After dismissing Count Carelina and hearing Scarlet’s story, Helena thought deeply, for her, about how to deal with the Hastings family.

If she followed her nature, she should have crushed the Hastings just like the Carelina family.

No, it would have been right to inflict an even greater punishment, adding the crime of raising a child of the Rose faction while leading the charge to crush them.

Considering the circumstances, the child Cain was raising was likely the one Helena was looking for.

The blood relative of Arthur, who was the spiritual pillar of the Rose faction.

Because of him, the Rose faction was formed, and its remnants were still a thorn in Helena’s side.

Even tearing apart and killing Cain who deceived her and Arthur’s child would not be enough to satisfy her.

However, Helena was a calculating person. She considered the chaos and aftermath that would befall the kingdom if she were to cut out the Hastings.

It was still too precious to discard. Moreover, these days the Rose faction was causing terror in various places.

It was a moment when the quietly working Cain was more desperately needed.

So Helena compromised. She would leave the Hastings as they were. Instead, she would grasp their weakness, shake them, and make them work for her like dogs.

The conclusion was quite satisfactory.

But she could not stand by and watch the Hastings fall to Arthur’s blood relative.

What she wanted was clear.

“Either the Duchess steps up and crushes all of the Rose faction, or quietly steps down.”

Jane, who had been talking back point by point, shut her mouth tightly. That alone improved Helena’s mood considerably.

Jane must be very perplexed. Choosing the former would feel like defying her parents, while choosing the latter would mean giving up the coveted position of Duchess.

And whichever she chose, Helena had set a trap.

If Jane remained with Joseph in the Duke’s family, Helena intended to use that as leverage to shake the Hastings for the rest of her life.

To inherit a title in the kingdom, the king’s approval was absolutely necessary.

Although it was now just an empty formality, if Helena set her mind to using it, it could become a shackle firmly grasping Cain’s ankle.

It would be effortless for Helena to make Jane and Joseph live as nobles in name only.

Even if she chose the latter, it didn’t matter. Helena had prepared a trap.

She had been pondering how to more effectively grasp and shake the Hastings.

“I refuse both options.”

Helena’s gaze sharpened.

“But I’ll promise you one thing. I will leave the Duke’s family. Not too far in the future.”

“So you’re saying you’ll follow my words after all. Did you refuse just to save face?”

Helena mocked Jane.

“No, Your Majesty. I’m simply stating the facts. I will leave when I want to leave, of my own will. Regardless of your words.”

It was truly an insolent statement. Was she relying on the power of the Hastings family? But how long would she be able to act so arrogantly?

The moment she left the protection of the Hastings family, she would no longer be able to maintain that impudent face.

“If that’s what you say, I’ll believe you.”

Jane nodded slightly. She had no energy left to bow in courtesy. Helena didn’t expect that from Jane either. Both of them were thoroughly sick of each other.

Helena waved her hand as a dismissal. Naturally, no courtier saw Jane off as she left, practically chased out.

* * *

Returning from the palace, Jane took off her outer garments and went to find Cain’s room.

He was sound asleep. Jane stood at the doorway, quietly watching him.

He looked peaceful, unaware of the threats Jane had received from Helena.

But the years he had lived through were likely far from peaceful.

Jane only learned today exactly why Cain disliked Helena.

She treated people like tools. And she habitually used threats to wield those tools when she wanted.

Perhaps for the past 7 years, Cain had lived a life that was his yet not his.

Swinging, bending, struggling not to break in order to protect the Hastings.

It was a completely different life than Jane had imagined. She thought Cain had only walked a shining path of success.

That’s why she could sometimes resent him, and at times hate him.

When she learned about the story of the previous Duke of Hastings and Count Whitney, she wanted to inflict the same pain on him if she could.

But seeing him gradually wasting away, she suddenly thought that perhaps he too was a victim.

If I had been a little smarter and uncovered the truth 7 years ago, if I had been a little stronger and stayed by your side, we…

Jane chuckled and shook off her reverie.

It was nothing more than meaningless speculation.

Jane turned to leave. She turned her head, which had paused while grasping the doorknob.

I pity you. And I hate myself unbearably for sympathizing with you.

So we.

“Can’t be.”

* * *

Lloyd, who had been looking at the train blueprints, put down his pen and tilted his head back. Nothing was registering in his eyes at all.

For several days now, Lloyd had been unable to do the work he loved most.

No matter what research he did, his mind was filled with distracting thoughts.

The common thread among the various thoughts was one: they were all related to Jane.

‘I wonder if she’s alright.’

Thoughts of Jane came to mind again.

The sudden first love that came to him had matured on its own over time, like a long-aged wine.

The deepened emotions that resulted burst forth at the point of Jane’s kidnapping incident.

He was worried about Jane, concerned that she might be in an unwanted situation, and so he wanted to help her.

