Chapter 3
The cat rubbed its face against Julian's leg.
"Leo."
Julian's stiff face relaxed slightly at Leo's appearance.
As Julian lowered himself, Leo leaped onto his shoulder.
Seeing Julian's softened expression, Croa breathed a sigh of relief for a moment.
Julian frowned again, hearing his small breath.
"What are you doing here?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said until tomorrow. Even if you start now, time will be tight, won't it?"
Leo hissed at Croa.
Two pairs of golden eyes glared at Croa.
Croa felt goosebumps all over his body as if he had met a hungry lion. He wanted to cry.
"I, I'll go right away!"
There was no way he was going to get off work early today either.
Croa quickly left his seat, on the verge of tears.
"He won't move unless I say a few more words."
Julian shook his head, looking at the empty space where Croa had disappeared.
Leo sighed softly and landed gently on the floor.
Leo's voice echoed in Julian's head.
'Who is that woman that you're so concerned about?'
"I'm not concerned. It's just that seeing her reminds me of someone, and it makes me feel sick."
Julian slumped down on the white sandy beach. The only sound was the quiet lapping of waves on the deserted shore.
'Who? Duke Johannes's wife?'
"You figure it out like a ghost."
Julian burst into a hollow laugh.
In fact, he, who disliked social events, didn't have many opportunities to meet Rebecca.
But even though he hadn't met her often, Rebecca had left a deep impression on him.
Like Julian, she only briefly showed her face at large banquets.
From what he heard, Zeppelin was fiercely protective of her.
Rebecca was always adorned gorgeously and beautifully, but she didn't seem to have any vitality.
Even when chatting with noble ladies, Rebecca would often just repeat mechanical answers.
People raved that she was the most beautiful woman in the empire, but Julian couldn't agree.
She was like a corpse. That's why seeing Rebecca always reminded him of his mother.
A person whose soul had dried up like a dry twig.
'But what was that look just now?'
However, Rebecca sitting in the carriage seemed like a different person.
She was angry. He thought she was someone without emotions, but it was unexpected.
Besides, her fiery gaze. That gaze was following Julian like an afterimage.
For a moment, he really couldn't take his eyes off her.
'Aren't you smitten?'
Leo looked up at Julian with interest.
"What... You! I told you not to steal my thoughts without permission."
'I didn't want to hear it either? You leaked it.'
Julian smiled bitterly at his words.
Then he casually stroked Leo, who was nonchalantly resting his chin on his paw.
Leo purred happily.
A lovely being and at the same time a terribly hateful being. A blessing and at the same time a curse.
That's what Leo was to him.
The burden on his shoulders felt particularly heavy today.
He was never alone, but he was alone.
* * *
Another day dawned.
Because Zeppelin and Alicia were away on their honeymoon, the vast Devonshire Residence was entirely Rebecca's.
It was a long-awaited peace, but Rebecca couldn't enjoy her freedom.
Zeppelin's attendants, called the Hounds, were secretly watching her from all directions.
"The Devonshire Earl isn't here today, so why don't you have some more?"
Alice said, bringing out another plate of dessert.
Rebecca stared at the cake with the dainty raspberries on top for a moment.
She had an appetite, but Rebecca shook her head.
She didn't know what she would hear if she ate a little more. For now, she had to be the same as usual.
Rebecca tried to remember what she usually did around this time.
"It's okay. Let's just take a walk."
Rebecca left the dining room.
The ownerless residence was no different from usual, so much so that the owner's absence wasn't felt.
That wasn't because Rebecca was doing a good job as the mistress.
It was because the capable head maid and butler were doing their best to avoid being caught by Zeppelin when he returned.
She was the Countess, but that was just a fancy facade.
Rebecca knew nothing about household affairs.
Zeppelin didn't entrust Rebecca with the budget management that the mistress should rightfully handle.
'You just have to sit there like a rose. I'll take care of all the complicated things.'
She wasn't free to go out either. All Rebecca did all day was embroider or play the piano inside the residence.
On days when she was tired of even that, she would aimlessly wander around the garden.
Sometimes she could invite nearby young ladies or wives to tea parties, but somehow no one seemed to welcome her invitation.
Invitations to social events would often arrive for Rebecca.
But Zeppelin forbade her from attending parties unless it was absolutely necessary.
It was an excuse that he was worried that the pure Rebecca would be tainted by the snobs.
"A doll..."
Rebecca recalled what Zeppelin had said to her before she died.
A perfect doll.
He was right. The Count's Residence was a large dollhouse, and she was just a beautiful doll sitting there.
A pitiful doll that could be discarded at any time.
Lost in thought, Rebecca stopped in front of an exhibition hall with a glass dome ceiling as she strolled through the garden.
It was called the Hall of Light.
The glass dome was covered with a black cloth to block the sunlight.
The black cloth was only removed when guests came.
The Devonshire Count family had been famous for their deep artistic knowledge for generations.
They had bought art pieces of enormous value over the generations.
