“Elize is acting strange. It seems Gilbert is hiding something from me too.”

Just yesterday, Elizabeth was able to have a meal with her daughter after moving her residence to the capital a few weeks ago.

Understanding that she couldn’t be close to her child, who had turned six, and couldn’t face her comfortably, Elizabeth had accepted her daughter’s unfamiliarity with her.

“Well, let’s go inside then.”

But the moment Elize spoke like that, Elizabeth was struck by an inexplicable shock. It felt as if her heart was tightening at the child’s attitude, treating her as if she were a complete stranger.

[Mom, I miss you. It would be nice if we could go on a picnic together.] [Thank you for working hard. Thanks to you, I’m doing well.]

Gilbert occasionally enclosed letters from his daughter in the letters he sent. Since the child still found writing difficult, he mentioned that he wrote on her behalf.

‘Although she seemed tired of hugging me.’

Elizabeth couldn’t be sure if the contents written in Gilbert’s handwriting were really the words coming from Elize’s heart.

[Due to the situation, for a while, I’m raising you as the daughter of our older brother’s couple, but I show Elize your portrait every evening. You shouldn’t forget Mom’s face.]

Elizabeth, who was confined to the Portrion territory without anyone knowing, had unquestioningly believed Gilbert’s letters.

But now, it seemed that transparent trust had been created by the circumstances. She had no choice but to believe him; otherwise, she would be left with no other options.

After finishing work, Elizabeth thought that when she went to the capital, she could live with Gilbert and their child under the protection of Count Gothurke. However, the only positive change that had happened to her was purchasing a mansion with the inheritance from Portrion’s private estate.

‘Even that will be taken away if it’s revealed that I was involved in the murder of the private estate.’

Was it because she couldn’t eliminate Balter? Now that she was in the capital, everything was different from what she had expected.

“Elizabeth, let’s go to the cafe instead of talking like this, okay? There’s a new place in front for dignified guests.”

When Gilbert tried to please her as her relationship with the child seemed irreparable, he no longer seemed as appealing as before.

“They built a huge building and decorated it like a noble’s villa. They say time flies when you sit there.”

“…Fine, let’s go.”

Had it not been for the hat she was wearing, he would have immediately noticed that there was no warmth in Elizabeth’s gaze as before.

However, Gilbert, unaware that Elizabeth’s eyes had cooled, guided her to the most reputable cafe in the capital.

‘Although I couldn’t prevent Lexion from regaining his position…’

Elizabeth was the smartest among the women Gilbert had met. She wasn’t the type to let her emotions run wild without control, causing problems.
Moreover, she had been playing the role of Portrion’s Lady for a whopping five years, inheriting a salty fortune for herself.

‘If it’s Elizabeth, she’ll move for me anytime. Besides, Lady Luan trusts Elizabeth, so she’ll surely assign her different tasks.’

Gilbert instinctively realized this during their first meeting. To achieve something amidst the complex relationship of being between his sister, who stood at the peak of power, and everything in the family, he needed Elizabeth’s help.

However, taking her to the cafe was undoubtedly a clear mistake.

“Casius, could you pack two slices of strawberry cake? I think Theo would like it if you bring it to him.”

“I’ll do that. Theo will surely love that.”

Following the guidance of the cafe staff, Elizabeth, who was moving to the place with the best sunlight and scenery, abruptly stopped upon hearing a familiar voice.

“Who’s this? Long time no see, Edith.”

Edith, who came out to purchase packaging materials and ribbons for new clothes to gift Theo and handkerchiefs to gift Balter, immediately recognized her and stiffened her face. It was an unavoidable fate, like trying to avoid an ongoing conversation.

“Elizabeth. Have you been well?”

Even the formal greetings that lacked soul made Elizabeth unable to smile. It was not because Casius and Gilbert were putting on the utmost restraint.

Since there were no other customers nearby who were about to leave the store, she briefly stopped the employee and leaked a sneer.

“They’ve been constantly reporting on my story in Lexion, and every day is delightful. Looking at your complexion, it seems you’re living well under the protection of Lexion, knowing nothing.”

In reality, the delay in living with Elize was mainly due to those articles. The Gothurke Count and Countess worried that blame might turn towards the child and promised to take care of the child only until public opinion subsided.

Elizabeth couldn’t refute their words and temporarily postponed establishing a family.

So, when she tried to taunt Elizabeth with a sarcastic tone as she was about to change her footsteps, Edith opened her mouth.