But the Hastings were shrouded in mystery.

Although Cain was kind to everyone, that was only up to a certain line.

It seemed like everything about him and the Hastings was known, but what Lloyd and those around him could know was limited to the information Cain allowed.

So Lloyd couldn’t get any information about Jane, or about matters related to her kidnapping.

‘Her expression wasn’t good.’

Lloyd recalled Jane, whom he had unexpectedly encountered on the street last night.

‘I wonder what business she had at the hotel.’

She wouldn’t stay at a hotel when she had a nice mansion like Somnium House.

‘Did she meet a guest?’

Even if that were the case, it was strange. If Jane were to meet someone in her busy time as acting duchess, wouldn’t it be normal to call them to Somnium House?

Nothing about her was clear. The more he tried to find out, the thicker the black smoke surrounding her became.

It was much easier to find out about her past when she wasn’t in the capital.

So Lloyd knew quite a lot about Jane’s past.

The city where she stayed, the work she did, the man named Cedric who helped her…

‘A man?’

Lloyd lowered his hand that had been rubbing his eyelids.

Could the person she met at the hotel be a man from Jane’s past?

If so, there would be ample reason for Jane to secretly meet a man somewhere other than Somnium House.

‘Is that man causing trouble for Jane?’

Lloyd’s good mind failed to function properly due to his worry about Jane.

‘I should resolve this.’

Lloyd wanted to help Jane. Whether that was what she wanted or not.

Once he made up his mind, his actions were quick. He put on his jacket and ran out into the hallway, calling loudly for a carriage.

And as soon as he got into the carriage, he stated his destination.

“Wilhelm Hotel, let’s go there.”

When Lloyd handed over a heavy money pouch first, the coachman excitedly cracked his whip.

The carriage arrived at the Wilhelm Hotel as quickly as Lloyd’s heart.

“I’m from Heys Trading Company. Hastings…”

The front desk clerk was very friendly upon seeing Lloyd’s neat appearance and the business card he presented showing his position as director at Heys Trading Company.

“You’ve come to meet an acquaintance of the Duke? Shall I call them for you?”

Lloyd didn’t even need to probe.

“You’re very kind. Just tell me the room number. I have urgent company business to discuss.”

Lloyd’s eyes curved like crescent moons. Few women could resist this smile. Jane being one of them was a source of despair for Lloyd.

But it was enough to melt the front desk clerk. The clerk blushed and gave him the room number.

“You’re too good for Wilhelm. Heys Trading Company also needs kind and intelligent reception staff. Consider it if you have the chance later.”

Lloyd said words he didn’t mean as he went to find the room the clerk had told him about.

* * *

Ring ring.

Phil, who was shaking his legs and planning his next move, was startled by the sudden sound of the doorbell.

“Who could it be? Did they come to the wrong room?”

There was no one in the capital who would come looking for him. He had abandoned his friends and family first.

And only Jane and Norbert knew he was staying here.

Given Jane’s attitude towards him last night, it was unlikely she had come back. Norbert hadn’t liked Phil for a very long time.

Phil thought someone must have rung the wrong doorbell and resumed his interrupted thoughts.

Contrary to what he had told Jane, Phil had blown through a huge amount of money overseas and was living off others.

The name of the Hastings ducal family carried weight even abroad. Phil had sold the family name.

“I’ll introduce you to Duke Hastings.”

“It’s easy to make a deal with Heys Trading Company through me.”

People believed his boasts. Because all the information about the Hastings ducal family he provided turned out to be correct.

Businesspeople in particular treated Phil with great hospitality.

However, when Phil just freeloaded and lazed about, rumors spread that he was a con artist.

Whenever there was talk of suing him for fraud if he didn’t immediately arrange a meeting with Duke Hastings, Phil would move to a different city.

With rumors about him widespread, he had nowhere left to cling to when he received contact from Cain.

Phil packed his bags and returned to the kingdom. He planned to give Cain the information he wanted and make a hefty profit. But things had gone awry.

He couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Cain, and Jane didn’t seem like she would give him a single gold coin no matter how much he prodded.

“Hah, I need someone willing to buy the information in order to sell it.”

Just as Phil was anxiously biting his lip, it happened.

Ring ring, ring ring.

The doorbell rang repeatedly. This time, even Phil couldn’t ignore it. He got up with a heavy body.

If someone had come to the wrong room, he was going to give them a good scolding.

He was in just the right mood to unleash some abuse on someone.

“Who is it that’s ringing the bell without even checking first?”

Phil didn’t hide his irritation from the moment he opened the door.

“I’m from Heys Trading Company. You met with the Duchess of Hastings, didn’t you?”

Phil’s eyes narrowed.

The man had not come to the wrong room.

The well-dressed man faced Phil.

“I’d like to have a talk.”