TRACR 70

Chapter 70

Rebecca lifted her teacup from the trolley, moistened her lips with a small sip, and continued speaking.

“How dare he lose his memories without permission? How insolent. I’ll make sure Zeppelin remembers me again—with a performance he’ll never forget.”

“Then our goal is to completely ruin the autumn ball, I take it?”

“No, that part’s your job. While you’re keeping everyone’s eyes on you, I’m going to sneak into the study myself.”

“You’re going in yourself…?”

“Yes. Turns out I have a talent—I never forget anything I’ve seen once. Honestly, I didn’t even know that wasn’t normal until Kanna pointed it out to me. So, it’s safest and most efficient if I go in personally.”

“I understand, but do you have a solid plan? I’d rather not see you in danger. You’re my fiancée now, after all.”

Julian smiled with his usual sly charm.

Rebecca had to fight hard not to be distracted by the confident curve of his lips.

She traced the petal patterns on her teacup and replied quietly.

“It’s fine. I have someone who owes me a favor. He’ll help.”

“Do you trust him?”

“I don’t trust him. But I do trust his desires.”

Julian’s eyes followed Rebecca’s fingers as they slowly stroked the smooth surface of the teacup. Each time her polished nails grazed the porcelain, a delicate sound rang out, mesmerizing him.

How could such a small gesture be so captivating?

He felt like a boy again—someone who’d once played with simple pebbles and suddenly been handed an intricate toy beyond imagination.

Julian couldn’t take his eyes off Rebecca; she consumed his thoughts.

After watching her movements for a long while, a brilliant idea suddenly struck him.

“Rebecca. You said you wanted to put on an impressive show, right?”

“Hmm?”

“There’s something perfect to make that show even grander. Want to come see it?”

Without waiting for an answer, Julian took her hand and led her away.

Rebecca hastily covered her face with a veil and followed.

The servants’ eyes widened as they saw their duke strolling through the castle, hand in hand with a mysterious veiled woman.

Before long, countless rumors began to spread across the entire empire.

Julian, however, ignored them all and guided Rebecca into a secluded room.

He pulled down a black cloth covering the wall.

Rebecca’s eyes sparkled with astonishment when she saw the four paintings displayed there.

“Julian! These are…!”

“That’s right. The reason I detained Zeppelin before—this was it. Back then, only one piece was finished, but Barinica completed the others abroad and sent them to me. A loyal teacher, that one.”

Rebecca gazed at the paintings with admiration.

They were true masterpieces—works that would be remembered for centuries. And their subject matter… was shockingly bold.

Now she began to understand Julian’s scheme.

Looking at him fondly, she said,

“His Majesty will love this. Well done, Julian. This will make for a truly perfect show.”

“And perfect for making him choke on it, too.”

Rebecca’s mind was already spinning with possibilities as her eyes swept over the paintings.

Now, all that was left was to wait for the ball.

The heat of summer began to wane, replaced by a cool breeze.

The sky grew higher, and Rebecca herself was steadily putting on some much-needed weight.

“Special seafood pasta, my lady. Fresh octopus, cooked to perfection,”

the chef, Champ—personally sent by Duke Julian—announced proudly as he set down a steaming plate.

Rebecca frowned at the sight of the octopus tentacles.

No matter how many times she saw it, she could never get used to the ingredient.

It was said to be a delicacy favored by gourmets, but its appearance alone made her lose her appetite.

“Rebecca, eat.”

“You must finish your meal, Lady Rebecca,”

Kanna pressed, her tone firm.

Faced with Julian and Kanna’s unrelenting stares, Rebecca reluctantly picked up her fork.

Despite its looks, the dish tasted surprisingly good.

Only after she’d scraped her plate clean did they finally let her be.

Since learning about Rebecca’s fragile health, Julian had visited the Obelia estate every single day.

This time, Leo had come with him. The frequent visits delighted Helena and Livia—but for Rebecca, it was torture.

Especially since Kanna had joined forces with Julian to make sure she was constantly eating something.

“Please, stop! I’ll start rolling around at this rate!”

Rebecca cried out as Julian approached with an entire cake, declaring it was dessert time.

“When you’re round enough to roll, my dear, everyone else in the world will already be spheres. You said you wanted to recover before autumn—well, it’s getting cooler, so eat up.”

Kanna, though reluctant, agreed.

“I hate to say it, but he’s right. Please eat, my lady.”

She scooped a piece of cake herself and held it up to Rebecca’s mouth.

Rebecca stared wearily at the mountain of whipped cream before giving in and taking a bite.

Their efforts weren’t wasted.

Whether it was the steady meals or the daily walks in the fields, Rebecca’s health improved rapidly.

The blisters on her skin began to fade at an astonishing rate.

Combined with Yustaf’s special ointment, her face soon healed completely—without a single scar.

In fact, her previously dry skin had turned smooth and dewy.

Once the few faint scars elsewhere lightened, there would be no trace left of the demon’s claws.

Her mind also felt clearer, her body lighter with each passing day.

“You’ve been so attentive to Becky’s health. Thank you so much,”

Danae said as she entered through the front door.

A maid rushed over to take her hat.

With the salon business nearing completion, Danae had been busier than ever, rarely home these days.

Since Teo couldn’t manage the whole mansion alone, she had hired several reliable maids.

“Mother, how come you’re home so early? Don’t you have work?”

“The doctor was supposed to visit today, wasn’t he? I was too curious to stay away.”

Danae smiled warmly and sat beside Rebecca, gently stroking the back of her hand.

Rebecca studied her mother quietly.

Her neatly tied hair, the custom-fitted dress suited to her active nature—it all suited her perfectly.

Then Rebecca noticed the pearl earrings dangling from her ears and caught her breath.

Those pearls—aged and lustrous—had belonged to her grandmother.

Danae had always worn them, as if they were a part of her own body.

Memories surged.

In her previous life, Rebecca remembered the last time she’d seen Danae.

She had come to the count’s mansion disheveled and desperate.

“C-could you… lend me a bit more money?”

She had said Livia was sick from spoiled food.

Though Danae’s face had been calm, her thin, trembling shoulders betrayed her shame.

There had been no earrings on her ears then.

The pearls she’d cherished like life itself had long been pawned away.

Rebecca remembered the helplessness she had felt.

She had sworn never again to see Danae in such misery.

Sensing Rebecca’s gaze, Danae turned to her.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“No, nothing.”

Rebecca looked away—only to meet Julian’s eyes.

He flustered briefly, then smiled with his usual gentle warmth.

The sharp, aloof man she’d first met was gone. Now his face was always lit with kindness.

Rebecca couldn’t help but smile faintly in return.

“Mr. Yustaf McPhin has arrived,”

a maid announced.

Rebecca straightened up, her back stiff with tension.

Today was her final examination.

“It’s been a while. I trust you’ve been eating well?”

“Of course! Just look at her—those twig wrists have upgraded to dried branches. Still a long way to go, but progress, wouldn’t you say?”

Julian commented, eyeing Rebecca’s arm with amusement.

Yustaf examined her closely, then smiled brightly.

“You’re looking remarkably well. What did I tell you? It was all nutritional deficiency.”

“So… am I cured now?”

“Almost. But I’d like to try something. Lady Rebecca, do you have any chronic conditions or allergies?”

“Nothing major, but my nose always got itchy during the change of seasons. I think the doctor once called it chronic inflammation. Oh, and I get hives from eating peaches.”