“I thought this before, but your way of talking is a bit old-fashioned.”

“Ah…”

Breck tried to recall what he had said. Maybe he had picked it up from hanging around old dragons and dwarves. But it was funny to correct himself now, so he decided to be more mindful in the future and looked straight at Lily.

So, how did she feel about her ex-husband being in town?

Lily didn’t seem particularly disturbed. Unlike usual, her hair was loose and wavy, and she had a light makeup on. Her lips and cheeks were peachy, but Breck couldn’t tell if it was natural or makeup. Even standing a few steps away, he could smell a mix of soap and apple scents, sweet and slightly bitter.

In any case, she seemed to have finished her deadline.

‘Her eyes look tired.’

His compartmentalized thoughts merged into one, and even that one wasn’t fully functional.

“What were you doing?”

“Weeding.”

“You’re working hard. In broad daylight.”

“It’s my job.”

“You weren’t pulling out flowers, were you?”

Lily asked, looking at the pile of weeds. Breck smiled unconsciously and replied,

“I can distinguish them now. At first, I accidentally uprooted lilies and got scolded by Cohen.”

“Oh dear… You shouldn’t do that.”

“Fortunately, I dug them up with the bulbs, so I could replant them.”

Lily wrinkled her nose slightly as she smiled. Breck knew it was her habit.

“You’re unique.”

“……”

That was troubling. He was trying not to stand out, but had he done something different from a typical servant again?

Without realizing that a true noble servant wouldn’t make eye contact and smile with their mistress, Breck pondered deeply. Lily quickly spoke.

“I’m not reprimanding you. I came to give you something.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing special…”

Lily handed him a small card. Without realizing it was unservant-like behavior, Breck opened the card on the spot. Inside was a pen-drawn portrait of Breck.

“It was thanks to you that this deadline passed smoothly, so it’s a token of my gratitude. If you don’t need it, you can burn it.”

Lily spoke quickly, trying to avoid getting hurt in advance. People usually liked their portraits, but she felt a bit guilty, worried that he might find out she had been secretly sketching him. Perhaps giving him a cash gift would have been better? But this was a gift from her as an individual who appreciated his genuine admiration for her art, not as the mistress of the viscount’s estate to a gardener.

“No, it’s fascinating.”

Breck responded not with thanks but with fascination. Lily thought he was the more fascinating one. A gardener accepting a portrait drawn by his mistress so nonchalantly and finding it fascinating without any hesitation.

But his attitude was so natural that it didn’t come off as presumptuous at all. Rather, it made her strangely happy.

“I’ll keep it well.”

“Thank you.”

“Is it usual for you to thank your servants?”

“Hmm, no. But…”

It was not something typically done, as it went against the hierarchical relationship. However, for some reason, it was easy to speak to Breck this way. Perhaps it was because he made her feel tense.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable and awkward, Lily quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, I came to give you that. Keep up the good work.”

She tried to say it as lightly as possible and turned to leave. She had spoken quite a lot today. Normally, she didn’t talk this much even with the head maid unless there was something special. It felt satisfying.

Not that she intended to do anything with the gardener.

She had done her hair and makeup as a way to commemorate finishing her deadline. That was really all. After surviving an extreme deadline, one naturally wants to take a bath and return to human life. Investing surplus resources in beauty is a symbol of humanity.

“By the way, are you going out?”

Breck asked. Lily answered nonchalantly.

“Yes, I have someone to meet.”

“I see. Have a good day.”

Lily tilted her head, puzzled. There was something suspicious in Breck’s voice.

But when she looked back, Breck was already back to pulling weeds without any regard for etiquette. If it had been another servant, she might have mentioned it to the butler, but Lily felt unusually generous.

‘He hasn’t been employed for long, so he might not know. It’s not a big deal to turn your back first.’

Thinking this, she walked across the garden to the front gate, where a carriage was waiting.

Arriving at the coffeehouse, the meeting place, Lily got off the carriage in a cheerful mood.

“I’ll be back around 4 PM, so come here then.”

“Yes, madam.”

The coachman took off his hat and bowed.

It wasn’t a common occurrence. What business would a noblewoman have walking around the city alone? But the coachman nodded.

‘It must be a very private meeting.’

Greer was currently in the city. She must be meeting him to discuss matters that couldn’t be talked about at the viscount’s estate with the staff around. This coffeehouse was famous for providing comfortable and private individual rooms for those with reservations.

‘Maybe she wants to hide her joy.’

Nobles are concerned with appearances, so she wouldn’t want to show her happiness at meeting her ex-husband. If the conversation didn’t go well, she wouldn’t want that known either.

This was purely the coachman’s misunderstanding. Despite the widespread rumors, Lily, who had been cooped up in her study meeting deadlines, had no idea Greer was in town. The staff hadn’t told her, and Anna, fearing it would distract her, hadn’t mentioned it either.

Lily had come to the coffeehouse for privacy to meet Pulque.

Though she had known Pulque for a long time, she rarely met him. What reason would a gossip magazine owner and a noble have to meet? Most business was handled through Anna and letters. They had only met once or twice because it seemed necessary to see each other at least once.

This time, Lily wanted to meet him purely for a change of pace. Having recently come out of a deep slump, she wanted to meet someone new. She also had some new plans she wanted to discuss comfortably with someone who knew her true self.

‘How about an illustrated book other than Briston?’

Even if the illustrations weren’t erotic, the act of drawing itself wasn’t highly regarded among nobles. But she thought it might be okay to reveal a bit more comfortably. Illustrations for a detective novel, for example, wouldn’t need to be hidden.

In any case, that’s why Lily was utterly shocked when she ran into Greer.

“You…?!”

“Long time no see.”

Greer smiled brightly.

He was still handsome and had a body that was her type. His frock coat fit perfectly, looking glossy, and his tight pants made his fine b*ttocks and thighs look even more muscular.

But strangely, Lily found it all rather dull. Even during the divorce, despite all the ups and downs, she had always understood why she had chosen him.

‘Maybe I’ve met too ideal a body?’

Not that she was thinking of Breck’s b*ttocks. Well, maybe not entirely, but she wasn’t thinking of the mill.

Lily felt uncomfortable. She wasn’t honestly happy to see him. Although her problems with Greer had started in bed, that wasn’t the whole reason for their divorce.

But she didn’t want to fight now. There was no reason to. They were strangers now.

“What brings you here?”

“Is there a place I shouldn’t come?”

“It’s not that, but there’s no reason for you to be here.”

“Are you not happy to see me?”
“We’re not really in a relationship where we would miss each other.”
Greer’s face twisted. Lily suddenly remembered why she had divorced him. Greer was a man who thought everything should revolve around him with a smile, and he wanted Lily to fear and obey him. Unfortunately for him, she wasn’t afraid of him at all.

With a soft, gentle face, he said,

“I missed you a lot.”

“…Is that why you’re here?”

Lily replied indifferently. Just because he was still handsome didn’t mean her lost affection would return, and she couldn’t believe his kind smile was genuine now.

She was also mindful of the appointment time. Although it wasn’t a very crowded place, she was still conscious of being seen talking to him.

Seeing her reluctance, Greer suppressed his rising anger. It was crucial to gather evidence now, and for that, he needed to be a guest at the viscount’s estate. He had thought about turning the Verdain newspaper upside down, but he couldn’t do that without evidence.

Such matters shouldn’t be handled publicly. Messing with a gossip magazine could lead to big trouble. Although he enjoyed drinking and gambling with young, wealthy, fearless friends, he couldn’t afford to ruin his public reputation.