Betrayal of Dignity - Chapter 3

03. Reunion at Rose Castle


Clank. Clank. Alice gently grabbed Chloe's hand in the carriage where the sound of horse hooves echoed.

“Sister. We’ll be here soon.”

Chloe must have dozed off without realizing it. When Chloe opened her eyes, Alice smiled faintly as if she had seen everything.

“Wow. It seems like you’re not nervous at all. Well, surprisingly, you’re a lot more tenacious than I am.”

It was something she could say, not knowing at all that Chloe had been having nightmares the night before and had not slept well. Chloe recalled the face that had been tormenting her just a moment ago. The Duke's eyes, staring at her and smiling, were vivid. For some reason, she couldn't remember the Duke's face, and only fragmented images were vivid.

The red lips that smiled crookedly while looking at her, the pupils that shone like the dawn sky within the narrowed eyes, the angle at which the golden eyebrows that looked cold and arrogant were sharply raised.

Chloe shook her head once to shake off the ominous image and looked at Alice.

“What’s there to be nervous about? After today, there’ll be a long line of handsome gentlemen waiting to marry my pretty sister.”

“Are you trying to paralyze people by saying things like this again?”

“No way, Miss Alice.”

While Alice's hair was being fixed once more, the carriage entered the beech forest path. After running for a while along the brightly lit forest path with lamps hanging from tree branches, a beautiful castle finally appeared before their eyes. The door, ornately decorated with climbing roses, opened wide for them.

“This is a castle that is only used for a season for the entertainment of one Duke.”

When Alice sighed and moaned, Chloe lowered her voice in case the coachman heard her.

“Alice.”

Alice shut her mouth with a knowing expression. The carriages that had already arrived were guided one after another, and finally, it was their turn. Chloe took a deep breath, got out of the carriage with the door open, and gripped her cane tightly.

“The two daughters of the Verdiers, enter.”

Chloe and Alice carefully walked along the butler's neatly dressed steps. Following the luxurious red carpet, they arrived at a banquet hall decorated with gorgeous marble that seemed to reflect their faces. The luxurious wall materials and long chandeliers hanging from the ceiling showed how luxurious this building was. Each sparkling chandelier seemed to have hundreds of candles. The sound of nobles in their best dresses and tuxedos laughing and chatting could be heard mixed with the sound of the orchestra.

“Oh, I feel like my soul is already leaving.”

As Alice whispered to Chloe with her face covered by her fan, someone came up to her and pretended to know her.

“Are you Lady Alice Verdier?”

Alice nodded her head slightly as she had learned, then smiled and furrowed her brows slightly. She sighed and smiled brightly as she barely remembered the name of the somewhat familiar man who was pretending to know her.

“Count Cromwell. It’s been a while.”

“Can I request a dance to the next song?”

It seemed like the other person didn't only have bad memories of Alice. Alice gave Chloe a small wink and nodded.

“Of course. This is my older sister, Chloe.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Count Cromwell.”

“I am honored to meet Lady Alice’s family. Please dance a song with me later...”

Count Cromwell trailed off as he watched Chloe bowing and using her cane to steady herself. Chloe smiled gently at the embarrassed Count.

“Just watching beautiful people dancing is enough for me. I sincerely appreciate your consideration.”

As soon as the music started, Alice and Count Cromwell walked hand in hand to the center of the banquet hall. Chloe sighed in relief as she watched them gliding and dancing. The commotion Alice had caused in the social circles the other day seemed to have faded from people's minds.

Alice made it through her first dance, and Chloe realized that she wouldn't be in trouble if she didn't have someone to dance with. She could already feel the eyes on them. Dancing in her dress and with her cheeks flushed, Alice was lovely and beautiful enough to attract attention anywhere.

Anyway, should she be grateful to the Duke?

After accepting a lemonade from a passing waiter, Chloe began to sort out the thoughts that had been nagging at her: the matter of reuniting with the Duke.

The best-case scenario Chloe could think of so far was that she wouldn't run into the master of the castle in this vast banquet hall.

'That doesn't make sense.'

First of all, it was customary for the host of the party to greet the invitee at least once. If the host's position was higher than that of the invitee, it was polite for Chloe to always seek him out and express her gratitude.

