The lawyer’s office that Emily found was near the red-light district. The main clientele were people working in the red-light district, so it was not a place nobles would go, but Lily chose it. It would be easier to hide her identity here. If she formally entrusted the lawyer, she would have to reveal everything from her identity to her situation, but until then, she wanted to hide as much as possible. That was why she borrowed clothes from the maid.

“You two wait here for a bit.”

Lily separated from Emily and Harry and climbed the stairs leading to the lawyer’s office.

The lawyer’s office was old and shabby like the exterior of the building, but it was relatively clean. The lawyer’s appearance was also neat.

“I came here because I want legal advice on something.”

Lily stated her reason for visiting, hoping the lawyer’s skills were decent. Of course, she did not mention her name or identity. Trying to hide anything that could imply those, she ended up speaking somewhat vaguely.

Will this be enough for a consultation? Should I explain in more detail?

“…In this situation, would divorce be possible?”

Lily asked the lawyer, swallowing her rising worries. She planned to hear the lawyer’s answer first, and if necessary, reveal more information then.

“Hmm.”

Perhaps the information was insufficient after all. The lawyer frowned and stared at the consultation log where he had written down what Lily said. The time waiting for his response felt endlessly long. As tension rose and her mouth became parched, Lily drank the water the assistant brought out.

Please say that divorce from Fredrick Benjamin is possible.

As Dillon had predicted, the reason Lily secretly sought a lawyer was to officially divorce Fredrick Benjamin. Thinking of her mother, it would be right to maintain the marriage, but for the same reason, she could not overlook Fredrick.

Fredrick Benjamin was a madman who dug up his father’s grave just because his pride was slightly hurt.

Perhaps Fredrick was also the one who ordered Brian to kill Alben.

No matter how she thought about it, continuing a marital relationship with someone who could easily commit more terrible acts was insane. She had to end it as soon as possible.

The only thing that troubled her was…

“Without hearing the details, I can’t give you a definite answer… but for now, divorce seems possible.”

Lily, who had been fiddling with the empty cup lost in other thoughts, lifted her head upon hearing the answer she hoped for. Seeing hopeful green eyes, the lawyer added with an ambiguous smile:

“However, for the clean divorce you want, your husband’s crimes must be clearly proven. You mentioned that your husband sent someone to assault your father.”

The lawyer referred to the incident Lily had altered to hide the truth and asked:

“It seems you only have a hunch without physical evidence. Is that correct?”

Lily gave a small nod and asked:

“If we can’t find physical evidence, and my husband’s crimes aren’t clearly proven, we can’t have a clean divorce? Doesn’t my husband’s infidelity throughout our marriage count as grounds for divorce?”

“Of course it counts as grounds… but a clean divorce as you wish will be difficult. Arranged married couples in high society having affairs or concubines is common. Even His Majesty the Emperor has concubines, so the courts can’t readily intervene in that matter.”

The lawyer stroked his chin and continued:

“So if you try to divorce over infidelity, not a crime, the lawsuit will take a long time. You won’t receive much alimony either. Above all, your husband may demand the return of the money he provided to your family. Because that was in exchange for the marriage.”

Lily shut her eyes tightly as the lawyer voiced the exact concerns she had. She gripped the glass with more force.

“Of course, even if that’s customary, your husband is largely at fault, so you may not have to return the full amount. But there’s a high chance you’ll have to return at least more than half.”

Therefore, the lawyer kindly advised that if she wanted a divorce, she should find evidence that her husband instigated violence, and even better, discuss with him for a divorce by agreement.

Divorce by agreement. Lily mulled over the dreamlike phrase as she left the lawyer’s office. There was no way Fredrick Benjamin would agree to a divorce, so the only option left was to find evidence.

“We can find it.”

Because Herald said he would definitely find it. So she wasn’t worried about that part, but the problem was time. She didn’t know how long it would take, and Lily felt bad leaving everything to Herald and just waiting.

“I should look into it too.”

First, I should go to the police and ask how far the investigation has progressed.

I’ll also inquire about the Alben murder case…

Lily briefly organized what she needed to do while standing at the entrance of the lawyer’s office, then headed towards the children waiting for her.

Same time.

Herald and Dillon were also standing in front of an old building. The sign read [Stairway to Heaven] in large letters.

“More like a stairway to hell.”

