Chapter 28
The person lying sprawled on the ground, spewing blood, was a servant who had been standing behind the Duke of Racton.
Ingis, realizing his neck was still intact, collapsed to the floor and burst into loud sobs.
“Faber. Make it look like that bastard fired the poisoned arrow. Say he was deeply infatuated with Aileen and shot it recklessly to ruin the engagement ceremony—and that Craig was simply unlucky. I’ll write it that way to the Emperor.”
“I’ll place a bow and arrows in the dead servant’s quarters.”
Faber, who had been standing by the door, left to carry out the Duke’s orders.
Hmm. Faber will handle things well enough, but there’s no way we can deceive the Emperor…
The Duke doubted the Emperor would truly believe it was the servant’s doing, but at least it would prevent a full-scale investigation.
“Ingis Racton, listen carefully. In a situation like earlier, instead of begging me to spare your life, you should have killed Federic. He’s the one who pushed you into that predicament. Do you understand?”
At the Duke’s words, Federic let out a low chuckle, his cheek swollen.
What a madman!
This gathering hadn’t been arranged to kill Ingis.
It had been set up so that the younger brothers would abandon Federic—to punish him for disobeying orders and to clip his wings.
A truly fitting scheme for a father like him. Dwayne Racton was selfish and vicious to a sickening degree.
“I cannot let this matter slide. I hereby remove Federic from the line of succession for the ducal seat. Accordingly, the position of commander of the Black Lion Knights will also become vacant. The next head of the family will be decided by a tournament winner.”
As soon as the Duke finished speaking, the eyes of his four sons gleamed all at once.
Their minds were now filled with a single goal—winning the tournament.
“That will be all. You may leave.”
Thinking they needed to begin training immediately, the four sons rushed out of the study.
Only Federic remained standing.
“Have you gone deaf? Why aren’t you leaving? Shall I separate your head from your body like that servant’s?”
“Isn’t it strange that Damon Craig didn’t die, even after being struck by a poisoned arrow near the heart?”
“He must have been given an antidote.”
Wiping the blood from his sword, the Duke spoke indifferently.
“The Tara flower is lethally toxic. Even with an antidote, it causes paralysis, leaving one unable to move for over a week. Yet Damon Craig reportedly returned home in perfect condition.”
“……”
“I never had any ambition for the position of head. Use me like a mercenary. I’ll investigate Damon Craig.”
After sheathing his sword, the Duke fell into thought.
Federic was not easy to control. If things didn’t go his way, he acted on his own, always causing trouble.
But among his children, he was the most skilled with a sword—and the most persistent. The Duke had never discarded someone with value.
“If you prove your loyalty to me first, I’ll use you like a mercenary.”
“I’ll do anything.”
“Anything, you say? Good. That’s how it should be. Then kill Clarissa.”
At the Duke’s words, Federic’s face darkened.
“Why must I kill Clarissa instead of Damon Craig?”
“Damon Craig is still useful, so he must be kept alive—for now. But Clarissa is no longer of any use.”
“Because Aileen obediently got engaged to Valentine?”
“You understand well. And since you’ve lost your senses over her, I’m ordering her death. Now, what will you do?”
It was a choice—either lose his standing in the family, or kill Clarissa.
Federic quickly noticed that the Duke had not yet sheathed his sword.
If I refuse, he’ll kill me!
In the end, biting his lip, Federic spoke.
“As long as Clarissa never appears in this world again… that’s enough, correct?”
“Make sure of it. If there is even the slightest mistake, there will be no forgiveness.”
“Understood.”
Only then did the Duke return his sword to its sheath.
“…It seems the poisoned arrow hit his brain instead of his heart. That must be why he was crying and even kneeling before me.”
Back in my room, I stomped my feet in frustration.
I had been so excited, thinking that once I stamped the divorce papers, a brand-new life would open before me—so the disappointment was overwhelming.
“Miranda, could you bring me some ice water? And a magic doll that blows cool air as well.”
It felt as if flames were blazing inside my chest.
After Miranda left, I fanned my flushed face vigorously.
Why did he suddenly change his mind? Why?!
The temple only issued divorce papers three times.
The first one Damon had burned to ashes. The second one he had torn apart.
“Now there’s only one chance left.”
If she brought it out carelessly and he tore it again, she would be stuck with him forever.
“No!”
Grabbing my head, I shook it fiercely.
As I sat there for a while, a commotion came from outside the window.
Curious, I stepped out onto the terrace—and my eyes widened in shock.
“Th-that… that lunatic!”
