90

"I'm tired."

Elena, who left the salon, was returning to Grand Duchy in the carriage. It took a lot of courage just to stand in front of people for the first time as the owner of the salon, and since she had a fierce public debate in front of so many people, she could have been exhausted.

"But it was a satisfying day."

She felt strongly that she was alive not to live in Veronica's place anymore, but to live her whole life.

"Good work, miss."

"May, you're tired, too. You don't have to massage me."

May rubbed Elena's tired feet and legs as she moved in her shoes all day. After announcing that she was a substitute for Veronica, she took care of Elena even more seriously.

"I didn't do anything. My lady is very tired."

"Thank you."

Elena couldn't bear to ignore the heart and accepted it. Thanks to this, her nervous body became a little drowsy, and she suddenly thought of her parents.

'How are you, Mom and Dad?'

According to Elena's plan, they should have established a place in the Trilateral Union by now. However, it was impossible to know how well they were doing in a strange country, as they had no idea about human affairs.

'We promised to see each other again. Please wait a little longer. I'll pick you up when my revenge is over.'

Perhaps because she had a successful day as L, the hostess of the salon, Elena felt that she was becoming emotional today.

Clattering, clattering.

Suddenly, the speed of the carriage decreased significantly and stopped. She looked out the window, wondering what was going on, and a man was wielding a dagger threateningly in front of the main entrance into the Grand Duke's premise. Hurelbard, who was with the horseman, got off the carriage and knocked on the window. Elena lowered the window and asked him.

"Sir, what's going on?"

"I think someone's being violent. Lock the door and don't leave the carriage."

Elena nodded and locked the door as Hurelbard told her. It was taken in consideration of the risk that there would be one, but honestly, it was not scary. There was nothing to worry about because Hurelbard, who was a great man and was called a sword of the Empire, was next to her.

"Are you a drunk?"

Elena narrowed her eyes and carefully watched the man who was misbehaving. Though worn and dirty, he wore clothes made of high-quality materials. It was assumed that the shoes were also quite expensive, and he seemed to be an aristocrat.

"Haaaah!"

The man screamed and swung the dagger in the air like crazy.

"Go away, you monster! Get out of my sight!"

The man drooled and wielded a dagger like a madman. She was anxious that the ruthlessness might cause a big accident.

Tuk.

He stopped the dagger, which was wielded indiscriminately, and the man bent his back like a shrimp and fell on the floor. Then he suddenly laughed like a madman.

"Yeah, I don't want it too much. Hehe. It's because I don't have any money. Huh? Heh. Give it to me! I'll kill you! You won't give it to me? You're not gonna give it to me? I've known all along, you know. You people… Kuk!"

The man's last gasp could not be continued. Lorentz's sword appeared at some point and cut the man's back diagonally.

"…!"

Elena's heart throbbed as blood splashed. A cold sweat came from the memory of being killed by Lorentz in her past life.

"You don't look well, miss."

"Oh? Uh, I'm okay."

Elena held the handle on the inside of the carriage and breathed out a harsh breath. Fortunately, Lorentz wielded the sword behind the man's back, and she could not see the stab wound. If she had seen it, she might have lost consciousness in shock.

"We're clear, so let's go."

Hurelbard announced that the situation was over and sat next to the horseman. Elena, who had no courage to see the body soaked in blood on the floor, drew the inner curtain so that she could not see outside the window.

"Miss, you're really okay, right?"

"I'm a little surprised. I'll be okay if I rest."

Elena closed her eyes after reassuring May as if she was not worried. As she was concentrating on breathing and calming down her surprised heart, she remembered what the man had said before he died.

'Strange. the way he spoke gibberish is like a drugged person… Oh!'

Something came into Elena's head when she opened her eyes.

'An opium addict.'

Elena had seen opium addicts in the past. He was the second son of a famous Count, and was popular in the social world because of his cheerful appearance and excellent speaking skills. However, for some reason, he touched opium, and his addiction intensified, so he secretly sold the Count's assets to buy opium and was kicked out. Regretting that he had been kicked out, the young man showed up at a banquet arranged by the four great families and was taken away by the knights after committing a violent act. The hallucinations and bipolar symptoms that the young man showed at that time were very similar to the symptoms of the man who was killed a while ago.

'The opium addict hopped in front of the Great House.'

Elena's eyes narrowed. She felt the vibration of decay. She can't say for sure what it is yet, but she had a strong feeling that the Grand Duke was involved in this.

'He asked for something. Definitely.'

Elena found a clue to what the man said before he died. It was too early to say, but expectations have grown that if she investigated, she may find something more than she expected.

