After woke up as Silla Epheria, I spent two days to focus on nursing my body. Silla's body wasn't healthy to begin with, additionally this body was laying sick for a whole week, thus easily staggered like a wilted decoration plant. It would take at least a month to recover the vitality with balanced nutrition, but wasn't the holy power the best solution to recover body's condition? Thankfully due to my holy power, I was able to get doctor's diagnosis that stated I'm already healthy, so I could go outside in two days.

“Second Miss took almost all the dresses from Miss' dressing room, so there are only a few left…” said Sofia with gloomy expression.

The place where I lived is a small pavilion in the most desolate area within the Count Epheria's residence. Although I called it small pavilion, this building consists of two stories and has a few rooms, but the problem lies on whats inside it. Based on a young n.o.ble woman residence standard, this place is too empty that looks like it has been raided by a group of robbers. There're only basic furnitures inside the bedroom and the dressing room only have some lonely hangers.

This is much more severe than my previous room where it reflected my humble life and n.o.ble characters as a clergy. This is simply outrageous. Well, though, if you see it from a girl's perspective, this room is pretty much the same as my room which filled with weapons, s.h.i.+elds, armors, and holy objects.

“There are only old dresses left. Miss' three new dresses that made early this year, all of them have been taken away.”

I look half-heartedly at the dress in Sofia's hand, then said, “You said my little sister is 17 years old, right?”

“Yes. 2 years apart from Miss.”

That means the Count remarried one year later after Silla was born? It's too soon. Strange things keep pilling up.

“Second Miss is really envy of you that she went as far as took away all your dresses even though they aren't suitable with her size.”

While bad mouthing the second daughter of Count Epheria, Roanna, Sofia brought a dress for me to take a look.

“Anyway, this dress is the newest summer dress. But still, this was made last year. Sigh… this is trully too much! It's not like this household has gone bankrupt. Miss must be the only Lady among other Count household that only has one dress for each season in a year!”

I didn't even have any dress before. Uniforms and armors weren't made based on seasons.

After I wore the dress that Sofia chosen out and wore the shoes, I stand in front of the mirror. Silla Epheria is a really beatiful woman. A young lady with l.u.s.trous reddish brown hair and glimmering in red, green faded wide eyes, and skin as white as snow fulfilled all standard criterias of a pretty lady in Southern Region, unfortunately…

She looks really pale and low-spirited.

Cheeks and lips that're too pale, and also her very thin body, clearly showed that the girl didn't have any will to live. Silla is indeed pretty, but she looked lifeless like a flower that looked down listlessly caused by heavy rain in a rainy season. I don't feel that it's strange if I recalled the life she had been through. Nonetheless, I even looks like this, how listless she could be before? Perhaps she almost looked like a ghost.

“The corset with the highest quality that was made from whale bones, was stolen by Second Miss. Luckily Miss doesn't have to use corset.”

“There's nothing to be tied up on my body anyways.”

Silla's body is too thin that she doesn't have to use any corset and its enough just using a decorative flowy skirt- whatever it's called, I forgot- anyways, it's enough.

“I'm not putting on any make up.”

“But…”

“It's a grieving period. It'll be disrespectful if I put on any make up.”

Well, even though the one who pa.s.sed away is me. Ermm…nope. It also could be said that this funeral is for Silla Epheria because she is the one who died.

“There must be many ladies who will come…”

Although Sofia grumbled, feeling discontent, but she still put down the make up tools. I don't want to put any make up even if it's not because of the funeral. I hate the smell of make up, especially perfume. I received a lot of handkerchiefs and also love letters from the Ladies, but because they always dropped one or two drops of perfume, the smell spread thoroughly inside my room. I couldn't decline them because I was a knight, so my head swelled so much that it felt like it would explode.

After Sofia finished styled up my hair, I turn around in front of the mirror with a smile.

“How about, we ask permission to go outside from my mother now?”

I have to meet my mother who is kindly enough not to ask her daughter condition after she woke up from a week of comatose, for the past two days.

“The Countess should be in the garden around this time.”

The way Sofia spoke has changed a bit as soon as we left the pavilion. In front of me, she would insist to call Silla'a stepmother with ‘Madam' not ‘Countess', as if she couldn't acknowledge that kind of woman as Countess. However, she addressed her as ‘Countess' respectfully when she was outside because there're eyes that could see and ears that could hear everywhere.

