As Diego said this, he gave a worried look. He even sighs, as if to indicate that the situation is too much to bear. He offers a weak smile and thanks Estella.

“I’m glad you’re here, too. It must have been hard for you to manage the children at a time like this.”

“….Considering the numerous responsibilities that have fallen, can I really afford to be absent? It is only natural that I take care of the children.”

“I’m sure you were very surprised by the suddenness of it all.”

“Only the little duke, who has personally experienced great hardships.”

With that, Estella’s gaze drifted to the area around Diego’s neck. It was a little wrinkled from the Duchess’s grip and shaking, but that didn’t change what he wore around his neck.

Estella kept her gaze on the black bow tie.

“…The thing I mentioned before, it seems that the item has become necessary after all.”

Her voice trembled slightly, but she succeeded in capturing the other person’s attention. She could sense the firmness in Diego’s shoulders.

Diego slowly turned his head and looked Estella in the eye. She didn’t look away, but met his gaze, as if to prove that the contact was not accidental, but intended.

Diego’s expression was unreadable, but then the corners of his mouth slowly tugged up. Despite the smile, his eyes were cold.

The bloodstained clothes and gloves were incinerated, and the dagger was washed under running water to wipe away the bloodstains. The evidence was removed, but the witness remained. Dealing with people is trickier than with objects because they can talk.

But Diego was not much concerned about being discovered. He was a man who could just as easily have thrown the person who would reveal his secret into the fires that burned his clothes.

Diego replied in a gentle tone.

“You and I will have much to discuss concerning the children. I will see you privately when this meeting is over.”

* * *

“Miss Margaret, age 22. I understand she saw the advert for a governess and submitted an application, and after a brief interview, I made the final decision to hire her. She’s only been in the manor for a month.”

Diego tore his eyes away from the papers as he readied himself. Javier looked at him as if to ask if he could continue. Perhaps he should listen more closely. Diego set his pen down on the desk and leaned back against the chair’s backrest. His vision was blurry from lack of sleep, but not so much that he couldn’t discern where he was.

Diego was sitting in the Duke of Berta’s official residence. After his father’s death, Diego had begun to conduct business here. He’d been in and out of the room so many times that it was already familiar, but there were some differences. Like the painting on the opposite wall that he could see when he sat at his desk in the office. It wasn’t a huge change, but the point it made was never trivial.

“Go on.”

Diego shook his head. One of the first things he’d done upon returning to the mansion from the funeral had been to investigate Estella. She knew his secret, and he didn’t. It meant that even if he had the upper hand in every way, she wasn’t without a hand to play, and that fact irritated him to no end.

“As the little duke knows, there have been rumors that she is skilled in teaching children. Even the young maidservants seem to like her, praising her competence and gentle personality. One notable point is… two days ago, she reportedly received a dismissal notice from the Duchess. She hasn’t gone out yet, though, as there’s been a bit of a happening.”

At Diego’s nod, the butler continued as if he had been waiting. Diego adjusted his glasses, which tickled the bridge of his nose.

Two days ago. The exact day the Duke of Berta had died. Diego hadn’t forgotten Estella’s visit to him before heading to the temple. Why had she revealed her knowledge of his plans then? If it was simply to blackmail him, it wouldn’t have been too late for her to come to him after the funeral.

The fragmentary story didn’t offer much in the way of motive. At best, the Duchess’s dismissal could be a demand for job security. Or maybe she wanted money, as she did with Duke Berta.

If it was simply money, there was nothing that couldn’t be done. It was a matter of paying her a small sum of money and sending her off to another manor with a letter of recommendation. Diego asked, as if seeking further evidence of his suspicions.

“How did she get into the manor?”

“His father had a history of gambling, and while the family had always been well-off, it had recently become difficult to put food on the table. It seemed like she was struggling financially and decided to look for a job.”

Now that he knew her father was a gambler, he understood her fierce demands on Duke Berta. Apparently, the family’s finances were so tight that they couldn’t afford to be embarrassed.

“A common misfortune.”

Diego commented briefly. Then, as if on cue, he asked.

“Come to think of it, I heard she had a fiancé.”

“Ah, yes, her ex-fiancé is the second son of Baroness Erika. From what I heard, he’s a pretty solid guy.”

“I suppose she didn’t get any help from him?”

“Don’t worry. I heard that she started seeking employment as a governess and broke off her engagement completely.”

The answer came back unfocused. Diego, who was about to ask the next question, looked up. You could tell he was dumbfounded.

“I don’t know why you say that like it’s my concern.”

“…Isn’t that what was important to you?”

