119.

“Yes, I’m perfectly in my right mind.”

Lucian replied coldly, leaving Benedict visibly stunned.

“Are you doing this because you don’t know what Marquis Offenheir might do if he sees Lady Lepherian?” Benedict shot back, his voice laced with frustration.

“It would be much safer to move her somewhere the Marquis can’t track. Kalleid’s territories are likely already under Offenheir’s surveillance, so if it’s difficult, perhaps Luneberg would be better…”

Lucian’s gaze turned icy at those words.

“Oh? Are you suggesting moving her to Luneberg so you can take her under your care instead?”

“……”

Benedict was momentarily silent, the accusation hitting its mark.

But only for a moment.

“How long do you intend to keep Lady Lepherian under your control, Duke?” Benedict’s eyes flashed sharply as he glared at Lucian.

Lucian’s expression remained calm and indifferent.

“Forever.”

“…What did you say?”

Benedict thought he must have misheard, but Lucian repeated himself with a serene expression.

“I said I’ll keep Lady Lepherian by my side for the rest of her life.”

“Listen, Duke…!”

“It’s better for her too. She’ll be much safer under my protection than under the Luneberg Count’s.”

Lucian spoke evenly, the corners of his mouth curving upward in a twisted smile.

“You wouldn’t disagree with that, would you?”

“……”

“Not someone as logical and rational as the head of the Schmaikel Trading Company.”

Benedict gritted his teeth so hard it almost hurt.

‘That snake!’

What infuriated Benedict the most was knowing that Lucian was deliberately provoking him…

…but having no grounds to argue back.

Though the Luneberg family had risen to prominence through the success of the Schmaikel Trading Company, it still couldn’t compare to the ducal house of Kalleid.

“Where is Lady Lepherian?” Benedict demanded, his voice harsh.

“I need to ask her directly if she truly wants your protection…!”

“There’s no need for that.”

Lucian shook his head firmly.

“Whether she wants it or not, she will remain under my protection.”

A strange light flickered in his blue eyes.

“If only to prevent her from being dragged back to Marquis Offenheir.”

That light in his eyes…

…was often referred to as madness by those who knew him.

* * *

Bang!

The door slammed shut with enough force to nearly break it.

“Ha, this is driving me insane.”

Benedict stormed through the hallway, his head pounding with rage.

Just then, a bright voice called out.

“Benedict!”

He turned to see Marguerite approaching quickly.

“My goodness, what’s going on?”

Her clear green eyes were full of concern as she looked up at Benedict.

“Did you and Lucian have a fight?”

At her question, Benedict’s frayed composure snapped.

“Damn it, I can’t understand what the Duke is thinking!”

Normally, Benedict was careful not to show such loss of control in front of others, but…

…he couldn’t hold back in front of Marguerite.

“He’s planning to expose Lady Lepherian to Marquis Offenheir! Is he out of his mind…?!”

The anger he had been holding in poured out.

“If Marquis Offenheir finds Lady Lepherian, there’s no telling how he’ll react!”

“Oh dear… I understand why you’re upset,” Marguerite nodded sympathetically.

After venting for a while about Lucian’s reckless decision, Benedict finally let out a long sigh.

“Hah, Marguerite,” he said, running a hand through his hair, his voice softer now, “you’re the only one who really understands me…”

But just then, something caught Benedict’s eye through the large window.

In the middle of the secluded backyard, Elze was standing alone.

It was nearing early winter, and the once-green leaves had all fallen.

Under the pale sky, the bare tree branches jutted out like spears.

Elze’s red hair, like dried roses, fluttered in the wind.

She looked like a flower on the verge of withering, touched by frost.

…There was something strangely lonely about her appearance.

“Why is Lady Lepherian outside?” Benedict asked.

“Oh, I think she likes the backyard,” Marguerite shrugged lightly. “She’s been out there a lot lately.”

“It’s cold out… What if she catches a cold?”

