“What do you mean, black rain?! I just went out because I was bored—I wanted to see the foal that was just born! Why is everyone making such a fuss?!”

At Anna’s outburst, the maids and Serena froze, their expressions stiffening.

Startled by their reactions, Anna looked around nervously.

“W-Why are you all looking at me like that?”

❖ ❖ ❖

“She says she didn’t know what black rain was.”

At Serena’s report, Rebecca frowned deeply in disbelief.

“How could that be possible? Everyone in the Empire knows about black rain.”

The black rain fell only within the Calium Empire—as if it were some cruel joke of the gods.

Everyone knew that it caused red lesions on the skin.

Everyone knew that it made plants wither and fall ill.

No citizen of the Empire could possibly be unaware of it.

In fact, the people of Calium called it ‘a curse sent by the gods’ and regarded it as deeply ominous.

And yet Anna claimed she didn’t know.

Anna was clearly a citizen of the Empire.

So how could she not know something so fundamental?

As Isabel stood there, confusion clouding her thoughts, Serena leaned in and whispered quietly.

“She’s definitely not from the capital, Anita!”

Serena had been reporting every strange detail about Anna to Isabel without fail. She had willingly gone to serve Anna, not out of obedience, but to act as Isabel’s eyes and ears.

Even though Isabel had told her not to, Serena had continued bringing information—whenever she found the chance.

She had even reported, in detail, the strange atmosphere between Anna and the Grand Duke Tebrio.

“She doesn’t understand how things work in Anita. It’s possible she lied about her identity to get in.”

Rebecca shook her head, though doubt flickered in her eyes.

“That can’t be. The maids who serve noble households in the capital are all from Anita. And this city enforces status more strictly than anywhere else.”

Still, even as she spoke, she couldn’t completely dismiss the suspicion.

“Anna was recommended by the agency. If I recall correctly, she was said to be the niece of a rather well-known merchant.”

As Rebecca said, Anna had been brought in through a reputable agency that had long supplied servants to noble households.

They were known for their thorough background checks—especially for live-in maids.

“Then how could she not know something so basic?”

“Serena.”

Until then, Isabel had remained silent.

At her voice, Serena stiffened, her hands clasping tightly.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Go and bring Anna here.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Serena quickly left.

Rebecca, her face grave, turned back to Isabel.

“Do you think she really lied about who she is? Considering everything she’s done… it’s possible.”

Isabel did not respond immediately.

Her expression had turned cold—utterly devoid of warmth.

“…Perhaps.”

❖ ❖ ❖

“You don’t know what black rain is?”

Brought before Isabel by Serena, Anna sat down stiffly, glancing around nervously.

Isabel’s sudden question made her flinch.

“I—I heard about it from Serena. She said it’s a very dangerous kind of rain… and that when it falls, people stay inside.”

Isabel watched her closely—every small movement, every twitch of her fingers.

“Yes, that’s correct. Black rain falls several times a year. When it does, crops rot, and livestock fall ill. That’s why animals are brought into the stables, and plants are covered with cloth or wooden boards. Roofs are sealed, and windows are shut. The same goes for people. Everyone stays inside when it falls.”

“…Why does that kind of rain happen?”

“No one knows, except that it began after the land became corrupted.”

“I… I see…”

“And any citizen of this Empire—especially one born and raised in Anita—would know that.”

Isabel’s voice turned cold.

“But you, Anna… know nothing.”

“I—I…”

Flustered, Anna tried to come up with an excuse, but Isabel cut her off without hesitation.

“In the capital, nearly all maids are born and raised here. Outsiders are rare. And I specifically chose a maid from Anita.”

Her emerald eyes grew colder, tightening around Anna like a noose.

“…Did you lie to me?”

Anna froze under Isabel’s piercing gaze, unable to move.

Then, flustered, she hurriedly cried out—

“Th-That’s not it! I actually grew up abroad! But my parents are from Anita!”

“Abroad… where?”

“W-Werdia.”

“Are you saying… truly, Werdia?”

At Anna’s answer, Isabel’s eyes darkened.

The southern continent of Werdia was more closed off than any other nation, the only land beyond the reach of the Calium Empire.

Trade had resumed after the land’s corruption began, but even so, Werdia remained reluctant to deal with outsiders.

They traded exclusively with merchant groups connected to the Francia family. And those merchants only traveled back and forth—no one lived there.

And yet, she claimed she had grown up in Werdia?

Sensing Isabel’s suspicion, Anna quickly explained.

“It’s true! My family has run a merchant group for generations!”

After the Francia family acquired exclusive trade rights, a few affiliated merchant groups began limited trade with Werdia.

