“Count. You can’t go there looking unharmed. We both need to have wounds so we won’t be suspected.”

He pointed this out to the Count, who was being frustratingly obtuse, in a stiff voice.

“Here. You go first. Like this on the leg.”

Leon showed the Count in detail where to cut with the sword, pointing with his hand.

He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. The Count, eager to hurry, raised his sword high.

Ugh.

He screamed and collapsed on the spot. D*mn it.

It hurt so much. It hurt like death. The cut was so deep that he wondered if his leg had been severed. That d*mn Count…

He swung the sword too severely when he should have been moderate. Gritting his teeth, he rose from his spot, blood streaming from his thigh, soaking his pants and staining the grass beneath his feet red.

B*stard. Always doing things this way.

“Now. Your turn.”

He limped toward the Count who was waiting for him, holding his sword.

His sword rose high.

Ugh.

The Count screamed similarly and collapsed to the ground. The difference was that the Count was on the verge of death. Leon had slashed the Count’s chest from top to bottom with a large stroke.

After struggling desperately, unable to breathe, the Count became still.

He had intended to kill him here anyway. Keeping this loose-lipped Count alive could lead to trouble. That was the plan from the beginning.

Leon turned away without hesitation and headed for the horse. Dragging his slashed leg, he barely managed to mount the horse.

This way, he could return to headquarters and receive treatment. Then all he needed was for his brother Luke to die. With the thought of succeeding to the vacant position of heir, he could endure the tremendous pain of burning flesh. But when he woke up, the situation had turned peculiar, leading him to pretend to be Luke.

This truth must remain unknown to everyone. Since he would never open his mouth about it. He was so afraid of anyone finding out that he would never disclose this.

Leon lay flat on the carriage floor. Though he had saved his life by hiding this truth, he wondered how he would be able to live.

He tightly closed his eyes, feeling gloomy and desperate about the hellish life awaiting him. Finally, tears began to flow pitifully from his tightly shut eyes.

* * *

Yvonne was blankly staring at the darkened sky outside the window. So this is how a day ends. How many years would she have to spend like this before things got a little better than today?

Let’s try not to think about anything as much as possible. Don’t recall the past. Don’t think about the painful things or the happy things. For now.

Yvonne continued to hold herself up. She would not collapse.

Click.

She asked to be alone, but someone entered. Probably Nora bringing a tray with something to eat. Sigh……

She sighed softly and turned away from the study window.

Ah.

Yvonne’s breath hitched. Now she… was seeing things. A person she could never see… her husband… no, the man who had been her husband, Luke, was standing at the study door.

Had she missed and longed for him so much that she was now seeing things?

Still, he looked so handsome. So dignified. So proud. She was a blessed woman to have been loved so much by such a wonderful man.

“Yvonne.”

Though it was an apparition, she could even hear his voice. How… strange.

The man she thought was an apparition moved. He was walking straight toward her, one step at a time. With each step closer, her pupils continued to widen. Could it be…

“Hon……”

She immediately closed her mouth. She almost blurted out “honey” as she used to call him. Not anymore. Why was he… here…

“Sir Luke……”

She had no choice but to call him by his original name. There were many things she wanted to ask, many things she was curious about, but she couldn’t say anything. She could only breathe heavily.

“Have you been well?”

Suddenly, the area around her eyes felt hot, and she thought she might embarrass herself in front of him. Yvonne gritted her teeth and focused her eyes.

Though they had parted in the morning and met in the evening, it felt like she was seeing him again after many years. Having spent the day as if a part of her body had been cut off, she was too exhausted. Still, she hadn’t expected to see him again so soon.

He seemed to have come to make final arrangements. He hadn’t been able to say goodbye. Being Luke, who was more courteous than anyone, that seemed to be why he had come. Perhaps he wanted to cleanly settle this aspect since they had once been a couple. That was like him.

Having come close, Luke also seemed unable to find words, saying nothing. He was just embracing her with his eyes.

No, Luke.

You shouldn’t look at me with those eyes anymore.

This isn’t right.

“I’m back.”

He finally spoke. But she couldn’t understand what he meant. She tilted her head, not comprehending.

“What… do you mean……”

Her voice asking this was trembling violently. Everything was trembling, just as her body was trembling in front of him now.

“I’ve returned now.”

She exhaled a labored breath, trying not to collapse. Luke, who was only saying incomprehensible things, looked strange enough.

Could it be… did he abandon the position of heir and come back?

“What… happened?”

The real Luke fully understood why she was responding this way. Not knowing how things would turn out, he felt fortunate to finally say the words he had cherished. He would have to explain step by step. So that Yvonne could understand.

“Leon has been exiled in the name of the family. And I’ve decided to take the position as heir.”

Ah. So that beast finally received punishment. That’s good. But…

If he had returned to being the heir, their marriage would be nullified. She couldn’t understand why he had come here to say these things.

“I only had to give up one thing. My name, Luke.”

“What?”

He was saying increasingly incomprehensible things. Yvonne was still just staring at him with a bewildered expression.

“You probably know that Leon has been pretending to be me all this time. So the family decided. To excommunicate him under the name of Luke and send him into exile.”

She still didn’t understand. More explanation was needed.

“It was decided that I would succeed to the heir position. Under the name of the second son, Leon. So we’re still husband and wife. No, we will continue to be.”

Stagger.

Her body staggered greatly, as if about to collapse. He rushed over and quickly supported her. Thanks to that, she was in his arms. She was in his embrace that she had missed so much. If this was a dream, it shouldn’t be… absolutely shouldn’t be… but even if it was a dream, she hoped she wouldn’t wake up. Please……

“It’s not a dream, Yvonne.”

At his words, she burst into tears again. Really? Is it really true that you’ve come back?

“Living with you, I always thought that way. Is this not a dream? If it’s a dream, don’t let me wake up.”

Ah… so he felt the same way. Exactly the same as her current feelings.

She embraced him firmly. As if she would never let go. He was the same.

Like they were one person, the two of them stayed together, holding each other tightly without separating.

Yvonne still couldn’t believe his words. She couldn’t come to her senses. Was it really not a dream? Had he really returned?

But his warmth was telling her. It wasn’t a dream.

His touch and warmth told her everything. He had indeed returned.

This meant she could call him “honey” again. Honey……

Overcome with emotion, she burst into tears until the front of his chest was soaked. These were not tears of despair, but tears of relief, tears of happiness.

Luke kept whispering that he was sorry and stroking her. What do you have to be sorry for? She shook her head and burrowed deep into his embrace.

Ah… this is my place. This is the only place where I can be happy.

She felt dizzy, as if she had been suddenly lifted from h*ll to heaven. He picked her up and headed for the sofa. As always, Luke knew her too well.

Luke had spent time persuading the family elders. He had to convince them to let him remain as Leon. He couldn’t guarantee the result. So he persuaded them with all his might. To him, his marriage to Yvonne was more important than his position as heir.

“The person who should be in the position has returned, so let’s leave the name he uses up to him.”

“Let’s place great significance on the fact that he has returned alive when we might not have been able to see him like this.”

The family elders relented. That’s how he resolved everything and returned.

As Yvonne’s husband.

“Yvonne. I’ve never knelt before anyone.”

Suddenly Luke rose from his seat and moved in front of her. Then he knelt on one knee. Surprised once again, Yvonne jumped up and tried to stop him.

“Why… are you doing this?”

To her startled question, he silently looked at Yvonne. Then he gently took her hand.