Chapter 9
"Go home right now!"
Zeppelin roughly shoved Rebecca into the carriage.
Seeing him, who usually cherished her body, treat her so carelessly, she knew he was very angry.
Rebecca felt pleased at Zeppelin's distorted face.
She wished he would writhe in agony a little more.
But this was just the beginning.
"I understand."
"Understand? What do you understand! Did you enjoy flirting in another man's arms? Wait quietly at home. You'll have to pay the price for today's events."
Zeppelin slammed the carriage door shut.
Rebecca took a deep breath and leaned back into the plush seat.
Her cheeks were still flushed with lingering heat.
It was a thrill she had never felt when dancing with Zeppelin. Rebecca had to try her best not to reveal her feelings throughout her dance with Julian.
She wondered again if the waltz was such a seductive dance.
"It was so big and firm."
Rebecca's eyelids fluttered as she recalled Julian's broad chest. But soon, she raised her hand and lightly slapped both cheeks.
"Get a grip!"
Rebecca had already lived through this life once.
She wasn't so lacking in self-control as to be swayed by a young man's charms.
She couldn't let herself be swayed by such things.
Rebecca clenched her fist tightly.
* * *
Julian, who had been standing blankly, quickly snapped out of it and ran out after Rebecca.
But the carriage carrying Rebecca had already left.
"Don't covet what belongs to others, you little brat."
As Julian stared at the departing carriage, Zeppelin approached him, radiating murderous intent filled with hatred.
His aura made the servants who were smoking nearby flinch and step back.
But Julian merely stared at Zeppelin calmly.
In his eyes, Zeppelin's threat seemed no more than an old cat purring.
"She's not an object, so how can she be your possession?"
Zeppelin's face contorted in anger.
"You little... how dare you!"
"Why? Did you want me to treat you like an old man? Is age all you have to boast about? Then I'll gladly call you that. Devonshire Earl."
Zeppelin's eyes flashed at the word "old man."
Zeppelin glared at Julian, who was leisurely twirling around, his fists trembling.
Meow!
Before he knew it, black cats had gathered at Julian's feet. And they bared their teeth and hissed at Zeppelin.
"Oh dear. Be good, you guys. He's a bad person, but making a scene here will only hurt us."
Julian swept back his black hair.
Dangerous yellow eyes gleamed from beneath his dark hair.
Although it was a warm spring day, a chilling air spread around him, as if the north wind of winter had arrived.
He was like a lion crouching, ready to hunt.
Seeing Julian like that, Zeppelin instinctively shuddered.
And as if unable to admit that he was afraid, he took a rough breath and barely managed to utter a word.
"Don't even think about approaching Rebecca again. That woman is my wife, and she is mine."
Zeppelin left with a warning, hurrying away.
He stopped briefly, having rushed off, and then sneezed several times.
Julian clicked his tongue a few times as if he found him pathetic.
'We'll see about that.'
And he walked towards Croa, who was leaning against the carriage.
"H-Huh! Your Highness!"
Croa, who had just lit his third cigarette, quickly put it out when he saw his master approaching.
"Croa. I told you to quit smoking. The doctor said it'll ruin your lungs."
"It's not as easy as it sounds. By the way, what happened? Why was the Devonshire Earl so angry?"
Julian noticed a strand of golden hair on his shoulder and carefully removed it. And he stared at it for a long time.
"Croa."
"Yes?"
"I think I'm going to get married."
"Oh, I see. Huh?!"
Croa stared at Julian with a shocked expression. He quickly racked his brain, wondering what kind of novel joke this was.
"But the other party is a married woman."
Julian laughed heartily at Croa's dumbfounded expression.
The proposal Rebecca had made was a strange one that could have been unpleasant.
But Julian wanted to trust her for once, rather than feeling unpleasant. It was a thought without any basis.
Could it be that the miracle he had been hoping for had arrived?
'Rebecca...'
Julian repeated Rebecca's name several times in his mind.
* * *
Tap- tap- tap-
The sound of Rebecca tapping the desk rhythmically could be heard.
Since returning alone from the banquet hall, Rebecca hadn't said a word.
Alice was dying of curiosity, but she didn't dare to open her mouth rashly.
She had served Rebecca for a long time, after all.
She could quickly notice if there was even the slightest difference in her.
"Alice."
Alice, who had been pondering why she felt different, barely looked up when Rebecca called her name three times.
"What are you thinking so hard about?"
"Ah, I'm sorry! I was thinking about which dress Your Ladyship should wear tomorrow..."
"I see. But you're not chattering as usual today. Aren't you curious why I came back from the banquet early?"
