In truth, it hardly mattered to Grand Duke Evander what kind of woman Alicia was.

‘All she needs to do is give me an heir with black hair and black eyes.’

That was the full extent of Alicia’s usefulness, a woman defined by vanity and extravagance.

The best way to keep Helena in check while she had yet to produce an heir.

That was also why he had sought out the daughter of the Windmore comital household, a family aligned with no faction.

‘But…… why does she keep nagging at my thoughts?’

Alicia had been so unlike the rumors. Grand Duke Evander’s gaze deepened.

“I suppose I will find out in time.”

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Back in her bedchamber, Alicia rested for a short while. The lingering effects of the poison and the sheer weight of everything that had happened had left her dizzy. But even lying down, her mind would not rest.

‘I need to find the one who tried to kill my aunt quickly. They could come for her again at any time.’

Geographically, none of Helena’s close associates could have arrived at the Darlington domain ahead of Grand Duke Evander to poison Alicia’s aunt.

That means there is a traitor inside the count’s household.

And the number of people who could have tampered with a young lady’s jewelry was not large.

Then,

Knock. Knock. Knock.

An urgent knock, and the door opened as Rina came in.

“Miss, Miss! You know I have a younger brother, right? He’s the second of five siblings, and since he was spoiled rotten growing up, he’s a bit of a blockhead. Always drinking, always causing trouble, honestly he’s been a headache since he was little. But he’s got a good personality so he has a lot of people around him. News travels fast to him too. Haa……”

Rina had poured out an enormous amount of words in a single breath and now gasped for the air she had barely held in. Alicia listened and asked calmly.

“So what are you trying to say?”

“I, I found them. Phew.”

Taking one more long breath, Rina quickly continued.

“I found out where the ones who left are. Phew…… I know where they are.”

Alicia immediately set aside the wet cloth on her forehead and sat up.

It was time for retribution.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Early dawn.

Two maids hiding in the shadowy corner of a storehouse held their breath and cautiously scanned their surroundings.

“When is the carriage coming?”

“It’s…… they said before dawn.”

“Then why isn’t it here yet? It’s already getting light out. Are you sure the message got through?”

“I told you it did. I already paid them.”

“Haa……”

White breath spread into the air with a long sigh. In the darkness, only their eyes shone with a frightened light.

“Sonya, we’ll be all right, won’t we?”

“Of course we will. We just need to get out of here.”

“But…… the Miss…… do you think she’s really dead?”

Sonya clapped a hand over her mouth.

“Shut it, Anna. If anyone hears us, we’re finished.”

“What do we do…… I’m so scared……”

Sonya sighed at the sight of the terrified Anna.

“Haa, if you’re that scared, look at this.”

Sonya patted the leather bag she was sitting on. The pouch filled with silver coins was their payment for the job.

“Once we’re out of the Darlington domain, the world is ours.”

But Anna’s expression did not brighten in the slightest.

“……We can never go back home again, can we?”

“Let’s get far away first and see how things play out. There’s no actual evidence that we did anything.”

“That’s true…… all we did was pass it along.”

“So stop whining. Crying won’t change anything.”

“Yeah. All right……”

She wiped her tears away reluctantly and swallowed them down.

Then, at that moment,

Neigh.

From beyond the door came the sound of a horse.

“It’s here!”

The two maids’ faces finally brightened.

Sonya picked up the bag herself and led the way outside.

“What took you so long? You take the money and pull this?”

Grumbling with irritation, the two of them moved quickly to board the carriage. But someone was already sitting inside, where it should have been empty.

“Who are……”

At that moment, creak. The carriage door swung open and a woman stepped down.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

A woman descended from the carriage with poise, holding up the hem of her dress. The eyes of the two maids shook violently.

It was a face far too familiar. The very Miss they had served until just two days ago.

“A, Alicia, Miss……”

“……”

Alicia’s appearance made the hearts of both maids drop. They gripped each other’s hands tightly, tense, and swallowed hard.

“So this is where you were hiding.”

Alicia’s expression and voice were unexpectedly gentle. She approached them slowly as she continued.