The second scenario was that the Duke of Tisse didn't remember her, but unfortunately, that didn't seem likely. It was even more certain when he specifically wrote her name on the invitation. Chloe exhaled deeply, feeling sweat forming in her lace-gloved hands.

Now, there was no choice but to take a chance. The Duke wanted to show his sincerity to the Verdier family for providing supplies and food during the difficult battle. For that, Chloe was ready to bow her head to him.

***

Chloe straightened her back and picked up her locket-shaped watch to check the time. The party was already in full swing, and it was approaching midnight. Alice had just finished her second dance with Count Cromwell, and with her permission, she had left for the tea room. Count Cromwell’s eyes were shining with interest as he asked if he could have a quick chat with Alice.

'There were no bad rumors, and the person seemed honest.'

Chloe let out a small sigh as she recalled his bashful blush. Alice had danced with many men, even if it wasn't Count Cromwell. It was easy to guess that the Talbots would be busy welcoming guests starting tomorrow.

'I guess I should be thankful.'

Alice didn't make any of the same ridiculous mistakes as last year and responded to the men's lead with perfect manners. Above all, the master of the castle, who had kept Chloe nervous the whole time, unfortunately, or fortunately, did not show up until the end of the party. According to what she heard while staying for a long time, the Duke was usually out of his room during the parties that had been held because he was spending 'secret' time with the women. In any case, it was truly fortunate for Chloe. When her tension eased a little, she gently rubbed her stiff legs without showing any signs of it.

“Oh my, it’s His Excellency the Duke.”

An unwelcome name came to her ears along with the noise of people.

“Your Excellency the Duke.”

“Your Excellency.”

Chloe's movements suddenly stopped. She instinctively stood up from the waiting area, holding her cane. The noise of people murmured, getting closer, and then she heard a sharp voice that she could not forget even in her dreams.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask you to dance?”

For a moment, Chloe felt as if she had traveled back in time not to a chandelier-lit party hall but to the forest of Verdier's estate. The Duke, whom she had reunited with after three years, was dressed in the same attire as when they had first met.

It was a given that women would attend a ball in dresses and men in tuxedos, without needing to open an etiquette book. The Duke was dressed like a soldier who had completed his formal training and was even carrying a sword, but no one could object to his attire. Power, by its very nature, includes the power to ignore what is called formality.

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

The girl who had been asked to dance blushed bright red and grabbed his hand. The girl the Duke had asked to dance with was the girl who, like Chloe, had been waiting in the waiting area all night.

“Not at all, Lady Agnes.”

As she met Damien’s eyes, who was whispering in her ear, Chloe flinched involuntarily. As she watched his eyes narrow slightly and his lips curve upward, Chloe instinctively realized that all the positive scenarios she had been hoping for up until the party was ruined.

The Duke must have remembered, and as clearly as she did.

“Excuse me.”

As soon as the music started, Chloe carefully moved through the crowd. She had to find Alice as quickly as possible. She had already missed the chance to greet the Duke once, so it was better to blend in with the crowd as soon as the dance was over, say thank you, and disappear from the party. The party was already running toward its end.

'Where are you?'

The problem, however, was Alice. Alice, who was clearly supposed to be in the tea room with Count Cromwell, was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m sorry, Count Cromwell. But weren’t you with my sister?”

Chloe approached Count Cromwell, who was talking to someone and spoke cautiously.

“Oh, Lady Chloe. I felt bad about bringing Lady Alice without an escort, so we talked for a bit and parted ways.”

He was saying that it was against manners to talk to an unmarried woman for a long time alone. Chloe smiled to show her appreciation for his consideration.

“I guess our paths diverged. Thank you.”

‘...Where on earth did you go?’

Alice was nowhere to be found on her way from the banquet hall to here. Chloe's heart grew anxious. As she hurriedly gripped her cane and turned around, a small sigh escaped Chloe's lips.

“Ah... Your Excellency.”

“Lady Chloe Verdier.”

The Duke of Tisse suddenly stood before her like a fallen tree.

“I remember how much I owe you a favor some time ago. It would have been polite to visit you in person, but I couldn’t make time for it. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

Chloe bowed formally as she watched the Duke greet her with perfect manners.

