In that instant, Henrietta understood exactly what Robert meant. He was telling her that there were no other options, no paths other than the one he permitted.

“I don’t mind you throwing a tantrum like this, but you should know when to stop. There’s a line, and you’re crossing it.”

“…”

“You knew, didn’t you? That I would have to be engaged to someone someday?”

She had never thought of Robert as a warm man.

In all the years she had known him, he had never spoken to her in such an oppressive tone.

Suddenly gripped by fear, Henrietta tried to step away from him.

“I should be going now.”

“No, not yet. We need to finish this conversation.”

His hand, which was still on her waist, moved up her back. She trembled minutely wherever his fingertips touched her.

Henrietta pushed him away and took two steps back.

“I have nothing more to say.”

“So, are you just going to walk out of here and go straight to that house you supposedly found? The one near the station?”

“I’m not moving out immediately. And I’ll say it again: I didn’t come here to ask for your approval.”

“Hangderhood, in Sersenpers, was it? Is that the school you said you were going to?”

“…”

“So, at the moment, that’s the only place you’ve got to go, isn’t it?”

His face twisted into a faint, unfamiliar smile. Henrietta clenched her fists tightly at the sight of an expression she had never seen before.

And just like that, it struck her. If Robert Ian Schutzman wanted to, Hangderhood could vanish as early as tomorrow.

“Rietta, don’t turn me into a cruel man.”

She finally closed her eyes slowly.

“What exactly are you telling me to do?”

“Stay just as you are. Nothing needs to change.”

It wouldn’t just be Hangderhood. Any place she might choose as her future refuge.

Sersenpers, where she had dreamed of spending her life in peace, would be affected too.

Everything she would grow to cherish could be wiped away with a single word from Robert.

This realisation made her tremble like a leaf; her body was too shaken to stand properly.

“Do you think that’s reasonable?”

“When we started this, I gave you the chance to walk away. But you were the one who took my hand.”

Robert wasn’t lying. She hadn’t been able to resist the man who burned like fire.

It was the kind of intense emotion that only comes once in a lifetime.

She couldn’t pretend it meant nothing, even though what he had given her yesterday had caused her nothing but pain.

Even though what he had given her yesterday had been nothing but pain. Up until the moment she stepped into the office, Henrietta had not regretted the days she had spent loving him.

She had intended to bury those beautiful memories deep in her heart and cherish them for the rest of her life. She truly believed she could.

“So, you want me to stay by your side even after you marry my sister?”

“Of course. It doesn’t matter if it’s her or someone else. Your place is here.”

Henrietta laughed bitterly at her own foolishness.

Part of her had hoped that when she told Robert she wanted to leave, he might show some sorrow at losing her. She had been foolishly romantic.

“You’re telling me to be your mistress. Do you really need to drag me down that far to feel satisfied?”

She opened her eyes. She had just hoped to see a flicker of shame on his face when she said ‘mistress’.

But her expectations were thoroughly crushed.

He sneered. He was unbelievably cold.

“You didn’t know?”

“…”

“You already are my mistress. You’re the only person in Haytesfield who doesn’t seem to realise that. Your sister might already know, for all we know.”

Did she really not know? No, she did.

Everyone had looked at her with those eyes.

There was no way she could have been completely oblivious. And yet she had pretended not to notice.

Because she liked him. She liked him so much that feeling his warmth made her dizzy.

Even though she knew things had to change. Even though she felt the need to escape at every turn.

She endured the humiliation, disgrace and shame because she loved him so much.

No matter what others whispered about her behind her back, she believed that what she was doing was loving him.

The next thing she had to do was say goodbye. It was a fever — the kind that everyone experiences at least once in their lifetime.

“Do you think I’m vile? A shameless man who doesn’t know when to stop?”

“Please… Your Grace…”

“Then you shouldn’t have said you were leaving. You shouldn’t have found a house and a job behind my back. Isn’t that right?”

“Can you hear what you’re saying right now? The woman you’re considering marrying is my sister. Even though we have different mothers, we’re still sisters. How could two sisters be with the same man at the same time?”

Henrietta couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence. It felt too filthy to say out loud.

As she shook her head violently, Robert suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her arm roughly.

“Robert!”

“What? That’s strange…”

“Two nights ago, you were moaning so sweetly under me.”

She could hardly believe that the man standing in front of her was the same person she had once known as Robert.

“Henrietta. Listen carefully. I’m planning to propose to your sister because of you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going to become emperor. To do that, I need the Osbornes. As you know, the only thing I lack is legitimacy.”

Robert stared at her as though he were ready to devour her.

“It’s not uncommon for an emperor to marry sisters from the same family. Things are different for royalty—what others might call shameful, they call an honor.”

Henrietta couldn’t even muster a sigh at these unbelievable words.

“Your family—what little remains of it in name alone—had to spend a fortune just to maintain appearances. And where do you think all that money came from? If two daughters from a debt-ridden household can marry into families wealthy enough to erase those debts, then that’s the greatest stroke of luck you could ask for. Your sister, it seems, already understands that perfectly well.”

“……”

“If I become Emperor, I can give you a name beyond mistress.”

“So you’re saying all of this is because of me?”

“It means it’s for your sake, too.”

Robert’s low voice cut through Henrietta like a knife. In one swift motion, the hand gripping her arm shifted to firmly seize her chin.

Ten years. It had been ten whole years. Ten years she had carried feelings for him.

Every moment she had spent thinking of Robert shimmered like a pearl hidden in the mudflats.

But now she realised that where she stood had never been dry land — it was a swamp.

No matter how deep she dug, she would never find anything that could truly shine.

“You can’t leave me anyway. You know that better than anyone.”

His grip was so tight that Henrietta couldn’t pull away.

His face came dangerously close, their lips nearly brushing, then suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

The tension between them shattered like ice breaking underfoot.

“This is Pierre. Lady Osborne has arrived.”

Robert held her gaze for a moment before releasing her chin.

“Let her in.”

The moment he spoke, the door opened. Henrietta quickly stepped away from him.

However, the strange energy between them hadn’t had enough time to dissipate.

An uncomfortable silence ensued. A peculiar tension.

“The eldest daughter of House Osborne, Edna, greets the Duke.”

Edna smoothly broke the moment.

Much like Robert, she had long, golden hair that flowed down to her waist as she approached and bowed elegantly.

At the same time, she glanced at Henrietta. In her pitch-black, emotionless eyes, something cold flickered for an instant.

“It’s been a while, Henrietta. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Henrietta wanted to respond with something appropriate, but it felt as though someone had reached into her throat and gripped it shut.

No words came. She could only manage a nod and a faint ‘Yes’.

“You may go now.”

As if Robert’s dismissal had finally cut the invisible cord holding her in place, Henrietta moved swiftly —almost frantically — towards the door.

But just as she passed Edna, she froze.

“You filthy b*tch.”