“Thank you.”

Etricia pressed it against her cheek without resistance, then startled and removed it.

“It’s colder than I thought.”

Etricia smiled awkwardly and just held the ice pack tightly. Edmond, whose gaze kept going to her swollen cheek, snatched the ice pack back.

“It’ll be useless if it melts.”

Edmond gently lifted her chin and applied the pack himself.

Ah. Etricia groaned and flinched at the sudden coldness. Feeling like he was tormenting her, his bold touch became more careful.

These were things he didn’t mind when with the knights. He now somewhat understood the reason for his sister’s threats to be gentlemanly and Rail’s narrowed gaze.

His downcast eyes scrutinized Etricia.

Seeing her slender neckline contrary to a man’s, round shoulders, and a figure that could fall from a gust of wind despite being voluptuous, it was strange she hadn’t fainted from Devon’s assault.

‘A woman who startles even from just applying ice…. I let that trash off too easily.’

Etricia smiled sheepishly, somehow interpreting Edmond’s reaction of clicking his tongue.

“You were surprised, weren’t you?”

“You don’t need to worry about it.”

“But you’re concerned. I can see it in your eyes.”

Etricia smiled gently and lowered her gaze.

“If you’re curious about anything, you can ask. I’ll tell you everything like last time.”

It was an easy opportunity to broach the subject. In fact, Edmond had intended to ask directly.

Given her confession of suffering from her father-in-law’s tyranny, the assassination attempt was closer to being an impulsive and sequential incident caused by a victim of domestic violence.

The thought that his sister could have been a victim of that sequential incident made him uncomfortable. But when faced with the situation, Edmond couldn’t say anything.

What could he say? Ask if she had been exposed to domestic violence? If that trash had hit her? If that’s why she had been hiding for the past 4 years? What if he hurt her like last time?

Edmond furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh.

It was frustrating. Why was he concerned about Etricia’s feelings? Since when had he become so compassionate?

“Lord Count?”

Awakening from his reverie at her voice, he slowly blinked his eyes and carefully reapplied the ice pack that had moved away from her cheek.

“I’m not curious about anything.”

“Really? If you wish, I could leave the mansion.”

Edmond removed the ice pack slightly with a displeased expression.

“Do you think Count Devon would leave you alone if you left the mansion?”

“Well, since he requested verification of the will’s authenticity, he might hire thugs to kidnap me.”

Edmond twitched his eyebrow and bit his lip. He knew from secretly reading the exchanged letters, but he didn’t expect her to reveal it directly.

“Why are you telling me such important matters?”

“Because you’re the Count, I’m telling you specially. You dragged Devon out by the scruff of his neck. Plus, you’re going to help with Mrs. Wickley’s matter, right? We’re in the same boat at this point.”

Just for that? Isn’t she too lacking in wariness? Knowing that he views her unfavorably, why show such an important card? What does she expect him to do with it?

Usually sharp, but sometimes completely clueless.

While Edmond was thinking this, Etricia smiled brightly and snatched the ice pack.

“And since Lady Lilien might worry if she knew, how about we keep it a secret and silence the household members?”

Edmond scratched his forehead with his index finger, seemingly troubled. He was reminded of the three-hour-long lament he had to listen to when Berita visited briefly.

Not wanting to hear that again, he pondered before lowering his hand and nodding.

“I’ll do that.”

“That’s a relief.”

Only then did Etricia smile with relief and let out a small sigh.

Edmond silently gazed at her.

This small incident hadn’t lowered his guard. She was still someone who had tried to harm his sister and an outsider with unknown intentions.

But because the dual perception that Etricia was also someone’s victim and a vulnerable person had formed, his feelings of displeasure towards her… became a little uncomfortable.

He lightly rubbed his chest area, as if a lead weight had been placed on a corner of his heart.

Devon, who arrived at Viscount Dien’s residence panting, barely covered by a blanket over his half-naked body, immediately sought out Antra.

“Devon, goodness, what’s with that appearance!”

Antra, who was leisurely getting her nails done, dismissed her attendant.

“That Mifidian Count, he…!”

“What?”

Antra, who had been shocked, rubbed her son’s back, which was heaving with rough breaths, with a face of determination.

“Devon, don’t engage in useless attrition, just get divorced! I’m sick and tired of it too. Just thinking about being humiliated at the dress shop because of that woman…!”

Devon frowned deeply and glared.

