Arthur looked up at her in bewilderment, still kneeling.

So.

After saying I’d be outside, I disappeared.

I didn’t come back all night…

So you were worried because of that?

Arthur looked at her in confusion.

Reina sniffled.

Despite his uncertainty, Arthur instinctively answered while grasping Reina’s hand.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

Arthur said with a bewildered expression, running his hand through his hair.

“I didn’t know you would think that way.”

Since Taylor was supposed to come.

I thought you’d be excited.

That you would be anxious about such a thing…

But Taylor instantly vanished from his mind.

She was crying because of me, and that was what mattered.

Arthur looked up at her, unusually at a loss for what to do.

One hand still held onto Reina’s overlapped hands.

“I’m sorry for suddenly leaving yesterday. And for staying out without saying anything. The reason I left so urgently yesterday was…”

Arthur began to explain to Reina, looking unsure of where to start.

“I have a friend named Dylan. He’s an important adjutant and comrade to me… A disabled veteran.”

In his slight confusion, he ended up mentioning the name of someone she wouldn’t know first.

But Reina’s eyes widened at that name.

Thinking she was surprised by the mention of a disabled veteran, Arthur continued his explanation.

“Yesterday, during your interview, news came that this friend had attempted suicide by poisoning. It was shocking news for all of us…”

“!”

Reina covered her mouth in surprise.

Arthur calmly looked at her and continued speaking.

“…I had to go. I’m sorry I couldn’t explain before leaving. He’s an adjutant as precious to me as Tristan…”

And Arthur began to hesitate, unsure of where to start explaining how important a colleague he was.

But contrary to Arthur’s assumption, Reina already knew that name.

“Sir Dylan Osborn?”

Reina asked in surprise.

“He attempted suicide?”

She had read and memorized all articles related to Arthur.

So Reina’s heart sank.

She could fully imagine what it meant for ‘Dylan Osborn’ to attempt suicide for those who had returned victorious.

“Oh no… What should we do? Is he alright?”

Reina stammered, more flustered herself.

Dylan Osborn.

Though he had been a forgotten person with no news for a long time.

Reina remembered everything.

The brutal torture and sacrifice for his comrades.

The terrible aftereffects of torture that remained with him.

And how important he was to the soldiers.

Reina’s eyes filled with dismay and guilt.

She felt so sorry for foolishly resenting Arthur’s silent disappearance, even for a moment.

Of course he had to go.

And this time, Arthur’s eyes widened.

“You… how do you know Dylan?”

Reina spoke with round eyes, as if wondering how he didn’t know him.

“Isn’t he the hero who saved 72 people in the Battle of Red Gorge? Even though it was a lost battle…”

Arthur looked at Reina in slight surprise.

How does she know?

And so accurately…

He thought more explanation would be needed, but she already knew everything.

After a brief silence, Arthur awkwardly touched his face.

“…Was that story passed on to Julius? It wasn’t a good story, and since supplies were so scarce, I thought no one ‘outside’ cared…”

Reina belatedly realized she had made a mistake and held her breath.

Although it was reported in the newspapers because of the many casualties, it wasn’t a story widely known in Julius, nor a famous one.

It was just a story that had left an impression on her about the fierce and desperate fight of the knights despite their defeat, when no one cared about Arthur…

Arthur murmured, rubbing his shoulder.

“…Military terms have stuck with me. ‘Outside’ is military slang for the home territory outside the battlefield and barracks.”

“…”

He couldn’t deduce Reina’s unusual hobby from just that.

But he did ask.

“It’s quite an old story, and not from when I was getting attention. I thought no one would know… You remember it well?”

Reina froze for a moment.

She felt like her passionate scrapbooking stalking about him might be discovered.

Reina’s face turned bright red.

Arthur scratched his eyebrow a bit awkwardly.

“…Did you hear it at the mansion? Or from a newsletter?”

Flustered, Reina opened and closed her mouth,

Hic.

“!”

She suddenly started hiccuping.

Reina covered her mouth in embarrassment.

She met Arthur’s bewildered gaze.

“…”

Hic.

Hic.

Hiccups kept coming out one after another.

Reina covered her mouth, her face turning bright red.

“…!”

Hic.

But once started, the hiccups wouldn’t easily stop.

Reina pressed her chest with a mortified expression, feeling like she could die of embarrassment.

Hic.

“…”

Reina, beet red and flustered, clenched her fist and pounded her chest.

Arthur, who had been staring blankly at the embarrassed Reina, calmly grabbed her elbow as if to divert her attention.

“Try taking a deep breath.”

“…”

Hic.

Reina looked at him with a red face and took a deep breath.

The next moment, Arthur put his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her close and gently pressing his forehead against hers.

“!”

Reina held her breath.

As their foreheads touched, their hair mixed between their faces.

Arthur looked at her with his gray eyes and said softly.

“…Stay still. Hold your breath.”

“…”

Reina couldn’t take her eyes off his.

“…If we stay like this, it will stop.”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump…

Her heart was beating like crazy.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…”

“…”

Pushed out of the bedroom, Kay and Lionel stood leaning against the door outside without a word.

They were both thinking the same thing but

neither opened their mouth.

“…”

“…”

―She’s my wife. Don’t touch her. I only allowed conversation.

After a long silence, Lionel broke the silence first.

“…What Lord Kay mentioned before… I think we might really need to consider it.”

