A vast field spread out in front of the villa surrounded by a rather lush forest.

The figure of a woman crouching by a stream flowing through the middle of the field came into view.

Even from behind, it was immediately recognizable. That person over there was the Countess Zimmer.

After the death of Princess Trinity, Countess Zimmer had stayed only in this villa visible before her.

The reason for choosing this place as the location for house arrest rather than the Zimmer estate seemed clear.

Countess Zimmer particularly loved rugosa roses among flowers, and she had once said that at this time of year, rugosa roses bloom profusely at the Zimmer family’s villa.

Along with saying that she would like to take a vacation to the villa with Her Highness the Princess someday if the opportunity arose.

‘So this is how we end up coming here.’

A sneer crossed Jieselgrante’s face as she recalled that memory.

“The rugosa roses bloomed early this year.”

As Jieselgrante approached and spoke, Countess Zimmer slowly rose from her seat.

“……”

Countess Zimmer’s eyes were filled with wariness as she looked at Jieselgrante.

She was probably thinking about why Duke Amaterasu’s daughter had come all the way here to find her.

Jieselgrante casually sat down in front of the rugosa roses that Countess Zimmer had been looking at until just now and plucked a single flower.

Countess Zimmer gasped and glared at Jieselgrante.

“What are you doing now…!”

“Please enjoy it comfortably.”

Jieselgrante held out the rugosa rose in her hand to Countess Zimmer.

The freshly plucked flower was vibrant, but it was clear that it would wither soon.

“Give it… here.”

Countess Zimmer snatched the single flower that had been ruthlessly plucked from Jieselgrante’s hand. Then she added:

“Now I see you’re not just stupid.”

“Do you know me that well, my lady?”

When Jieselgrante asked, Countess Zimmer, who had frowned as if about to retort, pressed her lips shut again.

Then, as if she didn’t want to deal with her, she turned her body away. It seemed she was about to enter the villa.

“There are more flowers left here to pluck…”

Jieselgrante casually blurted out while looking at the flowers blooming in the field.

At that, Countess Zimmer’s steps towards the villa came to an abrupt halt.

“…What business do you have in seeking me out?”

Countess Zimmer said, turning to look at Jieselgrante.

“I have something I want to ask.”

“You… want to ask me?”

Countess Zimmer, who had been looking at Jieselgrante as if she couldn’t understand at all, soon opened her mouth.

“Ah… What, did you come to find me to receive an apology for past events? I’m sorry. Is that enough now?”

This time, Jieselgrante’s fine brow furrowed slightly.

Trinity did have reason to receive an apology from Countess Zimmer.

After all, she had deceived Trinity and acted as a spy for the Empress.

However, she didn’t know that there had been anything in the past for which she should apologize to Jieselgrante.

Jieselgrante decided to set aside the past events between the two of them for now and spoke.

“An apology without sincerity is meaningless.”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“Try getting on your knees and begging. Who knows, my mind might change.”

Jieselgrante deliberately provoked Countess Zimmer with a faint smile.

Countess Zimmer, whose tightly clenched fists were trembling, turned her body back towards the villa.

“I’m under house arrest, so causing a disturbance would be troublesome. Do as you please, whether you trample the flowers to death or pluck them all.”

“You seem to think I can only pluck flowers.”

Jieselgrante spoke while suppressing her emotions as much as possible.

Once again, Countess Zimmer stopped her steps towards the villa and turned towards her.

“What… do you mean by that?”

“A threat.”

“What…?”

“I’m openly threatening you. With Countess Zimmer’s life at stake.”

Jieselgrante twisted one corner of her mouth into a crooked smile.

At that, Countess Zimmer retreated slightly with a slightly frightened expression.

Jieselgrante closed the distance as much as she had retreated and added:

“Trinity, First Princess of the Peisis Empire.”

“…!”

The moment that name was mentioned from Jieselgrante’s lips, Countess Zimmer’s pupils began to shake violently.

From that reaction, she was certain that Countess Zimmer was connected to Princess Trinity’s death.

“Now, do you feel like having a serious conversation with me?”

Countess Zimmer, who had been looking around warily, moved towards the villa and said:

“Let’s… talk inside for now.”

Seated across from Countess Zimmer at a table near the fireplace inside the villa, Jieselgrante glanced around the interior.

The villa’s interior was quite simple, seemingly furnished with only the essentials needed for living.

The viola above the fireplace could be considered the greatest decoration.

