Earlier, after returning to the Duke''s estate, Sophie had cleaned herself up, changed into fresh clothes, and put on some makeup.
Though she couldn''t fully regain her usual appearance, at least she looked somewhat presentable now, no longer like a bloodstained corpse with ghastly pale skin.
Even so, her movements and expressions remained slightly stiff. This stiffness was subtle enough to escape notice unless one looked closely.
Gabriel did sense that something was off, but since he stillcked the keen perception of seasoned martial artists, he too failed to detect Sophie''s peculiar condition.
He frowned and asked, "So you just passed out? Where exactly did it happen? Who attacked you? Did you get a look at their face?"
Sophie shook her head, keeping up the act with practiced ease.
Gabriel pressed further, frowning, "When you woke up, did you notice anything unusual?"
Sophie shook her head again, her voice trembling with self-reproach and looking on the verge of tears. "Father... I''m so useless. I didn''t notice anything
at all. Did something go wrong? If I''ve ruined your important matters, please punish me as you see fit."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes slightly, fixing his prating gaze on her for a long moment.
Sophie lowered her head and gnawed at her lip, anxiety mounting as Gabriel''s silence dragged on.
''I need to find a way to distract Father,'' she thought, panic creeping in.
Sophie''s eyes darted with sudden inspiration. The next moment, she swayed dramatically, feigning weakness as she toppled to the side.
"Mydy!" Sibyl, catching Sophie''s subtle hand signal behind her back, immediately rushed forward to y along and steady her.
"Your Grace, Lady Sophie has only just woken up and is still quite weak. Might she be permitted to return to her room and rest?" Sibyl asked respectfully.
Gabriel let out a soft chuckle. It was a cold, mirthless sound.
Sophie caught the chill in her father''sugh and froze. ''Oh no!'' Panic red. ''Did I just make things worse? Of course he''d be suspicious seeing me here. What now? I need a new excuse, fast.
''Damn it! I''ve been given a second chance at life, but I don''t remember a single thing from before.
''If only I knew even a little about my past, I wouldn''t be stuck in such a helpless position right now.''
As Sophie grew anxious, Gabriel said coldly, "If you''re so weak, stop wandering about. Return to your quarters and stay there. Without my explicitmand, you are forbidden from setting foot here again."
He paused, then added, "I''ll have the physician examine youter."
Gabriel wanted to see what exactly his daughter was hiding.
"Yes, Father. I''ll take my leave now," Sophie said meekly, bowing her head.
After Sophie was helped out by Sibyl, Gabriel turned his attention to Rafe, who was still in the room.
Rafe looked up at him with wide-eyed innocence. As soon as Gabriel nced his way, Rafe stood his ground and bowed respectfully. "Father," he greeted.
Gabriel sized Rafe up, feeling that something was off.
''Is he wearing these same clothes when I came in just now?'' Gabriel wondered.
If Rafe could have heard his thoughts, he would have replied, "Of course not."
Just moments earlier, while Gabriel was busy suspecting Sophie, Rafe had already rushed back to the Duke''s estate, slipped silently into the room, and swapped ces with his corpse puppet.
The puppet wore Rafe''s clothes. His wardrobe consisted of only a few nearly identical dark outfits, differing only in simple embroidery.
So although Gabriel sensed something was off, it wasn''t enough to arouse his suspicion.
After all, everything was happening right under his nose. Nothing could possibly escape his eyes.
His own arrogance blinded him to that tiny anomaly.
Gabriel looked at Rafe, who was feigning docility, and asked casually, "You''ve
been cooped up in here for days. Anything on your mind?"
Rafe curved his tips into an innocent smile and shook his head. "No thoughts to share, Father."
"Really? Nothing at all?" Gabriel pressed.
Of course there was a lot Rafe wanted to say.
Gabriel had locked him up for ages before finally showing his face. If Rafe hadn''t figured out how to sneak out, he''d have suffocated in this room long
ago.
Rafe was cursing this old man in his head, but on the surface, he kept up his innocent act, blinking a few times to feign hesitation. "Father... if I really have to say something, well, there is one thing."
"Oh? What is it?" Gabriel stared at him impassively.
''After all this time locked up, he''s finally cracking,'' he thought.
Rafe sighed softly. "Sinceing back, I''ve only seen Matthew on the first day, and Sophie just now. I haven''t even had the chance to properly greet you. I can''t help but wonder... do you still suspect me, or am I simply unwee?"
Hearing this, Gabriel raised his eyebrow slightly.
"Is that really all that''s on your mind?" he asked, his toneced with skepticism.
Rafe hesitated. "Father, you might think this is nothing, but to me, it means the world. If you and my siblings don''t wee me, then I... I''ll have no choice but to be back on the streets." His voice trembled as he spoke.
By the end, his eyes were red and watery, looking just like a young boy about to cry.
Whether it was Rafe''s expression or thatst remark about "ending up back on the streets," something unexpectedly tugged at Gabriel''s heartstrings.
He reached out and, like a fatherforting his son, gave Rafe''s shoulder a gentle pat.
"Don''t overthink it," Gabriel said softly. "I''ve never doubted you."
Rafe''s eyes flickered, his voice slightly choked as he asked, “Then... Father, who do you suspect?"
He was certain Gabriel would say Eliza. But to his shock, Gabriel stared deep into
his eyes and said in an eerie tone, "Of course, the one I suspect
mother."
Rafe could''ve sworn he had strangled her with his own hands, no way she could possibly be alive again.
Strange... very strange,