The Countess's Body Has Disappeared - Chapter 12

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 12
After wandering the city with Arcan, she explained the situation to the innkeeper and managed to secure a cheap room with two beds. Since the rent was to be settled later, Cecilia’s urgent task was to find work before payment came due.
She hunted through the newspaper for job advertisements alone, laid them out neatly on the floor, and then sat cross-legged among them for a long while, thinking hard.
“Arcan.”
“Yes?”
Arcan, who had been making tea in the small pantry, answered without turning around. A teaspoon clinked against something with a metallic sound.
“How about this one? It says the pay is good.”
Cecilia picked up an advertisement from the floor near her feet and held it toward him.
Arcan came over, took the advertisement, and pressed a glass into her empty hand instead—cool black tea sweetened with peach syrup.
But the moment he read the content, he frowned and spoke.
“Cleaning? Won’t that be hard on you? There’s really no need to push yourself like this. I can contact my family and arrange for money——”
“Listen, Arcan.”
Cecilia fixed him with a sharp, threatening glare.
“If you’re going to say something weak-willed like that, take it back right now. Don’t mock my resolve.”
Arcan made a pained sound and showed signs of protest, but reluctantly handed over the advertisement. Cecilia, continuing to glare at him, soon laughed confidently to herself, then went downstairs to the hotel lobby to borrow a telephone.
And so, the next morning, she set out for work with Arcan’s farewell.
Shenfield Square Garden was the city’s largest performance venue and a landmark. Though she had never attended a performance there, she recalled visiting it a few times during her marriage to Davion.
It seemed to have undergone recent renovation, as the interior looked somewhat different from what she remembered.
‘Was there a wooden staircase like that near the entrance? I don’t think the ceiling had a domed shape……’
As Cecilia examined her surroundings carefully, she almost missed the woman’s question.
“How old are you?”
A middle-aged woman, apparently one of the venue’s managers, was walking ahead of her. Cecilia cleared her throat hastily and answered.
“I’m twenty-six since my birthday hasn’t passed yet. I was raised as a servant in a grand estate, so I’m confident I can clean better than anyone.”
“You don’t have some disease, do you? Actors come through here, and if we catch you lying, you could face a lawsuit.”
The pockmarks covering Cecilia’s face occasionally raised such concerns. By now she was accustomed to the question, so she lied smoothly without batting an eye.
“My face has been like this since I was born.”
“What does your husband do?”
She was looking at the ring on Cecilia’s finger as she asked. This too was a familiar question.
“He was a soldier, but two years ago he was deployed to Kalita and was injured. The money from the government is nowhere near enough, so I need to work to afford his medicine.”
“Oh, I see……”
The curiosity swiftly transformed into sympathy. Cecilia turned and offered an awkward smile to the manager, who checked her expression over her shoulder, and said nothing further. Then, suddenly, the woman let out a shout, and Cecilia was so startled she jumped where she stood.
“Shoo! Get out of here!”
A homeless man who had been rummaging through a trash can at the bottom of the hallway’s stairs scurried away.
Security guards emerged from nearby doors, alerted by the commotion, and chased him. As if she’d dealt with this more than once, the woman calmly explained to the bewildered Cecilia.
“When it gets cold, homeless people often sneak in here. It’s dangerous, so don’t go near them—call one of the security guards instead. There was a girl once who shouted to chase one out, and she got stabbed with a Rusted Scissors.”
Rusted Scissors.
Cecilia stared after the homeless man’s retreating form and swallowed hard. Just then, the woman introduced another manager who had been standing near the stairs.
“The break room is over there—Goodman will show you where. Most of the cleaners here at the venue are about your age. They’re seasoned folks in their own way, so if you get along with them, you’ll pick up all sorts of things.”
“Do I often run into actors while working here?”
At that, both managers exchanged a knowing look.
“Why do you ask that?”
The reason the venue had hired Cecilia was partly due to her plain, unremarkable appearance. In the past, there had been a few who’d worked here and tried to arrange personal meetings with the actors.
Ah, this was awkward. Realizing what misunderstanding she’d triggered, Cecilia broke into a cold sweat and quickly added,
“When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming an actress. But with a face like this……”
Fortunately, the two managers exchanged glances and swiftly dropped their suspicion. The man called Goodman gestured for her to follow and replied,
“You won’t run into them much. And the actors who perform here are all so proud—even if you did cross paths, they wouldn’t give workers like us a second glance.”
The performance hall’s bulletin board was covered with various posters.
“Strangers Beneath the Sun.” Beneath the title in large letters, Lady Esmerilda sat flanked by two men on either side. Her sharp amber eyes in the poster gripped Cecilia with an arresting intensity.
That person was right. This venue is so vast—there’s no reason I’d ever run into her.
Cecilia looked away. A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth as she followed the manager.
* * *
The Charity Event at Winterhall began after eight in the evening.
Through Liam’s efforts and those of the hired staff, the mansion—once austere and drab—had been transformed into a lavish party venue in a single day. The small electric bulbs strung along the lamp posts and trees in particular did much to create the atmosphere.
Davion had even chosen a black necktie, outfitting himself entirely in neutral tones from head to toe.
The invitation had explicitly stated not to wear black, but surely the host need not follow his own rules. With Cecilia’s survival still uncertain, he couldn’t muster the courage to dress in bright colors and smile.
Standing beside Liam like a sculpture at the entrance to greet the guests, he heard music beginning to flow down from upstairs. The atmosphere in the second-floor banquet hall was already ripening.
A black coupe sounded its horn as it passed through the gates. It glided smoothly to a stop before Davion, the passenger door opened, and a man with tousled brown hair stepped out.
He retrieved a gray wool coat from the back seat and pulled it on, then spread both arms wide toward Davion.
“Davion! My old friend!”
“Julian.”
Davion smiled and embraced him warmly.
Julian Redwick had recently been promoted to major in the national army. Though he was now Davion’s superior officer as a captain, the two had been close friends since their academy days and remained comfortable with each other.
“Thanks for coming all this way.”
“Don’t be formal about it. Of course I came.”
Julian gripped Davion’s shoulder and studied his expression as he spoke.
“You haven’t forgotten, have you? I’m a tremendous fan of Lady Esmerilda.”
He winked cheekily, and Davion laughed lightly in response.
“Lady Esmerilda hasn’t arrived yet.”
But the moment those words left his lips, another automobile swept through the gates in a cloud of dust—a red convertible with no roof.
After handing her keys to the valet, Esmerilda stepped out, removing her sunglasses.
Deep golden hair, rich as molten gold, cascaded past her waist. She stood well over five feet seven inches tall, with sharp, cleanly drawn eyes and delicate brows shaped like flying geese, a small and perfectly formed nose.
Befitting her reputation as a celebrated actress, Esmerilda possessed striking beauty. Even the slight gap between her front teeth only added to the refined elegance surrounding her, becoming a charming allure all its own.
A sapphire-blue two-piece suit draped perfectly against her tall frame. While Julian stood transfixed, Davion stepped forward to greet her.
“Earl Winterhall.”
“Lady Esmerilda. Thank you for honoring us with your presence.”
As Esmerilda extended her right hand, Davion bowed slightly and kissed it gently.
“My, the number of guests seems to have grown quite a bit since last time, doesn’t it?”
“It’s much the same. Simply that more people accepted the invitation this year.”
Given the hardships Davion had endured recently, many had come to offer their support. Esmerilda understood this as well, and she gently wrapped her arm around his, her gaze conveying silent sympathy.
“You must be going through so much.”
An unfamiliar warmth spread across his arm.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————