The Count held a letter with trembling hands, his face pale like a ghost, his eyes red and his breathing ragged. The Countess watched helplessly in concern, holding the envelope in which the letter had come, the seal of the Hainar Family already broken.

  If Serin could see this scene, he would be astonished to his core by how enraged the Count was, to the degree that his entire face had turned red like a tomato and his entire body was shaking like bamboo in the wind.

  Lady Elayne's expression was dark and cold, her fists clenched and her nails digging into her own skin as she said guiltily, “We also noticed just before the letter arrived that Clerk Bert is missing, I'm afraid…”

  “Ridiculous! Outrageous!” the Count yelled furiously, slamming the letter on the table.

  The Countess gritted her teeth and lowered her head. “Husband, if what brother-in-law says is true… then…”

  The Count's spine bent as he supported his body, his two arms pressing down on the table, his head lowered. It seemed as though the Count had aged a few years in an instant, all energy drained from his body.

  “No wonder the capital has been mute and deaf… has the Emperor abandoned us?” the Count said, smiling bitterly.

  The Countess clenched her fists and spoke hesitantly, “What… what should we do?”

  The Count stumbled onto a nearby chair, sinking deeply into it, leaning back and holding his head as his mind began racing profusely for ideas.

  An unnerving silence fell in the room. The candles and lamps flickered slightly with the wind carrying the scent of salt as usual, but this time there was also a faint, almost imperceptible cacophony of the lively festivities from the city.

  Abruptly, the Count's eyes gleamed. His spine straightened as he grabbed the letter once again in a scrutinizing manner.

  “No, the Emperor hasn't abandoned us!” he exclaimed.

  The Countess raised her brows and stepped forward, a ray of hope lighting her eyes. “What do you mean, husband?”

  The Count turned to his wife, dangling the letter in front of her as he explained, “Look at this!”

  The Countess took the letter and read the lines carefully. “Accusations of mismanagement, hoarding strategic assets for profit, and corruption—from the Deputy Minister of Revenue.”

  Even as she read it again, the Countess couldn't help but feel her heart sinking into the abyss as her face darkened. “The Emperor is very angry and has ordered a strict and impartial investigation.” Lady Elayne gulped, beads of sweat forming on her forehead and back as she continued, “Be prepared for Imperial Summons. Demands for immediate arrests were issued at the Court; however, there were also calls for leniency and investigation, as the ‘crime’ hasn't been proven yet.”

  Lady Elayne exhaled in confusion and uncertainty. “This… It's a bit strange.”

  The Count stood up, his spine straight once again as he nodded and said, “Correct! The Emperor is furious… So then why not issue an arrest, as is the norm with such serious allegations?”

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  Lady Elayne widened her eyes. “Right! I was muddled with shock and failed to notice before, when the letter first arrived from the capital after you left for Wahan.”

  Lady Elayne steered her gaze away from the letter in her hands, set it aside, and looked up—only to see that the Count was standing right in front of her.

  She flinched momentarily before feeling warmth cover her cold hands like a blanket in winter.

  The Count warmly clasped Lady Elayne's hands in his and looked at her with a soft, loving gaze. “My love, you've worked hard. Thank you.”

  Lady Elayne's eyes moistened as she recalled how difficult it had been to receive such alarming news, manage the city during the Spring Festival, and make preliminary preparations for the assault of the Sea Snake at the same time.

  “You… It is my duty… who asked me to marry you?” Lady Elayne said with an endearing smile on her face as a single tear silently threatened to roll down her cheek.

  The Count leaned forward and gently captured the tear right from her eye. “So bittersweet…” he whispered in her ear.

  Lady Elayne blushed, pushing the Count away bashfully.

  Suddenly, Lady Elayne wore a troubled expression. Her brows dropped in guilt as she averted her gaze and said, “I should have noticed… about Clerk Bert! I'm so sorry—”

  The Count held Lady Elayne in his arms and shushed her words. “It's not your fault, my love, it's mine. I should have been more vigilant.” The Count ground his teeth in hatred. “I will tear that traitor into pieces! How dare he! When have I not treated him well?”

