Race struggled to dismount from the horse carriage that had brought him to the palace. Despite his illness, he was determined to search for Ivy within the castle, convinced that his wife must be in the place that had always made him feel suffocated. Race entered with difficulty, clutching his aching and thundering chest due to worry. Upon reaching the palace entrance, several guards tried to assist Race.

"Let go! I don't need your help!" Race harshly pushed away the guard's hand that was about to assist him. Race paid no mind to his condition, consumed by his sickness.

"Where is Ivy? She must be here, right?" Race then asked the guard.

The guards stationed at the palace entrance exchanged glances with one another. They hadn't seen Ivy since their morning watch.

"Answer me! Why are you all just standing there?" Race continued, his emotions running high.

"Sorry, Young Master Race, we haven't seen Miss Ivy all day. If she had come here, we would have surely noticed, as we've been here since morning," a guard finally responded, daring to speak.

"Don't lie! If she's not here, then where else could my wife be? Don't you dare try to deceive me!" Race waited to trust the guard's words. He then forced himself into the palace, hoping to find Ivy inside.
***
As the night grew later, Gareta and Selina remained in front of Ivy's pavilion, waiting for their two masters to return. They were apprehensive about both of them—Race was still unwell, and Ivy had gone missing. Gareta nervously fidgeted with her hands.

"Why haven't they returned yet, Selina? What's really happening?" Gareta said, looking towards Selina.

"I don't know either, Gareta. Let's just wait for them! Hopefully, Young Master Race will find Miss Ivy in the palace," Selina said, hopeful.

"Yes, let's hope so, Selina," Gareta agreed.

Not long after, the two servants turned their attention towards the palace gate as they heard the sound of a horse-drawn carriage approaching. Shortly after that, they exchanged glances.

"Who is it? Is it Young Master Race or Miss Ivy?" Gareta asked, curious.

"I don't know; let's wait and see!"

They both anxiously waited for the horse-drawn carriage to enter the pavilion area. Gareta and Selina were both surprised when they saw it was Ivy's carriage. Gareta quickly descended the stairs to greet Ivy. The young mistress of the pavilion finally stepped out of the carriage after it had stopped. Seeing Ivy, Gareta rushed to embrace her employer.

"Miss Ivy, where have you been? What happened?" Gareta asked, her voice trembling with relief that Ivy had returned.

"Why are you still asking, Gareta? I came from the Winter Pavilion. Why are you all waiting outside? It's quite late," Ivy said, then released her hold on Gareta.

Ivy looked at her two servants with a puzzled expression, and the confusion mirrored on Gareta and Selina's faces. They were equally baffled by Ivy's words.

"Why are you all silent? Did you intentionally wait for my return? You shouldn't be outside, then. Who was taking care of Race if both of you were out here?" Ivy inquired again.

"Miss Ivy, actually..."
Gareta paused in her explanation, hesitating to be honest with Ivy. Ivy furrowed her brow, perplexed by the expressions on Gareta and Selina's faces.

"Miss Ivy, Young Master Race is not at home. He went to look for you at the palace. He was very angry and worried because you hadn't returned," Selina finally explained everything to Ivy. Ivy's eyes widened in surprise at her servants' words.

"You should have prevented Race from going, especially since he's still unwell, Gareta, Selina."
Ivy abandoned her intention to enter the pavilion and returned to her horse-drawn carriage, heading to the palace to catch up with Race.
***
A harsh slap landed on Ivy's cheek, once again casting her as the unfortunate one in the eyes of everyone in this eastern territory. Ivy closed her eyes slowly while holding her now warm cheek. She endured the pain before opening her eyes to look at Mrs. Maria.

"I'm sorry, I neglected to look after Race, Mother. But now, where is Race?" Ivy asked, her voice trembling as she held back tears.

"Why are you searching for my son again? In his weakened state, he was searching for you, and he even fainted. Do you think you're that important, Ivy? Don't come here to look for my son again! Leave this place!" Mrs. Maria scolded Ivy, pushing her roughly. Ivy nearly stumbled, and if it weren't for Winter, who had just come out of Race's room, catching her, she might have fallen to the floor.

"Aunt! What are you doing?" Winter exclaimed, looking at Mrs. Maria.

"Winter, why are you out? How is Race? Has he woken up?" Mrs. Maria asked, worried.

Winter ignored Mrs. Maria's questions and looked at Ivy, who was now looking at her. "Let's go into Race's room; he's been looking for you since earlier. He didn't even listen to anyone telling him to stay calm," Winter said to Ivy.

Ivy, who was on the verge of tears, nodded slowly. Her eyes were welling up, but she didn't want to make Race worry even more by crying. Mrs. Maria then restrained Ivy from going to Race's room.

"Don't you hear what I said? Don't go see Race again; you only bring him trouble and disaster," Mrs. Maria warned.

"Aunt! Ivy is Race's wife; she's more needed by Race than you, who are so selfish and two-faced," Winter retorted, pushing Mrs.Maria's hand away forcefully. Mrs.Maria was in disbelief at Winter's actions, while Ivy apologized and bowed to her mother-in-law.

Upon entering Race's room, Ivy saw her husband lying there, helpless. His face had grown paler, even though he had been excellent and energetic when she left in the morning. Winter could see Ivy's sadness when she looked at Race, so she gently placed her hand on Ivy's shoulder.

"Approach him; Race isn't truly asleep. Perhaps, due to his pounding headache, he chose to keep his eyes closed," Winter said.

Ivy nodded in response to Winter's words. She then moved closer to Race and sat on the edge of the bed. Ivy gently reached for her husband's hand and felt the coldness of his touch. Race immediately opened his eyes and looked at Ivy with wide eyes.

"Iv, where have you been? I was so worried searching for you," Race said.

"I'm sorry; I didn't know it would make you this worried. You should have stayed at the pavilion, Race. Look at your condition now," Ivy said, her voice quivering.

"How could I stay at the pavilion when my wife was missing? Where were you, Iv? Did you follow my father's orders? Was it?" Race asked rapidly, and Ivy could not answer her husband's questions. Race then held Ivy's hand, which felt ice-cold. He looked at Ivy with tear-filled eyes.

"Did you go against a monster? Or did you go to the border to fight the northern forces?" Race asked, unable to contain his tears.

Ivy was shocked to see her husband crying, and she gently wiped Race's tears away.

"I'm sorry, Race," Ivy whispered.

"I should apologize; you did this probably because of my father's orders. From the beginning, I wasn't a good husband to you, Iv. We shouldn't have married from the start.

Ivy widened her eyes in surprise at Race's words, and so did Winter. The man who loved Ivy deeply could sense Ivy's disappointment now.
***