Chapter 50
Inside the carriage, Linea tried to organize her thoughts.
The spirits were in danger — she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
But at the moment, she was a person of interest. If Yuric had gone so far as to personally warn her, there was a real chance someone else might already be watching her.
Still, she had no intention of staying put.
If she could prove she had no connection to Cadil and make him pay for all his crimes, then their engagement would naturally be dissolved.
Her real concern was figuring out how to move around and investigate without drawing attention.
“Once you’re on the watchlist, you get shadowed the moment you step outside. I can’t even ask the spirits to collect information this time. What should I do…?”
She also had to begin her investigation into Cadil.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to go see him first to do that. The moment Linea arrived at the ducal residence and stepped out of the carriage, she received word that Cadil was waiting for her.
“…Alright. Let’s go now.”
Following the servant’s lead, Linea entered the reception room.
Cadil was in the middle of a pleasant chat with Linea’s father, Wilson. Linea raised one eyebrow slightly, then quickly smoothed her expression.
“Ah, Linea. You’re here.”
Cadil greeted her with a smile. The moment he stepped closer, Linea caught an even stronger stench of Burfleum than before.
But she betrayed nothing and returned his smile.
“It’s been a while.”
“You seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Thanks to you.”
Conscious of Wilson’s unblinking gaze, she kept her tone bright and cheerful. Cadil gave her a deliberately gentle smile.
“You’ve looked gloomy lately. I was wondering if something had happened. I’m sure there are plenty of things you haven’t told me.”
She wanted to snap back, “And why would I tell you anything so you can strangle me with it?” but instead, she escaped the moment with a vague smile.
“Everyone has secrets and a private life. But you seem to be in high spirits yourself.”
“Do I? I’ve just wrapped up a business venture that’s likely to do very well.”
Linea felt disgust twist in her stomach but didn’t show it.
“Oh? What sort of business?”
“I can’t reveal that publicly just yet. I hope you’ll understand.”
“Of course.”
Then she sweetened her smile.
“I’ve been thinking it over, and I realize I’ve been a bit cold toward you lately. I’d like to apologize — will you accept it?”
“Of course. Then that means there are no more issues between us now.”
Again with that line.
Holding back her irritation, Linea simply nodded with a smile.
“That’s right.”
“It’s good to see the two of you getting along again,” Wilson chimed in.
Linea glanced at him, then turned back to Cadil with a bright smile.
“We’ve always gotten along. Isn’t that right?”
“Of course.”
“Lately, I’ve just been sulking and acting unkind. As a gesture of reflection, I’d like to bake a cake and bring it over to your house. Would that be alright?”
For a fleeting moment, Linea saw something pass over Cadil’s steely smile — a flicker of discomfort. Tilting her head with feigned pity, she asked,
“Is that not allowed? Am I troubling you again?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just… I’ve been busy, so I might not be home when you come.”
“That’s fine. I won’t insist on seeing you. I’ll just drop off the cake and go.”
At that, Cadil nodded.
“You’re always welcome at the Ramburn estate. After all, it will soon be your home.”
“Thank you.”
After a little more small talk, Linea excused herself, saying she needed to rest, and left the reception room. The moment she stepped outside, her smile vanished into a cold mask.
The urge to tear apart the flirtatious smile she’d worn in front of Cadil surged within her, but she restrained herself.
He probably wouldn’t set up a lab in his own home.
If he had, he wouldn’t have let her visit at all — and Cadil wasn’t that stupid.
Still, there had to be at least some documents. That was what she was after — paperwork hidden somewhere in that house.
Of course, that alone won’t prove anything.
Burfleum wasn’t just an addictive stimulant — it was a drug made by exploiting spirits. The manufacturing process would differ from normal narcotics, and even if she brought it to court, it would be dismissed as a madman’s notes.
But once the imperial family became aware of Burfleum’s existence and its harmful effects, undeniable evidence like production or experimental facilities would carry weight.
Her plan was to secure documents that could lead her to the location of those facilities.
I need to go tomorrow.
Even if she had been released quickly, once Cadil learned she’d been detained, he might change his behavior. She had to act fast.
The next morning at dawn, Linea ordered the head chef to bake a cake, then set out early for the Ramburn estate. The butler greeted her politely.
