“There are three places I can introduce you to right away—Hollin, Jibelin, and Babus.”

Eliza felt a quiet sense of despair. All three were towns filled with country estates owned by the wealthy.

“Recently, real estate investment has become something of a trend among Athern’s high society. Weekend villas, quiet retreats… you understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Charles gave an awkward smile, and Eliza turned her head slightly, feigning the same.

‘Yes, yes. You mean those villas nobles use for their affairs.’

The reason Eliza had invented an aunt was simple, people tended to view a woman trying to purchase property on her own with suspicion.

But this recent real estate boom seemed likely to make her plans much easier.

“I do have quite a few such listings, but if none of them appeal to you, we may need to broaden the search. It will take time. No matter which agency in Athern you visit, you’ll hear the same answer.”

As Charles spoke, Eliza’s gaze drifted to the map hanging on the wall—a detailed rendering of the entire continent centered around the kingdom.

“If I were to consider the places you mentioned, how much should I prepare?”

“It varies by location, but as I said, property prices have been fluctuating lately. You should prepare around three million derk. Of course, it depends on the house.”

Three million!

The unfamiliar number made Eliza shrink inward.

If she emptied James’s safe, it would probably amount to that much. But having a house alone wouldn’t solve everything.

Feeling grateful for the veil that hid her expression, she rose from her seat.

“Then please continue looking into it. I’ll visit again.”

After leaving, she stopped by several other nearby estate agents.

Throughout this process, she realized that Charles had neither exaggerated nor lied to her. She also gained a clearer sense of the areas on which she needed to focus.

By the time she hailed a carriage home, her legs ached and she was exhausted.

But she steadied her thoughts.

‘This is the first step toward a new beginning.’

***

When Eliza arrived home, she quickly changed her clothes, pretending as always that she hadn’t been out.

Just as she was about to go downstairs, she suddenly noticed the door to James’s study.

She opened the safe and stared silently inside.

There was roughly two million dollars’ worth of cash inside. Including the jewels and gold bars, the total was easily three million.

‘But I still don’t feel secure.’

Frowning faintly, she muttered something unexpected under her breath.

“Is my life’s goal really nothing more than robbing this safe?”

She had already declared its contents as her alimony, yet the unease lingering in one corner of her heart refused to fade.

‘He’ll never understand what I’ve done.’

Only then did she realize how much she hated the thought of James remembering her as a despicable thief for the rest of his life.

She had been the one to run away first. In James’ eyes, she would always be a cause of resentment; he would never acknowledge his own shortcomings.

“D*mn it…”

Caught between bitterness and lingering gloom, Eliza slipped the cases containing the necklace and bracelet into her pocket, then closed the safe.

By the time she had transferred them to her handbag, Marie had returned and started preparing dinner.

Then, she heard the sound of a carriage pulling up outside.

Lorina.

Eliza slowed her steps deliberately as she made her way downstairs, the sharp, insistent ringing of the doorbell echoing through the house.

After confirming who the visitor was, Marie turned to her.

“My lady, Miss Winclaire is here.”

“Let her in, Marie.”

Lorina entered with a bright smile, though the sharp click of her heels betrayed something less pleasant.

“Lorina.”

“Eliza! So you were home. It’s a bit late, but I absolutely had to see you today.”

‘Why? Because you ran off and abandoned your “friend” the moment she was in trouble?’

Instead of voicing her thoughts, Eliza gave a faint smile.

“Sit down, Lorina.”

“……”

Lorina’s gaze turned cold at Eliza’s lukewarm response, though the smile remained on her lips as she asked,

“Did you get home safely yesterday?”

“Yesterday?”

When Eliza feigned ignorance, irritation flickered in Lorina’s eyes.

“Ah, I mean what happened at the boutique.”

“……”

Eliza was, of course, provoking her, but Lorina did not realize this immediately.

Eliza Ashton was not one to pretend ignorance or play coy. She appeared so innocent that she often confused those who approached her with hostility.

Biting her lip lightly, Eliza met Lorina’s searching gaze and spoke with a calmness that seemed genuine.

“I was worried when you went back alone yesterday, Lorina.”

Eliza thought that, above all, Lorina should have the right to be angry. After all, Eliza had been the first to lay hands on her friend’s lover, and the timing could not have been worse.

In any case, Lorina’s expression darkened as if she were truly distressed.

“Well… I was on my way to defend you, but at that exact moment, I received an urgent telegram from my father! You know how fiery his temper is, don’t you?”

For an instant, Eliza vividly recalled that damned man’s voice from her past life.

