Chapter 12

Liliana tilted her head.

“That’s strange.”

“What is strange?”

“Hmm… Did you hire all new servants, Raven?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

Liliana blinked innocently. It was surprising there was no hint of resentment or anger in her eyes. Liliana was a person as pure as an uncut gemstone. She didn’t dwell on dark things; she quickly forgot them. Perhaps that optimism was why she’d survived until now.

Raven pulled Liliana’s head close and kissed her forehead.

“Why? Do you not like the new ones?”

“It’s not that… it just feels strange.”

Liliana blushed. With those who tormented her gone, the things she’d suffered were gradually being forgotten. Humans are creatures of forgetfulness, after all. The longer peace lasts, the more pain fades and the past is erased.

Liliana began to hope that she could live like this forever. When Raven leaves in three years, who knows what might happen to her.

‘No, I was supposed to get divorced!’

But if Rachel or the Grand Madam found out about that divorce, she would surely suffer.

Raven narrowed his eyes and gazed at Liliana.

“…Have you forgotten what you’ve been through so far?”

If that were true, Liliana might truly be amazing in some ways. At Raven’s suspicious question, Liliana’s pupils widened. She jumped up and paced around. In her rush, the teacup beautifully placed on the table toppled over. As the maids approached to clean it, Raven raised his hand to stop them.

He wondered what feelings Liliana had toward them, and what she might say now. As long as it wasn’t about divorce. Raven had called the lawyer not to actually get divorced, but to comfort Liliana. After three months, the lawyer would return with a casual face and overturn the divorce. 

Liliana took a deep breath. Raven seemed to know what she’d been through. He’d witnessed the needle incident himself, but how the group led by the Grand Madam had been caught was unclear, though Raven clearly knew everything. The waves sweeping through the mansion were rapidly changing everything. Not only the servants but Rachel was nowhere to be seen. He’d heard she’d gone to her maternal family, but if not?

Also, the head butler who had watched over the mansion for so long was said to have died suddenly. They said it was old age, but what if that was a lie too? For some reason, the stable was being rebuilt in a different location. And the stable hands who’d tormented Liliana had died. Liliana looked at Raven. It felt as if they were receiving the punishment they deserved!

Of course, Liliana learned of their deaths thanks to Raven’s subtle actions. He’d told her so she could settle into this peace and forget about divorce. Truly, Liliana hadn’t mentioned divorce once while living with Raven.

Liliana swallowed nervously. She sat back across from Raven. Leaning toward him, she whispered softly.

“If you make those devils disappear, I’ll let you suck wherever you want.”

Raven stared at Liliana with a surprised look. She wasn’t the timid Liliana who only curled up and endured his actions.

“Anywhere?”

Raven licked his lips and asked.

“Yes, anywhere you want! My chest is fine, and below is fine too. My fingers, my toes—I’ll give them all to you.”

Liliana spoke boldly. As long as she didn’t have to see those people, she felt she could do anything. If they remained, even if she divorced, she’d always be afraid they’d chase her. But Raven had easily removed them from her sight. Liliana realized Raven was the only one who could save her.

Liliana grabbed Raven’s hand.

Raven quietly placed his other hand over hers.

“It’s a promise, Lily.”

Raven replied, his eyes shining with desire. Liliana nodded vigorously. She wasn’t unafraid of Raven’s overwhelming desire, but she felt she could endure it. She didn’t even imagine what Raven might do.

***

The Grand Madam nervously bit her nails. There was no word from Rachel, and even the letters from Damon had stopped a week ago. Everything surrounding her was falling apart. What had been in its place was vanishing, replaced by new things.

“Still no word from Damon?”

The Grand Madam asked sharply.

“None.”

The maid newly assigned to her replied indifferently. Clearly something had happened. Rachel wouldn’t cut off contact like this… nor would Damon. He was a spoiled child. The Grand Madam jumped to her feet. She would have to go meet Damon and Rachel herself.

“Where are you going?”

The maid asked boldly. The Grand Madam glared at the insolent maid and spoke.

“Do I have to tell you where I’m going? Move aside!”

“…You can’t go out today.”

The maid said with a strange look.

“What?”

“The Duke has forbidden outings today.”

The Grand Madam froze in fear. Raven? She didn’t know why that fact made her so afraid, but her knees trembled and her heart twisted with terror. She stared blankly at the maid, who calmly went about her work, not explaining what she meant.

“I must meet Raven.”

“Oh. That’s impossible too.”

“I have to leave this room!!!”

“I said you can’t.”

The maid snapped, showing her true colors. The Grand Madam’s mouth hung open. Somehow, even her room felt unfamiliar. She imagined all the power she’d enjoyed in the Duchy scattering like grains of sand. Right now, there was no one in the ducal residence on her side. She felt it strongly. The Grand Madam’s lips trembled.

“Has Raven found out everything?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen Liliana since Raven returned. How could that be, living in the same mansion? Liliana seemed to have disappeared from the mansion. But in truth… it was the Grand Madam who was vanishing from the mansion.

She remembered Raven’s glittering black eyes. Those pebble-like eyes had never shown affection for her. That’s why she’d thought of ousting Raven and putting Damon in his place. She’d realized Raven could drive Rachel and the Grand Madam out of the mansion at any time!

But now, had everything been exposed? The Grand Madam trembled as she looked around her room. It was just as she’d arranged it, but it felt like a prison. The tightly closed balcony and doors seemed to control her movements.

“…Is Rachel alive?”

“I don’t know. Why are you asking me that?”

The maid replied, annoyed, and continued tidying the bedroom.

“Girl! I’ll give you all my treasures. Just tell me!”

The maid’s face was briefly greedy, but she shook her head. If she accepted them wrongly, she might end up like those who used to work in the mansion. Raven had shown the servants exactly what happened if they picked up rotten meat.

She still couldn’t forget the blood flowing in the backyard. The stablekeepers were brutally killed by Raven’s hand. She had seen with her own eyes their bodies, mutilated and exposed, and their wrists severed one by one. They endured it alive, and only when they were about to die did the Duke finally end their lives. Raven had arranged it so the newly hired servants could witness everything, likely as a warning.

A demonstration of what happens if you eat rotten meat. Remembering that day, the maid quickly shook her head. Despite the fear, she continued working at Kreuten because Raven paid clean money. That alone was enough for her family to live on.

A single choice could mean life or death, so it was best to avoid everything.

“That’s enough. I don’t want such things.”

The maid replied irritably and left, closing the door tightly. Outside the door, a surviving stablekeeper was dragged before the knights in a miserable state. Raven had kept him alive for some reason. He’d be dead by tomorrow anyway.

The stablekeeper, who had been fed a stimulant fit for beasts, looked strange. He trembled, left only with desire. The maid clicked her tongue and passed by at a distance. The Grand Madam’s bedroom door opened and the stablekeeper was thrown inside.

“Kya, kyaaaak…! What is this! Open the door right now!! Raven!! You b*stard! How can you do this to me!!!”

Screams rang out. The knights stood guard at the door. That door would not open for a long time. Afterward, the Grand Madam would likely be taken to where Rachel was confined.

The maid clicked her tongue. It was the fate of one who touched what should not be touched.