《I Was a Substitute》 Chapter 1 - The Two Charlotte *** It all began with the disappearance of Charlotte. The only child of the Duke and Duchess of Tiodurop, and the daughter whom they all loved. Charlotte Blanc Tiodurop. Having lost his beloved daughter, the Duke did everything in his power to find her, but eventually he could not find her, and his wife, unable to bear the grief of losing her daughter, went completely mad. The tragedy came suddenly and uprooted a family and threw them into hell. How many years have passed since then? One day, after many hellish days, the Duke finally found his lost daughter. She was a young girl with silver hair, who, despite her shabby appearance, he was very fond of. When she came back, Charlotte had no memory of the time she went missing, but the Duke did not care. He was always afraid of losing his daughter, and would do anything for her. And Charlotte gradually opened her heart to her father¡¯s devotion. Because she loved her father, she did her best to be the perfect daughter for him. They seemed to be the perfect father and daughter and their story seemed to be eternally happy, like the ending of a certain fairy tale. Until a woman with the same name as the Duke¡¯s daughter appeared¡­ Another Charlotte, of similar appearance and age, and with the same name. Facing her, Charlotte realised that she had been a substitute. And she soon realised. There was no need for a substitute when the real one appeared. People didn¡¯t love the substitute, they loved the Young Lady herself. No matter how the substitute fell or was broken, no one cared about her. No one listened to her pleas for help as she was condemned. She was just a nuisance to deal with. Everyone turned their backs on her and erased her from their memories as it was natural. She was the only one who remembered her. She gazed blankly at the dim light beyond the iron cage. At that moment, the door creaked open and she twisted her lips at the sight of Charlotte entering the prison. She had not forgotten that she had been her substitute. And that was my story. It was just unforgettable. ¡°Hello, Charlotte.¡± She was none other than another me. ¡°How have you been, sweet sister?¡± The real Charlotte, who looked just like me and smiled. Dressed from head to toe to the nines, she looked as if she was a ceramic doll made with great care. Even the smile on her lips looked as warm and lovely as the spring sunshine. ¡°My father is going to carry out your death sentence tomorrow. It¡¯s just that his two daughters have been mentioned and he¡¯s told me that he prefers a poisoned sentence because of the way people would look at him.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Of course, don¡¯t let the fact that the poison will put you at ease. I have prepared a special poison for you. You will never die cleanly.¡± I would die a miserable death in the agony of my blood drying up all over my body and my organs burning all day. The corners of Charlotte¡¯s mouth rose upwards. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m finally going to be a real Charlotte.¡± Her cheeks flushed, as if she were happy just to say. ¡°I¡¯m going to be the heir to the Tiodurop family, and I¡¯m going to inherit everything. And I shall be happier than any of the people who love me. Because I am, no matter what anyone says, Charlotte Blanc Tiodurop.¡± With her hands on her chest, Charlotte smiled in the most beautiful way. ¡°Unlike the glamorous me, you will disappear forever, and if anyone remembers you, they will only speak of you as a swindler impersonating the Duke¡¯s daughter.¡± Charlotte lifted my chin with the tip of her fan and made me look at her. Her two eyes, twinkling between her lush lashes, shone beautifully in the dirty prison. ¡°It¡¯s dirty,¡± she said, ¡°but you look much better dressed like this. When I see you crawling on the floor like a dog, will I feel that everything is finally back in its place? It¡¯s the perfect look for a lowly blood.¡± The taunting words could have put me to shame, but I didn¡¯t even feel it. Shame was a luxury for a condemned criminal who was not only got hands and feet bounded, but also gagged like a dog, awaiting death. ¡°This is usually the case, but you don¡¯t even rebel like that, do you?¡± I who knew no shame was no better than an animal. ¡°Or is it that you are of vulgar blood and do not know shame?¡± Knowing that I couldn¡¯t answer anything because of the gag, Charlotte pretended not to know and looked away. It was not the appearance of a Young Miss whom everyone said was like an angel, but I was more used to it. It had been a long time since she hadn¡¯t worn a mask in front of me. ¡°Don¡¯t be too vexed. It wasn¡¯t yours from the start. You should be grateful for what you have enjoyed so far.¡± Charlotte burst into laughter and patted me lightly on the cheek with her fan. I could not look at her and averted my eyes. I knew that it was because of Charlotte¡¯s pitfalls that I was in this state. But I could not stand proudly in front of her. It didn¡¯t matter if I really did something wrong. I was just a substitute to fill her vacancy. Now that the real Charlotte came back, there was no place for the fake one. Once, I was a Young Miss that everyone loved, I am now a sinner in my existence itself. ¡°It¡¯s no fun when there¡¯s no response.¡± ¡°Oh, yes! Should I tell you something good before dying? Actually, I¡¯m a fake too.¡± Charlotte¡¯s face brightened for a moment, as if she didn¡¯t like my consistent silence. She smiled like a child who has just discovered a prank. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m a fake, too,¡± she confessed. I looked up at her in disbelief, but she laughed and tapped me on the cheek with her fan, as if nothing had happened. I wanted to ask her what she meant, but all I could do was making funny noises because of the gag. ¡°Finally you¡¯re responding.¡± A smile spread across Charlotte¡¯s lips as she watched my struggles. ¡°Why? Because I¡¯m a fake, and do you think there¡¯s any hope for you now?¡± *** ¡°Oh, no, no, no! Don¡¯t be mistaken,¡± said Charlotte, smiling broadly, and looking at me coldly. ¡°The only reason I have said this to you is because there is not the slightest hope for you. I thought it would be more ridiculous for you to die knowing the truth and not being able to say a word about it.¡± Charlotte put on the mask of a Young Miss, with a smile on her face again. Unlike my miserable, beastly form, Charlotte, smiling at me, was an elegant Lady herself. That fact was the cruellest of all for me. ¡°Goodbye, Charlotte,¡± she said, ¡°the name is mine now.¡± I felt the tip of Charlotte¡¯s fan gently brush my cheek, and her smile made my heart skip a beat. I knew that it was not hope but despair that she had given me. Even if her words had been true from the beginning, it would not have made any difference. She may or may not have been a fake, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I was a substitute. Even if I survived, I had nowhere to go. Only then did I burst into tears that I had endured as I curled up on the floor. **** ¡°Ahhhhhhhh!¡± I screamed in agony and bounced up, frozen in place by the sight that met my eyes. My body was constantly shaking with fear while I was trying to figure out the situation. I hugged myself reflexively and took a deep breath, but it didn¡¯t help. The burning sensation in my veins was still raw and driving me crazy. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, My Lady?¡± The maid rushed into my room while I was breathing hard, unable to hold my body properly. I saw the maid¡¯s face and reflexively stepped back, my brows furrowed at the slow sensation. It was a bed I was sleeping in. My bed, which I had used since I was a child, but had been taken from me when Charlotte came along. What is the matter with me? I couldn¡¯t understand what was going on, so I just blinked. I was sure I was dead. My life ended while I was struggling in pain, my blood vessels burning. Many times I cried out for help, but neither the clasp in my mouth nor the chains that bound my body allowed me freedom to the end. The only mercy I had was to be greeted with loneliness in the merciless prison I had been given. ¡°My Lady, are you all right? Shall I call a doctor?¡± ¡°Velvet?¡± ¡°Yes, My Lady. You wanted to see me?¡± I swallowed my dry spit as I smiled at her. Velvet had been my personal maid since I was a child, and she was like a sister to me. Or, more accurately, I mistakenly thought she was. I was the only one who thought we were close enough to share our feelings regardless of our status. Since the return of the real Charlotte, Velvet has changed. She made a fuss with her fellow servants and spoke ill of me, and when that wasn¡¯t enough, she gave a malicious testimony before the judge who judged my guilt. She was not on my side. I could still vividly see Velvet accusing me without hesitation. But I couldn¡¯t let it show. ¡°What day is it today?¡± I tried to hold back my anger. I did not know what the situation was, so I had to wait and see. The fact that Velvet, who had been ignoring me since Charlotte had first appeared, was now paying attention to me was suspicious. ¡°Of course, today is the last day when the Young Lady is nineteen.¡± Velvet tilted her head curiously. ¡°You say I¡¯m nineteen?¡± ¡°Tomorrow is your twentieth birthday, so you¡¯re still only nineteen.¡± As soon as I heard Velvet¡¯s words, I felt as if I¡¯d been hit with a hammer. Charlotte had not yet appeared. I was the only Charlotte in the house at the moment. The moment I realised this, my whole body relaxed. ¡°Young Lady! Are you all right?¡± I staggered, and Velvet grabbed me hurriedly. With her help, I finally leaned back on the bed. The mere fact that Charlotte was not here was like a huge stone that had been holding me back had disappeared. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call a doctor?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll be better after resting.¡± I smiled awkwardly and buried my face between my legs. I wanted to think that I just had a bad dream, because it would be much more real than having a nightmare about a dead person coming back to life. But everything was too vivid to be a dream. Besides, it will be my twentieth birthday tomorrow. I put my arms around my knees tightly, but I couldn¡¯t stop myself from shaking. Because tomorrow will be the day that Charlotte returns. *** Chapter 2 - There Was No Place For Me **** ¡°My Lady, you¡¯re so beautiful!¡± Velvet exclaimed as she looked at me in the mirror. She was more excited about the party than I was, and so were the other maids. Regardless of what she said, laughter broke out everywhere. ¡°The main character of today¡¯s party will be Young Lady no matter what.¡± ¡°Of course she is. No one can compare with the Lady of Tiodurop.¡± ¡°Oh, yes. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be envious of our Young Lady.¡± In the past I would have been enamored of the debutantes, but now I couldn¡¯t even control my expression. I felt like a cow being taken to the slaughterhouse. Was it really a nightmare I was having? I blinked slowly and saw my reflection in the mirror. I had dressed myself up for the morning and looked more beautiful than ever, but my face did not look happy at all. ¡®I think it was a dream. No, it must be a dream.¡¯ Today was a special day, because the successor of the Tiodurop family, hidden behind a veil, would finally be revealed to the world. I had to look more perfect than ever. And yet I closed my eyes, unable to look at myself in the mirror. I tried to forget, but I couldn¡¯t. The more I tried to erase it, the more vivid the memory felt, as if it happened only a moment ago. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright, My Lady?¡± Velvet looked at me carefully, as if she thought I was out of character. I felt like crying, but I held back my tears. I was very worried that the dream would become reality. I wanted to run away from everything if I could. I was afraid that I would feel the despair of having to fall into the abyss at the happiest moment of my life once again. ¡°Should I call a doctor?¡± ¡°Yes, I think I should take a break¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t finish what I was going to say and kept my lips tightly shut. If I ran away now, I would have to admit that the dream was real. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. ¡° ¡°My Lady¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m really fine.¡± I didn¡¯t want to¡­ I didn¡¯t want to accept the fact that this terrible life was the future I was given. In the end, all I could do was shake my head and close my eyes tightly. **** ¡°You look beautiful today, Charlotte¡±, my father said, holding out his hand gently and asking to escort me. I looked blankly at my father¡¯s big hand. The dream was too vivid and frightening for me to smile as brightly as I usually did. My father, who had always been so kind to me, had changed after the appearance of the real Charlotte. My father pretended to be there for me, but it was only a pretense. It was my father, of all people, who had turned me into an impostor who pretended to be the daughter of the Duke of Tiodurop. ¡°Thank you, father,¡± I said, smiling politely at him and then quickly looked away. I wasn¡¯t confident that I could keep my eyes on him. ¡°It seems as if it were only yesterday that I found you, so it¡¯s strange to see you so big, and I¡¯m afraid now that after your debut the capital will be at your mercy. I have a headache just thinking how many suitors will be dazzled by you.¡± ¡°Charlotte?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I haven¡¯t been feeling very well since this morning.¡± I smiled awkwardly and averted my eyes. ¡°Are you unwell? Where are you going? If you had told me earlier, I would have called a doctor¡­¡­¡­ No, no. You should see a doctor now.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that bad. And there¡¯s an important moment coming soon.¡± I shook my head hastily and took a step back. ¡°If you insist, then so be it. But if you feel any worse, you must tell me at once. Nothing could be more important than you.¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± In my normal life, I would have felt good about my father¡¯s concern. Now I have only a forced smile. ¡°Come on, Charlotte.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± My father called me with a warm smile, and didn¡¯t have any idea how I felt. I took a step to catch up with my father¡¯s pace. From here, I could see the party hall on the first floor through the glass walls. Guests were already crowded at the party venue, where the glamorous chandeliers sparkled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it beautiful?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful¡­¡± I murmured as usual. I had always dreamed of a dazzling party place, but the contradiction made me feel miserable now. ¡°This is just the beginning,¡± he said, ¡°because soon all this will be yours.¡± My father grasped my hand firmly. ¡°Shall we?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my only daughter, Charlotte. You deserve everything. You¡¯ll do fine. You always have and you always will. You¡¯ve never let me down before.¡± My father was right, I¡¯ve always been a good daughter. **** I never once rebelled, I always tried the best I could to live up to my father¡¯s expectations. That¡¯s what he was always proud of. ¡°Father, are you proud of me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going off on a tangent. Of course you¡¯re my pride.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I know better than anyone how hard you have tried. So straighten your shoulders, like the daughter of the Duke of Tiodurop.¡± What if I¡¯m not the daughter of Duke Tiodurop? Would I still be able to make my father proud? I looked earnestly at my father and clasped his hands. ¡°It is not like you to be weak-hearted before an important event. Don¡¯t be anxious; you are Charlotte, Duke Tiodurop¡¯s daughter. There is nothing to be afraid of.¡± My father¡¯s hand clasped mine tightly. But that was not enough to calm my fears. I needed to be sure. That was not the answer I wanted to hear. I only wanted to hear my father say to me¡­¡­ ¡°Your Grace!¡± ¡®What is all the fuss about all of a sudden?¡± Felio, my father¡¯s lieutenant, glanced at me, and said in a low voice, so that only my father could hear. ¡°That is¡­. ¡° And as I watched him, I gasped reflexively. I tried to deny it, but I was used to everything that had happened. The events of the dream were repeating themselves. Now, the news that Felio was going to tell my father was ¡­¡­¡­I couldn¡¯t keep thinking and bit my lower lip. The dream I had was not just a dream. It was the future. But even though I was convinced that it was not all a dream, my eyes were still on my father. I couldn¡¯t help but remember vividly the look on my father¡¯s face as he watched me suffer from the poison, and the way he turned his back on my outreached hand until the end. From the moment I stepped into the Tiodurop family as Charlotte, he was my whole world. It would be too cruel to ask him now not to see everything in my world. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Charlotte. It seems that this father will have to leave his seat for a while.¡± Before I knew it, he had stepped away from me. I instinctively reached out to him. In a panic, I took him by the arm and pleaded to him. ¡°Don¡¯t go, father.¡± ¡°Charlotte.¡± I¡¯ve never embarrassed my father, and I didn¡¯t want to. A good daughter wouldn¡¯t do that. I could not do anything against my father¡¯s teaching. But now I couldn¡¯t afford to think about it. I didn¡¯t want to let go of my father¡¯s hand even if I died. As soon as I let go of his hand, I felt like everything was going to end. ¡°It¡¯s almost my birthday. Can¡¯t you just stay with me until the party starts?¡± I tried to speak plainly, but I started to cry. I realised now that this was the first request I had ever made to my father. ¡°Charlotte.¡± ¡°You promised to be the first to wish me a happy birthday.¡± I knew I was being childish. I knew that nothing would change just because I begged him. Still, I couldn¡¯t let go of him because I was hoping. If I did a little better¡­¡­..If only I¡¯d been a better daughter¡­ I knew it wasn¡¯t my fault, but all I could do was blame myself. If I didn¡¯t blame myself, I would have hated my father. But I didn¡¯t want to hate my father. I just loved him and wanted to love him forever. ¡°It¡¯s almost my birthday. Will you stay with me just for a moment, just for ten minutes?¡± I didn¡¯t expect much. All I had to go on was the hope that my father loved me. With that, I could dismiss everything as a nightmare. ¡°Don¡¯t behave like a child, Charlotte.¡± It was only a refrain. My father struck my hand coldly and I bit my lip in dismay. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll be back before the party starts.¡± My father finally tapped me on the shoulder and whispered softly. But the hope in my heart had long since collapsed. Once again my father did not keep his promise to me. Like in a dream, I looked at my father in the distance and smiled disappointedly. Then I thirsted even more to know what would happen afterwards. When the party started, my father didn¡¯t come back. Because the real Charlotte had returned. I wanted to think of it all as a bad nightmare, but I knew it was not. I knew that what I had experienced was not just a dream. As soon as I accepted this fact, I felt suffocated and choked. ¡°No, I¡¯m still fine. If it turned out that Charlotte is a fake¡­¡± No, what was I thinking now? I stood alone on the stage, holding only the hem of my innocent skirt. From the beginning, it didn¡¯t matter whether the Charlotte I knew was real or not. The reality was that I was a fake and could always be abandoned if the real Charlotte appeared. A substitute can always be replaced. