CHAPTER 1

The majestic strains of the pipe organ spread out in concentric circles.

On both sides of the Virgin Road, guests in colorful robes filled the seats, and the whole
ceremony was filled with solemn dignity.

In terms of formality, it was as perfect as a duke’s wedding.

However, there was no wedding-like joy or bustle to be seen anywhere.

‘I think it would be more appropriate to call it a funeral.’

It really is.

Both the groom’s guests and the bride’s guests have dark faces.

‘Please control your facial expressions, no matter how uncomfortable you feel. Am I the
only one who can do this?’

I have to walk into the middle of this frozen ceremony and stand next to a man who will
kill me.

“Now, Edith Riegelhoff, please come in.”

The priest who did not know whether he had come to officiate at a wedding or to attend a
funeral mass ordered my entrance grimly.

I had practiced all day yesterday, rehearsing in my head, but I couldn’t help feeling
nervous.

I walked slowly forward, kicking the hem of my dress with my toes, just as I had practiced
with all my strength to prevent an accidental fall.

But the skirt is not the problem with the wedding dress I am wearing.

My breasts…… I mean, I know my breasts are big and beautiful, but they are too exposed.

This is the first time I am wearing it, and I think something is missing to cover my chest.

‘No matter how good a sensual dress is, isn’t it a bit too much on a wedding day?’
As if I was not the only one who thought so, the glances that looked at me clearly
contained negative emotions; disgust, contempt, disrespect, or lust.

I walked over to the man who will one day slit my throat, cutting through the heavy air
that I couldn’t even feel the flakes of favor.

Of course, he didn’t even look at me. To him, I must be like a curse or punishment given to
him.

‘Whoa, I didn’t fall down anyway. Step one is clear.’

I bent my knees and bowed my head slightly towards the priest to show my courtesy and
breathed a sigh of relief.

The priest nodded his head indifferently and began to recite a prayer of blessing.

“All things in the world praise you, my God, Hershan. I bless you both, beautiful man and
woman, who today will build a happy and warm family in the arms of the Creator
today……”

Well…… I don’t think I will ever be able to create a happy or warm future with this man.

In this situation, knowing that a man who hates me is going to slit my throat, it’s
extremely unclear whether I’ll be able to get either a “happy or warm family” or a
“future”.

But there is no way for me to deny or avoid this situation beforehand.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the body of a woman who was going to get married in a
week.

How crazy the process was, too.

***

Misfortune never comes alone.

That’s what happened that day.

“Soo-na! I told you not to do this!”

“Yes? This is senior Yeong-eun’s—”

“I’m sorry, manager. Soo-na still hasn’t gotten the hang of Excel, and I’ll make sure she
gets it right.”

Ahn Young-eun, who had done all kinds of bad things just because she was a senior who
came a year ahead of me, blamed me for her mistakes.

Manager Park, who printed out a messy Excel spreadsheet, gave me a harsh look and
nagged me for a long time before going back.

I looked at Young-eun with a confused expression on my face, but she sat down in her seat
as if tired without even looking at me.

– How long is Ahn Young-eun going to live like that?

– I don’t know.

– Ugh…… she’s been cursing since morning. Soo-na, cheer up!

My coworker cheered me up via messenger, but it didn’t give me much strength.

Maybe it was because I saw her going to buy coffee with Young-eun at the end of
lunchtime.

I was in a bad mood, but this is such a common thing that I thought it was just bad luck,
and I deserved it.

It was Friday, and I had a date with my boyfriend after work.

But it wasn’t until after work that I got a message from my boyfriend canceling our date.

– Baby~ I got the weekend shift and will be working overtime today. I’m sorry ㅠㅗㅠ See
you next week. I’ll buy you something tasty ♡

Aside from not being able to see him all weekend, I was upset to hear that my boyfriend,
who had been suffering from overtime lately, had to work through the weekend.

If I hadn’t stopped by X Mall, the meeting place today, I wouldn’t have seen my boyfriend
holding hands with another woman……
I stared blankly at their backs as they walked away, and only after they were completely
out of sight did I take out my phone and text him.

– Speaking of working overtime, the woman you’re holding hands with must be your boss
at work. You two look like you’re really working hard. Just bury your bones at work and
don’t contact me in the future!

Even when I witnessed my boyfriend cheating on me with my own eyes, strangely, it

didn’t seem like my hands were shaking or I was going to cry. Actually, I wasn’t even mad.

Perhaps I was unconsciously expecting such a breakup.

‘Cause I’m not worthy of him……’

He is a sincere man who grew up in a wealthy family and works for a fairly large company.
He is a good-looking man, moderately tall, kind, and educated.

Unlike me, who comes from a poor family and tries hard not to show that I have no
money, he is a man who is comfortable with a simple lifestyle.

I am grateful that such a man treats me kindly, but at the same time, I could not help
thinking, “Until when will this go on?”

And that “when” is today.

‘I’m out of money. This weekend, I’ll have to pay for a lot of novels in the cart and read
them.’

Thinking about it that way made me feel a little better.

It’s my pleasure to read Rofan (romance fantasy) novels before going to bed. Even if I
don’t have enough pocket money, I have to open one free chapter a day or wait for it.

When I thought I could save money to meet an imaginary man and pay for some novels in
the cart, my steps back home became lighter in an instant.

But it was just my mistake that I thought the bad things of the day ended there.

“What are you doing now? Hurry up and come here, you punk!”
“Huh? Oppa?”

My older brother was waiting in front of the door to my studio next to the steep stairs in a
shabby multi-family house.

Before I could even get close, the smell of alcohol made my body stiff.

“Hey, give me whatever money you have.”

“What? I don’t have any money.”

“You have a card! Get some cash on hand and give me some!”

“Oppa, did you gamble again……?!”

“Oh, damn it, you babble a lot! Who are you to nag me, your savior, who kept you alive so
far?!”

I was deafened by my brother’s sudden shout, but I was more anxious about whether
there was someone next door or maybe listening to this.

‘Will that savior excuse haunt me until I die?’

Under the pretext of giving me–who had leukemia–a bone marrow transplant thirteen
years ago, my older brother always shamelessly asked me for money.

I don’t know how much I thought it would have been convenient if I had died without a
bone marrow transplant at that time.

Even more so today.

I tend to forget bad things quickly, but I’m tired of this situation repeating itself.

“No. Do you know how much money you borrowed from me? Pay it back and ask for a
loan!”

“What? This damn bitch!”

My brother slapped me on the cheek.

There was a flash of light in front of my eyes and my ears were deaf. I felt a strange
sensation as if I was floating in the air.
‘Oh, there are stairs behind me……’

The moment I thought that, immediately after, I rolled down the stairs and hit my head
hard somewhere at the end of the stairs.

That was my last memory as a Korean woman in her twenties, Choi Soo-na.

***

I felt as if I had been asleep for a long time.

I slowly regained consciousness and realized that I was not dead.

I opened my eyes, thinking that I was in a hospital, but I saw a scene that could never be a
hospital.

‘Princess’ room…?’

It was a room similar to the Palace of Versailles that I had seen on the internet.

Besides, I didn’t feel any pain in my body, which should have been broken or at least badly
bruised. No, I even felt more energetic than usual.

‘What? How long have I been unconscious?’

When I got up from the bed, thick reddish-brown hair flowed down my shoulders.

After suffering from leukemia, my hair was thin and I had never dyed it.

With fine hair in my hands, I was stunned, and someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Sophia, my lady.”

“Sophia?”

“I’m coming in.”

Then the door opened and a young woman with a slightly scary look came in with a
copper washbasin on something like a tray.

Her clothes look like the maid’s clothes that cosplayers often wear.
 CHAPTER 2

“Master ordered you to stop by the office after you get ready.”

“Yes……?”

“Hurry.”

I had to wash my face, comb my hair, and wear a slick dress by this woman without
knowing what was happening.

And as I stood in front of the mirror to check my makeup, I realized that things were going
very strangely.

‘Who are you?’

My appearance in the mirror was so unfamiliar.

She is a Westerner with red hair, light brown eyes, white skin, and a glamorous body.

She’s pretty, but she looks a little scrawny. It’s a good impression for someone who is
going to ask for a refund.

And in the meantime, someone’s memories slowly began to flow into my mind.

Edith Riegelhoff, a 22-year-old noblewoman who is to be married a week later.

It was strange to have the memory of a noblewoman in the minds of people living in the
21st century, but it was even stranger that her name was not unfamiliar.

‘Edith…… Edith Riegelhoff. Where had I heard that name before? Who is she? Oh, wait! No
way……’

I remember. It’s the name of the villainess in the Rofan novel I finished yesterday.

It was a novel titled “I Refuse Your Obsession” with a Cider1 narration.

‘Nonsense! Did I possess the villainess of a Rofan2 novel?’

1
A cliché story, and usually refers to an unimpeded, exciting, and rapid development. In
other words, the world is created only for the main characters. The opposite of Cider is
Sweet Potato: a novel with a convoluted story/too much drama.
2
Abbreviation for a fusion genre: Romance and Fantasy
I must have lost my mind. Not the female lead, but the villainess! No, I possessed before I
became a villainess!

“Please wait in your room for a while. I will come after receiving permission from the
master.”

The maid, Sophia, spoke curtly and left without hearing my reply.

I immediately recalled the contents of the novel, trying to calm my pounding heart. I must
pull myself together at this point.

‘The female lead is Lize Sinclair, right? And the male lead is Cliff Ludwig.’

I was taken aback, but fortunately, I was able to clear my head quickly.

It was a novel that I enjoyed reading, so it’s fortunate that I have a lot of memories of it.

Lize Sinclair, the female lead of the novel, is a bright, innocent, and beautiful girl like the
goddess of spring.

However, handicaps3 exist for all protagonists. She is the illegitimate daughter of Count
Sinclair and a maid.

The Count has put the beautiful Lize on the family register, thinking that one day he will
be able to take advantage of her, but her family disapproves and harasses her.

As the persecution in the family intensifies, the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig, who have
come to stay at the Sinclair Mansion for a time, take her with them.

‘And that’s where she meets Cliff, the male lead, and Killian, the second male lead.’

Cliff and Killian are brothers from the Ludwig family who fall in love with the same woman
at the same time and try hard to win Lize’s heart regardless of her feelings.

They give Lize what she wants and confront what threatens her without her knowledge……
she is the object of their obsession.

However, like any naive and good-natured female lead, she shrewdly solves the cases that
befall her without noticing that the love the two men shower on her is “slightly” excessive.
3
A circumstance that makes progress or success difficult.
Eventually, she marries Cliff, the eldest son of the Ludwig family, and becomes the
Duchess of Ludwig, and the Sinclair family, who persecuted her, regret it and are
punished.

It’s a common plot, but it’s such an interesting story.

And Edith Riegelhoff is one of Lize’s many enemies.

‘Am I in the third volume now? Edith is married to the second male lead in the fourth
volume, and it’s only a week away.’

The Ludwigs’ second son, Killian, who also loves Lize, is forced into a marriage of
convenience for the sake of the family.

The Riegelhoffs are villains who pretend to support the Imperial faction and secretly join
the opposition faction to overthrow the Ludwigs.

However, unlike Killian who hates Edith, Edith falls in love with Killian at first sight.

‘She is blinded by jealousy and does everything she can to kill Lize!’

In addition, while acting as a spy for Count Riegelhoff, she conspires with her maid Sophia
to steal internal documents and secrets from the Ludwig family.

‘I’m raising my own death flag……’

Of course, Edith’s evil deed is discovered by Lize, and in the end, the Riegelhoff family falls
together.

She dies at the hands of her husband, Killian……

She really is an insignificant villain.

I remember there were some bad comments saying that she was the perfect “enemy of
women” 4 composition full of jealousy.

Anyway, apart from that confrontational composition, I couldn’t understand Edith the
whole time I was reading the novel.

4
The original word in Korean is 여적여 (YeoJeokYeo) which means a woman’s enemy is
another woman.
‘She has a pretty face, nice body, healthy, good family, lots of money…… but why is she so
obsessed with her husband? If I were her, I would give him up and live happily.’

I knew very well that people in love often make irrational decisions, but it took me too
long to understand because I didn’t have enough money.

My wish is to live without worrying about money or worrying about health.

My family was not rich and I even had leukemia when I was young.

Although I received a bone marrow transplant from my brother and was declared cured, I
was not completely healthy because of the strong drugs and chemotherapy.

On top of that, my gambling-addicted brother who had to move between jobs without
even finishing high school, robbed me of my money under the pretext of ‘repaying the
favor’ for the bone marrow transplant, and my parents had neither the strength nor the
will to stop him.

So, love was a luxury for me.

According to Maslow’s 5-Step Needs Theory, I was in a very weak position, barely meeting
my physiological needs.

Still, the reason I had a boyfriend was that I still needed someone to lean on.

I needed someone to protect me. Maybe…… I hoped that someone like the male lead in a
Rofan novel would save me.

Of course, that didn’t happen.

Why doesn’t she throw away her love for a man who loves another woman?

If she just gave up her love, she could live a comfortable life.

‘If you are in a harmonious family with lots of money and good health, you should be
grateful.’

Edith doesn’t know how happy it is not to worry about money and to be healthy. Why
does she desire anything else?
‘I’d rather be Edith. I am very confident that I will do well.’

I never thought that God would really give me the role of Edith.

The saying that “words become seeds”5 doesn’t exist for no reason…… wait! Come to think
of it, my wish came true?

‘So I transmigrated into a novel and possessed a villainess?!’

If it was someone who didn’t know anything, it would be overwhelming, but this was a
dream situation for me, who had mastered all the clichéd Rofan novels.

My bewilderment gradually turned to joy.

‘Yes, this should be the price of my unfair death! Hooray!’

The memories of Edith Riegelhoff hadn’t completely come back to my mind yet, but they
were slowly coming back, which was much better than starting out without knowing
anything.

Apparently, there will be a dinner this evening with the two families who will be joined in
matrimony.

It seems that God took pity on me and gave me the memory of the original character
which is rare in most Rofan novels.

Just in time, Sophia returned. “Miss, Master has allowed your visit.”

“Okay. I’ll go.”

I took a deep breath and made my way to Count Riegelhoff’s office as Edith’s memory told
me to.

“Good morning, Father.”

It’s weird to call a stranger father, but it’s not hard to be an idiot with a lot of money. Even
if you ask me to act cute, I can do it as much as you want.

However, Count Riegelhoff’s reaction was quite different from what I expected.

5
Words spoken without intention can sometimes have unexpected results.
“Isn’t it too late for morning?”

His gaze, looking up and down as if trying to find fault, was like the gaze of Manager Park
at my workplace.

And only then did the memory of Edith’s situation in the Riegelhoff family come to my
mind.

‘Huh? W-w-what’s this?!’

I don’t remember all the full content of the novel “I Refuse Your Obsession”, but Edith is
definitely an arrogant villainess because she grew up only finely.

However, according to the memory that just popped into my head, that was just a mere
fake image to deceive the world.

Edith Riegelhoff was nothing more than a puppet of Count Riegelhoff.

He dressed Edith in fancy dresses and expensive jewelry to flaunt the family’s wealth and
show off the honor of the family with her arrogant manner.

Edith’s beauty, voluptuous body, and flamboyant style were all billboards for the
Riegelhoff family.

In reality, she was a physically and emotionally abused daughter who desperately wanted
to be loved by her parents and brother.

‘This is a scam! How can this be!’

As I was still in a state of shock, Count Riegelhoff spoke in a sharp tone, “You can’t make a
mistake tonight or the Ludwigs will kick us out.”

“……yes, Father.”

“I will negotiate with them to let three of our family’s maids work for you. You should say
straight up that you cannot entrust your body to anyone other than our family’s maids. It
would be nice to scratch their egos if they can’t even allow that much. Can you do well?”

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I have to pretend that I do.
Count Riegelhoff, who had been writing tonight’s scenario for a long time, did not pay
attention to my answer and started to curse Duke Ludwig.

Only then did I begin to understand why Count Riegelhoff wanted to destroy the Ludwigs
so badly.
 CHAPTER 3

‘So a man who was worse off than you is now better off and you’re pissed off, isn’t that
right?’

The current Duke of Ludwig and Count Riegelhoff had been rivals since childhood.

However, Count Ludwig, who was less powerful than Count Riegelhoff at the time, was
awarded the dukedom after his great exploits in the war.

Count Riegelhoff believed that the dukedom was stolen from the Riegelhoffs.

“It was supposed to be mine because of my grandfather’s great achievements. But he

stole it, and the Emperor is a fool to give a dukedom to that bastard!”

Okay, well, that’s a mental victory. I get it.

But why do I have to be the scapegoat for this revenge?

According to my newly formed memories, I was going to marry Duke Ludwig’s son as bait
to hide Count Riegelhoff’s dark intentions, and he knew very well that if anything went
wrong, I would be the first to lose my head.

‘Why is my family like this in my past and present life? What did I do wrong?’

I felt like I was about to burst into tears, but I held it together. This wasn’t a family where a
daughter could cry and be comforted.

Still, it wasn’t all hopeless.

In a week’s time, I’ll be out of this house, and I’ll find a way to live in the Duchy of Ludwig,
the main setting of the original story.

‘Yes, there’s a crisis at the beginning of every villainess possession story, and as long as I
don’t do things like Edit did in the original, I’ll survive!’

I made up my mind and prepared myself for the dinner between the two families.

***
Despite my best intentions, I was overwhelmed by the majesty of the Ludwig Mansion.
Riegelhoff Mansion was enough to dazzle me, but a duke is on another level.

Apparently, winning a war against a neighboring country was a big deal, so the mansion is
incredibly large and luxurious.

‘If the Ludwigs, who were less well off than him, were given a mansion like this, is it any
wonder Count Riegelhoff was so jealous……?’

The difference was big enough to make me think so.

And I’m sure it wasn’t just a mansion. I don’t know, but I’m sure he got more, like estates
and coffers of gold.

Anyway, it didn’t matter to me.

‘It’s more important that I don’t get beaten up for interrupting the negotiations today.’

Count Riegelhoff will try to negotiate to send some maids to Ludwig’s mansion.

Of course, it’s not because he’s worried about my safety or livelihood.

The maids he wanted to send with me were all mercenaries, trained in assassination and
theft.

‘How can you even call them maids in the first place?’

Especially Sophia, the maid who brought in my washing water, who was quite a favored
one, and who had been assigned to guard and watch over me at the Riegelhoff Mansion.

She is deferential to me, but in terms of power within the mansion, she is above me.

‘And she is the one who helped Edith do most of her evil deeds in the original story.’

In other words, my life would be considerably safer if I don’t take Sophia with me.

I took a slow, deep breath, trying not to show my nervousness, and followed behind Count
Riegelhoff and my brother, Shane Riegelhoff.

“Count Riegelhoff, Sir Shane Riegelhoff, and Miss Edith Riegelhoff have arrived.”

After a polite introduction by the butler, we were ushered into a large dining room.
At one side of a large, elongated table are the members of the Ludwig family.

‘What a surprise to see characters I’ve only read about or imagined from the writer’s
description!’

I didn’t think much of it when I saw Count Riegelhoff, but when I saw the main characters
of the original story, I was excited.

‘That person is Duke Axel Ludwig, and next to him is Duchess Jocelyn Ludwig, and……
and…… that’s Cliff the male lead!’

As expected, the male lead is so handsome.

With black hair and golden eyes, he looks cold when he shows no expression, but when he
smiles, his beauty is inhuman.

His muscular body made me drool just by looking at his clothes.

‘He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. My heart is aching.’

But Cliff is only for Lize, the female lead.

The one I’m going to marry is the one next to Cliff…… Oh, my God!

Cliff has just been demoted to the second most handsome man I’ve ever seen.

‘I can see now…… why Edith is so crazy about him.’

He’s an enemy, but whatever, if he’s got that visual, you have no choice but to be crazy
about him.

Killian Ludwig is a handsome man with black hair and mysterious gray eyes that give him a
somewhat rebellious aura.

He has furrowed brows, a cold gaze that shows his discomfort, a straight, sharp nose and
jawline…… and an overall more sensual face than Cliff’s.

His physique is similar to Cliff’s, with a broad chest and a slim waist, and then again, thick
thighs– Oops, I guess I’m sexualizing them too much……
Anyway, let’s just say that my unjust death in my last life has been compensated by
today’s eye candy.

And the final visual shock came from the female lead, Lize Sinclair.

Despite not being a member of the Ludwig family, Lize, who also attends the dinner, is so
beautiful that the novel describes her as “the goddess of spring”.

Light blond hair that seems to flow on its own, eyes that look like the blue waters of Jeju
Island—I feel ashamed that my expression is so poor—smooth and soft-looking fair skin,
and a delicate body that I want to protect even though I’m also a woman……

‘Such is the majesty of a Rofan novel’s female lead!’

I gasped at her beauty.

I had to force myself to keep my mouth shut as I felt the word “wow” coming out of my
mouth.

But as if I were the only one mesmerized by Lize’s beauty, Count Riegelhoff’s brow
furrowed in displeasure.

“You have taken the trouble to come. I have prepared some veal for you, as Miss Edith
says she likes it, but I hope you find it to your liking.”

“It is a great relief to me, as a father sending his daughter away, to know that you care so
much, but……” Count Riegelhoff’s voice trailed off at the Duke of Ludwig’s polite greeting.

Then he continued, “Weren’t we supposed to have only members of both families present
at this dinner?”

Cliff and Killian turned cold at Count Riegelhoff’s question, clearly uncomfortable with
Lize’s presence.

Ugh, they are doing what male leads always do.

“Lize is already part of our family. I asked her to come down because I thought it would be
a good idea to say hello, as they will see each other often in the future.”
The Duke of Ludwig explained, but he didn’t look too pleased either. It was clear that if
the Count said one more word, he wouldn’t let it go.

‘Why are you doing this already?!’

I tried to defuse the situation before it got out of hand, but Lize spoke first, “I’m sorry, it’s
not a place for me……”

Killian grabbed Lize’s wrist as she turned to leave. “Lize, there’s no reason for you to be
sorry. You’re part of our family. Those who don’t understand that don’t deserve to be in
our family.”

In the original story, it’s written that Edith’s eyebrows rose sharply at this moment, and
it’s understandable.

But I have no intention of doing so.

My life depended on looking good to Lize, and when I see a pretty girl, I want to get to
know her.

“The Duke and Killian are right, Father. She’s someone I’ll be seeing all the time when I get
married, so what’s the harm in saying hello to her now?”

I can’t tell if I smiled properly because I was nervous, but I did my best anyway.

Count Riegelhoff nodded and smiled humanely. “Well, Miss Lize is kind of like a little sister
to Lord Killian, isn’t she?”

Wow, this is a thing to say the least.

Count Riegelhoff had noticed that both of the Ludwig sons were smitten with Lize.

I fidgeted inwardly, but Killian didn’t say anything and looked away.

Lize could only stare at him in bewilderment as he dodged the question without
answering.

“Now, then, let us begin the dinner.”

Duke Ludwig quieted the uncomfortable atmosphere, as if to say that he would not allow
any further disturbances, and the waiting servants began to serve the food.

Hooray for the world of aristocracy in a Rofan novel, where all you have to do is sit still. A
sumptuous menu prepared by the best chefs is placed right in front of you!

I was worried that Count Riegelhoff was going to go off on a rant again, but he’s very
civilized and polite in front of everyone, probably because he’s the kind of person who
stabs in the back with a smile.

But it was all a facade.

After our second glass of wine, Count Riegelhoff cut to the chase. “By the way, I have no
doubt that the Duke and Duchess will care for Edith, it’s not easy for parents to send their
daughter off to marry.”

Count Riegelhoff looked at me wistfully before turning his attention back to the Duke and
Duchess of Ludwig.

The Duke of Ludwig nodded with a look that said, ‘It’s finally happening.’

“I completely understand your feelings. But don’t worry too much. I will personally take
care of her so that she doesn’t lack for anything.”

“Oh, who am I to ask such a favor of the Duke, I just want to send along some of my
daughter’s maids. Perhaps the maids we’ve had for a long time will be more in tune with
Edith’s tastes.”

The crisis has finally arrived.

But Duke Ludwig, being the perceptive man that he was, did not answer immediately, but
paused.

After all, even Edith could be seen as a spy for the Riegelhoffs, and it would not be out of
place for Count Riegelhoff to bring in more of his own handpicked people.
CHAPTER 4

“Our family’s maids are quite skilled even by Miss Edith’s standards.”

“Did Duchess Ludwig not bring a single maid with her when she married?”

“Well……”

In many ways, the conversation was in Count Riegelhoff’s favor. It would have allowed him
to bring Sophia in with Edith.

Count Riegelhoff looked at me again, this time with a kind and affectionate look on his
face, as if to conclude the negotiation.

“My dear Edith, Duke Ludwig is unwilling to allow you to bring a few maids with you; I
don’t know what to do.”

I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought of bursting into tears at any moment, but I
had to keep my wits about me. My decision here would determine my life.

“I’m fine…… I don’t need to bring a maid.”

“Huh……? E- Edith……?”
“After all, the Ludwig family’s maids are only as good as ours, and I don’t want any maids
to leave our mansion because of me, so you don’t have to think about sending me a maid,
Father.”

The Duke and his two sons were watching me with sharp eyes. They seemed to think I was
going to cushion myself and then demand other terms.

But I am innocent, gentlemen!

“Please forget my father’s request, Your Excellency. My father is too anxious to give me
away in marriage when I am still so young.”

“No, well……”

The Duke of Ludwig sounds like he’s in trouble. I can’t be weak-hearted here!

“As the daughter-in-law of the Ludwig family, I don’t want to be seen as a spoiled lady. I’ll
come alone, and I’m sure the Duchess will have a good maid for me.”

I forced myself to smile as benignly as I could.

The corners of Edith’s eyes were slightly upturned, making it difficult for me to put on an
innocent face.
The Duke and Duchess nodded their heads in agreement, albeit with a hint of irritation,
and Count Riegelhoff’s face hardened.

As soon as we were in the carriage and out of the mansion gate, Count Riegelhoff burst
out. “Are you out of your mind?!”

I was afraid he would slap me, but I’m glad he didn’t. From now on, I have to act with all
my might.

“Father, didn’t you see the look on Duke Ludwig’s face earlier?”

“……what?”

“He had already realized what you meant when you said you wanted to send the maids
along. What could I do if you made such a blatant demand?”

Count Riegelhoff’s eyelids trembled at my words.

It must have been strange to hear his daughter, who was always so good at doing what he
told her to do, stand up and say something out of left field.

But I couldn’t back down now.

“What’s the point of bringing a maid in if you’ve already aroused suspicion? There will be
more prying eyes around, and that’s why I’d rather not have one, Father.”
“That’s……!”

“Have you forgotten what the primary purpose of this marriage was? It was to dispel their
suspicions. First, we must blunt the blade of vigilance they have set upon us.”

Well, that’s what you get when you’re a marketing department staff speaker on the
Korean peninsula who’s been practicing presentation skills since college!

As if on cue, the Count’s fierce expression softened.

“So, what are you going to do next……?”

“For now, I’ll enter alone, and when their suspicions are allayed, I’ll make an excuse,
homesickness or whatever, and tell them I’m bringing a maid with me “just for a while”.
They won’t stop me from doing that.”

“Hmm……”

“Don’t spoil things by being impatient, Father.”

In the end, Count Riegelhoff was persuaded by me.

I felt as if the sword aimed at my throat had moved ten centimeters away.
And here I am, after a crazy week, standing in this black comedy of a wedding.

The priest is still reciting prayers. In Korea, the trend is to do away with long, boring
ceremonies, but I guess that hasn’t caught on here yet.

“And so the faithful children of the Creator build another nest, Hershan, bless the rings
they share, and the everlasting covenant that is in them.”

Ah, finally, the exchange of rings.

I turned toward Killian as I had practiced.

Unlike me, who turned easily in my uncomfortable dress, he turned slowly, barely, as if he
really didn’t want to do it.

His formal attire, now that I could see it properly, was stunningly gorgeous, but I felt like I
was asking for a major accident if I stared at him now.

Fortunately, this revealing dress was keeping me sane.

‘Yes, yes, Killian. I know how you feel, so let’s get this over with.’

I mean it. I want this uncomfortable, awful time to be over, too.

Two ring bearers approached with the rings on a small cushion. They couldn’t be more
than seven years old, and they are so cute.

In contrast to the adults of both families, who looked as if they were about to eat each
other, the cheeks of these children were flushed with the joy of being a part of a beautiful
wedding. I could only smile at them as they melted my heart.

Killian glared at me, then picked up the ring.

I politely held out my left hand, and Killian slipped the bridal ring onto my left ring finger,
barely touching my hand at all.

He didn’t even support my left hand with his other hand.

‘Wow, he really doesn’t like me.’

What happened next was even worse.

He reached out and snatched the groom’s ring before I could pick it up. He put it on
himself and then stood facing the priest as if he had finished his business.

I was the only one standing awkwardly facing him, trying to pick up the ring.
The guests from the groom’s side burst into laughter, and the guests from the bride’s side
looked like they would rise up in anger at any moment.

I wasn’t okay with it, but showing my displeasure would only make things worse.

I kissed the children lightly on the cheeks and turned to face the priest.

I felt a faint chill radiating from Killian and thought to myself, ‘Yeah, it’s okay to not have a
man in my life.’

I should be content to have a good life and a healthy body after having nothing, but I’ll be
punished if I’m greedy enough to want a man.

‘A life of leisurely enjoyment of my hobbies without fear of being beaten by my father or

brother. How nice!’

If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to use the heir’s excuse to sleep with that handsome, fit man a few
times.

If that doesn’t work out and I’m lonely, I’ll make a lover later.

Okay, that’s it.

I resolved once again to give up on the “Ro” in the Rofan and enjoy the “Fan” to the
fullest.
The reception, which I was worried would be too crowded and bustling, ended early in a
rather chilly atmosphere.

‘I never thought I’d be so grateful that the two families don’t get along!’

Lize seemed worried that I might be upset, but I was actually grateful.

My dress was too low-cut and I had to keep my back straight all day, which made my spine
ache like it was broken at every juncture. Not to mention my feet in high-heeled,
uncomfortable shoes and my swollen calves.

Just when I wanted to scream that this was torture, Lize, at the Duchess’ request, escorted
me to the bridal chamber.

A waiting maid stripped me of my embarrassing and uncomfortable dress and changed me

into a nightgown.

‘I thought I was going to die before the story began. Ha……’

I breathed a sigh of relief that I was still alive.

After sending the maid away, Lize looked hesitant to say something.
“Is there anything you’d like to tell me, Miss Lize?”

“Oh, well……”

I could have pretended not to know, but I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to talk to
the female lead, no matter how tired I was.

Besides, one of the survival rules for a villainess possession story is to befriend a kind
female lead.

‘A kind and righteous Lize would never avoid my friendly approach, hohoho!’

Laughing slyly to myself like a character hiding a plan, I realized that Lize was beautiful as
she fidgeted with her hands, hesitating to open her mouth.

Dressed in a simple yet classy ivory dress, she was even more dazzling than I was moments
before, when I was covered in sparkling jewelry.

She was more suited to the image of a chaste, shy bride. Which was probably what the
writer was going for.

“I apologize on behalf of Killian for his rudeness to Miss Edith today, and I hope you don’t
hate him too much, because as cold and blunt as he may seem on the outside, he’s
actually a deeply caring person.”
Huh? I remember this scene!

In this scene from the original story, Lize talks to Edith first as she does now.

Then she explodes at Lize, who tells her not to hate Killian, and says, “How dare you wear
a white dress to someone else’s wedding, and how dare you mention Killian’s name in
front of me, his wife!”

Honestly, as a reader, I know all the reasons why Lize said that, but for Edith, who had to
listen to it without knowing what was going on, I think she had every right to be upset.

But who am I? I’m the one who read the whole book.

CHAPTER 5

“I completely understand. Killian was forced into a marriage he didn’t want to be in, and
I’m sure he’s unhappy about it, but that doesn’t mean I hate him; after all, he’s my
husband.”

I tried to sound harmless to Lize, who would soon meet Killian and tell him my story. It
worked, and Lize’s face lit up.

“You’re so mature and sweet, Miss Edith!”

“Oh my, Miss Lize, you are very kind, and your dress looks great on you today– no, I think
it looks great because of you.”

I mean it.

Wow, can she really be this pretty…… I wish I could bite down on those plump cheeks and
munch on them.

Lize, ditch Cliff and come live with me. I’ll take care of you!

“Ah, you must be tired, but I’ve been holding on to you too long. I’m sorry, you can rest,
and Killian will be here later……”

The blush on her cheeks was cute.

I’m sure it’s embarrassing to think about Killian’s first night after being like brother and
sister for five years.

But don’t worry, Lize, it’s not going to happen.

I waved to Lize as she walked away, and I was finally left alone in the silence.

“Whoa, is the wedding episode finally over?”

Flopping down on the bed, I sighed and threw off the nightgown the maid had
painstakingly put on me and soaked in the bathtub on the far side of the room, behind the
curtain.

“Ha…… it’s nice and hot.”

The bathtub was set aside for the couple to wash themselves after finishing their
lovemaking. It was a little hot, but it was just the right temperature for me, who loved
going to the sauna in my previous life.

As I soaked in the hot water, the aches and pains in my body seemed to slowly dissipate.

“Being the daughter-in-law of a duke’s family means you can have a maid help you fill the
bathtub, that’s amazing.”

As annoying as Count Riegelhoff was, and as cold as Killian was, this possession was a
blessing in disguise.

It’s an inconvenient world without smartphones and the internet, but I have luxuries I
never imagined when I was Choi Soo-na.

In this world, there are books, plays, operas, hunting tournaments, picnics, parties, and
balls.
I don’t have to go to work, I’m free from housework, I don’t have to worry about the
balance in my bank account, and I don’t have to worry about my brother threatening to
borrow money in my name.

“Now, if I could only cut ties with my family……”

I have the confidence to live quietly and enjoy my life in the Ludwig family without
disturbing the male lead, female lead, or even the second male lead, my husband, but
Count Riegelhoff is a different matter.

Even if I live quietly, if Count Riegelhoff behaves according to the original story, I will be
accused of being a spy for my family and my head will be cut off.

‘It is a suspicious marriage, indeed, a conspiracy.’

Duke Ludwig suspected Count Riegelhoff of being in league with Archduke Langston, who
coveted the Emperor’s throne, then Count Riegelhoff offered a marriage alliance to prove
his innocence.

It was rumored that Count Riegelhoff favored his daughter Edith, so this was a hostage
situation.

Killian was understandably reluctant, but Duke Ludwig, who had to hold Count
Riegelhoff’s leash for the time being, persuaded him.
This is where Killian’s heartbreaking narrative of falling in love with Lize begins.

“I love you, Lize. I may be another woman’s husband on a piece of paper, but my soul will
always be yours.”

I remember the episode where Killian, locked in a dark room, says that line with one hot
tear running down his cheek.

I can’t let this ship sail, the writer wants to toy with the readers, Lize wants to start a
harem, and all sorts of other silly comments filled the comment section.

In the end, Killian had no choice but to abide by the decision of his father, the Duke. The
good of the family was more important.

‘That’s the sadness of being a second male lead.’

Along the way, the machinations of Cliff, the male lead, may have intervened.

On the surface, it would seem that Killian would be more obsessed with Lize, but in reality,
the seemingly gentle Cliff was far more insane.

Maybe that’s why Killian was eliminated early in the story before things got too serious.
‘Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m just going to take a rest tonight. I’m tired.’

Pushing the complicated thoughts aside for tomorrow, I relaxed. I’d been on edge all week
since I possessed Edith, and now I’m tired.

Drowsiness poured over me as I relaxed, so I laid my head in the bathub and dozed off.

As a result, I didn’t hear someone open the door and walk in.

“You’re a bad bride, washing yourself before your groom arrives.”

“Ahhh!”

I was startled by the sudden sound of a man’s voice and hurriedly covered my chest.

“Who, who……!”

“Is there anyone else in the bridal chamber besides the groom, or is there someone else
you’re waiting for?”

“Huh……? Ki- Killian?”

Killian’s brow creased, not sure if he was offended by being called by his first name or if he
just hated everything about Edith.
But his presence here was a surprise for Edith.

“……I thought you wouldn’t come.”

In the original story, there is a scene where Killian and Lize have a conversation around
this time.

When she tells him to be nice to Edith, Killian grabs her wrist and asks her if she means it,
looks at her with desperation in his eyes, and is about to kiss her before Cliff arrives and
interrupts.

In the end, Killian leaves Lize with Cliff and retreats to his room to drown his sorrows in
alcohol.

If he does that in the original story, isn’t that mean he doesn’t enter the bridal chamber?

Killian snorted at my answer. “Well, at least you have some sense,” he replied.

“Of course I do, you avoided even the contact of sharing a wedding ring, and I’d be a fool
not to see that.”

Killian stiffened, not expecting to be attacked. But I didn’t expect him to feel sorry for me
at all.
To him, Edith Riegelhoff was nothing more than the daughter of a cunning Count and the
cause of his love’s frustration.

“Did you expect a passionate courtship?”

As expected, he retorted with disdain.

Rationally, I should be angry, too.

But right now, I was just bothered by everything, sleepy, and realizing that my life
depended on not being hated by Killian.

Also, it was physiologically impossible to be angry at that face of his.

“I’m just telling you what happened, and I’m telling you that I thought you wouldn’t come
here today because I saw how reluctant you were to have any contact with me, so I
thought…… are you going to sleep here tonight?”

I said it in the softest voice I could muster, but I don’t know how it sounded to him.

He glared at me in displeasure, then turned and walked away without answering.

“……why are you here?”

Has there been any changes to the original story, or is it still the same?

But I don’t have the energy to think about it right now.

I got out of the half-cooled bathtub and dried myself off. Tonight I’m going to sleep
soundly in that fluffy bed, no more worries!

“Killian, shouldn’t you have gone to the bridal chamber?”

Lize stood on the moonlit second-floor balcony, looking just as she had when they’d
parted ways earlier.

The ivory dress she was wearing was so much like a bride’s, Killian wanted to take her
hand and lead her to his bedroom.

But as much as he wanted to, she pushed him away, urging him to go to the bridal
chamber.

“I’ve been there.”

“Then why are you here again?”

“I had no expectations for tonight, and neither did she. Though it was a bit of a surprise.”
Lize’s eyes widened at Killian’s answer. “What do you mean? Obviously, a while ago……”

“She was already in the bathtub by herself, dozing off.”

“……yes?”

Killian chuckled at Lize’s confusion. “Lize, it’s a problem that you think everyone is good.”

“But Miss Edith is a good person, and she was so generous to me at the dinner a week
ago.”

“That’s because she was aware of my father’s eyes, the corners of her mouth quivering
with a forced smile.”

“No way! She was so sweet to me today.”

“You’ll have to think about whether she was really being sweet or smiling while being
sarcastic.”

Killian couldn’t agree with Lize, no matter how fondly she spoke of Edith.

Count Riegelhoff is a man who pretends to be cultured and kind on the outside, but is
really a snake on the inside.
Having grown up under such a man, there’s no way his daughter could be normal.

He pretends to be blind to the hypocrisy of it all now, but it’s clear that Edith came to the
duchy to help her father with his work.

He married her out of necessity to prevent Count Riegelhoff from moving freely, but
Killian had no intention of making the marriage work or lasting.

‘That greedy Count Riegelhoff will dig his own grave before long, and then I can throw that
woman out, too.’

Killian clenched his molars as he thought this, and Lize furrowed her fine brow and gave
him a troubled look.

“What’s wrong, Lize?”

“No, well…… after listening to your words, I wonder if Miss Edith was angry with me
before……”

“What, she was angry with you?”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant, I think I made a mistake.”

“Tell me what happened, Lize.”

Killian’s eyes quickly turned fierce.

Lize chewed her lip, then sighed heavily.

CHAPTER 6

“Earlier, when I was walking Miss Edith out the door…… she complimented me on my
dress. At the time, I thought it was just a compliment, and I was happy……”

Lize fiddled with the hem of her dress. The dress she was wearing today was bought for
her by Killian, who wanted her to wear it at his wedding.

She’d resisted the idea of wearing a white dress to a wedding, but Killian had begged her,
saying, “This is ivory, not white.”

Besides, Edith’s dress is white with a lot of gold threads, so it’s a lot more glamorous than
this dress, so she thought it would be okay to wear something more modest.

But if Edith’s compliment, “Your dress looks great on you,” was meant to be sarcastic, she
must have looked funny for grinning widely in front of her without realizing what she
really meant.

“Do you think Miss Edith was offended?”

Killian gritted his teeth at the mention of Lize’s dress.

‘How cowardly to talk to the powerless Lize, when you know very well that it was Ludwig’s
family who prepared her dress……’

But Killian couldn’t see Lize’s heartbreak at the mention of this.

“No way. Given the dress she was wearing today, there was no way she’d be sensitive
about your dress.”

“Oh, Miss Edith was so pretty today, so sparkly and…….”

“She looked vulgar.”

“What do you mean, Killian, how can you call your own wife vulgar?” Lize asked, looking
shocked.

Killian quickly calmed his ferocity. “I’m sorry, that was a harsh word to use in front of
you.”

“Your apology should not be to me, but to Miss Edith! Don’t you even feel sorry for her?
She’s come here alone, where she doesn’t know anyone, trusting only you, and you’re
supposed to look after her.”
But Lize’s concern for Edith broke Killian’s heart.

He grabbed her wrist and asked in a low voice, “Did you mean what you said?”

“Killian……!”

“You’re mean, Lize. Do you really have no idea how I got through today……?”

Lize’s blue eyes trembled uneasily.

Killian was sure she knew his heart.

Lize was someone who could not express any opinion about this marriage. Maybe this was
her way of trying to soothe his heart.

“Lize……”

“Killian, I’m…… I’m……”

As Lize was at a loss for words, Killian lifted her chin, the look of surprise on her face was
adorable.

How comforting it was to see such sweetness and innocence, like spring sunshine.
Killian slowly brought his lips to hers.

“Lize!”

If it weren’t for the interruption, Killian might have been able to kiss her.

“C- Cliff!”

Pulling away from Killian, Lize waved at Cliff with an awkward smile.

“That guy is really……” Killian growled lowly, but Lize pretended not to hear.

And then Cliff who had ruined Killian’s precious moment walked over, looking as if he
hadn’t seen the two about to kiss at all.

“I’m surprised you’re not in your room. It’s late at night, but Killian, why are you out here,
leaving the bride alone?”

“If you feel sorry for her, my brother, go and comfort her.”

“I don’t want to create a scandal about coveting my brother’s woman.”

With Cliff refusing to back down when it came to Lize, Killian was finally forced to turn his
back.

If word got out that the Ludwig brothers were fighting over Lize on the second son’s
wedding night, it was Lize who would be in trouble.

He didn’t want to make it worse for Lize, who had enough trouble with rumors as it was.

Feeling his heart ache like it had been cut by a sharp knife, Killian went into his bedroom
and grabbed a drink.

It was one of those nights when he needed a drink to help him fall asleep.

***

I tried to sleep in until the sun was high in the sky, but in the morning, my eyes opened by
themselves
Even though I had already possessed Edith, my biological clock alarm as an office worker
still went off at 6 am.

‘Oh, I’m tired…… huh?’

Naturally, I was expecting to feel like my whole body was going to break, but it was
actually quite bearable.

‘Wow, this is the stamina of a twenty-two-year-old– no, a healthy person!’

I wasn’t even this fit when I was twenty-two, so this must be a basic fitness issue, not an
age issue.

‘This is so good. I love it!’

I’m so happy that I didn’t get sick after all I went through yesterday.

And as the saying goes, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, so not being in pain made
me look at the situation more positively.

‘If I do well, I might be able to live as a beloved daughter-in-law. My husband may have
lost his mind to another woman, but my in-laws won’t be the same.’

I was told that I would hate my in-laws when I got married, but I didn’t care as long as I
could be loved by the people I called in-laws.
‘Okay, first of all, greet them!’

It was a bit of a Korean tradition, but I don’t think any in-laws would dislike their daughter-
in-law greeting them the morning after the wedding.

Besides, isn’t one of the rules of survival for a possessed villain in a Rofan novel to win the
heart of the main supporting character?

I jumped up and down with excitement, then paused.

‘Should I drop some blood…… or something on the bed?’

In some Rofan novels, a noble couple would go through the bedding where they spent
their first night and check for bloodstains.

Only then would the marriage be officially recognized……

But I quickly shook my head.

Killian’s eyes would jump out from glaring at me if I did something like that. Because he’s a
man who will keep his virginity for Lize.
‘He is indeed a handsome virgin, but deceptively taking the virginity of a second male lead
is a bit much.’

Would the original Killian, who didn’t give up his love even after being rejected by Lize,
have remained a virgin until his death?

I mourned Killian in my heart and tugged at the string. As I pulled the string, I couldn’t help
but smile.

“Did you sleep well, my lady?”

“Yes. Could you please wash my face and groom me?”

“Sure. I’ll have the water ready in a moment.”

The well-mannered maid, who, unlike Sophia, could not make eye contact with me and
bowed her head, retreated without a sound of footsteps.

”Lady’ she said, no matter how many times I’ve heard it, it’s a strange word.’

I’m married, but I’m still called a lady. For if I were called Madam Ludwig, one might
confuse me with the Duchess.
Sooner or later Killian would be granted some of the Ludwig family’s estates and the title
of Count, and only then would I be called a Countess.

‘The original Edith died without ever hearing the word ‘Countess’.’

I took a deep breath, realizing that if I messed up, I could follow in her footsteps.

With the help of the maid, I tried to transform myself into a true daughter-in-law.

But the problem was the clothes.

The Riegelhoffs had sent me a number of dresses to show off their wealth, but they were
all so extravagant and cut deep in the chest that I didn’t know where to look.

“What did you say your name was?”

“Anna, miss.”

“Yes, Anna, go to the boudoir and ask them to cover the bust of this dress in a more
natural way. Take off all the frills, now!”

“Yes, miss.”
In no time, Anna obediently grabbed the dress and ran to the boudoir.

Seeing her obedient attitude, I realized how badly Sophia, the Riegelhoff’s maid, had
treated me.

‘Well, to her, I must have been the Riegelhoff’s pet dog.’

Just someone dressed up pretty to look at, but nothing more than a dog.

It was a stroke of fortune to leave Sophia behind.

When Anna returned, she brushed my hair and applied a light coat of makeup, while the
Ludwig family’s quick-fingered maids altered my dress and sent it on its way.

I asked them to cover up my ample bosom, and in that short time, they managed to
remove the ruffles and make it look like it was originally designed like this.

After removing the glamorous embellishments, the dress was finally wearable.

‘I’ll have to get the rest of my dresses altered soon, because how am I going to wear
them?’
I looked at the pile of Edith’s dresses and sighed softly. Even just a glance at them is
enough to make my head spin.

If I wore those, I’d definitely be labeled “extravagant and vanity Edith” by the people here.

Anyway, for now, the greeting came first.

I changed into a more modest dress and sent Anna to announce my arrival to the Duke
and Duchess.

Fortunately, the Duke and Duchess did not refuse my visit.

“I think you can go right now.”

“Yeah, okay, but how do I look?”

“You look beautiful.”

Even if an AI replied, it would be more polite than that……

‘People in this mansion are probably wary of me……’

Perhaps the maids were also ordered to be careful with their words in my presence.
I decided to be generous and understanding with Anna.

“If you say so, I suppose. Well then, will you escort me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Straightening my back, but with a slight smile on my face so as not to appear too arrogant,
I made my way through the hallway to the small parlor that connected to the Duke and
Duchess’ chamber.

CHAPTER 7

The Duke and Duchess of Ludwig, dressed in comfortable clothes, were making tea in the
parlor.

A teacup was placed on the side of the table opposite them, as if they were making room
for me.

“Greetings to the Duke and Duchess. Did you have a restful night?”

“I slept well, thanks to you. You must have been tired last night, and to be here greeting
us this morning makes me wonder if you are too nervous.”

“I rested well, too, thanks to the consideration of everyone in the mansion. Thank you.”
Duke Ludwig’s expression was a bit stiff, but the Duchess accepted my greeting with a
rather generous expression.

I naturally sat down across from them and grabbed a cup of hot tea to drink.

As we made light conversation, they didn’t ask me why I hadn’t brought Killian with me or
how my relationship with him was.

‘Well, looking at the fact that they only prepared one cup of tea……’

It had already been reported that he had not slept in the bridal chamber last night.

They would have no reason to bring it up against him.

Instead, the Duke asked a question that seemed to be a subtle attack on me. “I know that
the Count has raised you to be so precious and fine…… but I wonder if you know anything
about being a hostess in a noble house, though of course you can start learning now.”

This is where reading the original story really comes into play. If I’d been asked this
question without thinking, I would have been stumped.

“I can manage cash flow and organize documents. Of course, if the Duke has separate
teaching for that, please teach me and I will get up to speed as quickly as possible.”
“Well…… it appears that the Count has certainly taught you that.”

His tone was sarcastic, as if he thought I’d come to steal the family’s financial records and
internal documents.

“If you don’t believe me, please teach me something else. I will do my best to learn.”

“Ahem.”

The Duke of Ludwig coughed unnecessarily, not expecting Edith to say that outright, and
the Duchess glanced at him while patting him on the side.

Perhaps the Duchess would be more understanding than the Duke.

The Duchess smiled and answered on her husband’s behalf, “I’m glad to hear you’ve been
learning about accounting and organizing documents, then why don’t you help me with
my work starting in two weeks? It shouldn’t be too difficult. If you want to take a break,
you can start next month.”

“Why wait until two weeks from now? I don’t have anything to do anyway, so if you can
just give me the job today, I will do my best.”

Then, as an afterthought, I added, “Oh, and I’m sure you will need some time to
reorganize things as well…… so feel free to call me whenever you need me, madam.”
She’ll probably have to leave out the documents she doesn’t want me to see.

But the Duke and Duchess are veteran nobles who don’t show their hearts in front of me.

“I’m not the kind of mother-in-law who puts my daughter-in-law to work as soon as she
arrives. Besides, you’ll need time to get the things you need to stay here.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Speaking of which, if you need anything, let me know.”

“Well, then…… would it be possible to get someone from a boutique if you don’t mind?”

Their eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then they smiled awkwardly and nodded.
They probably thought I was about to order expensive dresses with the Ludwig family’s
fortune as soon as I got married.

‘Yes, it’s good that you have such low expectations, so you’ll think more highly of me
later.’

I didn’t say what I was going to call a dressmaker for, because I had a somewhat devious
idea.
“And I think I need to familiarize myself with the layout of the mansion first, it’s quite
large, could you assign someone to show me around?”

“That can be done by Killian……”

“Killian is busy.”

I don’t need his guidance as I am determined not to run into him as much as possible in
the future. It’s not like he would have offered to do it in the first place, though.

The Duke and Duchess must have realized they were talking nonsense, because they
immediately summoned the butler.

“This is Philip, the butler. He knows the mansion best, so let him show you around.”

At the Duchess’ introduction, Philip bowed politely with a faint smile. “My name is Philip
Clement. Please call me Philip. It is an honor to serve the newest member of the Ludwig
family.”

“It’s a pleasure, Philip. I’m afraid I’m taking up too much of your time, though, being the
butler of the Ludwig family, you must be very busy. I’d rather just be guided by a maid……”

“This was originally Killian’s responsibility. I can’t just assign a maid to take Killian’s place.”
I wonder if the Duchess is feeling sorry for me, which would be nice.

“In that case, I will gratefully accept your favor.”

I bowed to the Duke and Duchess and quickly followed Philip out the door.

It would be much more fun to look around the mansion than to sit in my room with
nothing to do.

And the choice was brilliant.

“This is the Sistine Hall, which houses art from Duke Ludwig’s collection. We rotate the
displays once a month.”

Masterpieces hang on every wall of the spacious room, with statues in between.

‘I can’t believe you have an art museum at home with different displays every month,
that’s amazing…….’

In my previous life, even if there was an exhibition I was interested in at the city museum,
I couldn’t go because I didn’t have time or couldn’t afford the ticket price, but here I can
see such high-quality artworks for free!
When I thought about it, my heart skipped a beat, even though not all of these paintings
and sculptures were mine.

“Is it okay to come and look at them at any time, or do I have to ask someone’s
permission?”

“If you’re a member of the Ludwig family, you’re welcome to come in anytime.”

I suppose that would include Lize, but who am I to judge?

At least I have one place to go when I’m bored. Although there are many other interesting
places.

“This is the jewelry showroom. The Duke’s jewelry is displayed here, and the Ludwig
family members use it for important parties. Unlike Sistine Hall, you must have permission
from the Duke or Duchess to enter.”

There’s a room where the jewelry sparkles,

“This is where the weapons and armor are kept. It’s where the Duke and the young
masters usually come, and the weapons stored here are all made by renowned
craftsmen.”

There’s also a room filled with extraordinary blades,

“This is the Great Library, the heart of the duchy.”

There’s also an enormous library.

‘It’s going to take me forever to go through all of this.’

With so many things to do, I got excited and full of happiness.

I tried to control my expression, but the corners of my mouth kept turning up, so I guess I
just smiled as I followed the butler.

“The mansion is large, so you can’t see everything in one day. I’ll show you this part of the
house today, and I’ll show you more the day after tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Philip. You have such a nice voice and way with words, I lost track of time.”

“You’re too kind.”

My compliment to Philip was genuine, not an attempt to flatter him.

He was obviously wary of me, but he didn’t show it, and he treated me respectfully.
He didn’t seem like a talkative person, but he was able to pick out the most important
points of each room, making me feel like I was being tutored by an expert.

After a pleasant morning with Philip, I decided to follow him back to my room.

Philip even showed me a new route, but he didn’t stop there. “This is the Great Hall. It’s a
great place to see the beauty of the courtyard, and the Duke himself enjoys strolling and
talking here.”

“Wow…… no wonder, it’s so beautiful.”

The Ludwig Mansion is a feast for the eyes wherever it looks, be it the people, the
mansion, or anything else.

‘I’ve always regretted that I never traveled abroad in my previous life, but I never thought
I’d be rewarded like this after my death.’

Visiting European ancient castles would not have been as exciting as this. It’s so much
more fun to see a real, inhabited castle than to see an old castle that’s just a remnant of
history.

‘So pretty.’
Vaulted shadows colored the floor and walls, and ivy, just beginning to turn green,
climbed the pillars.

Over the railing, I could see the well-maintained courtyard. Lize, Cliff, and Killian having
tea on the opposite balcony……

“Oh, well, the young masters often have tea at this time of day, but today they happen to
be with Miss Lize.”

Philip, whose gaze had fallen upon them at the same time as mine, was quite flustered, in
contrast to his hitherto calm demeanor.

‘The groom, having left his bride, is having tea with another woman. It’s understandable
why Philip was flustered.’

Moreover, I am reputed to be a wicked woman, and Philip will think that I must be in
some sort of rage.

There’s a scene in the original story where Edith witnesses this, and she glares menacingly
at Killian and Lize until they turn to look at her.

Naturally, she only received a disdainful glance from Killian.

But I was happy enough just by confirming the Duke’s wealth and high taste.
“Mm-hmm, I see. By the way, the courtyard will be even more spectacular in the spring.”

“Yes- yes, that’s right.”

“I’m sure I’ll be out here quite a bit in the future, so shall we continue?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Let’s go.”

I smiled brightly and followed Philip.

His eyes looked at me with pity for some reason, but I must be mistaken. It must be Killian,
not me, that the butler was feeling sorry for.

CHAPTER 8

“So, what was her reaction?” Duke Ludwig asked Philip, who had given Edith a tour of the
mansion.

“She followed my instructions well, and has a surprisingly good grasp of the layout of the
mansion, especially the Sistine Hall, where the artworks are displayed.”

“Did you notice anything strange?”

“No, not at all. In fact, contrary to the rumors, she was very dignified.”

“Ha! Count Riegelhoff must have trained her for that.”

Duke Ludwig furrowed his brow and tapped his fingertips against the end of his chair’s
armrest.

She might have been trained by that snake, but surely Edith was not as rumored.

At yesterday’s wedding, in addition to her vulgar dress, she maintained an elegant and
upright posture to greet the guests, and although she must have been tired, she didn’t
lose her smile throughout the day.

Even after Killian’s rude behavior during the ring exchange, she kissed the ring bearers
affectionately and didn’t make things awkward.

She doesn’t match the rumors that label her as arrogant and inconsiderate.

‘Rumors are often inflated by sensationalism……’

In fact, he and his wife had braced themselves for a visit this morning.

They had already heard that Killian had not spent the night in the bridal chamber.
They knew she would come and question them. Whether it was about how they raised
their son or how he disrespected her, Edith had plenty to say.

But she literally came to say good morning.

The Duke tried to provoke her, but it only backfired.

‘Killian, he’s making things difficult, and we’re running out of things to say!’

It was no secret that Killian was in love with Lize.

Duke Ludwig loved her as much as his own daughter, and had planned to make her his
daughter-in-law.

But until this year, Count Riegelhoff had to be kept on a leash to keep him from aligning
himself with Archduke Langston, so he could not refuse the offer of a marriage alliance
with Edith.

As sorry as he was for Killian, he couldn’t give Cliff, his heir, the daughter of Count
Riegelhoff, and after much persuasion, Killian and Edith were finally married.
“Don’t force me to be anything more than a couple on paper.”

Killian walked away with those words, looking as if he had lost his soul, and the Duke
could say nothing.

But Edith was rumored to be a wicked woman, and Killian’s neglect of her would at least
maintain his justification for expelling her later.

I never thought Edith would be so calm and docile……

Duke Ludwig sighed, and Philip coughed lowly beside him.

“As a matter of fact…… on our way back through the Great Hall, Miss Edith spotted Young
Master Killian on the balcony opposite.”

“Balcony? No way……!”

Duke Ludwig frowned at the word ‘balcony’. On the balcony of the Great Hall, Lize and his
two sons often took tea.
“Yes…… Miss Lize was having tea with Young Master Cliff and Young Master Killian.”

The Duke covered his forehead with his hand.

Yesterday was the wedding, and the groom had not even spent the first night in the bridal
chamber. The next morning, the bride saw him flirting with another woman.

Even if the Duke was in Edith’s position, his blood would have boiled.

