Sinclair's destination with Elaina was his own private villa, situated far from both the Duke of Hank's estate and the Aswell Count's holdings.

"You seem quite startled," Sinclair murmured, observing Elaina shivering on the sofa. And for good reason—she wasn’t just trembling. Her face was pale as though she had been drowning, and her bright blue eyes, reminiscent of the sea, were still clearly etched with fear.

"It's safe here. No one knows this place."

"…"

"Or, is this a situation where I should offer some consolation?"

"…No, thank you. That won’t be necessary," Elaina responded in a voice as slight as a mosquito’s.

"But how did you know to come? And to be so precise…"

"I thought you were quick-witted," Sinclair teased.

"What?"

"You have a naive side, it seems." Sinclair smirked. "Did you really think I'd just send a proposal and leave it at that?"

Elaina paused, caught off guard.

"I had someone keep watch. I didn't want to be stabbed in the back."

"…"

"I’m more suspicious than you might think. And usually, those suspicions turn out to be more beneficial than harmful, as was the case today."

So, he had been keeping an eye on the Aswell estate. Yet, Elaina didn’t know how to react to this. If Sinclair had done so out of concern that Melvin might harm her, she would indeed owe him gratitude. However, if he was merely ensuring that Elaina Aswell, the woman leading the most miserable life in the Edenvale Empire, couldn’t escape from him, the story changed.

"…Anyway, what does it matter now?"

If not for Sinclair, she would have been sold to the old duke and never had a chance to escape.

"Thank you for your help," Elaina decided it was time to say what needed to be said, regardless of Sinclair’s intentions.

"Your words carry a sting, though unintended," Sinclair noted.

"No, you’re right. They were meant to sting."

Elaina didn’t respond.

"Whatever you think, I really don’t care."

"…"

"Anyway, after today’s events, you must have made your decision. Haven’t you?" Time enough was given, Sinclair's voice filled the villa, and Elaina slowly looked up at him.

"Yes, I have," she stated firmly. "I will accept your proposal."

That was the only path she could take from the very beginning, since the day Sinclair came to the Aswell house.

"Actually, I was planning to go to the palace even before I was kidnapped. It ended up this way, nonetheless." Elaina managed a bitter smile.

"Well, that concludes our discussion then." Sinclair finally smiled, satisfied with her response. He then pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Elaina. It was the marriage contract she had seen before, but not the typical, simple exchange of vows others might undertake.

At the end of the document filled with tiny letters, the Emperor's seal was stamped, a clear indication of its significance. "He was delighted when I said I wanted to marry the limping half-wit of the Aswell house. Gave his stamp happily," Sinclair remarked with a sardonic tone.

Elaina remained silent, absorbing the stark reality of her situation.

"He must have thought I would ask for more. But mentioning your name alone seemed to please him immensely." Sinclair continued, revealing a disturbing insight. The Emperor, apparently indifferent to the status of Sinclair's choice, seemed all too willing to accept anyone, from a tavern maid to a street gypsy, or even a crippled noble bastard.

"Really, it's surprising what being a half-wit cripple can offer," Elaina said in a flat voice, a touch of irony not lost in her tone. "Had I known, perhaps I would have held a little hope sooner."

"Sign here." Sinclair's instruction was terse, leaving no room for doubt.

Elaina Aswell took the pen that Sinclair offered and quietly signed her name, hoping sincerely that this decision would not turn into a regret. But at the moment, the young Elaina had no idea how foolish this act might prove to be.

"Ah, but the date written on the marriage contract is much earlier than today… is that alright?" Elaina asked, noticing another anomaly.

"Leave it. It’s intentional," Sinclair replied enigmatically, causing Elaina to frown slightly in confusion.

"As I mentioned before, it's a year," Sinclair said, taking the contract with Elaina's name now signed upon it and storing it back safely. "I promise once again, unequivocally. I will settle everything within a year and become the Emperor, and immediately help you leave Edenvale."

"…Thank you." That was all she could find to say. She couldn’t plead for his promise to be kept, nor could she ask outright if she could truly trust him. Even in such dire straits, Elaina was painfully aware of her limited options.

"Rest here for today. I’ll handle the rest," Sinclair offered unexpectedly, prompting Elaina to look up at him again.

"But what about my father, I mean, Melvin? He won’t just stand by, not after today’s events."

"You think I haven't considered that? The Emperor's seal." Sinclair tilted his head slightly, as if puzzled by her doubt. "There’s no one in Edenvale who can contest the Emperor’s decisions. Do you understand what this means? A storm is about to hit the Aswell house."

Elaina felt a chill run through her body. Sinclair’s chilling smile revealed a darker aspect of his character. The Emperor had even killed a favored concubine in broad daylight within the palace. If he could do that, what would stop him from exacting brutal revenge on Melvin?

"You’ll see for yourself tomorrow what happens," Sinclair said ominously.

"Tomorrow?"

"My knights will come for you, just be ready for that."

As Sinclair's comment implied, Elaina did indeed have some belongings left in the attic of her former residence. While not valuable to others, they held personal significance for her. "This villa isn't fully equipped since I only occasionally stay here, but it's certainly better than that trash heap of an attic," Sinclair remarked dismissively.

"Understood," Elaina replied. The conversation seemed to have concluded, but Sinclair lingered, his gaze fixed on her.

"Your attire is quite inappropriate," he finally noted, causing Elaina to reflexively blush and cover her deeply cut neckline.

However, Sinclair showed no intention of looking away or offering her any privacy. Instead, he stepped closer, his intense gaze unyielding. Startled, Elaina froze, nowhere to run. Sinclair closed the distance rapidly, and Elaina instinctively shut her eyes in anticipation of what might come next.

Yet, nothing happened as expected. When Elaina opened her eyes, she found Sinclair draping his cloak over her shoulders. "You may not realize, but such attire is dangerous, Elaina Aswell, especially in a secluded space like this," he said, his voice carrying a hint of a warning.

"…"

"Before we add any obligations regarding the bedroom to our agreement, perhaps you should consider dressing more conservatively," Sinclair's voice had a teasing undertone, mixed with a low chuckle. "Or was this an invitation?"

"No, not at all. I hope you don't misunderstand…" Elaina stammered, flustered by his implication.

"Let me know if you change your mind. I think a year of such entertainment wouldn’t be too disagreeable," Sinclair said flippantly, smirking as he spoke.

Using his cloak, Elaina managed to cover herself more fully, and Sinclair looked at her briefly before turning away without another word. He left as abruptly as he had arrived when the carriage was attacked, without a farewell or wish for a good rest.

Alone finally, Elaina collapsed onto the sofa, repeatedly closing and opening her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, wondering silently if it was truly safe and if merely waiting here was all she could do. A creeping dread began to envelop her again, a profound unease about her precarious situation.

Yet, Elaina knew she was powerless in her current circumstances. As she sat hugging her knees on the sofa, she quietly recalled the day's events and then paused. Had she ever mentioned to Sinclair that she was living in the attic of the Aswell house?

"He must have been keeping an eye on me; that would explain how he knew about the kidnapping so quickly."

While the thought was unnerving, Elaina no longer had the energy to fret or speculate further. Thus, she eventually drifted into a fitful sleep on the sofa, not even making it to the bedroom.

Just before falling asleep, the words Ren had spoken in her dream echoed once again in her ears: "You don’t have to worry about anything. I will always protect you, just as I have been." But as she woke intermittently, those comforting words from her dream slipped away, and she couldn’t recall them.

The following day brought turmoil to the Aswell house, exactly as Sinclair had implied, turning Elaina's former world upside down.