‘What’s your name? How old are you?’

‘……Lucienne. Eleven years old.’

After vomiting enough of the filthy water, she barely managed to answer, and Laurel’s eyes seemed to faintly shine. Without hesitation, Laurel swept back Lucienne’s wet hair.

‘You’re the same age as my younger sibling. I’m Laurel. Laurel Whitson. You can call me sister if you’d like.’

Lucienne never once called her “sister.” They never became close enough for that, but if Lucienne had to pick a friend or the person she felt most comfortable with at the laundry area, she would have chosen Laurel.

Though Laurel had changed a lot after meeting that damned scoundrel and becoming burdened by debt.

Lucienne slowly opened her eyes. On the ceiling, the last image she had of Laurel appeared. Death had always been something close to her, but this was the first time it had felt so near.

With Laurel lying in a pool of blood before her, Lucienne had frozen completely, unable to move. Not long before, they had been talking. It had been more of an argument, really, about the actions of the female protagonist in a novel they had read.

A diligent woman had fallen in love with a man from another place, only to be deceived by his endless excuses, giving him everything she had and being betrayed in return. Naturally, Lucienne had thought of Laurel while reading that book.

‘You’re no different. In the end, you wasted and threw away your own life.’

‘Kid, stop pretending to know everything about love between men and women when you know nothing. Just because you’ve read a few books, you think you know the world?’

Laurel always became sensitive when the topic of her lover came up. Lucienne smirked faintly.

‘Let’s say you really do become the head maid. Your salary will go up. But no matter how much money you earn, it won’t be enough if you don’t spend it on yourself. That man is pure greed. He’ll never stop wanting more.’

‘I told you to shut that mouth.’

‘Make me.’

Lucienne’s sharp gaze fixed on her, and she quietly observed Laurel.

‘Just for saying that, you could die.’

Laurel’s face twisted. With a crooked smile, she pressed down on Lucienne’s shoulder.

‘You’re completely drunk on this little noble act of yours, kid. If you don’t want to be abandoned by your brother, you’d better try harder. You’re doing well for now, but your little tricks will run out eventually.’

They glared at each other intensely. Lucienne found her pathetic. Whenever Laurel went out, supposedly to investigate merchants connected to Nina, she would meet her lover. That man, who had no reason to refuse Laurel after she found work here and began paying off her debts, was the subject of Lucienne’s disdain.

‘Do as you please. But, Laurel, I may not know much about love between men and women, but I know one thing.’

Ending the tiresome argument, Lucienne delivered her final words to Laurel.

‘That man wouldn’t love you if you didn’t have money.’

‘You……!’

Laurel must have been hurt. She had taken on debts for him and even aspired to become the head maid for his sake. But Lucienne had said those words without considering that it might be their last conversation.

If she had known, she would never have said such things. Never.

The last image of Laurel, floating on the ceiling, blurred. Silent tears streamed down Lucienne’s cheeks, burning her skin. She gripped the blanket tightly.

‘Laurel fell after arguing with Miss. The maid who found Laurel looked up at the terrace and saw a green dress. As you know, Master, the only person in this mansion wearing a green dress is Miss Lucienne. Don’t you think an explanation is necessary?’

……Nina.

Lucienne recalled Nina’s cold voice, sharp as thorns. Laurel had warned her before, but Lucienne had never truly believed it.

Was it her? Could she really have killed Laurel?

Nina, having pieced together the maids’ accounts, had immediately sat Lucienne down and interrogated her about the facts. Though she claimed it was to ascertain the truth, her eyes were calm and detached, as if she were merely following an inevitable course of action.

Lucienne hadn’t been on the terrace, so if the maid truly saw a green dress, it meant someone had made sure she “saw” it. If it was a lie, then Nina must have coerced her.

The young maid had seemed innocent and terrified. She didn’t look bold enough to lie perfectly, but it was worth verifying.

One more thing.

If Nina had killed Laurel and was planning to frame Lucienne, it meant Nina had a critical threat. In other words, Laurel had likely discovered something. Something so significant that Nina had felt compelled to act.

