The people who had been at the count’s estate until the day she left years ago were now all gone.
Yet the young maid, who seemed to be new, trembled as she looked at her. Who knows what kind of rumors she had heard about Milena—or maybe she had been bullied.
“I see. Got it. What about the Count and Countess?”
“Uh, um, well… They asked me to convey their apologies. They said they regret that they won’t be able to greet you in person.”
They must have just heard about the shocking incident of the Grand Duchess’s body disappearing. The mansion was in chaos, overrun with unchecked rumors.
This place was always slow with information. That’s why the Count got swept up in gambling so easily. He lost his entire fortune in the blink of an eye.
A backwater noble family—that was all the Count’s household ever was. She was harsh in her assessment of the Count’s house. No, she was really judging the man who was supposed to be her father. All greed, no capability.
“Alright. Go ahead and let them know. You’re dismissed. I know where the dining hall is, so you don’t need to guide me.”
“Y-yes, thank you!”
The young maid, her face lighting up with relief, bowed quickly and scurried off.
A banquet with the Count and Countess? She hadn’t expected it in the first place. Why bother eating with the Count and risk indigestion? Honestly, it worked out better this way.
“Just one night. That’s all I need.”
She whispered to herself. She planned to grab what she needed and never set foot here again.
She couldn’t even recall her mother’s face or memories anymore. But the memories that surfaced because of her sister—those were far too vivid, painfully so.
Still, when it came time to retrieve her mother’s keepsake, she’d need to separate from the two men. She’d think about that later. First—food.
“Shall we go?”
“Hmm. We’ll change clothes first. Can’t dine improperly dressed at my wife’s home.”
Again with the formal tone. Milena glanced at Lexion, puzzled by what he was thinking. He responded with a quick wink.
“Right, Auntie. We’ll go change first.”
Ashdel, who should’ve been protesting that Lexion was hitting on his aunt, agreed with him instead. The two of them were sticking together like glue—what were they scheming?
“What clothes are you changing into?”
“Brought everything with us, so don’t worry.”
Lexion waved the magic pouch containing their luggage. Suspicious, but Milena let it slide and walked into the mansion first.
“…” “…” As Milena’s figure disappeared from view, Ashdel stepped away from Lexion’s side and his face grew serious.
“Alright, Nephew. Time to move.”
Ashdel threw Lexion a sideways look and snorted. He didn’t like the man, but he had to admit—he was useful.
‘Nephew. Someone’s following us. Any guesses who it is?’
It was his way of training the boy. Although the wooden ring suppressed his magic, Ashdel could still use it—just not to its full potential.
At Lexion’s prompt, Ashdel spread his magic through the air, trying to sense the presence trailing behind them. He couldn’t identify exactly who it was, but he didn’t give up. He focused his power, trying to pinpoint the follower.
“That’s it. Just like that.”
Encouraging him, Lexion gently nudged Ashdel’s back. At once, Ashdel dashed off in the direction he sensed the presence.
Whoever it was, he didn’t like being watched like this.
The person following them saw the boy charging forward—but hadn’t expected the child to come their way.
“Why are you following us?”
Ashdel rounded a corner and abruptly confronted a woman. She looked startled but quickly composed her expression.
“Child.”
“I’m not your child, ma’am. Answer the question, please. Why were you tailing us? Don’t you know how unsettling that is?”
The Countess silently looked down at the child.
“Such a rude little mouth.”
‘Must take after the parents,’ she muttered.
Ashdel flared up—how much did she even know about his parents?!
“It’s true our kid’s a bit rude, but he knows who’s worth being polite to, ma’am.”
Before Ashdel could snap back with something harsher than a child should say, Lexion stepped forward and pulled the boy into his arms. Though Lexion’s expression said he was ready to pounce, the child obediently clutched at his sleeve.
“So, can I ask why you were hiding?”
The Countess’s gaze deepened, as if assessing him carefully. Then, she spoke in a reserved tone.
