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Chapter 13
When she opened the lid, she saw a heap of golden hair, chopped off in thick chunks.
They said there was nothing Kanna couldn’t do—and indeed, she was skilled.
Rebecca could already picture Zeppelin never finding the culprit and instead venting his anger on someone completely unrelated.
Thinking of the person who would unjustly receive Zeppelin’s hatred, Rebecca felt a small pang of guilt.
If their luck was especially bad, they could be badly beaten and cast out.
But the more Zeppelin replaced his hunting dogs with new ones, the more it worked in Rebecca’s favor. So she kept her mouth shut.
It took a long time to tame a new hunting dog.
And who knew—perhaps a hunting dog with little loyalty might side with Rebecca one day.
Rebecca slid the box under the mattress.
“Ah, you’re awake?”
Kanna entered with a simple breakfast and a basin of water. When she noticed the box on the nightstand was gone, she smiled faintly.
“You did well.”
“No, it was nothing difficult.”
“I think you’ve proven yourself enough now. I’ll likely be going out today, so help me prepare, will you?”
“What kind of outfit shall I get ready?”
Rebecca bit into the freshly baked warm bread and smiled brightly.
“The shabbiest one.”
In the sunlit dining room, the only sounds were clinking tableware and, from time to time, Zeppelin pounding the table in irritation.
At the head seat sat Zeppelin, Rebecca facing him across the table.
Alicia, however, was seated to the left.
Why am I being treated like a guest?
Irritably, Alicia cut into her small steak.
Though she had formally become his wife, both the servants and even Zeppelin treated her like an outsider.
Had she known it would be like this, she might as well have taken the money Rebecca had offered and run away.
No, no. I endured so much to get this far.
Alicia glanced at Rebecca’s attire.
Though unusually plain, it suited her perfectly.
Watching Rebecca exude refinement from head to toe, Alicia bit her nails.
“Another plate.”
Lately, Alicia’s appetite had been strong. She quickly finished her steak and raised her hand.
Zeppelin frowned at the sight.
“Stop eating. You’ve gotten fat lately.”
“You know a pregnant woman must eat well.”
“You must not know because you’re a commoner, but nobles don’t eat so recklessly even when carrying a child. Alicia, if you get fat, I’ll throw you out.”
“My lord!”
“Silence. You’re grating on my nerves. Look at Rebecca—so graceful. Learn from her. How many times must I say it? Honestly. This is why commoners….”
It was just a single plate of steak. Yet even as the countess, she couldn’t eat it freely.
And that word “commoner”—she was sick of it.
Face flushed red, Alicia glared at Rebecca. She was the one carrying his child, yet Rebecca’s position remained unshaken.
Whether she noticed or not, Rebecca calmly set down her fork and dabbed her lips with a napkin. Then she softly approached Zeppelin.
Her footsteps made no sound, her movements perfectly measured. That only made Alicia burn hotter with rage.
“Zeppelin, don’t be so harsh. Alicia is carrying your first child. Shouldn’t you let her eat a little more?”
Rebecca smiled sweetly, her hand brushing lightly against his arm.
Zeppelin flinched and glanced at her touch.
“I always felt guilty that we never had a child of our own. So at least Alicia’s child—I truly hope it grows strong.”
Rebecca lowered her gaze.
The sight of her trembling lashes always softened Zeppelin’s heart.
“…Fine. Bring her half a plate more.”
“I don’t want it!”
Alicia hurled her knife. The empty plate clattered loudly.
It was humiliating.
She couldn’t understand. Wasn’t it the concubine who was supposed to be loved? Wasn’t jealousy and tantrums the role of the main wife?
As Alicia glared bitterly at Rebecca, Zeppelin leapt up from his seat with a shout.
“Alicia!”
Rebecca brushed Zeppelin’s arm once more.
At her gentle touch, he faltered.
“Don’t get so worked up. They say pregnancy makes women sensitive. By the way, since your hair is already like this, why not just cut it short altogether?”
“Cut my hair?”
“Yes. I’ve thought so for a while—you’d look good with short hair. It’d give you a more masculine charm, I think.”
“If you say so, then…”
Rebecca’s eyes curved into a smile.
Before he knew it, Zeppelin was gazing at her in a daze.
Rebecca knew him well. Right now, whatever she asked, he would grant.
“I’d like to step out for a while today. Would you allow it?”
“Where to?”
