After delivering the report, Kay had something to say to Arthur.

In a nonchalant tone, Kay was planning to coldly tell the truth.

He knew that sometimes the truth can be the most persuasive.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Taylor Lorenson was not his lover. I learned this while interviewing him last night.”

And after observing Arthur’s reaction, he planned to say:

“When Your Excellency opened the door and came in, I actually thought I might have done something wrong. You seemed angry.”

“Was I tactless?”

And he planned to calmly say:

“The lady’s circumstances are as written in the report.”

“As you can see, what she requested was only one thing. To persuade Taylor Lorenson to Your Lordship’s side for her grandmother’s sake. She said she would do anything for Your Lordship then.”

“Even if she requests Taylor Lorenson, it’s not because he’s her lover, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

It didn’t matter if that was taken as a slight jab.

Kay’s goal was to cool his head.

“……”

The report stated that she had no other wishes besides her grandmother’s health

And that she just wanted to live with her grandmother, having given up dreams of a normal marriage or creating her own family.

It also mentioned that she thought she might not be able to marry.

It was an anxious, harsh, dry life without dreams or future.

She couldn’t live forever with her grandmother who was over seventy either.

She had no plans for after that.

“I met with Taylor Lorenson to feel him out, and he seemed like a person worth bringing in.”

“He’s cooperative with us, and seems quite perceptive and intelligent. He’s competent as a doctor, and not blindly loyal to Marquis Julius. Seeing his sincerity towards the lady, their interests seemed to align.”

“The lady also felt she could entrust her grandmother to him, and he was that kind of person.”

And it included the contents of the interview with Taylor,

And what he had attempted in front of the knights for Reina’s sake before that,

And the journal Taylor had been keeping for her grandmother,

And Reina’s moved reaction upon seeing it.

Evidence was also included that he didn’t need to be bound to the marquis’s household.

To show that Reina could be quite happy if she ended up with him.

So that anyone could see that was the best for her.

After that, Kay intended to say:

“But if Your Excellency doesn’t wish it, I’ll cut him off.”

“……”

“We can just say we’ll find another doctor to help,”

“And she’ll accept if we let her continue watching over her grandmother by her side.”

“Shall we do that?”

Is that what you’ll do?

Since she’s not your lover.

It’s fine to do that.

“What will you do?”

You can have her if you want.

Since she’s not your lover.

Honestly, don’t you want to nip it in the bud?

Kay planned to say nonchalantly:

“Will you take that woman as your mistress?”

“……”

“Shall we refuse the request to persuade Taylor Lorenson?”

“……”

Kay was certain Arthur wouldn’t be able to do it.

Arthur, who had been suppressing his own feelings and protecting her all this time.

Absolutely not.

He wouldn’t be able to reach out.

[This is the timeline separator]

“……”

But after learning that Arthur had gone blind.

Kay became unable to say a single word.

Had he overestimated his own coolheadedness?

Or was the suddenly learned fact of his blindness more shocking than expected?

Or was the gap too large between what he had imagined as ‘just speaking dryly while he reads the submitted report’

And ‘reading the report he wrote with his own mouth,

Watching Arthur’s expression change little by little as he listened attentively,

And then finding the words wouldn’t come out’?

“……”

After reading it all,

Kay put the report back down on the desk

And ended up keeping his mouth shut.

“……”

Arthur, realizing that ‘Reina’ never had a lover from the start, sat quietly in his seat unable to say anything.

For quite a long time, motionless.

And after some time passed, he slowly propped his arms on the desk and rubbed his face.

“……”

Looking at Arthur’s expression, he could tell.

Even without me saying it, Arthur knows.

What he should do with his feelings. Already.

So Kay could only say one thing.

“Would you like to meet the lady.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Reina was asleep.

Yesterday she had stayed up all night waiting for Arthur and only slept a little,

And her long-held tension had been released when Kay readily accepted Reina’s request.

The evening sunlight, tinged red, came in through the open window along with the breeze.

It was cool and warm.

Kay went outside.

Arthur sat by her side for a long time.

“……”

The setting sun illuminated her sleeping face.

[This is the timeline separator]

Do you know it’s not Lady Christina?

Yes.

What will happen to Reina?

An urgent question came out.

With someone who could provide clues in front of him, he couldn’t afford to be leisurely.

Your Lordship said not to touch her because she’s his wife.

Then what does that mean?

Is Your Lordship thinking of taking Reina as his mistress?

If I may be so bold, aren’t you the adopted son-in-law of the Julius family?

Kay calmly replied.

I don’t think I can answer about Your Lordship’s intentions.

What’s clear is that Your Lordship will have to accept Lady Christina someday.

And that Your Lordship intends to safely send the lady back.

I’m just a bit concerned about any hitches there.

Send her… back?

Yes.

Right now we’re borrowing her briefly for our needs, and treating her with respect.

Well, it might not have seemed that way to you.

If everything is resolved well, we plan to compensate her sufficiently and send her off as she wishes.

Where to?

To her grandmother’s side, I suppose.

We’ll reflect her wishes after all.

Additionally, I don’t think it would be bad if that’s by your side.

……

Though His Lordship might be a bit displeased to see you as a possibility.

He won’t try to take away a good future that could be there for the lady.

He’s not that unscrupulous.

“……”

So all this time, Reina has been… standing in for Your Lordship’s wife?

To what extent… is she standing in?

That also doesn’t seem like something I can answer.

However, I’d like to say that Your Lordship is not an unscrupulous person who would cross the line.

He’s not someone who would do anything to harm his honor and future.

But since it’s my job to always assume the worst, if there’s even a small possibility of something undesirable, I have to prepare,

And that’s why I’m meeting with you now.

What do you think? It seems our interests align.

What do you mean you want to negotiate?

What do you want me to do?

Do you mean for me to act as Reina’s affectionate lover?

Kay laughed softly.

No. The lady doesn’t seem like she’d be good at false acting.

“……”

I will tell His Excellency everything truthfully.

You just need to act as you naturally would.

If you appear to be a good man

He will eventually back down.

And he’ll be able to return to his place and find stability more quickly.

I understand what you’re hoping for.

But what benefit would I gain from doing that?

We’ll give you a large wedding gift.

Ahem.

“Pardon?”

I never said I would marry Reina.

We’re friends.

I know.

But if you like her that much, don’t you want to marry her someday?

Don’t give up.

So when did I ever say I liked Reina as a woman…

It wasn’t hidden.

Kay said bluntly without smiling.

As much as Your Lordship.

“……”

And aren’t you staying here because of the lady?

I heard you received quite a lot of scout offers.

Some were surprisingly attractive places that you refused.

In the imperial capital…

Wait a moment.

Did you investigate me?

That’s surprising. Wouldn’t you have done the same if you were in my position? It wasn’t really an investigation, more of a forward investigation.

Anyway, isn’t it because of the lady that you’re silently remaining at the Julius mansion?

“……”

We’ll give you a wedding gift. A large one.

We’ll buy you a mansion where the two of you can live together.

What? A mansion?

With Your Lordship’s money?

No. Of course with my own money.

Surprisingly, I have my own funds too.

You’ll buy a mansion with your personal funds?

Why?

“Just because.”

Kay said shamelessly.

“It’s my choice, isn’t it?”