This happened shortly after Cain regained consciousness.

After confirming that Jane, who had been by his side, had left, Cain got out of bed.

He stretched his body, stiff from lying down all day, and admired the darkness-covered garden.

Then he sensed someone’s presence. The direction of the small footsteps was clear. Someone was coming to Cain’s room.

Cain hurriedly returned to bed and covered himself with the blanket. Just as he closed his eyes, the door opened.

The owner of the light footsteps was Jane. She smelled of faint soap, as if she had just finished showering.

She approached the bed, brushed Cain’s hair aside, and sat in the chair next to it.

And she sat silently for a while. Sighs were mixed in with her breath. Her long exhales revealed complex emotions.

He wanted to ask what she was thinking right away, but he couldn’t muster the courage.

Cain could only clench his fist hidden under the blanket more tightly.

“Cain.”

He almost answered. Jane’s call was that unexpected.

“I have something to say. After you wake up, I’d like to talk face to face, but there’s no time.”

Why was there no time?

They were a married couple who promised a lifetime together. Though it was a one-year contract, for Cain, that year had long since changed to eternity.

Cain intended to stay by Jane’s side for a long time and slowly atone for the sins committed by his parents and himself.

“Joseph is a very smart child. He understands everything you teach him right away. But don’t sigh or scold him if he’s slow to answer. As you know, he’s sensitive.”

Jane continued her instructions as if she knew Cain was awake.

“He’s improved a lot, but he’s still afraid of strangers. Especially stern-looking adult women. If you want to change his tutor, please make it a male teacher with a gentle appearance. And you should attend the first lesson with him.”

Cain wanted to ask why she couldn’t do those things herself.

If she was struggling because of too much work, they could adjust things little by little. If she wanted, he could even let her live a life of leisure forever.

“He really likes animals. For a while, he spent so much time with the horse you bought him that he smelled of horse manure even after bathing, practically living in the stable. You might not have time, but if you get the chance, please take him to the zoo.”

Jane’s instructions continued endlessly, regardless of Cain’s confusion. Most were parenting advice considering Joseph’s temperament.

Cain learned a lot about Joseph that he hadn’t known before. But what came to him wasn’t the joy of knowledge, but fear.

“Don’t forget. Joseph is a sensitive child. He stutters because he thinks a lot. It’s getting better gradually, so please be patient. And you.”

Jane took a deep breath.

“You are.”

Her voice trembled faintly as if emotions were welling up.

Did she have something to say to him too?

Ironically, Cain was curious but didn’t want to hear it.

But pretending to be asleep, he could neither stop Jane’s words nor cover his ears.

“Thank you.”

In the end, Cain heard Jane’s words. It was an unexpected expression of gratitude. Is this the end, Cain relaxed his tightly clenched fist.

“And.”

Cain, who had been at ease, inhaled sharply. Jane flinched at the movement that might have looked like a sleep twitch.

Cain exhaled evenly again, pretending to be in deep sleep.

He hoped Jane would pretend not to notice.

“I know it’s a despicable thing to say to you while you’re sick… but this is all I can do.”

He wanted to tell her it wasn’t true. Jane was a much greater person than Cain could ever imagine.

“I hate you. And your parents. But what I hate more is.”

Jane’s voice became teary. She’s crying. Cain wanted to jump out of bed right away and wipe her tears.

But weakness chained him to the bed.

How should I face you?

Cain still hadn’t found an answer.

“What I hate most is that I want to forgive you. But I don’t have the right to forgive you. Because the ones who should forgive you and your parents are my parents. But my parents…”

Hiccup, Jane finally burst into tears. Cain’s heart ached at her rapid breathing as she wiped her tears and tried to calm down.

Cain now realized why Jane had come to him.

She was saying goodbye to Cain.

Cain sensed that this was the real farewell between them.

Jane would leave him.

So, I didn’t even earn the right to ask for your forgiveness.

Jane said something more afterwards, but Cain couldn’t hear anything.

He just thought, if only I hadn’t woken up.

* * *

“Would you like a cigar?”

Nathan abruptly held out a cigar in front of Cain’s face.

Cain jerked his head back, then chuckled and accepted the cigar.

“You’re supposed to ask before offering these things.”

“It saves time.”

Nathan added that Cain was going to smoke it anyway, his expression clearly showed he wanted a cigar.

He lit Cain’s cigar. Cain skillfully inhaled the cigar. Soon, hazy cigar smoke spread.

“Shouldn’t you quit soon?”

Nathan offered it because Cain looked frustrated, but inwardly he hoped Cain would quit cigars. But Cain just smiled.

“It’s too… long-standing for that.”

Cigars with lingering fig scent.

