After five days, he returned looking no different than when he had left.

He still didn’t seem like someone who would write such a heartfelt love letter.

The moment he returned, her resolve to confirm the existence of his lover faltered.

Seeing his face made her start to think that perhaps he wasn’t the one who wrote the letter after all.

‘But Nora said he wrote it.’

So her doubts weren’t just her imagination.

Leticia hoped this wouldn’t come across as if she were trying to uncover his weakness.

She resolved to exclude emotional conflicts as much as possible and approach him with a rational deal.

She didn’t know how Callius would react, but at least she had made up her mind.

“You’re not asking me to share a long-overdue meal together, are you?”

In the middle of their meal, he was the first to break the silence.

“I have something to say. But it doesn’t feel right to bring it up to someone who hasn’t even had time to rest after returning.”

“How important could it be? Just say it now.”

Receiving his reluctant permission, Leticia finally opened her mouth.

“I found this. I apologize for reading it.”

Leticia slid the letter toward him.

He didn’t even bother unfolding the paper, as if he already knew what it meant.

Leticia took this as confirmation and erased any lingering doubts.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“I’m not here to blame you. It’s not like we’re in that kind of relationship.”

As Leticia finished speaking, his demeanor instantly turned cold and hostile.

He quietly set down his fork and knife.

His movements as he wiped his mouth with a napkin were composed, but Leticia could sense the suppressed emotions in his every action.

“You’re right—we’re not in that kind of relationship. So, what are you trying to say?”

He repeated her words back to her.

It was clear that he was holding back his anger.

Leticia wasn’t surprised; she had anticipated this much.

“Before that, I have a question.”

He turned his head to look at her.

Their eyes met as they sat side by side, and Leticia momentarily lost her words.

What she had expected to see in his gaze was anger—anger at her for daring to speak about the woman he loved.

But the emotion in his eyes wasn’t anger.

Caught off guard, Leticia hesitated before speaking.

What she had intended to ask was whether his lover was a noble or a commoner.

And then, she had planned to suggest ways for him to be with her.

If she was a noble, Leticia would offer noble solutions; if a commoner, then commoner solutions.

But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say any of it.

In that moment, she instinctively felt that no solution would help.

So, deviating from her plan, Leticia asked a different question.

“…Is your reason for targeting Mathias related to her?”

Instead of answering, he let out a bitter laugh, curling one corner of his mouth.

After a long silence, he spoke in a mocking tone.

“So, what are you planning to do now?”

“I…”

“Did you think you’d found my weakness with this?”

His voice was sharp and filled with irritation.

“She may be your weakness, but…”

“…”

“I’m not trying to threaten you.”

Despite her words, Callius showed no sign of relief.

Instead, his expression grew even darker.

“I can help you.”

“And what exactly can you do to help?”

Was he angry because he thought she couldn’t help him? Or was he upset at the mere offer of help?

Or perhaps he was angry at the fact that she had discovered the truth.

“Whatever it is, I can help.”

“You can’t help me.”

He declared this with certainty as he stood up from his seat.

The chair screeched harshly as it was pushed back carelessly.

As he moved away, Leticia instinctively stood and grabbed his wrist.

She quickly released it, realizing what she had done.

Even though she let go, he didn’t leave and stood in place.

It was as if he couldn’t believe she had grabbed his wrist.

“I’m sorry. I acted impulsively… But I truly don’t mean to threaten you. And I’m not offering to help just for show…”

“You’re… so sincere.”

Callius suddenly said something incomprehensible.

What did he mean by “sincere”?

Was he referring to her intention to help him?

If so, shouldn’t he be glad?

“Of course, I sincerely want to help you.”

The brief crack in his expression hardened again, leaving no room for even a sliver of paper to slip through.

“I know. I know you’re sincere.”

“When I say I can help, I mean it—”

“She’s dead.”

Leticia tried again to persuade him.

She repeated that she was genuine, that she wanted to help him with his relationship.

For a moment, she didn’t understand what he had said.

The anger that had flickered in his eyes was suddenly extinguished, leaving them hollow.

“Well, at least now you’ve learned something for sure. You must be satisfied.”

He sneered. Leticia couldn’t deny it.

He was right.

“Now that you know why I want to kill Mathias, stop doubting me.”

This time, she couldn’t bring herself to stop him as he walked away.

There was no longer any need to doubt.

Leticia now knew the real reason he wanted to betray Mathias.

It was exactly what she had hoped for.

She wanted to trust him completely.

To join hands with him in the name of revenge.

But even though she had learned what she wanted, Leticia felt no joy.

“Stop doubting me.”

The look on Callius’s face as he said those words was a mess.

Leticia had broken him.

She had pried into the death of his lover and used it to confirm her suspicions.

She had been relieved to learn the truth, regardless of his grief.

Her fingertips grew cold.

Only then did Leticia realize what she had done.

—

From the next day onward, Callius stopped joining her for breakfast.

She thought she was used to eating alone, but the empty seat beside her bothered her more than she expected.

His expression kept surfacing in her mind.

His face had been dry and lifeless, and somehow, that looked sadder than if it had been wet with tears.

The more Leticia reflected on what had happened, the more she hated herself.

She felt like someone who had turned another person’s grief into an opportunity.

‘No, it’s not just a feeling. I’ve really become that kind of person.’

As Leticia picked at her food again, Nora, standing beside her, hesitated to speak.

Judging by the atmosphere, it was clear that whatever conversation had taken place yesterday hadn’t gone well.

This time, it seemed like there was nothing Nora could do to help.

Even so, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

“…Shall I speak to him for you?”

“Huh?”

Nora hesitated before cautiously suggesting,

“Should I at least hint to him that you could be a great help to him?”

That wasn’t the issue right now.

No matter what Nora said, Leticia still couldn’t help him.

His lover was dead.

Though she now knew he would align himself with her, the problem was his emotions.

The issue was that she had taken advantage of his grief.

“No. It’s only right that I apologize.”

“Pardon? You, Madam?”

“So, please, Nora, don’t say anything.”

Nora still seemed to have a lot to say, but she eventually nodded.

—

Leticia decided to sit down with Callius and give him a proper apology.

If she had known his lover was dead, she wouldn’t have spoken the way she did.

Since they were living in the same castle, arranging a conversation shouldn’t have been difficult.

But Leticia was wrong.

From that day onward, Callius started avoiding her as if it were his mission.

The moment he spotted her shadow, he would disappear in the blink of an eye.

At this rate, she couldn’t even have a proper conversation with him, let alone apologize.

During the day, she couldn’t even figure out where he was in the vast castle.

That left her with only one option.

Late at night, Leticia listened carefully at the door that connected her room to his.

As expected, there was no sound coming from inside.

When she opened the door, the room was empty.

If he wasn’t here at this hour, there was only one other place he could be.

She wondered if she should really go to him, but she decided that letting time pass would only lead to a worse outcome.

Leticia knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

Still, she opened the door. Contrary to her expectation that it might be locked, it opened easily.

“I don’t recall ever giving you permission to come and go as you please.”

His voice growled low.

But Leticia stepped inside anyway.

The dim light of a lamp illuminated Callius’s face.

He was half-reclining on a couch.

“I’m sorry, Lord Maxis.”

Without any preamble, she apologized.

Even at her apology, Callius didn’t react.

Leticia waited patiently for his response.

“If you’re done saying what you came to say, leave.”

What she received in return was cold indifference.