Chapter 81
It was unmistakable — he had never seen that woman before.
And yet, as her figure vanished into the distance, an uncontrollable wave of longing surged up within him.
For a fleeting instant, the back of the duke’s fiancée overlapped with the silhouette of the lover he had seen in his dreams.
I have to— at least ask her name!
Aside from knowing that she was Julian’s fiancée, Zeppelin didn’t even know her name.
He hastily raised a hand, but before he could move, Octavio stepped in front of him.
“Count, the preparations for the Hall of Light are complete. We should begin escorting the guests there.”
Octavio gently placed a hand on Zeppelin’s outstretched arm and whispered in his ear.
“Do you intend to ruin a perfect party?”
At those words, Zeppelin let his arm fall limply.
Right… perhaps it was all just his imagination.
His beloved was here — Alicia — smiling innocently at his side.
She still hadn’t regained her memory. He was merely seeing illusions because of that, he told himself.
“…Very well. Tell the guests to proceed to the Hall of Light.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Octavio withdrew with a satisfied smile.
Moments later, the lights of the banquet hall went out.
“Whoa!”
A collective murmur of awe escaped from the guests, who had been caught off guard by the sudden darkness.
Through the glass windows, a dazzling light poured in.
Beyond the neatly trimmed gardens, the Hall of Light revealed its splendor, illuminated by a flood of brilliant radiance.
Its glass dome — made of countless fused glass fragments — glittered magnificently like a colossal diamond.
While everyone was entranced by the sight, Zeppelin climbed to the top of the stairs and declared,
“Tonight’s grand entertainment — the Hall of Light! Please, everyone, follow me there!”
Cheers erupted throughout the hall.
The crowd surged toward the entrance, like a horde of starving rats racing toward food.
Zeppelin looked down upon them with an indifferent gaze — like a master tossing scraps to his pets.
It was a moment he had long awaited, yet there was no joy in it.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
The Duke Johannes and his fiancée.
The image of that golden hair fluttering like waves — those deep blue eyes that seemed to swallow him whole — lingered in his mind.
Their eyes had met only once, yet his heart had plummeted to the floor.
He wanted to see the face hidden behind that mask.
As he thought of her, a name buried deep in his subconscious slowly surfaced.
“…Rebecca.”
Zeppelin murmured her name.
At that very moment, Alicia — who had been about to descend the stairs, lifting her skirt slightly — froze mid-step.
Her face turned pale.
* * *
The excuse about twisting her ankle was merely that — an excuse, just to leave the banquet.
Rebecca and Julian hurried toward where their carriage waited.
Time was running short.
They climbed quickly into the Johannes carriage, its family crest discreetly covered.
The carriage stopped on a quiet forest path not far from the count’s estate.
Julian pulled back the curtain and scanned their surroundings. Rebecca hesitated before speaking.
Though not a real marriage, their contract marriage was still a marriage.
She feared what Julian might think about her having met another man alone.
“Are you… not angry that I was alone with the Emperor?”
Julian’s golden eyes, which had been fixed on the shadowy path, slowly turned to her.
His silent, steady gaze made Rebecca shrink involuntarily.
A shadow from the past crept over her.
Why were you talking to another man?
Zeppelin, please — it’s not what you think! I only dropped my handkerchief—
Silence! You dropped it on purpose, didn’t you? Acting like a temptress… You need to be punished tonight. Come here, Alice!
No, Zeppelin!
Her breath grew ragged. The cursed past clung to her wherever she went.
She knew Julian would never do such a thing — yet her body reacted before her mind could.
Rebecca squeezed her eyes shut.
Whatever expression Julian was wearing, she didn’t want to see it — afraid she might misinterpret even his kindness.
She trembled like a frightened bird caught in a sudden storm.
Seeing her, sorrow clouded Julian’s gaze.
He spoke softly, carefully keeping his voice steady so that no emotion leaked through.
“I’m not angry.”
Though gentle, his tone did little to stop her trembling hands.
Julian wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he didn’t dare.
She looked so fragile that the slightest touch might shatter her.
He clenched his fists tightly.
“Even if I had felt jealous,” he said quietly, “that would be my fault — not yours.”
Rebecca slowly opened her eyes.
Julian’s calm, golden eyes blinked softly — a silent reassurance.
Then, with firm conviction, he repeated,
“It’s not your fault.”
Rebecca’s trembling gradually subsided.
When he saw that she had calmed down, Julian knelt before her.
He took her hands gently in his.
“Now, the only people around you are those who truly care for you — who love you. So if those filthy memories ever come back to haunt you… think of them. Think of us.”
