Ellen grinned through bared teeth. Belviana smiled back, uncomfortable with the young favor on her face. Indeed, her reputation among the maids had been improving rapidly of late. She’d avoided Aiden and actively applied for all the hardest jobs.

Being pushed from the menial chores of cleaning to the kitchen and the laundry had taken its toll, but it was a relief to be away from the possibility of being seen by Aiden. Of course, working on a different floor didn’t mean she’d never run into him; just last evening, she’d had a close call near the stairs. Of course, she’d managed to avoid it thanks to a quick turn of events…….

“By the way, Scarlett. I thought you hair were completely black, but the hair at the crown of your head is auburn.”

Belviana took a few quick steps away from Ellen, her immediate reaction surprising her a bit. Belviana ruffled her hair in an apologetic manner.

“It’s just that ……I’ve been out in the sun a lot lately, so the color has faded a bit.”

“Really?”

It was a lie no one would believe, but Ellen accepted it anyway. In the light of the window, she could see a few sparse strands of auburn hair at the roots, just like she said. She hadn’t been able to buy hair dye because she hadn’t gotten permission to leave the house. It’s not too noticeable yet, so she’ll just have to be more careful for the time being, and hopefully she’ll be assigned to the West Annex before then.

But as always, things happen unexpectedly.

That evening.

Belviana had just finished carrying the dried laundry down the second-floor hallway with three of the maids who worked with her. As they rounded the corner, she saw Aiden standing at the end of the opposite hallway. Belviana swallowed hard at the nervousness in her stomach. If she had been alone, she would have turned back the other way, but now was not the time. There were other maids by her side. She buried her head a little closer to the laundry basket and quickened her pace, knowing it would raise more suspicion if they suddenly split up after acting together so far. The distance between her and Aiden was closing. Twenty paces, ten paces, five paces, and before she knew it, she was passing him completely,

She felt a hand on her wrist.

“Belvy?”

Her heart leapt out of her throat in surprise, not expecting her old nickname to be called out in such a public place, but the words of denial came out immediately.

“Y, y, you’ve got the wrong person.”

She knew better than anyone that there was no mistaking it, but now she was in front of the other maids, and some of them were very tight-lipped. Any admission here could lead to their past becoming dinner table gossip. Worst of all, her former identity might be discovered.

“There’s no way I could mistake you…….”

Aiden seemed somewhat taken aback by her denial. His grip on her wrist tightened a little more without hurting. Cutting off his rambling, she quickly added.

“First of all, my name is Scarlett Hesse, and I was born in Aalborg, and I’ve never been out of town. If you want to see my ID, I can show it to you, I submitted a copy with my resume.”

“…….”

“I don’t know when someone like me, who’s been doing other people’s business, would have seen your Excellency.”

Thanks to the many times she’d been in similar situations, she could recite her prepared words without making a mistake.

But she couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with him, for whenever she lied, even as a very young child, Aiden had always been able to see through it like a ghost. He was a master at reading between the lines of others’ words. Still clinging to his hand, Belviana waited nervously for Aiden’s next words. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly.

“I apologize if I startled you. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”

Belviana pursed her lips before speaking quickly.

“Do you mind if I leave you then? I need to put my laundry away.”

“Of course.”

Aiden released her wrist very slowly. Unlike the desperation in his voice at the beginning, there was something ominous about how quickly he regained his composure. Was she being overly sensitive if she thought she heard an uncharacteristic ease in Aiden’s voice?

Barely swallowing her nervousness, Belviana ducked her head and blended into the crowd of maids, their curious and disapproving glances falling on her back. Belviana almost ran down the hall.

* * *

The next day, after breakfast, Belviana received her mail. It was a thick package wrapped in crisp, recycled paper and a letter envelope. After her last encounter with Aiden, curious eyes followed her wherever she went, so she accepted the package and went straight up to her room. The postmark showed it was from Mel, sent overnight. Belviana tore open the tightly sealed envelope with a crude letter knife. Unfolding the finely folded letter revealed Mel’s familiar handwriting. The letter began simply enough.

Dear Scarlett.

I heard you went to Dietrich. I thought you wouldn’t go there even if you died. Anyway, I hope you’re doing well. You’re smart, so I’m sure you’ll do fine.

A strange man came to the convent a few days ago, an elderly gentleman, who seemed to be looking for you. He gave the name of Belviana Eisenach Lester, but I told him she was already dead. It seems to have worked out well, but it’s left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m sure you’ll be fine, but you’re always welcome to come back if you need anything.

Thinking of you, Mel.

1. There’s an apple pie in the enclosed package, so don’t be late.

Mel’s letters always had the power to put her at ease, but this one was an exception. Cares and worries crumpled in her trembling hands. The man who had come to the convent, he must have been sent by Aiden. If they found a connection between Aalborg Convent and Young Lady Lester, they would quickly discover that her real name was not Scarlett Hesse. Scarlett Hesse was a fake, with a questionable birth date.

Her plan to move with extreme caution had been derailed by this. It was the end of her patience. Now it was really a matter of minutes and seconds. She couldn’t put it off any longer. Belviana paced the room nervously, muttering clumsy curse words. Maybe tonight was the right time. Aiden knew her-or at least he’d think he still did-and he’d judge her behavior by her arrogance: that she’d dwell on what happened a few days ago, that she wouldn’t dare make a move if her identity was questioned. His laid-back demeanor finally clicked.

He bought some time by demanding a guarantor for her identity, but it was uncertain how long he would tolerate this situation. If Aiden becomes fully convinced that her identity is a fabricated lie, he will do whatever it takes to force her to admit that she is indeed Young Lady Lester. This time, Aiden would not let her escape under any circumstances.

Belviana knew that the moment she was reunited with Aiden as the former Young Lady of Lester, she would fall apart completely. Under the guise of making amends for her past miserable life, Aiden is willing to do her a favor she’ll find hard to refuse. Money, jewelry, dresses, back-to-back social parties. Once again, she’d be drunk on his sweetness, and she’d be at his mercy for the rest of her life……. Belviana shuddered at the next thought. She could not live like that. Plus, Aiden already had a fiancée.

Aiden’s fiancée.

The thought of a woman whose name she didn’t even know filled her with an unbearable feeling. The world called a woman who was not married and supported by a man in money and jewelry a whore. Her heart sank at the thought. She felt miserable just thinking about it. She couldn’t be reduced to Mr. Winston’s lovable, vulgar whore; she was still the daughter of the late Count of Lester, and the last of Lester’s glory.

Of course, even that assumption was a bit of an optimism, that he still cared for her. Maybe Aiden would even resent Belviana’s presence, knowing his past identity. People could always change, and she wasn’t sure her past self had ever truly grasped even Aiden’s attitude. Belvy. The desperation in his voice was a terrible trap.

Belviana hurriedly opened the shabby leather bag she’d placed at the foot of her bed. She had packed it modestly so as not to raise suspicion. She packed the clothes she had worn for years, and hung the ones she hadn’t worn as often as she’d like in the closet. She tossed her handkerchief and letter-knife into her bag and slipped Mel’s letter into the innermost compartment. Belviana unwrapped the package and set the appetizing-looking pie on the table, peeling off the crust and popping it into her mouth. It wasn’t appetizing in the slightest, but at least it didn’t look like the room of someone who was leaving anytime soon.

She tore open the lining of her leather bag and pulled out a small pendant box. In the place where the pendant should have been was a small, intricately carved key: the key to her room, the key to the hidden space beneath her bed. Fortunately, most of the debris in the hallway leading to the west wing had been cleared away a few days ago. At dawn, surveillance would be lax. Belviana squeezed the key until her knuckles were white.