Chapter 13
Opening the lid revealed a clump of golden hair, crudely cut.
As expected of Canna, who claimed to be able to do anything, her skills were truly impressive.
Rebecca could already picture Zeppelin failing to find the real culprit and taking his anger out on the wrong person.
Rebecca felt a twinge of guilt thinking about the person who would unjustly suffer Zeppelin's wrath.
If they were unlucky, they could be beaten severely and thrown out.
However, the more Zeppelin's Hounds were replaced with new ones, the better it was for Rebecca, so she kept her mouth shut.
It took quite a long time to train new Hounds.
Who knew if a Hound with little loyalty would take Rebecca's side?
Rebecca placed the box under the mattress.
"Oh, you're awake?"
Canna came in with a simple breakfast and water for washing. Seeing the box gone from the bedside table, she smiled faintly.
"You did a good job."
"It was nothing. It was a simple task."
"It seems you've proven yourself enough. I think I'll be going out today, so please prepare me."
"Which clothes should I prepare?"
Rebecca took a bite of freshly baked bread and smiled brightly.
"The most humble clothes."
* * *
In the sunny dining room, only the clinking of silverware and the occasional sound of Zeppelin slamming his fist on the table in frustration could be heard.
Zeppelin sat at the head of the table, with Rebecca facing him.
Alicia sat to his left.
'Why am I being treated like a guest?'
Alicia nervously cut a small piece of steak.
Even though she was officially his wife, both the servants and Zeppelin treated her like an outsider.
If she had known it would be like this, she would have taken the money from Rebecca and run away.
'No, no. How much did I suffer to get here?'
Alicia glanced at Rebecca's attire.
Unlike usual, she was dressed plainly, but it suited her remarkably well.
Watching Rebecca, who radiated elegance from head to toe, Alicia bit her nails.
"Give me another serving."
Alicia, whose appetite had recently increased, quickly finished her plate of steak and raised her hand.
Zeppelin frowned at the sight.
"Stop eating. You've gained weight lately."
"You know pregnant women need to eat enough."
"You're a commoner, so you probably don't know, but nobles don't eat so indiscriminately even when they're pregnant. Alicia, if you get fat, I'll kick you out."
"Count!"
"Quiet. You're annoying me to death. Look at Rebecca. How elegant she is. Try to learn from her. How many times do I have to say it? That's why commoners are..."
It was just one plate of steak. Even though she was the Countess, she couldn't even eat that as she pleased.
And she was sick of the word "commoner."
Alicia glared at Rebecca with a flushed face. She was the one carrying his child, but Rebecca's position remained unchanged.
Whether she noticed Alicia's gaze or not, Rebecca calmly put down her fork and wiped her mouth. Then, she gently approached Zeppelin.
Her movements were smooth and silent, making Alicia even more furious.
"Zeppelin, don't be so harsh. Alicia is carrying your first child. Shouldn't you let her eat a little more?"
Rebecca smiled sweetly and subtly caressed his arm.
Zeppelin flinched and looked at Rebecca's touch.
"I felt guilty that we couldn't have a child of our own. So, I hope Alicia's child grows up healthy."
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
Zeppelin always weakened when he saw Rebecca's trembling eyelashes.
"Alright. Bring her about half a serving more."
"I don't want it!"
Alicia threw down her knife. The empty plate clattered loudly.
It was humiliating.
She couldn't understand it at all. Shouldn't mistresses be loved? Throwing tantrums out of jealousy was something only the legal wife should do.
Zeppelin stood up abruptly and shouted at Alicia, who was glaring at Rebecca with a sulky face.
"Alicia!"
Rebecca caressed Zeppelin's arm once more.
Zeppelin hesitated for a moment at the gentle touch.
"Don't get so worked up. They say pregnant women get sensitive. By the way, since your hair is like this, why don't you just cut it short?"
"Cut my hair?"
"Yes. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I think short hair would suit you too. It would make you look more masculine, I guess?"
"If you say so..."
Rebecca smiled.
Zeppelin was already mesmerized by her appearance.
Rebecca knew him well. He would grant any request she made right now.
"I was thinking of going out for a while today, would you allow it?"
"Where to?"
Zeppelin frowned at the word "outing."
Rebecca didn't miss that moment and massaged his arm.
"To the Poorhouse. I used to go regularly, but I haven't been there much lately."
"So that's why you're wearing those strange clothes?"
"Yes. Didn't you like them? I didn't think there was any need to dress up to go there."
"That's right. It's better to go around looking like a beggar than to attract attention from those wretches. Alright, go ahead."
Alicia watched Rebecca's every move with incredulous eyes.
