As Mirea wished, Daisy died.

But Leorbille did not die.

By sheer coincidence, that child was discovered.

When Mirea found the child, she felt like she would go mad.

It felt as if all the jewels in her hands, all the ornaments on her body would fly away like sand.

Upon investigation, it was found that after Daisy died, Sandes Dvil Kerenik, who was the maternal uncle, had raised Leorbille with care.

This should not have happened.

The child should have died along with that woman.

If the imperial family learns that Leorbille is alive, that Leorbille is the child of her dead husband and his mistress, the Iolls family will crumble.

They had already disposed of considerable assets to prepare the property that must be returned to Erina.

If the situation arises where they must hand over 1/3 as stipulated in the will to Leorbille, the Iolls family will fall to ruin.

Mirea’s body trembled violently, tormented by the mere imagination of it.

“Ru-ruin? That’s absolutely impossible.”

She should have killed Leorbille when she discovered their existence and took them from Sandes Dvil Kerenik.

Mirea ordered Leorbille to be taken away and another corpse to be placed at the fire scene, then visited the Iolls orphanage with Revil Iolls.

This was the only place that came to mind where they could avoid being noticed by anyone.

After slipping some money to the greedy orphanage director, she visited the child frequently.

Looking at the will, she would vow to kill them immediately, but when Leorbille looked at her with eyes exactly like Peiron Iolls’, her heart would soften.

Still, wondering if this really was her dead husband’s child, Leorbille’s vivid crimson eyes were so similar that they reminded her of Peiron Iolls.

Every time, it made her recall Peiron Iolls’ childhood, often leaving her in a daze as she stood before the child.

Moreover, although she was the one who had confined them, she was also the one who visited almost daily, and the sight of the small hands clinging to her was pitiful.

They should have been nothing but hateful, yet looking at the child kept reminding her of Peiron Iolls’ childhood.

That’s why it wasn’t once or twice that she wept uncontrollably in front of Leorbille.

If only the child was resentful and hateful, but unfortunately, they resembled only the lovable aspects of her child, which was tormenting.

As Leorbille grew, they resembled Peiron Iolls more and more, resembled her husband more.

That fact was so painful that when the child had grown somewhat, she deliberately withheld food from them and left them alone in the room out of misplaced feelings.

Thus, the child grew up lonely.

But by some twist of fate, Peiron Iolls brought Leorbille to the mansion as his successor without even knowing who they were.

Mirea tried desperately to ignore the child staying at the mansion.

Just before Erina’s last visit to the Iolls mansion, she became angry upon seeing Leorbille hugging shoes and treating them preciously.

Mirea couldn’t understand why she herself was angry.

With complex feelings, she took away the shoes.

The child, who had become indifferent to everything after long-term torment, suddenly struggled with all their might to get the shoes back.

An enraged Mirea pushed Leorbille away and threw the shoes.

At that moment, Erina had entered.

As Mirea retraced past events, she sank down, carefully pressing her forehead against the stiff will.

Mirea slowly traced her long regrets.

She should have cared for Leni, should have prevented Erina from taking Leorbille away, should have made sure to the end that the child died along with the mistress, should have prevented the mistress from giving birth to the child.

When her husband brought the mistress to the mansion, she should have believed Daisy’s words about wanting to escape and helped her.

Mirea’s regrets were endless.

Mirea, who had sunk down, shed tears drop by drop, expressing deep resentment with her whole body.

The tears that fell on the specially treated will couldn’t be absorbed and fell miserably to the floor.

Mirea lay face down on the floor, weeping bitterly with her forehead still pressed against the will.

The fact that her husband, who had ruined everything for her, was dead and gone from this world was more painful today than ever before.

[This is the timeline separator]

After receiving and checking all the items bought at the auction held by the Borbom Marquis family, Erina instructed Terik to invite Sereni to the Medelia mansion.

Terik sent a letter to the Borbom Marquis family asking them to come for confirmation due to an issue with the auction items, while also obtaining an artifact that could detect magic.

This was out of concern that Sereni might try to use an artifact from the Tula Kingdom while coming here.

“My lady, the Borbom Marquis’ wife has arrived at the mansion.”

When Bertrel announced Sereni’s arrival, Erina gave Terik a look and said,

“Please escort her to the reception room.”

“Yes, understood.”

As Bertrel left, Terik moved, carrying the artifact he had obtained in advance.

“Once the Marquis’ wife is seated in the reception room, I will greet her first and confirm.”

As Erina nodded, Terik moved.

“Barun, please thoroughly check around the reception room and both inside and outside the mansion. Heila, please stay by my side and check if anyone is approaching secretly.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll do that, Erina.”

