“Ah… You came, Kain.”

Lilia turned around with an expression of surprise, as if she had just noticed him.

“You said you had something for me to do, what is it?”

“Actually…”

Lilia spoke honestly.

“There’s nothing.”

“…….”
“Just called you to take a brief rest. Chopping wood by yourself must be tough.”

Lilia said, bowing her head shyly.

Regrettably, Kain didn’t find this consideration to be at all gratifying.

“Thanks for your concern, but if I don’t do it now, it will just delay the time it gets done. Anyway, thank you.”

And truthfully, it wasn’t difficult for him. In fact, Kain enjoyed such simple menial tasks. While working, no stray thoughts came into his mind.

“So, I’ll take my leave….”

“Wait!”

Lilia quickly grabbed Kain as he turned to leave.
Kain turned back around with an indifferent face.

“Alright, that was just an excuse. The truth is, I want to have a quick chat with you.”

Lilia laid her cards on the table. As she did, she naturally changed her steps and switched places with him.

Now, the sunlight washed over Kain’s face. His platinum blond hair seemed to turn silver as it reflected the light, and his eyes shone even more transparently.

His features appeared more refined.

Kain was not extremely handsome.

If one were to judge purely by looks, Viscount Bert would be more handsome than him.
But in Lilia’s eyes, Kain appeared more handsome.

There were many reasons.

The way his eyes curved when he smiled, his kind grin, his melancholic personality, his sincere attitude, and… the attention her sister showed him.

At first, her gaze was inexplicably drawn to him whenever they crossed paths in the hallway, dining room, or living room, always greeting each other politely.

It was a casual curiosity.

A visage indistinguishable from nobility, yet a status as a lowly slave.

The divergence between his appearance and status ignited her curiosity, which developed into something more, largely due to her sister.
What could be the reason her seemingly flawless sister, except for her sanguine personality, is so infatuated with that man?

Lilia had no intention of denying that her curiosity made Kain appear even more splendid than he originally was.

But what does the reason matter? What’s important is that now, this man is the only one in her heart.

Ever since coming to this house, Kain had been the only man in Lilia’s heart, except for two days.

A man with jet-black hair and golden eyes, almost like a work of art crafted by the gods.
When she saw the man who appeared at her coming-of-age ceremony, Lilia worried that the pounding of her heart would drown out the music.

The impact of seeing that man lingered on, making the next day quite difficult for her.

To be honest, during that time, Kain didn’t even catch her eye. Nevertheless, aside from those two days, there was never a moment when Kain wasn’t in Lilia’s heart.

“If you have something to say, please go ahead. I will wait.”

Kain spoke calmly.

Lilia took a moment to catch her breath, seemingly taking time to choose her words carefully in her mind.
But the truth was, what she had to say was already decided, and her breath was stable without needing to be steadied.

What she was waiting for was the ‘moment.’

Suddenly, the grand chime of a grandfather clock sounded three times from deep within the mansion.

It meant three o’clock.

Lilia discreetly glanced behind Kain. Someone had just revealed themselves there.

Dressed in luxurious attire, adorned with a jet-black brooch as a cravat decoration, and with his bangs neatly swept back, was a refined and gentle handsome man. It was none other than Count Bert.

The ‘moment’ she had been waiting for had arrived.
“Kain, I like you.”

Lilia confessed. Then she braced herself against his firm chest with both hands and rose on her heels.

She intended to kiss him.

Just because it was planned didn’t mean her feelings for Kain were insincere.

Rather, she wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Mustering the courage to make such a bold move twice would be too much. So why not capture Kain’s heart and shake off that bothersome Count Bert in one fell swoop?

Lilia closed her eyes and moved her lips toward Kain’s. But then…
“Miss.”

Kain gripped Lilia’s shoulders, stopping her lips from advancing any further.

Into Lilia’s bewildered eyes came Kain’s indifferent face. She realized something had gone wrong.

“This doesn’t feel right.”

“What… what’s wrong? Are you… rejecting… um, is that it?”

Lilia spoke as she lowered her heels back to the floor.

A vulnerability uncharacteristic of her was clearly present in her voice.

“That’s part of it.”

Kain responded in a dispassionate tone.
“If I may presume to advise, calculations should have no place in a heartfelt confession.”

Lilia’s face turned deathly pale.

‘How… how could he know?’

Clearly, the man had his back turned to her, and Duke Bert was at such a distance that even his footsteps couldn’t be heard. Of course, there was no problem for the Duke to see this way from his position.

However, that was a thought Lilia could entertain only because she did not know Kain well.
If Lilia had known the extent to which Kain’s internal senses, honed by Hersis for assassination preparedness, were sharpened during every waking moment, including the times he slept, she would never have attempted such a foolish act.

He had detected the presence of Duke Bert’s carriage even before it rounded the corner into the street outside the mansion.

“But… but…”

Lilia wanted to say that her feelings were genuine, but for some reason, Kain felt cold and unfamiliar, preventing her from speaking.

Her mouth remained closed.
Then Kain softened his expression and spoke to Lilia.

“It’s alright. I’m just a slave, after all. But I hope you won’t act this way toward others.”

His gentle admonition struck her more sharply than a hundred reproaches could have.

With the same courteous manners he had shown upon arrival, Kain passed by her.

Only after Kain had disappeared did another face come into Lilia’s view. It was the distorted face of Duke Bert, twisted in disappointment.

He dropped the flower he was holding and turned away, his shoulders slumped as much as the flower.