“So?”

“I paid the innkeeper to take care of Aaron until we returned. But it seems they just took the money and ran.”

Seeing Bianca looking quite wronged, it seemed her words were true.

“I see. Anyway, the room condition is too poor. We can’t leave a sick child here, so I’m thinking of moving accommodations.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And once Aaron recovers, please return to your estate. I’ll help arrange for you to use a magic portal when you leave.”

“But…!”

Bianca tried to protest something, but the Countess stopped her and spoke.

“Alright, I understand. You have many things to worry about, so thank you for taking care of us as well.”

“Then we’ll be going now. Someone will come soon, so please pack your belongings until then.”

Riena coldly passed by the two and left the room. Cassel, who had been silently watching them, followed her out without a word. He then took off the outer coat he was wearing and draped it over Riena’s shoulders.

“Thank you.”

Riena barely managed a reply and quickly left the inn. The sky, which had been at sunset when they arrived here, was now quite dark.

Riena tried to act calm as she took Cassel’s escort and got into the carriage. However, during the ride back to the ducal residence, she couldn’t bring herself to meet Cassel’s eyes from across the seat.

It wasn’t that his unconditional affection for her was burdensome now.

She was just confused in her heart.

Riena buried her face in her hands, unable to face Cassel.

‘Why do I only show this side of myself to Cass?’

Cassel knew all about her circumstances.

He had already seen what attitude the Countess Dyke had towards her at the Dyke mansion, and what had happened with Baron Rothman.

Even after seeing all that, Cassel remained unshaken. Rather, he coldly brushed them off and even protected her.

There was no need to feel self-conscious about showing Cassel her situation with Countess Dyke again when he already knew everything.

Yet Riena felt today was different from before.

Previously, she had been a bit embarrassed to show her personal matters to Cassel, but today an incomparably greater emotion overwhelmed her.

That’s right. Riena was so ashamed she couldn’t bear it.

She felt like her entire body was being stripped bare in front of Cassel, exposing all her shortcomings.

Even if she had shown this side to Raoul, Johannes, Amy, Ryan, or even a passing stranger, it wouldn’t have been this humiliating.

What on earth happened all of a sudden to make her feel this way? What change of heart occurred?

Riena suddenly recalled the day she went to the Lorain Viscount’s mansion with Cassel to meet Noah.

That day, on the ride back, he had said “I didn’t want to show this side of myself.”

He had added that he especially only wanted to show good sides to her.

At that time, he wasn’t ashamed of having a complicated family situation, but was confused that he had neglected his nephew, his beloved brother’s son, being treated that way until now.

But in Riena’s eyes back then, he seemed very mature and serious.

It wasn’t Cassel’s fault that he didn’t know about Noah’s situation. If one had to nitpick, it wasn’t that he was blameless, but that circumstances weren’t favorable.

Cassel acknowledged all of that and resolved the problems he faced with a mature attitude.

Even when young, he was like that. Though he seemed timid, he acknowledged his own shortcomings and strived to move forward. As a result, he had now become the perfect head of the Winkler family.

But what about Riena?

“Have you been living disregarded like this to the point it’s nothing?”

She had tried to escape this unfair situation, but perhaps she had also acquiesced and given up.

Still, she tried to resolve today’s matter with the Countess on her own like Cassel, but in the end received his help.

She often advised Cassel as if she was a mature adult, but in reality, she was the inexperienced youngster who knew nothing.

She wanted to only show Cassel good things, but ended up like this.

The image of Riena that Cassel remembered was probably the mature one leading him when they were young.

But now that he knew she had actually grown up to be this weak, would Cassel still love her?

Would he still look at her with the same affectionate eyes as before?

She was anxious and afraid.

Just then, Cassel asked from across the carriage.

“Are you alright?”

Unlike Riena’s worries, his voice still carried concern and affection.

Encouraged by that, Riena lifted her head. Her eyes met Cassel’s blue ones gazing at her unwaveringly.

The same look she always saw, from her dreams to after their reunion.

Eyes that only looked at her, eyes that held the will to do anything for her sake.

In that moment, Riena fully realized.

This man, Cassel Winkler, loved her.

She didn’t know when or where this feeling started, but he had consistently wanted her.

This intense and solid emotion wouldn’t waver just from seeing her shortcomings.

At the same time, she also realized:

The reason she was okay with Raoul and Johannes finding out her shame, but not Cassel.

The reason the Countess and Bianca’s tyranny, which didn’t humiliate her this much before, got on her nerves today and made her feel wretched.

It was because her feelings for Cassel had changed.

Riena Dyke loved Cassel Winkler.

She herself didn’t know when or where this emotion began either.

Just like how clothes get soaked in a light rain, at some point when she looked back, her heart for Cassel had grown this much.

Because she liked him, she only wanted to show him good things.

Because she loved him, she didn’t want to leave him.

At the same time, because she cherished him, she didn’t want to become his flaw.

The single emotion called love made her this confused.

Now that she clearly recognized the vague feeling she had known, the emotions boiling inside her exploded.

She was happy, overwhelmed, and also…

In that instant, a single teardrop fell from Riena’s right eye.

It wasn’t a tear of sadness. Rather, the opposite.

But Cassel, unaware of her circumstances, asked in alarm at that tear.

“Ria, why are you crying?”

“I…”

Riena couldn’t say anything.

Like a newborn fawn, like someone who just recognized love, everything was chaotic for her.

She just wanted to confess all these emotions without reserve, but she wanted to convey her feelings more beautifully if possible.

Not blurting it out incoherently in this shabby state in the carriage, but properly confessing with a pretty face in a suitable place.

She thought that was courtesy to Cassel who had waited only for her all this time.

As she closed her mouth, Cassel spoke with even more urgency.

“If you’re worried about Aaron, I promise I’ll take responsibility and make sure he’s treated.”

Riena shook her head.

“If you’re concerned Countess Dyke will come again, I’ll take measures so she can’t set foot in the residence.”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then please tell me why you’re crying. I need to know the reason to be able to do something about it.”

Just then, the carriage arrived at the residence and stopped. Riena wiped her tears and forced a bright smile.

“Let’s talk inside. No, I’ll come find you after I sort out my thoughts. So please wait a bit.”

Leaving those words, Riena got off the carriage as if running away and headed to her room. She felt Cassel closely following behind her, but didn’t bother sending him back.

When Riena arrived at her room and went inside, Cassel quickly followed and closed the door.

Riena tried to offer him a seat, but Cassel grabbed her arm and drew close.

In an instant, Riena found herself with her back against the door, trapped in his arms.

In a previous dream, Johannes had treated her this way.

Though it was a dream, Riena had felt intimidated and afraid of him like that. She wanted to escape his hold.

But it was different now. Though Cassel was bigger than both Johannes and Raoul, Riena felt no fear towards him.

That was probably because she knew he couldn’t harm her.

Cassel spoke with some difficulty.

“I know I should wait since you told me to. That would be the proper thing to do. But I’m so anxious I can’t leave you alone.”

“…”

“I was so worried that if I left you alone, something might happen where I’m not there. That I might lose you again.”

The words “lose you” felt quite strange. The word “again” was also meaningful.

But Riena soon thought it must refer to when they parted ways as children, and looked up at him.