“Divorce. To Lily, this word did not feel unfamiliar at all. After marrying Fredrick, it was only natural as she thought about divorcing him several times a day.

However, it always ended with just a thought. Lily never even tried to divorce Fredrick, let alone utter that word out loud. She had more to lose than gain if she divorced him. She would not be able to pay for her mother’s hospital bills and medicine right away.

So Lily always endured even when she was angry and her pride was hurt. As the saying goes, every dog has its day. She firmly believed that if she persevered, a good day would come someday, and she forcibly swallowed the surging resentment.

But instead of the sun shining, something even more terrible happened. Fredrick Benjamin dug up her father’s grave. Judging from his inability to provide a proper reason, Lily was convinced that he did it out of anger, unable to overcome the humiliation of not being chosen.

Yet, it was so absurd for him to attach the reason of ‘punishment’ that she couldn’t even force a laugh.

Even then, Lily thought about divorcing Fredrick, but this time too, it had to end with a thought. The face of her sick mother flickered before her eyes. As the doctor’s words that her mother’s condition was getting worse came to mind, her resolve to divorce him did not solidify.

The reason Fredrick was able to commit such an atrocious act without hesitation was probably because he thought Lily would never bring up the topic of divorce. That fact made Lily even more miserable.

So Lily tried not to think about it. Since she couldn’t divorce Fredrick anyway, she tried to forget about it as if that option never existed from the beginning. But now she could no longer do that.

Lily found that fact devastating and shameful, and at the same time, she resented Herald for making her realize it anew.

Perhaps this man wanted that, a question arose.

“…Yes. I know. That divorce is a good solution… I know that well too.”

Words spilled out on their own without going through her thoughts, driven by a rebellious spirit stemming from complex emotions.

“But I can’t do that. If that man doesn’t help, I can’t do anything… I won’t be able to pay for my mother’s hospital bills right away, so how can I get a divorce?”

“If it’s about that…”

“You weren’t going to say you’d solve it for me, were you?”

Herald closed his mouth, his words snatched away. Lily smiled faintly at the expected result. Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes, and with only her lips smiling, she looked pitiful beyond pathetic.

Lily knew well that it was better to get help from Herald than Fredrick. At least this man wouldn’t trample on her self-esteem like Fredrick or threaten her using her mother as a hostage. It was much more advantageous to take his hand.

Then what about Herald? What benefit could he gain?

Lily looked at the hand Herald was still tightly holding and thought, but nothing came to mind. Fredrick Benjamin gained a viscount title in exchange for helping her, but Herald gains nothing.

Still, this man would say it’s okay. Because he likes her. So he’ll say he wants to help, so accept it without feeling burdened.

That’s why Lily couldn’t accept Herald’s favor. A goodwill simply stemming from the heart would disappear the moment the heart changes. Like how concubines usually are, she didn’t want to live in constant worry that the other person’s heart might change.

Yes, that’s right. Even if I divorce Fredrick and go to this man… I’ll only become a concubine.

There’s no way Herald Braden, the second son of the Duke of Maximilian and a hero of the empire, would marry a mere viscount’s daughter, let alone a divorcee.

What does he lack that he would marry me when aristocrats from other countries and even royalty send marriage proposals, making him a top bachelor?

As the realization stabbed at her heart like sharp needles, Lily squeezed her eyes shut. Then, beyond her darkened eyelids, an image of Herald affectionately linking arms with a stunningly beautiful woman was drawn. When she added a child’s image between them, the harmonious family image Lily once dreamed of was complete.

Yes. This man should meet a beautiful lady from a prestigious family and build a happy family, not me.

Lily earnestly wished that Herald could achieve what she couldn’t. For that to happen, she must never accept his goodwill. A firm resolve settled in her green eyes that opened again.

“I’ll just gratefully accept your feelings. Your feelings of wanting to help me… just that.”

Faced with a tactful refusal that made it impossible for him to even whine that she should accept without burden, Herald had no choice but to back down.

For now.

Not long after Herald took Lily out, a servant from the Count Stacy household visited Fredrick’s company. Fredrick’s lips curved crookedly after checking the letter the servant delivered.

The person Count Stacy referred to was definitely the Second Prince. After Fredrick checked the letter, the servant politely requested to burn the letter immediately.

