It was none other than Leopold who had brought Diez to the mansion. Why did she have to catch his eye of all people? And why had that woman left the mansion in the first place?

Losing his composure in front of him would do no good. Jürgen tried hard to keep his expression neutral, but it was already too late to control his somewhat hurried gait.

He wanted nothing more than to grab Diez Schleicher’s hand and take her straight into the mansion, but doing so might make Leopold suspect something.

He was merely Diez’s creditor. Everyone had to believe that, including Leopold. It was something Jürgen himself had to pretend to believe as well.

Suddenly, Jürgen noticed that Leopold was holding her hand. He felt an impulse to snatch her away immediately, but he barely restrained himself as he stood before them.

“Jürgen. Did you come out to welcome Miss Schleicher?”

“……”

A strange current flowed between them. The atmosphere was so heavy and precarious that one might question whether these two could truly be called friends.

Unlike Leopold, who appeared as calm as if nothing could possibly be wrong, Jürgen said nothing. His gaze, frozen more terrifyingly than usual, suddenly looked down at Diez.

‘Is he angry?’

It was always difficult to gauge his mood, but this time she felt certain. Jürgen was silently furious. And it was because of her.

“I found her wandering the streets, so I brought her back before things got complicated. They say this area is safe, but when an unworldly young lady roams around freely, no one can guarantee what might happen.”

“I wasn’t……”

Just as Diez hurriedly tried to correct the implication that she had been wandering, Jürgen’s expression softened slightly, and he cut off her words with his reply.

“You’re not wrong. Thank you for looking after Miss Schleicher, even briefly.”

“Keep her under better watch from now on. I don’t know how the young lady ended up wandering outside alone in the first place…… And without even a single guard.”

“Was a guard really necessary? Miss Schleicher is merely my debtor.”

“What if something had happened to the young lady?”

Despite his words, his tone showed no real concern for Diez. His purpose was clear. He was trying to probe Jürgen’s true feelings.

Jürgen, who had no intention whatsoever of falling into his trap, answered without hesitation.

“Even if something did, it would be of no concern to me.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“As I said, Miss Schleicher is merely my debtor.”

“So you wouldn’t care if something happened to her?”

Leopold once again applied a strange pressure to the hand holding hers. Finding the sensation completely unwelcome, Diez tried again to pull her hand away, but to no avail.

“Yet your footsteps seemed unnecessarily urgent, Jürgen.”

“……”

“You looked like someone who had lost something important.”

After what felt like an eternity, a businesslike smile appeared at the corner of Jürgen’s lips.

“I seem to have taken up too much of your precious time. Let me thank you once more for looking after Miss Schleicher. You should be on your way now. Your schedule must be tight today, isn’t it?”

“Well, alright then.”

Surprisingly, Leopold released Diez’s hand without resistance. Shrugging his shoulders, he raised one hand in a casual gesture, as if addressing an ordinary friend.

“Still, don’t treat the young lady too carelessly. It’s best not to create situations you’ll regret later.”

“……”

“Then I’ll be going. See you later, Jürgen.”

As Leopold got into his seat, the driver closed the car door for him. Soon, the car carrying him moved away from the main gate.

Jürgen watched vigilantly until the black vehicle was almost out of sight. All the while, Diez, not understanding what was happening, held her breath as she watched him nervously.

Then Jürgen’s gaze turned sharply toward Diez. The moment their eyes met, Diez flinched involuntarily. Unlike when he faced Leopold, his emotions now showed through, unfiltered.

“Your Grace, I……”

Before she could finish her sentence, Jürgen roughly grabbed her right hand—the very same hand Leopold had been holding all along.

Without giving her a chance to continue, he held onto Diez and strode toward the mansion. Almost being dragged by his hand, Diez finally planted her feet firmly and stopped as they approached the mansion. The fear that had been dormant for a while began to creep up on her.

“Y-Your Grace.”

“It seems you have something to explain.”

His sharp tone reflected his mood. Diez, who had instinctively shrunk back, mustered her courage to ask.

“Are you angry because of me?”

At that, Jürgen let out a hollow laugh. As he ran his free hand through his well-groomed hair, his disturbed bangs fell over his forehead.

