《Seduce A Cold Blooded Duke》 Chapter 1 ¡°You are a child who brings misfortune,¡± said Count Katana, Riv¡¯s adoptive father. Riv¡¯s mother died after giving birth to her. Riv wasn¡¯t as beautiful as her mother, who was a beauty. She was an ugly child with dull, dark hair, pale skin like a corpse, and had a flat body with no curves. She was a tall girl who was not cute or shy. When Riv was 14 years old, there was a request from the royal family to send her as a maid. Her adoptive father was happy to sell her off for money. Time flies. Seven years had passed by. At the age of 21, Riv was about to die. She looked around the old rusted dungeon where she was locked up. It seemed that no one would care if she died here. ¡®What went wrong in my life?¡¯ Riv breathed heavily. How long has it been since she was imprisoned? It was the middle of winter, her hands and feet froze due to the severe cold that had seeped underground and froze the whole place. It had been a long time since she last felt hungry. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± Riv had lived desperately, hoping to be free from this place. She had covered her eyes, ears and closed her mouth in case she knew the secret of the royal family. She has been disguised herself as ugly, so she forgot how she looked. ¡°Marianne¡­ Marianne.¡± Riv recited the name of the person she hated the most. Marianne. She was brought and locked up here because she knew Princess Marianne¡¯s secret. ¡°Maybe I will really die here¡­¡± Marianne. The current Duchess of Sentoren, Duchess Marianne, married the Duke of Sentoren. She is the only princess of the royal family, who married the best groom in the country. No one in the palace knew that the young, angelic-looking princess was actually promiscuous and prodigal. ¡°Why should I be locked up? Why?!¡± Her eyes were bloodstained as she pulled her hair. She raised her head, looking at the walls of the dungeon. Only her senses had become sensitive to the depths of this underground dungeon. ¡°Here she comes¡­¡± She heard footsteps approaching in the distance. After a long time, the maid, Elle, appeared holding a torch. Behind Elle, Princess Marianne was standing in a white fur. Riv couldn¡¯t open her eyes as she was blinded by the torch glowing in front of her eyes. It was because her eyes got used to the darkness of the dungeon for a while now. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Marianne¡¯s expression became visible in front of her. Marianne was frowning as she feared her coat might get dirty. She stared at Riv and said, ¡°Did you reflect on yourself while you were stuck here?¡± ¡°¡­Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you pray as usual?¡± Riv choked on Marianne¡¯s words. ¡°If I do so then will you save me?¡± ¡°I can think about it.¡± Marianne¡¯s lips curled into an angelic smile, but Riv wasn¡¯t fooled by the smile. ¡°Where did I go wrong, Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know the princess was pregnant.¡± Marianne¡¯s white coat covered her body, so her body curves were not visible. Come to think of it, Marianne recently wore high waist dresses with no waistlines and no corsets. ¡®The Princess must be pregnant for a while now.¡¯ ¡°Okay, so this ugly Katana is the only one who didn¡¯t know about this.¡± ¡°You are a fool.¡± Marianne brought her face close to the bars of the prison¡¯s grid. Her lips quivered as she spoke, ¡°Riv, even if everyone in the world knew my secret, you shouldn¡¯t have. I can¡¯t stand it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Marianne did not answer. Riv asked another question. ¡°Is it because the child¡¯s father is not the Duke of Sentoren?¡± Marianne¡¯s face distorted by hearing the name. ¡°You knew it, Riv.¡± Princess Marianne, who was standing in front of her, was the Duchess of Sentoren. But Marianne hated her husband and didn¡¯t sleep with him. She had many lovers. ¡°Riv, if you know everything, you must die. You know that right?¡± Many maids were killed by the mother and daughter; Queen Selina and Princess Marianne. And now it was Riv¡¯s turn. ¡°Riv, even if you survive anyway, you will live a miserable life without anyone¡¯s love. So it won¡¯t be bad to die now.¡± ¡°Does he know about Princess¡¯ pregnancy?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Riv looked at the torch, which roared ominously behind Marianne¡¯s back. Marianne¡¯s maid, Elle, seemed to be holding an oil can. ¡°Will she burn me to death? If I were to die, I don¡¯t want to die this way.¡± When she was about to turn her back, Riv asked Marianne, ¡°Princess, do you know who¡¯s the father of the child? You don¡¯t know exactly who it is, do you?¡± Marianne, humiliated, looked back at her. Riv realized that what she said was true. ¡°Does the Duke of Sentoren know about Princess¡¯ pregnancy?¡± ¡°Why do you ask that?¡± Marianne got quickly excited. ¡°It is all because of you! It¡¯s all because of you that I married this terrible Duke of Sentoren, broke up with my lovers, and got pregnant!¡± Marianne¡¯s tearful eyes were filled with madness. ¡°Without you, I can be happy.¡± Marianne took a ring out of her pocket and threw it at Riv. A ring thrown across the prison bars fell on Riv¡¯s skirt. ¡°¡­?¡± Riv picked up the ring. The ring was thick, rugged, and rusted all over. The gemstone stuck in the center also stood out, so it seemed worthless as a jewel. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It is Duke¡¯s Sentoren¡¯s heirloom and Duchess¡¯ ring.¡± Marianne seemed extremely disgusted by the ring. Riv grabbed the ring without knowing it. Marianne declared, ¡°Riv, take that ugly ring with you when you die. I¡¯ll kill you and be free from the Duke of Sentoren.¡± ¡°Princess!¡± Riv desperately called Marianne, but she backed away. ¡°Riv, just die there.¡± Riv realized that she was really going to die. It was the end of her. It was Marianne¡¯s true intention to kill her. She was doing what she wanted to do a long time ago. ¡°Princess, sa¡­save me! Why me?!¡± ¡°If you save me, I will do anything.¡± ¡°Cut off my tongue if you¡¯re afraid of rumors. If I can¡¯t talk, I won¡¯t be able to spread rumors.¡± ¡°You can write.¡± ¡°Well, chop off my hands.¡± ¡°It¡¯s annoying. It¡¯s comfortable and safe by just killing you.¡± ¡°Princess!!¡± Riv begged because she didn¡¯t want to die, but Marianne seemed to be tired of the conversation itself. She stepped back, holding her fur coat, ¡°Just die, Riv.¡± ¡°Princess!¡± As Marianne stepped back, her maid, Elle, poured oil inside and outside Riv¡¯s prison. Dry hay was piled up in the prison and oil was sprayed on Riv¡¯s dress. She tried to avoid her frozen body, hands and legs by desperately moving away from the oil. ¡°Don¡¯t! Please don¡¯t!¡± Elle threw away the barrel of oil after emptying it, lit a match, and threw it on the oil spread on the ground. Flames covered the dry hay quickly. Flames soon exploded the prison cell. ¡°Sa¡­Save me! Please! Save me!¡± Before she knew it, Marianne and the maid were running away as fast as she could. ¡°Save me! Please!!!¡± Riv¡¯s cry spread dizzily and no one came to save her from the burning dungeon. Riv shook the bars of the prison hoping to free herself out. The fast-spreading flames quickly engulfed Riv and everything present inside the cell. The door of the prison was still closed and no one came to rescue her. Her skirt caught fire, too. It was a bulky skirt. It burnt and dug into her skin. Her lungs were filled with the terrible smoky air. Riv¡¯s whole body was burning in the fluttering red flame. The pain of being burned alive was terrible. She died very slowly in the flames. Time passed very slowly¡­ By the time the fire that burned the underground prison dies down, Riv¡¯s body will be burned to ashes. There won¡¯t be any trace left. That¡¯s when she realized her death. ¡°Why did I have to suffer such a painful ending?¡± Her body was burnt and only her soul remained, but Riv felt the touch of the old ring, which she held in her hand. The stone and the rough surface of the ring felt real. Riv became more distressed. ¡°Why? Why?! Why?! Why did I have to die? What did I do to deserve this in my life?¡± ¡°What went wrong in my life?!¡± No one could hear her cry even though she cried and kept crying. She couldn¡¯t even reverse her death. It was long after Riv found an uninvited guest standing next to her. As she turned her head, she saw a man in white bones in a ragged black robe. The uninvited guest, who emitted a strong spirit of death, held a huge black sickle with the crescent moon¡¯s seal. He was the messenger of death, a reaper. ¡°I am really dead.¡± Riv was desperate, grabbing the ring in her hand and tolerating the pain. She was frustrated when she realized that she wouldn¡¯t be able to feel this cold sensation anymore. Riv only waited for the messenger of death to declare her death. The reaper seldom spoke anything. After a long time, he opened his mouth, ¡°If you could make a wish, what would you wish for?¡± Riv didn¡¯t understand what the reaper said. He repeated himself, ¡°Do you want to survive or die and go to heaven?¡± Is she given an opportunity here? No. This must be her illusion. Riv thought of Princess Marianne. Even if she went to heaven, it seemed that the pain that she had been murdered by that bitch would not disappear. She was dead and she had no guarantee that she would be able to go to heaven. Even if she dies, nothing will happen to Marianne. Even if Marianne had an illegitimate child and was criticized, no one would ever point at her precious lineage. She died a horrible death, but why would Marianne continue to live? Riv resented everything. ¡°I want to live.¡± She wanted to live like crazy! Chapter 2 ¡°I want to live.¡± ¡°I want to survive.¡± Riv didn¡¯t wish to take revenge on Marianne. It was a waste of time to take revenge. She wished to break free from the evil princess and live a new and peaceful life as Riv Katana¡­ If only she were given such an opportunity to change her life, she would have said, ¡®I want to live¡¯, ¡®I want to be happy¡¯, and ¡®I want to escape from Princess Marianne¡¯s sight and live a happy life.¡¯ But Riv had died. She wailed in tears. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die like this. I didn¡¯t want to be killed! I wanted to be alive and happy!¡± Reeve had never been happy throughout her life. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to live like this! I wanted to be happy!¡± At that moment, red light poured out of the ruby ring in Riv¡¯s hand. The red color engulfed her completely. ¡°What is this? What is happening?¡± The reaper standing in front of Riv started laughing, ¡°Witch, you can make your wish come true through that ring.¡± Witch? Ring? Riv couldn¡¯t understand anything, but the reaper¡¯s skulled face seemed to look satisfied. ¡°You can have another chance, but it is temporary.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You will survive. But you are destined to die again on this day and at this time.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Riv¡¯s soul was sucked into her own body, which was lying dead at that moment. At that moment, time rushed backward. Flames lit up around her dead body. Riv struggled fiercely in her flames. Suddenly, the dungeon was empty. The clock hands in the castle were all turned upside down. The sky started turning from night to day and back to night without rest. When the time went back to half a year ago, the clock stopped turning backward. She heard a bird chirping outside. Riv opened her eyes. A bird came in through the window. The cold morning air swept into the bedroom. Riv found herself lying like a corpse on a hard bed. ¡°Huh?¡± She was confused. ¡°Why am I here?¡± She doubted whether what she witnessed was just a terrible dream or was this the world after death. She tried to remember what all happened in her dream. She was burned to death by Marianne¡¯s maid, Elle. After that, the reaper appeared and gave her a second chance. Riv also seemed to have screamed that she wanted to live and not die such a horrible death. ¡°Was it really a dream?¡± It was a horrible nightmare that felt so real. Even if it was all a dream where she had died and was revived, everything was too clear and felt too real for a dream. She had seen Princess Marianne¡¯s pregnant belly. She was trapped in the prison cell, there was no light for several days, and her hands and feet were freezing to death. She remembered the terrible pain of getting burned to death in the dungeon. Those moments cannot be forgotten. ¡°Ugh!!¡± It was terrible to just remember those painful memories. At one point, Riv realized that the back of her left hand was stinging. Her hand was holding something very tightly. ¡­? Riv found a clear burn mark on the back of her left hand. Red blood trickled down her fist. When she opened her fist, she saw a ring emitting a mysterious red light. ¡°This?¡± The rugged shape and design of the ring were the same as what she saw in her dream. The only difference from the memory was that the stone of the ring was emitting a blood-red light. Is this the heirloom of the Duke that Marianne hated the most? The ring of the Duchess of Sentoren? ¡°What is this light?¡± Riv felt troubled by the leaking blood-red light. She grew impatient while thinking about it. It would be a big deal if anyone saw this ring. With the hem of her sleeves, Riv wiped the blood from her palm and the ring. ¡°Huh?¡± At that moment, just like a lie, the red glow of the ring disappeared. The stone on the ring turned black. Her bloody palms were also clean, leaving no scar on them. Riv questioned her eyes again and again. ¡°How did this happen?¡± She felt so uneasy and confused that she couldn¡¯t think of anything rationally. The only thing she could think of at the moment was where to hide this ring. ¡°If Marianne sees this ring here, she might kill me.¡± Reeve wandered desperately to find a place to hide the ring. In the room, there was a closet, a bed, a chair, and a table. They were so old, you never know when they might break. Even on the wooden floor under the bed, there seemed to be no room to hide this ring. Riv was so nervous and scared that she didn¡¯t even notice that this wasn¡¯t the room in the Northern Star Palace where she had last stayed in. People in the royal family searched the rooms of the maids several times a week. It was because they were concerned that the maids would take away things from the royal family. ¡°What do I do with this?¡± Riv was worried and found a necklace hanging around her neck. ¡°Ah¡­¡± No one had touched Riv¡¯s body, because they thought it brought misfortune. Although there were some who criticized her for wearing her mother¡¯s old necklace which had a pendant. ¡°They won¡¯t touch my necklace.¡± Riv hung the ring on the necklace. But it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°How do I find a safer place to hide this ring?¡± The moment Riv said that the Duke¡¯s ring got tangled with the ring of the pendant and became one. ¡°Huh?¡± Riv fiddled with the thick pendant ring. In the pendant, the ring part was unusually hot. ¡°How did this happen?¡± She finally heard a knock on the door. ¡°Riv, are you awake? Riv?¡± Riv hurriedly hid the pendant around the collar of her dress. Good thing that Riv was dressed in her usual black dress. The clothes crumbled, but it didn¡¯t show the pendant. ¡°Coming, just a minute!¡± Riv took a deep breath and opened the door. Anna, the maid, was standing by the door. She opened the door completely and tilted her head at Riv. Anna worked with Riv for Marianne. ¡°Riv, are you sick?¡± ¡°Me? No, why?¡± Riv pretended to be as fine as she could be. ¡°I think you are sweating a lot. Did you see a ghost?¡± Riv shook her head, saying, ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that.¡± Anna didn¡¯t look like she believed her words, but she moved on. ¡°If you are feeling well, come on. It¡¯s urgent. Princess Marianne is looking for you.¡± Riv became more absent-minded. Marianne. Marianne is looking for her? Suddenly the dream of Marianne burning her to death, flooded her mind. Riv was confused about whether it was a dream or did it really happen to her. ¡°Anna, isn¡¯t this a dream? Didn¡¯t I die?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Riv?¡± Riv was puzzled. Anna kept pushing her out of her room. ¡°Let¡¯s go before Princess Marianne gets angry.¡± ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Riv tried to smooth out the little wrinkles by shaking off the dress with her hands. Looking at the mirror by the door, Riv stared at her poor face. She looked as if she had died and survived. ¡®Wake up, Riv Katana.¡¯ Riv roughly tied her disheveled hair. Taking a deep breath, she looked back and belatedly noticed the change in the room. ¡°Huh?¡± The room was much bigger than she remembered, and there was a window on the head of the bed. This isn¡¯t the North Star Palace! Marianne moved to the North Star Palace after marrying the Duke of Sentoren. There was no window in the room where she lived. This room was used before going to the North Star Palace. Riv looked down at the dark green landscape through the window just right above the head of the bed. ¡°Huh?¡± Riv was burned to death in a dungeon in the middle of winter. But why is she seeing green trees now? The temperature felt different from the cold winter air. ¡®The seasons have changed. It is different.¡¯ Riv recalled the conversation she had with the reaper. ¡°You can have another chance, but it is temporary.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You will survive. But you are destined to die again on this day and at this time.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± The reaper seemed to give Riv a second chance but said her death would be repeated on the day she had died. Then, when did she come back? Riv went outside and asked Anna, ¡°When was Princess Marianne¡¯s wedding?¡± ¡°Riv? Are you still half asleep? Princess Marianne has not reached the age of marriage yet. What are you talking about?¡± While Anna was being serious, Riv was going crazy. ¡°Well, will she be the right age to marry next year?¡± ¡°There are not many days left for it. What¡¯s wrong, Riv?¡± Marianne¡¯s marriage ceremony was supposed to happen on her 18th birthday. Her wedding to the Duke of Sentoren took place right after a month after she turned 18. But did Princess Marianne marry before her birthday? Riv recalled that she had died in December, the end of the year. It was probably spring now, maybe April. Riv travelled back eight months in time. Which meant that her death was also eight months away from now. ¡°Riv, wake up!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be blank, Riv. Princess Marianne¡¯s marriage doesn¡¯t make any difference in our lives.¡± Riv was struck by Anna¡¯s words. It was like seeing the future without going there. ¡°Anna, do you think I want to leave this palace?¡± Anna replied as if it were natural, ¡°Not only you, Riv. There are many people who want to leave the palace. Why do you ask something so obvious?¡± Anna checked the time and grabbed Riv by her sleeve. ¡°If you are stupid, you¡¯ll hear Princess Marianne¡¯s nagging. Hurry up!¡± They walked quickly towards Marianne¡¯s powder room. They arrived a few minutes later and took deep breaths. ¡°Thanks for taking care of me, Anna.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I will be scolded if I don¡¯t bring Miss Katana.¡± Riv didn¡¯t feel bad listening to Anna¡¯s blunt and honest answer. ¡°Thank you.¡± Anna tilted her head in confusion. ¡°You are behaving a little weird today, Riv.¡± ¡°Because she died and came back to life,¡± Riv replied, her face was void of any emotions. Chapter 3 Anna seemed to think that Riv was cracking a bad joke. ¡°I guess you¡¯re still half-asleep. Don¡¯t ever say that in front of Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Anna sighed briefly. She was in charge of managing Princess Marianne¡¯s clothes. Even before Riv came, she was responsible for the princess¡¯ wardrobe and got along well with the other maids due to her quick-witted and bright personality. She was not close to Riv, but she had often been called in by Marianne and verbally abused. ¡°The princess is in the silver room. I need to go to the dressing room for a bit.¡± Anna disappeared to get Marianne¡¯s hat while Riv headed to Marianne¡¯s drawing-room, more commonly referred to as the silver room. El, who was standing guard in front of the drawing-room¡¯s door, announced, ¡°Princess, Miss Katana is here.¡± ¡°Let her in.¡± Marianne wore a vibrant green dress with a large ribbon tied behind her back. A fluffy white dog was clutched tightly in her arms. Marianne raised her doll-like face to stare at Riv. She looked young for her age, with her big doe eyes, slender nose, pouty lips, and dainty limbs. Her body was quite thin, almost like a child¡¯s. Marianne twisted her rosy lips into a frown. ¡°You¡¯re so late, Riv,¡± Marianne grumbled. ¡°Why did you even bother coming? My mood got ruined waiting for you.¡± Riv didn¡¯t react to her sour comments. Funnily enough, Marianne never got rid of Riv even if she verbally abused her, because Riv was sent by her mother, Queen Selina. Marianne loathed even being in contact with Riv. ¡°If I touch you, your misfortune will spread to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be fun to order the knights to beat you down.¡± Marianne thought hard about how to bully Riv. ¡°Riv, how should I punish you?¡± At that moment, Marianne¡¯s arms tightened suffocatingly. The small dog in her arms howled and squirmed, almost scratching her. ¡°Argh!¡± Marianne leaped off the sofa and threw the dog to the floor. The dog fell with a heavy thump and yelped upon hitting the ground. Liv almost winced at the sound of its pitious whine. ¡°You ruined my dress! Damn-!¡± Marianne screamed shrilly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even recognize his master. Do you know how expensive this dress is? This damn hybrid mutt!¡± Angrily, Marianne lifted the hem of her dress and kicked at the dog with her pointed heels. ¡°Get lost!¡± The dog¡¯s cries of pain pierced Riv¡¯s ear. Riv closed her eyes and looked away, forcing herself to maintain a calm facade despite her tumultuous emotions. A long time after Marianne¡¯s assault ¨C ¡°Nanny, nanny, maids! Get this thing out of the way right now!¡± ¡°Princess Marianne, please calm down!¡± The little dog had stopped moving at some point. Now it lay unmoving on the drawing-room floor. Its quiet form didn¡¯t look out of place among all the other fluffy cushions in the room. That dog was also just another one of the numerous animals killed by Marianne. Later that evening, Riv built a grave for the dog in the corner of the royal garden. The small tomb was enclosed by the many tombs of other animals, all of varying, mismatched sizes. This was the cemetery of all the animals who died at Marianne¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t protect you. I hope you¡¯re resting well in heaven.¡± Riv murmured a prayer for the dead dog, this blameless creature who¡¯d done nothing wrong but was struck by misfortune and suffering. She was going to be killed by Marianne, just like this dog, destined to be disregarded and overlooked. Perhaps she would not even have a single person praying for her. Her death was only eight months away, and the weight of that thought pounded like a headache with every heartbeat. ¡°I have to get out of this palace somehow.¡± How could she change her destiny? If she did something she hadn¡¯t done before, she would be able to twist her fate, no matter how small the change. Thinking hard, Riv realized she had never met or spoken to Duke Sentoren. Riv was Marianne¡¯s maid, but she¡¯d been nowhere present during the couple¡¯s wedding. Should she meet Duke Sentoren? ¡°But what kind of a man is he?¡± Riv didn¡¯t know much about Duke Sentoren. All she knew was that he was Princess Marianne¡¯s old fianc¨¦ and a soldier who had succeeded the old Duke Sentoren in his late 20s. She didn¡¯t know for sure about his tastes or appearance, and rumors, while interesting, were hardly a reliable source of information. However, Riv did know that Princess Marianne loathed Duke Sentoren, her husband. That feeling was a terrible, poisonous hatred ¨C one that burned like the fire Riv had died by once. In Riv¡¯s memory, there was no such news as Marianne and Duke Sentoren having a normal marital life. It was also doubtful whether they had even met after the wedding. Duke Sentoren had been living separated from Marianne for more than half a year. Marianne continued to live in the palace after her wedding to Duke Sentoren. He did not meet Marianne, as though the wedding had never happened. He never even came to the palace to see her. ¡®Perhaps he¡¯s been in the Southern territory the whole time.¡¯ Then, of course, the question arose: ¡®Why did he marry Marianne?¡¯ Marianne was pregnant with the child of one of her lovers. Even after Riv¡¯s death, it was unlikely, no, impossible, that Marianne returned faithfully to Duke Sentoren¡¯s side. Marianne hadn¡¯t wanted to marry him. It was Marianne¡¯s father, Philip II, who pushed ahead with and insisted upon the marriage. The marriage was also to cover up Marianne¡¯s promiscuous scandal. What did Duke Sentoren think when he followed the orders? Did he really love Marianne? Or did he agree to the marriage for power? Even if they were married, they¡¯d have to be beside each other officially. Marianne and Duke Sentoren never bothered with such a pretense. Though Marianne had a high status and wealth, Duke Sentoren also possessed lots of money and land, more than anyone could even need. The Duke also had many older brothers, so even if Marianne married him, he would not be able to succeed the throne. If so, then why? Riv came back to the fundamental question. Why did Duke Sentoren agree to get married like this? If his marriage to Marianne didn¡¯t take place, then her life would be safe. She might learn something if she met Duke Sentoren in person. Though, how should she get in contact with him? Riv was an aristocratic maid serving directly to the royal family, but her actual treatment was insignificant. The royal family always had maids in charge of their daily life who originally belonged to a cultured aristocratic family. Riv was in charge of Marianne¡¯s life as a whole and took care of her little messes, but that was all. She never had the chance to meet the Duke before her death, for she had never been allowed in public. In fact, Riv looked ugly and was thrown aside by her birth family, so no one would care less even if she disappeared suddenly. ¡®I¡¯m sure everyone thinks it¡¯s no problem to get rid of me at any time.¡¯ Even as a maid of the Princess, Riv was unable to attend the royal family¡¯s official ceremony and could only peek at the banquet from afar. Despite being Marianne¡¯s maid, she wasn¡¯t allowed anywhere near the banquet hall. ¡®So, how should I move from here?¡¯ If she couldn¡¯t meet Duke Sentoren in public, then where could she? She kept pondering on this problem. Riv locked herself in her room to brainstorm, even skipping dinner to do so. ¡®What should I do now?¡¯ Riv fiddled with her mother¡¯s pendant, curled up in bed. She caressed the protruding part of the ruby ring. The burn scar on the back of her left hand was throbbing. Riv began to think through the facts one by one. ¡°I¡¯m not dead now, but I will die in the near future.¡± Riv had somehow moved eight months back in time. Yet she was still repeating the same actions that had cost her life before. What happened today was also part of Riv¡¯s memories, and Marianne¡¯s cruel actions had played out just as she remembered. ¡°Should I stop Marianne from getting married or getting pregnant?¡± What should she do ¨C what could she even do ¨C to change the ending of her life? She felt nervous when she thought of only having eight months left to live. ¡°What should I do with my future?¡± Riv, who was agonizing over many problems, whispered to the pendant while fiddling with it. ¡°Come out, ring.¡± An old gemstone ring popped out of the pendant. Riv recalled the blood-colored gemstone emitting a crimson glow like a ruby, so she decided to call it a ruby ring. ¡°But is this ring really an heirloom?¡± The death reaper had given this to Riv, so surely it must be important. It had also called her a witch. Am I a witch? The ruby Ring had also been with Riv when she died. Even after she came back to life, she was carrying it along with her. What if this ring is a magic tool that works with witch blood? What if she really was a witch? Everything the reaper said were, indeed, truths about what brought her back to life. She didn¡¯t want to die by Marianne¡¯s hands. Therefore ¨C she must change the future. Riv was murdered after learning of Marianne¡¯s pregnancy. How about interfering with Marianne¡¯s pregnancy? Marianne¡¯s pregnancy was a distant future. Rather, the marriage between Princess Marianne and Duke Sentoren was closer. ¡®Can I stop their marriage?¡¯ What if she met with Duke Sentoren and exposed Marianne¡¯s private life? Would the marriage still take place? What if Duke Sentoren knew about Marianne¡¯s promiscuity and scandals? ¡°More than that, I¡¯m sure I have to escape from Marianne¡¯s side.¡± Riv decided to devise a way to escape from the palace and find a way to contact Duke Sentoren. However, she was not allowed to attend official royal ceremonies for now, which would impede her plans. ¡°I have been to Duke Sentoren¡¯s mansion before.¡± That time would be around the time of Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony. She¡¯d been ordered to go to Duke Sentoren, but he was not in the mansion. It would be too late to contact the Duke then. Where else could she encounter Duke Sentoren? ¡°The hunt before Princess Marianne¡¯s birthday?¡± The king had gone hunting in the woods behind the Ailte Palace with his aristocrats, including Duke Sentoren. That day, the king had also held an elaborate dinner banquet open for everyone. What if she sought out Duke Sentoren at the banquet? Riv tried to figure out a way to meet him. ¡°The hunt was definitely around this time.¡± What could she do with this knowledge? Chapter 4 Duke Sentoren had no chances of falling for Riv, and she had no expectations or delusions of such. Rather, it was a matter of what she would talk about with the Duke Sentoren and how she approached him that mattered most. ¡°Will the future be any different if I contact him?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t miss even a trivial variable that could change the future. Even if she could not break the ten-year engagement between Princess Marianne and Duke Sentoren, she still had to find a breakthrough. ¡®Can I get out of this palace with Duke Sentoren¡¯s help?¡¯ Riv considered the thought judgingly before discarding it. The possibility of that plan succeeding was too low. Queen Selina and Princess Marianne would never let a maid who knew their secret life. Riv would have been warned if she stood out. ¡®As Miss Katana, you should not meet Duke Sentoren.¡¯ Her appearance was pretty noticeable. Miss Katana, a corpse-like woman, donning a giant black dress, like a despised omen of death. Even if Riv changed her dress and tried to escape, she could not change her scent, so she would be pursued by the Guard¡¯s hounds. ¡®Let¡¯s do what I can for now.¡¯ Riv was lost in thought. She¡¯d been called a witch and revived with a magic tool. Riv checked the clock. There was still some time left before the royal library closed. Decisively, she took the road to the royal library, seeking out books mentioning witches and magic. Riv lived in a time period where wizards, witches, and magic had long disappeared, so she was forced to rely upon written records instead. ¡°Is it true that I¡¯m a witch?¡± Riv¡¯s biological mother Shana had been called a witch, or so the rumors went on when Riv was younger. If this was due to lineage from her maternal side, then that would be the end of her search. Shana died the day Riv was born. Riv didn¡¯t know where her nanny was. Neither her nanny nor birth mother was within reach. She was, as she had been for most of her life, on her own. There was not enough time to find information about the past. Riv borrowed some books where magic was mentioned and flipped through them all night, giving up on tracking her biological mother¡¯s lineage. One of them described a wizard¡¯s magic tools. ¡°Magic tools are mostly disguised as old, insignificant objects, antiques, etc. It can also be found in old warehouses, attics, or antique shops, and are not easily destroyed.¡± To invoke these magic tools, one had to inject mana into the tool and activate them. Witches and wizards were the only ones who can inject mana. Wizards and witches carried mana stones and magic tools that could amplify mana in the form of accessories. If Riv was a real witch and the Duke¡¯s ring was a magic tool, then, ¡°Is it a tool that contains the wondrous ability to turn back time?¡± That was the only explanation she could think of from what she read in the books about magic tools. There was no other explanation for the phenomenon of traveling back through time. The magic of reversing time could be far more significant and powerful than Riv had originally believed. If the Duke¡¯s heirloom was a magic tool, what was the possibility of Duke Sentoren being a wizard? What if Duke Sentoren¡¯s mansion had other magical tools and books hidden? Riv decided to investigate that after she found a way to meet him. However, it would be difficult with her identity as ¡®Miss Katana¡¯. She still couldn¡¯t think of a way to approach him. The hunting competition was just around the corner. Riv went to Anna after a long period of consideration. It was afternoon, around tea time when Riv approached Anna. Anna was cleaning silverware for Princess Marianne¡¯s tea time. The other maids were mobilized to clean up the drawing-room in preparation. Riv sat down next to Anna and asked, ¡°Can I help you, Anna?¡± Marianne wouldn¡¯t be back any time soon because she went to the seamstress for a new outfit. Anna looked at Riv. ¡°Riv, do you have something to ask me?¡± Riv was a bit nervous, but this made her smile. Anna had always been quite sharp and perceptive. As she cleaned the silverware, Riv asked, ¡°Anna, what do you know about Duke Sentoren?¡± Anna¡¯s hands stopped moving and she gazed at Riv almost assessingly. Riv was tall and broad enough to wear a large black dress like a mountain. She also had a weird scent that was somewhat stinky. It was strange that Anna was not wary of Riv, because she¡¯d seem suspicious to anyone, with an appearance like that. Riv made up a quick excuse. ¡°Anna, I think I¡¯ll be sent to Duke Sentoren on an errand for the princess. I don¡¯t know anything about her fiance, and I was just wondering what he¡¯s like.¡± ¡°He sometimes sends gifts to her.¡± Anna did not let her guard down for Riv and spoke succinctly. Although Duke Sentoren regularly sent gifts or formal letters, he never visited Marianne directly. ¡°If you¡¯re curious about the Duke, ask the princess or one of the other maids.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Princess Marianne will answer me. All of the maids are busy. I don¡¯t want to go to the Duke and accidentally make a mistake.¡± Riv flushed, looking embarrassed, and Anna was reluctantly convinced in her ploy. It was certainly true that Riv was scheduled to visit Duke Sentoren for an errand. Before Princess Marianne¡¯s birthday and after the hunting competition, Duke Sentoren sent her many gifts and handwritten letters. Princess Marianne¡¯s representative was to visit the Duke in return and deliver a reply. The princess¡¯ representatives were usually limited to her direct maids, which were only Elle and Riv. Elle was too busy, so Riv had to go instead. Anna¡¯s vigilance, which reminded her of various circumstances in the past, eased slightly. Anna admitted, almost ruefully, to Riv, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about Duke Sentoren either.¡± The information Anna revealed was familiar to Riv. Duke Sentoren¡¯s full name was Lionel de Sentoren. Despite being 28 years old, he was respected widely by the elder aristocrats among the court for his talent and skill. Duke Sentoren was a prestigious man who trained powerful soldiers and knights and was known as the best soldier. He was also the only son of a well-off family. A few years ago, Lionel succeeded the old Duke Sentoren when the couple died in a terrible accident. ¡°But Anna, why does Princess Marianne hate him?¡± Anna hesitated when Riv asked this. Riv came only recently to Princess Marianne while serving Queen Selina, so it was understandable that she didn¡¯t know much about the events between Marianne and Duke Sentoren. Anna asked, ¡°Riv, you¡¯ve never seen Duke Sentoren up close before, have you?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Was his appearance somehow of significance? ¡°Do you know what kind of boys Princess Marianne likes?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re cute and gentle.¡± Marianne preferred pretty, almost androgynous boys because she was short and thin. She always chose men as pretty and gentle as women, not rough and masculine ones. ¡°Duke Sentoren is handsome, but he is also very masculine and tall. He has a wide red scar on his left cheek, and his eyes look fierce. You won¡¯t even be able to meet his gaze the first time.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± That sounded like the complete opposite of what Princess Marianne favored. No wonder she didn¡¯t like him. He was one head taller than the average man while Marianne was half a head shorter than the average woman. Their heights would differ by more than 40 centimeters. Anna said dryly, ¡°They are about ten years apart. When she was eight, Duke Sentoren was already a young man.¡± As a young adult, he must have made a strong impression. His intimidating gaze alone would have been more than enough for little Princess Marianne to fear him. ¡°Besides, Duke Sentoren¡¯s estate is in the southern part of Montel.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Anna didn¡¯t elaborate, but Riv understood enough. Princess Marianne loved fair-natured boys and even hated the knights for being barbaric. The countryside was also extremely repugnant to her, because of its lack of sophistication. The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s appearance was the opposite of Marianne¡¯s ideal type, and he was said to be a very barbaric and violent man. He had been in the southern estate for more than a year and a half. ¡°Duke Sentoren has characteristics that Princess Marianne hates,¡± Anna¡¯s story continued, but it did not contain anything Riv did not already know. Anna had no idea if his family members were wizards or witches. ¡®Is the heirloom really a magic tool?¡¯ Would she know if she meets Duke Sentoren? Riv looked down at the huge, puffy black dress she wore. She couldn¡¯t go meet anyone properly with this look. Anna, who was responsible for Marianne¡¯s wardrobe and outfits, seemed to be able to help. Riv guiltily requested Anna, ¡°Can you do me a favor?¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv leaned close to Anna¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°I need a dress.¡± ¡°Dress? What color and size?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about either. All I need is a dress.¡± Anna looked at Riv¡¯s huge dress with a mysterious look on her face. ¡°Are you going to wear it yourself? I think you wear dresses a size too big¡­¡± Anna seems to have noticed something odd while looking Riv over. Riv¡¯s face, neck, and hands were too skinny for her huge dress. Anna¡¯s complexion changed. ¡°If you want a dress to wear, I think I should check the size.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Tomorrow I have to visit women¡¯s clothing stores and hat and shoe shops on Princess Marianne¡¯s behalf. The princess ordered a lot of high-end hats and accessories.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°The nanny and I had left the tattered dress for repair, so we have to retrieve that too.¡± Anna took a breath. ¡°So you¡¯ll have time to pick out a dress. What are you going to use it for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to wear it for a while at the palace. Anything will be fine as long as it¡¯s not worn out.¡± Anna sighed deeply at Riv¡¯s words. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because you only have that old dress and don¡¯t spend much, but you¡¯re not that poor for a maid.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Money isn¡¯t an issue. Is there a dress that fits me better than this?¡± Riv and Anna looked at Riv¡¯s huge dress and her form concealed underneath it. It just so happened that the other maids were coming back from their respective tasks. Riv whispered to her quickly, ¡°Come to my room at night after work.¡± As agreed upon, Anna crept into Riv¡¯s room after work ended. As soon as Anna entered, she pulled out a measuring tape and urged Riv, ¡°I can¡¯t measure you on top of that ugly thing you¡¯re wearing. Take it off.¡± Chapter 5 Riv balked as she doubted her own ears. ¡°Take off my clothes?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the only way I¡¯ll be able to measure you. You needed a dress, after all.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Anna pressed on casually, ¡°You¡¯d be more noticeable if you wore a dress that doesn¡¯t fit you.¡± Riv took a deep breath. She needed to be mentally prepared to face her true self. It¡¯d been over five years since she¡¯d really looked at herself. ¡°Give me a minute, please.¡± Riv locked all the doors, covered the windows, turned on the lights, and clutched tightly at the hems of her giant dress. Slowly, she took it off. Because it was bulky, she didn¡¯t peel it off her body too quickly. Anna¡¯s eyes widened when Riv took off the clothes she wore in layers under the dress. Riv came out of Miss Katana¡¯s huge black shell and asked Anna tentatively, ¡°Should I take off more?¡± ¡°R-Riv, what are you even wearing? You still have layers left?¡± Anna was shocked speechless. ¡°Riv, how many layers are you wearing? Take it all off for now.¡± Riv¡¯s taken-off clothes piled up like grains of sand building into a small mountain. Anna was even more appalled when Riv was completely freed from the layers that previously concealed her form. ¡°Riv, what the hell is this?¡± Riv, who emerged from the pile of clothes, had a large skeletal frame, but her body was far from fat. She couldn¡¯t be called perfect, however, her body was thin. Riv never gained weight as she was constantly dragging around a pile of heavy clothes. ¡°This ¨C this is just how it is,¡± Riv muttered, refusing to explain further. ¡°I was Queen Selina¡¯s maid.¡± Queen Selina¡¯s maids were often called clowns due to their infamously bizarre makeup. The queen had ordered such a thing because the king had taken one of her pretty maids as his lover. ¡°So that¡¯s why,¡± Riv tried to smile, though it seemed like a grimace instead. ¡°Since when have you been like that?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s since I entered this palace.¡± It was so long ago that Riv couldn¡¯t even remember clearly. ¡°Then when did you ever wear something that fits you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Riv had never worn clothes that fit her even before entering the palace, so she didn¡¯t know what size clothing she should be wearing. ¡°I¡¯ve never had readymade clothes, so I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s one that fits.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Anna sighed a few more times as she measured Riv¡¯s size. ¡°Why is your waist so thin? Isn¡¯t this a scam?¡± Riv laughed good-naturedly. Two days later, Philip II held a hunting contest near the Ailte Palace. Many princes, dukes, and nobles all gathered together. Among them was Duke Sentoren. Riv watched them from afar. Among the men, the tall, bright-haired man seemed to be Duke Sentoren. She couldn¡¯t see Duke Sentoren¡¯s expression clearly since she was peeking at them from quite a distance. The king and his party did not return until later that afternoon. ¡°Ahahaha, it was a successful hunt.¡± Philip II was delighted to the fullest and gave a loud, booming laugh. With the help of the knights and Duke Sentoren, the king succeeded in hunting various game, including red foxes, wild boars, and other animals. ¡°At this rate, I¡¯ll dry up all the beasts in the forest.¡± ¡°Your hunting skills are outstanding.¡± His retainers praised him endlessly. Delighted, the king handed out gifts to the nobles and their servants who participated in the hunt. There was a big evening banquet, and the huge banquet room was opened. Royal families and extravagantly dressed nobles gathered in hoards, while the noise of chattering filled the room. The royal chefs¡¯ delicious cooking was served endlessly and rich wine was served. The king¡¯s hunts were also served as part of the fine cuisine. ¡°Today is a very pleasant day.¡± Philip II stared at Duke Sentoren, the tall platinum-haired young man sitting on his right. Duke Sentoren¡¯s expression was cold, but the king disregarded it, accustomed to his cold personality. ¡°Lionel de Sentoren, my son-in-law, helped me hunt today. I even caught a beautiful fox thanks to him.¡± The king didn¡¯t forget to narrate his story either, exaggerating his success during the hunt with wild hand motions. ¡°With the help of Duke Sentoren, I achieved the feat of hunting as many as three wild boars.¡± ¡°Amazing, Your Majesty!¡± The nobles gave a standing ovation in praise of the king¡¯s accomplishment. Some people raised their glasses in a toast. After Duke Sentoren disposed of the mother boar, the king killed three little cubs that were lured in by his servants, but they didn¡¯t matter much, certainly not to the significance that the king spoke of arrogantly. Philip II continued to boast of his hunting skills. ¡°I even shot a bird mid-flight. My hounds ate half the bird.¡± There was a burst of laughter everywhere, with the guests hanging off his every word or at least pretending to be. ¡°Including those birds, you caught nearly ten beasts.¡± ¡°As expected of the king, truly astounding.¡± Amidst everyone¡¯s cheers and praise, the king felt awkward, despite his earlier boasting. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Duke Sentoren and my friends. They drove the game right to my area. I ran out of energy chasing all the prey.¡± The king, who was middle-aged, became so bloated after eating that it was hard for him to even climb into a horse¡¯s saddle. Looking at the king, Duke Sentoren remarked calmly, ¡°Your Highness is an expert marksman.¡± ¡°Aha, I¡¯m a marksman. Ahahaha!¡± Philip II again smiled and praised Duke Sentoren, pleased at his compliment. ¡°Duke Sentoren, we¡¯ll be a family soon, so you can relax and be comfortable with me. I¡¯ll try to hunt more often from now on.¡± The king turned back around and spoke loudly in a voice that carried like a shout to all the guests waiting for the rest of his speech. ¡°To the successful hunt! Let¡¯s all enjoy the feast tonight!¡± It was only after the friendly meal time had passed that the king realized that Duke Sentoren and his daughter, Princess Marianne, never made eye contact, let alone exchanged greetings. The king reprimanded Princess Marianne, who looked like a fairy dressed in yellow. ¡°Marianne, why aren¡¯t you speaking to your fiance?¡± All eyes in the room turned to observe Duke Sentoren and Princess Marianne. ¡°Father, I hate barbarians,¡± Marianne replied. The word ¡®barbarian¡¯ chilled the banquet hall, and silence came down oppressively like heavy blankets snuffing out a candle. The king¡¯s expression twisted and distorted uglily. Originally, Duke Sentoren and Marianne had a bad relationship. The Duke was a taciturn, emotionless man with a blank face. It was all the more so because he was a natural soldier. He didn¡¯t say friendly things and didn¡¯t know how to smile without looking scary. Marianne loathed everything about him. The king was wrong to think that time would improve the relationship between the two. The king warned his daughter, ¡°Marianne, that¡¯s not polite.¡± Cold silence settled in the awkward atmosphere as the king looked at his daughter and his daughter avoided his gaze. The nobles stepped in to pick up the pieces to return a friendly atmosphere. ¡°No, she probably just misspoke and meant to say that the Duke is really good at hunting instead.¡± ¡°Duke Sentoren¡¯s hunting skills are barbarically strong. Ahaha.¡± As the atmosphere became more awkward, the king and queen both sighed lowly. To the king, Marianne was a precious daughter who he couldn¡¯t stand to see upset. His young, lovely, angelic-looking daughter. Pairing Marianne with a young duke of outstanding descent and wealth was the best choice in the king¡¯s mind. But he didn¡¯t foresee that this would be the result. The king sighed again and his wrinkles deepened as he frowned. ¡°Marianne, I want you to apologize to your fiance.¡± The king gently admonished her, but Marianne petulantly refused to listen. Queen Selina stepped in urgently. ¡°Your Majesty, it must be shameful for Marianne to meet her fiance like this.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The nobles paid tribute to the King and Princess Marianne, and the atmosphere warmed up pleasantly as conversation began to flow again. Only Duke Sentoren floated alone amidst the crowds of people at the banquet like oil atop water. ¡°What the hell is that look?¡± Marianne loathed Duke Sentoren¡¯s outfit. The nobles at the banquet all wore the latest white wigs and white powder on their faces, making them look like wax figures. They were dressed in perfectly ironed robes without wrinkles. In contrast, Duke Sentoren wore no wig, let alone makeup. His platinum hair was cut short with ragged edges, and he wore a crumpled robe. When he turned his head, the scar on his left cheek stood out. His masculinity, broad shoulders, hard muscles, sharp eyes, and scar stood out among the fancily dressed nobles at the banquet. Everything about the Duke, Marianne hated. Why did he have to be her fiance? Why? Anyone who tried to talk to him also closed their mouths when they were faced with his scar and fierce eyes. ¡°Look, everyone¡¯s scared of the Duke.¡± Marianne took the chance to complain to her maids. ¡°His presence here is so annoying.¡± Regardless of Marianne¡¯s mood, the banquet continued. Extravagant alcohol and foods were constantly served up as musicians performed songs and dances. Some participants in the hunt dedicated songs to the king to praise his success during the day. Finally, Marquis Carasta sang her specialty opera work, a delicate, high-noted Aria. Duke Sentoren, who watched the banquet around him indifferently, left the hall briefly to get a breath of fresh air. There wasn¡¯t much that interested him. Marianne¡¯s maid, who quickly noticed the absence of the Duke, informed her of such. This was an opportunity for Marianne, who had hoped for a chance to speak privately with Duke Sentoren. However, his steps were too fast for her to catch up with. ¡°For now, hold on to Duke Sentoren!¡± ¡°All right, princess.¡± Marianne¡¯s maid followed him through the halls. Duke Sentoren crossed the royal garden without stopping after hearing the footsteps pattering after him frantically. ¡°Wait, Duke Sentoren!¡± At the sound of his title, the Duke glanced back indifferently at the maid who¡¯d chased him through the palace and was now panting heavily. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Duke Sentoren hated pointless conversations with a passion. Not only did he find them annoying, but also a waste of time. ¡°Your Excellency, Princess Marianne wishes to speak to you,¡± the maid heaved between gasping breaths. Duke Sentoren¡¯s voice became serious, though the slight twitch of his eyebrows gave away his rising irritation. ¡°What about Princess Marianne?¡± Chapter 6 When Duke Sentoren glanced back, he saw Princess Marianne, dressed in bright, eye-catching yellow, standing at a distance. The Duke was taken aback at the news that Marianne wanted to talk to him. ¡°The Princess wants to speak to the Duke alone.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m also in the dark in regards to such, but she did say it was a very important matter.¡± Duke Sentoren thought for a moment, before he nodded to Marianne¡¯s maid. ¡°Follow me,¡± he commanded curtly. Duke Sentoren walked through the dark garden with long, fast-paced strides. Marianne almost threw a tantrum as she tried to follow the Duke. Her short legs made it difficult to keep up with the Duke¡¯s fast walking, which was to her a medium-paced jog. ¡°Why is he so fast!¡± Irritated, she grumbled to herself. In just a few steps, she was out of breath. ¡°Gosh, uselessly tall!¡± Duke Sentoren was tall enough to be a giant and had long legs compared to Marianne. His face was hideous and he acted roughly, unlike a proper gentleman. ¡°Such a barbaric man!¡± Marianne had no wish to marry Duke Sentoren and live with him for the rest of her life. In fact, if she did marry Duke Sentoren, she would either kill him or go crazy. He was too much for her. Marianne clutched at the hems of her fluffy dress. As Marianne huffed and struggled along, Duke Sentoren paused to wait for her to catch up. His eyes were cold and apathetic. ¡°Princess Marianne, did you have something to discuss with me?¡± Marianne opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment as she tried to catch her breath. She thought to herself that she should pretend to be polite in order to persuade the Duke to annul their marriage. ¡°Duke Lionel, we do have something to talk about. We¡¯re engaged, aren¡¯t we?¡± Duke Sentoren raised one eyebrow, turning the full weight of his attention upon her. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Marianne hated his cold, arrogant attitude. ¡°Not here.¡± ¡°Then show me the way.¡± Lionel gestured with a tip of his head towards Marianne. Of course, this simple gesture alone made Marianne feel as if her head was about to burst with fury. Lionel seemed unwilling to kneel to her, lacking the respect that anyone else would have shown to a princess of her status. ¡°Come this way.¡± For once, Marianne managed, barely, to keep her anger from exploding. However, it simmered beneath the surface of words, testing her restraint. It was always difficult having a face-to-face meeting with this man, like talking to a stone statue. The sooner she got rid of him, the better. Marianne walked quickly. He followed suit, though at a casual, sedate pace. This, too, infuriated the Princess. The dark garden was lined with elite guards. Marianne stopped when she reached the entrance to the maze garden. Marianne¡¯s maids hid themselves cleverly into hedge corners. A thick blanket of darkness covered the pathway, and the shade of the trees encircling them made even their shadows indistinguishable. The only noise to be heard was the steady chirp of grasshoppers hidden between the branches. The two of them stood alone, and for a moment silence reigned between them. Marianne turned and met Lionel¡¯s gaze. She hated that she had to look up to him to do that, since he was taller than her, but truly it did hurt her pride. ¡°I have something to say, Lionel.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Lionel dipped his head pridefully, as if granting her permission to speak. Marianne fumed, feeling angry yet uncomfortable. In particular, she hated seeing the scarred, left side of his face, but in that moment she smiled brightly like an angel. ¡°Do you want to marry me, Duke Sentoren?¡± Lionel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°The King wishes for such.¡± Marianne decided to be a little nicer and spoke in a gentler, less demanding tone. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡± ¡°Will you follow father¡¯s orders?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡± When Duke Sentoren remained silent, Marianne quickly became impatient. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the Duke thinks of me, but I can¡¯t marry you.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± It was time for her to show off her superb acting skills. When Duke Sentoren asked this, Marianne cried out with faked desperation, ¡°Lionel, I love someone else.¡± ¡°Does Princess Marianne want to marry him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then marry him.¡± Marianne¡¯s eyes grew wide. Her expression softened instantly as she tried to hold back her surprised laughter. In fact, she was too happy to hide her facial expression, and a twinkle of glee danced through her eyes. ¡°Then, what about stopping the marriage?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne can handle it herself. It is only right for the princess to take responsibility for her own actions.¡± At that moment, Lionel¡¯s bitter answer spun in Marianne¡¯s mind and it felt like being poured with a bucket of icy water. ¡°What? Are you crazy, Lionel?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wish to get charged with alimony by the royal family,¡± he states as he stared at her coldly, ¡°so why am I out of my mind? Princess Marianne wishes to break the engagement, so you should be the one to declare it null and persuade your parents of such.¡± Marianne was shaken by Lionel¡¯s comments, but found his direct logic hard to refute. ¡°Lionel, just end this. Please let me go! Don¡¯t you understand? You have to cancel the marriage!¡± Lionel knitted his brows. ¡°The engagement is a royal order that has nothing to do with my intentions. Your father is the one who insists on seeing through with this marriage.¡± Not me, he implies. ¡°But-¡± ¡°If you wish to break our engagement, you should hurry.¡± ¡°Why should I break up the engagement? I¡¯m still too young! They wouldn¡¯t listen to me!¡± Marianne screamed harshly at him, but Lionel replied without any change in expression, ¡°I¡¯m not as against this marriage as Princess Marianne is.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne is too young. You seem to me still just a child. I don¡¯t understand the men who feel attracted to you.¡± ¡°You ¨C what did you just say?!¡± Marianne was so angry that she yelled at him. ¡°How am I supposed to demand a cancellation without keeping my dignity? That¡¯s what you have to do!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to break up first in such a vulgar way, did I?¡± ¡°Then make an excuse to break the engagement! I don¡¯t care! Just say you have an illegitimate child or another lover!¡± ¡°That wouldn¡¯t work.¡± Marianne nearly ripped her hair out in anger. Every word with this man felt like throwing rubber balls at a concrete wall ¨C they¡¯d only get tossed back. However, the Duke¡¯s words were not untrue. It was unclear that the king would break their engagement even if Duke Sentoren made the excuse of a hidden lover or illegitimate child. The king himself had an immeasurable number of illegitimate children and lovers. Hearing his words, Marianne was furious. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than marry a terrible cold-blooded man like you!¡± ¡°Do as you please.¡± ¡°What ¨C you ¨C what?! Aggggghhhhhhhhh!¡± Marianne sputtered as she collapsed screaming, unable to defeat his unflappable demeanor. Marianne¡¯s maids rushed over to help her stand. ¡°P-Princess!¡± ¡°Calm down!¡± Lionel remained unmoving from his spot on the stone walkway even after Marianne¡¯s maids disappeared with her back towards the palace. Returning to the banquet hall to suffer all those burning gazes upon him would be too annoying. In addition, there was another reason why he couldn¡¯t leave just yet ¨C A suspicious shadow who¡¯d been following him around for hours. An unknown opponent who irked his nerves. Turning slightly on his heels in front of the entrance to the maze garden, he glared at the dark, concealing shadows around him. ¡°You, girl. Don¡¯t hide. Show yourself.¡± Earlier, Riv had silently tailed the two when Princess Marianne followed Duke Sentoren outside the banquet hall. The darkness was a good cover, but it was difficult not to make any sound, so she had removed her shoes and wore only stockings. Hidden securely in the shadow of a tree, Riv watched Princess Marianne and Duke Sentoren closely. The princess¡¯ maids were scattered all over, so she could not approach them or move to a closer vantage point. She decided to maintain her distance and keep track of the situation from afar. Marianne seemed to be angry with the Duke, shrieking shrilly. Their conversation seemed like it would be short, but she was still yelling at him even after a few minutes. Riv became more nervous as time passed. ¡®I think I heard her mention a ¡®cancellation.¡¯¡¯ Marianne, whose voice raised incrementally in volume as her anger bloated, swayed sideways dangerously all of a sudden, and she almost fell over. Even after the maids helped her up, Duke Sentoren remained unmoving and apathetic towards her. ¡®What do I do now?¡¯ She thought hard about how to approach Duke Sentoren. Just then, Duke Sentoren¡¯s voice rang coldly in her ears. ¡°You, girl. Don¡¯t hide. Show yourself.¡± Riv¡¯s entire body flinched upon being discovered. Riv agonized over her choices. The only option she had now was to meet Duke Sentoren directly. She couldn¡¯t think of any of the things she had planned to ask him when they finally met. In her flustered state, it seemed as if her mind was a blank sheet of paper. How should she behave? What should she say to him? The questions Riv had desperately agonized over the nights before didn¡¯t come to mind. Her mind was completely blank. Duke Sentoren had an overwhelming aura that influences everyone, even from a distance. Despite her determination to change her fate, the mere sound of his voice made her shiver and hesitate. He did have a handsome face, but he also seemed to be a man made of sharp, icy knives, whether it be his cutting words or his intense glare. Duke Sentoren was nicknamed the cold-blooded duke precisely for this reason, because he appeared to be emotionless and was unable to express himself properly. It was understandable why Marianne rejected this man so desperately. ¡°I think I told you not to keep hiding.¡± Riv winced at Duke Sentoren¡¯s sharp tone. ¡®Did I really get caught?¡¯ It was hard for her to believe that the Duke had discovered her presence. Riv had been hiding a considerable distance away from him, far enough that she could barely hear their conversation in spite of the princess¡¯ loud yelling. But before she knew it, there was suddenly a dark figure in front of her, with sharp contours illuminated by the moonlight. When Riv looked up, Duke Sentoren towered over her. His blazing eyes pierced her, and Riv found her knees trembling uncontrollably in the face of his intensity. ¡®Don¡¯t be afraid!¡¯ she encouraged herself. Riv pulled herself together quickly, hiding her tremors by wrapping her arms around herself. With her back as straight as possible, she faced Duke Sentoren. It was only at this moment that she felt the beginnings of coherency returning to her. But there was another problem. ¡®Why is this man so tall?¡¯ Riv felt baffled standing in front of him. She was as tall as or even taller than a lot of men. Usually, the men were the surprised ones when they came face-to-face with Riv. In contrast, Duke Sentoren showed no signs of surprise, let alone amazement, upon seeing her. He was even taller than she was. Duke Sentoren¡¯s rough-looking face, which Riv stared at, displayed evidence of a brutal past, and his amber eyes glowed with anger. In the face of such intense scrutiny and suspicion, Riv found it difficult to think, though the tremor in her limbs seemed to grow worse. ¡®I¡¯m scared.¡¯ Chapter 7 Riv shivered, clutching the hem of her grey dress. She had been confident that she wouldn¡¯t be caught with the faded dress on, her black hair tumbling down the top. The moment she had been most afraid of was meeting this man. Duke Sentoren seemed to see right through her. ¡®I don¡¯t think this man is a wizard. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s just a human being. Then, why?¡¯ He asked back in a cold voice, ¡°Why did you chase me and the princess?¡± Riv opened her mouth, trembling at the Duke¡¯s words. In fact, she couldn¡¯t think of any excuses. ¡°I-I got lost, Y-Your Grace.¡± This is the garden of the Ailte Palace, a place full of maids and servants serving royalty and nobles. Riv¡¯s reason was plausible. Riv just didn¡¯t know that she looked suspicious as she was dressed shabbily, compared to other maids. Lionel questioned her again, ¡°Who are you? Who are you following?¡± Riv replied immediately. ¡°Princess Marianne¡¯s maid of honour.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ma-Madame Kat-Katana.¡± Giving her name was an obvious mistake. Duke Sentoren immediately became cynical. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of that name.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡®Madame Katana is a strange name,¡¯ Riv sighed, regretting not giving another excuse. She wanted to get out of this crisis somehow. ¡°Duke, I was under the queen and recently came to serve Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°Did you follow me because you wanted to let the queen know about the conversation between me and the princess?¡± Riv was speechless for a moment. Duke Sentoren was far from her expectations. A man of wild beauty, the opposite of the elegant nobles of the court. A tall man with broad shoulders and a strong muscular body. He had a beautiful face, but at the same time, he looked tough and cold-hearted. He was also a man with immense, strong pheromones. Many women in the palace had longed for this man. Riv could understand the women who feared him but longed for him. At the same time Marianne didn¡¯t understand. Why didn¡¯t Marianne want this charming man with wealth, good blood, honour, and noble spirit? Riv, who was usually indifferent to men, was instinctively attracted to him. ¡®I-¡® Liv¡¯s pendant ring grew hot. Her heart began to race uncontrollably. She seemed to have fallen for this man in an instant. ¡®Calm down, come to your senses!¡¯ The Duke Sentoren in front of her is Princess Marianne¡¯s ex-husband, who would kill Riv. Even if she went back to the past dozens of times, Riv could never be related to him. She was just unilaterally attracted to his charm. Even if she had returned to time because of the heirloom and magic tool, nothing would change. ¡®Duke Sentoren. This man has nothing to do with me.¡¯ Feeling a sudden rush of courage, Riv asked the Duke of Sentoren openly, ¡°Do you know about Princess Marianne¡¯s private life?¡± Duke Sentoren¡¯s face became distorted. ¡°No one has ever asked me that.¡± That was when Riv realized. This man knew Marianne¡¯s wrongdoings. He was displeased when Riv mentioned ¡°Marianne¡¯s Private Life¡±. It seemed like it wasn¡¯t the first time he had heard of it either. ¡®Did Marianne tell her personal story or did he hear rumors?¡¯ If this man knew Marianne¡¯s private life, it would be meaningless for Riv to snitch on it. But, if this man¡¯s behavior didn¡¯t change, her future wouldn¡¯t change either. He probably knew Marieanne¡¯s illicit acts before his return. Nevertheless, he still had his engagement to Marianne and eventually married her. It was his fault, even if the marriage was miserable. ¡®Why would he marry Marianne?¡¯ Even if there were endless questions in her mind, Riv could not ask why. The important fact was that this meeting could not change her future. ¡®I¡¯m just a third party between Marianne and Duke Sentoren.¡¯ Thinking she had nothing to gain, Riv decided to step down. But this man was far too good for Marianne. ¡°Dear Duke, congratulations on your marriage to Princess Marianne.¡± Embarrassment flickered on Duke Sentoren¡¯s face. ¡°Marriage? The princess hasn¡¯t even had her coming of age yet. What marriage?¡± ¡°The king wants the marriage, so it will happen soon. Even if the result is a catastrophe, the king will push ahead.¡± ¡°A catastrophe?¡± He repeated, but that was all. Riv had a hunch that the man in front of her was not dreaming of a happy marriage to Princess Marianne. In fact, all of Riv¡¯s actions seemed suspicious to the Duke. ¡°Why are you saying those things to me? Do you know anything?¡± ¡°Even if Princess Marianne¡¯s scandal breaks out, the duke and Princess Marianne¡¯s marriage will still advance.¡± ¡®Maybe,¡¯ replied the Duke of Sentoren, as expected. Riv was more certain now. ¡®This man wasn¡¯t a variable to change my future.¡¯ He had nothing to do with magic or her fate. ¡®I should never have met him.¡¯ At the thought of it, Riv became despondent. Even if Marianne is promiscuous, they would get married, regardless of her hatred for him. At that thought, Riv envied Marianne out of nowhere. ¡®Why did Princess Marianne have it all when she didn¡¯t want it?¡¯ At this moment, Riv was greedy for a man whom she couldn¡¯t have. ¡°Is there anything you want from me, Madame Katana?¡± Riv stared at Duke Sentoren. ¡°Do you have any intention of choosing me over Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Duke Sentoren did not answer. Riv also spoke impulsively, but of course, she did not expect a positive answer. A bitter smile crossed her face. She plucked up her courage and asked again. ¡°Duke, if I say I want to leave the palace, could you help me?¡± After a long hesitation, he opened his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s not under my authority.¡± Even if he did help her, there was no reason to do so. And, considering his interest in Riv, it would only last for a moment of curiosity. There would be no such thing as seeing her as a woman. ¡®Still, still.¡¯ This dashing young duke made her feel like a fragile girl. Riv wanted to have a sweet dream with Lionel. Would it feel like this if she fell in love at first sight? What would it be like to be a couple with him? What if she kissed him? ¡°¡­¡­¡± In front of Riv, was Lionel, the Duke¡¯s face. Handsome but at the same time, one with rough lines. Someone Riv could never have. But the only person that made her dream. Riv was seized with a strange impulse and stepped up to him. She leaned forward, and kissed Lionel on his lips. Her lips softly brushed against his. The moment felt like forever. A sweet, sweet moment. She hurriedly stepped down, and let out a chuckle. She didn¡¯t mean to seduce him. It was just a thank-you kiss. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.?¡± ¡°It was only for a moment, but thank you for letting me dream.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± As she saw the confused Duke, she backed away even more, as if she were trying to escape. ¡°I want you to be happy. It¡¯s a sincere desire.¡± Riv picked up the shoes she had put down and walked out. She felt the duke¡¯s sharp gaze on her back, but she did not turn. Her kiss was like a child¡¯s prank. It may not be tempting enough for a duke. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Riv erased the Duke from her head. She agonized over how she could survive in the palace. Without knowing that a playful kiss with the duke would change her whole life. Lionel¡¯s eyes were fixed on the back of the woman leaving. He gently touched his lips that had grazed the woman¡¯s lips. She was gone when he looked up again. ¡°How ridiculous.¡± Just then, Lionel heard a voice calling for him. ¡°Duke, where are you?¡± ¡°Michelle, here you are.¡± Lionel found himself staring at Michelle, his escort, who approached him. Michelle asked, confused, ¡°What did you talk to Princess Marianne about?¡± ¡°It was useless.¡± ¡°There was a lot of talk because the Duke and the princess didn¡¯t come back to the banquet. And Princess Marianne collapsed. Speaking of which, there must have been a bit of a commotion.¡± Lionel recalled Madame Katana in her gray dress instead of Marianne. Was Madame Katana really Marianne¡¯s maid of honour? She didn¡¯t smell of the unpleasant perfume most noblewomen wore. Rather, the scent that clung to her was that of refreshing forest, which made him fascinated by what she said. ¡®Do you have any intention of choosing me over Princess Marianne?¡¯ Her words were still in his ears. Tall, thin limbs, pale white face. A woman of modest appearance with no accessories or make up. On the contrary, why did she feel attractive? But, Madame Katana? Madame? Lionel turned and asked Michelle, ¡°Have you heard of Madame Katana?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard of her, why?¡± Michelle tilted her head. Lionel pondered over the mysterious words Madame Katana had said. ¡°Find out what Marianne is doing. Find out all the rumors in the palace.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lionel gazed up at the sky. The blood-red moon was prominent. Madame Katana¡¯s warm touch was still lingering on his lips. Then, one possibility came to mind. What if he used her to break up their engagement? If his eyes were captivated by the princess¡¯s maid, and not the princess, Marianne¡¯s pride would be wounded. Lionel gave a bright smile. *** T/N: I forgot about this novel lol, had put it on hold because of my exams¡­ Will get back to it now! ¡ª Chapter 8 ¡ª The servants¡¯ quarters were still. Riv secretly returned to her room in time for the guards¡¯ shift, and Princess Marianne¡¯s maids, who were using the next room, were quiet as if they had not returned yet. She didn¡¯t get caught by anyone as she entered her room, and finally heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Whoo.¡± Riv, who was trying to light the candle, turned her head back, sensing someone¡¯s presence. ¡°W-Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°Riv, uhn,¡± returned a tired voice from the bed. It was Anna. Riv swept patted her chest, calming down. ¡°Anna, why are you here?¡± The figure on the bed wriggled. ¡°I, I¡¯ve been waiting for a while and fell asleep.¡± Riv managed to light the candle. Anna rubbed her half-asleep eyes and raised her eyebrow when she saw Riv. Her sleepiness left her. ¡°A-Are you Riv?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What in the world is this?¡± Anna jumped out of bed and looked at Riv¡¯s face, waist, hair and body, admiring. ¡°It¡¯s really you, Riv!¡± Anna was pleased that the dress she had bought fit Riv well. She was satisfied that the design and color did not look bad on her. ¡°You look good.¡± ¡°Thank you, Anna.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a little tall and slightly thin, but it doesn¡¯t show much. Why is your waist so slim? You wouldn¡¯t even need a corset.¡± Anna measured Riv¡¯s waist. Riv felt shy by her touch. ¡°Hey, hey, Anna.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv was worried that Anna¡¯s voice would be heard in the next room. ¡°Quiet.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Riv pointed to the next room. She didn¡¯t know when the maids in the next room would come back. The walls here were so thin that you could even hear the slightest bit of coughing. ¡°I¡¯ll explain the details tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anna lowered her voice and watched Riv with a slight smile. Even in Anna¡¯s eyes, Riv¡¯s changes were dramatic. She was tall and thin for a woman, so it was hard to get ready-made clothes. Anna was lucky enough to have gotten those clothes. ¡®Wow.¡¯ She was busy admiring Riv. Usually, Riv Katana donned a large black dress. Compared to her huge body, her face and hands were buried in piles of clothes and looked funny. Everyone in the palace called Riv a widow, the walking corpse¨C Madame Katana, and whatnot. But now, she felt like a different person because she was wearing a fitted dress instead of Madame Katana¡¯s dreary clothes. Plain pale face, long black hair, long limbs. Because of the modest dress, she looked elegant and sad like the noble daughter of the fallen family. Anna imagined Riv dressed up in a fancy dress. ¡°You would be beautiful if you wore the right clothes,¡± Anna said with a bitter smile. Riv thought of what to do. ¡°Anna, wait.¡± Riv pulled something out her inner pocket to pay Anna. Along with the dress payment, she handed over the brooch she had been using. ¡°Take this, too.¡± This was the only accessory Anna had ever seen on Riv. ¡°Why this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still usable.¡± The brooch was no more important than Riv¡¯s life. Anna tried to say something but Riv put a finger to her lips. ¡°Shh.¡± Someone was walking through the hallway here. Anna quickly hid what she had received in her arms. Maybe because it was time for Marianne¡¯s maids to return, but the hallway was noisy. They went back to their room and the hallway became quiet after a long time. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Anna checked that there was no one outside and left the room. Riv locked the door again and changed her clothes after Anna left. The room was dark because the window was closed. A huge pile of clothes, the symbol of Madame Katana, piled under the bed. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv folded the mountains of clothes quickly. She didn¡¯t forget to be fully prepared so that she could leave whenever someone called. Lying on her bed, Riv suddenly recalled Duke Sentoren. A man she could never have, nor should she crave. ¡®But I liked that moment.¡¯ It was her first kiss, the moment Lionel and her lips grazed each other. ¡®It was just a dream.¡¯ The music from the banquet had long disappeared. Riv wondered if he had returned to his mansion or was staying somewhere in the palace. ¡®Forget about him.¡¯ Riv fiddled with his mother¡¯s portrait pendant hanging around her neck. She could hardly sleep. Lionel¡¯s lips were hot in memory. ¡®Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re a witch who¡¯s travelled back in time. Don¡¯t forget.¡¯ *** A dream. Riv¡¯s eyes saw the northern palace where Marianne had stayed after her marriage. The place was covered with white snow. Was this before Riv died? Marianne was screaming at Riv. ¨C Riv, you¡¯re so big! Why are you so big? If I called you, you have to be quick! Marianne pointed her finger at Riv, shouting angrily. She couldn¡¯t hold herself back, and kicked Riv while cursing. ¨C My life is so unfortunate! I¡¯m upset because Riv is staying with me! Marianne was about to cry. ¨C You¡¯re the reason I married Lionel! The Princess calmed down. Marianne, who was hyper, was stopped by the maid but it didn¡¯t seem to work. Riv¡¯s hand accidentally touched Marianne¡¯s. ¨C Oh, how disgusting! Marianne spat and threw her lace gloves down. That was where Riv¡¯s hand came into contact. ¨C I¡¯ve got dirtied! I need to wash up quickly. Burn all these clothes! Marianne walked out to her room. Riv remained in the garden. Half an hour later, a scream came from Marianne¡¯s bedroom. When Riv wandered and snooped around the bedroom, the maids pushed Riv into the bathroom. ¨C The princess is very angry. Riv, do something. The spacious bathroom was full of white steam. Marianne, leaning on a large bronze bathtub in the middle of the bathroom, raised her head. ¨C These slow ones, why¡¯d they disappear without serving me? Marianne rose above the water and made eye contact with Riv. ¨C Agh! Marianne hurriedly hid herself in the bathtub. ¨C Why is this girl here, get out immediately! Marianne didn¡¯t come out of the water until Riv disappeared out of the bathroom. But Riv had already seen it. Marianne¡¯s curved body and swollen chest. Her belly was as round as her chest. ¡®Marianne is pregnant.¡¯ Riv¡¯s face grew pale. She knew the content after this. She¡¯ll be trapped underground and burned to death for knowing Marianne¡¯s secret. She will come back to the past, just eight months before. ¡°Haa.¡° Riv opened her eyes at dawn. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s real. I¡¯m back in reality.¡± The sky was dark at dawn. Riv imagined flying through the sky as a bird. She may have dreamed but reality hadn¡¯t changed at all. ¡®However, why does his face come to my mind?¡¯ The next day, early in the morning, Riv went for a walk in the image of Madame Katana. She wandered around looking for the palace¡¯s border. She also searched places where guards mostly stood, places that were neglected and places where the guarding seemed sloppy. ¡°What is Madame Katana doing?¡± ¡°What are you looking for?¡± questioned the maids and servants as they came out to watch Riv. Riv realized that she couldn¡¯t escape their gaze. Madame Katana¡¯s appearance was more noticeable than she had thought. Riv sighed. ¡®It¡¯s hard to escape with this look.¡¯ It was not easy to find a gap in this palace. Even if there was a gap, Madame Katana could not move. ¡°Haaaa.¡± Riv, who gave another long sigh, recalled the women who were killed while leaving the palace undercover. ¡®Will I end up like them?¡¯ Queen Selina, when the women under her command betrayed her, used to kill them. She would order her servants to make a mess out of their bodies. Even if they ate poison and faked their death, they couldn¡¯t possibly survive if their body was dismembered. ¡®If it¡¯s too hard to disguise my death, should I run away from the palace in the gray dress? Is it possible?¡¯ When would be a good time to do it? ¡®I¡¯m sure my actions are too revealing now.¡¯ Riv returned to her quarters casually and had breakfast. Princess Marianne¡¯s routine began late in the morning, similar to the other day. Riv did Marianne¡¯s homework. Marianne overslept and didn¡¯t even come out of her bedroom. It was also said that the gift from Duke Sentoren to Marianne was lodged somewhere in the princess¡¯ bedroom. Riv pretended to copy Marianne¡¯s poor handwriting. The amount of homework Marianne put off for three days was enormous. While Riv was frantically moving her hands, the head maid approached. She handed over a piece of paper with Marianne¡¯s scrawl visible. ¡°Princess Marianne gave it to Riv. She is in a bad mood, so finish it early in the morning.¡± ¡®This is too much,¡¯ Riv felt suffocated looking at the list handed over by Marianne. ¡°It¡¯s going to take more than a full day, madam.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve given it to you. Or I can¡¯t do anything else.¡± When Riv stared at the head maid, she clicked her head. ¡°This morning, your behaviour was suspicious. Do you plan on leaving the palace, Riv Katana?¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡ª ¡°L-Leaving the palace?¡± The head maid¡¯s eyes had an eerie light in them. Riv shook her head and made excuses. ¡°I went out for a walk, madam.¡± ¡°Even if you want to leave the palace, it¡¯s not time yet.¡± ¡°What do you mean? So, when can I get out of this palace?¡± Riv had wanted to go out since she was the queen¡¯s maid. Rather than liberating Riv, the queen had sent her to be her daughter¡¯s maid. ¡°Until Princess Marianne marries, you must faithfully fulfll your role as the princess¡¯s maid. Remember.¡± She could not leave the palace until Marianne was married. If she violated the rule, even if she was alive, her body, her limbs wouldn¡¯t be intact. The head maid said, ¡°The Queen is aware of Riv¡¯s behaviour.¡± Riv stared at the head maid, pretending to be terrified. She, like Riv, was an old hand and worker of the queen. Her words were the will of Queen Selina. ¡°Riv Katana, there¡¯s no way you¡¯re getting out of the palace.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s time yet.¡± After she left, Riv was left alone in the princess¡¯ parlour. She laughed helplessly in vain. ¡°Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha.¡± Her eyes gazed at Marianne¡¯s homework, which she hadn¡¯t even done half of. Her hand, clenching the feather pen, was shaking wildly. The black ink that fell from the pen spread over the paper. ¡®Why should I live like this?¡¯ Riv didn¡¯t want to die. She only wanted to grab a chance. She didn¡¯t want to die, trapped in a place like this all her life. Princess Marianne woke up at the urging of the maids, as she did not have much time left. It was too early in the morning for her to fall asleep. Marianne, who was lying on the bed, was shaken up. ¡°Princess, you have to get up.¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯m sleepy.¡± When Marianne whined, the maid said in a troubled voice, ¡°Queen Selina sent teachers.¡± ¡°My mother sent teachers?¡± Marianne thought her ears were wrong. ¡°W-What teachers?¡± The head maid spoke up, ¡°Queen Selina sent these people to educate you before you get married to Duke Sentoren. They¡¯re waiting for you.¡± ¡°Why are the teachers here all of a sudden? Why did Mother send them?¡± Marianne had a point. ¡°Is it because of what I said to Lionel at the banquet?¡± Marianne¡¯s sleep flew away, but she didn¡¯t plan to get out of bed. ¡°Well, he did apologize to me and sent me a gift.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I didn¡¯t throw it away.¡± ¡°Yes, princess. Get up.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just rest?¡± ¡°No, please get up. The queen will be angry.¡± She forced Marianne to dress and groomed her. After a while, Marianne, sitting at her desk in the drawing room, started sulking. In front of her was a pile of boring books. ¡°Why should I learn these things?¡± The teachers were completely indifferent to Marianne¡¯s whining. A couple of hours after the class began, Marianne was exhausted. Every time she got something wrong, four maids were physically punished till they collapsed. Marianne pretended not to care whether the maids cried or shrieked in pain. ¡°Why do I have to learn these things!¡± At best, if she was going to be a duchess, she didn¡¯t have to learn foreign languages. After the foreign language class, Madame Hatasha was in charge of the court etiquette class. Marianne¡¯s childishness didn¡¯t work for her. ¡°You must not use such vulgar language.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± After barely passing Madame Hatasha¡¯s class, mannerism and embroidery classes awaited. One light lunch later, music class followed without a break. Marianne headed to the music room. In the music room, there was a teacher; a young pianist, Trojan, who was waiting for Marianne. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Marianne looked sideways at him and was conscious of the gaze directed at her. ¡°Princess Marianne, I¡¯m Trojan, in charge of music. Today, I¡¯m going to talk about manners and appreciation at the concert.¡± Marianne was rarely this silent. Trojan was a handsome boy with blond hair and slender build and was popular among ladies. She sat at the piano, watching him. Trojan also settled next to her. He gave a cheery smile. ¡°You look very tired for a beautiful princess.¡± ¡°Ah, I am.¡± ¡°Can you listen to my performance instead of practising today?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I was inspired by a beautiful princess and wrote an Ode to the Angel.¡± Only then did Marianne regain her vitality. She beckoned the maids at the entrance to the music room to go out. They were the only ones left in the music room. ¡°I need Trojan to play something more than the piano. How about me?¡± When Marianne grinned, fluttering her long eyelashes, Trojan responded. Riv happened to come near the music room. She stopped when she heard a strange sound. ¡°¡­!¡± In the music room, only a woman¡¯s moan sounded, instead of piano notes. The maids had hurriedly kicked her out and stomped their feet. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Riv accidentally came near the stairs to the music room and hid herself when this noise entered her ears. ¡°Haaa.¡± She hurriedly fiddled with her mother¡¯s portrait necklace. ¡®Yes, Marianne was having an affair with a pianist.¡¯ Even the stunning pianist was just one of Marianne¡¯s lovers. This sight had been seen by her in the past. Riv ran away from the music room. *** In front of Lionel, a list of people was placed, suspected of being close to Marianne among male nobles who frequently entered the palace. ¡°Are these all Marianne¡¯s lovers?¡± ¡°Probably, yes.¡± Butler Carl nodded. ¡°Hmm, Princess Marianne has an acquired taste. Young, slender blond men.¡± Lionel muttered in deep thought. ¡°Is there any clear evidence that Marianne and those men were acquainted?¡± ¡°No, Princess Marianne and Queen Selina¡¯s maids won¡¯t be able to tell you because they¡¯re afraid of the consequences.¡± ¡°Well, what¡¯s the evidence that they are related to Marianne?¡± ¡°These names were selected from the list of those who visited the palace. It was written by the guards themselves.¡± ¡°Then, the guards may know the private life of the princess.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He thought Carl would do a better job of investigating. Lionel¡¯s forehead wrinkled. ¡°And what about Madame Katana?¡± Butler Carl skimmed through the report. ¡°Madame Katana¡¯s real name is Orivia de Katana.¡± ¡°So, Madame Katana actually exists. She¡¯s not fake.¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s quite known inside the palace.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Madame Katana entered the palace seven years ago and soon after, she became Queen Selina¡¯s maid. As for Princess Marianne, she has been her maid for over a year.¡± ¡°Hmm, how old is she?¡± ¡°She was 14 years old when she entered the palace as Count Katana¡¯s adopted daughter. Even if it¡¯s not accurate, she¡¯s probably in her early 20s.¡± Lionel knew the existence of Count Katana. The story of Count Katana losing his family fortune gambling and falling in love with women, to eventually get emancipated by his son, had circulated in the society. ¡°How many years ago did Count Katana die?¡± ¡°Maybe around three years ago. He had a lot of problems.¡± Count Katana also continued to have scandals involving women. Twenty years ago, a scandal was pulled down after he married a woman and her daughter was adopted as his foster daughter. ¡°Count Katana remarried a woman from the estate, but she gave birth and died a few months later. The child she gave birth to is now Madame Katana, not the Count¡¯s biological daughter.¡± The story afterwards was nothing special. The accident made him unable to have children. Since then, the count had completely fallen, and Count Katana blamed his daughter for all his misfortunes and beat her up. He sold his adopted daughter as a maid of the royal family. He even squandered all the money she had earned from the palace. ¡°Count Katana died three years ago. Madame Katana, who became an adult at the time, sold the mansion and handled the remaining debts.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the eldest son of Count Katana?¡± ¡°Philip Katana became a priest twenty years ago after emancipating from his father. It would have been difficult for Madame Katana to contact him because he is currently missing.¡± Lionel had a question there. ¡°Is she married?¡± ¡°She¡¯s single.¡± ¡°But then, why Madame Katana?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nickname she got from the palace. Probably a nickname for her ugly appearance that makes her look a lot older than her age.¡± ¡°Ugly appearance?¡± Lionel recalled the Madame Katana he had met. According to that report, Madame Katana is 21 years old and seven years younger than him. Madame Katana, whom he met, looked mature but still in her early 20s. ¡°What¡¯s ugly about her? I don¡¯t know why she deserves to be called Madame Katana.¡± Butler Carl broke into a cold sweat at his words. ¡°Madame Katana is a strange woman with a huge body and pale face. She always wears mourning clothes.¡± Perplexed, Lionel questioned, ¡°Then, who the hell is the Madame Katana I met?¡± ¡ª Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°What¡­?¡± Lionel said in response to Butler Carl¡¯s question, ¡°The Madame Katana I saw was a beautiful woman with black hair and a slim figure.¡± ¡°¡­You must have seen it wrong,¡± Carl said hesitantly, ¡°Or maybe she borrowed Madame Katana¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Lionel shrugged. What if Madame Katana really was an ugly woman? ¡°Marianne wouldn¡¯t like Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Lionel stroked his chin and thought a bit. ¡°I¡¯ll have to meet Madame Katana. Call her here.¡± ¡°What? But Madame Katana rarely comes out of the palace.¡± ¡°Butler Carl can do anything.¡± Lionel was having fun after a long time. Madame Katana, a maid around Marianne, who abhors ugly things. It was obvious how much Marianne would hate Madame Katana. ¡°What are you thinking, Duke?¡± ¡°Just follow what I say, Carl.¡± Lionel hated the boring life of a noble. But he thought it would be a little exciting now. ¡°Let rumors spread about how Duke Sentore fell for Madame Katana.¡± ¡°No one would believe it.¡± Lionel was convinced. ¡°If they don¡¯t believe it, make evidence and spread it. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯ll be fun?¡± A few days later, Marianne¡¯s Coming-of-Age Banquet would be held. Lionel hoped that the rumors of himself and Madame Katana would spread. He wanted to see Marianne¡¯s pretty face distorted. A few days after the red roses in the royal garden began to bloom, the last tea party was held before Marianne¡¯s 18th birthday. The noble ladies who received the princess¡¯ invitation, headed to the palace. Beautiful girls who got off the fancy carriages, stepped into the queen¡¯s rose garden and exclaimed, ¡°Roses are starting to bloom.¡± ¡°I guess, you can only see blue roses here.¡± In spring, the blue roses that began to bloom in time were as fresh and beautiful as the red roses. In the green garden where the roses could be seen, white tables and chairs had been placed. The vase on the table was decorated with sweet-smelling roses. The delicate glass ornaments next to them were also eye-catching. ¡°Wow.¡± A place where everything was of the highest quality. The girls¡¯ exclamations continued. Marianne received guests at the entrance to the rose garden. ¡°Thank you all for coming.¡± ¡°Thank you for inviting me, Princess Marieanne.¡± The girls couldn¡¯t take their eyes off today¡¯s star, Princess Marianne. ¡°Princess Marianne, you are stunning.¡° Today¡¯s Marianne was small and cute like a fairy. Her fluttering little dress made her look ethereal. ¡°I think we also fell in love while looking at the princess.¡± ¡°Thank you so much, ladies.¡± Marianne was happy to hear voices praising her. ¡°My mother personally opened this garden for you all.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± As the girls came in and sat down, the servants and maids carried delicious cakes and snacks while preparing rose tea. They enjoyed refreshments and exchanged gifts, chatting about this and that. Riv was called to the rose garden at the end of the tea party. The silent maid, Elle, said, ¡°Princess Marianne is looking for you.¡± Elle was an accomplice to Marianne, who¡¯d killed Riv. The fear of that time eroded Riv¡¯s mind. Elle stood there waiting for her to come with. There were noble ladies and Marianne in the garden trying to mock Riv. Riv bit her lip. ¡°Come, Elle.¡± After meeting with the Duke of Sentoren at the party, Riv had yet to find a way out and was wasting her time. Except for him, there was no way to change the situation immediately. The memory of this tea party was painful. ¡®But I can¡¯t avoid it.¡¯ Riv followed Elle to the rose garden. However, difficulties arose from passing through the arched entrance of the rose garden. ¡°Ugh!¡± The giant Riv¡¯s dress got stuck in the aisle. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Just go in there.¡± Elle was apathetic and Riv grunted for a long time before finally falling down. At that moment, the girls¡¯ laughter was in full bloom everywhere. ¡°Oh my, did the princess call the clown to entertain us?¡± ¡°No way, is that Madame Katana?¡± Riv turned a deaf ear to the laughter and managed to patch up her dress, to go to Marianne. Marianne waved her hand outright and pretended she couldn¡¯t stand Riv¡¯s stench. ¡°Riv, introduce yourself to everyone.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m Madame Katana.¡± The girls acted very sympathetic at Marianne¡¯s act. ¡°It¡¯s worse than the rumors.¡± ¡°She smells bad, too.¡± Marianne was openly amused. ¡°You¡¯ve heard rumors about Madame Katana, my maid- Rumor has it that she¡¯s a widow or a corpse-wife. Someone said that she goes to graveyards every night, digs up dead bodies and other similar things.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The girls giggled and Riv lowered her eyes as if nothing had happened. Marianne¡¯s explanation continued. ¡°Madame Katana brings misfortune just by having someone next to her. If anyone wants to be unhappy, take this girl. If you want to curse someone, you can cut her hair and take her clothes.¡± ¡°That would be fun.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t she in her early 20s?¡± ¡°So Madame Katana is not much older than us. But why is she so tacky?¡± ¡°Why is she so huge?¡± Riv didn¡¯t even blink at the scoffing voices. ¡®It¡¯s my second time, but no wonder.¡¯ Dead because of Marianne and back in time, here she is. This was her second time experiencing the girls¡¯ abuse and ridicule. Riv had found it harder to maintain Madame Katana¡¯s makeup every day than that. Dragging around this huge dress, not showing her true figure. It was not easy to take a bath once every four days without being caught. Marianne¡¯s mockery was nothing compared to washing, drying and wearing this huge dress. ¡°Madame Katana is the ugliest one my mother has ever handed down.¡± ¡°Oh my god, what¡¯s wrong with the queen?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to ask the same.¡± The ridicule time soon passed. The girls who were laughing at Riv lost interest since she barely even reacted to anything. Marianne became nervous as the girls began to touch on the other side of the issue. She wanted to be the star today. The subject that the invited girls would be interested in was very obvious. Marianne stared at Riv and opened her mouth, ¡°By the way, Riv, you were supposed to go to the duke tomorrow, right? To take my present.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv was surprised and asked back. Marianne was excited. ¡°If Duke Sentoren sees you, he¡¯ll feel terrible.¡± The moment Marianne mentioned Duke Sentoren, the girls¡¯ eyes sparkled. ¡°He likes beautiful things.¡± Marianne wouldn¡¯t admit it, but Duke Sentoren was the king¡¯s best choice. Rich, young and beautiful in a distinguished family. If Princess Marianne and he broke up, they would lose a good groom. Riv also had a clear picture of the intentions she had. Marianne rather enjoyed the attention. The girls listened, hoping to hear the story of Duke Sentoren, who did not appear much. ¡°Do you want to know what the Duke- no, Lionel likes?¡± ¡°Tell us, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°What does he like, the infamous Duke Sentoren?¡± Marianne became the centre-of-attention again and the girls sat with bated breath. Riv¡¯s situation was strange. A few days after this tea party, Riv would visit the Duke. But it certainly wasn¡¯t the day after the tea party. It was not like there was a mix-up in her memory. Then, why? ¡®Why did this variable come up?¡¯ It was the second time this tea party was happening, so it should be the same, but was this just a coincidence? Riv slipped back. Absorbed in the story, the girls were completely oblivious to Riv¡¯s existence. She moved to the side of the head maid who was watching this tea party with hawk eyes. ¡°Madam, am I going to the duke tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She replied indifferently. Baffled, Riv spoke up, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear I had to go.¡± ¡°You just heard it, Riv.¡± Riv was speechless. ¡°Then, what about the gift? ¡°The Duke had sent one on the day after the party, and now it¡¯s too late to reply. We have to hurry.¡± Marianne would have ignored the present even if it had come. She would have also belatedly remembered that he had to send a reply. Marianne was spontaneous in everything. Even so, why had the situation changed from the past, as she¡¯d remembered? The head maid warned Riv, who was lost in thought, ¡°I can¡¯t go, so I¡¯m sending Riv instead. I can¡¯t just send commoner maids to Duke Sentoren. You will go on behalf of Princess Marianne.¡± Marianne had a lot of maids, but only the noble ones were the head maid and Riv. Since the head maid was always busy, the only alternative was Riv. ¡°Don¡¯t think about running away, Riv Katana, because the guard will come with you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always watching Madame Katana¡¯s behavior inside the palace. Keep that in mind.¡± Riv felt trapped. What if she disappeared before visiting the Duke? The Queen¡¯s people as well as those of Duke Sentoren would question Riv¡¯s disappearance. ¡®Not tomorrow.¡¯ In addition, even if she went to Duke Sentoren, she had no chance but to face him. She didn¡¯t want to encounter him again. ¡®How I wish I could magically disappear.¡¯ Riv said she was a witch, but she couldn¡¯t do anything like that. ¡°Haa.¡° Besides, something was starting to go wrong. Riv couldn¡¯t pin it down. And she was meeting Duke Sentoren again? Her mind became more muddled. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 The next day, a carriage from the royal family carrying Riv headed to Duke Sentoren. The carriage heading to the royal road ran for 40 minutes and entered the mansion, located at the end of the street. As the mansion got closer, Riv¡¯s heart began to pound furiously. ¡®Duke Sentoren.¡¯ She regretted attempting to give a clumsy bird kiss to Duke Sentoren. ¡®He must have been puzzled.¡¯ Riv caressed the bonnet that wrapped her face tightly. She felt like she was getting suffocated. ¡®In addition, I told him my name.¡¯ Riv was an idiot. ¡®But Duke Sentoren won¡¯t remember me.¡¯ He wouldn¡¯t be in his mansion at this time. The same was true before her returning to the past, and now. Even if there were variables, Riv¡¯s daily life had not changed much yet. ¡®So, there¡¯s no need to meet Duke Sentoren again.¡¯ Riv was truly confident. The carriage carrying her slowed down and crossed the main gate of the mansion. The horseman shouted from inside . ¡°Madam Katana will be in there soon.¡± Riv¡¯s guard and escort also told her this. ¡°You can¡¯t stay in the mansion for more than 10 minutes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After crossing the garden, the carriage stopped in front of the main building. The coachman opened the door of the carriage. Riv tried to get off the carriage with Princess Marianne¡¯s gifts and letter in her arms, but she almost lost her footing because of the dress¡¯ huge hem. ¡°Madame!¡± She managed to balance herself, but that was only after creating an ugly skit. ¡°Madame, are you okay?¡± Riv refused to take a helping hand and raised herself slowly. The mansion¡¯s servants and escort, who were out to greet Riv, tried to suppress laughter and looked at each others¡¯ expressions. ¡°This way, the butler is waiting for Madame.¡± As the servants of the duke took the lead, Riv stepped into the mansion. This was her second time stepping into the duke¡¯s mansion. This place looked huge and magnificent as it was when she first saw it. ¡®Since I¡¯m here, should I leave behind their family treasure?¡¯ Riv recalled the magic ruby ring hanging around her neck. But if she returned to the past with the ruby ring, where would the current timeline¡¯ s ruby ring be? If the magic ring was removed from her, there was a possibility that the magic of Riv¡¯s returning to the past would be broken. ¡®I can¡¯t leave my ring behind.¡¯ First of all, she thought that she had to finish her business quickly and go back. Even in the middle of the day, it was dark in the mansion. The mansion, which looked like an antique museum, had a large hall, which she saw the moment she entered. Above the hall was a huge staircase. Portraits of Duke Sentoren¡¯s ancestors were located on both side walls of the stairs. Riv¡¯s gaze found a portrait of the previous ducal couple located at the bottom. A middle-aged gentleman with platinum blonde and sharp eyes along with a beautiful middle-aged woman who gave off a gentle impression and had deep amber eyes. Riv saw a crude ruby ring on the woman¡¯s left hand. She was the real owner of this magical ruby ring. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll use this ring a little more.¡¯ It was selfish, but inevitable. If she gave up the ring, she might die soon. If she died, all of these efforts she had made after coming back to the past would be ruined. Riv didn¡¯t want to die again. ¡°Madame Katana.¡± A white-haired man in a black suit greeted Riv. He was the Duke¡¯s old butler. ¡°I¡¯m Butler Carl. I received a message that Madame Katana, the princess¡¯ maid, has brought her gifts and letters.¡± ¡°This is Madame Katana. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality.¡± Riv was just happy that they did not point their fingers at her or laugh at her. ¡°But what were you looking at, Madame Katana?¡± Riv paid attention to the portrait above the stairs. ¡°I was amazed that the portraits of the previous duchess were so good.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± The old butler replied with a gentle smile, and Riv recalled her purpose of coming here. Riv took out letters and gifts from Princess Marianne, who he had cherished. She politely handed it over to the butler with maximum courtesy. ¡°I brought a letter and a gift from Princess Marianne de Prayte to the Duke of Lionel de Sentorren.¡± ¡°Carl Ahadhorn, the butler of the duke, will receive letters and gifts from Princess Marieanne.¡± A beautiful box containing the princess¡¯ letters and gifts was received on a silver tray prepared by the maid and servants behind the old butler. After they stepped down, the butler still did not give way. ¡°Madame, please wait here.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Riv became anxious. It was a new outcome compared to what had happened in her previous life. As if he saw her anxiety, the old butler said, ¡°We¡¯re preparing some exquisite desserts for Princess Marianne. Please wait a little longer.¡± Before Riv¡¯s return to her past life, she had stayed here for only ten minutes. Out of that, five out of ten minutes were spent handing Princess Marianne¡¯s gifts and letter to the butler. The rest of the five minutes were the time for when the snacks prepared for Princess Marie Anne had to be packed. Something was definitely different! A different situation than before irked her. ¡°I don¡¯t know when Princess Marianne will need me, so I have to go back soon.¡± When Riv mentioned this in hopes of gaining their understanding, the butler smiled and said, ¡°A new patissier is preparing snacks for Princess Marieanne. There was a problem with the oven, so it was delayed.¡± Marianne liked sweet desserts and snacks. In particular, she liked Duke Sentoren¡¯s snacks, so Riv would have been in trouble if she didn¡¯t take them. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll wait here.¡± ¡°Please wait in the drawing room next door.¡± At the request of the butler repeatedly, Riv reluctantly headed to the small reception room. ¡®It¡¯s my first time here.¡¯ Riv looked at the feminine drawing room attached to the first floor. The small drawing room had a completely different atmosphere from the magnificent outside. The place, decorated with sweet pastel-tone sofas, flower-patterned furniture, and flowers, looked like a space for the mistress of the mansion. Riv pretended to sit in the chair by the entrance for a while. Just in time, the maid approached and asked Riv, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about getting some tea. Madame, are you okay with waiting for a bit?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv struggled, answering in a dull way. ¡®Why did I come into this drawing room?¡¯ Even this minor change was contemplated by Riv. ¡®Is it because on the day of the hunting competition I came into contact with Duke Sentoren?¡¯ Where did this variable come from? She couldn¡¯t leave her seat immediately because she had no excuses. As soon as Riv¡¯s anxiety grew, a tall man appeared at the small entrance of the drawing room. ¡°What is it?¡± The old butler and maid standing at the entrance bowed their heads. ¡°Master, have you arrived?¡± Lionel de Sentoren had appeared. ¡°Ah!¡± Riv forgot what she was doing for a moment, and froze. Duke Sentoren was dressed in a shirt and pants. His tall figure and wide shoulders looked more prominent because of his attire. He leisurely entered the drawing room and settled on the sofa. ¡°We have a guest.¡± ¡°Yes. Madame Katana is here.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Duke Sentoren beckoned casually to the butler and maid. ¡°Leave. ¡° The maid put down the tea cup and left. The old butler put down Marianne¡¯s letter and gifts in front of the Duke. ¡°Master, Princess Marianne has sent her maid, Madame Katana. She¡¯ll be brought out in front of you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv forgot to breathe and lowered her eyes. If there was a rat hole, she wanted to hide. She wanted to fade away slowly and disappear. ¡®This is driving me crazy.¡¯ Why was Duke Sentoren coming out? This man shouldn¡¯t have been here. They definitely didn¡¯t even meet in her previous life! Conflicting thoughts ran around in Riv¡¯s head. On the night of the hunting party, it was a mistake to introduce herself as Madame Katana to the Duke of Sentoren. And she didn¡¯t even know he¡¯d come down here himself. ¡®What is he thinking?¡¯ Just why did he come here himself? Why? Riv felt dizzy, her mind was chaotic. She wasn¡¯t sure if he understood her disguise at once or thought it was someone else similar. ¡®He isn¡¯t a fool.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t make eye contact with him, so she just bowed her head. Duke Sentoren opened his mouth. ¡°Is it because I¡¯m dressed comfortably?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing.¡± This was Duke Sentoren¡¯s mansion. As long as he was dressed in something, there was nothing she could do. ¡°But you didn¡¯t introduce yourself. You and I are meeting for the first time, right?¡± Riv¡¯s throat was choking up. ¡°I¡¯m Madame Katana, a maid under Princess Marieanne.¡± Riv decided to play along, as if she had met him for the first time. She was very nervous. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you, Madame Katana. Look up.¡± Only then did Riv face Duke Lionel Sentoren. Lionel appeared lazy because he wanted to be informal and comfortable. Duke Sentoren¡¯s short platinum blonde hair was messy and he looked a little sleepy. His shirt was also wide open, exposing his chest muscles. His body also reeked heavily of alcohol. The flower-patterned sofa occupied by the tall muscular man with the large body, wide shoulders and long legs, looked pitifully small. ¡°As you¡¯re aware, I¡¯m Duke Sentoren.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Duke Sentoren pretended to be oblivious even after receiving Riv¡¯s attention. ¡°Marianne sent a letter, huh?¡± He picked up Marianne¡¯s letter with the rose-shaped stamp and opened it with a knife. His eyes quickly read two or so lines, and his expression turned into one with utter displeasure. ¡°Is this what you call a letter?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sweat ran down Riv¡¯s back as she watched the letter crumple in Duke Sentoren¡¯s hands. ¡°Read the letter, madame.¡± ¡°What?¡± Duke Sentoren crumpled the letter even more and threw it to Riv over the table. Riv carefully opened the letter and looked through the contents. Duke Sentoren held his chin and stared at the back of Riv¡¯s head. ¡°Marianne will soon become an adult, and the contents make me question her mental age.¡± Marianne¡¯s letter seemed pathetic and childish to Riv. Only complaints and whining about not wanting to get married were scrawled messily on the paper. The letter was concluded with threats to Duke Sentoren to take responsibility after the engagement gets dissolved. Duke Sentoren¡¯s forehead creased. ¡°Madame Katana, if you wanted to push ahead with the marriage, it would have been better to check Marianne¡¯s letter.¡± ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t thoughtful enough.¡± ¡°Marianne must have enjoyed writing this childish letter by herself. She must be quite stubborn to write a letter like this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s like that.¡± However, it was actually as Duke Sentoren had said. Marianne was vicious and petty enough to secretly write that letter. ¡°Marianne will do anything not to marry me.¡± Duke Sentoren did not touch the gifts, perhaps tired after reading Marianne¡¯s letter. Riv also couldn¡¯t think of an excuse, so she put the thought out of her head. There was nothing nice about getting on his bad side. Duke Sentoren thought for a bit and then asked back, ¡°Did Marianne say something to you?¡± ¡°N-No, nothing much, not that I remember of.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Riv was extremely nervous and anxious. She was sitting near him, but she couldn¡¯t move quickly in Madame Catana¡¯s clothes. And Duke Sentoren¡¯s gaze felt too strong. What had she said when she first met this man? Recalling those moments felt excessively embarrassing. She had kissed him. She wanted to kill her past self who told the Duke to choose her instead of Princess Marianne. ¡°Stop playing around, Riv Katana.¡± Riv ignored the Duke¡¯s gaze. The difference between her actual appearance and Madame Katana¡¯s guise was like that of heaven and earth. She thought it would be okay even if anyone said so otherwise. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what the Duke is saying.¡± ¡°Did you think you could fool my eyes with that terrible disguise?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The inside of Riv¡¯s head turned white. ¡°It¡¯s too obvious since Madame Katana is Queen Selina¡¯s maid. The queen would have made you take on a strange disguise, but you are probably the only maid who has put on that disguise for more than five years.¡± ¡°Did you research about me?¡± She didn¡¯t think that a lame excuse would work for Duke Sentoren, who could find out about her just by asking who Madame Katana was. Come to think of it, it was amazing that Riv¡¯s sloppy and clumsy disguise worked for more than five years. Besides- ¡®The duke¡¯s family treasure saved me.¡¯ Riv returned to the past due to his heirloom, the ruby ring. The ring was still hanging around her neck. She didn¡¯t know about Duke Sentoren, but for her, the Duke was a lifesaver. Riv stretched out and faced the Duke of Sentoren. ¡°So, now you¡¯re brave enough?¡± Duke Sentoren, who was staring at Riv was much more overwhelming than a few days ago. The pressure he gave off under the bright light was immense. His eyes, previously drowsy, flashed threateningly. The red scar on his cheek also stood out. Duke Sentoren was a natural beast. Riv was the prey who exposed her weakness in front of the beast. It feels like she was completely naked before his eyes. Riv was terrified of his amber eyes. A strange smile lingered on the man¡¯s mouth. ¡°Your style was so different that I almost couldn¡¯t recognize you, except your face and voice gave it away.¡± Duke Sentoren rose from his seat and approached her side. ¡®What does he want?¡¯ Riv was stiff because she did not know his intention. Even she had no immunity to men. ¡°You¡¯d better take off that terrible bonnet.¡± The man who spoke to her, reached under Riv¡¯s neck and untied the strap of the bonnet. ¡°Why are you¡­?¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Duke Sentoren took off Riv¡¯s bonnet with a sigh. The hair that had been arranged under it was messed up at once. ¡°So this is what you look like.¡± Duke Sentoren¡¯s hand grabbed Riv¡¯s face and dragged it towards him. Riv tried to take off his hand, but her body hardened when it grazed her skin. ¡®What is he up to?!¡¯ Duke Sentoren grabbed her hand and suddenly put it on his chest, right where his heart was. His heart was beating hard. ¡°The fact that I¡¯m interested in Madame Katana, don¡¯t you already know that?¡± ¡°M-Me?¡± Riv stuttered without realizing. The only cloth Duke Sentoren had on was a thin shirt. She could see his bare skin under the shirt. And she could feel his warm skin, muscles, and heartbeat under her palm. ¡°This might be awkward.¡± Riv was weak to this temptation. The moment she made eye contact with Duke Sentoren, she felt like a prey trapped in his deep amber eyes. The blank feeling stayed for a moment, before his hands began to feel under her skirt hem. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°How many layers of skirts are there? I can¡¯t even lift it.¡± ¡°Get off me!¡± Duke Sentoren fumbled over her thick dress. He wanted to find her flesh hiding somewhere below it. Riv tried to push Duke Sentoren off to her best. ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± He was neither hit nor pushed out. In fact, he seemed to be very angry with something. He whispered in her ear, trying to wrap his arm around Riv¡¯s waist. ¡°What kind of deal did you make with Marianne? Did she tell you to seduce me?¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Riv¡¯s eyes expanded at such an unexpected remark. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± While stuttering, Riv realized why Duke Sentoren was pissed. Duke Sentoren seemed to think that Marianne had sent her. The last time they had met, and this time too. If Duke Sentoren¡¯s scandal broke out, Marianne could break her engagement under that excuse. ¡®Did this man only think about Marianne?