No Longer Your Plaything

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Isaak was certain he had misheard her.

"Please, sir. Please help the countess," Miss Natali pleaded tearfully.

"Are you asking me to confess to a crime I didn't commit?"

Isaak sank into his chair, waving his hand dismissively without looking back at Miss Natali.

He realized it was futile to reason with Miss Natali, whose loyalty was solely to the countess, without considering the consequences of such a plea for others involved.

Egon forcefully escorted Miss Natali out of the mansion.

However, several days later, Countess Augusta appeared herself. It seemed she had managed to sneak out, as Isaak was certain Count Yannik had confined her within the house. She may have even climbed out of a window.

Isaak chuckled upon seeing the countess. "I must admit, Countess, you possess both audacity and determination. You have gone to such lengths to achieve your desires. Did you not consider the risks? My brother could have you hanged if he discovered that you still visited me while this case is ongoing."

"Sir Isaak, didn't you claim to love me? How can you abandon me like this?" Countess Augusta angrily threw her hat to the floor.

Once again, she's attempting to manipulate me, Isaak thought. But this time, he wouldn't succumb to her game. He responded coldly, "Weren't you the one who initially accused me of something I would never do in a million years?"

"So this is your revenge?" Countess Augusta furrowed her brow.

Based on Miss Natali's unwavering plea, Isaak anticipated that it would be difficult to reason with Countess Augusta. However, he didn't realize she would twist his words at every turn. How had he only now come to see the countess' true colors?

"Revenge? Countess, I am not like you. Revenge doesn't bring me joy or satisfaction."

"Then why are you doing this?"

Isaak felt suffocated by the mere act of conversing with her. Had Countess Augusta always been this way? "Doing what? Telling my brother the truth? I am no longer your plaything, Countess."

"How could you, Sir Isaak? I have given my heart to you, and this is how you think of me?" Countess Augusta clenched her dress.

But Isaak knew it was just another one of her schemes to manipulate him into doing what she wanted.

"I should be the one asking that question, Countess. If you truly gave your heart to me, would you be capable of accusing me of rape? Do you not realize that the punishment for such a crime is hanging? It seems to me that you have no concern for my life."

Countess Augusta bit her lip before responding, "But you're a nobleman. You can escape the consequences of this crime. Meanwhile, I... I am a commoner by birth. I will never recover from this scandal."

Isaak took a deep breath, his voice filled with exhaustion. "I believe you have caused me enough sorrow, Countess. I will see you in court."

The Countess refused to leave the chamber, creating a commotion as Egon and a servant tried to remove her. She clung tightly to the door frame, unwilling to depart. "Sir Isaak! Please listen to me! You can't do this to me. After everything you said to me, how dare you deceive me like this?! Sir Isaak!"

Once the woman he had once loved dearly had left the chamber, Isaak slumped against the back of the chair and let out a long exhale. Egon reentered the room, expressing his disbelief, "I can't believe she said that."

"Tell me, Egon, is it my fault? Should I have given in to her demands? Would that have been enough proof of my love for her?" Isaak murmured.

"That's nonsense. Don't let her lies affect you now, Isaak. We know the kind of person she truly is and what she's capable of. She deceived you, pretending to love you when all she was doing was using you for her own gain. Right now, we need to focus on the trial," Egon reassured him.

Isaak nodded, his heart heavy with disappointment and betrayal.

***

Agreeing to take the case to court was meant to showcase her confidence, but in reality, Countess Augusta was far from confident. After being expelled from Isaak's residence, she found herself on the journey back home.

"Why did this happen?" she muttered, nervously tapping her legs and biting her nails as she sat anxiously in the carriage.

Her attempts to sneak out of the castle had proven fruitless, and now she had to ensure she could return to her room unnoticed.

She had instructed Miss Natali to keep a close watch on the gate. When her carriage arrived, Miss Natali would toss a makeshift rope made of tied-together sheets for her to use in climbing back up.

