Lilien and I looked around the greenhouse and then headed to her favorite garden.

Lilien smiled shyly and linked arms with me. Her hidden smile, which evoked fresh and fluffy emotions, made me pat the back of her hand before hesitantly opening my mouth.

“Lilien, you said before that you wanted to help with my divorce, right?”

“Of course, is there anything I can do to help? I’d be happy to do anything if it helps Lady Etricia.”

Lilien asked with sparkling eyes. Her eyes were so innocent.

The plan to socially ruin Antra at this upcoming banquet, where all the empire’s upper class would gather, was going relatively smoothly. But one worry was that Devon would also be attending. If I encountered Devon, we’d both be taken aback, and the nobles wouldn’t miss the subtle air between us.

I wanted Lilien to enjoy the banquet more than anyone else. Being loved in a brilliant and enchanting place.

“Lady Lilien, do you know that you might run into Devon at the banquet?”

Lilien opened her mouth blankly, as if she had completely forgotten about it.

“Oh, that’s right.”

I couldn’t help but laugh lightly at her completely tension-free appearance.

I unlinked our arms and faced Lilien.

“Even if you do run into him, don’t show it and enjoy the banquet. I’ll handle Devon. That day is just for enjoying the banquet.”

“Lady Etricia…”

Lilien looked up at me with moist eyes. As our gazes met, I felt my heart, which had turned dark from facing hypocrites, being purified.

Lilien, who was trembling while holding my hand tightly with her head bowed, suddenly lifted her face. If I hadn’t quickly stepped back, her head would have hit my chin.

“Lady Etricia! I’ve made up my mind.”

“About what?”

I answered unconsciously, rubbing my chin.

“Please become family with me!”

I was startled by the answer that fell like lightning and took my hand off my chin. Family? I knew Lilien had goodwill towards me. But enough to want to make me family…

“What do you mean by family?”

I asked, thinking it couldn’t be. I looked down at Lilien, ready to pat her shoulder and say it was witty if it was a joke.

“With Edmond…”

Unfortunately, Lilien hid her unfinished sentence and twisted her body. It was a point I could understand without her saying it.

No way… Is she asking me to marry Edmond? I looked at her with an astonished face. Seeing her face undaunted by my reaction, I realized she was speaking sincerely.

“Have you perhaps mentioned this to Count Mifidian as well?”

“Of course!”

…An assassin must have been nearby.

Ugh, I groaned and held my forehead. If Edmond knows about this, I now understand why he was acting as if surrounded by sharp thorns. With such rumors going around and his sister even agreeing, how could he not be sensitive?

Divorce in noble society, while legally not an issue, has not yet escaped conservative and narrow-minded views. It means that while it’s not a flaw as a human being, it is a defect as a partner for courtship.

“Lady Lilien, do you know about the scandal that happened recently?”

“Of course, that’s what made me think of this!”

Devon, you bastard. You’re really pushing me to the limit.

I took a deep breath, trying to swallow the bubbling feelings inside. Lilien was in ecstasy, holding her cheeks. She seemed to have already imagined our wedding ceremony and even catching the bouquet in her mind.

Although there’s absolutely no way that would happen.

I smiled, lowering my eyebrows diagonally.

“Lady Lilien, I appreciate that you think well of me, but this is troublesome.”

“Why, why?! My brother is handsome! He’s rich, and he has a broad chest!”

Ch-chest? For a moment, I blinked in confusion.

Even I, who was usually confident in my social skills, couldn’t help but show a defenseless face this time.

‘A broad chest…’

Ah, of course, I’m not denying it.

Edmond’s statuesque physique is indescribably magnificent. Especially the firm chest and the large hands with prominent veins that wrapped around my shoulders when he embraced me in the vineyard last time were quite erotic… No, that’s not it.

I shook my head to erase the impure thoughts that suddenly came to mind.

The innocent Lilien seemed to have interpreted a man’s physique only as far as his chest.

How long has it been since I resolved the scandal, and now a sister appears trying to arrange a marriage between her little brother with impressive specs and a soon-to-be divorcee.

Why would Edmond want to meet me? Moreover, someone who is wary of people and has no interest in dating or marriage. He would only be displeased if forced.

