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CHAPTER 02
“You’ve returned, Young Mistress.”
The moment she entered the grand hall of the Count’s estate, the attendants lined up on both sides bowed their heads in unison.
Adelle, expressionless, removed her gloves as the sound of her heels echoed crisply against the marble floor.
She passed them as if she saw nothing at all, heading straight to her room on the second floor.
That most luxurious room in the mansion originally belonged to the Countess—Adelle’s mother. The fact that Adelle now used it meant she had earned her place as the acknowledged head of the house.
“Why are you only just getting back, My Lady?”
“…Jackie.”
It wasn’t until she saw Jacqueline anxiously waiting for her that Adelle truly came back to herself.
Out of the many servants in the Count’s estate, Jacqueline was the only one Adelle trusted and confided in. And Jacqueline, for her part, treated Adelle without formality.
She reached out and took Adelle’s gloves.
“Did everything go well? What did Young Master Jerox say? He did go to the jeweler in Setona, didn’t he?”
“…Yeah. Apparently.”
“Knew it! I just knew it!”
Jacqueline clapped her hands, practically dancing with excitement as if it were happening to her. She finally calmed down and stood behind Adelle, gently combing her hair as they made eye contact through the mirror.
“You should’ve dressed like this more often!”
“…”
“Look at those eyes! Not just the South—there’s no one in the whole Empire with such beautiful eyes! Of course Young Master Jerox would fall for you! Maybe he’s been holding himself back all this time because…”
“Jackie, I have a bit of a headache.”
“Of course. It must be overwhelming. I mean, you just got proposed to—even someone like you—”
“Yeah. Even for me, it’s still a shock to hear that he’s in love with someone else right to my face.”
“…”
“So if you don’t mind… could you leave me alone for a bit?”
Adelle turned away with a faint smile on her lips.
Silence fell instantly. Jacqueline gasped.
“M-My Lady! What are you saying?!”
“Oh, and apparently the woman Jerox likes is Noella.”
Clatter.
Jacqueline dropped the hairpin she was holding. She didn’t even try to pick it up—clearly, she was just as shocked.
“Anyone would think you were the one rejected.”
Adelle gave a bitter laugh and began removing her jewelry herself, leaving the stunned Jacqueline frozen in place.
Now that she looked, she had adorned herself with quite a bit.
Still, I do feel lighter having said it out loud.
She hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to Jerox properly—she’d walked away dazed.
They hadn’t been dating. No promises had been made. Complaining to him would’ve been pointless.
If she wanted to nitpick, she could ask when he and her sister had gotten so close. But even Adelle had her own suspicions about that.
“To think… how could he do this? He said he only had eyes for you! How could he be so fickle?!”
“…Right.”
Jacqueline raged on, her voice rising, but Adelle was unmoved.
See? I wasn’t the only one shocked.
She gave another bitter smile, amused that such a thing could still bring her some comfort.
“He said he’d wait for you! No matter how long it took!”
“…That was three years ago.”
“He said you were the only one! That he’d wait years if he had to!”
“…Were you there at the time?”
“…”
That’s enough.
There was nowhere in the mansion Jacqueline didn’t go. She was quick, almost ghost-like, which is why Adelle had kept her close. It wasn’t her fault.
And more than anything…
“If your feelings are real, confess again three years from now. If you still feel the same then, I’ll consider it seriously.”
Those had been Adelle’s own words.
Three years ago, when she was about to enter the succession war for the family title, she hadn’t had the luxury to entertain Jerox’s feelings.
She had only been eighteen. The very idea of romance had been burdensome.
Still… I didn’t think it’d be my sister he’d fall for.
Adelle gave a half-smile at the bitter twist of fate.
How ridiculous.
She stared into the mirror, unsure how else to express the emotion.
“Hmm…”
Lush black hair. Pink eyes. Porcelain skin. Full lips. Pure elegance.
She had the kind of beauty people praised to the heavens. Nothing like her sister, Noella.
If they’d looked alike, she could’ve at least convinced herself Jerox had fallen for a similar face out of longing.
But Noella, with her golden hair and blue eyes, was her complete opposite—an ethereal beauty with a frail, delicate aura.
“Shall I bring Miss Noella here now? She’s been asking about you all day—no wonder!”
“…”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you? I’ll bring her right away. But… what are you doing now?”
“…Me?”
Can’t you tell?
Adelle lifted her gaze while flipping through the stack of documents on her vanity.
She felt bad for Jacqueline, who was upset on her behalf—but she had mountains of paperwork to get through.
If she wanted to make up for the time spent on grooming and talking to Jerox, she might need to stay up all night.
“If you’re going to be angry, could you at least do it quietly? I have to finish this and send it out by dawn.”
“You’re not even mad? How can you just… sit there like that?”
“If I don’t do this now, 32 branches won’t be able to open on time tomorrow. That means hundreds of employees will be thrown into chaos. And if you count their families… at least a thousand people will be affected.”
“…Oh my…”
“And as for Noella… seems like she’s already here.”
Knock knock.
Right on cue, someone knocked. Adelle shrugged as if to say told you so.
Jacqueline had been too worked up to notice the footsteps echoing down the hallway. And really, there was no way Noella wouldn’t come today.
“Come in.”
Adelle called out toward the door and set the documents aside. She silently gestured to Jacqueline to keep her mouth shut.