While she was organizing her thoughts, the carriage arrived at the mansion. Elena, who got off the carriage after receiving an escort from Hurelbard, she looked better than she had at first, but she still wasn't. It was not easily forgotten because she was traumatized by death.

'I want to rest.'

Elena was heading to the bedroom when Anne was seen running from far away.

"Haa, haa, my lady."

"What's wrong with you?"

Anne replied with a harsh breath.

"Uh, Sir Ren is in the drawing room!"

"What?"

"He's been waiting for you since broad daylight, saying he must see you today."

"Sigh."

Elena sighed. She was tired to death, and her head was pounding at the thought of dealing with Ren.

"What about Liv?"

"The Viscountess has been out of town since the daytime…"

She never thought Leabrick would be out of town. Since even Grand Duke Friedrich was absent, there was no one to sanction Ren.

'I thought you were having a quiet time, and now you've come back to try to make some kind of accusation,'

He would have been easier to deal with if she were pretending to be Lucia. She had a lot of hateful feelings. But now that she was playing the role of Lady Veronica, they were natural enemies.

'It's annoying because we can't fight with each other.'

Ren's hatred for Veronica was deeper and more profound. His sense of victimization for being forced to make a one-sided sacrifice on account of being a sidekick was also great. Therefore, when she bumped into Ren in Veronica's status, a sharp dialogue had to be exchanged.

"I'll have to go to find him. Guide me."

"Yes, miss."

Elena followed Anne as she walked ahead. If they waited until now, Ren's character would not allow her to leave like this. As much as she wanted to rest, she needed to take some form of action to do so.

Knock, knock.

Elena, knocking, opened the door and entered the drawing room. Then Ren, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, raised his hand and pretended to know her.

"Hey, how long has it been? I'm going to forget my cousin's face."

"Why don't you just forget? We don't look too happy to see each other."

Ren smiled when Elena pointedly hit him.

"No? I like to see your face?"

"Then watch as much as you like."

"Should I."

Elena flopped down on the sofa because she didn't have the energy to deal with him. When she raised her head, she met his eyes. Ren, seated with a crooked smile, was really staring at Elena's face.

'What's wrong with him? Did he change the way he bullied me?'

Ren did not have a patient personality. He should have already called Elena to pick a quarrel with her. But he was so quiet. He'd been staring at Elena's face for a few minutes.

'Oh, this is more disturbing and uncomfortable.'

It was when Elena was opening her mouth because she thought it was more comfortable to fight openly.

"Don't you look pale?"

"…"

"Are you sick?"

Elena's eyes were distorted by Ren's sudden question. It was difficult to respond to because it seemed to be an intelligent dispute.

"What's the point of visiting me? Hurry up and talk and go."

"I told you earlier?"

"I don't remember?"

Ren grumbled.

"Think it over."

"…"

Ah. She thought that the Ren, who was more openly hostile, would be easier to deal with. In this way, it was harder to harass her, like he was drying blood.

"Oh, it's refreshing. Now that I've seen enough, I'm leaving."

"What?"

Elena stretched and looked up at Ren, who stood up blankly.

"Hey, I'm not going to talk to someone who's been waiting all morning to eat and go."

"Aren't I being considerate because you might have an upset stomach?"

"Thank you for your consideration."

Elena couldn't shake the strange feeling. Ren was sharp as a well-honed sword, so sharp that even the touch of his fingertips made her bleed. But now, his hands looked so thick that her hand was not cut.

"I'll be considerate of you."

"…"

"Eat something before you go to bed. Pale doesn't look good on you."

Finally, Ren, who stumbled toward the door, looked, waving his hand over his head and left the drawing room.

Thud.

Elena, who had not admitted that Ren had gone for a long time after leaving the drawing room, could only believe it when Anne told her that Ren had left the mansion on a horse.

"He really went? Really?"

"Yes, miss. I made sure I saw him drop by the stable."

Elena was at a loss how to understand and accept Ren's behavior today. He came to her endlessly and waited until sunset, but he got up and went away less than ten minutes after they met. He left a weird comment saying that it's okay because he's seen enough.

After returning to the bedroom, Elena soaked herself in the warm water she received and laid on the bed. Her mind was still filled with questions about Ren's abnormal behavior.

"You don't know I'm Lucia, do you?"

This was the conclusion that Elena had reached after developing one story after another. It was hard to accept Ren's behavior, which had changed otherwise. It felt cheap, but he didn't bother as much as when she was at an academic institute. This is because, as there is no work to be active as Lucia, there are no more things to be suspicious of. Elena decided to keep a close eye on Ren. After all, he was a person to watch out for.