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Chapter – 23
The First Step
“A contract?”
“This engagement is being formed for the sake of Your Highness’s and my mutual interests, so of course we must draft a contract.”
Jessica snapped open the black fan in her hand, hiding her face. The corner of her lips lifted slightly. Judging by the startled look on Salife’s face, he clearly hadn’t expected her to counter like this.
How refreshing.
After being dragged around in conversation all this time, she finally felt as though she had taken back control. Her eyes curved gently as she smiled in genuine satisfaction, and Salife found himself unable to respond.
The playful glint in her eyes, the soft curve of her lashes, and the sparkle within them made him feel as if someone were squeezing his heart in their fist.
Jessica, too, suddenly felt her breath catch at the pounding of her own heart. When his darkened gaze fixed on her, an inexplicable sensation washed over her.
It felt as though she might never escape him for the rest of her life.
Her face grew warm, and to hide it Jessica kept the fan raised. She didn’t dare speak first. Only when Salife finally looked away—after staring at her for quite some time—was she able to breathe again.
“I’ll come back with the contract, then?”
“I’ll be waiting with pleasure, Your Highness.”
“And next time, call me by my name.”
Without waiting for her answer, Salife stepped out of the carriage. Sunlight poured in so brightly that Jessica couldn’t even see his retreating figure.
Anna climbed into the carriage right after he left, calling Jessica’s name, but Jessica was too busy replaying his last words to hear anything.
Jessica had the coachman turn the carriage toward the House of Viterne that day, never making it to the Moncherto shop. Her heart was too unsettled—she was afraid she would meet Isanna and end up losing her money again. And someone was waiting for her at the Marquisate.
“You’re back, my lady?”
Daisy, her arm openly wrapped in white bandages, greeted her. Jessica made a point of pretending not to notice the bandages as she replied.
“The weather isn’t good today, so I’ll rest.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’ve returned early.”
Daisy continued talking, earning a strange look from Anna. Anna’s lips twitched, as though she wanted to say something, and Jessica immediately noticed it—but she didn’t ask.
She wants me to ask first.
Which meant Jessica absolutely wouldn’t. The thirsty are the ones who seek water. If Daisy wanted something from her, she’d have to speak first. That way, Jessica would be in the advantageous position.
Growing anxious, Daisy clicked her fingernails together—tak, tak—and the grating sound made Jessica lift her fan.
“I’m tired and wish to rest.”
“What? Ah—yes, my lady.”
Daisy stepped aside, her eyes dripping with longing, but Jessica didn’t spare her a glance.
As Jessica ascended to the second floor, Daisy suddenly rushed after her. Hearing those footsteps, Jessica smiled faintly.
“Please wait, my lady!”
Jessica was the only one who ever used the second floor. Even the knights never wandered near the rooms of the Marquisate’s daughter except when needed for security—and since she had just returned, they would disperse soon. For Daisy, now was the chance.
Jessica stopped. Daisy hurried ahead and blocked her path.
“Didn’t you hear me say I’m tired?”
“It’s truly important!”
“Important?”
Jessica’s brows twitched ever so slightly. Daisy, thinking she had piqued Jessica’s interest, quickly continued.
“I can’t say it here. I want to talk somewhere quiet.”
“Daisy.”
“Y-yes!”
Jessica called her name quietly, and Daisy flinched. A mere commoner was not allowed to block the path of a noble lady. And Daisy was a servant of the Marquisate—if someone strict about hierarchy had seen this, Daisy could have been beaten.
“Even if it’s important, you dare block my path?”
“Please believe me! It really is important!”
Seeing her desperate expression, Anna hesitated, then whispered to Jessica:
“My lady… perhaps you should hear her out…”
“You want me to?”
“Ah—yes.”
Jessica turned back to Daisy, her red lips curling slightly.
“Thank Anna.”
Jessica resumed walking, and now three sets of footsteps followed her. Daisy failed to notice that Alter was watching her with sharp eyes; instead, she glared resentfully at Anna.
She’s nothing.
Daisy blamed Anna for making her situation worse. Just wait until I’m standing at the lady’s side, she thought. I won’t leave you alone.
Anna, unaware of the malicious thoughts directed at her, sighed in relief. She knew she had overstepped. As a close maid to the Marquis’s daughter, she should never have interfered. She silently praised Jessica’s generosity—and promised herself she would never step in again. Jessica’s eyes were simply too frightening.
Jessica had no intention of hearing Daisy’s story right away. If Anna hadn’t stepped in, she might have let Daisy stew in anxiety for several more days.
She walked slowly into her second-floor office—once her mother’s, now hers.
Alter took position at the door as Jessica entered and sat down. Daisy stood before her, glancing nervously around.
Jessica waited. Daisy hesitated. Finally, Jessica spoke, voice firm:
“No words?”
“N-no, my lady, I do have something to say.”
Jessica could practically hear her thoughts scrambling. Hiding a smirk, she raised her fan, concealing her expression. Her eyes remained softly curved, so Daisy couldn’t read her.
If she’s smiling, then there must still be hope… right?
Assuming what she wanted, Daisy finally began.
“The truth is…”
Anna’s eyes widened as she listened. She already knew all this—knew Daisy had infiltrated the house to steal information. But Jessica was impressed by how smoothly Daisy omitted anything that made her look bad.
I need to learn that skill.
As Daisy continued weaving lies without blinking, Jessica snapped her fan shut with a tak. Daisy jumped, eyes flying to her.
“That’s all well and good, but how did you learn any of this?”
There was a part missing in the story. For Daisy to know that the young lady of the Rüsel Barony was gathering information on the Marquisate—it didn’t make sense. She had no standing.
Even a weak noble house would never share their secret plans with a commoner.
“I—I heard it while walking around!”
“So Lady Rüsel spoke openly about such things? A baron’s daughter—someone of much lower rank than the Marquisate’s heiress—just talked about it in public?”
Jessica spoke as though the idea were absurd.
“Anna.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Does that sound believable to you?”
“…It does not.”
Anna’s answer made Daisy flush red with panic. If she had known who was backing the Rüsel Barony—if she had gotten that information from Marianne Rüsel—Jessica might have believed her.
I should have pressed Marianne harder.
If she had the name of the mastermind behind the Baroness, Jessica would accept her story more easily.
Only now, facing a far sharper response than she expected, did Daisy realize the truth:
Jessica was nothing like the gullible people she had fooled before.
“M-my lady, there’s a reason—!”
“And what reason is that?”
Jessica’s blue gaze fixed on her. Daisy still saw only the curved lashes and soft expression, and mistakenly felt encouraged.
She failed to notice the icy fury brewing beneath—vengeful, cold, and merciless—hidden only by the shape of Jessica’s eyes.
“M-my lady, I—I’m innocent!”
Daisy collapsed to her knees, but Jessica didn’t even blink. Daisy pressed her forehead to the floor, and when silence followed, she panicked and began confessing rapidly.
“The reason I entered the Viterne Marquisate was because of Lady Rüsel! My parents were poor—they sold me to the barony, and I did all their hard labor. One day, they threatened me… told me if I wanted to escape my circumstances, I had to obey. They said they wouldn’t spare my parents if I didn’t!”
Her mouth grew dry with every lie she spun.
“S-so at first, I only reported simple things—like the fact that you were still living at the Marquisate! I swear I said nothing else! After coming here, after seeing your generosity, after the knights even saved me, I realized I couldn’t keep doing such things. Please, forgive my past mistakes!”
