The imperial underground prison was more unpleasant than ever due to the snow that had fallen for days.

The floor was muddy with mixed snow and dirt, and the air was damp.

The prisoners confined in the imperial prison were enduring the most miserable winter ever.

“D*mn black hair, d*mn Eileen!”

Among the many prisoners, Amber continued to mutter curses without even adapting.

“Shut up!”

Unable to bear the continuous noise, a prisoner in the next cell struck the bars hard.

“Are you shouting at Amber now?! Amber is a noble lady of a count’s family!”

“Don’t put on airs when you’re just a count’s daughter!”

“What?! And what are you supposed to be?!”

“That’s right, I’m the son of a marquis’s family!”

The childish argument between the two grew increasingly fierce.

Then prisoners one after another began banging on the bars and shouting.

As the narrow underground prison was filling with noise, a low voice suddenly resonated.

“Quiet.”

When the man’s voice was heard, amazingly, it became silent in an instant.

Even Amber kept her mouth shut, intimidated by the presence.

“Hmm.”

The man, who had been examining the prisoners one by one, stopped in front of the cell where Amber was confined.

He opened the door with a key and said,

“Amber de Rozley, follow me.”

“Where are we going? Don’t tell me that black-haired man is saving me again?”

From the underground prison to the ground floor, from the ground floor to the tower.

During the long walk, Amber kept chattering beside him, but the man didn’t even respond.

“Go in.”

Just when she thought he had finally spoken, what he delivered was a short command.

“Tsk.”

Black-haired men only use people like themselves.

Amber just snorted and followed his order.

In a little while, paradise would be waiting for her.

“Hello, Amber de Rozley.”

But unfortunately, what awaited her was not paradise but hell.

Aaron was waiting for her with his legs crossed.

“Sit.”

Aaron issued a dry command to Amber, who had frozen as soon as the door opened.

But Amber just stood there blankly.

“Tsk.”

When Aaron raised his hand, a waiting strong man forcibly seated her in the chair.

“Who helped you?”

When she met the cold purple eyes, Amber sensed it.

That now her life was truly over……

“A man wearing a black robe.”

However, she couldn’t die alone like this.

If not the two of them, then she had to drag someone else to hell with her.

That would make it less unfair.

“When I was confined in the convent, a man wearing a black robe came and asked Amber if she wanted revenge.”

Amber calmly revealed everything she knew.

“……And he had light black hair. That’s all I know.”

As Amber’s long story ended, the veins on the back of Aaron’s hand became visibly red.

Again, light black hair.

A headache throbbed at the reappearance of this character.

“Take Amber away.”

Aaron closed his eyes tightly and gestured. The strong men then took her away.

“Hah……”

What could be the relationship between that man and Eileen?

The unanswered questions scattered into the empty space with a deep sigh.

* * *

Crash!

A deafening sound echoed through Laine’s bedroom in the annex.

However, since Laine had already dismissed his attendants, no one heard the sound.

“I was a fool to think you were doing a good job for a while.”

Laine threw the remaining furniture toward the wall. Blood flowed from his hand, cut by the broken glass.

“Can’t you manage even one person properly?”

“I’m, I’m sorry……”

“D*mn it!”

Laine’s roar filled the bedroom. As if his anger still hadn’t subsided, he threw the remaining furniture.

“D*mn them!”

He knew better than anyone what had happened at the masquerade ball last night.

He had been at the scene of the incident.

When a sharp scream suddenly echoed through the party venue where gentle orchestra melodies had been flowing.

At that time, Laine thought his plan had succeeded.

The knights rushed in formation, and after about 30 minutes had passed.

They came out holding Amber.

One of the knights was holding what appeared to be her knife, which was stained with bright red blood.

— Please report in detail what happened.

Laine issued a stiff command, carefully hiding his joy.

— Amber de Rozley, that is, the suspect, attempted to stab Lady Eileen but failed.

Until just before the attendant who came to report the situation spoke.

“I clearly ordered that the woman also had a grudge against Lady Eileen, so educate her thoroughly and never let her out of your sight.”

If the scream had been Eileen’s, not Amber’s.

If she had succeeded in her plan rather than failing.

He didn’t even want to imagine it.

The sound of teeth grinding resonated heavily between Laine and Virtanen.

“Moreover, to think that Duke Aaron was the one who blocked her attack.”

It was as if he had made their love grow deeper with his own hands.

Laine laughed a little out of absurdity.

