His usually calm eyes seemed to burn an icy blue. 

 Tatiana stepped back one step at the tremendous pressure she felt in that moment. 

 But Tatiana could also sense that Gideon had just hesitated after trying to say something. She waited for his next words, but he only looked at her with complicated eyes while biting his lip. Then, as if realizing he had gotten excited, he turned his gaze far away toward the window. 

 After a while, he stood straight again, having calmed his emotions. However, his position conveyed through his composed voice remained unchanged. 

 “I told you. You need to distance yourself from the Muller family. Don’t create things for nobles to gossip about.” 

 “There won’t be any gossip. I’m just saying I want to go quietly confirm. Why won’t you let me do even that? Do you know you’ve been really strange lately?” 

 “The Duke is already a major criminal with proven charges.” 

 “……” 

 “Titi. Don’t throw a tantrum.” 

 Tatiana, who had been holding back well until then, felt something flip at those words. 

 Throwing a tantrum? Who? Me? She had already lost her birth father who served the royal family. Though she thought there was no one to blame, does he think she felt absolutely no sorrow? And now her adoptive father too had ended up imprisoned in an underground cell. 

 Though the Duchess had made the request, Tatiana hadn’t blindly asked for the Duke’s release. While she couldn’t help hoping for mercy, she hadn’t even thought about amnesty. She had no choice but to consider Gideon’s position as well. 

 She had also internally trusted his judgment. But even so……. 

 ‘Do I look like I’m just throwing an unreasonable tantrum in your eyes?’ 

 Tatiana glared at Gideon with resentful eyes before speaking as if indignant. 

 “I didn’t ask you to save him! Yes, if he committed crimes he should be punished. Do that according to the law, do as Your Highness pleases. But at least let me see his face.” 

 “……” 

 “You said he’s a major criminal? I don’t know about that, but if Your Highness says so, then it must be true. But Your Highness, even when a violent criminal is hanged in the square, they let his daughter see her father’s face one last time. Before the rope around his neck…… before that horrible sight.” 

 “……” 

 “Are you saying I can’t even make this small request to Your Highness? Is my plea really that wrong?!” 

 Their gazes crossed in the air as if sparking flames. The standoff continued for a long time. Gideon was the one who sighed and averted his gaze first. 

 So Tatiana thought he had agreed with her words. She felt that even if he hadn’t fully accepted it, he was willing to yield somewhat. 

 But that was a huge misunderstanding. 

 It was when Tatiana turned her back to go to the underground prison that Gideon instructed his subordinates. 

 “My wife is not feeling well today. Escort her to her room.” 

 “……What did you say?” 

 Tatiana frowned and asked again, wondering if she had heard wrong. Meanwhile, the subordinates who received the order moved swiftly. 

 The guards surrounded her, and Kay bowed his head, seemingly asking forgiveness for the rudeness. As he grabbed one of her arms as if detaining her, a soldier also quietly approached the opposite side. It looked almost like they were binding a criminal. 

 But even suffering such treatment, Tatiana only blinked her eyes. 

 She couldn’t believe Gideon would treat her this way, and she was shocked by the unexpected situation. 

 “What are you doing to me right now?” 

 “……” 

 When Gideon gave no answer, Tatiana said to Kay and the soldier. 

 “Let go.” 

 “……” 

 “Don’t put your hands on my body carelessly.” 

 But they too remained silent. When the prince hadn’t withdrawn his order, subordinates couldn’t retreat first. 

 Tatiana let out a bitter laugh in disbelief before gritting her teeth. Then she instantly twisted her body and struck Kay’s side with her elbow. 

 Kay didn’t waver. He held onto her arm until the end without even letting out a groan. 

 But she took advantage of the confusion to draw the longsword from another soldier’s waist. The sharp sword tip pointed at Kay and the soldiers, and her green eyes turned back to Gideon. 

 “Do you know what you’re doing to me right now?” 

 Tatiana was extremely displeased. This was an insulting situation both as a royal and as a knight. 

 But even though Tatiana’s eyes were blazing, Gideon didn’t withdraw his order. Rather, he made his intention even clearer that he would not stand by and let her meet the Duke. 

