Iana quietly observed Carrion and Riel.
“Who is she? Judging by her attire, she doesn't seem to be an ordinary maid.”
Carrion fastened his robe belt, and gave Riel a slow, scrutinizing look.
“I am Riel Estina, a nursing maid from the Retchels family.”
At the mention of 'Estina,' Carrion’s gaze, which had been assessing Riel, suddenly froze.
Carrion, who had a flirtatious nature, liked women but only dealt with noblewomen. No matter how beautiful a woman was, he wouldn’t spare a glance at someone of lower status.
As a member of the Dietrian family, who had been imperial policy advisors for generations, he had a strong sense of superiority.
Of course, that principle was completely shattered upon meeting Riel.
Carrion turned to Iana and spoke in his characteristic cold tone.
“I’m sure I said I wouldn’t allow anyone from a rebel family into my household…”
Because Carrion was extremely reluctant to be associated with the rebel family, Riel couldn’t even attend the wedding.
Iana looked back and forth between Carrion and Riel, pondering.
‘If I drive Riel away, will all the events of my previous life be erased?’
“Iana.”
Carrion called her sharply. For a moment, she recalled his icy face demanding a divorce.
“Iana, I’d rather you were dead.”
After discovering the depths of her husband, she couldn’t live as if nothing had happened.
However, according to imperial law, only the husband could request a divorce.
‘I need Riel, so I can divorce Carrion.’
Iana’s gaze immediately fixed on Riel, who was holding the medicine.
Above all, she wanted to repay Riel.
The misery of being abandoned.
The humiliation of being used.
Simply killing her wasn’t enough. She wanted to expose Riel’s crimes and have her punished.
‘Let’s catch her trying to poison me. Then, we can execute her before she becomes empress.’
“Iana, didn’t you hear me?”
Carrion urged for an answer.
“The other maids are inconvenient. Honestly, there’s no maid in the Dietrian household who takes care of me as well as Riel does.”
Iana spoke as she had before the regression.
Carrion frowned deeply.
“Take your medicine. I’ll change my clothes in my room.”
Bang.
He left, slamming the door in displeasure.
“Iana, the count seems very angry because of me. I’ll just go back.”
Riel approached with a worried face.
Those disgustingly benevolent eyes, pretending to care more than anyone.
Iana took a step closer to Riel.
“You’re not thinking of going back.”
“What?”
Riel’s eyes widened at Iana’s sudden words.
Their gazes locked intensely for a moment. Then Iana put on an innocent expression.
“Can you leave me alone when I’m sick? You won’t go because you’re worried about me, right?”
Riel put the tray down on the table and hugged Iana with a kind expression.
“Right. I can’t go. Where would I go, leaving you who can’t do anything without me?”
Over that face, Iana recalled the vicious expression she had seen in the convent before the regression.
‘I’ll expose your true self, Riel. In the same despicable way you did.’
Iana spoke in a spoiled manner, as she always had.
“Brush my hair.”
“Pardon?”
“Brush my hair. You always did it for me at the estate.”
“Alright. Come here.”
Riel took Iana’s hand and led her to the vanity, then gently brushed her hair.
Iana watched Riel in the mirror.
She first met Riel when she was 12 years old.
The Estina family was implicated in the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt and fell from grace. The emperor ordered all male family members to be executed and the women to be given as slaves to war heroes.
Marquis Retchels, Iana’s father, honored the dying wish of his friend, Marquis Estina, and searched for Riel and the marchioness.
After much searching, he found them, but the marchioness had already died of illness. He brought Riel, who had become a slave, back to the estate for a large reward.
Freed from slavery, Riel became a commoner, but under the patronage of Marquis Retchels, she received the same noble education as Iana.
“Marquis, I want to be Iana’s nursing maid.”
Despite the marquis’s dissuasion, Riel became a nursing maid and quietly took care of the ailing Iana.
An angelic child.
That’s what everyone called Riel.
Iana, who was frail and rarely went outside, had no friends and sincerely cherished Riel. The two grew up together like sisters.
But Riel, who had vowed to repay her benefactors, betrayed Iana and the Retchels family.
‘I need to act more childishly.’
Iana planned to behave even more dependently and immaturely.
So that the perceptive Riel would let her guard down.
* * *
Pitter-patter.
