Chapter 5

Would she call her lovable?

No. Rebecca loathed her. She wanted nothing more than to snap her neck that very instant.

But she hid her true feelings and slowly sat up.

“Of course not. Why would I ever hate you, Alicia?”

“See? You’re being so formal again! You must hate me because I stole the Count from you, don’t you?”

“Stole?” Rebecca’s voice was ice cold. “I never gave you anything to begin with. But the fact that you’ve come to me to apologize shows you do feel ashamed of what you’ve done.”

Alicia faltered for a moment, then quickly spilled out the excuses she had prepared.

“Lady Rebecca, I swear to the heavens, I had no choice! What powerless maid could resist the Count?”

While Rebecca had been bedridden, Alicia had rehearsed countless justifications. She had no doubt the softhearted Rebecca would forgive her if she wept pitifully enough.

Rebecca, I had no choice…

The words Alicia had once spoken in her past life rang bitterly in Rebecca’s mind.

Her fists clenched.

“Enough.”

“Lady Rebecca!”

“I gave you another choice, remember? But you’re the one who made this choice. You’re an adult, as you said yourself, so take responsibility for it.”

Rebecca recalled the day she learned Alicia was pregnant. She had offered her freedom then: a modest house, enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

But Alicia had refused. Ordinary life was not what she desired.

I’m sorry, but I’m an adult too. Stop treating me like a child. Decisions about my life, and my baby, are mine to make.

Alicia remembered her own words, lips pressing shut. Her eyes darted uneasily to Rebecca, unsettled.

This wasn’t the Rebecca she knew.

Normally, just a flutter of her lashes would make Rebecca bend more easily than Zeppelin himself.

Something’s wrong.

Suspicion flickered in Alicia’s gaze, but Rebecca quickly masked her face.

“Let’s leave this topic here. Things are already messy enough. We gain nothing by making ourselves enemies. Our husband wouldn’t like it. I can’t treat you the same as before, but I have no intention of fighting you.”

The mention of Zeppelin made Alicia begrudgingly nod.

As much as she hated to admit it, Zeppelin did favor Rebecca. Every time Alicia badmouthed her, it was she who ended up scolded.

But time would pass.

Once Rebecca aged, Zeppelin’s interest would fade.

For now, Alicia decided to bide her time.

Rebecca watched her retreat meekly and had to stifle a laugh.

So, in the end, she was nothing more than a cunning child. And Rebecca had let herself be toyed with by her all this time.

Smiling warmly, Rebecca asked,

“By the way, have you been the one caring for me until now?”

“Eh? Oh… well, yes…”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’m able to get up again. I’d like to give you a gift. Alice, would you bring my jewelry box?”

At Rebecca’s words, Alice limped slightly on her right leg as she opened the wardrobe. She pulled out several antique boxes, each engraved with laurel leaf patterns.

At the word “jewelry,” Alicia’s eyes sparkled.

“Go ahead, choose one.”

Rebecca slowly opened the boxes.

Zeppelin had never spared money when it came to adorning her. She had little ready cash, but jewels and dresses in abundance, things Alicia, freshly married, did not yet have.

Though clever, Alicia often lost her sense when faced with greed.

Rebecca remembered this well. She let the glittering ornaments dance before Alicia’s eyes.

Alicia’s gaze followed, until it stopped at one particular necklace.

“Oh, heavens. It’s beautiful!”

It was a lavish piece, diamonds clustered thickly across its chain, ending in a massive blue diamond pendant.

Enthralled, Alicia reached for it.

But before her fingers touched, Rebecca snapped the lid shut. She smiled faintly, as if embarrassed.

“Oh dear… why was this in here? I’m sorry. This is an heirloom from Zeppelin. I can’t give it away. But perhaps you’d like these earrings instead? Aren’t they lovely?”

“Heirloom?”

“Didn’t you know? The Devonshire family has many treasures passed down through generations. Each Countess receives one. Zeppelin gave me this necklace on our wedding day, saying it matched my eyes.”

“Then… then will I receive one as well?”

Rebecca almost laughed at the greed flashing in those violet eyes. She covered her mouth to hide it.

“Well, I don’t know. It’s reserved for the Countess. I’m not sure if the second wife is included.”

Alicia’s face twisted in frustration. She longed to insist she was a Countess too, but she dared not say it aloud before the first wife.

“Ah, everyone’s gathered here.”

