Ingrid was sitting next to her window with a distant expression, her locks of golden brown hair swaying softly as the wind blew. She looked like an ethereal being—a magnificent sight none in the world could ever compare. Charmed by her outlandish beauty, the maidservant's passing by her window paused to revel at her sight—until a small crowd had gathered.

The servant's eyes spoke of how much they adored the lady. They felt extremely lucky to have been able to serve the greatest beauty this world has ever seen. However, what they couldn't see was that beyond her beautiful face were sad eyes marred with loneliness and fear.

Ingrid's young mind erased the worst of her memories of that kingdom of Serus so she could keep on living. At the same time, she retained some crucial ones—like the madness in that ugly King's eyes—so she could survive.

However, now all her memories are slowly coming back to her. They hunt her in her dreams. They come in a flash during her moments of weakness, and it makes her feel like she is going crazy.

Ingrid turned her head when she heard the rustling of sheets. Crown Prince Aleric sat up while rubbing his eyes, his hair all over the place. He looked around the place, still a bit disoriented after his long slumber.

"You're finally awake," Ingrid said in a monotone voice, her blank eyes staring at him.

Ingrid pressed her hand on her chest. For some reason, whenever she looks at his face, her troubled mind turns a serene calm.

"Huh? Why am I here?" Confusion was evident in the Crown Prince's eyes—a contrast to his usual confident and arrogant gaze.

"You had a fever the last few days."

"The last few days?" Aleric repeated.

"Yes. You've been asleep for four days."

Crown Prince Aleric's eyes turned wide with surprise.

"Don't~" But before she could finish her sentence, he vanished into thin air.

"How rude," she muttered lifelessly.

Ingrid's lips formed a thin line. There was a sense of loss and emptiness in her eyes as she turned her eyes outside the window once again.

***

The Prickly Rose—the defender of the weak and the bringer of justice for the poor. They are a group of people feared and hated by the kings and nobles of the South, yet greatly loved and respected by the common people. That is because when the law fails to serve its justice, the Prickly Rose does it for them.

Ingrid always avoided hearing news about the South, as it gave her nightmares. The grand duke has also banned the mention of that place in her presence. That's why she did not realize how famous Prickly Rose is.

When she asked the White Squad for information about the Prickly Rose, Ingrid was surprised by the amount of information she got. From what they have gathered, the Prickly Rose mostly targets nobles and government officials. Those whom they have found to be guilty are executed, and their sins are revealed in every town square for all the people to see.

Because of it, they have become a thorn in every southern ruler's side. However, it was also due to their existence that the crime rate in the South significantly decreased—especially their corruption.

However, the information that the White Squad gathered may have been a lot, but Ingrid could tell that it was merely superficial. Despite the White Squad being the best at uncovering the most hidden of information the only information they managed to get was the one already known by the public.

To this day, no one knows who the members of the Prickly Rose are or where they are. They are like phantoms who appear and disappear as they like without leaving any trace.

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"So you're saying that the Prickly Rose is mine?" Ingrid reiterated.

Naz's heart throbbed when he saw the coldness in Ingrid's eyes. It was like seeing her younger self all over again. He was quite familiar with those eyes of hers that seemed like a pair of dying embers that lost hope, and his heart ached.

Had he known this would happen, he wouldn't have allowed her to see his scars—no he would never have tried to meet her again. All he wanted was to see her safe and happy. But his existence only unlocked the nightmares she had been running from.

"Forgive me, my lady," he said in a downhearted voice.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Had I known I would cause you to lose your liveliness again... I shouldn't have~"

"What are you talking about?" Ingrid asked, cutting him off. "You did nothing wrong. I was already remembering parts of my past even before I met you. But I thought they were mere nightmares. Well, they are nightmares. I just never thought they would chase me even outside of my dreams."

Ingrid rested her cheek on her palm as she stared at the distance.

"Out of desperation and yearning to live a normal life, I erased my memories. But I should have known. As long as I have this face that stands above all others, I could never live a normal life."

Ingrid looked at Naz, a bitter smile on her lips.

"Isn't it ironic, that I hold the most beautiful face in the world? On top of that, I was born with a golden spoon. But I'm not happy. It's like the universe gave me the greatest luck in the world just to curse me through it."

Naz's hand clenched tighter. It was as though the ache in Ingrid's voice pierced his heart too.

"But I'm glad you are here, Naz. This may sound cruel, but I am relieved to know that I am not alone in my suffering in that place."

A tear fell from Ingrid's eyes. She swatted it away as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

"I'm glad that I'm not the only one who suffered. I'm such a terrible person, aren't I?"

"My lady..." Naz kneeled before Ingrid. "Knowing that my suffering has comforted your heart, even if it's just a little, then I'm glad that I suffered."

"Please don't say that." Ingrid looked away.

"When you saved me back in Serus, you gave me greater hope than the sun that I have been yearning to see for ten years. It was because of my lady that I am alive today. So use me as you must, my lady. My life belongs to you alone."

///\

"Thank you, Sir Elsher," Ingrid said while staring at the window.

Vernon's movement halted. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes. He did not make any sound when he appeared, but she instantly noticed him.

"I have sent Naz back to his manor, my lady," Vernon informed her in a polite tone.

"Thank you."

Vernon looked at Ingrid with a complicated gaze. Ever since she and His Highness went to visit Naz, something in her has changed.

When he first saw Ingrid, she had cold and distant eyes that seemed to scream, 'No one is worthy of being a subject of my gaze.' However, these past few days, though her eyes are still cold and distant, there is no longer arrogance in them. Instead, her eyes looked empty and sad.

"Then I shall excuse myself, my lady."

Vernon took Ingrid's silence as a yes and vanished into thin air.

He reappeared in a dark room with nothing but a lone chair, where a man surrounded by a dense aura of death was sitting.

"Your Highness." Vernon bowed towards Crown Prince Aleric.

"Vernon, will killing Ingrid Lennox interfere with our plan?"

Vernon froze. He lifted his head and looked at the crown prince with eyes full of surprise.

Aleric was biting the back of his finger. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, as though he was truly planning to do it.

"May I ask why your Highness has come to this decision?" Vernon asked.

Aleric turned his eyes toward him. That's when Vernon saw that amidst his murderous glare was a sense of panic and uneasiness.

"That woman is dangerous."

Vernon's face turned extremely red, as he forced himself not to laugh. He loosened the tie on his neck while trying to maintain a stoic expression as he asked, "Your Highness, what made you think that Lady Ingrid is dangerous?"

Crown Prince Aleric opened his mouth and then closed it again. He looked away and began biting the back of his index finger once again.

Aleric looked like a lost child, unsure of what to do—a very odd sight to see in the face of a crown prince who had never wavered even in the face of the most fearsome enemies. But it was also because Crown Prince Aleric was only ever exposed to blood and war since he was young that certain aspects of his life have not been developed well.

When Vernon proposed that he take Ingrid as his wife to gain the support of the grand duke in his campaign against Selite, he agreed without giving it any thought. He must've thought of Ingrid as just another pawn—another hurdle he needs to conquer to get to his goal. The fact that he wasn't phased by her beauty, which enchanted even the most strong-hearted men, Vernon knew that there was something wrong with his highness.

He began to pity Ingrid. But then again, he was the one who placed her in that position. And as much as he pitied her, she was an important piece of their plan.

That is why, to pay for his crime against the most beautiful woman in the world, Vernon began coming up with plans to at least help her marriage be a little less lonely. But seeing how his highness is acting right now, it seems that there is no need for all those plans.

"Your Highness," Vernon called for his attention. "Why don't you go see the lady before making any decisions?"