The footsteps that had been busily moving overhead eventually quieted, making it easy for Eirene to gauge when Clive would arrive. Over the past four days, she had been provided with water only twice in a washbasin, which she used sparingly but quickly ran out.

Having confirmed God’s existence before, she prayed desperately. Please let the basement door open. Or move Betty’s heart to leave without locking it. Waiting by the door, Eirene heard the sound of footsteps rushing outside.

Clive had arrived. Inwardly, she told herself not to harbor unreasonable expectations, thinking “Would God answer my prayers?” But still, you never know. She carefully pushed the door.

“Huh?”

It opened. The lock had not been secured and lay on the floor. Anxiety, impatience, excitement, and joy. Eirene’s heart raced with various emotions. She wasn’t afraid of being caught. This was no time to be overwhelmed with emotion.

She needed to catch Clive’s eye at the most crucial moment. When she opened the door and went out into the hall, no one was there, but through the large windows, she could see servants lined up outside. She could also spot Clive’s tall head.

Hurrying toward the entrance, Eirene quietly but confidently opened the door. Her eyes met Clive’s.

His handsome face still exuded a cold aura. With such a fine face, it must be difficult to give an unfavorable impression. After a brief moment of surprise, he looked at her with eyes full of curiosity, and she greeted him with her eyes.

One corner of Clive’s lips slowly rose, and after briefly greeting Count and Countess Phineas, he immediately approached Eirene.

“I finally see my fiancée’s face properly.”

My fiancée. The faces of Count and Countess Phineas, who had turned away, went pale. Eirene barely suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst from her sense of triumph. This was certainly better than killing them.

Looking at Clive standing before her, Eirene confirmed that her plan had aligned perfectly. In the past, when everyone was dead and only Eirene remained, Clive had called her ‘Aishe.’ She couldn’t understand why, but he definitely thought Eirene was Aishe.

Finding out the reason wasn’t urgent. What mattered was that Clive thought Eirene was Aishe. Not only the Count and Countess but also the servants who knew of Eirene’s existence were startled by her unexpected appearance, some even letting out small screams. 

One of them almost called out Eirene’s name while pointing at her, but covered their mouth when they saw the Count’s fierce glare. They stood frozen like statues, unable to move from their spots.

“Are you still unwell? Your complexion looks poor.”

At Clive’s words, Countess Phineas finally came to her senses and quickly went up the stairs, pushing Eirene inside.

“She had a slight fever this morning, so I told her to prepare slowly… I didn’t realize so much time had passed. It seems Aishe came down simply because she was happy to hear of Your Grace’s arrival. This child, really. Even when excited, she should know better.”

With forced laughter, the Countess entered with Eirene and took her by the arm to the nearest tea room.

“How did you get out of the basement? And why are you so clean?”

She looked Eirene up and down repeatedly, unable to believe her eyes. From the Countess’s words, Eirene realized she wasn’t in a dirty state. How could that be? She hadn’t bathed. Even Eirene, who had come out with firm resolve, was bewildered.

“Ah, cleanliness isn’t the issue here.”

The Countess shook her head vigorously and closed her eyes tightly, exhaling. She seemed to be contemplating how to handle what had just happened. And her deliberation didn’t take long. She grabbed Eirene’s arms and glared at her with wide eyes.

“From now on, you are Aishe. You’ve been recovering from a cold for two months. I’ll tell the Grand Duke you need rest, so only attend the dinner banquet. Try not to speak with His Grace. Understand?”

“Why am I Aishe?”

“You don’t need to know that. Did you understand what I said?”

The Countess shook Eirene’s arms. Her mother, or rather, the woman she had thought was her mother, who rarely got excited, was sweating nervously.

“Yes. I understand.”

Eirene nodded. For now, she decided to maintain her original obedient demeanor. Watching these people panic in an unexpected situation would be quite entertaining. The Countess called Betty in and quietly gave her orders in a whisper. Betty quickly stood in front of Eirene.

“Miss. You need to go upstairs.”

The word ‘upstairs’ was unfamiliar to Eirene, but she obediently followed. In the hall, Clive and Countess Phineas were conversing. From what Eirene could briefly hear, they were explaining the situation that had just occurred, and Eirene, passing by, stood between them. With her back to the Countess, she looked at Clive.

“I apologize. It was my oversight for not taking better care of my health, knowing today was the day Your Grace would visit. Please don’t blame my parents. I’ll rest and meet you again at dinner when I’ve recovered.”

At Eirene’s words, the eyes of everyone living in the Phineas mansion widened.

Did she go too far?

She felt a moment of regret, but it was too late. So she tried to imitate the female protagonist she had read about in a novel. With the most fragile-looking gaze and gestures in the world, she greeted Clive and turned away.

