"Since when is my wife your friend?" Race asked, taking a quick sip of his drink.

Winter glanced at Race briefly and then smiled faintly.
"Since the first time we met," Winter answered.

"How is that possible? You barely know her and now you claim her as your friend. What's going on?" Race sounded displeased with Winter's statement, taking another gulp of his drink.

"Why do you react like that? Are you jealous? From the beginning, you married Ivy because you didn't want to reject the arranged marriage. You knew that Ivy was a tool for your parents to expand their ruby business.

Race started sharply in Winter. This time, Winter's words managed to render him speechless. Race intended to avoid getting close to Ivy or being her husband from the start. Race only wanted to escape the pressure of getting married quickly and help his parents in their business. Race needed clarification about why he felt so unhappy hearing Winter express interest in Ivy.

"Race, if you only want to be a dutiful child to your parents, then go ahead and fulfill your original purpose! Don't change and start developing feelings for Ivy, because it seems that I'm interested in her. Don't worry, I can wait until you two separate."
Once again, Winter's words provoked Race, stirring up intense emotions in the handsome young knight.
***
Ivy was about to drift off to sleep when the bedroom door opened quite loudly. Ivy was startled and saw Race stumbling towards the bed. Quickly, Ivy got off the bed and helped Race sit down.

"What brings you here, Race? Are you drunk?" Ivy asked repeatedly.

Race didn't answer and lowered his head. He took a deep breath and then looked up at Ivy intently.

"Who are you really?" Race asked hoarsely.

Ivy furrowed her brow in confusion. How could Race ask such a question? After all, Race knew who Ivy was, including her background and true identity. Race knew everything.

"I'm Ivy Marionet, Race. Have you forgotten?" Ivy asked innocently.

Race smiled wryly and then threw himself onto the bed.

"You're right, I've lost myself," Race murmured.

Ivy became even more confused by Race's words. She shook her head gently and then helped Race to lie down properly.

"Lie down properly, you're heavily intoxicated."

"I'm not drunk."

"If you're not drunk, you wouldn't have come here. There's no urgent matter, and you wouldn't be sleeping in my bed. Quickly change your sleeping position! I'll ask the servants to prepare some honey water for you," Ivy said, preparing to get up after assisting Race to lie down in the correct position.

However, Race quickly grabbed Ivy's hand and pulled her tightly, causing her to fall onto the same bed as him.

"Race, what are you doing?" Ivy asked, trying to free herself from Race's tight embrace.

"Why did you say I couldn't possibly sleep in this bed? You're my lawful wife. So, there's nothing impossible for me if I want to sleep with you," Race said, refusing to let go of Ivy.

Race's words took aback Ivy. She stared at Race with wide eyes while Race closed his eyes, possibly because he was heavily intoxicated.
***
Since morning, Miranda has been in a terrible mood. Miranda, who came to call Ivy for breakfast, was greeted with an atmosphere that made her dislike Ivy even more. Race and Ivy slept in the same bed, even under the same blanket. Miranda suspected that this would never happen. Miranda knows who Race truly is. A man her age would not just accept Ivy into his life. Miranda knows that Race will not fall in love with anyone else.

Miranda unconsciously slammed the knife on the table with force. Selina, who was helping Miranda prepare Ivy's lunch order, was amazed. Miranda unconsciously hit the blade on the table passionately in her bad mood.

"Hey! What's going on?" Selina dared to ask.

Miranda didn't answer. She looked at Selina and stared sharply at her coworker.
"What's your business? Just do your job! I'm leaving," Miranda said as she walked from the kitchen.

"Hey! Miranda, where are you going? It's still working hours."
Selina continued calling Miranda, trying to make her colleague come back.

"She might get into trouble if Master Race finds out she left during working hours," Selina muttered, looking at Miranda's departure slightly worriedly.
***
Ivy slowly approached Race, who was still sound asleep. Ivy sat at the edge of the bed and gently tapped her husband's arm.
"Race, don't you want to wake up? It's already noon," Ivy hesitated a little to wake Race up.

"Ugggh..."
Race only groaned softly without opening his eyes even a bit. Ivy chuckled softly, finding Race's expression cute. This was the first time Ivy saw Race's face when he woke up.

"Race, aren't you going to the basecamp today? It's already very late," Ivy tried to wake Race up again.

Finally, after a few minutes of trying to wake Race up, Ivy's husband opened his eyes and blinked a few times. Once fully conscious, Race was startled and roughly pushed away Ivy's hand that was holding his arm. Race slightly shifted his body, moving away from Ivy.

Once again, Race's reaction surprised and hurt Ivy. Ivy raised her hand and looked at Race with teary eyes.
"Why are you here? When did you come? How dare you come to my pavilion?"

Race even forgot that he was the one who went to Ivy, not the other way around. Once again, Ivy regretted her momentary naivety, believing Race's drunken behavior from the night before. Ivy then stood up from her position and gave a faint smile.

"Go take a shower! It's already noon, maybe it'll help you remember everything," Ivy said before leaving Race, who was still looking at her with a confused and shocked expression.

After taking a shower, Race came to his senses. He thought Ivy came to his pavilion when he was looking for Ivy, whom he kept avoiding. Race searched around the pavilion for Ivy's whereabouts since she had left his room earlier.

"Young Master Race, lunch is ready. The hangover soup that Young Mistress Ivy ordered is also ready," Selina said, startling Race, who was looking out the window in search of Ivy.

Race turned to Selina, his brow furrowing. "Hangover soup?"

"Yes, it was requested by Young Mistress Ivy. She thought you might be feeling dizzy and nauseous now."

Selina explained Ivy's concern to Race, and he stood there in stunned silence, running his hand roughly over his face.
"Fool!" he cursed himself.

Outside the pavilion, Ivy played in the garden, where she was with Winter yesterday. She let out deep and heavy sighs multiple times. Ivy gently rubbed her face and lifted her head to look at the sky.

"You're so foolish, Ivy. How could you be deceived just because Race was drunk? If he wasn't drunk, he would never have come and slept in the same room as you," Ivy murmured.

Ivy momentarily stared at the beautiful blue sky, then gave a bitter smile and lowered her head again.
"I need to be aware and not get too close to Race anymore. As much as possible, I should distance myself from him," Ivy reaffirmed.

"Who told you to use your heart so much? Young Master Race would never be interested in you, Ivy, an adopted child," Miranda said, standing behind Ivy.

Ivy was startled and turned towards the voice, becoming even more shocked when she saw Miranda saying such cruel things.
"Miranda?"

"Yes, it's me. Why? Surprised? I truly dislike you, Ivy. You're too naive. You pretend to be innocent and seek Young Master Race's attention. You should be aware that from the beginning, you're nothing more than a captive here."

"Miranda, why are you speaking like this? Have I done something to hurt you and make you dislike me?"

"Yes, from the beginning, accepting the arranged marriage with Young Master Race was a mistake. You shouldn't be with him. You're nothing more than a lucky low-class girl, you know that?"

Ivy was shocked to hear Miranda's words. She had never hurt Miranda. The trusted servant of Race took a step closer to Ivy.
"Listen to the advice of your servant. It would be best for you to live quietly, silently, and not draw the attention of Young Master Race or Young Master Winter. You're not worthy of them. Because you're just from a lowly background, just like me."
***