TLMS 29

Chapter 29

My heart dropped.

When did she get here? How much of what Ian and I said did she hear?

From Eugenia’s expression alone, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

I decided not to speak first and offer any unnecessary excuses. I needed to figure out how much she knew.

Ian’s room and Eugenia’s room were side by side, and I’d heard that their windows had originally been connected by a single balcony. But since the building was old and had undergone repairs, the balcony had been split into two, leaving them separated as they were now.

That was probably more convenient. In the west wing, where the family lived, it wouldn’t be an issue—but in the east wing, where guests stayed, having connected balconies between rooms could cause problems.

If the balconies had still been connected, Edward would never have given his niece the room next to Ian’s.

Still, since the balconies had originally been one, they were close enough that you could easily face each other and talk if you stepped near the neighboring window.

I quickly grabbed the feather duster and hand cloth I had prepared in advance and pretended to clean the window diligently. I had no idea whether this hastily improvised act would work, but I had to come up with some kind of excuse.

Honestly, it would have been smarter to pretend I had finished cleaning and slip out of the room—but for some reason, I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to know what Eugenia would say, how much she had heard, and how much she had figured out.

Eugenia glanced back and forth between Ian and me with an intrigued expression, then spoke as if nothing was amiss.

“Count Fenwood, you seem quite close with the maid in charge of your room.”

“Miss Eugenia.”

Ian, who had barely regained his composure, replied in a calm voice.

“You’ve returned early. I heard you would be attending the dance party at the Hayes residence and coming back late at night.”

“That was the plan.”

Eugenia lifted one corner of her lips slightly.

“You might think I enjoy dancing, since I’ve been going to all these parties lately. But actually, I don’t like parties that much, and I’m not very good at dancing either. But you know how it is.”

“How so?”

“When someone tells you not to do something, it just makes you want to do it even more. In the Plenigan family, they say it’s improper for a woman to chase after parties and enjoy dancing. So naturally, that makes me want to do it even more.

If they had encouraged it instead—said something like, ‘Dancing at parties is a virtue for a woman’—then I probably would have never gone to one.”

Honestly, I could understand how she felt.

“I enjoyed watching my uncles’ faces twist every time I insisted on going. So I plan to cause even more trouble from now on.”

“Trouble?”

“You know exactly what I mean, so there’s no need to ask. For instance, having a conversation like this with you, Count, is something a woman of the Plenigan family should never do.”

She cleared her throat, then deliberately changed her tone.

“‘A proper lady of the Plenigan family does not speak privately with a man. It is enough to answer politely and quietly in public gatherings. A woman who speaks loudly or laughs freely is disgraceful.’”

From her tone, it was obvious she was imitating her mother, Helen. Her exaggerated delivery made it sound rather ridiculous.

“It’s a shame the elders of the household can’t see me causing trouble right now.”

“By the way, did you come alone? I heard you went to the dance party with Miss Jane.”

Ian smoothly changed the subject. Eugenia laughed brightly.

“Jane loves dance parties. You should have seen her, Count! Why didn’t you come? I heard the Hayes family invited you.”

“I’m rather clumsy myself, so I can’t dance.”

“You don’t look clumsy at all.”

“I simply avoid dancing so as not to shatter that image.”

“If you had seen Jane tonight, you would have been amazed. She moved so lightly, like she was floating! And that new pink dress—she looked stunning. Everyone, men and women alike, had their eyes on her. I wish my uncles could have seen it!”

Eugenia chuckled.

“She was enjoying herself so much that I didn’t want to get in her way. So I told her to come back later and left on my own.”

“Even if you don’t dance, you wouldn’t be in the way.”

“Well, it’s not just because I can’t dance.”

She glanced down at her outfit. She was dressed exactly as she had been when she first arrived at the Plenigan estate—wearing trousers and leather shoes.

She went to a dance party dressed like that?

I was stunned by her boldness. Even in a less restrictive household, such attire would have been considered outrageous. The only place where it might have been acceptable was a masquerade.

“I didn’t mind not being asked to dance. The men there were all dull anyway, so I didn’t expect much. It would have been nice if even half of them resembled you, Count.”

“Men of my caliber aren’t exactly common.”

Hearing that from behind, I couldn’t help but feel a bit incredulous.

Ian, everything else is fine, but could you at least tone down that arrogance?

Of course, if I pointed it out, he’d probably respond with something absurd like, “When an incompetent person boasts, it’s hypocrisy—but when a competent person does, it’s simply stating facts.”

“But what really bothered me,” Eugenia continued, “was the way they whispered behind my back—‘No matter how much the world changes, a woman acting like a man is disgraceful.’ Honestly, isn’t that kind of behavior more disgraceful?

Sometimes I think it’s better to be like my uncles and say things outright instead of hiding and gossiping.

I got so irritated that I made an excuse about having a headache and came back early.”

“The world is certainly changing…”

Ian spoke thoughtfully.

“But there are still many who cannot keep up with those changes.”

“Or those who refuse to accept them at all—like the Plenigan family.”

Eugenia stretched as if relieved.

“Still, it makes me happy to think Jane is enjoying the party in my place. Poor Jane—she loves dancing so much, yet she’s barely had the chance to attend any proper parties until now.

Oh, and I told a little lie to Jane and the maids. Uncle Edward said I had to return by nine, but I told her I got permission to stay until midnight.

I might get scolded tomorrow, but who cares? Tomorrow’s problems can wait. Tonight is for enjoying myself! It’s not like I’ll get another chance like this.”

She spun around playfully, dancing on the spot. Judging by her movements, her earlier claim that she couldn’t dance was clearly just an excuse.

More than that, I liked how she defied the rigid traditions of the Plenigan family. It would have been easier to comply with the elders and avoid trouble—just as Jane and Delia had done.

But Eugenia had chosen a different path. And she was even stirring change among her cousins. Her claim that she had come to change the Plenigan family might not have been an empty one.

“La la la… I’ll head in and rest now. Have a pleasant evening, Count!”

With that, Eugenia twirled away and disappeared through her window.

At the same time, Ian and I both let out a sigh.

“She didn’t find out, right?”

I whispered.

“It’s hard to read Miss Eugenia.”

Ian whispered back.

“I think we’re safe for now, but we should be cautious for a while. I’ll refrain from speaking to you for some time—Elly! How long are you going to keep cleaning that window?”

Ian suddenly raised his voice, and though I flinched, I immediately understood what was happening without turning around.

“Now that the fireworks are over, won’t it be cold if you stay out on the balcony?”

Eugenia was peeking her head out the window again.

Ian forced a smile.

“I was just about to go inside. Elly seemed disappointed about not attending the festival, so I allowed her to watch the fireworks while cleaning the balcony. But it seems the fireworks ended long ago, and she still hasn’t finished.”

“Oh dear, a maid slacking off on her duties—that won’t do. But you know, Count…”

Eugenia looked between Ian and me.

“It seems you’re quite kind to your other servants, but particularly strict with Elly.”

Without waiting for a response, she slipped back into her room.

Ian and I retreated into his room from the balcony.

“She didn’t really catch us, did she?”

“I’m not sure. Acting like that… isn’t as easy as it looks.”

Ian sighed.

I gathered the cleaning tools and left his room. I glanced briefly at Eugenia’s closed door, but I couldn’t begin to guess what she was thinking inside.

If she noticed something and starts talking, we’re in serious trouble…

But that worry was completely forgotten the next day.

At dawn, Jane returned from the dance party—only to be found at the stairs of the west wing, her neck broken after falling, her body discovered as a corpse.