘My sister isn’t answering either…’

After Callios dragged her back, she stopped receiving replies to the letters she sent through secret merchants. Her sister had undoubtedly given up on her.

Lost in thought, Rosie looked up at the clear sky and murmured.

“Why did you send me back alive at all?”

She stared blankly at the trembling flowers, then snapped out of her haze when she heard footsteps behind her.

A small, timid voice followed.

“Sister always comes here when she’s upset.”

“Miss Ashley?”

It was her sister-in-law, Ashley.

Holding her dress delicately, she stepped quietly into the wide flowerbed and slowly crouched down beside Rosie, looking disappointed.

“My plans were canceled again. He must be really busy these days.”

“Your plans… with Viscount Russel?”

Ashley lowered her head and nodded, looking sombre.

Viscount Russell was a lively and handsome man who had always been popular, even before he started dating Ashley. He had a boyish charm, and it was common knowledge that she loved him deeply. In fact, it was his betrayal that later drove her to take her own life.

‘That man… he’s the reason the young lady dies soon.’

Rosie knew the full truth. It was one of the many pieces of information she’d heard while dying from illness.

The ducal household had spoken carelessly, assuming she wouldn’t live long enough to matter.

With a quiet sigh, Rosie spoke carefully.

“I heard Viscount Russel is close to Sabrina. Did you know?”

Ashley’s face turned instantly pale.

“H-How did you…”

Of course she knew.

She was the shining star of the social scene, a woman who had risen to prominence thanks to her beauty and singing talent. She was notorious for targeting noblemen who were obsessed with her, especially those who were married or in relationships.

Ashley’s lover, Viscount Russel, was no exception.

Even worse, Sabrina would manipulate her lovers into abandoning their partners by any means necessary.

Rosie revealed the truth with a somber expression.

“Miss.”

“……”

“It’s not just friendship. You’ve sensed it too. Don’t trust Viscount Russel too much.”

Ashley wasn’t completely unaware. She had diligently attended social gatherings in Rosie’s place and was well informed. She had simply held onto trust for her lover until the very end.

Biting her lip, Ashley looked at Rosie with sorrowful eyes.

“How did you know?”

“I can’t tell you right now. But it is the truth. Please believe me, Miss.”

Rosie sincerely hoped that Ashley would trust her. She couldn’t let Ashley die in the same way as before.

Despite her timidity, Ashley had once shielded Rosie, who was heavily pregnant at the time, from Isabella by taking the beating in her place.

Her wounds were severe, yet she never told her brother, Callios. Rosie had begged her not to, fearing the chaos it would cause in the household.

Ashley, conflicted, clutched the hem of her dress tightly.

“…Let’s go inside first. Tell me everything. And… I want to drink the tea you make.”

“Of course.”

Isabella had taken all the good tea for herself. Rosie would have to choose the best of what little remained.

Trying to clear her thoughts of Viscount Russel, Ashley shifted to another topic.

“Come to think of it, my brother left early today, but there’s no news from him.”

Rosie paused, then answered calmly.

“He said he had somewhere to visit.”

“Oh? You already met him?”

“Outside. Just briefly.”

And he had threatened her to be “ready” for tonight, of course.

“Back then, he used to get injured all the time. But now, he doesn’t get hurt at all. Even in the last civil conflict, they said the enemy couldn’t touch a single hair on him.”

“…Is that so.”

Ashley gave a faint, wistful smile, as if recalling better times.

“When he seemed a bit more human, you used to bandage him often.”

Ah, there had been times like that. They felt so unreal, so long ago.

Rosie remembered quietly. She had cultivated herbs in the Count’s garden, carefully testing each one and selecting those suitable for medicine, hoping his wounds would heal quickly.

“Those bandages worked well. You even made them using flowers you grew yourself, turned into herbs, and developed a special bandage just for him…”

“Miss.”

Rosie cut her off, not wanting to hear more.

“Oh, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry. I’m a bit scattered today… Well, it’s all in the past anyway.”

Feeling awkward, Ashley glanced up at Rosie and murmured.

“Still… I’m glad you’re here. For both my brother and me. We’re alive because of you.”

Although it sounded like she was defending Callios, Rosie understood. After all, they were siblings who had experienced hard times together. That bond ran deep.

Duke Stephen Benedict had a legal wife, yet he fathered Callios and Ashley with a woman from a fallen knightly family.

He found her so beautiful that he could not forget her, and three years later he summoned her again and forced himself on her.

As a result, Callios and Ashley were born one after the other.

Following Ashley’s birth, their mother, who had once been a low-ranking knight, died while on an assignment. The duke could no longer ignore the children and officially recognised them as his own.

Fortunately, Callios was exceptionally talented at swordsmanship, earning him the favour of the second prince.

He was chosen to be his companion.

The crown prince was known for his violent temper and saw the capable and well-meaning second prince as a threat. Consequently, the second prince kept Callios close by as protection.

With the second prince’s unwavering support, Callios flourished from that point onwards. He was admired and respected at the time for having risen above his origins.

‘Until that incident happened.’

“Monster.”

Rosie muttered the nickname under her breath, making sure Ashley couldn’t hear. It was a nickname bestowed upon him by those who had witnessed the scene with their own eyes: the Monster Duke.

As Ashley stepped inside, Rosie suddenly called out.

“Miss, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Has anything political happened around Callios lately? Like why he went to the palace so early…”

Understanding immediately, Ashley nodded.

“If it’s political, then it must be that. Because of the expeditions lately, the pro-war faction and—”

“Young Lady, His Grace is asking for you.”

Ashley and Rosie exchanged a startled glance at the same time.

***

It was a meeting attended by only two people: Callios and Rosie.

Out of courtesy, Rosie offered Callios the tea that she had previously prepared for Ashley. It would have been wasteful not to serve it.

“There’s tea here. Would you like to try some first?”

“No.”

He refused sharply, as he always did—then paused, reopening his mouth.

“I already had several cups while speaking privately with His Majesty.”

She was used to being turned down. But explaining the reason? That was unusual. Rosie couldn’t help being puzzled.

Just then, Callios spoke again.

“Earlier…”

He seemed as if he was about to say something, but then he abruptly changed direction. His tone was much gentler than it had been outside.

“If you don’t want to… I won’t force you.”