His voice pressed down heavily. His hands trembled finely with anger even greater than when he’d beaten Huidin like a dog, but he tried not to show it.

After exhaling deeply, he slowly ran one hand down his face and organized his emotions. His dried expression, tidied up in an instant, turned toward me.

“When you suddenly left me, I was bewildered but I understood. It seemed like you wanted some fresh air.”

Whether he noticed my defensive walls had grown thicker, he began explaining in a calm, measured tone.

“I thought half a year would be enough, so I just watched.”

“…”

“But you’re pregnant.”

“…”

“With my child.”

“…”

“Let’s go back, Liv.”

By the end, it somehow sounded like pleading. It was probably my imagination, but I found myself ridiculous for feeling that way.

My reason screamed to uncover what was confusing me, but I didn’t have that kind of energy left. I was sick of everything. Even if it was a misunderstanding, the path to clearing it up would be full of thorns.

I had no intention of going back anyway. No, more accurately, I had no desire to tell him why I’d left. Why would I bring up something that would only be miserable?

Huidin’s betrayal, the villagers’ sharp glares.

Even before meeting Ernst, my distrust of others had already reached its peak. Ernst was the only exception. 

Even knowing he could betray me at any time, I closed my eyes and covered my ears. He’d brought up Lucas and saved my life—even someone like me couldn’t help but fall completely.

“Why did you run away here?”

He suddenly asked.

“If you have some strange misunderstanding, I can clear it up anytime.”

He tapped his index finger on the armrest as he spoke. Was there even a misunderstanding? I heard it clearly with my own ears. But my mouth moved on its own, out of control.

“What strange misunderstanding do you think there is, Duke?”

“…”

“If you can’t say it, let’s stop. Go back. You must be very busy.”

“No matter how busy I am, nothing matters more than taking you back.”

He suddenly held out a newspaper I didn’t know when he’d brought.

“Check it.”

“…”

“Whether what I’m saying is true or not.”

This scene of him suddenly telling me to read a newspaper wasn’t in my imagination. I couldn’t tell if he wanted me to confirm how busy he was, or to see the huge losses he’d endured by stopping all his schedules to bring me back.

Ernst waited quietly with a calm face for me to take the newspaper. So after deliberating, I slowly picked up and unfolded the newspaper.

<Railroad Construction in Diaro Region Goes to Duke Russell>

<Marquis Karli’s Miserable Downfall—Was It Predetermined?>

<The Result of the Secret Meeting Between Duke Russell and Marquis Karli…>

It was all about Duke Russell and Marquis Karli. Definitely, when I’d last checked the newspaper, there had been no such news.

I’d meant to skim through it, but before I knew it, I was absorbed in reading the articles thoroughly. And when I finally finished reading all the articles, I could only freeze in dismay, holding the newspaper blankly.

I struggled to recall the headline of an article I’d seen at his mansion once. News that Marquis Karli had invested in railroad construction in the Diaro region. And that the Marquis and Duke Russell had held a secret meeting.

‘Marquis Karli likes black hair, you know. That’s why I’m keeping her.’

That day I could never forget, the words that had torn my heart apart. The implied meaning was clear. He was keeping me because Marquis Karli liked black hair. 

And around that time, Marquis Karli and he seemed to be tied together in business.

There was no clear evidence to be certain, but the nuance of the pouring articles suggested it. Making it feel like they were having positive meetings about the railroad construction. 

Because that’s how business usually works. So I’d interpreted it as him trying to hand me over to foster a positive relationship with Marquis Karli, but what if that was all—

A lightning bolt of realization struck. A hypothesis I desperately wanted to deny floated up. 

I slowly raised my gaze, like forcing myself to look at something I didn’t want to face. Deep blue eyes devoid of laughter were waiting for my answer.

“…This is.”

He nodded slightly, telling me to continue. The rustling sound of the newspaper in my trembling hands grated annoyingly. 

He, who’d only been watching, stood up, approached me, and knelt on one knee. I didn’t even have time to be surprised and push him away. 

He reached out and covered my pitifully trembling hands like he’d devour them. The rustling newspaper soon fell silent.

“Marquis Karli… wasn’t on your side?”

My choked, cracked voice was precariously close to breaking. He nodded slightly with quiet eyes. Light filtering through the thin curtain illuminated his face, then cast it in shadow.

“Maybe, maybe. Am I—”

“You’re the child I sponsor, and Marquis Karli is the terrible bastard who hired someone to k*ll me.”

“…”

“To catch a despicable villain, don’t you have to pull off a bit of fraud?”