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± I laughed awkwardly and leaned against the railing. I was sad now, and I felt sorry for myself. But I was still stamping my feet, unable to let go of my regrets. I sat down and covered my face with my hands. I didn¡¯t want to admit it, but now it was time to accept it. There was no place for me here. **** Chapter 3 - You Killed Me *** My father said he would be back soon, but he didn¡¯t come back even though the party had started. So the party, which was not attended by the host himself, ended up being a bit of an anticlimax. Many people criticised Duke Tiodurop for his arrogance bynot treating his guests properly, and I was given the added stigma of being Tiodurop¡¯s unrecognised heir. But I didn¡¯t want to be accused of that. I had suffered enough even without such accusations. I curled up on the bed and buried my face between my knees. ¡®What should I do now?¡¯ I had cried a lot, denied the reality of my life and even at times had some bad thoughts. I didn¡¯t have a clear goal to be unconditionally grateful for the life I had been given. I had lived all my life as the Young Miss of Tiodurop. There was no room for any other life. My only goal was to be the perfect Miss, to live up to my father¡¯s expectations. Now, I couldn¡¯t think of any other goal that I wanted to have. But I was sure of one thing. I didn¡¯t want to die like that again. I¡¯d rather take my own life now than die like that. I put my hands together in prayer and closed my eyes. The only thing that hurt me more than the poison that dried my blood was the coldness of the people around me. The people I had always thought to be on my side abused me, and each time they abused me I withered away. It was not the poison that killed me, but the betrayal from those whomI believed in. ¡®Whatever happens, I will never die like that again. I¡¯d rather be the one who throws them away first.¡¯ I clenched my teeth and swallowed my tears at the memory of a nightmare. I was at a loss as to what kind of life I would have to live, but I knew that if I stayed put, I would only repeat the tragedy of that day. If I were to live, I had to leave and make a place for myself with my own hands. **** As soon as I pulled myself together, I moved quickly. Even though I already knew that Charlotte was in the mansion, I deliberately chose not to bother her. It was only after my father had introduced her to me that Charlotte began to secure the mansion in earnest. There was some time left before that. I had to find a way to survive in the time I was left with. In order to get out of here, I had to find someone who could be my ally. Flicking through a book containing the lists of the nobility of the Empire, I selected the candidates who fitted my criteria. I was tempted to walk away. But Charlotte had an unusually deep malice towards me. If she were to take control of the Duchy of Tiodurop, she would surely try to kill me again. For my safety, I needed a force that could compete with Tiodurop without being influenced by her. As expected, there weren¡¯t many candidates. I smiled bitterly and skippedthe remaining pages. I even brought out the ¡°nobility list¡±, but the candidates that attracted my attention were not much different from the ones I had thought of beforehand. In the first place, there were only a limited number of families that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Duke of Tiodurop. Apart from the Imperial family, all four families located on the periphery could be selected as candidates. Orujenta in the south, Palashion in the west, Rigtae in the east and Mona Chareuteu in the north. I crossed my fingers and drew back my chin. From generation to generation, the Persian Empire had sent the best of the four lords who shared in the founding of the Empire to the center to become emperor. But as time went on, and the Palashion grew larger and larger, the four frontier families began to be marginalised, and each time the emperor was ejected from the Palashion, the central Palashion became what was now the imperial family. So, although they were all included in the same name, the Empire, there was a complex power structure involved. It was a tense war of nerves between the four marginalised frontier families, who had begun to build their own power in their territories in opposition to the central phylum, and the imperial family, which was determined not to lose power to them. If I had a connection with a frontier family, I could leave the Tiodurop family and still be well protected. ¡®Who should I choose?¡¯ Honestly, it was the present reputation, and the situation was best in Orujenta. For it was Orujenta, with its fertile soil and mild climate, that was second in power only to the central emperor. But the next emperor was none other than Archduke Mona Chareuteu. Of the four great families, the Mona Chareuteu were the most inferior. The warriors of the north were brave in the cold, but the land, covered with snow and ice, was incapable of growing any fruit. After the integration of the different ethnic groups, even their imperial bloodlines were questioned, and they were effectively labeled as ¡°the four great families in name only¡±. It was practically a miracle that the ruler of that family became the emperor of the empire. I knew that siding with the future emperor would be advantageous for my survival, but¡­ Despite knowing the future, I could not make a decision quickly enough. I had never seen Archduke Mona Chareuteu in person, but I had heard some bad things about him. ¡®From a savage who chews up demons and eats them, to bloodsucking slaughter-ears, to an ugly man never to be seen again, there was something else.¡¯ The rumors about the Northerners had never been good, but the rumors about Archduke Mona Chareuteu were always worse. Still, I didn¡¯t have much of a choice. It was not difficult to select a useful group of candidates, but how to win them over was the great problem. The candidate to be counted as a bride in the capital was the Young Miss of the Duke of Tiodurop, and not me. With the name of the Young Miss gone, I was worthless. It was hard to persuade anyone if I could not produce something tempting. And one of the most persuasive opponents was the Archduke Duke of Mona Chareuteu. I knew the future of Archduke Mona Chareuteu. ¡®If I could in any way help him to the throne, I would have his patronage. But ¡­¡­. ¡® Rumors grew, but the only rumors I ever heard about Archduke Mona Chareuteu were about his malicious nature, so I was worried. Above all, I had never heard a good word about the Northerners before. It was almost a gamble to approach him. Nevertheless, it was the best thing to do. I clenched my fist with determination in my eyes. It was a day after I had organized all my plans that my father called for me. I looked at the tightly closed door of his office, hoping that everything would go smoothly. My father¡¯s office, which had been more comfortable than my own, was now more uncomfortable than anywhere else. ¡°You wanted to see me, father?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve come, Charlotte.¡± My father saw me and left his seat. I sat down on the sofa opposite my father. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. How have you been?¡± He knew I hadn¡¯t been well, but he asked me as if nothing had happened. I didn¡¯t know what to say. I did not want to say that I was flattered. ¡°I have called you here today because I have something to say to you¡­¡± ¡°What is it, father?¡± I already knew what he was going to say, but I deliberately pretended not to know. My father did not hide his distress and took a moment to catch his breath. He should have apologised for the party he had ruined, but he didn¡¯t seem to think about it. All that mattered to him now was to notify me that the real Charlotte was back and to solidify her position. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say, father?¡± I repeated what I had said before, and felt like I was reading a set script. I wanted everything to be over as soon as possible. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Is something indescribable?¡± My father wrinkled his brows and avoided looking at me. ¡°Father,¡± I urged, and he hesitated for a moment, but then opened his tightly closed mouth. ¡°Actually, you are not my daughter, Charlotte.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your daughter. What are you talking about?¡± ¡°After Charlotte went missing, Clara was very sick. So I decided to give her a girl about our daughter¡¯s age, to help her heal. That¡¯s you, Charlotte.¡± I clenched my fist as I saw my father frowning painfully. In the past, I had been so busy trying to understand my father¡¯s feelings that I had lost sight of mine. ¡®I will do what my father wants unconditionally.¡¯ That was what I only had in mind and wept with him. But now I know a little more. I was devastated. ¡°Does this mean that I am not the real Charlotte?¡± I tried to suppress my sadness and look at my father. I thought I was about to burst into tears, but I couldn¡¯t tell if it was sadness or anger. My father wanted me to be his successor too, even though it would have ended my life¡­ ¡°I thought that if Phaethon married you, there would be no big problem. Because Phaethon is my nephew, and the Tiodurop bloodline will continue ¡­¡± ¡®You have deceived me,¡¯ I thought. I couldn¡¯t bear to look at him and nodded helplessly. Even though it was the second time he had told me the story, his confession still shocked me. ¡°I actually thought that Charlotte was dead. It was difficult to accept, but everyone and all the evidence was telling me that she was dead.¡± ¡°Then, why did you make me Charlotte?¡± ¡°Your mother was quite ill. As sick as she was, she could not accept the reality that Charlotte was dead. In the end I had to make a choice. Even if it was a lie, I had to make her laugh. ¡° ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°After Clara¡¯s death, I thought I¡¯d have to end the whole play. But unlike what I expected, you were so lovely. As if the real Charlotte had come back, so I raised you as Charlotte.¡± My father looked at me with tears in his eyes. ¡°After all, I was a substitute for Charlotte, wasn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that. Just because I did it wrong doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t love you. I know it disturbs you, but I assure you, even if there is no blood relation between us, you are my daughter. I love you and I mean it.¡± ¡®Then, why did you abandon me?¡¯ I swallowed my words in silence. Even though I remembered everything my father had done to me, I could not make up my mind easily. There had been too many happy days for me to hate him outright. ¡°I did not mean any harm by deceiving you. I just thought you didn¡¯t have to know, for you have no memory of your childhood, and you have lived your whole life as the Young Miss of Tiodurop. I thought if I kept the secret, everyone would be happy.¡± ¡°Then why are you telling me this now?¡± ¡°She returned. Charlotte Blanc Tiodurop. My daughter.¡± My father covered his face with his hands and drew a long breath. Chapter 4 - Poor Charlotte *** ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I didn¡¯t mean to be cold-hearted just because Charlotte¡¯s back. You¡¯re my daughter, too. I can swear on that.¡± My father quickly added an excuse and looked at me. ¡°So, what do you want me to do?¡± I stared silently at my father. ¡°Charlotte ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Just be honest with me. I¡¯m not a fool.¡± I had to make my debut later than the other Young Miss because my father wanted me to appear perfect to people. That was his reason and I believed it at that time. But now I know. It was for the sake of the real Charlotte that my father delayed my debutante. He thought it was a vain hope, but he had left the room at the end for a daughter who might possibly return. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to misunderstand me because I said that.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I want you to give Charlotte her name back.¡± Why was I still sad about a situation I had already experienced? I didn¡¯t know what to make of the sad look on my father¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s just a name. That¡¯s the only thing that will change. It will not change the fact that you are my daughter, nor will the things you¡¯ve been enjoying.¡± I held my breath for a moment. I knew enough not to believe my father¡¯s consolation. It was not only the name that would change. ¡°¡­¡­ What if I don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°Charlotte.¡± I glared at my father, my mouth tightly shut. If it had gone according to plan, I would have done the same. But when I saw that he was thinking only of Charlotte, my anger soared. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Charlotte too. It was you, my father, who gave me that name, and it was you who brought me up to be Charlotte. But now you¡¯re telling me not to be her?¡± ¡°I know you are angry.¡± ¡°If my father ever thought about me, he should have at least told me about my name sooner.¡± He was at a loss for words and could not say anything. I took a short, deep breath and then filled in the words. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have made me Charlotte in the first place.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you must understand,¡± my father said, taking my hand in his. ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I feel sorry for her.¡± ¡°You feel sorry for her?¡± I twisted my lips at the sight of my weeping father. Poor Charlotte. Everyone thought so, and so did I. I felt sorry for her. But Charlotte was not like that. I remembered Charlotte falling down the stairs on purpose to get me in trouble. I remembered what Charlotte did in the past and it was not at all like a poor girl. She could get whatever she wanted. She could do whatever she liked, even if it meant trampling on the people around her. ¡°You have lived without lacking anything, but you¡¯re not that child. She could not enjoy all those things.¡± ¡°Of course she did. Everything I have enjoyed belongs to her, and I am a substitute to take her place.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± I laughed in vain. ¡°Charlotte.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me by that name. That¡¯s not my name anymore, is it?¡± I lifted my head straight up and said clearly. I knew that what my father was doing was a favor. I knew that he went away for a few days to restore Charlotte¡¯s status. I had no idea at the time, but it was only after everything had been sorted out that my father approached me. I had already been officially deprived of the name Charlotte. ¡°Please give my achievements to Charlotte.¡± I tried to smile in the face of my father¡¯s wavering gaze. I had been involved in the family¡¯s major affairs as a successor of the Tiodurop, although I was not visible to the outside world. The achievements I had made were never small. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even have the debutante properly that day anyway, because everyone was too busy to look at me properly. You must officially open the debutante for Charlotte and announce that she is the true heiress of the Tiodurop family.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I nodded without hesitation. I would be lying if I said I didn¡¯t want to lose the results of my best efforts. But even if I had forced myself to hold on to them because they were a waste, I had no power to protect them now. In the future, I was going to die with all my achievements taken from me by Charlotte, and I was going to suffer the consequences of her misdeeds. It would be better to give them to her early and profit from them than to have them taken away. ¡°You have made a great decision,¡± said my father, squeezing my hand with an emotional face. ¡°I have no wish to rebel against my father. I¡¯ll do whatever he wants.¡± I murmured the words with a bitter smile. ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± He said. Understanding? No, this was not understanding. It was just a realization. I knew why my father had suddenly regained Charlotte¡¯s identity. It was a touching story, the return of a daughter he had lost so long ago, but there was more to it than just the beauty behind it. Especially because she¡¯s a woman, she was bound to be involved in worse rumors. In order to prevent this, my father tried to make it seem that me and the returned Charlotte were the same person. If I were to disappear, she would become the perfect Young Miss of Tiodurop. ¡°Please do me a favor. If you listen to it, I¡¯ll leave the mansion quietly without anyone knowing.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Please, give me the Malata territory.¡± With Charlotte back, staying at Tiodurop Manor would only make things worse. I¡¯d rather get what I need and leave the mansion forever. ¡°Malata¡­? That¡¯s¡­¡± My father slurred his words with a confused face. ¡°I know what the land is like,¡± he said, ¡°but you want Malata?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s beautiful. It shouldn¡¯t be such an unreasonable request even for you, father.¡± ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s all you want? You can tell me if you need anything else.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s good enough for me. I don¡¯t need anything else.¡± What I needed was the hidden treasure in the Malata, and I had to have it in order to receive the help of Archduke Mona Chareuteu. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°If I stay in the capital, I¡¯ll be a nuisance to you, father.¡± My father never told me to leave. But it was my wish that I should leave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said cautiously, looking at me. Funny enough, his expression was much calmer than before ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry, because we are finally going back to our original positions.¡± I swallowed my insinuations and avoided my father¡¯s gaze. I didn¡¯t know if I said that so that my father would reconsider it or not. But I knew that if the words had come from Charlotte¡¯s mouth, it would have been the greatest wound to my father. ¡°Thank you for saying so. I¡¯ll make sure that everything you ask for is ready as soon as possible.¡± I smiled as I realised that he really did want me to leave as soon as possible. I thought that there was a slight bond between us, but it seemed that a fake was no match for the real. **** ¡°Take it. It¡¯s what you asked for.¡± The document my father had given me was full of details proving Malata¡¯s ownership. I paused for a moment to examine the contents of the document. Instead of Charlotte, the name ¡°Symphonia¡± was written on the document. I was no longer Charlotte. ¡°Thank you for your kindness.¡± I put the documents in order and held them in my hand. ¡°No, I¡¯m more grateful and I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said and went silent for a while. There was so much emotion in the way he looked at me that I felt strange. ¡°So¡­..when are you planning to leave?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to delay, I¡¯ll be leaving tonight.¡± It was all so emotional. Neither my father nor I had forgotten the reality. ¡°I sent someone to the villa in Malata to fix it, just in case. It won¡¯t be any inconvenience for you there.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you. But please don¡¯t do it again. You don¡¯t have to help me anymore. The more help I receive, the more I¡¯ll become dependent on it. The more support I receive, the more I¡¯ll rely on it, especially if it¡¯s from you, father.¡± ¡°Charlotte.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t call me by that name. I shall have nothing to do with you anymore.¡± Unknowingly, my hands were tightened and the documents were crumpled, but I succeeded in maintaining my facial expression. I stared at my father, trying my best to look as calm as I could. Nevertheless, the heartache was inevitable. ¡°If anything happens, call me right away. If you need my help, I¡¯ll be happy to help you.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen.¡± I shook my head firmly. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset, but can¡¯t you just understand me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving because I understand. This is the last gift I can give you, father.¡± I was hurt. I didn¡¯t mean to deny what my father gave me. It was true that I enjoyed a lot as the Young Miss of Tiodurop. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Take care, father.¡± Then, as it was my habit, I was going to say I love you, but I stopped immediately. The words were no longer suitable for us. That¡¯s when it happened. The tightly closed door of the office was opened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I thought you were alone¡­ ¡° And then the voice that followed right after quickly made me strain. Chapter 5 - I Was Already Standing On The Edge Of A Cliff **** I thought I was going to walk away without even seeing her face. I feigned nonchalance as I looked at Charlotte. Her silver hair slightly tousled, her brown skin rough and slightly tanned, her green eyes frightened, as if she had been through a lot. And then there was the skinny body that showed through the saggy clothes as if they were stolen from someone else. Except for the silver hair and green eyes, the Charlotte of today was nothing like the one I remembered. I laughed to myself, but I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off her, who was looking like a poor, motherless puppy. It was so long ago that I had forgotten how shabby she looked when I first met her. Of course, all of that was just an act. She once told me, ¡°I knew how to make people¡¯s hearts beat.¡± Not only did she have a shabby appearance, but she planned to make a mockery of it. She was only trying to get the sympathy vote so that she could easily join the pack. I stared at Charlotte quietly. At first, I thought that Charlotte hated me for taking her things away from her. But as I looked at her with less emotion, I realised that this was not necessarily the only reason. The Charlotte I remembered was always overly calculated. Perhaps, she had prepared for this moment for a long time. ¡°Oh, hello,¡± Charlotte, who had been in a constant mood, greeted me first. ¡°Hello,¡± I said, trying to be as emotionless as possible in response to her greeting. ¡°I see that you have previous engagements.¡± ¡°No, I had no engagement, but I was going to have tea with his lordship at this hour, and he did not come today,¡± said Charlotte, shuddering, unable to continue. She looked as if she was about to cry, like a frightened herbivore. Even I, who knew how well she was acting, was puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m done with my business, I¡¯ll go now.¡± I took a short deep breath and stood up quickly. I tried not to care, and there was nothing I could do. Looking at the tearful face of Charlotte, I felt a sudden cringe. Every time she looked like that, I always felt like a sinner. I decided to end it all, and I didn¡¯t want to hang out with her especially now. ¡°Are you sure you want to go?¡± ¡°Yes, I have to go.¡± ¡°Take care. Don¡¯t forget what I said.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± My father was truly sorry for me. But that was all. His sad but never-setting-the-date attitude only made it more obvious that it was a silly guilt trip. ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You can stay a little longer¡­.¡± Charlotte looked at me and mumbled. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ve finished my business.¡± I looked at Charlotte with a relaxed smile on my lips. I walked past her without a care, ignoring the round eyes that were searching me. I hoped that in her eyes I would appear to be alright. **** I walked briskly with a hat on my head. Despite the fact that I was leaving the mansion for good, my luggage was light. Some clothes, a pair of boots and a bag full of rubbish were all I had. My father told me to take everything with me, but I didn¡¯t want anything, so I left everything behind except for the things I really needed. When I first came to the house I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d run away like this¡­ I tried to pull myself together, but it was never going to be easy when I realised that my life had been nothing but the best I could be. But it was not the time to show my weakness. I should pull myself together because I didn¡¯t know what was going to happen next. I had to remember that this was not the end for me, but the beginning. I clenched my lips as I saw the flag fluttering in the distance. I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand and straightened my back at the sight of the Mona Chareuteu¡¯s writing on the flag, the symbol of the unwelcome stranger. There was nothing to fear. There was nothing for me to be afraid of losing. I was already standing on the edge of a cliff. *** ¡°Mother, is that the savage?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look over there. You might catch a disease.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what is the matter with the world, that a barbarian can be in the capital so openly.¡± Despite the fact that I had never been on the road before, it was not difficult to reach the residence where Archduke Mona Chareuteu was staying. Even though it was on a new road, even if she didn¡¯t ask where it was, just going near it, people were busy saying bad things about the northerners. ¡°By the way, he never changes his expression.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he can hear people. I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s a matter of indifference or familiarity.¡± I saw a man silently guarding the gate of the mansion. He was large and fair-skinned. A typical Northerner, he was dressed in an exotic manner and did not look anything like a man from the capital. I glanced around, then carefully walked toward him. ¡°What do you want?¡± As soon as I was within a certain distance, the man guarding the front door stopped me. His voice sounded dull, not very high or low. ¡°I am here to see His Highness, Archduke Mona Chareuteu.¡± I replied shortly and pulled down my hat strongly, which hid my face. The conversation with the northerners was a feast for the eyes, and early on I could feel the stern stares of those around me. ¡°Do you have an appointment with His Highness?¡± ¡°No appointment, but it¡¯s important. I know it¡¯s rude, but could you please speak to the Archduke once?¡± Unlike other regions, the North was an unusually closed group, and it was difficult to contact them, let alone meet. That was why I have been trying to get in touch with Archduke Mona Chareuteu, but I have not achieved my goal. once ¡°What is so important?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say it. I must see him in person.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you must go.¡± ¡°Go back?¡± ¡°No one is allowed in without an invitation. That¡¯s the rule.¡± The man blocked the entrance with the shield he was holding, expressing his refusal once again. ¡°It is important.¡± ¡°I have no right to judge its importance. If you want to go in, make an official appointment.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here because I can¡¯t reach him.¡± ¡°He, too, is none of my business. I¡¯m just a gatekeeper.¡± The man was resolute and consistent, I could not see even the slightest sign of hesitation. Eventually, with a short sigh, I stepped back. ¡°Then how can I get an appointment with His Highness?¡± ¡°Leave your contact information, you¡¯ll be notified.¡± ¡°How long will it take for him to meet me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just report what I¡¯m supposed to.¡± The man replied mechanically. I frowned reflexively. ¡°I understand that the Archduke will soon be leaving for the capital¡­¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± the man replied, and despite his straightforward answer, my mind became complicated. Even though many words were exchanged, Mona Chareuteu, after all, was also an imperial place. The four Grand Dukes of the Empire were obliged to visit the capital once a year, and this week they would do so in this state. If I missed this opportunity, I would have to go directly to the north to meet him. But that was impracticable. The North was a very cold region where even transportation was not properly developed. It was said that the northerners have a special way of getting to and from the capital, but as I did not belong to their flock, I could not bring myself to go to the north. If possible, I had to meet Archduke Mona Chareuteu and his party before they left for the capital. ¡°Does that mean I have to sit and wait for His Highness¡¯s call?¡± ¡°It¡¯s His Highness¡¯s decision if he wants to meet you, not mine.¡± ¡°What if His Highness doesn¡¯t meet me and leave for the capital?¡± ¡°Then you have to wait until he returns.¡± The Archduke would stay in the capital for only a week. If my proposal was not answered, I would have to wait a year. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to wait. Is there no other way?¡± ¡°You must defeat me. If not, the best thing is to wait.¡± I frowned at the man who spoke so easily of defeating himself. I had heard that Northerners would get what they want by dueling in times of trouble. ¡°But¡­,¡± I frowned reflexively. Unlike the man who had answered, I wasn¡¯t in the mood for a casual challenge. I could see at once that he was not an easy opponent. There was a clear difference in size, but above all, the man¡¯s eyes were precisely sharp. He was not the kind of person who anyone could defeat easily. That man must have had a much harder life than most, and he must be stronger for it. ¡®What can I do?¡¯ I asked myself, but in fact, I already had the answer. ¡°If I beat you here, will I be able to see His Highness right away?¡± ¡°Yes, if you can,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll risk my life to help you see him.¡± The man easily assured me that he was sure I would not be able to beat him. I took a deep breath and stared at him. ¡°I¡¯ll fight you.¡± ¡°Are you serious¡­.?¡± ¡°I must see His Highness at all costs, even if it means risking my life.¡± The smooth brows of the man narrowed as I stared at him with determination. ¡°It is not difficult to fight a duel if you want, but you must know this clearly.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The moment you are defeated, everything you do will be regarded as hostile to Mona Chareuteu. It¡¯s a privilege to be forgiven for disrespect, given only to the winner.¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded low with warning. It was a voice that sent shivers down my spine just by hearing it. ¡°That means everything is fine if I win?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t beat me.¡± the man assured me. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡± I countered with a grin. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°If I leave like this, I will regret it even more.¡± ¡°Okay¡­.There is no reason to avoid the challenge, so I will do as you wish. Please pick your weapon.¡± The man took out a spear that he was carrying on his back. The spear, with its curved blade, was the first weapon I had seen in the capital. ¡°I don¡¯t need weapons.¡± ¡°Pride only causes failure.¡± The moment the man lifted the spear high and blossomed on the floor, the floor rang. The stone floor that his spear was stuck with was shattered into pieces. Fortunately, I avoided it, but I thought how many lives would be enough if I was hit by such a thing directly. Chapter 6 - A Man With The Eyes Of A Beast *** ¡°I don¡¯t want blood on my hands. If you give up now, it¡¯ll be easier.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I¡¯m fine.¡± Somehow it was quite easy to avoid, so I thought it would be okay. From the beginning, the man did not consider me as his worthy opponent anyway. ¡°I won¡¯t go easy on you any longer.¡± As soon as the words were spoken, the man changed his position. He had a much more belligerent look in his eyes than before. But that meant nothing to me. I mumbled a short spell, avoiding the rushing man. And at the same time, a thick tree trunk came flying out from the floor. The man reflexively tried to run away, but the unexpected attack caught his feet. ¡°What the¡­!¡± The startled man tried to roughly rip the tree trunk, but to no avail. The engulfed tree trunk wrapped itself around him faster than he could tear it apart. ¡°You can¡¯t fight this, no matter how hard you try.¡± I smiled at the man, who was held tightly by the tree trunk, unable to move. After I came back to life, I also regained the powers that I had lost in Charlotte¡¯s schemes. ¡°You¡¯re a wizard?¡± The man asked through clenched teeth. It would have been difficult to win if I had to fight him head-on, but fortunately this time he was off guard. I could at least take advantage of a moment of inattention and disable him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I must see His Highness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. No victor apologizes to a loser.¡± ¡°I was able to do that because you were careless. I¡¯m not predisposed to fighting at all.¡± I had basically mastered swordsmanship and physical arts in order to inherit the succession. It was just a basic level. I knew better than most that I had no talent in fighting. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I let my guard down or not. All that matters is that you won and I lost.¡± The man relaxed his expression and let out a long sigh. I was finally relieved and removed the tree trunk that was holding him. The trunk gradually decreased in size until it seemed to disappear into the ground without a trace. ¡°Does that mean that I can see His Highness?¡± ¡°Yes. A promise is a promise, and I will help you to see him.¡± Even though the tree trunk had disappeared, the man kept looking at the ground and furrowing his brows, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge the fact that he was defeated by a mere tree. ¡°Can I see His Highness right now?¡± ¡°Yes, I will report to him right away and let you meet him.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I sighed in relief, but I couldn¡¯t completely relax my nerves. I had passed a mountain. Nevertheless, I still had a long way to go. * * * ¡°I came to see how great the person who won the fight is, but you don¡¯t look very strong. Hey, if you don¡¯t mind, could you take off that hat? I would like to see who was capable of defeating the gatekeeper of Mona Chareuteu.¡± ¡°Watch your mouth. This person is a guest of His Highness.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a good talker, even for a subordinate who lost like an idiot and added more work to His Highness who is already tired.¡± ¡°Malaz, you have been a knight for a long time, but still haven¡¯t given up your vulgar way of speaking?¡± I looked at the two men who were arguing as if they were about to fight, and I kept my mouth shut. It was fortunate that I had an appointment with Archduke Mona Chareuteu shortly after the duel. However, I felt like I had fallen alone in an unfamiliar space, and I could not release my tension. I gulped as I looked at the tightly closed door. Not much had changed because of my nervousness. Whoever Archduke Mona was, I had to get on the same boat as him anyway. I knew it in my head, but I couldn¡¯t help but think about it. It would be better to see him sooner rather than later anyway. Knock, knock. That was it. ¡°Come in.¡± It was then I heard a low voice coming from behind the tightly closed door. ¡°She¡¯s here, Your Highness.¡± As soon as the door opened, the man in the room with the Archduke rose from his seat and bowed to me. I also bowed my head to honor the Archduke. I couldn¡¯t see his face but I could feel that his eyes on me. ¡°Is this her? The one who beat Pezzanne.¡± I swallowed hard as I heard the low voice over my head. The somewhat tired voice was not as bad as I thought it would be. ¡°She said she¡¯s a wizard.¡± said Pezzanne. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Are you a fool?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°A woman?¡± The Archduke only raised his voice softly, but goosebumps broke out all over my body. It hadn¡¯t been long since I met him, but I could tell for sure that he was a born ruler. He had the power to overwhelm the people. ¡°It was a woman who defeated you, Pezzanne? It can¡¯t be. No matter how thin the person looks, women are still¡­,¡± said the other man. ¡°Both of you go out and stand by.¡± The Archduke interrupted his men with a tone of annoyance. After the two men left the room, he spoke again. But I couldn¡¯t bring myself to speak. ¡°You came to see me because you had something to say?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything to say, then leave.¡± ¡°No, please don¡¯t,¡± I said, raising my head hastily and gasping for air. At that moment, my heart almost stopped, the first time I encountered the Archduke¡¯s face. It was so different from what I expected. Every time he shook his head, the hair that was particularly silky brushed his forehead, and beneath it, I could see a sharp jawline. The red eyes that widened beneath the dark brows reminded me of a beast with drooping pupils, as rumored, but I didn¡¯t get the common expression ¡°savage¡±. It was just that the cold stare seemed to resemble a predator on the verge of hunting. ¡®I don¡¯t see a single thing as the rumors said.¡¯ I laughed in vain. The Archduke did not resemble any of the rumors that surrounded him, so much so that I was puzzled by the lack of resemblance, even though I knew it was exaggerated rumors. At most, the only thing that resembled the rumors was the color of his hair and eyes. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you tell me? What brought you here to see me that you had to knock down my gatekeeper?¡± ¡°Why have you come to see me, and overthrow my gatekeeper? Alright then, take off your dull-looking hat.¡± The Archduke Monarch added, nodding his head. I languidly took off my hat with a clumsy hand, while he continued speaking. ¡°You really are a woman.¡± ¡°You have a problem with me being a woman, Your Highness?¡± The Archduke sat down with an indifferent look on his face. He was beautifully dressed, without a trace of inferiority, but no mere words could make him a gentleman. If he was a gentleman, he would not have such a beastly look in his eyes. I reflexively swallowed my saliva. ¡°What business did you want to see me for?¡± ¡°I have something to sell, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Something to sell? And what can that be?¡± The man¡¯s sharp gaze was about to tear me apart, and my mouth was parched. Still, I stood up straight. I labored to face him straight on without avoiding his gaze. ¡°This is an advancement of Your Highness¡¯s plan.¡± ¡°My plan¡­?¡± ¡°If you do this, in three years at the very least, your plan will be fulfilled.¡± ¡°What do you think I want?¡± The Archduke mumbled slowly, resting his chin. At a quick glance, he didn¡¯t seem to expect anything different from me. I took a quick deep breath and continued straight to the point. Now I had to stimulate the Archduke¡¯s interest to the utmost. ¡°I¡¯m risking my life talking to you.¡± ¡°Your life?¡± ¡°Your Highness¡¯s plans must never be divulged.¡± From the moment I proposed the deal, my fate was decided. What the Archduke of Mona Chareuteu was preparing was no make-believe. There was no way they were going to let me go when I mentioned my plan. In the end, I was given one of two choices. Either live or die. ¡°You know this, but you still want to make a deal with me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why? Is there a reason for that?¡± Fortunately, The Archduke was interested in my deal. But I couldn¡¯t relax because I didn¡¯t think it would last long. ¡°It¡¯s for me to live.¡± ¡°To live? That¡¯s a strange thing to say.¡± ¡°Charlotte Blanc Tiodurop.¡± It was just a name, but I spit it out. I held my head up straight, suppressing my emotions. ¡°Is that the name of the Duke of Tiodurop¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°It was once mine.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Do you remember the disappearance of the Duke of Tiodurop¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°It was a pretty famous case, of course I remember.