“Give it to me.”

Dillon stared incredulously at Herald, who extended his hand without even a simple greeting like “Did you come?”. Although Herald was known to be free-spirited for a duke’s son, not caring much about formalities and etiquette, there was a clear difference between being informal and being rude.

Perhaps that’s why. Dillon didn’t want to give Herald the letter. From the beginning, he wasn’t comfortable with Herald and Lily exchanging letters.

If it was just to convey information, there was no need to exchange carefully written letters. He also didn’t like that Herald had been waiting eagerly for Lily’s letter.

It also bothered him that Eric had misunderstood Lily as Herald’s lover. What on earth had he explained to cause such a misunderstanding?

As Dillon stood still without giving Lily’s letter, Herald frowned.

“Why are you just standing there? Is something wrong?”

“…No, sir.”

Dillon swallowed his discontent, worry, and sigh internally. Then he took out the letter from his breast pocket and handed it to Herald. Herald quickly grabbed the letter and waved his hand as if to say “You may go now.”

But Dillon didn’t leave and asked instead.

“When do you plan to return to Kardin?”

Herald tilted his head back slightly and looked at Dillon.

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Well, it’s been a long time since you left Kardin. Though there shouldn’t be any major problems for a while now that the Salaman tribe has been subjugated, I think it’s not good to be away from your post for too long.”

“That’s true.”

Herald was still the chief commander of the Kardin Guard, and a group without its leader was no better than a disorganized rabble, so it was right to return to Kardin as soon as possible.

“I’m also doing my best to return to Kardin quickly, so don’t rush me too much. I can only go back after resolving the issue with the Second Prince.”

“Haven’t you already found out why the Second Prince is investigating the Benjamin Viscount’s residence?”

“It’s just a guess. A guess without definitive evidence.”

Even so, if you’ve found out that much, shouldn’t His Highness the Crown Prince handle the rest?

Dillon swallowed the words lingering in his mouth. Unless he was as close to Austin as Herald was, it wasn’t something he, who had just barely put on the skin of nobility, should dare to say.

“If you can’t find evidence, does that mean you’ll never be able to return to Kardin?”

“Of course not. I’ll definitely find it, so don’t worry about that.”

“Do you have a method in mind?”

“I do have one… but I’m debating whether to use it or not.”

Because if he used that method to achieve his immediate dream, he would have to sacrifice something else. Herald looked down at Lily’s letter with a bitter smile.

On the day they were supposed to go to Count Stacy’s residence, Fredrick came to pick up Lily without fail. She had found it strange that he used to tell her to come to the destination on her own, but now his attitude had changed in just a few days. Now she understood why.

‘He’s trying to keep an eye on me.’

It was certainly to monitor whether she was doing anything foolish. The foolishness he was thinking of was probably an affair.

The timing of when she met Herald and when Fredrick’s attitude changed was similar, so it must be certain. There’s a saying that when I do it, it’s romance, but when others do it, it’s adultery. It matched Fredrick’s mindset exactly.

…Though she wasn’t in a position to talk.

Suddenly reminded of Herald, Lily hurriedly looked out the window. Her face, faintly reflected on the rapidly changing scenery, was slightly flushed. Just thinking about that man for a moment made her face like this. Thinking it foolish even to herself, Lily wrinkled her nose bridge.

“I was thinking of holding the memorial service on the first Wednesday of May. What do you think, my lady?”

Fredrick, who had been lost in thought looking out the window since getting in the carriage, suddenly spoke up. Lily squinted at him suspiciously, finding it strange that Fredrick, who had shown no interest in her father’s death anniversary before, was now oddly obsessed with the memorial service.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t you like the date?”

It’s not the date I don’t like, but your attitude. What exactly are you thinking?

Lily swallowed the words she couldn’t bring herself to say and nodded.

“It doesn’t seem bad, but why specifically the first Wednesday of May?”

“The priest who will conduct the memorial service said that’s the only time he’s available.”

“You’ve already found a priest?”

With nearly a month left? Lily asked, slightly surprised, and Fredrick smiled.

“To make an appointment with a skilled priest, you need to start moving at least a month in advance. Even the intermediate-level priest I booked had a good reputation and was fully booked, but luckily someone canceled and I was able to secure the spot.”

Not even a low-level priest, but an intermediate-level one. It was one surprise after another. This made her even more curious about what Fredrick was up to, but no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t guess. After all, holding a memorial service for her father would hardly benefit him. At most, it would improve his public image.

