“You, so to the Mifidian family…!”

Devon turned to me with an enraged face. Well, it unintentionally turned out that way.

“I’m certain that Duke Edmond Mifidian will kill you. He dearly cherishes his sister.”

Gulp, Devon’s Adam’s apple moved at my coldly calculated words. It was evident from my expressionless eyes that I was stating a fact, not a joke or a threat.

I smiled, wrinkling my nose, and pushed Devon’s chest.

“So if you don’t want to be exposed and killed, stop making useless threats and behave.”

Devon glared at me, then irritably reached into his jingling coat. His face paled when he saw the frantically ringing communication device in his hand.

That’s right. By now, his personal safe hidden in the office would be thoroughly searched by imperial investigators due to a tip-off about tax evasion.

I blinked innocently and asked.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem at the office?”

At the mention of ‘office’, Devon’s eyes widened. His suspicious look wondering how I knew changed to a fierce gaze, certain that I was the informant.

“You… You reported…”

Yes, that’s right. I smiled, narrowing my eyes. Devon gritted his teeth and glared at me.

‘Nice timing, Rain Burton.’

I inwardly rejoiced and smiled, wrinkling my nose.

“What are you going to do if I really sell off the mine, huh?”

I sneered at Devon’s growling words.

“Well, what can you do? All assets will be frozen.”

“T-Then the sponsorship-”

“Don’t worry, I plan to pay double later. More importantly, shouldn’t you be worried about yourself? Your office safe will soon be emptied, are you alright?”

I tilted my head as if telling him to hurry and go. Devon flared his nostrils, exhaling hot breath, and gritted his teeth as he brushed past me.

“We’ll see about that.”

Sure, sure, I waved my hand leisurely and smiled. Despite his bravado, the sound of someone running away in a hurry echoed.

I casually looked around the banquet hall, lest anyone see, and passed through the corridor. Only when I came out to a nearby arched terrace did I laugh carefreely.

The early summer night breeze on the terrace was full of the fresh scent of the season.

I took a deep breath of the refreshing night air, my chest heaving.

Mmm, clean and cool air without a trace of the Dien family’s hair! Ah, exhilarating! Refreshing, thrilling, the best!

Once I get the certificate confirming the authenticity of the will, I’ll persuade him right away for a consensual divorce and throw him in jail, then happy solo ending! I started humming at the smooth plan.

It was when I was smiling carefreely, resting my arms on the terrace and surveying the garden.

“Lady Etricia. Lady Etricia…!”

Lilien’s voice was heard from somewhere.

‘Hm? Am I hearing things?’

Huff, huff, then the sound of someone panting clearly came from the end of the corridor. I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was seeing things as a figure became clear through the dim darkness.

“Lady Lilien?”

Haa. Haa. Lilien, who had reached nearby, bent over with her hand on her chest, catching her breath. I was puzzled. Why is Lilien here when she should be surrounded by people?

Seeing my puzzled face, she quickly resolved my question.

“I heard from people. That you had an argument with the Viscountess Dien, and that woman tried to throw a punch? Are you alright?”

Lilien said, looking into my eyes as she stood up straight, catching her short breath. I froze with wide eyes at the unexpected statement.

“Did you come because of that?”

Lilien brushed her sweat-soaked hair with the back of her hand, her face flushed.

“Others might not, but I know the situation, so I was so worried. I thought you might be alone in a corner because of that…”

“No, that’s… There was such an incident, but it would be contradictory to enjoy the banquet energetically, so I purposely…”

“Pardon? On purpose?”

Ah right, I had asked Edmond to investigate the Viscountess Dien, so he would have foreseen the situation, but Lilien wouldn’t have known.

I wanted her to enjoy the banquet more than anyone, but I ended up being the one to interrupt her good time.

I smiled ambiguously and took out a handkerchief, but remembering I had touched Devon’s chin with that hand, I threw it away. Unpleasant. Instead, I wiped Lilien’s sweat with my sleeve.

She was worried enough about me to run here like this. I see, so there’s someone like that for me even after Count Vuel left.

Realizing this fact, I felt a strange sensation as if popcorn flowers were blooming in the center of my chest. The inside of my chest felt itchy, and I just wanted to scratch it. Like how it itches when new skin grows over a wound.

Feeling somehow shy, I kept fixing Lilien’s bangs.

Then Lilien rolled her round chestnut eyes, looking at me.

“I’m sorry, you introduced me to good people, but I ran out like this…”

“It’s alright, the banquet will continue until dawn. I’m fine, so go back and enjoy the party.”

From now on, you’ll mingle with many people while exerting influence in high society with a changed status.

Lilien pouted her lips like a duck and averted her gaze. She seemed reluctant.

