MHM 8

 "I know. Who the culprit is."

At the head maid's words, the employees began to murmur.

Iana glanced sideways at Riel.

Riel's face was expressionless, but her eyes wavered as the situation unfolded differently than she had expected.

"Head maid, if you know the culprit, shouldn't you speak up immediately?"

Despite Carrion's sharp urging, the head maid spoke without wavering.

"I couldn't tell you because there are still a few things I need to confirm. If you give me some time, I will take responsibility and catch the culprit."

"..."

"If I speak hastily..."

The head maid looked around at the people nearby and trailed off, as if implying that the information might leak.

"Fine. Since I'm trusting and waiting, you must fulfill that trust, head maid."

Carrion pointed his sword at the employees threateningly as he continued.

"If you don't, all of you here will face severe punishment."

"I will keep that in mind, Count."

The head maid bowed her head in response.

"Everyone, leave."

At Carrion's command, Riel and the employees left the office.

As Iana was about to follow, Carrion called out to her from behind.

"You stay."

Iana stopped, and Riel looked at her with furrowed brows, as if worried.

"It's okay."

Iana mouthed to reassure Riel.

After all the employees had left, only Iana and Carrion remained in the office.

Iana stood by the door, and Carrion sat on the desk, leaning on his sword with both hands, silently staring at each other.

The air in the room was cold.

Carrion spoke first.

"Iana. Come here."

He let out a deep sigh and extended his hand to her in a condescending manner, as if showing mercy this time.

"Just speak from there."

"Didn't you hear me tell you to come?"

Carrion gritted his teeth and spat out the words. But Iana had no intention of backing down.

"Didn't you hear me tell you to speak from there?"

Clang-.

Carrion roughly threw the sword he was holding. He then strode towards her and shouted fiercely.

"Iana, why do you keep irritating me? Don't you know how angry I am today?"

"..."

"If you hadn't intervened in the gallery, I wouldn't have been angry at you!"

"..."

Iana silently watched the agitated Carrion.

Her lack of response eventually caused Carrion's anger to explode.

"Iana, do you think I don't know? The reason you're rebelling like this."

"What? Rebelling like a tantrum?"

"Yes, it's because of Chloe! You believe that damn rumor!"

"I'm sick of hearing about Chloe!"

Iana shook her head in exasperation. Carrion then leaned in close, as if trying to read her expression, and questioned her.

"Isn't it? If not, explain why you're acting like this."

"..."

"Until a few days ago, you smiled at me even when you were sick. But suddenly, you changed completely."

At that moment, Iana recalled what a noblewoman she was close to before the regression had said.

"Countess, I actually saw everything at the banquet. They came in without knowing I was on the guest room terrace..."

It was about two weeks after their marriage.

A banquet was held in the capital, and Iana did not attend because she was not feeling well.

But there, Carrion was caught having an affair with Chloe, the daughter of a count, by someone else.

Iana heard about it after the divorce.

She remembered everything the noblewoman had said clearly because the shock was so great.

"Iana, why can't you answer?"

After pondering for a moment, Iana began to explain in detail as if she had seen it herself.

"When you entered the guest room, you laid Chloe down on the red sofa and started kissing her deeply."

"What?"

Carrion looked at her in astonishment.

"Chloe cried, saying we shouldn't do this, while holding a crushed bread!"

"What? Crushed bread?"

He seemed to remember something as he grabbed his head with both hands.

"Yes. Lady Chloe cried, saying she didn't want to marry her fiancé who looked like a crushed bread."

Iana emphasized distinctive details on purpose.

"Iana, wh-what are you saying?"

"But this part is confusing. Did you untie Chloe's dress first..."

"....!"

"Or did Chloe take off your blouse first? Which one was it?"

Iana asked, staring directly into Carrion's eyes.

Carrion, flustered, turned red up to his neck and shouted in anger.

"Iana! I'm your husband!"

"Why bring that up all of a sudden?"

"No matter who spreads such malicious rumors, you should believe your husband! Why do you believe others? No, this makes it clearer."

"What?"

"The reason you're irritating me is because of that rumor."

"Carrion, don't change the subject. The reason I dislike you..."

"...You dislike me?"

Carrion's eyes shook violently.

Ignoring him, Iana emphasized.

"Yes! The reason I dislike you is because of your lying, not because of your relationship with Chloe."

"You're the one lying now, acting nonchalant while being emotional out of jealousy."

"I told you again, I don't care who you meet."

After finishing her words, she turned to leave but added one last thing.

"But try to avoid women who are about to get married. It's a disgrace to the family."

"Iana, wait..."

Bang-.

Iana closed the door, not wanting to hear more.

---

Boom!

That evening, when the farewell banquet was held, heavy rain poured down as Iana had predicted.

She watched the pounding rain from her room window.

Fortunately, Carrion, who seemed about to come after her, did not.

"I hope I don't see him anymore."

Knock knock.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

"Madam, it's the head maid. I have a message from the count."

"Come in."

At Iana's words, the head maid entered the room with a dark expression.

"What is it? Is it about the statue?"

"It's not that... The count says you look healthy today and insists you attend the banquet."

'He said I didn't have to come, and now he's bothering me like this?'

"Alright. Tell the count I will attend the banquet."

"Uh, um..."

The head maid hesitated with a troubled look.

"There must be more. It's okay, go ahead."

"The count told me to convey this exactly. He said that the hostess frequently missing official events could be..."

"..."

"A disgrace to the family."

At that moment, she remembered what she had said in the office.

"Try to avoid women who are about to get married. It's a disgrace to the family."

"Hah..."

Iana laughed in disbelief at Carrion's childish behavior.

"I'm sorry for delivering such a message, madam."

The head maid bowed deeply.

"There's no need for you to apologize. Tell the count I understand."

"Yes, madam."

As the head maid was about to leave, she looked at the window and cautiously asked.

"Madam, did you know it would rain heavily?"

She couldn't deceive the experienced head maid recklessly. Iana then looked towards the inner door and asked.

"Is Riel dining with the maids?"

"Yes, she's in the dinner preparation room."

Iana spoke without hesitation.

"I knew."

"How...?"

The head maid, surprised, trailed off.

At that moment, she recalled what Charles had said in the garden.

"Someone told me that everyone has a story they can't tell others."

"...."

"Consider it one of those stories. So don't worry and proceed with what we discussed."

"Then I will send the maids to help you get ready."

The head maid, looking thoughtful, bowed and left.

---

After getting dressed, Iana entered the banquet hall.

Her hair was neatly tied up and adorned with a headband with small pearls. Her cream-colored silk dress, revealing her shoulder line slightly, was modest yet elegant.

The banquet hall was bustling with nobles and knights.

At that moment, a noblewoman who recognized Iana approached and spoke.

"Countess, you said you couldn't come because you were ill, but you're here?"

"I attended because it's an important occasion."

"Oh my, you look much more beautiful than you did earlier today."

Another noblewoman exclaimed as she saw Iana.

"Thank you."

Iana greeted them and looked around. But the one who had called her, Carrion, was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you looking for the count?"

"Indeed, it's the time to be looking for your husband."

The noblewomen teased Iana playfully.

At that moment.

The banquet hall door opened, and Carrion entered. But behind him was a familiar woman.

'Who is that?'

As Iana tried to recall who it was, the noblewomen who recognized her were shocked.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Why is she here?"

At that moment, Iana remembered the woman with a sad expression she had seen on her wedding day.

Light pink hair. Blue eyes. The woman, who had clearly dressed up, was none other than...

Lady Chloe.