“There must have been a fuss.”

“Well……”

“Did he say anything? I mean, did he say anything to make her feel better?”

Philip was no stranger to the Duke’s nervous moods, as Edith’s reaction baffled him as
well.

“It…… didn’t bother her at all.”

“……what?”

“I don’t know what she was thinking in her mind, but she didn’t make a fuss or get angry
on the spot. She just moved on as if she hadn’t seen anything.”
Even Philip himself could not believe what he was saying, there was no confidence in his
voice. For a moment Duke Ludwig was at a loss for words, because it didn’t make any
sense.

He thought long and hard, and finally came to this conclusion.

“So Edith Riegelhoff isn’t normal either. Tsk.”

***

After returning to my room and having breakfast and lunch brought to me by a maid, I sat
out in the sun on the balcony off my room and took stock of the situation.

I had already given up so much in this novel, but somehow I felt like I would be stretched
thin just to survive.

‘The best thing would be to be part of this family and live a comfortable life, but will it be
that easy?’
I vowed to give up my husband’s love and settle for a good life, but only if they accepted
me.

‘Should I be honest about my situation and appeal for sympathy?’

Everything I’ve ever been was created by my father, and I was actually his abused
daughter, if I appealed to them like this……

I thought about it, but then shook my head.

‘There’s no way the Ludwigs would believe me, and besides, why would Killian accept this
marriage in the first place?

Once he realizes I’m not even worthy of being a hostage, he’ll have the marriage annulled
in no time.

Then I would be kicked out without a penny, without being able to return to Count
Riegelhoff’s family.

Worst of all, I could be killed for betraying my family.

‘Then what about divorcing and leaving?’

My marriage vows state that in the event of a divorce, I will receive a small mansion and
enough money to live on for the rest of my life.

It would be the safest option, but I’d have to find out if divorce is possible in this world
with only a woman’s will.

And even if I did, I’d have to prove that I wasn’t a spy of my family, and there was no
guarantee that they wouldn’t come and harass me.

‘What a pain in the ass. Should I run away at night?’

Maybe this is the most realistic option.

‘Since I have to assume the worst, I have to figure out how this world works and raise
some money.’

Of course, that’s a worst-case scenario plan, and the ultimate goal is to stay quiet in a
corner of the mansion, sucking honey.

‘Anyway, I think I did a good job with the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig today, so I’ll focus
on them from now on. Though it would be nice to get a good look at Lize too……’
Lize Sinclair is destined to be the female lead of this world, but her life before coming to
the Duchy of Ludwig was not easy.

The children of the Sinclair family refused to recognize her as a sibling and bullied her
relentlessly; to them, she was a doll they could play with.

‘Then the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig came to stay at the Sinclairs mansion, and Lize
saved the Duchess from falling off a horse and the Duke took an interest in her……’

When the Duke and Duchess learned of Lize’s poor life, they were outraged that the
young and innocent Lize was being mistreated, and in exchange for a large sum of money
lent to the Sinclairs, they received the “rights” to Lize.

As a result, Lize bore the Sinclairs’ surname, but the Sinclairs could not claim any rights to
her, including parental rights.

‘So, how much money will Lize get when she marries Cliff?’

As a daughter-in-law of the Duke, I could have secured a share in his fortune, but instead, I
became his enemy, and that would be my downfall……

‘In a way, Lize is a character who has all the luck in this world.’

With her on my side, I could easily escape my fate.

In fact, it was the first thought that came to my mind after I possessed Edith, but for some
reason, I was reluctant to do so.

‘Is it because Edith is set up as Lize’s enemy in the original story? I don’t feel comfortable
dealing with her.’

It’s understandable. Lize and Edith are like water and oil.

Even if it’s not a matter of personality, it’s more about how could the man I love hug
another woman?

It was a condition that didn’t apply to me, of course, but knowing that Lize was
responsible for Edith’s downfall made me want to stay away.

‘In this situation, I think it is best to be friendly but keep a reasonable distance, as forcing
yourself to be friendly might arouse suspicion.’

But I couldn’t just sit on my hands.

‘Let’s put being friendly aside, first of all, let’s observe the three of them unobtrusively.’

It’s a rule of thumb.

In order to survive in this world, I need to do some basic research, and the most important
part of that research is the three main characters.

The next day, I dressed as simply as possible, brought along a pair of opera binoculars, and
set out to observe the three from afar while pretending to memorize the layout of the
mansion.

‘If I can find where Lize is, the other two will follow.’

I recalled my memories of the original story and searched for where Lize might be: the
Great Hall, the courtyard, the second-floor terrace, and the garden.

‘Finally, I found her! But why outside, it’s still cold.’

Under a large tree in the garden, she was reading a book, looking as perfect as if she had
been painted.

CHAPTER 9

The way she delicately flipped through the pages of a book with a fluffy shawl draped over
her shoulders was pretty enough to make a woman like me gaze in fascination.

But I was the only one who saw her.

‘Why is she alone? I thought there would be male leads where Lize is……?’

But as soon as I thought that, Cliff appeared out of nowhere.

“Lize.”

“Ah, Cliff!”

“Why are you out here when the wind is still chilly?”

That’s what I wanted to ask too. It’s too cold to be outside reading a book. I’m cold, too.

“It’s just so stuffy being cooped up in my room. I know it’s chilly, but the air is so fresh, it’s
like I’m breathing.”

“What if you catch a cold,” Cliff said softly and sat down, snuggling closer to Lize.

He asked again, “What are you reading?”

“A book on imperial history, because I’m not very educated…… but in case I can be of any
help to the Duke……”
Lize is on the family register of the Count of Sinclair, but she has been ignored as an
illegitimate child and has not been taught any of the things that nobles are supposed to
learn.

She felt indebted to the Duke and Duchess for treating her like a daughter, and she always
carried a book with her for fear of embarrassing them somewhere.

‘Poor thing, is it Lize’s fault she was born out of wedlock? It’s her father’s fault for
mistreating her!’

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Cliff wrapped his arms around Lize’s
shoulders sympathetically and kissed her lightly on the head.

“You will never be someone else.”

“But……”

“If you’re reading it because you like it, then fine, but if you’re reading it just because you
want to be like someone else, then stop. All you have to do is enjoy yourself here, Lize.”

Cliff soothed her sweetly, but there was something bitter about her smile. And I think I
know what she’s feeling.
‘Cliff, since you know everything, you’ll think it’s okay. But those who can’t learn and don’t
have it don’t think so.’

No matter how much Cliff embraces her, he can’t make her feel better about herself.

I think she should find her own way and study for herself.

But Cliff is obsessed with her, and he doesn’t want her to be on her own without him, so
he’s subtly flirting with her with those words.

Meanwhile, I saw Killian approaching.

“If she wants to study hard, why bother her? Lize, do whatever you want to do, and if
that’s what makes you happy, I’m here to help.”

It was a different kind of comfort than Cliff’s, but if I were Lize, I would have been more
grateful to Killian.

But it was a weak line for a second male lead to say.

“I’ll give you everything, all you have to do is look at me,” is the line a male lead would say
in a situation like this.
‘Killian, I agree that you’re right, but that’s why you can’t beat Cliff, he’s an obsessive,
twisted male lead.’

Cliff would rather have Lize be the one who can’t do anything without him. He can
tolerate Lize being sweet to Killian, but he’s really anxious about her doing anything on
her own without needing him.

Anyway, as I expected, two male leads gathered around Lize.

‘But don’t they have jobs? Do they have time to follow Lize around all day?’

Noblemen are supposed to have the virtue of not working, but they were just hanging
around Lize in circles that made me wonder if they were playing too much.

‘If it were me, I’d kick them out for being a nuisance, but Lize is so accepting of them.’

I don’t know if she knows there’s no point in chasing them away, or if she’s just oblivious
to the fact that they’re clinging to her……

Either way, it’s not normal, that’s for sure. Or maybe that level of obliviousness is a
standard characteristic of the female lead of a Rofan novel.
‘No, but wait, if Edith had married Killian, wouldn’t it have been the beginning of the
fourth volume of the novel “I Refuse Your Obsession”, and wouldn’t she already be
leaning towards Cliff……?’

That’s why we could have a storyline where Killian marries the villainess.

But in hindsight, I can’t tell to who Lize’s heart is more attached.

Maybe the two male leads really didn’t notice, because even I, as a reader, was confused.

‘Wow, Lize Sinclair, you’ve got some serious fishery management skills.[1] I need to learn
some of that stuff.’

[1] “Fishery” is a term for how one dates several people at the same time without getting
into a serious relationship. The fish here are assumed to be the people one is dating. If
you’re dating a lot of “fish” at the same time then you obviously have good fishery
management skills.

If she doesn’t know it, she’s an innocent woman; if she does know it, she’s a wicked
woman. Of course, Lize is an innocent female lead.

“Killian! Why are you coming alone, where’s Edith?”

Killian stepped closer, and Lize greeted him warmly.

But did you really need to bring my name up there, Lize?

“What’s going on with her is none of my business.”

As expected, Killian’s voice went dry in no time.

“But if Edith is bored by herself, I’m sure she’ll be–”

“Lize, you shouldn’t care so much about her. She’s just a hostage who’s here for a while
and then will leave. Think of her as such.”

Ugh, so that’s what he thinks of me.

Well, that’s how it was in the original work. Killian viewed the marriage as a “temporary
disaster” that would have to be endured.

And it became a reality. Before the fifth volume had even begun.

‘That’s enough observing for today.’

Feeling a chill around my neck, I turned and walked back to my room.

Killian’s words haunted me for the rest of the day.

***

With a clang, the expensive teacup shattered.

“Ahh! Have you lost your mind? Why would you want that woman!”

The voice, shrill as a scream, was hysterical.

Damien Sinclair, who had been summoned by a scurrying maid, looked pitifully at his
sister Leila, who was throwing a tantrum again.

“What’s the matter this time?”

Leila snapped her head around at the bored tone of his voice and glared at him.

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“There are several things, and which one is it?”

“Edith Riegelhoff is married to Killian Ludwig!”

“Oh, that one?”

The Sinclairs were not invited to the wedding. The reason given was that they wanted to
keep the ceremony intimate and simple, but the Duke’s closest confidants were in
attendance, and Count Sinclair’s pride was shattered.

The fact that the bride is the daughter of the Count of Riegelhoff drives Leila almost mad.

The Riegelhoffs were on bad terms with the Sinclairs, and Leila has had a crush on Killian
for a long time.

It made her sick to her stomach to see Edith acting so arrogant about being the soon-to-be
daughter-in-law of House Ludwig……

“Why does it have to be Edith Riegelhoff? Why!”

“I suppose House Ludwig has a hobby of collecting unworthy women.”

“Is that something to be laughed at?”

“So what, you think that seat should have been yours?”

Leila’s face flushed with anger and shame. “You’re the heir, and I’m the daughter, and I’m
trying to find a good marriage to help my family in any way I can, and you’re so
nonchalant about it?”

Hearing this, Damien didn’t seem all that offended. In fact, there was an oddly relaxed
look on his face.

“That’s why you’re only a daughter, and that’s why I’m the heir to this family, you fool.”

“What?”

“You go out to parties and come back talking about nothing. I come back with important
stories of the social world.”

Leila slowly released her grip on the hem of her skirt. “Have you heard any rumors……
about this marriage?”

“Of course.”

Damien gestured to the shivering maids to clear away the broken teacups and sat down
across from Leila.
With brown hair that isn’t quite as light as Lize’s blonde, but still noticeable, and blue eyes
that aren’t quite as clear as Lize’s, Leila has a fierce temper that belies her pretty
appearance.

The only people she can trust are her brothers, Damien and Anton, and her parents.
Damien, her brother, is the one she relies on the most.

“What’s the rumor? Just tell me already!”

“Oh, look at your temper……”

Leila urged, but Damien only opened his mouth after leisurely sipping the freshly prepared
tea the maids had brought.

“Do you think Duke Ludwig would trust Count Riegelhoff?”

“You mean Duke Ludwig is a fool if he trusts such a snake?”

“I’m saying this because Duke Ludwig is not stupid. But Count Riegelhoff controls the
distribution of iron ore from the southern mines.”

“And?”
“You do realize that iron ore is an important mineral for making weapons, right?”

Leila didn’t answer, avoiding his gaze.

Damien sighed heavily and shook his head, but he didn’t want to criticize Leila. A woman is
supposed to know how to look pretty and please her husband, and that’s it. If anything,
she will be a pain in the ass if she knows too much.

“Anyway, the right to distribute the iron ore is with Count Riegelhoff until the end of the
year, which is why Duke Ludwig needs to keep Count Riegelhoff on a leash.”

“A leash?”

“There are rumors that Count Riegelhoff has shown an interest in Archduke Langston.”

Archduke Langston is the current Emperor’s uncle and a man who disagrees with
everything the Emperor says. It is also rumored that he covets the throne.

“Isn’t Archduke Langston an opponent of the Emperor?”

“Yes. So what if Count Riegelhoff, who has the iron ore distribution rights, joins the
Emperor’s opposition? It would be very dangerous, wouldn’t it?”
Leila nodded, understanding a little.

CHAPTER 10

“But, Count Riegelhoff is no ordinary cunning man. I wonder if he might have started the
rumor on purpose that he’s siding with Archduke Langston.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That he started the rumor to get Duke Ludwig on his toes, and then offered him a
marriage alliance to convince him of his innocence. Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to
become a duke’s in-law?”

“What a despicable thing to do!”

Damien huffed and sipped his tea again. But Leila’s scowl didn’t lift.

“And what good news is that, anyway? It doesn’t change the fact that Count Riegelhoff is
now Duke Ludwig’s in-law.”

“Oh, my naive Leila. Do you think that just anyone can be a duke? Duke Ludwig is not that
stupid.”
“Stop talking in circles and just tell me!”

Damien smirked and leaned toward Leila. “Of course, if Count Riegelhoff is willing to stoop
to the level of a hostage for his daughter, he probably won’t miss the chance to become
an in-law with Duke Ludwig.”

“What, are you mocking me now?”

“Well, Count Riegelhoff is greedy. He’s been jealous of Duke Ludwig for a long time.
Eventually, he’s going to make a move before the year is out, and Edith Riegelhoff is just a
pawn to be used as a covering and then discarded.”

That Count Riegelhoff loves his daughter dearly is known to everyone in society. But few
knew the truth.

Damien knew something else besides the rumors about Duke Ludwig’s relationship with
Count Riegelhoff.

He still couldn’t get over what he had witnessed while attending a party.

“Stupid bitch! You can’t do anything right!”

“I- I’m wrong, Father!”

Count Riegelhoff, who usually seemed to listen to everything his daughter said, slapped
her on the cheek, and Edith, who usually stood tall and proud in front of her father,
hunched her shoulders and begged for forgiveness.

At first, he thought he was mistaken, but the conversation was unmistakable.

“How many times have I told you it’s not Count Rayvarton, it’s Count Avarton! Get it right
this time. You’re going to approach Count Avarton and get information on the cost of the
Anchorton Bridge. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Father. I’m sorry, I won’t make a mistake this time.”

After watching them for a while longer, Damien was convinced.

‘Edith Riegelhoff’s image as a wicked woman was completely made up!’

Sensual and beautiful, Edith drew all the attention wherever she went, and there were
plenty of men who coveted her. And she charmed them, digging up the information her
father needed.

“No way! Count Riegelhoff would die for that girl Edith!”

“Everyone thinks so, but this is solid information, and you don’t go running your mouth.
This is top secret, okay?”

“Yep. Okay!”

Damien smirked as he watched his sister, who had been so impatient and sassy earlier,
nod meekly.

Then he added sweetly, “Hang in there, Leila. Killian Ludwig and Edith Riegelhoff’s
marriage is only valid until this year, and next year when the iron ore distribution rights
will be in our family, I will give you a seat at Killian Ludwig’s side.”

Suddenly, Leila’s face lit up. “Brother……!”

“So relax, then. No man likes a girl with a furrowed brow.”

“Yes! Thanks, brother!”

Leila smiled happily as she thanked her brother, as if she had never thrown a teacup
before.

***

For a while, I was at peace as Philip showed me around the mansion and gave me a little
insight into the Duchess’ work that I would have to help with in the future.

Perhaps my peace was enhanced by the fact that I was observing the three main
characters but trying not to actually interact with them.

I also decided to shrug off Killian’s unnecessary comments. It was the way the character
was set up in the first place, so who am I to argue?

“Ah, the weather is so nice.”

Closing the book I was reading, I took a long stretch and yawned.
Aside from my precarious situation, this moment was so peaceful.

There hadn’t been a day since I came of age that I hadn’t worried about money.

But now I don’t have to worry about money, I don’t have to worry about work, I don’t
have to worry about my parents or my brother.

I feel like I’m really alive after I died.

Suddenly, I wonder what happened after my death.

‘What would my brother do after I fell down the stairs and died?’

My brother’s eyes were not normal; they were the eyes of a complete gambling addict.

He couldn’t see reality in his eyes. He was always looking at the golden castle in the
faraway fantasy and chasing it.

When you lose that much money, you should realize that it’s a mirage that will never be
caught, but apparently, the gambling establishment makes sure someone wins every once
in a while so they don’t lose customers like my brother.

‘He probably took my wallet first. It would be nice if he could have hidden my corpse in a
decent place, but there’s a good chance he would have left it as it is……’
If time passes the same way between here and there, my brother would have been caught
by now.

The old multi-family house I lived in didn’t have CCTV, but across the street from it was a
luxury apartment complex. There’s no way my brother wouldn’t have been captured on
CCTV at the entrance to the complex.

‘I’d rather he was caught, punished severely, and come to his senses……’

I hope so. Not out of revenge, but because I want him to at least live up to his part as a
human being.

‘I wonder if Mom and Dad were sad?’

My parents, who farmed in the countryside, were responsible for our clothing, feeding,
and taking us to the doctor until we were out of high school, but they were basically not
that interested in their children.

They didn’t want to know about how well I or my brother were studying, what our
friendships were like, what our dreams were, or what our problems were.

And when they found out he was gambling and borrowing my money, they didn’t care.
Maybe they thought it was just a nuisance, but he’s still human, so at least they could
pretend to be sad……

I’d rather they not be sad. If they loved their children so much that they lost the will to live
after my death, that would be more of a headache.

‘Mom and Dad probably took a few days to move on. They would have cared more about
my brother than about me.’

Besides my family, I thought about my coworkers and my ex-boyfriend, but I didn’t really
have much of an emotional connection.

They would have been surprised by my death, but they would have gotten over it quickly.

I felt a little lonely thinking about how no one would have cared about Choi Soo-na’s
absence, but it was a good thing for the people left behind.

‘Okay, that’s it.’

With that thought, I decided to stop worrying about the people left behind in my previous
life.

I sighed, and then Anna told me that the Duchess was looking for me.
‘Let’s focus. Now is the time to worry about the people in my current life, not the people
in my previous life.’

Feeling a little sentimental about my previous life, I braced myself and stood up.

The Duchess received my greeting as graciously as if seeing a true daughter-in-law, and in

a generous voice she broke the good news.

“Edith, I have summoned the dressmakers, as you requested the other day. They’ll be
here tomorrow morning, so if you want to order anything, you might want to think about
it.”

“Wow, already? Thanks for the favor.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks to you, Lize and I will finally be able to match dresses after a
long time.”

After all, you can’t leave out the female lead Lize.

‘Oh, come to think of it, wasn’t this an episode in the original story?’

I called the dressmakers to get my dresses altered, but in the original story, Edith calls to
order expensive dresses. And then Lize is called in, and it’s like a battle of taste between
Edith and Lize……
‘Wow, that’s creepy. Whatever my intentions were, the original plot is still going strong,
isn’t it?’

I actually had goosebumps on my arms.

I asked to call the dressmakers without much thought, but that’s the flow of the original
story……

‘What happened in this episode?’

I pieced together my hazy memories.

I think they each order a design of the dress they want to wear, Lize for something that
suits her, and Edith trying to outdo Lize with a dress that has lots of embellishments.

There’s no way a dress that’s “too much” can be good, and when Lize compliments her on
her dress, Edith is furious, accusing the dressmakers of poor workmanship.

This leads to an argument with Killian, who overhears, and then criticizes her.

‘Well, I’m not buying a new dress, so the outcome would be completely different.’
I just kind of shrugged it off.

I spent the rest of the day picking out the dresses to drop off at the dressmaker and
figuring out where and how to fix them.

The long-awaited next day.

“Miss, there’s someone from the boutique to see you in the Duchess’ parlor.”

“Oh, finally. Thank you, Anna.”

I followed Anna into the Duchess’ parlor, feeling overjoyed.

Lize was already seated in the parlor.

“Thank you for inviting me, Mother. Hello, Miss Lize.”

“Oh, hello!”

Lize jumped to her feet, pleased that I had greeted her first.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen her, and she’s still dazzlingly beautiful.

‘I’m going to have to get used to it soon, but…… I think I’m going to be swooning every
time I see her beauty.’

I almost made a silly face again, but managed to keep it together with an awkward smile.

CHAPTER 11

“Hello, I’m Emily Ruayal of Ruayal’s Boutique, and I’m honored to be here.”

Emily, the owner of the boutique, has soft brown hair and appears to be in her early
forties.

She brought with her a stack of colorful fabrics and lace, as well as a style book full of
various designs.

“Shall we start with the Duchess?”

Mrs. Ruayal took out a style book for older ladies and opened it in front of the Duchess.

After flipping through a few pages, the Duchess looked up and smiled.
“Hmm…… as I get older, I seem to end up picking the same designs every time, so why
don’t you guys pick one for me this time?” asked the Duchess, looking back at me and
Lize.

‘What a surprise, this is an unexpected situation! Why are you giving me a test without
warning?’

A cold sweat ran down my spine.

I know what will happen. Either she will prefer Lize’s design choice over mine, or she will
accept both with Lize’s design getting more compliments.

I’m on pins and needles, but Lize seems rather pleased.

“Are you sure I can do this?”

“Of course, Lize.”

With that, we each had exactly the same style book in front of us.

I calmly looked through the style book, sweating profusely.

This test was clearly stacked against me.

Lize has lived in this house for five years, so she has a good idea of the Duchess’ tastes,
and I……

‘I’ve been in this world for less than two weeks!’

I had no idea my style battle episode with Lize would play out like this……

The flow of the original was much stronger than I expected.

“I’m thinking about this design, I think it would look very elegant on you.”

Lize picked out a blue silk dress.

Mrs. Ruayal quickly took the sample fabric and draped it over the Duchess’ shoulders,
cooing that it was an excellent choice.

Not only that, but she thought it would look very good on the Duchess with a set of pearl
earrings and a necklace, as illustrated in the style book.

‘That’s a very good choice.’

With her wheat-colored hair, amber eyes, and very fair skin, the Duchess would look good
in any color, but blue seems to be the closest to perfect.
“You’ve chosen very well, Miss Lize. It’s the latest design from our boutique. The silk is
also the finest available to the imperial family……”

Mrs. Ruayal was pleased and praised Lize’s discernment.

“And which one did Edith choose?”

“Uh…… I……”

As Lize’s buoyant mood subsided slightly, the Duchess’ gaze shifted to me.

Is this also the flow of the original?

I laid out a picture of a dress with a more ornate design that the original Edith might have
chosen.

Of course, no matter what I chose, I think the Duchess would prefer the blue dress Lize
chose, but……

“The dress Miss Lize picked out would be perfect for you, but I think something like this
would be fine for the occasional day when you want to change up your mood.”
I pointed to a dress of brown silk.

The coppery, lustrous brown silk was delicately vine-embroidered with gold thread, and a
dark purple underdress peeked out from the gap in the robe.

The anglaise (lace or ruffles under the elbow-length sleeves) and trim of the robe were the
same shade of crimson as the underdress.

To my 21st-century eyes, it looked like something a duchess would wear with grace and
class, but I doubt anyone else would.

“Lady Riegelhoff, you have a great eye! I don’t know many people who can appreciate the
beauty of these two color combinations.”

“The dress is beautiful, but don’t you think it’s a little too flashy for me……?”

Again, the Duchess looked a little embarrassed and leaned back.

However, as you get older, you need to wear fancy clothes to look more beautiful!

I tried to put on a good-natured expression and replied, “First of all, Mrs. Ruayal, I’m not a
young lady of Riegelhoff anymore, so if you don’t feel comfortable calling me Madame
Ludwig, please just call me Miss Edith.”
“Oh, my! My mistake, hohoho!”

“And Mother, this dress may look a bit fancy, but it fits in with the genteel Ludwig, and
besides, you have the beauty and class to wear it.”

The die was cast.

The Duchess was embarrassed by my answer, but said she would order the two dresses
Lize and I had recommended.

I had no intention of winning this showdown anyway.

Beating the female lead would only earn me a few death points.

Of course, if I lost, I’d get a backlash, but I encouraged her to try this design as a “change
of mood” just in case.

Sometimes a dress is just a change of mood, so why not be a little flashy?

Anyway, once the Duchess’ dress selection was over, it was time for Lize’s.

“I’m just here to look around. I’m really fine with anything, the dresses I have are
enough.”
Knowing the price of the dress, Lize waved it away.

‘Of course, someone with your beauty would be lauded as avant-garde fashion even if you
wore a blanket. After all, fashion is all about the face.’

“There will be many tea parties soon, so you’ll need a dress with a bright design.”

Shrugging off Lize’s futile protests, the Duchess began to flip through the style book,
looking for a dress that would suit her, and when she found one, Mrs. Ruayal pulled out
the fabric and held it up to Lize.

“How about this one, Lize? The floral print would be perfect for a spring tea party…… oh,
and this one too, the pale blue color and pink ribbon would look really good on you.”

I watched from the side as the Duchess excitedly picked through the pictures of dresses.

And then I also pointed without me realizing it. “This one, too! This kind of pink doesn’t
look good on just anyone, but Miss Lize, with her fair skin and strawberry milk-colored
cheeks, would look really good in this.”

“Oh, I see. I love Edith’s eyes. How about this white empire dress?”
“I think that would make her look too young, something white and simple would be
better.”

I pointed to a Greek robe-style dress. Lize would really look like a goddess in this.

With the beautiful model in front of us, the Duchess and I racked our brains for a while
longer, as there were so many things we wanted to do with her.

It wasn’t that we couldn’t decide, it was that we couldn’t decide what to give up.

Lize could only smile embarrassedly beside me.

“Hah, well then, I guess I’ll just have to get five dresses like this……”

“It was a hard decision, Mother.”

“I know. Next time I call the boutique, I’ll make sure to do it much earlier than the
season.”

Mrs. Ruayal checked out the dresses for Lize, looking pleased as punch.

Then it was my turn.

“Choose a design you like too, Edith.”

“Oh, I didn’t call the boutique to order a new dress.”

“Huh……?”

Rule number one of survival for the possessed villainess in a Rofan novel: reverse the
image!

In the future, I would spend all the money I had, but for now, I needed to reverse my
image.

So instead of being the lady of extravagance, ordering expensive new dresses, I would be
the frugal one—although this is not frugal at all—who altered the ones I had.

I winked at Anna, and she, with the help of a few maids, brought in the ten dresses I’d
picked out that morning.

“I’m going to have these dresses altered, Mrs. Ruayal.”

“Yes……?”

“By any chance, you don’t do alterations?”

“Oh, of course we do, but I’d like to know…… how you’d like them altered…….”

“I’ll explain that to you now.”

I went in front of the maid as she unfolded the dress and explained to her what needed to
be fixed, one by one.

“I’d like you to cover the chest part of the dress as a whole, it’s a bit too exposed and
uncomfortable, please cover it like this.”

“Hohoho, you have much different tastes than you used to.”

“Let’s say so, and I’d like you to take off all the jewelry on these dresses.”

“But the labor alone to embroider those diamond beads must have cost a fortune.”

“That’s why I’ve kept some really elaborate dresses, so please just take these ones off.”

“Oh…… yes, I’ll do that.”

Honestly, I felt good inside because I knew that if I could just take off the jewelry on the
dresses, I’d be able to secure my slush fund.
Having completed the alteration orders for ten dresses in this manner, I checked once
more to make sure Mrs. Ruayal had written them down thoroughly and sat down.

“But, Edith, since someone from the boutique is here, why don’t you order a new dress as
well?”

“I can barely wear all the dresses I brought with me, as there are so many, so I’ll have to
order a new one for next year. Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

In fact, from this day forward, I was deliberately avoiding the title “Duchess” and calling
her “Mother” all the time, trying to establish an inner closeness with her.

I could feel the Duchess’ awkwardness, but titles are harder to change later in a marriage
if you don’t establish them early on.

Anyway, I stood up, praying that this was a success.

CHAPTER 12

‘Hmm? I guess Lize is in a good mood.’

Lize pressed her lips together and tried to hold back a smile. Her eyes were glued to the
style book, and I could tell she was excited about her new dress.
‘She said she only came to see, but she must be happy to have a new dress. She can’t even
express her wishes with her own mouth, poor thing.’

I returned to my room with a light heart, hoping that I had managed to win Lize’s favor.

***

Three days after the wedding, the Duchess began to assign me tasks.

When I arrived at the Duchess’ office, I was greeted by none other than Lize.

“Welcome, Miss Edith!”

She smiled, her face as cheerful as ever.

“Good morning, Miss Lize, I see you’re here early?”

I returned her greeting with a smile.

Knowing the original story, I wasn’t surprised to see Lize in the Duchess’ office, because I
am not the real Edith.

“How can you entrust the family’s documents to someone who is not a family member of
this house, not a noble, and hasn’t even learned anything either……”

It was a valid question, but since Lize was already being treated like a daughter of House
Ludwig, the Duchess found Edith’s complaint quite offensive.

Therefore, I decided to respond with a wry smile. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at this, so
Miss Lize will have to teach me a lot.”

“I’m only good enough to run errands for the Duchess.”

“I don’t think Mother would have just anyone by her side, so let’s get along and have fun.”

Lize led me to a place to sit and work, while the Duchess looked at us with a happy face.

She seemed pleased that we were getting along so well.

Ink and pens, a document tray, and a stack of papers were placed on my desk.

‘Even in this world, I feel like I’m working for a company…… why do Koreans make people
work even in Rofan novels?’

I sighed as I remembered my first day at work.

But one of the life wisdoms I learned in my previous life is that it never hurts to learn
something.

‘Most likely, I’ll end up running away at night, but you never know. Killian might turn
around and take me down to the mansion.’

If he does, I might be able to put what I’ve learned to good use.

“Edith.”

“Yes, Mother!”

“That bundle of papers I gave you is probably not organized at all. They’re probably all
mixed up, and I need you to organize them by date.”
“Do I just need to organize them by date, or do I need to categorize them by client or by
item?”

“I’d appreciate it if you organized them that way.”

“Okay!”

It was such a simple task that I was embarrassed to admit I was nervous.

I picked up a few stacks of papers and started going through them one by one.

‘It’s a problem because there’s a lot, but the work isn’t difficult.’

Although some of the papers were handwritten and took a while to ‘decipher’, I managed
to sort through them with relative ease.

“Wow, Edith has a good head on her shoulders, that’s neat.”

I even got a compliment from the Duchess, who checked out some of the papers I had
organized and stacked.

‘Great, that’s how you change the original story!’

I smiled sheepishly, then made eye contact with Lize and smiled again.

She smiled back.

Just like that, the morning went by quickly.

Even if I did work, it was only for two or three hours at most, which was a bit
disappointing for a Korean worker who is used to working overtime.

“Thank you for today. Please take care of me tomorrow as well.”

As I walked out of the Duchess’ office, humming happily to myself, Lize called out to me
from behind.

“Excuse me, Miss Edith.”

“Yes!”

“Well…… if you’re not too busy, why don’t you come over for tea this afternoon?”

A shy flush came to Lize’s cheeks. She added, “I can’t help it if you’re busy……”
“I’ll come, thank you for inviting me.”

I smiled, clasping my hands together as if I were really happy.

To be honest, I didn’t want to get involved with the main characters, but if I refused, I
could be labeled as a wicked woman for breaking Lize’s heart.

“What time can I come?”

“We will have tea at 3:30 p.m. on the balcony of the Great Hall.”

The word “we” rang oddly in my ears. Lize may have used it subconsciously, but it felt like
she was drawing a line between them and me.

I also felt a little creeped out that it was the same balcony where I saw them last time.

But how dare an extra who wants to get out of the villain role against the female lead’s
words?

“It’s a beautiful day, and I’m sure the courtyard is even more beautiful, so we’ll be there
by three-thirty.”
“Sure. See you then.”

I waved at Lize, my face as cheerful as ever, and turned away.

And the first thing I thought of was the original story.

‘Did the original story have a tea invitation episode?’

There are so many tea parties in Rofan novels that I’m not sure which one this is.

‘Well, we’ll see.’

You can’t avoid all the original episodes.

I think I don’t have to think too hard about it, as long as I don’t do the same evil deeds
that Edith did in the original story.

But then something surprising happened.

“Follow me.”
“Killian?”

It was a little after 3 p.m., and Killian was in my room, asking me to follow him.

It was the first time I’d spoken to him since the wedding.

“What’s going on? I have an appointment with Miss Lize in a few minutes……”

“I’m going there.”

“Ha……”

Apparently, Lize must have sent him to see me first.

I could imagine Lize’s figure forcibly pushing Killian’s back as he grumbled, “Why do I have
to escort her?”

Maybe today’s teatime invitation was planned to somehow make things better between
me and Killian.

‘Lize is having a hard time because of me and Killian.’

I pulled on a light shawl and followed Killian along.

Walking ahead, it was obvious he’d never look back at me, so I enjoyed looking at his back.

‘Kya, look at his shoulders. Is he a former swimmer? Ugh, that waist…… I wish I could do a
back hug.’

But neither his broad shoulders nor his chiseled waist could compare to his toned hips and
firm thighs.

‘I’ve never been so enthralled by a man’s body before. It’s amazing……’

Any woman in her right mind would be swooning if she had a man like this as a husband.

‘But don’t worry. I’m just going to admire him with only my eyes.’

It’s okay for Lize to have him. I’ll just admire him with my eyes and that’s it.

After walking for quite a while in such a happy mood, I was already at the entrance of the
Great Hall.

Killian suddenly turned around.

I was just admiring his butt, so when he turned around, my gaze landed on an
embarrassing spot.

“Mama!”

Involuntarily calling out to my mother, I raised my gaze in surprise.

Sure enough, Killian was looking down at me with a scowl on his face.

“I warn you in advance.”

Alas, a warning.

“Lize is like family to me. She means a lot more to me than you do…… so watch your
language around her.”

That’s the warning?

Now that I’ve listened to it, I’m feeling a little queasy. What did I do?

When I read the original story, I knew that Killian snapped at Edith, but now that I am in
Edith’s shoes, I feel bad even though I already know everything.

“Wow…… you’re hurting me like this?”

A female comedian once said that you have to tell a rude man straight up, “You’re hurting
me.”

But there’s no way our obsessive second male lead is going to let this sarcasm go
unchallenged.

“What do you have to be hurt about, didn’t you come prepared?”

“I’m a human too.”

“A human? Not a snake?”

“You are very polite, Killian. Shall I treat Miss Lize according to the manners of the Duke’s
son?”

Only then did Killian’s mouth shut.

Even though I had promised myself not to expect anything from this man, my heart still
ached.

How hard it must have been for the original Edith, who loved Killian?
“I think you wanted to ruin my mood and make me a meaner woman, and that’s too bad,
because I’m not the kind of girl who gets rattled that easily.”

“What……?”

“Of course, the fact that I was hurt is another matter.”

I walked past Killian’s side without hearing his response and headed toward the balcony of
the Great Hall.

I should smile, but the corners of my mouth wouldn’t budge.

The clueless Lize spotted me, smiled broadly, and waved. “Miss Edith, over here!”

Wow, what a dazzling sight! As expected from the female lead.

At the sight of Lize’s sunshiney smile, my gloomy mood dissipated as if it had been
sterilized.

“Miss Lize! Thank you for inviting me to tea.”

“Thank you for coming, Miss Edith.”

“Well, we’re the same age, and we’re always together…… so why don’t we just call each
other by our first names?”

“Uh, really? Is that okay?”

“Of course!”

Like morning birds, Lize and I sat down to chat about random things.

CHAPTER 13

Cliff was already seated at the table, and Killian, who had followed behind me, took a seat
with a grim expression on his face.

Lize, the hostess of the event, poured tea into the guests’ cups and briefly explained the
refreshments for the day.

I sipped my tea as Cliff and Killian raised their cups.

‘I miss coffee, but this isn’t bad.’

Lize’s tea was fragrant and somewhat sweet, with a clean aftertaste, just like the tea
served at the Duchy of Ludwig.
While I was admiring the flavor, Cliff, sitting across from me, made eye contact with me.

My heart skipped a beat because he was the second most handsome man I had ever seen.

“You seem to be adjusting well to life here……”

I smiled nonchalantly, though I was very curious as to why he said that out of the blue.

“It’s because everyone in the Ludwig family has been so considerate of me, I suppose.”

“But isn’t it too soon to be helping the Duchess with her work already? You’re
newlyweds…… why don’t you take a trip with Killian?”

At that, Killian’s eyes immediately turned vicious.

‘Aha! You’re trying to use me to get him away from Lize, aren’t you?’

I had just witnessed a sibling love affair over Lize. It’s like a shrimp caught in a whale fight.

“Umm, I don’t know, Killian seems to be really busy……”

“Killian’s busy? He hasn’t been doing much lately.”

Killian snorted and shot back. “Maybe you should get out and inspect the estate, it’s
almost winter.”

“Hmm…… I suppose so. Lize, do you want to come with me on the estate inspection? You
said you wanted to try traveling before.”

Gosh, it’s clear that the male lead is one step ahead of the second male lead.

Lize was the only one who looked flustered.

“Oh, I, I……”

“Why are you putting her in such a difficult situation? Lize, you don’t have to mind about
what my brother says.”

“But I’m afraid that if I’m not here…… you’re going to put her in a more difficult situation.”

Lize’s gaze flicked to me for a moment, then away.

I could tell that Killian’s love for Lize was nothing more than gossipy speculation. It’s a little
far-fetched, but you could argue that they’re just getting along like good siblings.
At least, that’s how it is when he and Cliff are hanging around Lize.

But what happens if Cliff leaves to inspect the estate and Killian doesn’t leave Lize’s side?

Even under the same circumstances, they would be seen as a pair in an instant.

Rumors will soon spread that Killian is in love with Lize, and he hasn’t gotten over her,
even as a married man.

As for Lize, it would be even worse.

‘Wow, even though you’re only a year older, you have a different level of thinking.’

I felt like a bit of a spectator.

In the meantime, the refreshments Lize had laid out were really good, and I ate an éclair
instead of popcorn and watched the sibling fight.

Cliff laughed softly at my nonchalance and passed the ball to me. “So, what do you think,
Miss Edith?”

“Yes?”
“Your opinion about me being the only one away from the mansion, that is, the situation
where Lize, Killian, and you will be the only ones to stay.”

Unlike Cliff, who was grinning from ear to ear, Killian and Lize’s faces hardened.

However, rather than feeling sorry for Killian, I became a little annoyed with Cliff’s
behavior for getting me into this fight.

I mean, I know Killian loves Lize, I know he was forced to marry me, and I know I’m in no
position to be loved by Killian, but to play around with a person on your palm is kind of……

So in spite of myself, I replied in a slightly snarky tone, “I don’t care.”

“What……?”

“Well, it’s your duty as the heir, Cliff, to inspect the estate, so if you want to go, you go.
Who am I to tell you to go or not to go?”

“I don’t mean that, I mean–”

“But to give you my honest opinion about taking Miss Lize with you, I think it would be a
bit of a stretch; a long carriage trip is quite an undertaking…… and I think it would be a bit
much to ask her to do it when she’s not even your wife.”
The answer was completely unexpected, and both Cliff and Killian’s expressions changed
at once.

Cliff was still smiling, but he looked a little cold, and Killian looked a little surprised.

And Lize looked like…….

‘Huh……?’

I expected Lize to be embarrassed to be caught in the middle of a sibling fight, but she had
her head down and was smiling faintly.

‘Something’s…… off.’

I don’t know why it felt weird.

I mean, she should be happy to be out of an embarrassing situation thanks to my

defense…… but somehow, it didn’t seem like the kind of reaction I’d expect from a
character named Lize……

“Cliff, do you really need to go on an estate inspection now?”

But when she looked up again, the smile on her face was gone, replaced by a worried
expression that only Lize could have worn.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

Well, maybe I did. The corners of Lize’s mouth were upturned, giving the impression that
she was always smiling.

“No, I’m just saying.”

Cliff reassured Lize with a real smile, not the fake one he’d been giving me.

Then he looked back at me and smiled brightly. “I see you have a very generous heart.”

This guy is an asshole to the core.

Compared to Killian who openly dislikes me, Cliff is more of an asshole for pretending to
be mature, relaxed, and friendly.

“I’m trying to be generous, even at this moment.”

Do you think you’re the only one who can do it? I can do it too. I turned to face Cliff and
smiled broadly.

Oddly enough, I was a little scared that Killian was staring at me too.

‘Killian, you see I’m on your side, so don’t kill me, even if you feel bad. Okay?’

With that selfishness, I winked at Killian.

He is a handsome man, despite his frown.

***

Returning to my room after a somewhat rambunctious tea time, I sat down at my desk
and pondered the original version of this story, “I Refuse Your Obsession”.

‘I’d better get Edith’s dead flags organized.’

The rules of survival for a possessed villain in a– Ah, that’s too long. I’ll just call it the
Survival Rules from now on.
Anyway, all of the possessed characters come up with a plan to organize and avoid the
dead flags by remembering the original story.

So I had to organize Edith’s evil deeds in the original story and figure out how to avoid
them.

I took out a piece of paper and wrote down each of Lize and Edith’s conflicts in “I Refuse
Your Obsession”.

‘So, I guess I avoided poisoning the tea and releasing the snake in Lize’s room because I
didn’t bring Sophia with me, right?’

Sophia is quick and precise when Edith gives her instructions. In that sense, Sophia is a
greater villain than Edith. In a way, she’s a better villain than Edith, just as Kim Dong-il’s[1]
girlfriend is a better detective than him, who can prepare everything he asks her to
prepare in the shortest possible time.

[1] Kim Dong-il is the Korean name of Hajime Kindaichi, the main character of the
Japanese Manga “The Kindaichi Case Files” which is also popular in Korea.

Once again, it was a good move to leave Sofia behind.

But that wasn’t the only attempt Edith made to frame or kill Lize.
‘Edith goes to all sorts of parties and gossips about Lize, pours hot water over her head
while she’s walking in the garden, gives her poisoned embroidery needles, and even puts a
little poison in the cake she sends her and eats it herself. Ugh, poisonous bitch.’

Edith tries to frame Lize as the poisoner by eating the poison herself, but I don’t have the
courage to swallow the poison myself.

I don’t want to get sick. I’ve been sick enough in my previous life.

‘I’m sure there are more, but I can’t remember.’

If more came to mind, I should write them down.

I rewrote it in words that only I would recognize, so that if it was ever found, it wouldn’t
be seen as evidence of a plot to harm Lize.

Right Living Habits

Avoid socializing for a while (don’t go to parties and run your mouth)

Don’t add too much sugar to your tea (don’t put poison in your tea)
Don’t go to bed with the windows closed because bugs are coming in (don’t release
poisonous snakes)

Don’t throw trash out the window (don’t pour tea over Lize’s head)

Hygiene matters for me and for others (don’t eat poisoned cake, don’t give something
poisoned to Lize)

Be grateful for what you have (never covet Killian)

‘For now, I’ll settle for this……’

No matter how much I rack my brain, I can’t remember much more than this right now.

I read over what I’d written once more, nodding my head in confirmation before stopping
at the last sentence.

‘I should be grateful for what I have, do not covet Killian.’

For some reason, I remember his eyes looking at me in a subtle way. His eyes were like a
cloudy day…… I don’t know what he was thinking.

How beautiful it would be if those gray eyes looked lovingly at me……

Hmm, if only they would look at me……

“Gee, I can’t even imagine.”

I could only see him looking at me with disdain, so I couldn’t imagine him looking at me
with love in his eyes. It’s so frustrating that it’s kind of funny.

‘It’s a good thing. What am I supposed to do with imagining something like that?’

I chuckled to myself and circled the “Be grateful for what you have” line again and again.

CHAPTER 14

“Killian? What are you doing there?”

The quiet atmosphere stirred slightly.

“Ah, Lize……”

“What’s wrong?”

Killian, who had been lost in thought on the balcony overlooking the moonlit garden,
smiled faintly as he saw Lize approaching, looking like she had come from the moon.

“No, nothing……”
“Nothing? Is it because of that fight you had with Cliff earlier?”

“Fight with Cliff? Me?”

“I mean…… about the estate inspection……” Lize trailed off, unable to say more.

Suddenly Killian remembered how Cliff had taunted him earlier.

“Alas, that was nothing.”

“Then what is it?”

Killian met Lize’s eyes looking at him with concern.

In the past, he used to love the way Lize looked at him with concern, and sometimes he’d
even purposely pretend to be in a serious mood just to be in her line of sight.

I still like the way she looks at me, but I’m not doing anything stupid to intentionally worry
her. It’s not like I have anything major to worry about, just nagging thoughts about that
woman since tea time earlier.

“Something’s bothering me.”

“You’re suffering alone again. Tell me, maybe there’s something I can do to help.”

“It’s not even worth your time.”

Killian smiled, but Lize, ever the shrewd one, quickly realized something.

“Is this about Edith……?”

Instead of answering, Killian let out a long sigh.

“Why Edith? Do you still hate her that much?” Lize asked again.

“She keeps bugging me.”

“Does she? Edith never even talks about you……”

Killian’s brow creased. “She doesn’t talk about me at all?”

“I’ve never heard Edith talk about you…… and the Duchess gave me a complicated look
when she said she hadn’t heard of it either.”

“Ha……!”
He laughed, feeling a little absurd.

“Why? Is it because you want to talk to her?”

“Who wants to talk to such a woman!”

She’s a snake’s offspring.

Right now, she’s just lying flat on the floor, waiting for everyone to let their guard down.
And when the time comes, she’s sure to show her fangs.

I don’t even want to look at her, let alone talk to her.

“Wow…… you’re hurting me like this?”

“I’m a human too.”

I don’t know why her words kept coming back to me.

No way, she got hurt by something like that?

We both knew it was an arranged marriage.

She was the brave one who set foot in House Ludwig alone because she had something to
gain, knowing that she’d be ignored and suspected.

Such a woman can’t be hurt by a few harsh words.

‘Yeah, I’m sure she was just pretending to be hurt so she could stab me.’

She is the same woman who stood up to Cliff Ludwig without fear.

‘But why did she take my side in that fight?’

Even if it is no secret that he is in love with Lize, he can’t just say it in front of the bride he
just married.

Especially when that bride is the one who tried to take his side.

So he’s angry at Cliff for not being more forthcoming about his feelings for Lize.
To his surprise, the woman who had just been hurt by him was snapping at Cliff, not him.

“That’s too bad, because I’m not the kind of girl who gets rattled that easily.”

As Edith snorted, she really didn’t seem to mind the petty criticism.

Instead, she seemed more angry at the rude person, and her response was
uncharacteristically blunt.

‘Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing…… no, no, no. Why am I thinking this?’

Killian shook his head as if to clear the image of Edith winking at him, then quickly
changed the subject.

“Oh, by the way. I heard you ordered new dresses the other day. My mother loves to
dress you up in new clothes.”

“Well, I have a lot of dresses…… and I feel so sorry for her every time……”
“What do you have to be sorry about? It’s my mother’s hobby, and she’s always told us
it’s no fun raising two boys. She can finally do her hobby, think of it that way and help her
out.”

The Duchess, who has only raised two blunt sons, has always envied the family with a
daughter.

Her husband and son are all knights, and she sometimes became depressed when all three
were late due to training.

But when the Duchess brought in Lize, who had been harassed for being the illegitimate
daughter of the Count of Sinclair, she became much brighter.

It was all thanks to Lize’s presence, no wonder the Duchess treated her kindly like her own
daughter.

“In that case, buying Edith’s dress would have made the Duchess happier……”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Arched an eyebrow, Lize gave a small sigh. “Actually, it was Edith who asked for someone
from the boutique that day.”
“I take it she was planning to rake in the duchy’s fortune as soon as she got married?”

“No. That day, Edith only asked that the dress she brought be altered.”

“What?”

Killian was confused for a moment.

If the woman known for her extravagance had called in the dressmaker, she would have
ordered several very expensive dresses.

She is famous for never wearing a dress she has worn even once, but why would she have
it altered……?

“The Duchess suggested that since she had called the dressmaker, she might as well have
a new dress, but she refused, saying that she couldn’t even wear all the dresses she had
brought with her.”

“Does that mean…… she embarrassed my mother in front of the dressmaker?”

“Well, no, I don’t think so, but I did think that the Duchess was a little upset, I think she
wanted to buy Edith something nice……”
Killian snorted in disbelief. “She’s got a way of putting people down, she is indeed the
daughter of that snake man.”

“I’m sure Edith didn’t mean that, she was so excited when choosing the Duchess’s dress
and mine!”

Lize tried to put her arms around Edith, but Killian’s glare was uncharacteristically clear
and harsh.

“I guess she’s too much of a prude to entrust her dress to the dressmaker, but she was
okay with entrusting yours and my mother’s? How arrogant……”

Killian gritted his teeth. Then he remembered that what Edith had worn today hadn’t
bothered him so much.

He couldn’t remember what it was, but somehow, unlike that immodest dress at the
wedding, it seemed to barely show her chest.

‘If she’s showing her chest, I hestcan’t help but notice, because I hate it even more.’

Killian frowned whenever Edith unabashedly bared her skin.

Does she even realize what men are saying about her?
“If I could lick Edith Riegelhoff from head to toe, I would.”

“Ah, Edith, yes, with that yummy-looking skin!”

“I wonder if there’s a man out there who could stand to have her naked body in front of
him? Hahaha!”

Killian could hear the giggling voices of men who were just as vulgar as she was.

Suddenly, he remembered his wedding day, when Edith showed off her voluptuous
breasts.

She had fallen asleep in the bathtub alone, and her slender, pure white naked body……

His throat went dry for some reason, but Killian swallowed hard, quelling any urges that
might have been rising in him.

“Did she play some kind of weird prank on you, like picking out a grotesque dress for
you……”
“No, my dress was picked out by the Duchess and Edith together, don’t hate Edith so
much, Killian.”

“I don’t hate her, I’m just wary of her.”

Killian patted Lize on the shoulder, reassuring her that she was not the reason Edith was
treated as such.

And at the same time, in his heart, he was disgusted with Edith for looking down on House
Ludwig’s standards.

But another part of him wondered if the noble atmosphere of Ruayal’s Boutique might not
suit her extravagant tastes.

‘I’ll have to find her another boutique to satisfy her extraordinary tastes.’

Of course, it was only for the sake of House Ludwig’s dignity.

He didn’t want her to go around saying, “I couldn’t even bring myself to ask for a
dressmaker because it wasn’t up to my standards.”
***

Today, as I was thinking about the original story and adding and subtracting items to my
“Right Living Habits” list, I suddenly realized something important.

In order to be grateful for what you have, you need to be able to fully enjoy it.

‘So let’s give myself a little luxury!’

I have a lot of money in my pocket.

When I got married, in addition to jewelry and art, I had cash from the Riegelhoff family as
a dowry, because the Duke of Ludwig didn’t take it and gave it to me as pocket money.

The unit of currency in this world is the senna, and I have five million sennas. I don’t know
the exact exchange rate, but it seems to be around 50 million won.

‘Fifty million won! Where should I spend this money?’

It’s the first time I’ve ever had to think about something like this. I realized once again that
this was a fantasy world!
But I don’t know what to spend it on.

‘Dresses? No. I have a pile of dresses, and I don’t have anywhere to wear them. Jewelry
and accessories? No, no, no. Who needs jewelry and accessories when you don’t have
anywhere to go out in a dress?’

In 21st-century South Korea, I would have plenty of places to spend my money: I could eat
the finest food whenever I wanted, could read books in the library at home, no dresses or
jewelry needed, and could buy essential supplies all at once on a semi-annual basis……

But here, even if I wanted to spend it, I couldn’t really find anything to spend it on.

‘This is the first time I’m nervous because I have nowhere to spend my money on.’

I was shaking my crossed legs in frustration when Anna walked up and whispered to me.

CHAPTER 15

“Miss, we are almost out of your perfume and rouge, would you like me to call a perfumer
and a cosmetics merchant?”

“Oh, yes! Good!”

After all, Anna is an essential character in the story!

‘I’ll try some luxury cosmetics!’

I remember my coworkers from my past life who wore niche perfumes or expensive
imported cosmetics.

Trying to look like them, I never touched up my makeup in public.

I wasn’t ashamed of my road-shop makeup, but I was embarrassed to admit that I was
scraping the bottom of my compacts with all the transferred text and stickers peeling off.

‘I used to put my lipstick on in the bathroom stall…… but now that I think about it, I don’t
know why I was so ashamed of it.’

Maybe I was subconsciously thinking that it would show that I was unloved.

A person with high self-esteem would have been rather proud, saying, “I’m this frugal.”

I smiled bitterly and waited for the people Anna would call.

First, she called in the perfumer.

He carefully sniffed the scent of my old perfume and nodded. “It’s a fine rose perfume
with Ashley roses, shall I make it like this again this time?”
“Do you have more than one type of rose perfume?”

“Of course, but the most common is the one with Titania roses. It’s rich, heavy, and the
first thing that comes to mind when you think of rose perfume, but it’s a little too heavy
for young people.”

“How much does that cost?”

“It’s relatively cheap, about 20,000 sena for a small bottle.”

Huh? Wait a minute. Doesn’t 20,000 sena mean 200,000 won?

I think that small bottle is less than 50ml, but that’s 200,000 won?

That’s my entire month’s transportation, communication, and utility bills!

“Ha, haha, I see…… what about the others?”

“There’s a type of rose that a lot of young people are looking for, the Ashley rose. It’s a
light, fresh rose scent with a hint of grass, and the one you’ve been wearing is a very fine
perfume made with Ashley roses, a type of wild raspberry, and a hint of longan incense.”

It sounds expensive just from the description.

“How much does this cost?”

“Well, it depends on the proportions, but if I were to make it similar to your old perfume,
it would probably cost between 50,000 and 70,000 sennas for a small bottle of……”

What? Why did the price suddenly double or triple?

Half a million won is way more than my food budget for a month in my previous life……

“The most expensive perfumes are those that use Tess roses or Nathaniel roses[1], which
cost over 100,000 sennas for a small bottle.”

[1] If you’re wondering what kind of rose Nathaniel rose is, it doesn’t exist in the world, I
think it’s just the author’s fantasy.

So, a 50ml bottle of perfume costs over a million won?

……am I miscalculating the exchange rate between the won and the senna? Why is it so
expensive?
As I clench my molars to keep my mouth from gaping, the perfumer spoke again, “Why
don’t you try the Nathaniel rose this time, it has a slightly deeper scent than the Ashley
rose.”

“Oh, no, no! I’ll stick with my old one. I don’t want a sudden change in scent……”

“Hahaha. Well, you’re still at the age where you like light, fresh scents, so I’ll make it
similar to your old one.”

Anna advised from the side, “How about a little bit of Nathaniel rose mixed in with the
Ashley rose?”

“Huh……?”

“You may like the scent you’re familiar with, but since you’re married, I think it would be
better to have a deeper scent.”

I agree with Anna, but I’m nervous about how expensive it will be. As the daughter-in-law
of the Ludwig family, I can’t say no just because it’s expensive……

“Well, I suppose so, but mix a little bit of that expensive rose, just a little bit.”

“That’s a good compromise, then. It’s about 80,000 sennas for a small bottle.”

“Eighty thousand sennas?”

My hands tremble in disbelief.

I have five million sennas in my pocket, but I feel like I’m sinning against Choi Soo-na from
my previous life by paying 800,000 won for a small perfume.

As if sensing my frustration, Anna advised me again, “Since you’ve been wearing a similar
perfume anyway, why don’t you order a larger bottle, and the price will be much lower.”

“That’s right. If you make it in a big bottle, it’ll be, um…… 130,000 sennas.”

A large bottle looks to be roughly 100 ml, so that’s 65,000 sennas for 50 ml.

“Can’t you do it for 120,000 sennas?”

“What? That would leave me with nothing!”

“Ahem! Then…… 125,000 sennas.”

Is there a law that says aristocrats shouldn’t haggle over prices? So that merchants can
rob them as much as they want?

Trying to maintain my regal demeanor, I smiled softly at the perfumer.

I even added an excuse, “It’s just that I don’t want to hear that I am a bad daughter-in-law
who spent too much money as soon as I got married. On the contrary, I will definitely call
you again next time.”

“Hahaha, that’s a pretty good deal with the frugal daughter-in-law of the Ludwig family. I
can’t win, so I’ll take your word for it and give it to you for 125,000 sennas.”

“Thank you!”

For the first time in my life, I had successfully negotiated a price! I felt a surge of
confidence.

But the ordeal was not over.

After the perfumer left, a cosmetics merchant came by.

“I need a rouge for my lady, do you have a color similar to this one?” Anna asked, opening
the jar of rouge I was using and showing it to him.

The cosmetics merchant took a closer look and opened the bag he had brought with him.
“Oh, it’s from Melrose, and that’s a good product, but there are also new products from
Lance that are all the rage.”

He pulled out a few porcelain jars. The jade-colored ones from Melrose were pretty, but
the pink ones from Lance were even prettier. It even has a ribbon on the lid.

“The colors are similar, but I’ve heard that the Lance ones are more pigmented. I think
you’ll like these in addition to the colors you already have.”

“They’re all really pretty. By the way, how much do these cost?”

“8,000 sennas for the Melrose one and 10,000 sennas for the Lance one.”

……I think I can bring the price down further if I subtract the cost of the porcelain jars.

The pink rouge jar was really, really pretty, but I turned my head away with tears in my
eyes.

“Umm…… I’ll just stick with what I have.”

“I see. Do you need a puff? There are also hand mirrors and hairbrushes.”

I tried to wave away the need, but Anna insisted that I needed a brush to apply the rouge.
I ended up paying 8,000 sena for it.

