Chapter – 12
Moreover, at first, she had thought the dark crimson eyes that were staring at her were extremely dangerous, but later, that wasn’t the case. Just looking at them seemed to radiate a heat that made her feel as if her body itself was warming up.
“Haah…”
Whenever she recalled what had happened yesterday, those thoughts completely overwhelmed her mind.
“Am I crazy? Am I really… perverted? To have felt that way in that situation?”
I want him to touch me more. I want him to look at me more. I want him to kiss me more.
“You’re insane, insane! You almost died yesterday!”
Trying to hide her inner thoughts, she spoke roughly and hit her head, but that sensation still seemed to coil itself in her stomach, ready to surge up at any moment.
“Ugh…!!”
Grasping her scattered thoughts while feeling a sensation she had never experienced before, Ferdia stood up from her seat.
“I need to question what you did to me.”
I have no guilt!
“Have you returned, Marquis? How did things go…?”
“Shut your mouth and just get moving.”
With eyes like daggers, he glared at the coachman, baring his teeth as if growling. The coachman swallowed nervously, sweating as he quickly took his seat and gripped the reins.
Once aboard, the Marquis looked across at Count Axia, who sat opposite him. Count Axia was his loyal right-hand man, someone who benefited from his aura. Though a member of a noble house, his influence rivaled that of the marquis’ family, making him Halrian’s devoted subordinate.
“Seems like something unpleasant happened, Marquis.”
Halrian appreciated him. Skilled people could be found anywhere, but someone who could read the room and act tactfully like this was rare. Halrian loosened a tight button on his collar, frowned, and muttered.
“The insolent youngster mocked me.”
“He’s just inexperienced and doesn’t know fear yet, Marquis.”
When Count Axia spoke gently, Halrian grinned and looked out the window. A smile appeared at the corner of the count’s mouth, prompting him to continue.
“Perhaps he was just worried you might interfere with his business, so you needn’t worry too much.”
“His business, huh…”
Halrian mulled over the words, rubbing his coarse chin. Having spent many years navigating the political scene, he could almost guess how the world turned just by observation.
But this matter with Erev was impossible to make sense of. He couldn’t fathom what motives lay behind those actions, why such behavior had suddenly emerged. The empire’s most powerful noble family risked everything to take a traitor in. It was an incomprehensible move. Halrian glanced at Count Axia, assessing him carefully.
“What’s your opinion?”
The count’s eyes flicked back to him, wary of the verbal arrow pointed at him. Answer wrong, and one could lose their life—but he was a flexible shield.
“How could I know what you don’t, Marquis? I can only speculate based on your words.”
“Tch… is that so?”
The Marquis clicked his tongue, pleased with the answer, and Count Axia’s eyes sparkled as he spoke further.
“However, I do have a plan.”
“A plan?”
“Yes. Why not pursue marriages with the remaining children of the Poeheim family as well? The second son is reportedly unmarried, and I have a youngest daughter. I could make the first move to establish a bond and observe the situation from there.”
“…I see.”
The Marquis’ eyes gleamed at what seemed a rather solid proposal, and he nodded slightly.
“That’s not bad.”
His praise pleased Count Axia. Knowing this, he quickly added,
“There’s no need for your family to bear any burden. Our family will take responsibility, and you will simply reap the results.”
“Axia, I wouldn’t place all the responsibility on you like that.”
Laughing, he stroked his chin with a bright expression. Even though he spoke lightly, the Marquis of Nedberg would not intervene if there was even a hint of danger. Halrian shook his head with a smooth smile.
“Rest assured, Marquis.”
“If you say so… I shall entrust it to you.”
With that, the Marquis, as if endorsing him, even hinted at sharing a glass of wine later. Count Axia’s eyes gleamed, seizing the opportunity.
‘Don’t worry, Marquis.’
A faint smile curved his lips.
Ferdia’s footsteps toward Erev’s study faltered slightly. She wondered if that Nedberg person had already left and pressed her ear to the door to catch voices inside. People glanced oddly at her, but she didn’t care. Focusing her hearing, she listened.
“No matter how much you are the head of the Nedberg family, if you dare call Ferdia a madwoman or a lunatic again in my house, know that your neck will be next.”
