Episode 41
When my face turned stiff, Pides tilted her head playfully.
“Really? It’s not like that?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
I quickly waved my hands. There was nothing between Theodore and me. He was just my escort knight.
“I really thought there was something going on between you two.”
“I-I’m married! And Sir Theodore is a Holy Knight! He would never do something like that!”
“What’s the big deal? Being a Holy Knight doesn’t mean he can’t fall in love. Oh wait, is he not married? Then you can be together after you divorce.”
“Even more reason not to! That would be cheating!”
Pides really was from this world. She was angry about the Count cheating, but didn’t seem to understand why cheating was wrong. She just tilted her head like it was all confusing.
“Anyway, we’re really not like that.”
“But the way he looks at you is… intense. Okay, fine. I’ll pretend to believe you.”
“Pretend? There’s nothing to pretend. We’re not involved at all. Now lie down already.”
We laid down side by side. Pides had a lot to say and didn’t stop talking once. While she told me about her intense training as the heir, I stroked her hair and eventually fell asleep without even realizing it. Carla’s room felt much warmer than the Countess’s bedroom.
The next morning, the Duke and Duchess treated me with so much kindness that I didn’t want to leave. It had been a while since they saw their daughter, so they did everything they could.
“I’ll write often.”
“Stay longer next time, okay?”
“I will.”
Theodore helped me into the carriage. The Duke, Duchess, and Pides didn’t go back inside until the carriage disappeared from view.
But the warm feeling didn’t last long. As soon as I entered the Count’s mansion, I was greeted by his sharp voice.
“Where have you been all night?”
He looked like he’d only just returned from the card game party himself. The butler was helping him take off his coat, and his clothes were still the same as yesterday. Dark circles under his eyes showed his hangover hadn’t worn off yet.
“I stayed at the Duke’s house.”
“What?”
The Count frowned and pushed his hair back in frustration.
“You were too drunk to be moved. I couldn’t bother the Viscount and his wife with both of us staying over.”
“You should’ve come back alone!”
“There was only one carriage. If I left, how would you have returned?”
I lifted my chin and shot back.
“Pides helped in a tough situation. You were the one drunk at a party—how embarrassing. I don’t know how to face the Viscount now.”
When I hit him with the truth, the Count quickly changed his attitude.
“I wasn’t angry. I was just worried about you.”
He cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair again. Maybe he thought it made him look cool, but it was just gross.
“You know your family doesn’t like me. They cut ties with you because of me.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder, which gave me chills—like a caterpillar was crawling on me.
“But now that the Queen is investing in your business, they suddenly care about you. You’re too soft to see it, but I’m telling you, it’s a bad sign.”
He spoke as if the Duke’s family was only being nice because they wanted to use me, like it was a fact.
“Thanks for the advice.”
I brushed his hand off my shoulder and smiled coldly. I could listen to his nonsense, but I couldn’t stand the weird smell on him anymore. I pretended to cover my mouth while secretly blocking my nose.
“But Count, you must be tired. You still seem hungover, so go rest. We can talk later.”
“Yes, yes. Rest and think about who truly cares about you.”
He let me go surprisingly easily. I hurried upstairs, and only then did Belle and Liza follow me.
“Tell the head chef to bring the Count a cheese pie.”
“Cheese?”
“Yes, with cream and extra butter. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
I heard Belle rush down the stairs. Liza followed quietly. Once in my room, I threw myself on the bed. My big dress spread out messily.
“Shall I help you change, ma’am?” Liza asked quietly.
She had her head down and her hands folded. I shook my head, not even wanting to lift a finger after dealing with the Count.
“Later.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Belle would be gone for a while. She had friends in the kitchen, so she’d probably chat a bit. I didn’t mind her being lazy once in a while.
As I enjoyed the afternoon calm, I noticed something strange. Liza hadn’t said a word about the Viscount’s mansion. Usually, she’d be bursting with gossip.
‘She’s really quiet today… That’s odd.’
Even when she helped me change, she only said what was necessary. She seemed distant, her shoulders drooped, and her eyes dull.
‘This won’t do. I need her to be useful again.’
“Liza, did something happen yesterday at the mansion?”
She looked up slowly. Her face was pale, and her eyes lacked their usual sparkle.
“No, ma’am. Nothing happened.”
It was scary how calm she was. She was usually either very jumpy or overly cheerful.
‘What is it?’
When people try too hard to hide something, it makes you even more curious. If the Count did something, I had to find out first.
“It must’ve been tough staying at a new place.”
“No, it was just interesting.”
“What did you eat for dinner?”
“I had something light in the servant kitchen.”
No matter what I asked, she only gave short answers. Her voice was flat and her usual lively tone was gone.
‘This isn’t good. She’s no use like this.’
I kept watching her. That’s when Belle came back, knocking before entering.
“Ma’am, I gave the pie to the Count.”
“Good job. Could you help with my hair?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While Belle fixed my hair, Liza just stood behind us, staring at the floor. I looked at her through the mirror. Some of her hair was sticking out from under her maid’s cap—and it wasn’t blonde like usual. It looked dark and matted, like something dirty was stuck in it.
“Liza.”
“Yes!”
She jumped at the sound of her name. I tapped my temple.
“Your hair looks dirty. Go clean it.”
Liza quickly came to my side and looked closely.
“But ma’am, you look clean—”
“Not me. You need to clean your hair.”
She finally touched her cap and saw something dark on her fingers. Her face turned ghostly pale.
“Ah, um… This is…”
I could see a dark stain on her cap too. It looked like something had spilled on it. Before she could explain, I waved her off.
“Go clean up. You must be tired after staying at another house.”
“Th-thank you.”
She bowed deeply and hurried out. I couldn’t stop thinking about her stained cap, so I called Belle.
“Belle.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Can you check on Liza?”
“Just check on her?”
“She seemed really out of it today. If she looks really unwell, tell her to rest.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Even after Belle left, I felt uneasy.
‘No way… it couldn’t be… right?’
Belle came back much later.
“I’m back, ma’am. I told Liza she could rest like you said.”
She looked around, even though no one else was there, and then leaned closer.
“And… there’s something I need to tell you.”
She seemed nervous and hesitant. She fiddled with her earlobe, then straightened up and whispered in my ear.
“I think… someone hit her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Liza. She had a cut here,” Belle pointed to the top of her ear, “about this big.”
She showed me with her fingers—it looked like a 5cm wound. If that was true, then the stain on her cap was definitely blood.
I lowered my voice too.
“Did she say who did it?”
“No. I asked and asked, but she wouldn’t talk.”
Even though Liza didn’t say it, Belle clearly had someone in mind.
‘This feels bad.’
I pressed my fingers together, thinking. That kind of cut wasn’t easy to get from a fall. And last night, the Count was at the card party the whole time, so it probably didn’t happen at home. But if someone hit her at the party, the Count wouldn’t have stayed quiet about it.
It only left one possibility.
‘The Count…? But why would he hit Liza?’
He doted on her like a lover. Why would he hurt her? Maybe he was drunk and lost control? But he was too out of it last night to even move.
No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t find the answer.
“Ugh… I need a walk in the garden.”
I wanted to check on the poppies.
