I became the mother of the main character living with the adulterer. - Chapter 4

Why?

Why is Alias showing up here now?

Rachel tried to look at Alias’s face beneath the hood, but it was in vain. He was wearing black sunglasses, hiding both his face and the color of his eyes.

Alias. The father of Dolorasa, the female lead of the original novel, and the only Duke of the Empire, Duke Sian Aisa DiKarsinya.

Rachel decided to revise her plan to extract useful information from the informant.

Alias was the father of her son’s future girlfriend, in other words, someone who would become Rachel’s in-law. He had appeared right before her, and she couldn’t let him slip by without speaking to him.

Alias tilted his head.

“Countess? Is there a problem?”

“Sorry, I was just surprised because I know someone with the same name. It seems like this conversation might take a while, so could you wait in another reception room? I’ll finish up what I was discussing and come see you right away.”

“In exchange, I’ll have to charge you for the waiting time.”

“Of course.”

With a prompt response, Alias left the reception room.

To think that one of the wealthiest people in the Empire would be so meticulous about calculating fees! If Rachel hadn’t known better, she could have easily been fooled by his excellent acting.

She was eager to speak with Alias, but first, she needed to wrap up things with Marsha.

Rachel took a deep breath to calm herself and slowly began to speak.

“Now that the distraction is gone, shall we continue our conversation?”

“M-Madam…”

“I gave her a chance, and Marsha threw it away on her own. Don’t be too upset.”

Rachel calmly clasped her hands together and delivered the punishment she had been planning.

“First, Marsha is no longer the nursemaid for the Elrosa family. All the benefits she enjoyed as a servant will be revoked. The financial support she was receiving for her family will also be cut off.”

“If you cut that off, my family…”

“Don’t interrupt me. I’m not done speaking. All the clothes she is wearing, along with everything we’ve provided her, must be returned. If any items are missing or damaged, she will need to compensate for them.”

Marsha’s head dropped to the floor in defeat.

It wasn’t over yet, but Rachel couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty.

“If any stolen items are missing, they must be returned. I will charge for the usage of the missing tableware, and I will also calculate the amount of food taken during the parties she hosted and charge for that.”

“I… I don’t have that money…”

“Also, she must return the salary she unjustly took while being absent. I will also demand compensation for the mental distress caused to me and Graham because of her lies and negligence. Though, Graham is such a kind boy that he may not speak ill of her.”

Rachel exhaled deeply after pouring out all her words.

“I’ll send the bill with the amounts and deadlines to Marsha’s family in the countryside. Since they will be responsible once Marsha is gone, don’t think about running away.”

“Wah… wah…”

Marsha finally burst into tears.

Rachel, who had been watching the older woman cry while scraping the floor, turned her back.

There was more she had planned to do, but seeing Marsha cry made her feel a little softhearted, and she decided not to carry out the last punishment.

‘I had planned to spread a rumor that she was kicked out for stealing, but I can’t do that. She won’t be able to find another job as a nursemaid then.’

It was unfortunate, but Rachel decided to end things here, knowing that the financial burden alone would be enough to make Marsha suffer.

Rachel immediately headed to the other reception room where Alias was waiting.

As she opened the door and entered, Alias turned his head toward her. Despite being covered with the mask and hood, he seemed to accurately align his gaze toward her.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

“It’s fine. As I said, I’ll charge for the waiting time.”

“Of course.”

A chair was placed by the window where sunlight was streaming in, but Alias chose to stand in the shadow instead.

Rachel also stood in the shadow, not taking a seat. Alias fixed his gaze as if he could see her.

“As you’ve probably heard, there is something I wish to acquire. Originally, I was supposed to visit the guild, but my husband and butler are so protective of me that I ended up troubling you with this.”

“It’s no trouble.”

“Before I officially discuss the request, may I say something first?”

“If the waiting time has been extended, I’ll charge for it, but feel free to speak.”

“Thank you.”

Rachel politely bowed toward Alias, who was covered in a black cloak and mask.

“I am honored to meet His Grace, Duke Sian Aisa DiKarsinya.”

“What…?”

Alias, or rather Sian, seemed to stiffen with surprise.

“I don’t understand what you mean. I’m Alias, an informant for the guild.”

“That’s probably an alias.”

“….”

Sian, still hidden beneath his mask, quietly observed Rachel’s presence before slowly opening his mouth. His voice was sharp.

