*** *** *** *** ***
That day, after finishing my date with Raynous, I suggested to the Countess Valentine that she stay at our house for a while.
“Me, at the Labyrinth mansion?”
“I’m not asking you to stay for long. Just two weeks, that’s all. I think we can gather enough evidence within that time.”
I hadn’t intended to meddle this much.
As we came out into the light, Countess Valentine’s facial condition looked even more serious. If her face was in this state, wouldn’t other parts be even worse?
Now that he had been caught having an affair with Layla, there was a possibility he might do even worse things in the future.
So, I suggested she stay with us.
“Do you think you can gather evidence in just two weeks?”
Countess Valentine’s eyes widened in surprise at the short duration.
I shrugged nonchalantly. In truth, I didn’t expect it to end so quickly either.
“Yes. He doesn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it. It might be uncomfortable to change locations, but without anyone watching, you might feel more at ease.”
“But, that would make things very inconvenient for you, my lady.”
“Don’t worry about it. I have my own reasons for doing this.”
I plan to propose a business partnership. Of course, I won’t exploit her like I did with Essite.
Tears of gratitude welled up in the Countess’s hazel eyes, which had been blank.
She quickly averted her gaze and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
And so, I brought the Countess to the Labyrinth mansion.
If the Marquis and Marchioness of Labyrinth were here, they would have scolded me for bringing a guest so suddenly, but since they were both traveling in the south, there was nothing to worry about.
I gave the Countess the best guest room. I also treated the maid who accompanied her with great hospitality.
Countess Valentine was overwhelmed with gratitude.
“How can I ever repay this kindness?”
“Just sign the annulment papers. It would be even better if you could help with the business later.”
“Business…?”
The Countess looked at me with a puzzled expression. She didn’t realize how exceptional her business acumen was, hence her reaction.
I simply told her that I had a business I wanted to do with her. Detailed explanations could wait until we started the business.
Though she was worried, wondering if she could do such a thing, she said she would help as much as I wanted.
It was indeed a delightful response.
*** *** *** *** ***
Countess Valentine settled in well at our house.
At first, she was so on edge that she would react like a meerkat to any conversation in the hallway. But after about a week, it was clear that she had become more at ease.
Her dark circles had lightened, and the swelling in her cheeks had gone down. As she ate and rested well, the color gradually returned to her lips.
The Countess herself didn’t seem to notice the changes, but the maid who served her closely was overjoyed.
However, there was an uninvited guest who sought to disrupt this small and simple peace.
“I need to see the Countess.”
It was none other than Count Valentine.
Count Valentine came almost every day, demanding to see his wife.
Each time, I curtly refused.
“She’s busy, so it’s not possible. Butler, see the guest out.”
“Who are you to prevent me from seeing my wife? No matter how special your family’s abilities are, this is a blatant abuse of power! Aria! Aria, come out immediately!”
“Count.”
I tapped his chest with my fan, signaling him to shut up as his loud voice was annoying.
The Count’s face briefly hardened with a sense of humiliation. I, too, erased any expression from my face.
“Would you want to see yourself if you were in her shoes? Have some conscience.”
“I don’t know why you’re saying that, but I think there’s a big misunderstanding-“
“Count.”
I cut off the man who was about to spout nonsense. One Duval was enough for that.
“There are three things I dislike.”
I looked up at him, who had little hair despite his young age, and took a step forward.
He flinched and took a step back to match my stride.
“First, lying.”
Another step,
“Second, lying.”
Yet another step.
“And third, lying.”
In retrospect, all three were the same. But neither I nor the Count pointed this out.
Frustrated that things weren’t going his way, he gritted his teeth.
“I didn’t know you were this kind of person.”
“Yes, I didn’t know either. So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make things more complicated and just left.”
I pointed to the door, signaling him to leave.
It might seem strange for a Marquis’s daughter without a title to push a Count this far.
But I, Siella Labyrinth, was not an ordinary Marquis’s daughter.
The Labyrinth family were descendants of the five warriors who defeated the evil dragon, and I had inherited the Labyrinth’s special abilities.
In other words, I could use my abilities if things went south.
Knowing this, the Count could only grind his teeth and couldn’t resist further. He left a meaningful warning in a voice filled with resentment.
“You will regret making an enemy of me.”
Did he conspire with Duval? Why is the repertoire the same?
‘Is he planning to hire the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild?’
No, he wasn’t.
Fortunately, Count Valentine did not go to the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild. After all, he had no reason to hire them since his wife didn’t have a lover.
But I didn’t let my guard down. The Count’s eyes, filled with a meaningful warning, were unsettling.
People with such eyes always caused trouble in one way or another.
A few days later.
I found out why the Count said I would regret it.
*** *** *** *** ***
In the dead of night, when everyone was asleep.
The dark sky was devoid of twinkling stars. Only a crescent moon, half-hidden by dark clouds, kept a lonely vigil over the night sky.
Rustle, rustle. Creak.
Two men entered the room where Countess Valentine was staying. They were dressed in black from head to toe.
Exchanging glances as if they had a clear objective, the two moved without a moment’s hesitation. Their destination was the bedroom.
Soon, they arrived at the spacious bed, large enough for two people to roll around with room to spare. The center was bulging, suggesting that the Countess was asleep.
The two men exchanged glances again.
One signaled towards the blanket, and the other nodded. They carefully lifted the blanket so as not to wake the sleeping person.
But.
“…!”
What was under the blanket wasn’t a person. It was pillows arranged to look like a person.
The two men froze in shock.
Watching this scene while sitting at a nearby desk, swinging my legs, I spoke softly.
“What are you doing, guys?”
The two men froze in shock.
Watching this scene while sitting at a nearby desk, swinging my legs, I spoke softly.
“What are you doing?”
Even in the darkness, I could clearly see the two men’s shock. They silently drew their daggers, looking around as if trying to locate me.
However, I had blended into the darkness using the power of Labyrinth, so no one noticed me.
“From the looks of it, you’re not here to steal money.”
The dark clouds covering the moon cleared. A faint moonlight flowed through the bedroom window.
My shadow, created by the moonlight, swayed on its own, as if it had its own will.
Looking down at my neatly groomed nails, I muttered dryly.
“Have you come to find your death?”
At that moment, the two men exchanged glances.
They ran towards the window with swift speed. They were trying to escape.
However, their attempt was in vain.
A black energy that started from my shadow instantly engulfed the window. The window, infused with this energy, turned black as if covered with black vinyl.
The men threw themselves at it as if trying to break through, but it was useless. The window didn’t budge, as if it had turned into an iron door.
In the meantime, I blocked all exits, turning the room into a sealed chamber.
Rattle, rattle, rattle, bang!
Riding this momentum, I focused my mind on my shadow that was writhing on its own. I scattered the power of Labyrinth contained within it throughout the entire room.
In an instant, the room, consumed by shadows, began to transform into a bizarre labyrinth.
Gloomy walls so high that the end couldn’t be seen.
Dangling chains hanging from an invisible ceiling.
A stone floor scattered with life-threatening traps such as boiling lava and raining arrows.
Even the eyes of evil spirits, staring at the two men dragged into the labyrinth from all directions, emitting bizarre cries.
One of the two trembling men collapsed on the spot. The other was barely standing, but he didn’t look in good shape either, seeming like he would fall if pushed.
I thought they were prepared since they dared to break in, but it was quite a pathetic sight.
I opened my mouth indifferently.
“Play with them moderately, kids.”
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