Cain let out a snicker.

How can a person’s desire for another person be so ugly and vulgar?

“I don’t need to hear it. I’ll never need you in my life.”

Cain didn’t hide the contempt in his eyes.

“Get off my property right now. And let’s never meet again. If you appear before me so rudely once more, I won’t stand idly by. It’s nothing for me to make a fool of you for trespassing.”

“I know. Ruining a woman’s life is nothing to you, Duke.”

Scarlett didn’t cower in the face of Cain’s threat. Cain stared at her with furrowed brows.

Something’s off.

Scarlett didn’t come here to apologize or simply to meet him.

“If you have something to say, say it straight.”

Cain growled lowly.

Scarlett glanced around. Cain had already dismissed everyone with a gesture, so no one was listening to their conversation.

Cain was a cautious man who instinctively avoided situations where his weaknesses could be exposed. That’s why Scarlett liked him.

Because he was a man who wouldn’t make foolish choices.

“Joseph’s mother, Jexi. You manipulated that woman as you pleased. No, you manipulated her husband…”

Scarlett couldn’t finish her prepared words.

“Shut your mouth.”

Cain completely dropped his gentlemanly facade. The killing intent and pressure he exuded stabbed into Scarlett.

“If you say one more word.”

Cain rubbed his face with his dry hand, trying to suppress his anger.

“I’ll cut Carelina out of this kingdom.”

I’ve hit the mark!

Scarlett felt elation even as she trembled.

* * *

Around the time Scarlett was pressuring Cain, Jexi was comfortably rolling around on the bed, licking the sugar off her hands.

“Still no contact?”

Jexi poked Augustus’s back with her toes as he sat at the edge of the bed.

“I told you there wouldn’t be an immediate response.”

Augustus pushed away Jexi’s foot.

“Then try contacting them again. Draw some blood from your finger and send it or something. Oh, come to think of it, that’s a good idea. Should I cut some of my hair to send? I’m so smart. Bring me scissors.”

Augustus glared at Jexi.

“What’s with that look? Aren’t I your meal ticket? What if I say everything you claim is wrong?”

Jexi, who had been lying carelessly, got up, dusting off her hands.

Augustus stood up abruptly, placing his hands on his hips and sighing deeply.

Why on earth did he bring such a troublesome woman here?

Augustus recalled how he ended up living with Jexi.

It started with Augustus. He was so focused on making money by using the young Hastings lord’s identity as leverage that he stayed at the inn, not realizing Jexi was waking up.

And when Jexi opened her eyes, Augustus pretended to be the man she spent the night with, praying she wouldn’t remember the previous night.

Jexi, remembering everything, snorted and whispered about making some money together.

Seeing Jexi threaten to falsely testify about kidnapping and forced relations, Augustus made a judgment.

This woman is no ordinary person.

Killing her would cleanly resolve the issue, but without Jexi, it would be impossible to uncover the young Hastings lord’s identity or make money from that information.

The choice was already made.

So he joined hands with Jexi.

He had some of his Rose Faction followers bring clothes for disguise and they snuck out of the inn.

He brought the woman to his hideout, unknown even to Cedric.

And within half a day, he was sick of Jexi.

Thinking she was in charge, Jexi didn’t lift a finger. If she needed anything, she ordered Augustus around with her toes.

Whenever Augustus got angry, Jexi would make a money shape with her thumb and index finger and wave it.

“I don’t want to stay in this smelly place any longer, so hurry up and contact them. Send some blood speckles too. The hair… we’ll do that next time.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just say I know the young Hastings lord’s identity?”

“No!”

Jexi flared up. Moving as slow as a sloth until now, she grabbed Augustus’s collar faster than a bullet.

“Don’t say that carelessly. What if someone steals the note while it’s in transit? Secrets are valuable only when they remain secret. Got it?”

“You mean pretend not to know so we can sell it for a higher price?”

“That’s right.”

The look in her eyes as she answered was desperate. It wasn’t just about money, she seemed to fear something else, and it was easy to guess what it was.

She doesn’t want to die.

It was clear that if Joseph’s real father was revealed, the queen’s army would hunt down Jexi.

The queen’s order to find Arthur’s family hadn’t disappeared. It had just faded with time.

Partly because it had faded from the queen’s memory.

But what if her memory was revived? Especially if she learned that Duke Hastings had raised a criminal’s child as his own son?

