Cain, poor man.

And Joseph, my poor child.

The gloomy past of Cain and Joseph became a black tent that completely covered Jane.

A vision unfolded of Jeksi, who had become a giant, chasing after Cain and Joseph.

Jane tried to stop Jeksi, but it was useless.

‘This is fake!’

She knew, but it was difficult to easily escape.

Then, she felt a sharp pain on her lips.

With that, the black tent and Jeksi’s vision disappeared.

Jane opened her eyes wide. Soon she met Cain’s gaze.

He had pulled Jane out of the darkness.

‘I just watched helplessly…’

Once, Jane thought Cain was a person who wouldn’t bleed even if pricked with thorns.

Because his attitude towards Jane was so cold.

But it turned out his seemingly tough exterior was the result of wounds inflicted by countless blades.

When sharp thorns pricked him, who comforted him?

Joseph has Cain as a shield.

But for Cain now?

There’s no one.

Poor person.

Pitiful person.

Jane wanted to comfort Cain. At least, she wanted to repay him for saving her when she was frightened and floundering in the vision.

So she put her arms around Cain’s neck.

She felt Cain startle.

Jane slowly closed her eyes. And she pushed a soft, hot piece of flesh into Cain’s mouth.

Cain, who had only thought she would push him away, hesitated for a moment but didn’t miss the opening Jane had given. He persistently explored Jane’s lips and pulled her waist close.

The two people’s senses intertwined somewhat urgently.

It was Jane’s clumsy comfort.

* * *

“Crazy, insane, bastard!”

Jeksi shouted loudly in the street. Passersby frowned as they looked at her.

“What are you looking at? Never seen someone yelling before? Look away! Do you know who I am!”

Jeksi gestured rudely, hoping to catch someone.

If she were taken by the police, Cain would have no choice but to come find her.

Jeksi was willing to do anything to meet him.

Jeksi caused more disturbance. She kicked stones lying on the street, stamped her feet, and cursed at anyone.

Then, a black shadow fell in front of her.

“Hey.”

Someone called out to Jeksi. Thinking this was her chance, Jeksi turned and reached out her hand.

She intended to slap them right away, but the other person’s reaction was quick.

A man, a head taller than Jeksi, grabbed her hand.

Due to his fedora pulled low, the man’s face wasn’t clearly visible. He turned outward so people couldn’t see Jeksi.

Jeksi sensed an ominous atmosphere.

“Who are you?”

“There’s someone looking for you.”

“Is this kidnapping? Human trafficking? I don’t have anyone to pay my ransom. Even if you sell me, I’m sick so you won’t get full price.”

Jeksi put her full strength into her feet, trying not to be dragged away by the man.

“He knows you’re not worth much. He’s already met you before. Come quietly.”

Jeksi’s eyes narrowed. She recalled someone and smirked.

“That lady from before?”

“Don’t speak carelessly of her.”

Seeing the man’s reaction, she was certain.

Scarlet, the woman who was like a haughty cat, was looking for her again.

‘Why this time?’

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. She just needed to extort money.

“Lead the way.”

Jeksi lifted her chin.

* * *

In the greenhouse, Scarlet aimlessly walked around, plucking flower petals. You could tell where she had passed by the petals scattered on the floor.

“They’re late.”

Tired of plucking one petal at a time, Scarlet grabbed and pulled off entire flowers.

Just as it seemed the greenhouse the gardener had worked hard on would be ruined, the greenhouse door opened.

Scarlet’s maid sighed in relief and announced the arrival of visitors.

“Miss, the guests have arrived.”

“Oh?”

Scarlet responded nonchalantly as if she hadn’t heard, turning her body.

In front was a foolish-looking woman looking around curiously at the greenhouse, and Ken bowing deeply as he removed his hat.

“Ken, you’ve worked hard.”

Scarlet smiled brightly as if she had never had an expressionless face. Then she quickly pushed the fallen flower clusters with her foot so Ken wouldn’t see them.

“Ken, we women have urgent matters to discuss, so would you excuse us? You, guide Ken to a place to rest.”

Without waiting for Ken’s reply, she sent him away with the maid. It wasn’t a problem since Ken never disobeyed Scarlet’s words anyway.

As the greenhouse door opened and closed, Scarlet spoke.

