One day in April, when the spirit of spring is in full bloom everywhere.
The funeral of Viscount Evgenia was held.
Standing alongside the few mourners, Shioana quietly watched as her father's coffin was buried in the ground. Earth covered Shioana's eyes as she wore a hat draped in a black veil, and soon a priest recited a eulogy for the deceased.
"I hope Twine Evgenia, a devoted husband and good father, leaves to be with Diana and finds peace."
'...You were never a good father.'
Shioana muttered to herself as she glared at the deeply buried coffin.
Since the body could not be recovered, that high-quality wooden coffin contained Viscount Evgenia's staff and clothes.
"Shioana, are you alright?"
"... It's okay."
She was so absorbed in one thought that she momentarily forgot that Count Noah had attended the funeral.
He was now claiming to be the best friend of the Evgenia family. He had rescued all those high-ranking officials and clergy from Highbell.
"Count, I cannot express how grateful I am for your help."
As Eli, standing to Shioana's left, sent a look of deep emotion, Count Noah quietly shook his head.
"We are not strangers, so let's keep such greetings to ourselves, Viscount Evgenia."
'...Ah.'
Shioana opened her eyes wide at Count Noah's voice.
Now that her father had passed away, everything in Regbell belonged to Eli. That Regbell Mountain and the bushes, the old mansion and all the servants, and even her—Shioana, clutching her black dress tightly, hurriedly surveyed her surroundings. In the distance, black hair was fluttering in the wind from behind a tree.
'... Etienne.'
***
As the funeral was held in a solemn atmosphere, fine raindrops scattered. Eli, clad in a black suit, had his blue eyes touch the coffin for a moment before fixating on Regbell's mansion. He frowned at its hideous, dilapidated exterior.
'Now I have to take responsibility for this place. '
He couldn't just sit around grieving his father's sudden death. The underdeveloped Regbell needed change. Carrying that out smoothly required a large sum of money.
'Damn Marquis Demory!'
He swallowed a curse in secret as he looked at the rain stain on the gleaming toes of his shoes. He thought that if he just married Elizabeth Demory, the Marquis would have no choice but to accept the two of them.
That makes sense, since Elizabeth was the Marquis's only blood relative.
However, upon hearing the news of their marriage, the Marquis expelled Elizabeth from the family, far from offering gifts or congratulations.
'Eliminate Elizabeth Demory's name from the will.'
That was the only letter Eli officially received from the Demory family.
'So you're saying I don't meet your standards?'
Eli felt a mixture of defeat and anger upon reading the Marquis Demory's letter. In the end, Elizabeth Demory had become completely useless. It was truly unbearable to watch a long, carefully crafted plan crumble in an instant.
'What should I do with you now? Huh?'
He nagged Elizabeth relentlessly for a whole month, hoping that the situation might change if she got pregnant. However, far from getting pregnant, Elizabeth just kept crying.
'Eli, please turn off the light.'
Dealing with her, who trembled with embarrassment and collapsed at the slightest provocation, was truly annoying. Now that Elizabeth’s plans had gone awry, the only thing left was marriage to Pierre Noah and Shioana.
'I need to move their wedding date forward a little.'
Seeing how he was paying attention even to the funeral, Count Noah was undoubtedly deeply smitten with Shioana. All that remained was to deal with that audacious woman standing beside him.
'She can't do anything without a man...'
To think she dared to even try to think for herself was dumbfounding.
Since Shioana had said she wouldn't marry until recently, it was highly likely she would say the same thing to Count Noah sooner or later.
Growing anxious, Eli clenched his fists tightly and glared at Shioana, whose face was covered by a veil.
***
Shioana, who had been tracking traces of Etienne visible beyond the veil, felt a severe headache. Due to her father's sudden passing and the hastily proceeding funeral, she hadn't even been able to drink a proper sip of water.
'I wish the funeral would end soon.'
All she wanted to do after the ceremony was over was run to Etienne. Standing between Eli and Count Noah, she felt suffocated. As she bit her lip tightly, a smile flickered across Count Noah's face as he watched her.
'Is it for the best that she lost her father?'
Having him as a reliable pillar of support now, when she has nowhere else to turn, must be a great blessing for her. Shioana, clad in a black dress, exuded a mysterious aura.
