Todd, who had been glancing at Zen’s hand crumpling the document, looked out the window and said:

“It seems we’ve arrived.”

Zen had been staring out the window all along, but what he was looking at wasn’t the scenery, but her face.

Only upon hearing Todd’s voice did Zen turn his eyes to the slowly changing world outside and gathered his thoughts.

I want to know why you disappeared. And I want to know what kind of life you lived until you met me. And furthermore, I hope to see all the moments of the days you’ll live from now on. And…

‘I hope you won’t disappear from my sight anymore.’

The past 10 years had turned Zen into half a madman. If Deborah hadn’t appeared in the end, Zen might have become completely mad. She was the only warmth that had entered Zen’s life.

So it was natural for Zen to want to hold onto her and keep her by his side. But to fully hold onto her…

‘This moment will be crucial.’

The car that had reached its destination slowly came to a stop. The chauffeur hurriedly got out and opened the rear door. Zen elegantly stepped out of the car. His large body, uncomfortably cramped in the car, was now free, but his heart was not so calm.

No matter how dark it was, it was still early evening. On a street that should have been bustling with people, not even a mouse was to be seen.

Zen looked up at the only building shining on this street. In this building, the owner of this street was waiting for him.

“Thank you for your visit, Mr. Baker.”

The old butler who had been waiting for Zen at the entrance bowed.

“Huh. Someone might think I’m quite an important guest. Waiting for me personally like this.”

Despite Zen’s sarcasm, the old butler didn’t even blink and elegantly guided him to the master’s room.

Instead of greeting the mansion’s owner, who was sitting comfortably on a sofa gazing at the fireplace, Zen said:

“Are you playing games, Viscountess Forea? Or should I call you Madam Saint?”

At his gruff voice, she gently creased her kind eyes.

“Hoho. It’s strange to hear you call me Madam Saint. But what do you mean by playing games? What game have I played?”

“Appearing suddenly without a word.”

“Hoho. My boy, is that such a big deal that you’re scolding me like this?”

Viscountess Forea, known as Madam Saint to Deborah, was of similar age to Duke Buin.

Like most wealthy people of that age, Viscountess Forea was a person of dignity and composure, but Zen thought differently.

He believed that her skinny body, her gentle appearance, and her cheerful way of speaking that didn’t suit her status or age were all just devices to hide her true self.

If he had to say, this person was a viper. A venomous snake at that, always aiming for people’s ankles.

“How’s the girl I sent? She’s a good girl, isn’t she? I’m sure she didn’t stutter even with your rudeness.”

“Isn’t she too learned to be employed merely as a dressing maid?”

“Hoho. That’s right. That child is too precious to be tied down to such a job.”

Madam Saint spoke cheerfully, looking at Zen’s furrowed brows.

“Boy. Honestly, you knew right away, didn’t you? Did you think I sent her just for such a job? Of course, that child has a great sense of aesthetics. And she’s smart, so she’ll easily learn and remember social information, and she’ll excel in her duties as a dressing maid as well.”

Zen smiled crookedly with his eyes wrinkled.

“Yes. She’s so excellent that I’ve decided to hire her right away. I’m thinking of giving her a better position than a dressing maid.”

“Oh my, really?”

Madam Saint blinked her round eyes quickly. Zen frowned.

“What’s with that reaction? You were just threatening me to hire her.”

“Boy, how is this a threat? It’s bragging and promotion.”

After saying that, Madam Saint pondered. As Zen said, she wanted Deborah to work for the Baker family. But Zen rarely accepted people from Madam Saint.

‘But when he said he was looking for a dressing maid, I sent her right away.’

However, given Zen’s personality, she expected that he wouldn’t hire a widow, especially a commoner from the countryside. He needed to have higher standards.

‘So I came here to persuade him, but he’s already made a decision. Deborah really is an amazing child.’

Madam Saint had met many people in her life, and among those many people, there were quite a few smart ones. For example, the person who invented the train, or the person who made the textile machine, or the person who designed ships, doctors, and so on.

But wise people were not as common as one might think, and Deborah was one of the few wise people she had met. And she had a good personality too. Kind, cheerful, and proactive.

‘She’s socially adept in many ways.’

How could one not like such a Deborah?

‘I would have liked that child even if she hadn’t saved my life.’

