From the night Zeppelin rushed into the study, Rebecca couldn’t shake her suspicions about Alice.
Zeppelin had returned to the estate faster than a baggage cart, with Alicia in tow.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he’d bolted to the study.
Zeppelin was never one to rush anything.
Yet when he held Rebecca, his shirt was soaked with sweat.
What could have driven him to hurry to the study like that?
The only variable in the estate was Rebecca herself.
And the only one who knew that was Alice.
“Madam… I… can’t breathe…”
Rebecca’s grip tightened.
Alice struggled desperately to pry her hands away.
In hindsight, it was strange that Rebecca hadn’t suspected Alice sooner.
Her maids were replaced every six months or so.
Whenever she grew attached to one, Zeppelin would dismiss them or send them elsewhere.
It was as if he refused to let anyone stay by her side.
But Alice was different.
She had been with Rebecca since her first day at the Devonshire estate.
That would’ve been impossible unless she was Zeppelin’s person.
Rebecca’s judgment had been clouded by Alice’s apparent willingness to sacrifice herself.
Now, even that sacrifice’s purpose was unclear.
Only when Alice’s eyes began to roll back did Rebecca release her.
She looked down coldly at Alice, gasping and coughing.
…
“Run.”
Alice, trembling from the chokehold, stared at Rebecca with wide eyes.
Betrayal surged, urging Rebecca to tear her apart.
But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Memories of their time together clung to her stubbornly.
Every fleeting moment of happiness in the estate included Alice.
“Madam, what do you mean…?”
“You’ve lost my trust, so you know what Zeppelin will do to you. I’m giving you one last chance. Tomorrow morning, I’ll tell him to dismiss you. So flee before dawn.”
Alice stared at Rebecca’s face, colder than frost.
In all her years by her side, she’d never seen such an expression.
“I’ve been found out.”
Alice clenched her fists.
She tallied the payment she was still owed from Zeppelin.
On days like this, after a beating, he always gave her more than usual.
But Rebecca’s words held weight. Alice had seen what happened to useless hunting dogs.
No need to risk everything for a few extra coins.
A bitter laugh escaped her.
A naive, foolish woman. Too spineless to even take revenge on a traitor.
She was as unlikable as ever.
“You’re not even going to ask why?”
“Knowing why changes nothing. Just run.”
“That’s how you always are, Rebecca.”
Rebecca stared silently at Alice’s lips.
Each word stabbed like a dagger.
Alice glared at her with crazed eyes.
“You have everything but don’t know how to enjoy it. Do you think anyone chooses to be born to poor parents? Your family was nothing special either, was it? You should be grateful the count took you in.”
“Alice, you say that even after seeing what I’ve been through?”
Rebecca wanted to cover her ears.
She was terrified to face the words coming from Alice, the one person she thought was on her side.
Wiping blood from her face, Alice stood and shouted defiantly.
“Been through? What’s so bad about your life? He cherishes your beauty, showers you with jewels, dresses you up. Do you know how many times a day I wish I were you? That’s why you can’t even compete with a mistress.”
“Alice, watch your words. I could kill you right now.”
“Go ahead! You can’t, can you? You’re always the innocent, kind countess. Drop the hypocrisy already…”
Clang!
The door burst open, and a maid smashed a washbasin over Alice’s head.
It was the maid who’d been with Zeppelin earlier.
With a sharp metallic sound, Alice collapsed.
The maid bowed politely to Rebecca, her expression unchanged.
“Lady Rebecca, your bath is ready.”
Eyes wide, Rebecca stared at the sudden intruder.
The maid grabbed Alice’s hair.
“I’ll deal with this vermin.”
With the dented basin in one hand, she dragged Alice out.
The door closed quietly.
Rebecca sank to the floor, exhausted.
…
“I gave her a chance…”
That maid was undoubtedly Zeppelin’s.
Of course, with such a commotion, it’d be strange if he didn’t know.
What would happen to Alice now?
Horrible possibilities flooded Rebecca’s mind. At the same time, she let out a hollow laugh.
She was absurd for worrying about Alice even now.
Rebecca mulled over Alice’s words. Tears she’d held back streamed down her face.
“I’m truly alone now.”
She sobbed like an animal.
She’d expected it, but expecting pain didn’t make it hurt less.