¡± It wasn¡¯t very pleasant to expose my own shame. But I had already decided to put everything on the line for Archduke Mona Chareuteu. I knew that the trust I saw in myself would be seen by him. ¡°As a matter of fact, the Duke of Tiodurop found his daughter.¡± ¡°You are saying that you¡¯re his daughter?¡± The Archduke was skeptical. I shook my head quickly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°I am the Duke¡¯s fake daughter.¡± It would be foolish to tell a half-hearted lie out of a moment¡¯s pride. From the way he looked at me, he was a persistent man. I was sure that if I lied, he would somehow find out what was behind me and reveal the truth. Instead, I¡¯d rather not hide it and gain his trust. ¡°You know you¡¯re telling a crazy story, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yet it actually happened. The Duke created a fake daughter for his then-sick wife and raised her as if she were his real daughter.¡± ¡°Is that you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand it then. If you are only his crafted daughter, aren¡¯t you full of fake makeup powder? As far as I know, I¡¯ve heard that the Duke is quite protective of his daughter.¡± ¡°Recently, the real daughter of the Duke returned.¡± She might not be a real one either. But I was deliberately silent about Charlotte¡¯s identity, as it would not do any harm at the moment if it was revealed that she was an imposter. I hated that. I wanted her to fall into the abyss at that moment when she thought she was happy. Just like I did. My fists tightened without me even knowing it. I tried to kill my emotions, but it was still difficult to erase them completely. I tried to act nonchalantly, but I couldn¡¯t help but resent the people who left me in despair. Chapter 7 - A Precious Body ¡°So you¡¯ve come to ask me to deal with the real Charlotte?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I just want my seat.¡± ¡°Your seat?¡± The Archduke narrowed his eyes. ¡°Without knowing anything, I¡¯ve lived my whole life as a substitute for someone. Until a moment ago, my life was full of lies, regardless of my will. But I don¡¯t want to live like that anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting. I¡¯m not a philanthropist. There¡¯s no reason to pick up useless things.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The beastly look in his eyes sent shivers down my neck. The beast¡¯s patience was starting to wear thin. If I was not careful, I would have been devoured. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your sympathy. All I want is for you to give me a fair price for what I¡¯ve brought. I know you can¡¯t refuse it.¡± ¡°Is it so great?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the Lord of the Golden Laurel.¡± At that moment, the Archduke¡¯s gaze changed. I raised my hand to my chest feeling elated. The term ¡°Lord of the Golden Laurel¡± was not used much anymore, but it was an expression that meant emperor. ¡°You¡¯re saying dangerous things.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Your Highness¡¯s plan?¡± A cold sweat ran down my spine at the blatantly exposed murderous intent look on his face. If I hadn¡¯t been sitting in my seat, I might have already fallen down. ¡°I know what Your Highness is aiming for. And as I told you earlier, I can give you what you wish for within three years.¡± ¡°If I buy what you bring¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded forcibly even though my body was hardened by a constant fear. ¡°All right, bring it. I¡¯ll judge with my own eyes how amazing it is.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t see it right now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°What I am selling you is the future of Your Highness.¡± ¡°Are you trying to play a trick on me right now?¡± The Archduke¡¯s eyes flashed like a beast in the dark. ¡°A plague will spread in the near future.¡± I tried to ignore the snarling beast and continued speaking. ¡°The plague will not be easy to treat, as it is contagious and will spread fast. I know the cure, so please prepare a clean treatment center, gather doctors in advance, and educate them.¡± ¡°Do you know how outrageous you sound?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to believe me now, and I didn¡¯t expect you to believe me right away either. But due to this outrageous plan, Mona Chareuteu will escape the disaster.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Many people will survive, and Your Highness¡¯s army will be safe.¡± The closed Mona Chareuteu seemed to avoid the plague like no other region, but the moment was fleeting. The plague that engulfed the continent crossed the tightly closed walls of Mona Chareuteu, killing countless people. The disaster that struck suddenly was terrifying and brutal. ¡°The disaster will not end there. When the plague is over, swarms of locusts will rage and famine will strike. We¡¯ll have to prepare for that, too.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a limit to how much I¡¯ll listen to your absurdity.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just going to leave it at that?¡± I smiled lightly. His stare was frightening, but after a moment I felt more at ease. I knew it was too late to escape now even if I wanted to because I had already set the place on fire. ¡°Your Highness, this is an opportunity.¡± ¡°What kind of an opportunity is this?¡± ¡°I can see the future, and I know that you will become the emperor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still talking nonsense.¡± ¡°That way, we can change your future.¡± As I had lost my life before, I did not know how the man in front of me would end up, but I vaguely knew. In the future, Archduke Mona would become emperor, but not the real ruler of the empire that everyone recognized. ¡°In the future I saw, Your Highness was the emperor, but you didn¡¯t look like a winner. And even though you had one goal in mind, you were always on the lookout for someone to take it away from you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I will make Your Highness the perfect winner.¡± ¡°Perfect winner?¡± ¡°We were the first to embrace the immigration policy, but all that remained was the stigma and exclusion of the barbarians.¡± The immigration acceptance policy was a measure taken by the imperial family to reduce the prestige of the four great families. Their lineage was closely related to the power they inherited from their ancestors. Of course, the great families protested and refused to accept it. Except Mona Chareuteu. At that time, Mona Chareuteu was on the verge of collapse and could not stand without imperial support. Eventually, Archduke Mona was the first person in the North to marry a foreigner, and naturally, the North had foreign blood. ¡°Even if His Highness became the Lord of the Golden Laurel, prejudice would not disappear.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what other people think.¡± Even if His Highness didn¡¯t care, prejudice, once attached, would follow around like a label and cause trouble. Being the Lord of the North was a weakness in itself, but it was also an excuse. The power of the bloodline possessed by the great families was so great that the imperial family feared them and made them objects of worship. But Mona Chareuteu didn¡¯t have that power. There was no pure blood left in Duke Mona, who lived every day struggling, clinging to the support of the imperial family. ¡°Do you know what people call Your Highness?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hybrid.¡± Before I could finish my words, a sharp blade was pointed at my neck. If the man moved a little, he would cut my throat. ¡°Is this funny to you?¡± The Archduke let out a low growl. It made me shudder. ¡°The founding history of the empire is all very old. Not just Mona Chareuteu, but also the other three great families. No. Not even the Imperial family has any ancient power left. They all say they are pure bloodlines, but that is practically impossible.¡± There was a time when they were inbred to protect their bloodline. Because children born from the same blood had strong power. However, this was short-lived. Incestuous marriages led to a variety of genetic diseases and the birth of deformed sons who were unfit to be heirs. After that, incestuous marriages were outlawed and recorded as an ugly and dark history. ¡°All are the same, the blood is getting thinner, and it doesn¡¯t have the tremendous power that everyone is clamoring for in history. And yet, only Duke Mona is mocked.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Mona Chareuteu is the weakest.¡± The cold blade touched my skin. The sensation of the unfamiliar steel made my mouth parched. He dragged the pointy blade down my neck. ¡°Weak?¡± ¡°Everyone thinks so. When I think of the North, the first thing that comes to mind is demons and savages.¡± The Archduke¡¯s eyes flashed. His jaws tightened in anger. ¡°It¡¯s a contradiction.¡± He held the sword straight to my neck. Blood trickled down from the sharpened blade. It didn¡¯t hurt, but the sensation of the metal grazed my flesh was strange. ¡°People are afraid of demons, but Mona Chareuteu is not. It¡¯s not that the people here are strong enough to deal with demons, it¡¯s because they¡¯re poor and uncivilized.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°In the Empire, Mona Chareuteu¡¯s position is no different from that of a commoner. That¡¯s why they are not afraid. No matter how great they are, no one is afraid of little bugs.¡± The reason why Mona Chareuteu became a closed land was because it had to be. Like hermit crabs hiding themselves in hard shells, they used their territory as a shield to protect their weak bodies. Mona Chareuteu¡¯s current position in the empire was not much different from that of a worm. ¡°Even if His Highness became the Emperor, it would not change. How unpleasant it must be to have a worm ruling over men.¡± ¡°Rebellion can be put away.¡± ¡°There is a limit to how far fear can be used to rule. And Your Highness¡¯s rebellion will give cause to other families.¡± It was not a problem that Archduke Mona became the emperor. But he was not the only one who had the right to the throne. The moment he, who was at the bottom of the family line, took the throne, it was obvious how the Empire, which was maintaining peace superficially, would play. ¡°I will eliminate discrimination and prejudice against Mona Chareuteu and make Your Highness the Emperor that all will recognize.¡± I stared straight at the Archduke¡¯s face. I could tell he was getting hurt by the painful truth, but I wasn¡¯t going to retreat. In the first place, if I backed down now, the only thing that would come back was death. ¡°So, I¡¯m supposed to be the one to pay for it, right?¡± The sword was on my neck, but I pursued the Archduke Mona Chareuteu without any concern for myself. I had no intention of stopping until I got what I wanted. ¡°I would like to stand next to Your Highness.¡± ¡°Next to me?¡± The Archduke¡¯s smooth brows wrinkled. ¡°It¡¯s simple. I¡¯ll make you the Emperor, and you can make me the Empress.¡± ¡°Ha, really.¡± His mouth was crooked, but I still had something to say. ¡°After that, of course, if you like someone, you can go to them. I don¡¯t care where your heart is headed. All I want is the empress¡¯s position, not Your Highness.¡± ¡°You have no shame.¡± ¡°I need to get that much to make it profitable.¡± ¡®I have a precious body.¡¯ By this time, my hand, which was holding the Archduke¡¯s sword on my neck, was covered in blood. Nevertheless, I held my hand out to him as if asking for a handshake of agreement. ¡°You¡¯re a fearless abandoned substitute.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I chose you.¡± ¡°Chose me?¡± ¡°Other families also have the right to the throne, and their conditions are greater than Archduke Mona Chareuteu. If their power is combined with what I know of the future, I will achieve the desired result much faster.¡± However, none of them would give me the title of Empress. I grinned bitterly at the blood in my hand. Everyone bleeds red when they are wounded, but it was worth seeing that blood had a value. Chapter 8 - You Can Use Me ¡°Just as Your Highness, I am flawed too.¡± No matter how much I thought, I couldn¡¯t remember anything before I entered the Tiodurop mansion. I didn¡¯t know who my parents were or whether I was a noblewoman or a commoner. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll accept you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s only a facade of the four families, so there¡¯s nothing wrong with the stigma of me being added to the bottom four families.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too proud.¡± I was scared. His gaze was as fierce as of the beast who was ready to devour its prey at any moment. Nonetheless, I laughed. Perhaps it was because I was facing a death that was approaching me like a sword, or because I instinctively cowered from the deadly air that was seizing me, but my mind was calmer than ever. I had already turned my back on the cliff of death. ¡°Why do you want to go this far to be Empress?¡± ¡°There are not many positions high enough to make the Duke of Tiodurop bow his head.¡± ¡°Do you want revenge?¡± ¡°More like to protect myself.¡± I grinned. As I relaxed, it was easier to smile. ¡°Protection?¡± ¡°His daughter hates me. The only way for me to survive is to become stronger before she¡¯s fully established.¡± ¡°Is that all? It doesn¡¯t look like that to me.¡± ¡°Of course that¡¯s not all.¡± I nodded honestly. No matter how much I tried to kill my emotions, I couldn¡¯t help it. It was Charlotte who looked down at me and smiled satisfactorily as I was dying. At the last minute, her smile was embedded in me like a sharp splinter. So, I thought, if the day comes for me to see Charlotte again, I would stand in my handmade seat and look down at her, not the sinner who took her place. ¡°Revenge?¡± ¡°I suppose you can call it that.¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°I always believed that my father loved me, but I knew it was a lie when his real daughter returned. The people I talked to also turned their backs on me. And I suffered. I resented them. And it¡¯s much the same now.¡± I stopped speaking. I didn¡¯t want to say any more. ¡°Tell me.¡± But the man who was aiming at me was not the least considerate. Eventually, I frowned and opened my mouth. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know what I want. As usual, I¡¯m drunk with emotion and feel empty because everything I thought was mine has been taken from me. So I¡¯m just trying to live.¡± ¡°And yet you want the Empress¡¯s seat.¡± ¡°When you have many things, you have many choices. And most importantly, I¡¯ve learned that if I¡¯m going to buy something, it better be the best.¡± I chuckled. Hilariously, it was my father who told me to be the best. ¡°You¡¯re arrogant.¡± ¡°The reason diamonds are so valuable is because people treat them that way. As for me, it¡¯s the same.¡± ¡°Is your worth as valuable as diamonds?¡± ¡°Your Highness has to see and judge that for yourself.¡± ¡°You want me to judge it?¡± ¡°It is up to the buyer to decide the price of an item, but remember this. When you buy something, it is better to buy it when the price is low.¡± I said confidently, but the Archduke did not give me the answer I wanted. Still, before I knew it, he was staring at me, but his eyes were friendlier this time. For me, that was enough for an answer. ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor.¡± The man added nonchalantly. *** ¡°Your neck is not deeply scarred, but your hands are. It seems like the scars on the palm of your hands¡­¡­.¡± The doctor looked at the deeply dented wound and slurred his words. He looked quite worried as if he thought I was a noblewoman. The scar was a disgrace to the aristocrat Young Ladies. If it was my past self, I would have surely thrown a tantrum. But now, I had no interest in it. More importantly, in the situation where I was discarded, I wanted to know what a scar was. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be fine.¡± I said. With a little effort in my voice, the doctor said nothing and concentrated on the treatment. I watched him heal the wounds in a daze of silence. After wiping off the blood and disinfecting the wounds, I watched him stitch up the open wounds in front of me, but it didn¡¯t feel real to me. ¡°It didn¡¯t hurt, did it?¡± After the treatment was over, I touched my neck with my fingertips. The sensation of the bandage pressing down on my neck felt strange. All this was something a normal aristocrat wouldn¡¯t have to go through. But it was me who had chosen this path. I didn¡¯t want to go back, nor did I intend to. I had to get used to the scars, not get used to seeing them. ¡°It¡¯s not that painful.¡± I replied nonchalantly and glanced sideways at the man sitting on the opposite side from me. He kept his eyes on me until the treatment was over. ¡°Thank you for treating me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like to buy damaged goods.¡± Of course, I didn¡¯t want to get used to a man who spoke meanly. I turned my head away from him. His gaze was on my wounds, but it seemed that it was more out of curiosity than feeling sorry. ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you want to buy damaged goods, it means you must be willing to buy them.¡± ¡°Half and half.¡± The Archduke touched his chin and tilted his head. His eyes were still the same as ever, calculating my worth. ¡®If what you say is true, it¡¯s a tempting proposition, but I¡¯m not sure. Anyone can tell a story, can¡¯t they?¡± ¡°You need certainty, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll need time to do my background checks.¡± For a moment, he went silent. Perhaps he didn¡¯t expect I could say such a thing so openly. ¡°It¡¯s not hard to understand. I would do the same.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being thoughtful.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to be on the same boat from now on, and I have no reason to lie.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overly proud of yourself.¡± The Archduke clicked his tongue. ¡°Time will tell if I¡¯m telling the truth or not.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a matter of time to see if you¡¯re a fraud or a facilitator.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to watch me?¡± ¡°It will be a simple test. You foretell the future, and all I have to do is wait.¡± The Archduke held out a pen and an empty piece of paper before me. ¡°Here, write down everything you know about the future. I will see with my own eyes what a great prophet you are.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°Just as you don¡¯t trust me, I don¡¯t trust you. I can¡¯t tell you everything.¡± I pushed the paper back and stared straight into his eyes. I was not stupid, and there was no reason to get everything out in the open. I had to get what I wanted by releasing information in due course. All I had now was my body, and the future I knew was my lifeline. ¡°If you want to keep quiet, I¡¯ll help you. A dead man in a coffin doesn¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°There is no need to hurry. I¡¯m just saying that I can¡¯t tell you everything right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. ¡­..¡± ¡°I will tell you one thing I do know.¡± Information can be powerful but becomes meaningless over time. I had a piece of extra information that would shake him, but it would be useless after today. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°At dawn today, the Imperial Family will urgently summon Your Highness. Not only you, but all the Archdukes of the four great families.¡± ¡°You dare to say that?¡± ¡°¡­The chiefs of the main noble families will be there as well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The sunset is here.¡± Sensing the meaning of my words, the Archduke was unable to continue for some time. I watched the expressionless man¡¯s face change from one to the other, and I opened my mouth again. What mattered was the next degree. ¡°The next emperor will be the second prince.