In an instant, her body was pushed back and a broad back blocked her view. Startled and about to scream, Lily’s eyes widened in recognition of the familiar scent instead.

“Dillon…?”

Though she knew his real name, this one was still familiar and came out reflexively. Perhaps because she didn’t use his real name, Herald didn’t respond. Instead, the man who had kindly comforted Lily earlier asked:

“I believe Dillon is the name of your aide who just became a baron… Am I mistaken, Count Breyden?”

Again, Herald did not answer. Lily couldn’t see Herald’s face from her position, so she couldn’t tell what expression he was making, but she could sense the atmosphere was not normal.

The man shrugged and continued speaking.

“It’s been a while since we last met, are you just going to glare? Is that how you show respect to the imperial family?”

When the man mentioned the imperial family, Herald let out a small sigh, then placed his hand on his chest and greeted formally.

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness the Second Prince.”

That man… is a prince?

Unable to believe her own ears, Lily stared at the man with dazed eyes. The man scratched his cheek with an awkward smile. It was an affirmation.

“Y-Your Highness, I greet you.”

Lily hurriedly bowed, nearly losing her hastily put-on shoes. Though her posture was a mess due to her flustered state, the Second Prince didn’t say anything.

“I apologize for not telling you earlier, my lady.”

His polite apology made her even more bewildered. As Lily tried to say it was fine, that he didn’t need to apologize, Herald grabbed her arm again and hid her behind his back.

Because of that, her loose shoe rolled under the chair she had been sitting on. Lily wanted to go pick up the shoe, but Herald was gripping her arm tightly, making it impossible.

“What is your reason for approaching her?”

Unlike Herald, who was tense and wary, the face of the Second Prince, Derius, was full of leisure. Derius answered with an amused smile, as if he had just heard an interesting story.

“I merely comforted a lady who was crying pitifully… Was that wrong?”

“Is that really the only reason?”

“What else?”

Derius tilted his head.

“Are you suggesting there’s another reason? I’d like to know what that might be.”

“Would you admit it if I told you?”

“Well. It depends on what the Count has to say.”

Amidst the tense standoff with neither side giving an inch, Lily, who knew nothing, just darted her eyes back and forth between the two men. Even as he conversed with the Second Prince, Herald’s hand gripping her arm also worried her. Though she wanted to ask him to let go, the atmosphere was too intense for her to find a chance to interject.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

As she was wondering what to do, a voice anxiously calling for Derius could be heard not far away.

“Since they’re looking for you so urgently, why don’t you go, Your Highness.”

“…”

Seeming to catch Herald’s true intent of telling him to get lost hidden behind the politeness, Derius slightly furrowed his brows and looked towards where the voice was coming from.

“…I have been away for a while.”

When he turned back to Herald, the irritation had completely disappeared from his face, leaving only a gentle smile.

“Shouldn’t the Count be heading back soon too? The guest of honor shouldn’t be sneaking away from the party like this.”

“I’ll take care of my own business, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Well, alright. The Count does handle things well on his own.”

Derius shrugged and continued.

“Then, before I go, may I say farewell to the lady?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Herald gripped Lily’s arm even tighter. There was no way he would allow it. According to his investigation, there was a very high probability that Derius was behind the arson at the Benjamin viscounty residence two years ago and the murder of Lily’s father, the previous Viscount Benjamin.

In other words, it meant there was a possibility he would harm Lily as well, so Herald wanted to prevent Derius from approaching her at all costs.

However, from Lily’s perspective, who knew nothing, Herald’s behavior was incomprehensible. She twisted her tightly held arm free and demanded:

“I need to greet His Highness, so let go of me.”

“…”

“Hey.”

Lily demanded again, but Herald didn’t budge.

“Your Highness!”

Meanwhile, the man who had been anxiously calling for the Second Prince arrived. It was Derius’s aide.

“Ah, Count Breyden is here too.”

The aide didn’t seem to notice Lily, only greeting Herald before speaking to Derius.

“Let’s go, Your Highness. Everyone is waiting.”

