BD Chapter 3

Chapter 3

03. Reunion at Rose Castle

Clip-clop. Clip-clop. In the carriage where the sound of hooves resonated, Alice gently took Chloe's hand.

"Sister. We'll arrive soon."

She seemed to have dozed off without realizing it. When Chloe opened her eyes, Alice smiled vaguely, as if she would take care of everything.

"Wow. Sister, you don't seem nervous at all. Well, you are surprisingly more fearless than I am.”

Last night, Chloe had been tossing and turning in bed due to a nightmare, so Alice had no idea. Chloe had just been recalling the disturbing face that had haunted her moments ago. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] The Duke's eyes, piercing through her, as he smirked, were vivid in her mind. Strangely, she couldn't recall the Duke's face clearly, only fragmented and vivid images.

The red lips that smirked at her, the eyes that shone like the dawn within thinning eyelashes, and the sharp angle of the cold and arrogant golden eyebrows.

She looked at Alice, shaking off the ominous images.

"What's there to be nervous about? After today, there will be plenty of eligible gentlemen eager to marry my beautiful sister."

"Are you trying to calm me down while making me more nervous?"

"Of course not, Miss Alice."

As she gently smoothed Alice's hair, not with malice but with genuine care, the carriage entered the forest of yew trees. Lanterns hung on branches illuminated the brightly lit forest path as they rode for a while until finally, before them, appeared the beautiful castle. The gates adorned with ivy roses swung open wide for them.

"A castle used solely for the entertainment of one duke. What a waste."

Alice sighed. Chloe lowered her voice, worried it might be overheard by the coachman.

"Alice."

Understanding the look on Chloe's face, Alice fell silent. As the carriages ahead of them were ushered in, it was finally their turn. Chloe took a deep breath, gripping her cane tightly as she stepped down from the open carriage door.

"The daughters of Verdier, entering."

Guided by the butler in his impeccably tailored suit, Chloe and Alice cautiously stepped forward. Following the luxurious red carpet, they entered a dazzling ballroom adorned with ornate marble. The opulent woodwork and ceiling-length chandeliers showcased the extravagance of the building. The shimmering chandeliers, each seemingly adorned with hundreds of candles, added to the grandeur. Laughter and chatter of nobles dressed in their finest gowns and tuxedos mingled with the music of the orchestra.

"Ah, I already feel drained just from being here.”

As Alice whispered to Chloe while hiding her face behind a fan, someone approached and pretended to know her.

"Aren't you Alice Verdier?"

Alice nodded slightly, as she had been taught, then smiled, her eyes twinkling. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] After struggling to remember the somewhat familiar name of the man pretending to know her, she sighed and chuckled warmly.

"Count Cromwell. It's been a while."

"May I request a dance for the next song?”

The gentleman seemed to have more than just bad memories of Alice. Alice glanced at Chloe and nodded slightly.

"Of course. This is my sister, Chloe."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Count Cromwell."

"The honor is truly mine to meet the family of Alice Verdier. Perhaps later, you could dance with me as well...”

Count Cromwell trailed off as he observed Chloe, who stood gracefully with her cane, and then Chloe smiled gently at the slightly flustered Count.

"Just watching beautiful people dance is enjoyable enough. I truly appreciate the thought."

As the music started, Alice and Count Cromwell walked hand in hand towards the center of the ballroom. Chloe sighed with relief as she watched them glide effortlessly onto the dance floor. The scandal Alice had caused in high society seemed to have faded from people's minds.

Chloe felt reassured that Alice wouldn't be in any awkward position for not having a partner to dance with after successfully completing the first dance. Already, she could feel the attention shifting towards them. With her cheeks flushed and her dress swirling, Alice danced with such charm and beauty that she was captivating to everyone in the room.

Anyway, should we be grateful to the Duke?

After receiving lemonade from a passing servant, Chloe began to organize the thoughts that had been bothering her. It was about the reunion with the Duke.

The best scenario Chloe had imagined so far was not meeting the owner of the castle in this spacious banquet hall.

'It doesn't make sense.'

In any case, it was customary for the host of the party to exchange greetings with the invited guests at least once. If the position of the inviter was higher than that of the invitee, it was customary for Chloe to find him and express her gratitude.