‘She’d fly into a rage, feeling betrayed.’

It would be impossible for Cain to secretly extract Joseph and Jexi like in the past.

“That’s right, it’s for the money.”

Jexi believed Augustus didn’t know Arthur’s identity. And she thought of Augustus as just a big, dumb bear.

A convenient tool to manipulate.

A relationship where both parties see each other as tools is bound to end in disaster.

But even if it leads to disaster, money must be made.

‘That money is mine.’

‘Jexi, your ransom will be my money.’

Augustus and Jexi had similar yet different thoughts.

“Alright. I’ll try contacting them. With blood, as you said. But the blood doesn’t necessarily have to be human, right?”

Augustus grinned and opened the window. He picked up a bow.

“What are you doing? Why such a rustic bow?”

“I’m going to send a gift along with it.”

Augustus drew the bowstring taut.

* * *

Only Joseph and Jane got off the carriage that stopped in front of Somnium House.

Jane left Joseph with Nash and took off her gloves.

“Why are only the two of you here?”

Norbert approached and asked, taking the gloves.

“Cain had urgent business come up.”

Whether Scarlett had provided proper Rose Faction information or not, he hurriedly left the lake after talking with her, uncharacteristically rushed.

“He said he wasn’t busy these days.”

“Indeed. I almost forgot he’s usually a busy person.”

Jane laughed lightly. However, her insides were in turmoil.

Whenever the Rose Faction was mentioned, her insides churned like a storm-tossed sea.

“Joseph, wash up well and get plenty of rest today.”

Jane spoke to Joseph, who was in Nash’s arms. Joseph’s eyes were half-closed, tired from playing on the boat and running around on the lawn.

“Yes, Mother.”

With that answer, Joseph’s eyes closed completely.

“You must be very tired too, madam. Shall I draw a bath?”

Hailey asked.

“Let’s do that.”

“How should I prepare dinner?”

“Tell Pudica to send Joseph’s dinner up to his room. I’ll go down to the dining room.”

“Understood. I’ll go tell the kitchen right away and then draw your bath.”

Jane watched Hailey run towards the dining room and headed upstairs.

‘I should get a good night’s sleep today. I’ll ask Hailey to prepare some lavender potpourri too.’

Jane exhaled comfortably, thinking of ways to counteract her poor sleep quality.

* * *

Hailey came up.

Jane was in the process of removing the pins holding her hair up. As she removed the last hairpin, Jane’s voluminous hair cascaded down.

“I could have done that for you. You should have waited.”

“I can do this much on my own. More importantly, what’s that?”

Hailey, who was supposed to go to the dining room, was holding a small box in her hand.

“Oh! It’s an express mail for you, madam. Norbert the butler was briefly away, so I received it on my way up.”

“Is that so? Who sent it?”

“It has an ‘S’ written on the outside. Looks like an initial…”

S, could it be Cedric?

Had Cedric perhaps discovered a clue to unravel the truth of the incident seven years ago?

Although Jane had told Cedric not to get involved, it would be like him to investigate without her knowledge.

He wanted to help Jane somehow and felt too sorry for not telling her about the past events beforehand.

“Hailey, could you check if anyone’s outside? And lock the door too.”

“Yes, madam.”

Hailey diligently followed Jane’s instructions.

Meanwhile, Jane roughly tied her hair with a string and headed to the table with the box.

“There was no one outside.”

Jane nodded and sat in a chair. She carefully untied the ribbon on the box.

As if the contents were confidential, the box was sealed not only with a ribbon but also with glued paper at the opening.

“Looks like we’ll need a knife?”

“I’ll bring one right away!”

Hailey quickly fetched a paper knife.

Jane gently inserted the paper knife between the wrapping paper and the box. The wrapping paper was easily cut away.

“Hailey, you should draw the bath now.”

Jane decided to trust Hailey, but she hadn’t made up her mind to share everything.

Jane asked Hailey to leave without hurting her feelings, and her clever maid understood well.

“Yes, madam. I’ll add some oil that’s good for muscle aches too.”

“Thank you.”

Soon after, the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing was heard.

Jane took a deep breath. Then she carefully opened the lid of the box.

Gasp, Jane inhaled sharply as she confirmed the contents. Her eyes widened as if they would pop out.

The gift sent to Jane was a bird, pitifully dead with its wings broken.