Busy footsteps echoed outside.
Alicia had done well.
Rebecca recalled Zeppelin’s wails shaking the estate. Hilarious, considering she wasn’t dead.
The current situation was the same—no one properly explained her supposed infertility to her.
Asking passing maids only got vague, awkward responses like “You’ll know later.”
A bit lonely today.
She missed Kanna.
From what she’d heard, Kanna had earned Grace’s trust and now oversaw the laundry maids instead of scrubbing endlessly.
A silver lining.
As Rebecca imagined events outside, a careful knock sounded.
Recognizing the knocker, she leapt up.
“Kanna!”
“Lady Rebecca!”
Kanna dropped her laundry pile and rushed to her, hugging fiercely as if she’d never let go.
Rebecca squealed happily.
“Goodness, I can’t breathe!”
“Ah! Sorry.”
Kanna pulled back, flushed with joy.
Rebecca took her hand softly.
“How did you get here?”
“The estate’s in chaos—no one’s watching me. And… Alicia let me in.”
“Alicia?”
Rebecca’s eyes widened in surprise.
A sort of repayment? Cute.
“How dare you!”
A roar came from outside.
Rebecca glanced at the door, then away.
Fabiola had arrived.
Between Zeppelin’s screams and Fabiola’s sobs, everything was clear.
Rebecca smiled faintly at Kanna.
“Things are going well, aren’t they?”
Kanna nodded. Silence followed.
No words passed, but Rebecca sensed they shared the same thoughts—hope of escape and disgust at the present.
Instead of venting rage, she covered it with a calm smile.
Kanna stared at Rebecca’s precarious smile, gripping her hand tighter, afraid it might vanish.
Feeling the pressure, Rebecca said.
“Kanna, stop. You’ll wear my hand out. And you’ll ruin the laundry.”
“Dirty things can be washed again, my lady.”
A familiar line.
Rebecca chuckled, stroking Kanna’s hair.
“Thank you for enduring. It’s almost over.”
“I’ll follow to the end.”
“Oh, any word from Margaret?”
Kanna beamed, her nose freckle twitching.
She was thrilled to deliver good news.
“Margaret agreed to join. She’s teaching etiquette to the Liberta people—going smoothly.”
“Wonderful news.”
The salon needed trustworthy staff.
Liberta’s people were perfect.
Rebecca had asked Yulian to build staff quarters with the salon building.
They’d move there upon completion.
The concern was their manners—serving nobles required refinement.
She’d planned to hire a tutor secretly, but Margaret volunteering was ideal.
With Margaret wielding the knife, things would go perfectly.
Relieved, Rebecca smiled.
“My lady, I’ll change the bedsheets.”
A maid knocked after their short talk.
Kanna glared resentfully at the door.
Rebecca patted her hand.
“Go now, Kanna. Tell me if anyone troubles you.”
“The work’s not hard. Just supervising.”
“You shine wherever you are. Impressive.”
At the praise, Kanna lowered her head shyly.
Satisfied, she gathered the scattered laundry.
“I’ll go. Stay well until we meet again.”
“Yes. Next time, we won’t part again.”
Rebecca winced from blister pain but smiled sincerely.
Kanna, overwhelmed imagining that eternal day, left flushed.
* * *
“I’d like a walk.”
Rebecca suddenly told the maid tidying the room.
“You’re still unwell…”
“I know roughly what happened today. A walk will soothe me—understand?”
Her calm face made the maid hesitate.
Though mechanical, she had feelings.
Orders were to prevent unauthorized actions, but Rebecca couldn’t flee in her state.
And she was pitiable.
From revered countess to ruined in a day.
The maids whispered they’d have ended it if it were them.
She felt the same.
Seeing Rebecca reach for the window breeze—her only joy—tugged at her heart.
The maid fetched a shawl, draping it over Rebecca’s bony shoulders.
Rebecca smiled at the soft warmth.
“You’re kind.”
The maid’s eyes wavered, then stilled.
She led Rebecca to the garden.
“Where to?”
“The lilac garden.”
With summer heat, the lilacs had withered, leaving only lush leaves.
Zeppelin ignored this garden; only lilacs grew here, barely maintained.
The maid followed at a distance, respecting her solitude.
Rebecca felt ashamed for once seeing her as mere furniture.
Fortunately, the night breeze was cool, easing her guilt.
Removing the shawl, her collarbone gleamed. She cooled her burning blisters in the wind.
How long had she walked?
An unexpected guest appeared, also on a night stroll.
A soft smile spread across Rebecca’s lips.
“Leo.”
The black cat sauntered toward her.
Zeppelin hated animals except horses.
Only Leo could slip through tight security.
Sitting on a marble bench, Rebecca watched Leo leap onto her lap.
Stroking him, she retrieved a letter from his collar.
Stay strong.
Expecting tension, Rebecca chuckled at the brief note.
Imagining Yulian struggling over a few words made her laugh louder.
He always made her laugh.
“How many sheets did your companion waste writing this?”
Leo stood, kneading her thigh ten times.
“Ten…?”
Meow.
He meowed affirmatively, then rubbed his head against her hand.
“You don’t mind my smell?”
Her stroking paused.
“What face would Yulian make seeing me now?”
Leo purred.
“He’s kind, so he wouldn’t say he hates it. But even men dislike hideous women. Probably.”
Recalling Zeppelin’s disgust saddened her.
Imagining Yulian’s similar expression hurt.
“He might distance himself remembering this face. Wanting him unbothered is greedy, isn’t it?”
As she reached to stroke Leo again, he dodged.
“Leo?”
His yellow eyes stared silently, almost reproachful.
Unable to decipher, she blanked.
“Rebecca?”
A voice startled her; Leo’s eyes narrowed.
He hissed, baring teeth at approaching Zeppelin.
Leo glared as if peering into Zeppelin’s soul.
Meeting the cat’s fierce gaze, Zeppelin felt an unpleasant familiarity.
“A stray cat daring to enter here. I’ll have the guards—”
“It’s lost. I’ll take it outside the wall; don’t mind.”
Fearing harm to Leo, Rebecca shooed him.
Leo scowled, then vanished into the bushes.
Once gone, Zeppelin relaxed.
“Rebecca, why out here at night when you’re unwell?”
“I can move fine.”
“Achoo!”
Zeppelin covered his nose with a handkerchief.
Lately, he sneezed often for no reason.
Rebecca eyed the fine cloth, then spoke.
“You hate this place—why visit?”
Her eyes crinkled softly.
For a moment, Zeppelin thought her face regained its glow and rubbed his eyes.
Just an illusion.
She was still blistered and oozing.
Sighing coldly, he sat beside her.
“Just to see the wilted lilacs.”
“Ah…”
Silence fell.
The crisp early-summer night air briefly masked the stench between them.
