“Of course, I also……”

“Andy Spencer, don’t try to decide or know hastily. Even if you do know, pretend you don’t, like now.”

“Ugh.”

Andy touched his shoulder that Walter had grabbed, expressing pain.

Although Andy’s agonized face was pitiful, I didn’t want to stop Walter. Because it wasn’t different from what I wanted to say.

I ignored the knock on the door and Walter Asner’s whisper that followed.

“Before it’s irreversible.”

Irreversible, he says. It can be undone anytime, why is he being so stubborn?

Sidney frowned and walked over to open the door. A young soldier startled and saluted.

“What’s the matter?”

“Someone claiming to be Lord Warden’s fiancée has arrived……”

He trailed off, his eyes asking for confirmation. Hearing this was quite bewildering.

A fiancée out of nowhere. There’s only one person who would pull something like this…

As Sidney guessed, the visitor was Victoria Owello. Her back figure standing in front of a painting in the lobby looked somewhat forlorn.

It wasn’t just a feeling. Victoria wouldn’t come to her workplace unannounced like this. Also, what Logan Redford said recently…

Then, has Duke Owello finally drawn his sword? Marriage pressure or adopted son, which one would it be…

Tap tap tap, as footsteps echoed, Victoria Owello slowly turned around.

The faint smile that appeared on her face was as bitter as the setting sun. As if to offer words of comfort while approaching her.

“I just wanted to see you…”

“I’m glad you came. Shall we go out and talk first?”

“You’re busy.”

As Victoria hesitated, looking around nervously, Walter Asner’s voice was heard from behind.

“We both came out after writing leave slips.”

Turning around, Walter Asner was walking over casually. Though he said he skipped his afternoon schedule because he was worried about Victoria.

“You, why……”

Instead of answering, Walter stared at Victoria Owello for a moment before provocatively saying:

“I have something to discuss with Miss Owello. Is that alright?”

Victoria snorted once, then held out the back of her hand and sneered.

“Lord Asner, you’re still tactlessly butting in between Sidney and me.”

“I was with Sidney until just now.”

“Ha! So what?”

“It depends on the perspective, doesn’t it?”

Walter lightly took Victoria’s agitated hand and nodded.

Why don’t these two ever change no matter how much time passes? Sidney walked between the rivals glaring at each other.

“Let’s move somewhere else first.”

As they stepped out of the building, Victoria Owello ran over with quick steps and linked arms.

Next to her smiling brightly, Walter Asner was seen walking sluggishly with his hands in his coat pockets.

Like those times when the three of them used to hang out together, the only difference being… Walter and herself were no longer cadets but soldiers now. And it was time to meet the demands of their families.

How could one know the thoughts of Justin Owello who was already dead? But if his feelings were not different from her own, if he thought of Victoria as she thought of Emilia…

He would want her to live.

He would wish for her to live even a little longer, even one more day, without pain and in abundance.

For a noble lady to live like that in this Arsnel Empire, the protection and support of the family was essential.

So Justin Owello wouldn’t want his lovely sister Victoria to seek reckless revenge.

Even if not, Justin Owello wasn’t the type to resent someone or wish for others’ misfortune.

Like the foolish Anthony Warden… he would have wished and wished for his sister’s well-being.

But as Logan Redford said.

Would Victoria be happy doing that? The standard of happiness is set by oneself, not anyone else.

Sidney looked up at the cloudy sky and exhaled a long breath. White breath scattered chaotically in the cold wind.

“Sidney?”

“I think I can cure Emilia’s illness.”

“Really? How?”

Victoria asked urgently, unable to contain her excitement. Gazing steadily into her blue eyes, Sidney slowly opened her mouth.

“…I want her to live. I want my sister to be less in pain, more at peace… I want her to live.”

“Of course. Emilia will definitely get better.”

That’s not the kind of encouragement I was looking for. How should I say this? Sidney frowned, following the clouds drifting across the sky with her eyes.

A cold wind blew from behind, enveloping her whole body before suddenly departing.

“Logan Redford, that person agreed to keep my secret and treat Emilia.”

“You accepted the marriage on that condition?”

That’s right. The ‘real marriage’ between Logan and herself… as it was from the beginning, it was a relationship where male and female desire and pleasure existed, and mutual interests aligned and were chosen.

It wasn’t much different from a political marriage pursuing each family’s interests, so I was able to decide without much deliberation.

