Edith deliberately changed her course and headed to the farthest corner of the garden. Even though she sensed him following, she couldn’t believe it.
How on earth did Benjamin end up here?
Edith stopped in a deserted place and examined his face. It didn’t look like anyone else had come.
“Edith… Long time no see.”
“Benjamin, how did you end up here? You should be working as a journalist in the capital.”
Benjamin was one of the prides of the Homan Clinic’s director.
Ever since his childhood, he had been locked in his study, reading books. But soon after he became an adult, he moved to the capital and became a full-time reporter for <Agnas News>, the largest newspaper in the Agnas Empire.
At first, Benjamin covered minor incidents near the capital’s outskirts, but soon his passion was recognized, and he began handling more important topics.
“Benjamin, the last article you wrote was probably…”
“It was about the succession conflict between the Imperial Family and the Duchy of Lexion. I’ve even written an article on the front page before.”
Seeing Benjamin’s proud demeanor, Edith couldn’t help but have more questions.
If he was a journalist significant enough to make the front page, why was he in Fortrion Manor, far from the capital?
Benjamin, reading Edith’s doubts, asked with a curious tone.
“Uncle contacted me. He said you disappeared suddenly, he thought you were late for work. What exactly happened?”
Edith appreciated his concern for her job but was also worried.
“Benjamin, what about the newspaper?”
“The newspaper…”
As Benjamin hesitated for a moment without answering, Edith pressed on.
“You didn’t leave your work aside because of me, did you?”
Avoiding her gaze, Benjamin replied.
“I felt exhausted from delving too deep into the political battles of the capital’s elite. Since Uncle contacted me anyway, I thought I would check on your well-being and visit our hometown.”
“Then, I’m relieved…”
As Edith’s voice trailed off, she soon decided to believe his words. Benjamin was now a responsible adult making a living. Not the young man who, as soon as he became an adult, confessed to her while drunk and claimed not to remember anything the next day.
⋙“Hmm, Edith, would you like to live in the capital together in the future? I dream of becoming a journalist, and you want to attend the Capital Academy… And I like you.”⋘
Benjamin studied Edith’s face. He noticed the shallow wrinkles on her forehead as if deep in thought, the smooth bridge of her nose, and her red, plump lips.
The woman before him now appeared much more elegant than the image he had preserved in his memories when he left the village.
“That aside, you have no idea how surprised I was when I investigated your whereabouts. Your uncle, Phillip, he…”
Edith would rather hide her feelings than share her sadness or troubles with others.
Benjamin was one of the few people who knew about her Uncle Phillip, a shameless robber whom she didn’t even consider a family.
“I heard it from some gamblers who used to hang out with your Uncle Phillip. What will happen to you when the Viscount dies? Is there anything I can do to help?”
Edith met Benjamin’s eyes. It was almost impossible to lie while looking into those clear eyes.
After observing him for a long time, Edith believed that Benjamin was someone she could trust. Even if it meant seeking help, she had to explain her situation to him.
“I don’t know why, but I heard that the Viscount has been looking for me for a long time…”
Edith began to explain her situation in a low voice.
──────────✿◦•
At a similar time, Whitman was listening to the report.
“Lady Sophia has requested tea time with Lady Isabelle, but Lady Isabelle is only examining the account books.”
Whitman had no choice but to conceal his embarrassment. He couldn’t believe that the well-behaved Isabelle had taken the accounting books into her room before him.
“Lady Isabelle, too, is quite something. She could have checked the accounts after the Thanksgiving dinner ended…”
He pretended to be okay, but his inner thoughts were far from it. Now, behind Isabelle, was the head of the Karcus Merchant Guild.
If the embezzlement were discovered and their relationship with them soured, it was almost certain that both the manor and the estate would fall into ruin.
『 If they noticed the embezzlement, the donations from the merchants as well as the maintenance cost of the manor would be cut off.』
Of course, the most important thing was that he and Sophia, the main culprits of the embezzlement, wouldn’t escape unscathed.
With a sense of anxiety, Whitman asked the under butler.
“Who’s been spreading nonsense to Lady Isabelle about embezzlement and the need to check the accounts?”
“Well, the rumors started spreading rapidly all at once.”
Whitman had observed Isabelle for nearly two years since she arrived at the manor. According to his instincts as a butler, it didn’t seem like Isabelle had suddenly changed her mind and decided to check the account books.
As he pondered the reason, he suddenly remembered Isabelle’s pigeon flying eastward from the manor.
