The early morning when the dawn has not yet faded.

“……”

Lily, who had woken up from a light sleep due to the unpleasant feeling between her legs, lifted the blanket to take a look. There was a red stain on the hem of her nightgown, but fortunately, the blanket was clean.

So this was the reason why her lower back had been stiff and her lower abdomen had been aching for the past few days.

Lily carefully got up, taking care not to stain the blanket, and headed to the bathroom. After confirming that the day had really come and taking care of it, she was wiping off the slightly embarrassing red mark on her nightgown when there was a knock.

“If you’re going to take a bath, shall I prepare the bathwater, lady?”

“Ah, just a moment.”

Lily roughly wiped off the moisture with a towel and opened the bathroom door.

“You’re up already. Did I wake you up by any chance?”

When Lily asked, belatedly recalling that the side room where the children stayed was attached to the bathroom, Emily shook her head.

“No. I usually wake up at this time.”

Lily checked the dimly brightening sky outside the window and tilted her head.

“I don’t think it’s even 6 a.m. yet, and you’re waking up this early? If you’re waiting because you don’t know when I’ll wake up, you don’t have to. Unless there’s something special, I won’t call for you before 8 a.m.”

“It’s alright. I naturally wake up early because I don’t sleep much in the morning. More importantly……”

Emily’s gaze fell on the wet hem of Lily’s skirt. Noticing the red stain that hadn’t been completely wiped off, Emily immediately realized the reason why Lily had been in the bathroom for a long time early in the morning and let out a short gasp.

“Take off your clothes and give them to me. I’ll bring you a change of clothes.”

“Please do.”

Emily took the nightgown that Lily took off and handed to her, and left the bedroom. In the meantime, Lily, who opened her notebook to gauge the date, frowned deeply when she saw a red circle drawn on next Wednesday.

It was the consummation date set by the temple. The priest had picked the consummation date, saying nonsensical things like they had to conceive a child on this day for that child to become a great person who would make the family prosper.

As a series of shockingly unbelievable things happened one after another, she had completely forgotten that the consummation date was approaching.

Could it be that Fredrick had asked Count Stacy when he would return because of this?

No, more importantly, would he be in the right state of mind to care about the consummation date when his own brother had committed murder and was dragged to the Security Department?

If it were an ordinary person, one would think there was no way, but since it was Fredrick, it was impossible to say for sure.

“I don’t know.”

Lily closed the notebook, shaking her head. She didn’t know what Fredrick was thinking when he sent the letter or if he was intending to keep the consummation date, but one thing was for sure – she had no intention of doing so at all.

Not now, and not ever in the future.

“……”

Perhaps it was because she had imagined the horrible thought of mingling bodies with Fredrick. Lily sat down on the sofa, staggering, as her vision suddenly turned white and she felt dizzy. When she closed her eyes tightly and placed the back of her hand on them, Emily, who had returned with a change of clothes, asked worriedly,

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere, lady?”

“Huh? No. I’m okay.”

Only then did Lily notice Emily’s presence and shook her head weakly with a slightly pale face.

“But you don’t look well. Shall I call a doctor?”

The doctor Herald had called yesterday was still staying at the Count’s residence. Since Lily’s condition didn’t look very good, he had him stay a bit longer just in case.

“It’s fine. It’s just that time of the month, so I’m not feeling well. It’s not something a doctor can solve.”

“Still, just in case, the doctor……”

“I’m really okay.”

When Lily stubbornly refused like last night, Emily had no choice but to nod her head.

“Where are you feeling unwell?”

At Dillon’s question, which he asked as soon as he saw her face in the breakfast room, Lily shrugged her shoulders.

“No. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure you’re really okay? Your complexion looks quite bad.”

Is it that bad? Lily, who was seated at the table, stroked her thin cheek and replied,

“It’s because of a chronic problem that every woman experiences, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“What is that… Ah.”

Dillon, who belatedly realized that what Lily was talking about was her period, fake-coughed and turned his head. The tip of his ear that was briefly exposed was slightly red.

“I asked something very rude. I apologize, lady.”

“It’s alright.”

When Lily picked up the glass of water, a servant quickly approached and poured water for her. Dillon also took a sip of water and asked,

“Then, are you planning to rest at home today without going out?”

“No.”

If it were any other schedule, she would have considered canceling it or postponing it, but today was the day to visit her mother at the hospital. Even if her leg was broken and it was hard to walk, she had to go no matter what.

