~Chapter 2~
Just a few days ago, Rachel didn’t think she would come back here again.
“……”
She felt both comfortable and uneasy. After breaking off this engagement, it seemed like a good idea to quickly find a new marriage partner.
If she didn’t care about titles, it would be easy to find someone rich and kind enough to live a peaceful life with.
But for that, she needed proof to convince the Duke of Valencia.
Luckily, she already knew where to find what she needed, thanks to what she learned before her regression.
For now, Rachel decided to focus on breaking off the engagement, leaving the “Record” for later.
“Becky, please find out Paris’s schedule for tomorrow. Quickly.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“If you can, check the Duchess’s schedule too.”
“…I understand.”
It wasn’t strange to ask about her fiancé’s schedule.
There was no need to see his face.
She just needed to get the easiest proof to convince the Duke.
After that, the Duke could find the rest.
Rachel went to her room, organized where the evidence was, and wrote a letter for the Duke of Valencia.
The Duke of Valencia was not someone a marquis’s daughter could usually meet, but since Rachel was engaged to his only son, she could meet him naturally.
Knock, knock—
Becky came in after knocking.
“Miss, tomorrow Prince Paris will go to court with the Duke in the morning. As for the Duchess, I’m not sure, but it looks like she’ll attend the Marchioness Dolce’s tea party.”
“Really?”
It was difficult for Rachel, who wasn’t really family yet, to know the Duchess’s schedule in detail.
Still, this meant she wouldn’t run into them.
Tea parties usually started around noon. Rachel sealed the letter and announced her plan.
“I’ll visit the Duke of Valencia’s mansion tomorrow afternoon. Don’t contact them ahead.”
“…Yes, Miss.”
There was only a month until the wedding.
If she wanted to avoid trouble, she had to act quickly.
But before that—
Rachel finished the letter and looked up at Becky.
“Can you get me a small shovel? One that’s good for digging.”
“Huh?”
Becky looked confused for a moment.
But soon, she brought a small shovel and handed it to Rachel. That night, Rachel ate dinner alone in her room and placed the shovel carefully on her nightstand.
She needed to save her energy for tomorrow.
The next day, Rachel woke up late in the morning and got ready to leave.
She wore a soft dress, braided her hair and tied it with a ribbon, and put on makeup to make her face shine.
She hid the small shovel under her dress. Becky and the maids helping her dress looked confused.
But as servants of a noble family, they didn’t ask questions.
“Your carriage is ready, Miss.”
“I’m leaving now.”
Because she wore low shoes, it was easy to hide the shovel and still move freely.
Rachel was about to leave the house when—
“Where are you going?”
A familiar voice called from behind. It was her mother, the Marchioness Ingrave.
Rachel stopped for a second, then calmly turned around.
“Mother.”
Her mother had light brown hair and blue eyes, just like Rachel.
Unlike the last time Rachel saw her, when her face was twisted with anger, now her mother looked gentle and peaceful.
It felt like that bad memory was just a mirage.
Her mother came closer with a worried face.
“I heard you fainted yesterday? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”
“…There’s only a month left until the wedding. But I’ll try to rest and take it easy from now on.”
“I heard you went to bed early last night.”
Her mother looked closely at Rachel’s face. After a moment, Rachel saw a bit of relief in her mother’s eyes.
“So, where are you going now?”
“I’m going to the Duke of Valencia’s mansion. I want to look at their garden for ideas for the wedding.”
“That’s a good idea. If you see the prince, give him my regards.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Rachel bowed and turned to leave. But her mother spoke again, making her pause.
“Oh, you didn’t come down to dinner last night, and Ilya was worried. Can you check on him?”
“…I will.”
Rachel thought about her younger brother, who was four years younger than her.
He was blunt, but he was honest with Rachel, so she always thought he was cute.
But not anymore.
Rachel got into the carriage without looking back at her mother. As the carriage left the mansion behind, she let out a soft sigh.
‘It’s not as bad as I thought.’
She had worried she would go crazy with anger when seeing her parents again after the betrayal, but she was calmer than expected.
She let her powers soothe her heart and looked out at the familiar city.
Familiar houses and shops passed by.
Soon, she saw a flag with a golden ring and a dragon curled inside.
The family that still sealed the great monster of ancient times.
One of the four highest-ranking noble houses.
Her former husband’s family was getting closer. The knights at the gate saw her through the carriage window and bowed politely.
“Welcome, Lady Ingrave.”
The heavy iron gates opened quickly.
After passing the beautiful gardens, Rachel arrived at the entrance. The butler hurried out to greet her. Rachel’s face turned serious for a moment but then returned to normal. The butler bowed deeply.
“Lady Ingrave, I’m sorry for not meeting you sooner.”
“…”
For a moment, memories from before her regression flashed in her mind.
But Rachel quickly hid her feelings and spoke calmly.
“It’s alright. Where’s Paris?”
“The prince went to court. I think he left before getting your message.”
“That’s fine. I came suddenly because I want to look at the garden for the wedding.”
“Would you like a guide?”
Rachel shook her head and walked to the backyard.
“No, don’t worry about me. Just do your work. I’ll look around and go home soon.”
“If you need help, please call me, Lady.”
Rachel naturally avoided the butler and wandered the backyard, checking if anyone was following. She noticed one servant the butler had assigned to watch her from afar.
“Sir.”
“Yes, Miss?”
Rachel called for the head guard, Sir Hoffman, who came closer at once.
“I don’t like being watched. Can you block their view?”
Sir Hoffman saw the servant and waved. The other three guards formed a wall to hide Rachel.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Miss.”
Rachel stayed in the garden a bit longer, then took only Becky and walked west.
Rachel, who had been the young lady of the Valencia family for five years, knew where the servants’ quarters were. The servant watching her didn’t notice her slip away.
She told the guards she wanted to see the view alone from a distance, so they let her go with Becky.
Rachel reached the south wall near the doctors’ quarters. She told Becky to stand guard and watch for anyone coming.
“Stay here for a moment and keep watch, okay?”
“Miss…”
“I’ll be quick.”
Rachel turned the corner and stood at the end of the south wall.
From there, she took exactly twenty steps.
Standing in the right spot, she pulled the small shovel from under her dress.
Buried here was one of the pieces of evidence Aisha Leibling had found to prove the real son of the Duke.
It was a key piece of proof against the Duchess’s lies, and Rachel remembered it clearly.
Pook—
Rachel sat on the ground and dug hard. Becky peeked around the corner and gasped in shock.
Rachel looked at Becky for a second, but kept digging.
Soon, her shovel hit something.
