Lord Blackwood Promised Me Death — Chapter 1

DID YOU HEAR? YOUNG MASTER WILLIAM HAS WON THE FINAL BATTLE!

WE'LL BE FLOODED WITH MORE OF HIS BELONGINGS AGAIN. THIS MANSION NEVER GETS A MOMENT'S PEACE!

THE MORNING PAPER CALLED HIM THE "BLUE FLAME HERO"!

AT LEAST THAT DREADFUL NICKNAME DIDN'T MAKE THE HEADLINES THIS TIME.

WAR WİTH VALONA ENDS AFTER 15 YEARS. DUKE BLACKWOOD' FİNAL VİCTORY AT NORTHERN FORTRESS

'the Blue Flame Hero' Returns Home,vi̇ctory Celebrati̇on Toni̇ght

SIR BLACKWOOD, THE "GRIM REAPER"!

THE GRIM REAPER~?

THE ONE WHO STEALS LADIES' VIRTUE?

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FREE-SPIRITED YOUNG MASTER OF OURS IS A COMMANDER.

AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON HIS EXTRAVAGANT SPENDING!

DIDN'T HE BUY YET ANOTHER ANTIQUE?

A whopping two million francs.

GOOD GRIEF, THE ANNEX IS ALREADY OVERFLOWING WITH HIS THINGS...

MAYBE THIS ONE'S A GIFT FOR HIS FIANCÉE?

I HEARD IT'S A MUSIC BOX SET WITH A 100-CARAT SAPPHIRE.

I KNEW IT... IT'S IN HERE...

YOU AGAIN.

BELLA WALKER.

YOU'VE CAUSED NOTHING BUT TROUBLE IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE YOU STARTED HERE.

I'LL CLEAN IT UP RIGHT AWAY.

NOW I'M STARTING TO THINK YOU LIED ABOUT COMING FROM A WEALTHY FAMILY!

I TRIED TO MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR YOU OUT OF PITY, BUT...

I SHOULD’VE KNOWN. CHILDREN RAISED WITHOUT PARENTS...

...I’M SORRY.

YOU DO REALIZE THE YOUNG MASTER’S VICTORY CELEBRATION IS TODAY, DON’T YOU?

IF I CATCH YOU SNEAKING INTO THE ANNEX AGAIN ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT DAY, YOU’RE FIRED, WALKER.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.

YEAH.

I NEED TO STAY FOCUSED.

IF I'M EVER GOING TO ESCAPE THIS CRUEL CYCLE...

THIS IS MY CHANCE.

SEVEN WHOLE YEARS.

THAT'S HOW MUCH TIME I'VE WASTED SEARCHING FOR A MUSIC BOX THAT'S GONE MISSING.

I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE...

THE HOUSE OF BLACKWOOD

HAS TO BE MY LAST STOP.

THE ANNEX...

TO SIR BLACKWOOD'S VICTORY--!

YOUR HIGHNESS, PRINCESS IVRILLIAN!

I HEAR SIR WILLIAM WON YET ANOTHER RESOUNDING VICTORY?

YOUR HUSBAND MUST BE A GREAT SOURCE OF STRENGTH TO YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS.

HEHE, WE'VE ONLY HAD OUR ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY, AND YOU'RE ALREADY CALLING HIM MY "HUSBAND"?

OF COURSE, YOU'RE RIGHT THAT SIR WILLIAM IS A GREAT SUPPORT TO ME.

UNTIL THE BRIDAL VEIL IS LIFTED, ONE CAN NEVER BE CERTAIN WHO ONE'S BRIDE WILL BE.

I COULD STILL FETCH A BETTER PRICE, COULDN'T I?

WELL THEN,

ARE THERE ANY DISCERNING LADIES OR GENTLEMEN WILLING TO BID HIGHER FOR ME?

OH, YOUNG DUKE! HER HIGHNESS MIGHT TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY.

MISUNDERSTAND? OF COURSE NOT! WHO WOULDN'T ENVY A MARRIAGE TO HER HIGHNESS, PRINCESS IVRILLIAN?

WHAT AN AMUSING WAY YOU HAVE OF PRAISING HER HIGHNESS, SIR WILLIAM.

YES, HOW INTERESTING.

Oh right,

SIR WILLIAM, I'VE HEARD THE MINES IN THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS HAVE HAD REMARKABLE YIELDS!

EVEN THE PALACE HAS HEARD? WELL, NOW-

YOU MUST BE DELIGHTED. IF YOU DON'T MIND...

THEY SAID HE KEEPS ALL THE ANTIQUES HE BUYS IN THE ANNEX...

MY DEAREST MOTHER.

EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

I CAN STILL PICTURE YOUR...

AND FATHER'S...

SNOW-WHITE COFFINS ON THE DAY I LAID FLOWERS UPON THEM.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF RETURNING THE MUSIC BOX TO YOUR SIDE

WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE AMENDS,

YET I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO STOP SEARCHING FOR IT.

YOU MAY THINK I'M PATHETIC...

BUT I—

—?!

SERVANTS AREN'T ALLOWED IN THE ANNEX.

I DON'T KNOW...

HOW TO FIND MY WAY BACK ANYMORE.