‘But he’s not the type to care about image.’

A man who wouldn’t hesitate to warm the beds of noble ladies if he could make money was unlikely to suddenly start caring about his image now.

“If you have no objections, I’ll set the date for then.”

“Alright.”

As long as it wasn’t on Thursday when she visited her mother, any day was fine.

“When do I need to finalize the memorial service schedule? I have some rough ideas, but I haven’t decided anything for certain yet… Since we need to inform the priest as well, would it be okay to decide by the end of this week?”

“There’s still time until the memorial service, so you can take your time.”

Lily had thought the same and hadn’t set a specific schedule, but hearing that Fredrick had already booked a priest made her feel rushed. It would be better for both of them if she didn’t dawdle and made plans quickly, so she decided to work on the plan within this week.

While pondering how to organize the memorial service, they had already arrived at Count Stacy’s residence.

“Welcome.”

Not only Count and Countess Stacy, but also Kennedy were waiting in the central hall. When Kennedy’s eyes met Lily’s, she flinched in surprise, her shoulders rising, and turned her head away. Judging by the irritation and discontent clearly visible under her eyes, it seemed she hadn’t come out voluntarily.

They moved to the terrace with a clear view of the beautiful garden. The tea table was lavishly set with cakes, sandwiches, cookies, and other refreshments.

This looks like enough to skip dinner. Lily sat down in the chair that Fredrick pulled out for her, contemplating ways to avoid attending the scheduled dinner. As Fredrick sat down next to her, Countess Stacy, sitting across from them, smiled contentedly.

“I’ve always felt this, but you two really suit each other well.”

At these absurd words, Lily’s hand, which was about to pick up her tea, paused. In contrast, Fredrick smiled brightly.

“Thank you for your kind words, Countess.”

“There’s no need to be so formal. Lily is like a daughter to me. And the Viscount, as Lily’s husband, is like a son-in-law to me. Oh, I hope that’s not offensive?”

“Not at all. It feels reassuring, as if I’ve gained good parents.”

“Then I should treat the Viscount like a son too.”

The sound of laughter and chatter echoed widely across the terrace basking in warm sunlight. Lily drank her coffee, dismissing whatever they said as if it were just a passing dog’s bark. The unsweetened coffee was as bitter as the current situation.

“Why are the people of the Herman Kingdom so inflexible? If they were just a little more accommodating, it would be easier for everyone, but they’re so stubborn that it’s uncomfortable to deal with them.”

Count Stacy sighed softly and looked at Lily.

“Lily, have you ever met people from the Herman Kingdom?”

Why is he suddenly dragging me into this? Lily suppressed an internal sigh and placed her teacup back on the saucer.

“No, I’ve never met any.”

“Then how are you so good at the Garta language?”

“I learned from books. My father also taught me.”

“Oh, right. That’s right. Madison was very good at the Garta language.”

Count Stacy’s eyes were slightly moist as if recalling memories as he nodded. Lily found his behavior disgusting, acting friendly now when he had callously turned his back on her before.

It was also impossible to gauge Count Stacy’s intentions. If he simply needed her abilities and was extending an olive branch, there would be no need for such an act.

“I heard you’re planning to hold a memorial service for this death anniversary, is that right?”

When Countess Stacy asked, Fredrick answered.

“Yes. We’re planning to do it in the first week of May.”

“Oh my, that’s not far off. Are the preparations going well? If you need any help, just let me know. I’m always ready to help.”

“Please help me! Please… just help me this once!”

Over the kind voice, Lily heard her own desperate cry from that time when she had been drenched in rain. She tightly clenched her hands that had been neatly placed on her knees.

She was taking deep breaths, telling herself not to show her emotions now, not to think about it, when a small, pale hand grasped hers.

“I’m so glad to see Lily after such a long time. Would it be alright if we talked for a moment, just the two of us?”

It was Kennedy. Lily squinted one eye and looked at her, puzzled by the sudden request. Kennedy, meeting her gaze, gave a subtle wink. Lily was perplexed by this cryptic signal.

“Of course. But you need to return within an hour. We have business matters to discuss after that.”

“We will. Let’s go, Lily.”

“…”

Which would be better, staying here or following Kennedy?

Lily hesitated for a moment before standing up. Unlike with Fredrick or Count and Countess Stacy, she didn’t have to put on a facade in front of Kennedy. Maybe she could even hear why they were pretending to be friendly now when they had turned their backs on her two years ago. So she quietly followed Kennedy’s lead.