Herald neglected the mansion bestowed upon him by the emperor, using the excuse that it was bothersome. There was no reason to manage a mansion in the capital when he would eventually return to Cardin anyway. If he had business in the capital, he could just use the Maximilian ducal residence.

However, the Duchess Maximilian had different thoughts. She had no intention of sending her beloved son back to the dangerous border, and firmly believed he would start his newlywed life at the Braden estate.

Therefore, the Duchess Maximilian took special care in managing the Braden estate, ensuring it was cleaned thoroughly and fully furnished.

Given that it was a mansion granted by the emperor and carefully managed by his mother, one would expect Herald to visit at least once, but he did not. Even when the duchess urged him to go, feeling frustrated, he only agreed but never showed up.

“The young master said to secretly bring two tight-lipped maids and come to the Braden estate, head butler.”

So when Coleman Jones, the old butler of the Maximilian family, was told that Herald was at the Braden estate, it was natural for him to be puzzled. He even wondered if it was really true that Herald had called for him. If anyone other than Herald’s aide, Dillon, had relayed the message, he would have asked if it was true.

“Ah, and he also said to bring medicine for removing bruises when you come.”

Why was that necessary? If Herald was injured, he would have asked to call a doctor, not bring medicine. Above all, Herald was the type to brush off even severe bruises, saying they were just bruises.

“Understood.”

Although full of questions, the old butler who had devoted over 30 years to the Maximilian family nodded in agreement without asking. That’s how a servant should be. Coleman Jones immediately headed to the Braden estate with two tight-lipped maids, as Herald had ordered.

The Braden estate was located on the same Royal White Street as the Maximilian estate. It was a street where only high-ranking nobles of viscount rank and above resided, and the Stacy estate was also on this street.

Even though they were on the same street, the area was so large that it took over 30 minutes by carriage. Remembering Herald’s request to come secretly, Coleman Jones and the maids got off in an alley a short distance from the Braden estate. They also used the back gate instead of the main gate when entering the estate.

Although the Duchess Maximilian was managing the mansion, she did not hire servants. There was no master to serve, and she could just send servants from the ducal residence when needed, so there was no need to hire them.

The atmosphere of the Braden estate, lacking human warmth, was eerie. If it weren’t for the clean maintenance, one might have mistaken it for an abandoned house. The atmosphere wasn’t this terrifying when they came during the day. It was when Coleman Jones was walking down the second-floor corridor, trying to recall his memory.

“You’ve come.”

“…!”

When a baritone voice was heard from inside the corridor, where they thought no one would be, Coleman Jones and the maids were startled and stepped back. A maid stumbled and fell, making a loud noise, but no one turned to look.

The servants, who were looking in the direction of the voice with pale faces, sighed in relief when they saw a familiar face appear under the faint moonlight. The maid who had been sitting on the floor also quickly got up.

“It was you, young master.”

Herald chuckled and crossed his arms.

“You couldn’t recognize my voice? I’m very disappointed, Coleman.”

“Ah, that’s not it….”

“I’m joking.”

It didn’t sound like a joke at all, but since Herald said so, Coleman Jones forced a laugh. Of course, it was a natural laugh that looked sincere on the outside.

Herald glanced at the maids standing behind Coleman and asked Coleman.

“They’re all tight-lipped, right?”

“Yes. You don’t need to worry about that, young master.”

“Really?”

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Coleman’s words, but Herald felt he needed to make sure, so he instructed the maids.

“Forget everything you see and hear here the moment you leave the mansion. If word gets out elsewhere… You know what will happen without me having to say it, right?”

The maids politely clasped their hands, bowed their heads, and replied that they would. Herald reconfirmed the maids’ faces and turned around.

“Just follow me.”

Coleman Jones and the maids, who had been silently following Herald, widened their eyes when he stopped in front of a certain room. That room was the bedroom to be used by the future wife of Herald, the Countess of Braden.

“……”

Left alone as Herald briefly stepped out, Lily sat on the plush sofa and looked around the room. Everything from the bed to the sofa, even the carpet, was of the highest quality. On the walls hung famous paintings that even she, an outsider to art, knew by name, and the decorations all looked expensive. The room was also twice the size of her bedroom.

“The mansion was also huge.”

