Monica had recently noticed that Lilia seemed more on edge than usual.

The lady, always gentle and affectionate, had never been more difficult to handle.

Was it because she had been slapped by Liz?

No. The Lilia I knew wasn’t so weak as to be swayed by such adversity. On the contrary, she welcomed her sister’s scolding, believing that hardship made people wiser.

Could it be then…

‘Did she figure out that I’m the culprit behind the necklace incident?’

I have been serving the lady for a year.
The lady, who only wore the jewelry I chose for her, had no idea how many hidden gems I had in my possession.

The emerald necklace sent by Viscount Bert was one of them.

No, that necklace wasn’t something she paid special attention to. After trying it on in front of the Viscount with a touched expression on the first day she received it, she never took it out again.

So, I felt safe to steal it, never imagining that it would be the root of trouble.

“Monica!”

Monica jolted at the sudden call from the lady.
Was it just my imagination? Today, the lady’s voice sounded particularly sharp, almost like Liz at her peak.

“Yes, La… Lady.”

Monica timidly stood before Lilia. Then Lilia, with her eyes now somewhat sharper, asked her.

“Why haven’t I seen Kain all day?”

“Kain, you say?”

Monica felt relieved. It seemed that the lady’s discontent was not because of her.

“Kain is in charge of firewood today… He’s probably chopping wood in the garden.”

” … I see.”
Lilia’s expression soon softened, as if relieved that something wasn’t where she had expected it to be.

Then she suddenly asked to be dressed up. She instructed to pick out the prettiest dress she owned, and to also bring out the ruby set that Lady Berium had gifted her last time.

Monica cautiously assumed that the reason must be a man.

However, it wasn’t Kain.

The man she had in mind was none other than Count Bert. The time he was supposed to arrive was drawing near.
So instead of the ruby set, she subtly suggested the emerald necklace that Count Bert had gifted. There were no issues with wearing it now, as the clasp had been fixed.

“Monica.”

Lilia called Monica in an elegant voice. There was a faint hint of contempt in her tone.

“That emerald necklace, you may keep it.”

Monica’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

“How could I dare to…”

“It’s a gift from me. If there’s anything more you want in the future, just say so. Understand?”
Lilia spoke with the corners of her lips gracefully curled upwards.

Monica felt that these words were more chilling than any threat to kill her for theft, and resolved inwardly.

She would never touch Miss Lilia’s belongings again.

Shortly thereafter, Lilia, having finished her grooming, rose from her seat. Monica offered to hold the hem of her dress and followed behind her.

The languid afternoon sunlight cast slanted window shadows on the corridor carpet.

Lilia lightly stepped on them as she headed toward the mansion’s entrance.
As they just passed the entrance, Lilia looked back at Monica, who was holding her skirt hem, and spoke.

“Sorry, Monica. I think I forgot to close the window in my room. Could you go back and close it? I left my tutor’s textbook open, and it would be a problem if it blew away.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. I’ll close it quickly and come back.”

“No need to come back…”

“……?”

“Just call Kain for me before you go. I have something I need to ask him specifically.”
Monica was so engrossed in the emerald necklace she had received that she didn’t even suspect that something was odd about the situation. She obediently complied.

“Yes, I’ll do that. Please wait a moment.”

Lilia was lingering under a zelkova tree located at the far edge of the garden.

This zelkova tree was a memorial tree, planted when the founding Count of Berium received his title for contributing to the establishment of the empire.

It was, in essence, the living heirloom of the Berium family.
However, for Lilia, who had inherited half of the Berium family’s blood, the glory bestowed by this heirloom didn’t resonate with her at all.

Lilia’s interest was not in the tree, but in a person who had just come into her field of vision. A man with platinum blonde hair and aquamarine eyes. A man too splendid to be a slave.

Lady Berium had said she won him in a slave auction.
She said she had no intention of buying a slave and had only attended for fun, but when he was put up for auction, she impulsively called out a price. Indeed, it was understandable.

Anyone could see that he was strikingly handsome.

Lilia wondered if he might be one of the fallen nobles. She had heard that the offspring of nobles who had either committed treason or failed in business were often sold off like commodities in slave markets.

In any case, that splendid man was now walking towards her.
Lilia turned her head as if she hadn’t seen him and took a step out from the shade of the tree so that her face would catch the sunlight a bit better.

“I heard you called for me, Miss.”

Kain, who had approached closely, bowed slightly as he spoke.