¡± ¡°Second prince?¡± ¡°The first prince, he will lose his life in a tragic accident just before he ascends the throne.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°Your Highness will have to decide that for yourself, whether what I¡¯m saying is true or not.¡± I smiled triumphantly. *** It was not until a day later that the Archduke of Mona Chareuteu visited me again. I smiled when I saw the man who came into my room. It was not such a bad time, despite the heavy security that had passed. It was fun just thinking about the expression he would make. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time to get an answer.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So what are you going to do? Are you going to kill me, or are you going to hold my hand?¡± Although I asked, the Archduke did not answer. Instead, he strode up toward me and looked at me with a sharp gaze. In the shade over my head, I reflexively swallowed dry saliva. He was like a beast. I thought so from the first time I saw him, but the ferocious man¡¯s eyes reminded me of an untamed beast. ¡°How in the world did you know?¡± He grabbed my shoulders and held them so strongly that it was difficult to move. ¡°I told you, I know the future.¡± ¡°The future? It¡¯s such an empty thing.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve seen for yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His jaws tightened. He stifled his rising emotions. ¡°Or am I wrong in my prediction?¡± I smiled innocently, pretending not to know, even though I knew he wouldn¡¯t react like that if I was wrong. His hands tightened on my shoulders, and he raised his head up sternly. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in prophecies.¡± His low voice rang in my ears. It sounded like an animal howling. ¡°Then don¡¯t be swayed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re shaking right now, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± His eyes were still, never wavered. But as I stared at it, I saw a slight tremor. ¡°You don¡¯t have to trust me. But you can use me.¡± ¡°Use you?¡± ¡°After all, if you get what you want, that¡¯s all that matters, right?¡± I laid my hand directly on his hand that held my shoulder. His hand was rough to be that of a nobleman, but I liked it that way. For any beast, the hungry are more desperate than the full. ¡°Use me.¡± ¡®Because I will use you, too.¡¯ The man¡¯s jaw tightened as I moved my fingers slowly along his protruding vein. With a smile on my lips, I absentmindedly swept the Archduke¡¯s scars. *** *T/N: The story is going so slow¡­..How long will their conversation last?¡­. Chapter 9 - Your Name Is ¡°I like the lack Your Highness has. Those who know hunger are more greedy, more relentless, more capable of anything.¡± ¡°I know how far my hunger is.¡± ¡°Well, the bigger the better, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Blush Mona Chareuteu.¡± (*T/N: I know it¡¯s a weird name but that¡¯s how his name is¡­.*) Note that the full name should have been unpleasant, but the man did not point that out. He just stared at me as if he was about to devour me, and after a moment of silence, he opened his tightly closed mouth. ¡°Your name is¡­.?¡± The man¡¯s face got a little closer. It was so close that I could feel his breath. If I moved a little, our lips would touch. I reached out and cupped the man¡¯s cheeks. The man still reminded me of a fierce beast, but he didn¡¯t push my hands away. ¡°Simphonia.¡± I said, staring straight into his eyes. *** ¡°My name is Melcy Brown, and I will be serving you for a while. Please feel free to call me Melcy.¡± A young woman with short hair smiled. She was the kind of woman who could light up the world just by being around her. ¡°Melcy?¡± ¡°Yes, you can call me that.¡± She nodded, then moved closer to me. She had a dress in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve brought you a dress, but I¡¯m not sure if it will fit you.¡± ¡°Anything will be better than what I¡¯m wearing now.¡± I lifted the hem of my skirt to show her. My dress was already stained with dried blood, and I wasn¡¯t dressed to tolerate it at all. ¡°How reckless of you, pretty lady.¡± Melcy grinned. Her gaze landed on my neck, which was wrapped in bandages. I pretended not to notice and took the dress from her hand. ¡°Would you like me to help you change?¡± ¡°No, I can do it myself.¡± Some dresses could not be worn by one person, but fortunately, Melcy brought me a muslin dress with no embellishments. I quickly unbuttoned the dress I was wearing. ¡°You¡¯re very good.¡± Melcy said as soon as I was half unbuttoned. I didn¡¯t know what she meant, so I stopped undressing and looked at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I was told that the nobles of the capital wear a single dress with several servants at their side.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was it simply my imagination that I could feel the judgmental tone in those words? I glanced at Melcy, but she was just smiling, as beautiful as ever. ¡°I was afraid I might upset the young lady by taking poor care of her.¡± I thought I was mistaken, but that¡¯s not possible. I let out a short sigh at Melcy¡¯s now blatantly hostile expression. Melcy was maintaining her smirk with a fair amount of enthusiasm, but I knew a woman who could smile competently enough to not compare with her. ¡°Then would you like to try it?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not good at it, you can learn it until you are.¡± Melcy¡¯s smile wavered for a moment as I pointed to a button I had not yet undone. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you could wear it by yourself?¡± ¡°Of course I can wear it by myself, but I wanted to help Melcy.¡± ¡°Help me?¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t let Melcy¡¯s shortage tarnish the honor of His Highness.¡± I pointed at the button again and smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t know why we¡¯re talking about the Archduke¡¯s honor here.¡± ¡°How can a master who can¡¯t take care of a single person under him appear to have any dignity?¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Melcy¡¯s eyes flickered. I strode towards her. ¡°Did His Highness order you to mock me? Or is it your own judgment?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°No. Do you even dare to ask? If you don¡¯t answer, I can ask His Highness.¡± I buttoned up roughly without hesitation and quickly turned around. ¡°Young lady!¡± Melcy hastily grabbed my arm. I didn¡¯t hide my displeasure and pushed her hand away coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve been rude to His Highness¡¯s guests, but you seem afraid to tell him, don¡¯t you?¡± I clicked my tongue, and Melcy¡¯s face turned red. Melcy smiled as she looked at me, but her smile was much different and more awkward than it was at first. ¡°There must be some misunderstanding, young lady.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you don¡¯t like the fact that I¡¯m from another place, or if there¡¯s some other reason, but it shouldn¡¯t be obvious, at least not while I¡¯m a guest of His Highness.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You should have thought first that it was your master who ordered you to take care of me before you expressed your dissatisfaction with me.¡± ¡°I was just¡­¡­¡­¡­¡± I nodded my head at Melcy, who seemed to be in a state of panic. Frankly, I expected her reaction to some extent. Then again, I also knew that this was not the end, only the beginning. Mona Chareuteu was overly closed-minded and wary of strangers, especially resentful of capitalists. So the discrimination and persecution they suffered in the past led to further prejudice. ¡°I don¡¯t need your care, so leave now.¡± ¡°Young lady.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to His Highness.¡± I gave up on changing my dress and quickly went outside. Outside the door stood Pezzan, the gatekeeper. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s keep going.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before I caught Pezzan¡¯s gaze on my dress, which was clearly stained with blood. I thought he would ask, but Pezzan just nodded honestly rather than make it obvious. I liked that about him. I felt from the first time I saw him that he was an avid knight. ¡°Your Highness is waiting for you inside.¡± ¡°I see you are not coming in with me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± I looked at his face methodically, but I couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking from his expressionless face. I quickly declared my resignation and stepped through the open door. Inside was the Archduke of Mona Chareuteu, Blush, sulking with his legs crossed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have kept you waiting so long.¡± ¡°For all the waiting, I don¡¯t see anything has changed, or is it my illusion?¡± ¡°The person His Highness sent to me taunted me openly, so I didn¡¯t change.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to tell me now¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded plausibly. I had no intention of putting up with the injustice and letting it happen quietly. ¡°What are you going to do with a large public mass if you can¡¯t handle one person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just holding it in because it¡¯s not yet a Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Holding it in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a guest of His Highness now. I¡¯m just sticking to that line.¡± I have not yet the authority as the Grand Duchess. Wielding power that was not given to me at the moment only made me look ¡°the same¡±. ¡°Then what will be different if you become a Grand Duchess?¡± ¡°If it does, of course I should handle it my way.¡± ¡°What would your way be?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you that myself after I become the Grand Duchess.¡± I smiled, and Blush¡¯s brows creased. Instead of showing his dissatisfaction , he simply held out the document he had prepared in front of me. ¡°It¡¯s a Marriage Pledge.¡± The ¡°Pledge of Marriage¡± was stamped with the seal of Archduke Mona Chareuteu and Blush¡¯s name. If I wrote my name on the remaining blank space, signed it, and sent the pledge to the Temple, and we would officially become husband and wife. I checked the marriage vows carefully to make sure they were in order, then placed the documents on the table again. ¡°What¡¯s this second one?¡± ¡°A kind of safety device.¡± ¡°Safety device?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a few conditions to keep this marriage going.¡± ¡°In short, It¡¯s a marriage agreement.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Blush nodded gently. ¡°My conditions are exactly as written there.¡± ¡°There are five. That¡¯s less than I thought.¡± ¡°Will you be able to do it?¡± I read the document repeatedly and carefully to make sure I wouldn¡¯t miss anything, but there wasn¡¯t anything that would take me particularly long. I shifted my gaze to Blush, who could be seen through the papers. ¡°I¡¯m willing to fulfill your requests if you are willing to fulfill mine.¡± ¡°What is your request? ¡°My request is simple.¡± I wrote what I wanted in the blank space on the paper and gave it to Blush. It was more fun than I thought it would be to watch his expression change as he checked the contents. ¡°Protect all my rights and obligations as your wife.¡± It was a simple and straightforward request. A place that was completely mine, that¡¯s all. I didn¡¯t want to remain as someone else¡¯s substitute anymore. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. After all, we both should get what we want.¡± After completing all the agreements, we shared them one by one. And that was it. Incredibly, our marriage ended easily. If only we were allowed to marry in the temple, Blush and I would officially be husband and wife. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Mona Chareuteu for a casual wedding.¡± ¡°Yes, that would be nice.¡± ¡°You¡¯re simpler than I thought.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be gained by having a grand wedding, is there?¡± ¡°Benefits?¡± ¡°The wedding itself is not a bad use, but Mona Chareuteu is a little different. A big wedding wouldn¡¯t help.¡± The main forces within the empire only look down on Mona Chareuteu, who despises such other forces. Mona Chareuteu has a new hostess. Even so, unless the bride was in good condition, the surrounding powers did not care much about her, and on the contrary, Mona Chareuteu was not supposed to be pleased with a grand duchess from the capital. Under such circumstances, there was no reason to expose my existence while forcing myself to have a grand wedding. ¡°They say that most women have a romantic notion of marriage.¡± ¡°If I wanted to fulfill my romance, I would have built an ordinary family.¡± This was not the kind of marriage that comes with a written agreement. I smiled, not caring that the man was staring at me. There was nothing sweet or romantic about the agreement I had made with Blush. It only contained bleak clauses such as, if I failed to make Blush emperor, I would have to give up my life. This was not a marriage, it was a political marriage. Instead of genuinely sharing our hearts, it was a business of fumbling and profit-seeking, trying to keep more by any means necessary. Chapter 10 - Marital R ¡°Is there anything else you desire?¡± ¡°No.¡± I said nonchalantly and climbed into the carriage. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the window until we were completely out of the capital. Tiodurop Mansion was the second largest and most majestic building in the capital after the Imperial Castle, but I didn¡¯t feel like looking at it. It was just a natural gaze, until it disappeared from my field of vision altogether. ¡°Did you know that there was a party yesterday to announce the successor of the Tiodurop family?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard about it.¡± ¡°Is that all you have to say about it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to say anything.¡± I replied, still looking out the window. Blush and I didn¡¯t share our emotions from the beginning, and we were not close enough to share our grief. ¡°Recently it has been discovered that the rumors of Duke Tiodurop have been due to his daughter and all attention went to her.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that unfair?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t regret it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°In any case, it¡¯s true that I¡¯ve lived under the protection of the Duke of Tiodurop, and enjoyed a lot of things. But, I think I¡¯ve already paid for it.¡± If I didn¡¯t think that way, I wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the disappointment. I swallowed my innermost thoughts and lowered my eyes. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was anger or sorrow that filled my heart, but I felt only bitter. They ( The Tiodurop family) were happy that the obstruction ( MC) was gone, but I couldn¡¯t seem to cut them out of my life completely. ¡°You¡¯re incredibly rational.¡± ¡°Because if I didn¡¯t, I would be stepped on.¡± I closed my eyes tightly, hiding my emotions. Now was not the time to be emotional. It was time to be strong and rational. ¡°From what I can see, you don¡¯t seem like someone that can be stepped on easily.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t know much about me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the accomplishments of the Young Lady Tiodurop.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A real lady of the house who had recently appeared couldn¡¯t have made such accomplishments, so of course it had to be the person who filled the position.¡± I wanted to keep looking the other way, but I couldn¡¯t give up the persistent look on his face. I declared abandonment in my mind and turned away. I could see the languid smile on the man¡¯s face as if he had won the victory. ¡°I might have made achievements for the real one.¡± ¡°Your reaction was too nonchalant for that.¡± ¡°Are you trying to probe me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a measure of value. I wonder if what I bought was really a diamond?¡± The smile on his face deepened a bit more. That fact was a bit surprising. ¡°So are you satisfied?¡± ¡°To be honest, a lot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d say that.¡± ¡°Now that we¡¯re in the same boat, there¡¯s no need to be too cautious.¡± Blush nodded lightly, as if it was obvious. However, I had not yet loosened my bandages enough to feel comfortable with the situation. ¡°There¡¯s something that bothers me more than anything.¡± ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± ¡°You.¡± Blush said. There was an indescribable arrogance from his expression. ¡°What is it about me that bothers you?¡± I asked. ¡°There are a lot of things, but let¡¯s start with the power you have over Pezzan.¡± I didn¡¯t know there were so many things about me that bothered him. He said he didn¡¯t want me when we first met, and now he started changing his attitude. I narrowed my eyes and stared at him. ¡°It¡¯s better to hide my strength until I have what I want.¡± ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll do the same.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If you give me what I want, I¡¯ll tell you my story.¡± I smiled arrogantly as Blush did. Our marriage has already been approved. There was no need to antagonize Blush, but that didn¡¯t mean I would do everything he wanted. ¡°What is it you want?¡± ¡°A title.¡± ¡°Title?¡± ¡°I am your wife, Grand Duchess of Mona Chareuteu. Please treat me accordingly.¡± ¡°Treat you?¡± Blush¡¯s brows narrowed. ¡°What I asked for is all the rights and obligations your wife has, and you and your wife have a duty to respect each other,¡± I said. ¡°What is the matter with how I treat you?¡± ¡°When you call me, don¡¯t sound like you call a lowly person. If Your Highness is kind to me, others will be, too.¡± ¡°Why should I do that?¡± ¡°Because I am your wife and you are my husband. I stared straight into his red eyes. ¡°What if I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine then.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I just stared at the man with a smile on my face. It was just a moment, but I could see the quiver in Blush¡¯s eyes. I smiled quickly and placed my hands on my lap. ¡°If you respect me and treat me as I deserve, then so will I. But if you don¡¯t, I¡¯m just as good.¡± We were a married couple with equal rights and duties to spare. He was no longer someone who was above me. We were equally in marriage. With a deep sigh, Blush fell silent. I turned my gaze to the window. Now that we were completely out of the capital, all I could see was a vast, endless plain. ¡®Come to think of it, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been this far out before.¡¯ My father wanted my presence to be inconspicuous, so I spent most of my time only at the mansion. Today was the first time I was out of the capital, as well as the Tiodurop mansion. When I realized this, I felt rather subtle. Of course, that feeling quickly disappeared by the unexpected voice. ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you wanted me to call you? Madam.¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± When I heard his voice, I turned back to look to make sure that he was the one I knew, and I couldn¡¯t help but laugh when I saw his face. The frowning man was giving off an intense feeling that he blatantly didn¡¯t want to do it, but when he did, his voice was natural. To be a little more honest, the voice itself was so good that if I hadn¡¯t even seen the expression on his face, my heart might have leapt. ¡°¡­¡­ Why are you laughing?¡± ¡°It suits you well.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡± Blush¡¯s face crinkled . ¡°It is the virtue of a gentleman to respect a lady.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but laugh as I swept a strand of my hair behind my ear. ¡°You¡¯re much better now than you were then.