The place Herald took Lily to was a small restaurant about a 30-minute walk from the meeting spot. The exterior of the building was somewhat old, but the interior was neat. In the hall, slightly larger than Lily’s bedroom, there were only three tables, and no other guests were visible besides them.

Although Herald had assured that they wouldn’t encounter other guests, she was still worried, but seeing no one else there, she felt relieved.

“Is it alright if I choose the menu as I please?”

“Yes.”

Not knowing what was delicious, and unable to eat much of whatever came out anyway, Lily left everything to Herald. Herald ordered skillfully without even looking at the menu.

“You must come to this restaurant often.”

“I used to come frequently before, but this is my first time recently. I haven’t been in the capital for a while.”

“Then where have you been?”

“I’ve been here and there. I’ve been to so many places it’s hard to list them all.”

I heard that people from the Oppenheimer family have a strong desire for exploration and travel around the continent for research. Could this man be like that too?

As they were engaging in light conversation, fresh salad, bread, and drinks with floating ice cubes were served. Lily, checking Herald’s salad first, frowned when she saw cucumbers among the fresh-looking vegetables.

Even at this restaurant, cucumbers in the salad… Oh, they’re not there?

Lily stirred her bowl with a fork, wondering if they were hidden underneath, but there were no cucumbers visible in her salad.

‘They only left out the cucumber in mine.’

There’s no way the chef, whom she had never met, would know Lily’s preferences. Herald must have told them in advance. That means Herald remembered that she disliked cucumbers.

“…”

Touched by this fact, Lily bit her lip. Actually, it wasn’t that special. Lily herself still remembered that Herald disliked tomatoes. So it was natural for Herald to remember as well.

But the reason her heart swelled was because it had been so long since she met someone who thought of her and considered her preferences. Even after eating together dozens of times, Fredrick and the other family members never remembered her tastes.

To be precise, Fredrick pretended not to remember. Before marriage, he accurately remembered and distinguished what she liked and disliked, but as soon as they got married, he ignored everything as if it had never happened.

As if saying, I’ve gotten everything I wanted from you, so I no longer need to treat you well.

“It’s just that our situations are the same, both of us being used and discarded by Baron Benjamin.”

Suddenly remembering what Countess Baliman had said, Lily’s expression darkened further. Though she had denied it out of pride, it was actually all true.

‘Perhaps Countess Baliman’s situation might even be better.’

She can leave Fredrick, but I can’t.

“Are you not going to eat?”

When Lily just kept stirring the salad with a serious face without eating, Herald asked. But there was no answer. Even after calling her several times, it was the same, so Herald snapped his fingers in front of her face.

With the snap sound, Lily, whose mind had been half-submerged in a gloomy swamp, slowly blinked and looked at Herald. Seeing her green eyes still unfocused, Herald frowned and asked.

“Thinking of something else with a person in front of you. Isn’t that too much?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m really sorry.”

Finally coming to her senses completely, Lily apologized with a bowed head. Even that gesture didn’t please Herald, who, as the chef’s masterpiece turkey dish arrived, pointed at the dish with his fork and said.

“If you’re sorry, eat all of this.”

“This… all by myself?”

Lily asked in bewilderment at the unreasonable demand to eat alone a turkey dish large enough for a family of four. Herald tore off a turkey leg and placed it on her plate.

“Let’s start with the leg. This is the most delicious part.”

“…I can’t eat it all by myself.”

As Lily protested like a child, Herald laughed.

“I know. That’s why I’m saying to start with the leg. I’ll think about giving you more after that.”

It must be a misunderstanding that his words about thinking sounded like a definite promise to give more. Lily stared at the appetizing turkey leg for a while, then cut off the remaining leg and placed it on Herald’s plate.

“You eat too.”

“After you eat first.”

You. When she said it herself, she didn’t notice, but when Herald called her that, it felt like her heart was being tickled with a soft feather, and Lily gripped her fork tightly. Though she knew its identity, an emotion that she absolutely must not acknowledge stirred deep in her heart, tormenting her.

The turkey meat, which seemed to have been roasted in a wood-fired oven, was perfectly seasoned, and the moment she ate it, an exclamation of admiration involuntarily escaped. Each side dish was equally delicious, and even the pudding served as dessert was perfect.