Betty guided Eirene to a guest room. As soon as she entered, Eirene opened the window, leaving Betty behind to light the fireplace.

“Miss! What are you doing? I’m trying to warm the room, and you’re opening the window?”

Her voice was much more irritated than usual.

“How did you get out? I locked the door and even checked it! Once the Grand Duke leaves, I’m as good as dead to the Madam!”

She stamped her feet and whimpered. Betty was indeed kind. Or rather, on the kinder side. If it had been another maid, Eirene would have had a handful of hair pulled out and scratches on her neck or arms.

“It’s not your fault. I got out on my own.”

“The Madam will surely believe that.”

Betty snorted and sat back down in front of the fireplace. Eirene sat on the window seat and breathed in the air. The incoming wind was cold, but she didn’t mind. It was completely different from the musty, damp air of the basement room.

When she inhaled, the air entered through her nose and mouth, spreading throughout her body. It felt like clean air was coursing through her brain, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The sunlight she was seeing for the first time was so bright that she couldn’t properly open her eyes.

She closed her eyes against the stinging pain and felt the warmth pouring down. Without books and imagination, the outside world she was experiencing for the first time might have been terrifying.

She had always tried to picture it in her mind and understand what it felt like. And the reality was much better than books or imagination. Suddenly, anger welled up inside her. They had prevented her from enjoying what every living being born into this world should naturally be able to enjoy.

She suppressed her boiling rage, acknowledging that she couldn’t act on her immediate impulses despite desperately wanting to. Still seated on the window seat, Eirene spoke to Betty.

“Bring me some food.”

Betty’s eyes, which had been lighting the fireplace and tidying up, widened and then contorted. It was the expression of someone looking at a crazy person. Understandably so. The eldest daughter of the Phineas family had never once expressed a desire for anything.

She had simply been satisfied with and adapted to whatever situation and whatever was given to her. She was pathetic. Eirene continued speaking, reproaching herself for having acted so foolishly.

“I don’t understand how, but the Grand Duke thinks I’m Aishe. Since I’ve agreed to attend the dinner banquet, shouldn’t I regain my strength by then? If you tell Mother and she refuses, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“I’ll ask her.”

“And prepare a dress too. If I appear before the Grand Duke in this attire, it won’t just be me who gets criticized.”

“I’ll ask about that too. But, Miss, when did you bathe?”

Eirene didn’t answer. She didn’t know what had happened either, so she had nothing to say. Like the basement door that had been left unlocked, she believed her clean appearance was God answering her prayers.

Betty left, frustrated at not receiving an answer, and Eirene looked around the room where she was now alone. She thought that if she had been told to live and die in this room, not the basement, she might not have killed everyone.

The guest room was incomparable to where Eirene had stayed. As she approached the fireplace that Betty had lit, she felt warmth much stronger than sunlight. The bed’s softness was different too. It seemed like sleeping in this bed would bring good dreams.

Eirene stood by the window again to breathe in the fresh air. How long had she been enjoying it with her eyes closed?

Bang!

The door opened violently, and Aishe entered with a face unable to contain her anger. It was the first time Eirene had seen such an expression on Aishe, but knowing her true nature, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Slap!

She struck Eirene’s cheek mercilessly. Fortunately, because Aishe was smaller than Eirene, her entire palm didn’t make contact.

“Have you lost your mind?”

Aishe grabbed Eirene’s collar, despite being much smaller. She was so strong that Eirene’s body shook.

“Why did you appear? The Grand Duke mistook you for me!”

This was Aishe’s true self. The affectionate sister had changed as she grew older. Though her irritability and tantrums had worsened, she never forgot to treat Eirene as her elder sister. 

For the first time, Aishe had addressed Eirene as ‘you.’ If Eirene had seen the current Aishe without knowing anything, it might have hurt, but since she already knew everything, it didn’t affect her. 

All this time, Aishe must have pretended to treat her like an elder sister because she had something to gain. Eirene recalled what Aishe had whispered while killing her.

Fortunately, her emotions remained stable, so she calmly put on her usual expression of a kind elder sister, looking very apologetic.

“I’m curious too. Why did he mistake me for you? He’s never seen me before.”

Aishe’s eyes trembled as she glared at Eirene with her lips sealed. She clearly knew the reason. It seemed related to a portrait, but what exactly?

After glaring for a long time, Aishe released Eirene. Her trembling fist stopped, and after taking a short breath, she raised her chin.

“I’m sorry, Sister. I must have lost my senses because I was so surprised.”

Having regained her composure, Aishe smiled brightly and turned around. Just as she was about to leave the room, Countess Phineas entered.