“I am honored to be invited. As a citizen of the kingdom, I am deeply grateful to the Duke for safely ending the war and returning.”

The last time she greeted him like this, Chloe had stumbled in the forest, unable to keep her balance. Even now, standing on one foot required a lot of strength, but since that day, she had trained herself to the point where her legs were cramping. A strange smile appeared on the Duke's face as he watched her gracefully bend down and then rise up, holding the fan and the cane horizontally.

“Would you like to dance a song with me?”

The moment the Duke reached out his hand, Chloe's face hardened a little. It wasn't just her imagination that the atmosphere around her had suddenly changed. Chloe made a flustered suggestion and tried to smile politely at the Duke, who was the only one who seemed calm.

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency. I don’t think I have the skills to dance with you.”

“Do I have to wait for my turn?”

Chloe's neck burned. No gentleman could be so rude as to ask a woman with a cane to dance at a ball. Only one.

“If not, I really want to dance with you, so please don’t refuse.”

It was an attitude that showed a strong determination to see her clumsy movements as she limped along. Chloe realized with her bones that the Duke had not changed at all.

'Why is the Duke acting like that?'

'Can't you see that poor, infirm Young Lady is holding a cane?'

'No way.'

She felt as if people were looking at her with pity. Chloe's eyes blinked quickly as if trying to hide her shame and embarrassment. The other person was a top noble, someone Chloe had to bow down to no matter what. As she hesitated about how to refuse, another man who had just arrived raised his voice.

“Damian. Are you being mean to the lady again?”

“His Royal Highness has entered.”

Everyone in the room bowed to the Prince as he appeared. The Duke of Tisse was also the Prince's cousin, so his appearance was not strange. Only Chloe wanted to escape from this situation where everyone's eyes were focused on her.

“Look at that. Can’t you see that pitiful face that looks like it’s about to burst into tears?”

“It’s not rude to ask a beautiful lady to dance. And I bet she’s not the type to cry easily.”

According to etiquette, the Duke, who knew both her and the Prince, should have stepped forward and introduced her. Chloe, whose status was very low, could not be introduced first unless the prince gave permission.

“I apologize on behalf of my ill-tempered cousin, Young Lady’s name is...”

Chloe watched the Duke, who seemed unwilling to open his mouth, and finally answered quietly.

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

Chloe was even more anxious at this moment because Alice was not present. It was her own fault for not thinking that His Highness the Prince would attend. Could it be... that something similar to last year’s incident has occurred somewhere...?

“Cousin. It’s not gentlemanly to harass a sick lady. Have you been in the military for so long that you’ve forgotten basic manners?”

“If you’re not going to dance, there’s no reason to go to the party.”

The eyes of those around them were now increasingly blatantly focused on them. Some even looked at Chloe with sympathy. The Duke of Tisse was an excellent soldier, but he was also skilled in palace politics. It was his specialty to mercilessly trample on those who were not of any use to him. The noblewoman, who was clicking her tongue slightly, thought that the poor girl’s family must have done something bad to the Duke or was caught in the act.

Chloe took a deep breath, feeling as if she was standing barefoot on thorns. The back of her neck was burning and she wanted to get out of there right away, but she had to endure this moment even if it meant going home and groaning.

“I may be presumptuous, but Your Highness, the Duke seems to have been concerned that I, who am not feeling well, might end up like a flower hanging on the wall.”

The Duke looked straight at her, and the Prince laughed, unable to hide his surprise at the unexpected reaction. The flowers on the wall were a euphemism for noble ladies who were never asked to dance by anyone. In other words, Chloe was clearly using her speaking skills to elevate him while cleverly rejecting the Duke’s kindness.

“You’re a smart girl. Did you say, Verdier?”

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

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

“I clearly remember inviting two people.”

The Duke who had been silent finally opened his mouth, but it was not at all pleasant for Chloe. The Prince raised his voice happily.

“Oh. Really? I’d like to meet the Viscount once. I wonder who raised his daughter to be so strong.”

Chloe's face hardened awkwardly. The other person the Duke had invited was not her father, but her sister. But the Duke just stared at her, as if he had no intention of clearing up the Prince's misunderstanding. In the end, Chloe bowed her head politely and hid her trembling voice.

“I apologize, Your Highness. I am here with my sister, not my father.”

