Chapter 5

“…How did you end up all the way here? And where are the maids?”

“I-I got lost while taking a walk by myself. Haha…”

As I awkwardly tried to explain, Jason spoke to me with a friendly smile.

“My, would you like me to escort you back to the main building?”

“O-Oh, no! That’s alright! You don’t need to do that! …Sorry for troubling you!”

I quickly shook my head and hurried away as if fleeing from them.

Only after hiding behind a large tree in a quiet part of the garden did I finally catch my breath.

While I was calming down, Ash Winterton’s ghost, who had followed me, spoke.

[Are you alright?]

“Phew… Yes…”

The ghost waited until I regained my composure before speaking again.

[What exactly was that about earlier?]

“…What do you mean?”

[You looked so frightened that it seemed you might collapse at any moment. You weren’t even afraid of me, yet something about them terrified you. I’d like to know why.]

I couldn’t answer immediately.

I couldn’t exactly tell him, “One of those men killed me in my previous life.”

He probably wouldn’t believe me anyway.

So I decided to reveal only part of the truth.

“…I’ve seen one of them before at my family estate. He was giving Winterton family secrets to my father.”

In my previous life, after I lost the strength to resist and collapsed on the floor, Jason had thoroughly searched me and found the seal of the Marchioness of Winterton.

He handed it over to my father.

Then, while I was dying beside them, he calmly revealed confidential information about the Winterton family.

As if he had been doing it for years.

As the memory replayed vividly in my mind, my lips began trembling.

The ghost pressed for an answer.

[Who was it? Surely not Sir Lake?]

“…No. The man standing beside him.”

The ghost froze.

[You mean Sir Jason…? That’s impossible… Do you have proof? Proof that he’s secretly working with Grand Duke Middelharnis?]

His tone made it clear he didn’t want to believe me.

That was understandable.

Jason was one of his most trusted subordinates, both now and in my previous life.

Still, his reaction made anger surge inside me.

I suddenly wanted to prove that I was telling the truth.

How can I make him believe me?

As I silently thought about it—

“My Lady! Where are you, My Lady?!”

I heard the maids calling for me nearby.

Putting my conversation with the ghost on hold, I headed toward the voices.

Charlotte rushed over with a worried expression.

“My Lady! Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“Sorry. I got so distracted exploring the estate that I wandered all the way out here.”

“You worried us! Next time, if you’re going for a walk alone, stay in the central garden! Or at least take me or another maid with you!”

“Alright, alright.”

I soothed the agitated Charlotte and returned to the main mansion with her.

As we entered through the front entrance and approached the staircase, a servant walked up and bowed respectfully.

“A messenger has arrived from the Grand Duke of Middelharnis’s household.”

“A messenger?”

“Yes. They conveyed that Lady Seraphina wishes to visit you tomorrow at around three in the afternoon.”

I let out a short exclamation.

Only then did I remember.

In my previous life, Seraphina had visited shortly after my marriage.

She had comforted me with warm and beautiful words.

Back then, I was genuinely moved. I thought every word was sincere.

Thinking of my hypocritical sister, I bit my lower lip.

I had no desire to see her again.

She would surely try to manipulate me with sweet words just as before.

I was about to refuse the visit.

Then a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

If I used that method, I might obtain the proof the ghost wanted.

And perhaps settle my grudge against Sir Jason as well.

Smiling at the servant, I said,

“Very well. Tell the messenger that I’ll be looking forward to my sister’s visit.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

The servant bowed and left.

I turned toward Ash Winterton’s ghost and silently mouthed the words.

You asked earlier whether I had any proof that Sir Jason was suspicious, didn’t you? Fine. I’ll show you.

[How?]

That’s a secret for now. It’s going to be quite interesting, so you can look forward to it.

I smiled deliberately at the ghost, whose expression had turned surprised.

***

The Next Day

After waking up late and finishing my bath and preparations, I headed to the drawing room in the afternoon.

The room had white wallpaper, a chandelier made of gold and crystal, a marble fireplace, and luxurious pale-green sofas.

It felt both elegant and comfortable.

Sitting on one of the sofas, I enjoyed tea and freshly baked cookies while waiting for my sister.

After some time—

The drawing room doors opened wide.

My twin sister, Seraphina, entered.

“Agnes!”

Seraphina looked beautiful.

Her long blonde hair was half tied back and decorated with pink roses and baby’s breath.

She wore a rose-colored dress with long sleeves and a white coat.

As twins, we shared the same height and nearly identical features.

Yet she always looked far more beautiful and radiant than I did.

Unlike me, she had grown up surrounded by our parents’ love.

Suppressing the inferiority rising within me, I smiled and approached her.

“Welcome, Seraphina.”

“My little sister looks even prettier after getting married! Have the people of the Winterton family been treating you well?”

“Of course. …Come sit down. Your legs must be tired.”

I subtly avoided her attempt to hug me and gestured toward the sofa.

For a brief moment, Seraphina’s expression stiffened.

But she quickly recovered and sat down as if nothing had happened.

When I took a seat opposite her and offered tea and snacks, she smiled sweetly.

“Ever since you left after getting married, the estate feels even emptier than before. Father and Mother won’t admit it, but they seem very lonely too.”

“Oh my, really?”

Liar.

I scoffed inwardly.

It was obvious she was trying to manipulate me with emotional words.

Pretending to be touched, I listened to her insincere conversation.

Eventually, when her flattery finally slowed down, I put on an innocent expression.

“You know, Sister… I heard a very interesting rumor about this estate.”

“Really? What kind of rumor?”

Seraphina asked, pretending to be interested.

First, I dismissed all the maids from the room.

When we were finally alone, I lowered my voice and whispered.

“You know that the previous owner of this estate was Marchioness Lizero, right? The woman who was burned at the stake twenty years ago for cursing Her Majesty the Empress.”

“…Yes?”

“Well, supposedly, before she died, she hid a massive fortune inside a secret chamber beneath the mansion.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. I overheard the gardener and the head butler talking about it. Apparently they found the key a few days ago and hid it in the Marquis’s bedroom.”

“Really…?”

“Mm-hmm. They plan to announce it publicly the day after tomorrow and conduct a large-scale search of the underground chamber.”

“I see…”

“Right now, only the head butler, the gardener, and Sir Lake know about it.”

I deliberately paused.

Then I spoke as if giving a serious warning.

“You absolutely must keep this secret. Understand? Don’t tell anyone I told you. If this information gets out, I’ll be in serious trouble.”

“Of course. You can trust me.”

Seraphina answered with a reassuring smile.

But unlike her words, her eyes gleamed meaningfully.

The moment she gets home, she’ll tell Father everything.

My parents, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Middelharnis, had always lived beyond their means.

Even after my return to the past, that likely hadn’t changed.

There was no way they would ignore an opportunity to seize ownerless wealth.

They would definitely send someone to verify whether the rumor was true.

I was certain of it.

A faint smile formed on my lips.

Then I secretly exchanged a glance with Ash Winterton’s ghost, who had been watching everything.

***

The Following Night

One day later.

Late at night, I leaned against the door leading to the Marquis’s bedroom, fighting off sleep.

Yesterday had failed.

But tonight, someone would definitely come.

Only a handful of knights, including Sir Lake, are allowed to enter the Marquis’s bedroom. And if the Grand Duke and Duchess want to confirm whether the key really exists, they’ll have no choice but to send Jason.