¡¯ She didn¡¯t know about Duke Sentoren¡¯s feelings for Marianne. However, Riv¡¯s existence was not important to this man at all. The interest that Duke Sentoren showed in Riv also stemmed from Marianne. Riv¡¯s pride stung. She laughed at herself, who was almost attracted to Lionel. Even her little heart that might have wanted him quickly cooled down. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Duke Sentoren was looking at her, but what about it? From the beginning, this man had no intention of choosing her instead of Marie Anne. She guessed that he was just interested in what she was saying. And she knew one thing for sure. ¡°I don¡¯t have the talent to seduce the Duke.¡± Madame Katana, who disguised herself, could not have caught anyone¡¯s attention especially if they didn¡¯t know the original Riv Katana. Riv, who got up from her seat, stepped back. She escaped from Duke Sentoren safely. Come to think of it, this was the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s mansion. The uninvited guest was her. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else for me, I¡¯ll go back.¡± Riv¡¯s dress suddenly slid down from her shoulder. While she didn¡¯t see it, he had pulled it down, or maybe it was from the rough movements earlier, the heavy cloth had fallen off. Embarrassed, Riv firmly secured her clothes. She became even more flushed because she couldn¡¯t see her bonnet anywhere. Duke Sentoren was a swift man. Riv couldn¡¯t help but want to crawl in a hole. Duke Sentoren, who wondered about Riv¡¯s embarrassment, said, ¡°Madame Katana must not have been ordered by Marie Anne.¡± ¡°Duke Sentoren overestimates me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv looked down at her horrible dress. Her appearance would have been terrible for anyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t receive Princess Marianne¡¯s orders and I don¡¯t know much about things between her and the Duke.¡± A maid seducing a duke? It was a ridiculous thought. ¡°If Princess Marianne was going to seduce Duke Sentoren to create a scandal, she would have sent a proper opponent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true too.¡± There was no need to explain more, but Duke Sentoren talked about her condition. ¡°One can¡¯t even tell how many people would be hiding in this terrible pile of clothes. Can you move in that outfit?¡± ¡°Are you done saying what you wanted to say?¡± She spoke to the Duke of Sentoren, quietly lowering her eyes. ¡°The bonnet is on your left side.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As she turned around, the bonnet was there, as Duke Sentoren said. Riv bent over and picked up the bonnet. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Duke Sentoren looked at the scene in a strange way. ¡°You can pick it up.¡± When Riv was puzzled, Duke Sentoren replied. ¡°If you were fat, you wouldn¡¯t be able to pick it up easily.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a far-fetched guess?¡± When Riv snorted, he added again, ¡°Your terrible disguise doesn¡¯t work on me.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Riv was attracted to Duke Sentoren. She was jealous of Marianne, who had him as her fiance. But only her heart was like that. Now, she didn¡¯t want to be in the same space as this man. Her instinct was that of a herbivore¡¯s. Her mind only had the idea of running away. ¡°Ugh!¡± Contrary to her mind, her body couldn¡¯t move at will, so she wanted to cry. As she tried to hurry, the heavy dress got stuck under my feet, making her movement slow. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± As soon as Duke Sentoren¡¯s hand pulled Riv¡¯s clothes, Riv hurriedly tried to avoid his touch. The hem, which had been played with earlier, was caught in his hand and pulled off. Riv turned pale at the sound of her clothes tearing. It was said that there was no situation for her flesh to be revealed because she wore layers of clothes under the torn clothes. ¡®I¡¯m so embarrassed. I want to die.¡¯ Humiliated, she held her torn dress with one hand and the old bonnet with another. ¡°What do you wear underneath that horrible outfit?¡± Duke Sentoren shook his head as he saw what was under the pile of black cloth. ¡°A huge pile of cotton?¡± ¡°Is that a clump of cloth? I can¡¯t even recognise that. Why do you look so bulky?¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing that clumsy disguise has worked so far.¡± Each person had a different way of surviving. Riv had no intention of explaining it to the Duke. All she wanted was to run away from this uncomfortable position. This man had already seen Riv¡¯s true self. ¡°How much do you have to bundle up to inflate your body like that?¡± It may be a joke to the Duke of Sentoren, but it didn¡¯t sound like one to Riv, who was struggling to support the weight of her clothes. It was a matter of survival for her. ¡°Duke Sentoren, I don¡¯t want to play around. Princess Marianne would hate it if she finds out that you had this conversation with me.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s Marianne.¡± Duke Sentoren stroked his chin, returned to the sofa and leaned on it. His expression looked quite lazy. ¡°What if I wanted you to seduce me, regardless of Marianne? If that¡¯s not a joke, will you stay with me?¡± Why did it suddenly develop like this? Riv was amazed by Duke Sentoren¡¯s proposal. He was a wonderful, young and confident man. If this man has someone he wanted, that someone would no longer be a nameless person. She thought he could have anyone regardless of their status. ¡®Do you have any thoughts of choosing me instead of Princess Marianne?¡¯ Riv regretted saying that at that time. Would she even be able to seduce this man? She didn¡¯t know if she was out of her mind, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to do so. Plus this man would be Marianne¡¯s husband. ¡®He¡¯s the husband of the woman who killed me.v Riv had to endure not to be attracted to him. No, before that- ¡°Would you give way just because I seduced you, Duke Sentoren?¡± Shaw was confident that Duke Sentoren would not fall for her. ¡°Your temptation won¡¯t work.¡± Duke Sentoren looked relaxed. Her original appearance was not an outstanding beauty, but Madame Katana¡¯s clown-like appearance wouldn¡¯t work on him. He was confident. No one wanted Riv as a woman. But Duke Sentoren¡¯s words were different. ¡°First, you have to take off those terrible clothes to let me see if there is a possibility.¡± Riv was speechless on hearing his words. Even if the duke was interested in her, what camr next? Was it possible for her to be tempted just because she seduced him naked? What was next if he said he was tempted? A man who couldn¡¯t be hers even if he wasn¡¯t Marieanne¡¯s. She didn¡¯t want to play with him. ¡®What is the woman thinking?¡¯ Lionel smiled in vain at Madame Katana. ¡®This is Madame Katana.¡¯ The woman Lionel met on the day of the hunting competition and the current Madame Katana seemed to be similar when it came to their faces. ¡®Why am I curious about the real Liv Katana under the bizarre-looking outfit?¡¯ That night, it was too dark to properly look at her in a gray dress. However, even though she was not properly dressed up, she showed off her pure charm. Hw had to make a move to bring this woman here. That was how he met Madame Katana. Lionel¡¯s keen gaze imagined her under that terrible makeup. His judgment was not wrong. That woman was like a brilliant pearl hiding in a shell. She was a woman who could be more beautiful than anyone else as long as she stood up properly. ¡®Interesting.¡¯ A woman who deceived everyone¡¯s eyes for years even though she dressed up poorly. It was funny that everyone was deceived by this clumsy disguise. She breathed slowly, her tangled black hair blowing behind her. Her small pale face seemed to turn whiter. The more she looked at Lionel, the paler it grew. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to choose you instead of Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never said that.¡± Now calm, she spoke up. But even after saying that, she looked like she was about to faint. She was a girl who was naturally bad at lying. ¡°I definitely heard it. With both my ears, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what you said.¡± ¡°That¨C!¡± ¡°How about saying this to Marianne?¡± Madame Katana shook her head desperately. ¡°Please forget those words. I was out of my mind.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll acknowledge that you did say it.¡± He was having a lot of fun at this moment. Madame Katana took another deep breath. ¡°Princess Marianne will send women to seduce Duke Sentoren, so please wait. You¡¯ll find greater beauties that can¡¯t be compared to me.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Marianne did send in great beauties to break her engagement with Lionel. But he kicked the women out. Even if it wasn¡¯t them, Lionel had his choice of women. He liked a one-time relationship where emotions were not involved. Unlike Marianne, who was like a child, his taste were tall and mature women. Like Madame Katana right in front of him. This woman was not necessarily an extraordinary beauty. She was tall, but he couldn¡¯t even recognize his proper appearance with this awful disguise. Far from being tempted, she was clumsy at kissing like a child at the first meeting. ¡®There was no reason to be seduced.¡¯ Nevertheless, Lionel became interested in the woman in front of him. At first, he was going to use this woman to make Marianne angry. But beyond that, he was naturally drawn to her. ¡°What should I do for you to seduce me? Do I have to fulfill what you want?¡± What the women wanted was simple. Money, luxury goods, or something that would fill their vanity. However, Madame Katana¡¯s question was different. ¡°If I accept the temptation of Duke Sentoren, will you give up your engagement or marriage with the princess?¡± The question was unexpected, but the answer was easy. For Lionel, the answer to the question was always this. ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Riv smiled. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the first woman to ask for a breakup with Marianne on the pretext of her relationship with me. There are countless.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Do you consider yourself worth more than Princess Marianne?¡± Madame Katana shook her head firmly and said, ¡°I wanted to know if I could move the Duke of Sentoren even a little. Because the duke¡¯s actions can change my future.¡± ¡°Change your future? For what?¡± ¡°Because I want to survive.¡± Madame Katana¡¯s words were unexpected for Lionel. He came up with such an offer to her because he had already concluded an answer on his own. ¡®There¡¯s no way the duke will fall for my provocation.¡¯ No way at all. Lionel leaned toward Madame Katana. His lips pressed down on hers. ¡°Mmf!¡± Madame Katana¡¯s body went stiff. Lionel embraced her body more boldly and gave her a deep kiss. He coveted a body that could not rebel. A heat spread throughout his mouth and body. She smelled sweet. Her lips, her tongue, everything tasted incredibly sweet. ¡°Uhn-¡° He, who wanted to own and taste her more, was firmly pushed away by her. Her eyes, full of confusion, were shaking. ¡°So clumsy.¡± He touched her swollen mouth with his finger. ¡°I know for sure that Princess Marianne is not the one who sent you to seduce me.¡± Lionel laughed, but Katana still looked mesmerized. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know that Marianne hates me. Even if we get married, we can¡¯t be a normal couple.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re with me.¡± Katana, who only returned to look a little more relaxed, replied with a trembling voice. Lionel wanted to tease her more. ¡°Princess Marianne hates both me and Madame Katana.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Two people she dislikes getting together? That would be fun.¡± ¡°¡­You want to mess with the princess, and still marry her.¡± ¡°If you can seduce me, I can reconsider marrying Marianne.¡± Despite Lionel¡¯s playful suggestion, Riv was shaken to the point where she could not grasp his authenticity. ¡°You just want me to play with fire.¡± ¡°So, won¡¯t you try playing with fire?¡± ¡®You said you wanted to live.¡¯ Madame Katana swallowed her saliva. She was shaking as if she had remembered something scary at the moment. She muttered unconsciously, ¡®I don¡¯t want to die.¡¯ Regardless of whether she was in a tight spot or not, she asked back, ¡°If I could seduce you, would you free me from Marianne?¡± Lionel knew the purpose of this woman. Survival and liberation. It was beyond his capacity, but he decided not to deny it. ¡°Take off those terrible clothes first. ¡± Lionel left her on her own for the next task. He became curious about what Madame Katana would decide. This was just a fire show and an interesting gamble for him. But she began to undress. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Riv stared at Duke Sentoren, who was trying to provoke her. That man didn¡¯t seem to intend to free himself from Marianne. Still, Riv was the only one who couldn¡¯t give up the possibility. ¡®I want to live. I have to do anything to live.¡¯ Her body would rot if she died anyway. They said she was a witch, but she couldn¡¯t even perform magic. Since she had yet to find a way to escape from the palace, she had to secure an alternative. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die. I can¡¯t even take my life.¡¯ It would have been nice if she could be freed from Marianne. And so, it was very easy to make up her mind. ¡°Duke Sentoren, keep your promise.¡± ¡°Right.¡± After taking a deep breath, Riv reached over her dress. It would take a long time to get out of this huge dress. Her stomach heaved while taking off the pile of clothes, their volume was too large. The sound of undressing filled the very small drawing room. Her huge clothes quickly stocked up like a huge mountain. Riv got out of the pile of clothes dressed in a chemise. Perhaps because she had a hard time taking off the gigantic clothes, sweat formed on her forehead. Her body was also sweaty. Has her dress always been this heavy and bulky? It was a relief to be freed from a terrible pile of clothes, but Riv didn¡¯t think of looking back. She didn¡¯t know how old and worn-out her dress was. ¡°I¡¯m so sick.¡± The chemise was thin enough to show everything when the light was transmitted. Just being dressed in this thin slip made Riv feel ashamed. Riv, who was trying to fix her tangled hair, decided to leave it be. She looked back at Duke Sentoren. He remained expressionless without any sign of attraction. A look without any emotion or discomfort. Her body went cold as if splashed in cold water. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to seduce.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m fully naked, it won¡¯t work for Duke Sentoren.¡± Riv lamented. Just in time, the afternoon sunlight poured on her. It was thought that her figure would be exposed and she¡¯d shine because she was turning her back on the light, but that was all. The duke looked indifferent even when he saw her body. Rather, she thought it was fortunate that he didn¡¯t laugh at it. He wasn¡¯t phased by her. ¡®Do I think this would change fate? I look like a fool.¡¯ Riv turned around. ¡®I was a fool in anticipation.¡¯ After all, nothing changed. Riv looked down at the heavy pile of clothes and tried to pick them up and wear them. However, she felt a man¡¯s hot breath on her back. ¡°If you want to seduce me, do it properly, Madame Katana.¡± She didn¡¯t reach the pile of clothes. Her body was lightly dragged back by the man. ¡°Huh?¡± She wouldn¡¯t have been lightweight because she was tall, but Duke Sentoren lifted her easily as if she were a child. ¡°What?¡± At this ridiculous moment, while Riv was trying to say something, Duke Sentoren sat on the sofa hugging her. Their bodies touched. Just as she was trying to breathe, his lips pounced on hers. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± His breath passed through her lips. She couldn¡¯t help but part them. ¡°Uhn!¡± This kiss was supposed to be the second time he touched her, but it felt more urgent than before. Another word would be ¡®barbaric¡¯; literally being attacked. In an instant, Riv, laid under the man, realized that it was not easy to push him away. Her head was dizzy. Her body was not easily controlled, but somehow he was blocking her with strong force. Not only was her mouth locked, but her hands were also firmly caught by him and she couldn¡¯t budge. ¡°S-Stop!¡± Even a sound couldn¡¯t leak out. A strong and persistent kiss followed. Long after, Riv couldn¡¯t get away from him even though his lips fell off. The strength left in her body had been drained. And Riv felt shocked when his wide arms and strong muscles filled her view. What she thought first was that she wanted to be taken by this man. ¡®Why?¡¯ She didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be the object of someone¡¯s desire. ¡°Duke Se-Sentoren.¡± ¡°Call me Lionel.¡± Riv was hypnotized by his husky voice, mixed with hot pants. ¡°D-Duke.¡± The moment Riv turned her head, she faced Lionel. His face was right in front of her. ¡°Li-Lionel.¡± Their bodies were too close. ¡°Ah!¡± Riv wasn¡¯t used to hugging someone. She never imagined that she would have an unethical affair with Princess Marianne¡¯s fiance. She almost felt possessed by Duke Sentoren. Listening to his heart beat, she leaned against him and trembled. The anxiety grew that this man might make her give up everything she wanted. He already knew who she really was. What if he told Marianne about Riv¡¯s disguise? ¡®You idiot, Riv.¡¯ Riv bit her chapped lip and cried inside. ¡°Duke.¡± Lionel caressed her lips and said, ¡°My name is Lionel.¡± He swept Riv¡¯s hair and face naturally. Like she was his own property. Riv¡¯s fear grew bigger. ¡°Your Grace, I have to go back to the palace.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to seduce the duke.¡± It was not something she had to say in front of him, that too, when she was undressed and tangled with him. Riv knew well that her words were not convincing. She didn¡¯t know that the Duke, Lionel¡¯s gaze, was appreciating her pale, slim legs and body curves hidden under her thin old chemise. Riv was so terrified that she couldn¡¯t even recognize herself. ¡°I¡¯ve never meant to harm the Duke.¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯re scared.¡± Riv didn¡¯t know how tempting she looked. She didn¡¯t know even more that it made Lionel¡¯s heart beat. Lionel looked at Madame Katana¡¯s body, which had always been hidden under those horrible bulky clothes. She was tall and didn¡¯t have a small frame, but she didn¡¯t have fat. Instead, she had long, elegant limbs, a full chest and butt compared to her physique. Her waist was extremely slim. Her body figure was seductive. Even when she took off the terrible clothes, Madame Katana looked much younger than he expected. ¡®It¡¯s like she¡¯s become a different person.When I took off the cocoon, a butterfly popped up¡­¡¯ Lionel realized that she was close to his ideal type. Tall enough to be on par with him, strong but slender body without fat due to hard work. She was different from vulnerable and fragile ladies. She had health and freshness that was unlikely to break even if she was treated violently. ¡®Where has this woman been?¡¯ He wanted to taste her. It was not too late to make rational judgments afterwards. Lionel held his lips again. His lips planted kisses on her chin, shifting from her lips. Her skin tasted sweet and salty at the same time. ¡°Hnn.¡± He didn¡¯t mean to go until the end, but until then, he wanted to taste her as much as he wanted. He thought she was dangerous the moment he touched her. The one who was teased and tempted seemed to be Lionel himself. From the moment he tried to take off the rest of her clothes. ¡°Oh, no!¡± Madame Katana stopped his touch. ¡°P-Please.¡± Lionel slowly moved away from her after a long time. Riv shied out of Duke Sentoren¡¯s arms and came back to her senses. ¡®This is just playing with fire.¡¯ There was no future for Duke Sentoren to sleep with her. He can¡¯t even choose her instead of Marianne. All he wanted was probably one night, that was all. Thinking so, her body froze. ¡®Are you surprised? What are you thinking about, Duke?¡¯ Come to think of it, everything was because of Marianne. Marianne was much more important to this man than Riv. If Duke Sentoren chose Riv as his opponent to play with fire, that was also because of Marianne. Riv asked the Duke Sentoren, ¡°Did I succeed in seducing you?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Riv smiled cynically at the indifferent man¡¯s answer. This man knew from the beginning that she was not interested in other desires and wishes. All she wanted was to leave the palace and survive. ¡°I, I have to go back.¡± Riv woke up pretending to be determined. It was difficult to delay any more time. She looked down at her ruined clothes and bit her lips. She picked up the clothes she had taken off and put them on quickly. She tried to wear thick cotton padding that inflated her body under those large clothes. Her hands were shaking, making her unable to dress properly, so she messed up. ¡°Wait.¡± Lionel approached her and tried to dress her. Riv firmly hit the back of his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t dress properly for a long time. The torn dress was roughly fixed so that the tear could not be seen. Picking up the bonnet that fell down, she sighed. Lionel, who had been out of the drawing room for a while, told her, ¡°I told them to prepare a carriage for the royal palace.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Riv¡¯s words were short. Lionel pointed at her hair. ¡°Your hair is all messed up, so you¡¯d better get it fixed.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care, Duke.¡± ¡°Madame Katana.¡± ¡°This was a mistake.¡± At Riv¡¯s words, Lionel sighed and added, ¡°But it won¡¯t be good if Marianne finds out who you really are. Marianne does not know about that disguise, right?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv didn¡¯t deny it. Riv roughly gathered her messy hair with her hands and pinned it back. She flattened her hair and used the crumpled bonnet to cover her head so she wouldn¡¯t look suspicious. The old, large bonnet was crumpled on one side, but it was enough to cover her face. ¡°Can you walk, Madame Katana?¡± Lionel held out his hand, but she turned away from it. She stumbled, perhaps because her shock was so great. Lionel grabbed her and made her lean on him. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fall, lean on me.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Do you want to be carried instead?¡± Riv was forced to receive his support until he left the drawing room. Soon the numbness in her legs dissipated and she was no longer off balance, so she pushed Lionel away. She didn¡¯t want to be embarrassed by him anymore. Relying on this man was terrible. ¡°Hey, Madame Katana.¡± Riv was appalled by the name Madame. Bl**dy ¡®Madame¡¯! Riv was never engaged to anyone, let alone married! ¡°Everyone is waiting outside.¡± When Riv appeared, the Duke¡¯s old butler, who was holding a box of sweets for Princess Marianne, stared at Riv. Even though Lionel was beside her, the butler was not surprised. ¡°Princess Marianne¡¯s favorite sweets.¡± The freshly baked pies and sweet cookies smelled delicious. Riv didn¡¯t feel any hunger. It just made her uncomfortable to have Lionel standing behind her. ¡°Thank you for escorting me, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I will deliver the gift to Princess Marianne.¡± Riv interrupted him. Lionel quickly leaned down and whispered in her ear. ¡°I look forward to seeing you next time, Madame Katana.¡± Riv walked out onto the Duke¡¯s porch. There, a carriage was waiting. Lionel followed closely behind her. Then Riv saw the coachman open the carriage door for her. She headed for the carriage, and walked away from him. *** ¡°Why is Madame Katana so late?¡± The escort standing next to the coachman was busy. He was impatient, thinking that if he was even a little late, a decree would fall from the palace. [E/N: A decree falling basically means that he will be punished or removed from the palace for his mistake] ¡°She¡¯s coming out.¡± The grumbling escort was busy waiting with the carriage door open. Only the coachman noticed the strangeness of Madame Katana and tilted his head. ¡°Huh?¡± Madame Katana was supported by the Duke of Sentoren. However, the atmosphere between the two seemed awkward. ¡°¡­..?¡± Madame Katana only stayed there for twenty minutes. However, Madame Katana appeared to have lost weight and her relationship with the Duke of Sentoren looked very suspicious. The coachman watched the actions of the Duke and Madame Katana with squinted eyes as the escort was collecting the Duke¡¯s gifts. When the Duke of Sentoren spoke to Madame Katana, he was ignored. It seemed that Madame Katana was trying to pay no heed to the Duke of Sentoren. ¡®Isn¡¯t this strange?¡¯ The coachman had heard about the scandal between Madame Katana and the Duke of Sentoren that was spreading everywhere. A story that seemed to have been spread by someone on purpose, but no one believed it. However, the moment he saw it with his own eyes, he was convinced. ¡®This is unbelievable.¡¯ The behavior of the Duke of Sentoren, who was the so-called cold-blooded duke, seemed friendly. He didn¡¯t seem to realize that his gaze was fixed on Madame Katana. The Duke of Sentoren was also tall and had a huge build, but even this large man was obscured by Madame Katana¡¯s pile of clothes. ¡®Why is the Duke looking at that woman?¡¯ Everyone knew that Princess Marianne hated the Duke of Sentoren. Princess Marianne also hated Madame Katana. ¡®Is that why the Duke of Sentoren chose Madame Katana?¡¯ What if the princess¡¯s maid, who harbored malice towards Princess Marianne, seduced the Duke of Sentoren? What if the taste of the Duke of Sentoren, who had never had a scandal, was actually a fat and ugly girl? What if the Duke of Sentoren intended to cause a scandal with Princess Marianne¡¯s ugly maid to insult her? The coachman¡¯s imagination was flying as free as a bird. The story of Madame Katana and the Duke of Sentoren was already infamous. With the addition of eyewitnesses and testimonies, the rumor would spread with substance. *** Small banquets between Philip II and Queen Selina were often held at Ailte Palace. There were various dances and social gatherings in the royal capital as well. Gentlemen gathered in salons and clubs, and the ladies also had their own meetings. [T/N: Like horse-riding clubs.] The rumors that spread through such gatherings were out of control. The seamstresses and assistants who came to the palace to finish Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age dress were also aware of these rumors. They looked around after finishing the last tricky embroidery job. Luckily, there was no one around. They did not miss the opportunity. ¡°Did you hear about Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°You mean the Duke¡¯s scandal?¡± ¡°Is it real?¡± The seamstresses, unaware of the rumor, heard the news in the whispers of other seamstresses. The seamstresses¡¯ eyes widened quickly. ¡°Does it make sense?¡± ¡°Has anyone seen Madame Katana in person? Does she look that bad?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a fat maid with a strange face.¡± Princess Marianne, her fianc¨¦ the Duke of Sentoren, and the princess¡¯ ugly maid, Madame Katana. The love triangle between these three people was a dizzying story to hear. There were eyewitnesses, but they couldn¡¯t easily believe the bizarre and vain rumors. The lovely only daughter of the Royal Family, Princess Marianne. The best groom for the Royal Family, the Duke of Sentoren. And ugly Madame Katana. ¡°If this is true, what about Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Princess Marianne say she didn¡¯t like the Duke of Sentoren? Maybe she got engaged far too young, so she had bad memories?¡± ¡°Even so, Madame Katana was chosen by the Duke of Sentoren.¡± Rumor has it that the Duke of Sentoren is gorgeous and better than anyone in bed. They said there were countless women who wanted to enjoy the hot nights he has to offer. However, why is the Duke of Sentoren involved in a scandalous affair with Madame Katana? Madame Katana was used as the epitome of ugliness and horror in the palace. The seamstresses sympathized with Marianne. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren really is cruel.¡± ¡°Is it the harmful effect of a strategic engagement? It would be nice if it was done with someone the Princess really likes.¡± Madame Katana, who was tall and ugly, was represented as an object of twisted desires. The Duke of Sentoren was insane and the fairy-like Princess Marianne was thought of as an innocent victim. However, the parties to the rumor were the last to hear about it. Marianne went to the studio where the seamstresses were, to see the finished dress. As she walked towards it, she heard them talking. ¡°¡­!¡± Marianne was contemplating and looked back at her handmaiden and El. ¡°Are those rumors real?¡± ¡°Th- that.¡± ¡°Did such a rumor really spread?¡± The handmaiden and El turned blue. The seamstresses were busy chatting amidst themselves, so they didn¡¯t notice that Marianne had approached. Marianne turned her body and left without even entering the studio. As she ran out into the garden, her face was horribly contorted. ¡°Princess.¡± Marianne ordered El. ¡°Catch the gossiping b*tches and dig up all the rumors.¡± ¡°Ha, ha, ha.¡± When El avoided her gaze, Marianne realized. ¡°El, you knew too. You and the handmaiden must have heard the rumors, right?¡± Marianne was the one who sent Riv directly to the Duke. At that time she was told that the Duke was at home. ¡°Ha, they were together?¡± She thought the two would never get along. Lionel, who had exquisite taste, would never choose Madame Katana. Even if Madame Katana was the only woman left in the world. ¡°If Lionel and Riv were together, you¡¯re saying it could be a love triangle, including me?¡± The handmaiden and El were silent at Marianne¡¯s joke. ¡°It has spread like a real love triangle scandal. How far has it spread?¡± ¡°Ah, everyone who deserves to know, knows.¡± The handmaiden, who thought it could no longer be hidden, confessed. Marianne screamed. ¡°Call Riv, quick!¡± ¡°Calm down, Princess.¡± ¡°If even those gossiping women know about the rumors, then everyone already knows! What of my honor?¡± The handmaiden tried to appease Marianne, but it was not enough to calm her down. The maid shook her head in distress. ¡°Princess, calm down. Tomorrow is your coming-of-age ceremony. You must hold the ceremony properly and punish them after that.¡± ¡°Aaaah!¡± Marianne, who had screamed out loud, raised her head, grinding her teeth. Only anger burned in Marianne¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah, the coming-of-age ceremony should be held properly. I can¡¯t ruin my image with these vain rumors.¡± Marianne took a deep breath. Tomorrow is Marianne¡¯s 18th birthday and her coming-of-age ceremony. Many aristocrats, including the royal couple, Marianne, aristocratic girls her age, her fianc¨¦, and her maid Riv will all be gathered in one place to have a grand celebration. Marianne asked her maid if she would celebrate Marianne¡¯s birthday. ¡°Riv, does that girl know about this rumor?¡± ¡°We do not know.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way Lionel would like ugly Riv. Maybe he purposely spread terrible rumors in order to tease me.¡± Marianne hated Lionel. His broad shoulders and harsh face, his unsophisticated words and actions, and his violent behavior were all so terrible. The red scar that ran across the left side of his face was appalling. But how can he be rumored to be with Madame Katana? Marianne wanted to kill both her fianc¨¦, the Duke of Sentoren, and Madame Katana. ¡°What is Riv doing now?¡± ¡°After finishing the work ordered by Princess Marianne, she¡¯s embroidering.¡± ¡°I told you that what she makes is terrible!¡± ¡°Compared to her size, she is a girl that¡¯s good with her hands. She is also much better at embroidering and sewing than most seamstresses.¡± ¡°There are a lot of girls who are better than Riv.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± Despite the maid¡¯s reluctance, Marianne made a decision. ¡°I can¡¯t stand Riv anymore. Take care of it.¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°Take care of her? What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Marianne was lost in thought again. Killing and disposing of Riv would be difficult right now. ¡®It would be difficult for my maids to do it themselves. I can¡¯t get blood on my hands either.¡¯ Marianne considered herself too fragile to do such rough things. Dealing with Riv through Lionel, the counterpart of the scandal, was the cleanest method. ¡®I wish Lionel would kill Riv.¡¯ Marianne had always wanted to kill Riv, so now she¡¯s just going to move up her plans. Getting the girl killed would really satisfy her. While contemplating on how to deal with Riv, Marianne came up with an idea. ¡°The Marquis Quill is an expert.¡± ¡°Yes? Are you going to call him to take care of Riv?¡± ¡°I think it would be nice.¡± ¡°Princess, you can¡¯t use that troublemaker.¡± The handmaiden and El tried to stop Marianne, but Marianne did not listen. A bright smile spread on the little plotter¡¯s face. *** The next day was Princess Marianne¡¯s 18th birthday and her coming-of-age ceremony. Many aristocrats with royal invitations waited in line as they entered the palace by carriage. Disembarking from their carriages, aristocratic men as well as girls of the same age as Princess Marianne, were dressed in the latest fashionable suits and dresses. They then entered the Ailte Palace¡¯s banquet hall, the Hall of Roses. The king opened the largest banquet hall in the Ailte Palace for his only daughter, Marianne, and decorated the room with roses of all colors that Marianne liked. The weather was clear and sunny so it was the perfect day for Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony. Before late afternoon, many noble ladies and men had already gathered. The king and queen arrived at the Hall of Roses with today¡¯s main character, Princess Marianne. ¡°Princess Marianne is here.¡± Today¡¯s protagonist, Princess Marianne, was truly beautiful. The ladies poured out praises at the princess¡¯ fairy-like appearance. ¡°Princess Marianne, congratulations on your 18th birthday.¡± ¡°Oh, the princess is so lovely today.¡± The king and queen looked at their dear Princess Marianne with delight. Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on her. The silk dress worn by Marianne was like a work of art, decorated with delicate lace and embroidery. Marianne looked even more mysterious in her dress. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a beautiful princess before.¡± At that time, Riv, under Princess Marianne¡¯s orders, hid behind Marianne¡¯s seat, behind the lowered curtains. There was a small eye hole in the curtain, so that she could watch the party. Riv¡¯s role was to give Princess Marianne a courteous curtsy and a proper greeting. ¡®But why am I here?¡¯ Riv was anxious. This was different from what she remembered. Riv had never been invited to a public event. She¡¯d been to the banquet hall for Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony in the past, but it was the first time she had to wait in hiding. ¡®Why am I here? Why did Marianne¡¯s behavior change?¡¯ Before her return, Marianne¡¯s behavior at her coming-of-age ceremony was very different from that of Marianne now after her return. ¡®Back then, you enjoyed the ball so much, but why are you depressed now?¡¯ Princess Marianne¡¯s clothes and makeup were the same as before her return. So were the praises and the mountain of gifts that were presented to her. Back then, Marianne said she enjoyed the envious glances from the other girls while she danced and secretly flirted with the aristocrats who came to her coming-of-age ceremony. ¡®But why?¡¯ Today¡¯s Princess Marianne was strangely calm, she didn¡¯t talk at all and didn¡¯t laugh. ¡°Princess Marianne looks more mature today.¡± ¡°Because the princess is an adult now.¡± The other maids did not put much meaning to Marianne¡¯s actions. Marianne was at times proud and at other times foolish. She always acted under her own terms. To celebrate the coming-of-age ceremony, she could have at least pretended to be noble and polite to Riv. However, Marianne looked genuinely offended by her. Riv was concerned about Marianne¡¯s change in attitude. There have already been many changes due to her encounter with Duke Sentoren. If Marianne¡¯s behavior changed, her fate, which was directly related to her, would also change. Everything was connected. ¡®Can I avoid death?¡¯ The change in Marianne¡¯s behavior meant that Riv¡¯s death could be hastened. It was impossible to predict how many more variables would come from this coming-of-age ceremony. ¡®Marquis Quill won¡¯t show up, right?¡¯ He wasn¡¯t supposed to attend the coming-of-age party. ¡®Marianne will have a secret meeting with him on the night of her coming-of-age celebration.¡¯ So it¡¯s not yet the time for the Marquis to appear. There were a number of accidents wherever he went. If there was a change, it could be that Marianne was aiming for Riv. ¡®Did the Duke of Sentoren attend that day?¡¯ Riv was nervous. ¡®Even if he officially greeted Marianne, they wouldn¡¯t have danced. I never heard of the Duke of Sentoren and Marianne dancing back then.¡¯ In fact, Riv had never met the Duke of Sentoren even before her return. Riv continued to wonder, observing Marianne¡¯s every move from behind the curtain. ¡®Why the hell is this happening? Why is Marianne acting like this?¡¯ Marianne¡¯s actions in the past and present were very different from what Riv had heard. Marianne turned down all of the men¡¯s invitations to dance. She also postponed the dance with her second brother, Prince Jour, until later. Jour spoke to her in a low tone and said. ¡°Marianne, the Duke of Sentoren will be here soon. There are many eyes watching, so make sure you look friendly with him.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Instead of answering, Marianne turned and stared at Riv behind her. ¡®Something must have happened!¡¯ After that, Riv was in an unpredictable situation. Marianne did not leave her spot. The women who approached Marianne sneered at Riv behind the curtains. Some made fun of Riv¡¯s appearance by pulling the curtains open. ¡°That girl is Madame Katana.¡± ¡°She¡¯s far more terrifying than the rumors and she¡¯s huge. ¡°Is there a man who would be seduced by a girl like that?¡± Covering their mouths with their fans, they eyed Riv with contempt then sympathy for Marianne. They comforted Marianne. Marianne pretended to cry and squeezed the corners of her eyes. ¡®What the hell is going on, why?¡¯ Regardless of Riv¡¯s curiosity, time passed uneventfully. As Princess Marianne remained quiet, the princess¡¯ coming-of-age ceremony was also conducted smoothly. From the entrance of the banquet hall, a loud muffled voice could be heard. ¡°It¡¯s the Duke. The Duke of Sentoren.¡± The Duke of Sentoren seemed to have attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Riv was more confused behind the curtain. At one point, Marianne turned around and looked at Riv. Vivid hostility and anger were reflected in her eyes. ¡®Why? Why?¡¯ What did Marianne find out? The Duke of Sentoren greeted and bowed slightly at those who welcomed him. He went to the king and queen first, and then to Princess Marianne. Riv seemed to have made eye contact with the Duke of Sentoren from behind the curtain. ¡®This must be a dream.¡¯ Riv avoided his gaze and moved from the hole in the curtain to remain unseen. She did not want to be associated with the Duke of Sentoren. Lionel and Princess Marianne greeted each other politely. Dozens or possibly hundreds of eyes focused on Princess Marianne and Lionel. ¡°You have come. I didn¡¯t know if you would accept the invitation, Lionel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony, it¡¯s only natural that I came.¡± Lionel and Marianne pretended to be good friends as usual. Marianne didn¡¯t even look at other men. After looking around the banquet hall lightly, Lionel made an offer to Marianne. ¡°Princess Marianne, would you like to dance with me?¡± He spoke kindly to Marianne, it was the form of a perfect gentleman. Marianne¡¯s stiff shoulders relaxed. ¡°Lionel.¡± Marianne whispered to Lionel, and everyone looked at the pair. However, the main character here was Marianne. ¡®Riv Katana is not the main character today.¡¯ Marianne was conscious of the gazes drawn upon herself and the Duke, therefore she showed a confident smile. Eyes followed on them. ¡°I think the Duke of Sentoren is going to dance with Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°They are such a good pair.¡± Riv also stared at Marianne and the Duke of Sentoren through the small hole in the curtain. They made a better couple than Riv thought. There was a huge difference in height, but there was no sense of incongruity as she initially expected. On the contrary, Marianne looked weaker and more delicate. The Duke¡¯s manliness and maturity were emphasized next to Marianne. Riv looked at them carefully. It was funny how fondly they looked at each other when they were trying to break off their marriage. ¡®Is it fate?¡¯ Riv could not interfere with their fate. The music played softly. Marianne greeted Lionel and took his hand. They were the protagonists on this stage. Although Marianne was short compared to Lionel, the height difference was reduced by wearing high-heeled shoes. She whispered in Lionel¡¯s ear. ¡°There seems to be a scandal, Duke.¡± ¡°A scandal?¡± Sneaking a glance at Lionel, Marianne took his hand and turned. Marianne, who showed off her graceful dancing skills then twirled closer to Lionel. Princess Marianne¡¯s skirt flowed and rippled beautifully. Marianne opened her mouth as he held her in his arms. ¡°Your taste in women is terrible.¡± ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡®No way.¡¯ Marianne snorted. At that, their conversation ended and only their dancing continued. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Alongside Marianne and Lionel, many couples danced. The upbeat music added to the excitement. After dancing to three songs, Lionel took Marianne¡¯s hand and moved into the garden with her. ¡°Let¡¯s talk a little bit.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I think this place is better.¡± Marianne led Lionel into the maze garden. The sun was just about to set. As the red sun slowly fell, the guards in charge of escorting Marianne blocked the entrance to the garden and monitored it. After Marianne confirmed that there were no eavesdroppers, she turned to Lionel. Her angelic face contorted horribly. ¡°Lionel, I am so annoyed by the rumors.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lionel said casually. ¡°Marianne, I don¡¯t know what the rumors are, but because of my engagement to you ten years ago, I became notorious for being a pervert who liked children. There is nothing new about rumors.¡± Lionel and Marianne¡¯s engagement was decided when Marianne was eight years old and lasted for 10 years. Throughout that decade of engagement, Lionel was a vigorous young man. Although he was young, he was still much older than Marianne who was very young, so strange rumors followed Lionel. Marianne frowned. ¡°Then the rumor isn¡¯t true?¡± ¡°What rumor are you talking about?¡± ¡°The fact that you made Riv your lover. That you hated me so much you took my ugly maid as your lover.¡± Lionel was silent, not knowing what to say, and then opened his mouth. He was genuinely curious at this moment. ¡°By the way¡­ Who is Riv?¡± Marianne was speechless. ¡°Do you not know my maid, Madame Katana? My maid!¡± ¡°Her name is Madame Katana?¡± As Lionel answered indifferently, Marianne¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Then you mean the rumors aren¡¯t true?¡± ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°Your scandal with Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± When Lionel didn¡¯t answer, Marianne became angry. ¡°I can¡¯t stand being a rival to someone like Riv.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Lionel¡¯s gaze was indifferent. Seeing that, Marianne felt an unexpected possessiveness. They were engaged and had not yet broken it off. This engagement, if not broken, was likely to lead to an immediate marriage. Come to think of it, marriage to Lionel also had some benefits. Marianne reconsidered her plan. ¡°If I broke up with Lionel, I might lose you to Madame Katana, right?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Marianne hated the Duke of Sentoren terribly. But she couldn¡¯t tolerate the scandal with Riv. No, Riv was worse than the Duke of Sentoren! Still, this scandal made Marianne reconsider. ¡°I think it worked out well.¡± ¡°What did?¡± ¡°This scandal has made me think positively about my marriage to you. I think it¡¯s better for me to marry you than let another girl take you.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think we look good together?¡± ¡°Marianne, what are you planning?¡± Marianne stepped forward and stroked the neck of Lionel, who was much taller than her. ¡°There¡¯s not much to it. Lionel only needs to prove the rumors are false.¡± ¡°I have no intention of participating in childish pranks.¡± Marianne smiled indifferently. They soon returned to the banquet hall. Artists from the royal capital presented a lovely portrait of Princess Marianne and performed a serenade for her. Lionel stayed by Marianne¡¯s side until the very end at the request of the royal family. Before the banquet ended, Marianne handed Lionel a glass. ¡°Lionel, I want to have a good relationship with you.¡± ¡°A good relationship.¡± ¡°Congratulate me on becoming an adult today. Let¡¯s toast.¡± There was no reason for Lionel to refuse Princess Marianne¡¯s drink. It was good to pretend to be on good terms with her. He didn¡¯t mind being the subject of an unsavory gossip, but the rumor made Marianne go crazy saying she would marry him. ¡°I will play along with your pranks for today, Marianne.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t regret it.¡± Marianne laughed softly. Lionel finished his glass at Marianne¡¯s urging. Marianne then held Lionel¡¯s arm and pressed her body onto him. ¡°Lionel, I have a secret to tell you about our marriage.¡± Lionel snorted her as he watched Marianne playfully snuggle to him. He had a gut feeling that Marianne was playing a prank on him. He stared at the wine glass he emptied. Lionel¡¯s body stiffened. ¡®Did she put dr*gs in the wine?¡¯ The wine was very bitter. He stared at Marianne, who clung and flirted with him. He soon realized that marriage to devilish Marianne, who was disguised as an angel, would be terrifying. Moreover, the shadow hidden behind the curtain behind the princess¡¯ seat had disappeared. ¡®Was Madame Katana hiding there? When did she leave?¡¯ He started getting a headache. As if reading Lionel¡¯s thoughts, Marianne whispered. ¡°I have something to tell you about Madame Katana, Lionel. I want to talk. Just the two of us.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel stared intently at Princess Marianne. ¡°Madam Katana is a girl who has nothing to do with me, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll let Lionel kill her.¡± ¡°Stop joking. I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°L-Lionel!¡± Lionel stood up. There was no reason to stay any longer, as he had kept his courtesy to the royal family and loyalty to his fianc¨¦e. Since Marianne had played her joke, he would now leave as soon as possible. Lionel looked for his escort Michelle. However, the carriages of the other nobles who were also leaving were tangled up in front of the banquet hall. ¡°Michelle?¡± Lionel frowned when Michelle was nowhere to be seen. His head was in more pain than before. ¡®Why?¡¯ As he staggered, he nearly collided with the nobles around him. As he tried to rest on the front steps, he found a piece of paper jutting out of his pocket. ¡®What is this?¡¯ It looked like someone had just stuffed it into his pocket, but he didn¡¯t notice. When he opened the paper, he saw the elegant handwriting that had been writing Marianne¡¯s letters for a while now. ¡®Was this from Madame Katana?¡¯ The content of the letter was simple. [We will be waiting for you on the 1st floor of the Ellui building, in the 4th room from the East Exit.] What does this mean? Lionel thought of Marianne in a dazed state. Perhaps this was a prank or a trap from Marianne. Riv returned to her room and was resting. As it became dark outside, Anna came to see Riv. She seemed to be worried about the coming-of-age ceremony. ¡°How was Princess Marianne, Riv?¡± ¡°She was beautiful.¡± Anna carefully looked into Riv¡¯s eyes. ¡°If Princess Marianne calls you later, don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Riv had a gut feeling that something unusual was going on. Anna leaned down to Riv and whispered in her ear. ¡°The Marquis of Quill attended Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony. People are saying that the princess invited the Marquis. The princess even said that she wanted to take care of you, Riv.¡± The handsome playboy, Marquis Quill¡¯s notoriety was widely known even among the court maids. Marquis Quill liked to have fun with noble women and even tried to seduce the queen¡¯s maids. He also traded illegal things in the palace. ¡®Why did Marquis Quill show up? What¡¯s the reason for Marianne¡¯s change of heart¡­?¡¯ Riv recalled that those present at Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony were either ridiculing her or were wary of her. Marianne also glared at Riv as she monopolized her fianc¨¦ Lionel, whom she hated. ¡®No way.¡¯ ¡°Anna, are there rumors about me and the Duke?¡± Anna hesitated but told her about the rumors surrounding her and the Duke. ¡°So¡­¡± Riv now understood why Marianne had been acting like that. Princess Marianne could not stand the rumors that the ugly Riv Katana, whom she so despised, had taken her fianc¨¦. ¡®Is that why she was monopolizing Duke Sentoren? And why she stared at me like that?¡¯ Whatever Marianne¡¯s intentions, Riv had no desire of claiming the Duke of Sentoren. Anna looked at Riv¡¯s clothes and turned her back. ¡°Riv, if you quit this horrific disguise, wouldn¡¯t the Princess criticize you less? Princess Marianne hates ugly things.¡± Anna was not the queen¡¯s maid. They attend to Princess Marianne, but they did not know in detail how the mother and daughter dealt with the aristocratic maids who were part of their entourage. Instead of explaining, Riv replied: ¡°I am not a beauty, Anna.¡± Anna kept her words short as she tried to give her advice. ¡°Don¡¯t go out tonight. That¡¯s all I wanted to say.¡± Anna left. Riv locked herself in her room. It was like the eve of a storm. Despite being safe, the ominous feeling did not disappear. ¡®I think something is really gonna happen tonight.¡¯ In the form of Madame Katana, Riv curled up under a blanket on the bed. It barely calmed her down. ¡°Ha.¡± Riv fumbled with the necklace she was wearing and reflected on today¡¯s events. She then remembered the moment when Marianne killed her. She could still hear the girl¡¯s laughter. The ring of the Duchess of Sentoren, which had saved Riv, changed it¡¯s form, from being a pendant to a ring. The ring was very hot. She did not touch it until the temperature had cooled down. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. She took a deep breath. ¡°Relax. Nothing will happen.¡± ********** Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Riv curled into a ball as she agonized. Then, for a moment, she had a dream. It must have been the day she was chosen as Queen Selina¡¯s handmaiden. She had just arrived at the palace. She was a timid and clumsy maid, however one day, eyes were on her. The queen summoned Riv. Looking at the tall and skinny Riv in a black dress, the Queen said. [You¡¯re as skinny as a stick. You¡¯re also tall and have fair skin. You¡¯re the kind of girl my husband would like.] The queen ground her teeth. [How old are you?] [I¡¯m fourteen.] [You¡¯re young. Even if you look terrible right now, you¡¯ll blossom in a few years.] In fact, Queen Selina was the type of person who could not stand to see the beauty of her maids. [Count Katana sold you for a very high price. I heard he spent all that money on gambling? Regardless, he has given us all your rights.] So Riv¡¯s life became the property of the royal family. Queen Selina whispered to Riv as if she was hypnotizing her. [You have to look much uglier than you do now. That way my husband and sons won¡¯t look at you.] The queen¡¯s maids had Riv wear a huge, puffy black dress. She was covered with bizarre black rags with piles of cotton overlaid to such an extent that it was impossible to tell that she had a skinny body. [You are now Madame Katana. Forget who you were.] The queen¡¯s maids looked at Riv¡¯s clown-like appearance and giggled. [You will be known as the ugliest girl in this palace.] [Never take your clothes off, and don¡¯t even think about going back to your original appearance. You must be an ugly b*tch to the bone.] Hearing someone laugh, Riv opened her eyes. She seemed to have slept for a short while. When she woke up, her head felt heavy. ¡®Memories of the day I became Madame Katana. I haven¡¯t thought of that day for a long time.¡¯ Ever since she started being called Madame Katana, she had forgotten what her true form was. ¡°Ah.¡± All of this was after she died and came back to life, after meeting the Duke of Sentorren. Was it because he knew her true appearance? ¡°Ha.¡± Wiping away the cold sweat, Riv crawled out of bed. It was then that she heard someone approach her room and knocked gently. Riv didn¡¯t take off Madame Katana¡¯s dress, so she didn¡¯t need to put on her disguise. When Riv opened the door to the room she had locked herself in, she found the maid El, who had an unusually pale face. ¡°Why are you here El?¡± ¡°Madam Katana, the princess has called for you. Follow me.¡± She had an ominous feeling. ¡°The princess? Why? I have a cold.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°I-It would be difficult if the princess catches a cold¡­¡­¡± Riv croaked at her, recalling Anna¡¯s advice. El looked at Riv with annoyance. ¡°If you do not follow Princess Marianne¡¯s orders, you will be severely punished tomorrow. Hurry up.¡± ¡°But.¡± ¡°Princess Marianne told me to bring Riv even if I have to mobilize the soldiers. Do you want to be dragged out?¡± Riv followed El reluctantly. *** Lionel grabbed the red handle and opened the door. The room was dark and had a large bed. It was one of the rooms reserved for the guests of the royal family. Since the room was engulfed in darkness, it was difficult to discern what was inside. He didn¡¯t notice that every window had planks nailed over them. ¡°Ha.¡± Lionel¡¯s eyes widened. He remembered the wine that Marianne had insisted on having him drink. The wine was the only thing he consumed at Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony in the palace. ¡°I guess dr*gs had been mixed in there.¡± Lionel¡¯s pupils gradually dilated. Any object that should have been one appeared as two or three afterimages. ¡°This.¡± Lionel was pushed by someone onto the bed. He didn¡¯t notice that men were approaching him, and that they were trying to subdue him. They suppressed Lionel with all their might. ¡°Go, hold him down!¡± Lionel tried to get up, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Two heavy men crushed his body, making it difficult to even lift his head. ¡°Quill! Hurry up!¡± ¡°This guy is amazing, he¡¯s powerful alright!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush me!¡± Another man shouted. ¡°You said the Duke would be unconscious!¡± ¡°Shut up! Hold him tight!¡± There seemed to be more than two men in the room. Two men were holding him down and there was a man standing over Lionel. One of the men who suppressed Lionel made him raise his head. And another poured bitter medicine into his mouth. His head was angled in a way that he couldn¡¯t spit it out. It was unlike Lionel. He was completely helpless. So he was forced to swallow it. The men who were pressing on Lionel¡¯s body cheered then stepped away. ¡°Success!¡± Lionel realized that one of them was the palace¡¯s troublemaker, Marquis Quill. ¡°Duke of Sentoren, the princess will bring you a nice present. Tomorrow, the honor of the Duke will fall to the ground.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. He was in pain and it felt like his throat was burning. He was very thirsty. He needed water. A lot of it. In the meantime, only the voice of Marquis Quill echoed. ¡°Your Grace, Duke of Sentoren, it seems that the effect of the dr*gs did not work well, so I added more than usual.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you are lucky you will live, but if you are unlucky then you will die.¡± The Marquis Quill was talented in mixing alchemy and poison. The reason he was able to stay active in this palace was because he manufactured and supplied powerful drugs. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to how long the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s life will last.¡± Marquis Quill laughed out loud. Quill¡¯s medicine could easily turn into a deadly poison when mixed with paralyzing drugs. Without the Duke of Sentoren, Quill would be able to take Princess Marianne for himself. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The Marquis Quill left the room with his conspirators. Shortly thereafter, one of Princess Marianne¡¯s exclusive maids pushed a huge black form into the room. ¡°El, El? El!¡± It was loudly knocking on the door calling El¡¯s name, but no one heard it. ¡®I¡¯m trapped! Marianne¡¯s prank!¡¯ Riv desperately knocked on the door. ¡°El, El? El!¡± Even when she heard the sound of El¡¯s footsteps moving away, Riv couldn¡¯t let go of her hope. After knocking on the door for a long time, her hands felt bruised and sore. Riv eventually ran out of energy and sat down by the door. Her throat was dry. When she looked around, she saw a dimly lit room. ¡°What¡¯s in here?¡± The long legs of a man in a suit were also visible on the bed in the room. ¡°Who are you?¡± Riv cautiously moved. She felt for the furniture in the room and found a lamp with kerosene. Riv, who barely managed to light a fire, illuminated the man using the lamp. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Riv forgot to breathe. She spoke to him. ¡°Duke of Sentoren¡­?¡± Marquis Quill walked away with a languid gait. He killed the Duke of Sentoren, who would have become his enemy. He was also thrilled to have dealt with Princess Marianne¡¯s hated maid at the same time. They won¡¯t be alive tomorrow morning. ¡°Princess.¡± Marianne, dressed in a black robe, ran to Quill. She quickly asked. ¡°What did you do with the Duke of Sentoren?¡± The Marquis Quill leaned his head onto his hands, which were clad in jeweled rings. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren is lying in that private room. The princess¡¯ handmaiden took the ugly maid and locked her in that room as well.¡± Marianne didn¡¯t want to hear any more about Riv from Marquis Quill. ¡°What happened to Lionel? The dr*gs I gave him, did it work?¡± ¡°The princess did a very good job.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°The Duke was given more dr*gs than usual, and Madame Katana was locked in there with him. By tomorrow morning, the Duke will surely be dead.¡± ¡°What?¡± Marianne¡¯s body stiffened, but the Marquis didn¡¯t care. They had similar goals, after all. ¡°Princess, don¡¯t worry, the concoction¡¯s effect is reliable.¡± ¡°W-What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to deal with the Duke properly? Didn¡¯t you want to deal with both?¡± Marianne tried to grasp the situation. ¡°You mean Lionel is really going to die?¡± At Marianne¡¯s shriek, Marquis Quill giggled. ¡°We are in this together, princess.¡± The Marquis smiled bashfully and stroked Marianne¡¯s small, smooth face. His touch terrified her. Marianne¡¯s body trembled. ¡°The Duke will spend the night with Madame Katana. And they will both die.¡± ¡°W-What? I didn¡¯t want Lionel to die. I just hoped he would get rid of that terrible Riv!¡± ¡°Madame Katana will die at his hands if she¡¯s lucky.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne wished that Madame Katana would die. Even if she does not die at the hands of the Duke of Sentoren, she will be accused of the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s murder and will be executed.¡± Marianne was speechless. Marquis Quill laughed. Everything seemed easy after the princess lost her spirit. He hugged the princess and said goodbye. ¡°Princess, don¡¯t be afraid. Just wait for tomorrow.¡± Marianne tried to open her mouth, but she couldn¡¯t speak anymore. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 ¡°Haa, haa.¡± The man before her had red, bloodshot eyes and was breathing shallowly. She wasn¡¯t even touching him, but she could feel his intense heat. Was this man really Lionel? Riv hesitated. ¡°Lionel? Duke of Sentoren?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t get closer to him and stared at him. ¡°Duke¡­¡­ Your grace?¡± Lionel¡¯s face was strangely feverish. Not only Lionel¡¯s face, but his whole body felt like a ball of fire. He struggled and breathed heavily. Why was he in this state when just a few hours ago, he was fine, standing next to Princess Marianne? ¡®Did Princess Marianne play a prank on him?¡¯ It was her that Marianne hated. So why did she do this to her fianc¨¦, the Duke of Sentoren? ¡®Why would Marianne, who hated me who was involved in a scandal with the Duke, do this?¡¯ Riv couldn¡¯t understand Marianne¡¯s actions. Meanwhile, the Duke¡¯s condition seemed to be getting worse. She needed to quickly diagnose him. ¡®Is it drugs? Or poison? What happened to you?¡¯ Riv looked around, thinking about going outside and asking for help. The door was locked from the outside and the handle seemed to be firmly secured. The two large windows in the room were also nailed shut from the inside, so she couldn¡¯t get out. It was impossible to remove them with her strength alone. Riv was imprisoned with the Duke of Centoren. ¡°Haa.¡± ¡®Now what?¡¯ Riv tried to open the door again, but became exhausted and returned to the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s side. The Duke¡¯s condition still looked dire. ¡°Duke, can you hear me?¡± Duke Sentoren¡¯s body was hotter than before. It seemed like his body was on fire. The Duke of Sentoren would not have taken poison or drugs himself. What if Marianne did this to weave the Duke and Riv into a scandal? What if the Duke was attacked because of it? ¡°Oh. My. God.¡± Wasn¡¯t the Marquis of Quill involved in illegal drug distribution? Marianne was strangely envious of Riv. She even thought that Riv wanted to take the Duke of Sentorren for herself. However, she did not want to see the Duke of Sentoren, who was caught in Marianne¡¯s trap, hurt. ¡°Marianne, Marianne!¡± Screaming Marianne¡¯s name and Riv tore her wig off. ¡°Why is this happening again, why?¡± Riv wished to survive. She did not know that such a wish would endanger the life of the Duke of Sentoren. No. All of this was due to Marianne¡¯s greed. Although he had told her he chose Riv over Marianne. ¡®Was he harmed because of his connection with me?¡¯ Before her return, she had never met this man. She never would have thought that this guy would ever be hurt this way, even if he got entangled with her. This man was innocent. Riv looked at the deteriorating Duke of Sentoren. She couldn¡¯t let him die like this. ¡®This man has no relationship with me. He was not destined to die with me.¡¯ She was struggling because her own lifespan was short. But what about this man? ¡°Duke Sentoren.¡± Riv called for him, but he didn¡¯t respond. She touched Lionel¡¯s forehead. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡± Riv lightly slapped him on the cheek to wake him up. ¡°Wake up, Lionel.¡± As he struggled with the intense heat, he opened his eyes. His hazy amber eyes seemed to focus, though faintly. ¡°I, why am I here?¡± He spoke in a low voice. Riv put her lamp next to him and asked. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Katana.¡± Lionel nodded his head with all his might, and Riv was relieved. But she didn¡¯t know when he would lose consciousness again. ¡°I think the Duke was dr*gged. Who gave it to you?¡± ¡°I, I.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± Lionel¡¯s lips spit out the names of Marianne and Quill faintly. Riv was stunned to hear the name of the Marquis Quill. It exceeded her expectations. Even if Marianne hated Riv and was outraged by her scandal with the Duke, this prank was too much. The problem was she attracted the Marquis of Quill from the very start. ¡®It¡¯s natural that Marquis Quill wanted to kill the Duke of Sentoren. He wants to be the princess¡¯ new fianc¨¦.¡± Whatever they did, it wasn¡¯t good for Lionel and Riv. Lionel¡¯s condition was also getting worse. ¡°Hey, Duke, get it together.¡± Lionel who barely regained consciousness, came to his senses. Riv hurriedly picked up the lamp and scanned the room. She found a kettle with water. She took a sip to confirm it was pure water. Riv carefully poured the water in Lionel¡¯s mouth. The tiny amount was not enough to satisfy his thirst. Riv removed the jacket, vest and tie from Lionel¡¯s body. Despite this, as time passed, his fever grew. ¡°Haa.¡± Lionel¡¯s life might be in jeopardy if left unattended. Riv drew out all of her common sense and thought. The Marquis Quill was said to sell powerful drugs to the palace. ¡®Did he intend to make the scandal real? To involve the Duke with me and break the engagement with Marianne?¡¯ There was only one solution. ¡®This is just to help cure him.¡¯ She had tried to seduce the Duke anyway. She was only using her body as a means of surviving. ¡®So it¡¯s okay.¡¯ Riv removed her Madame Katana disguise and threw it away, leaving her only in a thin dress. A cold wind blew over her skin. It was a closed room, but the air was cool. Riv shivered then woke him up. ¡°Lionel.¡± Lionel immediately opened his eyes. His blazing eyes stared intently at Riv¡¯s body. The Duke in front of her became a beast. Duke Lionel attacked Riv. *** ¡°Ahh!¡± She realized she couldn¡¯t stop nor control him. Lionel got more excited as he sniffed her scent. Riv Katana, the woman he desired. His woman. Only his. ¡°L-Lionel!C-calm down!¡± ¡®My goddess, my Venus.¡¯ Lionel fiercely hugged her body. Riv¡¯s eyes turned white. ¡®What kind of relationship is this?¡¯ There was no use counting the number of times. The pleasure was too deep. At this rate, she felt like she was going crazy from the pleasure. Even the initial excruciating pain turned into pleasure, then into extreme ecst*sy. Riv¡¯s whole body seemed to melt like sugar. She had no idea that pleasure could be so deep. ¡°P-Please stop.¡± ¡°I like you.¡± Was Lionel really looking at Reeve? Was he projecting another woman onto her? It felt like he was. His body heated up. Then Riv¡¯s body, which was in contact with his, also heated up. ¡°Uhh!¡± Only a moan escaped from Riv¡¯s lips as she trembled. Her whole body was ruled by Lionel. Riv was swaying wildly in Lionel¡¯sarms, as if she had become a feeble girl. The night was not yet over. Riv cried that night and fainted a couple of times along the way. ¡®It hurts.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know how many hours they spent together. Lionel¡¯s lust ebbed and flowed. ¡°Haa, please stop.¡± Her whole body throbbed. Riv felt like the joints of her body were going to break as she was constantly held by him. Giving any part of her body strength was difficult. Riv lost her virginity to Lionel. She had no regrets. On the contrary, she was grateful that he was the first one. It would be better if he didn¡¯t die because of this event. Even if he came to his senses and thought that maybe this night was nothing more than a terrible accident. ¡°Are you still in pain?¡± Riv stared at Lionel intently. It was a long night. And neither of them died. However, his condition still looked dire. ¡°Lionel?¡± Riv barely gathered her strength and got up. Any attempt to cover her n*ked body was abandoned. ¡°Sigh.¡± Suddenly, Riv looked at the necklace hanging from her neck. Despite the intense relationship with Lionel, she was relieved that the cord did not break. The Duke¡¯s heirloom, which had previously transformed into a pendant, returned to a ruby ??ring. ¡®Why?¡¯ The ring changed on its own? Riv noticed that the ruby ??stone in the ring shone faintly. This ring belonged to the Sentoren family. She noticed the ring¡¯s intention. ¡®You want to cure Lionel.¡¯ Riv felt she knew how to use the magic in the ring. Lionel¡¯s breathing was rough, even though his desires had been vented. He opened his eyes, but she doubted whether he was really awake. ¡°I know what to do.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡®Thank you for being my first¡¯ Riv struggled to swallow the words. ¡°Lionel, close your eyes.¡± Riv closed Lionel¡¯s eyes and grabbed the ring. The Sentoren ring wanted to save the Sentoren bloodline. Riv made a wish through the ring ¡®Please save this man. Like when you saved me and brought me back to life.¡¯ She died and returned to the past, but Lionel didn¡¯t have to do something as difficult as that. He was still alive and all she had to do was heal him. The ruby ??stone in the ring burned red. The healing magic was activated. ********** Chapter 20 Chapter 20 So this was magic. It was the first magic that Riv performed after turning back time. As soon as the red light appeared, it was absorbed into Lionel¡¯s body. ¡°Haah. Haah¡± The magic illuminated the room. Riv¡¯s vision burned white. Her consciousness seemed to have flown away for a moment and then come back. Riv¡¯s body, which had exhausted all its strength, drooped. When she woke up, she checked on Lionel and noticed that his breathing had returned to normal. He was still asleep. ¡°Thank God.¡± Was it really over now? Riv went to the side of the bed and sat down. The lamp¡¯s fuel was almost empty. A terrible chill ran through her naked body. Lionel¡¯s wrinkled forehead slowly straightened as time passed. His expression also softened. ¡°When you wake up, everything will go back to normal.¡± Riv lightly tapped his chest that was soaked with sweat. Impulsively, Riv planted a brief kiss at the corner of Lionel¡¯s lips. He woke up immediately after that. Their eyes met. ¡°You, you.¡± Judging by the sharpness of Lionel¡¯s gaze, he would not die. ¡°Thank you.¡± Riv was grateful that he was alive. She was confident that she would not regret her own choice. ¡°We were both victims. Rest, Duke.¡± In order to get him to rest, Riv covered Lionel¡¯s eyes with her hand to close them. However, the moment she did that, he pushed her hand away. ¡°You.¡± It was clear what they did in this place. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± She knew that Lionel was now desperately trying to cling to his consciousness. ¡°Princess Marianne ordered to have us both killed. If you leave this place, you may be in danger.¡± That wasn¡¯t surprising either. Marianne wanted Riv dead even though she knew that the Duke didn¡¯t even look at her. Riv had repaid the favor of returning her back in time by healing the Duke of Sentoren with the family heirloom. Everything has been cleared up. ¡°The Duke is not in good condition.¡± Riv guessed that he wouldn¡¯t remember the current conversation. Riv didn¡¯t know what kind of side effects the magic healing would have. Still, what was important was that he survived. Lionel yawned. ¡°Hey, Madame Katana.¡± ¡°You can rest comfortably. Your life is no longer in danger.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Riv laughed. ¡°Princess Marianne will want to kill me once she sees me, so if you can help, get me out of here and send me far away.¡± Lionel muttered something inaudible then fell asleep. Riv also wanted to rest, but she still had work to do. Just then, a faint glimmer of dawn penetrated the room. ¡°Someone will come.¡± Riv, talking to herself, ripped her underskirt, she roughly wiped his body, and hers as well. She did her best to dress Lionel, and she also put on her crumpled clothes. Just putting on her clothes made her exhausted so she slumped on the floor like a doll. She fell asleep on the floor as if she fainted and did not wake up until morning came. So she didn¡¯t know that Lionel¡¯s hand was wrapped across her shoulder as she slept. His hand rested on her body for a long time. The door was opened the next morning. Riv woke up when she heard the sound of the lock being opened. Light poured into the room. A girl came into the room that was filled with the scent of terrifying pleasure. Riv was still slumped with her back leaning against the bed. She was so exhausted she couldn¡¯t even lift her head. Riv immediately knew who it was when she saw the elegant dress and jeweled shoes in front of her. The sound of light footsteps tapping on the floor was clear. ¡°Riv, are you alive?¡± ¡°Princess.¡± Riv raised her head slightly to look at Marianne. Even though she was dressed, Marianne must¡¯ve understood what happened. Her hair was messy, her clothes were crumpled, and her body was giving off a fishy odor. Marianne¡¯s expression distorted as she looked at Riv, who was sitting beside the bed, and Lionel, who was lying on it. ¡°Did you really do it?¡± Marianne gazed at the motionless Lionel and frowned. She didn¡¯t even come closer to him and covered her mouth. ¡°Riv, what have you done to my fianc¨¦?¡± ¡°Why did you kill him? Why is he dead!¡± It was funny how Marianne treated the sleeping Lionel as a corpse. She didn¡¯t even give Riv a chance to speak. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have been greedy for what¡¯s mine. You will pay for this.¡± Marianne smirked as she rapidly fired her words, then she began to scream exaggeratedly. ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± Marianne took a deep breath then she screamed again. ¡°The m*rd*rer who killed my fiance is here! Aaahhh!¡± At Marianne ¡®s exaggerated screams, the guards rushed towards the room. ¡°P-Princess, what¡¯s going on!¡± They pushed the other maid who was at the door aside, then forced Riv to stand up. They hesitated for a moment when they saw Riv¡¯s messed up clothes and traces of the previous night. Meanwhile, Marianne¡¯s mischief continued. ¡°Riv! Why did you covet my fiance? What the hell! Why? Yes! You must have been the one who started the rumors in order to steal my fiance!¡± Marianne blamed Riv. Riv wasn¡¯t particularly shocked. She knew it was all Marianne¡¯s trap. Didn¡¯t Anna warn her to be wary of Marianne? However, before Riv¡¯s return, these things didn¡¯t happen. Marianne¡¯s behavior was changing faster than Riv had expected. ¡®I can¡¯t tell what¡¯s going to happen in the future anymore. The more I act, the more Marianne reacts.¡¯ The change was too radical. Riv looked back at the sleeping Lionel. This st*pid princess didn¡¯t notice that he was alive. Even the guards did not confirm if Lionel was indeed dead. Riv leaned her back against the wall and sighed. ¡°Princess Marianne, the Duke of Sentoren is alive.¡± ¡°What?¡± Marianne stopped her trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t declare someone dead when they¡¯re still alive.¡± The guards, Princess Marianne, and the princess¡¯ maid were astonished at Riv¡¯s remarks. ¡°Haah, look at this!¡± Marianne exclaimed, out of the blue. The handmaiden approached Lionel and checked his breathing and pulse. She said to Princess Marianne. ¡°The Duke is alive.¡± ¡°What, why? Really? H-He¡¯s should have died, shouldn¡¯t he?¡± This time Riv interrupted their conversation. ¡°The Duke should have died? What do you mean?¡± ¡°That, that.¡± As Riv tried to pry, Marianne stuttered. Fear flashed through Marianne¡¯s eyes. Marianne really thought that Lionel was dead. She hastily changed her words. ¡°Hey, guards! Royal guards!¡± The guards exchanged anxious glances as they waited for Marianne¡¯s orders. With the princess, Lionel, Riv and the maidservant in the room, the guards had no time to think. Marianne pushed the handmaiden away and pointed at Riv violently. ¡°That girl humiliated my fianc¨¦!! She trapped the Duke of Sentoren and defiled him! Lock that b*tch up right now!¡± ¡°Princess, calm down.¡± In fact, the guards looked at the Duke of Sentoren and were bewildered. The Duke of Sentoren had briefly served as the Captain of the Guards in Ailte Palace. Therefore, he could not be defeated so easily as he was strong physically and mentally. Trapped in a closed room, Madame Katana defeated the Duke, the former Captain? However. ¡°Hurry and lock that girl up! Please lock her up.¡± Marianne was trembling and was about to run out of breath. The guards pushed Riv forward. ¡°Madam Katana, follow me.¡± Ironically, Riv¡¯s face looked emaciated and won everyone¡¯s sympathy. The guard whispered as she looked at the fallen Duke again and again. ¡°We will take care of the Duke of Sentoren.¡± ¡°Guard! Lock her up! Never let her out!¡± Marianne¡¯s tearful screams followed. The handmaiden calmed Marianne, then left. El sighed and followed Riv and the guards. The Guards moved quickly to rectify the situation. El spoke. ¡°Madam Katana, you will stay in the brown room until the princess¡¯ anger cools down.¡± Marianne named several rooms after different colors. The drawing room was the gold room, the bedroom was the yellow-green room, and so on. Among them, the brown room was a small attic where those who were hated by the princess were confined. ¡°I don¡¯t know when the princess¡¯s anger will end.¡± El couldn¡¯t make eye contact with Riv. The brown room had a small lock on it. El opened the door with her key and pushed Riv inside. ¡°Haah.¡± Riv barely managed to walk this far. She already had a feeling in her gut that she would be imprisoned. Before that, there was something she needed to know. Through a small gap in the doorway, Riv looked at El. Before the door closed, Riv quickly asked. ¡°El, tell me one thing. Did the princess ask the Marquis Quill to do this?¡± ¡°That, that.¡± El¡¯s eyes fluttered. Riv pleaded to her. ¡°No¡­ The Marquis Quill. Please stop Princess Marianne. He¡¯s a bad person.¡± ¡°I want to stop the princess too, but she wouldn¡¯t listen to a mere maid.¡± El sighed. ¡°If we keep talking like this, I will also be punished by the princess. I¡¯m going to lock the door now, I¡¯m really sorry Riv, but please stay inside.¡± El locked the door and disappeared. All Riv could hear was the sound of El¡¯s steps as she walked away. ¡°Haah.¡± Riv sat down in the empty and gloomy brown room. Dust danced in the air around her. Riv looked around the room and crawled towards the area where the wind was coming from. There was a small window, but it was half-blocked. ¡°Ah.¡± Riv stared at the foul-smelling toilet in the corner of the brown room. Everything felt dark. She spoke to herself. ¡°Still, I saved the Duke of Sentoren, so it¡¯s okay.¡± Chapter 21 ¡°I¡¯m sleepy.¡± She could feel the fatigue throughout her whole body. The stench of ammonia made her head throb. While she was imprisoned, she wouldn¡¯t be able to eat or wash. Riv smiled bitterly and remembered the Duke. ¡°Lionel, wherever you are, are you okay?¡± She worked hard to heal him so that he wouldn¡¯t die. ¡®That doesn¡¯t guarantee my safety.¡¯ She died during the winter in her past life but felt like it would happen earlier this time. Riv leaned against the dark wall and fell asleep. ¡°Wake up! I said, wake up!¡± A few hours later, Princess Marianne, who came to interrogate Riv, woke her up. Marianne couldn¡¯t stand the smell of ammonia in the brown room, so she had Riv dragged out into the hallway. Riv¡¯s eyes widened as Marianne screamed at her. ¡°If you have something to say, say it, Madame Katana! Come on, tell me what you did to Lionel!¡± Riv¡¯s parched lips could barely move. ¡°Nothing. I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Marianne became even more angry. ¡°Lies! Don¡¯t pretend to be weak!¡± Marianne thought that Riv lost a bit of weight compared to when she saw her the night before, but this thought passed by quickly. ¡°How dare you covet my fiance!¡± ¡°The Duke almost died because of Princess Marianne. What did you feed him? Poison or dr*gs?¡± Marianne lost her temper and slapped Riv on the cheek. Riv¡¯s head turned to the side from the force of the slap. Riv looked at Marianne, caressing her swollen cheek. ¡°Are you done?¡± Marianne, who had slapped her, grabbed her wrist and cried. ¡°R-Riv. W-what the hell. Is your body made of stone? No wonder!¡± She was insulting Riv. It didn¡¯t matter. Riv found the princess funny. The girl whom she had served before her return and killed her was pathetic. It was truly absurd. Riv was a magician and a witch. She was wrong to think that the way for her to survive was by leaving the palace. ¡°Well. If you had prepared countermeasures, you might have succeeded.¡± If they did, she wouldn¡¯t have been involved with Lionel. ¡°Riv, what are you talking about now? Have you lost your mind?¡± Riv, who was kneeling down, glared at Marianne with all her might. Marianne flinched and avoided her gaze. Riv was fed up with this pathetic princess. A sheltered princess in a golden castle who thinks that everything will go as she wishes. A princess who was raised incapable of doing anything on her own. Marianne was the type of person who lacked the courage to face Riv. Riv reached her limit and poured out all her hate. ¡°The princess handed her fianc¨¦ over to me, whom she didn¡¯t like and didn¡¯t want to marry.¡± ¡°That, that.¡± ¡°You also gave the Duke an unknown dr*g and detained us. How much did you give him? Did you plan on killing the Duke from the beginning?¡± ¡°Sh-Shut up! Riv Katana!¡± ¡°Princess Marianne! You didn¡¯t love him. So why did you want to kill your fiance? Why!¡± Riv didn¡¯t fear anything anymore as she already foresaw her approaching death. Marianne, who was overwhelmed by the situation, hastily made an excuse. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t want to kill Lionel, I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Princess.¡± ¡°I just messed with his drink! I just did what the Marquis told me to do!¡± ¡°The Marquis of Quill is plotting to kill the Duke in order to become the princess¡¯ husband!¡± ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know! I¡¯m innocent, Riv!¡± At Marianne¡¯s excuse, the faces of the guards standing behind them turned pale. They looked at Marianne. The princess shook her head as she felt their distrust. ¡°I-It¡¯s not my fault. Everything was done by Riv. Yes that¡¯s it, hurry up and answer me!¡± [T/N: She¡¯s talking to the guards and her maid] Every time she was faced with the truth, Marianne would cry and never admit her own fault. ¡°Riv, you tried to play tricks on the Duke and harmed him. There are no witnesses or evidence to support you here.¡± Marianne quickly regained her composure, but Riv¡¯s expression remained cold. ¡°Princess, the Duke of Sentoren is alive. He knows I am innocent.¡± ¡°That, that!¡± Marianne looked at her maid, seeming to ask for her help. Her handmaiden also avoided her gaze. Riv scoffed at her. Marianne clenched her skirt tightly. ¡°L-Lionel knows it¡¯s not my fault. You know that. Right?¡± Marianne asked everyone, but she never got an answer. Riv recalled the pain when Marianne burned her to death before her return. It seems that her situation had not changed much since then. She just seemed to be heading towards her own death much earlier. ¡°Princess, do you intend to kill me here?¡± ¡°W-Why would I kill you?¡± Marianne¡¯s eyes trembled anxiously. ¡°How am I supposed to kill you, when I¡¯m so weak?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to kill me yourself. The princess¡¯ hands and feet are scattered everywhere.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even need to borrow their hand. Riv, you just need to die for the honor of the Duke of Sentorren. If you want to commit s*ic*de, I¡¯ll get you poison, a rope, a knife, whatever you need.¡± Marianne smiled innocently. ¡°If I kill someone like you, who brings misfortune, my life will be unhappy. I¡¯m so weak, I can¡¯t kill you.¡± Marianne couldn¡¯t tolerate the rumors of a love triangle between Riv, Lionel and herself. ¡°So die by your own hand, Riv. For everyone¡¯s sake.¡± In an instant, invisible energy gathered in Riv¡¯s hand and pulsed. A red aura circled Riv¡¯s pupils. The burn scar left on the back of her left hand was hot and painful. The pendant hanging from her neck twitched, wanting to return to its ring form. This was her magic. Power brought forth by her hatred towards Princess Marianne. After she died, it brought her back to the past and even healed Lionel. It also had magic that could kill Princess Marianne. It had no limits. She couldn¡¯t control this magic, but because she was angry, her power was probably enough to kill Marianne. ¡®I can kill you anytime.¡¯ However, Riv looked at Marianne and everyone standing next to her. Can this uncontrollable force kill Marianne? But even if she did kill Marianne, it would all be for nothing if she used up all the magic and ended up killing herself in the process. ¡°Haha. Hahahaha.¡± If she ends up killing Marianne, herself and everyone else there, she would be no different from the princess. She was struggling to live but she was willing to kill others? It was a contradiction. Riv decided against killing Marianne and withdrew the magic. ¡®I want to make sure the Duke of Sentoren survives.¡¯ She suddenly had a thought. What if Marianne and the other royals put him in danger again by pretending to treat him? The royal doctor, trusted by the king, was a quack and everyone knew it. After cursing at Riv, Marianne left. Riv was deep in thought as she was locked up in the brown room again. ¡®What will happen to me?¡¯ Riv¡¯s fever made it difficult for her to keep her mind strong. The future thatRiv experienced before returning had been erased. It felt like she was trapped in deep darkness with nowhere to escape. ¡°Haah.¡± Riv sighed and touched her forehead. She was exhausted and seemed to have pushed herself too hard. Riv crouched in a corner, waiting for time to pass. *** Lionel woke up to the sound of someone¡¯s laughter. As he lay on the bed, he turned his head and saw Rambaud, the Duchy¡¯s physician, sitting next to him. ¡°Duke, you are finally awake.¡± At Rambaud¡¯s words, Lionel felt like his head would split open. He sat up without even looking around. He felt dizzy, but not to the point that he couldn¡¯t move his body. It was only after he sat up that Lionel discovered the golden patterns on the bed and on the walls. He frowned. ¡°Is this the Ailte Palace?¡± ¡°Yes, Duke Sentoren.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want to ask, Your Grace.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel turned to him. Rambaud continued to speak cheerfully. ¡°I heard that the Duke who went to Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony was seduced by the princess¡¯ handmaiden and spent the night with her. Now she is facing death as a result.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°And it seems that the doctor Princess Marianne sent wanted to dissect the Duke alive.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°There was a great commotion. The doctor wanted to cut all of the Duke¡¯s limbs into pieces.¡± Lionel sighed. ¡°How long has it been since I lost consciousness?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that you lost consciousness, but you have been sleeping. Anyway, a full day has passed since the princess¡¯ coming-of-age ceremony.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression contorted. Rambaud stared at the Duke¡¯s face. ¡°Do you remember what happened that night?¡± ¡°What about Madame Katana?¡± ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°She was with me. Have you captured the Marquis Quill?¡± ¡°What about the Marquis?¡± Rambaud couldn¡¯t keep up with Lionel¡¯s thoughts. ¡°He tried to kill me at Marianne¡¯s request.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The Marquis fed me dr*gs, and Princess Marianne brought Madame Katana and detained her with me.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Rambaud¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment. Lionel was displeased that his doctor was unaware of the situation. The Marquis must have already destroyed the evidence and fled while Lionel was unconscious. Madame Katana must have been imprisoned. Princess Marianne probably wanted a justifiable reason to break their engagement under the pretext of Lionel¡¯s scandal. ¡°Where is Madame Katana?¡± ¡°Since she¡¯s Princess Marianne¡¯s maid, the princess would know.¡± Rambaud tilted his head back as he realized something. Did the careful Lionel almost die from a dr*g overdose? The situation seemed suspicious to Rambaud. ¡°Why did you take the dr*gs?¡± ¡°The Marquis of Quill overpowered me and forced me to take them while I was paralyzed.¡± ¡°What do you mean paralyzed? What else did you take?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne put something in my drink during the banquet. Perhaps that was what paralyzed my body.¡± ********** Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¡°I drank from the glass Marianne gave me at her coming-of-age ceremony. It must have been mixed with a paralytic dr*g.¡± ¡°I heard that Princess Marianne hates Madame Katana. But why did the Marquis help Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°He is the princess¡¯s lover.¡± Rambaud¡¯s mouth shut. Lionel recalled a blurry but passionate night. Even though he slept for a day, to him, it had only been a few hours since he spent the night with Madame Katana. He raged like a wild beast. He repeatedly took her, his body continuously giving in to its carnal desire. Even though he was high on dr*gs, it was difficult to tolerate his own actions. Rambaud looked at Lionel and sighed. ¡°Still, you look better than I expected. You were lucky.¡± ¡°Was I really lucky?¡± Lionel got out of bed. ¡°Find out where Madame Katana is, right now!¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°She saved my life. And she might be carrying my child.¡± The faces of Rambaud and Michelle, the escort who just opened the door, turned red. Michelle came in and quickly closed the door. ¡°Keep your voice down. It would be bad if anyone heard.¡± Lionel asked the two of them. ¡°Are we being monitored?¡± They nodded. Rambaud grumbled as he pondered the situation. ¡°The princess tried to kill her fianc¨¦ so the King is watching us.¡± Marianne¡¯s prank went too far. There was a purpose for killing Lionel beyond breaking their engagement. Marianne wouldn¡¯t be pleased with Lionel¡¯s survival. It was obvious how she would deal with Madame Katana. Lionel stared blankly at the shadows of the buildings beyond the shaded windows. After reaching a conclusion, he told Michelle. ¡°Request a private audience with His Majesty. And find the Marquis Quill. But Madame Katana¡¯s whereabouts comes first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± *** Another day passed. Time was meaningless to Riv. Her limbs were stiff as she had been crouched down and she hadn¡¯t eaten a thing. Her thirst and hunger were gone. She couldn¡¯t sleep well so she woke up repeatedly. Her eyes were bloodshot. El, who brought Riv¡¯s meals, came in the morning. ¡°Riv, are you alive?¡± El was worried about her. Her complexion was not good. El was Marianne¡¯s sympathizer when Riv died in the past. She didn¡¯t like nor hate El. El must know that someday, just like Riv, she will be removed. ¡°Eat, Riv.¡± El was cautious of her. Although she was not tied up, Riv was in the worst physical condition so it would be impossible for her to threaten or hurt El. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, you won¡¯t be able to survive. We don¡¯t know how long you will be imprisoned here.¡± Riv realized that El was worried about her. Riv sat motionless and looked at the tray that carried warm soup and soft bread. She raised her head. ¡°El, I have a request. Let me meet the queen. ¡°Riv, are you crazy?¡± El shook her head. Riv could barely speak. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I expose Princess Marianne¡¯s promiscuous affairs? You know very well that she has crossed the line.¡± Even if the Royal Family was involved in indecent scandals, it was a different story if it was Princess Marianne. It wouldn¡¯t be handled the same compared to her older brothers. Marianne had just become an adult and she was not married. It would be difficult even for the royal family if the unmarried princess were to engage in debauchery. ¡°If the princess¡¯ actions were discovered, who do you think will be held accountable? It will either be me, you, or one of her head maids.¡± Queen Selina knew that Marianne liked to play with fire, but she didn¡¯t know to what extent. ¡°If I die at the hands of Princess Marianne, who do you think will be next?¡± Riv felt dizzy. It was difficult to maintain her consciousness. ¡°El, stop Princess Marianne. She must not harm the Duke of Sentoren.¡± ¡°I-I tried to stop Princess Marianne, but it was no use.¡± El sobbed. Come to think of it, Marianne would have never listened to a maid¡¯s advice. Riv gathered her last strength. ¡°The princess has brought in Marquis Quill. It will be your turn once I¡¯m dealt with.¡± El flinched. Riv couldn¡¯t say her next words. El, who was staring at her with pity, said. ¡°I will deliver your words to the Queen. But I cannot guarantee that the Queen will come see you.¡± El was relieved to see Riv barely raising her head and blinking her eyes, still alive. El pointed to the tray with the food she had brought. ¡°These dishes were personally requested by the princess to the chef. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in there, but if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°¡­. Thank you.¡± El left without acknowledging Riv¡¯s words. Riv, who had pushed the food aside, later disposed of them in the toilet. ¡®Not yet¡­ I don¡¯t want to die.¡¯ *** Princess Marianne couldn¡¯t sleep. Early in the morning, her Elon language tutor holding a stick appeared. ¡°Princess Marianne, it¡¯s time to study.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Her tutor was waiting for her, saying that she had neglected her class with the excuse of her coming-of-age ceremony. Marianne¡¯s cute act didn¡¯t work on the small old man holding a stick. Before the dreadful Elon private lessons were over, Princess Marianne had a visitor. Queen Selina appeared, wearing a vivid dark green dress with a dazzling ruffled collar. ¡°W-What¡¯s wrong, mother?¡± The queen¡¯s dress, the pure white wig she was wearing, as well as her heavy makeup, were splendid and full of dignity. ¡°Marianne, lucky you were here.¡± It was important for Selina to raise Marianne into a perfect daughter. Behind the queen were the queen¡¯s maids. Marianne opened her mouth in embarrassment. ¡°Mother? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Monsieur Franco, leave.¡± The Elon language teacher quietly retreated. Marianne felt annoyed as she looked at her mother and her proud maids. This wasn¡¯t a good sign. ¡°What are you doing here this morning, mother?¡± ¡°I heard you locked up Riv.¡± ¡°So?¡± Marianne got up from her seat and arrogantly faced her mother. Although Marianne wore high-heeled shoes, she was still below Queen Selina¡¯s eye level. ¡°Marianne, you¡¯ve gone too far.¡± There was only a chill in Queen Selina¡¯s eyes, examining Marianne¡¯s meek satin dress and messy hair. ¡°I lovingly birthed you, but why are you so rotten?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know mother was so rude.¡± ¡°Rude?¡± ¡°My mother left me alone growing up. I¡¯m an adult now, so please don¡¯t interfere with my life.¡± Queen Selina laughed. ¡°Usually, princesses don¡¯t use the mistress to take care of their fianc¨¦ on the day they come of age.¡± Marianne was furious. ¡°Mother, that¡¯s all b*llshit and a misunderstanding! Riv, she¡¯s spreading rumors.¡± ¡°Why are you mentioning Riv?¡± Marianne was momentarily confused. She wondered if Riv had moved the queen, but now she revealed her plan. Queen Selina clicked her tongue. She understood the situation at once. ¡°Oh my God. You¡¯re my daughter, but you¡¯re be so stupid. You almost killed the Duke of Sentoren, and then you tried to get rid of him even though you knew he was alive. Do you know how hard your father is trying to fix this?¡± ¡°Uh, mother, you are wrong about that.¡± ¡°Are you really going to argue that the Duke was almost murdered, and Riv alone was behind it all? Riv, where the hell is that girl? Is she already dead?¡± ¡°Oh, not yet.¡± When Marianne answered, Queen Selina was stunned by her daughter¡¯s st*pidity. ¡°Not yet? Where is Riv?¡± ¡°Why does mother care about that girl? It doesn¡¯t matter if she dies!¡± ¡°Of course it does. You¡¯re such a fool!¡± Queen Selina clicked her tongue and nodded to her maids who accompanied her. ¡°Take care of Marianne and keep her locked up.¡± ¡°Mother, what are you talking about?¡± The queen had already left and her maids smiled at Marianne. ¡°Princess Marianne, the Queen has ordered that we educate you properly.¡± Marianne cursed and flailed, but she was still dragged away by the queen¡¯s maids. ¡°Where is Riv?¡± ¡°Th-This way.¡± The queen headed to meet Riv, guided by the head maid. The lock on the brown room where Riv was being detained was released. She heard the door open, but her stiff body did not move. The door creaked open, but no one came in. Instead, only a voice was heard. ¡°Where is Riv Katana? What the hell is this stench?¡± Riv was brought out by the queen¡¯s maids. The queen clicked her tongue, as if Riv¡¯s condition was displeasing to the eyes. The maids covered their noses at the stench emanating from Riv¡¯s body. The queen stared at Riv as she fell to the floor. The queen¡¯s diamond necklace and earrings were exceptionally shiny. In contrast, the queen¡¯s eyes were colder than the jewels. ¡°You look like a mess, Riv.¡± Riv, who could barely raise her head, opened her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Queen.¡± Riv faintly answered. The queen stared at Riv in annoyance. ¡°What did you call me for?¡± They moved to the green room. The queen¡¯s maids prepared a chair for the queen. In fact, the queen was bothered standing alone with Riv. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re in bad shape. I was told you had something to say about Marianne? Speak.¡± Queen Selina did not have deep affection for her daughter and sons. Her life was more precious to her than anyone else¡¯s. Riv looked at the queen. ¡°Queen, please let me leave the palace.¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ¡°Riv, you want to leave the palace?¡± Queen Selina had an expression that said she did not understand why. ¡°What will you do then? And by what right?¡± Queen Selina was really curious. ¡°You have no money and no house. Even if you are a noble, you have nothing.¡± ¡°Even after Marianne gets married, that doesn¡¯t mean your situation will change, Riv Katana.¡± Yes, Riv¡¯s life belonged to the royal family. ¡°¡­so the Duke of Sentoren will marry the princess?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Riv felt her mind clear with the pain. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren knows everything. Do you know what happened Queen? Princess Marianne and the Lord, Marquis Quill, tried to kill the Duke.¡± The queen¡¯s eyes trembled. Her expression hardened. Riv wasn¡¯t lying to her, and the queen knew it. Shock slowly crept into Queen Selina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Wait, Marianne brought in Marquis Quill? Does the Duke of Sentoren know of this?¡± Riv nodded her head. The queen had stopped caring about her daughter. Only annoyance could be seen on her face. ¡°You¡¯re giving me a headache, Riv.¡± Queen Selina, who pressed her forehead for a moment, interpreted the situation as she wanted. ¡°Yes, the Marquis must have been the problem. That playboy was the one who seduced my innocent daughter to play these pranks.¡± The queen silenced El and Riv, who were about to scandalize her daughter. She mumbled. ¡°Even if the Duke of Sentoren wakes up, nothing will change for Marianne and us. Nothing changes.¡± Riv suddenly remembered the Duke of Sentoren. Even if the Duke of Sentoren had sworn absolute allegiance to the royal family, his fianc¨¦e, the princess, still tried to kill him so that she would not be forced to marry him. When Lionel wakes up, he would decide whether or not to keep the engagement. ¡°Queen, please let me go.¡± Riv opened her parched lips and spoke her wish. All she wanted was one thing: freedom. ¡°Queen, I did everything you wanted.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I kept waiting for you to get me out of the palace. I didn¡¯t complain even once about how I looked!¡± ¡°What are you trying to say? Besides, what¡¯s wrong with that look?¡± Contrary to her words, Queen Selina¡¯s gaze was cold. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who came in disguise because you liked that ugly appearance?¡± Riv was horrified by the gigantic dress she was forced to wear. She wore these clothes and lived like an old lady, and she hated both the queen and Princess Marianne. She seemed to think that Riv had kept this look because she liked it. Queen Selina seemed to think she was generous. ¡°Riv, you can leave this room. I won¡¯t set you free, but I¡¯ll think about your request.¡± Riv kept her head down and was silent. At that moment El, who was watching Riv¡¯s back, carefully spoke to the queen. ¡°I think Princess Marianne poisoned the food she gave to Madame Katana.¡± ¡°So what? She didn¡¯t die, did she?¡± ¡°What?¡± Rather, the queen ordered El. ¡°Marianne must be very angry. El, you should pay more attention to her. She should show less interest in Riv.¡± El bowed her head and did not answer. After the queen finished speaking, she left. When the queen had completely disappeared, Riv fell to the floor. She no longer had any strength left. Riv knew the door was open, but she couldn¡¯t move. She held her mother¡¯s portrait and the Duke¡¯s ruby ??ring hanging from her neck like they were her treasures. ¡°Riv Katana! Curse you!¡± Princess Marianne¡¯s swearing could be heard from somewhere. A long night passed. *** The next morning, Lionel entered the king¡¯s office. It was two days after Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony, and ten hours after he requested an audience with him. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren has arrived.¡± Philip II raised his bloated body to welcome Lionel. The king tried to hug the Duke with his arms wide open. When Lionel avoided the hug, the king¡¯s face turned cold. The king¡¯s wig was crooked, but he did not realize it. Contrary to usual, Lionel, who was dressed in a perfect suit without a single wrinkle, seemed to be distraught. Today, the red scar on his cheek had become more prominent. The middle-aged king, frightened by Lionel¡¯s sharp gaze, avoided his eyes. ¡°L-Lionel, are you okay?¡± Lionel snorted. ¡°I¡¯m okay considering that I almost died from Princess Marianne¡¯s pranks.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°What did my doctor and attendant see then? You even called a quack to dissect me alive.¡± ¡°Well, that was a mistake. If the rumors leaked, it would¡¯ve been troublesome, so we called a doctor.¡± Lionel laughed at the ridiculous situation. The king wiped sweat from his forehead. ¡°I heard that the girl with you planned all this. I¡¯ll do my best to fix the situation, so please relax.¡± ¡°The girl who was with me? You mean Madame Katana? You say she¡¯s the mastermind?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Have you captured the Marquis Quill?¡± The king desperately avoided his gaze. Lionel interrogated him again. ¡°The Marquis Quill even brought his companions to try to kill me. Madame Katana is also a victim like me.¡± ¡°Come on, you must be wrong.¡± ¡°Is Your Majesty¡¯s reason for not arresting Marquis Quill because he was supplying drugs? Or is it because he is Princess Marianne¡¯s lover?¡± ¡°What?¡± The king¡¯s eyes widened, but he could not deny the Duke¡¯s words. Lionel asked again. ¡°Where is Madame Katana?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take good care of that girl. How about we hasten your marriage to Marianne?¡± Lionel was stunned at the king¡¯s words. ¡°Marianne was used by the Marquis Quill.¡± ¡°Do you really believe that?¡± ¡°My daughter, an innocent princess, was fooled by the devil¡¯s tongue. I want you to protect my daughter so it doesn¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Are you saying that even though the Marquis and Princess Marianne tried to kill me, I should still forgive and marry her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Marianne¡¯s fault!¡± The king trusted his daughter Marianne blindly. For Lionel, it was a terrible situation. Lionel endured until Marianne¡¯s adulthood for the honor of the royal family. And now he has reached his limit. He didn¡¯t have a lot of expectations about the marriage. He tried to endure the engagement as desired by his deceased father. But now everything has reached a critical point. ¡°Your Majesty, I am terminating my engagement to Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°What? Breaking up a ten-year-old engagement over something like this?!¡± ¡°Then look at this.¡± Lionel presented the materials he had prepared for the king. ¡°What is this? What are the names of the men?¡± ¡°They are all Princess Marianne¡¯s lovers.¡± The king swallowed his saliva, scanning the names of the noblemen listed on the paper. ¡°I-Is this real?¡± All of the people on the list were people who stayed at the palace for a long time and were called aides by Princess Marianne. ¡°D-Duke of Sentoren, this isn¡¯t something you fabricated?¡± ¡°To be certain, shouldn¡¯t you bring in the parties involved and interrogate them directly?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Or should I expose Princess Marianne¡¯s infidelity myself?¡± The king was already in damage control. ¡°Th-That can¡¯t happen! My daughter¡¯s honor is at stake!¡± ¡°I can always expose the princess¡¯ past.¡± ¡°Did you really think I¡¯ll stand idly by if you do that? I will ruin you at all costs!¡± Lionel laughed at the king¡¯s threat. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t know the king would react this way. He whispered a few words in the king¡¯s ear. The king staggered as if he was about to collapse at any moment. ¡°Are you really going to do that, Lionel?!¡± Lionel was sincere. ¡°I heard that countries across the sea want foreign young beauties. They wouldn¡¯t know about the princess¡¯ past.¡± ¡°You will send a princess to those barbarians?¡± ¡°They will be strong allies, even if they are savages. They have territories where ??gold and precious stones are produced, like a spring that never runs dry.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Do you want to make a lot of profit from a marriage alliance with other countries, or do you want to expose the crimes the Princess has committed against me as well as her infidelity?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Lionel wasn¡¯t lying. He had endured the ten-year engagement in silence. The reason that Marianne had been rejected because she was young would no longer work as she was now an adult. The king took a chance and quickly tore up Marianne¡¯s list of lovers. For a middle-aged king with an oversized body, he moved rather fast. ¡°Haha. You have nothing now, Lionel.¡± Breathing heavily, the king was proud of his actions. ¡°Lionel, I will pretend that you never brought up breaking the engagement. Nothing happened with Marianne.¡± ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s the only list I have? If we don¡¯t annul the engagement, I might revolt.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be too hard a job for me to subdue and kill Your Majesty right now.¡± The king flinched because Lionel said it so nonchalantly. ¡°I cannot give you time to think long. But¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°If you break my engagement with Princess Marianne, I will cover up and forget everything.¡± The king decided quickly. Lionel never lied. Even if Lionel had no weapons, he could have easily killed the king by twisting his neck. Even if he threatened Lionel and successfully had him marry Marianne, what would happen after that? Lionel could deal with Marianne. Before that, Marianne¡¯s infidelity could be exposed. If Marianne¡¯s scandal was revealed, she couldn¡¯t even expect a marriage alliance with another country. ¡°I will do as the Duke of Sentoren says. I¡¯ll break the engagement contract.¡± Lionel had one more requirement. ¡°And give me Madame Katana.¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 ¡°Why Madame Katana?¡± The king silently waited to find out why. The king had already been informed about the situation between his daughter, Madame Katana, and the Duke of Sentoren. It was something the Duke could have if he wanted to. A lowly girl like Madame Katana wasn¡¯t important. Subsequent work was carried out in an instant. The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s and the royal family¡¯s vassals were present and signed a document terminating the engagement between Lionel and Princess Marianne. Lionel opened his mouth as soon as he finished signing. ¡°Where is Madame Katana?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in her room.¡± The king summoned his chief aide. ¡°Call Madame Katana right now.¡± Marianne had been asking to break her engagement with the Duke for a long time. It was only now being accomplished. The Duke of Sentoren would remain loyal to the royal family, so the royal family had nothing to lose. But it was difficult with Madame Katana in the picture. How that cold-blooded duke will act in the future is unknown. The king hoped that Princess Marianne and his Queen had kept Madame Katana alive. An hour later, the king notified Lionel. ¡°Lionel, please go back to your mansion first. I will send Madame Katana there later. I have also issued a wanted notice for Marquis Quill, so he will be arrested soon.¡± Lionel did not trust the king. ¡°I¡¯ll take Madame Katana right away.¡± ¡°Th-That would be difficult. We need time to prepare her!¡± The king made excuses and wiped away his cold sweat. Lionel asked. ¡°Did you punish Madame Katana severely? Or is she dead?¡± ¡°Marianne is taking good care of Madame Katana.¡± Lionel did not hide his displeasure. ¡°I will take Madame Katana. Where is she?¡± ¡°W-Wait, hold on! My men will bring Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Guide me.¡± The king wiped his sweat again and gave orders to his chief aide and servants. The king¡¯s servants quickly scrambled to find the whereabouts of Madame Katana. ¡°J-Just wait.¡± However Lionel could no longer wait with the king and left the main palace with his servants. The Duke¡¯s escort Michelle and his personal doctor Rambaud were concerned about the Duke¡¯s condition and followed him. ¡°Duke, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Contrary to their concerns, Lionel was overly healthy. But they knew Ailte Palace was a dangerous place. Doctors under the orders of the royal family tried to harm Lionel, the only direct line of the Duke of Sentoren, while he was unconscious. The Duke¡¯s vassals were also almost imprisoned with Lionel. But this was put to an end. Kolderco, a lawyer for the Sentoren family, smiled meaningfully. ¡°Everything went as the Duke wanted. Now all you need to do is take Madame Katana.¡± Lionel whispered to Kolderco secretly. ¡°Create a new marriage contract. Contact the bishop to find out where the cardinal is. Lionel did not add an explanation. Kolderco didn¡¯t say anything else either. It was at that moment when he thought that the king¡¯s attendants, who had gone to find out Madame Katana¡¯s whereabouts, would not return, Princess Marianne¡¯s handmaiden cautiously approached them as they were leaving the main palace. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did you bring Madame Katana with you?¡± Instead of answering the question, the handmaiden looked up at Lionel. ¡°Princess Marianne wants to meet the Duke regarding Madame Katana.¡± The Duke of Sentoren readily agreed to meet Marianne privately. Marianne wore a bright yellow dress that made her look lively and she greeted him in the splendid gold room. With a distinctive smile on her face. ¡°Lionel, come here.¡± Marianne looked at Lionel and the men accompanying him. ¡°I want to speak with the Duke, just the two of us.¡± ¡°The engagement has been broken, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°Even if our engagement had been broken, we didn¡¯t become enemies, right?¡± Marianne was stopped from trying to link arms with Lionel. A minor scuffle ensued, but Lionel remained extremely formal. Marianne sneaked a glance at Lionel as she waited for him to speak. The man who was her fiance a few hours ago was now an unattainable man. That¡¯s why she wanted him. ¡®Why did this happen?¡¯ Marianne compared the dignified Lionel with the mean-looking Marquis of Quill. Lionel was younger and richer than the Marquis Quill. Lionel was also stronger in terms of physical strength. How would it feel to be hugged by Lionel¡¯s strong and beautiful body? Marianne regretted her actions belatedly. Lionel asked in a cold voice. ¡°Where is Madame Katana?¡± Madame Katana, that d*mn b*tch. Marianne became furious at Lionel¡¯s cold voice. Marianne couldn¡¯t stand the fact that Lionel wanted to leave her for Riv. ¡®I can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re looking for that girl when I¡¯m right in front of you!¡¯ ¡°Why are you looking for Madame Katana? The girl tried to kill Lionel.¡± ¡°You seem to have forgotten your nasty prank. I asked where Madame Katana is, Marianne.¡± It was a menacing voice. Even as they faced each other, Lionel completely ignored Marianne. There was only contempt in his eyes as he stared at her. Marianne¡¯s anger reached the top of her head. ¡°Lionel, why are you looking for that ugly girl? What are you going to do to a girl who looks like that!¡± ¡°Marianne, you didn¡¯t kill Madame Katana, did you?¡± Marianne could feel her confidence shrinking at Lionel¡¯s question. ¡°C-Calm down! She is in her room¡± ¡°Are her limbs intact? Do you swear on your life?¡± ¡°Of course! That girl¡¯s tough!¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lionel got up as soon as he got the answer he wanted. In a rush, Marianne tried to grab the hem of Lionel¡¯s coat, but she missed. Lionel walked away. Marianne shouted to his broad back. ¡°Lionel, that girl doesn¡¯t deserve to be loved. That girl makes everyone unhappy!¡± Lionel ignored Marianne¡¯s warning. He gave orders to Marianne¡¯s maids waiting in the hallway. ¡°Guide me to Madame Katana¡¯s room.¡± A maid looked at him, and obeyed his orders. She led Lionel to the maids¡¯ quarters. Madame Katana¡¯s room was on the highest floor of the maids¡¯ quarters. Lionel¡¯s expression became more vicious as he climbed each floor. The maid leading the way was on the verge of fainting as she felt the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s anger behind her. The Duke of Sentoren following her gave off an ominous aura. At the same time, the king¡¯s servants were standing around in the narrow corridor, annoyed with the servants. ¡°Wake her up quickly!¡± Anna, the maid who entered the small room, told the attendants. ¡°Madame Katana is not going to wake that easily.¡± ¡°Somehow wake her up before the Duke of Sentoren comes!¡± The king¡¯s servant who said that, looked behind him. Noticing Lionel¡¯s presence, they froze and became pale. ¡°That girl, who are you talking about?¡± The corners of Lionel¡¯s lips rose upwards. ¡°Is the ¡®girl¡¯ you¡¯re talking about Madame Katana?¡± Lionel asked the young maid who had just left the room. ¡°Is this room Madame Katana¡¯s?¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°Is she inside?¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± The maid, caught between the king¡¯s servants and the duke, bowed her head. Lionel ordered. ¡°Open it.¡± The maids whispered to each other before opening the door. The moment the old door opened, a cold chill rushed out of the room. Lionel¡¯s eyes narrowed. The room was so small that you could take in everything with just one glance. The only furniture was a bed, an old wardrobe, and a chair that was on the verge of breaking. ¡°The royal family gave a room like this to the princess¡¯ maid?¡± Everyone averted their eyes at Lionel¡¯s words. In the room, on the old bed, Madame Katana was curled up and did not move. Part of her thick black hair was visible laying across the blanket. Lionel couldn¡¯t hear her breathing. ¡°Is Madame Katana dead?¡± The maid, Anna, looked at him in shock, and responded. ¡°Oh, no.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°She caught a bad cold.¡± Anna said that she might have pneumonia. ¡°Has she been seen by a doctor?