After returning from the palace, Jane believed that her relationship with Cain, who had become unusually kind, had been restored.

It was two days ago when she received the first edition of Bierstat and was immersed in memories from seven years ago.

They had barely gotten closer. But now, they were drifting apart so futilely.

At this point, it felt like the whole world was trying to prevent Jane and Cain from getting closer.

A sound like the wind whistling through Jane’s teeth was heard.

As if she and Cain were some great people.

Was he trying to explain what happened to her by even mentioning God?

The future of her relationship with Cain was related to the truth of the incident seven years ago that Jane would reveal.

Anyway, seeing him now was not a good choice for him or for her.

Now that it had come to this, she had no choice but to avoid him for the time being.

Jane made up her mind firmly. She had to avoid him at least until she could face him with a calm face.

For several days, she was able to avoid him smoothly. No, it was more accurate to say that Cain avoided Jane.

He thoroughly returned home after Jane fell asleep and went out before she woke up.

It was as if they had gone back to when she first arrived at Somnium House a few months ago.

* * *

“Scarlett, you have to eat something, don’t you?”

At the Carerina mansion, Count Carerina was beside Scarlett, who lay with her head wrapped.

He was holding a bowl of porridge himself, trying to feed Scarlett even a spoonful.

“I don’t want to eat, please take it away.”

Scarlett barely spoke with her pale, swollen lips. A foul smell came from her mouth, as she had been fasting for days.

“Why are you doing this? Tell me! Did something happen at the palace?”

Count Carerina handed the porridge bowl to the attendant and grabbed Scarlett. He shook her arm, agitated.

“I heard you haven’t been meeting or contacting Duke Hastings lately. You shouldn’t leave a man loose for too long. Even if you have no appetite, eat something and get up.”

Scarlett snorted.

She wondered why he was taking care of her for once. When he brought the porridge himself, she thought he might be trying to act like a father belatedly, but in the end, it was about Cain.

She had no regrets even if he took care of her with a purpose in mind.

Count Carerina wanted to gain greater power, and she knew well that he would do anything for it.

Even selling his daughter.

That didn’t mean he didn’t love Scarlett. Count Carerina gave Scarlett whatever she wanted.

As long as it didn’t harm the family.

So he sent a doctor to his daughter’s room, where she had been lying down for days even though she wasn’t sick, and gave her food that was good for her body.

It’s just that his patience wasn’t long.

“I heard Duke Hastings is thoroughly searching and catching those Rose Party bastards.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Scarlett! Don’t say stupid things. We should catch them first. Or you become the Duchess and make his merits your merits.”

Scarlett’s insides ached at Count Carerina’s transparently revealed ambition.

‘Father’s plan has already turned to bubbles. Cain won’t even look at me.’

Scarlett thought of the unopened letters that had been returned.

After returning from the palace, in order to apologize for what happened that day and somehow turn Cain’s heart back, Scarlett diligently wrote letters.

But they kept coming back. So once, she went directly to Hase Corporation.

But an employee of Hase Corporation blocked her way. Not even Cain’s assistant, but a mere employee!

〈Entry is prohibited.〉

Scarlett was dumbfounded. The employee was a commoner, no matter how kindly she looked at him.

And yet he dared to block the way of her, the young lady of Count Carerina?

She shouted venomously.

〈Do you know who I am and dare to block me? Can’t you move right now?〉

Then the employee repeated the same words like a parrot.

〈I’m sorry, it’s the president’s order. If you have business, please make an appointment.〉

If she could have made an appointment, she wouldn’t have come in person.

But explaining in detail would only make her situation more miserable.

〈Stop nagging and move right now!〉

Scarlett’s voice grew louder and louder. She was so overly excited that her head was spinning. Just when she thought she would collapse.

〈Why is it so noisy?〉

A carriage stopped behind Scarlett and the door opened. And Cain, whom she had missed so much, appeared.

He glanced at Scarlett and the sweating employee and went inside.

There wasn’t even a greeting.

Scarlett’s hand dropped limply. The letter she had brought to give to him fell into a puddle created by the rain that had come at dawn.

“…It’s all over, Father.”

Scarlett said desolately. Her love was over. She had to admit it.

