Chapter 4
“Oh, Madam!”
Among the gathered maids, Amy turned in surprise.
While everyone bowed their heads to greet Ines, Amy quickly ran to her with a bright smile.
“Did you sleep well? I was just about to visit you, but I’m sorry I was late.”
“It’s fine, but…”
As Ines walked into the room with Amy, she turned her head.
“What were you all talking about so seriously?”
At her question, Amy immediately waved her hands.
“Oh, nothing at all! It’s absolutely nothing Madam needs to worry about.”
“What is it?”
When pressed again, Amy bit her lower lip awkwardly. Ines was never the kind of mistress to scold or demand answers.
Glancing around to make sure no one else was listening, Amy hesitated for a moment and then whispered.
“It’s nothing much, but… the maid Ririka said there was a terrible incident in her neighborhood.”
“A terrible incident?”
“In the early hours, when no one was around… a m-murder…”
Before she could even finish her words, Ines felt her heart drop.
The first murder had finally happened.
Her legs almost gave out, but she forced herself to stand upright, stiffening her body.
Amy, as though she had said something far too serious, quickly shook her head.
“Oh dear! Forgive me for saying such things in the morning. It happened far away, in the slums, so it has nothing to do with the Elmenhardt estate. Please don’t worry about it, Madam. Try to forget it. Would you like to sit here?”
Amy exaggerated her tone and pulled out a chair before the vanity. Ines staggered over and sat heavily.
In the mirror, she saw a woman’s face—white as a sheet.
Amy helped her out of her gown with practiced, gentle hands. Inside, she found traces of last night still lingering on Ines’s body. Without flinching, she quietly checked her skin as though making sure there were no injuries.
On the surface, the Duke and Duchess of Elmenhardt appeared cold and distant. But after every long trip, the Duke always left behind undeniable marks of intimacy on his wife.
According to Ririka, if one paid attention, the Duke’s eyes always followed Madam wherever she went… but Amy couldn’t believe such bruises and scars on Ines’s frail, pale body were a sign of love.
It feels more like he’s venting his anger on her…
Amy lifted her head and asked softly, noticing how pale Ines looked this morning.
“There don’t seem to be any serious wounds. Would you like a warm bath first? Or breakfast?”
“A bath. Thank you, Amy.”
Amy nodded and rushed into the bathroom, turning on the pipes to fill the tub with steaming hot water.
Since the Duke had returned from his long trip, Amy believed the Elmenhardt estate would remain quiet for a while.
A murder had happened.
After her bath, Ines sat alone in the room and suddenly stood up.
It really happened.
When she had returned to life, one year before her own death, she had held onto a small hope.
Maybe this time, there would be no murders.
Maybe her husband wasn’t a serial killer.
Maybe she wouldn’t end up dying at the hands of a stranger.
But no—it was all the same. Life was repeating itself.
“Haa…”
She had known, yet she hadn’t prepared.
The first victim—though she had never met them—now weighed on her with guilt.
She remembered it well: the first murder had happened in the slums.
An unknown old man, sleeping on the street, was killed. At the time, no one cared. Only later would people realize it was the beginning of a string of serial murders that shook the empire.
This is just the start.
After this, there would be five more deaths.
“Five more…”
Why did Kallion kill them? Was it just for amusement?
He was the perfect noble, the model for all others. The aristocrats of the Delphias Empire revered him, respected him, and always praised him excessively.
Other than marrying a plain wife, Duke Kallion Elmenhardt lacked nothing.
And yet, he killed.
Ines could not understand it.
I have to do something.
With that thought, she rose to her feet and headed straight to the third floor—to the Duke’s office.
I’ll talk to him and find a way to look around naturally…
If she was lucky, she might even sneak a glimpse into the secret room.
But before she was ready, the office door suddenly opened.
“…!”
Ines froze.
From inside, Duke Kallion stepped out, looking slightly weary and sharp, as though he’d been buried in paperwork. His brow furrowed when he saw her waiting there.
“What is it?”
Her thoughts tangled in her head. Instead of the careful words she’d planned, she blurted out without thinking—
“Did you sleep well last night?”
An awkward question. His frown deepened.
Kallion studied her face intently, as though trying to read her mind, before replying slowly.
“As usual. Why?”
Ines swallowed hard.
“W-well… when I woke up, you weren’t there, so I wondered when you left.”
“You usually sleep late. Nothing unusual about that.”
“Yes, but… you’ve been working since morning?”
Trying to sound casual, she glanced past him, peering into the office. Nothing looked different from before. At least on the surface.
Then Kallion shifted his tall frame, deliberately—or perhaps coincidentally—blocking her view.
“Did you come here to watch what I’m doing?”
“Watch you?”
His words struck too close to the truth, and Ines’s voice rose.
“No, I just… came to say hello.”
“Hello? After a year of marriage?”
Even to herself, it sounded like a terrible excuse. Their relationship was distant and cold—why suddenly offer greetings now?
Her face grew warm.
“…I just thought I’d start from now on.”
She expected him to dismiss her with harsh words.
But instead, Kallion only stared down at her in silence.
His gaze was unreadable.
“I-I’ll go now,” she muttered quickly.
She couldn’t risk ruining things further by lingering. Already, she had blurted out nonsense. Next time, she decided, she would not come to him without preparing herself.
She turned and hurried away. Only when she reached the staircase did she hear the heavy sound of the office door shutting behind her.
So… he really was just working all night?
At least, he showed no sign of being involved in anything last night. But she couldn’t be sure.
Lost in thought, she froze when she heard the sound of heels clicking against the stairs below. The steady rhythm drew closer, climbing up toward the third floor.
Who could it be? She hadn’t heard of any visitors today.
Then, the sound stopped as a woman appeared.
Soft, wavy red hair rested on her shoulders, and bold green eyes looked straight at Ines.
“Oh my.”
The woman also stopped, surprised to see Ines standing at the top of the stairs. After a brief pause, she raised her hand to her chest and bowed.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess Elmenhardt.”
“You know me?”
“I’ve heard much about you.”
Her voice was confident, her manner bold, as if she had nothing to fear.
Ines tightened her grip on the stair rail.
“What is your name? You know me, but I don’t know you.”
“My name is—”
At that moment, the office door flung open again, and Kallion appeared. His face had hardened.
“Merian. That’s enough. Come up.”
“Hello, Duke. I was just introducing myself to your wife.”
“I told you to come up.”
His voice was sharp and commanding.
Merian pouted but obeyed, walking gracefully up the last few steps. As she passed Ines, she whispered—
“Pleased to meet you, Duchess Elmenhardt.”
Then, without hesitation, she followed Kallion into his office. The door shut firmly behind them.
Left alone in the hall, Ines stared at the door in disbelief.
This happened… one year ago as well?
“…Hah.”
Nothing made sense anymore.
