“Is this also unfair treatment……?”

Ribeta lightly placed her hand on her stomach. She could feel the hard wooden board clearly. It was a bit stifling, but she wasn’t having trouble breathing, nor was she unable to eat.

Even if she said it was difficult, neither Duke Barea nor Countess Caylerd would bat an eye.

Ribeta knew that type of person all too well. They’d probably be delighted that their discipline was working.

That was fine. It would be even better if Nerty spoke positively about her to the Duke. Though that probably wouldn’t happen.

‘I wonder what happened to the lady who ran away.’

She suddenly became curious. Since she was originally from commoner origins, she must have found her own way to survive. She hoped so. At the very least, she hoped the lady would never return to this place.

※※※

It was her fourth day of living while wearing the corset. Ribeta, who had opened her eyes before Helga arrived, stood in front of the mirror with a troubled expression.

‘I’m bruised.’

Her entire stomach was bruised as if she’d been beaten. It was a natural result of having the hard wooden board pressed against her all day except for sleeping hours.

Ribeta carefully pressed her finger against the bruised area. It throbbed slightly.

‘It’s not unbearable.’

She’d be fine if she wore an extra layer or two of undergarments.

Helga, who entered just then, set breakfast on the table and brought the corset. Perhaps because people often vomited or fainted when wearing the corset after eating, Helga always put the corset on before meals.

“Helga, just a moment.”

“Why? Do you hate wearing the corset?”

Helga asked readily even though she hadn’t mentioned the corset.

She hated seeing the lady remain perfectly fine despite being deliberately given poor meals and clothes, not being treated with courtesy, and even not having her room cleaned. Cleaning dirty places herself—truly the behavior and thinking befitting a commoner-born bastard.

However, as a head maid, there were no more ways to torment her. Unless she were Countess Caylerd, who was in charge of etiquette education. So the corset would serve as a good excuse.

“If you hate wearing it, you don’t have to. I’ll inform the Countess.”

“I don’t hate wearing it. I just think I need to wear more undergarments underneath.”

Ribeta lifted her clothes to show her stomach briefly. After confirming the bruised stomach, Helga wavered for a moment, then came closer to examine the condition.

“……When did this start?”

“It got worse this morning.”

‘What should I do? His Grace said absolutely no injuries where they can be seen?’

Helga fell into thought. Countess Caylerd’s temper was formidable, but it meant nothing before Duke Barea. So normally, she should report directly to the Duke.

‘But it won’t be visible once she’s dressed, right? The corset was brought by Countess Caylerd anyway. And more than anything, she’s still putting on airs even in this state. A lowborn wench acting above her station.’

If she had begged pitifully, saying it hurt and asking for help, Helga might have felt inclined to help. But she has too much pride to bow her head to me, doesn’t she?

After brief deliberation, Helga put two layers of undergarments on her, then the corset over them. As she tightened the strings with all her might and looked up at the lady, her healthy complexion had turned deathly pale.

Just as I expected. Helga tied the knot with a sense of victory. Even if this caused problems, it would be Countess Caylerd’s responsibility, not hers.

“The corset is under Countess Caylerd’s jurisdiction, so I can’t remove it without permission. It would be best to ask the Countess to check.”

“……Yes. I’ll do that.”

“A teacher who will teach you basic knowledge is scheduled to come this morning. The Countess will visit in the afternoon. Then enjoy your meal.”

Helga withdrew with light steps, showing a refreshed smile.

Ribeta sat down in the chair with difficulty. The food Helga brought was cold, hard bread, thoroughly cooked meat, and milk. Everything was dry and difficult to digest while wearing the corset. Still, Ribeta silently tore the bread, soaked it in milk, and pushed it into her mouth.

Not long after finishing her meal, the teacher Helga mentioned arrived. The teacher was an elderly gentleman. His finely groomed mustache, strict-looking appearance, small stature nearly identical to Ribeta’s, and gaunt frame combined to give a peculiar impression. It might have been because his eyes couldn’t be seen properly through his glasses.

