“Wrong?”
Idel leaned in a little closer. Her voice, repeating Rowena’s words, was lower than usual.
As if something were amiss.
“Well, Rowena. If you felt that way, then I guess that’s how it is.”
“What? Are you saying that the reason you’re acting like this is really… because you hate me?”
Melisa’s ambiguous words seemed shocking, causing the Duchess’s hand, tightly gripping her handkerchief, to tremble.
Despite the Duchess’s seemingly hurt actions, Melisa stood with her arms crossed, quietly looking down at her.
‘Seeing them standing side by side, Melisa is much taller than the Duchess.’
Idel thought Melisa just looked big because she hovered around her like a mother.
‘In terms of drawing, the Duchess seems to have a much finer line than Melisa.’
Just as Idel was stealing glances at their profiles, lost in pointless thoughts,
Melisa, looking at the Duchess with an intense gaze as if to suppress her, asked back with an unreadable expression.
“Rowena, does it still matter to you whether I hate you? Even after coming to this point with Idel?”
“…That is…”
“Honestly, it’s surprising. I didn’t expect you to call me and talk about our relationship.”
Her lips, dyed as red as her hair, twisted into a crooked line.
“I wonder if I really need to say this… but to answer your question, no. I don’t hate you, Rowena.”
“……”
“How could I hate you? It’s just that ‘love’ has made me this way. Bringing Idel here, breaking your gift. It’s all because of love.”
At Melisa’s insane words, Idel’s expression crumpled.
‘She’s not crazy, is she? Does she really think that makes sense?’
This is not just a twisted game, but a whole new level of messed up.
‘Even the Duchess isn’t reacting at all.’
With a slight frown on her beautiful brow, Melisa lightly smiled at the frozen Duchess.
“Is it that shocking that I don’t hate you?”
“……I can’t understand you, sister. How can you…?”
“Right, you don’t have to understand me. I gave up seeking your understanding the moment you brought the Duke of Clementine as your marriage partner.”
Melisa muttered with a hint of sarcasm, taking a step closer to the Duchess. Perhaps because of her much taller stature, the distance between them quickly closed.
Melisa reached out and brushed the Duchess’s hair aside. With a seemingly affectionate gesture, she stroked her hair and then gently grasped her sister’s chin with her fingertips.
Bending slightly to match the Duchess’s height, she continued speaking slowly, a deep smile on her lips.
“In time, you’ll come to understand the depth of my love, Rowena.”
“……Sylvia was right. I shouldn’t have arranged this meeting with you.”
As she spoke with a quivering voice, she turned and rushed down the stairs. She was in such a hurry that she even dropped the handkerchief she was holding.
The Duchess’s sudden exit froze Idel in place, as she hadn’t fully concealed herself in the darkness.
However, fortunately, the Duchess did not notice Idel’s presence. The situation before her and the overwhelming emotions rising in her throat were too intense and profound.
As she heard Rowena’s footsteps fading away, Idel quickly turned her gaze toward the stairs.
Melisa was too quiet, which made her anxious.
‘Could it be that she noticed I was hiding?’
As she pondered this chilling thought and caught a glimpse of her…
‘…Crazy.’
Idel involuntarily cursed inwardly. It was only natural.
Melisa was tenderly picking up the Duchess’s handkerchief, carefully lifting it to her lips and kissing it. And with an expression brimming with affection.
“……Rowena, my lovely sister.”
Idel’s eyes widened in shock at the unbelievably relaxed tone of Melisa’s voice.
‘Is that really Melisa standing there?’
No matter how much she rubbed her eyes, nothing changed. Was that all?
Melisa’s voice wasn’t the only thing that was relaxed; her expression, gestures, and even her gaze were all different from usual.
And all these strange signs pointed to… Wait, could it be?
‘The object of Melisa’s affection isn’t the Duke, but the Duchess?’
No wonder her sister’s book review looked like that!
