Chapter 05
On the bed, there was no letter or newspaper—only the knife.
‘No way…’
A chilling thought suddenly crossed Richard’s mind, giving him goosebumps.
‘Maybe I’m just overreacting.’
But what if she tried to do something irreversible with that knife?
Richard’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
What should he say? Should he ask if she tried to kill herself? Or tell her she mustn’t? Or just say useless words like “Hang on” and “Stay strong”?
At that moment, one thought popped into Richard’s head.
“…The person who harmed the Count is still unknown, right?”
Marsha lifted her tear-streaked face.
“If you stop asking, the police might give up the investigation.”
Cold light flashed in Marsha’s sorrowful eyes.
As Richard said, if she disappeared from this world, no one would investigate the Count’s death.
Marsha could never allow that.
Her hands trembled violently.
Richard thought giving Marsha strength like this wasn’t right, but he had no choice now.
If she stayed alive now, tomorrow would come.
And maybe tomorrow, she would find a new purpose in life.
“…But will the police consider my feelings? I have nothing.”
Understanding what Marsha said, Richard nodded shortly and replied,
“I don’t know much about Lucas, but from what I’ve seen while handling this case, he seems like a good man. Especially, he worries about you a lot.”
Marsha shook her head softly.
“Lucas said that? But he’s never come to see me…”
“He thinks if he goes to you now, it might make you feel worse since you’re still struggling.”
Lucas seemed worried that Marsha might see him as the thief who took everything away from her.
“So, how about talking to him first? He would help you.”
After a moment’s thought, Marsha slowly nodded.
Richard sighed in relief and held her hand tightly.
“If you need my help, please come find me.”
“…Thank you.”
Marsha answered with a trembling voice.
Richard shook his head.
“I’ve made a living from the Count’s work, so it’s only natural to help you.”
After hesitating several times, Richard finally left the room.
Marsha stayed up all night thinking.
‘How should I live from now on?’
Should she shamelessly ask Lucas to take her in? She’d do any small work to earn her keep, just begging for the smallest room in the mansion.
‘…Why am I so useless?’
Why was she raised to be so delicate? If she were at least good at sewing, she might find a job somewhere.
Instead, she just read books, listened to beautiful songs, and lived pitying poor people.
‘I didn’t even know how to endure a poor life.’
She had arrogantly looked down on others.
“Sigh…”
Taking a deep breath, Marsha gathered her thoughts.
‘…I’ll ask to stay here only until I can stand on my own.’
She’d leave soon, just asking for a little time.
Surely, that wouldn’t be hard to agree to.
‘But it might be hard to pressure the police.’
What reason would the police have to pay attention to Marsha, who had nothing?
‘But if it’s Lucas, it’s different…’
So if she asked Lucas…
Marsha squeezed her eyes tightly, wrinkling her brow.
That request was far more shameless than just asking to stay here a little longer.
‘My father was pretty cruel to Lucas.’
Even after Lucas was adopted, the Emelide Count treated him as a servant’s son, not family.
Marsha had argued with her father more than ten times, upset by his attitude.
If he treated Lucas that way, even with her watching, he must have been even harsher when alone with Lucas.
So asking Lucas for this was shameless.
‘But Lucas is the only one I can ask for help…’
Right now, Marsha wasn’t in a position to worry about such things.
Taking a short breath, Marsha moved forward.
If Richard came to the mansion, that meant Lucas must be here too.
‘Don’t think too much. Just talk first.’
With that thought, Marsha left her room.
But as soon as she came down the stairs, she heard a sharp voice from the dark hallway.
“Why won’t you take the title right away? Why are you delaying the marriage again?!”
It was Rosna’s voice.
Marsha carefully moved toward the sound and pressed close to the wall so the firelight from the fireplace wouldn’t hit her shoe tips.
“Is it because of Marsha? Huh? Are you doing this because you feel sorry for her?”
“How can you talk like that when your friend is going through all this?”
“She’s not my friend!”
Marsha suddenly held her breath without realising it.
“What?”
“I hated her from the start! Just because she was lucky to have a good father, she never knew what hardship was and always looked down on others! I hated how people praised her just for pretending to be kind and innocent! If it weren’t for the money, I wouldn’t have had to pretend to be her maid, watching her father’s every move!”
