Jane was also surprised by Cain’s appearance.

Cain glared fiercely at the frozen people before approaching Jane.

He abruptly held out a bouquet.

When Jane took the bouquet, it completely covered her upper body.

The fragrance emanating from the pink and green bouquet was fragrant enough to somewhat calm her irritated mood.

“Sorry I’m late.”

He said affectionately, kissing Jane’s forehead.

It was a bit excessive display of affection to do in front of people.

“I brought flowers as an apology, is this not enough?”

“…It’s enough. Did you finish your busy work?”

“Hm?”

“You said there was something you couldn’t tell me because you were worried I’d be concerned. I’m asking if that work is finished.”

Jane covered up the fact that she didn’t know Cain’s schedule by framing it as him hiding it out of concern for her.

‘He shouldn’t ask what I’m talking about.’

So Jane pretended to smell the flowers and winked at Cain so only he could see.

Cain, who quickly grasped the hidden meaning behind that cute action, answered casually.

“I didn’t finish. I was worried about you being alone.”

“I’m not a child, why worry? I can take care of myself just fine.”

“Taking care of yourself… Is that why we’re in this situation now?”

As if he had never smiled, Cain’s face hardened coldly as he looked at Viscount Eilat again.

After checking the faces of the other nobles as well, Cain pulled Jane behind him to hide her.

“I overheard briefly that my wife seemed to have made some mistake to you. Tell me what happened.”

“It’s… nothing much.”

After seeing how attentively Cain cared for Jane, how could he blame or curse at her in front of him?

Instead, Viscount Eilat inwardly blamed his wife for giving him wrong information.

‘The Duke dislikes the Duchess? He and Scarlet are in a tender relationship? The Duchess interfered between Scarlet and the Duke!’

What nonsense about disliking! The honey was practically dripping from Cain’s eyes as he looked at Jane.

If he were a beekeeper, he would have brought beehives to Cain’s house.

That’s how much Cain’s gaze was pure affection itself.

“Then it’s an even bigger problem.”

Cain’s eyes sharpened. Though he was suppressing it, the uncontained anger flowing through his huge body made people tense up.

“Th-that, Your Grace, I mean…”

“Was my wife so amusing that you had to raise your hand for something that was nothing?”

Cold sweat ran down the back of Viscount Eilat’s husband as he realized his actions and words had caused a huge misunderstanding.

He looked around as if seeking help. No one was willing to meet his eyes. Not even his wife.

“Your Grace, you’re here?”

At that moment, a clear and bright voice was heard. It was Scarlet.

She smiled brightly as if completely unaware of the serious atmosphere.

Her intention to try to gloss over this as if nothing happened was blatantly obvious.

If Cain were to dig into this situation, Viscount Eilat might end up mentioning her name.

So Scarlet intended to make this commotion disappear.

“I thought you wouldn’t come. You’re so busy. You could have at least said you were coming. Then I would have…”

“Miss Scarlet.”

Cain curtly cut off Scarlet’s words.

Cain took a beat to swallow his anger. Then he looked at Scarlet.

His gaze naturally met Scarlet’s, who had been staring at him the whole time since his appearance.

Scarlet longed for his gaze, his attention. She finally got what she wanted, but felt despair instead of joy.

‘It’s cold.’

His gaze was completely frozen. It was so cold that her jaw would tremble even standing in the sunlight.

“Miss Scarlet, it’s true that we met outside occasionally.”

Jane looked at Cain’s back. Her eyebrows twisted.

To say such things when people were suspicious of Scarlet and Cain’s relationship?

‘With me right beside him?’

Jane didn’t want to hear anymore. The desire to just escape this place overwhelmed her reason.

Jane hastily turned around. Then Cain firmly grabbed Jane’s hand and placed her by his side.

Affectionately putting his arm around Jane’s shoulder for all to see, he said:

“Our meetings were to get help from Count Carelina regarding the Rose Faction. I’m very grateful for the help provided. However.”

Cain looked at Jane. Then he looked back at Scarlet.

“I find it unpleasant for you to speak carelessly about me.”

“Your Grace, I have never spoken carelessly about you.”

Scarlet made a pitiful face as if wronged.

“Then it seems the people beside you have been gossiping as they please. It would be good to improve your judgment of people, Miss Scarlet. This is my final advice, given for old times’ sake from our information exchanges.”

“Final… what do you mean?”

“I’m saying I don’t want to meet with Miss Scarlet anymore, even for work.”

Scarlet staggered greatly.

“Are you saying you don’t need me anymore, Your Grace?”

Scarlet spoke haltingly like someone who had received a great shock.

Cain pretended to think as he stroked his chin.

To be honest, the information Scarlet provided was occasionally helpful. But it wasn’t enough to greatly impact Cain’s work.

It was the kind of information that was nice to have but not inconvenient without – that’s exactly what Scarlet’s information was.

Of course, Nathan or the Black Hawks might think differently, but Cain didn’t want to consider their positions.

He was simply irritated by every single rumor and action of Scarlet’s that he had carelessly overlooked before.

To an unbearable degree.

“We didn’t meet because I needed you from the start, Scarlet. I merely responded to your contact.”

He thought to clear up one annoying rumor with this opportunity.

“Your Grace, why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong? Is it because Jane dislikes me? Because of the rumors? Was Jane jealous of me?”

Scarlet blamed Jane as the cause for her love being cruelly rejected.

Scarlet’s eyes welled up, about to pour out tears like a waterfall.

Jane was dumbfounded. Jane hadn’t done anything to Scarlet. She had merely responded appropriately to the situation Scarlet had set up.

So the situation of Cain cutting off Scarlet in front of everyone was very perplexing.

