Eventually, Dane lifted Rose and carried her onto the desk.
"Ah..."
Rose lightly arched her body as she felt him pulling away from her.
"It's going to be hard to chase you out."
Dane brought a cloth and began to wipe Rose's face.
"Since you've cured my poison so earnestly."
He gently wiped the corners of her mouth and cheeks, then added.
"It's enough to make me question whether you're curing me or poisoning me."
Having said that, Dane swallowed Rose's lips. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to the kiss.
Kung, kung.
A hot, intense pulse radiated from Dane's chest pressed against hers. The fact that he burned so fiercely because of her was immensely satisfying.
'I'm so happy...'
Every moment spent with Dane was so fulfilling.
She wanted to be wrapped in his embrace all day.
Being held by him until they grew tired of it, eating food in bed when they were exhausted, and then sinking back into ecstasy—that was the life she wanted.
For that to happen, she had to clear away everything standing in his path.
Perfectly.
"...This should make it look like I'm in the middle of the detoxification process. I intentionally didn't cure it completely."
Rose whispered as she caressed Dane's cheek, their foreheads touching.
"If I pretend to fret in front of Joel, claiming the detoxification is difficult... he'll think I'm a foolish woman and won't suspect me."
"It's just an act, but it's a shame that a clever woman like you must play the fool."
"Don't worry, Dane. Deceiving Joel is the greatest game to me."
The corners of Rose's lips curved upward smoothly. It was a deadly, dangerous smile, like snake venom.
"I deliberately formulated the poison to mimic the symptoms just before a mana reflux. So that Joel would fall for my trick."
"Have you been calculating this since then?"
"Considering the possibility of having you, I prepared for a much further future."
Rose's pale fingers intertwined and wrapped around Dane's nape. She liked the sight, as it resembled a leash placed around Dane's neck.
"If I can't have you, I could just die. It's meaningless to live without you, anyway."
"......"
Dane was left speechless, gazing deeply at Rose.
The fact that such a strong and beautiful man was groaning and hesitating beneath her touch...
That was the most intense pleasure to Rose; it gave her existence meaning.
"Don't make that expression."
Jjok.
Rose pressed her lips once more against her possession.
She had never truly owned something as entirely hers before. For Rose, possessing Dane Schmaichel was her life's greatest goal and its ultimate result.
"Now that I have you, death is no longer an option for me."
Rose beamed and lightly tapped Dane's cheek, intending to naturally change the subject.
"Joel must have thought 'just as planned' the moment he saw your symptoms. Because he could pin it on me as your poisoner."
Even if he were terrified by her madness and wanted to run away... it was already too late. They would have to fall into the abyss together.
"It was so repulsive the way he came to me, pretending to be on my side. He did it in my past life, and he's still the same."
"...He did."
"While I was in prison, I thought and thought about what I had missed. As I was dying by Joel's hand, I vowed never to let it happen again."
Rose's eyes narrowed.
Perhaps she had returned from the brink of death just to claim this man's side.
"I will gift you complete victory."
Rose smiled and swept Dane's hair back.
His hair, woven with moonlight, was incredibly beautiful. She would protect every single silver strand from harm.
"Sonya brought a message from my father anyway."
"What did he say?"
"He said it was a good decision even now, and to quickly show some sincerity... it was along those lines."
"Sincerity, huh."
Dane offered a chilling smile.
"Uncle... Henrik must have put him up to it. He wants you to show how serious you are."
"What would be best?"
Rose actually already had something in mind.
Something that would make Henrik recognize her desperation without finding it suspicious.
And that was...
"The patrol map of the guards within the estate."
Coincidentally, exactly what Rose was thinking spilled from Dane's mouth.
"...Dane."
Rose masked her smile with astonishment, acting as if she were shocked by such an outrageous proposal.
"Isn't that too compromising?"
"It's fine. I plan to gradually alter it after discussing it with Bill."
Dane opened a drawer and pulled out a document.
"It's perfectly natural for the lady of the castle to familiarize herself with the servants' routines or the guards' shift schedules."
He then handed the document to Rose without hesitation.
"Hand this over. And it would be best to add a few appropriate words."
"What should I say?"
"Information that would be difficult for an outsider to know. For example—"
"'Around 2 PM, the guards at the west annex quietly slip away when the kitchen servants bring out snacks. ...Like this?'"
Even though Rose cut him off, not a hint of rejection showed on Dane's face.
"Yes, just like that."
Instead, he smiled, as if finding Rose clever for reading his mind.
'Ah.'
She saw Dane slowly being dyed by her poison.
The true poison Rose thought of wasn't chemical or magical.