“Divorce? Are you in your right mind? I’m about to hand over all the assets!”

“What? What are you talking about? Hand over the assets?”

“That woman knows about the fact that we manipulated the will!”

“What?”

Devon ignored Antra, who was greatly alarmed, and sat down heavily on the sofa, nervously ruffling his hair.

‘How on earth did she find out? I thoroughly cleaned up by burning the will…’

Damn it, damn it! Devon roughly rubbed his face.

If it’s true that the will still exists, everything will go according to Etricia’s wishes. If the authenticity verification is already in progress at the Magic Tower, there’s nothing that can be done.

‘But do you think she’ll agree to divorce so easily?’

Devon, who twitched the corner of his mouth fiercely, stared at Antra.

“I have a good idea.”

“What is it! Tell me!”

Devon smiled and whispered in Antra’s ear.

It was a way to kill two birds with one stone, even getting back at the Mifidian Count who had dared to insult him.

Moving away from Antra’s ear, Devon rubbed his lips with his fingertips, his eyes gleaming maliciously.

The next day, the imperial daily newspaper reported that Devon had been chased out of the Mifidian Count’s family, stripped naked.

And that article lent strength to the article I had published about the domestic discord and divorce at the Vuel Count’s residence.

‘Hah, serves him right.’

Reading the newspaper to the music of the rattling carriage, I smiled contentedly.

Putting down the newspaper, I picked up the letter on the table. It was a letter from the mining industry executives and my uncle inquiring about the truth of the divorce article.

Yes, of course, certainly. Answering like a yes-man, I wrote replies to send them on the makeshift table. Those dissatisfied with Devon’s management style would take my side.

I especially took care in writing to the legal advisor of the Vuel family, who would have had the most secret exchanges with Devon.

They would already have many complaints about Devon’s tyranny, his handling of aftermath, and lack of management skills.

Finally, I arranged the completed letters next to the newspaper in the adjacent seat and massaged my nape.

“Ugh.”

From the long journey, every part of my body ached – my neck, hips, and back.

Currently, I was heading to the duke’s territory at Edmond’s invitation.

Even after riding in the carriage for a long time and using a portal, it still took three to four hours.

As I was massaging my nape, I suddenly recalled the events of a few days ago.

After Devon came and caused a commotion before leaving, I naturally thought I would be thrown out. He might come back and do something, and Edmond wouldn’t keep a dangerous person near his sister.

Thinking it was the right time, I was ready to be comfortably expelled, but… Edmond didn’t ask anything and still told me to stay at the mansion.

He briefly showed some uncomfortable emotions, but it wasn’t negative feelings towards me.

So I changed direction and showed my cards, demonstrating that I completely trusted Edmond. They say even a rock will split if you hit it ten times, don’t they?

Perhaps because of that, although he still keeps up a wall, the sharp wariness and tense atmosphere have decreased.

It’s like a cat that used to glare like a beast no longer hisses even when you approach.

‘I hope we can become a little closer because of today.’

Suddenly, the curtain fluttered in the breeze, bringing in the scent of vegetation.

When I drew back the curtain, a green vineyard bathed in dazzling sunlight spread out before me. It was a natural landscape that drew out exclamations.

The empire’s wine wasn’t famous. Compared to countries with vast vineyards, the empire was relatively poor.

But if you were to pick the most beloved production site among wine enthusiasts, it would be the vineyards of the Mifidian duchy. It was so precious that tasting wine made from those grapes before death was the secret wish of many.

Decades ago, imperial researchers improved the breed, resulting in luscious light pink grapes that bore fruit all year round.

However, as they would rot within hours after harvesting, only a small privileged class could consume them.

And beyond those vineyards, Viscountess Wickley was recuperating in a small villa.

Looking forward to the approaching time, I drew back the curtain and peered outside. Soon after, the carriage stopped in front of the villa.

Edmond, who had been standing in front of the villa, approached and offered his hand.

“It’s very nice to see you in a different place. Standing in the duke’s territory, do you feel a sense of majesty?”

“Stop talking nonsense and grab on.”

How prickly. I chuckled at his answer, seemingly back to how he was before. But the cold, wary gaze from before seemed to have faded.

Edmond, who usually preferred casual attire, was dressed impeccably today.

His silver hair fluttered in the wind like a woman’s heart, and beyond that, his calm eyes were incomparably deep – how could one not be moved?

Add to that his knight-like approach with an outstretched hand, and he couldn’t help but shine.