‘Causality.’
It was the law that ran through this world of the novel. Even though the characters themselves didn’t know it.
For now, I was in a situation where I had suffered harm from the Duke. After all, he had damaged my jewelry.
‘But is it really okay to just say it’s fine and move on without receiving proper compensation?’
Moreover, the other party was the renowned Duke Blake.
‘Then there’s also the possibility that causality won’t come back as physical injury, but as something like social ruin.’
I still didn’t know exactly in what form, or by how many times, this boomerang of causality would return. Thinking that way, the answer was already decided.
‘Yes. I’ll just take it.’
Having made up my mind, I opened my mouth with a slightly troubled expression.
“…In that case, I understand. Thank you.”
As if he had finally heard the answer he wanted, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
The faint smile resting on his otherwise cold features was dazzlingly beautiful.
“Then where shall we meet?”
At his words, I briefly thought of a coffee salon in the Capital, then immediately dismissed the idea.
If other nobles were to see me meeting alone with Duke Blake, it could invite unnecessary misunderstandings. After all, I was an unmarried young lady with a fiance.
‘And I definitely don’t want him coming to my home and running into Father or Huan either.’
If Duke Blake said he was offering compensation, I’d bet my right wrist that those two would come charging in with bloodshot eyes.
That left only one option.
“I will come to the Ducal estate myself. In two days.”
At that, the captivating smile on his face deepened slightly.
“Understood. Then on that day, I will come to the Krone estate.”
‘…What? What are you talking about?’
His answer didn’t quite line up. Yet the Duke’s expression showed no hint of joking.
As I absentmindedly imagined him standing in our mansion, a scene suddenly came to mind. One I’d occasionally seen on the news in Korea: a hurricane sweeping in and lifting an entire two-story house into the air.
‘Your Grace, when someone of your size sets foot in such a shabby house, we call it a disaster.’
I forced a smile, trying not to show my panic.
“Ah, you mean you will come pick me up, right? You do not need to send the carriage all the way to my home. Somewhere around where we rode together earlier would be fine.”
I was desperately trying to get across that he didn’t need to come himself, just send the carriage.
At that, a wistful look surfaced on the Duke’s face.
‘Why wistful all of a sudden? When a handsome face brimming with allure looks worried, that’s how it appears to people who don’t know any better.’
“But were you not injured? It would be difficult for you to come all the way into the city with an injured ankle.”
“Ah, no. I can walk just fine.”
At that moment, as if he were trying to read my thoughts, his deep, lake-like blue eyes quietly fixed on mine.
‘Huh?’
But it was only for an instant. The gaze that had been on my eyes was naturally withdrawn, and he put on his usual neat, courteous smile.
“I understand your wishes, my Lady.”
‘That answer feels a bit ambiguous, doesn’t it?’
As if it were only natural, the Duke escorted me home by carriage, and fortunately, I was able to return quietly to my room without running into Father or Huan.
“My Lady, why are you so late? I was worried something might have happened.”
‘The people who call themselves my family don’t even care whether I come or go. The only one who worries about me is Sally.’
A bitter smile formed on its own.
Right. Since it came to mind today, I should talk things over with Sally as well.
So that, in this life, I can save Sally too – the one who had looked after me warmly for so long, like an older sister.
With Sally’s help, I took off my dress and spoke in an intentionally casual voice.
“Soon, when I marry into House Lansval, you’ll be left here all alone.”
“I suppose so. If you are gone, my Lady, what fun will I have working here?”
In truth, when noble young ladies married, it was quite common for them to take one or two maids from their home along with them.
However, House Lansval, who practiced frugality only when it came to me, had firmly stated, “We don’t have the money to pay additional wages, so don’t bring any servants from House Krone with you.”
‘Rather than lacking the money to employ additional servants, it probably meant they found the idea of me bringing my own people displeasing.’
So in my previous life as well, Sally had remained behind at Count Krone’s estate after I left. And then…
Thinking that far, I clenched my fist tightly. But without showing it, I spoke again.
“Do you have a dream? I mean, something you want to do other than working here.”
“Hmm… someday, I want to go back to my hometown and run a small restaurant.”
“A restaurant?”
“Yes! My mom’s cooking is absolutely amazing. And if things go well, I’d expand it into an inn!”
As if it were something she had imagined many times before, the answer came smoothly. With eyes full of dreams, Sally grinned like a mischievous child.
“Just thinking about it makes you that happy?”
“Yes! Though I also really like serving you, my Lady.”
She was a child who lived earnestly with her own dreams like this…
In my previous life, not long after I left for House Lansval, Sally died.
It was because Huan, who came home drunk as usual, tried to assault her.
Having watched the pretty, cute-looking Sally for a long time, he finally reached out with his filthy hands once I, who had effectively been Sally’s protector, was gone.
‘That bastard.’
While trying to escape him, Sally fell from the balcony and lost her life. And I, who was away, only heard about it long afterward.
Even then, I learned the truth only because another maid at the estate secretly told me. Huan had covered it up as an accident.
‘Sorry I couldn’t protect you last time. This time, I will never leave you here alone.’
Sally’s face came into view beyond the mirror as she hummed softly and untied the laces at the back of my dress. I bit down hard, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.
***
Late at night. Rastan stood by the window of his darkened office, lost in thought.
‘Evelyn Krone.’
Today, he had gone out wearing a mask that covered half his face.
His face was already well known among the nobility.
Because of that, troublesome situations arose from time to time, so it was something he usually wore when he couldn’t allow others to recognize him.
For instance, when dealing with matters that couldn’t be brought into the light.
As he walked through the unusually crowded streets, a sudden, intense, and strangely familiar sensation washed over him.
At the same time, his heart began to pound like mad, as if he had just encountered someone he had long yearned for.
All around him, countless people were each radiating their own energies, yet Rastan could clearly distinguish that single presence.
He stopped walking and came to an abrupt halt.
In the very next moment, he felt the source of that sensation collide with his back.
It was a body soft and fragile, like that of a baby bird.
A shudder ran through his body, which had gone rigid.
And then, right at that moment, he sensed another presence close by.
A small, black malice.
Turning his gaze, he saw a filthy-looking man clutching a small pouch that appeared to belong to a woman, forcing his way through the crowd as he ran away.
Rastan could immediately tell who the owner of that pouch was. Even from the pouch, he could faintly sense the original owner’s presence.
Only after turning off the main street and going a few blocks in, reaching a deserted alley, did the filthy man stop to catch his breath and glance around.
Then he noticed someone standing casually in one corner of the alley. As if he had been waiting for him all along.
“Eeek…!!”
It was Rastan, wearing a black coat and a black half mask.
The pickpocket, who had thought no one would be there, was badly startled by the sudden appearance of the stranger.
Though it was a man he had never seen before, every one of his instincts was blaring a warning. This man was not ordinary.
When their eyes met, Rastan slowly took a step toward him. His demeanor stood in stark contrast to the flustered pickpocket.
One step, then another. The closer Rastan came, the more rapidly the crushing pressure seemed to swell.
When he stopped right in front of the pickpocket, he extended one hand and spoke, his tone relaxed, as if he already knew everything.
“Hand it over. That’s someone else’s property.”
It was a low, pleasant-sounding voice, yet strangely, it felt as though it pierced past the ears and burrowed straight into the mind.
