“What?”

“No, you’re a thief. Everything you have, you stole from me.”

“What nonsense!”

I approached Devon closely and glared at him.

“Manipulating the will, you think I wouldn’t know?”

At my words, suppressing anger, Devon’s face turned pale. The fierce look in his eyes suddenly softened.

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“No need to pretend, soon the whole empire will know.”

“You, that…!”

“How did I find out, you ask? It’s strange, isn’t it? Father, who was holding my hand tightly until the day before he passed away, worrying about my marriage to you, left his fortune to you instead of me.”

“Ugh… Don’t tell me, the one who kept the will-.”

“Yes, that’s right. If all the facts come to light like this, you’re finished. I’m the only one who can save you.”

I curled my lips into a sneer, my lips trembling slightly.

“So, sign the divorce papers quietly and bring them. Then I won’t send you to prison.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I definitely took care of the will! You think I don’t know when you’re bluffing? Even if it’s true, I can’t divorce! I won’t! If I lose the title and property to you, I’ll be left with nothing, I should at least get a property division!”

Well, there’s nothing for you, I tell you. Rain Burton is smoothly bribing the officials to investigate your tax evasion.

As I crossed my arms without showing any sign of wavering, Devon moistened his lips with his tongue and spoke anxiously.

“If, if not that, then at least a lawsuit for alimony-”

“How stupid.”

In the empire, the guilty spouse couldn’t claim alimony. That was the law.

“If anyone’s going to claim alimony, it should be me, not you. Still don’t understand the situation?”

At my words, accompanied by a snort, Devon’s face turned red with anger as he approached.

“You…!”

I sneered as I saw Devon’s clenched fist trembling.

“What, are you going to hit me? How alike you cheaters are in your repertoire, so pathetic.”

For a moment, Devon’s face contorted in anger as his eyes grew dark.

Slap-!

Devon’s hand flew to my face in an instant, turning my head.

Regaining my balance from the physical impact, I dazedly held my cheek.

‘He really hit me? Me?’

It’s strange how feelings can develop even through unpleasant interactions.

Even though I knew Devon was trash beyond common sense, perhaps I had developed some twisted affection, as I inwardly assumed he wouldn’t lay a hand on me.

That it was truly a rock-bottom act. That even that trash would feel somewhat sorry deep down. To think this was the result of such thoughts.

Tears welled up. My head was burning with indignation to the point of nausea.

I glared at Devon with blurred vision, my head turned.

‘This bastard…’

He bared his teeth, his raised lips trembling.

Just as the highly agitated Devon was about to raise his hand again.

Thud-!

Suddenly, Devon was sent flying by someone who appeared, opening the drawing room door.

Devon, who fell along with the table, choked on the spilled cold tea and couldn’t regain his senses.

“Wh-who…!”

Devon, brushing back his wet hair and squinting, turned pale upon recognizing the other person.

The sudden intruder stood in front of me as if to protect me.

I knew who it was. Before starting the conversation with Devon, I had given Rail permission to barge in without hesitation if voices were raised.

Haa, as I took a breath and raised my head to thank him, I gaped in surprise.

The contours of angry back muscles were visible under the white shirt.

Silver hair tied back and a prominent masculine jaw.

“Count?”

Why are you…

Edmond coldly stared at Devon, surrounded by a quiet chill.

Trash, he muttered lowly, then suddenly turned his head and widened his eyes.

It was because our gazes met as I looked up at him with teary eyes, still holding my cheek.

As I hurriedly averted my gaze in embarrassment, a clear tear fell as if on cue.

Devon got up staggering and shook his shoulders and head, wet with tea. Only then did Edmond take his eyes off me, his face fiercer than before.

“What’s all this commotion in a mansion without its owner?”

“Kuk, of course I came to find my wife. You’re the rash one, Count. Bringing a married woman into your mansion, and without her husband’s permission at that!”

“What does your permission have to do with Countess Vuel’s decision made through our discussion?”

“I’m her husband, aren’t I! If you want to keep that woman here, at least…! Aha.”

Devon grinned unpleasantly and pointed crudely back and forth between Edmond and me.

“I see now! That’s how it is! You two are in that kind of relationship!”

Edmond looked back at Rail, who was standing at the entrance of the drawing room, as if there was no value in listening further.

