Reiana’s face turned deathly pale. She never expected he would know what she had done.

Not long ago, sensing an ominous atmosphere in the duchy’s barracks, she secretly took the Dante family’s assets behind David’s back.

It was preparation for the worst-case scenario.

If Reiana were to become a fallen noble, she would need as much wealth as possible to start anew.

Then one day, David came to her with a grave expression and said,

—Madam, things don’t look good. We should leave here before it’s too late.

The two of them were with Retanda’s duchy forces. To suggest leaving that place meant only one thing:

The Emperor faction had lost.

Reiana instantly sensed the worst had arrived.

—Is the Grand Duke losing the imperial succession war? Then who will become the next Emperor?

—For now, Prince Dekain seems the most likely. Anyway, we should get out before the sparks fly…

—Leave here? Have you spoken with the other Emperor-faction nobles? What will happen to our Dante family?

—Everyone’s scrambling to save their own skin—who are you expecting me to talk to? We can’t enjoy past glories anymore, but let’s wait patiently for another chance.

David evaded answering directly, but Reiana understood.

The Dante family was ruined.

The prince they had openly disrespected was none other than Dekain. If he became Emperor, he wouldn’t possibly let David off easily.

Moreover, the Dante family’s reputation had plummeted drastically due to Reiana’s own actions.

David spoke of waiting for a chance to recover, but realistically, that was nearly impossible until Dekain’s death.

Reiana realized the life she had dreamed of—as a marquise—was over.

Seeing her plunged into despair, David tried to comfort her.

—Madam, don’t be too heartbroken. Somehow, I’ll make sure you’re fed and taken care of.

Reiana couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

She could never be satisfied merely surviving. She had married the much older David precisely to live luxuriously atop everyone else.

If he could no longer give her that life, she no longer needed David.

‘You expect me to live as a fallen noble? That’s impossible.’

She had no intention of living a pitiful life mocked from behind.

Seeing her silent, David asked with a puzzled expression.

—Madam?

—How exactly do you plan to escape? Have you arranged a way?

—Of course. I’ve secretly summoned a carriage. Let’s go right now.

—Wait. Even if we’re leaving, I must gather my belongings. Please wait just a moment.

Though David was pressed for time, seeing Reiana’s unusually cold, hardened expression, he reluctantly nodded.

Leaving him waiting inside the barracks, Reiana boarded the carriage alone—with the secretly gathered assets.

—Madam! Madaaaam!

David belatedly chased after the carriage, shouting at the top of his lungs, but Reiana didn’t even glance back—instead, she urged the driver onward.

—I’ll pay you double—don’t stop for anything.

The reason Reiana was dressed in shabby clothing was to cross secretly into another empire, unnoticed by anyone.

While covertly investigating ship routes under a concealed identity, she was unexpectedly seized by Ascan and dragged here.

This was completely unforeseen by Reiana.

“You… what exactly are you? How do you know my current situation?”

At first, she assumed she’d been captured by human traffickers—and rather than cower, she intended to negotiate aggressively.

But the person who seized her turned out to be Ascan—and he knew her circumstances in terrifying detail.

Unlike the startled Reiana, Ascan replied with a cold, indifferent expression.

“Who I am? You don’t need to know.”

“Why did you capture me? Did Tanashia send you?”

She had previously betrayed Tanashia’s whereabouts to the Calua Empire—perhaps this was revenge driven by hatred.

But the moment she mentioned Tanashia’s name, frost spread across Ascan’s face.

“Better not speak that name so carelessly. I could make sure you never speak again.”

It was a threat too chilling to ignore.

Reiana unconsciously closed her mouth. Yet no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand why she’d been captured.

He didn’t seem like a trafficker—and if Tanashia hadn’t sent him…

Then why?

Reiana, now cautious, spoke in a lowered voice.

“…Then why did you capture me? Ah, I see. Is it because of the money I have?”

Reiana had secretly stolen the Dante family’s assets. She didn’t know how Ascan learned of it, but he clearly knew she possessed considerable wealth.

