Despite appearances, I had been the lady’s dedicated maid for five years.

However, Alejandro muttered without even noticing Heather’s fierce glare.

“She bathes alone?”

“Yes. Always has.”

Alejandro clenched his fist. He was overwhelmed by the relief that came after the tension that had dried his lips.

Talking about having only one maid while turning my insides out. In the end, she didn’t even give the bathing duties she used to entrust to me, a servant, to the maid.

The corners of his lazily curved lips lifted pleasantly.

By then, Heather had knocked on the bathroom door.

“My lady. I’ve brought the towel.”

“No. Give me the towel. I’ll take it in myself.”

His nose rose high. Alejandro reached for the towel as if claiming his rightful share. This was originally his job after all.

“Heather? You bring it in.”

However, Alejandro couldn’t believe his ears at the words he heard. Heather, who had been smiling awkwardly, pulled the towel back and opened the bathroom door. Amidst the strong scent of herbs, the lady was not visible beyond the screen.

The feeling of being stripped of his rightful position in an instant was miserable. Unable to bear the feeling of falling from the clouds, Alejandro snapped at the lady.

“Lady, you’re really being mean…!”

Thump-, thump-. As the footsteps that clearly showed his sulking faded away, Nerea burst into laughter and said,

“…Did you just say I’m being mean?”

Heather behind the screen answered.

“That’s how I heard it too, my lady.”

Nerea shook her head. Her wet hair clung to her nape, and the corners of her mouth, as red as her hair, lifted slightly.

There were all sorts of ways to make a person’s heart weak.

“…So that’s why you ran away from home now?”

Alejandro hung his head with a gloomy face.

Johnny rubbed his face. After rushing all the way to the vicinity of the estate and back, the first thing he hears is this…

Not even knowing where to start pointing out the issues, he sighed with sincere feeling.

“Oh my, you crazy fool.”

“…”

“I knew you were crazy, but ten years ago maybe. No. Even ten years ago it would be strange. Did you even attend to the lady’s bath ten years ago?”

“Shut up.”

Johnny quietly closed his mouth at the growling voice that had turned harsh. The guy who had been so dejected until just a moment ago was now staring at the cabin with narrowed eyes.

It wasn’t a good sign.

Whether Johnny was tense or not, Alejandro couldn’t take his eyes off the cabin. Seeing the bed rumored to be the most comfortable in the world among the luggage piled up in the garden made him feel even worse.

He had endured for ten whole years. It was wrong of the lady to not even let him attend to her bath.

He wanted to do everything he could for her. He was no longer the poor servant who couldn’t even buy proper medicine.

But.

The lady who pretended to smile while drawing an even clearer line than before immediately made him anxious.

Alejandro’s eyes sank endlessly. Johnny, glancing at him, deliberately joked.

“Why don’t you just act like you used to? Of course, you won’t be as cute as back then, but who knows? The Count was particularly weak to you, so if you beg and apologize, she might immediately understand your intentions.”

But instead of answering, Alejandro pulled out the necklace he had hidden between his shirt. His face looked somewhat affectionate as he stroked the black jewel with his thumb.

“…Begging lacks power, I tell you.”

If that had worked, his lady wouldn’t have left him behind.

So he needed greater power.

Alejandro, who had hidden the jewel behind his shirt again, flashed his eyes coldly once more.

“So, how’s Le Soir’s exhibition?”

“It’s still the talk of the town, stirring up all of Castarty.”

Johnny pulled out a daily newspaper and an extra from his pocket. The headline was impressive.

-Le Soir’s muse and the hero of the century. Where is the Black Knight Nerea Esteban now!

While Alejandro’s eyes quickly scanned the newspaper, Johnny smoothly recounted what he had investigated.

“They’ve doubled the guards near the exhibition hall and tightened security. With so many people gathering, it seems they can’t easily think of getting rid of the imperial family or the acting count. The excitement is really intense.”

“…”

“Thanks to that, the acting count is reportedly begging at the imperial palace every day until his hands become feet. The strange thing is his wife.”

Johnny handed over a telegram with a dubious face.

-All of the acting countess’s social gatherings have been canceled, but appointments with noblewomen who visit secretly continue. The noblewomen come alone or in pairs with close relatives like cousins, and when they arrive, the acting countess guides them to the east wing reception room. After that, no one is allowed to enter the east wing until they come out. Sometimes they go out together with the acting countess.

