“Where is that person now?”

Unlike his expectation that she would cry, her pale face was surprisingly calm. Killian retracted his outstretched hand and quietly pursed his lips.

“I’ve sent him to a foreign state, and I have already issued an order for him to come back. I intend to arrest and dispose of him as soon as he returns.”

Rowena did not respond. Growing somewhat nervous, he called out to her.

“Rowena.”

Instead of answering, Rowena avoided his gaze. All that came after the anger had subsided was a disappointment. 

If the Baron of Sussex had not conspired against her… No, even with him doing that, she did not think the outcome would have been much different. Sooner or later, Killian would have left her. If anything, rather than being angry at what Benedict had done.. she is way more angry with the man in front of her.

Kilian had suffered a cunning and precise betrayal by his close aide, too, but Rowena did not feel sorry for him at all.

The only reason the Baron of Sussex was able to do so was because he had allowed him to frame her. The Baron had exploited this because he had sensed the distrust that lurked beneath the surface of the fragile relationship between her and Killian. If only he had trusted her, then none of his schemes would work, and the tragic night five years ago would not have happened.

Killian’s distrust in this way was deep-rooted enough to be part of him, making it difficult to even know the source of his distrust. So the Baron of Sussex had cleverly set up a trap by using his trust issues against him.

Rowena was suddenly curious about the circumstances behind his deeply rooted distrust of people. Especially toward women.

But her urging open lips remained silent.

“Rowena…”

Killian let out a prolonged exhale and nodded.

“You may do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

Rowena, who bowed coldly, excused herself and stood up. She turned around to go straight to her bedroom.

“……Then, if you have anything else you would like to say to me?”

(I’m sorry) (I shouldn’t have done that then) or (I made a wrong decision), Rowena expected to hear some regrets or anything, even if it wasn’t to the extent of receiving an apology…

In any case, she had no intention of accepting his apology, even if he showed genuine regret. Still, if this man were to yield to her even once, the tight lump in her heart might loosen, even if only a little.

“Anything to say?”

Killian, who took out a cigarette for the first time in a while, turned his head toward her. At this, a burst of small laughter erupted out of Rowena’s mouth, her eyebrows raised as if asking what he was talking about.

“Hahaha.”

“…….”

That’s right. This is the right way for him to come out. What did she expect? Instead, she probably hoped that nothing unusual would happen.

“Nothing, then; I’ll go to bed first.”

Rowena turned away again, her face relaxed as if she had been tense a moment before.

Killian fixed his gaze on the bedroom for a long moment, even after she had disappeared from view behind the cloth separating the bedroom from the living room, while he held an unlit roll of cigarettes in his hand.

****