His voice rang sharply in her ears. Ferdia’s eyes narrowed slightly. She vaguely realized that if a Nedberg family member had come, Erev would likely speak about her.
Was he going to say something unpleasant? She could guess. And she already understood that Erev’s actions—taking her, a so-called criminal of the empire, as his wife—were incomprehensible. Killing her would make sense, but welcoming her as the mistress of the Griksia family? That was beyond reason.
Thus, she assumed the Nedberg visitor’s words would likely concern this. She also did not care much about how Erev evaluated her. After all, the person who saved her life—who healed her—held all the initiative.
He had the power to kill her, drive her out, or treat her as prey. But Erev had given her freedom of choice, and she had naturally accepted it. Yet, all of this was merely an illusion.
“I may overlook anyone speaking ill of Ferdia elsewhere, but in my house, where I set foot, I won’t tolerate it.”
It was only possible because he looked favorably upon her. She could lean on his kindness. That was all.
“I…”
Just as the fiery warmth within her began to cool, footsteps approached the door. Ferdia quickly slipped into the adjacent room, peeking through the gap to watch the Marquis of Halrian, who looked angry. The conversation had likely been unsatisfying.
Once he disappeared from sight, Ferdia cautiously stepped out and hesitated before entering the study.
“Gone?”
After speaking with the Marquis of Halrian, Erev turned to the window to look outside, still holding onto his displeasure. Then he heard Ferdia’s voice. The chair he had been turning froze, and he turned to face the door. Ferdia’s hair brushed past him as she entered, lifting his mood.
She simply looked at him. His voice lingered in her ears, and he silently observed, anticipating her decision.
After a brief silence, Ferdia finally spoke.
“Do you know what I’m going to say?”
“Well, I just hope it’s something pleasant when I hear it.”
He was expecting her answer.
‘My choice.’
The word “choice” felt unbearably heavy. One word from her could change the future, and no one could predict how. But she could not turn her back.
To the one who had saved her life, who had treated her wounds, whose warm hands had shown her kindness—she could not coldly dismiss him. Even if it meant fleeing a ruined kingdom, she would have to hide forever. Returning to her family could put them all in danger.
Revenge from those who lost everything was relentless.
Most importantly, he was her benefactor. She could not ignore his favor. No matter how uncertain the future, she could not turn away now.
“I’ll do as you wish.”
“What?”
“This time, I’ll give the choice to you.”
“To me?”
Erev tilted his head in confusion, and Ferdia subtly looked away.
“Whether to live with me, or not.”
At her words, Erev’s stunned expression broke into a wide grin.
“I shall follow your will, my lady.”
He bowed elegantly and took her hand. Ferdia watched him quietly and let out a small chuckle.
“There will be hardships ahead.”
“I’ll endure them.”
To survive, one had to bear that much. Erev’s hand softly brushed along her palm as he looked into her eyes.
“I may not be able to reunite you with your family.”
“…That’s a bit much, but you’ll try, right?”
“Of course. As long as you wish, Fedi, I’ll do anything.”
“That’s fine, then. And subduing you… right?”
“Isn’t it hard?”
“That’s part of it, and you know the drill—once a month, it’s not difficult.”
Ferdia answered calmly as she took a seat. Instead of a reply, silence filled the room. Curious, she tilted her head and saw Erev avert his gaze awkwardly, handing her a silver sword.
“You should keep this.”
“Why?”
“…Never mind.”
“What? I didn’t hear that.”
Her timid voice made it hard to catch his first words. Erev sighed, seemingly giving up, and spoke again slowly.
“…It’s not once a month.”
“Then…?”
Ferdia furrowed her brows, and Erev’s expression became awkward.
“When the moonlight disappears, it’s almost always then.”
“….”
“During the rainy season, it’s a bit more intense. So in summer, I rarely leave my room.”
“…So it’s not just once?”
Her voice trembled in surprise as Erev hid his eyes and nodded vertically. Her anxiety grew with his motion.
“I might visit you often.”
“….”
“Oh, and I didn’t lie. I never said it was once a month, did I? If the conditions are met… then…”
Ferdia gripped the sword with trembling hands, glaring at Erev, who was blatantly enjoying himself.
“That’s cheating, you bastard!!”
