Chapter 29

“Haha. As expected, you knew.”

Tale let out an awkward laugh as he stepped out from behind the tree trunk. He scratched his head hesitantly before speaking.

“Um… You seem to have gotten quite close with the Countess in such a short time. I never imagined I would witness such a scene. This is quite something.”

A sharp crack appeared on Edmund’s face.

“What are you trying to say?”

The chilling aura made Tale flinch.

He quickly clasped his hands behind his head and whistled as if he knew nothing. Despite his relaxed demeanor, cold sweat dripped down his temple.

Edmund almost flicked Tale on the forehead for acting like he had seen something outrageous, but he held back.

“So, what’s your additional report?”

“Ahem. You ordered a further investigation into Lady Lilien, didn’t you? I met with the chief of security for the inquiry. He said he saw a man flirting with a woman who looked exactly like Lady Lilien. The guy supposedly looked like a laid-back playboy.”

“Did he describe his appearance?”

“He sees dozens of tourists daily, so he couldn’t recall the details. What should we do?”

A man. If that man was Devon, and Etricia found out, could she have hired an assassin for revenge? Rail’s theory that the motive was a love affair seemed to fit.

Edmund scowled at the unpleasant thought, his golden eyes narrowing fiercely.

“Tale, request the lord for the list of tourists from that time and check if Devon Buell is on it.”

Tale who had been picking his ear, suddenly forced an awkward smile.

“You don’t mean for me to go through all of them, do you?”

“You understood correctly.”

Tale’s jaw dropped. He was the type who couldn’t sit at a desk for more than ten minutes without feeling restless. And now he had to do this alone?

“Y-You mean I should divide the work among the other knights, right?”

“…”

Edmund gave him a cold, piercing stare before turning away.

Seriously? Tale felt an overwhelming pressure and clutched his head in despair. He wanted to slap himself for saying something unnecessary and angering his master.

“What is this…”

It was the day after returning from the duchy.

Only two days remained until the banquet. He had planned to take Lilien out to make up for leaving her behind, but it seemed he would have to change his plans.

Exclusive! Scandal Between Count Edmund of Mipedian and Countess Buell!

I could only laugh in disbelief at the empire’s daily newspaper, which was now plastered with scandalous stories about Edmund and me.

It even claimed that while my husband was away on a business trip, I visited the forest and had an affair with Edmund—a story straight out of a tawdry romance novel.

“Ha, as if I’d casually wander into a monster-infested forest.”

I scoffed at the crude article. The culprit behind it was obvious.

“Devon…”

His intention was clear. This was revenge against Edmund and an attempt to shift the blame for our failing marriage onto me.

Devon knew that I, the woman he had once manipulated, wouldn’t stand idly by while someone who helped me was slandered. This article was bait to make me come to him on my own.

Rail had mentioned that he had been discarding Devon’s numerous letters for days. This was Devon’s only way to force a meeting with me.

‘Clever move.’

Unfortunately for him, his pathetic scheme worked.

I crumpled the newspaper in frustration, grinding my teeth.

I knew Devon wouldn’t grant me a divorce easily. That’s why I had gathered evidence of his infidelity and stirred things up at the boutique.

But to pull a dirty trick like this first?

‘How petty. As expected from Devon the Despicable.’

I had wanted an amicable divorce to avoid a messy spectacle, but if this was how he wanted to play, I had no choice but to get messy too.

I threw the crumpled newspaper into the corner and stood up abruptly.

As I stepped out into the hallway, I saw Edmund approaching from the far end, speaking with Rail.

I had planned to confess to my wrongdoing anyway.

I folded my hands politely and bowed deeply.

“Countess?”

As Edmund’s polished shoes entered my vision, I tucked my loose hair behind my ear and spoke with a subdued tone.

“I apologize for the trouble.”

“Raise your head.”

I straightened up and spoke calmly.

“This is Devon’s doing. I’ll take care of it immediately.”

“You intend to handle it alone?”

