It was dark, but the brighteyed Christine saw clearly that beautiful face halfhidden by the hood.

Even after the carriage had left, a familiar fragrance lingered in the place.

“Adel…?”

“Do you know that woman?”

The latearriving Zimmer asked.

Christine, instead of answering, went into the general store and grabbed the male owner by the collar.

“Why did the woman who just left come here?”

“Chk! Preserving the secrets of our guests is the life of our store. Please understand….”

Clang! Clang!

Suddenly, the middle door of the counter opened, and about ten men with drawn swords poured out. They surrounded Christine and Zimmer in an instant.

Screech….

Zimmer also slowly drew his sword and stood in front of Christine, all the while calmly trying to persuade his master.

“There’s nothing to gain from causing trouble here.”

In fact, the person Zimmer was trying to protect by drawing his sword was not Christine but the other gang.

If Christine had swung his sword with determination, they all would have lost their lives. Then the annoying cleanup would be Zimmer’s responsibility, so he had no choice but to stop it desperately.

The general store’s owner seemed to realize that they were no match for Christine.

“Now, now, it’s nothing serious, everyone calm down and go back inside.”

He adjusted his glasses and spoke politely to Christine.

“That woman came to see a doctor. I don’t know anything more, so I can’t tell you.”

“A doctor?”

Christine let go of the collar with a confused face.

Just then, a door on the right side of the counter opened, and a woman staggered out, supported by her friend. Although it was dark, it was clear at a glance that they were prostitutes.

“The reason the ladies are looking for a doctor in a place like this is obvious, though.”

Hee hee hee, leaving behind the unpleasant laughter of the general store’s owner, Christine rushed up to the examination room.

But the doctor was already gone from there.

(This is a time separator.)

“How did it go?”

As soon as Adel climbed into the carriage, Tanya, who had been worrying, quickly asked.

Putting back on her engagement ring, Adel smiled bitterly.

“Well, it doesn’t seem to have gone smoothly.”

“What? Then what will you do?”

Even though she didn’t know what was going on, Tanya looked upset.

“It will work out somehow.”

Adel, looking tired, leaned her head against the window of the carriage and closed her eyes.

She had run out as soon as she met Marvin at the Hell Valley bar. She hadn’t even brought up the matter.

The good thing was that Marvin wouldn’t talk carelessly about Adel.

If it became known that a doctor working in the palace clinic was treating prostitutes for illegal medical treatment, he would be arrested immediately. It would be a very shameful thing for the haughty royal family, and he might even be executed.

But she was back to square one.

(This is a time separator.)

During the ride back, Christine was silent the whole time.

His mood was so heavy that Zimmer couldn’t easily strike up a conversation.

‘Was the hooded woman who left the general store Adel?’

If not, Christine wouldn’t have reacted like this.

In Hell Valley’s general store, they performed abortion surgeries for prostitutes. Occasionally, ladies who had an unsavory relationship and caught sexually transmitted diseases or became pregnant would visit.

‘But why was Adel in a place like that?’

She had been avoiding Christine, saying she hadn’t recovered from Scarlet Fever. Seeing her secretly go to such a place raised many suspicions.

Moreover, if Vanessa’s story was true, something was definitely going on between Stone and her.

A man like Stone might have done something bad to Adel and gotten away with it. But Adel maintained her silence even when accused of murder. And later, Stone petitioned for clemency, saying he wanted to forgive her. They didn’t even dismiss her from the family for failing to find evidence of poisoning.

So rumors were rampant that their relationship was illicit.

Some even said that the two had conspired to poison the Duke.

The Adel that Zimmer knew was better than anyone else and loved Christine.

But now, that belief was a bit shaken.

Who exactly was Adel?
“I just don’t understand more and more.”

Christine’s face, muttering after hearing Vanessa’s words, made it clear why it looked so gloomy.

What could he be thinking right now, when he is so confused?

(This is a time separator.)

The next day, Duke Oswald.

As morning came, Sei awoke from sleep and pressed her throbbing temples. She must have drunk too much last night. Her head was throbbing as if it would burst, and even her vision was blurred.

She pulled the string by the head of the bed. The bell rang, and her personal maid soon entered.

“My head hurts so much. Bring some herbal tea for the headache and just a simple breakfast to the bedroom.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“But how did I get in last night?”

The last thing she remembered was drinking at Mrs. Hans’ party.

“That’s… some man brought you.”

“A man? Who?”