Although she spoke confidently on the outside as if she wasn’t scared at all, that wasn’t the case on the inside. Fear and worry swirled like a storm inside her. As she tried to swallow down the occasional impure emotions that tried to surface, countless nail marks appeared on her palms.

“……”

Usually, whenever Lily went against his wishes, Fredrick threatened her using her mother as a hostage. So she expected him to do the same this time, but surprisingly, he didn’t say anything. Glancing sideways at Herald, it seemed he was gauging his reaction.

Really, not only his personality but his actions are the epitome of cowardice. Lily deeply regretted choosing such a man as her husband.

An awkward and heavy silence flowed in the hallway. Fredrick, whose face was full of evident displeasure, alternated between looking at Lily and Herald before closing his eyes tightly and opening them again.

“I’ll excuse myself first, Duke. I hope we can have a pleasant conversation next time.”

His words emphasized that the current situation was very unpleasant. Herald was about to sarcastically remark that such a thing would never happen even if he died and came back to life, but ended with just a nod of his head. He was worried Lily would feel uncomfortable if he added more words here. Above all, it was a composure he could afford as the victor.

Fredrick only glanced at his wife without any separate parting words. Lily considered that fortunate while simultaneously feeling anxious. She had a strong feeling like the night before a fierce storm hits. How big of a bomb was he holding back from detonating later? Just thinking about it made her mouth go dry and her vision swim.

“Are you alright?”

Herald asked worriedly as Lily’s expression didn’t improve even after Fredrick left.

“No.”

Lily answered honestly, as she wasn’t in the mood to say she was fine even as a formality, and it would be obvious if she lied anyway.

“I’m not alright at all… but I have to try to be.”

From the moment she chose Herald over Fredrick, she had anticipated the aftermath. Although she was worried the repercussions might be greater than expected, she didn’t regret it. More precisely, she didn’t even have time to regret. It was wiser to spend that time pondering how to deal with Fredrick.

“I just hope he doesn’t touch my mother….”

If only that didn’t happen, Lily was confident she could endure any insults or verbal abuse Fredrick unleashed.

The problem was that the possibility of Fredrick not touching her mother was more scarce than finding a needle in a desert. He knew better than anyone that her mother was her weakness.

There was no way Fredrick would take a detour when he had the easiest path to make her submit. Thinking of her mother, regret deepened and a bitter smile spread across her chapped lips.

“……….”

Herald’s expression also became solemn as he watched her. Judging by how she was worrying about her mother instead of herself even in this situation, it seemed Fredrick had been threatening her using Grace Benjamin as a hostage. That was probably why Lily feared Fredrick to a somewhat puzzling degree.

If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have just sent him back. Herald swallowed his irritation inwardly and said,

“If you need my help, tell me anytime. I’ll help with anything.”

Lily shook her head with a faint smile.

“It’s okay. This is my issue, so I’ll handle it myself.”

She had already received so much help from him that it would take a lifetime to repay, so she couldn’t receive his assistance even for this personal and trivial matter. Thinking it was right to resolve this much on her own, Lily refused, but Herald didn’t back down either. He held Lily’s hand tightly and spoke seriously.

“I want to help you as someone who likes you, so don’t decline.”

Lily’s face flushed red as she remembered how she had boldly told him she liked him. Lily curled the hand held by Herald inward and stammered.

“Th-that’s not what I meant.”

“I don’t know what you meant, but that’s what I meant.”

Saying he didn’t know the meaning but spoke with that meaning. Lily looked at him, slightly flustered by his words that were clearly teasing her. Herald’s lips curved up after confirming the green eyes where fear had somewhat dissipated.

“There’s no one in this world who wants to see the person they like having a hard time.”

Herald intertwined his fingers between Lily’s. The web-like entangled fingers tried to bind even her heart. As they tangled in a snare she could never escape, Lily could only helplessly fall for it.

“So don’t reject my help, Lily.”

“…..I can’t do that.”

Lily, who barely came to her senses, avoided his gaze that entangled more tenaciously than a spider web and stammered.

“I’m doing this all for you, Duke. Because nothing good will come from being involved with me… I’m doing this because I don’t want to cause you harm, so please understand my feelings.”

