She was an ordinary human being who had sustained fatal wounds. She fell into a coma and had not woken up since.

“According to the doctor, there’s some improvement.”

“…That’s a relief.”

“You.”

“Yes?”

“Make your presence known when you walk around the place. I know you were trained to conceal your presence, but it sometimes feels like you’re not human. How frightening.”

“…I will be careful from now on.”

The man, Ovell, walked past Michael.

Ovell Mark, the eldest son of Count Mark, flashed a crooked grin.

‘I’ll have to dispose of him separately later on. I know he’s completely loyal to Rebecca, but he doesn’t sit right with me. I’m the only one who needs to be by Rebecca’s side anyway…’

Then, a look of delight gradually spread over his face.

‘To think that that Rebecca fell into my hands.’

Ovell’s eyes sparkled.

‘This is undoubtedly the heavens acknowledging me.’

Since he was a child, there was nothing that Ovell couldn’t get his hands on as the eldest son of a powerful count.

But there was one thing, one woman, who would not bend to his will.

“I love you, Miss Rebecca. Please allow me to court you.”

“No.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I said no. I hope we never see each other again.”

At first, the haughty woman who dared to reject him had piqued his curiosity. Then, that curiosity became a lingering attachment, which finally turned into an obsession.

‘I got engaged to another woman to forget Rebecca, but…’

It was no use. Rebecca never left his mind no matter what he did with his fiancée.

In the end, he had broken off the engagement one-sidedly. What had encouraged his decision was the news of Incan Marezon’s accident.

‘Women fall easily if you reach out to them when they’re going through a hard time. I’ve been looking out for an opportunity ever since I heard the news…’

Ovell recalled when Michael had first come to this place, just a little over a month ago.

‘Who knew that Rebecca would come running to me this easily.’

Michael had knocked on the door of the count’s castle, holding Rebecca, at dusk.

At first, Ovell had thought that Michael had brought a corpse with him to his territory, so he tried to kick him out right away. After finding out that Rebecca was still breathing, his attitude changed. He lent a room to the two and called a doctor.

And of course, he made sure the servants stayed silent. He knew that the capital was searching for Rebecca.

‘Everything worked out.’

Ovell Mark walked with leisure.

‘I’ve done a favor for a wanted person with nowhere to go. Now she definitely won’t be able to reject me.’

All that was left was for Rebecca to regain consciousness, though it was unclear when that would happen.

Ovell arrived at his personal library and spent some time there.

It wasn’t long before Rebecca’s doctor suddenly came to find Ovell, panting for breath.

“Y-Young Master!”

A few moments later, Ovell left the library with a radiant smile.

***

Yelena was once again being treated like her body was made out of glass after waking up from her coma, but not for long. This was because she had shown signs that she was as healthy—no, healthier, than before.

‘I don’t know what being tired or exhausted means these days.’

Every day, she was full of energy, as if she took health supplements. Yelena had found it strange when Dockter had examined her body but could not figure out the reason why her body was in such good health. Nonetheless, it was good news that her body felt light and like it was full of vitality.

Yelena hung her arms over the railing of the terrace and looked outside.

“Hmm~”

She hummed spontaneously. For the past few days, she had been living very contentedly.

‘This is great.’

This morning, she had held her husband back from going to his study to get work done, and they kissed passionately. They had kissed several times already, but every time felt like the first, new and fluttering. Her whole body was ecstatic and heat rose to her head, and of course, her toes curled.

“Should I go to his study later…”

Thinking of her husband made Yelena miss him. Him, and his lips.

“Ahem.”

Yelena cleared her throat after stroking her lips, which still felt tender.

‘Would that be over the top?’

Then, she shook her head.

‘Why would that be over the top? We’re married. This is actually gentle for a married couple,’ Yelena persuaded herself in her head.

“Madam.”

“Ben?”

Ben came to Yelena with a face as white as paper. Seeing his pale face, Yelena felt a mysterious sense of deja vu. Then, Ben opened his mouth.

“You have an invitation.”