"Bailey, come in," came a deep voice from behind the door.

Howard responded and pushed open the door.

The baron remained seated, sipping his drink. The minty coolness refreshed his spirit. He looked up at the burly man standing by the door and gestured for him to sit.

"You might have erred in directly refusing Belta's offer; they have more than just money at their disposal," Howard said, frowning as he sat.

"I am aware this decision might bring unforeseen troubles, but I had to refuse. Recently, I received a tidbit from an old friend in Candia. It seems Belta has been purchasing a large quantity of armor and crossbows," the baron said, standing and narrowing his eyes, diverting from Howard's comment.

"Oh?" Howard's eyes narrowed. "You mean, Belta believes he has the strength to challenge Green Castle?"

"No, he isn't that bold yet. Those armors and weapons likely serve another purpose. And at this moment, seeking to acquire the iron mine... If Belta harbors any designs against the Green family..." The baron's voice turned icy. "I wouldn't hesitate to make him relive the agony of losing his son."

"Since you put it that way, I've been itching for some action lately," Howard grinned, baring his white teeth at the baron's hint of murderous intent.

"By the way, I heard Olysis was humiliated by Freya this afternoon, supposedly over Erik..."

"...I am aware. Freya is almost fifteen now, entering a new phase of growth," the baron remarked, a warm smile softening his cold demeanor as he spoke of Freya. "She's just like her mother..."

"You still remember Winry... it's been so many years. I recall you two back then..." Howard's smile faded as memories surfaced, plunging both men into a brief silence.

"Enough reminiscing, I'll go check on Freya," the baron said, clapping his hands and turning to leave the study.

Howard silently watched the baron's departing figure, sighed slightly, and downed his drink, the mint's bitter cold overwhelming his senses, momentarily freeing his mind from thought.

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Heavy, ragged breaths were audible even to the four guards walking behind.

Olysis walked silently, eyes burning with hatred, their redness reflecting in the candlelight. His usually plain face contorted with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, making his guards fear he might burst a vessel.

"Die..." The word hissed from his throat, low and hoarse. His clenched fists, nails digging into his palms, went unnoticed.

"All of you must die..." His voice grew louder, his fragile psyche breaking under the day's pressure. Spoiled since childhood, he had never faced such provocation, and images of Freya and the baron filled his enraged mind.

"That woman... and her father... I'll torture them repeatedly... torture them!" Olysis shouted, his thoughts spilling out in a frenzied roar.

If Olysis were on Earth, he might be diagnosed with manic episodes, known as 'mania.'

"Master... we are at Green Castle..." one of the guards tried to calm him, noticing his erratic behavior.

"Even if we are at Green Castle, so what?!" Olysis's fury intensified at the attempt to soothe him. He whirled around, glaring at the guard, his eyes blazing.

"Even if the baron himself were here, would he dare kill me?!" He stretched out his arm, pointing down the corridor.

His finger landed on a girl in hunting attire who had just entered the hallway.

"…?" Lost in thought, Freya looked up, startled by Olysis's twisted face and pointing finger.

Olysis, still in a rage, paused upon seeing her familiar face, his anger solidifying into a deadly resolve.

"Kill!"

With a savage cry, he drew his sword and lunged at her, intending to impale her on the spot.

The cold gleam of the blade rushed towards her.

The sudden attack made Freya's scalp tingle with fear. A sharp sense of danger pierced her consciousness, chilling and painful.

Reacting instinctively, she sidestepped and threw herself to the ground with all her strength.

'Clang!'

The sound of metal striking stone echoed in the corridor.

Olysis's sword hit the stone wall, the impact nearly causing him to lose his grip. Seeing the girl narrowly escape, a cruel glint shone in his enraged eyes as he swung again.

The four guards snapped out of their shock, horrified by Olysis's reckless assault, and rushed to disarm him.

'Has he gone mad?'

Freya, pale with fear, quickly retreated, putting distance between herself and Olysis, then turned to flee.

Despite her earlier humiliation, she couldn't believe Olysis would attack her in Green Castle. Did he not fear the baron's retribution?

Though her mind raced with thoughts of Olysis's madness, the reality of his lethal intent terrified her, awakening a primal instinct to survive. No amount of training in swordsmanship could erase her inherent fear of death.

In the face of imminent danger, all she could do was run...

Ultimately, before her previous life, she was an ordinary person. Faced with mortal peril, her instinct was to flee.

"Run! Yes, run! I'll make you pay for defying me!" Olysis's crazed laughter filled the corridor, heedless of his guards' attempts to restrain him. His only desire was to dismember the girl who had shamed him.