Those were the kinds of things she used to do when she worked as a barmaid to get even a penny more in tips.
It looked a little different when Rebecca did it, but it was still a vulgar act at its core.
'I knew it. She's a fox pretending to be a bear.'
Rebecca left the dining room. And before leaving, she didn't forget to give Alicia a sly smirk.
Soon, the sound of a plate shattering loudly came from the dining room. It seemed Alicia had thrown it.
Rebecca smiled triumphantly.
'Now it's your turn to be played with, Zeppelin Devonshire.'
* * *
"Duke! Which of these robes do you like better? Would this brooch be good?"
Croa laid out robes and accessories and spoke to Julian.
Julian didn't even take his eyes off the book he was reading and answered casually.
"I told you to make me look shabby. A robe without any decorations is enough."
"Even so, there's the Duke's family's reputation to consider. Besides, since when have you listened to others so well? To be so easily swayed by that woman's threats."
"That woman? Watch your words. She's going to be the Duchess."
Croa was so dumbfounded that he could only open and close his mouth.
Ever since Julian returned from the banquet, he had been acting as if Rebecca were already the Duchess.
Yesterday, he had spent the whole day searching the vast Duke's castle for the former Duchess's wedding veil.
"Hmm. Still, it would be better to fix my hair before going."
Julian slammed the book shut and stood up. He looked in the mirror and flipped his hair back and forth.
Seeing him looking so happy, Croa was at a loss for words. He was an innocent Duke who had never even had a first love.
On the other hand, Rebecca was a beautiful woman skilled at handling men.
Croa couldn't shake the feeling that Julian was being used.
"Was that Duchess so pretty? Huh? Enough to be so easily swayed by such nonsense!"
Julian, who had been fixing his hair, paused.
Julian stared at Croa's face, and suddenly a playful smile spread across his lips.
"Could it be that you're jealous? I suspected that was your type. Croa, I'm sorry, but I'm already taken. Besides, there's quite an age gap between us, isn't there?"
"What on earth are you talking about! I'm just a loyal subject who's worried about the innocent Duke day and night! That Rebecca, or whatever her name is, is suspicious. She's up to something."
Julian burst into hearty laughter and stared at Croa.
"Do you really think I'm that innocent?"
Croa flinched and looked up at Julian, who was looking down at him with an air of superiority.
Unlike the weak and sensitive Dukes of the past, Julian had a bold side.
He seemed to be born that way; he had been taciturn since he was a child.
Unlike a child, he didn't cry or throw tantrums.
He would always clench his mouth with an angry face and glare with fierce eyes.
But to Croa, that appearance looked like a fragile piece of glass that could break at any moment.
Croa was always concerned about him.
That's why he couldn't help but be wary of Rebecca.
'If you hurt the Duke, I won't let you get away with it.'
* * *
Croa was, strictly speaking, a distant relative of Julian.
However, the noble Johannes's bloodline could only be inherited by the successor chosen by the goddess.
Instead of inheriting Johannes's bloodline, Croa's ancestors decided to become butlers to the Duke of Johannes.
For generations, Croa's family had been searching for a way to break the curse on the Duke's family.
Croa couldn't believe that a complete outsider, whom he had never seen before, knew something that his ancestors hadn't been able to find.
Especially not that Rebecca Devonshire, who seemed to have never experienced hardship in her life.
It was true that her circumstances were pitiful.
But why did she have to seduce our Duke?
Croa wanted to dissuade this unsettling marriage of convenience, but once Julian had made up his mind, there was no way to stop him.
"I'll come with you."
"Why?"
"I need to be the Duke's cool head."
"Are you saying you're smarter than me? Croa, you're being very annoying today."
"You know very well that you act before you think, Duke. You even broke a merchant's tooth out of anger last time. I'm going because I'm worried about the Countess... no, Rebecca's safety."
Croa brazenly threw on the same plain brown robe that Julian was wearing.
Julian clicked his tongue in disbelief, but he didn't particularly stop him.
He wouldn't lay a hand on Rebecca, but he was still a little worried.
'My nanny was always yelling at me to control my temper.'
Instead of answering, Julian silently allowed Croa to accompany him.
Croa watched Julian carefully apply wax to his hair in front of the mirror.
He didn't know why he was being so enthusiastic when his hair would be messed up anyway once he put on the robe.
'Now that things have come to this, I need to figure out what that woman's intentions are.'
* * *
In the carriage on the way to the Poorhouse, Rebecca thought about the curse on the Johannes family.
It was purely by chance that Rebecca learned about the curse on the Johannes family.
In her previous life, she had briefly hidden in a Poorhouse after escaping from the Count's family. And that's where she met Croa.