When Jieselgrante’s gaze fell on the embroidery on the table, Countess Zimmer quickly hid it.

Among Trinity’s maids, Countess Zimmer was particularly poor at handicrafts.

‘Her skills are still the same.’

Ending her brief observation, Jieselgrante spoke with an expressionless face.

“I hear there will soon be a trial for Baroness Oppenheimer.”

At Jieselgrante’s statement, Countess Zimmer’s bony, thin hand with prominent knuckles trembled slightly.

“Why are you bringing that up to me specifically?”

“Both Baroness Oppenheimer and Countess Zimmer were maids to Princess Trinity, weren’t you? You shared joys and sorrows for years, yet you don’t seem to be worried that your fellow maid might die…”

“What exactly do you want to hear?”

“If you know anything about Princess Trinity’s death, I’d like you to quietly tell just me.”

“…I don’t know anything. I wasn’t even there that day. Above all, I don’t understand why Duke Amaterasu’s daughter is curious about this.”

Jieselgrante couldn’t help but snort at Countess Zimmer’s brazen attitude.

“You didn’t know that Princess Trinity had a hidden helper, did you?”

“…!”

Only then did Countess Zimmer show a startled expression. However, she soon regained her composure and said:

“Ah, you want to say that Duke Amaterasu’s daughter was that hidden helper, is that it? So what? What are you going to do about it? Princess Trinity is already dead.”

“……”

“Whatever the reason for her death, there’s no one left to avenge Princess Trinity. With no mother or family to protect her interests, it’s futile to dig up that incident now.”

Jieselgrante mulled over one word that Countess Zimmer had uttered.

‘Avenge?’

Usually, revenge is expressed as repaying what was done to someone.

So Countess Zimmer had just as good as confessed.

That Princess Trinity needed revenge. And that there was no one left to avenge her. So don’t bother getting involved.

“Can you testify to those words in court?”

“…What did you say?”

A faint smile appeared on Jieselgrante’s face as Countess Zimmer met her gaze with a snort, as if to say that wouldn’t be possible.

It was a perfectly predictable reaction. Though she hadn’t expected such a smooth confession.

“So what, are there more of Princess Trinity’s helpers?”

Whatever thoughts had crossed her mind in that brief moment, Countess Zimmer suddenly changed her attitude as if flipping her palm and asked.

“Tell me. Who knows? If you give me information, I might offer some worthy information in return.”

“No. I’ve gotten everything I needed from you.”

Jieselgrante rose from her seat with a much brighter expression. Then she turned towards the exit.

“Wait a moment! What do you mean you got something from me?”

Countess Zimmer jumped up from her seat and blurted out urgently, and Jieselgrante, standing in front of the door, turned to look back.

“The word ‘revenge’ is usually used when repaying something that was done to someone. Isn’t that right?”

Countess Zimmer, who had been blinking with furrowed brows, belatedly gasped.

It seemed she had just realized her slip of the tongue from earlier.

Towards Countess Zimmer, who was glaring at her with an anxious expression, Jieselgrante added one more thing.

“Thank you. For giving me a chance to turn around an unfavorable trial.”

And just as she was about to turn and leave the villa,

Ola, who was walking into the villa, bowed slightly to Jieselgrante and approached Countess Zimmer, saying:

“Young lady. I’m back. Oh… We have a guest.”

After briefly observing Countess Zimmer’s reaction, Ola continued.

“Should I prepare some tea?”

Jieselgrante quietly shook her head and said:

“My business is already finished.”

“Ah, I see. Then take care on your way.”

Ola bowed slightly towards Jieselgrante and approached Countess Zimmer, chattering:

“Young lady, today let’s go to the busy street and…”

Jieselgrante, who had briefly glanced in that direction, soon moved towards the waiting carriage.

She had stirred things up once, so now the rest was up to Ola.

The gentle breeze coming through the open carriage window softly ruffled her golden hair, tickling the tip of her nose and cheeks.

Tucking her wind-tousled golden hair behind her ear, Jieselgrante continued to gaze at the world outside the carriage.

Like a changing picture in a frame, the scenery of the square and bustling streets quickly receded.

As a massive stone building drew closer through the window, the carriage’s speed gradually decreased.

When Jieselgrante fixed her gaze on the crow ornament atop the black roof, the carriage came to a stop.

Escorted by a guard knight, Jieselgrante alighted from the carriage and moved towards the courthouse.

After she had taken just a few steps, a familiar low voice drifted down from above her head.

“We meet here again.”