Kisa looked at the man standing next to her before answering the greeting from the person who introduced himself as Count Theodore.

The man assigned by Seyrod as her escort lightly nodded at Kisa’s gaze.

It was confirmation that the stranger’s identity was indeed Count Theodore.

“Pleased to meet you, Count.”

Only then did Kisa greet the count with a suitably sociable smile.

“I’ve heard of you, Count Theodore… from His Grace, the Duke of Hillan. But I never expected to meet you in a place like this.”

After saying that, she glanced around.

“Did you come to buy a gift for your wife?”

The sight of the count walking alone without a female companion on this street lined with shops selling mainly women’s clothing and accessories was somewhat unusual.

For Kisa, she could bet her entire fortune that this meeting was not a coincidence.

“Correct. I came to the capital city after a long time, so I can’t go back empty-handed.”

However, the count shamelessly laughed off Kisa’s pointed question and once again hinted at his intentions.

“But what a surprise. I just finished picking out the gifts and was about to head back when I happened to run into Lady Vanspelt! I have something to say to you, and I’d like to treat you to a cup of tea.”

“You have something to say to me?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“If it’s an urgent matter, you can just tell me here.”

“That’s a bit… There are prying eyes here, and I’d like to have a conversation somewhere quiet.”

Kisa gazed at the count for a moment as if trying to gauge his hidden motives.

It seemed he had no intention of backing down easily and wanted to create an opportunity to be alone with her somehow.

‘What should I do?’

It would be easy to reject the count now and go tell Seyrod about what happened.

He would probably handle it himself so that she wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.

If Kisa had simply been in a romantic relationship with Seyrod, there was a high chance she would have done that.

After all, dealing with a distant relative like Count Theodore was his family matter.

But Kisa and Seyrod were engaged and now facing marriage.

‘I can’t rely on him forever.’

As the Duchess of Hillan in charge of her family’s internal affairs, she couldn’t just pass it off to him saying she couldn’t handle a single branch family member, could she?

And it seemed worthwhile to figure out what the count’s ulterior motives were.

‘I guess I’ll have to postpone buying the red accessories for now.’

Thinking so, Kisa moved her lips.

“Alright, Count. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

Count Theodore led her away as if he had been waiting, saying he knew of a quiet place.

The place they arrived at, following him, was a teahouse not far from the shopping street, with a separate room on the second floor that the count had reserved.

‘Happened to meet by chance, my foot.’

It became even more evident that he had intentionally orchestrated the meeting after learning of Kisa’s presence here from the beginning.

But it was something they both clearly knew anyway.

“So, please speak.”

As soon as she sat down, Kisa got straight to the point without bothering to point that out.

“What is it that you have to say to me?”

The count stroked his beard as if embarrassed.

“Why don’t we have some refreshments first and take our time to talk? Especially the scones made here are famous for their deliciousness.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I had a rather late lunch, so my stomach is quite full.”

At that, he licked his lips but didn’t press further.

“I understand. Come to think of it, it’s not very polite of me to take up too much of Lady Vanspelt’s time when I requested a conversation without an appointment.”

The count, who took a sip of steaming hot tea, began to speak.

“I’ll get straight to the point. Can you mediate between the Duke of Hillan and me, my lady?”

“Mediate… you said?”

“Yes. As you may know if you’ve heard about me, when the Duke inherited the family, some of us branch members, including myself, had conflicts with him. I won’t hide it. It was all because we made the wrong judgment.”

“……”

“Afterwards, we somehow cleared up the misunderstanding, but the relationship didn’t improve. So I’m shamelessly asking for your help like this, my lady.”

“Why me?”

“Well, isn’t his love for you very deep? The rumors have spread even to the region where I am.”

A sly smile appeared on the count’s face.

“I won’t make an unreasonable request. But if, by any chance, the topic of me comes up during your conversation with him, please speak positively.”

Ah, so this is it. Kisa swallowed a small sigh.

She thought there might be some sinister scheme, but she was a bit deflated by the clichéd and predictable topic that she could easily guess.

Perhaps she had been too sensitive about Count Theodore due to hearing he was the most hostile person towards Seyrod.

Anyway, if it’s just this kind of story, there’s no need to drag it out for long.

