Chapter 8
The maid Maria, who had long served Diane, placed a bundle of envelopes she had brought onto the table.
The young lady had once been as beautiful as a flower in full bloom, yet sharp-tempered and sensitive. But after suffering from a severe fever, she now seemed like a far more easygoing person.
Because of that, Maria, who had always been careful around her, now treated her with a much brighter expression than before.
Elena turned her gaze away from the smiling maid and began checking the invitations.
Naturally, she had no intention of attending such gatherings. Just as her slender fingers pushed the bundle of envelopes aside, the sound of Madam Karin approaching could be heard beyond the door.
“Miss, it’s me. I’m coming in.”
When Madam Karin entered the bedroom, she looked visibly flustered. Seeing her expression, Elena immediately grew tense as well.
What happened?
“Someone has come from the Heinrich ducal house. He’s waiting in the drawing room, so I believe you should go down and see him.”
“Oh my! From the Duke himself? Truly?”
The one who reacted first to the news was Maria. Having thought the connection between the two had already ended, she instinctively began examining her lady’s appearance.
“Just a moment. I’ll quickly fix your hair. Perhaps the Duke has asked to see you? Surely that must be it. Otherwise, why would he send someone all the way here?”
With skilled hands, she quickly secured Elena’s hair with a large decorative pin.
Among the maids who were always quick to hear news, Ilias was considered one of the most desirable bridegrooms imaginable. Maria simply couldn’t understand why her mistress had chosen to end things with such a man.
Rumors were already spreading everywhere that the Ashen Count family intended to take that position.
‘And not just that—people are saying the flower of high society is no longer Miss Diane, but the daughter of the Ashen family.’
In Maria’s eyes, that was complete nonsense.
It was true that Miss Diane had a difficult personality, but to be compared unfavorably in beauty to the Ashen lady? The only reason people were saying such things was because Miss Diane had stopped attending social gatherings after falling ill.
And now someone had been sent from the ducal house!
No matter what, it clearly meant there was still a possibility that her mistress could become the mistress of the Heinrich household.
“All finished. Please go quickly, miss.”
“……”
“Our guest is waiting, so you should go downstairs.”
Even with the maid urging her, Elena didn’t move. In the end, Madam Karin stepped forward.
They couldn’t keep the person sent by Ilias waiting any longer.
Understanding the situation, Elena reluctantly stood up.
Why would he send someone?
With an uneasy heart, she entered the drawing room.
As if sensing her presence, the man sitting on the sofa immediately stood up.
“Good day. My name is Eden, and I have come from the Heinrich household.”
“Hello.”
The man, who had a neat and composed appearance, bowed politely before explaining the purpose of his visit.
“I have come to deliver a message from the Duke.”
“…To me?”
“Yes. Here it is.”
What was handed to Elena was a red card.
The man’s attitude was courteous, as though inviting her to check it at her own pace.
Caught off guard by the sudden situation, Elena swallowed nervously. When she unfolded the neatly folded card, elegant handwriting appeared.
[How about attending the opera together tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Royal Grand Theater?]
— Ilias
The opera?
She couldn’t determine what the meaning behind the invitation was.
Meeting Ilias frequently right now was the very thing she should avoid.
After organizing her thoughts, Elena closed the card.
Calmly, she searched for words to refuse. But before she could even speak, the man added something.
“The Duke also asked me to relay one request. If the lady is unwell, he said there is no need to force yourself to attend. However, if your condition has still not improved, he intends to arrange a consultation with a highly regarded physician.”
“……”
Elena had been about to explain that she must decline the appointment because she wasn’t feeling well.
Her startled eyes blinked rapidly.
Madam Karin stood just behind her, but she couldn’t ask for advice.
If she used the excuse she had prepared, she could avoid the meeting this time. But then she might soon have to face an unfamiliar doctor.
In other words, although it sounded like a polite suggestion, refusing it carried its own risks.
After a brief moment of thought, Elena gave her answer before too much time passed.
“I will come at the appointed time.”
“We will send a carriage. Would one hour before the appointment be acceptable?”
The man spoke smoothly, without the slightest hesitation. His tone made it feel almost awkward to question it.
Elena simply replied,
“Yes.”
“Then I will take my leave.”
As soon as Eden bowed and left, Madam Karin quietly closed the door and approached.
She tried her best to comfort the tense Elena.
“Please don’t worry too much. As long as you remain calm, just as you have been, there shouldn’t be any problem. Once the master returns, I’ll explain the situation to him in detail.”
Yes. It was an unavoidable situation.
But still…
“Why would he invite me like this? After that day at the ducal residence, I thought everything would be settled.”
“Perhaps the Duke experienced such a serious accident that he must now be cautious with every decision.”
As if trying to soothe Elena’s anxiety, Madam Karin’s voice trembled faintly.
“……”
Elena silently nodded.
Of course, Madam Karin didn’t know how perfectly healthy Ilias had looked for someone who had supposedly been on the brink of death.
But Elena didn’t mention that.
She didn’t want to deepen the other woman’s anxiety about something going wrong.
Originally, Elena’s plan had been to live quietly and stay out of people’s sight until the day she left.
But the unexpected invitation had completely disrupted that plan.
“Oh my! Just as I expected. The appointment is tomorrow, right? Don’t worry—I’ll prepare everything perfectly.”
“Maria, please lower your voice.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Madam Karin. I just got excited when I heard the good news.”
At some point Maria had heard the news and greeted Elena with a cheerful voice, completely unfazed by Madam Karin’s scolding.
Elena calmly returned to the bedroom.
After all, none of this truly belonged to her.
Not the unexpected invitation—nor even the polite attitude of the man named Eden.
* * *
Elena carefully read through books about Abha.
Madam Karin, who knew about her future plans, had gathered dozens of books for her.
Just then, after checking the clock, Madam Karin hurriedly put down the knitting needles she was holding.
“Oh my, you must start getting ready now. I didn’t realize it had become so late already.”
Ah—the opera performance.
Remembering the appointment, Elena reluctantly closed the book.
The time for the performance at the grand theater in the bustling district was drawing near.
“I’ll prepare your dress first.”
Madam Karin quickly brought out a cream-colored dress she had already hung up in preparation.
Whenever Elena needed to change clothes or reveal bare skin, Madam Karin personally took care of it. Only after Elena was fully dressed would Maria, who had once served the older sister, be allowed to handle the hair and final decorations.
Although Elena and Diane looked identical, there was one difference between them.
A scar beside the knee.
Elena thought of the wound hidden beneath her long skirt.
Yes—Diane could never have such a mark.
After all, the one who had given Elena that scar was her own sister.
When they were young, Diane had first visited the separate residence where Elena lived. A few months later, she returned again unexpectedly.
At the time, Elena had never imagined that her sister’s suggestion to share tea would become a moment of terrible pain.
The teapot filled with boiling hot tea spilled over Elena’s knee in an instant.
Yet Diane showed no sign of surprise.
Instead, she calmly lifted the hem of Elena’s skirt.
She even checked personally to make sure the skin burned by the hot water had completely reddened.
“Now anyone will be able to tell the difference between you and me.”
Then, as if her business were finished, she simply stood up.
Only then did Elena realize the truth.
Everything had been done deliberately by Diane.