The second scenario was that the Duke might not remember her, but unfortunately, that seemed unlikely. It was even more certain when Chloe saw her name written on the invitation card. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Chloe felt her hands, clad in lace gloves, involuntarily sweating, as she took a deep breath.

Now, she had no choice but to try the last remaining possibility. The Duke wanted to show pure gratitude to the Verdier family, which had provided materials and provisions during the difficult battle. For that, Chloe was prepared to bow her head to him if necessary.

***

Chloe stood tall, checking the time on her rocket-shaped watch. The party was already growing livelier as midnight approached. Alice, after dancing with Viscount Cromwell for the second time, had excused herself and temporarily vacated the tea room with his permission. The Count's eyes, as he asked if it would be alright to have a brief conversation with Alice, sparkled with favor.

'He has no bad reputation, and he seemed sincere.'

Recalling his shyly blushing demeanor, Chloe let out a small sigh. Even if it weren't Count Cromwell, Alice had danced with many men. It was easy to imagine that from tomorrow, she would be busy entertaining guests at the Talbots Estate.

'I guess it's a relief.’

Alice didn't cause any mischief like last year and responded to men's leads with perfect manners. Most importantly, the lord of the castle, who had kept Chloe on edge the whole time, was fortunately nowhere to be seen even as the party came to an end. According to the gossip she had picked up while holding her ground for a long time, The Duke had spent most of the open party in intimate moments with women, not once leaving his room. However it was for Chloe, it was truly fortunate. It was when her tension eased a bit, and she was able to relax her stiffened legs without notice.

"Oh my, it's the Duke."

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the unwelcome name reached her ears.

"Your Grace."

"Duke."

Chloe's movements came to a sudden halt. Instinctively, she rose from her seat with her cane in hand. As the murmurs of the crowd grew closer, she heard the sharp voice she could never forget, even in her dreams.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, may I have this dance?”

For a moment, Chloe felt as though she had traveled back in time to the forests of the Verdier estate, rather than being in the dazzling party hall illuminated by chandeliers. The Duke, whom she hadn't seen in three years, was dressed exactly as he had been when they first met.

At a ball, it was customary for women to wear dresses and men to attire themselves in formal military uniforms, a rule that required no explanation. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Although the Duke was dressed in the attire of a trained soldier, complete with a sword, no one dared to question his choice of attire. After all, power inherently included the ability to disregard what was known as mere formality.

"T... Thank you, Your Grace.”

The lady who was asked to dance blushed deeply and took his hand. She was none other than the lady who, like Chloe, had been confined to the sidelines all night.

"Oh, not at all, Miss Agnes."

As Damian whispered into the lady's ear and made eye contact with Chloe, she couldn't help but shiver involuntarily. Chloe sensed that every positive scenario she had hoped for until the party was shattered as she observed the slight narrowing of his eyes and the curve of his lips.

The Duke undoubtedly remembered, and he remembered just as vividly as she did.

"I beg your pardon.”

As soon as the music started, Chloe navigated through the crowd, carefully moving to a different spot. Now, she needed to find Alice as soon as possible. Having missed the opportunity to greet the Duke once already, it would be better to express her gratitude and disappear from the party as soon as the dance ended. After all, the party was inevitably coming to an end.

"Where could she be?"

However, the problem was Alice. She couldn't see Alice, who should have been in the tea room with Count Cromwell.

"I'm sorry, Count Cromwell. But wasn't my sister supposed to be with you?”

Chloe approached Count Cromwell, who was engaged in conversation with someone, and politely initiated a conversation.

"Oh, Miss Chloe. I brought Alice without an escort, so I felt a bit uneasy and just had a brief chat with her before parting ways."

It was considered improper for an unmarried woman to engage in lengthy conversation alone with a man. Chloe smiled to express her gratitude for his consideration.

"It seems there was a misunderstanding. Thank you."

'…Where on earth did she go?’

"Ah… Duke."

"Lady Chloe Verdier."

Duke Thisse stood before her like a sturdy tree suddenly dropped in her path.

"I recall the great favor you bestowed upon my father. It would have been proper for me to visit personally, but my schedule did not permit it. I am grateful for your invitation."

Observing the Duke's impeccable manners, Chloe also made a formal gesture of gratitude as she bowed.

"It is indeed an honor to be invited. My father, as a citizen of the kingdom, deeply appreciates your safe return from the war.”

