“Haa, haa, haa!”

White steam spreads out between the red lips. The wandering woman’s feet sunk deep into the snow that piled up to her knees.

A woman in a sheer dress, not dressed for the blizzard, was running through the snow-covered trees.

The woman’s face as she climbed the snowy mountain looked desperate. Like a beast was chasing her from behind, she ran without a break.

Faster.

Further.

To get away from the black castle, the woman ran like a madman.

“Ah…… !”

The woman who had been running for a long time finally collapsed on the snowy field. She had been running straight forward when she stumbled upon a boulder she hadn’t seen.

‘Of all places.’

Her hands, frozen red from the cold, cupped her ankle. When she squeezed it lightly, her beautiful face frowned at once.

A sharp pain dominated her entire leg. Her ankle seemed to be sprained tight.

‘What should I do?’

The woman who was rubbing her ankle gulped in nervousness. She breathed heavily and looked terrifiedly at the castle that was visible among the blizzard.

The castle of the Vittore family that defends Renato, the border area of the Arcangelo Empire.

The place where Ricardo Vittore, the bloodless and tearless Grand Duke Vittore, who leads the Black Wolf Knights, lives.

‘This is not the time.’

The woman who was looking at the castle with cold eyes, bit her lips. She struggled to get her body up with a grim face.

She has to get out of this snowy mountain before darkness falls on the sky. Before her hideous pursuers find her out.

Hoof! Hoof!

Hoof!

A hound barked through the snow wind.

The woman who was staggering, quickened her pace feeling the sound following her. The pain in her leg was getting worse. She had to clench her teeth at every step.

“Ugh…….”

But she can’t stop. If not now, there will be no more chance to escape. She can’t be locked in the red room again.

She had longed for the affection of a man who never cast a look at her. Now she’s tired of being confined. And above all…….

The white hand that had been clasping her leg suddenly moved to her flat stomach. Just as she was caressing something precious, she slowly stroked her stomach.

‘I have to run away for this child’s sake.’

Her green eyes lit up as she looked down at her stomach with a warm gaze.

The woman took a deep breath and started walking. No, she was only about to move.

Until a black shadow falls upon her and covers her.

“…… Armilla.”

The woman, Armilla, trembled at the man’s call.

A deep voice like echoes in a cave. A dignified, high-handed tone.

Ricardo Vittore, the ruler of the dark night and the icy sword, was looking down at Armilla.

“Were you here?”

The cool purple gaze fell down on her red hair that was blowing in the wind.

The hound’s howl was getting farther and farther away. Perhaps the dog was just released to intimidate her.

Armilla’s terrified lips moved. Thoughts swirled in her head that she had to run away quickly.

But that’s the end of it. She couldn’t budge under his pressure.

Armilla shook her head. All she could do was turn away from him.

Ricardo narrowed his eyes as Armilla averted his gaze. And he said in a soft voice.

“Your dress is a mess.”

Ricardo’s voice clearly showed disapproval, and Armilla quietly gulped.

Armilla was afraid of Ricardo.

How on earth did she love this person who was scared enough to be faced at. How could she love someone so cold?

“What were you doing here?”

The purple eyes that fixed his gaze on Armilla flashed. He gazed at Armilla in silence and reached out to the tattered lace.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

The hand that had been gripping the sleeve of her dress roughly gripped her thin forearm.

“Huht…….”

“You’re leaving the castle on your own. Who told you you could?”

Ricardo tugged at Armilla and growled like a hungry beast.

“I clearly have said that every single strand of your hair was mine.”

Did you forget?

Armilla’s face contorted in pain as he grabbed her and spoke lowly.

How can she forget that? The night she became Ricardo’s bride, she heard it. No, perhaps she thought it was.

Although they had a wedding, Armilla was not a formal Grand Duchess. Still, she offered to give him her all. She confessed that she was happy and that she loved him.

Poor Armilla.

What made her so happy about being treated like a mistress? So stupid.

“It’s better for me to disappear for Your Highness’ sake as well.”

