A hint of doubt appeared in Lilien’s eyes.

Understandable. How many people would believe a stranger suddenly appearing and claiming their lover was married?

“Well, I…”

I hesitated for a moment. Revealing my identity would perplex the other party.

They might become frightened, thinking I came to grab them by the hair.

But there was no reason to hide it anymore.

‘They’ll find out eventually at social events anyway.’

I opened my mouth after a deliberate pause to avoid shocking the other person.

“Your lover is Count Devon Vuel, and I am his wife.”

“…Count? He told me he was a commoner.”

“He lied to you.”

Lilien’s chestnut eyes trembled slightly in confusion.

“W-wait, I don’t understand… Are you saying… you’re Countess Vuel?”

Bingo. I smiled gently.

Eek! Lilien panicked and floundered. Finally, she acted to protect her head with both hands.

It was a reasonable suspicion that I might have come to grab her hair.

I chuckled at the sight of the trembling Lilien.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t come to harm you.”

Would I risk getting my own head pulled off by your brother while trying to pull your hair? I thought inwardly as I approached Lilien and took her hands in mine.

“Lady Lilien, I came to see you because I was worried about you.”

“W-worried?”

Lilien looked up at me with a mixture of wariness, her eyelids fluttering. Seeing her innocent, kind face, I hardened my expression and spoke seriously.

“Don’t associate with such a man anymore. You’re too precious for that.”

Lilien’s eyes slowly widened as she looked up at me. Her face showed surprise as if hearing something for the first time in her life.

“I’m… precious?”

“Of course.”

What an obvious thing to say.

I smiled brightly and patted the back of her hand to reassure her, with a touch of apology and sympathy for almost causing her death.

“So don’t meet with such a man, okay?”

Lilien nodded blankly, as if entranced by a new religion.

‘Thank goodness. She’s a gentle soul.’

It could have been troublesome if she shamelessly claimed to be the victim and demanded compensation, or clung to Devon saying she loved him.

I let go of her hand with relief. I felt it was time to leave.

As we were both victims, this much apology and comfort for almost killing her was sufficient.

It would be terrible if I stayed with her too long and caught the eye of our dear brother who adores his sister, leading to another death flag.

“Well then, I wish you good fortune, Lady Lilien.”

It was then that Lilien grabbed my sleeve in shock.

“W-wait, Countess!”

“What is it?”

I turned to her indifferently, blinking.

“C-Countess, please give me a chance to properly apologize. I’ll invite you to the mansion later for tea—”

“Wouldn’t it be strange for us to sit side by side drinking tea? This situation isn’t exactly a pleasant memory.”

“That’s true, but… could you give me a chance to explain? I just happened to run into him on the road while traveling. He followed me to my lodgings, pestered me, and forced a letter into my hands, so I had no choice but to read it…”

Yes, yes. You’re not at fault. Devon was persistent. I was nodding along to the expected content when suddenly—

A cheerful laugh echoed from the alley. Lilien’s eyes lit up.

“Ah, those are my friends.”

Friends? Lilien had friends? I rolled my eyes. I don’t recall any friends attending her funeral in the original story.

Meanwhile, Lilien continued with a shy smile.

“I met them recently at a confectionery class. They must have come looking for me since I’m late—”

“Lilien, it always takes you half a day to run an errand. Are you slow in the head or something?”

A high, thin female voice rang out in the quiet alley.

Lilien’s shoulders flinched.

I glanced at the box fallen at the alley entrance. Hmm, so she was running an errand. The women’s gossip continued.

“I know, right? And that hair is so ridiculous.”

“We thought she was a noble lady, but she’s nothing special.”

“That’s all past glory. She’s so clueless. Last time I said, ‘You’re still like a young girl, Lady Lilien,’ and she just smiled without understanding. And why is she baking these things when she’s barely learned how?”

Thud—. The thrown dessert box bounced on the ground and flew nearby.

Lowering my gaze, I saw her bitten lips through the silver hair cascading over her shoulders. She must be furious with betrayal. She might want to bite her tongue rather than her lips from shame.

But she was holding it in, unable to express her indignation in front of me, of all people, who had caused her trouble.

Seeing her holding back tears until blood formed on her lips, I couldn’t help but soften.

