The pink eyes, resembling Lariette’s, darted here and there. She glanced indifferently at the woman’s face.
“What… what do you mean? Lariette? N-no. The Grand Duchess disappeared?”
Her trembling appearance seemed as if Milena had been tormenting her. Milena clicked her tongue inwardly. No wonder people call her a villain, that she tormented her sister’s real mother.
Lariette’s biological mother was of such low rank that she couldn’t even be listed as a mistress. She could never dream of becoming a countess. The count was a man who cared too much about his reputation to ignore the disdainful gazes of people.
Having already taken in a bastard child, it was inevitable that taking her mother as a legitimate wife would lower his status, drawing whispers and ridicule.
He wasn’t the type to have the guts to endure that. So, the count had placed a noblewoman in the position of his legitimate wife, while his beloved woman was treated as a servant.
Though the Grand Duchess’s biological mother, she was forced to live in hiding. She couldn’t even call her daughter her own.
She lived as if dead for her daughter who had risen too high, sacrificing herself. Or perhaps, living with the man she loved, it wasn’t really a sacrifice.
“Ah, Miss! Answer…”
“Milena. Darling.”
The desperate maid reached out her hand, but the man stepped in to stop her. Lexion pulled Milena close and wrapped his arms around her firmly.
“Seems like there are too many rude people. Should I throw them out?”
Throw out? What? She blinked slowly, then looked at the man who was staring at her cheek. Only then did she feel the sting in her cheek.
“Hm? My wife shouldn’t be treated like this.”
His gaze, which had been gently caressing her cheek, turned sharply towards the maid. The maid flinched and took a step back. The countess, who had been watching silently, spoke up.
“Who are you? How dare you lay a hand on a daughter who is not even married yet? Even if you’re just courting, showing it so blatantly is…”
With a look that said “rude,” Milena spoke up.
“He’s my husband, madam.”
Husband? The countess, who had been maintaining a dignified expression, frowned.
“We just made a marriage vow not too long ago.”
What? Without even consulting the family? Milena could read the countess’s incredulous expression, but still calmly introduced him.
“This is Lexion. Say hello. This is Countess Chamber Rastia, the Countess of the house. And, madam, this is…”
“I am Lexion Silbert.”
“Silbert?”
The name Silbert Duke was well-known in the northern regions. The people around, who had been listening, held their breath in surprise. As the servants lowered their heads, the countess’s eyes twitched slightly at Lexion’s name, though it could have been a mistake.
“That should be enough. I’ll be going to my room now. Is my room still available?”
“Yes.”
The countess wiped away any emotion from her face and spoke. As she turned to enter the mansion, Lariette’s real mother, who had been waiting quietly, finally moved.
“W-wait! Miss!”
The maid’s outstretched hand didn’t reach Milena. Before she could act, her body froze, as if struck by some invisible force. It was like magic.
She saw Lexion snap his fingers lightly.
Was it right to show him such a state of this household? She sighed and subtly pointed toward the count, who was standing dumbfounded in the distance.
“If you’re so curious about Lariette, ask the count.”
Remembering how the unexpected marriage had nearly cost her life because of Lariette, she suppressed the growing frustration.
She turned her back on them and stepped back into the mansion she hadn’t visited in a long time. Lexion and Ashed followed her.
Everyone stared at Ashed, who was being seen for the first time, but he didn’t give anyone the chance to approach.
“Milena, should we stay here for the night?”
“Do we have to?”
“Yes, we do.”
What was his real intention? Well, if they were heading to the capital anyway, they would have to rest somewhere. Staying here was definitely better than renting an inn in town. She nodded as they climbed the stairs.
“Alright.”
“Aunt, aunt. Can I sleep with you tonight? Can I go see your room?”
Ashed asked brightly, and it was Lexion who answered.
“Oh dear, nephew. It’s our honeymoon.”
“Hmph, for a contract marriage.”
“Ah, watch your mouth.”
“I don’t care! You’re a fool, uncle! Aunt is always mine!”
“Then let’s all sleep together.”
“…?”
“…!”
The two men’s footsteps halted as if they had heard something absurd.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“That’s not happening, Aunt!”
The atmosphere in the count’s house became chaotic. The moment Milena’s group disappeared, the remaining faces were filled with shock and confusion, frozen as they tried to comprehend what was happening.
“Send someone to the Grand Duke’s estate immediately!”
Finally, the count snapped out of his daze and began thinking. Regardless, Milena made her way to her room—the most secluded room closest to the attic.
Before entering Milena’s room, Lexion stood in the empty hallway and formed a mass of dark magic. A wind sound echoed from the swirling black orb as if riding a horse.
“Zer.”
[Yes, my lord.]
“The count must have sent someone to the Grand Duke’s estate, so deal with it.”
[Understood. Should I just pass on basic information for now?]
“Yeah.”
The count needed to know the situation to feel some fear. Threats didn’t work on the ignorant. It was most annoying to deal with those who acted as if they knew everything when they were clueless, so it was best to prepare in advance.
As Lexion was about to speak to give further instructions, he suddenly stopped when he felt a gaze from somewhere.
At the end of the hallway, their eyes met. The woman, who was looking at him, bowed politely. Lexion returned the gesture before she turned and left. There was a somber atmosphere around her.
Her appearance didn’t resemble Milena’s at all, but the expression she wore was somewhat similar, as if beyond resignation, it conveyed a sense of transcendence.
‘Hmm. The Countess.’
Lexion resumed his speech. To others, it would appear as though he was simply standing in the hallway.
“Zer, investigate this household as well.”
[Actually, I’ve already been suspicious of how they treat the madam, so I started investigating the moment we left the village. It’s a sight to behold.]
Her room, which she hadn’t seen in five years, was just as it had been. It looked like the Countess had kept it clean, not a speck of dust in sight.
“Aunt, the bed seems small.”
“Well, it hasn’t been replaced since we were kids. But it should be fine for sleeping.”
Ashed frowned. The Grand Duke’s household changed the furniture and wallpaper every quarter. How many years had it been neglected here? Both Lexion and Ashed couldn’t hide their displeasure.
“The room is… cozy.”
It was understandable. It was the most hidden room, where the servants rarely came. Originally a guest room, it had been used whenever the count punished her, and over time, it had become hers. The largest and sunniest room in the mansion had been Lariette’s.
‘Was it this small?’
She hadn’t thought it was small, but with a child and a grown man in it, the space felt cramped.
“You said we need to rush to the capital, right? I heard from Zer. The head of the family isn’t well, so we should leave soon. Should we go now?”
She had no attachment to this place, only the belongings of her mother. There was nothing left for her here. Though she had told them they didn’t need to stay the night, Lexion shook his head.
“No, I like it here.”
“Alright then. We’ll stay just for tonight.”
Even though they were back in the mansion, she didn’t feel the urge to cause chaos or have any evil thoughts. She was surprisingly calm.
She had expected the emotions of the difficult and painful times to resurface, but thankfully, there was no strong emotional reaction.
Still, sleeping together here didn’t feel quite right. As she glanced around the room, she suggested that they each take separate rooms, but both men refused.
The butler informed them that the count had prepared a banquet for Milena’s group, or rather, for his precious grandson.
Before dinner, Ashed and Lexion had asked to see the mansion, so she gave them a tour.
“Nephew, you’re doing it wrong.”
“Please be quiet. It’s not going well.”
Although they claimed they wanted to see the place where she had lived, the way the two men were whispering to each other seemed suspicious. What exactly were they scheming?
“Miss, dinner is ready.”
“…”
She looked at the new maid, who bowed deeply without saying a word. The servants who had troubled her were all replaced.