『 It couldn’t be Sophia. Could it be…?』
Even Whitman, at first, thought it made no sense. Was it Edith, who had been in the manor for less than a month?
Her stay was too short to understand the situation within the manor and deduce what was happening.
If so, did she cooperate with someone who knew well about Fortrion Manor?
Suddenly, in Whitman’s mind, someone’s face flashed for a moment.
The man who, among the servants of the manor, harbored the strongest grudge against the master and his wife.
-The stableman, Walter.-
If the two captives in Fortrion Manor had joined forces, that would be a problematic situation.
“I’ll go see Lady Edith for a moment.”
Whitman jumped out of his seat and left.
──────────✿◦•
“They put an imprisonment spell on you and you have to pretend pregnant with the heir… Aren’t they crazy?”
As Edith finished telling her situation, Benjamin answered in a serious tone.
He was angry as if it were his own problem, and more overwhelmed than ever before. He didn’t know about her going through such hardship until his uncle contacted him.
“Edith, you felt lonely because you had no one to rely on, didn’t you?”
However, Edith shook her head slightly.
“You don’t have to worry. I’m not completely alone, Benjamin. Someone is helping me to make sure Sophia’s plan doesn’t go as planned.”
Edith deliberately did not tell Benjamin about Walter. She obviously trusted Benjamin, but she thought it would be impolite to reveal the secrets she had heard directly from Walter.
Edith didn’t want to disappoint Walter, who had gone to great lengths to find her necklace.
“I’m also helping him, so it’s kind of a deal.”
“…That’s a relief, Edith.”
Benjamin smiled. He didn’t want to look like a jerk who immediately looked stiff after hearing Edith refer to ‘him.’
“Still, the more help you get from people, the better. I’m planning to stay nearby for a while too, so I’ll come to the manor often with some guild members. There are many people I know who can help me get in and out.”
“Is it really okay? I thought you would stay a few days before going to the capital.”
Edith was concerned about Benjamin.
But as soon as Benjamin saw his own reflection in her eyes, he forgot all about the fancy new typewriter and much better treatment the newspaper had promised him.
Are such things important when the woman who still occupies his heart is trapped in this manor under an imprisonment spell?
“If a person’s sense of justice is strong enough to give up his job as a journalist for the sake of a hometown friend in trouble, then he should be willing to give up his career as a journalist.”
Benjamin shrugged his shoulders lightly.
“To be honest, the reason I came back to the Fortrion territory was because I was put on probation. I was too ambitious, so I tried to infiltrate the Duchy of Lexion, but my boss caught me.”
“Into the Duchy of Lexion? Sounds like a lie.”
“Believe it or not, it’s your choice, but once my probation is over, I’ll have to return to the capital even if you ask for more help.”
Edith couldn’t tell whether Benjamin was lying or not based on his expression confessing about his probation. However, one thing was certain.
“Thank you, Benjamin. You will be of great help.”
Edith smiled with her eyes crinkling.
Benjamin looked at her smiling face and then turned his gaze away.
Then, a well-dressed middle-aged man approached with his eyes flickering.
After confirming that he was the butler Whitman, Edith turned her back on Benjamin and confronted him.
“Lady Edith. You are here in such a place.”
The butler spoke with proper etiquette. He was so polite that Edith wouldn’t have suspected it if Walter hadn’t informed her that Sophia and the butler were having an affair.
“It’s been a while, Whitman. It seems you’ve never visited me except when I first came here.”
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with you, M’lady.”
With these words, Whitman rolled his eyes and examined Benjamin from top to bottom. Contrary to his expectations, it was a completely unfamiliar face.
“But I didn’t know you would have another gentleman with you.”
“…”
“If M’lord, the Viscount sees this, who is lying on the bed… he will be very sad.”
Edith rolled her tongue inwardly. Whitman is the one who has an affair with the lady of the house and yet thinks she’s the shameless one.
Meanwhile, Whitman found it strange that the man spending time with Edith wasn’t one of the manor’s servants.
『 I definitely need to investigate to be sure.』
He knew his instincts were never wrong, so he added a lie.
“By the way, Lady Sophia ordered me. It seems she wants me to take you to Hans… I will guide you, so please follow me.”
“…”
Edith quietly gritted her teeth and stared at Whitman. There was no greater shame than this in front of an old friend.
Then suddenly, when Whitman was about to reach out to Edith, who didn’t budge…
“I thought Mr. Whitman only touched Lady Sophia’s body.”
“…!”
Walter, who had been quietly observing the butler, suddenly struck the back of his neck.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
They should kidnap the butler, I want to see what Sophia would do.