Although red hair was quite common in the capital, the girl’s hair reminded Edit of Elizabeth.

The profile card estimated the girl’s age to be around seven, which matched the timing before Elizabeth became Lady Carter.

“Is the Turgurk Count’s daughter a blood relative?”

“No. The daughter was born to a distant relative of the couple, and they officially adopted her after taking care of her for about a year. Information about the biological parents is rigorously concealed by the Count’s family, but it’s probably not Gilbert’s bloodline.”

“The probability that the girl’s biological mother is Elizabeth?”
“It’s not impossible. I’ve met women with red hair before meeting Elizabeth, so it could be one of them.”

“Hmm….”

One question crossed her mind.

‘The Turgurk Count and Countess are prominent figures in the Imperial party and social circles, so news of them adopting a distant relative should have spread widely.’

Isezel mentioned that the portrait Elizabeth saw was worn out.

How did Elizabeth feel when the beloved child, who missed her so much even in a distant Fortrion territory, became a part of the Count’s family?

‘Although she might have been happy that the child could grow up as a member of a good household….’

If Elizabeth returned from the Fortrion estate, where she spent time thinking only about the child, and found another couple to be the child’s parents, wouldn’t she feel like her child was being taken away, deep down?

‘As public opinion grows stronger that Elizabeth murdered the Duke, it will become increasingly difficult for her to approach her daughter.’

With an indifferent expression, Edit flipped through the documents, thinking about what would torment Elizabeth the most.

“Ugh.”

After spending several hours in the study, even after dismissing the information agents, Edit stretched and let out an indescribable sound.

Then, from beyond the door, a familiar yet gentle laughter was heard.

“I thought it might be a bit late, so I brought dinner for you.”

Balter casually opened the door, supporting a silver tray with one hand. He was wearing a comfortable shirt, suggesting that he had already finished today’s training.

Edit quietly observed his sturdy figure before reacting to the pleasant smell wafting from the tray in his hand. She could immediately figure out what kind of food he had brought.

“Just when I was craving bread dipped in cream sauce. Thanks. Grapes must taste great too. Thanks to you, I get to eat beef every day.”

“…?”

Before even lifting the lid of the tray, Balter raised the corner of his mouth as he watched her guess the menu. When the child first appeared, he worried about her poor appetite during the time of severe morning sickness. But now, seeing her, it seemed as if the baby inside her belly was igniting a fire in the thin mother’s appetite.

‘Like a commendable little one.’

Balter placed the tray on the table in the study and watched Edit with satisfaction as she ate. The slightly fuller cheeks and captivating red lips, which had gained a bit more weight than when they first met, made him think that he should learn the cooking methods of some dishes she liked from the head chef.

Even though Edit was the one enjoying the food, his mood improved for no apparent reason, and a smile spread under his hand, which was resting on his chin.
Keeping eye contact and slightly parting her lips, it pleased Edit when I fed her with a fork.

Around the time she finished her meal, Balter opened his mouth, as if waiting.

“I prepared the food, and since you enjoyed it, could you do me a favor?”

“A favor? What favor?”

Edit’s voice was filled with kindness. There was no reason not to grant his request, given the circumstances of being under the jurisdiction of the Lexion Count.

“…Nothing inappropriate. Got it?”

As she added softly, Balter raised his eyebrows in disappointment. He hadn’t intended to make such a request immediately after feeding her, but seeing her mischievous thinking, he suddenly felt a pang of regret.

“Then unfortunately, I have to make a second request. I would appreciate it if you could give me a handkerchief as a gift.”

It was a well-known custom to wish good luck to someone participating in a swordsmanship competition by giving a handkerchief. Edit, who was about to say that she had already prepared it even without the request, stiffened at his following words.

“I’d be grateful if you embroidered two white lilies on it.”

“….”

Everyone in the Agnes Empire knew that two white lilies symbolized ‘marriage,’ so Edit, who didn’t know the meaning, was an unusual case.