125.

Dante scowled fiercely.

“Who are you to carelessly call her name like that?”

“Oh, I apologize if I upset you. I’m just used to it, that’s all.”

Marguerite apologized politely.

But her words carried a strange undertone.

“Used to it,” she said.

How long had it even been since Elze joined under Kalleid, and already they were on such familiar terms that she would call her ‘Elze’ so casually?

It was as if they had been close long before now, as if she had been calling her ‘Elze’ for much longer…

Suddenly, Dante’s eyes widened.

‘What is this?’

The winter garden had transformed, now filled with blooming red roses.

In the middle of it, Elze was kneeling on the ground.

Blood was pouring from her frail body, the ground soaked in it.

‘Elze!’

No matter how fast he ran, he felt like he could never reach her.

Dante screamed so hard his throat bled.

At the sound of his scream, ‘someone,’ who had been looking down at Elze like a broken toy, turned their gaze toward him.

Those eyes, so cold and indifferent…

“Ugh.”

It was like a shard of glass was stabbing into his temple.

A sharp headache struck him.

Dante clutched his head, staggering for a moment.

Then, a slender hand reached out to support him.

“Are you alright?!”

It was Marguerite.

Dante shuddered, pushing her away.

“Don’t touch me!”

He gritted his teeth, glaring at the woman with the angelic silver hair and green eyes.

“…Who are you, really?”

Even Dante knew it in his mind.

The discomfort he felt, just because Marguerite resembled his mother, was his own problem.

The woman hadn’t done anything wrong.

But still, he felt a maddening unease.

The instincts that had saved his life so many times before were screaming at him now.

He had to avoid this woman.

He absolutely could not get involved with her…

“I’m sorry, Marquis, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Marguerite answered innocently.

Then she looked him over, concern written on her face.

“More importantly, you don’t seem well… Should I call a doctor?”

“Get lost.”

Dante snapped harshly, brushing past Marguerite.

Marguerite watched his retreating back, her expression unreadable.

“…So, he’s already starting to regain his memories? Sooner than I thought.”

A meaningless smile played on her pretty lips.

“The day this game ends isn’t far off…”

As she murmured those words, Marguerite’s face was hollow, as if all emotion had worn away after spending far too long alone…

Like a sage who had lost interest in everything.

* * *

After crying in Brigitte’s arms for quite some time, I finally pulled myself together.

“I’m sorry, Brie.”

I pulled away from her embrace, looking a little embarrassed.

“It’s been so long since we’ve met, and here I am making a scene.”

“Making a scene? Don’t say things like that between friends.”

Brigitte responded firmly, looking at me with concern.

“But more importantly, why are you so thin? Are you eating properly? Goodness, if a strong wind blows, you might just fly away.”

Her words made my heart clench.

It had been so long since someone showed me such sincere care and concern.

“I…”

Just as I was about to respond—

Bang!

The door swung open without even a knock.

The person who suddenly barged into the lounge was none other than Lucian.

Lucian stared at me coldly.

“It’s time to go, Lady.”

His tone was commanding, as if he wouldn’t accept any refusal.

Brigitte’s eyes trembled with unease.

“Duke, are you leaving already?”

Brigitte desperately tried to hold him back.

“Elze still needs some rest. She’s so weak right now…”

“I’m sorry, Countess Martin.”

But Lucian coldly cut her off mid-sentence.

“Lady Lepherian can rest just as comfortably at the townhouse of the Ducal family.”

“…”

Brigitte instinctively turned to look at me.

Her eyes, filled with worry, gazed at me intently.

‘If I stay here any longer, it will only put more strain on Brigitte.’

I bit my lip, then stood up.

“I was really happy to see you today.”

I forced a smile and said goodbye to Brigitte.

With an indescribable expression, Brigitte pulled me into a tight hug.

She whispered softly into my ear.

“Elze, do you remember what I said the day I left?”

“Of course.”

How could I forget? The sunny weather had blessed her as she departed, like a blessing on her future.

[If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Alright?]

Those soft, tender words Brigitte left behind, like feathers.

She patted my back and continued.

“That promise still stands. You know that, right?”

“…Thank you.”

I felt something swell deep in my chest.

Lucian, who had been watching me silently, let out a sigh and extended his arm toward me.

“Let’s go, my lady.”

The hand extended to me felt like shackles.

After taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on his arm.

“Yes, let’s go.”

With that, I left with Lucian.

* * *

Benedict stood alone in the corner of the ballroom.

Many nobles were vying for even a single word with the head of the Schmaikel Merchant Guild, but his intelligent violet eyes were fixed on the two people exiting the ballroom.

‘He’s acting as if he’s Elze’s protector.’

Benedict clenched his teeth.

[Is this because of Elze?]

Marguerite’s soft whisper echoed in his ears.

[If that’s the case, I might have a solution…]

At that moment, Benedict clenched his fist tightly.

‘I can’t just stand by like this.’

Elze.

The woman who, for the first time in his life, made him choose something other than profit.

The one who made him feel a strange thirst whenever he saw her.

A woman he desperately wanted to hold onto.

He knew it wasn’t rational.

He knew this choice might bring great damage to both the Schmaikel Merchant Guild and the Luneburg County.

But none of that mattered.

Benedict could no longer stand watching Lucian monopolize Elze.

* * *

Dante left the imperial ball early.

There was no reason to stay longer, especially since Elze had already gone home.

Besides, Marguerite made him uneasy.

As soon as he boarded the carriage, Dante spoke to Liam.

“Liam, I need some Nyx.”

“Nyx?”

Liam tensed up immediately.

Since Dante had taken full control of the underworld after long battles between organizations, there hadn’t been much need for Nyx.

“Is there unrest within the subordinate organizations? Or do you need to extract a confession from someone…?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Dante answered calmly.

“I’ll be using it myself.”

“W-What?”

Liam blinked, doubting his own ears.

But Dante, still expressionless, dropped another bombshell.

“Make sure it’s about 70% pure.”

“Marquis, have you finally lost your mind?”

Liam turned to Dante, his face serious.

“Seventy percent? You know even in extreme cases, we never use more than 50% purity!”

Usually, even 10% was more than enough.

Some could endure Nyx even at higher doses, and among those rare few, some could survive up to 50%.

But no one survived beyond that.

They all ended up committing suicide.

And yet here he was, asking for 70%?

“Is losing Lady Elze weighing on you so heavily that you wish to turn yourself into a vegetable? Or are you hoping to end your life?”

Unable to hold back, Liam continued to mock him.

Dante narrowed his eyes.

“Liam.”

“No sane person would inject themselves with Nyx at 70% concentration!”

Normally, Liam would have backed down, apologizing. But now, he was glaring back at Dante, challenging him.

That’s how dangerous the order was.

Dante knew this too, so instead of blaming Liam, he clicked his tongue.

“I’m not trying to turn into a vegetable, nor do I plan to die.”

“Then why are you doing this all of a sudden?!”

“There’s something I need to find out.”