Chapter 45
Her dead daughter was her only Achilles' heel.
Grace forced the twitching corners of her lips downward and retorted.
"My daughter... is dead. So Robert is as good as a stranger. And you know I opposed them from the start. I should hate him, if anything. He drove a wedge between my daughter and me."
"Ah, yes. I momentarily forgot. Just being overly cautious. Then I'll take my leave. I have much to do for the Count."
Octavio left with a meaningful smile.
Grace felt a chill at his smile and glared at his retreating figure for a long while.
* * *
"Robert was summoned?"
"Yes. The Count urgently sought him out this morning."
"It was discovered later than I expected."
Rebecca said nonchalantly.
Canna asked with a questioning look.
"Did you know beforehand that he would be found out?"
"Of course. It's probably Octavio's doing. He's likely trying to divert Zeppelin's attention, which is fixated on me, towards rooting out a traitor."
"Then Robert..."
"Will die."
"Pardon?"
Canna's eyes widened at Rebecca's indifferent tone.
Rebecca pretended not to notice Canna's reaction and read the letter Leo had brought.
"Justav is researching Rose Grapes, it seems. It's as if Julian knew my plan in advance. Isn't that fascinating, Canna?"
"Indeed. It's fortunate that he's proving helpful, at least."
Even as she replied, Canna wore an uneasy expression.
She seemed to find it hard to believe Rebecca's words about letting Robert die.
But Canna asked nothing this time either. Her resolve to follow all of Rebecca's decisions was unwavering.
Rebecca, who had been observing her closely, smiled faintly.
"It's time for Robert to leave the mansion too. Sometimes, death is the only path to freedom."
"Robert would consider it an honor to give his life for you, Rebecca."
"Don't worry. I'll bring him back to life."
"Yes...?"
"Surely, you didn't think I'd let Robert die, did you? Especially at Zeppelin's hands? That's disappointing."
Rebecca let out a mischievous laugh.
She finished her reply and placed it inside Leo's necklace case.
As Leo leaped out the window, Rebecca wrote two more letters.
Then she handed them to Canna.
"Give one to Catherine in her sight, and secretly deliver the other to my mother. And stop by the Liberta Poorhouse for a moment. It seems Margaret's time to decide has come."
"How can I leave your side when you're in so much pain, Rebecca?"
Canna looked at Rebecca with concern, who occasionally winced from the pain.
Rebecca took Canna's hands in hers.
"My fever has gone down a lot, and I'm fine now. There's no one else I can trust to leave it to. And unlike before, I have more people on my side now."
Rebecca clapped her hands a couple of times.
Soon, the door opened, and Susan and another maid, Emily, entered.
"You called?"
These two had made a fortune with the information Rebecca had given them.
Susan and Emily, who firmly believed she was a Saintess, were now willing to do anything Rebecca asked, even feign death.
Rebecca looked at Canna with a 'See?' expression.
Canna smiled briefly as if she couldn't help it, then sternly began to give Susan and Emily various instructions.
Rebecca gazed at the maids with a satisfied expression.
* * *
'Are you sure you can handle this? Refuse now if you want. I'll find another way.'
Deep sea-colored eyes asked.
His tense lips relaxed at the sincere concern.
'I never thought I could escape this place without this much sacrifice.'
'I can't help it then. I'll risk my life to save you, so please hold on.'
She, who staked her only life on someone as insignificant as himself, reminded him of his lost lover.
'Robert!'
Ah, Leila.
Leila, whom he had only dreamed of, constantly falling into the abyss, grabbed his hand.
It's cold.
As he blankly stared at her temperature, Leila pulled him up.
'Robert, get a grip!'
'Lay... I miss you. Can't I just go with you like this?'
'No. You promised to be happy for my sake too. Go back.'
'Leila!'
The black eyes, containing the night sky he loved so much, scattered starlight.
Riding on her tears, Robert rose to the surface.
* * *
"Wake up!"
Cold water was splashed on his face.
Robert gasped and woke up. His vision was blurred by the blood flowing down from his forehead.
Robert, who had been dazed, soon remembered where he was.
It was the torture chamber in the basement of the Hall of Light.
Zeppelin sat in front of him, looking as if he had reached the limit of his patience.
"I'll ask you one more time. Why did you spread such rumors?"
"They are not rumors. She is a true Saintess."
"That's regrettable, Robert. I really cherished you."
Zeppelin sighed and gestured.
Then the waiting knight, Bates, held up a heated poker.
Soon, Robert screamed in pain.
Behind Zeppelin, Octavio watched the scene with great pleasure.
'Octavio...'
It's your doing.
