Whether they wanted to believe it or not, the man the villagers described as witty, humorous, and always helping others was indeed none other than Kane von Regulus—Vanessa’s former fiancé.
“I still don’t believe he did all this. There must be some kind of misunderstanding.”
Beth adjusted the glowing frame of her glasses on her nose with her middle finger, her tone resolute and completely unwavering.
And she wasn’t without reason.
After all, Kane’s misdeeds were well-known throughout the entire capital.
It must be because this was the borderlands—information from the capital barely made it out here—that the villagers had such a distorted view of him and had no idea of his evil nature.
Vanessa had thought the same.
After all, a person couldn’t possibly change so easily.
Especially when just a month ago, even knowing he was her fiancé—the princess’s fiancé—Kane had still abducted another noble’s child and attempted to assault them.
How could a man like that suddenly do a complete 180 in just a month?
It was like he’d become a different person entirely.
There’s no way he did all that on purpose, right?
Don’t be ridiculous. What would he even gain from it?
He gave up his position as the duke’s only son and the princess’s fiancé to come suffer in this godforsaken borderland?
No one in their right mind would ever make that choice.
Vanessa truly believed that.
But—
“He really did all these things.”
Vanessa looked out at the cheerful, contented villagers before her.
This wasn’t some empty promise or pie in the sky.
During his month of exile to the border, Kane had produced tangible results.
“Maybe he just had too much money and too little to do, so he went nuts and started doing all this. That man’s mind was never quite normal to begin with.”
Beth remained unconvinced.
“……”
Vanessa didn’t say anything more.
She neither agreed nor disagreed.
She simply stared quietly at the horizon in the distance.
Two seconds later, just as she opened her mouth to speak—
“Chii, chichichi.”
A rustling noise broke the silence. Vanessa frowned. Beth let out a shriek.
“Eek! Jerry!”
Beth launched herself into the air in fright, holding her notebook high above her head, eyes tightly shut, flailing wildly in all directions.
Vanessa’s sharp eyes narrowed.
The moment a dark blur flashed in front of her, she raised her foot and delivered a powerful kick.
“CHII!!!”
“—Splat”
With a pitiful squeal, the poor little mouse was sent flying by the girl’s merciless foot, turned into a pancake midair.
“Oh my god, that scared me to death.”
Beth landed in a duck-sit on the ground, legs splayed, sweat soaking through her clothes, panting heavily.
Vanessa crossed her arms and stood to the side, tilting her head with a puzzled expression.
“You’re not afraid of demons, but you’re scared of mice?”
“I’m a girl, of course I’m scared of mice!”
“I’m a girl too. Why aren’t I scared?”
“No, Your Highness, you don’t really count as a woman.”
“…?”
“Ahem, I mean, Your Highness, you’re so brave and wise, you soar above the rest, a mere mouse could never catch your eye.”
Pretty sure that’s not what you really meant… but I’ve got no proof… Vanessa muttered inwardly.
She said nothing more and turned her gaze toward the village.
Almost all the villagers were busy exterminating mice. She murmured:
“There seem to be quite a few of them.”
“It’s the rainy season lately, and the weather’s so damp. A mouse problem seems pretty normal.”
As she spoke, Beth stood up and brushed the dust off her dress under the cloak.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes at that, then after a long pause, murmured softly:
“Normal… I hope so.”
……
Meanwhile—
Kane had no idea that the flap of a butterfly’s wings had already stirred the air, that his former (temporary) fiancée had come here and discovered everything he’d done in Loralyn.
After all, compared to those minor details, what he was about to face next was the real turning point in whether or not he could enjoy a peaceful life in the future.
Standing at the doorway of his home, Kane took a deep breath, silently giving himself a pep talk before pushing the door open and walking inside.
As soon as he entered, the delicious aroma of cheese, mingled with the warm scent of wheat, rushed into his nose.
Then, the figure came into view—a girl dressed in a classic black-and-white maid uniform, wearing white garter stockings, her long and flawless legs on full display.
Enya, who had been busy at the stove, turned around at the sound of the door.
Her long silver hair fluttered gently over her shoulders, and her fresh, makeup-free face was tinged with a faint blush.
The moment she saw the man she loved, she greeted him with a smile as pure and bright as a blooming flower.
“You’re back, Young Master. Was work smooth today?”
She walked over and reached out with her delicate, snow-white hands to help Kane unbutton his shirt.
As Kane took off his coat, he replied, “Yeah, everyone’s been really supportive of the business. Oh, right—I brought back some rat poison. There’s been a mouse problem in the village lately, so we should get ahead of it too.”
Enya took the coat from him with a soft laugh.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ve already made all the preparations. I won’t let a single rat set foot in our home.”
“Thank you, Enya. I’m really glad to have you.”
Kane gently wrapped his arms around the girl’s slender waist from behind.
And he meant every word.
In this unfamiliar, godforsaken place—even though he had chosen to come here himself—Kane had felt some unease when he first arrived.
A new environment was still a new environment.
But with Enya by his side, always supporting him, it was thanks to her that he was able to adjust so quickly.
The way they interacted so naturally, like a newlywed couple, was proof enough.
Unfortunately, this warm moment was destined to come to an end after tonight.
Don’t worry, Enya. I won’t apologize.
Just as Kane turned to head back to his room and make the final preparations for the big moment—
A gentle voice rang out, so soft it made his skin crawl.
“Young Master, why do you smell like another woman?”
“……”
The sudden words made Kane freeze in place, his expression stiffening.
Two seconds later, he slowly turned his head, his neck creaking with tension.
Enya was holding the coat he had just taken off.
Her head tilted slightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons as she smiled at him but there was no warmth in her gaze.
A shadow seemed to hang over her brows.
The aura she exuded carried a bone-deep chill, the kind you’d only feel in the dead of winter.
Kane felt it instantly.
He swallowed hard and clenched his sweaty palms before walking calmly to her side, putting on a gentle smile as he took the coat back from her hands.
“Maybe it’s because I had so many customers today. Like I said, the village is dealing with a mouse problem, and everyone’s been buying rat poison. Plus, there’s a storm coming—people were even buying out all the rain shelters.”
A flawless explanation—watertight, without a single loophole.
Even Detective Kogoro Mouri himself would have no choice but to applaud.
Enya nodded slightly, her smile still in place.
If that were the case, even carrying the scent of some b*tch would be… somewhat understandable.
However—
“Then why do I still smell that old sow Taliya’s scent on you?”
“What exactly did you two do?”
“My dear Young Master~.”
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