The low-hanging clouds completely obscured the moon and stars. Like a thick blanket, the inky darkness enveloped the world, with only a few scattered gas lamps providing a faint glow just enough to see a step ahead.

Hailey walked through the pitch-black garden, sighing deeply. She was utterly exhausted. It felt as though a month had passed, yet not even a full day had gone by.

And yet, sleep refused to come. In fact, her eyes only grew more alert. It was her chronic condition—nights of insomnia ever since she had woken up in this unfamiliar world.

It was no surprise. She had been pretending to be fine, but deep inside, an uncontrollable anxiety threatened to swallow her whole.

At times like this, she would pace the front yard of Kent Hall, even in the middle of the night. Moving her body helped her sleep, if only a little.

And so, tonight, she wandered the estate’s garden once more.

Enemies surrounded her on all sides. The irritable and ill-tempered duke, the territorial maids, the strict Madam Mastis—there wasn’t a single easy person among them.

“Does God have some kind of mix-up? I think He gave me way too many lemons. Feels like I’m getting everyone else’s share too.”

Muttering complaints to the heavens, Hailey halted and closed her eyes. The silent night air immediately wrapped around her.

Somewhere, an owl hooted. In the distance, a dog barked. Then, as if on cue, the neighborhood dogs joined in, barking one after another.

And yet, she found the night overwhelmingly quiet.

The hum of music she used to play out of habit, the constant passing of cars, the mechanical ping of a new message arriving on her phone—

Without all of it, the world was eerily silent.

And with that silence came an inexplicable sense of dissonance.

Like wearing clothes that didn’t fit quite right—an unsettling discomfort she couldn’t shake off.

Why did I come here? Whose voice was it that whispered in my ear? What was she asking me to do?

Hailey’s thoughts trailed one after another, forming an endless chain. The unanswered questions never unraveled; they only tangled more intricately each time.

—Please, Hyein.

Strangely, that voice wouldn’t leave her mind. A gentle, earnest plea—it felt as if she held all the answers.

“I feel like I could remember if I just had the right trigger, but I don’t know what that is.”

Murmuring to herself, Hailey sat on the edge of the inactive fountain. As she stared blankly into the darkness, Baron Salmon’s overly sentimental face surfaced in her thoughts.

With a bitter chuckle, she muttered, “It’s been a while since I had a meal alone.”

***

The dinner table had been set with an overwhelming number of dishes, enough to make her wonder how she could possibly eat them all. A slow-simmered stew, steak, and salad, along with steamed fish with spinach and roasted venison—all served on gleaming silverware.

After placing the last dish, Madam Mastis bowed and stepped back.

“Please enjoy your meal.”

“Am I supposed to eat all this by myself?”

Hailey’s question made Madam Mastis pause and turn toward her.

“The Duke specifically instructed that special care be taken with your meals.”

“I see… Please convey my thanks.”

Faced with what seemed like a new form of torment, Hailey had no choice but to respond that way. If this was the Duke’s idea of mischief, she decided to enjoy it out of sheer defiance. With a determined look, she picked up her fork and knife.

Once Madam Mastis left the dining room, Hailey was alone at the long table, which seated twelve.

It wasn’t a banquet hall—more likely a family dining room. But as far as she knew, the Duke was the only family left.

The room felt empty. The glossy venison looked delicious, but for some reason, she couldn’t taste anything.

A memory of meals at Kent Hall surfaced. Unless absolutely necessary, Baron Salmon always dined with Hailey.

Daniel was the same. On his days off, he would return to Kent Hall and join the family at the table, no matter what. It was almost like a sacred ritual.

Meals with them had always been lively, quite different from the formal dining etiquette of the nobles she knew. They would ask about her day, what she planned to do tomorrow, and then share their own stories.

For instance, there was the time they talked about John, one of the two remaining servants at Kent Hall, whose memory wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. Daniel had burst into laughter when he learned that Baron Salmon’s cane had been found in the stables.

Sometimes, those meals felt burdensome. The baron’s affection was so warm and gentle that it made her feel guilty.