At his words, Rebecca thought of her loved ones —
Canna, the Ovelia family, Eustaph, Croix, Robert —
and the man kneeling before her now, Julian.
The calluses on his palms told stories of countless battles with swords and guns —
rough hands that hardly matched the refined reputation of Duke Johannes.
And yet, as before, they were warm.
The frost that had sealed her heart for so long began to thaw.
Her lips softened — like the earth melting at the end of a harsh winter.
A faint smile bloomed on her face.
Her true feelings, long hidden, flickered between her gently curved lashes.
Julian’s eyes widened.
The warmth in her eyes, filled with love, made his heart race wildly.
When she finally spoke, her voice was sweet beyond measure.
“Thank you… Julian.”
As she softly caressed his hand, a shiver ran down his spine.
“Rebecca…” he whispered.
Overcome by heat, his body leaned closer and closer to hers.
But just as their distance began to close, Rebecca pressed a hand gently against his shoulder, stopping him.
His eyes, lost and confused, lingered on the faint, cold smile that touched her lips.
Then she said, her voice low and suggestive,
“Then now… take off your clothes.”
* * *
“This sculpture represents the yearning for freedom.
Isn’t the upward, wave-like texture simply exquisite?”
Contrary to Alicia’s fears, Zeppelin looked lively, his face animated as he explained the artwork to the guests.
Rebecca…
But the sound of Zeppelin murmuring that name earlier kept echoing in Alicia’s mind.
She feared what would happen if he ever heard Rebecca’s name again — if his memories came back.
She had worked so hard to avoid that outcome, never once uttering the name herself.
But how had he remembered it?
Where could he have heard it?
And if he hadn’t heard it — if he’d recalled it on his own?
Anxiety twisted in her gut. She bit her manicured nails instinctively.
Her hands, once rough and rustic, now looked every bit the hands of a refined noblewoman.
Just as she was about to bite down again, Octavio caught her hand.
“How much longer must I train you before you finally learn to carry yourself with dignity?”
His dark-blue eyes were cold with disdain.
Alicia hurriedly dragged him aside, speaking in a trembling whisper.
“Octavio! Zeppelin said Rebecca’s name. What if his memories come back?”
“He said her name?”
Octavio stroked his chin thoughtfully, then gave a small, dry laugh.
“So what? It’s just a name.”
“How can you say that? If he remembers everything, both you and I are finished!”
“Let’s be clear, Alicia — you will be in trouble. Not me.”
“You promised to make me a countess, Octavio!”
Annoyance flared across his face.
“Yes, and that damn promise is the only reason I’m still humoring this ridiculous act. Otherwise, I would’ve simply gotten rid of you and found someone else.”
Alicia stared at him, stunned for a moment — then glared, fury flashing in her eyes.
“If that’s how you want to play, I won’t stay quiet either!”
“And what exactly can you do?”
“I’ll tell everyone about you and Fabiola.”
Octavio’s brows rose.
Alicia pressed on.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The ring you always wear — Fabiola has it hanging from her neck. And when Zeppelin cast her out, you hid her in one of your estates.”
You cunning little rat… Octavio thought grimly.
For a fleeting second, he considered silencing her for good — but changed his mind.
Alicia had proven herself useful before: enduring harsh treatments for their scheme, imitating Rebecca flawlessly, playing her role without pride or hesitation.
As long as she got what she wanted, she’d continue to be useful.
Octavio’s hostile gaze softened into a sly smile.
“You’ve gotten clever, haven’t you? Found yourself a bit of leverage, I see.”
“I didn’t need anyone’s help to figure it out,” she said coldly.
He shrugged. “Tell the Count if you want. Even if you do, things will only get annoying if his memory returns. We’ll prepare accordingly.”
“Prepare?” she asked warily.
He smirked.
“Use that one pathetic talent of yours — your tears. Your crying act is still unmatched.”
Alicia frowned, not sure whether to take it as a compliment or an insult.
Her eyes darted around, and then she asked quietly,
“By the way… do you know anything about Duke Johannes’s fiancée?”
Octavio’s gaze shifted toward the second floor.
“No. Today’s the first time I’ve seen her. Strange — for me to know nothing about someone like that. I’ll have to replace the hounds at the Johannes estate.”
“Didn’t she look… familiar to you?”
“She was wearing a mask. How could you possibly tell?”
“But Octavio — she had golden hair and blue eyes.”
Her cautious tone made Octavio snort.
“Don’t tell me you’re suggesting she’s Rebecca.
If that’s the case, then nearly a third of the women here tonight must all be Rebeccas too.”