After Carrion left for the hunt, refreshing raindrops fell in the afternoon.
As usual, Iana enjoyed her alone time in the library.
The library was her only outing spot when she was unwell, and reading was her sole hobby.
"It's really raining."
Iana reached out by the window and felt the texture of the rain.
The falling rain, her forsaken husband, and the one who caused her death, Riel.
They were all real.
She couldn't understand why she had returned, but she found herself back in her life four years ago, just after her marriage.
"Riel took over all the tasks for me because I was sick."
So Riel tied Iana's hands and feet, like clothes getting wet in the drizzle.
At some point, Riel began deciding on all matters, big and small, that the mistress of the house would handle, and after officially becoming a government official, she behaved perfectly as the Countess.
Then, a sudden thought occurred to her.
"Why am I not in pain?"
When she was seven years old, Iana fell ill for no apparent reason.
She had to lie down all day due to the pain in her chest and the severe dizziness.
Of course, when she was about to get married, her condition improved a lot as her illness began to improve, but the pain remained, albeit less intense.
But now, there was no pain at all.
"Has it temporarily improved?"
As she pondered for a moment, a slightly gray-haired butler approached and politely said,
"Madam, the Count has returned."
"It must have ended the hunt early because of the rain."
"He suggested having dinner together. When should I prepare?"
"Let’s do it later. I’m not feeling well today."
Iana sincerely felt that she would have an upset stomach if she had dinner while looking at Carrion's face.
"Oh, the Count came back early to invite you to dinner."
The butler trailed off with a troubled look.
She fell into thought for a moment.
Avoiding her husband in this way had its limits.
As if she had a good idea, Iana instructed the butler,
"Please prepare dinner. In two hours."
---
That evening in the dining room.
Iana and Carrion sat facing each other at the long table, having dinner.
Various dishes and juicy roasted venison were placed on the table.
The maids serving were surprised by the unusual sight of Iana.
"Iana, you're not feeling well?"
Carrion asked jokingly, glancing at her.
"Oh, I was earlier, but..."
Iana bit into her food and trailed off.
"Haha."
Carrion looked at her proudly and laughed loudly.
In fact, she had no intention of eating the venison he had brought.
She planned to upset him and gradually sour their relationship....
But she encountered an unexpected variable.
Hunger.
As soon as she saw the food, an intense hunger she had never felt before rushed over her.
This, too, was strange.
While eating had often been a struggle when she first fell ill, it had changed completely after the regression.
Then Carrion approached her with a wine glass.
Although she wanted to refuse him, she pretended to concentrate on her meal, hiding her emotions.
Carrion sat next to her, sipping wine, and asked eagerly,
"Could you be pregnant by any chance?"
"No, that's not it. I'm sure."
Iana said firmly.
She disliked Carrion's expression, tone, and even the slightest touch, but she endured it.
As Carrion added more meat to her plate, he said,
"Really? If you eat well like this, maybe we can go to Duke Patrick's reception next month."
"Duke Patrick's estate is in the north. It's hard to travel long distances like that."
"Is it?"
"If you need a partner, ask your close friends. Or you can even appoint a representative to attend official events in my place."
Carrion, with an expression as cold as ice, laughed loudly.
"Iana, you can make jokes like that?"
"It's not a joke..."
"If it's not a joke, are you upset? There really was nothing between me and Cloe."
Finishing her meal, Iana wiped her mouth with a napkin and calmly said,
"Even if something happened, it doesn't matter to me. So, if you want to meet, feel free."
"..."
Carrion's eyes flickered slightly at her serious words.
At that moment, the butler entered the dining room with a small envelope in hand.
"Sir, urgent correspondence has arrived."
"Where is it from?"
"From Grand Duke of Erbin, the leader of the 1st Knight Division of Rubena, delivered by a messenger."
Taking the envelope, Carrion opened the letter.
"Grand Duke of Erbin?"
For a moment, Iana was lost in thought at the familiar name.
"Grand Duke of Erbin requests that the 1st Knight Division of Rubena be allowed to stay at our castle on their way back from battle. It's just for two days."
"When are they arriving?"
The butler asked.
"They are scheduled to arrive in three days, so prepare accordingly."
At that moment, a thought flashed through Iana's mind.
"Charles de Rubena. The mad Duke who challenged the tyrant emperor."
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