“How could this happen to me? Isn’t this crazy? It’s so creepy that a psychopath has been living in my house for years… .”
The Countess staggered as she entered, supported by Madame Laura, perhaps suffering from a chronic migraine.
She, who had been groaning continuously, suddenly began to speak harshly to Mrs. Laura.
“You’ve become a maid, so why didn’t you cut off that lunatic a long time ago? And then you shamelessly took his salary?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s only recently that he started acting strange… … . Furthermore, he’s been to Mr. Isaac a few times, so I thought he was okay… … .”
Mrs. Laura made a hasty excuse, but the Countess’s focus was elsewhere.
“You went to the hospital? That common doctor said he’d see our family again for free?”
“That’s not it! It seems he borrowed money from other kids. He was having most of his salary deducted.”
“Oh my God! And he was a beggar! Did he steal from our house, honey? Arnold!”
The count, who was counting the remaining wine in the box, suddenly raised his head at the chilling voice.
“No way. You, who has a long list of forks, wouldn’t have missed that.”
“That’s true. I’ve recently purchased a lot of new items, so I’ll have to be more careful from now on. Philip, don’t forget to record them carefully in the ledger.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The old butler answered, bending his back.
“It’s fortunate that the Duke caught her right away. In fact, that maid may not have been crazy, but a spy from the Eastern Empire.”
The Countess sat on the sofa, leaning back, and muttered with a tired look on her face. Madame Laura immediately rushed over and rubbed her shoulder.
“Why, it was in the newspapers a few times. There was an article about a spy being sent by the Empire to eliminate the last bloodline of the Rockford family, and he was caught.”
“Yes. That maid will probably be executed soon.”
The count answered indifferently and uncorked the new wine. Hermia, who had been quietly climbing the stairs, paused for a moment before moving her feet again.
‘Mel will probably never be executed even if she wakes up dead.’
As she was about to go to her room, snorting inwardly, she heard a voice calling her from below. Of course, it was her stepmother.
“Hermia, come here for a moment.”
“…yes.”
I ate five egg tarts just now, did I get caught?
She suppressed her anxiety and came down to sit on the edge of the sofa.
“This way.”
The countess patted the seat next to me and craned her neck toward her husband.
“I keep the remaining champagne and wine in the basement and take one with me every time I go out to a club. They’re expensive, so I guess I can use them when entertaining guests?”
“I ordered a lot of them because I wanted to do that too. The Duke’s family gave me money so they showed me all sorts of valuable things! Philip, let’s go together and organize them by year.”
“Yes, master.”
The cellar filled with wine was Count Arnold’s favorite space. When his wife, who was usually reluctant, gave permission, the count’s face lit up.
As soon as he, who was very excited, left the place with the butler, the warmth disappeared from the countess’s face.
“It’s really unbelievable.”
“… … .”
“You gave me a cheap brooch, but you gave my fiancé a diamond necklace?”
Phew. It seems I wasn’t called because of the tart. After the relief passed, a sense of belated amazement washed over me.
“I’m so glad I left that horrible brooch behind. I almost ended up being a stepmother who was treated with contempt in front of my guests.”
“Oh, sorry… … .”
“What are you apologizing for? I thought you were really bad, but you actually know how to control a man. If you can get the Duke to kneel, then I must have underestimated you.”
In contrast to her cold face, her voice was strangely gentle. When Hermia made a confused face, the Countess snickered.
“Men, Hermia, when they are blinded by women, they tend to forget their own wallets.”
“yes?”
“And those times are only fleeting.”
The Countess lightly stroked the blue diamond hanging around Hermia’s neck with her pale fingers. Somehow, it sent goosebumps down her body.
“That’s why the period before marriage is even more important. That’s when you spend the most money. It also means buying as many things as you can.”
Then, with a snap, the joint of the jewelry came loose. In an instant, Hermia’s neck became empty.
The countess took the necklace casually and put it around my neck, humming.
“Hey, Mom… … .”
“I think this is your desire to repay me for caring for another woman’s child as if it were your own daughter. Of course, other people know that too. Right?”
“No matter what, it’s an engagement gift… … . Wouldn’t they think it’s strange… … .”
“I’ll just let most things slide, but this seems too far-fetched,” Hermia said awkwardly.
Moreover, it is my first treasure. It is a huge sum of money!
In fact, that was the first time I spoke back because I had been thinking that way.
“I would never do this outside. He thinks I’m an idiot. Of course he’ll keep it. It’ll be a long time before it sees the light of day in the social world. Maybe when it’s forgotten by everyone?”
