Chapter 42
Rebecca smiled brightly.
Grace paused, trying to decipher the meaning behind her smile. But in the end, she found nothing.
In Grace's mind, there wasn't much Rebecca could do. The best she could manage was sneaking over the wall.
"Well, if you have nothing more to say, I have a lot to do, so I'll be excused."
Grace walked past Rebecca. The bunch of keys jingled as she walked.
Rebecca watched the bunch of keys that could open every room in the mansion for a moment, then opened her own door.
The moment she looked inside the room, Rebecca stopped breathing and widened her eyes.
Furniture was scattered everywhere, and feathers from a torn pillow were flying all over the place.
Rebecca hurriedly closed the door.
Soon, Canna's eerie voice was heard.
"How dare you bring your filthy body here. I'll kill you."
"W-wait! Ugh. What kind of strength is this..."
Canna had a man pinned to the floor, a knife pointed at his thick neck.
The knife probably belonged to the man, as the scabbard at his waist was empty.
He struggled desperately to shake Canna off, glaring with his bright yellow eyes and growling.
But each time, Canna's knee, pressing down on the man's chest, exerted even more force.
"Good heavens! Julian! Canna!"
At Rebecca's shout, Julian, taking advantage of Canna's momentary hesitation, quickly pushed Canna away and got up.
Then he rushed to Rebecca's side.
"That woman, was she not a maid but a guard knight?"
Julian stroked his neck, still feeling the chilling sensation where the blade had touched.
"Do you know this person?"
Canna said, still clutching the knife in her hand, as if she would immediately slit his throat if Rebecca said no.
Julian, no longer willing to lose, glared fiercely at Canna.
Rebecca sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose at the tense atmosphere between the two.
"Let me formally introduce you. Canna, this is Julian. Duke Johannes."
At the word Duke, Canna widened her eyes and lowered the knife.
However, she still didn't withdraw her hostile gaze.
"Julian, this is Canna. The child I told you about before. Remember? I only knew she was a maid, but seeing her today, I think she could even be entrusted with guard knight duties."
Even after learning each other's identities, the two continued to snort and exchange fierce glances for a while.
Rebecca sighed deeply once more and grabbed both of their hands.
"Now, shake hands. Say, 'Nice to meet you,' like this. There's no harm in getting along, since we're all in the same boat."
The two reluctantly shook hands.
Canna and Julian quickly withdrew their hands with expressions of disgust, as if they had been burned.
Canna rubbed the hand that had touched Julian on her clothes and said.
"Is this person really Duke Johannes? Not an imposter?"
Julian flared up and shouted as Canna scanned him with a sneer.
"An imposter! Watch your mouth!"
"Otherwise, why would he visit a lady's room at this late hour without an appointment? Still, you're quite skilled. To get through the tight security."
"Both of you, be quiet, please!"
As the two's voices grew louder, Rebecca trembled with anxiety, worried that the sound might leak outside.
Rebecca glared sharply.
Julian, sensing Rebecca's mood, tried to retort to Canna but shut his mouth.
He glanced at Canna and whispered to Rebecca in a lowered voice.
"I have something important to say in private..."
"That won't do."
That woman named Canna seemed to have sharp ears.
Julian groaned in annoyance.
Canna stubbornly squeezed between Julian and Rebecca.
Rebecca smiled and said to Canna.
"Canna, it's okay. This person isn't dangerous."
"But..."
"The thing you're worried about won't happen. You trust me, right?"
Rebecca said, patting Canna's hand.
At the words 'trust me,' Canna couldn't say anything more. How could she say she didn't trust Rebecca?
Canna still seemed unable to shake off her suspicion, but she nodded helplessly.
Julian looked down at Canna triumphantly.
"I understand. But if anything happens, shout immediately. I'll come running."
"Thank you, Canna."
Canna gave Julian's shoulder a hard tap and went outside.
As if the tension had been released, Rebecca sighed and plopped down on the bed. Then she glared at Julian for a moment.
"Really, don't come barging in without any notice."
"Sorry. It was quite urgent."
Feeling like he had won against a rival, Julian grinned even at Rebecca's grumbling.
"What's the matter?"
"Devil's Claw. I got it."
Rebecca's eyes widened.
Without realizing it, she reached out towards Julian's head.
"Well done..."
But soon, realizing her mistake, she lowered her hand again.
A strange disappointment flickered in Julian's eyes.
"Ahem. Thank you. So, when can you bring it?"
"Now."
Julian gestured towards the dressing table.
On the dressing table, Devil's Claw was planted in a pot covered with a glass dome.
"You'll have to pick the leaves before the day is over."
"This color... even the shape of the leaves. It really is Devil's Claw!"
Rebecca examined the Devil's Claw from side to side, overjoyed and stamping her feet.