But ironically, Lily’s mood sank more and more gloomily as she ate. It was because the time to correct the path of fate, which had temporarily deviated due to the sweet sense of transgression, was gradually approaching.

In fact, this was quite delayed. According to the original plan, she should have said goodbye long ago, but unexpectedly ending up having dinner together postponed the time to speak.

I must say it before leaving this restaurant. It was the perfect place to have a conversation without worrying about others’ eyes. While eating pudding, Lily pondered when and how to bring up the subject.

“It seems you’re short on pudding.”

“Pardon?”

At this somewhat abrupt remark, Lily looked up, and Herald smiled, pointing at the empty pudding bowl in front of her.

“I said that because you keep pretending to scoop even though there’s no pudding left.”

“Ah.”

Lily’s cheeks reddened as she realized only then that the pudding bowl was empty. Imagining herself continuously spooning the air without realizing she had finished eating was too embarrassing.

“If it’s not enough, shall we order more?”

“No, it’s enough.”

It wasn’t just lip service, but sincere. The food was so delicious, and because Herald kept recommending her to try this and that, she had eaten more than usual and felt full.

“More than that… I have a question for Mr. Dillon.”

“A question?”

“Yes. I’m curious how you knew to send a letter to me at Count Stacy’s mansion.”

Lily asked about this first, as what she should say next would depend on how much he knew. Herald stared at her green eyes, which were shaking anxiously despite her resolute expression, before answering.

“Miss Kennedy Stacy told me.”

So Kennedy did tell him after all. Lily clenched her hands, which were neatly placed on her knees. The hypothesis that this man might be Kennedy Stacy’s new fiancé was increasingly turning into certainty.

“Are you perhaps engaged to Miss Kennedy Stacy?”

Wanting to be sure, she asked, and Herald chuckled.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding, but I have no relationship with Miss Kennedy Stacy.”

“But you said you heard about me from her…”

“I just asked Miss Stacy if Count Stacy had time to meet, and she replied that it wouldn’t be possible today because they had a prior appointment to meet the Baron and Baroness Benjamin.”

It was half lie and half truth. Herald knew that Lily would be meeting Count Stacy with Fredrick even before asking Kennedy.

But he asked specifically to confirm the fact and to prepare for situations like this. He couldn’t let her know that he had been following her, that he was investigating the Benjamin baronial house.

“Baron and Baroness…”

Lily’s expression turned as white as a sheet of paper as her voice trailed off. Worried about her precarious appearance that seemed like she might collapse at the slightest touch, Herald reached out his hand.

“Ah…!”

Lily stood up in fright. Drrrk bang, the chair, pushed by a rough force, fell with a loud noise. Although there was a soft carpet on the floor, it couldn’t absorb all the sound.

“Is something wrong?”

As an employee opened the inner door, about to come out after hearing the loud noise, Herald silently waved his hand. At the gesture telling him not to mind and go back in, the employee withdrew his half-extended body and closed the door.

Even at that moment, Herald only looked at Lily. It was the same for Lily too. With an expression as if she wanted to run away right now, her eyes never once avoided Herald’s gaze.

“Lily.”

When Herald called her name, Lily flinched and then lowered her gaze for a long time before speaking.

“…You must mean Baroness Benjamin.”

When Lily raised her head again, her expression was as sorrowful as someone who had given up everything.

“You know… that I’m married. That I have a husband.”

“I know.”

Unable to pretend not to know any longer, Herald readily admitted.

“Then why… did you ask to meet?”

“…”

Unlike earlier when he had answered promptly, Herald couldn’t give any answer. He didn’t know the reason either. More precisely, he had never thought about why he needed to meet her.

The thought of wanting to meet her had suddenly occurred to him, and so he had sent the letter, but when asked for a reason, he felt a bit perplexed.

What was the reason I wanted to meet Liliana Benjamin?

He didn’t entertain any far-fetched thoughts like trying to find out about the relationship between the Second Prince and the Benjamin baronial house. He already knew that Lily knew nothing about it. If that had been the reason, it would have been more appropriate to meet Fredrick Benjamin.

Then what on earth was the reason?

As Herald pondered deeply, he found the answer the moment he saw Lily’s face, stained with worry and anxiety.

It was because he wanted to see her, wanted to see that brightly smiling face of hers.