Right. Since I received a confession, I should give an answer.

“…….”

Even though Lily knew it was something she obviously had to do, she couldn’t say a word. It wasn’t because she didn’t know how to answer. Rather, she knew too well, she knew exactly what to say, so she couldn’t speak.

Because the moment she answered, her relationship with him would end. That fact choked Lily’s throat and prevented her from speaking.

If only all of this were a dream. Lily took a step back, wanting to escape the current situation so much that she wished even confirming his sincerity and receiving his confession had never happened.

But Herald was holding her hand tightly, so she had to stop after not going far. Lily looked at him with eyes that were already brimming with tears. Seeing her unusual reaction, Herald frowned and quickly closed the remaining distance.

“Why are you crying?”

“…….”

Instead of answering, Lily hung her head low. Plop, a large tear fell onto her dress, which already had clear tear stains.

“Do you still not believe my sincerity?”

Lily shook her bowed head to indicate that wasn’t it, but this time Herald seemed not to believe her, tightly grasping her hand as he said what he hadn’t been able to earlier.

“The reason I couldn’t reveal my real name was because I thought if you knew my identity, if you knew I was the second son of the Duke Maximilian family, you would be shocked and run away.”

He didn’t mention the matter of the Second Prince or anything else. It wasn’t fully clear yet anyway. And if Lily knew that fact, she would surely be greatly shocked, so he judged it better to tell her when it was resolved.

“That’s why I couldn’t say it… I was too foolish. I shouldn’t have deceived you for any reason… I’m truly sorry.”

Herald apologized repeatedly, blaming himself. Lily finally raised her head and grasped his hand that was holding hers tightly.

“I fully understand why you had to hide your identity, so you don’t need to apologize.”

“Then do you also believe my feelings of liking you?”

Lily hesitated briefly at the returning question, but soon nodded. Her expression was too serious for that. With a pale face as if she might collapse at any moment, unable to meet his eyes directly, an ominous feeling crept up.

“Then give me an answer.”

Wanting to confirm her true feelings as soon as possible, Herald moved closer to Lily and asked as if pressing her.

“How do you feel about me? Will you… accept my confession?”

Lily’s long eyelashes trembled as she faced the situation she had so desperately wanted to avoid again. Lily bit her innocent lips hard, but looked straight into his eyes. She realized anew that this wasn’t something she could avoid just because she wanted to, that she couldn’t keep avoiding it forever.

So answer. That’s what’s best for him.

“I… like you too.”

Lily first conveyed her feelings honestly. Because if not now, she would never be able to. Even if it was a relationship with a predetermined end, she didn’t want to hide her feelings too.

So she confessed sincerely, but seeing his face brighten up, she immediately regretted it. I shouldn’t have said it. I should have just kept it to myself, suffering alone for life.

Regret washed over her like a tide, feeling like she had unnecessarily hurt Herald too, but it was already spilled milk. Rather than sitting down and regretting, it seemed better to clean up quickly, so Lily closed her eyes tight and said.

“I like you, but… I can’t accept your confession.”

Deep wrinkles formed on his smooth forehead. As Herald looked at her as if she was talking nonsense, Lily smiled bitterly.

“As you know, I’m married. Even if it’s a loveless marriage, the fact that I have a husband and a family doesn’t change.”

“That’s why I said I would become your lover.”

“Isn’t it that I would become your lover?”

Herald couldn’t say anything in response to the returning question. Because it was true. No matter how much he said otherwise, that he was her lover, people would think the opposite.

Lilliana Benjamin, mistress of Count Herald Breyden. Like that.

“If you knew I was the wife of Viscount Benjamin, you must have heard rumors about me too. Things like a legal wife worse than a mistress, that kind of talk.”

Even though she had heard it countless times, it still pierced her heart like a sharp dagger every time she recalled it. Thinking that Herald must have heard that notorious reputation made her chest ache even more, but Lily continued speaking as if nothing was wrong.

“If I become your lover, I’ll face even harsher glares and a worse reputation than now. The negative modifiers attached to my name will increase too.”

“Lily.”

“I don’t have the confidence to endure that thought. I’m already struggling with all my might to endure as it is… How could I endure something even worse than this? I can’t do it. I absolutely can’t do it.”

