Chapter – 18
Anna’s Return
No matter how much she agonized over it, she reached no conclusion. The First Prince she knew possessed immense wealth, and it wasn’t as though he lacked women. In fact, he avoided them. Rumors claimed he disliked women and preferred men, but Yesica knew that wasn’t true.
He had been searching for the one responsible for his mother’s death, and every noble was a potential suspect. That was the only reason he couldn’t involve himself with their daughters.
Time passed, but no answer emerged. Then Anna finally returned, with two months left until her debutante ball. She had wanted to come back sooner, but her family had moved, and their former house had caught fire, forcing her to help the people of that neighborhood before she could leave.
On the way back she encountered a landslide and had to turn around. At this point, Yesica wondered if someone was deliberately preventing Anna from returning to her.
“I’m late!”
Anna came running in, sweat beading on her forehead, and Yesica greeted her with a smile.
“Welcome back.”
“I’m so sorry for being late, my lady.”
But not everyone welcomed Anna’s return. In Anna’s absence, Daisy had served as chief maid and stayed close to Yesica. Now that Anna was back, Daisy would have to step down—something she clearly didn’t want. Her sour expression prompted Yesica to pour oil on the fire.
“You may go now, Daisy. Anna is here, so you can see to other tasks.”
“…Understood.”
Though Daisy’s face twisted, Yesica said nothing more. Daisy lingered instead of leaving, then shot Anna a razor-sharp glare and sniffed loudly before storming out. Watching this, Anna grew uneasy and spoke timidly.
“Um… is it because of me…?”
“What do you mean because of you? That girl was hired to take your place temporarily. Now that you’re back, of course she returns to her original role. Isn’t that right?”
Anna nodded, then pulled a folded sheet of paper from her clothing.
“Is that what Isanna gave you?”
“Yes.”
There were no signs that the sealed document had been opened. Letters sent from the Moncherto General Store bore a special seal.
When held up to the sunlight, the seal would turn yellow if the envelope had been opened. The seal was still its original red, so Anna clearly had not looked inside.
As expected.
This was why Yesica had entrusted the task to Anna.
The first page described the dire financial situation of the Rucell Barony and listed its many creditors.
“Hm?”
“Is something wrong, my lady?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
As Yesica scanned the list of creditors, one familiar name appeared: the House of Duke Arteus—the family of her close friend, Seila. In her previous life, Seila had sat beside Darten as his Empress.
“It was the only choice,” Darten had said.
“But I still love you most.”
Yesica had smiled at that and apologized to Seila instead. She had already been a duchess, and Duke Arteus had supported Darten long before he became emperor. The price of that support was Seila ascending to the position of empress.
In her previous life, Yesica had believed Seila to be a nominal empress. That only made her more remorseful, and she had tried to treat her better.
Could it be…?
Her friend Seila was an angelic noble lady, cherished as the duke’s only daughter. Her societal debut had been delayed due to her delicate temperament.
It was Yesica who comforted Seila whenever the girl was wounded by the barbed comments of other noble ladies.
It was Yesica who traded sharp retorts with those petty girls on Seila’s behalf.
Seila had been a friend worth defending—at least to her.
As a child, Seila had been the only one to accept the lonely Yesica as a friend. She smiled like a white daffodil, telling Yesica she was the prettiest of all.
Yesica had felt jealousy when Seila stood beside Darten, but she’d accepted it. Seila suited him. Unlike Yesica—who had been consumed by darkness—Seila was simply kind. Too kind to believe she was the daughter of an ambitious duke.
“I’ll have to look into it.”
She disliked the idea, but she needed to investigate everyone who could have enabled the Rucell Baron’s daughter to enter the Viterne March.
The House of Arteus was the first on the list. The House of Salemir from Yesica’s past life was also listed. Salemir was the most likely suspect.
But somehow… I can’t believe it.
The presence of the Arteus name unsettled her. Yesica couldn’t overlook something this suspicious.
