126.

In the garden earlier, when Dante encountered Marguerite, a vivid, piercing vision flashed through his mind—a memory so intense, it lingered before his eyes.

He saw crimson blood soaking the ground and Elze’s pale, resigned face, devoid of all hope. And he saw himself… unable to save her in the end.

“I have to find out more.”

He resolved, his instincts whispering, the same instincts that had saved him from countless assassination attempts. The vision he’d witnessed earlier was of utmost importance—something he must remember in full.

That vision… it had even overlapped with the nightmare he’d dreamed in his own room.

True, perhaps the dream had been so haunting that it simply resurfaced again without warning. But of all people, why had he recalled that dreadful vision the very moment he crossed paths with Marguerite, the woman he already felt uneasy around?

…And didn’t Marguerite possess a strange power that could restrain Lucian’s frenzy?

It could be an unnecessary worry.

But.

“Better to be certain than let this suspicion fester,” he thought, his gaze growing colder.

Nyx.

In essence, it serves as a stimulant. It heightens one’s sensitivity to pain, making the sensation during torture excruciatingly intense, breaking down mental barriers. Those injected with Nyx become vulnerable to interrogation, readily confessing under pressure.

Among Nyx’s various side effects, however, one stands out as particularly deadly…

“Remember Philip? The one we injected with a 70% dose.”

“Oh, the one who completely lost his mind?” Liam replied knowingly.

That was a distant memory now. Back in the days when Dante fought vicious battles against various factions, aiming to unify the underworld, Philip had been the last boss of a resisting organization.

Dante had nearly died during the war with that faction. Fueled by revenge, he’d ordered a 70% dose of Nyx to be injected into Philip.

Philip had eventually succumbed to hallucinations and visions, taking his own life. Among his delusions, one had been especially noteworthy:

[“Aaagh, Richard, you bastard! How could you kill Father?”]

Richard was Philip’s father and the previous boss. Yet, in his delirium, Philip seemed to be speaking as though he had another father entirely.

Watching Philip express such hostility toward Richard, Dante had been puzzled and started digging into their family history.

And eventually…

A high-ranking member of Philip’s organization testified. In truth, Philip wasn’t Richard’s son but his much younger brother. Richard had assassinated their father to seize the boss’s position, but in the process, he’d sustained severe injuries, rendering him incapable of having children. So he’d raised Philip as his son, keeping the truth from him.

Philip had grown up truly believing Richard was his father.

“Philip remembered a past he’d even forgotten himself, right?”

“And you want to inject someone else with a 70% dose just because of that one case?”

“We can have a doctor on standby.”

“Are you joking with me right now?”

Liam protested, his tone stern. But Dante remained firm.

“This is necessary.”

“Ah… really…”

Though Liam ground his teeth, there was no changing Dante’s mind.

“Understood. However, if I determine that there’s any risk to the Marquess’s health, I’ll stop the injection immediately. Do you understand?”

“Do as you wish.”

Dante nodded, settling deeply into the carriage seat. Beyond the window, he could see the shadowed cityscape stretching out before him. It was a familiar view he’d seen countless times… yet tonight, an inexplicable sense of foreboding weighed on him.

* * *

Some time had passed since the imperial ball had ended. Yet, Lucian showed no signs of fulfilling his promise. He seemed entirely absorbed in quieting the discontent of his vassals and attending to his duties as the head of his family.

At first, I thought I could wait patiently.

“Lucian must have his reasons.”

I told myself. Pressuring him too much could easily backfire.

But days turned into weeks. We shared meals, made idle conversation, and occasionally, he’d act almost childishly around me. Yet, he showed no hint of upholding his promise.

“Your Grace.”

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I cautiously approached Lucian.

“Have you had any progress with finding me a house?”

“A house?”

Lucian looked at me blankly, as if hearing about this for the first time. A deep unease settled within me.

“Yes. You mentioned helping me find a place in the capital and introducing me to some acquaintances…”

“Oh, that?”

Lucian’s gaze fell dismissively to the document in his hands.

“Sorry, but it’ll take a bit longer.”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears.

“What… what do you mean by that?”

“There have been some unfavorable rumors circulating about you recently.”

I clenched my fists tightly. I knew this would happen. The imperial ball had been the last place I needed attention, but there, caught between Dante and Lucian’s conflict, I’d become the talk of society. People’s animosity toward me only intensified, rumors growing more twisted as they spread.

Before I knew it, I had become a notorious villainess, someone who’d allegedly caused a scene at the imperial ball in an attempt to secure a man’s affection.

“With such rumors, it’s not exactly wise to send you out on your own,” Lucian added casually.

“But, Your Grace…!”

I’d clung to that promise as my only lifeline. Even if I couldn’t completely escape Lucian’s grasp, I thought I could at least create a bit of distance.

“Elze.”

Thud.

Lucian placed his pen down with a sharp sound and looked up at me with a chilling gaze.

“I said I’d help you. You only need to wait a little longer.”

“…”

“Or do you not trust me?”

The thinly veiled threat in his voice made my heart turn cold. Had Lucian ever intended to keep his promise from the beginning? The thought tightened around my chest.

But just then…

Knock, knock.

The sound of a knock shattered the silence, and Lucian glanced toward the door.

“Come in.”

A maid entered, casting a side glance at me, and I felt a slight unease. While Lucian’s servants often viewed me with disdain, they at least kept their behavior in check when he was present. Lucian wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect toward me.

But this time…

“Her gaze is harsher than usual.”

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“You.”

Lucian’s voice cut through the air as he raised an eyebrow, glaring at the maid.

“What was that disrespectful look you just gave Lady Lepherian?”

Realizing her mistake, the maid immediately bowed her head, her face pale.

“I-I’m sorry, my lord!”

“If you were truly sorry, you wouldn’t have dared in the first place.”

Lucian’s voice was sharp as he scolded her.

“How many times have I told you to treat Lady Lepherian with the utmost respect?”

“It’s all right, Your Grace,” I interjected hastily, trying to calm him. As it was, I was already hated by everyone in Kalleid. If I could bear such a small slight, I’d rather let it go.

If Lucian were to actually punish the maid for something so minor, it would only stoke the resentment of the townhouse staff further. My position was precarious enough; the last thing I wanted was to create more issues.

I’d be leaving the Duke of Kalleid’s estate soon enough… assuming, of course, that Lucian kept his promise before then.

“Sigh.”

Lucian let out a long sigh, his piercing gaze lingering on the maid.

“So, what is it that you need?”

“Well… a visitor has arrived.”

“A visitor?”

Lucian’s frown deepened.

“I thought I’d made it clear that all visitors were to be turned away?”

“Yes, Your Grace, I understand. But this particular visitor is here to see Lady Lepherian.”

Me?

I was taken aback. There were only a handful of people who would even think to visit me—Dante, Lucian, Benedict, Brigitte, or perhaps Marguerite. Beyond them… no one came to mind.

Then it struck me. A chill ran down my spine.

There was one more—someone bound to me by blood, an unwelcome connection I’d long wished to sever.

*My family.*

The Lepherian household.

And as if to confirm my worst fears, the maid announced the name I’d dreaded to hear.

“Viscount and Viscountess Lepherian are here to see you, my lady.”