Austin found Herald again at a late hour close to midnight. Thanks to this, contrary to what he had planned, Herald stayed one more night at the Crown Prince’s palace and went to see him right away.

“Here’s the investigation report on the fire incident at the Baron Benjamin’s estate.”

Having waited until late, he had hoped it would be perfectly prepared, but there was only the investigation report, and the investigator in charge was nowhere to be seen.

“Couldn’t find the investigator?”

“I found him, but he’s not in the capital.”

“Not in the capital?”

“Yes. I heard he was dispatched to Equaide about half a year ago.”

Equaide was a port city in the south of the empire, and being dispatched there meant being demoted.

“I guess he must have committed a big mistake?”

“It’s not that, he requested to go to Equaide first.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know that either. The application form just said personal reasons.”

Austin shrugged and continued.

“As it happened, an investigator was needed in Equaide, and since an applicant appeared, the higher-ups must have thought, ‘That’s right,’ and sent him.”

“So what’s the name of the investigator in charge?”

“Louis Rebecca. The eldest son of the Viscount Rebecca family.”

Louis Rebecca. I thought I had heard the name somewhere, and it was Kennedy Stacy’s former fiancé.

Although called a fiancé, it was said that Louis Rebecca was no different from Count Stacy’s dog. Even after the engagement was broken off, there were frequent stories that he would do anything the count told him to do, even bark if ordered.

It was no coincidence that such a person was in charge of the fire incident at Baron Benjamin’s estate. Even if the assignment was a coincidence, everything afterwards would have been done as Count Stacy ordered.

And Count Stacy probably relayed to Louis Rebecca what the Second Prince ordered.

“This investigator, he’s Kennedy Stacy’s former fiancé, right?”

Austin had also looked into that part and asked.

“That’s right. So, do you think you can bring this guy to the capital?”

“It’s not difficult to bring him, but it’s almost impossible to do it secretly. It takes at least ten days to come from Equaide to the capital, even at the fastest, and it would take at least a month to send him back afterwards. If he disappears for so long without taking a leave of absence, everyone will be suspicious.”

Especially Derius. Austin added lightly.

It was all true. There were too many risk factors to just say bring him anyway even if no one knows. Especially since there could be problems with Lily’s safety, Herald couldn’t just push ahead without thinking.

Then should I go? That too would take too much time, and while he was pondering, Austin said,

“It’s late today, so let’s sleep and talk again tomorrow.”

“…Alright.”

Herald had no intention of sleeping right now, but he couldn’t torment Austin into not sleeping either, so he returned to the assigned bedroom for now.

What caught Herald’s eye as he sat on the sofa was one shoe that Lily had left behind, like a princess from a fairy tale.

“…”

A dark shadow passed over Herald’s eyes as he picked up the shoe. Similarly, the prince in the fairy tale who picked up the shoe searched the entire village to find its owner, and eventually found the princess and married her.

But why can’t I do it? Because I’m not a prince from a fairy tale? Because she’s not a princess from a fairy tale?

“How foolish.”

It was so absurd that he was thinking such thoughts when he should be thoroughly examining the investigation report for any loopholes. Feeling like a fool to himself, Herald put down the shoe with a self-deprecating smile.

That shoe should be returned to its owner.

If he sent it to Baron Benjamin’s estate, it might catch Fredrick Benjamin’s eye, so he had to find a way to deliver it secretly like before.

She said she visits her mother alone every Thursday, so it might be good to give it to her then. As much as he wanted to see her face and give it to her directly, that would make Lily uncomfortable, so it would be better to leave it at the hospital.

“…”

Herald frowned as he felt a sharp pain near his heart. It was maddening that just thinking about her made his heart ache.

‘When will this pain disappear.’

Herald picked up the investigation report, hoping it would disappear soon. Reading this would make him think of Lily even more, but he had no choice. He decided to willingly endure the pain because solving this problem would allow him to return to Cardin, and Lily would be safe too.

“…”

Lily stared blankly at the handkerchief neatly placed on the dressing table. It was Herald’s handkerchief. Regardless of ending the relationship, it was right to return a borrowed item.

“It’s right to return it, but…”

Why did she not want to? It wasn’t awkward, and the feeling of ‘dislike’ was strange, so Lily sighed repeatedly. Meanwhile, her gaze remained fixed on the handkerchief. After glaring at the handkerchief for a long time as if having a staring contest, she clenched her fist and stood up.

