Episode 33
The Count sat down in the chair across from her without asking.
“I told a maid to come up, but she was too slow, so I came myself.”
“I had something for her to do. But since you’re here, that’s fine too.”
“You’re so slow.”
“I just finished eating. I didn’t want to show you a messy room.”
She gave a sharp reply to the Count, who always knew how to annoy her. He looked at the neat table and clicked his tongue.
“You ate all that? I told you to be careful. You gain weight easily.”
That was a lie. Carla didn’t gain weight easily. She had started eating more, but she still stayed slim. Her stomach was small, and she often got full just by tasting food. Even if she skipped a meal, it wasn’t a problem.
The Count had clearly sent her greasy food just to mess with her, even though it wasn’t good for a hangover.
“I thought so. Since you sent so much, I let the maids taste it too.”
“What? I specially sent that food for you, and you gave it to the maids?”
“Why not? Like you said, I gain weight easily. But I didn’t want to waste your gift.”
When he thought she ate it all, he scolded her. Now that she shared it, he was angry again. Was he crazy or something? She blinked in confusion as the Count raised his voice dramatically.
“How dare those rude servants touch the Countess’s food! Sometimes you need to punish people so they know their place!”
“Isn’t sharing with servants a good trait for an employer?”
“Don’t stop me. You don’t have any dignity. Tsk tsk.”
She glanced at Liza. Her face had turned pale.
“You heard him, Liza. Go fetch a switch.”
Now the Count’s face turned pale too. He coughed awkwardly, trying to distract her. Liza looked ready to faint. As the Count looked at her pitifully, he bit his lip.
“Well? What are you waiting for?”
Carla had no intention of hitting anyone, but watching the Count panic was amusing. He couldn’t take back his words now.
“Hurry, Liza. You’re my maid, but it’s also your duty to obey the Count.”
Liza nearly fainted. The Count coughed hard.
“K-koff, koff!”
“Oh dear, are you alright, Count?”
“I’m fine. Koff, koff. Let’s forget about punishments. I want to talk about us.”
“Sure.”
Liza’s color slowly came back. She had held her hands so tightly that her fingernails had left marks. The Count also looked calmer.
“About the Baroness yesterday…”
“You mean Baroness Yvonne.”
“Either way. It looks like you enjoyed the party.”
“It wasn’t bad.”
He smiled slyly and reached across the table to pat her hand. She wanted to pull away, but his grip was terribly strong. His touch felt creepy.
“I worry about you spending time with that kind of woman.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. His drooping eyebrows made it obvious he was faking concern.
“She’s addicted to gambling. Always drunk, always lying.”
Carla acted impressed, “Ohhh,” and let him go on about Yvonne.
“She’s a socialite, so I get that you can’t avoid her. But as your husband, I ask you not to ruin your reputation.”
“Like how?”
“Were you even listening?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t meet her anymore.”
Classic gaslighting. Carla couldn’t believe she’d once suffered from this.
“I’m saying this because I care… so do what I say.”
It wasn’t smart or sophisticated. Just a crude form of control.
“You always mess things up.”
The Count smirked and insulted her.
“You don’t make good decisions, that’s why your friends left. Queen? Hah. A real friend wouldn’t assign such an arrogant knight to protect you.”
She stayed silent, and he started mocking Theodore. It was clearly jealousy—Theodore was better looking.
She pulled her hand away and shook it under the table.
“Anyway, there’s nothing good about being friends with that Baroness. Got it?”
She nodded, just to end it. Listening to him made her feel like her brain was rotting. She wanted to dig the words out of her ears.
“Of course. But Count…”
She widened her eyes, trying to copy Liza’s innocent look. It was hard with her sharp eyes, but it still made the Count frown.
“I already lost to the Baroness a few times.”
“What? What can you do?”
“Exactly. I’m really useless.”
Even though she said it on purpose, it felt depressing. Carla must have lived like this all the time.
“What did she take from you?”
“I promised her a necklace. The one you gave me.”
She quickly made up a lie. It sounded believable. The Count didn’t even doubt her. With this acting skill, she wouldn’t starve even if she divorced him.
“Sigh… Beginners shouldn’t play games. You need a calm mind. I’m really good at games, you know.”
He kept bragging while sneaking glances at Liza.
“So? What now?”
“How could I give away your gift? I want to get it back.”
Before he could change the subject, she pushed ahead.
“But like you said, I’m not good at anything. So…”
She looked at Liza. Liza had her hands together, eyes wide open. Carla copied her.
“Can you beat the Baroness for me instead? Please?”
There was no way the Count could beat Yvonne unless he cheated again. She just wanted to see how he would refuse.
“Of course, someone like me can beat her easily…”
“But?”
“Sadly, she doesn’t want to play with me.”
She covered her mouth and gasped in fake shock.
“Oh no! Why?”
He didn’t answer, just coughed again. Of course, it would be embarrassing to say she refused him because he cheated.
Carla had to stop herself from humming with joy. He frowned and muttered.
“I’ll complain.”
“To who?”
“To the Baroness. It’s not fair!”
He mumbled for a while, then seemed to find an excuse.
“She’s just avoiding me because I’m friends with her husband.”
“Oh my, I didn’t know you were friends.”
“We got close through cards. Not your concern. Anyway, I probably can’t get your necklace back from her.”
Trash sticks with trash. She wasn’t surprised he was friends with the Baroness’s shady husband.
Wait… if he’s close with the Baroness’s husband…
She had a great idea.
“Count, I have another request.”
He didn’t nod easily.
“What is it?”
“I want to visit the place where people play cards.”
“You?”
She tried to nod cutely but gave up. She wasn’t good at acting sweet. Instead, she got serious.
“Yes, me. If I practice, I’ll get better. If you don’t let me go… I’ll have to challenge the Baroness again, with something else at stake.”
She looked at Liza, and the Count bit his lip. She wasn’t sure what he feared exactly.
Maybe he’s scared Liza wasn’t really assigned by the Baroness? Or maybe she faked her letter of recommendation?
Either way, she didn’t care. All she wanted was the dowry the Count stole. And maybe the custody that Baroness Yvonne lost to her husband.
“I really want my necklace back. I’d ask you to buy me a new one, but…”
The Count frowned. His face was big. If he were a male cat, he might be called handsome—but sadly, he was human.
In this world, a beautiful person had a small face with well-balanced features. He definitely didn’t qualify.
So when he frowned, it only made his features scrunch up.
“You know how attached I am to my things.”
“Of course. I know.”
He rubbed his forehead and nodded. Attached, yeah right. If Carla truly valued her stuff, she wouldn’t have given him her jewels. And he wouldn’t have accepted them.
She glared at him until he finally spoke.
“I’ll ask if you’re allowed to join. Just ask, okay? If they say no, there’s nothing I can do.”
“That’s enough.”
Grumbling, the Count stood up from his chair. She didn’t thank him. She just nodded, as if it was natural.
He frowned at her attitude and turned to leave, but then suddenly stopped and asked,
“That woman… did she say anything strange?”
“Hmm…”
Carla slowly turned to Liza and studied her face.
“She said… the Baroness likes blondes.”
Then she looked at the Count and smiled with her eyes.
“Anything else?”
“Do you need more?”
Finally, the Count nodded and left. But not before creepily patting Liza on the shoulder again. It was just disgusting.
