“But Beth… how have you been all this time?”

“I don’t even know where to begin…”

Beth sighed deeply and poured another stream of water over Sveta.

The sudden rush made Sveta flinch. Instinctively, she wrapped an arm around her lower abdomen. Since last night, her stomach had felt uneasy. She had already taken the medicine that Lady Noma had given her, so she doubted that was the cause.

Perhaps she had a slight fever. Or maybe she was just tired. Thankfully, the nausea passed quickly.

She had once endured a far worse fever, which had left her trembling and delirious, so this felt insignificant in comparison. After a few days of rest, the pain in her abdomen would probably fade, too. That was the conclusion she forced herself to accept.

Ignoring the persistent, pricking ache in her belly, Sveta lifted her gaze to Beth.

“Do you know how heartbroken I was after you ran away? I wanted to chase you down and drag you back.”

“I missed you too.”

“I’m serious, Sveta. I really mean it.”

“I know.”

Sveta gave her Secret Sister a soft, tender smile. As if she were looking into her own reflection, Beth silently returned the smile.

In the fragile silence that followed, Beth continued speaking.

“The moment Mother died, everything fell apart. They said my father couldn’t be trusted because he was a noble from Aetania. Then that bastard — the Duke of Baiton from Prisada — invaded…”

Her voice faltered. After a long pause, she forced herself to continue. Her voice was low and trembling as she told Sveta how Zloytan had fallen, and how she had been torn away from Jace Gould in the chaos.

“Do you remember? I once told you that I wanted to go to Muweio with you someday. I just… went south without any real plan. I had this feeling you’d be there.”

Sveta wiped her hands carelessly on the towel, then gently stroked Beth’s reddened cheek with her thumb.

A faint black smudge stained her fingertips.

On closer inspection, Sveta realized that Beth had deliberately darkened her eyebrows and freckles. This blurred the sharpness of her features, rendering the bridge of her nose and the shape of her eyes — which were so similar to Sveta’s — less noticeable.

‘Ah… so that’s why she felt unfamiliar…’

Pulling her hand away from the damp cheek, Sveta gently patted Beth’s trembling shoulders.

“I heard rumors about you there, Sveta. Apparently, a beggar who used to wander the streets became the adopted daughter of a baron. That’s why I came all the way to Renan to find you.”

“To… find me?”

“Yes. Becoming a maid was pure luck. Before I came here, a blind viscountess was looking for a laundress.”

“So that’s why you ended up in the laundry.”

“Exactly. I worked at the viscountess’s estate for about six months. I had no idea how I would ever meet you, and then I heard that the ducal household was recruiting laundry maids. I rushed to apply.”

Beth blew her nose loudly into the fine white towel and, out of habit, let out a small giggle.

“But Beth… what about the letter of recommendation? And the interview?”

“I told you. I was lucky.”

“Lucky… you say…”

As Sveta slowly turned the word over in her mind, Beth stood and tugged at her arm.

“Let’s go outside and talk.”

“Mm.”

“Oh—this towel! It’s filthy now. You can’t dry yourself with it. Put on your robe first. I’ll bring you a fresh one.”

Still feeling slightly dazed, Sveta rose and slipped on the robe that Beth handed her.

The thin silk clung to her damp skin. It revealed the curves of her body, making her look almost absurd. To make matters worse, droplets of water fell from her hair, leaving darker stains on the fabric.

“Good thing it’s hot.”

If it were winter, she would surely have caught a cold. Thinking that, Sveta followed Beth toward the door.

Beth flung the bathroom door wide open—then suddenly bowed deeply and fell silent.

“Is someone there?”

Sveta hurriedly peered outside.

At the end of her gaze sat the Duke, steam from the bath drifting around him.

“Your Grace… why…”

The chair was not where it usually stood. For some reason, he had dragged it right in front of the bathroom door and taken a seat.

‘Since when has he been here? Surely he didn’t hear our conversation…’

The sensation running down her spine no longer felt like water, but like sweat.

Aiden slowly uncrossed his legs. His expression remained impassive, yet he radiated an overwhelming pressure all the same.

Composing her voice, Sveta addressed Beth.

“Well done, Beka. You may now leave.

“Yes, my lady.”

He rose unhurriedly.

When he stood up straight, he seemed impossibly tall. His shadow fell across Sveta’s face as she tilted her head back to meet his gaze.

“Wait.”

At that single, quiet word, Beth, who had already started to leave the bedroom, stopped in her tracks.

Her green eyes, as bright as summer leaves, fixed on Sveta. Without breaking eye contact, he gave the order.

“Bring a towel.”

“…Yes, Master.”

Beth slipped quickly out of the room.

Drip. Drip.

Water fell from Sveta as she unconsciously took a step backward.

Aiden stepped forward just as much.

“What amused you so greatly?”

“Nothing…”

She was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu. It felt like one of his carefully laid traps all over again.

