When Blake brought Khalid back, Countess Vanessa was overjoyed. However, Khalid collapsed before the guests even arrived, and Vanessa hurriedly called for a physician.

“It’s lovesickness.”

“What did you say?”

The diagnosis was truly absurd. Blake chuckled again, and Countess Vanessa pressed her forehead.

The physician spoke quite seriously.

“…If he continues like this, his body will deteriorate to the point where normal life becomes impossible, my lady.”

“…Then, then what should I do?”

“If he could meet the person in question, there would be no better medicine. If that person has died, the situation becomes more difficult. This illness will never heal in that case. Eventually, it leads to death.”

The physician had encountered many people who had wasted away and died from lovesickness. Illnesses of the mind were terrifying; once contracted, they lingered painfully long, even in someone who had everything.

The Countess pondered.

‘Should I call Noel back? But that would cause unsavory rumors.’

She knew that telling her husband, the Count, would be pointless. He would likely call it a disgrace to the family and leave Khalid to die.

‘Did I make a mistake in sending Noel away? But if I had left things alone, he would have certainly heard the rumors.’

The one lying in bed, sweating coldly, was her only son whom she cherished. He was too upright and honest, and had never disappointed her. Because of that, he was too serious about the one he had given his heart to.

Vanessa sat in the chair beside the bed for a long time, watching her son. She pressed her throbbing head with her hand.

‘I need to call Noel back.’

Having sent him away once, she wasn’t sure if he would return when asked. But she planned to persuade him somehow. Of course, due to the unsavory rumors surrounding the two, she would place him at the villa rather than the mansion.

In the countryside where darkness had settled, only the sound of insects could be heard. It was so quiet that even the slightest noise would make one jump.

Alice tossed and turned. For some reason, sleep wouldn’t come tonight. Tears welled up when she thought of the cozy time she had spent with Khalid at the villa.

When she first met Khalid, he looked like a doll sitting there. A beautiful doll with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had thought of him like a younger brother, but it wasn’t really that way. She felt good when Khalid followed her around. It made her, a slave, feel special.

[“…I want to know if I truly like men.”]

[“Ah… I…! I don’t think I can!”]

[“…I wish it could be you.”]

But what Khalid wanted was a man, and Alice was a woman.

Alice pulled out a small box from under her bed. Inside was a silver necklace with the Walsh family crest.

After kissing the silver necklace, Alice put it back in the small box and fell asleep.

She was sad about the fact that she would never see Khalid again.

A month later, while Alice was busy helping with the farm harvest, Connor came looking for her again. Connor’s coachman approached Alice and said,

“Master Connor is waiting.”

“…Yes.”

Alice wiped her sweat and entered Connor’s carriage. Connor was wearing a pitch-black coat.

“Alice. Have you been well? It’s been a while.”

“…Yes.”

Alice fidgeted with her brown hair that reached her shoulders. This situation was extremely uncomfortable.

‘What does he want to say this time?’

She was curious about her parents’ news, but she would rather not be alone with Connor. Above all, she got goosebumps whenever his gaze touched her body.

‘It feels like he’s licking me.’

Even though she was fully clothed, she felt n*ked.

Connor looked at Alice and smirked.

“…Do you dislike me that much?”

“Pardon?”

‘Was it that obvious?’

Alice was bewildered. Connor firmly gripped Alice’s chin with his hand. Alice’s eyes met Connor’s.

“…I’ve decided to change the conditions.”

“What?”

“I’ll rescue your parents and brother.”

“!”

Alice swallowed hard.

That was extremely generous. Even asking the guild to find her parents would cost a lot of money, but to rescue them? Wasn’t that offering to pay the ransom for her parents and brother?

One of Connor’s fingers slipped into Alice’s mouth.

“I’m a bit dissatisfied that your mouth isn’t big enough… Well, I suppose you’ll get used to it.”

“…?”

“…You’ll become my slave.”

“What?”

“Think about it carefully. The money paid for the ransom of three people will become your price. If you want to free yourself from me, you’ll have to pay ten times that amount.”

Alice’s eyes gradually darkened. Connor licked his lips.

“Of course, I don’t pay wages to slaves. …I can’t let you escape so easily.”

“…”

“I was just planning to have you a few times and be done with it, but since you’re inexperienced, I changed my mind. I’m not in a position to take a concubine since I don’t have a wife yet. But later, I’ll definitely make you my concubine. Though you’ll be a slave, I’ll treat you well, with nothing lacking. Even when you grow old… I won’t abandon you.”

“…”

Connor said he would do everything he could for her. But Alice didn’t believe the words of nobles. Moreover, she had no desire to be Connor’s concubine.

“I will never be a slave again…”

“Is that so? Then there’s nothing I can do. Get out.”

Connor cleanly opened the carriage door. He always treated Alice with a relaxed attitude. A completely different attitude from Khalid. Was it because he was older?

That was precisely why Alice didn’t trust him.

Like any nobleman, Connor wouldn’t lower his pride for a mere slave. But inside, he was still burning black with desire.

‘D*mn it. After all I’ve said, she’s really just going to leave?’

But Alice stepped out of the carriage without hesitation.

Connor’s carriage remained still in that spot for a long time. Connor glared at Alice’s back as she walked away. He clenched his fist.

“Ha…”

Wasn’t he being too swayed by a 23-year-old woman? How could he hold a viscount title like this?

Connor spoke weakly to the coachman.

“Let’s go to the castle.”

“Yes, sir.”

He could think about what to do with Alice later. She wouldn’t run away. That’s how Connor consoled himself.

Alice turned off the lamp to go to bed. But sleep wouldn’t come, and she tossed and turned in bed.

[“…You’ll become my slave.”]

‘How could I become a slave again after escaping slavery! And the ransom for three people won’t be a small amount. What he ultimately wants is my body…’

She thought of his fox-like, despicable face. Not that Connor had done anything despicable to Alice. Despite his appearance, he was quite gentlemanly. He had let Alice go twice.

‘What should I do…? My parents and brother must be suffering right now…’

The whole mess had started because of her father’s gambling.

Just then, she heard the sound of the front door being broken down.

“…!”

Startled, she went outside her room to find three rough-looking men. They frowned when they saw Alice. A man with a protruding belly grumbled.

“What’s this? We came because they said there was a daughter, but it’s a man?”

“Look carefully. You rotten fish eyes! She’s a woman. A woman.”

“What? Ah…! I thought she was a man because she’s wearing pants.”

The man with the protruding belly approached Alice with a creepy smile. When he raised his hand, Alice instinctively closed her eyes.

“Eek…!”

The large hand stroked Alice’s hair.

“We don’t hit the merchandise. If it’s a woman, we need to take better care of her. Customers don’t like it when there are bruises, you know?”

Alice looked up at him, trembling. Beside the fat man were a skinny man and a man with exceptionally dark skin.