“What, what’s the matter?”

“I have something for you.”

Laura draped a shawl over her shoulders and walked to the door. When she opened it, there stood Mr. Dalton, dressed in a tuxedo. He hadn’t changed since the evening dinner. Laura, aware of her nightgown and loosely braided hair, flushed with embarrassment.

In Mr. Dalton’s hands was a tray. It held a steaming bowl of soup, a small glass of wine, and a cookie studded with almonds.

“You barely ate at dinner.”

“…Thank you.”

Laura took the tray and moved to close the door. But Mr. Dalton swiftly blocked it with a firm hand.

“Are you unwell?”

“…”

“Tell me honestly about your condition. I’m so worried I can’t focus on anything.”

Laura’s heart pounded fiercely.

“I’m just tired. I’ll be fine after some rest. Please, go.”

“I’ve overworked you. I’m sorry.”

Tears threatened to spill. She squeezed her eyes shut.

“Why do you keep apologizing? You haven’t done anything wrong to me, Mr. Dalton.”

“You grant every request, no matter what. You’re kind and gentle, like an angel. I wanted to rely on you for everything. I didn’t consider that it might burden you.”

Burden? Being needed by you is my joy. I’m terrified of the day I’m no longer needed, plotting my escape from it.

The thought of becoming unnecessary to him. That day. A tear rolled down her cheek unbidden.

Mr. Dalton’s expression hardened.

“Miss Pendleton!”

Laura quickly turned and stepped back into the room. She heard Mr. Dalton follow her inside.

She set the tray on the table and wiped her tears with her hands. She could vividly sense Mr. Dalton standing behind her.

“I want to rest. Please, leave.”

“How can I leave after seeing you cry?”

“It’s not something you can fix, Mr. Dalton.”

“I can offer comfort.”

He took a step closer to Laura.

“Please, tell me. Open up, lean on me. I…”

There was a trace of pain in his voice.

“I want to be someone who helps you. Someone you can rely on, confide in. Someone whose absence would leave a gaping hole in your life, one nothing else could fill… that kind of person.”

His hand touched Laura’s shoulder.

“…Even if I’m not that to you, you are that to me.”

A chill ran through Laura’s body. A premonition stirred. From his voice, his touch.

No. It can’t be.

Laura denied her intuition. It was an absurd prediction, one that couldn’t be true.

She wiped her face with the shawl and took three steps forward.

“It’s improper for us to be alone like this in the middle of the night. My reputation is already ruined because of you, Mr. Dalton.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Living in a bachelor’s home, acting as its mistress—it’s only natural people would misunderstand. They think… I’m your mistress.”

A brief silence. She couldn’t hear Mr. Dalton’s breathing.

“…Who said that?”

Laura shivered. His voice was sharp and cold as an icicle.

“Tell me.”

“What if I do?”

“I’ll shoot them.”

Laura spun around.

His face seemed calm at a glance, but his eyes burned with a dangerous, feral intensity.

Laura spoke calmly.

“Let’s reflect on our own actions. Our friendship has been reckless and careless. Even if we have no ulterior motives, it’s easy for outsiders to misinterpret.”

“…”

“Let’s get through this gathering safely and be more cautious afterward. I won’t visit Whitefield anymore. Your visits to Dunville Park are out of rightful affection for your nephew and sister, so I’ll be careful. I’ll avoid you as much as possible and ensure we’re never alone together.”

Laura finished firmly, walked to the dressing table, and sat down. She began unbraiding her hair and brushing it.

For a while, only the sound of the brush filled the room.

“…Plans are useless, aren’t they?”

He turned abruptly and strode out of the room.

The door closed. Laura set the brush down. Tension drained from her body, leaving her limp. She slumped over the dressing table.

No. It can’t be.

Laura tried to ignore the premonition gripping her.

If it’s true, Mr. Dalton would be playing the cruelest prank. He’d be reckless, cruel, selfish. He wouldn’t do that.

That night, after tossing and turning, Laura finally drank the wine Mr. Dalton brought and fell asleep.

In her dream, she returned to her London days. The time when she was a celebrated debutante, dressed in flowing gowns, heading to a picnic in the countryside. A path through a small riverside forest. Sitting on a rock, poking the ground with her parasol, feeling the cool summer breeze. And Mr. Dalton, sitting beside her.