Because Jane had never shown signs of being bothered by Scarlet in front of Cain.

“Jealousy…”

Cain muttered, then laughed lightly and pulled Jane’s shoulder closer. Then he put his lips to Jane’s ear and whispered.

“I wish you would be a little.”

After speaking like a passing breeze, he stood up straight again.

“Miss Scarlet, I have nothing more to say. My wife seems quite shocked, so I need to focus on her. Would you please return to your seat?”

Cain pulled out Jane’s chair before Scarlet could answer.

He pulled a chair from the opposite side and sat right next to Jane.

When he sat down, Jane was completely hidden from people’s view.

Cain protected Jane from the glancing gazes of people.

It might be Jane’s imagination, but.

“Viscount Eilat.”

Viscount Eilat, who thought he had been forgotten thanks to Scarlet, was startled by Cain’s sudden call and nearly fell to the ground.

“I’ll contact you separately later.”

Was it good that nothing happened here, or not?

Probably not.

The Eilat couple’s faces turned pale, but no one offered words of comfort to them.

The picnic grounds sank into a heavy atmosphere as if it had become a funeral. Despite the brilliant sunlight, the shadows on their faces only deepened.

It was because of worry.

Except for Scarlet, they all had guilty thoughts.

‘What if the Duchess tells the Duke about what happened today?’

They saw a reality different from what they had heard from Scarlet.

Cain treasured Jane like a precious jewel. He didn’t even glance at Scarlet.

While Cain’s anger at Viscount Eilat’s actions was understandable since he crossed a line, his treatment of Scarlet, who was rumored to be close to him, was excessive.

But if that excessive behavior was Cain’s true feelings and usual demeanor?

He might treat them even more harshly.

Then what would happen?

Even the empty-headed nobles who lived day by day enjoying pleasures couldn’t help but foresee their gloomy future from the scattered hints.

‘I must apologize to the Duchess right away. Before the Duchess tells the Duke.’

They were all busy in their heads trying to figure out how to save themselves.

“His Majesty is arriving!”

As they were busily thinking about what gift to give and what the Duchess might like, a court servant shouted.

In the midst of the commotion, people stood up in unison. The habit ingrained in their bodies saved them.

Helena, who appeared under a large parasol held by a court servant, surveyed the picnic grounds and frowned.

“Isn’t today supposed to be a joyous day? Anyone watching would think I forced you all to sit here.”

Forced laughter erupted here and there at the command to smile, but it couldn’t change Helena’s already soured mood.

Helena sat down without sparing a glance at those foolish people.

“Everyone sit. Continue your conversations.”

Helena wasn’t interested in the others. The people she was interested in were Jane, Cain, and Scarlet.

Having already been informed of what just happened by a court servant, Helena took in the three of them one by one.

Jane, who had been raising her guard as if ready to bite anyone when Cain was absent, had become docile, while Cain was caring for his wife so affectionately it made Helena wonder if he was the same person she knew, and Scarlet.

‘She’s completely lost it.’

Where did that confident air go, when she had asked Helena to give Cain to her?

Had she misjudged people? She had believed Scarlet would do something properly.

Young people these days are all so weak. That’s why Cain, who remained firm through all sorts of trials, shone especially bright.

‘He really is a shame to lose.’

Helena looked at Jane standing beside Cain. She was a child that wouldn’t be strange to cut out right here and now.

Helena beckoned a court servant.

“Call the Duke and Duchess of Hastings.”

When the court servant relayed the message, Cain and Jane came to Helena’s table.

After exchanging formal greetings, Helena told them to sit comfortably. Then she sent the court servants far away.

“You seem to be getting along well.”

It was before they even tasted the tea. At Helena’s words, Jane lowered her hand that was reaching for the teacup.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

Having embarrassed Jane, Helena smiled faintly and looked at Cain.

Cain raised the corners of his mouth while fiddling with his teacup.

“I thought it was a compliment too, Your Majesty.”

Helena’s eyes narrowed lazily, not expecting him to openly take Jane’s side.

“I suppose I spoke ambiguously.”

“It’s a skill to make even harsh words sound pleasant, Your Majesty.”

Jane took Helena’s side.

“It sounds like a rebuke that I said harsh words.”

But Helena twisted Jane’s words.

“It’s my fault for making kind words sound harsh. I apologize if I offended you.”

Jane’s flat prostration improved Helena’s mood a little.

On the other hand, Cain’s mood gradually worsened.

The conversation continued in a similar pattern throughout.

Helena subtly picked on Jane, and Jane smiled it off even while knowing she was being picked on.

Whenever Cain tried to intervene, Jane met his eyes with a desperate look.

‘Please, stay still.’

Had she decided to act like the tongue in Helena’s mouth since he told her not to beg for herself?

Though his insides twisted, Cain held back for now.

Then Helena crossed the line.

“The Duchess really… resembles them a lot.”

Jane paused. When her eyes met Helena’s, Helena smiled softly, narrowing her eyes.

“The Duke and Duchess of Whitney, I mean. You’ve inherited all their good points.”

It was a chilling warning to say she resembled the Whitneys who had tried to take the Queen’s neck.

At least that’s how Jane felt.

“The Whitneys were extraordinary in their appearance. People flocked like clouds to see their faces even as they fell from the guillotine.”

Jane’s hand holding the teacup trembled. Cain took the cup from Jane’s hand and set it down.

Then he firmly grasped Jane’s hand.

‘Don’t be shaken.’

He seemed to be saying just that.

Seeing the two of them, Helena smirked.

“I’m curious. Did you see them? The Whitneys hung up in the square, I mean.”