¡± Anna withdrew, conscious of the gazes of the maids and attendants looking at her from outside the door. Lionel closed it firmly, while saying. ¡°Everyone, wait outside.¡± The room was filled with just two people standing in it. Even if she could not answer, looking at her room gave the response as to how Madame Katana was treated. It was also clear why the king¡¯s attendants could not bring Madame Katana. Because she was unconscious. Lionel walked over to the bedside, staring at Madame Katana. Her exposed face was terribly pale, covered in cold sweat. The sound of her breathing was so harsh that he could barely hear it even when he brought his ear closer. In the meantime, the windows shook and cold air seeped into the room. ¡°They hid and stuck her in here.¡± Lionel was astonished and became speechless. Lionel sighed and ordered Anna. ¡°Maid, bring her luggage.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s luggage are you talking about?¡± ¡°Madame Katana¡¯s.¡± Lionel stared at Anna, who was not surprised to see Madame Katana¡¯s black dress disguise forming a small mountain on the floor. It was hard to believe that Madame Katana¡¯s figure on the bed could become a large woman. The maid in front of him was not surprised by it. ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Anna.¡± Lionel had a gut feeling that Anna knew the truth about Madame Katana¡¯s appearance. ¡°Come on, hurry up. Unless you want Madame Katana¡¯s disguise to be revealed.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± Anna was bewildered, but she opened the old closet at Lionel¡¯s orders. Inside Riv¡¯s closet was an old bag that Riv brought when she first entered the palace. Anna placed her things in the bag. She had old clothes which were either black or white, one dress, two chemises, and a couple of books. She had very few belongings, enough to fill only one bag. Lionel sighed and asked. ¡°Is this all?¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Anna looked through the closet again and inspected the dresser, looking for anything Riv might have hidden. All that was found was Madame Katana¡¯s emergency fund, hidden under her bed. ¡°Hurry.¡± ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯ll need to check if Madame Katana is wearing the portrait necklace she always had on.¡± After Anna made sure that the portrait necklace was hanging securely around Madame Katana¡¯s neck, she finally retrieved Madame Katana¡¯s palace identification card. ¡°Get the rest of the clothes and pack them up.¡± Anna picked up the bag and packed everything else. At Lionel¡¯s orders, she packed all of the clothes that made up Madame Katana¡¯s disguise, leaving no sign she had ever lived in this room. ¡®It must have been hard to wear a pile of clothes like Madame Katana did.¡¯ If Marianne had found out about Madame Katana¡¯s disguise, there was no doubt that she would have made a fuss. All of the clothes had been packed. Madame Katana was only wearing a chemise. Lionel wrapped Riv in a sheet, and hugged her feverish body. He whispered to Anna, who was packing her luggage. ¡°When you get tired of this place, come to the Duchy. Mention my name or Madame Katana¡¯s and you¡¯ll be allowed entry. Lionel noticed that this woman was Madame Katana¡¯s only acquaintance and friend. ¡°Thank you. Please tell Madame Katana that Anna was worried.¡± Anna expressed her gratitude. They immediately left the room. Everyone swarming in the narrow hallway stepped aside, staring at them and Madame Katana¡¯s luggage. Carrying her in his arms, Lionel noticed that she was much lighter than he expected. He pulled the sheet that was wrapped around her body over her face, so no one could see Madame Katana. Outside of the maids¡¯ quarters, Lionel¡¯s men were waiting for them in a carriage. ¡°Duke, get on. Is she¡­?¡± ¡°Madame Katana is unconscious.¡± Lionel¡¯s words were short. Madame Katana was not well. The kings¡¯ attendants bowed their heads and tried to stop the Duke from leaving. This made the Duke angry. ¡°Your Grace, His Majesty would like to see Madame Katana and the Duke in person.¡± The aide spoke hurriedly, but Lionel ignored him and carried the limp woman into the carriage. ¡°As you can see, Madame Katana is unconscious. She may die if her condition worsens. It could be dangerous for the king as well. She might pass the flu or pneumonia to His Majesty.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°Tell His Majesty that we will see him as soon as Madame Katana recovers.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll do that.¡± Lionel and his men climbed into the carriage. Lionel sighed as he held Madame Katana, hugging her in his arms so that she would not fall. The woman who had lost consciousness did not even know where she was going. ¡°D*mn it.¡± This woman nearly died because she tried to save him. Seeing this woman reminded him of that passionate night as well as how she saved him. That night, he vividly remembered how his body felt at ease the moment he touched her. The carriage stopped for a moment, and Rambaud, who was waiting, got on. Rambaud opened his medical bag and checked Madame Katana¡¯s condition. ¡°Hmm.¡± Rambaud touched Madame Katana¡¯s forehead and checked her pulse. He let out a low sigh. ¡°She¡¯s in bad shape. She won¡¯t wake up any time soon.¡± ¡°No one was taking care of her.¡± Rambaud was not surprised. ¡°She may have acute pneumonia¡±. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to check her condition further. Her fever is too high. If left unattended, it could be life-threatening.¡± Madame Katana had such a fever that even someone who wasn¡¯t a doctor could immediately tell. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, and she couldn¡¯t wake up. Yet, he was still relieved. However, the Madame Katana whom Rambaud knew, and the appearance of this woman did not match. Madame Katana was described as fat and ugly. The woman in front of Rambaud seemed rather thin. To be more accurate, her limbs were long and skinny. Even her face without make-up looked elegant and couldn¡¯t be called ugly. This woman¡¯s slim body seemed close to the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s taste. ¡°By the way, Duke, is this really Madame Katana? Are you kidnapping another beautiful lady under the name of Madame Katana?¡± Lionel stared at Rambaud. Rambaud fell silent. ¡°I will do my best for this lady¡¯s well-being.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s call a talented female doctor.¡± ¡°I am talented enough, though.¡± ¡°You said you don¡¯t know much about women.¡± Rambaud grumbled for a while before closing his mouth. In the meantime, the carriage raced towards the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s mansion, getting further away from Ailte Palace that Riv wanted to leave so badly. Even in her dreams, she would have never thought of leaving the palace this easily. After the Duke of Sentoren left, rumors spread throughout the palace that he had taken Madame Katana. Some servants and maids who had seen it began to gossip. ¡°No matter how tall the Duke of Sentoren is, Madame Katana is too¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she look too small? Was it an optical illusion?¡± ¡°Did we see it wrong?¡± Because of her size, Madame Katana would stand out anywhere in this palace and everyone joked about it. They said that there were few people in the royal court who could pick up the gigantic Madame Katana. ¡°I think Madame Katana has gotten thinner?¡± ¡°Did she lose weight because she was sick?¡± Even if her face and body were covered with a sheet, her body didn¡¯t look like her normal size. In the arms of the Duke of Sentoren, Madame Katana looked even smaller. Everyone mumbled, but the speculation soon subsided. *** Lionel stared at the woman in his arms. She looked uncomfortable in her current position, so he gently took her into his arms and moved her. Rambaud, who was watching the scene, spoke. ¡°Your Excellency, you look different.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What is special about Madame Katana?¡± When Lionel stared at Rambaud, Rambaud struggled to make excuses. ¡°Well, the Duke didn¡¯t pay much attention to women before. Right?¡± ¡°Madame Katana is different.¡± Lionel then shut his mouth. Lionel preferred temporary relationships with women. The women tried everything they could to keep hold of Lionel, but were unsuccessful. Lionel rejected them thoroughly and ruthlessly. Lionel, who was immersed in thought, looked at Madame Katana in his arms. ¡®This woman saved me. She could be pregnant with my child.¡¯ He was only curious in the beginning. The woman called Madame Katana approached him first. Seeing her bizarre ugliness, he doubted that Madame Katana was a real woman. He even instructed his aide to spread a scandal about the two of them. It was because he knew that Marianne would hate the terrible rumors. ¡®Did this woman get caught in the crossfire because of these rumors?¡¯ Marianne acted because of the rumors he ordered. It was a mistake. Marianne almost killed her. She must have wanted to kill Riv so that she could hide what she did through Marquis Quill. But it was also known that Marianne had always wanted to get rid of this woman. It would not have been strange if Madame Katana was killed by the royal family. It was even more dangerous because she had no family. Rambaud asked cautiously. ¡°Then what do you think will happen to Madame Katana?¡± ¡°The royal family will ask for the return of Madame Katana. They still own her. That¡¯s what I think.¡± ¡°If they continue to pressure you, you will not be able to protect Madame Katana. Even if the engagement was broken, Madame Katana is still Princess Marianne¡¯s maid, so it will be difficult to keep her by your side.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lionel concluded. ¡°If we get married, the problem will be solved.¡± ¡°What?¡± At the words Lionel threw like a b*mb, Rambaud sat frozen. ¡°Th-That.¡± ¡°I owe this woman my life. I can¡¯t let her die.¡± ¡°Is it a sense of responsibility? Could this be a trap set by Madame Katana? The Duke doesn¡¯t know much about that woman. She may not be as good a person as you think she is.¡± It wasn¡¯t out of guilt or responsibility that Lionel decided to marry Riv Katana. He was attracted to her. His body longed for her. He decided to think about the rest of his feelings after saving Madame Katana. Even if he married her and regretted it because the marriage turned out to be terrible, it would have been better than marrying Marianne. At the very least, marriage with Riv Katana could be normal and loving, like an ordinary married couple. Lionel nudged Rambaud¡¯s leg as he watched him in stunned silence. ¡°Go back to the Duchy ahead of us and prepare to take care of Madame Katana.¡± After a brief shock, Rambaud grunted and followed Lionel¡¯s words. ¡°I understand.¡± After stopping the carriage, Rambaud, who got off the carriage, borrowed the escort¡¯s horse and headed towards the Duchy. ¡°Duke, please come as soon as possible.¡± Lionel nodded. The carriage departed, following Rambaud. Lionel wrapped Riv¡¯s body tightly with a sheet and made her lean on him. The carriage shook as it crossed rough pavement. ¡°Oh.¡± Lionel hugged her tightly so she wouldn¡¯t fall. He wrapped his arms around her thin and soft body. ¡°Ah.¡± Lionel thought his heart was beating wildly because his condition had not fully healed yet. Her body was too hot. ¡°Oh no.¡± Lionel touched Madame Katana¡¯s forehead and clicked his tongue. She was hotter than before. It was as if her body was engulfed in flames. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Haa.¡± Even Rambaud did not try to treat her in the carriage. The excessive movement could¡¯ve made her condition worse. He had no choice but to quickly move her to the mansion and let her rest. ¡°Haa.¡± Every time the carriage swayed, her soft, voluptuous body slammed against his chest. ¡°Haa.¡± Lionel seemed to be getting more dizzy. When he saw Riv Katana¡¯s reddish face, a strange image came to mind. Lionel swallowed his moans again and again. He turned his gaze away from her to avoid looking at her, but the parts of his body that came in contact with her became hotter. The sheet that was barely covering Riv¡¯s body fell to the floor. A thin chemise stuck to her sweating body, stimulating his gaze. As he was about to pick up the sheet, he saw her body. ¡°Haa¡­¡± If Madame Katana hadn¡¯t been sick, he would¡¯ve ravaged her body and never let go. The carriage sped up to return to the mansion as quickly as possible. Lionel endured, hugging Madame Katana in the swaying carriage. The ride back to the mansion felt like it dragged on for an eternity. It was difficult to persist through the lust. The carriage stopped in front of the Duke¡¯s mansion 20 minutes later. Lionel stepped out of the carriage, carrying Madame Katana gently. ¡°Duke, you¡¯re back?¡± The servants had gathered eagerly waiting for the Duke, unsure of his fate. They were relieved to see that Lionel, who had overcome death, looked fine, and were even more surprised to see an unidentified woman in his arms. ¡°Duke?¡± ¡°Who¡­?¡± Rambaud arrived first and told the story of the lady accompanying the Duke, but everyone was against it. They were even more puzzled by the fact that she was ill. Because Lionel had completely covered her with a sheet, all the servants could see were the pale, rough hands of a woman and part of her thick, dark hair. The old butler, Carl, on behalf of the servants, asked Lionel. ¡°Is that lady Madame Katana?¡± Lionel nodded his head and added. ¡°Yes. And she is my new fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°¡­.Pardon?¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, all the servants stood pale and frozen. At this reaction, Lionel became furious. ¡°Why are you standing still? Rambaud, is the bedroom and the doctor ready?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rambaud appeared from the front door. Claudel, the maid, was also with him. ¡°Master, we have prepared the cleanest bedroom in the mansion.¡± ¡°The doctor will arrive soon.¡± Lionel nodded his head. ¡°Where is Madame Katana¡¯s room?¡± ¡°This way.¡± Claudel took the lead and disappeared up the stairs. Rambaud, Lionel, and the escort Michelle followed her. The remaining servants welcomed them as they returned, but they could not believe their eyes and ears. Many people were interested in the rumors that spread about the bizarre love triangle between the Duke of Sentoren, Princess Marianne and maid Madame Katana. Even the servants of the Duke¡¯s family thought it would be a momentary thing. The Duke of Sentoren, who had been loyal to the royal family, could not easily break his engagement with Princess Marianne. It was going to be the wedding of the century as claimed by the current king, Philip II. So the servants of the Duke family could not grasp the situation. ¡°Madame Katana, the Duke¡¯s new fiancee?¡± ¡°Did he say that the king approved of his breakup with Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Several questions were raised. The butler, Carl, gave a warning to the servants who were chatting. ¡°Everyone, shut up. The Duke of Sentoren doesn¡¯t like blabbermouths.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± But as they shut their mouths, they realized something was wrong. ¡°By the way, was that lady Madame Katana?¡± Madame Katana¡¯s body was half the size from what they remember. Even the proud Carl, who was a competent butler, wasn¡¯t sure if she was really Madame Katana. Claudel opened the door to the room on the second floor. The guest room prepared for the Duke¡¯s guest was clean without a single speck of dust. Sunlight poured in through the large window. The large bed was lined with clean white sheets. Lionel carefully laid Madame Katana down on the bed. Rambaud sighed as he saw Madame Katana in worse condition than when she left the palace. ¡°It seems that moving around in a sick state was an unwise decision. First of all, I prepared antipyretics.¡± [E/N: antipyretics are fever reducers. Common fever reducers are ibuprofen and acetaminophen.] Rambaud looked at Madame Katana¡¯s forehead with a serious expression. ¡°Her fever is higher than before. We need to lower her temperature as soon as possible.¡± ¡°What if the high fever continues?¡± ¡°Her life will be in danger.¡± ¡°And the female doctor?¡± ¡°Her prescription won¡¯t be much different from mine. If the lady¡¯s fever doesn¡¯t go down, it will be a problem.¡± Lionel looked at Madame Katana¡¯s condition and his expression became stark. Her forehead and body felt like a fireball, but her hands and feet were terribly cold. He couldn¡¯t afford to wait for a female doctor whose arrival was uncertain. Rambaud quickly instructed the maids. ¡°Go fill the bathtub with cold water.¡± As the maids moved quickly, Rambaud said. ¡°I told them to prepare ice, so they will bring it up soon. We have to cool her down by mixing ice with the water in the bathtub.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The maids filled the bathtub in the bathroom with cold water and ice. Claudel prepared clean towels and pajamas. Lionel couldn¡¯t wait for the bathtub to fill with water, so he grabbed Katana and headed for the bathroom. ¡°Oh, Duke?¡± The maids panicked, but Lionel insisted. ¡°I can wash her faster.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± Lionel immediately submersed Madame Katana in the bathtub. Her limp body drooped in the bathtub. ¡°Everyone, get out. I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done washing her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± All the maids who were watching him disappeared. Lionel checked the temperature of the water and rolled up his sleeves. He poured cold water over her hot body. He realized he had forgotten to take off her thin chemise. It was not easy for him to peel off the thin cloth that had become saturated in the water. After the wet cloth was removed, her curves were exposed. ¡°Haa.¡± Lionel struggled to avert his eyes and managed to remove her clothes fully. As he turned his head after taking it off, he felt embarrassed. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her naked body. On Madame Katana¡¯s body, the marks he had engraved on her that night were still clear. Desperately trying not to look at her naked body, Lionel poured cold water over her body repeatedly, making sure to wash her thoroughly. Long after the maids brought ice and cold water into the bathtub, Riv¡¯s body cooled down with the water that seemed like it could freeze someone to the depths of their bones. Lionel then pulled Madame Katana out of the bathtub. She was still limp and unconscious. Lionel grabbed a towel to wipe the water off her body and wrapped her up. He lifted her up to support her body as she was about to fall over. That alone made him exhausted. Soon he was relieved. ¡°The fever has gone down.¡± Riv¡¯s temperature went down thanks to the ice water bath, but it took a long time. This time, the maids, who were concerned that the cold could get worse, thoroughly wiped Riv¡¯s body to dry it. When they changed her into the pajamas they had prepared, everything was settled. ¡°Hmm.¡± The maids were surprised at the marks on Riv¡¯s body, but they did not say anything. The marks left on her skin meant that Riv Katana had, indeed, had an affair with Lionel. ¡°Whatever you see, do not say a word.¡± Claudel, who was also a maid, silenced the others. The old female doctor arrived an hour later. The old woman had treated noblewomen and worked as a midwife. She was very knowledgeable about women¡¯s diseases and treatments. She looked at Riv and made an uncomfortable expression. Riv had a lower fever than at the beginning, and her breathing was quite stable. ¡°Does this mean the fever has gone down?¡± Lionel nodded his head, standing next to her. The female doctor sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what would have happened if the high fever had continued for a long time.¡± ¡°What about now?¡± ¡°The fever has gone down and her breathing is stable, so it seems that the biggest crisis has passed. I think you¡¯ll just have to wait until she wakes up, Duke.¡± Her life was no longer in danger. She¡¯d wake up in just a matter of time. Lionel was relieved to hear this. ¡°But she can¡¯t get any hotter. You have to bring any fever down quickly.¡± After the female doctor gave the maids some precautions, she recommended antipyretics and special meals for the patient, then left. She said she would return at the same time tomorrow. The doctor¡¯s visit was kept secret, and even after she left, the maids continued to massage Madame Katana¡¯s hands and feet and regularly replaced the cold towel on her forehead. Riv¡¯s fever went down, but she didn¡¯t wake up. Lionel continued to watch over Riv. ¡°Duke, it¡¯s time to rest. Dinner is ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Then, shall we bring your dinner here?¡± Lionel¡¯s condition didn¡¯t look good, so everyone was worried about him. They could tell that the Duke barely survived death just by looking at his face. Claudel eventually brought Lionel¡¯s dinner to Madame Katana¡¯s bedroom. Lionel only ate enough so that he wouldn¡¯t starve. Just then, when the red sunset to the west could be seen from the window. Claudel spoke. ¡°Duke, it¡¯s time to rest. We¡¯ll watch over Miss Katana.¡± ¡°Claudel, can you do that for me?¡± ¡°Please trust me, Duke.¡± Lionel nodded his head. But his gaze was still fixed on her. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Claudel took charge of the housekeeping in this mansion that didn¡¯t have a hostess. She was the maidservant of the former Duchess and was now the head maid here. Lionel could be relieved of his duties because he had known her since childhood. ¡°I entrust you with the care of Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Lionel sat on the bed and stared at Madame Katana, who was breathing heavily. She certainly had a pale and haggard face, but her condition seemed more stable than in the beginning. ¡°Let me know once she wakes up.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Lionel stumbled slightly. Rambaud, who was behind Lionel, asked. ¡°Are you all right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Any side effects?¡± ¡°None.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Rambaud, whom he had not seen for several hours, seemed to have been quite busy. Rambaud said to Lionel. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into the Marquis Quill¡¯s dr*gs and poison. There were quite a few who died from abusing the Marquis Quill¡¯s dr*gs. Even if you are fine now, the Duke¡¯s body may suffer aftereffects.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Lionel looked fine, but Rambaud doubted his good health. In fact, Rambaud paid even more attention because of the Marquis Quill¡¯s intention to harm Lionel. Quill had sincerely hoped for Lionel¡¯s death. ¡°The Marquis of Quill was saying that he wanted to be Princess Marianne¡¯s fiance. Hundreds of people have heard him say it. Many heard that he wanted to deal with the Duke of Sentoren for good. The Marquis of Quill wouldn¡¯t have just botched this attempt on your life.¡± This was not the Marquis Quill¡¯s first kill. The Duke was lucky enough to not have died. ¡°I guess it¡¯s pretty amazing that I¡¯m alive without problems, Rambaud.¡± ¡°Think about it, Duke. What happened that night?¡± ¡°Quill was trying to kill me.¡± Lionel remembered the words the Marquis had told him that night. Marquis Quill boasted that he had fed Lionel a huge amount of poison. Although Lionel¡¯s mind was hazy, he still remembered those words clearly. Due to the excruciating pain, he thought that he might actually die. If Madame Katana hadn¡¯t come, he might not be here. She seemed to have healed his body. ¡®Was it an illusion?¡¯ He had a hallucination of a strange red light that she released, that entered his body. The moment that power was absorbed, his fever and racing pulse subsided. It was then that Lionel realized he still had a chance to live. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me, Riv Katana possesses strange powers?¡¯ Whether or not she had powers, it was obvious that Riv saved Lionel. Lionel didn¡¯t want her to die. ¡°What do you think, Duke?¡± ¡°Madame Katana saved me.¡± Rambaud doubted Lionel. He had seen several deaths caused by the dr*gs and poisons of the Marquis Quill. ¡°It¡¯s best to be sure though.¡± Rambaud handed Lionel a small glass bottle. ¡°That is an antidote I prepared to counter the dr*gs just in case. It will definitely work.¡± Lionel drank the blue potion Rambaud had given him. Rambaud checked the empty vial. Only then did he look relieved ¡°Now rest.¡± Lionel left for his room. The Duke¡¯s escorts closely guarded the door to his bedroom. Rambaud went straight downstairs. When night came, the mansion of the Duke was as quiet as a tomb, even though a few maids were moving about. The butler called Rambaud as he crossed the dark hallway. ¡°Is the Duke fine?¡± Rambaud could see that the butler Carl was restless as he was pacing around the first floor. Rambaud nodded his head. ¡°It would be good to increase the security in the Duke¡¯s mansion. Just in case.¡± ¡°We did set up more escorts.¡± Nothing happened today, but the Duke¡¯s vassals could not easily get over the matter. Because of the fickle royal family, the Duke was nearly killed. His fianc¨¦e Princess Marianne conspired against him. If the Duke of Sentoren disappeared, the people who would rejoice the most were the royal family. The royal family always drove Lionel to the battlefield. There were suspicions that the royal family was involved in the death of the previous Duke and Duchess of Sentoren. Even then, Lionel was called to the battlefield, so he could not protect his parents from death. Lionel¡¯s engagement was also established and maintained due to pressure from the royal family. They were relieved that the engagement had been broken, but still, Lionel had no wife or heir. The Duke¡¯s servants and escorts had a duty to protect the Duke of Sentoren, Lionel. *** After a light meal, Claudel returned to Madame Katana¡¯s bedroom. In the dark room, the bed dimly lit by a lamp, a woman was lying like a corpse. She was a slender and elegant woman with dark hair and a white, slim face and clear features. ¡®Is this the prospective duchess?¡¯ The question was whether this woman was Madame Katana. ¡®Isn¡¯t she too young to be Madame Katana?¡¯ Claudel had also heard rumors about Madame Katana from several years ago. Madame Katana was surrounded by bizarre rumors in the palace. She was a strange, ugly woman who was nicknamed the corpse wife or widow who swept the floor in a huge black dress the size of a mountain. She was a symbol of misfortune. The woman in front of her was very skinny. Her arms and legs had firm muscle, clearly from working hard . There was no fat on her slim frame. Even her face was far from ugly. Perhaps it was because she was sick, but her arms and upper body were so thin that her bones stood out. ¡®Besides, this woman only looks like she¡¯s in her early twenties.¡¯ There had been rumors that Madame Katana was actually close in age toPrincess Marianne. Still, the rumored Madame Katana and the woman in front of her were very different. ¡°Hmm.¡± Claudel doubted this woman¡¯s identity and called several of the maids. ¡°When Madame Katana visited the Duke a few days ago, did any of you see the Madame¡¯s face?¡± When Madame Katana visited the Duke, it was Claudel¡¯s day off. That day, the maids who had seen Madame Katana tried to search their memories. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her, but all I can think of is her huge body in a black dress.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t even see her face in detail. It looked like she had her hands and face wrapped in her bonnet and black clothes.¡± Emily, the maid who carried the tea to the drawing room on the first floor, answered. ¡°Madame Katana then and the one here today seem to have similar faces.¡± ¡°The problem is that they are so different in size.¡± The maids couldn¡¯t speak easily, but something strange was on their mind. ¡°The day Madame Katana came,something strange happened.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°When Madame Katana left, she looked like she had lost a lot of weight.¡± ¡°Her clothes were so big so I couldn¡¯t see her face and hands clearly.¡± ¡°Yes, it was very big, and it seemed like she couldn¡¯t move her body properly. She was stumbling, but compared to her size, she didn¡¯t look like she was that heavy.¡± Claudel recalled that Madame Katana was a maidservant to the queen. The queen¡¯s maids were always called clowns for their bizarre makeup and outfits. What if Madame Katana was wearing such a disguise? Claudel left Madame Katana with the other maids for a while and went downstairs. She faced the butler, Carl, the Duke¡¯s doctor, Rambaud, who were monitoring the situation on the first floor. Rambaud asked Claudel. ¡°Is Madame Katana getting better?¡± Claudel shook her head and asked him a question. ¡°But is the rumored Madame Katana and the lady upstairs the same person?¡± ¡°That-.¡± Rambaud looked around quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s move somewhere more private.¡± They moved to a small parlor and talked. Carl and Claudel insisted Rambaud explain the story behind the incident. He briefly explained what happened in the palace. Princess Marianne had brought in the Marquis of Quill to break her engagement with the Duke. Marianne wanted to kill the Duke and Riv, the third party in the scandal, so she gave the Duke a lethal dose of poison and imprisoned both of them in the same room. ¡°The Duke is fine, but Princess Marianne wanted to take care of Madame Katana properly. It is possible that Madame Katana was severely punished by the princess or the queen.¡± For Claudel, this story was not surprising. ¡°Many noble women went to the palace as the queen¡¯s maid and disappeared without a trace.¡± Most of the disappearances were the queen¡¯s bizarre clown maids. ¡°The queen had these strange clown-looking maids. These maids disappeared very often.¡± Because of this, nobles were reluctant to send their daughters to the royal family as maids. Claudel also heard many rumors as a close aide to the previous Duchess. The queen tried to humiliate the previous Duchess Sentoren because she was jealous of her. Queen Selina¡¯s daughter, Princess Marianne, would be no different from her mother. They were happy that Lionel and Princess Marianne¡¯s engagement had been broken. If Marianne had been willing to kill her maid, and even tried to kill her fianc¨¦ and his mistress, it was obvious what Marianne would do once she married the Duke of Sentoren. However. ¡°The royal family may want to retract the cancellation of the Duke and Princess¡¯ engagement.¡± ¡°The Duke may be considering an engagement with Miss Katana for that reason.¡± They looked at each other The royal family may retaliate against Madame Katana and Lionel. They had the natural power to use someone¡¯s weakness and intimidate the target. ¡°I think the two should hurry up and get married soon.¡± The soldiers of the Duke of Sentoren were concentrated in the southern part of the territory, so if the royal family captured the Duke of Sentoren, there would be no way to defend him properly. Rambaud smiled kindly and saw that Carl, the butler, wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren also needs a hostess. Miss Katana could be a wise Duchess.¡± Chapter 28 The next day, Lionel visited Madame Katana¡¯s room. The maid, who was examining Madame Katana, was startled by Lionel¡¯s appearance. ¡°Duke, you came?¡± Lionel, who wore only a shirt, pants, and a vest, had a harsher expression than usual. The maid looked back at Madame Katana, frightened. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s still sleeping.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Okay. Get out.¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, the maid ran out of the bedroom. In the empty room, only Lionel and Madame Katana were left. Lionel stared at Madame Katana, who remained still. ¡°¡­¡­¡± His mood seemed to be getting weirder. An unanswered question ran through his mind. ¡®Why did this woman save me?¡¯ Even though she knew her life would be in danger? Was it because she knew that her life would be in danger even if she didn¡¯t save him? Obviously, Madame Katana had asked him to choose her over Marianne from the beginning. But why this? What attracted him to Madame Katana? The attraction was instinctive. That night, Lionel wasn¡¯t normal, but he wasn¡¯t completely unaware. He could vividly recall the memories of that hot night in his head. His body felt like it was on fire. A mixture of poison and fever took over his body. It seemed that the blood in his body was circulating at will because of the excitement caused by the fever. His lust ran wild. He must have been like a mad beast in the middle of the breeding season. After a moment of storm and ecst**y, Lionel remembered how she looked at him. She looked at him with a worried expression on her face. She took his hand and whispered words. He couldn¡¯t remember her words, but the moment she touched him, he was healed. As if by magic, all his pain disappeared in an instant. A mysterious light had been absorbed into his body. ¡®Why did I feel that way?¡¯ Even if Madame Katana possessed mysterious powers, it didn¡¯t really matter to Lionel. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel muttered her name and grabbed Riv¡¯s hand. Marianne had talked about it before. Riv¡¯s dry hands were rough and ugly because of years of labor. They were bigger and callused, unlike normal women. Stroking her hand, Lionel murmured. ¡°My hands are messed up, too, so we have something in common. Olivia de Katana.¡± As a soldier, his hands were also rough due to long training. ¡°Wake up quickly. I¡¯m waiting.¡± Lionel gently stroked Riv¡¯s face. ¡°Riv seems to suit you better than the grandiose ¡°Olivia¡±.¡± The last place Lionel¡¯s hand touched was Riv¡¯s parched lips . He looked at her plump lips for a long time. Madame Katana, Riv, woke up the next day. *** Wind blew through the ivory-colored curtains by the open window. A breeze blew in and tickled the tip of her nose. She could smell the faint scent of flowers and subtle notes of grass. Outside the window, birds were sweetly chirping one after another. Riv opened her eyes. How long had she been asleep? Her head was blank. ¡®Where am I? Why am I here?¡¯ Riv realized that she was lying on a bed. A soft, dazzling white sheet covered her body. Riv quickly looked around the clean room beyond the bed. She belatedly realized. This was not Ailte Palace. ¡®Where did I wake up?¡¯ Riv had no idea whether she was dead or alive. ¡®Am I even alive?¡¯ Riv¡¯s last memories were when she was locked up in a small room by Princess Marianne, then she met Queen Selina. Queen Selina ordered Riv to go back to her room. Did she walk to her room by herself? Was she carried? ¡®What happened after I collapsed?¡¯ Riv suffered from terrible chills. At the same time, her body became so hot it felt like she was burning. Her body was so cold and hot, she couldn¡¯t move or properly rest. She thought she would die if she was left like this. Then she lost consciousness. ¡®I thought there would be no pain if I died while I was passed out.¡¯ She thought that if she died this time, it would be less painful than when she was burnt in her past life. It was merciful to die while asleep. ¡®But this doesn¡¯t feel like the afterlife.¡¯ This room was too real to be considered heaven or hell. Riv exhaled heavily. Her neck hurt. It was difficult to even swallow saliva, as if her throat was swollen. Riv grabbed the soft sheet with both of her hands. Just then, the door opened and a middle-aged woman in a gray-white dress appeared. She noticed Riv was awake and gave her a wide smile. ¡°You are awake, my Lady.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Riv hardened at the word ¡°lady¡±. The woman looked at Riv and spoke softly. ¡°If the word Lady is awkward, may I call you Miss Katana? Do you have any other nicknames?¡± Riv was puzzled at the woman¡¯s friendly tone. No one had ever asked for Riv¡¯s name or nickname, as she was a symbol of misfortune and was despised by the royal family. ¡°Miss Katana?¡± The middle-aged woman continued to speak to her. ¡°The master has not decided what to call Madame Katana, so may I call you by your surname or Miss?¡± Riv was confused and opened her mouth. ¡°Who is ¡®master¡¯?¡± ¡°Ah, I guess you don¡¯t remember. The master is the Duke of Sentoren.¡± ¡°And where am I?¡± ¡°The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s mansion.¡± What happened after Riv fell unconscious? Why was she here? The Duke seemed to be unharmed, but as she tried to remember, Riv felt a terrible headache and grabbed her head. ¡°Please don¡¯t overdo it, my Lady.¡± The middle-aged woman helped her up and placed soft cushions behind her back to keep her from getting out of bed. Riv found herself wearing fine muslin pajamas. ¡°W-Where did these pajamas come from?¡± Riv didn¡¯t know that there were pajamas that would fit her. The pajamas were a little wide and the sleeves were short, but they fit Riv¡¯s body comfortably. The middle-aged woman laughed. ¡°The master brought the young lady in a hurry, so we couldn¡¯t prepare proper clothes. We will prepare clothes that fit you well soon.¡± Riv stared at the woman who spoke naturally to her. ¡°And who are you?¡± ¡°Ah, my introduction is late. My name is Claudel and I belong to the Duke of Sentoren. I serve as the chief maid and I am also the Duke¡¯s personal maid.¡± Riv wanted to check. ¡°Then, did the Duke of Sentoren bring me here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Riv was skeptical. Why did the Duke of Sentoren bring her here and even have her taken care of? ¡°Did you say your name was Claudel?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why did the Duke bring me here?¡± Claudel could not answer easily. She observed Riv. ¡°You probably don¡¯t understand the situation.¡± When Riv nodded her head, Claudel said. ¡°It is true that the Duke of Sentoren brought the young lady. That was his will. He seems to hold Miss Katana deep in his heart.¡± ¡°Pardon? He likes me?¡± Riv pondered her words and tilted her head. She seemed to be dreaming. ¡°The Duke introduced Miss Katana as his fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡®What the hell is this?¡¯ Riv thought she was crazy. ¡°Fianc¨¦e? Surely you jest?¡± ¡°I am not. Miss Katana will be the Duchess of Sentoren.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Riv froze at the words that she was to become the Duchess of Sentoren. She wondered if this was still part of Marianne¡¯s prank. Marianne was probably laughing somewhere, watching Riv. ¡®Is this real?¡¯ The Duke of Sentoren had a fianc¨¦e. ¡°The Duke is engaged to Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°Their engagement has been broken.¡± Riv¡¯s head felt more dizzy. She had been exposed to too much information, and could not properly carry on with her thoughts. Even if Lionel was grateful to her, the situation itself was out of the ordinary. ¡®It was good I avoided death, but this wasn¡¯t what I expected!¡¯ Riv wanted to scream. Claudel tilted her head at the fearful expression she had seen. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, MIss?¡± Riv¡¯s mind wandered. She had overcome the crisis of death, but she was not relieved. Riv could not be relieved under any circumstances. Even if she risked her life, now what? It was absurd to hear that the Duke would take her as his wife. Neither the nobles nor the royal family would understand or support them. Was it really possible to marry the Duke of Sentoren? If she did get married, what next? To Riv, the outcome of everything was clear. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv crossed her arms over her face. ¡°Miss Katana? Are you sick? Doctors are on standby. Doctors, quickly!¡± ¡°No. I want to be alone.¡± Riv gritted her teeth. ¡°I need time to think.¡± Claudel nodded her head and disappeared from Riv¡¯s sight. Riv helplessly fell on her side. She opened her eyes. She could not react properly as she didn¡¯t have the energy. She wanted to hope, and she wanted to live like crazy, but not like this. She didn¡¯t want to fall into the endless darkness again. ¡®I don¡¯t want to despair anymore.¡¯ Just then, Claudel¡¯s voice came from the room beyond. ¡°Miss, I brought you something to eat.¡± Riv was still lying on her bed, not moving. She smelled something delicious. Claudel brought a tray and showed it to her. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you alone, so you can eat.¡± Claudel placed it on the table next to the bed. Claudel stepped away. Riv lifted her head to the smell of the delicious food and tried to lift her body up, but she was too dizzy to control her body with strength. ¡°Haa.¡± Severe headache, lethargy. Weren¡¯t all these things proof that she was alive? Riv laughed out loud. After a while, the door opened again. The sound of heavy, dull footsteps rang, and she turned her head to look. She could see a man¡¯s solid body approaching. She lifted her eyes and saw Lionel in a dark suit. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Lionel slowly opened his mouth. ¡°Olivia de Katana, you¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Eat, so you will recover quickly.¡± Riv looked up at Lionel, the Duke of Sentoren, and her eyes widened. Riv couldn¡¯t immediately react when Lionel appeared. In fact, she couldn¡¯t believe that Lionel was really in front of her. He spoke arrogantly. ¡°Your body is extremely weak. If you had been left unattended, you would have died.¡± Lionel crossed his arms and watched her silently. Then he said one word. ¡°Eat.¡± Riv stared intently at Lionel. ¡®Lionel.¡¯ The person she spent a passionate night with, but whom she had to remain vigilant against. He would become the husband of Marianne, who would murder Riv. Even if it was true that he annulled his engagement with Marianne, there was nothing Riv could do right now. Riv didn¡¯t have the strength to refute Lionel¡¯s words or avoid this situation. So Lionel¡¯s presence was very uncomfortable. ¡®I thought I would never see this man again.Why is this happening?¡¯ Riv frowned and whispered. ¡°H-Help me up.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the strength to get up?¡± Lionel clicked his tongue and lifted her body, which had been strangely curled up on the bed. Riv didn¡¯t have any strength and her body leaned to one side. Lionel placed a pillow behind her back and corrected her posture. ¡°You seem to be having a hard time moving your body. Can you eat? Can you lift a spoon?¡± Lionel set down a tray of food in front of her. Riv gathered her strength and nodded her head. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± He sighed and sat down beside Riv. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± As Riv opened her mouth slightly, he inserted a spoonful of soup into her mouth. Riv felt the soup flowing over her tastebuds. The soup, which seemed to have been boiled with onions, had a sweet taste. Riv felt terribly hungry just from this one bite. ¡°Eat slowly.¡± Riv licked her lips and swallowed repeatedly. Lionel focused on feeding her soup with a concentrated expression. ¡°Eat, you have to finish this bowl.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°For the time being, the doctor said you should only eat food that is easy to digest.¡± She had been hungry for so long that Riv only processed Lionel¡¯s behavior after she had finished eating what he fed her. Riv stared at the Duke as he brought the spoon to her mouth. ¡®Strange.¡¯ Lionel¡¯s current behavior seemed absurd. Riv did not understand this man¡¯s behavior at all. From her point of view, the man seemed crazy. Lionel said, shoving the spoon halfway into her mouth. ¡°You know it isn¡¯t poisoned, right? It¡¯s almost empty. Finish the rest.¡± The tone was commanding, and her actions had been decided. Riv swallowed the soup, and fixed her eyes on Lionel. His overwhelming kindness felt foreign. ¡®Why is he doing this for me? Why?¡¯ Her questions continued. ¡®Why would this man want me to be his wife?¡¯ Even if Marianne and Lionel¡¯s engagement were broken, why would he do this? Riv was the adopted daughter of a fallen Count and she did not know who her biological father was. Even if she had the title, which she certainly did not, Duke Sentoren had no need for a mere Count title. Lionel seemed to have read her thoughts. ¡°You must have a lot of things you want to ask me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv nodded her head once. ¡°Do you not understand what I am doing?¡± ¡°I do not.¡± After Riv¡¯s short answer, Lionel said, putting the spoon down on the tray. ¡°Madame Katana, it¡¯s because you saved my life.¡± Riv didn¡¯t like to be called ¡®Madame Katana¡¯. Queen Selina had given her the nickname, and she didn¡¯t want to be called that after she had left the palace. ¡°My name is Riv.¡± ¡°Marianne did call you that. But I heard your real name is Olivia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my nickname. I¡¯m more comfortable with ¡®Riv¡¯.¡± Riv replied, feeling a little bit powerful. ¡°A maid named Claudel explained everything to me a while ago. She said you broke up with Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Claudel said I was your prospective Duchess. Did I misunderstand something?¡± ¡°Misunderstand what?¡± ¡°That I¡¯m going to be your Duchess.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t deny it. Rather, he was waiting for Riv¡¯s next words. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? I want to marry you.¡± Crazy. The Duke of Sentoren must have gone crazy. ¡°Are you going to marry me just because I saved your life? It is also strange that the king approved the annulment of your engagement to Princess Marianne.¡± Lionel moved the tray aside and moved closer to Riv. His expression darkened. ¡°It is as you say. His Majesty did not readily agree to the annulment.¡± ¡°Then what did you do?¡± Riv was very thirsty. Lionel replied coolly. ¡°I made a deal. Well, perhaps closer to intimidation than a deal?¡± ¡°And that worked?¡± Riv was bewildered. The king was greedy. The engagement between the Duke of Sentoren and Princess Marianne, which had gone on for ten years due to the king¡¯s insistence, could not have been easily broken by a single threat from the Duke. In order for the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s threat to work, it had to be something critical to the king. If this situation changed, would Riv¡¯s future be different? ¡®I am destined to die¡¯ She was belatedly reminded of her destiny. She had forgotten, but she returned to the past. The real Riv Katana would die in winter, this year. She lived again, but she would not be able to escape her death on that day. ¡®Then why?¡¯ She should have been happy to leave the palace, but her thoughts were too complicated. Riv cleared her mind. She had to focus on Lionel for now. ¡°Your Grace, Duke of Sentoren, how did you threaten His Majesty?¡± It seemed that Lionel had a plethora of information that he used to threaten the king with. Riv, who was about to say something, held her head as an immense headache rushed in. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Lionel grabbed Riv and tried to lay her back. ¡°D-Duke.¡± Riv wanted to reject his touch, but her body wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°Lionel, not Duke. I told you to call me by my name.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Riv groaned from the headache. ¡°You can ask me anything later. For now, rest.¡± Lionel summoned the maids. They laid Riv down and touched her forehead. ¡°I think she needs to rest.¡± ¡°And the female doctor?¡± ¡°She will be here soon.¡± After a while, the female doctor checked on Riv. Riv sat up, took the tea and medicine prescribed to her, and fell asleep. The female doctor asked the maids a few questions, then left. Claudel laid Riv down and was about to leave when she sensed a presence behind her. Leaning against the wall, Lionel¡¯s gaze was fixed on Riv. ¡°Duke, Miss Katana¡¯s condition has improved.¡± Lionel cautiously approached and observed Riv. Riv¡¯s breathing was calm. Her fever seemed to have gone down compared to earlier. Lionel put his finger under Riv¡¯s nose. He could feel her inhaling and exhaling through her nostrils. He was only satisfied after confirming that she was breathing. ¡°Madame Katana asked me to call her Riv.¡± ¡°Then can we call her Miss Riv? She seemed to be uncomfortable with titles like ¡®Prospective Madame¡¯ or ¡®Lady Katana¡¯. Oh, you haven¡¯t explained the situation to her, have you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s still sick, there¡¯s no way I could have explained the situation.¡± At Lionel¡¯s blunt words, Claudel sighed. ¡°She must have been very surprised when she woke up. Now that Miss Riv has woken, there are a lot of things we must prepare for her.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Everything.¡± Lionel couldn¡¯t understand what this fuss was about. Claudel shook her head at the man¡¯s cluelessness and began to list the things Riv needed. ¡°The things Miss Riv brought from the palace were of no use at all. From her undergarments, to shoes and jewelry.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°So we have to prepare new clothes, undergarments, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, everything.¡± Lionel¡¯s darkened eyes rested on Riv¡¯s pale face. Madame Katana¡¯s bare face looked somewhat unstable and anxious. ¡°Miss Katana barely had any luggage.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There were no useful things, but don¡¯t throw them away. They could be things she cherishes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± But the things that Riv brought from the palace were also trash in Lionel¡¯s eyes. Lionel, who recalled her meager possessions, shook his head. ¡°Order everything Riv needs regardless of the price. The highest quality, worthy of the dignity of a prospective Duchess.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Claudel listed out the things Riv needed in her mind. The things she needed right away were undergarments, pajamas, and everyday clothes. There were also a few other things they had to buy, such as fancier dresses, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories. Designers who were secretly contacted by the Duke of Sentoren moved quickly and came the next day. The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s head maid reserved and ordered the most expensive dresses and were brought to the dressing room. Jewelers had also been requested and secretly visited the Sentoren mansion. In fact, the Duke¡¯s mansion was secured, with no unauthorized visitors allowed on the premises. Thankfully, there was no word from the royal family. Only vague rumors within social circles of the royal capital spread, but no one knew the real story. However, these rumors spread faster than the wind. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Time passed again. Riv didn¡¯t get out of bed until three days after she woke up. The doctor advised Riv to rest for a few more days, but she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. She didn¡¯t want to just lie down idly. But Riv regretted her decision a few minutes after she got out of bed. ¡°What is all this?¡± Riv was speechless as she looked at all the gorgeous dresses laid out in front of her. ¡°These are new clothes for you.¡± Riv thought that she should change out of the sheer muslin pajamas she was wearing, but¡­ ¡°This is too much.¡± For Riv, who only wore a black mourning dress, bright dresses that revealed her body shape were burdensome. ¡®Will these fit me?¡¯ Compared to the gigantic dress she wore as Madame Katana, these dresses looked like they would fit a child. ¡°Try one on.¡± ¡°Will it fit me?¡± Despite Riv¡¯s concerns, the maids were confident. ¡°Try it on. We ordered them, adding allowance to the sleeves considering your arm length and height, but now, we¡¯re worried that they might be too big.¡± ¡°This is big for me?¡± Riv asked, then reluctantly picked one. An unadorned, light green dress. Contrary to the maids¡¯ fears, the dress sleeves fit her arms. The maids slightly adjusted the straps on the sleeves. ¡°Are the sleeves too short? What about the shoulder?¡± ¡°Everything is fine.¡± In fact, it had been a long time since she wore clothes that fit her body. Riv could barely feel it on her. The maids began to decorate Riv after meticulously examining her clothes. Her dark hair flowed over her shoulders, and a bit of makeup was applied to her pale face. Riv felt strange looking at the woman transforming in the mirror. ¡®Is this me?¡¯ Her flowing dark hair glistened and her pale face was bright. The dress accentuated Riv¡¯s slender figure. ¡®I can¡¯t believe this is me.¡¯ Riv¡¯s undergarments, dress, and shoes fit her body so well that it felt strange. ¡°You look so elegant.¡± The maids were genuinely delighted. After they left, Riv sat in a chair, dazed, staring into the mirror. ¡®How did this happen to me?¡¯ She was out of the royal family¡¯s grasp, but how was she supposed to handle this situation? With her body exhausted just by changing her clothes, it would be difficult for her to escape from this place. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv sat on the couch and rested. It was not until late in the afternoon when Riv gathered her strength and walked out into the hallway. She had only taken one step beyond the door. It was difficult for Riv. By the time she came out the door, the sun was already setting. On this floor, through a window to the west, a burning sky could be seen. Riv leaned against the window in the hallway and looked outside. The maids went downstairs to prepare dinner, and the escorts guarding the hallway were away for their rotation. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Riv turned her head towards the familiar voice. Lionel was approaching. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± He walked across the dark hallway. Seeing him right next to her, he looked so tall and overwhelming that she couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°I, I.¡± ¡°Riv, you changed into new clothes. You look pretty.¡± She pondered what to do as Lionel whispered her nickname so naturally. She held her dress with both hands and greeted her benefactor. ¡°Thank you, Duke.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Lionel burst out laughing. ¡°It¡¯s good to be polite, but your movement was weird.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv realized that her wrist¡¯s angle and her arm¡¯s position were a bit odd. She just did it how she had always done it, but what was different was that she was wearing clothes that fit her body. She became much smaller. Riv slightly changed the angle of her hand, but it wasn¡¯t easy for her to change her long-standing greeting habit. Lionel pretended not to notice her mistake. ¡°My apologies, Duke.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lionel.¡± Riv was so distracted that she didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. Lionel stared at her. ¡°You have fair skin, so you look good in a bright dress.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Riv¡¯s cheeks felt hot at the barrage of compliments. ¡°Hmm, do you have a fever?¡± Lionel, who stepped in front of Riv, reached out his hand. His big, cold hand caressed her forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t think you have a fever.¡± Riv knew that she was taller than most women and was as tall as most men. But Lionel was one head taller than her. ¡°Riv, I¡¯m glad that your complexion is better, but don¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not overdoing it. I just came out because I didn¡¯t want to lie down.¡± ¡°Still.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t avoid Lionel¡¯s gaze, so she lowered her eyes. Even though she was more beautiful than ¡®Madame Katana¡¯, Riv was not confident in her own appearance. She was as tall as most men, and her gloomy demeanor had not changed. She died, and when she returned, she didn¡¯t think she would ever look lovely. It wasn¡¯t just from lack of confidence. Riv wanted to run away from Lionel¡¯s gaze who was obsessively clinging to her. But he did not move, blocking her retreat. Was it her own misunderstanding that somehow his gaze was overflowing with deep desire? Riv¡¯s face turned red as she remembered the passionate night she spent with him over and over again. An awkward silence passed. Riv closed her eyes and tried to bring up another topic. ¡°L-Lionel, can I go for a walk tomorrow?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say you shouldn¡¯t overdo it?¡± ¡°I just want to go to the Duke¡¯s garden and feel the breeze. I have no intention of going out for long.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to go to the garden, but it will be difficult to go outside the mansion.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It would be difficult if you stayed too long in the garden, you could be monitored.¡± ¡°Monitored?¡± Riv seemed to understand the situation. ¡°Are the rumors of the Duke and I spreading again?¡± Lionel didn¡¯t deny it. It was only a few days ago that a scandal about the love triangle between Lionel, Madame Katana, and Princess Marianne spread. If Marianne and the Duke of Sentoren broke up before the rumors subsided, and if the Duke of Sentoren had brought Madame Katana to his mansion, gossip thirsty people might attempt to climb the Duke¡¯s mansion¡¯s walls. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why the rumors spread like that.¡± ¡°Ah, I was the one who spread them.¡± Riv stared at Lionel¡¯s face. Her head went blank. ¡°You¡¯re behind the scandal between ¡®Madame Katana and the Duke of Sentoren?¡¯¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He easily admitted. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Riv Katana, you seduced me first.¡± ¡®I never seduced you. No way, don¡¯t tell me that short peck seduced him.¡¯ Riv¡¯s head was so hot she felt like she had a fever again. Lionel chuckled. In his view, Riv Katana did fail to seduce him. But her clumsy behavior remained in his mind and stimulated his curiosity. And that was how they got to the present. Was it him who was seduced, or was it Riv Katana? Either way, it didn¡¯t really matter to him now. As Riv said, Lionel chose Riv Katana instead of Marianne. ¡°I started the rumors about Madame Katana, but I didn¡¯t spread them myself. It was the coachman who came with you to my mansion.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Riv exclaimed, but that was the only reaction she could muster. She couldn¡¯t understand Lionel¡¯s intentions, but she was too tired to argue about the situation. Lionel also noticed her condition. ¡°Riv Katana, you don¡¯t look good. Have you been out too long?¡± Lionel stared outside, which was now completely dark. ¡°The wind is blowing. Let¡¯s get you inside.¡± Lionel deliberately opened Riv¡¯s door and urged her to enter. Riv stared intently at him as he held the doorknob and told him to enter. ¡°Can I ask you one thing, Lionel?¡± ¡°You can ask me anything.¡± Riv didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°Lionel, do you really want to marry me?¡¯ ¡°What if I say yes?¡± Riv took a deep breath. She thought it would be better if Lionel and her weren¡¯t involved. She wasn¡¯t even sure why Lionel wanted her as his Duchess. ¡°Duke, no, Lionel. Don¡¯t make stupid choices in the spur of the moment.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Riv knew that before her return, she had no contact with this man. She herself was likely to die as scheduled. She didn¡¯t even want to explain it. Lionel¡¯s expression distorted as if he were angry. The red scar on his left cheek stood out. ¡°A spur of the moment? A stupid choice? Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Because no one would be happy by my side. I don¡¯t want anyone to get hurt because of me.¡± The doorknob Lionel was holding was about to break. A fire blazed in his golden eyes. ¡°Your words are illogical. Why are the Queen and Princess Marianne, who have been with you for so long, fine? They didn¡¯t look unhappy.¡± ¡°The misfortune you bring may be an illusion. Or someone persistently instilled it onto you. And¡­¡± Riv flinched for a moment. The vicious voice of her adoptive father floated in her ear. [You are a child who brings misfortune.] Even if she didn¡¯t bring misfortune, she was unhappy because she was killed by Marianne. However¡­ Lionel whispered to Riv. ¡°I don¡¯t care what other people think. I am serious about marrying you.¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 For Riv, Lionel looking at her with friendly eyes was awkward and strange. Lionel reached out and brushed the hair that was covering Riv¡¯s cheek and tucked it behind her ear. His hand was hot as he touched her earlobe. Were her ears that sensitive? Riv¡¯s body froze in an instant. ¡°Riv?¡± He seemed too close to her face. She was the only thing reflected in his eyes. Riv was shaken at the feeling that there were only two of them and they were cut off from the rest of the world. ¡°Are you going to refuse to marry me?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Even if you want to refuse, you have no choice. If you want to live, you will have to choose me.¡± ¡°Are you blocking my escape?¡± She finally had the courage to say something, and then he smiled. Riv couldn¡¯t understand the meaning behind his smile. Lionel leaned in too close and whispered. ¡°Think about it, Riv, just as you saved me, I don¡¯t want to see you die either. There¡¯s no way you do not know that Queen Selina is aiming for you. Marianne also tried to kill you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Think of it as a deal.¡± A deal. So feelings wouldn¡¯t be mixed into it. She could hold his hand to live, but she stumbled. She was somehow fine if it was only her fate and death. But¡­ ¡®Will this man¡¯s future be fine with me?¡¯ If Lionel chose Riv over Marianne, Lionel¡¯s future would also change. From the future in which he lived, to an unpredictable future, she did not know what damage she would do to this man. ¡°I.¡± Riv had no words. She didn¡¯t want this man¡¯s life ruined. But at the same time, Riv wanted to live. In front of her was the Duke of Sentoren, whom she had longed for. What if he really wanted her? What if she could have him for herself instead of Marianne? It seemed that it would be okay to be greedy this time. She was a witch. She died and came back to life. She had limited time left. When she came back, she was told she only had 8 months left, so how much was left now? And she escaped the palace. She achieved what she had hoped for. ¡®Now it¡¯s okay to live my life as I please.¡¯ She wanted Lionel de Sentoren. That wish also came true. Her wild and excited heart subsided. If only she could be purely greedy this time. If the time remaining for her was really limited, and if it was difficult to survive this year¡­ ¡°Lionel, why did you spread rumors of a scandal with Madame Katana?¡± ¡°I might have wanted to tease Marianne. I wanted to enrage such a childish princess.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± She didn¡¯t think Lionel would fall for her because he really liked her. His motives were rather impure and funny. Even so, here they were, together. It was just as good as love. As long as she was with this man, he would be able to protect her. She might even be able to protect him herself. Maybe they could be happy together. ¡°Your Grace, are you confident that you will not regret your marriage to me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv faced Lionel. She held out her hand. ¡°You can choose me to avoid Princess Marianne.¡± Lionel took her hand. But she also wanted to give Lionel a choice. ¡°If you want to reverse this decision, please let me know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± Lionel answered firmly and lightly pushed Riv into her room. He sat her down on the bed and spoke again. ¡°Your complexion is not good. Are you nervous?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll call Claudel.¡± Before Lionel left her room, he dropped a b*mb. ¡°Now that you have made up your mind, you should prepare for the ceremony as soon as possible.¡± Riv was bewildered. ¡°As soon as possible?¡± ¡°I plan to have the ceremony in a week. Until then, make sure you recover.¡± Lionel left after kissing Riv¡¯s forehead. Riv froze as she remembered the man who dropped that bomb and disappeared. She fiddled with her necklace¡¯s pendant which was placed on the table at her bedside. ¡°Am I really doing the right thing?¡± In her hand, the pendant ring, warmed up and then cooled down. Riv¡¯s face was bright red. She muttered as she covered her face. ¡°I must be crazy.¡± Lionel headed to his office on the third floor. Even as he arrived to his room, the smile on his face did not disappear. Michelle, who was sorting documents in his office, saw Lionel. ¡°You look happy.¡± ¡°Riv said she would marry me.¡± ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Michelle looked a little awkward. For Michelle, the time Madame Katana and Lionel knew each other was short. Even if he didn¡¯t have any malice, he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned. ¡°Will you not regret it?¡± ¡°She asked the same thing.¡± ¡°The same thing?¡± ¡°She asked if I wouldn¡¯t regret it either. She probably wants to delay the marriage more than me.¡± Lionel paused for a moment. Then the silence in the mansion greeted him. Occasionally, only the sounds of wind and insects from outside were heard, but the inside of this old mansion was always like a tomb. He was an only child. When his parents were alive, they were gentle, but not very talkative. A place where even his parents had disappeared. Lionel¡¯s memories of his parents were uncomfortable to think about in this serene mansion. He didn¡¯t like the heavy silence in this place either. That was, until Riv came. Why? The mansion seemed to come to life after Riv arrived. He felt alive and energized. Michelle pondered. ¡°At the palace, Madame Katana had a bad reputation. Still, one thing was certain. Madame Katana was sincere, making her a target of some of the maids.¡± ¡°Target? In what way?¡± ¡°Some of Princess Marianne¡¯s maids deliberately passed their work to Madame Katana, and so did the princess.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Princess Marianne released all her anger and cursed at Madame Katana. Word about it spread.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s Marianne, then she¡¯ll always stay that way.¡± It was a fact Michelle and the other servants knew. Lionel¡¯s gaze towards Madame Katana was unusually soft and surprisingly gentle. What was it about her that attracted Lionel? It seemed that this was about more than just saving Lionel¡¯s life. She was deep in his heart. Lionel¡¯s behavior towards Marianne was markedly different. During his time with Marianne, he showed an incredible dislike, but now he looked incredibly happy. Lionel never did anything with Marianne unless the palace contacted him first. But now he was moving first. ¡°Oh, please contact the bishopry so that we can hold the ceremony quickly.¡± ¡°Are you talking about the wedding?¡± Lionel nodded his head. ¡°I want to get it done quickly.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too hasty? If you are concerned that Madame Katana is pregnant.¡± ¡°That has nothing to do with it. This is what I want.¡± Lionel was serious. ¡°I do not want any interference from the royal family. Make sure to crack down on the servants too.¡± ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t leak from us, it will spread from other places.¡± There were many holes for leaks, such as the royal palace, boutiques, external gardeners, etc. ¡°I know, so get it done quickly, and if the main church doesn¡¯t move fast enough, you can contact the cardinal.¡± ¡°His Eminence, the Cardinal?¡± ¡°In order to proceed with the marriage without interference from the royal family, like it or not, we must borrow the power of the cardinal.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± It was a dark night. The silence in the mansion was broken at once. Lionel enjoyed the turmoil and celebrated his little time alone. That night, Claudel, who visited Riv, offered her congratulations. ¡°I was told that you have decided to marry the Duke.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv was cautious. ¡°Congratulations on your marriage. Soon you will be the Duchess of Sentoren.¡± Duchess of Sentoren. The name felt odd and awkward. But she had no intention of changing the choices she had already made. Riv didn¡¯t bother thinking about the confusion over her fate. Knock knock. She heard a knock. Riv got out of bed and cautiously walked towards the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± It was Lionel¡¯s voice. When Riv opened the door, she saw him holding sherry and two glasses. Riv¡¯s eyes widened at his sudden visit. ¡°Why are we drinking?¡± ¡°To congratulate us.¡± Lionel entered the room and took a seat. Riv sighed as she saw him already pouring the sherry into the glasses. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten better yet. I was told not to drink.¡± ¡°Then, just a toast.¡± Riv sat down, facing him. Lionel filled her glass with the translucent liquid and handed the glass to her. ¡°You want to celebrate the wedding?¡± ¡°And if I do?¡± Lionel looked happy. The two drank a little sherry as a celebratory drink. Riv toasted and drank a little. Riv¡¯s eyes were drawn to Lionel, who was reflected through her glass. He didn¡¯t seem to be in a bad mood, but she wondered what was going through his mind. ¡°Riv, I contacted the Bishopry.¡± ¡°The Bishopry?¡± ¡°We will be getting married soon.¡± It was far earlier than she had expected. But Riv did not regret it. The moment she faced this man, she thought she would regret it if she didn¡¯t choose him. If Lionel hadn¡¯t brought her here, she would have died. ¡°Cheers.¡± Riv toasted with the glass Lionel held up. A clink was heard as the two glasses touched. A night as calm as the sweet sherry followed. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 *** Thank you for the ko-fi support Kimchii! 3/3 *** Noon, four days after Riv woke up. Her room was very noisy. Her dress, with pink stripes and dark pink lace, looked gentle and noble. It was accessorized with a hat, lace gloves, and shoes. The maids who dressed Riv smiled broadly. ¡°Miss Riv, you are so beautiful.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even wearing a corset, yet your waist is so thin.¡± ¡°You have fair skin, so you look good in any color.¡± Riv continued to doubt whether the maids were lying. ¡°Look in the mirror.¡± Is that woman in the mirror really Riv Katana? Riv felt awkward so she avoided looking at herself in the mirror. The dark-haired, fair-skinned woman looked like a young lady from a noble family who had never experienced hardships. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave.¡± Claudel grabbed Riv¡¯s hand and helped her up. Lionel was already waiting for her at the door. He reached his hand out to Riv. The Duke, who wore a suit, looked very handsome. He didn¡¯t wear a wig, so his slightly disheveled, short platinum-blonde hair was visible. The man, whose right side of his face looked completely innocent, and the left which had been scarred by a beast, smiled softly. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Riv Katana.¡± Feeling bewildered, Riv took his hand. Lionel¡¯s hands were large and warm. ¡°Let¡¯s go down.¡± It felt like she was seeing the world for the first time ever since she was born. Riv moved and took a step forward. ¡°I should properly greet the servants.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv lowered her gaze and slightly leaned her body against him. He put a little bit of strength into the arm that he was using to support Riv. Just until they got down the stairs on this floor. The servants of the Duke, who were said to be small in number, gathered under the stairs and looked up at them. The old butler, Karl, was the first to approach them as they descended from the high and magnificent staircase. He smiled kindly. ¡°Miss Riv, congratulations on your engagement to the Duke.¡± Karl and the servants and maids around them clapped and greeted Riv. ¡°Th-Thank you.¡± That was the only thing Riv could say at that moment. She didn¡¯t expect to be congratulated. She had never heard kind words like these before, so Riv¡¯s eyes quickly teared up. She tried to control her emotions. After Riv calmed down a bit, Lionel introduced her to his employees. ¡°Butler Karl has been in charge of the Sentoren family for over 30 years.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Claudel, who took care of you, is also the housekeeper of this Duke¡¯s house. She will be your personal maid.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± She was introduced to the cooks, the maids, and the gardeners, one after another. After the introduction, everyone congratulated them for their engagement. ¡°Congratulations, Prospective Madame.¡± ¡°I am glad the Madame is quickly recovering.¡± Everyone¡¯s hospitality was just awkward for Riv. Lionel and Riv talked briefly in the drawing room and finished their meal. The Duke then led Riv into the garden. ¡°There is nothing outside the Sentoren mansion. It¡¯s just the garden and the gym on this side.¡± The Duke¡¯s mansion was larger than expected, and in addition to the main building, there was a garden, a gymnasium, the servants¡¯ quarters, and a greenhouse. Riv couldn¡¯t walk for as long as she would have liked because her body was weaker than she thought. Watching Riv¡¯s complexion deteriorate, Lionel let her rest. ¡°You must have overworked yourself. You must recover in time for our wedding.¡± ¡°I will be fine until then.¡± Lionel sent Riv back inside the mansion to rest. ¡°Riv, I have to leave this afternoon as I have business to attend to. So take a nap while I¡¯m away.¡± ¡°Just a little nap and I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Lionel then rode a carriage and left for somewhere. As Lionel headed towards the palace, he thought of Riv. She would be his wife. Some servants were shocked when he said he was going to marry Madame Katana, not Marianne. But when she appeared in her true form, Madame Katana was forgotten in the minds of the servants. She was a woman who was completely different from the insidious rumors. No one could see the large, ugly black widow and the present Riv as the same person. No one could have imagined that she would be so slender under her gigantic dress. Even Lionel couldn¡¯t. Riv became a different person simply by taking off Madame Katana¡¯s dreadful dress and putting on clothes that fit her body. Just like a beautiful flower that bloomed from withered buds. She was beautiful even before that flower had fully bloomed. ¡®Riv.¡¯ Lionel ruminated over her name. The carriage carrying him shook from time to time. Lionel spoke to Michelle who was sitting across from him. ¡°Why was the Ailte Palace calling for me? Was it because they heard the news that I was going to marry Riv?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s because of that. Above all, Queen Selina seemed to be dissatisfied with this breakup.¡± ¡°It was Princess Marianne who had always wanted to break our engagement.¡± ¡°It was the King who decided to break the engagement, and the Queen found out belatedly. I know that Princess Marianne is also dissatisfied with this situation.¡± ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t she want this breakup?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne is proud and always wants to be noticed. ¡°Ahh.¡± ¡®How could I have forgotten?¡¯ Lionel fully understood Marianne¡¯s character. She was a selfish princess through and through. She wanted to be the main character in everything. Even if her annulment was to be broken, she wanted to remain a noble victim. Marianne wanted Lionel to be stigmatized. In other words, he had to be the bad guy. ¡°What Marianne wants is for me to be the one who cheated and betrayed her.¡± The fact that the opponent was Marianne¡¯s handmaiden was a scenario that the princess would never have wanted either. Lionel reminded himself that Marianne and her father, Philippe II, were both fickle people. ¡°Will His Majesty be persuaded by the Queen¡¯s words and rescind the cancellation of the engagement?¡± ¡°Well.¡± Even if the signed contracts were left as evidence, the royal family would always argue that it was unfair. It would be better for Lionel to get married as soon as possible to escape the troublesome bondage of the royal family. It had to lead to a marriage that the royal family could not dare to interfere with. The capricious king wanted to use everyone like a chess piece in his hands. The king, of course, had no interest in winning or losing. ¡°Did you receive word from the Episcopal Church? Tell them to prepare for the ceremony as soon as possible.¡± ¡°His Eminence, the Cardinal, has heard the news, but it seems that he is still undecided.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s because it¡¯s the royal family that I¡¯m up against.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s the Duke¡¯s wedding, the main church will try to be polite.¡± Lionel laughed bitterly. ¡°Will Marianne stay still once she finds out that my bride is Madame Katana?¡± Michelle recalled that Riv had almost been killed by Marianne. Marianne¡¯s obsession was persistent and dauntless. ¡°We will put pressure on the Episcopal Church. Oh, there¡¯s one more thing that came to mind.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a man named Philip Katana who refused the title of Count Katana. He is Miss Katana¡¯s brother, and is said to be one of the priests of the Episcopal Church.¡± ¡°Find out where he is.¡± Michelle nodded his head. Ailte Palace was visible through the carriage window. The meeting with the king would not be pleasant, as always. Lionel¡¯s brow was already wrinkled. *** Instead of going back to her room, Riv decided to take a break in the small drawing room on the first floor. The servants who watched Riv were worried that she might get hurt. They genuinely cared about Riv. ¡°The chefs are preparing pudding for the prospective Duchess.¡± Claudel said. ¡°Pudding?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve been ill for a while, you should eat soft food so that you don¡¯t get sick. The pudding is soft, so it¡¯s easy to digest.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°If there is anything you would like to eat, please tell me. The chefs of the Sentorens are known for their skill.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to gain weight quickly.¡± At Claudel¡¯s words, Riv smiled and wished. She wished that she wouldn¡¯t bring misfortune to the people here who treated her with kindness. Even at Riv¡¯s sudden appearance, and the news of her sudden engagement to Lionel, they seemed truly happy. Claudel added as she prepared the tea. ¡°The Duchess¡¯ bedroom will be redecorated in a few days.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s my room now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a guest room. The Duchess¡¯ bedroom is on the third floor, next to the Duke¡¯s.¡± Riv was going to become a Duchess. She would live next door to Lionel and would sleep with him sometimes. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Riv¡¯s face quickly burned just thinking about that night. As she looked around the small and adorable drawing room, she found a small hand mirror located at the edge of the drawing room and looked at herself. A woman in a gentle pink dress. She couldn¡¯t be as lovely as Princess Marianne, but she looked like an elegant lady. ¡®Is this really me?¡¯ It was the first time that she¡¯d seen a different image of herself for a long while through a mirror on a bright day like this. Her large breasts and hips seemed to be accentuated by the dress that hugged her soft curves. The Duke¡¯s gaze on her voluptuous curves of the dress was dark and gloomy. ¡®Was there a desire in his eyes?¡¯ Did he feel lust for her? Did he really want to make this marriage real? ¡°I.¡± Riv took a deep breath. A peaceful landscape spread outside the window. For some reason her heart was pounding. At that moment, the realization suddenly came. ¡°I¡­ I like Lionel.¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33 *** Thank you Winkie and Mar for the ko-fi love! *** Riv left the drawing room on the first floor and returned to her room. She grabbed the pendant she had kept in a jewelry box. Due to the frequent dress changes, she didn¡¯t want to keep wearing and removing the necklace, but now she was so upset that she needed this pendant. ¡°Haa.¡± ¡®Why am I so confused?¡¯ ¡®Because I felt Lionel¡¯s desire? Because I want to have him and be his woman?¡¯ ¡°Why am I thinking of quitting?¡± Riv wore the necklace around her neck to come to her senses. She did not know what kind of impulse she had, but she looked for the old bag that was brought from the palace and took it out. Seven years of her life at the palace fit in one bag. A few of her belongings had already been removed and organized, but one remained. Inside the bag was a pile of black and ugly clothes. ¡°The symbol of Madame Katana.¡± The moment Riv took out the large mourning dress, the stuffed clothes escaped from the bag and expanded at once. It quickly became a huge mass and piled up. An old and faded black mourning dress. A huge dress that was so heavy to wear. Anyone who wore it would look a few years older. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv stared at the black dress. She always thought her body was weird. She thought that Marianne¡¯s short arms and legs which looked like they would easily break, and her body which was smooth and slender like a baby¡¯s, were the measure of beauty. Riv¡¯s view of beauty became distorted as all the ladies in the palace loved Marianne. Compared to Marianne, Riv had always been like a giant. Her stature, chest, hands and feet. She thought she wasn¡¯t normal. In addition, Madame Katana¡¯s makeup made Riv look more gloomy. Riv, who was trying to crumple Madame Katana¡¯s clothes little by little to put them back in the bag, was caught in a depressed mood. All kinds of negative emotions seemed to seep into her just by touching these clothes. ¡°I¡¯m not ugly.¡± Riv recalled how she felt when Lionel had looked at her passionately. Alas, that was the first time she knew that she was capable of being loved. Whether it was out of lust or for their mental compatibility. As she put her old mourning clothes back into the bag, she suddenly looked down at her belly. If she got married and shared the same bed with Lionel, she might one day have a child of her own. ¡®How would it feel to have a child with the Duke?¡¯ Lionel and her had already mixed their bodies. What if she was already with child? What would it feel like if she was pregnant and her stomach was full? ¡°Don¡¯t think about that, Riv Katana.¡± Why did she keep forgetting that she died and came back to life? That she was mortal? ¡®I might die this year, why am I thinking of a child?¡¯ However. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Riv¡¯s eyes saw black, smokey orbs floating around her. They were cloudy and disgusting. When she touched them with her hands, the shapeless things evaporated at once, leaving only a terrible stench. ¡°Ugh!¡± Riv covered her nose and realized it wasn¡¯t real. It was a hallucination that she created herself. This was the power of the negative emotions that Riv elicited. ¡®I wonder if I can see this because I¡¯m a witch.¡¯ It was said that Riv brought misfortune. But she no longer wanted to be Madame Katana, a symbol of misfortune. ¡®Let¡¯s think about good things.¡¯ She cleared her head and calmed her disorganized mind. ¡°I¡¯m outside the Ailte palace. I¡¯m no longer Marianne¡¯s maid. I have my own room and pretty clothes and new shoes.¡± Riv also had maids who attended to her and the best fianc¨¦ among the nobility, Lionel de Sentoren, who said he would make her his wife. Here, Riv didn¡¯t have to worry about who was going to kill her. She was safe here. ¡°Lionel.¡± The moment she thought of him, all the black orbs disappeared. Instead, bright and lively energies revolved around her. The energies that circled her got absorbed into her body. Riv felt the sensation of the bright power flowing within her body. ¡®This is magic.¡¯ It had been a few days since Riv had woken up, and she was surprised that she had awakened the power of magic. ¡®I couldn¡¯t feel this kind of energy in the palace.¡¯ Riv looked around her. ¡®Is there something here that affects me?¡¯ The Duke¡¯s garden was connected to the banquet hall, and part of it looked desolate. If she went outside, could she perhaps find some answers? Riv grabbed the hem of her dress and came out of the mansion. A large glass greenhouse appeared in front of her as she walked aimlessly. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± She felt a strong force in the greenhouse overflowing. As Lionel explained, the greenhouse was his mother¡¯s favorite place. Didn¡¯t he also mention that it was still being managed? Riv stepped inside the greenhouse. The greenhouse manager guarding the entrance saw Riv and greeted her. After the caretaker left, Riv was left alone. ¡°Ah.¡± A space where tropical plants have grown to the fullest. The inside of the greenhouse was warm and humid because it was tailored to the tropical plants. Sweat dripped under the dress Riv wore. There was no wind in the greenhouse, so it was even hotter. Riv was sure. ¡°There is magic here.¡± Riv narrowed her eyes and encountered a vivid green energy. A little breeze blew as she touched the energy. The wind became stronger as she touched the wind more gently. ¡°Ah.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t explain how she handled the power, but she seemed to just know. The moment Riv¡¯s hand touched the green energy, the plants around her grew taller in an instant. The flower buds in front of Riv also bloomed quickly. The scent of the blooming flowers was intense. ¡°Oh my God.¡± If anyone had seen this, Riv would have been taken as a witch. But Riv was alone here. ¡°It¡¯s safe here.¡± Riv spoke to herself, then breathed into the green energy. The inside of the hot and humid greenhouse suddenly cooled. ¡°Are you guys okay with this temperature?¡± When Riv asked, the plants shook their branches and leaves, making a rattling sound. An hour passed quickly as she observed the exotic plants in the greenhouse. Riv¡¯s feet were sore so she sat down on a bench in the greenhouse to catch her breath. ¡®I¡¯m dizzy.¡¯ This greenhouse without anyone else was her only pleasure. It drained her strength when she used magic. Riv, who had lost stamina, seemed to need some time to recover her strength. ¡°Haa.¡± It had only been a few hours after she awakened her magic. ¡°I might be able to use more power once I get better.¡± The inside of the greenhouse became warm as Riv took back the cooling magic she used. Riv gasped for breath and fiddled with the pendant hanging from her neck. The ring of the former Duchess was still hidden as if it were a pendant. The ring did not heat up or change shape after she came here. ¡°Are you happy to be back where you belong?¡± However, ¡°Everything is happening too fast.¡± Marriage to the Duke, her magic awakening. These were no coincidences. ¡°This may be the beginning of everything.¡± Riv muttered to herself and gently shook her head. She was revived and went back in time, changing her past. She didn¡¯t know if this would change her fated ending. Riv muttered to herself. ¡°I have no choice but to live all the way to the end.¡± After thinking for a long time, Riv went back to the house. The maids, who saw Riv, trembled. ¡°Madame, where were you coming from?¡± ¡°We were worried because we couldn¡¯t find you all of a sudden.¡± Riv looked back at those who were worried for her and said, ¡°I was in the greenhouse.¡± ¡°All this time?¡± As Riv nodded her head, the faces of the maids grew more concerned. ¡°We knew you went to the greenhouse, but we didn¡¯t expect you to stay this long. ¡°You must have been sweating a lot.¡± The maids wiped sweat from Riv¡¯s forehead with a handkerchief. ¡°You seem to have stayed in the greenhouse for too long. It would be best to wash up and rest.¡± Riv returned to her own room, listening to the scolding of Claudel and the other maids. After she washed, she laid down on her bed. When she woke up, Riv¡¯s room was full of new dresses and accessories. The maids were stacking boxes and carefully opening them. ¡°What is all this?¡± ¡°These are dresses sent from the boutique. They said they sent some of them for adjustments.¡± ¡°Oh, do I have to try them on now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv was tired just from seeing the many boxes. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need that many clothes.¡± Claudel replied softly. ¡°This alone is not enough to preserve the dignity of the Duchess.¡± Duchess. Riv still wasn¡¯t used to it. ¡°This still looks like too many clothes.¡± For Riv, who had only worn her black mourning clothes, the stitching fit her body well and was expensive. It was burdensome trying on the revealing dresses. Some dresses exposed her shoulders. Riv was completely exhausted as she repeatedly tried on and took off about ten dresses. ¡°I think we¡¯ve overdone it, I¡¯m sorry for having you try them on.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± Was this a result of the magic, or was her stamina too low? ¡°I want to rest.¡± Riv ate some food and fell asleep again. She didn¡¯t even know that Claudel had called the doctor in the middle of her sleep, worried about Riv¡¯s condition. It was later that she learned that an aftereffect of using magic was deep sleep. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Late in the night, Riv woke up. When she opened her eyes, Lionel was sitting at her bedside. His shoulders, wearing only a light shirt, seemed unusually wide. There was also concern in his deep eyes. Riv looked at Lionel and blinked. ¡°Are you surprised that I¡¯m there?¡± ¡°A little bit.¡± Riv didn¡¯t deny it. Lionel made a sad expression. ¡°I was going to have dinner with you, but you were tired and fell asleep.¡± ¡°I still find dinner bothersome.¡± ¡°You have to eat well to recover.¡± When Lionel tried to touch Riv¡¯s cheek, Riv leaned away. He grinned, perhaps because her reaction was faster than he expected. ¡°Are you afraid, Riv?¡± Riv hesitated, then nodded her head. Lionel grinned. ¡°Call my name, Riv.¡± Lionel stared at Riv intently. Riv doubted his intentions but still called out his name. ¡°Li-onel? Lionel.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°Lionel, why?¡± Lionel clenched his jaw and looked closely at Riv. His eyes looked gentle. ¡°Can I call you Riv? You don¡¯t seem to like the name Olivia.¡± ¡°I hate being called Olivia because it¡¯s too grand. Just call me Riv.¡± She couldn¡¯t remember who first called Olivia, Riv. Riv was Riv from that moment. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel¡¯s voice sounded sweet. ¡®Riv¡¯ did seem to be a much better name for her. ¡°Riv, we decided to become a couple. Don¡¯t forget.¡± At Lionel¡¯s serious gaze, Riv realized. She instinctively knew that she was not used to being tamed by someone, and was afraid. Riv was frightened and was strongly attracted to Lionel from the beginning. If he liked her, that was good. Riv was delighted that she could marry him, that she could have him. She didn¡¯t want to give up on him just because she was a witch and had a limited time. Even if this marriage wouldn¡¯t last long, she could capture Lionel¡¯s intense and hot gaze. She could make him her own man. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Riv realized she liked having someone watch her. She was always hungry for affection and attention. She wanted her crush to like her. So the reality that Lionel looked only at her was sweet. ¡°What did you do today? They said you went to the greenhouse.¡± ¡°I just wanted to rest by myself.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the greenhouse hot?¡± ¡°A little bit.¡± Riv recalled that the greenhouse was his mother¡¯s personal space. ¡°Lionel, do you hate that I went to the greenhouse?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, but it¡¯s not good for you if you stay for a long time because it¡¯s humid and hot there. Don¡¯t stay longer than thirty minutes, Riv.¡± The name Riv, when Lionel said it, sounded thrilling. Riv nodded her head quietly. ¡°I heard that new dresses arrived today.¡± ¡°There were too many.¡± ¡°More will come.¡± Riv was speechless. She realized that playing doll didn¡¯t suit her. ¡°A dress of a calm color suits you well, so a bright one will also look good on you.¡± ¡°You really think so?¡± Riv thought she was like a turtle. She struggled because she wanted to live, she wanted to break out of her shell, but her life was ridiculously slow. Madame Katana, the widow, was slow to make a decision and also had a hard time taking a step after making a decision. Although she abandoned the sluggish Madame Katana figure, the inside seemed to remain the same. ¡°I¡¯m a coward.¡± So she needed someone¡¯s confirmation and confidence. She wanted to confirm that she was no longer Madame Katana. ¡°Do you still not have courage? Where did the courage when you saved my life go?¡± ¡°Courage.¡± Lionel grinned and lit a candle to light up her room. He took her hand mirror and held it in front of Riv. ¡°Look. Does this woman here look like Madame Katana? The fake image of you that Queen Selina created is no more.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Riv stared at the hand mirror he had given her. Madame Katana was no longer visible in the mirror. There was only a strange woman who resembled her, with frightened eyes like a rabbit. ¡°You are no longer Madame Katana.¡± Lionel swept his hand through her dark hair. ¡°Your dark hair is beautiful and envied.¡± He covered Riv¡¯s white face with his hand. Riv¡¯s face, which was small compared to her body, was covered by his large hands. ¡°Your face is small and cute compared to your body.¡± As his hand slid off, her rich and clear features were revealed. In the mirror, Riv made eye contact with herself. Her eyes, which no one had ever looked at, were as deep and clear as the sea. ¡°Mysterious eyes. They are a mysterious color.¡± ¡°I, I.¡± Lionel¡¯s hand passed over her eyelids, brushing her nose, and down to her lips. His hand slowly ran over her lips repeatedly. ¡°Riv, the woman named Madame Katana¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°She died in Ailte Palace.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the newly born Riv Katana, who will soon become Riv Sentoren.¡± Why did those words sound like salvation? ¡°You no longer bring misery. Those are all lies from the past. It¡¯s all a thing of the past.¡± Riv burst into tears. ¡°You seduced me because you chose me.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Like you said, I chose you over Marianne and I have no regrets.¡± ¡°I, I!¡± Lionel, who was comforting Riv, wiped away her tears. Lionel glanced down at Riv and leaned his body towards her. Riv closed her eyes. Lionel¡¯s rough lips deviated from her lips and touched her left cheek. His comforting kiss was about to deepen. His breath lingered deep on her lips and barely fell. The moment he barely touched her lips, Riv took a breath. In the aftermath of the kiss, Riv opened her eyes and stared at Lionel for a long time. It was a sweet and ecstatic kiss, but it also felt dangerous. If it had been a little longer¡­ Riv became conscious that she was wearing a thin nightgown. She felt Lionel¡¯s hot gaze penetrating through her body beneath. ¡°W-What are you doing now, Lionel?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel was embarrassed. His hand, which was supporting her back, went down to her waist. ¡°W-What are you thinking, Lionel?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I greet my bride good night?¡± Lionel brushd the bewildered Riv¡¯s swollen lips. ¡°It¡¯s not even our first time. Riv, you said you would be my bride. So you have to get used to this.¡± Obviously, this was not the first time such contact had occurred. Riv¡¯s face flushed like crazy. ¡°I, I did Lionel, but I think I need to prepare my mind.¡± ¡°You need to be prepared before I covet your lips?¡± ¡°But.¡± ¡°We will be a couple. You agreed to it.¡± Lionel covered her mouth as she was about to utter a word of protest. His eyes radiated an eerie glow. ¡°It would be embarrassing if you say you don¡¯t want to get married now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you need to organize your mind, I¡¯ll give you a few more days. But I can¡¯t wait too long. I want to marry you as soon as possible.¡± It seemed that Lionel was very impatient. Come to think of it, it was only a few days ago that Lionel almost got killed by Marianne. Riv asked carefully, removing his fingers that covered her lips. ¡°What happened at the palace?¡± Lionel chuckled then sighed. Riv realized belatedly, but Lionel¡¯s face looked tired. He spoke frankly. ¡°Queen Selina is insisting that you can¡¯t be the Duchess.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Riv wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. ¡°To the Queen, a maid like me is just a consumable item. It is unforgivable that such a petty girl stole the princess¡¯ fianc¨¦.¡± ¡°I am no longer Marianne¡¯s fianc¨¦.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure the Queen thinks differently.¡± Queen Selina and Marianne still considered Riv the property of the royal family. Even if she became the Duchess, from their point of view, there were still plenty of reasons to kill Riv. They would want to get rid of her before then. Riv¡¯s bitter smile deepened. ¡°Queen Selina was using me in moderation and she was eventually going to take care of me. Maybe someone will come to kill me.¡± Even Lionel wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°What about Marianne? What does she think?¡± ¡°You and I are victims of Marianne.¡± They almost died together because of Marianne. Before the return, after Riv¡¯s death, Lionel may have been killed by Marianne or her lover. As she got older, Marianne, instead of becoming wiser, became more cunning and thought only of herself. Perhaps Riv had saved Lionel from Marianne. ¡°Lionel, what do you think of Marianne?¡± He hesitated for a moment before answering. ¡°When I was young, she was like a little sister, but now I see her as a selfish and stubborn princess. To me, Marianne is nothing more than that.¡± Lionel shook his head in disgust. His eyes focused on Riv. ¡°If we want to survive, we have to hurry and get married.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Riv hoped that Lionel would not regret his choice. ¡°Lionel, if you later regret marrying me, or if I cause trouble for the Duke of Sentoren¡­¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°Tell me anytime.¡± Lionel looked displeased. ¡°Riv Katana, what are you afraid of? The rumors outside? Marianne and the Queen? Or all of it?¡± Lionel met Riv¡¯s eyes and whispered to her as if he was hypnotizing her. ¡°Just remember that you will be my bride.¡± Lionel gently laid Riv on her back and pulled the duvet up to her neck. ¡°Now go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lionel comforted Riv with his words. He did not touch her further. ¡°Just sleep tonight.¡± After a while, she closed her eyes with peace of mind. Lionel turned off the lights and left. It didn¡¯t seem like she would have a nightmare tonight. Late at night, Rambaud, the Duke¡¯s physician, stayed in Lionel¡¯s office instead of returning to his home. Rambaud stole Lionel¡¯s brandy and drank, then looked at Lionel, who had become reticent. Lionel stood by the window, looking at the Duke¡¯s garden in darkness. Rambaud asked, observing his broad back. ¡°Are you really planning on marrying Madame Katana, Duke?¡± Rambaud was a commoner, but Lionel was a childhood friend and considered him a brother. Rambaud believed he could understand some of Lionel¡¯s thoughts, but Madame Katana was an exception. Lionel casually replied. ¡°Her name is Riv.¡± ¡°She¡¯s going to be a Duchess so it¡¯s ambiguous to call her by her name. Besides, I¡¯m worried that the Duke seems to be in too much of a hurry to get married right after the cancellation of the engagement. Well, it feels like this isn¡¯t the first time we¡¯ve had this conversation.¡± Rambaud¡¯s concerns were valid. However, ¡°Yes. Regardless, I broke up with Marianne.¡± ¡°I think you did well on that too.¡± The young Marianne would cry whenever he stopped watching her play. Would he accept such a child as his wife? Lionel couldn¡¯t imagine it. It wasn¡¯t until a few years ago that Marianne, who had rejected Lionel, was rumored to be weak in front of a group of young boys. Marianne became more selfish day by day. Ironically, his parents couldn¡¯t have imagined that at all until the day they died. They regarded their promise to the royal family as their honor. Lionel¡¯s father was very straightforward in that respect. ¡°It was only a matter of time before Marianne¡¯s scandal broke out. I¡¯m tired of receiving the princess¡¯ evil pranks. Rambaud, you knew that if I married Marianne, we wouldn¡¯t be a normal couple.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way that I wouldn¡¯t know that Princess Marianne is someone who ignores and treats people like they¡¯re nothing.¡± The king would accept all of Marianne¡¯s folly. Marianne, who hated all things about Lionel and only loved Ailte Palace, would not leave the palace even after her marriage. He did not know whether Marianne was going to squander the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s wealth for all of her luxuries. ¡°Still, Madame Katana.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Madame Katana, it¡¯s Riv.¡± Rambaud observed Lionel¡¯s actions, kindly correcting her name. ¡°Do you like Miss Riv?¡± ¡°I like her. I can trust her.¡± Such an answer was enough for Rambaud. ¡°May the Duke have a happy marriage¡± Rambaud gave Lionel a glass of brandy. He offered a toast and the two glasses clinked. ¡°Congratulations.¡± Lionel and Rambaud emptied their glasses at once. Rambaud made a sullen face. ¡°I will go back and rest. Please rest too, Duke.¡± Lionel also returned to his bedroom. It was a very busy day. And now it was night. Madame Katana and Riv. When he thought of her, Lionel¡¯s heartbeat began to race. ¡°Haha.¡± Funnily enough, Lionel longed for Riv Katana. From the moment they first met in the palace until now. The change from Madame Katana to Riv Katana was so dramatic that anyone could tell just by a glance. It was such a perfect escape that it was doubtful whether she was the same person. A caterpillar evolving to a butterfly could not compare. Riv¡¯s skin looked exceptionally white. The contours of those features seemed to stand out more as she had lost weight while she was sick. A slender body that anyone would question how she inflated to fit a gigantic dress. Her thin waist that seemed like it could be wrapped with one arm even without a corset. As he recalled her body, his head felt dizzy again. He wanted to quench his desire. Lionel got up from his bed, thinking of Riv. He was driven by his urge to see her one more time. His footsteps headed for the guest room downstairs where she would be. In the middle of the night, Riv, who spent time in the greenhouse today, was deep in sleep. The maid who was guarding her room carefully stepped back and disappeared. Only Lionel and Riv were left in the room. Lionel crossed his arms and looked at the woman sleeping soundly in bed. ¡°Why?¡± Lionel questioned himself. Why this woman? Why was he attracted to her? ¡°Hmm.¡± Lionel had a hard time explaining his feelings for Riv. Even if she aroused his curiosity and attracted him. ¡°Is it because you saved my life?¡± If he wanted to save this woman, he didn¡¯t need to make her a Duchess. She would be consistently pursued by the royal family, but he could take her somewhere and hide her away. He completely ruled out that possibility. He offered Riv no other option than to marry him. Even though Riv Katana deliberately approached him, it was strange for him to succumb to her clumsy temptation. There were more beautiful and educated women than Riv Katana. Even if Riv Katana stimulated his curiosity. ¡°I desire this woman.¡± Lionel recalled the passionate night he mixed bodies with Riv Katana. Memories of that night were hazy. However, the intense pleasure he felt during their affair was imprinted on him. ¡°Not yet.¡± Riv had yet to recover her health. After breaking out of Madame Katana¡¯s shell, she had a fragile mind like a newborn baby. ¡°Not yet.¡± He was about to give Riv a brief evening kiss, but he turned around without doing anything. He thought that if he touched her in this state, he would take her as he wanted. Lionel thought that he should keep a reasonable distance from her until she got better. Lionel left the room and called Michelle. ¡°Michelle.¡± ¡°Yes. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Has the Marquis Quill been located?¡± He was Princess Marianne¡¯s lover who tried to kill Lionel. ¡°He has yet to be found.¡± ¡°Is he hiding in a place where the guards can¡¯t reach? Or is he locked up?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the case. Should I investigate where he is?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s alive, bring him to me. If he¡¯s in the palace¡¯s dungeon, let me know where. There is something I want to ask him myself.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They thought the missing Marquis and his friends might have already died, but they decided not to delay their pursuit. Michelle, receiving the order, disappeared from his sight. Lionel went back to his own bedroom. *** A middle-aged priest in an old robe entered the old Bishops¡¯ Church. He had been away from this place for a long time. His journey had been long and arduous. He suffered so much, enough to die and he lost precious things. So, he returned to the royal capital after ten years. ¡°Sir Philip.¡± The man turned around when his name was called. He had no emotion left on his withered, emaciated face as he looked at a young priest of the Bishops¡¯ Church. The young priest hesitated for a moment at Philip¡¯s gruesome appearance, but he continued with a light of indifference in his eyes. ¡°Sir Philip, I have heard that you have returned.¡± ¡°Yes, I am back now, young priest.¡± ¡°The Cardinal is waiting for Sir Philip. I¡¯ll take you to him.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The footsteps of the man carrying his large luggage stopped for a moment. He pondered whether he should leave the luggage and old robe to see the cardinal first, and if so, where to put it. ¡°I want to wash my body before I meet His Eminence.¡± ¡°His Eminence the Cardinal doesn¡¯t have the time.¡± Philip decided to take off his old, dusty travel backpack and robe for a while. Under the robe was a black priest¡¯s uniform. Two cross marks were engraved on the collar indicating his status as a high priest. The young priest looked into Philip¡¯s eyes. He joked. ¡°Because the royal family is noisy, His Eminence the Cardinal is troubled. After all, the Duke of Sentoren broke up with Princess Marianne, and a scandal broke out with an ugly woman named Madame Katana.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an interesting story.¡± Philip, who said that, frowned heavily. ¡°Can you explain it again?¡± The young priest was struggling with where to begin and how to explain the story, and he thought of Philip¡¯s real name. The Cardinal must have had a reason to find him. ¡°Oh, but Priest Philip, wasn¡¯t your last name also Katana? Are you related to Madame Katana?¡± ¡°Perhaps, a step-sister.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The young priest was astonished, and Philip calmly shut his mouth. A dark shadow crept over Philip¡¯s face, as they stopped in front of the Cardinal¡¯s office. The shadow was dancing like a long reaper¡¯s scythe quickly disappeared from his face. The door opened. Philip took a deep breath and stepped into the Cardinal¡¯s room. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Two days later, in the afternoon. Riv looked up at the high glass ceiling of the greenhouse. The maids who accompanied her couldn¡¯t stand the heat and left. She was the only one who remained. Once she was alone, Riv used her magic to control the temperature comfortably. ¡®Hoo.¡¯ Her mind was a mess. She found signs that Lionel had come and gone the night before. Perhaps, Lionel would talk about their wedding schedule today. ¡°A husband and a marriage.¡± She heard that the maids were secretly preparing her wedding dress. Just then, a large palm leaf fluttered in front of her, obscuring her view. As she touched the leaf, she felt someone¡¯s presence and took back the temperature control magic she had been using. The sudden heat overtook her. Someone¡¯s intense energy was heading her way. ¡°Lionel.¡± About two or three minutes later, Lionel opened the door to the greenhouse and strode in. He found Riv standing under a palm tree. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel took a step towards Riv. But stopped just in front of her. ¡°Lionel?¡± Lionel frowned as he looked at the navy blue dress she had chosen. ¡°Did I order a dress in that color?¡± Lionel, who was examining the dress, grumbled. ¡°Riv, I thought I told you not to wear dark colors.¡± ¡°Is it because it¡¯s like Madame Katana?¡± ¡°Because bright colors suit you much better.¡± The dark monochromatic dress felt similar to Madame Katana¡¯s mourning dress, so she wore it. Lionel hated Riv¡¯s choice very much. His gaze grew sharper. ¡°I never ordered such a modest design.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Riv broke out in a cold sweat. She decided not to mention that she had taken off the excessive accessories on some of the dresses and repaired them. Lionel looked dissatisfied. ¡°More dresses are coming, so dress more splendidly next time.¡± ¡°You ordered more dresses?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv remembered the dresses she had had become too many to count. The materials, fabrics, and designs were all high-quality and delicate, which made them worth their hefty price tags. The first dresses that arrived were light indoor clothes and a few nightgowns. Outing and banquet clothes had yet to arrive. The dresses were made by top-of-the-line tailors, where Marianne ordered evening and ball dresses. ¡°The tailors where the dresses came from always said that they had half a year¡¯s worth of orders behind.¡± ¡°There is nothing that money can¡¯t do.¡± Lionel replied indifferently. ¡°It would be embarrassing if the Duchess were to dress modestly. Make sure you get used to the fancy dresses.¡± Lionel nodded briefly and led Riv to the only bench in the greenhouse. Lionel slumped down on the wooden chair, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His gaze remained on Riv. ¡°Still, Riv, you¡¯ve gotten a lot prettier.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± Riv was stunned. Lionel spoke carelessly. ¡°Those who knew Madame Katana will not recognize you easily.¡± Riv also had not adapted to her appearance. Riv stared intently at Lionel. Although she had only been observing for the past few days, Lionel was busy and wasn¡¯t always home during the day. It seemed that people often came to visit him from the palace. Come to think of it, Lionel had just recently escaped from the brink of death. ¡°Lionel, you look tired.¡± She didn¡¯t know what Lionel was doing in the palace, but he looked tired and his clothes were disorganized. His shirt was wrinkled and the scar on his left cheek looked even redder. Riv asked, thinking that the palace couldn¡¯t be quiet. ¡°Is anything else going on in the palace?¡± As soon as the word palace came out, Lionel¡¯s expression distorted. ¡°Nothing much. Queen Selina insists that the engagement between me and the princess was not broken. The whereabouts of Marquis Quill are still unknown.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Where the Marquis went, only a few of the nobility and royalty know. Marianne would be the only one rejoicing in this situation. ¡°To break the engagement was what Princess Marianne wanted.¡± ¡°Marianne wasn¡¯t really happy about it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°She must have found something regretful about breaking up the engagement.¡± Perhaps Marianne found out that the Duke of Sentoren was a much smarter man than her lover. Marianne¡¯s lovers were clearly lacking. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡± Lionel fanned himself in frustration. A cold sweat ran down Riv¡¯s forehead. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere cooler.¡± ¡°I would like to stay here a little longer.¡± Riv was stubborn, but Lionel was adamant. ¡°Riv Katana, we need to talk now. Today, Queen Selina asked me to return you.¡± ¡°She wants me back?¡± Riv blamed herself for her foolishness of staying in the greenhouse leisurely. She didn¡¯t have time to relax. ¡°Follow me, Riv.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv followed Lionel as they left the greenhouse. Lionel headed to the Duke¡¯s main mansion and went straight to his office. Unlike the bright and cute drawing room on the first floor, his office on the third floor was terribly dark with black ebony and mahogany furniture, dark carpets and dark gray curtains. The air in the office was murky. Lionel sat on a chair in the dark office and held her hands. ¡°Riv Katana.¡± Riv looked at him quietly and took a deep breath. ¡°Lionel, what do you want to say?¡± ¡°Are you ready to get married?¡± Riv asked after taking a deep breath. ¡°Is the wedding date set?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In order for Riv to live a long life, she had to marry Lionel. But what about Lionel? Riv would do anything to survive. So she had to hold Lionel¡¯s outstretched hand like he was her savior. Riv had to take advantage of this man, but she didn¡¯t want him to be unhappy. ¡®I want to live.¡¯ If she married this man, she wanted to live with him for a long time. Even if he didn¡¯t love her, they still liked each other. She hoped that feeling would remain for a long time. She was fascinated by him. If Riv had a limited lifespan, she didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. Riv looked straight at Lionel. ¡°Lionel, I don¡¯t want you to regret it.¡± However, unlike her selfish self, she had to give Lionel a chance too. Because he might regret choosing her. ¡°Lionel, if your marriage with me is boring or troublesome, if you regret it, ask for a divorce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± ¡°But what if?¡± Riv felt the need to accurately establish their unusual relationship at this moment. ¡°Lionel, is our marriage a formality? Or is it a real marriage?¡± ¡°Is that important? Isn¡¯t marriage a marriage?¡± A frown formed in the middle of Riv¡¯s forehead. In fact, she had nothing but her body, so she was inherently lacking compared to her opponent, Marianne. Even if they got married, there was no need for them to make their marriage real. ¡°What is the difference between a real and a fake marriage?¡± ¡°A contract? In a fake marriage, they are a respectful couple who keep their bodies unmixed. Like friends?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had a woman as a friend, and I won¡¯t marry a woman just to be her friend. Do you think I don¡¯t want to get married?¡± Lionel¡¯s expression grew more serious. Like he was ready to kill someone. Riv was so overwhelmed by his intimidation that she couldn¡¯t explain it properly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you were thinking, but I really want to get married. It¡¯s embarrassing if people around us think that our marriage is fake or a disguise.¡± ¡°Why?¡± That was all Riv could say. Lionel pointed out her short-sighted attitude. ¡°Even if Princess Marianne is married to a foreign country, Queen Selina will not leave you alone.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Many explanations were missing, but Riv was convinced. Queen Selina¡¯s obsession went beyond Marianne. If they found out that they were a fake couple, the queen would not stand still. ¡°Not only outside, but inside this mansion, we will be a real couple.¡± ¡°Inside this mansion?¡± ¡°Yes. We have to be real every moment.¡± Riv tilted her head as if asking why they had to. Above all, Riv did not know how a normal couple acted. A harmonious family and a friendly couple were not something she could imagine. There was no one in the royal family that could be called an ordinary couple. Due to the busy work of the royal family, she had no time to observe the few princes and couples in the royal family. The princes¡¯ and their partners did not get along well because they had a political relationship. ¡®What does a normal couple do?¡¯ Did Lionel like her? She couldn¡¯t imagine it. Even if Lionel and Riv played a married couple, she had doubts whether the people around them would believe it. ¡°Then there will be no divorce?