-Countess Elena, Marchioness Trand, Marchioness Devenant.

-They seem to be high-ranking nobles of the imperial faction, and at the same time, they appear to be seeking medicine for sick family members or relatives.

“…If it’s about seeking medicine as the telegram says, it’s not strange.”

Alejandro muttered softly.

“Though I don’t know if what that woman gives is medicine or poison.”

Helen Tylesbury. The daughter of the Baron Tylesbury family, the only herb merchant in the estate. Once a maid to the late count, and after the late count’s death, she entered the Esteban mansion as the acting countess.

Alejandro had seen that woman up close once before. Before he left as a servant, the woman who urgently called for Alejandro handed him a large sack full of herbs and said,

“I’m so glad you’re going with her. Nerea, that child, doesn’t take care of her body at all. If she gets hurt, use these together. These are herbs good for stopping bleeding and easing pain. Make sure to brew them and give them to her.”

The face full of concern kept urging Alejandro.

“You must make sure to ease her pain. Understand?”

Mockery mixed with the voice ringing in his ears. Alejandro shook his head, dispelling the thoughts. He had always been troubled ten years ago, but not anymore.

Alejandro looked at the cabin with calm eyes and said,

“Keep checking on that woman. Both the acting count and his wife. It’s about time they come down from positions that don’t suit them, isn’t it?”

His black eyes sparkled gently as if gauging the timing. Johnny knew what kind of miraculous things happened every time those eyes sparkled. So he nodded firmly.

The Emperor’s office.

“Have you found that Le Soir fellow?”

The Emperor said. Gabe, who had been standing in front of the office for weeks to have an audience with the Emperor, lowered his body while sweating cold.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.”

“Then who is behind him?”

“…I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.”

“Beg pardon, beg pardon! Is that all you have to say?”

A thunderous roar echoed over the office. At the same time, the daily newspapers thrown by the Emperor hit Gabe, who had lowered his body considerably.

The Emperor glared at Gabe with fierce eyes.

“Tell me, Acting Count. What did you say when you first introduced Le Soir to me?”

“…”

“Didn’t you clearly say he would be of help to me!”

Bang-! The sound of hitting the desk was violent. Seeing Gabe’s shoulders flinch, the Emperor recalled the voice of the man who had spoken confidently a few months ago.

“Respected Emperor, Your Majesty. Do you know about the war painter Le Soir who is gaining popularity among the commoners these days? I heard he’s a fellow who harmoniously portrays the horrors of war and the peace of the present. If we use him, it seems we can surely raise the people’s loyalty to Your Majesty even more before the 10th anniversary victory celebration festival.”

A bastard who deserves to be torn to pieces.

The Emperor turned away as if he couldn’t bear to look at him and gazed at the picture window.

Red flags signifying victory fluttered in the wind in the garden of the lavishly decorated imperial palace.

Ten years since the victory in the war with Gauwe.

Until just a few weeks ago, the people who had been praising the Emperor’s reign were now enthusiastic about Nerea Esteban with just one painting by Le Soir. Even though he had paid attention by personally sending the Crown Prince to the place where the painting was being presented…!

The Emperor stared at his imperial palace with chilling eyes.

Castarty, a large and prosperous country. Reigning over his empire was an extremely sweet affair.

That’s why he had to handle this matter more decisively. The Emperor slowly spoke.

“Count Esteban?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the naturally coming answer, the Emperor coldly mocked him. Oops. As if just now realizing his own mistake, Gabe lowered his head even more.

The voice coming from his mouth trembled a little.

“I, I beg your pardon. It’s not that I forgot I’m the acting count…”

“No. It’s understandable. This summer will mark ten years since Nerea Esteban showed her weak mind and body. It means an opportunity for you to become the rightful Count Esteban.”

The Emperor’s voice was slow, as if coaxing a child. Gabe, filled with expectation, impudently tried to gauge the Emperor’s mood.

At that moment, the Emperor pinned Gabe down with cold eyes.

“But if your daughter, who was disgraced by becoming crippled in one arm due to the painting of the artist you brought in, returns.”

“…”

“You will remain an acting count for life.”

For a moment, it was felt that Gabe held his breath.

The Emperor rose from his seat and slowly approached Gabe. Then he lightly patted his shoulder.

“The day after tomorrow. I’ll be watching what the first article in the newspaper will be, Count.”

“…”

“If you disappoint me once again, what you’ll have to say to me then won’t end with just ‘I beg your pardon.'”