Marsha’s legs wobbled.
If she had had nothing to lean on, she would have collapsed right there.
She still remembered clearly.
[This is my daughter, Rosna. She’s about the same age as you, so I thought you two might become good friends.]
As soon as her father’s introduction ended, Rosna smiled brightly and approached.
[Hello.]
When she lifted her slightly bowed head, her bright light brown hair with an orange tint shone in the sunlight—it was dazzling.
Marsha thought that orange hair was even more beautiful than the blonde doll she usually played with.
Except for her mother, it was the first time she thought someone else was pretty.
Every memory with Rosanna had been joyful.
She would never have done things like sledding down snowy hills and running through tall flower fields without Rosanna.
[Even God doesn’t care. How could such a terrible thing happen?
When the Countess Emelide passed away, Rosna hugged Marsha and cried with her.
She assured her that she would always be by her side and be a good friend.
Yes, she had promised that.
“I wish she would disappear forever—from this house, from my sight, from my life!”
“You…!”
The two voices clashed like crashing waves. Overwhelmed, Marsha backed away.
Dizzy and overwhelmed, Marsha had no choice but to step back.
She thought there would be no more pain.
But she was wrong.
‘I thought we just had a falling out, but it wasn’t that.’
From the start, she had been the only one who considered it a friendship.
***
Early the next morning, having not slept a wink, Marsha stood by the window.
She saw Richard loading luggage onto a carriage.
‘He’s leaving…’
She still couldn’t bring herself to speak to Lucas.
When could she ask him? Was there anything she could ask him?
There was a gentle knock at that moment.
It was too early for breakfast to be delivered.
“…Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
It was Lucas.
‘Lucas? Why…?’
Somewhat surprised, Marsha steadied herself and said,
“Come in.”
Lucas entered the room.
Seeing Marsha so thin and pale, his face twisted with worry before forcing a small smile.
“Sorry to come so early. Richard advised me to see you before he leaves.”
“…Ah.”
“Well…”
He hesitated, then gave an awkward smile.
“It’s not just because Richard told me to come. Since he’s leaving, he won’t be back for three days. I wanted to see you before then. Take care of yourself until I get back. Even if it’s hard, eat well…”
As Lucas turned to leave, Marsha called out urgently,
“Wait.”
“Hm?”
“…I have something to ask you.”
A pleased look appeared on Lucas’s face.
“Hm? What is it?”
“…“
Marsha lowered her head deeply.
From her trembling lips, a small voice escaped.
“It’s about my father’s case. Will you help me keep the investigation going?”
“What?”
Lucas repeated in disbelief.
Surprised, Marsha moved her trembling lips.
“I’m sorry, but if someone like me steps in, the police won’t listen…”
“Wait, Marsha. Did you just say you’re asking me for something like that?”
Marsha’s large eyes twisted with sadness.
‘It was too much to ask…’
Just as Marsha opened her mouth to apologise, Lucas spoke with a hurt tone.
“That’s something I should do, of course. It’s not something you have to ask me to do.”
Was she hearing wrong? Marsha looked up and saw Lucas with a disappointed expression.
“Why are you saying such hurtful things?”
Marsha’s eyes welled up with tears, and she spoke.
“Our father treated you badly. So I thought you would hate me.”
“It’s true the Count disliked me. But I was still okay with it.”
Lucas gave a faint smile as if answering her unspoken question, “Why?”
“You always took my side and comforted me back then. Since that time, I’ve…”
Lucas seemed about to say more but shook his head with a smile.
“Anyway, don’t worry about that anymore.”
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can leave with peace of mind now.”
Marsha sniffled, wiped her eyes, and smiled brightly.
Then Lucas suddenly opened his eyes wide and asked,
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah.”
Marsha nodded with her head lowered.
“Just because you haven’t become the Count Emelide yet doesn’t mean I’m the owner of this mansion. Rosna and Mr. Pudelli must feel uncomfortable with me here, so…”
Marsha gave an awkward smile and then lifted her head again.
“Huh?”
Her expression quickly stiffened.
Lucas was looking down at her with a sharp, piercing gaze.