When did he start smoking these cigars that were neither good for health nor cheap?

Cain laughed dejectedly as he searched his memories. It was after Jane left.

The cigar he smoked by chance had the fig scent Jane liked, and at some point, it became a scent Cain liked.

Without him even realizing it. Nathan spoke to Cain, who looked particularly tired.

“Pass some work to the mistress. You’ll be busy catching those Rose faction bastards for a while.”

“Jane won’t do it.”

Nathan found Cain frustrating. It wasn’t like him to predict failure without even trying.

“Why do you think that? The mistress’s ability! Passion! Proactiveness! They’re no less than yours, sir.”

Cain’s lips curved into a pleasant arc.

He liked hearing praise for Jane from the mouths of Hastings family members, including Nathan.

He also felt relieved that if she satisfied these picky people, she would live well anywhere.

But on the other hand, he felt bitter.

If Jane were a slightly lacking person, would she have leaned on him more? Would she not have thought of leaving his side so rashly? Should I clip your wings even now?

Cain snapped out of his sudden chilling thought.

“What were you thinking to make such an expression?”

“What expression did I make?”

“Like you’ve seen a devil. Like the face of a secretary who had all his vacation preparations ready only to have it canceled.”

“Is that your story?”

Cain looked back on the past, his tone slightly biting.

Nathan shrugged.

Come to think of it, Cain felt he had been too negligent of his surroundings while only looking ahead.

Once the complicated matters were settled, he wanted to live quietly, taking care of those around him.

Without working, just looking after Jane and Joseph.

‘There’s no way I’d be given such a chance.’

Cain didn’t believe in God, but he did believe that only good people had the right to be happy.

No matter how he thought about it, he wasn’t a good person. He had too much blood on his hands. With wrong purposes at that.

The sky was full of people wishing for his unhappiness. The Whitneys would probably be among them.

“Are you really going to meet Augustus? With the mistress?”

“We have to. Jane wants it.”

“I wonder what you’re going to say when you meet. If it were me, I wouldn’t even want to see his face.”

Nathan rummaged through his notebook to find the contact information for the police inspector.

Cain silently smoked his cigar.

“I hope you’d give him a good slap on the face.”

Nathan’s muttering voice faded away.

* * *

“I’m busy as hell, why are you coming here?”

The police inspector frowned and adjusted his uniform.

“A confrontation between victim and perpetrator is also part of the procedure.”

“You bastard, are you taking the Hastings Duke’s side now?”

“It’s not taking sides…”

The inspector patted the young officer’s shoulder.

“Listen well. Augustus is ours. We can’t let the Hastings Duke, who’s been lying around till now, take him away. He’s a big fish, you know? Don’t you get it?”

The inspector was anxious that Cain might steal his credit. The young officer had difficulty understanding the inspector’s words and thoughts.

They had no credit in Augustus’s arrest.

‘Wasn’t it the Hastings Duke’s people who caught him while getting shot?’

But the young officer just accepted the inspector’s words. It would take about 5 years of experience to contradict his words.

The young officer kept his mouth shut and stood straight, watching the approaching carriage drawn by four horses.

The carriage, raising a cloud of dust, was large and splendid like the prestige of the Hastings Duke family.

And the people who got out of that carriage were as impressive as he had heard.

The beautiful and elegant Duchess, and the Duke exuding an intimidating aura that overwhelmed those before him.

The young officer’s back straightened involuntarily.

“Welcome, Your Grace! We’ve been waiting for you.”

The attitude of the inspector, who had treated the Hastings Duke like a cat coming to steal fish from a fish shop, changed 180 degrees.

The police chief rattled off flattering words about how honored they were by the visit, how his happiness was complete by their coming to this humble place.

“You’ve worked hard, Inspector. It would be troublesome for everyone, so we’ll go straight to the detention center. How is Augustus’s condition?”

While talking with the inspector, Cain also took care of Jane.

He helped her get out of the carriage, held the door open for her until she entered, and made sure she could walk on the inside.

The young officer wondered which was Cain’s true self, as his actions showed kindness completely opposite to his cool impression.

“He’s still keeping his mouth shut, but now that you’re here, Your Grace, he’ll open up today. Your skills are quite famous, after all. I’ll watch and learn well.”

The inspector talked non-stop on the way to the interview room. Only the young officer responded to his words.

“This is the place. Augustus is already inside. Four armed officers are guarding, so don’t worry about safety.”

Just as the inspector was about to grab the door handle with a proud face.

“Clear the room.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at Jane’s words, who had been silent the entire way.

“I want to talk to Augustus alone, but I’ll take the gun instead.”

Jane held out her hand to Cain. She meant for him to hand over the gun in his possession. Cain’s brow furrowed.