Everyone is waiting? Herald’s eyes narrowed at the meaningful statement. Derius glanced sidelong at Herald, then left with his aide without a word of goodbye.

Even after Derius departed, Herald didn’t let his guard down. He continued holding onto Lily’s arm.

“…”

Lily stared blankly at that hand. She knew she should shake it off. She knew she should shout at him for deceiving her and shake off his hand, but she couldn’t because of a glimmer of hope.

Maybe there was another reason he didn’t reveal his true identity? Maybe the kind and caring words and actions he had shown her were sincere.

As the vain hopes grew, so did her disappointment. It was disappointment in herself. To still not come to her senses after being deceived like that. No wonder she gets fooled, stupid Liliana.

“Let go of me.”

“Ah.”

When Lily demanded, Herald seemed to finally come to his senses. He let out a short exclamation and released her arm.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Contrary to her words, Lily slightly furrowed her brows and rubbed the arm Herald had been holding. It was slightly numb from being held for so long.

“Let me see.”

When Herald tried to touch her arm, Lily shook her head and stepped back.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Lily.”

“Don’t call me that either.”

Even at this moment, his voice calling her name sounded so sweet that she felt like crying, but Lily held it in. She didn’t want to cry in front of a man who had deceived and betrayed her like Fredrick.

“Please call me Viscountess Benjamin from now on. I’ll call you Count Breyden too. Though I’m not sure if I’ll ever have a reason to call you.”

Herald frowned at her words, which were tantamount to drawing a line in their relationship and saying she never wanted to see him again. His hand naturally gripped Lily’s arm again, and when she let out a small groan, he startled and quickly let go.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“…”

Watching Herald at a loss over simply gripping her arm too tightly made her vain hopes grow even more. Maybe there was a reason he had to lie about his identity?

“Why… did you lie about being Dillon Oppenheimer?”

Even if he really meant to deceive her, Lily asked bluntly because she wanted to hear the reason. As if he hadn’t expected her to ask so directly, Herald hesitated for a moment before bowing his head in apology.

“I’m truly sorry for lying. I have no excuse for that part.”

“I don’t want an apology, I want to hear the reason.”

Lily gripped her dress skirt so tightly it wrinkled.

“I told you the truth. I shared even difficult things to say… but everything from you was a lie.”

“Absolutely not.”

Herald firmly denied it and looked at Lily. His golden eyes, which captured her face trembling with indignation and betrayal, were more desperate than ever.

“I know saying this won’t make you believe me at all when I lied about my name and status… but everything I said and did with you was sincere.”

After parting with Lily, he had often pondered why he had acted that way, but those actions were never false. In those moments, he had treated Lily sincerely. And his current desire to hold onto her by any means necessary was also sincere.

At Herald’s answer, Lily chuckled as if she had heard an amusing joke, then tilted her head slightly.

“You’re saying that Count Herald Breyden, second son of the Maximilian ducal family, hero of the empire, and a count, sincerely meant to become the lover of the mistress of a lowly viscount family? How am I supposed to believe that?”

Herald felt disappointed that Lily didn’t believe his words, but he also understood. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. If he were in her position, he would have distrusted himself too.

As Herald was about to make excuses, even if they sounded pathetic, and ask how he could make her believe him, there was a rustling sound from the bushes.

“Let’s go over there.”

Soon after, voices of people could be heard. Lily flinched in surprise and pressed close to Herald. It wasn’t intentional. She just wanted to hide her body in the darkness, and Herald happened to be there.

“Oh my, what if someone sees us doing this here?”

“It’s fine. This is a secluded spot, no one comes here.”

Murmuring voices could be heard from beyond the bushes, soon changing to embarrassing sounds. Seeing the shadows of two people overlapping in the bright moonlight filtering through the trees, Lily swallowed hard and stepped back further.

Her head bumped against a firm chest. Only then realizing how excessively close she was to Herald, Lily tried to move away immediately. But she couldn’t because he had wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Shh, be quiet.”

His low voice resonated in her ear along with his hot breath, making her long eyelashes flutter. Lily wanted to tell him to move away right now, but because of the couple having a tryst behind the bushes, she couldn’t and had to stay still in his arms.