The carriage that rushed into the center of the village came to a stop.

“Milady Vi!”

“Oh, Lady Bianca…”

As soon as I embraced the running child, I couldn’t hide my bewildered expression.

While patting Bianca’s back as she clung to me, astonished murmurs were once again heard from various places.

“Lady Bianca… hugged that woman?”

“Before, wasn’t Milady terrified even if Duke was nearby? What on earth is happening?”

“Why is the Duke hanging onto that woman…?”

The faces of the villagers were colored with shock.

While holding Bianca in my arms, I couldn’t conceal my puzzled expression.

At that moment, as I comforted Bianca’s back, startled whispers flowed again.

“Lady Bianca… Why did you go everywhere since dawn? You weren’t thinking of leaving, were you, not caring about Duke, right?”

“Leaving? Cedric and Bianca too, why would they suddenly have such thoughts?”

During the alternating gaze of the two puzzled faces, Village Chief Deven cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“Duke, it’s a pleasure to see you, but why are you suddenly here…”

Then Cedric, with a tone implying he found it more awkward, muttered.

“Speaking of which, Deven, why are you here?”

Looking at Cedric saying that, I sighed lightly.

“We are in Grayzone Village, Cedric.”

Upon hearing my words, Cedric once again looked around.

Only then did he seem to notice that everyone around him was of mixed-race.

“So really… I didn’t run away, did I?”

“What did I do wrong that I suddenly ran away?”

When I gave him a piercing look, Cedric, seeming embarrassed, coughed slightly and spoke hesitantly.
“I saw you riding a carriage in a suspicious outfit since dawn…”

“I did it to avoid being attacked by thugs like last time. The reason for bringing so much luggage was to prepare gifts for the people in Grayzone.”

“…”

“Due to your sudden appearance, I haven’t delivered the gifts yet.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I gestured to Mina.

Upon receiving the signal, Mina, who had been silent, bit her lip, and placed the luggage under Village Chief Deven’s feet.

As all the maids, including others, put down their luggage, Village Chief Deven blinked his eyes with a bewildered expression.

“All of this… you prepared for us?”

Strictly speaking, it’s not for you.”

While giving attention to the village children, I spoke again.

“Since we’re in the middle of the mountains, it seemed like we might need items for the children. Toys and snacks, things like that.”

“…”

“At the age when they would enjoy such things. Our Bianca too.”

Playfully winking at Bianca, the child giggled and hugged me.

“Lady Bianca, why did you suddenly come here? Do you know how surprised I was since dawn?”

Bianca asked with a slightly whiny voice when she looked up.

Looking up, Cedric also had a curious expression.

“I came here today to apologize to the people of Grayzone.”

“Apologize? You… to the people of this village?”

Cedric asked, surprised by the unexpected words.

“Yes. They lost their jobs and were humiliated because of me.”

Looking around at Village Chief Deven and the villagers, I continued to speak.

“Even if you want to resent and curse me, please give me a chance to apologize to you all. I know it’s shameless, but please.”

The villagers exchanged glances with conflicting expressions.

And then, many eyes soon focused on Village Chief Deven.

However, there was no sign of Deven Village Chief opening his mouth.

With a troubled expression, Cedric looked at him again.

“Deven, why are you here all of a sudden?”

I looked at Cedric and sighed lightly.

“We are in Grayzone Village, Cedric.”

Upon hearing my words, Cedric looked around once again.

Only then did he seem to notice that everyone around him was of mixed-race.

“So really… I didn’t run away, did I?”

“What did I do wrong that I suddenly ran away?”

When I gave him a piercing look, Cedric, seeming embarrassed, coughed slightly and spoke hesitantly.
It seemed shocking that Cedric was the one who heard the news that Rebecca had changed. However, Cedric, who had stunned everyone, continued to speak as if nothing had happened.

“But I can understand why you wouldn’t easily believe it. I felt the same way at first.”

“…”

“Even if you always believe and trust my words unconditionally, it must be hard to believe that Rebecca suddenly changed.”

Cedric paused for a moment, touching his chin thoughtfully with a troubled expression.

“Then how about doing it this way, Deven?”

Bianca, who had been whispering with her governess Moore and Mina until just now, stepped forward.

“Yes, Lady. What do you mean?”

“It seems that it would be more convincing if you see it with your own eyes up close. So, I’m suggesting…”

Hesitatingly, Bianca turned around to the governess and Mina standing behind her.

Seeing those two nodding continuously, as if signaling that things were going well, Bianca closed her eyes as if gaining courage and shouted.

“Deven, please allow these two to stay in the village for a night!”