¡± ¡°Talking about divorce before marriage.¡± Lionel covered his mouth. His eyes gleamed menacingly. ¡°I don¡¯t know who might be listening to our conversation, so let¡¯s talk about this later.¡± ¡°Then what should we do now?¡± Riv asked seriously, and Lionel sighed. ¡°I think we should show that we are affectionate lovers.¡± ¡°How?¡± Riv had no idea and could only tilt her head. Then he called out her name with so much affection. ¡°Olivia de Katana.¡± Lionel smiled as his sharp-eyes turned into the shape of a half-moon. His face looked much softer than before. ¡°Riv, you must have been sweating, so change your clothes and come to the drawing room downstairs.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my clothes?¡± Riv¡¯s mind was full of suspicions. Lionel was exceptionally kind. His smile was like honey. ¡°Let¡¯s have tea time together. We haven¡¯t even had a proper date, have we?¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Lionel said. ¡°The chef said he put a lot of effort into baking the chiffon cake. Karl also said he found a tea to compliment the cake.¡± Riv salivated as she recalled the simple yet neat desserts made by the Duke¡¯s cooks. The chiffon cake made by the chef softly melted the moment she put it in her mouth. If it was such a tea time, of course she had to say yes. However, ¡°Should I really change my dress? It¡¯s too troublesome.¡± ¡°Princess Marianne would change her dress six times a day. You should also get used to changing clothes. I like bright, revealing dresses rather than dull ones. Find something like that and try it on.¡± Riv sighed and pretended to agree. Riv was used to being Madame Katana, so she lacked the common sense of ordinary noble women. ¡°After an hour, come down to the parlor.¡± The kindness from before disappeared in an instant. Lionel had turned professional again. Riv left his office. An hour was surprisingly short to be able to choose a new dress and change her clothes. It was good to hurry. After entering her room, Riv asked her maids to find a dress, and then headed to her bathroom to wash. Riv Katana, reflected in the bathroom¡¯s blurry mirror, looked as youthful as a girl on her first date. Riv ended up wearing a modest-looking apricot dress. Of the few dresses she quickly pulled out, it was the most modest that fit her body. The other dresses needed repairs because they had a large waist or a short hem. ¡°Ugh.¡± Her shoulders were slightly exposed, and the dress that spread down the waist was too much. It was a dress that seemed more suitable for a tea party in a gorgeous garden than casual wear. ¡®Is this okay?¡¯ She wanted to change into another dress, but didn¡¯t have time. Riv looked at herself once in the mirror. She saw a white-skinned woman with dark, luscious hair. A blush spread across her terribly pale face, and now she looked like a living person. ¡°Miss, you are beautiful.¡± Riv felt awkward with everything her maids said. She looked like a plausible lady to herself, but she wasn¡¯t sure how she looked in the eyes of others. A maid said as she came up to her. ¡°The Duke is waiting for you.¡± Riv turned her body in the mirror. Looking at her dark, voluminous hair flowing down her back. The maids said. ¡°Next time, I will curl your hair with an iron and put it up nicely.¡± Riv nodded her head and went downstairs with her. This was just a play. A play that had to look real. Even if it wasn¡¯t real, she and Lionel had to act like a proper couple in the future. After Riv managed her expression, she went down to the drawing room on the ground floor. Lionel, dressed in a suit, sat on the plush sofa and casually patted the seat next to him. ¡°Come sit here.¡± ¡°There?¡± Even though the living room was small, there were plenty of places to sit. Even if it wasn¡¯t there, it was enough. Lionel¡¯s eyes blazed as if he would eat her. He patted the seat next to him and emphasized. ¡°Sit here next to me, my love.¡± The servants¡¯ faces were engulfed in fear. ¡®My love?¡¯ Riv doubted her ears. It seemed natural that the servants who had frozen and then melted for a short time pretended not to see and turned away from them. ¡®Is it really this embarrassing to act as an engaged couple?¡¯ Riv, conscious of the maids¡¯ gazes, sat down next to Lionel. She didn¡¯t want to face Lionel, and he was still too close. Her heart started pounding. She felt like her heart was being strained. ¡°Riv looks nice in bright and colorful things.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± Lionel¡¯s serious gaze seemed to rest on her white shoulders. ¡°Have I told you you¡¯re pretty?¡± At Lionel¡¯s praise, Riv felt her heart tickle. Her face turned red involuntarily. ¡°L-Lionel looks great too.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this scar scary?¡± Riv knew that at some point, Lionel was going to show her the right side of his face. Coincidentally, the seat she was sitting on was also on his right. ¡°How did that scar come about?¡± ¡°About five years ago, I got it from a battle.¡± Lionel said nonchalantly, but refused to elaborate. ¡°I want to hear more.¡± ¡°There was a minor battle on the Northern border.¡± Recalling the memories of that time, Lionel seemed to have become extremely displeased. The pain at that time seemed to come back to him. ¡°Riv, do I need to tell you more?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then you don¡¯t have to. But.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°Does Lionel have insecurity about the scar on his face?¡± Without the scar, Lionel¡¯s face would have been flawless. However, for Riv, the scar was already part of Lionel. ¡°Lionel, I am not afraid of your scar. It¡¯s pretty.¡± ¡°What? Pretty?¡± For a moment, Lionel¡¯s face went blank. Riv traced the scar on his red face. There were still traces of his natural skin texture on the scar. The traces were like cracks on glass. ¡°Riv, aren¡¯t you afraid of me?¡± Riv chose what to say. ¡°I think it¡¯s human.¡± ¡°Human?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you have been too perfect without the scars? You must have been so handsome that you looked like a sculpture?¡± At Riv¡¯s words, Lionel was expressionless. But somehow he seemed happy. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re amazing. All the other servants are watching.¡± ¡°What?¡± When Riv turned around, the servants and maids averted their gazes. She could feel a lot of eyes spying on them from the doorway. Lionel looked at them and waved his hand in annoyance. ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°Duke.¡± ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°We will leave the cake and tea.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The maids set the cake and tea down. The brightly colored black tea was poured from the teapot. The cakes looked pretty and tasty, but Riv didn¡¯t pay them any attention. ¡°L-Lionel.¡± Lionel hugged Riv¡¯s waist. Their knees touched and his thighs rubbed against hers. His muscular legs could be felt through the skirt of her thick dress. Lionel was deliberately making them touch. ¡°Isn¡¯t this too close?¡± As Riv whispered to him, Lionel laughed. ¡°You have to act properly.¡± Who the hell did they have to act in front of? Aren¡¯t you trying to touch me under the guise of acting? Riv felt embarrassed. She didn¡¯t want to reveal that she was attracted to him. The cake that she had wanted to eat was right there, but it didn¡¯t catch her eye. Her appetite was long gone. ¡°I, I.¡± ¡°Ah, we have to do tea time properly as well.¡± Lionel grabbed a plate with cake, breaking a piece off with a fork. He brought the fork up to her mouth.. ¡°Eat.¡± Riv hesitated and opened her mouth. Lionel put the piece of cake into Riv¡¯s mouth. Riv¡¯s eyes widened at his bold behavior. Surprised and startled, she barely chewed the piece of cake, and swallowed it immediately. She felt like she was going to get indigestion from the discomfort. Lionel looked at her with such a caring face. One of his hands was still wrapped around her waist. ¡°You don¡¯t look good. Where does it hurt? Are you not fully recovered?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s uncomfortable.¡± Riv struggled to keep her face from turning red. ¡°Take one more bite to show your sincerity.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t taste the cake. It must have been a romantic scene, but why didn¡¯t it feel romantic? Lionel looked the same as he usually did. A hard face, and a brutal appearance that seemed to spit out black energy. A face smiling towards Riv. For some reason, it gave her the feeling of seeing a terrifying villain. She wasn¡¯t scared, but still, she felt strange. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together later.¡± Riv just turned her head away, more embarrassed by the situation, where they were so close together. Lionel said casually, grabbing Riv¡¯s hand and holding it. They were in a loving pose, but his voice was indifferent. ¡°Riv, I don¡¯t think I mentioned the wedding date earlier.¡± ¡°When is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in three days.¡± Riv¡¯s eyes almost popped out. She didn¡¯t know it would be this soon. Lionel added. ¡°Tomorrow the seamstresses will come and mend the wedding dress.¡± ¡°You really are in a hurry.¡± ¡°I want to do it today or tomorrow, but it would seem to be difficult with the Bishop¡¯s circumstances.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv, who was admiring Lionel¡¯s momentum, asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t a wedding need the permission of the royal family or the bishops¡¯ church?¡± ¡°I need approval from both of them. So, I urged the Cardinals to get us married, ignoring the royal family. He will host our wedding.¡± ¡®The proud Cardinal, His Eminence?¡¯ The Cardinal who refused to meet the king carelessly? Lionel casually told a story that shocked Riv. ¡°Your wedding dress is the only problem because the schedule is tight. We didn¡¯t have time to order a dress, so Claudel said she¡¯d look at my mother¡¯s wedding dress.¡± ¡°The dress of the former Duchess?¡± ¡°Do you not like it because it was my mother¡¯s dress?¡± Riv hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s not that, but will it fit me? I am taller than most women.¡± ¡°My mother wasn¡¯t quite as tall as you, but she was tall, so it will only need light mending.¡± ¡°Your mother was also tall?¡± ¡°My father and my mother were both tall. Probably just like you and me.¡± Lionel muttered involuntarily. ¡°Oh, is that why you¡¯re my ideal type?¡± Riv tried to understand what he was saying, but as he wrapped himself around her, he couldn¡¯t continue his words. ¡°Hey, Lionel, please get away from me.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Lionel leaned closer to Riv¡¯s side. ¡°There are others watching. Shh.¡± ¡°B-But there¡¯s no one there.¡± ¡°Stay still, someone might peek.¡± He was too close. Rather, it felt like he was embracing Riv on the pretext of someone being there. Riv¡¯s face flared up. The maids came in with trays and then swiftly exited. A few minutes after the maids came, Riv was able to push Lionel away. Lionel seemed to have a lot of complaints every time. ¡°Do I make you uncomfortable? Or is it hard to get used to me?¡± ¡°B-Both.¡± Riv breathed a sigh of relief after Lionel moved away. But Lionel¡¯s eyes continued to emanate an ominous glow. She became more uncomfortable. She was more perplexed, not knowing what Lionel might want from her. She lacked confidence in herself. ¡°Pretend like you¡¯re falling for me. Because I¡¯m in love with you.¡± Was this a play or was it reality? Lionel took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. Goosebumps rose and spread all over Riv¡¯s body. ¡°L-Lionel.¡± Riv¡¯s body shook without realizing it. Lionel¡¯s serious gaze pierced her. ¡°You may be carrying my child.¡± ¡°Th-That.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have it now, you will have it soon.¡± ¡°I, I.¡± Riv licked her lips at the sudden mention of a pregnancy. He said he would choose Riv regardless if she was pregnant or not. ¡°Why me? Because I saved you? Or is this Duke of Sentoren¡¯s hand so precious?¡± ¡°I told you I like you.¡± Lionel¡¯s amber eyes gleamed. He hugged her tight enough to suffocate her. There was no space between the two. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have a hard time breathing. J-Just move away a little bit.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Riv¡¯s face turned redder than a tomato. She flapped in Lionel¡¯s arms. ¡°Shh, stay still.¡± Lionel held her in a hug, giving her a little bit of space to breathe. But his eyes were fixed on her plump chest. His mischievous fingers even touched her exposed shoulder. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to break the engagement with Marianne. If we are engaged or married, the royal family will stay quiet. But Queen Selina is already starting to pester us. If it becomes too late, I won¡¯t be able to protect you.¡± ¡°I.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to just play the role of a Duchess in public. It doesn¡¯t matter if you pass over the annoying things to your employees.¡± ¡°That¡¯s irresponsible.¡± ¡°If you become the Duchess, it doesn¡¯t matter what you do. Except for cheating.¡± Riv liked Lionel. She was physically attracted to him too. She wondered if a friendship or a contractual relationship without love and affection would last longer than a physical relationship, that could fade. ¡®I don¡¯t have time.¡¯ Besides, Riv¡¯s thoughts drifted away when she was in Lionel¡¯s arms. ¡°W-What about a prenuptial contract?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you want to leave such a trace. Don¡¯t even dream about it.¡± Lionel growled. ¡°Riv Katana, as long as you are marrying me, you have no right to say such things.¡± ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°As long as death does not separate us, this marriage will continue.¡± Riv¡¯s body stiffened. She took his words as a warning. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have this stupid conversation.¡± Lionel¡¯s arms embracing Riv grew tighter. Her dress was being wrinkled, there was not even room for a needle to pass in between them. Tight arms, a warm body temperature, his heartbeat and his scent. Riv quickly got a headache from all of it. It would not be strange if Lionel attacked her right now, in this place. Her whole body went numb. The moment before she was overtaken by her desire, Lionel whispered. ¡°I want to have dinner together, but it would be better if I just ate you.¡± Lionel¡¯s blazing eyes gazed at her greedily. His shadow loomed over her. A few hours after their hot lips met, Riv didn¡¯t say much at the dinner with Lionel that followed. At the couple¡¯s first supper, the chefs¡¯ skills were put to the test. Large steaks tailored to the Duke¡¯s appetite, sweet beverages, wine, and pies for dessert were served continuously. Riv hesitated as she did not know where to start. Since she was sick, she couldn¡¯t eat much because the amount of food she ate decreased. ¡°Don¡¯t you like the meal?¡± Lionel asked earnestly, and Riv only shook her head. ¡°Eat as much as you can. Or the chefs will be worried.¡± ¡°But since I got sick, I can¡¯t eat much.¡± Since she always ate poor meals at the palace, the rich and fatty meals here did not suit her taste well. Claudel, worried about the amount of food Riv ate, stayed at Riv¡¯s side. ¡°Riv, if it¡¯s not good enough, please make a request.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t even be able to eat it all.¡± ¡°Is there anything else you would like to eat?¡± Riv whispered in her ear. ¡°There are too many dishes, Claudel.¡± Lionel lifted his head as if she had heard Riv. ¡°The chefs will understand, so just taste it.¡± Lionel enjoyed his meal leisurely even after seeing Riv¡¯s overwhelmed face. She would stare at his lips and turn her head. She had done worse than a kiss. But why did her head get messed up from that one kiss earlier? Neither Lionel nor Riv spoke much, so their meal ended quietly. Instead of eating dessert, Riv said she was tired, so she decided to go back to her room. She felt full from the pressure of eating with Lionel. Her stomach was bloated, and she had no more room to eat. She felt like she would get indigestion if she stayed sitting there. ¡°Lionel, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll go up first.¡± ¡°Yes, Riv.¡± On her way up the stairs, Riv stood on the central staircase, staring at the portrait of the late Duke and Duchess. The ring which revived Riv was the property of the previous Duchess¡¯ heirloom. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m using your son so that I can live. But I will treat him well. I will make him happy.¡± The pendant on Riv¡¯s neck was silent and had no reaction. ¡°Why are you standing there?¡± Looking at Riv, stopped on the stairs, Lionel asked from the bottom of the stairs. Riv shivered at his still intense gaze. ¡°Is it cold?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just dark.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll escort you to your room.¡± Lionel stood next to her and offered his arm to her. Riv wrapped her hand around his firm arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Only a few steps away from her room. Riv looked at him as if she was possessed by something and was speechless. Even if a friendly act was needed, today¡¯s events were sudden. Rather, she could not adapt to his changed behavior. Lionel had a calm expression. ¡°Let¡¯s make this area bright even at night.¡± ¡°Y-You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± Riv felt that the darkness covered her embarrassed expression a little. Rather, the air and darkness in the mansion, submerged like a museum, gave her a sense of security. This old place was like an antique magic tool. The mansion that belonged to Lionel. ¡°Riv, we¡¯re here.¡± Riv only released his arm after hearing Lionel¡¯s words. Some of the maids following them could be seen smiling secretly. ¡°Go in.¡± ¡°Ah yes.¡± Lionel swept his hand through Riv¡¯s hair with a nonchalant look on his face. He looked indifferent, but it was a touch mixed with love. She was stunned. ¡°I¡¯ll have you move to the Duchess¡¯ room soon.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel grinned and whispered in Riv¡¯s ear. ¡°You¡¯ll be moving to the room next to mine soon.¡± Were his feelings real or were they an act? Riv froze, unable to enter her room after he left. Her heart was beating wildly. Riv¡¯s face and ears burned hot in an instant. That night, Riv made an excuse that she was unwell and sent her maids out. In the bathroom attached to her bedroom, she washed her body and changed into her pajamas alone. Now her head was so confused that she wanted to stand alone and organize her thoughts. Lionel was the only thing in Riv¡¯s mind as she dried her hair with a towel. ¡°Ha.¡± In three days, they would be married. Everything was changing rapidly. ¡®My life, Marianne¡¯s and the Duke¡¯s are all changing.¡¯ She could not imagine how far her changed life would last. Marianne¡¯s sudden action at her coming-of-age ceremony was the start of the scandal between Riv and the Duke. Motivated by it, Marianne conspired with Marquis Quill and brought him in. ¡®Then did my existence stimulate Marianne?¡¯ The change had begun, and Riv couldn¡¯t stop or resist it, so she had no choice but to move on. Rather, if she went against the change, she would die. ¡®If this marriage fails.¡¯ She decided not to think negatively. If she could escape her death with her own magic¡­ Would Lionel still be by her side, even then? Lionel and Riv would both be free once Marianne married another man and left. ¡®I don¡¯t want to think about that.¡¯ There was only one thing that was important. ¡°I am alive.¡± Riv was sure. ¡°Marianne, she can¡¯t kill me now.¡± Riv sat on the bed. The bedding smelled of sunlight. The scent of lavender wafted up from the pillows. From this fine guest room, she would be promoted to the Duchess¡¯ room. ¡°Everything is like a dream.¡± Marianne could no longer control Riv Katana¡¯s life. Lionel filled Riv¡¯s head. She grabbed the pendant of her necklace out of habit. The ring part of the pendant glowed red for a while, and then the light went out. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 The news of the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s second engagement quickly spread across the royal capital. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren is getting married in secret. That¡¯s what they¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°A secret wedding? With whom?¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing it with Madame Katana, obviously.¡± The Duke of Sentoren convinced the Bishops¡¯ Church. It was said that the wedding was going to be presided over by the Cardinal himself. It was a secret wedding, and only a few people were invited. Upon hearing the news of the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s wedding, the nobles speculated many things, but the date was never revealed. The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s bride was not Princess Marianne, but her maid, Madame Katana. Everyone was intrigued by the rumor. ¡°Why is the Duke in such a hurry to marry Madame Katana?¡± ¡°Why did the Duke choose the biggest and ugliest woman in the palace?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s taste strange?¡± ¡°But why with Princess Marianne¡¯s most hideous maid?¡± There were a lot of people who did not understand the Duke of Sentoren. Countless bets were made all over the royal capital as to how long the Duke¡¯s marriage would last. *** Ailte Palace was quiet and peaceful. Marianne suffered from the teachers sent by the queen. Exhausted from her classes, Marianne collapsed on the couch to rest and recalled Riv for the first time in many days. Marianne¡¯s maids were waiting with her favorite chocolates and cookies. Marianne remembered Riv at this moment. ¡°Riv did my homework well.¡± She hadn¡¯t found a proper replacement after she left, so she suffered on her own. The other maids could not do her homework as well as Riv, and their embroidery skills were also lacking. ¡°Is Riv alive?¡± At Marianne¡¯s question, the maids avoided her gaze. ¡°The Duke¡¯s patisserie baked sweets very well.¡± The maids answered Marianne, who was talking to herself. ¡°There is no news of Madame Katana¡¯s death.¡± ¡°That girl must be pretty tough.¡± The handmaiden answered with a pale face. ¡°Even if Riv Katana died, wouldn¡¯t it be difficult to spread rumors because of the Duke¡¯s power?¡± ¡°Yes, it would.¡± Marianne was easily convinced. Marianne was currently unable to see guests because she was being imprisoned by Queen Selina. Some of the guests who visited Marianne also told her polite lies. ¡°El, I still don¡¯t know why Lionel took her away. Madame Katana is monstrously huge. Does he even see her as a woman?¡± ¡°I, I don¡¯t know. Perhaps it¡¯s because she looks pitiful.¡± ¡°If you think about it, Lionel, who was r*ped by that girl, is more pitiful. Is he not?¡± She tried to kill Lionel, and imprisoned him with Madame Katana. She had completely forgotten her evil deeds. ¡°Madame Katana is a girl who is a symbol of unhappiness, so Lionel, who has her by his side, will also be unhappy. He will regret abandoning me.¡± Marianne convinced herself and then laughed. If Riv Katana bore the Duke¡¯s heir, it would be a tragedy for Lionel. Because Riv Katana¡¯s child would be the ugliest in the world. ¡°Maid, my father said he wanted me to become a widow right after I married Lionel. Then the Duke¡¯s properties¡­¡± ¡°Everything would be mine and they would all belong to the royal family. I was going to become a wealthy widow and start my second life.¡± The maid did not know whether Marianne¡¯s story was real or fake. However, it was indeed true that the king urged and persuaded Marianne to marry Lionel. She could have a lover as long as she gave birth to the Duke¡¯s heir. Even if a scandal broke out, her father would cover it all up. Marianne believed that even if Lionel and Riv got married, they would divorce soon. Ah. Marriage to Riv would be horrifying. ¡°Lionel will want to come back to me. But is there any guarantee that I¡¯ll be single after he gets divorced? I¡¯ve got suitors lining up for me.¡± Marianne smiled charmingly, but El and the maid couldn¡¯t see her as charming. ¡°Let me know once you hear that Riv is dead.¡± Marianne enjoyed eating the chocolate. El and the handmaiden decided to keep the rumors about Riv that were spreading in the royal capital to themselves. No one knew how crazily Marianne would react once she heard the news of the Duke and Riv¡¯s marriage. They didn¡¯t want to die yet. *** At the same time, Queen Selina was alone with the king and was hysterical. ¡°Your Majesty! Are you going to ignore the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s wedding? Why did the Duke of Sentoren take that girl, Riv, instead of our daughter? What the hell!¡± The middle-aged king just felt that the queen¡¯s hoarse voice was bothersome. Even if the king tried to pressure the Bishops¡¯ Church, the strict Cardinal and monks would never move. ¡®I was so confident!¡¯ ¡°The Bishops¡¯ approved the marriage of the Duke of Sentoren!¡± ¡°Then what about our poor daughter? What about our Marianne?¡± The king was annoyed by the queen¡¯s repeated insistence on undoing the nullification of the engagement. The breakup was decided, and no matter how much they tried to pressure the Duke of Sentoren, it was unlikely that he would marry Marianne. If Marianne¡¯s scandal broke out, the royal family would be the only ones at a disadvantage. ¡°Queen, if Marianne had not tried to kill the Duke of Sentoren, the engagement would have continued and a nominal marriage would have been possible. But on top of that, she even brought in the infamous Marquis of Quill!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that an accident? Without Madame Katana, our daughter could have taken Riv¡¯s place!¡± The king grew tired of his wife¡¯s absurd assertions. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren will marry Madame Katana. Do not try to kill the soon-to-be Duchess!¡± *** ¡°Huu.¡± Riv laid down on the bed and let out a short sigh. She couldn¡¯t sleep last night, and she only got some shut-eye late in the morning. She didn¡¯t even sleep that long. When she opened her eyes, it was already the morning of her wedding day. When she opened her eyes, her mind became more fuzzy. Just then, a knock was heard outside the door. ¡°Miss, are you awake?¡± It was Claudel¡¯s voice. Riv looked out the window. It was already bright outside. She gave up on sleeping and got up. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened and the maids entered. The maids¡¯ hands were all holding something. The room, which she thought was quite spacious, was quickly filled with the maids and their gifts. ¡°W-What is it all about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s everything that you¡¯ll need Miss.¡± The maids brought luxurious chests, boxes of clothes, and accessories. A couple of them were carrying food, and a few carried baskets of bath products. Claudel, who was leading them, said. ¡°Miss, you must hurry to prepare for the wedding.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early?¡± When Riv, who was puzzled, asked, Claudel laughed. ¡°It takes a long time for noblewomen to dress up. Today is the day a woman should look her most beautiful.¡± Riv felt a sense of incongruity when her wedding was brought up. Lionel Sentoren and Riv Katana, their own wedding. Riv was rubbing the backs of her hands, which had become smooth from only a few days of care. The maids before her were experts who could make anyone look like a princess or queen of a country. She didn¡¯t know that their long labor would make her hands and nails so smooth. They seemed to be in great spirits, saying that they would decorate Riv properly. ¡°We have a lot of work to do today, Miss.¡± Claudel was also determined. ¡°We will dress you up in the most beautiful way, soon-to-be-Duchess.¡± ¡°Call me Riv, Claudel.¡± ¡°Of course. I was very satisfied because the wedding dress of the late Duchess turned out so good.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Riv remembered the beautiful dress. When she had her fitting, the wedding dress wrapped around her body as if they were one. Even though it was a dress from nearly thirty years ago, it was stored well and was in good condition. It had hardly faded. The dress was carefully brought into the room. The maids were all ready to dress Riv. She took a deep breath and looked at her maids. ¡°I¡¯ll be in your care. I am not good at dressing myself.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Riv was pushed by her maids into the bathroom. Riv was bathed and cared for for several hours. Riv was mesmerized as she went through the long process. Riv admired Queen Selina, who dressed up for two hours every morning, and Marianne, who changed dresses five or six times every day. ¡°You must wear a corset.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time wearing a corset.¡± Riv was terrified by the mention of a corset. ¡°You will get used to it. Since you have a slender waist, we won¡¯t need to tighten it too much.¡± The maids tightened the straps around her waist as carefully as possible. Then, as Riv¡¯s back straightened, they put makeup on her and fixed her hair. Riv thought it was like an optical illusion. Her waist looked much thinner than usual. Her dark, dull hair was curled up and looked graceful when lifted up. With her makeup on, her face gleamed with vitality. Then it was time to wear the wedding dress. The late Duchess¡¯ wedding dress was simple and not flashy at all. The skirt had been slightly lengthened to match Riv¡¯s height. ¡°Look in the mirror.¡± Claudel and her maids looked extremely proud of their work. Riv blinked her long eyelashes as she looked at herself in the mirror. ¡®Who is this?¡¯ Was the elegant woman in the mirror really her? It felt like she transformed into another person. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful.¡± The maids were looking at Riv with sincere expressions. ¡°You look so elegant since you¡¯re tall. The Duke will fall in love with you at first sight.¡± ¡°Obviously.¡± Riv wore her veil as well as the wedding shoes they gave her. ¡°The Duke will fall in love with you again in an instant.¡± Riv stared at herself as she looked in the mirror. Her long, cumbersome black hair and pale white face had been turned into a ravishing beauty. It was as if they had done magic on her. The wedding would be perfect. Riv laughed to herself. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°The Duke will be here soon. Please stand up.¡± Riv was unable to move freely because of the thick veil and tight dress. The maids helped Riv up. ¡°Here¡¯s your bouquet.¡± Claudel handed Riv a bouquet of beautifully entwined light-colored roses. ¡°Now you are the perfect bride of the Duke.¡± Riv¡¯s eye level was too high because of her high-heeled wedding shoes. Everyone was below her sight. ¡°Don¡¯t I look too tall?¡± Claudel looked up at Riv and smiled. ¡°The Master is tall, so you don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Upon hearing the news that Riv was ready, Lionel came down. He wore a navy blue coat with a high white collar. He also wore a sword around his waist. She later found out that this was standard for soldiers. The man seen through Riv¡¯s white veil was too dignified. ¡°Lionel, you look great.¡± Riv was truly amazed. Lionel smiled as he looked at Riv¡¯s face through the veil. ¡°Riv, you look beautiful too.¡± Riv was much taller thanks to her heeled shoes, but she was still shorter than Lionel. ¡°It looks like everything is ready. Let¡¯s go.¡± Lionel did not seem to be particularly impressed with her appearance. The maids were bewildered by his blunt words. ¡°Master, I believe you should compliment your bride-to-be a little more.¡± ¡°We did our best. Your bride-to-be is the most beautiful woman in the royal capital.¡± Lionel shook his head. ¡°I already told her she was beautiful. Is there a need to compliment her further?¡± Lionel¡¯s tone was not different from usual, so Riv was rather relieved. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lionel held out his hand. If Riv took his hand, she would be farther away from the carefree life she wanted. Her life was full of twists and turns. She was killed by Princess Marianne, but she was brought back to life. Although her time was limited, Riv had not yet given up on her life. The ring of the late Duchess led her here. It returned Riv¡¯s life and led her to this man. All of this was natural and Riv couldn¡¯t resist this man. ¡°Wait.¡± Riv reached out and fixed Lionel¡¯s crumpled collar. Lionel¡¯s chin stiffened slightly as her white-gloved fingers brushed against his chin. Lionel grabbed her wrist as it fell from his face. Then he whispered in her ear. ¡°Riv, you can¡¯t refuse to marry me. You will now be Riv Sentoren.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Riv nodded her head. She fell for this man. Even if he didn¡¯t love her and even if she didn¡¯t know what Lionel wanted from her. ¡®I want this man. He needs me too.¡± Lionel held out his hand to her. Riv took his hand without hesitation. The moment their hands touched, she heard something moving inside her. Her selfish heart was rejoicing over her marriage to the Duke. Even if Riv didn¡¯t live long, it was fine. Lionel belonged to her. Thump-thump. Her heart raced. A flower bloomed in her heart, which she thought had already dried up, and spring came. Even if spring would be its only season, it was good. Riv held hands with Lionel and went downstairs. The maids and the servants waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs all clapped in unison. ¡°Congratulations on your wedding, Duke.¡± Everyone was very happy with the Duke¡¯s marriage. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With everyone¡¯s applause, Riv, along with Lionel, rode the Duke¡¯s carriage. Riv¡¯s wedding dress was bulkier than expected, and she couldn¡¯t bend her waist properly because she was wearing a corset. With her body upright, Riv stared at Lionel. Lionel carefully arranged her dress¡¯ hem. ¡°Riv, are you nervous?¡± She nodded her head. ¡°Because it¡¯s my first marriage.¡± Lionel laughed at Riv¡¯s answer. He looked genuinely happy. ¡°I¡¯m also getting married for the first time, so don¡¯t worry.¡± [T/N: XD] The carriage arrived at the Bishop¡¯s Church less than 30 minutes after their departure. Because it was a secret wedding, the carriage¡¯s movements were elusive. The Bishop¡¯s Church was located within the high walls built around the Celton Cathedral as if it was a stronghold. Behind the cathedral were majestic and stylish buildings and spires. The windows of the buildings were made of colorful stained glass. ¡°Duke of Sentoren, please come this way. The Cardinal is waiting for the Duke and the Duchess.¡± A middle-aged priest with sharp eyes guided them. Lionel¡¯s few escorts accompanied him, carefully looking around. Lionel and Riv entered the Celton Cathedral, where their wedding would be held. Inside the splendid and majestic church, Riv stared at the beautiful flowers and wreaths surrounding the central chapel. Mysterious sunlight poured through the round skylight. Behind the podium of the chapel was a huge stained glass window. This space, where they came together, looked sacred and mysterious. ¡°This is it.¡± The priests belonging to the Bishops¡¯ Church wore uniforms and inspected the couple. Several of Lionel¡¯s acquaintances, who would be witnesses to the wedding, were seated in chairs in front of the podium. Lionel turned to Riv and said. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. It will be over soon.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Contrary to his words, Riv wasn¡¯t nervous. Under her veil, her eyes gleamed with curiosity, looking around. ¡°This place looks romantic.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like the answer Lionel had hoped for. He said, trying to examine Riv¡¯s expression under her veil. ¡°¡­You seem a little strange.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Riv was completely relaxed. A few minutes before the Cardinal¡¯s arrival, Claudel, who accompanied them, adjusted Riv¡¯s dress and touched up her makeup. ¡°The Cardinal is coming.¡± The priests moved quickly. Lionel requested that the Cardinal directly preside over their wedding to ensure that the marriage would not be disturbed by the royal family. Marriages of nobles required the approval of the royal family and the Bishops. However, a marriage presided over by the Cardinal himself couldn¡¯t be broken by the royal family. Riv admired Lionel¡¯s ability to pressure the Cardinal directly. The priest said to the two of them. ¡°The wedding ceremony will start soon.¡± Riv quickly recalled her past. The unloved Madame Katana was always ridiculed by the royal family, especially Marianne, who condemned her and wanted to kill her. The moment she was murdered by Marianne, the memories of her resurrection flashed through Riv¡¯s mind. And Lionel. The man whom the magic ring led her to, the man she longed for. Riv stared at Lionel. She wanted to be happy with this man for a long, long time. ¡®Is that possible?¡¯ Shortly thereafter, the Cardinal appeared on the podium, supported by the high priests. The Cardinal smiled at Riv and said to Lionel. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that the Duke of Sentoren was going to get married so soon.¡± ¡°Please skip the grand mass. Marry me to this woman first. It doesn¡¯t matter if you have the mass after the ceremony.¡± ¡°How astonishing.¡± Cardinal and Lionel¡¯s quarrel followed. Lionel only focused on Riv. Her face, which was hidden under the veil, turned red at his hot and persistent gaze. Even the old Cardinal coughed due to the awkwardness. ¡°If the Duke wills so, then let us proceed quickly. I also find it uncomfortable to stand for long periods of time.¡± Contrary to his sharp first impression, the Cardinal had a good-natured smile. Because the mass was omitted, the ceremony proceeded very quickly. After reciting a small prayer to God, the priests lightly sprayed the prepared holy water on Riv and Lionel to consecrate them. The Cardinal prayed to God. ¡°It¡¯s time to ask God to bless your marriage.¡± Two priests stood next to Lionel and Riv. ¡°Repeat after us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a declaration to God, so you need to focus.¡± At the words of the two priests, they announced their marriage to each other in the presence of God. ¡°God, I, Lionel de Sentoren, will be marrying Olivia de Katana.¡± ¡°God, I, Olivia de Katana, will be marrying Sir Lionel de Sentoren.¡± The Cardinal prayed with his hands together on the podium. ¡°God, on this blessed day, these two, who are loved by You, are praying that you bless their marriage. I pray that you grant them a beautiful future.¡± Lionel and Riv approached the Cardinal. ¡°May God bless your marriage and future.¡± The Cardinal sprinkled the holy water and blessed them again. The priests presented the marriage documents prepared by the Duke¡¯s lawyers and the Bishops to the bride and groom. Lionel and Riv signed each one, and Lionel¡¯s close friends were named as witnesses on the marriage certificate. The Duke¡¯s representative, a lawyer, stamped the Duke¡¯s seal on it. It ended with the Cardinal signing his name and stamping his seal. It ended less than ten minutes after they set foot inside the church. ¡°You two are married, congratulations.¡± The Cardinal spoke to Riv and Lionel, who had just been married. Lionel took a ring from his coat and put it on her left ring finger. The old Cardinal looked at him with delight. ¡°Duke of Sentoren, you may kiss the bride.¡± Lionel¡¯s hand rolled up Riv¡¯s white lace veil. Their eyes met. Riv was captivated by Lionel¡¯s serious eyes. His face slowly covered hers. Then his lips landed on Riv¡¯s. Riv opened her mouth, thirsting for the feather-like kiss. Lionel¡¯s hot breath slowly seeped into Riv¡¯s mouth. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 ¡°Eup!¡° Lionel¡¯s gentle kiss abruptly changed. His eyes seemed to gleam fiercely. He turned into a savage. He grabbed her by the waist and poured out an intense and passionate energy. Lionel devoured her, and then he suddenly let go. Riv couldn¡¯t stand alone after their lips parted. Lionel grabbed Riv, who was about to collapse. ¡°Come to your senses.¡± Riv seemed to have been engulfed by a low fever. The temperature fueled by her desire did not go away. Unlike Riv, who was mesmerized, Lionel looked calm. He smiled playfully at her. ¡°Do you want me to do it again?¡± The priests coughed and turned their heads, and some guests whistled. Riv¡¯s face heated up like a red tomato. ¡°I, I¡­¡± Riv was embarrassed. That hot kiss seemed to only affect her and only her lips were swollen. The only thing left on Lionel¡¯s lips were the marks of her red lip rouge. ¡°Hold on, Lionel.¡± Riv reached out and brushed Lionel¡¯s lips. The tip of her lace gloves were stained red. ¡°Why?¡± Then their eyes met again. Riv lowered her awkwardly raised arm. ¡°It¡¯s because you had something on your face.¡± ¡°Is it gone now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv glanced up at him and nodded her head. Lionel smiled softly and whispered in her ear. ¡°Honey, I¡¯ll express my thanks once we get home. I¡¯ve become your husband. Don¡¯t forget.¡± Riv¡¯s heart raced wildly. Turning her head, she saw several of his friends and acquaintances, astonished by Lionel¡¯s change. They couldn¡¯t believe Lionel¡¯s transformation. ¡°Lionel?¡± ¡°Ahahaha.¡± Some were dumbfounded and the others applauded or whistled. But they could no longer concentrate due to the noise from outside. Lionel frowned. Just as he was about to summon the escorts guarding outside, the priests ran in from the back door. ¡°I think you should avoid the front door.¡± Confusion appeared on people¡¯s faces. The voices and shouts of excited people could be heard from outside. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± Even the old Cardinal and his high-ranking priests were perplexed. The priest who had seen the commotion outside answered. ¡°It seems that news of the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s wedding has spread.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± The people who had heard the news couldn¡¯t contain their curiosity and flocked to the church. Lionel¡¯s forehead was wrinkled heavily. ¡°Your Eminence, is there any secret passage out of this place?¡± ¡°There¡¯s none. I will have my priests try to calm them down.¡± Unlike his words, the old Cardinal looked frightened, and Lionel sighed. While Lionel and his entourage looked outside, the priests led Riv to the confessional room inside the church. Meanwhile, the Cardinal, leaning on his entourage, escaped through the Cathedral¡¯s side door. Riv looked around the small confession room. She caught her breath in the brutal space and sat on a hard wooden chair, different from the ornate Cathedral. The cries of the people outside the church could be heard all the way in this inner space. ¡°Miss, you look tired. May I bring you some water?¡± Claudel adjusted her veil and looked at Riv¡¯s complexion. Riv shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Claudel. But it seems noisy outside.¡± ¡°I think you should get out of here quickly, given the time.¡± ¡°¡­¡­We should.¡± Riv sighed softly. Was this wedding such a hot topic that crowds gathered in front of the Bishops¡¯ Church? Riv questioned all of those things. ¡°It¡¯s because of the way the Cardinal took care of us.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. The Duke of Sentoren pays a huge donation to the Bishops¡¯ Church every year.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Riv remembered the Cardinal, who was not as bad as she had expected. The Cardinal was probably moved because of money. Reality wasn¡¯t quite as romantic as Riv¡¯s imagination. If she really thought about it, her intentions in marrying Lionel were not pure either. ¡®I¡¯m trying to use Lionel because I want to survive too.¡¯ Riv stared at the paintings of God adorned on the walls of the confession room. She didn¡¯t believe in God. The Bishops¡¯ God considered her a witch and a heretic. She would be sentenced to death if she was found to be a witch. But at this moment, Riv sincerely prayed to God. She wanted her time with Lionel to last as long as possible. Before Lionel came to her world, everything was grey. When she joined Lionel, her world became full of color. She was happy for the first time. Her petty anxieties didn¡¯t even matter. *** The Bishops¡¯ Church and the Royal Family were in a symbiotic relationship of cooperation and competition. In fact, the Bishops¡¯ Church even came to hold the royal wedding and also prepared for the grand wedding of Princess Marianne. However, Princess Marianne¡¯s fianc¨¦, the Duke of Sentoren, married the princess¡¯ maid, Madame Katana. Rumors about Madame Katana were the worst. She was a huge, ugly woman and a villain with a vicious personality. Curious about Madame Katana, apprentice priests snooped around the Celton Cathedral. The secret marriage of the Duke of Sentoren spread within the Bishops¡¯ Church and was leaked to the outside. ¡°You mean Madame Katana, the new Duchess is in there?¡± In the eyes of the apprentice priests, the maid, who betrayed the lovely Princess Marianne, and the Duke of Sentoren, who wanted to marry the ugly girl, were both insane. ¡°Even if Madame Katana became the Duchess, everyone in society will reject her.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The Cardinal and the priests sneaked out through the church¡¯s side door. After some time, the high priests, Enaldo and Philip, appeared. The apprentice priests¡¯ eyes twinkled. Enaldo and Philip were responsible for the management and training of the apprentice priests. The young priests flocked to them and hurled questions. ¡°What kind of person is the Duchess? Did you see Madame Katana?¡± ¡°Did she have a terrible appearance as the rumors say?¡± The two middle-aged priests sighed as the young priests snooped around, eager to see the inside of the Cathedral. Priest Enaldo opened his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve heard, but the new Duchess is a beauty.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how the rumors spread, because she was a slim and elegant beauty.¡± The apprentice priests shed cold sweat. ¡°That can¡¯t be true. Did he marry someone else?¡± At the words of the lower priests, Priest Enaldo turned to Priest Philip next to him and warned the young and immature priests. ¡°Priest Philip is in front of you. Stop gossiping about Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Why? Are Priest Philip and Madame Katana relatives?¡± ¡°Priest Philip is the lady¡¯s only family.¡± The apprentice priests stared at Philip¡¯s lean face. Philip soon put his outer robe on with a firm face that did not show any emotion. As soon as the apprenticeship priests looked at Philip, they ran away. Enaldo sighed. ¡°Are you the one who spread the rumors about Madame Katana and the Duke¡¯s wedding, Philip?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If anything happens to the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren, we will be in trouble.¡± ¡°I will take full responsibility.¡± Philip¡¯s eyes twinkled darkly. Enaldo closed his mouth after trying to say something. Philip stared at the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren. ¡°My goodness.¡± Lionel looked outside and sighed. Crowds climbed the walls of the Bishop¡¯s Church and tried to surround the area in front of the Celton Cathedral. It was insane. ¡°I don¡¯t know how this happened.¡± The Cardinal had already left. It was already too late for them to get out through the side door. There was no secret passage in the Celton Cathedral. It would be difficult for Lionel to break through the crowd at the Cathedral head-on because he was with his new bride, friends, and other companions. The Bishops¡¯ Church did not seem to have any intention of rectifying this riot. ¡®Everyone ran away.¡¯ Lionel, who was worried, headed to the confession room to find Riv. Riv saw Lionel and immediately raised her head. Lionel¡¯s face looked tired. He said. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of a way to get you out safely.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, Lionel.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s watch the situation a little more.¡± Riv answered. ¡°Let¡¯s just go straight ahead, Lionel.¡± ¡°What?¡± Both Lionel and Claudel were astonished. ¡°No, Madame, it will be dangerous.¡± Riv replied casually. ¡°I will not die.¡± Riv sat upright in the uncomfortable chair, looking straight at Lionel. Lionel, who met her calm eyes, quickly made a decision. ¡°Perhaps a head-on breakthrough might be the way to go.¡± ¡°Duke, it might be dangerous.¡± Even with Claudel¡¯s warning, Lionel had already made up his mind. He ordered his escort. ¡°Michelle, park the carriage in front of the cathedral.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lionel¡¯s men heard the command and went outside. Lionel extended his hand to Riv. The ring on his finger was exceptionally shiny. Riv¡¯s hand also had an identical ring. They got married today, just a little while ago. ¡°Riv.¡± Riv took Lionel¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°Stay sharp. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not worried?¡± Riv stared at Lionel¡¯s trustworthy face. ¡°No. Because you will protect me.¡± Riv placed her hand on the man who had become her husband. When she took his hand, no worries about the future came to mind. *** Chapter 42 Chapter 42 The church door opened. Those who were desperately pushing each other forward stopped at once. The whole place became silent as if someone had used magic. ¡°Please move out of the way.¡± ¡°Get out of the way!¡± The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s large escort knights came out and pushed people away to create a path. From the front of the cathedral to the main street, a path was made that only one or two people could walk through. The crowd was bustling with curiosity. ¡°Who¡¯s coming out?¡± ¡°Is it the Duke and Duchess?¡± ¡°The Duke of Sentoren and Madame Katana?¡± The news of the Duke of Sentoren breaking up with Princess Marianne and secretly marrying Madame Katana was known by everyone. ¡°Keep a safe distance!¡± Although the Duke¡¯s escorts seemed absurdly small in number, they tried to protect the Duke and his bride. Soon, a tall man in a suit and a bride in a white dress and veil came out of the Cathedral¡¯s open door. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± The people looked at them and were speechless for a moment. Everyone knew that the man in the suit was the Duke of Sentoren. The masculine-looking man was very tall and had a red scar on his left cheek like a crack in glass. The bride holding the man¡¯s hand was also much taller than the average woman. But. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Is that lady Madame Katana?¡± Those who peeked at the new bride over the shoulders of the escorts raised their voices in suspicion. A different woman appeared instead of the bride they expected. The carriage waiting at the main gate of the Celton Cathedral was about ten meters away. It was not a close distance, but the new bride and groom gracefully crossed through the midst of the angry crowd and boarded the waiting carriage. The newlyweds were dignified, and they showed no sign of impatience. As they passed, time seemed to stop around them. They safely arrived in front of the carriage, and before boarding, they even bowed gracefully to the crowd. After that they got on the carriage and left. The crowd came to their senses only after the Duke¡¯s carriage disappeared from sight. A bitter silence swept over them. They sighed in disappointment at what they had seen. ¡°They were a beautiful bride and groom.¡± ¡°Madame Katana is a beauty, contrary to the rumors.¡± ¡°Wait, Madame Katana is a beauty? ¡°Is that new bride Madame Katana?¡± The crowd realized a terrible contradiction. ¡°Was the bride Madame Katana?¡± The crowd certainly did not see the bride¡¯s bare face under the veil. The veil worn by the bride was so thin that the contours of her face and her features were clearly visible. There were no scars or blemishes on her face. Her body was also thin. ¡°Obviously Madame Katana had dark hair and she wore a mourning dress over her huge body.¡± Madame Katana and the new bride of the Duke of Sentoren had nothing in common except that they were tall and had dark hair. ¡°Isn¡¯t the new Duchess supposed to be Madame Katana? If not, who is she?¡± ¡°W-Well.¡± Those who came to see Madame Katana¡¯s ugliness began to have a heated discussion. The front of the Cathedral was turned into a forum for discussion. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her face, but Madame Katana¡¯s massive size couldn¡¯t have changed in a matter of days.¡± ¡°Did Madame Katana even put on makeup?¡± ¡°Then who?¡± Everyone made assumptions, but no conclusions were reached. ¡°What will happen to our bets?¡± ¡°If Madame Katana, no, if the Duke¡¯s new bride is such a beauty, won¡¯t the marriage be different?¡± ¡°Did the person he married change in the middle? If it¡¯s not magic, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s even possible to transform like that.¡± Countless rumors flew around. ¡°Madame Katana has been with the royal family for a long time, so if anyone could recognize her, it would be them.¡± The crowd remembered that Madame Katana was the Queen¡¯s clown maid. Madame Katana had been under the Queen for over five years. None of her maids had a normal appearance. The Queen¡¯s maids were masters of disguise. ¡°If she was Queen Selina¡¯s clown maid, wouldn¡¯t she of course wear makeup?¡± ¡°For more than five years?¡± Queen Selina¡¯s maids were a spectacle. The Queen¡¯s maids put on so much makeup that it was impossible to recognize their true appearances. Their faces were pasty. They wore clown makeup and had puffed-up bodies like hunchbacks. There were many speculations, but no conclusion had been reached. In an instant, the stories that flew from their mouths reached the palace. *** That afternoon, after a pleasant nap, Marianne woke up to unexpected news from her maids. ¡°Madame Manon, Madame Reiz, and Madame Yoketo are in the Gold Room.¡± ¡°What?¡± The Gold Room was Marianne¡¯s favorite drawing room. Marianne had never invited the three women, meaning they occupied it without her approval. ¡°Why did they come?¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± Marianne¡¯s anger boiled to the top of her head as she changed clothes and headed for the Gold Room. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What the hell are you guys doing here?¡± Three women in luxurious evening dresses, smelling of strong perfume, sat on Marianne¡¯s sofa. They covered their mouths with their fans or handkerchiefs and seemed to be laughing at Marianne. ¡°Why the hell did you come here?¡± There was a reason for Marianne¡¯s anger. Marianne hated her father¡¯s lovers as she thought of them as uneducated and uncultured. Marianne and these women usually did not interact. The madames who broke into Marianne¡¯s space brazenly lectured her on court rules. ¡°You have poor hospitality, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°The princess¡¯s maids didn¡¯t even offer tea.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± When Marianne became angry, the women giggled. ¡°We came to comfort the princess, but it seems she hasn¡¯t heard the news yet.¡± ¡°What?¡± The three of them faced each other. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren and Madame Katana got married just a few hours ago.¡± ¡°We thought that the princess would be depressed by the news, so we came to comfort you, but we didn¡¯t know that you were not aware yet.¡± ¡°There are rumors that Madame Katana, no, the Duchess of Sentoren, has become a great beauty.¡± Marianne doubted her ears. She couldn¡¯t believe the things the women had said, so she turned her head to her chief maid and asked. ¡°What these girls are saying, are they playing with me?¡± ¡°Us, playing a joke?¡± The handmaiden tried to make excuses, but the women spoke over the maid. ¡°The crowd that went to the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s secret wedding saw a beautiful bride instead of the ugly Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it really surprising that a large, ugly woman transformed into a slender beauty?¡± Marianne couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying at all. Madame Katana became a beauty and married the Duke. The three madames were excited to see Marianne¡¯s reaction. ¡°It seems the princess didn¡¯t know. The Queen¡¯s maids, including Madame Katana, all have to dress up as eccentric clowns.¡± ¡°The Queen didn¡¯t want her maids to become His Majesty¡¯s lovers.¡± The women roared happily. Marianne covered her ears and shouted at them. ¡°Shut up, stop it!¡± The women stopped laughing. Marianne turned around and asked El and her maid. ¡°What the b*tches said, is it true?¡± El and the maid did not answer and only lowered their eyes. Marianne cursed again. ¡°Does it make sense that Madame Katana became a beauty and married Lionel? Why are things I don¡¯t know about happening? Why did I not know these things!¡± ¡°Princess Marianne, calm down.¡± ¡°Do you think I can be calm? Argh!¡± Marianne slumped into a chair while swearing. The three uninvited guests slyly arose from their seats. ¡°You must have been shocked, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°We were only thinking of comforting the princess.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine, we¡¯d better get going.¡± The women retreated as quickly as they appeared. Marianne had a shock so great that she had no strength left to stand. The marriage between the now-beautiful Madame Katana and the Duke of Sentoren, all of it seemed like a terrible joke to Marianne. But this was reality. ¡°Ah, yes. My father has to allow nobles to marry. Doesn¡¯t he?¡± Marriages between nobles had to be approved by the royal family and the Bishops¡¯. In other words, their marriage was null and void unless Marianne¡¯s father allowed it. Marianne smiled and prepared to leave. The maid and El hurriedly stopped in front of her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I am going to my father. I will stop Lionel and Riv from being allowed to marry.¡± The maid said, blocking the doorway. ¡°Even if you go to His Majesty, the marriage cannot be undone, Princess.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s wedding was officiated by the Cardinal. In that case, royal approval is not required.¡± Marianne stared blankly at her maid. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The maid couldn¡¯t have lied. Confused, Marianne asked the maid again. ¡°Then what will happen to me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What about me? My pride? How could everyone do this to me!¡± Marianne was enraged and burst into tears. *** A carriage returned from the Celton Cathedral to the Duke¡¯s mansion. A large crowd had gathered at the main gate, but the carriage passed through safely. Riv woke up when the carriage stopped in front of the main building. Lionel pulled Riv into his arms. ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 ¡°Riv, are you okay?¡± Lionel watched her carefully. ¡°Y-Yes.¡± But Riv¡¯s face was still pale. Lionel clicked his tongue and helped her down from the carriage. As she set foot on the ground, she staggered due to terrible dizziness. ¡°Ugh.¡± Lionel grabbed Riv¡¯s waist and pulled her towards him. In an instant, Riv¡¯s shaky vision stopped. She was very conscious of his firm body and wide arms. When she lifted her eyes, she could see Lionel¡¯s face and his chest fuzzily beyond her veil. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Riv¡¯s heart raced. Lionel seemed to have made her dizziness worse. ¡°Lionel, I, I am fine. So please stand back a little.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look too good.¡± It was only after Riv lifted her annoying veil that she could see Lionel¡¯s face properly. Riv was relieved to see the familiar mansion over the Duke¡¯s shoulder. At the same time, she remembered those she had left behind in the Cathedral. ¡°Claudel and the guests are still there.¡± ¡°They will return on their own. You only have to worry about us.¡± Lionel read Riv¡¯s thoughts and then ordered the escort behind him. ¡°Strengthen the mansion¡¯s security, and keep outsiders from coming in. We will not accept visitors.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lionel tightened his arms around Riv. Realizing that her body was trembling slightly, he frowned for a moment, then bent over and carried her at once. ¡°L-Lionel?¡± Riv was startled when her feet lifted off the ground. Even though she was skinny, she wasn¡¯t as light because she was tall. ¡°I-I¡¯m heavy. Put me down.¡± As Riv wiggled her feet in surprise, Lionel staggered as he slyly pretended to lose his balance. ¡°Ack!¡± Riv was startled and stopped moving. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fall, stay still.¡± ¡°But.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t seem to be affected by her weight. His face looked more relaxed than usual. ¡°Hug my neck. Hurry.¡± Riv did her best to hold him by his neck to hug him. As their bodies touched, she felt the warmth beneath his coat and felt his broad chest swell. Her heartbeat was louder than before. Lionel¡¯s chin was right in front of her. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± Riv stiffened her body. Lionel began to walk. Riv¡¯s feet lightly swayed under her skirt. The moment the large door of the main building opened and Lionel crossed the threshold, they heard the butler, Karl¡¯s voice. ¡°Duke, you¡¯re here?¡± When Riv turned her head, she was bewildered when she saw the Duke¡¯s servants gathered at the entrance. They seemed quite surprised to see Lionel carrying Riv. After a brief moment of surprise, everyone applauded and cheered. ¡°Congratulations on your marriage, Duke.¡± ¡°Madame, please lead the mansion well.¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± Riv¡¯s face blushed for a moment. When people say they were going to die of shame, they were probably referring to a moment like this. She murmured as she buried her head in Lionel¡¯s arms. ¡°L-Lionel, please put me down.¡± ¡°Later.¡± Lionel¡¯s blunt words were followed by jeers and cheers. Karl intervened. ¡°Your wife seems to be surprised, so how about going straight to your room like this?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± This time, applause followed. Riv was startled by his words. ¡°Your new bride must be surprised.¡± Lionel crossed the hall on the first floor, still holding Riv. Lionel, who had been walking without hesitation, stopped for a moment in front of the central staircase. He tried to climb the stairs while holding her in his arms. ¡°P-Please, put me down!¡± Riv was startled to see the high stairs. Lionel wrinkled his brows and put her down. His face was full of discontent. ¡°I can carry you while climbing the stairs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m anxious. I, I feel like I¡¯m going to fall.¡± Riv desperately made excuses. Glancing behind Lionel, she made eye contact with the employees, and her face reddened involuntarily. If only she could dig a hole in the ground and hide. ¡°Your face looks like it¡¯s on fire.¡± ¡°I, I know.¡± Riv turned her head and tried to try to run away, but Lionel stopped her by grabbing her wrist. ¡°Wait. Today was our wedding, right?¡± A confident smile spread across Lionel¡¯s face. He offered her his right arm. ¡°Duchess of Sentoren, come with me.¡± ¡°L-Lionel?¡± ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll escort you.¡± Riv lost her words when she was met with Lionel¡¯s subtle smile. His expression looked so nice. Riv linked arms with him, and they climbed the central staircase together. If this was a dream, she didn¡¯t want to wake up, she wanted this moment to last forever. However, the magical moment only lasted for a brief second as they went up the stairs. The moment she stepped onto the second floor, Lionel released her arm at the top of the stairs. ¡°Riv, your dress is wrinkled.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°I have something to tell you, so come to my office in an hour.¡± ¡°Yes. I will prepare and go up.¡± Riv tilted her head, thinking Lionel¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold, but she didn¡¯t show it. She thought she could feel Lionel¡¯s gaze on her back, but she didn¡¯t turn around. *** Lionel stared at the back of Riv Katana. No, not Riv Katana, but the Duchess of Sentoren, his wife. Riv¡¯s wedding dress and veil were wrinkled and dirt-stained, but that did not compromise her dignity. Lionel fixed his gaze on Riv¡¯s slender back as she disappeared. ¡°Haa.¡± Lionel was well aware of the soft, curved body that awakened his desire. It was a body that made him want to embrace her again and again. The body that he wanted to use to satisfy his desires like crazy. But it was daytime. There was still a lot of time before night came. Lionel returned to his office only after she had completely disappeared from his sight. Michelle and Dr. Rambaud were present in his office. Michelle accompanied Lionel, but Rambaud did not attend the wedding. However, Rambaud was dressed in a much nicer suit than usual. Rambaud greeted Lionel with great enthusiasm. ¡°Congratulations on your marriage, Duke.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°How does it feel to be married to a beautiful bride?¡± ¡°There were too many people in the royal capital who wanted to see our secret marriage.¡± ¡°I wish I had been invited to the wedding.¡± Lionel said to Rambaud, stunned. ¡°There were a lot of onlookers.¡± ¡°Unfortunately I did not make the mistake of going sightseeing.¡± ¡°If you had gone, you would still be locked up in Celton Cathedral. Claudel and some of my men are still there.¡± Rambaud pretended to look out the window. Even in Rambaud¡¯s eyes, there were a lot of suspicious people wandering around the Duke. ¡°Can I leave the mansion today? I feel like I¡¯m trapped here.¡± Lionel snorted. He was sure that Rambaud was going to use his marriage as an excuse to rob the Duke¡¯s wine cellar. Lionel was also greeted by Michelle who managed to return with him to the mansion. ¡°Congratulations on your marriage, Duke.¡± ¡°Michelle, you did a great job too.¡± ¡°It was nothing.¡± Rambaud laughed and gave his blessing. ¡°Duke, you have to be happy now.¡± From the beginning, it was Lionel¡¯s aides who opposed his marriage to Princess Marianne. Lionel didn¡¯t answer. Rambaud and Michelle knew that Lionel had a different attitude towards Riv compared to other women. *** Riv entered her room. The maids who were decorating her room with flowers saw Riv and welcomed her. ¡°You¡¯re back, Madame?¡± Riv felt awkward at the maids¡¯ bright smiles and swept up her dress. It seemed like she wouldn¡¯t get used to being called Madame anytime soon. Riv pointed to her dress instead of answering. ¡°I want to change my dress.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The wedding dress was dirty and crumpled in the eyes of the maids who didn¡¯t know about the commotion in the Cathedral. They were embarrassed to look at the dress. ¡°Madame, I will help you.¡± The maids felt sorry as they picked out dresses for Riv to change into. ¡°It would be better for the Duke to take off the wedding dress.¡± [T/N: ( ????? ??) I agree] When Riv turned her back and awkwardly smiled, the maid realized her blunder and shut her mouth. They untied the delicate laces of Riv¡¯s dress. The wedding dress was as thick as it was beautiful, so there were many layers that the maids had to take off. The delicate dress was removed, and the petticoat, corset, and underskirt were piled up at Riv¡¯s feet. Freed from the remains of her dress, Riv stared at the bouquet and lace veil that her maids had taken off her. ¡®Is this real?¡¯ The dress, the veil, and the bouquet were all beautiful, but it seemed like an illusion. She couldn¡¯t tell if this marriage was actually fake. ¡®Should I tell Lionel that I went back in time?¡¯ Would he believe such an absurd story? Riv was astonished at her thoughts of revealing the truth to him. ¡®Did I expect this marriage to actually happen?¡¯ The Duke of Sentoren was like a prince riding a white horse to her. Riv woke up from her thoughts as she heard the voices of her maids. The maids were preparing this and that and chattering. ¡°Madame, should I prepare water in the bathroom?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see Lionel so I¡¯ll take a bath later.¡± ¡°I understand. Madame, please speak comfortably.¡± When Riv nodded her head, her maids looked at her and said, ¡°Madame, the Duchess¡¯ bedroom is ready and you can move there soon.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv pretended nothing was wrong and picked a comfortable indoor dress. ¡°Are you going to see the Duke now?¡± The moment Riv nodded her head, the maids exchanged bitter glances. Riv was puzzled. ¡°We¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°This one suits you better than that one. Please wear this.¡± The maids dressed her in their dress instead of the one Riv had picked out, and quickly fixed her hair and makeup. Riv stared at her transformed form through the mirror. ¡°Wow.¡± Looking back at her, there was a white-skinned beauty with dark hair hanging down. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, Madame.¡± Riv felt uncomfortable from being admired by the women and seeing herself in the mirror. ¡°You look lovely.¡± ¡°I think the Duke will attack you right away.¡± Riv¡¯s face blushed as red as a tomato. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 An hour later, Lionel sent Michelle down to fetch Riv from her room. When Riv arrived at Lionel¡¯s office, he was wearing a comfortable shirt and trousers, skimming through documents. ¡°Sir, I have brought you Madame.¡± Lionel lifted his head, revealing the scar on the left side of his face. There was no expression on his face, so it was difficult to guess what Lionel was thinking. ¡°Sit, Duchess.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of Riv. Riv Sentoren was transformed from a neat bride in a wedding dress to a seductive woman. A rich dress that exposed her shoulders and a tightened waist that revealed her curves. The bare skin on her exposed shoulders were exceptionally white. Her waist was very slender but in contrast, her chest and hips had an alluring voluptuous look. ¡°Madame, you were decorated beautifully in such a short time.¡± ¡°The maids did a great job.¡± Riv fiddled with a bunch of her curled hair. Lionel ordered Michelle to leave. Riv adjusted her silk emerald dress and sat down. The off-shoulder dress Riv wore was barely revealing compared to the latest trends, but Lionel, staring at her bare shoulders and collarbone, looked displeased. Lionel stared at the line of her collarbone down to her arm. Then his gaze was fixed on the curves of her chest, which rose roundly beneath her clothes. ¡°Hmm.¡± When Riv raised her head, Lionel turned away. ¡®Did I see it wrong?¡¯ Did she mistakenly see Lionel staring tenaciously at her chest? Riv pretended nothing was wrong and spoke to Lionel. ¡°What did you want to talk about, Lionel?¡± Lionel had full control over their marriage. Riv was ready to accept whatever he had to say. Lionel pointed to the gold ring on Riv¡¯s finger. ¡°Originally, the Duchess of Sentoren was supposed to inherit an heirloom, a ruby ??ring. But the ring disappeared, so she temporarily gave me her wedding ring.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think this marriage is fake just because you didn¡¯t get the true ring.¡± Riv was in possession of the Duchess¡¯ lost ruby ??ring. She returned from the future to the present with it. Lionel later explained what she had to do as a Duchess. ¡°Riv, you will soon move to the Duchess¡¯ bedroom.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I decided to postpone going back to the estate during the first six months of our marriage. Now that it¡¯s social season, you¡¯ll have to attend balls and necessary banquets with your husband, me. The same goes for the royal balls. It won¡¯t be a lot because I don¡¯t like parties.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s widely known that we are a normal couple, so even the royal family can¡¯t do anything against us.¡± ¡°It means that you have to act well so that no gossip will spread in the social world.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv had no idea what she needed to do, but her own role made sense. Even if the Duke of Sentoren had power, the Duke could not exert as much power as the royal family in the capital. The Duke¡¯s estate was in the Southern province of Mont Del. In the past few years, Lionel did not stay long in the royal capital. ¡°Even if I go to the estate in the South, you will stay here and protect this mansion. Don¡¯t forget to preserve the honor of the Duke while I am away.¡± ¡°You have to go to the estate?¡± ¡°We never know when the enemy will attack.¡± Since the Southern border was in Mont Del, pirates and barbarians from across the sea often invaded. Riv understood the situation and nodded her head. Lionel explained again. ¡°Even when I am away, you must remain chaste. I will never forgive you for playing with other guys.¡± ¡°Yes. I will keep that in mind.¡± ¡°From now on, consider the honor of the Duke of Sentoren and conduct yourself accordingly.¡± Riv heeded his words. ¡°Is there anything more you would like to say?¡± Riv intended to remain faithful to her role as Duchess as long as she lived under Lionel¡¯s protection. But was this the only reason Lionel called Riv here? Riv stared at Lionel. ¡°Can I ask you one more thing?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is it true that we should be seen as a normal couple, not only in banquets but also in everyday life?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel clasped both hands. ¡°I want us to be a real couple and not just have a superficial relationship. I¡¯ve already said that.¡± Riv swallowed. There was another thing she wanted to know. ¡°How about sharing a bed together?¡± Riv didn¡¯t need to ask such a question. Lionel scanned Riv¡¯s face. Dark, eerie eyes glared at Riv¡¯s dress. What emanated from his eyes was a sinister desire. ¡°I never said that I would not have s*x with you.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t we gone as far as we can go anyway? It¡¯s strange to have another lover after we¡¯re married.¡± Riv liked Lionel, but she didn¡¯t want a relationship he did not want. She thought that even if their bodies had good compatibility, a relationship with just their bodies couldn¡¯t possibly last long. Lionel¡¯s words that followed gave her a greater shock. ¡°The Duchess¡¯ role also includes the wife¡¯s role of warming my bed, Riv Sentoren.¡± Riv¡¯s mind went blank. ¡°Do you not remember our first night? Were you also high on d**gs?¡± Riv¡¯s face grew redder. Riv wanted her first man, Lionel, the memories of that passionate night flashed through her mind. Riv remembered all of it. Lionel was a savage beast but he was high on d**gs. She thought that his desire back then was due to dr*gs and his normal self would be different. ¡®Lionel couldn¡¯t possibly remember that night.¡¯ Would Lionel bed her if he did not take pills? Riv was drawn to Lionel. But she didn¡¯t want to reveal that desire right now. Riv pretended to be more dainty, pretending not to care about her desires. ¡°Tonight, uh, what are you going to do?¡± Lionel chuckled. ¡°Are you already looking forward to tonight? If you want me, come to my room tonight. Although it may be difficult for you to handle me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Lionel¡¯s gaze grew darker and more intense. Riv¡¯s body trembled at that gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t cheat on my wife with mistresses, Riv Sentoren.¡± ¡°Do you want me?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯ll have to stay with me in my bed until I¡¯m tired of you.¡± Lionel extended his arm and patted Riv¡¯s cheek. Lionel tucked loose hair behind her ear. Their distance narrowed at once. Lionel leaned closer to her side and whispered in her ear. ¡°If you want me, you have to be healthy. I will not let you go easily.¡± Riv¡¯s face turned red, but Lionel didn¡¯t change his expression. It was her who avoided his gaze as she thought she would suffocate at Lionel¡¯s serious gaze. At the awkwardness, Riv changed the subject. ¡°L-Lionel, would you like to have dinner together?¡± Lionel returned to his seat. As the tense mood disappeared, Riv let out a sigh of relief. Lionel stared at her again. ¡°The chefs will call once they¡¯re ready. Until then, please rest in your room.¡± Riv was relieved. ¡°Wait.¡± Lionel got up from his seat, hugged and lifted Riv, then kissed her on the cheek. ¡°Ugh.¡± Riv froze at the brief kiss. A mischievous smile spread across Lionel¡¯s face. However, to Riv, it seemed like a hot stigma was left on her cheek. ¡°You are so defenseless. Learn to manage your facial expressions.¡± He lightly patted Riv¡¯s cheek and let her out as if he was pushing her. Riv was still confused after leaving his office. ¡°Haa.¡± The weather outside the window was clear and sunny. That evening, Lionel and Riv had an early dinner together. ¡°You look beautiful in your dress.¡± ¡°Lionel looks handsome too.¡± They were words that had little meaning as a couple¡¯s greetings. After that, not much conversation went on. Lionel was reticent like his usual self, and Riv was exhausted from being nervous all day. At Lionel¡¯s intent gaze, Riv couldn¡¯t even eat the dessert. ¡°Riv, your complexion doesn¡¯t look too good.¡± ¡°I am tired.¡± ¡°Should I call the doctor?¡± ¡°I think I should just get some rest.¡± The faces of the servants who were listening to the conversation between the Duke and his wife darkened. Riv pretended not to notice. ¡°Lionel, can I go up first?¡± ¡°You must be tired, go and rest.¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, Riv cautiously stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m leaving first.¡± Lionel nodded, signaling Riv to go up. When she left, Lionel had the maids take her plate. It was a strange dinner for the first night after the wedding. All of those who came to see the Duchess disappeared, and the inside of the mansion was quieter than usual. It was still and silent, like a gravesite. Lionel was about to get up. ¡°Duke, you¡¯re still here.¡± Dr. Rambaud, who was very drunk, appeared. He looked like he drank alcohol, as if he looted from the underground wine cellar. ¡°I heard your new bride returned to her bedroom?¡± Rambaud¡¯s eyes seemed to be teasing Lionel. ¡°It¡¯s your first night, you must be sad.¡± Lionel clicked his tongue, the smell of alcohol wafted in the air. ¡°Put him in the guest room and lock the door.¡± Lionel left the drunkard to his servants and headed to the third floor where his bedroom was. After everyone was asleep, Riv started moving. Today was their first night. Chapter 45 After dinner, the maids forced Riv to take a bath. The bath was filled with expensive perfume oil and flower petals, and Riv even got a massage. The whole process took two hours, so it was past 9:00 p.m. when Riv finished. When Riv went to bed, she noticed that her maids watched. ¡°Madame, the Duke had gone to bed first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv pretended to yawn. ¡°I want to sleep too.¡± The maids seemed to want to say something, but as they looked into Riv¡¯s eyes, they left bitterly. The last person remaining was Claudel, who had returned late in the afternoon. She said, ¡°Madame, everyone is looking forward to the marriage between you and the Duke.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°The Duke is not a bad person. He cares and worries about you more than you know.¡± Claudel added. ¡°If you change your mind, take a look at the basket under the bed.¡± Claudel went outside with the lamp, and Riv lay on the bed. The only candle in the room that was lit was flickering. On a terribly quiet night, she thought that if she closed her eyes, she would soon fall asleep, but Riv could hardly sleep. As time passed, her mind became more and more fuzzy. ¡°I thought I would be able to sleep soon if I was tired.¡± She always went to bed past midnight in the palace, so it was too early to go to bed now. Riv gave up on falling asleep and stood up. She found a lamp and lit it. As the light in her room got a little brighter, she looked at the baskets Claudel and the maids had left behind. Inside the baskets were fancy nightgowns and things for their first night. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv put down the basket and became lost in her thoughts. Could Lionel and her really be a normal couple? She didn¡¯t know how to be loved, so would she be able to love him properly? ¡°I changed my destiny.¡± Riv pulled out her mother-in-law¡¯s ring from her necklace and held it in her hand. Until just a few days ago, she was a maid of the royal family and was branded a widow. She was a humble being who was the subject of Princess Marianne¡¯s anger. ¡°I am no longer Madame Katana.¡± Riv was the main character, not a supporting role. She went back in time. If she were to only live up to this winter as scheduled, she had no time to hesitate. Perhaps this was a connection bestowed upon her by the late Duchess. ¡°I mustn¡¯t regret it. I can¡¯t stop.¡± A blue fire blazed in Riv¡¯s eyes. She draped a robe over her pajamas and found soft slippers that didn¡¯t make any sound. In the mirror, she asked herself. ¡°What are you looking forward to?¡± Riv recalled only one thing. She wanted Lionel. The woman in the mirror was a refined and elegant Duchess. Past 10 o¡¯clock at night. Riv left her bedroom. She quickly made her way to the third floor, where Lionel¡¯s bedroom was. ¡°Huu.¡± Riv took deep breaths and looked back the way she came from. Even though it wasn¡¯t her first time with Lionel, her heart raced. Perhaps she was looking forward to it too much. She wondered if she was doing the right thing. In an instant, dozens of thoughts ran through her mind. Even though it wasn¡¯t late at night, the Duke¡¯s house was exceptionally quiet. Riv went up through the central staircase and did not encounter anyone. The escorts guarding Lionel¡¯s bedroom had collapsed and fallen asleep by the time Riv approached. ¡®Did I use magic?¡¯ She may have unleashed her powers unconsciously. Riv quietly passed them and entered Lionel¡¯s bedroom. Her steps towards the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s bedroom were slow but quite cheerful. Riv carefully stepped into Lionel¡¯s bedroom. Inside the dark bedroom, the lights were not properly lit. She illuminated the bedroom with a lamp. She then lit a candle she found in the bedroom. The Duke¡¯s bedroom was filled with dark colors. In the innermost part of the bedroom, a magnificent bed with four columns was visible. Riv went to the bed, lit another light, and realized. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± The bed was empty. ¡®Where¡¯s Lionel?¡¯ Confused, Riv wandered around the Duke¡¯s spacious bedroom. The coat he wore today lay on the armchair, but he wasn¡¯t there. Maybe he had an errand in his office. As Riv was about to walk there, the door to the bathroom swung open. Lionel came out half-naked and found Riv. ¡°Huh?¡± There was a ripple in his deep eyes. Riv, too, was startled and stopped her actions. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression, grasping the situation, changed to that of a relaxed predator. He walked over to Riv. ¡°Were you looking for me?¡± Riv nodded her head. Lionel smiled coyly. ¡°You know that once you come to me, you can¡¯t easily leave, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Answer me.¡± Drops of water ran down Lionel¡¯s wet upper body. Riv fixed her gaze on the water drops running down his firm, muscular body. He was so s*xy, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. All kinds of obscene rumors that the court ladies told about Lionel ran through her mind. At the same time, she remembered their hot first night. Heat rushed to her head. ¡°Look at me.¡± Lionel¡¯s deep voice echoed above Riv¡¯s head. Riv raised her head. Lionel filled Riv¡¯s vision. Then their eyes met. Lionel¡¯s face was reflected in Riv¡¯s eyes, and her face in his. ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡°I walked.¡± Lionel chuckled, as if Riv¡¯s answer was ridiculous. ¡°Weren¡¯t escorts guarding my room? And your room.¡± ¡°They must have pretended not to see me.¡± It seems that Riv¡¯s magic unwittingly put them to sleep, but she pretended not to know. There was only one thing that mattered. ¡°Tonight, I want to be with Lionel.¡± Today was their wedding. Riv raised her head and looked directly at Lionel. A beautiful and strong man, her husband, Lionel de Sentoren. Lionel¡¯s thick, hard neck appeared before Riv¡¯s eyes. She lowered her eyes, and his hard chest was revealed. Riv¡¯s heartbeat grew louder. She had an urge to touch his skin. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I miss Lionel.¡± ¡°Are you going to seduce me?¡± ¡°Are you tempted?¡± Was that what Lionel had hoped for? ¡°Raise your head.¡± At Lionel¡¯s command, Riv raised her head. ¡°Come closer.¡± Riv was dominated by his intense gaze. ¡°Closer.¡± Riv approached him close enough that she could touch his body. As the space between them disappeared, she stroked the bare skin on Lionel¡¯s hard shoulder. His skin was so hot that she felt like her hand was burning. Lionel¡¯s throat rumbled loudly. ¡°If you¡¯ve come all the way here, are you ready for tonight?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hold my neck.¡± Riv hugged him by the neck and stroked his blonde hair. Lionel carried her lightly and brought her to the bed. He whispered to her as he carefully laid her down. ¡°You are mine. Don¡¯t forget that.¡± His whisper was so deep, Riv could feel it through her bones. Riv wrapped her arms around the man who was coming closer. *** This time, both Riv and Lionel were sober. They weren¡¯t drunk nor dr*gged ¡°Haa. Haa.¡± But Riv couldn¡¯t explain the difference between him then and now. All words lost their meaning and flowed out of their mouths in fragments. Their words had lost all form. That was the shock of their first night. ¡°Haa.¡± Mild fever, volcanoes, eruptions, magma, passion. Those words engulfed Riv¡¯s mind. It was as if her body had completely melted and lost its boundaries. She was completely limp and lost her mind. Lionel enjoyed seeing her disheveled appearance. ¡°Riv, you look so good like this.¡± ¡°What?¡± The dazed Riv answered late. The way he looked at her was so lewd, with his hazy eyes and tongue wetting his moist lips. Riv¡¯s hair was all messed up, and flowing around her. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Lionel poured small kisses over her face. ¡°L-Lionel.¡± ¡°Rest.¡± A precious body. His. Lionel treated her very gently and carefully. It was a sweet relationship. Riv was warm and they were intoxicated with ecst*sy. Lionel kissed her and made love to her incessantly. As Riv climaxed with pleasure, she felt like she had melted. Her eyes went blank. Her cool body warmed up in his arms at once. With Riv drooping, she murmured in his arms. ¡°I want to go to sleep.¡± ¡°Sleep here.¡± ¡°What if someone finds out.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Lionel covered her mouth and carefully bit her neck again. Clear bite marks were left on her skin, but Riv was not bothered by anything. She was sleepy. ¡°Yawn.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°What about Lionel?¡± The satisfied beast growled as he buried his head in the nape of her neck. ¡°You should appreciate your body more.¡± Lionel wasn¡¯t planning on letting Riv sleep. And he was, as the court ladies said, an excellent stallion. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 In the darkness, Lionel¡¯s white teeth shone. Riv was sleepy but she was busy striking away Lionel¡¯s hand that touched her mischievously. Lionel¡¯s hand rubbed over her chest, then his grip tightened. Her heart ached as she became extremely aroused. Riv blamed him. ¡°L-Lionel.¡± Lionel¡¯s mischievous laughter was heard as Riv let out a shallow groan. ¡°You need to build up your stamina.¡± It wasn¡¯t something that a man, who bit and tasted her body like a beast, should say. His voice sounded like a growling beast. He licked her again. ¡°Riv, your body is so delicious.¡± ¡°I-It hurts. No more tonight.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Lionel groaned as if he would attack her again. Riv was puzzled by his behavior. Even though he acted the same as the night he was high on dr*gs, she couldn¡¯t understand his current state. She thought he would get tired of her after one night. But their love-making seemed to have stimulated Lionel¡¯s inner beast. Lionel continued to tease her body while making a satisfied face and not letting go. ¡°Lionel, do you like my body?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have people I don¡¯t like by my side. Especially if it¡¯s my wife.¡± Lionel grabbed Riv¡¯s black, flowing hair. He turned into a beast again, and buried his face into Riv¡¯s neck and whispered. ¡°I want to embrace you again.¡± Riv¡¯s dark hair blended so well with the darkness, and only her pale white skin stood out in the dark room. Lionel stared at her body as if he was appreciating a work of art. ¡°Riv, I want to embrace you again.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m having a hard time.¡± Lionel wanted to taste her again, but decided to endure it. ¡°¡­..S-Sleepy.¡± Riv, who had been tormented by him, was sleepy and yawned. ¡°Damn it.¡± Lionel hugged her crazily alluring body. She murmured in her sleep. ¡°I can¡¯t believe the Duke wants me. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re normal.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue to be obsessed with you and agree that it¡¯s not normal.¡± Riv looked for warmth, and she burrowed into his arms. Lionel hugged her tighter. It felt so good to be entangled against each other¡¯s bare skin. He had yet to satisfy his desires, but this was enough for now. ¡°I have to get up.¡± As Riv muttered in a sleepy voice, Lionel enjoyed brushing her bare skin. The feeling of touching Riv¡¯s smooth back was very good. Afterwards, Lionel brought a towel and cold water and carefully wiped down Riv¡¯s body. As if she was pleased with his gentle touch, Riv returned to bed and snuggled in his arms. Lionel asked her. ¡°Do you want to go back to your room?¡± ¡°I have to go back¡­¡± Riv¡¯s words became more and more slurred. She quickly passed out. ¡°Huh.¡± It was a perfect night. Lionel hugged his new bride in his arms. Many thoughts passed through his mind, but Lionel didn¡¯t speak. The only important thing for him was his desires that would be satiated by his own bride in his arms. Riv opened her eyes in the morning before dawn. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± The moment Riv opened her eyes, she realized where she was and why she was here. She was in the Duke¡¯s bedroom. ¡®I came looking for him.¡¯ It was dark in the bedroom so Riv couldn¡¯t see his form, but she could feel Lionel¡¯s warm body holding her own. Yes, they made love. Their bodies mingled. She had no intention of denying the fact. Riv could clearly feel his warm body temperature seeping through her body. ¡°Ugh.¡± Riv turned her head at the awkwardness and met deep amber eyes, a piercing gaze looking straight at her. ¡°Lionel?¡± She didn¡¯t know when he woke up. ¡°You woke up.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°You can sleep a little more.¡± Riv realized she had cut Lionel¡¯s arm¡¯s circulation off and wrapped her hands around his chest. Lionel¡¯s hand stroked Riv¡¯s bare shoulder. His sly hands seemed to represent his desires. The disheveled appearance of Lionel, who was looking at her secretly, was overly enthralled. Riv thought she should push him out of the bed, but it wasn¡¯t easy. ¡°Are you really going to leave me?¡± This charming man was seducing her. Her body that melted at Lionel¡¯s touch betrayed reason and told her to stay here. Riv struggled to push him out of bed. It was an obvious escape. The cold air brushed Riv¡¯s bare skin. Her body shivered. ¡°It¡¯s cold. Let me give you warmth.¡± ¡°I-I need to go back.¡± ¡°Riv.¡± ¡°Th-That temptation, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who tempted me?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t believe her own behavior last night. She knew that she had seduced him and that it worked, and that Lionel saw her as a beautiful lover. A beautiful lover? Herself? She was his? ¡°Can you walk?¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± Riv quickly regained her thoughts at Lionel¡¯s words. Riv picked up her clothes off the floor and quickly put them on. Although her body was hurting, she was able to move better than she thought, perhaps thanks to his consideration. She didn¡¯t know that Lionel was staring intently at her back. How dizzying she must have looked to him. After getting dressed, Riv turned to Lionel. Riv ruffled his tousled hair and said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to see me off.¡± ¡°After you come and tempt me, you become a cold-hearted woman.¡± [E/N: this novel should be called ¡°Seduce a Cold Blooded Maid¡± lol] Lionel was about to get up. He seemed to want to see her off. ¡°Riv, you don¡¯t have to go down. It¡¯s better to rest here.¡± Riv made a small movement with her finger, then Lionel¡¯s body collapsed onto the bed. He was already deeply asleep. ¡°You will be tired today.¡± Riv kissed Lionel¡¯s forehead. She pulled a blanket over his chest. It was probably because of this man that she was able to use magic naturally, even though she didn¡¯t intend to do so. For some reason, it seemed that she was a witch, and that she could use her power naturally when she was by this man¡¯s side and only for this man. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv caressed the sleeping man¡¯s face. She whispered ¡°Good night.¡± *** By the time Riv came out of Lionel¡¯s bedroom, dawn shimmered in the hallway. The escorts guarding the Duke¡¯s bedroom were still asleep, leaning against a wall or lying on the floor. Riv passed them quietly and headed for her bedroom. ¡°Hmm.¡± The guards in front of Riv¡¯s bedroom were still asleep. They only woke up after Riv was gone. ¡°Uh, why are we?¡± They got up quickly and panicked. Riv¡¯s morning began a few hours later. She returned at dawn and slept sweetly for a few hours without waking up. Her body ached, but her mind was refreshed. When she woke up, she felt like she had been reborn. When Riv opened her eyes, a bedroom full of red roses greeted her. ¡°¡­?¡± Riv was puzzled. ¡°Are you awake?¡± A maid said as Riv woke up. She was busy looking around her, bewildered. ¡°What are these flowers here for?¡± ¡°They are gifts from the Master.¡± ¡°From the Duke?¡± ¡°The master went out after eating because he had urgent business. The Lord has ordered me not to wake you so you can sleep comfortably.¡± It was too late to have breakfast together. Riv looked at the roses and then covered her blushing face. As she looked at the flowers, the memories of last night came to mind and she felt embarrassed. She thought that it was fortunate Lionel had gone out so they wouldn¡¯t see each other¡¯s faces right away. Still, she could hardly take her eyes off the roses. A smile spread across Riv¡¯s face. The maids smiled too. ¡°We¡¯ll bring you food.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv, who quietly ate the food brought by her maid, refused their help bathing her. She didn¡¯t want to show her body that was covered with Lionel¡¯s traces to anyone. Riv, who had changed into a new dress and accessorized, turned her gaze to the roses. ¡°Lionel.¡± What was Lionel thinking when he gave her roses? The roses were beautiful and had a faint fragrance. It was perfect for Riv who didn¡¯t like strong scents. She picked up one of the roses and looked at it for a long time. Although she had become Duchess, she had nothing to do right now. As Riv was contemplating whether she should stop by the greenhouse, Claudel came to see her. ¡°I¡¯ve been told that the Duke gave you roses.¡± Claudel smiled as she looked at the luscious rose Riv held. ¡°Madame, we have finished preparing the Duchess¡¯ room. The Duke told me to move you to your new room before evening.¡± ¡°Today?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re going to bring Madame¡¯s belongings to your new room as soon as possible.¡± Riv thought it was abrupt, but she nodded her head. Claudel said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a look at the room first? The Duchess¡¯ room is much more glamorous than this one. If you don¡¯t like it, you can change the theme and furniture.¡± Claudel¡¯s words were kind, but Riv was reluctant to change the Duchess¡¯ room. ¡°That was Lionel¡¯s mother¡¯s room too.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then it would be difficult to change the Duchess¡¯ room carelessly.¡± Riv¡¯s gaze turned back to the deep red rose. *** Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Riv was happy now. Then she trembled at a sudden realization. That this happiness would not last long. ¡®I won¡¯t live long. How could I forget?¡¯ Lionel¡¯s affection might wither as quickly as this rose. Life was short and affection and love may be more temporary than that. Lionel noticed her ugly heart and was able to cool it down. Both desire and emotions. Even so. He was still interested in her. They were new lovers. Riv wished Lionel¡¯s affection for her would last a little longer. She hoped that their rose would never wither. All she could do now was do her best to live happily. Riv suppressed her intrusive thoughts. She didn¡¯t have enough time to enjoy this happy reality. ¡°Madame, when will you be moving?¡± ¡°Claudel, let¡¯s move my luggage now.¡± ¡°I understand, Madame.¡± Claudel, as if waiting, rolled up her sleeves like the other maids, and prepared to move Riv¡¯s belongings. Riv¡¯s room was quickly disorganized. Riv only brought along her necklace and a few accessories. ¡°Then what should I do?¡± ¡°You like the greenhouse right? You can wait there while we finish the move.¡± ¡°What can I do to help?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± The maids were determined enough to be blunt. They took Riv to the greenhouse. She let herself into the greenhouse and looked around. Plants boasting green richness were all over the place. Because she was alone, she remembered last night when she had gone to visit Lionel. Did she present herself too lasciviously? What did Lionel think of her back then? Could she be shameless like this? Riv poured out her confused mind to the plants. ¡°I think I went crazy last night. Does Lionel think I¡¯m weird?¡± Was it a daydream? A dream where she would soon wake up? But then why did he give her roses? ¡°Right. Didn¡¯t he say I¡¯d be moving into the Duchess¡¯ room in a few days?¡± Her head was a mess. She had the courage to seduce Lionel, but she had never imagined such an outcome. She didn¡¯t know what the roses he gave her meant. ¡°If I move into the Duchess¡¯ room today, I will have to face him tonight.¡± The upcoming encounter with Lionel was much earlier than she had expected. She couldn¡¯t think of what expression to make once she faced him. Riv pondered, and asked the plants in the greenhouse. ¡°Answer me. What should I do?¡± The plants did not answer her questions. Riv fiddled with her mother¡¯s necklace. The more she touched the necklace, the more nervous she became. She couldn¡¯t relax at all. ¡°I¡¯ll see him in a few hours.¡± Her body temperature seemed to rise. Riv needed the courage to face Lionel. ¡°How did I go see him last night?¡± The Duchess¡¯ and Duke¡¯s bedroom were next to each other, so she couldn¡¯t avoid him easily. There was a door connecting their bedrooms. Stupid Riv Sentoren. Even when Riv hid in fear, Lionel still managed to pull her out of her shell. ¡°I have to change. I can¡¯t stand still like this.¡± If her exterior had changed, her interior would also have to change. Riv recalled the faces of Queen Selina, Princess Marianne, who wanted to kill her, and all those who had ridiculed Madame Katana. In her current state, it would be impossible to face them. She just wanted to survive and be happy with Lionel. Lionel, the man she fell in love with and who was now her husband. Her own man. When she thought of him, a strange warm light filled Riv¡¯s surroundings. Emotions sweeter than honey and ecst*sy floated quietly around Riv. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Those feelings were rustling. Emotions rose to the ceiling at once. They were brilliantly bright emotions. They floated freely on the ceiling of the greenhouse as if they were lighter than air and attracted her attention. Riv carefully looked up and stared at the emotions she had created. Was this the feeling of liking Lionel? The light of those emotions were dazzlingly beautiful. They flew towards the entrance of the greenhouse suddenly. Just then, the door to the greenhouse opened and Lionel came in. ¡°Lionel?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t believe he appeared and called out his name. Lionel replied with a smile. ¡°I knew you would be here again.¡± ¡°I thought Lionel would be home late today.¡± ¡°How can a groom be home late on his second day of marriage?¡± Lionel looked shy. Her emotions, now translucent, descended and dissipated near Lionel¡¯s body. His smile grew more subtle. ¡°What happened last night wasn¡¯t a lie right?¡± ¡°Last night?¡± ¡°When you seduced me.¡± It wasn¡¯t even a lewd word, but Riv still felt embarrassed and it drove her crazy. Her gaze automatically landed at her feet. ¡°Why are you here?¡± She had only been away from him for a few hours but she felt awkward. Although, Lionel didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°I came because you¡¯re here. The servants were busy preparing your move.¡± Riv raised her head. Dressed neatly in a uniform, he swept his short, platinum blonde hair back. His face was bright, but because of his unique scar and brusque atmosphere, he looked like a bloodthirsty man. That face softened when he looked at Riv, but contorted when he looked at Riv¡¯s ivory dress. ¡°What don¡¯t you like?¡± ¡°The dress.¡± Riv looked down at her dress. It was a dress that fit her body well and the color wasn¡¯t too flashy. ¡°Lionel, what¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a nun¡¯s habit, it doesn¡¯t show anything nor have any decoration.¡± ¡°It is a modest and calm design. I can¡¯t show my skin.¡± ¡°Oh, because I left a lot of marks on your body?¡± Lionel looked so shameless. ¡°Riv Sentoren, my wife. You look good in bright colors.¡± Lionel, who had been complaining about her clothes, grabbed a strand of Riv¡¯s flowing dark hair. Her body leaned towards him at once. They stared at each other¡¯s eyes intently. Lionel¡¯s eyes blazed like a wild animal¡¯s. ¡°I won¡¯t eat you. Rest assured.¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, Riv nodded her head. He smirked slyly. ¡°You seduce me and tease me at night, but you pretend to be innocent during the day. Why are our days and nights so different?¡± Riv realized he was making fun of her. Having regained her composure, she replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t seduce you.¡± ¡°Then who came to my room?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Will you come back to seduce me again?¡± As he looked like he was sincerely hopeful, Riv muttered what she wanted to say. Then Riv decided to strike while the iron was hot. ¡°Duke, spend the night with me.¡± ¡°That is very good. Let¡¯s have a hot night.¡± Smiling, Lionel expressed his aspirations. ¡°I vaguely suspected that my night life with you wouldn¡¯t be bad. But I didn¡¯t know you were going to attack me like this. I just thought I should put you in the room next to mine for a pleasant honeymoon.¡± ¡°Lionel, you are shameless.¡± ¡°Am I as shameless as you? Oh, I think I wouldn¡¯t mind getting attacked here.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv panicked and fanned her face. ¡°Is it hot?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s just a slight fever.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just look at me and have naughty thoughts?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± Contrary to her words, Riv had imagined taking Lionel¡¯s clothes off and attacking him. It was all because of Lionel¡¯s lewd remarks. ¡°You must really want to embrace me. You¡¯re staring at me with eyes that seem like they¡¯re going to eat me.¡± ¡°I have no intention of doing that.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lionel nodded and stroked her cheek. ¡°You were brave last night, but now you look like a cornered rabbit.¡± The inside of the greenhouse seemed to have gotten too hot. Riv looked at the green palm leaves and took a deep breath. A little bit of her sobriety seemed to have returned, but Lionel¡¯s presence distracted her. Lionel laughed like a sheepish boy. ¡°I never thought I would make you my wife, Madame Katana.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Riv Katana was hiding under that dreadful disguise.¡± ¡°Is that a compliment?¡± Lionel looked quite happy. ¡°Who would have known that Madame Katana, rumored to be the ugliest woman in Ailte Palace, would be such a beautiful and charming woman.¡± Lionel lightly brushed her exposed collarbone. Her fingers went down and lightly brushed over her chest. Riv¡¯s body hardened just by that brief touch. Lionel¡¯s smile grew lustful. ¡°I want you.¡± ¡°You want me?¡± The slight heat that had accumulated on Lionel¡¯s fingertips transferred to Riv¡¯s body. Her heart was pounding wildly. Lionel stroked Riv¡¯s blushing cheek. ¡°I really long for you.¡± Riv¡¯s mind was a mess. She was given a second chance at life by magic, so she did not know her fate. But she was sure of one thing. Lionel was now her man. Hers alone. ¡°I like spending time with you.¡± The words ¡®I want you¡¯ came up to her tongue and then disappeared. For Lionel, that seemed enough. ¡°Tonight, I will visit your room.¡± Lionel gave Riv a playful kiss. ¡°I have to leave for a while. Wait patiently in the Duchess¡¯ bedroom until I return tonight.¡± Leaving Riv, whose soul had left her body, he walked out of the greenhouse. Riv lost strength in her legs and sat down. ¡°I-I¡¯m going crazy.¡± Her longing for Lionel grew too much. Riv muttered in thought. ¡°I want him.¡± *** Chapter 48 Chapter 48 That evening, Riv had completely moved to the Duchess¡¯ room. The Duchess¡¯ Room was located on the third floor, right next to the Duke¡¯s room. Riv awkwardly stared at the room adorned with pure gold. It was the most splendid place in the Duke¡¯s mansion. It seemed like it would take a while for Riv to get used to it. ¡°Madame, you told us to leave this place as it is, but the Duke said you can change the furniture, walls, and paintings at any time.¡± Riv waved her hand thinking that it would be burdensome. ¡°If I don¡¯t get used to it, then I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Lionel said he would be late due to a sudden meeting with the property manager of the estate. Claudel prepared a light dinner just as Riv had requested. After the meal, she explained what she was supposed to do as Duchess. ¡°Riv, who is now the Duke¡¯s wife, is the first person you should take care of. The second is the Duke of Sentoren.¡± Riv felt exhausted as she continued to listen to Claudel¡¯s explanation. When she could no longer concentrate, Claudel led Riv into the bathroom. Two maids filled the bathtub with warm water and waited for Riv. ¡°Madame, it¡¯s time to prepare.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± The maids laughed and quickly undressed Riv. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± For a moment, they were surprised to see traces on Riv¡¯s body, but pretended to have seen nothing. They hurriedly shoved Riv into the bathtub full of rose petals. ¡°I washed this morning.¡± ¡°You need to prepare properly before you meet the Duke.¡± ¡°B-But.¡± The maids smiled, noticing that Riv and Lionel had a secret meeting no one knew about. They seemed delighted to find the tenacious marks on Riv¡¯s body. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, Madame.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how happy we are that the Duke and Duchess are on good terms.¡± Riv eventually came out of the bathroom exhausted. Then she panicked as she saw the thin nightgown Claudel brought for her to change into. ¡°C-Claudel?¡± ¡°Do you not want to capture the Duke?¡± ¡°This is too explicit.¡± ¡°Madame, there must have been many women in the palace who wore less.¡± Riv agreed, but she wouldn¡¯t dare wear this. Riv had broad shoulders for a woman and her limbs were too long. She was hesitant because she thought that the short and er*tic nightgown would make her body look deformed. ¡°Please wear it.¡± Claudel urged her with a gentle smile, then the maids quickly dressed her. The maids brought Riv in front of her old-fashioned full-length mirror. ¡°Look, you are beautiful.¡± A white-skinned woman with dark, rich hair was reflected in the gold-rimmed mirror. Her bare skin was blatantly visible through the translucent nightgown she wore. Perhaps it was due to a magical effect but her limbs looked incredibly long and elegant. The curve of her hips and breasts also looked more voluptuous. ¡°Ah.¡± The woman in the mirror was fascinating, like Venus. Riv couldn¡¯t believe she was the woman in the mirror. She couldn¡¯t even imagine Lionel¡¯s reaction if she saw her like this. ¡°D-Do you have anything I can wear over this?¡± The maids reluctantly gave her a silk robe. The robe was still too thin, revealing the curves of her body. ¡°Any other robe other than this one?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t.¡± After answering her coldly, the maids began to retreat. ¡°It is time for the Duke to visit.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to leave now.¡± The maids exchanged smiles and quickly left with Claudel. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv covered her flushed face and waited for Lionel. She looked around the Duchess¡¯ room, decorated by her maids. The red roses that Lionel had given her this morning were in every corner of the room. Candles flickered softly on the table. Next to them was a bottle of wine and chocolates. A sweet scent wafted from somewhere. Riv felt intoxicated with the lovely scent of flowers. ¡°Ah.¡± Riv, caught in a dazed mood, swept the petals from her bed before she hid under the duvet. Lionel hadn¡¯t come yet. ¡°Can I wear this in front of him? Should I change?¡± Riv was shocked by her capricious impulses. She looked at the door leading to the Duke¡¯s room. She imagined Lionel standing by the door looking at her with a gaze that could devour her. ¡®It will be thrilling.¡¯ When would that door open? Would Lionel like this look on her? Riv, waiting for Lionel to come, fell asleep. The soft and comfortable bed was like a mother¡¯s embrace, which she had never experienced before. Riv woke up a few hours later to the sound of someone coughing. ¡°Were you sleeping, Riv?¡± Behind the dividing door, she heard Lionel¡¯s voice. Riv¡¯s sleepiness disappeared. ¡°I just woke up.¡± Riv got up from her bed, and walked towards the connecting doors. Lionel was leaning on the door frame. Lionel was in the same outfit he was wearing in the morning. His eyes swept Riv¡¯s body, underneath the thin gown. *** His intense gaze climbed up from her bare white feet, her thin ankles and her long shins, resting on her hips, her slim waist, and her voluptuous breasts. The last place his gaze turned to was Riv¡¯s face. ¡°Come here, Riv.¡± Lionel beckoned and glared at her thin gown. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this before.¡± ¡°Claudel prepared it for me.¡± Riv tried to cover up the gown that showed off her body and curves. But at that gesture, Lionel¡¯s eyes blazed. ¡°Riv, can I embrace you? I think I¡¯m going to take you roughly today.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°If I hold you, you will be a mess. There won¡¯t be a place on your white skin without a trace.¡± Riv gasped as she was speechless. Lionel was busy making fun of her. ¡°The butler and the head maid said they will be applying for a budget to order baby products. Everyone started debating where to put the baby room.¡± ¡°W-What? A baby?¡± Riv barely regained her sanity and questioned him. Lionel said. ¡°Our child, who will inherit the position of Duke.¡± Riv opened her mouth in surprise. She stuttered. ¡°I-It¡¯s not like I¡¯m pregnant. Even if I got pregnant right now, wouldn¡¯t we have the baby next year?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. All they want is for us to have a pretty baby.¡± Giving birth or having children was not what Riv originally wanted. She had never imagined a child with Lionel. Even Lionel didn¡¯t want Riv to get pregnant right away. ¡°It would be difficult if you got pregnant right now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because when you get pregnant, we won¡¯t have enough time to enjoy our honeymoon.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s right.¡± Riv¡¯s face turned red again. She liked the feeling of secretly overlapping their bodies at all hours of the night. The situations where Lionel couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her were thrilling. No negative thoughts came to her mind now. There were only two of them here. ¡°Lionel, do you like my body that much?¡± In an instant, Lionel¡¯s expression changed. The corner of his mouth on the left side of his scarred face curved upwards. The beautiful left side of his face exuded a subtle devilish charm. He beckoned. ¡°Come here.¡± Lionel¡¯s call seemed like a devil¡¯s temptation. As she approached Lionel, who stood at the border between the two rooms, he kissed Riv¡¯s lips lightly. ¡°Hmm.¡± It was a light kiss like a child¡¯s prank. The moment Riv, who wanted something deeper and darker, was about to reach out her hand to him. ¡°Lionel.¡± Lionel pushed her away with a stiff expression on his face. His expression was resolute as he took a breath. ¡°I have no intention of crossing the line tonight, Riv Sentoren.¡± ¡°What if I want you? Why do I have to hold it in?¡± [T/N: Ur girl be thirsty XD] Riv was furious for a moment, and Lionel raised an eyebrow instead of answering. ¡°Do you want me?¡± Riv needed the pleasure and warmth he could give her this moment. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, Lionel?¡± Riv grabbed Lionel¡¯s collar. Lionel¡¯s shoulder flinched violently. He was very excited. ¡°I want you to be a beast.¡± Lionel was not a gentleman. From the first time he saw her he had been hiding his beastly nature under a cold mask. ¡°Why do you only look at me?¡± Did Lionel really want her? Did he need an excuse to enter Riv¡¯s room? Riv pulled back her long, voluminous hair and tugged the laces of her robe. Lionel¡¯s scorching gaze followed her actions and her fingers. ¡°Look at me.¡± Riv pulled the straps, exposing the sheer nightgown underneath. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel¡¯s eyes looked as if they were about to pop out. She slowly dropped the silk robe. ¡°Spend the night with me, Duke.¡± Lionel was patient. But Riv was ready to capture him. The feeling of conquering this man was exhilarating. It was as if she was the seductive Goddess of Temptation. He growled, staring at her thin nightgown. ¡°Are you trying to seduce me, Riv Sentoren? Can you handle me?¡± ¡°We are newlyweds, Lionel. If you don¡¯t want me, leave.¡± ¡°We are newlyweds.¡± Before Lionel could finish his words, he rushed at her. *** Chapter 49 ¡°Ah!¡± Lionel picked up Riv and carried her to the Duchess¡¯ bed. Lionel threw her onto the bed and climbed on top of her. ¡°You provoked me, my bride.¡± Lionel¡¯s body was as hot as a furnace. His black shadow was menacing. Riv welcomed him who had turned into a beast. She realized that she liked his beastly nature. It was a taste she was unaware of. ¡°Lionel.¡± Riv wrapped her arms around his firm neck. ¡°I want you. So wait for me.¡± Riv slipped out from underneath him and lifted her robe. Lionel¡¯s eyes were about to pop out from their sockets. Riv¡¯s chest permeated under her sheer nightgown. She wasn¡¯t wearing anything underneath. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Lionel¡¯s eyes flashed menacingly. He tore off Riv¡¯s thin pajamas at once. He whispered to her, locking her under his body. ¡°Is it my turn to tease you?¡± Riv¡¯s hot skin entangled with his body. ¡°I was going to hold back today!¡± Lionel¡¯s distorted expression caught her eye. Riv just focused all her senses on his touch. It was hot and distant. Her body against his. Lionel, who only longed for her. The savage beast dominated her. Riv tightly clung on his neck to keep herself from drifting away. Their bodies, sticky with sweat, intertwined. He dug deeper and teased her. Their sweaty bodies were entangled together. ¡°L-Lionel!