Riena returned to her room and gazed out the window with a thoughtful expression. Then, sensing a presence, she turned around.

Joanna, who had followed her, stood with her head bowed like someone who had committed a crime.

“My lady, I’m so sorry. I’m truly sorry…”

Riena approached Joanna, who could no longer continue speaking and was just shedding tears. As she carefully lifted Joanna’s face, she saw that her cheek was more swollen than before.

“I’m sorry. Does it hurt a lot? You’re suffering because of me. How’s the inside of your mouth? Is it torn?”

“It seems to be slightly torn, but it’s alright.”

“No, it’s not alright. Go see the doctor for treatment right away. It’s not a scar-leaving wound, but it would be better to apply some ointment.”

Joanna sniffled again.

“Is this the time to worry about me? My lady, what are you going to do now? Even if you send another letter to Lord Berna, the madam will find out immediately.”

“Well, I’ll have to think about that again.”

Riena muttered with a bitter face as she gently turned Joanna around.

“For now, don’t worry about me and go see the doctor. I’m tired and need to sleep a bit.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Of course. So you should rest well too.”

“Yes. If you need me for anything, please call me anytime.”

“Alright.”

After Joanna left, Riena silently glared at the closed door for a while before sitting on the bed.

It was a night when sleep was hard to come by.

That night, Riena couldn’t sleep properly due to her continuous worries. After tossing and turning all night and barely falling into a light sleep, Joanna urgently woke her up.

“My lady! My lady, please wake up!”

“Mmm, what’s the matter?”

“It seems we have a guest at the mansion!”

“A guest?”

Riena’s eyes flew open at that word. She quickly got up and rushed to the window.

As Joanna had said, there was a carriage at the main gate of the mansion.

Her heart pounded.

“Could it be Raoul?”

“Do you mean Lord Berna? Well, I’m not sure about that.”

“It must be Raoul. Yes, Raoul came down to his hometown, so of course he would come here! Besides, who else would come at this time other than Raoul?”

It was a bit strange that Raoul came by carriage instead of on horseback, but she thought it was certainly possible.

Riena quickly changed clothes with Joanna’s help and ran down to the first floor. She saw Countess Dyke greeting the guest in the hall.

Riena, who was about to rush down the stairs in one breath, stopped in her tracks when she saw the guest removing his hat as he entered the mansion.

‘It’s not Raoul?’

Her longtime friend, Raoul Berna, had wheat-colored hair. That distinctive hair color, too dark to be called blonde and too light to be called brown, was similar to the well-ripened wheat that colored the fields every autumn.

But the guest who just entered the mansion had bright blonde hair that stood out even from a distance.

Moreover, the body revealed as he took off his jacket was different from Raoul’s.

Raoul had a sturdy build befitting a knight who had been wielding a sword for a long time.

Unlike his slender youth, he had built quite a bit of muscle, to the point where Riena had jokingly teased, ‘Your shirt might burst if you move just a little.’

But the man talking with the countess, while similar in height to Raoul, had a different build. He was slender enough not to make his form-fitting shirt look uncomfortable.

‘Who could it be?’

At that moment, the man looked towards Riena. He raised his hand to Countess Dyke, asking for her understanding, and then began to approach Riena.

His long legs stretched out gracefully. It was a fast yet somehow dignified walk that was surprisingly elegant.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Dyke.”

When the man finally approached her, Riena could recognize who he was.

“Lord Belliard?”

As she murmured involuntarily, the man’s face lit up with a bright smile.

“You remember me.”

He took off the white gloves he was wearing. Then he pulled Riena’s right hand and lightly kissed the back of it. He was as careful as if handling a sugar figurine that would break if he applied even a little force.

“I’ve missed you terribly.”

His fingers slipped between Riena’s pale, slender fingers.

“You’re still as beautiful as ever.”

“That…”

Just as Riena was carefully trying to pull her hand away from him.

“Can’t you let go of that hand?”