“Eirene. I’ll explain after the Grand Duke leaves. As I said earlier, you…”

The Countess’s face reddened as she tried to contain her anger.

“You’ll have to play the role of Aishe. You must do it well.”

“Mother!”

Aishe called out to Countess Phineas in a sharp voice.

“Is my sister substituting for me?”

“Ah, Aishe. My beloved daughter. You must understand. You know well that given the situation, we have no choice.”

“No! Have you lost your mind too, Mother? How can you say such a thing?”

Listening to their conversation, Eirene felt conflicted. Aishe, who had grown up loved, could speak to Countess Phineas like that. It was so different from Eirene, who had always been cautious and happy with even the smallest attention. 

After trying to placate Aishe for a while with no success, Countess Phineas’s face hardened, yet her eyes remained full of love.

“Get a grip, Aishe. Our family’s survival is at stake. You’re old enough to understand the situation now, aren’t you? How long will you act like a child?”

“Mother…”

“Go to your bedroom. You must not come out until the Grand Duke leaves.”

“Mother…”

Tears flowed down Aishe’s pretty face, but Countess Phineas absolutely would not back down. Realizing that further pleading would be futile, Aishe stomped her feet and left the room. Countess Phineas painfully watched the door through which Aishe had departed. 

Perhaps because she was someone Eirene had once called Mother, she felt strangely conflicted. Though she had hated her enough to kill her out of a sense of betrayal, this sudden feeling was something she couldn’t quite identify.

Looking at someone while knowing exactly what they were hiding, her heart wasn’t filled with pure anger. Eirene thought of her birth mother, whom she had never seen. Thinking of her family who had been unjustly killed because of these people, she shook off her increasingly strange feelings.

“Eirene. You can do this well, can’t you?”

Her tone was gentle, contrary to her fierce gaze.

“Will I be able to do it well?”

“Aishe never conversed much with the Grand Duke whenever they met, so it will be difficult for him to notice. So you too should avoid conversation as much as possible.”

“But… how can I become Aishe? I can’t do it.”

Eirene shook her head. Not knowing that she was doing this deliberately, Countess Phineas squeezed Eirene’s hand tightly.

“You heard what I said to Aishe? Our family’s survival is at stake. Our survival depends on you.”

The warm voice that Eirene had heard from Countess Phineas very long ago flowed out. Eirene pretended to consider once more before nodding.

Betty scratched the back of her head as she watched Eirene scrape and eat every bit of food. She had just helped Eirene bathe. Not only did she look clean on the outside, but when she undressed for the bath, she was incredibly clean. 

Betty had the absurd thought that she might have been replaced by someone else, but her emaciated body, thinner than any servant in the mansion, proved she was the same person. Above all, Betty confirmed with her own eyes that it was indeed Eirene. 

Her face was definitely Eirene’s. Today was a series of surprises. Countess Phineas had gathered all the servants and instructed them to call Eirene by the name Aishe from that moment on. 

The real Aishe was to be treated as non-existent, and guards were placed outside her bedroom to prevent her from coming out. Perhaps because having too many people at the dinner banquet might lead to mistakes, only three people, including the butler and Betty, were to serve. 

Though the prospect of hard work was daunting, Countess Phineas’s promise to “compensate generously” eased Betty’s mind somewhat. She tried not to concern herself with the affairs of her masters, which belonged to a different world entirely, but her suppressed curiosity began to leak out.

Betty woke Eirene, who had eaten well and fallen asleep, in the afternoon and began preparing her. She marveled as she brushed Eirene’s hair. The black hair, soft like velvet, hadn’t been this way recently, as she recalled. 

Thinking there might be something wrong with her own head, Betty focused solely on her task, suppressing the questions that kept bubbling up. Eirene had no dresses. 

They had planned to choose from Aishe’s dresses, but due to the height difference, they selected the most youthful-looking style from among Countess Phineas’s dresses, as their builds were similar. 

Having finished Eirene’s preparations, Betty was confused about whether her skills were good or if Eirene had always been beautiful. Her pale skin, from not seeing sunlight for so long, contrasted with her black hair, giving her a mysterious aura.

Were her eyes always that color? 

Her deep purple irises were clear like a child’s. Though she was thin and somewhat plain, if she gained some weight, she would become a beautiful lady no less than Aishe. Suddenly, Betty’s mind became complicated. 

Though uneducated and lacking knowledge, her intuition, which was remarkably well-developed, was sending signals. It seemed that major changes were coming, so she should choose her allegiances carefully. Since it wasn’t an easy decision to make, she decided to straddle both sides for the time being.

“Miss, you’re ready now. Let’s go.”

Betty bowed so deeply that her head nearly touched the floor.