“Good day, Lady. I am Count Monsol. I’ve heard much about you from your father, Duke Barea. This old man has come to see if he can be of assistance.”

“Hello. My name is Illeshia Barea. It’s an honor to receive your teachings today……”

As she slowly bowed her head, the floor spun. By the time she felt something was wrong, it was already too late. Her stomach churned, and in an instant, everything before her eyes turned black.

“Lady Barea…… conscious…… Ri……ta!”

Count Monsol’s voice grew distant. At the end, she thought she heard the name Ribeta.

It must be her imagination. A count she just met today couldn’t possibly know her real name.

“……beta. Ribeta.”

A familiar voice caught her consciousness wandering in darkness. The sensations that had been cut off as if a light had been turned off gradually returned. Someone was shaking her shoulders. Impatience seeped from the careful touch.

“Open your eyes, Ribeta.”

She wanted to, but her eyelids wouldn’t move. Not just her eyelids—her entire body was heavy like waterlogged cotton. The rippling black water tried to swallow her consciousness again. Then the hand gripping her shoulder became urgent.

“Get a hold of yourself. Open your eyes and look at me.”

Who is it? Who’s waking me so desperately? The person who needs me…… there’s no one anymore……

“You said you’d handle it well. Is this the result you guaranteed?”

……No. There is someone. Someone who needs me. Someone who invested an enormous amount, exactly one person.

Was it thanks to the absurd figure of 80 million? Her eyelids, which had been so heavy, snapped open. The suddenly brightened view was dazzling, so Ribeta frowned slightly. But it wasn’t because light was coming in. It was because bright-colored blond hair was close by.

“……Count……?”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t believe it. It really was Diego. Diego Ruperto himself was sitting on the bed, staring intently at her.

If Ribeta had been in her normal state, she would have easily noticed he was thoroughly angry, but she was too confused to have the presence of mind to recognize his fury.

“How…… Ah, I apologize. I should greet you properly……”

“Don’t move.”

Diego, who muttered lowly, pressed firmly on Ribeta’s shoulder as she tried to sit up. Strangely, though her shoulder didn’t hurt, her body sank deep into the bed.

Ribeta blinked in confusion and looked around. Whether unfortunate or fortunate, it was the lady’s room.

“Has my identity been discovered?”

“That’s what you say the moment you wake up?”

“Isn’t that the most important thing?”

What Diego demanded of her was to stand in as the lady for two years. She had entered the ducal residence in the lady’s place, so what could be more important than that?

“My fiancée is d*mn diligent.”

Diego sneered, twisting his lips into a smile. Only then did Ribeta realize he was angry. But why? She was faithfully fulfilling the contract, so why was the Count angry?

After thinking carefully, Ribeta found the answer. Believing without doubt that it was the answer, she apologized to Diego. In truth, she had a mountain of things she wanted to ask Diego, but apologizing came first now.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could last a month. I should have endured longer…… I’m sorry. And I haven’t won His Grace’s favor yet either.”

“A month.”

Ha. Diego let out a short, bitter laugh after repeating Ribeta’s words. A faint shadow of anger passed through his ash-gray eyes that were always desolately empty. When Diego closed his eyes firmly and opened them, the shadow disappeared cleanly.

“What else did you endure?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked what else you endured besides having your stomach crushed.”

Come to think of it, breathing felt comfortable. Ribeta unconsciously rubbed her stomach, then withdrew her hand when she felt Diego’s gaze pouring down sharply.

“……You saw?”

“Don’t deflect. Answer the question.”

“It’s just bruised. This is what usually happens when you wear a corset with boards. If I don’t wear the corset, it’ll quickly return to normal……”

“You.”

Diego’s voice now dropped completely to the floor. It was such a suppressed voice that she thought, so this is what a voice sounds like when someone is truly angry.