Knock, knock, knock.

Cain’s eyelids, which had just closed, lifted. Cain checked the time as he forced his heavy eyes open.

It was a time that could be considered either too late or too early for someone to be knocking on the duke’s bedroom door.

Therefore, it must be important.

Cain pushed aside the blanket and got up. When he opened the door, an unexpected figure stood there.

“Shouldn’t you be guarding Joseph’s room?”

The young master of House Hastings had been under special protection since childhood. To those blinded by money, the Hastings heir appeared to be very good prey.

A long time ago, after an incident where the Hastings princess was nearly kidnapped, the Hastings children were guarded outside their bedroom doors until they reached a certain age.

Except when they were with a trusted adult, of course.

“I changed shifts before midnight.”

“I see. Then why are you here at this hour?”

It was 5 AM. If he had worked until midnight, he should have at least had the day off today.

“I have something urgent to report.”

The knight’s expression was solemn. Cain quickly scanned the empty hallway and stepped aside. It was a signal to come inside.

“Do you need a drink?”

Cain walked past the knight standing stiffly in the room and sat on the sofa.

“No, Your Grace. I’ll just state my business and leave.”

Cain nodded. Looking closely at the well-built man, Cain recalled exactly who he was.

A boy from one of the Rose Faction’s offices, a scrawny boy he had saved and given money to 4 years ago, who had come to House Hastings two years later with a changed appearance.

According to the Black Ravens’ thorough investigation, his ties with the Rose Faction had been completely severed, and it turned out he had no special connection to them before either.

Just a boy who did cleaning at the office in exchange for food.

But to that boy, Cain’s charity was a great kindness. He worked hard to repay that kindness, and news of this reached Cain’s ears a year ago.

He had forgotten about it since then.

“Your name was Lux, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Lux, that’s correct.”

Lux’s stiff expression softened slightly. He even managed a faint smile.

“I’ve heard you’ve been doing good work.”

“Th-thank you.”

Lux bowed deeply.

“Checking on subordinates’ performance is my job. No need for thanks. If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Actually, I witnessed something suspicious while changing shifts yesterday.”

Cain crossed his legs. Lux took a deep breath.

“Yesterday, I saw the duchess sneaking out.”

Cain’s eyebrow twitched subtly. However, Cain smiled, pretending not to be fazed.

“I see. I asked her to deliver something secretly. So that’s what you saw.”

“Ah… Is that so? That’s a relief.”

Lux visibly relaxed. Cain’s eyes flashed sharply for a moment.

“A relief?”

“I almost misunderstood.”

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

“Well… Since the duchess used to be associated with those Rose Faction bastards… I thought maybe…”

Lux couldn’t bring himself to say the word ‘collusion’.

Though he had only seen her from afar, Jane was a good person. Lux hoped Jane would stay here as the duchess for a long time.

That’s why he had agonized for a long time after seeing Jane sneaking out before knocking on Cain’s door.

If Jane was making a mistake, he hoped Cain would correct it before others found out.

He was even prepared to endure if Cain scolded him for this.

Of course, if he was cast out… that would be a bit unfair, but he wouldn’t regret it since he did it for House Hastings.

“You’ve made a big misunderstanding.”

But fortunately, Cain didn’t get angry.

“This was a secret errand I asked for, so keep it to yourself.”

Lux’s face brightened considerably.

“Understood, Your Grace. I’ve disturbed your rest time with my misunderstanding. I’m truly sorry.”

“No, I’m actually grateful you reported directly to me without telling your superiors. You can go now. As you said, I need to rest too.”

“Yes! Rest well.”

Lux saluted firmly and grabbed the door handle with a relieved expression.

That’s when it happened.

“Don’t carelessly doubt the duchess.”

Cain’s heavy voice made Lux’s hand freeze on the handle.

Lux clearly understood the warning message underlying those words.

‘You’ll die if you run your mouth carelessly.’

Lux gulped.

“…Yes.”

He barely managed to answer. His voice sounded like a goat’s bleat.

* * *

Jane, who returned to the mansion just before sunrise, paced around her room, recalling what she had seen and heard.

‘Jacksie staged the kidnapping.’

Why?

‘For money.’

Jane’s hands trembled at Jacksie’s motive that came to mind too easily.

