After much hesitation, she chose only one thing.

“I want to take Lucy with me.”

Lucy was the horse her father had gifted her on her 8th birthday. The small foal had grown into a capable steed thanks to Riena’s devoted care.

Not only did her father and the knights covet Lucy, but her stepmother, Countess Dyke, had also set her eyes on gifting the horse to her son Aaron.

Because she had planned to run away in secret, Riena hadn’t thought of taking Lucy. But now, perhaps she could boldly take her along. However, even as she spoke, she didn’t truly believe it would be possible.

The “luggage” Cassel mentioned must have referred to actual belongings. Clothes, accessories, and other simple possessions. A horse would not only be difficult to take along but also require management.

So while she was thinking pessimistically, unexpectedly, a positive answer came back.

“Lucy, you mean that white horse you cherish. I understand. We can have her pull the carriage.”

Unable to believe his ready permission, Riena asked back in a dazed voice.

“Are we really taking her?”

Cassel answered without hesitation this time as well.

“If that’s what you wish, by all means. I know you care for Lucy greatly, so we can’t leave her behind. Is there anything else you need?”

“No.”

Riena answered emphatically.

“One bag of luggage I’ve left in the carriage is enough.”

“Will you be alright without bringing along a personal maid?”

Cassel glanced at Joanna, who was standing to the side observing the situation. Riena followed his gaze to Joanna.

Joanna was waiting with an expectant face for Riena to point her out. Her freckled cheeks were even flushed red.

Suppressing the anger rising in her throat, Riena spoke as calmly as possible.

“I don’t need one.”

“Ah, my lady?”

Joanna approached her with an expression of disbelief.

“My lady, what about me?”

Joanna’s expression of anguish, as if betrayed by someone she had been with her whole life, looked merely detestable in Riena’s eyes. She avoided Joanna’s hand trying to grasp hers and asked just one thing.

“Why did you do it?”

“Pardon?”

Joanna tried to act nonchalant, but she couldn’t hide her slightly trembling eyes. Riena looked straight into her eyes and asked again.

“Why did you do it?”

“My lady…”

“You’re not even asking what I mean. If you wanted to pretend not to know, shouldn’t you ask what I’m talking about to alleviate my suspicion even a little?”

Riena burst into self-deprecating laughter. She had expected it, but directly confirming it left her feeling empty.

When the letter to Raoul was discovered by Countess Dyke, she still trusted Joanna.

No matter what anyone said, Joanna had been with Riena since she was young. Despite the difference in status, Riena actually considered her more of a friend than a maid.

That’s why when she wrote to Raoul and planned her escape, she confided everything to Joanna without reservation.

Moreover, hadn’t Joanna been slapped by the Countess? There was no reason to suspect her.

Riena began to suspect Joanna after seeing her reaction when the carriage wheel got stuck in the mud. Honestly, even until the knight commander appeared, it was just suspicion.

However, when she saw Joanna sigh in relief upon meeting the Countess, her suspicion turned to certainty.

The one who had leaked everything to Countess Dyke was ultimately Joanna. The letter to Raoul wasn’t discovered by bad luck; Joanna had handed it over to the Countess.

“I had no choice. The Countess said she would fire me if I didn’t!”

“I understand. Because I know how desperate you were, I’m trying not to resent you.”

“My lady…”

“But you should stay in this mansion you so desperately wanted to remain in. Right?”

Joanna, who had held a slight hope, crumbled at Riena’s resolute words. She fell to her knees on the floor and clung to Riena’s legs.

“My lady, I will be loyal to you from now on! I’ll only listen to you no matter what happens. So please don’t abandon me!”

“…”

“If you leave me behind, the Countess will throw me out! When this rumor spreads, I won’t be able to show my face in the territory!”

“Should I care about that, Joanna?”

At Riena’s cold voice, which she had never heard before, Joanna unknowingly loosened her grip on her arms and looked up at her.

Riena’s purple eyes looking down at Joanna were unwavering and straight. Joanna realized that her mind was already firmly made up and would not change no matter what she did.

Tears flowed from Joanna’s eyes.

“My lady, please have mercy…”

“Not holding you accountable for your crimes is the last mercy I can bestow upon you.”

