When the man gestured, sturdy servants who had followed him in grabbed Louisa’s arms and dragged her away.

Louisa struggled and thrashed but could not overcome the strength of the servants.

When Louisa’s voice echoing through the corridor had died down somewhat, the middle-aged man sighed once and greeted Cassel.

“It’s been a while, Young Master Winkler. Or rather, Duke Winkler now.”

“Have you been well, Marquis?”

“Oh, you know, same as always. But please, speak comfortably. We’re both heads of our houses now.”

“How could I possibly lower my speech to you?”

The middle-aged man, Marquis Lorraine, seemed to give up on persuading Cassel. Instead, he turned his attention to Riena behind him.

“And the young lady with you is…?”

“Pardon my late introduction. This is my fiancée, Lady Dyke.”

Riena hurriedly greeted him according to etiquette.

“Pleased to meet you, Marquis. I am Riena of House Dyke.”

“I saw the Duke when he was young, and now he’s all grown up and even engaged. Time really flies. If you don’t mind, I could show the young lady around separately.”

“I…”

As Riena looked to Cassel, he nodded that it was fine.

“I have some things to discuss with the Marquis, so please have some tea for a while. I’ll join you soon.”

“Alright. I’ll see you in a bit then.”

Riena left the reception room, guided by a maid the Marquis had called.

The last glimpse she caught of Cassel’s face before the door closed showed it had hardened.

It seemed the Lorraine family was not going to show the twins easily.

Riena pondered for a moment as she looked at the well-prepared refreshments. The maid who had guided her was gone, leaving her alone in the reception room.

After some deliberation, Riena stood up.

‘I’ll have to look for the children myself.’

It was a thought she would never have had normally, and she wasn’t sure where such courage came from.

Leaving the room, Riena wandered the corridors, looking around cautiously.

Whether it was always like this, or because everyone was preoccupied with Cassel’s visit, there was not a soul to be seen in the corridors.

This was fortunate for Riena.

‘But I don’t know where Noah’s room is.’

It was while Riena was exploring the third floor, where the Lorraine family’s rooms were located, that it happened.

“Who’s there?”

A child’s clear voice rang out from behind her.

Startled, she turned around to see a girl with platinum blonde hair tied in two braids, just like Louisa Lorraine.

The eyes looking at Riena were the same blue as Cassel’s.

Judging by her appearance and attire, she seemed to be Cassel’s other niece.

As Riena remained silent, unable to say anything, the child asked again.

“I asked who you are. Why are you here? I haven’t seen you before.”

“I’m, well…”

Riena struggled with how to introduce herself. Should she lie, or tell the truth?

If she told the truth, what should she say? Your future aunt? But would this tiny child even know what an aunt is?

As Riena continued to maintain her silence, the child sighed deeply and approached her.

“I don’t know who you are, but come play with me. Everyone’s disappeared and I have no one to play dolls with.”

“Huh?”

“Hurry, unnie. Can I call you unnie?”

Since they weren’t married yet, would it be okay to be called unnie?

After a moment’s hesitation, Riena answered.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Pulled along by the child’s hand, Riena found herself in the playroom.

She had hoped Noah might be there too, but it was empty.

“What’s your name?”

“Chloe Lorraine!”

The child who introduced herself as Chloe answered brightly while taking dolls out of a toy box.

Riena carefully asked as she accepted the doll Chloe handed her.

“Do you know where Noah Lorraine went?”

“Noah? That dummy?”

“Don’t call him that. You shouldn’t say such things about your younger brother.”

Chloe snorted.

“Noah’s not my little brother, he’s my older brother. We’re twins though.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. But even though he was born a few minutes before me, he’s dumber than I am. He can’t speak well, and he can’t play properly. So he’s a dummy.”

“You still shouldn’t use words like that. Not just for your brother, but for anyone else too.”

Chloe pouted her lips in dissatisfaction but soon nodded.

“Okay, now let’s play.”

Chloe approached Riena without hesitation and shook her doll.

“Ohoho, I’ll be the prettiest at the party today.”

“Yes, Chloe will be the prettiest.”

Riena played along for a while before giving some serious advice.

“But Chloe, you shouldn’t be so friendly with strangers. When a stranger comes, you should run to the adults around you and tell them there’s a strange person. Okay?”

It would be troublesome for Riena if Chloe ran out now, but she couldn’t just let it slide.

