After the incident, I had a lot to organize. It was truly time to leave the Graham estate, but even after three days, I still hadn’t managed to depart.

When I first arrived at the Graham estate because of the fire, I thought I hadn’t brought much with me. However, now that it was time to leave, it turned out to be quite a lot.

Moreover, it wasn’t just about my readiness to leave. When I came here, it wasn’t just me; the estate’s employees, who had nowhere else to go, also came along, so organizing their departure took more time than I had anticipated.

Fortunately, Ains didn’t comment on my not leaving immediately after I announced my intention to go. Instead, he had become noticeably quieter lately.

It bothered me that he, who usually sought me out for even small talk, was now silent, but it was better than him constantly approaching me and making me uncomfortable.

“Madam.”

While I was checking on the busy employees, Rivet approached me. When I turned to look, she handed me a document.

“It’s an estimate from the Liet Hotel.”

I accepted the document. It detailed the cost for me and the employees to stay for a day and the discount we would receive for a long-term stay. The next page contained information about the rooms and hotel security.

Although I had already checked the security of the Liet Hotel, I verified it again as I reviewed the document.

A few days ago, Cadia’s group had been arrested. Everyone except Baron Lombardi was held by the guards, but I couldn’t feel completely at ease.

Baron Lombardi had been released on bail, thanks to the Marquess Buchanan’s wife. He consistently claimed he hadn’t participated in the matter and provided crucial information about the whereabouts of Viscount Chester and Viscount Shelton, which was considered in granting his bail.

Of course, further investigation was needed to determine if he was truly innocent. From my perspective, Baron Lombardi was still part of Cadia’s group, so I couldn’t let my guard down.

After skimming through the document, I handed it back to Rivet. She accepted it politely and filed it away properly.

“Do you think we can leave by this evening?”

“Yes, it should be possible by this evening.”

“Alright…”

* * *

During dinner, only the clinking of spoons and forks against the dishes echoed in the dining room.

Ains remained silent throughout, and I didn’t speak while eating either. As a result, the only sounds in the quiet dining room were those of our meal.

I paused my hand that was moving the knife and glanced up at Ains.

He continued eating mechanically, without even glancing in my direction.

For some reason, looking at Ains now reminded me of how he was before the divorce. Back then, being with Ains often felt suffocating. At the time, I was more accustomed to enduring the silence, so it didn’t feel as stifling as it did now.

At that moment, Ains’s hand stopped.

“Do you have something to say?”

Ains looked up and stared directly at me. His unusually subdued blue eyes worried me.

I licked my lower lip once with my tongue before cautiously speaking.

“I’ve been saying I’d leave but haven’t been able to, but it looks like I’ll really be leaving today. I wanted to let you know.”

“Today?”

“Yes. Now that everything is ready, I really have to go.”

I forced a smile.

Ains simply stared into my eyes without saying anything. The brief silence felt heavier and colder than the quiet during the meal.

‘Would it have been better to talk after finishing the meal?’

I regretted bringing it up during dinner.

“Duke?”

I called out to Ains, who remained silent. Only then did Ains lower his gaze.

“Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, he abruptly stood up from his seat.

I looked up to follow his movements. He glanced at me with a complicated expression before turning away.

“I’m leaving first.”

Ains began to leave without waiting for my response.

“…Okay.”

As I belatedly responded while watching his back, I wasn’t sure if he had heard me. Once Ains left the dining room, I lost the desire to continue eating. I felt sorry for the chef and the staff who had prepared the meal, but I decided it was best for me to leave as well.

I carefully placed the knife and fork on the plate, the sound echoing unusually loud in the quiet room.

After a small sigh, I finally stood up and left the dining room. However, I didn’t return to the bedroom. Since I was leaving, there was no need to go back there. Instead, I headed toward the carriage waiting at the mansion’s entrance.

“If you board first, we’ll depart as soon as everything is ready,” the coachman said with a bow. I nodded once and turned to take one last look at the Graham estate.

Even though it was a mansion I had known since childhood, today it felt strangely unfamiliar. This departure was truly going to be the last—for both the familiar mansion and Ains.

I thought I would feel relieved, but there was a lingering bitterness for some reason.

Internally bidding farewell to the Graham estate, I turned back around. As I was about to board the carriage, Sir Curtis approached and offered his hand. I took it and comfortably climbed into the carriage.

The carriage didn’t depart immediately, just as the coachman had mentioned. We had to wait until the staff’s preparations were complete.

I quietly passed the time, waiting for everyone to be ready.

Outside the carriage, I could hear the bustling sounds of activity, mixed with familiar voices. Listening to them, I waited for them to finish their preparations quickly.

Then, suddenly, the murmuring outside grew louder, with a noticeably different tone.

‘What’s going on?’

Curious, I checked outside the carriage through the window and saw a familiar figure.

“…Ains?”

Ains was standing where the staff were murmuring and looking. I had assumed he wouldn’t come to see me off since he had left the dining room earlier, but it seemed I was mistaken.

Since he had come out, I couldn’t just sit in the carriage, so I got out again.

As soon as I stepped down, Ains walked briskly toward me, quickly closing the distance. He stopped right in front of me.

“I never expected you to come to see me off…”

I hesitated as I spoke, honestly taken aback. When I left the mansion after the divorce, I was alone, so I thought this time would be no different.

I didn’t feel disappointed that he hadn’t come out. It was just surprising that he was here to see me off, something I hadn’t anticipated.

“…Go.”

However, Ains spoke briefly, seemingly suppressing his emotions.

“Pardon? What did you just say…?”

Unfortunately, I hadn’t heard the first part clearly and was about to ask him to repeat it when he looked straight at me and spoke again.

“Don’t go.”

His gaze felt unusually earnest and intense.

“…”

Even though everything was settled and I had decided to leave, I couldn’t find the words to question what he meant.

His plea for me not to go lingered heavily in my heart.

Even though I had made up my mind, Ains’s request for me to stay made my heart waver uneasily once more.

I couldn’t call it excitement.

“Please, Cecilia. If I claim to understand how much I’ve wronged you, it would be a lie. Yes, even in moments I don’t remember, I must have hurt and troubled you.”

Ains’s words poured out quickly, as if he didn’t want to give me a chance to object.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must have been for you. I promise not to make things difficult for you anymore. I’ll be cautious every day, every moment. So, Cecilia… could you give me just one more chance? You’re all I have left, and if I let you go like this, I…”

“I…”

I tried to interject but ended up taking a deep breath instead.

I couldn’t accept what I was seeing.

Ains’s eyelids were uncharacteristically red, and his blue eyes shimmered with moisture.

There was only one thing this could mean.

Ains was… crying.

He looked down at me, gritting his teeth. His gaze was desperate and pleading.

It was the first time I had seen Ains like this, begging me to stay.

As I hesitated to speak, Ains slowly moved. Realizing what he was about to do, I covered my mouth with both hands.

He knelt down on both knees. Kneeling on the ground, he pleaded with a trembling voice.

“Cecilia. Just once. Please trust me once more. I won’t make you suffer again. So, could you stay by my side?”