Javier was stunned. What was there to be gained by doing a background check on woman eho was of age? If she were a prominent figure in politics, it might be a different story, but Estella was merely a governess in a humble household. It meant that there was no reason for Diego to take an interest in such a person.

Ignoring the butler’s puzzled expression, Diego continued.

“What is the reason for the anullment?”

“As I said, Miss Margaret was given notice of the divorce when she decided to look for work. Otherwise, I suspect the man would have tried to force the marriage, and it was rumoured in the neighbourhood that they were a good match.”

He thought she was dumped because of her father’s debt, but it turns out he was a bit of a dick.

Diego remembered the look on Estella’s face when she’d told him about the breakup. There hadn’t been much regret in her eyes. Diego narrowed his eyes.

“If she was in such dire straits, why didn’t she seek help from her fiancé?”

“Because a marriage on a shaky footing is bound to be unhappy. And even if her fiancé had said yes, his parents wouldn’t have been happy.”

“Still, it would have been better than looking for a job.”

“I’m sure there’s more to the story if we dig deeper, but the known situation is what I had just said.”

Diego nodded steadily. He didn’t bother to probe further. The affairs of separated lovers were for the parties themselves. How Estella had parted ways with Baron Erika’s second son was none of Diego’s business.

“Is there anything else?”

“Well, there isn’t much to know about a country maiden’s background in the first place.”

In the end, he concluded, there was no great backstory to sway him. It’s not like she was in league with the Duchess. If the Duchess had wanted to do something with Estella, she wouldn’t have kicked her out of the mansion.

Javier looked at Diego and asked.

“But are you sure you’re not interested in Miss Margaret?”

“Why do you keep asking me that?”

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Javier responded with a smirk and a playful tone. It seemed amusing to him that inexperienced Diego had asked for an investigation into someone of the opposite sex for the first time. It was truly an unfounded misunderstanding. Diego chuckled in disbelief, as if to express his bewilderment.

“Can you even see her with those thick glasses covering half her face?”

Rising from his seat, Diego slowly approached the window behind him. He wasn’t looking for anyone in particular, but he caught a glimpse of Estella walking through the garden. Her face was blurred by the distance, but he recognised her by her neatly braided hair. Diego studied her stiff gait for a moment.

“I admit that nobles often view governesses as simple entertainment partners, but I assure you that I have no such intentions.”

He drew a clear line. Besides, the other person didn’t seem to have any particular romantic interest in him. Just by looking at the fact that she brought the children along instead of seizing the opportunity to spend time with him, it was evident. Diego spoke in a murmuring tone.

“Teachers are supposed to teach children.”

Diego didn’t break his gaze until she was hidden by the building. When she was completely out of sight, a cautious question came from behind him.

“Then why did you order a background check on her?”

“She knows what I did two days ago.”

The butler’s face hardened at Diego’s simple answer. The words were plain, but to those in the know, they meant a lot. Diego looked back at the butler and ordered.

“Go tell her I’m looking for her, because we need to talk.”

* * *

Estella had just put the basket of apricots down by the kitchen sink when Javier, the butler, came to the door.

“Lord Diego wants to see you.”

Estella looked up at the sound of a voice she hadn’t heard in a long time. From where she came in, the butler was standing only a few steps away.

“Lord Diego?”

Estella repeated, a hint of panic in her voice. Although Diego had forewarned her of the meeting, she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. He had been busy all day attending to the affairs of the household, while Estella had been idle, thanks to the fact that her class schedule had been cancelled for the time being.

Fortunately, the Duchess didn’t show any strong intention to dismiss Estella. After all, if Estella were to disappear suddenly, it would be the Duchess who would feel the regret. It would be impossible for the Duchess to handle the children’s education while dealing with her own concerns.

In her newfound freedom, Estella took the time to visit the apricot tree in the garden. The children had eaten well when she’d taken some from Mrs Gail earlier, and the sugar and vitamins would help them through the depression anyway, so she thought she’d give them something to cheer them up.

Estella wondered if the plump apricots would help her talk to Diego. The answer, of course, was no. Regretfully, she set the basket down and approached the butler.

“Where should I go?”

“I’ll show you.”

With that, the butler opened the kitchen door and walked out. Estella followed quietly behind him. It was only in hindsight that she realised she was dishevelled as she climbed the ladder. She hastily brushed the hem of her skirt and straightened her collar. The only thing she couldn’t quite manage was her hair, which had become tangled in the branches. She ran her hands through it, but she could feel stray strands sticking out. She was so preoccupied that it took her half a beat to realise that the butler had called for her.

“Miss Margaret.”

His voice was hushed, as if he were giving her a warning. The advice that followed was eerily similar to Estella’s suspicions.

“Do not provoke the Duke.”