Shioana, who had stayed awake all night, called a maid as soon as dawn broke and asked her to bring the clothes she had been wearing.
The maid, wearing a troubled expression, soon called for someone, and Cedric found her. His silver hair covering his ears swayed, and the gold buttons on his white uniform gleamed.
"You asked for going-out clothes, right?"
"I feel much better now, so I think I should go back."
Duke Bernhard's rough face from yesterday was still vivid in her memory. It was a face that clearly detested her. She could even sense murderous intent in his expression, which seemed to say he was dying of rage.
'What could I have done so wrong?'
However, no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't find the reason.
"The doctor said that heat absorption requires further 'nutrition supplementation.'"
"I have to go back right away."
"It’s so special, isn’t it?”
Cedric chuckled as he looked down at Shioana, who had pulled the blanket up to her neck.
"You are a foreigner with no assets at all, aren't you?"
"... Yes."
It was a fact she was well aware of, but hearing the reality from someone else's mouth was truly painful.
"On top of that, you are supporting an elderly mother and a young son?"
Martha was not her mother, and Harriet was not her son either.
As Shioana fell silent, Cedric crossed his legs and examined her as if she were an interesting beast.
"Is His Excellency the Duke just peculiar in his taste, or is your clumsy scheme actually quite effective? If I were you, I would take this opportunity to sneak into the Duke's bedroom and..."
Cedric had a knack for telling embarrassing stories as if it were nothing.
"Well, I don't think everyone thinks that way."
"Well, I don't really trust it."
At his reply, Shioana bowed her head low.
Who would believe the words of someone who has come seeking compensation for a carriage accident? However, the misunderstanding between Cedric and Duke Bernhard did not matter.
"I just want to find the clothes I was wearing."
“What next?”
"I have to go back home."
“Ah! That house?”
Cedric lightly patted his knee and nodded as if he understood. Although she seemed to grasp the nuance, Shioana tried to ignore it and turned away completely.
"I think it will be difficult to return that dress. The maid accidentally burned it slightly."
"...What?"
Though very worn, it was a precious dress made by Martha in Regbell. Shioana was startled and tightened her grip on the blanket, but he stood up.
"Don't worry. I'll get you a new dress."
Humming a tune, Cedric disappeared, and a moment later, a maid really did bring a new dress. It was a luxurious dress made of fabric as blue as her eyes.
She really didn't want to accept it, but she couldn't possibly go back in just a chemise. After putting on the dress with the maid's help, she saw an unfamiliar face in the mirror.
"You are beautiful."
The maid could not help but admire Shioana's beauty, wearing the blue dress and her hair styled in an updo.
"Was it you who fed me porridge when I was sick?"
Shioana asked, recalling the porridge and medicine she had eaten; the maid, scratching her head, nodded.
"Since I am still an apprentice, I must have had many inconveniences."
"No, not at all. I should be the one apologizing. Thank you for taking such good care of me."
Serving her, who lived in District 8, must have been no ordinary task. If the maid had the means, she would have wanted to repay her in some way, but she had nothing at the moment.
As Shioana finished roughly getting ready and stood up to step outside, she heard whispering around her.
"Don't mind it. Aside from Viscount Conrad, hardly any guests visit the mansion, so everyone is just curious."
A maid following behind her quietly explained.
Shioana intended to return the way she had come.
Living in District 8 was mostly hopeless, but there were good times occasionally. Knowing that they were on each other's side because they were poor, they gave each other free rides in the cart.
"His Excellency might be angry if he finds out that you left without even saying goodbye."
Shioana's shoulders stiffened at the words the maid spat out just as she was about to descend the stairs. It was nothing unusual, as Duke Bernhard always got angry at her.
'That's why I want to go back sooner.'
Now, she could escape this place by simply going through the long corridor and opening the large door. The massive mansion resembled its owner exactly, suffocating her. Except for the times she was unconscious from illness, she felt nothing but discomfort the entire time.
'Still, just once...'
It was when she turned her head, wanting to take in the memories of this place she would never visit again.
"Are you running away like a stray cat?"
She met the eyes of Duke Bernhard as he slowly descended the stairs to the second floor, holding onto the railing. She could have avoided him if she had hurried as much as possible, but her feet wouldn't budge, as if under a spell.
"I will repay the favor I received when the opportunity arises."