‘The prices…… are too high.’

I had just spent 141,000 sennas on perfume, a bottle of rouge, and a rouge brush.

My hands kept shaking as I felt like I was losing my sense of money.

‘Enjoying what you have isn’t easy either.’

I had to admit that I was too frugal for such luxuries, as I kept track of my money in a small
notebook like an account book.

But I had no choice.

Even though my brother often ripped off my paltry salary, I was so desperate to live a life
that didn’t make me look dirty to others.

‘I need to get used to the luxury of spending money slowly. Let’s start with other luxuries
first.’

I decided to indulge in a luxury that didn’t cost money.

Enjoying the arts and culture would be a luxury that even my poor soul could fully afford.

‘First up, Sistine Hall!’

It is the room I’ve wanted to see the most since Philip took me on a tour of the mansion,
and it’s full of art.

I always liked to appreciate art even in my previous life, but the opportunity to see an
actual artwork in person didn’t happen often to me.

It’s unlikely that any of the artists or works I knew in my previous life are here, but it’s fun
to see works that have the spirit of art in them, even if they don’t belong to an artist you
recognize.

I left Anna with a quick note to tell her I’d be back in a few minutes and headed to Sistine
Hall.

As I stood in front of the hall’s heavy doors, I took a deep breath and pushed them open,
and the smell of the air that had been submerged in silence welcomed me.

“Wow……!”

I was as awestruck as I had been the first time.

The walls of the hall, larger than most galleries, are lined with artworks ranging from those
as small as the palm of your hand to those so large you can only take in a glance from a
distance.

I admired the works in a relaxed manner, as if I had the gallery to myself.

It was a luxury even greater than buying an expensive perfume.

“Oh my God, how did they paint this?”

I stood in front of the work, which was so exquisite I wondered if it had been
photographed, and leaned in close to examine the fine brushstrokes.

“This reminds me of Monet’s. It’s beautiful.”

Like Monet’s work, the feast of light and color made me stare at it in awe.

“Oh, this is so cute!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the expectant look on the puppy’s face in the painting of a girl
playing with her dog.
Then I noticed an enormous piece of artwork.

I couldn’t really take it all in at once, so I walked over to the opposite wall and crouched
down on the floor to look up at it.

CHAPTER 16

“Wonderful……”

It depicts a scene of war.

The blood-red sky and the many bloody bodies of soldiers on the ground represent the
tragedy of war, but the eyes of the god-like man of war standing above are filled with the
desire to end it all.

The liveliness of the horses as they stomp their feet and bellow long and loud, the desire
to win and the grave sense of responsibility on the face of the male god leading the
soldiers, the various expressions on the faces of the soldiers who trust and follow him, and
the gnashing of teeth on the faces of the people who want to help them even with their
farm tools……

Looking at such a magnificent piece of art, I am simply speechless.

But then someone spoke to me. “Your attitude of appreciating works of art is really……
unconventional.”

“Huh?”
Before I knew it, Killian was approaching.

“What…… are you doing here?”

“What’s so weird about me coming to appreciate the art in my house?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Well, the Riegelhoffs aren’t much into art, so it’s a wonder you’re here at all.”

He’s being snarky.

It’s not like a taunt, “You don’t have this in your house, do you?”

If I weren’t in the position of needing Killian to save my life, I’d have yelled at him for his
arrogance.

In other words, I’m not in that position right now.

“You’re right, and you even rotate the displays once a month. That’s quite a collection.”
I smiled in amazement, but Killian’s expression didn’t improve.

“How do you feel about the artwork?” Killian asked instead, looking up at the large
artwork.

“I feel overwhelmed. There are so many emotions of so many people in this piece, it’s
hard to believe it could have been imagined by a single artist.”

I get a little more courage seeing Killian nod his head despite his furrowed brow.

“War is a tragedy, but I see in that man in the painting a noble will to end it. Everyone is
looking up to him, and he…… doesn’t look like he’s reveling in the praise of others. I get
the feeling that he’s not going to be happy even if he wins, because war is nothing to be
happy about, even in victory.”

“War is a tragedy no matter how you slice it, and the hero who wins it is the one who
knows that best.”

I nodded at his words.

Killian glanced in my direction, then added an afterthought, “It was painted to

commemorate my grandfather’s victory in the war against the Kingdom of Yanok. He is
the model for the male god leading the soldiers.”

“Oh……!”
“I bet you didn’t know that at all.”

“Yeah, I didn’t know.”

Killian’s brows furrowed further at my blatant answer.

“I never heard that you enjoy art, so why are you here?”

“Well, as you get older, your tastes change. I wasn’t much into it before, but I’ve been
getting more and more interested in it since before we got married, and to have a place
like this here, well, can I just pass it up?” I shrugged it off and stood up.

Then I walked over to the next artwork.

“So, do you have a favorite artist?”

Killian unexpectedly asked about my tastes, which seemed like a good opportunity to get
to know him, but alas, I don’t know any of the artists in this world.

The author of this story didn’t even mention a single artist’s name in this world, so how
would I know?
“This is embarrassing, but as I said, I got interested in this recently, so I don’t know any of
the artists.”

“Not at all?”

“Yeah.”

He sighed lowly and turned his attention back to the painting, shaking his head.

Rather than disturbing him, I decided to take a look at other works.

In doing so, I forgot that Killian was there.

“Oh my!”

I exclaimed in front of the painting, which looked like a scene from a myth. and the
shepherd boy in the painting, who looked to be about fifteen years old, looked exactly like
Killian.

Killian, intrigued by my reaction, came over to me, then panicked.

“When I was younger, I was forced to model for a painter who was close to my father!”
Killian stammered out an excuse, but when I found something about him to tease, I tilted
my head and put on a serious face, pretending not to hear what he said.

“Hmm……”

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing, just……”

“Just……?”

“I was wondering if it was still that size.”

Then I moved on to the next painting.

The shepherd boy was dressed in a tattered robe, almost completely naked, and of course
his little ‘precious’ was depicted.
Turning back to the painting, Killian blushed and protested, “The body in the painting is
not mine!”

“Oh, I see.”

“Isn’t that obvious, a noble scion would never strip naked in front of a painter!”

“Hmm…… I suppose so.”

I could tell Killian was gritting his teeth even if I didn’t see him as he continued in an
irritated tone.

I honestly wanted to laugh in his face, but I bit my lip and held it together. It might have
made him angrier.

“What the hell, you’re a difficult woman to discuss art with.”

Killian accused me with a scowl, then turned around and stalked out.

I chuckled to myself as I watched him leave.

Actually, it’s not so bad considering I’m trying to save my life. It’s a little too dull to live
without a joke.

“But it’s much bigger than that now, isn’t it?”

I glanced at the shepherd boy’s groin and burst out laughing again.

***

It’s been more than two months since I possessed Edith.

Whether it’s because of the amazing adaptability of humans or the presence of Edith’s
memories, I’ve adapted to this world much better than I thought I would.

As long as I stayed quiet, the stares seemed to fade away, and my days were peaceful.

‘I wish I could live like this forever.’

I often leaned over the railing of the Great Hall and looked out over the garden
downstairs.

Before that, I’d check to make sure Lize’s teatime wasn’t held on the balcony of the Great
Hall.

I also explored the garden outside the mansion.

It was springtime and I felt so energized just walking around the garden.

The smell of grass everywhere and the tiny flowers in bloom seemed to soothe my weary
soul.

But most of all, I enjoyed my morning walks on the trails near the training ground.

Today, I was alone on the path.

I could tell by the clinking of blades that someone was using the training ground.

I strolled along, pretending to be oblivious, and when I realized that no one was around, I
darted back and forth between the garden trees that the gardener had cut with artistic
flair.

‘This is why I take a walk in the garden.’

Crouching on the ground at the side of a not-so-lush garden tree, I began to peer toward
the training ground.

‘Today, too, my husband is in good health.’

Peeking at a shirtless Killian during training is a new hobby of mine.

The first time I stumbled upon this path and saw him topless, I thought I was going to get a
real nosebleed.

‘I can’t believe I’m the only one watching this graceful scene…… I feel bad for the other “I
Refuse Your Obsession” readers.’

It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, it’s always a thrill! It’s always new! Always
handsome!

I really want to wave a light stick.

I’ve never seen a man with a broad chest and big muscles look so good.

Look at those well-defined muscles.

With a broad back as if the muscles are angry, and dimples of venus that pierce like
arrows……

The shepherd boy’s groin must be much more dignified now than it was in the Sistine Hall
the last time I saw it.

‘Ha…… he’s a jerk, but he’s really handsome. As expected, I’d rather have Killian than Cliff.’

Cliff, who trains with him in the opposite corner, is also shirtless, but he’s subtly more
muscular than Killian.

I’m sure there are people who like that kind of body, but I prefer rounded, toned muscles
like Killian’s.

I watched his muscles bulge with his vigorous movements for a while, until my squatting
legs started to tingle and I realized it was time to turn around.

‘Nice show today.’

With that, I said my goodbye inwardly and turned to leave, but Killian looked up, staring
off somewhere as he smiled and waved.

‘Huh……?’
My heart nearly dropped.

Even though I was looking at him from a distance, I could just make out his narrowed eyes
and the corners of his mouth curling up coldly.

And I realized that his smiling face was so beautiful……

It wasn’t until he turned again that I realized who he was looking at.

‘Ah, it’s Lize.’

At the end of his gaze, Lize was waving at the two men.

‘Yeah, well, there’s no one else Killian would smile at like that.’

Even with that realization, I’ve been squatting in a daze for a while now.

I knew in my head that I should get up and go into the mansion, but the image of Killian
smiling kept coming back to me, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

CHAPTER 17

‘I must have been an idiot.’

In my 28 years as Choi Soo-na, I never once thought I was an idiot, but I guess it’s because
I’ve never seen a truly handsome face in my previous life.

‘I thought a man’s character and heart were important, but that was all my hypocrisy……!’

I pondered Killian’s rapturous face again and again until I could barely feel my toes and
limped back to the mansion.

The visual and mental trauma caused by Killian’s face does not diminish what I must do
today.

I made my way to the Duchess’s office.

“Starting today, I need you to organize the documents in there and write up a nice list of
what we need to buy, in what quantities, and at what prices. It will probably take a few
days because of the volume, but there is no rush, so take your time.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The documents given to me today were about weapons and armor that House Ludwig
wished to purchase.

‘Have they completely let their guard down on me, letting me touch these
documents……?’
The details of weapons and armor purchases should be top-secret information, but
judging by the fact that they’ve given me the task of organizing them, it seems my efforts
have not been in vain.

It was clear that the blade pointing at my throat was moving further and further away.

I began to organize the documents, grouping them by type, and describing the advantages
and disadvantages of each weapon and armor.

As I did so, I tabulated what I could see. I wrote them down in a table so I could see them
all at a glance later.

I was so engrossed in sorting and organizing the documents that I didn’t even realize that
someone was standing next to me.

When I looked up, Lize was standing next to me, watching me work.

She made eye contact with me and smiled, but I felt a pit in my stomach.

‘Not again.’

It’s been a really strange symptom ever since.

There was something about the way she was looking at me that was strangely disturbing.

‘Is it something that Edith in the original story has by default?’

Considering that I possessed the character of a Rofan novel with full memories, it was
entirely possible.

I’m trying to change the things that are destined to happen in this world, so maybe there’s
a force trying to keep things the way they are in the original story.

‘I can’t lose to the original character settings, or else I’ll lose my head.’

I swallowed hard and smiled prettily. “Lize, when did you come?”

“Oh, just now…… but……”

“Yes?”

“What’s this?” asked Lize, taking the piece of paper I was tabling and scratching her head.

“It’s a table. If I organize it like this, it’ll be easier to see at a glance later.”
“I’ve never seen anyone organize like this.”

“Uh…… really……?”

Is there a world without tables?

In reality, tables have existed since time immemorial, but the author may have
intentionally set up a world without them.

After all, at first glance, a narrative document looks more elegant.

“Uh, anyway, it’s easier to read this way, isn’t it?”

I smiled awkwardly and explained the structure of the table, but Lize’s expression didn’t
brighten even after I finished.

“Umm…… it’s definitely a way to put a lot of information on one sheet, as you said, but to
be honest, I think it would be a little awkward for others to see.”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s a matter of familiarity, I guess. You’ve been using this kind of organization, but
other people haven’t, and they’re going to be confused about what to look at.”
“Is that so?”

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m a 21st-century person, but the story is set in
“fictionalized early modern Europe”.

Some of the things I say and do in the 21st century may not be consistent with the setting
of this world.

So, as I was thinking about re-tabling my tabulations and writing them out like any other
document, the Duchess stood up from her seat and approached me.

“What’s wrong?”

Before I had a chance to answer her gentle question, Lize smiled like an angel and replied,
“I was just helping Edith organize some things, she’s still a little new to the job.”

“Wow, it looks like Lize is helping Edith a lot.”

She seemed pleased.

She was happy that Lize, the wife-to-be of her first son, and I, the wife of her second son,
were helping each other out.
But somehow I felt a little, very little, offended.

“I’m sorry, manager. Soo-na still hasn’t gotten the hang of Excel, and I’ll make sure she
gets it right.”

This reminded me of my previous life, when I had been criticized for doing a good job.

In my previous life, I had been bombarded with all sorts of paperwork, but this task of the
Duchess was not the least bit difficult.

For the past three weeks, I’ve always done more than the Duchess asked, without making
any mistakes.

But why does Lize think I’m “unaccustomed to the job” when she knows that my table is a
“convenient method”?

In my previous life, I couldn’t say a word to the manager who was angry with me, but now
I wanted to.

“Yes, Lize is helping me a lot, but Mother, I’d like to ask you what you think about this
table.”
“Huh? Table?”

I quickly slid the table I’d drawn in front of the Duchess.

“There’s a lot of information in the documents, and I’ve been trying to organize them in a
simple way, so I’m writing each bearer’s name here, like this, and I’m writing down
keywords for each item, and I’m writing down the quantity and price to buy here,” I
explained, pointing to each column and row of the table.

The Duchess, the general manager, listened intently to my explanation.

“Lize says it’s not used much, so it’s probably unfamiliar to other people, but I thought it
wouldn’t hurt for you to try it, since you need to see a lot of information.”

She looked at the table I had drawn and smiled broadly. “My goodness, I can’t believe you
thought of all this! Edith, you’re amazing!”

“Um……? I- is that so?”

“Of course! This is such a great idea, I think we should organize our documents this way
from now on.”
The Duchess nodded, fumbling over the table I’d drawn again and again.

She seemed to be thinking to herself and understanding the structure of the table.

“Can you organize all of the documents this way now, so that the others and I can learn
from what you have done?”

“Sure! Okay.”

For some reason, my heart leapt.

I felt like an elementary school student whose homeroom teacher patted my head.

After feeling this for a while, I came to my senses.

‘Oops, Lize isn’t in a bad mood, is she?’

I glanced over at Lize

But she was nodding intently, looking at the paper on which I had drawn the table, just as
the Duchess did.

Then, as if sensing my gaze, she looked up at me and gave me an apologetic look.

The small smile on her face, with her eyebrows arched, somehow made me feel even
more sorry for her.

‘My, did I say that without thinking about Lize’s face too much……?’

I thought of the senior who had hit me on the back of the head, and I involuntarily flared
up.

‘If I want to survive in this world, I have to look good to Lize……!’

I forgot my role. I’m supposed to be like a plant in this house, inconspicuous and harmless!

Feeling the crisis, I smiled moderately, and then broke in at just the right time.

“But actually, if I think about it, it’s all thanks to Lize, because she’s been helping me along
the way, and she’s taught me everything.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t. Honestly, Edith knew so much that I didn’t have much to teach her.”

Lize waved her hands, humbled.

‘I don’t know if that’s going to make you feel any better about me. Cut me some slack,
Lize.’
I flashed her a smile as best I could.

It was grim, but I couldn’t help it.

I just hope Lize isn’t offended by me, the villainous supporting character, sigh.

***

It’s very rare that Killian stops by my room.

The only times he’s been in my room since we got married were on our wedding night and
briefly before Lize’s tea time.

So for him to come in the morning and sit there like that, seemingly with no business, was
enough to make me nervous.

‘What is this? Is this the prelude to another episode?’

Maybe it’s because I’m not fully awake yet, but I have no idea which episode this is.

Killian sat on the couch in the small parlor off my bedroom, his expressionless face
scanning the room.

In contrast to his impeccable appearance, I was still in my nightgown, having only just
rolled out of bed and washed my face.

He didn’t say a word until Anna made tea and brought it in.

‘Did he catch me snooping around in the morning, or did Count Riegelhoff make a scene,
or did Lize complain the other day about all the documents I was doing with that
table……?’

I tried to look nonchalant on the outside, even as my mind raced through all sorts of
disturbing scenarios.

The tea was set down in front of me and Killian by Anna, so there would be no poisoning
incident.

“Are you here because you missed me……”

No sooner had I spoken than Killian shot me an emotionless stare.

“……oh, you are not,” I hurriedly added.

“Are you telling me to just say it quickly and get the hell out of here?”

“If I ask you to stay longer, will you stay longer?”

“You don’t lose a word.”

“I never learned how to lose.”

“I know.”

I quickly regretted it when I realized that Killian’s response was to smirk and give me the
cold shoulder.

CHAPTER 18

Why do I keep forgetting that Killian is a character that’s set up to behead me?

Whenever I see Killian, I’m all playful and I have something to say.

‘Is this an influence from the original story, because the original Edith was always messing
around with Killian, although it’s not quite the same.’
Killian just stared at me and didn’t say anything, even though I’d opened up the
conversation.

Eventually, I gave up trying to get a response from him and just sipped my tea and
enjoyed my morning as usual.

The weather was nice again today.

The flowers were in full bloom, and everywhere I looked there was a beautiful greenery.

I got up from my seat and opened the window.

The fresh, spring-scented air slowly filled my room.

“The weather is nice……”

It was still a little chilly, but it felt refreshing.

I was about to fix my shawl when Killian came up behind me and spread his arms, trapping
me between him and the window.

I stiffened, too flustered by the unexpectedness of the situation.

“I heard you helped my mother well.”

“Yes? Oh, well, that’s the obvious…… thing to do.”

“I heard you’re suspiciously good at it……”

Suddenly, I wondered what the hell this was all about. Maybe yesterday’s events had
reached Killian’s ears……

“You’d better not make a fool of yourself. I’m telling you to forget what you saw and
heard in my mother’s room the moment you leave it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not smart enough to remember all that.”

“Well, surprisingly, you don’t seem to have a very bad brain.”

What, are you here to pick a fight?

No, I think it’s good, and I want you to tell me at a distance, or my heart will jump out.

“Oh, and……”

“What else?”
“My mother’s favorite boutique was too classy and highbrow for your tastes?”

“Yes……?”

What is this again?

“If you have a favorite, just say so. I’ll call it for you.”

“No, I……”

“For someone who’s famous for never wearing the same dress twice, I thought it was
quite the way to protest that you didn’t get a new dress.”

So now, even the fact that I didn’t buy a new dress is a reason to hate me?

I was just trying to break out of my extravagant image, but the end result is the same as
the original story!

‘It’s unfair.’

His misunderstanding and accusations were strangely hard to bear, even though I’d vowed
not to get on Killian’s bad side.
“A way to protest……?”

Killian didn’t answer.

“Killian, you really don’t know anything about me.”

“What do you mean I don’t know?”

“If I didn’t like the boutique, I would have called another one right then and there, why
would I let them alter my dress, do you think I’d make a fuss about something like that?”

I straightened my hunched shoulders and turned to face him.

He flinched and stepped back slightly, as if I were going to rub his lower body.

“It’s not like I did anything wrong, you just hate me, and somehow you’re making it fit that
I’m the cause of it.”

“That……!”

“Of course I can see why you’d want to blame me, it would make you feel better.”
I rambled on, so I couldn’t tell what my expression was like.

I think Killian was pretty surprised, but I had to say something.

“It’s cowardly.”

“Excuse me?”

“The way you’re trying to cement your own happiness at the expense of an innocent
person like me, the way you’re acting like you’re the only victim, is cowardly.”

Killian’s eyes widened. They were quickly filled with anger.

“Is that…… how you feel about the position you earned by blackmailing my family?”

“Did I make that threat?”

“I’ve never seen a child stab his father in the tail before.”

“You don’t know anything about me, Killian. Nothing.”

“I know enough about the Riegelhoffs, though.”

In the end, to Killian– no, to everyone in House Ludwig, everyone in the Riegelhoff family
was bad people.

No matter what I did, no matter what I tried to do……

“As long as you keep your head down, nothing untoward will happen to you, so don’t do
anything to arouse suspicion, that’s the most advice I can give you.”

I was devastated.

He’s going to be suspicious no matter what I do……

“That’s good advice,” I replied, turning away from him.

I didn’t want to see more of him, not now, not with his blossoming handsome.

Killian glared at me, then turned and left.

The sound of the door closing with a thud seemed to show me that he had completely
closed himself off to me.

I was alone in a large, beautifully decorated room.

The room that seemed to be full of life just a moment ago, now felt somehow empty.

Loneliness rose from the tip of my toes.

‘What’s wrong with me now? I’ve always been alone.’

I quickly turned my head back to the window, feeling like I was going to cry.

A few small birds were perched on a branch in front of me, chirping.

I envied the birds because they didn’t seem to have any worries, just enjoying the glorious
spring that was coming.

‘If possible, I’ll stay in this house and suck honey until I die, but if things don’t go well, I’ll
have to run away at night, well.’

The time has come for me to seriously consider the next best option, which is to run away.

It came a little too quickly than I thought.

‘Okay, starting tomorrow, I’ll focus more on saving money.’

I shook off my depression and called Anna.

It wasn’t like anyone was going to care if I was sad anyway.

It always was.

***

After leaving Edith’s room, Killian headed straight for the training ground.

He had only stopped by Edith’s room on impulse.

‘Damn it. Why did I do something to offend her?’

Probably because of what he’d heard from the Duchess and Lize yesterday.

“You know, Edith is so clever, she even figured out how to organize information in a grid
like this.”
The Duchess showed Killian the table Edith had made with amazement.

Even to him, it was an efficient way to organize.

“I suppose we can condense information like this.”

“Killian…… the way I see it, Edith is trying to fit in.”

“She’s trying to save herself.”

“It’s the same for her, she’s been forced into an arranged marriage, and she’s been left
alone in what is essentially enemy territory, can’t you feel a little sorry for her?”

Even though Edith was the daughter of an enemy, his mother still felt sorry for her.

But Killian couldn’t let his guard down about Edith. Because Lize’s perspective was a little
different than the Duchess’.

“My mother said she did a good job, but what do you think, Lize?”

“Umm…… I think she is very smart.”

The nuance of her answer was subtle. Like she is smart, but there’s something off about
her…….

“Is there something else?”

“Oh, no! She learns so fast, unlike me, who never learned anything at Sinclair, and that
makes me a little…… envious.”

“Lize……”

Killian smiled bittersweetly and put an arm around Lize’s shoulders to comfort her, but he
took the point Lize made with a grain of salt.

After all, it was only because of her four years of education that Lize was able to help the
Duchess as much as she was now.

And she picked up the knowledge very quickly for someone who hadn’t learned anything
at Sinclair, and it was no secret that she was smart.

‘If she makes Lize jealous, it’s not because she’s smart, it’s because she’s already trained
for it.’
Besides, the last time I saw her at Sistine Hall and talked to her, she didn’t seem as stupid
as the rumors made her out to be.

She said she didn’t know any artists, but from the way she talked about the paintings, she
wasn’t a dumbass, and she understood them.

Sure, it sucked that she teased me about the damn painting at the last minute, but……

So this morning, on my way to sword training, I suddenly had the idea to stop by Edith’s
room.

‘I need to keep an eye on her and warn her not to pull any stunts.’

With that resolve in mind, Killian entered Edith’s room and felt an unfamiliar and strange
tension.

‘It smells like roses……’

Unlike Lize’s room, which smelled faintly of violets, Edith’s room smelled sensually of
roses.

The scent, a combination of roses and something that smelled like soft flesh, made Killian
forget what he had come to say.

“Huh? Why so early, what’s going on?”

He was even more puzzled by Edith, who greeted him with a tilt of her head.

‘What’s wrong with your pajamas!’

Her off-the-shoulder, lightweight nightgown was hanging precariously, threatening to slip

off at any moment, revealing her naked silhouette wherever the sunlight filtered through.

Moreover, her face was still sleepy, as if she had been possessed by something, which only
added to stimulate the strange feeling.

He looked around the room and tried to push the strange feeling down.

Luckily, Edith’s intervention quickly brought him back to his senses.

But when Edith, who had been sipping her tea, walked over to the window and opened it,
her scent drifted in on the wind, and Killian unwittingly swept her into his arms.

CHAPTER 19

Standing motionless, Edith’s rosy ears, parted lips, slender nape, and curving shoulders
and sternum made him giddy.

‘What am I doing?’
The embarrassment and panic that came with the realization forced me to blurt out
something like, “You did a good job helping my mother, just keep doing what you’re doing
and don’t think about anything weird.”

I also remember that Edith had only had her clothes altered at Ruayal’s boutique, so I told
her that she could call another boutique.

I admit that I didn’t say it in a gentlemanly way. But I didn’t expect to be criticized by her.

“It’s not like I did anything wrong, you just hate me…… I can see why you’d want to blame
me, it would make you feel better.”

“It’s cowardly.”

Why did I have to hear that?

My head was spinning. The more I thought about it, the more my temples throbbed.
“You don’t know anything about me, Killian. Nothing.”

Why did that woman’s face look so sad when she said that?

And she was right.

Killian knows nothing about Edith.

From the beginning, he had seen her only as ‘Count Riegelhoff’s daughter’, and everything
he had assumed about her was based on his impressions of Count Riegelhoff.

“Ugh……”

The pain started at his temple and spread to his entire head, until it felt like his skull was
going to crack.

“Killian……?”

And when Lize’s voice was heard from somewhere, his throbbing head gradually got
better.
“Lize……?”

Lize, who often came to watch Killian and Cliff’s sparring, was on her way to the training
ground today as well.

Killian was relieved that the pain was fading.

“Killian, what’s wrong, are you hurt?”

“Oh, no, I’m fine.”

He could smell the fresh scent of violets as Lize looked up at him with concern.

‘Yeah, I like the faint scent of violets. The strong rose scent is just disgusting.’

With that thought in mind, his head felt better.

“I’m really okay, Lize. I’ve been dealing with an asshole of a woman this morning, and I
just wanted to take a moment to–”

“Did you meet Edith……?”

“I came to warn her not to get her hopes up.”

“Killian!”

“I didn’t say anything mean, I just……”

Killian couldn’t really explain why he’d stopped by Edith’s room, not at the moment.

But with Lize by his side, he didn’t have to think too hard about it.

‘She’s just a spy sent in by Count Riegelhoff, and if she hates her situation, she should
blame her father.’

With that thought, Killian pushed Edith’s sad eyes out of his mind.

He tried to erase them.

***
After Killian left, I had to find something to occupy myself with for a few days to keep my
mind off of him.

If I wasn’t doing something, I’d soon find myself thinking about Killian’s cold words, which
felt like a knife to my heart.

‘In times like this, you need to get out.’

In my past life, when I was feeling a little down, I would fill a large tumbler with iced
Americano and walk outside.

I especially loved going to big malls, where window shopping or sitting on a bench and
people-watching would cheer me up.

It was also frustrating to be stuck inside the mansion ever since I possessed Edith.

I deliberately stayed at home to avoid the route of the original Edith, who is out partying
and gossiping about Lize, but I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to go out and explore the
town?

As soon as I made up my mind, I called Anna.

“Anna, let’s go out.”

For the first time, Anna’s eyes widened in surprise at the out-of-the-blue outing.

But she didn’t question or look troubled.

“Yes, my lady. I will inform the Duchess, and we will be ready to go out immediately.”

“Yes, please.”

While Anna went off to inform the Duchess, I took a small bag and packed the jewelry I
had removed from my dress when it was altered.

Then I opened my wardrobe and rummaged through it, choosing something to wear.
Doing this seemed to lighten my gloomy mood.

Anna returned to convey the Duchess’ permission and put a dress on me.

“Where are you going out?”

“Actually, that’s what I was going to ask you, where do you think it would be fun to go
out? To be honest, I’ve never been out on the town by myself before.”

Again, Anna’s eyes widened.

But she quickly lowered her gaze, as if she’d been trained not to ask back.

“I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for cute clothing stores,
accessory stores, and dessert cafes, Le Belle-Marie Street is a good place to start, or if
you’re looking for banks, galleries, the opera house, and upscale cafes, the Darsus Street
will be fine.”

“Let’s go to Darsus Street.”

“Yes, miss.”

Thanks to Anna, who had calmly arranged the outing without asking any unnecessary
questions, I climbed into the carriage in good spirits without having to make any excuses.

The view from the carriage window was enough to get me excited.

‘This is the downtown of the Rofan world!’

The early modern European streets were laid out to my liking, with little in the way of
antiquity.

It was like walking through a theme park decorated in a European style.

As I stared out the carriage window, the carriage turned left at a large intersection and
onto a street lined with stately stone buildings.

“We’ve arrived, miss.”

“Okay!”

Anna instructed the coachman to go to a carriage waiting somewhere along this street
and came to stand beside me.

“Do you have somewhere to stop?”

“Uh, yes. I’d like to stop by a jeweler first.”

“There are several famous jewelers.”

“I’d like to go to one that gives a good price for gems, do you know where it is?”

Anna thought for a moment and then suggested three places: Amabile, Datrias, and
Rootpican.

“How do you know so much, Anna? You seem to know everything in the world.”
“You’re too kind.”

Of course, she is probably an extra created by the author to avoid boring and
uninteresting narratives, but I couldn’t be happier to have a character by my side who
knows the answer every time I ask her a question.

Who needs the internet? I have Anna!

“Let’s go to Amabile first, then.”

I circled the jewelry store with light steps. Luckily, the diamonds I brought out were of
high quality, so I was able to get a much higher price than I expected.

The highest bidder was Datrias, but they said they could only pay by check, so I sold it to
the next highest bidder, Amabile, for all cash.

“Let’s go to the bank this time.”

“The bank is right over there.”

Anna pointed to a sturdy-looking building in the middle of the street.

‘I wonder if this is how Harry Potter felt when he first visited the Gringotts Wizarding
Bank?’

I thought back to the fantasy novels I’d enjoyed reading in my previous life as I walked
through the bank’s main entrance, lined with massive columns like a Greek temple, and
stepped inside.

“Thank you for visiting the Central Bank of Mallen.”

A man clad like a butler greeted me politely as I entered the bank.

Unlike the bank in my previous life, this one looked more like a library.

“Please tell me what brings you here, and I’ll help you out.”

“I’m here to make a safe in my name.”

“I see, then this way.”

I followed the man’s lead to the teller’s window, where the chairs were plush and
luxurious, and the interior of the bank must have been equally so.

‘Well, this is a bank for nobles.’

I looked around curiously and smiled at the teller’s greeting.

“You want to open a safe deposit box?”

“Yes, sir. A safe in my name, one that only I can open.”

“There are three types of safes. A small safe for 10 million sennas or less, a medium safe
for 100 million sennas or less, and a large safe for more. Which one would you like me to
open for you? By the way, starting with the medium-sized safe, we charge a maintenance
fee in proportion to the amount you entrust to us.”

I have just over 5 million sennas in cash from the jewelry exchange, and I have taken 4
million sennas from my savings cash.

I think I’ll get to 10 million sennas in no time, and I don’t need to pay the maintenance fee
up front.

“I’ll open a small safe for now, and we’ll switch to a medium later.”

“Okay, then please sign the opening agreement.”

Nervous but nonchalant, I read the opening agreement carefully and then coolly signed it.
But I didn’t forget to use a pseudonym, just in case.

Then I handed over 9 million sennas to be deposited in the safe.

It was a lot of money to me, but I wasn’t surprised to see that it was nothing in the eyes of
a bank employee who sees money every day.

“When you withdraw money, you will be asked a few questions to verify your identity,
along with a password and a signature. If you get one wrong, you won’t be able to
withdraw the money, so don’t forget your password.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

I walked out of the bank, feeling as grandiose as an elementary school kid with his first
passbook.

I was relieved to find the last 300,000 sennas in my bag after opening the safe.

“Now let’s go get something to eat, Anna.”

Hungry, I headed toward Anna’s recommended restaurant and was surprised to see a long
line outside a dessert cafe.

CHAPTER 20

“What is that?”
“That’s Peridot, one of the most popular bakeries in the capital. Some of their products
are famously hard to find, even if you line up before the store opens.”

“Wow…… is it that good?”

“I don’t know because I haven’t tried it, but they say that when noble ladies visit other
houses, they always send their servants to buy strawberry tarts from there.”

I was very tempted, but I wondered if I should go to the trouble of sending servants.

After all, we needed to eat, not tea or cake.

I took Anna to a restaurant with a nice outdoor terrace.

The restaurant was next to a park with lots of lush green foliage, so we could enjoy our
food in the fresh air.

The food was expensive because it was a restaurant where nobles came and went, but I
was willing to pay for Anna, who followed me around without any hassle.

‘I’m happy that I can eat to my heart’s content without worrying about money.’

I still clearly remember in my previous life, I used to pack lunches to save money.
When I sat alone in the bathroom eating my lunch, some people would open the window
in annoyance, while others would look at me as if seeing something strange.

‘Yes, just having a lot of money is enough to make you happy, so let’s trust in money
instead of expecting something emotional from others.’

I tried to convince myself to be strong.

But even as I thought that, I couldn’t help but feel bitter: if someone else could earn the
favor of others so easily, why was it so hard for me?

But it wasn’t time to get frustrated. I shared a plate of bread and sea bass with cheese and
ham with Anna, and we chatted about this and that, and I played the fool to get to the
point.

“You said that commoners don’t have carriages at home, so what do they take when they
travel?”

“They rent carriages, or they pay to ride on long-distance carriages.”

“And when they stop along the way, do they stay at inns?”

“Those who can afford it stay in inns, and those who can’t often sleep on the streets.”
If I’m going to run away, I need to know how to take a long-distance carriage ride and how
to stay at an inn.

“Wow, that’s interesting. Where do you take a long-distance carriage? I’ve never seen one
before.”

“Of course you have, because a long-distance carriage looks nothing like a noble’s
carriage. Think of it as a covered carriage.”

“Yuck. That’s going to be a bad ride.”

“That’s why everyone packs motion sickness pills. In the capital, the place where the long-
distance carriages gather is near the South Gate.”

Okay. Long-distance carriages near the south gate of the capital. Take motion sickness
pills.

“If you want to stay at an inn or something, do you send someone to make reservations?”

“Usually you just walk into any inn you see and if there’s a room, you stay, if not, you
don’t. People who don’t have money sleep in stables.”

“You sleep in a stable? Why? Are inns expensive?”

“The cheap ones are around 3,000 sennas a night, but the expensive ones can go up to
7,000 sennas, so they’re expensive for commoners.”

I should be able to get an inn for around 5,000 sennas a night, right? I’ve got it in my head.

I ended the conversation about traveling with a look of wonder on my face, like a young
lady who doesn’t know a thing about the world—which is true.

There were many things I wanted to ask, but I knew that Anna, a maid of the Ludwig
family, would post a report of my outing, and a long tail is bound to get stepped on.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No. I just came out today to sell the jewelry I removed from my clothes and open the
safe, and your company made me feel much better, so thank you, Anna.”

Anna’s expression barely changed at my thanks, but I could tell after spending months
with her, that she was a little surprised.

I could only hope that it was a positive thing.

***

Once I started to seriously consider running away, I realized that as a mansion dweller, I
had to actively use the library to get information about how to live in the world.

Luckily, the people in this house don’t seem to care about what I read in the library.

So today, I’ve been holed up in the library since morning, searching for books on survival
and reading them.

I was just getting started on “How to Tell the Difference Between Sea Beans and
Soybeans” when Anna appeared out of nowhere and quietly called out to me.

“Yes, Anna, what is it?”

“I will escort you to the Duchess’s drawing room, miss.”

“Why, is someone looking for me?”

“Yes. The jeweler is here, and the Duchess has asked me to also bring you.”
The “also” part made me think that Lize was already there.

To be honest, I didn’t want to see Lize or Killian just yet, but the Duchess had asked me to
come.

Besides, there’s a jeweler.

‘Yes. I’d better do everything at once while I still can, in preparation for my runaway.’

Emotions fade away. It’s a fool’s errand to get caught up in feelings that will fade away
and miss the important things.

“Okay, let’s go.”

I left the book with the librarian and followed Anna into the Duchess’ parlor.

In the parlor were not only the Duchess and Lize, but also Cliff and Killian.

They were already spreading out the jeweler’s wares and selecting something for Lize.

I really didn’t want to get in the middle of all that cheerfulness, but I smiled as if I didn’t
care.
“I am here, Mother.”

“Ah, Edith, welcome.”

Unlike the welcoming Duchess, Killian’s gaze towards me was still cold.

Well, at least he looked at me though not in greeting. A far cry from our wedding day,
when he didn’t even turn his head towards me.

“This is Mr. Felix Eppart, owner of Eppart, a jeweler with whom our family has done
business for many years. I’ve called you in because we’ve had some good stuff come in for
a while, so if you like what you see, take your pick.”

“Thank you.”

On one couch sat the Duchess, Lize, and Cliff, and on the other, Mr. Felix the jeweler and
Killian.

I had no choice but to sit next to Killian.

After a few awkward moments, they resumed playing princess, asking Lize to try this and
that.
“Don’t you think this sapphire goes so well with Lize’s eyes?”

“I agree, what about this pearl necklace?”

“The white pearl necklace I bought her last time wasn’t bad, but I think this one looks
better with the creamy color.”

Lize continued to fiddle with her hands, while the Duchess and Cliff seemed excited.

Killian, for some reason, was not actively participating, only occasionally pointing at
something that looked good.

As I watched, I remembered reading this episode in the original story.

‘Oh, this is it, the jeweler episode where Edith is humiliated!’

In the original story, the people at the jeweler only cared about Lize. When Lize sees this,
she offers Edith a small necklace, but Edith furiously rejects it, asking, “Where did that
little thing come from?”

Whenever someone puts jewelry on Lize, she says, “I’ll have that one,” without even
looking at it.
The jeweler is at a loss and says, “Everything in here is a one-of-a-kind,” and Cliff writes a
blank check for every piece of jewelry except the necklace that Lize recommended to
Edith.

‘At the time, I thought it was funny, but now that I’m in her shoes, I get it. It must have
hurt her pride.’

Of course, Edith’s attitude wasn’t right, but maybe she had been hurt so badly that she
had no choice but to act that way.

I mean, why do you bring people in in the first place and then treat them like they’re a
bunch of dirt?

While I was thinking about the original story, Lize, as if embarrassed that people only
recommended jewelry to her, suddenly pointed to one of the necklaces and said, “I think
this necklace would look great on Edith!”

The original episode went ahead without my interruption.

The necklace Lize pointed to was a thin gold necklace with a small red gemstone in the
shape of a teardrop.

‘I thought Edith refused because Lize chose something strange for her, but it’s pretty!
Does Edith hate it because Lize chose it?’
The jewelry was on the smaller side of what the jeweler had laid out, but honestly, from a
modern perspective, I’d rather have something like this than a couture accessory with a
bunch of big gems.

“Oh my gosh, that’s so pretty! Is this…… ruby?”

I said that because the only red gemstone I knew was a ruby, and luckily it was a ruby.

“You both have great taste, it’s a top-grade ruby. The gold chain design and bezel setting
were done by one of our best craftsmen.”

There’s no way I can figure out what’s so great about it, but I guess that means it’s pretty
and expensive.

I stared at the ruby for a while, admiring its vivid, clear red color.

“Why don’t you try it on?”

“Try it, Edith. It can feel different from what you see.”

The jeweler and Lize encouraged.

I smiled nervously and reached for the necklace.

But someone picked it up before I did.

“Killian……?”

Without a word, he unclasped the necklace.

I wondered what was wrong with him, but then I noticed the Duchess watching from the
other side with a proud face.

CHAPTER 21

‘Aha! I guess he can’t make his mother worry, huh?’

No matter how I felt, I couldn’t show my mother-in-law that a cold wind was blowing in
front of me.

I smoothed down my bountiful hair and craned my neck.

The man who was so reluctant to touch me even to put the wedding ring on my finger, for
some reason put the necklace on me so easily this time.

But I didn’t miss the slight tremor in his hand.

‘Looks like he’s holding back something he doesn’t like.’

“What do you think, Killian?” I asked, pretending to be shy, deliberately trying to annoy
him further.

To anyone else, we’d look like newlyweds in spring, but Killian might not feel that way.

He’s still looking at me, covering his mouth with his hand, but I can see his molars
clenched tightly together.

He stared at my face, around my neck, and at my necklace for a long time before finally
replying, “Looks good.”

“Really?”

He nodded, his brow furrowing slightly, and turned to the jeweler.

“Give me the bill for this necklace.”

“Oh, Killian, it’s your first gift to your bride!”

The Duchess clasped her hands together in delight. She must have been quite worried
about my relationship with Killian.
I was still smiling broadly as I watched him nod without answering.

I’m actually in a good mood now, unlike when I came here a while ago.

‘He has no choice but to be nice to the wife he hates in order to preserve his mother’s
feelings. He must be very annoyed. Ha! Feel it!’

In front of Killian who had to buy his unwanted wife a present, Cliff gave all the remaining
jewelry to Lize.

“Cliff! What about Edith if you buy all that for Lize……!”

The Duchess berated Cliff, but we were all in this game together anyway, so I politely
waved her off.

“It’s okay, Mother. It’s not that I have other things I want to buy, I just really like this
necklace.”

Although I was being sarcastic with Killian, I meant it when I said I liked the necklace.

Sure, getting a big piece of jewelry would make my safe explode, but I don’t want to risk
having my tail stepped on when I sell it later.
Besides, this is enough to be worn as an accessory for everyday wear.

Killian’s gaze snapped to me as he heard my words.

I smiled even more brightly. “Thank you for the gift, Killian. I’ll treasure it.”

His throat twitched hard.

I didn’t want to provoke him further, so I stopped teasing him.

Anyway, the outcome of the episode was the same, despite the change in flow. Lize, who
has been showered with jewelry gifts from everyone, and me, with just one small necklace
that Killian reluctantly bought for me.

‘I’m a little worried about this.’

Surely, no matter what I do, this story won’t change……?

***
For a while, I lived a peaceful life.

I had a few things to worry about, but anyway, I didn’t argue with Killian, and I was well on
my way to earning the Duchess’ trust by helping her with her work.

But things always happen by surprise.

“A letter for you, miss.”

As usual, Anna handed me a stack of letters addressed to me.

Most of them were party invitations, and considering Edith was a partygoer in the past,
she received several a day.

‘In the original story, she goes to all these parties to spread malicious rumors about Lize.’

Even if she keeps spreading the slander in secret, Killian or Cliff will find the source
because she spread it in so many places……

No, maybe the original Edith does it on purpose, hoping Killian realizes how angry and sad
she is.
‘You certainly hope so, Edith.’

Anyway, by not going to the party, I nipped any possible dead flags in the bud.

I wish I could have finished checking my letters today by tossing a stack of party invitations
into the fire, but I froze as I flipped through them blindly.

‘Count Riegelhoff……!’

Count Riegelhoff, who had been quiet all this time, sent me a letter.

I had a vague idea that Anna would tell the Duke of Ludwig about it.

‘Did she even open the letter?’

The sealing was apparently intact, but envelopes can be tampered with and handwriting
can be copied.

I chewed my lip, opened the envelope, and began to read the letter, which was not going
to be very pleasant.
– Dear Edith.

It’s been almost three months since you got married.

Have you been doing well?

I know it’s hard to adjust to a new house, but the time has come for you to get to work.

I know that you’ve been helping the Duchess with her work and have access to the
duchy’s internal documents.

If there is any documentation on weapons entering the duchy, take it.

If you can’t get it, write a summary of the contents and send it to……

The rest of the letter was long, but he wanted one thing from me: to take away any
weapons-related documents.

Of course, the letter was written in special ink and had to be heated by candlelight to
read.
I had Edith’s memory, so I could read the true content of the letter, but to anyone else, it
would look like a letter written by a father concerned for his daughter’s well-being.

‘How did he know I was managing the internal documents, anyway?’

There’s no way the Duke of Ludwig could have been talking about it outside. In other
words, there is a Riegelhoff spy in this house.

‘What…… Riegelhoff have a spy in Ludwig?’

I was a little nervous when I first saw the letter, but I was no longer on a leash with Count
Riegelhoff.

I immediately took out the letter and wrote a reply.

– Dear Father.

(A long, long salutation omitted)

Now that I’ve come and seen for myself, House Ludwig is so solid and powerful. It is
beyond my imagination.
If you try to take them down, you’ll have to be prepared to be executed.

Besides, the Ludwig family did nothing wrong in the first place, did they?

The Duchy is the will and authority of His Majesty the Emperor, so why do you have
nothing but hatred for the Ludwigs?

Besides, there is no justification for Archduke Langston to become Emperor; he would be

accused of treason at this point.

So I think it’s best that you give up and instead seek the favor of the Ludwigs and build on
Riegelhoff’s strengths.

Okay, that’s it for now.

To avoid appearing too insincere, I wrote it in special ink, just as Count Riegelhoff did.

‘Although Count Riegelhoff won’t give up his ambition……’

All I want is for the Count to give up on me.

I could picture him gnashing his teeth as he called me a traitor, but that didn’t bother me
too much.

Well, if he grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and knocked me over, so much the better.

So I sent the letter and waited nervously for Count Riegelhoff’s response.

“Miss, the Duke wants to see you.”

“Huh? The Duke?”

It was sudden and surprising.

The Duke of Ludwig was rarely seen, busy with the affairs of the palace and the dukedom.

But why is he looking for me……

‘This is kind of creepy……’

My anxiety was compounded by the fact that Anna wasn’t the only one picking me up.

But with no reason or way to escape, I braced myself and followed Anna.

In the Duke’s office was not only the Duke, but also the Duchess, Cliff, and Killian.

“I am here, Your Excellency.”

“Have a seat.”

Heavy air seemed to press down from above my head.

It seemed like something big was about to happen.

The Duke and Cliff’s expressions were heavy, the Duchess looked nervous, and Killian
was…… pale.

“Edith.”

The Duke, who had been silent, called to me.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“I’ll ask you bluntly. Did you leak the duchy’s internal documents to the outside world?”

“Pardon? me?”

The Duke didn’t answer, just looked at me with frightening eyes. It was as if he was
convinced that I had leaked the documents.

I stared back at him, my mouth hanging open in disbelief, and then I came to my senses.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Really? Do you swear on your father’s honor?”

“I swear on my honor and my life, as well as my father’s.”

The Duke’s eyes narrowed at my look of anger.

“Then you have brought dishonor upon both yourself and your father.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

The Duke tossed a handful of papers in my direction.

“Aren’t these the documents you organized?”

I scooped up the papers and flipped through them.

They were the weapons and armor purchases I’d organized some time ago.

“Yes. I did organize them.”

“And you even organized them by drawing up what you call a table?”

“Yes, that’s right, and the Duchess and Miss Lize also saw me do it, so they would now.”

“Yes, they did……”

There was a faint hint of mockery in the Duke’s words.

He added, “The truth is, Edith, those documents are fake.”

“Yes……?”
“Everything written on there is fake.”

I was dumbfounded. No, okay, let’s say it’s fake. So what?

“I’m sure there’s a reason you had me organize the fake documents, and I was just doing
what I was told, I’m not sure what the problem is.”

“Edith Riegelhoff!”

The Duke bellowed, as if he couldn’t take it anymore.

I was surprised at his booming voice, but even more surprised that he still called me
“Riegelhoff”.

CHAPTER 22

“If you hadn’t leaked the documents, why would Count Riegelhoff have chosen to buy
only the items listed in them? I was afraid of this, and that’s why I had you touch the fake
documents!”

In other words, they didn’t trust me, so they made me organize the fake documents, and I
fell right into their trap and leaked them to Count Riegelhoff.

Once again, I was dumbfounded.

I did not leak the documents.

I had even replied to the Count’s letter telling him to stop.

“I never leaked these documents.”

“Haha! You’re so brave, so how do you think this happened? How did the documents that
only you could see get into the hands of Count Riegelhoff?”

“They were not documents that only I could see, Your Excellency.”

“What?”

A knot formed in my stomach.

I felt like I was going to flounder in front of them, just like the original Edith had done.

But…… but what else could I do but plead my case?

“As Your Excellency said, the Duchess and Miss Lize have seen these documents, and
there must be others who made them.”

“They are all members of my family.”

“So am I. My name on the paper is no longer Edith Riegelhoff, and it was you, Your
Excellency, who put your seal on the paper as a witness for the groom.”

“Are you trying to play words with me?”

“What is Miss Lize’s name? Lize Ludwig?”

My provocative question seemed to freeze the air in the office.

“Are you…… trying to pin the blame on Lize?”

“Who saw that I leaked the documents? Count Riegelhoff knew the contents of the
documents I was looking at, and this fact alone makes me the culprit?”

I felt on the verge of tears.

These people were treating me like a fool. Or maybe an idiot spy?

“I repeat, the Duchess knows I organized those documents, Miss Lize knows it, and I know
that if something like this were to happen, I would be the first to be suspected, wouldn’t
I?”

For the first time, the Duke’s mouth fell shut.

Yes, he thought I was a fool whom he should not care about.

“If you didn’t trust me in the slightest, you shouldn’t have entrusted me with such a job!”

And yet, I know why they gave me the job.

“You deliberately did that…… in the hope that you would get evidence that I had leaked
the documents so that you could put pressure on Count Riegelhoff, didn’t you?”

That’s actually what happened in the original story.

Edith, unaware that the document was fake, took inside information from the Ludwigs
and sent it to her father, and for that, Edith is put on probation.

Of course, since it was fake, the Ludwigs didn’t suffer any consequences, and the
Riegelhoffs ended up with a bunch of unnecessary stuff.

But I didn’t do that.

How on earth had the document reached the Riegelhofs?

I mentioned Lize’s name in anger, but there was no reason for her to do such a thing.
‘After all, I can’t go against the flow of the original story, can I?’

I felt my uneasy conjecture hardening.

And I felt hopeless.

‘No matter what I do, I can’t avoid the ending where Killian beheads me?’

If this is what it takes to possess a character, I’d rather not do it.

I’d rather my life just end with me falling down the stairs and dying!

I tried to hold back the tears, but they wouldn’t stop.

If I cry, I’ll only be reprimanded for being an idiot……

“Hmm, are you sure you didn’t do it?” the Duke asked in a surprisingly softer voice.

I just nodded.
“If you’re so sure I did it, just slit my throat. Didn’t I tell you before, I’ll put my honor and
my life on the line?”

I was so angry I didn’t even have the strength to scream.

I really wanted him to just cut my throat cleanly.

“You are talking without thinking.”

Suddenly, Killian intervened. He glared at me with contempt and gritted his teeth.

Then Cliff spoke to the Duke in a calm voice, “Father, don’t you think it would be a good
idea to investigate further? But of course…… we need to keep the suspect from getting
out of the house.”

The Duke nodded heavily as if he was reluctant to accuse me of being the culprit.

“Edith is on probation for the time being. If you are truly innocent, wait for the truth to be
revealed.”

And with that, I was ‘led’ back to my room.

Killian, who had escorted me himself, made Anna and the knight wait outside, then closed
the door.
Then, without releasing his grip on my forearm, he pushed me against the wall.

“Are you crazy?”

“I wish I am.”

“You think I’m kidding?!”

He glared at me as if to devour me. “Do you know what the Duke of Axel Ludwig’s
nickname was on the battlefield? It was ‘guillotine without warning.’ And you were talking
about slitting your throat in front of such a person?”

One hell of a nickname. No, but what does it matter now?

I furrowed my brows, and Killian gritted his teeth, barely holding back his anger.

“I know very well that you have a lot of balls, but don’t you dare talk about dying. Because
running away with death is cowardly.”

“So…… you were more annoyed that I told the Duke to slit my throat, is that it?”
“If you’re guilty, you’ll be punished; if not, the truth will come out.”

He must have thought I would kill myself to protect Count Riegelhoff’s safety.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I felt like I was talking to a wall.

“Well, as much as you don’t trust me, I don’t trust you anymore, because I think you’re
going to frame me as the culprit somehow.”

“What?”

“You’re the ones who put the fake document in my hands, you’re the ones who informed
me that Count Riegelhoff had acted on it, you’re the ones who will investigate it and pass
judgment, and I’m just going to be locked up in my room and have to accept your verdict.”

The arrogant man who believed that Duke Ludwig was infallible frowned as if displeased.

But he was not a stupid man, and his head seemed to spin enough to rethink the situation.

He stared down at me with clenched molars, then barely opened his mouth to mutter. “I
promise you, on my honor, that I will never be partial in this investigation, and along the
way, I’ll let you know how it goes.”
I don’t know how he feels. Actually, I don’t really care right now.

“Do whatever you want. Oh, and by the way, you know that thing about not being
partial……”

As he looked at me with a frown, I asked with a devastated feeling, “If both me and Lize
are under suspicion at the same time, are you sure you won’t be partial?”

His jaw clenched.

I pulled my forearm out of his slackened grip.

“That’s what it means to not be partial, Killian, and that’s why I don’t trust you.”

He tried to say something, but I didn’t want to hear anything.

“I’m tired. Go back.”

With those words, I walked to my dressing room.

Without a single look back at him.

***

“You say running away with death is cowardly? Do you have any idea what it feels like to
be the one to even think about it?”

Locked in my room, I replayed Killian’s words, recreating my anger.

He seemed to think I was trying to defend my family’s honor to the death, but I was simply
trying to assert my innocence in a situation where no one else would believe me.

“You’re a mean guy. Do you think being handsome, fit, and sexy is everything? Tsk. Just
thinking about it makes me want to see you again, asshole!”

I hate this world! I want to hate Killian, but I can’t when I think of his face and body.

Who says a marriage based on looks won’t last three years? No, that’s not true. I can stay
married for 15 years and still find him handsome. Even when we’re fighting, I can look at
his face and it defuses my anger.
I never thought I’d see the day when I’d understand the internet stories that say,
‘Handsome is the best.’

But in this situation, where my handsome husband has no intention of appeasing me, it’s
natural to feel angry and upset.

“Ha…… you can call me cowardly all you want, but I’d like to die, too, because if that’s
what you want, why should I suffer?”

Punching my pillow in frustration, I sighed heavily and rubbed my face with both hands.

This life sucks, but my previous life was worse than this.

I was always broke, had a brother who would come and steal money whenever he could, a
body that ached all the time, an ex-boyfriend who cheated on me or ignored his promises
to me, and co-workers who looked down on me and slapped me on the back……

In the 28 years I’ve been alive, I wonder if I’ve ever thought about dying. But there is one
memory from my previous life that makes me never think of suicide.

It was when I was sharing a hospital room with another leukemia patient my age.
***

“Sob, sob…… sob……”

The day I found out that my brother’s bone marrow was a match for me, I lay alone in bed
and sobbed.

It wasn’t from joy.

“Oh, no, that’s gonna fucking hurt! Just go to hell!”

I cried because I kept hearing my brother’s voice in my head, telling me to die without
hesitation.

CHAPTER 23

At that moment, a voice that seemed like it could be extinguished at any moment called
out to me.
“Hey, are you in a lot of pain?”

I sobbed and turned around to see a girl about my age with no hair on her head.

Her cheeks were sunken in and she was as pale as if she’d been covered in a layer of flour,
but as far as I could tell, she was a beautiful child.

I shook my head. “Sob, n-no……”

She came to my side, pushing the IV rack aside with a worried look on her face.

“Then why are you crying so much?”

“I’m sorry if I was noisy…….”

“No, I cry a lot too. Is it because you’re scared of dying too?”

At that moment, for some reason, she felt uneasy.

“I’d rather be dead!”

“What? Why……?” the child asked in surprise.

“My mom and dad think I’m nothing but a nuisance, and when I found out that my
brother’s bone marrow was a match for me, he told me to die. Sob…… I’d rather be dead
now.”

I don’t know why I told that story to a child I didn’t even know.

And I don’t know why I said something so flippant in a leukemia hospital room, where the
shadow of death always looms.

She sat next to me, twiddling her fingers in silence for a while, then said in a very small
voice, “Why…… are you talking about…… dying when you can live?”

It was such a small voice, and I held my breath.

She continued, “Because if you live…… you can change the future, and sure, you might not
be happy…… but at least you’re taking a chance.”

“Ah……”

“I don’t even have that chance. The day I leave this hospital room is the day I die, and if I
die, I won’t be able to repay my mom and dad for all they’ve done for me, I won’t be able
to see my friends anymore, and I won’t be able to turn twenty.”
Her pretty eyes were watery. “I envy you so much, but…… don’t say that. If you can live,
you should live somehow. Don’t just give up……”

“I’m sorry……”

All I could do was say I was sorry to a child who looked so much worse than me.

A few days later, I got my bone marrow transplant.

As I was waiting in the recovery room for my brother’s bone marrow transplant, a nurse
came over and said, “Luckily, there’s a bed available in a five-person room. We’re getting
it ready now, so please wait here for a bit.”

My parents rubbed their chests, saying how lucky they were because they almost had to
go to a double-occupancy room.

I didn’t think much of it at the time.

But when I returned to the hospital room, it was the same one I’d been in for days, only
my bed had been changed to that child’s bed.

“E- excuse me! Where is the child who was here……”

My mom furrowed her brow and elbowed me in the side as I wondered about the child’s
whereabouts.

“You’re not supposed to ask that here!”

Only then did I realize

The child had left the hospital after a long stay.

“The day I leave this hospital room is the day I die.”

I shuddered at the memory of that voice.

***
As she took her last breath, I realized how envious she must have been of my bone
marrow transplant, and how sad she was that she would never have another chance.

And from then on, I didn’t talk about dying.

Even when I was flooded with thoughts of dying, I couldn’t help but think of that child.

‘I’m already thinking about dying, that’s too bad, isn’t it?’

I clenched my teeth, recalling the face of a child whose name I didn’t know.

Tears formed in the corners of my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away with my sleeve.

