The Count Candel family and the Count Blanche family had virtually no points of contact.
Count Blanche despised the sight of Asrahan, too young to be a count, acting discourteously as if he were some great power, while Asrahan looked down on the incompetent Count Blanche.
Their relationship had been nothing more than exchanging a few words laced with disgust at meetings.
But for such a Count Candel to personally visit the Blanche estate?
It was something no one would believe. So much so that even Count Blanche himself could not fathom the servant's words and had rushed out beyond the main gate.
Yet when Candel's black carriage appeared in his sight, he had no choice but to believe it. And at the same time, a subtle fear gnawed sharply at his skin.
*Why on earth has he come all the way here?*
No matter how much he racked his brain, there was only one reason for Count Candel to come to the Blanche County estate at this point.
Having learned that Lariette was taken, to retrieve her.
Count Blanche gulped dryly as he watched the carriage door open. He desperately told himself that could not be the case.
It had been only about a month since Lariette left Blanche. According to Raon, she and Count Candel had spent time together, but it was utterly impossible that he harbored feelings for his daughter.
And that was only natural, for he was that monstrous count. Count Candel, the cruel war demon devoid of emotion.
For him to visit another County estate just to fetch a mere woman was absurd.
*And there's no way Lariette has set her heart on that monster either.*
Count Blanche believed he knew his own daughter well. The Lariette he knew was a timid, obedient, and kind child.
She might be going astray for the moment, but no matter what, she wasn't so foolish as to fall for a grotesque wretch reeking of rot when fresh meat was plenty.
Soon, that grotesque fellow, Asrahan, alighted from the carriage and approached Count and Countess Blanche. Though Count Blanche was not short, he had to raise his gaze to Asrahan, who stood a full span taller.
Asrahan's face was several times darker than usual. Shadows hung beneath his eyes, and his already sharp gaze looked even more ferocious.
His bangs, which he always kept neatly swept halfway back, were disheveled, and the bandages he usually wrapped tidily were in a disorderly state, as if freshly bound.
With every sway of his black coat, ferocious energy billowed and surged forth. Count Blanche struggled to suppress his body, flinching with instinctive fear, and feigned composure as he opened his mouth.
"What is the meaning of this sudden visit? To come without even sending word beforehand."
"How utterly rude." He muttered in a low voice. Though quiet, it was loud enough for Asrahan to hear plainly.
Gerard, who had followed behind Asrahan, immediately furrowed his brow and glared at Count Blanche.
Coming unannounced was indeed rude, but anyone with sense ought not act that way. Especially considering the current circumstances of House Blanche, he should have read the room.
"I have come to retrieve my lover."
Asrahan answered in a low, deep voice. Though he was using honorifics, his gaze looking down at Count Blanche was nothing if not overbearing.
At the word *lover*, veins bulged on the count's forehead.
In truth, if marriage talks were underway with House Candel, there could be no better news for Blanche, but the count's pride could not accept it. Because he had secretly been jealous of Asrahan.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."
Count Blanche feigned ignorance with a brazen expression. Asrahan's frigid voice followed.
"I said I have come to retrieve Lariette, Count Blanche."
"How dare you barge into my estate so brazenly and say you will steal away my daughter?"
This time, Gerard's body flinched. As Count Blanche said, Asrahan's current actions were far too lacking in justification.
House Candel was powerful and influential, but Blanche was still one of only three renowned Count houses in the Empire. Moving with too little justification could prove troublesome.
Gerard subtly gauged Asrahan's mood. His wise lord could not have failed to realize this, yet Asrahan was the very picture of brazenness.
No—Gerard knew that expression. That ferocious expression with blazing blue irises. It wasn't brazenness. That was...
"It would be wise to surrender her willingly. Whether she permits it or not, I have come prepared to reduce this place to rubble."
It was the face of a man thoroughly unhinged.
***
"That's..."
Lariette barely parted her lips and opened her mouth. Just moments ago, she hadn't possessed the strength to blink, yet upon hearing Asrahan's name, strength flooded into her naturally.
"What do you mean, Count Candel is below?"
With every word, her lips stung and her throat hurt. It was no wonder, as her lips were completely torn.
"It is exactly as I said! Count Candel has come. I sent a secret telegram. Lord Joel helped me."
"Lord Joel... But why Asrahan, why Count Candel?"
There was no way Anne could have known about her relationship with Asrahan. How had she happened to contact him of all people?
