Chapter 5
“Yes. I will never do anything that would upset Countess McCallen.”
“Good, good. Now, let’s get down.”
After getting out of the carriage behind Count and Countess Brough, I stepped into the magnificent McCallen mansion.
‘Count Brough’s estate was impressive enough, but this place is on a whole different level.’
It was fortunate that I had visited Count Brough’s estate before coming here.
Otherwise, I never would have been able to keep a straight face.
‘The ceilings are this high?’
“Welcome, Count Brough, Countess!”
The one greeting the Count and Countess at the entrance to the banquet hall was Count McCallen himself.
There was no way I could mistake him.
‘He looks like that man!’
He reminded me of the police officer I had briefly seen.
He was a man who looked to be in his late fifties or early sixties, the kind who must have been called handsome in his younger days.
“Thank you for inviting us, Count. And this is my second cousin once removed. Rosalyn, greet him.”
“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Rosalyn Tessis.”
I greeted him politely, just as I had been taught.
Count McCallen’s gaze briefly passed over me, but I did not sense the slightest intention of him taking special notice of me or exchanging anything beyond a simple greeting.
“Enjoy your time, my lady.”
That was the end of it.
Considering that he had to welcome well over a hundred guests today, it was only natural.
After leaving Count McCallen behind, I diligently followed Count and Countess Brough.
The reason I was so nervous today was not because the House of McCallen was so prestigious.
‘If Rosalyn made any friends while I was locked up in the detention cell, I’m in trouble. If she made enemies, that’s even worse.’
There was even a police officer here who was in charge of the townhouse fire case.
That was why I desperately prayed that no one would approach me as if they knew me.
But if that happened, I intended to brazen it out as much as possible.
‘I’ve never heard that Rosalyn met anyone during that time. That means she wasn’t very active socially.’
She probably had not actually met many people either.
So I’ll just insist.
That I really am Rosalyn Tessis.
There is no one in Herona who can prove that I am a fake.
“Rosalyn! Come greet her. This is Viscountess Howard. She has extensive connections in high society.”
While I was steeling myself, Count Brough, who had been greeting acquaintances, suddenly called me over to his side.
The person he introduced me to was an elderly lady with a kind appearance.
The way she looked me over was not overt, but I was not naïve enough to miss its meaning.
‘Aha! So that’s what they mean by having extensive connections in high society.’
A matchmaker.
I needed to remember exactly why Count and Countess Brough were going to all this trouble to bring me around.
If this woman was not a broker who “could sell merchandise at a good price,” then there was no reason for them to bother introducing a country bumpkin like me.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Viscountess Howard. My name is Rosalyn Tessis.”
“I’ve heard so much about you. A young lady went through such a terrible ordeal, yet seeing you overcome it so bravely truly moves my heart.”
She clasped my hand tightly with a look as though she pitied me to death.
Of course, I did not find her words very convincing.
When had she ever met me that she could act so familiar?
‘This must be the basic attitude of the nobility. In reality, all they care about is their own benefit, yet they pretend to be incredibly generous and compassionate.’
Suppressing the urge to sneer, I put on the “sad smile” that a young woman who had recently lost her parents would wear.
As long as I remained quiet after that, they would naturally carry on the rest of the conversation among themselves.
Then someone else came over to greet Count and Countess Brough.
Following them, I introduced myself again and exchanged greetings.
I had no idea how many times that was repeated.
‘I’ve met so many people, yet not a single one seems to suspect who I really am.’
It was just as I was beginning to relax.
“Rosalyn Tessis…?”
The sound of someone calling my name sent chills down my spine.
‘Stay calm. I am Rosalyn Tessis.’
I took a deep breath before slowly turning my head.
But the person standing there was someone I recognized.
“Lady Dartmouth…?”
It was Heather Dartmouth.
Why had I forgotten that she could be here too?
All the effort I had made to calm myself became meaningless as my expression stiffened.
If it was this woman, I felt she would immediately realize that I was not Rosalyn.
“H-Hello…?”
I forced my stiff jaw to move and greeted her.