However, none of them ever settled there permanently.

Werdia would never have permitted it.

Nor would the Empire.

When the land began to decay, chaos ensued as people desperately tried to flee to other countries. Enraged, the Emperor ordered that the families of those who attempted to escape should be taken hostage too, thereby tightening the borders further.

Those who managed to reach neighboring kingdoms, such as Morita and Kerdium, were swiftly captured and sent back, as these lands were merely vassals of the Empire.

Those caught were dragged to camps where they were tortured before being sent to slave islands.

Emperor Kaidus III feared that his people would abandon the dying land.

Therefore, he forbade anyone from crossing the borders —

— except officials dispatched to govern vassal states or those granted his expl*cit permission.

Werdia—though beyond the Empire’s direct reach, was distant and isolated, and impossible to reach unaided.

‘But…’

What Anna said may well have been true.

If her family belonged to a merchant group that traded with Werdia, they must have had connections with the Francia family. Since this kind of trade served the interests of the Empire, it wasn’t impossible that they had been permitted to remain.

Although Isabel had started to learn about the family’s affairs from Margaret, there was still much she did not know. There were certainly matters that even she had yet to uncover.

And yet—

Her suspicion did not fade.

Sensing this, Anna quickly rushed to defend herself.

“I really did live in Werdia! But then my parents suddenly passed away and I was left all alone. After that, I received a letter from my uncle, who said he was working in Anita. It was because of him that I was able to come here. But when I arrived, something had already happened to him. The address in the letter belonged to a different merchant group, so once again, I was on my own. Then, by chance, I heard that they were looking for a maid, and that’s how I ended up here.”

“I see. You may go now.”

“…You… don’t believe me?”

Seeing that Isabel’s expression remained cold and unconvinced, Anna’s eyes reddened with hurt.

“I’ve served you for over half a year now. Have I ever acted suspiciously during that time? Why are you treating me like this? Do you resent me that much? But Lord Cedric isn’t even that important to you, is he—!”

“Are you saying I’m tormenting you over something so trivial?”

“Th-Then what is it?!”

Though she flinched under Isabel’s icy gaze, Anna could not hide her wounded expression, tears falling like beads from her eyes.

“This is because I became Lord Cedric’s mistress, isn’t it?!”

Ultimately, Anna insisted that Isabel’s suspicions were motivated purely by resentment.

Her words were absurd — and infuriating.

But Isabel held back, forcing herself to stay calm while she explained.

“Anna, I told you. No citizen of the Empire could possibly be unaware of black rain. And yet you went outside without knowing what it was. Until now, I believed you were born and raised in Anita. All maids in noble households come from the capital. Given that, isn’t it only natural for me to be suspicious?”

“…You’re being so unfair!”

Anna glared at Isabel as if consumed by betrayal, then burst into tears and ran out.

Isabel watched her retreat with a baffled expression before pressing her fingers to her brow. Rebecca, who had been standing by the door, rushed inside.

“That girl Anna definitely lied about something, didn’t she? I knew it from the very beginning!”

“Rebecca, which agency did you say Anna came from?”

“It’s an agency used only by nobles, my lady. That’s why they have no choice but to be extremely thorough. The background of maids who serve noble households is more important than anything—…wait.”

Rebecca, who had been answering without hesitation, suddenly frowned deeply.

“Come to think of it, that girl Anna was introduced through that agency too. Then does that mean the owner recommended a maid without even properly verifying her background? I should go there right now and—!”

“Rebecca. Once the rain stops, have Serena go to the agency and investigate Anna thoroughly. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes—leave nothing unchecked.”

Rebecca, who had been about to storm out, lit up and nodded eagerly.

“Yes, my lady. Serena is incredibly meticulous—you know that. She’ll dig into everything and bring back every last detail.”

“…And just in case, examine Anna’s skin as well.”

“M-Me? Me, my lady?”

“There’s no one else in this house capable of treating something like that but you.”

“I studied myself half to death to take care of you, my lady—not to treat someone as ungrateful as Anna!”

“Then think of it as being for me. Either way, Anna is Cedric’s mistress, and since he isn’t here, someone must look after her in his place.”

“That’s—!”

Rebecca flared up at Isabel’s words, but upon meeting her sharp gaze, she let out a long sigh and bowed her head.

“…Understood, my lady.”

She turned to leave, but suddenly stopped and glanced at Isabel, as if hesitating.

Isabel narrowed her eyes at her.

“If you have something to say, then say it. Don’t hesitate—it doesn’t suit you.”

“Um… my lady…”