Chapter 28
Originally, Leo had his own groomer, but because they were on marriage leave, Croa cut Leo's fur.
And it happened in an instant. Croa momentarily lost focus and messed up.
Croa shaved off a patch of fur the size of two finger joints from Leo's head. And Julian ended up with a bald spot on the back of his head as well.
Leo just played it off and overlooked Croa's mistake, but Julian was different.
He made a fuss about finding the culprit, and Leo barely managed to calm him down.
Croa shuddered, recalling Julian's crazed expression at the time.
"Th-that, please, anything but that!"
"Then tell me quickly. Who is the owner of that riddle?"
Croa wanted to cry.
But she changed her mind.
If Tanisha knew about her mistake, it was only a matter of time before she revealed Rebecca's identity.
She concluded that it would be better to reveal it now and eliminate any future troubles.
"Okay, listen carefully..."
Tanisha retied her disheveled light brown hair and listened to Croa's words.
* * *
"The Emperor insisted on summoning me?"
"Yes, he said it was something that required the Devonshire Earl's discerning eye..."
Zeppelin pinched the bridge of his nose at Elwin Devonshire's words.
"Can't you handle it on your own?"
"He said it was a very important matter and beyond my capabilities."
"Haa. Dammit."
Zeppelin let out a cold breath.
Elwin, watching him carefully, tightened his grip on his hands clasped in front of him.
Elwin was in charge of the Devonshire family's main business, the distribution of artwork.
His job was to acquire any artwork Zeppelin specified, no matter what it took.
He acknowledged Zeppelin's eye for art.
Not a single customer had ever disliked the artwork he had acquired.
But this request was strange.
There were often transactions with the Imperial Family. Each time, Elwin would step up and acquire the items as usual.
The Emperor must have known this, but for some reason, this time he insisted that the Count acquire the artwork himself.
"It's not an existing piece, and it's just a request for a piece, but I have to go in person? And wait until the piece is finished before returning?"
"He repeatedly emphasized that the artist's identity should not be leaked to the outside. He said the Devonshire Earl had a knack for that sort of thing..."
"Damn it! Then you should have somehow turned it down! How dare you let things get to this point?"
Zeppelin threw a paperweight at Elwin. The solid emerald paperweight struck Elwin's forehead squarely.
Elwin stumbled backward for a moment, then got up from his seat, rubbing his forehead.
His forehead was cut, and blood was flowing, but he didn't seem to care. He seemed more afraid of Zeppelin's anger.
Zeppelin shouted, unable to contain his rage.
"Rebecca is sick right now! What if something happens while I'm away!"
"I-I'm sorry..."
Elwin wiped the blood with his hand and lowered his head.
Zeppelin frowned at the blood smeared on his hand.
"Get out of here before you bleed on the carpet."
"Th-then this matter..."
"I said I'll take care of it. And didn't you hear me say get out now?"
Elwin bowed several times and opened the door and left.
The maids, seeing his appearance, rushed to treat his wound.
They seemed more concerned about getting even a drop of blood on this mansion, which was close to a work of art, than about him.
Elwin shuddered.
Strictly speaking, Elwin was Zeppelin's uncle. Even after suffering such humiliation from his nephew, he couldn't protest.
Because his daughter, Charlotte, had been kidnapped by Zeppelin.
'I told you not to do anything unnecessary. I will raise Charlotte well. Don't worry. As long as you do your job well, Uncle, Charlotte won't get hurt.'
Elwin sighed deeply.
Zeppelin would send him photos of Charlotte and censored letters as a reward each time Elwin achieved a result. Fortunately, Charlotte looked fine in the photos.
Still, he couldn't help but feel his insides burning every night.
'Charlotte... where are you?'
He moved his powerless feet. He worried that Zeppelin might harm Charlotte because of this incident.
"Uncle, how have you been?"
A clear voice greeted Elwin as he entered the lobby.
Elwin paused for a moment, recognizing the owner of the voice.
"Rebecca?"
"Oh my, what happened to your forehead...? Ah, you must have met with him."
Elwin stared at her sitting in the wheelchair.
Only now did he understand why Zeppelin had been so unusually irritable lately.
"I heard you were hurt, but I didn't realize it was this bad..."
"It's okay. It's not an incurable disease, you know. By the way, if you came all the way here, it must be quite urgent?"
"Ah, that's..."
Elwin opened his mouth without realizing it, drawn in by Rebecca's kind tone.
But he soon had to shut his mouth again because of the stinging gazes pouring in from all directions.
His hands quickly became damp with sweat. Whenever he came here, he felt like the walls had eyes watching him.
