I looked with an incredulous expression at Lucian, who was laughing so hard he was bending at the waist.

Lucian, completely ignoring my presence, even wiped away tears while muttering.

“That’s why I like you.”

Somehow, that voice sounded chilling, and I rubbed my arms.

And what’s with that look in his eyes?

Those intense purple pupils, like a predator stalking prey in the darkness, gave me goosebumps.

Ah. I really shouldn’t have come.

I regretted coming here once again.

***

Upon arriving at the Ferial Count’s residence, I got out of the carriage with the help of a servant.

“Where have you been until this hour?”

…Huh?

Discovering Adriel with a darkened expression under the deep sunset, I could only stand there, stupidly.

I looked at Adriel with a puzzled face.

“Sir Knight.”

Why is Adriel here?

And what does he mean by asking where I’ve been?

It sounds just like…

“Were you waiting for me?”

So he was waiting here for me until sunset just to meet me?

At my question, he hesitated momentarily before firmly denying it.

“It’s a coincidence.”

“A coincidence?”

This situation?

“I visited for other business, so please don’t misunderstand.”

He’s saying he didn’t come to see me?

For a moment, my face heated up slightly at the thought that I had misunderstood.

But thinking about it again, something seemed off.

Isn’t he lying? What business would that man have at Count Ferial’s residence?

“Then what brings you here?”

“I simply came to deliver a message to the young Count Ferial.”

Benjamin?

What could he possibly have to say to that person?

When I gave him a look that demanded an explanation, Adriel slowly opened his mouth.

“Recently, the Holy Knights captured someone who was secretly following the Saintess. Upon interrogation, the culprit revealed that someone else had ordered the act.”

What does someone following the Saintess have to do with the Count’s residence…

“…!”

Could it be Benjamin?!

I gaped in shock.

Looking at me, Adriel continued, somehow watching my reaction carefully.

“It’s true that the young Count Ferial is a suspect, but nothing has been confirmed yet, so there’s no need to worry in advance…”

“I knew it.”

I muttered before Adriel could finish.

I knew that bastard would cause serious trouble someday.

As I clicked my tongue in contempt, imagining Benjamin standing right in front of me, Adriel looked puzzled.

“You’re not bothered?”

“By what?”

“Your family member is being named as a suspect, and you’re fine with that?”

I burst out laughing.

“Family? What family?”

“My lady?”

“Sir Knight, let me tell you in advance, I don’t have anything like family.”

Adriel narrowed his brows as if he didn’t understand.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m saying I don’t have a family.”

He still looked like he didn’t understand.

Well, I suppose it would be confusing to hear someone say they have no family when their biological parents and siblings are clearly alive.

Giving up on making Adriel understand, I waved my hand dismissively and changed the subject.

“Anyway, that’s how it is… But then, you must have just arrived here too?”

Since he hasn’t met Benjamin yet, he must have still been here.

That Benjamin bastard who only looks decent.

Now’s your chance to get a good scolding.

I tried to go inside with Adriel while hiding my gleeful feelings.

“…Aren’t you coming in?”

But Adriel just stood still like a tree rooted to the ground.

When I looked at him quizzically, Adriel finally sighed and spoke.

“I’ve already met with the young Count Ferial and am on my way out.”

Huh? What does that mean?

“I thought you came to see Benjamin.”

“…Yes. After finishing my conversation with the young Count Ferial…”

“Then, if your business is done, why are you still here?”

At my question, Adriel clamped his mouth shut like a clam.

What? So he was waiting for me after all?

Just as my previously set-aside suspicion was about to bloom again…

“According to the young Count Ferial, you went to visit Marquis Berto’s residence.”

Suddenly, Adriel’s voice turned cold as he mentioned the name Berto.

“What business did you have at Marquis Berto’s residence?”

At this unexpected interrogation, I blinked blankly.

Strange. Why does he seem angry?

Could it be…

Could it be that he’s suspecting me? That I might have been up to something suspicious with Lucian?

At this plausible assumption, my expression hardened involuntarily.

This man, really.

Though I felt indignant and bewildered, I forced myself to smile and said.

“Why else? I went to see Marquis Berto.”

“What do you…”

“Why would an unmarried noble woman of marriageable age visit the home of an unmarried noble man?”

I went on a date!

Adriel stared at me without even blinking, as if he couldn’t understand my words.

Then, as I watched his expression gradually distort, I stuck out my tongue before he could say anything and quickly slipped inside the house.

See how it feels to have your stomach turned!

***

“Don’t you think Lady Rosemary seems quite different these days?”

“Why, does the young lady who ran away and came back suddenly look prettier to you?”

“Come on, stop joking. The young lady is completely different from before.”

“Before? Ah. You mean when she used to lock herself in her room and collect articles about Holy Knight Adriel? So gloomily.”

“Yes! You remember, too, right? Back then, the young lady carried all sorts of negative energy.”

“Really?”

“Look at how she is these days. She goes out as often as she eats meals. And her face, doesn’t it seem strangely full of vitality? I wonder what happened during the time she was away from home… Wait, whose voice was that just now?”

The servant who was carrying a box down the stairs turned to look at their colleague beside them.

“Hey, what’s with that expression?”

“Be…behind you…”

Following their colleague’s instruction, the servant turned around and immediately made eye contact with me.

“Uh… uhh…?”

I smiled sweetly at the servant who was gradually losing color.

“It’s me.”

At my response, the servant turned pale as if they had seen a demon and dropped the box with a thud.

“M-My lady…!”

Yes, I am your lady.

I crossed my arms and tapped my arm while coldly looking down at the servant.

“They say people even criticize the Emperor behind his back, but isn’t this being too careless?”

“N-No, that’s not it. I, I wasn’t trying to disrespect you… That’s not what I meant, my lady!”

Yeah, right. I heard everything clearly right behind you.

As I was coldly staring down at the servant, I made eye contact with the butler who was coming up the stairs with documents in hand.

“Butler.”

“Yes. Did you call for me, my lady?”

I pointed at the servants and spoke to the white-haired butler.

“These two were openly gossiping about me in the mansion. Isn’t the management of the servants completely out of control?”

“Eek… M-My lady…”

“When did we ever say such things…?”

Oh really? Now you’re going to deny it?

I hardened my expression even more coldly, and the servants desperately avoided looking at me.

“I apologize, my lady.”

At that moment, the butler formally apologized to me.