“Then what is it that you want?”

The fishermen answered earnestly.

“You know how they built that cruise terminal to attract tourists? That place used to be a small fishing port we called the ‘Moon Canal.’”

“Moon Canal?”

“It was just a quiet spot used only by folks like us. But it’s connected to a coral reef, and lots of delicate creatures live there in clusters. If huge cruise ships start passing through, the vibrations and noise will kill them off. Just thinking about it is unbearable for us.”

“So you’re saying you just want to restore this fishing port to its original state?”

“Yes, yes. It’s really just a tiny place, it wouldn’t even take much effort.”

Their desperate eyes didn’t seem to be lying. Regina looked at Finley calmly.

“You can’t negotiate with blackmailers.”

The fishermen bristled.

“Excuse me, redheaded sir. We’ve never threatened anyone.”

“You’re blocking my lady’s carriage now, insisting she listen to you, aren’t you?”

“It’s true we asked her to listen to us, but as for blocking the carriage – well, the horse got all excited and started kicking, so we were just trying to calm it down, that’s all.”

“Think about it. If anything happened to Her Ladyship, we’d be the ones in serious trouble, wouldn’t we?”

By this time, the once-agitated horses were calmly resting their heads in the fishermen’s hands. Finley shot them a look of betrayal, but it only brought tears to his eyes, stung by the salty sea breeze.

“I can’t promise anything right now.”

Regina said, choosing her words carefully.

“You’ve probably heard the rumours, but I’ve only just got out of bed after a long illness. I don’t know anything about what’s going on out there. I need to talk to my husband.”

Would such a lukewarm response be enough? Surprisingly, the fishermen seemed satisfied.

“Please speak well of us to the count, my lady.”

“Then take care on your way, my lady!”

“Thank you for graciously forgiving our rude behaviour!”

Regina didn’t remember ever saying she’d forgiven them. She looked at the fishermen as if she were the leader of a gang with bait and hooks.

At that moment, an unexpected voice boomed across the area.

“Who dares threaten my family on the lands of House Cabil?!”

Good heavens. Barbara galloped in with a squad of knights, her face as fierce as a storm.

“You scoundrels!”

The refined lady’s dress was gone – Barbara was now wearing a knight’s uniform, draped with the distinctive leather shawl that symbolised her presence. The sea breeze whipped it around, perfectly complementing her formidable aura.

“How dare you threaten my family without fear? I’ll rip out your oversized livers and feed them to the fish!”

“Waaah! Run for your lives!”

“Cabil’s Manticore has arrived!”

The fishermen – who moments before had stood firm like rocks weathered by a thousand storms – suddenly scattered in fear, their faces drained of all colour.

Chasing after them, sword drawn, was Barbara. Her silver hair was piled high, whipping in the wind like a banner, and her fierce expression cut through the dusk like steel.

The sun had already begun to set, casting their figures in stark silhouette.

The ripples in the sand deepened, darkening as if soaked in ink,

while the foam of the waves, soft and slow, looked like sugar dissolving in a cup of hot coffee.

Set against this vivid, dramatic backdrop, Barbara was nothing short of breathtaking.

Regina stood gaping at the scene as one of the knights who had followed Barbara approached and asked.

“Are you all right, my lady? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Oh, I’m fine. But… how did my mother-in-law know?”

“There is a merchant who brings seafood from the harbour to our estate. As he was leaving, he saw your predicament and told us immediately.”

So that’s how Barbara had rushed over – just like that, to save her.

‘She called me family.’

Regina had always misunderstood, thinking Barbara hated her. If not for her time in a coma, she might still believe that.

She felt a lump in her throat.

But the fishermen’s frantic screams echoing in the distance couldn’t be ignored.

“They didn’t hurt me. All they did was talk.”

“Shall I relay that to the madam?”

“If possible, could you try and calm her down? I’m more worried she might get hurt riding so aggressively.”

“…Pardon? There’s no way that would happen.”

The knight smiled softly, as if he’d just heard something silly.

“Horses are practically extensions of their legs.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“It could take a while – would you like to head back first? I can accompany you to the estate.”

“But I can’t leave Mother…”

“Her Ladyship is the sort who’d be more embarrassed if you stayed and watched everything.”

When he put it that way, there was nothing to be done. Hesitantly, Regina accepted the knight’s suggestion and climbed into the carriage.

“Ah, Mr Brixton, you were here too. Are you hurt at all?”

“Thank you for asking – right before I die, no less.”

Finley replied with a dry laugh full of meaning. He climbed in after her.

Surrounded by knights, the carriage finally began its journey home.

***

Regina sat in silence the entire ride, lost in thought.

Finley, who had braced himself for a barrage of questions, grew increasingly uneasy.

‘Had this incident driven all her affection for the Count away?’

‘What if… she was thinking of divorcing him?’

The longer Regina remained silent, the more Finley’s shirt clung to him, damp with nervous sweat.

“Ahem, my lady…”

He finally spoke, unable to stand the tension any longer.

“Are you all right? That must have been scary.”

“I’m fine now.”

“I’m really sorry it happened. I’ll report these men to the constables immediately and make sure they are punished appropriately.”

“You’re not actually thinking of locking them up for five years, are you?”

Finley flinched. He had just finished counting the possible charges in his head – defying the Lord’s wife, obstructing official business, intimidation. Five years seemed about right.

“Please don’t.”

Regina said softly, shaking her pale head.

“They could have used fear to force our hand, but they didn’t. They just… spoke.”

“If they did, they’d end up on the gallows, not just in jail – and they knew it.”

“There are more people than you’d think who take the ‘if I die, you die with me’ approach.”

That… was true. Finley, who had weathered all sorts of storms under Grey’s command, nodded reluctantly.

“I need to discuss this with my husband. Can I see Grey now?”

He had expected the answer to be yes – especially after what had just happened.

But Finley, looking like a hamster in trouble, tried to reassure her.

“As you know, the Count has an engagement today, milady.”

“He mentioned meeting a guest, didn’t he?”

“Yes, yes.”

Finley didn’t even seem to notice the hint he’d dropped.

Just as a person’s intentions could often be deduced from the way they moved, Finley’s judgement – consciously or not – always reflected Grey’s values.

And the fact that he had reacted as he had meant one thing:

“So what I was going through… wasn’t important enough to bother Grey with?”

“What? No!”

Finley jumped to his feet in alarm, watching her face with growing concern.

“Please, don’t misunderstand. If those fishermen had tried to kidnap you or become violent, the Count himself would have come running – instead of Madam Barbara. Of course he would have!”

“If they were really as dangerous as you say, we wouldn’t be sitting here quietly having this conversation, would we?”

Grey’s way of doing business had earned him no shortage of enemies.

Like an ancient general wielding a massive iron shield, he flattened his rivals without mercy, building his golden empire on the ruins they left behind.

It wouldn’t be out of the question for someone driven by hatred to hang Regina’s body from the gates as a warning.

“My lady…”

Finley understood. He truly did.

But there was only one response he could make:

“You were the one who judged the fishermen not to be dangerous, my lady.”

“We were lucky this time, but we can’t always count on Mother swooping in to save me.”

“I swear I’ll do everything in my power to make sure this never happens again.”

“I’d appreciate that – at least.”

Finley chose to ignore the sharp edge in her tone.

And Regina, for her part, let it slide.

“Anyway, I’m the one who gave my word to the fishermen. I’ll speak to my husband about it myself.”

“Of course, my lady.”