I leisurely tapped my foot while gazing out at the distant window view. Though I wasn’t particularly eager to go, news of recent heavy rains and winter snowstorms isolating the area left me with no choice but to act. While it wasn’t a place frequented by many, making it easy to abandon, it held significance as the place that had shaped me, so I couldn’t discard it so easily.

When I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of flowers on the Porlil Hill and the accompanying breeze, childhood memories surfaced. The fleeting splendor of those times made me reflect on the indifference of a life that had long passed.

That was the complicated way to put it. Simply put, it meant that the place was excessively dull.

The people who had once tended to the area had all retreated to the city due to worsening climate conditions, leaving it abandoned. This only added to the likelihood of a tedious visit.

As the carriage, accompanied by five attendants, slowly made its way toward Porlil Hill, thoughts flitted through my mind about how slow the process of reclaiming the old paths was.

“Are you worried?”

Hearing the question, I turned my head with a smile. Ian, who never seemed to lose that smile no matter how much time passed, was lifting the corners of his mouth. I locked eyes with him for a moment before turning back to the window.

“I just wonder if leaving the estate like this, especially with how busy things are lately, is the right choice.”

“Think of it as a vacation. Didn’t the Viscount say so?”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Because it was called a vacation, I had to leave behind the mountain of documents I had intended to bring. With the Aztein and Veridian families merging their business sectors to the extent that rumors of an eventual union were rampant, the political pressure was immense.

No matter how strong a force one might wield, it wasn’t enough to shake the entire empire. Careful progress and public opinion were key to advancing the plan, and during such a delicate time, a vacation?

“A vacation at the tail end of autumn? Whose idea was this, anyway?”

“The Viscount said it was the best timing to make the trip while the paths were still passable.”

“…Right.”

How sneaky. Lately, Ian had been using Grandfather as an excuse for everything. Annoying, considering how willingly Grandfather indulged him. The man who once doted on me as his precious granddaughter had, over the past two years since my marriage to Ian, often made me feel like he cherished Ian more.

Not that Grandfather outright neglected me in favor of Ian, but he had undeniably taken on the role of a mediator in our relationship. Still, I couldn’t help but wish for his bias to lean more my way.

As I clicked my tongue and turned back to the window, Ian’s hand reached over, tugging lightly on my long hair.

“Your hair’s gotten really long.”

In the two years that had passed, what had once barely reached my shoulders now fell past my waist.

“I’ve been too busy to even think about cutting it.”

“Anyone listening would think I’m the kind of husband who works his wife to the bone.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Hmm.”

Ian rubbed his chin with a hum, then grinned at me, his eyes gleaming.

“Well, you’re not entirely wrong. But things have been more relaxed recently, haven’t they? Everything’s going smoothly.”

“Do you realize how much of a financial hit we’ve taken from all the issues popping up everywhere?”

“That was expected. Besides, the profits from the business the Earl of Nemir started have been massive, so it hasn’t really affected us.”

“That’s true…”

About six months ago, the medical products the Earl of Nemir had been researching were officially launched, yielding an enormous profit. The substantial funds poured into his research were being quickly recouped, marking a resounding success.

Thus, the current losses didn’t seem like much. Still, entrusting all the deficit management to my deputies while coming here left me uneasy.

“Don’t think too much about it. Look, we’ll soon see the estate at Porlil, and aren’t you happy to be returning after so long?”

Happy? It had been three years since I’d last been there—a place that held both memories I wished to forget and those I couldn’t afford to.

“Let’s just stay for three days and head back. The attendants will handle the rest.”

I glanced at Ian, who kept emphasizing the word “rest.” He smiled innocently, tilting his head with a playful grin.

“Ian.”

“Hmm?”

“I saw you talking with Grandfather late last night.”

“Hmm?”

His eyes narrowed, and so did mine in response.

“Must’ve been your imagination.”

“I clearly heard your voice and Grandfather’s.”

“When exactly?”

The fact that he asked when only confirmed my suspicion.

“Is that important?”

After being pressed for a moment, Ian rubbed his chin and let out a hollow laugh. Then he shook his head, furrowing his brow and narrowing his eyes.

“It was just a simple conversation telling you to be careful. From the viscount’s perspective, he’s worried about his granddaughter traveling far…”

“Poriril Hill is a place I’ve been familiar with, even before I became an adult. Moreover, it’s not near any mountainous areas, so there are no wild animals, and it’s so remote that I’ve never encountered thieves or bandits. I don’t think my grandfather would worry about my journey.”

As I continued to push, Ian’s face showed a moment of surprise, but he quickly shifted his expression with practiced ease.

“Well, it’s nothing serious. Like I said, it was just a mix of concern and a farewell. That’s all.”

“If that’s the case, there wouldn’t have been any problem discussing it in the morning. Was there really a need to meet at dawn just to have that kind of conversation?”

“Lorencia, are you doubting me now? Or are you doubting your grandfather, Viscount Aztaine? Huh?”

There he goes again, bringing up my grandfather. He knows I would never dare act brazenly in my grandfather’s name, which is why he does this.

But not today. I scoffed and nodded my head.

“Yes, I’m suspicious of both of you.”

“Wha… What?”

“Lately, seeing how well you and my grandfather seem to get along, it makes me uneasy. I can’t help but feel you’re plotting something.”

“Plotting…? Come on, we’re not kids.”

Ian frowned and ran his hand through his hair, the blond strands catching the light as they fell.

“So, you’re saying I’m doing something wrong?”

“Well, even if it’s not something wrong, if there’s anything you’re hiding, you’d better bring it out now.”

I deliberately let my eyes glimmer.

“While I’m still being nice.”

“With that face? There’s nothing nice about it.”

Ian chuckled as he playfully poked my furrowed brow. Then, shrugging his shoulders, he showed both his empty hands. What was the point of that?

“I’ve already told you everything. To repeat, it was just concerns and a farewell. That’s it. He did mention he’s been having trouble sleeping lately.”

“…That’s really all?”

“That’s really all.”

“Then why did you try to deceive me?”

“Deceive you? When did I ever deceive you?”

“Well…”

I stopped mid-answer, realizing I had jumped to conclusions. If Ian’s words were true, he had spoken honestly, and it was I who had assumed they were lies.

No one had lied, but I felt deceived. How ironic. As I looked at him intently, Ian chuckled and gestured to the window. The view of the mansion, bathed in a gentle evening glow, came into view. It had been a while since I’d seen this place.

“You must be tired today. Let’s just go in and rest. Okay?”

From behind me, his arms wrapped snugly around my waist, clinging tightly. I tried to push him away, but Ian simply held me tighter and shook his head.

“Being falsely accused of lying is frustrating enough, so I’m sticking with you tonight. You usually spare me only twice a week, so during this trip, I expect you to deal with me all day. Got it?”

Why was he bringing that up now? Flustered, I squirmed to escape, but his strong frame and the cool scent of his cologne overwhelmed me. Eventually, I gave up and relaxed in his embrace.

I giggled softly, leaning against him as he rested his chin on my head, gazing at the mansion in the distance.