As the carriage approached the castle, Countess Augusta disembarked at the gate. When she reached directly beneath her chamber window, she realized that there was no rope in sight. She took a step back to see if Miss Natali could spot her.

"Miss Natali! Miss Natali, lower it!" she whispered urgently.

"Are you searching for this?" a deep voice came from behind her. It was her husband, holding the makeshift rope in his hands. Standing beside him was Miss Natali, her tear-streaked face downcast.

"I apologize, My Lady," she uttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Wh–what?" Countess Augusta was taken aback, struggling to find the right words. She knew she had to come up with an excuse immediately. Pointing her finger at the trembling Miss Natali, she hastily said, "It was Miss Natali's idea."

Miss Natali trembled, gazing at the countess with a mixture of disbelief and loyalty. She longed to speak the truth, but fear of putting the countess at a disadvantage silenced her. She could only manage a feeble whisper, "Countess..."

"I understand. But may I know why you resorted to such a method?" Count Yannik tossed the makeshift rope aside and folded his hands behind his back.

Countess Augusta's heart raced, but she focused on maintaining composure and devising a plan quickly. She reminded herself that she was speaking to her husband, someone who loved her deeply.

If she presented her case eloquently, she believed he would see no fault in her actions.

"My Lord, I was simply seeking the assistance of my ladies-in-waiting to gather evidence for my case. During our discussion, Miss Natali suggested that I visit Sir Isaak and kindly request him to tell the truth in court. However, My Lord, it appears that your brother is adamant in his falsehoods. It seems that my rejection of his advances has caused him great pain, leading him to fabricate accusations against me."

Count Yannik nodded several times, taking in her response. "I see. I had initially thought you were attempting to run away."

She approached him, seeking solace by resting her head on his arm. "Oh, no, I wouldn't dare, My Lord."

Count Yannik stepped back, evading her touch.

"Countess, I have not finished speaking," he asserted, maintaining his distance. "I suspected you of trying to flee, which is why I had my men discreetly follow you. It appears that they overheard some intriguing conversations during your visit."

Countess Augusta's eyes widened in surprise. She was certain that she hadn't been followed when she left Harnisse Castle. This was undoubtedly a ploy to deceive her into confessing. She remained steadfast and refused to be swayed.

With a confident chuckle, she responded, "I apologize, My Lord, but I fail to comprehend your meaning. What curious things could there possibly be? As I have stated, my purpose was simply to implore Sir Isaak to speak the truth."

As if expecting her reaction, Count Yannik burst into laughter. "Unbelievable, Augusta. How effortlessly lies flow from your lips. Do you possess any shred of conscience?"

Perplexed, Countess Augusta chose to remain silent, uncertain of the count's intentions.

"My love, my men have entered Isaak's residence without raising any suspicion. They have served the Berger family for generations, and their entry was inconspicuous. You wouldn't have noticed them, as Isaak willingly permitted their presence while they trailed closely behind you."

Standing her ground, Countess Augusta maintained her victimized facade, playing her role to perfection. "I suppose being a victim of such a rape has robbed me of your trust."

She was confident that her husband would drop the subject now. How could he persist when he witnessed her distress? If he continued to press the issue, she would resort to her usual tactic of pleading and weeping, manipulating him just as she always had. Count Yannik was completely under her control, incapable of inflicting harm upon her.

"Did you not ask Isaak to confess to a crime he did not commit? Countess, I am well aware that he never touched you without your consent." Count Yannik motioned his hand as a signal.

Mr. Reitz approached from behind, holding a nightgown that did not belong to either of them. Count Yannik threw it to the ground and stepped on the embroidered initial 'I' on the sleeve.

"My mother personally stitched this initial onto Isaak's clothing. Explain to me how it ended up in your wardrobe, Countess! If he truly committed the atrocious act you accused him of, why would you keep his belongings as if they were cherished treasures? No more lies this time," he declared.