“Where is she?”

“This is her first time being invited to a party of this scale, so she's dancing until her shoes are worn out.”

“Haha, I see. If she resembled Young Lady, it’s no wonder she would have caught the attention of all the gentlemen in the room.”

“You are too kind.”

Chloe was deeply grateful to Prince Johannes for his friendly manner of speaking to her, which was completely different from the Duke's.

“Then let’s meet later. For now, I think I should dance a song for the bored band.”

The music started again as the Prince smiled and gave a signal. A cheerful song for group dancing filled the air, and the nobles gathered around the Prince and began to dance in unison. Even though the Prince was out of sight, Chloe couldn't relax.

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

Everyone else went out onto the floor to dance in pairs, but there was only one person who stayed by her side.

“The castle is so vast that I cannot see her. If Your Excellency permits, I will go and look for her.”

“As you wish.”

As soon as the two of them were left alone, the politeness in his speech disappeared. Chloe bowed her head to him and tried to leave, but she couldn't. The cane she was holding in her hand was already in his hand. The light-grabbing movement was so agile that it was impossible to notice. Was this person a thief or a noble?

“Your Excellency.”

“Chloe Verdier.”

The Duke's voice, as he read the name engraved on the staff, was soft, as if he were reciting a line from a beautiful poem.

“Did you carve your name in it because you were afraid someone would steal it?”

“Give it back to me, Your Excellency.”

“Do you remember our promise? The secret promise regarding the staff?”

Chloe's neck felt hot. If she could turn back time, she would never ask him to compensate her for the staff, regardless of whether he lost the war or not. The way he used the word 'our' and tied him and her together was seriously burdensome.

“...If you’re not going to give me a new staff, then give me back the old one. Please.”

“Don’t be impatient, you’ll get it later.”

Chloe felt herself growing increasingly dizzy. The Duke looked straight into her face and smiled.

“It seems like the most urgent task right now is finding your sister.”

Since His Highness knew of Alice's existence, it meant that he might have to introduce her.

“If she happens to pass out drinking somewhere else, she’ll be in real trouble.”

Chloe's eyes wavered at the Duke's addition of the wedge. The Duke held out his arm, still holding her staff in his hand.

"Let's go."

“Where to?”

“I heard a report of a woman running merrily into the rose garden, which is off-limits to guests.”

Oh my God.

“I’m pretty sure that’s Young Lady’s younger sister.”

To be honest, Chloe was the same. No one knew Alice's life, full of overflowing curiosity, better than she did. But... was it really right to follow the Duke?

“Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Chloe.”

Looking at the Duke's face, who was whispering meaningfully, Chloe finally placed her trembling hand on the Duke's arm cautiously. No matter how much she hated the Duke, now was the time when she had to prioritize other things over personal feelings.

Alice, please, don't cause any trouble.

***

As she walked with the Duke's arm around her, Chloe received more stares than she had ever seen in her life. The nobles, young and old, looked at the woman escorted by the Duke of Tisse with such pomp and decency.

“Am I walking fast?”

"No."

Rather, Chloe was getting impatient because he was walking so slowly. She wondered if even a baby learning to walk would walk this slowly.

“You’ve been practicing walking alone quite a bit, lately.”

When the Duke lowered his head and whispered in her ear, her cheeks felt hot and she had to tilt her head back without realizing it.

“It must have been so painful that you thought you would die?”

Chloe bit her lip and forced a smile. She wanted to pour hot tea on the Duke's face as he summarized in one sentence the days when she had spent the whole night groaning from a cramp in her calf, and when she had fallen over the table while practicing walking without a cane and ended up covered in bruises.

“It was hard, but thanks to it, my physical strength has improved a lot. Thank you for the compliment, Your Excellency.”

“Still the same.”

'Your Excellency, too.'

He let out a snicker as he watched her trying hard to swallow her lies.

“No. Have you gotten more skilled?”

Chloe doesn’t know what it means to be proficient, but she has a feeling that asking wouldn’t do any good. The conversation between them naturally ended because the stairs had started. Chloe slowly walked down the stairs, leaning on his arm. Stairs are a high barrier to someone with a disability. That’s why it was much more stable to rely on a person rather than a cane on the stairs. As if he had noticed her breathing condition exactly, the Duke stopped walking every so often, so she moved much more comfortably, although she didn’t want to admit it.

