After having breakfast with his family and preparing to go meet Lily, Herald was visited by an unwelcome guest.

“Are you going out again today?”

It was his mother, the Duchess Maximilian. When Herald answered yes, his mother grabbed his arm tightly.

“Don’t go out today and spend time with your mother instead.”

“Is something the matter?”

“My dear. Do we need to have a reason to spend time together as mother and son?”

The Duchess pouted her lips while rolling her eyes, but she didn’t let go of her son’s arm.

“It’s been well over a month since you returned to the capital, but we haven’t gone anywhere together. Unless it’s an important matter, can’t you stay with your mother today?”

Reading the determination in his mother’s tight grip that she absolutely wouldn’t let go, Herald let out a deep sigh inwardly. It wouldn’t be difficult to shake her off, but that would clearly make the problem bigger so he couldn’t do that. His mother’s earnest plea was also one of the reasons he couldn’t easily turn around and leave.

It’s not like he had an important appointment that he had to go to, brushing off his mother’s sincere request. Even if he went to the Viscount Braden’s residence, all he would do is have tea and lunch with Lily.

“Herald.”

“…….”

When his mother looked up at him with even more desperate eyes than before, Herald held his mother’s hand that was grabbing his arm and nodded.

“Let’s do that, Mother.”

Dillon also had an unwelcome visitor.

“I have something to tell you about the Viscountess, My Lord.”

It was Harry. Dillon, who had finished breakfast and was trying to rest until Herald arrived, waved his hand without even listening to the young boy’s story.

“If it’s about going out, tell her to get permission from the Count when he comes later.”

“It’s not about going out but another issue.”

“Another issue?”

Was there anything else that could be a problem?

“Last night, the lady asked my sister to find her a lawyer.”

“……What?”

Dillon asked, flabbergasted at the sudden remark.

“Viscountess Benjamin asked to find her a lawyer? Why?”

“She didn’t give a reason, but said she had a legal matter to consult about. And to do it discreetly.”

That meant she didn’t want Herald or others to know she was looking for a lawyer. Well, if it didn’t matter, she would have asked Herald, not Emily, to find her a lawyer. That would be the faster way to get a capable lawyer.

“So what did your sister say?”

“She said she doesn’t know much about lawyers but will look into it.”

“Good job.”

Praise naturally came out at the perfect response without any extra. Honestly, he was worried when Herald said he would assign the children to Lily as surveillance and protection, but it was an unnecessary worry. To think they would handle it this well. He newly realized that Herald had excellent judgment in people.

“I’ll discuss that matter with the Count, so you kids try to buy as much time as possible for now.”

“Understood.”

After Harry left and Dillon was alone, he thought about why Lily was secretly looking for a lawyer.

The false charges pinned on her by her younger brother-in-law Brian had been cleared, so it wouldn’t be because of that.

Could it be…… that she wants to divorce Fredrick Benjamin?

“……That can’t happen.”

Dillon muttered with a frown. The reason Herald gave up his feelings for Lily despite liking her and was trying to return to Cardin was because she was ‘married’. Even if their relationship was worse than others, she had a legal husband by her side.

But if Lily got divorced and became free, there was a very high possibility that Herald’s mind would change. Dillon felt his vision suddenly go dark at the thought of Herald not returning to Cardin.

They had regained some peace by defeating the Salamander tribe, but Cardin was still suffering from various problems such as bandit invasions and illegal immigrants. As such, they needed a leader who could firmly protect them, and Herald was perfect for that role. They didn’t need anyone else.

This was the common thought not only of Dillon but also the residents living in Cardin. Even now, letters arrived every day with the earnest wishes of comrades asking when he would return and hoping he would come back soon.

If he stays just a bit longer, he can return to Cardin…… We can’t let this chance slip away.

The order and plea Herald gave Dillon when leaving the training grounds under the pretext of a sword match came to mind.

Even though it hasn’t even been 24 hours since he agreed to it……

“……There’s no other way, Commander.”

After all, the residents of Cardin and I cannot give up on you, Commander.

Dillon, who decided not to tell Herald for the time being, thought for a moment while looking at the floor and then went outside.

The Duchess’s plan to spend time with her son included not only Herald but also his elder brother Hamilton. Waiting in the hall, Hamilton smiled silently when Herald came down with their mother after finishing preparations to go out. His eyes conveyed the meaning of ‘you got caught by Mother too’.

