The mood, boiling with anger, somewhat settled at the voice of an old man.

When I turned my head, a white-bearded and lean elderly man stood there.

Beside the perplexed Thomson, the old man approached me, slightly bowing his head.

“I’m Deben, the village chief of Grayzone. I was the head butler at the Manor of Light, so you might remember me.”

I also nodded, responding, “Nice to meet you, Deben.”

The attitude of Chief Deben was more courteous than Thomson or Roy, but even he couldn’t completely hide the wary look in his eyes towards me.
“I just heard from Thomson. You came to meet the people of our village?”

At those words, the cold glares from the villagers became even more piercing.

They had, without me noticing, raised farm tools like plows and shovels, holding them high.

In the face of their intimidating demeanor, I swallowed a dry spit and turned my gaze back to Chief Deben.

“Yes. It’s shameless, but I have something to say, so I came here without reservation.”

The long, white eyebrows of Chief Deben, who had long hair on his beard, arched significantly.

Even he couldn’t conceal his surprise at the Duchess’s current courteous attitude, unlike before.

After scrutinizing the maids surrounding me for a moment, he opened his mouth again.

“Haven’t you brought any escort knights?”

“Yes, they are here.”

“Then, you didn’t come here to destroy our village… It seems not… That’s a relief.”

Chief Deben seemed to doubt that I came to punish Grayzone Village.

“Seemed like it would be that way. It was a good decision to bring only the maids.”

Rebecca from the past was still a public figure.

Therefore, Chief Deben’s suspicion was something I could easily anticipate.

“I thought maids would be sufficient as escorts. I didn’t come here to fight but… to apologize.”

At my words, Chief Deben’s eyes gradually widened.

“You came to apologize to us?”

Small gasps flowed from the villagers here and there.

They, too, were as surprised as Chief Deben.

“Yes. I sincerely apologize and plan to return the jobs I took from all of you.”

“Jobs?”

“I plan to establish a welfare foundation for mixed-blood vampires. It’s a foundation to help mixed-blood vampires who receive unfair treatment in the human world.”

“…”

“I hope all of you will work as part of that foundation.”

I looked at Chief Deben with an unwavering gaze.

On the other hand, a small ripple appeared in Chief Deben’s eyes.

“Now… is that sincere?”

With Chief Deben’s question, there was a stir around.

I slowly looked around at the villagers and spoke.

“Of course, it’s sincere. So please give me a chance to apologize to all of you.”

“…”

“Please.”

I politely bowed my head.

Then, for a moment, the buzzing in the surroundings stopped.

In the silence mixed with astonishment and surprise.

The maids started to step forward one by one.

“Chief Deben, Duchess has changed from before.”

“We, who have been close by all this time, can vouch for that!”

“That’s right, so now even the Duke values our Duchess sincerely!”

At the last maid’s words, a sound of mocking laughter erupted from the surroundings.

“What? Does the Duke truly value the Duchess?”

Soon after, mocking laughter poured in from all directions.

“Hahaha! Even a passing dog would laugh!”

“Hehehe… So, who said that?”
Upon this, the maids each shouted with reddened faces.

“Really! Do you believe me only if the real Duke shows up?”

And at that moment.

From the village entrance far away, the sound of rough galloping horses accompanied by a massive sandstorm gradually approached.

The attention of ordinary people all focused on one place.

As the whirlwind-like sandstorm subsided, a figure riding a massive black horse, Han Inyeong, became more distinct.

‘Why is that person here…?’

Suddenly turning my head, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

It seemed that Min-ah was the same, as she grabbed my arm and asked in an astonished tone.

“Lady Vee, that person over there… is the real Duke, right?”

“Uh, it seems like it…?”

But Cedric, who was usually relaxed, seemed somehow different.

Looking at his furious face as if chasing after a fleeing thief, I blinked my eyes slowly.

‘Was there a reason for Cedric to urgently find Grayzone Village like this…?’

Having such thoughts and absentmindedly staring at Cedric.

At that moment, as he continued to scan the surroundings, our eyes met.

Cedric then firmly clenched his jaw and increased the speed of his speech, swiftly approaching the center of the village.

The black horse finally stopped in front of me, and another massive sandstorm erupted around.

“Cough, cough… Who is that…?”

The villagers continued to cough while looking bewilderedly at each other.

“The, the Duke? Your Highness, how can you suddenly come without any announcement…?”

Soon, amidst the constant coughing, various emotions of welcome and awe began to twinkle in numerous pairs of eyes.

Some were even covering their mouths, enduring the mixture of admiration and screams.

‘I knew that the Twins Family was respected as leaders of the mixed-blood vampires, but… I didn’t know it would be to this extent.’

In the midst of the villagers’ rapid change in attitude, I felt astonishment.

It was precisely at that time, while looking around with surprise, that a low voice resounded.

“Rebecca.”

It was so low that it felt gloomy, and when I turned my head, I met Cedric’s eyes once again.

Underneath the recently permeating warmth, his eyes, which had been calm, now sank into a chilling demeanor once more.

However, beneath that cold exterior, I felt something boiling passionately.

His gaze, like a noose, focused on me for a long time.

Eventually, as Cedric’s lips slowly parted.

“… Finally found you.”