I sighed and squeezed the hand of Lilien, who was still clutching my sleeve tightly.

“My lady. Do you know what kind of person people fear the most?”

Lilien, who had slightly raised her head, shook it quickly. The tearfulness had disappeared.

“A crazy person.”

“…”

“So next time someone treats you as insignificant, pretend to be crazy and bite them. Those round eyes of yours turning red would be pretty like a rabbit’s, but it’s a waste to cry over such people.”

I smiled as I pressed her eyes with my cool hand to soothe them. Fortunately, the murderous intent seemed to have disappeared as she nodded as if entranced.

I patted her shoulder and walked over to the fallen paper box.

Through the crumpled, open box, I could see madeleines that had spilled out. They smelled quite savory and sweet, as if made with great effort. How could they treat this as trash?

I picked one up and dusted it off.

There’s a three-second rule for food. It seemed more than three seconds had passed, but…

“You said you wanted to serve tea as an apology? Let’s use this instead.”

Without hesitation, I put the madeleine in my mouth. Although I don’t usually prefer dry textures, the heavy lemon flavor wasn’t bad.

After finishing one madeleine, I turned around to see Lilien watching me with her mouth slightly open.

“C-Countess?”

It must have been shocking to see a noble lady eating a fallen madeleine in an alley, with bare hands no less.

I calmly wiped my hands with a handkerchief from my pocket and smiled brightly.

“It’s delicious. I enjoyed it.”

As I put the handkerchief back and turned to leave, I suddenly realized something and turned halfway back.

I patted Lilien’s head, who was standing rooted to the spot, and said,

“Oh, and I think the hairstyle suits you well, Lady Lilien. There’s no need to change yourself or give up what you like because of people like that. Understand?”

Lilien opened her mouth blankly. Seeing her nod belatedly, I smiled with satisfaction and turned away.

“Well then, goodbye.”

And so I headed towards the end of the alley with a light expression.

* * *

Left alone in the alley, Lilien stared at the departing Etricia as if entranced, her eyes wide open and unblinking.

After a moment, her face emerged from its dreamlike state, and she approached the box fallen on the ground.

The paper box, discarded and unsightly, looked as miserable and pitiful as her own situation.

Baking, which she had started learning as a hobby to socialize, was also an effort to overcome loneliness. And she thought that effort was quite useless.

Until Etricia ate it.

She should have been resentful. It should have been more awkward than with anyone else.

“Countess Vuel…”

As she stared blankly at the box and murmured, her cheeks slowly flushed.

Later, after picking up the fallen box and returning to the mansion, Lilien discovered Devon’s letter on the table and growled. Her dazed mind filled with anger again.

“You jerk! You scoundrel!”

Even after hurling every insult she knew, her anger wasn’t quelled, so she tore the paper to shreds.

To pretend to be single when he was married, and to try to seduce someone who refused him! And to do so when he had such a wonderful person!

Even after stomping on it, her anger wasn’t appeased, and her eyes welled up with tears as she thought of Etricia.

If she felt this angry, how hurt must Etricia have been? If she felt this bitter betrayal burning inside her, how must Etricia feel?

“And yet she…”

‘I came to see you because I was worried about you.’

‘Don’t associate with such a man anymore. You’re too precious for that.’

Despite the situation that could have wounded her pride as a woman, she remained elegant and thoughtful until the end.

Lilien collapsed onto the bed, sobbing and burying her face in the pillow.

‘I shouldn’t have let the Countess leave like that…’

While feeling like she might go crazy with guilt, a tidal wave of admiration for Etricia washed over her.

Lilien wanted to meet her again.

She wanted to see her again—the one who, despite her noble demeanor, showed kindness to the weak. Her strong, blue eyes. Her red hair that blazed as if it would never be extinguished by any storm.

But seeking her out to satisfy her own selfish desires would be too cruel to Etricia.

For a moment. Lilien bit her lip firmly. In the end, selfishness overcame conscience.

‘…Just once more… If I visit just once more and she sends me away, then I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing alone.’

Having made her decision, Lilien’s eyes widened as she sprang up.

“Come to think of it, didn’t the head maid say her acquaintance recently got a job at the Vuel mansion?”

She quickly left the bedroom and ran down to the second-floor hall, calling for the head maid.