The Duke, standing before Shioana, wore an expressionless face, having erased all traces of the previous night's disarray. He was dressed in a black shirt and trousers, and had a jeweled sword strapped to his waist.
The knee-high boots gleamed as always, and a short cape made of sable stars was draped over the shoulders.
"So, what about the thank you?"
“Thank you.”
He grabbed Shioana's jaw forcefully with his black-gloved hand.
"Surely you didn't hide something like a silver candlestick inside that dress, did you?"
The Duke's gaze seemed to briefly touch Shioana's exposed neckline before quickly stepping back. First a gold digger, a blackmailer, and a swindler, and now even a thief.
'How much more miserable do he intend to make me?'
She grew up seeing from birth how cruel nobles could be to someone like her. However, now that Shioana is actually in that situation, she cannot express how ashamed she feels.
"If you are so suspicious, would you like to check for yourself, my lord?"
As Shioana bit her lip tightly and challenged him in a vulgar tone, the Duke's face contorted, as if he had just realized how different his position was from hers.
"Now! Take a look. See if there are any candlesticks or plates..."
As Shioana moved closer to him and acted as if she were about to lift her dress, the Duke's face turned pale.
"Doing such a thing without any sense of dignity....."
As the Duke whispered softly, Shioana chuckled. It wasn't that she wasn't ashamed of doing this. But it was a hundred times better than being mistaken for a thief.
"Sir, saving face doesn't put food on the table."
Shioana, wearing a faint smile, bowed politely.
"I shall be going now."
Just as Shioana was about to turn her back, his short words stopped her.
"Stop right there."
"Why do you want me to stop?"
Shioana's blue eyes, staring at the Duke, were burning with rage.
"It is the same principle as when I offered you compensation for a carriage accident when I had done nothing wrong. If a pauper collapsed in my garden and then collapsed again on the way home, the resentment would inevitably fall on me."
Shioana opened her mouth wide at the story, which sounded all too familiar.
'I, a person of social standing, cannot simply abandon such a young child irresponsibly.'
These were the words her deceased father had spoken when he brought back Etienne, whom he had nearly hit in a carriage accident. He felt pride in his actions until the day he died, claiming that a nobleman had shown mercy by taking in a pitiful slave with nowhere to go.
'It wasn't really an act of kindness for the sake of others...'
Both parties shouldn't show mercy for the sake of self-satisfaction.
"I will not resent you, my lord, even if I die."
"Are you turning my words into a request?"
"I have nothing to say."
"You can't even afford to go back, can you?"
Shioana glared intently so as not to be intimidated by the Duke's disregard.
It was then.
There was a slight commotion outside, and the butler conveyed a message to the Duke.
"Master, a carriage has arrived outside to take this person away."
The Duke was not the only one surprised by the butler's words.
Shioana tilted her head, not knowing on earth what was going on. She had never made a wealthy friend in Tabria who could send her a carriage.
To be honest, she couldn't properly date anyone. That is because she had to live hiding the fact that she was Shioana Evgenia. So, whenever she met a stranger, she would just make up a vague excuse.
'My father passed away, so I need to earn money. I came here because I was told to go to Tabria to become rich.'
Because there were so many foreigners flocking to District 8, no one paid much attention to Shiona.
'Who is it?'
Just then, the large door opened, and a long shadow stretched out. Several maids blushed at the sight of the man who slowly revealed himself.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, and whenever he moved, the white shirt he wore twitched due to his bulging muscles. His glossy black hair swayed, and a mischievous look filled his dark eyes.
He stood in front of Shioana and held out his hand.
"Let's hurry up. The baby has been crying the whole time, so it's giving me a headache too."
"...Raul."
Duke Bernhard's eyes sharpened at the strange man's name that came out of Shioana's mouth.
"Your Excellency, I apologize for the late greeting."
Raul roughly took off the turban he was wearing, clutched it, and greeted her half-heartedly. Then, he immediately grabbed Shioana's hand and dragged her to the carriage.
Soon the carriage doors closed, and it departed without a moment's delay. The butler standing at the entrance of the Bernhard mansion spoke to the master standing beside him.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"What is the reason I'm not okay?"
At the master's somewhat curt tone, the butler hurriedly left the room.
Duke Bernhard, left all alone, stared for a long time at the carriage just leaving his territory.
“That’s really funny.”
A sigh like a lament escaped.
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