The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

Countess Badil summoned Citrina to her country house on the border of the capital. It seemed like it was a secretive visit.
Citrina felt that the road to the country house was cramped and dark.
But at this point, she had no reason to refuse.
‘I wonder if I’ll be able to complete this request successfully.’
Countess Badil was famous for her faith in God.
But she was also a calm, sweet woman with a good standing in the capital.
So, in the end, Citrina sat down with Countess Badil in the garden of the country house.
The garden was filled with yellow tulips. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, she couldn’t help but notice how deserted it was.
“Madam, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Citrina made a stiff, polite bow. The Countess smiled, offering her hand.

“Please have a seat.”
“Thank you for asking, Madam.”
“Well… I’m thinking of having a remembrance wedding here. It will be beautiful, don’t you think?”

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Countess Badil brought it up without any prompting.
Countess Badil had a clever disposition. Citrina didn’t need her prophet-like knowledge of this world from inside a book. She could tell by looking at the older woman’s penetrating gaze.

“Yes. It sounds extremely beautiful.”
“If you’d like, I’ll extend an invitation. The wedding will take place in one month.”

Citrina closed her eyes and laughed, trying to stall for time. It wasn’t polite to refuse the Countess’s request.

“Yes, in one month…..”
“If I’m still alive at that time, that is.”

It was a natural joke, , however, Countess Badil looked frightened, and she seemed like there was some knowledge behind her expression.
She soon cleared up her expression and winked at Citrina.

“That was a bit of a long tangent. Show me the wedding ring I’ll be wearing at the ceremony.”

Citrina quietly handed over the case with the wedding band inside and whispered.

“Since the countess allowed me to have creative freedom with this work, it was really enjoyable. Thank you.”

Hearing Citrina’s voice, Countess Badil smiled gently.
She slowly opened the black velvet case. The ring shone brightly inside.

“It’s certainly not the wedding ring from my time. It makes me feel young again.”

Citrina lowered her eyes and pondered what to say. It was definitely a compliment, but socialite language hid its thorns among flowers, so she had to be suspicious.
As if she was aware of Citrina’s distress, Countess Badil lightly clapped her palms together.

“I mean it’s beautiful.”

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It was a neat phrase, but it had an unfortunate ring to it.
Citrina looked at the countess with questioning eyes.
She felt something strange-like an ominous energy.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t show it.
Citrina polished her expression and smiled back. It was time to explain her design and Adilac’s craftmanship.

“It’s a completely new design. So…the diamond is a solid gemstone. It’s made with the meaning of love’s passion lasting forever.”
“What about magic?”
“There’s no enchantments, Madam. Just a little something to help you sleep.”

Citrina kept her eyes on the case of the wedding band, not speaking. Countess Badil’s searching eyes swept over Citrina. She opened her mouth.

“Yes, it’s quite beautiful.”
“…Thank you for your kind understanding.”

The chat was short and hollow. There was no point in her coming all the way to the country house, but the pallor of the recuperating lady’s face puzzled her a bit.
She had the look of death.

‘There’s a strange…perfume.’

Every time the countess bent her head towards Citrina, her mind went blank.
It wasn’t the scent of someone who was planning a remembrance wedding.

“By the way, does Lady Citrina believe in God?”
“In…God?”

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It was an abrupt question.
While the season was autumn, Countess Badil’s forehead was covered in sweat. Citrina thought it was a little weird. However, before she had time to think about the oddity, Countess Badil murmured.

“I believe in God. And I believe in God’s existence.”
“What do you mean……..”
“I think that God will answer me soon.”

She spoke while taking the wedding band out and putting it on herself. It was a clumsy movement as she slowly slid the ring on her finger where nothing else had been. [T. L. Note: There was no other jewelry on the countess’s hand before.]

“It fits perfectly.”

With her fingers fully extended, the countess smiled approvingly.

“I’m glad, Countess.”
“You may go now. We’ll see each other again next time.”

It bothered her to talk about God.
But with Oslo’s halo and the shallow honor of a fallen aristocrat, she couldn’t refuse the Countess’s request.
Citrina clutched the pendant around her neck out of habit.
Gemma didn’t appear to be sleeping while at the country house. Citrina thought that was a little odd.
She had a foreboding feeling about it.
But before she had a chance to find any clues, Citrina had to leave.
Only Countess Badil was left behind.