Anne hesitated for a moment before answering carefully.
"There were rumors as well... When you collapsed earlier, he came briefly, because you called Count Candel's name."
*I called his name in my sleep?* Lariette opened her mouth blankly in confusion.
Anne quickly continued, saying that wasn't important.
"First, I'll go down and check the situation. Ah, and this. I don't know what it is, but Wizard Joel told me to give it to you."
*Clink—* A small bottle rolled in beneath the door. Lariette reached out and barely grasped it as it rolled to her feet.
*A recovery potion?*
It was something exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain. It seemed her teacher had suspected what the Count and Raon would do to her.
Seeing her teacher striving to help her even in a situation where he shouldn't, she felt her heart warm.
Anne left the front of Lariette's room, saying she would check the situation. Perhaps because of the commotion in the house, the sounds outside were chaotic.
Lariette barely managed to open the bottle and poured the potion into her mouth. Recovering her strength was urgent.
With gulping sounds, the lukewarm liquid ran down her throat. The taste was wretched. Mixed with a fishy, bloody tang, it was even worse.
Soon, a warm and holy energy circulated within her body. Though it couldn't compare to Doha's energy, she definitely felt strength returning to her limp arms and legs.
Her swollen cheeks subsided somewhat, and her torn lips stung less than before.
Since she hadn't received proper healing, she could not recover completely. As proof, blood still clotted on her cheek torn by Count Blanche's ring.
But for now, it was enough that strength had returned to her limbs. Because she had at least gained the strength to escape.
Lariette slowly raised her body and began to move her heavy steps. Toward the window.
*Asrahan...*
Beyond the tightly locked glass, she could see, however faintly, the figure of the one she longed for. He had really come to the Blanche estate.
He was down there. Asrahan had come to take her away.
Thinking so, she felt an indescribable emotion. A feeling she had never experienced in her life. It seemed satisfying, yet also chokingly overwhelming.
Lariette caressed the hard window with her shackled hands. Asrahan seemed unable to spot her.
No, it wasn't that he hadn't—it was impossible. The County's windows were designed so the inside could not be seen from outside, and with a balcony beyond the window, it was even harder to make out anything.
"As...!"
Lariette tried to call Asrahan's name loudly but closed her mouth. Fortunately, Asrahan didn't seem to have heard, for he did not look toward where she was.
*If I call out to him from here...*
It was obvious what he would do. The Asrahan Lariette knew was a strong and reckless man. He would surely charge into the mansion without hesitation, break down the door, and take her away.
If anyone blocked him, he might slit their throat in an instant. And that would tarnish the name of Asrahan Candel.
*He mustn't suffer harm because of me.*
Lariette bit her lower lip in frustration. Suddenly, she felt utterly pathetic.
She used to think the female leads in romance novels, who only played the role of being rescued by the male lead, were foolish. Yet now, she seemed no different from those passive heroines.
*I can't stay like this.*
Lariette looked at the white door that had taught her resignation. She couldn't just sit still waiting for the door to open as she had before.
*I have to do something myself.*
She turned her head and fixed her gaze on the thick glass window. Then she looked at the restraints binding her two wrists. The iron shackles looked quite sturdy.
Yes, she had to do something. Whatever crazy thing it might be.
With that thought, Lariette swung her hand toward the glass window at once.
Immediately, the restraints collided with the glass, producing a deafening noise.
*Kraaash—!*
"Kuh......!"
Because the window was so thick, it didn't break at once. A tingling shock, as if her wrist had snapped, shook her body.
But Lariette didn't stop and raised her hand again, striking the window with her restraints.
She thought her eyes met Asrahan's through the window.
*Craaash—!!*
Finally, the window that had seemed absolutely unbreakable completely collapsed. Broken glass shards scratched her wrists and fell onto the balcony.
Without hesitation, Lariette stepped out onto the balcony barefoot. She felt glass embedding into her soles, but she didn't care in the slightest.
Her nerves were focused solely on one person. The one person looking straight at her without a single tremor—Asrahan.
"Asrahan!"
Lariette forgot all shame and screamed at the top of her lungs, loud enough to shake the mansion. Then she threw herself off without hesitation.
She had jumped from the second floor of the towering estate.
Rough winds wrapped around Lariette's body. Everyone in the mansion stared at her in bewilderment. Some maids screamed and turned their heads away.
