She could not go out into the open without a roof, so she eventually ran back into the forest.
She kept hiding inside with a strangled face as if someone was chasing her. Memories of those terrible days haphazardly invaded her mind.
'No. Please...'
She ended up rolling down the forest path without being able to look ahead. When she stood up, out of breath, there was a huge lake as if it were a lie. The sparkling surface of the lake looked very warm even though it was still April. As she looked at the dreamlike beautiful scenery before her eyes, Ines thought that she had left Romfield to see this.
Stuck in the deep water, she stared blankly at the wondrous scene for a moment.
She closed her eyes without realizing it and began to recite a verse from the Bible.
"But... Those who want too much will eventually return empty-handed. He who wants too much will eventually return empty-handed. He who wants too much..."
Revenge.
The words flew into Ines’ head at that moment.
Only then did Ines realize that she wasn’t feeling anything while looking at him. Rather, she had been feeling one emotion while looking at him.
It was murderous intent.
The conviction that she could only live if she killed him.
Ines smiled brightly as she realized that emotion was so intense that she hadn’t felt it.
That’s why she couldn’t stop everything like this.
To get revenge, she had to keep him by her side. Some might say that she was going to walk the muddy path again without fear. If she was in her right mind, she would never make that choice.
“Go and tell him that I understand.”
However, Ines said yes to his request to meet.
“Come on.”
Ines, who was urging Susan, seemed to hear someone shouting urgently. If you accept his proposal today, you will repeat the same hell.
“Miss...”
Susan called softly, but Ines’ cold expression soon made her bow and leave the room.
Even if she returned to the past and got clean clothes and a body without scars, her mind was still in hell, in Romfield.
Ines, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook her head. Then she recalled what had happened in court.
When she stood in court as a criminal, all the circumstances and witnesses appeared at the right time, like a well-planned stage play.
The men who were her lovers were clearly strangers, but one of them even knew the location of the mole on her private part.
Furthermore, the janitor she had met in the library had also testified that she had never seen Ines that day.
So, there was no way a common knight could have fabricated all of this. If Joseph had earned the title of Viscount through this, then it was clear that someone higher up than him had gained something even greater.
If she didn't marry Joseph, they would harm her and the Swendens in other ways.
Now she had to know everything. Who dreamed of this, why, and for what.
After she knew, she would return the favor.
Ines stared at the rain that kept pouring down with cold eyes. She could never achieve complete peace if she ignored everything and trembled in fear that those days would repeat themselves.
The hands that had been trembling with anxiety gradually regained stability because of the person who came to mind with the word safety.
Carson von Raymond. The only person who had been her refuge in this world. The one who had saved her from death, and the only salvation who had reached out for her for the first time in a life that was like death.
Just thinking about Carson’s golden eyes made her feel safe enough.
Ines’ blindness toward him gradually began to grow.
She kept hiding inside with a strangled face as if someone was chasing her. Memories of those terrible days haphazardly invaded her mind.
'No. Please...'
She ended up rolling down the forest path without being able to look ahead. When she stood up, out of breath, there was a huge lake as if it were a lie. The sparkling surface of the lake looked very warm even though it was still April. As she looked at the dreamlike beautiful scenery before her eyes, Ines thought that she had left Romfield to see this.
Stuck in the deep water, she stared blankly at the wondrous scene for a moment.
She closed her eyes without realizing it and began to recite a verse from the Bible.
"But... Those who want too much will eventually return empty-handed. He who wants too much will eventually return empty-handed. He who wants too much..."
She walked toward the lake as if in a trance, mumbling the same words over and over again.
"In the end, he will return empty-handed"
Ines smiled deeply as she finished the biblical verse.
However, she had absolutely not intended to drown herself. When she came to, her body was already half-submerged. She felt as if she had just gotten wet up to her waist in the lake, but her feet did not touch the bottom. As her body was dragged in and water rushed into her nose, Ines finally realized what she had done.
"In the end, he will return empty-handed"
Ines smiled deeply as she finished the biblical verse.
However, she had absolutely not intended to drown herself. When she came to, her body was already half-submerged. She felt as if she had just gotten wet up to her waist in the lake, but her feet did not touch the bottom. As her body was dragged in and water rushed into her nose, Ines finally realized what she had done.
However, it was already too late. She waved her arms in the air and squealed, but her heavy dress took in all the water and kept pulling her down.
Even as she died, she was dumbfounded. Her mind was dizzy, but she felt a sense of injustice that was almost injustice.
How could a life like this exist?
Even as she died, she was dumbfounded. Her mind was dizzy, but she felt a sense of injustice that was almost injustice.
How could a life like this exist?
After enduring all those terrible years and getting out of prison, she was now facing death in vain.
She couldn’t tell if she was breathing or if she was already dead.
The time of death was terribly long and silent.
At that moment when all her senses became dull, the very top of the Bible verse that she had always kept in mind and recited like a habit came to mind.
If someone offers you a hand and asks you to walk ten steps with him, you should give him everything you have.
But God was wrong. She was ready to give everything at any moment, but no one offered her a hand.
