Despite being well past midnight, Clayton’s office was brightly lit.

Jason placed a warm cup of tea in front of Clayton, who was sitting at his desk, flipping through papers without pause.

“Word has come that Lady Rose Hertz has safely arrived at the Hertz family.”

“Is that so?”

Clayton replied in a monotone voice to Jason’s report.

Seemingly uninterested, Clayton didn’t bother to take his eyes off the report.

Without even glancing at the teacup placed before him, he quietly muttered.

“Good work. You may retire for the night.”

However, when Jason didn’t move to leave despite the dismissal, Clayton belatedly raised his head.

“Do you have something else to say to me?”

“I’m concerned that you’ve been overexerting yourself these past few days.”

Indeed, since returning from the imperial palace, Clayton had been immersed in work like a man possessed.

Despite it being a time when the family business would become busiest as the weather improved, he had made plans to travel to the villa, pushing himself unnecessarily.

So Jason had repeatedly suggested going in the summer, but was consistently ignored.

“I’m doing it because I can manage it.”

Clayton responded in a casual tone, immediately grasping the implication of Jason’s words.

Then, as if telling him to prepare for departure, he continued.

“How are the preparations for the trip?”

“Yes, they’re all complete. I’ve also prepared accommodations for your journey. I’ve already finalized arrangements with Duke Monsel, the last stop before reaching the villa.”

“Good work.”

“But, sir…”

Jason, having finished his report, cautiously spoke while gauging Clayton’s reaction.

“When do you have in mind for the return schedule? I need to know in advance to make preparations.”

As much as he wanted to say he’d like to accompany Clayton himself, Jason had duties to manage the mansion, and above all, Clayton didn’t want anyone to accompany him.

Moreover, apart from the guards, no one else was joining the journey.

Perhaps that’s why. Jason couldn’t shake off an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

‘Above all, that place is…’

Considering how the villa in Hudson had been used until now, it was extremely unsettling.

Thus, Jason waited for Clayton’s answer with more trepidation than ever before.

“The return schedule…”

Clayton tapped the desk with the quill pen he was holding.

“Well…”

Then, resting his chin on one hand, he tilted his head.

Jason waited for the words that would follow, but Clayton never gave the answer Jason was hoping for.

Leaving a disappointed Jason behind, Clayton stood up.

“Let’s stop here for today. I’ll be in the carriage all day starting tomorrow.”

Resigned to his master’s evasive behavior once again, Jason replied.

“…Yes, I understand. Shall I prepare your bath water then?”

A bath.

Originally, Clayton used to bathe in the evening, not in the morning.

Of course, that routine had become meaningless due to Dalia’s sudden action a few days ago.

Recalling the recent events, Clayton unconsciously smiled.

Lately, Clayton would randomly pull up the corners of his mouth while sitting still.

Of course, he himself wasn’t aware of this fact, nor was there anyone to point it out to him.

His steps towards the bedroom after leaving the office were lighter than before.

However, as he approached the bedroom, his previously brisk footsteps immediately became cautious. It was a habit he had developed recently.

But the moment he grabbed the doorknob, he suddenly realized Dalia wasn’t inside and let out a hollow laugh.

“What am I doing right now…”

Clayton had never been considerate of anyone’s feelings throughout his life.

The fact that he was now entering the room worrying about waking someone up was ridiculous even to himself.

“…”

Feeling somewhat empty, Clayton stood alone in front of the door for a moment, scanning the room.

It was a place he had never felt was spacious or empty before, but somehow today it felt strangely vacant.

Was it because the woman who always welcomed him was gone? But they had only spent about four days together.

Clayton, who had been staring endlessly at the empty space where Dalia used to sit, finally moved.

The only thing welcoming him in the large room was the coldly chilled bed.

Thump, sitting on the bed, he slowly stroked the empty space as if searching for any remaining warmth in the coldly cooled spot.

