“How did you end up all the way here? Where are the maids?”
“I-I was just taking a walk on my own and happened to lose my way. Haha……”
As I stammered out excuses, Jason struck up a conversation with a smile on his face.
“Dear me, shall I escort you back to the main building?”
“A-Ah, no! It’s fine. There is no need for that! ……I’m sorry. Excuse me!”
I quickly shook my head and bolted away from them as if fleeing for my life. Only after reaching a secluded part of the garden and hiding behind a large tree was I finally able to catch my breath.
While I was calming my breathing, the ghost of Ash Winterton, who had pursued me, spoke up.
[Are you alright?]
“Phew…… Yes……”
The spirit waited for me to regain my composure before opening his mouth again.
[Why on earth did you act like that earlier?]
“……What do you mean?”
[You looked beyond terrified—as if you were going to collapse on the spot. ……I am curious to know what you saw to react that way, especially when you didn’t even fear a vision like me.]
I couldn’t answer right away, merely parting my lips in hesitation.
I couldn’t honestly tell him, ‘One of those men is the person who murdered me in my past life.’ He wouldn’t believe such a claim anyway.
So, I decided to reveal only a fraction of the truth.
“……I have encountered one of those men at my family’s residence before. He was leaking confidential information about the Winterton Marquisate to my father.”
In my past life, when I lost the strength to resist and collapsed onto the floor, he had thoroughly searched my body to find the Marchioness’s official seal and handed it over to my father.
And then, right beside my dying self, he had confessed information that was unmistakably classified secrets of the Winterton Marquisate—so accustomed to it, as if he had been doing it for a long time.
Recalling the memories of that day, still as vivid as if it had happened yesterday, my lips trembled uncontrollably.
The spirit pressed me urgently.
[Who was it? Don’t tell me it was Lord Lake?]
“……No. The man beside him.”
Upon hearing my answer, the ghost’s face turned blank.
[It couldn’t be Lord Jason……. That makes no sense…… Where is your proof? Do you have any evidence that he colluded with Grand Duke Midelharnis?]
He asked back as if he refused to believe my words. It was understandable, considering Jason was his closest confidant both in my past life and in the present.
However, setting aside my empathy for his feelings, a surge of anger welled up inside me.
Seeing his reaction made me want to prove the truth of my words no matter what.
‘How can I make him believe that my words are true?’
It was while I was silently pondering.
“My Lady! Where on earth are you, My Lady!”
From not too far away, the voices of maids searching for me echoed. I temporarily halted my conversation with the ghost and turned my steps toward the direction of the sounds.
At that moment, Charlotte ran up to me with a flustered expression and said.
“Where on earth were you, My Lady! I’ve been searching for you for ages!”
“I’m sorry. I was so absorbed in admiring every corner of the estate that I ended up wandering all the way here without realizing it.”
“I was so worried! From next time, if you take a walk alone, please stick to the central garden! Or make sure to bring me or the maids along with you.”
“I understand.”
Soothing the agitated Charlotte, I returned to the main building with her.
Just as we passed the foyer and were about to ascend the stairs, a servant approached me, offered a polite bow, and spoke.
“A messenger has arrived from the Grand Ducal House of Midelharnis.”
“A messenger?”
“Yes. Lady Seraphina sent word that she wishes to pay you a visit around three in the afternoon tomorrow.”
I let out a soft gasp.
Only after hearing those words did the memory resurface. In my past life, Seraphina had visited me right after my marriage, offering sweet-sounding words to comfort me.
‘Back then, I was genuinely touched. Thinking all those words were sincere.’
Recalling my hypocritical sister’s face, I bit down hard on my lower lip. I had no desire to meet her, knowing she would obviously try to butter me up with sweet talk once again.
So right at the moment I was about to decline the visit, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
If I used that ‘method,’ I might not only get the proof the ghost wanted, but also settle my own grudge against Lord Jason.
I smiled at the servant and said.
“Understood. Tell the messenger that ‘I look forward to my sister’s visit and will be waiting.’”
“Yes, My Lady.”
The servant bowed and departed from the mansion.
Turning to the ghost of Ash Winterton beside me, I mouthed silently.
‘Earlier, you asked if I had any evidence to suspect Lord Jason, right? Fine, I’ll show you.’