“Welcome, Countess Shuhevers. It’s been a while.”
“Is Lord Cadil at home?”
“Unfortunately, he is not.”
Smiling through memories she’d rather forget, Linea replied,
“Then I’ll just bring this to his room and leave it there.”
“Pardon? You could have a servant take it—”
“I made this cake for him myself. Even if I can’t hand it to him in person, I’d like to deliver it with my own hands.”
Leaving the flustered butler behind, she went up the stairs without expression.
Walking the hall, she reached Cadil’s bedroom — but as she was about to open the door, she froze. Not because of the filth she’d seen here in her previous life, but because she heard someone inside.
A servant? Or… no, could it be—
She flung the door open.
And there, sitting on the large bed, was a woman.
Memories from before her regression tangled in her mind — the woman clinging to Cadil in bed, the brazen way she had visited Linea, the sight of her on the day she’d taken her own life.
That woman — the opera singer.
Linea’s heart lurched. She’d expected to see her again someday, but not here, not like this, so soon.
What she felt wasn’t rage or a thirst for revenge — it was irritation that her plans might be thrown off.
No. Not yet. Things haven’t gone wrong yet. Maybe I can use her.
“…And you are?”
The opera singer’s voice was soft and seductive.
Linea first put on a look of shock, then lifted her chin in anger.
“I am Countess Linea Shuhevers, fiancée of the master of this house. Who are you? Why are you in another man’s bedroom without permission? Are you a maid?”
“Oh my…”
Unlike in their first meeting before the regression, the singer was not so bold. Her complexion changed, and she fumbled to get up, hurrying toward the door to slip past Linea.
It must have been Linea’s changed status that unsettled her. Either way, Linea seized her arm and slapped her hard across the face.
“Kyaaa!”
As she hoped, the woman screamed, then began shouting loudly for help.
“Wh-what are you doing?!”
“You’re asking me that after sneaking out of another man’s room?!”
Linea’s voice rose to a near-shout. The woman trembled, looking up at her with a pitiful expression.
“I-I’m just a guest! A guest of the marquis! This is a misunderstanding—”
“What kind of guest waits in the master’s bedroom? Try making sense!”
Linea slapped her again. Another scream — clear and loud, as befitting a singer — exactly what Linea wanted.
By then, servants began rushing in.
“What’s going on, Lady Shuhevers?”
“What’s going on? You’re asking me that?!”
She lashed out viciously, then shoved the woman toward them after a few more smacks. The servants, flustered, caught the opera singer and glanced nervously at Linea, who bore down on them like a storm.
“You’ve been letting another woman freely come and go in this house without telling me?”
“N-no, my lady! There must be some mistake—”
“Mistake?! When the proof is standing right in front of us?!”
She raised her hand as if to strike again, making the singer flinch and squeeze her eyes shut — but this time Linea didn’t hit her.
Panting theatrically, she turned on the servants.
“Where’s the other woman?”
“P-pardon?”
“As if you’d only hide one! Who’s to say I didn’t just stumble on this one by accident? I’ll have to check myself.”
“Please calm yourself, my lady. You and this woman are the only guests in the estate today—”
“I don’t believe you!”
Linea acted like someone half out of her mind.
No one wanted to provoke the jealous, future mistress of the house. She glared around, inwardly pleased.
“I’ll search the entire estate myself. No — you all stay here. I’ll look. Don’t move a muscle, and wait downstairs. Every last one of you! And don’t even think of hiding anyone!”
Terrified, the servants helped the opera singer away and scurried down the hall.
The moment they disappeared, Linea’s eyes went cold, and she began scanning her surroundings.
There’s not much time.
She had to move fast — too long, and the servants might scatter again, making it impossible to search without being seen.
Luckily, in her past life she had visited this estate so often she knew its layout by heart. Almost running, she headed straight to Cadil’s study.
In the spacious room, she began with the desk, carefully checking drawers and shelves. Several drawers were locked, but she kept searching.
She decided to start with the ledgers, pulling out every one she could find.
As expected, nothing important was in the open — the real documents and ledgers would be in those locked drawers or cabinets.
Just as she was about to give up on the ledgers, her eyes caught on a particular paragraph. Narrowing her gaze, Linea leaned closer to examine it.