“Look at me and tell me that.”

“If you let me go, I will live like I am dead. I won’t even be close to Renato…….”

“Look at me.”

The cold hand cupped her slender chin. Armilla’s head turned and Ricardo pressed her soft cheek. With that, her mouth opened helplessly.

“Ah…… !”

When Armilla’s mouth opened, a piece of flesh slid into her mouth. Ricardo hugged her and tied his tongue wildly.

Ricardo blatantly roamed Armilla’s soft mouth. His thick tongue wrapped around Armilla’s and rubbed tenaciously at the insides of her mouth.

When her lips seemed to want to part, he turned his head and sucked Armilla’s tongue again, mixing his saliva with it. It was a hot kiss unsuitable for the cold.

“Hu-uht…….”

Armilla’s body slowly heated up as the kiss, which started as rough and was becoming intense. The memories of the many nights she had moaned under him began to eat away at her sanity.

No.

Don’t.

Armilla, who was melting into Ricardo, suddenly opened her eyes. She shouldn’t be swept away like this. She can never escape like that.

She twisted her body to free herself from his confining arms, pushing his solid chest out.

But Ricardo didn’t budge. He coveted Armilla relentlessly, like a man tasting a very sweet fruit for the first time in his life.

As the heat rose, Armilla tightened her chin. And she bit Ricardo’s tongue as much as he could.

Then Ricardo frowned and stepped back. Red blood dripped from his mouth. Ricardo wiped his mouth with his hand and raised his eyebrows.

“What is this?”

“Please.”

A trembling voice stuck in Ricardo’s ears as he spat the blood in the white snow. Armilla, who had already been messed up with tears, shuddered and said earnestly,

“Please, let me go…….”

“Why are you shaking so much?”

Ricardo, who was watching Armilla closely, brushed her disheveled dark hair back. He added, with a look of annoyance at the blizzard that never abated.

“Cold?”

“Your Grace, you don’t need me anymore. If you are officially married, I will…….”

“Shall we take a bath together when we return to the castle? It has been a long time.”

“Please!”

Armilla shouted at Ricardo, who kept ignoring her. At her desperate cry, Ricardo raised his lips and laughed.

“Let you go?”

Ricardo’s long legs strode forward and closed the distance between them. He glared at Armilla and grabbed her thin wrist.

“Why?”

Veins sprung on the back of the man’s hand as he held Armilla’s hand. Ricardo muttered, looking at her as if he was going to burn her.

“Why should I let you go? You’re mine, why?”

“Let me go.”

A sobbing plea flowed from Armilla’s teeth. The cold wind filled the space between the two.

Ricardo’s sharp eyes, which had been staring at Armilla in silence, suddenly curled.

“That’s enough fighting. Let’s go back.”

A languid smile appeared on Ricardo’s face as he spoke leisurely. Ricardo continued, his eyes flashing.

“Because if you do more here, I’m going to get really angry.”

Armilla took a hard look at his ignorance for her opinion. Then she bit Ricardo’s hand that had been holding her wrist hard.

“What…… !”

Surprised, Ricardo flinched and let go of her hand. Armilla took the opportunity to step backwards and drew a dagger from her bodice.

“Where did you get that dagger?”

Ricardo, who was staring at the back of his hand that Armilla had bitten, looked puzzled.

Armilla did not answer. It was difficult just to keep the tip of the dagger from shaking.

Ricardo laughed as he watched her aim the dagger at him in a clumsy posture.

“You’re scared to death.”

Ricardo spoke leisurely and approached Armilla. For him who was tired of commanding the battlefield, none of this posed a threat.

For Ricardo, this is no different than a child wielding a wooden sword. Armilla was well aware of that fact. So,

“Armilla!”

She brought the dagger to her throat.

“Damn it, put the dagger down!”

Armilla drew the blade against her white neck, drawing a vivid red line. Then Ricardo, who was approaching her, got startled.

He, who had always maintained a relaxed attitude, lost his composure and his face was distorted.

“Are you crazy? You’ll get hurt!”

“Don’t come closer.”

Armilla said resolutely as she gripped the dagger. The blade of the dagger shimmered and reflected in the light. Looking at, Ricardo, who had been ignoring her words all along, froze on the spot.

Armilla glared at him and said sadly.

“If you take a step closer, I will die right here.”

“Okay. I get it. Calm down.”

With Armilla’s intimidation, Ricardo calmed her. He raised his hands with a white face. Showing signs of surrender, he said nervously.

“Damn it, I said I got it. Put down that damn dagger. I will do anything you ask me to do.”

“Let me go.”

“…….”

Armilla’s request did not bore an answer from him. Where did the one who had mocked and frustrated her, only silence came. Armilla sneered at Ricardo who was like a stone statue now.

Will he do whatever she wants? Lies.

Ricardo already knows what Armilla wants to hear most.

She only needs him to say that he will let Armilla go.

That’s it.

That being said, Armilla could love Ricardo again, but he wouldn’t be able to say what she wants. That indifference made Armilla come this far.

“Damn it, Armilla!”

As the dagger dug deep into her neck, Ricardo let out a cry when his patience ran out.

“Put down the dagger.”

“…….”

“If you put down the dagger, I will forgive you for trying to escape. I will buy you anything you want. Whatever you want…….”

Armilla smiled bitterly as she stared at Ricardo who spouted words in disorder.

“I don’t need that.”

Armilla smiled sadly and tensed her hand on the dagger. As she twisted her wrist, Ricardo’s eyes widened as he watched Armilla restlessly.

“Wait…….”

Armilla smiled faintly. And, she took a breath.

“No!”

The moment Ricardo’s cry came. Red blood dripped on the pure white snow. The dagger fell into the snow, and screams mingled with the sound of the wind blowing.

* * *

Help me.

That was the first thing I said to him.

* * *

“Whoa, whoa!”

The sound of the coachman pulling the reins and calming the horses spread throughout the garden. As the golden carriage slowly approached the entrance of the mansion, servants in black uniforms rushed out from inside the mansion. They lined up in a row without a hint of breathlessness and put their hands together neatly.

“Welcome back.”

The butler’s greeting was not pointed to the two-wheeled carriage, but to the dark horse running alongside the carriage.

The man on the horse glanced at the gray-haired butler, then slid his long legs over with ease.

Even when he was getting off the tall horse, the man’s movements were neat and tidy, with no shaking or superfluity. It was as if he was born on horseback.

As the tall man slowly took off his black leather gloves and entered the mansion’s entrance, several maids waiting behind him pursed their lips with flushed faces.

“I’ll wipe the snow off, Master.”

One of the maids mustered up the courage to try to follow the man. Then the butler glared at her with stern eyes.

... ...

The maid sensed the butler’s face and backed away again. Everyone knew that they would have to stay out of the butler’s eyes if they wanted to work in this mansion for long.

‘I’ll have to re-educate her.’

Paolo, the butler, followed his master, while watching the maid who had dared to step in the master’s shadow.

It’s been 20 years since he had worked in the Black Castle’s mansion. He was tired of most things, but he was not used to protecting the young and beautiful master.

The master was so beautiful that even the maids were thrilled even knowing that they should not dare to look at him.

Hitting his dusted black garb with a glove, his shoulder was so dignified that there was no other expression befitting it. He boasted perfect proportions, along with his straight legs and straight lines tapering down from his shoulders to his waist.

The shadow alone was beautiful enough to enchant women, and even his appearance was unmatched in beauty.

His jet-black hair, resembling that of the former Duke, gently rustled even in the fierce wind, and beneath it, purple eyes gleamed.

A harmonious appearance with clear features. He was a perfect man, except that his tightly closed lips rarely opened, and his face was often cold.

It was understandable that the Emperor was anxious to keep his nephew by his side. Sometimes beauty becomes power.

And because of that power, the man had been struggling all winter.

