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Chapter 24
“Where’s Zephlin?”
Rebecca, back at the count’s doghole, brushed off the dirt and asked Robert.
Robert was standing precisely in front of the doghole at the time he and Rebecca had agreed upon.
The moment he saw Rebecca’s clear, untroubled face, he exhaled in apparent relief.
“Count hasn’t returned yet. In any case, please—don’t do such reckless things anymore. I feel like you’ve cut your lifespan in half.”
“I had no choice. He’s far too important; I couldn’t leave it to anyone else.”
“Anyway, you should return to your room quickly. Dinner will be served soon.”
“Understood.”
Robert scanned the surroundings and led Rebecca to a secluded storage room. Inside, maid outfits were ready.
“You need to change into this before entering the mansion. If the head maid doesn’t notice you, there’s a chance we’ll succeed.”
Robert wiped his face.
Rebecca quickly changed into the maid’s outfit and pressed the hat down firmly to hide her hair color.
“And what’s this flower for?”
Rebecca asked, noticing the bouquet Robert held.
Keeping an eye on their surroundings, Robert explained:
“It’s insurance against the unexpected. Start with this.”
He handed Rebecca a tray carrying teacups and led her through the servants’ passage into the mansion.
Fortunately, everyone was busy preparing dinner, so no one paid much attention to them.
‘Just a few more stairs…’
At that moment, someone blocked their path.
“Robert, haven’t seen you for a while. Where have you been?”
The voice was icy.
Robert felt a cold sweat trickle down his back as he identified the speaker.
Grace, dressed in a black dress buttoned all the way to the neck, quietly stared at them.
Seeing Grace, Rebecca quickly lowered her gaze.
Grace was the kind of person who wouldn’t tolerate even a frame being misaligned by a millimeter.
She was also Zephlin’s most trusted confidante.
No matter how convincing the maid outfit was, there was no way Grace wouldn’t recognize Rebecca.
Robert calmly held up the flowers and said:
“Ah, the lady requested these flowers, so I was in the garden.”
“I see. And this child…”
Grace raised an eyebrow, quickly scanning Rebecca.
Robert hastily blocked her view, saying:
“I was taking tea to the lady’s room.”
Grace studied Rebecca’s hands tightly gripping the tray for a moment.
Her pupils seemed to flicker with doubt, then settled coldly once more.
“Understood. We shouldn’t keep the lady waiting.”
Thankfully, it seemed Grace hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
Rebecca and Robert exhaled in silent relief and climbed the stairs.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
A voice called them again, and Rebecca froze for a second.
Robert turned to Grace in Rebecca’s stead.
“May I ask why?”
“On your way up, let the lady know that Fabiola will be visiting tomorrow.”
“Yes, understood.”
Fabiola is coming?
Rebecca’s face stiffened instantly.
Her hands began to tremble.
Just hearing Fabiola’s name made her neck tense.
Terrible memories surfaced, and Rebecca gritted her teeth.
‘I can’t wait any longer. I need to expedite the divorce plan as soon as possible.’
Fabiola Devonshire—Zephlin’s mother and Rebecca’s mother-in-law.
Zephlin had never liked his mother much.
Fabiola had been a submissive wife.
Whatever her patriarchal husband, Zachim Devonshire, said, she bowed obediently.
She even tried to impose that same obedient attitude on Zephlin.
‘A good son obeys his father. You must uphold the Count’s authority.’
Zephlin despised those words. Yet he still maintained basic respect toward his mother.
Except for her obsessive obedience to his father, Fabiola loved her son dearly.
But everything changed after Zephlin declared he would marry Rebecca.
He confessed, and Zachim flew into a rage.
‘Beautiful women exist everywhere! How dare you connect our family with some random lineage you’ve never known! There’s a princess in Fortina, perfect for you—marry her!’
As usual, Fabiola sided with Zachim, trying to persuade Zephlin.
Rebecca’s hatred of Fabiola began then.
‘I’ll have everything I want. Anyone who interferes will pay the price. Even if it’s my parents.’
Not long after, Count Zachim Devonshire died in a riding accident.
Fabiola instinctively knew her son had killed her husband.
Yet she wasn’t shocked.
She had long watched Zephlin’s fierce gaze whenever his father disciplined him.
She had vaguely anticipated that one day Zephlin might kill his father.
Thus, Fabiola’s obsessive fear naturally turned toward Zephlin.