The door opened. Zeppelin entered.

Alicia beamed at him, but he ignored her, going first to Rebecca and kissing her forehead. Only afterward did he approach Alicia and press a kiss to her hand.

The difference wasn’t lost on Alicia. Her smile froze.

Zeppelin pulled on a pair of white gloves. Gently, he cupped Rebecca’s face, examining her.

“They said you broke out in fever rash, but thankfully no scars remain. Your skin is only a little rough. I’ll have to remind you to care for it before the victory banquet.”

“Victory banquet?” Rebecca asked.

Zeppelin raked a hand irritably through his hair, scowling.

“The Duke of Johannes has returned with news of triumph. Shame he didn’t die on the battlefield.”

Rebecca blinked at his harshness. She remembered. Even in her past life, Zeppelin had disliked the duke.

Alicia suddenly squealed in delight.

“A banquet? A real party? It’s my first! Then I’ll need a dress! What should I wear, my lord?”

Zeppelin sneered.

“What nonsense. Alicia, you’re not attending.”

“Wh-what?”

“It’s an imperial affair. You think a mere commoner could attend?”

Alicia’s cheeks flamed red. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Zeppelin softened his tone slightly, patting her shoulder.

“Don’t make that face. I’ll buy you some jewels instead. Play with those at home like a good girl.”

“Then… then give me an heirloom.”

“An heirloom?”

Zeppelin’s gaze drifted to the jewelry boxes spread on the bed.

Rebecca quickly spoke up, feigning awkwardness.

“Oh… Alicia had been caring for me, so I offered her something as thanks. But I accidentally showed her the heirloom…”

Zeppelin sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Alicia. Only the Countess, the first wife, can receive such things.”

“That’s not fair! I’m a Countess too! We had a proper wedding, didn’t we?”

“That—!”

He stopped, glancing at Rebecca. Then he grabbed Alicia’s arm roughly.

“Rebecca needs rest for the banquet. Let’s discuss this outside.”

“You’re hurting me! Let go!”

“Wait.”

Rebecca’s calm voice halted them at the door.

“I have one question. Why did you return from your honeymoon so early?”

Alicia shot Zeppelin a sharp look, then muttered bitterly,

“Why else? This lofty Count sold our cherished villa to the Duke for a handful of paintings.”

“Alicia! Watch your tongue!”

Dragging her by the arm, Zeppelin hauled her out. Her muffled protests echoed through the closed door.

Rebecca, meanwhile, was lost in thought.

The Duke of Johannes…

“You look stunning!”

Alice exclaimed as Rebecca stood before the mirror.

Beside her, the head maid Grace fastened a necklace around her throat with a satisfied smile.

Zeppelin loved showing her off, parading her beauty like a prized work of art. But only when she was on his arm. No other man was ever allowed near her.

Rebecca was his treasure, to be admired from a distance. Only he could touch her.

The beads sewn into her sapphire dress glittered in the light.

Rebecca traced the large blue diamond pendant at her collar. She had rarely worn it, but tonight, she wore it deliberately to provoke Alicia.

I really was beautiful, wasn’t I?

Only days ago, she had been a woman nearing forty, her face worn from years of suffering after leaving the estate.

But now the wrinkles and scars had vanished. Her skin shone smooth and pale in the mirror.

Her blue eyes sparkled like the sea, her once tangled blonde hair now sleek with golden light.

In those days, she had been consumed by self-hatred, constantly comparing herself to Alicia.

But looking now, she realized. Though perhaps not as dazzling, she was more than beautiful enough not to cower beside her.

The present self always seems the ugliest…

How much time she had wasted in needless self-reproach.

Her fingers stilled as an old memory surfaced.

That night, Zeppelin had been heavily drunk. Normally he never drank on their scheduled nights together, but for some reason, he had.

After their perfunctory duty was done, he had studied her quietly, and then his gaze caught on a wrinkle etched beside her eye.

His hand had brushed it idly before he sneered.

A flaw.

He had left the bed at once, slamming the door without a goodnight.

After that, aside from their scheduled duties, he had never again sought her out.

It was like a revelation.

On countless lonely nights, Rebecca had replayed that moment over and over.

The love she thought she knew, it was nothing more than decoration. His affection was for the image, not for her.

Not long after realizing this truth, she discovered she was carrying the child Zeppelin had so desperately wanted.

She could not delay. Before he found out, she had fled the prison of the count’s estate.