Her mind was in turmoil over the chaotic settings that didn’t discriminate by gender.
‘No, is gender really the issue right now? Even if she’s adopted and there’s no blood relation, she loves her own sister? They grew up together their whole lives!’
Idel forgot to blink as she glared at Melisa.
Knowing the truth, looking back, all of Melisa’s actions and words took on a completely different meaning.
‘So, Melisa dared to enter the Duke’s household to destroy the Duke who took her sister from her? Using me to kill the Duke wasn’t out of hatred or a desire to destroy what she couldn’t have, but to eliminate a rival?’
It was dizzying. It was clear that Melissa was crazy in love.
Just as Idel was reeling from the shocking revelation, Melisa’s voice caught her attention again.
Pulling the handkerchief she had been holding from her bosom, she crumpled it, as if venting her anger.
The handkerchief, which had seemed large in the countess’s hand, now looked small in Melisa’s grip.
“…Sylvia… I need to deal with that annoying maid who’s always sticking close to Rowena soon.”
Sylvia? Why is Sylvia suddenly mentioned here?
“I should shake up the servants again soon. It’s about time to actively torment Idel. Then…”
‘Wait, me too?’
Idel narrowed her eyes as her name was suddenly brought up. She was trying to grasp Melisa’s intentions more closely, but…
“…Wait. Who’s there?”
Idel’s breath caught in her throat as she found herself in an even more terrifying situation.
Melisa was staring sharply in the direction of the entrance, where she was.
“…”
Idel cautiously raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose, but it seemed Melisa had already sensed her presence.
“…Where did that little rat come from?”
The twisted smile on her lips was menacing. This was why one should never get involved with crazy people…
‘Of all people, I’m the daughter of that crazy person.’
While lamenting, Idel diligently hid her body as the sound of footsteps grew closer.
‘…If I get caught here, it’ll be a disaster.’
If Melissa found out that Idel wasn’t her loyal puppet, everything would fall apart.
In a situation that was no different from a scene in a horror movie, Idel squeezed her eyes shut just then.
At the entrance of the stairs, the laughter of a man and woman echoed, and a presence was felt.
“No way, even so, how could you… Ugh!”
“Why? What’s the matter… Huh! M-Milady? What brings you here…?”
The faces of the two servants looked as if they had seen a ghost, and Melisa’s previously gleaming gaze turned indifferent again.
“It’s nothing. I was just about to leave.”
“Oh, I see.”
Melisa lightly scanned the two servants who had their heads bowed.
Finding their cowed expressions amusing, Melissa let out a gentle snort.
‘Well, they probably aren’t worth my time.’
After neatly folding Rowena’s handkerchief and tucking it away, Melisa passed by the two as if they weren’t even there.
Fortunately, the couple who had been bowing to Melisa shielded Idel’s position even more with their bodies.
‘She’s gone…!’
Ah, I really thought I was going to lose ten years off my life!
While Idel was still calming her pounding heart, the two people outside were also expressing their surprise.
“Wow! That startled me. Why is the former Countess Lopez here all alone? We almost got caught!”
“Caught? Everyone in the Duke’s household knows we’re cousins, so what’s there to get caught for?”
“About that cousin thing, how long do we have to keep up this charade? I’m getting tired of sneaking around like this.”
Idel had no idea that this conversation would lead to another shocking revelation.
‘…Should I try to slip away? I’ll wait for the right moment when they’re distracted by each other.’
With Melisa having dropped a bomb today, Idel wanted to avoid any further drama.
As Idel was trying to find an opportunity to slip away, the man’s voice drifted over, trying to placate the woman.
“Hey, just wait a bit, okay? You know what position Sylvia is in. I’ll try to get some more collateral and then we’ll break up right away. It’s better for you to get everything you want and then start fresh with me, right?”
“I guess you’re right…”
…Sylvia again.
Idel, who had been trying to sneak away, froze and squeezed herself back into the shadows.