Octavio had been constantly wary of Robert, who had Zeppelin's full trust.
He must have branded Robert as a threat to his position.
But Robert didn't care. He never wanted Octavio's position.
A dog is a dog anyway. He had no intention of fighting over the position of the head dog.
However, Octavio was the type to nip things in the bud.
He had been constantly looking for an opportunity to find fault with Robert.
And Octavio seized that opportunity today.
'Is this enough?'
Robert gasped for breath and opened his mouth haltingly.
"C-Could I have one last cigarette? Then I'll tell you the whole truth."
Bates looked at Zeppelin for approval.
Whatever answer he gave, he was destined to die anyway. Zeppelin needed someone to vent his anger on in this situation.
Zeppelin cracked his knuckles and loosened his hands.
He could grant the last wish of a dying man.
Zeppelin nodded.
Bates found a cigarette in Robert's chest pocket and put it in his mouth.
"Phew."
Robert exhaled a long stream of smoke. The cold smoke filled his lungs. Robert smiled contentedly.
'Everything is according to her will...'
The scent of death was sweet.
"Now, tell me."
In a daze, Robert spewed out the answer Zeppelin wanted.
"I loved her."
"What?"
"Shall I repeat myself? I loved Rebecca. I loved her beautiful face and nature. Rebecca is too good for you. If you love her, let her go! You are nothing but a trial to her."
"You bastard!"
It was the reaction he expected.
Zeppelin rushed at Robert with bloodshot eyes.
Lost in anger, Zeppelin repeatedly struck Robert's head with his knuckled hand.
Robert, who was now covered in blood, couldn't even groan.
"How dare you! A dog coveting what belongs to its master?"
Octavio barely suppressed the smile that was about to break out and stopped Zeppelin.
Unlike the words coming from his mouth, Octavio's eyes formed a wide arc.
Octavio grabbed Zeppelin's bloodied hand.
"Stop it. You'll kill him."
"Both this guy and that guy covet what's mine..."
Leaving Zeppelin, who was suppressing his anger, Bates put his finger to Robert's nose.
"He's dead."
"Dispose of him."
Zeppelin clicked his tongue and swept back his hair. He wore an expression as if he had stepped on a bothersome bug.
"I feel disgusted. Octavio, tell them to prepare a bath."
"Understood."
The sound of Zeppelin's footsteps climbing the stairs echoed loudly in the cold basement.
Bates bowed his head until Zeppelin had completely left the basement, then turned back to Robert.
The cigarette in Robert's mouth burned fiercely until the end.
* * *
Danae, who received Rebecca's letter, hurriedly prepared to go out.
As she put on her hat and was about to go outside, Theo blocked her way.
"Darling. Where on earth are you going so often?"
"I told you before. I'm going to Mrs. Jenkins' house."
"Don't lie. I know that your right eyebrow goes up every time you lie. Perhaps..."
Danae paused for a moment.
Does he know something?
Tears quickly welled up in Theo's blue eyes.
"Perhaps you've found another man? Because I'm incapable..."
"Theo Obelia! What are you talking about!"
"If that's not the case, then why do you keep going out, leaving me behind!"
Theo grabbed Danae's waist and prevented her from moving.
"Oh, is this guy crazy? Get out of my way!"
Theo said, shedding tears.
"I can't live without you. Danae, if you're going to remarry another man, take me as your concubine."
"You've been saying strange things since earlier!"
"Dad!"
Livia and Helena shouted at Theo. And they rushed over and each grabbed one of Theo's arms.
"Don't interfere with Mom's work!"
"That's right! Mom is going to earn money now."
"Earn money...?"
Theo's wet eyes widened.
Danae was startled and looked at her twin daughters.
"You two, how did you know?"
Helena and Livia giggled and took turns answering.
"The meal menu has been so much better lately!"
"You bought us new dresses too!"
"We can eat dessert every day!"
"Dad doesn't earn any money, so who else would have earned it?"
"Mom, of course!"
Theo, who had been listening to his daughters' sudden words, was shocked.
"Y-You're earning money? You are?"
It seemed like a good idea to send Catherine on errands.
Danae sighed as if she couldn't help it and answered.
"That's right. I can't tell you the details. Don't worry. It's not illegal or dangerous."
"I, I'm so incompetent that you ended up... I promised I wouldn't let you lift a finger..."
As Theo started to sob again, Danae quickly comforted him.
"Everyone has different aptitudes. You just don't have a knack for making money."
Helena and Livia chimed in, not wanting to be outdone.
"That's right. Dad is good at cooking instead."
"He's better at cleaning and laundry than Mom too!"
Theo blinked his long eyelashes.
"W-Well, that's true."