Every time Lily shook her head, tears scattered like raindrops. The handsome face watching her became miserably distorted. Herald wanted to wipe away her tears, but Lily lowered her head and refused.

“So… stop this.”

Her voice, wet with tears, echoed faintly on the cool night breeze.

“If we stop here, we can keep what’s happened so far as a good memory… so stop.”

Until just moments ago they had been holding each other’s hands tightly, but now Lily’s palm showed movement as if trying to break free from his hand. But it was only a feeble movement. If Herald made up his mind, she would never be able to escape from his grasp, but…

“I’m begging you, Herald. If you like me… please let me go.”

When the woman he loved called his name properly for the first time and earnestly pleaded, he had no choice but to let her go.

“Thank you.”

Lily showed a pale smile that looked as if it might crumble at any moment, then suddenly left.

“Ha.”

Left alone in the dark garden, Herald laughed as if in self-mockery as he ran his hand through his disheveled hair. He found it ridiculous that he had been rejected as soon as he realized his feelings. It was also absurd that he had expected her to accept his confession, even though he knew she wouldn’t given her personality.

If it was going to be like this, it would have been better not to know. The feelings he had thoughtlessly realized felt spiteful yet dejected.

It’s like this now, but it will be forgotten soon. That’s how emotions are.

Thinking there was no need to worry too much, Herald turned around and something caught his eye.

Lily, who had been walking forward in a daze, thinking only that she needed to get away from Herald or else she would cling to him, came to her senses when she saw the lights of the banquet hall.

“Ah.”

As soon as she came to her senses, she felt a stinging pain across her entire foot. Her leg length didn’t seem to match either.

Wondering what was wrong, Lily lightly lifted the hem of her dress and only then realized she was wearing just one high heel.

Even though she had been distracted, to not even notice her shoe was missing. It was so absurd she couldn’t even laugh.

It must have come off when she was frantically greeting the Second Prince, and she hadn’t put it back on since then, so she must have left it there.

“…….”

Lily looked back at the path she had walked. Going back wouldn’t be difficult, but she was worried about running into Herald.

But I should go back, right? I can’t enter the banquet hall without shoes…

“My lady.”

Just as she was thinking it might be good to wait a little longer and go back when Herald had left, Fredrick called her from behind. Lily’s expression darkened as she recalled her husband’s existence, which she had momentarily forgotten while her mind was full of thoughts of Herald.

Fredrick strode up behind her and roughly turned her around by the shoulders.

“You left without a word, what are you doing here?”

What excuse should she make? Fredrick was quite perceptive, so a flimsy lie wouldn’t work. As she was wondering if she should just vaguely say she came out because she felt stifled, Fredrick continued speaking.

“Never mind. Let’s return to the mansion now.”

“Return… you say?”

The party’s not over yet? Given Fredrick’s personality, she thought he would stay until the end of the party, so she asked again in confusion at him saying they would leave already, and his sharp eyes narrowed.

“Is there a problem?”

“Ah, no. There’s no problem.”

She hadn’t wanted to attend the party anyway, so if they were leaving early, it was welcome news to her.

“Let’s go back quickly.”

If they were returning to the mansion right away, it seemed she wouldn’t need to find her shoe, so Lily gladly gave up on it. However, even though the heel wasn’t that high, there was still a difference, and since her foot was injured, she ended up limping slightly.

He couldn’t possibly not notice as they walked together, but Fredrick didn’t say a word about it. Lily felt relieved rather than hurt by her husband’s attitude. If he had questioned her closely about why she was like that, it would have been difficult to answer. Any attention from Fredrick was unwelcome.

The carriage carrying them quickly left the imperial palace. Fredrick, who had been looking out the window with a pensive expression the whole time, asked Lily as soon as they passed the drawbridge of the imperial capital.

“You said before that Count Stacy and your father were well acquainted, right?”

At the somewhat abrupt question, Lily stared at Fredrick for a moment before slowly nodding.

“Yes. Count Stacy was my father’s superior.”

“Have you perhaps heard anything about Count Stacy from your father? For instance, if your father ever brought any of Count Stacy’s belongings?”

“What… did you just say?”

At the statement that seemed to treat her father as a thief, Lily asked back in an angry voice, and Fredrick crossed his arms and tilted his head.

“I just asked, I don’t understand why you’re reacting so sensitively. Is there perhaps something that’s bothering you?”