Liana stopped in her tracks on her way up the stairs to her room. Her old, shabby shoes stood quietly on the landing.

‘What was that, just now?’

Gripping the worn wooden banister, Liana lost herself in thought. The brief conversation she’d had with Shed kept circling in her mind.

She felt confused. He’d been so gentle in both word and gesture that it unsettled the calm within her.

‘…Maybe I’m just imagining things.’

She closed her eyes, trying to shake off the tangled thoughts. Ever since returning to Ideana, memories kept overlapping with the present, stirring up old emotions and making her misread everything. If she thought about it rationally, he had no reason to care for her at all.

Liana forced herself to recall her own sins. Besides, his reaction right before they parted ways had been strange.

‘I went and gave advice I had no right to offer…’

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the banister tighter. She never should have brought up anything about Ideana. Shed was the master of this place now; she was nothing more than a maid. Maybe he was angry at her for overstepping her bounds.

“Miss Liana.”

Just then, a gentle voice stopped her in her tracks.

When she lifted her head, Eclace was standing right in front of her—so close she nearly startled. He was as polished as ever, perfectly dressed, with a clean, pleasant face and an easy smile.

“What were you thinking so deeply about that you didn’t even notice someone in front of you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Viscount.”

Liana bowed her head in apology, and Eclace responded with a warm, almost amused smile.

“It’s good timing, actually. I was hoping to speak with you.”

Though it seemed like a chance encounter, it was clear Eclace had been waiting for her.

Riana noticed the slight excitement lingering on his lips.

‘What could he possibly have to say that he had to wait for me?’

A vague sense of unease crept over her. If it was Viscount Vitel, it certainly wouldn’t be some trivial matter.

“If it’s something the other maids could help you with…”

“It has to be you, Miss Liana.”

Eclace smiled softly, fixing his gaze squarely on her.

His eyes curved in that disarming, friendly way—so much so, it would be hard for anyone to refuse.

“…Go ahead.”

In the end, Liana obediently bowed her head.

Eclace took a few soundless steps closer. Somehow, his light, effortless gait felt strangely threatening.

Then—

“Did you know that Lord Shed Lester was originally a slave here, at the former House of Ideana?”

The viscount broached a subject she hadn’t expected at all. Shed’s origins as a slave were common knowledge, but it was something people avoided mentioning outright—it was a taboo. For Eclace to bring it up now…

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

Liana replied, her gaze wary. There was no mistaking it—he had a reason for this.

At her guarded answer, a glint flickered across Eclace’s composed features.

“Then, do you know how that slave ended up with the Lester family?”

His next question was narrower, deeper—and colder. Of all people, it was the very man who’d once traded Shed who now sought her out with questions like this.

“I don’t know the details.”

Liana shook her head, feigning ignorance. Eclace watched her, then laced his hands behind his back, and leaned down until he was at her eye level.

“It was me. I was the one who bought Shed Lester—no, Shed Lupus—and handed him over to the Lesters.”

He stared at her intently, as if trying to see straight through her. Liana couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes and dropped her gaze to the floor.

“Why are you telling me this…?”

“Why do you think? Care to guess?”

Eclace took a bold step forward. The expensive, heady scent of his cologne wafted over her.

Pressed back by his presence, Riana instinctively took a step away.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling well. If it’s not something important, could we perhaps talk another time?”

She tried to use her health as an excuse to leave.

Eclace let out a soft, dry chuckle.

“Do you really think this isn’t important?”

His eyes narrowed, suddenly sharp as blades. Liana clenched her hands tightly together beneath her sleeves.

“I have no intention of gossiping about His Grace’s unfortunate past. If you don’t need anything else, I’d like to excuse myself…”

“Well, if you’re not interested, I suppose there’s nothing more to say.”

To her surprise, Eclace stepped aside without protest.

Liana quickly offered a polite farewell and made to leave as fast as she could.

But just as she passed him—

“Luise Ideana.”

Eclace spoke the old name aloud, letting it linger on his lips.

Liana froze in place, as if caught in a trap.

Goosebumps rose across her body and her mind went completely blank.

Eclace strolled back to stand before her, that easy smile still on his lips. Those bright, vivid red eyes held her fast, refusing to let her go.

“…That’s the name of the woman who sold Shed Lupus to me, isn’t it?”

Liana stood rooted to the spot, unable to say a word.

“Are you ready to talk to me now?”

Eclace leaned in and whispered softly in her ear.

⟡───⟡🌺 🌺⟡───⟡🌺

“So, what is it you want to say?”

Liana stood in front of Eclace’s study, her voice cautious. Sensing the wariness in her eyes, Eclace gestured for her to sit.

