Lady Maris, ever the embodiment of politeness, inquired with a raised brow, "Mrs. Lin, what brings you to this inn?"
With a casual shrug and a graceful smile, Mrs. Lin responded, "Oh, I own the inn. It's just one of my many businesses. Though I rarely stop by, I'm here to check on things from time to time." She played off her presence as nothing more than an occasional visit to manage her affairs. But in reality, Mrs. Lin had been frequenting the inn more often since Seiji had rented a room here.
In her mind, she replayed how it all began—what started as simple business conversations quickly escalated to heated moments in the privacy of her inn room. Seiji had claimed her body, and she had willingly submitted to him. She would never speak of it aloud, though, and certainly not to noblewomen like Lady Maris or Lady Charlotte. That affair belonged to her and Seiji alone, a secret she intended to keep for as long as she could.
