The sun had already begun to set, painting the sky with shades of gold and orange. The duke's garden was beautiful, with rich and varied flower beds, and in the distance you could hear the gentle splashing of the fountain. Lynn walked slowly along the paths, her hands clasped behind her back, trying to appear carefree. In reality, her mind was working overtime.

"If he keeps this up, someone will catch us," she muttered, thinking about Theo's theatrical embrace a few moments earlier. "He has to warn me beforehand, otherwise every time he approaches me, I'll be startled."

A soft footstep sounded behind her. She turned abruptly, ready to see Theo, but instead it was Sophia standing there, holding a shawl.

"Miss," she said and put the shawl on her shoulders. "It's cold at this hour. You must go inside, otherwise..."

"Sophia," Lynn interrupted her, "You're just in time!"

Lynn took the sweet maid's arm.

"How about we go for a walk?"

She started walking without waiting for an answer, practically dragging her along and not letting her resist. Sophia almost stumbled from the sudden movement, but Lin didn't stop.

"Miss... I don't think we should... go for a walk at this hour," she said hesitantly.

"Nonsense!" Lin replied in a playful voice. "If I stay in that house any longer, I'll go crazy. Come on, a little fresh air is always good for you."

Sophia looked around, as if afraid of being seen.

"But what if someone sees us? You also have to get ready for dinner," she said, but it was a futile effort, Lynn wasn't listening.

The garden was huge, with flower beds of roses, carnations, tulips, azaleas, dahlias, lavender, and daffodils. In the middle was a dirt path with small mud puddles created by a recent rain. Looking at the puddles, Lynn had a somewhat crazy idea. So she started jumping in them and running back and forth.

"Miss, what are you doing?"

"Sophia, what do you think the lord and lady would say if I showed up at dinner like this?" said Lynn, laughing.

"I don't even want to think about it. Please stop!"

Covered in mud, Lynn grabbed Sophia’s hand once more and dragged her further into the garden.

They continued walking among the flowers until Lynn suddenly stopped in front of a bed of pink roses. Her fingers gently touched a petal as she admired the beauty of the flower.

"You know, Sophia... I don't like pretending and deceiving others."

Sophia looked at her in surprise.

"Miss—"

Lynn turned and interrupted her with a smile that seemed innocent but hid a meaning.

"You don't have to say anything," she turned and looked at the flower again.

Her gaze remained fixed on the pink roses. She didn't know why. Perhaps they reminded her of home, of the small flowerbed with pink roses that her father used to tend. Maybe her mother, when she put a vase of roses on the table. Or maybe it was her childhood friend who shyly offered her a cut rose once when they had argued and her father scolded him.

A faint, nostalgic smile formed on her lips, but it faded almost immediately.

"When I was six years old, I remember my father coming home empty-handed and looking apologetic," Lynn smiled bitterly, "He had promised to bring me a box of sweets from the market. I waited all day... and when he came back, he tried to smile and say he hadn't forgotten, he just... couldn't find the shop. But I knew. I knew he didn't have the money."

"Were you angry?" Sophia asked innocently.

"Of course I was angry! He lied to me, as if I were some spoiled child. I was angry that he thought I wouldn't understand the situation," Lynn said without hesitation, "But... then I got over it."

Lynn lowered her gaze, her fingers unconsciously clenching the rose petal she had cut. She recalled the scene from the past.

"I smiled at him and told him it was okay. I lied to him too. And from then on, I never stopped lying."

Little lies, big lies... Lies about who I am, lies about how I feel, lies about what I don't see and don't hear, she thought, and smiled at Sophia.

"Really, I'm the right person for Duke and Evans' plan."

Sophia couldn't smile. She saw in Lynn's eyes an emotion and bitterness that she was trying to hide. But she gathered all her energy and, taking her hands, smiled at her.

"For me, you are the best, Miss Lynn! Because you have a kind and good heart."

Lynn laughed loudly.

"You really think so?" she said to Sophia smiling and started walking again.

"Miss, wait!"

Sophia ran after her to catch up. Their walk continued for a little while longer. It had grown completely dark, and the only light was that of the moon.

"Let's see how dinner goes..." thought Lynn, and she entered the mansion.