"Brother, we must find Nyasia! She rarely goes out. Who knows what's happening. With her being so sick..." Maryan said, making her tone worried.
"No need. I'll find her myself," Levon said coldly, staring straight at Mrs. Nox from afar, instructing a few backstage staff.
"Let Maryan go with you. She's just concerned. Sia shouldn't delay—"
"Sia arrives when she arrives. People can wait—even the Aurelios." Levon's voice was ice, cutting his father's speech.
"Levon—"
But Levon already turned and strode out, while Maryan quickly followed behind him. In the corridor, a few guards joined. Even without a word, they seemed to understand the situation.
Maryan watched Levon's back.
She had always struggled to get close to him. Maybe, she couldn't replace Nyasia in his heart. 'But what if he finds out his sister is meeting a man in secret?'
It would shame the Rashet Clan.
Including him, the future lord.
'Would he still treasure Nyasia?'
After all, the Rashet Clan valued reputation as much as blood. Nyasia had the blood—but what if she became a scandal instead? Caught meeting a man?
Maryan's lips curled into something cruel.
...
THE DOOR of Paragon Hall opened, and for the first time, Maryan stopped to look inside. Three years ago, the marquis had given her a much larger hall than Mirelle's.
But this...
Her throat tightened. Paragon Hall was larger. Pristine. Its own pavilion. Courtyard. Ponds. Pathways curling to a back door that breathed into the main garden.
All for a sickly girl who never left it.
Maryan kept her face calm, but her hands gripped her dress. Envy weighed heavy in her chest.
Suddenly, a sharp scream.
"Argh! No—no—"
A woman's voice.
The guards immediately knew where it came from. Levon's chest heaved as he followed the guards through the back door leading to the garden.
Maryan smirked.
Inside the garden, the guards found a man undressing a woman on the ground. At once, they bound the man and covered the woman's naked body. Levon arrived a second later, his eyes filled with burning anger.
"B—brother! Brother, give me justice!"
Maryan's smirk froze the moment she stepped into the garden. The girl was still sobbing wildly on the ground, maids rushing to aid her.
"M—Mirelle?" she blurted out. "How did you end up here?"
But Mirelle kept sobbing. Louder now, loud enough that guests roaming the edge of the garden turned to watch.
Many of these people had been placed there by Maryan, positioned to witness the very moment this scene was discovered. Including the Third Prince.
Maryan clenched her fists hard.'How did this happen? Where's that wrench?' Her eyes turned sharply to Liz, whose hands were shaking.
Meanwhile, Liz's thoughts were filled with the memory of Second Lady Rashet walking toward the garden—and how she had immediately informed the eldest lady.
'How did Ms. Nox end up here?'
Finally, Levon regained his senses when a Sinopia guard arrived. He ordered the guards to clear the lingering guests from the garden—except the prince, who had already approached and was asking Maryan if she was all right.
"I—I'm fine, Your Highness," Maryan said, her face very pale. "Someone... has been ruined here."
"What do you mean 'someone,' you witch? You clearly set me up! How could you!" Mirelle cried.
"Mirelle, I know you hate me," Maryan said, holding a pitiful face. "But you can't accuse me when I'm just as confused as everyone else here."
"Confused? It's very clear what's happening here! You ruined me, because I'm much prettier! You think you're something now because you're adopted? You're still dirt in everyone's eyes!"
"Silence!" Levon's jaw was tight.
He turned sharply at the man, and raised his sword, pressing the blade against the man's chin. The man trembled in fear. A Sinopia guard reported a while ago that this man was a third young master from a family who had just gained a title.
"I—I was sent here. A note brought me here!" the man said. "It said I have to do it. If I didn't, they'd make me fail the imperial exam again this year. I—I've already flunked twice."
"Are you saying that the imperial exam is corrupted?" Derrik said with contemptous smile. "That someone could just do this to you? Are you imagining things?"
The man pressed his lips.
"No doubt your stupidity got you flunked twice," Levon said sharply. "What did you think would happen if you were caught here? That we'd thank you for harming a woman of the Rashet Clan?"
"Brother, what's going on?"
Levon's heart leaped at the sound of that familiar voice. He turned and swallowed hard at the sight of Nyasia—very calm, completely unscathed—standing in one of the archways. Relief flooded through him.
*