The slender shoulder line exuded a melancholic aura, while the buttons fastened all the way to the neck evoked an ascetic atmosphere.
'I'm telling you, I want to take you to bed right now.'
He was acting all dignified, but whenever he saw Shioana, he felt an urge to trample on her. As he imagined her face weeping loudly while kneeling beneath him, he instantly felt dizzy with excitement.
'The day is not far off when I will become the master of a woman as pure as snow.'
Finally, the clergyman’s eulogy came to an end, and the rain stopped. A crow that had been sitting on a withered old tree flew up into the sky and cawed loudly.
***
Regbell's drawing room.
After finishing entertaining all the guests who had come to pay their respects at the funeral, Eli slumped onto the sofa. He tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but his mind was so cluttered that his eyes were bloodshot.
"Joseph, bring me some strong liquor."
Eli, gazing at the red glow of the stove, examined the bundle of letters one by one.
Every single piece of news was despairing. There were stacks of demand letters for repayment, lists detailing the losses incurred from his father's merchant ship being wrecked, and the total amount of money owed.
It was an enormous sum that could not be covered even if the entire Regbell estate and mansion were handed over.
"At this rate, we all have no choice but to die."
Sending Shioana away as soon as possible was the top priority, as planned.
"...Shit!"
Eli crumpled the letter he was holding and tossed it into the raging flames. Watching the paper instantly engulfed in the fire and turn to ash, he hurriedly gulped down his drink. The rent for the house in Highbell and the expenses for the employees were just as burdensome.
"...Wait, what is this?"
He unfolded the newspaper he had placed on the table and came across an interesting article.
Inside a fairly large square box that began with the phrase 'Looking for a person,' there was some interesting content. It stated that they were searching for the heir to the Duke's family who had been kidnapped by an assailant.
The name or description didn't match exactly. After all, the person they were looking for was blonde.
"But red eyes... that bothers me."
In the Caspian Empire, red eyes were considered ominous, but the situation was different in the Urcheka Empire. Only members of the royal family or nobles of high blood could possess red eyes.
'...No way.'
Eli slowly stroked his chin as he thought of that unlucky slave. It wasn't entirely impossible. Blocking his sword swings was a testament to his skill, and for a mere slave, he had never once seen him grovel before.
"But why was the hair of Duke Urcheka looking like a beggar here?"
Although there were still many illogical parts, Eli smirked as he checked the reward amount. He had nothing to lose, so there was no reason not to give it a try. He had considered killing the slave right then and there, but he would have to postpone it for a while.
"Fine, I have to do whatever it takes for the family."
He remembered what his father had said when he left, leaving behind nothing but debt.
'You've always wanted a younger brother, haven't you? When Shioana was little, she even cried asking why she wasn't a boy, but isn't it good that she now has someone to hang out with like that, even if it's just now?'
His father had told him to live like a brother with that lowly slave. He raised his glass toward the portrait of his father, whom he resented as much as he respected.
“Rest in peace.”
***
After holding the funeral, Regbell was soon seized by a sense of silence.
The sound of the ball music and the guests' laughter sometimes felt like a mirage on a summer day in a carriage. Shioana, wearing a brush, was walking aimlessly across a field where the grass had grown quite tall. Her mind was very cluttered.
Eli, who had a sharp gaze, seemed busy with something every day. Sensing a bad omen, Shioana secretly used the bag.
'I need to hurry.'
Count Noah, who had come to the funeral, did not hide the fact that he was giving her a blatant look.
'I will be eagerly looking forward to the time we can spend together soon.'
She got goosebumps as she recalled the greeting left while kissing the back of her hand. After walking for a while, she reached the cave where she had taken shelter from the rain before.
'It was probably the first day Mrs. Hooper came to teach.'
She had come here to escape the sudden downpour after going out for a walk as a form of defiance against her brother. Shioana, leaning roughly against the entrance of the cave, raised her hand and caressed her lips.
'It was really beautiful.'
Etienne's wet bangs clung tightly to his forehead, and his red eyes were filled with Regbell. Moist lips beneath his sharp nose captivated her gaze. She felt strangely shy just looking at him.
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