“I’ll go to the post office alone. Could you finish packing in the meantime?”

There was still time before the new guard would arrive. Even if they were to leave as soon as he arrived, they still had about an hour to spare. Jeremy planned to quickly visit the post office during that time.

Llewellyn’s face brightened at Jeremy’s suggestion.

“C-can you really do that?”

“Yes. If I go alone quickly, the timing should work out.”

“Th-then I’m really g-grateful…!”

Since sending the gift and letter wasn’t such an urgent matter, she had half given up on it. She was just thankful that Jeremy had willingly offered to help. Happily, Llewellyn quickly wrapped the bonnet and letter and handed them to him.

“P-please take care of it.”

As Jeremy took the mail and entered the living room, he noticed Clarkson sitting in the corner. Despite his duty not being over, Clarkson was napping in a chair by the fireplace. He didn’t look like someone tasked with guarding someone.

Jeremy was about to say something to Clarkson but then shook his head.

“Clarkson, wake up. I’m going to the post office now, so do your duty properly. Until your replacement arrives, your mission is to guard her.”

Seemingly irritated at being woken up, Clarkson scratched his head as he replied.

“I got it, so stop worrying and just go already. I’ll leave this place as soon as Harrison arrives.”

It was a statement completely lacking any sense of responsibility. Actually, Clarkson hadn’t shown this attitude when he first took on the mission. When he was first assigned this secret mission, he couldn’t hide his joy at being recognized by the king.

He had shown enthusiasm, saying he would diligently carry out his first secret mission. But his attitude changed when he learned that the person he was secretly guarding was just an unremarkable maid. Though he was a third son, his noble pride was hurt at having to guard a commoner.

Moreover, being the late Duke Claudia’s mistress – it was an unsuitable mission for someone who had a poor view of mistresses. But even so, he had tried to hide his feelings and carried out his duties somewhat faithfully.

But after suddenly receiving orders to return to the capital alone, his motivation completely crumbled.

Jeremy, who had roughly sensed Clarkson’s state, inwardly sighed. He figured there was no point in lecturing someone who would be leaving in an hour anyway.

With that thought, Jeremy looked at Llewellyn.

“Then I’ll be back shortly. The new guard knight sent from the palace will arrive soon, so please hurry with the packing.”

“A-alright. D-don’t worry and h-have a safe trip.”

As Jeremy left the house, Clarkson immediately closed his eyes again to sleep. An awkward silence fell over the house with just the two of them remaining.

Feeling uncomfortable around Clarkson, Llewellyn began organizing her remaining belongings in the living room, just to do something.

Though she hadn’t said anything, Llewellyn felt uncomfortable whenever Clarkson was around. She had noticed that he didn’t like her very much.

‘Still, I’m really glad the guard is changing after today.’

The thought of having to ride in a carriage with him all day to the countryside had been daunting. What a fortunate turn of events. When left alone with him like today, she sometimes thought it might be better to just run away by herself.

Llewellyn let out a quiet sigh and moved her feet. It was uncomfortable being in the same space as him. Just as she was about to go upstairs to avoid him…

Her steps halted at the sound of someone knocking on the door. She looked at Clarkson for a moment, but he showed no intention of opening the door instead of her. Until now, she had never opened the door herself for safety reasons.

She was about to ignore it and go upstairs when she suddenly remembered that the knight was due to arrive soon, and changed her mind.

Llewellyn approached the door, deliberately using a bright voice to break the awkward silence.

“Oh, it m-must be the kn-knight who was supposed to c-come today.”

Then she quickly opened the door. But.

“W-welcome…”

Llewellyn’s expression, which had greeted the visitor with a bright smile, instantly froze.

It wasn’t the new guard knight waiting for her.

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you? I said there was a red-haired stutterer living here!”

It was villagers, glaring at Llewellyn with enraged faces.

* * *

Ines, who had come outside after a long time, slowly walked through the snow-covered garden.

“Haa…”

White steam rose every time Ines exhaled hot breath. After leaving her stuffy room, breathing in the cold air made her feel a bit less suffocated.

For better or worse, Carlos, who had said he would come the next day, hadn’t shown up since then. His daily visits to see her after finishing his daily duties had also completely stopped. In other words, she hadn’t seen Carlos’s face since that incident.

Another sigh escaped Ines’s lips as she recalled that incident again.

Her divorce request to Carlos had been impulsive. Perhaps it was her mistake. It wasn’t something she should have brought up so easily when expecting a child soon.

However, no matter how much it was her mistake, Carlos’s subsequent behavior was too humiliating. Even though she had said she would fulfill her duties as a wife, how could he…

As if not wanting to think about it, Ines tightly closed her eyes.

All she had wanted was for Carlos to acknowledge what he had done.

If he had at least been honest with her, she too would have buried the past in her heart. Because there had been terrible things her father had done to him.

But now it felt like they had crossed a river they couldn’t return from.

She really didn’t feel confident about maintaining their marriage like this. She didn’t want to fulfill any responsibilities, neither as queen nor as wife.

“Ah, let’s stop thinking about it.”

Dwelling on it would only give her a headache. Just as she took another step to escape the thoughts clouding her mind…

She heard the voices of maids talking not far away. As Ines, who wasn’t particularly interested in their conversation, was about to pass by…

“Did you hear? About how the Duke had a mistress. They say she’s been living well, avoiding the disaster!”

Ines’s steps stopped at the unexpected topic of conversation.

“The Duke… You mean the late Duke Claudia had a mistress?”

“Yes! I heard he had kept her well hidden. According to rumors, get this, she’s a commoner who stutters! With red hair, I think?”

Ines covered her mouth as she listened to the maids’ conversation.

Not only did they know about Llewellyn’s existence, but even her detailed characteristics were known.

Ines’s heart, which had been calm, began to race wildly.

‘How did they find out about this? Rumors? Could it be that rumors about the mistress are circulating in the capital?’

Ines’s hand covering her mouth trembled.

‘This is no time to just stand here.’

She needed to quickly go to Carlos and discuss this matter. Though she hadn’t faced Carlos since then, what mattered to Ines now was only Llewellyn’s safety.

Just as Ines was about to move quickly again, a maid came running from somewhere, shouting in an excited voice that there was incredible news.

“Girls! There’s chaos outside right now!”

“What’s with all the fuss?”

“Well, they say they’ve caught the rumored mistress!”

Ines’s face turned pale as she heard those words.

“Really? How did they catch her? And what are they going to do with the mistress? It’s not like they’ll execute her.”

“They say she’s already dead! Killed by stones thrown by people. And then they hung the mistress’s body in the square? The royal guard is now retrieving the body and bringing it back.”

“Then can we see the body too? I’m curious how pretty she must have been for him to take a stutterer as a mistress… Y-Your Majesty!”

The maid who suddenly noticed Ines quickly bowed. Ines had stepped forward, unable to just listen anymore. She had no time now to consider the circumstances.

The startled maids looked at each other nervously. They seemed to be wondering how much of their conversation Ines had heard. She pressed the maids.

“…Where are they bringing the body?”