Chapter 16
“Didn’t you already pay the fine? And it was Evan March who did it.”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“That’s a shame. This would have been the perfect chance to make him do hard labor.”
Wendy punched the air in frustration.
Cecilia chuckled lightly and returned to her desk.
“…….”
Still, this news wasn’t exactly welcome to her either.
It was expected that Evan would step in, of course.
But she hadn’t anticipated that he would quickly gather 3,000 crowns in cash.
‘His business is surprisingly solid.’
In her previous life, Evan never shared any details of his outside affairs with Cecilia, claiming a woman didn’t need to know.
So it was no wonder she couldn’t estimate the scale of his assets.
But it didn’t matter.
Cecilia already knew everything that would happen in the future.
‘No matter how much Evan has now, I’ll just take it all away eventually.’
Compared to her plan, today’s events were merely a small taste.
“Anyway,”
Cecilia looked up at Wendy again.
“Have you found out anything about the people who worked for the Fanning Count family?”
“Ah…….”
Wendy looked troubled.
It had already been over ten years since Count Fanning passed away.
At the time, the count had died in a carriage accident, and many of his servants had been detained for investigation.
Finding those who had scattered far and wide was no easy task.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m trying my best to find them……”
“It’s okay. Don’t rush too much.”
Cecilia forced a smile.
In truth, it was a reminder to herself as well.
It was only the very beginning.
‘As for the Fanning count couple… my father made it happen. Thanks to manipulating the will in advance, he got to enjoy the Fanning family fortune.’
Thankfully, Rosena in her previous life had spilled it all without hesitation.
Although she hadn’t tracked them down yet, evidence of their crimes must still exist somewhere.
‘Father, mother…….’
Even the faces of her parents in her memory were becoming faint.
Yet the more distant they seemed, the sharper her desire for revenge against the Osburns became.
‘I will make sure to avenge the injustice that took your lives.’
Cecilia clenched her hands with determination.
That night.
The blue moonlight quietly illuminated Cecilia’s bedroom.
She stood silently by the window.
Memories of the humiliations she endured at the Osburn viscount’s house surfaced.
‘I couldn’t even receive the proper education expected of a noble’s daughter. They used financial difficulties as an excuse.’
Yet the viscountess never spared money on buying dresses and jewelry.
If she had cut that luxury in half, Cecilia could have had at least one piano tutor.
Cecilia could only watch Rosena take lessons with envy, swallowing her jealousy.
‘Ria, don’t just watch, come here and play too.’
‘Really? Can I?’
Whenever Rosena showed her rare generosity, Cecilia felt like she owned the world.
Of course, that feeling never lasted long.
‘Ah, enough. Ria, you’re done.’
‘Huh? But there’s still more of the piece……’
‘Boring. It’s my piano, so stop playing.’
When Cecilia’s skill surpassed her own, Rosena blocked her out of jealousy.
‘Back then, I didn’t even realize it was discrimination.’
Cecilia wished she could hug her younger self if she were right in front of her.
Standing silently for a moment, she finally turned her head.
“……Let’s stop dwelling on the past. It’s too late now.”
Cecilia walked toward the table to blow out the candle.
Bang!
The sudden loud noise made Cecilia flinch.
Reflexively, she looked toward the wall from which the sound came.
‘That’s… Reiner’s bedroom.’
Cecilia and Reiner shared adjacent bedrooms separated by a single wall.
It had been several weeks since she moved in, but this was the first time she had heard such a noise from his room.
‘Did a picture frame fall or something?’
But considering the meticulous nature of the ducal household staff, that seemed unlikely.
‘Or… maybe something’s wrong that he can’t mention right now.’
It could be a sudden fever or illness.
“Hmm…….”
Cecilia hesitated for a moment.
Since their contract marriage, the two of them had respected each other’s spaces thoroughly.
They shared public moments like breakfast or garden walks, but most conversations were about future plans.
So entering his private bedroom at night without permission was out of the question.
Bang! Bang!
But the successive thuds made it impossible for her to stay put.
‘I’ll just check. I have to thank him for today anyway.’
Determined, Cecilia went to the next room and knocked carefully.
“Reiner, are you asleep?”
“…….”
No answer.
She knocked slightly louder.
“Reiner, if you’re in there—”
“……Ugh.”
A faint groan escaped through the door.
It was unmistakably Reiner’s voice.
“Reiner!”
Cecilia panicked and opened the door.
The room was dark, with only faint moonlight filtering in.
She quickly looked around.
“Reiner, what’s wrong?”
But the bed was empty.
She had clearly heard his voice.
Cecilia’s eyes widened as she frantically searched the room.
“Reiner!”
He was sitting on the floor beside the bed, panting heavily.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, and his forehead was flushed with heat.
He tapped his chest repeatedly, as if frustrated.
“Are you alright?”
Cecilia instinctively ran to him and held him.
She was startled.
‘His body feels like a furnace!’
Reiner groaned, feverish and disoriented.
Cecilia cupped his cheeks in both hands, examining his face.
“Reiner? Open your eyes.”
But no matter how much she called, he kept them closed.
A low moan escaped from his lips continuously.
‘I have to lay him on the bed.’
Since the night air was still cold, she couldn’t leave him on the floor.
Cecilia hugged his waist, trying to lift him.
“Ah!”
But she soon realized it was impossible.
Lifting a man much bigger than herself alone wasn’t easy, especially someone limp and weak.
Their tangled weight shifted, and Cecilia ended up pressed against Reiner.
She struggled, unable to move, holding him up with all her strength.
“Reiner, please get up.”
She regretted not calling someone for help as her arms began to tire.
If she collapsed, she could end up pinned under him.
For a delicate woman like Cecilia, this was dangerous.
‘I have no choice. Sorry, Reiner…….’
Being a man of solid build, she could be a little rough.
She gritted her teeth and moved her hands toward his chest.
Even just moving her arms drained her strength completely.
Finally, her palms felt his firm chest, and she exhaled softly.
“Phew…… Reiner, ready?”
“…….”
No answer. Probably better this way.
“One, two……!”
With all her strength, Cecilia pushed against Reiner’s chest.
He toppled backward onto the bed.
“Phew…… done.”
Though laid on his side, at least he was on the bed.
Cecilia caught her breath and straightened up.
“Reiner, wait a moment. I’ll go get someone—”
But suddenly.
“Ah?”
Reiner’s hand grabbed hers and pulled her onto the bed.
“Ugh……”
Instinctively, Cecilia squeezed her eyes shut, then cautiously opened them.
In front of her, a shirt button had come undone.
She was lying face-down on his firm chest.
“R-Reiner?”
Her face flushed crimson.
Panicked, she tried to get up, but Reiner’s hand firmly held her wrist.
He was still unconscious, sweating profusely.
