Chapter 28
Pawned Life –
Irina had intended to return home after receiving her proposal, but the woman’s next words changed her mind completely.
If she hadn’t mentioned the pendulum, Irina would have refused outright.
But that one word hooked onto her curiosity, and because of it, Rurasa managed to get Irina to say, “Let’s go right away.”
Irina rode in her escort carriage, following behind Rurasa’s.
From a short exchange with Casey, she learned that though Rurasa was young, she was considered quite an important figure even in the Ringester family.
But even Casey didn’t know much more than that.
Before long, they arrived at a plain-looking mansion with a small garden.
Up until the moment they arrived, Rurasa had maintained a polite demeanor—barely—but as soon as Irina stepped out of the carriage, she changed completely.
Instead of leading Irina inside, Rurasa crossed her arms and stared at her very closely.
“Is something wrong?”
“Hm…”
Rurasa’s eyes glimmered as she studied Irina up and down.
“Oh, I see.”
Irina’s mood began to sink.
That confident gaze of Rurasa’s—it was too self-assured.
Even a hint of arrogance shimmered in it.
“I see now.”
Her gloved hand—smooth black silk—lifted and lightly pointed at Irina.
“You.”
Did she just talk down to me?
Irina’s face filled with disbelief.
“…”
She stared back, then casually brushed Rurasa’s pointing finger away with her own.
“Please show some manners.”
“Oh-ho.”
Rurasa’s eyes sparkled even more, as though she had found a delightful toy.
“So you see me as a rival, is that it?”
“What?”
Irina’s voice cracked in surprise, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Rurasa’s eyes widened—and then she burst into loud laughter, not even bothering to cover her mouth.
“Oh my, how cute! So that’s what you were thinking! Goodness, how adorable.”
She looked just like a grandmother knitting a wool sweater for winter, suddenly unable to contain her affection for her playful grandchild.
Irina was at a loss for words. Rurasa finally stopped laughing and said,
“You really shouldn’t be worrying about me right now.”
“I don’t know what you mean, but if you called me here just to be rude, I’ll be leaving.”
“Still, seeing you like this, you’re not bad. Are you satisfied with your life?”
“What are you even saying?”
Truly, Irina couldn’t understand a thing.
Her confusion over Rurasa’s sudden informal speech was quickly replaced by dizziness at her nonsensical manner of talking.
Even then, Rurasa didn’t invite Irina inside. She kept circling her, glancing this way and that, tossing out random questions.
At first, Irina thought the woman’s manner was full of arrogance, hostility, and a mix of unpleasant emotions.
But as time passed, it became clear Rurasa was simply curious—and was, in her own way, trying to get close.
“So, what was it you actually wanted to talk about?”
The moment Irina asked, she felt strange for doing so. After all, she’d been bombarded with so many meaningless questions that she was starting to think, Where am I? Who even am I?
“Hmm? What was I going to say again…?”
Despite having brought up the pendulum earlier, Rurasa now avoided the topic completely.
“You mentioned a necklace,” Irina reminded her, the reason she’d come all this way.
Rurasa smiled sheepishly.
“Did I? Why did I say that again?”
“…What?”
“The truth is, I just wanted to talk to you, so I made it up. How would I know anything about a necklace?”
Lies.
That was clearly a lie.
Even when Irina expressed her irritation and demanded an explanation, Rurasa only apologized with a light smile.
In the end, all Irina was left with was frustration and emptiness—and the desire to go home.
She’d noticed how Rurasa kept sneaking glances at her necklace, but she no longer wanted to get involved.
Better to just ask Howard instead.
It’s my fault for running here like an idiot.
Irina turned and got back into her carriage.
She felt drained—she just wanted to go home and rest.
Rurasa waved lightly, smiling as Irina’s carriage door closed.
Caught in that odd, unsettling atmosphere, Irina gave only the smallest nod and waited for the carriage to move.
“This is really strange.”
As the carriage rolled away, Irina turned her head, watching Rurasa shrink into the distance, and murmured softly.
* * *
“I saw that woman today.”
“Who?”
Howard’s hand froze mid-cut.
He looked puzzled.
