“Don’t you know what that means?”

“What does it mean?”

She couldn’t understand what the Countess was saying even though she pondered it over carefully.

“I thought you were more strict based on your interaction with the baroness last time, but the more I look at you, you’re more innocent than I thought, Miss Philone.”

The Countess shook her head as if she was looking at a frustrated girl and continued her words heavily.

“It meant that the Queen has chosen the Marquis’ daughter to be the next Duke of Devonshire’s lady. And on top of that, it was done in secret.”

Rowena gasped in surprise at the unexpected words. Killian had another woman? She couldn’t believe her ears while the Countess, with a sympathetic look in her eyes, continued to ask her a question.

“Have you noticed anything unusual happening lately?”

“There was noth-…”

Just as Rowena was about to say no, she thought of what Melissa had told her last night. She told her that he would not be coming to the mansion for the time being… he didn’t give a clear reason. He just said that he had a lot of work to tend to. In that regard, it was quite like the situation five years ago. Killian didn’t want her to know more than she had to.

“Oh…”

Covering her mouth, Rowena gasped for breath. The blunt shock stirred her mind. She had been so preoccupied with her escape that she had not considered the possibility at all. It was plausible indeed, and yet the pain that had eaten into her chest gradually spread to her fingertips and toes. Rowena defined the name of this feeling as a betrayal. It had to be, and she can’t even admit it.

Killian’s wife, A Duchess. Another replacement.

“Oh dear, Miss Philone.”

The Countess sat down next to the trembling Rowena and squeezed her shoulder.

“It’s a shock, but it can’t be helped. None of the nobles, or even myself, can decide on who to marry of our own volition.”

“…….”

“Especially if it is a high-ranking noble like the Duke.”

Her voice was full of pity and bitterness. Instead of replying, Rowena buried her face in her hands. It felt like someone stomping on her heart. She decided to run away, but it still pained her.

“But he will never leave you, Miss Philone, no one has been by his side as long as you have, and no one has been favored by him as much as you. I’ll do my best to help you because we’re already in the same boat.”

The Countess’ brain calculated things quickly as she patted Rowena on the back. Even if the lady becomes the Duchess, she was as good as a scarecrow without the duke’s support and favor. On the contrary, even a mere mistress could wield absolute power if she had the duke’s complete affection all to herself. It was time to stand in line.

“That lady does she-..”

Rowena’s lips slowly quivered, and after a few moments of silence and deep breathing.

“Does she have blond hair and green eyes?”

“…Like yours?”

The Countess’s brows furrowed at the unexpected question. Rowena, who had managed to compose herself, nodded.

“Yes, like mine. Does she look like me?”

“Well, I haven’t seen her in person, but from what I’ve heard…”

The Countess, who had been silent for a while, shook her head slowly.

“No, I heard that she has auburn hair. I don’t know about the color of her eyes, though.”