“Since Harnen said he saw Emon here, it must be a stakeout. The criminal usually returns to the crime scene, right?”
“Miss, that woman isn’t a criminal. Of course, committing adultery qualifies her as a criminal, but
“That’s true, but… I just came out to take a break. It’s fun to watch people, right?”
“Hehe. That’s true.”
I didn’t really expect much, but I hadn’t spotted a single strand of Nadia’s hair by the time afternoon arrived. Given Nadia’s striking appearance, there’s no way Sophia and I wouldn’t recognize her.
“Miss, sitting all day has made my backside sore. Let’s go back. It’s going to get dark soon.”
“Right. I didn’t expect to meet her today either.”
I stood up and got into the carriage.
Honestly, I wasn’t disappointed. After spending the whole day in the sun and breeze, I actually felt good.
But suddenly, I remembered what happened yesterday.
Just like last time, Winston mistook me for someone else. The problem was that it wasn’t a mistake.
‘I thought he had forgotten about me.’
If he had completely forgotten, it would have been easier, but the fact that he seemed to remember me was annoying.
Anyway, I can’t express how startled I was yesterday, thinking I had been caught. I resolved to be more careful next time, but then the carriage suddenly stopped.
Since we were about to enter the mansion, Sophia looked puzzled.
“Why did we suddenly stop?”
“Good question.”
“I’ll go ask the coachman!”
Just as Sophia was about to open the door and get out,
“Eek!”
Sophia, who was halfway out, let out a scream and fell to the ground.
“Sophia!”
Startled, I hurriedly exited the carriage.
A servant stood in front of the flustered coachman, blocking our way. And in front of Sophia, someone was standing.
I froze as I recognized the person.
“…Emon.”
It was Emon, my ex-fiancé, who had abandoned me on our engagement day.
Emon’s face had grown gaunt over the past few weeks. His once-proud golden hair was now dull and lifeless.
When I called his name, Emon’s face lit up as if he had found hope.
“D-do you remember me? Philome, I… I’ve really missed you. Really.”
What is this lunatic saying?
I walked past Emon and helped Sophia up from the ground.
“Sophia, are you okay?”
“Oh, yes. I just scraped my palm a little.”
“Let’s get inside and get you treated quickly.”
Sophia seemed to have twisted her ankle, limping slightly. The coachman standing next to her helped support her.
“Philome!”
Just as I was about to pass by, Emon grabbed my wrist.
“Emon, let go.”
“Philome, please just listen to me.”
“Lady Bonita?”
When I turned my head, I saw the knights of the Wintbell Duchy standing there. Their gazes alternated between Emon and me, then settled on my hand.
Emon’s grip made my hand pale.
Seeing this, the knights’ faces hardened.
The leading knight approached and firmly grasped Emon’s wrist, which was holding mine.
“Ahh!”
Emon screamed loudly.
When the knight pushed Emon’s hand away, he staggered and stumbled backward.
“You, you! Do you know who I am? Which house are you from? Huh?”
‘Is he out of his mind?’
We were right in front of Duke Wintbell’s mansion. Who wouldn’t know about the knights who pass by here?
Additionally, the knights had the Wintbell Duchy crest emblazoned on their chests.
What was even more annoying was that Emon kept backing away while saying everything.
“Young Master! Please return quickly.”
Emon’s servant, who had been fidgeting behind him, pulled him away.
“Let go! Didn’t you see him grabbing my wrist?”
“Please get in quickly!”
The servant pushed Emon into the carriage.
“Uh, uhh.”
Emon staggered as he got into the carriage.
Then, as if he couldn’t hold it anymore, he desperately shouted at me.
“Philome! I’ll definitely come find you! Got it?!”
Finally, the attendant closed the carriage door and urged the coachman to move quickly.
“Milady, are you alright?”
“Who on earth dares to treat the lady like this?”
“He’s my ex-fiancé.”
It was a casual remark, but the knights’ faces instantly turned fierce. They cursed as they looked at the spot where the carriage had disappeared.
“We should have broken his neck instead of his wrist.”
“We let him go too easily.”
“We should have at least broken one of his legs.”
“…Huh?”