Chloe linked arms with him and slowly walked down the countless stairs, thinking of the Duke dancing in the banquet hall a moment ago. Thinking of him skillfully leading Young Lady, who at first glance looked inexperienced and awkward at dancing, with perfect manners, made her feel strange for some reason.

“The wind is blowing.”

When he reached the middle of the stairs, the Duke suddenly opened his mouth. Chloe stopped walking and looked up at him. She hadn't realized it, but just as he said, a gentle breeze blew. It was a summer night in Swanton. The wind carried the scent of roses.

“That’s right.”

A few strands of Chloe's hair flew out in the light breeze and flowed down her neckline. Staring at them, the Duke asked her.

“Who did the hair decoration?”

She had felt it before, but there was something about his unwavering gaze that made people nervous. The explicit gaze looking at the slender neck exposed by her hair pulled up was burdensome.

“I did it.”

"Somehow."

He added, staring intently at her as if counting the number of hairs falling down the nape of her neck.

“I thought it was a mess.”

Chloe's cheeks flushed bright red. If it weren't for the stairs, she would have pushed him away and walked away alone. The Duke smiled silently as he felt the hand gripping his arm, making it tingle.

Rose Garden. No entry for non-authorized persons.

A small iron gate covered with rose vines revealed a sign. Chloe bit her lip in despair. Her sister's favorite word was 'forbidden.' No, more accurately, it meant breaking the forbidden.

“They said they saw the back of a young lady in a green dress running excitedly into here.”

When Chloe looked at the text on the sign, the probability that the Duke's words were not a lie increased. Just as a cat cannot pass by a fish shop, Alice must have entered here as if she were possessed and looking for treasure.

“Then shall we go in?”

The Duke returned her staff, and Chloe followed him silently into the gardens, a place that was clearly a place that had been carefully designed.

“It’s like a maze?”

The garden, which was laid out like a narrow path, had a wall built on it, and on the wall were sections of climbing roses of different colors. First red, then white, then light pink. Then white again. Now purple.

It was a strange garden that seemed to have rules and yet not.

“Royals with nothing to do just play hide-and-seek in places like this.”

The tone was sharp enough to be called a self-deprecating joke. However, Chloe was more concerned about finding Alice than paying attention to the Duke’s words. As she turned the corner, the wall of red roses appeared again. Could this be the place she had passed by earlier? Chloe frowned, but when she found something, she stopped walking.

“Alice...!”

Chloe covered her mouth with both hands as she watched Alice kissing the black-haired man.

“Oh, like that.”

She tried to block the view, but it was impossible. The Duke, who had come close behind her, could clearly be heard clicking his tongue with a small laugh above her head.

“Uh... Sister?”

Alice's face was flushed as she turned her head after feeling the presence of someone. Chloe looked at the man next to Alice with astonished eyes. Who on earth was that man?

“Go quickly, quickly...! If we get caught here, you’re dead!”

“I don’t think I would mind dying now.”

The man looked at Alice with an excited face, seemingly oblivious to the fact that someone was watching. Chloe's eyes grew even darker. What on earth is that man? Is he crazy?

“Please! Eddie!”

The moment Alice called the other person's name in a hushed voice, Chloe's vision went dark and she stumbled. Chloe was sure that Eddie was the name of the gypsy youth that Alice had met when she had secretly visited the festival in the neighboring town a while ago.

“We will meet again soon, Alice.”

The gypsy muttered briefly, looked at Alice with longing eyes, then quickly turned around and ran to the other side of the rose garden.

“Are you okay, Young Lady?”

A strong arm supported Chloe as she was on the verge of falling over, her legs giving out. The Duke's face was not visible, but his expression could be accurately predicted. Chloe struggled to come to her senses at the cold voice mixed with laughter and mockery.

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”

She barely managed to tear away her dry lips.

“Uh... Sister... Eddie suddenly showed up, I was so surprised...”

Alice's dress hem was dirty as if she had been rolling around on the dirt floor. Chloe felt her heart drop to the floor and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Be quiet, Alice.”

