“Duke Seiren?”

Rosé gazed at Seiren with eyes as wide as a rabbit’s.

“Why is Duke Seiren here?”

This alleyway was only inhabited by the Serbiat mansion.

At Rosé’s words, Seiren chuckled, his voice laced with the usual coyness.

“I lost my way while running an errand.”

Seiren responded, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

“Oh, I see.”

Rosé believed Seiren’s words without any doubt. She felt greatly relieved that the person behind her was Seiren.

“But why didn’t you make your presence known?”

Rosé asked Seiren, tilting her head. She had been genuinely surprised earlier, thinking he was a villain.

At Rosé’s words, Seiren’s eyes dimmed slightly. With a mysterious look in his eyes, he asked in a hushed voice,

“You knew I was following you.”

His murmuring voice echoed ominously.

“How did you know?”

Seiren was curious. He hadn’t been completely silent like when tailing someone, but an average person would not usually notice even if he was close behind.

Did Rosé have heightened senses compared to others? If so… Could it be that Rosé, like him, was hiding something?

Doubts began to sprout. However, Rosé’s ensuing words shattered his suspicions in an instant.

“Ah, I was looking at the ground, and well, there was one extra shadow.”

Rosé laughed towards Seiren, describing how surprised and frightened she had been.

“Ah, I see. I’m sorry for surprising you.”

Seiren offered a bright smile and closed his eyes towards Rosé.

“I never expected to see Duke Seiren here! I’m so glad. What a coincidence.”

Seiren watched Rosé, who smiled at him without suspicion.

‘A coincidence… How naïve.’

Their encounter was not a coincidence at all. Seiren had come to where Rosé was.

He had selected places where Rosé might be and immediately headed to the Serbiat mansion. He waited until the evening, which was good for hiding, and came here.

‘…Thank goodness. The woman I saw that day was not the madam.’

He had been worried that Rosé might have been kidnapped. That’s why Seiren wanted to confirm. To see if Rosé was alive.

Rosé, who had been silent, watched Seiren staring at her, and misunderstood that he was feeling hurt. She made an apologetic, awkward face and spoke.

“Were you hurt a lot? Because I left without even saying goodbye.”

“Ah… Yes! I was really upset.”

Seiren, who had been lost in his thoughts, snapped out of it at Rosé’s words and played along. He was playing the character of Seiren that he had created.

“I’m sorry.”

Seiren quietly watched Rosé, who was sincerely apologizing.

In truth, the one who should apologize was not Rosé, but him.

He wanted to apologize for having deceived Rosé, but considering that Rosé might turn her back on him just like Jane, he couldn’t easily open his mouth.

Three years ago, under the orders of Sedrick, Seiren entered the Earl of Wens’s house as a knight apprentice. At that time, he observed Rosé from a distance while doing menial tasks.

He didn’t hesitate to approach Jane to gather information about Rosé and was diligent in his given tasks.

‘From afar, I thought she was just a slowwitted person.’

What he felt while serving Rosé closely as a knight apprentice was the complete opposite.

Rosé was smart and bright, and unlike other nobles, she was a thoughtful person even towards the servants.

Seiren, who was escorting Rosé simply following orders, eventually realized that he was sincerely escorting her.

Enough to keep a secret from his master, Sedrick.

“If we had met during the day, I would have bought you a meal, but it’s too late, it’s a pity. Oh, did you get along well with Jane?”

As Jane’s story came up, Seiren’s expression noticeably darkened.

Seiren lowered his gaze and shook his head. Somehow, a dark aura seemed to flow around him.

Rosé was taken aback by Seiren’s reaction.

‘…Ah, I seem to have brought up an unnecessary matter.’

Apparently, Seiren and Jane hadn’t reconciled yet. Rosé stared at Seiren, feeling awkward and hesitant.

“…You seem to be very upset.”

This was not an act. Seiren was genuinely upset about his fallenout relationship with Jane.

The beginning was just an attempt to use Jane, but his feelings had become genuine.

The fact that he handed her an engagement ring, confessed his love to her, was all sincere.

An image of Jane looking fed up at me came to mind.

‘Jane……’

Jane probably wouldn’t forgive me for the rest of her life.

‘Even I would do the same… How could I trust someone who intentionally approached me and hid everything.’

Rosé, who was watching the gloomy Saeleun, cautiously opened her mouth.

“What’s happened to make you like this? Tell me. I’m actually quite good at relationship advice.”

At Rosé’s voice, Saeleun lifted his head to look at her. Of course, with a gaze full of distrust.

“…To my wife?”

The Rosé reflected in Saeleun’s eyes was a woman who was wounded by blind love. If he opened his heart to Rosé, he would receive comfort, but he didn’t think the situation would get any better than now.

Rosé gave a bashful smile, seeing Saeleun look at her.