“…”

He quietly added.

“The ‘worst case scenario’ you spoke of.”

Kay didn’t answer.

But it was clear they were thinking the same thing.

“…”

Lionel hesitated briefly, then touched his forehead and looked at his feet as he spoke again.

“…I’m asking just to confirm.”

“…”

Kay and Lionel’s eyes met.

“…Is ‘officially recognized as a mistress’ really the worst case?”

The implication was whether they should consider an even more serious scenario.

“…”

Kay didn’t answer.

Instead, he let out a short sigh and said.

“…Lord Lionel. Please have people do one thing for me.”

“Yes.”

“I believe there was a spare bed in Arthur’s study.”

“…?”

Lionel asked with a puzzled expression at the sudden unexpected words.

“A bed?”

Kay nodded.

“Yes. Please have that removed from the study and put in their bridal chamber.”

“…? A spare bed… in the bridal chamber?”

Kay arranged his expressionless face and said.

“…I think they’ll need it. It might be my hasty assumption, but…”

He continued after a short pause.

“His Excellency must have had a hard time. For now, just put that in. Not now, but sometime after tomorrow, when the situation allows.”

And Kay silently picked up the documents he had tucked under his arm.

It was Taylor’s medical records that Arthur had ordered to be reviewed.

“…I’ll take care of this order for now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on Taylor’s room door.

Taylor, who had been sitting slumped against the door, hurriedly composed himself and stood up.

“…Yes!”

When he opened the door,

one of the knights who had been guarding Reina earlier was there.

Of the dirty blonde and silver-haired ones, it was the ash-gray silver-haired one wearing a monocle.

“…”

Kay extended his hand politely to shake hands.

“Excuse me, Mr. Taylor Lorenson. I’m sorry for coming suddenly.”

While Taylor’s gaze moved to the hand he extended, Kay briefly scanned Taylor’s appearance, just enough to not be rude.

Taylor reached out his hand a bit dazedly to grasp it.

“…Taylor is fine. And you are…”

“Kay Ford. Kay is fine. I apologize for earlier.”

Kay’s attitude was courteous.

“…”

As he was guarding Reina, Taylor also treated Kay politely and cautiously.

“Not at all. Lord Kay. I’m the one who should apologize.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

As he spoke, Kay slightly raised Taylor’s medical records he was holding to show them.

It was to indicate his business.

“…”

Taylor recalled that Arthur had ordered him to ‘review’ the medical records.

“May I have a word with you?”

Taylor looked at the medical records he was holding.

“…”

Taylor opened the door wider and stepped back.

“…Would you like to come in?”

“If that’s alright. Thank you.”

Kay smiled slightly.

[This is the timeline separator]

Taylor’s quarters in the Julius mansion consisted of two bedrooms, a reception room, living room, herb room and preparation room, study cum office, bathroom, and dining room.

Taylor Lorenson and Alvin Lorenson.

It was a special independent space for the two doctors to stay, different from the rooms of ordinary employees.

Taylor led Kay to the reception room table inside.

Kay sat down.

“I’ll bring some tea.”

“No, that’s fine.”

Kay smiled faintly as he placed Taylor’s medical records on the table.

“I need to look at this, and tea might get in the way.”

“…”

Taylor, nodding lightly as if he understood, also sat down.

Taylor quietly interlaced his fingers and looked at Kay.

“…Have you reviewed it?”

There was nothing to be concerned about.

It was a real medical record.

He hadn’t left any suspicious messages for Reina.

Of course, he had assumed it was likely to be reviewed,

He had only hoped that the records about his grandmother would reassure her.

Kay lowered his gaze with a smiling face and took out a pen.

“Yes. I skimmed through it. It’s a diligent and reliable medical record.”

And he lowered his pen-holding hand to the paper.

“I’ve looked it over well.”

【 It was impressive. 】

Taylor held his breath.

Kay began writing on the paper.

With content completely different from what he was saying out loud.

“Don’t be nervous.”

【 You care deeply for Reina Astarin. 】

“While I didn’t find anything particularly suspicious,”

【 But you’re not her lover. 】

“I came to confirm a few things before officially reviewing.”

【 You want to help her. Is that right? 】

The ink began to disappear.

The pen Kay was using contained alcohol.

It was the exact same method Taylor had used with Reina earlier.

Taylor clenched his fist.

I’ve been found out.

How?

It was from an angle that couldn’t be seen…

“…”

But what is this person doing to me now?

Kay continued speaking while moving his hand over Taylor’s records.

“Where is the patient?”

Taylor snapped to attention, tensing his body.

Is he investigating Reina?

Immediately, a frightening suspicion overwhelmed him.

Grandmother, are you safe?

“…”

Taylor quietly raised his gaze to glare at Kay.

“…May I first hear the reason you’re asking?”

But Kay, without even looking at him, calmly tapped the records with his pen.

When Taylor lowered his gaze to the paper Kay was pointing at, he could clearly see the words written in alcohol.

【 I care deeply for Lord Arthur. 】
【 I think we have things to discuss together for the sake of the people we care about. 】

Taylor’s eyes widened.

“That patient. We’re trying to protect them.”

【 Don’t say anything out loud. Someone might be listening. 】

Taylor raised his eyes to look at Kay.

Kay continued speaking.

At the same time, he calmly looked at him and wrote.

“Separate from the marquis family.”

【 I want to negotiate with you. 】