‘Cheer up. I haven’t given my best yet. I still have a chance.’

I vowed to be more positive.

***
Once I changed my mind, my life became more relaxed.

Probation was a punishment, but for a homebody like me, it was just a peaceful break.

It would have been, if not for Killian’s unexpected appearance.

“Do you really…… have to come at this hour?”

“I have no time to spare.”

Since he happened to come at mealtime, I had to sit across from him to eat.

“Ha…… okay, well, you must be busy, so what brings you here today?”

He didn’t answer my question, just tore into his bread and scooped up some stew.

He was a very picturesque man, even when he was eating, but I tilted my head and
blatantly show disrespect.

“Killian?”
Despite my call, he slowly cleared his throat and sloshed his mouth with wine before
answering.

“It’s not polite to talk when you have food in your mouth, is it?”

“That’s right.”

He continued to eat without another word.

Eventually, I had no choice but to eat, and it was a wise choice.

“Mmm!”

I exclaimed as the stew was so delicious that I forgot all about my snarky remarks to Killian
earlier.

The Ludwig family’s chef was very good indeed.

In the Riegelhoff family, they only fed me enough birdseed to keep me in shape. But since
this is a Rofan novel, even after I came to the Duchy of Ludwig and ate as much as I
wanted, I still stayed in shape.

This is a real fantasy world.

“……you’re eating well.”

“Mmm. It’s really good,” I replied, not even looking at Killian.

This beef stew was more important than his gracious face right now.

The tender beef chewed gently, and the gravy with the aroma of milk exploded in my
mouth.

I don’t know what it’s made from, but the sweet and addictive taste of the roux goes
fantastically well with the boring bread.

As I began to lament the stew that was almost gone, Killian nonchalantly slid a small bowl
with a lid in front of me.

‘What is this?’

Without thinking, I lifted the lid and found more stew.

“Huh? Why is this in here?”

“It’s extra in case we need more food.”

“Ah…… this, can I eat it?”

“Hah…… yes.”

“Do you want to share?”

“No thanks.”

Then don’t sigh, or don’t make it so obvious!

“Then…… thank you for the food.”

I also emptied the stew from the extra plate.

Killian watched me eat, then muttered to himself, “It goes down your throat just fine.”

It’s been quiet for a while. Was the devil’s snout finally starting up?

“Why not, I’m innocent, I didn’t do it, why should I be punished?”

“I hope you’re right. I’m currently investigating every other route the documents could
have gone. As you said…… Lize is also under investigation, and we’re not doing it lightly
just because she’s involved.”

“Oh, that’s surprising.”

“The investigation is fair to the end, so don’t worry about partiality.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t press the point, not wanting to argue with him.

He sat there with a serious look on his face, as if he had something more to say, but
eventually, he got up without saying anything.

“I will go back for now.”

“Okay.”

Come to think of it, it was the first time I’d ever sat so close to him for a meal.

I think it somehow made the food taste better, and it also made me feel bad when he said
he had to go.
‘Ugh, this guy. Anyway, it was nice to have a handsome guy by my side, so I didn’t lose my
mind……’

He seemed to treat me more like a human than last time, so I got even more excited.

Killian and I parted ways with an awkward goodbye.

After that, all that was left was time.

Sure, I was happy to be rolling around on the bed, but by the third day, I was getting a
little bored.

‘Why don’t I pursue a hobby while I can?’

Yes, this is the time.

I’ve always loved tinkering and decorating in my past life, but I never really got around to
it because I didn’t have the money or time.

But now it’s different!

‘What should I start? Embroidery or knitting?’

I wondered, and I called Anna. She was the only person I could call and talk to right now.

“Anna, Anna, do you know what hobbies the ladies of other families enjoy these days?”

“Usually embroidery or painting, and for the more active ones, horseback riding.”

“Anything else interesting?”

Anna hesitated at the bottomless pit of my question, then opened her mouth cautiously.
“It’s not a hobby of noble ladies…… but commoner girls from well-to-do families do play
with prince and princess dolls……”

“You mean they make the dolls themselves?”

“No. They make clothes out of the rags that are left over from their wooden dolls, and
some of the girls from very well-to-do families make quite extravagant outfits for them.
It’s a hobby that their parents generously allow them to do because it’s good for their
sewing skills.”

Does it feel like dressing up a Barbie doll? Sounds like fun.

“I want to try that. Where can I buy a wooden doll?”

“Commoner children usually ask their fathers to make them…… but if you’d like to try, I’ll
place an order with the craftsman myself.”

Wow…… a wooden doll made by your father, how precious it must be. I’m so jealous.

CHAPTER 24

“Is this enough for a doll?”

I took out 200,000 sennas, the remaining money that I didn’t put in the safe.

I was trying to relieve some stress, so taking out 200,000 sennas didn’t feel as wasteful as
before. Or maybe I’d gotten used to being an aristocrat in the meantime.

But Anna only picked up 50,000 sennas.

“With this much, you can order a pair of male and female dolls from a skillful craftsman.”

I gave her the other 150,000 sennas and said, “Then use this to buy some good fabric for
the dolls’ clothes and some sewing tools. The rest is for your services.”

“It’s my job to serve you, so I don’t need a fee.”

“What, you don’t want to accept anything from me?”

“Pardon? Oh, no, not like that……”

I had never seen Anna so flustered before. That alone told me what she had been through.

“Then what are you so nervous about? It’s not enough to bribe you, and it’s not enough to
bruise my ego, so just take it as a thank you.”

Anna hesitated for a moment, then complied.

“Thank you, miss.”

“Be good to me. I’ve been so bored lately.”

I knew from the start that Anna was here to keep an eye on me. And rightfully so.

But at least she didn’t look at me with a glare or ignore me.

For that, I am grateful, and I’ve always wanted to reciprocate.

It would have been even more heartbreaking if Anna had ultimately rejected my sincerity.
And as if on cue, Anna brought me a box that evening with a pair of wooden dolls, a ring,
and assorted fabric and buttons.

“How did they make it so quickly?”

“There was one that the orderer canceled. Lucky you! This one is really well made.”

I was expecting a clunky piece of wood, but to my surprise, it was a sleek wood-carved doll
with movable joints.

“Good job, Anna.”

“Do you want me to get you a design for the doll’s clothes?”

“Huh? C- can you do that?”

“I’ll tell the boudoir and they’ll draw it for you, I’ll be right back.”

Anna was strangely more friendly.

Was it really because of the tip……?

Anyway, thanks to Anna, I was able to start making clothes for my dolls the next day.

It wasn’t until I started that I realized I wasn’t very handy, despite my love of tinkering.

At first, I was annoyed that my stitches weren’t turning out the way I thought they would,
but I quickly changed my mind.

‘It’s not like anyone’s evaluating me, so what if I’m not good at it? I’m just trying to have
fun by wasting money and time, and that’s the real luxury.’

Once I realized that this was part of the luxury, I relaxed and suddenly enjoyed every
stitch.

I had to keep the threads from unraveling, which was a bit of a hassle, but I was thrilled
every time a piece of fabric turned into a three-dimensional garment.

‘Yes, this is my hobby, something that brings me joy whether I’m good at it or not!’

In my previous life, I never had this kind of peace of mind.

I was always rushing around, always trying to be efficient with my time.

Ironically, it was only now that I possessed someone else’s body that I felt like I was living
as myself.

With no one looking for me all day and nothing else for me to do, I was able to dress the
male and female dolls in convincing clothes after three straight days of dedication.

When I turned the clothes inside out, they were a mess, complete with crooked stitching
and protruding stitches, but it didn’t matter because they couldn’t be seen from the
outside.

“Pretty convincing, huh?”

Taking advantage of the fact that no one else was around, I cut a length of coarse thread
and began to attach it to the doll’s head.

I didn’t want them to be bald because it reminded me of my leukemia days.

I had made the male doll with black hair and the female doll with brown hair, and they
looked much better with hair.

“Finally!”
I turned the dolls around for a while, the boy in a white shirt, black vest, black pants, and a
dark blue cape, and the girl in a light yellow basic dress, then turned them to face each
other.

“Here, kiss.”

The two faceless dolls stood facing each other and shyly kissed.

‘I’ve never been able to do it, not even at a wedding, but you guys can kiss all you want.’

I left the dolls in that pose and stared at them for a while. I felt a little lonely, but I also
thought it was kind of funny that I was so obsessed with dolls.

I quickly cleaned up the mess. Now that I’ve made clothes for my dolls, maybe I should try
my hand at embroidery.

***

“Edith Riegelhoff is on probation.”

“What? Is that true?”

“According to a letter from Hanson, yes.”

“Hahaha! What a surprise!”

Leila, who was having tea with her younger brother Anton, grinned at Damien’s news.

It was the best news she’d heard since she’d lost her seat next to Killian, who she’d been
ogling and flirting with, to none other than Edith.

“What in the world did she do to deserve probation for a newly married bride?” Leila
asked Damien with a twinkle in her eye.

Damien recalled the letter from Hanson, the spy he’d planted in the duchy, and
summarized the entire story.

“She stole the duchy’s internal documents to give to Count Riegelhoff.”

“Goodness…… is she bold or stupid, showing her true colors not long after getting
married?”
“I suppose Count Riegelhoff must have been in a hurry. I’m sure he plans to strike House
Ludwig within the year.”

There would be no overt conflict until the end of the year, but just because the water was
calm on the surface didn’t mean it was calm underneath.

House Sinclair, who was seeking a position as House Ludwig’s entourage, was closely
monitoring the affairs of House Riegelhoff, which was currently the closest family to
House Ludwig in business.

That’s why Damien could sense their intentions well in advance.

“Having used Edith as a pawn in the first place, whatever her fate at the duchy, Count
Riegelhoff would have wanted to secure advantageous information as soon as possible,
but the Duke of Ludwig is not a man to be trifled with.”

Leila nodded vigorously, but Anton interrupted, “But even if she did get caught, wouldn’t
it be dangerous if the duchy’s internal documents fell into the hands of Count Riegelhoff?”

“Once again, Duke Ludwig is not a man to be trifled with. Do you really think he would
entrust such an important document to Edith?”

“Well, I wouldn’t trust her with it either.”

“Hanson says that Duke doesn’t seem to care about the leak itself, so maybe he entrusts
her with useless documents just to see how they get over the fence.”

Leila laughed at that. “Pfft! So Edith was trapped in a nice little trap, then?”

“That’s right.”

Leila couldn’t have been happier.

The fact that the Duke of Ludwig had left her like that was proof that he did not recognize
her as his daughter-in-law.

“Then why did she only get probation? She dared to try to deceive the Duke, then she
should be thrown out of the house!”

“Leila. Things are not as simple as you think.”

“What, are you mocking me now?”

Damien sighed at his sister’s quick temper.

“I’m just saying you’re too naive. Why did the Duke of Ludwig marry Edith to Killian in the
first place? Because he thought he could hold the leash of Count Riegelhoff.”
“But you say Edith is Count Riegelhoff’s pawn to be discarded!”

“The Ludwigs don’t know it yet!”

Who would have thought that the man who wouldn’t mind spending five million sennas
on his daughter’s dress was using her as bait?

“Then can’t we tell Duke Ludwig about it?”

“We can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because Count Riegelhoff would be all over it, and that would only delay his downfall.”

Leila’s lips pouted, but Damien figured this secret wouldn’t come out until later this year.
By the time Count Riegelhoff truly abandoned Edith and turned against Duke Ludwig.

There was one thing that bothered him, though. Damien recalled the rest of the letter he
hadn’t given Leila.
– ……Sir Killian, who never paid any attention to Edith before, seems strangely concerned
for her after this. He stops by Edith’s room from time to time and even eats with her.

Of course, it hasn’t been confirmed that Edith is the culprit yet……

It’s kind of disturbing.

‘It’s better if Killian stays indifferent to her…… and eventually dumps her, but somehow it
bothers me.’

Damien thought to himself as he sipped his tea.

But at the moment, Lize was more of a headache than Edith Riegelhoff.

“Brother. What are you thinking about so much, with your face all crumpled up……”

Unlike Leila, who was giggling, Anton asked carefully after studying his brother’s
expression.
“Don’t worry about Edith, everything will work itself out. It’s Lize, that bitch is the
problem,” Damien replied, completely skipping over Killian.

“Lize?”

Leila’s face crumpled at the name.

CHAPTER 25

“I feel sick just thinking about her. How sneaky of that piece of shit to pretend to be nice
and innocent, and woo the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig.”

“Trouble is, that sneaky bitch also seduced Cliff and Killian. I guess Killian has given up
halfway, seeing as how he’s married Edith, but it’s made it more likely that Lize will marry
Cliff.”

“Are you kidding me?” Leila shouted, as if spewing fire.

“This isn’t going to be solved by you being so angry.”

“You’re saying that if I marry Killian, I’ll have to treat her like she’s above me? I absolutely
don’t want that!”

“That’s why I’m saying Lize is more of a problem than Edith. Besides, if Lize becomes Cliff’s
wife, it’ll be harder for our family to become part of the Duke’s entourage, and she’s
probably the biggest obstacle to you marrying Killian.”
Leila’s eyes seemed to darken. “That wench is a sin for being born, and for that to make
her the Duchess of Ludwig is ridiculous.”

“So we’ll have to figure out something to do with that wench before you take the seat
next to Killian.”

Silence fell over the Sinclair siblings.

They had to get rid of Lize, but there was no way they were going to put their blades to
her when she had the complete favor of Cliff and the Duke of Ludwig.

Leila, who had been tapping her fingers nervously on the armrest of the sofa, suddenly
stopped and spoke cautiously, “How about using Edith Riegelhoff?”

“What do you mean?” Anton asked, frowning.

Leila’s expression broke into a smile. “Edith must have a crush on Killian, given how she
bragged about him before they were married. So I’m guessing she hates Lize too, right?”

At that, Damien nodded slowly. “Yeah, I don’t know any girl who wouldn’t have a crush on
Killian.”
“We just need to poke Edith in the side, so she’ll hate Lize even more, and then we’ll lay
the table and she’ll take care of the rest.”

“Hmm…… you do have a good idea sometimes.”

“I know, right? If it’s about Killian, sister will be racking her brains!”

“Are you done talking?”

The three siblings, who resembled each other, laughed merrily. But there was a sinister
undertone to their laughter that sent shivers down the spines of the maids who were
attending to them.

***

I spent my probation days like I was on vacation.

I had gotten out of the habit of dressing up my dolls and was passing the time by
practicing my embroidery.
“Edith!”

“Mama! You startled me!”

Thanks to Killian’s sudden burst into my room, I pricked my fingertip on the needle,
bleeding.

“Killian, do you have no manners for knocking before–”

“A document in your handwriting has been found, and you’re telling me this isn’t your
doing?”

He grabbed both my forearms in a painful grip and shook me.

“Ah! It hurts, let me go and talk properly!”

“My father will be calling for you any minute now, what are you going to say to him?”

He looked impatient and nervous. I don’t know why he’s so upset that they found
evidence that points to me as the culprit.

“I’ll say you tried to frame me for something I didn’t do. Why?”
“Are you…… out of your mind, or are you making fun of the Duke of Ludwig?”

He glared at me like he was going to devour me, but in all honesty, I knew this wasn’t
going to get me killed, let alone kicked out.

‘They still need me to just let me go.’

In the original story, it was Edith who did it, and the evidence was found, just as it is now,
but in the end, the Duke of Ludwig buries it. Of course, he does use it to give Count
Riegelhoff a stinging warning.

“Pardon me for interrupting you. His Excellency the Duke is calling for Miss Edith.”

As if the play needed to get underway, Anna and the knight I’d seen earlier picked me up.

“Yes, let’s go.”

I set the embroidery frame aside and stood up lightly, but Killian still looked fearsome.

“Keep a straight face, Killian. If they found the evidence, isn’t that a good thing for you?”

I threw it out in a joking tone, hoping to lighten the mood, but he stiffened and walked
away. Either way, he’d lost his temper.
I followed Anna and the knight to the Duke’s office, and the mood was lighter than last
time. Only Killian seemed serious.

“Sit down, Edith.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Once I was seated, he placed the ‘evidence’ Killian had spoken of in front of me.

“This is the list of items the arms dealer claimed to have received from Count Riegelhoff.
In your handwriting.”

I held the paper up and looked at it to see how the original story could possibly
incriminate me.

At a glance, I realized that someone had forged my handwriting.

The table isn’t even the way I’d drawn it.

‘Someone who has learned how to tabulate from the Duchess or Lize must have forged
my handwriting.’
It was bizarre.

Why would they bother to imitate my handwriting? It was as if they knew this would be
discovered and they needed to frame me as the culprit……

Anyway, I wasn’t about to take the accusation lying down.

“Someone copied my handwriting.”

The Duke and Cliff snorted at the same time.

“Who?”

“That’s for you to figure out, Duke, and the others.”

“Edith.”

The Duke’s voice was low with a hint of laughter.

“If anything, it’s a loss for the Riegelhoffs, and to be honest, I’m not going to punish you
for it.”
I’ve never missed forensic science so much. In modern times, this wouldn’t even be a
problem in the first place……

“Your Excellency, this isn’t about punishment, it’s about my honor. Would you mind
bringing me the documents I organized back then?”

The Duke looked displeased, but compliantly handed over the documents.

I unfolded my own tabulations and compared them to the Duke’s ‘evidence’.

“To me, a ‘table’ is something like this, where you can adjust the height or width of the
columns according to the amount of information. But when I first explained this to other
people, they all drew a table with the same size columns, like a grid.”

Finally, the Duke realized that my table and the one in the ‘evidence’ were different.

“I don’t draw this badly, which means it’s nothing more than someone copying me who
hasn’t yet grasped the concept of a ‘table’.”

“……or you could have drawn it like this on purpose.”

“What’s the point? I wouldn’t have written in my own handwriting in the first place if I was
expecting to be found out. You’re taking me for a complete idiot, aren’t you?”

I laughed out loud in disbelief.

“And now that I’m looking at it more closely, the handwriting is also slightly different from
mine. I don’t write capital Q like this.”

The capitalized Q on the ‘evidence’ was a graceful rolled line, the kind you’d expect to see
from an aristocratic lady.

But I don’t write Q like that.

“I’ll ask Anna to bring my diary, and I’m sure it has a Q written on it.”

The Duke agreed, and Anna brought me my diary.

There aren’t any great stories in it, but sometimes I write this and that when I’m in a
sentimental mood, like middle schoolers usually do. So I look for Q and hide everything
else from the Duke and the others.

“Ah, here it is. This is how I write Q.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at the completely different handwriting from the Q on

‘evidence’, where the circle was drawn first and the line was drawn afterward.

Killian, in particular, seemed surprised enough to pick up my diary and take a closer look.
“As you see, this is a document someone forged to frame me. The Duke needs to catch
that rat.”

“Hmm……”

The Duke seemed to agree with me for a moment.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Your Excellency, it’s me, Lize.”

Lize apparently didn’t realize there was a ‘trial’ going on here.

I expected the Duke to ask her to leave or to come back later.

“There you are, come in.”

“Excuse me, ah, am I interrupting?”

Lize’s eyes widened in surprise at the serious atmosphere, but she was more surprised
than I was.
‘What the hell, why are you letting Lize into the room?’

Then I realized the obvious, which I had completely forgotten.

‘Oh, right. Lize is going to reveal Edith’s crime.’

Maybe it’s time for the female lead to step in.

“No, no. I called you here to ask you a question.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Lize looked up at the Duke, nervous and yet bright-eyed.

“Lize. It’s been four years since you helped Jocelyn with her work, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s been that long already.”

“I see. Last time, Edith taught you how to organize contents in tables, didn’t she?”

“Yes! It’s a very efficient method, the Duchess was delighted.”

“Who knows about that method?”

Lize seemed to think for a moment, then answered in a clear voice, “Edith explained it to
the Duchess and me, but I didn’t really understand it. I think the Duchess understood it,
but it’s not the way she’s used to writing, so she’s not using it very well yet.”

“Who else?”

“I’d have to ask the Duchess if she’s taught it to her aide. Cliff and Killian probably have
some idea from what the Duchess has told them. I’ve never taught it to anyone because I
don’t understand the concept very well.”

The Duke’s frosty gaze turned to me again.

CHAPTER 26

“If Jocelyn never taught it to anyone else, then at best, Edith and my family would be the
only ones who would know this method.”

“Yes. Probably. But do you mind if I ask…… why you asked that?” Lize asked, looking
around the room with a frightened glance.

“It’s not a big deal. Now you can leave.”

In contrast to the icy glare he was giving me, his voice was gentle.
Lize glanced in my direction, unsure if she had done something wrong.

But she could not disobey the Duke’s order to leave, so she bowed slightly and left the
room.

“This is very strange, Edith.”

I sighed. I’ve been sighing a lot lately.

“A table is something that anyone can look at once and understand the concept of……!
Ha…… no, never mind, I think you’ve concluded that I am the culprit anyway.”

“Say it.”

“I showed you a table that looked nothing like the one I usually draw, the handwriting was
different from mine, and all it took was one word from Lize and it was all for naught. I
gave you one great testimony, and you don’t believe me……”

Honestly, I was disappointed.

I couldn’t quite remember how Lize had framed Edith in the original story, but I thought
the main character would have come up with a more plausible explanation or evidence.

‘I wonder if the evidence I brought to the table reduced the amount of probability I had.’
That…… left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I would get a lot of flack from readers if I wrote a novel with this kind of probability, but
the story still pointed to Edith as the culprit.

In addition, the Duke said “Edith and my family.” I also have the surname Ludwig, and the
Duke has been excluding me since the last time, to the point where I wonder if it’s
intentional.

As I was getting my thoughts together, the Duke let out a long sigh and nodded.

“Yes, you have a point. It’s hard to be sure with testimony like that. In any case, I’m
dropping this case. I’m also rescinding your probation.”

He admitted that I am not the culprit, but that doesn’t mean he believes I am innocent.

In the original, the episode didn’t end that way because it is clear that Edith is the culprit,
but now I feel torn because I don’t know if this situation works for me or not.

“Okay, I’m going to go back to…… wait, what are you looking at?”

While I was distracted, Killian was reading my diary. I hurriedly snatched it away from him.
“What do you think you’re doing, reading someone else’s diary?”

“Did you write any information down that you don’t want anyone else to see?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t want to show their diary because of certain information?
It’s because it contains private life! You really have no intention of showing me any
decency……!”

I stood up angrily and stormed out of the Duke’s office.

Killian followed and grabbed me. Not to apologize, of course.

“I can’t trust you,” he said.

“I know, you never have, and you never will!”

“Is it any wonder you’re under suspicion after all the things you’ve done in the Riegelhoff
family? There’s been so much going on, so many things, that you can’t just bury it.”

“It has nothing to do with me.”

“It does. You’ve been helping your father’s schemes for quite some time now.”

“What the……!”

I was about to retort, but my mind began to flash back to the things Edith had done in the
past.

Not only had she seduced men to extract information, but at her father’s behest, she had
crashed parties of families favorable to the Ludwigs, and even created a scandal involving
people from certain families getting married.

‘Why is that only now coming in!’

Thanks to that, I could only keep my mouth shut in front of Killian.

‘This possession…… seems to have too many flaws.’

I’m getting more and more anxious.

I thought I’d become the main character of a possessed villain novel, but the story doesn’t
change no matter what I do.

When I remained silent, Killian sighed as if he’d given up on something and began to pull
my arm.
“Let me walk you to your room.”

I sighed heavily and stumbled along with Killian.

When I got to my room, Lize was waiting in front of the door.

“Lize……?”

“Ah! Killian…… Edith……!”

She looked at me, her face full of concern.

“Are you okay? I was so worried that I might have said something wrong earlier……”

Killian patted her head as if to reassure her. “Don’t worry, Lize, everything’s fine.”

“But…… why did Edith……”

I found myself staring at Killian’s hand stroking Lize’s hair, then quickly came to my senses.
“I’ve been trying to find someone who I could teach about tables, and His Excellency the
Duke was very interested in it.”

“Ah, I’m glad to hear that, I haven’t seen you at all lately and wondered what was wrong.”

“Oh, I just had a cold and was resting, but I’m all better now.”

Lize smiled broadly.

Somehow her bright smile made me feel uncomfortable.

‘Lize…… you really, really don’t know anything……?’

She said she couldn’t understand the concept of tables, much less be able to teach
someone.

But she clearly understood everything I said that day. It’s not a difficult concept, and
there’s no way she couldn’t understand it.

I shouldn’t be doing this, but I keep getting suspicious of the female lead.
Is it because of Killian, who left me behind and went straight to Lize, or is it because this is
Edith’s role?

“I’ll go inside, and you two can talk.”

I smiled brighter on purpose and went into my room, closing the door behind me.

I could hear Lize say, “Eh, eh……” behind me, but I pretended not to hear her.

But I was right in front of the door, and I could hear everything outside.

“Killian. I think Edith is offended……”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Something happened, didn’t it?”

Killian sighed and paused for a moment before answering Lize’s question.

“Edith was suspected of stealing internal documents……”

“What, you mean the documents from earlier?”

Killian paused for a moment and nodded.

Lize shouted softly, “It can’t be!”

“I’d like to believe so, but……”

“Did they come up with any proof?”

“It’s a little vague.”

“Oh, my God……”

She sounded surprised. Her voice was soft, sad…… as if she would cry at any moment.

“It’s my fault.”

“You?”

“Sometimes, in the afternoons, I’d stop by the Duchess’ office to do some more work and
leave the door open, and if someone were to take the documents, it would have been at
that time.”

Eavesdropping, I frowned involuntarily.

‘Hold on. This is kind of weird……?’

Lize said as if she was sure that the documents must have been taken from the office
while she was away.

If you listen to it, you’ll think the kind-hearted Lize is blaming herself, but if people who
know what’s going on in the mansion hear it, they’ll suspect me.

The area near the Duchess’ office is always guarded by guards, and I’m the only one who
can pass through there without being suspected.

“Well……”

Killian’s voice sounded tired.

“What should I do? What can I do to beg the Duke’s forgiveness?”

“You don’t have to, we’ve decided to bury the matter anyway, and it’s not like we know
for sure that Edith stole it.”

“But who could possibly know where the Duchess put the documents in her office……”
Lize trailed off, but it was clear who she wanted to frame now.

‘Lize Sinclair, you accused me of……!’

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Just a moment ago, she said there was
no way I would do that!

But contrary to what I’d thought, I found Lize suspicious.

‘If there’s anyone who can get in and out of the Duchess’ room at will, who knows about
the tables, who knows where those documents are, it’s Lize!’

But this is just my own thoughts.

Killian, who only sees her in a favorable light, would be convinced by Lize’s words that I
was the culprit.

Any second now, he’d be screaming or banging on this door.

“Lize. Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Huh? Why is his voice so calm?

“Killian?”

“Don’t dig up what’s done. Forget about it. Okay?”

Killian didn’t get angry, and he didn’t accuse me of being the culprit.

I was really surprised.

Even Lize seemed surprised.

“Yeah…… okay, I’m sorry I upset you.”

“No. Let’s go back.”

He grabbed Lize and left my room.

‘What the hell? He seemed to believe with an ironclad conviction that I was the culprit up
until this point, so why didn’t he immediately jump on me?’

I stood glued to the door for a long time after they left.

I couldn’t understand Killian at all.

CHAPTER 27

The next morning, the Duchess summoned me to her office, where there was no one but
her.

“Edith. I hear you’ve had a hard time.”

“I’ve had no hardships. I’ve made myself comfortable in my room.”

“Hardships of the mind are harder than hardships of the body.”

I couldn’t deny the words.

The tip of my nose twitched for no reason, and I took a deep breath.

“Just so you know, I really didn’t steal the documents, and I’m willing to bet my life on it.”

The Duchess nodded quietly.

“I know you won’t believe me, and I don’t care if I get more probation, I really don’t–”

“Edith.”

Her warm hand grasped mine.

“I believe you. I do believe in you.”

Oh, God.

Hearing those words in this situation makes me burst into tears……

“Ha…… sob……”

“I know how hard it’s been for you, Edith.”

“No one believed me……”

“I do believe you. I know you’ve done your best to help me, I know you’re trying to fit in
somehow in this house. How can I not know that? I’ve been through it all before……”

She understood me from the perspective of a fellow daughter-in-law.

It was a big part of her life too, being married and living in a house she didn’t know, trying
to fit in and be liked somehow.

“I don’t know who played this nasty prank on you, but I do know it wasn’t you.”
“Sob, sob, t- thank you……”

Tears streamed down my face as I was overcome with emotion at the first
“understanding” I’d gotten since falling into this shitty world.

I wanted to respond in a more mature way, but the tears wouldn’t stop and I couldn’t
breathe, as if there was a malfunction somewhere.

As I sobbed like a child, clinging to the hand patting me on the back, I thought of one
hope.

‘Maybe…… the Duchess will believe me.’

The Duchess will believe me if I tell her about my situation in the Riegelhoff family. And
she won’t kick me out.

If at least one person understands me, I might be able to get through this, so I decided to
tell her.

“Mother. I- I…… actually……”

“Yes, Edith.”
“In the Riegelhoff family…… I actually……!”

“……Edith?”

“Ugh, ugh……”

“Edith! What’s wrong? Edith!”

It really was strange.

Just as I was about to blurt out my predicament, my breath caught in my throat and my
vision blurred.

My tongue wouldn’t move, tinnitus struck me, my head hurt like it was going to burst, and
then suddenly everything stopped and I was engulfed in darkness.

A moment later, from somewhere in the darkness, I heard a voice, clean and emotionless,
like an announcer on the morning news.

[Edith Riegelhoff can not reveal hidden settings about herself until she meets……]
At first, it sounded like a hum, but as I concentrated, the voice gradually became clearer.

[Edith Riegelhoff can not reveal hidden settings about herself until she meets the
conditions of the three-level exception.]

I could hear the words clearly, but I didn’t understand what they meant.

‘What? Three-level exception? What is that?’

But no one would explain it to me, just an emotionless voice repeating the same thing
over and over again.

[Edith Riegelhoff can not reveal hidden settings about herself until she meets……]
It got a little scary listening to it, and I struggled to wake up.

After a long struggle, I managed to open my eyes with my teeth clenched.

I opened my eyes to find myself on my bed in my room, with Anna standing guard by my
side.

“An…… na……?”

“Miss, are you awake?”

“Why am I……”

“You’ve drained a lot of energy. You collapsed due to accumulated fatigue……”

“I…… how long have I been lying down?”

“Miss, you’re just waking up after two days.”

My, I slept longer than I thought.

For some reason, I was hungry.

My head was a little fuzzy, whether from sleep or hunger, but the dream I had earlier was
strangely vivid.

‘I can’t reveal hidden settings about myself until I meet the three-level exception?’

I don’t know what the three-level exception is, but I do know that I can’t reveal the truth
about myself right now.

It was too weird to be a dream, so I tried testing it again by talking to Anna.

“Anna. I, actually……”

“Yes, tell me, miss.”

“I, in the Riegelhoff family…… ugh……”

“Miss!”

Another beep, another tinnitus, and my tongue hardened.

‘Okay, I won’t say it! I won’t!’

As soon as I thought that, the tinnitus disappeared and my tongue loosened.

“Ugh, ugh……”

“You’re still not feeling well, miss. Don’t try to force yourself to talk, just get some rest. I’ll
be by your side.”

“Thanks……”

“It’s my job.”

“By any chance, did Kill…… no, no.”

I was about to ask if Killian had ever come here, but then I shut my mouth.

No way he’d come here.

And there was no point in breaking my heart to confirm it.

I took Anna’s advice and went back to sleep, sighing heavily and eventually opening my
eyes in the depths of the night.
‘I slept too much, and now I can’t sleep anymore.’

My mind was racing.

With nothing to do, I calmly reflected on the last three months or so of my possession of
Edith Riegelhoff.

When I first woke up in Edith’s body, I thought I was the main character of a Rofan novel
with a typical possessed villainess story.

I thought that if I behaved myself, I could escape death like the other Cider[1] Rofan
novels and get a handsome male lead.

[1] Go back to Chapter 2 if you forgot what a Cider story is.

That false hope lasted less than a week.

After that, I gave up on my husband and decided that I would just be a daughter-in-law of
a rich family without worrying about money.
That seemed like a good idea. But strangely enough, the original episodes were
happening, and no matter what I did or how I twisted them, it was the same result as the
original.

And then the leaked documents convinced me of one thing.

‘Ha, the survival rules for a possessed villain in a Rofan novel? I possessed a villain who’s
going to die, and there’s nothing I can do to change the story.’

I wanted to grab someone and ask them what kind of possession this was, but I was just
mistaken in the first place.

For Edith Riegelhoff, this novel is unlikely to have a happy ending.

Edith and I aren’t the main characters.

‘There’s no way I can ever be the main character.’

After pondering this whole story for a while, I decided to stop struggling and accept my
death.

After all, I’ve died once, so what’s so hard about dying twice?

It’s not about giving up or committing suicide. I’ve just accepted my fate as a terminally ill
woman.
Sure, the thought of being beheaded was scary, but if I just closed my eyes, it would be
over soon enough.

Killian is such a great knight, he’d probably do it all at once so it wouldn’t hurt.

At the same time, I had a strange misgiving.

‘If I’m going to die, I might as well try to do it…… like Edith in the original, right?’

The episode I’m thinking of is the one where Edith tries to seduce Killian with her body.

Feeling threatened by the document leak, Edith sneaks into Killian’s bedroom at night and
kisses him in his sleep.

When he awakens, she tries to seduce him by removing his flimsy nightgown, only to be
thrown out of the room in disgrace, much to Killian’s disdain.

And she’s also humiliated by the guards standing watch, I suppose?

‘So let’s just kiss, kiss only.’

At first, I thought it was a ridiculous idea, but as time went on, I realized, ‘Why not?’
That is the flow of the original story, and since I can’t change it, I have no choice but to go
with the flow.

Besides, it would be unfair to possess a villainous extra and be killed for nothing.

I decided to go ahead and run it right now.

In the original, Edith wears a see-through, risqué nightgown and a robe, but that means
her body is also exposed to the guards outside.

I just put on a robe over my regular nightgown.

I slipped on my soft furry slippers and crept out of my room without making a sound.

There was not a single ant in the hallway as everyone else was sleeping.

‘If not now, when else will I get to kiss such a handsome, lip-smacking man? And when I
die, I’ll take at least one good memory with me.’

Taking a deep breath, I took short, steady steps until I reached Killian’s room.
I was nervous that it was locked, but the door was unlocked for this episode.

‘A great flow of the original. For the first time, I thank you.’

I nervously wet my lips with my tongue.

Oh, that’s a little dirty.

I wiped my lips again with the sleeve of my robe.

I would leave immediately after giving him a warm, innocent, tender kiss that would never
be the rough one.

To be honest…… I don’t think Killian would let me go any further than that, unfortunately.

I sneaked over to Killian’s bed, held my breath, and watched him sleep like a sculpted
statue.

He’s even naked!

‘Wow…… I never get used to that face of his…… it’s new every time I see it, really.’

My heart thudded in the center of my chest as I wondered what would happen if Killian
woke up to this.
My heart is only the size of a fist, so why does it sound so loud?

‘Focus, you only get one chance. Just aim for the lips, fast and precise, okay?’

I don’t know if what I’m doing is a crime, but if I’m going to die anyway, I might as well do
it guiltlessly, right?

I stared mesmerized at his handsome face and naked torso, then took a deep breath and
leaned closer to his lips.

As I leaned in, I heard his low, even breathing.

I think I must have been holding my breath from then on.

‘I’m sorry for stealing your first kiss, Killian. I really tried not to like you…… but I guess I
failed.’

I apologized in my mind and pressed my lips to his.

CHAPTER 28

‘It’s warm……’
I can feel his searing warmth through the soft skin of his lips, and the inexplicable scent of
his body tickles the tip of my nose.

I don’t know why this man’s body temperature and scent are so warm when he’s usually
so cold.

And I was ecstatic, even though we were only touching body parts. My mind just went
blank……

I lingered on his lips for a moment, then slowly pulled away and exhaled carefully.

‘Okay, now I’ve got to steel myself.’

I knew what was about to happen.

When I opened my eyes, I would meet Killian’s eyes in horror.

He would scorn me, calling me a horny pervert, a whore, and a woman without shame,
and he would grab me by the arm and throw me out the door.

And the two guards on watch would be baffled by the sight.

Well, I can’t help it.

I slowly opened my eyes, ready to be humiliated.

‘Ah, es expected……’

I opened my eyes to see Killian’s shocked eyes less than an inch apart. I swallowed hard.

“I- I’m sorry, that…… I’ll just go back on my own, so……”

I tried to sound casual, but I was so flustered that I just blurted out the words.

Killian smirked and half raised himself up, grabbing me by the forearm.

“You’ve done all the pretending, and now you’re too horny to play?”

Oh, yeah. That’s a similar line, by the way.

“No, I just wanted to kiss……”

“Well, okay.”

“Yeah……? W- what?”
The hand that gripped my forearm didn’t relax at all, and he raised himself to his feet.

Okay, so this is how you drag me out the door…… but why are you throwing me onto the
bed?

“Come on, satisfy me like the flower snake of Riegelhoff, you never know, I might even get
lustful.”

“Eh……?”

Huh? What’s wrong?

This isn’t the same as the original!

Why is the original starting to change?!!

***
The day Edith collapsed, Killian hadn’t been feeling well in the morning.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

Probably because Edith didn’t confess to her crime until the end, and he knew he didn’t
have enough evidence to convict her as the culprit.

‘Or because of her diary, which I read yesterday.’

She was right, you shouldn’t read other people’s diaries.

If I hadn’t read it, I wouldn’t be feeling this way.

– This morning, I lurked on the path near the training ground and spied on Killian.

No matter how many times I see him, his face lights up every time. What is it with his
body? I’m drooling again just thinking about it.

As expected, I’m definitely more into Killian than Cliff.

When I read that far, I was both angry and amused.

One minute she’s acting so dignified in front of me, and the next she’s being such a sneaky
ass behind my back.

But when I read the next line, my mood somehow sank.

– But his good looks didn’t stop there. Just then, Lize walked by and waved, and Killian
smiled brightly and waved back.

I thought I was going to go blind. How much more handsome could he be?

He’d never smiled at me before, so I didn’t know.

How much virtue did Lize have in her past life to be able to see that face every day? I envy
her, I really do.

Edith wrote it as if it were no big deal, but the sentence, “He’d never smiled at me before,
so I didn’t know,” struck me as odd.
‘What’s there to smile at her for?’

I thought so and tried to move on.

But when Edith stood up and said, “You really have no intention of showing me any
decency,” I felt a stab in the center of my chest.

She ran out the door, looking like she was holding back tears, and I couldn’t help but
follow.

“I can’t believe you.”

Why would I say that to someone who had already suffered enough?

Maybe I wanted to be reassured that I was right. No, it was more like self-brainwashing.
“I know, you always have, and you always will!”

I was the one who hurt her feelings, and I don’t even know why her words felt like a slap
in my face.

Thinking about it made my head spin. I’ve always gotten a headache like this when I’ve
dwelled on a single thought.

And strangely, the headache was only eased by Lize’s presence.

“Ah! Killian…… Edith……!”

So I was relieved to see Lize standing in front of Edith’s room. because I’d be free of the
headache.

But no.
“I’ll go inside, and you two can talk.”

I realized as I watched Edith enter, leaving me and Lize alone.

She expected nothing from me.

Abandonment.

Despair.

Nothingness.

There was no moisture in her eyes, only dry emotion.

“If someone were to take the documents, it would have been at that time.”
Even as I listened to Lize’s important testimony, I couldn’t help but think of Edith’s back
turned to me.

And even with Lize right next to me, my headache didn’t go away.

So I thought I’d just bury the matter and forget about it, but the next day it happened.

As Killian was about to start his morning routine with Cliff, a servant quickly approached
and whispered.

“Lady Edith has fallen down.”

“What? What do you mean?!”

“She fainted while talking to the Duchess in her office earlier, and now the servants
have……”

Before the servant had finished speaking, Killian was running.

He ran up two flights of stairs and headed for the Duchess’ office on the second floor,
where servants were just about to carry Edith up.

“Let go of her.”

“Killian! Killian, what should I do!”

The Duchess was panicking, even tearing up.

Killian picked up the fallen Edith, knowing better to see a doctor immediately than to ask
any questions.

And when he looked down at her, he saw that the stern, high-nosed woman’s face was
wet with tears.

“What the hell…….”

“Killian, come on, hurry up, I’ve sent someone to fetch the doctor.”

“……yes.”

As he carried her to her room, his heart was racing and his head was throbbing.
The rushed doctor calmly examined Edith and then asked, “Has her ladyship had anything
lately that has so greatly exhausted her?”

The Duchess wiped away her tears and replied, “Oh, yes. Edith has been very much
troubled for some time.”

“Hmm…… I see, well, it’s nothing serious. I think she just fainted due to accumulated
fatigue. Once she wakes up, she won’t have any problems with her daily routine, but I
think you’ll need to take care of her for a while to make sure she’s at ease.”

The doctor wrote a prescription with a nonchalant expression and left, but Edith’s face
was still pale as she lay there.

Killian gazed at the lifeless face, and then turned to the Duchess.

“What have you been talking to Edith about, Mother?”

“She said she knew I wouldn’t believe her, but she never leaked the documents.”

“That’s what she’s been saying all along……”

“So I told her I believe her.”

“Yes?”

“I said I believe Edith.”

For a moment, Killian was speechless.

The Duchess continued, “She was desperate for those words, and then she burst into
tears. She said no one believed her…… thank you……”

Killian’s breath caught in his throat.

His headache and tinnitus worsened, but he couldn’t help but think of Edith’s despair.

He might be her husband on paper, but he was no help to her. Not even the words, “I
believe you.”

“Ugh……!”

“Killian! What’s wrong with you!”

“Oh, nothing, just lately…… I’ve been getting some pretty bad headaches……”
“Anna! Go get the doctor! I think he needs to see Killian too!”

“No, no, I’ll be fine in a minute.”

“Killian!”

Killian stopped his mother from trying to call the doctor, and then he stared at the
unconscious Edith for a long moment, then walked out.

When he left Edith’s room, Lize was waiting there.

“I hear Edith has fallen, it would be difficult…… to visit her now, wouldn’t it?”

“She’s sleeping, so you’ll have to come later.”

Lize took Killian’s hand with a worried look on her face.

There was something refreshing about her hand, and the throbbing headache began to
subside.

“Killian. It’s not your fault.”

“……I know.”
“So stop torturing yourself with guilt.”

“I’m not torturing myself. I’m just worried about the rumors that might get out of hand
and bother me.”

Killian recognized this nagging feeling, like a nagging weight on his hand.

At Killian’s confused look, Lize changed the subject. “I think Edith was more anxious than
she looked. She was so anxious that she fainted……”

As soon as he heard that, a sharp tinnitus scratched Killian’s eardrums.

He felt repulsed by what Lize had just said.

Even though Lize hadn’t said it with malice, it sounded as if Edith was anxious because she
was guilty.

“Maybe it hurt her so much when no one believed her even though she was innocent.”

“I guess so. Poor Edith…… Anyway, it looks like you’re pretty shaken up too, so get some
rest, okay?”
Lize’s touch on his cheek did nothing to calm his shaken feelings, but strangely, he
couldn’t disobey her words.

CHAPTER 29

“Yeah…… I will.”

For the next two days, he was plagued by an inexplicable guilt and headache.

Then, on the night he heard that Edith had woken up, he was awakened from his not-so-
deep sleep by a suspicious figure.

‘What is this, an assassination?’

As he reached for the dagger he had hidden under his pillow, he realized the next moment
that it was Edith who had broken into his room.

The faint scent of roses announced her presence before the sound of her footsteps.

Wondering what brought someone who had fainted to wake up in the middle of the night
and come over here, he let her do her thing.

Edith crept to the bedside and stood there for a long time.

Just when he thought it was an assassination, she slowly leaned in.

The smell of her sweet flesh was so intoxicating, Killian almost forgot to breathe.

After a moment’s hesitation, Edith kissed him lightly, just enough to provoke him.

A light kiss that didn’t go between his lips, didn’t go in, didn’t go deep.

If he had been deeply asleep, he probably wouldn’t have noticed.

The moment Edith kissed him, Killian opened his eyes in surprise.

He looked up to see Edith standing right in front of him, eyes closed, lips still pressed
together.

Her long brown lashes fluttered, and her thin eyelids slowly opened as her lips parted.

But Edith wasn’t surprised to see Killian’s eyes open. It was as if she had known he would
wake up…….

“I- I’m sorry, that…… I’ll just go back on my own, so……”

Killian couldn’t let Edith go, leaving only a hollow kiss behind.
‘So, the rumors of you using your body as a weapon are true, and now that you’re at a
disadvantage, you’re trying to seduce me with your body?’

The inexplicable guilt he’d been feeling quickly dissipated, and a heat that he didn’t know
whether to call anger or excitement rose from his lower abdomen.

He was horrified, but part of him wanted to see how far he could go.

Before he could think of anything else, he had his hand on Edith’s forearm.

“You’ve done all the pretending, and now you’re too horny to play?”

No, he was horny himself. A violent, one-dimensional desire, perhaps.

He knew it, but out of habit, he pressed on, rebuking Edith.

“No, I just wanted to kiss……”

Killian hastily pushed Edith down on the bed as she timidly tried to protest.

‘What kind of lame excuse do you have for wanting to leave after just a kiss…….?’
Killian smirked, determined to see what this woman was up to.

“Come on, satisfy me like the flower snake of Riegelhoff, you never know, I might even get
lustful.”

“Eh……?”

Killian pulled off Edith’s robe, looking embarrassed, and slipped his hand into the hem of
her nightgown, which he’d been finding so erotic since the last time he’d seen her.

Her smooth thighs shivered at his touch.

“Ki- Killian, can I do this?”

“Can I do this? What are you asking?”

“No, I mean, can I…… with you, is that okay?”

Killian’s hand paused.

‘So, you are saying that even though you know I love Lize, you care enough to worry about
my situation?’
He gritted his teeth, and he felt the urge to press the bridge of Edith’s nose flat against his
own.

He resumed stroking Edith’s soft skin.

“That’s not the question you should be asking me. You’re the one who crawled into my
bed in the middle of the night, aren’t you?”

Then he swallowed Edith’s lips, as if to say he wouldn’t allow any more thoughts.

He hadn’t intended to do more than nibble at her lips ticklishly, as Edith had done.

But when he found something sweet and tantalizing between those soft, warm lips, Killian
felt the hairs on his neck stand up in excitement.

So, before he knew it, he was deep into the kiss.

Edith’s breath, lips, tongue, and saliva, which should have been disgusting, were
ridiculously sweet and fragrant.

“Um, eup!”
Edith gasped, unable to breathe, panicked, and when she finally managed to pull her lips
away, she could only stare in horror.

Killian smirked at the sight.

‘Hmm, playing the innocent.’

He took her hand in a provocative gesture and laid it on his chest.

“I’m sure you’ve been disappointed that you’ve only been able to steal glances at it every
time. This is your chance to get a good look at it, and even touch it.”

“H- how did you know……!”

“Diary.”

It was worth seeing the look on Edith’s face as her eyes widened and her mouth dropped
open.

Killian thought he was crazy, but he took her hand and made her touch his upper body.

Even though he was forcing her to do it, Edith didn’t try to pull her hand away.
Her slender, soft hand, so unlike his, stroked over his sunburned skin, sending chills down
his spine.

It was a move meant to embarrass Edith, but it also made his throat go dry.

“Are you satisfied?”

“What? Ah…… that, that…… yes……”

It was strangely gratifying to see Edith unable to take her eyes off his body, even in her
shock.

He couldn’t stand Edith opening her mouth slightly while touching his body as he let her
do, so he buried his lips in the nape of her white, thin neck.

“Ahh!”

Edith breathed in, making a strange sound, but even that was cute now.

‘Edith Riegelhoff is cute? I must be crazy.’

No, he wasn’t, but the scent of roses wafting from her warm body made his head spin.
He’d always thought it was a vulgar, disgusting scent, and now he couldn’t figure out why
it was so good.

Around her neck hung the ruby necklace he had bought for her.

The ruby, red as a drop of blood on the nape of her white neck, suited her well.

Even now, Killian could still feel the tension when Edith brought her hair forward,
entrusting her neck to him. Thanks to her, his hands trembled as he put the necklace on
her.

He thought she was going to scream at him for putting such a cheap thing on her, but
she’s been wearing it ever since.

Feeling a tickle in his stomach, he kissed the hollow of Edith’s collarbone where the ruby
rested, then moved downward, pressing his lips to it over and over again.

“Ah……! Killian……”

Something snapped somewhere in his head as Edith called his name in a pleading voice.

After that, Killian couldn’t control himself.

It was just the beginning of a night dominated by passion, instinct, hot body temperature,
and slippery sweat.

***

I did it.

We did it.

And now I was hiding under Killian’s covers.

“I am not feeling well. Get me some bath water.”

“Yes, young master.”

The maid, unfazed by Killian’s uncharacteristic command, returned a moment later with
two other maids to prepare a bathtub by the window of Killian’s room.
When they had covered the side of the tub with a curtain and set out towels and robes,
they retreated, bowing their heads.

Killian then threw off the covers and scooped me into a quick hug.

“I- I can walk by myself……”

“I know.”

“Oh…… yeah……”

It was embarrassing to have this moment in the bright sunlight, apart from what had
happened at night.

Not knowing where to put my hands and eyes, I ended up burying my face in my hands.

His chest heaved and I heard a low chuckle.

The vibrations seemed to grab hold of my heart and shake it.

“Tell me if it’s too hot.”

He slowly lowered me into the tub.

“Ahh……”

I let out a contented moan as I settled into the warm water.

I also heard a small giggle.

“On the first night, you dozed off in the bathtub by yourself, so I guess you like baths quite
a bit, huh?”

“Ah, haha, yeah, well……”

Killian gently washed me and dressed me in a robe before towel-drying me again, leaving
me still and unable to protest.

“You should probably get some rest for a few days.”

“I suppose…… I should.”

He washed my body after a passionate night, but I couldn’t figure out how he felt about
me.
It doesn’t seem like he’s crazy, so he won’t suddenly say that he loves me. I wonder if
something he’s been holding in for Lize has exploded.

Being Lize’s replacement is not so miserable, as long as it’s for a man like him.

I’m doing this with the most handsome and sexy man I know, and I can’t hate that.

I don’t expect anything from him emotionally, but he’s being strangely affectionate today,
and my heart is melting.

‘What a change from our wedding day, when he didn’t even want to touch my fingers.’

I smiled as I remembered him putting the ring on my finger, his face set in stone.

After drying my hair thoroughly, he dressed me in my full dress, then sent a maid outside
to call Anna.

“You seem to have a bit of a fever, so as soon as you get back to your room, make sure to
cover yourself with a blanket and rest.”

“Yes, thank you.”

We looked at each other, wondering if we should say something more, and then we
parted ways.
I walked back to my room with Anna, who had come to pick me up, unnoticed, but still
unable to comprehend the events of last night and earlier.

CHAPTER 30

‘What’s going on? Why did the original story change there yesterday?’

I’ve tried to change the outcome of episodes before, but even though I acted differently
from the original, it didn’t change the outcome.

But last night, the episode where Edith tries to seduce Killian was completely different.

I tried to seduce Killian with my body as Edith did, but he acted differently from the
original story.

Now that Killian has embraced Edith, he is no longer a virgin for Lize. Moreover, Lize is
supposed to be Killian’s first kiss.

‘Of course, Lize’s first kiss is Cliff. However, Killian’s position as the second male lead has
been shaken. What’s going to happen now?’

My head was spinning, but somehow a smile escaped my lips.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Killian calling my name and holding me, his kisses, his hot
gestures.
He seemed to believe I was trying to seduce him with my body, but……

“Oh, I don’t know. Be that as it may.”

Anna’s mouth is tightly shut, so no one in the mansion probably knows that we’ve become
a “real couple”.

But I do.

I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear, but I was too embarrassed to show it to Anna, so
I pulled the covers over my head.

‘We’re a real couple…… my God, what should I do!’

I must have fallen asleep while I was kicking the covers and giggling hysterically,
remembering the night with him.

Suddenly, I heard that announcer-like voice again.

[The first exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The first exception condition will be removed.]
‘What?’

It was a bizarre explanation.

The first exception condition has been met? And what is the author’s control?

I doubted the voice would answer my questions, but I asked it anyway with all my might.

‘What is the first condition?’

To my surprise, the voice answered.

[The first exception condition: Follow what Edith failed to do in the original story.]

I felt goosebumps all over my body.

First of all, the voice knows that this world is a novel that I have transmigrated into. It
knows that I’m a different person from the original Edith.

And the “exception conditions” sounds like conditions that I have to fulfill in order to
make an “exception” that allows me to twist the original story in this situation, where I am
dragged along by the flow of the story.

The last time the voice rambled on about three levels, and this time it was just one, so it
seemed like there were two more levels.

It was like someone was looking down on me, mocking me for possessing a character in a
novel without knowing what was really going on.

‘All this time, I’ve been trying hard not to follow the path that Edith in the original story
failed, but in the end, that’s what strangled me.’

I don’t know who set the conditions, but it’s clear that their tastes are unusual.

Who would have thought that you’d have to follow a method that failed in the original
story to get the “exception” condition?

But it isn’t a very hopeless situation.

I still don’t understand everything the voice said, but I do know one thing that gives me
hope.

‘The story can be different from the original!’

The voice in my dream was not to be dismissed, and I couldn’t tell anyone about my
situation.

I was lucky enough to meet the first exception condition and change the original episode.

I’m sure I’ll be able to change the ending, where I die a miserable death, beheaded by
Killian.

‘Yeah, it’s too early to give up. You can do it, Choi Soo-na! You can do it, Edith!’

A glimmer of hope flashed through my eyes.

***
I took two more days of rest.

During those two days, I locked myself in my room, embroidered, and thought about my
future.

After organizing my thoughts, a few questions came to my mind.

First, who is the “author” that the voice was talking about?

‘Who is the author of “I Refuse Your Obsession”? It is a pen name starting with K……’

The voice said that because I met the first exception condition, an exception has been
granted, and the “author’s control” has been reduced.

What on earth does it mean to reduce the control of the author of a completed novel?

At first, I thought it was this world’s will to stay true to the original, but then I realized it
was something else.

Control.

The extent to which someone’s rights or power extend. In other words, its scope has been
diminished.
And it means that there is an entity that wields that right or power.

‘Is it the god of this world?’

An author is like a god in his work, right?

Whatever the identity is, if the author’s control has been reduced, which part has been
reduced?

Is it all of it, or just one part of it?

And how is the author moving this world?

Is it reflecting the author’s will in real-time, or is it reflecting the original story as it was
written?

If the author’s control is reduced, but the story goes on, is there a power greater than the
author that keeps this world going?

‘It’s too vague, there’s not enough information.’

I feel like I am playing an unfair game.

Since I have created an exception situation by meeting the first condition, the setting of
the character Killian has changed significantly.

Will Killian continue to follow the original storyline? If so, wouldn’t the probability be
diminished?

Then will the story keep going as the original? If not, can I continue to change the story as
I create probabilities?

But seeing that there are three levels of “conditions,” I realized that I probably can’t
change everything at this point.

‘My head hurts…… anyway, I’ll just have to keep an eye on Killian for now.’

I need to see what choices Killian makes when a new episode happens.

If he follows through with what I wanted, my future will be brighter.

‘If he doesn’t, then…… I’ll die the way I’m supposed to.’

I sighed, but I had to do what I could for now.

On the third day, just as I was preparing to dust myself off and get up, the Duchess called
to me.

“Edith, are you feeling better?”

“I’m sorry to have worried you. I’ve been feeling better for a while now. You’ve finally
returned from out of town, sorry I’m late in saying hello.”

The Duchess has been in the palace with the Duke these past few days. They had probably
discussed the movements of Archduke Langston and Count Riegelhoff and prepared a
defense without their knowledge.

“The Duke has been worried too. He is afraid he has pushed you too hard. He is a man
who had lived on the battlefield for a long time so his tone is harsh.”

For a man who’d been on the battlefield for so long, he has quite a soft voice when talking
to Lize.

But I couldn’t possibly say it out loud.

“It’s even more strange for him to speak so softly when he’s inquiring about important
matters within the mansion. Please tell him that I’m fine and not to worry too much.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Edith.”

I smiled as brightly as I could, not wanting to give the Duchess any cause for concern.

“What would you like to do in the future? You don’t have to help me with my work if you
don’t want to…… but I think it will only reinforce people’s misunderstanding of you.”

“I would like to keep helping you if you don’t mind, but I’m afraid that the person who
framed me might do the same thing again.”

I had a suspicion that it was Lize.

“So, I’d like to work under the surveillance of someone you trust, Mother.”

“Edith, honey, what do you mean, under surveillance……”

“Oh, is that a bad way to put it? I mean, what I’m trying to say is……”

“No, I know. You want a place where you can work without being misunderstood.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The Duchess took a moment to think.

I wondered if she might ask Lize to keep an eye on me, but the person she assigned was
her aide, Renon Filch.

“Renon is the one who inspects the tax-related documents from each estate and prepares
them for the palace. He can be a bit stiff and unfeeling because he deals with money, but
he’s never one to be swayed by emotions or be partial.”

“He is exactly what I want.”

I sincerely hoped he wasn’t a softie who would be swayed by emotions.

When I worked at a company, I hated my boss who loved company dinners and liked
socializing the most, saying ‘bonding’ was paramount.

He always labeled people like me who vaguely had boundaries as ‘socially awkward’ and
disparaged my work skills.

The next day, I met Renon Filch, who turned out to be even more stiff and unfeeling than
I’d hoped.
He’s also much younger than I expected. Late 20s, early 30s?

“Nice to meet you, I’m Renon Filch, but please feel free to call me Renon.”

A blunt voice without much in the way of accent flowed from the grayish-pale man’s
mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Renon. I’m Edith Ludwig, and I’ll be helping you from today. So what
can I do for you?”

“Well, for starters, I need you to categorize all the receipts here…… by year. Later on, I’ll
need you to categorize them by issue, but for now, just by year.”

He handed me a large box full of jumbled receipts.

Some are wet, some are dry, and some have footprints on them.

