“Lady Wickley said there is an important gathering I must attend, so I’m going there.”
It was the outdoor gathering she had declined just the day before. Lady Wickley had sharply criticized her for it, but she didn’t want to sacrifice her time with Etricia for a meeting she had no interest in.
Thinking about it now, she regretted turning down Etricia’s invitation to go out.
‘I want to go too… I really do…’
But tomorrow, she had to bake a three-tier cake for the evening banquet. That was something she wanted to do herself.
‘I should have asked to go the next day.’
As Lilien freed herself from self-reproach and lifted her head slightly, her eyes met another’s.
Peridot-colored eyes flickered with confusion.
“Etricia?”
“Ah.”
Etricia sighed and blinked once. She seemed to shake off her thoughts, and then, as always, she gently lifted the corners of her lips into a soft smile.
Her clear eyes curved playfully.
“Is that so? Well, there’s nothing we can do. I suppose I did receive a lot of invitations before the retreat, but I never attended. My mind must have been elsewhere—perhaps I was holding you back.”
That… that wasn’t true. It wasn’t Etricia who had held her back; Lilien had avoided those gatherings because she simply didn’t want to go. She just wanted to be with Etricia.
In that moment, Lilien caught a strange sense of unease. The playful smile she loved seemed to waver slightly, as if it might collapse.
“Then I suppose I’ll wander the square alone. If I find something that suits you while I’m out, will you use it happily?”
“O-Of course…”
“Then I’ll be off. Sorry for disturbing you.”
Etricia smiled with her eyes and left.
As the door closed, Lilien tilted her head while lifting herself from the table.
Etricia had been as kind and gentle as always. And yet, there was something strangely lonely about her.
But before she could dwell on it further, Marie started whining about a crumpled blanket, and the thought quickly faded from Lilien’s mind.
I leaned against the carriage with my arms crossed and let out a sigh.
This was the first time Lilien had ever turned down an invitation to go out. After leaving her room, I stood with my back to the door for a while, stunned.
But soon, I found it ridiculous.
‘Lilien likes me a lot, but that doesn’t mean she can’t decline an invitation. Am I really this shocked over something so trivial?’
I used to think it was cute when she depended on me, but now I realized I had come to depend on her more.
This was a crucial time for her as a noble lady to establish herself in society. Following Lady Wickley around would allow her to see, experience, and learn important things.
So, it made sense that she might not tell me if her lesson schedule changed. She might start keeping secrets. She might even refuse my invitations.
Edmund was the same. From what Rail had mentioned, he was swamped with work after the retreat, traveling between the estate and the capital to handle years of neglected affairs.
Right, he was a duke. Not only did he have to purge corruption, but he also had to govern his land.
Unlike me, who left estate management to my uncle after inheriting my title, he had to take care of everything himself. He must be busy.
I understood. So, if both of them were too preoccupied, it made sense that they wouldn’t have time for me.
A dull ache spread through my chest, and I pressed my lips together. Then, they curled into a faint, bitter smile.
‘Come on, now. It’s not like I’m sulking because no one remembered my birthday.’
Just then, the carriage stopped. I scoffed at myself and stepped out, fanning myself lightly before paying the driver. My eyes settled on a worn-out wooden door.
Today, I had taken a hired carriage instead of the duke’s, as this guild district could only be accessed by passing through the square’s side streets.
I wasn’t here to buy anything.
‘I came to sell something.’
I still had the Pact Stone I had used to force Devon’s signature on the divorce papers. Keeping it with me felt unsettling.
‘I thought I might need it again, but will I really?’
The Lebron business was securely under the control of the Viscount Buell’s family. My uncle, who managed the estate, was trustworthy, according to the original story.
In other words, there was almost nothing that would require me to make a life-or-death vow.
‘Rather than letting it sit around, I might as well sell it.’
I reached for the silver doorknob, its plating peeling away, and turned it.
A shimmering barrier rippled over the enclosed alleyway beyond the door, signaling the presence of magic.
I stepped inside and shut the door behind me.
The instant I opened my eyes, the noisy commotion inside struck my ears.
A row of alleys stretched ahead, filled with dazzling lights from the lined-up shops. People sat at outdoor tavern tables, gripping tankards and brawling. Some disappeared into eerie establishments marked with blood-red signs reading “Witch.”
This was the nobles’ hidden playground. I bought a mask nearby and strolled down the alley, stopping in front of a massive bulletin board.
Pinned there were various guild requests and the latest news.
If I wanted to know what was happening in the guild world, coming here was the fastest way. Official announcements took longer to reach the capital’s guild board.
‘Since I’m here, I might as well take a look.’
I hadn’t been keeping up with news because of the divorce.
But as I browsed, I found something I hadn’t expected.
‘An assassination guild shut down?’
The reason: the guild master had gone missing.
He had been an underground powerhouse, building a solid reputation. There was no way someone like him would simply disappear.
‘A man like that, missing? Just like that?’
No guild leader would vanish without a trace. If he were dead, his body would have been found. Which meant the culprit had enough power to erase all traces of his death.
One person immediately came to mind, and I bit my lip.
But I had erased the guild master’s memories. How did he find out? He couldn’t have met Verita at the banquet either.
Before I could think further, the realization hit me.
Edmund Mipedian. The empire’s hero. A duke who swiftly seized real power.
If he wanted to uncover the truth, nothing would stop him. And since he cherished Lilien, he had likely assigned people to watch or protect me, just as I had done.
The memory of our first encounter surfaced—his eyes filled with murderous intent, his sword gleaming coldly. He had wanted to kill me.
I shuddered, a chilling thought creeping up my spine.
‘Is that why he kept me at the mansion?’
Not just to monitor me—but to ensure I didn’t try anything again.
So that was why he stayed so close, even though he seemed to hate it.
For now, I knew he wouldn’t kill me. His tone had softened, his gaze was calmer. He was different from when we first met.
But… could he ever truly trust me?
Could he trust the woman who had once tried to kill his sister?
Blood ties could be severed at any time. If I ever angered Edmund…
A heavy dread settled in my chest.
“You’re here?”
A maid with a familiar face came to greet me.
She gave an awkward smile and kept glancing at me sideways, as if trying to read my mood.
“Have you eaten? Should I prepare something?”
“No, I’m fine…”
Just as I was saying that, I noticed her let out a quiet sigh of relief.
I frowned slightly.
I was feeling confused and heavy-hearted because of what happened at the Guild Union,
and I didn’t feel like eating anything—
but the maid’s reaction made me suspicious.
Raising my eyebrows, I asked,
“Where are the Duke and Lady Lilien?”
“Ah.”
The maid blinked quickly, then placed her hands together politely and answered.
“The Duke hasn’t returned yet, and Lady Lilien went upstairs to take a nap after her meal.”
“Then, just for me, something light and easy to digest, please.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
The maid gave a faint smile and stepped back.
But she didn’t head toward the kitchen.
Instead, she walked past the wide hall and deeper into the house,
and I watched her with a hint of doubt.
Lowering my footsteps, I quietly followed her.
She went toward the dining room next to the kitchen.
Then she passed the usual dining room, the lounge, and the tea room, and entered the banquet hall.
I followed her to the door she slightly opened,
and saw bright light leaking through the crack.
Standing in the relatively dark hallway,
I peered through the gap.
The room was so brightly lit that it made my eyes sting.
The pale green wallpaper was lined with laurel gold patterns,
and a golden chandelier hung above.
A table for eight was decorated with bright camellias in a vase,
and the pillars were adorned with colorful flowers wrapped in circles.
And there—
were Edmund and Lilien, drinking tea and talking together.