At the word “outing,” Zeppelin frowned.
Rebecca seized the moment, kneading his arm lightly.
“To the relief house. I used to go regularly, but it seems I’ve been neglecting it lately.”
“So that’s why you’re dressed so strangely?”
“Yes. Do you dislike it? I thought there was no need to dress up for such a place.”
“You’re right. Better to look shabby than to catch the eye of strangers. Fine, go.”
Alicia watched Rebecca’s every move with disbelief.
Those were the same tricks she’d once used as a barmaid to squeeze extra tips from customers.
On Rebecca, they looked different, but at the core, it was still the same vulgar act.
I knew it. She’s a fox pretending to be a bear.
Rebecca left the dining room. Before stepping out, she didn’t forget to throw Alicia a sly little smirk.
Soon after, a loud crash of breaking plates rang out. Alicia must have thrown them.
Rebecca smiled triumphantly.
Now it’s your turn to dance, Zeppelin Devonshire.
“My lord! Between this robe and that robe, which do you prefer? And this brooch—doesn’t it look good?”
Croa laid out robes and accessories before Julian.
Without lifting his eyes from the book, Julian answered absentmindedly.
“I told you—plain. A robe without decoration will do.”
“Even so, you’re a duke. And since when do you listen so obediently to others? To think you’d bend so easily to that woman’s threats.”
“Watch your tongue. She will be the duchess.”
Croa was so stunned he could only gape.
Since the ball, Rebecca had carried herself as though she already were duchess.
Just yesterday, Julian had scoured the vast ducal estate the whole day looking for the former duchess’s wedding veil.
“Hm. Still, perhaps I should tidy my hair a little.”
Julian snapped the book shut and rose, adjusting his hair in the mirror.
He looked almost cheerful. Croa was speechless. This was a duke who had never even had a first love before.
Rebecca, on the other hand, was a beautiful woman skilled in handling men.
Croa couldn’t shake the feeling Julian was being used.
“Is she really that beautiful? Enough to make you fall for such nonsense?”
Julian paused, staring at him. Then a mischievous smile spread across his lips.
“Don’t tell me—you’re jealous? I had a hunch about your tastes, but Croa, sorry to say, I’m already taken. And besides, aren’t we a bit too far apart in age?”
“What on earth are you talking about! I’m only a loyal vassal worried about his naïve lord. That woman—Rebecca, whatever—she’s suspicious. She must have an ulterior motive.”
Julian burst into hearty laughter and fixed him with a look.
“Do you really think I’m naïve?”
Croa shrank under his gaze. Unlike the weak, sensitive dukes of the past, Julian had boldness.
He had always been taciturn since childhood—never cried, never threw tantrums.
Always frowning, lips pressed tight, eyes sharp.
Yet to Croa, he looked like fragile glass, ready to shatter at any moment.
That was why Croa always worried about him.
And why he could never stop being wary of Rebecca.
If she hurts you, I won’t forgive her.
Technically, Croa was a distant relative of Julian.
But only the heir chosen by the goddess could inherit the Johannes name.
So instead, Croa’s ancestors became stewards to House Johannes.
For generations, his family searched for a way to break the curse laid upon the dukes.
Croa couldn’t believe some outsider like Rebecca Devonshire could know what his ancestors never found.
Especially a woman who looked like she had never suffered a day in her life.
Her situation was pitiable, yes.
But why seduce our duke, of all people?
Croa wanted to stop this troubling contract marriage, but once Julian made up his mind, there was no stopping him.
“I’ll come along as well.”
“Why?”
“Because I must be your clear-headed brain.”
“Are you saying you’re sharper than I am? Croa, you’re trying my patience today.”
“You know you act before you think. Just last time you broke the merchant lord’s tooth in anger. I’m going only out of concern for Lady Rebecca’s safety.”
Croa shamelessly donned the same plain brown robe as Julian.
Julian clicked his tongue but didn’t stop him.
He might not lay a hand on Rebecca, but he worried nonetheless.
My nurse always told me to control my temper.
With silence, Julian permitted Croa’s company.
Croa watched him in the mirror, carefully applying wax to his hair.
The hood would ruin it anyway—why bother?
Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll get to the bottom of that woman’s schemes.
In the carriage to the relief house, Rebecca thought about the curse on the ducal family.
She had only learned of it by chance.
In her previous life, after escaping the count’s household, she had briefly hidden at a relief house. There, she had met Croa.
