“…You’ve worked hard.”

The interview with the witness was over. Lily checked the time as she left the interview room. 1:30 p.m. She had arrived at the police station around 11:30 a.m., which meant she had been interviewed for nearly 2 hours.

Because of that, she was late for her mother’s visiting hours, but she had definitely caught Fredrick Benjamin’s ankle. With this, he won’t be able to do anything strange for the time being. Furthermore, she would be able to find out what he was thinking and why he did such a thing.

Hoping the investigator would find out as soon as possible, even if just a day earlier, Lily turned around and saw Herald leaning against the window. She approached him, startled.

“How long have you been here? Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting here the whole time since I went into the interview room?”

Herald just smiled silently in response. That reaction, which was almost an affirmation, made Lily’s mouth hang open.

“You waited here the whole time not knowing when I would come out?”

“I waited because I didn’t know when you would come out. I didn’t expect it to take this long though.”

Herald shrugged slightly, looking a little embarrassed. His eyes, reflecting the striped sunlight, sparkled even more brilliantly than that.

“Judging by how long it took, it seems like you had a lot to discuss with the investigator.”

The gaze that seemed to be asking her to tell him everything they talked about wasn’t unfamiliar, because she had just received the same gaze from the investigator a moment ago.

“Do you mean… that Lord Benjamin instigated his younger brother to kill the victim?”

When Lily made the bombshell statement just as the investigation was wrapping up, the investigator was startled and asked again. His tone was still kind and polite, but the way he looked at her was cold and sharp. It was a look urging her to tell him everything she knew.

“Actually…”

Since it was what she wanted, Lily willingly spilled everything she knew. Starting from the death of Megan, Alven’s wife, to the fact that her husband Alven was a prime suspect. That the person who gave him money and instructed him to hide in the gambling house was Fredrick Benjamin. So she believed Fredrick Benjamin had sent Brian there.

The investigator, who listened and meticulously took notes on everything, had the most serious expression she had ever seen. After staring at the contents of his notebook for a long time, the investigator looked at her with even sharper eyes than before and asked.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you come to know these facts, madam?”

“You’ll have to ask my husband directly about that.”

Although the one who had told Lily all these facts was Herald, she didn’t mention his name at all. He had only investigated Madam Megan’s death at her request. She didn’t want to cause him trouble over something like this.

“Because my husband, Fredrick Benjamin, holds the key to all the secrets.”

On the other hand, Lily didn’t mind causing all sorts of trouble for Fredrick, and in fact wanted to, so she shifted all the responsibility to her husband. Then the investigator asked in puzzlement.

“Are you certain that Lord Benjamin instructed his younger brother to kill the victim, madam?”

Unlike Fredrick Benjamin who had testified that his wife was definitely not the culprit, Lily was giving unfavorable testimony that her husband might be the culprit, so it was only natural for him to find it strange.

“I’m not certain, but I think there’s a good possibility. As I said, it was my husband who sent the victim to that gambling house.”

And he dug up my father’s grave. Lily wanted to say that, but held back. It was not only unrelated to this case, but there was also no definitive evidence that he was the culprit.

Of course, Fredrick had implied that he was the culprit, but it was just that – an implication. He hadn’t outright admitted it, and there were no other witnesses besides her, so his words couldn’t be used as evidence.

Thinking about her father made Lily feel like her blood was boiling, and she furrowed her brows.

“Lily.”

A gentle voice and a large hand grasping her shoulder softly soothed Lily’s anger-filled heart. Phew. Lily looked up at Herald after releasing her remaining anger in a short sigh.

“Things aren’t going well? Did the investigator say some nonsense about you being the culprit?”

He looked like he would go and grab the investigator right away if she said yes. Feeling how much he cared for her, Lily shook her head with a smile.

“No. Things went well, so don’t worry.”

“Then why do you have that expression?”

“That’s…”

Lily trailed off and glanced at the interview room. The thick door was firmly closed, but you never know. The investigator could come out at any time, and he might overhear, so she thought it best to be cautious and pulled Herald’s arm.

“Let’s go to the carriage and talk.”

Herald obediently followed Lily’s lead. Her tiny body, which barely reached his chest, grabbing his arm and walking resolutely was so adorable that his lips loosened.

But only for a moment. Sensing a presence from the other end of the hallway, his lips stiffened into a straight line. Herald grabbed Lily’s arm in return and pulled her towards him.