How could she wear the mask of a human when her son could be in danger because of what she’s doing now!

She had been rude and left an indelible scar on Joseph, but Jane had tried to show minimal respect since she was the child’s birth mother.

She had planned to at least quietly persuade her to leave the capital.

Unable to forgive Jacksie, Jane knocked on Cain’s door as soon as morning came.

“Come in.”

Cain was reading a newspaper.

Fortunately, he had kept his promise to stay at home.

“Jane?”

Cain raised his eyebrows as if her visit was unexpected, folding the newspaper.

“What brings you here?”

Cain rubbed his eyes, looking very tired. Jane could feel that he wasn’t pleased with her visit.

“I have something to say.”

Cain sighed. He wasn’t ready to talk to Jane yet.

After Lux had dropped his bombshell at dawn, Cain couldn’t sleep a wink thinking about the reason for Jane’s outing.

As soon as Lux left, he went to Jane’s bedroom. He was worried about her.

Although the kingdom puts a lot of effort into public safety, the streets were still too unsafe for a woman to wander alone late at night, despite the budget and attention given.

If Jane had gone out alone late at night as Lux said, there was a possibility she could have been caught up in an accident.

In fact, Cain almost yelled at Lux at dawn, “Why didn’t you follow her?”

He held back his anger because of what he said to create an alibi for Jane.

On his way to Jane’s room at dawn, Cain’s heart was beating wildly.

He kept thinking, “What if, could it be…”

Fortunately, Jane was in her room. More precisely, she was in the bathroom. Seeing the riding pants, shirt, and black robe strewn in front of the bathroom, Cain silently checked inside.

Jane was bathing. His legs went weak when he confirmed her presence with his own eyes.

He almost got caught by Jane despite trying hard to hide his presence, but Cain came to his senses and returned to his room.

From then on, he pondered the reason why Jane went out.

Did she go to meet the Rose Faction as Lux said? Could Jane also be conducting an investigation with the queen’s words in mind?

Cain’s emotions were all over the place.

It took quite some time for worry to turn into anxiety, anxiety back into concern for Jane, and that concern into anger at Jane’s recklessness.

Whatever her reason for going out, Jane was reckless. She walked into danger of her own accord.

Cain couldn’t understand it.

What on earth for?

He felt like he might lose his temper at Jane.

“I’m a bit tired. And busy too. Let’s talk another time.”

Cain picked up the newspaper again. Jane grabbed it and pulled it down. Cain had no choice but to look at her.

Like Cain, Jane’s eyes were bloodshot as if she hadn’t slept.

“It’s important.”

Cain forcibly tore his gaze away from Jane’s face. He put down the newspaper and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Please. Go back now. In the evening.”

Cain paused for a moment. He tried to calculate if he could deal with Jane rationally by evening.

It seemed unlikely.

Even normally, Cain often lost his reason because of Jane.

Now that he knew about Jane’s dawn excursion, it was even harder to maintain his composure. In fact, it was difficult to guarantee that he could have a normal conversation with Jane even in the evening.

But he couldn’t avoid it forever.

“I’ll come find you in the evening.”

“I still need to say what I have to say.”

Cain’s eyebrows shot up.

He felt frustrated, not understanding why she was being so stubborn.

Jane felt the same, not knowing why Cain was refusing to talk.

Cain got up from his seat and headed to the window. He clearly showed he had no intention of talking by moving away entirely.

“It’s about Jacksie!”

Jane almost shouted. Cain’s hand stopped as he was about to open the window.

“We need to catch Jacksie. Jacksie is trying to kidnap Joseph.”

Jane blurted out.

“What?”

Cain raised his voice unintentionally.

“What’s this about Jacksie, and what kidnapping?”

“I told you I had something to talk about. Do you feel like talking to me now?”

Cain whirled around. He roughly ran his hand through his hair.

If Jane had acted because of Joseph, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t put herself in danger again.

“Let’s hear it.”

Cain’s mind was in chaos, like a forest ravaged by a storm.

How did Jane know Jacksie had disappeared?

As he was about to ask that question, Jane asked first.

“You knew Jacksie had disappeared, didn’t you?”

“Is that what you came to question me about?”

Cain’s head tilted askew.