The last time she greeted him like this, Chloe had stumbled in the woods, unable to keep her balance. Even now, standing on one foot required considerable effort, but since that day, she had trained her legs to the point of cramping. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Holding her cane horizontally with her fan, she gracefully bent her body before rising smoothly, eliciting a subtle smile from the Duke, who watched her intently.

“Would you care to dance with me?”

At the Duke's extended hand, Chloe's expression hardened slightly. The sudden change in the air around them wasn't just her imagination. Chloe presented an composed smile towards the Duke, despite her flustered proposal.

"I apologize, Your Grace. I fear my dancing skills fall short for a dance with you."

"Do I have to wait my turn then?”

Chloe's throat tightened. There was no gentleman present who would dare to commit the impoliteness of asking a lady to dance while leaning on a cane at the ball. Except for one person.

"If not, I truly wish to dance with you, so please don't refuse."

It was an attitude that gave off a strong will to see the clumsy movements she made while limping. Chloe painfully realized that the duke had not changed at all.

’Why would the Duke act like this?’

‘Doesn't he see the pitiable lady struggling with her cane?’

’No way.’

It felt like people were looking at her with pity. Chloe's eyes blinked rapidly, as if trying to hide her embarrassment and shame. The person facing her was a top nobleman, someone Chloe had to defer to in any situation. Just as she hesitated on how to decline, another man who had just arrived behind her spoke up loudly.

"Damien. Pestering another lady again?"

"His Highness the Prince has entered.”

With the Prince's arrival, everyone in the hall made way and showed their respect. As Duke Thisse was also a distant cousin of the Prince, his presence was not unusual. However, Chloe alone wished to escape from the spotlight that now focused on her.

"Look at her. Can't you see her pitiful face about to burst into tears?"

"It's not improper to ask a beautiful lady to dance. And I assure you, she's not the type of person to cry easily.”

According to etiquette, it was appropriate for the Duke, who knew both her and the Prince, to step forward and introduce her. Chloe, despite her lower status, couldn't greet the Prince first unless he permitted it.

“Allow me to apologize on behalf of my ill-mannered cousin. The lady’s name..."

Chloe watched the Duke, who seemed to have no intention of opening his mouth, and finally gave a small answer.

“My name is Chloe, the eldest daughter of the Verdiers. Your Highness.”

Chloe felt even more uneasy at Alice's absence at this moment. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] It was her own oversight not to anticipate even the possibility of His Highness attending. Perhaps... Alice wasn't involved in another incident like last year, was she?

"Cousin, it's not gentlemanly to trouble a lady who's feeling unwell. Have you been in the military for so long that you’ve forgotten all the basic etiquette?”

"If you're not going to dance, there's no reason for you to attend the party.”

The gazes of those around were increasingly overtly focused on them. Some even sent sympathetic glances towards Chloe. Duke Thisse was not only an outstanding soldier but also adept in palace politics. Crushing those who did not benefit him was his forte. A noble lady, who clicked her tongue slightly, was thinking that the poor girl's family must have done something major wrong to the Duke or caught in some kind of indiscretion.

Chloe quietly caught her breath, feeling as if she was standing barefoot on brambles. The back of her neck was burning, and she wanted to get out of here right away, but she had to endure this moment even if it meant going home and suffering.

"I’m offended, but Your Highness, it seems the Duke took care of me, fearing I might become a wallflower due to my discomfort.”

The duke looked her straight in the eyes, and the prince, not hiding his surprise at the unexpected response, chuckled. "Wallflower," a term used to describe noble ladies who receive no dance requests from anyone. In other words, Chloe was clearly gracefully declining the duke's kindness and subtly elevating him with her rhetoric.

"Sharp-witted lady. Did you say Verdier?"

Prince Johannes tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.

"Yes, Your Highness. My father, Viscount Verdier, is the lord of a small rural village in the southwest of the kingdom."

"I definitely remember inviting two people.”

The duke, who had maintained silence, finally spoke up, but it was not at all pleasing to Chloe. The prince raised his voice warmly.

"Oh, really? I'd like to meet your father. I'm curious about who raised a daughter with such strong principles."

Chloe's face stiffened awkwardly. The other person the duke invited was not her father, but her sister. However, the duke seemed to have no intention of clearing up the prince's misunderstanding, merely gazing silently at her. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Eventually, Chloe politely nodded, concealing her trembling voice.

"I apologize, Your Highness. I attended with my younger sister, not my father."