¡± ¡°Do you like this¡­.?¡± ¡°It may be awkward at first, but with a little care, it will soon become natural. I¡¯m looking forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about it, just say what I want to know.¡± Instead of answering, I made a sign of zipping my lips. Then, Blush¡¯s face distorted again. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤ I¡¯d like you to tell me.¡± I thought he would get mad, but he didn¡¯t so I smiled. Somehow, the man in front of me seemed to have a pretty cute side. ¡°My power is not that great.¡± ¡°If it were real magic, it would be amazing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, but my power isn¡¯t magic. ¡° ¡°It isn¡¯t?¡± Blush touched his chin in disappointment. ¡°Like all old families, the Tiodurop family has a famous legend.¡± ¡°You mean the fairy blood?¡± Every old family had at least one legend, but in Tiodurop¡¯s case, there were so many legends related to fairies that the emblem symbolizing the family was made in the form of fairy wings. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. My power is fairy-related.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the power of fairies only given to the Tiodurop¡¯s bloodline?¡± Blush stared at me. I didn¡¯t have to hear the rest of the sentence to know what he meant. ¡°It¡¯s a power that not even the Tiodurop has, to be exact. Ancient power is a power that¡¯s only a legend now.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure if any special power really existed, but now the legends were just tools to increase the authority of the family rather than the truth. ¡°That¡¯s even stranger. Then how does my wife have this power?¡± ¡°The little girl always wanted to be the best, and was very proud of herself for being a Tiodurop.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I read an old book in the mansion. I thought that things like ancient powers were just a myth, but I was secretly hoping for something magical, like a child.¡± Tiodurop was my pride and joy, and I wanted to have its power. I thought if the power of fairies came back in my generation, I would be my father¡¯s proud daughter. However, my father was not the least bit pleased with my success. Rather, he was very angry with me. That was the first time. My father, who had always patted me on the head with praise no matter what I did, blamed me for what I had done. The memory that surfaced made my hands reflexively tighten. Hot breath streamed out between my lips. At that time, I didn¡¯t know why my father was so angry with me. I just screamed and begged for forgiveness, saying I would never use this power again because I didn¡¯t want him to hate me. But now I knew that my father was angry with me and forbade me to use my power for the same reason. ¡°He thought I was a thief who stole his family¡¯s power.¡± I looked down helplessly. Would my father still be angry if the real Charlotte had the fairy powers? I asked myself a question, but no one answered. Actually, I didn¡¯t need to hear the answer. It was only for a moment, but I still remembered the angry look on my father¡¯s face. I didn¡¯t know what he was thinking at that moment, but one thing was for sure. It was not the way a father would look at his daughter. Chapter 11 - The Remaining Warmth ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem to be the reason why you have fairy powers.¡± ¡°You¡¯re more persistent than I thought.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand to be bothered.¡± Blush lifted his head lightly. I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and leaned back in my chair. ¡°Do you know the story about the fairies that come to live in your house if they like it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a famous story.¡± ¡°When I heard the story, fairy tears were the first thing that came to mind.¡± ¡°When it comes to fairy tears, it¡¯s a tear necklace that comes down from generation to generation. Did they say there were hundreds of diamonds in it?¡± ¡°666 to be exact. It¡¯s a 3,000 carat necklace.¡± ¡°That sounds expensive, even just by saying.¡± ¡°It is expensive. With the reputation of a heirloom handed down from generation to generation, you can¡¯t even put a price on it. Because of that, instead of being a necklace, it¡¯s an ornament.¡± I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened. I still remember the moment when I first saw the fairy tears for the first time. As a young girl, I was transfixed by the necklace, even though I had no idea how amazing it was. The necklace was made of small and large diamonds strung together, and it looked so beautiful to me. I even dreamed of making a debut tang with fairy tears around my neck. ¡°So, what does your power have to do with fairy tears?¡± ¡°I knew what to do. I wrote a spell to call the fairies in front of the fairy tears.¡± ¡°So the real fairy was inhabiting the fairy¡¯s tears?¡± To my surprise, the fairy call was real, thanks to the fact that no one but me would dare make such an attempt on the fairy tears. I lifted the edge of my mouth in an effort. I felt depressed when I brought it up. ¡°Where are the fairies now? Are they still there?¡± ¡°Yes, there was.¡± ¡°Was?¡± ¡°I made a stupid choice.¡± I chuckle bitterly. Considering my past, my future, the result was good. In return for my choice, I had to lose a friend of many years, but thanks to it, my friend was not involved in the tragedy I experienced. But sometimes I felt that way. I wish I had made a different choice at that time. ¡°I know what you are thinking, but the power of the fairies does not help in battle.¡± I said. ¡°You defeated my knight, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°If I had fought him properly, I would have lost.¡± ¡°You are being modest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. From the beginning, your knight declared defeat to me because he was disappointed in himself for letting his guard down. He wasn¡¯t even trying to kill me.¡± Blush didn¡¯t seem pleased with my answer. I stared at him and took his hand in mine. The man¡¯s hand looked tough, and when I squeezed it, it was much harder than I expected. If you close your eyes and touch it, you might be confused whether it was a stone or a human hand. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I think it would be better if you see it with your own eyes.¡± I quickly recited the spell before I even heard Blush¡¯s answer. Then, a vine grew on the carriage floor bound his wrists like handcuffs. ¡°Try to untie them.¡± I said. His brows narrowed as his hands were bound. The vine was hard, but his strength was enough to untie them without difficulty. However, he didn¡¯t do it. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s good for the purpose of growing crops?¡± ¡°I can get a few flowers to bloom if I try hard enough.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°As fast as they grow, they wither quickly. They don¡¯t stay long.¡± I touched the vine wrapped around Blush¡¯s wrist with my finger. My fairy power was not long in effect. The vine I had just called up would wither in a few moments. ¡°Unlike the grand name of ¡®fairy power¡¯, it looks like a child¡¯s prank.¡± Blush, who had been fumbling around with his bound wrists, gave a short review. I nodded meekly. ¡°For the most part, fairies are like mischievous children. And so are their powers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± I smiled awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. Blush didn¡¯t even try to untie his bound wrists, but just stared at me. ¡°I think it¡¯s more surprising than being disappointed.¡± ¡°Surprising?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d be so honest with me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to exaggerate and get your hopes up. If expectations are high, disappointment is also high.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a business to sell rocks with good words to make people believe they are not rocks but precious stones?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a business, it¡¯s a scam.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not a scammer, I¡¯m your partner.¡± I reached for Blush¡¯s wrist again. Even though he didn¡¯t seem to care, I did. I had no taste for keeping innocent people in bondage. ¡°There¡¯s no rush, so take your time one thing at a time. It won¡¯t cost any money to build trust with each other.¡± I mumbled roughly and concentrated on untangling the vine. The vine was tangled, but it wasn¡¯t too difficult to untie it. ¡°I think You¡¯ve given me enough expectations already.¡± ¡°Does it matter if it¡¯s an expectation that can be met?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even seem to be worried about satisfying me.¡± ¡°How much do you expect from an unreliable partner?¡± I raised my head involuntarily and frowned reflexively at the gaze I encountered. ¡°We¡¯re too close now, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°How about it? We¡¯re husband and wife.¡± When I turned my gaze, which was busy searching for a marriage couple were often said to each other. I stared up at Blush, swallowing the words I couldn¡¯t bear to spit out. He wasn¡¯t the only one curious about his opponent. I was also curious about Blush. ¡°Most of the time, when I look at someone like this, the first thing they do is avert their eyes.¡± ¡°I need to see my opponent head on just in case.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you my wife? It seems to me that you have more secrets than anyone else.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a lie if I say I don¡¯t have any secrets. Everyone lives with a secret or two in their hearts. But that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Blush¡¯s eyes narrowed. I turned to face him and smiled. ¡°It means that if you believe in me, I won¡¯t betray you first.¡± ¡°People can say anything they want with words. But they are just words.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do that. If I did, I¡¯d be just like everyone else I know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Then what will happen if I betray you first?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll be done for, I guess.¡± For a moment, Blush¡¯s eyes relaxed. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s what anyone would say if they came to see me with their lives on the line.¡± ¡°Cause I thought it was over.¡± I was dead and back in the past. Maybe I will get another chance like this next time. But even though I had countless opportunities, this was the last one for me. I was already completely exhausted even now. I had no confidence in my ability to endure. Knowing this made me feel even more desperate, and wanted to try even harder. Being on the edge of a cliff is dangerous, but at the same time there¡¯s a way out. *** ¡°Have we already arrived at Mona Chareuteu? It¡¯s faster than I thought.¡± ¡°No, not yet.¡± ¡°But, why is everyone getting off?¡± ¡°Because the horses can¡¯t go anymore.¡± Blush replied shortly and opened the carriage door. The door was only slightly open, but I shivered at the sudden chill. ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°I think I can stand it.¡± Blush¡¯s eyes slowly scanned from my head and to my toes. I felt awkward for no reason, so I quickly opened my mouth. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m not used to the cold in the North yet. I¡¯ll be fine once I get used to it.¡± ¡°We are not even on Mona Chareuteun land yet.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Does that mean it¡¯s going to get colder in the future?¡± Instead of replying, Blush took off the coat he was wearing and held it out to me. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°You must be cold too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± Blush said firmly and held out his coat to me again. Unlike me, who was shaking more and more, Blush was the same as before, even with no coat on. I hesitated and carefully reached for the coat. ¡°You¡¯ll feel better if you wear it.¡± ¡°The coat is too wide and long and will drag on the ground, is that okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. No one is as small as my wife anyway.¡± Was that a complaint or a compliment? I stared at Blush, wondering. He didn¡¯t have much of an expression on his face, and it seemed to be a complaint. I was also a reasonably large person in the capital, but he was bigger so I couldn¡¯t compare. ¡°It¡¯s going to be cold now, do you plan to wear it?¡± ¡°Yes, I will wear it.¡± Now was not the time to show pride. If I catch a cold even before I arrive in Mona Chareuteu, I¡¯ll be the only one who loses. ¡°I hurriedly put on the coat.¡± As expected, the coat was dragging on the floor, but it was still warmer than before. The coat still had the warmth of its original owner. Chapter 12 - Its Too Early To Be Sad ¡°Get off when you¡¯re all dressed.¡± ¡°Is there a reason why we should get off here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Horses can¡¯t go from here.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not by horses, by any chance¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡± I quickly clasped my hands together, my eyes were fluttering. This was my chance to finally see for myself the special means of transportation that only Mona Chareuteu used. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I looked at Blush as I always did, and immediately frowned. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Because Blush didn¡¯t reach out his hand to support me. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± I answered quickly and got out of the carriage. In the capital, it was polite for the men to escort the ladies out of the carriage, but this was not the capital. And this was only the beginning. From now on, there would be many more moments when it would no longer be the norm that I had known. Thinking about this, I was at a loss for the road ahead. ¡®Will I do well?¡¯ When I was about to sigh I caught sight of a giant beast. I quickly forgot about my worries and went over to Pezzan¡¯s side. ¡°What is this creature, it looks so strange.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know reindeers?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve never heard of them before.¡± ¡°Well, in the capital, people ride horses.¡± ¡°If we walked and rode horses here like in the capital, we would all freeze to death before long. I didn¡¯t tame the dogs and reindeer to pull the sleigh for nothing.¡± Malaz intervened, his chest thrusted forward proudly as he moved his fingers. ¡°Then this unique looking carriage is a sleigh?¡± ¡°¡¯Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± The sleigh didn¡¯t look much different from a horse-drawn carriage, but instead of wheels, it had a raised board in front near the floor. I was curious to see something new for the first time, so I circled the sleigh several times, secretly watching the reindeer. The sleigh was just a carriage, but the giant beast actually aroused my curiosity a bit more. ¡°May I touch it?¡± ¡°Yes, but you have to be careful. It¡¯s a sensitive animal.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Carefully, I reached for the reindeer. Its huge body and large antlers felt threatening, but the warmth of its body against my hand made it less scary. ¡°It¡¯s in great shape. It¡¯s very hard. Must be very strong, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strong enough. If you want, I¡¯ll get you one for your wedding¡­.Ah! Why are you hitting me!¡± ¡°There are things that you can and cannot say to the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°That you don¡¯t need to! Married life is very important¡­!¡± Malaz¡¯s voice, which had been chattering away, quieted for a moment. When he turned around, he saw Blush, who already arrived for some time, looking at him. ¡°Surely, His Highness will do just fine without the reindeer! I saw the other day when we were training, and His Highness¡¯ body is really¡­¡± ¡°Pezzan.¡± Blush called. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll take care of him.¡± Pezzan said. Malaz lifted his thumb, smiling brightly at Blush. But all that came back was Blush ordering him to leave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My subordinate is too outspoken, and I¡¯ll give him a good scolding later.¡± As soon as Pezzan grabbed Malaz by the neck and dragged him away, Blush slightly bowed to me. Contrary to my expectations, the word ¡®sorry¡¯ came easily from his lips. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m sure he didn¡¯t mean it in a bad way.¡± If anything, I had more important things to worry about right now. I caressed the beast¡¯s neck, unable to take my eyes off the reindeer. ¡°You don¡¯t look too happy.¡± Blush clicked his tongue. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a beast like this before.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but be amazed at the fuzzy reindeer, an animal whose appearance I had never seen in the capital. I looked around at the reindeer from one side to the next to check their condition. The huge reindeer was made of solid muscles all over its body. At a quick glance, they looked as if they could easily pull anything. ¡°Is this the only kind of sleigh?¡± ¡°This one is a little different from a normal sleigh. It was transformed to transport people.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying that there are many different types of sleigh?¡± ¡°Yes. Mona Chareuteu uses a variety of forms of carriages, transforming them as needed.¡± I nodded in satisfaction and asked him a few more questions, which he answered with surprising sincerity. ¡°Is it easy to get a reindeer sleigh?¡± ¡°In Mona Chareuteu, each family has their own sleigh. There is a saying that when a child starts to waddle, he learns how to pull a sleigh. ¡°Then that¡¯s even better.¡± ¡°Better?¡± One of Blush¡¯s eyebrows went up. ¡°If sledding is so widespread, doesn¡¯t that mean that there are a lot of people who can pull them?¡± ¡°Why does that matter?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know yet.¡± I chuckled to myself. I had a not-so-bad plan in mind, but it wasn¡¯t time to announce it yet. The endless snowfields were still strange to me. I still needed to get used to this place a bit more. *** ¡°This way.¡± Even though it was the day the Archduke returned, Mona Chareuteu Castle was quiet. I followed Blush, tightening my collar. Even though we were inside the castle, the cold in the air did not change. Mona Chareuteu was much colder and more desolate than I expected. ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°Winters in the capital are not this cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a blessed land. The people who live there have no idea how wonderful it is.¡± I gulped, feeling the thorn in Blush¡¯s words as he mumbled in a low voice. It wasn¡¯t that he was intentionally expressing hostility. I guess it was just his habit. It seemed that the anger that Blush, or rather Mona Chareuteu, was harboring was more deep rooted than I thought. ¡°We¡¯ve been expecting you, Your Highness. Did you have trouble on the way here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than seeing the irritating faces of the royal family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re well.¡± ¡°Stop nagging me.¡± Blush sighed briefly and turned to me. It was only then that I finally got a clear view of the butler, who was hidden by his body a moment ago. ¡°Hello, I am Aiden Pilson, the chief butler of the Mona Chareuteu Castle.¡± ¡°Glad to meet you, Aiden. My name is Simphonia.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already asked him about you, so please be at ease.¡± The old butler bowed his head. I accepted his greeting with a smile on my lips. ¡°I look forward to working with you in the future, sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rather what I should say.¡± Aiden bowed his head again. His gesture was graceful. ¡°By the way, are you hungry? I¡¯ll tell the head chef to prepare some food.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯d like to take a bath first.