Lena, Albert, and Tobias had to carry the completely stunned Betty back to the mansion. People on the streets stared at them with puzzled and concerned expressions. Some looked worried, others confused. So much for avoiding public embarrassment, Lena thought to herself, as she tried to quicken their pace.

When they arrived at the mansion, the servants were alarmed, rushing to help carry Betty to a guest room. In the meantime, Lena and Albert recounted the events to Mr. F and Gustav.

Gustav furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "I know the name Douglas. They are a wealthy merchant family in the city. Their patriarch may only be a Rank 6 mage, but his business ties give him connections to the royal family and several Rank 7 magi. They handle the import of certain ores and oils from neighboring lands and employ several Rank 6 mages."

He paused, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "Simon, the son, must be the heir. However, I don't know much about him. It's best to wait until Betty tells us more."

"I'll contact my son in the meantime," Gustav added. "We need information on this family before we take any action."

Mr. F nodded in agreement. Information would be crucial in dealing with this situation.

Hours passed, and Mr. F, Gustav, and the others were enjoying a quiet meal in the dining hall when Betty finally reappeared, her face pale. She sheepishly sat down at the table, taking a small piece of bread and nibbling on it quietly.

Mr. F was the first to break the silence. "Betty, we'd like to know what happened today. But I won't force you to talk if you're not ready. Share with us when you feel comfortable."

Betty shook her head slowly. "It all started when I was about eight years old," she began, her voice soft and distant. "My family had a close business partnership with the Douglas family. My father often invited their patriarch to our estate, and one day, he brought his son, Simon, along."

Betty's voice wavered slightly as she recalled the events. "At first, Simon was kind. He paid me a lot of attention, and I... I thought he was sweet. I even had a little crush on him. They visited more frequently, and I eagerly awaited the days when Simon would come over to play."

She paused, her hands trembling slightly as she continued. "But one day, Simon suggested that we duel with magic. We were both only Rank 1 at the time, so I didn't think much of it. I thought it was just a friendly competition."

Her eyes grew distant as she spoke, reliving the memory. "When I won and knocked him down, Simon got dirty from the fall. I reached out to help him up, but... he told me to take my hand away, calling me a... a 'slut.'"

Gasps echoed around the room. Betty's voice cracked, and she visibly trembled. "Then... then he pulled out a dagger. I tried to dodge, but he stabbed me in the stomach. His guards appeared from the bushes, pinning me down as Simon... as he grinned at me and started carving into my skin with the dagger."

Lena, sitting beside Betty, gripped her hand tightly, offering silent support while Mr. F's expression remained indifferent.

"They gave me a healing potion after each time he cut me, so he could keep going. I tried to tell my father in secret, but he didn't believe me. He said that even if it were true, it was a small price to pay for the family's future. Every visit became a nightmare."

Betty swallowed hard, her voice growing quieter. "It reached its worst point when Simon and his father came back one day. His father told my father he had good news, and my father was overjoyed. Simon's father proposed uniting our families through marriage."

A few murmurs of disbelief spread through the room, but Betty pressed on, her voice barely above a whisper. "My father suggested my younger brother marry one of their daughters, but Simon's father insisted that Simon had shown interest in me. My father... he agreed without even asking me."

Her eyes filled with tears as she relived the moment. "I ran away, hiding in the garden behind the house. Simon found me there. His words... they still haunt me. He said, 'Once we're married, you'll be my plaything. I can do whatever I want with you, and as long as I don't kill you, no one will care.'"

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Betty's body shook as she finished her story. "I passed out, and when I woke up, my father was furious, scolding me for embarrassing him in front of our most important business partners. He said I should sacrifice for the family and accept the marriage."

Her voice wavered, but she continued, "That night, I ran away. I went to my uncle, the only one I trusted. When I told him everything, he was worried sick. He promised to handle it. The next thing I knew, we left the city and moved to the small town where we met."

