“…I heard Count Vicente is an old man?”
Edford muttered in disbelief, as if caught in a dream.
Hearing this, Maceira tilted his head with a blank expression.
“He sold his title to pay off his debts. It happened a while ago. Maybe the news travels slow out in the countryside.”
The rumor that Count Vicente was an old man with a lot of debt was true.
However, it was only before he sold his title.
* * *
The servants were baffled by the sudden change of events, how the ‘unlucky white rat’ had become the daughter of a count overnight .
“Is it true? Cynthia was really the Count’s biological daughter?”
“You remember that drunkard who fell down the stairs and died a few years ago? I heard he got greedy for royal bloodlines and secretly took her away.”
“Then why did he send her here as a maid?”
“He probably couldn’t afford to raise her properly. Maybe he was just making her earn her keep until she was old enough to sell off in marriage.”
“…So, what happens to us now?”
The servants who had been harassing Cynthia for a long time felt fear.
Then one of them tried to act nonchalant and said, “She’ll probably let it slide. That girl is foolishly kind.”
“Right?”
A few servants headed to Cynthia’s room to help her get ready.
They watched her carefully, but Cynthia didn’t seem to have any intention of taking revenge.
“That…… Cynth- no, Lady Cynthia. Please forgive me for my rudeness.”
One of the more decent maids asked for forgiveness.
Another maid elbowed her with a look that said, ‘Why stir the pot now?’
“What?”
Cynthia turned back with her usual innocent smile and asked.
The maid who had already decided to apologize wiped away a tear.
“For everything. For upsetting you, for the awful things we said… I’m truly sorry.”
“All right.”
A suffocating silence followed after the short answer.
At some point, Cynthia had begun to give off an aura that made her hard to mistreat.
The once-timid girl, who always looked like she was about to cry, started smiling no matter what was said to her. If someone crossed the line and insulted her too much, she would just silently stare at them with a smile. She did that without saying anything, and followed them around all day.
That was around the time the bullying began to decrease. Everyone slowly began to realize she wasn’t someone to mess with.
“This is the first and last time you’ll be helping me get dressed, isn’t it?”
After she was fully dressed, Cynthia handed a small note to the only maid who had apologized.
“Read it in secret, okay?”
After Cynthia left, the maid unfolded the note where no one could see.
「If you want to live, run away from this mansion right after I leave.」
* * *
“Now, Cynthia. Let’s go greet your future husband.”
Count Queensguard took Cynthia’s hand as though he were a loving father.
“Yes.” Cynthia smiled.
Even in her modest maid’s uniform she looked beautiful, but dressed in an expensive gown, she truly looked like a noble lady.
He couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking, but she had a kind-looking face. She had recently started asking more questions, but her personality was still gentle. She had all the traits that accomplished men would like.
‘I knew she’d be useful.’
Right now, she has become the perfect pawn.
He approached Brigadier General Maceira del Vicente with a satisfied smile.
“Thank you for coming such a long way, Brigadier General Vicente.”
“Yes.”
Maceira gave a short reply and looked down at Cynthia.
She looked up at him, who was much taller than her. His mysterious eyes seemed like lakes reflecting the lavender sky at sunset, or perhaps like the aurora that could only be seen in the cold northern lands.
There was a strange tension in the way they looked at each other.
His gaze, which had been on Cynthia’s face, shifted to the red necklace around her neck. As if remembering something, he fell into brief thought.
Meanwhile, standing at a distance, Carlos was watching the scene with the same dumbfounded expression as Edford.
His father had told him Brigadier General Vicente was a wealthy man in his seventies, and that was why he’d brought Cynthia into the plan. At least this way, she wouldn’t fall in love with her fiancé and betray him.
But this man… such a young and incredibly handsome?
‘My father lied to me.’
The Count Queensguard was a sly fox. He had even tricked his own son into willingly giving up Cynthia.
Still, Carlos remained arrogant.
‘But Cynthia would never betray me.’
Even if her behavior and tone had changed a little recently, she was still Cynthia.
Timid, ignorant, weak, and someone who only cared about Carlos.