Herald muttered cynically as he took out a cigar. Dillon, who had already lit it, asked:

“Will it be alright to let the Viscountess go alone?”

Herald took a deep drag of the cigar and exhaled white smoke before asking back:

“She said the destination was a bookstore?”

“Yes. She said she was going to buy books.”

Dillon answered as if he didn’t know Lily had blatantly lied and was actually going to a lawyer’s office. The fact that the lawyer’s office was the place he had looked into was also a secret he would take to his grave.

“The Fredrick Benjamin side has been quiet, and the children are with her, so it should be fine.”

“We don’t know about Prince 2nd’s side, do we?”

Herald raised an eyebrow as he looked at Dillon.

“Dillon, since when did you worry about the Viscountess so much?”

Realizing belatedly that he had exaggerated his behavior in his desire to hide the truth, Dillon replied nonchalantly despite being startled on the inside:

“I am merely faithfully carrying out the orders given by the Captain. The order to protect the Viscountess, that is.”

“Good attitude.”

As they conversed, various people came and went from the building with the ridiculous sign. After observing the people of different statuses and ages diligently coming and going, Herald threw the burnt-out cigar on the ground and crushed it with his foot.

“Let’s go in now.”

Entering the building, Herald asked the burly man guarding the spacious lobby:

“I’d like to meet the owner of this pawnshop.”

“For what reason…”

Before the man could finish his question, Herald showed a forged investigator ID he had prepared in advance. After checking it, the man asked them to wait a moment and quickly disappeared down the inner hallway.

Shortly after, an alluring woman in a tight-fitting dress came out and guided Herald’s group to the innermost room. In the fairly spacious room, a one-eyed man was waiting.

“It’s an honor to meet Viscount Breiden, the hero of the empire.”

At the unwelcome greeting, Herald shrugged his shoulders.

“Busted.”

“Of course. The Captain’s portrait has been spread throughout the empire, so there’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you.”

“That investigator didn’t recognize me though.”

“That person was abroad at the time. Plus, he had no interest in the empire for fear of getting involved.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The one-eyed man, the pawnshop owner, looked dumbfounded at Herald and Dillon, who despite wanting to meet him, were conversing amongst themselves.

“Ah, right. There was something I wanted to ask.”

As if belatedly realizing the one-eyed man’s presence, Herald let out a short exclamation and asked point-blank:

“Brian, Viscount Fredrick Benjamin’s brother, came here, right?”

Even if an ordinary investigator had come, it would have been nerve-wracking, but the other party was none other than Herald Breiden. The one-eyed man was curious about what he had come all the way here to ask, but also worried. He gave a hollow laugh at the thrown question.

“Looks like someone else asked besides me.”

“Of course. As you know, Viscount, that man killed someone. He just happened to leave evidence that he entrusted an item to our pawnshop at that time, so I was called to the police station.”

“The person who came directly here to ask?”

“Only Viscount Benjamin’s assistant and you, Viscount. No one else came.”

“Is that so?”

Herald briefly scanned the one-eyed man’s office, then asked while looking at the coffee cup on the table:

“Did you just drink coffee?”

“Ah, no. I drank it this morning. I should have cleaned it up, but I just left it there.”

“And this office is your office?”

“Yes, that’s right, but…”

The one-eyed man answered somewhat unpleasantly as Herald suddenly asked irrelevant questions after inquiring about Brian’s matter. After a few more trivial questions, Herald abruptly looked at him with sharp eyes and threw out a question:

“Has a grave robber ever come to sell stolen goods?”

“Well.”

The one-eyed man scratched his cheek as he replied:

“Many people come to sell items, but I can’t tell if they’re stolen goods or if that customer’s occupation is a grave robber…”

Herald’s lips loosened. Seeing his expression, Dillon clicked his tongue softly and locked the door.

At the sound of the door locking with a click, the one-eyed man flinched and looked at Dillon.

“What…!”

In an instant, sensing a sharp murderous intent piercing his skin, the one-eyed man hurriedly tried to take out the dagger he kept in his pocket for self-defense, but Herald was faster.

“You shouldn’t lie.”

Herald, who closed the distance in a flash, pointed a sharp dagger at the one-eyed man’s remaining eye and grinned eerily.

“I’ll ask one last time, owner.”

“…”

“Did a grave robber come to sell stolen goods?”