“……I trust you’ve properly silenced her.”

“Don’t, don’t worry. I met her completely covered up.”

Now he was starting to worry.

It would take quite deep digging to discover that he was behind all these incidents.

No, he had made it so that no connection could even be formed.

But with Virtanen trembling before his eyes, he thought it might not be the case.

“D*mn it.”

Laine chewed his lips and muttered curses.

Yes, he could be generous and forgive one mistake.

But there was no time.

Aaron de Monston.

When he learned that the cunning fellow and Eileen were engaged, he grew impatient.

Due to Duke Kyle’s critical condition, they wouldn’t hold the wedding yet, but he was still anxious.

What if a miracle actually happened and he woke up.

If he woke up and began to suspect him.

“……”

With a throbbing headache, Laine closed his eyes.

The pitch-black world with no light entering was dizzying.

“……Hah.”

The blue-green eyes that had been hidden behind his eyelids slowly revealed themselves.

First, he needed to act as if nothing had happened.

Then, formulate the next plan.

Having organized his thoughts, Laine issued a cold command.

“For now, hide like a dead mouse until I find you.”

* * *

The snow that had been falling sporadically since dawn completely stopped by the afternoon.

With warm sunshine that didn’t feel like winter pouring down, all the snow melted.

It was a shame, but thanks to that, carriages could move freely.

And Eileen could also move around freely without the knights accompanying her.

Of course, on the condition that Daniel or Aaron accompanied her.

“I should take this too.”

Eileen hummed a tune, enjoying the freedom of going out after a long time.

As she packed various things before going out, she filled her prepared bag to capacity.

Aaron had agreed to accompany her on today’s outing.

“All done.”

Eileen finally put a ring on the ring finger of her left hand and went downstairs.

“I’ll be going now.”

As she stepped out the front door after saying goodbye, the Monston family’s carriage was already waiting for her.

“Welcome, Eileen.”

As if he had been watching the front door all along, Aaron opened the carriage door as soon as Eileen approached.

“Aaron, aren’t I bothering you when you’re so busy?”

“No, I’m going because I want to go with you.”

Aaron answered firmly and helped Eileen into the carriage.

“Let’s depart.”

As the short command was given, the carriage began to move.

“You probably wanted to go early in the morning.”

Aaron said while fiddling with her left hand where the ring was placed.

“That’s true, but it’s fine since I can go even in the afternoon.”

Eileen smiled slightly.

A few days ago, after the Amber incident was resolved, there was only one thing Eileen wanted.

To spend the entire day at the hospital with Duke Kyle.

Although she had visited the hospital every day before, she had been so busy that her stays weren’t very long.

That had always bothered her.

So as soon as everything was resolved, Eileen chose to go to the hospital.

“By the way, Aaron.”

“Hmm?”

Aaron stopped touching her hand and raised his head to meet her gaze. Eileen’s green eyes were trembling slightly.

“……What should I do?”

“What’s wrong?”

As Eileen’s expression suddenly darkened, Aaron asked with concern.

“I think I forgot to bring a document.”

“……What?”

He thought something serious had happened.

Aaron muttered in a deflated voice.

“It’s important.”

“Nothing is more important to me than you.”

“What if it’s a catalog to show Dad?”

“Then we need to return to the Ceres mansion right away.”

As their playful banter continued, the carriage arrived at the hospital. When the carriage stopped, Aaron got out first and extended his hand.

“Let’s go.”

Eileen took his hand, got out of the carriage, and entered the hospital.

“Welcome, lady. Duke.”

It was the greeting from the staff that had become too familiar. Eileen gave a slight smile and went up to the third floor where Duke Kyle was hospitalized.

〈302. Kyle de Ceres.〉

Standing in front of the hospital room door was always a routine for Eileen.

But today, her heart pounded as if it might jump out of her mouth.

“Phew……”

Please don’t let Dad leave my side.

Eileen clenched her fist once, then placed her hand on the doorknob.

Creak.

When she opened the hospital room door, only shallow breathing sounds could be heard. Strangely, her feet wouldn’t move.

Just a little, she had hoped that when she opened this door, she would hear a voice saying, “I’ve missed you, Eileen,” instead of the mere sound of breathing.

But expectations were easily shattered.

At that moment, she felt a warm touch on her shoulder.

When she slowly raised her head, Aaron was looking at her with a gentle smile.

That’s right, there’s no need to be disappointed yet.

Eileen composed herself and entered the hospital room.