Charlotte Deilang returned directly to her bedroom and called for her maid.

Snowel, who was opening a box and preparing something inside, flinched and bowed her head upon seeing Charlotte.

“Have you finished everything I told you to do?”

“…Yes.”

What Snowel had been preparing was golden hair dye.

As she cautiously held out the contents of the box, Charlotte stepped closer,

intending to examine what was inside.

But Snowel, already frightened, instinctively stepped backward.

Seeing this, Charlotte smiled and gently stroked Snowel’s head.

“Why are you so scared? I already told you—there won’t be any problem as long as you do as I say.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”

Yet those words sounded as if everyone except Snowel would not be fine at all.

But it was already too late to defy Charlotte’s orders.

Snowel bore dark scars from childhood burns, hidden in secret places across her body.

They were marks of past abuse—long healed, yet occasionally resurfacing with unbearable pain, as if painful memories had come alive once more.

Snowel had desperately concealed this truth while working as a maid in Growen Castle.

Thus, it was a pain known only to her—until Charlotte discovered it.

‘I’ll help you.’

Those few words had redefined the relationship between Charlotte and Snowel.

The power of the Saintess from the outside world erased Snowel’s suffering.

Though the scars remained, the searing, burning pain throughout her body had vanished.

‘Thank you so much.’

Snowel sincerely thanked Charlotte for this kindness given without any demand in return.

She had no idea, not even in her dreams, how she could ever repay such an unearned favor.

Each time she failed to obey Charlotte’s words, the agony of her burning scars vividly returned.

No—this pain was even more terrible than before. When she could no longer endure the torment, as if being scorched by a torch, Charlotte appeared.

Then, with a gentle smile, she simply asked:

‘Will you do what I ask now?’

It was the face of a demon more beautiful than an angel.

Tears streaming down her face, Snowel could only nod.

Snowel hadn’t failed to try escaping Charlotte’s shadow. But seeking help from others was impossible.

Each time she attempted to speak of Charlotte, that horrifying pain would defiantly flare up again.

Snowel silently stepped aside. There, a dressing table had been prepared.

“Everything is ready.”

“Good. I’ll leave it to you.”

Snowel took her place behind Charlotte, who sat down on the stool in front of the dressing table.

Charlotte’s silver hair, like moonlight, was naturally beautiful. Snowel gently combed it and then carefully applied the golden dye.

The strong, distinctive scent of the dye made one grimace. Yet Charlotte, looking at her reflection in the mirror, wore a radiant smile.

The Duchess had disappeared, and only her younger sister had returned alone. This gap stirred suspicion in Snowel.

“Why are you staring so intently?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

She realized she had stopped applying the dye and had been gazing at the mirror without noticing.

Hastily resuming, Snowel continued the pretense. In the mirror, Charlotte silently smiled.

Over time, while living under Charlotte’s control, Snowel had realized one thing: that lovely smile followed a certain pattern.

‘I must say something.’

Otherwise, she might be punished again. Desperate to think of an excuse, Snowel’s eyes fell on the necklace Charlotte was wearing.

“That necklace… it’s beautiful. I think it suits you very well, Miss.”

“This one?”

Charlotte lifted the necklace. The dazzling gemstone was indeed magnificent.

Snowel quickly nodded, and Charlotte burst into laughter.

“Ah, ahahaha.”

Charlotte laughed uproariously, her beautiful face twisted in wild mirth. Flustered, Snowel hurriedly asked:

“W-why are you laughing? Did I make a mistake…?”

Could Charlotte possibly think she, a mere maid, was coveting such a precious necklace?

As Snowel broke into a cold sweat, Charlotte continued giggling, even wiping tears from her eyes before replying.

“So it really is true?”

“What?”

“You said this necklace suits me well, didn’t you?”

“Of course. It suits you more than anyone else in the world.”

Fortunately, Charlotte didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

Relieved, Snowel poured on the praise. Charlotte gently stroked the gem and murmured:

“You have a good eye, don’t you? This necklace was prepared especially for me.”

