“Why did they trim these garden hedges so high?”

It was difficult to see the surroundings due to the tall garden hedges that seemed to block the path.

In fact, even if I could see, it probably wouldn’t make much difference.

The Berzel ducal mansion had a square shape.

So when looking out from the garden located in the center of the mansion, all you could see was the mansion surrounding you on all sides.

This meant that no matter which direction I went, I should be able to reach the inside of the mansion.

But the problem was that I couldn’t find my way because the garden hedges were blocking the path like a maze.

Thinking I should just walk straight ahead on the visible path, I walked forward only to find a dead end.

It seemed I had entered some sort of maze-like area created in the garden while trying to find my way.

No wonder the garden hedges were set up so high as to block the view.

Having already come deep into the maze, it looked difficult to go back as well.

What should I do?

Ah, right! The left-hand rule!

That’s always the best when you enter a maze.

Anyway, even a maze should have an entrance and exit, so if I keep walking along one wall, I should eventually find the exit.

No matter how big the ducal garden was, it shouldn’t take more than a full day.

After organizing my thoughts, I hurried along the left garden hedge.

It was still daylight, but staying outside in this cold weather was a shortcut to catching a cold.

Besides, I wanted to go inside because it was cold. So I wanted to return to my room as quickly as possible.

But unfortunately, I kept reaching dead ends one after another.

After reaching dead ends seven times, I felt like sitting down and crying.

How can a garden maze be this wide and complicated?

I was cold and my legs hurt. Now I was hungry too.

“I shouldn’t have come out…”

Was it a mistake to come out thinking I’d have a chat when I saw Sir Kruger?

Or was it a mistake not to go inside with him when he left?

Obviously, it was the latter.

If I had followed Sir Kruger into the mansion, there would have been no problem at all.

Then I wouldn’t have been distracted by looking at flowers and come out this far.

“I miss my lady…”

How nice it would have been if Miss were here with me at a time like this.

No, what am I thinking?

Our Miss Veronica shouldn’t suffer in a cold place like this.

Stop thinking unnecessary thoughts and just find the way.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and started walking along the left garden hedge again.

Believing that even though I’ve hit a dead end now, I would eventually be able to get out.

However, contrary to my belief, the worst-case scenario was playing out in my head.

What happens if I can’t find my way until the end?

As it gets dark, the temperature would drop even more.

Then this thin shawl wouldn’t be able to keep my body warm.

I could die of hypothermia.

Oh my, what would happen then?

Would it make the news?

[Breaking news! Maid found dead from hypothermia in the Duke of Berzel’s garden…!]

Oh my, how terrible.

I might die twice from embarrassment…!

But what would happen to the contract in that case?

Since the person involved died, would it be as if it never happened?

Then would Miss Veronica be okay…

It was while I was walking dejectedly, lost in despair…

I heard the rustling sound of someone approaching from afar.

Thinking I might have misheard the sound of bushes swaying in the wind, I raised my head to check in front.

The rustling sound soon changed to the sound of someone’s footsteps.

I hadn’t misheard.

“What on earth are you doing here, Claire?”

The person who finally appeared stood in front of me.

It was the person I had thought of right after Miss Veronica.

“…Alex.”

Was it because I had been struggling for so long? Or was it because I had been craving human contact while lost?

The moment I saw Alex looking down at me with a troubled face, the tears I had been holding back suddenly welled up.

In an instant, my eyes burned hot and tears filled them.

I tried my best to hold back the tears, but once the emotions started to boil, they wouldn’t easily subside.

“Claire?”

Surprised by my sudden crying, Alex quickly approached me.

“No, I… I just came out for a short walk, but as I walked, I couldn’t see anything around me… So I followed the left path, you know? But it kept leading to dead ends…!”

As the sadness washed over me, I unconsciously grabbed him and sobbed.

My words didn’t come out logically as I tried to explain what had happened.

In the end, while trying to calm my rough breathing, I burst into tears like a child.

“It’s okay, Claire.”

Alex carefully embraced me as I burst into tears, gently patting my back.

“You’re cold.”

Then he stepped away from me and started unbuttoning his jacket.

He immediately took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

The jacket, which held his warmth, was very warm.

The temperature that warmed my cold body brought peace to my mind.

“Look at me, Claire.”

Alex spoke to me in a small voice.

When I lifted my head to look at him as he said, Alex reached out and gently wiped away the tears that had formed in my eyes.

“It’s okay. I’m here now.”