To her, Rebecca was simply a rival to be eliminated.
Rebecca and Zephlin lived with Fabiola at the count’s estate for several years after their marriage.
The room Rebecca occupied was now Alicia’s.
During that time, Fabiola tormented Rebecca relentlessly.
Afraid of Zephlin’s revenge, she couldn’t harm Rebecca physically.
But mentally, she pushed her endlessly.
Having suffered at her husband’s hands all her life, Fabiola knew exactly how to torment someone.
Rebecca endured her harassment silently, never uttering a complaint.
Yet secrets never stayed hidden in the mansion.
Eventually, Fabiola’s misdeeds reached Zephlin’s ears through the hunting dogs.
He sent her far away. Technically, to a luxurious mansion in the capital, but for Rebecca, it was like breathing fresh air.
At first, Fabiola resisted, but she soon settled into the lavish city life.
Rumor had it she hosted nightly parties.
Yet she occasionally visited the mansion without warning.
Of course, such visits were never without reason.
‘Then this time, Alicia will be the target.’
If Rebecca alone was troublesome, Fabiola would be more anxious with Alicia involved.
Fabiola stayed up at night, fearing the two daughters-in-law might persuade Zephlin to cut off her financial support.
“Rebecca, just rest today.”
Zephlin, perched on the bed, whispered softly. He looked completely unfazed despite returning late last night.
“But I heard your mother is visiting today.”
“Seems the servants spread unnecessary rumors again. Doesn’t matter. You don’t need to see her.”
“So, will you meet her yourself?”
“Of course not. I have another wife, remember? Alicia.”
Zephlin spoke dryly, as if discussing someone else.
He lifted a lock of Rebecca’s hair and brought it to his nose.
He sighed, as if intoxicated by her natural scent.
“Ha… I hope you recover soon. Can you move your arm yet?”
“It’s still uncomfortable.”
Seeing Zephlin’s gaze devour her as if he could swallow her whole, Rebecca considered leaping from the rooftop next time.
“Oh, right. I prepared a gift for you.”
“A gift?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Zephlin lifted Rebecca into his arms and left the room. The servants paused, astonished, to see the master and his wife.
Rebecca, lying limp in Zephlin’s arms, adorned flawlessly from head to toe, looked like a finely crafted marionette.
It was humiliating.
She considered resisting but chose instead to remain in his arms, like a lioness silently submitting to a predator.
Outside the mansion, Zephlin seated Rebecca in a wheelchair that had been prepared.
“How’s that? Comfortable? You like walks, don’t you? The physician said lying down too long isn’t good.”
Rebecca glared at the wheelchair, decorated with various jewels.
A long chain was attached, only as far as the garden’s perimeter.
‘Of course.’
Zephlin explained:
“It’s the only handcrafted wheelchair in the empire. See the jewels? Not as beautiful as you, of course.”
Rebecca silently watched the golden-painted chain dangling below.
Zephlin knelt in front of her, bringing himself to her eye level, and scanned her face in the sunlight with rapt attention.
Rebecca looked back at him quietly.
‘The gaze I once loved…’
Her chest stirred briefly.
Her heart was already shattered in Zephlin’s hands, yet remnants of emotion still pierced her relentlessly.
He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Once you sit here, you’re free. You can go anywhere in the mansion.”
‘Free?’
That single word snapped Rebecca out of the near-sentimental trance.
He hadn’t changed. And he never would.
Even after countless reincarnations, the end with him would only be ruin.
A spark ignited in her eyes. The last remnants of feeling shattered like grains of sand into the void.
With a frostbitten winter expression, Rebecca said:
“Do you really think I look happy?”
Her blue eyes were cold as solid ice.
Zephlin rubbed his eyes, wondering if he misread her expression.
Fortunately, when he removed his hand, Rebecca returned to her gentle countess demeanor.
‘Just now…’
“Count!”
A servant hurried over.
Zephlin, annoyed at his time with Rebecca being interrupted, asked harshly:
“What is it?”
Seeing Zephlin’s grim expression, the servant flinched but continued:
“M-Madam Fabiola has arrived.”
“What terrible timing. Rebecca, let’s go inside. There’s nothing good to gain from meeting her.”
Rebecca paused, then shook her head.
“It’s fine. I’ve received such a wonderful gift; I must fulfill my duty as a wife. I’ll see my mother-in-law.”