[How?]
‘It’s a secret for now. It will be quite entertaining, so feel free to look forward to it.’
I offered a sly, deliberate smile to the ghost, who wore a startled expression.
The next day.
Waking up late, taking a bath, and finishing my preparations, I headed to the drawing room in the afternoon.
With white wallpapered walls, a chandelier crafted from gold and crystal, a marble fireplace, and plush, luxurious light-green sofas, the drawing room exuded a lavish yet comfortable atmosphere.
Sitting on the sofa, I enjoyed the black tea and freshly baked cookies served by the maids while waiting for my sister, who would arrive shortly.
A short while later.
The doors to the drawing room swung wide open, and my twin sister, Seraphina, stepped inside.
“Agnes!”
With her long golden hair tied in a half-updo adorned with pink roses and baby’s breath, wearing a rose-colored dress with long sleeves and a white coat, Seraphina was exquisitely beautiful.
Being twins, she had the exact same height and appearance as I did, yet my sister looked several times more radiant and gorgeous. Unlike me, she was someone who had received the overwhelming love of our parents.
Suppressing the rising feeling of inferiority, I approached her with a smile.
“Welcome, Seraphina.”
“My little sister, you look even prettier now that you’re married! Are the people of the Marquisate treating you well?”
“Of course. ……Come, sit down. Your legs must be tired.”
Slightly dodging Seraphina as she tried to hug me, I gestured toward the sofa with my eyes.
At that, Seraphina momentarily froze, her expression stiffening slightly. However, she quickly smiled as if nothing had happened and took a seat.
When I sat opposite her and offered tea and refreshments, Seraphina put on a hypocritical smile and spoke.
“Now that you’ve married and left the estate, the already vast mansion feels even emptier. Father and Mother haven’t said it out loud, but they seem quite sad as well.”
“Oh, really?”
‘Liar.’
I sneered internally. Who wouldn’t know she was trying to coax and manipulate me to their whim like this? Pretending to be touched, I casually brushed off her hypocritical words.
A short while later, as Seraphina’s sugary flattery began to subside, I opened my mouth under the guise of an innocent expression.
“You know, Sister. I heard a very interesting rumor about this estate.”
“Really? What is it?”
Seraphina asked back, pretending to be interested.
I first dismissed the maids who were serving us out of the drawing room. Then, when only the two of us remained, I lowered my voice and whispered to her.
“You know that the previous owner of this mansion was Marchioness Lizero, right? The woman who was burned at the stake twenty years ago for cursing Her Imperial Majesty. ……Well, before she died, she apparently hid an immense fortune in a secret space in the main building’s basement.”
“……Is that true?”
“Yes. I heard the gardener and the butler whispering about it. They said they found the key a few days ago and hid it in the Marquis’s bedchamber. Supposedly, they plan to announce it the day after tomorrow and conduct a large-scale search of the underground area.”
“Is that so……?”
“Yes. Up until now, they said it’s a secret known only to the butler, the gardener, and Lord Lake.”
I deliberately paused for a moment. Then, as if pleading earnestly, I said.
“You really must keep this to yourself. Got it? It’s a secret that I told you. If this information leaks out, I’ll be in terrible trouble.”
“Of course, naturally. You can trust me.”
Seraphina spoke with a reliable face. However, contrary to her words, a meaningful gleam flashed in her eyes.
‘She’ll definitely report this to Father the moment she returns to the main family, won’t she?’
My parents, the Grand Duke and Duchess of Midelharnis, could never bring themselves to cut back on their extravagance due to pride, despite their tight financial situation. It wouldn’t be any different now that I had regressed.
Therefore, there was no way they would pass up this opportunity to pocket unowned wealth. They would immediately send a spy to verify the truth of the rumor.
Certain of this, I let the corners of my lips curl up slightly. Then, I secretly exchanged glances with the ghost of Ash Winterton, who had been watching this entire situation unfold.
The following night, a day after that.
I was leaning against the door leading to the Marquis’s bedchamber, dozing off. Although yesterday was a failure, he would definitely appear tonight.
‘The only ones who can enter and exit the Marquis’s bedchamber are a small number of knights, including Lord Lake. And if the Grand Duke and Duchess want to check if that key truly exists, they have no choice but to send Jason, that man.’