“What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“N, no. We were just so startled……”

“I was so shocked when you left without warning. What on earth was the reason?”

Sonya spoke up in place of the pale-faced Anna.

“W, we just…… the work was too hard. We wanted to rest a little……”

“Is that so? You should have said something sooner. I would have made allowances for you.”

Watching Alicia’s sympathetic reaction, Sonya carefully opened her mouth.

“But…… why did you come looking for us?”

“Oh, how forgetful of me. I came to give you a parting gift for all your hard work.”

The anxious tension snapped loose in an instant.

She doesn’t know……

Alicia’s behavior suggested she had no idea their plan had failed. Only then did they let out a breath of relief.

“Rina, hand me what you brought.”

“Here you are.”

“Here, take it. It’s a gift for the two of you.”

Alicia’s outstretched palm.

Resting on it was a bracelet, gleaming brilliantly.

Clearly expensive and luxurious at a glance.

But the eyes of the maids went wide at the sight of it.

That, that’s……

It was the very bracelet they had delivered to Alicia, the one laced with poison.

“With this, you’ll be able to live comfortably wherever you go.”

Alicia held the bracelet out as she spoke.

“……”

“……”

The two maids instinctively stepped back.

“Why won’t you take such a precious thing? Could it be…… that you think there might be poison on it?”

The maids startled and looked at each other.

The color drained from their faces.

But Sonya forced a smile and shook her head.

“N, no, Miss. It’s just…… we don’t deserve such a generous gift.”

“Is that so? I think differently.”

“……Pardon?”

In that moment, Alicia’s eyes turned cold and sharp.

“I think you two deserve this bracelet more than anyone. Now, hold out your hands. I will put it on for you myself.”

Alicia took one step forward, and the maids stumbled back. But Alicia’s hand was faster and snatched the maid’s wrist.

“Ah……”

“Hold still.”

Alicia smiled and began slowly fastening the bracelet around the maid’s wrist.

The cold bracelet was just about to touch the skin.

Anna, drained of all color, crumpled to the ground.

“P, please forgive us…… Miss……”

“What exactly are you asking forgiveness for?”

“It’s just…… it’s just…… greed blinded us…… please, just this once, forgive us.”

Alicia’s eyes went ice-cold in an instant.

“What you’re saying is that both of you knew exactly what kind of bracelet this was.”

“……”

Miss Alicia had known everything all along.

Anna’s lips trembled but no words came out.

Thud.

Sonya, watching, prostrated herself and pressed her forehead to the ground.

“We are truly sorry…… just once…… please, just once, forgive us……”

She clasped her hands together, her voice shaking.

But a cold smile spread across Alicia’s lips.

“Do you think begging will earn you forgiveness for something like this? I nearly died.”

“Please forgive us, Miss……”

“We, we have committed a crime worthy of death. Please, please show us mercy……”

Alicia listened quietly and slowly nodded.

“Good. Well said.”

“……Pardon?”

“You said it yourselves, a crime worthy of death. Then you must pay a price to match.”

Before Alicia had even finished speaking, the count’s household guards began surrounding the maids.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Evening, as the sun set.

“Aaagh!!”

A scream rang out from the open ground behind the manor.

Thwack. Thwack thwack.

Burly retainers beat the maids mercilessly with clubs as thick as a man’s thigh. The soft skin of the women split open and blood welled up.

“Aaagh!”

“Please, please spare us……”

The screams of the two maids rang out.

An elderly head maid watching the punishment cautiously tried to stop Alicia.

“Miss…… perhaps this is enough?”

“No. Continue.”

“But if this goes on, they may actually die.”

“Is that so? You have a very warm heart, Head Maid.”

Alicia slowly turned her head and looked the head maid directly in the eye.

“Then how about you take the rest of the punishment in their place?”

“……Pardon?”

“It is the head maid’s responsibility to prevent, educate against, and keep watch over misconduct among the maids. You failed to fulfill that duty. Or perhaps you accepted a bribe from them?”

The head maid’s complexion went pale as the snow piled around them.

“……N, no. I swear on my life, nothing of the sort.”

“Then keep quiet and watch. Unless you want to invite unnecessary suspicion.”