"Where is she?"

"This is her first time being invited to a party of this size, so she is dancing until her shoes are worn out.”

"Haha, I see. If she's anything like you, she must have caught the eye of every gentleman here, so it's not unusual."

"You flatter us, Your Highness.”

Chloe felt deeply grateful to Prince Johannes for his friendly demeanor, in stark contrast to the Duke's, who seemed indifferent.

"I'll greet her later then. For now, it seems I must dance a song to entertain the bored musicians."

As the prince signaled, the music resumed. A lively tune filled the air, and nobles gathered around the prince to dance. Even though the prince had disappeared from view, Chloe couldn't relax.

"So, exactly where is your sister, Lady Verdier?”

All the others had paired off and headed to the dance floor, leaving only one person beside her.

"The castle is so vast that I can't see her. If the Duke allows, I will look for her.”

“Anyway.”

As soon as the two of them were left alone, all manner of politeness disappeared. Chloe attempted to nod to him and leave, but she couldn't. This was because the cane she was holding in her hand was suddenly in his hand. The light snatching movement was so agile that it was not even noticeable. Is this person a thief and not a nobleman?

"Duke."

"Chloe Verdier."

The Duke's voice as he read the name engraved on the cane was as subtle as reciting a beautiful line of poetry.

"Are you afraid someone will steal it, so you've engraved your name on it?"

"Please return it, Duke."

"Do you remember our promise? About the secret associated with the cane.”

Heat rose on the back of Chloe's neck. If she could turn back time, she would never have uttered a word about compensating for the cane, whether he suffered defeat in war or not. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] His casual use of the word "our" to link them together was seriously burdensome.

"...Please return the cane if you're not going to give me a new one. I'm begging you."

"No need to fret, you'll get it back later."

Chloe felt her mind spinning more and more. The Duke smiled, looking her straight in the eye.

"Right now, finding your sister seems to be the priority.”

As long as His Highness the Prince was aware of Alice's presence, it might mean she should greet him.

"If she's found somewhere drunk and passed out again, it'll be quite troublesome."

At the Duke's pointed remark, Chloe's expression wavered. Still holding her cane in his hand, the Duke extended his arm.

"Let's go."

"Where to?"

"I've heard reports of a woman joyfully leaping into the forbidden rose garden, a place off-limits to guests."

Oh dear.

"I’m pretty sure that’s the lady’s younger sister.”

To be honest, Chloe was feeling the same way. There was no one who knew Alice's life, adorned with overflowing curiosity, better than her. But... Was it really the right thing to follow the Duke?

"Don't do something you'll regret, Chloe."

Gazing at the Duke's meaningfully whispered words, Chloe finally placed her trembling hand carefully on the Duke's arm. No matter how much she disliked the Duke, now was the time to prioritize something more important than personal feelings.

Alice. Please, don't cause any accidents.

***

While walking arm in arm with the Duke, Chloe felt like she was receiving the most attention she had ever received in her life. The nobles, regardless of age or gender, couldn't hide their curious glances about the lady escorted directly by Duke Thisse with impeccable manners.

"Am I walking too fast?"

"No, not at all."

In fact, she felt a sense of impatience because he was walking too slowly. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Even a baby learning to walk might walk this slowly.

"You must have practiced walking alone quite a lot during your time alone.”

When the Duke bowed his head and whispered into her ear, Chloe felt her cheeks flush and instinctively leaned her head back.

"Must have been excruciatingly painful, wasn't it?"

Chloe bit her lip and forced a smile. She wanted to pour scalding tea on the Duke's face, summarizing days of agony when her calves cramped so badly she groaned all night, and her body was covered in bruises from falling with the table during practice without her cane, all with just one sentence from the Duke.

"It was tough, but thanks to that, my stamina has improved significantly. Thank you for your praise, Your Grace."

"Still the same."

'As are you, Your Grace.'

He chuckled as he looked at her, trying to swallow her inner thoughts.

"No, have you become more proficient?”

She doesn't know what exactly has become more proficient, but she had a feeling that it wouldn't be good to ask. Since the stairs began, their conversation naturally lapsed. Leaning on his arm, Chloe descended the stairs slowly. For someone with leg discomfort, stairs were like high barriers. That's why relying on a person rather than a cane on the stairs was much more stable. As if accurately sensing her breathless state, the Duke stopped occasionally, though she didn't want to admit it, her movements were much more comfortable.

