Returning to the mansion, Akia entered her room and immediately loosened the tight tie around her neck.

There was no need to separately investigate the mysterious man.

“That man is undoubtedly Leia’s father.”

And for some reason, Dmitry is trying to hide this fact.

“Why on earth?”

Who better than Dmitry knows how deep Leia’s affection for her family is?

However, Dmitry, despite Leia’s father being alive, is not only hiding it but also lying to Leia.

What could be the reason for desperately hiding the truth about Leia’s father while lying to her?

Akia ruffled her hair in confusion, as if expressing her bewilderment.

“There’s definitely something…”

It wouldn’t be simply because Leia’s father is a commoner. Since Leia has grown up as a commoner, her father’s status is no longer a significant flaw.

This implies that there is a disqualifying reason about Leia’s father that Akia is not aware of.

Something that both Leia and herself should never know.

While contemplating with hands clasped, Akia called Rikel, who was outside.

“You called me.”

“As soon as it gets bright tomorrow, go to the informant who came before and discreetly inquire about Leia’s father.”

“Specifically, what should I ask…?”

“Anything trivial will do. Find out everything the informant knows.”

“Yes, understood.”

His intuition was speaking. It was indicating that Leia’s father’s secret needed to be revealed.

And that informant surely knows something.

After assigning the investigation to Rikel, Akia touched her fingers in discomfort due to an invisible unease.

Ever since the moment she first encountered him in front of the dressing room, an unknown eerie feeling had been washing over her.

“It feels like I’ve seen him somewhere…”

Although his face was somewhat unpleasant, Akia thought.

‘I couldn’t have seen him, leaving the Bellaus lady and the capital long ago.’

Dismissively shaking off unnecessary thoughts, Akia moved on. There was still a heap of matters to attend to.

However, as the throbbing headache overwhelmed her, Akia, who decided to lie down on the sofa for a moment, closed her eyes.

Perhaps because of the many things that had been bothering her, Akia, afraid of the bed, quickly fell into a deep sleep.

And in that dream, she witnessed a past she never wanted to uncover.

A dreadful sound, as if penetrating, echoed in the bedroom. Simultaneously, the nauseating smell of blood began to vibrate in her nose.

‘Mother…!’

The silver hair of the orphaned and beautiful woman turned red.

Collapsed on the floor, her eyes unable to close, the sharp blade pierced through her body.

And the man holding the sharp blade with a handle pierced through his hand and wrist.

As if engraving something into her mind, one by one, imprints were being carved.

In case she got caught. The tearful gaze of the Akia, who had been silently shedding tears under the bed, rose.

And finally, when her gaze reached the man’s face.

The man threw away the mask. The face of the assassin revealed.

The face was that of the man Akia knew well.

The mysterious man who had been tormenting her incessantly for the past few days.

He was Leia’s father.

“It’s strange.”

Leia sighed quietly, resting her chin on the desk. Lately, Akia’s attitude had become oddly different.

“For some reason, it feels like she’s getting colder…”

It seemed like she became more sensitive.

Even if the Duke returned to his appearance when they first met at the Heydrin Duke’s mansion recently, it wouldn’t be strange.

“Perhaps, is it the pre-marriage depression that often comes before marriage?”

It was a somewhat rational suspicion. It made sense, as the Duke, who had always been restless about not being by Leia’s side, hasn’t come out of his office lately.

“Everyone says it’s because the Duke is busy, but…”

Despite preparations for the wedding and being busy, people change in strange ways.

“It seems like he can’t sleep properly…”
Last time, Akia’s figure lying on the sofa having a nightmare came to mind when I went to the office.

“Your complexion seems off.”

Wondering if something major happened that Leia didn’t know about, I asked Rikel, but he seemed clueless.

After contemplating for a while, Leia stood up.

“This won’t do. I should bring tea and try talking to him.”

Thinking so, Leia went straight to the kitchen and prepared jasmine tea. Then she entered Akia’s office where the light was still on.

“Your Excellency, you must be tired. Have a cup of tea.”

Leia looked at Akia.

His deeply shaded eye area seemed to convey fatigue. When she shifted her gaze, she noticed sweat-soaked hair.

Concerned, Leia hurriedly approached him.

“Are you not feeling well? You seem to be sweating cold.”

It was the moment when she, with concern, was about to wipe the sweat off Akia’s forehead.

“No, it’s a bit hot… I’m fine, don’t worry.”

He gently turned away from Leia’s touch.

Leia blinked her eyes. She wondered if it was right for him to avoid her touch.

Then, discovering the hand hovering in the air and feeling uneasy, Leia lowered the arm she was holding.