Two weeks had passed since the social season opened its curtains. With the major indoor events concluded, only one grand spectacle remained for the summer: the "Tour of Athena Island." Athena Island lay at the southernmost tip of the Empire's vast territory. It housed a breathtaking summer palace where the Emperor was mandated to spend at least one week every year, accompanied by high-ranking nobles. This tradition served a political purpose. If the rulers remained secluded i

Courtney flailed, a desperate scream clawing at her throat, but the thick cloth gag stifled every sound. In the manor, the hierarchy had shifted overnight. Paula had already been dragged away to begin her penance at the laundry, while Mrs. Becker gleefully claimed the Countess' office. Amidst the upheaval, Doly trembled. If I hadn't confessed the Madam's transgressions earlier, I would be next. She knew she was nothing more than a common fly to the cold-hearted Count. She had

A clean handkerchief served as a poor substitute for a dirty napkin, yet Odette considered it a luxury Courtney did not deserve. Despite this small mercy, the housekeeper's eyes remained flooded with a sense of rank injustice. Odette mocked her internally, turning her gaze toward the woman who still clung to Paula. [Sasha] "Not Paula. I have never begged you for anything, but I am begging you now." [Ulrich] "Sasha." [Sasha] "Not when you drained my dowry for your failing busi

But...... one single problem will gnaw at his mind. [Ulrich] "I do not understand. She went straight to the villa from the ball. How did she get her hands on the key in my pocket?" There it was. The inevitable question. He knew he had never shared a space with Paula, making it impossible for her to reach the dungeon key hidden in his coat. She spoke, her voice trembling with feigned hesitation. [Odette] "Father, I hesitate to speak, but I do not believe she acted alone. It se

The scene mirrored the coachman's testimony with haunting accuracy. [Ulrich] "Is that woman—no, is the child alive?" He corrected himself mid-sentence, catching the suspicious glint in his servant's eye. Too many witnesses stood present to allow his usual disdain to slip. [Ferdinand] "Odette! Odette!" Ferdinand sprinted to her side and struck her back with a heavy hand. [Odette] "Cough! Hack!" Water surged from her lungs, and Ferdinand let out a jagged breath of relief. He ho

[Bandit] "Hey, catch her!" [Bandit] "Get back here!" Her lungs expanded until her throat burned like a raw wound. Every swallow felt like a choice between thorns and fire. Her legs trembled, reaching their absolute limit, but stopping meant death—or a fate so hollow she would pray for death. She squeezed every ounce of strength from her failing muscles. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm of survival. Frigid winds whipped across her face, stinging like physi

Vanessa scanned the chaos with frantic eyes. The horse, spooked after its legs had buckled, already galloped into the distance. She turned her attention to Sir Siden. Though the bleeding had stopped, he remained unresponsive. Leaving him behind tasted like ash in her mouth, but staying meant certain capture. She drew a sharp breath—a silent apology—and bolted. [Vanessa] "Huff... huff......" Clutching her aching shoulder, she plunged into the depths of Mount Siltria. Tommy blo

Vanessa waited for Siden to lower the hammer before rushing forward to inspect the drawer. Inside the locked compartment, parchment lay in a thick, unruly stack. Siden pulled the entire pile out and placed it on the floor. The top layers depicted ordinary nature scenes—colorful flowers and trees rendered in the same paints she had seen on the table earlier. However, as she flipped through the pages, the botanical sketches gave way to portraits of a single person. The moment s

If he had discovered even a single clue, he would have shared it. His expression of regret rang entirely sincere. [Vanessa] "Actually, another one arrived just now." [Former Count] "What? Today as well?" She lowered the letter onto the table. The Former Count sighed, his face a map of confusion and growing concern. She kept her voice light, attempting to ease the heavy atmosphere. [Vanessa] "That is why I believe it is time for me to return to the capital." [Former Count] "To

[Ulrich] "I shall ask you again, Sasha. Do you undeniably believe that letter existed?" Since before their marriage, he had treated her as an inferior. He had made his dissatisfaction blatant at their wedding, followed by a relentless string of affairs. He was the first to lead the mockery when the social circles ridiculed her. And yet, I still considered that man the father of my son. Sasha believed that her son and the small world within this mansion were all she had gained

[Karl] "Actually, no one has ever scolded me. I have never been forgiven, either." [Odette] "......" It was bizarre. This boy, who usually wore a mask of stone, now displayed the most human expression she had ever seen. His genuine smile—something absent from her previous life, this life, and even the original game—unfolded before her. she [Odette] "......I hope your next wish has nothing to do with the Fenrir. I hope it is a wish for yourself." [Karl] "Master?" [Odette] "You

She opened her eyes to find herself in a cavernous bedroom. Bear furs draped the stone walls, their glass eyes staring into the void. Where am I? She turned, her gaze landing on a massive window. Beyond the glass, endless snowy fields stretched into the horizon, swallowed by a relentless blizzard. [Odette] "Is this...... inside the Royal Palace of the Fenrir Kingdom?" She traced the rough-hewn stone of the walls. Despite her thin dress, the biting chill of the north failed to

Ice coated her fingertips. Was I... trembling? Three years had passed, and she believed she had finally shaken off the weight of the past. Yet, dust-like remnants of those years still clung to the corners of her heart, forcing her to acknowledge his presence. That uncomfortable sensation always surged through her whenever they stood face-to-face. However, one thing had changed. Today, the pain that usually accompanied her nerves was nowhere to be found. [Declan] "The short ha

His blue eyes, stripped of their usual menacing edge, appeared unfocused and clouded. He carried the haggard look of a man who had spent several consecutive nights awake. She scrutinized his face before speaking. [Vanessa] "If this is about the medical expenses, my offer still stands. If today’s incident strained your injury, send a letter to the Evarn estate and......" [Declan] "You know that’s not what I want to talk about." His plea sounded fragile, a desperate attempt to

The soft rustle of fabric filled the air. A cloak settled onto her shoulders. Kalart had removed his own garment the moment she mentioned the chill. She clutched the edges of the cloak with both hands, her face still flushing a deep crimson despite the cold. Memories surged—vivid images of a day when she had worn nothing but a cloak over her bare skin. [Roserikta] "I feel as though I should start singing." She whispered the words. Kalart, who had been walking with his arm dra

[Roserikta] "Is something wrong with the Investiture Staff, Your Highness?" The night remained so quiet it seemed the brilliant moonlight had evaporated every sound. At this distance, she could hear his every breath—steady, then pausing, then deepening with an unspoken intensity. Fearing he might hear the frantic thundering of her own heart, she grasped at the first topic she could find. [Kalart] "Wrong?" He turned his gaze toward her, his eyes reflecting the silver moon. He