“Then what time are you planning to go out?”

“Well… I have to arrive at the hospital by 2 p.m., so I think it would be good to leave around 12… Sir Langford, are you coming with me too?”

“Since my role is to protect you, yes.”

When Dillon answered as if asking what was so obvious, Lily smiled bitterly.

“…That order is still valid, I see.”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Lily, who answered nonchalantly and was about to drink water, closed her eyes tightly as her vision spun again. She grabbed the table with both hands to support her body that was slouching down on its own.

Clang-

The glass she dropped due to that made a loud shattering sound as it broke into pieces. Not only the servants who were standing by to serve the meal but also Dillon approached in surprise.

“Are you alright, lady?”

“……”

“Lady?”

Even after calling her several times, Lily showed no response, let alone an answer. Dillon, who was looking at her with bewilderment, noticed that cold sweat was beading on her forehead and unconsciously reached out his hand.

“……!”

The hot sensation felt on his fingertips made Dillon’s eyes widen like lanterns. Her face was so hot that it was doubtful whether it was a human’s body temperature.

“Doctor, call the doctor right now!”

At the urgent order, the servant quickly left the dining room.

As Lily, who had finally lost consciousness due to the severe fever, limply collapsed forward, Dillon hurriedly supported her. Emily, who had been waiting outside and came in, was startled to see Lily leaning in Dillon’s arms like a doll with its strings cut.

“L-Lady!”

“I think we need to take her to the bedroom, so help me.”

“Y-Yes!”

With Emily’s help, Dillon carried Lily on his back and hurriedly headed to the bedroom.

At the same time, in the Maximilian Duke’s residence, Herald, who had finished a cozy breakfast with his family, was sitting on a bench in the garden, enjoying the morning leisure.

Olivia, who also visited the garden to enjoy some leisure time, saw him and asked with a smile,

“You don’t seem to be busy today, do you?”

“Yes. I have some free time today.”

“Oh, that’s great. I was worried because you seemed to be moving around busily without a moment’s rest since you came home after ending the long battle. Rest well today.”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

The reason Herald had been moving around busily until now was because he had to take care of Lily as well as do the things Austin had asked him to do.

But now there was no need for that anymore. The work Austin had asked him to do was almost finished, and it was nearly impossible for Herald to go around investigating himself because his face had become known throughout the empire.

As for taking care of Lily… there was no need for that either.

Recalling the conversation he had with Lily last night, Herald’s eyes darkened.

If she had cried and begged desperately, he would have at least held onto her. But she spoke so calmly as if she had sorted everything out that he couldn’t bring himself to do that.

He was also angry that she could spit out words about wanting him to do well with another woman so indifferently. He had quickly left because he felt like he wouldn’t be able to hold back his anger if they continued talking.

The reason Herald wasn’t going to see Lily today was the same. She would be going to visit her mother soon anyway, so even if he went, he wouldn’t be able to meet her for long. It was also impossible to accompany her for the visit because his face had become widely known.

He should have covered up the scandal with another rumor, since it was going to be known anyway.

Then his face wouldn’t have become known throughout the empire, and he wouldn’t have gotten involved with the princess of the Herta Kingdom.

Belated regret washed over him, but Herald let out a deep sigh, knowing well that he would have made the same choice even if he could turn back time.

“What are you sighing so deeply for? The ground will cave in.”

Hamilton, who had appeared at some point, reproached him, and Herald stood up without answering the question, shrugging his shoulders.

“I shouldn’t disturb you two on your cozy date, so I’ll get going now.”

“Oh my, what do you mean disturb? I don’t think that at all.”

“That’s right. Don’t mind us and stay comfortably.”

Just as Herald was about to politely decline, saying it was alright, a servant came to find him and reported,

“Young master, there was an urgent contact from the Braden Count’s residence.”

From the Braden Count’s residence, not from Dillon?

“What is it?”

“That person has fallen ill with a severe fever…”

Herald, who immediately realized that ‘that person’ referred to Lily, left the garden at a speed that made his eyebrows flutter before the servant could even finish speaking.

Hamilton also immediately realized that ‘that person’ referred to Liliana Benjamin.

In addition, Hamilton’s expression hardened as he also learned the fact that Lily was staying at the Braden Count’s residence.

“What’s wrong, dear?”

“……”

Even at Olivia’s question, Hamilton stared blankly in the direction Herald had disappeared, then finally turned to his wife and said,

“I have a favor to ask of you, wife.”