Alice eagerly asked the question like a fish taking the bait.
"Why did you come back early?"
Rebecca chuckled as she saw Alice's trembling eyes. It was a somewhat eerie laugh.
It wasn't Rebecca's usual gentle smile.
Rebecca picked up a wine glass.
She had to drink as little alcohol as possible since she didn't know when she would get pregnant.
But today, she felt like she couldn't bear it sober, so she recklessly drank excessively.
"Madam, you should stop drinking now..."
"Duke Johannes asked me to dance today."
"Oh my goodness! So what did you do?"
"I danced. His Majesty the Emperor personally ordered it."
Alice covered her mouth.
Zeppelin wouldn't leave her alone. The future was predictable.
Alice's voice trembled.
"H-How was it? Were you excited? I heard the Duke is a wonderful person. I wish I could have seen that scene. So, what were you feeling at that time, Rebecca..."
Rebecca didn't bring the wine to her lips anymore at Alice's barrage of questions.
Instead of answering, Rebecca stared intently at Alice. It seemed like tears were welling up in Rebecca's eyes.
"Madam...?"
Zeppelin's angry shouts were heard from outside.
"Rebecca! Rebecca! Rebecca!"
"He's finally here. We need to prepare, right?"
Rebecca knelt down in front of the door.
Was it just her imagination?
Rebecca had returned to normal. She even smiled reassuringly at Alice.
Alice was unconvinced, but she knelt down following Rebecca's lead.
The door burst open and Zeppelin entered. The smell of alcohol wafted in.
Two maids entered behind him, carrying boxes.
Rebecca frowned when she saw the boxes.
Zeppelin looked down at Rebecca, who was kneeling obediently.
"So you know you've done wrong."
"Yes. I was wrong."
"But that doesn't make it go away! How much shame do you think I suffered!"
Zeppelin held out his hand, and a maid put white gloves on his hand and handed him a whip.
"No! Zeppelin! Please!"
Rebecca rose from her seat and reached out to stop him. But soon, two maids restrained Rebecca.
"If you! Serve! Your master! Poorly! You must! Take! Responsibility!"
His whip fell mercilessly on Alice's back. The sound of the whip echoed throughout the silent mansion.
Zeppelin never used violence on Rebecca's body.
Instead, he tormented her mind by abusing the people she cherished.
The fear that had been etched into her body for a long time shook Rebecca's body. But Rebecca never closed her eyes.
She would use this moment as nourishment. She vowed to take it out and look at it again and again whenever her heart weakened.
"I was wrong! Zeppelin! I'll never look at another man again. It was my mistake. So please stop! Please!"
Rebecca clung to his feet with a tearful voice. Rebecca knew how to stop this devilish act.
She had lived as his wife for over twenty years in her previous life. She knew Zeppelin better than anyone else.
So now, Zeppelin was in her palm.
As Rebecca had expected, Zeppelin stopped.
And he looked at Rebecca, who was kneeling and sobbing.
He withdrew the murderous look he had just had and whispered to Rebecca in a soft voice as if nothing had happened.
"You should have done that sooner. If you had, my shirt wouldn't have been stained with blood. Being pretty is a sin, isn't it? In the future, if such vermin cling to you, just cut them off. Understand? My beautiful wife."
Rebecca nodded obediently. She prostrated herself on the floor, thanking him. She didn't forget to tremble her shoulders as if she was terrified.
Zeppelin stared at the scene for a moment, then handed the whip to the maid. And he spoke loudly as if to be heard.
"Since Rebecca has been defiled today, I'll have to go to Alicia's room. Have that maid treated and Rebecca washed."
And he left without looking back.
The maids went outside to prepare bathwater and a doctor.
The door slammed shut.
Rebecca withdrew her pitiful gaze and wiped the tears on her cheeks with an indifferent expression.
And she approached Alice, who had collapsed.
"Alice, did it hurt a lot?"
"No. As long as Your Ladyship is safe, I don't care."
"Alice..."
Rebecca held Alice in her arms and gently stroked her face.
A faint smile spread across Alice's lips.
As long as she survived the beating, it was okay. Alice felt happy thinking that she had earned her keep today as well.
Rebecca's face began to harden as she looked at Alice's smile.
"But why were you smiling?"
"Yes?"
Rebecca coldly looked down at Alice. And she brought her hand near Alice's neck.
Rebecca's hand gradually tightened. Alice's breath became increasingly rapid.
Alice stared in terror at Rebecca's hand, which was strangling her neck.
"I asked why you were smiling when the Count was holding the whip."
