Ghislain's voice echoed throughout the room. "You don’t want to live like this forever, but you’re too afraid to die, aren’t you? It’s understandable. With half-hearted resolve like that, even if you swing a knife, you’ll only scratch the surface.” “...You talk a big game, quack.” The butler, who had been silently listening nearby, flushed with anger and couldn’t hold back anymore. “You’re going too far!” Ignoring him, Ghislain continued. "Are you really afraid you're going to die?" “Stop it! Baron!” “If you can’t make the decision yourself, I’ll make it for you. If you’re going to die anyway, why not take one last chance and try to survive through treatment?” “Baron Fenris!” The atmosphere had reached its worst point. The butler and knights radiated hostility. Ghislain’s subordinates, sensing the tension, also began to respond in kind, preparing for a standoff. At that moment, the crowd parted, and the Marquis of Branford entered, flanked by Sir Toleo, the head of the knights. “Marquis!” The butler's face brightened as he bowed deeply. He hurriedly confessed to the Marquis that recommending Ghislain had been a mistake and apologized for endangering the young lady’s life. He urged the Marquis to immediately halt the treatment. That’s why the Marquis had arrived, to assess the situation himself. With a cold expression, he surveyed the room and asked, “What is the meaning of this? Are you conducting a witch hunt here?” Rosalyn’s hair was disheveled, and the front of her clothes was stained with blood. Even the bed was soaked with blood, making it look as though something far more gruesome had occurred. “Father...” Rosalyn didn’t seem relieved to see the Marquis at all. He was the one who had forced this treatment on her without asking for her opinion. No matter how much duty demanded that she obey the head of her noble house, she couldn’t suppress the boiling rage inside her. “Did you come to watch your daughter cough up blood? Or to check if the merchandise you plan to marry off is still intact?” Her sharp words, spoken while gripping a dagger, caused everyone in the room to gasp. “M-My Lady! You mustn’t speak to the Lord like that!” The butler stammered, horrified. The once-kind and dignified young lady had changed beyond recognition. Her illness had made her more irritable, but the butler suspected that Ghislain’s influence had made things even worse. At Rosalyn’s harsh words, the Marquis furrowed his brow slightly and spoke in a low voice. “As the butler said, you seem to be in poor condition. If you wish, I will halt the treatment.” His shocking declaration left Rosalyn momentarily stunned. Ghislain, meanwhile, bit the inside of his lip discreetly. He had finally managed to bring out her fighting spirit, and now the treatment could be halted? With Rosalyn already opposed to the treatment, there was no way she would refuse this offer. ‘Is this it?’ Without her will to endure, there was no way to push through the treatment. In her previous life, she had endured excruciating pain and the fear of death. But now, she lacked that same resilience. ‘I’ll have to seek what I need elsewhere.’ Ghislain had intended to ask the Marquis for a few favors, but that would have to wait. He would need to find another opportunity or method. Just then, Rosalyn, who had been silent, finally spoke. “If I refuse, what happens to Baron Fenris?” The Marquis, still expressionless, replied. “If you refuse, there is no reason to hold him accountable. The responsibility lies with him, so he will leave as he came.” At this, the butler showed a slightly disappointed expression, while Ghislain’s subordinates looked relieved. A man like the Marquis would never go back on his word. However, Rosalyn let out a hollow laugh behind her mask and muttered, “Him or you... you’re all the same. You humiliated me, tormented me, and now you’re just going to let him walk away?” Her shoulders shook as she laughed—or perhaps cried—and then she lifted her head to look directly at Ghislain. “You... I really can’t stand you. The way you talk like you know everything, the way you push forward like you’re the only one who’s right.” Ghislain remained silent. He couldn’t very well tell her he had already lived through these events in a previous life. “This treatment of yours... how can I trust something that might kill me?” “Isn’t it too late to worry about that now? Whether you trust it or not, what good will that do?” Rosalyn gritted her teeth and let out a snarl. “Too late? You and my father started this without my say, and now it’s too late to stop? Do I look like some puppet who’ll do whatever you say?” ‘Huh?’ Clang. She threw the dagger to the ground and turned to face the Marquis. “I’ll continue the treatment.” “My Lady! But you heard, you could die from this!” The butler was taken aback by her sudden change of heart. Everyone else was just as surprised. After all, she had been so adamant against it earlier—why the sudden reversal? Ignoring their reactions, Rosalyn continued. “If the treatment fails, you’ll ensure this quack doesn’t get away, right? I’ll decide how he dies.” The Marquis replied in his usual calm manner. “As you wish.” “And if I die from the treatment, tear him apart for me.” “I’ll do as you ask.” At her chilling words, everyone swallowed nervously. Only Ghislain bit his lip to keep from laughing. ‘Perfect. She’s seething with venom now. I nearly forgot whose daughter she was.’ This was a perfect twist. Rosalyn’s mind was no longer on the treatment. She was sure that Ghislain would fail, and now she was consumed by thoughts of making him suffer for it. But in reality, nothing could help her endure pain better than this deep-rooted grudge. Rosalyn’s eyes gleamed with fury as she looked at Ghislain. “There’s about ten days left, right? I’ll make sure to survive, just so I can kill you when this is all over.” “Well, if you survive, you’ll have the chance to see that happen. Do you have the will to hold on now?” “You won’t die a peaceful death. I’ll make sure of that.” Ghislain shrugged and smiled. “If I fail, I’ll gladly accept my fate. I must say, I like that look in your eyes.” Rosalyn sneered at him before turning to the butler. “Tie my arms and legs to the bed during the treatments.” “What?” “And prepare a gag as well.” “Is that really necessary...” “Do you want me to thrash around like a madwoman, restrained by these people every time I’m treated? If we’re doing this, we’ll do it right.” “...Understood.” The butler couldn’t hide his discomfort but nodded reluctantly. Watching the scene, Ghislain was impressed. ‘Her venom is remarkable. The old saying about a lion’s cub being a lion holds true. And wasn’t the Branford family crest a lion? It suits her well.’ It’s one thing to be consumed by anger, but staking your life on it is not easy. Especially when you have a way out, as she did now. But Rosalyn wasn’t backing down. Once she made up her mind, she refused to retreat. She glared at Ghislain once more. “Let’s see this through to the end.” The determination to kill Ghislain when the treatment was over was clear in her eyes. Of course, Ghislain wasn’t the type to be intimidated. “Very well. I’ll give it my best, and I hope you do the same. Now, we can focus on the treatment without distractions.” He shrugged, smiling as if everything was going according to plan. “Ughhh!” From that day forward, Rosalyn endured the treatments remarkably well. So well, in fact, that Ghislain almost wanted to apologize for underestimating her. Her sheer willpower made the process somewhat easier, but that didn’t mean the treatment was without its difficulties. “Baron, can’t you be more gentle?” “Baron, is there truly no other way?” “Baron, her face seems to be getting worse!” ‘Ugh, this old man...’ With the butler’s constant nagging adding to the strain of the mana treatment, Ghislain’s patience was wearing thin after a week of this. Finally, he snapped. “Everyone out.” “Pardon?” “I said, get out. You’re making it impossible for me to concentrate.” The butler protested angrily. “But we need to be here to respond if something goes wrong—” “I said, leave. Before I toss you all out myself.” Ghislain was starting to drop the pretense of courtesy, his true nature beginning to show. The butler and knights resisted, but Rosalyn quickly intervened. “Do as he says. It’ll be annoying if you use this as an excuse later.” With Rosalyn’s approval, all the servants and Ghislain’s attendants were sent out. Left alone in the room, Ghislain and Rosalyn began the life-or-death treatment once again. “Ughhh!” ‘Damn it, just a little more!’ Rosalyn continued coughing up blood as her insides were torn apart daily. Though she wasn’t enduring anywhere near the same torment, Ghislain himself was pushed to his limits, drained after each session. ‘I’ll need to take a risk and push through faster.’ Her body, already weak, was growing frailer with each passing day, and tackling the blockages one by one was taking far too long. ‘As long as she doesn’t die, right?’ Not dying meant she could be pushed to the brink—as long as she survived, it was acceptable. After all, if they didn’t finish in time, both he and Rosalyn would die. ‘It’s exhausting. But when has anything ever been easy?’ Ghislain smirked and cracked his neck. ‘Time to break through in one go.’ He targeted the strongest area of her mana and ruthlessly tore through the blockages. Crack! Crackle! Rosalyn’s mana road couldn’t withstand the shock and began to burst apart. “Gurgle!” Her eyes rolled back as blood gushed from her mouth, even with the gag in place. Yet, Rosalyn held on. Ghislain couldn’t help but feel impressed. For someone who couldn’t even control mana, she was enduring remarkably well. ‘I have to give her credit for that.’ He moved even more aggressively, ripping through the remaining obstacles in her body with his mana. “Ughhh!” Both of their lives were on the line in this treatment. Ghislain showed no mercy as he pushed Rosalyn to her limits, and she gritted her teeth, determined to survive. With each passing day, both of them grew more and more worn out. Finally, on the fifteenth day, the day of their agreement with the Marquis, Rosalyn survived, hanging on by sheer willpower. The moment Ghislain withdrew his hand, Rosalyn smiled weakly, a twisted sense of satisfaction washing over her. “You’re dead now...” And with that, she fainted. “Hah...” Ghislain let out a long sigh, then carefully wiped her face and replaced her mask. Sitting down in a nearby chair, he closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of rest. The final day had come and gone. Thunk! At dawn, the door burst open, and the Marquis of Branford and his knights entered the room.