“Don’t just stand there blankly, sit down. Is this your first time in a greenhouse?”

“Yes. It’s my first time, isn’t it?”

“I guess Cain didn’t bring you.”

“It’s my first time in the capital. I’ve been to other mansions owned by the Duke, but…”

Lies, Scarlet inwardly scoffed.

In Hastings’ mansions across the country, there was always a greenhouse, big or small.

Viewing flowers was the Duchess’s pleasure, and their elegant extravagance.

There’s no way Jeksi, whose eyes go crazy at the sight of anything shiny and pretty, wouldn’t have seen a greenhouse while staying at a Hastings mansion.

So her claim of staying at a Hastings mansion was a lie.

‘Did they just meet at a bar for one night?’

Just thinking about it made her feel like bugs were crawling on her body.

It was filthy and unpleasant.

To seduce a man relying only on her body.

‘Did she drug him?’

It was a mystery how a noble man like Cain would spend the night with such a woman in his right mind.

“Can I pick some flowers when I leave? I think the Duke would like them.”

“Pfft.”

Scarlet burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her fist.

“Why are you laughing?”

No matter how little education she had, she could understand the intention behind the other’s actions.

Scarlet was mocking Jeksi.

“It’s nothing. Pick as much as you want. Cain will really like it.”

Cain hates flowers. In all the times Scarlet has met him, not insignificantly few, she has never once seen Cain give flowers a glance.

No matter how fragrant the flowers, or how abundantly they bloomed.

Jeksi glared at Scarlet before relaxing her eyes.

She had already decided to side with Scarlet.

It would be to her own detriment if she turned against her just because of a little disrespect.

Once she sat in the position of Duchess, Scarlet would have no choice but to bow her head anyway.

‘It’ll be fun to make someone who acted so high and mighty kneel down.’

Imagining a satisfying future, Jeksi asked about the matter at hand.

“I’m curious how your reunion with Cain went.”

“He was glad to see me. We ended our talk well too.”

If that were true, she wouldn’t have been wandering around bars.

Jeksi hadn’t noticed at all, but she had been under surveillance.

Ever since right after meeting Scarlet.

Although they couldn’t follow her into Somnium House, they received reports of the times she entered and left, and the scene of her being pushed out of the carriage by Nathan.

‘She must have been treated like an unwelcome guest. As I thought.’

Cain wants to get rid of that woman. Then what should be done?

‘Should I get rid of her for him and gain his favor? Or should I use her to push out Jane as I originally planned?’

There were risks with either choice. But the fruits of success were also certain.

“Excuse me.”

Jeksi, who had been staring blankly at Scarlet who called her but said nothing, spoke.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Why did you call me here?”

“Well… I wanted to treat you to tea? That’s what nobles do. We meet often to drink tea, talk about our lives, look at flowers.”

‘Sounds like an easy life.’

Inwardly cursing the nobles’ idle ways, Jeksi put her arms on the table.

“Forget the tea, just give me some money.”

“Money?”

“Yes, money. Somnium House is too stuffy so I want to stay outside. The Duke held me back, told me not to go, but it doesn’t seem right to keep staying when there’s a Duchess, even if just in name.”

The nominal Duchess referred to Jane.

‘She has no sense.’

Not even realizing Cain’s heart was turned towards her.

So perhaps she’d be easier to use.

Still pondering how to make use of Jeksi, Scarlet tilted her head.

“Although I’m the daughter of a Count, I’m still in a position of receiving an allowance, so I don’t have much money.”

“Did I say to just give it to me? I’ll pay you back double when I become Duchess. The money you give me is an investment.”

“Of course. But… it’s not even certain if you’re Joseph’s birth mother…”

“What did you say?!”

Jeksi slammed the table. Scarlet’s eyes widened in surprise. Jeksi huffed and puffed before letting out a long breath.

“I am Joseph’s birth mother. Joseph is my son.”

“Of course, you must be. It’s just that I’m concerned about the rumors going around.”

“What rumors are going around?”

“Don’t take this too badly.”

Scarlet pulled her eyebrows down and pretended to be cautious.

“There are rumors that Joseph isn’t actually Cain’s child. As you know, they don’t look alike. Although the child is quite cute.”

Scarlet had expected Jeksi to grab her collar at least, given her fiery temper.

But Jeksi froze.

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed.