The slap echoed across the front courtyard of the manor.

Lucas's head was knocked slightly to the side.

For a second—

His world went empty.

Blank.

No pain.

No anger.

Just… confusion.

"…Huh?"

That was the only sound that came from his mouth.

The Baroness stood in front of him with her breath trembling.

Her eyes were red, her jaw stiff, her hand still shaking from the slap.

Silvara stepped forward half a step.

"My Lady—"

"SILENCE!"

The Baroness's voice cracked.

She turned sharply toward Silvara.

"Do you even know what he just did?!" She pointed straight at Silvara's face.

"WHY DID YOU ALLOW HIM TO CHALLENGE A REGIONAL KNIGHT?!"

Silvara lowered her head.

Her body tensed.

"My apologies, My Lady," she said quietly.

Lucas opened his mouth.

"Mo—"

"Enough."

The Baroness cut him off immediately.

She clutched the front of her coat as if she were struggling to breathe.

"You're coming with me." She grabbed Lucas's hand.

"We're going to apologize." She walked quickly.

"Right now." She stopped when her son's feet did not move at all.

Lucas shook his head slightly.

Slowly.

Hesitantly.

"No."

One word.

Low.

And that…

Made the Baroness freeze in place.

"…What did you just say?" She released her grip and turned back to face him.

She stared at Lucas as if she had just heard something impossible.

"You… refuse?" She tilted her head.

"You know how powerful that knight is, don't you? Stop this foolish bravery… And—"

Tears gathered in her eyes.

Cracking.

"And since when…" She exhaled softly.

"Since when did you bind that filthy hoe to your soul?!" she continued, staring straight into his eyes.

Lucas stiffened.

"…That hoe?"

The Baroness's voice broke.

"What is it that you lack?!" She grabbed her son's shoulders.

"If you want more money, SAY IT!" She shook him lightly.

"You don't need to farm like some lowly commoner!" Her grip tightened.

"You…" Her breath hitched. "…your birthday is coming soon."

That voice.

That tone.

Lucas recognized it.

Too kind.

Too worried.

Too… suffocating.

A sense of discomfort crawled upward inside him.

And without warning—

Foreign memories surfaced.

Another face.

Another voice.

Another set of parents.

The same worried tone.

The same pressure.

The same affection…

The kind that had always followed him throughout his childhood.

Lucas let out a long breath.

Deep.

If he wanted to endure this…

If he wanted to get through this…

He needed that mask again.

The mask of Lucian Voss.

He straightened his back.

And looked at the Baroness—

Not as Lucas.

But as the heir of House Voss.

"Mother."

His voice changed.

Flat.

Calm.

Sharp.

"I don't care."

The Baroness fell silent.

Lucas continued.

"I can get more money from that land." He gently took the Baroness's hand from his shoulder.

"More than you can give me." He slowly lowered her hand.

The Baroness's eyes widened.

"Lucian…"

Lucas turned around.

And walked away.

The Baroness lunged for his wrist.

Pulled.

"You can't leave like this!"

Lucas stopped.

Then—

He pulled free.

Not roughly.

But firmly.

He spoke without turning.

"Have you ever tried…" He glanced back slightly.

"…to believe in your son?" His eyes met the Baroness's.

The Baroness froze.

Those words—

Struck straight into her chest.

She swallowed.

Her voice cracked.

"I… I'm sorry." She took a small step.

"If I was too harsh." She grabbed his shoulder again.

"My son, we still have a chance—"

"I don't care." Lucas cut her off.

Softly.

Coldly.

He turned around.

And looked straight at the Baroness.

His eyes were not seeking approval anymore.

No longer asking for permission.

"Just watch what I can do," he said.

At last— he lowered his head slightly.

Formal.

Cold.

"My Lady."

Then—

He walked away.

Leaving the Baroness and Silvara behind.

The Baroness stood frozen.

Her lips trembled.

Her hands slowly fell, powerless at her sides.

Silvara looked after him.

Hesitant.

She did not follow.

—

Lucas walked alone down the corridor.

His steps were steady.

But his chest felt tight.

His emotions were in chaos.

Relief.

Pain.

Guilt.

And…

A decision that could never be taken back.

"…Damn it," he muttered quietly.

Excessive love.

Suffocating concern.

All of it…

Was not enough to make him stop.

He lifted his head.

Staring at the manor ceiling.

"At last… I finally have the chance to refuse that love," he whispered softly.

---

Meanwhile, at Mae's Clinic

Mae finished writing the last prescription and set her pen down.

She stared at the paper for a long time.

This potion…

It could seriously damage the Young Master's body.

She let out a slow breath.

But…

He was the one who had asked for it.

Mae bit her lip.

"…If anything happens to him…"

She closed her eyes for a moment, then folded the paper and slipped it into her bag.

Staying here would change nothing.

She had to move.

Mae boarded a horse carriage that happened to be heading toward Voss Town.

The ride was not long—

But the scenery changed at once.

Quiet dirt roads turned into stone paths and tightly packed buildings.

Voss Town was far busier than the village where the manor stood.

Merchants calling out.

The creak of carriage wheels.

People brushing past one another.

Mae got off near the main market and immediately bought the supplies.

Medicinal herbs.

Glass bottles.

Powdered minerals.

Everything for the potion The Young Master had ordered.

Then—

Her steps slowed.

Her eyes stopped on an old wooden sign hanging crookedly.

BROTHELS

Mae frowned.

…At this hour, Lina should already be on her way home.

Her grip tightened around her basket.

I should check on her.

And…

ask about her grandmother.

Another thought surfaced.

That poison.

Viperpink.

And Lina.

Mae hesitated.

Then she turned.

She did not go through the front.

Instead, she slipped into the narrow alley behind the buildings.

Darker.

Quieter.

Then—

Laughter echoed from behind a wall.

And then—

SLAP.

Mae stopped.

Her breath caught in her throat.

She moved closer, peeking from behind a wooden crate—

And her body froze.

Lina was there.

Her head tilted from a fresh slap.

Standing in front of her was a voluptuous woman.

Liria.

Her hand still raised.

Her face twisted with anger.

Lina kept her head lowered.

Her shoulders slightly hunched.

And to the side—

Sitting casually, laughing:

Aldric.

Mae's blood ran cold.

"…Lina?" she whispered.

Her voice was barely audible.

She was about to step in—

But Aldric spoke first.

"Don't worry. Even without that poison, the Young Master is already finished. Hahaha…"

Mae froze.

Out of nowhere, someone leaned over and threw an arm around her. Mae flinched.

"Hey there~"

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