Herald changed into his clothes and sent Emily out on an errand as well. As the employee who had entered the fitting room to help Lily change clothes came out, the owner of the dressing room took her and left the room. Before leaving, they did not forget to change the sign on the door to [Closed for Business].

Thanks to the dressing room owner kindly setting up the tea table, Herald leisurely waited for Lily while drinking tea.

Lily, who had arranged her appearance while looking in the full-length mirror, came out and asked in puzzlement when she did not see Emily, who should have already been out.

“Where is Emily? Is she still changing clothes?”

“No. She came out earlier, but I sent her on an errand.”

“What errand?”

In response to the returned question, Herald smiled silently, put down his teacup, and stood up. Then he approached Lily and straightened her slightly crooked waist ribbon.

“It suits you well.”

It meant not to ask anything. If it were the usual Lily, she would have let it go, thinking there must be a special reason, but now she could not. The flames of suspicion that had flared up while fighting fiercely with Fredrick had not yet been extinguished.

Don’t take it out on a strict person. Lily took a deep breath and suppressed the flames of suspicion that were trying to jump in the wrong direction.

“It seems you don’t like the clothes.”

When Herald, who misunderstood that she acted that way because she didn’t like the clothes, tried to go back to the hanger, Lily hurriedly grabbed him.

“I like it! How could I not like something you picked out for me?”

Lily, who had blurted out her true feelings in a hurry, flinched and shut her mouth. On the other hand, Herald laughed so deeply that his dimples showed.

“I’m glad you like it. Would you like to try on something else?”

As Herald threw the question, he sighed at the same time.

“Ah, that won’t be possible since there are no dressing room employees.”

Come to think of it, not only the dressing room employee who had helped her change, but also the owner was nowhere to be seen. Lily looked around widely and asked.

“Did they go to the warehouse to get clothes?”

“No. They went out.”

“What?”

The dressing room owner left the store with only the customer inside? Lily, who was puzzled by the incomprehensible words, belatedly realized that Herald had deliberately sent them out.

Could it be just to have a conversation with me? Lily, who easily guessed the reason, stared at him blankly.

“……”

Herald, who had been quietly meeting her gaze, took her hand and pulled her to sit on the soft sofa. It was the seat where Herald had been sitting. Herald, who naturally took a seat next to her, opened his mouth.

“If you have something you want to say to me, feel free to say it.”

“……”

It meant that it was entirely up to Lily to decide what to say from beginning to end. It also meant that he would not ask anything about what she did not say.

It could be seen as a sign of respecting her that much, but Lily was not pleased at all. Rather, she felt uncomfortable and awkward, biting the inside of her lips hard. She was also frustrated because she didn’t know what to say or how to say it.

Even if it would be understandable for him to be frustrated that she didn’t say anything even when given the opportunity, Herald did not get angry or urge her. Rather, he gently caressed her hand as if he could wait forever.

Even that consideration was burdensome, so Lily tried to pull her hand out, but Herald wouldn’t let go. He intertwined his fingers with hers and held them tightly, as if he would not give in on this alone.

That action felt as if he could wait for her to come, but would never allow her to leave, making Lily shrink back.

The reason he treated her so affectionately was all because he liked her. It was really happy to have someone like you, but the reason Lily couldn’t be purely happy was because she couldn’t reciprocate as much as he did for her. Rather, she was tarnishing his reputation, so she couldn’t hold her head up even more.

Even if she hid like a sinner, it wouldn’t be enough, but she showed such an appearance in front of others…

Recalling what had happened at the company Fredrick ran, Lily shut her eyes tightly. Just thinking about it made her choke up.

If it became known that he was slapped by his wife and fought with Count Braden, Fredrick’s image would be greatly damaged. Since it would hinder business, he would keep his mouth shut, but you never know.

Fredrick Benjamin was a psycho who dug up the place where his wife’s father was sleeping just because he was in a bad mood. They had to come up with countermeasures because they didn’t know what crazy things he might do.

In addition, Lily opened her eyes again to ask Herald something, and met his golden eyes that sparkled as if they held sunlight, slowly opening her mouth.

“Thank you for your help. Thanks to your help, I was able to get out safely.”