“My apologies if I offended you.”
She claimed she had just been curious, asking for understanding—but never gave a proper reason before retreating.
‘Hmm… she wasn’t observing Milena. She was watching me?’
Watching the Countess retreat, Lexion realized he had been the target all along.
“Uncle.”
Ashdel tugged at Lexion’s sleeve, breaking his thoughts.
“Uncle, come on. Auntie’s waiting.”
The way “uncle” now came so naturally from the boy made Lexion chuckle softly.
“Right, let’s go.”
He ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately. Ashdel, like a feisty kitten, bristled and bared his teeth.
With the two men conveniently out of the way, Milena finally moved to carry out the purpose of her visit.
She passed by the rooms and placed her foot on the stairs leading to the attic.
Creak. Creak. The unoiled stairs groaned underfoot, and unlike when she first entered the mansion, her heart now fluttered with unrest.
The attic was simple. Dust coated the room as if no one had entered it in years.
Unlike the other items covered in white cloth, there was one box left exposed—large enough to fit a child inside.
Sitting in front of the box, she blew off the dust. The memory of being locked inside this box, full of her mother’s clothes, came back vividly. She could still recall Larriette’s face before the lid closed.
‘Sister! Let me out! Sister!’
Larriette had laughed it off and let her out soon after, claiming it was a joke—but was it really just a joke? Milena’s green eyes darkened in pain as she stared at the box.
She took a deep breath and gripped the box tightly. Her mother’s important keepsake was hidden at the bottom of this box.
“I won’t be swayed anymore.”
As fear and panic from being trapped in the box rose along her nerves, she pushed it down and opened the lid.
Her mother’s dresses remained, faded by time. They no longer carried her scent—only the musty smell of dust.
She lifted the outdated dresses with a hint of nostalgia, but soon her expression changed.
It’s not here?
Her mother’s necklace—gone. She was sure it had been hidden in a secret compartment at the bottom.
Was her memory wrong? She dumped the box’s contents and ransacked the attic. Until the black dress she wore was covered in white dust. It didn’t take long.
All she found were her mother’s old jewelry pieces—ones she had planned to sell for gold coins.
If everything else was still there, then only the necklace was missing. But she couldn’t be sure yet—she needed to check her other secret hiding spots. Maybe she was confusing the location.
“Auntie, are you in there? We changed into our clothes!”
Ashdel’s voice rang through the slightly open door, snapping her back to the present.
Covered in dust, she looked down at her dress with a sigh. She’d have to wash up and change.
She gathered the jewelry into a pile. She’d need to borrow Lexion’s magic pouch to take them all with her.
“Welcome, young lady.”
The word young lady made her glance up at the butler. He was the only servant who hadn’t changed.
Waiting at the entrance of the banquet hall, the butler bowed politely at her gaze and opened the door.
Flanked by a well-dressed man and a child, Milena entered the hall.
Her dress was one Lexion had paid for—a deep green gown that suited her perfectly.
How long had it been since she’d eaten at a proper banquet? Who would have thought she’d bring her husband and nephew to this place, soaked in bitter memories?
She was just starting to get emotional when—
“You’re late.”
A guest stood inside the hall, which she had expected to be empty. Her relaxed expression subtly stiffened.
“I heard you wouldn’t be joining us…”
“Wouldn’t it be rude for the host not to greet the guests? Come, sit.”
When the Countess offered seats to Lexion and Ashdel as well, Milena took the seat opposite her. Thankfully, the Count’s seat at the head of the table was empty.
In the heavy silence, with no sound of breathing, the dishes began to arrive. No one spoke. The silence weighed heavily on the servants, and the way all three dined with perfect composure, without even the clink of cutlery, made it even more eerie.
As the main course arrived, Milena sliced into her thick steak and finally broke the silence.
“All the staff seem to have changed.”
At her sudden remark, the Countess paused mid-cut with her knife.
