The rising steam disappeared as if sucked into the scorching afternoon sunlight. Her mind was the same.

She had expected to be questioned about how it happened and if she really became Herald’s mistress, since the scandal had spread widely throughout the empire.

She was even prepared to be slapped in the face, but instead, Olivia asked in a flat, indifferent voice. The light brown eyes looking at her even seemed to hope that she would say yes, which made her more perplexed.

Was she seeing things because she was too nervous? Or did she interpret Olivia’s gaze however she wanted because she wished to escape reality?

Not knowing which it was made her even more confused. Lily blankly stared at Olivia as if half her soul had left her body. Compassion briefly flickered across Olivia’s face as she met Lily’s wavering green eyes.

“You’ve been through a terribly unfortunate situation.”

Olivia continued, her voice tinged with a sigh as if she sincerely felt sorry for Lily.

“Losing your father and household overnight, being left alone with your mother who is unwell in body and mind – of course it must have been hard. You finally found someone to rely on and got married, but even that person and his family weren’t normal, so it must have been even harder. I understand.”

It was a consolation full of compassion, but it brought no comfort to Lily at all. Rather, the fact that someone she barely knew until a few minutes ago was well aware of her personal circumstances gave her goosebumps, and Lily bit her lower lip.

“The young master probably sympathized with your pitiful and miserable situation, and gave his heart to you without realizing it. To you, who had nowhere else in the world to rely on, the young master must have been a more reliable support than anything else, so naturally you became his mistress.”

Mistress. As that word flew like a dagger and pierced her head and heart, Lily’s head automatically lowered.

“Actually, I was going to say it’s better for both of you to part ways now, but after learning about your circumstances, I changed my mind.”

Olivia said as she put down the teaspoon she had been stirring the sugar in her coffee with.

“In a case like yours, even if everyone around you clamors for you to leave, you wouldn’t listen. Rather, there are many cases where you would cling on even more like a leech… So I thought if you want to live as the young master’s mistress for the rest of your life, we should just leave you be.”

“…Pardon?”

Not understanding what she meant, Lily raised her head. Olivia smiled brightly as she met the clearly startled eyes.

“It’s not that strange for a couple in a political marriage to each have their own lovers, and the person who will become the future Countess of Braden will understand too.”

It was a statement clearly drawing the line that Lily would never sit in that position.

“So if you say you’ll live as ‘Herald Braden’s mistress’ for the rest of your life, I’ll arrange a residence for you in Ranteria.”

Ranteria was a resort area in the southeastern part of the empire, where most nobles would build villas to stay warm even in the cold winter.

That was probably the same for the Duke of Maximilian’s residence. But arranging a residence there clearly meant living there out of people’s sight and acting as Herald’s mistress.

“If you’re hesitating because of your sick mother, don’t worry. There’s a good convalescent hospital in Ranteria too. If you want, I can arrange for a high-level doctor to visit regularly. Well, even if I don’t do this, the young master will probably take care of it.”

Finally clearly understanding why Olivia had asked to meet, Lily felt her dazed mind slowly returning. Awakening her remaining senses with the coffee that had turned cold, she opened her lips that had been bitten until they bled.

“I think there’s some serious misunderstanding…”

Her throat was so dry it felt like it would burn up even after drinking coffee, so she couldn’t speak properly. Lily clenched her two hands until they turned white, took a deep breath for a moment, and continued.

“I am not Count Braden’s mistress.”

“You’re not?”

Olivia asked back, her eyes wide as if a little surprised. The brown eyes that narrowed quickly were full of disbelief.

“While staying at Count Braden’s residence after fighting with your husband. And even making the young master join in on the marital fight, causing the scandal to spread throughout the empire… And you’re telling me to believe you’re not his mistress despite that?”

“Of course it will be hard to believe. I understand that sentiment… But I swear I am not his mistress. I have no intention of being his mistress in the future either.”

Who knew it would be this hard to tell the truth. Her hands and feet were trembling, but Lily knew if she showed any sign of being shaken, even if she spoke the truth it would feel like she was lying, so she spoke as calmly as possible while putting strength into her whole body.

Perhaps that worked, as the distrust in the brown eyes faded a little. Olivia asked in a slightly doubting voice.