Asrahan rushed toward her, his black coat flapping. Though his speed was astonishingly fast, the distance was great, so catching Lariette seemed difficult.
*How reckless.*
Joel, the mage of Blanche, watched his disciple's audacious action and quickly flicked his fingers. Since Count Blanche was doing nothing, he had to act himself.
At that, Lariette's falling speed decreased considerably. She was still falling quickly, but this much was sufficient.
For someone rushing toward her to safely catch her.
"Lariette!"
A sturdy embrace gently wrapped around her body. Lariette's unique scent lingered at Asrahan's nose. It was a fragrance like fresh roses.
Lariette gazed at his face, which she had longed for, with tenderness. Looking into his calm, sea-like eyes, her heart felt cozy and at peace.
Perhaps from overwhelming relief, tears streamed down Lariette's cheeks. Because of the thickly caked bloodstains on her face, the falling tears soon turned red.
Upon confirming Lariette's condition, Asrahan felt as though his blood were surging backward.
Torn cheek, swollen lips, a body covered in scrapes. There didn't seem to be a single uninjured place.
"How dare......"
It felt as though all the blood in his body were boiling hot. Fury like the fires of hell surged to the very ends of his hair.
In an instant, a terrifying aura spread around Asrahan. It was an aura that made bodies tremble involuntarily and breath hitch.
"Which... bastard... struck... you."
With every word he spat out, an icy coldness seemed to flow forth. His blue irises blazed ominously, like those of a monster.
The Monster Count. He looked exactly like the infamous rumors circulating in the streets.
Lariette slowly reached out her hand, scratched here and there by glass shards. Soon, her rough palm tenderly cupped his cheek.
"Asrahan, let's go."
It was much like what she had said in the city. He was sorry to Lariette, but this time, he could not oblige.
At the very least, he should have torn open the mouths of everyone in this ducal house, cut off their hands, and demanded they answer for their crimes. They had dared to hurt her; it was only right.
But the words that followed were subtly different from back then.
“I want to go home. To our home.”
Lariette’s eyes curved gently at the corners as she gave a faint smile. It was a smile from which all unease had vanished.
Our home.
That one simple word struck Asrahan’s heart with a heavy thud.
The anger that had consumed his body sank away emptily. Because he had realized there was something more important than rage.
“……Gerard.”
“Yes. Please go on ahead. I will report to you after taking care of things.”
Gerard answered quickly, reading the situation. Asrahan gave a single nod, then strode away with Lariette still in his arms.
“Where are you……!”
Taking my daughter! Duke Blanche had been about to demand, but he shut his mouth when he met Asrahan’s icy gaze.
Even to him, Lariette’s condition looked quite serious, and he was flustered. Had I hit her that hard? He could not remember clearly, as it had been something done in a fit of anger.
Before long, Asrahan carefully placed Lariette inside the carriage. The carriage carrying them swiftly departed the Blanche ducal residence.
And until the very end, Lariette did not spare the Blanche mansion a single glance.
***
Even after getting down from the carriage, Asrahan carried Lariette all the way to her room.
On the way, Hallstein, who checked Lariette’s condition, was horrified and left to contact Doha. She was in urgent need of treatment.
Asrahan carefully laid her down on the bed. Then, in one breath, he shattered the restraints wrapped around her wrists. It was tremendous strength.
Lariette, still wearing a faint smile, gazed at him with gentle eyes.
“Asrahan, thank you for coming to get me.”
“……I apologize for being late.”
Asrahan lowered his head and apologized. The thought that Lariette had been hurt because he had not gone to her sooner filled him with terrible guilt.
“Asrahan.”
Lariette called his name in a playful voice. Then she tapped the bed, as if telling him to sit beside her.
Asrahan obediently followed her instruction and sat on the edge of the bed. Lariette turned her body and gazed at his face from just a breath away.
“May I kiss you?”
Her tone still sounded as if she were joking. But there was not the slightest trace of mischief in her violet eyes.
“I want to so badly right now.”
Lariette smiled with an expression as though she might cry at any moment. It was difficult to explain exactly what those tears would be from.
Asrahan did not answer for a moment. He merely reached out slowly and gripped her waist firmly.
In the dark room, where no light had been lit, deep gazes passed between them.
“If you would permit me.”
Asrahan answered in a voice both courteous and rough.
And slowly, yet without delay, their lips overlapped at an angle.
It was their first kiss.