“Why would I look for evidence of my husband’s treason? Anyway, I don’t know who you are, so I’ll be on my way…”

There was nothing more to hear. Elisia turned her body sharply, but the count grabbed her arm.

“Where do you think you’re going! Find it as soon as possible. Otherwise…”

The count put force into his eyes.

“That secret you’ve been so desperate to hide—I might just reveal it to the Grand Duke.”

A secret?

Elisia’s shoulders trembled involuntarily. Her confident golden eyes wavered slightly. Seeing this, the count added with a nasty smile.

“Don’t forget.”

“…”

“There’s something you need to fulfill in exchange for my silence. Hmm?”

Elisia’s heart stirred anxiously. Without realizing it, she gently bit her lip.

‘What does this man know?’

The count turned to leave but stopped after a few steps.

“Ah, right. Chloe!”

Chloe, who was visibly flinching, didn’t answer. Her fragile shoulders looked so pitiful.

“If you don’t catch a proper man today, I’ll contact Marquis Tornto.”

“P-please, not that…”

“So figure it out yourself. Today is your last chance.”

After making his incomprehensible threats, the count cleared his throat loudly and turned completely. With his hands behind his back, he waddled away, gradually disappearing from Elisia’s sight.

The count knew Elisia’s secret. Something that Derick shouldn’t know.

‘What should I do? What am I supposed to do?’

This wasn’t even in the original story. She was all the more confused because she couldn’t come up with a plan.

Elisia’s gaze wavered greatly at this unexpected development.

“Your Grace!”

However, thanks to Chloe’s timely appearance, she was able to break free from her thoughts.

Elisia hid her anxiety behind a face feigning composure.

“Please, I beg you, I have a request…!”

She couldn’t walk away from Chloe’s pitiful plea. She must have been tormented by Elisia all this time.

Yet what could be so urgent that she would beg like this?

While she was unable to hide her confusion, suddenly Chloe rushed into Elisia’s arms. When she tried to kneel, Elisia quickly caught her, startled.

Already people around them were whispering and glancing in their direction.

Anyone who saw this scene would think that Elisia was tormenting Chloe. She was biting her lip and whimpering as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

‘Isn’t there somewhere quiet?’

Feeling that this wouldn’t do, Elisia looked around and thought of the terrace.

For a brief conversation, there was no better place than the terrace.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet to talk first.”

Chloe nodded faintly. Elisia quickly released her.

After rapidly surveying her surroundings, Elisia led Chloe to the quiet terrace. Chloe followed obediently behind her.

Heading to a corner, Elisia lowered her voice.

“What is your request?”

Chloe, with her hands clasped together, immediately welled up with tears upon hearing Elisia’s voice. Elisia’s eyes widened at the sight of her looking like a pitiful flower.

‘She really is beautiful.’

Her large eyes in her small face were moist, her high nose, plump light pink lips, and white, fair skin glowed.

Everything about her was like a female protagonist straight out of a typical romance comic.

Anyone, regardless of gender, would want to help a woman like that when she asked for help.

Though she admired the original female protagonist, it was only for a moment.

Chloe, who had been clenching her fists tightly, raised her head and met Elisia’s eyes.

“Please…”

Chloe spoke desperately in a pleading voice.

“Please let me stay at the Grand Duke’s mansion for a while.”

Let her stay at the Grand Duke’s mansion?

Clearly, Elisia was a figure of fear for Chloe. Not only did she torment her, but the moment Chloe went against Elisia, she would be met with beatings.

Yet she was making this request to her. As if she was the only one who could help.

Elisia was so taken aback that she couldn’t say anything.

‘As if I’m not already confused enough with the count’s nonsense.’

However Chloe interpreted Elisia’s silence, her tear-soaked blue eyes trembled greatly. Upon seeing her eyes, Chloe immediately knelt before Elisia.

Not only that, she even pressed her forehead to the floor, as if she had committed some crime.

“Huh?”

Elisia was truly bewildered.

“Please, please…! I beg you. I will be as if I’m dead.”

Her pleading posture seemed learned, almost conditioned. It was so obvious that Elisia felt a terrible bitterness in her mouth.

‘This is probably how Elisia made her.’

Chloe’s body trembled pitifully. Recalling the count’s harsh words toward her earlier, Elisia calmly opened her mouth.

“First, please stand up.”

Having lost her memory, she couldn’t act too familiar. While she was wondering how to respond, those fragile shoulders continued to tremble.

‘Why is she trembling so much even though I’m being kind?’

Well, she was essentially a reborn Elisia anyway. Even Derick believed she had lost her memory, so what did it matter?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know you.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“I recently fell into a lake and barely survived, but it seems I’ve lost my memory.”

“Sob…”

As soon as she heard this, Chloe suddenly burst into tears.

At a loss for words, Elisia was about to hand her a handkerchief and comfort her but hesitated.

‘If I even touch her, won’t she really faint?’

Considering Elisia’s history of slapping and kicking her, it was entirely possible.

She wanted to help her up and seat her in a chair, but she couldn’t do anything.

“The… the Count…”

Chloe’s voice, full of tears, was heard. As she abruptly began her story, a perplexed Elisia rested her arms on the table and stared at the golden hair spilled on the floor.

‘She calls him “the Count” instead of “father”? What a despicable man.’

Somehow she felt she could understand Chloe’s feelings.

“Soon, he plans to… sell me as a concubine to the Marquis…”

“…”

“If I don’t want to become a concubine… I need to find a marriage partner, but even that path has been blocked by the Count.”

“Hmm.”

“The only place beyond the Count’s reach is the Elphias Grand Duke’s mansion…”

That’s why she was begging, even bowing her head to the ground. To Elisia, who tormented her and drove her to the point of wanting to die.

‘Is being with a woman who torments her better than being sold as a concubine?’

In some sense, perhaps it is.

“The Marquis…”

Chloe’s words were unfinished.

“He’s in his late fifties, notorious for womanizing, violent… and there are even rumors that he killed both his wives with his own hands.”

“…”

“I, I truly would rather die than go to him.”

Chloe stopped speaking and slowly raised her head. Her pretty face was covered in tears, making her look even more pitiful.

Frowning, Elisia pressed her forehead.

‘This isn’t something I can decide on my own.’

After all, that mansion belongs to Derick. Moreover, for a problem of this magnitude, Chloe would need a place to stay for a long time.

She considered finding separate accommodations for Chloe. But the count might discover and find her at any time, so that wouldn’t work.

“I, I know Your Grace has always despised me.”

“…Ah.”

“I know you consider me an eyesore. I truly will be as if I’m dead. I, I won’t bother you at all.”

Hearing her speak like that really tugged at one’s heartstrings.

‘Well, Chloe is the female protagonist after all…’

She couldn’t help but hesitate.

Even the kindest person might harbor resentment toward someone who had tormented them all this time.

Of course, Chloe’s situation was pitiful. But she couldn’t hastily agree when her own safety might be at risk.

‘I need to be careful about this.’

After much deliberation, Elisia came to a conclusion.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

Indeed, Derick was the best excuse.

“C-Chloe Adelheit.”

“This isn’t something I can decide on my own. Since I need His Grace’s permission, could you wait here for a moment?”

“Ah… yes.”

“First, please stand up. What are you doing, being such a pretty lady?”

Only then could Elisia touch Chloe’s body. Of course, she reflexively shrank away, but Elisia pretended not to notice and resolutely helped her up.

After helping her frail body up, she dusted off her hair and clothes.

“Just in case, if anything happens, scream.”

“…Yes.”