“I have conveyed Miss Silla's intention in general so Miss should be able to get the permission quickly… Hah…although an annoying tail will be placed on Miss.”

“Do you mean, my fiancee?”

“Yeah.”

Sofia pouted her mouth until it looks like a duck's beak. Seems like she really hate the man named Viscount Schwart to the bones. I open the white parasol that Sofia gave and start walking while using it.

Then, I slowly observe the surroundings area.

“This residence is really huge.”

“Even though Count Epheria family aren't some royal aristocrats, but possess a great wealth as a landlord.”

In other words that means Count Epheria family didn't have a long history and power but they're filthy rich. I love money. After I observed for a while, most of the buildings here are still considered new because they're built not long ago and I saw many servants come and go.

“How long has this residence in the capital been built?”

“This residence was built when the Count married the current Countess.”

“Oh…”

All the informations I have gathered until now clearly told me something was amiss. I glanced at the blue sky through the lace fabric.

“Parasol is really a good item, isn't it?”

The parasol I'm using right now blocked the heated sun really well although it's still early summer. Please let men use a parasol too! Well, even though I'm a woman.

After pa.s.sing through the wide stone-layered pathway that have been well polished, I could see the splendid center flower garden. A big water fountain built using marble stone, an artificial pond, rose-covered pergolas that even if someone didn't know anything about flowers, would know that's really expensive, and there's also the terrarium inside the flower garden which the owner wouldn't envy those lived in the palace. I heard this family have lots of money and indeed it seems like they do have lots of money. Since it has turned out like this, what if I get rid of the Countess and take control of Count Epheria family then donate the money to the church? The wealth should be divided.

“Thats the Countess.” Sofia whispered softly besides me.

I looked at where she pointed out. There could be seen a beautiful lady in her thirties sat down under silk canopy. s.h.i.+ny blonde hair with her purple eyes, made her stunningly beautiful. Hmm… that stunning beauty became a second wife? Woahh this… is truly suspicious!!! Or, could it be that the Count is really good looking too?

As I was approaching the table where the Countess sat, she tilted her head and observing me. Unconsciously, I reached out my right hand. In an instant, the Countess frowned.

“Whats the meaning of this?”

“Ah, no. N-nothing.”

As soon as I saw any beautiful n.o.ble ladies, my old habits to greet them in a gentleman way, came out without I realized it. Right, I'm a woman now. Ugh…I have always been one though.

“Ughh…so…”

I stared nervously at the Countess. What kind of conversation occured between mother and daughter? I obviously have no idea since I never had one before. I didn't even have any chance to think what would a pair of mother and daughter talk about in private. I immediately got a honorable position in the church as soon as they're aware of my holy power after previously lived as an orphan. Ermm… should I greet her first? It's noon already, but should I ask if she had a good sleep? I hesitated because I didn't know what to do. Luckily the Countess talked first.

“I heard you wish to go outside?”

“Oh, right,” I replied quickly. “I want to see the funeral procession of Sir Roel.”

“Okay. I have contacted Viscount Schwart. He should have arrived by now. You should go with him.”

“Alright.”

The Countess looked surprised upon hearing my docile answer. Maybe I should have pretended looking unwilling?

“It's rare to see you this docile.”

“It's because the person I adored has pa.s.sed away.”

Well, I also like myself too. The Countess looked at me seriously then nodded.

“Be careful on your way.”

“Yes. Erm, I'll be back soon.”

This is rather subtle. I glimpsed again at the Countess for a bit then turned away. Sofia who watched anxiously from afar, quickly followed me.

“She's much more beautiful than I expected.”

My whisper made Sofia deeply frowned and replied with a soft voice. “She only has pretty face. Her heart is as evil as the devil's elders.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Actually…”

Sofia spoke with much more small voice that it's hard to hear her. “There's some suspicion… the late Countess, Miss' birth mother… was murdered.”

“And the perpetrator is the current Countess?”

“Seems likely.”

It's highly possible that it's not a baseless rumor. The time of death was too fitted to be cla.s.sified as a natural death.

I followed Sofia towards the main gate and there's already a horse carriage waiting for me. And there're two young man standing besides the horse carriage… Eh?! Whats that b.a.s.t.a.r.d doing here?