Whoosh, her body that had turned around so fiercely it made a sound like the wind, collided into a solid chest. Just as the startled Lily widened her eyes and looked up at Herald, a man’s voice was heard from behind her.

“Ah, I apologize. I thought you had already left since it was way past the expected end time…”

A familiar voice. Lily only turned her head to check behind her. A man who appeared to be in his mid-40s was scratching his head as if embarrassed. Lily’s eyes widened in a different sense upon confirming the man’s face.

“You’re Inspector Damon, right?”

“Oh, you’re the lady of the Benjamin family! How have you been?”

The man, Damon, also recognized Lily and greeted her with a delighted smile.

The lady of the Benjamin family. It wasn’t wrong, but it was usually a title used for unmarried women. But when Damon called Lily by that title, Herald’s eyebrows rose slightly. Seeing that, Damon hesitated for a moment, then let out a short exclamation and bowed his head.

“Oops, what am I thinking. I should call you Madam now… I’m sorry, Madam. It’s been so long since I last saw you that I forgot for a moment.”

Surprised by the unexpected polite apology, Lily approached him. As the warm body temperature that had been filling her space disappeared, dissatisfaction clouded Herald’s eyes. But he didn’t hold her back or anything and just watched.

Lily grasped Damon’s bowed shoulder and spoke in a gentle tone.

“It’s alright. I was rather surprised that you knew I got married, Inspector Damon. You were abroad for the past 2 years after all.”

Damon lifted his head and asked in puzzlement.

“How did you know I was abroad?”

“Another investigator told me. I found it strange that the investigator in charge suddenly changed, so I asked and was told you had to go abroad due to unavoidable circumstances.”

“Ah, unavoidable circumstances…”

Damon’s face darkened slightly as he trailed off.

“Why are you like that?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. By the way, who is that person behind you…?”

When Damon glanced at Herald and asked, Lily faltered. Her eyes, trembling with unease, lowered.

Herald was the second son of the prestigious Maximilian ducal family and a hero of the empire, but surprisingly many people didn’t recognize him. It was because he had left the capital as soon as he came of age and had been staying at the border region of Cardin.

Of course, if one had attended the title conferment ceremony or the imperial party celebrating the hero’s return, they would have recognized Herald, but judging by Damon’s reaction, invitations hadn’t reached his family.

Lily felt relieved by that fact, but also worried. She didn’t know how to introduce Herald to Damon. She was concerned that if she introduced him truthfully, Damon would look at them strangely.

So as Lily hesitated, unable to say anything, Herald who had been quietly watching from behind approached. Lily looked at him with trembling green eyes. Herald smiled as if telling her not to worry, then introduced himself to Damon.

“I’m Dillon, in charge of escorting Madam Benjamin.”

Even though Dillon had earnestly asked Herald to stop impersonating him, Herald had no qualms about using his name.

“Madam Benjamin, who has been caught up in dangerous and unsavory matters, asked me to protect her as an escort.”

Damon looked at Lily in surprise.

“Dangerous and unsavory matters. Has someone else been murdered?”

…Someone else has been murdered?

Unlike Herald whose expression stiffened, Lily spoke nonchalantly.

“Well yes, but the person I’m associated with is on the culprit’s side… And above all, the misunderstanding has been cleared up, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Then that’s a relief indeed. Ah, but since you said you’re associated with the culprit, perhaps I shouldn’t say it’s a relief…”

“It’s fine. I’m not that close with the culprit anyway.”

She had no desire to be chummy with such a scoundrel either. Lily smiled faintly, hiding her true feelings. Relieved by that smile, Damon also smiled.

“If that’s the case, then I’m glad. Ah, I have another appointment so I’ll get going. Excuse me, Madam.”

“Not at all. Rather, it was nice to see you again after so long.”

With a short farewell, they each continued on their way. After parting with Damon, Herald, who had been silently pondering something, opened his mouth when they reached the carriage.

“I’m sorry but I just remembered an urgent matter I need to attend to.”

At the sudden words, not only Lily but also Dillon who had been waiting with the carriage door open looked at Herald in puzzlement.

“I’ll return to the mansion before dinner. Let’s continue our unfinished conversation then.”

Lily wanted to ask where he was suddenly going, and if he wasn’t going to see her mother together, but couldn’t as Herald left without giving her a chance.