Kay, who had entered the room, opened his eyes wide at the sight of Rishi standing before the mirror.
Soon, he approached from behind with a faint smile and wrapped one arm around her slender waist. His lips naturally brushed the nape of her neck, sending a rush of hot breath all the way to her collarbone.
Though she should have grown accustomed to this intimacy, she couldn’t understand why she grew so tense and warm every time he touched her.
Kay rested his chin on Rishi’s shoulder and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. His gray-blue eyes swept over her with a subtle intensity.
“You are beautiful, Rishi.”
“You are as well.”
It was not a lie. Dressed in his formal party suit, Kay looked breathtakingly handsome. He had even combed back his hair, which he usually left tousled, and secured it neatly with pomade. The dark brows above his straight forehead were more striking than usual.
“I heard you ordered Jamie to do something, though he wouldn’t tell me what. How did you manage to wrap my subordinate around your finger?”
“I neither roasted nor boiled him, yet he folded his wings on his own. It must be because he was well-taught by his master.”
It was meant as a joke, but Kay’s expression darkened. He turned Rishi around to face him.
“How did you know? What Jamie turns into?”
*Oh no*, she thought, but she did not panic. Such incidents would be frequent in the future—things that no one was supposed to know, yet things that Rishi knew.
“Is that important?” Rishi asked calmly.
“It is. But you won’t tell me, will you?”
“Not yet.”
“Will you tell me someday?”
That, even Rishi did not know. She had lived once, and she had died once. She thought that was the end, but she had ended up living a second time. Would anyone willingly believe that? Even if they did, would there be anyone who wouldn’t consider a person who returned through time a witch?
Returning through time had not granted her any special powers.
*’I don’t even have the strength to protect my own body. That’s why I relied on this man.’*
Rishi looked into Kay’s eyes. His gaze was so deep and cold that she could not fathom his thoughts. If he ever discovered that she had turned back time, it would be impossible to predict how he might act. Because the wounds she had received from people in her past life had not healed in the slightest, Rishi could not trust anyone. Even if they were favorable now, she didn’t know when or how they might turn.
Rishi poked Kay’s firm chest with her index finger.
“Depends on how you behave.”
Kay’s eyes narrowed. The coldness vanished, and a tender warmth filled the void.
“Then I shall have to do even better. I have a personality that insists on finding out whatever I’m curious about.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“You should be nervous. I’ll do it surprisingly well.”
+++
Although the tavern “Tony’s Cave” was quite spacious, so many people had gathered that they could not all be accommodated inside. Since a buffet and tables had been set up in the large plaza next to the tavern, those who couldn’t get in gathered there, waiting for the Countess of Green to arrive.
Before long, as the carriage of House Green rolled in, the people scattered about flocked to the roadside. Even though the carriage windows were curtained and they couldn’t see the Countess inside, everyone stretched their necks, peeking in hopes of catching even a glimpse.
When the carriage stopped in front of Tony’s tavern, the noisy plaza fell silent.
*Click.*
The silence was so profound that the sound of the carriage door opening echoed loudly.
Kay stepped out first. At the sight of him looking like a male deity, several women let out small gasps of admiration. When Kay reached his hand into the carriage, a small, fair hand was placed upon his large palm.
Even though it was only a hand, the people swallowed dryly.
The moment Iris Green revealed herself, the crowd couldn’t even manage to swallow, watching her as if bewitched. Her silver hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight; she wore an elegant, pale sky-blue dress that suited her fair, delicate skin perfectly. The refined features set upon her petite face were as perfect as if God had put all His effort into creating her.
The flower of the Wittlow Duchy.
The epithet used to describe her felt trivial; the Countess Iris Green was dazzling. She looked innocent, elegant, and arrogant all at once. As she stepped down from the carriage and slowly scanned her surroundings, her presence felt so beautiful it bordered on the surreal.
The people forgot to even breathe, staring at Rishi in a daze.
Her full, red lips parted slowly.
“Oh my.”
A soft exclamation escaped her. Then, a gentle smile spread across Rishi’s face.
“I didn’t know so many of you would come. I’m delighted.”
At that moment, the people felt deeply moved that they had brought her joy.
The magical silence was broken by the sound of an approaching carriage. Only then did the people snap out of it. Escaping from the ecstasy that felt like walking on heavenly clouds, they glared at the carriage approaching with annoyance.
Rishi also turned her head to look. It was the carriage of Viscount Merdi. Everyone present was shocked at the sight of Gillette stepping out. It was due to her ostentatious attire.
The hem of her voluminous red dress was embroidered with gold thread, and the shoulders were finished with thread made from crushed diamonds. Her necklace and earrings shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Dozens of jewel-encrusted hairpins held up her long hair.
