Riena and Cassel, who had left the cemetery, got back into the carriage. As soon as the carriage started, Cassel asked.

“Where were you planning to go earlier?”

Riena didn’t think he would ask such a thing. However, it was not a secret, so she answered straightforwardly.

“For now, I was going to go to the nearby Berna estate.”

“…The Berna estate?”

At that moment, Cassel’s face hardened slightly. However, since he usually had an expressionless face, Riena did not notice the change.

“Yes. I have a childhood friend named Raoul Berna. He belongs to the Royal Knights and stays in the capital, but I heard he’s come down to his hometown for a while.”

“…”

“I was going to go to the Berna estate first, meet Raoul, and ask for his help to go to the capital. Actually, I tried to send a letter to Raoul, but my mother found out. That’s why I was going to go in person.”

“…What were you planning to do after going to the capital? Were you planning to stay with Raoul Berna?”

“What? No!”

Riena quickly waved her hands.

“Even though Raoul is my childhood friend, I can’t do that. Raoul lives alone in the capital mansion. Of course, there will be hired help, but I can’t go to that mansion as a guest and stay for a long time. It wouldn’t be good for Raoul’s reputation either.”

“Then?”

“Once I arrived safely in the capital with Raoul, I was thinking of going to see my Aunt Letitia. She is now the Countess of Donovan and is the only relative I can contact.”

To be honest, Riena was not that close with the Countess of Donovan.

Since her mother passed away early, there was little interaction with her maternal family, and after her aunt married Count Donovan, they grew even more distant. She had seen her face only a few times that could be counted on both hands.

However, the Countess of Donovan was almost the only relative Riena could ask for help. So she was going to visit her, even if it meant being rude.

“Although we haven’t been in frequent contact, she’s not the type of person to turn away from me when I’m in trouble. I was going to go and ask for her help.”

Riena didn’t know why she was telling Cassel all these details. Strangely, she felt at ease in front of him. As if he was someone she had known for a long time.

Cassel, who had listened to all of Riena’s words, nodded.

“I understand. Then, we should also go to the capital for now and get permission for the marriage from the Countess.”

“What?”

“We don’t necessarily need to get permission for the marriage, but it would ease your mind, wouldn’t it? We also need someone to attend the wedding ceremony.”

“Ah…”

When Riena hesitated, Cassel asked cautiously.

“Are you uncomfortable? If I made an unnecessary suggestion…”

She quickly shook her head.

“No, it’s not that I’m uncomfortable. It’s just that I didn’t expect you to care about me so much. I was going to adjust to Your Grace’s schedule. I heard you came straight from the duchy…”

“Ah, you can ignore what Johannes Belliard said.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s true that I was in the north until a few days ago. Right now, it’s a busy time for Winkler to prepare for winter.”

“Then shouldn’t you go back quickly?”

“I left the rest to trustworthy people before I came. They are all familiar with Winkler’s winter preparations, so they will do well even without me.”

Cassel added, looking at Riena’s still gloomy expression.

“So you don’t need to worry about my schedule. Then, let’s go to the Winkler mansion in the capital. Is that alright with you?”

Riena silently nodded. As he said, they needed an elder from a family who would approve of their marriage. The Countess of Dyke would never approve, so the only one left was the Countess of Donovan.

In fact, she was worried about what would happen if the Countess of Dyke continued to oppose, but at least one worry was lifted.

‘Because I’m not alone anymore.’

She thought she was left alone in the world after Count Dyke died. When she found out about the betrayal of Joanna, whom she trusted, she despaired, saying that she had no one on her side.

But now it seemed like she could relax a little.

After that, the carriage ran and ran for two days straight. During the entire journey to the nearest magic portal from the Dyke County, there was no significant conversation between Riena and Cassel.

As soon as the rain stopped, Cassel got off the carriage and rode a horse as if he had been waiting.

Although their eyes met occasionally when Riena opened the window, the only conversation that passed between them was along the lines of “Is there anything uncomfortable?” and “No, I’m fine.”

Riena slightly opened the window and observed Cassel. Every time she did that, she was reminded of the man she saw in her dream. The man who laid down everything in front of her and broke down.

Surely, that man and Cassel had the same face, but their expressions were definitely different.

How could a man who dropped everything and broke down feel the same as a man who was as noble as a wolf?

Above all, the Cassel in front of her did not love her. Even though she knew that, Riena’s face burned and her heart pounded whenever he looked at her.

Unaware of her feelings, Cassel asked her if she had a fever when he saw her face like that, and Riena only repeated the obvious answer that she was fine.

Thus, with only Riena feeling awkward in the silence, the two finally arrived at the Winkler mansion in the capital using the magic portal.

As Riena got off the carriage with Cassel’s escort, the servants who had been waiting in advance bowed their heads towards the two.

Although it was a town house in the capital, not the Winkler estate, the number of servants was twice that of the Dyke mansion.

‘It’s definitely different.’

While Riena was overwhelmed by Winkler’s reputation, a middle-aged gentleman with slightly graying hair came out from among the servants and bowed in front of Cassel.

“I received the message, Master. I have prepared everything as instructed.”

“Good.”

Cassel nodded to him and introduced the gentleman to Riena.

“This is Benjamin Hanger, the head butler who oversees the mansion. Benjamin, this is my fiancée, Riena Dyke. Assist her without any shortcomings.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Lady.”

The head butler paid his respects to Riena without being disturbed by the word ‘fiancée’.

“The lady must be tired from the long journey, so I will guide you to your room for now.”

“I will do as you command. Lady, please come this way.”

“Um…”

Riena grabbed the sleeve of Cassel, who was about to get back on the horse as if his job was done.

“Are you not coming in together?”

“Ah…”

He turned his body towards her.

“Since I haven’t been to the capital in a long time, I have to take care of the things that have happened in the meantime. I will be back by dinner, so please rest.”

Riena continued, still holding his sleeve.

“Is there anything I should keep in mind while staying at the mansion? Things I shouldn’t do.”

For a moment, Riena felt like Cassel had smiled, albeit faintly. However, when she closed her eyes and opened them again, he had his usual expressionless face.

Cassel gently grasped Riena’s hand that was holding his sleeve.

“You are now my fiancée and the person who will soon become the mistress of this family. There is nothing you should not do here. Your every word and action will become the rule of this place.”

Was the word ‘fiancée’ such a sweet word? Riena lowered her head, unable to meet his blue eyes that were staring intently at her.

Cassel took her other hand as well and continued.

“But I have one request.”

“A request?”

“There is a forest on the west side of the capital. There is a bell tower at the entrance of the forest, and I’d like you not to go there.”

“The bell tower, you say?”

“Yes. It is a place where there are few people because there is nothing to see, and there is a possibility that beasts may jump out of the forest, so it is dangerous.”

Riena couldn’t quite understand why he was making such a request. If it is a place where there are hardly any people coming and going because there is nothing to see, as he said, it is safe to say that she has no reason to go there.

But why is he singling out that place and telling her not to go?

She was curious, but she nodded without asking the reason. If Cassel is saying this much, it must mean that the western forest is really dangerous.

“I’ll do that.”

Still not feeling reassured, Cassel emphasized again.

“You have promised. Never go to the western bell tower.”