“…Sister, may I come in?”
“Go ahead.”
Noella stepped in timidly, her golden hair rippling down her back.
The delicate flower of the Count’s family—a nickname far too fitting for her fairy-like looks—lowered her gaze.
“Sister… I’m so sorry.”
“…”
Seeing her start off so submissively left Adelle no room to do anything but watch.
Perhaps Adelle seemed cold—Noella bit her lip and lowered her blue eyes.
“You’re angry, aren’t you?”
“…Me?”
“I never imagined Jerox would feel that way about me. Not even in my dreams.”
Her eyes looked ready to spill tears at the lightest touch. With her pitiful, trembling gaze, Noella spoke with a quiver.
“It’s all my fault… sniff. If you’re okay with it…”
“I’m not okay with it, so could you leave?”
“…Sister.”
“I still have work to do.”
Adelle gestured to the thick stack of paperwork on the vanity. It might’ve seemed heartless, but she was in a rush.
She glanced at the pitch-black window.
“Let’s talk tomorrow—if you can wake up before I leave at dawn.”
“Adelle—!”
“Jackie, please take Noella back to her room. She looks like she might faint.”
Noella wasn’t taking the hint, so Adelle used Jacqueline to usher her out.
Me? Jacqueline mouthed in panic, but she obeyed the order of the household’s mistress.
“Please come with me, Young Miss. I’ll escort you.”
“B-But I need to say something to Sister… Sister! I just—!”
Adelle sat stiffly, flipping through papers like a statue, until the door slammed shut behind them.
Gone for sure?
She watched the door a moment, then darted to the window, leaned against the arching ivory frame, and undid the magic latch.
Clack.
As she flung the window open, a black cloak brushed her hand.
“…You really made a tragic heroine out of her.”
“When did you get here? Who told you to spy?”
“You just didn’t notice me.”
Those familiar red eyes—so like hers—gleamed with arrogance.
The man leapt in through the window and casually surveyed the room. He was far too comfortable for someone who had broken in during the night.
“You’re the one who told me not to use the door.”
“So your solution is the window?”
Adelle put her hands on her hips, incredulous. But that melted away as soon as he handed her a scroll.
“This is what you asked for, right?”
“…You’re unbelievable.”
She wanted to scold him—but his work was flawless. She gave him a sidelong glance instead.
When did he grow so tall?
She had to crane her neck just to meet his gaze.
That sharp jawline, those deep crimson eyes darker than hers—they didn’t belong to a boy. His presence, cold and shadowy, matched the night perfectly.
Well, he’s definitely a Sergio.
Adelle smiled bitterly at her half-brother, Kaiden Sergio.
Climbing in through the window aside, he was the only son of the Count and her youngest sibling.
More precisely—her half-brother.
He might be an unwelcome heir to the merchant empire, but the trust between them was solid.
When eleven-year-old Kaiden had first arrived, bloody and exhausted, he had claimed his place the moment he met Adelle.
“Hi. You’re Adelle, right? I don’t have a name yet, but if I get one, I’ll let you know. Just so you know, I hate money and merchants. Always will. So don’t kill me.”
Looking back, it was hard to say if he was clever or just desperate.
Covered in blood and panting in the butler’s arms, and that was his greeting.
And with his tiny frame, he barely looked seven despite being eleven.
Adelle had been the one to name him and give him a room in the Sergio estate.
Since then, Kaiden had grown up under her wing, developing a deeply cynical personality. He now led the guild’s secret operations.
What kind of “secret” work could a merchant group possibly have?
Well—the brighter the sun, the darker the shadow.
Kaiden excelled at disposing of pests drawn to money.
…Though not always through legal means.
“Look at it later. You should get some rest.”
“So Jerox changed his heart, huh?”
“…How do you even know that?”
“Want me to kill him?”
Kaiden now perched on the windowsill, looking over his shoulder at her with a chilling air.
“…Say the word, and I’ll do it.”
He wasn’t joking. His eyes burned like fire.
The last time Kaiden had looked like that, a young heir who insulted Adelle lost an arm—though no proof had ever surfaced, Adelle was sure it was his doing.
“It’s fine. Jer’s still useful. Good accountants are hard to find.”
“…”
“And you don’t have that kind of authority. I never gave it to you.”
She drew a firm line. Kaiden’s face stayed stone-cold, but she didn’t flinch.
She had long since abandoned any coddling affection for her “little” brother.
“You do your job. I’ll handle mine.”
“Then why are you pretending not to know?”
Kaiden turned halfway back, moonlight outlining his jaw while the rest of him melted into shadow.
“That your little sister… is a monster.”
He smirked.
“Kaiden, what the hell are you saying? Watch your mouth.”
“…Fine, if that’s what you want, Big Sis.”
He sounded like he was obeying—but only a fool would trust it.
Adelle crossed her arms and glared. Kaiden laughed quietly and jumped out the window.
“…Funny, isn’t it? There are things I know that you don’t.”
That mouth of his…
Adelle scowled at the window where Kaiden had disappeared.
She didn’t peek outside to check if he was okay. Instead, she slammed the window shut hard enough to shake the frame and leaned her back against it.
Sigh. Always picking fights…
As heir to this powerful family, she could discipline him—or even cast him out. But she never did, and for one simple reason:
“…He’s right.”
Because sweet, delicate Noella…
Was a truly gifted monster.
