Derul had not yet decided on his destination.

He wanted to see his family right away, but going straight to Ansi or his mother was risky.

Judging from Kardian’s words, it seemed he was in constant contact with Ansi. If so, there was a high possibility that they would be watching his family now that he had escaped.

It was better to hide for a while and find his family when the vigilance had somewhat subsided.

Derul moved on. Then he bumped into someone. His hat fell to the ground.

“I’m sorry.”

Derul bent down to pick up the hat. But the middle-aged woman he had bumped into was faster.

The woman picked up the hat and flicked off the dust that had settled on it. Derul reached out his hand to get the hat back. However, the woman did not hand it over and stared intently at Derul.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if contemplating something.

Could she be someone sent by Kardian? Derul took a step back.

“Handsome young man. By any chance…”

The woman asked with a smile.

“Would you be interested in working at our store?”

Derul narrowed his eyes with a wary expression. The woman burst into laughter and held out the hat. She added an explanation.

“It’s just a very simple job of handling the cash register at a store that sells used goods.”

“Why are you proposing this to me?”

“Originally, there was a kid who used to look after the store from time to time, but he can’t come anymore. You resemble that kid.”

The woman, Roma, wrinkled her nose. Derul eventually nodded. It wasn’t like he had any other options. For now, it was better to quietly wait for an opportunity here.

“The Viscount is in the study.”

The butler of the Orphe townhouse guided Ansi. He felt a slight sense of oddity at her coming to see Kardian without her husband accompanying her.

He had also received orders from Kardian to especially greet Ansi with courtesy if she came.

However, these thoughts did not greatly aid in his role as a servant. As ordered, he diligently escorted Ansi to Kardian’s study.

Bang, the door closed. Kardian, who had been perusing documents, lifted his head and smiled with narrowed eyes. He was satisfied to see the woman who had purposely come all the way here to meet him.

“You’re here?”

“Where is Derul?”

Ansi went straight to the point without any greetings.

Kardian sighed. He tilted his head as if in a difficult position, then rose from his seat and approached Ansi. She glared at Kardian with sharp eyes.

“He’s doing well, so don’t worry.”

“Let me see him.”

“Not yet. The divorce isn’t even finalized yet.”

“Don’t play with words. You know that once the divorce papers are filed, it’s only a matter of time before it’s approved.”

“Then do you want to live with me in advance?”

Ansi opened her mouth in shock. Kardian chuckled as if that reaction was amusing.

“You know that’s what I want – for you to leave Damion and come to me. So… it’s a problem for you to be that surprised.”

Kardian’s mouth was still smiling, but his eyes were cold. He sincerely wanted Ansi as a lover.

She spoke, suppressing her rising anger and disgust as much as possible.

“…Show me Derul first. Then I’ll go to you.”

In fact, she had no intention of going to Kardian at all. That was absolutely impossible.

If she could just find out where Derul was, she planned to somehow get him back and leave.

This plan was not Ansi’s alone. Damion said he would help with that.

Damion’s favor was sincere.

No, in fact, that man had always been sincere to Ansi. He said he had been looking for places where Kardian might have imprisoned Derul, even when he seemed to not believe her words.

Looking back, there were too many moments and hearts that went astray.

It was too late now to hold onto that favor and cling to him.

“Ansi, do you know what it means to come to me?”

Her thoughts were buried by Kardian’s voice.

Kardian reached out to Ansi. Her tied-back, dark blue hair was grasped by Kardian’s hand.

He caressed the soft strands with his eyes lowered. His gaze met the hair in his hand, then moved to her white neck and further up to her red lips.

Feeling the heavy gaze, goosebumps rose on Ansi’s body. Her expression stiffened. Even knowing that, Kardian blatantly stared at her. As if asking if she could endure this gaze.

As if saying she had no right to get Derul back if she turned away here.

Soon, Kardian lowered his head. Ansi clenched the hem of her clothes.

“After I get Derul back, I’ll do as you wish.”

