---------------

Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org

---------------

28. Leo's grooming had originally been handled by a dedicated stylist, but with them on their honeymoon, Croa had taken over trimming his fur. And the disaster happened in an instant. Croa had lost focus for just a moment and made a terrible mistake. She had shaved off a patch of Leo's hair two finger-widths deep from his scalp. And in the same instant, a bald spot had appeared on the back of Julian's head as well. Leo, playing alone, had forgiven Croa's mistake without much fuss, but Julian was different. He had thrown a fit about hunting down the culprit, and Leo had barely managed to calm him down. Croa shuddered as she recalled Julian's crazed expression from that time. "P-please, anything but that!" "Then tell ‌‌‌me quickly. Who exactly is the owner of this mystery?" Croa wanted to cry. But she reconsidered. If Tanisha already knew about her own mistake, it was ‌only a matter of time before Rebecca's identity was revealed. Perhaps it would be better to reveal it now and eliminate any future complications. "Fine, listen carefully...." Tanisha adjusted her disheveled light brown hair back into place and listened intently to Croa's words. * * * "The ‌‌‌Emperor actually summoned me?" "Yes, he said your discerning eye was absolutely necessary for this matter...." At Elwin Devonshire's words, Zeppelin pressed his forehead. "Can't you handle this on your end?" "He said it's such a grave matter that my capabilities alone are ‌‌‌insufficient." "Damn it." Zeppelin exhaled a cold breath. Elwin tensed the hands clasped before him, gauging Zeppelin's mood. Elwin oversaw the Devonshire Family's primary business—the art distribution trade. Whenever Zeppelin designated a piece of art, it was his job to acquire it no matter what obstacles arose. He acknowledged Zeppelin's eye for art. Not a single customer had ever been dissatisfied with the artworks he had procured. But this commission felt strange somehow. Dealings with the Imperial Court ‌‌‌‌happened regularly. ‌‌‌Each time, Elwin would step forward and acquire the pieces as usual. The Emperor surely knew this, yet this time he had insisted that the Count himself personally acquire the work. "It's not even a finished piece—just a commission for ‌‌‌‌a work to be created—yet I have to go myself? And wait until the piece is completed before returning?" "He repeatedly emphasized that the artist's identity must not leak to the outside. He suggested that you, Count, have particular skill in such matters...." "Damn it! Then you should have found some way to refuse! How dare you let things come to this?" Zeppelin hurled the jade paperweight at Elwin. The solid emerald paperweight struck Elwin's forehead squarely. Elwin staggered backward for a moment, then rose from his seat rubbing his ‌‌forehead. Blood trickled from the gash on his brow, but he paid it no mind. If anything, Zeppelin's fury seemed far more terrifying ‌to him. Zeppelin, unable to contain his rage, shouted. "Rebecca is ill ‌‌‌right now! What if something happens while I'm away?" "I-I'm sorry...." Elwin wiped the blood from his face with his hand, bowing his head. Zeppelin's expression darkened as he observed the blood caked across Elwin's palm. "Get out before you bleed all over the carpet." ‌‌"B-but this matter...." "I said I'll handle it. And didn't you hear me tell you to ‌‌leave immediately?" Elwin bowed several times before opening the door and departing. The maids who caught sight of his disheveled appearance rushed over to tend to his wounds. Rather than concern for him, their demeanor betrayed anxiety that even a single drop of blood ‌‌might mar this mansion—a work of art in itself. Elwin shuddered. Strictly speaking, Elwin was Zeppelin's uncle. Yet he could lodge no protest against such humiliation from his nephew. His daughter Charlotte had been taken captive by Zeppelin. 'That's why I told you not to meddle in unnecessary matters. I'll raise Charlotte ‌‌‌well. Don't worry. As long as you do your part properly, Uncle, Charlotte won't come to any harm.' Elwin exhaled a long, weary sigh. Zeppelin sent him photographs and censored letters of Charlotte as rewards whenever Elwin achieved results. Fortunately, Charlotte appeared well in the photographs. Yet every night, his heart burned with anguish nonetheless. 'Charlotte... Where on earth are you.' His feet moved without strength. He feared that Zeppelin might take out his frustration on Charlotte because of this incident. "Uncle, how have you been?" A clear, melodious voice greeted Elwin as he entered the ‌‌‌Lobby. Elwin paused as he identified ‌‌the voice's owner. "Rebecca?" "My, what happened to your forehead.... Ah, you've just come from seeing him, haven't you." Elwin gazed at her sitting in the wheelchair. ‌‌‌Now he finally ‌‌understood why Zeppelin's mood had been particularly foul lately. "I heard you were injured, but I didn't expect it to be this severe...." "I'm fine. It's not an incurable illness, after ‌all. But if you've come ‌‌all this way, it ‌‌‌must be quite urgent, mustn't it?" "Ah, well...." Elwin found himself opening his mouth in response to Rebecca's gentle ‌tone. But he quickly shut it as he felt piercing gazes emanating from ‌‌all directions. His palms grew slick with cold sweat. Whenever he came to this place, he felt ‌‌‌as though the very walls had eyes watching him. To ‌‌‌him, the Devonshire Estate ‌was nothing short of a demon's lair. And Rebecca was the treasure the demon held most dear. Elwin hastily cut off his words. "Ah, no. I misspoke. Don't mind me—you should rest soon." And he fled the spot as though escaping. Behind him, Rebecca called out. "Please ‌‌‌give my regards to Aunt!" ‌‌‌At her words, Elwin glanced back for ‌a moment. Rebecca was laughing brightly, waving her hand. Elwin stood transfixed, gazing at her figure. 