The realization that she had no allies left crushed her.
Rebecca hugged her knees.
The loneliness was suffocating. Her tears wouldn’t stop.
She felt like she was back in that cage, helplessly dependent on Zeppelin’s scraps.
How long did she stay like that?
The maid who’d mentioned the bath didn’t return.
And Rebecca stopped crying.
The moonlight hid behind clouds. In the dark room, she blinked her deep-sea eyes.
Like soothing her newborn in the past, she patted her own shoulder.
“Hush… Stop crying and toughen up…”
Rebecca raised her head and stood, picking up a vase of yellow flowers.
The blooms glowed with the same vivid gold as Yulian’s eyes.
She placed the vase by the window.
The clouds parted, and the full moon shone brightly.
Moonlight bathed every inch of her body.
Something long dormant within her began to stir.
With unwavering eyes, she murmured,
“You’ll toughen up, Rebecca. You’ll become strong enough to shatter stone.”
The cold moonlight dazzled her. Having nothing left to lose was oddly reassuring.
It meant she was free to do anything.
…
Kanna, dragging Alice by the hair, stopped at the stairs.
Clicking her tongue, she hoisted Alice over her shoulder and descended.
“So this is how she’s been treated all this time.”
Each step felt heavy. Her vision blurred.
“Are you just a mercenary who’ll do anything for money?”
When Zeppelin’s people approached her, Kanna wanted to leap for joy.
Her efforts hadn’t been in vain.
The sum Zeppelin promised was more than she’d ever held.
But even for less, Kanna would’ve taken the job.
Entering this place was her lifelong dream.
“You! Let me go! Let go! Lady Rebecca, save me!”
Alice, regaining consciousness, thrashed and screamed.
Kanna ignored her, tightening her grip.
Alice shrieked at the crushing force.
“Don’t sully that name with your filthy mouth.”
“What?”
Alice stared at Kanna, stunned.
Kanna crossed the garden and stood before the Hall of Light. Knights at the entrance opened the doors.
“The count awaits.”
In the center of the hall stood a grand statue of Dephria, her eyes blindfolded with silk, holding a massive sixteen-sided die in both hands.
The goddess’s gaze seemed to ignore the events at her feet, fixed on the void.
Seeing the statue, Alice paled. She knew what awaited her here.
Kanna flung her onto the cold marble floor.
Alice grabbed Kanna’s leg, pleading.
“I’m sorry! Please, don’t take me to the basement. What do you want? I’ll give you anything. Please…”
“Noisy to the end. Silence her.”
Zeppelin’s low voice came from the shadows.
Kanna glanced at him and struck the back of Alice’s neck.
Terror filled Alice’s eyes as she lost consciousness.
Zeppelin smiled with satisfaction.
“Why do things I didn’t order? You’re Kanna, right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re more useful than I thought. Keep up the good work, and I’ll give you everything you want. But you know what happens if you overstep, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I like your efficiency. Octavio found a good dog this time. Starting tomorrow, you’ll replace Alice as Rebecca’s maid. Report her every thought, gesture, word, and look to me.”
Kanna bowed.
Zeppelin clapped twice, and a burly man lifted Alice.
Kanna watched his retreating figure with sharp eyes as he descended to the basement.
…
The cloudy day made Rebecca sleep in. The morning felt as gloomy as her mood.
“You’re awake. I’m Kanna, your new maid starting today.”
Rebecca studied Kanna. She was the maid who’d struck Alice last night.
That was quick. A replacement for Alice already.
Black hair, brown eyes.
Aside from a single freckle on her nose, Kanna was unremarkably plain.
Rebecca searched her memory.
No maid named Kanna had ever crossed her path.
“The future has changed again.”
Silently, Rebecca let Kanna tend to her. Her skills were flawless.
“Alice was clumsy in many ways.”
Recalling the past, Rebecca’s vision blurred.
“What happened to Alice? Is she dead? Probably dead. Did this Kanna tell Zeppelin I figured out Alice’s betrayal? That would be troublesome…”
Worries piled up.
There was still no reply from Duke Johannes. She’d told him she’d wait a few days, but the anxiety was unavoidable.
Rebecca reflexively clenched her fists.
Kanna, watching quietly, spoke.
“Alice is dead.”