Baron Rothman, who had come out at some point, shouted with a reddened face at the sight of the two. The man’s face momentarily froze coldly when he saw the baron hurriedly approaching.

However, before anyone could notice that expression, he smiled again as if it had been painted on.

“Who might that person be?”

“A guest briefly visiting the mansion…”

“Who am I? I am Lady Dyke’s fiancé, Baron Rothman!”

At that moment, no one noticed the meaningful chill that once again touched the corners of the man’s mouth.

The man’s name was Johannes Belliard. The only son and heir of Marquis Belliard.

Riena had seen Johannes a few times at parties in the capital that she attended with her father, Count Dyke.

“Seeing you, my lady, gives me a nostalgic feeling.”

Johannes had approached Riena, who was alone on the terrace, with such words.

“How curious. Have we met somewhere before?”

At the time, Riena thought Johannes’ sweet words were the same pickup lines she had seen in romance novels and tried to avoid him.

But Johannes had a strange charm that made others feel comfortable, and the conversation with him was unexpectedly enjoyable.

“I hope we can meet again.”

Riena felt a brief romantic interest in him. However, upon discovering that Johannes was kind and affectionate to everyone, even men, she abandoned the barely budding interest.

After that, she encountered Johannes at several parties, danced with him, and conversed.

But that was all. Riena didn’t particularly interact with Johannes afterward. Johannes didn’t contact her first, and she didn’t feel the need to contact him either.

‘But why on earth did he come all the way here?’

Riena thought, slightly lowering her head to avoid Johannes’ gaze, which had been fixed on her with a constant smile.

An unannounced guest at the mansion when Count Dyke wasn’t even here.

Riena first calmed down the excited Baron Rothman, then guided Johannes to the reception room.

And as they sat facing each other in silence, Johannes, who had been watching Riena wordlessly, finally spoke.

“I heard about Count Dyke’s news. Though late, I pray for the deceased’s peace. I received the news late, so I couldn’t attend the funeral. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Riena raised her lowered face and shook her head.

“No, it’s alright. My late father would understand completely. You’re very busy, after all. And it’s not easy to come here from the capital.”

The empire, with its advanced magic, had magical portals installed throughout the empire connecting various places. Using these portals, it was possible to move to other regions in the blink of an eye.

However, the closest magical portal to the Dyke territory was three days away by carriage. Being a border region, this was to prevent enemies from easily using the magical portals in case of invasion.

For this reason, only those who were very close to Count Dyke attended the funeral.

There was no reason to feel even slightly upset that Johannes didn’t come.

“My mother also passed away suddenly a few years ago. So I understand your feelings well. If you ever feel difficult or sad, please feel free to come to me. I’d like to be of help if I can.”

“I appreciate your words alone.”

“It’s not just empty words, I really want to be of help to you, my lady.”

“Yes, I know. But I don’t want to be a burden. Just saying such things is already a great help.”

With those words, the conversation between the two was briefly interrupted. Johannes looked like he had a lot to say but didn’t readily open his mouth, and Riena had nothing particular to say, so she just fidgeted with her clasped hands.

Finally, unable to bear the silence, Riena spoke first.

“Do you plan to stay in the Dyke territory?”

“Yes. I heard that the Dyke territory is particularly beautiful in autumn, so I’m planning to stay for a few days and enjoy a vacation.”

“That’s right. The autumn leaves are really beautiful here. I hope you can fully enjoy the beautiful scenery of this place. Have you decided where to stay?”

“I came in a hurry and haven’t decided yet. My aide has gone to the village to look into it now.”

“It’s the busy farming season now, so the village will be bustling. If it’s alright with you, how about staying at our mansion?”

“Would that be okay?”

“Of course.”

Riena smiled, closing her eyes.

“I’ll have a guest room prepared right away. It won’t take too long. I’ll ask them to prepare quickly so you can rest from your journey soon.”

“Thank you, my lady. I didn’t intend to impose, but I seem to have caused you trouble.”

“Trouble? Not at all. Please wait just a moment.”