Lily also tried to pull out her hand held by Herald, but Herald didn’t let go. Rather, he held it tighter, making Lily look at him again.

“If you’re thinking of me, then all the more reason not to refuse, Lily.”

The golden eyes that held her slightly dazed appearance didn’t contain a hint of playfulness.

“It’s more difficult and painful to do nothing and just watch while the person I like is having a hard time.”

When he said that much, she couldn’t firmly refuse. But Lily, who couldn’t accept his feelings either, had a darkened expression. Dark clouds covered Lily’s face as she stood at a crossroads of choice.

“Come to think of it, there’s something I’d like to ask too….”

Herald, leaning his upper body towards Lily, whispered a request in her ear as if confiding.

“Please tell me you like me just one more time.”

“…..!”

As Lily’s face turned completely bright red like a well-ripened tomato, Herald let out a small laugh. He disliked tomatoes, but he felt he could eat the tomato in front of him as much as he wanted.

Unlike Lily’s expectation that he would have another purpose, Fredrick came to the convalescent hospital to meet Grace Benjamin. Of course, it wasn’t a pure visit to see a patient. He came to ask if she knew about the Second Prince’s item stolen by Madison Benjamin.

But he heard a rather absurd story from Margaret that Lily had come to visit with some man. After confirming that man was Herald, Fredrick gave a hollow laugh. He knew Lily and Herald weren’t on ordinary terms, but he didn’t know their relationship was deep enough to visit a patient together.

It was a bit unpleasant to hear that his wife, whom he thought was chaste, was meeting another man, but it wasn’t a bad thing. After all, he could establish ties with not only Herald Braden but also the Duke of Maximilian, so it was rather fortunate.

It would be good to make a strong impression on that man this time.

Fredrick was about to go straight to Grace Benjamin’s hospital room, but changed his mind after hearing that Lily wanted to meet Charles Dudley.

“Have the two meet right now. Report to me in detail why they want to meet.”

Margaret faithfully carried out Fredrick’s order. The waiting time became longer as he waited for Charles Dudley to test Grace Benjamin’s condition, but it wasn’t boring at all.

Rather, he was curious and even excited about how Lily would react when she found out the result. He wasn’t very curious about the test results as he already knew how they would turn out.

“Madam Grace Benjamin had another fit.”

As expected. Although he predicted it would be like that, it still made him feel at ease to clearly confirm it. After hearing the news that Lily, who witnessed Grace Benjamin having a fit, fell into deep despair and even Herald was repulsed, Fredrick laughed out loud.

Fredrick waited for Lily to struggle a bit more in the swamp of despair before visiting the hospital room. But Lily was nowhere to be seen. Judging by the bag still there, she hadn’t left. Given her personality, there was no way she would leave her mother who had a fit, so he wondered where she went.

Herald was also not seen, so maybe she went to see him off. Fredrick, who came out of the hospital room again, found the two soon after.

Contrary to Margaret’s story that he was repulsed, Herald looked fine. As for Lily being in deep despair, that seemed true, as tear marks were evident on her face.

Fredrick had no intention of taking Lily back, but his mind changed at Herald’s attitude of treating him like a ruffian. He wanted to see that arrogant face crumble.

Fredrick was convinced Lily would choose him. Because he held her mother’s life. Hearing that Grace Benjamin’s condition was getting worse, he firmly believed she absolutely wouldn’t be able to defy him.

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t choose the Duke over you?”

But his belief was completely shattered. Fredrick wanted to retort if she was in her right mind, but he couldn’t do that because Herald was watching, so he had to turn around.

Swallowing the terrible humiliation of losing a match he thought he would surely win.

Thud-

“……”

As the carriage shook greatly after hitting a boulder, Fredrick opened his tightly closed eyes. The carriage had already entered the city. Fredrick, who was indifferently watching the diligently moving pedestrians, opened his mouth.

“You said the preparations are all done.”

Robert, who sat across from him, answered loyally.

“Yes. If you wish, we can execute it right away.”

“Then execute it immediately.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

When Robert asked carefully with great concern, Fredrick smiled, tilting his lips obliquely.

“It’s fine.”

An eerie flash of light settled in the eyes that had shown no emotion.

“Compared to what that woman did to me, this much is nothing, so don’t worry and execute it.”