“Rail, see this person out.”

“Ha, feeling awkward now that the truth is out? What did you two do in this mansion while I was away, huh?”

That’s when it happened. A vicious vein popped on Edmond’s forehead as he grabbed Devon’s collar with one hand.

“C-Count?”

I hurriedly followed them as they disappeared out the door.

“Let go, I said let go!”

Devon resisted, gasping for air, but with each twitch of Edmond’s arm muscles, he was dragged like a paper doll.

At a glance, Edmond had thick veins popping on his forehead, exuding a ferocious atmosphere, so no one dared to stop them as we followed.

Devon, who had been dragged disgracefully, was thrown down.

Rolling down the steps at the entrance of the mansion, Devon shouted with a flushed face while lying face down.

“Y-you! Count Mifidian! Just because the world hails you as a hero, you look down on the Vuel family. You have no right to-”

For a moment, as Devon looked up at the top of the stairs, his face turned deathly pale as if he had encountered a huge monster.

It was so intimidating that even I, standing behind Edmond and unable to see his expression, felt overwhelmed.

“I, I mean-”

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Edmond calmly turned to Rail and said,

“Rail, judging by this person’s claims, it seems I’ve made a big mistake.”

At that moment, Devon’s face brightened considerably.

“Yes, now you’re finally talking sen-”

“If he catches a cold in wet clothes, it won’t be proper. Have him stripped of all clothes before sending him out.”

“Yes, understood.”

Rail, who had been standing by, smiled with satisfaction and signaled to the servants.

Devon was dragged away in an instant, his arms bound, without a chance to resist.

“W-wait…! What kind of nonsense is this! My lady…! My lady, say something! My lady!”

Hmph, who’s your lady, how unpleasant.

I snorted at Devon, then raised my head as I felt an intense gaze.

Soon after, I met Edmond’s eyes as he looked down at me, and I realized my mistake.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble. I didn’t think that person would come here-”

“Are you alright?”

At his unexpectedly warm voice, I blinked in a daze. Though his expression was blank, the previously sharp and intimidating aura had softened somewhat.

I never thought that Edmond’s first words would be to check on me.

‘Despite his dislike for me, perhaps he felt a bit of sympathy because of this incident.’

So that’s why he momentarily showed the gentle attitude he usually reserves for Lilien.

‘Come to think of it, I showed my crying face to this person.’

Over someone like Devon, no less. Feeling ashamed, I lowered my eyes and answered.

“I’m fine.”

Despite my answer, Edmond, who was intently observing my cheek, ordered a servant to bring an ice pack.

I glanced at Edmond like that, and our eyes met.

“How about cooling off in the garden for a moment?”

As I cooled my heated cheek with the back of my hand, I nodded reflexively. Somehow, his back, which had always seemed cold, now felt reassuring.

Edmond, having received the ice pack from the servant, headed to the garden.

Crossing the garden trees, he found Etricia lost in thought in front of a bright flower bed. Unlike her usual sly demeanor, her empty eyes seemed to rest nowhere.

Edmond recalled the previous situation.

After receiving Rail’s report, he belatedly arrived at the drawing room where he heard the sound of friction. Bursting inside, he found Etricia frozen in shock, holding her cheek.

After subduing Devon, who was about to raise his hand again, he turned to look at her.

When their eyes met, she trembled her peridot-colored eyes, then turned her head away, biting her lips as if ashamed.

Eventually, she let a transparent tear fall.

Neither the intelligent light in her eyes nor the playfully teasing lips could be found.

The image so contrary to the Etricia he knew was shockingly like a completely different person.

After requesting a conversation with Etricia, Rail had informed him of the additional investigation.

‘The Countess Vuel’s statement at the restaurant last time was true. Unlike her outward appearance, she seems to have been quite exhausted by the harsh treatment from Lady Dien. However, regarding Count Vuel…’

After dismissing Rail with his ambiguous smile, Edmond’s steps toward the garden became strangely heavy.

Just as Edmond was gripping the ice pack tightly,

“You’re here?”

Etricia approached, erasing her dazed expression. Though he noticed her trembling lips, Edmond pretended not to see and handed her the ice pack.

“Please put this on your cheek.”