“Young Master, I’ll never forget this kindness until the day I die…”
Her vow, spoken while trembling after accidentally killing someone, was supposed to be unbreakable.
Meanwhile, Cynthia, seeing Maceira’s dazzling appearance, became convinced he was the male lead.
‘See? My instincts were right.’
That unique presence, the halo-like aura that made him stand out from a distance, he had to be the male protagonist.
Although she was going to deceive this stunning man… maybe, if she sincerely apologized later, he would understand and forgive her?
With a bright smile, Cynthia looked at him.
“Hello, I’m Cynthia Queensguard.”
“Maceira del Vicente.” He smiled kindly despite his short answer.
He soon offered his hand to escort her with perfect etiquette.
“I’d like to leave this wretched place as soon as possible.”
He was a strange man who spoke rudely in the most polite tone.
Cynthia, placing her hand on top of his large one, thought to herself.
At that moment, someone approached her.
“Lady Cynthia.”
It was Anita, the only maid who had never joined in the harassment and had always quietly done her work.
She handed Cynthia a parasol.
“The capital has strong sunlight, unlike this place where it is always gloomy.”
“Thank you.”
Did she know that Cynthia was sensitive to sunlight?
Smiling with her eyes, Cynthia stepped closer and whispered something to Anita.
Anita’s eyes widened slightly, then returned to her usual expressionless look.
“…I understand.”
With Maceira’s escort, Cynthia got into the luxurious carriage and waved her hand out the window.
“I’ll write to you, Dad! Stay healthy, Brother, Sister!”
She looked like a daughter who’d grown up being deeply loved by her family.
Carlos and Edford only blinked in silence, but Count Queensguard and Helene waved back naturally, receiving her farewell.
“Send a letter as soon as you arrive, my jewel.”
Helene was one thing, but that old man… really, what a piece of work. Anyone who saw him would think he’s a doting father.
Cynthia shuddered inwardly and turned away.
After Cynthia left like that.
Not long after, the mansion echoed with repeated gunshots.
A few days later, all the servants at the Count’s estate had been replaced.
This was the Count Queensguard’s ‘silencing’ method.
* * *
It took a full three days just to reach the capital.
It was her first time outside the Count’s mansion, and the world felt new and fascinating.
But something about the architectural style of the Republic of Luthemia, the geography, and the environment felt strangely familiar.
Did the original author refer to actual geography?
Maceira didn’t speak much. Either he was a man of few words, or he simply had nothing to say. He remained silent the entire journey.
When spoken to, he would only respond with curt answers while keeping his eyes fixed on the newspaper.
“Brigadier, what’s that?”
“A tree.”
“Wow, isn’t that building so pretty?”
“Art Deco architecture.”
“Is the newspaper interesting?”
“Yes.”
Our conversation was a battle of strong question marks and even stronger periods.
He wasn’t friendly, but at least he answered in a polite tone.
“Brigadier, do you know what a ‘croongie’ is?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s a croissant that’s been flattened and made extra crispy.”
“Oh.”
When we finally arrived at his mansion, that pointless war of words came to an end.
Phew, I thought I was going to die from awkwardness.
“You must be tired after talking to yourself for three days straight. Please get some rest.”
His expression already showed he was fed up with me.
“Lady Queensguard, I’ll escort you to your room.”
Like their master, the servants of the mansion were all quiet and expressionless.
At that moment, a young boy, who looked about eight years old, approached and looked up at me.
“Who are you?”
He was a beautiful child with black hair and green eyes like fresh sprouts. Dressed in a shirt with a ribbon and a pouty expression, he looked adorable, like a little black kitten.
“Is he your son?”
At my direct question, Maceira swept his platinum hair back and smiled.
“No. I picked him up on the battlefield and decided to raise him.”
So, a lost kitten, huh?
I crouched down and offered the boy a handshake.
“Hello, I’m Cynthia. I’m going to marry the Brigadier–”
“Go away!”
The boy smacked the back of my hand like a feisty kitten and ran off.
As I awkwardly looked around, I noticed the cold stares of the surrounding servants.
Somehow, it felt like no one in this place welcomed me.
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