“Of course.”

I spoke confidently, but honestly, I had no idea how to deal with this.

The scandal involved both Edmund and me.

High society thrived on gossip about the nobility, spreading rumors like wildfire.

For those who enjoyed others’ misfortunes as their own happiness, the truth didn’t matter.

What should I do? If only another scandal broke out, it would overshadow this one…

A thought flashed in my mind, and my lips curled into a smirk.

‘Wait, I could create a new scandal myself.’

Since they were already paying to spread malicious rumors about an affair…

I narrowed my eyes and said,

“Don’t worry. By tomorrow, they’ll all be talking about something else. But we should also find the journalist who wrote the article and demand a correction.”

That way, the scandal would disappear completely.

“Leave that to me.”

“Oh my, I’d appreciate that.”

It was a relief to have one problem taken care of. Edmund gave me a peculiar look as we stood in the hallway.

“Where are you going?”

“To meet Devon.”

I smiled coldly and added,

“He’s probably expecting me by now. Oh, and please tell Lilien I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our plans today.”

Just as I was about to leave, Edmund stepped beside me.

“I’ll accompany you.”

He could just assign someone to watch me, so why? I looked at him with curiosity, and he, reading my thoughts, spoke with a blank expression. I followed closely behind.

“No, that’s… I’ll go alone.”

“What if he becomes violent again?”

I stopped walking.

If Edmund came with me, it would confirm the scandal. Devon would be smug, using it as proof to flaunt in front of others. That would cause problems for Edmund and Lilien just before the banquet.

Even if I had thick skin, I couldn’t ruin Lilien’s debutante ball.

“Count, even if Devon becomes violent, it’s a matter between him and me.”

Edmund paused. I continued in a dry tone.

“If you’re really worried, assign someone else.”

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“I see. That was inconsiderate of me.”

“No, I appreciate your concern.”

Good. Now someone else would be assigned to watch over me.

Just as I thought that, Edmund turned back toward me.

“Go ahead.”

As he walked past, a thick vein pulsed at his temple.

Why did he look angry?

“Rail, go with the Countess.”

“Y-Yes! Understood.”

Rail bowed hastily and followed me.

I watched Edmund’s furious back as he walked away, bewildered.

‘Why is he mad when I did what he wanted…?’

I wasn’t the only one staring blankly at him.

Rail, too, looked stunned as he gazed after his master who was walking away.

Ding—.

I entered a bar known as a popular dating spot among nobles.

After passing through the lounge, Rail, who had followed me in, gave me a look and sat at an empty table far away.

This was a familiar place to me.

I used to come here often during my relationship with Devon.

Even though he didn’t have money, he kept asking to go on dates and always brought me here.

Tsk.

The unpleasant memory resurfaced, and I dropped down into the seat next to Devon, who was acting all smug at the bar table.

“Used your brain, huh? Making me come find you like this.”

“I used money too.”

Devon gave an annoying smirk and downed a cheap gin.

He put the glass down with a thud, rested his cheek on his hand, and slowly looked me up and down.

“They say a man finds his woman more attractive once she becomes someone else’s. Guess it’s true.”

While I was ordering a cocktail from the bartender, his sleazy flirtation made my stomach turn and my face harden.

“……”

I glared at Devon with a cold, cutting look, like I wanted to kill him.

The memories from the past were flooding back.

Sensing something was off, Devon awkwardly twitched his lips.

“What’s with that? I just meant you look pretty. You used to like it when I said things like that.”

“A compliment?”

It wasn’t a compliment. It was just sweet talk to get what you wanted.

And I was foolish enough to wag my tail and fall for it.

Back when we were dating, Devon seemed not just sincere, but blindly devoted.

He used sweet words to make it sound like he’d bring me all the rare treasures in the world.

But once we got married, he flipped like turning over a hand.

The voice that used to melt me with love now whispered sweet nothings to other women.

The feeling of loss and humiliation I felt when I realized that—

it’s impossible to describe.