At that moment, Lilien, who had just lent her ear to the maid’s words, smiled awkwardly. It was probably about me.

I don’t know why the maid lied, but if it wasn’t to deceive Lilien… No, it didn’t matter even if it was her intention. I had enough trust in Lilien to think she must have had a good reason.

I stood quietly in the doorway, staring at them.

The two looked perfect and harmonious, like a masterpiece painting. Normally, I would have gone in without hesitation to take my place beside them, but Lilien’s awkward smile came to mind.

‘Ah.’

I had forgotten because she always treated me kindly and blindly.

Though I follow her around like a duckling seeing her for the first time after hatching, once I fully enter society, that place beside her will be filled with far more people than now.

‘Then she’ll have many friends, so even if I leave…’

A hollow laugh escaped at the sudden thought. I was feeling the same loneliness of an outsider that I had felt throughout my marriage. Despite being afraid that Edmond might kill me just moments ago.

It felt like there was a clear line drawn between the door that I couldn’t cross. Even the closest relationships that seem eternal aren’t forever.

I straightened my back and turned around. Walking down the corridor where pale light spread, I sorted out my confusion.

‘Let’s leave the mansion now.’

Just right, appropriately. This distance from the two of them felt good. I didn’t want to feel this presumptuous sense of alienation or bitter loneliness again.

I didn’t want to harbor suspicious thoughts that Edmond might harm me either. After all, he had shown mercy to me who had attempted to have his sister assassinated.

Let’s leave. As I walked down the corridor with that resolve, it somehow felt long and distant.

The path that felt especially long today, I kept having to swallow hard as my throat kept getting hot.

“I’m planning to leave the mansion now.”

For a moment, the flower petal that brushed Edmond’s hand as he turned to look at me trembled. What visibly wavered wasn’t the leaf, but the hand’s owner.

“What did you just say?”

Edmond’s cold eyes shook roughly with confusion. It was understandable, given that I had suddenly brought this up while we were taking a walk in the garden under the blazing sun.

Lilien wasn’t at breakfast today either. Of course, neither was Edmond. Instead, he appeared after lunch and rarely suggested a walk.

I thought it was a good opportunity to bring up the topic of leaving the mansion.

“Count.”

It was the first time I heard this title from Edmond. The changed form of address doesn’t feel familiar at all.

I laughed with a deflating sound and walked down the path lined with garden trees. He followed me with a hardened face.

“I originally planned to leave after the divorce, remember? I’m greatly indebted to you, younger brother. Thanks to you, I was able to finalize the divorce well too.”

Ignoring the gaze that felt like it was boring into the back of my head, I headed towards the gazebo with an arched roof. It was also where I had once talked with him about Devon.

As I entered the cool gazebo that blocked the sunlight, the heat subsided considerably.

As I was about to sit at the tea table, Edmond quickly noticed and pulled out the chair for me. I nodded to thank him and sat down.

“Please sit down too, younger brother.”

He narrowed his eyes and looked down at me with a piercing gaze. Judging by his eyes, it seemed he wanted me to continue what I was saying.

I gestured to order cold tea from the maid who had been following us from afar.

Then, as I was about to straighten the slightly angled chair towards the tea table, I stopped because of Edmond who approached me.

When I looked up, his shadowed expression was barely visible. However, his cold amber eyes were clear.

“Why?”

“I have some shame too, I can’t keep imposing on you forever.”

“Weren’t you someone who didn’t have such things?”

Oh, this person.

I let out a light laugh and shrugged my shoulders.

“That’s true. It suddenly hit me after the divorce? Maybe it’s because I have a lot of money now?”

Edmond narrowed his eyes and then opened them again, looking displeased at my joke. I thought he would calmly send me off while congratulating me on the divorce, but his reaction was a bit puzzling.

Feeling the surrounding temperature drop at his gaze, I smiled awkwardly.

“Well, I’m financially comfortable now, and the period you suggested has ended, so I’m planning to leave the mansion. Remember when I said I was planning a business? It’s a very innovative business related to Lebron, want to hear about it?”

“It’s possible while staying at the mansion.”

“I’m telling you, I’m uncomfortable imposing on you any further. No matter how comfortable this place is, how can it compare to a place I’ve prepared myself?”

Oh no, my tone came out a bit sharp. Sensing the signs of an argument, I felt on edge.