“Is it because of the Duchess? Was your heart only that much? If the Duchess is a problem, we can get rid of her.”

“The Duke’s heart has already turned away.”

“Foolish thing.”

Count Carerina clicked his tongue.

“Turned away means it can be turned back. Make it so. Why? Do you have no confidence? There are other ways too. Make that woman leave on her own.”

“Leave on her own… a situation where she has no choice but to leave…”

A flash of light struck Scarlett’s hazy eyes. She had a very good idea.

There are times when Father can be helpful to her!

Scarlett quickly looked for the porridge bowl.

She had to cheer up and go see Ken.

She had a favor to ask of him.

‘Find Joseph’s birth mother!’

If Joseph’s birth mother appeared, Jane would have no choice but to leave.

And the bond between Joseph and Jane would be broken too.

Joseph’s birth mother would try to fill Jane’s empty spot, but that didn’t scare her.

‘I’ll get rid of Jane first, and I can get rid of Joseph’s birth mother later. I can win her over before that if possible.’

There must be a reason why Cain left the woman who even had his child.

‘Either she’s not fit for the position of Duchess, or she refused that position.’

Either way, it was good for Scarlett.

So she would find Joseph’s birth mother. After that…

Scarlett’s mind began to turn extraordinarily.

She got up from her seat in the afternoon and went out. Despite having fasted for days, she was very energetic.

Her destination was Ken’s house.

“Ah, Young Lady? What brings you to such a humble place? You should have called for me! I would have rushed over right away. But Young Lady, your face…”

Ken’s house was at the entrance of a back alley. Like his life, it was located between the sunny and shady sides. The house, which became shady in winter and sunny in summer, suited Ken well.

And as he said, it was no place for Scarlett, who should shine brilliantly, to stay.

“I have something I need you to find out urgently. My face… I was a bit sick.”

Scarlett covered one cheek and turned her head. Ken’s worried gaze pierced her uncovered cheek.

“Did you catch a cold?”

Ken offered Scarlett a chair.

Scarlett didn’t want to sit on the old chair, but she couldn’t talk standing, so she perched her bottom on the edge of the chair.

“There’s just something on my mind.”

“What is it? If it’s something that can put your mind at ease, Young Lady, I will step up.”

“Honestly, it’s not about me.”

“You saw another pitiful person, didn’t you?”

Ken drooped his eyebrows as if he knew everything. He had rose-colored glasses on when looking at Scarlett.

Rose-colored glasses that said she was kind, compassionate, and lost out because of it.

“I wonder if he’s pitiful. I’m not really sure.”

“Who is it? Tell me, Young Lady.”

Scarlett moved her lips as if hesitating, then spoke.

“It’s Joseph, the young master of the Hastings.”

“Pardon? Why him…?”

From Ken’s point of view, being born as an aristocrat, and a son of the Hastings at that, was a tremendous fortune.

So he didn’t understand Scarlett’s anxious expression.

But after hearing the explanation, he immediately understood.

“What a terrible person! That woman named Jane!”

Scarlett said that Jane, Joseph’s stepmother, tormented him very wickedly.

She added that Jane didn’t even spare a glance at Joseph when he came back from seeing the zoo at the Children’s Day palace event.

‘It’s true, isn’t it? That day, she was so out of it after talking with His Majesty, and when the child came running excitedly, she only smiled at him once.’

As Scarlett expected, Ken easily believed her words and became agitated.

“What should I do?”

“Find Joseph’s birth mother.”

“Any clues?”

Scarlett calculated Joseph’s age and told him the area where Cain was staying when the child was born.

“He probably met her then.”

“I will definitely find out. So please rest assured, Young Lady. You look very unwell.”

Ken was only worried about Scarlett.

It would be nice if Cain said these words to her, but he had completely turned his back on her.

Thinking about that made it difficult to manage her expression.

“I guess I’m really not feeling well, as Ken said. I’ll get up first.”

Scarlett returned to the mansion.

And two days later, she heard good news from Ken.

There were two pieces of news.

〈I heard that the woman named Jane secretly met with Cedric, the president of Tuo Corporation. And someone claiming to be Joseph’s birth mother, whom you were looking for, has appeared.〉

Without Ken having to go through the trouble, the prey had come on its own.

Scarlett smiled brightly.