What had Laurel been investigating last? Did Nina know it was something Lucienne had instructed her to do?

Lucienne replayed her last conversation with Laurel in her mind. She remembered faintly hearing Laurel’s voice as she left the room after their argument, leaving behind her harsh words.

‘If you keep acting like this, I’ll show you……!’

What was it?

Lucienne frowned as she concentrated with her eyes closed. She hadn’t heard it clearly, so there was no way to recall the word she had missed. But there was no doubt that Laurel had discovered something. And Lucienne intended to find out what it was. She had to.

‘You’re funny.’

The bloodied image of Laurel floating on the ceiling moved her lips.

‘Who do you think is responsible for this? Are you planning to give me medicine after making me sick?’

“I know. I caused your death.”

Lucienne covered her face with both hands and let out a low groan. Her ice-cold hands were stiff with tension.

“I knew it was dangerous, but I still sent you to do it. I didn’t know you’d actually die. I didn’t think it would be that dangerous……”

‘You despised and hated me. Do you think I didn’t know? You didn’t care whether I lived or died. No, you probably thought it would be easier to handle things if Nina did something to me, didn’t you?’

“No!”

Lucienne thrashed and screamed at the distorted face.

“No, that’s not it. That’s not it, I……!”

“Lucienne.”

Someone grabbed her shoulders. The gentle shaking startled her, and she opened her eyes wide. The horrifying image of Laurel’s face, which had been so close it seemed ready to devour her, was gone. Instead, a beautifully composed face was there.

Lucienne gasped harshly. Her neck was damp with cold sweat, and her face was soaked with tears. She couldn’t distinguish which was the dream. Her body trembled as if in convulsions, and the hand holding her shoulder tightened.

“Calm down. Whatever it is, it’s just a dream. Leave it all in the dream and come out.”

“No, no. No. It’s not like that. I didn’t mean to…… I didn’t……”

“Shh, yes. You didn’t.”

Lucienne was drawn into the comforting embrace without resistance. She clung to his waist and buried her face in his chest, panting for a long time. Each time she let out a sound somewhere between a groan and a sob, a large hand patted her back.

The rhythmic motion gradually calmed her turbulent emotions. Just knowing someone was there to share her distress brought her peace more quickly.

Realizing who that “someone” was, Lucienne suddenly felt embarrassed and pushed him away. His calm green eyes gazed at her.

“……What are you doing here?”

Wiping her face roughly with her sleeve, she asked in a low, hoarse voice. Lars replied quietly.

“I heard someone died.”

“It’s not even someone you know.”

“They say she was quite close to you.”

Lucienne flinched and stiffened. Laurel’s face flickered again in her mind. Seeing her defensive expression, Lars turned and poured water into a cup on the table.

“By any chance.”

Taking the cup he offered, Lucienne lowered her gaze and murmured.

“Did you come because you think I killed her?”

“Did you? From what I heard in your sleep, it sounded like you did.”

“Why would I……!”

Her voice rose in anger, but she bit her lip. Lars, who had been watching her with an indifferent face, spoke.

“There’s a rumor going around that Lucienne Bickman arrogantly pushed a private tutor off the balcony to her death. Thanks to that, your soaring popularity is plummeting.”

“That rumor has already spread?”

“It’s fast. Like a sailboat caught in a favorable wind.”

Lars raised his eyebrows and leisurely crossed his legs. A cool breeze blew in through the half-open window.

Oddly enough, the composure he exuded seemed to transfer to her. The chaotic thoughts in her mind began to organize themselves bit by bit.

“Speak. What’s the situation?”

Lucienne stared at him with her lips tightly sealed. It wasn’t something he couldn’t find out on his own, but there was no need to tell him. It was a family matter that had nothing to do with him, and more than anything, Lucienne strongly felt that she had to resolve it herself.

“I don’t really know. It’s true I argued with Laurel, but it was just a trivial quarrel, and while I was away, she had an accident.”