Episode 10
“The wheel of the carriage seems to be broken, my lady!”
“…Ha.”
It was obvious who was behind this.
If not Damian, then likely the Duchess and her children.
“I’m sorry, but could you step out for a moment?”
She couldn’t stay inside a broken carriage.
She had to either find a solution herself or send the coachman to bring help.
Katrina stepped out of the carriage.
Swish!
In that instant, a blade quickly came to her throat.
“Thank you, my lady, for stepping out so obediently.”
“……”
The coachman was holding a knife to her neck.
This was an unexpected ambush.
More accurately, she didn’t expect them to stoop this low.
“Hand over the perfume. Then I’ll leave quietly.”
“What if I refuse?”
“…Then you’ll have to face something unpleasant.”
It must’ve been Damian.
If it had been the Duchess and her children, they might’ve tried to kill her outright.
Only Damian, who intended to dedicate her to the temple, knew the value of her life.
But even he might attempt to damage her body in some way while keeping her alive.
Katrina calmly took the perfume from inside her clothes and handed it over.
The coachman sprayed the perfume, and with a satisfied smile, stepped back.
Katrina was left alone.
You think isolating me here means I can’t do anything?
It was quite a troublesome situation, but Katrina laughed at them inwardly.
She untied the reins from the carriage and brought the horse forward.
They must have thought she wouldn’t be able to do anything since she didn’t know how to ride.
But she had learned horseback riding.
Not Katrina—but Han Seoryeong.
It would’ve been more natural to learn it in this world, but strangely, the opposite had happened.
Damian didn’t know.
He didn’t know Han Seoryeong’s life.
Didn’t know what she was capable of.
So she intended to show him now.
Inside the dazzling banquet hall.
Under the light of the glittering chandeliers, a stunningly handsome man was surrounded by nobles.
Selena stared at Crown Prince Raymond as if bewitched.
“You’re sure Katrina can’t make it, right?”
“Unless something went wrong, that should be the case.”
“I trust you. You’re not one to make mistakes, are you?”
They had isolated Katrina on the outskirts, so it would be hard for her to come.
“I’m going to gift His Highness the Crown Prince a perfume.”
Damian inwardly scoffed.
“As you wish.”
“Thanks for cooperating.”
Cooperating?
A strange choice of words.
Katrina was a public enemy. They had only briefly spoken. It felt too sentimental a term to describe their relationship.
They were children of different mothers.
That was the relationship between Damian and Selena.
The Duchess was pushing her own son as the next heir, and naturally wanted Damian out of the picture.
The Duke of Abiche supported Selena to become Crown Princess—but not Damian.
If Selena became Crown Princess, Damian’s position would weaken.
And yet, he stood by idly because he believed her attempt had no chance of success.
The Crown Prince didn’t care about Abiche. It was better to align himself elsewhere.
Selena squeezed into the crowd and approached the Crown Prince.
The beautiful lady of House Abiche was greeted by many nobles.
The Crown Prince smiled kindly and kissed the back of her hand.
I won’t lose him this time.
Selena made up her mind as she locked eyes with Raymond.
Though that position originally belonged to Katrina, Selena never saw it that way.
She had spent years in self-pity, convinced something that was rightfully hers had been taken away.
The grand banquet officially began.
As the mood grew festive, Selena danced with the Crown Prince.
It felt like the best day of her life.
“I actually have a gift for Your Highness.”
Selena handed over a beautifully wrapped box, marked with a famous perfume brand’s logo.
Why on earth would she make perfume by hand?
Is it because she’s lost everything and can’t afford to buy one?
“Thank you, my lady.”
Raymond replied with his usual gentle smile.
Outwardly, he was still the beloved and kind Crown Prince admired by all.
Selena was completely deceived by the beauty of that unwavering smile.
Today could have been a perfect day for him too—
If not for the pain that began squeezing around his heart.
She made it.
Katrina made her way toward the banquet hall.
She had no intention of meeting the Crown Prince directly—just enough to pass the perfume to an attendant and then leave.
That would suffice.
She didn’t want to waste more emotion seeing Raymond.
She was sick of pretending to beg for anything.
She only planned to show just enough usefulness.
Just enough for Duke Abiche to see potential in her again—enough for him to abandon the idea of sending her to the temple.
Once that time came, she would take her wealth and flee.
“Your Highness!”
A familiar voice.
Selena?
Katrina stopped in her tracks and hid behind a tree to observe the situation.
Raymond was urgently leaving the banquet hall.
“I’m sorry, something urgent came up. Thank you for the gift.”
“Ah…”
“Let’s meet again another time.”
He left Selena behind and hurried away.
Katrina quickly understood what was happening.
He’s having another attack.
What excellent timing.
Katrina rolled the perfume vial in her hand.
She had made multiple bottles of it from the start. It would be used often.
Today, she brought two.
She had given one to the coachman, so one remained.
“Haa… urgh…”
Raymond was in terrible condition.
Not long after he had slipped away from Selena, his knees gave out and he collapsed to the ground.
It had been a long time since the pain was this severe.
He had to make it back to the Crown Prince’s quarters, but his limbs had gone rigid.
His muscles spasmed. Veins bulged more than ever.
His heartbeat was so fast that he was breathless even while standing still.
Raymond gave up on walking to the palace and reached for a cigar inside his coat.
But his stiff hands couldn’t grasp it properly.
He barely pulled it out, only to drop it on the ground.
He kept missing it with trembling hands.
Before long, his once-clean hands were dirtied with soil and filth.
His vision spun.
Raymond clutched his aching chest. His stiff, elegant clothing crumpled messily.
He was more wretched than ever before.
“You must’ve received a perfume gift today.”
A gentle voice.
Whoosh—
The wind blew.
The rustling of grass tickled his ears. He heard soft footsteps approach.
A woman wearing a black veil looked down at him.
Raymond met her gaze—dark eyes behind the veil.
The woman smiled gently and removed the veil herself.
“…Ka, Katrina?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why are you here?”
Katrina stared directly at him.
Since he was looking up at her from below, it was easier on her neck.
She used to always crane her neck to look up at Raymond—but now, it was the opposite.
Raymond’s expression twisted.
“I was planning to gift you perfume too.”
“I didn’t summon you…”
“I wanted to give it before I went to the temple.”
“…”
Katrina took the perfume from her coat.
Spritz—
A fresh scent filled the air.
There was distance between them, so only a trace reached him.
But the moment the scent touched him, the pain constricting him suddenly eased.
Noticing the improvement in his expression, Katrina immediately hid the perfume away.
Still not enough, huh.
You’ll need more.