Since he’d come home, Irina hadn’t said much—just poked at her salad a few times before finally speaking.
“She called herself Rurasa.”
At once, Howard’s brow furrowed.
Irina shrugged.
“I don’t mean this in a bad way, but… she’s kind of strange.”
Irina told him what had happened at the tea party.
“She didn’t say anything else?”
“No. I waited for her to bring it up, but she never did. Still, why would she mention my necklace?”
Honestly, the whole thing had left a sour taste.
If she hadn’t been told Rurasa was one of Howard’s few friendly acquaintances, Irina would never have spoken to her at all.
And asking if she knew where the necklace came from—that meant she knew about it, and perhaps was even involved.
That part unsettled her deeply.
She’d thought the necklace was something only the two of them knew about…
Having someone else step into that circle felt terrible.
“It seems there must have been a misunderstanding on her part,” Howard said.
“I don’t think so. If she knows about this necklace, she must have known you for a while, right?”
“She does act unpredictably at times,” he admitted.
“Oh? So you do know her well?”
Irina’s voice came out sharper than she intended.
“No. As I mentioned before, she once helped me—that’s all. Nothing more.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
His answer came without the slightest hesitation.
Irina studied his face for a moment, uncertain.
She still felt uneasy, but she didn’t press the issue further.
Instead, she poked absently at her food until dinner ended.
There’s something there, she thought.
But no one seemed willing to tell her what it was.
* * *
That uneasy feeling faded with time.
After that, Irina’s days were so peaceful she almost felt guilty about it.
Aside from becoming wealthier and more comfortable as a duchess, her life wasn’t all that different from before.
The servants did their best to help her settle in comfortably.
So much so that once, when she sneezed after tasting a dish heavily seasoned with the rarest pepper—more expensive than gemstone powder or mana dust—the head chef threw away the entire batch, horrified that the Madam might get sick.
The others were much the same.
Though the mansion was large and the staff few, leaving them constantly busy, they always greeted Irina warmly whenever she appeared.
Thanks to that, she had no trouble adjusting.
“Casey, I’m going out today.”
Today’s outing had nothing to do with her duties as duchess.
“Going out, Madam? Do you have business somewhere?”
Casey immediately readied herself, as always—eager, energetic, ready to run like a racehorse the moment Irina said the word.
Irina found that eagerness endearing.
“Yes. Is there an information broker or a guild nearby?”
“There are plenty of brokers, but the big guild is by the western chapel,” Casey said.
Irina had told Howard she didn’t need to search for her father—but blood ties couldn’t be ignored. She couldn’t help but worry.
“I see. Maybe the guild would be better, then.”
She frowned slightly, thinking.
“I want to find out some information about where I used to live. Where would be best for that?”
Casey’s face brightened instantly, happy to be of use.
“The small broker in Borman has a good reputation. Since there are so many travelers, false information spreads quickly, so they try to stay reliable. The guild I mentioned is run by the Angerma Union from the capital, but they recently merged with the Forio Union from the north—it’s huge now!”
“Is that so? Then I guess the guild’s the better choice.”
Irina was sure Howard would be looking for her father, even though she’d told him not to.
She knew him too well.
And she also knew that if she went out to inquire herself, word would surely reach him.
After all, her every outing came with a full escort.
Since moving here, she’d gained several times as many guards as she ever had at the count’s estate.
Still, she trusted that he would pretend not to notice.
Even so, she didn’t want to rely on him completely.
“Madam, shall I make a reservation with the guild right away?”
“Would you? As soon as possible, please.”
“Yes, Madam! I’ll go deliver the message now—please wait just a moment!”
Casey hurried out, her steps quick and light.
Irina had once been a count’s daughter, and Howard her subordinate.
Now Howard was a duke—and she, his wife.
Things couldn’t be the same as before.
Feeling a little heavy-hearted, Irina took a deep breath and rose from her seat.
It took less than thirty minutes for Casey to return after contacting the steward through the comms.
“Madam! They said they can take your request immediately!”
“Then could you help me prepare?”
“Yes, Madam! Leave everything to me!”
Hearing that, Irina got ready at once and set out for the guild.
