Dancing with the Devil

The countess

Morning in the utility room was a whirlwind of activity, but by the afternoon, as the inventory and organizing neared completion, Kalista found herself with a rare moment of freedom.

Normally, she would seize the opportunity to gather information during deliveries, but today was not a day for such risks. She slipped away to her room, changed into a different set of clothes, and meticulously altered her appearance. She applied a new face, ensuring that her features bore no resemblance to the "Kasta" who had caught the Count's attention, and let her hair fall in loose, disheveled waves, a stark contrast to the neat presentation she had maintained earlier.

As Kalista made her way to the small garden, she noticed a rough stone on the ground and picked it up, turning it over in her hand. She returned to the utility room, where she washed the stone and sat down on a rickety wooden chair. Taking out the pieces of porcelain, she began to polish them with stone. The porcelain pieces were about half the size of her palm, and the friction against the rough stone created significant resistance. Fortunately, the utility room was secluded, and she was alone, so the noise would not disturb anyone.

The monotonous task of polishing the porcelain pieces was so tedious that Kalista's mind began to wander. She started to contemplate how she could steal the key the Count was carrying without alerting him, and whether she would have to kill him to do so. Kalista acknowledged that her promise to kill the Count was a desperate measure to confront her fears, and she was unsure if she would be able to carry it out. If she couldn't kill the Count, she could try to trick the devil into going to the house to identify the "body" in person, giving her the opportunity to use the underground palace to escape.

Amid the grating sound of porcelain against stone, Kalista's thoughts were jarred by the vivid memory of the Count's grotesque appearance and the lingering sensation of his last breath on her earlobe, which clung to her like thorns. She craved a respite from this discomfort, a desire for something vivid and raw to cleanse her mind.

The sudden thought of blood sent a thrill up her spine, as if vines were racing along her fingertips. Startled by this impulse, she involuntarily relaxed her grip, and with a sharp "c***k," a porcelain shard, roughly the size of her palm, shattered into three pieces at her feet.

At that moment, a knock echoed through the utility room. Kalista bent down to collect the broken tiles, and her unexpected visitor entered. The bearer, clad in a different maid's attire and with a raw, uncovered face, addressed her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Kalista. I'm sure you've heard the news? The butler's room was burglarized, her belongings destroyed, and the butler has gone mad. The count is searching for Kasta," she said, pausing with a hint of malevolence before allowing Kalista to respond, "but he's reviewed the entire castle's list of handmaids, and there's no trace of this mysterious girl."

Kalista held the porcelain shards in her hand, contemplating which one held the keenest edge. "Indeed? Has that girl vanished into thin air?" she queried.

The maid's smile was sugary sweet, her lips curling in an innocent, carefree manner that belied the gravity of her words. "Perhaps she's like a rat, for rats can scurry anywhere—above ground or... underground," she said, her voice lighthearted, as if discussing a child's whimsy.

"If Miss Kalista wishes to enjoy a tranquil evening, please accompany me," the maid continued, her tone shifting to one of urgency. "My master requests your presence."

For a fleeting moment, Kalista entertained the notion that the man was an agent of evil, sent to push her towards a fateful decision. Yet, she swiftly dismissed the thought. The maid's "master" could not be the Count of Vladimir. That left only one individual within the castle capable of wielding influence under the earl's watchful eye.

Without a word, Kalista rose and followed the maid from the utility room, ascending to the third floor.

The third floor, a sanctum of the Earl's private quarters, was adorned with a lineage of portraits lining the cloister walls. Each frame told a tale of the Hunter family's heritage, from the earliest earls and ladies to the current solitary figure of the Earl of Vladimir, a title passed down through generations. The men in the paintings, though attired in varying fashions, bore strikingly similar features, earning the current Earl the nickname "Centenarian Count" among the castle's inhabitants.

The maid, having led Kalista to the threshold of a particular door, paused. The door stood ajar, revealing a room where walls were lined with an array of collars, both large and small. Beyond, on a secluded balcony, a red-haired woman in an elegant gown was enjoying her afternoon tea. A young shar-pei, upon noticing Kalista, barked fiercely. The woman, unfazed, set down her cup, turned, and with a casual hand, tucked her vibrant red hair behind her ear. Her emerald eyes flickered with a mischievous glint, beckoning Kalista to enter.

The woman bore a resemblance to the thief Kalista had encountered in the housekeeper's room, though her appearance was more worn. As Kalista approached, she observed that beneath the luxurious skirt, the woman's belly was distended, resembling a sphere that seemed on the verge of bursting.

Kalista, taken aback, bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, Countess."

The countess, having handed the dog to the maid beside her, placed her palm on her swollen belly. "Are you not afraid? I summoned you here, perhaps out of jealousy that you have captured my husband's attention."

Kalista responded, "I believe not. A countess is too dignified to quarrel with a mere nobody like me. And the Count's affections may hold little significance for you."

The countess chuckled heartily. "My keen eyes tell me that last night, a little mouse crept into the underground labyrinth."

Kalista inquired, "Did you summon me here because you require my assistance with something?"

The countess replied, "Tell me what you discovered in the underground labyrinth."

Kalista confessed, "I ventured into the underground palace in search of treasure. Alas, there was nothing of value to be found there."

The countess's eyes narrowed, her gaze suddenly sharp. "I do not appreciate dishonesty from little mice like you. My keen eyes tell me that you were absent for some time."

Kalista pressed her lips together and responded, "There are many niches in the underground palace, and during the knights' patrols, I took refuge in them. I did not uncover anything of worth. However, there was one room sealed by an exceptionally thick iron door. I attempted to pick the lock, but it was too intricate for me to open."

The countess merely raised an eyebrow, as if she had expected this.

Kalista continued with a mischievous smile, "A more intriguing event occurred this morning. The butler's room was burglarized. The thieves shattered the window and stole several valuable ornaments. I confronted the burglars, and I remember her vivid red hair, as bright as a rose, forever etched in my memory. Moreover, madam, she possesses green eyes, much like yours."

The silver glinted in the hand of Murray's maid beside the countess. The countess held her down and told her to step out of the door. Then she twisted a handkerchief and wiped the tips of her fingers. "What did my reckless sister say?"

"Miss Thief promised me a new identity and some money if I could help her steal a key."

"I am more deserving of that key than my sister," said the countess, looking at Kalista with a dark light in her emerald eyes. "Do one more thing for me, and I will pay you ten times."

Kalista's eyes stretched, and her face was full of hospitality. "It's an honor to work for your ladyship. What can I do for your ladyship?"

The countess sneered, with unconcealed contempt for such an easily seduced lowlife, "I want you to kill my husband."

"Sure," Kalista's smile continued, "but before I do anything, can I ask your little eyes to do me a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"I still need to prepare for the plan. I think the Count is still looking for a girl named 'Kasta'. 'She' cannot be found tonight, Countess."

"That's all right. I'll have someone cover it for you."

The deal is done, and Kalista retires from the countess's room.