¡± Lionel was a savage beast, and Riv seemed to have become his perfect prey. He played with her entire body using his hands. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel¡¯s voice rang in her ear. Riv sank deeply. After they finished, Riv embraced Lionel. She was already exhausted and couldn¡¯t do anything. She thought she should wash her body, which was covered in sweat, but she had no energy left to move. Lionel said playfully, raising Riv¡¯s droopy arms. ¡°My wife has to increase her stamina.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one overflowing with stamina?¡± ¡°Yes. I can do it many more times.¡± Riv glared at Lionel who was still full of energy. However, she was not a threat to him as her body was exhausted and helpless. Riv sighed and gave a small yawn. ¡°I want to bathe, so take me to the bathroom.¡± Lionel nodded his head with a grin. ¡°Yes, my wife.¡± He took off his clothes, he was naked as he held Riv lightly. Riv found nail marks on his back, where she had scratched him. ¡°Lionel, did I make your back like this? D-Does it hurt?¡± ¡°It stung a little, but it¡¯s fine now.¡± Riv was embarrassed at Lionel¡¯s appearance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This kind of wound is nothing.¡± ¡°B-But.¡± Riv had tears in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s really fine. A wound like this doesn¡¯t even hurt.¡± ¡°What if it leaves a scar? We need to disinfect it.¡± ¡°Really, I¡¯m fine.¡± Lionel comforted her as they went into the bathroom together. Lionel sat Riv down on the edge of the bathtub and filled it with water. Riv saw the numerous gruesome scars engraved on his body and held her breath. Lionel looked beautiful. However, the scars on the left side of his face and the numerous ones on his body showed how many deaths he had overcome. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Riv caressed the scar on his face and the old wound next to his heart. The wounds must have been painful and dangerous. Lionel smiled at Riv¡¯s touch. ¡°It did at first, but it¡¯s okay now.¡± ¡°Lies.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve become numb to the pain.¡± ¡°Still, it must have been painful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Lionel pretended to be fine then placed Riv into the bathtub full of warm water. He went into the bathtub with her. The water splashed around them. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. ¡°Stop messing around with your hands.¡± ¡°Why, don¡¯t you like it?¡± Lionel¡¯s hands teased Riv¡¯s body under the water. His hands splashed water around, making a noise. Her body became hot in an instant. She moaned excitedly as she warmed up. She couldn¡¯t push him away. She didn¡¯t have the strength to resist him in the first place. So Riv did not reject his warm touch. The water enveloped their bodies. Heavy breathing followed. Warm water overflowed. The bathroom was filled with thick mist and sounds of pleasure. All of those echoed in the bathroom. Lionel moaned Riv¡¯s name as he reached his peak. It was dawn when they had finished bathing and returned to bed. ¡°Now go to sleep.¡± Lionel caressed Riv like a child. ¡°You should get some rest now, wife.¡± He couldn¡¯t influence Riv, so he treated her like a princess. In the arms of Lionel, who was comfortable and warm, Riv was intoxicated with utter euphoria. As Riv fell asleep, she felt a warm energy surrounding them. Magical power, where happiness had become reality. Riv had a dream. A dream where she and Lionel leaned on each other affectionately, in a sunny meadow, laughing together. Was this the future, or was it something she hoped for? ¡°Riv, sleep well.¡± She could hear a man¡¯s sleepy voice in the distance. Lionel hugged the naked Riv. His body was hot and Riv¡¯s body was cold. The opposite body temperatures met and mixed, and merged into a pleasant lukewarm temperature. As the quiet night passed, Lionel felt strange. He opened his eyes suddenly. He felt something he couldn¡¯t ignore. There seemed to be no one else in the room except them. The Duchess¡¯ room, engulfed in darkness, was too quiet. Like there was no one alive besides them. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Obviously, Lionel felt someone¡¯s energy. ¡°Hmm?¡± It was as if someone was watching them. It was the senses developed by a soldier or a beast who had gone to the battlefield. He suddenly stared at the jewelry box next to the bed. ¡°Is it just me?¡± He seemed to feel a red gaze on him. He looked around again, but there was nothing. Lionel gave up and went back to sleep. Inside the jewelry box, the red glow of the ruby ??ring slowly faded away. Lionel hugged Riv and made her lean on him. As she listened to his heartbeat, she buried herself deeper into his arms. *** Deep into the night, a man in a robe stood in the small chapel of the Bishop¡¯s Church. He was looking off into the distance. Enaldo, a fellow priest, spoke to him. ¡°It appears that the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren returned safely after the wedding. The Duchess has since been informed that she was not to leave the Duke¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Enaldo was very interested in the Duchess, but the robed man seemed indifferent. Enaldo asked again. ¡°Have you met the Duchess of Sentoren?¡± The robed man shook his head. ¡°Still, you are family, and share the same last name.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know Olivia Sentoren. She came after I left the family.¡± Enaldo shut his mouth as he was about to say something. There was no need to meddle in other people¡¯s family affairs. The moment they chose the path of a priest, they abandoned their family. Philip cut ties with his family and had been away from the royal capital for well over 10 years. Clearly, Philip and Madame Katana had nothing to do with each other. However, Enaldo felt Philip¡¯s subtle hostility towards her. ¡°Do you feel like she damaged the Katana name, Philip? Because she¡¯s an adopted daughter? Or because her descendants may inherit the Sentoren title?¡± Philip shook his head but said nothing. Soon after, Philip began to pray, so Enaldo went back to his room. After he finished his prayer, Philip went outside and looked up at the dark night sky. He mumbled to himself. ¡°Riv Sentoren is a witch¡¯s daughter.¡± *** Morning came. It was late in the morning and no one had come to wake them up. The sun shone through the curtains that were firmly drawn. Riv opened her eyes blankly and looked to her side. Lionel was still sleeping soundly. ¡®Wow.¡¯ The sleeping man looked young and innocent, like a child. The red scar on his left cheek also made him look more human. Without the scar, his beautiful face would have been perfect. Without this scar, would Marianne have chosen Lionel? ¡®Stop thinking of Marianne.¡¯ Lionel twisted his body and stretched. He opened his eyes and greeted Riv. ¡°Riv, did you sleep well?¡± Lionel¡¯s sleepy face and hoarse voice were much sweeter than last night. Riv¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°Oh, what did you say?¡± ¡°I asked if you slept well.¡± ¡°I-I slept well.¡± Lionel chuckled at Riv¡¯s slow response. ¡°Did my wife fall for me again?¡± Did she ever expect that the man she thought was cold blooded could joke like this? It was all new to Riv. Every day, she felt like she was discovering a new side of Lionel. ¡°Riv, are you okay? Why do you have that blank look?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing.¡± Riv, who hurriedly got up, groaned involuntarily. ¡°Ugh!¡± The moment she moved her body, an excruciating pain arose. Her body throbbed as if her bones had been broken. As she pondered why she was in pain, her face turned red. Chapter 50 ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Lionel panicked as Riv nodded her head, tears in her eyes. ¡°Was I too intense last night?¡± Lionel laid Riv back down on the bed and comforted her. ¡°You better get some rest now, Riv.¡± As Lionel got up, Riv observed his upper body. He had a sculptural body with well-developed muscles. He looked like a war god. ¡°Why are you blushing while looking at my body when we¡¯ve done something much more lewd than this?¡± Riv pursed her lips. Lionel smiled and stood up. ¡°Lie down, Riv.¡± After Lionel put on his pants, he opened the door to the Duchess¡¯ room. He called for a servant. ¡°Bring breakfast dishes that are easy to digest.¡± ¡°Oh, why is the Duke leaving the Duchess¡¯ room?¡± The bewildered servant quickly assessed the situation. ¡°Oh, I see. Shall we bring the Duke¡¯s meal too?¡± ¡°Later.¡± She could hear the sound of the servant quickly walking away. Lionel brought in soup and soft bread some time later. With a caring expression, he scooped warm soup and tried to feed her. ¡°Go ahead and eat, Riv.¡± He brought the spoonful of moderately warm soup towards her mouth. Riv was startled by his actions and carefully opened her lips. After swallowing, she pursed her lips and looked up at Lionel. ¡°Cute.¡± It was the first time in her life that she had heard such a thing. Riv¡¯s eyes widened. Was this happiness? At this moment, this room felt like a paradise. Riv couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the handsome man in front of her. Lionel was deep in her heart. She seemed to love him more than she did before. After breakfast, Lionel went back to his room. Riv, who had been resting in bed for a while, fell asleep. When Riv opened her eyes, Claudel and her maids were cautiously walking into the bedroom, cleaning up. They saw that Riv had woken. ¡°Madame, are you awake?¡± There were smiles on their faces, and Riv didn¡¯t know how to react. She wanted to hide in a hole. ¡°Madame, congratulations.¡± Riv¡¯s face blushed. She was about to turn away when she saw the torn pieces of cloth Claudel had been picking up from the floor. It made her even more embarrassed. It was her nightgown from last night. Claudel casually said. ¡°Madame, you must learn to be unabashed. It¡¯s okay to have your clothes torn off.¡± They cleaned the floor and left. When they came back, they had packages in their hands. ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°These are presents that the Duke sent you.¡± ¡°Again?¡± Riv stared at the roses which Lionel had given her the day before. The roses hadn¡¯t even withered and yet he sent more gifts. ¡°These are the things that the Duke prepared for you as wedding presents.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Riv had no idea what they were, so she only nodded her head. ¡°Please open them.¡± The maids brought the gifts closer and showed them to Riv. Lionel¡¯s gifts were of various kinds. A pair of delicately crafted gold bracelets, diamond earrings, elegant hairpins and beautiful perfumes. When she saw the treasures, Riv felt her drowsiness disappear. She put on her robe and struggled to get out of bed. ¡°Where is the Duke?¡± ¡°After training in the gym with the knights, he is now in his office. Do you wish to see him?¡± Riv shook her head. ¡°I am tired yet the Duke is full of energy.¡± ¡°The Duke is in good health.¡± Riv was not surprised by Claudel¡¯s words. Lionel¡¯s physical strength had been fully confirmed by her own body. ¡°The Master wants Madame to rest. If your body is uncomfortable, we will call a doctor.¡± ¡°There is no need to call a doctor. That¡¯s too much.¡± Riv cut her off quickly. She couldn¡¯t imagine calling a doctor because of the aftermath of a passionate night. Riv glanced down at her chest. After seeing the red marks left on her collarbone, she pulled the front of her robe up and wrapped it around her body tightly. Riv was worried that someone else had seen it. ¡°Nothing happened, Claudel.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand Madame.¡± At Riv¡¯s words, Claudel and her maids pretended to be ignorant, but their smiles did not fade from their faces. Riv slept soundly and slept through dinner time. Lionel was only able to see Riv that night. After Lionel finished his bath, he went straight to her room. ¡°Riv.¡± Riv, who had just woken from her sleep, stared at Lionel who had water dripping from his hair. He was only wearing a robe. ¡°Can I sleep in your room?¡± Riv looked at Lionel, and smiled. ¡°If I refuse, will you go back?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Lionel had a mischievous expression. Riv had no intention of convincing him to leave or to kick him out. In just two days, she had gotten used to his warmth and felt like she couldn¡¯t sleep without him. ¡°Lionel, bring a towel.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lionel asked, but still brought a towel just as Riv had asked. ¡°You just came and didn¡¯t even dry off properly.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Riv sat him down and carefully wiped the water from his dripping hair. Riv¡¯s hand pressed against Lionel¡¯s scalp and massaged it through the towel. ¡°That feels good.¡± Lionel closed his eyes with a relaxed moan. Riv suddenly remembered Lionel¡¯s Southern estate. Lionel had gone to his Southern estate shortly after his marriage to Marianne. He could have left Riv here and gone to his estate like before. ¡°Lionel, what kind of place is the Sentoren¡¯s territory?¡± ¡°Hot. It¡¯s a barren wasteland, and the sea smells fishy.¡± ¡°I want to go.¡± Lionel had surrendered his hair to Riv, but he slightly opened his eyes and stared at her. ¡°There is no one there, but if that¡¯s what you wish.¡± ¡°Will you take me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel¡¯s hair was now dry. Riv removed her hands and stared at him. Lionel sternly looked at her and then leaned his body towards her. His scent was strong. His shadow covered Riv¡¯s lips. It was a thrilling and dizzying moment. They may not last forever, so these were precious moments. ¡°Are you okay?¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, Riv frantically managed her expression and asked. ¡°Are you going to do it again?¡± Lionel laughed. He climbed on top of her. ¡°Of course I will.¡± The Duke of Sentoren turned into a beast in heat. *** Riv decided to have breakfast with Lionel the next morning. They met in the dining hall. Lionel arrived before her. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Late into the night and early into the morning, the man who had hugged and expressed his affection to Riv was indifferent to her in the dining room. ¡°You came down first, Lionel.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lionel wore a loose shirt and trousers as usual. He glanced at Riv, revealing his displeasure. ¡°Riv, why are you wearing that outfit again?¡± Riv glanced down at her dress with ruffles and embellishments. Her dress had frills on its cuffs and a pearl necklace that was rich in color. It was on the fancy side to wear for a simple meal. ¡°Does it not suit me?¡± Riv became serious, stroking the pearls adorned on her chest. But Lionel¡¯s complaint was not due to that. ¡°There¡¯s no skin exposure.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv glared at Lionel, baffled by his answer. He was the reason why she couldn¡¯t wear clothes that exposed her arms and shoulders. ¡°It was Lionel who left marks on my body.¡± ¡°Then, should I leave marks on parts that won¡¯t show?¡± The servants who were bringing in food flinched when they saw Lionel wink. They saw something they shouldn¡¯t have seen. They seemed to have been shocked. Meanwhile, the meal prepared by the chefs was served and the two began to eat quietly. ¡°¡­¡­¡± There were only sounds of dishes and utensils, but Lionel often stared at Riv affectionately. Riv couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him, and the time they spent looking at each other grew longer. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Please eat. Don¡¯t just slice the meat.¡± Lionel was a carnivore and started eating the meat that he had sliced. Towards the end of their meal, the butler, Karl, brought a letter and whispered to Lionel. His expression changed slightly. Lionel took the letter from Karl and notified Riv of its contents. ¡°Riv, the Earl of Murden has invited us to dinner.¡± ¡°The Earl of Murden?¡± Riv remembered the Southern brown-haired man from their wedding guests. He was a witness to the wedding and had said he was Lionel¡¯s friend. ¡°The one with curly brown hair from our wedding.¡± ¡°The tall guy who laughed.¡± It was the first time she had seen the Earl of Murden. Riv retraced her memories and confirmed that she had never met the Countess Murden, since the Earl of Murden had no contact with Queen Selina or Marianne. Riv received the invitation from Lionel. The invitation was written in calligraphy, and invited the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren to a meal. ¡°Who will be attending?¡± ¡°You and I, the Earl and Countess of Murden and their children. They have three kids.¡± Riv opened her mouth wide. She was worried. If they met the Murden couple, Riv¡¯s actions would eventually make their way back to the palace. Madame Katana would be on the lips of many once more. Riv was concerned. ¡°If they meet with us, malicious rumors may form against the Earl of Murden.¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 ¡°They know a little about our situation.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression became more serious. ¡°Actually, there is a story you should hear. Let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel moved to the drawing room with Riv. He ordered Karl, the butler. ¡°Bring them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The old Karl brought letters bearing the royal seal on a tray. ¡°Here they are, Your Grace.¡± ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°Riv, these are letters addressed to you. I think you should read them.¡± The letters had all been opened. Lionel seemed to have read the contents beforehand. ¡°There was no dangerous content or direct threats in the letters. Magic was not used.¡± There were several letters. The names of Princess Marianne, Queen Selina, and the names of the princes were written on the outside. Riv¡¯s expression distorted as she picked up a letter and read it. It was not surprising. The contents were as she had expected. Queen Selina had a great resentment against Riv. So she wanted to kill Riv. [ I hope you have a miserable end. -Queen Selina] Compared to the Queen¡¯s letter, Marianne¡¯s letter was more of a curse. The letter was written in red ink, perhaps chicken blood was used. It contained childish profanity and threats. [Come back here right now!] After reading Marianne¡¯s letter that opened like this, Riv closed it. She could already guess what the rest of the letters said without reading them. Although she used abusive words, Marianne¡¯s letter was better than the Queen¡¯s. Marianne used to easily forget when she no longer saw the subject of her revenge. On the other hand, Queen Selina had killed many of her maids. Riv was the only case of a maid she did not successfully kill. ¡®The Queen will not tolerate letting me live.¡¯ Lionel¡¯s expression was also serious. ¡°Riv, if you start socializing, your life could be in danger.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you an escort. Even if it makes you uncomfortable, please endure it.¡± For the time being, it seemed that she had to get used to being accompanied by an escort. But would she have to hide like this for the rest of her life? ¡®I may only have a few months left.¡¯ Riv asked Lionel. ¡°Lionel, will I be safe if Princess Marianne¡¯s new groom is chosen?¡± Lionel was skeptical. ¡°Even if Marianne¡¯s engagement is decided, it will be a few more months before Marianne gets married. Queen Selina¡¯s resentment may not be resolved afterwards.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t show up at banquets or the social world, they might start spreading rumors again. Even if you go down to the estate or somewhere else, the royal family will find you and try to call for you.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Queen Selina would be obsessed with her because she wanted to kill her. It was the same with Marianne. ¡®Don¡¯t think about them any more.¡¯ Riv folded the letters from the royal family. Even though Riv didn¡¯t use magic, she could clearly sense the malice and negative emotions in the letters. On the other hand, there was no ill intention from the invitation of the Earl of Murden, only a cautious kindness towards the other party. Why were they so extreme? Riv accepted the invitation from the Earl of Murden and she laughed. ¡°I want to meet these people.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°But when can we go? What date?¡± Lionel casually pointed to the back of the invitation. ¡°The date is on the invitation. The day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°That soon?¡± Lionel didn¡¯t give her time to prepare her mind. ¡°Oh, a female knight will escort you starting this afternoon. You can rest assured. I chose her because she¡¯s someone I can trust.¡± Lionel looked annoyed that he had to wait two more days. She couldn¡¯t expect delicacy from him, so Riv sighed quietly. Two days later, Lionel and Riv¡¯s carriage arrived at the Earl of Murden¡¯s mansion. The Earl and Countess of Murden lived in a large mansion built on the outskirts of the Royal Capital. Before disembarking from the carriage, Riv nervously took a deep breath. She asked Lionel the same question she had repeatedly asked since they left. ¡°Lionel, do I look okay?¡± Lionel clenched his teeth and stared at Riv. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re pretty.¡± Riv was not relieved by his indifferent words at all. ¡°I wish you could tell me exactly which part looks wrong.¡± ¡°I have nothing to criticize because I think you¡¯re pretty.¡± Riv only shook her head, knowing that she wasn¡¯t pretty. Lionel, who became brazen after their marriage, casually poured out praises regarding her appearance. He sometimes stared at her, as if he wanted to attack and eat her. Lionel stared at Riv with scorching eyes and opened his mouth. ¡°Do I look strange?¡± ¡°Lionel is perfect.¡± Lionel, who was dressed in a black suit, looked great in Riv¡¯s eyes. ¡°Riv, you look worried.¡± Riv had carefully selected her gift for the Earl of Murden and his wife. Her outfit was also carefully considered. Her soft, light purple dress further accentuated Riv¡¯s mature look and her nobility. The moderate exposure revealed her voluptuous curves, and the straps accentuated her slender waist. Adding her gloves, her outdoor hat and her thin lace shawl, Riv looked like the perfect lady. Lionel reached out his hand towards her. ¡°Shall we go, Duchess?¡± Riv took his hand. *** It seemed that the Earl and Countess were already waiting on their porch. ¡°Come down, Riv.¡± After Lionel got off the carriage, he took Riv¡¯s hand and helped her get out. ¡°Lionel.¡± Earl Murden approached the two of them. Earl Murden was a tall, handsome young man with brown hair. After a light greeting and hug with Lionel, he turned to Riv. ¡°So this is the Duchess of Sentoren. I didn¡¯t get to see you properly at the wedding, but you¡¯re a beauty.¡± A smile spread across Earl Murden¡¯s face as he looked at Riv. Riv remembered that the man in front of her had genuinely blessed their marriage. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the late greeting, Earl Murden.¡± Riv greeted him with her elegant court manners, holding her skirt with both hands. ¡°I¡¯m Olivia Sentoren.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Andr¨¦ Murden.¡± Andr¨¦ hurriedly bowed back to Riv. Riv, who had her skirt wide open and her waist bent almost at a right angle, carefully lifted her body. Andr¨¦ said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be polite. Lionel and I have been friends for a long time, and my wife doesn¡¯t know much about formality.¡± Andr¨¦ reached out his hand for a handshake instead. He grabbed Riv¡¯s hand and shook it excitedly. ¡°Nice to meet you, Olivia. I have been friends with Lionel for twenty years. Lionel has also known my wife, Sophia, for a long time.¡± Andr¨¦ introduced the cute woman and children who were watching them. ¡°This is my wife, Sophia. And these are our children.¡± She was a cute woman who was one head shorter than Andr¨¦. Behind Sophia stood their three children, who seemed to be a perfect mix of the couple. They were hugging their nanny while looking at Riv. Sophia approached Riv. Sophia stopped short, then said ¡°Leo¡±. She started arguing with Lionel. ¡°As I heard, the Duchess is very tall. Where did Lionel meet such a beautiful lady? Besides, why didn¡¯t you invite me to the wedding?¡± Lionel murmured and sighed. As they talked, Riv realized that Sophia was 5 years older than Riv. Sophia looked so young that Riv didn¡¯t notice the age difference. It was also hard to believe that she was a mother of three. ¡°Olivia, my name is Sophia Murden.¡± Sophia walked up to Riv and greeted her. ¡°I¡¯m Olivia Sentoren. Please call me Riv.¡± ¡°Riv, thank you for accepting our invitation.¡± Sophia also grabbed Riv¡¯s hand and shook it. She realized that Lionel was standing behind her. ¡°Lionel, It¡¯s too bad you didn¡¯t even properly introduce her to us.¡± ¡°There was no time for that, Sophia.¡± Lionel quickly spoke informally. Sophia laughed out loud. ¡°Did you hear that my husband and Lionel have been friends for twenty years? Andr¨¦ and I have been engaged for a long time, so I feel comfortable with Lionel.¡± She then introduced their children. The cute children looked at Riv and her eyes twinkled with excitement. The small children approached Riv. Riv lowered her body to greet the children at their eye level. She didn¡¯t mind her dress dragging on the floor. ¡°Hello, little prince. What is your name?¡± ¡°P-Paul.¡± The child who smiled shyly grabbed the hem of Riv¡¯s dress. ¡°And who is this second princess?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s Jeanne.¡± The third was a baby who was not yet able to speak or walk. The children froze for a moment as they looked at Riv, then smiled brightly. ¡°They are so cute, Sophia.¡± Sophia also smiled, then linked arms with Riv. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s talk inside Riv. There¡¯s still plenty of time before dinner.¡± While Lionel went off to speak with Andr¨¦, Sophia invited Riv into the mansion and showed her around. After touring the mansion, Sophia sat down with Riv in the drawing room. As Riv mentioned that she would bring in the gifts that she had forgotten from the carriage, Sophia asked with a smile. ¡°Is Lionel good to you?¡± Riv nodded as she glanced at Lionel. A red blush spread across her face. Chapter 52 ¡°Oh my, it looks like you really like Lionel.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t answer. Sophia seemed to be enjoying this moment. ¡°What kind of tea do you like, Riv?¡± Sophia continued to grin as she took out fine tea leaves and carefully brewed tea. Just in time, Lionel and Andr¨¦ returned. Their escort belatedly brought the gift that Riv had prepared for the Earl and Countess of Murden. ¡°I prepared presents for you because you invited us. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll like them.¡± Sophia and Andr¨¦ opened the presents she had prepared for them and their children. Exotic flowers from the greenhouse, as well as snacks and dolls for the children. And the last basket had a pure white puppy. ¡°Wow.¡± Sophia had forgotten their previous conversation and hugged the puppy. ¡°The children will be really happy to see it.¡± Riv nodded her head, recalling Sophia¡¯s children. ¡°It¡¯s nap time right now, but they¡¯ll come down once they wake up. Does Riv like children?¡± The two men sat quietly next to Riv and Sophia, listening to them. ¡°I like children, but it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen them up close.¡± Sophia seemed to be more interested in her words than the puppy now. She looked at Lionel and Riv alternately. ¡°Riv is married to Lionel, so she will soon have a pretty child. Right, Lionel?¡± Lionel replied at once. ¡°I plan to enjoy our honeymoon for the time being.¡± There was a brief silence at Lionel¡¯s response. After the awkward silence, Andr¨¦ opened his mouth. ¡°So, are the newlyweds enjoying themselves?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv was somehow so embarrassed she couldn¡¯t speak, and she felt like she couldn¡¯t breathe. It seemed to be the same with the Murdens as well. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Lionel could make a joke like this.¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, Sophia smiled proudly. Riv imagined a child of their own. He would be a pretty and clever child. If he resembled her and Lionel, he would be tall. Someone like her who died and came back to life, could she have a future after her death date? Even if she couldn¡¯t have it, she wanted to dream. Riv felt a little lost, but she quickly managed her expression. Just around the same time, Lionel and Andr¨¦ fell into serious conversation again. They talked about swordsmanship and famous knights, topics which Riv knew nothing about. Sophia looked at them and said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, but I think it¡¯s really nice to see the two of you together. I like that Lionel looks brighter too.¡± ¡°Does he look brighter?¡± Riv tilted her head, unable to see the change in Lionel. Casual conversations continued after that, but Sophia did not question Riv¡¯s past at all. She wondered if Sophia didn¡¯t know that Riv was Madame Katana. The two discussed the name of the dog and various other things. ¡°Actually, Lionel asked me to be Riv¡¯s friend. I told him I¡¯d think about it.¡± Sophia took Riv¡¯s hand and squeezed it. ¡°I like Riv more than I thought I would. Shall we be friends?¡± Riv hesitated for a moment at her offer. ¡°Do you need time to think?¡± She was grateful for Sophia¡¯s kindness, but she was afraid that she would be disappointed once she got to know her. Riv said frankly. ¡°Sophia, I was Madame Katana.¡± Sophia tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Riv was cautious, but there was no concern in Sophia¡¯s innocent eyes. Rather, Riv was curious. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of Madame Katana?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of her. It¡¯s like something from a horror story.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you uncomfortable?¡± Rumors about Madame Katana were endless. She was a witch or an ugly woman who brought misfortune and invoked curses. If you had such a symbol of unhappiness by your side, you would surely become miserable. Sophia didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°If Madame Katana really created misfortune, would Queen Selina and Princess Marianne keep her by their side?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°They try to keep useful people by their side through vicious rumors.¡± Riv paused at the strange realization. She had never thought like Sophia. ¡°I, I.¡± Before she could clear her confused mind, Sophia spoke again. ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange that they had you put on such a terrible disguise? Weren¡¯t they trying to distort your appearance?¡± It was blunt, but Riv felt comforted. The Duke¡¯s maids kept a close eye on Riv¡¯s mood and refrained from talking about Madame Katana. They certainly never openly cursed at the Royal Family. ¡°Sophia, the Royal Family doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re friends with me, rumors about Sophia may circulate.¡± ¡°Riv? Do you not wish to be my friend for that reason?¡± Sophia didn¡¯t seem to understand. Riv was shocked as Sophia seemed to be immune to the Royal Family¡¯s influence. ¡°Do you really want to be my friend, Sophia?¡± ¡°Riv, you can count on me because you¡¯re Lionel¡¯s beloved wife.¡± ¡°Is it that easy?¡± Sophia¡¯s hands were smaller than Riv¡¯s, but they were warm. The warmth seemed to melt Riv¡¯s frozen heart. ¡°Let¡¯s be friends.¡± Riv nodded her head at that simple sentence. At the dinner that followed, it was a bit noisy because the children were also there. It included the two couples and the Murden children, their nanny, and servants. After the children had eaten, they said they would eat dessert in their rooms and disappeared. In truth, they were going to see the puppy. Sophia gracefully ate a madeleine* for dessert. [*E/N: a madeleine is a small sponge cake, usually baked in a shell shape] ¡°I want to name the dog ??Lionel.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel was furious but Sophia casually turned and looked at Riv. ¡°Oh, Riv, there¡¯s a salon meeting I¡¯m participating in. Would you like to come with me?¡± ¡°Is it a gathering of wives?¡± Sophia nodded her head. Through this conversation, the men were alienated. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve heard from Lionel, but I¡¯m not knowledgeable in culture or etiquette. If you teach me, I will introduce you to my acquaintances. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I helped you out, since you have to join society soon?¡± Riv was cautious. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I be a nuisance?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we friends? Riv, let¡¯s help each other out.¡± Riv looked like she was a newborn baby. Like someone stepping out into the world for the first time. Riv had too many things to do in this new world. But it felt good, as the gentle atmosphere from Sophia seemed to transfer to Riv as well. Riv came to like Sophia, a woman who smiled sincerely at her. After the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren left, Sophia and Andr¨¦ watched them for a long time until their carriage disappeared. ¡°What do you think of the Duchess?¡± At Andr¨¦¡¯s words, Sophia tilted her head and grinned. ¡°She seems like a good person. She¡¯s completely different from the rumors, Andr¨¦.¡± ¡°She seems to get along quite well with Lionel.¡± They recalled the rumors about the monstrous Madame Katana. A bringer of misfortune with an ugly appearance. A woman who seduced the Duke of Sentoren and brought the lovely Princess Marianne heartbreak. The rumors and the real Riv did not match. ¡°The rumors are unbelievable.¡± Andr¨¦ had noticed that Lionel¡¯s gaze was always on Riv. A smile did not disappear from the corner of Lionel¡¯s lips when he looked at her. ¡°If Lionel had married Princess Marianne, he wouldn¡¯t have been this happy.¡± Sophia agreed. Andr¨¦ said, ¡°Lionel looks happy now.¡± It was dark outside as their carriage returned. Only the street lamps on the side of the road were emitting a faint light. ¡°Did you enjoy today?¡± Lionel and Riv sat close together as if they shared one body. Riv liked this position of sharing each other¡¯s body warmth. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°As long as you had fun.¡± Riv suddenly had a question. It hadn¡¯t been long since Riv and Lionel got together. Nevertheless, this man trusted her completely. ¡°Why do you trust me, Lionel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a gut feeling.¡± His answer was simple, but she was skeptical. Instead of questioning him further, Riv thought of Earl Murden¡¯s family. The two, who became a couple after being childhood friends, seemed to understand and love each other perfectly. ¡®I want to be like them.¡¯ She wanted to have as many children who looked like Lionel as possible. But she was a witch and came here when time was turned back. The hours that Riv could enjoy were limited. The time she had left was too short. ¡®I want to do my best to survive.¡¯ For now, it was enough just to feel Lionel¡¯s warmth. Riv pretended to sleep on Lionel¡¯s shoulder. Lionel stayed still as he embraced Riv, who was sleeping. Riv¡¯s breathing, leaning against him, became calm. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The woman who became his wife. There were times when he thought she looked very distant, even though he was next to her and holding her body. Her body was here, but her spirit seemed to be very far away. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel stared at Riv with a serious expression. This woman became his, but he felt that she was hiding something from him. She was clumsy, therefore it was obvious that she had secrets. A secret in which Princess Marianne and Queen Selina might be involved. ¡®Does this woman know a royal secret? What could it be?¡¯ Having lived as a close maid to the Royal Family for nearly 7 years, it was strange that he assumed Riv was unaware of their private lives. Lionel ironed out the frown between her eyebrows with his thumb. They were getting closer to the mansion. ¡°Riv, Riv.¡± Lionel carefully woke his wife up. She opened her eyes. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Riv opened her eyes and looked around. For a moment, she was confused about where she was. Then a smile of relief spread across Riv¡¯s face when she saw Lionel. ¡°Oh, Lionel. Did I fall asleep?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°We¡¯re home?¡± ¡°Our home. That sounds sweet.¡± Riv, who was not yet fully awake, smiled bashfully. Lionel¡¯s heart pounded at the slightly bashful look. Riv pulled open the curtains covering the carriage window and looked at the Duke¡¯s property. ¡°We¡¯re really here. I think I made it this far because I was with Lionel.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Are you hiding anything from me?¡± Riv¡¯s expression hardened slightly. She was unable to lie. ¡°No. If I do, I will tell you.¡± After seeing her serious expression, he took her lips quietly. There was a sweet taste on her lips. He felt the urge to taste more of her flesh. As he grabbed her waist, their bodies drew closer. Riv whispered as she pushed him away. ¡°Not here.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. To our room.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lionel licked Riv¡¯s lips. Riv felt his tongue and whispered. ¡°I will do my best as your wife.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do your best.¡± As Lionel stroked Riv¡¯s hair, he agonized over what his feelings for this woman might be. Possessiveness? Craving? Thirst? It was difficult to describe this feeling with words. The carriage stopped in front of the Duke¡¯s mansion. Lionel took Riv¡¯s hand and got off the carriage. He exchanged gazes with the butler, Karl, who had been waiting for him, and sent Riv up first. ¡°Go up first and rest, Riv.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lionel moved to the drawing room and sat alone with Karl. In his hands were reports from the Duke¡¯s agents. ¡°Do you have anything to report?¡± ¡°Yes. A message has come from the Bishops¡¯ Church.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°At the time of the Duke¡¯s wedding, Philip Katana returned to the royal capital, and it appears that he was also present at the Duke¡¯s wedding.¡± ¡°Was it intentional? Or was it a coincidence?¡± ¡°I think we need to look into that a little more.¡± Lionel was deep in thought. Philip Katana was the brother of Riv but they were not related by blood. He was skeptical to hear about him at this point. ¡°He must have been bribed.¡± ¡°Yes. It was reported that he also spread information about the Duke¡¯s secret wedding. Lionel had many enemies. In particular, someone from the Royal Family or a bishop who had a connection with the Royal Family might have bribed Philip. ¡°What are his credentials?¡± ¡°It is believed that he has been practicing for more than ten years, but no one knows the exact details. We¡¯ll continue to keep an eye on him. What about Madame?¡± Lionel thought about Riv. ¡°She¡¯s had no problems yet. Any other reports?¡± Karl unfolded another report. *** A few days later, Riv accompanied Sophia to a salon. Sophia had a reading event with several ladies. It was a nominal gathering, but it was also a meeting where people chatted rather than read, ate delicious food, and exchanged rumors. They met at 3 in the afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today¡¯s meeting location was Madame Pereno¡¯s mansion. The ladies of the reading group and their chaperones gathered together in Madame Pereno¡¯s drawing room to talk about current affairs and unravel the biggest rumors in the royal capital. ¡°Now the topic of discussion is the Duchess of Sentoren.¡± ¡°Those who bet on how long the Duke¡¯s marriage would last have suffered huge losses.¡± ¡°Did Madame Katana really turn into a beauty?¡± ¡°They say that the Duke and Duchess get along so well.¡± Most of the rumors involved Madame Katana and the Royal family. Madame Dolores, who came as her granddaughter¡¯s chaperone, pricked her ears. She squeezed between the women and interrupted the conversation. ¡°Has anyone here ever met Madame Katana?¡± At Dolores¡¯ question, the women looked at each other. ¡°N-No I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°I saw Madame Katana from afar, but I didn¡¯t see her face properly.¡± ¡°I only saw her big figure from afar.¡± Few came close to Madame Katana as they heard rumors that she brought misfortune. ¡°Then I must be the only one who¡¯s seen Madame Katana up close.¡± Madame Dolores naturally boasted. She was her granddaughter¡¯s chaperone, but she always talked about how she was once part of Queen Selina¡¯s entourage. Dolores opened her mouth as she recalled Madame Katana. ¡°It was a few years ago, but the Madame Katana I saw was hideous-looking. It was absurd to have such a human being serve the Royal Family.¡± Dolores was shocked to hear that the ugly Madame Katana had turned into a beautiful woman. ¡°No matter how thin she becomes or how beautiful a dress she wears, she won¡¯t be a beauty. No way.¡± The women were interested in Dolores¡¯ story. ¡°Madam Dolores, what did Madame Katana look like?¡± ¡°Was she as ugly as the rumors?¡± ¡°It was so distracting. How could she have reduced her size? What about that gloomy face?¡± ¡°How is her personality?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dismal!¡± Dolores¡¯ voice resounded all around her. Dolores¡¯ story continued, but it was the same thing over and over again. The ladies soon lost interest. Around that time, Countess Murden¡¯s carriage arrived. ¡°Countess Murden said she was bringing her new friend.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Well.¡± They belatedly remembered that Sophia¡¯s husband, the Earl of Murden, was best friends with the Duke of Sentoren. Some of the members of this group had tried to use Sophia to approach the Duke of Sentoren. Since the Duke of Sentoren had married, their plans were in vain. ¡°But did you hear? They said that the Earl of Murden was the only witness on the groom¡¯s side who attended the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s wedding.¡± ¡°There is also a rumor that the Duke and Duchess went to visit the Earl of Murden.¡± ¡°Could Sophia¡¯s new friend be Madame Katana?¡± ¡°No way¡­.¡± Those who looked down upon the Countess of Murden were silent. Sophia was from the Vincent family. They were nobles from the royal capital, but there were many who looked down on her. There were many ladies who thought Sophia was rustic and uncultured just because she was casual and informal. ¡°What if Countess Murden and Madame Katana are friends?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a perfect fit.¡± Some made sarcastic comments. Just then, Countess Murden appeared. ¡°You are here!¡± Everyone looked back at Sophia¡¯s cheerful voice. Behind Sophia was a tall woman. She was tall enough to overwhelm everyone. The woman was slender and elegant, but she had a cold impression. Unlike Sophia, who looked happy and cheerful, the atmosphere around her made her appear unapproachable. ¡°I brought my friend today.¡± ¡°Friend?¡± Sophia was excited and introduced Riv. ¡°My name is Olivia, daughter of Count Katana and now Duchess of Sentoren.¡± The woman called the Duchess of Sentoren greeted everyone with perfect court manners. Her understated behavior seemed perfect, and she seemed to be full of grace. The woman¡¯s fair face, dark hair, and red lips were full of charm. She was not flashy, but her slender and voluptuous body caught their attention. But the ladies chewed on Sophia¡¯s words. ¡°Madame Katana?¡± ¡°The Duchess of Sentoren?¡± Those who recalled Madame Katana¡¯s notoriety were skeptical, and Madame Dolores also glared at Riv. Those who were dubious about the identity of the new face encouraged Madame Dolores. ¡°Madame, can you confirm that this lady is Madame Katana?¡± The ladies from the reading group had never met nor talked to Madame Katana, and even though they entered the Royal Palace, they did not know Madame Katana¡¯s face. Riv pretended to be calm and smiled as she saw those who couldn¡¯t take their eyes off her. The thoughts in the heads of those ladies were obvious. Sophia turned to Riv. ¡°Madame Dolores told me she has met Madame Katana before. She has been telling us that she was a close associate of Queen Selina.¡± Madame Dolores flinched when she became the center of attention. Riv looked at the bitter and gloomy old woman, and remembered her only after a long while. A few years ago, there was an old lady who followed Queen Selina, clinging to her and trying to flatter her. She hated her so much that even the queen¡¯s maids were appalled by her. She had heard that the Queen had subsequently confiscated Madame Dolores¡¯s royal palace pass and refused her request for an audience. ¡°If it¡¯s Madame Dolores, she¡¯s the one who came to see Queen Selina frequently until three years ago.¡± Dolores flinched at Riv¡¯s voice. Riv stared at Dolores with a clear gaze. ¡°Is your youngest son doing well?¡± ¡°Th-That.¡± Dolores panicked and looked around. Riv laughed. ¡°You begged me to meet the Queen because of a problem with your youngest son.¡± ¡°W-Wait!¡± Dolores stared intently at Riv¡¯s face. ¡°D-Definitely Madame Ka-Katana and y-you look alike.¡± As Riv whispered a few more words into the old lady¡¯s ear, she paled and sat down quietly. Dolores pointed at Riv. ¡°M-Madame Katana! Why, why is Madame Katana here!¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Riv mentioned the illegitimate son of Madame Dolores, who was known only to the Queen and her maids. Madame Dolores couldn¡¯t get up due to contemplation and deep shame. Madame Dolores eventually left early with her granddaughter. The reading group concluded with light refreshments and the introduction of a few books. A couple of hours passed and the group was about to part when the ladies of the group gathered around Riv. They lingered around her and Sophia, still doubtful of her identity. ¡°Duchess Sentoren, will you accept our invitation?¡± ¡°Duchess, please let us know which ball you are attending.¡± ¡°Ball?¡± Large and small balls were going to be held in the royal capital, so Riv had been discussing which ball to attend with Lionel. Sophia linked arms with Riv and spoke. ¡°Riv, you know my family is the Vincent family, right? My father decided to throw a ball for my youngest sister, who has just debuted. I will send you an invitation, so please come.¡± ¡°I will discuss it with Lionel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a place where only those with invitations can attend, so you can rest assured.¡± Rumors about Riv, who was Madame Katana and became the Duchess of Sentoren, spread throughout the Royal Capital. That she wasn¡¯t a fake. It was truly her. She was in disguise at the palace. That the Duchess wanted to attend the royal ball. The nobles listened to the news. ¡°It¡¯s not bad to have a relationship with Duchess Sentoren. The Sentoren family has power but also money.¡± ¡°Is it? Until now, there was no hostess, so it was difficult to establish a relationship.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Duchess of Sentoren also a young lady of noble origins? They said she was in charge of the manners of Princess Marieanne, so her manners cannot be underestimated.¡± ¡°It would be nice if we were invited by the Sentoren family.¡± ¡°How do we get closer to the Duchess?¡± Even commoners who were interested in the aristocratic family and the upper class were excited. As if people had forgotten about Madame Katana¡¯s notoriety, they were anxious to get close to Duchess Sentoren. Invitations for the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren poured in. *** Riv had a dream that night. It was a cold night. It was winter and her breath was white. ¡®Haa.¡¯ Riv¡¯s vision was blurry as if there was mist all around her. Her hands and feet were frozen. But she knew this was a dream. It was like there was a layer of opaque film laid over her eyes. ¡®Haa.¡¯ Breathing out white steam, Riv looked around her. ¡®Where am I?¡¯ Riv noticed that she was wearing the dreadful Madame Katana disguise. The huge dress was too heavy. Her hands were covered by the huge sleeves. Not only the weight of her clothes, but also the stiffness of her body made it so that she could not move. ¡®Oh, am I in the prison where I died? A pile of old straw lay under the dress. When she lifted her head, she saw a rusty grate. It was the dungeon where Riv died. ¡®It¡¯s still terrible here.¡¯ The cloudy landscape of the dream began to change. Marianne didn¡¯t appear but a fire still broke out around Riv. It seemed to be a repeat of Riv¡¯s death. The flames that engulfed her body were a vivid red. ¡®Pain will come.¡¯ The fire quickly burned Riv¡¯s dress and body. The pain of her burning flesh and bones was unbearable. ¡®Aaaah! Aaaah!¡¯ Riv struggled from the pain. After the pain passed, her body turned into a pile of ashes. Riv¡¯s soul, which left her body, looked down at her ashes in melancholy. She saw the face of a white skeleton wearing an old robe beside her. It was the Grim Reaper. His lips widened and he smiled. The white teeth shone eerily. He opened his mouth to speak. The moment his words touched Riv¡¯s ears, the world shattered. Just before Riv returned to reality, she saw Lionel. He was wearing a military uniform and was standing on an endless yellow plain. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Lionel had much longer hair than Riv remembered, and his face looked brutal and sharp. There was a foul stench of blood coming from him. ¡®Lionel?¡¯ For a moment he lifted his head and met Riv¡¯s eyes. The moment their eyes were about to meet, Riv¡¯s soul was sucked into her real body. ¡®That was the future.¡¯ In the fall, Riv would not be by Lionel¡¯s side. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv woke up from her dream and grabbed her necklace, which she had placed on her bedside table. As she touched the ring pendant, the terrible pain that had enveloped her seemed to disappear. Riv stared at Lionel, who was sleeping next to her. He was still fast asleep. ¡®What was that dream? Was it a foreshadowing of the future? Why did I dream that?¡¯ The pendant necklace was burning red. Riv¡¯s senses were so sharp that she could sense the flow of air. ¡®I can¡¯t foresee the time after my death.¡¯ She realized it naturally. Unknowingly, she performed magic. The dream seemed to show the old future of Riv, and the new future of Lionel. ¡°Why was Lionel there?¡± As far as Riv could remember, Lionel didn¡¯t go to the battlefield this year. She didn¡¯t think that it would get that cold at the warm Southern estate. ¡®Then where was he?¡¯ Riv could hardly sleep. At dawn, Lionel cuddled Riv and turned her body towards him. ¡°Riv? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Drowsiness could be heard in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± Lionel¡¯s quivering hand touched Riv¡¯s forehead. ¡°No.¡± Lionel closed his eyes and sighed deeply. ¡°Come here.¡± He yawned and hugged Riv tighter. Her frozen body began to melt due to his body temperature. There was still time before the sun rose. Contrary to her dream, reality was peaceful. She longed for this peace to last forever, but she knew life wouldn¡¯t go her way. She didn¡¯t want to die, but she was destined to be killed. Although she stayed silent for a long time, pretending that she knew none of the palace¡¯s secrets, to the Royal Family, Riv was nothing but an obstacle to be removed. She couldn¡¯t pretend not to know her fate. Moreover, her partner was Lionel. If it was a vision of the future of Lionel, what would Riv do? She was lost in thought. Many invitations to the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren came flooding in. The servants who brought the invitations camped out waiting for an answer, and sometimes nobles came to ask for an audience with the Duke or Duchess of Sentoren. Riv had to be escorted by her female knight, Hailey, whenever she left her room. Hailey was shorter than Riv, but she was a great woman. ¡°Many would like to meet the Duchess of Sentoren.¡± ¡°I see. But the interest will not last long.¡± ¡°You will still feel uncomfortable for the time being.¡± Riv sighed as she looked at the crowd gathered around the main gate of the mansion. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I have to be the center of attention.¡± It seemed likely that this would continue, at least until the end of the socializing season that spring. She planned to minimize her attendance to balls as much as possible and only go to a few social gatherings. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv sighed and recalled last night¡¯s ominous dream. The clue was there. Hailey in front of her was a rare female knight. She would have a lot more knowledge about battlefields than Riv. ¡°Hailey, where is the largest plain in the north? There are no mountains around and it is all flat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where you are talking about. Why are you asking?¡± ¡°Is there a possibility of war on the plains?¡± ¡°Of course, on the plains of Ezul in the north. It¡¯s close to the border and there¡¯s a war every few years. Although the last was five years ago. Again I ask, why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Riv was immersed in her thoughts. Riv rarely attended social gatherings, so she only attended Countess Murden¡¯s. As she was about to return from her reading group for the second time, she was plagued with a bunch of questions by the ladies in attendance. They all wanted Riv to invite them to the Duke¡¯s estate, and they wanted to brag that they were close friends of Riv Sentoren. Even if Hailey tried to push them away, they resisted. ¡°How are you, Duchess?¡± ¡°How did you meet the Duke of Sentoren?¡± ¡°Invite us to the Duke¡¯s mansion. We¡¯ve become quite friendly.¡± The colorful emotions of curiosity and jealousy they exuded made Riv tired. Perhaps it was because her magical senses had become too sensitive, or she was too overwhelmed by the emotions of others, Riv was exhausted. Even now, the subject of their attention was Riv. Hailey, who lightly pushed the ladies, looked at the weary Riv and said. ¡°Please go back and rest.¡± ¡°I will.¡± After Riv parted from the ladies of the gathering, she locked herself in her hideout, the greenhouse. Not long after Lionel had heard she had come home, he entered the greenhouse. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re here again?¡± Lionel looked worried at Riv¡¯s sullen expression. ¡°Were you at another meeting?¡± ¡°Yes. I thought it would be nice to attend a social gathering, so I went out.¡± ¡°Did you? I understand that dealing with women is tiring.¡± Riv grinned. ¡°They were more interested in Lionel than me.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± Riv stared at Lionel. ¡°You were very popular.¡± Lionel chuckled. ¡°So are you jealous?¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 ¡°I am not jealous.¡± That¡¯s what she said, but Riv was offended by the girls who showed Lionel interest. They seemed to have forgotten that Riv was Madame Katana. ¡°So why do these ladies want me?¡± Lionel, who was joking at first, became serious. He was not very fond of the ladies¡¯ attention. ¡°Lionel? You really don¡¯t know? They wanted to make the Duke of Sentoren their lover.¡± ¡°Their lover?¡± ¡°You are a great candidate because you are strong, healthy, rich, and handsome, and was known for a good night.¡± ¡°Then what do you think, Duchess of Sentoren?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°How was your experience first hand?¡± [T/N: *squeeeal] Lionel was shameless. He was ready to attack Riv at any moment. ¡°Is it as they say? Or is it worse?¡± ¡°Do you want to be told that you are amazing?¡± As Lionel nodded his head cheerfully, Riv added. ¡°Fine. You become a beast at night.¡± ¡°You mean I¡¯m better than the rumors?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel was confident and moved to Riv¡¯s side. ¡°That feels good to hear.¡± It seemed like he wanted to strip her naked right away, but he didn¡¯t touch her. Riv sat on his hard thighs. The greenhouse was almost unbearably hot. She looked up at Lionel, and his large hand caressed her. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re not good at socializing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But you have improved a lot. You have broken out of the shell of Madame Katana.¡± Madame Katana existed to be ridiculed and disparaged. Riv had broken out of that shell. The gazes on her had changed from ridicule to favor, but that wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. She was being treated like this because she was now the Duchess of Sentoren. Riv stared intently at Lionel. ¡°Lionel, have you been to the palace again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel answered the call of the royal family once or twice a week, but he never talked about it. ¡°How is Princess Marianne doing?¡± ¡°Fine. There has been no change. The royal family has not decided on anything.¡± Riv thought for a moment. ¡°It is strange that Queen Selina hasn¡¯t made a move. About Princess Marianne¡¯s marriage, and also about our marriage.¡± Even if Riv had not been killed by Marianne in her past life, as long as she remained in the royal family, she would have been removed after being used to the point of uselessness. Perhaps sensing Riv¡¯s anxiety, Lionel said. ¡°Whatever the royal family does, leave it to me.¡± ¡°What if they kill me?¡± ¡°I will protect you.¡± Riv¡¯s heart grew cold as she recalled the ominous dream she had a few days ago. She seemed to have changed Lionel¡¯s future by taking his hand so that she could live. It was as if Riv had become a parasite to Lionel and sucked his life away. Lionel sat Riv up on his thighs. The plants in the greenhouse were slanted over them, providing cool shade. The plants covered their bodies, so it felt like they were the only ones there. Riv suddenly became thirsty. Lionel openly stared at Riv¡¯s chest. ¡°Lionel, I¡­¡± As Lionel read Riv¡¯s darkened expression, he jokingly said. ¡°Riv, do you want me to attack you here?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll attack you.¡± ¡°What if someone sees?¡± Riv tried to push Lionel away, but he didn¡¯t budge. Lionel was quicker than her. He ripped the tiny buttons on Riv¡¯s dress off and pulled it down. Riv¡¯s upper body was exposed slowly and delicately, as if Lionel was peeling the wrapping off of a precious gift. ¡°Riv.¡± As he gazed at Riv¡¯s smooth skin, his eyes blazed like fire. Riv didn¡¯t want to think about anything else either. ¡°Do you want to attack me, Lionel?¡± Riv caressed Lionel¡¯s face. Heat rose to his face and body. ¡°Lionel.¡± It was warm inside the greenhouse with large palm tree leaves and tropical flowers in full bloom. They couldn¡¯t tell if it was the heat inside the building or if it was hot because of the fever rising in their bodies. Riv began to unbutton Lionel¡¯s shirt slowly. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be the only one with my top taken off.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re going to take mine off to get even?¡± Lionel¡¯s body became more excited. However, he was very patient. Leaning languidly on the bench, he observed Riv¡¯s actions. She was sitting very close to him. ¡°I hope nobody sees us.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be obvious what the Duke and Duchess are doing if we don¡¯t come out for a while.¡± After taking off Lionel¡¯s shirt, she tried to unbutton his pants as well. ¡°No more.¡± Lionel grabbed Riv, laid her on the bench and towered over her body. The bench was narrow and it seemed like they were going to fall off at any moment. ¡°Stay still.¡± ¡°Lionel.¡± Lionel¡¯s shadow completely engulfed her. This man¡¯s body, digging between her legs, was hot as if it were burning. He buried his head in the nape of her neck and let out a hot breath. His body was hotter and more humid than the greenhouse. Riv¡¯s body was also warm. ¡°Haa.¡± Riv¡¯s arms wrapped around Lionel¡¯s strong and wide back. The sound of violent friction between her dress and his pants was heard over and over again. Riv had been craving him and actively clung to him. She was filled only with the feeling of being alive. There was no fear of death when she was in Lionel¡¯s arms. Only then was she able to forget her ominous dream and her foreknowledge. After their moment of passion, Lionel had drained her energy and stroked Riv¡¯s bare skin, leaning in her arms. ¡°Riv, you¡¯ve been delaying attending a ball, but we have to go.¡± ¡°Yes. I have a lot of evening dresses for one.¡± ¡°Do you not like those dresses?¡± ¡°They¡¯re too bulky. I think I¡¯ll look bigger in a dress like that.¡± ¡°No matter how big you get, you¡¯ll never be as big as Madame Katana. It¡¯s amazing how you dressed up.¡± At Riv¡¯s dissatisfaction, Lionel stroked her long, messy, luscious hair. He was obsessed with her dark hair, which contrasted with her exceptionally white skin. What he liked about Riv was; her tall stature, graceful body movements, long arms and legs, and her body which was capable of accepting his desires. And her intelligence. And everything else, everything about her. ¡°Lionel, have I told you I liked you?¡± Riv, with the eyes of an innocent child, whispered to him. Lionel listened to Riv¡¯s slowing heartbeat. The woman who laid under him fell asleep, her naked body still exposed. It drove him crazy. The warm air in the greenhouse enveloped them. Lionel seemed to understand why Riv liked this place. This was Riv¡¯s hideout. However, ¡°Why?¡± Sometimes, seeing the woman in his arms, he wondered. Why did this woman save him and why did he fall for such a woman? Was it because she saved his life? Or was it because of sexual obsession and lust? Did these things overlap? Lionel, who had complicated thoughts, stared at Riv who was fast asleep. ¡°Madame Katana. Riv Sentoren.¡± Lionel redressed the puzzled Riv and put on her wrinkled clothes casually. He couldn¡¯t find the button to his shirt that had broken off, so he just left it as it was. The servants secretly laughed when they saw Lionel¡¯s wrinkled, torn shirt, and Riv¡¯s soiled and crumpled dress as they came out of the greenhouse. It was obvious what the sweaty Duke and Duchess had done. Lionel laid Riv in the Duchess¡¯ bedroom. Having washed up in his own bathroom, he called his escort, Michelle, into his bedroom. ¡°Michelle, report on the royal family?.¡± ¡°They¡¯re quiet for now.¡± The royal family had not yet moved. It was still unknown what actions they would take. Lionel grumbled as if he was annoyed to come up to the third floor away from Riv. ¡°We need to move my bedroom to a closer location. Rather than the third floor.¡± Laughing at Lionel¡¯s grumbled words, Michelle remembered what the butler, Karl, had said. ¡°Oh, by the way, each family has been ordered to attend the royal ball.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there still a month left until the royal ball?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The social season was in full swing, and the royal ball would mark the end of the social season. It was rare for the royal family to have already decided on a list of attendees and to notify them to attend. ¡°What are the ladies of the royal family thinking?¡± The royal family may be calm on the outside, but the inside was probably chaotic. The status inside was still unclean. Just then, Michelle opened his mouth. ¡°Ah, Claudel has something to say about Madame¡¯s ball dress.¡± Lionel remembered Riv¡¯s expression of disdain for ball dresses. She chose and wore casual clothes, and hated ball dresses. ¡°Call Claudel.¡± After Michelle left, Claudel appeared. ¡°Do you have anything to say about the ball?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The dresses must be ready. Ah, perhaps Riv didn¡¯t like them.¡± Claudel nodded her head with a displeased look. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Claudel was dissatisfied with Riv¡¯s dresses. Her accumulated complaints burst out all at once. ¡°Since they are not what the Madame chose herself, the sizes do not fit and new ones need to be made. If she wants to go to a ball with as little effort as possible, it will be difficult to decide what to wear with what she has now.¡± ¡°Do you mean the dresses are terrible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that, but most of the dresses do not suit her at all.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Either the color doesn¡¯t complement her, it¡¯s too loose, too short, or they need a lot of repairs.¡± ¡°What about repairing them?¡± ¡°The designers said they will meet with the Madame and decide. But, the tailors¡­¡± ¡°Is there another problem?¡± ¡°They are the main business partners of the Royal Family. The Queen, princes, and the princess use them.¡± Lionel snorted. It looked like the Royal Family and the designers were trying to play a little prank on Riv. ¡°So bothersome. How annoying.¡± ¡°It is impossible not to meet with the Royal Family. The master tends to overprotect the Madame.¡± Lionel raised his head. ¡°Am I overprotective of Riv?¡± ¡°The Madame is an adult. It doesn¡¯t matter if she meets a designer or a member of the Royal Family. It¡¯s hard to find a tailor that doesn¡¯t do business with the Royal Family.¡± Lionel thought for a moment. Claudel added. ¡°She said that she is good with her hands and has a knack for repairing dresses, but these ball dresses would be difficult to fix.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The fabric is too delicate and the decorations are numerous. In my opinion, the dresses look terrible on the Madame.¡± ¡°Are you saying that the designers sent such dresses on purpose?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure.¡± Lionel recalled the handkerchief that Riv had embroidered his initials on. She was definitely good with her hands. Riv had always personally tailored her dresses. If Riv was unable to fix a dress, then it would fit her terribly. ¡°Duke, is the Royal Family still aiming for you?¡± ¡°Maybe. The Queen and the Princess¡¯ resentment against Riv is deep.¡± ¡°What did the Duchess do wrong?¡± Lionel chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Claudel was lost in thought. ¡°It can be dangerous to bring in designers or to visit them in person.¡± She quickly made a suggestion. ¡°There¡¯s a woman named Madame Ezerca. She does not deal with the Royal Family.¡± ¡°What about Ezerca?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a designer who was also close to the late Duchess. Why don¡¯t you take your wife to her salon?¡± ¡°Me myself?¡± ¡°The Duke has a good eye for choosing clothes. With the Duke there, even Madame Ezerca won¡¯t be able to play a prank easily.¡± Lionel pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth. ¡°Then make an appointment for tomorrow morning.¡± Claudel nodded her head. ¡°I understand.¡± *** The next day, Lionel informed Riv of their outing. ¡°Whatever you were going to do today, do it later.¡± The maids sympathized. Having picked out Riv¡¯s outfit in advance, the girls busily decorated Riv, giggling freely. ¡°Madame, you will be going on a date.¡± ¡°A date?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your first date after getting married.¡± Riv wore a slender silver dress chosen by her maids and her long black hair was gathered behind her back and adorned with a hairpin. She wore light makeup and a matching hat, gloves, shawl and a lace parasol. ¡°Is this enough?¡± It took a lot of work for ladies to go out. Riv was amazed at how they had transformed her into a completely different person. ¡°Oh my, you are beautiful, Madame.¡± ¡°I think the Master will fall for you again once he sees you.¡± After hearing the maids¡¯ praise, Riv left the Duchess¡¯ room. Lionel whistled as he watched her emerge from her room. Lionel, dressed as well as Riv, gently tousled his short blonde hair and brushed it back. ¡°Shall we go, Duchess?¡± Riv took his hand, and they went downstairs together. ¡°Lionel, where are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to prepare for the ball.¡± ¡°I already have a lot of clothes. I haven¡¯t even tried on all the clothes I have.¡± ¡°Can the Duchess of Sentoren just wear anything?¡± Lionel led Riv with an evil smile. Their carriage moved towards the central city of the Royal Capital. Riv had been to this street, where luxurious shops were gathered a few times, but she had never been able to look around properly. ¡°Come this way.¡± On a street lined with expensive salons, Lionel ushered Riv to Madame Ezerca¡¯s salon, which had the most ornate sign. Madame Ezerca was waiting for them and greeted them. ¡°Welcome. Your Grace, Duke and Duchess of Sentoren.¡± Riv grabbed Lionel¡¯s arm tightly. Somehow, she became very conscious of the eyes around her. Not only Lionel, but Madame Ezerca also seemed to be paying too much attention to her. Her assistants stared at Riv and couldn¡¯t hide their curiosity. ¡°You¡¯ve probably heard that we were coming, Madame.¡± ¡°Indeed I have.¡± The beautiful Madame Ezerca bobbed her head at Lionel and looked at Riv. Madame Ezerca, who wore a gorgeous dress reminiscent of a peacock, was a woman whom Riv had seen a couple of times. ¡°Duchess of Sentoren, my name is Madame Ezerca, the designer. Please call me Ezerca.¡± Ezerca was brought to the royal palace to make clothes for Queen Selina and Princess Marianne, and had a big fight with her maids. Afterwards, she said that she would refuse any order from the Royal Family. Ezerca smiled at Riv. ¡°Madame Katana, no, I should call you the Duchess of Sentoren. I never expected to see you like this again.¡± ¡°You remember me.¡± ¡°Duchess, there¡¯s no way I cannot recognize someone in such a terrible dress.¡± Ezerca remembered Riv in her Madame Katana costume and smiled again. ¡°Ah, I heard that you are ordering ball dresses for the Duchess of Sentoren, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Will one be for the Royal ball?¡± As Lionel nodded his head, Ezerca burned with enthusiasm. ¡°The royal ball, that¡¯s great. Please come this way.¡± The assistants in the salon locked the door and guided Riv to the design studio on the second floor. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to take your measurements first.¡± Ezerca smiled brightly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a bit about the Duchess¡¯ noble taste. If you have a design you like or a fabric you want, please let me know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°I liked the late Duchess of Sentoren. She was a very kind customer.¡± Ezerca also had a reason. ¡°We need to make your dress more beautiful than Princess Marianne¡¯s or Queen Selina¡¯s dress.¡± No one could stop Ezerca¡¯s burning enthusiasm. After taking her measurements, Riv discussed the fabric and design with her. When Riv, who was not used to flashy things, hesitated, Lionel proceeded to talk with Ezerca. ¡°The Duchess of Sentoren is tall and slender, so how about something like this?¡± Lionel, Ezerca, and her assistants put their heads together to modify the design. Towards Riv, they seemed to only have curiosity and goodwill rather than any negative emotions. Riv had judged Ezerca to be reliable. Ezerca whispered to her. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren is a good customer who spares no expense. He will spend a lot of money at our salon in the future.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ezerca greeted Lionel with a fresh smile. ¡°I wish you all the best in the future, Your Grace.¡± It got to the point where Riv couldn¡¯t even ask how many dresses he had ordered. Every time she tried to stop him, she would be surrounded by a mountain of swatches and would be distracted. Riv picked fabrics and designs that would suit her. A couple of hours later, rumors had spread that Lionel and Riv were in Madame Ezerca¡¯s dressing room. A crowd began to gather around the salon. ¡°You have to leave through the back door. Your carriage is parked there.¡± At Ezerca¡¯s words, Lionel and Riv escaped in their carriage through the back door, just like she recommended. The carriage carrying the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren drove for a long time out of the city. The carriage stopped just before the royal road. ¡°At this rate, we can¡¯t go on a date within the city.¡± Lionel¡¯s grumbling intensified. The carriage ended up heading to Charlton Hill near the Royal Capital. ¡°We were supposed to have a comfortable meal downtown.¡± The wind blew strongly down the hills of Charlton. Riv got off the carriage and hugged him. ¡°Is it cold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that cold.¡± Lionel took Riv¡¯s hand and led her up the hill. ¡°Come this way.¡± There were few buildings in the sparsely populated area, and Lionel led Riv to a red stone building among them. ¡°What¡¯s here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a restaurant. It¡¯s time for dinner, isn¡¯t it?¡± Riv was exhausted from all the dress fitting. As Riv entered the restaurant¡¯s beautiful garden, she wondered why he had brought her here. ¡°Sit here.¡± ¡°Why are we here?¡± Lionel settled at an outdoor table and pulled her chair back. He smiled happily. ¡°This is our date.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 The restaurant that had no sign was a place where only the people Lionel knew came to. The owner of the restaurant was Lionel himself. A restaurant that Lionel opened whenever he wanted. ¡®Dinner in the Afternoon¡¯ overlooks the Royal Capital. He said that the view from the observation deck was more exquisite than the food. The Royal Capital could be seen even from inside the restaurant, and on a clear day, even parts of the Royal Palace could be seen. Riv admired the panoramic view from the restaurant¡¯s window. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Lionel familiarly ordered their meal. Healthy dishes made with fresh ingredients were served. The meal was delicious, but the sweet and sour lemon pudding served for dessert made Riv¡¯s eyes open wide. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, Lionel.¡± ¡°You seem to like the dessert more than dinner.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Eating the sour lemon pudding, Riv was happy. Lionel looked at her with delight. ¡°Isn¡¯t Lionel going to eat more?¡± ¡°Just seeing you eat makes me full.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother the chef at home if you get hungry later on.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Lionel grinned and finished his portion of the meal. After finishing their meal, they enjoyed a rest. ¡°You¡¯re in a good mood.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to be out with Lionel.¡± For a while, she even sunbathed in the garden where the sun shined warmly. They headed to the observation deck behind the restaurant. There were no chairs in the small observatory. There was only a strong wind and the scenery that spread in all directions. ¡°This is it.¡± In the face of the wind that seemed to be able to blow her body away, Riv wondered what Lionel¡¯s thoughts were to bring her here. ¡°Why here?¡± ¡°Are you going to fly away, Riv?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that light.¡± Lionel worried that Riv really would be blown away, so as the wind ruffled his short hair, he grabbed her by the waist. ¡°It¡¯s too windy.¡± ¡°Still, I wanted to come here with you at least once.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t frown even in the strong wind. He seemed rather accustomed to being faced with strong winds. ¡°Are you here for the wind?¡± ¡°That might be the case. This place is similar to Mont Del.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about your southern territory.¡± ¡°Yes. There are many mountains there, so it is warmer than the Capital, but there is always a strong wind blowing like this.¡± ¡°Do you want to go back to Mont Del?¡± Lionel nodded his head. ¡°After my parents died, I spent more time in Mont Del than in the Royal Capital. I¡¯m more familiar with that place.¡± After he took Riv as his wife, Lionel stayed here and delayed his return to his beloved estate. Riv, not knowing this, wondered why he might have stayed here so long. ¡°If you wish to go to Mont Del, go.¡± ¡°Not yet. You may not like it.¡± The red scar on Lionel¡¯s face stood out. ¡°There¡¯s no way I would hate it.¡± Riv stroked Lionel¡¯s face. ¡°Lionel, what do you think of me? Do you like me?¡± ¡°Yes. You are the wife I chose.¡± ¡°Why did you choose me?¡± Riv recalled that she had changed not only hers, but also Lionel¡¯s fate with whom she was entwined. Both of their futures were unpredictable. ¡°Is it because you feel desire for me? Or is it because you want to repay the favor of me having saved you?¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s all of them? What if I was attracted to you before that?¡± Riv¡¯s memories flashed before her eyes. It was only a short time ago, but it seemed like too many things had happened at once. Princess Marianne killed her and she returned to the past. Riv risked her life to save Lionel. Lionel chose to marry Riv to protect her from her Royal Family. It was a marriage that should not have emotions. Lionel wanted the marriage to be real, and the boundary between fake and real was becoming blurred. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m getting used to you too much.¡± ¡°Why are you worried about that?¡± Lionel probably knew that Riv liked him. Besides¡­ ¡®I died.¡¯ Riv was like a ghost who had returned to the past. There were a lot of people who wanted to help Riv, who had stepped out of the Royal Capital¡¯s cage. They all appeared through Lionel. ¡°Can Lionel trust me even if there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t explained yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you sure I won¡¯t betray you?¡± ¡°If you were going to betray me, you wouldn¡¯t have sacrificed your life to save me.¡± Riv grinned. ¡°I like Lionel.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Lionel was a shameless man. Riv asked the man who exuded a devilish charm. ¡°Then do you like me too?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°What about love?¡± The wind blew around them. Their clothes fluttered strongly. Her hat almost flew off, so she pressed it on her head. His reply was delayed because of the wind, but he still hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to love. I need more time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv was afraid to get close to Lionel. She was afraid that she might fall in love with him blindly. ¡°I don¡¯t think I love you yet either.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Their sweet date turned into a bitter one. However, Lionel whispered. ¡°But Riv, as time goes by, I know I will fall in love with you.¡± Her heart began to pound. Thump thump. Riv was speechless. Lionel pulled Riv closer to him and whispered. ¡°Riv, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re worrying about, but remember this. Madame Katana was just your fake shell. You¡¯ve been wearing that fake mask for so long that you forgot the real you.¡± ¡°I, I.¡± ¡°You do not bring misery. Even Riv Katana deserves love.¡± An ugly child born after killing her mother. She was a child who had never been of any use since she was born. Riv had lived her whole life listening to such criticism. Why did she hear these kind words from Lionel and his people? Why did she know this only after she had died? ¡°I deserve to be loved?¡± Riv used to be just a tool who received hateful emotions to resolve people¡¯s anger. A symbol of misfortune. An existence that brought misfortune just by laying eyes on it. She had always been called that. ¡°You deserve to be loved. I¡¯m with you because I wanted to marry you and be with you for the rest of our lives.¡± Lionel¡¯s words sounded like salvation. It was the best confession she had ever experienced. Her moments with Lionel were a series of surprises, but even now it felt like a dream. Riv burst into tears. ¡°I don¡¯t want to wake up.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just, all these moments feel like a dream.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Thank you for being with me.¡± Lionel nodded his head and said. ¡°As long as I am here, you are safe. I will protect you.¡± Riv clung to Lionel¡¯s wide arms and continued to weep. Riv wanted this happiness to last a very long time. If this happiness was finite, may she be happy until the very end, and may she be able to make this man happy. Riv did not believe in God, but she prayed to Him. *** The banquet of the House of Vincent approached. At the head of the Vincent family was Noel, the youngest brother of the current Count Vincent. Noel was more famous than the Count himself. The Vincent family were at the top, in both large and small. They monopolized domestic and foreign luxuries that the Royal Family liked. Count Vincent also had an excellent eye for acquiring valuables. Although they were expensive, the quality was always excellent. The youngest daughter of the wealthy Vincent family was making her social debut. The fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren would participate in their banquet made the headlines. Many wanted to attend the Vincent¡¯s ball, but could not enter without an invitation. Soon, it was the night of the ball hosted by the Vincent family. Carriages arrived from all directions. The carriage carrying the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren traveled towards the Vincent mansion quickly. Riv took a deep breath. The corset around her waist felt stuffy. ¡°Riv, are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv nodded her head. She was outwardly calm, but inwardly, she was very nervous. It was Riv¡¯s first time attending a ball. ¡°I never expected that I would ever debut or participate in a ball.¡± All of this was unexpected for Riv. She was Marianne¡¯s shadow, and never thought that she would be the main character. Lionel encouraged her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, only those who were invited can come to the ball. They do not like crowds. It¡¯s a ball for his youngest daughter to debut in society and find a husband.¡± Meanwhile, carriages and crowds gathered around the street leading to the Vincent mansion, creating a small traffic jam. The servants of House Vincent came out and directed the guests. Their carriage stopped in front of the main gate, and when they got off, the servants checked their invitation before allowing them entry. ¡°The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren have arrived.¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 The servants who checked Lionel and Riv¡¯s invitations announced their arrival. Even though their voice was not too loud, a brief silence fell. Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to them. Lionel was smartly dressed in a black suit, but didn¡¯t wear makeup or wigs like the other men. Still, he stood out because he was tall. Riv, who stood next to him, was also taller than most and exuded a cool and unique atmosphere. Lionel whispered to Riv. ¡°Be bold. You are the Duchess of Sentoren.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv straightened her back. Neither those who had claimed to be Queen Selina¡¯s entourage nor those who had ever seen Riv as Madame Katana recognized her easily. Riv wasn¡¯t the shadow she used to be. Riv had a strong husband who supported her. ¡°Thank you, Lionel.¡± Riv began to walk more confidently. The dark red satin dress she wore spread out behind her. Her arms were bare with her voluptuous breasts and alluring white skin were exposed. She looked elegant, with her seductive red lips, fair face and braided dark hair that were complemented by the diamond necklace that hung from her slender neckline. The dark red dress, designed by Lionel and Ezerca, showed off Riv¡¯s elegance and at the same time accentuated her cool beauty. ¡°Lionel.¡± The Earl of Murden and his wife, who had arrived previously, approached them. Sophia was excited. ¡°Oh my, Riv is so cool.¡± Sophia hesitated at Riv¡¯s cool vibe before she took her hand. ¡°My family wants to meet the Duchess of Sentoren. Come.¡± Riv was dragged along by Sophia and was promptly introduced to members of the Vincent family. They were followed by Lionel and the Earl of Murden. The Vincent family was composed of their benevolent father O¡¯Neil, his beautiful wife, Milinas, and their three daughters, of whom Sophia was the eldest. Noel Vincent and his family were also introduced, which distracted her even more. Sophia was very excited. ¡°This is the Duchess of Sentoren. Riv, this is my youngest sister, Mary.¡± Seventeen-year-old Mary Vincent was cuter and more shy than Riv had expected. There was a freshness about her that was different from that of Princess Marianne and other girls her age. ¡°Nice to meet you. But have you never visited the royal family? I never heard the name Vincent in the palace.¡± Riv whispered to Sophia, and Sophia replied, ¡°We are aristocrats, but we are looked down on because we are involved in running a luxury business. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve never been invited to the royal palace.¡± The Vincent family was free-spirited and didn¡¯t mind not being invited by the Royal Family. Even if they were invited, they often didn¡¯t dare go to the palace. ¡°The Royal Family doesn¡¯t invite us, but Royal Family members are anxious about being able to obtain luxury items. Isn¡¯t our relationship strange?¡± Sophia smiled bitterly. At the same time, O¡¯Neil Vincent announced the start of the ball. The band started playing. Riv thought she would just watch the couples that were dancing. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel held his hand out to Riv. ¡°Let¡¯s dance.¡± ¡°What if I step on your foot?¡± ¡°I will lead. I¡¯m not weak enough to collapse no matter how many times you step on me.¡± Riv took Lionel¡¯s hand and they mingled among the crowd. Lionel was a gifted dancer, and effortlessly led Riv. They flawlessly blended in with those on the dance floor. She knew she was quite clumsy, but she didn¡¯t make a lot of mistakes. Lionel and Riv danced to several songs in a row. They caught a lot of people¡¯s attention, but they didn¡¯t even notice. Eventually, they had to stop because Riv¡¯s feet hurt. ¡°Lionel, I need to rest.¡± Riv took a deep breath. The corset seemed too tight on her waist, and her pretty shoes were uncomfortable. Lionel and Riv broke away from the dancers. They decided to find a break room to catch their breath. ¡°Riv, you don¡¯t look too good.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because I¡¯m nervous.¡± ¡°You kept dancing even though you were nervous.¡± Riv snorted at Lionel¡¯s joke. But she didn¡¯t want to ruin her makeup, so she straightened her face. ¡°There is a break room over here.¡± The women who occupied the room looked curiously at Riv. However, it was not easy to break into the cool atmosphere that surrounded Lionel and Riv. Lionel looked at Riv and began to move. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you a drink.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv rubbed her swollen feet and nodded. When Lionel left, some brave ladies approached her and made small talk before disappearing. Meanwhile, a group of young girls entered the break room. Riv held her breath and turned around, feeling piercing gazes aimed at the back of her head. ¡°¡­?¡± They were somehow familiar. ¡®Where have I seen them?¡¯ Riv remembered after a while. Those girls were from Marianne¡¯s rose tea party. Perhaps because they were making their social debut this year, they wore a white banquet dress similar to Mary Vincent, with a flower corsage pinned to their left chest. They approached Riv and asked carefully. ¡°A-Are you the Duchess of Sentoren?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The girls glanced in the direction Lionel had disappeared to. Riv realized that they liked her husband, Lionel. They were openly interested in the Duke of Sentoren at Marianne¡¯s tea party. ¡®Don¡¯t you know I was Madame Katana?¡¯ Rumors that she was Madame Katana spread all over the Royal Capital, so everyone knew at this point. Even though Riv¡¯s body shape changed dramatically, her facial features didn¡¯t change much. The girls also seemed to realize this after examining Riv¡¯s face. ¡°W-Were you really Madame Katana?¡± ¡°Hic!¡± A few of the girls almost collapsed, and some girls who had been watching Riv from afar joined in and openly stared at Riv¡¯s face. ¡°R-Really, Madame Katana?¡± The girls did not want to believe Riv was Madame Katana. ¡°Why! How could this happen?¡± ¡°This is Madame Katana?¡± Some of the girls were in tears from shock, so Riv didn¡¯t feel the need to answer. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lionel, who brought water and so that Riv could rehydrate, was bewildered as he saw the girls gathered in front of Riv. ¡°Riv, do you know them?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Lionel sat next to Riv and whispered in her ear. A few girls quickly lowered their eyes at his intimate action. ¡°Who are these girls?¡± ¡°They are Princess Marianne¡¯s friends.¡± ¡°Oh, so they¡¯re younger than you.¡± Riv sipped the water Lionel had brought. Lionel¡¯s hot amber eyes followed her subtle movements. Even after she emptied her water, the girls didn¡¯t leave and lingered around. ¡°Do you have any business with us?¡± The girls were surprised that Riv was Madame Katana, but their interest in Lionel outweighed their shock. A red blush appeared on their cheeks as they looked at Lionel. ¡°My name is Karen Alzarens.¡± ¡°My name is Jamie, the daughter of the Marquis Senon.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°You saw me at Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony and at the Hall Street ball.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The moment Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony was mentioned, Lionel¡¯s face darkened. The faces of the young girls, overwhelmed by the tremendous energy he exuded, were terrified. ¡°Did I introduce myself to you ladies?¡± ¡°Y-You greeted me at the banquet last time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Lionel couldn¡¯t even remember who the little girls, who all looked alike, were. He seldom attended banquets. Even if he did, he only reluctantly did so because of the King¡¯s orders. When he was introduced to girls the same age as Marianne, he quickly forgot about them. It was the same now. ¡°Does it matter who you are?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Should I care who you are when I have my wife by my side?¡± The girls were terrified and disappeared. Lionel¡¯s anger continued. No one tried to come close to Lionel, who looked harsh. There seemed to be a barrier around Riv and Lionel, and no one dared approach. ¡°Riv, should we go back now?¡± ¡°How long have we been here?¡± Riv thought they should stay a little longer for Earl Murden and the Vincent family. ¡°I want to get some fresh air. Your feet are fine now, so let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The moment they left the break room, the people who were waiting for them overflowed. They were soon besieged, but with one look from Lionel, most of them retreated. ¡°Lionel, let¡¯s go outside.¡± She had heard from Sophia that the Vincent family garden was their pride and joy. Riv used that as an excuse to lead Lionel out. The garden shimmered beautifully in the moonlight. Lionel pretended to come reluctantly, led by Riv. ¡°Lionel, don¡¯t you hate balls?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you not want to dance anymore?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve danced with you plenty.¡± Riv spread out her dress on the steps and sat down cautiously. ¡°Will Ezerca be surprised to see this?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Lionel grinned at Riv. He seemed to care about Riv¡¯s appearance too. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°My feet hurt and my back is tight. I haven¡¯t been drinking at all and I haven¡¯t eaten since lunch.¡± ¡°My wife sure complains a lot.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression seemed to soften a little as Riv babbled. It¡¯s nice to attend a beautiful ball and meet people, but Riv was still not good at socializing. Above all, Riv enjoyed these moments with Lionel the most. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 ¡°I was looking for you, and you were here.¡± Mary, the youngest daughter of the Vincent family, had gone out in search of them. She brought snacks for the two of them and set them on the steps. She said, ¡°I think Karen was rude to the Duke in the break room earlier. Please accept my apologies.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t respond, so Riv laughed. It seemed that the ring leader among the girls who caused trouble was Karen. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We wanted to cool off before going back in.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Mary quickly left the two, allowing them to spend time alone. Lionel murmured, eating a few raspberries that Mary had left behind. He had been angry ever since Marianne and her coming-of-age ceremony were brought up. ¡°Lionel, are you going to stay mad all night?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°About the girls earlier.¡± ¡°They are not my taste.¡± Riv¡¯s question seemed to make him uncomfortable. He made a face. ¡°Then what is your taste in women?¡± Lionel watched her with blazing eyes as if he was going to eat her at that moment. ¡°Li-onel?¡± He grabbed Riv¡¯s face and kissed her like he was going to devour her. Even though someone was probably watching them. As if to show off, openly. After a while, the sweet kiss ended. Riv¡¯s head started to tingle, and Lionel reluctantly pulled his lips away from hers. ¡°Lionel?¡± What was Lionel thinking? Those words faded from her mind as soon as Lionel met Riv¡¯s hazy eyes and brushed his finger across her lips. Lionel whispered, his eyes burning with passion. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that you look terribly pretty? Did I ever say you weren¡¯t my taste?¡± ¡°You¡¯re pretty too.¡± ¡°I keep thinking about tearing this dark red dress off you right now, and your long legs wrapped around me.¡± ¡°L-Lionel!¡± Riv was afraid that someone would hear, so she covered his mouth. Lionel¡¯s lips curled up under her palm. Slowly removing her hand, Lionel looked around the Vincent¡¯s beautiful garden. It was a quiet garden full of late spring flowers. ¡°I like this place. I¡¯ll have to hire the Vincent¡¯s gardener.¡± Lionel took Riv¡¯s hand and kissed the back. He asked as a respectful gentleman. ¡°Would you like to dance with me, Riv Sentoren?¡± They danced under the moonlight, with very faint music as their guide. It was a romantic night. Those who watched them sighed softly. *** After the ball at the House of Vincent, rumors about the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren spread wildly. Those who argued that Riv Sentoren was not Madame Katana had finally come to admit that they were the same person. In the meantime, there was much gossip that the Duchess of Sentoren in Madame Ezerca¡¯s dress was beautiful. There were many discussions about how she matched Lionel well, as if they were always a pair. Those words spread and reached the Royal Family. The more Queen Selina heard such rumors, the more uncomfortable she became. ¡°Do you think they¡¯re a real couple?¡± Queen Selina¡¯s cousins ??and maids watched the Queen¡¯s despair first hand. ¡°Q-Queen Selina, H-How about bringing in the Duchess and scolding her?¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°Because the Duchess was formerly Madame Katana, they¡¯re saying that all of our maids are masters of disguise and transformation!¡± ¡°But it is true that Madame Katana disguised herself. What do you want me to say? Madame Katana was under me for five years. She was a hideous girl!¡± It was Queen Selina herself who told the teenage girl to disguise herself with a big body to look ugly. The maids closed their eyes tightly at the Queen¡¯s words. ¡°What if Madame Katana gossips about Queen Selina or Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°Has anyone heard her spreading rumors?¡± ¡°N-no.¡± Queen Selina let out a sigh. ¡°There is no way that girl can talk about us easily. If she ever does, I won¡¯t stay still or leave her alone.¡± Madame Katana was no longer the problem. The Queen was reminded of her daughter, the source of all her troubles. ¡°What the hell is Marianne doing?!¡± The Queen had headaches from the numerous scandals of Marianne. Rumors and questions about Madame Katana also returned to the Royal Family. Why did Madame Katana hide her true self and become the protagonist of such infamous gossip? Why did the Royal Family keep spreading rumors about Madame Katana? If the rumors about Madame Katana were fake, the Royal Palace must¡¯ve started them. ¡°The rumors about Princess Marianne are nasty.¡± ¡°Marianne has been confined and neither Riv nor the Duke have talked, so why?¡± Even if the Duke of Sentoren and Riv were silent, many knew of Marianne¡¯s bad deeds and her temper. The Queen¡¯s clown maids were also concerned about it. Those who sought Marianne, whose fianc¨¦ had disappeared, were numerous. ¡°Young men who claim they¡¯ve spent a night with Princess Marianne are spreading the rumors.¡± Things that could have been passed off as Marianne¡¯s petty games when the Duke of Sentoren was her fianc¨¦ had now gotten bigger. Marianne¡¯s lovers wanted to be her husband. ¡°One of Princess Marianne¡¯s lovers seems to have fought a duel.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The Marquis Quill, who ran away after the accident, also seems to have wandered around publicly saying that he would marry Princess Marianne and become a member of the Royal Family. He even said he was going to deal with the Duke of Sentoren.¡± The King and Queen had already dealt with the Marquis of Quill properly. He never would have appeared in front of Marianne while he was alive. Lionel¡¯s search for him had also stopped. She thought it would be all right if the Marquis disappeared, but it wasn¡¯t. His words and deeds, and the commotion he caused, still came and went from people¡¯s mouths. After Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony, when the Marquis had disappeared, it was said that he was delighted that he had killed the Duke of Sentoren. At that time, the Duke was in danger, and some of the guards witnessed it. Marianne¡¯s promiscuous personal life and all the rumors surrounding her could not be controlled, and Queen Selina suffered another headache. ¡°Keep a close watch on Princess Marianne. Keep her out of contact with men from outside. She needs to find a new groom, so it¡¯s not good for rumors to spread like this.¡± As Queen Selina brushed her teeth, she recalled her Riv. Her daughter¡¯s bad behavior was a problem, but it was because of Madame Katana that the rumors had spread. ¡°If I had known that this would be such a problem, I would have killed her.¡± Queen Selina stopped cursing Riv, called a maid and asked, ¡°What is Marianne doing now?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne¡­ she is depressed that everyone is turning a blind eye and abandoning her.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne wants someone to comfort her. If the Queen would offer her some warm words¡­¡± ¡°Why would I do that?¡± Queen Selina sent the Princess¡¯ handmaiden away. She could only arrive at one conclusion. ¡°Riv¡­ I can¡¯t forgive that girl for running around like this.¡± Queen Selina thought carefully. There was only one way she could put all of this to rest. ¡°Riv Sentoren, send an assassin to the girl.¡± Queen Selina¡¯s face looked more terrifying than the reaper who brought death. The Queen¡¯s maids trembled with fear. *** That night, a ¡®guest¡¯ visited the Sentoren mansion. Riv slept so well that night that she didn¡¯t wake up, but Lionel, who had been sleeping beside her, opened his eyes. There was a moment of intense fighting outside, but the sound had subsided. Lionel checked to make sure Riv was completely asleep and went outside. His men were lying on the floor and the window was wide open as if someone had left. ¡°Your opponent?¡± ¡°We missed him. Sorry.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lionel did not rebuke his men. ¡°Are you injured?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lionel stared out the window on the third floor. It would be difficult to find the intruder who had disappeared into the dark. He deliberately did not give orders to seek them out. If the assassin was sent by the orders of the Queen, she would have sent her best man. Even if the assassin was captured and evidence was obtained, the Queen would deny everything. ¡®Maybe this will keep happening until Riv dies.¡¯ Lionel asked his men. ¡°Do you think the killer has been aiming for the mansion for long?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t figured that out yet, but since he failed once, he might try again. Next time we will be thoroughly prepared and not make any mistakes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sick and tired of this.¡± At Lionel¡¯s words, his men nodded their heads in agreement. Even Riv Sentoren did not know why she was hated by the Queen and the Princess¡¯ object of envy. Lionel stepped towards his office. Michelle was with him. ¡°How about going down to your estate? Only until Princess Marianne¡¯s marriage is decided. She is going to get married by the end of this year at the latest.¡± ¡°You mean running away? Riv said even if Marianne gets married, the Queen will still blame Riv for everything.¡± ¡°Why would she do that?¡± Michelle was lost in thought. The Queen thought Riv was like a doll that cursed them. Madame Katana. A being who brought out hatred and caused misfortune, no matter how many bad things she suffered. An object of anger who was not treated as a human being. But Riv was human, and she escaped from her prison and bloomed into a different person. Lionel wanted to know how Queen Selina and Princess Marianne would react to seeing Riv now. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make them want to kill Riv even more?¡± Michelle couldn¡¯t answer. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Riv opened her eyes. Lionel, who always fell asleep next to her, was missing. Riv murmured as she habitually felt around the side where he usually fell asleep on. ¡°An uninvited guest arrived.¡± Riv¡¯s necklace on her side table radiated an ominous light. Compared to the light when she died, it was weak. However, she could not fall asleep because of the assassin¡¯s murderous intent. ¡°I am not safe yet.¡± Riv¡¯s blue eyes darkened. She escaped, but she still seemed to be submerged in the murky depths of the Ailte Palace. *** The following days carried on without any problems. Besides the fact that Riv was a witch who had been revived by magic, she was a normal person. Her power was something she hadn¡¯t used. It was not a power she could control. The life of the Duchess of Sentoren was busier than expected. She had to attend liberal arts classes, balls, and some social gatherings. Then there was also her weekly date with Lionel. After living such a busy life, Riv came to the greenhouse. It had been a full week since she last came here. ¡°Haa.¡± As soon as Riv entered the greenhouse, she inhaled the humid air. She spoke to the greenhouse as if it were alive. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t visit these past few days. I¡¯ve been so busy. I feel like my senses went a bit dull.¡± As Riv blinked her eyes, she saw the vivid color of her power. Her power was as strong as ever. Riv saw her power wafting through the thick air of the greenhouse. The flow of air changed and the warmth of the greenhouse became pleasant. By seizing her power, the plants came alive. The green leaves changed to a darker color. ¡°Thanks for letting me know I¡¯m still alive.¡± Riv stayed in the greenhouse for nearly an hour. She couldn¡¯t handle magic and she couldn¡¯t normally use it, but she knew this. She felt like her exhausted body was revived just by sitting there. Her depleted magical power seemed to be restored. After returning to her room, Riv regained her vitality. In her first free moments after a long week, she picked dresses from her wardrobe that she didn¡¯t like, stripped the decorations off and rolled up her sleeves. Her hands were so quick that her maids marveled. ¡°Madame, you are amazing.¡± After transforming a few dresses, Riv gathered the leftover fabric and embroidered Lionel¡¯s name on a silk swatch. She had already made several of these. By the time she had finished embroidering his cravat, the afternoon was over. Riv organized her creations, but hesitated on how to give them to him. She stared at her mother¡¯s pendant necklace that hung on her chest. Riv realized that she hadn¡¯t heard from Lionel all day. ¡°I was too preoccupied with sewing.¡± While Riv felt awkward, her maids asked. ¡°Madame, what would you like for dinner?¡± ¡°What does the Duke want? I¡¯ll eat with him once he arrives.¡± ¡°I will go and find out.¡± The maids moved quickly. Looking at their friendly faces, a smile also appeared on Riv¡¯s face. They returned shortly after. ¡°Madame, the Duke has sent you a message.¡± Riv unfolded Lionel¡¯s note, which they had carefully delivered. ¨C Riv, I¡¯ll be late. It was a note that Riv had received from her favorite man. Although simple, it was a love letter. It seemed like it would become Riv¡¯s treasure in the future. She placed the piece of paper in her jewelry box, which she always kept next to her bed. Riv had told Claudel to put the silk handkerchief she embroidered with Lionel¡¯s initials in his bedroom. When Claudel returned, Riv handed her a black-and-white corsage made out of remaining dress fabrics. ¡°I thought this would suit Claudel.¡± ¡°Thank you. Did you make it?¡± Riv nodded her head. ¡°I hope you like it.¡± Claudel smiled happily. She walked over to the mirror, pinned the corsage on her chest, and adjusted its position. She and the neat adornment matched as if they were one. Claudel, delighted, belatedly remembered the story she had come to tell Riv. ¡°Madame, did you hear that you have to participate in the Royal Ball? We have received messages from the Royal Family a couple of times ordering you to come.¡± Riv nodded her head. It was impossible not to know, as Lionel had mentioned it several times in passing and they even asked Ezerca to match their attire. The Royal ball. The most extravagant party to end the social season. Every group that went to the salon only talked about those stories. But she had never heard of Marianne¡¯s whereabouts. After Riv became Duchess of Sentoren, Marianne seemed to have evaporated. ¡°Have you heard anything about Princess Marianne these days?¡± ¡°Well. I¡¯ve only heard that she still lives in the palace. Maybe the princess is still grounded?¡± Even if Marianne was grounded, she would definitely attend the Royal ball. It was her first ball as an adult. For Marianne, it could be her last. ¡°Princess Marianne will be marrying abroad. She will be gone as early as this year or as late as the beginning of the social season next year.¡± Riv nodded. Claudel asked again. ¡°Madame Riv, are you ready to face the princess?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv didn¡¯t want to hesitate any longer. ¡°The Princess and the Queen have been quiet these days. But them being quiet doesn¡¯t give me peace of mind.¡± Claudel decided to pour out the rumors she had heard about the Royal Family to Riv. Riv was deep in thought. An assassin was sent from the Royal Family. Royal silence. ¡°What do they want to do to me?¡± ¡®Will I have a chance to fight back? Why did I dream of Lionel¡¯s ominous future?¡¯ Lionel was far more important to Riv than Marianne. *** Lionel found small things on his bed that night. There were neatly folded handkerchiefs on his bed pillow, which he seldom used. Even a cravat with a pattern he had never seen before. ¡°Huh?¡± Lionel gently touched the silk handkerchief. He usually wore a cotton handkerchief, and there were many gentlemanly things that he didn¡¯t even carry with him. ¡°Hmm.¡± Lionel, examining the handkerchief, found his initials embroidered in the bottom corner. Embroidery was Riv¡¯s specialty. ¡°¡­¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, Lionel carefully collected the handkerchiefs and put them in his drawer. He immediately left his bedroom and headed to the Duchess¡¯. ¡°Riv¡­¡± Riv was in a deep sleep. Her white face was so pure it looked bloodless. Lionel inhaled her scent and kissed her cheek. ¡°Thank you, my wife.¡± *** Marianne was temporarily released from confinement. Even so, Marianne was only allowed to go to a few places in the Royal Palace. Today was the day the Royal Family got together to watch a ballet. ¡°Princess Marianne, you are here.¡± When Marianne arrived, her brothers, their wives, and the King and Queen did not look back at her. ¡®Why did this happen?¡¯ Marianne felt like she had been abandoned. ¡®Why do I have to watch such a stup*d play?¡¯ But she didn¡¯t have the courage to walk out of the theater. ¡°Princess, even if you are angry, please be patient.¡± A maid, who had been attending to Marianne, stepped behind her. The eyes of the Royal Family turned to the butterfly-like ballerinas on the stage as the show began. Marianne was agitated when she looked at them. ¡®I¡¯m prettier than them.¡¯ The ballet was about a beautiful country girl named Cassandra who was corrupted by a man and eventually destroyed. As a young girl, men seduced Cassandra one after another. As the play progressed, the gestures of the ballerinas intensified. The music also became sharp, piercing her ears. Betrayed by the men she trusted, Cassandra met a tragic end. ¡®Who the hell chose this play?¡¯ Marianne clasped her arms and groaned. It was as if someone had deliberately chosen this kind of performance for her to watch. But the reaction of the Royal Family was funny. Everyone stood up and applauded enthusiastically. The Princes shed tears, and the King¡¯s lovers, who always looked arrogant, were also moved. The King had an expression that looked like he fell in love with the ballerina playing Cassandra. The ballerinas gently walked off the stage with small steps and bowed deeply. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± As Marianne complained loudly, the fourth prince sitting next to Marianne whispered to her. ¡°Princess, it will be good for everyone if you stay quiet. Do you want to be gossiped about? Or do you want to end up like Cassandra?¡± ¡°What did you just say?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, Princess.¡± At the shameless words of the prince, Marianne gritted her teeth. Not long ago, Marianne was the main character. She had a fianc¨¦ that others envied, and she was a lovely Princess whom everyone looked up to. After her splendid coming-of-age party, everything changed. Madame Katana, the ugly maid that Marianne wanted to kill, took Marianne¡¯s fianc¨¦ and Marianne ended up being punished for the scandal. While Marianne was confined, Riv pretended to be the main character in society. ¡®Why did this happen? Why me!¡¯ Marianne did not understand where it went wrong. There was no one uglier than Riv Katana. So why? Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Her father, the King, had been neglecting Marianne for days. It seemed like Marianne would be thrown away to a distant foreign country and married to a prince. ¡®At least I¡¯ll be a Princess or Queen.¡¯ Marianne was angry and snorted with a harsh breath. This time the third prince, Rain, spoke. ¡°Marianne, keep your dignity as a princess. Don¡¯t be frivolous.¡± ¡°What?¡± For a moment, everyone turned to the direction where Marianne was, to see if she was throwing a tantrum. They looked at her as if she were pathetic. Queen Selina coldly turned her head. ¡®So annoying!¡¯ Marianne left the small theater. Marianne was followed only by her immediate maids. ¡°Princess Marianne, please calm down.¡± As Marianne headed for her own quarters, she glared fiercely at her maids. ¡°Why do I have to be insulted by the princes? Why?!¡± Both Marianne¡¯s maids and her handmaiden shook their heads at her hysterical voice. ¡°This is all because of Riv Katana, that b*tch. When will my handmaidens bring that girl to me and make her kneel? I¡¯m supposed to chastise that bitch in front of everyone!¡± The handmaiden sighed. She could not carelessly touch the Duchess of Sentoren. Behind Riv was the Duke of Sentoren. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± Marianne stomped her feet, irritated. ¡°If you don¡¯t think you can bring the sl*t in front of me, make sure to deal with her. Kill her or disable her!¡± The handmaiden kept silent about the fact that the Queen had already attempted to kill Riv Sentoren. Marianne looked back at her handmaiden before returning to her room. ¡°I need to relieve my stress.¡± ¡°P-Princess?¡± Marianne¡¯s face gleamed playfully like a goblin. The handmaiden felt an ominous presence. ¡°I¡¯m so lonely and bored. I can¡¯t be alone like this. So, send a playmate to my bedroom.¡± The handmaiden turned blue in fear. ¡°I-If Her Majesty finds out¡­¡± ¡°Of course, my parents should not know. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± When the maid tried to refuse, Marianne smiled brightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, follow my orders.¡± Not long ago, two maids who failed to fulfill Marianne¡¯s orders drank poison forced upon them by Marianne and died. The handmaidens were the ones who disposed of their bodies. They had to brainstorm to bring a man in. A few days later, someone snuck into Marianne¡¯s bedroom. Marianne¡¯s laughter cut through the darkness. *** Time passed by quickly. Riv attended two balls with Lionel and had several book club meetings with Sophia. She invited Sophia and her sisters, with whom she became acquainted with, for tea time, and was invited to their outdoor tea party. Meanwhile, Riv had all but forgotten that she was a witch. She completely forgot that her own life was nearing its end, and that she had strange predictive dreams. The fact that she died and came back to life, and that she had met the grim reaper, all seemed to be things of the distant past. It was a peaceful time. The social season was half way over and before she knew it, the Royal Ball was fast approaching. The Royal ball was only ten days away. Claudel brought a letter. ¡°The Royal Family sent a letter to Your Grace.¡± ¡°Who sent it?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne.¡± It was a letter stamped with a red rose seal and was also rose-scented. Riv glanced at the letter to make sure it was safe. ¡°What does it say?¡± After a mysterious assassin attempted to attack Riv, all letters to the Duke and Duchess went through the hands of the head butler or maid. ¡°It¡¯s better to see for yourself.¡± Riv picked up the letter and examined it. The letter was calm, unlike last time. There was no threat to kill Riv with chicken blood. Rather, it was brief. ¡°Come meet me.¡± Riv was to come ¡®alone¡¯ to the Royal Palace to meet Marianne. It was not written what they would do once they met. Riv muttered indifferently. ¡°It seems the Queen has released Princess Marianne from her confinement.¡± ¡°Yes she has, but are you planning on going to see the Princess?¡± Riv shook her head. Even if she had become engrossed in this serenity and forgot her peril, she would never lose her memory of being killed by Marianne. ¡°Princess Marianne is probably not free. She can¡¯t move around the palace.¡± ¡°I think so too. I heard that Princess Marianne¡¯s marriage candidates have been selected. The Princess must not be able to move outside without care.¡± ¡°On the other hand, the events that happen in the Royal Family will be kept silent.¡± Several foreign princes were actively discussed as marriage partners for Marianne. Among them, she heard that some had fallen in love with Marianne¡¯s innocent portrait. ¡°It is said that the princes will attend the Royal ball, and as soon as it is over, Princess Marianne¡¯s engagement ceremony will be held.¡± Riv looked out her peaceful window. Then she stared at the last sentence of the letter. As if to warn Riv¡­ ¨C You¡¯ll see me soon. *** A few days later, a ball dress was delivered from Madame Ezerca¡¯s studio. It was the perfect dress. Riv looked at it carefully. Lionel watched her, immersed in her contemplation, with his arms crossed. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°I heard that Queen Selina sent someone privately.¡± ¡°Yes. The Princess also sent a letter.¡± The mother and daughter were anxious that they wouldn¡¯t be able to bring Riv into the palace. The Duke¡¯s mansion was not their territory; the palace was their domain. No one knew what would happen there. ¡°Do you think I should go?