Within Gregor's manor...

Crash!

A painting shattered against the wall.

Smash!

A vase followed moments later.

Servants trembled as Lord Gregor destroyed everything within reach.

"How dare he!"

Another vase exploded into pieces.

"How dare the King force me to bow before a mere commoner!"

His face twisted with rage.

"I, a Marquis of Arondain, was humiliated in front of the entire court because of that boy!"

His gaze landed on Valen.

The young noble immediately stiffened.

Gregor walked forward.

Slap!

Valen's head snapped to the side.

"You worthless brat!"

Kick!

Valen crashed onto the floor.

"You challenged him to a duel and still lost!"

Another kick landed on his ribs.

"You lost to a commoner!"

Valen coughed violently as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Gregor grabbed a handful of his hair and forced him to look up.

"The plan was simple."

His grip tightened.

"You were supposed to become engaged to the Princess."

"You were supposed to secure our future."

His eyes burned with fury.

"But now that foolish King has announced that the Princess may choose her own husband."

He threw Valen onto the ground.

"Our plans are ruined."

Valen struggled to rise.

His hands trembled with anger.

Then Gregor's next words made his expression change.

"This humiliation is your fault."

Gregor sneered.

"Just like your mother."

The moment he heard those words, Valen's eyes widened.

For the first time that night, genuine hatred appeared on his face.

"D-Don't compare me to that woman..."

He coughed.

"...Don't lump me together with her."

Gregor looked at him with disgust.

"Hmph."

He turned away.

"Guards."

Two guards immediately stepped forward.

"Take him out of my sight."

Without another word, Valen was dragged from the room.

Silence filled the manor.

A few moments later, the doors suddenly burst open.

A maid rushed inside.

"My Lord!"

Gregor frowned.

"What is it?"

The maid hesitated.

"D-Duchess Catherine has arrived."

The room froze.

Even Gregor's expression changed.

The Iron Blood Duchess.

A woman feared by nobles and commoners alike.

A woman who could smile while ordering executions.

A woman who had just publicly humiliated him in court.

Gregor swallowed.

"...Let her in."

The maid quickly bowed.

"Y-Yes, my Lord."

The moment she left—

Every magic crystal in the room suddenly went dark.

The manor was swallowed by darkness.

Gregor immediately rose from his seat.

"What is the meaning of—"

Whoosh.

The fireplace burst to life.

Orange flames danced across the room.

And there—

Sitting calmly in a chair beside the fire—

Was Catherine.

Her crimson hair glowed beneath the firelight.

One leg crossed over the other.

Hands resting calmly on her lap.

Watching him.

Waiting.

Her expression held none of the warmth she had shown earlier.

Only cold indifference.

For the first time that day...

Lord Gregor felt fear.

"What brings you here, Duchess?" Gregor asked, trying to hide the fear in his voice.

"I simply wished to have a conversation."

Catherine's tone was calm.

Almost gentle.

That only made Gregor more nervous.

Slowly, he began moving his hand toward a pendant hidden beneath his robes.

A communication artifact.

If he activated it, the guards would rush into the room.

Catherine noticed immediately.

"Don't bother, Marquis."

Gregor froze.

"The guards you're trying to call won't be coming."

"W-What do you mean?"

Before Catherine could answer—

A shadow suddenly emerged from the darkness.

A hooded figure appeared beside the table.

Something heavy was placed upon it.

Thud.

The shadow stepped back.

Gregor's eyes narrowed.

Then he finally saw what had been placed before him.

His face instantly lost all color.

Two severed heads rested on the table.

The very guards assigned to guard the room.

Gregor stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.

"W-What is the meaning of this?!"

Catherine calmly sipped her tea.

"A warning."

Her ruby eyes met his.

"Nothing more."

"Duchess... you've gone too far!"

"Too far?"

For the first time, Catherine's expression changed.

"Tell me, Marquis."

Her voice became colder.

"Who was it that tried to frame an innocent boy with false accusations?"

Gregor remained silent.

"Who was it that attempted to have him banished from the kingdom?"

Silence.

"Who was it that used the Princess to further their own ambitions?"

Each question struck harder than the last.

Gregor's face darkened.

She knew.

She knew everything.

His expression twisted.

"Why?" he spat.

"Why does the Iron Blood Duchess care so much about a filthy commoner?"

The room instantly grew colder.

"His origins are unknown."

Gregor sneered.

"No one even knows what blood flows through his veins."

The moment those words left his mouth—

A dagger appeared against his neck.

Gregor's entire body froze.

A shadow stood behind him.

Silent.

Invisible.

The blade pressed slightly deeper.

A thin line of blood trickled down his neck.

For the first time in years, Gregor felt death standing beside him.

Catherine slowly rose from her chair.

The warmth she had shown Azrael earlier was gone.

Only the Iron Blood Duchess remained.

"Be very careful with your next words, Marquis."

Her ruby eyes glowed within the darkness.

"How dare you speak of Azrael so carelessly."

The pressure filling the room became suffocating.

"Do you know why I care?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

Not from anger.

From emotion.

"He saved me."

Gregor's eyes widened.

"He pulled me out of the depths of despair."

The shadows around the room began to stir.

"Someone like you has no right to speak about him."

The dagger pressed further.

Gregor stopped breathing.

"If you ever attempt to harm him again..."

Her glowing eyes locked onto his.

"If you ever try to frame him..."

The fireplace suddenly erupted.

Flames roared toward the ceiling.

"If you so much as graze him..."

The shadows in the room twisted violently.

"I will remove everyone responsible."

Her voice became absolute.

"I don't care whether they are nobles."

The flames grew larger.

"I don't care whether they belong to my duchy."

The shadows tightened around Gregor.

"I don't care whether they stand beneath the Crown itself."

For the first time, genuine terror appeared on the Marquis's face.

"Anyone who harms Azrael..."

The room shook.

"Will pay the price."

BOOM.

The fireplace exploded with light.

Gregor screamed and covered his eyes.

Several seconds later, the light faded.

Silence returned.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

The magic crystals were glowing once more.

The room looked normal.

Catherine was gone.

The shadow figures were gone.

The severed heads had vanished.

Not a single drop of blood remained.

As if none of it had ever happened.

The doors burst open.

Guards rushed inside.

"My Lord!"

"My Lord, are you alright?!"

Gregor didn't answer.

He simply stared at the empty chair beside the fireplace.

His entire body was shaking.

For the first time in his life...

Lord Gregor truly understood why people feared the Iron Blood Duchess.