'When did that boy become so cheerful...?' After Elwin Devonshire left the mansion, Rebecca called for Kanna. Rebecca gestured toward the direction Elwin had gone. "Find out what's going on." Kanna nodded silently in acknowledgment. * * * "The Emperor made a request?" "Yes. It seems to ‌‌‌be something confidential, so I don't know the details, but it appears the Count will need to be away from home for quite some time." "Since Uncle came by, it's probably something related to the arts business. But what could possibly require Zeppelin to personally ‌‌intervene?" Kanna asked Rebecca carefully as she pondered. "Doesn't the timing seem ‌‌too convenient?" "Exactly. The luck is so good I feel like cheering." "Should I investigate whether there's been any suspicious activity?" "No. I have a suspicion about ‌‌who's behind this." Rebecca recalled her meeting with Julian from a few days ago. 'Is that so? Then ‌‌if you keep Zeppelin so busy he can't set foot in the mansion, I'll be able to move about freely.' She remembered how Julian had fallen into deep ‌‌thought upon hearing her casual remark. And then the resolute expression that followed. Rebecca had suspected he would do something, ‌‌‌‌but she hadn't expected him to involve the Emperor. In any case, Julian was remarkably resourceful for his age. Rebecca smiled faintly and spoke to Kanna. ‌‌"Zeppelin will be quite busy for a while, won't he?" ‌‌"It seems likely." "Perfect. It'll be easy ‌to slip away for a while." "By the way, I received this ‌‌‌note on the way here. They asked me to deliver it to you without fail." "To me?" Rebecca ‌‌took the note from Kanna and unfolded it. 【This is the Vice-Manager. The Trading Company office has been prepared. Please visit at your convenience.】 A brief address was written below. ‌‌"Kanna, how did they know about you?" "That's... also a mystery to me. Only Robert knows that ‌‌I'm your extension." "It's either a trap or someone with exceptional abilities." "Will you... go?" Rebecca tapped the note lightly as she spoke. "Hmm, I should go. Besides, I have other business in that area." "..." "Why that expression?" "I'm frightened." "Of what?" "That you'll act so recklessly one day and never ‌‌‌‌return." "I'm worried that if you keep acting so recklessly like this, you might not come back one day." Rebecca gazed intently at Kanna's drooping eyebrows. Kanna was undoubtedly recalling the day Rebecca had thrown herself down the stairs. Rebecca reached out and cupped Kanna's cheeks in her hands. Her cheeks, cradled in Rebecca's palms, flushed a rosy pink almost instantly. "Kanna, don't worry. I have no intention of dying. If anything, I want to live more than ever." Rebecca paused for a moment before continuing. "Even if I die someday, at least it won't be now." Kanna's anxiety seemed to ease somewhat, and she offered a faint smile. Yet the unease did not entirely fade. An ominous premonition kept nagging at her—that Rebecca would one day leave her behind and perish. However, her ‌‌dark premonitions ‌‌‌‌‌rarely came to pass, so Kanna carefully savored the warmth of ‌Rebecca's embrace. * * * Silence hung over the lunch table. Alicia, who usually chattered incessantly, had clamped her mouth shut and focused solely on her meal. Gone was her spirited defiance against Fabiola; Alicia had transformed into ‌‌‌‌‌a demure lady. Rebecca observed the sight with genuine shock. It had been less than a month since Zeppelin began educating Alicia. What on earth existed in the Hall of Light that made every ‌‌‌hound fear it, and had transformed the arrogant Alicia into such a docile creature? Zeppelin finished his meal and wiped his mouth with a napkin as ‌‌he spoke. "Rebecca, I'll be away from the house for a while, so inform the head maid if anything comes up. And ‌‌‌Alicia, if you're thinking of causing trouble, you'd do well ‌‌to abandon the idea." At Zeppelin's words, Alicia laughed softly. She caressed her slightly swollen belly as she spoke. "Yes, my lord. I've resolved to become a virtuous ‌‌‌wife for the sake of my child." ‌‌‌"Indeed, the fruits of education are evident. Yes, even beasts ‌‌‌become useful when properly trained. Rebecca, you'll behave yourself while I'm away, won't you?" At the word ‌‌"beasts," Alicia's brow furrowed slightly. But she quickly popped a thumbnail-sized dessert into her mouth as if she'd heard nothing. Rebecca caught sight of Alicia's elegant fork movements and reluctantly nodded her head. "Of course. So what will my ‌‌‌lovely wives ‌‌do to amuse themselves while I'm out earning money?" By now, the Emperor's summons should have been gnawing at him from within, yet Zeppelin ‌‌appeared composed. Rebecca suppressed the urge to mock him openly and parted her lips. As she offered an exquisitely beautiful smile, she saw Zeppelin's expression soften. "The sun isn't strong today, so I thought I might paint in the garden. You're welcome to look forward to what emerges." The runaway countess has returned. E-book ‌‌‌‌publication. January 12, 2022 Author. Long Night Sky Publisher. Desert Fox Published by Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd. Submissions naver.me/54VzzLSn Blog blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox Twitter ‌@wjt_fennecfox

---------------

Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org

---------------