“No. I looked all around the corridor and didn’t find even a mouse. The chef who was guarding in front of the young lady’s room also said he didn’t feel anything strange.”

Beatie reassured me several times and led me into the room. With her help, I bathed and changed into comfortable nightclothes.

Despite it being early morning, I was wide awake. After playing chess alone for a few minutes, I sat in front of the mirror when I couldn’t concentrate anymore.

My wet red hair was even more vivid than usual. I had seen this color somewhere. Where had I seen it…….

“Beatie. Is red hair rare?”

“What? Uh. Normally, yes. But I’ve been seeing it more often lately.”

“Where? I’ve never seen hair like mine in the market. If I did…….”

Earlier, that woman’s hair was also red. The color of the rainsoaked woman’s hair was exactly the same as mine in front of the mirror.

I stared into the mirror. My face overlapped with the woman’s face that I hadn’t looked at closely. What did those piercing eyes mean?

Why was I so wary of her?

“……Miss?”

Beatie stared at me without speaking. My hand trembled like a willow, and Beatie gently grasped my shoulder.

“Miss, are you alright?”

“……. ”

“Dear, you’re cold! You must have been outside for too long. This won’t do. I’ll quickly bring some hot tea and medicine. Please lie down in bed!”

Beatie, who was examining me, hurried out of the room. The quiet silence lingered in the room, absent of Beatie who had disappeared without a chance for me to hold her.

As I got up from the mirror and went into the blanket, thunder struck along with lightning.

The room briefly brightened with a dull sound and then darkened again.

The candle also went out. In the suddenly darkened room, the sound of heavy rain beating the ground was clear. I needed to light a candle. As I was lighting it, lightning flashed again.

I dropped the candle in surprise. I quickened my pace to catch the rolling candle near the window. As I picked up the candle and stood up, I saw a familiar figure outside.

“……!”

It was the woman. She was not standing as before, but approaching the mansion without hesitation. Her face was clearly visible through the rain.

The same red hair as mine and golden eyes. Despite the shabby and skinny appearance, her outstanding beauty was incongruent.
My eyes met those of a woman, who seemed to have sensed my gaze. At that moment, I could not move. The woman smiled slightly as if she knew me well, and her body moved past the mansion’s front gate.

As soon as the woman’s gaze left me, I sat down on the floor.

“You must not come in!”

“Let… Let go…!”

“Please! Please go away!”

“I saw, I saw the count going, going in! The count is inside, isn’t he!”

The voices of the maids and the woman were heard from outside the window. The maids tried to stop the woman from entering, but she insisted on going in, throwing a tantrum.

For a while, the noise continued, and the dark corridor was lit up. It seemed too much for one maid alone, so the other maids also went outside to stop the woman.

“What’s going on?”

Soon, Isabelle’s voice was heard from downstairs. She must not have been sleeping, for her voice was clear.

“Madam, it seems that the woman has come back.”

“What?”

“She asks… to be let in.”

“What did she say? Why has she come back?”

“I can’t understand her well; she stutters a lot. She only keeps saying she needs to see the master…”

While the maid and Isabelle were talking, my heart was pounding hard. Please, I wished for Isabelle to drive her away. Please, please drive her out!

Please!

“This will wake the sleeping children. I’ll go out myself.”

“But Madam.”

“Take a sword just in case. If she acts foolishly, cut off her arm.”

Isabelle’s voice was firm, as she had made up her mind. Soon after grabbing a sword, the sound of her stepping outside was heard. Thump[Dash] As the door closed, a heavy atmosphere settled in the mansion.

I tried to get up while squeezing my eyes shut, but I struggled. I looked out the window at Isabelle, who had gone outside.

As soon as Isabelle and the woman met, they had a serious conversation. I could not hear what the calm woman and Isabelle’s low voice were saying.

‘Yes, that woman must be here to get more money. Isabelle must find her loathsome and will tell her to leave right away with some money.’

Considering the situation, it wouldn’t be strange at all if she were cursed at the gate.

‘Nothing will happen.’

I reassured myself and tried to go back to bed, but Isabelle turned her back. Was the conversation well concluded? But the woman who was behind Isabelle also followed her into the mansion.

I doubted my eyes. I must have seen it wrong.

The sound of the mansion’s door opening was heard. I felt something was wrong and ran into the corridor. I hid behind the wall next to the stairs, and the wet figure of the woman was seen.

‘Why?’

Why? Why? Why?

At that moment, Betty, who had been preparing warm tea in the kitchen, revealed herself. Isabelle found Betty and gestured to her.

“Betty. Come here.”

“Madam?”

“Lead this woman to the guest room and clean her up. Dress her in fresh clothes.”

“Yes? But…”

Betty looked towards the stairs, troubled. As our eyes met, I hurriedly ran back into the room.

I locked the door to ensure the woman couldn’t enter and hid under the covers, still feeling uneasy. My heart squeezed tightly, and my body tensed.

Time passed, and I heard Betty’s voice saying she brought the medicine. I pretended to be asleep. When I didn’t open the locked door, Betty retreated.

“…Why.”

I wanted to grab Isabelle’s arm and ask her right then. Why was she giving that woman a warm bed?

Is she possibly my real mother?