At the same time when Lily and Herald were talking in the garden.

Fredrick was with Count Stacy on the second floor of the banquet hall, in the resting area. The Count had brought him here saying he had something important to say.

Fredrick, who immediately realized he would meet ‘that person’ the Count had mentioned last time at his mansion, followed behind him with a pounding heart.

But contrary to his expectations, there was no one in the resting area. Count Stacy didn’t specifically say when anyone would come either, he just told him to wait for a while.

Ironically, that part made Fredrick’s heart flutter even more. It meant the person was so great that they didn’t even need to ask for understanding about keeping others waiting.

I think ‘that person’ is really the Second Prince. Though I expected it, I’m still nervous, Fredrick licked his dry lips and stared at the tightly closed door.

How long had he waited like that? It seemed like he’d waited over 30 minutes, but with no one coming, let alone the Second Prince, the tightly wound tension began to loosen. Taking advantage of that gap, other distracting thoughts began to rise hazily.

One of them was about Lily and Herald. Lily was so startled to see Herald’s majestic entrance that her face turned pale, and she left the banquet hall without looking back.

And not long after, Herald came looking for Lily’s whereabouts. To this, Count Stacy calmly lied, and then watched Herald’s retreating back heading in the opposite direction of where he’d told him to go, smiling meaningfully.

‘There seems to be something between those two that I don’t know about.’

As Fredrick was pondering deeply about what that might be, he looked back at the door when he heard a knock. Count Stacy, who had been sitting deep in thought with his body buried in the sofa backrest, turned towards the terrace instead of the door.

Why is he going there? Fredrick wondered as he stared at the Count’s back, but he was startled and stood up abruptly when the terrace door opened and a handsome youth with reddish-gold hair entered.

“I, I greet Your Highness, the Second Prince!”

And he placed his hand on his chest and greeted formally. Derius glanced at Fredrick and then whispered in Count Stacy’s ear. Judging by how the Count’s expression gradually hardened, it didn’t seem to be good news.

Did I make a mistake? I hope my greeting wasn’t wrong. It was entirely possible since this was his first time meeting royalty.

“Viscount Benjamin.”

As Fredrick was chewing his lips anxiously, Count Stacy beckoned him to come closer. Fredrick tightened the loosened strings of tension and approached them.

“Pleased to meet you, Viscount Benjamin.”

When the Second Prince, Derius, smiled and extended his hand, Fredrick bowed deeply, perhaps a bit excessively, and took his hand.

“I am Fredrick Benjamin. I greet Your Highness, the small sun of the Empire.”

Originally, ‘small sun’ was a term used when greeting the Crown Prince, the heir to succeed the Emperor. But Fredrick calling Derius, the Second Prince, the small sun was not a mistake but intentional.

Because he knew Derius’s ambition was great. He deliberately mentioned it to flatter him, and it seemed to work as Derius smiled with satisfaction.

“You must have been very surprised by my sudden entrance through the terrace. It’s because we can’t let others know about this meeting, so please understand.”

“Of course.”

“I like your clear answer. Then let’s get straight to the point.”

Not even sitting down before starting the conversation meant he was either very busy or disrespecting Fredrick. It felt more like the latter, but as a mere viscount couldn’t express dissatisfaction to a prince, Fredrick had no choice but to stay quiet even though he was displeased.

“You know that the previous Viscount Benjamin worked as a royal scribe, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then, do you know that fellow had sticky fingers?”

Having never heard such a thing before, Fredrick didn’t answer.

“I guess you didn’t know. Well, it makes sense since your connection to the Benjamin family was made after that fellow died.”

Derius narrowed his brows and continued speaking.

“We already knew that fellow had a habit of stealing. However, because his work processing ability was excellent and he was the only scribe who could speak Garta, we had no choice but to leave him be… But I never dreamed he would dare to touch my things.”

“Are you saying the previous Viscount Benjamin stole Your Highness’s belongings?”

“That’s right.”

Touching the belongings of royalty was punished as a serious crime regardless of the reason. In the worst case, the entire family could be ruined, so it was hard to believe that the previous Viscount Benjamin had done such a terrible thing.

Perhaps… Are they trying to apply guilt by association and punish me too? Fredrick’s eyes shook, overwhelmed with anxiety.

“Haha, I have no intention of punishing you, so don’t worry.”

