Changing dresses was very cumbersome, but somehow bearable. However, Logan Redford’s presence was very uncomfortable and irritating.

Especially when Madame Yvonne and Victoria Owello gave praise and admiration, it was so embarrassing that I didn’t know where to put myself.

Instead of spitting out harsh words about how such praise was undeserved, Logan just smiled slightly… My suspicions about why that person was acting like that only grew.

If he had dropped by coincidentally, he should just leave quickly.

“Thank you for coming, you must be busy.”

“I’m free.”

What nonsense. After handing Dean Hamilton over for trial, he must be extremely busy with the aftermath and Redford family matters.

Sidney, who had been pondering, spoke his name to signal that he should stop.

“Logan, you can leave now.”

“My, it seems Marien is really uncomfortable with Lord Redford being here.”

There was no need to say it like that. Sidney glared reproachfully at Victoria, who was making sarcastic remarks.

She must have noticed the sharp glance. But Victoria Owello’s face was flushed with delight for some reason.

Meanwhile, Logan Redford had hardened his face fiercely and was glaring menacingly.

As if demanding if that was really true, though rather than an angry look, it was closer to that of an injured beast.

After carefully choosing her words, wondering how to explain, Sidney cautiously opened her mouth.

“It’s not that I feel that way, but I was worried Commander, I mean Logan, might be uncomfortable. You didn’t sleep properly yesterday either.”

Old habits die hard. After speaking stiffly as if giving a report, she caught herself and changed her title and speech style.

Though awkward, she even added a smile, but Logan narrowed his eyes and did not easily let go of his suspicion.

“So, you’re saying, you were worried about me?”

What worry. Logan Redford was the type of person who could go three days and nights without sleep and be fine.

But knowing her superior’s tenacious personality of persistently clinging until he got the answer he wanted…

Sidney pulled up the corners of her mouth to form a forced smile and humored Logan.

“It’s natural to worry about one’s fiancé.”

It was worth enduring the twitching of her facial muscles while holding back.

Logan Redford covered his mouth with his fist and coughed dryly several times, as if he was too surprised and had caught a cold. Moreover, he even stammered in his bewilderment.

“Ahem, ahem! It’s already gotten so late. Madame, let’s finish up.”

Is this what a hollow victory feels like? Even though she got more than she wanted, why did it feel so embarrassing?

As she blankly stared at the slowly closing curtain, she vowed never to act as a fiancée again.

“Lady Marien, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Sidney raised her arms to make it easier for the staff to remove her dress and straightened her waist.

Then she quietly gazed at the beautiful face with blonde hair and blue eyes reflected in the full-length mirror.

That face was new each time she saw it, yet somehow familiar.

“Commander, where is this place?”

Sidney, who had gotten out of the carriage, looked around with a puzzled expression.

The garden enclosed by a white fence and the white two-story house were commonplace small villas in Long Beach.

If there was anything unusual, it was the long swing chair hanging from a tree as big as the house.

Creak creak, as if throwing a tantrum telling her to stop staring, the swing swayed its body back and forth.

“Do you like it?”

“You mean the swing?”

Logan Redford stuck his hands in his pockets and pointed to the house with his chin.

Sidney’s dress skirt billowed greatly in the wind as she turned her head to follow his gaze.

The white house bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight under a gray sky full of white clouds somehow felt heartwarming.

Just, like it would warmly embrace a tired day…

“It seems like a nice house, but… is this a crime scene?”

Instead of answering, Logan Redford grinned as he took Sidney’s hand.

As if he had prepared something grand and was telling her to look forward to it. And he nodded his head as if to say let’s go, and moved his feet. She called out to him reflexively, but.

“Commander?”

Logan moved her hand to his other hand, and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, whispered:

“By the way… is that way of speaking alright?”

“Why suddenly bring up my way of speaking?”

“Because you sound like a soldier reporting to a superior. If you don’t intend to announce that you’re Sidney Warden everywhere…”

Logan trailed off as he personally opened the door for her. His subtle gaze seemed to urge her to change her way of speaking quickly.

“I understa… I got it.”

As she was about to enter after speaking carelessly, Logan blocked her way as if to say not so fast.

“Not ‘Commander’, but Logan.”

“Yes, Logan.”

Just as Sidney raised her chin as if to ask if that was good enough now, a kiss like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings tickled her lips and quickly moved away.

As she blinked her wide, surprised eyes and opened and closed her mouth, Logan pulled her inside the house and whispered in her ear, “You’ll have to get used to it.”

Get used to what? Surely he doesn’t mean these sudden kisses?

Sidney approached the fireplace where logs were burning bright red, partly to hide her flushed face.

