Dare to Lie [Novel] Chapter 5 – A Golden-Eyed Investigator

I followed the Brows out of the carriage and entered the MacCallan estate, which boasted an overwhelming majesty.

‘Count Brow’s place was impressive enough, but this is on another level.’

It was a stroke of luck that I had experienced the Brow estate first. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to control my expression. The ceilings were incredibly high.

The one greeting the Count and his wife at the entrance of the banquet hall was Count MacCallan himself. It was impossible not to recognize him.

‘He looks just like that man!’

His features immediately brought that policeman to mind. He looked to be in his late fifties or early sixties, a man who surely must have been called handsome in his youth.

I gave a modest greeting, just as I had been taught.

Count MacCallan’s gaze brushed over me, but I felt no intent from him to take particular notice of me or engage in anything beyond a simple greeting.

That was it. Considering his position, having to greet over a hundred guests today, it was only natural.

Leaving Count MacCallan, I diligently followed behind the Brows.

The reason I was nervous today wasn't because the MacCallans were such a prestigious family.

‘It’ll be a disaster if Rosaline made any friends while I was locked up in the holding cell. If she made enemies, it’ll be even worse.’

And to top it off, the policeman in charge of the townhouse fire was here.

I prayed fervently that no one would recognize me, but if such a situation arose, I intended to push through with as much brazenness as possible.

‘I’ve never heard anything about Rosaline meeting anyone during that time. That means she wasn't very active socially.’

There probably weren't many people she had actually met.

So, I would insist. I would insist that I was the real Rosaline Tesis. There was no one in Herona who could prove I was a fake.

While I was steeling my resolve, Count Brow, who had been exchanging greetings with acquaintances, suddenly called me to his side.

The person he introduced me to was an elderly lady who looked pleasant enough. Her gaze as she scanned me wasn't blatant, but I wasn't so naive that I didn't understand its meaning.

‘Aha! So that’s what being well-connected in society means.’

A matchmaker.

I had to remember exactly why the Brows were going through the trouble of taking me around like this.

If this person wasn't a ‘broker who sells goods at a good price,’ there would be no reason to bother introducing someone as provincial as me.

She took my hand firmly, wearing an expression of deep pity. Of course, it wasn't a word I could trust. Acting so close when we’d never even met.

‘This must be the default setting for these nobles. Pretending to be incredibly generous and sympathetic when they’re actually only calculating their own interests.’

Suppressing the urge to sneer, I fashioned the kind of ‘sad smile’ a young woman who had recently lost her parents might wear. If I just stayed quiet, they would handle the rest of the conversation themselves.

Then someone else came to greet the Brows, and I followed them, introducing myself again.

I don't know how many times that was repeated.

‘Even after meeting so many people, no one seems to suspect my identity.’

It was just as I was about to relax.

The sound of someone calling my name made my skin crawl.

‘Stay calm. I am Rosaline Tesis.’

I took a deep breath and slowly turned my head.

But the person was a face I knew.

It was Heather Dartmouth.

How could I have forgotten that this woman could be here too? My expression stiffened, making my efforts to compose myself futile. I felt like this woman would realize I wasn't Rosaline in an instant.

I managed to force a greeting, barely moving my locked jaw.

However, she didn't seem to notice anything, keeping her chin tilted up haughtily as she spoke.

One thing became certain. Heather didn't realize I wasn't the real Rosaline.

‘Did this woman never even look at Rosaline properly, or did I dress Rosaline up to look too much like myself?’

Maybe it was both. Whatever it was, it was good news for me.

Now that I knew Heather didn't recognize me, I had to act like a proper ‘Lady Tesis.’

There was no reason to be sweet now when our relationship was already soured. I needed to respond appropriately to someone who came to apologize while looking down on me so overbearingly.

Misunderstand? What? Making the maid—making me—pay back the money? It’s already done, so what is there not to misunderstand?

I almost let an absurd expression slip. Why would I set a fire?

No, wait. Thinking back, when I applied for bail, I did say I would go to Baron Tesis and try to borrow the money.

‘It’s a plausible misunderstanding.’

I couldn't decide yet whether I should correct this misunderstanding or just leave it be.

But regardless of that, what this woman said was so irritating. Someone was ready to die because of a debt they couldn't pay, and what? She intended to return the money?

She probably would have said the same thing and acted all sorrowful even after I’d drowned in the river. She might have even cried, saying she didn't know it would come to that.

And within a day, she would have completely forgotten someone like me ever existed.

My blood boiled. There was no way anything nice was going to come out of my mouth.

I cut her off and added with a bitter smile.

Heather’s expression stiffened instantly.

Regardless, I continued, maintaining a soft and polite tone.

The corners of her tightly pressed lips were trembling.

She looked so brazen that my own expression was beginning to harden, but just then, Count Brow beckoned to me from a distance.

My cousin once removed really was helpful in many ways. How did he know I didn't want to talk to this woman any longer?

I gave a light curtsy and turned toward Count Brow. Even from a distance, my eyes were drawn to the features of the man standing next to the Count.

‘It’s him!’

I knew it immediately. Count Brow’s words about him being so handsome that he’d catch my eye were no exaggeration at all.

I approached him, mentally hypnotizing myself several times not to show how nervous I was.

Standing before him, I couldn't help but be impressed. Such vivid gold eyes!

Count MacCallan’s eyes were also called gold, but compared to this man’s, they were merely a light brown.

Looking into those deep golden eyes, which were truly rare, I felt myself being pulled in despite myself.