As Chloe descended countless stairs arm in arm with him, she recalled the Duke dancing skillfully at the reception just moments ago. Thinking of him expertly leading Chloe, who clearly lacked experience in dancing, with perfect manners, she couldn't help but feel oddly unsettled.

"The wind is blowing.”

When they reached the middle of the staircase, the Duke suddenly spoke up. Chloe, who had stopped walking, looked up at him. Unaware until then, indeed, a gentle breeze was blowing. A midsummer night's breeze. The scent of roses mingled with the smell of the wind.

"That's right."

A few strands of Chloe's hair escaped and cascaded down her neckline in the shallow breeze. Observing it intently, the Duke asked her.

"Who adorned your hair?”

Before, she had felt it, but his unwavering gaze had something unsettling about it, making people tense. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] The blatant stare at her slender neck, revealed by her raised hair, was uncomfortable.

"I did it."

"No wonder."

He added, counting the strands of hair cascading down her neck.

"It seemed messy.”

Did he learn how to treat people somewhere? Chloe's cheeks flushed crimson. If it weren't for the stairs, she would have pushed him away and walked alone. Feeling the grip on her linked arm tightening, Chloe sensed the strength exerted by the Duke's hand as he smiled silently.

Rose Garden. No Unauthorized Entry.

A sign hung on the small iron gate entwined with rose vines. Chloe felt a sense of despair and bit her lip. If she had to pick her sister's favorite word, it would be 'prohibited.' No, to be precise, it would be about breaking what was prohibited.

“They said they saw the back of a young lady wearing a green dress running excitedly into this place.”

Upon seeing the sign, the likelihood of the Duke's words being true increased. Just as a cat cannot resist passing by a fish market, Alice must have entered here with a heart set on treasure hunting or something similar.

"Then shall we go in?"

The Duke returned her cane, and Chloe quietly followed him into the garden. Inside the garden, it was evident that someone had put considerable effort into it.

"It's like a maze, isn't it?”

The garden, decorated like a narrow promenade, was lined with walls, and different-colored ivy roses adorned these walls, dividing the sections. First red, then white, followed by light pink, then white again. This time, purple.

It was a peculiar garden, seeming to have both rules and none.

"Royals with nothing to do play hide-and-seek in places like this."

His tone was sharp for a self-deprecating joke. But for Chloe, finding Alice was more important than paying attention to the Duke's words. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] As they turned a corner, the red rose wall appeared again. Could it be the same place they passed earlier? Chloe wondered, furrowing her brow, until she abruptly stopped in her tracks upon discovering something.

"Alice...!"

Chloe covered her mouth with both hands as she saw Alice, entangled with a dark-haired man, kissing passionately.

"Oh, my."

She tried to avert her gaze, but it was impossible. The Duke, who had come up behind her, chuckled softly, the sound of his tongue clicking distinctly overhead.

"S... Sister?”

Sensing movement, Alice quickly turned her head, her face filled with guilt. Chloe looked at the man next to Alice with shock. Who on earth was he?

"Let's go, quickly...! If we're caught here, you'll be in big trouble!"

"I wouldn't mind dying right now."

Ignoring the possibility of being watched, the man laughed excitedly as he looked at Alice. Chloe's vision blurred even further. Who is this man? Is he insane?

"Please! Eddie!”

As Alice whispered the name of her counterpart, Chloe's vision darkened, and she staggered. Eddie was undoubtedly the name of the gypsy young man that Alice had met when she sneaked off to the neighboring village festival not long ago.

"We'll meet again soon, Alice."

The gypsy murmured briefly, casting an eager glance at Alice before swiftly turning and leaping to the other side of the rose garden.

"Are you okay, young lady?”

Just as she was about to collapse from exhaustion, strong arms caught her, providing support. Though she couldn't see the Duke's face, she could vividly imagine his expression—a mixture of derision and mockery—in his cold, unyielding voice. With great effort, Chloe regained her composure.

"I apologize, Your Grace."

She managed to pry her dry lips apart.

"Sister... Eddie suddenly appeared, and I was so startled..."

Alice's dress was now dirtied, as if she had been rolling on the ground. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Chloe felt as if her heart had dropped to the floor as she closed and opened her eyes, struggling to stay alert.