Alice shut her mouth as she listened to Chloe's voice, which had become tighter. What should she do about this? It was not enough to bow her head in gratitude for the Duke's invitation, but how should she protect her younger sister who was caught with a man of unknown origin in a garden where entry was prohibited?

“Your Excellency.”

Chloe raised her head and faced the Duke of Tisse. Fear. Despair. Her eyes were filled with emotions that she could not express in words. The Duke met her gaze with a gleam in his eyes.

“It seems like sisters have a lot to talk about, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Chloe called out to the Duke in a desperate voice as he was about to leave.

“Your Excellency!”

"What?"

He glanced at her as he stopped walking. Chloe limped to stand in front of him, bowing her head deeply.

"I'm sorry."

“Uh... Sister...”

Alice opened her mouth in a helpless voice. Finally coming to her senses, she was unable to do anything but stomp her feet.

“Get back in the carriage right now, Alice.”

"But..."

"Hurry."

Alice nodded as Chloe spoke with a serious face while looking at Alice. She bowed to the Duke with a tearful face and quickly passed them by.

“It’s just the two of us again.”

The Duke stood in front of her, arms folded. Chloe felt a sense of foreboding and pursed her lips, opening her mouth in a heartfelt voice.

“Your Excellency, I beg you to forgive me.”

“The second daughter of the Verdiers will become famous again. She causes scandals every time she attends a social gathering. That’s a skill.”

“Please, don’t tell anyone. I beg you.”

“Why should I do that?”

Chloe was left speechless as the temperature suddenly dropped at the sound of the Duke's mocking voice. He continued speaking to the silent Chloe.

“I think you know very well that no one will blame me if your family is punished for allowing unauthorized people into the noble’s private property.”

“Your Excellency.”

Chloe then realized that the situation was more serious than she had thought. It wasn’t just that Alice’s marriage was being cut off because of the news of her secret nighttime rendezvous with another man. Damien Ernst von Tisse was the King’s nephew and third in line for the throne. The moment she realized that her family could be wiped out by his decision, she had no choice in her actions.

“Please forgive me. It was my fault for not caring for my reckless younger sister. Please punish me as her representative. Your Excellency.”

Chloe fell to her knees, her whole body shaking like an aspen leaf in fear, but the thought of Alice or her father getting hurt made her breathless.

“Please, I beg you.”

The Duke slowly bent one knee in front of Chloe, who was kneeling at his feet, and met her gaze. Chloe's eyes, filled with tears, shone with the moonlight.

“What if I don’t like it?”

It was clear that they were bad ties. Alice's words that bad things would happen if she got involved with Tisse should have been taken more seriously, but it was only a belated regret. 

Let's think. We have to think, Chloe. 

Chloe clenched her trembling jaw. There was no time to hesitate. She had to end her hesitation. For Alice and her father.

“...The Tisse family values ​​honor... They are one of the most prestigious families in this kingdom.”

The Duke's blue eyes took on an exciting light once again.

"However?"

“The commander who led the great victory in the Battle of the Cassia Mountains, the most difficult battle in the history of the kingdom, is His Excellency Duke Damian Ernst von Tisse, the only legitimate heir of House Tisse and the first to receive an honored from the royal family.”

“Keep going. Sweet candy coating.”

Chloe continued speaking, undeterred by his mockery, because now was the main point.

“Your Excellency said this before the Battle of the Cassia Mountains. Those who fought for you will surely return home and be honored. Do you remember?”

“Remember.”

The Duke looked at her with eyes that seemed ready to devour her at any moment. Chloe instinctively knew that if things went wrong here, she might die.

“At that time, there was a small country lord who opened the city gates and provided supplies during the difficult wartime situation. Even though he did not fight directly, I think it would have been a great help to the exhausted soldiers at that time.”

“So, please repay the favor by upholding the honor of Tisse?”

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

“I sincerely hope that you will bestow even a little grace upon our humble family.”

“Was it not a small favor to invite your humble family to a gathering of all the kingdom's nobles?”

The moonlight streamed down the bridge of his arrogant nose as the Duke tilted his head toward her. The man whispered cruelly as he watched Chloe's eyes pierce him with despair.

“You should blame your younger sister for kicking away your luck. Is that all you have to say?”

The moment the Duke tried to get up, Chloe, despite her rudeness, grabbed his foot.

