CHAPTER 20
Of course, it was partly my fault for leaving everything to the steward and not paying attention.
But to be precise, it wasn’t that I didn’t care—it was that I couldn’t afford to care.
I had entered someone else’s body and was busy just trying to grasp the situation. How could I have handled complicated matters on top of that?
‘I should hand over anything important to Isaac as soon as possible.’
Before things get unnecessarily complicated.
Coming back to the count’s estate made my body stiffen and my tone naturally harsher.
I wasn’t sure if it was Clea’s original personality surfacing, but it was definitely more uncomfortable than being at the Grand Duke’s estate.
“Um, Master.”
“Yes?”
“Young Master visited not long ago.”
“Oh, really? You should’ve told him to take whatever he came for.”
Watching her steps naturally head toward the office, Clea gave a bitter smile.
She didn’t even need to recall any specific memory to know just how much the real Clea must’ve moved only between her room and the office.
“No, he didn’t take anything. He suddenly looked around the estate and then took the personnel file of Emily, the maid who used to serve by your side.”
“…Why would he take that?”
Seriously, does Noven know that it was Emily who poisoned Clea, or not?
Judging from how casually he brought it up, he probably doesn’t—but is it even possible not to know?
Clea’s suspicion grew larger.
“Well, he shouted, saying how could we just let the maid who poisoned you get away…”
Noven said with a frown, clearly displeased.
Clea was stunned.
Even knowing she’d collapsed from drinking poison and that it had been served by Emily, how could he casually bring up her name in front of her?
“So what about it?”
“Pardon? Young Master also showed signs of violence. I think it’s wrong for someone who left the family to meddle in estate affairs.”
Clea stopped walking.
She couldn’t just let that slide with a smile.
Though she usually laughed things off, this she couldn’t ignore.
“I’ve never once said Eclipse isn’t part of the Reno family.”
“But he wrote a letter—!”
“…I don’t recall ever giving you the right or authority to read that letter.”
“I-I just happened to see it…”
“You just ‘happened’ to find a letter tucked deep in my drawer, and decided to open it and read it word by word?”
Clea’s biting remark made Noven shut his mouth tight.
The real Clea probably wouldn’t have tolerated such disrespect. Maybe he got bolder because she’d been too meek after recovering from the poisoning?
That’s right.
She had avoided everything, barely moved from her room, and often let people off even when they made mistakes.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Noven.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Okay then—why did you let the maid who poisoned me get away?”
“I… I just didn’t know…”
Clea let out a sarcastic laugh at his excuse.
Even after the real Clea’s soul had passed, she had overheard part of what happened.
She hadn’t seen it, but she had heard it.
Noven had let Emily go.
He told her to take what she needed and leave.
Then, only afterward, he called for a physician.
‘And the fact that I remember this… means the real Clea also heard it before dying.’
She may not remember how she came to drink the poison, but she did remember that Noven let Emily go afterward.
And still, she pretended not to know.
She probably thought it was just sad—a fellow maid—and decided to look the other way, thinking it wasn’t her business.
But now? To act like this to her face?
A faint, bitter smile escaped Clea’s lips. Noven’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Are you insane?”
“Pardon…?”
“Or just plain mad?”
Clea burst into laughter.
Seriously, what kind of idiot deserves to have their head smashed into a pot like this?
She was willing to bet he’d even touched the accounting books.
“Forget it. No point talking. You’re fired.”
“What? You can’t be serious, not so suddenly!”
“Or would you prefer I comb through every ledger you wrote while pretending to be the master in my absence, report you to the guards, and have you arrested?”
“I didn’t do anything like that…!”
Like hell he didn’t.
She was sure she’d find everything if she looked.
Clea furrowed her brow, annoyed.
She didn’t want to do it, afraid she’d break her wrist, but—
She raised her hand high.
Smack!
She struck with all her might.
