Chapter 14

Ha, Edmund let out a short laugh and tucked the eavesdropping magic tool into his coat.

The woman who once wore a sorrowful expression, claiming to be hurt by her husband’s affair, was now nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was bold, even meticulous.

“Revenge, huh.”

Viscountess Dien’s reputation in high society wasn’t bad. She was full of vanity, but people around her never stopped praising her daughter-in-law. Revenge on such a woman? Did she have a conflict with her in-laws?

Deep in thought, Edmund furrowed his brows. But when he saw Etricia stepping out of the building, he quickly masked his expression and reacted casually.

“Are you finished?”

“You must have been bored waiting.”

Edmund shook his head and walked beside her down the alley.

A quick glance at her revealed that the corners of her lips, curved in a smirk, hadn’t gone down.

“She’s excited at the thought of taking revenge on her in-laws.”

Of course, revenge itself wasn’t wrong. If someone had their inheritance stolen through a forged will, they wouldn’t just divorce quietly.

But from what he had gathered, Etricia Buell was impulsive to the point of recklessly ordering assassinations when drunk.

Who knew what she had been doing all these years while living in seclusion?

It was already unsettling that his sister was so taken by this woman without knowing her true nature. Worse yet, Etricia’s smooth tongue seemed capable of charming even him.

For someone nicknamed the Recluse Countess, this was almost laughable. She might as well be called the Fox Countess instead.

“There might be another reason she’s keeping my sister alive.”

Narrowing his eyes, Edmund watched Etricia’s back as she walked toward the carriage.

“My lord?”

Etricia tilted her head, looking puzzled as she turned to him.

“I need to observe her more closely.”

Having reached a conclusion, Edmund extended his hand, helping her into the carriage before stepping inside himself.

The carriage, adorned with the golden crest of the Mipedian Count’s family, rolled swiftly down the paved road.

Someone was watching it— a patrol officer who had served for nearly ten years.

“That man is…”

Back when he had failed the knight’s exam and just entered the training corps, a noble of his age had joined the Imperial Knights. That same noble later became famous for slaying monsters.

There was even a legendary tale of him single-handedly storming a monster-infested cave to wipe them out. Having read about him in the newspapers countless times, the officer couldn’t possibly fail to recognize him.

The patrol officer hurriedly grabbed a colleague and shared what he had seen.

The next day, a special bulletin circulated— the commander of the subjugation force, Count Mipedian, had finally returned to the capital after nine years.

With Rail’s help, I called in a merchant to sell off the furniture and belongings that had arrived the previous day from Buell’s estate.

These merchants catered to wealthy people who admired noble culture but lacked the status to buy such items directly.

Perhaps that’s why he wasted so much time haggling in the dusty warehouse, making me increasingly irritated.

Just as I was about to send him away, he pointed to a picture frame in the corner.

“You want that as a freebie?”

It was the burnt portrait that had been brought by the butler in an attempt to win my favor, only fueling my anger.

I had deemed it beyond repair and set it aside for disposal… but the merchant seemed more interested in the jewels embedded in the frame.

I sighed. “Put it back.”

“My lady, the portrait is beyond restoration anyway—”

“I don’t like repeating myself.”

When I narrowed my eyes and replied sharply, the merchant, who had been inching closer with a smirk, quickly backed away with a sullen expression.

After he paid and left with his cart full of goods, I turned my gaze to the lonely portrait still sitting in the corner of the warehouse.

“My lady…?”

The maid, hesitant to close the door, looked at me for permission. I nodded, and she promptly shut it.

Left in the dimness, I locked eyes with Count Buell inside the portrait.

My father was still smiling, unchanged.

For four years, I had been confined in this house, too burdened by my difficult life to even look at the portrait properly.

I had no face to meet those eyes, which seemed to say, “Didn’t I tell you to look? Didn’t I try to stop you?”

“Only after deciding to end this exhausting marriage do I finally face you.”

I had been so desperate for Devon’s affection that I had forgotten my real family.

Creak. Slam.

After staring at it for a long time, I finally turned away as the door closed completely behind me.

For a fleeting moment, I recalled the warmth of his arms as he had picked me up after I fell while running through the fields. That familiar, cherished smile…

And for just a little while… my nose tingled.

Late in the afternoon, while Lilien was attending her pastry lesson, I sat on the couch armrest, reading a letter from Rainbutton.

Edmund had returned to the capital the previous day, and upon receiving the emperor’s decree, he had entered the palace. With him gone, there were no spies in the mansion.

Ah, no, there was still Rail.

And now, that very Rail was visiting me with unexpected news.

“Who is here to see me?”

Rail placed a hand over his chest and bowed.

“Miss Verita insists on meeting you.”

Ha, so the emperor’s reply hasn’t arrived, yet…

I let out a light chuckle and straightened my posture on the couch.

Verita.

In the original story, she was my sworn sister, the only person who maintained contact with me during my reclusive marriage.

She was the one who recommended the underground guild and also the supporting character who carelessly gossiped at the banquet in the original plot.

As I pondered for a moment, Rail gauged my thoughts and spoke first.

“Shall I send her away for today?”

“…No, guide her to the parlor.”

I folded the letter audibly and placed it on the table.

She had come on her own. I couldn’t turn her away.

Soon, after receiving the report that she was waiting, I calmly stood up.

“Well then, shall we go?”

It was time to give Verita her gift—while she still had that innocent look on her face, unaware of anything.

Rail led me to the parlor, where Verita was waiting.

The room was south-facing with plenty of sunlight. It was the same place where I had spoken with Edmund earlier that morning.

As Rail slowly opened the door, I could now see details I hadn’t noticed before, like the gold-threaded trim around the door and the silver laurel pattern on the wallpaper.

Finally, my eyes met with a woman who looked startled to see me.

She had short, soft pink hair and violet eyes, with a beauty made more striking by the tear mole beneath one eye.

“It’s been a while, Verita.”

“Sister!”

Verita knocked over her chair as she ran into my arms.