5. Pitiful Guilt

“We’ve made quite good progress researching rose varieties as you instructed. The seedlings we pre-sold are also receiving good reviews.”

The day after arriving in the capital.

Flan reported several matters concisely to Rihanel as they walked through the mansion corridor. His steps were somewhat hurried as he tried to match Rihanel’s long strides.

“That’s good.”

“For the Dignity variety we’ll present to His Majesty…”

“Plant some in the garden as well.”

“The Dignity?”

“All the varieties we’ve developed.”

“Over 100 varieties? It would take quite a lot of time to arrange them aesthetically…. Ah, but it would be strange not to have roses researched by House Reynes in the duke’s garden. I’ll prepare it.”

Acknowledging his shortsightedness, Flan nodded several times. Decorating the garden with all those roses would be difficult work for Egg the gardener, but once completed, it would certainly be worth seeing.

As Flan was contemplating how to negotiate and persuade Egg to gladly undertake the work.

“…Maia flowers too.”

Another order was given. Roses are roses, but why maia flowers? Flan tilted his head.

“Why maia flowers?”

“She might feel confined if she’s only inside the mansion. If her eyes have something pleasant to look at, she won’t think of wandering around.”

It was immediately clear who Rihanel was referring to. Only then did Flan remember that the subject liked maia flowers.

“…Ha.”

One moment he was ordering flowers to be planted like a caring husband, and the next, as if something displeasing about her had crossed his mind, Rihanel let out a hollow laugh.

Then he approached the window again and continued giving instructions. Flan didn’t know which rhythm to follow.

“Especially in that spot…. Wait.”

Approaching the large window and pointing somewhere, Rihanel stopped speaking. Undisguised displeasure settled on his face.

Flan shifted his gaze outside with a puzzled look. At the same time, a somewhat crude remark escaped from Rihanel.

“Why the hell is that bastard here?”

Rihanel’s neat eyebrows above his blue eyes tilted in displeasure.

Standing awkwardly in front of the mansion’s main gate was Theo Randipel.

It was a face Rihanel couldn’t forget.

That day after the party, how pathetic he had looked staring at that woman’s back as if he’d been wounded.

“I was actually planning to report this to you, but it seems he’s already arrived. I’ll first escort him to the reception room…”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A displeased voice rumbled low. As Rihanel recalled the man’s flushed cheeks under the clear sky in Janet’s memory, his displeasure surged.

He’s coming here knowing she’s a married woman? What a thick-faced bastard. Does he think the Reynes mansion is some café where he can have pleasant conversations?

No, seeing how shamelessly he came here, perhaps they had some conversation that day? Maybe they’ve continued their relationship even after that.

It wasn’t his business who Janet met, but she shouldn’t tarnish the Reynes name or cause rumors.

Rihanel recalled the pale face of the woman who had been sleeping like the dead. Yes, anyway, that woman isn’t in any condition to meet anyone now, so handling this is Rihanel’s responsibility.

With an irritated expression, he headed downstairs.

Taking long strides to the front door, a servant standing guard opened it. The man standing outside looked at Rihanel with surprise and bowed his head.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the emotion in those innocently wide eyes. He was waiting for Janet, but her husband came out instead.

But the next action was unforgivable. The man, having lost all sense of propriety, tried to enter the mansion. Rihanel closed the door behind him with a bang and came outside.

“Tell me your business here.”

Though he had no intention of passing it on.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace.”

Theo Randipel bowed again. But what came out of his mouth next was quite unexpected.

“Did you know? There’s a connection between Count Randipel’s family and House Reynes.”

“……”

The man spoke with a seemingly delighted smile. When Rihanel stared at him without answering, wondering what this random comment was about, the man continued as if he’d determined an explanation was needed.

“Ah, Queen Merhen, the eighth queen of Silonya, was a lady of Reynes. And the Randipel family was created starting with the title bestowed upon Princess Piel, who was born to the queen.”

It was unsettling how he smiled innocently while excitedly talking about events from well over a hundred years ago. Rihanel gave a perfunctory smile but let slip what was on his mind.

“So what?”

“Ah….”

The man’s eyes wavered. But Rihanel truly didn’t understand what he was supposed to do with this information. So what does this have to do with coming to see Janet?

