Chapter 6
Ines jumped up from her seat.
“Ah, Kallion. This is my friend Reyven. Reyven, this is Duke Elmenhardt.”
“An honor to meet you, Your Grace.”
Reyven also rose quickly and bowed his head toward Kallion. The Duke walked toward them with his flawless, unhurried steps and spoke.
“Friend?”
“Yes. We grew up in the same neighborhood as children.”
“The same neighborhood?”
“B-back where my family still lives.”
Why is he asking things he doesn’t even care about?
Cold sweat ran down her back.
Kallion smiled faintly, a smile impossible to read, and reached his hand out toward Reyven.
“Pleasure. You’re the first of my wife’s friends I’ve ever met.”
“I’m glad to make your acquaintance as well, Your Grace.”
Reyven shook his hand and bowed again. Kallion didn’t take his eyes off him as he asked Ines:
“Will he be staying long?”
“…What?”
“I asked how long you’ll be spending time with this old friend.”
“Ah, well…”
Seeing Ines flustered, Reyven quickly spoke.
“I was about to leave anyway. We’ve already caught up a little, and it’s nearly mealtime.”
“That’s a shame. You could stay longer.”
“No, it’s fine. Thank you for giving me your time, Madam.”
Reyven turned and bowed deeply to Ines.
Ines looked at him with a heavy heart. Reyven was still the same—kind and quick to sense her troubles. He was doing his best for her sake, as always.
“Reyven, take care. Let’s meet again.”
Reyven gave another deep bow to Kallion, then turned and left the drawing room.
I called him here for my own reasons, and then just sent him away like that.
Guilt pressed down on her—she had wasted his time and hadn’t even properly thanked him.
“You look like you’re about to cry.”
Kallion’s cold voice shattered her heavy thoughts. Ines turned quickly to face him.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Were you that attached to him?”
“…Of course not.”
Ines shook her head, frowning. But Kallion caught her chin and pulled her face up roughly toward him.
Her breath caught. She looked up at him with frightened eyes.
“You only ever show me this expression.”
“Kallion”
“What were you doing with him? Why were you sitting so close together?”
Ines shoved both hands against his and forced him to let go of her chin. She stepped back and glared at him.
“Don’t speak carelessly.”
“Oh? So now you defend him against me?”
Kallion’s lips curved again as he strode closer. Every step Ines retreated, he matched—always closing the gap.
Finally, she sighed and said softly,
“Stop it.”
“Stop what? For the first time in two years, my wife actually seems to have something to say to me.”
“Reyven isn’t that kind of man.”
“The innocent duchess thinks so, of course.”
“And you…!”
Her words stopped at her lips. You brought a woman into this mansion yourself…
The memory of Merian’s confident gaze flashed in her mind, making her chest burn with anger.
But she had no right to accuse him. That was their relationship.
“What about me?” Kallion pressed.
Ines steadied her breath and shook her head.
“Nothing. I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“Ines. What about me?”
He leaned even closer, his body brushing against hers. She had no strength left to step away.
With a sigh, she gripped his arms and whispered,
“It was my fault. Let’s stop this. Let’s just go eat dinner.”
She turned, ready to leave the suffocating room, but Kallion caught her wrist and yanked her back to face him.
Her sharp blue eyes glared at him. The warmth and tenderness she had shown Reyven earlier was completely gone.
That coldness—he knew it too well. And it drained the blood from his body every time.
“It’s always like this.”
His voice dropped low as he released her arm.
He had always known that hope would only bring pain.
But the foolish expectations that woman from the pleasure district had planted in him made it hurt even more.
“I’m sorry. As always.”
Without emotion, Ines spoke and walked out of the drawing room.
“Reyven, I’m really sorry…!!”
A few days later, at a café in the capital, Ines bowed her head deeply across from her friend.
Reyven flinched, looking around nervously at the other patrons.
“Stop, Ines! People will see a noble lady bowing to a commoner.”
“I’m just apologizing to my friend.”
“That’s not how others will see it. If you don’t want to get me into trouble, stop.”
Hearing this, Ines lifted her head. Reyven sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“And Duke Elmenhardt?”
“He went to the palace. There’s always a court meeting around this time of the month.”
“So you slipped out secretly?”
“Secretly? No—”
“Your husband doesn’t like me meeting you, does he?”
As expected, Reyven’s instincts were sharp. Ines lifted her teacup awkwardly to hide her face.
“It’s not like that. He’s just been stressed with work lately.”
“If you say so.”
Reyven shrugged and lifted his own cup. The warm tea slid past their lips. Ines swallowed, then spoke with a quiet laugh.
“Reyven, I feel like I only ever come to you when I need something. I’m sorry.”
“That’s what friends are for. I’ll come to you when I need something too.”
“Promise me. I’ll help you however I can.”
She smiled faintly and nodded. He was always considerate of her, always giving.
And here I am, planning to use him…
The thought of owing him weighed on her heart.
“Enough gloomy talk. Just tell me what you want. If it’s a job, I’ll take fair payment from a noble lady like you, so don’t worry too much.”
At his words, Ines raised her head.
Yes. I need to survive first, so I can repay him later.
“Reyven, do you know anything about a murder in the slums? Maybe about a week ago?”
His brows rose.
“Murder?”
“Yes. I heard an old man was killed.”
“Ines, murders in the slums are common. These days, they don’t even make the papers. Most of us don’t even know who died.”
“…That’s true.”
Ines sighed. She had no information—none at all.
“But why are you asking about a murder? That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Well…”
She forced her face to stay calm. Before this meeting, she had practiced this excuse dozens of times.
“Actually, I had a dream. It felt too real, like I was living it.”
“A dream?”
“Yes. In my dream, that murder turned into a string of killings. It felt so disturbing that I can’t shake it off.”
“Then why not tell the police?”
Ines shook her head quickly.
“You know how it is. They never take women like me seriously. And if I said it was because of a dream, they’d call me hysterical.”
She lifted her eyes to gauge his reaction. Even she didn’t believe her excuse fully, but she had no better story.
Reyven often gave in when she stubbornly insisted on something unreasonable. Maybe he would again.
“Ines, just forget it. You’re overthinking.”
“But in my dream, I was the final victim. I’ve barely been able to sleep for days…”
She lowered her head, wearing the saddest, most frightened expression she could manage.
It was an act. But she hoped it would work.
Reyven drew in a long breath as he looked at his old friend. She always looked strong, but inside she was fragile.
If she came to him with such a strange request—just because of a nightmare—it meant there was no one in the Elmenhardt estate she could lean on.
If she has no one else… then at least I can be here for her.
“Alright. What do you want me to do?”
Even if it was just pretending, maybe helping her would give her some peace.
So, with a light heart, Reyven agreed to her request.