Compared to the Dante family’s peak, it was modest—but still enough for her to flee alone and live comfortably.

Reiana, displeased, spoke again.

“You must’ve caught my scent of money. If you release me now, I can reward you generously…”

“Kkukkuk.”

Reiana couldn’t finish her sentence. Ascan, who had been silently watching her, let out a low chuckle.

‘What? Why is he laughing?’

None of this made any sense to her.

Ascan stopped his inexplicable laughter and fixed Reiana with icy eyes.

“You’re wrong. Even if you offered me millions, I have no intention of releasing you.”

“Then why did you capture me?!”

Frustrated, Reiana shouted. Instantly, murderous intent flickered in Ascan’s golden eyes.

“Forgotten?”

Forgotten what?

Before she could ask, Ascan quietly continued.

“Ten years ago—when you injured Tanashia.”

At those words, a long-buried memory surfaced in Reiana’s mind.

Back then, Reiana had attempted to attack Ascan with her wind ability—but Tanashia intervened and was injured in her stead.

At that moment, Ascan had nearly gone berserk, summoning unquenchable flames—and Reiana, witnessing it, realized he was hiding an ability.

It had been so long ago that she’d completely forgotten—if he hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have recalled it at all.

“Why bring up that incident now?”

Reiana asked, still bewildered. Ascan replied with an utterly matter-of-fact expression.

“You must pay for injuring Tanashia that day.”

“What? You mean to take revenge now—for something that happened ten years ago?”

Reiana was speechless.

But unlike her, Ascan answered as if it were the most natural thing.

“Back then, I was young and could endure it. Now, I have no such intention. I plan to make you pay for everything—including recently exposing Tanashia’s whereabouts.”

“What nonsense is this? Now you’re digging up ancient history and demanding repayment? Who even are you to Tanashia?”

Enraged, Reiana screamed. Ascan, who had listened impassively until then, instantly changed demeanor at the mention of Tanashia’s name.

In a flash, he thrust his hand through the bars.

“Guh—!”

Ascan seized Reiana’s throat. Though his grip seemed light, she couldn’t breathe at all.

Watching her thrash in agony, Ascan warned in a lethal voice.

“I told you—don’t speak that name carelessly. If I hadn’t promised not to kill innocent people, you’d already be dead by my hand.”

When Tanashia helped him obtain the Calspelliver in the Calua Empire, she had asked him for several things.

One of them was: Do not kill the innocent.

The sole reason he hadn’t killed Reiana until now was because of that promise.

With a displeased expression, Ascan released her just before she lost consciousness.

“Cough! Cough!”

Reiana collapsed onto the floor, gasping desperately for air. Though deprived of breath only briefly, her entire body ached as if her lungs were torn.

In short, it felt like she’d brushed against death’s door.

Unlike before, she now stared at Ascan with fearful eyes—increasingly overwhelmed by his aura.

Ascan murmured quietly.

“This is my final warning—remember it well.”

Reiana nodded frantically. Though she didn’t fully grasp the situation, she understood his words.

“A-alright. But how exactly do you expect me to repay this ‘debt’? If you want financial compensation, I can offer…”

“Do you remember the faces of those you tormented in Arwen Empire?”

Caught off guard by Ascan’s question, Reiana tilted her head.

She had tormented more than just one or two people. It had merely been entertainment to relieve stress—there was no way she remembered their faces.

Though Reiana remained silent, Ascan continued as if it didn’t matter.

“I gathered quite a few people who want revenge on you—just like me. Why don’t you beg for their forgiveness too?”

“What? Why should I?”

She was a noble—they were commoners. Even if Tanashia was an exception, the idea of begging forgiveness from people of such starkly inferior status was absurd.

Perhaps sensing her thoughts, Ascan glanced at Carlton beside him and said,

“Did you bring him too?”

“Yes. He was easy to find—he happened to be searching for Lady Dante.”

“Bring him here.”