“If you’re not his mistress, why are you by the young master’s side? Isn’t it because you like the Count too?”

I like him. I like him so much I feel like I’ll go crazy. Swallowing the words she must never say, Lily answered.

“…Shamefully, I am receiving help from the Count.”

“What kind of help?”

Where should I start and where should I end? Lily looked down at the coffee, black enough to reflect her face, for a moment before answering.

“My husband, Fredrick Benjamin, dug up my father’s grave.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

At the absurd story, Olivia momentarily forgot her decorum and gaped. Judging by her reaction, she didn’t seem to know that Madison Benjamin’s grave had been dug up either.

“Your father would be the late Marquis Benjamin, so why would your husband do such a thing…?”

“That’s what I’d like to know too.”

She sincerely wanted to know why Fredrick Benjamin had done such a thing. Lily smiled bitterly and continued.

“Not only that, but he instigated my younger sister to try to frame me for murder… The Count, judging that I might be in danger if left alone, willingly extended a helping hand to me.”

Trying to forcibly hide her trembling heart made her voice too calm. Her expression was also as indifferent as someone who couldn’t feel any emotion.

“Even though I knew the Count would be in trouble if I took that hand, I took it anyway out of a selfish desire to escape from my husband.”

Lily stood up from her seat, bowed deeply to Olivia, and apologized.

“I am truly sorry for causing you concern, Madam.”

“Though it’s late, I will leave the Count’s side now.”

Olivia blinked her eyes wide, rather startled by the plain yet sincere words.

When she heard that the young master, who had never been troubled by women’s issues in his life, the Herald Braden who didn’t even bat an eye when people around him told him to meet women, had an affair with some Marquis’ wife, Olivia didn’t believe it like the other family members.

She was certain something was wrong, and that certainty solidified when Herald declared he was marrying the Second Princess.

“That woman was indeed Herald’s mistress.”

However, when Hamilton, who had suspicions about Herald’s unusual behavior, investigated Liliana Benjamin, he found out that the scandal was not a baseless rumor but the truth.

Hamilton couldn’t understand Herald forsaking a good marriage prospect and giving his heart to a mere Marquis’ wife who had nothing outstanding about her, but Olivia was different.

Her appearance was quite pretty, and she had a dark and sad past that stimulated the tear glands of many men. Her unfortunate married life where she didn’t receive love from her husband was a bonus. Olivia fully understood why Herald fell for Lily.

She also understood why Lily fell for Herald or became his mistress.

So when Hamilton asked Olivia to separate Lily from Herald, she instead made a reverse proposal.

“How about letting that woman live as the young master’s mistress for life?”

Of course, Hamilton opposed, but he reluctantly agreed due to Olivia’s persuasion. Instead, the condition Hamilton gave was that he hoped she would never appear in high society.

Olivia also disliked mistresses acting haughty and arrogantly in high society.

So she was planning to send Lily far away from the capital if she intended to stay by Herald’s side like a leech for the rest of her life, but she heard an unexpected story.

She wasn’t the young master’s mistress. They were simply in a relationship where she received help.

If an ordinary person said this, it would be hard to believe, but the words of Liliana Benjamin, whom she met directly today, seemed believable. How could one doubt her when she spoke so plainly with an face devoid of any greed?

Of course, she could be skilled at acting and lying like an actress, so Olivia didn’t let go of her suspicion until the end. She was going to keep questioning her vigilantly, but she couldn’t when Lily bowed deeply and politely apologized.

This woman is sincerely thinking of the young master. Whether that was a different emotion or she truly loved him, Olivia didn’t know, but at least it was clear she had no intention of clinging to Herald like a parasite.

“Then I’ll be on my way…”

“Do you have somewhere else to go if you leave the Count’s residence?”

So Olivia asked on impulse. Lily, who realized the implication of the question a little late, smiled faintly and shook her head.

“I appreciate your concern for me, but it’s alright.”

“I think you’re seriously misunderstanding something, I’m not saying this for your sake.”

Olivia stood in front of her, quoting back the words Lily had said.

“I’m proposing this for the sake of the young master, my husband’s younger brother. Furthermore, it’s also for the sake of my husband and the Duke of Maximilian’s family, so if you’re truly sorry, accept my proposal.”