The countess spoke coldly as if nothing had happened and waved her hand.
“This is nothing, if I were you, I would have gotten ten more. Anyway, don’t be so pretentious. Go up and rest. You must be quite tired today.”
“… … .”
“If you’re hungry, go to the chef and ask him to make you your favorite sandwich. I’ll even turn a blind eye to your overeating today. You smell like tarts.”
* * *
Hermia, who had come up to the room, let out a silent scream when she saw the tray that Andy had brought a little while later.
You gave me a diamond necklace and all you got in return was a cheese sandwich!
There was even a plate of cake on the tray, not just sandwiches.
It was definitely that damn birthday cake, judging by the word ‘Olivia’ written on it. And of all places, it had the Countess’ name written on it.
‘Have you ever had a tear-soaked sandwich?’
Hermia ate her bread and swallowed it, swinging her fists in the air in anger. Andy, who was watching her, smiled and said,
“The cake was so big that we all shared it. If it’s not enough, I’ll bring you more!”
“No need… … .”
“What a pity. If Mel had been here, she would have eaten three plates. She especially liked buttercream cake.”
Hermia’s jaw, which had been rumbling, stopped. She forcefully swallowed the food and asked.
“You know, Andy, what would you do if Mel really was the Countess?”
Then Andy tilted his head.
“Hmm… I think you’ll like it. We’ve been so good to Mel! I even said it as a joke. If you’re really Belle, you shouldn’t forget how much we’ve helped you with your work! Mel said she’d understand.”
“Other than that, Mel might say that he’s taking revenge on Count… our father.”
“Why? Did the master really kill Mel’s parents? Our master? Phew! Even as a joke, that’s not funny!”
Although he had expected it to some extent, it seemed that he thought his father was a more pathetic person than he had thought.
Hermia felt somewhat complicated.
* * *
A week has passed since the engagement ceremony.
No news was heard from the Duke who had taken Mel away, and quiet days followed as if nothing had happened.
The countess must have been tired from the busy birthday party, because she declined all the invitations that had come in during that time.
Only after a few more days did Hermia get back into the carriage.
“It’s almost vacation season, so I should start showing my face. They say this summer will be as hot as last year, so I should look for a good vacation spot.”
The weather was quite warm even at night these days, so the countess opened the carriage window and fanned herself.
Hermia wiggled her toes as she felt the wind rushing through the gap.
The shoes the Duke (or rather his subordinate) had bought for him were still not broken in, so the heels were stiff.
I didn’t know because I hardly ever remember wearing new shoes, but after the engagement ceremony, when I looked at them because they were sore, my heels were red and swollen.
Even though it was a little better than my stepmother’s, it was still small, so the pain spread to both the front and back of my feet at the same time.
‘I hope the bandage stays on safely until the exhibition ends.’
It would have been nice if it had been a concert or tea party where I could just sit still, but unfortunately, the place I was headed to today was a charity exhibition hosted by the wife of a family famous for architecture and sculpture.
Since the first count was a renowned sculptor, the family had many descendants who continued to work in the arts.
There was another reason why the stepmother, who would have naturally ignored a charity event that required spending money, accepted the invitation.
Because no one knew as many great vacation spots as the artists who traveled the continent for inspiration.
Hermia soon took her attention away from her shoes and focused her consciousness on the book hidden under her skirt.
The invitation would have naturally arrived at the townhouse of the Zarini Schwein family, whose goal was to gather as many nobles as possible. Irene would also be attending with her mother, and it would also be a chance to return the book she had lent her.
After running for a while, the carriage stopped and the landlady of the Countess Bansen and her stepdaughter appeared inside.
As she walked towards the host, guided by her attendant, Hermia encountered strange looks. They were of a very different nature from the curiosity or interest that was usually directed at the Duke of Rockford’s fiancée.
‘It feels like he’s glaring at me.’
In particular, the gazes of young women of the same age were incredibly murderous.
Maybe it was my imagination…? Hermia, who had been just rolling her eyes, naturally walked away after greeting the host alongside the Countess.
She soon became alone and began wandering among the similarly shaped plaster statues, just as she had before the will was made public.
Soon, I felt the plaster on my heel start to come off a little as I walked. It was a sign of trouble.
‘Irene hasn’t come yet? We might miss each other, so we should just stand still.’
After making that decision, I slowly walked towards the long table lined with glasses of drinks.
“It’s Helen, Helen.”
“Shhh! I’ll notice.”
It was from then on that strange sounds were heard.