Riena replied mercilessly before turning to Cassel.

“As I said, that’s all.”

“I understand. I’ll give orders to prepare. In the meantime, it would be best for you to change your clothes.”

Cassel gestured towards Ben. Ben quickly disappeared towards the stables.

Riena, seeing Cassel also soaked from head to toe, suggested:

“Then why don’t you change clothes before we depart as well? Even the nearest magic portal will take some time. If you go like this, you might catch a cold.”

For Cassel, who was said to have reached the level of a Sword Master, to catch a cold from this bit of rain? It was nonsense, but Riena was concerned about him.

“Although I’ve cleared out most of my father’s belongings, there should be a few suits left. I’ll have a maid bring them to you, so please come inside for a moment.”

Cassel looked down at her for a moment before nodding.

“If that is your wish, I shall comply.”

She also suggested that the knight who came with Cassel change clothes, but he refused, saying he would get wet again anyway when riding the horse.

“Then there’s no helping it. I’ll just guide the Duke inside.”

Riena nodded to the head butler, who quickly guided Cassel inside.

Meanwhile, Riena went to her room, pulled out any clothes she could find, put them on, and only pocketed the ribbon she had kept.

As she looked around the mansion once more with eyes full of memories, Riena noticed something and widened her eyes.

“Ah…”

Johannes Belliard, wearing light indoor clothes, was standing in front of the mansion. After staring at Riena with blank eyes for a moment, he walked through the rain towards her, and his aide hurriedly opened an umbrella to cover his head.

Waving his hand as if to say it was fine, Johannes approached Riena while getting wet in the rain. With his hair and face moistened, barely managing to smile, he looked as pitiful as a single lily.

“Riena.”

Just as Johannes was about to reach out his hand to Riena, Cassel, who was standing beside her, blocked his way.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Johannes greeted Cassel.

“It’s been a while, Young Master Winckler. Or should I call you Duke now?”

“…”

Cassel just glared at Johannes without saying a word. Johannes continued speaking as if unbothered, with a smile.

“I can’t quite understand why someone who should be in the North right now is at the southern tip.”

“Isn’t that the same for you, Lord Belliard? Why has someone who should be enjoying parties in the capital come all the way here?”

“I came to find a fragrant flower. Speaking of which, would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I have something to discuss with Lady Dyke in private.”

“It seems that whatever you have to say can be heard by the Lady just fine from here.”

Riena grabbed Cassel’s arm.

“It’s alright. I’ll talk with Lord Belliard for a moment.”

Still, Cassel didn’t move.

“Please.”

At those words, Cassel looked worriedly between her and Johannes, then placed the umbrella in her hand and stepped back. After confirming that he had moved away, Riena opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry, Lord Belliard.”

“…”

“I don’t think I can accept your proposal. I feel ashamed that the order of things has gone wrong, but this is how it turned out.”

After a moment of silence, Johannes spoke.

“I’ve always thought it unseemly for a man to say this, but I still want to ask.”

“Yes?”

“What makes Duke Winckler acceptable and not me?”

To explain that, she would have to talk about the contract she had made with Cassel. But unable to speak frankly, Riena maintained her silence.

‘To be honest, if it wasn’t Cassel Winckler, things might have been different.’

If Johannes had suggested a fake marriage to use her, she wouldn’t have accepted it.

Even if it had been Raoul, her completely trustworthy childhood friend, who said such a thing, it would have been the same.

But Cassel was different.

For some reason, her heart went out to Cassel. She didn’t know the reason herself.

Was it because he was a childhood friend? That alone wasn’t enough to move Riena’s heart.

All she knew was that when he looked up at her holding that crumpled bouquet, something changed in her heart.

Perhaps it was because of the dream that had troubled her for the past two months. In the dream, Riena had given her heart to a man who was blindly devoted to her, and Cassel had the exact same appearance and voice as that man.

There was no way to know if the man in the dream was the same person as Cassel. Moreover, even if they were the same person, it couldn’t really be said they were truly the same.

After all, the meeting in the dream hadn’t happened in reality. Cassel didn’t even know what kind of dream she had.