Just, somehow…

“At first, I wanted to protect the Warden family. I hoped the family would protect Emilia even if I was gone.”

“Sidney, what do you mean if you’re gone……”

Victoria Owello made a tearful face, saying how could you say such a thing.

If you’re going to cry just at a mere supposition, how will you endure if something really happens to me…

Sidney calmly said as she opened the door of the Owello ducal family’s carriage.

“If such a thing were to happen, I want my precious sister to be happy and safe. And you, my dear friend… I hope you would be too.”

“But.”

“So think about it again, slowly and carefully.”

And she led Victoria’s hand, which was about to object, and helped her into the carriage.

The bustling Thierry Avenue in the 4th district of Marcel, the capital of the Arsnel Empire, was crowded with people.

Victoria Owello, who got off the carriage, held out a gold-embossed invitation at the entrance of the red building with the sign ‘Salon Siesta’.

The oldest-looking man among those guarding the entrance checked the invitation and guided her inside.

The lobby, neither large nor small, had a red carpet laid out, and beyond the nicely placed wooden planters, a space filled with about twenty tables could be seen.

There, young ladies and gentlemen were leisurely enjoying tea and water pipes in small groups.

Just two years ago, it was hard to get even basic necessities due to the war, yet now these spirited young people were spending money frequenting member-only salons. Do they really know where the wealth and leisure they enjoy comes from?

Her brow furrowed involuntarily at the deplorable scene unfolding before her eyes. Walter, noticing her discomfort, leaned in close and whispered:

“Smooth out that frown. This is considered mild.”

“You seem to know well.”

“Hmm, most gatherings are held in salons. Think of it as a social club.”

For a moment, the image of the Arsnel Kingdom in ruins due to war flashed through her mind.

Did the hollow eyes of people who had lost everything and were at a loss anticipate this? That tremendous exploitation would proceed under the pretext of war reparations. And how that money would be used.

Damn war. Is this really right?

As she stared blankly, Walter Asner mumbled sheepishly, “That’s how it is.”

I suppose that’s how it is. How could it not be. As she snorted, an attractive woman gracefully walked out from the corridor next to the lobby.

About thirty years old, the woman with her bright red hair piled high was wearing a glossy brown dress.

Even her excessive makeup harmonized with her refreshing features, creating an atmosphere both radiant and haughty.

The woman who walked out like that placed her hand on her chest and greeted them.

“I’m Isabel Munro, the owner of Salon Siesta. It’s an honor to welcome Miss Owello like this.”

“Thank you for inviting me. This is Sidney Warden and Lord Walter Asner.”

“Please call me Madame Munro.”

“Pleased to meet you. Captain Walter Asner.”

Walter Asner good-naturedly kissed the back of Isabel Munro’s outstretched hand.

Sidney lightly took Isabel’s hand and bowed her head in greeting. Isabel responded with a gentle smile and pointed to the corridor she had walked out from.

“I’ll escort the three of you to the VIP room.”

“Madame Munro, I’d like to show off my acquaintance with these fine gentlemen… wouldn’t a private room be inconvenient?”

What is this now? To show herself in such an open space. What if rumors start spreading about her associating with Walter and myself who don’t have fiancés.

Isabel Munro hid her bewilderment with exaggerated gestures and played along.

“The view of the street from the window is quite charming.”

“Oh my, I look forward to it.”

Victoria also responded with artificial joy and smiled brightly. In the end, as they crossed the hall under everyone’s attention.

“Oh my, who’s that? It seems Miss Owello really is acquainted with Lord Warden.”

“Goodness, Lord Asner is there too.”

“I heard from my brother that Lord Asner and Lord Warden were close enough to share a room during their military academy days.”

As always, young ladies whispered about Sidney herself and Walter.

The content was mostly information about herself and Walter, who appeared to be suitable grooms on the surface.

Even so, such whispering is a bit annoying but still acceptable.

It’s just a matter of ignoring it. But when they didn’t even spare a glance, the ladies began to cross the line.

“Could one of those two gentlemen be in that kind of relationship with Miss Owello? The reason she hasn’t been engaged until now……”

“That can’t be. If it’s Lord Warden or Lord Asner, Duke Owello wouldn’t oppose.”

“Oh my, Miss Owello alone likes……”

Unable to endure any longer, she glared at them, and the women covered their mouths with fans.

But one person, a woman in a purple dress, slightly raised her chin as if daring her to speak, and closed her fan.