Abella wiped her lips.

She washed away the things that were staining the corners of her mouth. However, Abella’s empty eyes did not fill with life again.

Abella seemed to have exhausted her heart.

She was unstable.

Cade forcefully grabbed Abella’s hand. It was Abella’s heart that he was attached to.

“Abella.”

Abella turned to Cade with a pale face. Cade was the only thing contained in those transparent purple eyes. Her eyes were clear without any emotional fluctuations. The carriage stopped before Cade could say anything.

“It’s okay.”

It was Abella who said she was okay this time, but she wondered why she didn’t seem alright at all. Cade rubbed his dark eyes.

“Let’s get off together.”

Cade said stubbornly. Lyla, crouching on the inside, turned away from them as if invisible. Taking Cade’s hand, Abella got off the carriage. She felt dizzy from riding in the carriage all day.

And as she leaned on Cade’s arms, Arsene’s voice echoed in her head.

‘Abella. I will never give up on you until the end.’

The voice seemed to seep into Abella. In fact, she was so frightened that her body trembled. If it was Arsene, he would do anything to get Abella or break her. In the process, Abella might also lose her loved ones.

Rather, it seemed that it would not be bad for her to hand herself over to Arsene.

Wasn’t it better for her to lose herself than to lose her loved ones?

Noticing what she was thinking, Cade stopped Abella.

“Abela. I will protect you until the end.”

It was the opposite of what Arsene had said.

“I will protect you.”

Tears welled up in Abella’s purple eyes.

Was that up to him?

Abella opened her mouth and closed it. She wanted to ask, Then what if you get hurt?

Cade bent his waist to Abella’s height. Cade did his best and smiled affectionately, making eye contact with Abella.

“I will protect you. That’s why I will protect myself too.”

Cade nagged Abella.

“Let me do that.”

“....Then what should I do?”

“You....”

Cade smiled affectionately.

“Just stay there. Don’t think about anything.”

Abella stared blankly at Cade. Don’t think about anything and stay here. Cade knew what Abella was thinking.

She wanted to sacrifice herself so that others wouldn’t get hurt.

Of course, life with Arsene would be hell. Arsene didn’t like Abella talking to other people, and he hated her making eye contact with others. Every day would be like a thin ice sheet. Abella would probably live locked up in a room and wither away.

“Abella.”

Cade urged Abella once more. He probably wouldn’t go until she gave her the answer he wanted. Abella lifted her lips up, laboringly.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“I’m not going anywhere. I will stay here.”

Cade then released Abella. His eyes contained mixed emotions as he watched her back as she walked to the front door. He had no idea that Arsene would move so quickly.

Moreover, three of the knights he had protecting Abella were seriously injured. Cade touched his forehead.

The dense trees were swaying. Amerigo’s magnificent gardens were under his feet.

What should he do?

If the monster was thought to dominate the game and went out of control, Cade needed to think about the information that he knew and what he found out by interrogating Lyla.

A peaceful meadow and the western sky descending on it, a flower garden full of hyacinths and a white swing. These were the words little Abella whispered to Cade. She wanted to live in such a house.

With a beloved husband and cute child.

She said that if she lived like that, she might be able to forget all her bad memories.

However, the present Abella seemed to have forgotten her dream. Cade ruffled his hair.

To deal with the devil, you have to be the devil.

The devil had woken up anyway.

From now on, the question was how to ‘kill’ the devil. Arsene Sirius would never give up easily.

Cade climbed back into the carriage. He pretended to be calm because he was in front of Abella, but Cade had a storm brewing in his head too.

“Lady Lyla.”

All Cade could do for now was to pursue Arsene and reduce the risk. And cut off the devil’s limbs to give Abella true freedom.

Of course, there were other issues as well.

Amerigo’s relatives. He had to get rid of those who were ignorant and acted like parasites.

“I have work for you to do from today.”

“I ....!”

“Lady Lyla. Don’t think you have a choice. You are not a noble Lady anymore, but my concubine.”

Cade was talking with his eyes. It was a cold warning that if she didn’t do her best, she would die. Lyla clenched her teeth. How the hell did she come to this?

She thought she was in control of the chessboard, but in fact there was another master.

Lyla let out a sigh.

“There is only one decision-making authority, so what I will say is decided. What can I do to help you, Your Majesty?”

It was a very distorted voice.

“What do you think Arsene is thinking from the lady’s point of view? I’m trying to figure it out from there. Of course, you better not lie.”

“.. If I was Arsene, I would hold my breath and lay lowl. Until the world forgets me and becomes vigilant.”

“Is that all?”

“And then I will do other things. Abella loves Amerigo, and I will target Amerigo.”

“Amerigo?”

Then the range was widened. Abella’s attachment to Amerigo was limited. Otherwise.. she might try to protect Amerigo’s honor.

“I’m going to get rid of the useless ones first.”

Parasites of Amerigo. Those who were willing to sell Amerigo for their own benefit and tarnish Amerigo’s honor.

Lyla curled her body a little more in the coldness. It was almost impossible to see what Cade was thinking. Wasn’t he the same as Cade anyway? He would do anything to protect Abella. There wouldn’t be anyone but Abella in his eyes.

The seriousness of his risking the lives of others would not be divided by whether Abella cared about them or not.

In the end, the most endangered one might be Lyla herself.

“Let me help with that too.”

Cade raised his eyebrows as if puzzled.

“Shouldn’t I be looking for a way to live? After cleaning up, send me and Arsene abroad.”

Cade paused for a moment, then nodded.

“I promise.”

That, too, would be a futile promise. Lyla helped Cade while at the same time, knowing that she had to find her own way in without Cade’s knowledge.

Despite traveling in the same carriage, Cade and Lyla’s thoughts bloomed in different directions in the small carriage.

*

“Abella!”

Enosh jumped down from the second floor as if rolling.

As soon as he heard the sound of the carriage, he left the work he had been doing. The strange uneasiness grew and did not subside until Abella returned.

“Enosh?”

“Have–have–have you been well?”

Enosh looked into Abella’s eyes and asked. Just in moderation, not overdone. So that Abella did not feel burdened.

Abella smiled with a weary face.

“Yes. I’m back, Enosh.”

“..Your face is pale.”

He struggled to swallow the question of what had happened. However, that was futile. Abella’s form was starting to crumble.

“Abela!”

“Oh my gosh!”

April, who was chasing after Enosh, shouted. Then he ordered her maid to bring the doctor. Simons was the first to hear April’s scream.

“Aunt!!”

Simons ran and clung to Abella’s arms. Simons’ small face turned white.

The guests of the mansion ran out, worried about Abella. But, even in the midst of everyone’s commotion, Lorelia did not come out. She just tilted the teacup and sat picturesquely at the table.

“Madam, the lady....!”

“There is nothing to fuss about. It’s not like the kid is dead. Bring Simon. If she gets a curse on him, it will be a big trouble.”

Laurelia whispered quietly like a still life.

The maid, who had run to inform Laurelia of the situation, clenched her mouth. She then walked back through the door she had entered. Lorelia smiled bitterly.

Look at it.

Her ugly heart was fully exposed on her face.

She didn’t do anything wrong.

The kid was at fault.

There was definitely a time when she wanted to save Abella. However, for Laurelia, her own well-being was more important than that. If she could be at peace by killing Abella, if she could no longer receive Amerigo’s rebuke..

Laurelia would do anything.

So she got involved in killing Abella. To protect herself.

And that excuse became Abella’s curse.

“You’re cursed, so you deserve to die!”

That was the indulgence that Laurelia gave to herself.