“Do you suspect me?”

“Why should I suspect you?”

“But, you just did.”

“I merely mentioned a possibility. That it could be.”

“……”

“Moreover, if I really suspected you, would I say it so bluntly?”

I trust you, Margaret. As always, then and now.

When I added these words with a gentle smile, Margaret could not speak anymore and tightly closed her mouth.

I turned back, confirming the subtle tension in her hands resting on her lap.

I could no longer see Margaret’s face, but it wasn’t hard to guess what expression she might be wearing.

It was always more annoying when she sporadically spurted out words and actions, rather than always being rebelliously bent.

And more than anything, isn’t she currently misunderstanding?

I showed a gentle smile to the servants standing in front of the tightly closed door.

“Please come in, Countess of Creighton. The ladies invited are already here waiting.”

The servants, who respectfully saluted me, immediately opened the door.

The pavilion bestowed by the emperor himself was densely filled with the invited ladies.

I did not rush and slowly scanned the faces of the guests.

The tea party set before the debutantes’ ball was for the ladies with debutantes to meet and greet the host of the afterparty, who would become the mentor for their children. However, everyone knew that this was a formality.

The host of the afterparty was not just an assistant who helped prepare for the debutantes’ ball.

They were the powerholders, managing everything from the order of entrance at the debutantes’ ball to dressing up and choosing partners.

In life, only once, and thus should shine more than any other moment, it was essential to have the help of the afterparty host to reach the peak.

If you were a lady with a debutante, you should do your best to be seen well by the host of the afterparty.

“Welcome, Countess of Creighton. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“We have been waiting.”

“Countess of Creighton, you’re still beautiful.”

I had barely stepped into the pavilion when greetings poured in from all around me.

I responded with a smile to the hot gazes showering me.

At the same time, if I said that the numerous eyes on me weren’t burdensome, it would be a lie, but luckily, I was quite accustomed to such situations.

“I’m not sure if you had to wait long. I’m Livianna Creighton, the host of this afterparty.”

My words were scarcely finished when applause like thunder poured down.

I offered a customary response to the cheers, then walked to the center of the room.

The central seat in this room, the best seat which no one dared to take, silently showed who was the main subject of today’s party.

And that the owner of that seat was only one person.

I turned my head towards the solitary chair. Margaret was merely blinking without understanding the situation.

The one who first grasped the situation was the servant, rather.

“I apologize, Countess of Creighton. We prepared seats according to the number of invitations, and we did not think to prepare an extra chair. Please wait a moment, and we will promptly prepare a new chair.”

“It’s okay. We can sit together.”

Calmly, I sat down and seated Margaret right next to me. The spacious seat was not a problem for two people to sit.

Excluding the fact that it violated the unspoken rules of high society.

But, I held Margaret’s hand, unfazed by the showering gazes.

“The one you asked for, I caught him. I threw him in the prison just now, so go and check.”

Cheshire, who had hopped through the window into the room, took off his deeply worn hood.

Calix, unperturbed by the unexpected intruder, turned his chair and sat down. After all, the one who had dismissed the guards to allow Cheshire to infiltrate easily was none other than him.

“And the back?”

“I’ve done this once or twice, there’s no chance of being followed. I’ve tidied up.”

“Well, the dead don’t talk.”

Calix’s gaze landed on Cheshire’s hand. Upon closer look, his leather gloves were spotted here and there with dark red stains.

“So, are you not satisfied?”

“I’m just amazed that the work was not bad considering what I was worried about. You also returned faster than expected.”

“Rather, it was late. If I hadn’t been caught, I would have caught the prey already.”

“Were you chasing from the beginning?”

“She needed to be free of her sins. So, I was continuously searching.”

Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be used for such a thing.

Cheshire rummaged through his pocket with an annoyed gesture, and frowned when his fingers closed around a tin case instead of a cigarette.

The tin case, once full of candies that Meriel had given him, was now empty. There was no one to fill it now.

In the end, Cheshire clenched his teeth and tousled his hair into a mess. Even though he tried to pretend to be calm, he was seething inside.

He thought he had changed, but he was mistaken. He had tried to grow stronger because he hated his previous powerlessness, but this time, too, he couldn’t protect Liviana.