That’s why Madam Saint felt sorry for pushing Deborah into this sticky situation.

‘But I need Deborah’s help. And this is good for the Blaise Count’s daughter too.’

The girl who was to marry Zen was just a country bumpkin. She hadn’t received proper education and had no connections. A child whose only assets were her beauty and the Blaise Count title.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean she’s inferior to Zen. She’s probably the only one who can give a title to a bourgeois who isn’t even a peer noble.’

Dia’s future, who appeared as if by fate, will be beautifully embroidered with numerous hardships. But Zen here is not the type to sympathize with such a young lady. He’d probably just get annoyed, saying that since he paid, she should rightfully endure it.

‘That would be troublesome.’

Just as one can reach their destination faster if there are no stumbling blocks on the road, the same is true for work. Everything will progress quickly only if there’s as little noise as possible. For that, a kind person who could soothe Dia was absolutely necessary.

‘If that Zen fellow was a kind person, I wouldn’t have to do this…’

At that moment, Madam Saint’s thoughts and smile stopped. Zen couldn’t become a kind person. He had made himself that way. That fact shouldn’t be forgotten.

“Anyway…”

Madam Saint murmured, looking at the fire in the fireplace.

“Deborah will be of great help to your bride. It’ll be good for you too, as you’ll have to worry less about your bride.”

Zen’s face hardened at the word ‘bride’.

Not noticing Zen’s hardened expression, Madam Saint asked in a warm voice.

“By the way, it seems the preparations to welcome the young lady are almost complete, when do you plan to bring the Blaise Count’s daughter to the capital?”

Before Dia came to the capital, Zen had quickly prepared not only the dressing maid and other maids, but also teachers to instruct her, dresses and jewelry for everyday wear, and even a wedding dress for special occasions.

It wasn’t because he wanted to ease her hardships. He didn’t want to waste time on wedding preparations.

If he wanted to save time on preparations, why would the wedding be any different? Zen intended to quickly finish all preparations and bring Dia immediately. He planned to get the annoying wedding ceremony over with in one go.

But…

Seeing Zen maintaining silence with a stiff face, Madam Saint tilted her head slightly and said:

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Zen took out a cigar case from his pocket and put a cigar in his mouth. Then he took the cigar out of his mouth again and muttered in a low voice.

“…Damn it.”

Madam Saint thought ‘Oh?’ as she watched Zen’s lips move and his gaze waver.

“…Actually, I have something to tell you about that matter.”

When Zen, who had been hesitating for a moment, said that, Madam Saint wore a cold smile.

Because her intuition was telling her. That something seemed to have gone wrong.

* * *

Deborah was certain that she would toss and turn all night. How could one sleep in a situation where she was forcibly held in the house of an obsessive male lead!

But ridiculously, she fell asleep as soon as she got under the covers. Fatigue had accumulated considerably from the moment she heard Madam Saint’s suggestion until this moment.

“Miss. Are you awake?”

The voice she had heard yesterday came from outside the door. It was a beautiful voice, like the chirping of a small bird announcing the morning.

“…Oh my.”

Like someone who had fallen into a deep sleep on a train and missed their stop, Deborah got up hurriedly.

“Yes, I’m awake.”

“If you don’t mind, may I come in?”

“Of course, please do.”

The maid who received Deborah’s permission entered the room.

“Good morning. I’ve brought you water to wash up.”

A morning where a maid brings wash water as soon as you wake up. Deborah smiled awkwardly at this excessive treatment.

“Thank you.”

“I’m just doing what I should.”

The maid smiled brightly. With her help, Deborah washed up refreshingly, but the uncomfortable feeling didn’t go away. As Deborah wiped off the moisture with a towel, she said:

“Thanks to you, I’m starting the day fresh.”

The maid gently creased her eyes at Deborah’s words and opened her lips.

“Thank you for saying so. Oh, and Miss, how would you like your breakfast prepared?”

“Anything is fine for the meal.”

Deborah smiled sheepishly and continued.

“But I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not someone who should be called ‘Miss’. I should have corrected you yesterday, but I was flustered and I’m only saying it now. I’m sorry.”

The maid stared with surprised eyes at Deborah, who was showing a truly apologetic expression with her hands clasped in front of her.