But now, she misses those times.

Even in her past life as Lee Hyein, she had never had such experiences. Her grandfather had been strict about table manners, and their meals were always silent. Eventually, they had stopped eating together altogether.

She tore off a piece of bread and chewed it. It was like chewing rubber.

“Today felt so long.”

A quiet sigh escaped her lips.

“I think I’ll actually sleep soundly tonight—without any dreams.”

Hailey spoke again, but the empty dining room offered no response. There was no chatter from Baron Salmon, no laughter from Daniel.

***

Just as she shook her head lightly, snapping out of her thoughts, a distant creaking sound reached her ears. Soon, the rumble of carriage wheels rolling over stone grew closer.

“So, he’s finally back.”

Hailey remained seated, watching as the approaching carriage neared. It was quite late. The oil lamp on the driver’s seat flickered as it drew closer.

“A banquet, huh.”

She had never attended one before. As the daughter of a baron barely clinging to the lowest rung of nobility, there had never been anyone generous enough to invite her.

Neither she nor Baron Salmon was the type to attend social gatherings just to build connections. Not that they could afford to, anyway.

Kent Hall hadn’t been repaired for years. Every time it rained, housekeeper Emma had to rush around placing buckets to catch leaks. If they had the money for banquets, fixing the leaky roof would have come first.

Then there was the collapsed stable. Not that they had any horses to keep in it.

Gazing up at the dim gaslight, Hailey imagined nobles elegantly dancing in tailcoats and gowns, sipping champagne and exchanging hollow pleasantries.

‘Your dress is lovely.’

‘Your waltz is quite refined.’

‘Oh-ho-ho.’

“So, it’s basically like a corporate dinner party? The Duke must have had a rough night, staying out this late. Honestly, I’d rather eat alone than go through that.”

While she was empathizing with the struggles of working professionals, the carriage came to a stop. Bill climbed down from the driver’s seat and opened the carriage door.

What should she do? Hidden in the darkness, Hailey hesitated before stepping forward.

They say a good greeting goes a long way… Ah, never mind.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

Her greeting made the Duke, who had just been stepping out of the carriage with Bill’s assistance, freeze in place.

Lifting his head slowly, Tayton silently gazed at her. His silver eyes, usually sharp, were now slightly unfocused and deeply subdued.

Hailey also stared at him without a word. But with the gaslight behind him, she couldn’t quite make out his expression.

Even with the gas lamp in front of her, she wouldn’t have been able to see his expression due to the mask covering his face.

A restless silence flowed between them like a river. He was persistently silent, and Hailey didn’t rush to break it either. It seemed as if the deep stillness would last forever—until suddenly,

“Did you drink?”

Hailey’s abrupt question made Tayton let out a dry chuckle. At the same time, the scent of alcohol carried by the night breeze seeped into her nose.

Bill supported one of the duke’s broad shoulders with his thick hand.

“It’s fine.”

Tayton shook off the arm holding him and started walking. Already limping, his steps wavered even more due to the alcohol.

Bill reached out again to steady the duke’s tilting arm, but Tayton once more pushed his hand away.

“I told you, I don’t need help. Do I look drunk to you?”

At the duke’s irritated tone, Bill stopped in his tracks, looking flustered. He clenched his fists helplessly, his gaze filled with concern as he watched the duke’s retreating figure.

Hailey stepped closer to Bill and patted his back in reassurance. He turned to look at her.

Drunk people always claim they’re not drunk. And for some reason, alcohol often brings out a stubborn pride, making them insist on ridiculous things.

She, who had once made it her mission to put her colleagues in taxis after office gatherings, tapped Bill’s arm once more in a silent “don’t worry” gesture before following the duke.

Hailey walked half a step behind him. Step by faltering step, Tayton leaned on his cane and barely moved forward. His already unstable gait looked even more precarious.

She kept close, ready to catch him if he fell. And sure enough, just as he was climbing the stairs, his foot slipped. His upper body tilted backward, losing balance.

“Your Grace!”