Determined not to look away this time, Sveta held his gaze.

His long, dark lashes arched over eyes so striking that they seemed almost unreal, casting faint shadows like the branches of a delicate tree. He was too beautiful — almost unreal — and that made her even more uneasy.

She tried to steady herself, recalling Beth’s teasing remark that the duke must have eyes in the back of his head, too. But the memory did little to calm the tightness in her chest.

With one hand hidden behind his back, Aiden reached out and gently lifted her chin with his index finger.

His gaze slowly drifted down the curve of her damp throat, lingering there before rising again with the same deliberate slowness.

“Are you cold?”

Only then did Sveta realize she was trembling.

“Yes… I think so.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Beth entered carrying a large towel.

“Dry her.”

“Yes, Master.”

At the Duke’s slight nod, Beth hurried to Sveta’s side, her head bowed deeply.

“My lady, this way.”

Beth led her behind the folding screen and began drying her carefully, starting with her hair and working down to her feet.

The soft, faintly scented towel brushed gently over her skin. Wherever the towel went, Beth followed with a light layer of oil, smoothing it in gently.

Although Beth was focused on her task, Aiden did not leave. He remained where he was, sharing the same space.

This reminded Sveta of the first time she had entered his bedchamber and announced that she would become his mistress. By any proper standard, it was not how a lady should be treated.

But Sveta had no time to feel humiliated now.

Instead, Sveta watched him anxiously.

‘He must not look at Beth.’

The hairs on the back of her neck prickled one by one, and her mouth went dry with tension.

She pressed her lips together, silently praying for time to pass more quickly.

Finally, when Beth had finished and stepped aside, Sveta emerged from behind the screen.

“Are you unwell?”

“Pardon?”

Aiden’s question was brief. His tone was unremarkable, yet she still struggled to understand what he was implying, as always.

Before she could decide how to respond, he stepped closer and lifted her wrist.

“Your complexion is poor.”

“It’s only indigestion.”

He placed something into her palm, which she had raised to her chest.

It was a large orange.

“I will send for a physician.”

“No, Your Grace. There’s no need. I’ll go myself.”

“……”

“I was planning to stop by Mr. Bartley’s laboratory anyway.”

“For what reason?”

“Well… to ask for some oil.”

It was a vague reply, but he didn’t ask any more questions. He would undoubtedly receive a separate report anyway.

Keeping her attention fixed on Beth, who was standing on the edge of her field of vision, Sveta lowered her voice.

“Will I need to bathe again? Now, I mean.”

“……”

He had only ever come to her for one reason.

It wasn’t hard to guess what would happen next.

She didn’t dislike it.

However, after spending hours with him, only to wash and start again from the beginning, it would be too much for her in her current state.

Aiden’s neatly shaped brows drew together faintly. What had displeased him now?

He tilted his head slightly, loosened the knot of his crisply tied cravat, and exhaled quietly.

“Eat.”

“…Thank you.”

He moved slowly, gently curling her fingers around the orange one by one.

His hand lingered briefly near her flushed cheek before withdrawing.

Without wasting a movement, he turned and left the bedroom.

***

Sveta stared after Aiden as he walked away, her gaze faintly dazed.

Beth stepped closer to her, wearing an equally unsettled expression, and muttered something.

“Whew… It’s hard to breathe in front of that man. He’s so overbearing.”

“……”

Overbearing.

Yes. He was that kind of man. He was the kind of man who tried to control every aspect of her life. But would he really have failed to investigate a maid who came and went from his mistress’s bedroom?

A sharp wave of unease gripped Sveta. With trembling fingers, she seized Beth’s wrist.

“Beth, how did you get in here?”

“How many times are you going to ask? I told you—I was lucky.”

“Tell me. Please.”

“…Ha.”

Taking a deep breath, Beth took Sveta by the arm and led her over to the mirror. She pressed her shoulders down, helped her to sit down, and fetched the hair oil and ivory comb.

Although the touch rubbing the violet-scented oil into her half-dried hair was gentle, Beth’s eyes were dry and devoid of warmth.

“It must be expensive. Smells nice, doesn’t it?”

Even when she leaned in close, sniffing lightly and whispering in a familiar tone of voice, there was nothing in her gaze that gave away her feelings.

Suddenly, Beth pulled open the front of her maid’s uniform.

Scooping up oil, she carelessly smeared it over her own skin.

Her movements — spreading the oil over her arms and legs without missing a spot — were natural and unhesitating.

“Beth.”

“Fine. I won’t put it on.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“……”

At the firmness in Sveta’s voice, Beth lifted the comb and drove it deep into the sunset-colored strands.

Their eyes met through the mirror.

At last, Beth spoke.

“Do you really want to know?”

Sveta answered with a slow nod.

Beth exhaled.

“So you’re determined to open the box of secrets?”