As Kisa gazed at the serene mansion by the lake, she was momentarily speechless.

“What do you think?”

At Seiard’s question from beside her, she expressed her thoughts on the two-story mansion.

“It’s truly a marvelous place. And…”

“More intact than you expected?”

She was right.

Kisa’s amazement was only natural.

Judging solely by the beautiful scenery, it was hard to imagine that merely a year ago, a person had lost their life to a fire in this very mansion.

The reason Kisa and Seiard visited this place today began three days ago, on the first morning after the two had become one.

“Unlike our parents, my brother’s coffin was buried in the capital.”

Bishak Hillan’s resting place was his private villa located near the capital. It was a place he frequented during his lifetime and also where he had met his tragic end.

If it was near the capital, unlike the Hillan estate, they could visit anytime they wished.

Thus, Kisa had suggested to Seiard that they go there together on a relatively free day, and he readily accepted his lover’s proposal.

For that reason, Kisa, who had arrived here, was now taking in the overall view of the mansion for the first time after alighting from the carriage.

‘I heard from Seiard that repairs were carried out after the fire, but…’

The building was spotless without a trace of soot, the garden was neatly arranged, and the well-polished path showed no signs of the accident.

“Actually, since more than half of the mansion was burnt down at the time, we demolished it and built a new one.”

At Seiard’s supplementary explanation, Kisa slowly nodded her head.

“…I see.”

As she imagined the horrific scene from that time, her mood turned solemn. That’s when…

“Your Grace, welcome!”

A short, middle-aged man came running from a distance.

“I was preparing a meal after receiving word that you would be arriving soon. Ah, this must be the person I’ve only heard about…”

As the man’s gaze turned to Kisa, Seiard introduced the two.

The middle-aged man was the caretaker who had been looking after this villa since the time of the previous duke. He seemed appropriately diligent and loyal.

“Oh my, it’s an honor to meet the future Duchess of Hillan in advance. Seeing you like this, you truly make a fine pair with His Grace.”

“You flatter me. I look forward to your guidance in the future.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

After exchanging greetings with Kisa, the caretaker turned to Seiard and asked,

“Would you like to have lunch first? The preparations will be done shortly.”

Instead of answering the question, Seiard looked at Kisa.

“Kisa, are you hungry?”

“No, I’m still fine.”

“Then let’s go see my brother first. It’s this way.”

The three of them—Kisa, Seiard, and the caretaker—walked in the direction he pointed.

On their way to the backyard where Bishak Hillan’s grave was located, Kisa opened her mouth while glancing at the villa building.

“The previous Duke must have been very fond of this place.”

“So I’ve heard. Although I was quite surprised when his will was disclosed, stating that he wished to be buried here after his death.”

In fact, Seiard himself didn’t know much about his brother, so the caretaker continued the explanation.

“He didn’t show it outwardly, but he cherished this place immensely. He often visited here to spend time, after all. One of the first things he did after becoming the Duke was to build this place.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I heard he was deeply involved from the design stage.”

At that unexpected information, Kisa paused for a moment and gazed at the side of the mansion.

Seiard also stopped walking and asked her,

“Why do you say that?”

“Nothing. It’s just… surprisingly charming. I didn’t know the previous Duke preferred this style of mansion. How should I put it… It’s quite delightful and quaint.”

In fact, Kisa’s surprise upon first seeing the villa wasn’t solely because the building was intact.

Until arriving here, she had vaguely imagined an elegant and classically beautiful mansion like the Hillan ducal residence.

However, the villa of Bishak Hillan that greeted her eyes was a building boasting a light pastel color scheme and a cozy atmosphere.

Well, since it was a villa, there was no need to make it overly large, but it was unexpected in many ways.

Despite his cold and aristocratic demeanor, it seemed his taste was unexpectedly girlish.

‘Yes, the term girlish suits it perfectly.’

Because even Kisa herself had dreamt of living in such a mansion when she was young.

There was a time when pastel-colored mansions like this were in vogue in the capital.

Whenever she went out, young Kisa would gaze at the cute buildings through the carriage window and dream of living there.

She even had the audacity to ask her struggling father to move, that’s how much she wanted it.

Of course, it didn’t budge Baron Ranspelt one bit, and her childhood dream remained just that—a dream.

But in this world, there were people who could realize their dreams with their own hands, unlike Kisa.

Bishak Hillan was one such person, spending a vast sum of money to build the mansion he desired by the beautiful lakeside, and even being buried there after his death.