“…You know that, don’t you? You understand, right?”

‘…You wretched woman.’

As Eliza watched her with a blank expression, Lorina put on the desperate look she often wore in front of her.

“You may have made a big mistake, but I really wanted you to know how upset I was that I couldn’t help you, Eliza. That’s why I came to see you like this, even with my busy schedule.”

She shook her head lightly with a smile.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve already forgotten all about it, Lorina.”

“……”

‘Whatever excuse you make, I couldn’t care less, Lorina.’

Lorina’s practiced smile faltered, the corners of her mouth slowly dropping.

This time, she was certain.

When she came here, she had been prepared to persuade and coax Eliza, regardless of her opinion. She had even braced herself for the possibility of Eliza breaking down in tears.

But being denied the chance to continue the conversation altogether was a different matter.

Marie, who had just entered the sitting room, sensed the sharp, suffocating tension in the air. Not daring to ask what kind of tea to serve, she simply lowered her gaze, feeling uneasy.

At that moment, the sound of a carriage approaching could be heard from outside.

Recognizing it instantly as James’s, Eliza leaned slightly towards the window and said brightly—

“Oh, he’s here?”

“…!”

Lorina’s composure faltered. Her gaze wavered and her face stiffened.

Seeing her tense up at the thought of facing James made Eliza feel incredulous.

“Lorina, could you wait a moment? I’ll tell James that I’m in the middle of an important conversation with you and ask for his understanding.”

Those words made Lorina spring to her feet.

Naturally, she had no desire for James to learn about what had happened at the boutique.

“No, Eliza. I’m just glad we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding! You’ve always been so understanding and generous. Let’s just bury this in the past and move on, shall we?”

“Of course, Lorina.”

“Then I’ll come by for tea again when I have time.”

Before Eliza could respond, Lorina hurried to the entrance, standing there with a bright, graceful smile as though she were the lady of the house.

Her intention was to appear warm and familiar in front of James, in order to create an atmosphere in which Eliza would be unable to mention what had happened at the boutique.

Yet deep down, Lorina felt a genuine thrill as though she were indeed Lady Ashton, there to welcome James home.

“……”

Eliza stared quietly at Lorina’s profile, a strange, almost unreal feeling settling over her.

To Lorina, it seemed there was no difference between the wicked desire to steal another woman’s husband and the flutter of being in love.

‘…It has nothing to do with me anymore.’

She allowed her gaze to wander for a moment, trying not to be overwhelmed by the unpleasant feelings welling up inside her.

Perhaps, if anything, it was Lorina’s boldness — her ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity — that was admirable.

People naturally felt a certain awe towards those with exceptional talent.

Lorina was undoubtedly exceptional, if only as a villain.

James’s carriage kept the two women waiting longer than usual.

But when it finally arrived, James was not the one who stepped out.

Eliza’s eyes widened when Martin Sandel, one of James’s subordinates, climbed down from the carriage instead. Lorina’s expression darkened instantly.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

Without hesitating for a moment, Lorina turned sharply and headed straight for her carriage.

Eliza raised a hand as if to wave her off, but then changed her mind and turned to greet Martin instead.

Seeing her waiting outside, he smiled politely.

“Good evening, Lady Ashton. I’ve come on the director’s behalf.”

“Come inside first, Mr. Sandel.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll wait out here. The director said he has urgent work to attend to and likely won’t be able to return home tonight. He asked me to bring him a change of clothes.”

Martin leaned in slightly, as though sharing good news, and whispered.

“He’ll be working through the night starting today.”

“Ah…”

Eliza let her gaze drift as though disappointed, while thinking.

‘Yes!’

Then, almost immediately, she composed her expression into something solemn.

“It may take a little time to prepare. Please, at least come in and have some tea.”

“I can’t, my lady!”

Startled by his firm refusal, she looked at him, and he quickly waved his hands, his face flushing red as he explained.

“The director told me that even if you invite me, I am absolutely not to set foot inside the house. I’m truly fine, my lady!”

Eliza thought,

‘Good grief, the way he talks…!’

For a moment, she wondered if James treated even his employees harshly—then the thought shifted.

‘…Is the problem me? Am I embarrassing? Is it the way I receive guests?’

“I see… in that case.”

Eliza went back inside, feeling caught between awkwardness and a slowly rising sense of humiliation.

She climbed silently up to the dressing room.

Despite having just gained her freedom, she was not happy; instead, she felt increasingly irritated.

After collecting James’s clothes, she returned to the entrance and asked,

“Did the director happen to say why you must wait outside?”