“…Yes.”

I started to regulate my breathing.

Like he said, now that Alex was here, I didn’t have to wander around lost anymore.

I didn’t have to face the terrible situation I had imagined in the worst-case scenario.

I stopped crying and wiped away my tears with my hands.

“Were you wandering around like that because you got lost here?”

“Were you watching?”

“Yes. I was watching from upstairs, and you kept wandering around, so I came down just in case.”

“…Thank you for saving me. I thought I was going to die here after getting lost.”

“In the garden?”

“Yes. I hope you don’t think I’m talking nonsense. I could have died of hypothermia because my clothes are thin, you know.”

“…That’s true. By the way, why were you walking alone? I should have assigned a maid to you.”

Alex’s voice became cold involuntarily. I absolutely didn’t want Avina to suffer because of me.

“I said I wanted to walk alone. As you know, I’ve never been used to having people attend to me, so it’s awkward.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes!”

“…From now on, try to be accompanied by a servant or maid as much as possible. It would be troublesome if something like this happens again. Be careful, as you said, you could die.”

Alex spoke to me like he was giving instructions.

No, did I know the mansion was this big?

“Let’s go inside now.”

He held out his hand to me. I placed my hand on top of his.

Unlike my hand that had become cold due to the chill, his hand was warm.

“Your hand is cold.”

Alex enveloped my hand. It felt like my frozen hand was melting.

“Alex, you’re warm. Just like a warm teacup.”

“How long have you been outside?”

“I don’t know. Ever since I left the reception room?”

“……”

Alex’s worried gaze fell on me.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I avoided his gaze.

He sighed and started walking.

His steps were fast, so I fell a bit behind.

I wanted to get out of here quickly too, but my legs hurt so I couldn’t walk fast.

Noticing this, Alex slowed his pace to match mine.

Only then could I follow him a bit more comfortably.

After walking for a while, Alex turned his head to check on me.

He frowned, seemingly bothered by my limping gait.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“What? Whoa!”

Alex suddenly picked me up. Startled by the sudden feeling of floating in the air, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You surprised me!”

“You seemed to be in pain. I’ll put you down if you don’t like it.”

“Umm…”

I pondered for a moment at Alex’s words.

He’s right, my legs were hurting from all the walking around.

It felt even worse because of the pain that felt like electricity running through my feet with each step.

Although I didn’t like having this kind of physical contact with Alex, I thought it would be okay to accept his help for now.

Honestly, I was at my limit.

“No, it’s fine. Please. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Alex moved slowly, seemingly being considerate of me.

Being held by him reminded me of a past memory. The memory of our last day in the warehouse.

“Was everything resolved from that time?”

“That time?”

“You know, when we were attacked in the warehouse.”

“Ah, that. Didn’t I tell you last time? It’s all been resolved.”

Alex spoke like it wasn’t a big deal. Even such a terrible incident didn’t seem to be a major issue for him.

“Does that happen often?”

“……”

“I’m sorry if that was an inappropriate question.”

“No, it’s fine. If I had to say, it used to happen occasionally in the past, but after I established my position to some extent, such incidents stopped. The last one was an exception.”

“That’s a relief.”

I heard it was a betrayal, it must have been hard, right?

I thought about comforting him, but I decided that trying to console him awkwardly without knowing the details of what had happened wouldn’t be for his benefit.

I’ll just stay quiet.

Meanwhile, Alex was walking at an increased pace.

Was it because of his arms holding me tightly? Unlike my expectation of being jostled, his embrace was only gentle.

Contrary to my thought that it would take some time, he was able to quickly exit the garden maze.

“Wow…”

“What is it?”

When I let out a soft exclamation, Alex tilted his head curiously.

“No, it’s just that when I was wandering around, I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the exit. But I’m amazed that you came straight to the exit.”

Honestly, more than being amazed, I felt deflated.

It felt like all my struggles had been in vain, which made me feel empty.

“I’ve never seen anyone wander around there like that before.”

“It was my first time. Did you know all the paths from the beginning, Alex?”

“Yes.”

Alex nodded as if it was obvious.

Tch, right. So you knew everything all along, huh?

Well, this was his mansion. For someone who grew up here since childhood, the garden maze probably wasn’t that difficult.

As I pouted my lips, Alex laughed as if he found it amusing.

“Still, I should take measures to prevent this from happening again.”

Alex, who had entered the mansion, carried me all the way to the front of the bedroom.