“Anna.”
“Yes, my lady?”
Anna tensed as Yesica’s expression grew serious. She knew how important this document was—she had checked it countless times on the journey back, her hand drifting to her chest to ensure it was still there.
Luckily, aside from the landslide, nothing had happened. She had sighed with relief when she handed it over—but she had never seen Yesica make such a grave face.
“I need to visit the Moncherto store.”
“Will you go right away?”
“Call for Sir Alter.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Instead of saying she would go, Yesica requested her escort knight—her way of signaling a confirmed outing. After Anna left, Yesica sat alone, opening and closing her fan as she fell deep into thought.
Who was targeting the Viterne March?
Who was working with Darten to push the Rucell Baron’s daughter into this house?
Daisy, nearly thrown out of Yesica’s room, harbored growing resentment. She intended to hurry to Lady Marianne and deliver the latest news.
But as she tried to leave the marchioness’s estate to head for the Rucell manor, someone grabbed her from behind.
“Kyaaa!”
A man pressed a knife to her and growled a warning.
“If you don’t want to die, walk that way.”
Realizing he intended to drag her into a dark alley, Daisy froze. Something told her she’d be killed if she went in there. Her eyes darted around until she spotted knights of the Viterne household on patrol. She screamed.
“Sir knight! Please help me!”
One of the knights recognized her as the maid who often accompanied Yesica and rushed toward her. But the attacker reacted first.
He stabbed Daisy and fled. Another knight chased him, while the first one pressed a hand against Daisy’s wound.
“Are you all right?”
“It… it hurts.”
It was only a shallow cut, but Daisy felt her blood run cold.
Who would want me dead?
She was merely a messenger. She knew nothing substantial. Her only “wrongdoing” was accepting money from the Rucell lady to leak information about the march.
And it wasn’t even anything important…
Ignoring her own actions, Daisy bit her lip. Someone was trying to kill her. Now she had no intention of leaving the Viterne estate. The knights had saved her, so the Viterne family clearly wasn’t behind this.
Could it be Lady Marianne?
Maybe Marianne no longer needed her after obtaining everything she wanted. Daisy had dealt with such people before—her eyes blazed with fury.
She never reflected on her own misdeeds: how ex-boyfriends had emptied their savings for her, how she’d abandoned her humble home after stealing everything of value from her family.
She convinced herself she had merely followed the orders of a noblewoman she couldn’t possibly refuse.
And now she tries to kill me?
She had already sold every bit of information she’d gathered in the march. That was why she’d entered the Viterne estate in the first place. She had even received rewards—though sometimes denied—which only made her report more eagerly.
She had believed the Rucell lady would reward her even more in the future. Perhaps even install her as chief maid once she became marchioness.
Now that those dreams had crumbled, Daisy’s mind burned with revenge.
“For now, you should return to the march.”
The knight who tended her wound said this, and Daisy hesitated. Was it truly safe to return now? Her hesitation lasted only seconds. The knight who chased her attacker returned—alone.
“Did you catch him?”
“No. He got away. He’s quick on his feet and knows this area well.”
“Damn…”
Both knights looked troubled, and Daisy’s face turned pale. Someone might come after her again if she wandered outside. Terrified, she grabbed the knight’s arm.
His expression soured. A commoner couldn’t simply lay hands on a knight—even more so a newly appointed one. Daisy wasn’t a long-time servant nor of noble birth, so her touch irritated him.
“Sir knight, please…”
“I’ll escort you back to the estate. Come.”
“Th-thank you…”
The knight’s expression was lost on Daisy; she clung to the only safety she had left. She needed to survive. She calculated quickly—and decided.
I should go to the young lady.
If she told Yesica everything the Rucell girl had done, Yesica might find her valuable. Maybe then she could remain at her side.
Daisy’s complexion gradually recovered. Her breath was still shaky, but she felt hope again. After crossing through the estate gates, she rushed to find Yesica—who was preparing to go out…
