Chapter 45
Her dead daughter was her only reverse scale.
Grace forced the trembling corners of her lips down and shot back.
“My daughter… is dead. So Robert is no different from a stranger to me. And you know I was against the two of them from the start. I should be hating him, if anything. He’s the one who distanced her from me.”
“Ah, yes. I forgot myself for a moment. An old woman’s needless worry, that’s all. Then, I’ll excuse myself. There’s still much I must do for you, Countess.”
Octavio left with a meaningful smile.
Grace felt a chill at that smile and glared at his back for a long moment.
“Robert was summoned?”
“Yes. The Count urgently called for him this morning.”
“They found out later than I thought.”
Rebecca spoke casually.
Kanna asked with a doubtful look.
“You already knew he would be discovered?”
“Of course. This is probably Octavio’s doing. He must be trying to divert Zeppelin’s obsession with me toward purging traitors instead.”
“Then Robert will…”
“Die.”
“Pardon?”
Kanna’s eyes widened at Rebecca’s nonchalant words.
Ignoring her reaction, Rebecca kept reading the letter Leo had delivered.
“So, Eustaf is researching the rose grapes. It’s almost as if Julian knew my plan ahead of time. Isn’t that fascinating, Kanna?”
“It is. At least he turns out to be of use—that’s fortunate.”
Even as she answered, Kanna wore an uneasy expression.
She didn’t look like she could believe Rebecca meant to let Robert die.
But she didn’t ask further. Her resolve to follow Rebecca’s every decision was firm.
Rebecca, watching her quietly, smiled softly.
“It’s time Robert left the mansion anyway. Sometimes, freedom only comes through death.”
“Robert would think it an honor to give his life for you, my lady.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring him back.”
“…What?”
“You didn’t really think I’d just let Robert die, did you? At Zeppelin’s hands, no less? That would be disappointing.”
Rebecca chuckled mischievously.
She finished her reply and tucked it into Leo’s necklace case.
Once Leo slipped back out the window, she wrote two more letters.
Then she handed them to Kanna.
“One is to give openly in front of Catherine, the other secretly to my mother. And stop by the Liberta Relief House as well. I think it’s time Margaret made her decision.”
“My lady, how can I leave your side when you’re this unwell?”
Kanna looked worriedly at Rebecca, who was occasionally grimacing with pain.
Rebecca clasped her hands.
“The fever has gone down. I’m fine. There’s no one I trust more than you. Besides, unlike before, I have plenty of allies now.”
She clapped twice.
At once, the door opened and Susan and another maid, Emily, entered.
“You called, my lady?”
They had made a fortune off the information Rebecca gave them.
Believing wholeheartedly that she was a saint, Susan and Emily would now even pretend to die at her word.
Rebecca gave Kanna a look that said, See?
Kanna let out a faint smile, then quickly turned strict as she began issuing orders to the two maids.
Rebecca watched them with a satisfied expression.
Can you really handle this? Refuse while you still can. I’ll find another way.
Eyes the color of the deep sea asked him.
At her sincere concern, the tension around his lips eased.
I never once thought I could leave this place without such a sacrifice.
Then I have no choice. I’ll risk my life to save you—so endure, please.
The way she staked her only life on someone as worthless as him reminded him of the lover he’d lost.
Robert!
Ah, Layla.
In dreams he’d pictured it: Layla catching hold of his hand as he endlessly fell into the abyss.
Cold.
As he blankly felt her temperature, she pulled him upward.
Robert, wake up!
Lay… I’ve missed you. Can’t I just go with you like this?
No. You promised to live happily enough for both of us. Go back.
Layla!
The black eyes that held the night sky he adored glittered with starlight.
Tears streaming down her face, she lifted Robert toward the surface.
“Wake up!”
Cold water splashed across his face.
Robert gasped for breath, coming to. His vision was blurred with blood running from his forehead.
Dazed, he quickly recalled where he was.
The torture chamber beneath the Hall of Light.
Zeppelin sat across from him, his patience worn to its limit.
“I’ll ask one more time. Why spread such nonsense?”
“It’s not nonsense. She is the true saint.”
“Pity, Robert. I truly cherished you.”
Zeppelin sighed and gestured.
Knight Bates stepped forward with a heated poker.
Robert soon screamed in agony.
Behind Zeppelin, Octavio watched with delight.