Gillette, who seemed to be asserting, “If there is a sun in the sky, I am the sun of this earth!”, was certainly beautiful. She had a pretty face to begin with, and she was even more striking because she had applied makeup to match her dress so she wouldn’t be overshadowed by it.
If this had been an ordinary aristocratic party, her attire would not have been a problem at all; most would have come dressed as radiantly as Gillette. But this was a party for commoners. Since the organizer had set the theme as “For the commoners,” it was etiquette for attending nobles to dress accordingly. The other nobles present were wearing high-quality fabrics that looked modest, so they didn’t look out of place. The same was true for Viscount Merdi and his wife, Gillette’s parents.
The Viscount and his wife, who had arrived before Gillette, were staring at their daughter with pale faces.
Seeing everyone’s attention on her, Gillette seemed pleased; she smiled brightly, curtsied slightly, and then, head held high, walked toward Rishi with a clatter of her heels.
Rishi watched Gillette approach with her hands folded neatly in front of her. Everyone held their breath, watching the two.
Gillette’s eyes quickly scanned Rishi’s attire, and she wore a triumphant smile, as if she had won.
“Countess. Thank you for inviting me to the party today.”
“I don’t recall sending you an invitation.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a party anyone can attend, so there is no need for thanks, Lady Gillette.”
“Yes, well. Still.”
Gillette huffed, turned on her heel, and walked toward where the other nobles were gathered. Finding some young ladies she knew, she laughed brightly and mingled with their group.
Rishi watched them for a moment, then smiled at the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming to the party today. Please, enjoy yourselves.”
“Countess, are you aware of the rumors surrounding you lately?”
No sooner had Rishi finished speaking than a sharp question rang out. Everyone gasped at this discourteous behavior, turning to look at the source of the voice. A man with sharp eyes was staring straight at Rishi.
Rishi felt Kay’s grip on her hand tighten. She tapped the back of his hand with her thumb to tell him to stay still, then spoke to the man.
“That is rude.”
“I know. I apologize. But isn’t this party being held to clarify the truth about those rumors?”
Half of the gathered crowd nodded as if in agreement, while the other half wore expressions of *’Was that what this was?’*
Rishi stared at him and said calmly,
“Why should I have to clarify those rumors?”
“Pardon?”
Rishi’s attitude—perhaps he hadn’t expected it, as the man’s sharp gaze wavered for a moment.
“Even if I were to explain, people would only believe what they want to believe. As this is a personal matter, isn’t it enough for my husband and my family to know that the rumors are nothing more than malicious falsehoods?”
Rishi said, looking up at Kay.
Kay met Rishi’s eyes and smiled as if he were the happiest man alive.
They had not let go of each other’s hands since stepping out of the carriage, gazing at one another as if there were no one else in the world but them. To any observer, they were a pair of newlyweds deeply in love with no problems whatsoever.
“However, now that the Holy Kingdom has sent someone to uncover the truth behind the rumors, it is no longer a matter that can be brushed aside with such words, is it?”
The man did not back down.
Rishi was grateful for the man’s persistence. It was exactly this kind of situation she had wanted.
She shifted her gaze to study him. Rishi knew who he was. She had even suspected that he would show up here, as he was the type to rush wherever a story unfolded.
Just as she had anticipated, he had arrived, and he was acting exactly as she had foreseen.
“Who are you?”
When she asked, pretending not to know, he replied confidently.
“I am Wittingk of Ellerbo.”
Ellerbo. The largest and most credible newspaper, with branches in most of the countries on the Elerond continent.
Wittingk, a reporter for that very paper, was known for writing unbiased articles despite the criticism he received for his rude interviewing style.
And in her past life, after Kay was killed for being a beastman, he had written an article detailing what a great loss it was and what a cruel act it had been. For that, he had incurred the Emperor’s wrath and was executed. Rishi had watched from the darkness of her own death as he shouted, “This world is mad! Everyone is mad!” until the very moment he was hanged.
Rishi slowly looked around at the crowd.
Even the people who had been inside the tavern had slowly trickled out, leaning in to hear the truth of the rumors that had been entertaining them for so long.
While most wore eyes filled with curiosity, a few had expressions that seemed to say, *“Serves you right.”*
Rishi was certain that those young, fresh-faced ladies were the noblewomen who used to dote on Kay.
“Very well.”
The square was so quiet that Rishi’s calm voice rang out clearly.
“Since everyone is showing me so much affection by wanting to pry into my private affairs, I suppose I should respond in kind.”
Rishi’s gaze lingered on Gillette for a moment before shifting back to Wittingk.
“Shall we find out what the truth really is, then?”