 “Take my wife to her room and guard the entrance. Don’t let even an ant in or out.” 

 “……You think I won’t be able to escape if you confine me like that?” 

 After briefly gritting her teeth at his words about confinement, Tatiana asked if he thought she was that easy to handle. 

 Indeed, even now she was confident she could break through the men surrounding her. Though Kay was among them, it was quite possible if she was prepared to see blood. 

 But Gideon was chillingly composed. 

 “Then why don’t you try?” 

 “……” 

 “Do as you please, wife. For your reference, I don’t care if you kill them all.” 

 Tatiana knew his words were sincere. Gideon wouldn’t be too attached to these men’s lives. Rather, she would be the one to feel responsible. 

 Tatiana held onto the sword and stalled for time, which was essentially proof that she was hesitating. 

 When she squeezed her eyes shut and sighed, Gideon gestured to his subordinates with his chin. It meant to take her away now. 

 Being pushed out by them, Tatiana glared at Gideon. 

 “You made a mistake with me today.” 

 “……” 

 “I won’t forget what happened today, and I won’t forgive you for it.” 

 However, Tatiana thought her own words sounded quite pathetic. Wasn’t it like a villain saying “you’ll see” while exiting to the protagonist? Or like a child unable to hide their hurt saying they’ll hate you. 

 Nevertheless, Tatiana didn’t regret her words. She wanted Gideon to know, even like this. How angry she was right now. How disappointed she was in his actions. 

 Gideon stared blankly at Tatiana as she crossed the threshold. 

 His eyes held quite a different light than when he was arguing with Tatiana. They were filled with self-mockery and bitterness. 

 He belatedly responded to Tatiana’s words about not forgiving him. 

 “……Do as you wish.” 

 Did she hear it, or not? Tatiana’s back seemed to pause for a moment, but she soon disappeared completely beyond the door. 

 Gideon looked there a bit longer before slowly turning his head toward the window. In the glass was a man with an expressionless but somewhat tired look. 

 Gideon stared indifferently at his own face while running his hand through his hair. And belatedly discovered the dark red bloodstains dried on his palm.

He frowned and rubbed his hands to erase those marks. But perhaps too much time had passed. No matter how hard he tried, it wouldn’t work. 

 He finally sighed and let his hands fall carelessly. 

 The next day. Tatiana greeted the morning after spending a sleepless night in the bedroom. 

 Now, more than any other emotion, stubbornness took precedence. Her only thought was that she would definitely break through this surveillance and infiltrate the underground of the tower. 

 But it was in the afternoon. She had to receive bad news from Isabelle. 

 ‘Your Highness, please don’t be shocked.’ 

 ‘What is it? You’re scaring me.’ 

 Isabelle, seemingly unable to calm herself down, swallowed dryly before continuing. 

 ‘Duke Muller has taken his own life right after the interrogation.’ 

 ‘Isabelle? What do you mean……’ 

 ‘Based on his suicide note, it seems to have been due to shame and guilt. He wrote that he hopes his crimes end with him, and asked for mercy for his family……’ 

 It was a death surrounded by suspicion. The sentence hadn’t even been finalized yet. If he had endured just a little longer, he might have been able to save his life. 

 However, the social world merely stirred briefly before continuing on relatively quietly. 

 Even the Empress, who was suspected of having connections to the Duke, stayed back as if it wasn’t her business. Who would dare raise questions? No noble would step forward for a family that had fallen with all its connections severed. 

 And a few days later, the Muller family received the Duke’s body. They said they planned to hold a private family funeral away from public eyes. 

 Tatiana wanted to visit there. Secretly, in the middle of the night, wearing infiltration clothes. But that too was impossible. Because Gideon opposed it. 

 ‘I’m not even allowed to pay my respects?’ 

 That wasn’t all. Gideon wouldn’t even allow Tatiana to wear mourning clothes in her room. 

 Seeing his stubborn attitude, Tatiana asked as if lamenting. 

 ‘How much more must I be disappointed in Your Highness?’ 

 ‘……’ 

 The Muller family incident was gradually coming to an end. As time passes, it will fade from people’s memories as well. 

 However, for some, it wasn’t the end. For one couple, this was like a signal flare announcing the beginning of a cold war.