Chapter 5
Rowena’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
She had a bad feeling.
Even so, she hid it and turned around calmly.
“Did you need something?”
Everett approached with a serious expression.
“Have you… seen me somewhere before?”
“Since I work in this estate, you’ve probably seen me in passing.”
“No… it’s not like that. You just feel strangely familiar.”
Rowena briefly wondered if he had somehow recognized her—but quickly dismissed it.
A completely different face. A completely different identity.
Even her father or brother wouldn’t recognize her like this.
Or is it because this maid is pretty, so he’s trying something?
She almost laughed.
How had she come to think of Everett as such a pathetic man?
Once, she had trusted him more than her own father and brother.
But now, she even suspected he might have been the kind of man to toy with her friend—and even a maid.
She no longer believed in his sincerity or devotion.
“You must be mistaking me for someone else. There are many people who look similar in this world.”
“Everett, that’s enough. You’re making the maid uncomfortable.”
Otille stepped in, urging him.
She clearly didn’t like that he was wasting time on a mere maid.
Rowena stood expressionless, and Everett seemed to finally notice the awkwardness.
“…I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. You just felt familiar somehow… but since I was mistaken, you may go.”
“Thank you.”
Rowena bowed and left immediately.
***
After she disappeared, Otille glanced at Everett.
He had been silent ever since meeting the maid.
“What are you thinking about?”
Everett finally spoke.
“That maid… I just realized who she reminds me of.”
“Who?”
“You’ll deny it, but… her eyes remind me of Rowena.”
“Rowena? You mean Rowena of Greymont?”
Otille raised her voice in disbelief.
Even Everett understood why.
Comparing a mere maid to Rowena—even just by her eyes—made no sense.
Their appearances were completely different.
Rowena had red hair, sharp features, and a tall, strong build like a knight.
That maid, on the other hand, was blonde, pale, and fragile.
But there was one similarity.
Both had golden eyes.
And the feeling in those eyes was the same.
Sharp. Cold. As if they could see through everything.
As Everett recalled her gaze, Otille spoke gently:
“Everett… I know you miss Rowena, but they’re nothing alike. Not even their eyes.”
…Was that so?
He questioned himself.
Was he just unable to accept her death?
When he saw those golden eyes, he had felt a fleeting hope—
That he might one day see Rowena’s sharp, living gaze again.
But reality was cruel.
Even though he saw her in his dreams every night, reality always returned without her.
He had even wished to find her body—just to end that painful hope.
But even that hadn’t happened.
So he lived on, neither alive nor dead, letting each day pass meaninglessly.
“Let’s go inside, Everett. We’ve been standing too long.”
At Otille’s urging, Everett followed her inside.
For now, he had to focus on handling Greymont Castle.
Only then could the Duke’s head, displayed at the gates, be properly laid to rest.
I wish it could be finished quickly…
But it wouldn’t be easy.
He would have to keep coming to this estate.
He swallowed a sigh.
***
Meanwhile, Rowena walked quickly for a long time after leaving them.
Then suddenly, as if struck by lightning—
She realized something.
I have no reason to run away.
She returned to the east wing, her assigned area.
Frustration filled her, and she gripped the rag tightly, dirty water dripping from it.
“Clarissa… could you talk with me for a moment?”
The head maid, Bridget, approached with a worried expression.
Rowena turned to her slowly.
Why did she want to talk?
Had the incident with the bee already reached her ears?
“Yes.”
Rowena followed her calmly.
They went to the servants’ lounge.
Bridget dismissed the others, leaving just the two of them.
After a heavy sigh, she spoke:
“Clarissa… I know you’re an orphan, with nowhere to go. That’s why I paid special attention to you.”
So she was an orphan…
That explained why there were no letters in her room.
But what stood out more was Bridget’s expression.
She looked like a mother sending her child away.
“I tried my best to stop that awful man, George, from bothering you. But Madam Martha always sides with him… ah, there’s no point telling you this.”
“What did the butler say he’ll do to me?”
Rowena cut straight to the point.
Bridget looked shocked.
“You already heard?”
“No. It just seemed obvious.”
Despite Rowena’s calm tone, Bridget smiled sadly.
“You’ve grown more mature… I tried to stop him, but it seems he’s determined to dismiss you…”
“I see.”
“What will you do? If you’re thrown out, you’ll have nowhere to go…”
Bridget began to tear up.
“I’ll try to find you a place to stay. Lord Richard will return soon—if we explain your situation, he might let you come back.”
But Rowena felt nothing.
She had no intention of leaving.
Dealing with someone like George was nothing.
However—
The name “Richard” caught her attention.
Richard Fairborn.
She knew him well.
He was rigid and blunt, but fiercely loyal to Greymont.
He would likely disapprove of the Count siding with Stafol.
If I approach him well… things could become much easier.
If she showed him the mark on her body, he would have no choice but to believe her identity.
Through him, she could contact loyal allies.
“So don’t lose hope, and just wait calmly—”
Rowena suddenly stood up.
“I have no intention of leaving this estate.”
“You must have grown attached to this place…”
Bridget misunderstood.
Rowena spoke firmly:
“I’ll talk to the butler.”
“You’re going to beg him? I understand how you feel, but that’s not a good idea… he’ll just harass you again. How will you endure that?”
“Don’t worry. After today, he’ll behave.”
For a brief moment, her golden eyes flashed coldly.
“If he wants to live.”
Bridget froze.
“Y-you’ve become quite fierce…”
“I won’t kill him. That’s just how I put it.”
“O-of course…”
Bridget muttered softly, as if lamenting the world.
Rowena adjusted her apron and asked:
“It would be better to bring tea and dessert while talking. May I use the kitchen for a moment?”