His intense gaze, fixed on her.

“I can imagine it. Mrs. Dalton welcoming you to live with us… Because if I were to marry, there’s no way Miss Pendleton wouldn’t stay at Whitefield Hall. My marriage wouldn’t happen without that, Miss Pendleton.”

In the dream, Laura embraced Ian with both arms. Holding him close, she cried out without hesitation.

“Me too, Mr. Dalton. I can’t dream of marrying anyone but you!”

Nobles and gentlemen obsessed with hunting gathered at the hunting grounds at dawn. Due to the large number, they split into six groups. Bound by family ties and alliances, every man staked his pride on his hunting achievements.

The most successful group was a band of young gentry. They returned daily with impressive hauls, earning the admiration of many ladies.

On the third morning’s hunt, this group outdid their previous two days’ results by a staggering margin.

The newly joined Mr. Fairfax had decent hunting skills, but his contribution was minor. The group’s leader, Ian Dalton, seemed possessed, firing his gun with relentless fervor.

Wherever he shot, a beast’s cry and the thud of a falling body followed. The group’s members watched Mr. Dalton with awe-tinged gazes—except for his old friend, Mr. Fairfax.

On the way back to the manor after the hunt, Mr. Fairfax confirmed the group was far behind, then caught up to Mr. Dalton, who was walking ahead.

“Something got you riled up?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar. The way you were shooting, it’s like you’re killing animals because you can’t shoot a person. Trouble with Miss Pendleton?”

Mr. Dalton frowned.

“Shut up.”

Got it right.

“It’s your love life, so I won’t meddle. Let’s change the subject.”

Mr. Fairfax glanced around again.

“You’re the one investing in the Pendleton family’s shipbuilding venture, right?”

Instead of answering, Mr. Dalton quickly reloaded his rifle and shot at a branch on a fir tree to the right.

With a flutter, a bird plummeted into the underbrush. At Mr. Dalton’s signal, a hunting dog dashed into the forest to retrieve the prey.

“I heard huge capital’s been invested, and more backers are showing up. What’s the plan?”

The dog returned with the quarry. Ian patted its head once, then signaled to the servants carrying the game. The well-trained dog ran toward them.

“You’re a businessman. Don’t you already know?”

“I want to hear it from you.”

“When the construction’s halfway done, I’ll pull the investment. The project’s foundation is so flawed, it’ll be easy to find faults to exploit.”

“…You’re really going through with it?”

“Yes. I am.”

He reloaded again and fired into the bushes. Another bird fell.

“Stop it. You’ll wipe out the game in these grounds.”

“I’m barely holding back from shooting a person, so don’t stop me.”

“…Fine. I get it. But I have to say this. Think it over. The Pendleton family’s lands are a fraction of what they were, and the income from that tiny plot goes to their children’s debt interest. If this venture fails, they’re done. They’ll be out on the streets.”

Mr. Dalton gave a cold laugh.

“That’s a cheerful prospect.”

“Would it be cheerful for Miss Pendleton? What would she say if she knew? That you’re cruel?”

Mr. Dalton said nothing. Soon, the forest’s edge appeared, and they reached an open plain. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and pulled a silver cigarette case from his jacket’s breast pocket.

He offered it to Mr. Fairfax. Mr. Fairfax took a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then lit his friend’s in return.

“Loving her, I discovered a side of myself I didn’t know.”

Mr. Dalton exhaled smoke. His bloodshot eyes suggested sleepless nights.

“I thought I was detached from desire or anger. It was all an illusion. I’m impulsive, cruel. All the religious upbringing from childhood means nothing—I’m swayed by desire.”

“All humans are like that.”

“You got over lost love. After a rejection, you hunted for days, shook it off, and became friends with the lady as if it was a game. I can’t do that. I could hunt every day for ten years and still not forget her.”

“Then why not stop this revenge on the Pendleton family? To avoid losing her favor…”

“I can’t forgive those who hurt her. If I lose her, that’s my fate. And I won’t forgive myself for causing it.”

He looked up at the clear autumn sky.

“The person I wanted to shoot today was myself.”

“…”

“I’m afraid I’ll lose her, William.”