Hoo, I opened my mouth after calming my pounding heart with a deep breath.

“Lady Lilien, if the Count hears what you just said, he’ll be angry. I’m about to divorce, and I’m not suitable for someone as excellent as the Count-”

“What are you saying, Lady Etricia!”

Before I could finish speaking, Lilien jumped up and protested.

“I’m more worried that you might not like Edmond enough!”

“That’s not possible. The Count is a hero commanding the monster subjugation corps, and he’s charming enough to make many women flutter.”

“Then you do like my little brother…!”

“No!”

I shouted in surprise at her reaction, which seemed ready to confirm the marriage immediately. Lilien, who had never heard me raise my voice before, blinked her big eyes with her hands clasped together.

Seeing Lilien, who looked as cute as a doll, I felt sorry for shouting and sighed, patting her head.

“So what I’m saying is that if you try to involve your sister with someone who’s about to divorce, Count Edmond will be displeased.”

“Edmond will be displeased…?”

Lilien frowned and tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand. The sentence seemed to be followed by an unspoken “Who does he think he is…?”

It seems it will be difficult to convince Lilien with my abilities alone. If I bring this up when I’m with Edmond, I might be able to express my intentions clearly or change the topic.

“By the way, Lady Lilien, do you still manage the flower garden these days?”

I changed the subject with a forced smile. Fortunately, Lilien went along with the conversation well.

I sat at an outdoor table until late afternoon, watching Lilien tend to the flower garden. Occasionally, when our eyes met, I would wave at her, observing her tending to the garden with the maids.

As I smiled back at Lilien’s clear laughter that sounded like birds chirping, I felt a sense of discomfort with her, who seemed particularly lively today.

‘Well, it’s a bit unsettling, but nothing will happen…’

Comforting myself like that.

Thud-!

Antra, who had thrown a bundle of newspapers on the table, stomped her foot hysterically in indignation.

“That… that cunning wench…!”

Antra glared at the newspaper with bloodshot eyes, panting, then crumpled it roughly and threw it in the corner. As if that wasn’t enough to vent her anger, she took off the shawl from her shoulders and trampled on it.

Devon, who had been sitting on the bed covering his ears with both hands, raised his head with a disgusted look.

“Stop it already! If anyone should be angry, it’s me. Look at my face!”

Devon pointed at his own face, seething. His eyes were bruised dark purple, and his lips were split with scabs forming.

Hah! Antra crossed her arms in disbelief.

“How dare you talk back! I can’t show my face because of you! Your father says he’ll divorce me if I don’t bring Etricia back, and I can’t even go to gatherings because my face burns with shame!”

“That damned gathering, gathering! What’s so great about wasting time gathering uselessly! If only mother had been a little kinder to Etricia in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened! What did you do to that timid and obedient woman to change her so much!”

“It’s all because of your inadequate womanizing! That’s why you shouldn’t meet cheap girls and create such rumors! Whose fault is it that the viscount family’s reputation has been dragged through the mud!”

The two raised their voices, their faces turning red. As they argued, dredging up past mistakes, they glared at each other, panting from their endless verbal battle.

“Damn it!”

Devon was the first to avert his eyes. Still seething, he ran his thumb over his scabbed lip, his eyes glowing ominously.

Devon knew well the delicate nature of his wife, with whom he had lived intimately for the past few years. She was a timid person who couldn’t bear to cause trouble for others.

He thought she had changed into a completely different person, but to think she would counter scandal with scandal without hesitation.

Damn it, Devon scratched his head in frustration.

According to his investigation through bribing an official at the Magic Tower, her request to verify the will was true. Frightened, he had repeatedly requested to meet Etricia through the Mifidian Count family, but there was no response. Surely Edmond Mifidian was standing like an iron wall in between.

Devon opened his eyes fiercely and stormed out the door, ignoring Antra’s calls.

“Devon!”

As he quickly descended the stairs, he startled upon encountering Berita.

Since his relationship with Etricia was exposed after his return, he had been avoiding meetings. Soon realizing that she was able to enter the mansion because of Antra, Devon looked back at the open door with snake-like eyes.