“How did you figure it out?”

Rachel had successfully piqued his interest.

In a calm voice, Rachel recited the lie she had prepared.

“It wasn’t difficult. You concealed your eyes and hair, but ironically, that made it suspicious.”

“It wasn’t difficult, you say?”

It was common for guild informants to conceal their identities while carrying out covert missions.

However, it was rare for someone like Sian to hide both his eyes and hair completely. Gathering information while being unable to see was something only a few people could do.

“Is that all it took for you to deduce that I am the Duke?”

“Your voice wasn’t hidden either. Though you don’t often appear in public, your voice is so distinctive that once you hear it, it’s hard to forget.”

It was a reasonable deduction, but it still didn’t convince Sian completely. Human hearing wasn’t as sensitive as smell or as receptive as sight.

It would be hard to believe that someone could remember a voice they had barely heard before, let alone one they had never heard up close.

Rachel added one last piece of information.

“And there was also a reason why His Grace, the Duke, would be here.”

This was the most convincing reason.

In the original story, Theodore, who was infatuated with Jane, had fallen from grace, and Graham had lost his title and estate, forced into mercenary life. The primary reason for all of that was the rebellion Theodore was suspected of.

“I know that the Aristocratic Council suspects my husband, Theodore Elrosa, of plotting a rebellion. I also know that His Grace, the Duke, often goes undercover on behalf of the council. With this much information, don’t you think you can make a reasonable guess?”

That was true.

It was well-known that Sian represented the Aristocratic Council and occasionally went undercover through the guild. The only thing that was not publicly known was that he used the alias “Alias.”

The problem was:

“How did you know that the Aristocratic Council suspects Theodore Elrosa of rebellion? That’s information only high-ranking nobles in the council would know.”

“Theodore often lingers outside the mansion late at night, sneaking around alleys. The family’s finances are strangely in disarray, too. If I were in the council’s shoes, I would have suspected a rebellion as well.”

Sian’s eyes narrowed beneath the mask.

Everything Rachel said was true. From his identity as the Duke to the suspicions of rebellion—it was all accurate.

Last year, Sian had received reports that Theodore Elrosa’s movements seemed suspicious. There had been speculation among the nobles in the council, who served as advisers to the Emperor, that Theodore might be planning a rebellion.

Sian had followed Theodore’s movements after that. However, he found no signs of rebellion, only evidence of an affair.

The problem was that the timid Emperor hadn’t been able to put his suspicions to rest. As a result, Sian had to keep an eye on Theodore’s mansion.

Today, when he heard that an informant from the guild had come to investigate the mansion, some council members had urged him to check it out. He had planned to make a brief visit, investigate the mansion, and return.

But astonishingly, Rachel had seen through his disguise. She had also deduced the council’s suspicions.

Rachel was no longer the naive woman she had seemed to be. A few years ago, she hadn’t even noticed her husband’s affair, but now, she was piecing everything together.

Sian, still silent, provoked her.

“How amusing. Are you trying to cover up your husband’s rebellion? I don’t believe a word of what you’re saying.”

“I’m saying it because I know you won’t believe me. As much as you’re suspicious, until you’re convinced that it’s not a rebellion but an affair, keep investigating Theodore.”

What was she saying?

Sian stayed silent, waiting, and Rachel continued.

“There’s a shop with pale yellow flowers painted on the signboard at Rotten Street. Go down the alley to the right of the building, pass two more buildings, and you’ll find a two-story house with a red roof. Keep an eye on that house. You’ll soon understand exactly what Theodore is up to.”

She already knew where it was. It was Jane’s house, Theodore’s mistress.

Rachel was not just suspecting her husband’s affair—she had already gathered enough evidence to make sense of the entire situation.

“Once you’ve watched that house and are absolutely certain it’s an affair and not a rebellion, come back to me.”

“…You’re asking for compensation, aren’t you?”

“No.”

Rachel had been trying to hold back, but she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I want the solid proof of the affair that His Grace, the Duke, has gathered. I want to divorce Theodore for good and for certain.”

Using Sian was her way of obtaining undeniable proof of her husband’s affair without raising suspicion. Moreover, it gave her another excuse to meet with him again.

From Rachel’s perspective, this was a perfect plan to both get a divorce and gain a relative through marriage.

Now, all that was left was for Sian to agree to it.

Underneath the mask, Sian’s neatly shaped lips twitched.