132.

“It’s actually far safer for her if she stays away from us.”

A deep shadow fell across his elegant features.

If only Elze had never become involved with him in the first place, she wouldn’t have caught Marguerite’s attention.

If that were the case, she wouldn’t have had to endure countless deaths.

She could have lived in peace, blissfully unaware…

Guilt pierced his heart like needles.

“…”

“…”

Silence filled the room.

Dante took a deep breath, struggling to calm the emotions that kept bubbling up inside him.

After a moment.

Brigitte, her expression composed, spoke coldly.

“Well, I’ll make sure the Offenheirs pay dearly for this debt.”

“Fine, whatever it takes.”

Brigitte tilted her chin up, locking her gaze with Dante’s.

“So, what is it you need me to do?”

* * *

After three days of being carted around like a piece of cargo in a carriage, I finally arrived.

The destination was a grand mansion in a desolate countryside village.

An eerie place, nearly devoid of people.

The mansion, perched on a high hill overlooking the entire village, had a disturbingly ominous aura.

“We have arrived, my lady.”

The escort knight, who was supposed to be guarding me but was really here to keep watch over me, extended his hand.

I took it as I stepped out of the carriage, a mocking smile tugging at my lips.

“Well, well. Look who it is.”

No less than Benedict himself had come to greet me.

“The esteemed Count of Luneburg, isn’t it? I’d imagine you’d be rather occupied with your conflict with Kalleid, yet here you are to welcome me.”

“…”

Even at my sharp tone, Benedict didn’t so much as bat an eye.

Instead, he studied my expression with careful attention.

“Was your journey uncomfortable in any way?”

“Well, if you’re truly concerned about my comfort, Count of Luneburg, you could simply remove yourself from the vicinity.”

Even though I knew that snapping at him wouldn’t help my situation at all, I couldn’t seem to stop myself from bristling.

Ever since I’d escaped from Dante’s safe house, Lucian and Benedict hadn’t once bothered to ask for my opinion.

The way they acted as though I was naturally expected to follow their commands…

It made me feel like some sort of doll they could toss around at will…

And just then—

“Elze!”

A lively voice called my name.

Under the gray sky, a woman ran toward me, her silvery hair billowing like sunlight breaking through the clouds.

It was Marguerite.

At the same time, a soft voice caressed my ear.

[A trampled flower has the most potent fragrance.]

A slender hand lifted my chin with a gentle touch.

Those vivid green eyes, brimming with a cruel smile…

[I can’t wait to see just how far your defiance will go.]

…Why is this voice surfacing now?

To hide the trembling in my fingers, I clenched my dress hem tightly.

* * *

Benedict excused himself, saying he had matters left to attend to, and went inside.

In his place, Marguerite clung to my side.

“I’m truly overjoyed to see you again, Elze.”

“I’m simply grateful for your warm welcome, Lady Marguerite,” I replied politely.

Marguerite’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

“By the way, how have you been lately?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you still having nightmares?”

…Nightmares, again.

Just seeing Marguerite’s face already brought back the haunting green eyes from those nightmares, making me feel uneasy. I had no desire to delve into this topic further, so I gave a vague reply.

“Of course not. I haven’t had a single one since then.”

“Really?”

Marguerite tilted her head, murmuring under her breath.

“That shouldn’t be possible…”

Why is she so convinced?

Feeling an odd sense of discomfort, I glanced over at Marguerite.

But she quickly changed the subject with a bright smile.

“Well, if Elze says so, it must be true. Oh, by the way, Benedict said he’d like to have dinner with you tonight.”

With Benedict?

Honestly, the thought of facing him made me uneasy, so I instinctively asked Marguerite.

“And you, Lady Marguerite?”

“Oh, I know how to take a hint.” She waved her hand playfully and smiled.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for just the two of you. It would be wrong of me to intrude.”

“…”

Thinking back, hadn’t she acted the same way with Lucian before?

I looked at her with a doubtful expression.

Marguerite pressed me with another question.

“So, Elze, what do you think of Benedict and Lucian?”

To hear such a question from the female protagonist of this world, who should be monopolizing the affections of those two men…

It was a strange feeling.

But—

‘Why does she keep asking about other people’s private matters?’

Suppressing my discomfort, I chose the safest response.

“They’re good people.”

“Is that all?”

“Should I feel more than that?”

At my sharp retort, Marguerite shrugged.

“I’m not saying you have to, but it would be nice if you did.”

“Why?”

I found myself growing increasingly tense.

Why does everything seem to deviate so much from the storyline I knew?

No matter how you look at it, the female protagonist of this world trying to push me together with the male leads…

Marguerite’s smile only grew deeper as she heard my question.

“Because it’s so much more entertaining that way.”

“…Entertaining?”

“Of course.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Marguerite continued in a tone that sounded almost instructive.

“You may not understand this yet, Elze, but a monotonous life can drive a person mad.”

Before me stood Marguerite, who looked no older than twenty, radiant and fresh.

And yet…

Why did those words feel so natural coming from her lips?

Why didn’t it feel out of place at all?

“I’ve known Lucian and Benedict for a very long time.”

For a very long time.

The phrase resonated with an unsettling echo.

Marguerite added cheerfully,

“So, I can’t help but know what they feel.”

“…And that is?”

“At the very least, both Lucian and Benedict hold special feelings for you. I’m certain of it.”

I stayed silent.

After all, Lucian had already expressed his feelings openly.

Benedict, too, had used my whereabouts as leverage, putting pressure on the entire duchy.

Pretending not to notice their emotions would make me the real fool here.

But—

‘Still, having her say it so bluntly… it’s uncomfortable.’

And then, out of nowhere, Marguerite asked,

“So, does that mean you still have lingering feelings for the Marquess of Offenheir?”

“…”

For the first time, I was at a loss for words.

Dante.

That name stirred up too many emotions within me.

Hatred and resentment.

Yet even now, just hearing his name made my heart ache as if pricked by a needle.

At the same time, Marguerite’s face became expressionless.

“…I see. Nothing’s changed,” she murmured softly to herself.

“Pardon?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Marguerite’s warm smile returned.

“Forgive me for keeping you for so long when you must be tired. A maid will come to fetch you once dinner is ready.”

With that, Marguerite rose to her feet.

As she walked briskly toward the door, she turned back one last time to look at me.

“Rest well, Elze.”

Click.

The door closed.

I stared at it, feeling as if I had just been spellbound.

* * *

That evening.

True to Marguerite’s words, Benedict extended an invitation to dine with him.

A private, formal dinner for just the two of us.

“Please, have a seat.”

Benedict, who had somehow managed to carve out time despite his busy schedule, gestured for me to sit.

I glanced around the room.

“And where is Lady Marguerite?”

“Marguerite decided to dine separately.”

Just earlier, she had gone on about this being a “perfect opportunity” for us to be alone.

It seemed she really had stepped aside.

‘But that just makes this all the more uncomfortable.’

Suppressing a sigh, I sat down.

“How is your room?”

“It’s comfortable.”

“Is there anything that you find inconvenient?”

“No.”

Our conversation was purely perfunctory.

Benedict seemed determined to make small talk, to engage me in some way.

And I continued to respond in curt, monosyllabic answers.

Still, I couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

‘Does this man… actually know how to gauge another person’s mood?’

During the Palasso negotiations, and even afterward at the Offenheir auction—

He had always been the picture of composure.

But my curiosity faded almost as quickly as it had come.

‘Well, it’s not really my concern.’

I had no obligation to consider Benedict’s feelings.

With that thought, I chose to simply tune him out.