As he entered a quiet room facing the garden, he ran into a man coming out of the game room.

‘Handsome.’

That was his first thought upon seeing the exceptionally good-looking young man. With striking blonde hair and cool blue eyes, his physique was well-maintained. Not a body trained in martial arts, probably swimming or horseback riding for fitness.

He glanced over his body. This habit came from Lily. He was curious to see how much he could discern just by observation.

“Lord Greer! Long time no see!”

A voice called from inside. The man who had come out smiled lightly and nodded at Breck before entering the next room. Friendly guy. Breck frowned slightly, feeling an inexplicable dislike for him.

The manager led him to a room two doors down. It was a quiet room facing the garden, just as he had hoped. Breck ordered premium distilled liquor and ice and sank into the plush sofa.

While living as Breck was comfortable and enjoyable, there were pleasures that could only be obtained by spending money. Though no one here knew Revaston, he had no intention of living as Baron Revis. Being a noble came with its own social obligations, and explaining to his family would be a hassle.

Then, he heard voices from the next room.

— …said they visited Viscount Aiden’s estate?

In fact, Breck’s hearing was so acute that he could distinguish all the sounds in this building if he wanted to. However, he had a habit of tuning out most noises, but the mention of Viscount Aiden’s estate pierced through his consciousness sharply.

— Was there any unfinished business?

— Do I need a reason to visit my wife?

Breck’s hand, which was about to swirl his glass, stopped. Wife?

— I understand the divorce proceedings were completed.

— Just because we’re divorced doesn’t mean our marital ties are easily severed.

Breck raised an eyebrow. So, they were talking about Lily. Now that he thought about it, the description matched the impression he had heard of her husband. A handsome man with blond hair, blue eyes, a fair forehead, and a refreshing smile. They had married and divorced early, so he was probably in his mid-twenties. He had a good voice, too.

— Despite various circumstances, I was Lily’s first man. Although we’re currently apart due to her stubbornness, I’ve never thought of her as anything but my woman.

— It’s certainly natural for married couples to have disputes, but Viscount Aiden was too resolute. This is why women shouldn’t have their own businesses.

He hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but what could he do if he heard it? Breck thought quietly.

‘There must have been a good reason for the divorce.’

He heard Greer laugh softly. It was an unpleasant sound.

Breck downed the rest of his drink in one gulp, chewed on the ice, and then stood up.

When he stepped outside, the manager was surprised.

“Leaving already?”

“Something came up.”

He told them to keep the bottle for him and stepped outside. It was none of his business, but he felt inexplicably dirty.

The news of Lord Greer’s return hit the city and spread around about 99 times in an instant.

To his peers at the gentleman’s club in the capital, Greer Everard was just a bastard, but his social face was that of a sporty, fun-loving gentleman. Though debauched, that was often considered part of the charm for young noblemen.

Most people in the viscount’s household liked Greer. He was handsome, generous with tips, and a refined man rarely seen in the countryside. He was a master hunter who often gave his game to the beaters, earning praise.

And most importantly, he had left quickly after the divorce, so his reputation remained at its peak.

“Why do you think he’s here?”

“Isn’t it obvious? To see the viscount.”

“Was there any unfinished business?”

“Divorces among nobles aren’t simple affairs.”

People whispered.

“Or maybe he has good news?”

“They didn’t part on bad terms, so maybe they’re reconciling.”

“Reconciliation? That’s not easy either.”

“Marital relationships are hard for outsiders to understand.”

“I heard from someone who knows someone that Greer hasn’t seen any other women. Can you believe that?”

“I heard he used to meet a lot of women.”

“Exactly. If our mistress hasn’t considered remarrying and has stayed single, maybe her heart is still with him?”

Most of the talk was hopeful about Greer’s return. A young, handsome, and wealthy nobleman was highly welcomed in such a small city. When Greer was here, the money spent by his visiting friends and the commotion they caused felt like a festival.

Breck thought it was none of his business, but hearing it repeatedly annoyed him.

‘That guy seems like a bastard.’

A hero’s eyes see the truth. If he applied that saying here, the ice dragon would turn red with high blood pressure, but Breck didn’t care.

It wasn’t just the first impression; the stories he heard confirmed it. Referring to his ex-wife as his wife was one thing. He had seen many bastards like that in the Empire. Well-bred and seemingly decent, but without jobs, only indulging in gambling and drinking. They lived debauched lives, and the elders hoping for their reform would arrange marriages, leading to many victims of marriage fraud.

Not that he was claiming Lord Greer was exactly like that. He was a stranger, and no one knew why the viscount couple divorced. As they said, only the parties involved know the truth, and they should be left alone.

Not realizing that even such thoughts were meddling in others’ marital affairs, Breck grumbled.

‘Aren’t people being too harsh?’

Surely, some people should be on Lily’s side. At least, no one seemed to openly say so.

He was more curious about Lily’s feelings. According to rumors, they hadn’t met yet, but she must have heard the news. If he was coming to see her, he must have at least sent a letter.

The recent decrease in attention he received might be due to this.

‘Well, she must be busy with deadlines.’

Briston’s adventure in the maple forest was a big hit, and Verdain Weekly was setting new sales records. The illustrations weren’t just erotic but also had a romantic mood, making them even more appealing.

Not realizing how much attention he was paying, Breck opened his acute hearing, which could pick up the sound of a leaf falling 300 meters away.

Cohen looked at him with a peculiar smile.

“What’s this? You, interested in others’ chatter?”

“…Am I?”

“You always pretend not to see or hear anything, showing no interest in others. It’s a commendable trait for a servant, but I was a bit worried you’d live too isolated while working in someone else’s household.”

Breck scratched the back of his head. That was true. If you don’t join in the well-side gossip, you can’t fully do a servant’s job. Even outside of working for others, living in a community requires keeping up with such stories. The Imperial Palace was no different.

Cohen patted his back and said,

“It’s good to be interested, but don’t overthink it. They’re people of a different status. Just thinking about right and wrong could get you in trouble.”

Despite thinking that there seemed to be a lot of freedom regarding the mistress, Breck only nodded. Cohen rarely said anything.

Still, Breck was curious about how Lily felt about Greer’s return.

‘They divorced after two years? Considering the separation process, their actual married life would have been about a year.’

‘I’m unnecessarily curious about someone else’s private life. This is contemptible.’

‘I have nothing else to do. A little curiosity is fine. I’m not the only one; everyone seems interested, so it must be intriguing.’

‘If you can’t talk about it with others, you shouldn’t think about it. If you’re not going to gossip with others, there’s no need to be curious.’

His ability to compartmentalize thoughts was honed through harsh battles, but it was also useful during simple tasks like raking leaves or chopping wood.

He pulled weeds with quick hands while thinking about all sorts of things. Since he didn’t suffer from back pain, wrist pain, or eye strain, he was much faster than Cohen once he learned to distinguish the plants.

‘I should finish this flowerbed to…’

“Breck.”

“Day!?”

Startled by the voice calling him, his thoughts slipped out as words. The mistress, holding a parasol, stood on the path between the flowerbeds, tilting her head curiously.

“Day?”

“No, nothing.”

Breck was genuinely flustered. How did she approach without him noticing? Not realizing he had been lost in thought, he stood up.

His hands were dirty, so he removed his gloves. He felt self-conscious about his sweat-soaked body.

“Do you have any orders?”

Lily looked at him curiously. Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Breck faced her. Lily shook her head and said,