It was a mental bond that burrowed deeply into someone without them even noticing, leaving them without a chance once they realized it.
That was the most insidious, lethal, and effective poison.
'Without me...'
She wanted him to be unable to live without her. Because she couldn't live without him, either.
"That should be enough to fool even my suspicious uncle."
Dane lifted Rose from the desk and set her down on the floor.
Her legs momentarily gave out because of the lingering heat and the traces he left all over her body.
Tak.
Dane caught the staggering Rose and steadied her.
"Can you walk?"
"...Yes."
Rose felt her face flush with heat. But she lifted her chin slightly, pretending it was nothing.
"Come to the laboratory next time."
Chok.
Dane chuckled and pressed his lips against Rose's forehead.
"Since it's an order from the one holding my lifeline, I must obey."
It seemed he had caught on that Rose's brazen remarks were actually shy attempts at seduction.
"It's my birthday soon."
Dane smiled as he pulled his lips away.
"Are you preparing a gift?"
"Of course."
Rose smiled brightly.
She was preparing a gift that would surprise him completely.
"I hope that day comes quickly."
**
Dane's birthday was tomorrow.
A tension akin to the calm before the storm hung over the Schmaichel estate.
Cheolkeong, cheolkeong.
Some of the knights stationed at Mount Kalmar arrived as reinforcements. The heavy sound of their footsteps and clanking armor created a solemn atmosphere.
"We have finished repairing the moat!"
"We have checked the well too!"
Guards scurried about, inspecting every corner of the estate.
Kung!
Trees around the castle were cut down to prevent enemies from building siege engines or hiding spots. It was also to monitor enemy approach.
"Cover it thoroughly!"
Wet hides were layered over the castle gates and wooden structures, preparing for any potential fires.
"Hurry! Move everything inside the castle!"
"Hurry up!"
The estate's residents moved the crops from the surrounding villages into the castle. Livestock were also herded inside.
"Is the kitchen still not ready?"
"All done!"
The servants inside the inner castle were also busy.
Following the instructions of the butler, Bill, and the head maid, Selma, they moved in perfect unison, checking and double-checking for any gaps in their defense.
"Your Excellency, the inspection is complete."
"Good."
Dane stood atop the high castle walls, watching the entire scene.
Neither excitement nor tension was visible. His calm and cool demeanor lay quietly still, as if waiting for something.
"Phew..."
Rose watched Dane's back from afar, etching the sight into her eyes.
'Finally.'
If they could safely pass tonight and greet the rising sun tomorrow.
Dane would become the true master of Schmaichel.
'That's why today was the turning point.'
Today, in her past life.
The forces of all the families that sided with Henrik, including Count Marcus and Count Olsen, had gathered before the castle gates.
The moment the high sun set and twilight rolled in.
Kwang!
They launched an all-out attack on the Schmaichel estate.
'Your Excellency!'
'Be careful!'
So many had died and been injured.
Flames soared and blood splattered across the once-peaceful Schmaichel estate.
'Heuk...'
Dane simply slashed, thrust, and hacked, fighting like a demon. Whether he survived or not was meaningless to him.
When the war that raged all night finally ended.
Seogeog!
Dane finally severed the last man's head.
Puk!
He drove his sword into the ground to support his swaying body.
'...Haha.'
A small laugh broke the silence.
'Hahaha!'
That soon turned into a massive bout of mad laughter that filled the entire castle.
'Begin the victory banquet.'
Dane muttered, abruptly cutting off his laughter.
Soon, the rising morning sun began to illuminate the blood-stained earth. Dane Schmaichel had won.
'That was the end.'
Rose clenched her teeth as she recalled that time.
Dane, who drank the wine Joel had prepared, never opened his eyes again.
Rose, dragged off to prison, also had to face her death helplessly.
'This time must be different.'
No, the situation had already changed.
Dane's sword had swept away the relatives who sided with Henrik, leaving only Henrik himself.
Therefore, a fierce war like in her past life would not happen.
Nevertheless, Dane prepared for an emergency scenario, assuming Henrik's forces would secretly infiltrate.
'He's not the type to attack alone in this situation.'
Henrik was a despicable and sinister man, so he would never do anything that would threaten his own life.
He would hide in the shadows, waiting for Dane to let his guard down and collapse.
So he was bound to take the tempting bait Rose had prepared.
"My lady, we should head inside. It's too cold."
Rose turned her head toward the tempting bait, Sonya.
She erased the calmness from her face, overlaying it with melancholy.
"S-Sonya... that thing you said before, are you sure?"
By feigning a timid voice, the old, clumsy, and cowardly version of herself was perfectly recreated.