For him, the Devonshire County Manor was like a den of demons.
And Rebecca was the treasure the demon cherished most.
Elwin quickly cut himself off.
"Ah, no, I misspoke. Don't worry about it and get some rest."
Then he fled the scene as if running away.
Rebecca called out to his back.
"Please give my regards to my aunt!"
At her words, Elwin turned around for a moment.
Rebecca was smiling brightly and waving her hand.
Elwin stared blankly at the sight.
'Was that child always so cheerful...?'
After Elwin left the mansion, Rebecca called Canna.
Rebecca gestured with her head in the direction Elwin had gone.
"Investigate what's going on."
Canna nodded silently.
* * *
"The Emperor made a request?"
"Yes. I don't know the details of whether it's a confidential matter, but it seems the Devonshire Earl will have to leave the house for quite some time."
"Since Uncle came, it's probably an art-related business. What could be so important that Zeppelin has to step in personally?"
Canna cautiously asked Rebecca, who was deep in thought.
"Don't you think it's too timely?"
"I agree. It's so lucky that I feel like cheering."
"Shall we investigate if there have been any suspicious movements?"
"No. I have an idea who did it."
Rebecca recalled her meeting with Julian a few days ago.
'Really? Then do something to make Zeppelin so busy that he can't stay in the mansion. Then I can go out as I please.'
Rebecca remembered Julian falling into deep thought after hearing her jokingly say that.
And the determined expression that followed.
Rebecca thought he would do something, but she didn't expect him to involve the Emperor.
In any case, Julian was a resourceful person for his age.
Rebecca smiled and said to Canna.
"Zeppelin will be very busy for a while, right?"
"Probably."
"That's good. It'll be easier to slip out for a while."
"By the way, I received this note on the way here. They asked me to be sure to deliver it to Rebecca."
"To me?"
Rebecca took the note Canna handed her and unfolded it.
<I am the figurehead CEO. The company office is ready, so please feel free to visit at your convenience.>
The address was also briefly written below.
"Canna, how did they know you?"
"That's... I'm wondering too. The only person who knows I'm Rebecca's right-hand woman is Robert."
"It's either a trap or someone with good skills."
"Are you going...?"
Rebecca tapped the note lightly.
"Hmm, I have to go. I have other business there too."
"..."
"Why are you making that face?"
"I'm scared. I am."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm afraid that you'll act so recklessly and never come back again someday."
Rebecca stared at Canna's drooping eyebrows.
Canna must have been recalling the day Rebecca threw herself from the stairs.
Rebecca reached out and grabbed Canna's cheeks.
Her cheeks in Rebecca's hands quickly turned rosy.
"Canna, don't worry. I have no intention of dying. No, I want to live more than ever."
Rebecca paused for a moment before continuing.
"Even if I die someday, at least not now."
Canna smiled faintly, now a little relieved.
Still, the anxiety did not disappear.
For some reason, she kept having the ominous feeling that Rebecca would leave her behind and die someday.
But since her ominous premonitions rarely came true, Canna carefully savored Rebecca's warmth.
* * *
Silence flowed during lunchtime. It was because Alicia, who had been chattering, had shut her mouth and was focusing only on her food.
Her confident appearance, which had been confronting Fabiola, was nowhere to be seen, and Alicia had become a docile wife.
Rebecca watched the scene with a rather shocked look.
It hadn't even been a month since Zeppelin started educating Alicia.
What was in the Hall of Light that made all the Hounds fear it, and made the arrogant Alicia change so docilely?
Zeppelin, having finished his meal, wiped his mouth with a napkin and said.
"Rebecca, I'll be away from home for a while, so if anything happens, tell the head maid. And Alicia, you better give up if you're thinking of causing trouble."
At Zeppelin's words, Alicia smiled softly. She stroked her slightly swollen belly and said.
"Yes, Count. I've decided to become a virtuous wife for my child."
"I see it was worth educating you. Yes, even beasts can be useful if you teach them. Rebecca, you'll be good while I'm gone, right?"
Alicia's brow furrowed slightly at the word 'beasts.'
But soon, as if she hadn't heard anything, Alicia put a bite-sized dessert in her mouth.
Rebecca glanced at Alicia's gesture of elegantly holding her fork and reluctantly nodded.
"Good. Then what will my lovely wives be doing while I'm out making money?"
Zeppelin seemed calm, even though he must have been fuming inside because of the Emperor's summons.
Rebecca suppressed the urge to laugh at him and opened her mouth.
As she added the most beautiful smile, she could see Zeppelin's expression melting.
"Since the sun isn't strong today, I'm going to try painting in the garden. You can look forward to what kind of painting will come out."
