Angela had never seen this dog before, yet it carried itself as though it had just found a long-lost owner.

Angela, too, found herself inexplicably charmed. It was the first time she had laid eyes on the animal, and yet she already adored it.

“I apologize. It seems this one has been very eager to see you, my lady.”

Cyril came hurrying after, catching the dog with an apologetic expression. His face was as radiant and beautiful as ever. His lavender hair swayed with graceful movement.

When their silver eyes met hers, an odd discomfort rose within her.

How to describe it.

She simply wanted to run.

The strange thing was that it was not because she disliked him. She felt drawn to him, and yet, in equal measure, something in her recoiled.

‘Perhaps because he may be the killer.’

Suppressing the surge of conflicting emotions, Angela composed her expression as best she could. For the first time in a long while, her stomach turned and her heartbeat quickened.

Angela knew what this feeling was.

That day. The fear that had followed her from that terrible day, clinging to her ankles like a thick shadow, grinning up at her.

Steadying her racing heart, Angela asked with a perfectly calm outward manner.

“Did this dog come with you?”

“Her name is Lucy. She is a gift for you, as a token of my gratitude for the invitation. She is quick and clever, and I believe she will be of great help.”

“So her name is Lucy.”

Angela crouched down and extended her hand. Lucy stepped right into it and pressed her elegant face against Angela’s palm. The warm affection flowing into her from that small, living creature slowly brought her heart back to its proper rhythm.

She was relieved.

Angela stroked Lucy a few more times, then straightened up.

“I will accept all of your gifts. Emily, please take them and see to them.”

Lucy seemed to understand, pressing herself against Angela’s body as if to say she refused to be separated from her. Angela smiled and stroked her head.

“She’s quite large, so it would be difficult for you to manage her along with everything else. I’ll ask one of the servants to see to her.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“I’ve told you to call me Madam.”

Angela gave a small reproach, then turned to face the three men.

“Thank you for your visits and your gifts. The servants will show each of you to your rooms. Lord Knowles, your soldiers have seen you safely here, so they will be returning to House Knowles, I presume?”

“My parents worry a great deal about my safety, so I must ask your permission for them to remain as well. All expenses will be covered by House Knowles.”

The soldiers who had come along numbered around ten. All of them were well-trained and carried themselves with sharp discipline.

“Coming to court someone with your family’s private soldiers in tow, and expecting to feel at ease. Shall I have them propose on your behalf as well?”

Isaac said with a laugh. Ashley added his own remark.

“I do wonder whether the countess, who has already been through so much, might find it uncomfortable.”

“That is precisely why my parents told me to bring the soldiers.”

Cyril looked past the two men and addressed Angela directly.

“The man who killed Count Maister has not yet been caught. Is it not natural to worry about the safety of someone precious?”

At Cyril’s words, the air around them froze.

Everyone already knew.

The count’s death was terrible enough, but the greater threat was that the killer was still at large.

“We are all well aware of that, Lord Knowles. Even so, raising the matter aloud and causing Countess Maister distress is not the conduct of a gentleman.”

Ashley let his smile fall and issued a quiet warning to Cyril.

“A man who comes to court someone ought to have some consideration for her feelings.”

Isaac clicked his tongue.

Cyril answered without so much as a blink.

“A problem does not disappear by being buried. Covering soot with white paper does not keep the soot from spreading. I simply took precautions because I felt it was not safe.”

“Has everyone finished speaking?”

The moment Angela opened her mouth, all three men turned to look at her.

“It is true that a murder took place in this residence, and it is true that the killer has not been caught. The servants are taking turns on watch, but you may feel uneasy, Young Marquis. The soldiers you brought will be given rooms as well. Do not concern yourself about the security.”

Angela added with composure.

“As the mistress of this household, I am more than capable of receiving the guests I have invited. Now, please retire to your rooms and rest from your travels. Lord Phillip hopes that everyone will dine together this evening.”

“Understood.”

The men answered in unison.

Angela turned and walked away. Lucy fell into step beside her at once, as though she had always been Angela’s dog.

Men who might be the killer were debating her safety.

What a contemptible thing.

The tips of her fingers turned cold with anger.

Angela looked down at Lucy, trotting lightly at her side. A gift from someone who might be a murderer, and yet this dog carried none of the dark intentions that people harbored.

“Of everyone who came today, you are the only one I can trust.”

Angela said this and scratched Lucy behind the ears. Lucy made a low, contented sound.

“First, I’ll take you to the wide garden. You must want to run freely. After that, I’ll find someone to look after you when I’m not around.”

Just then, she spotted Emily in the distance. She would have recognized that figure from the back alone.

She was about to call out, but Tom was standing in front of Emily.

It seemed they had crossed paths while Emily was on her way back from sorting the gifts.

Unlike Emily, whose expression Angela could not read from behind, Tom’s face was flushed and his eyes were bright, fixed on Emily without wavering.

Tom was always like that. He was completely gone on Emily.

“I should properly help with the wedding preparations. Shall we head back and give them some time together, Lucy?”

Angela changed direction, and Lucy turned with her immediately. A clever, gentle dog.

❀❀❀

Evening.

The dining table was laden with generous dishes, steam rising from each one. Angela looked at the people seated before her.

Lord Phillip presided at the head with the three suitors seated around the table. Natasha was absent, fortunately. Had she been there, it would certainly have been loud.

From the way all three suitors seemed at ease with Phillip, it appeared introductions had already been made before Angela arrived.

Ashley sat to Phillip’s right and Isaac to his left. The two of them exchanged occasional words with Phillip. Slightly apart from them, Cyril sat in near silence, offering only the occasional nod.

It was hard to believe this was the same man who had spoken so clearly and directly earlier.

Angela’s seat was across from Phillip. She took her place with unhurried elegance. Emily stood behind her like a shadow, ready to attend. Around them, the butler, maids, and servants were lined up to serve.

All the suitors’ eyes turned to Angela.

One might have grown used to it by now, and yet part of her found it tiresome.

Phillip looked at Angela with a kind and gentle expression.

“It must be difficult, managing the residence on your own, Angela.”

“Not at all. If anything, it’s you who must be worn out from traveling back and forth from the capital. You are welcome to stay here at the residence rather than at the townhouse. Would you consider moving your lodgings here?”

Phillip shook his head.

“When one generation passes, it is natural to give way to the young. Everyone knows that Angela, you have brought greater prosperity to our comital house since you came. You have every right to be here as its mistress.”

“I only did what needed to be done. You flatter me.”

While Joel was away, dispatched by imperial command to carry out an important foreign exchange mission, Angela had entered the Maister comital house and begun her work as its mistress.

Joel was a capable young count when it came to managing the estate and fulfilling his duties as its lord, but when it came to running the household itself, there were gaps.

‘It looked fine on the surface, but it wasn’t.’

At a glance, it appeared that the newly appointed head maid, who had replaced the retired one, was working diligently to manage the household. From the outside, it was easy to be deceived.

But looking beneath the surface, the head maid had built a faction and was persecuting the nanny who was genuinely trying to manage the household properly. She had also gone so far as to frame the longtime butler in an attempt to replace him with someone loyal to her.