Swan Grave - Chapter 40

“I heard that on the day of the Red Moon, if you wear the clothes from your original world and leap into the reflection of the moon on the forest lake, you can return. Well… whether it’s true or not, I don’t know.”

Sehyun nearly shouted for joy at how easily he had obtained the information. At last, he knew the way back to his original world! Rose said she didn’t know if it was true, but in Sehyun’s heart, he was already diving into the lake.

“Anyway, since the Marchioness left right after giving birth to the young master, both the Marquess and the young master must have felt deeply betrayed… In any case, I’ll try to come with the young master if I can. Then, see you later.”

Finishing what she had to say, Rose briskly left Sehyun. Before, he would have followed her retreating figure with longing eyes, but now he was too thrilled by something far greater than a mere tryst to care.

If she had just tried a little harder, she could have found out this quickly. What on earth had Anna been doing all this time in the mansion? Was it that, jealous of Rose’s beauty, she had stayed away from her on purpose? Women were like that. Clicking his tongue, Sehyun savored the accomplishment he had gained.

‘Maybe she found out long ago, but deliberately didn’t tell me…’

It was possible. Sehyun still had his clothes, but Anna had sold hers before coming to the mansion… Maybe Anna had been waiting for the right moment to steal his clothes. The thought alone gave him chills.

“I’d better check that my clothes are safe.”

Gripped by sudden unease, Sehyun hurried to his quarters in the stables. Though he had hidden his clothes well, his mind was racing.

The approach of the red moon’s day only fueled his anxiety. Soon, he would escape this dreadful place. How much he had suffered at the hands of these barbaric, ignorant, uneducated people! His eyes shone with hope.

Just then, as he quickened his steps, he locked eyes with a woman approaching from afar.

A pale, slender beauty with light brown hair elegantly pinned up walked beneath a white parasol. Her attire was utterly unlike that of a maid, making it obvious at a glance she was a noblewoman.

She must be the guest who had recently come to the mansion. Compared to Rose, she carried a different kind of charm that made Sehyun’s throat bob.

He stepped aside and bowed his head so the noble lady could pass. She drew closer and closer.

A seductive fragrance wafted from her. Now that he knew the way back to his world, he suddenly felt regret that he had never properly been with a woman here.

As that foolish thought passed through his mind, the noble lady’s steps halted right before him. Flustered, Sehyun lowered his head further, sweating profusely, when the lady spoke in a sweet voice.

“Hmm… Do you have urgent business right now?”

“N-no, none.”

“I need someone to guide me through the mansion… If you don’t mind, would you escort me?”

“Me?”

Startled by the sudden request, Sehyun lifted his head. At that instant, he met her ruby-like red eyes that stared intently at him. The bewitching gaze left him dazed. There was no mistaking it. This noble lady was casting him a flirtatious glance.

First Rose, and now even a proud noble lady. Sehyun seriously wondered if he was quite popular in this world.

Should he decline, saying he was busy, or…

After all, he had hidden his clothes where no one would ever find them. They would be safe without checking right away. Since he would be leaving in just a few days, it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy himself as much as he could until then. Especially when such a feast was served to him on its own.

Perhaps he might even get a chance with that beautiful blonde governess before leaving.

With that thought, it felt like all the hardships of the past year were being repaid at once. With a shy smile spreading across his face, Sehyun nodded.

“If I can be of help, of course I should.”

***

“As expected, it won’t do. Just come to my room again starting tomorrow.”

So said Rothbart as he left Anna behind. Having barely managed to throw on her clothes, Anna flung open the window to mask the thick scent of their lovemaking that filled the room, then collapsed onto her sweat-dampened bed and fell fast asleep.

And the next day, Anna headed to Rothbart’s room.

She worried what might happen if Lady Brabant suddenly came in, but thankfully, that never happened. Though she had heard Lady Brabant was staying at the mansion, her presence was so faint it was as though she didn’t exist, and Rothbart also never once mentioned her.

A few days later, when Anna staggered back to her room after finishing work, she was met with unexpected news.

“Anna, did you hear? Your brother has become Lady Brabant’s lover!”

“What?”

Anna furrowed her brow. Was she hearing nonsense because she was tired? Before she could even smooth her frown, Betty, who had brought the rumor, hurriedly went on.

“You didn’t know? Lady Brabant likes Joseph so much that she’s locked him in her room and declared she’ll take care of everything for him, from feeding to bathing. So no other maids can even set foot in her room.”

“What ridiculous nonsense. You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

“I’m serious.”

Betty widened her eyes as if to ask if Anna really didn’t believe her. Anna looked to Susan for confirmation, but Susan only nodded as though it were public knowledge.

Anna stammered in confusion, “But Sehyun… my brother Joseph works in the stables. How on earth did they even meet?”

“That I don’t know. Maybe they ran into each other while walking. It seems noblewomen find the looks of Eastern men rather fresh. Just like our master does…”

“Hey, Betty.”

“Ah, sorry…”

Only after Jo jabbed her in the ribs did Betty realize her slip of the tongue and quickly apologize to Anna.

“Of course, you and your brother are in a different situation. I didn’t mean to suggest you’re the master’s lover…”

But Anna was so flustered by the whole situation that she hardly even registered Betty’s slip.

Even if it was just a coincidence, the situation was strange. It was already odd enough that Lady Brabant was lingering in the mansion for no apparent reason, but why, of all people, had she become involved with Sehyun?

At that moment, Anna recalled Odile’s red eyes.

“If you meet those red eyes, you can’t move an inch. Not just humans. Even fierce wild beasts tuck their tails and run away. If that’s not a demon, then what is?”

It was something a villager had said a year ago, before she came to the mansion. Perhaps those red eyes truly were proof of a demon…

Thinking that way, everything clicked into place. If Lady Brabant was a demon, then of course she would have recognized Sehyun as a swan at a glance. Just as Rothbart had recognized Anna at first sight.

Anna let out a deep sigh. Her thoughts tangled and unraveled over and over. But among those scattered fragments, the clearest conclusion that surfaced was the certainty that Lady Brabant truly had no relationship with Rothbart.

Rothbart had told her he felt nothing for the lady, but Anna had still harbored anxious doubts. At last, she felt genuine relief. The position of Marchioness would remain vacant—until the day Anna claimed it for herself.

Only then did ease settle in Anna’s heart.

She mocked herself. Even though she had vowed countless times to return to her original world, here she was, clinging to the seat of the Marchioness.

‘In a way, it’s better this way. Sehyun opps will need a partner to return to our original world anyway…’

Remembering Sehyun’s situation, Anna let out a bitter laugh. She had originally intended to tell him after she became pregnant, but things hadn’t gone according to her calculations. She hadn’t expected that she would fail to conceive for so long, nor that Sehyun would find a lover so quickly. Perhaps the child would be the Lady of Brabant’s before it was hers.