*Plakk!!!*

Just as Race arrived in the garden, a hard slap landed on Miranda's cheek. Race's eyes widened at what Ivy did to Miranda.

"Ivy!" Race reprimanded, forcefully pulling Ivy's hand to distance her from Miranda.

Ivy looked at Race with a shocked expression while Miranda held her cheek, which now felt hot, and started sobbing.

"I'm sorry if my words were wrong, Young Mistress Ivy. I didn't mean to make you angry. Young Master Race has been waiting for you to have lunch. I didn't realize that my words inviting you to return to the pavilion would make you angry," Miranda said through tears.

Ivy looked at Miranda with an incredulous expression now. "How...how could you say such things now? You, earlier, even called me an adopted child."

Ivy, who was usually gentle and obedient, suddenly became angry. She screamed and pulled her hand away from Race's grip. Race widened his eyes in disbelief at Ivy's behavior, so he pulled Ivy's hand, causing her to stumble backward and fall. Ivy looked at Race with wide eyes.

"Race?"

"Have you gone mad? What caused you to lose control like this? Snap out of it, Ivy!" Race exclaimed loudly.

Miranda looked at Race and secretly smirked. Instead of helping Ivy to get up, Race looked at Miranda and glanced at her cheek.
"It must be painful. Let's go inside! I'll have Selina treat you," Race said, guiding Miranda to leave the garden.

Still stunned and sitting on the ground, Ivy watched their departure, tears streaming down her face.
"What is this? Why am I worth less than Miranda? You should just marry your servant!"

Ivy shouted in anger and then burst into sobs. She couldn't hold back her anger and tears any longer. Ivy cried loudly, not caring about the pouring rain that suddenly started falling heavily.
***
Gareta helped Ivy put on her clothes in the dressing room. Ivy, who was sad, had even forgotten about the scars on her back. Gareta was surprised to see the wounds, rubbing her eyes multiple times as if not believing what she saw.

"When did Young Mistress Ivy get these wounds? Why didn't I see them at all that day?" Gareta wondered in her thoughts.

Realizing her foolishness, Ivy quickly closed her clothes again, causing Gareta to be startled and take a step back.
"Young Mistress Ivy," Gareta whispered.

"I'm sorry, you must be surprised," Ivy said, looking at Gareta.

Gareta gazed at Ivy and nodded her head slowly. "Where did those scars come from, Young Mistress Ivy? Why did I just see them now?" Gareta asked cautiously.

Ivy fell silent, unsure of how to answer. When she arrived at the pavilion, Gareta praised Ivy's flawless skin, which concealed magic. Gareta must be shocked and disgusted. Ivy took a deep breath and forced herself to smile.

"You must be very surprised, Gareta, aren't you? You must also be very disappointed because the rumors about me don't match the reality," Ivy said while looking at Gareta.

Now, Gareta could only say something in response. She stared at Ivy with a pitiful expression.
"This is my true condition, Gareta. I am physically scarred. These scars will never disappear. I have been lying to people all this time. You must feel disgusted with me, right?" Ivy asked again.

"Young Mistress Ivy, I never thought like that at all. I'm actually surprised that this was hidden all this time. What actually happened to you, Young Mistress Ivy? You must have experienced immense pain to have these wounds."

To Ivy's surprise, Gareta embraced her tightly. Gareta couldn't bear to hug her mistress anymore. She felt great sympathy for Ivy, knowing her true nature despite having just met and served her.

"Young Mistress Ivy, I'm sorry for finally seeing those scars. I won't ask how you covered them up or how you got those wounds. I will stay silent and won't speak to anyone about it."

"Gareta?"
Ivy was indeed at a loss for words. She held Gareta tightly and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Calm down, Young Mistress Ivy! Please stop crying! I feel sad seeing you cry like this," Gareta pleaded.

Ivy didn't respond and continued to cry. She didn't know who to lean on in this unfamiliar place. Ivy never expected Gareta to take her side like this.
***
"Where is Ivy?" Race asked, who had yet to return to the base camp and was having dinner.

"Young Mistress Ivy said she wanted to rest, Young Master Race," Gareta answered as she served Race.

Race stopped eating and abandoned his intention to bite his food. He looked at Ivy and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"But didn't she skip lunch?" Race asked.

Gareta looked at Race and nodded her head gently, confirming Race's question.
"Then, you let her rest without having dinner?" Race's emotions began to ignite.

Gareta could hear the tone of Race's voice, indicating his anger. Gareta took a deep and heavy sigh.
"Young Mistress Ivy seems to have a fever, Young Master Race. She got caught in the rain for quite a while earlier. I gave her warm milk and administered fever medication from the pavilion's healthcare expert," Gareta explained.

"Fever?" Now it was Race's turn to be surprised, and his anger was replaced by concern, as conveyed by Gareta.

"No need to be so surprised, Young Master Race! It would be best for you to quickly finish your meal and check on Young Mistress Ivy afterwards. She cried a lot today, and it seems that you have only made her already sick body worse."

Gareta boldly dictated to Race, and upon hearing that, Race looked at Gareta with disbelief written on his face. Gareta, on the other hand, confidently left the dining table, feeling that she had finished serving Race dinner.

In another location, Winter was playing with the ruby stone he had just received from Lord Milano earlier that morning. Winter had explicitly requested a ruby stone to give Ivy as a gift. He was thinking about how to package the ruby to make it a memorable and captivating present for Ivy. Winter placed the ruby back into its box and left his room, only to find his guard rushing towards him.

"Crown Prince, we are in big trouble," the guard said.

"What's going on?" Winter asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.

"The base camp is under attack by some strange creatures that emerged from the forest. It appears to be a raid using these peculiar creatures that keep digging into the ground in the area where there are many gemstones, including rubies," the guard explained.

"What? How did this happen? Call Race immediately and have him go to the base camp!" Winter quickly commanded.

The guard nodded in agreement and swiftly ran towards Race's pavilion. Meanwhile, Winter grabbed his weapon and hurried towards the base camp near his residence.
***