Episode 4
He Won’t Force Me
Grrr!
The loose black hunting dog growled at her, baring its teeth.
Frightened, Rossi dropped to her knees right there in the snow.
Calios stormed through the thick snow toward her, quickly closing the distance.
[So this is the great honor the Moavis family supposedly stands for?]
He looked like he was about to lose his mind with anger.
He grabbed her, shivering—whether from cold or fear—and practically dragged her into a nearby villa.
He tossed her onto the bed in the warm room. Rossi was still in a daze.
Why did he come after me? How did he even find out?
She looked up at him, confused, and he growled,
[When I make a promise, I keep it. So you’d better keep yours, too.]
Rossi asked weakly,
[…Weren’t we calling off the engagement?]
His brow twitched, and he suddenly yanked her ankle like he’d snap it in two.
He snarled at her trembling form.
[Is that what you want? To break it off?]
[N-No, that’s not what I meant…]
[Then there’s no problem. We stick to the agreement.]
[But… everyone says you’re going to marry Princess Isildua. That I don’t belong with you…]
His voice turned ice-cold.
[And between a bunch of idiots you don’t even know and me, whose words do you trust more?]
[…Yours. I trust you.]
That reply finally calmed him. His rage slowly faded.
Calios looked at her—really looked at her for the first time—then backed off with his usual blank face.
He turned his back, adjusting his sword sheath.
[The engagement stays. So stop thinking about running away.]
[But…]
He glanced over his shoulder with a chilling glare.
[If you want your sister’s country to burn to the ground, then go ahead. Try running.]
That threat nearly gave her hiccups.
Calios never said anything he didn’t mean.
Pale as a sheet, Rossi promised she wouldn’t try to run until the wedding.
Only then did he seem satisfied. He gently lifted her chin, giving her a warning look.
[I don’t like it when what’s mine ends up in someone else’s hands without my say-so.]
To him, she wasn’t a person—just a possession.
He wasn’t mad because of love. He was mad at the thought of losing his “property.”
The next day, Calios left on another campaign and began steamrolling through neighboring territories.
With the emperor’s full support, he expanded the empire’s borders nonstop.
There was no place his sword didn’t reach.
How do you escape someone like that?
Rossi buried her face in her knees.
She had to do this alone. There was no one to help her.
I can’t even get in touch with my sister anymore…
Ever since Calios caught her again, even using secret messengers didn’t get her a reply.
She was sure her sister had given up on her.
Looking up at the clear sky, she mumbled,
“Why… why did I even get a second chance at life?”
She stared blankly at a trembling flower until a quiet voice pulled her back to reality.
“You always come here when you’re upset.”
“…Ashley?”
It was her sister-in-law, Ashley.
She carefully lifted her dress and stepped into the garden. With a disappointed look, she crouched down next to Rossi.
“My date got canceled again. I guess he’s been really busy lately.”
“You mean… Viscount Russell?”
Ashley gave a small nod, her expression dark.
Russell was her boyfriend—a handsome, cheerful man who had quite the fan club even before dating her.
Viscount Russell…
Everyone knew how deeply Ashley loved him.
So much so that when things fell apart, she ended her life over it.
That guy’s going to be the death of her.
Rossi knew the full story.
People in the mansion had spoken freely around her once they thought she was as good as dead.
With a sigh, Rossi asked carefully,
“I heard he’s pretty close with Sabrina. Did you know?”
Ashley’s face turned ghost-white.
“H-How do you know about that…?”
Of course she knew.
Sabrina was a rising star in high society, known for her looks and her voice.
Also known for luring taken men into her web just for fun.
Russell was no exception—he was caught in it already.
Sabrina loved making men leave their girlfriends. She didn’t even try to hide her cruel methods.
Rossi said seriously,
“Ashley.”
“…Yeah?”
“You already know it’s not just friendship, don’t you? Don’t trust Russell too much.”
Ashley wasn’t clueless.
She’d been the one attending parties in Rossi’s place. She was sharp enough to have heard things.
She just didn’t want to believe them.
Ashley bit her lip and looked at Rossi with tearful eyes.
“How did you know?”
“I can’t tell you right now. But it’s the truth. Please believe me, Ashley.”
Rossi silently prayed Ashley would listen.
She couldn’t let her die like last time.
Ashley once stepped between her and Isabella when Rossi was pregnant—taking a brutal hit that wasn’t even hers to bear.
She’d never told Calios, even though the injury was serious.
That was because Rossi had begged her not to, afraid it would cause a scandal.
Still a bit shaken, Ashley gripped her dress tightly.
“…Let’s go inside and talk more. I want to drink some of your tea, too.”
“Of course.”
All the good tea had been snatched by Isabella.
But Rossi would brew the best of what was left.
Ashley, trying to shake off thoughts of Russell, changed the subject.
“Come to think of it, my brother left early this morning, but there’s been no word.”
Rossi answered calmly.
“He said he had places to stop by.”
“Oh? So you’ve already seen him today?”
“Briefly. Outside.”
He’d threatened her again, telling her to “be ready tonight.”
Ashley let out a weak laugh.
“Back in the day, he used to get hurt all the time. Now? Not a scratch. Even in the last rebellion, they said the enemy
couldn’t lay a finger on him.”
“…Is that so.”
Ashley smiled faintly, lost in memories.
“Back when he still seemed a little human, you used to wrap his wounds for him all the time.”
Yeah… those days felt like a lifetime ago.
Rossi remembered the herbs she grew in the count’s garden—testing, preparing, picking the best ones to treat his wounds.
“I still remember those bandages. You made them out of herbs you grew yourself, right? They worked really well…”
“Ashley.”
Rossi cut her off, not wanting to hear any more.
“Oh, sorry! I wasn’t thinking. I’m a bit out of it too. Anyway… it’s all in the past, right?”
Ashley mumbled, glancing nervously at Rossi.
“But still… I’m really glad you’re here. For me and for my brother too. We’d both be lost without you.”
It sounded like she was defending Calios, but Rossi understood.
He was her brother, and they’d survived hard times together.
Their father, Duke Stephan Benedict, had a wife—but couldn’t forget a beautiful woman from a fallen knight family.
Three years after first meeting her, he brought her back and forced himself on her again.
That’s how Calios and Ashley were born.
After Ashley’s birth, their mother died on a mission.
With no choice, the duke finally took the children in as his own.
Calios turned out to be a gifted swordsman, which caught the second prince’s attention.
He became his chosen companion.
At the time, the cruel crown prince hated the second prince, who was kinder and more capable.
So the second prince kept Calios close for protection.
Back then, Calios was admired for rising above his low birth.
Until… that happened.
“Monster.”
Rossi muttered the nickname under her breath, making sure Ashley couldn’t hear.
The Monster Duke.
A name born from the terror of those who saw “that day” with their own eyes.
Then Rossi called out, just as Ashley turned to head inside.
“Oh, Ashley. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Has anything political happened with Calios recently? I mean, he got summoned to the palace pretty early…”
Ashley nodded like she knew exactly what Rossi meant.
“Oh, you’re probably talking about that. With the ongoing campaigns, there’s been tension between the war faction and—”
“My lady. The Duke is asking for you.”
Ashley and Rossi locked eyes.