The Duchess Maximilian linked arms with her two grown sons, one on each side, and visited various places like restaurants, jewelry shops, and tea rooms. Everywhere they went, people complimented what a good relationship the mother and sons had and how envious they were of the Duchess, making the corners of her mouth endlessly rise.

The elder son jokingly said that at this rate, their mother’s mouth would reach her ears and they should stop her soon.

The last destination was a boutique. If she was going to have new clothes made, it would be more convenient to summon the designer to the ducal residence, but the Duchess and even Hamilton said it would be better to visit the boutique in person, so Herald had no choice but to go along.

And not long after arriving at the boutique, Herald understood the reason.

“Which do you think would suit Princess Herta?”

“…….”

Herald turned his head without even looking at the accessories or clothes the employee brought. The Duchess clicked her tongue as if frustrated and lightly hit her son’s arm with a fan.

“Take a look quickly. You need to pick a gift for when Princess Herta visits, don’t you?”

Why me? He almost retorted but then remembered that his name was on the list of candidates for the princess’s groom and swallowed his words. Moreover, he had personally put his name on the candidate list in exchange for quelling the rumors about Lily, so he really couldn’t say such a thing.

“……I don’t know much about women’s clothing or accessories, so I think it would be better for you to choose instead of me, Mother.”

Since he couldn’t avoid giving a gift to Princess Herta, he would reluctantly do it, but he didn’t want to personally pick out the gift.

“If I choose and the princess doesn’t like it, it would be a big problem. For the first gift, you should choose, Mother, and I will select the next one. After directly meeting the princess and sufficiently learning her preferences, that is.”

“Indeed. That does seem better.”

Deceiving his mother with a plausible lie, Herald left the VIP room under the pretense of going to the restroom. Although the VIP room was much more spacious and comfortable than the hallway, Herald felt the hallway was more comfortable just by not having his mother there constantly urging this and that.

Hearing from an employee that Hamilton was on the terrace, Herald headed straight to where his brother was. Hamilton was leaning against the terrace wall, smoking a cigar.

“Since when did you smoke cigars?”

When Herald asked in surprise, having never seen Hamilton smoke before, Hamilton gave a hearty laugh.

“I didn’t originally, but as work stress piled up, I couldn’t help but start. Everyone around me smokes too.”

“The successor lessons must be really tough.”

“You have no idea. If I make the slightest mistake, the elders throw a fit saying the ducal family’s prestige is falling.”

Hamilton shuddered as if just thinking about it made his teeth chatter. Herald empathized, well aware of how nitpicky the family elders were, and held out his hand. Hamilton laughed and passed the cigar.

“But you managed to get out. Mother was planning to have you personally choose the princess’s gift.”

Herald blew out a sigh mixed with the white smoke.

“I don’t know why I have to pick that.”

“It’s because she wants you to get married as soon as possible. Plus, there was that weird rumor going around a few days ago.”

Immediately realizing the weird rumor he was talking about was the love triangle surrounding Lily, Herald silently smoked the cigar.

“Do you know how much Mother worried that your marriage prospects would be ruined because of that? Not just Mother, but the rest of the family including myself were all concerned.”

This time a wry laugh flowed out with the smoke.

“You all worry too much over nothing.”

“Over nothing? It’s natural for family to worry.”

Hamilton put his hand on Herald’s shoulder.

“If there was a rumor about you getting involved with a lady from a humble family, there would be people throwing a fit, but this was an adultery scandal. With a crazy noblewoman who sold titles to commoners for money.”

The end of the cigar crumpled as he bit down on it with force.

“Of course our parents and others would worry after a scandal with such a weird woman came to light.”

Not grasping the change in his younger brother’s mood, Hamilton kept prattling on.

“Of course, no one believed the rumors. Myself included. Why would you settle for taking such a strange woman as your mistress when you’re not lacking anything?”

“……She’s not a strange woman, brother.”

Herald finally told Hamilton while stubbing out the broken cigar in the ashtray.

“She’s the woman I love.”

Hamilton’s eyes widened to their limit upon hearing his brother’s unexpected sincerity. Herald stared straight at his own reflection in his brother’s trembling eyes and corrected the misunderstanding.

“And she didn’t become my mistress, but rather I became hers.”