Chapter 6
“The rumor that the marriage alliance between Your Grace and House Loren will soon come to an end is spreading as though it were already a confirmed fact.”
“And the origin of the rumor is still Count Loren?”
“Yes.”
“That’s irrational.”
“Yes. Marriage is the most powerful way to secure a strong ally. Yet the Count’s behavior makes it look as though he is desperate to end the relationship as quickly as possible.”
Amon had come of age only this year and inherited his title at a rather young age after the sudden death of his father.
Of course, it was widely known that the siblings of House Loren were hardly on better terms than strangers.
Still, it was strange that he would deliberately try to ruin the marriage of his half-sister, a union that could serve as a firm foundation for their family.
Something about it was deeply suspicious.
Tap. Tap.
Lightly tapping the table with his fingertips, Ilias spoke again.
“Find out more about Amon as well. When someone who has only just begun to establish his position behaves irrationally, it usually means there’s a powerful motive behind it.”
The sky was an unusually vivid shade of blue.
Standing on the balcony where the wind passed freely, Elena looked up at the cloudless sky.
The first meeting she remembered with her sister had been dry and bitter.
—“You really do look exactly the same.”
The moment Diane stepped into the detached residence, she looked Elena over from head to toe and spoke those words.
That was all.
There wasn’t even a routine greeting.
Elena had read in books that even strangers exchanged greetings when they met for the first time.
Having learned about the world diligently through books, she decided she should greet her sister first.
—“Sister, I’m Elena Loren… Ah, you probably already know my name. I’m sorry. I’m not very good at meetings like this.”
The greeting she blurted out in a flustered rush came out completely disordered.
Even so, at that moment she had felt a small flutter of excitement.
The sister she was meeting for the very first time shone brightly and was extremely beautiful.
Moreover, she was her twin sister—born on the same day.
That fact alone made Elena feel as if a sense of closeness was swelling inside her.
But Diane’s voice that followed was enough to shatter every one of those feelings.
—“What? Even your voice sounds exactly the same. That’s creepy. Mother died giving birth to you, and Father won’t even glance toward this residence. And yet you have a name? Elena Loren? Anyone hearing that would think you were really my sister.”
Diane rubbed her arms repeatedly, as though she were genuinely covered in goosebumps.
And even that question had not been directed toward Elena.
Instead, Mrs. Karin—who stood nearby looking helpless—was the one facing Diane’s rapid-fire interrogation, unable to open her mouth at all.
Ah…
Only then did Elena realize that the person who had given her the name “Elena” was Mrs. Karin.
Thinking back on it, it was strange that she had never noticed before.
After all, it made no sense that the person who had locked Elena away would kindly give her a name.
The reason she had not been killed at birth and was allowed to live here, even in this place, was because of the Count’s lingering fear.
Twins were believed to bring terrible misfortune.
But the Count feared that killing one with his own hands might bring even greater calamity upon himself.
The burden of Count Loren’s irrational and blind beliefs fell entirely upon Elena.
And that was all.
That was the entirety of their first meeting.
Diane had apparently only come to confirm Elena’s face, because she left almost immediately afterward.
And how had Elena been left behind then?
The tears that had gathered in her eyes had eventually fallen, leaving round stains on the wooden floor.
Now it was only a vague memory.
But the emotions she had felt back then were still vivid.
The cold chill that had pierced her chest, the humiliation, and the loneliness of feeling as though she had been left alone in the world.
Her eyes, quietly recalling that time, turned toward the bed draped with a delicate canopy.
The lace decorated with pearls of various sizes looked elegant and luxurious even at a glance.
To think that such jewels were used merely to decorate the fabric hanging above a bed.
Elena remembered the small, suffocating world where she had spent her entire life.
A shabby place completely isolated and poorly maintained.
Mrs. Karin had cared for her at her side—but only temporarily.
Once Elena became old enough to dress herself and eat on her own, Count Loren summoned even Mrs. Karin back to the main residence.
—“Miss, please don’t cry. I’ll stop by from time to time with food and whatever you need.”
—“It’s too scary to stay here alone. Can’t I come with you?”
—“…Miss.”
Mrs. Karin had tightly embraced Elena, who clung to her hand and cried helplessly.
But she could not disobey the Count’s orders.
From that day onward, Elena was left alone.
Sometimes after a few days, sometimes after a week.
Elena would simply wait for the day Mrs. Karin returned.
Mrs. Karin secretly brought the things she needed so the other servants would not notice.
She even spent her own money to buy books and painting supplies.
—“It must be terribly lonely for you here alone. Would you like to try painting? I don’t know much about art, but it seems like a wonderful hobby—something you can immerse yourself in.”
After that, Elena began to paint, slowly and awkwardly.
She had never learned from anyone, but the abundance of time she possessed became a fine teacher.
While Elena was lost in those memories, Mrs. Karin approached her and whispered softly.
“Miss, about the paintings I mentioned earlier.”
Even though the bedroom door was tightly closed and only the two of them were present, Mrs. Karin was always cautious.
Her voice was so quiet it could barely be heard by the person standing beside her.
“The paintings you made in the detached residence. I asked someone I know to look into them, and there were people who showed interest. Among them is someone who trades paintings and artworks while traveling abroad.”
“Really?”
It was news that finally allowed her to breathe a little easier.
She had already been slowly making plans to live in Abha.
Since she knew little about the world, she had been searching for things she might be able to do.
The first thing that came to mind was painting.
She did not dream of becoming a great artist praised by the world.
However, there was always a steady demand for portraits and figure paintings.
And in Abha, she had heard there were many studios employing dozens of painters.
“So, just as you asked, I’ve requested an introduction to an art studio in the capital of Abha. I’ll inform you as soon as I receive word.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I should have taken better care of you, Miss. I have no face to show your mother in heaven. I…”
Mrs. Karin coughed softly, her voice catching with emotion.
Mrs. Karin, who had come to the Loren household with Elena’s mother, now had tears welling in her eyes.
Perhaps it was because of such a gentle heart that she still had not been able to leave the Count’s household.
Awkwardly, Elena patted the wrinkled hand of the older woman.
The only reason she had been able to endure that unbearably lonely time was entirely thanks to Mrs. Karin.
Just as Mrs. Karin managed to swallow back the tears rising in her eyes, someone knocked on the door.
“Miss, the master has returned. He is waiting for you in the study on the first floor.”
It seemed Amon had returned after leaving the estate for several days due to urgent business.
Elena set down the book she was holding and stood.
Her relationship with Amon was one where they avoided seeing each other unless absolutely necessary.
So when he called for her like this, it almost certainly meant something important.
After descending the stairs one by one and taking a deep breath, she entered the silent study.
“Sit.”
Amon immediately pointed to a chair.
Moments later, several sheets of documents were thrust before her.
“Read them. Memorize what’s important here and now. After you’ve checked them, we’ll burn them all.”
At the curt instruction, Elena lowered her gaze to the paper in her hands.
“Diane crossed the border and went to the Principality of Kyle. Together with that man—her lover, or whatever he is.”
Her lover?
Was the man who had left with her sister someone from Kyle?
Elena carefully read the text.
But this…
“Larisa. Diane secretly sold that land before leaving.”
Having finished speaking, Amon ran a hand through his hair irritably.
“She made sure to secure her share before secretly leaving the capital. I met the new owner of Larisa yesterday.”