“Are you cold?”

“A little.”

“Would you like some warm tea?”

“What? We should ask the homeowner’s permission…”

Sidney stopped mid-sentence and whirled around. Only then did the layout of the house come into view.

From the spacious living room that doubled as a reception room, stairs leading up to the second floor could be seen, and arched doorways were visible on both sides.

On one side was a long dining table for meals, and on the other was a kitchen for cooking.

Sidney headed towards the kitchen where clattering sounds could be heard.

Logan, who was placing a kettle on the fire and taking out a tea canister from the shelf, showed no hesitation at all.

The bowls and teacups placed on the shelves, the spice jars on the counter, and all the cooking utensils and other items neatly arranged according to some rule…

Sidney clicked her tongue and muttered as if to herself:

“So Logan is the owner.”

“Marien Redford, it’s yours.”

“What do you mean it’s mine?”

Logan tilted the kettle to pour water into the teacups.

As steam rose from the teacups, the fragrant scent of tea spread through the air.

“My mother called this place a breathing hole. She told me to keep it well and pass it on to the woman who would become my wife. You received it that way too.”

Logan turned around slowly, holding one teacup. His steady gaze as he leaned crookedly against the counter seemed like an invitation to come closer.

“Is this why you sent Vicky away like that, to show me this place?”

“I socialized with her adequately, and I think I saw her off quite politely.”

“Hmm, you seemed adequately hostile, and quite politely disliking… disliking her.”

As Sidney hastily corrected her slip in speech, Logan, who had been serious, chuckled. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Sidney picked up a teacup and leaned against the counter.

The two people standing side by side with just enough space between them for one person, tilting their teacups.

Their indifferent expressions and postures were identical, like a decalcomania.

Even down to lowering their eyes and savoring the tea.

“I tried my best since she’s your friend.”

Logan Redford was terribly indifferent to others.

For someone like him to treat a person “adequately” or “politely” was… a matter of effort. Even when the other party was openly showing hostility.

“Because she’s my friend, did you look into the Owello family’s situation?”

“You heard?”

“I thought you meant for me to hear.”

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“You mean me hearing it, or the Owello family?”

“While establishing an investment company, I learned about it in the process of selecting potential investors.”

“…Is it not good?”

“With Lady Owello adamantly refusing marriage, and the perception of adopted sons-in-law worsening… the Duke can’t hold out much longer.”

The Imperial Law of Arsenal forbade women from inheriting titles.

But they couldn’t just hand over the family to complete strangers either. The nobles who cherished bloodlines devised the workaround of bringing in adopted sons-in-law to pass on titles and property to their daughters and grandchildren.

A prime example was Duke Yant, but when Dean Hamilton, who was brought in as the second son-in-law, committed such an atrocious act and endangered the family…

Sidney frowned and let out a long sigh.

“The Owello family and their vassals will likely take this opportunity to pressure them to adopt a son.”

“Either return to the main house and reconcile with the Duke, or a marriage that everyone would approve of…”

“She won’t do it. What Vicky wants is to make sure the Duke of Owello can never pass on the family through his own bloodline.”

Sidney wrapped both hands around her teacup and gazed into the distance. Logan, who had been listening quietly, slowly opened his mouth.

“That, is it revenge for Justin Owello… something like that?”

Was it revenge? Sidney asked herself the question as her eyes searched the empty air.

And recalling Victoria wailing and pouring out resentment towards her father while clutching her chest in grief before her brother’s death, she murmured softly.

“I suppose she wants him to realize. How great and precious the son that the Duke of Owello despised and looked down on all his life was.”

Will such a day ever come? Not a chance.

The Duke of Owello is the type of person who would not forgive his son even after death for neglecting his successor training and only focusing on medicine.

His children Justin and Victoria would know that better than anyone.

“What about you, Sidney Warden? If you were Justin Owello, would you want Victoria Owello to do that?”

“Are you asking me that question because you think Vicky is making a reckless rebellion?”

So what? Are you hoping I’ll agree that Justin Owello wouldn’t want this?

What is your real intention in wanting to hear such words from me, Victoria’s friend…

She interrogated with her eyes, unable to even voice these thoughts.

After a moment, Logan Redford spoke with a displeased expression.

“Justin Owello was an exceptionally skilled military doctor. He lived quite satisfied with himself as he treated and saved countless comrades.”

His words, which didn’t even sound like an excuse, further provoked Sidney’s anger.

“So? I didn’t know you, Commander, were so interested in others.”

“Because it’s your business.”

Sidney’s eyes shook violently at Logan’s abrupt words, thrown out without context.