Chapter 7 (Part 2)

"Now tell me. Who ordered the tailing of Baroness Benjamin?"

Herald had thought from the moment he discovered that someone was following Lily that the second prince would be behind it.

Of course, he didn't think the second prince would directly assign someone to follow Lily. He must have asked the nobles who trust and follow him. Who could that noble be?

"The culprit who assigned someone to follow Baroness Benjamin is none other than her husband, Baron Fredick Benjamin."

Herald, who had been recalling the list of nobles on the second prince's side in his mind, raised his eyebrows at the unexpected name.

"Who did you say the culprit was?"

"Baron Fredick Benjamin, the husband of the baroness."

He had naturally thought the culprit would be among the nobles on the second prince's side, but to think it was the husband. Herald, feeling deflated, sighed softly and looked down at the garden shrouded in darkness.

Dillon, watching his reaction, asked:

"Shall I find out why Fredick Benjamin ordered someone to follow his wife?"

"No need."

What Herald wanted to know was not the domestic affairs of the Benjamin baronial family, but why the second prince was digging into that door. He didn't need to know what kind of problem existed between the Baron and Baroness Benjamin. He didn't want to know either.

His mood was already low from attending an unwanted party, and now even what he was sure of had gone wrong, so his irritation surged.

"More importantly, let's return to the party hall now, Captain. The protagonist shouldn't be absent for too long."

Dillon urged him, not knowing he was fanning the flames. At this, Herald tilted the corner of his lips crookedly and grabbed the end of the terrace railing.

"Dillon."

"Yes?"

"Explain well to my parents."

"What...!"

Dillon was startled when Herald threw himself over the railing and looked down.

Herald, who had safely landed on the ground using the bushes as a buffer, waved his hand at the half-dazed Dillon before disappearing leisurely into the darkness.

[This is the timeline separator]

The place Lily headed to was a shabby shopping street far from Royal Street where noble mansions were gathered. Even at this late hour, the street was bustling with people, most of whom were commoners.

Lily entered the smallest and shabbiest inn among several inns. She was worried about not having enough money, but fortunately, she was able to get a room.

Although it was a shabby room with nothing but a bed, which even creaked and had a moldy smell from the yellowed blanket, it was more cozy and comfortable to Lily now than the bedroom in the Benjamin mansion.

"I'm hungry."

As her mind relaxed, the hunger she had forgotten came rushing in. It was natural to be hungry since she hadn't eaten dinner, let alone breakfast and lunch.

The money left after renting the inn room was only 1 shilling. The only food she could order with this money was vegetable stew. It was an unimpressive stew with only onions and potatoes, but it was quite edible when eaten while hungry.

As Lily was filling her starving stomach, she looked up when someone put down a mug of beer.

"I don't know what you're depressed about, but eat this and cheer up."

The innkeeper, who met Lily's eyes, said with a smile. A warm hospitality emanated from the smile.

"When you're depressed, drinking alcohol makes you feel better."

Lily is 22 years old this year. Although it had been two years since her coming-of-age ceremony, she had only drunk alcohol once until now.

Even then, she drank wine to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony, but spat it out in disgust at the astringent sensation that filled her mouth.

Seeing my reaction, my parents laughed loudly and patted my head, saying their daughter was still young.

The faint memory that suddenly came to mind made her mouth bitter. It hurt even more knowing that she would never see that scene again.

Lily painfully buried the bitter memory and looked at the beer mug with foam rising. She too had heard the story that drinking alcohol when depressed makes you feel better. She didn't know if it was true, but where there's smoke there's fire, so it must be somewhat true.

Thinking like that made her curious. The desire to forget the conversations she had with Fredick made it even more tempting.

Should I try drinking it?

Lily, who had been staring intently at the beer mug while contemplating, slowly reached out her hand.

Search "lover" on redcatty(.)com to read ahead up to chapter 70.