It was only by dusk that we were able to arrive in Ferington.

Seeing Ferington’s panorama for the first time in her life, Vivian could not take her eyes off the majestic and splendid appearance of the city. The city, dyed red by the setting sun, was packed with ladies in gorgeous dresses and gentlemen in suits.

As darkness gradually deepened, workers who came out onto the streets lit the street lamps placed at regular intervals. Then the black shadows that were creeping in got scared and hid themselves.

Ferington was much larger and more luxurious than she had thought.

She recalled her father’s assessment, who had clicked his tongue saying that compared to Harverbridge, where the Preston marquis’ residence was, Golden Bay, the capital of Preston, was an excessively luxurious city.

Then what would her father have said about this city of New Way?

Remembering her father who had disappeared in the capital, Vivian’s mood quickly became gloomy, and she immediately untied the curtain to cover the carriage window. She didn’t want to feel helplessly sad while carrying a problem that couldn’t be solved right away.

Before she knew it, the carriage came to a stop. With a clouded mind, Vivian absent-mindedly took Edwin’s outstretched hand and got off the carriage. Naturally looking around the surroundings of the mansion, Vivian read the signpost.

Windriver 5th Avenue, the most luxurious wealthy neighborhood among Ferington’s dazzling, enchanting lights.

The houses on Windriver 5th Avenue were mostly built as high-class stone mansions. Unlike their similar exteriors, they decorated their stairs and entrances with different materials and methods, showing off their position or wealth even in this wealthy neighborhood.

After taking Edwin’s hand, Vivian linked arms with him as her body moved. Thus escorted, she entered the capital’s mansion and took in the interior.

The regular patterns of pure white marble and the gold of the banister leading to the second floor were in harmony. The chandelier hanging from the lobby ceiling was simple, but part of the concave ceiling was painted with a ceiling painting of admirable colors.

Vivian, who was not easily swayed by anything, looked up at the ceiling painting for a long time.

At the place where she accidentally lowered her gaze, she encountered an old butler who was paying his respects to Edwin. As all distracting thoughts were emptied, her senses became clear. From the moment she recognized Edwin’s arm that she had been holding unknowingly, her arm and fingertips stiffened.

As the old butler’s deep eyes reached her after passing Edwin, Vivian consciously pulled up the corners of her mouth. At the same time, Vivian, who pretended to be courteous by releasing her arm, smiled comfortably. After exchanging brief greetings with Hugh Humphrey, Vivian quite liked Humphrey’s warm first impression.

As the arm he had given to Vivian found its freedom, Edwin took out his pocket watch to check the time. It had not even been 10 minutes since they arrived in Ferington.

“Please introduce Vivian to the room where she will be staying from now on.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Make sure to eat your meals even when I’m not around.”

Edwin urged Vivian. Vivian, who was fidgeting with her hand still warm from the heat, answered in a small voice instead of a passing question. She was embarrassed to have to fulfill her eating responsibility even in front of Humphrey, whom she had met for the first time today.

Edwin, who left her in such shame, turned his steps with Royce.

He had just arrived at the mansion and disappeared without a moment to catch his breath.

Vivian awkwardly and embarrassedly looked at Humphrey. Humphrey guided Vivian with a gentle and friendly smile and a kind expression.

Thanks to the conversation that blossomed all the way up the stairs to the second floor and towards the room, the unfamiliar tension melted away like snow.

He talked about the renovation and expansion of this mansion just before coming from Rotermond to Ferington, the surprising and good news that came while living in this mansion, memories of balls and parties held here, and so on.

Humphrey was relatively young, and it would not be wrong to say that he stood at the opposite end of Abernathy from Rodinia. She imagined what it would have been like if Abernathy had been willing to tell unnecessary stories or smile kindly and affectionately like Humphrey to relieve the boredom or tension of the other person.

Then would the Rodinia mansion with its changed owner have been much more comfortable than now?

Vivian shook her head. The discomfort there was due to past events, not the fault of the bleak Abernathy.

“If you go deep into the opposite corridor you see there, you will find the Master’s room.”

Humphrey pointed to the corridor across from them.

As Edwin’s presence, which she had tried to forget, arose from the tip of Humphrey’s lips, an irresistible curiosity came with it. Vivian, who was about to swallow this, finally had to spit out the question that wouldn’t go down her throat.

“By the way, where did the Duke go at this late hour?”

There were thorns in Vivian’s question. Realizing this and feeling embarrassed, she cleared her throat in vain. Humphrey, who was about to add something, responded to Vivian who had changed the subject.

“The Duke has many friends in the capital.”

“…He went out for social activities even though it’s late?”

Vivian’s eyes sparkled innocently. It was the kind of reaction a naive young lady who didn’t know about the nights of Ferington would show.

Humphrey, who curved his lips kindly, carefully continued the story so as not to surprise the child.

“It’s not that late in Ferington. It’s when many young people with boiling blood in Ferington gather in one place to enjoy alcohol and cigars, their youth. It’s not a strange thing, young lady. But the Duke only enjoys light card games, and doesn’t indulge in other pleasures.”

