Chapter 3
The inside of the carriage was simply desolate.
The Duke kept his eyes fixed on a single small book.
The Young Duke, Elias, rested his chin on his hand with a bored face, staring only out the window.
And then there was Cecilia, sitting in silence as if she were on a bed of nails.
It was the Lucert Duke’s family, same as always.
This sense of estrangement—as if they were all scattered apart without a single word of conversation.
“Cecilia.”
Right then, the Duchess spoke calmly.
Startled, Cecilia reflexively straightened her posture.
“The Baroness of Trangsie is my friend. So, make sure to behave yourself.”
The Duchess gave a gentle warning.
Cecilia lowered her head quietly and replied politely.
“Yes, Mother.”
Just then, the carriage stopped.
A servant of Trangsie respectfully opened the carriage door.
“I greet the family of the Duke of Lucert.”
Assisted by the servants, the family members began to climb down from the carriage one by one. Cecilia just stared blankly at their retreating backs.
It felt as if someone was strangling her with all their might.
…She felt suffocated.
And so, a week passed.
I was incredibly nervous that I might run into the Lucert family, but surprisingly, I was able to avoid them quite easily. It turned out that the high-and-mighty nobles and a lowly maid hardly ever had overlapping paths.
Plus, there was one piece of good news.
“The VIPs went out for a hot spring bath today. They’re expected to return around evening.”
My friend Amanda had given me a quick tip.
And so, currently:
I was out alone in the backyard of the Baron’s castle.
Since maids officially have no break time, you have to be clever and rest when you can. I had already told Amanda to call me if anything happened.
There shouldn’t be any problems.
“Uwaaaah.”
As I stretched out, a strange groan escaped my mouth on its own.
“Ooh, I’m stiff as a board.”
I rotated my shoulders and moved my neck around; only then did my stiff body feel a bit loose.
“By the way, it’s a bit cold…”
I lightly rubbed my arms. The fresh air was nice, but perhaps because it was still early spring, the weather was a bit chilly.
But I didn’t want to go back inside yet. I had been stuck in the castle all day cleaning like crazy.
‘Shall I walk a little?’
While moving my feet as I pleased, I suddenly stopped.
“…Ugh, hic.”
I heard someone’s suppressed sobbing. It was a very small, fragile cry, as if someone were barely letting out a sorrow they had held down for a long time.
‘What is that?’
I instinctively turned my head toward the sound.
And in the end, I saw it.
Behind a large tree, a piece of a purple dress was peeking out! One look at that expensive-looking fabric and the owner was…
‘Amanda!’
I screamed internally.
‘You said the VIPs went out for a hot spring bath todayyyy!!’
I frantically racked my brain. There were only two people in the Baron’s castle who would wear such a high-end dress.
First, the only daughter of the Baron of Trangsie.
Second, the female lead of the original story—namely, Cecilia… I wanted to believe it wasn’t her because that would be too terrible.
Even if I thought as positively as possible and assumed that lady was the Baron’s daughter:
‘I just ended up seeing a high-born lady crying?’
This is the worst…
Generally, noble ladies have incredibly strong pride. They would think getting caught crying is a total disgrace!
‘No, I didn’t see anything.’
I swallowed hard. If I just back away now, it’ll be like nothing happened. That mysterious lady would probably prefer it if I pretended not to see her, too. Isn’t that why she came all the way out to this secluded backyard to hide?
With that thought, I was creeping backward when—
Snap!
‘Oh, no way.’
I squeezed my eyes shut. Please, let it be anyone, let them tell me that what I stepped on wasn’t a branch.
Seriously, nothing is going my way!
“Who’s there!!”
A sharp voice rang out clearly.
At the same time, the figure hiding behind the lush tree jumped up. She glared this way with a fierce look in her eyes.
‘Wow.’
Even in my panic, I was speechless.
Almond-shaped eyes that formed a perfect curve.
Snow-white skin without a single blemish.
A long, deer-like neck.
Her moist, blue-green eyes resembled a rainy summer forest, and her thick, wheat-colored curly hair reminded me of a ripe wheat field.
Throughout both my past and present lives, I had never seen such overwhelming beauty. I mean, wasn’t she basically an angel descended from heaven?
…The problem was:
Cecilia hated her wheat-colored hair and her blue-green eyes. No matter how desperately she maintained her appearance, she couldn’t compare to Milena’s bright blonde hair and brilliant green eyes. This dull color felt like proof that she was just a fake version of Milena. She felt that no matter how hard she tried, she would never reach the “Real Daughter”…
That was it.
The worst-case scenario had arrived.
‘Why is Cecilia here right nowww!!!’
Cecilia growled fiercely.
“You, how long have you been here?”
“J-just now.”
At that answer, Cecilia stared at me intensely with suspicious eyes. I hurriedly added more words.
“It’s true! I just came out to get some fresh air, but then I heard a strange sound…”
Oops.
As her gaze grew even sharper, my voice trailed off. It seemed she was quite humiliated that I caught her crying.
But it was so obvious that she had been crying. Her eyes were red and swollen, her lips were pressed tight, and her fluttering, butterfly-like eyelashes were soaking wet.
“You.”
After a moment of silence, Cecilia suddenly called out to me. She continued in a gloomy tone.
“…Just try gossiping about me to others. I really won’t let it go.”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded enthusiastically.
“I didn’t meet anyone today, and I didn’t see a single thing.”
However, Cecilia still had a cold face.
“How can I trust you?”
Man, has she lived a life full of lies?
U-um, Female Lead, you might not know this yet, but my life goal is ‘Never get involved in the original story,’ okay?
But Cecilia, who couldn’t possibly know that, pressured me in a low voice with a face that grew even colder.
“You, if you go anywhere and say I was crying… Sniff.”
Sniff?
For a second, I doubted my ears. Did this ice-cold Lady just… sniffle her nose?
“…!”
Cecilia seemed to stiffen her shoulders, then she quickly took out a handkerchief and tidied her face. But her beautiful face was already flushed bright red like a ripe tomato. Her blue-green eyes, which had been wavering uncertainly, soon began to glare at me with a terrifying intensity.
‘I-I’m doomed.’
Look, I’m not the one who made you cry, so why are you doing this… I’m the one who wants to cry right now!
‘Wait.’
At that moment, my eyes snapped open. Cecilia doesn’t want anyone to know she was crying. Which means…
It’s fine as long as the person who cried wasn’t Cecilia, right?!