“I’m asking you to state your business.”

“Ah, rather than business… I just wanted to talk like this…”

“Sir Randipel. My wife is busy. If you don’t have any business, it would be better not to come. It’s also unpleasant that you’ve shown up so abruptly without my permission.”

“Wife? Ah, Janet… is she well?”

What’s he talking about now? Rihanel frowned deeply and looked at Flan, who whispered to him as if surprised he didn’t know.

“He didn’t come to see the duchess, but to see Your Grace.”

“What?”

“Permission for the visit was already granted in writing a month ago.”

“……”

He didn’t come to see Janet? The vigilance that had risen high in his gaze toward Theo subsided. But that didn’t mean he intended to continue the conversation.

“Sir Randipel, thank you for coming, but I’m too busy with work to engage in small talk. I’m sorry, but could you leave now? I’ll remember that there was a time when Randipel and Reynes were close.”

Theo, who had opened his mouth in surprise for a moment, quickly smiled brightly and nodded. He raised his left hand to request a handshake.

“Yes. It was nice to meet you.”

Why is he grinning when I basically told him to get lost as soon as he arrived? His good fortune resembled Janet’s in some way, which made Rihanel’s mood worsen again. Rihanel gripped Theo’s left hand tightly.

“Ugh….”

With a painful sound, Theo’s expression contorted.

That’s when it happened.

A certain scene flashed before Rihanel’s eyes. Theo Randipel sitting on an unfamiliar café terrace.

And… Janet Wilton.

‘How is it? Isn’t Silonya a nice place to live? You said you feel more at ease here than there.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Then do you want to live in Silonya?’

‘No.’

‘Why?’

‘Because there are things that only exist in Bendar.’

Janet spoke calmly. For a moment, he had the illusion that their eyes had met.

And at that moment, Rihanel returned to reality.

“……”

Still not accustomed to this sensation, cracks appeared in Rihanel’s leisurely smile. The tight grip on the hand had already loosened.

“Ah, I forgot that I scratched my palm getting out of the carriage.”

Theo Randipel let out a modest laugh with his brow furrowed as if it stung.

“Ah, blood… Did it get on you? A handkerchief…”

“It’s fine. You should go get that treated.”

Rihanel lowered his hand, curling his palm into a fist—the one that had held Theo’s hand. It was a reflexive action to avoid seeing the man’s blood.

And without properly hearing Theo’s farewell, he went back inside the mansion.

Theo stared at the closed door for a moment. Then he looked at his injured hand.

The ring on Rihanel’s ring finger lingered in his mind. Surely Janet would be wearing the same ring.

There had been no hesitation in the woman who had passed by him that day on her way to the terrace. It seemed there had only been one option from the beginning.

Strangely, his chest ached.

“The only person….”

Uniqueness. Theo pondered that word absently.

Tree shadows settled over his head lost in thought.

Rihanel, who had entered the mansion, left Flan behind and headed straight to the second floor.

Dazed from seeing Theo Randipel’s memory, he just walked without knowing where he was going.

Suddenly looking ahead, he found himself standing in front of Janet’s room.

⟨Because there are things that only exist in Bendar.⟩

Janet’s voice lingered in his ears. A calm, yet melodious voice like a song.

He felt like an idiot for being curious about what those things were. Clearly, an expectation that would plummet into the abyss was creeping up.

Like a madman.

What would it matter what those things were anyway?

Rihanel shook his head roughly.

So the reason he came to Janet’s room was to check if she was resting well. Since she was a woman who had collapsed at an event he had taken her to, it was a matter of responsibility.

Knock, knock.

He knocked lightly, but there was no response from inside the room.

According to the doctor, she should get absolute rest for at least ten days. He had told her to rest and not think about going out, so she might be sleeping.

Rihanel thought this was just as well and opened the door. It was easier to watch the sleeping woman than to face her eyes.

“Janet?”

But in that room, Janet was not there.

***

Janet staggered as she got out of the carriage. She closed her eyes for a moment until the dizziness passed as she regained her balance.

Perhaps it was because she had bumped into things when she collapsed in the storage shed, or maybe she still had some lingering illness. Her whole body ached.

There was a stinging sensation on her skin, making her feel somewhat feverish.