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Chapter 6
While Odette was groaning in pain, the maids told her that huge changes were taking place in the mansion.
Caesar had interrogated the butler Derek and the head maid Anna.
They said the number of crimes uncovered was impossible to count.
For seven years—embezzlement, corruption, bribery.
They had even framed the real Caesar’s loyal retainers, sending them to prison under false charges and ruining them until they were left penniless and driven onto the streets.
It was even said they had not hesitated to commit murder.
A second round of interrogations was underway, purging Derek and Anna’s subordinates, and the atmosphere in the mansion had turned tense and hostile.
I never imagined my one word would have this much power.
But an even bigger problem was that, without realizing it, she had become one of Caesar’s “meritorious contributors.”
It feels like they’re elevating me too much.
Of course, what would truly be “for her own good” was probably sending her far away in a carriage.
But keeping her close and treating her well likely meant she still had some usefulness.
They probably think swapping the maid and the daughter is the perfect excuse to bring the Count down.
Not only could they destroy the Count’s honor, but they could also drive a wedge between him and the Emperor.
“Madam, if you don’t even have the strength to hold your spoon, should I feed you?”
“N-no, it’s fine.”
Seeing the extremely polite maid who looked like she might actually feed her, Odette quickly waved her hands.
“Please… speak informally. If you don’t, we’re all going to die.”
“D-die?”
“Yes. If Madam feels even a little uncomfortable, not only me, but my entire family… everyone…”
The maid’s voice trembled with tears.
She’s in the same position as me.
A life like a fragile insect that might not even survive tomorrow.
Fine. If she was going to die anyway, she might as well eat something good.
Just as she steeled herself and began her meal, the door opened.
“My lovely wife.”
Caesar strode in with long steps.
Having returned from war and quickly adjusted back to daily life, he no longer wore leather armor but noble casual clothing.
Beige trousers and a white dress shirt—yet he still looked dazzling.
The closer he came, the more her heart pounded.
Something invisible seemed to ripple through the air and coil around her body.
“Did you sleep well? I didn’t. I couldn’t stop thinking about holding my wife.”
He lightly kissed her forehead.
Hng!
The moment his lips touched her, a strange shiver ran through her entire body.
Her spine tingled, her face flushed bright red.
At the same time, a tickling heat rose from deep inside her abdomen.
Odette clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
But the following kiss erased all of it in an instant.
No—Caesar swallowed it all.
Only when she had barely enough strength left to remain conscious did he pull away.
“Tastes good.”
“You’re insane.”
Caesar—who rarely showed surprise—widened his eyes at her words.
Did I just swear?
She only had one life—why had she done that?
Odette quickly clasped her hands and begged.
“I’m sorry! I meant… your kissing is so good it’s driving me insane—no, I think I just lost my mind for a moment!”
Her hands moved so fast they were almost a blur, rubbing together frantically.
“Good.”
“Are you going to forgive me? Thank you! I’ll do my best—”
“…Your best?”
This was a moment where she had to choose her words carefully.
“…I will do my best to become a meritorious contributor.”
“You don’t have to go that far.”
Looking extremely pleased, Caesar pulled her into his arms and sat her on his lap.
“Eek!”
His steel-hard body was fully felt through her thin dress.
Her waist twisted from unbearable sensations.
“Uncomfortable?”
His hot breath brushed her ear, making goosebumps rise all over her skin.
“Of course not… it’s like sitting on a cloud…”
Then she saw it—a streak of red blood on his shirt sleeve.
She trembled.
Caesar pulled her closer.
“You felt it?”
“Yes. You look very impressive.”
“You really seem determined to entertain me. I can’t just take without giving something back, so I prepared a gift for you.”
“A g-gift?”
Maybe a permit to go outside… or permission to travel outside the empire… or freedom itself.
But instead, Caesar placed a dagger into her hand.
“Kill the maid who poisoned you.”
Odette clenched the cold, heavy handle of the dagger and bit her lip in distress.
What kind of gift is that… sob sob…
What do I do!
She was now standing face-to-face with Mary, a gray-haired girl crouched in the underground prison cell.
Either she killed Mary—or she died for disobeying Caesar’s order.
Only one of them would leave the prison alive.
This isn’t a tragedy romance… it’s a survival story.
Odette tightened her grip on the dagger.
Caesar was standing guard in the corridor outside the cell—there was no escape.
Please… let Mary just kill herself with this dagger.
Caesar had no intention of letting her live anyway.
Odette cleared her throat and spoke.
“Why did you do it? Did you not think your life would end the moment you decided to kill me?”
“Damn it… if I knew the poison would spread that fast, I would’ve run immediately.”
Mary showed not even a trace of guilt or remorse.
Odette’s heart went cold.
How did I ever think someone like that was my friend?
It had been Mary who introduced her when she moved from the declining viscount’s estate to the count’s mansion.
Life in the viscount household was collapsing day by day, and she couldn’t stay there.
She thought working somewhere she at least knew someone would be better.
But sometimes, in life, it would have been better not to know certain people at all.
Mary was one of those people.
“I hated you, Odette.”
“…That’s my line.”
“Funny. You really thought I was your friend. Do you know? I hated you more than insects.”
“……”
“I’ve wanted to kill you for a long time—ever since you seduced the youngest young master and constantly flirted with the second young master.”
Mary had been in love with the second young master of the Saxen viscount family, Maxcalion.
Maxcalion had been kind to Odette, who served as the youngest son’s personal maid.
But to think she would poison someone for that?
So this is the kind of person she had called a friend.
Odette looked at her with cold eyes.
“The second young master probably doesn’t even remember you. Well… he might remember the gray-haired maid who used to look at him like a parasite.”
“NO—NOOO! AAAAAH!”
Mary screamed and lunged at her.
The chains around her ankles clanged loudly.
The dagger came dangerously close.
“Ghk!”
The blade pierced Mary’s chest.
Blood burst out.
Startled, Odette dropped the dagger—but Mary grabbed it and charged again.
“Die! Die, Odette!”
The dagger flew toward Odette’s throat.
And then—
A large hand suddenly covered her eyes from behind.
“Close your eyes.”
It was Caesar.
Warm blood splattered through the air.
The metallic smell filled the cell.
“Ugh… that girl is fake! She’s not Lady Amelia—she’s just a lowly maid named Odette!”
Even as she died, Mary tried to drag Odette down with her.
“She says she’s real,” Caesar said coldly.
The sound of his blade cutting through flesh echoed once.
Mary collapsed like straw.
“Ugh…”
A broken sound escaped Odette’s lips.
Caesar turned toward her.
Even now, he looked inhumanly beautiful.
“…Hmph.”
His eyes reflected in the flickering candlelight showed no emotion at all—no trace of the man who had just killed someone.
“My dear wife ended up getting dirty blood on her. Stay still. I’ll wipe it off.”
His touch, slowly wiping her cheek, was gentle.
And that made it even more terrifying.
Because he looked as if he would never harm her…
But Odette knew—if the situation changed, she would end up just like Mary.
She shut her eyes tightly.
