Herald supported Grace Benjamin, who had lost consciousness, with one arm while checking her pulse with his other hand. For someone who had fainted after having a seizure, her pulse was steady. Her breathing was stable, and her pale complexion had somewhat returned to normal.

Except for the tear stains on her face, she seemed to be in good condition, but just in case, Herald laid her on the bed and summoned a doctor. He also didn’t forget to tidy up the surroundings to make it seem as if nothing had happened before the doctor arrived.

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

Not long after, the doctor he had seen before arrived. Herald crossed his arms and watched the doctor examine his wife’s condition. Perhaps uncomfortable with his gaze, beads of cold sweat formed on the doctor’s forehead.

“I heard that the lady had another seizure… If it’s not too rude, may I ask what happened?”

Despite being extremely nervous, the doctor did not neglect his duties.

“When I was asked why the Viscountess Benjamin did not come to visit and answered that she was ill, she suddenly had a seizure.”

There were many more things that happened after that, but Herald only said that much, judging that there was no need to say more.

“That’s what caused the seizure.”

Moreover, the doctor had no way of knowing that fact, and since there was a precedent, he accepted it without suspicion.

“You might not be aware, so I’m telling you, but you must never mention the Viscountess Benjamin or the lady’s late husband to the patient. You should not even use the title ‘Lady’…”

While the doctor was explaining the precautions, Herald stared at Grace Benjamin, who was lying motionless. Thinking about the fleeting moment when she had returned as a mother, not an ignorant child, and the words she had uttered, he asked the doctor.

“Don’t you use shock therapy?”

“Pardon?”

“Among the methods for treating mental problems, there should be shock therapy, right?”

The doctor, who finally understood what Herald wanted to ask with the additional question, let out a short exclamation.

“There is such a treatment method, but it’s not a method I particularly like… The patient’s family members also don’t want it, so we don’t use shock therapy.”

Grace Benjamin’s only family should be Liliana Benjamin, so why did he say ‘family members’?

“It seems that Viscount Benjamin was also against using shock therapy?”

Recalling the fact that Fredrick Benjamin, not Lilly, was registered as Grace’s guardian, Herald asked. As expected, the doctor nodded, referring to Fredrick.

“Before using a new treatment method, we usually seek the consent of the family members. However, not only the Viscountess Benjamin but also the Viscount opposed the use of shock therapy.”

“…”

It made sense for Lilly, but from Fredrick Benjamin’s perspective, it would be better for Grace Benjamin to recover as soon as possible to save money. Curious about the reason for his opposition, Herald tilted his head at an angle.

“I was worried that the frequency of seizures was getting shorter, but contrary to my concerns, the lady’s condition is good. Of course, we’ll have to check again in detail after she wakes up, but based on her current condition, there’s no need to worry.”

The doctor left, saying that if Herald happened to be by her side when the lady woke up, he should call him again.

It was not a designated visiting day, and it would be strange for Herald, who had no special connection with Grace Benjamin, to be here, but the doctor did not inquire about it or look at him strangely.

Well, is that natural? He probably already knew about the relationship between me and her.

Liliana Benjamin, the wife of Herald Braden.

A dry smile spread across Herald’s lips. People whispered that Lilly had seduced him, that she was a femme fatale, but that wasn’t true. Lilly had never seduced him, except for just one time.

Even that was not of her own will, but started from being drunk and not wanting to lose to her husband.

After that, she always pushed him away. Even when she was shivering pitifully like a soaked puppy in the heavy rain, she didn’t ask for help first. Only when Herald begged her to hold his hand did she reluctantly do so.

But who was whose wife?

Herald let out a chuckle-like smile and took out Lilly’s letter that he had put in his inner pocket. The letter was placed by the bedside of the soundly sleeping Grace Benjamin. So that she could see it as soon as she opened her eyes.

With this, he had kept his promise to definitely deliver the letter to her mother. It was a bit unfortunate that he couldn’t receive a reply. To be precise, it was disappointing that he couldn’t see Lilly’s happy face when she saw the reply.

It was also regrettable that he couldn’t show Grace Benjamin the painting he had prepared.

‘Should I leave this too?’

Herald pondered for a moment but decided against it. After all, he had brought this painting to stimulate her lost memories in the first place. It would be even better if he could obtain information about the painting he had entrusted for restoration.