Right below my window, in front of the naked statue showering in the middle of the fountain, Damon had thrown off his shirt and was doing something.
At his command, servants brought bundles of plants and began digging the ground with shovels.
Damon went even further—he picked up a pickaxe and struck the ground forcefully.
“Mm!”
Every time he moved, his muscles rippled, forming a striking silhouette.
Wondering what on earth he was doing, I stared at him more closely.
His tall, sturdy frame, lined with tightly defined muscles, was practically a work of art.
For a moment, he even resembled the naked statue, making my face flush for no reason.
It looked like he was planting something in the flowerbeds—but why had he taken off his shirt?
“Milady! The ice water—!”
“Oh! You startled me.”
I hadn’t even been secretly peeking—I was openly staring—yet I still flinched in surprise.
“I’m sorry, Milady. I called you several times, but you didn’t respond. What exactly were you looking at—oh my!”
Miranda covered her reddening face with both hands.
“I have no idea what he’s doing. It’s so embarrassing.”
“The maids in the kitchen said that Master plans to plant thorn flowers all over the garden today.”
“Thorn flowers?”
I gasped in disbelief.
Why on earth is he planting thorn flowers in someone else’s yard?!
Since he had agreed to give me the Middletown estate, its lands, and one million Berk in the divorce, I already considered everything here mine.
So to me, it looked like a man planting thorn flowers in my yard without permission.
Worse, thorn flowers were incredibly resilient. Once a few seeds took root, it was only a matter of time before the entire garden became overrun.
Their tenacity was sometimes pitiful—and sometimes terrifying.
I wasn’t the only one who thought so.
There were even people who released moles that fed on thorn roots just to protect their gardens—driving the price of moles sky-high.
“I seriously can’t live like this!”
The thought of my garden being covered in thorn flowers within months made my blood boil.
I gulped down the ice water Miranda brought and fanned my face furiously.
Still unable to calm down, I paced around the bedroom.
I struggled so much to get him to agree to divorce—and now he overturned it in an instant. What am I supposed to do?
Maybe he was trying to drive me to collapse from stress.
“Miranda! I need to go out. Prepare everything.”
“Master said he’d be having lunch with you today, so the head chef is working hard on the meal.”
“Who gave him permission to order my chef around?!”
It was already infuriating that a man who was practically a stranger was planting thorn flowers in my yard—and now he was bossing around my chef?
I truly hated Damon.
I had demanded a divorce in fury, yet he acted like nothing had happened.
He could at least stay out of my sight for a while—or leave after changing clothes like he used to!
But instead, he was right outside my window, shirtless, planting thorn flowers as if to provoke me.
“Milady, please calm down. Your blood pressure seems high—your face is very red.”
“I don’t think I can calm down like this.”
Still fuming, I plopped down in front of the vanity.
“Just prepare me for going out quickly. At this rate, I might collapse.”
“Yes, Milady.”
Miranda nodded, as if she understood.
She had seen me endure endless neglect. Sometimes, when I caught her looking at me with pity, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Even from an outsider’s perspective, it was pitiful—and having lived through it, it was unbearably humiliating.
Not long ago, Damon had treated me like an object and said Valentine could have me.
And now he wanted to remain my husband?
Anyone could see how absurd that was.
As I tried to suppress my anger, Miranda brushed my hair and pinned it up neatly.
A gentle breeze touched my exposed neck, easing my mood slightly.
It’s fine. The train keeps moving even if dogs bark.
Muttering the saying to myself, I made up my mind.
I would reach my destination no matter what—seeking my safety, my happiness, and living freely in my own paradise.
Wearing a light linen dress and a wide-brimmed hat, I prepared to leave.
The sun felt especially harsh today, but since I planned to sell the gold, magic stones, and magic items I had collected yesterday, I would need to travel around.
To get the best price, I might even have to go as far as Carrion, on the outskirts of the capital.
Carrion—also known as the artisan village or the dwarf village—was inhabited by people as small as ten-year-olds, even as adults.
With their small hands, they could craft intricate items, and their creations sold for high prices.
They were said to be honest and paid generously for quality materials—making them ideal trading partners.
Thinking I might as well make money out of spite, I headed toward the carriage outside the estate.
“Clarissa!”
Damon approached, now freshly washed, a faint fragrance lingering on him.
He usually wore black shirts, but today he wore a white one—with three buttons undone.
Through the opening, the wound on his left chest—where the arrow had pierced him—was visible.
Why does that scar look like a heart?
The wound had healed into a shape that looked almost deliberately heart-shaped.
What shocked me even more—
Was the way Damon was looking at me.
