"It must have been that painter."
"The painter, Your Grace?"
"Who else would fill Alicia’s head with such nonsense? He’s the most suspicious one."
Cabelenus twisted his lips in irritation as James came to mind.
"How should we handle him?"
"He needs to pay for spreading unnecessary rumors."
"The lady might come looking for him."
"He has been teaching her painting for some time now. And besides, the lady is emotionally… fragile at the moment."
Gajev trailed off cautiously, watching his superior’s reaction. Cabelenus and Alicia were in a state of cold war.
"It doesn’t matter. No… I suppose it does."
Cabelenus exhaled and rubbed his forehead.
A mere painter could be disposed of easily, but the timing was terrible.
If James were to disappear, Alicia would immediately suspect Cabelenus. And with the fragile trust between them already crumbling, that was not an option.
It was already difficult enough to endure her silent rejection.
Every time he stood before her closed door, Cabelenus had to suppress the urge to break it down and force his way inside.
"Make him talk first. Once he lets something slip, then we deal with him."
"You want him to confess?"
"I may have lost Alicia’s trust, but he has likely gained it in turn."
Cabelenus clenched his teeth, holding back his growing frustration. Gajev hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Your Grace, are you truly going through with the engagement?"
Cabelenus’s sharp gaze cut through him, causing Gajev to swallow dryly.
He had served Cabelenus long enough to know this was a warning.
Even so, he couldn’t ignore it.
"I know this is overstepping, but the lady—"
"If you know it’s overstepping, then don’t say it."
"Gajev Cloud, when did you become so emotional?"
Cabelenus adjusted his cravat, his face as unreadable as ever.
Gajev lowered his gaze, unable to argue further.
He understood the logic—sacrificing one for the greater good was the right choice.
But it was difficult to remain indifferent.
Alicia was no longer a stranger.
"She’s different, isn’t she?"
"She is the first person Your Grace ever wanted."
Gajev’s expression twisted.
No matter how much he tried to be logical, his emotions refused to be silenced.
"That’s why I intend to give her the place she deserves."
"But… the lady is suffering."
Cabelenus’s lips twitched slightly, a rare break in his otherwise emotionless facade.
Despite his calm demeanor, his insides burned like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
It had been days since their last conversation.
And Alicia had yet to send for him.
All he could hear were reports that she had locked herself in her room.
"I never wanted to hurt her… but things got complicated. All I can do now is wait for her to accept it."
"Do you really believe she will?"
Alicia had never forgotten her place.
She always adjusted herself accordingly, shaping her behavior to fit her position.
It had always bothered him before—her constant submission.
But now, he found himself relying on it.
"Eventually, she will understand. She will realize what it means to be in my position."
"She is no common woman. She never was, and she never will be."
Cabelenus’s jaw clenched.
Alicia now looked every bit the noblewoman, and she suited the role far too well.
There was no going back.
"In that case, let’s move up the plans."
"How long will it take to prepare the engagement ceremony?"
"Reduce it to a week."
"As long as the formalities are in place, the princess’s side won’t object. In fact, they’ll welcome it. Her father is dying—she will want to solidify her position before it’s too late."
Gajev hesitated, his expression uneasy.
Cabelenus turned to him with a cold smile.
"Is there a problem?"
"…Is this truly alright?"
"What if the lady finds out—"
"She’s anxious. But I can’t afford to let an opportunity slip through my fingers. There’s only one thing to do now."
Cabelenus exhaled slowly, straightening his posture.
He did not believe he was making the wrong choice.
Before being Alicia’s lover, he was the ruler of Schwarhan.
A ruler had to be pragmatic.
"Spare no expense. Make it as grand as the princess desires. Give her the most dazzling, magnificent ceremony as soon as possible."
"I do not repeat myself."
He lowered his head, knowing there was no room for further argument.
It was because he knew his place that he had remained Cabelenus’s most trusted aide for so long.
"Schwarhan must be the greatest."
"You haven’t forgotten that, have you?"
Cabelenus stared down at him.
For a moment, Gajev found himself speechless.
He had almost forgotten.
The long-standing ambition of his lord. And his own.
"…Forgive me. I lost sight of my duty for a moment."
Gajev firmed his resolve.
Cabelenus had never lost a battle.
He had always achieved the impossible.
And this time would be no different.
"It is only natural to use bait to catch prey."
And if that bait brings in more than just the intended target, so be it.
Cabelenus closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them.
For the first time in a long while, his golden irises gleamed with undisguised hunger.
"I do not fight losing battles. I use every tool at my disposal to ensure victory. This is no different."
Alicia’s presence had changed the game.