Could there be a special power hidden within this glittering necklace?

She briefly entertained the thought, but quickly dismissed it—it wasn’t her concern.

What mattered was sensing the mood well enough to avoid suffering in the moment.

Snowel was holding her breath when suddenly Charlotte grasped her wrist.

“This is my reward for pleasing me.”

“Haa…!”

Again. That mysterious power—both comforting and tormenting.

Beyond the ice wall, they called this power “divine grace.” Thankfully, this time it brought no pain.

Smiling, Charlotte patted Snowel’s back.

“Some of your scars should be gone now. You can check right away if you’d like.”

At those words, Snowel’s eyes trembled.

Immediately, right in front of Charlotte, she examined her body and confirmed that the burn scar on her inner thigh had vanished.

‘It really disappeared.’

Though it had been the smallest of the scars left on her body, it had been one of the darkest—so much so that she had never even dared to hope it could be erased.

The mere thought that such a power existed—one capable of erasing scars at will—sent chills down her spine.

But on the other hand, the being before her was like a divine figure who could erase every single scar on Snowel’s body.

‘If all these scars were gone, maybe I could be…’

The man who had taken her virginity had left her, disgusted by her burn marks.

Since then, she had never shown her scars to anyone.

The scars were Snowel’s only flaw. If they disappeared, perhaps she could become flawless.

“Keep doing this from now on.”

“Thank you so much.”

Though many scars still remained, the thought that they might soon vanish made her heart race.

Yet, unlike the maid dreaming of a rosy future, Charlotte—the one who had healed her—was thinking of something entirely different.

“Hmm, I wonder if my sister heard what you said.”

“Your Highness?”

Snowel’s eyes widened at the sudden mention of the Duchess. But Charlotte casually waved her hand.

“No, it’s nothing. I was just curious—how would my sister have reacted if she had overheard you?”

Snowel couldn’t understand even half of what Charlotte was saying.

Just then, time was up. Snowel escorted Charlotte into the bathroom.

Warm streams of water thoroughly washed Charlotte’s hair.

When the golden dye had completely rinsed away and she looked into the mirror, Charlotte’s once-silver hair had transformed into a bright, radiant blonde.

Charlotte gazed at her reflection with evident satisfaction.

After giving her body a final rinse and stepping out, she chose a neat dress—making her appearance even more convincing.

Charlotte was still looking into the mirror when Marian, who had come to deliver a message to Snowel, happened to witness the scene.

“Your Highness?”

Startled by Charlotte’s back, Marian dropped what she was holding.

But then, seeing Charlotte’s face reflected in the mirror, she realized it wasn’t Yerpi.

“I’m sorry. I momentarily mistook you…”

Marian hurriedly picked up the dropped item and apologized. Charlotte walked toward her with a faint smile.

“No, it’s fine. In fact, I rather like that kind of mistake.”

Marian stood there, dazed. Smiling faintly, Charlotte called out to Snowel.

“I’m a bit hungry. I’ll go to the dining hall and have something to eat. Snowel, come with me.”

“Would you like me to bring food separately if you’re inconvenienced?”

“No. I’d rather go myself.”

Snowel silently followed, as Charlotte’s words demanded.

Before leaving the room, Charlotte glanced at the mirror one last time, brushing back her long golden hair as she murmured:

“Blonde isn’t bad at all.”

She said it with a voice brimming with satisfaction.

***

Two days later. Strange rumors began circulating through Autumn Castle.

Rumors that the Duchess, who had supposedly gone missing, had returned.

But to those who had actually lost her, it was completely unheard of.

Yet unaware of this fact, the maids of Autumn Castle merely repeated what they had heard.

“The Duchess has returned.”

“What wonderful news.”

But their conversation didn’t last long.

“What are you talking about?”

Raymond Growen, passing by the corridor at that moment, heard an unbelievable rumor for the first time.