It was well past midnight, but Cyton’s study was brightly lit.

  Jason pced a warm cup of tea in front of Cyton, who was seated at his desk, flipping through papers without pause.

  “Word has arrived that Lady Rosé Hertz has safely returned to the Hertz estate.”

  “Is that so?”

  Cyton responded in a dry tone to Jason’s report.

  Cyton showed little interest, not bothering to lift his eyes from the document in front of him.

  Without sparing the teacup even a gnce, he quietly muttered.

  “Well done. You may retire for the night.”

  However, when Jason didn’t seem inclined to leave, Cyton finally raised his head.

  “Do you have something to say?”

  “I’m concerned that you’ve been overworking yourself these past few days.”

  It wasn’t without reason—since returning from the royal pace, Cyton had been throwing himself into work like a man possessed.

  Even though spring marked the busiest season for the family’s business, he had insisted on pnning an arduous trip to the vil.

  Jason had repeatedly suggested deying the trip until summer, but his advice had been consistently ignored.

  “I wouldn’t do it if I couldn’t handle it.”

  Cyton, understanding the hidden concern in Jason’s words, replied in a composed tone.

  He then added, as if to say Jason should focus on the preparations for their departure.

  “Are the departure preparations complete?”

  “Yes, everything is ready. Accommodations along the route have been arranged, and I’ve already informed Lord Monsel, where you’ll stop st before arriving at the vil.”

  “Well done.”

  “Well, there’s something else…”

  Jason, having finished his report, hesitated as he carefully gauged Cyton’s reaction.

  “When are you pnning to return? I’ll need to know in advance to make the necessary arrangements.”

  He wanted to say that he’d like to accompany Cyton, but his duties to manage the estate and Cyton’s clear preference for traveling without him made that impossible.

  Besides the guards, no one else would be accompanying them on the journey.

  Perhaps because of this, Jason couldn’t shake a vague sense of foreboding.

  “Especially since that pce…”

  The vil in Hudson had a history of being used for less-than-pleasant purposes, which made him uneasy.

  Thus, Jason waited for Cyton’s answer with an unusual sense of trepidation.

  “The return schedule…”

  Cyton tapped his quill against the desk.

  “I’m not sure.”

  Resting his chin in one hand, he tilted his head thoughtfully.

  Jason waited for more, but Cyton didn’t give him the answer he was hoping for.

  Leaving a disappointed Jason behind, Cyton stood from his seat.

  “That’s enough for today. I’ll be in the carriage all day starting tomorrow, after all.”

  Once again avoiding a clear answer, his master left Jason resigned as he replied.

  “…Understood. Shall I prepare your bath?”

  A bath.

  Cyton usually took his baths in the evening, not the morning.

  Of course, that routine had become meaningless after Dahlia’s unexpected actions a few days ago.

  Recalling the events of that day, Cyton smiled unconsciously.

  Lately, Cyton often found himself smiling out of nowhere.

  Naturally, he wasn’t aware of it himself, nor was there anyone who would point it out to him.

  As he left the study and headed for his bedroom, his steps felt lighter than usual.

  But as he approached the bedroom, his lively steps became cautious—a habit he had recently developed.

  However, as he reached for the doorknob, he suddenly remembered that Dahlia wouldn’t be there and let out a wry chuckle.

  “What am I even doing right now…”

  Cyton had lived his entire life without caring about anyone’s opinions.

  Yet here he was, worrying about disturbing someone as he entered the room. The thought of it amused him even upon reflection.

  Feeling strangely empty, Cyton stood idly in the doorway, scanning the room.

  It was a room he had never thought of as vast or empty, but tonight, it felt hollow.

  Was it because the woman who always greeted him wasn’t there? But then again, they had only shared the room for a mere four days.

  Staring at the empty spot where Dahlia used to sit, Cyton finally moved forward.

  The only thing welcoming him in the rge room was the cold, empty bed.

  Sitting heavily on the bed, he slowly ran his hand over the cold surface as if searching for lingering warmth.

