The young monk who removed his robe and revealed his face scratched his cheek and apologized.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I know it, but it still feels a bit uncomfortable. It’s hard for me to call Lord Bisherc by that greedy man’s name.”

Bisherc… no, the man now named Seiard, sat down across from him and replied.

“For someone who says that, you seemed quite close to that fellow.”

“That was purely to follow Lord Bisherc’s orders. It was difficult to pretend to be friendly.”

“That’s the second time today.”

“No, no, Lord Seiard!”

Brother Vicius laughed awkwardly, then continued with a determined expression.

“Anyway, since you took me in long ago, there has only been one person I serve. Without that salvation that day, I wouldn’t be here now.”

At those words, the red-haired man recalled a young child begging on the streets long ago.

To a child who had to worry about surviving day by day, did the hand extended by the young master of a noble family look that large?

Looking at the results, not passing by that day, but getting out of the carriage to pick up the child and return to the mansion was a very beneficial choice.

The child who later entered an orphanage sponsored by the Hilan family grew up without incident and became his faithful subordinate.

Not only that, but at his master’s command, he even changed his name and background to enter a monastery.

Then, as planned, he approached the target and became quite close.

Even his brother, who was quite wary, showed no particular suspicion.

“He’s an unpleasant person, but since he resembles Lord Bisherc so much, I find myself being kind without realizing it.”

Perhaps half of that was due to Vicius’s kindness, which was somewhat mixed with sincerity, and the other half stemmed from his own perceptual error.

Uniquely, his brother had thought since childhood that he looked down on him greatly.

He had shouted countless times not to ignore him, glaring at him whenever he had the chance.

However, in reality, he did not particularly despise or contempt his twin brother.

He thought there were times when he acted recklessly, swayed by his emotions, but that was merely an objective assessment made after observing him closely for many years.

The real Seiard Hilan. His brother who died unable to let go of his reckless and unproductive hatred.

“You… knew everything?”

On that night of the final battle, when he encountered his brother waiting for him in the villa’s bedroom, he finally realized this was a trap.

He explained to Kisa that a life-or-death struggle had taken place, but in fact, there was no such thing.

The person who met the intruder there was not just Bisherc, and Seiard was subdued too easily.

Of the two accomplices, Vicius was an enemy from the start, and Coby Brown, who was keeping watch outside the villa, had now run away out of fear, so Seiard was alone in the final moment.

“Sa-save me! Please, I beg you! I was wrong! If you spare me, I’ll live quietly in a monastery for the rest of my life! I can swear it!”

His brother, who had the audacity to try to take someone else’s life, trembled when a knife was held to his own throat, as if he hadn’t expected this situation.

“Brother, brother! Please… I didn’t come to harm you. I just came to complain a little!”

His brother, who made ridiculous excuses even though it was obvious he had brought a weapon.

He had never understood him throughout his life and hadn’t cherished him as family, but he didn’t particularly dislike him either.

He just had no feelings one way or the other.

From the beginning, his brother was not a significant enough existence for him to harbor any particular regrets.

“We… we’re brothers, aren’t we?”

There’s no law saying you can’t commit the same crime twice.

Without hesitation, he took his brother’s life, permanently eliminating the potential threat.

Then he carried out the work he had been planning since first receiving the report from Vicius about his brother’s murder plot.

Everything was for one purpose only.

That which he had failed to obtain in his youth, when his understanding of others and the concept of death was still lacking.

The memory of that grand failure had remained in his heart for a long time, making him yearn for it.

“Lord Seiard?”

At that moment, the voice of his long-time loyal servant woke him from his reverie.

He lowered his gaze and blinked a couple of times.

That’s right, Seiard. He is Seiard now.

“What is it, Brother Vicius?”

In response to Seiard’s question, Vicius tapped the table with his finger and asked.

“What should I do now? Should I return to the monastery? The abbot gave me permission to stay until your wedding, but if I’m gone too long after Emil hasn’t returned, the atmosphere might become uneasy.”

Seiard stared at him blankly for a moment.