Barun greeted Erina and moved quickly.

Erina stopped what she was doing and fell into thought, tapping her fingers on the desk.

“Heila, I still can’t figure it out no matter how much I think about it.”

“You mean the intentions of the small kingdom alliance we talked about before?”

Erina often sought Heila’s opinion like this.

Knowing that Erina trusted her that much, Heila was always happy to share her thoughts.

“That’s right. Surely the small kingdom alliance isn’t living in poverty, and there’s no real justification for them to push things so recklessly.”

“There are indeed so many suspicious gaps that it’s enough to raise doubts.”

Through various investigations, Erina felt that the small kingdom alliance had been proceeding with matters quite sloppily.

Enzo Kitilen Asilaum probably knew everything as well.

Erina felt that something was amiss, that it couldn’t just be due to greed.

“Let’s talk with Sereni and think about it once more.”

Erina felt that some time had passed, and concluded her conversation with Heila Bentel as she stood up.

As Erina exited the office, a knight in the corridor greeted her by placing his right hand with two fingers folded on his left chest and bowing his head.

It was a signal that three people had infiltrated the mansion, pretending to be Sereni’s entourage.

Erina nodded to the knight who had raised his head, and the knight bowed again before leaving his post.

To give time for the busy knights, Erina leisurely headed towards the reception room.

As she entered the quiet reception room, Sereni stood up to greet Erina.

Terik, who had been standing to one side, closed the door as Erina and Heila Bentel entered the reception room, then placed a flowerpot on the table.

Terik placed a light purple mana stone on the golden soil in the empty flowerpot.

Instantly, a glass-like light purple flower bloomed in the previously empty pot.

“This is an artifact supported by Marquis Kerenik. It has the function of blocking sound while also warning of mana interference.”

Erina looked at the light purple flower that had shyly bloomed in the flowerpot.

Erina, who usually gazed indifferently at the changing vase of flowers in her office every morning, smiled shyly like a flower at this artificial artifact.

It felt as if that flower, blooming brightly towards her, was like a message sent by Sandes Dvil Kerenik.

“I’ve confirmed that no artifacts were brought in. There are a total of three people who snuck into the mansion following the Borbom Marquis’ wife.”

Hearing Terik’s words, Sereni bit her lip and bowed her head deeply.

She knew that the Tula Kingdom wouldn’t let her approach Erina without consequences, but facing it in reality was devastating.

“It’s not something to worry about too much.”

“Yes. Well, compared to when Erina came to the Medelia mansion, it’s not particularly bothersome.”

Following Erina’s words, Heila Bentel added, and only then did Sereni raise her head.

“Borbom Marquis’ wife, you don’t need to feel sorry. This is a common occurrence.”

It wasn’t a lie.

For a while after Erina received her countess title, there were more than a few people who secretly followed or watched her.

During her stay at the Kerenik Marquis house, Sandes Dvil Kerenik blocked everyone with an iron-clad defense, but when she came to the Medelia Count house, it was indescribable.

For nearly a week, Barun and Heila Bentel struggled to establish a security system.

They practically surrounded the Medelia mansion with barriers using artifacts secretly provided by Sandes Dvil Kerenik and Enzo Kitilen Asilaum, and all five imperial knight orders stayed at the mansion for a while to guard Erina.

That’s why the three who entered following Sereni weren’t enough to cause worry.

Sereni was confused because Erina’s expression was truly the same as usual, making it hard to believe these were just words to reassure her.

“Well then, shall we continue our unfinished conversation from the reception room?”

Erina spoke, drawing Sereni’s attention.

Sereni hesitated, looking at Heila Bentel and Terik.

“If you’re worried that these two might relay information to the small kingdom alliance, I’d like to tell you that it’s an unnecessary concern.”

At Erina’s firm words, Sereni bowed her head to the two in apology and began to speak.

“Where should I start? Ah, I should start from right before the arranged marriage took place.”

Sereni clasped her hands together and gazed at the fully bloomed flower in the artifact as she continued speaking.

“When my father was the crown prince, one day he had a half-day conversation with my grandfather.”

“You mean the late king of the Tula Kingdom?”

“Yes, that’s correct. After that, grandfather suddenly passed away and father ascended to the throne. The first thing he did upon ascending was to push for my marriage.”

Sereni’s face twisted sadly.

“I rebelled against my father for the sudden arranged marriage, but father simply forced the marriage, saying it was for the greater good.”

Erina reached out and held Sereni’s hand.

Just like when the two first met with an artifact in front of them.