At that sight, Julian got up from his seat.
"Is that all?"
"Huh?"
"I went through so much trouble to get it. Is a verbal thank you all I get?"
"What... do you want?"
Rebecca stared at the thick Adam's apple bobbing in front of her eyes.
Each time the distinctly masculine Adam's apple moved, Rebecca swallowed involuntarily.
"What we were about to do last time..."
Julian took Rebecca's hand. Her slender fingers were gently held in his large hand.
Her hand was so soft that he wanted to tickle it endlessly.
Julian took Rebecca's hand and brought it to his face.
"W-wait a minute!"
Rebecca pushed him away, startled by a fleeting, dizzying imagination.
"We're not even married yet. And I know you're at your peak of virility, but this is a big deal. Control yourself..."
"What are you talking about?"
Julian didn't budge like a rock even when Rebecca pushed him. Rather, he held her hand and moved closer and closer.
Julian brought his head to Rebecca's hand.
"Stroke me."
"Huh...?"
Rebecca stared blankly at Julian, as if she had been hit hard on the head with a hammer.
What did this immature Duke just say?
"Ha. I guess this won't do. Your face is even red. What kind of imagination are you having?"
Julian laughed playfully at Rebecca's dazed expression.
Her face soon turned as red as a plum ripening in the summer sun.
"W-what imagination are you talking about!"
"Weren't you having a lewd imagination? That's why you're reacting so strongly."
"A lewd imagination..."
Rebecca couldn't say the next word. It was because Julian closed his eyes and rubbed his head against her hand.
Black hair softly entered between her fingers.
"No one has ever stroked my head like this before."
"..."
"And no one has ever thanked me with such an emotional voice."
Julian released Rebecca's hand. His eyes were languidly unfocused.
Rebecca looked at him questioningly, then sniffed near his chest.
"I don't smell any alcohol... You're not drunk again, are you?"
"Does it look like it?"
Julian's eyes curved into crescents.
His pupils had been shining bright yellow like amber since a while ago.
"Unfortunately, I'm perfectly sober. I've been holding back for a long time, so I thought I could get this much."
"Holding back for a long time, what?"
Instead of answering, Julian lowered his gaze.
He tapped the glass dome containing the Devil's Claw. A cheerful glass sound rang out.
"You said it hurts a lot when you eat this."
Rebecca stared at Julian for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"It will. And I'll become hideous. When the Pustules burst, there will be a foul smell. Everyone will want to avoid me. I'll be in such a terrible state."
Even while predicting her own pain, Rebecca showed no particular emotional turmoil.
She was calm, as if it was something she had to do from the beginning.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Julian asked, looking at Rebecca standing calmly in the face of the approaching storm.
Rather, he was the one with frightened eyes.
"I'm not afraid."
Rebecca clenched her fist tightly.
Her clear eyes were as strong as her determined fist.
Rebecca slowly raised her head and stared straight at Julian.
"I swore I wouldn't run away again. My future holds nothing but ruin if not revenge. So, what could possibly make me hesitate?"
After speaking, Rebecca suddenly reached into the glass dome. And she grabbed the Devil's Claw.
"If you touch it with your bare hands like that...!"
Before Julian could stop her, Rebecca smiled bitterly and poured the leaves into her mouth. The sound of the raw leaves being crushed echoed loudly.
Gulp-
Rebecca chewed the leaves for a while and then swallowed.
Julian silently handed her a glass of water.
Red rashes were already rising on Rebecca's hand as she received the glass of water.
"Ah, it's more bitter than I thought."
After emptying a cup of water, Rebecca frowned.
But soon, she smoothed her brow and returned to her usual calm face.
"Now, there won't be any unfortunate events of me rolling around in bed with Zeppelin when he returns."
Zeppelin had about fifteen days left before he returned, but it would take a little longer for the symptoms of poisoning to appear after eating the leaves.
It was the perfect timing for Julian to bring the Devil's Claw, as she wanted to show Zeppelin her hideous face as soon as he arrived.
"Would you like a cup of tea? There's no one in the mansion who would visit my room at this hour. Besides, Canna is guarding, so it should be okay for a while."
Rebecca approached a trolley set up on one side.
The chains dangling below her wrist gleamed in the light.
Seeing that sight, Julian bit his lip.
"No, I just remembered something I have to do."
"But just for a moment..."
Meow.
When Rebecca turned around with the teapot, Julian had disappeared.
Leo was just sitting with his tail wagging, in a pose like toasted bread.
He seemed to be in a bad mood, perhaps because he had been suddenly summoned again today.
Rebecca stroked Leo from head to tail with a helpless expression.
Leo's expression quickly softened.
He rubbed his face against Rebecca's hand, then licked her hand where the rash had appeared.