¡± Blush looked at me. His gaze was on my shoulders as I shrugged. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take you. I heard you were coming, so I prepared the room ahead of time.¡± Aiden gave a quick nod and beckoned politely. He kept smiling until he turned away. But that was all. I knew that the smile was not a simple fondness. It was only well hidden by years of experience, but his eyes over his glasses showed signs of disapproval. Even though he was following Blush¡¯s wishes, he did not like the Grand Duchess from the capital. But that didn¡¯t mean I was disappointed. The stares, prejudice, and discrimination would be my daily routine from now on. It was too early to be sad. *** ¡°Hmm¡­¡­¡± It seemed I could breathe now. I dried my wet hair with a towel and exhaled with relief. From the moment I entered Mona Chareuteu, I was in dire need of a hot bath. Now that I took one, I felt much better. ¡°It took you a long time.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you in my room.¡± ¡°Because this is my room too.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Before I could even have time to process the situation, the counter-question jumped out at me first. I hastily took a deep breath and quickly continued. ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s your room too? Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re going to share the same room?¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal for a couple to share a bedroom. Isn¡¯t it the same in the capital?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but you went to a different place just now, didn¡¯t you? So I naturally assumed that in Mona Chareuteu the couple would have separate rooms.¡± ¡°There was only one bathroom in this room, so I had to use the bathroom in the training hall.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Once again, I considered their culture to be different from the capital. I frowned. ¡°I think it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Yes, apparently so.¡± ¡°If I had known that in advance, I would have dressed more appropriately.¡± I smiled embarrassedly and fiddled with my hair. This was the first time I had ever shown anyone my disheveled appearance, except for the maidservant who was looking after me, and I felt my face hot. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really inconvenient, I¡¯ll go to a different room.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± A bit of confusion occurred, but I was already prepared for it. Succession was the most important part of a noble¡¯s duty. I knew very well that once I was married, I couldn¡¯t just sleep holding hands. ¡°You don¡¯t have to burden yourself.¡± ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s strange because I¡¯ve never shared a room with anyone before, but I can do it. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve only seen each other once or twice and I hope I get used to it soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to it. ¡­¡­¡± Blush turned his gaze away. I followed him involuntarily and lowered my gaze. *** Chapter 13 - Perfect Silence **** *TL: I apologize in advance. The conversation in this chapter is confusing. I really had no idea who did the talking.* *** ¡°You¡¯re thin. You need to gain some weight.¡± I never thought anything would go back and forth between us, but what I said was just too plain. It didn¡¯t seem like something one should be saying to her newly married husband by any stretch of the imagination. The thought flashed through my mind, and I finally regained my stability. It was thanks to the tasteless look on his face that I lost interest as well. ¡°You have such a great body. It¡¯s so perfect that I don¡¯t have to point it out.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it as a compliment.¡± ¡°How can you say that?¡± ¡°¡­You were the first one to evaluate my body.¡± I nodded lightly. Blush looked at me and frowned. ¡°I didn¡¯t assess it.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that depend on how the person listening accepts it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Or if the other person had a convincing excuse.¡± I crossed my arms and glared at Blush. Blush stared back at me, and immediately sighed. ¡°It¡¯s because of the cold.¡± ¡°The cold? Why are you suddenly talking about the cold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I understand why you¡¯re so cold. The skinnier you¡¯re, the colder you¡¯ll be.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­ Is that so?¡± Blush substituted a nod for a reply. I sighed briefly as I stared at the man who resembled a beast. It hadn¡¯t been a pleasant first encounter, frankly, and it hadn¡¯t been very long, so it was difficult to define perfectly what kind of person Blush was at the moment. But I felt like I knew this one thing for sure. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it. Have you ever thought of yourself as a person who is easily misunderstood?¡± Blush spat. ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly kind, aren¡¯t you? My wife seems to have forgotten about the scar on her palm, and the owner of the coat you borrowed until you got to the castle is the same person.¡± In retrospect, it wasn¡¯t so surprising, since it was obvious just by looking at Brach¡¯s attitude toward Malaz. Brach was a man of sure hedges. He was generous to his own people, but unforgiving to those who were not. The compassion that Brach showed me was a rebuttal to the fact that I had come within his hedge. I was very happy about that fact. It was something I had to force myself to stir up, but in any case, I had made my place. ¡°Why are you smiling all of a sudden? ¡°I want to get to know you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± If you have a strong desire to own something, it also means that you won¡¯t easily let go of it once you¡¯ve grasped it. As long as I can prove my worth, Blush will not abandon me. ¡°I don¡¯t know what my wife is thinking.¡± ¡°I told you. I want us to get along with each other.¡± I¡¯ve been betrayed by someone, but in the end I¡¯m looking for someone again. The contradiction was so strange that I couldn¡¯t help but find it funny. I needed this person. I wanted him to see that I was a useful being, not just Tiodurop¡¯s Young Lady. *** ¡°I prepared it in a hurry and it¡¯s not very good.¡± ¡°No, this looks good enough. I¡¯ll eat it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you said that. I¡¯ll wait outside while you two eat, so please ring the bell if you need anything. Have a good meal.¡± Aiden bowed his head and backed away. Now there were only two people left in the dining room, me and Blush. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°You should eat while it¡¯s still hot. It would be a shame if the food got cold.¡± The food served was simple, not match for the position of an Archduke. A plain soup before the meal, followed by a steak with a glass of wine, was all that was served. But I wasn¡¯t going to complain. After I had emptied all the soup, I lifted my knife to cut the steak that was prepared next. ¡°¡­¡± I ate the soup with no problem and didn¡¯t think anything of the steak, but when I finally put it in my mouth, I felt nauseous. The steak was thick and meaty. I glanced sideways at Blush as I put the meat in my mouth. He was eating the steak without a care in the world. I forced myself to chew and swallow the meat, then lifted the glass. Then I immediately regretted it. Unlike the sweet smell of honey, the alcohol in my mouth was too strong. I only took a sip, but my throat was burning. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± I smiled and picked up the meat with my fork. A second piece of steak filled my mouth, but this time I swallowed it. I didn¡¯t want to look strange. I had to be the perfect hostess of Mona Chareuteu now. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. I enjoyed the meal thanks to you.¡± The meal was over when all the plates were empty. I put down my fork and wiped my mouth with a napkin. The food I forced down my throat was not that unbearable. ¡°Now that we¡¯re full, let¡¯s get down to business.¡± ¡°You have a short temper.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re buying time anyway. I didn¡¯t make a deal with my wife as a joke.¡± Blush mumbleed as he filled his empty glass. Perhaps he had a strong alcohol tolerance, but he looked the same as always even as he drained his glass in rapid succession. ¡°What do you plan to do now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still thinking about it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget that my wife told me she would show me something great when she came to Mona Chareuteu.¡± Blush warned firmly. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s an important part of our agreement.¡± I held out my glass to Blush. But he did not fill my glass. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again. What are you thinking about?¡± There¡¯s no way I could get away without giving him an answer. I clicked my tongue and leaned back in my chair. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about the possibility of Mona Chareuteu.¡± ¡°And did you find it?¡± I wondered if it was a subject he liked, interest glinting in his red eyes. ¡°Yes and no.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± The space between Blush¡¯s eyebrows visibly narrowed. He didn¡¯t like my vague answer. ¡°It means I¡¯m still considering it.¡± I nodded lightly. ¡°It¡¯s because there¡¯s so little information about Monarchart that¡¯s been known to the outside world. I need more information about Mona Chareuteu.¡± ¡°So you are more vulnerable to seeing the future?¡± ¡°All I can see is a big future.¡± I had prepared this kind of excuse in advance. I smiled nonchalantly. ¡°I understand how you feel, but please don¡¯t be too hasty. Honestly, we¡¯ve only been in the castle for less than a day, haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°So when can we expect to see those amazing results?¡± Blush¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°With your help, we¡¯ll know sooner.¡± I shook the glass lightly in a playful way. The golden surface of the glass glistened under the lights. ¡°In return, you¡¯ll have to show me some decent results.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You answered fast.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m confident.¡± I stared straight into Blush¡¯s eyes. The wine in my stomach was still as hot as if it was on fire. But that sensation wasn¡¯t necessarily bad. The heat that started in my stomach made me forget even the cold. ¡°What is it that you need from me?¡± ¡°I would like to use your library.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Give me a person who¡¯s born and raised in Mona Chareuteu, and familiar with the situation here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a blatant request.¡± Brach clucked his tongue as he realized my purpose. I shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Information is the basis of everything.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll help you as much as I can, since I¡¯ve decided to trust you once anyway. It¡¯s not difficult, I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± I was satisfied with his simple reply and it seemed that he would do what I asked him to do next. ¡°While you¡¯re at it, I¡¯d like you to look for someone as well, is that possible?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please help me, if you believe me.¡± I smiled, baring my teeth proudly. Perhaps because of the wine, I smiled and felt comfortable. I was sure he would do me another favor. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s do that too. Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°His name is Flen Geotal. Until recently, he was a promising young man in the upper class of Titiana.¡± ¡°The ¡®until recently¡¯ part is what¡¯s bugging me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead. He was attacked.¡± I wrapped the glass in my hands. The woman reflected in the glass was smiling at me. ¡°You want me to find his body?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the one who took care of Young Lady Tiodurop¡¯s situation for the past five years.¡± ¡°And he got killed because?¡± ¡°Because it had to be sorted out in order for the current Young Lady to be created.¡± (*It meant that people who knew about the fake one (supposedly our FL) had to die so no one would know the truth about her. So the Duke could bring his ¡®real¡¯ daughter home without scandal.) There was no silence as perfect as death. I closed my eyes for a moment. The taste of alcohol in my mouth was unusually bitter. Chapter 14 - Her Eyes Smiled *** ¡°Your opponent is the Duke of Tiodurop. Just killing a few people doesn¡¯t make it a problem.¡± ¡°I have no intention of making it an issue.¡± ¡°Then why are you searching for the body?¡± ¡°Flenn isn¡¯t dead. He¡¯s just pretending to be dead and waiting for an opportunity.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying he faked his death on purpose?¡± Blush¡¯s brows narrowed tightly. ¡°You¡¯re half right and half wrong.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I learned that there would be an attempt to kill Flenn. I just used that to my advantage.¡± ¡°How did you know about the plan?¡± ¡°I told you. I see the future.¡± Blush was about to say something but stopped. I smiled and continued. ¡°Lend me someone so I can bring Flenn here.¡± ¡°How does finding him help us?¡± Blush¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Flenn is a gifted merchant. He adds value without wasting any, and creates profit with it.¡± ¡°Do you want to play with money?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not trying to be cocky and say that touching money is a shallow thing, are you?¡± I shook my head mischievously. Aristocrats like luxury, but they don¡¯t like money. That sentence was contradictory, but it wasn¡¯t too unfamiliar to the nobility. It was something for nobles to spend, not something to hoard. ¡°It would be possible for someone who didn¡¯t look like an aristocrat to be vulgar when their stomach was full.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you chose me, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. That¡¯s why I made the choice.¡± I turned my gaze away. ¡°I believe the basis of all power is money.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like something someone who grew up as a daughter of an aristocrat would say, does it?¡± ¡°I suppose so. But if you look at it from a mentality standpoint, there¡¯s nothing more basic than money, isn¡¯t it?¡± I held my glass and stared at Blush. ¡°You have to pay the right amount of money to run a country, fight a war, even have a drink like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Of course, money isn¡¯t everything. But with money comes a better quality of life. You will have to pay more in order to have better food, and things that others do not have.¡± If I was in front of another nobleman, I wouldn¡¯t be able to make so much noise. But the other party was Blush. ¡°Do you have any information?¡± Blush picked up the bottle. ¡°There¡¯s a place I¡¯ve decided to leave a message. I¡¯ll write it down for you.¡± I smiled and held out the empty glass. Perhaps it was because I drank it once before, I could detect the sweetness the second glass had unlike the first time. **** I wonder how many glasses I drank. By the end of the meal, I was mildly intoxicated. I drank some cold water to keep the heat from my throat down. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to stop drinking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea too. Then I guess it¡¯s time to get up.¡± The smell of alcohol didn¡¯t disappear even when I drank the water. I shouldn¡¯t have had that last drink, I left the table feeling regretful. I thought it would be better to hurry back to the bedroom before I got more drunk. ¡°Do you need help?¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you would.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why are you surprised when you said you¡¯d help me first?¡± ¡°I thought you would decline.¡± ¡°¡­I just realized that it¡¯s harder than I thought to walk in my shoes while drunk.¡± It¡¯s better to be supported than to fall down in a fit of willpower, isn¡¯t it? I chuckled and held out my hand to Blush. Blush frowned and took my hand. ¡°I thought you were a good drinker because you kept giving me your glass.¡± ¡°I let my guard down. I¡¯ve never actually been drunk before. And¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And what?¡± ¡°I just wanted to keep drinking. Because drinking makes me feel better.¡± I didn¡¯t have to force myself to make an expression. I could just smile. I wanted to keep drinking because it made me feel better. I blinked my eyes lazily. My head hurt from the shifting vision. ¡°It¡¯s not as good as I thought it would be, because I drank too much. I¡¯ll try not to drink it next time.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯d better.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± I reached out and grabbed Blush¡¯s arm. I was relieved to find that the man¡¯s arm was as firm as a rock. ¡°Are you uncomfortable?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re uncomfortable, I¡¯ll ask someone else to help me.¡± I gulped reflexively. Red color filled my vision. Our distance was narrowed to the point where our noses would touch. ¡°I can smell the alcohol.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had my share of alcohol.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Come to think of it, Blush drank a lot more than I did. I found it strange and enviable that he could drink so much and still maintain a sane mind. ¡°Do you still laugh under such circumstances?¡± ¡°Did I laugh?¡± ¡°Yes, you laughed.¡± His unusually low voice reminded me of a beast. But that was all there was to it. Somewhere along the way I got used to him, and I wasn¡¯t as scared as I was at first. ¡°You¡¯re embarrassed that we share a room.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because there was a slight misunderstanding. And frankly, you don¡¯t see me as a woman.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see you as a woman?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to make things complicated until you¡¯re sure I¡¯m the real thing.¡± Heirs were an important duty for noble families, but we were in a different position than most couples. Blush still didn¡¯t trust me completely. For him, who was ready to kick me out at any time, having a child was like putting his foot in the pit himself. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t see you as a man either.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t want children.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want children?¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t want children.¡± Blush¡¯s expression became more subtle. Maybe he thought I wanted to have children. Well, that was a normal reaction. Objectively speaking, pregnancy was a good card for me, because in the aristocratic world, having children was no different than having power. But I didn¡¯t want to, or more accurately, I didn¡¯t like it. If I made a child out of necessity, I would be just like someone I knew. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, write some additional details in the contract. I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t tell what the staring eyes were thinking. I stared at Blush and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°¡­Shall I add it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°No¡­.