“How did this get……”

“It’s from the last stupid worker I had, who ran off with years’ worth of receipts scattered
across the floor because he was offended by me.”

“He made such a mess of the duchy’s documents and ran away? Did he get caught?”
“Sure. He is a baron’s scion, and it only ended in restitution thanks to his father.”

“Oh, my God……”

I shook my head, and Renon continued, his face impassive.

CHAPTER 31

“Do not expect to be treated kindly by me, young lady, or you’ll regret ever agreeing to
work with me.”

Looking at Renon, I noticed that Killian’s eyes showed at least some emotion.

Renon was looking at me sizing me up, but there was no disdain or even suspicion in his
eyes.

I think the Duchess had thought of me and introduced me to the most ‘functional’ human
being she could find.

“There are only two things I want from you: competence and fairness. If you keep those, I
won’t mind if you call me stupid.”

“In that case, I’m glad to hear it.”

“I guess that’s enough introductions, then, so let’s get to work, shall we?”
Renon nodded slightly and turned back to his desk.

I spread the receipts out on the wide desk and began sorting them by year.

With a window but no direct sunlight, Renon’s cool office was quiet, as if time had
stopped.

Aside from the rustling of receipts as I unfolded them, and the sound of Renon scribbling
in pen or flipping through papers, there were no distracting sounds.

‘It’s peaceful.’

With so much going on, the quiet hours of simple work felt more relaxing than ever.

While I was so focused, Renon called out from behind me.

“Miss.”

“Yes, what’s up?”

“We’re done for the day. You can go home.”

“Huh? Is it that time already?”

I hadn’t noticed the passage of time in the sunless place.

“Let me just wrap this up and then I’ll be back.”

Part of me wanted to work a little longer, but if I stayed, Renon, who was also acting as my
watchdog, couldn’t go home either.

I hurriedly stuffed the receipts into the box, double-checked to make sure I hadn’t
dropped anything, and handed the box to him.

He looked down at it for a moment before taking it from me.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re welcome, Renon. See you tomorrow.”

I said goodbye to Renon and walked out into the hallway.

Anna was waiting near Renon’s office to take me back to my room.

I felt like I’d been dragged back to reality.

‘I don’t remember reading an extra named Renon Filch in the original story, so I won’t get
caught up in any weird episodes, right?’

I went back to my room, feeling more relaxed than before.

The door was halfway open.

Anna ran in ahead of me to check on the ‘intruder’ and nodded to me with a reassuring
look on her face.

“You’re here.”

“Killian?”

I hadn’t seen Killian in three days.

“What are you doing…… in my room…..?”

“Can’t I come by?”

“No, well, I’m not saying you can’t, but…… eh?”

Glancing at Killian, I walked into the room and saw that he was fiddling with something,
and involuntarily snatched it away.

Two wooden dolls in freshly made clothes fell to the floor with a clatter.

Killian’s expression hardened subtly.

“Ah, haha! It’s just a hobby, a hobby! It’s a skill I’m a little embarrassed to show others……
so why are you trespassing in someone else’s room in the first place? Anna, put that away.
Now.”

I had a male doll dressed like Killian and a female doll dressed like me face to face, and I
made them kiss, and when Killian saw it, I was so embarrassed I wanted to die.

As Anna quietly put the dolls away, I glanced around, trying to avoid his eyes.

“So…… how have you been doing?”

It was kind of awkward.

Before, I would have been more tongue-in-cheek, but now I felt embarrassed to look him
in the face and found it hard to talk to him.
“You seem to be doing well.”

“Thanks to Mother, I’ve started helping her aide, Sir Renon Filch, do you know him?”

“Of course, we grew up together.”

“Really?”

“His father is Theo Filch, a butler who manages the duchy’s estates. He used to manage
this mansion, but then my father let him take over the estates altogether, and Renon
stayed here and became a tax clerk.”

Oh, I see.

I nodded, but Killian’s gaze was sharp, as if he were dissecting me.

“What’s wrong, Killian?”

“Nothing. Have you eaten yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Then…….”
Just as I was expecting him to ask me to join him for a meal, there was a sudden knock on
the door.

Anna opened the door and there stood Lize.

“Ah! Killian, you’re here.”

She was beaming, still beautiful, but I felt uncomfortable looking at her.

I felt bad that she thought I was the culprit, and I felt bad that I’d taken the “virgin”
keyword away from the second male lead, Killian.

“Lize? Why are you here…..?”

“Cliff asked me to bring you over to eat with him, I think he has something to tell you. Oh,
and Edith, do you want to come?”

Lize, spotting me late, hurriedly asked me, but I could tell she was just being polite.

“Do you mind if I just barge in?”

“Cliff will probably say it’s okay, probably……”

If you were going to use the word “probably” twice, don’t say it at all, Lize.

Although, being the good-hearted Lize that she is, she couldn’t help but invite me along,
no matter what Cliff’s wishes were.

I considered going along, but I don’t want to see Killian take care of Lize any more than he
is right now.

“I’m afraid Sir Cliff will feel uncomfortable. I think he needs to talk to you two separately.
Next time you invite me over, I’ll join you.”

“Would you like to? I’ll be sure to eat with you next time, Edith…… then, Killian?”

Lize called out to Killian as if to say, “Now we can go.”

Killian sighed heavily, nodded, and followed Lize out the door.

He glanced back at me briefly before closing the door.

I locked eyes with him, and for some reason, I couldn’t move from my spot.

I wondered why he had come to my room and what he wanted to tell me.
“Miss, I will have your meal ready soon.”

“Ah, yes. Okay, thank you.”

If it weren’t for Anna, I would have stood there for a while longer.

I checked the wooden dolls that Anna had set aside and was greatly relieved to find
nothing broken.

I felt a little embarrassed when I realized that I had unknowingly checked the male doll
first.

***

For the past three days, Killian hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Edith.

The urge to barge into her room and lust after her, to wonder what she was doing, was
overwhelming.
But he didn’t, because he, too, needed time to organize his feelings.

If he did, he’d be tempted to give in to Edith’s seduction.

‘I took physical relationships too lightly. I never thought I would get so caught up in it,
losing my mind like this.’

All the years he’d spent not having any contact with anyone, thinking that Lize was the
only woman for him, had been completely destroyed in one night.

‘And by the woman I despised the most……!’

And yet, instead of regretting it, I couldn’t help but want to do it again.

Today, I couldn’t take it anymore and went to Edith’s room.

When she didn’t respond to my knock, I opened the door and walked in, slightly
intoxicated by her rose scent, and noticed a strange object on the table.

‘What is it, a doll?’

A smoothly polished wooden doll lay there, dressed in plausible clothing.

At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then I realized that the male doll had black hair, a
white shirt, and black pants, while the female doll had brown hair and was wearing an
indoor dress. It even had a necklace with a red gemstone, suggesting that it was modeled
after Edith herself.

‘So, the male doll is……?’

Assuming the female doll was Edith, it was easy to guess the identity of the male doll.

‘……me?’

And the two wooden dolls were facing each other, kissing.

The tips of my ears prickled with heat, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘You know how to do cute things.’

My heart tickled.

If Edith hadn’t come back into her room with Anna and roughly pushed the dolls away, I
might have impulsively kissed her.
‘What was it that you hated so much – me seeing the dolls, or me entering your room
without permission, or just me?’

On the night Edith seduced me, I thought she liked it too, but I was nervous thinking what
if she didn’t?

She was my first woman, and I didn’t know all the psychological implications of her
reactions.

‘What if I was clumsy? What if I hurt her? What if she was just enduring an unpleasant
night with me? No, no, what the hell! What am I thinking……!’

As I struggled to organize my thoughts, I remembered the story of a woman who

controlled men by dominating them with her body.

I wonder if this is what Edith intended.

“……Killian. Killian!”

“Oh! You called me?”

“Yeah…… I’ve called you a few times…… is something wrong?”

Lize was looking at me with concern.

Cliff looked puzzled.

“Nothing, what were you talking about?”

“What’s making you so unfocused? We were talking about that woman.”

“That woman?”

“Is there anyone else we can call ‘that woman’ besides Edith Riegelhoff?”

CHAPTER 32

Killian’s eyebrows twitched momentarily at Cliff’s chosen title.

But it’s not strange, really. I’d always called her ‘that woman’ too.

“Why that woman?”

“I heard she started working under Sir Renon’s supervision today.”

“I heard that too.”

“So I asked Renon to stop by and see if he noticed anything unusual.”

Cliff lifted his teacup in a graceful motion.

He still seemed convinced that Edith was responsible for the document leak.

“She can’t have been acting strange from day one.”

“Still, you never know. Renon’s pretty sharp.”

A moment later, Renon really came.

“You called for me, young master?”

“Sorry to keep you busy, Renon. It’s just that…… you’re doing surveillance on Edith from
today, right?”

Killian didn’t like the way Cliff used the word.

Surveillance.

Of course, there was a purpose to it, but it was more about helping the Duchess with her
work. Even Edith asked her to assign someone to watch her first.
Killian covered his mouth with his teacup to hide his displeasure, and Renon replied in his
characteristically emotionless voice.

“I’ve been told to make sure the documents Miss Edith touches aren’t in danger of being
lost, but to be fair, Miss Edith has come to help me do my job.”

“Well, that’s that. Anyway, what do you think…… did you notice anything suspicious?”

Renon was silent for a moment as he replayed the morning he’d spent working with Edith,
then spoke slowly, “I can’t say for sure, having only seen her briefly today, but to be
honest……”

Killian was so nervous about what he was going to say that he forgot to take a sip of his
tea.

“She seemed to be very meticulous in her work; her concentration, comprehension, and
judgment are excellent, and above all, she is persistent; my office environment would not
have appealed to a noblewoman, but she worked diligently without any complaints.”

“I’ve never heard you speak so highly of someone before. She must have tried pretty hard
to get into your good graces, huh?”

“I don’t know, after all, I’ve only seen her this morning.”
“Well…… okay, I see. I might call on you again, so keep an eye on her.”

Cliff patted Renon on the back and sent him on his way.

Next to him, Lize blushed and said shyly, “I think he’s got a crush on Edith. I’ve never
heard him speak so highly of anyone.”

Cliff sighed at that. “I don’t think Renon is the kind of person who is swayed by
emotions……”

“But who doesn’t have feelings? Renon isn’t married yet, and Edith is beautiful, so…… it’s
possible.”

Lize was always so lovely when she opened her mouth, but for the first time today, Killian
was offended by what she said.

‘I know we’re married on paper, but to say something like that when I, her husband, am
right in front of you is kind of……’

No, I can’t even say “on paper” anymore. I’ve already slept with Edith.

Of course, Killian couldn’t say that out loud.

“No way. I trust Renon. I’ve known him for years. Don’t you know how hard Theo trained
him?”

Theo Filch had meticulously trained his heir, Renon, from head to toe. So much so that
even the strict Duke would say it was too much.

But Renon took his father’s training in stride, and his skills were such that he was able to
assist the duke’s household from a young age.

One of the things Theo taught him was not to feel anything but loyalty to his master’s
family.

In those days, it was not uncommon for noblewomen to run away after having an affair
with their employers, so Theo emphasized that quite a bit.

“Besides, as far as beauty goes, Lize, you’re the one, and there’s no way Renon, who
wasn’t swayed by you, would be swayed by Edith.”

“Ki- Killian!”

Lize turned red in the cheeks, embarrassed.

“You’re playing tricks on Lize again.”

Cliff scoffed beside her.

It was a routine thing.

But what Killian was feeling was quite different.

‘It’s no big deal…… I guess.’

Every time he’d spoken his mind to Lize, even in jest, and every time Cliff had laughed at
him, his heart ached.

But now, he didn’t care.

In fact, something else bothered him more.

‘……no way Renon has a crush on Edith, is there?’

Although he says he trusts Renon, no one knows what’s in people’s hearts.

Renon was unfazed even in the face of Lize’s beauty, but Edith is a different type of beauty
than Lize.

‘I don’t know if Renon is more into sensual beauty.’

If you’re faced with a sensual woman for hours on end in a closed room with just the two
of you……

‘He’s a man, too, so he may get swayed. He might have a lustful fantasy, and if she tries to
seduce him……’

The image of Edith kissing him and looking at him with her moist eyes, and Renon looking
stoic, made Killian’s stomach turn.

“If you’re done talking, I’ll go first.”

“What, already?”

“I have to go down to Ryzen estate with my father next week, and I have a lot to prepare.”

“Okay, you can go first.”

Lize looked a little flustered and reached for Killian, but Cliff waved goodbye as always.

Before, he hated it and sat until the end, but now he could go first.
The days of agonizing over what Cliff and Lize would have done if they’d stayed behind
seemed somehow distant.

Right now, he was more worried about what was going on between Renon and Edith than
anything else.

‘I’m worried…… maybe Edith is trying to seduce him too. Don’t tell me…… something
happened in my absence?’

Even though he knew it was Edith who was bad, Killian gritted his teeth at the thought of
Renon.

***

Three times a week, while helping Renon with his work, enjoying my hobbies, and
occasionally chatting idly with Killian, I waited for a new episode to start.

As I rummaged through my memory of the original story, I realized that we were about to
get to the part of the episode where Lize and Edith would be the center of attention.
Then, a few days after Killian left on a visit to the estate with the Duke of Ludwig, the
Duchess summoned me and Lize.

“The Countess of Ermenia is organizing a bazaar next month, so there will be an

embroidery meeting at the mansion starting tomorrow, and you are invited to attend.”

The bazaar episode was about to begin.

You might be wondering what a bazaar has to do with embroidery, but that’s the setting
of this novel.

The noblewomen sell items at the bazaar, mostly embroidery. They organize the bazaar by
forming an embroidery group among their close friends, and the Duchess’ group is
meeting this year at the Ludwig mansion.

Because it’s where the main characters live.

“I’m not very good at it…… and I’m worried if I’ll be causing any trouble.”

Lize humbly replied like the female lead she is, but the truth is, her skills are undoubted.

On the other hand, I tried embroidery as a hobby, but still could only do very basic
stitches.
I don’t have much memory of embroidery, probably because the original Edith is also a
poor embroiderer.

‘So what?’

It is a social event and a fundraiser, so it doesn’t matter if I’m not very good.

I replied to the Duchess that I would be attending and started preparing my embroidery
tools.

After all, the most fun part of starting anything is getting the equipment.

The next day, I was faced with many pairs of eyes looking me up and down.

“As you all know, this is my daughter-in-law, Edith.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Edith Ludwig. I’m still learning, but I’ll do my best.”

I bowed politely at the Duchess’ introduction, but the members of the embroidery group
seemed to think I was some sort of Riegelhoff family brat.
Well, even the people living in this house do, so who cares.

“And this is Lize Sinclair, who is staying with us as an honored guest.”

“Hello, I am Lize Sinclair. I hope to learn a lot from you.”

Lize smiled brightly and was met with a flurry of favorable glances and replies.

‘It’s the perfect environment for a sane person to become a villain, isn’t it?’

I was stunned to hear that affectionate response, but I don’t want a future where
everyone is nice to me anyway.

I just need to make sure that the Ludwigs, or more specifically, Killian, have no thoughts of
killing me.

‘Choose and focus, choose and focus.’[1]

[1] Choose a specific part that is most beneficial and focus on it.

With that thought in mind, the ladies’ snarky demeanor didn’t bother me.
Once the introductions were over, embroidery time began in earnest, and the talented
ladies took up sizable embroidery frames and announced plans to create masterpieces.

I felt a bit defeated as I pulled out my small frame to do some stitches on a handkerchief,
but I decided to join in anyway. And Lize…… huh? What’s that?

“I’m going to embroider a wildflower garden on a muslin shawl I just finished.”

“Wow, that must be so pretty, and you made that shawl yourself?”

“Yes. I woven it myself with the help of my bedchamber maids. It’s a bit sloppy, but……”

“It’s not sloppy, it’s beautifully woven. I can’t believe you know how to use a loom!”

I can’t believe she can embroider a shawl that big…… is that what Lize did in the original?

I think it was more like Lize embroidered a handkerchief and Edith had a maid buy her a
really big one…… but I don’t know.

CHAPTER 33

“What are you going to do, Edith?”

I looked up, startled by the Duchess’ voice, and all eyes were on me.
“Oh, I- I’m going to embroider a handkerchief.”

The plain handkerchief I held up felt too small.

Again, scornful stares were directed at me.

“I was thinking of making a few to sell……”

I timidly assured them I’d make several, but it made no difference.

Only the Duchess responded kindly, saying, “It must be beautiful.”

‘Is this not going to sell any?’

I had hoped that the Duchess would secretly buy one, for the sake of the family’s honor,
but if that didn’t work, I’d have to get Anna to do it.

I stayed out of the other ladies’ conversations and flipped through the embroidery design
book.

‘Hmm? This would be pretty.’

I spotted a new design tucked away amongst all the colorful designs.
It didn’t look difficult, and it didn’t look too childish.

I decided to embroider a little bird with a single laurel leaf in its beak, and carefully traced
the design on my handkerchief.

It was a little embarrassing to embroider just that one, so I added a laurel wreath around
the handkerchief.

While I was working hard on the design, the lady who had been giving me the cold
shoulder earlier sneaked up on me.

She said, “Oh, that design is similar to the one my daughter did last year. It’s very pretty
when you finish it.”

“Isn’t it? I think this design is cute too……”

“I remember the handkerchief Miss Larissa made two years ago, but how old is Miss
Larissa this year?” asked the lady sitting next to her, pretending to know nothing.

“She’s seventeen already.”

“So she was fifteen when she made that handkerchief? She was just a little girl, and now
she’s all grown up, time flies.”
“It does, hohoho!”

They laughed happily and moved on to other topics of conversation, but I understood very
well what they wanted to say.

‘They’re saying that my skills are at the level of a fifteen-year-old.’

Again, they took advantage of a moment when the Duchess was busy looking at other
people’s work.

‘Isn’t that lady secretly friendly with the Countess of Sinclair, too? Why is she criticizing me
and not Lize?’

Right, she would get into trouble if she criticized Lize whom the Duchess loved like a
daughter of her own.

‘This is going to be an eventful day.’

I was a little annoyed, but I didn’t need the attention of people who didn’t matter anyway.

I braced myself and focused my attention on my embroidery.

But despite the Duchess’ consideration, I became increasingly isolated at each embroidery
gathering.

One lady in particular, who was close to the Countess of Sinclair, led the bullying, secretly
comparing me to Lize.

‘No wonder Edith is so jealous of Lize in the original story.’

It’s only because I know the original story that I can take such provocations in stride,
otherwise I’d probably hate Lize too.

Today, Lize is still working on her shawl, embroidering all kinds of flowers and grasses,
receiving the admiration of the other noble ladies.

The shawl will probably end up in Cliff’s hands after a fierce fight between the male lead
and the second male lead.

‘By all means.’

I looked down at my handkerchief, which only had a laurel wreath embroidered around it,
and wondered what color to fill the bird’s body with.

I had originally thought of yellow, but I thought it would look too much like a chick.

I decided on a light gray color for the body and silver and black for the wings.
Suddenly, a delicate hand appeared in front of me.

“How about doing it in this color?” asked Lize as she handed me a spool of pink thread.

Maybe she was sad to see me being bullied.

“I think it would look really cute with this chartreuse color for the leaf on the beak.”

Of course it would.

The combination of pink and chartreuse almost never fails.

I appreciated her thoughtfulness, but unfortunately, I hadn’t intended to make it so girlish.

But I had to play nice here, because if I turned down Lize’s suggestion, I’d be labeled as
arrogant and incapable of taking advice.

“Thanks for the advice, Lize. But I’m making this…… with Killian in mind.”

“Yes? Killian……?”
I just happened to think of the gray-eyed Killian, but it didn’t seem like a bad excuse.

“Uh, yeah. Killian’s eyes are this color……”

“Oh, you are right.”

“Just don’t tell him because it’s embarrassing, okay?” I said, smiling like a shy new bride.

Even the ladies who tried to blame me for turning down Lize’s suggestion couldn’t fault
my excuse.

What could they say when a new bride has her heart set on the groom, the second son of
the Duke of Ludwig?

“How lovely, Edith! Killian’s eyes are such a pretty color,” said the Duchess, delighted.

“You don’t think they are because they resemble the Duke’s eyes, do you?”

“Oh, he has them too!”

As I joked with the Duchess, the ladies next to me chimed in, laughing heartily.
“Newlyweds are good, how sweet……”

“I know! By the way, is Sir Killian doing well?”

Lize tried to answer their question, but I quickly interrupted her.

“Of course, he’s down with the Duke right now to see the estate he is to receive, but I’ll
tell him you said hello when he gets back.”

Only after I replied did Lize shut up and smile.

To be honest, it’s moments like this that make me understand the original Edith more
deeply.

I know Lize has no ill will towards me, but she is seriously lacking in perspective.

‘It’s a question for me, it’s a question about my husband, why are you trying to answer it?’

Of course, the author of this world would write something like, “Lize tried to answer, but
Edith interrupted her with a fierce look. She replied that Killian was doing well, but in
truth, Lize knew that Killian had looked distressed lately.”

It’s a shitty world that’s only told from the female lead’s point of view.
***

“What do you think, Killian?”

The Duke of Ludwig asked Killian as they stood in the cool breeze.

They were standing on the side of Mount Philiac, which overlooked Ryzen, the estate
Killian would receive with the title of count.

“It’s…… pretty nice.”

Killian tried to sound nonchalant, but the Duke of Ludwig noticed that his son was quite
pleased.

He would have felt a little bad if he didn’t.

Ryzen was the estate he had chosen for Killian with great care.
“It’s a bit far from the capital, but few estates have as much potential for development as
this one, and it’s really not that far, ten days by carriage.”

“Sure. It’s less than a week on horseback, so it’s not too far, though some places take a
month.”

Killian was quite satisfied with Ryzen.

In fact, he was a little worried about which estate his father and brother were going to
give him.

He used to think it didn’t matter, but if he was going to bring the snooty Edith to live with
him, he wasn’t going to be able to get her to see things his way.

‘But with an estate like this, she won’t say anything, and my father must be considering it
for giving me such a good estate.’

Killian, who had no intention of continuing his marriage with Edith for a long time, was
now thinking of taking her to his estate.

Edith was more tolerable than he had expected, and he knew that Lize’s heart had already
left him.
Once I made up my mind, I felt better.

‘Okay, this is it.’

The early summer breeze on the mountainside was refreshing, blowing away any last
shreds of regret.

Being in the north, Ryzen is cooler than the capital all year round, which is pleasant
compared to the capital, which is getting hotter by the day.

“How cold does it get in winter?”

“A little colder than the capital. Snow is more of a problem than temperature, because
snow clouds can’t get over Mount Philiac, so Ryzen gets a lot of snow. But there has never
been an avalanche or isolated incident.”

“I see.”

Except for the winter snow, the estate is good.

‘As long as Edith doesn’t complain about the cold, that is.’

And if she does complain, I can give her a fur coat. I’d be foolish to refuse this estate just
because it’s a bit cold.
Ryzen doesn’t have a very large area, but its agricultural production is very high in relation
to its area.

The land is fertile and the rainfall is moderate.

And with no big cities around to absorb young people, the labor force is quite large.

“With so many young people, it would be good to develop industries other than
agriculture. If we can establish a road across the Mountain Philiac, we could become a
halfway point for traders traveling throughout the empire.”

“That’s a good idea, but we’d better make sure the estate is well policed. An influx of
outsiders is bound to increase crime.”

Killian nodded with excitement.

The sight of his own estate in front of him made him impatient to try this, to try that.

CHAPTER 34

“Now let’s go back to the castle.”

“Yes.”
Descending from Mount Philiac, they returned to the castle.

Vincent, the castle’s butler, was busy with the long-awaited return of his masters.

He’d swept and scrubbed the castle inside and out since he’d heard they were coming, but
it didn’t seem to bother him.

In truth, neither did Killian.

The castle had been left to the care of caretakers, so it had no decorations and none of the
luxuries necessary for aristocratic life.

‘The castle itself is well maintained, but the decorations and furnishings are so crude. How
much will Edith fuss over it?’

Despite being a despicable family, the wealth of the Riegelhoffs should not be
underestimated.

The amount of money the family had spent on Edith’s clothing alone was staggering, so
the castle was no match for her.

‘When I get back to the capital, the first thing I need to do is find a good upholsterer. I’ll
look into some tapestries and insignia…… and I’ll have her look into other things.’

There’s no time to lose, for I intend to come to the castle as soon as I receive the title.
If I have to come anyway, it would be best to come as soon as possible to check on the
estate, and I don’t like to think that problems might arise at the Duke’s mansion because
of Edith.

‘I wonder if she’ll have a hard time being away from the parties and luxuries of life. What
can I do though? There are things she has to endure to become a countess.’

Come to think of it, Edith hadn’t attended a party since her marriage. Maybe she’d get
along just fine here.

If it got too hard, I could send her to the capital for the winter.

We’ll make it work.

‘She’ll be fine.’

Despite his worries, Killian decided to look to the future with hope.

During his stay in Ryzen, he spoke in depth with his father about the problems of the
estate and the direction they should take, and then returned to the capital.

It was a time when Killian’s heart swelled with the thought of independence.
Though he didn’t realize it, Edith was in the middle of all his thoughts.

***

The day of the long-awaited bazaar has arrived.

Killian, who had gone to inspect the estate he was to receive, returned yesterday, but I
haven’t seen him yet as he still has a lot to discuss with the Duke and Duchess since his
return.

Not that he’s obligated to report to me, but……

Fortunately, I was busy finishing my embroidery, so I didn’t have time to lament his
absence.

“Is this really okay?”

“Of course, miss. There are many noble ladies who have no interest in embroidery, so this
is enough.”

Innocent Anna had been suffering from my barrage of anxious questions for days now.

It’s not like there’s anything she can do about it now, but I’ve pestered her again and
again, hoping to get a yes. I’d gotten some harsh criticism from Renon.

I made a few more, and then picked the three best ones for the bazaar, which didn’t really
stand out.

But as nervous as I was, the morning of the bazaar arrived and I was dead calm.

‘Yeah, well, it’s not like I’m going to die if this doesn’t sell.’

The episode is meant to showcase the difference in Lize’s and Edith’s skills, so there won’t
be any life-threatening consequences if it goes wrong.

I tucked the three handkerchiefs I’d worked so hard to make into my bag and took out my
picnic dress to put on.

It was an alteration of the dress I’d brought with me when I got married.

Stripped of all the lace, ruffles, and bows, the light gray cotton dress was so plain that it
almost looked like a uniform.
But even so, it has a fresh, cute vibe.

‘Mrs. Ruayal is quite a dressmaker.’

I liked all ten of the dresses I took to her for alterations, as she made them look much
prettier and more natural than I had asked for.

When I came out, ready to go to the bazaar, Lize was wearing a gorgeous dress.

It was an adorable picnic dress in a light blue fabric with a pink bow, and it really suited
her blonde hair and blue eyes.

Add to that a bonnet and parasol, and she looked like a doll.

“Huh, Edith, you look so pretty today!”

Lize smiled brightly and complimented me. Standing next to the fully dressed Lize, I looked
like nothing more than a backdrop, just as I had hoped.

“You look stunning today, Lize. That dress, I knew it would look great on you.”

“This dress is pretty, isn’t it? Mrs. Ruayal is amazing.”

That’s when Cliff came out and said, “Mrs. Ruayal’s skills are good, but you’re also
beautiful. Don’t you think so, Edith?”

“Of course.”

Just when I was wondering why Cliff had appeared suddenly, the Duchess looked at us and
said, “We’ll be late, let’s go first. The Duke and Killian will come later.”

Oh, it seems the whole family is going today.

I followed behind them, hoping to see Killian today, but then I realized that nothing good
would happen to me even if he came.

‘I don’t think Killian’s default personality has changed just because of that one time the
original story went wrong…… and even if he were to come to the bazaar today, he’d
probably just get into a fight with Cliff to buy Lize’s shawl.’

I climbed into the carriage, hoping that the day would pass uneventfully.

Decorative flags were already fluttering in the sprawling garden of Count Ermenia, where
the bazaar was being held, and tents were set up with iced tea and snacks.

I hadn’t been looking forward to the event, but the blue sky, warm breeze, and joyful
people made me excited.
“Anyone with bazaar items, please drop them off here!”

Someone shouted, and the people who had brought goods rushed to the tents.

I followed the Duchess and Lize, dropped off three shabby handkerchiefs, signed the
donation list, and returned.

After that, we sat in our assigned tents, sipping tea and engaging in light conversation, and
greeting those who came to say hello to the Duchess.

The Duchess, wearing the blue dress that Lize had picked out for her when she called on
the Ruayal’s boutique, drew admiring glances.

“Your dress looks great on you, is it new?”

“Yes. I called Mrs. Ruayal after a long time, and this is the design Lize chose. What do you
think, is it good?”

“Of course, it looks just as good as if it had been designed for you! Miss Lize has great
taste!”
Also, I knew it would be like that.

But I’m glad they didn’t compare it to my design choices.

Anyway, I couldn’t sit idly by at such a fun event.

“Edith, the bazaar has started, why don’t we go have a look?” Lize suggested excitedly.

I gave her a quick nod and started walking around the event with her.

“Wow…… this is amazing!”

People who are good at cooking make things like pecan pies and apple pies to donate, and
some offer their unwanted jewelry. There are also rare items from overseas, and high-
quality alcohol is also listed.

“Aren’t those earrings so pretty?”

“They’re really cute. Oh, someone got that bracelet, it’s got a ribbon on it.”

“It’s already sold, I guess the competition at today’s bazaar will be fierce?”
Lize was excitedly pointing here and there, and I felt unnecessarily cheered up, so I
followed her around like we were friends.

And Cliff, trailing behind as if he were our escort, was probably just pinning ribbons on
things Lize said were pretty.

I had to put up with shame for a while at the stand where the artworks we donated were
displayed.

Anna had told me my handkerchiefs were good enough, but my jaw dropped when I saw
the large-scale crocheted pieces and intricate embroidery.

Even Lize’s shawl looked ordinary.

‘Anna, you’re a liar.’

It was a well-intentioned lie, of course, but if I’d known it was this bad, I would have
burned the handkerchiefs……

I scurried away with Lize to give Cliff a chance to claim her shawl. Not because I was
embarrassed to see my work, but for the sake of the male lead!

As we walked back to the tent, leaving Cliff behind, a rather unpleasant-looking lady and
her daughters, or perhaps her friends, were looking us up and down.
‘I don’t have a good feeling about this……’

It was an all-too-familiar picture, even for me in modern times.

It was as if they were all waiting for the…… female lead.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the capital, and I can’t seem to fit in with the
social scene these days. An illegitimate child wandering around the bazaar.”

“Mother, you must be careful what you say. She’s not just any illegitimate child, but a
guest of the Duke of Ludwig, and he and his wife are very dear to her.”

“Really? The Duke and Duchess of Ludwig are very honorable people…… and they keep
that as a pet?”

I stared at them with a frown as they spoke, but suddenly I felt Lize’s hand on my arm
tremble.

Lize’s earlobes were red as she lowered her head.

She clutched my arm as if I were her lifeline.

I was suddenly burning with a sense of duty to protect the female lead.

CHAPTER 35

“I can’t seem to fit in with society these days. A bunch of village hicks wandering around
the bazaar. Besides, they’re clueless, aren’t they?”

They glared at me, not expecting me to attack them.

“Who the hell is that?”

“Edith Riegelhoff.”

“Alas, she’s just as she was rumored to be…… and she doesn’t look any better than that
illegitimate child.”

“I hear she’s ignored by even her husband?”

They mocked me with a sneer. But I wasn’t the original Edith, so I didn’t let that get to me.

“Hmm…… so, to not know Edith ‘Ludwig’, what village are you from, I have no idea who
you are just by looking at your face.”
I thought they were going to shut up, but one of the young ladies lifted her chin and
replied, “If you don’t recognize the Countess of Bryn, Miss Edith, oughtn’t you to reflect
on your own education and knowledge?”

“Anyone who makes a fuss over a mere passerby needs to relearn basic manners,” I
replied.

The Countess Bryn’s brow furrowed further at that.

“Now that I think about it, that illegitimate child looks better, at least she knows her
place.”

“And you’d better look good in the eyes of that very same ‘no better than an illegitimate
child’ woman, because if this gets to the Duchess’ ears now, the County of Bryn will be in
danger.”

The Countess of Bryn looked me up and down again, clutching her fan tightly.

“I’ve heard rumors that the Duke of Ludwig has an unwanted daughter-in-law, but I didn’t
expect it to be this bad.”

“I heard that Count Riegelhoff forced the marriage.”

“I feel sorry for Sir Killian.”

Like worker bees swarming around a queen bee, the young ladies were spouting off
whatever sounded good to Countess Bryn.

The sight was hilarious.

“Well, if you’ve said all you need to say, would you mind getting out of the way, because
Sir Cliff Ludwig is coming after this.”

I said it without looking back because I thought I could feel Cliff’s energy, but when I did,
the ladies gave me an awkward glance and hurried away.

And then I heard Cliff’s affectionate voice behind me.

“Why are you standing there?”

At Cliff’s voice, Lize let out a shaky breath and looked up.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine, but……”

“Do you know any of them?”

“She’s a friend of Countess Sinclair. I’m so sorry that she’s been so mean to Edith because
of me……”

“I’m perfectly fine. She can talk all she wants. I don’t care.”

As I shrugged, Cliff came over and examined Lize’s complexion, and she quickly smiled as if
it was no big deal.

‘She’s got a hard life, too.’

Those who wanted to look good to the Ludwigs knew that they cared about Lize, so they
praised her, but those who didn’t, looked down on Lize, calling her an illegitimate child
even after getting to the fourth volume of the original story.

‘I feel like I’ve become a part of that gossip, but……’

It would have made Edith’s eyes roll back in her head if the same group of people who
looked down on Lize had called her worse than her.

‘But to me, one Killian is more important than all of them.’

I headed back to the Ludwigs’ tent, repeating the mantra of choose and focus.
When I returned to the tent, the Duke of Ludwig was sitting there, but Killian was nowhere
to be seen.

‘Oh, he must have run off to buy Lize’s shawl, but well, Cliff just bought it.’

If I had known it would be like this, I would have come a little later.

By noon, the bazaar was packed, and there was a lot of chatter and greetings.

And the episode began to take its own course.

That is, the comparisons between me and Lize began in earnest.

The horde of bullies that blocked our way earlier was nothing.

“Oh my, Miss Lize is getting prettier and prettier every time I see her!”

“I suppose Duchess Ludwig has already made Miss Lize her daughter-in-law?”

“I saw her work displayed at the bazaar before, how could she be so skilled?”
No, it wasn’t a comparison. I was completely ignored.

At least the previous group of bullies insulted me, so I could pay them back, but these
people didn’t even look at me, ignoring me completely.

‘Choose and focus, choose and focus…… these people are nameless extras, don’t let the
2D people’s words hurt you.’

The elaborately dressed aristocratic ladies were calling each other by name, but when I
turned around, they were faces and names I couldn’t remember.

That’s probably the fate of the extras.

Then someone said my name.

“Oh! There you are, Miss Edith! I see you’ve changed your style a bit…… haven’t you?”

“Oh, yes,” I replied.

The girl who used to emphasize her cleavage and favor fancy dresses suddenly showed up
in plain clothes. Perhaps that’s why they didn’t notice my presence.
‘Ah! Is that why Edith wears racy, fancy clothes? Because otherwise she wouldn’t even be
noticed next to Lize……’

In this way, I understood Edith again.

Just then, Killian, who must have failed to buy Lize’s shawl, approached.

“Killian! I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

As expected, Lize greeted him first.

Apparently, he hadn’t seen Lize since returning from the estate yesterday either.

I don’t know why that’s so comforting.

“I know. How have you been?”

“Good! What about you, Killian?”

“Me too, well…….”

His gaze shifted to me.

If I say hello, will I be ignored? But if I don’t, what if people say I’m rude?

“I miss– no, did you have a good trip?”

I almost blurted out that I missed him. Why am I so distracted these days?

“……I did.”

Fortunately, Killian didn’t ignore my greeting.

He even walked over to me.

“What have you been up to?”

“Busy getting ready for the bazaar, I guess. I’m a terrible embroiderer.”

“I could see that.”

What, did you see that?

“Is that all……?”

“No big deal, I was just a little…… bored.”

“Why? Because I wasn’t there?”

“Ha! Aren’t you being overconfident?”

But I couldn’t say no.

To be honest, I was bored and tired of everything without Killian. Even when he was at the
mansion, there were many days when I didn’t see him, and I don’t know why.

He just smirked at me, but didn’t say anything barbed.

We enjoyed the bazaar as a family for the first time in a long time.

Every once in a while, Lize said something to Killian, but strangely, Killian did not reply at
length.

‘What happened?’

Killian stayed seated next to me, and I was spared the drama.
How I wish the day would continue just like this.

“I’m going to go touch up my makeup for a minute.”

The iced tea I’d been drinking was making me need to use the restroom.

After using the mansion’s luxurious restroom, I emerged feeling refreshed, but someone
grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me to the side of the building.

“B- brother?”

“Long time no see, Edith.”

Shane Riegelhoff, Edith’s brother.

I must have let my guard down, I’d forgotten that the Riegelhoffs could be here too!

Shane is blond, like Countess Riegelhoff, and quite handsome, but from the moment I saw
him, I felt uncomfortable.

Maybe it’s because I had a brother in my previous life, but he didn’t look at me very kindly
either.
In Edith’s subsequent memories, this man was the same as my brother from my previous
life. It was clear that he saw me as expendable for his own advancement.

“Ha, haha! You came alone?”

“Of course I came with my father, but you, what the hell happened to you?”

“What?”

I feigned ignorance, and his eyes narrowed.

“Are you being watched by the Ludwigs?”

“What?”

“We received a letter telling us not to think about fighting the Ludwigs, and I thought you
were crazy, but then we received a weapons-related document right after that, but it was
all fake.”

I paused.

“Brother. When and from whom did you get the weapons dossier?”
“It came through a private courier shortly after you replied. They gave you the fake
document, didn’t they?”

Who the hell sent that document?

At the time, I suspected Lize, but in retrospect, she had no reason to. What could she
possibly be lacking that would make her want to hurt me?

And I have one more question.

“If you’ve guessed that far, you also realize that I’m in a precarious position in the Ludwig
family, right?”

“That’s why you have to play it cool. Can’t you do better than that?”

“I’ve had a hard enough time with the suspicion that I stole that document.”

“So? What do you expect me to do about your stupidity?”

The question was quickly answered. Shane wasn’t worried about my well-being after all.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of anger that I hadn’t been able to channel toward my brother in
my previous life.
“By the way, I didn’t send that weapons-related document.”

“What?”

“I don’t know who did it, but I think they sent it to screw me over.”

“What the hell do you mean…… wait a minute. If you weren’t the one who sent it, then
you were……”

“Uh, yeah. That letter to my father was my real letter, and don’t even think about trying to
do anything to the Ludwigs. You’ll be in big trouble later–”

-slap!

My head turned with a snap.

My ears went deaf, physiological tears burst out, and my cheek burned like it was on fire.

CHAPTER 36

“You must be crazy.”

“Ha……”
“You betray the family that fed you, clothed you, and raised you? Do you think my family
would let a traitor live?”

I hastily wiped my tears and looked at Shane.

“You’ve fed me, clothed me, and raised me…… yes, if you call that a favor, then my letter
to you was a way of repaying that favor, and you’d better not ignore my warning.”

Despite my heartfelt advice, Shane smirked at me, then spoke in a low voice, “Spanking is
medicine[1] for a dog that doesn’t recognize its master. Just because you’re in the Ludwig
family doesn’t mean I can’t tighten your leash.”

[1] It is a Korean idiom. It means that spanking is the most effective for a disobedient
child.

Then he walked away.

It wasn’t until he was gone that my heart began to beat frightfully, for a very old memory
of Edith came to me belatedly.

“I’m sorry, Father! I’m sorry!”

“You stupid bitch, I’ve taught you so many times and you can’t do it!”

“Ahh! I’m wrong, I’m wrong!”

I remembered Count Riegelhoff slapping me on the cheeks and head and back and
forearms…… no, anywhere his hands and feet could reach.

I don’t know why he did that to his own daughter.

But young Edith didn’t dare to rebel, didn’t dare to run away.

With no one to help her, she could only move as her father’s puppet.

‘Edith must have been desperate…… for Killian to marry her.’

That’s why she wanted Killian so badly, even though she couldn’t resist Riegelhoffs’ orders
to get information about the Ludwig family.

My eyes grew hot.

Despite our differences, I could understand Edith’s feelings.

Is that why I possessed her and not someone else?

As much as I want to save my own life, I don’t want to let Edith die a miserable death.

I took a deep breath and pulled myself together.

‘Ha, I’m so late. I’ll be suspected if I’m late.’

I hurriedly took a handkerchief out of my bag and wiped my tears.

In the mirror, I could see that my cheek was red from Shane’s slap, but I thought I could
pass it off as just a little sunburn.

I practiced smiling a few times, as the corners of my mouth kept dropping, and then I
turned to the corner of the building.

It was then that I made eye contact with Killian.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. Where have you been?”

“Oh…… the mansion is beautiful, so I thought I’d see what it’s like over here……”
“You have a lot of curiosity.”

Bowing my head and covering the cheek Shane slapped me on with my hair, I asked in a
deliberately cheerful voice, “Did you come looking for me on purpose?”

“Of course not, I just came out to wash my hands and found you.”

“Alas, I see. I almost got excited.”

“Excited about something like that?”

Yes, a lot.

“It’s exciting to know that someone cares where you’ve gone, isn’t it?”

I mean it.

And that’s bittersweet.

Did anyone care about Choi Soo-na after her death?

If I die as Edith Ludwig, will anyone care?

As I followed the now-silent Killian back to the tent, I felt a little weak, thinking about
Shane’s threats and my lack of hope.

But it wasn’t all bad things.

“This year’s bazaar sold out of all the donated items at a high price, thank you! We will
make sure that your warm hearts are delivered to each orphanage.”

Countess Ermenia, the organizer of the bazaar, announced the end of the bazaar with the
news that all the items had been sold.

‘Huh? That means someone bought my handkerchiefs too! Oh, thank goodness!’

Even though I was told that the bazaar was supposed to ensure that no donated items
were left unsold, I decided to take the organizer’s word for it that ‘all’ the items sold for a
‘high’ price.

If it wasn’t for meeting Shane, this would have been a really good day……

***
Returning from the bazaar, Count Riegelhoff hysterically removed his cravat and flopped
down on the couch. He turned to Shane, who followed him into the study, his eyes shining
sharply.

“Tell me more about what you said earlier at the bazaar.”

Shane took a seat across from the Count, and a moment later the maid Sophia entered
with tea for the two of them.

Once the teacups were filled, Shane took a sip before speaking.

“Edith has certainly changed.”

Shane frowned, remembering the Edith he’d met at the bazaar. “Instead of being polite to
me, her brother, she’s gotten very impudent.”

“How do you mean she became impudent?”

“I’d understand if she’d gotten a hard knock on the head at the Ludwig mansion, for she
held her head high and was so insolent to me that I doubt if she was Edith.”

Count Riegelhoff’s eyes narrowed at that.

Edith, who had been beaten and taught to obey her family from a young age, dared not
make eye contact with Shane unless in the presence of others.

He couldn’t believe that Edith raised her head and speak up.

But Shane gritted his teeth to hide his true frustration.

“I was nice at first, asking if she was being watched by the Ludwigs and what exactly
happened.”

“And then?”

“She asked me when and from whom I got the fake weapons-related document, and then
she said she didn’t know because she was in a precarious position in the Ludwig family.”

Behind him, Sophia, the maid, sucked in a breath in disbelief.

“I was taken aback when she told me that the letter she wrote to you was sincere and that
we shouldn’t even think about fighting the Ludwigs, then I slapped her, telling her how
dare she betray the family that fed her.”
“You mean she couldn’t come to her senses even after you slapped her?”

“On the contrary, she became more and more insolent. What? She told me that the letter
was her way of repaying the family’s favor and that I shouldn’t ignore her warning. Ha!”

At that, Count Riegelhoff gave a ridiculous snort of laughter. “Either Edith is truly out of
her mind, or Duke Ludwig has a stronger leash on her than we do.”

“Or maybe she thought she was free now that she was out of this house.”

Now Count Riegelhoff gritted his teeth, wondering if this was how it felt to be bitten by a
dog he raised.

“I should have had her die following her mother in the first place; I shouldn’t have raised
such a mongrel, whose sire I don’t even know!”

Edith is not Count Riegelhoff’s biological daughter, but his younger sister’s daughter, and
he doesn’t even know who her father is.

“Brother, please help me! Please!”

His normally well-behaved sister knelt in front of him, begging and sobbing while
pregnant.

How shocked he was when she said she didn’t know when she got pregnant or whose
child it was……

But he couldn’t bring himself to kill her for having a child, so he sent her to the manor
under the pretext of recuperation, and when the child was born, he added the child to his
family register.

It was only possible because his wife had also gone down to the manor for recuperation,
and he was forced to do it for the sake of family honor, but he didn’t like it from the
beginning.

‘That old woman died as soon as she gave birth. Tsk.’

His sister, who begged for her life, gave birth to a child and bled nonstop, eventually dying
shortly afterward.

‘I should have thrown Edith away when the fortune teller said it was bad luck to be related
to a child who killed her mother.’
If only Anais had been healthy……!

His wife, Anais Riegelhoff, was a beautiful woman, but she was weak and unable to bear
children after giving birth to Shane.

It was a relief to see an heir in her, but it was a bit unsettling to have only one son in a
noble family.

So he kept Edith as the family dog, hoping she would be useful one day.

“I gave you what you didn’t deserve, raised you as the Count’s daughter, and then you
betrayed your family ungratefully?” Count Riegelhoff clenched his fists and trembled.

Just then, Sophia, the maid who had been silent, spoke up, “My lord. I’ll go and crack
down on Miss Edith.”

Count Riegelhoff and Shane’s gazes turned to her.

It was a matter she had already discussed with Shane, so she had no qualms about it.

“I’m sure the young lady doesn’t know about her position yet, but I’ll make it clear to her
that she can’t leave the Riegelhoffs, even if she’s in Ludwig.”
“The Ludwigs might do you harm, but are you sure you don’t mind?”

Count Riegelhoff asked a question he had never asked Edith.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you and Shane.”

Sophia smiled, and Count Riegelhoff nodded.

“You are much better than Edith, then go and bring her to her senses and spy on the
Ludwigs.”

Shane asked, “What if Sophia’s ‘discipline’ doesn’t bring her to her senses, and she
snitches on the Ludwigs?”

But Count Riegelhoff had a different idea. “If she was blabbing about her situation, rumors
would have already spread in the social world. She’s a stupid bitch, but she knows her
situation. Do you think the Ludwigs would keep her if they knew she was abandoned by
her family?”

“Well, I suppose they wouldn’t.”

“But you should always have a backup plan.”

The Count smirked and turned to Sophia. “Sophia, if all else fails, I suggest that Edith be
mysteriously assassinated, preferably by Killian Ludwig.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Sophia showed off a bright smile, one she had never shown in front of Edith.

CHAPTER 37

As the bazaar ended, summer slowly approached.

‘It’s going to be a hot summer without air conditioning.’

While I was thinking this, a very scary fact popped into my head.

‘Come to think of it…… how long does Edith appear in the original story?’

I don’t know why it just occurred to me.

“I Refuse Your Obsession” is a five-volume Rofan novel, and Edith is introduced at the end
of the third volume and disappears before the fifth volume begins.

And at the beginning of the fifth volume, Lize gets a proposal from Cliff, along with a
confession of love.
‘How old is Lize during that scene?’

Lize and I are the same age now, twenty-two.

And Cliff proposes to her when she’s twenty-three years old.

‘I’m sure because I remember having the thought that she hadn’t even graduated college
at that age.’

Okay, quiz here.

How many months until the episode where my head is cut off?

As I thought about it, my back suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

Then, out of nowhere, Anna knocked on my door.

“Miss, you’re going to have to come out here for a minute!”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

A shiver of ominous feeling ran down my spine.

As I stepped out into the hallway, I heard a woman’s wailing coming from the first-floor
landing.

“I’m begging you, please let me see my lady, she couldn’t even leave her house without
me before she got married, how is she doing here alone……!”

I wondered what all the fuss was about and followed Anna downstairs, only to find that
the Duchess and the butler, Philip, had already come down to the first floor, as well as
Cliff, Killian, and Lize.

“Eh……?”

I got goosebumps at the sight of a woman sprawled out on the porch of the mansion,
sobbing and wailing.

She spotted me, too, and called out my name before I had time to retreat.

“Ah, Miss! Miss Edith!”

“So…… Sophia……”

“Ah, my dear, my little miss…… why are you looking so pale?”

“W- what? What?”

Sophia, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, clung to me with a face that, unlike the
Riegelhoff family, was dying of worry.

I wondered how a mere maid could have gotten the Duchess and her heir to come
downstairs, but behind her stood Shane.

“Brother……?”

I called out to Shane, but he stood facing the Duchess, not me, and spoke with a sad
expression, “I apologize for causing such a disturbance, but Sophia, Edith’s dedicated
maid, misses her dearly…… and we’ve been uneasy about not having any idea of her well-
being.”

“You could have come by anytime and met Edith.”

“That’s very kind of you, but you probably know that’s easier said than done. So, please, at
least let Sophia keep by Edith’s side. She’s just a maid.”

I suddenly understood what Shane had meant by ‘tightening a dog leash’.

“Oh, brother, I am really fine!”

“Miss, please, please don’t abandon me. You can beat me and punish me, as long as I can
stay by your side and serve you……”

Sophia clung to me more.

Then Shane said, “Edith. Isn’t she the same Sophia who’s been with you since you were a
little girl, and how worried she was about you……”

“Rumor has it that my lady is being persecuted at the Ludwig mansion! You’re not even
allowed to attend your best friend’s tea party……!”

Sophia shouted, as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

I thought skipping the party would keep me from being accused of spreading gossip about
Lize, but I didn’t realize it would backfire like this.

I glanced at the Duchess and Killian without realizing it.

“Who- who says I’m being persecuted!”

“Even now, you’re worried about other people’s eyes! I heard that at the bazaar, you sat
there like a loner, and everyone said that Lady Sinclair, a guest of this house, was the only
one who cared about you……”

Ah, that’s kind of irrefutable.

And the Duchess and the others also twitched their shoulders, as if they had been
stabbed.

After all, this time, the Ludwigs had no reason to turn Sophia away.

“If you are so concerned, you may leave this maid behind. I will make her Edith’s personal
maid.”

“Thank you. My family will take care of Sophia’s salary.”

“No, you don’t have to.”

“No. If Sophia works for this house, who will protect our Edith?”

Ha…… anyone who sees it will think it’s a sister complex. Yet he’s the one who slapped me
so hard…..!

But I couldn’t bring myself to expose Shane. I tried to say, “You slapped me at the bazaar,”
but my tongue got stuck again and I heard tinnitus.
‘Shit!’

I refused again and again, saying I didn’t need a Riegelhoff maid, but thanks to Shane’s
insistence that it was a sign of the Duke’s favor, I was finally forced to accept Sophia.

‘Is this…… also the flow of the original story?’

Then, all of the episodes that are going to happen are going to be set in motion by Sophia.

The poisoning attempts, the information leaks, the spying……

‘What should I do? How can I stop this?’

Sophia was a mercenary, skilled in assassination and thievery.

It’s almost impossible for me to go against her.

Besides, Count Riegelhoff must have given Sophia full authority over my disposition, and if
I were to die at the hands of that maid, he wouldn’t bat an eye.

Of course, I’m not without any hope.

‘If I die, Sophia will no longer be in this house, and the original story will be greatly
distorted.’

So she won’t kill me.

I watched nervously as Anna taught Sophia how to do her job.

And when we were finally alone in the room, Sophia’s expression changed dramatically.

“It’s been a long time, Miss Edith.”

“……I don’t think it’s been that long.”

“I didn’t believe it when Young Master Shane told me about you, but by the way you
responded to me, it must have been true.”

Wow, that’s just plain creepy.

I tried to push down my instinctive fear and speak as calmly as I could.

“Sophia, the power of the Ludwigs is not all that it seems, and it is growing every day. If
my father does not change his mind, our entire family is in danger.”

“That is not for you to judge, young lady. All you can do is follow your master’s orders.”

“Even if it means we all die?”

“You should be thinking about honoring your family’s name with your life, not talking
about how weak you are.”

Oh, this is for real.

Sophia is Count Riegelhoff’s person to the bone.

How she could follow him so far was beyond my understanding.

“Young Master Shane said you didn’t send him the weapons-related document……”

“I didn’t send it.”

“Was it because you knew it was a fake document, and Duke was afraid you wouldn’t send
it and things would get out of hand, so he copied your handwriting and sent it?”

Huh? Is that possible?

But I don’t think the Duke and his family would do such a thing.

Their primary purpose in having me see the fake document was to get me to leave, not to
attack the Riegelhoffs.

Still, to avoid getting beaten up by Sophia, it might be better to say that I didn’t send it
because I knew it was fake.

But on the other hand, that would make Killian suspicious again.

‘Let’s get Killian’s side, and let’s do it right.’

Remembering once again the ‘choose and focus’ mantra, I replied, “I didn’t even think it
was a fake document, because I had no intention of stealing it in the first place.”

As expected, Sophia’s gaze turned piercingly cold.

“So…… you’re saying that you really did decide to betray your family.”

“I don’t see why it’s a betrayal. Do you have any confidence that the Riegelhoffs would
win against the Ludwigs? Even if Archduke Langston were to become Emperor, do you
think he would give my father the dukedom? The Emperor’s throne is secure now, and the
Duke of Ludwig is stronger than the Archduke of Langston.”

“Archduke Langston is favoring the Count, and sooner or later the Emperor and the Duke
of Ludwig will fall.”

“Who says so? Father? You are mistaken, it’s all just your wishful thinking!”

I think I heard a crack.

Sophia, perhaps sensing the hint of sarcasm in my voice, stepped forward and slapped the
back of my head.

“You vulgar sow have the audacity to use your snout in front of me?”

Without a trace of respect, Sophia shouted profanities at me and began to beat me

viciously on the part of my body that was covered by my clothes.

“Ack! Ack!”

It hurt more than I could have imagined.

She hit only painful but unnoticeable parts, enough to make me realize that she was a
professional at this.
I struggled, but she didn’t even budge, like someone made of wood and stone.

Then, suddenly, she grabbed me by the throat.

CHAPTER 38

“If you’re going to betray us, do it. Because when you’re worthless, I’ll kill you and hold
the Ludwigs responsible.”

I understood Sophia’s point, even as tears welled in my eyes from the suffocating pain in
my throat.

She’d be able to make it look like I’d been murdered by someone in the Ludwig family, and
use my death as a weapon to stab the Ludwigs.

No one would ever imagine that Count Riegelhoff, who was famously fond of his daughter,
would have killed her.

‘This is why he pretended to love me.’

They are truly terrible people, so terrible that Count Sinclair seems more human.

Just as my mind was going blank, Sophia released her grip on my neck.
I choked frantically and wrapped my arms around my stiff neck.

“So, if you don’t want to die, just be a pretty little doll like you’ve always been.”

Sophia’s voice was eerie.

But I didn’t feel the slightest bit like giving in to her.

Edith, who has been abused since she was a child, may be afraid of Sophia, but I know she
can’t be the one to kill her.

In this world, the only person set to kill Edith is Killian Ludwig.

Not some shitty extra whose death is never explained.

“You’re going to regret this, Sophia,” I said, my voice hoarse.

I thought she was going to slap me again, but she just looked down at me with a ridiculous
look.

***
Killian fiddled with the embroidery of a light gray bird biting a laurel leaf, lost in thought.

The day after he returned from his inspection of the Ryzen estate, it was the day before
Countess Ermenia’s annual bazaar.

In fact, his only impression of the event was, “I’m tired, and I have to go there tomorrow.”

Until he heard the news from his mother.

“And Edith embroidered a bird on her handkerchief, do you know what color it is?”

“Why would I know that, does it matter?”

“Hohoho. It’s the color of your eyes.”

“……yes?”

“She embroidered it while thinking of you. Isn’t that cute?”

The answer was so unexpected.

His mother laughed, saying that Edith had even told her not to tell him, but Killian
wondered what Edith had meant by that.

‘Maybe she was just trying to impress my mother.’

When Killian arrived at the bazaar the next day, he realized that Edith, Lize, and Cliff had
all gone to walk around in the bazaar, so he followed them.

But because he was late, he saw that Edith and Lize had already returned from their walk.

Just as he was about to feign ignorance, a group of women blocked their path.

‘Countess Bryn? I hear she’s gone down to the estate to recuperate, but she’s back.’

The Countess of Bryn had a reputation for being outspoken, but her position as Countess
of Bryn and her caring nature meant that she had many followers.

However, she immediately picked a fight with Lize, saying that she was an illegitimate
child or a pet.
‘Is she crazy?’

He was just about to storm off when Edith stepped in front of the trembling Lize.

“I can’t seem to fit in with society these days. A bunch of village hicks wandering around
the bazaar.”

Even Killian was surprised by her bold provocation, but the other party started to ridicule
Edith.

The woman said something like Edith was not much better than Lize, and the next words
from the other woman pierced Killian’s heart.

“I hear she’s ignored by even her husband?”

She wasn’t wrong, and it didn’t occur to him that he should have taken care of Edith.

But he couldn’t figure out why he felt guilty.

“I’ve heard rumors that the Duke of Ludwig has an unwanted daughter-in-law, but I didn’t
expect it to be this bad.”

“I heard that Count Riegelhoff forced the marriage.”

“I feel sorry for Sir Killian.”

The words the women left behind clung to Killian’s legs.

Their words were like knives disguised as words. They weren’t even lies, which made them
even sharper.

‘It’s all because Count Riegelhoff is greedy.’

Killian blamed Count Riegelhoff. Even as he turned to look at Edith’s expression, he felt a
twinge of trepidation.

But unlike Killian who was frozen, Edith casually took Lize’s hand and walked away.

There was no anger, no shame, no sense of humiliation on her face.

Perhaps Edith was not someone who could be hurt by mean words.