“It certainly doesn’t match my brother’s usual taste. But it seems his affection for this place was genuine.”

Seiard explained the contents of the will his brother had left in more detail.

If he died after getting married, he would be buried in the Hillan family cemetery where their ancestors rested. But if he died unmarried, he wished to be buried here.

“Is there some important correlation between marriage and the burial place?”

“Who knows.”

Seiard shrugged his shoulders at Kisa’s question.

“Who can understand the intentions of the deceased?”

As they engaged in such conversation, the three of them arrived at Bishak’s grave.

Located in a corner of the backyard, it had a simple and restrained form, unlike what one would expect for the resting place of the head of the great noble house of Hillan.

There were no extravagant grave decorations that were usually present, which seemed fitting for Bishak Hillan, as Kisa had imagined.

Perhaps he had no intention of adorning even his grave in a charming manner.

Anyway, the caretaker stepped back, leaving only Kisa and Seiard standing in front of the tomb.

Bishak Hillan, resting here.

A single line of a stark epitaph greeted the two.

“I’m here again.”

Seiard introduced Kisa as if his brother was truly present.

“This time, I’m with the person I love. We’ll be getting married soon.”

His hand enveloped Kisa’s shoulder.

“I wanted to convey this news to you in person. I’m sure… you would have been curious, brother.”

The reddish-brown eyes gazing at the tomb were filled with an even deeper light.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can be happy.”

Seeing her beloved speak of happiness, Kisa’s heart also swelled with joy.

Feeling on the verge of tears, Kisa spoke to the deceased.

“I may still be lacking, but I will do my utmost for the Hillan family and your younger brother.”

After saying those words, she placed a white flower she had brought from home beside the grave.

Hoping her sincere feelings would be conveyed.

Afterwards, the two stood there in silence for a while.

Kisa felt regret that she couldn’t have had at least one more conversation with Bishak before his death.

They even had similar tastes in mansions, so perhaps they might have gotten along well in other aspects too, had she known.

“Well then, shall we go have our meal now?”

After about ten minutes had passed, Seiard turned to Kisa and spoke.

Thus, as they were all heading towards the villa building, the caretaker spoke in a half-muted voice.

“Come to think of it, you visited here last month as well, right? Bishak-nim would be pleased that Your Grace remembers and visits often.”

Seiard smiled faintly.

“Who knows. We’ll see about that.”

“There’s no doubt. Today, you even brought the person you’ll be marrying. There’s no greater joy than a wedding… A wedding…”

Suddenly, the caretaker’s expression darkened.

“If only that accident hadn’t happened, Bishak-nim would have had his ceremony with the princess as well. Why did he have to dismiss the servants that day of all days?”

“He dismissed the servants?”

Kisa unknowingly asked back at the unexpected remark.

While the caretaker made a startled expression, as if he had brought up an unpleasant topic, Seiard readily answered the question, in contrast.

“That’s right. On the day of the fire, my brother told the servants working at the villa to leave, saying he wanted to be alone.”

Perhaps judging that it was alright to speak honestly, the caretaker recounted the events of that day in more detail.

“There were guards standing watch at the entrance and myself spending time in the caretaker’s room outside, but inside the building, there was no one but Bishak-nim.”

He lowered his gaze.

“If there had been even one person inside, we would have discovered the fire sooner. By the time we, who were outside, grasped the situation, it was already…”

Seiard comforted the caretaker, who hung his head, not to blame himself too much.

“The fire originated from the scented candle in my brother’s bedroom in the first place. Even if someone had been inside, the outcome likely wouldn’t have changed.”

From what she heard, it seemed that Bishak Hillan, who suffered from severe insomnia, had lit a sleep-aiding scented candle that day and fell asleep.

And unfortunately, the candle toppled over, causing the flames to spread to the carpet…

“Even the heavens are cruel.”

The caretaker lamented with a furrowed brow.

“To think that Bishak-nim, who had been perfectly fine all his life, would succumb to insomnia a few months before that incident and meet such a fate!”

He was right. If only he could have slept peacefully, Bishak Hillan wouldn’t have dismissed people for being noisy, and there would have been no need to light a scented candle.

Moreover, on that particular day, even the Duke’s aide, Gilliam, had left his master’s side for another matter, so there was no one to dissuade Bishak.

As she pondered how truly unpredictable a person’s future could be, Kisa became lost in thought.