“My master said to make sure the letter burns without a trace before coming back.”

Unnecessarily meticulous. Fredrick clicked his tongue and burned the letter in front of the servant. The servant only left after confirming that the letter had turned black to the point of being unreadable.

The servant did not urge him to hurry, and the letter did not specify an exact date or time to come. However, it was obvious even without confirmation that it meant to come right now or as soon as possible.

But the servant went back first to keep even the servants from knowing the letter’s contents.

What’s the point when I’ll find out anyway once I go to the Count Stacy residence?

Swallowing the sudden question, Fredrick ordered Robert to cancel all future schedules. And leaving Robert behind, who said he would go together out of worry, Fredrick headed to the Count Stacy residence alone.

The question that briefly crossed his mind was answered as soon as he arrived at the Count Stacy residence. The head butler of the count’s household, whom he had seen a few times, was waiting in front of the main gate. As Fredrick dismounted from his horse, the head butler bowed his head politely and greeted him.

“We’ve been waiting, Viscount. Please come this way.”

The place the butler guided him to was a high-end tea room slightly away from the count’s residence. It was the most famous tea room in this area, and he had heard it was so crowded even on weekdays that it was difficult to make a reservation. But now, let alone customers, even the staff were nowhere to be seen.

“Come quickly, Viscount Benjamin.”

The reason was evident upon seeing Derius sitting comfortably as if the tea room was his bedroom. What was a bit unexpected was the red-haired woman beside him. Fredrick saw her for the first time today, but he immediately recognized her as Derius’ mother and the emperor’s concubine, Viscountess Ariand.

The current emperor had a habit of saying, “Heroes are fond of beautiful women,” since his days as the crown prince. It was no exaggeration to say that all the women who reigned as queens of high society at the time spent a night with the emperor at least once.

Among them, there were a few women who became the emperor’s concubines after catching his fancy, but most of the relationships ended before a year passed.

However, Viscountess Ariand had occupied the position of the emperor’s concubine for over 20 years. Not only that. The emperor added only her son’s name to the imperial family registry out of his numerous illegitimate children.

He had always wondered what kind of amazing woman she was for the emperor to do that, and now he gets to see her.

“Don’t stand there and sit here.”

Fredrick sat in the seat Derius pointed to and quickly examined the viscountess’ face. It was indeed hard to believe she was a noble lady with a grown son as she looked so young and beautiful. But he didn’t think that was the reason. There were plenty of women as beautiful as her.

Then is she good at bedroom arts? I’m a bit curious about how good she is to have captivated the emperor’s heart for over 20 years.

Fredrick hid his vulgar thoughts behind a clean face and looked down at the yellow liquid in the teacup.

‘Chamomile?’

These days, the trend in high society was coffee, not tea. So there must be a reason for serving tea, and chamomile at that, which is said to help calm the mind and body.

“You can drink it, Viscount Benjamin.”

A lush, mature voice brushed past Fredrick’s eardrums. It seems she really captivated the emperor’s heart with bedroom arts. Fredrick almost solidified his hypothesis into conviction and smiled at the viscountess.

“I appreciate the thought, but I drank too much tea before coming here, so I don’t really feel like it. Besides, I don’t particularly like chamomile tea.”

“Oh my, is that so.”

That was it. The viscountess did not apologize or say she would bring tea again. It meant he was not worth that much attention.

It was a clear disregard, but Fredrick did not mind. He was used to being ignored by arrogant nobles. If he got angry and tended to his pride over every little thing like this, he would not have risen this far.

So he could endure this much. However, the real problem occurred the next moment.

Derius, who had been lounging on the sofa, suddenly got up and tilted the teapot over Fredrick’s head.

Drip−

The yellow liquid soaked Fredrick’s hair and then flowed down his cheeks. Fredrick, who suddenly ended up washing his face with chamomile tea, could no longer manage his expression and scowled.

Even after seeing that face, the Second Prince poured all the liquid in the teapot without caring. Viscountess Ariand also only fanned herself lightly and did not stop her son.

After pouring out every last drop, Derius placed the empty teapot in Fredrick’s hand and smiled kindly.

“Even if it’s a tea you don’t like, you should gratefully drink it when a superior gives it to you, Viscount Benjamin.”