“We’re talking now, can’t you see? Are Lady Taldon and I invisible to you, Countess Rachel?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s nice to meet you. Lady Taldon, perhaps you have already met my sister.”

The young lady’s brow furrowed as she didn’t understand what the Countess was saying, but sooner than later, her face gradually brightened.

“Ah! Indeed! You look just like her. Your sister must be Countess Rodrik, her Majesty’s lady-in-waiting?”

“Yes, that’s right. I heard about you from my sister! I even tried to send you an invitation card. You made your debut last year, right?”

“Oh my, you know about that?”

Countess Rachel’s name was well known in social circles. Having the recognition of Countess Rachel was a significant moment for Veronica Taldon, who had made her debutante last year but remained in her domain because of her frail health. The unexpectedly warm interest immediately eased Veronica’s mood, and she coyly dropped going after Rowena.

“I see my friend has apparently made a mistake?”

“No, not at all, Countess.”

The Countess then, smiling, linked her arm with Rowena’s.

“Well then, may we be off?”

“Yes, see you later.”

Veronica looked at Rowena for a moment, then turned to smile at the Countess and put the situation to rest.

***

“What on earth was this all about?”

“I’m sorry. Give me a minute.”

When the crowd dispersed, and the curious gazes dropped to some degree, Rowena quickly paced back to where Damian had vanished. At that moment, Bobo, whose collar had been undone and ran away earlier, came sputtering toward her. Rowena’s frozen eyes met those of Joanne, who was holding Bobo’s collar, and Joanne silently pointed with her eyes at the child in her arms. Buried on her chest was exhausted Damian, sobbing. Another man is following them.

 Jenok, who had taken off his hat, bowed silently.

* * *

“I thought Bobo was in real trouble earlier.”

As they somehow made their way out of the hunting grounds and back to the townhouse, 

Damian refused to leave Rowena’s embrace as he kept sobbing. After comforting her frightened 

son, while still unsure of the reason for him being like that, Rowena sat in the parlor facing Joanne and Jenok. Joanne said after wiping the cold sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

“What do you mean in real trouble?”

“Let me do the talking.”

Jenok gestured for Joanne to stop talking, then gulped as he picked up his teacup. After taking a sip of the steamy tea, he continued speaking.

“There was a dangerous person wandering in the hunting forest.”

“What!”

Rowena, who stood up quickly at the shocking words, asked with a pale face.

“This doesn’t make any sense? How ?”

“It sounds absurd. Perhaps he came in to hunt rabbits, taking advantage of the looseness of the hunting grounds due to the opening, and then he found the young master.”

 Jenok lowered his teacup and folded his hands with a serious expression on his face.

“Of all things he had to see that, …….”

“What??”

“……..”

“Speak, now!”

Rowena shuddered as she yelled in a harsh voice. The thought of something terrible happening to Damian made her blood freeze from head to toe.