Chapter 4

When I opened my eyes again, the sun had already dipped toward the west.

Mia, who had remained by my side the entire time, firmly refused to let me get up. She made me eat first, then forced me to take medicine, scolding me sternly:

“Adolescents and patients must eat!”

By the time I was finally allowed to leave and meet Carlos, evening had fallen.

Knock, knock.

When I opened the office door, Carlos looked up lazily from his desk.

“Am I interrupting?”

“I’m glad you’re aware of it.”

So much for any warmth.

He had given me a guest room, so I’d wondered if he might have softened—but then again, if someone had threatened my life, I wouldn’t offer them politeness either.

“I’ll skip unnecessary hospitality.”

Removing his glasses, Carlos gestured to the chair across from him.

“…You didn’t throw me out.”

“Regrettably.”

His gaze dropped to the desk.

The dark red mineral I had shown him rested there.

Under proper light, it looked nothing like ordinary purification stones. It was vivid—deep—an unsettling shade of crimson.

If the purification stones distributed by the empire were made by mixing my blood with ore, then this one was condensed blood itself.

It had been my final safeguard—hidden even from the Emperor in case the imperial family ever discarded me.

And now I had placed it before the empire’s greatest enemy.

What an absurd turn of fate.

“Where did you get it?” Carlos asked.

“Does the source matter?”

“What matters is your scheme.”

“If you want to question my scheme, shouldn’t we first acknowledge that you’ve already seen its effects over the past two days?”

His brows drew together.

It was true.

In only two days, his complexion had improved noticeably. The sharp edge to his presence remained—but the dark shadows beneath his eyes had faded.

I took a steady breath.

Stay calm.

I repeated the words I had rehearsed dozens of times during my journey.

“You recently purchased most of the purification stones circulating on the market, didn’t you?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know why?”

“I’m asking because I do.”

Because it was orchestrated.

The imperial family deliberately released only small quantities—just enough to keep mana users alive, but always desperate. They ensured constant scarcity. Competition. Dependency.

Among all targets, the Carter ducal house stood first.

“The price keeps rising. The supply keeps shrinking. The imperial family ensures it. No matter how much wealth you pour in, how long can you endure?”

I paused.

“You will either kneel to the Emperor… or choose death.”

I already knew the outcome.

In the past, Carlos Carter chose death over submission. He succumbed to mana rampage—neither fully human nor beast.

I still remembered the Emperor’s delighted expression when the news arrived.

Carlos leaned back, resting his temple against his knuckles. A short laugh escaped him.

“…So that’s it. I wondered what absurd story you’d fabricate this time.”

He stood and approached slowly.

Crimson eyes swept over me, half-lidded.

“Has being praised as the century’s greatest villain made you fearless? Or are you simply bored enough to gamble your life with that stone?”

In an instant, he stood before me and seized my chin.

Pain shot through my jaw.

“Do you think killing you here would cost me anything?”

He smiled faintly.

“This is ducal territory. Even the imperial army cannot intrude freely.”

There was no hesitation.

The same suffocating killing intent from two days ago flooded the room.

“I could tear you apart right now and feed your remains to the beasts.”

My throat went dry.

My shoulders trembled under the crushing pressure.

He meant every word.

“How ridiculous.”

After a long stare, Carlos clicked his tongue and released me.

“Go back. You won’t need an escort.”

He was ready to dismiss this as childish recklessness.

But I didn’t move.

If I intended to give up, I wouldn’t have risked my life coming here.

“I’m the only one who knows.”

He paused mid-step.

I drew in a trembling breath.

“Not the imperial family. Not their confidants. Not even the Emperor knows this mineral exists.”

His eyes sharpened.

“I can give it to you.”

Silence.

“As much as you want. All of it.”

For the first time, something shifted in his expression.

“I told you. I came to make a deal.”

Ducal territory. Extraterritorial rights.

That was precisely why I had come.

“In exchange, you must become my guardian.”

The air stilled.

Carlos frowned, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

“…Guardian? Have you lost your mind?”

“I came here precisely because I haven’t.”

Guardianship.

The only legal method for an underage noble daughter to change protectors.

Once established, a guardian held full authority over the ward. Even blood relatives could not reclaim them without consent.

It was typically invoked during political marriages or family crises.

For me, it was the only shield left.

“Just four years. Until I come of age.”

If ducal extraterritorial rights overlapped with legal guardianship, even the Emperor would be unable to touch me.

And once I reached adulthood—

I would provide Carlos with all the purification stones he required.

Then disappear.

Assuming he accepts.

I gripped my not-yet-healed left arm.

If one stone wasn’t enough, I would offer ten.

Twenty.

A few drops of blood meant nothing compared to my life.

Carlos Carter

Carlos Carter studied Princess Rhea Frieze in silence.

She’s trembling.

The imperial child-demon.

The infamous villainess.

That was her reputation—a girl who eliminated anything that displeased her since the age of ten.

Her very existence irritated him.

Her red eyes—unlike the Emperor’s.
Her silver-white hair like spun silk.

They reminded him of someone he had lost.

It twisted something deep inside him.

When she first stepped into his estate, he had considered killing her immediately and sending her severed head back to the palace.

But something had been strange.

Despite her fearsome reputation, she had looked frightened.

She tried to appear bold—but her small shoulders had trembled.

She’s thirteen.

Bold for her age, perhaps.

But still small. Still fragile.

And those eyes.

Every time he met her gaze, he felt something inexplicable stir.

He recalled his conversation with Mia earlier.

“She fell asleep again. But… her body had many wounds. Cuts. Like from something sharp.”

“Sharp?”

“I’m not certain. But her left arm, wrapped in bandages, hadn’t healed properly. Has something happened to her?”

He had told himself he didn’t care.

She was the Emperor’s pawn.

Nothing more.

“…She’s only thirteen.”

“……”

“She’s about our young lady’s age.”

He shouldn’t have cared.

Annoying.

Why did Mia have to mention that?

Carlos’s gaze shifted to the crimson stone resting on his desk.

Regardless of her motives, the stone was extraordinary.

A single piece had calmed his mana instability and eased his insomnia.

With the imperial family constantly tightening supply and raising prices, this was undeniably valuable.

If she could truly provide it consistently—

Then perhaps whatever scheme she carried might be worth tolerating.

“…Before that.”

Just once.

“I’ll set the conditions clearly.”

He decided—

To allow himself to be deceived.

Just this once.