  Then, Jason’s earlier question suddenly crossed his mind.

  “When will you return?”

  Both Jason and Dahlia had asked him the same question—when the journey would end. Each time, Cyton had avoided answering.

  Because, truthfully, he didn’t know.

  As clouds obscured the moon, the unlit room grew darker.

  The shadow deepened in his crimson eyes as they lingered on the spot where Dahlia used to be.

  “Perhaps…”

  “…I may not return at all.”

  The answer he couldn’t bring himself to voice hung silently in the room.

  * * *

  Two days ter, the morning of their departure for the vil with Cyton finally dawned.

  The mansion was bustling with activity as the household prepared for the departure of its master and mistress.

  Among the staff, Samantha’s mouth was having the busiest day of all.

  “I heard the sea in Hudson is absolutely beautiful. It’s still spring, so the water will be cold, but dipping your feet should be fine. Oh, and there’s a festival around this time of year near there…”

  As always, Samantha chattered endlessly while fixing Dahlia’s hair.

  She cimed she was styling Dahlia’s hair to look effortlessly chic.

  On a normal day, Samantha’s morning chatter might have been tiresome, but today, Dahlia was in a good mood and happily engaged with her.

  “I wasn’t sure how many clothes to pack, so I brought as many as possible. I haven’t heard anything about when you’ll be returning to the capital. Did His Grace mention anything to you?”

  “Well, now that you mention it, I haven’t been told how long we’ll be staying at the vil either.”

  The st time she subtly asked Cyton about the duration of their stay at the vil, he hadn’t given her an answer.

  Well, she had agreed to go simply because Cyton asked her to. It wasn’t particurly important to her where the vil was or how long they’d stay.

  Besides, the maids usually handled everything, so she trusted them to take care of the details.

  “At most, I’d say ten days? His Grace has plenty of matters to attend to in the capital.”

  “That makes sense. I suppose I can reduce the amount of clothing I packed.”

  As Samantha muttered a list of items to remove, Dahlia spoke.

  “Samantha, did you pack your things? I’ll finish up here, so go and get yourself ready.”

  Samantha tilted her head, as if confused by the suggestion.

  “What? I’m not going to the vil, my dy.”

  “What? What do you mean by that?”

  Dahlia, who had been adjusting her reflection in the mirror, turned around in surprise.

  Samantha tilted her head again, looking puzzled.

  “Did no one tell you? His Grace said that only a select group of guards would be traveling to the vil. A maid to attend to you will be assigned there.”

  “What?”

  This was the first she’d heard of it.

  She had assumed that Samantha, being her personal maid, would naturally accompany her to the vil. Seeing Dahlia’s expression harden, Samantha attempted to lighten the mood.

  “At first, I thought it was strange too, but maybe the two of you just want some alone time together?”

  “...Hudson, right? The vil we’re going to today.”

  “Yes, it’s a vil that’s been owned by the Seyer dukedom for a very long time.”

  A strange unease crept up on her, but she couldn’t pinpoint the reason.

  “I’ve heard it’s a very beautiful pce, and the road leading there is supposed to be stunning too.”

  “Is that so?”

  Her unease was soon eased by Samantha’s cheerful voice.

  “It’s just a short break for a few days; what could possibly go wrong?”

  Moreover, as Cyton’s blood supplier, her primary concern now was safely delivering the baby.

  As Dahlia stared at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought—

  A knock at the door was followed by Jason’s appearance.

  “My dy, are you ready?”

  “Almost. What about His Grace?”

  “He’s waiting downstairs.”

  Hearing that Cyton was waiting for her, Samantha’s hands worked faster.

  Only after a final, thorough check did Samantha release Dahlia.

  “Then, my dy, have a safe trip.”

  Leaving behind Samantha, who sniffled about how worried she’d be during their time apart, Dahlia exited the room.

  The sound of her heels echoed through the quiet hallway.

  Quickening her pace, Dahlia descended the stairs to the first floor, where Cyton was already waiting for her.

  The journey had begun.