Then suddenly, Jason’s question from earlier flashed through his mind.

“When will I return, he asked?”

Both Jason and Dalia had asked him. When this journey would end. Each time, Clayton had avoided answering.

Because he truly didn’t know himself.

As clouds covered the moon, the darkness in the room, which had no lights on, deepened.

Along with it, a shadow naturally fell over the red eyes that had been staring at the place where Dalia used to be.

“Perhaps…”

I might not return at all.

Instead of the answer that couldn’t quite leave his lips, only silence was left hanging in the room.

* * *

Two days later. The morning of the day they were finally departing for the villa with Clayton dawned.

The mansion was busier than ever with preparations for the master couple’s journey.

And among all the servants working in the mansion, Samantha’s mouth was having the busiest day.

“I’ve heard the sea in Hudson is incredibly beautiful. It’s still spring now so the water will be cold, but it should be good for dipping your feet in. Oh, and there’s a festival in that area around this time every year…”

As always, Samantha chattered incessantly while styling Dalia’s hair.

She was styling it to look effortlessly put-together, or something like that.

Normally, Samantha’s morning chatter would have been tiring, but today Dalia was in a good mood too, so she was actively responding to Samantha.

“I wasn’t sure how many clothes to pack for you, madam, so I packed as much as possible. I haven’t been told about the schedule for returning to the capital. Have you heard anything from the duke?”

“Well, come to think of it, I haven’t heard how long we’ll be staying at the villa either.”

She had asked Clayton subtly last time about how long they’d be at the villa, but there was no answer.

Well, she had only agreed to go because Clayton had asked her to come along, and she wasn’t particularly concerned about where the villa was or how long they’d be staying there.

Above all, she was used to leaving everything to the maids who always prepared everything.

“I guess it won’t be more than ten days at most? The duke must have a lot to do in the capital.”

“I suppose so? Then I can remove some of the clothes.”

She said to Samantha, who was muttering a list of things to remove.

“Samantha, have you packed your things? I can finish up here alone, so you should hurry and get ready too.”

At this, Samantha tilted her head as if she had heard something strange.

“Pardon? I’m not going to the villa, madam.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Dalia, who had been touching up her face in the mirror, turned around in surprise.

Samantha tilted her head in confusion.

“Didn’t you receive any message? The duke said he’s only taking selected guard knights to the villa this time. He said he’d assign separate maids there to serve you, madam.”

“What?”

This was the first she’d heard of it.

She had assumed Samantha would go to the villa too since she was her personal maid. Seeing Dalia’s face harden, Samantha tried to lighten the mood.

“I thought it was strange at first too, but don’t you think they might want to spend some cozy time alone, just the two of them?”

“…Hudson, was it? The villa we’re going to today.”

“Yes. I heard it’s a villa that the Sayer ducal family has owned for a very long time.”

A strangely uneasy feeling crept in, but she couldn’t pinpoint the cause of this feeling.

“I’ve heard it’s a really beautiful place. And the journey there is supposed to be incredibly scenic too!”

“Is that so?”

But the unease soon subsided at the sound of Samantha’s bright voice.

‘It’s just a few days of rest, what could possibly happen?’

Moreover, now that she had become Clayton’s blood bag, her only concern was to safely give birth to the child.

As Dalia gazed at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought, there was a knock at the door.

Jason appeared.

“Madam. Are you ready?”

“I’m almost done. What about the duke?”

“He’s waiting downstairs.”

At the news that Clayton was waiting for her, Samantha’s hands became busy.

She only let Dalia go after completing the final, final check.

“Well then, madam. Please take care and have a safe trip.”

Leaving behind Samantha, who was sniffling with worry about being apart for so long, Dalia left the room.

The sound of her heels echoed through the quiet corridor.

As she reached the stairs leading down to the first floor with slightly hurried steps, she caught sight of Clayton, who had come out earlier and was waiting for her.

It was the beginning of their journey.