Chapter 55
“……This is supposed to be pajamas?”
“Yes.”
Hearing the maid’s calm answer, Abelline began to doubt all the common sense and knowledge she had accumulated so far.
‘If I wear this, my neck will be stiff for sure.’
Despite the thin, comfortable material, the shoulders and sleeves were enormously puffed.
She had expected something flashy, but not this much.
“Madam also included a note.”
The maid handed over a small card.
Abelline took it and opened it. The handwriting looked as though the madam herself had scribbled it.
<This is sent so that you may always maintain your confidence, in any situation.>
“…….”
So the enormous shoulder pads on this pajama were supposed to symbolize confidence?
It was truly a design that reflected the madam’s way of thinking, treating even clothing as a form of resolve.
‘Wait.’
As Abelline folded the note back up, a troubling thought crossed her mind.
‘If she included a note… that must mean Duke Rebes noticed whose pajamas these were.’
When Theron had sent someone to the salon to find the pajamas, the madam had clearly realized that the pajamas’ owner was herself.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sent a note like this.
‘That’s a situation that could easily be misunderstood.’
Especially since she already knew that Theron had sent her a bunch of clothes earlier in the day, and now the madam had personally chosen clothes for her as a gesture of thanks.
‘And now the Duke of Rebes is suddenly looking for women’s pajamas in the evening…?’
Even she would have been able to easily guess whose pajamas they were.
‘How embarrassing.’
With a short sigh, Abelline changed into the pajamas with the maid’s help.
Standing in front of the mirror after changing, she saw her reflection, her shoulders puffed out as if wearing a neck brace.
‘I could lie down in this and sleep in perfect posture.’
The cushions on either side of her neck were thick, making it perfect for correcting her sleeping posture.
“The Duke said he would go to bed early.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll try to sleep as well.”
“Yes. Call if you need anything.”
The maid left, and Abelline was alone. Only then did a wave of concern hit her.
‘Wait, do they know at home?’
About staying a night at Theron’s house.
‘He must have told them.’
Theron would have informed the estate beforehand about Abelline’s overnight stay.
Knowing that someone from the Crown Prince’s side was at the Herols’ estate would make it even more certain.
‘They did it on purpose so the Crown Prince would hear about it.’
She didn’t know why the Crown Prince suddenly started spreading rumors about welcoming a Crown Princess, but she had a feeling it had something to do with her.
She imagined her father and Ares’ expressions.
Her father probably swaying as if about to collapse, with Ares supporting him.
‘Coming back to society and already dealing with this…’
After four years in seclusion, it was a harsh welcome back, but the past couldn’t be undone.
For now, the important thing was to handle the situation in front of her.
‘Is everyone asleep?’
Earlier, the maid had mentioned that Theron would go to bed earlier than usual.
If that was the case, it was now the perfect time to search for the documents.
“We can’t just let this happen!”
Meanwhile, in the Herols’ estate, a loud voice echoed.
“Ares.”
Count Herols, seated at his desk, looked at his son, who was huffing and puffing in front of him, exhaustion evident in his face.
“This is the best we can do.”
No sooner had Count Herols finished speaking than Ares’ expression contorted with anger.
“You want to use Duke Rebes to escape the Crown Prince’s grasp?!”
“You saw it too. The Crown Prince sent someone to announce that he will soon select a Crown Princess. What do you think that means?”
“That’s…!”
Ares, about to shout, stopped himself.
Even he admitted that it was sudden for the Crown Prince to send someone like that.
Moreover, it was unusual to personally inform someone at a private residence about selecting a Crown Princess.
Of course, the answer was “No.”
This clearly meant that the Crown Prince had Abelline, his twin sister, in mind as a strong candidate.
And the news spread throughout the capital in no time.
Earlier, while he and his father were meeting the Crown Prince’s envoy, another visitor arrived.
Someone sent by Duke Rebes.
Seeing Rebes’ envoy, Ares immediately recognized him.
A man with long hair braided and draped over one shoulder.
Always accompanying Theron, and the same man who had grabbed Ares by the collar last time.
When their eyes met, the humiliation of that moment came flooding back.
“Duke Rebes wishes to convey a message regarding Miss Herols.”
Introducing himself as Barom, the man said that since the estate’s horses had fallen ill, they could not escort Abelline, and that she would have to stay overnight and return by horse in the morning.
‘Ridiculous.’
Ares thought it was all nonsense. That the Duke Rebes’ estate couldn’t send someone was absurd. Even if that were the case, the Herols family could have sent someone.
Reading Ares’ expression, the man spoke again.
“I trust you understand the meaning. There is another guest present as well.”
Then he gestured toward the Crown Prince’s envoy.
Though crude and lacking etiquette, the Crown Prince’s envoy was too surprised by Barom’s message to notice.
“Since there’s nothing to say, just proceed as instructed.”
Count Herols replied, and Barom bowed once with a satisfied smile before leaving.
The Crown Prince’s envoy also departed quickly, probably to relay the information.
Now, Ares couldn’t accept his father’s decision and was arguing.
“If there’s nothing to say, then we’ll go ourselves.”
“They won’t open the door anyway. And Ares,”
Count Herols leaned back, meeting his son’s gaze.
“If you bring Abelline back now, it will signal that we are siding with the Crown Prince’s wishes.”
“Then I’ll stay the night myself.”
Ares spoke with resolve, his eyes showing that he did not want the rumor to spread that his sister had spent the night alone at Duke Rebes’ estate.
“Let’s see if you can manage it.”
Count Herols sighed.
“But I’m not sure if you’ll even be able to enter the estate.”
“Don’t worry. With my face and words, I’ll persuade the doorman if I have to.”
With that, Ares headed straight for the stables.
“Oh my, my lord!”
The stable boy, dozing in the corner, leapt up in surprise.
“Where’s Beauty?”
“This way, sir!”
Though puzzled by the lord’s behavior at dusk, the boy showed him where Beauty was.
Beauty stood alone among the darkened horses, exuding a dignified presence.
“Time to ride after a long while.”
Ares stroked Beauty’s mane, and the horse responded with a loud neigh.
“Let’s go, Beauty!”
Mounting gracefully, Ares dug his heels in, and Beauty lifted her front hooves and started galloping.
“Wait for me, brother! I’m coming!”
The pair disappeared into the darkness.
“Doorman, beware! One of the empire’s three most handsome men is coming!”
What Ares didn’t know was that Duke Rebes’ estate didn’t even have a doorman.
Trying to move quietly, Abelline stepped into the corridor and paused in the dark.
‘It’s darker than I thought.’
The maid had left her with a single candle, but it was no match for the vast darkness that seemed to swallow the mansion.
‘Better just go.’
Still, she might never have another chance to freely explore Theron’s mansion.
Summoning her courage, she stepped forward.
‘It should be around here.’
According to her memory, the study was on the same floor as the bedroom assigned to her.
Relying on the dim light, she ran her hand along the walls and found a door.
‘Could this be it?’
Though she couldn’t tell how far she had walked in the darkness, she remembered that her room and the study weren’t far apart.
After a brief hesitation, Abelline gently pushed the door open.
The door, heavy as she expected, moved smoothly.
Entering the room, she carefully closed the door behind her and stepped further inside.