He laughed lowly. Following his pleasant laughter, his hand caressed my hair that hung by my ear, organizing it.

“He bet everything on the railroad, and thanks to that, he’s now penniless.”

“…”

“He’s a snake, so pretending to be on his side took quite a bit of effort.”

His harmless face smiled like a child. The warmth touching my hand was still terrifyingly hot.

I, I had—

“That bastard somehow found out about you again, even though I hid you so thoroughly.”

“Ernst.”

“It’s really safe now. Don’t worry, Liv.”

Warmth returned to his face that had grown cold. I gritted my teeth. I’d been truly foolish beyond measure. Seeing the articles and hearing his words.

With all the hints he’d given me up to this point, I couldn’t not know. Everything had been my misunderstanding. He couldn’t possibly have fabricated the articles. 

Even if these current articles were fabricated, he couldn’t fabricate all the articles that would come out in the future.

But even in this situation where all circumstances pointed to his innocence, a very small fear cautiously raised its head. I was a bit too tired to fully restore my trust in one breath.

“Ernst. I—”

“Liv, wait.”

He withdrew the warmth he’d been sharing tenderly. A chill settled on my hand left alone. Had it always been this cold? 

While I was lost in trivial thoughts, Ernst pulled something from his chest and held it out.

It was documents. I accepted them, hiding my puzzlement.

“Read it.”

Ernst, with a serious expression, urged me. What could it be? I was pushed along and began carefully reading the documents of unknown length.

[…omitted…

Ernst Russell must give the compensation that would go to Lucas Hallen upon his death to Lucas Hallen’s sister, Liv Hallen. 

Furthermore, he must fulfill his duty as Liv Hallen’s benefactor until she reaches at least adulthood, and confirms that this period can be extended indefinitely if she wishes.]

I couldn’t take my eyes off the last paragraph written in the first document. After confirming the part with my brother’s signature, I could no longer disbelieve. The contract containing detailed transaction details between my brother and Ernst truly existed.

Lucas, why did you go so far as to make this contract?

My brother’s infinite love was tearfully grateful yet made me feel like dying from heartache. Who in the world writes a contract thinking about after their death at only twenty-three? 

It’s not like he was dying soon. Maybe nobles, but I could be certain there was no one like that among commoners like us.

“I thought you completely trusted me, so until now—”

Ernst, confirming I’d finished reading, suddenly threw out an excuse that wasn’t an excuse.

“Liv, Liv, Liv. I heard it until my ears bled.”

“…”

“Lucas cherished you dearly, and now I will cherish you.”

The strange sadness that had been circling my mind like fog was instantly swept away. I had no idea how to respond to Ernst’s words. 

I’d run away from a misunderstanding I’d built up alone, troubled him, and even treated him coldly—how was I supposed to react?

Ernst was the first to pave the way. Still kneeling on one knee, he gently grasped the back of my neck and pulled me close. Stopping at a hand’s span distance, he pulled something else from his chest.

“That’s—”

My flustered words stopped abruptly. Ernst began attaching the earring I’d left behind to my earlobe. Just like that day that had been my birthday.

Hot heat spread contagiously to my ear and neck. The lavender scent that always came from him brushed my nose. I felt blood rushing, but I tried to maintain a calm expression. 

Ernst was absorbed in putting on the earring, paying no attention to my constantly changing face. Like performing some sacred act.

It had been a very long time since I’d seen his face from such a close distance where I could see the fine hairs, and proportional to the time apart, my heart that had died was rapidly reviving. I was afraid he’d hear the sound of my accelerating pulse.

Soon, having achieved his purpose, he pulled back. The sweet lavender scent and his warmth also moved away. My stomach churned with regret, and I only swallowed dry saliva.

“Liv.”

Still kneeling on one knee, he stretched both arms to embrace me.

“You’ll come back, right?”

His eyes looking up from below looked ridiculously pitiful, like a puppy in the rain. For a man who least suited the word pitiful.

“Let’s go, Ernst.”

Like he’d been waiting, he straightened up and pressed his lips to mine. Bending his waist halfway, he pressed down on me from above to below and devoured my lips like he’d eat me. 

With one hand he gently supported the back of my neck, and with the other he groped and kneaded my chest like he’d burst it right then.

“Mm, mmh. Ernst. Inside. We’re inside.”

The chair, unable to withstand Ernst’s rough advances, swayed precariously. Worried we might fall backward, I hit his back and pleaded with a voice I barely squeezed out, but he ignored it.