‘Is she that strong……?’

But suddenly, he remembered her telling him that she was hurt by his words.
Watching Edith walk back to the Ludwigs’ tent, Killian turned to follow, then turned away
again.

At the bazaar, Killian spotted three handkerchiefs that were clearly embroidered by Edith.

‘She’s got some real…… what can I say…… humble skills.’

Amidst the incredible embroideries, hers are so simple that it makes one wonder if they
were done by a noble lady.

‘The Ludwigs should not be brought into disgrace because the items they donated
remained at the bazaar until the end.’

With that excuse in mind, he bought three of Edith’s handkerchiefs on the spot and
stuffed them into his inside pocket.

And when he returned to the tent, the still beautiful Lize greeted him with a bright smile,
and Edith……

“I miss– no, did you have a good trip?”

Was she about to say she missed me?

No, no way. There’s no way she misses me, the man who always says nothing but cruel
things in front of her.

Besides, her husband’s “disrespect” for her was well-known to everyone.

But the mood at the bazaar was good.

The weather was nice, and it was nice to meet and greet old acquaintances.

Edith laughing with him, drinking iced tea, and eating snacks was also pleasant.

If she’d just behave, maybe I could get her to live with me.

Maybe it was because of this thought, he even said a few words to her without thinking.

“It’s much better…… than the ones you wore before.”

“It is, isn’t it? Mrs. Ruayal’s skills are quite good. You’d be surprised to know what this
dress used to look like.”

So he realized that the dress she was wearing was not a new one, but an altered one.
Directly across the table, someone was ‘again’ complimenting Lize on her beauty and her
new dress, but no one was complimenting Edith while Killian sat there.

‘If you’ve been so bad at reputation management all these years……’

Right. The reason why people ignore Edith is because she does not care about her own
reputation.

But when another group of ladies praised Lize without even saying hello to Edith, Killian
had to admit he was offended.

‘I mean, she’s my wife now…… isn’t ignoring her the same as disrespecting me?’

Yes, that was it.

But just then, Edith got up to go and touch up her makeup.

‘Are you offended by this?’

She was being ignored in such an embarrassing way that she couldn’t take it anymore and
left.

So Killian watched her go into the mansion and then stood up.
“Where are you going, Killian?”

He was about to leave the tent when Lize grabbed him by the hem of his shirt.

Suddenly, the eyes of the other ladies turned to him.

“Oh my! Sir Killian is here, too! It’s been a while.”

“My goodness, you’ve grown up so handsomely, I’m sure Duchess Ludwig has no worries.”

At any other time, he would have greeted them, for the sake of his reputation and his
mother’s honor.

But he didn’t feel like it, especially since they hadn’t even bothered to look at him and
Edith, only Cliff and Lize.

“Excuse me, but my hands are sticky and I need to wash them.”

With that, he hurried toward the mansion.

As he entered the mansion and looked around for the women’s restroom, he saw Edith’s
reddish-brown hair peeking out of the window.
She was with a blond man.

‘No way. With all these eyes on her, is she having an affair with another man?’

Edith would never do something so embarrassing.

Even as he thought this, Killian hurried out of the mansion and crept toward the corner
where they had disappeared.

He didn’t even realize he was muffling his footsteps.

The man who had dragged Edith pulled her to him, whispered something to her, and
released her roughly.

Then Killian realized who the man was.

‘Shane Riegelhoff……?’

Shane glared at Edith with a seemingly gnashing of teeth, then turned and walked away.

Even as he walked away, Edith stood still, shivering.

‘What did that bastard say?’

Edith pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, and it was clear she’d been
crying.

But then she took a deep breath and took out a mirror to examine her face.

The corners of her mouth quirked up in an odd way, and then she put the mirror in and
turned away with a weary expression.

Killian quickly took a few steps away, then pretended to have just gotten there in time for
her to come around the corner.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. Where have you been?”

“Oh…… the mansion is beautiful, so I thought I’d see what it’s like over here……”

“You have a lot of curiosity.”

As soon as they met, Killian noticed that one of her cheeks was flushed.

‘Did Shane Riegelhoff hit Edith?’

It was unbelievable.
The Riegelhoffs’ love for Edith was a well-known story in social circles.

But when Killian thought of Shane’s strangely fierce face and Edith’s reddened cheek after
meeting him, he could only think about the possible outcome.

Nevertheless, Edith continued the conversation in a casual tone of voice.

CHAPTER 39

“Did you come looking for me on purpose?”

It was ridiculous.

He sarcastically asked if she was happy about such a thing, but Edith said it as if she was
someone who would disappear at any moment.

“It’s exciting to know that someone cares where you’ve gone, isn’t it?”

The look of loneliness on her face was something Killian would never forget.

But any thoughts of softening toward Edith were stiffened by Lize’s words at the end of
the day.
“It may be my mistake, but I heard something strange at the Ermenia mansion earlier.”

“What happened?”

“Well…… I was talking to Cliff in passing, and I distinctly overheard the heir to Count
Riegelhoff say something to the Count about the Duke of Ludwig”.

“……what?”

Lize fidgeted with her small hands, then spoke up at Killian’s request to elaborate.

“I didn’t really hear much of it, it was such a fleeting moment that even Cliff didn’t see
it…… but I’m pretty sure I heard the words Duke of Ludwig and Edith’s name. Did he meet
Edith yesterday?”

A chill of anxiety ran down the center of his chest.

Then, a few days later, in the morning, Shane brought in one of his family’s maids, and he
seemed to feel the need to put her next to Edith.

‘I wonder if they’ve been talking before……’

Killian thought of Count Riegelhoff, who had been trying to get a maid for Edith since
before they were married.

At first glance, the maid Shane had brought in didn’t look like a normal maid.

What kind of maid could be so rude in the presence of the duke’s family?

‘Maybe Edith told Shane about her plight, and that’s why he was so angry with the
Ludwigs that he offered to give her a maid, and maybe Edith was so moved that she
showed tears…….’

Maybe the flush on her cheek was really from the sun, as she said.

Because of these doubts, Edith’s repeated refusals seemed like an act.

There were even rumors of Edith’s persecution, so there was no way she was not going to
take the maid in.

‘We’ll see. Is Edith’s attitude an act, or is she genuine?’

The next day, Sophia became Edith’s full-time maid, and the Duke secretly increased the
number of guards around them.
***

It was a thought that I had several times in my previous life, and it’s one that I think about
every day as Edith.

‘I’d rather be working.’

I finally catch my breath as I make it to the morning office hours, where I can escape
Sophia’s scrutiny.

‘Besides, if I come to Renon’s office, I can at least have tea and snacks!’

I don’t usually enjoy refreshments when I’m working, but I was starving.

Sophia was starving me.

“You seem to be enjoying…… the refreshments today,” Renon said, his face unreadable as
to what the hell he was thinking.
“Ah, haha, well, yeah, they are delicious today……”

I was about to finish the cookies and madeleines on my plate, but in good conscience, I set
aside one for Renon.

He must have looked at me with a pitying glance.

“You can have them all.”

“Huh? What about you?”

“I don’t normally have a sweet tooth.”

Yeah, I can see that.

He looks like he’s purposely trying to find something bitter to eat.

But why does he look so handsome today?

“Well, then…… I shouldn’t leave any leftovers……”

With that lame excuse, I finished off the rest of the cookies and madeleines.

‘Ha, now I feel like I’m living.’

My stomach was full, but I was actually craving meat and bread, or more honestly, a hot
bowl of soup.

Pork soup, ox bone soup, bean sprout soup, sundae soup, oyster soup……

‘Oh, I’m going crazy.’

My mouth watered just thinking about it.

“Would you like some more?” asked Renon, probably knowing that I was salivating.

But I’ve had enough of sweets.

“No. Let’s…… get to work, shall we?”

But later that evening, I regretted the cookies and madeleines I didn’t refill.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat them for the next few days because I would be off work.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit much to starve me?”

I complained, glaring at Sophia, but it only made her feel better.

“If you want to be fed, you have to prove yourself useful.”

“You treat people like animals, don’t you?”

“Even an animal understands when you beat it like this. I don’t think you’re as good as an
animal.”

“Funny. You may be my father’s dog, but I am a human, and I have my own free will.”

“I look forward to seeing how far that free will goes in the face of starvation.”

Sophia mocked me, then suddenly reached over and grabbed my hair, shaking it wildly.

“Ack, ack, get off me!”

After shaking me for a while, she let go, tossing my head back onto the pillow.
“If you don’t like getting hit, you’re going to have to be docile.”

“Hah…… hah…… who the fuck are you……”

“Seriously, what happened in the meantime? You weren’t that stupid…… tsk.”

I received a few more vicious punches to my wing bones and spine, but Sophia had my
head pressed against the pillow, so I couldn’t even scream.

But it was a strange thing.

In my previous life, I would never have considered myself brave enough to stand up to
such violence, but now I don’t want to give in.

I want to stand up to the violence the Riegelhoffs have inflicted on Edith.

I want to defend the self-respect that Edith had so helplessly lost.

At least I know they can’t kill me.

Actually, there’s another reason.

‘There’s no way the Duke doesn’t have guards monitoring around here.’
I’m sure there’s someone out there watching.

Of course, no one knows what goes on in this room, but mistakes happen.

They might notice Sophia’s strange movements.

‘Of course, that would reach Killian’s ears, and how hard would it be to clear up the
misunderstanding?

Killian is my lifeline.

If he misunderstands me more than that, I know I won’t be able to explain it anytime

soon.

‘……I miss Killian.’

Thinking about Killian made me miss him again.

I wanted to tell him all about my situation and beg him to help me.

But then I heard the narrator-like voice again from somewhere.

[Edith Riegelhoff can not reveal hidden settings about herself until she meets the
conditions of the three-level exception.]

I’ve heard it enough in my dreams, and now I hear it again while awake?

‘I know, I know!’

I grunted, flopping down on my bed.

***

Sophia giggled as she walked out of Edith’s room.

‘What exactly has happened? It seems like she has changed, doesn’t it?
I’m sure no one knows Edith Riegelhoff better than I do.

I’ve been her personal servant since she was twelve, and I was the one who ‘disciplined’
her.

But this isn’t the Edith I know.

‘Why did the girl who would be frightened and obedient with even just one slap suddenly
become so different?’

Edith, who grew up with the severe punishments of Count Riegelhoff from an early age,
became extremely weak in the face of violence.

So much so that when she was outside, it was a matter of tightening the leash as much as
she could handle, as she would fall helplessly if hit too hard.

But in just a few months, she became a completely different person, and even after being
beaten, she would glare and make arrogant remarks.

“What a very stupid girl that she forgot her master. I must discipline her thoroughly
again.”

Despite her exasperated mutterings, a smile of anticipation graced her lips.

In fact, Sophia found great pleasure in beating Edith.

How satisfying to her ego that she, a once commoner mercenary, could mercilessly beat
up a noblewoman.

‘It’s an annoying constraint that I can’t do it in front of others……’

Since I couldn’t be seen by the Ludwigs, I had to choose the parts of the body covered by
the clothes and hit her just enough to keep her from bleeding, which inevitably weakened
my punch, which was a bit disappointing.

However, since humans have more than one vital point, there are many ways to torture
them without seeing blood.

‘Let’s see how long you can keep your smug face on.’

With a sneer, Sophia put on her maid’s impassive face and headed to the dining room to
pick up dinner.

At the bottom of the stairs, she bumped into the rumored Lize Sinclair.

“Oh, hi, I hear you’re Edith’s new maid.”

“I’m Sophia…… nice to meet you.”

“Your name is Sophia, nice to meet you.”

Her smile was genuine.

As dazzlingly beautiful as the rumors were, Sophia felt her stomach twist.

‘Foxy girl.’

To Sophia, Lize was on the same level as Edith, or even lower.

‘She’s like a lustful slut who lures men with her innocent face!’

Otherwise, there’s no way Shane, who has always been cold and rational, would be so
enamored.

CHAPTER 40

“Sophia, when you get to the Ludwig mansion, find out how Lize Sinclair is doing, what she
likes, anything in particular, and let me know in a letter. Don’t tell my father about this.
Understood?”
Shane’s secret order to her rang in her head.

When the young master she’d longed for had said Lize’s name with his earlobes flushed
red, Sophia knew he had her in his heart.

At the time, all she wanted to do was rip that illegitimate Sinclair wench to shreds.

She didn’t dare covet the position as Shane’s wife, but she could not let an illegitimate
child born from a maid’s belly seduce her master.

But now that she’s at the Ludwig mansion, Lize is living beyond her wildest dreams, and
her protection is impenetrable.

Of course, Sophia is not one to give up easily.

‘I’m not going to let this illegitimate bitch get away with this……’

Even as she sharpened her sword in her mind, Sophia gave Lize a curt salute and stepped
out of the way.

She passed a servant nonchalantly and quickly handed him a small note.
– Killian Ludwig is to receive the estate of Ryzen,

Whether he will take Edith with him is unknown.

Another mercenary secretly assigned to the Ludwig mansion was earning his keep.

‘Even a worm like this pays the food, and Edith is still so useless that she doesn’t even
deserve to eat, much less be favored by her husband.’

How pathetic.

I’m sure I could have done much better if I were the daughter of a Count.

Sophia pitied her plight of having to call a thing lesser than her a lady, and took Edith’s
dinner for herself. She thought about how she would torture the starving Edith today.

***
After five days of starvation, all I could think about in the morning was food.

But I couldn’t even get refreshments because Renon was away on a business trip for a few
days.

‘I’m hungry……’

Sophia took my meal and ate it in front of me.

That was enough to make me angry, but then she deliberately scratched my insides even
more.

She threw a piece of bread from last night’s dinner on the floor and said,

“If you’re really hungry, you can eat that.”

Honestly, if Sophia hadn’t been watching, I might have actually picked it up and eaten it.
But I didn’t, not with my already shattered pride.

“How can a human eat what a dog eats?”

She burst out laughing at that, thinking I was just a stubborn, useless dog.

Anyway, if I had to suffer the same humiliation at lunch today, I would eat the bread
without a second thought, so I ran out of the room while Sophia went to get her meal.

Everyone was busy preparing meals, and the smell of food wafted everywhere.

I looked for a place where I could avoid the smell as much as possible, and then I
remembered the Great Hall and headed there.

‘I’m hungry…… I’m hungry……’

It’s not that I didn’t think of hiding somewhere else and having another servant bring me
something to eat.
In fact, I had done just that on the first evening, laughing at Sophia.

But when I returned to my room, Sophia forced me to vomit it all out.

Poisonous bitch.

My stomach hurt so much after vomiting, it made me roll around all night, and the
memory still traumatizes me to this day.

I felt much better when I went to the Great Hall, where the smell of grass and flowers
masked the smell of food.

As I was walking along, something caught my eye.

‘Wow…… that pie looks delicious……’

There was a peach pie on a table that looked freshly baked.

It was beautifully baked with icing, and the surface was flaky, making it look even more
appetizing.

“……Edith!”
I was staring at the pie when I heard someone call out to me.

“Edith, what are you doing?”

It was Lize.

Just as I was thinking, “Why is she here?”, I realized that I was the one who approached
her.

Lize, Cliff, and Killian, who had had lunch earlier, were enjoying tea and dessert on the
balcony of the Great Hall.

I stood in front of them like a fool, staring at the pie……

‘Maybe I can do a shameful act here before I get slit by Killian……?’

I hadn’t eaten, my brain wasn’t working, and I couldn’t think of anything to say to excuse
my behavior.

“If you’ve eaten, would you like to join us for tea?”

Lize asked sweetly, but I shook my head, remembering my nightmare of vomiting.

“I just saw you…… and thought, wow, it’s peach season already.”

“Oh, I see……”

I looked back at the pie and then made eye contact with Killian.

He furrowed his brows as if seeing something pathetic, adding to my embarrassment.

“I- I think I’ll go back now, I was just, uh, going for a walk.”

Starving alone is bad enough, but being treated like a beggar was enough to bring tears to
my eyes, so I hurried back to my room.

At around three o’clock, a maid came to my room with a peach pie.

“Miss Lize sent this.”

It was the same peach pie I’d been staring at earlier.

The sweet smell of peaches quickly filled my room.

‘I’ll eat it all by myself.’

When I thought so, Sophia, who was standing with her back to me, thinking about
something, suddenly set out refreshments on the table.

She served hot tea and a slice of peach pie and told me to eat it.

“If you keep starving, there will definitely be suspicions, so I’ll let you eat this one.”

She casually told me to eat, then left my room.

“What’s wrong with her…… all of a sudden?”

At first, I was puzzled, but then I thought about it and realized that Sophia was using her
head.

I felt very dizzy because I hadn’t eaten. My pride was still hurt, but I thought this was a
mutually acceptable compromise, so I devoured the peach pie.

It was every bit as delicious as I’d imagined.

‘I think peaches will be my favorite fruit from now on.’

As I rubbed my stomach to satisfy my insatiable hunger, moments later, I felt an
excruciating pain in my stomach.

“Ahh……! W- what is this…… ahh!”

It hurts.

It terribly hurts.

My stomach hurt so much, I broke out in a cold sweat, and my body trembled.

“Ahh……”

Unable to walk to my bed, I collapsed onto the floor, writhing in pain as if something sharp
was stabbing my stomach.

As I lay there in a daze, I remembered a scene from the original story.

‘No way…… the poisoned cake incident……?’

It’s the one where Edith poisoned herself with something that gave her stomach pains in a
cake Lize sent as a gift.
‘I didn’t put any poison in it……’

But the mystery was quickly cleared.

In the distance of my darkening vision, the door opened and Sophia walked in, and she
wasn’t at all surprised to see me lying on the floor.

‘It was you, damn it……’

I could vaguely hear Sophia shouting as my vision went pitch black.

“Ahh! Miss! Wake up, Miss!”

***

I slowly opened my eyes, sensing the hustle and bustle around me.

Sophia’s voice pierced my eardrums.

“How could you do that, Miss Lize? Do you hate our young lady so much that you
poisoned her?”

“Oh, no! I never did! I only sent it because I thought Edith would like it!”

“Yes, she did like it, and she told me how pleased she was that you sent it to her, but
when I went out of her room for a while, the young lady was…… sob……”

As expected, Sophia framed Lize as the culprit.

Yes, that’s the exact scene from the original story. The fact that Killian’s character was
different from the original didn’t stop my horror.

But I couldn’t give up. I had just realized that the original could be changed, and I couldn’t
take it back.

My stomach was still in knots, but I had to stop Sophia’s plan somehow.

“So…… phia……”

I barely managed to call Sophia, and everyone turned to me in surprise.

I was secretly happy to find Killian in the middle of it all. At least he came to see me.
No, is he here because Lize’s been framed as the culprit……?

Either way, I had to defuse this situation quickly.

“Miss, are you awake? Are you in a lot of pain? Don’t try to force yourself to talk. Sob, my
poor young lady……”

Sophia approached me with a tearful face, as if she couldn’t live without me.

But her gaze was clearly more of a ‘shut up!’ Not that I’m one to shut up.

“Lize didn’t do…… anything wrong…… I just choked a little.”

“Yes? What do you mean you just choked a little? Miss, you vomited blood earlier!”

What?

Are you saying that you gave me poison to make me vomit blood?

Oh, I’m so pissed……

Even if I can’t escape the future of being beheaded by Killian, I will definitely kill you!

I clenched my teeth and said with the most pitiful expression I could muster.

“I was just, ugh, feeling nauseous, so don’t make a fuss……”

Then, without giving Sophia a chance to say anything, I turned to Lize.

CHAPTER 41

“I’m sorry, Lize. I didn’t mean to make you feel so bad. I’m really…… really okay.”

“Edith!”

Lize stepped in front of me and grabbed my hand.

Killian’s eyes narrowed and he seemed to read my mind.

Yeah, he must be suspicious, since I’m blabbering on and on about how I’m fine.

“I don’t believe it.”

Not surprisingly, Cliff wasn’t convinced.

He seemed offended that Lize had been framed for attempted poisoning.

He glared at me and Sophia, then called for some maids.

He ordered them to search my room.

“What, what are you doing!”

Sophia jumped to her feet in surprise, but she was no match for Cliff’s ferocity.

But I honestly didn’t care. Sophia must have put in the poison, and there was no way it
would be found in my room……

“What is this?”

……I’m screwed.

In his hand was a small glass vial of a clear liquid. Suspiciously, even at first glance, there
was a piece of paper with a picture of a skull attached to it.

‘That’s poison, no matter what anyone says. It’s obvious.’

Cliff was no exception, and his eyes immediately fell on me.

“That’s…… not…… mine.”

“Interesting, then who do you think hid it in the ceramic decorations in your room?” Cliff
questioned mockingly, waving the small vial in front of me.

His mouth was smiling, but the look in his eyes made me think he was going to strangle
me at any moment.

Luckily, though, Lize clung to him. “Cliff! Edith is a patient, what are you doing to a
patient!”

“But Lize!”

“Edith said it’s not hers. Why are you blaming a patient? And it could be just makeup or
emergency medicine.”

Lize was eagerly defending me, but I was convinced that the thing Cliff was holding was
the one that I’d eaten, because Sophia’s face was more nervous than ever.

‘Did she leave that in my room? Ugh…… now who’s the fool?’

I’d rather she just throw it outside.

Of course, this episode wouldn’t go like that.

The episode would be too long if the vial was hard to find and it would be hard to figure
out who it belonged to, so the author decided to go with this simple solution.

I let out a long sigh and closed my eyes.

Even Killian’s gaze on me was too much for me right now.

By the next afternoon, the vial proved to be a poison that caused abdominal pain and
vomiting.

Well, it was to be expected, and it was clear that my future was bleak.

Cliff was furious that I’d staged a self-inflicted wound to frame Lize, and even though it
wasn’t Cliff, everyone would definitely suspect me.

“Crazy! To search the room right away……! So annoying!”

Sophia, the cause of all this, was getting annoyed next to me.
“You’re acting all smart, but can’t do anything right.”

I grunted at her while lying on the bed, and she glared at me with a fierce expression
before punching me in the stomach.

“Ack!”

I yelped. My stomach, which was bleeding inside from the damn poison, felt like it was
going to burst.

“You use your snout one more time in front of me and I will kill you.”

As if her failure hadn’t been enough, Sophia snapped at me with all her usual ease.

Then she walked out, leaving me alone curled up like a shrimp.

“Ugh…… ugh, ugh……”

My stomach twisted because I was poisoned after days of starvation.

Having had leukemia in my previous life, I thought I could tolerate most kinds of pain, but I
was wrong.
Pain is always new.

“It hurts…… ahh……”

I couldn’t tell exactly where it hurt.

Sometimes my stomach hurt, sometimes my back hurt, sometimes my chest hurt, and
sometimes my heart hurt.

Just then, the door opened and someone rushed in.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

It was Killian.

I took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

But what came back was not sympathy, but scolding.

“Then why did you take the poison……! Don’t you realize it’s dangerous?”

He seemed to believe I’d staged a self-inflicted wound.

It’s the same thing every time, but this time I couldn’t help but say it.

“I didn’t. I never did.”

“Then who the hell did……!”

“It wasn’t me! Ack!”

I felt a sharp pain and tears welled up in my eyes.

I tried to hold back my tears, afraid he would accuse me of pretending, but the pain was
too much to bear.

I was so used to enduring pain alone, but familiarity didn’t make it okay.

‘If only I could just die like this……’

The thought that I wanted to just end it all came back to haunt me. It was an urge that I
had been trying to push away all my life.
I pulled the covers over my head and buried my face in them, knowing I wouldn’t be able
to handle any more criticism from Killian.

“If you don’t have anything to say…… go back.”

He stood there for a long moment, then finally turned and left.

I heard the door close and the room fell silent.

I thought it was hilarious.

Pretending to be strong, I asked him to leave, and when he did, it felt like my heart was
being ripped out of my chest.

***

When Killian returned from Edith’s room, he was confused.

There was no denying it was Edith’s doing.

If Cliff hadn’t used his animal instincts to search her room and find the vial of poison, Lize
would have been accused of trying to poison her, despite Edith’s insistence that she was
fine.

It seemed like the peaceful atmosphere of the bazaar had been shattered in an instant.

However, the reason he couldn’t blindly hate Edith was because of what the doctor who
examined her said.

“Her body is too weak. She should take her medicine well for the time being.”

At first, he thought he meant that she was weak because she had taken poison.

But when he asked again, the doctor gave him an answer he never expected.

“I think she’s been starving for a few days.”

“Starving……?”

“Not exactly, but that’s what I think. I know a lot of young ladies who starve themselves to
lose weight, and her condition is similar to theirs.”
He couldn’t believe it.

If nothing else, he knew how well Edith ate.

“I don’t think she’s been starving for long, but she swallowed the poison on an empty
stomach, so it’s more deadly than if she’d swallowed it when she was healthy. She’ll be in
pain for a while.”

“Is there any medicine to take the pain away?”

“The medicine I’m prescribing has some painkillers, but that’s only for a while. For now,
she just has to bear it patiently, and the only thing that will help is keeping her stomach
warm.”

It was ridiculous.

The fact that she’d eaten poison after days of starvation made him angry, quite apart from
the fact that she was trying to frame Lize.

‘Are you stupid? What if it kills you!’

Killian was so furious that he called Edith’s maid, Sophia, to question her.

At first, Sophia insisted that Edith ate well every day, but when he told her the doctor’s
diagnosis, she admitted that she was starving herself to lose weight.

“To lose weight?”

“I’ve noticed that the young lady has gained a lot of weight since she got married, and I
don’t think she was even aware of it, but when I mentioned it to her, she said she needed
to lose weight……”

Edith has gained weight since her marriage? But as much as Killian tried to remember, he
could not recall where she had changed.

Edith didn’t even need to lose weight, because in fact, she was very thin in places like the
nape and collarbone……

‘She has no reason to lose weight!’

Besides, how nice it is to see you eating so well……

Suddenly, he remembered Edith sitting quietly at the bazaar.

‘By any chance, did she feel self-conscious at the bazaar when she heard people only
praising Lize, so she decided to lose weight……?’

Before her marriage, she had been the center of social attention, despite rumors that she
was a wicked woman.

It was understandable that she missed the attention of others when she was suddenly
treated as a nobody.

‘Maybe she ate the poison because she wanted attention, not because she wanted to
frame Lize.’

If so, it was pathetic.

If she hadn’t eaten for days, she would have known she wasn’t feeling well, yet she
swallowed the poison without fear.

‘But I can’t let her incur my father’s wrath like this!’

Duke Ludwig was furious that Edith had gone so far as to swallow the poison and try to
frame Lize.

And rightly so.

The Duke and Duchess had rescued Lize from a life of persecution by the Sinclairs and
promised to keep her safe.

Yet another threat to her had arisen from within the Ludwig mansion.

Killian let out a long sigh.

‘I must somehow calm my father’s anger, or he will not leave Edith alone this time.’

Thinking hard, Killian headed for Edith’s room.

He thought she had opened up to him, so he would try to convince her to be honest with
his father and beg for forgiveness.

But when he entered Edith’s room, he found her curled up in agony.

Her hands were clutching the sheets so tightly that they were white and shaking.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

Killian rushed over to examine her, but there was nothing he could do either.
The doctor said that Edith would be sick to her stomach for a while, even with the
prescribed medication, so this is a pain she has to bear.

Seeing her thin body in pain was frustrating, and it made Killian angry.

CHAPTER 42

“Then why did you take the poison……! Don’t you realize it’s dangerous?”

Killian felt like his insides were being ripped out.

He could not understand why anyone would do something like this if it was going to hurt
so much.

But through her tears, Edith insisted that she didn’t do it.

“It wasn’t me!”

Strangely, he felt like he was listening to her plea of innocence over and over again.

‘If you are so adamant that you didn’t do it, even in the face of evidence, I wonder if you
really didn’t. But if not you then who did this!’

As if trying to hide her tears in the midst of such suspicions, Edith, covered with a blanket,
said in a tired voice,
“If you don’t have anything to say…… go back.”

Killian realized then.

Edith doesn’t look at him.

She doesn’t expect anything from him.

She never did.

It made Killian angry, somehow.

‘Why don’t you just tell me everything and hang on to me! Don’t you realize that I’m the
only one who can help you right now, or am I not reliable enough?’

He wasn’t sure if this was anger or something else. He wasn’t sure if it was directed at
Edith or himself.

He wanted to say something more, but he couldn’t think of anything to say.

He could only grit his teeth and walk away with nothing but undefinable feelings for
Edith……
***

It was Lize who saved my life.

“Edith couldn’t have done that.”

“But that’s the same poison she ate!”

“Edith says she doesn’t know. If she really wanted to frame me, why would she say she
was just a little choked as soon as she woke up?”

“She must have thought it would make her look innocent.”

“Why would Edith, the Count’s daughter and already Killian’s wife, want to hurt me in the
first place? It doesn’t make sense.”

It seemed to be an argument of sorts, but Lize’s opinion was not one that could be swayed
by the Ludwig family, who couldn’t say “Because Killian loves you!” out loud.

And then she pricked their conscience with her words.

“Edith isn’t feeling well right now, and it’s cruel to push her to do something she’s not
sure about. She’s just a young lady, the same age as me!”

Eventually, the Ludwig family backed down.

They believed I was the culprit, but out of respect for Lize’s opinion, they wouldn’t punish
me or hold me responsible.

In fact, what I was most curious about when Sophia told me this was Killian’s reaction, but
I couldn’t ask her.

In any case, now that Lize had gotten me out of the crisis, I felt a little guilty for being so
suspicious of her.

That’s a lot of compassion for someone who almost framed her for poisoning. She’s a
female lead after all.

In the original story, in fact, it ends with Edith being the culprit, and she apologizes to Lize
and barely escapes being thrown out.

I didn’t take the poison myself, but this situation, created by Sophia, made me look like
the culprit.
However, Lize forgave me even though I didn’t apologize, and I was able to return to my
normal life without much further questioning.

‘Yeah. Maybe it was all my jealousy that made her seem so suspicious.’

I tried not to pay attention to her, but the constant comparison and discrimination made
me hate her without realizing it.

I can now understand why she seemed to frame me as the culprit in the document leak;
from her point of view, I was suspicious enough.

‘There’s no way the female lead of this world would be a petty villain like me. I must have
been overly self-conscious.’

I was grateful to Lize for saving me from this. If it weren’t for her, I might have been locked
in my room for another few months.

A few months would have been bearable, but the problem was that I was running out of
time before my head would fall off.

And Sophia was with me.

‘I’ll try to get along with Lize.’

I vowed to myself and cautiously asked Killian a few days later when he stopped by to
check on me.

“What does Lize like……?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, since she saved me from being falsely accused, I’m thinking of giving her
something.”

Killian’s eyes flickered as he looked at me.

In retrospect, it was a bit of a surprise that Killian came to visit me.

It’s nice, but seeing you doing something you wouldn’t normally do is unnerving.

“Well…… it’s probably embroidery.”

“Embroidery?”

“Yeah. She likes to read and embroider, and if you’re going to give a gift, I think
embroidery is the way to go. There’s a lot to choose from.”
“Oh, I see.”

I replied casually, and then I was appalled.

I felt compelled to repay Lize, but not because it really meant anything to me.

But even that was influenced by the flow of the original story.

In the original story, Edith gives Lize a set of embroidery needles as an “apology”.

Of course, with a lot of poison.

‘So, what happens?’

The original Edith isn’t that stupid, so she doesn’t apply lethal poison.

She applies the poison gradually and watches Lize grow weaker and weaker, securing her
alibi.

‘But in the end, the poisoned embroidery needle is discovered by Cliff, who thoroughly
investigates everything Lize touches.’
My blood ran dry, but Killian was so pleased that he said he’d find an artisan merchant for
me.

A short time later, the merchant called by Killian brought out all sorts of items to offer.

“How about this,” he said, “a set of fine embroidery needles. I’ve sold dozens of sets of
these, and they’re so good that people who’ve used them recommend them to others.”

Why the first thing he offered was a needle!

“No needles!”

“Sorry?”

“Oh, no, that…… that’s too small! It’s a gift, it should look like it has some sort of value. W-
what is that?”

I quickly turned the merchant’s attention to the other items.

“Oh, this is good too! It’s a set of embroidery threads imported from the Kingdom of
Suitan. They’re made of the finest cashmere wool. You must have a good eye.”
“I’ll take it!”

There were so many colors and so much thread, it was quite expensive, but I bought it and
wrapped it myself, not thinking it was a waste at all.

‘This will be fine, you can’t get stabbed by a thread.’

I don’t know what Sophia would do if I left it to her, so I bought the thread, wrapped it,
and went straight to visit Lize.

“Edith, are you feeling better now? You still have a bad complexion……”

“It doesn’t hurt so much now, more than that…… I heard you went out of your way for me,
thank you so much.”

“It’s only natural, Edith, you are just a victim.”

Seeing her worry about my physical condition first, I sincerely wished I could get to know
her.

“This…… isn’t much, but it’s my little sincerity.”

“You don’t have to go to all this trouble……!”

Lize seemed surprised to receive my gift.

Killian, who was sitting in Lize’s room, replied sarcastically, “You saved her a lot of trouble,
so you deserve it, Lize, just keep it.”

Had he come and waited for me beforehand because he feared I would say something
harsh to Lize?

“Killian. I know you and Lize have a good relationship, but it’s rude for you to be sitting in a
young lady’s room.”

“Rude……?”

“I’m sorry, Lize. My husband is a bit, uh, impolite.”

My husband doesn’t know how to behave around Lize.

Lize burst out laughing, and Killian smirked in disbelief.

But the mood wasn’t bad. Enough to convince me that we could make a good relationship.
***

But things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. I guess they always do.

The damn “flow of the original story” seemed desperate to make me the villain this time.

It was an evening a few days after I’d given Lize the embroidery thread.

Suddenly my door burst open and Killian burst in.

“Edith Ludwig, what on earth have you done!”

I was grateful for his sudden appearance, as I was about to be beaten to a pulp by Sophia,
but I couldn’t understand a word he was saying.

“Killian? What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

Killian paused at my question.

“Edith. You’re not going to tell me it’s you again, are you?”

“What? You have to explain to me what’s going on before I can answer!”

Grabbing me roughly by both shoulders, he said, “Lize has fallen!”

“What? Lize? Why?”

“She got poisoned while embroidering with the embroidery thread you gave her as a gift.”

“What……?”

For once, I was too stunned.

Because that couldn’t be true.

“No way! What do you mean? I bought that thread from an embroidery merchant,
wrapped it on the spot, and carried it myself, and no one touched it in between!”

“So you didn’t ask anyone to do it? What the hell did you do?”

My head went blank.

Does that mean that the flow of the original story changed the normal thread into a
poisoned one even if I didn’t do anything?

CHAPTER 43

‘No, that can’t be right, and if it is, it doesn’t make sense that the details have changed.
Someone must have poisoned it!’

But why did it have to be the embroidery thread I’d given Lize?

Why did it have to make me the culprit?

“Killian. I know you’re suspicious of me right now, but think about it, do you really think
I…… be that stupid?”

Killian was speechless, but I could tell by the way he was clenching his molars that he was
barely holding back his anger.

I had to try to calm him down.

“With everyone suspicious of me because of the peach pie incident, do you really think I’d
do something like that?”

Killian didn’t seem convinced.

I mean, if I can’t believe what’s going on right now, how can anyone else?
“I want to believe you, too, but how many times has this happened, and can’t you give me
a reason not to doubt you?”

At that moment, a good idea came to my mind.

I realized that my and Killian’s wishes were exactly the same.

“I don’t want to be suspected either, so just give me more maids to keep an eye on me,
will that work?”

As if on cue, Sophia interrupted with a frightening glare. “Miss! What do you mean,
surveillance?”

“I’ll prove my innocence any way I can! Besides, there’s no such thing as surveillance. I’ve
done nothing wrong, and all I’m doing is increasing the number of maids.”

I think I can hear Sophia grinding her teeth over here.

What do you think I’m going to do?

Ha! Do you think I’ll be under your thumb forever?

“Killian. I’m begging you, please don’t doubt me without doing even that. If nothing
changes, I’ll have no choice but to suspect the Ludwigs.”

“Very well then, I’ll call Anna back right now.”

“Okay. Thank you for your favor, Killian.”

Killian has no idea how grateful I am to him at this moment.

I’m finally free of Sophia’s abuse!

Killian sat down and called the butler to reassign Anna to me.

He may have thought that if he left, even for a moment, I would make plans with Sophia,
and he called for Anna right away, but I was spared what could have been an
instantaneous assault by Sophia.

‘Thank you so much, Killian.’

I thanked Killian again and again in my mind for saving my life.

But the problem remained. I was still the prime suspect in Lize’s poisoning.

“Have you investigated the artisan merchant?”

“I’m sure they’ve caught him by now, but do you think he’d try to poison a random
person, when he makes his living from it?”

“You have a point…… after I gave the thread to Lize, did anyone else have access to it?”

“The only people who came in and out of Lize’s room were her personal maid, Cliff, me,
and my mother. For a brief moment, Lize’s room was empty, but that’s far too short a
time for someone to have found the embroidery thread and poisoned it.”

“But it’s not entirely impossible, is it? Maybe someone sprayed the liquid poison over the
embroidery basket.”

Killian looked uncomfortable with the idea, but didn’t argue.

“Killian. Once again, I assure you, it’s not me, and if I ever set out to harm someone, I
wouldn’t do something that would be quickly discovered like this.”

“That’s a rather nervous declaration.”

“Take it as nervous as you want. Anyway, I can’t help but feel that someone is trying to
use me as a scapegoat to hurt Lize from a safe distance.”
Killian finally looked at me with eyes that held something other than suspicion.

“Go on.”

“Count Sinclair.”

Again, Killian’s eyes turn cold at the mention of Sinclair.

I’d forgotten, in all the time I’d been busy looking out for myself, that Lize Sinclair’s main
enemy was not me, but the Sinclairs.

Especially her half-brothers and sister, none of whom were any more beautiful or
intelligent than the illegitimate Lize.

“I’ve also heard rumors that her siblings in that house aren’t too friendly to her.”

“……yes.”

“I’ve also heard that they’ve tried to harm her several times before.”

“I don’t know what kind of rumors are going around.”

“But you can’t refute them.”

Killian fell silent.

I paused for a beat, then spoke in a low voice, “Haven’t they been too quiet all this time?”

“……”

“And Count Sinclair doesn’t get along too well with Count Riegelhoff either.”

Killian gave a small nod.

“If Lize were to die or be seriously injured and I were to be punished or thrown out
because of it…… Count Sinclair would be very happy, wouldn’t he?”

“I suppose so.”

“And you can’t assure me, can you, that among all the many workers of this mansion,
there isn’t a spy of the Count of Sinclair in the mix?”

“That…… sounds like you’re saying there’s a Riegelhoff spy mixed in there, too.”

“There are also Ludwig’s spies in the Riegelhoff family, right? Don’t think I don’t know that
much, you hurt my pride.”
Our eyes met.

His eyes were somehow searing, but I had no intention of backing down here.

“At first, to be honest, I suspected that the Ludwig family was trying to frame me to bring
disgrace to the Riegelhoff family.”

“How could we do such a despicable thing! I can assure you, on my honor, that such a
thing never happened.”

“Do you feel it’s unfair to be suspected even for a moment? I offered to risk my life, and
you didn’t believe me; can you imagine how I felt?”

His brow furrowed.

I was glad he didn’t sweep it under the rug and blame me or ignore me.

“But don’t worry. I believe in you and the Duke, too, though to be more honest, I don’t
think you’d find me worth the effort.”

“You’re surprisingly self-objectifying.”

Again, I don’t give in meekly.

“That’s not how you use the term self-objectifying. Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot lately
as I’ve been lying down, trying to figure out who the hell would do this…… and the
conclusion I’ve come to is Count Sinclair.”

“That’s a very plausible conjecture, but I’m not sure my father and brother will be entirely
receptive to it.”

“I understand, and once again, to be honest, I’m doing this because I don’t want to be
suspected by them, but by Lize; I don’t want to be remembered as the one who handed
over a poisoned thread as a thank you.”

Killian’s eyes widened a little at that.

“You don’t hate Lize?”

“What? Why would I?”

“Because you know how I feel about her, and besides, everyone praises her more than
you……”

So you do realize that I was isolated in an awkward situation?

Honestly, I may have been a little jealous before, but I’m not at all now. She’s the female
lead who might save my life, so why would I be?

Anyway, I should make it clear that I’m not jealous of Lize now.

“Killian. Do I look like someone who would beg for your love or the praise of others by
doing all these troublesome things?”

Killian seemed at a loss for words.

‘Yeah, I’ve never been this brazen before.’

But saying this actually made me feel like a “strong big sister” and gave me a boost of
courage and self-esteem.

While I was at it, I lifted my chin a little higher.

“I am Edith Ludwig. Do you think I’ll be jealous of another woman just because I want a
man’s love? Don’t get me wrong.”

I can’t believe I get to say that line in my life!

My whole body is thrilled.

I feel so cool right now!

Suddenly, Killian put his hand on the back of my head.

‘What are you doing, pulling my hair?’

I’ve been getting the shit kicked out of me by Sophia lately, so I’m nervous whenever a
hand goes to my head.

But Killian put his hand on the back of my head, held it firmly, and leaned in to kiss me.

“Eup!”

Despite his rough demeanor, his lips were surprisingly soft as he swallowed my lips and
slipped his tongue between them.

It felt careful, enough to slip out if I rebelled.

But I couldn’t resist his kiss.

“Mmh.”
My surprise was short-lived, and I found myself caught up in his kiss.

It was a strange sensation to have someone else’s lips and tongue against mine, and all I
could feel was sweetness.

When I didn’t push away, he moved deeper into me, and all I could do was clutch at his
shirt.

It was a hot, dizzying, sweet pleasure.

“Ha……”

“Ha, ha……”

He continued the slow kiss for what seemed like forever, only releasing me when I was out
of breath.

I looked up at him, barely able to compose myself.

“What…… does this mean?”

Killian, who hadn’t stopped staring at every inch of me, answered briefly, “Just. I wanted
to.”
“What……?”

“Anyway, I’ll tell my father and brother what you think, and I hope, I really hope, that
you’re not the culprit.”

Killian got up and walked out without another word.

“What, what……?”

I was dumbfounded.

He still didn’t seem to trust me, but I’d gotten the feeling he’d been subtly supporting me
since our impulsive night together.

I thought that was a long way to go, but such a sudden kiss……?

I was stunned and surprised, but I have to admit, it was…… pretty good.

I guess this kind of technique is standard for a second male lead in a Rofan novel.

He must have been a virgin who hadn’t even kissed a girl until he did it with me.

CHAPTER 44

“There’s still hope, right……?”

I don’t know how far I’ve penetrated Killian’s mind.

His mind is probably still filled with Lize, and I’m probably just an annoying foreign object.

But that little bit of attention could save my life.

It’s just enough attention and affection for him to think, “She’s annoying, suspicious, and
irritating, but I think killing her is too much.” Just give me that much affection!

I don’t want any more attention than that.

Praying for that little hope, I welcomed Anna, and was thrilled to see Sophia’s rotten face
as she came in after her.

***

While Edith was looking forward to an evening without beatings, a heated discussion was
taking place in the Duke of Ludwig’s office.
“Count Sinclair has been quiet of late, as she says; but that is only conjecture.”

“The idea that Edith might be the culprit is also conjecture. Besides, as she says, it’s too
immediate. She’s not stupid enough to do something that would immediately implicate
her.”

“But it’s not like anyone else touched that embroidery thread.”

“We just haven’t found the culprit, brother! Did you suddenly become stupid because it
concerns Lize?”

Killian could understand Edith’s feelings a little.

No amount of logic could convince Cliff otherwise.

If Edith is the culprit because we haven’t found anyone else who’s touched the
embroidery thread, then why is Edith the culprit when we haven’t even found her
applying the poison?

Cliff seemed to have been brainwashed.

“Anyway, I don’t think this is Edith’s doing. There’s no telling who could have gotten in and
done this while Lize’s room was empty.”
“And if so, why did it have to be that embroidery thread?”

“They must have poisoned something that Lize would touch, and if it was an embroidery
thread, they might have thought it would be a good idea because it’s something she’d be
touching for a long time!”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit of a leap of conclusions?”

“It’s a big leap to accuse Edith of poisoning the embroidery thread she gave as a gift. And
to assume that she procured the poison and applied it under the watchful eyes of the
guards we’ve placed around her? Are the guards of the Ludwig family that incompetent?”

Killian was frustrated with his brother, but his arguments were not without merit.

Whatever Cliff might have thought, Duke Ludwig was slowly chipping away at the
conviction that had wrapped itself around his thoughts like a hard shell.

“Killian has a point. It’s hard to believe that Edith or her maid could have gotten the
poison without being noticed by our guards.”

“That maid, Sophia, could have brought it in.”

“I’ve already gone through that maid’s luggage after the peach pie incident, though she
may not realize it.”
Finally, Cliff backed down.

And Lize, who had been listening, took Edith’s side.

“I don’t think Edith would have done that after all the pain she’s been through, and
besides, Killian was in my room when she gave it to me. There’s no way she would have
given me something so horrible in front of him.”

Looking at Lize, whose lips were still pale, Cliff clenched his molars. “That woman, Edith,
suspected that the Sinclairs were framing her and trying to harm you. There is no
evidence, but I think it’s worth investigating.”

At that, Lize shook her head helplessly. “I don’t want the Duke’s manpower wasted on me,
and thankfully I’m recovering well.”

“Lize. This is about your life, and I can’t let it slide.”

“Cliff…… I’m in so much pain, can’t we just bury it?”

Cliff’s heart ached like it was splitting in two as tears welled up in Lize’s blue eyes.

If he could, he wanted to grab Edith and torture her, feeding her just enough of the
painful poison to keep her from dying.
But part of him feared that if he kept digging, Lize would continue to suffer.

“If that’s what you want, then…… okay.”

“Thanks, Cliff.”

“But promise me, if I find any other evidence…… you’ll just hang in there until I find the
culprit.”

Lize couldn’t help but promise to do so for Cliff, who looked distressed at not being able to
find the culprit right away.

***

Leila sighed as she read the letter from the spy she had planted in the Ludwig mansion.
– Miss Lize has fallen ill from poison in her embroidery thread, which was given to her as a
gift by Miss Edith.

It is believed that Miss Edith resorted to a second method when her first attempt at self-
inflicted wound poisoning by eating a pie given to her by Miss Lize failed.

The Duke was very angry, as well as Sir Cliff and Sir Killian.

When Leila finished reading the letter, she narrowed her eyes and muttered, “That bitch
Lize has a long life. Why didn’t she just die right away.”

All of Edith’s attempts to manipulate everyone around her into hating Lize didn’t seem to
have paid off.

I thought it was great that she tried to frame Lize by poisoning the peach pie Lize sent her,
but when that didn’t work, she immediately tried to retaliate, which is very “evil Edith” of
her.

Just then, Damien walked into Leila’s room.

“Why did you call me in again today?”

As soon as she read Hanson’s letter, Leila sent a maid to fetch him, and she handed him
the letter.

“Edith’s been trying very hard, but she keeps failing.”

“This one was close.”

“Yeah, well, it’s kind of stupid, but it’s a shame, because this was a golden opportunity to
get rid of them both.”

“I know.”

Then Leila raised an eyebrow. “Or…… was this something you set up, brother?”

But Damien shook his head. “Not me.”

“Hmm…… I see.”

“But……”

“Huh?”
Damian tapped the corner of the folded letter on the palm of his hand and said, “I do
know that our mother bought poison a while back.”

“What? Really?”

“I don’t know what she used it for, or what kind of poison it was. But she seems to want to
keep it a secret, so you shouldn’t pry either.”

“Okay, I don’t want to get my mother’s ire either, but why…… would she keep it a secret?”

“I don’t know, and I’m not sure if she’s behind this or not, because there’s a lot of people
she’d love to kill.”

Damien and Leila chuckled softly, even though it was nothing to laugh about.

To them, the lives of people they didn’t care about were something to joke about.

“Anyway, one thing’s for sure, Edith is losing ground in the Ludwig household.”

“She never had any standing in the first place.”

“Losing it completely is a different matter. It’s harder now, but when she’s completely
discredited, we can attack Lize ourselves and still blame her for it. Even Duke Ludwig will
believe it was Edith.”

Leila nodded happily, thinking of Lize and Edith.

“Well, Edith is digging her own grave, so I guess I have nothing to worry about. As for Lize,
well, that bitch can’t be so lucky forever.”

The Sinclair siblings put their heads together again for the day when they would use Edith
to get rid of Lize.

***

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, I expected Cliff or the Duke to call me in, but
because of whatever Killian said, I was only placed on probation and not hauled off to face
further questioning.

In fact, I was curious as to who was behind this, or who was responsible.
‘Who the hell poisoned the embroidery thread, and why the embroidery thread? Was it
because Lize loves to embroider…… or because they know I gave her the thread……?’

I convinced Killian that I suspected Count Sinclair, but in truth, I had no idea.

In the original story, Edith is of course the culprit.

But this time, I didn’t.

My actions were so out of character that the strong flow of this world tried to make me
the villain, even if it meant having another character do it, and if you trace back from
there…… well, it couldn’t have been Lize or her maid, so that leaves only Count Sinclair.

‘That’s quite a departure from the original story. Count Sinclair doesn’t appear much in
the fourth volume where Edith is.’

I thought about that and shook my head.

‘No, there’s still no evidence that Count Sinclair did it, and if there’s another suspect, this
whole thing could continue with me being framed.’

In the end, I had no choice but to wait in my room for someone to tell me the conclusion.
The only good thing was that I no longer had to suffer Sophia’s tyranny.

Since Anna is a higher-ranking maid than Sophia, she has to run errands like fetching
meals and preparing bath water.

In other words, I was never left alone with her.

“Sophia, I need you to taste it first.”

“Yes……?”

“You’ve tasted all my food since that peach pie incident. What’s the matter?”

“Oh…… that, that was……”

I couldn’t eat the food Sophia brought me blindly, so I deliberately ordered her to taste it
first, and when it was done, I ate it with gusto.

If she could shoot lasers with her eyes, she would have burned me to death again and
again.

CHAPTER 45

As a result, my weak body caused by starvation gradually improved and my dizziness

slowly disappeared without even trying.
I was well on my way to recovery when I heard the outcome of the incident.

Someone came to my room, whispered something in Anna’s ear, and left, and she told me
the details.

“A few suspicious circumstances have been raised, but Miss Lize said she didn’t want to
make a big deal out of it……”

“She’s going to bury it again?”

“Yes……”

“That’s very strange……”

Indeed, it is.

When she buried the peach pie incident, all I could think about was thanking her, but I
found it a little strange that she kept pretending that an incident like this had never
happened.

To save me?

No, I don’t think so.

In the meantime, I’ve heard from Killian that even Cliff and the Duke admit that it doesn’t
make sense that I would try to poison Lize right after the peach pie incident.

So in that sense, I’m a little bit off the list of suspects.

So it’s just that Duke doesn’t want any incidents to grow from within this house?

Hmm. That’s understandable.

Lize is still a guest here, not a family member.

‘The Sinclairs can’t be outed already, so maybe the flow of the story is leading Lize to bury
it.’

One giant conspiracy theory.

But that doesn’t explain Cliff’s demeanor.

When it comes to Lize’s safety, Cliff will do anything. Even at her request, he can’t simply
leave it at that for an incident that directly threatened Lize’s life……

‘If that’s the case, does it make sense to go against the flow of the original story?’
I shook my head at the thought.

It’s too hollow, too tiresome, and it doesn’t explain the voice in my dreams explaining the
rules of the game to me.

‘Someone is playing a game with me…… but there are levels I can take to intervene and
change the story.’

That’s what I got from the voice in my dream.

I met the first condition, so I got the exception.

However, I can’t reveal the truth about myself until I pass all three conditions.

The truth about me, about Edith, is almost a twist. Being able to tell that truth would
make a huge difference in the story.

And to make that much of a change, I’d have to meet all the conditions of the three-level
exception, which is probably……

‘The more levels I go through, the more I can change……!’

My fists clenched into fists.

I thought about it a few times, making different assumptions, but it seemed like that was
the only reason why the “levels” existed.

The problem is, just like level one, I don’t know what the exception conditions are for
levels two and three.

It’s like watching a cow walk backward and hoping it catches a mouse.

‘This is so evil, and you’re enjoying watching me struggle, aren’t you?’

While I was lost in my thoughts, Anna, who had been visited by someone again,
approached me.

“Your probation has been lifted, young lady, and you may leave for Lord Filch’s office
tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you, Anna.”

I made my way to Renon’s office the next day, not knowing the slightest bit about how
this case had been handled and resolved.

The way the workers and knights looked at me, even though the incident was supposed to
be buried, made me realize that their suspicions about me were not yet resolved.

It occurred to me that perhaps my probation was meant to protect me from such gazes.

‘Well, Lize has been in this house for five years now, and in that time she has won the
favor of the workers, and in their eyes, I am nothing more than the daughter of Count
Riegelhoff and a wicked woman who is jealous of Lize.’

It seems like a long way to go, but the fateful day is getting closer.

However, when I walked through the door, Renon’s office was still the same.

The smell of paper, the slightly cooler air, the silence, and the dry feeling.

For some reason, I felt relaxed.

“It’s been a while, Renon.”

“Good morning, miss.”

I hadn’t been out in a while, and I wondered if Renon had been taking care of everything
on his own.

He’s more than capable, but I felt bad that he had to suffer because of me.

‘I’m sure he doesn’t want to work with me……’

He deserved someone who could come to work more reliably than me.

I had asked the Duchess for a favor, and now, through no fault of his own, he was stuck
with me, the one everyone shunned.

But today, he treated me the same way as before, as if he had never heard the rumors
about me.

“Today, I need you to organize this by date.”

“Okay.”

I took the file folder from Renon and sat down at my desk.

One by one, receipts and purchase slips were spread across the wide desk, and once
again, the office was silent except for the rustling of paper.
Some people might find the silence unbearably frustrating, but I found it relaxing.

There is no one here to judge my attitude, and I don’t have to try to read anyone’s mind.

I am just a worker who needs to organize receipts and do a good job.

As a result of my quiet focus, I was able to accomplish my tasks within an hour.

“I got this done.”

“I’ve been thinking about it, but you have good focus and quick hands.”

“No, well, it’s just a simple task.”

“Well, if everyone would just think like you and do the work, I wouldn’t have to fire all
those workers.”

I chuckled, remembering the story of the man who scattered all the documents and ran
away.
“The documents you’ve been working on, my lady, are so meticulously and neatly
organized that there’s no need for me to mess with them, which is always a great help,”
said Renon in an emotionless voice.

But today, I don’t know why that indifferent compliment is so comforting.

Suddenly, the tip of my nose twitched, and a tear rolled down my cheek.

“Miss……?”

“I’m sorry, Renon. I didn’t mean…… no, no, I’m sorry.”

I didn’t know what to say, just that I was grateful that he judged me solely on my work.
There would have been plenty of room for other emotions to intervene because of my
reputation or previous series of events, but he treated me without involving personal
feelings.

I don’t think he knows how much that means to me now.

“Sob, I…… I’m sorry, just give me a little time, it’ll stop, it’ll stop soon.”

I hid behind a pillar and tried to hold back my tears, feeling sorry for Renon, who must be
bewildered.
But Renon walked over to me and handed me his handkerchief.

“You don’t have to suppress your emotions like you’re being hunted. If you don’t let them
out, they’re bound to burst at some point.”

“Renon……”

“You have been working so fast that there is plenty of time, so you can do it as slowly as
you like.”

Leaving me behind the pillar, Renon quietly went to his desk and began to work
nonchalantly.

Feeling much more at ease, I buried my face in his handkerchief and tried to calm myself
down.

I hadn’t realized how comforting it would be to know that someone actually cared about
me, even if it was mostly people who wanted to belittle and attack me.

‘He’s an extra who doesn’t even have a name in the original story……’

He is only mentioned a couple of times as “the Duchess’ aide” and the Duchess only
appeared a few times.

But I was greatly comforted by such an unremarkable supporting character.

Not that his opinion will change my reputation, of course, but……

‘Wait.’

I suddenly thought of a hypothesis.

It came to me in a flash, and I don’t know why I thought it.

‘The Duchess and Renon are supporting characters, their opinions can’t change the flow of
the story in any significant way……’

Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, but I feel strangely convinced.

‘These people are hardly affected by the flow of the story.’

Whatever their feelings about me, they can’t get in the way of the story.

In other words, they’re characters who can change their minds about me without being
swayed by the flow of the story.
‘If they are supporting characters, they are not subject to the flow of the original story,
and therefore I have more freedom to change them.’

My heart skipped a beat.

If that’s true, I’ll have to keep a lot of supporting characters by my side.

Of course, they wouldn’t be able to change my circumstances, but they could make very
small changes in my favor.

‘And that might give me a big chance.’

Maybe it would give me a small window of opportunity to escape a miserable death.

I began to see a glimmer of hope beyond the goal of bonding with Killian to save my life.

‘Yeah, you should always have a plan B.’

I decided to stop ignoring the nameless extras. They could be my lifeline.

‘Let’s start with the workers of the mansion.’

Luckily, I haven’t made any mistakes with the workers so far.

‘First things first, greetings!’

As I returned to my room after helping Renon with his work, I smiled and greeted each
worker who made eye contact with me.

CHAPTER 46

Most of them hurriedly lowered their heads as if they had seen something they shouldn’t
have.

I wasn’t pleased with the obvious rejection, but I forced a smile for the sake of the
storyline change, not forgetting to repeat the mantra “choose and focus” in my mind.

And the effort was not in vain.

“Hello!”

“O- oh! H- hello.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Ah…… yes, you- you are welcome.”

A young freckled maid and a middle-aged servant tending to a worn railing returned my
greeting.
‘Yes, one by one, one by one……’

In fact, I didn’t even need them to do much for me, I just needed confirmation that I
wasn’t a ghost.

With that, I went back to my room, feeling a little warmer. It was a mistake to get carried
away and not pay attention to my surroundings.

“You’re here, miss.”

Sophia’s voice sent a chill down my spine, and I heard the door close behind me before
she wrapped her arms around my neck and pushed me against the wall.

“Ugh!”

“How dare you have the audacity to betray your master in an arrogant way?”

