“…”
“…”
Silence hung in the spacious carriage as Rebecca adjusted her disguise.
Good thing I brought makeup tools just in case.
Rebecca felt uneasy under Yulian’s silent gaze.
He averted his eyes whenever she caught him staring, only to resume when she looked away.
“Got something to say?”
“No.”
“Stop staring like that and speak, Your Grace.”
“It’s nothing. Keep doing your thing.”
Yulian turned to the window.
Rebecca’s curious glance lingered on his face.
He couldn’t bring himself to voice his thoughts.
Why am I like this…?
Initially, he’d only planned to follow her quietly, curious about what was in her head.
Her first stop, as expected, was Tanisha’s trading company.
As Tanisha let Rebecca in, she shot a glance toward Yulian and Croa’s hiding spot.
Despite their concealment, she seemed to sense them.
Tanisha had thrown a fit about being made a figurehead, and Yulian quietly worried.
Would her sharp tongue hurt Rebecca?
But it was a baseless concern.
When the company door reopened, Tanisha wore a look of utter loyalty—one Yulian had never seen.
It was as if he saw her tail wagging furiously.
Rebecca looked at Tanisha with an amused, affectionate smile.
“Her? Making that face? What did you do to her?”
Croa, who knew his sister’s fiery temper better than anyone, gaped at the sight.
Yulian was equally stunned.
He’d already investigated Rebecca’s past.
The reports from his aides revealed little beyond what he already knew about her.
What changed her? Or was this her true self all along?
Questions spiraled.
While he was lost in thought, Rebecca had moved to her second destination.
It was a bakery with a creaking, worn sign.
Does she like this place?
Yulian memorized the bakery’s name, planning to check later what she’d bought.
How long had he waited?
Rebecca emerged, arms full of a paper bag of bread.
Her steps were so light that Yulian couldn’t help but chuckle.
Transfixed by her biting into a cream bun, he suddenly felt a bad premonition.
Then it happened.
Even now, thinking of it made his blood boil.
When that man grabbed Rebecca’s wrist, Yulian’s mind had already torn him apart.
But he hesitated to intervene.
Watching Rebecca face the man without flinching, he felt stepping in would be overstepping.
Admitting he’d followed her was embarrassing, too.
In a way, he was no better than that man, trailing her.
How could he explain why he followed her when he didn’t even know himself?
But when the man shoved her, reason shut down, and his body moved.
Knocking the man out, Yulian noticed the long hairpin Rebecca gripped tightly.
He’d heard women were using sharp hairpins for self-defense lately.
Rebecca had likely been about to subdue the man herself.
I messed up.
Her eyes still held a glint of ferocity.
Yulian instinctively knew she could’ve handled it without him.
That realization was startling, amusing, and made him think of her anew.
What is it about this woman that makes me act like a lost puppy?
From the moment he met her softening blue eyes, a cascade of thoughts troubled him.
I want her praise.
He wanted to confess everything—how he’d maneuvered to keep Zeppelin occupied, how he’d ensured the man would cause no further trouble, how well he’d handled her tasks.
He longed for her to stroke his hair again, like last night, and say thank you.
He wanted to feel that tingling, painful sensation again.
It hurt—so much—but the heart pang that came with Rebecca wasn’t unwelcome.
Admitting that was hard, and Yulian let out a bitter laugh.
I’m no better than a mutt.
For the Johannes family, who revered cats, that was a grave insult.
* * *
“Thanks. You saved me.”
Rebecca, finished with her disguise, returned the mirror.
At her words, Yulian’s eyes flickered, but his face soon fell with disappointment.
Is something wrong?
Rebecca struggled to adjust to Yulian’s odd behavior—stranger today than ever.
Croa’s voice came from outside.
“My lord, I brought what you asked for.”
“Let them in.”
At Yulian’s reply, the carriage door swung open, and the coachman with Croa began arranging food on a large table.
Rebecca stared, wide-eyed.
From the outside, Yulian’s carriage looked like any noble’s—perhaps plainer, smaller.
But inside, it was a different world.
It felt like three carriages combined.
Plush seats could comfortably fit a man of Yulian’s build, and a wide table sat at the center.
From embroidered cushions to storage boxes, everything screamed luxury.
Yet the parade of food on the artisan-crafted table was unexpected.
“These… are market foods.”
Rebecca’s parents hadn’t distinguished between commoner and noble cuisine.
Thanks to them, she’d grown up with hearty, local dishes.
But as a countess, Zeppelin’s disdain for such food kept her from it.
Seeing nostalgic dishes, her eyes sparkled.
Noticing her interest, Yulian grinned.
“I was curious about local food, so I got some. Join me. It’s no fun alone, and there’s plenty.”
Rebecca hesitated but declined.
“I’d love to, but I need to get back. Next time.”
“Just one bite…”
Grrr…
A loud growl echoed, unmistakable.
Rebecca’s face flushed crimson.
Why now?
Yulian chuckled, offering a skewer of chicken and vegetables.
“Your stomach disagrees. Try this. It smells the best.”
She shot him a glare but took the skewer.
The glistening, marinated chicken gave off a familiar aroma.
One whiff unleashed her hunger.
“Just one bite…”
Rebecca lost herself.
She sampled every dish on the table before setting down her spoon.
She wiped her mouth, embarrassed.
They say familiar tastes are dangerous…
Her stomach was so full she could barely breathe.
She hadn’t eaten that much, but it felt overwhelming.
Blame the count’s rigid diet.
Yulian watched her gravely.
“Does the count starve you? Full from so little?”
“He doesn’t starve me. I eat enough to survive. Maintaining this slim waist isn’t easy.”
Yulian looked baffled.
“It’s a miracle your organs fit in there. Why bother maintaining it?”
“Organs? You really don’t hold back. Beauty standards differ, you know. Anyway, I really need to go.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“No. Getting caught leaving this carriage would ruin everything.”
“Then switch to another carriage midway. I’ll drop you somewhere quiet. Let me use my skills.”
“If you insist, I won’t refuse.”
Truthfully, Rebecca was curious about a mana-powered carriage.
Danae had raved about it, and she’d been intrigued.
She nodded slightly, and the carriage started.
Yulian gazed warmly at her sparkling, curious eyes.
He whispered to Croa to drive slowly.
Croa shot him an incredulous look.
Unfazed, Yulian kept stealing glances at the excited Rebecca.
* * *
“Hope the dress still fits.”
Stepping out, Rebecca sighed at her bloated stomach.
She needed to move fast. She was already late for her meeting with Kanna.
Susan was probably pacing in her room.
She had to cross the garden to her room quickly, avoiding encounters or conversations.
As she calculated the shortest route, a white, gold-trimmed carriage roared past.
Recognizing it, Rebecca paled.
Zeppelin was back.
* * *
“Where’s Rebecca?”
“My lady is resting in her room. Shall I inform her?”
“No, I’ll go up myself.”
Entering the estate, Zeppelin asked for Rebecca first. He likely wouldn’t return for a month after today.
You swore loyalty to me, didn’t you?
He gritted his teeth. Who had schemed to make the emperor insist on him?
A painting to insult the temple…
It was a reckless gamble.
If the temple caught wind, the emperor would pin it all on him—he knew it instinctively.
Not that he was scared.
He was confident in handling it discreetly, but something felt off.
Click—
Lost in thought, climbing the stairs, Zeppelin looked up at a door closing.
It came from Rebecca’s room.