The knights’ abrupt change in demeanor surprised me. They were always so kind and polite, but now they seemed like different people. However, they quickly returned to their usual selves and smiled.
“Haha, no, it’s nothing. By the way, Milady, is your hand alright?”
“Please wipe it with this handkerchief. It seems to have gotten dirty.”
“Thank you.”
After cleaning my wrist with the handkerchief the knight had given me, I entered the mansion.
The doctor examined Sophia and confirmed that while her injuries weren’t severe, she should avoid strenuous activities for a few days.
“Miss, I’m really fine.”
Seeing me look worried, Sophia grabbed my hand.
“It’s a relief that you weren’t hurt, Miss.”
“Sophia.”
“Next time, just let me slap him once, okay?”
“Uh, uh? Okay, I’ll allow it.”
“I’m just joking.”
At her words, I finally relaxed my stiff expression and smiled.
As I returned to my room lost in thought, the door suddenly burst open.
“Milady!”
“Duke?”
Seeing Kaien rush in, my heart sank unexpectedly.
Kaien, who always maintained his composure, looked like he had lost his calm. I thought something serious must have happened.
“Is there something going on?”
“That’s what I should be asking.”
Kaien strode over to me, rolled up my sleeves, and checked my wrists.
My left wrist had already developed a dark bruise.
In contrast to his hurried entrance, Kaien’s voice was calm as he asked,
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
His tone suggested that if I was hurt anywhere else, it would be a big deal, so I checked my memory again and shook my head.
“Really, there’s nothing. I happened to run into the knights, so there were no problems.”
“I should have been more careful from the moment I heard he was back.”
Still carefully holding my wrist with one hand, Kaien rubbed his face with the other.
“Ugh, Milady, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t expect it either.”
I was curious about why Emon had come to find me right after arriving here, but I didn’t want to meet him again just to satisfy that one question.
I didn’t want to see his face.
“I knew he was shameless, but I didn’t expect it to this extent.”
“Make sure to apply the ointment regularly. Don’t skip a day. It doesn’t throb or feel like there’s anything wrong with the bones, does it?”
“Not at all. I doubt he had enough strength to cause that.”
He was probably weaker than me; there’s no way he had the strength to fracture my bones.
“Yes? Isn’t he a knight?”
“He is a knight, but he became one due to his family’s influence.”
“I see.”
Kaien smiled slightly.
He then gently massaged my wrist, making sure not to hurt me.
“Milady, I promise. This will never happen again.”
“I hope so, but somehow I feel a bit uneasy.”
Perhaps because Emon had loudly declared he would come back. I scratched my cheek, trying to dismiss the ominous thoughts.
But my intuition was correct.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
I stood blankly in front of the window.
“Ugh…”
Sophia, standing next to me, shook her head as if she had seen something terrible.
I too found it distressing and squeezed my eyes shut before opening them again.
But Emon, who was in front of the mansion, had not disappeared.
“This is so… embarrassing, Sophia…”
Just the thought of being associated with such an individual was humiliating.
“I feel the same way, but how much more must you feel it…?”
“Ha, I really… can’t face the Duchy’s servants…”
I trembled and looked outside.
“Philome! I know you’re there!”
“Miss, take a deep breath in and out. It’s okay. Calm down.”
As soon as I heard Emon’s voice, Sophia stroked my back.
I took a deep breath in response to Sophia’s words and let it out.
“This won’t do.”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
It has already been two days since Emon came to the Duchy.
It’s also been two days since he stood in front of the tightly closed front gate, calling out for me.
Although the distance is quite far, I could still hear his voice.
“Miss! It’s not right to kill someone in broad daylight! Even if you’re the duchess, that mold is still the second son of the Marquis family!”
Ignoring Sophia’s shout, I went down alone.
The servants tried to keep their heads bowed as much as possible, but I could feel their eyes glancing at me.
‘God, I’m going to kill Emon and go to heaven.’
As I gritted my teeth, Sebastian approached.
“Milady.”
“Sebastian, can you get rid of that mold, I mean, Sir Emon, over…”
I stopped mid-sentence.
The doorman, who had been treating Emon like a transparent person, opened the door for him.
“I opened it for you, Milady.”
Thanks