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what we think since it¡¯s an official order for us to attend.¡± Riv looked blankly ahead with dark and cold eyes. She seemed to recall the time when she met her death. ¡°I hate Ailte Palace. I tried so hard to get out of it, and I still feel tied up.¡± ¡°Riv, they can¡¯t hurt you in this place.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Riv was now the Duchess of Sentoren, not Madame Katana. But he would not be able to completely protect her, even though she was his Duchess. Lionel wrapped her in his arms as if he sensed her anxiety. ¡°Summer is coming soon. Time goes by very fast. The Royal ball is the last social event.¡± After the Royal ball, there would be large and small balls, but they had no intention of attending. Lionel said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave after the Royal ball. We can go on a trip, or we can go to the South.¡± ¡°I want to go to Mont Del. I want to see the sea there. I have never seen the sea properly.¡± Riv agreed with Lionel, but she thought of something. ¡°Ah, I was invited to Countess Murden¡¯s villa.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go South after we visit her villa. Clothes are readily available in the South, so you can pack lightly.¡± Time was going by fast. Spring was coming to an end. Once the social season was over, summer would come, and in the fall, a bountiful fall would be greeted in the Southern estate. ¡®Lionel will protect me.¡¯ Riv didn¡¯t think of her death in the winter. *** ¡°Today?¡± Marianne took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. She felt like she waited a very long time to meet that stupid Madame Katana. Marianne gritted her teeth as she recalled the romantic stories about the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren. They were stories that were hard to believe unless you saw them with your own eyes. The Duchess of Sentoren, who was Madame Katana, was said to have changed from ugly to beautiful. ¡®Everyone¡¯s lying. You¡¯re trying to fool me.¡¯ Riv Katana, how could she have transformed unless she was a witch? That girl must have the power to dazzle everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t know they would brazenly attend the Royal ball.¡± Marianne was even more upset that Lionel had not gone down to the Southern estates. ¡°Lionel never asked me to come to a ball! How come he never accepted my request to join him?¡± Jean, a handmaiden, did not point out that Marianne¡¯s request was preposterous. Marianne was a minor until last year. Without the permission of the Royal Family, it would not have been possible for her to set foot in a traditional ball. Jean said effortlessly. ¡°It seems like the Duke and Duchess have to attend the Royal ball. A month ago, His Majesty ordered them to attend.¡± Marianne, who was about to resent her father, changed her mind. Marianne let her lovely hair down and fidgeted. ¡°The Princess is really lovely.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about the Sentoren couple. Princes who will love and adore you are coming.¡± ¡°The princes will decorate Princess Marianne with beautiful jewels and gold.¡± The maids poured their praises to Marianne. A bright yellow dress fluttered around her like a butterfly. Today, Marianne was more like a lovely fairy than anyone else. ¡°Everyone who sees the Princess will instantly fall in love.¡± Marianne was indifferent to the compliments of her maids. The time for the Royal ball drew nearer. As the sun went down, the Royal ball, which had been painstakingly prepared for weeks, opened splendidly. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Excitement was felt all across the social world. At the beginning of summer, women¡¯s attire became lower cut and thinner than before. Beautiful women came and went to the palace, and men in well-tailored suits stood around, unsure of what to do. The women looked for partners to dance with tonight. ¡°Princess Marianne, they said that today, the princes who want to marry you will attend.¡± ¡°Okay. You want me to be well-behaved, right?¡± Those words pierced her ears. Marianne was confident she would make all of her suitors, the princes, fall for her. It was incredibly easy to make men fall for her. *** ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv swept down the off-white silk dress, which Madame Ezerca was delighted with and said was her best work. It was a dress that was not flashy but elegant, and emphasized its rich bodice instead of gaudy decorations. She put on a thin silk shawl over it. Riv looked at herself in the mirror. Her black hair, gracefully curled, was firmly fixed in place. Water droplet diamonds hung around her neck and from her ears. ¡°Riv, if you¡¯re ready, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv looked back at Lionel. He examined her outfit and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± There was still time before the sun went down. If they took a carriage now, they would arrive just in time for the Royal ball. ¡°Lionel, wait a second.¡± Riv stared at Lionel, who wasn¡¯t wearing a wig, but wore a distinctive black suit that was tailored to his body. He was perfect as always. Riv brushed the dust off his shoulder and stroked his cravat, which she had made. A bright smile spread across both of their faces. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± No more mental preparation was needed. Today was the first day of the Royal ball. *** The Royal ball was perfect. This year was the most grandiose and splendid because it was Marianne¡¯s last. The Royal Family, dressed more lavishly than anyone else in attendance, showed off their presence. They were colorful and dazzling. Even the King¡¯s mistresses dressed like peacocks. They poured money onto the Royal ball as they were tired of the small banquets in the palace. It was a huge event. Everyone had been looking forward to this day. The protagonist of this Royal ball was Princess Marianne. After she came of age, she had been away for two months, but Marianne came back more beautiful. Her foreign fianc¨¦ candidates, who would vie for her hand, were also supposed to attend the ball. ¡°Have you seen Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°All the Royals are beautiful, but Princess Marianne is angelic.¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s more mature now.¡± Marianne was still small and childlike, but as she became an adult, she exuded neatness and sexiness. Marianne was the only princess of the Royal Family. She didn¡¯t have a fianc¨¦ anymore, so the position was open to anyone. Before the ball started, there was a crowd of men in front of Marianne who wanted to request a dance. ¡°Princess Marianne, you must dance with me.¡± ¡°No, me!¡± They even lined up in front of Marianne and fought. Marianne stared at them with delight as she looked for a suitable man to enjoy the night with. ¡°I don¡¯t want to dance with anyone yet.¡± Marianne¡¯s fianc¨¦ candidates had yet to arrive. Marianne sat proudly in her seat. The princes moved to the dance floor, signaling the beginning of the ball. Many men and women paired up. The band began to play an exciting tune. After some time had passed, the entrance became noisy. The party¡¯s guests who had arrived late were coming in. ¡°The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren are here.¡± The handmaiden whispered to Marianne. The entrance seemed to be getting louder. People flocked to the entrance, forming a large crowd. ¡°The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren are here?¡± It wasn¡¯t just the royal employees who were curious. They couldn¡¯t believe the alleged transformation of Madame Katana, who used to be a lowly maid, and that she had become a Duchess. The Royal Family especially wanted to see their ugly, disgusting maid, Madame Katana. At once, the main character changed. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren has arrived.¡± The Grand Chamberlain informed the Princes instead of the King and Queen, who had not arrived yet. The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren immediately greeted the princes and their wives, then came before Marianne. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Marianne was bewildered as she saw the tall couple standing in front of her. They were so tall that she had to look up. Marianne finally stood up. ¡®My neck hurts.¡¯ Even as Marianne got up from her seat, the woman in front of her was still taller. She thought the woman next to Lionel would be Madame Katana, but she was a stranger. ¡®Who the hell is this?¡¯ The slender woman with dark hair and white skin looked like a Northern beauty. Her bone structure was pleasant, and her exposed arms, collarbone and neck were long and slender without fats. The white dress she wore had minimal decorations, but it accentuated her elegance. She had no expression, but she acted gracefully and exuded dignity. There was no unnecessary movement from the woman. ¡®But why is she familiar?¡¯ Marianne couldn¡¯t recognize the woman whose arms were linked with Lionel. For a moment, she wondered if Lionel had brought a mistress instead of the Duchess of Sentoren. The woman called Marianne¡¯s name. ¡°Princess Marianne.¡± Marianne didn¡¯t like the elegant woman that was one head taller than her. She hated her white skin, her black, luscious hair, and her delicate features. Even more so her elegant-looking arms and legs, and her voluminous body. Her deep blue eyes, her pointed nose, and her sharp lip line reminded her of the woman Marianne hated. ¡°Who are you?¡± Marianne arrogantly raised her head and stood on her tiptoes. The woman spoke in a familiar voice. ¡°Princess Marianne, I am Madame Katana.¡± ¡°What?¡± Marianne involuntarily tilted her head up. A woman with a voice she knew all too well, familiar eyes, a distinctive white face and dark raven hair, one head taller than Marianne. Those conditions were clearly met by Madame Katana. Perhaps she was hiding her slim figure under that terrible mourning dress, though Madame Katana¡¯s face resembled an old widow. ¡°Do you not recognize me, Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°What?¡± Marianne felt as if she were possessed by a ghost. She forgot about everyone around her. ¡°Y-You, you are a distant relative of Madame Katana, right? Or are you that girl¡¯s twin?¡± ¡°The Princess knows that Madame Katana doesn¡¯t have any relatives, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°¡­¡± All eyes turned to the Duchess of Sentoren. Behind her was the Duke of Sentoren, whose expression hadn¡¯t changed. Marianne¡¯s lovely appearance seemed to have lost its appeal compared to Riv¡¯s dignified look. She was Princess Marianne, but she was considered to be young and insignificant at the moment. ¡°Y-You are not Madame Katana.¡± In Marianne¡¯s memory, Madame Katana was a gloomy-faced, oversized b*tch. The kind of girl whose existence was terrifying. ¡°Believe what you want to believe, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv had looked forward to meeting Marianne. She had imagined this reunion countless times. In front of Princess Marianne, who had killed her in the past, she hoped she would not collapse in terror. But now everything was hazy. ¡°Princess Marianne is still lovely.¡± A beautiful and adorable doll that grew up slowly. A child whose mind had not grown as much as her body. ¡°Riv!¡± ¡°Yes, my name is Riv Sentoren, Princess Marianne.¡± Not only Marianne, but even those next to Marianne froze. This was not a simple transformation. In the eyes of everyone, Madame Katana had transformed into another creature. They couldn¡¯t believe Riv was really Madame Katana. In particular, Marianne¡¯s shock was so great that she froze. Lionel whispered into Riv¡¯s ear. ¡°Queen Selina is coming.¡± Riv raised her head to face Marianne. ¡°Princess Marianne, I have to go say hello to the Queen now.¡± Riv and Lionel met Queen Selina, who had been absent from the ballroom previously. Queen Selina, wearing extravagant high heels, appeared with her clown maids all around her. ¡°Queen Selina, I am Madame Katana.¡± The Queen wore a splendid dress glittering with gold and silver and a sophisticated white wig. Her gigantic dress was like armor wrapped around the Queen¡¯s body. ¡°You.¡± The Queen¡¯s cold eyes turned towards Riv. She quickly recognized Riv who was standing next to Lionel. ¡°You must be Riv¡­ Sentoren.¡± ¡°Queen Selina, it is good to see you. I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time.¡± Lionel was reticent and Riv politely greeted the Queen. ¡°Queen, I received your present last night. I am thankful.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Queen Selina¡¯s eyes widened for a moment, but there was no other change in her expression. It could be because her makeup was too thick, or it could be because she was good at managing her expression. A deep contempt for Riv flashed across the Queen¡¯s face. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Queen Selina looked around before she said anything. The party attendees were watching intently. The Queen decided to back down because she was a woman who cared about her image. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Duke and Duchess of Sentoren. Enjoy the Royal Ball.¡± Queen Selina left without hearing their answer, as if something urgent had come up. Riv took a deep breath after the Queen disappeared. ¡°The Queen is gone, but you shouldn¡¯t let your guard down.¡± Lionel warned, hovering around her like a guard. He continued to whisper to Riv, as if he were recalling memories from Princess Marianne¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony. ¡°Riv, don¡¯t eat anything here. Don¡¯t even drink water. I have no intention of staying long.¡± ¡°I just said hello.¡± ¡°Now that she has seen you, we have fulfilled our summons.¡± They attended the Royal Ball as the King had ordered, so they had done their job. The King, who had ordered their presence, really had little interest in their attendance. More people attended the Royal Ball than expected, so they decided to spend a bit more time socializing before they left. People were very interested not only in Princess Marianne, but also in the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren. Although Riv attended balls and socialized, she was inaccessible because she was reluctant to meet strangers. Her past as Madame Katana amplified the mystery surrounding her. Those who could not approach Lionel gathered in twos or threes and talked about the Duke and Duchess fervently. ¡°That lady is Madame Katana. No, Duchess of Sentoren.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a good match for the Duke.¡± People were amazed that the Duke of Sentoren, whose nickname was the Cold Blooded Duke, clung to her side. The Duke of Sentoren was cold towards everyone else, but was so sweet to his wife. ¡°Oh my God.¡± It was something no one had expected. ¡°Did the Duke of Sentoren always have such an aspect?¡± ¡°What is Madame Katana¡¯s charm?¡± Although Madame Katana, now Riv Sentoren, was beautiful, the palace was overflowing with beauties. Among them were many women who were rejected after spending the night with the Duke of Sentoren. They looked at the Duchess with jealous eyes. When the Princes and their wives arrived, their conversation ceased. The ball started and the people danced. A couple of princes began to dance. Lionel and Riv, who watched for about two or three songs, also joined. They danced to one song and then moved to a break room. Many people wanted to talk to them, but leaving politely was not as easy as they thought. Those whose faces they could not even remember introduced themselves and followed them tenaciously into the break room. They waited for a chance to speak, then began to pour out their words. ¡°Duchess of Sentoren, is that Madame Ezerca¡¯s dress?¡± ¡°Your dress is very nice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fate that we met like this, would you like to visit our mansion?¡± The chorus of voices stopped at once. ¡°Move!¡± Princess Marianne¡¯s maids drove away those who had flocked to the entrance. And who appeared was Princess Marianne, a fairy in a bright yellow dress. She looked around and shouted. ¡°All of you, get out of my way!¡± At Marianne¡¯s tantrum, the noble women all looked at each other and ran away. Only Riv, Marianne, and Lionel were left. Marianne gave another order. ¡°Lionel, you leave too.¡± Lionel was amazed. ¡°Why do I have to leave, Princess Marianne? Do you plan to ruin the Royal Ball?¡± ¡°This is between me and Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Not Madame Katana, but Duchess of Sentoren, Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what her name is!¡± Riv stared at Marianne, who seemed to be boiling with anger. Marianne could not accept that Riv was the Duchess of Sentoren. ¡®Yeah, Marianne burned me to death. The pain was excruciating.¡¯ The memory of her death did not disappear even now, even after she had gone back in time and found happiness. Riv tried not to offend Marianne. Even so, she was nothing more than a trash can for Marianne¡¯s negative emotions. ¡®Persuading Marianne is useless.¡¯ It was also impossible to understand Marianne. Riv no longer rebuked or blamed Marianne. However, Marianne was still the object of her hatred. ¡°You, you should have killed yourself!¡± Despite Marianne¡¯s criticism, Riv remained silent. Her body had experienced death anyway. Marianne, who was fuming below her, was kind of funny. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that, Riv! No, Madame Katana.¡± ¡°How am I looking at you?¡± ¡°You are looking at me like I¡¯m pitiful!¡± ¡°You must be mistaken. Have you said everything you wanted to say?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t at all!¡± Marianne took deep breaths and finally brought up her purpose. ¡°Madame Katana, come back to the palace.¡± ¡°I am the Duchess of Sentoren, Princess Marianne.¡± Marianne got angry at Riv¡¯s calmness and stamped her foot. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what your name is. Take off that noble lady pretense and come back to being the terrible Madame Katana! Crawl under me! Then I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± [T/N: I¡¯m about to brick someone.] ¡°What do I need forgiveness for?¡± Arguing with Marianne was a waste of time. Riv was getting bored and Lionel was getting more and more dissatisfied. ¡°Riv, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Enraged, Marianne took a glass of red wine from a side table and splashed it all over Riv¡¯s silk dress. A purpleish stain spread quickly. Marianne was elated. Riv stared at her with a cold gaze. ¡°Are you done, Princess?¡± ¡°What?¡± Marianne was a bit perplexed. Lionel snorted. ¡°Riv, you don¡¯t have to deal with this. We¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°A-Are you ignoring me now? Why, why are you ignoring me, why!¡± Lionel was reluctant to deal with Marianne. But Riv didn¡¯t care what Marianne said. Now Riv was able to overpower Marianne with one look. ¡®I don¡¯t know if this Princess will ever be satisfied with her life.¡¯ Even if she was loved, she would only be greedy and wish for more than she already received. Marianne would face a very miserable life. Why was she murdered by such a princess? Riv was terribly hated before her regression. ¡°I will leave now.¡± ¡°Riv! That-!¡± Marianne struggled, but they still left, with Lionel holding Riv. He looked at the stain on Riv¡¯s dress with a very annoyed expression. ¡°Lionel, I think we should go home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The carriage?¡± ¡°It will be ready soon.¡± Lionel handed her her shawl to cover up the wine stain. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go back.¡± Marianne followed them out of the break room, but neither of them were interested. ¡°Why, why aren¡¯t you looking at me? Why!¡± She was completely ignored by them. ¡°Why, why aren¡¯t you talking to me, why!¡± Marianne screamed relentlessly behind Lionel and Riv. ¡°I can¡¯t forgive either of you!¡± Marianne threw a glass at them. The glass wasn¡¯t thrown properly and shattered right in front of Marianne. Riv sighed. Looking at them, one of her maids turned blue. ¡°Please don¡¯t let Princess Marianne get hurt.¡± At Riv¡¯s words, the handmaiden nodded her head and escorted Marianne away. Marianne¡¯s screams echoed throughout the hallway. The nobles who had been secretly spying on the commotion turned away in a hurry. Lionel caught a royal servant and said, ¡°Tell the Queen and His Majesty that I have work to do and that I am leaving immediately.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel comforted Riv by hugging her around the waist. Lionel¡¯s terrifying hardened face melted into a friendly one. ¡°Lionel, why do you look so happy?¡± ¡°Because we¡¯re going back home. I was looking for a reason to leave.¡± Riv was also happy to go back home. She had lived in the palace for over 7 years, but never once thought of it as her home. Busy banquets were not to her liking either. Riv used to feel nauseous when surrounded by many people. The only thing Riv got accustomed to was Lionel. Riv left with Lionel, and the only thing she felt bad about was her dress. Could the wine stain be completely removed? ¡°I really liked this dress.¡± ¡°You can always buy new ones.¡± ¡°But still.¡± It was a dress that Lionel and Madame Ezerca had designed after careful consideration. This dress made her feel happy just by looking at it. She had wanted to keep it, even if she couldn¡¯t wear it often. Riv stared at the wine stain. This meeting clearly left a scar. But one thing became clear. With this encounter, Riv knew she didn¡¯t have to fear Marianne at all. Even if her death came as scheduled, it wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with Marianne. Today¡¯s meeting made that clear. ¡®I won¡¯t be killed by Marianne.¡¯ Destiny had been changed. Riv had the power to change it. They boarded the Duke¡¯s carriage. The carriage quickly departed the palace and left behind the carriages of the nobles who were just arriving at the royal ball. Riv was genuinely happy that she was leaving the palace. ¡°There were too many bad memories there. I never wanted to stay long.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t have to go to the palace for the time being.¡± With Lionel by her side, that was good enough for Riv. Lionel glanced at Riv and opened his mouth spontaneously. ¡°Then it would be good to go to Mont Del as soon as possible.¡± Riv nodded her head. ¡°You said the food there is delicious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s much more flavorful than the Royal Capital.¡± Riv recalled what Lionel had told her about Mont Del. He had also shown her landscape paintings. An image of her and Lionel standing there came to mind. Just imagining it made her happy. ¡°I want to hurry up and go.¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Marianne seemed to have seen too many strange things today. ¡°What was that?¡± The Duke of Sentoren, known as the Cold Blooded Duke, was smiling at his wife. They walked as one, and hugged each other affectionately. It seemed like they had no intention of staying long from the beginning. Marianne didn¡¯t even care. Marianne found Lionel¡¯s change as strange as Riv¡¯s. ¡°Lionel¡­ How could that cold blooded man laugh like that? Really?¡± Why were those two happy? How were they able to look at each other and smile? He was her ex-fianc¨¦, (abandoned by Marianne), and the ugly maid she wanted to kill. Why were they happy? Marianne couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why did Princess Marianne call the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren?¡± ¡°Does she really want to interfere with their marriage?¡± The noble women who watched the commotion in the break room gossiped. They seemed to look at Marianne strangely. ¡®Why are you looking at me like that? What did I do?¡¯ Marianne couldn¡¯t stand the gazes, so she ran out of the palace and hid in the garden. She was only relieved after she avoided the gaze of others. Those in the garden who didn¡¯t see Marianne hiding behind a tree chatted. ¡°Isn¡¯t Princess Marianne really strange? Madame Katana, no, Duchess Sentoren, didn¡¯t she seem envious of the Duchess of Sentoren?¡± ¡°No way.¡± They then stopped talking about Marianne and chatted about the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren. ¡°Have you seen the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren before?¡± ¡°They said they left before I arrived. What a shame. Why did they leave so early?¡± ¡°They said someone spilled wine on the Duchess¡¯ dress. It was a beautiful and delicate dress, and Madame Ezerca said it was made without following the trends.¡± Everyone considered the Duke and his wife to be a well-matched pair. They talked for a long time about how romantic they were and how happy they looked. ¡®Why is the main character Riv and not me? Why?¡¯ Why did Riv get more attention and not her? After a while, Marianne went to visit the Queen. As she looked down at the banquet hall, the Queen looked dignified, befitting of her status. She didn¡¯t look behind her even when she knew that Marianne had come. ¡°Marianne, your groom candidates are waiting for you. Don¡¯t be vulgar and childish.¡± ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t feel good right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Madame Katana. Just do your role. Riv, that b*tch, is a Duchess at best.¡± She said this even though the Queen had tried to make Princess Marianne a Duchess. ¡°You will become the queen of another country. Don¡¯t dwell on past relationships.¡± Queen Selina said no more. Marianne¡¯s maid whispered to her. ¡°If you dance, you might feel better.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Forget about Riv. Today¡¯s star is Princess Marianne.¡± At the words of her maid, Marianne danced with the men who wanted to be her fianc¨¦. Tomorrow, her fianc¨¦ candidates would come. And soon, Marianne¡¯s new husband would also be decided. The first day of the Royal Ball was successful. The quarrel with the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren was soon forgotten. Still, Marianne¡¯s resentment was not resolved. ¡®Why why why!¡¯ Marianne thought she was the happiest woman in the world until she saw Riv. She seemed to have fallen into the abyss of misery now, and she could not stand it. Late at night, as she came back to her room, Marianne was tearing her hair out and screaming. ¡°Riv, Riv, I want to kill that girl! Aaaah!¡± *** In the carriage, Riv patted the nape of her neck. She became nervous when she couldn¡¯t find her mother¡¯s necklace ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± When Lionel asked, Riv struggled to smile. ¡°I have a necklace that I wear often.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, you touch that necklace a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a habit.¡± Riv patted her neck repeatedly as time passed. Lionel spoke to divert her attention. ¡°There is a woman¡¯s portrait in the pendant.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Riv¡¯s fingers, which had been moving nervously, stopped. She tried to smile. ¡°That was my mother.¡± ¡°Mother?¡± Lionel was genuinely curious. Investigations revealed that Riv¡¯s mother died shortly after Riv was born. Riv couldn¡¯t have remembered her mother. ¡°She seemed to be blonde.¡± ¡°Yes. And I have black hair. They said that my hair and eyes do not resemble my mother at all.¡± Riv self-deprecated. ¡°I¡¯m really ugly compared to my mother.¡± Lionel recalled the portrait in the pendant. Although the portrait was too small to see properly, Riv and the woman had something in common. ¡°She looks pretty similar to you.¡± ¡°Do you really think so?¡± ¡°Your facial features and atmosphere are similar.¡± Riv smiled brightly. ¡°Thank you, Lionel. Riv took a deep breath and then looked back at the palace. The carriage was moving away from the palace at a quick speed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to worry about Marianne and Queen Selina anymore. I won¡¯t let them rule my life.¡± It was like she was brainwashing herself. Lionel didn¡¯t like Marianne, who was dominating Riv¡¯s head at this moment. He wished to be the only one in his wife¡¯s mind. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel moved to Riv¡¯s side and pushed her. Due to his size, Riv¡¯s body was pressed against the door. ¡°W-Why are you like this all of a sudden? I¡¯m cramped.¡± ¡°Bear with it.¡± They were in a wide carriage, but due to Lionel¡¯s large size, it was crowded because his arms and legs were spread wide. Lionel continued to push her into a corner like a child. ¡°Lionel, stop pushing. Why are you doing this all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Why do you think of others aside from me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Indeed, Riv seemed to have momentarily forgotten Marianne. ¡°Stay still.¡± Lionel enjoyed holding Riv¡¯s body with his arms wrapped around her waist. The sound of Riv¡¯s heart fluttering in her chest was particularly loud. ¡°What are you doing now, Lionel? ¡°What do you think I am doing?¡± Lionel¡¯s head rested on her shoulder, and he pretended to be sleepy. His weight pressed on one side of Riv¡¯s body. ¡°Lionel, are you already sleeping? I think you¡¯re going to fall.¡± Riv repositioned his head that was about to slide off her shoulder. Lionel closed his eyes and felt her gaze. Riv¡¯s playful hands touched and stroked his short hair. ¡°My husband.¡± Riv looked down at Lionel and muttered to herself. ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t think of Marianne anymore.¡± Riv stroked his hair again. ¡°I want this moment to last forever, Lionel. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, no, years, decades.¡± Riv sighed. ¡°Why am I forgetting? That I am living in a fleeting moment.¡± Lionel wanted to ask Riv what her words meant. But he stopped when he heard what she said next. ¡°I want you to be happy without me. But if you were happy without me, I think I would both be depressed.¡± Her grumbling was somewhat strange. ¡°Because you are more than Marianne and I deserve.¡± With those words, Riv closed her mouth. Lionel leaned on her for a few more minutes before pretending to wake up. He did so because Riv had been swallowing a groan for a while. Her body had a cramp. Lionel lightly massaged Riv¡¯s stiff shoulders, pretending to have noticed her discomfort. ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel criticized Riv as he lifted his head from her shoulder. ¡°You look uncomfortable. You should have woken me up if you had a cramp.¡± ¡°Ummm. You slept so soundly I couldn¡¯t wake you up.¡± Riv groaned as she felt her numb limbs tingle, and Lionel made her lean against him. He didn¡¯t forget to carefully loosen her stiff shoulders. ¡°You can sleep now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. The mansion is getting closer.¡± ¡°Home.¡± The Duke of Sentoren¡¯s mansion. Their home. Lionel licked Riv¡¯s lips as the words sounded so sweet. With a brief kiss, Riv gently embraced him. ¡°Why did you kiss me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to do anything else here, but kissing is okay, right?¡± The carriage shook and trembled as it ran across a rough road. Lionel sighed as he hugged her. ¡°It¡¯s quite a long way from the palace to our house. Why don¡¯t we try it in the carriage?¡± Riv, who realized what he meant, hit him quickly. ¡°You, you¡¯re crazy.¡± Riv laughed with joy as the carriage swayed again. ¡°Shall we do it here?¡± Lionel¡¯s mischievous hand traced the skin beneath Riv¡¯s dress. Riv whispered. ¡°We¡¯ll do it when we go back.¡± The Duke¡¯s employees, who thought that they would return late at night, widened their eyes when they saw their sudden return. The Duke and Duchess seemed to have only shown their faces at the ball. The lady¡¯s dazzling dress was also stained. ¡°M-Madame?¡± Riv asked for Claudel¡¯s assistance. ¡°It¡¯s a wine stain, can you remove it, Claudel?¡± ¡°I will try.¡± Riv carefully took off her dress and gave it to Claudel. She changed into a nightgown and went straight to her husband¡¯s room. Lionel¡¯s low laughter echoed through the hallways of the mansion. Chapter 65 The Royal Ball lasted three days. But Riv and Lionel did not attend, except for the first day. The rumors and happenings outside were not discussed in the bedroom. Lionel and Riv were completely enamored by each other. They hardly came out of their bedroom. ¡°The Duke and his wife are getting along well.¡± The Duke¡¯s maids looked towards the bedroom of the couple, who had not come down for breakfast for the past two days. ¡°Did you see the Duke¡¯s expression?¡± It was the first time they knew that Lionel could make love to someone so passionately. ¡°I hope the Duchess conceives a child soon.¡± ¡°A child resembling Madame and the Duke would be beautiful.¡± The servants of the Duke wished for the mansion to be filled with children. The Duke was precious to them. It was everyone¡¯s wish for the Sentoren family to prosper. Princess Marianne¡¯s disrespect against the Duchess at the Royal Ball, where she spilled wine on her dress, was soon buried. The Royal Family was abuzz from choosing Princess Marianne¡¯s husband for her. The Duke and Duchess would soon make their long trip to the South. Some servants had mixed feelings about it and others hurried to prepare to follow them. Two days later, Riv left for town. She was going to pick up the summer and evening dresses she had ordered from Ezerca before her appointment with Sophia, Countess of Murden. Riv was with the coachman and her knight Hailey. The carriage of Duke Sentoren stopped in front of Madame Ezerca¡¯s salon. The coachman waited at the back door. ¡°Please call me when you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Riv went into Madame Ezerca¡¯s salon with Hailey. She came just in time for the appointment, and Madame Ezerca was on the first floor waiting for Riv. She was supposed to take the clothes after she was done fitting them, however, Ezerca¡¯s mood was noticeably quite strange. Ezerca looked terrified. ¡°Ezerca?¡± ¡°I-I.¡± Ezerca stuttered and lowered her gaze. ¡°I came to pick up my dresses, as scheduled. Are they finished?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all ready, but we can deliver it to the Duke¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°I had an appointment, so I had to come downtown anyway. I wanted to check them quickly.¡± Ezerca glanced upstairs in a cold sweat. On this floor was Ezerca¡¯s drawing room and the second floor was a sewing room where the seamstresses made clothes. Riv recognized that the air here was different than usual. An uninvited guest was here. ¡°Who¡¯s on that floor?¡± Then she heard the sound of heels coming down the stairs. When Riv raised her head, she saw a customer in a pink dress. Riv called her name. ¡°Princess Marianne.¡± Marianne grinned. ¡°Long time no see, Riv.¡± ¡°No, it hasn¡¯t been a while, has it? I saw you a few days ago.¡± The memories of the Royal Ball had not yet faded. Riv didn¡¯t know why Marianne was here. Marianne asked as she looked at Riv¡¯s blank expression. ¡°Did you lose your spirit, Madame Katana?¡± ¡°¡­I am now Duchess Sentoren. How did you get here?¡± Riv also saw the hem of El¡¯s robe, hiding under the stairs. ¡°Princess Marianne, did you sneak out of the palace?¡± That appeared to be the correct answer, seeing as Marianne gritted her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Yes, I see. So, did you come here to get a dress adjusted?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Although Ezerca¡¯s dresses were beautiful, they wouldn¡¯t suit Marianne because of their mature design. Everyone in this place knew that well. Marianne suddenly said to Riv. ¡°Riv, I¡¯m here to talk to you.¡± ¡°Are you planning on forcibly arresting me and imprisoning me in the palace?¡± At Riv¡¯s words, Hailey walked in front of Riv and grabbed her sword. Marianne grinded her teeth at the action. ¡°You dare hold your sword in front of me? How dare you!¡± Riv ordered Hailey to stand down with a single gesture and said. ¡°So what do you want, Princess Marianne?¡± Marianne nodded as she thought Riv had become compliant. ¡°Come up. Because I have a story to tell. Get rid of that b*tch.¡± Riv calmed Hailey, who was still on high alert. ¡°It will be fine. It is not dangerous.¡± ¡°But.¡± Hailey examined Princess Marianne¡¯s maids. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stand nearby.¡± Madame Ezerca¡¯s parlor on the second floor was small. There, Marianne¡¯s maids prepared tea. Sewing materials and patterns left by the seamstresses were scattered around them. ¡°Sit down.¡± Marianne nodded her head arrogantly. ¡°You know I hate to look up, right?¡± Riv sat across from Marianne. Ironically, it was the first time she had tea time with Marianne. El was looking at Riv and Marianne with a puzzled look. Marianne said. ¡°Go ahead, drink.¡± Riv stared at the steaming teacup in front of her. ¡°The tea hasn¡¯t cooled down.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re told to drink, drink!¡± Marianne started to get angry. Riv didn¡¯t lift a hand. Realizing that Riv wasn¡¯t going to move as she wanted, Marianne opened her mouth. She had escaped the palace, and didn¡¯t have much time. ¡°Madame Katana, I have a suggestion for you.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°Come back to me.¡± Riv remained silent instead of answering. She was genuinely curious about Marianne¡¯s inner feelings. Marianne tried to arouse her sympathy by keeping her eyes down. ¡°Riv, I¡¯m going to get married soon. I can only take two or three maids with me to a foreign country where I can¡¯t speak the language.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Come with me. With Riv, I won¡¯t be lonely.¡± Marianne, who blinked her eyes, looked like she was about to burst into tears. ¡°Are you really going to leave me, Riv?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t help but laugh at this point. ¡°Do you really think I will follow you, Princess Marianne?¡± In an instant, Marianne¡¯s expression changed to a vicious one. ¡°Why don¡¯t you listen to me when I¡¯ve said this much? Riv Katana, you belong to the Royal Family, and I am your master, you should listen to my orders!¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± Riv realized that the selfish Marianne still thought of no one but herself. Marianne could kill Riv whenever she wanted. Like she did before she returned. She came back after she was killed by such a child. She only had a few months left to live. This stubborn psycho Princess thought that Riv would listen to everything if she acted cute and blinked! ¡°I have not forgotten that Princess Marianne tried to kill me over and over again. You sent an assassin to my bedroom a while ago.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that. I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Marianne, who had turned her head coyly, quickly became hysterical. ¡°I hate you, Madame Katana! But you are not like yourself right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Riv, you must come under me with an ugly face. You were the ugliest and most terrifying thing I¡¯ve ever owned. Madame Katana suits you better. You know?¡± Marianne was intoxicated by her own words. Marianne seemed to think that Riv would soon accept her true nature and follow her. ¡°Let¡¯s go together, Riv Katana. You must exist as Madame Katana* by my side.¡± [E/N: during this whole section, I was correcting Marianne in my head. ¡°It¡¯s Duchess Sentoren now.¡± Ugh Marianne is the worst ????] Riv shook off Marianne¡¯s hand that was reaching out to her. She felt like hives were forming on her skin where the Princess had touched. ¡°I refuse. I will never go back to Princess Marianne¡¯s side.¡± ¡°You have changed. You¡¯ve really changed! How could you deceive me like this?¡± For a moment, Riv¡¯s body stopped on its own. The nape of her neck became hot. The moment Riv made contact with Marianne, she saw Marianne¡¯s future. In that future, she would constantly resent Riv and was dying from madness. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, just as Riv only had a few more months left to live, Marianne¡¯s life wouldn¡¯t last long either. Riv laughed out loud. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Riv went downstairs, ignoring Marianne. Marianne¡¯s scream could be heard, but she ignored it as well. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this! You¡¯ll really regret it!¡± Marianne gritted her teeth as she remembered Riv, who had shaken off her hand and walked out. ¡°You dare ignore my offer? When I put aside my pride like this?¡± Marianne remembered her indifferent gaze, as if Riv was looking down on her. Marianne was terrified that the d*mb Riv Katana, who had turned into a beauty, looked down on her. ¡°She dared to insult me!¡± El sighed and said. ¡°We must go back before the Queen finds out.¡± ¡°I do not care. Get Riv Katana right now! Catch her right now!¡± Marianne¡¯s voice filtered downstairs. Madame Ezerca let out a sigh. Riv had no desire to come back. ¡°I will come back to pick up the clothes. No, send them to the Duke¡¯s mansion.¡± Ezerca did not raise her head. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at Duke¡¯s mansion.¡± Riv nodded her head and went outside with Hailey. Her complexion had deteriorated. ¡°Madame, shall we go home?¡± ¡°No, I just want to get some air.¡± Riv looked blankly into the distance. People were busily moving around the city center,, towards their goals. She suddenly remembered her promise to have lunch with Sophia. There was something she had to check on with her. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 It was time for her appointment with Sophia. Riv stared at Hailey. ¡°Hailey, will you take me to Sophia?¡± ¡°Madame, wouldn¡¯t it be better to go back to the mansion?¡± ¡°There is something I want to check.¡± Riv grabbed Hailey¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh, Madame?¡± Taking hold of Hailey¡¯s hand, she concentrated her mind. Magic. Through contact with parts of the body, she could vaguely see the future of that person. She couldn¡¯t see Hailey¡¯s future. ¡°Madame, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Riv released Hailey¡¯s hand and wiped away her cold sweat. ¡°I need to see Sophia.¡± Hailey took her to the promised meeting spot. Sophia was waiting for her there in the private dining room. ¡°Riv, your complexion doesn¡¯t look too good.¡± ¡°Sophia, give me your hand.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± As soon as Riv saw Sophia, she took her hand. It was certainly not the first time she had held her hand. But the reaction was not the same as it is now. Her magic manifested itself. The power to peek into the future of a person. ¡°Ha, ha.¡± ¡°Riv?¡± Riv¡¯s eyes were red and bloodshot. She saw the pendant necklace hanging from her neck change shape bizarrely, but Sophia didn¡¯t notice. Sophia¡¯s future was as happy and unpredictable as her current life was. She would live happily with Earl Murden for several decades. It was a perfect happily ever after. ¡°Riv?¡± Riv snapped back to reality in an instant. But the shock of seeing her opponent¡¯s* future remained, leaving her head blank. [*E/N: Marianne¡¯s. In the last chapter, Riv saw Marianne¡¯s future, which was similar to her first life: unhappy, with a touch of madness. She will likely die early too.] ¡°Riv, what the hell are you doing?¡± ¡°I just met Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°What? Where?¡± ¡°In Madame Ezerca¡¯s salon.¡± ¡°I thought the Princess was still grounded.¡± She must have been released before or after the Royal Ball. Even so, Marianne hardly ever travelled to the Royal Capital. Marianne wanted everyone to visit her. ¡°Why did the princess come to Riv?¡± ¡°She told me to come back.¡± Sophia was at a loss for words. She seldom asked Riv about when she was Madame Katana. She thought it was disrespectful to Riv so she deliberately avoided the topic. Although she also attended the Royal Ball, she didn¡¯t see Riv due to the difference in their times of arrival. Sophia was astonished. ¡°After Riv left, there was a little talk of you two, but everyone eventually shut up. It was clear that Princess Marianne was shocked by Riv¡¯s presence.¡± Riv listened to Sophia¡¯s words blankly. Why did her power to see the future manifest so suddenly? What would happen if this power could not be controlled? Despite Riv¡¯s concerns, Sophia¡¯s story continued. ¡°The social season will be over soon, so you can do whatever you like. The Royal Family can¡¯t do anything to Riv Sentoren anymore.¡± Riv nodded her head. After that, they ate together. Riv thought she was okay, but Sophia didn¡¯t seem relieved that Riv acted so nonchalantly. Riv eventually returned to the Duke¡¯s mansion at Sophia¡¯s insistence. Sophia, who was worried, also came with her. ¡°Please rest.¡± In the first floor drawing room, Riv was able to catch her breath. The presence of Sophia was also quite comforting. ¡°Riv, I don¡¯t know what happened, but nobody can hurt you here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unsightly to show weakness.¡± Sophia hugged and comforted Riv like an older sister. ¡°The social season is coming to an end. So, take a vacation with us and then go to the Southern estate to get some rest. If you want to see my face, I¡¯ll make time to visit you, Riv.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sophia.¡± Riv broke their hug and stared at Sophia. Suddenly, Riv realized that she had not confided her past to Sophia. She had never properly confessed about her past to Lionel either. ¡°Do you know how I lived, Sophia?¡± ¡°No. But I know you¡¯re not a bad person, just like what Lionel said.¡± Sophia said with a smile. Riv was comforted and encouraged by that. For the first time in her life, Riv told someone about her life. Madame Katana¡¯s make-up began when she was young, and there were no days she was happy ever since she was born. Not long after Madame Katana¡¯s shell was removed, she was born anew. So she was bad at everything. Sophia, who heard Riv¡¯s story, encouraged her. ¡°Everything will be fine. I know Riv can truly be happy.¡± Really, could that happen? Lionel returned that afternoon. By that time, Sophia had already left. Lionel had been informed of the events of that day, and as soon as he saw Riv, he hugged her. ¡°They said you met Marianne?¡± ¡°You got a report.¡± Hailey had reported to Lionel. Riv had no intention of blaming her. Rather, it was her who had a weak mind. ¡°I never knew I was this weak.¡± Riv was older and stronger than Marianne, and she was more than 20 centimeters* taller. [*E/N: 7.8 inches] Compared to Riv, Marianne was like a child. Yet she was her owner, holding her leash. It was difficult to get out of that master-slave relationship. For a very long time, Riv seemed to have been brainwashed. ¡°Princess Marianne snuck out of the palace. Furthermore, the escorts of the Royal Family accompanied her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Now that Marianne¡¯s prospective husbands are here, she won¡¯t be able to do anything frivolous.¡± ¡°Prospective husbands¡­¡± But Marianne couldn¡¯t marry a foreign prince. Riv didn¡¯t say that out loud. *** While the Royal Family scrutinized Princess Marianne¡¯s suitors, Riv and Lionel moved the day they were to travel to their Southern estate up a great deal. The scheduled visit to Earl Murden¡¯s villa had also been moved. Riv and Lionel¡¯s carriage followed the Earl of Murden¡¯s carriage. Including the two families and their escorts, there were several other carriages and carts carrying their luggage. The Earl of Murden¡¯s villa was two hours away by carriage from the Royal Capital. As summer had begun in earnest, the days were getting hotter. As the carriage ran South, it felt like it was getting hotter. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some sleep?¡± Riv stared at Lionel, who sat across from her. Lionel maintained an upright posture despite the shaking of the carriage. She thought that he should get rest, but he kept still. ¡°Riv¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Lionel looked bored, but his intense gaze did not leave Riv. ¡°We¡¯ll be there soon. Riv, aren¡¯t you bored?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Actually, I am bored.¡± Lionel stretched out his long legs to lift Riv¡¯s thin skirt with his foot. ¡°Lionel, what are you trying to do now?¡± ¡°What do you mean, I¡¯m trying to play with my wife.¡± ¡°Pervert!¡± ¡°Why would you call your husband a pervert?¡± Lionel chuckled as Riv glared at his feet and tried to fix her skirt. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re cute.¡± ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± As Riv protested, Lionel stared more intently at her. Her face felt like it was being pierced. ¡°Again, why are you looking at me like that?¡± Riv involuntarily turned her face to the side. There were times when Riv couldn¡¯t get used to his fierce gaze. She could only sigh. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re avoiding my gaze.¡± ¡°You¡¯re staring at me too scarily, Lionel.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you used to my gaze?¡± When Riv refused to answer, Lionel drew his own conclusions. ¡°Riv is embarrassed.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Riv couldn¡¯t answer. She pretended to look outside. Lionel stopped playing and changed the subject. ¡°Riv, what are you looking at? The scenery here is nothing special.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing to me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve been outside the Royal Capital.¡± Everything was new to her. She was nervous after she met Marianne, but over time it got better. It seemed that her habits from when she was Madame Katana were still there, just under the surface. Would she still shrink at someone¡¯s anger? What if her fake appearance was found out? Would she still be alive the next day if she made a mistake? After meeting Marianne, she realized one thing. Riv died, but she came back to life and was freed. So she should enjoy these moments. She had never fully enjoyed beautiful scenery and flowers. She should enjoy and see more of the scenery Lionel showed her. The current scenery was a quiet suburban landscape where buildings were non-existent. It was more beautiful with Lionel by her side. ¡°I¡¯ll show you more.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Riv laughed sincerely. As the coachman accelerated, the horses neighed. The carriage moving and shaking, the sound of the galloping horses, and the slow scenery outside the wagon. Everything was romantic to Riv. As she watched the scenery, she could forget her plight. Riv asked Lionel. ¡°When are we going to Mont Del?¡± ¡°After we stay at Earl Murden¡¯s villa for a few days.¡± Riv was going to spend summer and fall with Lionel at their Southern estate. If she were to leave the d*mned Royal Capital for a few months, she would not have to see Marianne or the Queen. ¡®Even if my life only lasts until winter, it¡¯s better not to see them.¡¯ Riv chose not to think about her uncertain future, or her death. She wanted to enjoy the present. These moments with Lionel. ¡°It¡¯s a nice sunny day.¡± ¡°You seem to be feeling better, Riv.¡± Riv stared at him and asked. ¡°¡­Are you going to attack me?¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Lionel looked at Riv and smiled. ¡°Not yet. It¡¯s nice to see Riv enjoy traveling.¡± Riv was actually slightly excited. ¡°This is my first trip, and the first time I¡¯ve come this far outside of the Royal Capital and away from the Royal Family.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Count Katana have a manor?¡± Riv shook her head. She didn¡¯t really want to talk about her past, but it wasn¡¯t a secret that she needed to hide either. ¡°The estate of Count Katana was sold before I was born. The Count fell ill when I was still a child.¡± Riv grew bitter as she recalled her childhood. ¡°Lionel, haven¡¯t you heard the rumors? That Count Katana had an ugly, gloomy adoptive daughter who spreads misery.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t. And it doesn¡¯t matter because Riv is pretty.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lionel¡¯s compliments were pleasing, but Riv did not dare to be arrogant. ¡°I was not welcomed by Count Katana because I was neither his legitimate daughter nor a beauty. The only time my adoptive father was happy was when I entered the palace.¡± ¡°Then what about after entering the palace?¡± ¡°I hardly ever left¡­ I don¡¯t want to remember much about my life in the palace.¡± Riv entered the palace when she was 14 and spent 7 years there. She took a regular vacation at least once a month but never went home. The longest vacation she had was a week, and it was when Count Katana passed away and she had to organize his estate. She didn¡¯t have time to rest because she dealt with tasks constantly. As she thought back on that moment, Riv felt exhausted and fiddled with the pendant around her neck. Lionel watched the action closely and asked, ¡°You said the picture in the necklace was your mother? What kind of person was she?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. She died on the day I was born.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Lionel nodded. ¡°If she were alive and saw you, she would have been happy. She would¡¯ve been proud of her beautiful daughter.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°We got married because I wanted to sleep with you. I felt a desire for you. From Madame Katana, I made you into the beauty you are now, Riv Sentoren.¡± Embarrassment was evident on Riv¡¯s face. ¡°Why do you blush when I call you a beauty?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke around.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a joke.¡± Lionel grabbed her hand and caressed it. Suddenly, as if he was bored, he yawned and said, ¡°Riv, lend me your shoulder.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lionel sat down next to Riv. ¡°I¡¯m not going to attack you in the carriage.¡± Riv didn¡¯t mind being attacked, but she held her tongue. ¡°Just sit still.¡± Lionel pretended to be asleep. She lent him her shoulder and rested her head on his. Sleep instantaneously devoured her. ¨C Riv, Riv Katana!! ¡®?¡¯ -You are a child who brings misery! Riv opened her eyes. Someone was reaching out to her. Suddenly, her dream changed again. In front of her was Lionel. Lionel¡¯s platinum hair was long. His scar looked more prominent. He seemed angry. A distant plain was visible. Beautiful golden wheat danced in the wind. It collapsed under the feet of the soldiers. Lionel was wearing a military uniform. He glared at the enemy¡¯s barracks. Thousands of soldiers were targeting Lionel and his men. ¨C Advance! The moment the attack advanced, the ominous scene ended. Riv¡¯s body bounced in the rocking carriage. ¡®Ugh!¡¯ She woke up after bumping the back of her head in the carriage. ¡®Was that just a dream? Or will it come true?¡¯ Lionel woke up at the same time and stroked the back of Riv¡¯s head. ¡°The road is rough. Don¡¯t you get motion sickness?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine.¡± Riv knew that she had seen the future again. She had glimpsed the future of Lionel if he stayed by her side. She saw it not once, but twice. Obviously, this was Lionel¡¯s near future. ¡®Why was he there?¡¯ Worried about Riv¡¯s dazed state, Lionel hugged her. ¡°We still have a long way to go, Riv. Get some sleep.¡± It was unlikely that she would be able to sleep, so Riv just stared at the left side of his face. In her dream, Lionel¡¯s red scar was particularly prominent. This gentle-looking man had turned into a beast on that plain. Riv remembered the Ezul Plains that Hailey had told her about. ¡°Ezul, the Ezul Plains.¡± ¡°Ezul? Why there?¡± Lionel¡¯s forehead contorted at once. ¡°Do you know anything about the Ezul Plains?¡± Lionel frowned and pointed to his scar. Riv would sometimes forget that he had one, but there was a clear, crack-like scar on Lionel¡¯s left cheek. ¡°I can¡¯t forget it. Five years ago, that was where I got this scar.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Have you ever heard of my past?¡± Riv shook her head. Lionel sighed. ¡°While my father was alive, I was a member of the Royal Guard and was called to the Ezul Plains when a dispute broke out.¡± ¡°Is that where war usually takes place?¡± Riv had heard about it from her escort Hailey, but she wanted to hear it from Lionel. He explained in more detail. ¡°The four countries¡¯ borders are along the Ezul Plains. Our countries share the Ezul Plains, but it was originally owned by the Minter Kingdom in the North a few decades ago. The Minter Kingdom hated us the most as we occupied the largest territory.¡± Lionel¡¯s hand traced the red scar on his face. ¡°My men were from Minter. They set a trap and sold me to Minter.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s¡­And then?¡± ¡°I was held for three days. This face was a trophy to them.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°They made me like this to make sure I hated my face.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Riv traced his scar that was filled with complex emotions. She wished she could heal this wound herself. It seemed that her ability would not be able to completely make the old scar disappear. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. And I¡¯ve gotten used to this face.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Ironically, if it weren¡¯t for Lionel¡¯s scars, they wouldn¡¯t have gotten together. Riv felt regret due to his scar and recalled her dream earlier. Meanwhile, the carriage seemed to be getting closer to their destination, Earl Murden¡¯s villa. The children of the Earl and his wife could be heard shouting and cheering. A peaceful lakeside mansion surrounded by forest awaited them. ¡°Riv, if you¡¯re upset, you¡¯ll get better if you spend some time here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She dreamt of a future where he might get hurt. That future could be soon. Riv struggled to open her lips, but she couldn¡¯t bear to confess. They got off the carriage. The lakeside mansion looked huge for a villa. There was faint fog in all directions. ¡°Let¡¯s try fishing or boating later.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The children of Earl Murden kept cheering from somewhere. Riv looked at the peaceful scenery and forgot her troubles. ¡°Right now, I want to enjoy this moment with you.¡± Riv struggled to erase her dream knowledge from her mind. There was no way she could stop the future right away. All Riv could do was to not think about it. *** After the Royal Ball came to an end, Princess Marianne and her suitors made headlines. Nothing much had happened and the sweltering July came. There were big and small problems within the Royal Family, but they didn¡¯t matter much, except for Marianne¡¯s groom still not being decided. Meanwhile, the nobles of society hurried to prepare to leave for their estates or villas for the summer. A problem occurred in the Ezul Plains. The soldiers who noticed ominous movement at the border sent a messenger to the Royal Capital. The messenger rode day and night and met the King three days later. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The King did not understand even the messenger¡¯s words due to his excessive hangover. The messenger cried out quickly, not paying attention to how pathetic the king was. ¡°Your Majesty! The Ezul Plains¡­ the enemy has come to the northern border!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The King stiffened just as he opened his mouth to yawn. Then he moved slowly. ¡°¡­¡­..So, what do you expect me to do?¡± ¡°What?¡± The Ezul Plains was a fertile granary area, but it costs a lot of money to maintain due to the constant invaders. The king tried to think. He must have cut the budget there to buy jewelry and dresses for his new mistresses. It seemed that way. The problem was that the King was not certain. The messenger urged the king. ¡°Your Majesty! Please provide us with military support!¡± The king didn¡¯t want to think. ¡°I should hold a meeting. Call the Military Commander.¡± The King summoned the princes, heads of the military, and the Royal Guards, and convened an emergency meeting. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 The meeting was sluggish. Fontal, the Military Commander, was busy evading responsibility. Not only the Military Commander, but the other knights repeatedly blamed each other, saying that it was not their responsibility. They were confused as to who was the keeper of the Ezul Plains. ¡°So what do I need?¡± No one could really answer the King¡¯s question. There was a discussion for several hours, but no conclusion was reached. Prince Jour spoke up. ¡°What Ezul needs is money, troops and resources. I think it also needs a Commander to lead the fight.¡± The King pretended to think, but nothing came to mind. It was then that Fontal had an epiphany. ¡°Actually, isn¡¯t the most qualified person the Duke of Sentoren?¡± ¡°Duke of Sentoren?¡± After defeating the barbarians and pirates of the South, the Duke of Sentoren served as the Commander of the Royal Guard and traveled to several fronts. Among the places he visited was the Ezul Plains. ¡°The Duke of Sentoren won the battle on the Ezul Plains five years ago. His late father, too, successfully defended the Ezul Plains 20 years ago and achieved a successful peace treaty.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The king struck his knee. Come to think of it, Lionel was the most qualified commander the Royal Family had. The only problem was that the Duke of Sentoren was in charge of security on the southern border. Pirates and barbarians frequently invaded. Since the previous Duke died, the Duke of Sentoren could not leave the South. However, the Royal Family did not think about the void in security in the South. ¡°If the Duke of Sentoren goes North, what will happen to the South?¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to his subordinates to figure that out.¡± ¡°How can we send the Duke of Sentoren to the Ezul Plains?¡± Both the Prince and the King were troubled about how to do it. ¡°Didn¡¯t he abandon Marianne and choose Madame Katana, Mariane¡¯s maid?¡± The King thought of Madame Katana, who was now a Duchess. He couldn¡¯t remember her face in detail, but he could remember that the Duchess was the exact opposite of Marianne. A beautiful woman with a cool atmosphere. It felt like she was the perfect partner for the Duke of Sentoren. ¡°Use the Duchess of Sentoren.¡± ¡°How?¡± The Duke of Sentoren was not a scoundrel. If they took the Duchess of Sentoren as a hostage and threatened the Duke, there would be immediate backlash from the other nobles. ¡°Charge the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren for any reason, be it treason or whatever.¡± ¡°What do we do after we catch them?¡± The King recalled Princess Marianne and the Duke of Sentoren, who both demanded that their engagement be annulled. He didn¡¯t forget that the Duke threatened him with his daughter¡¯s scandal. ¡°That despicable guy cares for his wife. If we take that girl hostage, he won¡¯t be able to do much. It would even be better if that girl is pregnant.¡± The Prince and Fontal were afraid of the King¡¯s eerie smile but they were unable to speak out. A servant who overheard this news ran to Princess Marianne¡¯s handmaiden and told her. The handmaiden then reported to Princess Marianne. Marianne burst into laughter when she heard. ¡°Oh my God, that¡¯s great! That¡¯s great!¡± Marianne laughed. The King¡¯s hobby was intimidation. As long as the King had decided, Lionel would have no choice but to go north. Lionel was tough, so he would not die easily on the battlefield. All Marianne wanted was him gone. ¡°Without the Duke, I might get to keep that d*mned Duchess, Riv, here.¡± Marianne could not forgive Riv, who had insulted her. She had to catch that b*tch and bring her back. ¡°I¡¯ll have to thoroughly educate Riv once she¡¯s back. Come to think of it, there has never been more docile livestock than that b*tch.¡± Despite her handmaiden¡¯s dissuasion, Marianne did not listen. *** The Earl of Murden (Andr¨¦), Lionel, and some of their escorts got together and drank happily all night. They had no intention of returning, even though it had been 2 hours after Sophia and the children went to bed. Riv also retired to her and Lionel¡¯s room early. When the bell tower of the church in the distant village rang midnight, Riv woke up to someone¡¯s presence. ¡°¡­?¡± Riv looked up at the tall man standing over her. The smell of alcohol on him was thick. Lionel looked unusually tall today. On a night when the bright moonlight permeated through the windows, his amber eyes were both eerie and pleasant. ¡°I know you¡¯re not sleeping, Riv.¡± Riv got up. Lionel smelled too strongly of alcohol. ¡°Lionel, please wash up.¡± ¡°Wash me.¡± Lionel¡¯s eyes cleared, then dimmed again. Riv noticed that Lionel¡¯s gaze lingered on her thin nightgown. She covered herself with a blanket. Lionel growled. ¡°Riv, I am very familiar with what your body looks like. I sleep with you every night and have s*x with you nonstop. Isn¡¯t it strange that you¡¯re covering yourself now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Riv gave up on covering herself. They were a couple, and they already knew each other¡¯s bodies completely. She couldn¡¯t count the number of times they had shared bodies. They slept together every night and woke up together every morning. Lionel clearly said that he liked women with sensual and seductive bodies. Still, he loved embracing Riv¡¯s body. His eyes, scanning Riv¡¯s figure, narrowed with desire. His lips twitched. ¡°Your nightgown, can you take it off?¡± ¡°Not covering myself with a blanket doesn¡¯t mean I should take off what I¡¯m wearing.¡± Lionel sat down next to her and laughed. ¡°Lionel, you look very drunk, so go to sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not drunk.¡± ¡°Then please sleep quietly.¡± ¡°My bride.¡± Lionel turned towards Riv. He was trying to pretend he was sleepy. His eyelids fell. ¡°Are you going to sleep like this? You should wash up and change into pajamas.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the strength to do that.¡± ¡°Liar. You¡¯re always full of stamina.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Lionel laid down on the bed and gently pushed Riv to the side. It was a large bed, but she was pushed to the edge. Riv was strong for a woman, but she didn¡¯t have the strength to lift or move Lionel, so she gave up quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t accept drunkards.¡± ¡°You are my wife.¡± Lionel laughed softly. Riv let out a sigh. ¡°We¡¯re not going to do it here, are we?¡± ¡°Andr¨¦ knows we are newlyweds.¡± Her husband, Lionel, whom she could still smell alcohol on in this spacious bed, looked dignified. Lionel rolled on the bed and opened his eyes looking towards her. ¡°I want you to attack me every night.¡± ¡°You are greedy.¡± ¡°I like naughty girls.¡± Lionel narrowed his eyes and grinned mischievously. His cold and fierce expression had completely disappeared, and he looked soft instead. Riv felt like she was about to fall off the bed. ¡°Lionel, why are you pushing me?¡± ¡°I want to hold you. I¡¯ll catch you before you fall.¡± ¡°The problem is that Lionel is pushing me away.¡± Riv grunted. Lionel took up the center of the bed and did not give her much space. He reached out and pulled Riv towards himself, and bound her in his arms. ¡°Lionel, you smell like alcohol.¡± Riv struggled in his arms as she whined. ¡°You didn¡¯t even take your shoes off, what is this? The bed will get dirty.¡± ¡°Annoying.¡± He was such a mischievous man. He didn¡¯t take off his jacket, let alone his shoes, and was holding her tightly with no signs of letting her go. Riv barely escaped from his arms and struggled to take off his boots. After she was finished, she began to remove his clothes. However, Lionel didn¡¯t move his body or raise his arms, so Riv¡¯s strength was exhausted. As Riv whined, Lionel laughed lowly as he looked up at her. ¡°You look kind of funny.¡± Riv let out a sigh. Lionel grabbed her hands and put them on his body. ¡°It¡¯s weird because it feels like you¡¯re attacking me.¡± He could feel her pulse racing. Lionel tried to push her hands further into his jacket, but Riv hurriedly pulled them out. Lionel yawned again. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to take off your clothes, just sleep like this.¡± Riv gave up on taking off his clothes, put his shoes on the floor, then pulled out the blanket from under him and covered him. ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°What? I don¡¯t deal with drunks.¡± Riv laid down with her back facing Lionel. His low grumbling soon died down. Lionel pressed his heavy body against Riv who was sleeping. He wrapped her in his strong arms. ¡®Now, when did I get used to her warmth?¡¯ ¡°Good night.¡± The body of the man who laid behind Riv¡¯s back was hot. The sound of heavy breathing pierced her ears again and again. ¡°Ha.¡± Instead of falling asleep, she was slowly becoming more awake. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel couldn¡¯t sleep either. He turned her onto her back and hovered over her. A shadow covered her entire body. ¡°Let me hold you.¡± Lionel attacked her passionately. It was a sweet night with her precious person. Lionel¡¯s body wrapped around Riv¡¯s body like a vine and stripped her of all her clothes. He called out Riv¡¯s name incessantly. Like she was the only hope left in this world. ¡°Riv.¡± ¡°Lionel.¡± She was walking on thin ice and she didn¡¯t know when it would break. Even if she had peeked into the future, she was helpless and unable to do anything right now. ¡°I love you.¡± Riv muttered those words quietly and held Lionel in her arms. Her body heated up just like his. She went mad at the pleasure he gave her. She could feel herself melting. During that long night, Riv found the meaning of life in Lionel¡¯s arms. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°I want you.¡± It was that single sentence that made her want to live. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 The next day, servants snooped cautiously in front of the bedroom where the Duke and Duchess were staying. It was late in the morning, and the couple hadn¡¯t gotten up, so the Murdens were worried. The servants were going to wait for the Duke to get up, but they decided to knock even though they knew it was rude. There was no sound inside. ¡°Duke? Duchess?¡± The Earl of Murden and his wife had already gotten up and finished their meal with their children. ¡°Perhaps¡­?¡± The servants were very worried. Maybe there was an accident. There was no reason why the busy Duke would wake up this late. The servants knocked louder and then carefully opened the door. ¡°Duke?¡± A tall man and a woman were lying in each other¡¯s arms on the large bed. The man had his shirt off. ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°Gasp!¡± The servants quickly retreated when the Duke saw them and motioned for them to leave. Not long after, Riv woke up. ¡°Lionel.¡± Lionel, whose upper body was bare, was staring at her, his face veiled in shadows. His wide back caught most of the window¡¯s light, only allowing a small ray to illuminate her face. ¡®He has naughty eyes.¡¯ He looked at Riv and smiled. Riv blinked dumbly as the smile was unusual for him. ¡°Riv, are you awake?¡± Lionel, Riv¡¯s husband. A man who drank until late last night and then slipped into bed with her. It seemed that after he got into bed she struggled to take his clothes off, but what happened after that was a mystery. ¡®Did you do it yourself? Or did we¡­?¡¯ She was tired and sleepy, but she seemed to have accepted him. She must have been with him, seeing that her body ached this morning. ¡°Did anyone come to wake us up?¡± Lionel laughed softly. ¡°They did.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Just a little while ago. I think they saw us.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv¡¯s mind went blank. Lionel replied casually. ¡°Why are you surprised? We are a couple after all. It hasn¡¯t been just once or twice that we have slept together.¡± She remembered having this conversation as well last night. ¡°Riv was very hot last night.¡± ¡°You must have made me that way.¡± ¡°The Duchess of Sentoren is a very bewitching woman. Of course, only to me.¡± Lionel wrapped Riv¡¯s body in his arms and trapped her under him. She was pressed down by his weight and she could not escape. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Heavy.¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m heavy, I can¡¯t help it. It¡¯ll devastate me if you run away.¡± The man looking down at Riv in the sunlight looked fresh and strong. He seemed to have been reborn in the light. There he was biting his lips again. Lionel had a natural p*rverted temperament. Of course, his stamina exceeded Riv¡¯s imagination. ¡°Riv.¡± His bare upper body pressed Riv down. Riv¡¯s body also shone like a newborn baby in the sunlight. ¡°Riv, your skin is so beautiful.¡± ¡°So does Lionel¡¯s.¡± ¡°What a joke.¡± Riv and Lionel¡¯s bodies were opposites. There were countless scars on Lionel¡¯s copper-colored body. His body was as strong as steel. Riv¡¯s body was so white and soft that it looked like she had no blood. Lionel¡¯s lips and rigid body descended towards her. ¡°Are we going to do it in the morning? The Earl of Murden and his wife will hear.¡± ¡°Hush.¡± Lionel¡¯s lips hurriedly covered hers. She slapped him on the shoulder to rebel, then surrendered and hugged him by the neck. As always, Riv couldn¡¯t beat Lionel. Her body melted with the pleasure he gave her. She soon became one with him. *** Two days passed by quickly. During the afternoon of the third day, Lionel, Riv, the Earl of Murden couple and their children went to the lakeside for a picnic. Riv was trying hard not to think about anything else. Her death and resurrection, or the existence of the reaper who watched her. The future of those she recently read. She just wanted to enjoy this brief peace for now. She didn¡¯t want to miss any opportunity to be happy just because she was anxious. ¡®There are a lot of things I¡¯ve never done in my life.¡¯ It was the first time Riv had been married, made friends, went to a ball, and was loved by someone. There were far more things that Riv had yet to do than things she had done. ¡°Riv? Riv?¡± Riv¡¯s thoughts were scattered. When she turned towards the voice, she saw one of the Murden children wriggling and whining. The uneven ground by the lakeside seemed to have mad3 the child uncomfortable. ¡°Ummm.¡± Sophia was busy watching the nanny who was taking care of the hyper children. The nanny briefly approached to pick up baby food for the youngest child. Only Riv and the child were sitting down. There was not even a large baby basket in which the child could rest comfortably. ¡°Would you like to hold me?¡± The child fluttered her limbs and asked for a hug. As Riv took the child, she cradled her in her arms. The whining child quickly grabbed Riv¡¯s collar and clung to it. Sophia, who had been watching her noisy children, apologized to Riv after seeing her youngest child. ¡°She¡¯s a sleepy kid, but she doesn¡¯t make trouble.¡± Riv felt moved by the little child who was clinging to her. She could feel warmth from that small body. The feeling of being alive was intense. ¡®Can I have a child? Just like this?¡¯ At the moment when she felt like crying, the children¡¯s nanny took her. She ate baby food and then it was time for her to take a nap. Sophia was playing with her other children as she walked over to Riv. ¡°Thank you for being so sweet to my youngest, Riv.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a cute kid.¡± ¡°But soon she will be a troublemaker just like her brother and sister.¡± The children ran around excitedly. They were all muddy. ¡°Sigh, how do you wash them? It must be hard because the children are troublemakers even with their nanny.¡± Sophia clicked her tongue. ¡°The youngest is very sleepy, so I¡¯ll make sure she naps properly. Let¡¯s have lunch together afterwards.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Sophia left, the children ran to their father. While Earl Murden played with his children, Riv admired the blissful scenery of the lake. The image of Riv, the Duchess of Sentoren, was reflected on the water¡¯s rippling surface. ¡®So this is me.¡¯ She looked happy, but also a bit anxious. ¡®Am I broken?¡¯ She pretended to be dignified, wearing an expensive summer dress, but what was inside her? ¡®Who am I?¡¯ The figure of the woman in the water was not visible for a moment amidst the intensifying ripples. As the waters became quiet, Lionel¡¯s figure was reflected behind her. ¡°Riv, what were you doing?¡± ¡°I was looking at the lake.¡± It was a perfect day, except for her anxiety and ominous dreams. Traveling, having picnics, and enjoying the beautiful lakeside with Lionel were her favorite things to do. The peaceful shade of trees, the intense sunlight and cool breeze in the shade. The unique happy aura emitted by the people who lived here. ¡°Do you like this kind place?¡± Riv nodded. ¡°I like city life, but it¡¯s strange that I like a quiet country life.¡± ¡°If you live in the countryside, it will be uncomfortable and boring.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Riv lightly stirred the lakeside water. ¡°It would be nice to experience it though. They said that the clothes and the food are different in the south too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Suddenly, the Earl of Murden joined the conversation. ¡°The food of the Mont Del region is fresh and full of flavor. The hot sun, the abundant sea, and the barren wilderness.¡± Earl Murden licked his lips and talked about various seafood dishes. They were unique dishes that Riv had never tasted. Just then, Sophia returned. They chatted over ham and cheese sandwiches, milk, sweets, and wine. The conversation was lively, and Riv got along naturally with the Murden couple. Riv was envious of Sophia. She wished she could live with Lionel like the Countess did. ¡°¡­?¡± Riv suddenly looked towards the mansion. She felt something ominous coming. ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing.¡± Not long after, a servant came running from the Earl¡¯s villa. ¡°Master, Duke! I think you should see this!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The two men read the letter that the servant brought and their expressions became serious. Riv and Sophia had a gut feeling that an emergency had occurred. ¡®Did something happen in the Royal Palace?¡¯ She thought that since the social season was over, they could just go down south and have a good time. ¡°Andr¨¦, what¡¯s going on?¡± Sophia urged her husband, but he did not answer right away. Riv also stared intently at Lionel. ¡°It seems to be important.¡± Sophia had the nanny take their children to the villa. Only after the children had disappeared did Lionel speak. ¡°An enemy has appeared on the northern border of the Ezul Plains.¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Riv recalled the stories of Ezul that Lionel had told her. And the figure of Lionel standing there in her dreams. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Lionel asked the servant who brought the letter. ¡°A messenger from Ezul has gone to the palace, and there seems to be no movement from the palace yet.¡± The two men sighed. Sophia intervened. ¡°His Majesty will take care of the Ezul Plains, so there¡¯s no need for the two of you to worry, right? How long has it been since you left the Royal Guard? Are they ordering the two of you to join the war?¡± Andr¨¦ shook his head. ¡°Did you forget that Lionel had a great victory over Malta five years ago? After that, there were no raids for five years. The King has been afraid of sending Lionel to Ezul ever since.¡± The military was incompetent. However, the King did not want to lose Ezul, the land of abundance. Lionel was hated by the king for breaking up with Princess Marianne. Meanwhile, the King went around saying that he had given some of the funds from the northern armaments to his lovers. Lionel stared intently at Riv. His expression turned colder than before. ¡°Riv, come to your senses.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lionel answered Sophia¡¯s question. ¡°We have to get out of here at once.¡± Sophia and Andr¨¦ looked at each other in apprehension. ¡°Oh, Lionel, aren¡¯t you fearing the worst? That the Royal Family will catch Riv and threaten her, something like that?¡± Andr¨¦ knew that Marianne was obsessed with Riv, but did not know that the Queen and Marianne had tried to kill Riv several times. ¡°Why the Royal Family? Riv?¡± The Royal Family could make threats. It was easy for them to take someone hostage and use them as a threat. Lionel pulled Riv to her feet. ¡°There is no time for hesitation.¡± Just as Lionel was about to lead Riv to their room, Riv grabbed the pendant necklace that was in her pocket. In response to the power of the ring, her eyes turned red. In an instant, she saw a glimpse of the future. From late autumn to the beginning of winter, Lionel was on the Ezul Plains. After that, everything was dark. ¡°Riv?¡± Lionel thought Riv¡¯s behavior was strange and called her name. Riv whispered. ¡°Lionel, I think you¡¯re right. The Royal Family is coming to get me.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The Royal Family is moving.¡± Riv was confident. Lionel felt dubious. ¡°Lionel, there is something I was hiding from you. I have strange powers.¡± ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t believe me. But it¡¯s dangerous! Please! Listen to me!¡± Riv was desperate. Lionel nodded his head, hardening his expression. ¡°Then you must go back at once.¡± Lionel led Riv back to their room. He immediately called his escorts Michelle and Aiden. ¡°We should leave this place right now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you why later.¡± ¡°Is it because of the Royal Family?¡± After Lionel¡¯s brief affirmation, Michelle disappeared to prepare. Riv couldn¡¯t figure out what Lionel was thinking, but she could tell that this wasn¡¯t surprising to him. ¡°Lionel¡­¡± ¡°When the King has an opponent, he takes the wife first and holds her hostage. If his opponent doesn¡¯t have a wife, he takes the children.¡± ¡°You mean I might be targeted?¡± ¡°It will be difficult if you are taken to the palace because I don¡¯t know what Marianne or the Queen will do to you. They would want to keep you.¡± ¡°Does that mean I¡¯m the only one going somewhere?¡± Riv remembered Lionel standing alone on the plains in the coming autumn. She wasn¡¯t with him. And maybe she won¡¯t be in her near future. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you, Lionel.¡± She thought everything was peaceful until recently, but what was this situation? In the past, as far as Riv knew, there were no conflicts on the Ezul Plains. She had no idea how much fate had been twisted by her return to the past. If she was a witch, she should have been able to foresee the ominous events so that she could change fate. ¡®What is this lousy ability?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t even use magic, but she had the ability to peek into the future bit by bit. ¡®What the hell!¡¯ Riv blamed herself internally and cried. Lionel turned to her. ¡°I don¡¯t want the King to kidnap my wife and threaten her.¡± Lionel whispered. ¡°If you are caught, there is no guarantee you will be safe. Because the Queen and the Princess are not ordinary people.¡± Riv could be caught and Lionel would be driven into a corner. If caught, Riv¡¯s life would not be guaranteed. ¡®If I have to die, I don¡¯t want to be the shackles that would hold down the rest of Lionel¡¯s life.¡¯ Lionel was a kind person, even though it was difficult to understand his true feelings. Riv wanted to stay with him. ¡°Lionel, what can I do?¡± ¡°Keep your luggage to a minimum.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°I will give Aiden detailed instructions. First, we will go South.¡± South, Mont Del. The place where Lionel¡¯s estate was located. It was outside the sphere of power of the Royal Family, and it was land which the Royal Family could never touch. It was a much safer place than the Royal Capital. ¡°I will follow you, Lionel.¡± Riv was certain of one thing. ¡°Lionel, I won¡¯t let you die. I¡¯ll stop anything dangerous from happening.¡± Lionel sighed as he tried to understand her cryptic words. ¡°It would be nice if it works out as you said.¡± Lionel¡¯s feelings seemed complicated, but he was silent. ¡°Pack your things.¡± Riv quickly packed her belongings and a couple of summer dresses in a hand-held bag. The only belongings she took were pearl earrings, her wedding ring, and her mother¡¯s pendant necklace. ¡°But Andr¨¦ and Sophia¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s better not to give them our destination.¡± Lionel left as soon as Riv was done packing her things. He grabbed his sword on the way out. An old, unmarked carriage was waiting for them. Andr¨¦ jumped out of the passenger seat. He handed over the whip and reins to Lionel¡¯s men. ¡°Go. If you take this carriage to the northern mountain pass, they won¡¯t be able to track you easily.¡± ¡°Thank you, Andr¨¦.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. You were never here.¡± Lionel hugged Andr¨¦. Lionel¡¯s subordinates, Michelle and Aiden, climbed into the carriage. Riv and Lionel got into the carriage after them, which quickly departed. *** The carriage departed in the afternoon, and ran until late in the night. They stayed in a shabby inn near a carriage station and left at dawn. By the time the sun had risen and lunch was served, Lionel looked outside. ¡°They caught up with us.¡± Riv¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Would things have been different if we had departed a little earlier yesterday?¡± Lionel¡¯s expression did not change much. ¡°Riv, as you said, the Royal Family is ruthless. Once they¡¯ve set a goal, they don¡¯t give up easily.¡± When their pursuers knew their identities had been revealed, they followed more confidently. There were knights on two horses and a carriage without the mark of the royal family. It was obvious that other soldiers were following behind them. ¡°Lionel, what now?¡± ¡°I think¡­ Riv should go first.¡± Lionel laughed bitterly. ¡°Then what about Lionel?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll lose them and then move. If you go to a hiding place that Aiden knows, they won¡¯t be able to find you easily.¡± ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll dress up as a man.¡± Riv joked, trying to raise the mood. ¡°I¡¯ll call for you when I think it¡¯s safe, Riv.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± What the Royal Family wanted was not Riv, but Lionel. He accompanied Riv here to escape and to outrun them. Lionel placed a small kiss on Riv¡¯s cheek. ¡°Lionel¡­¡± Just as Riv¡¯s tears were about to leak out, Lionel comforted her. ¡°Never get caught. Remember that.¡± ¡°Yes. Lionel, take care. Please come home soon.¡± Lionel chuckled. ¡°You know, the king can¡¯t kill me because he wants to keep the Ezul Plains.¡± Riv was relieved Lionel was confident. It made her feel better. ¡°Riv, don¡¯t go back to the Royal Capital until I come and get you. You must promise.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel looked desperate. ¡°We do not have time.¡± Lionel took out a silk handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Riv. ¡°Kiss it, Riv. Leave your mark and your scent.¡± Riv left her mark by kissing the handkerchief on which she had embroidered Lionel¡¯s name. He didn¡¯t seem to have the time to say good-bye right now. He was impatient, and Riv almost cried again. The carriage accelerated for a while and then slowed down as it entered the back alley of a nearby village. Lionel and Michelle got off the carriage. They briefly greeted Aiden, who would serve as Riv¡¯s escort and guide. The carriage carrying Riv and Aiden drove through the narrow alley. ¡°Are you really okay leaving her like this, sir?¡± Michelle watched the departing carriage. ¡°¡­..¡± Lionel¡¯s face was dark. He had information he didn¡¯t tell Riv. ¡°It¡¯s funny that the Royal Family wants to arrest the Duke of Sentoren for treason.¡± ¡°After I broke my engagement under the promise of exposing Marianne¡¯s lovers, we stayed away from the eyes of the Royal Family. ¡° If the Royal Family moved to accuse the Duke of Sentoren of treason while they were in the Royal Capital, Riv would already be in their hands. He could not return with Riv to the Royal Capital. Michelle continued to worry about their situation. ¡°Even if the Duchess runs away, the King will keep looking for her, to threaten the Duke. If the Queen¡¯s henchmen go south¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy for them to get there.¡± Queen Selina and Marianne were cruel. They didn¡¯t respect other people¡¯s autonomy and wanted to destroy their toys even if they were worn out. But if they couldn¡¯t see you, their interest would fade. They wouldn¡¯t go through the trouble of sending people to the far south. ¡°As you said, it might have been better to stay in the estate from the start.¡± Lionel regretted it, but it was already too late. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Lionel and Michelle made their way out of the alley to deal with their pursuers, and found dozens of knights awaiting them. They were knights with whom Lionel was familiar. The Royal Guard. Those who were once under Lionel. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lionel smiled. ¡°Why did you come here? Did the King send you to arrest me?¡± ¡°Please come with us peacefully.¡± At the knights¡¯ request, Lionel pondered what his crime might be. The crime of calling off his marriage with Marianne? The crime of not obeying Royal Orders? ¡°I want to know my crime before I am taken.¡± As Lionel stepped forward proudly, the knights looked at each other in apprehension. A bold knight answered Lionel. ¡°Duke of Sentoren, I am arresting you for treason as per the King¡¯s command.¡± ¡°Treason¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt the Duke.¡± Lionel smiled bitterly at the dozens of knights surrounding him. He had no intention of rebelling against the Royal Family, but the King was so pathetic that he could hardly stand it. He was sick and tired of serving and pledging his allegiance to such a pathetic King. The knight looked around. ¡°I was told to bring the Duchess as well. Where is she?¡± Michelle spoke up. ¡°Only the Duke is being accused of treason. Why are you looking for the innocent Duchess?¡± The knight reluctantly responded. ¡°It is the King¡¯s order. We do not want to do this either, but we have our orders, so please cooperate.¡± The knight leaned forward and whispered to the Duke. ¡°I will only pretend to chase her. Please rest assured.¡± *** ¡°Has Father found the Duke of Sentoren?¡± Marianne was overjoyed that Lionel had been arrested. She enjoyed imagining how Lionel and Riv were separated. ¡°It would be great if Lionel and Riv broke up like this. If they get a divorce, I will be able to take Riv with me even if I get married in another country.¡± Marianne gritted her teeth, recalling Riv¡¯s elegant appearance. It seemed like would take some time for Riv to revert to the stupid and ugly Madame Katana. And if Lionel, stuck in the battle on Ezul Plains, returned and saw the terrifying Madame Katana, he would certainly change his opinion of her. ¡°Princess, Riv is now a Duchess.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Even if you bring in the Duchess, Princess Marianne cannot touch her. You cannot take her as a handmaiden once the Princess gets married.¡± ¡°Why? Why can¡¯t I take her? That girl belonged to me! My mother gave her to me!¡± The handmaiden sighed and tried to persuade Marianne. ¡°Riv Sentoren is a noblewoman, not a commoner.¡± ¡°So what? That b*tch was a noblewoman before she came to the palace.¡± ¡°That is the problem. She gave up her title when she became a maid, but now she has another. Besides, her marriage was personally blessed by the Cardinal. She can no longer be owned.¡± ¡°Then, if I¡¯m stressed, who will relieve me? How will I deal with it?!¡± Her handmaidens sighed deeply. *** Lionel savored his view of the sunset through the carriage window facing West. The scenery was beautiful. A blood-red sunset colored the landscape. However, the impressive view was meaningless without his wife, Riv Sentoren. ¡°Riv¡­¡± Did she escape safely? He wondered where Riv was. Those thoughts continued to consume his mind. Even as he was imprisoned in Ailte Palace, Lionel couldn¡¯t think of anything else but Riv. He became more anxious as time passed. ¡°Haa.¡± As night fell, the King came to visit Lionel. ¡°Hello, Lionel.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°This is the first time we¡¯ve seen each other since the Royal Ball, right?¡± Lionel¡¯s amber eyes blazed. He growled like a beast. ¡°You had me arrested for treason.¡± ¡°I-It couldn¡¯t be helped.¡± The king stuttered and avoided Lionel¡¯s gaze. ¡°I, I didn¡¯t say you rebelled. I received a report and caught you, while you were trying to escape. To investigate further, of course.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you aware that I was going down to my estate?¡± The king rolled his eyes. He belatedly remembered that only Lionel and his escort were captured. ¡°Where did the Duchess of Sentoren go? Didn¡¯t you go on vacation together?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The King spoke again. ¡°I want her to be properly cared for by the Royal Family.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Lionel¡¯s face gradually hardened. The King laughed. ¡°Won¡¯t it be difficult if that girl is carrying the Duke¡¯s precious heir?¡± ¡°What do you want to say, Your Majesty?¡± The King felt like he had the upper hand. He decided to press Lionel further. ¡°I can create evidence and bring forward witnesses of your treason while you are held here. Executing you is not a problem.¡± ¡°Do you think I will stay still?¡± Lionel threatened the king. ¡°Did you forget that I have soldiers at my disposal?¡± The soldiers in the South existed to protect Lionel and his estate. The Mont Del territory was beyond the King¡¯s power. Those who survived battles with pirates and barbarians would not give in to the King¡¯s light threats. However. ¡°Lionel, think of your wife.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Just look at this rationally. I¡¯ll pretend I don¡¯t know where your wife is as long as you clean up Ezul Plains.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°The foolish Queen and Princess will believe me if I say that I can¡¯t find your wife. They are my family, but you know how cruel they can be.¡± Lionel was silent. The King pulled up a chair and offered a compromise to Lionel. ¡°If you clean up Ezul Plains, I will protect your wife from the Princess and the Queen. Even if she is caught, I will hide her. I will never tell Marianne or Selina.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°If your wife dies, I won¡¯t be able to control you.¡± Lionel knew he was cornered. The soldiers of the South were strong. However, it would take time to gather a significant army. What if Riv was caught in the meantime? Lionel didn¡¯t have many options. Riv was his only weakness. Lionel pondered his options for a moment before coming to a decision. He faced the king. ¡°Let¡¯s negotiate.¡± ¡°Ah, you really had to be like this.¡± The king had a cruel expression on his face. *** The old copper ring radiated a red light. The magical tool that brought Riv back in time, the ring of the late Duchess of Sentoren. While holding the ring, Riv spoke the name of the person she wanted to see. ¡°Lionel.¡± A conversation between the King and Lionel could be heard faintly. ¡ªLionel, think of your wife¡­ ¡ªAre you threatening me? ¡ªI¡¯ll pretend I don¡¯t know where your wife is as long as you clean up Ezul Plains. Riv was very familiar with the King¡¯s ghastly voice. Was he threatening Lionel? ¡®Why is this different from what I remember? Why?¡¯ Did something happen on the Ezul Plains back then?* Even if there was a war, Lionel would not have been called to the battlefield. [*E/N: back then meaning before she regressed. She doesn¡¯t remember there being a dispute on Ezul Plains in her past life.] ¡®It would not have been possible to send the King¡¯s son-in-law, the husband of the Princess, to the battlefield.¡¯ Things were different now. Lionel was not a member of the Royal Family. And Riv was a hostage who would determine Lionel¡¯s actions. ¡°I-I.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t maintain her magic and opened her eyes. Her whole body was weary from concentrating on Lionel. It seemed that if she fell asleep in this state, she wouldn¡¯t wake up for a number of days. ¡°But why?¡± Riv saw the invisible magic power swirling around her body. ¡®Why?¡¯ After parting ways with Lionel, there had been a few substantial changes. The further South she went, the stronger her magic became. Her carriage traveled South at full speed except for when they slept, ate, or took a short break. They were not pursued during their grueling march South. After more than a week¡¯s journey, Riv reached the Southern border of Mont Del. The South was quiet and peaceful, but it was different from what Riv was expecting. The first thing she noticed was that there was a stark difference between the North and the South. The shape of the houses, villages, and even the clothes of the people were very different. There were many mountains and fields, and although it was barren, it was much warmer than the North. They had arrived in the town of Sentino, located in a basin in the middle of a huge mountain range. The old and forgotten villa of the Duke was there. ¡°Madame, we will be arriving soon.¡± Aiden informed her. He had been with Riv on this long journey. ¡°Aiden, just call me Riv.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°The Duke¡¯s hometown. To be exact, this is where the Sentoren family was founded. It is the site of the first castle owned by the Sentino* family. The castle has long since been demolished, and only a villa remains.¡± [*E/N: the Sentino family was renamed to the Sentoren family after becoming an ally of the North.] ¡°I see.¡± Riv opened the window of the carriage. She could now see Lionel¡¯s beloved estate, his hometown. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Riv admired the peaceful Southern countryside, but she suffered motion sickness often. By the time they reached their destination, although she had recovered, Riv was very tired. Aiden was worried about Riv. ¡°Madame Riv, please rest well when we arrive at the Sentino Villa.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°I told them that a guest of the Duke is visiting the villa for sanatorium*.¡± [*E/N: a sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illnesses, so essentially her cover story is that she¡¯s seeking medical asylum.] ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The townspeople are curious, and they might bother Madame Riv. You can just ignore them.¡± Riv nodded her head. She was used to ignoring curious glances. Meanwhile, they passed through the Sentino Village. The village was made up of small houses with red roofs, built side-by-side on a steep hill. Shepherds who saw the carriage waved amongst their flocks of sheep. ¡°When things get better, you can move to Elon City or another mansion.¡± Lionel owned several mansions in the South. The Sentino Villa was the most isolated of them all. ¡°I just want to rest.¡± Riv only thought of a good rest, as Aiden had suggested. The carriage passed through the ruins of the Sentino Castle, which had been attacked by pirates a hundred years ago. ¡°It would be nice to go for a walk later. On a fine day, you can see the distant sea.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± His words were no longer able to be processed by Riv¡¯s tired ears. They finally reached the villa at the top of the hill. The housekeepers, who had been managing the villa for a long time, welcomed Riv. The head of staff was Moldova, and his wife, Pascuda, was the chef. ¡°Welcome, Madame Olivia.¡± The only thing the villa¡¯s employees knew was Riv¡¯s name. ¡°Olivia is too grand, please call me Riv.¡± Riv stared at the friendly couple. They were a little startled by Riv¡¯s tall stature, but didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°We¡¯re happy to serve a guest after such a long time.¡± ¡°We will serve you with respect.¡± The villa, owned by the Duke, had been neglected for a long time, so the couple were happy to welcome any guests. ¡°Anna will be serving you.¡± ¡°Anna?¡± It was a familiar name somehow. Riv tilted her head. ¡°I am a new maid.¡± Just then, the maid who came down from the upper floor caught Riv¡¯s attention. Riv stopped in surprise. ¡°A-Anna?¡± It was a familiar name with a familiar face. Anna stood at the foot of the stairs with a warm smile. She seemed to have grown a little since she last saw her. The last time they saw each other was just before Riv left the palace. Riv was not able to say goodbye properly, so she didn¡¯t expect to see Anna again, let alone in the Duke¡¯s territory. ¡°Madame Riv, do you know this maid?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± At the villa manager¡¯s words, Anna greeted her with a smile. ¡°At the recommendation of the Duke, I came to the South to work not long ago. I am delighted to meet the Madame.¡± Anna seemed to have been told about their circumstances. Riv was so flustered that she was at a loss for words. Anna casually guided Riv. ¡°The Madame¡¯s room is this way.¡± Anna led Riv to a bedroom on the second floor. Moldova carried Riv¡¯s few belongings to her bedroom. The bedroom was small but neat. Anna spoke after a long silence. ¡°This mansion is on a hill, so it¡¯s windy.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°You may wake up often to the sound of the wind.¡± ¡°Anna, I¡­¡± ¡°Speak comfortably, Riv.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I speak formally?¡± ¡°I¡¯m younger than you. So please be at ease.¡± ¡°The matter of me arriving.¡± ¡°We heard the news two days ago.¡± Riv thought of Lionel. ¡°Anna, did Lionel send you here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Anna pursed her lips as if she had something to say, but noticed Riv¡¯s fatigue and changed the subject. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later. You should rest first.¡± Anna led Riv into her bedroom and brought a basin of water and a towel to wash her hands and feet. ¡°Wash your hands and feet and close your eyes for a moment. I¡¯ll wake you up in the evening.¡± Anna left the room so Riv could rest comfortably. Riv dazedly thought of Lionel as she looked around the bedroom. It was a simple Southern-style bedroom with only a bed, a wardrobe, chair and table. Riv washed her hands and face with the water Anna had prepared, then changed into the spare clothes that had been laid out for her and took a nap. Lionel did not appear in her dreams. In fact, nothing did. Everything was a dark nothingness. Neither her death nor her resurrection appeared in her dreams either. When Riv woke up, the room was dark. She had no idea how much time had passed. If she had slept all night or if days had passed, she couldn¡¯t tell. As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she examined the dimly lit room. Her luggage had been organized, so it seemed as though Anna had been in her room while she slept. ¡®Now what should I do?¡¯ Riv was lost in thought for a moment. She had been distracted after Lionel asked her to go South without him. No, she didn¡¯t even have time to think properly. ¡°I might have been too hasty.¡± What would have happened if she had stayed by Lionel¡¯s side? Would the King have used her? Or Marianne? Would Queen Selina have tried to kill her? ¡°Haa.¡± Her head hurt again. ¡°¡­¡­¡± There was a brisk knock on her bedroom door. Riv, who had been concentrating on her thoughts, raised her head. ¡°Madame, are you awake?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Dinner is ready. After you eat, I will prepare a bath for you, so you can wash up and get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Riv went down to the first floor. On the first floor were guest rooms, a living room, and a kitchen. A meal for one was set out on the long dining table in the kitchen. Grilled fish and stew, freshly baked bread, and salad with herbs. ¡°If there is anything else you would like, please let me know.¡± Pascuda, the chef, was very friendly and accommodating. Riv felt hungry at all the delicious smells and began to eat immediately. When Riv ate her entire meal, the couple rejoiced. As soon as she was finished, Anna prepared Riv¡¯s bath water. ¡°Take a bath and rest. You need to dry your hair before you go to sleep. I will help you.¡± Riv was exhausted and finished bathing with Anna¡¯s help. Anna prepared hot tea and even dried Riv¡¯s body. The night wind that came in the meantime shook the villa. Even when the shutters of the window were closed and the latch was fastened, the window creaked without restraint. ¡°Lionel¡­¡± The night passed quickly. *** The next day, Riv toured the villa. The villa had a stable and a herb garden, but it was rather small. Outside the villa, wilderness and rugged hills continued endlessly in all directions. With nothing else to do, Riv stared blankly into the forest. Moldova approached. ¡°Madame Riv? What are you looking at?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The tall grass that grew in the wilderness swayed in the wind. Riv fixed her gaze on the monotonous landscape. ¡°There is nothing here.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± Moldova nodded his head. ¡°Actually, this place was once called the land of wizards and witches. It seems that many witches and wizards appeared in the Sentoren bloodline, which was called Sentino at the time. They were called heretics with mystical powers.¡± ¡°But now?¡± ¡°There is none. Only the legend remains.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No one knows. At some point the wizards and witches went extinct. Even the Dukes forgot that they ever had such powers since they never came back.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Riv suddenly remembered the pendant necklace hanging from her neck. If the Sentoren bloodline had a history of magic, it would also explain why the heirloom was a magic tool. ¡°What about the current Duke?¡± ¡°Excluding distant branches, the only direct line left is the young Duke, Lionel.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Moldova laughed. ¡°Even if wizards and witches have disappeared from this land, it seems that remnants of their power still remain.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Before the wizards and witches disappeared, they said they cast a spell on this land. It is said that if they hide in this land, no one will find them.¡± Moldova seemed to think that Riv had come all the way here for that reason. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you came here, but this place is safe.¡± Riv thanked him for the information. However, one question remained. ¡°Is there any magic here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they say. Oh, when there was still magic in the Sentoren bloodline, there was a huge forest here. After their magic disappeared, it became a wild and untamed wilderness.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Riv seemed to understand. Wizards and witches used the power of nature to gain power and circulate their remaining power into the natural world. What if the cycle of magic was cut off? The forest was desolate, since wizards and witches who had gained power from the forest were long gone.* [*E/N: essentially they had the ability to interact with nature, much like Riv does! It was a give and take: the wizards helped the forest thrive, and the forest allowed them to take mana from it in exchange. The Sentoren wizards were most likely hunted for their abilities, and the cycle of give and take was broken.] ¡°I want to look around.¡± Riv called for Anna, and the two walked along an overgrown path into the wilderness before returning to the villa. Aiden had kindly bought her daily necessities. ¡°Did you get any letters from the Royal Capital?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I think you will have to wait a little while longer.¡± Chapter 73 The next morning, Riv woke up early. The wind was so loud last night that it disturbed her sleep. When she went downstairs, Anna was already up and preparing her meal. ¡°It was very windy yesterday too. I think Madame will need some new summer clothes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Riv brought minimal clothing that did not fit the climate. The dresses she brought were cumbersome. The temperature difference between the days here was so fickle that people were used to wearing several layers in preparation for the weather. Riv needed simple summer dresses and outerwear. ¡°It¡¯s sunny.¡± Riv washed the dresses she brought with Anna. Because the sun was strong, her laundry seemed to have dried quickly. However. Riv felt magical forces swirling around her constantly. There was magic all over the place. Even if she used that power, Lionel¡¯s future was still not able to be seen. It was like he ceased to exist. ¡°Riv?¡± At Anna¡¯s call, Riv turned to look at her. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Anna figured that Riv had spaced out. Whether it was a coincidence or not, Riv¡¯s gaze was directed to the North, where the Royal Capital was located. ¡°Are you thinking of the Duke of Sentoren?¡± Riv nodded her head. They had a new and shaky love, but it was still hard for her to be apart from Lionel. ¡°The Duke is a strong man, so he will be fine. Rather, he¡¯s probably most worried about Miss Riv¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Anna had been her only friend, as well as a comrade who experienced Marianne¡¯s cruel treatment. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard the situation in detail, but I think you should avoid the eyes of the Royal Family. At least until Princess Marianne is married.¡± Anna said she had left the palace amidst the chaos regarding Marianne¡¯s engagement. ¡°I got a lot of help from the Duke before I settled here. I wanted to leave the Royal Capital for a while, so this was perfect.¡± In fact, she had only arrived here a month or so ago. Riv felt the urge to share her own story with Anna. But there were things that she couldn¡¯t explain to Anna. Such as her death and resurrection, and her short lifespan. ¡°What if I return to the Royal Capital?¡± ¡°That would be unwise. You would most likely be seized by Princess Marianne, since she hasn¡¯t given up on Riv yet.¡± Anna reasoned with Riv. ¡°Think about it more seriously for a few days. Regardless of the Duke, there must be a reason why Miss Riv is here?¡± Anna was more of an optimist than she thought. ¡°In my hometown, we believe there is a reason for everything. Fate.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Riv blankly counted her remaining months. When she died and was resurrected, she had eight months left. A lot of things had happened in the past few months. It was already summer. If she would really die at the scheduled time, she had less than 6 months left. *** That night, a terrible storm raged. The storm was accompanied by heavy rain. Everything was drowned out by the drizzling sound of rain. Riv woke up in the dead of night. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Riv¡¯s eyes reflected a terrible red. It was the red light emanating from the pendant hanging around her neck. It was dead quiet. No one in the mansion was awake. Riv got out of bed bed and stared outside. She heard someone cry out. It was not a human voice. Riv opened the windows that had been tightly locked. She let herself fall out of the window. Riv¡¯s slender body, which landed on the ground, was not harmed. ¡°Is it a coincidence that I came to this land?¡± Riv found out that hers, the Duke of Sentoren¡¯s, and the heirloom of the late Duchess of Sentoren¡¯s fates were all linked together. Her thin nightgown fluttered in the wind. The strong storm began to calm under her touch. ¡°I am a witch.¡± Nature moved at Riv¡¯s words. She felt as though she could absorb the old powers and memories of this land. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± The sorrows, joys, pasts, and futures of hundreds of people passed her by. But none of them were what she wanted to see. ¡°Show me my future.¡± Riv saw her and Lionel¡¯s futures. ¡°Ah.¡± Riv¡¯s body stiffened in shock. Her choices had changed Lionel¡¯s fate. At the same time, her choices could save him. Riv stared at the late Duchess¡¯ heirloom that hung around her neck. ¡°Is that why you let me turn back time?¡± No one answered. *** In the morning, Riv woke up with bloodshot eyes. ¡°¡­..¡± Riv, exhausted, dragged her heavy body out of bed and walked to her window. When she opened it, cool morning air flowed in. The wilderness was covered in fog. Riv washed her face, changed her clothes, and went outside for a walk. She entered the thick fog. It was cool. She rested her hands on the rough dirt. She had never been taught how to use her powers. It just came to her naturally. The power emanating from her fingertips absorbed the knowledge and power of the earth. This land was her teacher and source of strength that awakened Riv. ¡°I am a witch.¡± Riv knelt down and put her ear to the ground. At that moment, the pendant hanging from Riv¡¯s neck gave off a red light. Riv gathered all of her power, inserted it into her necklace, and returned to the villa. At the same time, Aiden was arriving at the villa. He hurriedly handed her a small note. ¡°This came in haste from the Royal Capital. More details will be available in a few days.¡± It was too early for a letter to have been mailed, so it seemed that the note was brought by a carrier pigeon. There were only a couple of lines written. The message was brief. ¨C The Duke is safe. Please keep the Madame hidden for a while. Riv understood the situation. ¡®Even if Lionel is safe, he will go to Ezul.¡¯ In Ezul, Lionel could die. It was also where he got his scar when he was young. ¡®I want to prevent Lionel¡¯s death.¡¯ What should she do? Going to Ezul right now didn¡¯t mean she could save Lionel. In the future that Riv saw, it was around autumn when things became dangerous. If she was discovered by the Royal Family while moving to save him, she could be a further threat to Lionel. While she was contemplating, two days passed without difficulty. Riv went on long walks every day, desperately thinking about what she could do. She came to a conclusion.. All she could do for now was amass her power. *** On the third day, an unexpected guest arrived. A tall man that cast a long shadow appeared in front of Riv. ¡°Olivia Sentoren.¡± When Riv raised her head, she saw a middle-aged man in the black uniform of the Bishops¡¯ Church. His face resembled that of Count Katana, her adoptive father. ¡°Are you perhaps a relative?¡± Count Katana was dead. The man in front of Riv had the same facial features as Count Katana, but his aura was completely different. Unlike the Count, who was fat and bulky, this man was thin and tall. Perhaps because of his priestly clothes, he gave off an impression of integrity, asceticism, and sharpness at the same time. ¡°¡­Philip Katana?¡± Philip Katana, the biological son of her adoptive father. Although he and Riv were not related by blood, on paper they were siblings. She had heard that he had become a priest, but this was the first time she had ever seen or met him. She was also surprised that he visited her. Why here? Why now? After a long silence, Philip opened his mouth. ¡°Is my presence so surprising, Olivia?¡± Riv stared intently at the man. Somehow, she expected that this moment would come. She wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°Philip Katana, are you here to catch me? Or are you going to kill me?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The man in front of her was not an ordinary human nor an ordinary priest. This man had ¡®eyes¡¯ that could see through her. Riv couldn¡¯t see his future. ¡°I am not ready to die yet.¡± Riv believed that this was no coincidence. It was intentional that Philip appeared here at this time. ¡°Philip Katana, how did you find me?¡± ¡°I have my ways.¡± ¡°Then, did you come to enjoy a family reunion? Or are you here to solve the inheritance problem or title?¡± Philip, who had been silent, finally spoke. ¡°The inheritance or title of Count Katana is not my business. What I wanted to talk to you about is your husband, Lionel Sentoren.¡± ¡°Lionel? What about him?¡± ¡°The Duke will be sent to Ezul Plains. He negotiated with the King, and instead of pursuing any treason charges, he was ordered to defend the Northern frontier. The Duke complied.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°The King said he would not track the whereabouts of the Duchess. Of course, she must not return to the Royal Capital.