For the first time, Ines resented and cursed God.
But at that moment, her body was grabbed by a strong man’s hand, and her feet which were already on the ground began to rise.
Something hot touched her lips right away, and a breath she didn’t think she needed to be rushed in all at once. It was so painful that she tried to flinch and retreat, but the strong hand didn’t give her even a little room. The man who had caught her moved his body greatly toward a ray of sunlight that had penetrated through the water.
That strong arm seemed to be the umbilical cord of life that the world had extended to her. Her calm world began to shake as if it had encountered a storm.
The golden eyes she had encountered before losing consciousness were as intense as the sun. She eventually fell into the illusion that she was under the gaze of some absolute being that she could not reach.
It was the time when Ines’ blindness toward one person began to sprout.
At that moment, a knock was heard and she was able to stop thinking about Carson. Susan entered the room and bowed slightly to greet him.
“Miss.”
When Ines looked at Susan, she approached her with a slightly shorter stride than usual.
“I have a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes, from Sir Joseph.”
When the lady, who would normally have quickly snatched the letter, just stared blankly, Susan gained a little courage.
“But... Will you meet today?”
The secret letter meant that he was asking to meet her separately.
“Well...”
Susan mustered up her strength to say something again at Ines’ ambiguous answer.
“Miss, don’t be like that. You’ve already proposed marriage. I don’t think it’s right to meet Knight Joseph now.”
Ines felt a little taken aback. Even back then, Susan had clearly tried to stop her from meeting him. But back then, Ines had gotten angry at Susan for being rude and scolded her.
When she sighed, Susan lowered her head and took a few steps back.
“I’m sorry. That was presumptuous.”
“No, don’t say that. I know you’re only saying that because you’re worried about me.”
Ines took the letter, placed it on the table, and sat down. She tapped the table with her fingers, “Tok, knock, knock,” and fell into deep thought.
Joseph Benoit, Joseph Benoit...
She quietly imagined Joseph’s face. If she didn’t marry him, would she be able to avoid repeating her previous life?
The tragic events that had happened in this house since she had gone to Romfield were like a cold scratch down her spine.
Her mother, who had dried out from worrying about Ines, and her father, who had lost everything and hung himself in the air.
Her whole body felt like it was underwater, and it was hard to breathe as if she had imagined the terrible things.
“Susan, open the window.”
As the window opened, she could hear the sound of rain pouring down. Along with the sound of the pouring rain, the events that had just happened were repeated before her eyes.
Zemern, who had come to visit her tried to swear at her terribly.
The carriage she had crashed into while running away from him.
The cold rain that had scratched her face as she fell to the ground.
Joseph’s mean smile that she could see through them.
The ten years of Romfield, which had been more painful than death, flashed before her eyes.
Just because it hadn’t happened yet, did Ines’s days really disappear?
Was it okay to hate him because he hadn’t committed anything yet?
She couldn’t tell if she was breathing or if she was already dead.
The time of death was terribly long and silent.
At that moment when all her senses became dull, the very top of the Bible verse that she had always kept in mind and recited like a habit came to mind.
If someone offers you a hand and asks you to walk ten steps with him, you should give him everything you have.
But God was wrong. She was ready to give everything at any moment, but no one offered her a hand.
For the first time, Ines resented and cursed God.
But at that moment, her body was grabbed by a strong man’s hand, and her feet which were already on the ground began to rise.
Something hot touched her lips right away, and a breath she didn’t think she needed to be rushed in all at once. It was so painful that she tried to flinch and retreat, but the strong hand didn’t give her even a little room. The man who had caught her moved his body greatly toward a ray of sunlight that had penetrated through the water.
That strong arm seemed to be the umbilical cord of life that the world had extended to her. Her calm world began to shake as if it had encountered a storm.
The golden eyes she had encountered before losing consciousness were as intense as the sun. She eventually fell into the illusion that she was under the gaze of some absolute being that she could not reach.
It was the time when Ines’ blindness toward one person began to sprout.
At that moment, a knock was heard and she was able to stop thinking about Carson. Susan entered the room and bowed slightly to greet him.
“Miss.”
When Ines looked at Susan, she approached her with a slightly shorter stride than usual.
“I have a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes, from Sir Joseph.”
When the lady, who would normally have quickly snatched the letter, just stared blankly, Susan gained a little courage.
“But... Will you meet today?”
The secret letter meant that he was asking to meet her separately.
“Well...”
Susan mustered up her strength to say something again at Ines’ ambiguous answer.
“Miss, don’t be like that. You’ve already proposed marriage. I don’t think it’s right to meet Knight Joseph now.”
Ines felt a little taken aback. Even back then, Susan had clearly tried to stop her from meeting him. But back then, Ines had gotten angry at Susan for being rude and scolded her.
When she sighed, Susan lowered her head and took a few steps back.
“I’m sorry. That was presumptuous.”
“No, don’t say that. I know you’re only saying that because you’re worried about me.”
Ines took the letter, placed it on the table, and sat down. She tapped the table with her fingers, “Tok, knock, knock,” and fell into deep thought.