Ansi glared at Kardian without averting her face. Kardian smirked as he met her vivid blue eyes up close. He raised his head.

He turned around and walked to the desk. Then he held out a note that was on the desk. An address was written on it.

“Come here on the day the divorce is approved.”

“…Where is this?”

“I’ll bring your elder brother here.”

“…!”

Ansi took the note and gripped it tightly.

Her heart pounded. The anticipation of truly being able to meet Derul and the shame of still being played in Kardian’s hands simultaneously pricked at her.

Concealing those emotions, Ansi spoke softly.

“If Derul is not safe, I won’t stay still either.”

“Do as you please.”

Ansi turned her body. She walked toward the door with long strides.

Before turning the doorknob, Kardian spoke in a voice filled with amusement.

“You know what? Until now, the only woman who could enter my study was Bekishi.”

Another woman entering the study where only his wife could enter. Ansi bit the inside of her lip at the implication of those words. She left the study without answering.

She wanted to escape this space of Orphe quickly. Ansi left the mansion with steps close to running and got into the carriage.

She exhaled heavily. Sweat had pooled on her trembling hands. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket.

At that moment, a mirror fell out with it.

It was Amor’s mirror.

Ansi picked up the mirror and gazed at herself. A woman with a haggard face was in it.

What would happen to her after finding Derul?

She could no longer make the same choices as before.

It was partly because she couldn’t lead Damion to his death, but also because she had already developed a great attachment to her own life.

Although she was facing farewell with the man who had made her develop such an attachment… she couldn’t turn back.

“We’ve arrived, madam.”

The carriage had arrived somewhere while she was lost in thought.

Ansi, who had taken a deep breath, rearranged her hair again. She even deliberately smiled at herself, reflecting in the mirror again.

With her mind prepared, she got out of the carriage.

A familiar scenery came into view. It was the very place she had visited when she was young and had recently been to for Geris’s business.

“Ansi.”

Damion, who had been waiting, called out to her. Ansi’s heart fluttered as she met his affectionate purple eyes.

They walked together, keeping a slight distance.

Soon, a serene lake revealed itself. The blue sky was reflected on the wide expanse of water. A small boat was moored by the lakeside.

Ansi took Damion’s hand and got on that boat.

Going on a boat ride was Damion’s suggestion. Both of them knew it was too peaceful for their current situation. However, Ansi also wanted this time.

Perhaps… because it was the last time she could spend with him, pretending to be at peace.

As Damion rowed, the boat headed toward the center of the lake. For a while, the two gazed at each other without a word. Damion turned his gaze to the far end of the lake.

Ansi opened her mouth.

“Kardian said he would let me see Derul on the day the divorce is approved.”

“Well-trained people will follow you without getting caught. Signal right away when you meet your elder brother. Then we’ll get you and your brother out.”

“…Thank you.”

Silence flowed between them again. Countless questions rose in Ansi’s mind. Was it really okay to send her away? Was he fine with being left behind like that?

What was he thinking right now?

Ansi stared intently at Damion. Damion, who had been quietly gazing at the water’s surface, turned his head to her and asked a question.

“Do you remember saving a boy here?”

It was a story from a very young age.

Ansi nodded without hesitation. Damion burst into laughter at her calm reaction.

“I guess you already knew it was me.”

“I hoped it wasn’t.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t like that Damion was that sick.”

“That’s an unexpected answer.”

Damion had not thought Ansi would focus on why he had thrown himself into this lake. To begin with, even Damion remembered that moment more as a time when he decided how to live on, rather than a moment he had tried to die.

“I… I’m glad I met you here.”

“Because I saved your life?”

“That too, but here, I thought about the reason for living for the first time. It’s thanks to you that I didn’t let go of this life and continued living.”

I was able to have such a positive influence on this man at one point. Ansi muttered sadly with her eyes lowered.

“I wish that had been our last meeting.”

“Don’t say that.”

“No. Damion, you shouldn’t have met me again.”

Damion’s face contorted painfully. Their eyes met.

It was a matter of moments when Damion reached out his hand.