Somehow, it was only Sophia in my room.

After days of being teased by me, she seemed angry to the top of her head.

I could tell by the strength of her grip on my neck, which was much stronger than usual.
When I couldn’t even groan because I was being choked so hard, she threatened me
eerily.

“I’ll give you one last chance: steal the tax records of the duchy’s major estates from
where you work now.”

She loosened her grip slightly as if to give me a chance to answer.

I coughed and coughed to stall for time, but Anna showed no sign of returning.

“Cough…… if I refuse…… what happens?”

“You die, and I have the master’s permission.”

Sophia smirked, as if she wanted me to be shocked.

But I wasn’t, as I’d known her intentions ever since she’d arrived here.

“If you kill me here and now, they’ll know you’re the one who did it.”

“Don’t think I’m as stupid as you are. I’ll make sure to kill you in a way that makes it look
like the Ludwigs did it.”
So you’re not going to kill me right here and now?

“Sophia, I’m going to give you one last chance. Please get your shit together. You’ve been
here enough to know, the Ludwigs aren’t that easy.”

“Well. They seem to be a bunch of idiots, and the two young masters only have eyes for
that illegitimate bitch.”

“So…… you poisoned Lize’s embroidery thread?”

“What? Isn’t that what you did?”

As expected, Sophia thought it was me. It was also clear that she never had the chance to
even reach for the embroidery thread.

I took the opportunity when her grip loosened and struggled with all my might, barely able
to break free from her arms.

But Sophia just stared at me like it didn’t affect her.

“I…… have no intention of stealing any documents.”

“Why are you so desperate to die?”

“May I make a prediction? even with my help, the Riegelhoff family will be destroyed.
Including my brother whom you love so much.”

Sophia’s eyes flared as she lunged at me.

I know she’s in love with Shane because I saw her kiss his letter affectionately.

I was stunned.

I mean, they seem like such a good match……

Anyway, none of that mattered at this point because I was getting beat up.

Of course, the constraint of not showing signs of being hit to others kept it from becoming
a dangerous assault, but the longer it went on, the worse it got.

“I’m going to tell everyone you hit me!”

“Ha! If you could, you would have already, do you think I don’t know why you can’t?”
Sophia continued as she crushed my head into the pillow again, smothering me, “You
know that you’re a discarded pawn to the Riegelhoff’s, and the only thing left for you is to
be discarded here as well. Killian Ludwig would be more than happy to throw you away.”

I felt a chill in the pit of my stomach as I heard the reasons I’d been avoiding thinking
about.

“And my master will make an useless pawn like you worthless, and you can imagine what
a horrible life that would be.”

Then she lifted my face.

I couldn’t help but pant like a dog at a sprint.

“So think carefully. There’s only one place that will take you in, and that’s your family, and
if you do succeed in stealing the documents, I’ll send a revised evaluation of you to Young
Master Shane.”

Sophia whispered temptingly, then rolled me over and laid me right down, quickly fixing
my tousled hair.

As soon as she took a few steps away, the door opened and Anna walked in.

‘You have the hearing of an animal.’

To Anna, it would be an innocuous enough sight.

“You’re back early, I was summoned by the Duchess for a while.”

“Uh huh…… I just came too……”

Anna nodded slightly, then turned to Sophia and ordered her to fetch the meal.

Sophia bowed slightly at the knees in an abominably polite manner and walked out.

But she didn’t forget to send me a look that said, “Think carefully.”

***

Of course, I had no intention of following Sophia’s orders.

But what she said was enough to cause me a little hurt.

“You know that you’re a discarded pawn to the Riegelhoff’s, and the only thing left for you
is to be discarded here as well.”

Sophia was making that threat because she didn’t realize that I’d get my head cut off
before I was thrown out of this house, but at least she knew I couldn’t turn to anyone in
this house for help.

“Killian Ludwig would be more than happy to throw you away.”

It was true enough.

I’ve managed to stay as inconspicuous as possible and keep my ego to a minimum, but to
everyone else, I’m just a hostage to the Riegelhoffs’ treachery, someone they don’t want
to have anything to do with.
The same would be true of Killian.

He may have spent the night with me or kissed me, but it was a physical impulse, not
because he felt anything else for me.

I could tell by the fact that he still spent time with Lize whenever he could.

His attitude towards me was a little better than before, but I wasn’t sure if it was enough
to make him want to help me in my time of need.

‘Edith must have grown up with this kind of verbal abuse, and if it hurts me as an adult to
hear it, how hard must it have been for her?’

I genuinely sympathized with the character of Edith, even if it came across as self-pity.

In the original story, she would have crawled through this despair and died a miserable
death at the hands of the man she loved, with no understanding from anyone.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, even though it wasn’t my story.

As I was lying in bed in a daze, someone knocked on my door.

It was too late for anyone to come.

Anna, who sleeps in my room to keep an eye on me, got up and quietly went outside.

But soon after, I heard a voice I didn’t expect at all.

“Everyone out.”

It was Killian, looking very upset for some reason.

“Killian, what are you doing here at this hour?”

As I scrambled to my feet, Killian shooed Anna and Sophia out, slammed the door, and
stalked over to me.

He pushed my shoulders back down onto the bed.

“Killian……?”

“If your probation is over, why aren’t you crawling into my room this time?”

“What?”
Killian’s eyes morphed into a kind of anger as he spoke words I couldn’t understand at all.

“Did I…… promise to come to your room when my probation was over?” I asked.

I don’t think I’d ever made such a promise, but Killian smirked.

There was a definite hint of mockery in his voice.

“That’s your way, isn’t it?”

“My way?”

“You claim your innocence, and then when you feel uneasy about something, you seduce
me with your body.”

“W- what?”

“And it works pretty well because I’m an asshole.”

I hadn’t often understood Killian’s words, but this time, I couldn’t help but wonder if we
were on a different dimension.

“Killian, have you been drinking?”

“I’ll get someone to bring me a drink if that’s more your thing.”

“No, it’s not that…… you sound a little drunk right now, and I have no idea what the hell
you’re talking about.”

“You don’t know……? You don’t know……?”

“Yeah.”

A crooked smile tugged at the corner of Killian’s mouth.

Even though he was smiling, I could tell he was on the verge of exploding.

But I couldn’t let this unfair and insulting remark get to me.

“First of all, I was always innocent, you just didn’t believe it.”

“Ha……!”

“And I never seduced you with my body, so that whole…… thing was technically…… your
misunderstanding?”

“Are you saying what we did that night was just my unilateral wish?”
“No, it was a misunderstanding, but I’m not going to deny that…… I liked it too.”

I tried to sound confident, but the memory of that night made the hairs on the back of my
neck stand on end.

CHAPTER 47

“I didn’t mean to seduce you.”

“You walked into a man’s bedroom in the middle of the night in a sexy outfit and kissed
him, but you didn’t mean to seduce him…… what a very convenient excuse.”

“Oh, no, I really just wanted to get a quick kiss, just one kiss. I swear.”

I tried my best to explain, but Killian shook his head mockingly.

Well, from his point of view, it might have looked like I did seduce him……

And it was clear to me what he thought of me.

A lustful woman who uses her body to cover her lies!

Wow…… in my previous life, I never thought I’d get such a great title……
“I think I understand what’s going on here, Killian Ludwig is the fish you successfully
caught, so now you’re going to focus on other prey?”

“What? Haha, Killian, what kind of imagination are you running on? What do you mean
other prey, is there even any prey around here that I can catch?”

I laughed at his ridiculous assumptions, but Killian gritted his teeth and leaned closer to
me.

It was only then that I realized he was breathing quite heavily.

“I’ve heard rumors that you’re a skilled hunter, and you use your advantages so well.”

“Advantages?”

His lips touched the nape of my neck unexpectedly.

“Where do you think I heard that Edith Riegelhoff’s skin was so smooth and fragrant?”

“Ah!”

He brushed his lips over the nape of my neck and nipped at my shoulder.
“At the social club where young men gather, you were quite the hot topic. Do you know
that?”

It didn’t hurt where he’d bitten me, but it made me gasp.

“Even when I didn’t want to hear it, it was always talked about – how tempting you are,
how many men have fallen for you……”

That’s a little unfair.

No matter how much I searched Edith’s memory, I couldn’t remember ever crossing the
line with a man.

Sure, she’d flirted with them, and she’d pretended not to notice their flirtatious touches,
but she’d never allowed them to go beyond that.

That was Count Riegelhoff’s directive.

He would sell me to whoever would buy me, but I must be a virgin or I would be worth
less.

So all those people talking about me and spreading stories must have been bluffing.
But who would listen to me?

“So tell me…… how easy would it have been to seduce a man?”

“N- no, no……!”

“You know that’s how men lose their minds.”

He pulled my nightgown down impatiently.

Even as I listened to his insulting words, a strange sense of anticipation filled me, and I
didn’t actively stop him.

But just when I thought he was about to lash out, Killian suddenly stopped dead in his
tracks.

“Ki- Killian……?”

His gaze was fixed on my shoulder.

‘What, have I done something to spoil the mood?’

It’s probably because I was in the throes of excitement that the thought crossed my mind.

Killian, on the other hand, seemed to be frozen in place, his excitement gone in an instant.

He hastily slid off my bed, turned on a nearby lamp, and began to stare at my shoulder
again.

And then I realized what he was looking at.

“This…… is definitely not an accidental bump.”

He was looking down at the bruise Sophia had created.

“Killian, t- this, so, I mean……”

I opened my mouth to say something, but the truth was, I didn’t know what to say.

As he laid me down and pulled my nightgown further down again, the words Sophia had
spoken echoed in my head.
“You know that you’re a discarded pawn in the Riegelhoff, and the only thing left for you is
to be discarded here as well……”

I was giddy.

Even though I trusted the main flow of the original story, I felt uneasy about this situation.

In the original story, Edith is never beaten by Sophia, nor does she reveal any evidence of
her persecution.

But how would the story change if Killian realized that Sophia was responsible for the
countless bruises on my body?

Killian stared at my back and didn’t speak for a long moment. No, he didn’t move.

“Killian……”

I tried to get up again, but he pushed me back down on my stomach, ran a hand through
my hair, and pulled down my nightgown to examine my body.

I couldn’t see what my back looked like, but seeing him this serious, it must be pretty bad.
As I gave up resisting and relaxed my body, Killian calmly began to dress me again.

‘We were in a good mood. Damn.’

Too bad.

As ecstatic as I was to be sharing a bed with Killian…… right now I just need his body heat.

If he hugs me, maybe I can rekindle some of the dying embers of courage……

“I’m sorry for losing my temper.”

“Oh, don’t be, we’re husband and wife, and I know it’s a wife’s duty……”

I was hoping that since I was aware of a wife’s duties, Killian would fulfill some of his
husband’s duties, but the way things were going, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Husband and wife……”

There was no more heat in Killian’s voice. It was like he’d regained his cold self.
I knew I was about to be bombarded with questions I wouldn’t be able to answer.

“Yes, we’re husband and wife, after all, so I’ll ask: Who did this?”

He asked straight away. There was no way I could answer.

The damn constraints made my tongue stiff before I could bring up Sophia’s name.

When I said nothing but averted my gaze, Killian swept my hair back behind my ear.

His touch was definitely softer than before.

“Yes, thank you”

I said nothing, but he heard an answer in my silence.

Then he slid off the bed, looking like he’d decided something.

It was as if he didn’t even feel a physical need for me, which made me impatient.

“Killian…… I know it’s…… inappropriate in this situation, but can’t you just…… hug me?”

“Is that to distract me?”

“No, it’s not like that, it’s just…… just…… just, because I want to……?”

You kissed me just because you wanted to.

I can’t?

Can I……?

“I’m not a beast enough to hug a woman covered in bruises, just sleep well tonight.”

Ah, as expected……

Killian walked out, looking more angry than when he came in.

I was left alone in my room, enveloped in silence.

‘He must have lost interest in me.’

I can’t even stand in for Lize with a body like this.

I was chilled to the bone because Killian hadn’t even bothered to put a blanket over me.

‘Oh, it’s cold……’

It’s summer, but it’s cold.

Every time I looked at Killian, I told myself that his heart was not for me, yet I became
more and more greedy, and loneliness pierced me.

I am sad because I have no hope but Killian, and he makes me feel hopeless.

I am sad that he didn’t embrace me warmly.

‘I’d rather he’d ignore me altogether, but lately he’s been acting strangely caring, and I’m
getting my hopes up.’

I tried to breathe a sigh, but the tears that had formed in the corners of my eyes quickly
dripped away.

I quickly wiped my tears with my sleeve.

‘Oh, how embarrassing. You can’t be weak. No one cares about you here but yourself,
so…… don’t be weak.’
I tried to hold it back, biting my molars, but tears quickly soaked my lashes and cheeks.

‘Oh, you idiot…… idiot, idiot, idiot!’

I laid my head back on the pillow and closed my eyes.

Hopefully tomorrow morning I’d wake up in my crappy dorm room.

Killian was a brilliant light that thrilled me to look at, but I’d rather live a dull life without
knowing him than suffer like this.

Whether it was the emptiness of my heart or the fever of my weeping, I couldn’t think any
further and fell asleep.

***

Killian decided to let go of the idea that he knew a woman named Edith.

She is not who he thought she was. Not even close.

“With everyone suspicious of me because of the peach pie incident, do you really think I’d
do something like that?”

He was surprised to hear Edith ask in disbelief.

Maybe it was because, as she had vaguely noticed, everyone in the Ludwig household was
ignoring her.

In fact, he didn’t think she’d be foolish enough to do it, even under suspicion.

She then asked to be watched if there was any doubt about her innocence.

She even gave a warning not to easily frame her as a villain without putting in that much
effort.

‘She’s right. We suspected her of everything that happened without putting in the least bit
of effort.’

When the realization hit, Killian felt puzzlement before shame or embarrassment.

‘Why did I do that?’

In hindsight, it didn’t make sense.

The Ludwigs had never used such a flimsy tactic before, whether on the battlefield or in
the political arena.

‘Why didn’t I see anything wrong with it until it was pointed out to me by Edith herself?’

I felt like I was possessed by a ghost.

But it didn’t seem that his senses had been dulled, as he suspected that the maid from
Riegelhoff reacted sensitively when Edith asked for more maids.

Anyway, the surprises kept coming from Edith.

CHAPTER 48

Even when she was under suspicion, Edith remained calm and cool as she analyzed the
case.

The fact that Lize’s room was empty was something that Killian and Cliff were also feeling
sensitive about.

He had told Edith that it had only been empty for a short time, but it had actually been
empty for a long time.
But the fact that Edith, who wouldn’t have known that, was so quick to suspect the artisan
merchant, made Killian realize that she couldn’t be the culprit.

If Edith was a stupid poisoner, as the Ludwigs thought she was, she would have
floundered and made up a bunch of excuses when she was accused.

But Edith behaved calmly, as if it had nothing to do with her, and her subsequent
reasoning was plausible.

It all fit together when she suspected that Count Sinclair was behind this.

They hate both Lize and the Riegelhoffs.

If Edith had caused Lize’s death or injury, the Sinclairs might have used Lize’s safety as an
excuse to get something out of the Ludwigs.

‘If that’s true…… Edith has been suspected and insulted while being innocent of
everthing.’

Edith has always maintained that she was not the culprit, but she is often named as the
sole suspect.

What if it was a ruse by the Sinclairs……?

The thought alone made Killian’s breath catch in his throat.

Maybe that’s why he’d been so blind to the easy assumptions.

But it was too soon to offer an apology; nothing had been revealed yet.

Instead, I just kept arguing with her.

It’s a strange thing, but the more I talked to Edith, the more I found myself wanting to
scratch at her insides, to provoke her, to shamelessly confront her.

“Don’t think I don’t know that much, you hurt my pride.”

“I offered to risk my life, and you didn’t believe me; can you imagine how I felt?”

“I believe in you and the Duke, too, though to be more honest, I don’t think you’d find me
worth the effort.”

The way Edith responded to the rude provocation without losing her temper was, to put it
bluntly, charming.

‘Was she like this?’

I’d only known her through rumors.

And that was enough for me.

I admit it. I was arrogant.

The Edith he’d only met face-to-face as they prepared to marry was nothing like the
rumored one he had known.

Except for her sensual, seductive looks of course.

“I am Edith Ludwig. Do you think I’ll be jealous of another woman just because I want a
man’s love? Don’t get me wrong.”

When Edith lifted her chin in a sneering way, Killian couldn’t help but kiss her, which was
even more thrilling than the “rumors” he’d heard.

If he’d held back any longer, he might have knocked Edith to the floor and clung to her like
a beast.

The crisis was swept under the rug with the ridiculous excuse, “I just wanted to,” but his
pathetic lust hadn’t gone away, it was just waiting for the right time.
When he heard that Edith’s probation had been lifted as of today, he waited outside
Renon’s office just in time to see her at work.

He wanted to check on her under the guise of coincidence.

‘I’m just going in and ask to see the tax receipts for the Ryzen estate for the last year. That
would be natural enough.’

Even as he thought of this excuse, he didn’t realize that something was wrong with him.

After taking several deep breaths, he slowly and silently opened the door to the office,
and what he saw through the opening made him stand tall.

“I’m sorry, just give me a little time, it’ll stop, it’ll stop soon.”

Edith was crying.

Her tears were falling so fast that she looked embarrassed and tried to run away.

Renon approached her.

“You don’t have to suppress your emotions like you’re being hunted. If you don’t let them
out, they’re bound to burst at some point.”

“Renon……”

“You have been working so fast that there is plenty of time, so you can do it as slowly as
you like.”

And with that, Renon handed her a handkerchief and went back to his work casually like a
mature adult.

Edith buried her face in Renon’s handkerchief behind the pillar and paused for a moment,
taking several deep breaths to steady herself.

And before she left the pillar, Edith practiced pulling the corners of her mouth up into a
smile, just as she had done around the corner at the Ermenia mansion……

“I’m fine now, thank you for your understanding, Renon. What do I do next?”

Her smile came much more naturally than she had practiced, and she took the task from
Renon.

Killian couldn’t quite get into it, and he pulled back.

‘That was…… practicing your smile.’

At the bazaar, after Shane left, he saw her smiling strangely in front of the mirror and
wondered what the hell she was doing.

Her eyes weren’t smiling at all, but she was trying her best to pull up the corners of her
mouth.

‘She was…… practicing her smile.’

I remembered Edith coming around the corner and smiling nonchalantly.

My stomach knotted.

My head, which had been fine for days, was starting to hurt again.

Killian pressed hard against his throbbing temple and tried to think of something else.

The first thing that came to mind was Renon handing Edith a handkerchief.

‘Could it be that Renon seduced Edith? No, no way…… he was just being a gentleman. He
only took out the handkerchief because Edith was crying. Edith seduced Renon.’
As was his habit, the thought of reprimanding Edith made his headache better.

He hadn’t realized it, but his pain-avoidance instinct had started to blame Edith as a way
to keep himself from hurting while thinking about her.

‘I knew it. Men are weak to women’s tears, and Renon wouldn’t be immune to that, so
yeah, Edith is the bad one.’

Killian kept repeating, “Edith is the bad one,” as if trying to convince himself.

It made his headache go away for a while, but it wasn’t the ultimate reason he felt bad.

So he fought the throbbing headache and thought about why he felt bad.

At the end of his thoughts, he was forced to face his true feelings, which were a bit
embarrassing.

‘How could you leave me and seduce Renon?’

The night we spent together, you clung to me with such fervor, but after that, you hadn’t
come to me, and I had to kiss you to get you open up to me.

‘You threw me away…… after you ate me……?’

It was a phrase only used by lecherous men, but it was all I could think of.

I tried not to look ridiculous to Edith, but she seemed to see through it.

‘I made a mistake. I took her too lightly.’

Once he got rid of the idea that Edith was stupid, everything he had done in front of her
seemed like a mistake.

Killian dwelt on these thoughts until night fell, and when the servants began to turn off
the lights in the hallway, he couldn’t stand it anymore.

He jumped to his feet and stormed into Edith’s room, shooing the startled maids out of
the way, and repeatedly insulting Edith.

The look in her startled and clueless eyes was abominable, and he found it strangely
endearing.

So he kissed her neck and averted his gaze.

Just when he thought the scent of her roses would make his head spin with excitement,
he froze at a sight he couldn’t understand.

‘What is that?’

Edith’s shoulders were still round and smooth.

But her shoulders, which should have glowed white in the dark, appeared to be streaked
with dark bruises the farther back they went.

These weren’t the kind of bruises you get from accidentally bumping into something.

The green and purple bruises looked like they had been there for days.

“Killian, t- this, so, I mean……”

Edith tried to make some sort of excuse, but one look at her back made Killian not believe
her.

She, too, had given up and said no more.

She didn’t even answer the question of who did it, but that was enough for Killian.
If it was because of the Ludwigs’ minions, there was no reason why Edith could not
answer.

And until now, that pompous Riegelhoff maid had not made a single report.

Anger was rising within him, and suddenly, in a voice as weak as the grip on the hem of his
shirt, Edith begged,

“Killian…… I know it’s…… inappropriate in this situation, but can’t you just…… hug me?”

“Is that to distract me?”

“No, it’s not like that, it’s just…… just…… just, because I want to……?”

He had the impression that Edith’s eyes were wet, even though she wasn’t crying.

He could not understand why Edith would want to cover the maid by seducing him with
her bruised body.

She may have had her reasons, but Killian could never forgive her.

“I’m not a beast enough to hug a woman covered in bruises, just sleep well tonight.”
With that, he went straight to his room and found an ointment for the bruises, and he had
to cool down for a while before returning to Edith’s room.

CHAPTER 49

‘And after all this time, you’ve never said a word. Not a word!’

The evidence of the brutal assault, clear even in the darkness, fanned the flames of anger
in his chest.

I know I’m not a good husband to her.

But I thought I could at least be her protector, and apparently I couldn’t even be that to
her.

Of course, I had never protected her, so it wasn’t hard to understand.

Barely able to control my bursting nerves, I made my way back to Edith’s room and found
her asleep.

But the tears that soaked her lashes and cheeks were still glistening in the light.

“Edith……”

I called her name lowly, but she was fast asleep, as if the tension had been released.
“What the hell…… are you hiding?”

Despite all the hatred that the Ludwigs and I directed at Edith, she remained tight-lipped.

Killian let out a long, frustrated sigh, wondering if the day would ever come when he could
see her truth.

But the touch that applied the medicine to her body was as careful and gentle as ever.

It took a lot of patience as Edith squirmed and moaned at the tickles, but Killian worked
the medicine into her skin and held her until dawn broke.

Killian gave a self-deprecating laugh as he watched Edith dig in for warmth, not realizing it
was him.

‘I guess I’m the stupid one, I’m the one being swayed like this.’

Even as he kissed Edith’s cheek, Killian thought to himself that he was crazy.

Only a crazy man would be so swayed by a woman he didn’t even know.

***

I woke up feeling refreshed.

I think it was because I had a very cozy dream last night, and I slept for a long time without
waking up once.

In that cozy dream, someone gently touched my body.

I don’t know who it was, but I didn’t hate the gentle touch, as if touching something
fragile. In fact, I loved it, to the point of tears.

I wanted to give myself over to those hands, to give myself over to that warmth.

‘It’s so strange to have a dream full of sensations.’

It was the first time I’d ever had a dream where I didn’t see something or have a story.

But it lifted my mood from last night’s blues, and I stretched for a good long time.
But my back, which should have been stiff, felt strange.

“Huh?”

It felt like acupuncture needles were sticking to my back like a sticky body lotion.

“Huh? What is this?”

I reached over my shoulder and touched it, and sure enough, there was something on my
back.

I realized it was an ointment because it was on the ‘bruised area’.

‘Killian……!’

Killian was the only one who would do this.

Sophia and Killian were the only ones who knew I had bruises on my body, and Sophia
wasn’t the kind of person to put medicine on me.

‘Then, that dream…… Killian……?’

Just imagining Killian applying ointment on my body made my toes tingle.

But I must have misunderstood.

Killian’s strict upbringing wouldn’t allow him to leave a woman injured to the point of
bruising, no matter how much he hated her.

‘I shouldn’t have gone to sleep. No, if I hadn’t been asleep, he wouldn’t have applied the
ointment.’

I kept wishing I hadn’t fallen asleep so I could have made another sweet scene with him.

But there’s no point in wishing for something that has already passed.

The fact that he had taken care of me was something to be thankful for.

‘By the way, he seems to have sensed something about Sophia, I wonder what will
happen……’

Actually, I didn’t expect much.

To everyone else, Sophia was a maid sent to me in the name of Count Riegelhoff, with the
sole mission of protecting me from the persecution of the Ludwigs.

But Killian’s actions far exceeded my expectations.

Today was not a day to help Renon with his work, so I was just sitting in my room reading,
when suddenly Killian burst into my room with one of his knights and grabbed Sophia.

“Killian, what’s going on!”

I asked in surprise, but Killian’s gaze was fixed on Sophia.

“I’m going to throw this maid out, Edith.”

“What? Throw her out……?”

“Drag her out.”

Killian glared menacingly at Sophia and ordered the knight, even as I asked in disbelief.

Panicking, Sophia screamed as soon as the knight grabbed her.

“You can’t do this, I’m a maid sent by Count Riegelhoff to protect my lady!”
“Oh, really?”

Sophia, a mere maid, spoke venomously, “What in the world do you think you’re going to
do to my lady, taking me away from her! Count Riegelhoff will never leave you alone!”

But Killian did not budge in the slightest.

“A maid like you, who can’t do her duty, can’t be of any use to Edith.”

“How dare you! I’ve been looking after her since she was a child……!”

“Since she was a child, you say? You’ve been neglecting your duties since she was a child?”

His tone of voice turned cold drastically.

He sat down in the chair and turned to Sophia as if interrogating her in earnest.

“You. What do you think a maid’s duties are?”

“That- to make sure the master you serve is always comfortable and well, even before you
are summoned.”

“You know that well.”

“Of course I do, for I have been thoroughly trained from a young age to be my lady’s
maid.”

“Then it’s even stranger.”

Killian tilted his head slightly, studying Sophia.

“Do you mean to tell me that a maid who knows her duties so well, did not report the
bruises on her master’s body, and did not treat them?”

For the first time, Sophia’s mouth shut tight.

“Besides, no matter how much I thought about it, you’re the only one…… who could have
made those bruises.”

“Oh, no!”

Sophia protested, but her gaze remained fixed on mine, sending a threat for me not to
open my mouth.

“You don’t have to glare at her like you’re going to eat her, Edith didn’t say a word. Good
or bad.”
The room fell silent. So much so that I could hear Sophia’s throat clearing.

“I- I didn’t know about young lady’s minor injury, as she didn’t talk much about it, though
it was my fault for not looking–”

“Minor injury? If that’s what you mean, do you want me to give you a minor beating
before throwing you out?”

“Sorry……?”

“I’m amazed you’d try to deceive me this far. Well, you’re the maid Shane Riegelhoff sent
in, so you’re no ordinary maid.”

But Sophia seemed surprised by something other than the fact that Killian had a vague
idea of her identity.

“Yo- young master eh- do you mean that…… you have seen the young lady’s wounds?”

She was wide-eyed, looking back and forth between me and Killian.

Then Killian smirked. “Edith and I are married, what’s so surprising about a husband
seeing his wife’s body?”
Sophia couldn’t stop her mouth from falling open.

“I’d really like to see you sentenced to death for insulting the nobility, but considering how
well you were treated by the Riegelhoffs to the point where they asked to have you
repatriated alive, that’s even more suspicious.”

The morning wasn’t even over yet, and when the hell did he send word to the Riegelhoffs?

Killian’s behavior was really surprising today.

His gaze finally met mine. “I’m not going to take your opinion on throwing this maid out.”

I nodded, trying not to look too pleased.

“Anna, Leonard, I want you to keep what you see and hear in this room to yourself until
you die. If it gets out, neither of you will be safe.”

Anna and the knight gave short answers to Killian’s command.

Like Anna, the face of the knight named Leonard was starkly emotionally impassive.

Seeing the frightening resemblance between their expressions, I knew they would never
speak of this.
Anna had finished packing Sophia’s luggage in the meantime. She’d been fidgeting since
the knight grabbed Sophia, but she must have been packing her things from the moment
Killian said he was going to throw her out.

She was acting like his master.

“Anna, take good care of Edith. I must send this precious maid on her way in the carriage
sent by the Riegelhoffs.”

Oh, my God.

The Riegelhoffs even sent a carriage to pick up Sophia.

Why don’t they just go around the neighborhood saying she’s a suspicious maid?!

Killian gave me one last long, unreadable glance before dragging Sophia out of the room.

I was left in the quiet room, stunned by what had just happened.

Then Anna quietly approached me.

“I apologize for my negligence of your condition. If you’re going to punish me, I’ll take it
gladly.”

“Huh? Oh, no, Anna you didn’t do anything wrong……!”

In order not to let Anna see that I was injured, I purposely took Sophia’s care when
changing my clothes.

It wasn’t like I asked her for a bath or massage, so it was impossible for her to notice the
bruises on my body.

Nevertheless, Anna had a grievous expression on her face, as if she was the one to blame.

“Thank you for your forgiveness, then…… do you mind if I take a look at your body?”

A sigh came out. If I said no, Anna would be punished.

I nodded nervously and went to the bedside to undress.

As I pulled off my outer dress and carefully lowered my chemise, I felt Anna’s breath catch
behind my back.

How bad is that?

CHAPTER 50
“Anna……?”

“Miss……”

Anna, never one to be shaken, called me in a trembling voice, and after a long pause,
barely managed to speak. “Why didn’t you say anything until this happened?”

Anyone would be frustrated. I would have been too.

If I hadn’t been under such bullshit constraints that I couldn’t say anything about how I
was being treated at the Riegelhoff, I would have finally told someone.

But for those who don’t know and can’t understand, a plausible excuse is needed.

“How could I tell you that?”

I turned around to see Anna’s brow furrowed. I’ve never seen her expression change so
dramatically.

And with that one word, she understood everything and didn’t ask more.

She is an example of an astute maid.

“I apologize for my rudeness, I will apply the medicine.”

I flopped down on the bed and let myself be held by Anna’s hand.

‘It’s good that I got rid of Sophia…… but I’m afraid of the repercussions of this.’

There were still a few more episodes left of Sophia’s story, and I was afraid of how that
part would morph and attack me.

But one thing has been lingering in my mind with satisfaction since earlier.

‘Killian kicked Sophia out for me because he knew I couldn’t do it myself……’

He must have noticed my predicament inside the Riegelhoff.

Here I am, beaten by a maid, and Count Riegelhoff sends a carriage to bring Sophia back in
one piece rather than worry about my safety…….

It’s hard not to notice, even Anna seems to have noticed.

But instead of turning his back on me, the worthless hostage, Killian threw Sophia out.

‘This is the part where I can be hopeful, right?’

Of course, I hardly expected Killian to throw me out.

I’m more of a lead character than Sophia, and my narrative is more important than hers.

There’s still a lot left for me to do, and I have faith that the flow of the story doesn’t
already exclude me.

Still, it was comforting to know that Killian hadn’t ignored my situation and taken action.

‘You have to be on your toes at times like this. You see it in movies and dramas where
people let their guard down and mess things up.’

I don’t know how much sympathy Killian had for me, but I do know that he saw me as a
woman who would use her body to cover her faults when she was at a disadvantage.

‘So in the future, I should never flirt with him and keep a clean distance, and maybe one
day he’ll realize that I’m not that kind of woman.’

Then he’ll hate me less, and once he learns what happened to me, he might even forgive
me when the Riegelhoffs meet their demise.

‘Great, let’s do it!’

I squirmed a little from my giggling, and Anna thought I was crying, so she put her hand
over mine and patted me on the back.

Well, this isn’t so bad.

***

The original author.

He calls himself K.

He had long forgotten his real name, but that doesn’t bother him.

What matters to him is this world.

A world of his own creation, the perfect Lize Sinclair.

K loves Lize Sinclair, the female lead he created.

She is the perfect protagonist, the fulfillment of his every wish, to the point where he
wonders how he could have created such a lovely being.

So much so, that when he died and reincarnated into this world, he thought he was
blessed by God.

What a joy it was to be able to live in a world where the characters he created were alive
and well.

The beloved Lize is so beautiful, and the male leads for her are the epitome of fantasy.

Watching their life and love unfold before his eyes was thrilling.

But at the point of living the same life for the fifth time, K realized for the first time that
this might not be a blessing, but a curse.

A loop where he wakes up at the beginning of the story and everything is a blur at the end
of the story and then he’s back to the beginning again……

K is stuck in an infinite loop hell.

But K, who loves the story and the characters he creates so much, denies it.
‘The world I’ve created can’t be hell, so…… yes, let’s give the story a twist!

K realized that the story needed to change in order for her to survive the constant
repetition of life, but his desire to make Lize stand out didn’t diminish.

The solution was simple.

‘I need a more lively villainess.’

So K spread this story to other dimensions of the universe.

And whoever read it and found it interesting would possess Edith Riegelhoff.

It had an interesting effect.

‘As expected, I wasn’t wrong.’

The new souls, who had read the original story and quickly accepted that they had fallen
into a Rofan novel, showed interesting behavior.

At first, they rejoiced at the thought of them possessing a villainess.

Then they tried to be good, unlike Edith in the original story.

However, if the flow of the original story didn’t change, and the comparison with Lize
continued, she became a fresh villainess that was incomparable to the original Edith.

It allowed K to forget about the boredom of his repetitive life, while Lize became a more
prominent protagonist each time.

It was K’s pleasure to make Lize look her most attractive.

But he didn’t feel he was being unfair. After all, the new soul had died and was now
possessing the dead as well, and he had created a system that allowed Edith to go against
the flow of the original story.

The system is called the “three-level exception condition,” and whenever the condition at
each condition is met, K’s control is weakened and an exception situation favorable to Edit
occurs.

However, each time the opposite happens, the flow of the original becomes stronger.

Of course, it is not easy to meet the exception conditions because it is a game that is
advantageous to K. However, there were nine Ediths who met the first exception
condition.

That was fine. It actually made the story more interesting.

But K, who had treated all the Ediths as if their lives were nothing more than ants, was
feeling a strange tension with the thirteenth Edith this time.

‘This one is different.’

This Edith is hard to define in a word.

I thought she would give up soon, but there was something strangely persistent about her.

Most Ediths started to panic and break down when they were framed as the culprit in the
document leak.

In particular, this time, in order to make Edith the culprit, I even gave a new setting, “Do
not use tables in formatting,” so I thought other characters would also push Edith to be
the villainess harder.

Edith, however, was unfazed. She calmly looked at the evidence that incriminated her as if
to say, “Let’s see what happens,” and then brought in the documents she had organized
and even her own diary, which she compared to the writings in the forged letter, to prove
her innocence.

Her reasoned arguments convinced the others, and the episode that was supposed to
show Edith as a spy came to a screeching halt.
So I thought she was persistent, and then suddenly, as if she had given up on everything,
she went into Killian’s room in the middle of the night and did what Edith did in the
original story.

‘I didn’t realize that’s how she met the first condition.’

Even the way she met the condition, “Follow what Edith failed to do in the original,” is
different from the other Ediths did.

Whereas some other Ediths met the first condition by being clingy to Killian or following
Count Riegelhoff’s orders.

They were trying to save their own lives.

However, the thirteenth Edith simply kissed Killian.

She only passed level one because the act of kissing was part of the original Edith’s failed
plan, but her true intentions were far from the original Edith’s.

In any case, once the first condition was met, the person who faced Edith’s behavior at
that time, Killian, began to change.

Quantifiably, K’s control over Killian dropped from 100% to 70%.

Up until this point, he wasn’t worried about Edith passing level one which resulted in his
control over Killian diminishing. This was because other Ediths had never caused Killian to
change his feelings.

This time, however, Killian has begun to show interest in Edith.

How surprised he was when he realized Killian had spent the night with her, a character
he’d created and yet one that felt foreign.

‘Even though Killian is a character with an impulsive side……’

This is the first time I’ve seen a character move out of my hands, the author.

And it was all an exception situation that happened because of the probability created by
the thirteenth Edith, and that was the biggest reason why K felt nervous about this Edith.

There is also something else that makes this Edith different.

‘I don’t know if she realized it, but she involved extras whom I had no control over.’

K may have created this world, but he is not a perfect god.

The main force driving the world is the “flow of the story,” followed by probability, and K
is just an author trapped within the story.

Nevertheless, he can control the small setting of the story and control the characters. The
more meticulously he creates the characters, the stronger his control becomes.

Therefore, many unnamed extras are not under his control.

This is why he was able to have so many different people possess Edith.

CHAPTER 51

The extras can be flexible enough to deal with any unforeseen circumstances and not
disrupt the flow of the original.

And the thirteenth Edith brought the Duchess and her aide Renon to her side.

She was walking around greeting nameless workers and attempting to change their
perceptions of her.

I thought being framed for something she didn’t do after the pech pie incident would
cause her to break down mentally, but once again, she calmly convinced Killian.

She was even more confident and assertive than she had been during the document leak,
asserting her innocence and providing a plausible explanation for the Sinclair family’s
involvement.
This seemed to sway Killian more toward Edith’s side, and another case where Edith
should have been the culprit was swept under the rug.

If the previous Ediths were helplessly swept away and knocked down by K’s tricks, the
thirteenth Edith was more like fighting K herself.

‘This is fun…… yeah, this is a fun situation.’

K capitalized on the tension he was feeling.

‘Okay, so how do I set the second condition?’

It had to be something that Edith could never pass.

If she passed level two, K’d have little control over Killian, and even less control over the
main characters other than him.

Completing level three would render K’s control nearly useless, and if it prevented Lize
and Cliff from being together, K had no idea what would happen to this world.

It was K’s confidence, bordering on arrogance, that allowed him to take such risks and
drag many souls from the multidimensional universe.
But K has the confidence to protect his world. This is a game he is winning anyway.

‘I need to come up with a condition that Edith will never be able to fulfill, one that will
force her to do the opposite of what she’s supposed to do, and one that will reinforce the
flow of the original story.’

Pondering for a while, K chuckled as he watched Edith’s every move.

After a while, the ‘original flow’, which is the system of this world, accepted K’s condition.

[The second exception condition has been set.]

***

After kicking Sophia out, Killian made a rough guess about Edith’s situation.

‘A daughter raised by the Riegelhoffs to sell at a high price.’

It wasn’t a new thing, really.

There were many families who bore and raised daughters for that purpose.

At least it was believed that a marriage alliance was the safest.

But it was surprising to see the Riegelhoff so dominant over Edith, even to the point of
assaulting her through a maid.

That’s how perfect the Rigelhoffs’ play was.

‘But it would be embarrassing for Edith to reveal this.’

It would be a huge blow to Edith’s pride if word got out that she was being beaten by a
maid, when she had been presenting herself as a domineering, proud young lady.

‘I can’t understand it at all, but every family has its own circumstances.’

Maybe they thought of it as ‘discipline’ in their own way.

It’s ridiculous, but people have different ideas, and even bad guys have their reasons.
If the abuse was truly unbearable, Edith would have asked for help.

That’s why Killian didn’t tell anyone that Sophia had assaulted Edith.

“Given recent events, the maid was suspicious, too,” said Killian.

Cliff was furious at his explanation, saying that they should have caught her and
investigated her, not let her go.

But Killian calmed him down. “If we investigate the maid without corroboration, we’re just
going to make it look like we are persecuting the Riegelhoffs’ maid, and that would be the
end of it.”

“But……!”

“I took this opportunity to throw out a maid I didn’t like to begin with, that’s just the way
it is.”

He tried to sound casual, but Cliff was still sharp.

“Then there’s no way the Riegelhoffs would have accepted without a fight……?”
“I can’t prove it, but they must have had a plan. When I told them that I was sending the
maid back because there had been events that made me suspicious of her, they took it in
stride.”

In the end, Cliff and the Duke accepted Killian’s decision.

‘What am I getting myself into for Edith?’

It had been a troublesome day, but I didn’t really feel that bad.

The last thing I saw of Edith as I dragged Sophia out was a look of relief on her face.

‘I thought she was a fox…… tsk.’

I thought she was a fox, a fierce woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer, but instead,
she was a bear who wouldn’t say a word about her pain and endured it alone.

The maid had probably been beating Edith since she came in.

Yet Edith did not lower her proud chin, which was amazing.
‘How could I have been so clueless…… no, wait.’

Suddenly, I remembered Edith’s strange behavior after Sophia came in.

‘Didn’t she say that after the peach pie incident…… Edith starved herself for days to lose
weight?’

Sophia had said that Edith hadn’t eaten to lose weight voluntarily, but in retrospect that
was ridiculous.

One only had to look at Edith, who started gaining weight as soon as Anna returned to her
service, to see that she didn’t want to lose it.

So that damn maid was starving her master.

‘No way, is that why she asked for more maids?’

Suddenly, the puzzle pieces seemed to fall into place.

At the same time, I burst out laughing unintentionally.

‘She didn’t just keep her mouth shut, she had no intention of giving in after being beaten
like that, did she?’

I couldn’t help but laugh, remembering Edith’s desperate face as she demanded more
Ludwig maids to prove her innocence.

I should have looked at Sophia’s expression then!

‘That’s amazing, Edith Ludwig.’

She isn’t an ordinary woman after all.

I thought she would do anything for her father, but she refused to obey even her family’s
orders.

I found it strangely satisfying to realize that I had been used by her cunning.

Lize was grateful for the decision to send Sophia away without much fuss.

“Thank you, Killian. I really…… didn’t want to think about it anymore.”

“I can’t say for sure that that maid, Sophia, was the culprit, I still think Count Sinclair is the
most likely suspect, and I just took this opportunity to throw out a maid I didn’t like.”

“I see.”

Lize, who was slowly recovering from the poisoning, looked genuinely exhausted.

“Are you sure you’re okay with burying it, Lize?”

“Yeah, I’m serious. I don’t think I could handle it if it turned out to be Edith, or if it turned
out to be the Sinclairs…… I’d rather just not know.”

Cliff had tried to talk her out of it, but there was no way he could beat a pitifully sobbing
Lize.

Neither could Killian.

“Okay. Well, what else do you want, I’ll do anything.”

Lize’s face lit up at the half-playful offer.

“Are you sure you’ll do what I ask?”

“Of course.”
“Well, then, Killian.”

“Yes, Lize.”

Lize hesitated a moment, then raised her eyebrows and said, “Please take good care of
Edith.”

“……what?”

“How hard can it be for Edith? Now that I’ve been poisoned, I can see how hard it must
have been for Edith.”

Killian knows. He’s seen her in pain.

“I don’t believe that Edith was the one who did it, so please…… comfort her during this
difficult time.”

“Ha…… you innocent little baby.”

Killian gently caressed Lize’s cheek, which was still pale.

“But what can I do, I have to know how to comfort.”

“You’ve been good to me.”

“That’s because you are……”

“Please do the same for Edith. Take her for tea, take her for a walk, talk to her, just like
you did when you comforted me……”

It was a suggestion that would normally have been met with a resounding “Are you
crazy?”, but this time Killian seriously considered Lize’s idea.

He felt a mixture of guilt that he didn’t know Edith at all, and curiosity to get to know her
better.

“Well, I suppose I’ll just have to keep an eye on her to see what she’s thinking.”

“I’m not asking you to be nice to her with that kind of thinking.”

“I know, but changing my mind is something I’m going to need some time to do, Lize.”

Understanding his meaning, Lize lowered her gaze apologetically.

“I am not blaming you, time is medicine, and I’ll be fine one day…… it’s just that I don’t
know my own mind yet.”

“I’m sorry, and thank you, Killian.”

Killian smiled bittersweetly and kissed Lize lightly on the forehead.

Her forehead was warm from the slight fever that hadn’t come down yet.

Suddenly, he realized he’d never laid a hand on Edith’s forehead when she’d curled up in a
ball in pain.

I really don’t know why I’m thinking that now.

“Killian. Will you listen to my request?”

Lize looked up at him with her big, clear eyes and Killian smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, sure.”

That’s not a hard thing to do.

Go out together, take a walk in a sunny garden, buy something nice and expensive in the
downtown area, and eat something delicious together.
A bit of a hassle, but not impossible, so Killian didn’t think twice about accepting Lize’s
request.

But things didn’t go as planned.

CHAPTER 52

“Why don’t you come over for tea if you’re free?”

Killian thought it was easy and offered Edith tea, but was politely rejected.

“I’m fine, Killian. Thanks for asking.”

Is she thinking that I invited her just out of courtesy?

‘Hmm…… maybe I was too rude.’

Feeling a little embarrassed, Killian invited Edith to join him for dinner the next day.

“You know, you always seem to eat alone in your room, but you’re welcome to come
down to the dining room.”

“Oh……”

“Speaking of which, how about we dine together today?”

“I know the Duke is still uncomfortable with me, and I don’t want to disturb his dining
time. Thank you for the invitation, Killian.”

It was the second rejection.

‘Well, it’s true that my father is still uncomfortable with Edith.’

Wrestling with how to make an offer that wouldn’t be met with another family member’s
interference, Killian casually made a new offer the next day.

“It’s a lovely day and I was thinking of taking a short walk in the garden, would you like to
come along?”

Edith’s eyes widened in surprise, but she shook her head with a weak smile again.

“No, I think I’ll stay in my room, it’s still very hot.”

“……if you say so.”

After the third rejection, Killian got the feeling that Edith was avoiding him.
‘What the hell, I kicked that damn maid out of the house, don’t you think I deserve a thank
you?’

I felt offended and sick at the same time.

The next day, Killian came to Edith’s room unannounced and asked her to join him at
someone’s tea party.

But her response was sour.

“Is it obligatory?”

“Not…… obligatory.”

“Is this a tea party you wanted to go to, Killian?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then may I ask why you want to go?”

“Well…… women like that sort of thing, don’t they?”

Edith’s eyes looked surprised again, but then she gave him a look that said, “I get it,” and
shook her head.
“If it’s because of me, you don’t have to.”

“You don’t want to do that?”

“I don’t have any particular desire to go right now, and I don’t want to take up your time
with something like that.”

It was a subtle rejection, too subtle to make him angry.

“I see.”

“Thanks for asking.”

“I’m not sure you’re really thanking me.”

With a bitter taste in his mouth, Killian stalked back to his room like a defeated soldier.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Edith go to another house party since we got married,
so maybe…… she’s just tired of them.’

He couldn’t help but feel strangely nervous, even as he reasoned.

***

“Someone gave me a strawberry tart from Peridot as a gift, would you like to have some
with me?”

The afternoon teatime was approaching, and Killian stopped by and casually offered.

“Strawberry tart from Peridot?”

Wow, this temptation is too hard to resist.

I’ve been dying to try Peridot’s strawberry tart, which you have to stand in line to buy
even before the store opens.

“T- thank you, but I’ve been eating too much dessert lately, and I’ve gained some
weight…… so why don’t you share it with Miss Lize?”

“Why Lize……? Are you serious?”

“Of course, because I never minded that you two are close!”

Despite my best efforts to convince him of my indifference, Killian’s lips turned into a
smirk and his eyes grew vicious.

“You don’t mind if it’s just me and Lize together……?”

Finally, he seemed to see my true meaning.

“Of course! I know you two have been like family for a long time, and I would never want
to interfere with your intimate relationship.”

“Ha……!”

He exclaimed in disbelief, his furious expression didn’t lift.

“I…… mean it……”

“I see. Excuse me.”

Killian turned and walked away with Peridot’s strawberry tart.

‘I’ve been meaning to try it…… won’t you give me a piece of the leftover?’

Despite my disappointment, I shouldn’t be defeated by the food now.

I only wanted the strawberry tart, but Killian might suspect I was using the tart as an
excuse to get close to him.

‘I must keep my relationship with him clean without being clingy. I must not fail Killian’s
test.’

In an effort to rehabilitate my image to Killian, who perceives me as unfaithful and

lecherous, I’ve recently been turning down a number of his offers.

It was clear that he was testing me because he was making offers to me that he wouldn’t
normally make.

‘How many times has this already been? Seventh or eighth?’

I felt quite bad for constantly turning him down, but since all his offers involved doing
something in close proximity to him, it wasn’t hard to figure out his intentions.

‘If I keep showing my sincerity like this, Killian will eventually believe me. Isn’t that why
he’s doing the test on purpose, to give me a final gateway……?’
I pushed myself further, feeling proud that I was passing his tests one by one.

The next day, Lize called me, still not out of bed.

I had to convince her of my innocence, so I went to her room.

I didn’t bring any gifts, lest I arouse her suspicions again.

“Lize, are you all right? I’ve been worried about you.”

“I heard you’ve been having a hard time, Edith. Why do these things keep happening to
you……”

“I read somewhere that in times like this, just assume it’s because I’m cute.”

“……what?”

I just grinned at Lize, who looked puzzled and confused.

Lize smiled back, then spoke after a moment’s hesitation, “By the way, Edith, is there
something upsetting about Killian…… no, of course there is, I mean…… are you angry with
him……?”

“No! I’m not angry at Killian, not even a little bit, not even a fingernail-sized bit.”

“Not even a fingernail-sized bit……?”

“Eh…… that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I’m more grateful to Killian than angry.”

I tried to put on my best St. Mary’s face, hoping that Lize would be able to relay my story
to Killian.

“But why are you rejecting Killian?”

“What? Me?”

“Yeah…… Killian seems to be trying to get closer to you, but you always reject him……”

“Did Killian say that?”

“Oh, no! Killian didn’t say that, I just…… heard it somewhere.”

The maids must have been making up gossip, without knowing what was really going on.
It’s easy to misunderstand when you don’t know the details.

Unlike before, Killian stopped by my room once a day to offer me something, and I turned
him down for any excuse.

In a way, it might seem like I’m rejecting him out of hand.

“Hmm…… I don’t know how you will feel about hearing this……”

“Go on, Edith.”

“Killian is a poor man, he sacrificed himself for the Duchy of Ludwig. I know arranged
marriages are common, but it’s not something a man of Killian’s stature should have to
do.”

“Oh, Edith……!”

“I’m not blaming anyone, I swear! I actually don’t think this marriage is all that bad.”

I explained in a purposely brighter voice, but Lize’s frown didn’t lift.

“But Killian’s different; he hasn’t accepted me yet…… he’s offering me things now only
because he’s being forced to because of his position.”

“That’s not true, Edith.”

Lize squeezed my hand and tried to explain to me that Killian had opened up to me and
that he was just trying to get to know me a little better.

But it was driving me crazy.

‘It’s all just your opinion, Lize!’

Of course, Killian wouldn’t go around saying things like that, so Lize is trying to convince
me, but I know how Killian feels.

‘Lize may be lying, but I’m not falling for it.’

I had to force a smile, pulling my twitching facial muscles together as best I could.

“So, Edith, please open your heart a little bit.”

“Sure. I’ve got Killian to thank for that, and by the way, I’m afraid you, who still haven’t
fully recovered, are too concerned about me and Killian.”
I returned from her visit with as much composure as I could muster.

Everyone seemed to be pressuring me from all sides.

It was like they were poking me from the side, cornering me, expecting me to crumble,
saying, “Show your true nature! Take off your mask!”

‘But no matter how much pressure you put on me, I don’t have that nature, though I can’t
say no to Killian when he puts his hands on me.’

Strictly speaking, that’s Killian being lecherous, not me, isn’t it?

I mean, I don’t see why I can’t turn down a meal if he puts it on the table for me, but I’m
not going to actively…… hm? Looks like Killian’s in my room again.

‘What is he trying to lure me in with this time?’

I walked into my room nonchalantly, determined not to give in, and sat down across from
Killian.

CHAPTER 53

“Oh my, Killian, were you waiting for me?”

“Where are you coming from?”

“I came back from visiting Lize.”

Hearing that I had met Lize, Killian gave a small nod.

Was that a scoring point?

Killian rattled off a series of unimportant things.

The weather, the Duke and Duchess, that sort of thing.

Then he subtly turned the conversation to me.

“By the way…… how about increasing your exercise a bit for your health? I hear you’re
taking morning walks, but really, it would be nice to take a lap around the garden once a
day after meals.”

“Oh, really?”

Truth be told, I’ve been eating a bit too much since I went from starving to eating, and
even the “fantasy” in a Rofan novel can’t prevent me from gaining weight.
If anything, I’ve gained a little weight on my sides……

“It improves your mood and keeps you from gaining weight.”

“Do I look fat?”

“Mmm, yeah. You look a little fatter than you used to.”

Killian’s words shocked me.

If Killian, who didn’t care about me, thought I’d gained weight, how much weight had I
gained?

I jumped to my feet.

“In that case, I should probably take a walk.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

“Yeah……?”

“I’ll walk with you, as an escort?”

The hairs on my back stood on end.

“Ah…… but now that I think about it, I find your remark a little insulting, like you’re telling
me to exercise because of how much weight I’ve gained……”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant!”

“I’m not going for a walk today. I’ll do it next time.”

I could see Killian clenching his molars.

Wow, I almost failed this test.

If I’d said yes earlier, he’d have given me the cold shoulder.

“I think you may have misunderstood my wording. I meant that you’ve gained more
weight than before, not that you’ve gained so much weight that you need to lose it.”

“Oh, I see, and I’m sorry I misunderstood, but I don’t feel like going out much. Of course, I
appreciate your concern for my health, Killian.”
I just need to say a lot of thanks.

Isn’t this the standard response?

“……alright, see you later.”

“Bye. Have a great day!”

I waved him off with a smile on my face in a service-minded manner.

‘Whoa, I passed today’s test!’

I did a little dance of joy on my own when Anna wasn’t looking, but then I remembered
Killian’s eyes on me and stopped.

It looked like something was going to snap at any moment.

‘The high ground[1] must be just around the corner!’

[1] High ground = one’s goal.

This would definitely be the end of his doubts.

He must have been testing me, thinking, “This can’t be true, she’ll surely jump at the
chance I give her,” but it didn’t go the way he thought, so he doubted his own thoughts.

‘If I get over this hurdle, can I have tea with Killian then? I’d love to eat with him, go for a
walk with him……’

When he realizes I’m not the slutty, lecherous woman he’s heard about, will he treat me
like a human?

I’m so desperate. Hic.

***

I was always on edge during Killian’s “test,” and if there was ever a time to calm my
nerves, it was when I was working in Renon’s office.

Even in the summer, his office was one of my favorite places in the mansion, cool and
filled with the smell of paper.
I especially loved its warm silence.

Contrary to my initial impression that he was stingy with compliments, he complimented

me more often than I expected.

In fact, the task of organizing the documents by date and reorganizing the scattered
content onto a single sheet was not difficult, but he commented in passing that I had done
it neatly and meticulously.

I felt at peace with his words, words that didn’t overwhelm me, but acknowledged my
hard work.

But today, even that would be difficult.

“Killian, why are you here?”

I arrived at work to find Killian sitting in the middle of Renon’s office.

“Is there something I shouldn’t be here for?”

“Nothing like that…… it’s just, I’m surprised. I haven’t seen you since I’ve been working
here.”
“I come in sometimes, though not when you’re around.”

“Oh, I see…… so, is there something you need to discuss with Renon?”

“Yeah, well……”

Despite being the second son of a duke, Killian was also helping the Duke with his affairs,
so it was no surprise when he showed up at Renon’s office, as he might have something to
discuss about taxes.

“You two can talk then. I’ll be doing my own work.”

I smiled and sat down at my desk, but I couldn’t help but think that Killian had come to spy
on me.

‘Yeah, I’ll show him how hard I work.’

I concentrated on my work, really concentrated.

I didn’t glance in Killian’s direction once, just focused on organizing the documents.

I wondered if he was a little impressed that I was working so hard.

After a few minutes of silence, Killian suddenly spoke up.

“Do you think it would be a good idea to add another employee, Renon?”

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought that sounded out of the blue.

“All of a sudden……?”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been paying attention to you. Now that I’m here during business
hours, it seems like you’ve got a lot on your plate.”

I can finally understand what Lize meant when she said Killian is blunt on the outside but
caring on the inside.

Although he was concerned about Renon, his voice was extremely stiff.

“I appreciate your concern, but Miss Edith is helping me, so it’s okay.”

“How much does Edith help?”

“She’s more competent than any employee I’ve ever had. She makes my job so much
easier.”
Ouch! It’s kind of embarrassing to be praised in front of Killian.

I’m embarrassed, but I can’t hide my satisfaction.

‘But what’s with the look on his face?’

Killian’s brow crumpled when he heard Renon praise me.

At first, I thought he didn’t want to hear him praise me, but then I realized he had to admit
it now, so I guess he let go of his doubts about me.

‘Keep your head up until the end, Edith, come on!’

I pretended not to hear their conversation and worked harder on my documents.

***

Diary of Renon Filch

– April 2, 1824

The Duchess has sent me Miss Edith to help me with my work.

I didn’t expect much, but it’s true I’ve been a bit overwhelmed since that fool ran away
last time.

I was hoping she’d have the intelligence not to mix up the dates, but to my surprise, she
organized the receipts diligently and meticulously.

She even looked very skillful, like she had been working somewhere for a long time.

I thought I could ask for nothing more from her in the future, but in the afternoon Young
Master Cliff called me in and asked about Miss Edith.

I answered him as I felt, but I did not think it was what he wanted.

– May 20, 1824

Miss Edith, who was always so diligent, has been strangely anxious and nervous lately.
I asked her if something was wrong, and she took something out of her pocket and asked
me if I thought it was okay.

At first, I thought it was a scrap of fabric, but when I looked closely, I realized it was an
embroidered handkerchief.

Apparently, it was to be sold at Count Ermenia’s bazaar in the near future.

I was honest and told her that the handkerchief was a little tattered all over and the
stitches were unevenly spaced, but that I could definitely recognize the design.

It was a compliment in my mind, but she looked like the sky had fallen.

I don’t know what on earth I could say to a woman’s embroidery that would sound like a
compliment.

– June 18, 1824

The other day the Riegelhoffs sent a maid to serve Miss Edith, but she did not look very
happy.
She even looked a little weak, but today she suddenly enjoyed her refreshments, which
she never did before.

She left a cookie and a madeleine for me, but her eyes were glued to them as she sipped
her tea, and I couldn’t help but ask her to finish them.

She looked like a little girl asking if she could have some.

I wondered why she was taking refreshments so suddenly. Is she expecting?