¡± Although Riv knew these facts already, she became more suspicious of Philip because he knew. ¡°Is that all you came here to tell me?¡± Philip stared at Riv with a sharp glare. ¡°I also came here to find out if witches exist.¡± Riv¡¯s body stiffened. ¡°What are you trying to say, Philip?¡± Riv could now unleash her powers, but she couldn¡¯t hide them. What was certain was that this man was her enemy. ¡°You are casting great magic.¡± Riv¡¯s pupils widened. ¡°Did you go against time or destiny?¡± *** At that exact moment, Karl, the butler of the Duke¡¯s Royal estate, was bewildered by an urgent report. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± It was reported that the priest, Philip Katana, had died ten years ago. *** Chapter 74 Philip advised Riv. ¡°Riv Sentoren, stop your magic.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean. Leave.¡± Riv didn¡¯t want to wage a war of nerves with Philip any longer. She was overwhelmed just hearing news about Lionel. Philip spoke to Riv as she turned her back. ¡°Riv Sentoren, if you want to live, you better follow my advice.¡± Riv looked back at him blankly. Philip looked at Riv¡¯s mother¡¯s pendant necklace hanging on her chest. Then he stared at the magic ring that was merged with it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. He spoke in a low voice. ¡°The magic tools you have will not be able to contain all of your overflowing magic.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv had a hard time understanding his words. How could somebody have a body full of magic? There was never such a thing when she was in the Royal Capital. ¡°W-Wait.¡± ¡°There is no time. Gather magic tools.¡± Riv¡¯s curiosity grew. Philip¡¯s sudden visit and cryptic words were all a mystery. ¡°Magic tools?¡± ¡°Take this.¡± Philip sighed and threw an old leather pouch at her. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°What you need.¡± Riv opened the heavy pouch. Inside were old and rusty objects. They were tools that had weak magical capabilities. They were magic tools, but they did not hold power. Philip added. ¡°This was once the land of wizards. Soon you will understand what I¡¯m talking about. You can easily find tools like these at bargain prices in Elon. Fill them with your magic power.¡± Riv looked up at Philip, puzzled. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know. This is all you can do right now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°If you want to correct your fate, do as I say.¡± ¡°Philip¡­¡± ¡°My advice ends here.¡± Suddenly, his shadow took on the appearance of a reaper. It was floating in the air, wearing a torn cloak and holding a giant sickle. The moment Riv doubted her eyes, the shadow of the reaper evaporated in an instant. ¡°What is your true identity?¡± It wasn¡¯t just the shadow of the reaper that disappeared. Philip disappeared as if he had never been there. ¡°Why?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t feel any trace of his presence. Only the old magic tools he had given her remained. ¡°Sigh.¡± She had hundreds of questions, and no one to ask them to. Riv began to fill the empty tools with her magic. As Philip said, this land was overflowing with old magic. It was easy to fill these tools with magic. There was nothing to do, and magic was flowing all around. She was able to focus easily. Repeating the process, Riv realized something. ¡°There must be a reason why he came here.¡± Even if Philip was an illusion created by this land or by her, why did he appear? Did he himself come to this land filled with magic? ¡°Is there any reason why I am here?¡± Riv spoke to the barren land. The wind began to whisper and the ground shook slightly. It wanted to say something to Riv. At the same time, the ring of the late Duchess began to glow red. Riv grasped it in her palm, feeling its warmth. ¡°¡­it was no coincidence.¡± Riv read the memories of the land. This was where the ancestors of Lionel lived. They were wizards and witches, who defended the Duchy of Sentoren. ¡°You called me.¡± Standing in the ruins of the Sentino castle, Riv listened to the words of the wind. She heard the reason why she was revived by the ring of the late Duchess. Why she became involved with the Duke of Sentoren and saved him. And why she came to this land. ¡°There were no coincidences in my life.¡± The spirits of the past Dukes still remained, and appeared before her. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± They began to speak. Riv was told the past and shown the future. She saw her original life that she did not spend with him. However, both of their lives changed after she got involved with him. That was also the reason she was here. Riv smiled bitterly. ¡°You are cruel. You didn¡¯t give me a second chance for my sake.¡± Still, Riv couldn¡¯t blame them. She couldn¡¯t run away because she loved Lionel. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡± Riv¡¯s smile grew more bitter. *** News of Lionel¡¯s dispatch reached the Sentino village a few days later. The people of Sentino talked in twos or threes and worried about the future. ¡°Why did the Duke suddenly go to Ezul Plains ?¡± ¡°There are rumors that he may have committed treason.¡± ¡°The Duke of Sentoren? Didn¡¯t he delay his trip to the South for a few months for his honeymoon?¡± ¡°There are also rumors that the Duchess is missing.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Everyone who heard the news expressed their doubts. Rumors began to spread like a snowball. Riv decided to stay in the Sentino Villa to assess the situation. If she moved prematurely and was exposed, it wouldn¡¯t be good for Lionel or the Duchy. There was still a long way for her to go to be able to change Lionel¡¯s fate. Or Riv¡¯s. ¡°I have to survive.¡± She had to survive at least until the date of her first death. Time passed quickly. *** The sweltering Southern summer passed in an instant. Riv quickly adapted to her life here. Once or twice a week, she journeyed to Elon City to get clothes and the necessities she needed. She also began to collect old magic tools. On the days she didn¡¯t go out, she had the same routine. After breakfast, she helped clean and do laundry, went for a walk for an hour or two, and then ate lunch, sewed, and cooked. As she worked, her skin, which had been pale white, had become tan. Her well-groomed hair was frizzy, and her hands, which had become soft, were rough again. Anna brought her a towel, and watched Riv as she stared at herself in the mirror. ¡°Madame, why are you looking in the mirror?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to look like a native, I realized.¡± ¡°You are much more beautiful than before.¡± The compliments from Anna¡¯s lips didn¡¯t reach her ears. In fact, Anna grumbled as she pointed at her own face. ¡°We got tan because it¡¯s the summer, there¡¯s no helping it.¡± It was then that Anna remembered her purpose for coming. ¡°Oh, come down for lunch.¡± After lunch, they did their chores. Anna folded laundry, and Riv caught up on the sewing she had been neglecting. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Riv checked the time and stood up. ¡°I want to go for a walk, Anna.¡± ¡°Is it time already?¡± Riv¡¯s had a set time for her walks. Anna saw Riv off, making sure she brought a bonnet and shawl. Aiden, who had been Riv¡¯s escort for several months now, arrived in time for her walk. An unnamed dog Riv had rescued during the summer also accompanied her on her walks. ¡°It¡¯s less windy today, so it¡¯s good to take a walk.¡± Aiden followed her at an appropriate distance with the dog. As usual, Riv walked the entire length of the walls surrounding the villa. She even looked down at the peaceful village below. The sky was clear and sunny, and the wind was moderately cool. It was a refreshing and nice day. ¡°But Lionel isn¡¯t here.¡± Riv looked down at the village for a long time, and then she walked through the desolate ruins of Sentino Castle. The moment Aiden and the dog disappeared behind the castle wall, Philip appeared silently in front of Riv. Their second encounter was at an antique store in Elon, and this was their third. His shadow seemed oddly long. Riv decided not to question whether he was real or fake. There was a reason for his visit. ¡°You appeared all of a sudden, Philip.¡± ¡°It is a coincidence.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Philip¡¯s eyes narrowed. He looked at Riv and measured the power in Riv¡¯s body. ¡°You seem to have gathered quite a few magical tools. If you want to live even one day longer, you¡¯d better stock up.¡± Riv was suspicious of his identity, but rather than pressing him, she was more curious about the purpose of his visit. Obviously, it would be strange if he was created by the power of this land. Phillip was not created by magic. He wasn¡¯t even an illusion of his own creation. So why was he here now? He could have contacted her while she was in the royal capital, but he didn¡¯t. ¡°Besides, how do these magic tools help me?¡± ¡°Do you not want to live long?¡± ¡°The Bishops¡¯ Church won¡¯t be happy about it. You could file a complaint with the church right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I don¡¯t want you to die.¡± There was no truth to Philip¡¯s words. His face always looked dark and gloomy, and she couldn¡¯t read any emotions. He raised his head and looked up at the clear sky. ¡°It is said that magic that reverses time requires a tremendous amount of power. You¡¯re probably maintaining that magic.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Riv was startled and tried to say something, but nothing came to mind. Philip knew too much. ¡°Y-You.¡± But no words came out of her mouth. ¡°Riv Sentoren, you will regret having used that spell.¡± *** Chapter 75 Even at Philip¡¯s words, Riv just smiled coldly. A magic that reversed time. She had no choice when she did it. Maybe he knew that, too. There was nothing after death. She had already experienced it. Even if the reason Riv was revived was to be taken advantage of by Lionel¡¯s ancestors, their purposes ultimately coincided as one. ¡°What does the priest want from me?¡± ¡°Well.¡± Riv pressed Phillip just to be certain. ¡°Did God send you? Or the Bishops¡¯ Church?¡± ¡°God does not extend his power to such a place. The Bishops¡¯ Church has no interest in the Duchess.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°I am here to correct fate.¡± Just then, Aiden appeared behind Riv, along with the unnamed dog. ¡°Madame? I thought I heard someone else, are you alone?¡± Philip had disappeared. Riv looked around the castle ruins, noting the long and dark shadows cast by the broken walls. Philip might be hiding in the shadows, watching her. ¡°I was just talking to myself.¡± ¡°I know it must be frustrating.¡± Riv pretended to agree and nodded her head. Returning to the villa, she spoke to the dog. ¡°Will Lionel come back?¡± Even now, she wanted to see him. She wanted to save him. But it was not time yet. Riv brushed the dirt and leaves from her dress. The more she thought about Lionel, the more distressed she became. ¡°Can you show him to me?¡± Riv was able to borrow the powers of the land to see anyone she wished. The pendant hanging from her neck glowed red. Its magic was activated. ¡°Show me Lionel.¡± Riv¡¯s ¡®eyes¡¯ flew to the Ezul Plains in the far North. The prosperous land was a mess because of the fierce months-long battle. The armies of both countries faced each other across a wide plain. A general from the Southern camp¡¯s barracks glared across the plain. Upon hearing the name of the Duke of Sentoren, they could not invade the Ezul Plains nor could they give up, so they cursed him and continued their confrontation. Riv¡¯s consciousness plunged towards Lionel. ¨C Lionel! Lionel unconsciously looked up at the sky. He murmured as if he felt her presence. ¨C Riv? At that moment, Riv¡¯s connection was severed. *** Riv had a dream that night. She could see the late Duchess wearing the heirloom of the Duchy, an old ruby ring. She was easily recognizable because she looked exactly like her portrait. Riv had seen it often. It hung at the top of the staircase in the Duke¡¯s mansion in the Capital. ¨C Helen. Riv approached her, calling her name. The pendant hanging from Riv¡¯s neck gave off a dazzling light. Their bodies were engulfed in red. Helen¡¯s figure morphed. She grew reliable shoulders and wide arms. She morphed into the man who provided comfort and protection to Riv. A person Riv loved so much, but she had no choice but to wait desperately for. -Lionel. -You¡¯re still alive, right? Riv¡¯s body gradually sank into the floor. It felt like she was being submerged in a bottomless sea. Above the water, she could barely see Lionel¡¯s face. He extended his hand towards Riv. ¨C Can I grab it? Someone whispered in Riv¡¯s ear. ¨C He¡¯ll be back. So, take that hand. Riv grabbed Lionel¡¯s hand. Her surroundings were still unusually dark. Riv sank further down, pulling Lionel with her until suddenly, she was pulled to the surface. *** When Riv woke up from her dream, she went out into the wilderness. It was an all black world. Like her dream, everything was so dark that it was impossible to tell whether she was looking at the deep blue sea or a dark sky. The wind blew lightly around Riv. It carried a vision. She saw Lionel dressed in military uniform, with his long platinum blonde hair blowing behind him. Perhaps because he was upset, his scar appeared violently red. He was on the Ezul Plains. Lionel shouted in the direction of the enemy. After several months of sluggish confrontation, the enemy suddenly attacked. There was brief chaos in Lionel¡¯s barracks. Lionel quickly grasped the situation and took the lead. Boom! The sound of cannons burst in her ears. She felt like she was really there, though she knew it was just a vision. Her ring, the heirloom of the Duke hanging from her neck, emanated a red light. Fire rained down on Lionel. ¡°This was the moment of his death.¡± Riv looked into the future and murmured. By Riv¡¯s side, the faint energy of Lionel¡¯s ancestors wailed ominous cries. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t feel sad.¡± Riv said repeatedly to herself. *** Riv waited for a few days. She now had a reason for staying in this land. But she still struggled, because she couldn¡¯t go North to find Lionel. This all had to do with the cause of her revival. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have survived without the Duchess¡¯ ring.¡± Riv recalled the moment when Princess Marianne killed her. She remembered how she was frostbitten, and then burned to death. She remembered the pain. She remembered how there was nothing after death. ¡°I can¡¯t let anyone but me go through that pain, right? You all want that as well, right?¡± It was not a noble self-sacrifice. She lived when she should have been dead. And there was a favor that had to be repaid to those who brought her back to life. That, too, was what Riv wanted. The time had come for destiny to change. Riv walked into the darkened wilderness. At night, when everyone was asleep, the world was filled with only silence. ¡°Please wait.¡± The power that flowed from her silenced her surroundings. Now, no one in the mansion would notice Riv¡¯s work. The cold air penetrated Riv¡¯s body as if it was cutting through her flesh. ¡°Wait.¡± Repeating herself, Riv looked up at the sky. A half moon stood high in the clear sky. The moonlight seemed particularly bright. ¡°It¡¯s today.¡± Today, Lionel¡¯s fate would change. Riv ran towards the ruins of the Sentino castle. As she jumped over the crumbling walls, she saw a huge hall where the throne room might have been. Even though the walls had crumbled and there was barely anything left, a throne remained. The souls of the Sentino and Sentoren family still remained here. ¡°Do you want to protect Lionel?¡± Was it them who led Riv to Lionel, or was it fate? Before Riv¡¯s eyes, the faint souls of Lionel¡¯s ancestors formed into a rough human outline. Their wish was one. Since Riv was perhaps the last witch in the world, she had appealed to them to turn back time and in turn, changed her fate. ¡°I changed Lionel¡¯s life and his destiny.¡± When Riv died, Lionel was alive. But after she returned, Lionel would probably die. That was his fate. Riv¡¯s relationship with Lionel moved his death to several months earlier. ¡°That¡¯s why I am here.¡± Was Riv¡¯s wish the reason why she was alive, or was it the magical power of the Sentoren family? Riv scattered the tools she had filled with magic all around her. Her ability to change fate had been taught to her by this land. The ghostly form began to recite a spell with her. Magical characters floated above the tools. The ring hanging from Riv¡¯s neck shone. ¡°Lionel.¡± The land he was in was far away. That meant they would need more power. The outcome that Riv didn¡¯t want would happen soon. Her power surged. Now she had enough power to reach Lionel. The ring hanging from Riv¡¯s neck strained against the chain and radiated red light. It was almost blinding. Her surroundings quickly melted away. On Ezul Plains, a battle had begun. An enemy attack. The soldiers, who were relaxing after a few months of small battles, were perplexed by the sudden attack. They were chaotic and disjointed soldiers. Lionel lost his composure trying to direct them. His face was bruised, and his untrimmed platinum hair was long enough to cover his forehead. -Lionel. He felt like a stranger to her. He screamed angrily as they prepared for the first attack. Blood stained the golden wheat on the plains. ¡°It¡¯s a surprise attack!¡± The enemy targeted Lionel. They diverted his attention and immediately aimed for his heart. It seemed that they had waited months for this moment. Riv reached out her hand. Magical characters unfolded from her fingertips. Her magic that had been accumulated in the magic tools were carried here through the characters, and headed towards Lionel. Fate and the magic to change it fought fiercely. And at some point, magic swallowed fate. Red light spread in all directions, completely obscuring Lionel. And in a moment, it was gone. The magic was gone. Riv sighed heavily and sat down. ¡°Hah.¡± The tools that were scattered around her had turned to ash. ¡°I¡¯m dizzy.¡± Her whole body was exhausted. She couldn¡¯t even walk. Her magic and her stamina had been exhausted at once. Philip, holding a lamp, appeared in front of her. *** Chapter 76 ¡°Did you have a vision?¡± Philip knelt in front of Riv, meeting her eye level. ¡°Philip.¡± ¡°That is your power, Madame Sentoren.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± From around Riv¡¯s neck, the ring of the late Duchess radiated a red light. Philip spoke. ¡°But did you know? This has sealed your short-term destiny.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± There was no way she didn¡¯t know. Perhaps she knew from the beginning. Still, Riv did not collapse, even though she was exhausted. Philip whispered kindly, yet brutally. ¡°Remember. For everyone¡¯s sake, you must choose extinction.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°You will understand soon.¡± Riv collapsed. *** The whole villa woke up to the sound of a dog barking. They could clearly hear the dog over the roaring wind. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± They followed the sound and found Riv lying in the ruins of the Sentino Castle. ¡°Riv!¡± ¡°Miss Riv!¡± Riv was boiling hot. Even though it hadn¡¯t rained, her body was soaking wet. ¡°Riv? Wake up!¡± Moldova, the manager of the villa, rushed into the village to call a doctor. Anna burst into tears and nursed Riv. It took a week for Riv to return to normal. It was all thanks to her servants¡¯ thorough care. Riv looked out the window with an empty gaze. ¡°Riv?¡± Anna brought in an herbal juice that was good for strength. She had become much more attentive, closely watching Riv¡¯s every action. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, Anna.¡± ¡°Why did you collapse that night?¡± Riv didn¡¯t explain. Her gaze never left the window. In the few days she was comatose, the landscape around the villa changed rapidly. The seasons were passing by. ¡°I thought that everything was lost.¡± ¡°It goes without saying that winter comes after autumn.¡± ¡°I guess so?¡± Riv laughed bitterly, Anna closed the shutters, worried about cold wind coming in through the window. The blocked window engulfed her room in a soft darkness. ¡°Shall we turn on a light?¡± Riv nodded her head absentmindedly as Anna turned on the light. Riv looked back to the window, even though the shutters were closed. ¡°It¡¯s warmer than the Royal Capital here, but the wind is strong, so you¡¯ll have to be careful not to catch a cold, Riv.¡± Anna thought of the coming winter and spoke again. ¡°After the long winter, spring will come.¡± A few days later, news came from the Ezul Plains in the north. After a long battle, the South finally won. *** It was autumn in the Royal Palace. Marianne grew tired of trying on her favorite dresses and flopped onto the sofa. It had been a week since Marianne had eaten properly, and her maids were worried about her health. Princess Marianne was about to marry the Crown Prince of Istana. He had written a few weeks prior, stating that he would be sailing to the Capital to meet Marianne. The date of his arrival was fast approaching. ¡°Princess Marianne, please eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going on a diet. I feel like my stomach is growing.¡± The maids had brought Marianne her favorite foods, but she didn¡¯t even touch them. Rather, she was avoiding them, as if the food was making her feel sick. The concerns of her maids did not go away. ¡°The Crown Prince of Istana wants Princess Marianne to be healthy.¡± ¡°Does that mean I should gain weight on purpose?¡± Marianne was furious for a moment, but quickly lost strength and fell back onto the couch. It had been several months since the Duke of Sentoren was sent to the Ezul Plains. The confrontation had been raging for 6 months, with Ezul Plains at stake. The missing Duchess hadn¡¯t even been found. Meanwhile, the King wanted to gain strength through a marriage alliance using Princess Marianne. The Crown Prince of Istana was Marianne¡¯s husband of choice. The Crown Prince said that he fell in love with Marianne¡¯s angelic appearance. That was the reason why he was sailing to the Capital, along with a handful of his most trusted attendants. ¡°Princess, you should eat something to get your spirits up.¡± ¡°No!¡± The handmaiden circled the plate of food under Marianne¡¯s nose, trying to entice her to eat. The plate was full of soup, fruits, cakes, cookies, and more. ¡°Uggh!¡± Marianne began to vomit. ¡°Princess, take a deep breath!¡± ¡°G-Get rid of all that spoiled food!¡± At Marianne¡¯s order, the food was quickly removed. Still, Marianne¡¯s nausea did not stop. The gaze of the handmaiden, who had been worriedly watching Marianne¡¯s frail back heave, quickly hardened. ¡°Maid?¡± Marianne feebly lifted her head and questioned her maid. Her handmaiden asked. ¡°Princess, how far along are you?¡± ¡°What?¡± The quick-witted El drove all the other maids out, and closed the door to the drawing room. Marianne didn¡¯t know what their problem was. ¡°Maid, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The handmaiden let out a sigh. ¡°El, when was the Princess¡¯ last menstruation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s late. B-but that¡¯s because the Princess is skinny and not regular.¡± El stuttered out her answer, as if she understood what that line of questioning implied. Marianne¡¯s prospective fianc¨¦e was arriving soon, and the King had put a lot of resources into their engagement. But what if Marianne was pregnant with someone else¡¯s child? What if the Crown Prince of Istana found out about this? The King would have to pay Istana reparations, and Marianne¡¯s maids¡¯ lives would also be at risk. It would be difficult to survive. ¡°There is no time. El, tell the Queen about this. The Princess will have to follow the orders of the Royal Court.¡± ¡°What do I say?¡± ¡°That Princess Marianne appears to be pregnant.¡± ¡°What?¡± Marianne¡¯s mind went blank. The handmaiden spoke sincerely. ¡°Princess Marianne is a Royal commodity. She must be lovely and noble. If she has a blemish, it must be removed.¡± Marianne understood the her words at once and went pale. ¡°Ha-Handmaiden, are you trying to kill me?¡± Marianne knew that the Queen¡¯s courtiers had killed many women on the pretext of being pregnant. The maid laughed. ¡°If you¡¯re pregnant, you just have to remove that impurity.¡± The handmaiden whispered insidiously in Marianne¡¯s ear. ¡°That¡¯s how we will survive.¡± *** Winter descended over the South. After Riv had been ill for a week, the worries of the villa¡¯s servants became more intense. That day, Riv was on her way back from her daily walk. ¡°Are you going for a walk? You have to dress warmly to go out.¡± Riv suffered from Anna¡¯s nagging. ¡°It will be concerning if you catch a cold.¡± ¡°I am warmly dressed.¡± Riv gestured to the cloak around her shoulders. Overall, winter in the South was warmer than in the Royal Capital, but the mornings and evenings were colder. The villa was on a hill, so it was much colder than the village below. Following Riv, the dog, now named Chewy, shook his body, as if trying to dispel the cold from his bones. The fire in the fireplace was burning warmly. Riv rubbed her frozen hands and took a seat in front of the fire. ¡°Have some, Riv.¡± Pascuda, the chef, had boiled her some hot soup. After her body had been moderately warmed, Anna spoke up. ¡°Dinner is in an hour, Madame.¡± ¡°Anna, are you mad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡± Riv laughed and went up to her room to change. Riv had reduced her outings to Elon from twice a week to once a week. These days, the roads were either frozen or it was raining, which made it difficult to travel. It had also become more difficult to find magic tools. The ones she could find had either been reserved for purchase, or filled with magic. Riv looked at her tools, which she stored in an inconspicuous wooden box. ¡°Sigh.¡± Riv¡¯s gaze turned to her mother¡¯s pendant, which always hung around her neck. It had become a part of her. The Duchess¡¯ ruby ring, merged with the pendant, was the most powerful magic tool Riv had. All other tools were insignificant compared to the ring. ¡°Even if I use these tools, there must be a limit to the magic I can use.¡± Still, with the help of magical tools, she changed Lionel¡¯s fate. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s enough.¡± After changing Lionel¡¯s fate, Riv no longer had the power of foresight or predictive dreams. Her future was invisible. ¡°Is it natural for me to have no future? Is it?¡± The wind blew so hard that the windows shook. She closed the shutters and walked back to her vanity. Woof woof. Chewy had followed her, wagging his tail. ¡°Why did you come up?¡± Riv greeted the dog by stroking its shiny fur. ¡°You are a lot prettier than before.¡± Months ago, she had found an ugly dog dying in the wilderness. The dog¡¯s wretched face resembled Madame Katana. She didn¡¯t give it a name to avoid attachment, but the dog stayed by her side. He survived, and had pretty brown eyes and a shiny black coat. ¡°Chewy.¡± As Riv stroked the dog¡¯s head, its tail began to wag. Chewy¡¯s brown eyes shone brilliantly. Woof. Chewy licked Riv¡¯s hand. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± One of her fingers became strangely transparent and clear. A chill ran down Riv¡¯s spine. The ominous words Philip had spoken invaded her mind. ¨C¡°Extinction.¡± *** Chapter 77 ¡°You vulgar thing!¡± Queen Selina slapped Marianne on the cheek. Her body fell to her floor. ¡°You dare to insult me? You horrible, disgusting thing!¡± Marianne lifted herself off the floor, feeling the contemptuous gaze of her mother. Her cheek tingled and her body throbbed. Perhaps she was pregnant. No matter what she did, the child did not die. She was already showing. She couldn¡¯t even remember when she became pregnant. She didn¡¯t know who the father was. ¡®Why does this parasite still exist?¡¯ Marianne grabbed her stomach. It was a wretched life she did not want. No matter how many times she took terrible drugs, hit her stomach, or fell on it, her body broke, but the thing in her stomach didn¡¯t disappear. But Marianne couldn¡¯t do it the way her mother wanted. If she did as her mother said, it would be her, not the child, who would die. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much money your father had to pay Istana! This st*pid daughter messed everything up!¡± The hysterical Queen marched out of her room, still swearing at her. As Marianne touched her swollen cheeks, she remembered the Crown Prince of Istana, who glared at her with contempt. Everyone pointed at her and said she was unclean. Why? She was still the cute and precious Marianne. Marianne asked her handmaiden, stroking her swollen cheeks. ¡°Do I look that terrible?¡± ¡°You are lovely, Princess.¡± However, her handmaiden¡¯s eyes were cold. She stared at Marianne¡¯s belly. ¡°What¡¯s hideous is that thing growing inside you.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If one carries a monster, they become a monster, Princess.¡± In Marianne¡¯s head, she could hear Riv laughing. *** Riv went downstairs in time for dinner. The sound of the wind was so loud that Moldova and Pascuda, the couple who managed the villa, did not notice that Riv had come down. They were chatting lightly with Anna. ¡°I don¡¯t think the Duke has sent word yet.¡± ¡°Since he¡¯s at the Northern border, I think he forgot that his relative was here.¡± The couple had suspicions that Riv was the Duchess, but did not voice their opinion. ¡°By the way, did you know what happened to Princess Marianne, Anna?¡± ¡°What about the Princess?¡± Moldova hesitated. Curious, Pascuda urged him. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t be stingy and tell us quickly.¡± Moldova opened his mouth after another long pause. ¡°Ah, there are strange rumors circulating about Princess Marianne.¡± ¡°Strange rumors?¡± ¡°That Princess Marianne is pregnant¡­¡± Silence swept over them. Riv also stiffened. ¡®What?¡¯ Riv was murdered on the pretext that she was aware of Marianne¡¯s pregnancy. So she turned back time, became the Duchess, and changed Lionel¡¯s fate. Riv¡¯s fate and the people connected to her had also changed, whether big or small. ¡®But Marianne is still pregnant?¡¯ The current Marianne didn¡¯t have any obstacles like Riv and Lionel, so why? Riv couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity, so she stepped closer to them. ¡°Moldova, is it true that Princess Marianne is pregnant?¡± As if he had been waiting for that question, Moldova pulled a letter out of his pocket. ¡°This is a letter from my friend who works in the Royal Palace. He said that the story is so famous that everyone in the Royal Capital has heard it.¡± ¡°Famous?¡± ¡°Princess Marianne was engaged to the Prince of Istana, a foreigner from across the sea. The Crown Prince came to the Royal Capital with his ministers.¡± This was the first time Riv had heard of it. ¡°So?¡± ¡°The Royal Court found out that the Princess was pregnant while examining her health. The palace was turned upside down.¡± Riv¡¯s mind went blank. The country of Istana was a wealthy and exotic empire across the sea, whose mountains were rich with jewels. The Istanan Royal Family was famous for their strong pride. What if the unmarried princess, whom they visited seeking marriage, was pregnant rather than pure? Moldova continued his story while looking at the letter. ¡°He said that the Crown Prince of Istana was livid and announced it in front of everyone. He said that not only the Crown Prince of Istana, but also the ministers who accompanied him made a commotion, and instead of marriage, were ready to wage war.¡± She hadn¡¯t heard anything about Princess Marianne until this point, so the news was shocking. ¡°Is that true?¡± Even Anna was at a loss for words. ¡°If rumors spread, there may be exaggerations, right?¡± ¡°They said the people from Istana were the ones who spread the rumors.¡± The King must have paid Istana to cover it up. Istana must have demanded a huge compensation. Pascuda asked curiously. ¡°Then who is the child¡¯s father? Surely it¡¯s not the Duke, is it?¡± Anna spoke, cutting her off. ¡°Princess Marianne hated the Duke of Sentoren. Hasn¡¯t it been nearly half a year since the Duke went to protect the Ezul Plains? There¡¯s no way the Duke would have thought of anything else other than having to leave his wife.¡± Moldova agreed. ¡°Princess Marianne seems to have just gotten pregnant.¡± He turned to the second page of the letter. ¡°Countless men who claim to be Princess Marianne¡¯s lover and the child¡¯s father have come forward.¡± ¡°Sigh, what the hell is going on?¡± Pascuda sighed. ¡°Are you okay, Riv? Your expression is dark.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m okay.¡± At Anna¡¯s question, Riv frowned. She realized that while her future changed dramatically, the larger picture remained the same. Although Marianne was not married to the Duke of Sentoren, she was still pregnant. Lionel was married, but far away from his wife and alone. December, when Riv was killed, would soon arrive. Riv would still die by then, even if she wasn¡¯t killed. Riv recalled her death. A chill engulfed her, and the flames that had wrapped around her flailing body engulfed her mind. She was burned to death in the frigid cold. ¡®Don¡¯t think about it.¡¯ Riv stared at Chewy. His wagging was rhythmically thumping against her skirt. ¡°By the way, haven¡¯t the Ezul Plains been cleaned up? Where is the Duke of Sentoren?¡± No one knew. The time to eat approached and their conversation was discontinued. *** A few days later, Riv and Aiden traveled to Elon to buy necessities. The merchants¡¯ and passersby¡¯s conversations could be heard as they wandered the markets and shops. ¡°Did you hear? That d*mn battle on the Northern Plains is over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. But what if it ruined this year¡¯s crops? I heard that there will be a food shortage in the north.¡± ¡°Really? I heard that Princess Marianne has gotten the Royal Family in trouble. The king hastily married Princess Marianne in order to raise reparations for Istana.¡± ¡°No, to who?¡± ¡°I heard, but I forgot.¡± Riv did not think much of the news about Princess Marianne. Only Lionel was important to her. ¡°Is the battle on Ezul Plains over?¡± Riv asked Aiden. He nodded. Aiden, who was Lionel¡¯s subordinate, was reticent. He answered the question he wanted to be asked, not the question that was asked. ¡°Is there anything wrong with the Duke?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Lionel and Riv had been apart longer than they had been together. Now, even if they were reunited, it was impossible to predict whether their relationship would be the same as before. ¡®I¡¯m glad he¡¯s fine though.¡¯ After buying food and other necessary items, they set off for the villa. It took more than an hour to travel from Elon to the villa via carriage. When they returned, the village of Sentino was quite noisy. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Neither Aiden nor Riv had anticipated the situation. When they arrived at the villa itself, the courtyard was unusually busy. It was crowded with people. It was as if a king had returned after a long journey. Riv dismounted the carriage and asked the nearest servant. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Riv had a feeling, but she pushed down her hopes to avoid being disappointed. ¡°Duchess of Sentoren.¡± Riv thought she heard wrong. But when she turned around, Lionel was standing there. Long tousled platinum hair, and a red scar on the left side of his face. ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°Lionel?¡± The man, whose impression was even harsher than in Riv¡¯s memories, looked down at her. ¡°Madame, long time no see.¡± Michelle, standing behind Lionel, politely greeted Riv. Michelle¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t changed much, but Lionel looked more brutal and cold-hearted than before. Riv was surprised by the change in Lionel¡¯s appearance, and Lionel seemed equally surprised by Riv¡¯s appearance. Riv had become accustomed to her comfy southern attire. In the meantime, grooming her long hair was bothersome, so she cut it short, about the length of her shoulders. ¡°Why is your hair like that?¡± Those were the first words Lionel said to her. Seeing Riv¡¯s shortened hair, Lionel¡¯s impression became harsher. ¡°Duke.¡± Riv called him ¡®Duke¡¯ instead of his name. Perhaps it was because they had been separated for 6 months, but Riv felt a vague distance between them. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± That was all she could say. Chapter 78 Lionel couldn¡¯t easily approach Riv either. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, my wife.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t take his eyes off of her. Riv was frozen. It seemed that they had been apart for too long. She had been waiting for this moment, imagining dozens of ways that they would reunite, but suddenly, she didn¡¯t have the courage to approach him. ¡°Riv.¡± The conflict on the Ezul Plains was over. Marianne did not leave the country and even got married. Everything seemed to have ended peacefully. ¡°Lionel, you¡¯re back.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t speak to him easily. Lionel¡¯s expression hardened at her hesitation. ¡°Am I scary?¡± Lionel frowned, and the people around him were startled. Everyone was afraid of the aura he exuded. ¡°We need to find a place for the two of us to talk, alone.¡± The housekeeper couple tried to say something about Riv being the Duchess, but they quickly shut their mouths after noticing the Duke¡¯s foul mood. ¡°Here, this way.¡± Riv led him to her bedroom on the second floor, as she thought that the drawing room on the first floor was too open. In the bedroom, various items and clothing were strewn about, making the room look lived in. Lionel scanned the space that felt like the size of his palm. Riv regretted taking him to her bedroom. Lionel¡¯s presence was so great that her small bedroom felt even more cramped. Riv leaned against the bed. ¡°Lionel, you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m here.¡± Lionel answered. It was awkward. Riv didn¡¯t know what to say. It had been a long time since she had felt this way. Lionel stared at her. ¡®Did I really change this man¡¯s fate?¡¯ It felt like a very distant past. ¡°While I was away, did you have another man?¡± His eyes were fierce. If there was another man, she didn¡¯t doubt that he would kill him right away. ¡°Aiden was here everyday, and I was also always with the housekeeper and his wife.¡± Riv regained her composure and stared at him intently. She spoke impulsively. ¡°If you can¡¯t trust me, then how about a divorce?¡± ¡°What? Divorce?¡± Lionel¡¯s face distorted terribly. Riv did not back down. ¡°Divorce won¡¯t be easy, but you could easily move the Bishops¡¯ Church.¡± Lionel sighed deeply. He didn¡¯t seem to understand the situation at all. ¡°I¡¯m here to reunite with you, so why are you talking about divorce?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I came as soon as the Northern border was cleaned up.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Are you upset at me for coming late?¡± Riv wasn¡¯t upset at him. She had just forgotten how to talk to him. ¡°I¡¯m not upset.¡± Even with those words, Lionel¡¯s face did not soften. ¡°It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t like how awkward you looked when you saw me. I feel bad for looking worse than when you first met me.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Riv was both happy to see and afraid of Lionel, whom she had not seen in a long time. She hoped that he wouldn¡¯t notice her uneasy state. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression, which had grown harsh, didn¡¯t change, but his voice became more gentle than before. ¡°I¡¯m back. Finally.¡± Lionel spoke, his arms wide open. ¡°Come here. Hug me.¡± Riv hesitated, then ran into his arms. Wide and warm arms. In the arms of the man Riv had been dreaming of and longing for for half a year, Riv almost burst into tears. ¡°Riv, are you crying?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You can cry.¡± Lionel hugged her and rubbed her back. Riv began to sob. It seemed that her longing and sadness had burst out all at once. After crying for a while, Riv finally calmed down. Lionel smirked as he looked at her tear-stained face. ¡°Riv, you¡¯ve become a crybaby.¡± Lionel¡¯s face was different than Riv had remembered. Fatigue had built up on his face as if he had been traveling for several days without sleeping properly. His eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles had formed under his eyes. ¡°Lionel looks a few years older.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired, but I¡¯m fine. More than that, I¡¯m happy to be here. I just want to hold you.¡± Riv pushed Lionel onto the bed. He looked even more brutal because of his tiredness. She took off his boots. ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± ¡°Quietly close your eyes and sleep.¡± ¡°No.¡± Riv sighed at his stubbornness and comforted him. ¡°We can eat together in a little while. It will also take about an hour to heat your bath water. So, for the time being, close your eyes. I don¡¯t want to be attacked by a smelly man.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Lionel seemed to understand. ¡°¡­¡­Then wake me up in an hour.¡± After Riv nodded her head, Lionel reluctantly closed his eyes. The bed, which was spacious when Riv laid on it, was so small that his feet protruded off the end. Lionel, his eyes still closed, muttered. ¡°Riv, don¡¯t go anywhere.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Stay by my side. Or hold me and put me to sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just hold your hand.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Riv grabbed Lionel¡¯s hand. He grumbled for a few seconds before falling asleep. Riv watched him for a long time. Lionel had rushed to see her. She knew that he would continue to protect her. Riv looked down at him as he slept soundly. ¡®How hard was it to tirelessly march down here? How many hours did it take?¡¯ Lionel¡¯s sleeping face was one that Riv knew. She felt sorry for Lionel. For some reason, his scar stood out. Riv gave him a small kiss. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t wake up. Riv called for Anna. ¡°Please hurry and prepare a hot bath and some food.¡± ¡°Okay. How is the Duke?¡± ¡°I¡¯m letting him sleep for a while.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Anna left. Moldova, who had come to assess the situation, hurriedly moved to prepare food and firewood. *** Lionel took a bath exactly two hours later and came down to the dining room. After taking a nap, he looked much more personable than when he arrived. However, the stench from his travels did not go away because he put on his old clothes. After hearing the news of the Duke¡¯s return, the village women helped Pascuda prepare the food, so their meal was plentiful. Lionel sat at the head of the table and gestured for Riv to sit next to him. ¡°Riv, sit here.¡± Lionel¡¯s men sat at the table naturally. Riv reluctantly sat down next to him. Since there was not a lot of space, their bodies collided. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Their shoulders and knees touched, as well as their arms and hands. Lionel was too close to Riv. ¡°Lionel.¡± When Riv tried to slap Lionel, he responded with mock cluelessness. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Riv was embarrassed at Lionel¡¯s denial. Was it because they were too close? After washing, she became conscious of the smell coming from him. Heaps of food were served, as well as wine. Michelle and Aiden had also reunited after a long time, so they loosened up and emptied their glasses. Their associates were also busy eating and drinking. ¡°To the safe return of the Duke!¡± ¡°To the Duchy¡¯s newlyweds!¡± ¡°To Madame!¡± The men toasted and drank. They also devoured their food quickly. After a while, only empty plates remained. Everyone was drinking wine. Michelle, who was drunk, tried to pour wine into Lionel¡¯s glass. ¡°Huh? The Duke¡¯s cup is still full.¡± Lionel answered. ¡°We¡¯re leaving tomorrow morning, so eat and drink in moderation.¡± ¡°Tomorrow? Isn¡¯t that too quickly? I haven¡¯t packed my stuff yet.¡± Aiden, who had lived at the villa with Riv for the last 6 months, grumbled. ¡°Just bring yourself!¡± Moldova intervened. ¡°However, after hearing that the Duke and Duchess are here, the villagers wanted to hold a welcoming event.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll skip it. We will be leaving tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then, could you receive the greetings from the Mayor¡¯s family tonight?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just here to reunite with my wife.¡± Lionel expressed his displeasure. At the same time, the food and wine was running out. ¡°Then¡­ I will rest now.¡± As Lionel got up, he grabbed Riv¡¯s waist and hugged her tightly. They were hands full of possessiveness. Seeing this, the villa¡¯s caretaker couple turned white. Lionel and Riv left the dining room and headed to their upstairs bedroom. The hand wrapped around Riv¡¯s waist didn¡¯t let go. ¡°Lionel, will you sleep with me?¡± ¡°Of course. Are you going to attack me?¡± ¡°How about just going to sleep?¡± ¡°Annoying.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t budge as Riv tried to push him away. Riv¡¯s face reflected in Lionel¡¯s eyes was more vivid than his memories. Fair skin, dark hair, and exceptionally dark red lips. Lionel attacked Riv, pushing her against the bedroom door. *** Chapter 79 ¡°Uhn!¡± Incessantly licking her lips and pushing her against the door, Lionel whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep alone tonight. I need your warmth.¡± Riv¡¯s eyes glazed over from his repeated affection. Instead of pushing him away, she pulled Lionel into the bedroom. ¡°Lionel, your clothes smell.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t change because I came down in a hurry.¡± ¡°Then change into new clothes. I prepared some.¡± ¡°You did?¡± ¡°I made them based on other clothes of yours. Check if they fit.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Lionel gladly entered Riv¡¯s bedroom, as if enchanted. The winter wind rattled the windows, but they didn¡¯t feel the cold. The next morning, Riv hurriedly packed her things and looked at herself in the mirror. Her face, which had been depressed, was revitalized due to the excitement. ¡°Lionel is here.¡± It was a dream-like moment. It felt unreal. Riv stroked her short hair. It was a bit awkward, but it wasn¡¯t that bad. Since she was slim, even though her gown was simple, it still looked elegant. ¡°Pretty.¡± Riv murmured to herself. She reached out to the mirror. The texture of the mirror was cold and bitter like the winter outside. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine because you¡¯re with him.¡± Riv let go of the anxiety within her. It would be okay, even if her predetermined fate came true. Her life was no longer a tragedy. Riv finished packing her things and went downstairs. Lionel was waiting for her beside the carriage. He was dressed in the winter clothes Riv had made. ¡°Lionel.¡± Lionel turned his head and looked at her. Even if there were hundreds of people, Riv was confident that she would recognize him at once. He stood out in her eyes. ¡°Are you leaving right away?¡± Moldova asked, sadly. Lionel responded. ¡°Anna and Aiden need an extra hour or two to pack.¡± ¡°Are we taking Chewy too?¡± Lionel remembered the black dog. ¡°I heard Aiden had become attached to it and said that he was going to bring it. How bothersome.¡± Lionel said it was annoying, but it didn¡¯t really seem to matter. Riv realized that they had a little more time at the villa. ¡°Lionel, can we go for a walk while we wait?¡± ¡°Wear a hat and a coat, and then we can.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Riv realized that she had left her shawl, overcoat and hat in her room. She packed in a hurry, so she accidentally left the things she often wore in her room. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bedroom. I¡¯ll also look around and see if I left anything else.¡± ¡°Check carefully and come down.¡± Unlike yesterday, Lionel seemed quite relaxed. Riv left him behind and headed for the bedroom. She heard snippets of a conversation between Michelle and Lionel as she walked away. ¡°By the way, my Lord, that¡¯s an outfit I¡¯ve never seen before.¡± ¡°My wife made it for me.¡± Michelle chuckled at Lionel¡¯s bragging tone. Riv quickly arrived at their bedroom and grabbed her hat and coat. She didn¡¯t forget her shawl either. As she looked around her room for the last time, she noticed the wooden chest containing her magic tools. ¡®I almost forgot.¡¯ They were Riv¡¯s precious treasures that she had collected and stored for half a year. She packed the box as well. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Riv made sure that nothing was left behind and stepped out of the room without any regrets. Riv took her last walk around the villa with Lionel. He quietly followed her. Riv looked back at him. Lionel¡¯s face was a little pale. ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°Not as cold as the North.¡± ¡°The wind is sharp here too.¡± Lionel clicked his tongue as he looked into the wilderness. The wilderness was barren and cold. The road was not frozen, but the warmth of plants could no longer be felt. Everything felt frozen. ¡°You said you took a walk here every day?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv circled the villa alongside Lionel. They didn¡¯t have much time, so all they did was wander. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re very attached to this place, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have to leave.¡± The normally vibrant grass lay flat and dull against the dirt as a strong wind blew through the trees. Riv linked arms with Lionel. Their shadow looked like a loving couple. He was the man she saved. She saved him for the Sentinos, and she saved him for herself. Riv was delighted to feel Lionel¡¯s warmth again. ¡°I heard that there were witches and wizards here.¡± ¡°Even if there were, it¡¯s a thing of the past.¡± Lionel looked down over the distant village. ¡°I came here with my mother when I was very young. It doesn¡¯t seem like much has changed since then.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a place so remote that rarely anyone visits. It¡¯s nice to hide in, but I don¡¯t come here often.¡± ¡°Really? Still, I like this place.¡± Riv looked around the land where life and power resided. Everything was asleep. If she left now, she would have a hard time coming back. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Riv whispered a faint farewell to the land. ¡°But, Lionel, what happened to Princess Marianne?¡± Lionel sighed. ¡°Did you hear that Marianne had an accident and her engagement was broken? Lionel stared intently at Riv. ¡°Riv, isn¡¯t it difficult hearing about Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten about her.¡± Riv no longer dreamed of Marianne. ¡°Can she still interfere with our lives?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± All Riv wanted to do was spend her precious remaining time with Lionel. There was no room for Marianne to intervene. Lionel extended his hand towards her. ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Riv.¡± ¡°Home.¡± Those words sounded so sweet. Riv firmly grabbed Lionel¡¯s hand. And thus, they returned to the Royal Capital. *** Marianne stared at the old man whom her parents said was going to be her husband. ¡°W-Why?¡± He was an old man with wrinkled skin and gray hair, much older than her father. He was a prince who had been excommunicated from the Royal Family. He had long been removed from the line of succession. Marianne¡¯s father embraced the man. ¡°I am glad that you have agreed to marry my daughter, Grand Duke of Shantel.¡± ¡°Thank you for giving me your precious daughter as my wife.¡± Shantel smiled widely at Marianne. Even his smile was disgusting. ¡°Oh, Dad, I can¡¯t do this. I can¡¯t do this, I can¡¯t!¡± Not long ago, she was going to be the Crown Princess of a foreign country. It fell apart because of her pregnancy. Even so, how could her groom become an old man overnight? ¡°I can¡¯t do this!¡± ¡°Shut up! Marianne, what are you saying to your husband!¡± Her father, who should have been her greatest ally, gave her a contemptuous look and scolded her. ¡°If you had taken good care of yourself, this wouldn¡¯t have happened! No one was willing to pay for you except Grand Duke Shantel.¡± ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Everyone thinks that the Royal Family should be the one paying for someone to take a dirty Princess like you as their wife!¡± The reason Grand Duke Shantel was chosen as Marianne¡¯s husband was because he paid a large sum of money. A bride price. ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t worry. I will tame Marianne well.¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± ¡°Everything will be fine.¡± Grand Duke Shantel hugged Marianne tightly. His hands were old and wrinkled. He smelled unpleasant, almost disgusting. For Marianne, it was utterly humiliating. ¡°Princess Marianne is cute and pretty, but she¡¯s spoiled.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Princess Marianne, please marry me.¡± The Royal Family applauded in unison. They got married right away in a small church connected to the palace. Marianne was terrified. Grand Duke Shantel was rumored to be a pervert with a fondness for children. ¡°No, I hate this!¡± Marianne protested, but no one listened to her. *** The return of the Duke and Duchess to the Royal Capital was carried out very quietly. One evening, when no one was watching, the servants of the Duke¡¯s household rejoiced over the return of their master and his wife. They ran out and escorted their carriage. ¡°Duke, Madame, are you really back?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been such a long time since you left!¡± The Duke and his wife had returned, half a year after the Royal Family had framed them for treason. It was summer when they left, and it was winter when they returned. Riv got out of the carriage and immediately shivered from the cold that pierced her body. Even the servants who greeted them seemed chilled by the night¡¯s cold. ¡°It¡¯s really cold.¡± Riv¡¯s breath came out in puffs of smoke. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± For Riv, who was adjusted to the warm winters of the south, the Royal Capital was terribly cold. Claudel and a few other maids welcomed Riv and hugged her excitedly, while the butler wiped away tears. ¡°We¡¯re back.¡± When Riv saw them, she realized that she was finally back home. The butler, Karl, seemed to have suffered a lot. He looked like he had aged a few years in the 6 months they were gone. ¡°We can exchange greetings later, but first, let¡¯s go inside.¡± They entered the warm house. Aiden and Anna followed closely behind them. They came back to the Royal Capital in a hurry, so Riv was tired and needed a rest. But suddenly, Lionel picked up Riv. ¡°Lionel?¡± Riv froze as he began to climb the stairs. *** Chapter 80 The stairs were high and if he stumbled, they would be seriously hurt. Riv was anxious. Their bedroom was on the third floor. ¡°We¡¯re not going to go all the way to the third floor like this, are we?¡± ¡°If possible.¡± Lionel was brimming with confidence. Her face softened. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trust you.¡± Riv quietly surrendered to him. After they climbed the central staircase up to the third floor and made it to the hallway, he put Riv down. ¡°That was difficult, wasn¡¯t it?¡± As Riv checked Lionel¡¯s condition, he gently raised one eyebrow. It was a habit of his that expressed his dissatisfaction. ¡°Riv, do I look tired?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv looked at him. Lionel¡¯s breathing was labored as he carried Riv, but he didn¡¯t seem to be having a hard time. ¡°I am fine, my wife.¡± Lionel grinned and threw Riv over his shoulder, as if to prove his strength. ¡°Huh?¡± Carrying her was not enough, so she was thrown on his shoulder like luggage. Blood rushed to Riv¡¯s face. ¡°L-Lionel!¡± She felt dizzy. Even as Riv squirmed, Lionel didn¡¯t let go. ¡°L-Lionel, I was wrong for teasing you.¡± ¡°Too late.¡± He strode through the hallway and arrived in front of the Duchess¡¯ room. ¡°Open the door.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± While Riv was puzzled, he strode into the Duchess¡¯ room. ¡°Everyone get out.¡± At Lionel¡¯s command, the maids scurried out of the room. He laid Riv down on the Duchess¡¯ bed. ¡°Ah.¡± Riv was still dizzy. Lionel brought his face in front of hers. As if he couldn¡¯t wait any longer, he took off his coat and tried to tear off Riv¡¯s velvet dress. But Riv blocked his hand. ¡°Th-This is my favorite dress. Let me take it off.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lionel chuckled. In fact, he hadn¡¯t even taken off his shoes. Just when Riv was about to take off her coat and carefully unbutton her velvet dress¡­ ¡°Just a moment.¡± Lionel pushed Riv down on the bed and climbed on top of her. His firm and heavy body pressed down on Riv. ¡°Let¡¯s stay like this for a moment.¡± Lionel buried his face in Riv¡¯s chest. As he pressed his face between her bre*sts, he said. ¡°The fabric is too thick. It¡¯s worse than a summer dress.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a dress for the winter.¡± Lionel grunted and raised his head. He stared at Riv¡¯s face, which was red with excitement. His mischievous hands moved, caressing her but*ocks and chest. ¡°Riv, don¡¯t pretend to be modest in front of me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± His hand inched further and further down Riv¡¯s body. ¡°Then take off your clothes. I want to taste you right away.¡± Lionel slowly turned into a beast. ¡°Give me your body.¡± Lionel¡¯s lips met hers. It was careful contact. But within that moment, they both caught on fire. Having been apart for half a year, their suppressed passion exploded. Lionel and Riv entangled madly, craving each other¡¯s lips. They tasted and touched each others¡¯ bodies endlessly. Forgetting the dress she loved, Riv gave in. Lionel¡¯s claw-like hands tore it off of her. Her underwe*r became a rag in his hands. Riv removed his jacket and tore off his shirt. She felt his bare skin under her palms. It was burning hot. Riv traced the firm muscles of Lionel¡¯s body. ¡°Haa.¡± ¡°Riv.¡± With his lips, Lionel frantically traced Riv¡¯s body. His hands prodded every inch of her. Their desires burned hot. They both became beasts. They felt the joy of being alive, deep pleasures, and raw desires. Their longing was fulfilled on the bed. Lionel¡¯s eyes blazed hotter than the sun. She wanted to be ruled by him. Riv longed for the pleasure he gave her and everything he could offer. ¡°I dreamed of holding you for the past half year.¡± ¡°Did you want me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did you yearn for me?¡± ¡°Hnn.¡± Riv remembered when she saw him again. Lionel looked unfamiliar and frightening. His face still hadn¡¯t lost its sharpness. But even that side of him¡­ she wanted all of it. For life, she wanted to be his one and only lover. Riv longed for him. ¡°Lionel.¡± ¡°Only look at me today. Don¡¯t take your hands off me.¡± Lionel muttered, as if hypnotizing Riv. It was their second honeymoon. *** A few peaceful days passed. Riv was absorbed in her role of being a loving wife. The night was theirs. They were married, but they had been apart longer than they had been together. As if to compensate for lost time, they barely stopped. Occasionally, Lionel would attack Riv during the day. Whenever he did that, Riv was exhausted and slept again. That day, just as Riv woke up from a nap, Claudel and Anna came in to change the flowers in a vase. They even brought firewood for the fireplace. They noticed Riv, who had just woken up. ¡°Are you awake, Madame?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They looked at Riv, then each other, and laughed. ¡°The Duke must have fallen for his wife again.¡± ¡°You¡¯re on good terms, so perhaps you¡¯ll get pregnant soon.¡± The two women laughed gleefully when they mentioned pregnancy. ¡°Pregnant¡­¡± Riv murmured. They didn¡¯t make any efforts to avoid pregnancy. But she knew very well that she was not pregnant. ¡®Is it nice to have children?¡¯ Riv wanted to give birth to Lionel¡¯s child. She wanted to have a child who would become his successor. If it was a boy who resembled him, he would look cute and mature. If it was a girl, she would look elegant and refined. ¡®But it¡¯s not going to happen.¡¯ Was it a pity that she wasn¡¯t pregnant? Riv carressed her flat stomach. After Claudel left, Anna cleaned up the area around the fireplace and stared at Riv. Her expression said she wanted to gossip. ¡°Anna, is something wrong?¡± Anna walked over to Riv¡¯s side. ¡°Riv, did you hear about Princess Marianne?¡± ¡°Yes? I know Princess Marianne was pregnant and got married.¡± ¡°Did you hear who the groom is?¡± ¡°No.¡± Riv shook her head. Marianne¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t her concern. All she cared about was Lionel. Anna whispered. ¡°They said that the princess had a miscarriage and her husband is Grand Duke Shantel.¡± Grand Duke Shantel was a senior member of the Royal Family, but rumors about him were not good. He was infamous for having many wives and lovers. He also had very¡­ bad habits. Marianne married him and had a miscarriage? ¡®Marianne was fine when I died.¡¯ Just as Riv¡¯s fate changed, so did Marianne¡¯s. Clearly, Marianne¡¯s life would now be miserable, however, she felt no sympathy. Still, this development could not be easily understood. ¡°Madame, are you okay?¡± Anna asked. Riv nodded her head belatedly. *** Her whole body was on fire. Her bones, her flesh, even her soul burned. The pain spread through Riv¡¯s body. It was indescribable. Riv continued to struggle. She did not want to be burned alive again. ¨CHelp me! I want to live!! This was the moment when Riv Katana died. It was the memory of her dying moments. ¡°Hah!¡± Riv woke up with a short scream and wiped her forehead. Her body was wet with cold sweat. She could feel the chill in the room. She wrapped a blanket around her body tightly. Her dream felt so real that she couldn¡¯t calm down. ¡®It was only a dream.¡¯ Just when Riv finally caught her breath, she noticed her hand and her eyes opened wide. ¡°Riv?¡± Lionel opened the door connecting their rooms and entered. He had heard her scream. He checked on Riv, who was deathly pale. ¡°Did you have a nightmare?¡± Riv stared at him, hiding her hand under the blanket. ¡°Just a minute, the room is a little cold.¡± It seemed that the fire in the fireplace had been out for a while. Riv didn¡¯t even attempt to approach the fireplace as she was afraid of fire, so Lionel started it himself. She could hear it crackling. Little by little, warmth spread through the room. Riv looked at Lionel, who had his back to her as he lit the fire. For a moment, he seemed too far away. ¡°Lionel, stay by my side.¡± ¡°Riv?¡± Lionel turned to Riv with a puzzled expression. ¡°Are you still bothered by your nightmare?¡± He hugged Riv. His body shared its temperature with hers, gradually warming it up. ¡°Why do you look so anxious, Riv?¡± Lionel caressed Riv¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m okay now that you¡¯re here.¡± Riv pulled her hands out from under the blanket and wrapped them around his neck. Her hand, which had been transparent, was slowly solidifying. ¡°I just had a nightmare, Lionel.¡± *** Chapter 81 Riv hoped he would never have to find out. Even if he looked, he likely wouldn¡¯t have noticed. Her hand was starting to take shape again, but it still looked transparent. ¡®This is not an illusion.¡¯ Lionel hugged Riv for a while to soothe her. ¡°Riv, I¡¯ll finish what I was doing and come back. Let¡¯s sleep together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡± Lionel repeatedly assured her, then disappeared into his room for a while. The door between the two rooms remained open, but Lionel could not be seen through it. Riv sat on the bed, her mind racing. Her hand looked fine now, but she didn¡¯t know when it would become transparent again. ¡®I won¡¯t be able to live past this year if things continue as they are.¡¯ Her allotted time was up. She changed Lionel¡¯s fate through magic, but Riv wouldn¡¯t be able to come back to life after she died. She had already died once. If she could only live up to the day she died, how many more days did she have left? She remembered Philip¡¯s warning, which she had been trying to ignore. ¡°I don¡¯t want to admit it.¡± Riv didn¡¯t have time. She opened her jewelry box and took out her necklace. She pulled the Duchess¡¯ ring out of the pendant. The ruby¡¯s clouded stone looked darker. ¡°I don¡¯t want to disappear yet, please hold on.¡± Riv begged the ring. After agonizing over her situation for a while, Riv fell asleep as she waited for Lionel. When she woke up, Lionel was sleeping peacefully next to her. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Riv stared at Lionel¡¯s face as he slept. The side of his face stood out clearly, even in the dark. She memorized the face in front of her. It was a face she might never see again. She would miss him so much that she became add*cted to this face. Why did she fall in love with this man? And why was fate so cruel? Lionel seemed to have woken up from her gaze. ¡°Riv, you¡¯re not sleeping?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy.¡± ¡°Sleep. I know you like my face.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± Riv scanned the contours of his face, which were clearly visible in the dark. She reached out and swept his high nose, chin and the lines of his lips. Lionel opened his mouth and licked Riv¡¯s fingertips. Even though her fingertips had become transparent, he didn¡¯t notice in the dark. ¡°Kiss me.¡± Riv placed her hand on Lionel¡¯s chest and kissed his lips. A short and feathery kiss touched his lips briefly, but the feeling lingered for a long time. ¡°For some reason, I¡¯m touched.¡± Lionel hugged Riv by the waist and pulled her body against his. ¡°Sleep on my arm.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kind today, Lionel.¡± ¡°When was I ever unkind?¡± ¡°You¡¯re cold.¡± ¡°When?¡± Riv laughed at Lionel¡¯s incredulous voice. She lay down on his arm, her back facing him. Lionel¡¯s hand ran down Riv¡¯s spine, following the smooth indent. ¡°Hng!¡± Riv let out a soft moan. Lionel flipped her towards him. He hovered over her, casting a shadow over her body. Riv lost her senses for a while. She lost strength as Lionel lusted for her over and over again. ¡®I don¡¯t want to sleep tonight.¡¯ She clung to Lionel to confirm that she was alive. Thanks to this, she didn¡¯t remember she wanted to check and see whether her fingertips had become transparent again. She wouldn¡¯t disappear right away, but Riv didn¡¯t know how to live out the rest of her life. No one knew what would happen to her in a few days, even if she was fine now. Riv continued to stare at Lionel. Her husband, her lover. He was her whole life. *** Two days later, an unexpected guest visited Riv. Claudel told her that a priest had come to see her. ¡°He said that he¡¯s a Priest from the Bishop¡¯s Church and that you know him.¡± ¡°Philip?¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± Riv let out a sigh. She thought that she would only meet him in the South. Never here. ¡°His name is Philip Katana.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s a Katana, then is he your step brother? The heir of the previous Count?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Claudel nodded her head. Riv sighed. Why had he come to see her now? Philip followed Riv like a ghost. ¡°Why did he come?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll know when I meet him. Claudel, we can¡¯t neglect guests, so please prepare tea in the first floor drawing room.¡± Claudel led Philip to the drawing room on the first floor. Philip, wearing a black cloak over his priest robes, looked as cold as ice. ¡°Duchess Olivia de Sentoren.¡± Philip nodded his head arrogantly before taking off his cloak and facing Riv. Even though he was middle aged, he had a deeply wrinkled face. He looked much older than when she saw him in Sentino Village. Claudel served tea and sweets. Riv asked for understanding from her maids. ¡°It seems that Priest Philip has something to say.¡± ¡°All right. Call me if you need me, Madame.¡± After everyone was gone, Riv faced Philip. Philip sat as still as a stone statue, barely blinking. ¡°What did you come here for, Philip?¡± ¡°I just wanted to tell you that your time is up, Duchess.¡± ¡°My time¡­ is up?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± What Riv had deliberately forgotten. What she was trying to ignore. Putting that aside, all that Riv knew about Philip was that he was the only son of the late Count Katana. By the time she was born, he was already a priest, and he did not visit for the 14 years that she lived with the Count. Then why did he start looking for Riv after her return? Before her return, she had no contact with him at all. Riv was thinking that he might not be human. She had already seen something ominous in his shadow. ¡°Do you want me to disappear?¡± Riv¡¯s gaze naturally turned to Philip¡¯s gloomy shadow. His shadow formed the silhouette of a grim reaper, wielding a scythe menacingly. Riv smiled sadly. ¡°You really are a reaper.¡± Her life flashed before her eyes like a mirage. An unhappy life. A second chance after being murdered by Marianne. The moment when she married Lionel and became his wife. When she separated from him, and when they reunited after she saved his life. ¡®You must have watched all of this, reaper.¡¯ ¡°You are.¡± He was the one who gave Riv 8 months. Riv¡¯s chest started to feel tight. It became harder and harder to breathe as she confronted the man in front of her. She wanted to cry as she recalled the moments when she had faced this man in the South. ¡°Please leave me alone.¡± That was all Riv could say. Philip opened his mouth at length. ¡°Are you happy, Duchess?¡± ¡°My husband makes me happy.¡± Philip stared at Riv¡¯s form. He opened his mouth as he carefully examined her elegant and delicate figure. ¡°The Duchess looks a lot like her mother.¡± ¡°Mother? Why are you suddenly bringing up my mother?¡± Riv was stunned at the reaper¡¯s words. ¡°Did you know my mother?¡± Come to think of it, this man was dead, so he might have met Riv¡¯s mother. ¡°Yes. She asked for something from this body.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°The Duchess looks a lot like her.¡± Riv thought that he might be arousing her sympathy to make her stop using magic. Out of habit, she fiddled with her pendant, which contained a portrait of her mother. Even if Philip wasn¡¯t lying, his words didn¡¯t mean much. Until he continued. ¡°You have inherited witch¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°What?¡± Philip stared directly at Riv. ¡°Shana, your mother, was a witch. And you are a witch too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that without proof.¡± Riv casually tried to deny it. But Philip continued still. ¡°The Duchess¡¯ body isn¡¯t normal anymore. Your body is at its limit. Shana knew that. She predicted it correctly.¡± Riv began to find it difficult to tell whether the man in front of her was a reaper or the real Philip Katana. ¡°¡­How?¡± ¡°She was a witch of time.¡± Philip did not explain further. Riv didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Shana was always concerned about the side effects of magic. Did you know that the bigger the spell, the higher the cost?¡± ¡°I-I.¡± Riv stuttered. She turned back time and changed her destiny. ¡°I¡¯m alive, wasn¡¯t it for Lionel?¡± ¡°It would have been impossible if your mother had not been a witch.¡± Riv was even more confused. Her head began to throb. One thing was certain; her magic was not permanent. There was an end to it. Only an omnipotent god could perform magic without limits. Riv, too, had to pay the price for her magic. ¡°The church observed wizards and witches and came to the conclusion that magic is dangerous. They also learned that the greater the magic, the more destructive its end.¡± In Philip¡¯s eyes, his memory of Shana from twenty years ago overlapped with her daughter, Riv. ¡°You must gather your magic, Duchess.¡± Riv realized the irony in his words. Before her return, she was murdered. And now¡­ ¡°End it yourself.¡± *** Chapter 82 A life that ended by one¡¯s own hand, not the hand of others. Riv smiled bitterly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± This life was too precious to end. Riv could not predict the consequences if she quit magic. She thought of Lionel. She didn¡¯t want to leave Lionel¡¯s side. Philip shook his head. ¡°The Duchess¡¯ body must have already started showing signs of abnormality.¡± ¡°That!¡± ¡°And damage will also be done to your husband, the Duke.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Lionel, the only person that kept Riv alive and made her persevere. ¡°I¡­I love Lionel! We are happy now!¡± ¡°Do you believe that his heart is real, that this life is real? Is it an illusion created by magic?¡± Riv came back using magic and lived only for him. These days should have been the most wonderful and happiest of Riv¡¯s life. But what if it was an illusion created by magic? The moment Riv quit her magic, everything would disappear like a mirage. ¡°I-I!¡± Returning to the timeline where Lionel did not meet Riv, she would be erased from this world. Riv began to sob. ¡°All I wanted was to live! I¡¯m happy to be alive! I came back! Why?!¡± Philip spoke sternly. ¡°Olivia de Sentoren, your promised time is up.¡± Riv became desperate. ¡°But there is still time until then!¡± ¡°You have changed your destiny, and you have changed the fate of your husband.¡± ¡°So? Do you want me to admit that I¡¯m disappearing?¡± ¡°Yes. If you do not choose extinction on the scheduled day, your remaining magic will run wild and everyone around you will disappear from this world.¡± Philip¡¯s words were false. They had to be lies. Riv was a witch. She wanted to say that it would be different because she turned back time using a magical tool, but she knew it wasn¡¯t. Riv was dying. She took off the gloves she was wearing. Her fingernails and fingertips had become invisible. Her hand was there, but she couldn¡¯t see it. Riv became convinced of her own extinction. If he was really right¡­ Philip held out a letter to Riv. ¡°When your mind is calm, read it.¡± *** Philip looked back at the Duke¡¯s mansion. The gigantic mansion was enveloped by a gray sky. He exhaled white steam. It was a bitterly cold winter. It looked like it was going to snow in two or three days. Philip remembered a woman with white skin, as pure as snow. A witch of time, Shana. A woman who would have become his mother-in-law. -¡°Philip Katana.¡± Shana had a spiritual connection with Phillip at the end of her life. He could still hear her voice clearly in his ears. -¡°I will die giving birth to my child. A daughter. She will grow up lonely.¡± Shana. -¡°Philip, you will find my child after she is married. And you¡¯ll understand what I¡¯m saying.¡± Shana spoke with a sad face. -¡°If you meet her, you will understand her condition. Please stop her then.¡± She begged. -¡°She will be using magic. According to your original destiny, you and the child will never meet. If you and the child meet, it means that she has come back, against fate.¡± Shana clearly said so. It was a bizarre story Philip had tried to forget. So it was exactly what he remembered. Today¡¯s Philip was a ghost in a shell. ¡°God, why did you give me such suffering?¡± While still alive, Philip loved Shana. He wanted to set her free and be with her, but he failed. His father, Count Katana, expelled him. Then Shana said to Philip. -¡°We will never meet again.¡± Shana died while giving birth to her child. A few years later, Philip also died. He did not know whether his soul was eaten by the reaper or whether he was always the reaper. Regardless, since then, he had possessed his body occasionally. Twenty years after he parted ways with Shana, he heard a glamorous scandal involving a woman who was believed to be Shana¡¯s daughter. When he met Riv Sentoren, Philip realized. ¡®Shana¡¯s words were true.¡¯ Riv was a witch who tried to resurrect herself with magic. And the reaper was the one who gave Riv her life back. But now, Riv had to pay the price for her magic. ¡°God, grant peace to us all.¡± The ghost in Philip¡¯s shell genuinely prayed. *** After Philip left, Riv locked herself in the Duchess¡¯ room. Her body was trembling. Her face looked unusually white and colorless. She looked like a living ghost. ¡°Haha.¡± Riv crumpled the letter Philip had given her. She wanted to tear up the d*mn letter and set it on fire. But¡­ After a while, Riv opened the letter. She quickly scanned its contents. [Magic is maintained by consuming the magical powers of wizards and witches. The moment magical power is depleted, the magic disappears. Wizards and witches were devoured by their magic once it failed, and faced extinction. They disappeared, along with their memory. They were erased as if they never existed.] It was as if Philip was whispering into Riv¡¯s ear. -¡°Do you want to sacrifice your loved ones?¡± -¡°Did you not see the signs of your extinction?¡± Riv¡¯s body showed symptoms of extinction. ¡°It won¡¯t only be me, but the people around me as well?¡± Riv sat down, immersed in her thoughts. She took off her gloves and stared at her fingertips. ¡°Ah.¡± Last night, her hand had disappeared, but now her wrist had become invisible. Her arms looked like they were going to disappear soon. In the dark bedroom, even though there was no sunlight, the skin of her hands and arms glowed transparently. ¡°There¡¯s no use crying now.¡± Riv realized her own disappearance was inevitable and felt detached. Invisibility would swallow her entire body as it progressed. ¡°There¡¯s not much time left.¡± In any case, she was prepared for the end. Riv didn¡¯t cry. Her magic powers were still intact. Riv removed the Duchess¡¯ ring from her pendant necklace. The ring was the same, but the ruby stone was cloudy. Riv had to admit it. It was difficult to endure in this body. ¡°I may have just dreamed that I was alive.¡± What if all of this was an illusion created by magic? A man-made dream. As a little girl, she dreamed of becoming a butterfly and flying freely. It was only after waking up that she realized that it was only a dream. Similarly, Riv Sentoren was an illusion of the dead Riv Katana. If she quit her magic, she would wake up from this dream, dead. The real Riv was killed by Marianne. ¡°All I wanted was a happy life.¡± She didn¡¯t know that the moment she found happiness, she would disappear. ¡°It¡¯s sad.¡± Riv read the rest of the letter. [You are familiar with the process of magic. The moment your magic disappears, your existence will be completely erased as if you never existed. No one will remember you. So don¡¯t be sad or distressed. Everything will return to normal.] Riv decided not to suffer any more. ¡°It is now.¡± When she decided to take control of her life, everything felt easy. All that was left to do was clean up. ¡®Is it fortunate that there is nothing I can do, even if I try?¡¯ If she disappeared, her possessions would also disappear. She didn¡¯t have to distribute her things. Even writing a letter to someone would be in vain. ¡®Even if I don¡¯t choose extinction, I won¡¯t last long.¡¯ Chewy, who had been playing happily, came to her room and lingered around her. Riv stroked the dog with her transparent hands. *** Anna looked at Riv. ¡°Madame, you look particularly pale. Did you catch a cold?¡± ¡°I seem to be having trouble sleeping these days.¡± ¡°Are you worried about Priest Philip, who visited earlier? Did he threaten you?¡± They seemed eager to track down Philip and argue. Anna and Claudel were very worried about Riv. ¡°It¡¯s not because of that.¡± ¡°Then should I call a doctor?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re in pain, why not take a warm bath? It is too cold for a walk.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the greenhouse?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the greenhouse for a while. It will be warm there.¡± Riv¡¯s complexion seemed to have improved. The two looked somewhat relieved. Riv called Claudel and Anna before she went to the greenhouse. ¡°Claudel, Anna.¡± ¡°Miss Riv?¡± ¡°My Lady?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Even though saying thank you or sorry was meaningless. Riv locked herself in the greenhouse, and stared at the tropical plants. Her heart had regained its composure. But that didn¡¯t change her situation. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to die.¡± *** Chapter 83 Upon Lionel¡¯s return, Karl, the butler, informed him of Riv¡¯s daytime visitor. ¡°Priest Philip came to visit.¡± ¡°Philip? Philip Katana?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Karl wiped sweat from his wrinkled forehead. ¡°Actually, it is said that Philip Katana died a long time ago. I had them look for him just in case, but he disappeared without a trace.¡± Lionel nodded his head. ¡°What did they talk about?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear their conversation.¡± Lionel¡¯s expression darkened. *** That evening, Riv went to bed early under the pretext that she was not feeling well. Lionel visited Riv and touched her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s not a fever, and I don¡¯t think you have a cold.¡± Lionel¡¯s face was filled with concern for her. Riv didn¡¯t want to lie. ¡°I didn¡¯t take a walk because it was too cold. Besides, it¡¯s too crowded here compared to the countryside.¡± Lionel stared at Riv as she lay quietly on the bed and pulled the duvet over her body. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever, but it is cold, so be careful.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Right now, get rest. I was going to turn down annoying social invitations anyway, so it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The social season had not begun, but it seemed that some nobles had already returned to the Royal Capital. However, the Earl of Murden couple, whom Riv wanted to see, would not return until spring. She regretted not meeting with Sophia, but decided not to write her a letter. ¡®After all, if I disappear, nothing will be left.¡¯ Riv stared at Lionel, desperately wishing she could tell him everything. Her terribly charming husband¡­ She wished she could be with him tonight too, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Did you hear that Priest Philip visited, Lionel?¡± ¡°Oh, Philip Katana?¡± Riv nodded her head. ¡°Philip said that he had met my mother. He said that I look a lot like her.¡± ¡°If he knew her, then it must be true.¡± Riv grinned. Lionel couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Riv¡¯s pale face. ¡°Did Priest Philip give you a shock? You don¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Riv held back what she wanted to say. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Riv.¡± Riv told him she was just tired and fell asleep quickly. She felt Lionel¡¯s concerned gaze, but she didn¡¯t care. She just hoped that Lionel wouldn¡¯t notice her physical condition. *** Nights were a nightmare for Marianne. ¡°You impure, filthy thing!¡± Marianne¡¯s new husband, the old Grand Duke, imprisoned and abused her. Shortly after she married him, Marianne lost her child. ¡°P-Please, S-Stop it!¡± ¡°Stop what?¡± That night too, the Grand Duke¡¯s fist flew at her. Marianne fell to the ground. The drunken Grand Duke began to swear at Marianne with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Do you know how much it cost me to have you? But now what? Why are you still useless?¡± ¡°S-Spare me.¡± Marianne begged on her hands and knees. However the Grand Duke either couldn¡¯t see, or didn¡¯t care. ¡°Aahh!¡± Marianne fainted after being hit again. Her small body was covered with bruises. After some time, Marianne regained her consciousness and realized that her feet were shackled to the bed. ¡°Why, why did this happen?¡± To make matters worse, the Grand Duke¡¯s son¡¯s cries drifted in from somewhere. Marianne covered her face with a pillow and stuck her fingers in her ears. Still, the cries of the children did not go away. ¡°It¡¯s terrible! Save me, please!¡± Marianne struggled in anguish. ¡°Let me out of here please. Somebody save me!¡± They were hellish days from which she couldn¡¯t escape. Marianne, who had only been married for a month, was slowly going crazy. She couldn¡¯t sleep well because of the cries of children. And when she finally fell asleep, Marianne always had nightmares. In her dreams, she was killed over and over again, in many ways. Beaten, trampled, beheaded, poisoned, tortured. At the end of each nightmare, there was a giggling woman looking down at her dying self. ¡°Crazy. This is crazy.¡± Marianne was always a victim in her dreams. She was sometimes human, sometimes beast. When she was a human, she was a powerless, low-ranking maid. When she was a beast, she was a young, weak, little thing who had just been born. She was killed regardless. And it was always the same person who killed her. One day, Marianne finally realized. That she was the one who killed herself in her dreams. That she was experiencing the ¡®death¡¯ of all the things she had killed. ¡°Why, why, aaaah!¡± Marianne struggled in agony. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Riv. It¡¯s because of that stupid girl!¡± The only person listening to the crazy Marianne was the black reaper at her bedside. Marianne sported the reaper and screamed. No one heard her. *** It was December, and the day Riv died was tomorrow. It was exceptionally cold that morning. It was a clear day, but it was cold enough to make the hair on her body stand up. The servants of the mansion walked around in heavy layers. ¡°It snowed the day I died.¡± Riv wrote a letter she couldn¡¯t deliver to the Countess of Murden, and went to the greenhouse. She read a book but couldn¡¯t process it. So she organized her clothes instead. She wanted to spend the whole day with Lionel, but he was called to the Palace to deal with the aftermath of Ezul Plains. Returning late at night, he stayed in his bedroom so as not to wake Riv. ¡®Tonight may be my last.¡¯ Riv headed to Lionel¡¯s bedroom late that night. She wore a nightgown that concealed her invisible body. The door between the two rooms opened. It was lit just enough for her silhouette to be distinguished. Since it was the middle of winter, the floor was cold and the Duke¡¯s bedroom was a little chilly. ¡®You didn¡¯t start a fire?¡¯ Riv added wood to the fireplace and headed to his bed. The blonde-haired man had fallen asleep, alone. Riv lifted the blanket and lay next to him. ¡°Hmm, Riv?¡± Lionel turned to face Riv. Riv leaned against him and listened to his heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was beating strongly. Lionel was clearly alive. ¡°Riv, what is it?¡± It was nice to hear his voice. Riv burrowed into Lionel¡¯s reliable arms. ¡°Lionel, I hate being alone.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°So, hug me.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡®Is Lionel fully awake?¡¯ Riv wondered as she brushed Lionel¡¯s bare skin. He liked to sleep without clothes on, regardless of whether it was cold or hot. His body was always burning. ¡°Lionel.¡± All Riv needed was him. ¡°Hug me.¡± Riv caressed his body. Her hands became warm. Riv straddled Lionel¡¯s body and looked down at him. He stared up at Riv with dark eyes. ¡°My wife.¡± It was easy to arouse Lionel. Riv welcomed him gladly. She stretched out her arms towards him. ¡°Come to me, Lionel.¡± ¡°Riv.¡± Their shadows overlapped. Lionel became a beast, and ravaged her. The blankets that covered them were flung about violently. *** Much time had passed. Riv stretched out, tired. Lionel looked overly satisfied as he lusted after and teased her. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom for a moment.¡± Riv said to him. ¡°Don¡¯t you need a light?¡± ¡°I have no problem getting there.¡± Lionel stared at Riv curiously, but didn¡¯t stop her. Lionel growled as he casually laid back on the bed. He looked like a satisfied beast. Riv hurriedly hid her body under her lace pajamas. Fortunately, her body did not disappear while she was with him. So Lionel didn¡¯t notice. She loved Lionel madly. She was more regretful to lose him than to disappear. Riv looked back at Lionel. Soaked in sweat, he reached towards Riv. His eyes burning with desire, Lionel licked his lips as he stared at her. ¡°Riv, come here.¡± Riv laid on Lionel¡¯s arm like a pillow. She couldn¡¯t sleep easily. When she thought about how this was their last night together, her insomnia got even worse. ¡°Lionel, what would you do if you had to make a choice?¡± ¡°What kind of choice?¡± ¡°If you had to choose between the world and me, what would it be?¡± ¡°It would never happen, but I only care about you, my wife.¡± That was enough for her. Riv laughed. Even if she disappeared now, she would be satisfied. Even if he didn¡¯t remember her, even if he no longer loved her. Riv could live in a world of nothingness with just those words. ¡°Riv, stop talking and go to sleep now.¡± As Lionel nagged her, she cuddled deeper into his arms. She could hear his heartbeat. Lionel¡¯s arms were wide and comfortable. A warm embrace that she never wanted to forget. He was the only one she loved. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You¡¯re the only one I can¡¯t forget.¡± Riv muttered to herself. She was sad to leave Lionel here. She decided she didn¡¯t want to disappear until she had to. This was the best choice for Riv. *** Chapter 84 Snow fell all night. The world outside their window had turned a dazzling white. The fireplace in the bedroom burned all night, but Riv felt no warmth. ¡°Ah.¡± As her body disappeared, her sense of touch also disappeared. ¡®It¡¯s sad.¡¯ Riv looked down at the sleeping Lionel next to her. The man who had tormented her all night fell into a deep sleep and had not woken up. He would wake up a little later since she cast some sleeping magic on him at dawn. ¡°Sleep a little longer.¡± Riv returned to the Duchess¡¯ room through the connecting door. Without calling in her maids, Riv washed herself and trimmed her hair. Then she put on a mourning dress that she had prepared beforehand. ¡®I knew this would happen so I made this dress.¡¯ Still, she never expected she would have to wear the black dress she made in Mont Del. Wearing the high collared, long sleeved black dress, Riv found peace of mind. She looked down at her hands. She could see them becoming transparent in the early dawn light. Unlike the white snow that was piling up outside the window, her hands were melting away. ¡®This¡­¡¯ Both of her hands had completely disappeared, and the invisibility was progressing to her wrists. As the transparency gradually spread, her arms would soon disappear. And as soon as her arms were gone, her whole body would be devoured. ¡®Time¡¯s up.¡¯ She had prepared for her imminent end, but she couldn¡¯t put it off any longer. She put on makeup and carefully selected a pair of black silk gloves. Putting gloves on her hands wasn¡¯t as easy as it used to be, as they were already transparent. ¡®It¡¯s okay because I won¡¯t feel anything after they¡¯re gone.¡¯ Riv decided not to think about what would happen after she disappeared. She went downstairs after she finished dressing up. Claudel and the other maids who saw her widened their eyes. ¡°Ma-Madame, what are you wearing?¡± ¡°Please bear with it today, Claudel.¡± The maids¡¯ expressions were more serious these days because Riv¡¯s behavior was strange. The same was true for Claudel. ¡°Master hates mourning.¡± ¡°Because of his parents?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. They died a few years ago.¡± ¡°Just bear with it for today, Claudel.¡± Riv also disliked mourning clothes, but she had no choice but to do so today. She had never wanted to wear something like this in her life. But today was her last day. Mourning had begun. The employees of the Sentoren household moved efficiently so the Duke and Duchess could eat as soon as possible. The Ducal couple shared a bedroom last night, and were scheduled to have breakfast together. It was no different than usual. However, the atmosphere today was subtly different. Seeing the Duchess coming down from her bedroom, the old butler tilted his head. ¡°Madame Riv?¡± The Duchess wore a black shawl over her black velvet dress. Her hair was neatly pinned up and she was wearing more makeup than usual, but her face looked deathly pale. ¡°Madame, are you okay?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Lionel?¡± ¡°The Duke is waiting in the dining hall.¡± Nodding her head, Riv entered the dining room. The maids were shocked by the black dress she was wearing, but tried very hard not to show it. Lionel was sitting at the head of the table when he spotted Riv. He frowned at her black, high-necked dress. ¡°Why are you wearing mourning clothes today?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you want to be called Madame Katana again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Just like Madame Katana, a symbol of misfortune, Riv was wearing a black dress as she did before. The only difference was that she wore a huge old dress at that time, but now, Riv¡¯s slender and curvy body was emphasized. She took off her black shawl and laid it over the back of her chair. Lionel frowned more as he carefully examined the clothes Riv was wearing. ¡°I hate mourning. Change your clothes and come back.¡± ¡°Now is not the time to change.¡± Riv ignored Lionel¡¯s words and sat next to him like a doll. Lionel sighed and gestured. ¡°Then I¡¯ll let it slide today.¡± The servants served their food. Riv ate a light salad and bread as usual. Lionel cut his meat. Except for the sound of utensils and plates clinking, the dining room was very quiet. The usual sweet atmosphere was nowhere to be found. The servants cautiously exited the dining hall. Riv stared at Lionel as she ate her meal. Lionel opened his mouth. ¡°Wife, if you have something to say, say it.¡± Riv put down her fork and asked him. ¡°Lionel, can you tell me you love me?¡± ¡°What?¡± In response to her sudden question, Lionel swept back his long platinum blonde hair. The scar on his face looked more vivid due to his embarrassment. ¡°Why are you asking such a question, Riv?¡± ¡°I was just curious.¡± He frowned. ¡°I like my wife.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not love?¡± ¡°Should I answer that now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Riv nodded her head. In fact, his answer was enough. Even if Lionel loved Riv, he wasn¡¯t the type to confess it easily. Lionel¡¯s sharp eyes bore into her. ¡°Riv, did you change your mind? Why are you wearing such drab clothes and suddenly talking about love?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you really want a divorce?¡± Riv stared at her plate, unsure of what to say. Her food had barely been touched. Lionel sighed. ¡°Riv, if you¡¯re not feeling well, take a break. If you have any plans, cancel them. Since it¡¯s cold, you must not be feeling well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sick. It¡¯s not even cold.¡± Saddened by his kindness, Riv replied helplessly. Lionel also seemed upset. ¡°When I see you in such a terrible dress, I can only think you¡¯ve had a change of heart. Don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± ¡°I am not stubborn.¡± Riv grabbed the hem of her dress. She was nervous. There was little time left. She didn¡¯t know where to start or how to explain it. ¡°¡­Even if you don¡¯t love me, you¡¯re too good for me.¡± He was a perfect man with a great bloodline, reliable build, handsome appearance, and an excellent brain. ¡°I am so glad I got to have you as my husband.¡± Lionel clenched his jaw and furrowed his brow. He scanned her face. ¡°Why are you acting like a nun after you attacked me like crazy last night? What the hell are those clothes?¡± Although it was a modest dress with nothing exposed, Lionel was goggling her voluptuous breasts. His eyes were sweeping her body with desire. He wanted to push away the dishes and lay her over her table. ¡°When I think about it, last night was not enough. I¡¯d better imprint it in you that you can have me anytime.¡± Riv laughed at Lionel¡¯s seductive voice. She¡¯d be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t ar*used by him. Lionel liked her body. Riv also liked her relationship with him. To be exact, she had been thoroughly tamed by him. He was her first and last man. Her passionate lover. When their bodies were connected, their desire was hotter and more intense than lava. But that was just until today. ¡°Lionel.¡± Riv, who was about to call his name, realized that her throat was being choked. Alas, the time for her to die was drawing near. She couldn¡¯t keep their conversation going for long. She only had a few minutes left to face him. Then she would no longer be able to maintain her form. Riv spoke quickly. ¡°Lionel, it doesn¡¯t matter much to you, but there¡¯s something I didn¡¯t tell you. I have strange powers, and I can see the future.¡± ¡°Oh. You must be having coincidental dreams.¡± Riv shook her head. ¡°Lionel, I am a witch.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°In my previous life, Riv Katana died. I turned back time and changed my destiny to survive. Then, I got married to you.¡± A look of bewilderment crossed Lionel¡¯s face. However, Riv didn¡¯t lie. In her original life, she didn¡¯t marry Lionel. She reversed time and changed her fate to escape death. A life in which the magic ring of the Sentoren family was involved in changing Lionel¡¯s fate. So Riv became the wife of Lionel, but all of it was a lie. A fake destiny. A fake life. Riv felt so sorry for Lionel. Their time together was an illusion. When she disappeared, everything that existed alongside her would disappear, and no one would remember her. ¡°Lionel, I shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± On one hand, Riv felt sad, but on the other, she felt fortunate that when she disappeared, he would not remember her. She didn¡¯t want him to remember her miserable appearance, or her last words. ¡°Originally, at this time today, I died. So there¡¯s no point in holding on any longer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too serious to be joking.¡± Riv smiled at him bitterly. ¡°I love you, Lionel.¡± It was a confession that she had held back. Selfish words that she could only say now. Despite Riv¡¯s confession, Lionel didn¡¯t blink and just tapped the table with finger. ¡°I know you love me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± Riv laughed at Lionel¡¯s answer. Lionel¡¯s face began to look blurry. She was crying. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± ¡°I d-don¡¯t have time to explain. R-Remember when I said I was a witch?¡± Riv was crying so much that she couldn¡¯t even see his face. Riv¡¯s words grew faster and faster. ¡°Did I mention that I turned back time? It takes a lot of magic to keep this reality alive. But my power is not infinite.¡± Magic had its limits. People died. Magic would run out someday. Even the witches who used mystical powers did not live forever. This was the end of Riv¡¯s life. *** Chapter 85 Even if it wasn¡¯t now, Riv¡¯s death was predestined. Still, this death would not be as painful as the last. She was rather happy. But what made her heart hurt even more this time? Riv confessed to Lionel. ¡°I came back from the dead, and I loved every moment I spent with you. I knew the magic was going to end someday, and I knew I could only live until the day I was killed, but I pretended not to know. I just wanted to be with you a little more.¡± Lionel wouldn¡¯t even be able to remember these words. The greater the magic that the caster performed, the greater the sacrifice. And today, Riv died. That was originally her fate. Even if she tried to support her body with her magic and extend her life, it was not possible for her to survive. Her greed could hurt Lionel. ¡°If I accept my fate, I will be the only one that will disappear.¡± ¡°Riv? Why are you saying things like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving this back to you.¡± Riv removed an old ring from the pendant necklace she was wearing. She held the ring in her gloved palm. ¡°What is that?¡± The jewel of the old ring radiated an ominous red light. ¡°No way.¡± Lionel realized the identity of the ring. ¡°Why do you have it? No, what is that light?¡± ¡°This is the Duchess¡¯ heirloom, your mother¡¯s ring, and a magical tool. It saved me and turned back time.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°And the time has come for me to give it back to you.¡± Just as Lionel was about to say something, Riv chanted a spell. Her black lace gloves disappeared. The palm of her transparent hand soon became bloody. The jewel in the ring greedily inhaled it all. The red light became more intense. ¡°Riv!¡± ¡°Lionel, it¡¯s time to put everything back in its place. I will accept my fate and pay for what I have enjoyed.¡± ¡°Riv?¡± A bewildered look crossed Lionel¡¯s face. Riv laughed. ¡°It¡¯s a relief that you don¡¯t love me.¡± The moment Riv dropped the ring onto the table, the magic was broken. The only sound in the room was that of Riv¡¯s pendant necklace falling to the ground. Riv disappeared in an instant. It was as if she evaporated. Looking around the empty room, Lionel asked. ¡°¡­Riv?¡± He stared blankly at the ring and the pendant necklace she had left behind. ¡°¡­?¡± The portrait in the pendant necklace was empty. *** He remembered the morning she disappeared vividly. It was winter, a bitter day that made one¡¯s bones shiver. That day, Riv¡¯s mood was quite different. Riv wore a black mourning dress, which she had never done before. Her expression was terribly dull. She also wore strange black gloves as she ate. Then Riv surprised him with strange words. Magic. One word he remembered well. Riv confessed to Lionel that she was a witch. She confessed that she loved him. And then, she evaporated in front of his eyes. As soon as she disappeared, a blood-stained ruby ??ring rolled across the table and stopped in front of him. ¡°The Duchess disappeared.¡± How did the servants react when Lionel said those words? Riv had evaporated while eating and they only said. ¡°The Duchess?¡± ¡°When did the Duke get married? Did you fall asleep and dream?¡± Riv disappeared, and it was as if she never existed at all. Lionel had rushed to the Duchess¡¯ room, and found that everything Riv had used disappeared. All of her hats, shoes, dresses, and even her underwear. The handkerchief and clothes that Riv had made for him? Gone. All of those things were gone, and all that remained were the faded antiques Riv had collected. Lionel realized something while carrying them around. As long as he had Riv¡¯s traces, he would not lose his memories of her. There were some things in this world that he didn¡¯t understand. Witches and wizards, past lives. He couldn¡¯t understand how his wife became a witch. *** Empty time passed. The Duke of Sentoren lived like a disabled person for a while. There was a lot of talk about the Duke having gone crazy. Why? No one knew. The servants of the Duke hoped that the Duke¡¯s condition would return to normal. His close friend, Doctor Rambaud, did not leave his side. His servants also hovered around him and worried about him. ¡°Rambaud, am I strange?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re normal.¡± Seeing Lionel perpetually intoxicated, Rambaud ordered all the alcohol in the mansion to be thrown away. But even when he wasn¡¯t drunk, the Duke still seemed insane. ¡°I¡¯d rather get drunk, Rambaud.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Lionel couldn¡¯t lie down on his bed, in fear of tainting her scent. He couldn¡¯t even go into the Duchess¡¯ bedroom. It was not uncommon for him to stay up all night in his office. He offered a reward for information about witches and wizards. People who wanted the money flocked in like flies. But they brought nothing useful. ¡°I want to get Riv back.¡± ¡°Why are you saying that again?¡± Rambaud touched Lionel¡¯s forehead and concluded that he might be addicted to drugs. ¡°Rambaud, do you think I¡¯m crazy?¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t crazy, then this would be weird. Lionel is chasing an illusion right now.¡± ¡°Illusion?¡± ¡°An illusion that there was a woman named Riv.¡± Lionel thought that maybe Rambaud was right. After Riv disappeared, many hours passed pointlessly. Riv was a witch, but he wasn¡¯t a wizard. How could he find a witch who disappeared in an era when wizards and witches were extinct? ¡®It was Riv¡¯s choice to disappear.¡¯ He interrogated those who followed heretical concepts and even sought out those who could perform magic. But there were no answers to any of his questions. ¡°Sigh.¡± Helpless time passed. Lionel was overcome with a sense of despair over not being able to do anything. ¡°Anyway, Riv Katana? Katana?¡± Lionel recited her family name. Riv was the adopted daughter of the Katana family. Even if her biological father was unknown, her biological mother certainly gave birth in Count Katana¡¯s territory. ¡°Butler! Butler!¡± Karl quickly responded to his master¡¯s summons. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Duke?¡± ¡°Katana, investigate Count Katana.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The butler was thrilled at Lionel¡¯s sudden command, as he seemed to have regained his vigor. A few days later, the Duke¡¯s men searched the deceased Count Katana¡¯s estate. Karl gathered the information from their informants and reported on it. Lionel listened to the report with a serious expression. ¡°Everything that could¡¯ve been found out about Count Katana¡¯s past has been gathered. He never had an adopted daughter by the name of Olivia, whom the Master wanted to know more about.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lionel¡¯s heart sank. Karl handed over a large stack of papers, containing all of the data they had gathered. ¡°Summarize it briefly.¡± ¡°The Count of Katana died a few years ago and the family has fallen. He had a son, Philip, but his whereabouts are unknown. The Count has no other heirs.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he have a wife about twenty years ago?¡± Karl skimmed through the report. ¡°Oh, here it is. About 20 years ago, a woman named Shana was brought in to meet the family. But she died, along with her child.¡± Stillbirth, death. Lionel raised his head. He was desperately looking for Riv. ¡°Is she really dead? If she¡¯s dead, where is her grave?¡± ¡°It was so long ago that we didn¡¯t investigate. But some strange testimonies are attached to her.¡± ¡°Strange testimonies?¡± Lionel was desperate to find even the tiniest clue. ¡°There were rumors that the woman was a witch.¡± ¡°Witch?¡± ¡°There are only a few lines about her. Little is known about her, other than that she was a commoner brought to the estate by Count Katana.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°She died giving birth to a child a few months after she was brought in.¡± That was 20 years ago. The fact that there was someone who remembered even though the Count had been silent¡­ Did that mean that Shana¡¯s presence stood out, even in such a short period of time? ¡°Should I arrange an investigation into Count Katana?¡± ¡°Enough about him. Find out more about the woman named Shana.¡± ¡°But she died 20 years ago. It won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°Find anything. The room she stayed in, whatever traces she left behind.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± A few days later, Lionel received another report. Shana had lived on the Katana estate until her death. She was an orphan, and there was no trace of her former home or her late family. No one in her village remembered her. Lionel headed to the Katana mansion himself to find the last traces of Shana. *** Chapter 86 A miserably ruined mansion appeared before Lionel¡¯s eyes. The last owner of Count Katana¡¯s mansion had left it vacant for a long time. Lionel found a servant who had worked in the mansion until it closed for good. The old servant was a butler, driver, and in charge of maintenance. He even knew the nanny and servants that worked around the time Riv¡¯s mother entered the mansion. The old servant who was guiding Lionel looked around the mansion, reminiscing about that time. He stayed in the house for a long time while Count Katana was alive, and supervised construction after his death. ¡°Sir Wilhelm, who bought this mansion, was one of the creditors of Count of Katana. He took the mansion in lieu of debt at the time, and it seemed he was thinking of renovating it.¡± ¡°Was there a problem?¡± ¡°Every time a repair was made, workers got hurt or had problems. Sir Wilhelm also had a major accident when he came here.¡± After several incidents, Wilhelm gave up on repairing the mansion and abandoned it. ¡°What I want to know more about is Countess Katana.¡± ¡°I heard.¡± The old servant didn¡¯t dare to ask why he was curious. ¡°There was a lot of talk about her identity, but no one knew exactly who she was.¡± ¡°Even the Count¡¯s vassals?¡± ¡°Yes. Count Katana didn¡¯t want to show her to anyone. It seemed that he didn¡¯t want to lose his beautiful wife, who was only twenty back then.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°So he imprisoned the Countess.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Lionel¡¯s steps abruptly stopped. ¡°A few months after she was imprisoned, she died giving birth to a child. Only a few people knew that she was the Countess. That was 20 years ago.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that there were traces left of her?¡± ¡°Yes. The room she stayed in is still there.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because they said it was cursed.¡± ¡°Cursed?¡± Lionel shook his head at the unexpected remark. The old servant thought it was blasphemous to even mention it. He was worried that the curse of the imprisoned woman would be passed on to him. ¡°Her room has been locked for 20 years. Count Katana couldn¡¯t handle the room either.¡± ¡°Handle?¡± ¡°You will understand when you see it.¡± The servant shuddered. ¡°This is it.¡± Shana, the woman imprisoned by Count Katana. Her room was on this floor. It was a small room in the corner. In front of the door was a pile of clutter, and when they cleared it, the entrance was visible. The door had long since fallen off its hinges, so he could clearly see inside the room. ¡°Ugh!¡± Lionel covered his nose with a handkerchief. ¡°This¡­!¡± The room was covered in blood. Lionel tentatively entered. The old man guiding Lionel turned away, not daring to go in. ¡°Is this her room?¡± ¡°Y-Yes. Sh-She might have been crazier than I thought.¡± The terrified old man stuttered from the doorframe. ¡°Th-That girl must have been cursed. I, I, I w-will go down now.¡± The servant fled, and only Lionel remained. 20 years worth of dust swirled in the air around him. ¡°Hmm?¡± Something familiar caught his eye. Lionel was puzzled as he examined strange characters scrawled on the ceiling, walls, and items scattered on the floor. Shana apparently collected things just as Riv did, such as antiques. ¡°Hmm, are they magic tools?¡± Lionel, who touched the wall while he was examining the symbols, suddenly smelled the rich scent of the forest. He fumbled against the wall and spun around. He was now in an old hut. ¡°¡­?¡± A huge tree loomed outside the window. Lionel couldn¡¯t believe it and ran out of the room. He had just exited an old hut on the verge of collapse, in the middle of a forest. ¡°Where am I?¡± Just a second ago, he was on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, in the mansion of Katana. Lionel felt a presence standing behind him. ¡°You have finally come.¡± A middle-aged man in dark priest¡¯s robes was staring at Lionel and smiling. ¡°It is commendable that you have gotten this far.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± His question was pointless. Lionel knew that this man was Philip. ¡°And what is this place?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see when you go in, Duke Sentoren.¡± He gently pushed Lionel back into the hut. The inside of the hut had transformed into the room of Shana. The blood on the walls that had turned brown from age had regained its vivid red color. Philip spoke. ¡°This is the residence of the Count Katana, but it is also Shana¡¯s space.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Magic.¡± Philip traced the symbols on the floor with his foot. A huge magic circle was drawn in the center of the room. ¡°Stand there.¡± Every corner of the ceiling glowed, forming silvery symbols. Everything started to move around Lionel. ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°I am Shana¡¯s, I am the person Riv¡¯s mother prepared.¡± ¡°Prepared? What the hell?¡± Lionel grew anxious and groped around inside his pocket. He felt the pendant necklace that Riv had left behind, and the Duchess¡¯ ruby ??ring. His own mother. The woman in the pendant portrait. Riv, who was missing. And Philip. They were all people that Lionel couldn¡¯t understand. What was certain was that Riv was a witch, and her powers were hereditary. Philip was closely involved in this too. ¡°The second act has begun.¡± Philip looked very happy. ¡°I have been waiting for the Duke of Sentoren to come. If the Duke had not opened this door, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to rest. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you come all the way here knowing Riv Katana was a witch?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Lionel stared at the man, deeming him insane. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. The Duke likely doesn¡¯t know much about it. Riv probably didn¡¯t have much time to explain.¡± It was just as Philip said. Riv confessed to Lionel that she was a witch. He couldn¡¯t comprehend the situation, and before he knew it, she disappeared. Saying she was dead felt like a lie. ¡°So what do I need to know?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have much time, so I¡¯ll keep it short.¡± Contrary to his words, Philip looked relaxed. ¡°Riv Katana¡¯s death was predestined. When she died for the first time, it was quite a coincidence that she had the ring of the late Duchess.¡± ¡°How?¡± Lionel pulled out the ring and pendant necklace. Philip¡¯s gaze turned to his hand. ¡°Princess Marianne and the Duke of Sentoren were married, and Riv Katana was murdered by Princess Marianne. Marianne threw the ring of the Duchess at Riv.¡± Phillip added casually. ¡°Riv Katana was burned alive. By sheer coincidence, Riv Katana was of witches blood, and the Duchess of Sentoren¡¯s ring was a magical tool. Her will to live awakened her magic.¡± ¡°You want me to believe that?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you believe it or not. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Philip pointed to the ring. ¡°That ring is proof. The ring wanted to save the Duke. After Riv Katana was murdered, you were going to be poisoned by Princess Marianne.¡± Philip shortened his words, implying Lionel didn¡¯t need to know this. ¡°The Duchess¡¯ ring has saved your life many times through Riv, so it has done its part.¡± Philip¡¯s gaze was still fixed on Lionel¡¯s hand. ¡°Open your hand.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to get Riv back?¡± Lionel was confused as to whether this man was a demon or an angel. At that moment, the pendant necklace in his hand began to shine. ¡°What¡­?¡± The pendant necklace cast light everywhere. Lionel realized that this necklace was also a ¡®magic tool¡¯. ¡°Is there magic here?¡± Philip¡¯s shadow flickered wickedly. ¡°Shana¡¯s magic had a fatal flaw. Her spell needs a drop of blood from someone who had risen from the dead. Then her magic will be complete.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I need the blood of the Duke of Sentoren, the man who Riv Katana revived.¡± Philip pulled out a dagger. He cut Lionel¡¯s fingertip, and blood dripped on the floor. The magic circle began to shine. Philip looked ecstatic. *** A few days later, Lionel entered the palace under Royal Order. And in front of the audience chamber, he saw Princess Marianne and her husband, the Grand Duke of Shantel. Perhaps because of their age difference, they looked more like grandfather and granddaughter than a couple. Marianne¡¯s dress was too revealing, and it didn¡¯t suit her. There were also deep purple bruises on Marianne¡¯s neck and back. There were rumors that Grand Duke Shantel was abusing Princess Marianne. Apparently, they were true. ¡°Give me some sweets. I need something sweet and delicious.