A rare hint of concern flickered across Benedict’s usually calculating violet eyes.

Somehow, he felt as if he understood what Elze must be feeling.

The oppressive atmosphere where everyone seemed to be against her must be unbearable.

‘Especially for someone as perceptive as Lady Lepherian.’

Benedict clicked his tongue softly and started walking toward the backyard.

“I should go talk to her.”

Marguerite, meanwhile, watched Benedict’s concerned expression with curiosity.

‘How interesting.’

After all, sympathy was not an emotion that suited someone as cold and rational as a businessman.

And Benedict, who always calculated his every move…

…seemed to forget all about that when it came to Elze.

But in the end, Benedict didn’t get the chance to meet her.

“You cannot pass.”

A large knight stood in Benedict’s way.

“It’s an order from the Duke.”

“An order?”

“Yes, the Duke has commanded that no one be allowed near Lady Lepherian.”

“What the—!”

Benedict’s anger flared so intensely that it felt like his vision turned red. He was on the verge of losing his temper completely.

Seeing the situation escalate, Marguerite stepped forward.

“Sir Mason?”

“Lady Marguerite?” Mason’s expression softened slightly upon seeing her.

With both hands clasped together, Marguerite made a heartfelt plea.

“Benedict just wants to see Elze. It’s been such a long time since he last saw her. Could you make an exception, just for a moment?”

Mason looked troubled.

“The Duke’s orders were very strict…”

“Please, Sir Mason. Just for a little while, okay?” Marguerite blinked up at him, her eyes wide and pleading.

At that moment, something unusual happened.

Marguerite’s deep green eyes glimmered, an eerie light flickering within them.

“Ah…”

Sir Mason’s gaze became unfocused, his expression dazed.

At the same time, Elze, standing in the garden, flinched and turned to look in their direction, her shoulders tense.

However, Benedict didn’t notice Elze’s strange reaction. He, too, was taken aback by what had just transpired.

“Marguerite?”

Did you just use your magic? Benedict’s eyes asked the silent question.

But Marguerite only responded with an innocent, cheerful smile.

‘This is… unsettling.’

Benedict felt a shiver run down his spine. Sometimes, when he saw Marguerite’s genius at work, it left him feeling both overwhelmed and unnerved.

Her ability to manipulate magic was rare, even more so due to her unique constitution—magic deficiency syndrome.

Normally, someone like Marguerite wouldn’t be able to wield magic freely. Yet, she had found a way to use the magic of others, like Benedict and Lucian, at will, applying it with remarkable precision.

Meanwhile, Benedict, despite having a much greater reserve of magic, could only manage to power magical artifacts with his abilities.

‘And yet, she can do this effortlessly…’

After a brief pause, Sir Mason snapped back to his senses, letting out a long sigh.

“Fine, but only for five minutes. I’ll allow it because of Lady Marguerite.”

“Of course! Thank you so much, Sir Mason!” Marguerite beamed as she quickly stepped into the garden.

Benedict hurried after her.

“Elze.”

Elze glanced briefly at Benedict as he approached.

Though she had escaped from Dante, her fragile appearance remained unchanged. She looked as if a gust of wind might scatter her like dust.

Benedict clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress his frustration.

Elze offered him a faint, soft smile.

“What brings you here, Count Luneberg? I thought you were busy.”

“Busy…!”

Benedict started to respond sharply but stopped himself. Instead, he quickly shifted to his real concern.

“So, are you planning to stay here?”

“……”

Elze’s clear, unreadable eyes gazed at him in silence.

Benedict pressed further.

“Come with me.”

Still, Elze did not immediately respond. She remained silent, her expression unreadable.

As the silence stretched, Benedict’s agitation only grew.

“Why are you staying silent? Don’t tell me you’re actually planning to remain here?”

He continued to question her, growing more desperate with each word.

Finally, Elze nodded lightly.

“Yes.”

Her calm reply caused Benedict’s expression to harden, his face turning grim.