Octavio…
So this was his doing.
Octavio had long kept Robert in check, branding him a threat to his place as Zeppelin’s trusted man.
But Robert had never cared. He didn’t want Octavio’s spot.
A dog was still just a dog. He’d never intended to fight over the title of top dog.
But Octavio was the type to cut weeds at the root.
He had waited for an opportunity to pounce on Robert’s flaws.
And today, he seized it.
Perhaps this is enough.
Panting heavily, Robert forced his lips to move.
“A… a last request. A cigarette. Then I’ll tell you everything.”
Bates looked at Zeppelin.
Whatever he said, Robert would die anyway. Zeppelin only needed a scapegoat to vent his anger.
Cracking his knuckles, Zeppelin gave a nod.
Bates took a cigarette from Robert’s chest pocket and lit it for him.
“Fuu.”
Robert exhaled long. The smoke filled his lungs. A smile of satisfaction spread across his face.
All according to her will…
The scent of death was sweet.
“Now talk.”
In a daze, Robert gave the answer Zeppelin wanted.
“I loved her.”
“What?”
“Shall I repeat? I loved Lady Rebecca. I loved her beauty, her kind heart. She is far too precious for you. If you love her, let her go! To her, you’re nothing but a trial.”
“You bastard!”
Just as expected.
Zeppelin, eyes bloodshot, lunged at him.
Losing himself in rage, he pummeled Robert’s head with his knuckle-clad fists.
Robert’s bloodied body soon stopped even groaning.
“How dare a dog covet its master’s possession?”
Octavio barely held back a laugh as he pulled Zeppelin away.
Though his words were stern, his eyes curved in delight.
He grabbed Zeppelin’s bloodied hand.
“Enough, my lord. He’ll die at this rate.”
“Every one of them dares covet what is mine…”
Grinding his teeth, Zeppelin turned away.
Bates pressed fingers under Robert’s nose.
“He’s dead.”
“Dispose of him.”
Zeppelin clicked his tongue and ran a hand through his hair, looking as if he’d merely squashed a bothersome insect.
“What a foul mood. Octavio, tell them to prepare my bath.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Zeppelin’s heavy footsteps echoed up the stairs, leaving a chill behind in the dungeon.
Bates kept his head bowed until Zeppelin was gone, then turned back toward Robert.
The cigarette still burned fiercely between Robert’s lips.
Danae, having received Rebecca’s letter, hurried to prepare to go out.
She was about to step out in her hat when Theo blocked her way.
“Darling, where are you always going like this?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? To Mrs. Jenkis’s house.”
“Don’t lie. I know your right eyebrow twitches every time you do. Don’t tell me…”
Danae froze.
Does he know something?
Tears welled in Theo’s blue eyes.
“You haven’t met another man, have you? Is it because I’m so useless…?”
“Theo Obelia! What on earth are you saying!”
“Then why do you keep leaving me behind to go out?”
Theo clung to her waist, refusing to let her move.
“Have you gone mad? Let me go!”
Tears streamed down Theo’s face.
“I can’t live without you. Danae, if you’re going to remarry, at least keep me as your concubine.”
“You’re spouting nonsense!”
“Dad!”
Livia and Helena shouted, rushing in to each grab one of Theo’s arms.
“Stop bothering Mom!”
“Yeah! She’s out making money for us!”
“She’s… earning money?”
Theo’s tear-filled eyes went wide.
Danae turned in shock to her daughters.
“How did you two know?”
The twins giggled, answering one after the other.
“Dinner’s been amazing lately!”
“And you bought us new dresses!”
“We get dessert every day too!”
“Dad doesn’t make a cent—who else would?”
“Of course it’s Mom!”
Theo staggered at their blunt words.
“M-money? You’re the one earning it?”
Danae sighed, realizing it was no use.
“That’s right. I can’t tell you the details. But don’t worry—it’s nothing illegal or dangerous.”
“I swore never to let your hands touch work… and yet, because I’m incompetent…”
As Theo began crying again, Danae hurried to soothe him.
“Everyone has different aptitudes. You’re just not suited for earning money.”
Helena and Livia chimed in quickly.
“Right! But Dad’s good at cooking instead.”
“And you do laundry and cleaning way better than Mom!”
Theo blinked his long lashes.
“W-well, that’s true.”