“What are you doing?”

“If you forgive me just this once, I will do anything to help you, Your Excellency. I will never forget it for the rest of my life.”

The Duke's eyes lit up with delight as if he had found his favorite prey. Chloe could finally see that he was starting to show interest. He was definitely an evil man. He was a man who flattened people to the ground and enjoyed watching them do so.

“Really?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Chloe nodded, realizing once again that she and him would never mix like oil and water.

“Chloe. Why on earth are you doing this?”

The Duke clicked his tongue slightly. It was a tone of affectionate regret, but it didn’t feel sincere at all and instead sounded theatrical because there was a joyful light in his eyes. No, the Duke didn’t even think about hiding it.

“Where is the noble lady who held her head up high no matter what insults and humiliations she received? It doesn’t suit you to give up on life and cling to my feet.”

Each word stabbed into her heart like a knife. Her throat tightened as she tried to swallow the rising humiliation, but she could not provoke him any longer.

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”

As Chloe silently begged for forgiveness, a look of displeasure quickly passed through the Duke’s eyes. He looked down at Chloe, who was kneeling on the dirt floor covered with rose petals, and opened his mouth.

“You must be bowing your head to me like this because you are worried that your younger sibling’s marriage will be blocked. The last hope for a family buried in debt is for one of your daughters to marry a capable nobleman and change their circumstances, so I can understand that.”

The Duke asked again.

“Then does it matter what happens to your life?”

Chloe couldn't understand why he would ask such a question.

“Answer me.”

“...Because seeing the people I love happy makes me happy.”

“You can do anything for that?”

“If there’s anything I can do.”

The Duke's eyes darkened as he looked at Chloe. The moonlight was growing darker and faint music could be heard from afar. The Duke, who had been silent for a while, blurted out.

“That’s fun.”

Chloe took her hands off the man's feet, who was staring at her with eyes that were far from amused, and slowly lowered her gaze. Her dress was probably as dirty as Alice's now, but it didn't matter. Her head slowly rose, silently waiting for the disposal.

Chloe's body flinched as the Duke's hand touched her face, but she didn't dodge. She couldn't dodge. The black-gloved hand lifted her small face up, cupping it as if it were a hand grabbing it.

Chloe swallowed dryly. He didn't take his eyes off her trembling lips, and his voice sounded as if he was stuck somewhere.

“I will think carefully about what Young Lady can do for me, so get in the carriage and leave Swanton and return to Verdier right now.”

“I would like to do so as well, but since His Highness the Prince wishes to see my sister...”

Chloe stopped talking the moment the Duke's hand tightened. Damien uttered each syllable precisely as if warning her.

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

His hand still lingered on her face. Chloe did not make the mistake of shortening her own life by pointing out the Duke's disrespect for calling His Highness the Prince's name so carelessly. Chloe's pulse was throbbing in her neck. It would not be strange if he broke Chloe's small jawbone right now.

“Thank you, Your Excellency... ha.”

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

“And there’s one more thing you should know.”

“...”

“You’d better not enter a place like this with a man you can’t trust.”

The Duke's sharp nose was close enough to touch her. His whispering voice was clear.

“This is a place where lovers can quickly satisfy their lust.”

Chloe's breathing became ragged as she was unable to say anything. The Duke drove the wedge in as he watched her brown eyes shaking with watery eyes that seemed ready to spill out at any moment.

“Unless you’re doing it on purpose, hoping that rumors about me will spread.”

That was the end.

He stood up abruptly and walked out of the garden. After his shadow disappeared, she couldn't stand up for a long time, and finally, when the people had completely disappeared, she sighed and stood up. She realized belatedly that she didn't have her cane, but it didn't matter.

She held onto the hem of her dress tightly and walked back the way she had come, dragging her feet. She felt like she would give her life to the devil if only she could escape from the maze-like garden that someone had created right now.

The carriage that the Duke had clearly called was already waiting for her at the main gate. The party was now drawing to a close, and it was her turn to be kicked out. The night when fireworks that decorated the sky burst with a pop, pop, sound. Chloe held back tears until the very end in the carriage that passed through the beech forest, but when she discovered the rose petals that had been tangled with the hem of her dress, she buried her face in her hands.

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