Lily accepted his offer and got out of the carriage. Breck lightly lifted her by the waist and placed her on the coachman’s seat.

“There might be a bit of dust.”

“It’s fine. It’s not my first time.”

“Not your first time?”

“It’s my first time on a coachman’s seat of this kind of carriage…”

It wasn’t exactly a fond memory, but during the social season in the capital, she’d ridden open carriages for picnics and flower-viewing while searching for a husband. Those carriages had separate seats for chaperones.

It wasn’t luxurious, but the coachman’s seat was high and not bad. The weather was clear, not too hot or humid. Lily pressed her straw hat down and sat beside Breck, enjoying the breeze.

“We’ll rest at an inn tonight. The butler sent someone ahead to arrange it.”

“Really?”

Lily tilted her head. While it was common for a servant to go ahead and arrange lodging for a noble’s long journey, this trip was just her and Breck.

“The butler wouldn’t inconvenience you just because you’re traveling with me.”

“That’s true.”

“And you can’t travel with just me.”

“Y-yes.”

Lily answered with a flushed face.

“Someone will come to work in the morning. You won’t have to eat my bad cooking.”

“You can cook?”

“I can grill meat.”

Breck chuckled, holding the reins with one hand and covering her small hand with the other. Lily’s hand hesitated but soon turned to clasp his firmly.

Sneaking into her bedroom at night was fun, but holding hands openly in broad daylight was also enjoyable.

When we arrive at the villa, there will be more things we can do. Like throwing her down on the dining table, or knocking her down by the beach… Well, it doesn’t have to be just that. He was a master of fishing and hunting. It would be nice to light a bonfire and grill the fish he caught on skewers. He knew that this Viscount wouldn’t find such things vulgar and would be amazed with sparkling eyes.

‘Was this a place where you could pick up shells?’

He was thinking absentmindedly while driving the carriage when he suddenly looked to the side. Lily was looking up at him with a flushed face.

“Why?”

“Come to think of it, why did you start calling me Viscount?”

“Isn’t that correct?”

Calling him master didn’t suit her at all. It was exciting when he was grabbing and shaking her butt, though.

“You can just call me by my name.”

“If that becomes a habit…”

“Ah, is it difficult…?”

“If Cohen hears, he’ll collapse. The butler will hit me with a fire poker and then kick me out.”

Breck laughed as he spoke. There was no real respect in calling her Viscount. It was just a title.

Lily answered, “That’s true…” and looked straight ahead. Somehow, she looked sullen, so Breck let go of her hand. Lily turned her head back questioningly.

He lightly lifted Lily’s straw hat and bent his head down. Lily inhaled sharply in surprise, but Breck didn’t mind and pressed his lips against hers.

“Mm.”

Even without mixing tongues, a long sigh escaped from Lily’s nose. He let go of the reins with one hand and hooked them on the driver’s seat, pulling Lily’s cheek towards him and deepening the kiss. Normally, this wouldn’t be acceptable, but the horse walked along the path as if it had been commanded by a spirit.

The day-and-a-half journey was smooth. Lily slept in a good single room at the inn, while Breck slept in a corner of a large, cheap room, but they got back on the carriage pleasantly the next morning.

The problem arose when they arrived at the villa.

The person the butler mentioned, who would be working in the morning, was waiting. The village headman had brought a blonde maid in shabby but neat clothes to clean.

“Welcome, Viscount. It’s been a while.”

The village headman, who had seen Lily when she was young, took off his hat and bowed. Lily didn’t remember him well but greeted him warmly.

“If you need anything during your stay, please let us know. We will deliver what you need every morning. There is a general store and a post office in the upper village.”

“Ah, that’s good. I appreciate it.”

“This is Eva. She’s still young, but she’s good at cooking and various chores.”

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be in your care while I’m here.”

Lily tried to smile at the maid but flinched. Eva’s gaze was fixed on Breck.

Breck turned his gaze away uncomfortably. Lily looked at the village headman in confusion. The headman seemed flustered too.

“Why are you acting like this?”

“You’re really here?”

Eva said abruptly. Lily noticed Breck clenching and unclenching his fist.

“Do you know each other?”

When Lily asked Breck, Eva quickly knelt and answered politely.

“I’m sorry, madam. I heard rumors that Breck had returned, but I was surprised because I hadn’t met him directly. We used to live in the same neighborhood when we were kids.”

“I see.”

“I’m glad to see you safe, Breck. I thought you might have died somewhere.”

“…What brings you to this village? It’s far from home.”

“You’re not the only one living away from home.”

Eva glared at him. She was so beautiful that Lily’s heart sank. Breck spoke uncomfortably.

“Let’s go inside, Viscount. You must be tired from the journey.”

“Oh, sure. What about you?”

“I’ll unload the luggage.”

Feeling somewhat chased, Lily entered the villa. The cleaning was spotless, but she felt uneasy.

The village headman followed her in and praised the Viscount Aiden family. Lily listened with one ear and let it out the other as she walked around the small villa.

When she took off her hat and put it in the bedroom and returned to the living room, she saw the two of them talking outside the window. Breck was frowning slightly, but Lily could tell if he was comfortable or not now. He looked more relaxed than when talking to Cohen.

‘They must really be childhood friends.’

Her heart pounded for some reason.

But the reality was entirely different from what Lily imagined. Breck was genuinely annoyed.

“What brings you here, Princess Evangeline?”

Eva? She scoffed.

The first princess, whom the emperor cherished, and the head of the Imperial Secret Intelligence Service, dressed as a maid and appeared here.

He knew he would be found out someday. He wasn’t someone who could act secretly, and he had openly said he was going to his hometown when he left.

But he didn’t expect her to come so quickly. He didn’t expect the princess to come dressed as a maid.

“Why do you think? I came because Sir Revi is here.”

“Please don’t call me that. I’ve told you several times we’re not that close.”

“Ah, don’t worry too much. I don’t intend to cook. I know I’m not good at household chores.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. Surely, you haven’t taken over the upper village with mind control magic?”

“Of course not. I just manipulated their memories a bit to make them think I’ve lived there for a long time.”

Breck glared at Evangeline. This was why he was fed up with the empire.

“State your business and leave.”

“If I leave now, there will be no one to work, and no maid to serve the lady.”

“Just state your business.”

“Your coldness is charming.”

“I don’t want to be charming to the princess.”

“Then you’d have to go back in time. Anyone with greed in this world would want Sir Revi.”

Breck clicked his tongue. In the past, he would have ignored Evangeline and left. But now he couldn’t. If he mishandled this, Evangeline would likely target the Viscount Aiden family.

“Don’t think you have leverage over me, Princess. If you touch innocent people, you’ll find out I can be a terror to humans too.”

“……”

Evangeline looked at Breck with a pale face, unable to speak for a moment. Breck smiled faintly.

“You understand that it’s best for me to hide myself.”

“I don’t intend to harm civilians or make you my enemy. But…”

“But?”

“I might play some tricks.”

Evangeline said and suddenly approached Breck, standing on tiptoe.

It wasn’t impossible to push her away, but Breck didn’t. He knew Lily was watching from the villa window. He didn’t want to look like a man who violently pushed women. Fortunately, Evangeline quickly backed off without pushing further. Breck frowned.