  Lady Elayne placed her hands on the Count's broad, firm chest as she leaned onto him for support and said, her voice quivering slightly, “Husband, I— I am afraid… what should we do?”

  The Count's expression fell, but he did not let Lady Elayne see it. “All is not lost! We have done nothing wrong. The Court seems to be divided into two factions on this… perhaps that's good for us.”

  Lady Elayne nodded, but her anxiety had not vanished at all, and the Count could still feel her tremble like a leaf in his arms.

  The Count held Lady Elayne's shoulders as he separated from the embrace. He then held her beautiful face in his hands with care, as though he were holding a fragile flower. He looked into her eyes with strength and said, “We will get through this as well, together.” The image of Serin flashed in the Count's mind briefly as he continued, “We still have a few cards to play. There is room to maneuver still. I feel that this matter is not as it seems.”

  Lady Elayne finally calmed down, feeling more relieved now that she was in the arms of her beloved. Nothing else mattered more than this.

  “I trust you haven't told anyone about this yet?” the Count asked softly.

  “Mhm…”

  “Good. We take one thing at a time. Don't tell anyone about this for now, we don't want panic to settle in our hearts when one crisis is already at our shores,” the Count said, gently stroking Lady Elayne's back.

  “Of course, I will listen to you, my dear.”

  The couple cuddled for a short, sweet moment before the Countess stepped back again, her expression solemn. “Husband, do you remember what you said about Serin's suspicions?”

  The Count's gaze grew distant for a moment as he recalled. “I remember… He said that all that's happening to us right now may not be a mere coincidence.”

  Lady Elayne nodded heavily. “Yes! I have been thinking about it ever since reading the letter. Don't you think it makes a lot more sense now?”

  The Count narrowed his eyes and ran through exactly what Serin had said during the meeting—the threat of the Sea Snake, obstructions in trade, Clerk Bert who handled the books disappearing suddenly, the odd silence from the capital, the ambiguity of the Emperor…

  A glint flashed in the Count's eyes as the gears began turning in his head. He only broke away from his daze after feeling a tug on his sleeve.

  Lady Elayne met the Count's gaze with resolve, her eyes pleading as she opened her mouth, her voice filled with unease as she beseeched, “Dear, I fear for Alaric. You must call him back immediately…”

  The Count fell into thought. Undoubtedly, if it were indeed true that the ‘coincidences’ were in fact not coincidences—then it would be an opportunity for Alaric to uncover the truth, but at the same time, it meant that the risk factor would also increase drastically.

  The Count was torn between the two choices and could not make a decision for a while. However, looking at Lady Elayne's pleading eyes, her hands clasped in front of her chest as though begging, he simply could not refuse.

  The Count nodded. “I will send a raven at the earliest. Don't worry.”

  The Countess smiled, visibly relieved. Seeing her husband's chiseled, refined face, her heart stirred. The Count was not like other nobles. He was not afraid to be vulnerable in front of her. He respected and loved her and never held her back in anything.

  Where would she find such a good man? Long before this, she had already decided that she would walk with him in life and death, no matter the circumstances. This was her belief that she held dear to her heart.

  Just as the Count was looking at Lady Elayne, wondering what she was thinking so attentively, the Countess stood on tiptoes and locked her lips with his.

  A strong, lukewarm spring wind blew in through the windows, putting out the lamps and candles and making the curtains flutter wildly up and down like the waves of the Sedna Sea.

  The fluttering of the curtains, the wild ringing of greeting bells, and the ever-present noise of the seagulls and the not-so-distant sea were as though an orchestra to the enchanting music.

  The stars shining proudly above seemed to shy away behind dark clouds. The mild smoke from the incense stick rose upward, mixing with the wind coming from outside, now carrying the fresh scent of soil and rain. It was indeed a beautiful night..