Herald frowned as he recalled Olben’s disgusting face begging for his life while crawling on the filthy floor. He thought Olben wouldn’t last even two days before dying a miserable death, so he was surprised yet puzzled that Olben was still alive.

Could it be that the real culprit who killed Megan had no intention of killing Olben or framing him as the murderer?

It was also strange that Brian, Fredrick Benjamin’s younger brother, suddenly appeared at that casino. If it were an ordinary casino, he would have dismissed it as a coincidence, but that place was an illegal gambling den operating in secret without any signage. It would have been impossible to find unless one deliberately searched for it.

In other words, it was no coincidence that Brian went there.

“Was he sent by Fredrick Benjamin? To monitor Olben?”

“It doesn’t seem like it. The younger brother didn’t monitor or pay attention to Olben at all, focusing only on his own game.”

“Well, it must have been Fredrick Benjamin who gave his brother the money to gamble, so he sent him anyway.”

Herald laughed with a cynical expression as he leaned against the sofa backrest. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were cold.

“If that bastard really sent his brother to the casino, he must have had another reason, so find out. Keep an eye on Olben too.”

“Understood.”

“It would be good to have someone watch Count Stacy’s estate as well. Report in detail if he meets anyone related to Fredrick Benjamin or that guy, and what they discuss.”

“Yes.”

“And you should stay at the Viscount Braden estate starting tomorrow.”

“Yes… Huh?”

Dillon raised his voice a beat late, realizing it was a strange order. He tried to disguise it as a question rather than an affirmation, but it didn’t work on Herald.

“Then, pack your bags and come as soon as the day dawns tomorrow.”

Why should I do that?

Dillon wanted to ask that but couldn’t since he had already said yes.

He should have been more alert when talking to Herald Braden.

Since it was his own mistake, Dillon couldn’t blame others and gave up halfway, asking, “Even if I go, I’d like to know the reason.”

“You’ll know when you come to the viscount’s estate tomorrow.”

“Can’t you just tell me now?”

Herald pushed up the corners of his lips and smiled.

“If you hear it now, you won’t be able to sleep, so hear it tomorrow.”

“It’s the same now anyway.”

Dillon retorted sulkily, but Herald only laughed without saying anything.

“……”

Lilly slowly sat up, having fallen asleep for a moment. The room was filled with the light of dawn, as if the sun had not yet risen. Her gaze, scanning the unfamiliar place, fell on Emily curled up sleeping on the sofa.

There was only one bed in the room. Even though it was wide enough for several grown men to sleep together, Emily stubbornly insisted on the sofa when Lilly said they could share the bed. The maid was jumping up and down, saying how could a mere maid use the same bed as her lady, so Lilly had no choice but to allow it.

Was that why the curled up sleeping child kept catching her eye? She also felt uncomfortable using a young girl who hadn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony as her personal maid. It felt like she was showing Emily too many unpleasant things just for her own comfort.

That man was the same.

Thinking of how Herald whispered sweet nothings in her ear, saying he still liked her and wanted to help her even after seeing her shameful sides, Lilly lowered her gaze for a long time.

Thinking of him made her happy yet sad, and also angry. She was angry at herself, not him. She was so pathetic for being unable to push him away in the end, even though she knew she shouldn’t and thought she had to.

“You haven’t changed at all, Liliana.”

You’re still as incompetent and foolish as you were 2 years ago.

As a deep sense of powerlessness engulfed her, Lilly washed her face.

“Let’s get a grip, even now.”

She couldn’t live relying on others forever. She didn’t want to either.

Muttering to herself over and over again to get a grip, as if hypnotizing herself, Lilly slowly opened her eyes. Her anxious, wavering green eyes had hardened at some point.

“Whew.”

After exhaling deeply, Lilly thought about what problem was tormenting her the most right now.

“If it were simply out of a desire for revenge, it wouldn’t have ended at that.”

Lilly bit her lip hard as she thought of Fredrick. No matter how angry he was, to dig up his father-in-law’s grave like that… She knew well that Fredrick Benjamin was out of his mind, but she didn’t expect it to this extent. Clenching her fists, they trembled with rage even after reconsidering it.