Lena was visibly shaken by the story, offering comfort by squeezing Betty's hand. Even Gustav, though usually calm, sat deep in thought.

Mr. F finally spoke. "Betty, tell me—what do you want to do now?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to answer. "I... I don't know. I don't know what to do..."

Mr. F waited patiently before speaking again. "Betty, imagine you could do whatever your heart desires, without fear of consequences. What would you choose to do?"

Taking a deep breath, Betty wiped her tears away and, with newfound determination, said, "I'd stay with you and Albert, Master. And I'd tell Simon and my family to leave me alone!" Her voice grew stronger, and she stood up from her seat.

Mr. F smiled at her resolve. "Then I'll help you do just that."

Betty smiled, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes, but before she could express her gratitude, Gustav interrupted, his expression grim.

"There's a small problem with that," Gustav said carefully.

Betty tensed up again, anxiety creeping back in. Even Mr. F looked curious. "And what would that be?" he asked.

"Well," Gustav began, "in families of certain standing, there's an unspoken law. A woman's future, including marriage, is decided by her guardian—usually the head of the family. When your uncle took you from the city, it was, in essence, an abduction. Now, I'm not sure how much influence your family holds here, but if we move too hastily, we risk making enemies of those who hold tradition dear."

Betty's face drained of color as Gustav continued. "Your father is still your guardian, and if he chooses to marry you off, he has every legal right to do so."

Lena, appalled, shouted, "WHAT?! But Simon hurt her! Surely there are exceptions for cases like this?"

Gustav sighed. "There are exceptions, yes. But we'd need solid proof of what Betty says. Simon could easily claim that Betty is simply trying to avoid the marriage. People who value the old ways believe that love and affection can be cultivated over time, and they might side with him."

He leaned back, thoughtful. "Without concrete evidence, our hands are tied. And if we openly defy this, we'll make enemies of powerful families."

Turning to Mr. F, Gustav's voice grew somber. "Look, we're partners. We've agreed to support each other. But I'm not going to jeopardize everything to protect one person. I trust you understand."

Lena was about to protest, but her brother Tobias placed a hand over her mouth, silencing her. She knew that when Tobias intervened like this, it meant she should stay quiet.

Betty began to cry softly, unsure if her master would abandon her in the face of this overwhelming situation. She listened intently as Mr. F finally spoke.

"My suggestion is that we proceed with our original plan. As long as there's no visible connection between us, let them scorn me all they want. I'll continue my work in the background as planned, and you focus on your own affairs."

Gustav's lips curled into a smile, clearly pleased with Mr. F's response. "So be it. Rest here tonight, but it's best if you leave the mansion tomorrow. People will start asking questions if they figure out we arrived in the city together."

He rose from his seat. "Just tell them I was paid to bring you to the city. That should be enough to divert suspicion for now."

Mr. F nodded in agreement, then took his students and left the dining hall. It was time to inform them of his next steps.

Lena, Albert, and Gustav remained in the dining hall after the others had left. Lena could no longer hold back her frustration and confronted her grandfather.

"Grandfather, tell me the truth. Did you really mean what you said? That you'd just leave her behind like that? Does that mean if I were in the same situation, you'd do the same to me?"

Gustav took a long sip of his wine, placing the glass back on the table before answering. His voice was calm, but there was a coldness in his tone. "But you're not in that situation, Lena. And I've spent years building enough power and influence to ensure that even your aunt Emma never had to face such a fate."

He paused for a moment, as if to emphasize his next words. "As for the girl... she's irrelevant to me. You must remember, Lena—Mr. F and I are partners, yes, but we both understand that certain problems must be handled individually. This is something you will come to understand when you begin to take on responsibilities within the family."

Lena's face flushed with anger, her eyes filled with disbelief. She stormed out of the dining room, unable to bear her grandfather's pragmatic view of the situation.

Gustav sighed heavily, watching her leave. He leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the world press on his shoulders. She'll learn eventually, he thought, how the world truly works.