In particular, Zeppelin had collected the most works among the past Devonshire Earls.
His affection for art was obsessive to the point that he had a separate building built to control the temperature and humidity for the management of the works.
Rebecca imagined destroying the Hall of Light.
And she pictured Zeppelin in despair. A smile naturally appeared on her face.
But she soon shook her head bitterly.
The Hall of Light was heavily guarded. Even now, knights in shining armor were stationed in front of the entrance to the exhibition hall, guarding it.
Some of the knights who found Rebecca bowed their heads in greeting.
Rebecca nodded at them and turned her gaze away.
She still had no power.
If she had a strong family, she would have divorced him a long time ago.
But Rebecca's family, who were only humble Viscounts, went bankrupt after the marriage.
Even before Rebecca regressed, her family was barely maintaining their family by relying on the Count's Residence.
"The sun is strong today. Be careful not to get sunburned."
Alice brought a shawl and draped it over Rebecca's shoulders. And she held up a parasol to block the sunlight.
"Alice, your arm will hurt if you hold the parasol for too long. Or should we just go inside?"
"No. I can endure this much for you, Countess. You must be feeling stuffy. You need to take a walk like this to relieve your stress, right?"
In her previous life, on the day Alicia gave birth to her second child, Alice took her to the village festival to make Rebecca feel better.
She had a happy time for the first time in a long time, but the price was harsh.
When it was revealed that she had gone out without permission, Zeppelin beat Alice to death.
Rebecca recalled the last moments of Alice, who was dying in front of her eyes, covered in blood.
She felt like she owed her an unpayable debt.
"Tell me anything you want, Alice. I'll do anything I can."
"If I have a wish, it's to spend a peaceful day with you like this."
"Don't lie and tell me honestly. Jewelry? Or should I raise your salary?"
"Countess."
Alice put the parasol down on the floor for a moment and took Rebecca's hands.
"I really don't need anything. I just want to be your eternal aide like this."
Rebecca smiled along with Alice's affectionate smile.
She was glad that she had returned to the time when she was alive.
Alice was the only person she could trust in this desolate residence.
"Okay. Thank you. You're the only one for me, Alice. Then let's walk a little more and go inside."
At Rebecca's words, Alice nodded with a kind smile.
Alice's smile was the only warmth that permeated the ice-cold Devonshire family, even in the spring sunshine.
* * *
Returning to the residence, Rebecca slowly climbed the stairs to her room on the second floor.
And she looked up at the third floor, where Zeppelin's room and study were located.
Couples usually shared a bedroom, but Zeppelin and Rebecca were different.
Zeppelin always returned to his room and fell asleep alone after the sleeping arrangement was over.
It was because he was worried that Rebecca's sleeping habits would scratch his face.
Besides, he wanted to have everything under his feet.
Zeppelin started his day looking down on everyone from the top floor.
No one could enter his territory without permission.
No one could go up to the third floor, and that no one included Rebecca.
Rebecca paid attention to the study on the third floor.
Zeppelin didn't like Rebecca gaining knowledge.
All the books were in his study, so Rebecca couldn't read unless she had special business.
'Everything about the Count's Residence must be there.'
Zeppelin always locked the door of the study tightly when he went out.
Judging from the fact that he strictly forbade outsiders from entering, it was certain that a great secret, whatever it was, was hidden inside the study.
Rebecca looked up at the door of the study.
'If I search, I might find something.'
Rebecca stealthily moved her steps to the third-floor stairs, taking advantage of Alice's absence.
"Entry is prohibited from here, Countess."
There was definitely no one there. But a sturdy servant, who appeared from nowhere, stood in Rebecca's way.
"I know. I just took the wrong turn."
Rebecca turned her steps with regret.
Alice, who was coming up with an afternoon dress, watched the scene silently. And she narrowed her eyes and fell into thought.
"Countess, do you want to go to the study?"
"What?"
Rebecca stopped embroidering, startled.
"I saw you heading for the stairs earlier. Shall I help you?"
Looking at Alice's sparkling green eyes, Rebecca was reminded of the old days.
'If we just go to the festival for a while, no one will know! Let's go, Countess!'
She couldn't let such a thing happen again.
Rebecca shook her head.
"No. It's too dangerous."
"The Devonshire Earl won't be back for a week anyway. Now is the chance when the security is lax."
Alice was right. There was no knowing when such an opportunity would come again.
But this was a gamble.
When Rebecca hesitated, Alice whispered quickly.
"Listen. The only person guarding the third floor right now is Hans. Fortunately, I'm a bit friendly with Hans. I'll coax him and take him to the kitchen. In the meantime, you go up to the third floor."
"But Alice..."
"It's really okay! You want to read a book, right? You'll be lonely until the Devonshire Earl comes back, so it would be nice if you could read a book."
At Alice's persistent persuasion, Rebecca reluctantly nodded.
Rebecca's heart was pounding like the day she ran away from the Count's Residence.