【601/1210】
【Your wrist has cracked from the sudden impact.】
【Pain has been suppressed. You will not feel it, but your stamina will decrease.】
【Stamina reduced to one-third. You will begin coughing blood soon.】
A throbbing pain shot through her wrist, and Clea clenched her teeth.
She didn’t want to close her eyes from the pain.
Noven, whose head had snapped to the side, stared wide-eyed.
His cheek was red, but it probably didn’t hurt that badly.
“No matter how long the owner’s been gone, don’t get it twisted. This is my house. All authority lies with me. I said you’re fired. Get out.”
“You… You can’t do this to me.”
“You’re the one who can’t do this to me.”
Noven lifted his head defiantly, his eyes bloodshot with rage—not sorrow.
His clenched fists looked ready to swing.
‘If he hits me now, I’ll probably pass out.’
But Clea didn’t back down.
Backing off now would only invite more disrespect.
“I didn’t do anything!”
“You told her, ‘Take your things and leave. We saw nothing.’”
As Clea slowly recited the words, Noven’s face turned pale.
He hadn’t tried to kill her directly—but he had stood by and watched her die.
Whether it was out of hatred or greed, they were still her servants.
Especially Noven, who had been with her since childhood, back when he was a trainee butler.
Clea was beginning to understand why the real Clea’s soul had become so warped.
“How do you think Clea felt, hearing those words before dying, Noven?”
“I… I just…”
“This is your last chance. You’re fired. Never show yourself to me again.”
Suddenly, something surged inside her, and Clea hastily pulled out a handkerchief to cover her mouth.
Cough, cough—she suppressed the rising sensation several times, and her mouth quickly filled with the metallic taste of blood.
“Haa…”
Looking down at the blood-stained handkerchief, she lifted her head.
Noven looked absolutely shocked.
“Milady, are you alri—”
“Don’t come near me.”
Clea stopped Noven with a single sentence.
He froze in place.
Did he make that face when she collapsed from the poison?
But all she could remember was darkness and voices.
“Didn’t I say you’re fired? Leave. Take whatever severance pay you want from the storeroom.”
Waving him off, Clea turned away.
“Miss—”
“Hey. Didn’t you hear her tell you to leave? You think her words are a joke? If you don’t get out now, I’ll drag you out crawling.”
Clea froze at the fierce voice behind her.
She covered her mouth with the handkerchief again, coughing, then quickly wiped her lips and turned around.
‘…Why is he here now?’
Of all times—when she was in the worst condition possible.
“Get lost. Ungrateful bastard.”
Eclipse, who had grabbed Noven by the collar, shoved him away and stormed toward Clea with a dangerous look.
Worried he might lash out, she instinctively took a step back—but no system alert popped up.
“You…”
Eclipse sniffed, sighed, and shoved her into the nearby office.
“Here. Drink this.”
He handed her a wooden canteen.
She stared at it, unsure, and Eclipse furrowed his brow.
“It’s medicine.”
“Medicine? What kind?”
“Water spirits are good at healing. I asked Siquele, in the snow mountains where water magic is strongest, to make this.”
Eclipse said gruffly, arms crossed.
Clea gave him an awkward smile.
Would this really cure her? It’d be great if it did, but if this were something curable, wouldn’t the Demon King have healed her?
‘Maybe the element is a better match?’
She nodded as she thought it over.
“Ah, I see.”
“Listen carefully! This is medicine most people would kill to get. It’s even called a panacea. So drink it and stop looking like an idiot.”
Clea chuckled quietly as Eclipse turned away with a huff.
He didn’t completely hate her, it seemed.
Maybe it was sibling affection.
‘The real Clea would’ve been happy to hear this.’
Hopefully it would help.
Clea opened the canteen and drank deeply.
She emptied the half-full canteen and set it down—but didn’t feel much different.
‘Hmm… did it work?’
Just as she tilted her head, a familiar sensation rose from her throat.
Clea instinctively grabbed her handkerchief and covered her mouth.
Cough, cough!
A large clot of blood surged up her throat.