"Be quiet, Alice.”

Alice closed her mouth as she listened to Chloe's lowered voice. How should she do this? In a situation where it is not enough to bow er head in gratitude for receiving the duke's invitation, how should I protect my sister who was caught with a man of unknown origin in a forbidden garden?

"Your Grace."

Chloe lifted her head to address the Duke Thisse directly. Fear. Desperation. A myriad of emotions flooded her eyes, unspoken yet palpable. The Duke met her gaze unwaveringly, his eyes shining.

"It seems there's much to discuss between sisters, so I'll take my leave."

Chloe called out to the Duke, her voice tinged with urgency, as if pleading for him to stay.

"Duke!"

"What is it?"

He paused, glancing at her. Chloe stumbled forward, standing before him, head bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry."

"S... Sister...”

Alice spoke with a voice filled with uncertainty. Finally coming to her senses, she stood there, unable to move, just fidgeting her feet.

"Get back to the carriage right now, Alice."

"But..."

"Quickly.”

When Chloe spoke to Alice with a serious expression, Alice nodded her head. After bowing to the duke with a tearful face, she quickly passed them by.

"Once again, just the two of us."

The Duke said, folding his arms with her in front of him. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Sensing the tension, Chloe pressed her lips tightly and spoke with sincerity.

"Duke, I earnestly beg for your forgiveness."

"Verdier's daughter is becoming famous again. Scandals every time she attends society events. Quite a talent."

"Please, I implore you not to tell anyone. I beg of you."

"Why should I?”

As the Duke's mocking tone chilled the air, Chloe found herself at a loss for words. He directed his words towards the silent Chloe.

“I think you know very well that no one would blame me if I punished your family for bringing an unauthorized person into a nobleman’s private property.”

"Duke.”

Chloe finally realized the severity of the situation, far worse than she had anticipated. It wasn't just about Alice's reputation being tarnished by rendezvousing with a stranger in the dead of night. Damien Ernst von Thiesse was the king's cousin and, in terms of succession, third in line to the throne. The moment she grasped that her family could vanish entirely at his discretion, Chloe knew she had no choice but to act.

"I beg for your forgiveness. It's my fault for not properly looking after my foolish sister. Please, punish me as a representative of my family, Your Grace."

Chloe knelt down, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind from fear, but the mere thought of Alice or her father being harmed choked her breath.

"I implore you, please.”

The duke slowly knelt down, matching Chloe's gaze as her tear-filled eyes shimmered in the moonlight.

"What if I refuse?"

The inevitability was clear. Despite Alice's warning about trouble if involved with Thisse, it was too late for regrets. Think. You have to think, Chloe. With a trembling jaw, Chloe steadied herself. There was no time for indecision. She had to end the hesitation—for Alice and her father's sake.

"The Thiesse family values honor... It's one of the esteemed noble families in the kingdom."

The duke's blue eyes sparked with renewed interest.

"But?"

"The commander who led the decisive victory in the Battle of the Cassia Mountains, the toughest battle in the kingdom's history, is none other than the Thisse family's sole heir, Damian Ernst von Thisse, the Duke, who was the first to receive a decoration from the royal family."

"Go on. Candy coated sweet words.”

Chloe didn't waver in the face of his mockery as she continued speaking. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] This was where the real matter lay.

"The Duke once said this before the Battle of the Cassia Mountains: 'The soldiers who fight for me will surely return home to glory.' Do you remember?"

"I remember.”

The Duke looked at her as if he could devour her right then and there. Chloe sensed that if things went wrong here, she might end up dead.

"At that time, during a difficult military situation, there was a small rural lord who opened the gates and provided supplies. Even though they didn't fight directly, they surely provided great support to the exhausted soldiers at the time."

"So, you suggest protecting the Thisse family's honor and return the favor?”

The Duke's voice lowered slightly. Chloe spoke to him as if praying.

"We can only humbly ask for even a small measure of grace to be bestowed upon our humble household."

"In a gathering where the so-called nobility of the kingdom gathers, is it not enough of a favor to have invited your humble household?"

As the Duke tilted his head towards her, moonlight cascaded arrogantly down his nose. Seeing despair in Chloe's eyes as she stared at him, the man cruelly whispered.

"You should blame your luckless sister. Is that all you have to say?”

As the Duke attempted to rise, Chloe, disregarding propriety, grasped his foot.

