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Chapter 29
Isel called for her escort knight, Alec, and slipped out of the banquet hall.
Once outside, the cool evening air brushed against her skin. She thought she should have brought a shawl as she rubbed her bare arms.
“My lady, are you cold?”
At Alec’s look as if he might strip off all his clothes for her at once, Isel quickly replied.
“No, I’m fine.”
She walked slowly along the edge of the garden that connected to the forest. The nausea that had been churning in her stomach gradually settled.
Just as she was thinking she should return soon so her brother wouldn’t worry—
Rustle!
A sudden sound from the bushes across the path made Isel stop. Alec also stiffened and turned sharply toward it.
“What was that?”
“Could it be an assassin…!”
Before Isel could stop him, Alec rushed into the bushes, insisting he would check it himself. Left alone, Isel sat on a nearby bench in the garden corner.
There was no way an assassin would be here. It was probably just a frog or some small animal.
She almost laughed imagining Alec bravely charging in only to find a rabbit. She quietly suppressed her smile and looked up at the sky.
It felt darker than before—the moon must have been swallowed by clouds. As she searched for it, she heard footsteps.
“…Alec?”
She stood up, calling out.
But the person who emerged from the bushes was not Alec.
Her heart dropped as if a stone had fallen into it. A chill ran through her entire body. Familiar fear crawled up her legs.
Isel stepped back. And in response, Cesare stepped forward. The distance between them closed instantly.
Her mind went blank. She could see clearly, but couldn’t process anything she saw or heard.
When she tried to step back again, Cesare spoke.
“Wait.”
“……”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
His voice was calm and composed.
Isel stared at him without blinking.
If he moved even slightly, she intended to scream immediately.
Noticing her visible fear, Cesare tilted his head.
“You talk just fine with Duke Karnox, but you won’t even speak to me?”
“……”
“Are you… that afraid of me?”
His voice was soft, almost affectionate. But Isel only bit her lip.
Cesare continued as if unaffected by her silence.
“When did you even meet Duke Karnox?”
Isel slowly parted her lips.
“…It has nothing to do with you.”
It was a short sentence, but it took everything she had to say it. Her voice shook despite her efforts.
Her lungs tightened with fear, making even breathing difficult.
Cesare’s eyes widened slightly, then he let out a faint laugh.
“How is it not related? Of course it is.”
“……”
“I’m going to be your husband.”
He smiled as if stating something obvious.
His confident demeanor made it clear who held control in this situation.
Isel swallowed hard.
“I’ll handle my debt myself.”
“Debt?”
Cesare blinked as if surprised, then smirked.
“You think that ends it?”
“…?”
“How cute.”
Isel didn’t understand his meaning and looked confused. Cesare watched her with pity, continuing.
“Isel. Even without that debt, I can take you whenever I want.”
His gentle tone landed like a sentence of condemnation.
The Lesian Ducal House was a power that controlled the empire. Even paying the debt meant nothing in the face of such overwhelming authority.
Cesare was right.
If he wished it, destroying her family would be effortless. A sense of helplessness crushed her.
Her trembling hands lost warmth. Her legs weakened as if she might collapse at any moment.
“If you’re going to end up in my arms anyway, wouldn’t it be easier if you came willingly?”
He smiled softly.
It was the same smile he had worn when she first met him—warm, trustworthy, almost kind.
But now she knew.
Behind that mask was a monster filled with vile desire.
If she had been her old self, she might have frozen without a word.
But perhaps because of the Forest of Herbart…
A place filled with memories of summer days laughing with the boy El.
Thinking of El, Isel steadied herself.
She clenched her fists.
She was about to do something she had never done even in her worst nightmares.
“No.”
For a moment, Cesare looked stunned.
“…What?”
Isel took a steady breath. The refreshing air of the forest helped straighten her trembling body.
She lifted her head and looked him directly in the eyes.
“I will never marry someone as vile as you.”
At her declaration, Cesare’s expression twisted.
“…You said no?”
His eyes burned with rage. He reached toward her—
“Ah!”
Isel tried to scream for Alec, but Cesare grabbed both her arms and covered her mouth.
“Mmph!”
His grip was crushing, her jaw aching under the force.
Holding her neck, he whispered into her ear.
“You should’ve behaved.”
His voice was now rough, unstable with fury.
His hand slowly slid to her waist.
Disgusting…!
A wave of revulsion surged through her.
Then she saw it—the ring on her pinky finger. The Ring of the God Karmius that El had given her.
She clasped her cold hands together desperately.
“Karmius!”
At that moment, the ring glowed faintly. A deep vibration spread through her body.
With all her strength, Isel pushed him away.
Thud!
Cesare was thrown hard into a tree and collapsed to the ground.
“Y-you…!”
Seeing her chance, Isel turned and ran.
“Stop right there!”
She didn’t know where she was going—she just ran.
She tripped on her dress and fell, but immediately got up again.
Her shoes had fallen off, and her bare feet were scratched by branches and stones.
Her breath came in ragged gasps. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
She wanted to look back—but fear kept her eyes forward.
The forest was pitch black.
Endless trees stretched in every direction. She felt like she would never escape.
I’m going to be caught…
Despair consumed her.
Someone… please help me…
Unexpectedly, the first person who came to her mind was not her brother or father.
It was Rahan.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Her strength gave out. Her body tilted—
And then—
A strong arm grabbed her waist.
“Ah!”
She screamed, struggling.
“Isel!”
At that voice, she froze.
Moonlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the forest.
A man stood holding her.
It was Rahan.
His expression changed the moment he saw her injured face.
“…What happened?”
His voice was strained with suppressed anger.
But Isel couldn’t answer.
She didn’t know if this was real or a dream.
Her breath was too shallow, panic overwhelming her.
Rahan pulled her into his arms.
Warmth enveloped her completely, driving away the cold fear.
Her trembling slowly eased.
“Isel… do you remember?”
His voice came softly beside her ear.
“I want to help you.”
A memory surfaced—the ballroom where they danced.
Back then too, he had said he wanted to help her.
But now his voice carried something far more desperate.
“Just one word… is enough.”
Something inside her chest cracked open.
Tears welled in her eyes.
Her lips moved on their own.
A tear fell.
Her trembling voice broke out:
“…Please help me.”
