"Works," Ulrich repeated. The word left his mouth stern and cold, and his red eyes narrowed dangerously as he focused his full attention on the girl.
Ceres's mismatched eyes widened in sudden panic as she realized the blunder she had just made. She slapped a hand over her mouth, too late to catch the words.
"Clamping your hand over your mouth will hardly make me magically forget what you just mouthed," Ulrich said. He pivoted slowly to face her. "Now, explain to me why that old man is toiling for coin when I have already provided more than enough wealth to sustain you both."
"T—That's… um…" Ceres stammered, taking a reflexive step backward.
She had sworn to Mark that she would not breathe a word about his secret work to the Count. But her frayed nerves had betrayed her. Ulrich had given explicit orders for Mark to remain at the manor and guard Ceres at all hours. Discovering that the old man was disobeying his words to work half the day was very irritating.
