Eventually, Rail, who followed Edmond into the office, frowned as he took out a vibrating communication device. He glanced sideways at Edmond, who was heading straight for the work desk.

“Tail sent a telegram. He says he has finished everything you instructed, including Devon. However….”

Edmond, seated at the desk, raised one eyebrow and looked up.

Rail swallowed once and then spoke.

“He’s asking how to deal with Lady Etricia. It seems he’s concerned because Miss Lilien was hurt by his slip of the tongue last time.”

As he asked this question, Rail was inwardly tense. At first, he had also sharply watched over Etricia with suspicion.

He had nearly died due to Etricia’s misdeeds, so he couldn’t view her favorably even if he wanted to.

But as he learned of her tragic and extraordinary background, and saw her bravely stand up to her in-laws, his resentment of “How could a human do such a thing?” shifted towards her in-laws.

It wasn’t just him, but the servants felt the same way. On the day Devon trespassed, they wiped tears with handkerchiefs and came to wish for her happiness.

But his master was different.

He was someone who showed no mercy to enemies, or even allies who betrayed his trust. Though he occasionally showed a human side to his own people, it was only temporary. He quickly put up an icy wall bristling with thorns. Enough to make even allies shudder.

Rail discreetly turned his eyes to gauge his expressionless master’s mood.

Though his sharpness had lessened compared to before, and he had shown a subtle attitude just now… still.

As Rail moistened his lips with his tongue, anxious at the lack of response,

“Tell him to withdraw the surveillance and switch to escort duty.”

At the dry voice striking his ears, Rail brightened and gripped the communication device tightly.

“Understood. I’ll do that.”

Soon after, Rail quickly left the office with lighter steps, saying he would relay the telegram. As the door closed, a chill breeze flew in.

Edmond sank into his chair with a languid sigh in the silence that came with the breeze brushing his cheek.

Tap. Tap. Soon lost in thought, he intermittently tapped the table.

Lilien, the victim of the incident, had forgiven Etricia.

It was also proven that she was not a person who would harm his sister or the Mifidian ducal residence.

Then it wouldn’t be strange for him to let down his guard as well. But the problem was that the order was reversed.

Ha, Edmond wore a smile like a slash across his lips.

Compassion, that emotion he harbored, had made him forgive her without realizing it. He even sympathized enough to explain her circumstances to his sister and urge forgiveness.

Edmond rubbed his slightly furrowed brow. Since when? When she was slapped by Devon? Or when his younger self was comforted by her? Or was it the kidnapping?

Looking back, it’s not strange to feel compassion. Anyone who knew her circumstances, no matter how heartless, would have felt sorry for her at least once.

Yes, that’s what it is.

She is now just a pitiful friend of his sister.

Edmond thus rationalized and accepted his actions.

Eventually, he focused on work with a face as if he had never been lost in contemplation.

Though he slightly furrowed his brow now and then, feeling uneasy and unsettled even after organizing his thoughts, he had no intention of dwelling on it further. The confusion was already sorted out.

But strangely, it was difficult to concentrate that day.

It was the day to depart for the summer retreat I had promised Lilien.

Having finished preparations early, I was waiting for Lilien and Edmond in the garden, wearing a parasol. I was excited like a child unable to sleep the night before a picnic.

I turned my head to gaze at the main gate. The servants were moving luggage and bags to the carriage, or checking the horses’ condition, all moving in perfect unison while watching me.

‘Did I come out too early? I feel sorry.’

I smiled bitterly and raised my head.

The lace on the edge of the parasol fluttered.

The blazing sun shining brightly in the blue sky. The freshness of plants and the humid breeze indicated it was early summer.

‘Ah, a perfect day for a summer retreat.’

Even with the sunlight stinging my eyes, I smiled while frowning, feeling good.

The excitement I’m feeling now isn’t just due to anticipation for the trip. It’s because only today, as we leave for the summer retreat, do I truly feel liberated from my in-laws.

Early this morning, Viscount Dien’s petition arrived. Amusingly, the Dien viscounty was in more of a mess than I had expected.

The petition he sent wasn’t about his son Devon. It was a plea to at least keep his position as a local official.

I tore it up after reading halfway. Though he didn’t directly harm me, he had neglected me for the past 4 years for his own benefit.

Above all.

‘He released the creature called Devon into society.’

That’s his biggest crime.

Ah, how satisfying.

Of course, I couldn’t be completely at ease. It’s not like the divorce has been finalized. Divorce applications can be submitted by one party in special circumstances where the spouse is incapacitated or detained, but when I submitted it alone, considering Devon’s situation at the time, I received about a month’s deliberation period.