However, she showed no sign of that.
Keeping her chin proudly raised, she spoke.
“I heard about the terrible ordeal you went through. It wasn’t my intention, but I felt I had caused Your Ladyship great pain, so I wanted to meet you someday and apologize.”
“You want to apologize… to me, Lady Dartmouth? Whatever for?”
“As you know, I only told that maid to pay compensation because I wanted to correct her behavior. I actually intended to return the money afterward.”
One thing became certain.
Heather did not realize that I was not the real Rosalyn.
‘Was it because this woman never properly looked at Rosalyn, or because I made Rosalyn look too much like myself?’
Maybe it was both.
Whatever the reason, it was good news for me.
Now that I knew Heather could not recognize me, I had to continue acting like the proper “Lady Tessis.”
Our relationship had already soured, so there was no reason for me to suddenly become warm and friendly now.
Besides, there was no need to accommodate someone who came claiming to apologize while looking down at me so arrogantly.
“So, what exactly is it that you wanted to say?”
“I just hope you won’t misunderstand me.”
Misunderstand?
About what?
About making the maid—that is, me—pay compensation?
It had already happened, so what was there not to misunderstand?
“I heard that the maid set the fire because she failed to borrow money from Baron Tessis. I never dreamed something like that would happen.”
Without thinking, I almost made a dumbfounded expression.
Why would I set the fire?
No, wait.
Now that I thought about it carefully, when I applied for the jewelry, I did say that I would first go to Baron Tessis to try borrowing the money.
‘I can see why she misunderstood.’
I still could not decide whether I should clear up that misunderstanding or simply leave it alone.
But that was separate from the fact that what she had just said irritated me immensely.
Someone had nearly died because of compensation she could never repay, and now this woman was saying she had intended to return the money?
Would she have said the same thing even after I had drowned in the river?
Perhaps she would have pretended to be heartbroken, saying she never expected it to happen.
She might even have cried while saying so.
And before a single day had passed, she would have forgotten someone like me entirely.
My insides were boiling with rage.
There was no way kind words could come out of my mouth.
“Oh, that? It’s all in the past now. There’s no point imagining ‘what ifs’ at this stage.”
“I’m glad we understand each—”
“Even if Emma had really set the fire.”
I cut her off midway and added with a bitter smile.
“That compensation was certain to ruin Emma’s life! But who could possibly have expected her to set a fire? Wouldn’t you agree?”
Heather’s expression froze instantly.
Whether she liked it or not, I continued speaking in the same gentle and courteous tone.
“Besides, a misunderstanding? Surely you didn’t burden my maid with an enormous debt because you wanted to harm me. That plan would have had far too high a chance of failing, wouldn’t it?”
“Lady Tessis.”
“So please don’t worry. To think that even Lady Dartmouth has been troubled over that incident… I almost feel guilty myself.”
The corners of her tightly pressed lips trembled.
Her attitude was so shameless that even my own expression was gradually hardening.
Just then, Count Brough beckoned to me from afar.
“Rosalyn! Come over here.”
Our dear cousin-uncle truly was helpful in so many ways.
How did he know I had no desire to continue talking with this woman?
“Oh my, Count Brough is calling me. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening.”
I offered a graceful farewell and turned toward Count Brough.
Even from a distance, however, my eyes were drawn to the striking features of the man standing beside the Count.
‘It’s him!’
I recognized him immediately.
Count Brough had not exaggerated in the slightest when he said the man would stand out because of his tall stature and handsome appearance.
I repeatedly hypnotized myself not to show any sign of nervousness as I walked toward him.
“Rosalyn. This young man is Ash McCallen, who is in charge of investigating our townhouse fire case. Greet him.”
The moment I stood before him, a gasp escaped me.
Such vivid golden eyes!
Count McCallen’s eyes were also called golden, but compared to this man’s, they were merely light brown.
As I looked into those deep golden irises, said to be truly rare, I could not help but feel as though I were being drawn into them.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I’m Rosalyn Tessis.”
“I’m Ash McCallen. We’ve finally met.”
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