Perhaps interpreting that gaze as reproachful, a hint of tension appeared on his freckled face.

“Ah, of course, before I left, I thoroughly checked Emil’s personal space. There were no problematic items. I can assure you of that.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Seiard shook his head and leaned back comfortably in his chair.

“I want to ask what you want to do. Do you want to return to the monastery?”

“Pardon?”

“This is a question from a long-term perspective. Now that we’ve resolved the last remaining issue, your mission can be said to be over. Despite that, do you want to return to the monastery and continue living as a monk?”

“Of course, if I could, I would naturally come up to the capital and serve by your side, Lord Seiard-”

“Are you sincere?”

When he uncharacteristically interrupted his words, Vicius hesitated with a bewildered expression.

“Well, that is…”

“I read the letters you sent every month well. They were very helpful, with detailed accounts of that person’s recent activities and life at the monastery.”

It was thanks to Vicius that he was able to impersonate his brother quite convincingly.

Even the abbot showed no suspicion after exchanging letters several times.

Of course, he didn’t visit Pavella Monastery in person, as face-to-face meetings would have been dangerous.

“But while reading those letters, I somehow got the impression that you quite enjoyed life at the monastery. Am I mistaken?”

Vicius remained silent with his head bowed for a while, then soon revealed his true feelings.

“Your words are correct, Lord Seiard. To be honest, I’ve grown quite accustomed to that place, and over these few years, I’ve become attached to the other monks…”

Isn’t it surprising? A man with such a faint sense of morality that he doesn’t hesitate to take human life, living a deeply faithful life.

Indeed, humans were strange beings that continued to show new facets while seeming predictable as if in the palm of one’s hand.

Well, needless to say, the most interesting person to him was now lying in his bedroom.

Anyway, this settled the answer to the immediate question.

“Very well. Then it’s decided. Vicius, you will continue to live as a monk from now on.”

“B-but then I won’t be able to be of much help to you anymore, Lord Seiard!”

“You have already done more than enough great things for me. Now I’d like you to fully enjoy your own life.”

“I’m truly grateful that you say that, but…”

Seeing that Vicius was unlikely to accept it easily, Seiard made one suggestion.

“Then how about this? We’ll decide after my wedding is over.”

“The wedding?”

“Yes, stay here until then and take your time to think about how you want to live from now on.”

Vicius showed signs of hesitation for a moment, but soon nodded slightly.

“Yes, I’ll do that. To think you would consider me to this extent… Thank you, Lord Seiard.”

“It’s nothing. This much is only natural between us.”

Seiard smiled gently and patted the other’s shoulder.

Kisa’s eyes snapped open at the bright sunlight entering between her eyelids.

Lily exclaimed, “Oh my,” as she saw Kisa hastily rise from the bed.

“You’re awake. You were sleeping so soundly that we didn’t wake you until this hour. Was that the wrong thing to do?”

At those words, Kisa looked out the window to see the sun high in the sky.

“…”

Kisa carefully traced her memories.

The series of events from last night quickly flashed through her mind.

She had opened the secret room and regained her memories.

And then Seiard had suddenly appeared… No, he wasn’t Seiard.

The memory was so unbelievable that for a moment she wondered if she had dreamed it, but it was undoubtedly reality.

‘Why am I here?’

According to her last clear memory, she had been talking with him in the Duke’s office.

So why did she wake up back in her own bedroom?

Kisa tried to recall more of last night’s memories for a moment, then suddenly turned to Lily and asked.

“Where is Seiard, no, the Duke?”

“Huh? How did you know the Duke returned in the middle of the night?”

“Never mind that, just tell me where the Duke is!”

The answer came from the doorway.

“I’m right here.”

The red-haired man in casual attire opened the door and entered the room.

“I’ve missed you so much, Kisa.”

He spoke as if they hadn’t seen each other in days, with a nonchalant air.

Kisa looked at the man with wary eyes before opening her mouth.

“Did you drug me?”

Seiard’s steps came to an abrupt halt.