“Wouldn’t it be different before and after meeting Lady Marien?”

“That’s right. I was like that too.”

Logan nodded lightly while standing on one leg.

Whatever the inside story, it was true that he had actively pushed Sidney right after meeting Marien. And if Sidney were to question it, he could just play dumb.

Feeling much lighter, he was about to take a step when Raon Lind opened his mouth again.

“So, people might suspect something when they see Lady Marien, who has the same height and build as Lord Warden. Of course, given Lord Warden’s reputation and abilities built up so far, they wouldn’t easily think they’re the same person, but…”

Captain Sidney Warden of the Asnel Imperial Army.

Her brilliant performance in numerous battles, outstanding strategy and swordsmanship skills, and upright character… Everyone admired her without reservation.

Moreover, Sidney was a knight produced by the Warden family after a long time, a family that had not lived up to the reputation of ‘The Empire’s Guardian Sword’.

Who would dare to suspect that such Sidney Warden was a woman?

Even he, who had been with her for a long time, hadn’t.

Logan exhaled deeply and took a step. Feeling Raon Lind and the carriage following behind.

As they neared the end of Thierry Avenue, Raon casually spoke up.

“If my Lord is worried, how about introducing Lady Marien as a distant relative of Lord Warden?”

Was it a coincidence? Logan recalled the excuse he had made up for Ernest and blurted out, “Do as you like.”

“Then I’ll look for a person from the Warden family’s collateral line whose whereabouts are unknown.”

Once again, a heavy silence descended upon the street.

His vision swayed with each trudging step, and Sidney Warden’s face flickered over the flowing streetlight. Even her languid voice fabricating lies with drowsy eyes…

Logan’s chest tightened at Sidney’s expression, which looked so tired that she might turn away coldly and leave for somewhere at any moment.

To shake off that chilling feeling, Logan roughly rubbed his face with one hand.

“…I’m drunk.”

Otherwise, there’s no way he would be this anxious about Sidney.

“Lord Logan?”

“I need to check right away.”

“Check what?”

Sidney Warden, her sleeping soundly in his sanctuary, right now,

Logan turned abruptly and got on the carriage that had been following. Then he hit the carriage wall hard and started the carriage, leaving behind a dazed Raon Lind.

After parting with Logan, Sidney returned to the office and dealt with the work that had piled up.

By the time she finished up roughly and returned home, it was past midnight.

After washing up quickly, her eyes met with those of the maid Liz, who was standing in front of the dressing table holding a towel.

The light from a lamp filled with paraffin oil leaked out from behind her, creating a cozy atmosphere.

“The Commander?”

“He hasn’t returned yet.”

She sat down at the dressing table and looked into the mirror.

She saw Liz carefully drying her red hair with a towel, and herself with her white dress shirt unbuttoned.

“I told you not to wait and go to sleep.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Liz smiled shyly as she gently combed through the tangled hair reflected in the mirror.

“I’m going to sleep anyway… you don’t have to do it so thoroughly.”

“Alright.”

Though she said she would, Liz only finished styling her hair after applying fragrant oil. Sidney tucked her glossy red hair behind her ear as she stood up.

“Thank you, Liz.”

“Shall I prepare some warm tea?”

“Sweet dreams.”

Sidney flashed a faint smile to indicate it was fine and walked to the bed. The darkness deepened following the sound of the lamp being turned off.

Despite the light and warmth emanating from the fireplace, she felt a chill and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Then, good ni… Ah!”

Just as she was about to lift the blanket, a low scream came from behind her.

Startled, she turned around to find Logan Redford standing there, still wearing his coat.

Like a prodigal son who had returned after wandering aimlessly, all the buttons of his coat and jacket were undone, and his platinum blonde hair, which was always neatly combed back, was disheveled.

Overwhelmed by the unusual atmosphere, the maid Liz hunched her shoulders and left the room.

“Commander, is something wrong?”

“……”

Did something big happen? He sighed deeply while running a hand over his face.

After staying like that for a moment, he swept his gaze around the room and took a step. His broad shoulders shook noticeably, which was quite unsettling.

Was he injured somewhere? As she approached him with worry, a strong smell of alcohol stung her nose.

“Don’t tell me, you’ve been drinking?”

“A little…”

What do you mean a little! Sidney flung open Logan’s coat and jacket and examined his gray shirt here and there. Slapping away Logan’s hand as he tried to stop her.

“Sidney?”

“Just wait a moment.”

There were no tears in the fabric on his chest, abdomen, or sides, and no smell of blood, but only after removing his coat and outer jacket and visually confirming his back did she finally relieve her startled heart.

“You were worried I might be injured just now.”

Sidney turned her head to the side, avoiding his long fingers that reached her chin.