"What are you doing?"

"If you would forgive me just once, I will do whatever I can to assist you, Your Grace. I will never forget it for the rest of my life.”

The duke's eyes gleamed with delight, as if he had just found his favorite prey. Chloe finally realized that he was beginning to show interest. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Undoubtedly, he was a wicked man, one who took pleasure in seeing others grovel at his feet.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Your Grace.”

Chloe nodded, once again sensing the undeniable fact that she would never truly mix with him, like water and oil.

"Chloe, why go to such lengths?"

The duke clicked his tongue softly. It sounded almost sympathetic, yet lacked any sincerity, sounding more theatrical, as his eyes sparkled with amusement. No, perhaps the duke didn't even realize he wasn't concealing it.

"Where's the noble lady who used to hold her head high despite any insult or disgrace? It doesn't suit you to cling to me, giving up on life like this."

Each word pierced her heart like a dagger. Swallowing the rising sense of humiliation choked her, but she couldn't provoke him any further.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace.”

As Chloe silently begged for forgiveness, a fleeting expression of displeasure crossed the Duke's eyes. He opened his mouth as he looked down at Chloe, who was kneeling on the dirt floor where rose petals had fallen.

"You're bowing to me like this because you fear your sister's prospects might be ruined. I understand. In a noble family drowning in debt, the last hope is for one of the daughters to marry into wealth and change our fortunes."

The Duke asked again.

"Then it doesn't matter how your life turns out?"

Chloe couldn't understand why he was asking such a question.

"Answer."

"...Seeing my loved ones happy is my happiness."

"So you'd do anything for that?"

"If it's something I can do.”

The Duke's gaze darkened as he looked at Chloe. The moonlight was deepening eerily, and faint music could be heard from afar. After a moment of silence, the Duke spoke abruptly.

"This is amusing."

Chloe removed her hand from the man's foot, who was staring at her with eyes far from amused. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] She averted her gaze and slowly lowered it. Her dress was probably as dirty as Alice's by now, but she didn't care. She silently raised her head, awaiting her fate.

As the Duke's hand touched her face, Chloe's body trembled, but she did not flinch. She couldn't. His gloved hand covered her small face and lifted it up, as if gripping it.

Chloe swallowed hard. He spoke in a voice that seemed to be blocked somewhere, never taking his eyes off her trembling lips.

"Think carefully about what you can do for me, my lady. Now get in the carriage and leave Swan and go back to Verdier immediately."

"I would like to do that, but as long as His Highness the Prince wants to see my sister..."

As the Duke's grip tightened, Chloe stopped speaking. Damian spoke each syllable precisely, as if warning her.

"From this moment on, if you do anything that attracts the attention of not only Johannes, but any other male, you and your entire family will die by my hand. My tolerance ends here."

His hand still hadn't left her face. Chloe didn't make the mistake of pointing out the Duke's disrespect in calling the Prince by his first name, which would only shorten her life. Chloe's pulse throbbed rapidly in her throat. It seemed like he wouldn't hesitate to crush Chloe's small jawbone right then and there.

"Thank you, Your Grace...”

His thumb pressed against her lower lip. Chloe was now unable to utter a word.

"And there's one more thing you need to know."

"......"

“It’s better not to enter a place like this with a man you can’t trust."

The Duke's sharp nose was almost touching hers. His whispering voice was clear.

"This is a place for lovers to quickly satisfy their desires.”

Unable to speak, Chloe's breath quickened. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] The Duke noticed the tears welling up in her hazel eyes, threatening to spill at any moment, and drove the wedge in.

"That is, unless you want rumors of our affair to spread."

And that was the end.

Chloe remained rooted to the spot for a long time after his figure disappeared from the garden, unable to stand up. Finally, when the last of the people had left, she exhaled and stood up. It was only then that she realized she didn't have her cane, but it didn't matter.

She clutched the hem of her dress and dragged her feet back the way she came. If she could just escape from this maze-like garden that someone had created, she felt like she would even give her life to the devil.

The carriage that the Duke had called for was already waiting for her at the front gate. The party was now winding down, and it was her turn to be kicked out. It was a night when fireworks lit up the sky, exploding with loud bangs. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Inside the carriage passing through the yew forest, Chloe held back her tears until the end, but when she found rose petals caught on the hem of her dress, she buried her face in her hands and wept.