Chloe tilted her head.

“Unnie, are you a bad person?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then why?”

“Bad people don’t say ‘I’m a bad person.’ So I could be a bad person too. What if I took Chloe away from here?”

“But unnie’s not a bad person. You’re pretty!”

Riena was left speechless at Chloe’s innocent reply.

“With golden hair as bright as sunlight, eyes that sparkle like stars, and a gentle voice too! Just like a princess from a storybook. You’re pretty! Your eyes look just like amethysts! Unnie, do you know what amethysts are? They’re purple gems like your eyes! I have an amethyst necklace, want to see it?”

Faced with Chloe’s sparkling eyes looking up at her, Riena changed the subject in embarrassment.

“Yes, I know what amethysts are. But Chloe, you shouldn’t let your guard down even if I look like a princess. Understand?”

It was extremely embarrassing to refer to herself as a ‘princess’.

Fortunately, Chloe made a ‘tch’ sound but nodded obediently.

“Okay, I understand.”

Before Chloe could resume playing with dolls, Riena asked first.

“And do you know where Noah Lorraine might be? Unnie can’t find Noah’s room.”

“Why are you looking for that dummy, I mean, Noah?”

“I have something to tell him.”

“Will you play with me if I tell you?”

“Yes, I’ll play with you after I meet Noah.”

“Okay.”

Chloe explained, albeit reluctantly.

“Noah’s room is on the far end of the second floor. Go down the stairs and turn left.”

“Second floor? Not the third?”

As far as Riena knew, the Lorraine family’s quarters were on the third floor.

Usually, spaces used by family members are kept separate, so Noah’s room should naturally have been on the third floor too.

“Yes!”

There was no point in asking Chloe the reason. Riena just stood up.

“Then I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Come back quickly.”

“And can you keep it a secret that you met me?”

“Are you playing hide and seek, unnie?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then I won’t tell anyone.”

Chloe put her index finger to her lips.

“Shh.”

“Yes, shh.”

Not only did Chloe keep the secret, but she also went out first to keep watch, saying Riena shouldn’t be caught by the maids.

“There’s no one. You can come out.”

Thanks to her, Riena was able to easily come out into the corridor and go down to the second floor.

After confirming that the second-floor corridor was also empty, she walked down the left hallway.

Arriving in front of Noah’s room, Riena knocked lightly so as not to be heard by others, but there was no sound from inside.

Just in case, she tried turning the doorknob, and it turned.

“…!”

Riena looked around once more before entering.

“Noah, are you in here?”

The child’s room was so shabby it was hard to believe it belonged to a noble child.

It was better than the servants’ rooms, but compared to Chloe’s playroom full of luxurious furniture and toys, it looked shabby.

And there was no one inside.

“He’s not here…”

Thinking he might have gone out for a walk, she was about to leave the room when she heard a voice from somewhere.

“…Who is it?”

“Huh?”

“Who are you?”

Riena moved towards the sound. Surprisingly, the small voice was coming from under the bed.

Riena hesitated for a moment, looking around, then lay down on the floor.

It was an action that would horrify anyone who saw it as improper, but it was fine since no one was watching.

‘What does it matter if someone sees?’

Riena turned her head to look under the bed. Blue eyes were staring at her intently from the darkness.

Riena flinched for a moment but soon smiled and spoke to the child.

“Hello?”

The child, who had startled slightly, squirmed and backed away.

“Wait, don’t go. There’s dust accumulated on the floor, it’s not good for you. Why don’t you come out and talk?”

The child continued to move backwards without affirming or denying.

“Are you Noah?”

The child nodded.

‘Found him.’

Riena stretched her arm under the dusty bed.

“Why are you under there? Won’t you come out for a bit and talk with me? Unlike you, I’m too big to fit under the bed.”

The child didn’t back away further, but he didn’t approach Riena either.

Riena coaxed the child in the gentlest voice possible.

“I’m not a bad person. I came to see you.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. So won’t you come out for a moment and show me your face?”

Noah rolled his eyes around before slowly coming forward.

When he took Riena’s hand, she carefully pulled him out.

In the sunlight streaming through the window, the child had blonde hair.

It was a slightly darker blonde than Louisa and Chloe’s, probably inherited from his father, Asher Winkler.

As Riena observed Noah, she was quite shocked.

‘Why is he so thin?’