Vivian sighed softly and narrowed her eyes. Humphrey’s additional explanation didn’t even reach her ears.

In the end, the story of spending the night with the passion and strength that youth gives, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes until late, felt quite distant from Edwin.

Edwin, whom she had seen in Rodinia, was far from such entertainment.

Is that not the case?

Thinking back to the party that was held at the mansion long ago, it wasn’t such a distant story. He would spend such a night today, laughing drunkenly and monopolizing the love of the ladies.

“And I will use the guest room. If it’s a room on the same floor as the Duke, it must be the owner’s room.”

The inflexible, stiff tone explained Vivian’s feelings. Humphrey inhaled slowly, keeping his distance.

“You are also the owner of this place, young lady.”

She hadn’t expected him to change the room in the first place. It was a completely different reaction from Abernathy, who would sometimes deliver the Duke’s instructions, orders, or sometimes threats that scratched the insides.

Vivian, whose heart quickly softened, cleared her throat embarrassedly and entered the room Humphrey had guided her to.

***

Edwin and Royce left the mansion and got into the carriage. After the coachman’s shout and the sound of the whip rang out in turn, the wheels rolled. Edwin looked at the capital where darkness had fallen amidst the white noise.

Edwin, who had slightly pulled back the curtain, recalled the face that had been filled with the rose-colored city in both eyes. The gray eyes reflected in the window were pretending to be mature, but they couldn’t hide the sadness in them.

He rummaged through the pocket inside his jacket and took out the necklace he had bought from Theo Evans. Due to the loosened hinge, the cover opened without resistance. After thinking that he should fix the screw, he looked at the small portrait inside.

Royce glanced at Edwin like that. After watching Edwin rub the portrait, not knowing how much time had passed, Royce withdrew his eyes.

“It seems like it’s about time to start moving.”

Even at the deeply laid voice, Edwin only stared at the portrait without answering.

“Duke.”

At the response that didn’t even show lukewarm interest, Royce called out as if to confirm. Only then did he smile faintly, close the locket cover, and carefully put the necklace in his inside pocket.

“Why. Afraid I might have lingering feelings? So. Afraid I might push back the plan?”

“…It’s not that, but you seem to be paying a lot of attention to the young lady these days.”

“Because she’s a woman worth it.”

The cold eyes from which the smile had disappeared moved back to the window. Edwin’s face reflected in the window sank low.

“For now.”

The bright eyes of the capital painfully flashed by his eyes.

He still hadn’t found the right time and moment to kill Vivian. This was probably a product of carnal desire. Maybe after he had his fill of that woman, his cleared reason would finally find the right time.

But why bother?

Once he got what he wanted and regained his reason, you would probably be hopelessly broken.

Not knowing where and how to fix it, which screw was missing, where to tighten more, you would end up being miserably broken and damaged, eventually losing even the pleasure of killing.

Of all things, that the first desire he felt was for Vivian Eveline.

He weighed whether the heavens were indifferent, or if it was God’s revelation to take away even the smallest thing from that woman without leaving anything behind.

Edwin let out a self-mocking laugh at having fallen for God’s cruel joke.

Before he knew it, they had arrived at the meeting place. The musty smell of the capital flowed in on the wind. Swallowing the familiar air as he stepped out, Edwin headed towards the basement of a building. After Royce surveyed the surroundings alertly, he followed Edwin.

Edwin came down the stairs, parting the floating matter in the sticky darkness and yellow light. The tearing high notes of a drunken violin and raucous laughter. The stench of cigar smoke filling the space and pungent perfume intertwined chaotically.

As he reached the corner seat, pushing through the dense crowd, Corbin, who spotted Edwin, stood up from his seat. Then the young man who was with Corbin also stood up to face Edwin.

The man’s blonde hair stood out as he took off his hat to greet them. As if he knew this himself, he quickly put his hat back on after looking around. Although there were not just one or two people with blonde hair here, Edwin was not unaware of the man’s intention to be so careful.

“I’m sorry that our first meeting place is not very elegant.”

The man curved his lips, which were smooth without a single wrinkle. It was a youthfulness reminiscent of the thoughtless Evans.

“The more secret the story, the better a secret place is. Are you good at drinking? It seems we won’t be able to leave this place until the sun rises today. As you can see, it’s a place where we need to keep up appearances.”

Edwin gestured as if looking around the messy surroundings. The young man also smiled pleasantly.

“I’m sufficiently prepared for that.”

The voice of the young man with young blood was full of groundless strength. Unlike his noble lineage, the man, who was far from etiquette, was closer to the spirit of a reckless boy who grew up in the countryside.

Such a man suddenly held out his hand to Edwin.

“By the way, we haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Nathan Banister.”

The man’s deep green eyes in front of him sparkled in the light. The color was so deep that it sometimes looked faintly gray.

If one traced back the history of Preston for several generations, one could find Eveline, who had branched off from the Banister royal family. Although the young Banister in front of him and the lady of the Eveline family were no different from strangers, there were subtle traces of Eveline, no, traces of Banister on Eveline.

Edwin took Nathan’s outstretched hand and responded pleasantly.

“I’m Sayer Raven.”