"The dresses in your bag are being laundered. I thought you might need something to wear, so I brought this. Is that alright?"
When I glanced at the dress in Marsha's hands, I was momentarily stunned.
It was the same style I used to wear during my time at this villa—
a white dress trimmed with thick, soft fur.
I had no choice but to nod.
Marsha beamed and cheerfully helped me change.
In no time, I looked exactly as I did during my honeymoon with Lloyd. I stepped out of the room with a dazed expression.
"There's still some time before breakfast. Would you like to take a walk in the garden?"
At Marsha's kind suggestion, I nodded.
Wearing a warm cape with fur over my shoulders, I walked through the familiar garden.
In winter, I often walked here with Lloyd.
At the center of the garden bloomed the Saintpol flower, named after this very villa.
Drawn to it, I found myself standing in front of the lone Saintpol bloom, still beautiful atop a bare tree.
A flower that blooms alone on a barren winter branch.
A flower that waits for spring, blooming all by itself in the cold.
It somehow reminded me of myself.
I think I used to stare at this flower just like this, lost in thought.
Every time, Lloyd would come and gently hold my cold hands.
As I stood there, lost in old memories, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Yuliana, what are you doing out here?"
It was Lloyd.
Without thinking, I responded naturally while still staring at the flower.
"There's another Saintpol in bloom today. Look—it's so beautiful, isn't it?"
He replied in a warm voice.
"Yes, it is."
I continued staring blankly at the flower, but then suddenly realized my mistake and stiffened.
I had spoken as if I'd seen this garden many times before—too familiar, as if from past experience.
Worried, I slowly turned to look at Lloyd.
But he wasn't looking at the flower. He was smiling brightly at me.
And then he softly added,
"Beautiful enough to dazzle."
***
Two days had passed since Yuliana disappeared.
Kallion had expected her to go to her family home—but he was wrong.
"She didn't go to the Heister estate," Layla reported.
Kallion's expression hardened.
She didn't go to Heister?
Then where could she have gone?
"Any other news?"
"We've spread people around the estate, but no one has seen her."
The fact that Yuliana was completely out of sight made him feel strangely anxious.
It had only been two days, and yet…
"Did we send anyone to the Helloica Orphanage?"
Since she cared deeply for the children there, she might have gone to visit.
"Not yet. But I'll send someone immediately."
Tapping his fingers restlessly on the desk, Kallion stood up.
"No. I'll go myself."
"…Pardon?"
Layla looked shocked.
"There's no need for you to go personally. I can send someone right away."
"I'll get there faster myself."
Layla's face stiffened at his firm tone.
"She might not even be there."
"I know."
Kallion threw on his coat. Layla clutched her hands tightly, visibly anxious.
"This isn't like you, my lord."
Kallion turned slowly to look at her.
His face showed no emotion.
No—more accurately, Layla could no longer read him like she once could.
"Not like me, huh…"
Fixing his sleeve calmly, Kallion replied indifferently.
"That's what I should be saying—to you, Layla."
His eyes, now sharp, met hers directly.
"If it were the usual you, you'd have sent someone to the orphanage before I even asked."
"…"
Layla hesitated, unable to respond. Kallion tilted his head slightly.
"Do you not want Yuliana to return?"
"Of course not. I wasn't thinking clearly."
She bowed her head. Kallion looked at her quietly and adjusted his collar.
"You're only human. You can't be perfect all the time."
"…I'm sorry."
"I understand it's not easy for you to serve a woman from Heister."
"…"
"But our marriage to Heister isn't something that can be taken so lightly."
With those firm words, Kallion left the office without hesitation.
Layla frowned, still unable to understand his actions.
***
"I'm sorry, but the lady hasn't visited here."
The director of Helloica Orphanage replied with a troubled expression.
Kallion sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"I see…"
"Is something wrong with her, perhaps?"
The director asked worriedly. Kallion shook his head.
"No. Nothing like that."
"That's good. With the fire incident happening not long ago, I was worried something else might have happened."
At those words, Kallion's expression stiffened.
There had been many incidents after the fire—
The false rumors that Yuliana had leaked secrets to Silverstel.
His harsh words and treatment toward her because he believed them.
Blaming her for entering his late mother's room…
Leaving the orphanage, he walked slowly and sat heavily on a bench.
And Layla's injuries… Maybe, just maybe, Yuliana was telling the truth.
She didn't seem like someone who would hurt another person without reason.
At the time, he had been blinded by rage after seeing Layla's wounds—
But now, he regretted not listening to Yuliana more carefully.
Yet, if Yuliana was right… then Layla had lied.
But would Layla really go as far as to harm herself and frame someone?
He didn't want to believe Layla would lie to him.
She was a loyal member of Valdormer—one of the few within his circle.
So why did he feel like he had made a terrible mistake?
Why was he so anxious and uneasy?
Clenching and unclenching his fists, he wiped his face with frustration.
If she wasn't at the Heister estate… and not at the orphanage…
There was only one place left to suspect.
Silverstel.
That's where her former lover Lloyd was.
Just thinking about it made Kallion frown deeply.
Maybe he had thought of that from the beginning but chose to ignore it.
He didn't want to imagine that she had run away to be with Lloyd.
At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Did you come all the way here looking for the lady?"
It was Jared, now unaffiliated after the downfall of the Schultz family and the disbanding of their secret unit.
Kallion frowned slightly as he looked at Jared.
"How did you know?"
Jared gave a bitter smile.
"I've been in this world for ten years. There's no way I wouldn't hear about the lady disappearing from the Valdormer estate."
Jared used to be a covert agent for the Schultz family—
Carrying out secret missions and assassinations in the shadows.
After Schultz was taken down by Kallion, Jared's team was dissolved.
But during that time, Kallion had realized just how capable Jared was.
After a pause, Kallion finally spoke.
"Would you consider working under me?"
Jared's face stiffened instantly.
Because he remembered Yuliana's instructions:
"If Kallion tries to approach you…
Follow his orders. But don't let him know you're connected to me.
And report everything he tells you—directly to me."
She had spoken as if she knew Kallion would reach out to him.
Did that mean her disappearance was all part of a bigger plan?
Jared quickly pushed aside the complicated thoughts.
Right now, the most important thing was to find the missing lady.
"If the Lord of Valdormer needs me, I will gladly follow."