Rachel then turned to ask Rowena.

“Did you hear anything special from his excellency?”

“No, nothing in particular.”

Rowena’s brief reply made the Countess’s complexion darken. In response to the countess’s reaction, Rowena smiled bitterly at the Countess’s response.

The countess was probably expecting to hear that Killian said something around the line that he would not be remarrying, which would have given her more confidence, but that wasn’t the case.

Rowena couldn’t and wouldn’t trust Killian ever again. The memory of being so cruelly deceived and discarded remained like a wound, still lingering, never fading. In the carriage, he acted as if he would never remarry and that she would be the only one for him, but if the benefits of remarriage exceeded a certain level, he was a man who would abandon her, his mistress, again without a second thought.

“I doubt his excellency has nothing in mind, but why are you so insecure?”

The Countess, who had blinked at Rowena’s seemingly given up expression, sighed.

“You should speak with more confidence!  (I don’t like having another woman in your life) or (I want to be the only one by your side). I’d rather if you were more honest with his excellency, I’m sure he would prefer it too.”

“Countess.”

Rowena couldn’t listen any longer and interrupted the Countess, although she knew it was rude to do so, and continued with a tired look on her face.

“Excuse me, I just haven’t rested after the long journey here, may I go first to my quarters.”

“Of course, you look pale, are you alright?”

“Lately, I seem to get tired easily.”

“By any chance…..”

The Countess opened her eyes wide at the possibility that flashed through her mind for a moment. Rowena shook her head firmly before she could interpose.

“No, it’s not that.”

“…….”

“This is not going to happen. You know very well too? The Duke’s nature.”

The night she conceived Damain was the only night that he and she both gave up all reason and became beasts. It was like walking down the street and being struck by lightning, an accident that could not be avoided and could not be undone.

“Indeed …… it is. Then I will see you later in the evening.”

After a moment of hope, the Countess, who had unfortunately lost her optimism, called Joanne, the maid who was standing far away, to come and help Rowena. As she watched silently as Rowena moved away, she felt a presence behind her.

“Countess Rachel.”

Startled, the Countess turned around and she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Yo-.. Your Excellency.”

Killian, holding a hunting rifle whose barrel had not even cooled down when he approached her without making a sound, and stood three steps away from her. She had met him occasionally at royal banquets and such, but this was the first time she meets him alone with him like this. He was of such outstanding beauty that she seemed to have forgotten all the rumors of his temper and difficult personality. Unlike what he looked like in banquets, His jet-black hair seemed messy in a way, and was covering his forehead, and his icy gaze was so beautiful that it made her dizzy all of a sudden. Her cheeks began to flush at the sensual body odor that wafted from him despite the distance, and the countess fumbled to get a word out.

“Miss Philone went to her quarters just now.”

“I saw that.”

“What?”

“I have a favor to ask from you, Countess.”

 Kilian stepped closer, suddenly holding a gun and aiming it at her.

Frightened by the sudden threat, the countess collapsed in her place, and at that moment, with an ear-piercing roar, a flock of geese in the distance flew by, flapping their wings.  Kilian, glancing at what the gunshot had resulted in satisfaction, offered a hand to the Countess, who was now slumped on the dirty dirt floor.

“Hoo”

Noticing, the Countess took his cold, smooth, leather-gloved hand in hers.

“What kind of favors are you asking me to do for you? Your Excellency.”

After helping her up, Killian, who had pulled his hand back, concluded his words in a low tone.

“A very simple one.”