“What’s wrong, did something happen?”

“B-But I still find it more enjoyable to be with you, Lady Etricia…”

I opened my eyes wide at the unexpected answer, then smiled gently, feeling content.

“Hmm, then shall we enjoy the breeze on the terrace together? To sober up as well.”

“I didn’t drink, how much did you drink, Lady Etricia?”

“A little wine. It’s sweet and delicious.”

“Even that was bitter to me…”

“Hmm, then it might be okay if you eat it with cheese or crackers. Shall we try it together tomorrow evening?”

“Sounds good!”

Lilien followed closely behind me as we walked and talked. She was just like a puppy that couldn’t leave its owner’s side, which naturally made me laugh.

I decided to enjoy the outside air with her a bit longer, since if we went in, there’d probably only be drunkards to talk to like before.

I was leisurely looking around the garden with Lilien.

The voices of nobles passing through the corridor echoed faintly. The gradually approaching voices became clearer.

“It was amusing to see Baron Dampft, who runs a merchant guild, clinging like a cicada to Duke Mifidian, trying to get some investment. Well, I can’t say I don’t understand.”

“That’s right. There will be new winds blowing in the duchy as well.”

“Hah! More like bloody winds.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Tsk tsk, you’re so clueless. Don’t you know that the collateral branch that had seized real power in the duchy has all been driven out? They had slandered Duke Mifidian, who was in shock after losing his parents, as mentally deranged to prevent his investiture, didn’t they? Currently, their whereabouts are all unknown, so everyone’s keeping quiet about it.”

“You don’t mean… they were killed?”

“That could be the case. Honestly, who would have known he’d come back alive and succeed back then. Everyone thought he’d be torn apart by magical beasts.”

“Now that you mention it, I had forgotten about that incident. He testified that the magical beast turned into a human, didn’t he? Was it the confusion of a child who witnessed his parents’ death before his eyes?”

“How would we know? At least we won’t hear the wailing of the people from the duchy anymore.”

“That’s fortunate.”

After that, their insignificant chatter about going back to the mansion for another drink faded away.

I frowned.

‘Slandering young Edmond as mentally deranged? Testifying that a magical beast turned into a human? The confusion of a child who witnessed his parents’ death?’

In the original story, there was only a brief mention of Edmond’s past – that he lost his qualification for investiture due to the collateral branch’s scheme and left for the forest to reclaim it, then returned.

Moreover, until I met Devon, I had been under Count Vuel’s protection and thought the world was as beautiful as flowers, and everyone was as embracing as fields. There was no way the ripples of the past could have reached the young me.

Ah, I sighed softly. At this moment, I understood it all. Why young Edmond had to leave the system for 9 years.

I knew Edmond’s life wasn’t smooth… but hearing it now made me uncomfortable. I kept thinking of the precocious boy being led around by his sister’s hand.

While I was lost in thought, Lilien, who had been quiet, whimpered as if holding back tears.

“I hate those people.”

“You mean the collateral branch?”

Lilien nodded and buried her face in my chest. I was a bit flustered but patted her back.

“But I hate that magical beast that killed his parents even more. I would understand if Edmond took revenge. Am I bad for thinking this?”

“Lilien, how would you feel if I killed Devon?”

“K-Kill him? Are you going to?”

Lilien lifted her head abruptly, her pupils trembling. When I nodded, she fell into thought for a moment, then suddenly widened her eyes.

“I would be your accomplice.”

There was even firm resolve visible in her upright, wide-open eyes.

I buried Lilien’s head in my chest again and said with a low laugh.

“I had forgotten. We’re practically a union of Devon’s victims, aren’t we? It’s regrettable, but I won’t kill Devon. I’m just saying that I understand the two of them more than anyone when it comes to revenge.”

“Lady Etricia…”

Lilien buried her face deeper into my embrace, whimpering. I kept stroking her back, which was heaving with resentment, feeling sorry for her. She sobbed like a child and mumbled.

“Everyone said Edmond was crazy. Even the vassals who believed him at first all turned their backs later.”

“I see.”

“I felt so frustrated and wronged. I should have seen it… if there had been more witnesses, everyone would have believed… I was stupid to testify honestly…”

“Lilien, you did nothing wrong. You can’t give false testimony in court, right?”

“B-But I…”

My chest became hot and damp with Lilien’s tears. Lilien’s hands around my waist were stronger than ever before.

For someone who gets out of breath just running to the terrace, how frustrated and sad must she be to cry while gasping for air… I hugged her tightly and comforted her, as if telling her it’s okay to cry as much as she wants.

Then, as if the emotions she had been barely holding back burst again, Lilien poured out her past sorrows like a floodgate opening. As if she had received complete understanding and comfort for the first time.