Arwyn was a kingdom located at the northernmost edge of the continent, infamous for its extreme isolationism and hostility toward outsiders.
The only family that had maintained a steady relationship with them was the Lowell family.
No one knew how he had learned about it, but during the previous banquet, Viscount Rotner had casually mentioned an interest in acquiring premium timber grown in Arwyn.
Recalling what he knew about the First Prince of Arwyn, Cedric had promised to arrange a meeting.
“Viscount Rotner seems deeply moved by the fact that the Lowell family personally offered to mediate. Since Arwyn rarely interacts with the outside world, he apparently believed trade was impossible from the start. He's extremely grateful for this opportunity.”
“That’s good to hear.”
This matter, too, had originally begun with Eileen’s advice.
Naturally, his thoughts drifted back to her once again.
Cedric barely listened to the rest of the report. Instead, he tapped his pen against the desk before abruptly standing up.
“…Young Master, where are you going?”
“I’ve been locked up in my bedroom and office for days. I need some fresh air. I’ll head to the training grounds.”
Cassel immediately followed him with a grave expression.
“You intend to ignore the doctor’s instructions. You still need rest.”
“I know my own condition better than anyone.”
“If Lady Eileen were here, she would definitely scold you.”
“Eileen probably doesn’t even care whether I’m injured.”
The moment the words left his mouth, regret followed.
Did Eileen Cassier truly think that way?
That no matter what happened to him, he was no different from any other stranger?
Cassel answered as though it were obvious.
“She probably assumes it’s nothing more than a minor bruise. We only informed her that you injured your arm.”
“Then go tell her it’s more serious than that.”
Cassel looked at him as if to say, Are you really planning to be this childish?
When Cedric stepped outside, white mist escaped his lips into the cold air.
Yet somehow, the chill felt refreshing.
He took a deep breath before slowly exhaling.
“…And tell her something else. Tell her I want to talk. In person.”
He still had no intention of calling it an apology.
He didn’t think the situation had reached that point.
But the longer Eileen remained silent, the heavier his guilt became.
Perhaps it really had been serious enough to warrant an apology.
“…Understood.”
Cedric believed that would be enough.
Surely Eileen would come to see him.
Even if only to laugh at him for trying to apologize first.
Eileen always behaved as though she were looking down upon the world from the palm of her hand.
As though she could see through everything.
But the news Cassel brought back this time...
Was completely unexpected.
“…She’s sick?”
“Yes. The knight we sent last time never met the young lady personally. He was told she was out and delivered the message to the butler instead.”
Cassel continued cautiously.
“This time, I specifically instructed them to deliver it directly to her. However, they claimed she was too ill to meet anyone.”
“How sick? Why?”
Cedric forgot all pretense of reading the documents before him and focused entirely on the conversation.
The work he had been handling after dinner vanished from his mind.
With an uncomfortable expression, Cassel explained.
“…Apparently she has contracted a highly contagious serious illness.”
“A contagious illness? What kind of vague explanation is that?”
“I asked the same question. But the butler claimed he was busy and refused to elaborate further.”
But Cedric had seen Eileen himself only a few days ago.
She had looked perfectly fine.
And now she was supposedly too sick to meet anyone?
“…First she was out of the house, and now she’s bedridden with some mysterious illness?”
“Not everyone possesses your monstrous stamina and recovery speed, Young Master.”
“Even so, something feels off.”
Cedric genuinely found it suspicious.
It felt as though someone was trying to hide something—and doing a poor job of it.
If Eileen were truly gravely ill, she would have at least sent a letter telling him not to worry.
Or she would have sent a note scolding him for wasting his time.
“She would’ve sent something. At the very least, she’d tell me to stop bothering her.”
Cassel nodded slightly.
“In that case... would you like to visit in person?”
“What?”
“A butler may be able to turn away a knight, but he can’t stop the heir of the Lowell family.”
Cedric couldn’t answer immediately.
Going all the way there...
For some reason, it felt pathetic.
What exactly was he expecting by visiting the Cassier estate?
“…Forget it. If you’re right and she’s genuinely ill, then she’ll need time to recover.”
He suppressed the growing suspicion within him.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about it entirely.
That night, Cedric tossed and turned without sleeping.
...Should I go anyway?
It was a foolish thought.
His pride wouldn’t allow it.
But if she really was sick, shouldn’t he at least check on her once?
At least on the surface, he was still her fiancé.
Wasn’t that much his responsibility?
Even Eileen, who appeared indifferent to most things, always cared about public appearances.
“Right. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”
He convinced himself.
He merely wanted to confirm whether she was truly too ill to respond.
Not because he suspected she was pretending to be sick to avoid him.
But the moment that thought crossed his mind, his mood worsened again.
No way. She wouldn’t use such an obvious method. Does she think I wouldn’t notice?
In the end, Cedric stayed awake the entire night.
Before dawn had fully broken, he jumped out of bed and changed his clothes.
“I’m going to the Cassier estate.”
“At this hour?”
Leaving the servants startled behind him, he practically flew down the stairs.
“You’re going alone...?”
“Someone fetch the Young Master’s aide—”
But Cedric was already mounting his horse.
“I’ll accompany you. Wouldn’t it be better if there were two of us?”
“Fine.”
As always, Eden acted quickly.
Cassel offered advice.
Eden simply followed.
Oddly enough, Cedric found that reassuring.
No matter what happened, Eden would never waver.
No matter what absurd arguments the Count tried to make.
Because—
Today, Cedric Lowell had only one objective.
To see Eileen Cassier with his own eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, he strode into the Cassier estate.
“I’m here to see Lady Eileen Cassier.”
The butler immediately rushed forward and blocked his path.
“Young Master! Arriving without notice at this hour... The young lady is still asleep. Besides, she is suffering from a highly contagious illness!”
“If she’s sick, I’ll deal with that myself. I have the right to check on the condition of my fiancée.”
“You cannot simply force your way in like this!”
At a glance from Cedric, Eden moved.
Without a word, he subdued the butler.
“I’ll handle things here.”
Cedric immediately turned toward a nearby maid.
She stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.
In a calm voice, he asked,
“Which room?”
“…The top floor... at the end of the corridor...”
The answer came in a trembling voice.
Something about it felt wrong.
Why was Eileen—the central figure of the family—staying in a place like that?
At the very edge of the mansion?
Don’t tell me she’s really being abused?
He didn’t want to believe that Eileen was being mistreated in her own home.
Ignored? Perhaps.
Excluded? Certainly possible.
But harmed?
Yet the atmosphere here felt different.
Tension.
Fear.
Everything sharpened his instincts.
He wasn’t even carrying a weapon, yet the servants looked as though they were facing execution.
“Young Master Lowell. It is an honor to see you again, but this behavior is—”
Even Count Cassier, who appeared to have just woken up, was breaking into a cold sweat.
“I believe seeing my fiancée is a perfectly legitimate right.”
“Eileen is refusing all visitors.”
“I’ll hear that from her directly.”
Without waiting for permission, Cedric marched up the stairs.
Two steps at a time.
Faster and faster.
And when he finally arrived at her door—
Someone was standing guard outside.
Not like a protector.
More like a jailer keeping a prisoner confined.
Cedric’s heart began to pound violently.