Thankfully, that’s not it.

“But since it happened in the family you’re the head of, you can’t completely avoid responsibility.”

Fredrick, who had felt relieved for a moment, flinched at the added words and lowered his gaze. A serious voice was heard above his head.

“I was hoping you could take responsibility and find my belongings that the previous Viscount Benjamin stole… Would that be possible?”

At first glance, it seemed like he was asking for Fredrick’s agreement, but that wasn’t the case. To that clearly coercive question, there was only one answer Fredrick could give.

“Of course. If I can settle the mistake committed by my predecessor by doing so, I will definitely find it.”

“Good. Very reliable.”

Pleased with Fredrick’s answer, Derius smiled contentedly and patted his shoulder.

“If you just find the item, I’ll not only cover up the previous Viscount Benjamin’s mistake but also give you a generous reward, so search hard.”

Fredrick bowed his head in response, meaning he would work hard, then asked.

“But what is this item…?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“…”

Find an item without knowing what it is. Fredrick’s eyes widened slightly, surprised by the unreasonable demand. Derius, meeting his eyes, smiled and continued speaking.

“Even if you don’t know what it is, you’ll immediately recognize it as mine when you find it, so don’t worry.”

Lily hoped the suddenly appeared adulterous couple would disappear quickly, but sadly, they didn’t seem to have any such intention. Embarrassing voices echoed through the quiet garden covered in darkness. It was awkward enough just hearing it, but being in Herald’s arms made it even more embarrassing, so Lily covered both ears and bowed her head deeply.

Thump, thump-

The embarrassing sounds were no longer audible, but instead, she heard heartbeats. As the intense pounding, like running a marathon, was vividly transmitted through her skin rather than her ears, Lily slowly raised her head.

Herald had been looking at Lily since she fell into his arms, so their eyes met directly.

The moon was hidden behind clouds making the surroundings dark, but the golden eyes resembling a black panther were clearly visible. Looking into those eyes that desperately yearned for her, she couldn’t find anything like a lie. As she quietly met his gaze and listened to the heartbeat, her doubts and suspicions gradually disappeared.

This person, then maybe…

“…Do you like me?”

Lily blurted out the question that filled the empty space. She also removed her hands that had been blocking her ears, wanting to hear his answer.

Despite the sudden question, Herald nodded calmly without the slightest surprise.

“Yes. I like you.”

The moonlight that had peeked out from behind the clouds poured down on his head like a spotlight.

“I like you.”

She had thought it was just interest that had evolved into a bit of fondness. Maybe there was a spoonful of sympathy too. She wasn’t sure about that, but she thought he didn’t sincerely like her, but that was her misunderstanding and arrogance.

Because the moment Lily drew the line saying she didn’t want to meet him anymore, he felt like the sky was falling.

Herald had no choice but to admit it, as the emotional change was incomprehensible to be dismissed as mere fondness.

I like this woman, Liliana Benjamin.

After acknowledging that fact, he clearly understood his words and actions towards Lily up until now. He also felt foolish for thinking it was just interest or fondness until now.

If he had realized his feelings earlier, would something have been different?

Herald pondered for a moment looking at the green eyes that fully illuminated his face, and came to the conclusion ‘No.’ This situation had occurred because he had hidden his identity, regardless of their feelings for each other. Nothing would have been different.

I wonder how she thinks of me. Although it was visible that she liked him too, he wanted to hear it directly in words.

“Ah, Count!”

Just as he was about to open his mouth, a rough voice broke the atmosphere. Both Herald and Lily turned towards it with a start.

Still unaware that Lily and Herald were watching, the man and woman exchanged embarrassing conversations about how much fun they had or about meeting again next time.

“Then I’ll go first. If we leave together, we might be suspected.”

After the man left first, the woman left alone sighed softly and then cursed the man in an annoyed voice.

“Dislikeable bastard. Getting excited all by himself…”

“…”

Lily’s mouth gaped wide open at the woman’s completely different reaction, like two sides of a coin. Even after the woman had left, Lily was staring blankly in that direction, shocked by the scene, until Herald took her hand and she turned back to him.

“I’d like you to pay attention to me instead of over there.”

Lily’s cheeks reddened slightly as she remembered his confession, which she had momentarily forgotten due to the shock.

“So what’s your answer?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’d like to hear your answer to my confession.”