“Understood, Captain.”

Reiana didn’t know whom they meant. But soon, she realized who Ascan and Carlton were referring to.

David, looking haggard, appeared before the iron door where she was imprisoned.

“Huh!”

Reiana involuntarily gasped.

Not long ago, she had coldly abandoned David and fled—stealing all the remaining Dante family assets.

She had intended to start anew in another empire, specifically to escape David—she never expected to face him again.

David’s eyes, fixed on the flustered Reiana, brimmed with resentment. He spat out his words bitterly.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“H-husband… how did you…?”

Reiana was utterly bewildered by the situation.

Ascan, observing from the side, addressed David.

“Marquis Dante, do you intend to continue this marriage?”

“Absolutely not. As I’ve stated, I’ve prepared divorce papers. That woman is no longer my wife. I never wish to see her again.”

David shuddered as he looked at Reiana. Naturally, all affection had vanished after witnessing her true nature.

Ascan nodded and spoke.

“I’ll return all the assets she stole. The Dante family’s fall is irreversible, but you needn’t worry about living expenses.”

Silently listening, Reiana’s eyes widened.

She had hidden the stolen Dante assets where no one could find them—yet Ascan acted as if he knew exactly where they were.

“No! That’s mine!”

Reiana rushed to the iron bars, pleading desperately. Without those assets, she couldn’t start anew.

At her display, David turned away in utter disgust—clearly unwilling to exchange another word with her.

Only Ascan stared impassively at Reiana and said,

“As you can see, you’re no longer a noble—or even someone with possessions. Let me add one more thing: the Krisha family in Arwen Empire heard the news and has disowned you.”

“Ahh…”

Reiana collapsed where she stood.

She had lost everything. As she sat there, numb and hollow, Ascan quietly added,

“You’re now worse off than the commoners you once scorned. Sincerely apologize to everyone you tormented. Whether they’ll accept it—I can’t say.”

Many had been crippled or killed because of Reiana. Their families would never easily forgive her.

Realizing her reality, Reiana glared at Ascan with eyes burning with fury.

“Why—why are you doing this to me?!”

“I told you. Revenge—for touching what’s mine.”

Ascan intended to make Reiana pay dearly for injuring Tanashia.

He should have done this ten years ago—it was already far too late.

“Be grateful it stops here. Were it not for my promise to Tanashia, you’d be suffering a fate far worse than this.”

Ascan, once a royal guard captain, knew countless methods of torture. Reducing someone like Reiana to a living corpse was effortless.

But he was making an effort—to honor his promise to Tanashia: not to recklessly take lives.

Even if he didn’t punish her directly, those she had tormented would exact their own vengeance.

Shaking her head, Reiana muttered as if it were impossible.

“A fate worse than this? I can’t believe it…”

“Well, think what you will.”

Ascan turned away without hesitation, as if his task was complete. Quietly, he commanded Carlton beside him.

“Send her to Arwen Empire tomorrow, as planned. Hand her over to those waiting for her there.”

Hearing this, Reiana clutched her head with both hands and screamed.

“This can’t be real! It’s a nightmare!”

Thud. Thud. Ascan walked away, utterly indifferent to her cries.

It wasn’t the satisfying revenge he’d envisioned—but it was satisfying enough.

The magnanimous Tanashia wouldn’t even spare a thought for someone like Reiana—but Ascan was different. He could never forgive anyone who harmed her.

Still, he didn’t want Tanashia to see this ruthless side of him.

‘To her, I want to remain good—always.’

As Ascan walked farther away, he suddenly stopped. As if remembering something, he turned back toward Reiana’s cell and added one last remark.

“Oh, by the way—you won’t be able to use your wind ability anymore. If you were pinning any hope on that, wake up.”

Wearing an illegally traded ability suppressor rendered even moderately skilled ability users powerless.

For an ordinary ability user like Reiana, it went without saying.

Left alone behind the iron bars, Reiana let out a desperate, agonized scream.

“Aaaaaaah!”