First, a word of gratitude.

“But… how did you know I was there?”

When she asked what she was curious about next, strength was slightly added to the large interlocked hand. From where to where to say. That condition applied not only to Lily but also to Herald.

“…I had someone watch you.”

Herald gently stroked the back of her small, soft hand with his thumb, pondered for a moment, and answered.

“Lady Megan was also murdered… I was worried that Fredrick Benjamin might do something terrible to you, so I had someone watch you.”

In fact, he had someone watch Lily long before that, but he revealed a half-truth because he would have to talk about the Second Prince to say that.

Herald also did not reveal the identities of Emily and Harry. If Lily knew that fact, she would not keep the children by her side. He hoped that they would stay by her side even more, as today’s events proved the usefulness of the children.

“I should have told you from the beginning and asked for your permission… I’m sorry.”

Herald bowed his head deeply and apologized. It was an apology not only for acting on his own without Lily’s permission, but also for lying. Lily grabbed Herald’s shoulder with her free hand and shook her head.

“It’s okay.”

It was not an empty word, but a genuine feeling, which could be known by hearing the same voice as usual. Herald raised his head in relief that she did not hate him.

“This is the only time.”

The gentle green eyes turned stern when their eyes met.

“If you act on your own again, I will really get angry next time.”

…Should I have just revealed the identities of Emily and Harry and asked her to keep them by her side?

Herald regretted it, but it was already after the train had left. No matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t catch up with the departed train.

At least it was a consolation that she said she would get angry, not that she would never forgive him. It meant that there was at least a chance to ask for forgiveness. Of course, the best thing was not to get caught.

Both the children’s issue and the Second Prince’s issue.

“Then… you already know why I went there and why I fought with him, right?”

Herald slowly nodded at the following question. Although he had expected it, confirming the fact made him feel complicated. Feeling a pain like a sharp needle piercing his heart, Lily bit her lip hard, feeling like tears would suddenly pour out.

Instead of telling her not to do that, Herald lightly kissed her lips. It was a somewhat impulsive action, but he had no regrets. Rather, it was troublesome that he wanted to go further.

It was equally difficult for Lily. Even knowing that there was no one in the dressing room but them, she looked around in surprise like a startled rabbit. Even after confirming that there were no prying eyes, her hugely widened eyes remained the same.

“You can’t do this outside.”

When she spoke as if scolding a young child, Herald smiled and asked back.

“Then can I do it inside?”

“What, what?”

“That seems more dangerous though.”

When Herald added in a trailing voice, Lily’s face turned bright red. As naughty thoughts lingered, everything about him that didn’t matter just a moment ago began to bother her. The hand that was holding tightly, the distance close enough for their knees to touch. And also his smiling face and voice.

Thanks to that, Lily was able to forget about what had happened with Fredrick for a while. But it was really for a moment. The shocking fact that her father’s grave had been dug up soon occupied Lily’s mind again. The feeling of walking on clouds, which had floated up, crashed back into the sewer. A dark shadow hung over Lily’s face as she lowered her head.

“…I don’t know what to do.”

The voice stained with resentment trembled terribly. The slender shoulders trembled even more.

“My husband, that man, Fredrick Benjamin… what should I do?”

Seeing her in a state no different from crying, except that she was not shedding tears, Herald’s anger toward Fredrick Benjamin quickly grew. There was the surest way to solve the problem that was troubling her, but it was a bit frustrating that she couldn’t think of that method.

No, maybe she already knew everything but was turning a blind eye pretending not to know. Currently, Lily could not afford her mother’s hospital bills without Fredrick Benjamin’s help.

If Grace Benjamin’s condition had improved, it would be different, but as the situation was getting worse, it would be even harder for her to reject Fredrick’s hand.

So while fully understanding Lily’s hesitating heart, he could no longer watch her cry. Herald broke his vow to leave everything to her choice and opened his mouth.

“Do you really not know?”

Lily slowly blinked her wet eyes and looked at Herald. Wiping away the tears precariously perched at the corners of her eyes with his thumb, Herald said.

“You should already know the way. The way to completely end things with that man.”

Divorce.

That word struck Lily’s head like a lightning bolt.