The director had agreed to resolve the painting part to some extent. Since he had also obtained other information quite well, Herald decided to be satisfied with this for now.

But is there a need to wait until the painting is restored?

What he was curious about was what kind of painting it was and whether it had anything to do with the Second Prince. If he just wanted to check that, it seemed that he didn’t need to wait until the painting was restored.

Unless the painting was damaged to the point where it was impossible to tell what it was due to scorch marks or other problems.

Before leaving, Herald thought that he should meet the director again.

“Um, there’s something I’m curious about… Can I ask?”

In the middle of dinner, Lilly carefully spoke, and Herald affirmed with a faint smile.

Still, as if it was a difficult thing to say, she stared at his smiling face for a while before slowly opening her lips.

“By any chance… did you meet my mother?”

“…”

His hand faltered at the strange question that contained both doubt and certainty. But only for a moment, Herald put down his fork as if nothing had happened and answered.

“No. I did stop by the Calvador Sanatorium and met the director, but I couldn’t meet Lady Grace Benjamin. As you know, today is not a designated visiting day.”

Easily fooled by the nonchalant lie, Lilly nodded with an expression that said, “Ah, I see.” Herald took a sip of water and then asked her.

“May I ask why you had such a suspicion?”

“Ah, it wasn’t suspicion!”

Lilly hastily denied it, but unfortunately, unlike Herald, she was not adept at lying. She was neither that brazen.

“Actually…”

So, unable to keep denying it till the end, she eventually revealed the conversation she had with the doctor.

Unnecessarily loose-lipped. Herald clicked his tongue after hearing the whole story. Since it was also his fault for not telling the doctor not to tell anyone else, he couldn’t blame only the doctor.

“No matter how much I think about it, it seems like he asked because of my mother. Since you said you had something to do near the Calvador Sanatorium, I thought maybe you went to see my mother… I’m sorry. I had an unnecessary suspicion.”

When he remained silent, Lilly, thinking that he was angry because of her suspicion, stuttered out an excuse and then bowed her head in apology.

“I’m a little disappointed.”

Although Herald was not angry at all, he pretended to be in order to prevent Lilly from digging deeper.

“If I were going to see Lady Grace Benjamin, I would have asked you to come with me. Because I know how much you worry about the lady and how much you want to see her.”

Lilly’s cheeks turned as red as a tomato, having suddenly become a shameless person who doubted him, the kind and affectionate one.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Lord Count.”

Lilly apologized more formally, wanting to express her sincere apology, but it had the opposite effect. It felt like a large and solid wall had been created between her and him, an unpleasant feeling. He didn’t feel the slightest bit of guilt for deceiving Lilly.

As if to erase the unpleasant feeling, Herald wiped his wet mouth with a napkin and demanded.

“If you’re really sorry, call me by my name from now on, not by my title or ‘you.'”

The face that had barely lost its shame was now tinged with bewilderment.

“How could I dare to call the Lord Count by his name?”

Again with the “Lord Count.” Herald’s lips curved diagonally.

“It’s a name made to be called, so it’s fine.”

“But…”

“Weren’t you sorry to me?”

Lilly’s lips clamped shut like a clam at the question that left her speechless. For having unnecessary suspicions. A belated regret rushed in like the tide, drenching her thoroughly.

Lilly moistened her dry lips with water and glanced at Herald. The golden eyes that met hers seemed to urge her to hurry up and call his name. That gaze was burdensome, but she didn’t avoid it. It wasn’t a problem she could avoid by doing so.

Thinking hard about how to resolve it while biting her lower lip, she cautiously made a suggestion.

“Then I’ll call you by your name only when we’re alone.”

Herald’s brows furrowed slightly as if he didn’t like her suggestion. Lilly quickly added before he could say anything.

“That’s okay, right, Herald?”

“…”

Was his name this pleasant to hear?

It was a new sensation. The wall that he thought was solid crumbled in an instant, and the diagonally curved lips regained their balance.

“Herald?”

When Herald remained silent, Lilly carefully called his name again.

I thought she was a foolish bear, but at times like this, she’s a fox.

The smile that had lingered on his lips had now taken over his face. Herald nodded, happier than ever before.

“Of course, Lilly.”