But the goal remained the same.
He had already made his choice.
To claim Alicia, he needed to collect every possible advantage.
Cabelenus ran a hand over his face, releasing a slow, heated breath.
Gajev turned, exchanging a glance with Cabelenus before opening it.
Beyond the threshold stood not just a servant—
But a familiar woman.
One of Alicia’s personal maids.
"Baroness Morco has sent word."
"Your Grace, Baroness Morco has sent word—"
Before Gajev could finish his sentence, Cabelenus cut him off.
Sijna hesitated before stepping into the room cautiously.
"Speak clearly. Is she asking for me?"
Cabelenus’s sharp gaze bore into her, making the young maid hiccup in fright.
Her face had already gone deathly pale.
"Why are you hesitating?"
"Your Grace, please—calm yourself."
Seeing the tension rise, Gajev stepped in to mediate.
Only then did Sijna manage to exhale the breath she had been holding.
"Just tell us, Sijna. What happened?"
Sijna glanced anxiously at Cabelenus, knowing that what she was about to say would cause an uproar.
But there was no avoiding it.
Closing her eyes tightly, she forced the words out.
"The lady has collapsed!"
"…What did you just say?"
Cabelenus let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Surely, she had heard wrong.
"M-my lady… Alicia has collapsed!"
Sijna’s voice trembled as though she were about to cry.
Cabelenus stared at her, as if struggling to process her words.
But the moment her meaning fully sank in—
His body acted before his mind could catch up.
"Your Grace! You’ve arrived!"
Baroness Morco greeted him frantically, but Cabelenus barely acknowledged her as he strode into the room.
Inside, the doctors bustled around Alicia’s unconscious form.
"She is unresponsive."
Cabelenus gritted his teeth.
Alicia lay motionless, her face pale as death itself.
For a horrifying moment, she looked less like a sleeping person and more like a corpse.
"I-I apologize, Your Grace, but we are doing everything we can—"
"She has been under immense strain recently. Her body simply couldn’t handle it."
"Then you should have paid more attention!"
Cabelenus turned on the doctors, voice like a whip.
"How could you let her reach this state?"
"The lady refused to see anyone…"
Baroness Morco covered her mouth, unable to finish her sentence.
Her hands shook uncontrollably.
She had been the one to find Alicia collapsed.
"Summon every physician in the castle."
"Your Grace, that would expose her location."
Gajev stepped forward immediately.
They had been meticulously guarding Alicia’s whereabouts.
Even now, spies posed as doctors to infiltrate the castle—they had already caught several.
If they made a scene, it would only invite trouble from Veloa and her faction.
"And what? You expect me to just leave her ?"
"The doctors attending to her now are among the most skilled in the castle. For now, we should wait—"
Cabelenus’s fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped onto the floor.
His nails had dug into his own skin.
"Your Grace, your hand—"
"What matters is her. Nothing else."
Cabelenus looked at Alicia, lying motionless in bed.
He had convinced himself he had no regrets.
Now, all he could feel was guilt.
He hated this feeling.
But no matter how tightly he shut his eyes, Alicia’s fragile form burned itself into his mind.
Gajev spoke quiet words of reassurance.
But Cabelenus did not hear them.
His focus was on Alicia, and Alicia alone.
"Are you satisfied now, Your Grace?"
Gajev tried to stop her, but Baroness Morco stood firmly before Cabelenus, eyes bloodshot with fury.
"I warned you," she said hoarsely.
"I told you secrecy was a mistake."
"She trusted you the most."
"And to think, she isn’t even alone anymore."
Baroness Morco could not hold back her emotions any longer.
She collapsed to her knees, as if to shield her fallen niece.
The moment she had found Alicia unconscious, she had been consumed by a terrible realization.
She had failed to protect her.
"…What did you just say?"
Cabelenus’s voice dropped dangerously low.
Baroness Morco swallowed.
She did not want to say it .
But it was too late to turn back.
"Today, the doctor confirmed it. The lady is with child."
Cabelenus’s golden eyes flashed dangerously.
The moment he understood the truth, his body tensed.
Alicia was carrying his child.
All he felt was rage.
It was as though his blood had turned to fire.
"This only makes things worse," Baroness Morco continued, voice shaking.
"There are limits to what medicine she can take. We must be careful—"
"The only thing that matters is Alicia."
"Use whatever medicine is necessary, as long as it does not harm her.
The child does not matter."
"Your Grace, that is—!"
Baroness Morco’s eyes widened in horror.
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Only cold, undisguised hatred.
Hatred… but not for Alicia.
She instinctively looked back at the unconscious woman on the bed.
Something was terribly wrong.