“What worry.”

“I was just going to look at you sleeping and leave…”

Her head naturally lifted, following his slurred mumbling and his touch that fell limply.

He smiled weakly, his blue eyes half-closed.

He’s really drunk. What on earth happened for Logan to be so loose like this?

Sidney, who had been watching Logan plop down on the bed, couldn’t contain her curiosity and questioned him.

“Just where, with whom, and for what reason… did you drink until this hour?”

“Heh, you have a lot of questions.”

Logan lifted his chin while propping himself up on the bed with both arms.

A decadent charm emanated from his arrogant gaze that seemed to look down on people, the collarbone and chest visible through his unbuttoned shirt, and his languidly relaxed expression.

Memories of him tirelessly exploring her body all night involuntarily came to mind, making her whole body ache and feel hot.

At the same time, Logan’s condition was a bit strange.

Usually, Logan would try to cling to Sidney to stimulate her somehow. But now, his eyes that used to yearn for something held a bitter and chilly air.

And the voice that leaked through his teeth, twisted with cynicism.

“If you hear it, then… you’ll be disappointed in me.”

“Disappointed?”

Sidney narrowed her eyes and asked back. Instead of answering, Logan spread his arms. As if saying, if you want an answer, come and embrace me.

Would she really be able to hear it if she did that? Maybe it would be better to coax him gently.

Sidney approached with slow steps and asked in a soft tone.

“Won’t I be disappointed if I find out later?”

“…Because I won’t tell you.”

I knew it. Sidney pressed down on Logan’s arm with her fingertips and smiled bitterly.

“There are no eternal secrets in this world.”

Logan’s unfocused eyes wavered anxiously.

Sidney displayed a relaxed smile while racking her brain hard.

Surely Logan must have met someone related to the new business he was starting. Otherwise, Logan, who doesn’t enjoy drinking, wouldn’t have gotten this drunk.

Where? There are many bars open until this hour, but only high-class salons are suitable places to discuss secret business.

Especially ones where beautiful madams and courtesans liven up the atmosphere…

Wait, Logan, who used to despise women, wouldn’t embrace a courtesan and drink, would he?

As if to mock Sidney’s thoughts, Logan snorted and pulled her wrist sharply.

“Secrets are nice.”

She ended up sitting on his lap inadvertently. His intense gaze and the arm wrapping around her waist, all of it felt so natural.

She glared at him in bewilderment, and Logan spoke in a whisper with unfocused eyes.

“Walter Asner and Victoria Owello already knew the secret that she desperately tried to hide from me.”

“Why are you suddenly bringing that up… Could it be, you want me to figure it out on my own like you did?”

Feeling an inexplicable displeasure, she pushed against his chest and stood up. As she tried to step back, Logan’s hand was faster.

“…Sidney.”

Sidney quietly looked down at her wrist held by Logan. The strength gripping her wrist weakened, and Logan’s explanation followed.

“There may be no eternal secrets, but I wished you alone wouldn’t know, or even if you did, it would be much later… That’s what I meant.”

That could be. Everyone must have secrets they want to hide. If Logan hadn’t been this drunk, she would have let it pass without knowing anything.

He shouldn’t have brought it up at all. If he was going to bring it up, he should have talked about it properly.

Sidney looked into his clouded eyes and asked.

“That secret, it seems like something that would really disappoint me.”

“……”

Logan’s lips moved a few times before he let out a deep sigh.

The atmosphere telling her not to ask anymore made her feel like all the blood was draining from her body.

Ha, did he really go to a salon with courtesans? And not just drink, but also… roll around in bed with another woman?

That can’t be, that picky man wouldn’t just with anyone… Anyone? Come to think of it, Marien was also one of those ‘anyones’.

Sidney squeezed her eyes shut at the dizziness that made her vision spin.

“Are you alright?”

“Is there any reason I should be?”

“There isn’t. Just, uh, you seemed angry…”

“Did I have any reason to be angry?”

She wished he would tell her that what she was imagining didn’t happen. Logan smiled bitterly at her gaze filled with such hope and pulled up her hand, resting his cheek against her palm.

“Before that, I want to confirm one thing…”

The prickly stimulation of his stubble that had grown in a day and the intense heat transmitted directly made her heart tingle.

As she bit her lower lip to shake off the unfamiliar sensation, Logan hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“That night, at the Armand Hotel… did you not refuse because I was your superior? Is that why you left as if running away?”

Isn’t that obvious?

If he had been a complete stranger, she wouldn’t have drunk with him, followed him to the penthouse, or carelessly let her guard down believing his words that he was impo****.

Logan Redford asking such an obvious question? Is this man really properly drunk? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be like this, like a puppy craving affection…