Cedric, who had been consistent in ignoring everything, seemed to find it increasingly difficult to endure.

But Vincent seemed oblivious to Cedric’s uncomfortable feelings.

Just by looking at the way he squinted his eyes towards me, it was evident.

“Rebecca, how about getting a divorce and meeting a new man now?”

“Oh, a new man?”

“Yeah, that’s better. How about me?”
Without a word, Vincent blinked his eyes, and with a smirk, he laughed playfully.

“I quite like you. You seem to have a crazy side as much as I do.”

As Vincent continued speaking, the muscles on Cedric’s squared jaw tensed.

At that moment, Vincent, unaware of Cedric’s reaction, continued his words, feeling proud.

“So, get rid of such boring guys like him…”

Thud! With a dull sound, Vincent’s jaw went backward.

“Vincent is here?”

Before heading to the mansion of light for Vincent’s welcome dinner,

I returned to the Duke’s residence to change my clothes.

Talking about what happened a while ago, Minna had a surprised expression on her face.

“So that’s it.”

“Ah, Vincent… has come…”

Seeing Minna’s puzzled reaction, I shook my head with a grin.

“What kind of person is Vincent that makes such an impression?”

To that, Minna hesitated for a moment and then slowly spoke.

“He is also a mixed-blood demon, but he doesn’t like the human world much. It’s close to indifference. That alone would be fortunate, but…”

“What else is there?”

“Well, how should I explain it?”

Minna, as if looking for the right words, tapped her chin with her finger.

“Ah! There’s a nickname they secretly call him in the demon realm.”

Approaching and whispering in my ear, Minna spoke softly.

“Crazy Demon Artisan.”

I chuckled at her words.

“Crazy… what?”

Minna, with a sly smile, continued speaking.

“He is so free-spirited and unbridled.”

“If he is called that even in the demon realm, what kind of person is he?”

“Ha, haha…”

Waiting for an answer, Minna forced a smile and awkward laughter but didn’t provide more information.

Vincent was like a mischievous child, smiling brightly, yet occasionally, a glimpse of madness flickered in his smiling eyes.

It seemed unnecessary to ask further about that nickname.

“By the way, since he’s said to be the real owner of the Dark Mansion, can I continue staying here?”

To that, Minna nodded immediately.

“Of course. The Norman family only owns it; the management of the mansion is entirely entrusted to the Twins family.”

“Still…”

“Perhaps Lady Bee allowed you to stay here already. Don’t worry about it, Lady Bee.”

Attaching a red ruby earring to my ear, Minna reassured me.

“But why did Vincent suddenly come?”

“He had some business on the way back. He felt a strange energy near the forest path near Twins Castle and came to check it out.”

“…”

“If there’s something both the Twins Dukes need to protect, he said.”

“Ah.”

“If Vincent allows you to stay, it’s probably because you already have Lady Bee’s permission.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

“Don’t worry about that, Lady Bee.”
“What is it that both families must protect? Minna, do you know what that is?”

To my question, Minna awkwardly smiled and stepped back.

“Haha, well… I’m not sure either…”

At the same time, in the personal study of the Twins Duke,

Cedric poured an aperitif into two crystal glasses and slowly walked towards the sofa.

“If the glasses are cool, put them on your chin for a moment.”

As Cedric offered the glasses, Vincent, caressing his bruised jaw, chuckled.

“Giving medicine after the fact, huh?”

“You shouldn’t have done what you did.”

Cedric replied slowly and sat across from Vincent.

“It’s been a long time since you hit me when we were young. Even though you said you and your wife have an extremely bad relationship…”

“…”

“But are you still jealous?”

As Vincent playfully wrinkled his nose, Cedric’s mouth twisted nervously.

“You, who receive so much, do you want to receive more?”

At Cedric’s words, Vincent burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

Laughing like that for a while, Vincent wiped away the tears in his eyes and nodded.

“Alright, alright…”

Just for a moment. In that moment, as Vincent licked his lips with his tongue, a glimpse of madness passed through his eyes.

“How does it feel to keep living in the human world, hiding such a lifestyle? With those cute creatures who are foolish and powerless, boasting only of their pride.”

“Vincent.”

“Tell me honestly. Don’t you sometimes feel the impulse to kill them?”

Although Cedric showed signs of exhaustion, breathing out a long sigh, Vincent, with a gleam in his eyes, didn’t care.

Cedric, seemingly wanting to end the conversation with Vincent, quickly changed the subject.

“Vincent, did you come here today because of what happened on the forest path under my jurisdiction?”

“…Ah, right!”

Only then did Vincent seem to recall why he came here and tapped his head as if to shake off the memory.

“I felt a strange energy nearby. Were you also there?”

Cedric nodded, putting the glass down on the table.

“Somebody had cast a concealment barrier in the forest. Along with numerous straw dolls.”

“A magic doll monster?”

“Yeah. It seems they were aiming for the Duchess.”

“Duchess…”

Vincent’s facial expression, muttering quietly, gradually became colder.

“It’s fortunate that nothing happened to the Duchess.”

“…”

“But, Cedric, what if their real goal wasn’t the Duchess but…”

The smile disappeared from Vincent’s face, and with sharp golden eyes, he looked at Cedric, slowly opening his mouth again.

“If it was ‘Lillian’s Heart,’ what would you do?”