“I understand what you’re saying, but unfortunately, the Duke distinguishes between public and private matters. I don’t think I can be of much help.”

As she stood up, Kisa bid farewell to the count.

“It was nice to meet you. Then, until next time-.”

“Wait a moment, my lady! At least take the gifts before you go.”

“Gifts?”

“Yes, I brought some gifts for you. They have no ulterior motives, so please kindly accept them.”

The count rang the bell on the table without even waiting for Kisa’s answer.

As soon as the bell rang, the door opened and two men carrying gift boxes entered.

Until the first man entered the room, Kisa was staring at the count with dumbfounded eyes.

But she couldn’t do so when the second man followed.

A familiar build with a familiar gait. His appearance had changed a bit, perhaps due to losing quite some weight, but how could she not recognize him?

“Daniel?”

It was Daniel Rowens.

Why was the person who was supposed to be recuperating at the villa under the forced care of the Marquis of Rowens here now?

Daniel, who roughly placed the box he was holding on the floor, greeted Kisa as an acquaintance.

“Long time no see, Kisa?”

Kisa hurriedly turned to the man sitting across from her.

“Count…!”

Count Theodore, his eyes wide open, looked back and forth between the two and asked Kisa.

“Oh, are you acquainted with my attendant?”

“Your attendant, you say?”

“That’s right. He’s a young man who braved the fierce winter cold and came to my mansion some time ago. He said he had no place to stay due to unavoidable circumstances, so I took him under my protection. He’s deft at handling tasks, so these days he’s helping me with this and that by my side.”

Does that mean Daniel escaped from the villa empty-handed and entrusted his safety to the count?

‘No, that’s not what’s important.’

The count is currently making a surprised expression, but did he really not know?

What are the chances of bringing Daniel, Kisa’s former fiancé, to a meeting with her without knowing anything?

Count Theodore’s true purpose wasn’t to bribe Kisa to restore his relationship with Seyrod, but this. The meeting between Kisa and Daniel.

She didn’t know what his intentions were, but Kisa couldn’t stay here any longer.

Pushing a former fiancé who ended on bad terms to someone who’s getting married soon, there’s no greater rudeness than this.

“Count, I’ll be leaving now. I will definitely remember today’s events.”

At Kisa’s sharp tone that didn’t hide her displeasure, the count waved his hands and tried to stop her.

“Why are you doing this, my lady? Since you’ve met an acquaintance, why don’t you have a chat?”

“Yeah, Kisa. There’s something I really want to tell you.”

Ignoring Daniel who brazenly interjected, Kisa glared at the count standing in front of her.

“Step aside. Or should I scream?”

Outside that door, the escorts Kisa had stationed before entering the room were waiting.

If they judged that there was a threat to her safety, they would immediately break down the door and rush in.

Perhaps Kisa’s loud voice worked. The count faltered and stepped back. That’s when it happened.

“Please wait, my lady!”

With a thud, someone knelt on the floor.

It was the man who had entered this room first among the count’s attendants, someone who had existed like a background in Kisa’s consciousness until now.

“My name is Emil. I am a monk from Pavella Monastery. Today, I borrowed the help of these two gentlemen because I have an urgent matter to discuss with you, my lady. Please spare even just ten minutes of your time. I beg you.”

What? Kisa was somewhat dazed by the unexpected information that kept coming.

Emil? A monk from Pavella Monastery? Why is such a person here?

In her confused mind, a memory of hearing about a monk named Emil surfaced.

A few months ago, when she visited Pavella Monastery, Brother Visius had definitely mentioned it.

One of the monks who was dissatisfied with Seyrod. The man who manages the monastery’s medicine room.

When Kisa visited, he happened to be away from his post, either delivering medicine to nearby villages or treating patients who couldn’t find a doctor.

“Are you Brother Emil…?”

At Kisa’s question, the man nodded vigorously.

“That’s right. I am Emil.”

“If that’s true, why are you with these people?”

“To let you know the truth, my lady.”

Gulping, he spoke in a trembling voice.

“Se-Seyrod Hillan is a murderer who conspired with Coby Brown to kill my brother.”

The monk’s eyes she faced were filled with desperation.

“You may be in danger too. You need to get away from that demon-like man as soon as possible.”