“Let’s return it.”

No matter how much she hesitated because she didn’t want to, it only deepened her worries and solved nothing. Thinking that she should finish quickly since it was something she had to do anyway, Lily put the handkerchief in a pretty box.

But is it okay to just send the handkerchief alone? When returning a borrowed item, it’s polite to give an appropriate thank-you gift along with it.

“…”

At this sudden question, her hand about to close the box lid hesitated. If this was the only time she had received help from Herald, she could have ignored it, but that wasn’t the case, so it bothered her even more.

“I think I should send something along with it…”

I wonder if there’s anything suitable. Lily checked all the items she had, including the dressing table drawers, but there was nothing appropriate. As the second son of the Duke Maximilian family, he probably already had more than enough jewels, and giving money was ridiculous.

There were methods like personally embroidering the borrowed handkerchief, but unfortunately, Lily’s embroidery skills were terrible. It also didn’t seem right to give a heartfelt gift in return after saying to end it, to let go.

Then what should I send? Should I just write a simple letter? While contemplating, looking at the box containing the neatly folded handkerchief, the door suddenly opened without a knock.

Lily startled and closed the box lid. She wanted to hide the box too, but unfortunately, there wasn’t time for that.

“What are you doing in your room on such a nice day?”

The rude uninvited guest was Samantha. Her visit wasn’t welcome either, but it was a hundred, no, a thousand times better than Fredrick. Quickly calming her startled heart, Lily asked calmly.

“What brings you here?”

“Do I need a reason to walk around my own house?”

“…”

Judging by how she was nitpicking from the start, she didn’t seem to be in a good mood. Lily was also annoyed at being suddenly attacked, but not wanting to fight over such a trivial matter, she let it pass.

“I came about going to the temple. I thought about sending a message through a maid, but since it’s an important matter, I thought it would be better to tell you directly.”

Temple? What temple… Ah.

Belatedly recalling that Samantha had said she was going to the temple to receive a date for having a child, Lily’s face turned slightly pale.

The breakfast she had forced down at Samantha’s rebuke not to nibble because it ruined her appetite felt like it was about to come back up. Since she had to endure until Samantha left, Lily bit the inside of her lip and lowered her gaze for a long time.

“They’re not taking reservations for the next month because their schedule is full, so be grateful to me for begging and getting one.”

Lily let Samantha’s nonsense go in one ear and out the other.

“I’ve set the appointment for this Thursday at 3 PM.”

But the words that followed couldn’t be ignored. Surprised, Lily looked at Samantha and said.

“I have to visit my mother at the nursing home on Thursday afternoon.”

“Ha!”

Samantha snorted as if extremely dumbfounded and put her hands on her hips.

“You’re saying you won’t go to the temple because of a mere hospital visit? After I struggled to make this appointment?”

“I’m sorry.”

Lily apologized with a bow to refuse. If it were any other matter, she would have adjusted or canceled the prior engagement, but she couldn’t give up visiting her mother.

How could she give up seeing her mother for only 4 hours, just once a week? There was no way she could accept the demand to not visit her mother because of an unwanted child.

Samantha glared at Lily with eyes mixed with anger and irritation, then soon smiled as if in disbelief and crossed her arms.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something. I didn’t come here to ask for your consent. I came to inform you.”

“Mother.”

“You will definitely go to the temple that day, so be ready and waiting by 1 PM. If you disobey my words, you won’t be able to see your mother’s face not only that day but also in the future, so keep that in mind.”

Lily could only keep her mouth shut at the threat that left her speechless. Samantha, who had been looking at Lily with scornful eyes as she remained silent like a mute who had eaten honey, suddenly noticed the gift box placed on the dressing table.

“What’s that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? Who gave you a gift? Who? Don’t tell me Fredrick gave it to you?”

Before Lily could answer, Samantha strode over and picked up the box.

“Give it back!”

Lily reached out, more flustered than when she heard about going to visit on Thursday. But Samantha didn’t even pretend to listen and eventually checked what was inside the box.

“A handkerchief? Is it yours?”

“Yes, it’s mine. So please give it back.”

What if she takes it away? Contrary to her worries, Samantha readily returned the box.

“This Thursday, 1 PM. Don’t forget.”

And she left the bedroom, leaving a warning.