“Go ahead and take a seat.”

“….”

“Sit down.”

He repeated himself, calm and clear, making it clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer. It seemed this conversation would be a long one—he wasn’t about to make someone who was unwell stand through it.

Unable to withstand his firm gaze, Liana sat down on the chair opposite him, pressing her back as far from him as possible.

The sofa owned by Eclace was almost too comfortable—so much so that it made her feel even more uneasy.

“There’s no need to be so tense. I didn’t call you here to threaten you.”

“Then why are you telling me all this…?”

At her continued attempts to deny everything, even now, Eclace laughed.

“No need to pretend. You followed me here because you already know, didn’t you?”

Eclace poured the tea that had been prepared on the table. Unlike the tense air in the room, the tangerine-colored tea filled the cup with a sense of calm.

“If I remember correctly, the House of Ideana used to purchase a lot of Teislin tea. Am I right?”

He placed a cup in front of her, asking the question. The heavy scent of bergamot, rising with the steam, pricked her nose. It was the same kind of tea her father used to enjoy, and that she had come to love as well, back in the days of Ideana.

“Lord Lester seems to prefer Teislin tea as well. Maybe it’s just a familiar flavor to him.”

Eclace poured a cup for himself and took a relaxed sip.

Liana, however, kept her mouth shut, staring down at the cup. She was in no mood for tea. If anything, the familiar scent only made her head ache.

“So, what are you aiming for?”

She stared Eclace down, her hands wrapped around the cooling cup. She could feel she’d been cornered, and it was time to face it.

“My aim, you say?”

“There’s no way you’d call me here for no reason, Viscount.”

Liana—no, Luise Ideana—was a heretic and a traitor. And yet, the reason Eclace hadn’t reported her was because he had other plans. That was what frightened her most.

The Vitel family weighed everything on a scale. Eclace Vitel wasn’t about to report her if there was something greater he could gain instead.

Eclace slowly set his teacup down.

“Aren’t you curious how I figured you out?”

“There must have been a way. The Vitels have plenty of birds.”

Her tone was resigned.

She knew well how quick the Vitel family’s informants were. They were so swift, in fact, that people said,

“Even God doesn’t know what Vitel knows.”

They could get their hands on information faster than even the imperial couriers—like ghosts, always moving in the shadows.

“I’m flattered you think so highly of my abilities.”

“So, why did you call me here, Viscount?”

She pressed, her tone now sharper with certainty. She still spoke politely, like a maid, but there was something regal—almost commanding—about her now. Perhaps, now that he’d uncovered her true identity, she couldn’t help but let her real self slip through.

Eclace sat back and crossed his legs, watching her with easy confidence.

“It seems Duke Shed Lester already knows who you really are.”

At the mention of Shed’s name, Liana’s composure wavered.

Catching that reaction, Eclace’s brows knit slightly.

‘Is she actually worried about him?’
‘Is she afraid he’ll be accused of hiding a traitor and get him in trouble, too?’

The thought was so absurd that Eclace almost laughed out loud. Was she really in a position to worry about anyone else? Or was she still harbouring remnants of her old love?

Eclace regarded her shifting expression with cynical amusement. If she was truly afraid that her connection with Shed would be revealed, he would exploit that fear in a heartbeat.

“You realise you shouldn’t be here, don’t you?”

The question was blunt and devoid of kindness. Liana couldn’t answer. What had she been thinking, allowing herself to drift all the way here?

She lowered her gaze. Maybe it was her own indecision that had led things to this point. She’d thought she was doing her best to keep her distance, but perhaps she’d left the door open unintentionally.

“So, are you planning to turn me in to the High Priest?”

Eclace snorted.

“If I were going to do that, do you really think I’d bother tracking you down first? I’d have gone straight to the High Priest.”

He let out a light laugh, then uncrossed his legs and sat up straighter.

“Don’t be so scared. All I want is to be your ally.”

“…An ally?”

Liana’s brows knit in open skepticism. She clearly didn’t believe him.

Anyone with half a mind—even a stray dog passing by—would know that Eclace Vitel would never take sides unless there was something in it for him.

“Is there anything I could possibly offer you?”

Liana silently weighed what she might place on the scales he held so dear.

But no matter how she thought about it, nothing seemed to balance out. She was just a maid now—no wealth, no power, no influential connections, no remarkable abilities. There was nothing she could trade to offset the crime of harboring a traitor.

Her wary green eyes studied him, searching for a catch.

Eclace simply smiled.

“There really isn’t much you could offer me.”

The ever-present smile finally faded from his face.

“But I’m willing to bear the cost anyway.”

His vivid red eyes locked on her once again, unwavering.