“I couldn’t confirm what she took to come here. But for sure, she was standing alone in front of the gate.”

Deborah nodded and walked even faster. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was almost running.
By the time the entrance to the reception room became visible, Deborah stopped abruptly, took a deep breath, and straightened her hair. She wanted to appear as if she hadn’t just been running.

“Please, go in first.”

Deborah said to Cedric. Since he had walked briskly without running, Cedric, who had expected this, smiled and took the lead. Deborah, as if she had been following him from the beginning, walked slightly behind him.

Deborah had used the Baker family’s reception room before. In her memory, the Baker family’s reception room was grand and colorful but still a warm place.

However, today, for some reason, this space felt so desolate. Even though the fireplace was burning more brightly than before.

Did changing the decorations to ceramic crafts instead of flowers contribute to this feeling? If not, was it because the scenery outside the window was endlessly bleak?

Or was it because the woman sitting somewhat dejectedly on the sofa, with her head bowed, looked so weary?

“I apologize for making you wait. Viscountess Blaise.”

Dea’s head, which had been bowed deeply, lifted at Cedric’s affectionate voice.

With her simple coat and an outdated hat, Dea was more beautiful than Deborah had imagined.

Vibrant golden hair, sparkling bright blue eyes in the darkness, a small and pale face with a beautiful blush. Her eyes were so large, and the line connecting her forehead and nose was so beautiful.

Dia Blaise was undoubtedly a beauty that couldn’t be described even with added compliments. However, the thought that immediately came to Deborah’s mind upon seeing such a beautiful woman wasn’t about praising Dia’s appearance.

‘Why does she look so uneasy?’

Her frightened eyes, fidgety fingers, and the irritable skin made her seem as if she were a person about to be scolded. What on earth could be making her so uneasy?

As if Deborah had noticed Dia’s unease, Cedric felt the same way. Cedric, not having a very deep voice but speaking clearly, said, “I am Cedric Radford, the housekeeper of the Baker family. We’ve met once before; do you remember?”

Dia, lowering her head deeply again, replied, “Yes? Oh, yes, I remember.”

“It’s an honor.”

Cedric, who laughed softly, continued, “It’s cold today, and thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Oh no, fortunately, I met a good Samaritan, so I was able to find my way here without difficulty.”

“Is that so? Then I’m glad.”

Dia, who had opened her mouth, gathered her courage and raised her head. Her trembling blue eyes wandered between Cedric and Deborah, then soon lowered again.

“I’m sorry.”

Her voice was as forlorn as her gaze dropped to the floor. It was inappropriate for a noblewoman to apologize to a commoner. However, criticizing her actions right now seemed unjust.
Having swallowed her saliva, Dia spoke again.

“I understand, but…”

In that moment, Deborah thought of Dia. The reason why the innocent and kind Dia nodded her head in agreement to this calculating and immoral affair.

‘Family.’

A mother who lost beauty and peace of mind due to poverty. And a father who could die at any moment without it being surprising. Dia’s burden and, at the same time, an invaluable treasure.

‘Although Viscountess Blaise pushed Dia into this position, eventually Dia decided to involve herself in all of this.’

So, Deborah didn’t think Dia came here for any other reason.

The Countess, who became anxious waiting for Jen’s call, would have urged Dia, who would have soon conceded and found her way to the Baker Mansion alone.

‘Knowing that a considerable sum of money was handed over.’

Cedric recalled the amount the Blaise Count withdrew. If he didn’t remember it incorrectly, Jen compensated more than just changing plans and causing delays.

‘But still, he urged his daughter? Hmm. I can’t fully understand it.’

Cedric understands human greed very well. Jen Baker, who generously handed out such a large sum of money, would have seemed more tempting.

While Deborah and Cedric were wrapping up their respective thoughts, Dia continued to organize her words in her mind.

‘What should I do? What should I say?’

Being honest might make it seem like she was trying to outdo her mother, and she didn’t want to be an unwelcome intruder. Seeing her struggle, Deborah spoke to her.

“Miss, I apologize for the late introduction.”

Dia’s head lifted again. In the area illuminated by the red and yellow fireplace light, there was a beautiful woman with dark hair, wearing a dark blue dress, quietly smiling at her.

If Dia found comfort in that face, would she become an uncommon and frivolous person?