It wasn’t like I was saying to cut ties forever, just that I wanted to leave the mansion and prepare my own place now that I’ve become the head of the family, but I didn’t expect such an intense reaction.

I smiled, crinkling the corners of my eyes as if to ease the tense atmosphere.

“I’ll visit often. Lilien might feel burdened to stand alone in high society, so she’ll need someone close to gossip with and seek advice from. How about it, isn’t this enough to be in the same−”

“Tell me your real thoughts.”

A cold voice shot and pierced me.

“Don’t try to hide your true feelings behind a smiling face as always.”

“Younger brother, there seems to be some misunderstanding−”

I was startled and hurriedly looked up, only to be taken aback when I met his displeased gaze. Unlike his reproachful tone, there was a gentle breeze in his eyes.

“Are you planning to cry alone again after all this?”

“What do you mean…”

“Is it because of the guild master’s disappearance?”

Huk, for a moment, the breath I inhaled made my solar plexus feel tight. Edmond observed me for a while, then closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

“As I thought.”

Ha, a hollow laugh escaped between my teeth. It was because he had brought up the topic I had been desperately pretending not to know so easily.

“I guess I was still under surveillance.”

As I laughed dejectedly, his hand that was rubbing his forehead trembled slightly. He sounded certain that I knew about the guild master’s disappearance. And there was only one way I could have found out. By having someone tail me.

“Let’s call it protection, not surveillance.”

When Edmond removed his hand from his forehead and met my eyes, discomfort and apology briefly flashed across them.

So he knew about the assassination attempt from the beginning after all.

It felt like we were having a real conversation for the first time, not just superficial talk.

I swallowed a groan and squeezed my eyes shut. It was as if a wave had suddenly swept over my calm mind, washing it away. What should I do? Should I apologize first for almost causing Lilien’s death? Or should I gloss over it with a smile as always?

‘I was trying to leave because I didn’t want to face this situation.’

As I smiled bitterly, I suddenly realized like a bolt of lightning.

Edmond must have known. That I would be the person most sensitive to the guild master’s whereabouts.

Then why did he take the risk of disposing of the guild master so late?

I stared at Edmond intently, as if gauging his intentions. Reading my gaze, Edmond opened his mouth.

“The disposal of the guild master was just carrying out a delayed task. It was also to prevent the Mifidian duchy from being taken lightly. And.”

“And?”

He frowned with a troubled face, then soon continued with a groan.

“It was also for your sake.”

“What?”

I asked back with wide eyes at the sudden words. For my sake? His face was deeply tinged with awkwardness.

“The loyalty of those who kill for money is fickle. If this fact were to be revealed even by chance, not only would there be a scandal, but you would live the rest of your life being criticized.”

Edmond’s eyes crinkled. He seemed displeased, but also worried.

Was it really for my sake? Because I would be in danger? I stared blankly at this unexpected fact, and Edmond briefly averted his gaze before meeting mine again. He looked like a boy being reprimanded.

“Are you afraid of me now?”

I was momentarily taken aback by his unexpected reaction. It was because he asked with an uncharacteristically tender look in his eyes.

He seemed to think that I was leaving the mansion because I had become afraid of him for harming the guild master.

If asked if I’m afraid… Of course I’m a little scared.

Because I know his chilling appearance from the original story, where he cut me down mercilessly.

Even if the current him wouldn’t harm me, who knows when the issues submerged in the abyss might surface and invite trouble?

I smiled faintly and said.

“A little. But I’m not scared because of the guild master.”

My moral sense was perfectly normal, but the guild master was a person without a shred of sympathy. Rather, numerous victims would have their grudges resolved.

Edmond sighed in relief at my answer. Ironically, I should be the one feeling relieved towards this person who forgave me.

“I’m sorry. I lost my mind with anger over Devon’s affair. I’ve been too scared to say anything until now.”

“I understand. Our first meeting wasn’t exactly normal.”

Haha, I laughed lightly. Suddenly, I remembered his fierce gaze from before.

Come to think of it, the contempt I glimpsed then probably meant ‘How dare you shamelessly stick around the person you tried to kill?’

Phew, it’s fortunate things worked out. Just thinking about the time when I joked around with Edmond, not knowing there was a knife at my throat, sends chills down my spine.

I smiled awkwardly and lowered my head slightly as if feeling ashamed.

“I should honestly tell Lilien too and ask for forgiveness−”

“My sister knows as well.”

What?

It felt like I had been hit on the head with a blunt object at this other bombshell.