¡± I waited for a while before I got a reply. As usual, I couldn¡¯t read what he was thinking from his expressionless face. *** In the middle of the night, Blush slowly opened his eyes. During the expedition, we often camped out in rugged places, and more than once he fell asleep to the snoring of the knights, but in reality, it was no different than the animal¡¯s sounds. But this was the first time that we had slept together, alone and so close to each other. Recognizing this fact, he could not sleep well. Eventually, Blush woke up with a deep sigh. When it came down to it, the only factor that interfered with his sleep was the fact that I often slept while sinking down under the covers. He still didn¡¯t know what type of person Symphonia was, even though he had carefully observed her each time. She always exceeded his expectations. He had no idea what to expect when she decided something. ¡°Don¡¯t drink¡­¡± The faint voice sounded like it was about to break at any moment. Blush¡¯s eyes narrowed as he gazed at her silhouette in the darkness. He didn¡¯t know what kind of dream he was having, but the woman who could smile when the knife on her neck was now slumped over and crying. ¡°Really, I¡¯m fascinated by strange things.¡± Blush chuckled. But his gaze was still on Symphonia. Blush slowly removed the blanket that was covering Symphonia¡¯s face. Then, the moan, which was muffled by the blanket, was heard more clearly. ¡°Please¡­¡­¡± ¡°What in the world is she dreaming about? Why is she suffering so much?¡± Blush had to wake Symphonia, who struggled to keep her voice down. In the end, Blush heard it. ¡°Father,¡± Symphonia spat out bitterly. Blush clicked his tongue. The Duke of Tiodurop, whom Symphonia was calling, was doing very well. He had no intention of looking for a substitute of diminished value. ¡°I just want my own seat.¡± Then again, she was the one who knew it best. ¡®You were so reckless in front of me.¡¯ Hot breath began to pool in Blush¡¯s mouth. He was somewhat angry. It was then. Symphonia¡¯s tightly closed eyelids quivered. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, their gazes tangled in midair. Blush swallowed dry saliva without realizing it. Her green eyes were smiling at him. Chapter 15 - I Didn’t Think It Would Disappear *** The outstretched hand touched Blush¡¯s hand. Blush gulped and didn¡¯t say a word. The hands of a woman who was raised as a noblewoman all her life were excessively soft. It was unfamiliar and strange. But it was only for a short while. ¡°Father.¡± The sad voice brought him back to his senses. Blush¡¯s brow furrowed. The woman was still asleep. It wasn¡¯t him that Symphonia was staring at. Blush clumsily brushed her hair. Satisfied with the warmth of his hand in hers, the sleepy Symphonia closed her eyes tightly. The sensation, once recognized, could be easily erased. * * ¡®Did he leave already? If he woke up first, why didn¡¯t he wake me up?¡¯ I chugged a glass of water while looking at the empty seat. When I woke up, I was the only one in the bedroom. It was only seven o¡¯clock, but my husband didn¡¯t seem to have slept in. Or maybe he just got tired of me being drunk and used a different room. But in my memory, it didn¡¯t seem there was anything wrong. If anything, I got drunk and he even supported me. ¡°Yeah, well. Nothing wrong with that.¡± I rationalized and got up from my seat. Yesterday was the end of my drinking and relaxation. Starting today, I had to fill my time with fulfillment. **** ¡°Starting today, I will be serving Your Highness! Please take care of me!¡± Melcy bowed quickly. I looked at her and nodded. We were already acquainted with each other. ¡°Good morning. We¡¯ve met again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that!¡± At my greeting, Melcy bowed her head once more. After showing me such behavior, and perhaps thanks to the scolding of the higher authority on the way to Mona Chareuteu, Melcy¡¯s demeanor had changed considerably from the first time we met. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes, yes! Of course I am!¡± Melcy answered hurriedly. I laughed as I stared at her, who bowed her head all the way down. Frankly, I had nothing against her. ¡°Just get up already. Your back looks hurt.¡± ¡°Will you forgive me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Oh, please.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± ¡°Oh, no, no.¡± Melcy shook her head violently. I chuckled. Our first meeting wasn¡¯t good, but I¡¯d heard about her skills beforehand. I wasn¡¯t going to spend the whole time blushing. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard that now you are my guard and maid of honor.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Melcy nodded obediently. She looked more relaxed than before, and her face had a childlike quality to it. ¡°Let me tell you in advance, I¡¯m from the capital, even if I try not to show it as much as I can, I might unintentionally say and act against Mona¡¯s culture or manners, and I will need your help every time.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Of course, there would be times when you deliberately misinterpret or silence me in order to make me feel terrible. I wouldn¡¯t even notice if you did that anyway.¡± ¡°I would never do such a thing.¡± Melcy waved her hands hastily, and I smiled deliberately. ¡°Of course you won¡¯t. At that moment, you might be able to laugh at me for being a laughingstock, but you never know what will happen after that.¡± ¡°After that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you in advance, I¡¯m not going to put up with it.¡± The focus of Melcy¡¯s eyes quivered as she glared at me, her expression tightening at once. Not many words were needed to warn her. She had already experienced in person that I would not hold back. I patted her shoulder, still smiling. There was a lot for her to do from now on. * * * * ¡°I¡¯d like to read today.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to read all these books?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a fast reader.¡± I shrugged lightly, grabbed one of the books, and sat down. Melcy paled and followed my order, stacking all the books on the desk. ¡°All done, My Lady.¡± ¡°Then take a seat in front.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to read a lot of books today, but you can¡¯t just stand there. Sit down and answer my questions.¡± I didn¡¯t take my eyes off the book as I spoke. There was nothing like a book to get basic information quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to answer your questions properly.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± I asked Blush to send me someone who had some basic knowledge, so I didn¡¯t think he would send just anyone without thinking. I flipped over the book I was looking at and showed it to Melcy. ¡°You know these shoes that allow you to walk on snow?¡± ¡°Are you talking about snowshoes?¡± It seemed to be something unfamiliar to me but not to Melcy. The name of the shoes described in the book came right out of Melcy¡¯s mouth without hesitation. ¡°The book says that if you wear it you can walk on snow, but I can¡¯t see it.¡± ¡°Sulpi is something you use when there is a lot of snow on the ground. You tie it to your shoe.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this is what I saw last time.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re talking about Eisen.¡± ¡°Eisen?¡± As I tilted my head, Melcy cautiously extended her hands. ¡°Can I have the book, please?¡± ¡°Here.¡± After taking the book from me, Melcy hurriedly flipped through the pages and found a picture. ¡°Perhaps this was what you saw. Like the sulpi, it¡¯s something Mona Chareuteu can¡¯t do without.¡± I compared the two things, alternating between the shoes with eisen and the ones with sulpi from earlier. While the Sulpi had a round shape made of bent wood, the Eisen had a pointy shape like a claw made of iron. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between the two?¡± ¡°In short, Eisen is kind of like Sulpi, but in general, Mona Chareuteu considers Eisen to have a higher performance than Sulpi.¡± ¡°Higher?¡± ¡°Sulpi is useful in snowy conditions, but on the frozen ground it won¡¯t work. There are limits to its use. That¡¯s why we came up with Eisen.¡± ¡°What about Eisen?¡± ¡°Eisen is less slippery on ice and easier to climb ice walls. It¡¯s more durable because it¡¯s made of steel.¡± ¡°They are not that expensive, are they?¡± ¡°They are.¡± Iron was a fine resource, but there were limits to how it could be used. Iron was needed to make weapons and armor. It was difficult to find more than a certain amount of iron in a situation where most of the iron mined was heavily controlled for the purpose of advancing military power. ¡°Because the iron has to be processed and special treatment has to be given to it. There¡¯s also a saying that you can identify a person¡¯s wealth with Eisen.¡± ¡°What kind of special treatment is it?¡± ¡°To prevent iron from corroding, or to make it lighter. Walking in the snowfields is exhausting. The lighter the eisen, the better.¡± ¡°It makes sense.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t make them absurdly light. Because eisen will break easily if it¡¯s too light. It¡¯ll be useless.¡± Melcy fidgeted with her hands over and over, trying to explain it with words. She seemed to be struggling to find a way to explain it better. ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is right, then it would take quite a bit of skill to make them. Are there many such technicians in Mona?¡± ¡°There are many people who make Eisen, but not many craftsmen who can make the good ones.¡± ¡°I suppose that means there still are.¡± ¡°You may misunderstand me when I say this, but¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡± Melcy hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Speak comfortably.¡± ¡°Many people claim to be Mona¡¯s best blacksmith, but in my opinion, there is only one person who deserves the title.¡± ¡°One person?¡± ¡°Marton Brown.¡± ¡°Brown¡­¡­..¡± Melcy had the same last name. I narrowed my eyes, and Melcy scratched her head awkwardly. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my grandfather.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong! Not because he¡¯s my grandfather, but because he¡¯s a really great blacksmith! His Highness¡¯s sword was made by my grandfather!¡± Melcy shouted with all her might. I stared at her. She was flustered, but her sparkling eyes were filled with pride. ¡°If a granddaughter was confident enough to recommend, he must be very talented.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Merci¡¯s eyes widened. I smiled and took the book back. ¡°When you get a chance, please talk to your grandfather. There¡¯s something I want to talk to him about.¡± ¡°You mean about this?¡± ¡°Yes. In the meantime, we¡¯ll have to make some more progress first. But it won¡¯t take long, thanks to the teacher.¡± ¡°Teacher?¡± ¡°Despite your lack of confidence, you did answer well.¡± I smiled and turned the page. Melcy¡¯s cheeks were flushed red when she raised her head for the next question. Chapter 16 - Im Looking Forward To It *** ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°The same, sir. She spends time in the study reading books or taking walks.¡± ¡°She seems to have plenty of time.¡± ¡°She must be a great con artist or she¡¯s got some credibility.¡± Sybis shook his head with his arms crossed. He was the Chief Treasurer of Castle Mona, and he was very unhappy about the sudden marriage of his boss. Marriage was a business in itself, and the marriage of a high-born nobleman was even more so. Instead of taking care of the castle¡¯s finances, the fact that the position of the Grand Duchess was taken away by a woman of unknown origin was a business that did not even need to be calculated. ¡°Does she look like a con artist to you?¡± Brach asked, Sybis nodded without hesitation. ¡°Of course.¡± Malaz took a quick look around the room and quickly raised his hand. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like a fraud to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not very credible when someone who lost all his money gambling says so. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°My intuition would be much more believable than the guy who locked himself in the corner of the room and only took a pen holder.¡± ¡°It would be a beast, not a man, who would be moved by his senses.¡± ¡°That¡¯s real¡­.¡± ¡°It was addressed to His Highness.¡± Pezzan interrupted Sybis and Malaz. Blush fiddled with the tip of his chin and turned his gaze to Pezzan. ¡°What are your thoughts, Pezzan?¡± ¡°I am not qualified to judge the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Do you think she is qualified to be Grand Duchess?¡± ¡°That, too, is not for me to discuss.¡± Pezzan shook his head expressionlessly. ¡°Then what is it, except the name Grand Duchess?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I say. It¡¯s an order.¡± ¡°I agree with Malaz.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve both agreed on anything, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Malaz¡¯s eyes lit up when it quickly regained its energy. Pezzan pushed the noisy motives to the side and turned to the side. Out the window he could see Symphonia and Melcy on a walk. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like an impostor. Melcy obeys very well, and¡­¡± ¡°To begin with, a true impostor does not act like one. They use plausible words to deceive and sway people.¡± Sybis interrupted quickly. He was hopeful that his boss¡¯s marriage could go up in smoke. ¡°It¡¯s a delusion¡­.¡± Blush¡¯s gaze reached his hand, but only slightly. It was still difficult to read the thoughts on the expressionless man¡¯s face. It was then. ¡°How about that man?¡± ¡°As you said, we found traces of him in Baron Village. There is a high probability that he is still alive.¡± ¡°Dig a little deeper. It¡¯ll be better if we can get a positive ID.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Pezzan nodded silently. Blush exhaled slowly, keeping his hands on his stomach. It was subtle, but his brows were narrowed. * * * ¡°Flenn!¡± ¡°My Lady?¡± Flenn, who spotted me, rushed over. I pretended not to notice the stinging eyes and quickly grabbed Flenn¡¯s hand. Perhaps it was because of all the hard work, Flenn¡¯s skin was rough, whether it was his face and his hands. ¡°Are you okay? You must have been through a lot.¡± ¡°No, as a fugitive I lived well. There¡¯s nothing much to worry about.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it hard for you to come here?¡± ¡°It was fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡± I finally laughed with relief. ¡°You seem happy.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so happy to see him¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡± I laughed, feeling awkward. ¡°No.¡± Blush was as indifferent as ever, but as far as I was concerned, even that appearance was a good thing. Anyway, Blush was the one who had brought Flenn here to meet me. Thank you for listening to my request.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult a request, and more importantly, the contract wouldn¡¯t be complete without it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Flenn is here now. I¡¯ll be able to move properly from now on.¡± Having worked together for a long time, Flenn was my most dependable ally. Blush stared at our clasped hands for a moment, and then quickly opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± * * * * ¡°I was surprised to hear that you married Archduke Mona Chareuteu.¡± ¡°I gambled a little. The greater the risk, the greater the profit.¡± ¡°Is the Archduke worth that much?¡± Flenn gave him a suspicious look. He seemed very anxious to put all bets on Blush, of all people. I smiled leisurely and handed the notebook I had been organizing the whole time to Flenn. ¡°We¡¯ll have to do it that way.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I had some time until you arrived, so I did some research on Mona Chareuteu. This is an unknown land, I needed to study it.¡± At my beckoning, Flenn quickly flipped through the notes. He was only skimming over them, but his eyes lit up behind his glasses. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of interesting bits in here.¡± ¡°Right? I thought so too.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s very adventurous.¡± ¡°Naturally, the road to pioneering is a rocky one. It¡¯s not something to be taken lightly. Nor is it a difficult one.¡± I chuckled mischievously. Flenn looked at me and immediately sighed. ¡°I hate to tell you this, but you are no longer the daughter of Duke Tiodurop.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Your failure will no longer be merely a result of your experience. Because there is nothing that can protect you anymore.¡± ¡°I will not risk my life without knowing that.¡± I smiled and leaned back in my chair. Flenn stared at me for a long time and frowned. ¡°What happened during that time?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Honestly, it wasn¡¯t just one or two weird things. The fact that you predicted what would happen to me and secretly contacted me, and most importantly, the Lady is now¡­¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯re desperate to die.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I chuckled at the sudden stab of correctness. I thought I was playing it well, but I couldn¡¯t fool the witty Flenn. ¡°What has the Duke done to you?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Not yet. I swallowed my words later and turned my head away. ¡°Miss.¡± ¡°I had a long dream. In that dream you died, and I couldn¡¯t let go of my father. So¡­¡± I took a moment to catch my breath. It was painful to recall the memories of that day. ¡°When I woke up from my sleep, I was surprised to find that the dream I had happened in reality.¡± ¡°What¡­¡­..¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it funny? I didn¡¯t want to believe it. But no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure anymore. Was it really a dream that I saw? Or was it the future to come?¡± I looked down. My clenched fists were pale from too much effort. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know how this happened to me. But what I do know for sure is that I don¡¯t want to go through something like that again.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die than go through it once more.¡± My hot breath was pouring out between my teeth. I took a deep breath. ¡°Then, it doesn¡¯t have to be the Archduke Mona.¡± ¡°You want to ask me how it is to live an ordinary life?¡± ¡°Because a life of prominence is not the only thing that is special.¡± ¡°I suppose it is. But then I would have to live in fear for the rest of my life, holding my breath, hiding my existence. Wondering when my father will come to take care of me.¡± ¡°I hope the Duke won¡¯t do that¡­I don¡¯t know, Miss¡­.¡± ¡°My father has already abandoned me.¡± He abandoned me once, he could do it again. Because the first time is the most difficult. A bitter taste spread through my mouth. I couldn¡¯t do it even if I wanted to admit it. Charlotte wasn¡¯t the only one who could aim at me. My father was the one who could handle me whenever the need arose. ¡°I¡¯m the closest thing to Charlotte Tiodurop¡¯s secret. If a bad rumor spreads about her, I will naturally come up on the suspect list, or at worst, I may be the target of elimination. Just as you were.¡± I stared at Flenn. He could no longer argue with what I was saying. ¡°As long as I do not intend to live in obedience to my father¡¯s will, I must become someone who he cannot touch.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And I must be someone who can finish my father if necessary.¡± In order for Charlotte to remain a flawless Princess, I was never to be exposed. To expose myself was practically the same as rebelling against my father. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± ¡°Yes, I made my decision.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°No more whimpers, please. Because that¡¯s not what I need.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay with me, you can leave.¡± ¡°What are you going to do with these plans if I¡¯m not here?¡± ¡°¡­I know you won¡¯t turn down my proposal.¡± I chuckled brazenly. Flenn sighed deeply as he looked at me. Then he straightened his back and opened my notebook. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the dream you say you had, Young Lady.¡±