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Chapter : 33
After storming out of the dining hall, Raiden slipped into the shadows outside and leaned against a stone wall, finally letting out the breath he’d been holding in.
Crack. Unable to control his anger, his fist dug into the wall, leaving dust crumbling beneath his hand.
Those innocent eyes, looking up at me as if she knew nothing…
He let out a rough breath through clenched teeth. The blue sea that used to make him so happy now felt like it was strangling him.
Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching from behind.
“Did you get a confession out of him?”
“!”
The question snapped him back to reality, cooling his wild emotions like cold water. Raiden ran a shaking hand through his hair and took a deep breath. Then, erasing all traces of emotion from his face, he turned around.
“Not yet. But it’s only a matter of time.”
His answer to Louis was completely steady.
“I’m sure you will…”
Louis studied him from head to toe, as if searching for a loose thread in a perfectly tailored suit. Then, frowning, he crossed his arms.
“You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
“Me?”
Louis gave him a suspicious look, but then softened his tone as if he understood.
“I see why you can’t let her go, now that I’ve seen her in person.”
Raiden’s eyes flickered for a moment, and he turned his head, muttering, “That’s not true.”
“No need to make excuses. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Raiden glared at him in silence. Louis sighed quietly under that cold stare.
Raiden finally spoke in a quiet voice, “If it’s because of Mother Sylvia’s words…”
“I told you, I saw it for myself. It’s not something she said.”
Louis scratched his head in frustration. If Mother Sylvia had noticed, there must be more to it than he realized.
This isn’t something that can be brushed off with a simple denial…
He remembered Anna, probably still sitting in the dining hall, confused. Seeing her up close, Louis could see why people said she was as beautiful as Princess Angelina.
But the princess is still better, Louis thought. He didn’t like the fake princess, but at least she didn’t judge people by their status.
He glanced at his master, annoyed. Why would he care about such a difficult woman?
After everything he suffered in the west, he still hasn’t come to his senses…
Louis had expected Raiden to be more cold and sharp when they met again. But even Anna thought Raiden was always calm, when Louis could clearly see how shaken he really was.
It was like a fragile dam finally breaking and everything being swept away. For a moment, Raiden Marcus had become the old Raiden Molso again. That was the situation Louis feared most, and Anna managed it with just a look.
No wonder I have to be careful with her…
Louis sighed inwardly. Raiden loosened his collar and spoke gruffly.
“It won’t take long. He’s nearly broken. Just a little more effort and it’ll all be over.”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
Louis sighed again. He knew Raiden Marcus was someone who could cut off feelings and logic as if with a blade. He never let his emotions get in the way—except for one person.
There’s only one exception.
Louis watched Raiden’s back as he walked away, now completely composed. The cracks from earlier were gone, as if they’d never been there.
For a moment, Louis worried that even a man as strong as Raiden could be brought down by a woman, like the tragic heroes in old stories.
“No way…”
He shook his head, trying to chase away the foolish thought. Even if Raiden wavered, he’d never truly break. Raiden’s desire for revenge was too deep-rooted for that.
Still, whatever confession he gets, it won’t be something simple…
Thinking of the man battered and bloody in the dungeon, Louis shivered. He wondered how cruel a person could become.
Meanwhile…
Lucy knew well that the staff at Marcus Manor ignored her. She didn’t care much. She’d been bullied enough back when Lisa was head maid, so she had toughened up a lot. Being ignored or not greeted didn’t bother her anymore.
In fact, it was the Marcus servants who felt uncomfortable seeing Lucy eating in their staff dining room. They cast uneasy glances her way as she took her food to a corner seat. Lucy just focused on her meal, trying to ignore them.
Suddenly, a few of the Marcus maids approached her.
“You’re from Evercline Manor, right?”
Lucy blinked and nodded.
A maid with neatly braided black hair hesitated, then asked, “Um… Have you served the lady for a long time?”
Lucy quickly swallowed her food and smiled.
“Oh, don’t be formal with me. Yes, I’ve been at Evercline Manor since I was twelve, and I’ve been the lady’s personal maid for almost five years.”
The maids looked at each other. Lucy put down her fork and gave them a warm look.
“Anything else you want to know? This is your chance to ask.”
One stepped forward as a spokesperson. “Um, so, Lucy… Are you from a fallen noble family?”
“Huh? Why do you think that?”
The maids looked awkward. “If you weren’t, why would the lady treat you so well…?”
Lucy laughed, surprised. “I’ve been a commoner since birth. If the lady hadn’t saved me, I’d have ended up on Lily Street.”
“!”
Lily Street! The maids looked shocked, then quickly mumbled a thank you and hurried away. Lucy shrugged, then got back to eating. But just then, someone sat down across from her with a thud.
“Oh?”
She looked up and saw Shilla, the maid with the famously expressionless face. Lucy smiled.
“Having your meal?”
“Yes.”
Shilla replied without much emotion and set her plate down.
“You’re eating here?”
“Is that a problem?”
Shilla raised an eyebrow as if daring Lucy to say something. Lucy shook her head.
“No, of course not! Eat as much as you want.”
“…Thanks.”
Shilla dug into her food. Lucy watched her, smiling.
“It’s a nice change to have someone sit with me for once. Usually people avoid me like I’m contagious.”
Shilla glanced at her as if thinking, You’re not normal either. Then she quietly went back to eating.
Lucy said nothing, but felt oddly happy.
People who gossip behind your back aren’t scary. The ones who act sweet and then hurt you—that’s who you should watch out for.
Just like head maid Lisa used to do.
But Shilla’s not like that.
Lucy glanced up at Shilla, who was chewing with her usual blank face. Lucy grinned to herself and took a big bite of her food.
Later, as Lucy brushed Anna’s hair after her bath, she chatted about eating with Shilla. Anna turned her head in surprise.
“You did? She doesn’t talk much, but she’s not a bad person.”
“Of course. Shilla’s a good person,” Anna replied.
Lucy shrugged, brushing Anna’s soft blond hair. “I’m really good at reading people, but how did you know Shilla is kind?”
Anna smiled a little sadly and looked down.
I saw it for myself.
When Anna first came to Marcus Manor, she was still shaken from everything that had happened. Being forced out of her own home and living in a strange place was a heavy burden. Naturally, she felt drawn to the maids who worked nearby—especially since they had served Raiden for a long time.
She couldn’t help but like them.