But I can forget about it for a while and enjoy during the summer retreat, right?

“Lady Etricia!”

At that moment, hearing Lilien’s voice, I smiled brightly and lowered my head. Lilien was running hurriedly, holding onto her wide-brimmed hat.

In an ivory dress embroidered with sunflowers and wearing the wide-brimmed hat, she looked extremely radiant.

‘Ah, how cute.’

Lilien, who had acted angry at me not long ago, had softened after helping with the flower bed management. More than softened, she seemed to follow me around even more like a puppy than before.

While I was thinking this, Lilien ran up in front of me.

“I’m sorry, did you wait? It took a little time packing this and that…”

Lilien spoke in a breathless voice and smiled broadly, lifting her flushed face. Her anticipation for the summer retreat was evident.

“No, I just came out early because I was excited.”

Lilien smiled, closing her shining brown eyes. Beyond her hair fluttering in the breeze, a familiar figure loomed.

Edmond was coming out of the mansion, receiving farewells. He was dressed more casually than usual, befitting someone leaving for a summer retreat.

Surrounded by servants bidding him farewell, he stood out like a tall tree.

He gave some instructions to Rail and approached us.

“Young lady, where should I put this?”

“Oh my, Mari! Not there!”

Naturally, after Lilien disappeared, we stood side by side waiting for preparations to be completed.

Edmond was quietly observing the scene with his hands behind his back. Feeling a bit sheepish for causing an earlier departure than planned, I glanced at him furtively.

“You look very handsome today as well.”

Edmond glanced at me expressionlessly, then looked straight ahead again.

“The Countess seems excited.”

“Oh my, was it that obvious?”

I pretended to be surprised and cupped my cheeks with my hands.

“As you know, I’m about to get divorced. So I guess I’m a little excited.”

I thought it was an appropriate time to express my gratitude.

“Thank you, for everything. If it weren’t for you, younger brother, things would have dragged on.”

I meant it sincerely. Although I stayed at the mansion due to Edmond’s insistence, if it weren’t for him, I would have been in trouble more than once.

“I’d like to repay you somehow, so please let me know if you ever need my help.”

Edmond was also a formidable asset holder, so it didn’t seem appropriate to express my gratitude with material things.

Edmond must have thought it was just a polite remark, as he glanced at me sideways and nodded.

“Do you have any plans for the future?”

Edmond asked casually, as if inquiring about a meal. Since there was nothing to hide, I twirled my parasol and spoke.

“Well, I plan to visit the estate first and entrust the estate management and business control to my uncle.”

Edmond looked down at me with a subtle expression. It meant why not manage it directly.

Indeed, as the head of the family, it was one’s duty to strive for the prosperity of the estate. But the Vuel family estate was like a large Le Bron business enterprise. It would be too much for me, who had never studied professional management, to take full responsibility.

So from the beginning, I intended to entrust the management authority to my uncle. Instead, I planned to focus on the prosperity of the estate and support non-profit organizations through the Le Bron accessory business in the capital.

‘There really is a mountain of work to do after returning from the summer retreat.’

I turned to Edmond with a gentle smile.

“I’m planning to stay in the capital and run a new business. I’m troubled by the pile of work.”

“You look happy for someone in that situation.”

The smile spread across my face dimmed slightly. He had hit the mark precisely.

It was strange. Despite the wall-like pile of daunting tasks, I was elated at the thought of living life. It seems I had a yearning for a passionate life after wasting 4 years.

Thump thump, the fierce pounding in my chest seemed to signal the beginning.

It was then.

“Lady Etricia, Edmond! Come on!”

Lilien waved at us from far away.

“Shall we go then?”

I smiled at Edmond, wrinkling the bridge of my nose, and moved. Somehow, I felt a gaze on the back of my head so intense it almost stung.

This place where the refreshing sound of waves strikes the eardrums is the eastern coastal region of the Empire.

An open sky and emerald sea. With a horizon like a stroke of navy paint drawn horizontally, this beautiful place like an oil painting has a villa of the Mifidian ducal family near the beach.

A pure white cloud pushed by the sea breeze sits astride the fenced cliff, where the hill full of wildflowers and grass was a famous proposal spot.

Though I disliked the salty taste of the sea and hated going in even more, as someone who liked the sea breeze caressing my cheeks and holding sand melting in my hands, it was a satisfactory summer retreat for me.

It wasn’t peak season so there wasn’t a crowd of people, which was perfect for me who hates crowded places, but….

I gazed across with a sour expression.