He didn’t answer right away. As if trying to contain his boiling emotions, Jürgen ultimately dragged Diez into the mansion without a single word of response.

Helplessly held by his hand as they climbed the stairs, Diez was consumed by all sorts of terrifying thoughts. Where is he taking me? Has he decided to punish me?

For a brief moment, the image of being dragged to the room where the late Duke used to beat her flashed through her mind like a spark.

Should I kneel down and beg forgiveness now?

Her fingertips began to feel cold. Anxiety gradually expanded its presence. She felt as if she could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

Fortunately, however, the place Jürgen took her was Diez’s bedroom. After pushing Diez into the bedroom first, Jürgen closed the door behind him.

With a click of the door locking into place, Jürgen approached her. Perhaps because his approaching gaze felt like some kind of warning, Diez unconsciously backed away until the bed blocked her path, causing her to sit down.

“What were you thinking?”

“……I, I……”

“What did you think would happen when you left the mansion alone! You should have at least requested one or two people to accompany you! For a woman raised in luxury to think of going out alone without even a lady’s maid—aren’t you being too reckless?”

Diez couldn’t even think of responding as she looked up at Jürgen, who was scolding her while keeping her seated on the bed, with a half-dazed expression.

So, the reason Your Grace is angry is…… nothing else but.

It seemed unreal even to herself. I must be misunderstanding something. While she was thinking this, Jürgen rubbed his forehead, trying hard to calm his emotions.

In a much lower voice, he asked once more.

“Why did you go out?”

“I thought Your Grace had permitted me to go out……”

“I’m asking what your purpose for going out was.”

Intimidated by his tone, which hadn’t completely softened, Diez answered in a small but clear voice.

“I intended to sell the completed handkerchiefs outside. That’s why I asked a servant to request permission from Your Grace……”

“……”

“When they said you told me to do as I pleased……”

“From now on, do embroidery only as a hobby. I’m telling you to give up any thoughts of making money with it. I’ll make the excuses for you later. Do you understand?”

Diez answered quietly, lowering her gaze. She had already given up hope of earning a decent income with her embroidered handkerchiefs.

Suddenly, her mood sank. She had only tried her best, wanting to do well, but in the end, she received harsh words from Jürgen again.

I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do something too…….

She belatedly realized that Leopold hadn’t returned her handkerchief. That fact made Diez feel even more dejected.

If she said she wanted to go get it back later, Jürgen would probably get angry again.

Seeing Diez so downcast, Jürgen’s voice noticeably softened. He hadn’t brought her to the quiet bedroom just to scold her. Looking down at Diez with a complicated expression, he spoke again.

“Did anything happen to you?”

“……Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you experienced anything unpleasant.”

“Nothing happened.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“Really.”

“How did you meet that man?”

He was clearly referring to Leopold. So they weren’t ordinary friends after all. Though he didn’t say it directly, Jürgen seemed to suspect that Leopold might have done something unpleasant to her.

“He suddenly approached me as I was about to enter the shop. Since we had never met before, I tried to ignore him and go about my business…… But he kept involving himself, and later insisted on giving me a ride, saying that Your Grace was looking for me.”

“So you got into a stranger’s car?”

“I thought he was someone sent by Your Grace……”

“You are forbidden from going out for the time being. Know this: I will never let you go outside alone. The outside world is no longer friendly to you. I thought you understood that fact well enough. Did I overestimate you?”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

“The only place you can stay safely is my mansion. You said you hate going back to your parents’ mansion, so at least accept that fact.”

“I won’t make such a mistake again.”

“Don’t make me worry. I’m busy enough with other matters.”

With those final words, he left the room as if he had no intention of exchanging any more conversation. Sitting alone on the bed feeling dejected, Diez suddenly had a thought.

Why did he bother mentioning my safety?

As Your Grace said, I’m merely his debtor.

Jürgen had scolded her while keeping her seated on the bed. For it to be simply because Diez had disobeyed his instructions…….

Her mind was in confusion. She was too exhausted to think any further.

Maybe I’ll feel better after getting some sleep. That thought occurred to her.