There was another guest staying at the estate.

The appearance of such an unexpected variable did not please Helena in the slightest. Her expression darkened immediately.

‘I came all the way here because I didn’t want to see anyone…’

Helena hurriedly asked.

“Where is this guest from? Did they say they came from the capital?”

“I heard they came from abroad.”

“Abroad?”

“They’re not a foreigner, but I heard they’ve only just returned to the Pretium Empire after nearly ten years away.”

At least it didn’t seem to be someone she knew.

Helena quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

If they had spent nearly a decade overseas, they were unlikely to have any interest in the scandalous rumors that had recently swept through the capital.

If someone here learned about her circumstances as well, she truly didn’t think she could bear it.

‘There’s nowhere left for me to run anymore.’

A bitter smile tugged at Helena’s lips.

“Shall we head downstairs, then? I should show you around the estate as well.”

As they made their way to the dining room, Mabeline gave her a quick tour of the manor.

In truth, most of the rooms stood empty, so there wasn’t much to introduce.

“Here you are, Miss. Enjoy your meal.”

Mabeline placed a large bowl of soup in front of Helena.

She had thought she had no appetite, but the moment the steaming soup was set before her, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.

Slowly, Helena lifted a spoonful to her lips.

The rich, savory flavor spread gently across her tongue.

For the first time in a long while, something tasted good.

“It’s delicious.”

Mabeline beamed.

“Isn’t it? Josephine is a wonderful cook. She’s gone to the market at the moment, but you’ll meet her this evening.”

“What about the other maids?”

Mabeline shrugged.

“After the mistress passed away, the master dismissed most of the servants. There are only four of us living here now. You met Stephan yesterday, didn’t you?”

“Stephan?”

Helena tilted her head in confusion before recalling the face of a tall, slender boy.

“Oh, the thin one with the long legs.”

“Yes, that’s him. He’s Matthew’s son—the coachman. He helps out with all sorts of odd jobs. He’s not the most capable, but he’s a good boy.”

Glancing around, Helena asked.

“Can a mansion this large really be maintained by only four people? It sounds exhausting.”

“It’s not as difficult as you’d think. Most of the time, it’s only the master living here. We also hire day laborers from time to time when extra hands are needed.”

Mabeline spoke with obvious excitement.

“It’s such a quiet place that having two guests here at the same time is a real rarity. I always enjoy seeing new faces. And having guests this young is a first for me!”

‘Young?’

The hand stirring her soup slowed.

“About that guest…”

Helena asked carefully.

“What kind of person is he? No one has told me anything.”

“Him? Well, I haven’t spoken with him much, but he doesn’t seem difficult. He spends more time outside than inside the manor.”

Mabeline placed her hands on her hips and thought for a moment.

“Though I must say, there was something extraordinary about him from the very first impression.”

“Extraordinary?”

“Yes. He didn’t seem like an ordinary person at all. I was curious, so I quietly asked the master about him. The master told me he was an honored guest and that I should take especially good care of him. I heard his name, but…”

“…”

“I think it was Plimont. Though the master calls him Alex.”

At that moment, a name flashed through Helena’s mind like lightning.

“Alexander Karhen Plimont.”

The instant Mabeline heard her mutter the name, she slapped the table.

“That’s right! That was it!”

Impossible.

Realizing the identity of the guest, Helena slowly lowered her spoon.

“You know him?”

“…”

If the question was whether she knew him personally, the answer was no.

They had never met.

However, if the question was whether she knew who he was, the answer was undoubtedly yes.

Of course she did.

Nine out of ten people in the Pretium Empire would recognize his name: Alexander Karhen Plimont.

He was the man who had turned the tide of a war that had stagnated for more than thirty years, doing so almost as soon as he was appointed Supreme Commander.

To the people of the Pretium Empire, he was hailed as the god of war.

However, to the nations that stood against him, he was known as the God of Death.

‘Why is someone like that here…?’

What was more, he was famous for rarely showing his face in public.

Even Helena, who had once been called a diamond of high society and had attended countless grand parties, had never seen him in person.

‘What connection could he possibly have with Grandfather? This is so unexpected.’

Helena tilted her head.

Perhaps the two men, neither of whom cared much for high society, had found some common ground.

‘Well… it has nothing to do with me anyway.’

‘I’d better avoid getting involved with him if I can.’

***

After finishing her meal, Helena stepped outside and wandered through the grounds of the estate.

To call it a garden would be something of an exaggeration.

The grass brushed against her ankles, and the trees had been left to grow far beyond what anyone would consider proper maintenance.

It was no wonder the place looked haunted. Grandfather really should hire a gardener.

Even so, now that the rain had cleared and sunlight spilled across the grounds, the estate possessed a quiet charm of its own.

Fresh.

Peaceful.

Serene.

Though it wasn’t quite to Helena’s taste.

A short distance from the main manor stood a stable.

Next to it was a small cottage, which she assumed belonged to the coachman and his son.

‘Is this the back garden?’

As she rounded the corner, she came across a small shed and a narrow side gate.

It appeared to lead into the forest.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she pushed open the gate and stepped through.

The scent of damp earth and rain-soaked leaves wafting in from the woods was irresistibly refreshing.

“This would be a lovely place for a walk.”

How long had she been following the forest path?

Something glimmered in the distance, catching her eye.

Naturally, Helena found herself heading toward it.

‘A lake?’

The moment she stepped out from the dense trees, a breathless sigh escaped her lips.

“Wow…”

A pale jade-colored lake shimmered beneath the sunlight.

The dancing reflections across its surface sparkled like countless jewels sewn into an elegant gown.

“I had no idea a place like this existed.”

Helena stepped closer to the water’s edge, wanting a better look.

Then—

Splash.

The sharp sound of water being cut through made her turn her head.

“…!”

The first thing she saw was the back of a man she didn’t recognize.

Drops of water streamed down his sun-kissed skin, tracing quick paths across his body.

He had clearly just been swimming.

The broad expanse of his back, sculpted by well-defined muscles, resembled a masterpiece carved by an artist.

Helena was hardly innocent enough to be flustered by the sight of a shirtless man.

Yet there was something about him — something wild and untamed — that she had never encountered before.

‘This isn’t the time for that.’

Helena came out of her daze when she saw a pile of clothes carelessly stacked on a nearby rock.

If she stayed any longer, she would inevitably come face-to-face with him.

Just then, sensing another presence, the man slowly turned around in the water.

His gaze swept the area before settling on her.

His body immediately went still.

“…!”

‘I need to leave.’

Panic wiped every coherent thought from Helena’s mind.

She spun around and hurried away as fast as she could.

“Wait!”

The man’s voice rang out behind her, but she didn’t look back.

She simply ran.

Then—

“Ah!”

Thud.

Her foot caught on a thick tree root hidden beneath the undergrowth, and she stumbled hard.

A sharp pain shot through her ankle.

Wincing, Helena carefully rotated her foot, trying to assess the injury.

‘That hurts…’

‘Still, if I can move it, it probably isn’t too serious.’

Relieved, she let out a small sigh.

Wrapping both hands around her ankle, she gently massaged it, hoping to ease the pain.

Drip.

Drip, drip.

Then, unexpectedly, a few drops of water landed on her head.

‘Is it going to rain? The sky was perfectly clear…’

Absentmindedly, Helena tilted her head back.

And froze.

“…!”

A pair of dark brown eyes stared directly into hers.

Water dripped steadily from the man’s hair as he looked down at her. His expression was one of unmistakable caution.

He looked like a wild predator confronting unexpected prey.

Then he spoke.

“If you’re going to run away like that, it puts me in a rather difficult position.”