Chapter 7

Before being thrown into the cell, it seemed that the tightness of the corset was even more severe because the last event she attended was a grand party.

Today’s party was attended by many dignitaries of the country, so she must have put extra effort into her dress to stand out more than anyone else. She was wearing her favorite magenta dress.

Now, all that effort had backfired.

She wished they would at least let her change into something loose, like a prisoner's uniform, before throwing her into the cell.

In her memories, Amaryllis had danced calmly and stood for long periods, talking, even in this state.

Perhaps because she had never worn a corset and was not accustomed to it, it was now nothing but pain.

She lay down on the cell bed, feeling dizzy.

(Oh no... I can't take it anymore!!)

The corset, which she was supposed to be able to remove after the party, was now permanently around her waist, tightening like a torture device.

(The young ladies of this country must have wanted to look slim despite the pain...)

Their effort was commendable, but everything in excess is not good. Fashion may require endurance, but this was clearly bad for her body.

*Clank!*

She was so dazed that she didn’t even hear the sound of the iron bars being roughly opened.

"Are you alright...!?"

"Ugh...!"

A man entered the cell and lifted her upper body. The pain and discomfort were so intense that she cried out. Her face turned pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead, and he seemed to understand what was happening.

"Corset... Damn, that's it."

The knight muttered "I'm sorry" and reached for her back. The sound of the laces being roughly untied echoed faintly.

As the feeling of her lungs expanding returned, she took a deep breath and exhaled. Gradually, her circulation improved, and she slowly raised her head.

(Is this the knight who went to call the maid...?)

She murmured softly, seeing the knight’s uniform in her blurry vision.

"Thank you, God..."

"!!!"

The knight who had freed her from this pain was no less than a god to her.

*Snap!*

All the hooks of the corset were undone. Tears welled up in her eyes from the sense of liberation.

(I’m alive...!)

Overwhelmed with joy, she unconsciously clung to the knight in front of her. As oxygen flowed through her body and her consciousness cleared, she noticed a strange sensation.

The oppressive pressure she felt from in front of her was like being warned by a beast, and she gently released her hands from the knight’s back.

The blue hair, golden eyes, and beautiful face right in front of her... The person who had removed her corset was someone she recognized.

(Could it be... Amaryllis's only "difficult man," Yulius Macrone?)

Yulius had quietly observed Amaryllis, who was working hard to secure her engagement to Harvey. Although they had never directly done anything to each other, for some reason, they disliked each other.

In other words, their hearts were now filled with mutual loathing.

Like Harvey, Yulius was completely unmoved by Amaryllis's beauty and skills. He was the second son of the Duke of Macrone, the current head of the knight order, and a childhood friend of Harvey.

He was also Harvey's personal guard and the captain of the guard, a position he had achieved through his own abilities, not just because of the Duke of Macrone's favor or appointment.