Although she wanted to divorce Fredrick Benjamin immediately for what he did, she was worried about her mother. Even while receiving proper treatment at the sanatorium, her condition was only getting worse, and Lilly didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if she couldn’t receive treatment.

But she couldn’t let this slide either. Now was the time to make a firm decision and take action.

“First, I need to take care of my mother’s hospital bills.”

If it were 2 years ago, she wouldn’t have dared to take on the astronomical cost of burn and psychological treatment, but it was different now. The burn treatment was over, and unlike 2 years ago, she was earning money, so she could somehow manage on her own.

Just finishing the work for the Stacy Count family would cover her mother’s hospital expenses for the time being.

After that, she could take on any work that came her way. If translation work wasn’t enough, she was willing to do menial labor as well.

And what else did she need to do?

Determined to somehow break free from Fredrick’s grasp this time, Lilly thought about what she needed to do until Emily woke up.

“Your eyes are dark. You don’t look well either.”

Noticing Lilly standing with a haggard face like someone who hadn’t eaten a bowl of soup, Herald frowned and grasped her shoulders. Lilly turned her head away, uncomfortable with his gaze examining her face in detail.

“I just couldn’t sleep, so don’t worry.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?”

Herald’s question continued before Lilly could answer.

“Could it be because you missed being with me?”

The golden eyes holding Lilly’s sparkled with mischief. They were like the innocent eyes of a young child. Understanding why Herald was teasing her like this, Lilly turned her head with a slight smile.

“Oh, you’re not answering? They say silence is usually affirmation.”

“Think whatever you want.”

Knowing he wouldn’t really think that way, Lilly brushed it off casually and reached out to Emily. She was trying to take the luggage bag the maid was holding, but another hand reached out faster than her. It was Herald.

“I’ll carry it.”

Instead of demanding the bag, Lilly withdrew her hand. She knew from experience that Herald wouldn’t hand it over even if she asked.

Herald offered his arm that wasn’t holding the bag to Lilly.

“Then shall we go? The carriage is prepared at the main gate.”

Lilly stared blankly at the arm Herald offered. It was common for a gentleman to escort a lady. Although there was nothing strange about it, it felt that way because her heart was impure.

“Yes, let’s go.”

So Lilly proceeded forward on her own without taking his escort.

Grumbling, Dillon packed his bags and came to the Braden estate at dawn as Herald had ordered.

Just yesterday, the Braden estate was almost devoid of any signs of life like a ghost mansion, but today it was bustling with servants. There were also guards protecting the estate.

“Are you planning to stay here from now on?”

Is that why you told me to come? But why are you suddenly trying to stay here? You said you didn’t need a mansion in the capital since you’d be returning to Cardin anyway…

Dillon made all sorts of speculations as he waited for Herald to arrive. Finally facing Herald’s party upon their arrival at the estate, he realized why Herald had suddenly ordered him to move to the Braden estate.

To protect that woman, Liliana Benjamin.

Dillon looked at Lilly standing next to Herald. She was a considerable beauty with impressive eyes as fresh as newly sprouted grass. Her personality also seemed gentle and not bad.

But Dillon didn’t like Lilly. He couldn’t look favorably upon a woman who had the audacity to seduce Herald, not knowing her place.

What kind of magic did she use to capture the captain, who had never fallen for any temptation?

Suddenly curious, Dillon stared intently at Lilly. Then Herald stepped forward slightly, cleverly blocking her from his view.

“I know she’s a beauty, but I’d rather you not stare so blatantly.”

“……”

Dillon glared at him, suppressing the urge to ask what kind of nonsense that was. Herald shrugged at the questioning look in his eyes.

Then he kindly told Lilly to go in first, saying the butler would guide her once inside.

Lilly glanced sideways at Dillon, who was looking at her with displeasure, then entered the estate. Emily and Harry followed behind her.

Once the three were completely out of sight, Dillon formally asked Herald.

“What are you thinking? What’s the reason for bringing the wife of Viscount Benjamin into the estate? Do you really have feelings for her? Even if he’s trash, she’s a noblewoman with a proper husband. So how can you…!”

“Enough.”

Herald raised his hand to cut off Dillon’s words. That hand soon patted Dillon’s shoulder.

“Take good care of her.”

He didn’t say empty words like it wouldn’t happen even as a joke, so not to worry.