The Emperor cherished his nephew, the Duke. He cared for him and also kept him in check. As evidence of his love and hatred, the Emperor gave his nephew a small gift.

An unwanted arranged marriage.

“Nonsense again.”

However, the arranged marriage did not go smoothly. Not because the main people of the marriage refused, but because an unavoidable disaster occurred.

The bride went missing.

The owner of the Black Castle, the cold and beautiful Grand Duke Ricardo Vittore, was now searching for one person every day.

His fiancee, Princess Mirabel Etienette.

It was not for the sentimental reason of finding a loved one that Ricardo set up a search team to find the princess.

He has never seen the princess. All he knew was that she was a beauty with blonde hair resembling the sun and blue eyes like the sea.

Even if it was an engagement, there was no ceremony other than the signing of the papers. It was because Segolinde, Princess Mirabel’s motherland, was a good two months’ travel from Renato.

And that excessive distance became the root of this trouble.

“Maybe Master doesn’t have to step forward now?”

Paolo spoke cautiously, glancing sideways at the carriage behind Ricardo. If Ricardo had done this much, it meant that he showed enough sincerity from his side as well.

It’s been 15 days since Princess Mirabel had an unfortunate accident on her way to Renato to marry Ricardo.

Heavy snowfall was the cause. Unlike Segolinde, the Arcangelo Empire had a severe cold that took up half of the year. Renato, the border area, was especially notorious for the intense cold.

In Renato, blizzards were so severe and common that even heavy snowfall was not considered snowing. However, Segolinde was a country with a mild climate, so as soon as they crossed the border, the princess and her party were helpless in a snow storm.

Of course, they also made their own preparations to prepare for Arcangelo’s winter. However, even so, it was preparation done to Segolinde’s standards.

The wheels of the carriages were too thin, the horses were weak, and the coachmen and guards fainted in the cold.

In the end, the princess and her party were helpless in the blizzard. Their bodies were all found along with the wreckage of the carriage, but only one, Princess Mirabel, was not found.

This led Ricardo to search for the princess.

Just like the engagement, this was also to comply with imperial order. If it wasn’t for the imperial order, there would be no reason for Ricardo to wander in the snowy mountains every day.

“I’m tired.”

The butler quickly examined the master’s face hearing the low muttering that sounded like talking to himself.

His face showed no change in expression. The high nose and perfect profile. It was as if he knew for sure that he would return today with an empty carriage.

The butler quietly swallowed his sigh and lowered his head. He guessed it from the slight rattling of the carriage when returning to the mansion.

“I will prepare the bath.”

“No, wait.”

Ricardo, who had been glancing at Paolo, opened his mouth as he watched the carriage pull away. He turned toward the carriage before Paolo could ask what was going on.

Ricardo, who held the carriage rather violently enough to make a rattling sound, looked around. The servants who lined up to greet their master had already gone to their work and took their place.

By Ricardo’s side were only Paolo, the butler, and Missus Catarina, the chief maid.

“Open it.”

Ricardo, who had been looking at Paolo, looked troubled for a moment before ordering Missus Catarina.

Missus Catarina exchanged glances with the butler at the master’s brief command. However, despite his employees looking like they wanted an explanation, Ricardo did not add anything special.

“Missus, open it.”

“Yes, Master.”

Missus Catarina, who knew the master’s temper, did not say anything unless she had to say it. She bowed her head and approached the carriage.

The curtains were drawn over the window, so she couldn’t see what was inside.

However, both Paolo and Missus Catarina knew that there was ‘someone’ in this carriage.

This carriage was specially gifted by the Emperor to greet Princess Mirabel. That’s why it was full of bright and colorful decorations that didn’t match the dark gray Renato.

Even the inside of the carriage was so beautifully crafted that the maids competed to be in charge of cleaning it.

A carriage exclusively for Princess Mirabel.

That there was a person in that carriage, and that the Grand Duke, who went to find Princess Mirabel, returned with someone in it meant only one thing.

That he found Princess Mirabel.