Lily recalled the mansion she had vaguely seen in the darkness. She didn’t know where this place was, but one thing was certain: it wasn’t the Maximilian ducal residence. The Maximilian ducal residence was said to be filled with a blue glow to the extent that it was nicknamed the Sapphire Mansion. The greenhouse garden that the Duchess Maximilian cherished was also nowhere to be seen.

Then where was this place? Lily was curious but not anxious. It was thanks to her firm belief that Herald had a reason for bringing her here.

The strange thing was that the more her faith in Herald deepened, the more her mouth felt like it was pricked with thorns. It was as if thorns were stuck in her heart, making it painful and stinging.

“From now until tomorrow morning, all you have to do is give me your time.”

Recalling what Herald had said when he wanted to bring her here, Lily smiled bitterly. She already knew he had used repayment as an excuse, worried that she might feel burdened. She was so grateful and sorry that he was considerate of her even in this way, that despite knowing she shouldn’t, she couldn’t refuse.

“I feel like a real fool.”

The problem was that she had done something even more foolish. When she remembered how she had firmly held Herald’s hand and boldly declared to Fredrick that he was the person she liked, her face heated up.

“What was I thinking, saying such a thing?”

No matter how much she wanted to shock Fredrick, she shouldn’t have rashly revealed her true feelings like that.

Yes, her true feelings. That was the problem. If it had been a lie, she would have felt guilty, but not embarrassed. The fact that Herald had firmly grasped her hand the moment she confessed her feelings, as if reciprocating, made Lily even more flustered.

“……”

Lily looked down at the hand Herald had held. The sensation of his large hand, cold yet warm, that made her feel at ease just by holding it, was still vivid.

“I wish I had met you first.”

Then there would have been no need to get hurt or suffer like this. At that moment, even her misaligned fate felt resentful. Lily sighed deeply and buried her face between her knees.

It was a very shameless act to boldly confess her feelings and then back out, unable to accept his heart. But she also couldn’t accept his heart, so her worries deepened. She was more concerned about how to sort out her relationship with Herald than how to deal with Fredrick.

“Concubine…”

Lily suddenly muttered a word that came to her mind, then covered her mouth in surprise when she was startled.

Knock knock-

There was a knock on the door. Lily was even more startled and jumped up from her seat. She got up too quickly, and her knee hit the table with a thud. At the same time, the door opened roughly.

“What’s going on!”

It was Herald who had opened the door in surprise upon hearing the thud. Lily wanted to say it was nothing and that she was okay, but the pain in her knee was so severe that she couldn’t say a word. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

“Are you hurt?”

Herald approached and asked, and Lily shook her head. The pain that had been too intense for her to speak slowly subsided, and she saw unfamiliar people entering her blurred vision.

“Those people are…?”

“They are maids who will attend to you.”

At Herald’s words, the maids politely clasped their hands and bowed.

“We will serve you with all our heart, Miss.”

Miss. As soon as she heard the form of address, Lily realized that Herald had not told the maids who she was. That was also why the maids did not introduce themselves.

“Please take good care of me.”

So Lily also accepted their greeting without asking anything. Herald looked her over and asked.

“Are you really okay? I heard a sound like you hit something hard.”

Sometimes Lily wondered if this man’s profession was a detective, as Herald was so sharp.

“I’m really okay.”

“Then I’m glad, but…”

Even though she said she was fine, Herald couldn’t stop worrying. She was grateful for his concern, but it was a bit burdensome now. There were many eyes watching.

Lily glanced at the maids. They had expressionless faces like dolls, but she felt like she knew what they were thinking. They must be misunderstanding her as Herald’s lover.

“I need to wash up, so could you please leave now, Lord?”

Wanting to correct the maids’ misunderstanding, Lily deliberately called Herald “Lord.”

At that, a mischievous smile appeared on Herald’s lips. Lily was startled by the ominous smile that seemed to indicate he would do something, and tried to step back, but a large hand grabbed her arm first.

Smack. Herald quickly closed the distance and kissed her cheek.

“Of course, my lady.”

“….”

Lily, who had been blankly staring at him after the sudden skinship, belatedly turned to look at the maids. A faint smile could be seen on the faces of the previously expressionless maids.

…It’s too late to clear up the misunderstanding.

A soft sigh escaped Lily’s lips as she resigned herself to everything.