¡± Marianne muttered soullessly. *** Note: 4 chaps of side stories left. Chapter 87 And so, Princess Marianne met Lionel. Rumors spread that Marianne had gone crazy a few months ago after having a miscarriage. Even if it wasn¡¯t due to the miscarriage, it was clear that Marianne was insane. When she recognized Lionel, Marianne began to look around wildly. ¡°Lionel. Riv, how¡¯s that girl doing?¡± Lionel¡¯s body stiffened. The old Grand Duke asked, doubting his ears. ¡°Riv? Who is that?¡± ¡°Madame Katana! The girl who used to be my maid.¡± Marianne snapped. She seemed to have regained her senses a little. She rebuked her husband. ¡°Why don¡¯t you remember that stupid girl? The girl who used to be my handmaiden and then became Lionel¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°There was such a girl?¡± Frustrated, Marianne grabbed a maid who was passing by and asked. ¡°You don¡¯t remember? Lionel¡¯s wife, Madame Katana, my maid!¡± Everyone ignored her and thought she was crazy. The maid tentatively responded. ¡°¡­Princess, the Duke has never been married.¡± Marianne, whose eyes had been twitching, ordered Lionel. ¡°Lionel, I¡¯m going to divorce Grand Duke Shantel, so marry me!¡± Everyone turned away from Marianne. ¡°Crazy, Princess!¡± Grand Duke Shantel slapped her cheek in anger. Marianne¡¯s thin body fell to the floor. Her maids froze. Silence fell. Lionel didn¡¯t know whether or not he should be surprised. The only people in this world who remembered Riv were Lionel, Marianne, and Philip. Lionel thrust his hand into his pocket, which contained a ruby ??ring, the heirloom of the Duchess. The moment he touched the ring, memories that were not his own flooded his mind. Riv¡¯s first death was because of Marianne. After that, she reversed time, encountered Lionel, and disappeared. Those memories continued endlessly. ¡°Duke of Sentoren, you may enter.¡± When his name was called, Lionel entered the King¡¯s audience chamber. The King was eagerly waiting for Lionel. Their formal discussion about Ezul Plains ended quickly. There were a few minor incidents along the Southern border, but they weren¡¯t very important. The King sighed as he looked at Lionel. ¡°I was stupid. I wish I had made you Marianne¡¯s husband.¡± Even the King forgot about the existence of Riv Katana. Lionel remembered Philip¡¯s words. ¡°Your Highness, I have one request.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I saw Princess Marianne. There¡¯s something I want to ask Your Highness, the Queen and the Princess.¡± The King, stroking his chin, did not think about his request for long. The King seemed to have a lot of regret towards Lionel. ¡°Get ready for an audience soon. Go out and wait.¡± The private conversation between Lionel and the Royal Family took place an hour later. Marianne entered the palace with her husband, the Grand Duke, and Queen Selina arrived shortly thereafter. Three royals and Marianne¡¯s husband faced Lionel. ¡°You said you wanted to see us?¡± Lionel looked at the drawing room and saw the head servant, the queen¡¯s maids, and even Marianne¡¯s maids. ¡°There are too many people here, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Hmm, are you going to tell me a secret?¡± The King sent everyone else away, curious about Lionel¡¯s intentions. ¡°What did you want to say?¡± In the spacious drawing room, five people, including Lionel, remained. No, if you included Philip, who suddenly appeared, six. ¡°Now, who are you? A priest?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about him.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I just want to ask you one thing. Does anyone here remember Riv Katana?¡± Marianne was furious. ¡°Why do you keep looking for that missing girl, Lionel?¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± The King was seriously troubled, and the Queen was deep in thought. After a few seconds of silence, Queen Selina clapped her hands. ¡°Ah, I think I had a maid like that.¡± Lionel added. ¡°She was called Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Ah, Madame Katana.¡± Queen Selina struggled to remember details about the girl. ¡°There was a big, slow girl, but¡­ she hasn¡¯t been around for quite some time.¡± Marianne interjected. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t anyone remember? She married Lionel!¡± The King was even more puzzled by Marianne¡¯s words. ¡°Wait, Lionel¡¯s wife? Isn¡¯t Lionel still unwed?¡± Lionel questioned Philip, ignoring the confused Royals. ¡°Why do they remember Riv, Philip?¡± ¡°Perhaps her magic didn¡¯t reach them, or her minimal contact with them allowed them to keep their memories.¡± Lionel finally responded to the Royal Family, who were asking him what the hell he was talking about. ¡°Everyone forgot, but there was a woman called Madame Katana.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Why, what¡¯s wrong with that girl?!¡± ¡°She was Queen Selina¡¯s handmaiden and then Princess Marianne¡¯s. And then she became my wife.¡± ¡°You, did you get married without me knowing?¡± The King pointed at Lionel. ¡°Your Highness does not remember.¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Lionel, are you crazy?¡± Lionel casually dug into his pocket and pulled out two items. The ring of the late Duchess, and Riv¡¯s pendant necklace. Marianne spotted the crude ring in Lionel¡¯s hand and ran forward to snatch it. Marianne held the ring with a gleam in her eyes, and smiled madly. ¡°This, this!¡± What she once wanted madly, but couldn¡¯t have. ¡°It¡¯s shining!¡± ¡°Marianne!¡± ¡°Riv, that girl didn¡¯t get this either!¡± Philip was standing behind them, smiling. ¡°It all started with that ring and that princess. You won¡¯t remember this later, though.¡± Marianne burst into laughter. ¡°I could be the Duchess, not Riv. Me!¡± Marianne didn¡¯t even listen to Philip. He laughed. ¡°That ring has no power in the hands of an ordinary woman, Marianne. But the moment Riv Katana got her hands on it, that changed.¡± Apparently, Riv died holding it. She was the daughter of a witch, which were said to be extinct. So, an unexpected event began. The Duchess¡¯ ring, which Riv had kept for a long time, became filled with her magic. Red light began to seep from the stone. ¡°Duke, the time has come.¡± Philip threw magic tools at Marianne, which Riv had filled with her magic. An intense light shone. The magic tools resonated with the heirlooms and the ring. Under their feet, a huge magic circle formed. ¡°W-What is this?!¡± Philip¡¯s voice cut through their cries of surprise. Lionel had a look on his face that was not surprising no matter what had happened. ¡°This is magic.¡± Finally, Riv¡¯s necklace glowed. ¡°W-What the hell is this?!¡± Reality, illusion, and time all overlapped. Even Marianne¡¯s screams disappeared. The Royal Family who had opened their mouths in surprise also evaporated. Only Philip and the magic circle were left. Lionel couldn¡¯t tell if Philip was even human. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°A descendant of wizards yet an ordinary man, Lionel de Sentoren.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Your ancestors wanted to protect you. Shana wanted to save her daughter, the last witch. Their objectives were aligned.¡± Lionel couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Now all the conditions are in place.¡± Philip¡¯s voice continued indifferently. ¡°It was I who informed Riv, your wife and the Duchess, of the side effects of magic. Riv chose to disappear for the sake of you and everyone else.¡± ¡°Why did you do that?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I had to do!¡± Lionel immediately tried to grab Phillip by the neck, but the red light grew stronger. Philip whispered. ¡°Desire to regain your wife. Yearn for her. Only then can you get her back.¡± As the bright light cleared, Lionel realized he was in a familiar place. Riv¡¯s room. The Duchess of Sentoren¡¯s room. Her room, where all traces of her had disappeared. All that was left were her old magic tools. Those magic tools seemed to still hold magic. The ring emitted a red light in front of Lionel. The tools that contained Riv¡¯s magical power united. The ring, the pendant necklace, and the magic tools all lost their shape and merged together. Only Philip¡¯s voice was repeated over and over again. ¡°Desire. Yearn.¡± When he turned his head, Philip was right next to him. ¡°You!¡± ¡°If you want to get her back, wish for it and implore God.¡± Even if this had all been a dream, Lionel thought of Riv. His wife, his precious lover. Lionel did not believe in God, but at that moment, he prayed. That Riv would return to him, and that the magic they needed to bring her back would be strong enough. ¡°Riv! Riv!¡± A woman began to materialize in Lionel¡¯s arms. Lionel glared at Philip as he embraced the woman. ¡°What are you?¡± Philip watched the woman slowly take the form of Olivia Sentoren. He answered. ¡°I have been sent by her. After this, you and I will forget everything we¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Her?¡± Philip answered. ¡°Shana.¡± Time had changed. Space had changed. The previous timeline returned. Everything started going back to the beginning. *** Note: 4 chaps of side stories left. Chapter 88 *** *** Dazzling white feathers swirled around and filled Riv¡¯s field of vision. As the feathers disappeared, an empty space appeared. Everything was pure white. Riv retraced her memory, trying to figure out why she was here. ¡®Did I die again?¡¯ Riv gave up her magic and disappeared from the world. It would be more accurate to say that she was expunged. Riv thought about her past lives. She died and changed the past by turning back time with a magical tool. She lived and died as the Princess¡¯ insignificant maidservant, and as a Duchess. ¡®Everything was like a dream.¡¯ Her second life was a series of events that were hard to believe. Riv loved Lionel and wanted him. Their marriage lasted less than a year, but the time she spent with him was precious and beautiful. Yes, the time they were apart was longer than the time they were together. Even so, the memories of the moments they spent together were happy. They were the best of her life. But it was a happiness she would never experience again. ¡®I¡¯m dead.¡¯ When Riv raised her head, a form appeared in front of her. It was the reaper. The reaper had a skull for a face and was clad in a ragged black cloak. It had been around for a long time. ¡®Is it Philip?¡¯ Regardless, that didn¡¯t mean anything after she died. ¡°What will happen to me now?¡± The reaper tilted his head. ¡°Do you enjoy this?¡± ¡°There is no one by my side, so it means that I am the only one here.¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t it sad to be alone?¡± Riv shook her head. ¡°It means I¡¯m the only one who had to sacrifice, right?¡± Lionel was alive. So was everyone else. That was enough. Even so, Riv felt no relief. Everything was in vain. ¡®Is this the end? Is there really nothing after this?¡¯ ¡°What do you want to do now?¡± As the reaper spoke, Riv¡¯s body began to float in the air. She realized that she was a soul without substance. She wanted to see Lionel, but she couldn¡¯t. The reaper pointed with a bony finger. Riv followed the trajectory of his finger over her shoulder. She saw a woman with long blonde hair. She had a gentle smile, and bore a slight resemblance to her. Riv recognized those eyes. ¡®Ah.¡¯ She was the woman in the pendant. ¡°Shana?¡± Her own mother? Shana whispered to Riv. ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot, my daughter.¡± ¡°M-Mother?¡± Riv could barely speak. Was it normal to have this kind of hallucination? It was so unexpected. Riv was also shocked that her mother looked much younger than her. But once she thought about it, Shana died younger than Riv. Riv reached out to touch Shana, but her hand passed through her form. ¡°Huh?¡± Riv desperately tried to grab her, but even maintaining her own form took all her strength. Her soul was in an intangible state and she couldn¡¯t hold her mother¡¯s hand. Shana regretfully touched Riv¡¯s form. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s over Riv?¡± Shana had a gentle voice. But Riv didn¡¯t know what Shana meant. She laughed. ¡°You still have a chance. Forgive me for only being able to do this.¡± ¡°Mother?!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t see you die, Riv.¡± Riv tried to grab Shana¡¯s hand again and passed through her. Then she realized. Shana was the only real thing within this space. ¡®Why?¡¯ In the midst of her confusion, Riv quickly experienced her mother¡¯s memories. A lonely childhood. A chance to change her life. A pregnancy. Imprisonment. Death. ¡°It¡¯s time to go back.¡± ¡°Mother! Why? Why?¡± Riv¡¯s attempts to grab Shana were in vain. She was quickly expelled from the realm of the dead. Riv¡¯s soul flew through time and space in an instant. Her body, which was lighter than air, became heavier and heavier. She fell down and down, endlessly. ¡°My darling Riv, when you wake up, you won¡¯t remember anything.¡± Only Shana¡¯s voice could be heard from afar. The white space had disappeared. It was limbo, the boundary between this world and the underworld. *** The reaper asked the witch. ¡°Won¡¯t you regret it, witch?¡± ¡°This was a choice for my daughter.¡± Shana¡¯s voice was calm, but there was sadness within it. Riv was the daughter she could not see, the daughter she was never meant to raise. They were destined to never meet each other. Their blood was connected, but their fates went in opposite directions. If Shana were alive, she would have watched Riv die. For Riv to live, Shana had to die. Their fates were harsh and unhappy. Shana, a witch of time who could see the future, didn¡¯t want her daughter to die. Shana gave up her destiny and chose to save her daughter. However, even with her death, it was not easy to change fate. ¡°You died to save your child, Shana.¡± ¡°I have no regrets.¡± Shana¡¯s answer was firm. The reaper sighed. Its shape flickered between that of the reaper, and that of Phillip Katana. She had made great sacrifices for Riv to come back to life. Riv was born a witch, but in order to be revived, she had to give up her powers. Even if she didn¡¯t want it, this was the best Shana could do. This was a gamble. A gamble that would not have been possible without Lionel Sentoren. Shana nor Riv could turn back time any longer. Everything had come to an end. ¡°Live well, my daughter.¡± Riv disappeared, and Shana¡¯s figure also flickered into nothingness. In the white space, nothing was left. It took a very, very long time for Riv to return back. *** Her body was too heavy. She couldn¡¯t even lift a finger. Loud voices could be heard, but it was difficult to respond. She felt trapped inside a heavy object. Perhaps her soul was sent into a rock by accident. But after some time, Riv realized that she was trapped inside a body. A living body. It was slow, but she could hear her heart beating. ¡®I am Riv. Riv Sentoren.¡¯ The past flashed through her mind. Why was she trapped in this living body? Was it a punishment for turning back time? ¡®Why, why?¡¯ Riv couldn¡¯t believe that she was alive. ¡®I thought I was dead, so why am I here?¡¯ There seemed to be a gap in her memory. After she gave up her magic and disappeared, she met someone. It was a person she missed very much. A person she had wanted to meet all her life. Riv sluggishly tried to grab something on her chest. But she didn¡¯t have the ¡®something¡¯ hanging around her neck that was supposed to be there. She couldn¡¯t even remember what that ¡®something¡¯ was. It was as if her memories had been erased. ¡®What did I forget?¡¯ As she desperately tried to think, her headache worsened. But she didn¡¯t mind. Headaches were proof of being alive. ¡®Am I alive? Wasn¡¯t I dead?¡¯ If she was alive, then she could wake up. Riv couldn¡¯t move a finger, but she tried to wake up. After struggling for a while, she succeeded in opening her eyes. A bright light pierced her vision. ¡®Ugh.¡¯ Riv was even more bewildered when her eyes adapted enough to examine her surroundings. ¡°¡­?¡± She was in the Duchess¡¯ bedroom. ¡®Why am I here?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t she dead? Why did she come back to life and wake up in the Duchess¡¯ bedroom? She saw the familiar posts of a large bed, a soft duvet, colorful furniture, and patterned wallpaper. She also saw familiar faces squeezed into her field of vision. ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°Madame, have you come to?¡± ¡°Madame is awake!¡± Riv saw her maids, the butler Karl, head maid Claudel, and Lionel. ¡®Lionel.¡¯ Lionel¡¯s face looked more haggard and pale than usual. The red scar across his cheek was prominent. ¡°Riv? Are you awake?¡± Lionel¡¯s platinum blonde hair was tangled, like it hadn¡¯t been brushed for a while. He had also grown a beard, which stuck out in different directions. His hazel eyes looked bloodshot, and there were dark circles under his eyes. Despite the commotion, he looked at Riv and Riv alone. He gently caressed her face. His hands were really warm. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel¡¯s voice was sickly sweet. ¡®It would be nice if this wasn¡¯t a dream.¡¯ If this was the dream she had after she died, she didn¡¯t want to wake up. If it was a fantasy of heaven, she wanted to be trapped in it for the rest of her life. ¡®This can¡¯t be real.¡¯ Riv¡¯s magic had run out. She reversed time and maintained her life through magic, so it was only natural that her life would end the moment her magic ran out. ¡®I have no magic left.¡¯ If this was real, then how was she here? Instead of speaking, Riv just stared at Lionel. He was puzzled and called Riv¡¯s name. ¡°Riv?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Lionel was bewildered and called over his shoulder. ¡°My wife is in a strange state. Do you know why?¡± ¡°Is she surprised? Oh! She must be in shock.¡± Dr. Rambaud came forward and examined Riv thoroughly. Riv also stared intently at him. Lionel¡¯s face suddenly obstructed her view. It felt too strange to be a dream. ¡°Is this heaven?¡± Chapter 89 *** *** ¡°Madame, can you see how many fingers I¡¯m holding up?¡± Dr. Rambaud asked. As Riv nodded her head, he watched Riv¡¯s reaction and spoke to Dr. Emilia. ¡°Madame doesn¡¯t seem to have any problems, but she¡¯s still out of it and is reacting slowly. But since she has woken up, you can rest assured.¡± ¡°From now on, Madame must be absolutely stable.¡± Riv stared blankly at them. Their conversation and the contents of them were too strange for a dream. ¡°¡­¡± Riv pinched the back of her hand. It hurt. There was pain. Lionel stared at Riv as fingers were waved in front of her, worried about her dazed condition. ¡°How many am I holding up now?¡± Dr. Rambaud¡¯s fingers made her dizzy. Riv gently slapped the back of his hand. His questioning was making her head hurt more. ¡°Riv, you can move.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°How many am I holding up?¡± Lionel held up two fingers. Riv didn¡¯t want to answer, so she pinched the back of his hand. Lionel¡¯s face distorted strangely. ¡°Riv, did you just pinch me?¡± Riv raised her gaze at his low tone. ¡°Lionel?¡± Lionel answered. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you really Lionel?¡± His expression became serious. ¡°Did you hit your head too hard? What¡¯s with your reaction?¡± ¡°¡­Is this real?¡± Lionel¡¯s expression hardened at Riv¡¯s question. He turned to the doctors. ¡°My wife seems to be in a strange condition, examine her again.¡± ¡°She¡¯s shocked, so she¡¯ll have some temporary memory confusion.¡± ¡°She woke up after being unconscious for a few days. This is normal.¡± Lionel sighed as he brushed his long blonde hair back. ¡°Ha, if Riv wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, then why the hell¡­?¡± Riv stared at Lionel¡¯s swaying hair. It was longer than she remembered. All of this was too strange to be a dream. Riv chose to disappear. However, this was different from what she had expected. Riv wanted to check. ¡°Lionel, where are we?¡± When Riv opened her mouth, everyone fell silent. Lionel responded naturally. ¡°In our house.¡± ¡°I depleted my magic and disappeared, so why am I here?¡± The expression on everyone¡¯s faces, including Lionel¡¯s, grew serious. ¡°I think she suffered more head injuries than expected.¡± Riv felt like something was wrong. Riv knew nothing about her ¡®accident¡¯. Just when she was about to ask about it, Lionel barked an order. ¡°Everyone go.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I told you to leave.¡± Butler Karl, the last of the servants to leave, paused in the doorway as he wiped away his tears. ¡°Madame, I¡¯m glad you woke up.¡± After Dr. Rambaud and Dr. Emilia sent everyone out, they warned Lionel. ¡°You must never surprise Madame. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± All the servants and the attending doctors left. Riv realized that she was now alone with Lionel. Her head felt blank. Strangely, Lionel looked rough and brutal. His handsome face looked far more savage than usual, and he had grown a terrible beard. His clothes were also wrinkled. ¡°Lionel, you look tired. Did you sleep?¡± ¡°Is that what you¡¯re going to say?¡± Lionel barely held back his urge to shout. He paused for a moment and then continued. ¡°What¡¯s this b*llsh*t about depleting your magic when you woke up after a week?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not b*llsh*t.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t convince Lionel or explain the situation, because she couldn¡¯t even understand it herself. Understanding her situation was the first priority. What if all of this was a dream, and she was still in limbo? Riv gathered her strength to raise her upper body. She glanced at Lionel as she struggled to lean against the headboard. Her whole body felt like it was going to break. Tinnitus rang in ears, and her headache wouldn¡¯t go away. But before these moments slipped away, she had to confess. ¡°Lionel, do you remember when I said I loved you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I love you, Lionel.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re acting really strange.¡± Lionel¡¯s large hand swiped down his face. ¡°Before the accident, you whispered that to me every day.¡± It was like a sweet dream. Riv laughed. Lionel¡¯s expression became curious. ¡°Riv, do you remember how you got hurt?¡± ¡°I got hurt?¡± Riv searched through her memories, but nothing came to mind. She had no memory after she depleted her magic and disappeared. ¡°Why am I hurt? I disappeared after breakfast with Lionel.¡± ¡°Disappeared? Where?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡®Should I answer ¡®the afterlife¡¯? Should I say that I was in a place that could¡¯ve been heaven or hell?¡¯ What came after death was unknown. Riv was sent to a white void, and then she arrived at this moment. ¡°Hah, you definitely need to rest.¡± Lionel asserted and laid Riv back on the bed. She wanted to get up, but her body was too weak. Her headache rattled the inside of her head. She could only blink. ¡°I want to get up.¡± ¡°Rest. You have to relax.¡± Lionel forced her to lie down, but Riv was fed up. If she fell asleep like this, she felt like she would never see Lionel again. ¡°Lionel, I want to sit. It is uncomfortable to lie down.¡± ¡°You still need to rest.¡± Lionel was stubborn. ¡°Please let me sit, Lionel.¡± Despite Riv¡¯s plea, Lionel didn¡¯t budge. She grabbed Lionel¡¯s hand and brought it to her face. It was a bribe of sorts. He seemed to like touching her face. ¡°Lionel, please.¡± Lionel was amazed, as if he couldn¡¯t understand Riv¡¯s behavior. ¡°You¡¯re different from usual.¡± ¡°Is it weird?¡± Lionel gently stroked the top of her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s refreshing. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve changed. You definitely look like the Riv Sentoren I know.¡± Lionel¡¯s vigilance seemed to have eased. Riv, again, insisted. ¡°Lionel, sit me by the window. I hate lying in bed.¡± Lionel hesitantly dressed her in a thick robe and rolled her up in a blanket. Then he sat her down on a soft armchair. Another layer of blankets was placed over her, making her look like a baby swaddled in cloth. Instead of feeling cold, she felt rather hot. Afterwards, Lionel brought soup and soft snacks. Riv¡¯s energy returned after she ate. ¡°I can¡¯t go out, can I?¡± Lionel stared at her, astonished, as he watched Riv try to break free from her prison of blankets. ¡°Why are you so stubborn?¡± ¡°Can we go out?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. That¡¯s not what someone who woke up after a week should say. You must be absolutely stable, in bed.¡± She wasn¡¯t surprised because she had already heard about needing to be absolutely stable before, but one thing stuck out strangely. ¡®Cold?¡¯ It was natural that it was cold because it was winter that she disappeared. But why was it that Lionel¡¯s and the servants¡¯ attire seemed particularly light for winter? ¡°Lionel, I really want to go.¡± ¡°The window is the most I¡¯ll give you. Look at the garden from here.¡± Lionel was so adamant that Riv could only reluctantly nod her head. Only after Lionel moved aside was she able to see the scenery outside her window. The window was tightly closed, but a cold wind seeped through the small gaps. Riv looked outside blankly. Just watching the world through her window seemed to dissipate her frustration, but the actual scenery gave her a shock. ¡®What?¡¯ The leaves in the garden were vivid autumn colors. ¡®Why?¡¯ Autumn, not winter? Riv looked at her flannel nightgown, robe, and the three layers of blankets that Lionel had covered her with. All of them were for winter, with quite a bit of thickness. It looked like they had purposely pulled out a winter robe so that Riv wouldn¡¯t catch a cold. The season she remembered, what was it? Her memory was hazy, but unlike before, she was certain that the season she disappeared in was not autumn. Maybe. ¡®Maybe?¡¯ Riv was momentarily confused. What were some of the things she remembered a few minutes ago? She couldn¡¯t recall the things she had vividly remembered before. ¡®Are there gaps in my memory?¡¯ Riv was at a loss as to how to explain the situation. ¡°Lionel, is it autumn?¡± ¡°Does the season matter now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Seeing Riv¡¯s serious expression, Lionel sighed softly. ¡°I think something is really wrong with your head.¡± Lionel glanced at Riv¡¯s pale face and wrapped another thick blanket around her. She looked like a giant snowman, covered in blankets. Lionel dragged a chair beside her and grabbed her cold hand. Riv felt as though her cold body had come back to life. Lionel breathed warmth into her. His hands were unusually warm. *** Note: 2 chaps of side stories left. Chapter 90 ¡°Riv, it¡¯s autumn. Late autumn.¡± Riv was puzzled. ¡°Is that why the garden is so desolate?¡± ¡°Riv, are your memories really gone? Can¡¯t you remember?¡± ¡°Lionel, I have no problems with my body nor my memory.¡± Lionel didn¡¯t seem to believe Riv¡¯s words. He clasped her hands with impatience. ¡°Riv, you lost consciousness in a horse riding accident a week ago.¡± Riv was puzzled. She could ride a horse, but she was very clumsy. She would not have ridden a horse voluntarily. ¡°Did I ride a horse?¡± ¡°There was an accident when you rode your horse without a destination. The coachman followed you and found you, unconscious.¡± This was news to Riv. Riv didn¡¯t like horseback riding. She disliked the swaying and shaking feeling of being in a saddle. She only learned how to ride when she went to Mont Del, and even then she could barely ride a mule. ¡°Why? Was I being chased?¡± Riv started thinking through different possibilities when she suddenly got a terrible headache. ¡°Ah!¡± She held her head and moaned. ¡°Riv, Riv?¡± Lionel hurriedly embraced Riv and clicked his tongue. ¡°I told you not to overdo it.¡± Riv pressed her forehead to suppress her headache. At the same time, her mind raced desperately. This was all too strange to be a dream. What if it was real? ¡°Call the doctor!¡± Riv¡¯s body gradually fell forward. Her vision was fuzzy and she couldn¡¯t see properly. Lionel¡¯s voice became urgent. ¡°Rambaud! Emilia!¡± Riv could hear running footsteps and loud discussions, and for a moment she was so dizzy that she couldn¡¯t see anything. She felt alone, in the dark. ¡°L-Lionel! Lionel!¡± She became so terrified that her body shook. Lionel grabbed her hands. ¡°Riv, calm down. I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Lionel, haa.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about it and clear your head. Take slow deep breaths.¡± Riv gripped Lionel¡¯s hand and followed his instructions. When her panicked breathing returned to normal, she could see again. She appeared to have had a blackout. ¡°Relax, Riv. I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡± Lionel gave Riv a kiss on the back of her hand. His lips were dry, yet hot. ¡°Riv, breathe.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The doctors gave Riv a relaxant. She took the pill and fell asleep. *** When Riv woke up from her nap, she was still in the Duchess¡¯ room. Thankfully, she was alone. Riv¡¯s headache was gone, so she got out of bed and headed to the window. ¡°Haa.¡± The scenery outside was bleak. The trees were beautiful autumn colors. ¡°It wasn¡¯t winter when I disappeared.¡± A small headache erupted in her head as she tried to recall her memories. She suddenly realized something. ¡°Is my memory disappearing?¡± Riv hurried back into bed when she heard someone walking towards her room. It was Claudel. She was surprised that Riv was awake. ¡°Madame, we¡¯re worried about you. You must not overdo it. Okay?¡± Claudel¡¯s tone was more desperate than usual. Her worries felt like overkill. Even if the horse accident Lionel mentioned was real, her body was not broken. ¡°When did I overdo it? I just want to get out of this room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to lie down. For the sake of your body and your baby.¡± ¡°Baby?¡± Riv tilted her head. Her mind went blank at the strange word. Claudel explained. ¡°Madame is with child.¡± ¡°With child? What?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you like this. The doctors found out when they examined you.¡± ¡°¡­Pregnant?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± It was something she had never even imagined. If she was pregnant when she disappeared, was it possible that she came back still pregnant? Did she even die and come back in the first place? The moment she heard that she was pregnant, a strange change occurred. Memories which Riv had not experienced began to fill her mind. She was in them, but they were strange things she had never done before. Riv was revived, and she became the Duchess. The moment she depleted her magic, she disappeared in front of Lionel. But she pushed those memories away and new ones filled her head. As new memories were injected, the memories related to magic and witches were erased. Her mind was filled with fond memories of her and Lionel. There were stories that Riv couldn¡¯t remember. They were her and Lionel¡¯s stories, but it was like they were someone else¡¯s. ¡®I¡¯m really forgetting.¡¯ Riv was anxious that she would lose all her memories of being a witch once she fell asleep. ¡°Ah.¡± She knew at that moment that she could no longer handle magic. ¡®I can¡¯t feel magic anymore. I¡¯ve become a normal person.¡¯ Riv struggled to recall her past. ¡°Claudel, could you bring me a pen and paper?¡± Claudel quickly brought her a quill, ink, and paper. Riv propped her torso up in bed and tried to write down her memories. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t think of anything. ¡°What?¡± Riv¡¯s memory came back after a few minutes. She quickly sorted through the fragments that were floating in her mind. After a while she forgot what she was going to write, and it became difficult for her to grasp the meaning of what she had already written. ¡®Why?¡¯ Everything was gone. From being murdered by Princess Marianne, to going back in time, to her marriage. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Riv didn¡¯t want to admit that her memory was being lost. At this rate, after an hour or two, she would forget that she was even a witch. She was about to change her clothes and visit Lionel. Seeing Riv¡¯s anxious expression, Claudel continued to worry. ¡°Madame, please calm down.¡± ¡°Call Lionel. Right now.¡± If it was true that her memory was fading, she had no time to hesitate. Claudel hurriedly summoned Lionel, who had been working in his office. ¡°Why, Riv? I told you to rest.¡± Lionel ran over at once. The maids had barely managed to calm Riv down and sit her down on the bed. Lionel comforted Riv, trying to reassure her. ¡°Riv, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I was scared because Lionel wasn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°No one will harm you here. I was just doing urgent work in my office.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Riv felt possessed. Even at that very moment, her memories were disappearing, so there was no time to waste. She thought she was crazy, too, but she would never be able to tell this story if not now. ¡°L-Lionel, what would you do if I were a witch?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Riv stroked her hair. Her head was a mess, like tangled thread. ¡°I was a witch, and I was killed, so I did something to undo that death. Maybe I used magic. I changed my fate and came to you, then I died and disappeared. I think that¡¯s where we are now. My memories are a mess.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying at all.¡± Even Riv had reached a point where she did not understand her own words. ¡°It is true that my memories are disappearing. The more I try to remember, the faster it disappears. Maybe the magic is fading quickly.¡± ¡°Riv, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± But Lionel never said she was crazy. ¡°Riv, what are you afraid of?¡± ¡°Not being by your side.¡± Lionel whispered as he took Riv into his arms. ¡°Are you afraid of disappearing?¡± Riv nodded her head eagerly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to disappear. I don¡¯t want to die. I want to be by your side.¡± There was only one thing holding Riv here. Lionel. She wanted to be with him. It was more upsetting for her to be separated from Lionel than for her memories to disappear. Lionel rubbed her back, seemingly sympathetic to her desperate feelings. Riv buried her face deep in his arms. Lionel¡¯s regular heartbeat gave her comfort. ¡°I don¡¯t know what magic my wife is talking about. But I am here with you.¡± Riv lifted her head. His hands were hot, giving Riv a sense of reality. It was a warmth that could not be experienced in the void after death. Riv realized that she was alive. This was not a dream. She gently pulled away from Lionel and stared at his face. ¡°L-Lionel, am I here? Is this real?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Lionel, I love you.¡± It was okay if he called her crazy. It was a confession that she knew she had to make. At Riv¡¯s desperate confession, Lionel sighed and embraced her. ¡°Don¡¯t be confused. I¡¯m by your side.¡± Lionel struggled to lay Riv down in bed. She did as he instructed, too exhausted to fight back. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to lift a hand. Lionel knelt beside her and gently stroked her face. ¡°Don¡¯t drive me crazy again, Riv.¡± *** Chapter 91 Riv stared quietly at Lionel. As her memories faded, one thing was certain: Lionel didn¡¯t love her. Even if he liked her, it wasn¡¯t love. Somehow she knew it to be true. But the look in his eyes now was desperate. If this was not love, it must be close. ¡°They say I¡¯m carrying Lionel¡¯s child.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have known before the fall. We only found out after the accident.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°You have to stay calm because you got hurt. I don¡¯t know why you keep getting excited.¡± Lionel stroked Riv¡¯s flat stomach. ¡°You¡¯re carrying our precious child. But I love you more than this child. I don¡¯t want you to hurt yourself.¡± Riv didn¡¯t move because she didn¡¯t know what to do with herself. It was then that he informed her maids that Riv was pregnant. ¡°My wife is pregnant. So everyone must stop whatever my wife does.¡± After that, Riv was preciously cared for by her maids and servants. Whenever she tried to do something, her maids moved quickly to block her. At the thought of drinking water, glasses of water flew straight to her bedside. ¡°Madame, please stay still.¡± ¡°The Duke wants his wife to be relaxed.¡± Riv found their excessive kindness burdensome. Even though she woke up a week after her accident, everyone¡¯s actions were too careful. * * * A chaotic night passed. Riv opened her eyes early in the morning and quickly made sure her hands were properly attached. ¡®I did not disappear.¡¯ In the meantime, her memories were steadily disappearing. Riv only remembered that she was a witch. She would forget everything soon. Her heart was chaotic on such a peaceful day. There was a hole in her memories and her mind was starting to become ragged. Riv remembered a person among her fragmented memories. ¡®Priest Philip.¡¯ Her stepbrother, who knew her true identity, appeared in front of her suspiciously and gave her advice. Before all her memories were lost, she had to meet Philip. ¡®Philip must know something.¡¯ Impatient, Riv begged her maids. ¡°I have someone I need to meet. I have to go to the Bishop¡¯s Church.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± The maids quickly immobilized Riv, saying that it was Lionel¡¯s order. Claudel tried her best to calm Riv down. ¡°Don¡¯t get excited, Madame.¡± ¡°Why? I have to meet him!¡± Riv lost her temper due to her impatience. Claudel barely managed to calm her, who was about to burst at any moment. ¡°Madame cannot move. If you tell us who you want to meet, we will find him and bring him to you.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Tell me his name.¡± Riv lay down and took a deep breath. ¡°Priest of the Bishop¡¯s Church, Philip Katana.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Realizing that he was Riv¡¯s stepbrother, Claudel immediately sent someone to the Bishop¡¯s Church. It only took them two hours to get back. During those two hours, Riv was plagued with anxiety. Her mind was like holey cheese. Her past memories were slowly being eaten by the holes, and soon, they would disappear entirely. In her remaining memories, Philip was involved in her disappearance. Riv clutched the hem of her dress. Then she remembered something. ¡°Ah.¡± A jewelry box by her bedside where she kept her precious things. Riv hurriedly opened the box. She didn¡¯t know if there would be any clues left. In the jewelry box, there was an empty pendant necklace and a small letter. Riv hurriedly unfolded the old paper. [By the time you read this, you will have already lost your memories. Soon you won¡¯t even remember the contents of this letter. But this was your choice. The choice to be happy. So rest assured.] ¡°¡­¡­?¡± It was a message that she didn¡¯t quite understand. *** Two hours later, the Duke¡¯s messenger returned from the church with Philip Katana. Wearing priest¡¯s robes, Phillip looked puzzled, not knowing what was going on. ¡°Long time no see, Priest Philip.¡± Riv greeted Philip, but he was confused as he looked at Riv. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t remember me Philip?¡± Philip¡¯s expression reflected that this was his first time seeing Riv. ¡°I heard that the Duchess of Sentoren was looking for me.¡± Riv knew she had seen this man before. Either in reality or on the other side. But why did she think that this man was in a world that was not for the living? Riv asked, taking a deep breath. ¡°Priest Philip, do you know me?¡± ¡°I know the Duchess of Sentoren. The Duchess is my father¡¯s adopted daughter.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t call you to talk about that, Philip Katana.¡± Philip looked uncomfortable when Riv called him by his full name. ¡°What did you call me for, Duchess of Sentoren?¡± The atmosphere between the two of them was unusual, so Claudel carefully left the room. Riv was relieved by her exit and spoke quickly. Before her memory completely faded away, she had to spit it all out. ¡°Philip, I need you to give me some advice. I was a witch and I remember you helping to erase my memory.¡± Philip was at a loss for words. ¡°The Duchess is speaking dangerous words. The Bishops¡¯ Church regards witches as heretics. You must not say those words to a priest.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t have time. Soon I will forget all these memories. I have no one to ask but you.¡± Philip, embarrassed by Riv¡¯s urgency, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Riv wasn¡¯t paying enough attention to realize that he was hiding something. All Riv wanted to know was ¡®why¡¯. ¡°I think I died a tragic death while working in the palace. I turned back time to avoid dying, and then I met Lionel and married him.¡± Riv struggled to remember. ¡°Isn¡¯t Philip the one who advised me not to keep using my magic? I remember you telling me about the consequences of magic.¡± Philip sighed as Riv continued to speak. His voice sank low. ¡°Whether the Duchess¡¯ words are true or not, it¡¯s a problem. Is the Duchess maintaining this heresy? Do you have the power to exercise this heresy?¡± Riv frowned and shook her head. She no longer had memories of her magic, nor of her using it. All she remembered was the moment she gave up her magic and disappeared. She remembered that she must¡¯ve faced permanent extinction. Then she returned with Lionel¡¯s child, losing her memories. ¡°Philip, I will soon forget that I even had this conversation.¡± Philip sighed. ¡°If what you said is true, and if magic is involved in the disappearance of your memory, then you will soon forget everything. When magic disappears, it erases the caster and the memories related to them, as if they never existed.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s as if they never existed.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t remember, what do I do?¡± Riv was terrified. ¡°When all my memories are gone, what about my husband? I don¡¯t want to forget Lionel. I don¡¯t want him to leave my side!¡± Even if Riv lost her magic, she didn¡¯t want to forget Lionel. He was the only reason she had to come back. The reason for her life. She loved him more than herself. Philip understood her anxiety. He asked gently. ¡°Did the Duchess marry the Duke by magic?¡± Riv hastily denied it. ¡°Oh, no. No.¡± But she wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know.¡± Riv panicked and grabbed her head. Philip gently gave her advice. ¡°You will soon find out the truth.¡± ¡°I, I!¡± Riv¡¯s eyes darkened. Philip realized that her mind was greatly confused. ¡°I will offer a prayer for the Duchess, and since you are also with child, may you both be in good health.¡± Priest Philip said his prayers. By the end of his prayer, Riv couldn¡¯t remember why she had called Philip or what she had said. When Claudel came in with Lionel, they found Riv in a daze. ¡°Madame?¡± ¡°Riv?¡± Riv lay in bed, ignoring Priest Philip. Her face was ashen. ¡°I¡¯m tired, so I need to rest.¡± At that, Philip left the Duchess¡¯ room. On his way out, the Duke of Sentoren watched him. He had heard about the commotion caused by his wife. ¡°Are you Priest Philip? Can I talk to you for a moment?¡± Philip nodded and followed Lionel. Although Riv and Philip did not have the same blood, Philip was a member of the Katana family. Riv Sentoren and her relatives, if any remained, were family. The two sat in the Duke¡¯s office. Lionel looked a little tired. Philip just stared at him blankly. It was Philip who spoke first. *** Chapter 92 Philip glanced at Lionel. ¡°Your Grace, this will be our last meeting. Neither I nor the Duke will remember it once it is finished.¡± ¡°How is her condition?¡± Lionel tightly clasped his hands, revealing his nervousness. ¡°It¡¯s amazing that Madame came back with her memories, but she won¡¯t be able to remember soon enough. Losing all her memories will make her feel lost, but she¡¯ll get used to it.¡± A bitter smile crossed Lionel¡¯s face. Philip smiled weakly in return. ¡°Magic is like that. When it disappears, it takes away all memories.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°There were many wizards in the Duke¡¯s lineage. They must have all gone through this.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lionel was rather calm. That winter, Riv confessed that she had practiced magic and disappeared right in front of him. The moment she disappeared, everyone but Lionel forgot her existence. All evidence of Riv¡¯s existence also disappeared. ¡®I was the only one who remembered her. No one knew she ever existed.¡¯ After Riv disappeared, Lionel fell into despair. All that remained of Riv were the tools full of her magic which she collected in Mont Del, and the late Duchess¡¯ ring. It was a strange world where she disappeared, yet her magic remained. So Lionel went to great lengths to bring back his wife. Philip sighed. ¡°The Duchess will lose all her memories and become an ordinary person.¡± ¡°All I want is for her to be by my side.¡± ¡°Then that wish has come true. This conversation, too, will soon be forgotten.¡± With that, Phillip abruptly left. Lionel had lost Riv during winter. It was late autumn, well over half a year after, that she was brought back to life. So when he got her back, Lionel was overjoyed. Philip was likely the devil. He brought Riv back by sacrificing Princess Marianne. It didn¡¯t matter what he was. Riv had returned to his side. ¡°Riv!¡± The pale-faced woman looked dead at first, but gradually came back to life. Her heart started beating again, and her body warmed up. Memories changed by magic entered Lionel¡¯s mind. Marianne, whom he thought to have died, was alive. There was talk of Marianne being unable to leave her mansion because of the Grand Duke¡¯s terrible possessiveness. He even heard rumors that she was being bred. ¡®Marianne doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡¯ The past where Riv and Lionel nearly died at the hands of Marianne was forgotten. To Lionel, it was more important to have Riv by his side. The magic had succeeded. ¡°Li-onel?¡± Riv¡¯s eyes were hazy when she woke up. Even if Riv got confused and forgot many things, she didn¡¯t forget Lionel. It was exactly what he had hoped for. ¡°Riv.¡± She smiled weakly. Lionel whispered as he stroked her hair. ¡°Philip won¡¯t be around anymore. He will disappear from this world.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t even remember these words.¡± Shana¡¯s magic was activated and the past changed. Philip¡¯s existence would soon be forgotten. She wouldn¡¯t remember the things Lionel had done. Lionel recalled Philip¡¯s words. -¡°You may forget all those memories of the Duchess if she returns.¡± Even if he forgot, there was no greater tragedy than losing Riv. Riv, who gave herself up for his sake and disappeared in front of him, was his only love. The figure of Philip superimposed itself on Riv and asked him a question. -¡°Are you going to regret it?¡± -¡°I have no regrets, because she is next to me.¡± Philip¡¯s form disappeared. And Riv remained. Lionel grabbed Riv¡¯s hand and kissed it. Riv¡¯s heart raced and her cheeks flushed. Her fingers and toes curled up at his touch. Lionel put his head on Riv¡¯s chest. He could hear her heart beating vigorously. ¡°I love you.¡± Riv was awake, but didn¡¯t seem to understand his words. She closed her eyes again. Then she stroked Lionel¡¯s hair. Her body moved out of habit, though her mind didn¡¯t process it. Lionel almost cried at the warmth of her hand. ¡°Thank you, Riv.¡± Some time ago, Riv found she liked to stroke his hair. She seemed to enjoy the texture of his hair, which was different from hers. ¡°Lionel.¡± In her dazed state, her voice was faint. Lionel grinned. ¡°I love you.¡± *** A few days later, Riv said she needed to relax, so she sent everyone out of her room, opened the curtains wide, and leaned against the window overlooking her garden. Beautiful maple trees could be seen, sporting fall colors. Claudel approached Riv. ¡°Madame, wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to lie down a little longer?¡± Riv¡¯s health came first, so butler Karl and her maids were scolded for prematurely decorating their baby¡¯s room. Riv stared at the trees outside her window. ¡°The color of the autumn leaves is beautiful. I didn¡¯t even know the seasons changed.¡± When Riv tried to think of the past, the water that had cleared turned muddy at once. It was difficult to carry on with her thoughts. Then a sound pierced her ears, bringing her back to reality. Riv looked down. A black dog was vigorously wagging its tail at her feet. It was a cute dog with clear eyes. Riv naturally called out the dog¡¯s name. ¡°Chewy.¡± Chewy¡¯s tail increased in speed as he dropped a cloth ball at Riv¡¯s feet. ¡°Are you asking me to throw it?¡± Riv picked up the ball and threw it. Chewy excitedly rushed to retrieve the ball. Then he set it down in front of Riv again. The dog¡¯s tail swung energetically. ¡°Chewy, I¡¯ll do it later. Do you wanna sleep beside me?¡± Riv appeased the dog and led him to her bed. Lionel returned a while later. He saw Riv leaning against the window. ¡°Riv.¡± ¡°Lionel.¡± When Riv saw Lionel, her eyes lit up. He walked over to her and gave her kisses on both cheeks. He was delighted that Riv was so excited to see him. ¡°Riv, you look good today.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel too bad.¡± Riv¡¯s condition was indeed good. The only thing that was bad were her memories. Lionel knelt in front of her and looked up at her face. It was like they were the only people in the world. Nothing else mattered. A sweet thought crossed Riv¡¯s mind. ¡°I had a strange thought. I think I came back for this moment.¡± Lionel¡¯s face hardened. Riv stared out the window. ¡°But where did I come back from?¡± Lionel grabbed Riv¡¯s hand. Lionel¡¯s hands were warm. When he spoke, his voice was low. ¡°Riv, your magic vanished and left no trace.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Perhaps neither you nor I will remember this conversation. Still, I wanted to tell you this.¡± ¡°Lionel?¡± ¡°I love you. I didn¡¯t want to lose you.¡± ¡°You knew.¡± Riv knew that there was something wrong with her memories. Lionel must have known too. Nevertheless, he brought her back. She knew that they would forget both this present conversation and those disturbing memories. ¡°You lost your memories to let me return. Won¡¯t Lionel regret it?¡± ¡°I have no regrets. Because I got you back.¡± If their memories were erased, they could build new ones. Riv stared at Lionel¡¯s worried face. His sharp expression softened, and his eyes were filled with only her. ¡°Riv, I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± She loved him so much that it was meaningless to say those words out loud. Riv was relieved to hear his true feelings. *** A dazzling white space. It was a place neither for the living nor dying, but Limbo, the middle world. A place where souls who had left their bodies gathered before going to heaven or hell, or where lives on the brink of death rested for a while. Riv was there. In front of her was a man wearing a torn cloak. He was familiar to Riv. Riv stared at the figure. It had a skull for a face, a strangely shaped body made of bones, and a terrifying black scythe in its hand. It pointed at Riv with its bony finger. ¡°This is your subconscious mind.¡± ¡°You!¡± Riv¡¯s memories were shattered, but she knew that she had come face to face with this being several times. It must be because the existence of the reaper was imprinted on her soul because she experienced two deaths. ¡°I remember you.¡± The reaper laughed. ¡°Even so, you will soon forget me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You will forget that your husband tried to save you and that you are a witch who died twice. No traces of you being a witch will be left behind.¡± Riv didn¡¯t remember that she was a witch, but she wasn¡¯t surprised either. But she had a problem facing the reaper. ¡°Am I going to die?¡± Instead of answering, the reaper spoke. ¡°Go back.¡± *** Chapter 93 ¡°Back?¡± Riv realized that the reaper was telling her to live. She stared at it. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill me? Why?¡± ¡°The witch¡¯s life has already been paid for. So you may live. Your husband will forget how he saved you. But the memories of loving you will remain.¡± Riv tried to say something, but she was quickly expelled from Limbo. In the next moment, another witch appeared before the reaper. A bizarre witch who gave up her own life to save her daughter. When the reaper called her name, Shana, the Witch of Time, woke up. She was neither dead nor alive. Shana stared intently into the reaper¡¯s empty eye sockets. She asked blankly. ¡°I¡¯m still not dead?¡± Instead of answering the question, the reaper gestured to the pure white space surrounding them. ¡°Ah.¡± Shana instinctively knew where this place was. This was Limbo, neither heaven nor hell. The border between the living and the dead. It was the most suitable place for those who were neither dead nor alive. Shana stared at the reaper who was dressed in a shabby cloak. She realized immediately. ¡°My daughter was here.¡± There were faint traces of her daughter¡¯s energy, but her soul did not remain. Shana asked the reaper. ¡°Is my daughter alive?¡± Shana only wanted her daughter to live. She gave up her life for that very reason. The reaper answered. ¡°Your daughter is not here. She didn¡¯t go to hell.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± If she wasn¡¯t in Limbo or hell, she was probably alive. Shana was satisfied with those words alone. She realized she still did not know why he woke her up. ¡°Why am I here?¡± Shana went against fate and changed her destiny. Not only her own, but her daughter¡¯s as well. The fate of others must have changed in the process. Everything was connected. Shana had changed the fate of more than one person, so it wouldn¡¯t be shocking if her soul were annihilated for that sin. ¡°Am I not dead because I¡¯m the last witch?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Or was my sacrifice worth it?¡± The reaper responded after a long pause. ¡°Shana, your punishment has been decided.¡± Shana closed her eyes and waited for the verdict. ¡°Instead of annihilation or going to hell, you will be punished by rebirth as a normal human being. A fate that you never wished for.¡± ¡°W-What? I, I-!!¡± ¡°You will permanently lose the ability to see the future. You won¡¯t even remember our conversation.¡± The reaper swung his scythe. Shana¡¯s power was immediately drained and absorbed. ¡°You are no longer a witch.¡± Shana didn¡¯t know what it meant to be normal. ¡°Your suffering ends here.¡± It felt like the reaper was smiling kindly at Shana. Somehow, there was an illusion of warmth in the skull¡¯s hollow eye sockets. Once it finished speaking, Shana¡¯s soul evaporated like foam. ¡°Thank you, reaper.¡± At Shana¡¯s final goodbye, the reaper waved his bony hand. When Shana disappeared, only her magic and powers remained. Before the reaper left himself, he looked around Limbo. The space where Shana, the witch of time and Riv, the witch who dreamt, had stayed. ¡°Shana, your daughter will become your mother. You will be born through her, whom you loved more than yourself.¡± The reaper remembered something as he was about to leave Limbo. ¡°Oh, I forgot about that girl.¡± A girl who had been forgotten because Riv¡¯s fate had changed. The reaper pondered what to do with her. ¡°Shall I torture you more terribly? Shall I destroy you?¡± The grim reaper, laughing and cackling, flew away and disappeared. A little soul was left behind, crawling on the floor and struggling. Even after death, the soul repeated the nightmare of being alive. The crazy soul couldn¡¯t even tell if it was dead or alive. ¡°I want to live. I don¡¯t want to die. Why do I have to suffer this nightmare?¡± In life, she sneered and killed young beasts and maids. But in death, she was the one being killed. She was trampled again and again. The soul was the weak beings that were killed, and at the same time the villain who killed the weak. ¡°It¡¯s cruel. Why do I have to experience these nightmares?¡± The soul sobbed. The words she had said in her lifetime repeated over and over in her mind. -¡°Even if it¡¯s dead, burn it, cut it up. I¡¯ll kill all those crawling on my floor.¡± Marianne¡¯s soul sobbed again. ¡°Help me. I don¡¯t want to die so miserably.¡± Marianne died of a severe nervous breakdown. No funeral was held for her. The princess, who had gone mad, was never buried in the Royal tombs. Her husband, who was ashamed of her death, buried her somewhere in the garden of his mansion. The reaper transformed into Philip and glared at Marianne¡¯s soul. ¡°Time to go to hell.¡± The troubled soul was sucked into a dark and ominous hole. *** Few knew of Marianne¡¯s death. The news didn¡¯t spread to Mont Del until many months after it occured. Riv did not properly remember Marianne and was not affected by her death. Only the king and queen were saddened by her death. There was no one left to remember Marianne. *** A wind blew through the forest. Riv looked over the world with a round stomach. A gentle and warm wind tickled Riv¡¯s ear. ¡°¡­..¡± It looked like spring was coming. A few months ago, Riv and Lionel came down to their southern estate. They intended to settle there permanently, and had no intention of ever returning to the Royal Capital. They first settled in the Sentino Villa. The main excuse that Lionel used for coming to the south with her was recuperation. They arrived in early winter. They spent winter in the small villa in Sentino and welcomed spring. The winters in the south were not harsh. Rumors and stories of the Royal Capital did not often reach this remote place. ¡°Riv.¡± Lionel went for a walk with Riv every day and got some fresh air. The chef used the seafood and fruits of the South and cooked delicious dishes. As a result of regular exercise and good food, Riv survived the delicate first trimester and was healthy. She was no longer anxious about her missing memories. Even when Lionel was away, she would bravely go for walks alone. After a cold winter, some troubles forced them to relocate to Elon. Their mansion in Elon was large, luxurious, and comfortable to live in. However, even when they came here, Lionel¡¯s worries only deepened. She did not know how to make him feel better. ¡°Riv!¡± When she heard Lionel¡¯s voice, Riv turned around. Lionel looked very angry. His expression was quite terrifying. Even in Elon¡¯s warm and comfortable mansion, Lionel¡¯s worries were great. ¡°Why did you go out alone?¡± Riv shrugged her shoulders at his nagging. ¡°I would have made you dress more warmly. It¡¯s cold.¡± Clicking his tongue, he wrapped a warm shawl around Riv¡¯s shoulders and firmly fastened it with a brooch. His hands were gentle and meticulous. Riv mumbled. ¡°I thought it would be okay because it¡¯s spring.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s spring, it¡¯s cold.¡± Lionel nagged Riv a lot, who wanted to go out often. He didn¡¯t like that she wanted to spend winter in an old cottage on the Sentino estate instead of Elon¡¯s warm mansion. ¡°My dear Riv, you are precious. So I don¡¯t want you to get sick.¡± Lionel¡¯s worries for Riv were getting excessive. She was scolded for taking a morning walk alone. ¡°My wife is too stubborn. Do you really have to go for a walk?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gotten healthier.¡± ¡°Still, I¡¯m worried.¡± Apart from Riv¡¯s health, Lionel was anxious to be around Riv. He treated her like a child. ¡°Lionel must have a lot of work to do, so why do you want to stay by my side? Do you want me to be so sickly that I can¡¯t move?¡± Because of Lionel¡¯s concerns, Riv was sometimes forced to stay in bed, so she was upset. ¡°Lionel, Dr. Emilia said that I have to move.¡± ¡°You should relax.¡± ¡°I am healthy.¡± Riv grunted as she stuck out her stomach. ¡®There are still three months left until I give birth, what do you mean don¡¯t move?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not sick nor is the child in danger, so why the hell?¡¯ Riv carefully comforted Lionel. ¡°Lionel, if I¡¯m not feeling well, my complexion will look bad.¡± ¡°Your face is always pale.¡± Riv was in the best condition of her life. She didn¡¯t catch a cold all winter. She could also run while pregnant. Compared to the Sentino Villa, Elon was comfortable with no dangers. ¡°Come here, Lionel.¡± Lionel approached Riv with an angry expression. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Dissatisfaction crept across Lionel¡¯s face as she pulled away. ¡°Deeper, Riv.¡± Chapter 94 Riv felt burdened. Even though they were intimate almost every night, he wanted public affection. It was not night with just two of them, it was a bright morning. ¡°People will see.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not looking right now.¡± ¡°There are a lot of people here!¡± The Sentino Villa was small and housed few servants. However, the number of people in Elon¡¯s large and spacious mansion had multiplied several times. If they acted affectionately, someone would see it. ¡°I just want to take a walk!¡± Behind their mansion was a large forest and a small lake with a beautiful view. But Lionel¡­ ¡°Sigh.¡± Riv pushed Lionel away, who was trying to kiss her. She could feel the eyes of the servants staring at them from all directions. ¡°They peek at everything!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if they look, it¡¯s natural.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s true but.¡± The servants turned around and pretended not to be there. Lionel hugged Riv¡¯s waist and tried to kiss Riv as deeply as possible. ¡°L-Lionel, I¡¯ll do it when it¡¯s just the two of us.¡± Just as Riv barely pushed Lionel away, butler Karl appeared. ¡°Master, this place is smaller than the Duke¡¯s residence in the Royal Capital. When expressing affection, please avoid the front door.¡± ¡°I am the owner of this place.¡± The butler parried Lionel¡¯s words. ¡°Immature.¡± Lionel¡¯s escort, Michelle, was also frustrated. The handmaiden, Anna, adjusted the shawl on Riv¡¯s shoulders. Their dissatisfaction was enormous. Lionel was also furious. ¡°Why is everyone gathering here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you two go for a walk? Anyway, we need to leave, but you are blocking the door.¡± Lionel¡¯s large body was blocking the way. He grunted and moved both himself and Riv away from the door. Anna spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s sunny, but there are many slippery places. Madame, please be careful.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± The dog, Chewy, who returned from playtime outside, sat next to Riv. In the meantime, Lionel started bickering with the servants. When Claudel, Karl, and Michelle ganged up, Lionel was pushed to the edge. ¡°Riv, you should go for a walk with me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She didn¡¯t know what they were fighting about. Anna stared at Riv, ignoring them. ¡°Madame, you are really healthy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°You look beautiful.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Anna didn¡¯t mention anything about the past that would cause her concern. Just in time, Lionel ¡®defeated¡¯ the servants and returned triumphantly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lionel wrapped his arm around Riv¡¯s waist. With him as an escort, Riv went for a walk. During their walk, they saw trees with a lot of new growth. Spring was coming. It seemed that this area would soon turn green and wildflowers would bloom. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Riv smiled at Lionel, feeling the gentle breeze caressing her cheek. The world reflected in her eyes was a sweet pink color. ¡°I think the world is kind.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Lionel¡¯s expression was somber. He distrusted Riv¡¯s hopeful words. ¡°You see the world kindly.¡± ¡°You have to let go of being pessimistic, for the sake of our baby.¡± ¡°Oh, yes. We have a baby.¡± Lionel stared at Riv¡¯s stomach, which was now protruding. He gently and affectionately stroked it. ¡°Is it a daughter? Or a son?¡± ¡°Either is good, as long as they are born healthy.¡± ¡°Um, actually, I hope it¡¯s a daughter.¡± ¡°Daughter? She¡¯ll be pretty if she resembles you.¡± ¡°If our baby is a girl, can I name her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. What would you name her?¡± ¡°Shana.¡± ¡°Your mother¡¯s name.¡± Riv lost her memories and also lost her necklace, the only keepsake of her mother¡¯s. To make matters worse, she had forgotten her mother¡¯s face. But she did not forget her mother¡¯s name. ¡°If you don¡¯t like the name Shana, then we can name her Helen.¡± ¡°You mean my mother¡¯s name?¡± Lionel thought for a moment. ¡°It would be fine to give them either of those names, and if it¡¯s a boy, we could give him my father¡¯s name.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t your father¡¯s name Lewin?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lewin was a good name. ¡°But Lionel, I think we will have a daughter.¡± ¡°Then let our second be a son.¡± At Lionel¡¯s wish, Riv let out a sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on this child first.¡± Lionel agreed. Riv looked up at Lionel and smiled. ¡°I think I became happy only after I met you.¡± ¡°What about before?¡± ¡°It was only darkness. You are like a gift from God.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a huge compliment.¡± Riv tried to remember the Royal Capital, where she spent most of her life. When she thought of the Royal Capital and the Royal Palace, her head hurt. Just thinking about it always gave her a headache. They were not happy times. She must have always been sad, sick, or depressed there. But things were different now. Before, the face reflected in the mirror was uneasy and cold. But the longer she spent with Lionel, the more lively she looked. Riv now loved her dark hair, white skin, slender face, and height. It was all because of Lionel¡¯s overflowing love. Even Lionel¡¯s hard face had softened. Riv swept Lionel¡¯s long bangs aside and stared at his handsome face. The red scar that was his insecurity had long since faded. ¡°Lionel, don¡¯t you want to cut your hair?¡± ¡°Will you cut it for me?¡± Lionel¡¯s hair grew long enough to cover his eyes and the nape of his neck. His sharp impression had become rather sexy. Lionel leaned his body towards Riv and brought his attractive face close to hers. ¡°Do I look different?¡± ¡°Lionel looks good with long or short hair.¡± ¡°But doesn¡¯t it look too sharp? My scar is also a problem.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that more sexy?¡± With or without a scar, Lionel was Riv¡¯s beloved husband. ¡°Lionel, did I tell you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I think I loved you from the second I met you.¡± Even though she had forgotten a lot, Riv remembered the shock and emotion of their first meeting. It was a strong feeling, as if penetrating her body. It felt like only the two of them existed. But Lionel¡­ ¡°When I saw you, I thought that there were weird women out there. So I couldn¡¯t easily forget you.¡± ¡°How strange was I?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± Lionel covered Riv¡¯s eyes after she squinted due to a light breeze. They soon entered the forest. The trees in the forest were already sprouting bright green shoots, and the sunny spots were blooming with large, beautiful flowers. ¡°Pretty.¡± It was a forest full of fragrance. Riv was slightly intoxicated by its warmth and scent. Gentle touches seemed to pass her by, in many ways, over and over. If she stretched out her hand, she felt like she might be able to grasp its mystical powers. But even when she stretched out her hand, she couldn¡¯t catch anything. -¡°Thank you. We bless you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Riv tilted her head as she heard someone whisper. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± After a long walk, they cut some wild flowers and made a small bouquet. Simple wild flowers adorned their bedroom. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Riv.¡± After their walk, they returned to the mansion. *** That day, Riv took a nap and dreamed. In the dream she saw herself, Lionel, and their child. Their child was a lovely girl with exceptionally white skin and blonde hair. The child had pretty amber eyes that resembled her father¡¯s. Riv called the child using her mother¡¯s name. -¡°Shana.¡± The dream went further into the future. Riv was still with Lionel. They were old and smiling, surrounded by their children. Riv returned to the happy present. *** A few months later, Riv gave birth to a baby girl. They named her Shanidra. Her nickname was Shana. She was named after Riv¡¯s birth mother. She looked just like the baby in her dream a few months ago, with Lionel¡¯s white blonde hair and amber eyes. She was like a princess, with an exceptionally pretty smile. Little Shana was a child born to be loved. ¡°Shana.¡± Riv called her child¡¯s name. Their baby smiled brightly. The whole world seemed to have blessed her and Lionel. Time passed again. They raised Shana well and Riv fell pregnant again. Their second child was a healthy and beautiful boy. Lionel and Riv named him Lewin. *** Spring had arrived in the South. She didn¡¯t know how many springs it had been. It was the start of the social season, but they did not return to the Royal Capital. Instead, they completely settled into their Elon mansion. It was a warm day, when green buds sprouted in the garden. The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren walked out with their two children. It was their first walk of spring. Between the couple was a child, about a year old, who could barely walk. He was the youngest, the heir of the Duke. His name was Lewin, a pretty boy with white skin, dark hair, and amber eyes. Lewin inherited his mother¡¯s coveted dark hair and white skin, and his father¡¯s eyes and impressive looks. The child smiled broadly at his older sister Shana, and his mother Riv. Chapter 95 Like his older sister Shana, Lewin was the pride of the Sentorens. Together with the employees of the mansion, the couple were busy cheering for Lewin¡¯s first outing. ¡°Young Master, be strong!¡± ¡°Go for it! Walk bravely!¡± Despite their support, Lewin was busy looking around him. ¡°This way, Young Master!¡± Lewin tilted his head as he watched the servants beckoning to him. When the child hardly moved, Riv took his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go this way, Lewin.¡± Riv bent over, took the child¡¯s hand in hers, and led him to the lawn. Lewin gripped his mother¡¯s hand and waddled along slowly. Perhaps it was because stepping on the grass and dirt felt strange, but the child would often stop, eventually clinging to Riv¡¯s skirt. ¡°Hmm.¡± Riv was upset. She scolded Lewin while she tried to snatch her skirt from him. He wanted to hide in it, as if playing hide and seek. Riv thought for a moment, then asked Claudel. ¡°Claudel, should I take off his shoes?¡± ¡°The Young Master might get hurt.¡± ¡°Lewin ??is not that weak.¡± ¡°He is.¡± Claudel had a habit of overprotecting Lewin. Lionel shook his head too. It wasn¡¯t only Claudel. The Young Master was visiting the garden as his first excursion, so the servants groomed the lawn and checked countless times for dangerous insects and snakes. Lewin was like a porcelain plate wrapped tightly in layers upon layers of blankets. Lionel knelt down and clapped, two or three meters away from the stubborn boy who refused to move. ¡°Lewin, come here.¡± Lewin stared at his father and let go of Riv¡¯s skirt. He took one step, then another, with a cautious expression. He looked around, holding his breath. The child¡¯s precarious steps continued. Lewin walked three meters by himself, without anyone¡¯s help. ¡°Lewin, come!¡± Lionel moved back a little, and Lewin walked a few more meters. When he walked over five meters, Lionel stopped moving. Lewin arrived in front of Lionel. ¡°Well done, Lewin!¡± Lionel happily hugged the child. The servants also smiled and clapped. ¡°The Young Master is the best! So talented!¡± ¡°Now all you have to do is run!¡± Lewin smiled even though didn¡¯t know what was happening. He was in a good mood. With foolish expressions, the servants gathered around the child and obscured him from view. ¡°Sigh.¡± Watching this, Riv shook her head. The sight of Lionel holding their child and smiling like an id*ot didn¡¯t suit him. There was a time when he was called a cold blooded Duke, but now she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. It was even more bizarre because the employees who always had serious faces were smiling along with him. When did they, along with Lionel, become her children¡¯s fools? As parents, it was natural to care for their children, but it was difficult to understand why the employees felt the same way. Lewin came down from Lionel¡¯s arms, took the servants¡¯ hands, and began to dance around with them. ¡°Mama, what is Lewin doing?¡± Shana was watching the scene along with Riv. ¡°He can walk! He hasn¡¯t been able to walk alone until now.¡± ¡°Lewin is st*pid. He¡¯s my little brother and he¡¯s pretty, but he¡¯s not good at talking and he¡¯s too slow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call him st*pid.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re just fast. Lewin is normal.¡± Riv stared at Shana whose cheeks were inflated. Shana was more mature than her peers and exceptionally clever, but she was still young and small. Lewin was the same. ¡°Shana, you¡¯re only four.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Riv laughed at Shana, who was jealous that everyone¡¯s attention was focused on her younger brother. Even though she was smart, Shana was still a child. A child who wanted to be loved more than her brother because she came first. ¡°Shana, Lewin is your younger brother.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Mama and Papa love Lewin, but you come first. You know that right?¡± Shana¡¯s expression relaxed a bit. Riv pinned a ribbon in Shana¡¯s pretty blonde hair. It was prepared for this occasion. ¡°¡­?¡± Shana fumbled through her hair and opened her mouth as she touched the large ribbon. ¡°Shana is wearing a new dress today right? It matches.¡± ¡°Is it pink?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Claudel chimed in. ¡°Shana, you are so pretty.¡± In an instant, Shana forgot that she was jealous of her brother. ¡°M-Mama, give me a mirror!¡± Riv gave her the hand mirror she was carrying. Shana couldn¡¯t take her eyes off herself in the mirror. She seemed to like her new dress and ribbon set. ¡°Mama, am I pretty?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Shana glanced at Lewin, who was being held by Lionel. ¡°Now that I think about it, I feel sorry for Lewin. Brother can¡¯t wear pretty dresses like me. He doesn¡¯t even have a ribbon in his hair.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Shana was genuinely sad. Riv could barely hold back her laughter. Shana, like a good older sister, was determined to take care of her younger brother, who couldn¡¯t wear a dress or put bows in his hair. ¡°I¡¯m smart, so I have to take care of my baby brother.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Shana walked over to Lionel and hugged him. Confused, Lionel held Lewin and Shana tightly in his arms. Shana looked up at her father and smiled bashfully. ¡°Papa, am I pretty?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I want to be a good daughter and a good sister. Because I am pretty.¡± Everyone burst into laughter at Shana¡¯s words. Lionel, who was able to hold both of his children at once, seemed to be quite pleased with the way they clung onto him with their little hands. Lionel walked around the garden holding the children. They screamed with joy. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± ¡°Aaaah!¡± Shana smiled as she spotted a flower blooming on the tree above her. ¡°Papa! The flower over there! Show me the flower!¡± The children were excited to see the flowers blooming again. Magnolias and other wildflowers had begun to bloom. Chewy, the dog who had now become the children¡¯s pet, was barking and running around excitedly with them. Butler Karl and Claudel brought a basket full of the children¡¯s favorite sweets and drinks. ¡°Mama! Come on! Mama can eat too.¡± ¡°Papa!¡± It was a pleasant morning. Everyone was laughing and giggling. The clear sunlight warmed them up. Riv smiled and held the children in her arms. She hugged them tightly, confirming that this was reality, not a dream. ¡°Mama, too tight.¡± Shana and Lewin flailed around in her arms. Riv realized that she had hugged the children too tightly and laughed again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Mama just loves you so much.¡± Riv peppered kisses onto the children¡¯s cheeks alternately. Lionel smiled at Riv, and he, too, was given a kiss. He seemed extremely satisfied. ¡°Riv, do you love me more than the children?¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± Riv shook her head, thinking that she had three children, including her husband. *** In the afternoon, Riv and the children sat by the window, where the sunlight was warmest. It was nap time. She was going to tell the children a fairy tale to put them to sleep. Riv improvised fairy tales instead of reading storybooks. ¡°The earth told the children, ¡®If you run too fast, you might trip over a stone. The wind said to the children, ¡®I am formless, so I cannot take care of fallen children.¡¯¡± The children quickly fell asleep to the sound of her voice. Riv opened the window. A pleasant breeze blew in. As if in response to that, the sound of the cheerful mountain birds could be heard close by. Riv sometimes felt as though nature spoke to her. She loved its whispers. She lost her memories, but found stability and comfort in the beings of the forest. ¡°Madame, can I get you some tea?¡± When Claudel and Anna appeared, her quiet time of meditation ended. The birds near the window flew away and the breeze stopped. But Riv knew that those gentle times would come again. ¡°I would like tea with dried flowers today.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll prepare it, Madame.¡± The Sentorens came to Elon to help Riv recuperate and ended up settling there completely. She got pregnant and gave birth to Shana, after which she became pregnant again. After she had Lewin, her body got better. Lionel and Riv spent their days peacefully, never returning to the Royal Capital. The same was true of the servants who came down with them. Riv drank tea quietly while she watched their children, then she exited the children¡¯s room. The two siblings were angels only when they slept. Shana, who teased her younger brother and was often jealous, would only nap when her brother was beside her. After a while, Lionel returned to their room and asked. ¡°Are the children asleep?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The Earl of Murden is coming tomorrow. Did you remember?¡± ¡°That¡¯s tomorrow? Their children must have grown up a lot.¡± Riv was delighted that she remembered Sophia and Andr¨¦. The last time she saw them was half a year ago. At that time, Sophia and Andr¨¦ were at Sophia¡¯s childhood home, and they were the only ones they saw. It had been a long time since Riv had seen their children. ¡°The guest room has been cleaned. Oh, we should get them presents too.¡± Riv was excited to see them after such a long time. The guests were coming tomorrow, so the children had to go to bed early, and pick out nice clothes. *** That night, Riv had a dream. She seemed to see Sophia¡¯s future. In front of the happy and old Murden couple, Lionel and Riv were together. *** Riv woke up the next morning and stared at Lionel, who was sleeping next to her. There seemed to be something moving around Lionel¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± Shana had woken up early in the morning, dragged Lewin along, and crawled onto their bed. ¡°Mama, help me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Riv pulled Shana and Lewin onto the bed. ¡°You woke up early.¡± The two children climbed onto their father¡¯s reliable body with proud expressions on their faces. ¡°Mama, Papa, did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Ma-ma, Pa-pa.¡± Lewin still mumbled with slurred pronunciation. Lionel slowly opened his eyes to the weight of the children and pulled them all into a hug. ¡°Riv, kids.¡± The people Riv loved, her family, were here. Riv proudly embraced her husband and children. A dazzlingly happy world seemed to open in front of her. Riv was happy. *End of the Main Story* Side Story 01 - A Summer Day鈥檚 Dream Two hundred years ago, the ancestors of the Sentoren family were famous pirates. The love story of a pirate and a witch, who were said to have founded the Sentoren family, fell into the hands of the Duchess of Sentoren. And so, the story began. *** The Duke and Duchess of Sentoren left the Royal Capital and settled in their Southern duchy. They concentrated on their simple life, raising their children. The Duchess was not extravagant, but she spared no expense on their children¡¯s education. She collected a lot of books to build a library for the children. The Duchy¡¯s butler, Karl, went to the bookstore once a week to collect books. One sunny afternoon, Karl brought some books to the Duchess. ¡°Madame, I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Good work, Karl.¡± As the dazzling sun shone above the lush gardens of the Duke¡¯s mansion, it was time for the Ducal couple¡¯s lively children to take a nap. It was the only peaceful time of the day, so Riv would often have tea during this time. Before drinking her tea, she looked through the books Karl had brought. ¡°I bought a few children¡¯s books, but I don¡¯t know if the Young Lady and Young Master will like them.¡± Riv let out a sigh. ¡°They¡¯re kids, but they¡¯re so picky.¡± ¡°They have good taste.¡± As Karl said those words, he smiled as he remembered the cute Young Lady and Young Master of the Duke¡¯s family. The Duchy¡¯s children could read well, and loved books. Of course, as they were young, they liked books with illustrations. ¡°Hmm.¡± Riv sighed as she flipped through the books that Karl had brought. ¡°The pictures are pretty, but I don¡¯t think the kids will like them.¡± ¡°Is that so? My apologies.¡± Karl sighed. As she examined the books, she found an old book at the bottom of the stack. The book¡¯s pages were almost completely torn out, and it did not have a cover. Fortunately, there were no bugs or mold. ¡°Is this parchment paper? It seems like the pages are falling out.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s an old book. I got this because I thought it was a necessary book for the Sentoren family. ¡°A book we need?¡± As Riv looked through the book, Karl smiled and replied. ¡°It seems to be a story about the ancestors of the Sentoren family, two hundred years ago.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that when the Sentoren family didn¡¯t have a name yet?¡± ¡°Even back then, they used a surname. Sentoren is a name established after being granted the title of Duke. But at that time, they were famous pirates who made a name for themselves here.¡± Pirates. She had heard that before, but Riv shook her head. Her husband, Lionel, and a pirate were incongruent. Karl added. ¡°They said that this book is the story of a pirate and a witch who were infamous in this area.¡± ¡°Pirates and witches?¡± The predecessor of the current Duke of Sentoren was a landowner who once guarded the Mont Del region, and way before that, an infamous pirate who roamed the waters of the Southern region. Even so, it was a story of the pirate who was Lionel¡¯s ancestor and his lover, who was a witch? ¡°They said it¡¯s a romantic love story that everyone here has heard at least once.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Riv skimmed the book quickly. Perhaps because it was written two hundred years ago, but the letters were slightly different from what was used now, and seemed to be difficult to read. However, what caught her attention was an illustration of a handsome man and what was presumably a pirate ship. ¡°It looks fun.¡± Somehow, the outline of the man resembled Lionel. ¡°Will the kids like this story?¡± But at that moment, Karl vigorously shook his head. ¡°Th-This is for adults. It¡¯s a love story.¡± He cleared his throat. The servants of Mont Del also broke into a cold sweat. Only Riv, who was not a local, did not know. Anna, who had become familiar with the tales of the Sentino Village and the Mont Del region, whispered to Riv. ¡°It is a naughty story, Madame.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± In an instant, Riv¡¯s face turned beet red. She struggled to maintain her composure, pretending to be calm. She set the book aside. ¡°I will look at this book later.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± The old butler smiled and walked away. Her handmaiden, Anna, chuckled as she glanced at the book that portrayed the Sentoren¡¯s ancestors as pirates. ¡°So there is a book. I only heard it in oral form.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Riv drank her hot tea and glanced down at the book. The antique book smelled musky, but its condition was good. ¡°Where is the setting of the book?¡± Anna couldn¡¯t answer easily. ¡°There is no beach in Sentino, but maybe there¡¯s one nearby?¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Two hundred years ago, Sentino Village was said to be a village of wizards. If your ancestors needed a witch, they would likely visit Sentino Village.¡± ¡°Sentino¡­¡± There was a castle built in Sentino by the ancestors of the Sentoren family. Of course, it was destroyed due to an attack. ¡°It would be nice to go to Sentino Village.¡± Riv was sad. Lionel, the Duke of Sentoren, left to deal with the pirates that haunted the Southern borders. Riv¡¯s plans to visit Sentino Village with him and their children were, of course, delayed. They wanted their children to be safe. Lionel had a lot of enemies. ¡°Madame, the Young Master and Young Lady do not seem like they will be coming down anytime soon.¡± ¡°If they take a nap for too long, they won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. Tell the nanny not to let them sleep for too long.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Riv drank more tea and skimmed through the book about Sentino¡¯s ancestors. All of a sudden, her vision blurred. She became extremely dizzy. *** ¡®What?¡¯ Until a second ago, Riv was sitting in her drawing room. But now, in front of her was a vast wilderness. Beside it was a gray castle that stood at the top of a hill. ¡®Where am I?¡¯ Searching her memories, she realized that this scenery was familiar. It was Sentino Village. Specifically, it was where the Duke¡¯s villa on top of the hill was located. But what was this little gray castle? It was the castle of the House of Sentino that she knew had collapsed. It was not large, but it was in good shape. ¡®Why am I here?¡¯ Riv looked down at her hands. She remembered that she was reading the old book that Karl had given her. She thought that she should examine it. ¡®Is this an illusion created by the book?¡¯ The castle and the scenery were both familiar and unfamiliar. Furthermore, the old book was nowhere to be seen. ¡®What happened?¡¯ In an instant, her vision shook, and the scenery changed again. ¡®What?¡¯ The vast wilderness and gray castle disappeared. Instead, she appeared in a room, small enough to feel suffocated. ¡®What else is here?¡¯ The ceiling wasn¡¯t that high, so Riv had to hunch over with her head bowed. Her body began to sway irregularly. There was a strong fishy smell wafting through the air. ¡®Is this the sea? Am I on a boat?¡¯ Although it was tiny for a cabin, it was small enough to fit inside a boat. Besides, Riv was as tall as an adult man. If she didn¡¯t bend over, her head would hit the ceiling, so she slumped to the floor. She desperately tried to organize her thoughts. ¡®What in the world?¡¯ Riv had been on small boats when they rode across the lake. But she had never been on a ship this big. There were many ports in the Mont Del region, but she had never thought of going somewhere on a ship. ¡®So why?¡¯ Her thoughts didn¡¯t go any further. The door to the small cabin swung open. The tall man who opened the door saw Riv and froze. -¡°What? Who, who?!¡± Seeing the face of the man whispering softly, Riv froze. -¡°No way, a witch?¡± -¡°A witch?¡± Riv was rather puzzled. Besides, the man¡¯s face¡­ -¡°Lionel?¡± The man made a sour expression. -¡°Who are you talking about? It¡¯s close, but that¡¯s not my name.¡± Riv stared carefully at the man in front of her. The man was wearing a shabby old shirt and pants. Even his boots were worn out. His posture was poor, and it seemed that he had never been taught etiquette. His face, height, and body shape all resembled Lionel, but he wasn¡¯t Lionel. This man had much longer, almost platinum white hair. He also had a long scar over his eyebrows, however, unlike Lionel, it didn¡¯t cover half of his face. He was a beautiful and absolutely perfect man. Besides, he was much younger than her own husband. She and Lionel first met when he was in his late twenties. Lionel was now in his 30s. And this man with poor posture appeared to be in his early twenties at best. His face was taut with no wrinkles. The expression on his face was overflowing with rudeness. ¡®Besides, there are no scars on his face, except above the eyebrow.¡¯ This was a place in the book. Furthermore. He looked like a young Lionel, with no scar on his cheek. It was both strange and unfamiliar. She realized that Lionel¡¯s young face was much more handsome than she thought. Riv jumped up and nearly hit her head against the ceiling. -¡°Hey, hey, the ceilings are low here.¡± In the small cabin, the strange man¡¯s body was also bent over. -¡°How did you get here?¡± The man¡¯s voice was carefree, similar to Lionel¡¯s tone. He casually closed the door to the cabin and sat down on the bed in the corner. He calmly told Riv. -¡°Sit there. Although there¡¯s only one place to sit.¡± There were no chairs in the cabin. To avoid sitting on the floor, the only place to sit on was a plank, which was likely a bed. She, too, sat down on top of it and hunched over. -¡°By the way, why are you dressed in a strange way? Do women go around wearing underwear these days?¡± -¡°Underwear?¡± Riv was wearing a trendy chemise dress. The white dress likely looked like underwear to him. The young Lionel suddenly spoke up. -¡°Witch, are you trying to seduce me?¡± Side Story 02 -¡°S-Seduce?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t believe her ears. It wasn¡¯t enough that he called her a witch, but seduce? They said that the contents of the old book were lewd, but she didn¡¯t know why he called her a witch. -¡°But I¡¯m not a witch?¡± Despite Riv¡¯s denial, her opponent was firm. -¡°You are a witch. No doubt. You¡¯re exuding magic like that of a wizard.¡± Their conversation was flowing very naturally. Riv stared at Lionel¡¯s face in disbelief. This person might not be her husband, but she wasn¡¯t sure how he could be anyone else. -¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Riv pondered for a while, then asked. -¡°Can I touch you?¡± -¡°What?¡± The young Lionel was embarrassed. -¡°N-No, I don¡¯t mind if you touch me.¡± Riv touched his face without a second thought. Obviously, since he was young, his skin was softer than Lionel¡¯s. While she was at it, she traced parts of the man¡¯s neck, shoulders, and chest. -¡°Wh-What¡¯s wrong with you?!¡± He was taken aback by her actions. He contemplated for a moment, then moved back slightly. -¡°Witch! Are you going to attack me?¡± She wasn¡¯t thinking about anything like that, and was shocked when Lionel covered his body. Riv was amused. Seeing his reaction, there was no doubt he was younger than Lionel. -¡°You¡¯re a strange woman.¡± He glared at Riv as he scooted to the very edge of the bed. -¡°I won¡¯t touch you anymore. Be at ease.¡± At Riv¡¯s words, he asked with a frown. -¡°Why did you touch me, witch?¡± -¡°You look like someone I know.¡± -¡°An acquaintance? Is there another face like mine? This face is not common.¡± Even his voice was familiar, and the man¡¯s grimacing expression resembled Lionel¡¯s. He looked like Lionel, fresh out of boyhood. The man in front of her was an innocent fool. So it was even more interesting. ¡®If this is a story, is this man Lionel¡¯s ancestor?¡¯ Riv was having fun. She decided to enjoy these moments until she left the story. Riv rubbed her chin and asked the man. -¡°What¡¯s your name? I¡¯m Riv.¡± Realizing that Riv was no longer moving, the man breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he moved further away. The man tentatively answered. -¡°My name is Lai.¡± -¡°Lai?¡± Was it a coincidence that he and Lionel had the same nickname? Either way, it wasn¡¯t bad for Riv. She grinned and chuckled. Lai seemed curious about her. -¡°Is Riv a witch?¡± -¡°Well.¡± Riv was not a witch or wizard, even though she had some knowledge about magic. She had no magical powers. But from Lai¡¯s point of view, she was a witch who suddenly fell from the sky. Even Riv herself did not know why she was here. She didn¡¯t know where this was. Lai sighed. -¡°This is the middle of the sea, did you fall from the sky?¡± -¡°Sea¡­¡± As expected, she was in the middle of the ocean. Riv took a deep breath as Lai confirmed it with his own mouth. All of a sudden, someone knocked on the cabin door. -¡°Captain! Captain Lai!¡± -¡°What is it!¡± -¡°It looks like a typhoon is coming! The clouds look ominous!¡± -¡°Wait there!¡± Lai got up from the bed and draped a musty old blanket over her. He pointed to the corner of the bed. -¡°Witch, hide here. Don¡¯t make a sound.¡± -¡°Why?¡± -¡°It will be annoying if others find out about you. My subordinates are not gentlemen.¡± Lai smiled mischievously. He stroked Riv¡¯s long hair with charming eyes. Only then did Riv discover the difference between Lionel and Lai. Lionel¡¯s eyes were close to amber, but this man¡¯s eyes were a deep blue. -¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever had a woman on this ship.¡± -¡°Huh?¡± -¡°And it¡¯s the first time a woman tried to attack me.¡± Riv leaned back slightly. Lai¡¯s strong body grew dizzyingly close, and she realized that her situation had been reversed, unlike before. It was then. -¡°Captain!¡± The door to the cabin shook as if it was about to fall off. Lai spit out a light curse. -¡°I¡¯m coming. So go away!¡± In the meantime, he carefully hid Riv and went outside. She crouched down, held her breath, and waited for a while. The room became quiet. Of course, the rough shaking of the boat grew stronger as time passed. The loud voices of men could be heard from the deck outside the cabin. It seemed like they were trying to fight a strong typhoon. Riv relaxed her stiff body and looked around the small room. Since Lai was called ¡®Captain¡¯, this must be the captain¡¯s quarters. But the room was small, and there was nothing in it except for Lai¡¯s old clothes. Except for the bed, there was no place to sit. And the bed was a plank lined with blankets. The floor shook violently and irregularly. ¡®I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t get seasick.¡¯ How much time had passed since Lai left? The bright room suddenly darkened. The shaking of the floor became stronger, and when it became difficult to stay upright, Lai came in and turned on the light. His body was soaked from head to toe, water dripping from his body. -¡°It¡¯s raining heavily.¡± The weather looked worse than Riv felt. Lai spoke as he shook the water out of his hair. -¡°A huge typhoon is coming.¡± -¡°A typhoon?¡± -¡°If my men know that a woman is in my cabin, they won¡¯t stand still. There¡¯s an unwritten rule that says you can¡¯t transport women on pirate ships. Besides, you¡¯re a witch.¡± Lai¡¯s words were serious. He feared that his little boat would sink at any moment. Riv knew it was a story, so she didn¡¯t take it too seriously. -¡°Witch, can you stop the typhoon?¡± -¡°I¡¯m not a witch.¡± Riv firmly denied. Real witches who could stop typhoons and change the weather were rare. Those with such powers were called archmages. -¡°If you can¡¯t stop the typhoon, keep hiding. And stay calm.¡± Lai turned around and hurriedly changed his clothes. His wet body had a lot of fine muscles, but at the same, a lot of scars. Riv¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the scars on his back. -¡°Lionel?¡± -¡°What?¡± Lai looked back. He furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance. -¡°My name is not Lionel.¡± Lai had the same face as Lionel, and even the location of his scars were the same. What if this wasn¡¯t a coincidence? What if she projected the image of her husband onto Lionel¡¯s ancestor? Riv thought she should have some fun with this story. -¡°Lionel, no, Lai. I want to go to the bathroom.¡± -¡°Women are too much work. Hold it.¡± -¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Lai sighed and gave up on changing his pants. He checked outside for a moment, then came back and beckoned to her. -¡°Everyone¡¯s outside, so it should be fine for now.¡± Riv was finally able to get out of the cabin. When they stepped out of the cabin, the ship shook so badly that it was difficult to stand upright. The ship was ridiculously small and would likely turn into wreckage at any moment. Riv hurried outside instead of to the toilet, which was located further into the hull of the ship. -¡°Wh-Where are you going?¡± Lai hurried after her. He tried to grab Riv¡¯s hand and pull her back, but he missed. She suddenly jumped above deck. -¡°A woman?¡± The eyes of the men on the deck widened. -¡°Captain? Who is this woman?¡± Riv turned away from them and stared at Lai. Heavy rain hit her face. In order for her to be heard, she had to shout with all her might. -¡°Lionel, what can you do for me if I stop the typhoon?¡± Lai seemed to have gotten used to being called Lionel. He shouted back while holding onto the railing and ropes of the swaying ship. -¡°Anything I can do¡­ with my body.¡± He didn¡¯t have any worries. In the face of a typhoon, all his subordinates had to do was hang on. Riv wondered if she could stop the typhoon. -¡°I will try then.¡± Riv was once a witch. She had forgotten all those memories, but she was powerful as long as she was here. She strode towards the front of the ship. A strong wind and high waves shook the ship, but she was not affected by the shaking. -¡°If the typhoon stops¡­¡± Maybe this story would end. Riv turned to Lai, whom she was projecting Lionel on to, then she smiled. In real life she was not a witch, but she could be one as long as she was here. She could feel power here. When Riv moved her hand, the world seemed to stop. The wind dissipated and the waves stopped thrashing. When the typhoon dispersed, the sky was revealed. It was a bright day. -¡°Th-The typhoon is gone?¡± Ignoring men¡¯s buzzing voices, Riv smiled. The woman in a white dress with dark hair was a mystery to the sailors. Lai¡¯s eyes twinkled as he looked at her. -¡°Witch, be my bride.¡± Riv laughed. -¡°I am a married woman.¡± With those words, Riv realized that her body was blurry. Her body was then thrown out of the book. *** When she opened her eyes, she was in the first floor drawing room overlooking the terrace. She was sitting in an armchair holding a book. The tea in front of her had gone cold. ¡°Riv? Why are you sweating like this?¡± Anna asked worriedly. Riv wiped the sweat off her forehead. ¡°I think I had a dream.¡± Side Story 03 Riv examined the book she was holding. It wasn¡¯t very thick. It was hard to understand the contents of the book because there were so many pages that had fallen out. The text was also different from what was used nowadays, so it took her a while to read. But she understood the gist of it. The man named Lai was real. He was the founder of the Duchy of Sentoren. He conquered this area as a pirate with his witch wife three hundred years ago. When butler Karl heard the name Lai, he had something surprising to say. ¡°The name Lai is common in the Sentoren family. Many have even come up with names that could use the nickname Lai.¡± ¡°So they inherit the names of their ancestors?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a similar concept. Lai is a name given to successor candidates and eldest sons.¡± Karl knew a lot about the Duchy of Sentoren. However, he didn¡¯t know much about the origins of the family, three hundred years ago. ¡°This book was written in old characters so it¡¯s difficult to read.¡± Karl nodded. ¡°I will call for a scholar who can read ancient scripts.¡± ¡°There is no need for that.¡± The old butler fell into thought. ¡°Actually, this book seems to be a compilation of local legends and popular stories. I cannot guarantee that all of it is real.¡± Lai¡¯s story was exaggerated, as it had been passed from mouth to mouth. The book was more like a collection of famous love stories in the Mont Del region. ¡°All of the characters in this book may have ties to the Sentoren family.¡± ¡°I want to take a closer look.¡± Riv carefully sorted through the battered parchment pages. Many pages had been lost, but the stories could still be read. The story of Lai, the first Sentoren, was quite long. It seemed to be divided into three parts. When he was a young pirate, when he settled down after quitting pirate life, and when he became the lord of this land. ¡°I wish I could read them all.¡± Even though she hadn¡¯t read it, she knew the ending. Lai married and settled down with his adventurous witch. He was later given the title of Duke. ¡°Hmm.¡± Riv swept her hair behind her ear. The sound of children running could be heard. They had just woken up from their nap. For the next few hours, while the kids were awake, she couldn¡¯t think of anything else. The children ran more and more excitedly, as if noticing their father¡¯s absence. But Riv really didn¡¯t notice Lionel¡¯s absence until night fell and the kids went to bed. Riv laid down, exhausted, and tried to sleep. *** -¡°This¡­!¡± She realized she had entered the story again. Her senses in a dream and in the story were different. Her senses here felt so real. -¡°Where are you?¡± Riv looked around, talking to herself. She wondered if Lai would appear here again. Lai Sentino. She wondered if she would ever see him again. -¡°Where are you?¡± She moved in search of the man. In front of Riv, a road led to a familiar steep hill. She decided to follow it. After a while, she arrived at the ruins of the old castle on the Sentoren family¡¯s property, which overlooked the town of Sentino. An old wall created a small patch of shade, blocking the sun that was rising high in the sky. It shone brilliantly above her head. Riv leaned against the wall, hiding in the shade. There was no fog, so the beautiful landscape was completely visible. When she tiptoed, she could see over the wall, past the village, to the edge of the blue sea. Hundreds of years ago, the sea would have been much closer. This certainly didn¡¯t seem to be the time period where Lai lived. There were a total of three stories that involved him. The story of his pirate days, the story of the village, and the short story of him marrying his witch and settling down. If she was in the story, then this must be¡­. -¡°Is this the second story?¡± The moment she thought that the sea was too far away, the landscape changed. The old ruins of Sentino castle and its gray walls grew rapidly. They grew bigger and bigger until they turned into a huge fortress. The moment she blinked her eyes, ¡®he¡¯ appeared. A free-spirited man with long blonde hair. When he saw Riv, his eyes widened in amazement. A smile spread across his face in an instant. -¡°Are you a ghost? I¡¯ve never heard of witches teleporting.¡± -¡°I¡¯m not a ghost.¡± Lai smiled playfully. -¡°We meet again, witch.¡± -¡°My name is Riv.¡± The moment she looked up at him, she was speechless. -¡°¡­..!¡± It was because there was a new scar on Lai¡¯s face. Like Lionel, a red scar covered half of his face. Even the scar above his eyebrows seemed to have become darker. Noticing Riv¡¯s gaze, he smiled mischievously. -¡°I didn¡¯t want to see you with a face like this, is it a mess?¡± Riv grabbed his face. She ran her fingers over the scar again and again. -¡°Does it hurt?¡± -¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡± The man smirked. If he wasn¡¯t Lionel, why did he have the same scars as him? He even looked a little older than when she had met him at sea. His eyes and gestures also showed a sense of calmness and dignity. ¡®I wonder how many years have passed since then?¡¯ -¡°Why did you show up now?¡± He asked accusingly with a smile on his face. He was not Lionel, so why did he have the same scars on the same face? Even though this was his ancestor, weren¡¯t they a bit too similar? -¡°What are you thinking about?¡± -¡°I¡¯m not thinking about anything.¡± Unlike Lionel, who had a cold image, Lai¡¯s impression was quite different. He came to her without hesitation, perhaps because he realized he had become much more attractive. He placed his hand on her shoulder. -¡°Hmm?¡± Quickly, the man¡¯s hand began to run down her back towards her buttocks. Riv pulled her body away from him. -¡°Lai, I am a married woman.¡± -¡°Hah.¡± -¡°I have children too.¡± Lai didn¡¯t care. -¡°Do you want to cheat on him? With me?¡± Riv was momentarily speechless. -¡°I have two children.¡± -¡°Are you on good terms with your husband?¡± -¡°Yes.¡± -¡°You like your children too?¡± Riv nodded her head, picturing their children. They were lovely and cute, resembling both her husband and herself. They were her treasures. Once she got out of this story, she would definitely hug the kids. But Lai was indifferent. He laughed. -¡°Then play with me. Until your husband returns.¡± -¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing Lai smiling brightly, Riv knew she had gotten into serious trouble. She knew he wasn¡¯t Lionel, so why was she like this? It was like seeing Lionel¡¯s younger brother. She felt like this was okay, like she was having an affair with someone with the same face. Since she couldn¡¯t leave the story right away, it was safest to stay with the main character. Riv leaned against the castle wall and talked with him. -¡°Why did you leave your pirates? You were their captain.¡± -¡°I¡¯m not a pirate anymore, I¡¯m the leader of the autonomous unit here.¡± -¡°Autonomous unit?¡± To Riv, it didn¡¯t sound like much had changed. Even though this was more than two hundred years ago, he was ahead of his time. -¡°I decided to protect this town. Pirates are aiming for this place.¡± -¡°Why?¡± He answered very plainly. -¡°This is the village of wizards.¡± Sentino Village? There was no time to think. Because Lai pulled her by the arm and whispered. -¡°Play with me.¡± There was a twinkle in his eyes. Riv was very, very weak to Lionel¡¯s face. -¡°¡­Sounds good.¡± They started to walk towards the village. Many greeted Lai. He walked around smiling brightly, with Lionel¡¯s face. It was odd to see him smiling so much. -¡°What?¡± Lai had caught her staring. -¡°Just¡­¡± -¡°Because I resemble your husband? Handsome right?¡± Riv couldn¡¯t bring herself to say that her husband was Lai¡¯s descendant. -¡°Look around town. I¡¯ll buy you anything you like.¡± As she looked around excitedly, she noticed Lai quietly walking with her. He matched her stride, just like Lionel. -¡°Why?¡± -¡°Just like my husband.¡± At those words, Lai¡¯s expression darkened. -¡°Didn¡¯t you say that back then? Am I really like your husband?¡± Riv nodded her head. He sighed in disgust. -¡°I envy your husband. If I had met you sooner, you might have married me.¡± Lai smiled softly. Riv suddenly realized. The appearance of Lai in the book was different from this one. He had dark hair and a slightly hooked nose. Their faces and even their hair colors weren¡¯t the same. ¡®Did I project the image of Lionel onto the main character in this book?¡¯ Then, was it Lai or Lionel in front of her? Lai, or Lionel, who was younger than the present, was tilting his head. -¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Side Story 04 Just then, they arrived at the village. -¡°Is this Sentino?¡± Lai laughed. -¡°I don¡¯t know where Sentino is, but it has a similar name.¡± The village was similar to the Sentino that Riv remembered, but it was also completely different. The village she knew was surrounded by wilderness and vegetation. But here, the wilderness was dense enough to be called a jungle, full of trees and flowers from exotic Southern countries. Among the trees were strange houses. They were oddly shaped with huge chimneys and tall towers, and each door sported an unusually shaped sign. This was the village of wizards. -¡°Come on.¡± Everything seemed like it was from a different world. -¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll show you around. There are many strange things to see.¡± Lai was excited, and Riv felt the same. The village was full of bizarre and unusual magic goods, all created by wizards. There were no normal things in the village made up of more wizards than ordinary people. When night fell, they ate a hearty dinner. It was dark when they returned to the castle on the hill. Riv looked around the foundations of Sentino castle. The place she remembered was in ruins, but the castle here was in a good state. However, since it was still being built, everything was empty. As Riv looked around, Lai looked puzzled. -¡°It¡¯s still a long way from being finished. It will take a long time, but we will build a strong castle.¡± -¡°When will it be completed?¡± -¡°Perhaps when the wizards decide to help?¡± This castle was likely built while Lai was alive, and completed after his death. Then it was destroyed by fire. Just as Riv¡¯s thoughts were about to turn gloomy, Lai lit a lamp. -¡°This is fairy fire.¡± Glowing firefly fairies sprang out of the lamp and flew in circles around their heads. When Riv glanced at Lai, the contours of his profile were identical to Lionel¡¯s. This place was not real, and the man next to Riv was nothing but a character resembling Lionel. And she was a ghost that would soon disappear. -¡°Lai, I¡¯m really¡­ I¡¯m not here.¡± -¡°I know.¡± Lai smiled softly. -¡°Because your shadow is not being cast.¡± Lai spoke lowly, his voice identical to Lionel¡¯s. -¡°Riv, you are a witch.¡± -¡°I am.¡± Riv couldn¡¯t believe her words, but she was strangely convinced. It was said that the Duke of Sentoren had a lineage of wizards and witches. Magic had not been passed down to Lionel, but it was different for his ancestors, hundreds of years ago. And Riv knew. The person in front of her was not Lionel. He was purely a character in a book. She projected Lionel¡¯s figure onto the character Lai. The man, who took on the form of her husband, whispered to her. -¡°I knew I would see you again.¡± -¡°¡­¡­¡± -¡°I knew it years ago, when I watched a witch stop a typhoon.¡± His face had the same wounds, the same face as Lionel. -¡°You seemed to be here, but you really weren¡¯t. Perhaps the real you is where your husband is.¡± Riv neither confirmed nor denied his statement. Lai would build a castle here and found the Duchy of Sentino. And after two hundred years, the castle would fall and only ruins would remain. And a time would come when the magic that dominated this place would disappear. -¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m not here.¡± Riv reached out her hand, stroking his wounded cheek. It was a very familiar face and body. She lightly kissed his lips. Lai opened his eyes wide. He was confused. -¡°H-Hey, Riv.¡± He grabbed Riv¡¯s hand and squeezed it. -¡°A while ago you said you were a married woman with children? Why? Are you trying to cheat on him?¡± Riv smiled happily. As she did, the fairies in the lamp flew around, illuminating the castle as if it was the middle of the day. -¡°Lionel.¡± -¡°What?¡± She realized that this was an illusion created by magic and her own dreams. Her energy was drawn to the ancient book. So, all of this was also a projection of her mind. -¡°You can stop playing now.¡± -¡°What?¡± -¡°Lionel, it¡¯s time to wake up from this dream, from this story.¡± -¡°¡­¡­¡± Lai paused for a moment. He then made eye contact with Riv and smiled. It was Lionel¡¯s characteristic smile. -¡°You just noticed, Riv?¡± The surrounding landscape changed. And Lai slowly turned to her husband, Lionel. Riv was confused, but it didn¡¯t matter if Lai was Lionel or if Lionel had been borrowing Lai¡¯s appearance. It didn¡¯t matter whether the chicken or the egg came first. All of this was the result of her loving Lionel so much. She couldn¡¯t stand even a few days away from him. When she realized that this was an illusion she had created herself, the floor began to crumble. It was time for her to return to reality. -¡°I¡¯ll see you later.¡± The moment she was about to hug Lionel, his figure disappeared. When Riv opened her eyes, it was still night. She picked up the old book. The parchment, which had lost its magical power, faded. The pages scattered and fell to the floor. *** Lionel returned two days later. He suddenly had to battle invading pirates and protect their land. Thankfully, he returned safely. When Lionel arrived, Riv was startled. He had a new scar, right above his eyebrow. It was just like the scar on Lai¡¯s eyebrow. Was it a coincidence? ¡°Riv.¡± Riv welcomed him. They were only apart for a few days, but his absence was so painful. Their children quickly joined in and said hello. ¡°Papa?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The small children clung to Lionel¡¯s reliable body. Four little hands gripped Lionel¡¯s clothing tightly. They chattered a lot. ¡°I had a dream with Papa in it.¡± ¡°Me too! I saw Mama and Papa, and strange fire flies flew around.¡± ¡°Light fairies came out of the lamp!¡± ¡°Fairies?¡± Riv recalled her dream. Did their children witness the scene where the fairies from the lamp flew away? Were they also influenced by the magic of the book? Since the Duke of Sentoren had wizard blood, it was not surprising that his children felt magic. Nevertheless, there was something odd about it. The children went to bed early, and Riv and Lionel were alone. Riv felt awkward. Was it because she missed him so much? She almost mistakenly called him Lai. It would be strange to say that she had seen him in the distant past. ¡°You know that I love you, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Because I love you too.¡± Lionel nodded his head. Riv swept his bangs aside, stroking the new scar on his eyebrow. ¡°What will I do with you? You have scars like this on your handsome face¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not strange to add one more.¡± ¡°I hate it.¡± Riv pouted. She hated that Lionel had fought enemies, and that he had nearly injured his eye. No, more than that, she hated him being in danger. Lionel quickly changed the subject. ¡°Oh, I stopped at Sentino Village for a while on the way back.¡± ¡°Sentino? Why?¡± It was where she and Lionel were going to take their children. Unfortunately, their schedule had been delayed due to the sudden appearance of pirates. As she reminisced about Sentino, Lionel shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand it, but the forest has grown thick. We can no longer call it wilderness. It seems that the land has also become more fertile than before.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Riv recalled the lush and quaint village of Sentino when there was magic. ¡°The harvest seems to be increasing, but it is said that trees are growing too fast in various places in the village.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Was the magic returning? Riv clenched her jaw and focused on Lionel. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me what kind of pirates attacked or how you got the scar. Lionel, tell me.¡± Lionel sighed and opened his mouth. He had put himself in considerable danger, which caused Riv to slap him a few times. She quickly forgot about the old book. *** Riv had a dream that night. In the dream, Lai and his wife, a witch, came into view. It was Riv¡¯s first time seeing his true face. To be precise, it was different from Lionel¡¯s face that Riv had imagined. -¡°Are you happy?¡± -¡°We were happy because we lived on this land.¡± And at the end of her dream, as always, Lionel appeared. Her beginnings and ends always involved Lionel. *** Then it was morning. Riv raised her body and stared at the sleeping Lionel. He was definitely her husband. Her lovely and proud husband. Overnight, the scar on his eyebrow seemed to have softened considerably. Riv hoped she wouldn¡¯t mind the scar anymore. ¡®It will be fine.¡¯ The scar on his cheek, which was as clear as a crack in glass, was almost gone, so the scar on his eyebrow would soon be like that. Lionel slowly opened his eyes. His charming amber eyes were filled with only her. ¡°What was your dream, Riv?¡± Riv stared at Lionel. ¡°You were in it.¡± Then Lionel told her about his dream. ¡°I think I dreamed that I was a pirate and you were a witch.¡± ¡®No way.¡¯ Riv smiled broadly. Perhaps the name of the man in his dream was Lai. It was a sweet, early summer dream. *End of Side Story: A Summer Day¡¯s Dream*