Joseph Benoit, Joseph Benoit...
She quietly imagined Joseph’s face. If she didn’t marry him, would she be able to avoid repeating her previous life?
The tragic events that had happened in this house since she had gone to Romfield were like a cold scratch down her spine.
Her mother, who had dried out from worrying about Ines, and her father, who had lost everything and hung himself in the air.
Her whole body felt like it was underwater, and it was hard to breathe as if she had imagined the terrible things.
“Susan, open the window.”
As the window opened, she could hear the sound of rain pouring down. Along with the sound of the pouring rain, the events that had just happened were repeated before her eyes.
Zemern, who had come to visit her tried to swear at her terribly.
The carriage she had crashed into while running away from him.
The cold rain that had scratched her face as she fell to the ground.
Joseph’s mean smile that she could see through them.
The ten years of Romfield, which had been more painful than death, flashed before her eyes.
Just because it hadn’t happened yet, did Ines’s days really disappear?
Was it okay to hate him because he hadn’t committed anything yet?
No, it wasn’t. He had to know that too.
The misery of having to lick the food that someone had spilled in front of her. The fear of having to tremble helplessly in the face of absolute power. The humiliation of having to crawl on the floor to avoid being beaten. The agony of having to swallow the food that had been vomited out by unbearable labor. Her cursed body had been reduced to a plaything and had to be trampled countless times.
And the end of her soul that would never be able to feel anything again.
After catching her breath, she opened the letter on the table as if nothing had happened.
Dear Ines.
Ines’s brow furrowed at the greeting that began in neat handwriting. When she rubbed her finger hard over the name he had written, the writing became unrecognizable.
“Susan.”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t that too presumptuous?”
Susan’s body trembled involuntarily at the cold voice of her master whom she had never heard before.
“What, what?”
“How dare a commoner knight call my name so carelessly?”
It was a name that Ines had allowed herself. Ines still remembered that night when he called her name, the night she couldn’t sleep because her heart was pounding.
“How dare you...”
The misery of having to lick the food that someone had spilled in front of her. The fear of having to tremble helplessly in the face of absolute power. The humiliation of having to crawl on the floor to avoid being beaten. The agony of having to swallow the food that had been vomited out by unbearable labor. Her cursed body had been reduced to a plaything and had to be trampled countless times.
And the end of her soul that would never be able to feel anything again.
After catching her breath, she opened the letter on the table as if nothing had happened.
Dear Ines.
Ines’s brow furrowed at the greeting that began in neat handwriting. When she rubbed her finger hard over the name he had written, the writing became unrecognizable.
“Susan.”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t that too presumptuous?”
Susan’s body trembled involuntarily at the cold voice of her master whom she had never heard before.
“What, what?”
“How dare a commoner knight call my name so carelessly?”
It was a name that Ines had allowed herself. Ines still remembered that night when he called her name, the night she couldn’t sleep because her heart was pounding.
“How dare you...”
How could you send me to that terrible hell, kill my parents, and take away the sacred title that had been passed down through generations?
A mere common knight.
Revenge.
The words flew into Ines’ head at that moment.
Only then did Ines realize that she wasn’t feeling anything while looking at him. Rather, she had been feeling one emotion while looking at him.
It was murderous intent.
The conviction that she could only live if she killed him.
Ines smiled brightly as she realized that emotion was so intense that she hadn’t felt it.
That’s why she couldn’t stop everything like this.
To get revenge, she had to keep him by her side. Some might say that she was going to walk the muddy path again without fear. If she was in her right mind, she would never make that choice.
“Go and tell him that I understand.”
However, Ines said yes to his request to meet.
“Come on.”
Ines, who was urging Susan, seemed to hear someone shouting urgently. If you accept his proposal today, you will repeat the same hell.
“Miss...”
Susan called softly, but Ines’ cold expression soon made her bow and leave the room.
Even if she returned to the past and got clean clothes and a body without scars, her mind was still in hell, in Romfield.
Ines, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook her head. Then she recalled what had happened in court.
When she stood in court as a criminal, all the circumstances and witnesses appeared at the right time, like a well-planned stage play.
The men who were her lovers were clearly strangers, but one of them even knew the location of the mole on her private part.
Furthermore, the janitor she had met in the library had also testified that she had never seen Ines that day.
So, there was no way a common knight could have fabricated all of this. If Joseph had earned the title of Viscount through this, then it was clear that someone higher up than him had gained something even greater.
If she didn't marry Joseph, they would harm her and the Swendens in other ways.
Now she had to know everything. Who dreamed of this, why, and for what.
After she knew, she would return the favor.
Ines stared at the rain that kept pouring down with cold eyes. She could never achieve complete peace if she ignored everything and trembled in fear that those days would repeat themselves.
The hands that had been trembling with anxiety gradually regained stability because of the person who came to mind with the word safety.
Carson von Raymond. The only person who had been her refuge in this world. The one who had saved her from death, and the only salvation who had reached out for her for the first time in a life that was like death.
Just thinking about Carson’s golden eyes made her feel safe enough.
Ines’ blindness toward him gradually began to grow.
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