– June 29, 1824

I’ve returned from a business trip and the mansion is in a strange mood.

It seems that Miss Edith has been trying to harm Miss Lize, first by poisoning herself, and
then by attempting to poison Miss Lize.

I found the story hard to believe.

Greedy people are bound to be obvious somehow, and Miss Edith doesn’t seem greedy to
me.

I don’t listen to the servants’ gossip because it’s none of my business.

Miss Edith has been put on probation for the time being, and it is quite inconvenient to
have one of my hands empty.

– July 15, 1824

Miss Edith’s probation has been lifted.

It seems that the cases involving her have been largely cleared up, but the servants still
believe that Miss Edith is the culprit.

I don’t really care if Miss Edith had done it or not.

As long as she continued to help me with my work, that is.

But then, as if I had done something to provoke her, she showed tears.

I panicked a bit, but luckily I had the presence of mind to hand her a handkerchief.
She quickly wiped her tears and went back to work.

Again, she was very good at her job.

If only she had been the daughter of a commoner in need of money, I would have hired
her as a full-time employee right away.

CHAPTER 54

– August 2, 1824

Today, for some reason, Young Master Killian came to my office.

It was the first time he had come to my office and sat down, but strangely enough, he told
Miss Edith that he came here often.

I thought about correcting him, thinking he might be wrong with his memory, but Master
Killian’s gaze was so vicious that I stopped myself.

Miss Edith was focused and fast today, with and without Master Killian. She’s a talent I
admire every time I see her.

But then Master Killian stole a glance at her and suddenly asked me if I wanted to hire
another employee.
It was nice of him to ask that, but it’s not like I haven’t hired people in the past.

I’ve always hired, it’s just that they couldn’t last half a year and ran away.

In that sense, Miss Edith was really helpful.

She was conscientious, understanding, quick with her hands, and smarter than anyone I’ve
ever met, except for her often-repeated probation.

So I said that I didn’t need a new employee because Miss Edith was already helping me
more than enough, but Master Killian looked at me with a frightening glare.

Perhaps Master Killian wanted to get Miss Edith’s attention, but if that’s the case, he
should have said something nice to Miss Edith.

I don’t think Miss Edith would understand such a twisted way of speaking when she’s so
focused on her work.

I see they both have a very difficult future ahead of them.

***
Killian came to Renon’s office every day as if he were going to work.

Seeing that he came in and didn’t do much, it was obvious that he was there to spy on me.

But if you’re going to spy on someone, you should do it in hiding, not in plain sight like
this. It’s not a good way to do it.

Anyway, I ignored him and continued to play the conscientious employee.

No, this is not an act.

Even in this world, my soul couldn’t escape the Korean Peninsula office worker trying to
earn money to pay off the loan.

“If you add up the amounts on this receipt, the total is 3,568,478 sennas, but the actual
statement says 3,568,487 sennas.”

“I see, they must have transposed the last two digits. I was wondering where the 9 sennas
had gone, so thanks for finding it.”
“I’m not done yet. I realized there was a miscalculation. It’s not a big deal, but I think if
you miscalculate, you’ll get into trouble later.”

“You’re right. I’ve been thinking about it, but you’re very meticulous, and you’ve cleaned
up a bunch of document that was full of errors.”

“Thanks to Renon teaching me well, I suppose. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“You did a great job, young lady, then see you next week.”

Once again, I found a document with a miscalculation, corrected it, and organized it with a
sense of satisfaction.

“Are you done now?”

“Uh, Killian. You still there?”

I’d been so busy working that I’d forgotten Killian was there.

Killian’s eyes narrowed as if he’d been offended by my comment.

“Renon’s assessment of you as diligent and persistent is too accurate.”

“Uh, yeah? Thanks.”

“……I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

“What? Being diligent and persistent is not a compliment?”

“Haha…… no, I’m going to get up now too, so I’ll walk you to your room.”

It wasn’t an offer, it was an announcement.

Killian grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of Renon’s office before I could finish clearing
my desk.

“I didn’t finish clearing my desk!”

“Renon will do it.”

He strode toward my room in such a hurry, that I had to half-run to keep up with his pace.

When he reached my room, Killian shooed away Anna, who was waiting for me, and spoke
almost threateningly.
“I know you don’t have any schedule tonight.”

“What? Oh, yeah. There is nothing special.”

I don’t have anything to do at the mansion other than help Renon. I didn’t accept any
party invitations, so I don’t really have a schedule.

“Let’s go to the opera together.”

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

“Would it make any difference if I put it off until tomorrow or the day after?”

“……not really.”

Still, it’s an out-of-the-blue proposal.

‘I have a sneaking suspicion that this is…… like a final exam?’

Instead of suggesting things to do inside the mansion, he suggests we go outside together.

‘Hoho. I’m not falling for it, man.’

“So, you’re going to the opera with me tonight.”

“Killian. You don’t have to try so hard, I’m really fine.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying that you shouldn’t feel obligated to do something with me. Why don’t you
go with Lize when she’s better?”

At this point, Killian would have to admit it.

First of all, the fact that I don’t jump at the chance to go on an opera date with him really
emphasizes my chastity.

I am cool enough not to be clingy to my husband when I suggest him to go out with Lize,
and I have the fortitude of a priest when I pretend not to see the temptation to go out
after dark.

I believe I have passed Killian’s test with flying colors.

But then, strangely, I felt Killian’s hand on my shoulder grow stronger.

“Killian……?”

His breathing seemed to get a little ragged.

“You, what the hell do you think I am?”

“What? Of course…… you’re my…… husband……?”

I felt a little ridiculous saying that.

The fact that he and I are married has become an indisputable fact, with the seal of a
priest stamped on a document with the seals of both parties, but there hasn’t been much
that he and I have done to act like a couple.

“Do you mean to tell me that you’ve turned down every suggestion to spend time
together as husband and wife? Ah! There is one thing you won’t turn down”

“What, what?”

I asked, feeling a strange mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

Killian’s heat-soaked eyes were the same ones I’d looked up into once before.
He suddenly slung me over his shoulder.

I jerked back, startled by the suddenly distant floor and my legs in the air.

“Killian, let go of me, I- I’m scared!”

He did as I asked and quickly let go of me. Although it was on the bed.

“A husband is supposed to be the stallion, isn’t that right?”

“No- no way!”

“This is the only thing you won’t turn me down for, isn’t it, Edith?”

Before I knew it, Killian was undoing the knots in my dress.

I couldn’t believe how fast his hands were, and the heavy dress slid down my back.

“Killian, I really didn’t mean for this to happen!”

“So, this is your retaliation for turning down your request to embrace you the other day?”

He asked with a growl, and without waiting for my answer, he kissed me.
“Eup……!”

The heat of his mouth crashing into mine stole my breath.

He’d always been a good kisser, but something about him felt different today. It was
thicker, wetter, and so honest that I felt like a barrier was missing.

“Ha, ha, Killian……”

“You look like you’re going to cry.”

I wasn’t about to cry, but I was embarrassed.

“You know how vulnerable a man is to a face like that.”

“What?”

“That’s why you cried like that in front of Renon too? It was heartbreaking even from a
distance.”

“Renon……?”
“Don’t bring up that other guy’s name in front of me.”

I opened my mouth to say, “No, you brought it up first!” but Killian kissed me again.

In the midst of this soul-crushing kiss, I remembered the day I cried in front of Renon.

He wasn’t there that day……

When he said, “even from a distance”, did he mean that he was watching from
somewhere?

“How dare you get distracted in front of me.”

“Oh, that’s because……”

“Perhaps I’ve been too gentlemanly.”

“It’s not– ah, no, wait!”

Killian suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his lips in the nape of my
neck.
“I won’t let you think about any other guy.”

“Ngh, Killian……!”

“Yeah, just like that…… only call my name……”

His pillar was hard and hot against me down there through the thin chemise.

I was a little scared that if he hugged me tightly enough, my body would crumble into
itself.

But part of me wanted him to hug me so tightly, so tightly that I couldn’t think about
anything else.

My mind went white from another kiss and the heat of his pillar against my secret spot.

For some reason, tears welled up in my eyes.

“You look erotic when you cry. You know that.”

“Hic, sob……”

“So, when you make a face like that in front of other guys, it makes me angry.”
I couldn’t understand why I was crying either. I couldn’t understand what Killian was angry
about.

Even so, I felt myself getting more and more heated, and eventually, I threw my arms
around his neck and breathed out a sob excitedly.

“Don’t be angry, don’t be huffy, don’t be……”

“I see what you’re doing.”

Killian’s voice sounded somehow satisfied.

But I couldn’t understand a word of it, lost in the pleasure he was giving me.

***

[The second exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The second exception condition will be removed.]
From beyond the darkness, I heard a voice that now sounded familiar.

At first, I was dazed, thinking, “Oh, sister announcer, how long has it been?” but then I
came to my senses.

Although it’s kind of funny to say that I came to my senses from a dream.

CHAPTER 55

‘Wait, what does this mean? What condition did I meet?’

It was one thing when I met the first condition, but it was equally confusing when I was
told that I met the second condition.

‘What is the second condition?’ I asked the voice.

The voice spoke like a machine-recorded answer.

[The second exception condition: Reject Killian Ludwig’s offer ten times.]
‘What?’

That was a ridiculous condition.

It’s almost easier to understand the viciousness of the first exception condition.

My first thought, once I recovered from my shock, was that someone was playing me.

‘I’m sure they’re getting a kick out of watching me struggle in real-time.’

The god of this world must be a sadist!

He must have known I had a crush on Killian and made that condition.

In fact, if I hadn’t made up my mind to clear up Killian’s misunderstanding that I am not a

clingy pervert to him, I would never have gotten past level two.

‘I really have become a cow that catches a mouse while walking backward.’

I’m sure the god of this world is as baffled as I am right now.

The thought of it made me a little indignant.

I smirked, unable to contain my hollow grin.

After a dream in which I felt nothing but darkness, I gradually regained the sense of my
limbs.

I had no strength in my languid body, but something was holding me strong, keeping me
from falling apart.

“What are you dreaming about that makes you smile in your sleep?”

I heard a low, muffled voice.

It was Killian’s voice, erotic enough to make my eardrums shiver.

I must have moved from a dream where there was an announcer-like voice to a normal
dream. Killian’s voice whispering to me……

“Hmmm…… it’s good……”

I opened my eyes slightly and saw a man’s naked chest, albeit blurry. Considering that I
heard Killian’s voice earlier, this must be his chest.
I rubbed my face against it, feeling rather drowsy.

Even though I was dreaming, I could feel the heat of his hot body and his hard muscles,
which meant it was really good.

‘Ah…… at this rate, I have no regrets if I die now…… huh?’

After a while of burying my face in Killian’s chest and inhaling his scent and doing
everything I wanted to do, I realized something was wrong.

‘This is a weirdly long time for a dream of this kind……’

Feeling something weird, I opened my eyes and blinked hard, trying to wake up.

In front of me was a man lying on his back, his sternum deep.

‘Yeah, that’s where I rubbed my face.’

Five seconds after that realization, I sat up.

“Ah, Ki- Killian! I’m sorry!”

Crazy! It wasn’t a dream! I had just buried my face in Killian’s bare chest.

I apologized, but his smiling face hardened.

“Did you rub your face against me without realizing it was me?”

“Oh, no, no, it’s not like that, I thought it was a dream!”

“A dream? Are you sure it was me in that dream too?”

“Yes. I thought it was a dream because…… if it was real, you wouldn’t stand still.”

Only then did his frown lift.

“All right, then. Lie back down.”

“What?”

My eyes widened as I couldn’t comprehend his words, and he tugged me back into his
arms.

Holding me tightly, he didn’t say anything except for a long sigh that sounded somehow
satisfied.
I didn’t mind being held by him either, so I just let him do what he did.

I thought he was going to fall back asleep, but instead, he was playing with the strands of
my hair in his fingertips.

He seemed like he’d let me do whatever I wanted, so I started playing with his pecs like
crazy.

‘I’m guessing that’s enough for a C-cup, right……? I’d like to give it a squeeze.’

I drooled. Then Killian began to chuckle.

“Is that so good?”

Oops, I was caught.

“Oh, no, I just thought it was…… interesting…….”

“What’s there to be interesting about it? When you train, you get that much muscle, it’s
natural. I’m more interested in your body.”

He stroked my back slowly with his large hand.

“How is it so soft…… and squishy?”

“I was a little worried you were going to squish me there, too.”

At that, Killian stirred and laughed again.

It was strangely warm and comforting.

“Is it the middle of the night?” I asked, noticing the darkness around us.

“No, just some curtains drawn. It must be around dinner time.”

“Ah……”

“You must be hungry, since you haven’t eaten.”

“Are you not?”

“I am hungry.”
I didn’t think much of it earlier, but now that it’s dinner time and I’ve skipped lunch, I’m
suddenly hungry.

“Can you get up?”

“Yes……”

I was a little dazed, but not dizzy or in pain.

Killian stared down at me, then suddenly leaned in and kissed me.

It wasn’t a passionate kiss, but a cozy, comforting, warm kiss.

After a few light, moist kisses, he asked quietly, “When you say you don’t see me as a
stallion…… do you mean it?”

“Why do you ask, it’s obvious!”

“Well…… you’ve never given me such certainty before.”

No, you can’t say that! When did you ever give me the chance to?

But I’m the one who’s feeling sorry for myself.

If I keep this good vibe going now, I can change the future of my death at Killian’s hands.

“What can I do to make you believe me?”

The corner of his mouth curved as if he’d been waiting for this.

“Come with me to the opera tomorrow. Even outside of the bedroom, you…..”

Killian stared down at me, unable to say anything more than that he wanted to go to the
opera.

He seemed to be searching for the right words.

“I’m fine. I just thought you were offering things out of a sense of obligation, and I didn’t
mean to push you away.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“When have you ever believed me? but I’m as innocent as ever.”

“Then do your best to convince me.”

Killian kissed me again, his hands caressing my body.

If my stomach hadn’t made a rumbling sound then, we might have gone into round two.

As I buried my face in my hands in embarrassment, Killian gave a small chuckle and pulled
the servant bell.

“Get the bath water ready, and we’ll eat afterward.”

“It will be ready in a minute.”

Despite our naked states, Anna did as she was told without the slightest agitation.

After our baths, we had a late dinner together.

We didn’t have much of a conversation, but I felt full and the time flew by.

“Are you sure…… you wouldn’t mind going out with me tomorrow?”

“The suggestion was made by me.”

“Right.”
“We’ll go out tomorrow after lunch, and I’ll pick you up at your room when you’re ready.”

My heart fluttered at the thought of going out on a date even though we were already
married.

“I’ll wait for you.”

“……see you tomorrow.”

With that, we parted wistfully, looking forward to the next day.

***

[The second exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The second exception condition will be removed.]
‘How could it be so fast!’

K was stunned to hear that the second exception condition had been met.

He thought Edith’d never be able to pass this one, but she had met the condition so
quickly, it was as if she’d been waiting for it.

‘Isn’t she in love with Killian? It sure looked like it.’

The thirteenth Edith, like the previous twelve, is in love with Killian. It was obvious.

That’s why K was so confident when he set the condition: “Reject Killian Ludwig’s offer ten
times.”

How can you say no to someone you love ten times?

‘I thought she’d never be able to say no once, let alone 10 times……!’

Love, as K knows, is a feeling of wanting to give and do whatever the object of your
affection wants.

Just like Cliff and Killian do with Lize.

Even if you could say no once or twice for some reason, saying no ten times was the same
as not loving someone.

Even if someone you don’t love asks you for a favor, it’s hard to say no ten times, so how
on earth could she……!

‘I called myself nervous, but I never thought it would turn out like this.’

I don’t know exactly what happened, because it was between Killian, who I only had 70%
control over, and Edith, who I had zero control over.

But I didn’t miss Killian’s muttering.

“I think Edith’s been avoiding me lately.”

I couldn’t believe how strange it was that Killian was talking about Edith and not Lize……

But that didn’t stop me from recognizing anomalies, and I was able to convince Edith
through Lize.
‘There was definitely something off about it then.’

Edith felt sorry for Killian, who fell victim to an arranged marriage, unlike herself, who did
not see it as a bad thing.

“He hasn’t accepted me yet…… he’s offering me things now only because he’s being
forced to because of his position.”

At the time, I thought she was just pouting and complaining about Killian, but now I realize
that she actually felt like Killian was being forced to do something he didn’t want to do.

CHAPTER 56

‘So she rejected all those offers for the sake of Killian?’

That’s the only conclusion K could draw from the situation, but if that’s the case, then he
helped Edith meet the second exception condition.

Because K was the one who encouraged Killian to do it through Lize.

If he had left it alone, Killian wouldn’t have made ten offers in a row, and Edith, who
would have relaxed in the middle, might have accepted at least once.

Encouraging Killian to strengthen the flow of the story turned out to be a double-edged
sword. But there’s no point in hindsight.

‘Damn it! If the second condition is met, that means Killian won’t listen to me anymore!

The second exception condition had never been met, until the thirteenth Edith did it.

K’s control over Killian would be reduced to about 30%, making him even harder to
control, and his control over other characters would be reduced to about 70%.

But K had never seen what that was like.

‘What will happen to this world…… when the third exception condition is met?’

A horror he’d never thought of came over him.

As far as he knows, once the third condition is met, he will not be able to intervene in
anything in the world, and the world will be driven by the probabilities created by the
characters.

But what the world would be like, he couldn’t imagine.

He had always thought of himself as the god of this world, but now that he was in this
situation, he felt so helpless.

‘I created this world, why can’t I control it the way I want?!’

Worse yet, once the law of “following the original story” is removed, time will continue to
move forward.

Unlike the end of the story, where Lize becomes the Duchess and the Sinclairs experience
a profound sense of regret and then everything back to the beginning of the story…… time
will continue to move forward after that.

But apart from being tired of living in a loop, K was not curious about what would happen
after the original story.

‘I will only happily ever after, I don’t want to know the after story, I don’t want to see Lize
grow old!’

K wanted the story to stop at the peak of happiness. How could he watch the traces of
time fall on Lize’s beautiful face?

Lize should be perfect.

She should remain in her current state, young, beautiful, happy, and loved by everyone.

‘And for that to happen, Edith must die as a villainess.’

K gritted his teeth.

Unfortunately, K can’t kill Edith himself.

It wasn’t until this situation that he realized it more clearly: trapped in the flow of the
story, he could only control the characters he created.

And the flow of the original story sets up only one person to kill Edith: Killian.

‘Of course, now that the second condition has been met, the law of “following the original
flow” is weakened, and I can use it to kill Edith, but the penalty for doing so…… will be
severe.’

If Killian falls in love with Lize again, it might make things easier, but in any case, the most
powerful weapon K could wield is the “exception condition”.

If the last one is not met, there is a high probability that no matter what happens, the flow
of the original story will eventually lead Killian to kill Edith.
‘So I need to make the third exception condition something Edith will never be able to
complete, and I need to try to kill her as much I can.’

K was no longer in a playful mood.

He thought about it for a very long time before finally deciding on the condition that
would be set on the level three exception.

And the system of this world accepted his decision.

[The third exception condition has been set.]

Perhaps because I had never heard this sentence before, the voice I usually heard
sounded cold today.

***
“Oh my God, I didn’t know there was a place like this!”

At the opera house where I’d come out with Killian to prove I wasn’t treating him like a
stallion, I couldn’t help but look around and gape.

The soaring ceilings, wide stage, walled-off private rooms on the second and third floors,
and luxurious seating on the ground floor would rival any modern theater.

Maybe it was because I’d only been to movie theaters in my previous life, but it seemed
the author had envisioned the opera house in all its glory for Cliff and Lize’s opera house
date.

“You’ve never been here?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Searching Edith’s memory, I couldn’t recall ever being in a place like this.

The only places Count Riegelhoff ever showed his daughter were at parties and
gatherings.
Even when he allowed her to seduce men, he never sent her out where she couldn’t be
monitored. He thought she would run away if he let her out of his sight.

“No way. I think I’ve seen Count Riegelhoff or his heir a few times in the theater……”

I merely smiled a bitter smile.

Killian’s brow furrowed slightly at me, but he didn’t press for details.

“What’s the title of the play?”

“It’s Odelette.”

“What’s it about?”

He looked at me puzzled when I asked for the title.

“You don’t know Odelette?”

“Is it famous?”
Intrigued, I searched through Edith’s memory, but strangely enough, she had no
knowledge of opera, play, or painting.

Then a memory flashed through my mind.

“You don’t need to know any of that, you ignorant, no one knows any of that. Don’t be
interested in any of that stuff for no damn reason, just do what you’re told!”

It was the day I went to a young ladies’ social gathering and came home humiliated
because I didn’t know what the play was about.

I asked him to tell me a little about it, but Count Riegelhoff dismissed me as a nuisance.

‘He was afraid his daughter would know too much; he wanted a dog who could do what it
was told.’

Even if it was a set-up to create Edith’s distorted view of love, it was a family relationship
that really went too far.

When I showed signs of not knowing anything about Odelette, Cillian thought about
something and then explained with a straight face.
“Odelette, the daughter of a once wealthy viscount, goes into the woods to pick
raspberries and finds a wounded man. Out of pity, Odelette helps the man and falls in love
with him. The man says he’s lost his memory, but he’s actually László, a prince from a
neighboring country who was being hunted by an assassin sent by the enemy.”

“Oh my, oh my! And?”

Killian sighed softly, then spoke again, “They fall in love, but Odelette’s father wants to
marry her off to a man from a wealthy family to raise the family name, and when László
finds out about it, he begs her to run away with him.”

“But it sounds like she would have made a different choice.”

“That’s right. After much deliberation, Odelette marries a wealthy man, and László,
despairing, returns to his own country. A year later, Odelette sees the prince of a
neighboring country marrying a princess, and is devastated, regretful, and ends her life by
suicide.”

“Sounds like a tragedy.”

It was like a European version of Lee Soo-il and Shim Soon-ae [1]. I wonder how many
similar sad-ending love stories there are.
[1] A popular love novel depicting the tragic love between Lee Soo-il and Sim Soon-ae, in
which the female lead is faced with the choice of “money or love.”

As we talked, the lights in the theater went down and the stage lit up.

As the spotlights shone down on the stage and the beautifully dressed singers began to
sing, I was quickly drawn into the opera.

At first, Odelette and László nurture their budding love as they sing lightheartedly.

But their love is quickly put in jeopardy.

Othello’s father introduces her to a wealthy baron, Hubert, for the sake of the family.

“Oh, God! What am I to do? Please give me the answer.”

Odelette is torn between Hubert, a wealthy man, and László, the man she loves, and
László begs her to trust him and come to him.

And Hubert seduces her with money even though he knows she has a man she loves.

“Oh, forgive me, László. My heart will always be yours, but I am forced to leave you.”
A creepily clear soprano sings Odelette’s heartbreak as she chooses another man over
László.

They say the human body is the best instrument in the world, and my mouth fell open.

Suddenly, a handkerchief appeared in front of me.

“Huh……?”

I turned my head in confusion and saw Killian staring at me.

He pressed the handkerchief lightly against my cheek.

I must have been in tears without even realizing it.

“Thank you,” I whispered, taking the handkerchief from him and wiping away my tears.

The opera ended with Odelette stabbing herself in the chest with a dagger in the back of
László’s wedding, where everyone was celebrating.

As the actors came to the front of the stage to take their bow, I jumped to my feet and
clapped enthusiastically, as did everyone else.
It was so touching that my heart skipped a beat.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes! I never thought opera could be like this, and I don’t think I’ll forget it for a while.”

I put my hand on my still-pounding chest and thanked Killian for bringing me here.

Killian seemed to be thinking about something, and then he asked, “If you were Odelette,
who would you have chosen?”

I wiped the last of my tears away and answered bluntly, “Hubert. I’m not going to kill
myself.”

Killian stared at me, a little surprised, then asked again.

CHAPTER 57

“Hubert? You mean the guy who has a lot of money?”

“Apart from the play, László is a very bad son of a bitch.”

“What?”
“He tests Odelette’s love, even though he knows what she’s going through, and he doesn’t
reveal his identity, asshole.”

Killian looked shocked at the swear word I let out. But I had no intention of taking it back.

He finally got over his shock and asked me another question.

“But if you really love someone, would you be swayed by the mere lure of money?”

“Killian. You’ve never been without money, have you?”

“Well…… no.”

“There are too many things that money can solve…… for it to be just money.”

I knew that all too well, which is why I could understand Odelette, and why I couldn’t
forgive László.

“Besides, the honor of the family was at stake in her marriage, and she couldn’t just throw
it all away for the love of her life.”

“But……”

“You know that pain all too well, Killian.”

Killian froze at my answer. Wondering if I had unnecessarily rubbed his wounds, I quickly
changed the subject.

“The play makes Hubert out to be a very mean man, but in reality, he is the one who loves
Odelette.”

“He takes Odelette, who is already madly in love with another man, by intimidating her
with money, isn’t he?”

“Yes. He knows she’s in love with another man, and yet he goes out of his way to get her.
If he were that rich, he could have gotten a woman as beautiful as Odelette to be his wife
who loves him just as much.”

“That’s……”

“Maybe if László hadn’t reappeared as if to take revenge on Odelette, Hubert and

Odelette could have lived as a normal, happy couple.”

For the first time, Killian nodded.

“So it is quite foolish for Odelette to take her own life at the end, and to be honest, it’s not
that unlikely, and I’d bet my neck that the author of this play was a man.”
“You tend to put your life on the line a bit too much, but you’re right, the playwright is a
man.”

“So he must have thought a woman would be remorseful and take her own life, but
women, you know, they’re a lot stronger than you think.”

I smirked, but Killian just stared at me without moving.

‘Did I sound too aggressive?’

I felt a pang in my stomach.

Maybe I’d made a mistake by picking at his wounds earlier.

At a time like this, I needed to break the ice quickly.

“Shall we get out now?”

“……yes.”

We walked out of the opera house side by side, the excitement still building.
I felt a tickle in my stomach because we looked so much like a normal couple on a date.

As we stepped out onto the street, where the sun hadn’t yet set, Killian looked back at me
and asked, “Should we head back to the mansion, or do you want to look around the
streets?”

Huh? He’s going to take me around some more!

“I want to see the streets!”

“Wait, you’ve never seen the streets before?”

“Not really, but…… it’s my first time with you.”

He held out his arm to me, looking a little more relaxed now.

I swallowed hard and placed my hand cautiously on his arm.

My heart skipped a beat as I felt his hard forearm beneath the fabric.

Everything seemed so relaxed on the evening street.

The Piroche Street I walked down with Killian was close to Darsus Street I’d walked down
with Anna the last time, but unlike Darsus Street, it was a mix of commoners and nobles.
“Look at that! What is that?”

A merchant was rolling something slimy on a stick and handing it to the child.

“It’s candy.”

“Candy?”

“It’s a foreign way of making candy, they say it’s all the rage these days.”

I had a vague memory of seeing it on TV in my previous life. It looked a lot like the candy
they sell on the streets of Turkey.

‘The author must have used Turkish candy as a reference.’

When I stared at it, Killian smirked and pulled me in front of the counter.

“Make me one.”

“You want one, lady?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll make it very pretty for you!”

The candyman swirled what looked like multicolored melted taffy with a slender wooden
stick and quickly made a lollipop, which he dipped into a fine powdered sugar before
pulling it out and handing it to me.

“Fifty sennas!”

“Here.”

“Oh, look, I’m sorry. I don’t have enough change, so…… just give me a minute and I’ll
change it for you.”

Killian handed over a 1,000 sennas bill, and the candyman was puzzled. After all, not many
people would take out a bill to pay for street candy.

“No change.”

“Sorry?”
Killian put his arm around my shoulders and started walking, leaving the surprised
candyman behind.

I giggled to myself, amused that I was in this strange world eating Turkish candy that I had
never eaten in my previous life.

“Is it that delicious?”

“Yes. It’s very sweet, but it also has a sour flavor.”

The fifty sennas candy tasted like melted sugar.

But maybe the fact that it was Killian who bought it made it taste better somehow.

As I was sucking on the long lollipop, Killian looked at me and swallowed hard.

“Seeing me eat it makes you want to eat it, doesn’t it?” I asked, half teasingly.

He nodded slowly and whispered, “I do want to eat, although it’s not the candy I want to
eat.”

“What? Then what’s……”

I wasn’t sure what he was saying, so I looked up again, and Killian looked me straight in
the eye, swallowed again, and shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“What……”

He looked embarrassed to tell me he wanted candy.

Just then, I heard a child’s sweet voice.

“Buy flowers! Buy flowers!”

A little girl was selling flowers in a small basket with only a few left.

They were already half-wilted, so no one was paying attention.

But if she didn’t sell them all, she would definitely be standing here until nightfall.

“Hey, lend me some money.”

I forgot to bring any money with me on the way out, so I tried to borrow some from
Killian, but instead of lending me money, Killian walked over to the child and bought all
the remaining flowers.

“Thank you, my lord!”

The child, who looked to be seven years old, bowed to Killian again and again, then took
the empty basket and ran off into the distance with a lightness of step.

Then Killian gathered up the wilted flowers he had bought from the girl, tied them
together in his handkerchief, and handed them to me.

“No lady buys flowers herself when a man is by her side.”

“It sounds like an old-fashioned saying, but I’ll take it for now.”

I took the small bouquet he held out and pressed my nose against it.

The wildflowers, which must have been picked in the mountains or fields, had a scent
closer to that of grass, but their rusticity somehow made them more appealing.

Come to think of it, this was the first time I had ever received flowers from anyone in my
entire life, past or present.
In my previous life, my parents believed that it was better to spend the money on
Jajangmyeon [1] than to spend it on a bouquet of flowers that would never be eaten.

[1] Korean black bean noodles.

Actually, so did I.

But when I received the bouquet in person, I felt like I was floating on air.

“I’ve never gotten anything like this…… before.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sure you’ve never gotten flowers that wilted before. I’m sure they would
have been fresher this morning.”

“No, no. I’ve never received flowers before.”

“You…… what?”

I was staring at the flowers and smiling when I felt a strange vibe next to me, so I turned
my head and saw Killian looking at me with a very strange look on his face.

“What’s wrong, Killian?”

“You’ve never…… gotten flowers before?”

“Never.”

“You mean the men who were courting you didn’t even bother to send you flowers?”

“Ah…… those…… I never received them, though they may have sent them.”

“What……”

It was a bit of a shock to me, too, that Edith didn’t remember receiving flowers in person.

There were plenty of men who had sent her bouquets as part of their courtship, but they
had all been used to decorate Countess Riegelhoff’s room, Shane’s room, or the mansion
itself.

‘Why did they have to be so strict with Edith? Isn’t she their biological daughter?’

But I can’t say that out loud, because I haven’t yet met the third exception condition.

‘I shouldn’t have told him I’d never gotten flowers before,’ I thought with regret.

I turned Killian’s attention to a clown. “Whoa, look at that, Killian!”

I pointed with the intention of keeping Killian from digging deeper into my problem, but
the clown who could strike all sorts of poses and not drop a ball thrown in the air was
fascinating.

I grabbed Killian’s sleeve and pulled him closer to the clown.

We weren’t the only ones watching, but only a few people were throwing coins into the
hat in front of the clown.

The commoner children probably didn’t have any money, and the nobles passing by would
find it undignified to join the commoners in watching a clown.

“Killian. Do you have any coins?”

“No.”

“I’m afraid I can’t just walk by after watching this……”

“Of course, that’s not polite.”

With that, he pulled out another bill and handed it to me.

Again, it was a 1,000 sennas bill.

CHAPTER 58

‘This must be the lowest he carries.’

I took it, stepped forward, and put the bill in the clown’s hat.

Then the clown started juggling in circles around me, and the guy behind me on the violin
played even more enthusiastically, which really made me feel embarrassed.

It was probably the most money they’d ever gotten for their talents.

I stiffened my shoulders and looked back at Killian, who was smiling weakly at me.

He must have thought it was funny to see me so stiff and rigid, clutching a bouquet of
flowers in one hand and candy in the other for fear of ruining the clown’s juggling act.

“Now let go of my wife.”

Killian said with a chuckle, and the clown backed away with a series of thank-yous, and I
managed to get back to Killian’s side.

People around us continued to stare in our direction, seemingly surprised by his

appearance.
I was strangely tickled by his referring to me as “my wife,” so I couldn’t help but smile.

Why do good times go by so quickly?

Our evening melted away as quickly as fifty sennas street candy, leaving behind a sweet
aftertaste and the smell of fresh wildflowers.

“You don’t believe me, so you’re not going to believe this, but I had a great time today,
thank you.”

At the door to my room, I looked back at Killian and waved goodbye.

“It wasn’t a great outing, was it?”

“Everything was a first for me. It was great.”

“Is that so……?”

I nodded.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this happy. Maybe, maybe I never had one.
But I couldn’t think of anything more to say than that.

It would be rude to hold on to him too long.

“Then…… good night.”

Killian gave me a small nod, and I gave him one last smile before closing the door behind
me.

A sigh escaped me as the door closed between him and me.

‘You know, this is only going to make me greedy……’

One of my first resolutions after getting married got shaken.

I still have that piece of paper in my desk drawer where I circled “Be grateful for what you
have” over and over again…….

***
Edith closed the door without looking back at Killian, so she didn’t see him raise his hand
afterward, but Killian didn’t knock on it again to call her.

‘What am I doing?’

Clenching and unclenching his hand, which he raised and lowered again, Killian slowly
walked toward his room.

Everything he’d done with Edith today had been a first for her, and a new experience for
him.

Starting with the opera, Odelette, which he’d picked in the hopes that it would be an
uneventful date.

It’s a famous opera, and Killian has seen it many times.

The only difference was that the lead soprano in today’s opera was a particularly famous
singer, so it was going to be the same old experience for Killian. If only Edith hadn’t been
there with him.

At first, he couldn’t believe that Edith didn’t even know this famous opera.

I wondered if she was lying to me, pretending to be naive.

But as I searched my memory, I realized that while I had seen the Riegelhoffs in the opera
house a few times, I had never bumped into her.

‘So, she really had never been to an opera house before?’

I thought she didn’t like opera, but Edith’s reaction when the opera started was
astonishing.

“Oh, no!”

She covered her mouth, sucked in a breath, sighed with the anguished Odelette, and shed
a tear at the sound of the despairing soprano.

When I wiped her glistening tears away, Edith smiled a little in surprise, as if she hadn’t
realized she was crying.

It was not the reaction of someone who didn’t like opera.

‘What happened? What’s the reason you never watched opera before?’
With that question in mind, Edith’s opinion of the opera was even more surprising.

Of the two men, she chose Hubert, saying László is an asshole. She also said she wouldn’t
kill herself like Odelette.

“He tests Odelette’s love, even though he knows what she’s going through, and he doesn’t
reveal his identity, asshole.”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. I’d always thought of it as a story of a foolish woman who
missed out on true love because she was blinded by material things.

But as I listened to Edith’s story, it made sense.

Testing love is an act of arrogance, of putting yourself above the other person.

And László is arrogant.

If he really loved Odelette, he should have reassured her before she suffered in anguish.

And then Edith made another unexpected comment.

“Killian. You’ve never been without money, have you? There are too many things that
money can solve…… for it to be just money.”
She smiled bitterly, as if she had been miserable without money.

And when she said he should be able to understand Odelette, who married for the family
name, Killian flinched.

Edith knew he had been forced to marry her for the good of the family, even though he
was in love with Lize.

It should have hurt her pride, but she had never shown it.

Instead, she’d reassured him that he didn’t have to be good to her, that he didn’t have to
feel so obligated.

‘How could that be?’

As he thought about it, Edith smiled.

“But women, you know, they’re a lot stronger than you think.”

That’s true.

Edith was much stronger than Killian thought.

She had not crumbled in the face of the accusations hurled at her, but had steadfastly
maintained her innocence, and had defended her family’s honor in the face of assault by a
maid who seemed to have the family’s permission.

Whether it was an honor worth defending was questionable.

As she turned away, Edith’s smile was dazzlingly beautiful, heartbreakingly sad, and as
solid as if it would never break.

But the woman who seemed so strong became a girl when she stepped out into the
street.

Even the cheap candy brought a happy smile to her face.

“Yes. It’s very sweet, but it also has a sour flavor.”

A fifty sennas candy would have tasted like melted sugar.

But Edith looked as happy as if she were eating a dessert that couldn’t be found anywhere
else in the world.

If only I hadn’t been distracted by those lips glistening with sugar water.
“Seeing me eat it makes you want to eat it, doesn’t it?”

There was something innocent and flirtatious about the way she asked if I wanted to eat.

Edith didn’t seem to notice until the end what I really wanted to eat.

‘So it’s not her who’s lustful, it’s me.’

And this time she asked me to borrow money to buy some wilted flowers from the flower
girl.

Edith is probably the only lady in the empire who would buy flowers herself, even with her
husband by her side.

I bought some unremarkable flowers and tied them up with a handkerchief to cover the
broken branches, and Edith accepted them with excitement.

“I’ve never gotten anything like this…… before.”

Her soft voice, almost whispering to herself, was filled with the excitement of a woman
receiving flowers for the first time.
Edith’s quick turn of phrase when asked if there had been a man who had sent the flowers
made Killian suspect that Edith’s position within the Riegelhoff family was very strange
indeed.

‘If there was a sender, but the recipient did not receive them, where did the flowers go?’

They couldn’t have been thrown away.

The men who courted Edith were all scions of well-to-do families, and Count Riegelhoff
would not have turned them into his enemies.

If so, he must have taken the flowers somewhere……

‘You’d steal flowers from your daughter? Why on earth would you do that?’

It was a ridiculous theory, but when I thought about the house that took the maid who
assaulted their daughter to the carriage, I realized that even that ridiculous theory was
probably true.

That made me uncomfortable.

I wondered what kind of past this woman was hiding, unable to yell at a juggling clown to
get out of the way, her shoulders stiffened.
“Now let go of my wife.”

I was surprised to hear myself say it.

My wife.

The resonance of the word somehow touched me. Like Edith approaching me with a
smile…….

The commoners around me stared mesmerized at Edith as she walked toward me.

And I suddenly realized that my wife, Edith Ludwig, is a beautiful woman who would stand
out anywhere.

“Killian. Let’s go.”

The whispered voice beside me was irresistibly loving.

I was having so much fun.

It had been a long time since I’d felt such excitement and peace.
It was the same feeling I’d had with Lize one day, but when I thought of her, Cliff always
came to mind, and a sense of impatience and inferiority always rose in the back of my
mind.

But with Edith, I don’t have to think about that.

Edith is my woman, the one for me.

Just when I was starting to feel bad about the simple outing, she said she had a great time.

“It wasn’t a great outing, was it?”

“Everything was a first for me. It was great.”

First. Everything was a first.

I felt sad and happy at the same time.

The fact that her firsts were all being filled by him fulfilled Killian’s desire to monopolize
her.

But that night, as he sat alone in his room, replaying his date with Edith over and over,
Killian found himself sinking deeper into the questions he’d been asking himself.

CHAPTER 59
‘What about all those rumors about Edith?’

Killian was not one to judge someone based solely on uncertain rumors, but the rumors
about Edith Riegelhoff were too abundant and too consistent.

But from what he had seen of Edith herself, she could hardly be what they said she was.

‘Who on earth is the venomous, vicious, lascivious Riegelhoff family flower snake referring
to?’

The inscrutable question kept nagging at him.

‘Does it have something to do with the fact that she said it was her first time at the opera
and her first time receiving flowers……?’

Killian began to harbor new suspicions about Count Riegelhoff.

‘I’ll have to watch Edith more closely in the future.’

He had a feeling that digging into the truth she was hiding would lead him to a much
bigger truth.

While he was lost in thought, there was a knock on his bedroom door. If anyone would
come at this hour, it would be someone close to him.
‘Edith?’

His heart skipped a beat.

Killian opened the door, his heart racing.

But it wasn’t the person he was expecting.

“Sorry for coming this late at night, Killian. May I speak with you for a moment?”

“Lize……”

Lize had never come by at this hour before.

Killian let her into the room, looking uneasy and anxious.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”

“Killian. I’m here to talk to you about something I’m not sure what to do.”

“Is that so? Then sit down and tell me. What’s going on?”
“Well…… it’s about……”

Lize fidgeted for a long moment, biting her lip.

Her white skin looked even paler today.

“Lize. The fact that you came to me means you trust me, right? Then don’t worry, talk to
me, I’ll help you with anything.”

Killian’s soothing voice seemed to give Lize some courage as he patted her delicate
shoulder.

“Killian. One of the maids at the mansion…… disappeared today.”

“Disappeared?”

“She left all her belongings behind, but she was nowhere to be seen.”

“Did she go out and not come back?”

“I don’t know, no one has seen the maid since the lights went out last night, but……”
Watching Lize’s eyes waver, Killian realized that this was what she wanted to talk about.

“Of course, it’s something I can’t be sure of yet, and I don’t believe all of it myself, but……”

The way Lize spoke in circles made Killian feel uneasy.

“Lize. What is it you want to say? Say it.”

At the sound of Killian’s low voice, Lize closed her eyes tightly.

“The maid said she saw Edith poison the embroidery thread, and she said she’d tell Cliff
today…… and then suddenly disappeared……”

“What……?”

Lize’s hands were trembling.

Normally, Killian would have been paralyzed by the way Lize was talking and would have
gone to get Edith right away, but now he couldn’t take this story lying down.

The last thing he wanted to do was push Edith around just because he was ‘upset’.

“Who did the maid say that to?”

“She said she told the other maids around her……”

“There’s no way Cliff didn’t know about that all this time.”

“She said she’s been thinking about it for a while, and when Cliff heard about it today, he
sent someone out to find her.”

“I’ve never heard anything about that.”

“It happened today when you and Edith were out, and Cliff seemed to be trying to handle
things on his own, saying that if we told you, you’d just cover for Edith, but…… I thought
you should know.”

Killian’s eyes narrowed, several assumptions and questions quickly crossing his mind.

“Killian. Could it be that Edith really tried to kill me?”

Lize, who looked at him with teary eyes, was still pitiful and lovable, and Killian wanted to
protect her.

But Killian also has a duty to protect Edith.

She is his wife.

“I don’t think so.”

“Killian……?”

“She has no reason to do such a thing.”

“Well, she wouldn’t, would she?”

Lize asked like she was hanging on by a thread, and she, too, was shuddering at the
assumption that Edith was the culprit.

It would be creepy to think that someone you see face-to-face every day could have tried
to hurt you with such a nonchalant smile on her face.

Killian sighed and continued, “You’ve said it before, too, but why would Edith want to kill
you?”

If Edith was a spy planted within House Ludwig by Count Riegelhoff and ordered to
assassinate someone, she would target someone from House Ludwig, not Lize, someone
from another family.
He used to think that perhaps Edith wanted to kill Lize because he was in love with her.

However, based on their time together, Edith was not jealous of Lize.

‘She never craved my affection in the first place.’

She didn’t expect anything from him, much to Killian’s displeasure.

So there was no reason for Edith to want Lize dead.

“I wonder if the maid is under someone else’s command.”

“If it was someone else……”

“Of course it’s the real culprit, and they don’t want to get their tails stepped on, so they
spread just enough rumors to make Edith look suspicious and get rid of her.”

Lize swallowed hard.

“I’ll have to investigate all the other maids who said they heard it from her.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean for this to get this big!”

“Shh, calm down, Lize. You have nothing to worry about. It’s chilly in the mornings and
evenings, and you should dress a little warmer.”

Killian carefully draped the shawl back over Lize’s slender shoulders, where it had slipped
off.

“……okay, thank you, Killian.”

“You’re welcome. Let’s go. I’ll take you to your room.”

Killian stood up and walked with Lize to her room, saying one thing as he walked.

“Lize. I’m sorry, but in the future, if Cliff tries to take matters into his own hands regarding
Edith, will you come to me and tell me? I’m her husband, after all, and I should know.”

Lize’s eyes widened, but then she nodded.

“Okay.”

“But don’t tell Cliff, or he’ll keep it from you.”

“……I’m sure he will.”

Lize also knew Cliff’s personality, so she agreed with a bitter smile.

After walking Lize to her room, Killian kissed her on the forehead to say goodnight.

Killian’s expression, mild until then, turned cold as he turned his back on Lize’s room.

What’s the point of bringing it up now

‘What’s the point of bringing it up now, when everything’s been covered?’

Edith was right.

It was as if someone was persistently trying to make her into a villain.

***
“Huh? He asked me to join him for lunch today?”

“Yes, miss.”

“W- why……”

Anna was only relaying what she heard from Killian, so it was hard to get an answer from
her.

After the opera date, Killian made it a point to spend time with me every day.

At first, I was just happy to have the afterglow of the date, but after three days, I started
to wonder.

Grumbling to myself wouldn’t get me any answers, so I decided to ask him at lunch today.

Killian showed up at exactly the right time.

“How are you, Killian.”

“That seems like an awkward greeting for a married couple.”

“Well, is it…….”
Unlike me, who felt awkward sitting next to him, Killian sat down across from me quite
naturally.

“So, how’s helping out with Renon’s work these days?”

He was so casual about asking how I was doing. So much so that I wondered if I was the
weird one for feeling awkward in this situation.

“It’s kind of like what you saw when you came over: I get a job from Renon, I do it, and I
hand it all over.”

“……you mean there’s no conversation?”

“Yeah, usually. Like me Renon seems to like to be quiet and focused when he’s working.”

Then I remembered what he said about Renon when he embraced me. I think he said
something like, “Did you cry like this in front of Renon, and did you know how naughty it
was……”

“No way, you still think I flirted with Renon?” I asked nervously.

Killian’s mouth closed tightly as if that was the correct answer.

I really wanted to say no, no way, but I had a question I couldn’t learn without asking.

“Killian…… are you jealous?”

At those words, Killian glared at me.

“What are you talking about? You’re my wife anyway, so why would I be jealous of
Renon?”

“Yeah, well, sure, but…… then why did you ask me that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the night before we went to the opera, you mentioned that I cried in front of
Renon…… and yes I did, but how the hell did you know that? Did you spy on me?”

His fork and knife, which had been cutting into the chicken meat, came to a halt.

He did spy, yes.

“Hmph…… I didn’t realize you had a hobby of spying.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh, yeah. Well, let’s just say it is.”

I glared at him as if I understood everything, and Killian’s cheeks turned red.

CHAPTER 60

“It was a total coincidence. I was just about to walk in and it just happened to be
happening and I didn’t think it was…… my place to interrupt.”

“For what it was, you’re making me out to be a total prostitute.”

“That’s……”

“Killian. Are you, by any chance, jealous?”

I giggled and teased him, amused by Killian’s flustered look.

He suddenly locked eyes with me and replied in a serious voice, “Yeah. I was jealous,
actually.”

“What?”
“Well, the rumors about you were so bad, and even the most chaste of men and women
can get a little carried away after spending so much time alone together, so I was a little
worried.”

“Ha……”

“At first I thought it was because I was worried about Renon, but then I realized…… yeah, I
guess I was a little jealous of Renon.”

As he finished speaking, the air around our table felt overly quiet.

So much so that I could hear the sound of saliva slipping down my throat.

“Does that satisfy your curiosity?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Well, you’d better finish your meal then, the food is getting cold.”

“That’s right!”

My heart was pounding strangely in my chest, and my appetite was gone, but I forced the
food into my mouth so as not to show my awkwardness.
‘What’s wrong with him?’

Apparently, the opera date was the start of something drastic. All of a sudden, he’s being
so honest…….

But for me, who knows how this world works, his change was more puzzling and
suspicious than welcome.

It seemed like a good time to ask what I’d been meaning to ask all along.

“Killian.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Hey…… what’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

“What are you talking about?”

Killian seemed to have decided to let it slide, but I didn’t want to.

“Spending time with me, being honest with me.”

“What’s wrong with that, isn’t that what a married couple does?”
“I’m saying this because we haven’t been a normal couple, so don’t try to deflect.”

He put down his cutlery and said, “I just thought…… I should get to know you a little
better.”

“To know me better……?”

“I admit it’s late. And that I’ve been childish.”

“Oh, no, no.”

“I’d like to get to know you, even if it’s just now. Of course, I don’t trust you
completely…… because you’re still the number one suspect in the past cases.”

“I see.”

“But now, I think it might not be you, and I hope you’re not.”

A strange look of anguish grew in Killian’s eyes.

My heart thudded in my chest, even though he hadn’t said he’d chosen to believe me.
‘The light of hope is getting brighter!’

I thought I heard a Sanctus echoing from somewhere.

Killian was now declaring that he wanted to get to know the real Edith Ludwig, to abandon
his prejudices about me.

This alone increased my chances of survival considerably.

“Thank you, Killian.”

“It’s not something you should be thanking me for, in fact, I think I owe you an apology.”

It was such a change that I wondered if this was the same man who had picked up his
wedding ring and put it on himself because he didn’t want to touch me at all.

‘I’ve made it this far!’

My heart swelled with pride and I felt like I was going to cry.

But Killian wiped them away.

“So, that being said, I’d like to spend more time with you in the future.”

“What?”

“I mean, if we’re going to get to know each other, we should spend more time together,
and I don’t want to miss any of your little habits.”

Uh…… I mean, that’s, let me put it another way: surveillance or obsession.

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

“Oh, no, of course not.”

I smiled quickly before his gaze shifted back to suspicion.

I still didn’t know if spending more time with Killian would be poison or medicine for me,
but the dice had already been cast.

‘Well, let’s hope for the best. At least he’ll warm up to me.’

The ‘observation period’ that began was an effort for Killian, but it was also a difficult one
for me to get used to.

“I brought you a strawberry tart from Peridot. Would you like to eat it with me?”
Killian began to offer me the same offer I had rejected.

This time, of course, I couldn’t refuse. It was the strawberry tart from Peridot that I had
missed out on.

“This…… is freaking amazing!”

The famous tart was every bit as delicious as it was rumored to be.

I don’t know how they made the filling, but it tasted like a mix of strawberries, vanilla
whipped cream, and a subtle hint of cheese that I could have eaten forever.

“Where the hell did you learn to say that?”

“Oops, was that too rude? But there’s no way to describe how delicious this is!”

“I didn’t realize you’d like it so much. The Peridot sells several other kinds of tarts besides
this one, and if there’s anything you’d like to try, I’ll order it for you.”

“Anything but peach tart!”

The offhand remark made Killian pause and look up.

“Speaking of which,” he said, “that peach pie.”

“Peach pie? Oh, yeah.”

“Are you sure…… you didn’t poison it and eat it?”

“Of course not, I wouldn’t eat poison just because I’m crazy, I don’t like getting sick.”

The pain that had seemed to squeeze my insides made me break out in a cold sweat just
thinking about it now.

Killian looked down into his teacup and spoke quietly again.

“I really don’t think it could be nor should it be, but…… was it that maid?”

I paused in the middle of slicing the tart.

Killian seemed to be on to something, but it was unnerving to not know how this would
come back to haunt me later.
But no matter how the story played out, it was in my best interest to tell him about my
predicament if I wanted to survive, which is probably why I couldn’t tell him until I met the
third exception condition.

‘I guess it’s too late to say no now.’

I sliced off a piece of tart in affirmation.

I wanted to nod, but the constraints prevented me from moving my head up or down at
all.

“Why in the world would you cover your family after what they did to you? Is it because
you don’t think I can protect you?”

I don’t even want you to protect me, just don’t slit my throat.

I sighed, but I didn’t want to make the mood heavy here.

I said in a light voice, “I never covered them.”

“Never?”

“Think about it, Killian. I never did.”

Killian’s eyes turned slightly to the side and stayed there, as if he was thinking about the
past, before turning back to me.

“Then why don’t you just say it out loud?”

“There are some things you just can’t talk about, you have to wait for the right time.”

It must be frustrating enough for Killian. But as frustrated as he is, so am I.

Luckily, Killian didn’t push me for more answers, but instead gave me a shallow nod.

“So you’re saying that someday I’ll know the answer?”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Well, I can’t torture my wife just because I want to know.”

Did you really…… have to make that analogy?

“Don’t be nervous. I’m not such an insignificant man that I’m going to base my judgment
on what comes out of your mouth.”
“So you’re saying you’re going to actively do background checks?”

“As long as you have integrity, you shouldn’t have a problem with that.”

“……sure.”

Killian and I smiled at each other and drank our tea.

The next day, Killian, who said he had to leave for work, stopped by my room a little
before 3 pm.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been out in the fresh air, so why don’t you come with me for a
walk?”

“Killian, didn’t you say you had work?”

“Oh, I’m late to greet you. I am back, my wife.”

Killian smirked and greeted me, and I had to avert my gaze as if I were going to be blinded.
I hope he turns on something like a hazard light when he’s punching me in the heart, so
that I can prepare myself.

“Now, may I ask you to go for a walk?”

“Oh, well, yeah, uh, whatever.”

I stammered, placing my hand on the arm he held out.

The breeze was cool, but the sun was still hot from the end of summer. But there was a
cool breeze in the shade of the trees.

In my previous life, I still wouldn’t have lived without air conditioning, but it was definitely
cooler here than in Seoul.

“Do you still go for a walk in the morning?”

“Yes, unless the weather is bad or I’m not feeling well.”

Ever since I got sick because of Sophia, I’ve been taking morning walks again. It was a
great way to start the day with a clear mind.

But it wasn’t the walk itself that Killian wanted to ask.

“Are you…… still spying on me?”

Ugh! Turn on the hazard light!

“That…… I’m sorry if it offends you.”

“Rather…… if you want to see my body, why don’t you just look at it instead of peeping?”

A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of Killian’s mouth.

Ha, goodness. This former virgin dares to taunt a veteran?

“But that’s different.”

“What’s different?”

“Killian…… you are a different beauty when you’re wielding a sword than you are…… in
bed.”

CHAPTER 61

I whispered the ‘on the bed’ part in his ear, and slowly Killian’s earlobe began to flush.
“I love the way your back and shoulders and arm muscles move when you grip, extend,
and swing your sword, and I can tell you’ve been training hard for a long time.”

Despite the heat rising in his face, Killian didn’t bother to stop me.

However, he did make some unnecessary remarks. “You seem to have some pretty firm
standards for observing a man’s body,” he said.

“Yes, just as you have your own preferences for observing a woman’s body.”

For someone who loved the slender Lize, Killian tended to obsess over the ‘voluptuous’
parts of my body.

Whether he realized it or not, Killian’s face was now too flushed for words.

He can be so out of this world when provoked, but at times like this, he’s surprisingly
innocent.

Then, suddenly, he stiffened up and asked, “By the way, if you’ve been spying on me…… I
assume you’ve also seen Cliff?”

“Oh, yeah, because you train together all the time.”

“Is that how you looked at Cliff’s body too?”

“You can’t make the obvious invisible.”

Killian’s eyes turned fierce.

I wondered why he’d taken his jealousy out on me if he liked Lize.

But if I ended this date with his feelings hurt, it would be dangerous going forward, so I
needed to let him off the hook.

“Of course, my preference is yours. I like round and firm muscles.”

“To be honest, Cliff’s muscles are a little more firm…… I tend to gain weight when I get a
little lazy.”

“But your butt is a little more firm…….”

“Hoho……”

Oops, I’ve slipped into my own talk. I wonder why I dragged the topic of conversation
down to the lower half of the body.

I quietly lowered my hands, which I had raised as if to grab something.

“I thought it was my chest you liked, is it my butt? Ha…… you are naughty……”

“W- w- what the hell? Your chest……?”

I shook my head in disbelief, but Killian’s eyes sparkled in a way I’d never seen before.

“We’re a couple, yes. We can stare at each other’s chests and butts with confidence.”

“T- that’s……. yeah.”

The heat was now rising to the nape of my neck as well. I wish we could stop talking about
this topic now……

“The breeze has cooled off, but it’s still summer.”

“Yeah, it’s a little hot……”

I was fanning myself, glad for the change of topic, until Killian grabbed my waist and
pulled me close, whispering, “Let’s wash off the sweat, shall we……”

“What……?”
As I stood there dumbfounded, he called a distant maid and ordered her to quickly
prepare the bath water.

And while the maid ran off, he continued his walk, hugging my waist as if nothing had
happened.

It was exactly fifteen minutes later that the maid had the bath water ready.

“Shall we go do something more couple-like now?”

Killian grabbed my waist and turned me toward the mansion.

My husband’s demands seem to be crossing the line more and more every day.

Personally, I am grateful for it.

***

Killian has changed, and he’s changing more and more.

The moment I realized it for sure was when Killian came to take me to Lize’s teatime.

“We’re having tea outside today. Come with me.”

“Hm? Is this teatime with Lize and Cliff?”

“Yeah.”

Killian replied lightly, as if it were no big deal, but I was surprised that he had come to take
me to their teatime.

Wasn’t he the one who only came when Lize told him to? And he’d even warned her to
watch her language.

I was both shocked and thrilled by the change, but then I remembered that the previous
tea I had come to was invited by Lize

“I didn’t get an invitation today.”

“I told her, and I don’t think she’d object to you going.”

Hmm…… of course she wouldn´t, given who she is, but I couldn’t help but feel a little
uncomfortable.

‘How is Lize reacting to Killian’s change?’

Of course, she doesn’t know that she’s the female lead in this world, and she doesn’t
know that Killian is the second male lead.

But she does know that Cliff and Killian have always been there for her.

I wonder how she feels to see a man who’s always looked out for her, being kind to a
woman he’s always said no to?

‘I think that’s what a second male lead is, someone who’s not good enough for the female
lead but is too good to give to someone else.’

In the original story, Lize asks Killian to be nice to Edith, but you never know if she means
it or just puts words in her mouth.

I walked out into the garden with Killian, a little nervous.

An elegant tea table had been set up in the shade of a tree, and Lize and Cliff were already
seated.
They were laughing out loud at what they were talking about.

‘Will Killian be okay?’

I looked over at Killian, worried about him because of their cheerfulness.

But he was looking down at me.

“Maybe it would have been better to bring something to wear?”

“Oh, no, it’s not even the end of summer yet.”

“I don’t want you to catch a cold and bother me.”

“I won’t bother you if I catch a cold,” I chuckled, and Killian frowned.

“Seriously, I won’t even let you notice that I have a cold, so don’t worry……”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“What?”
“Just know that if you hide being sick one more time, I won’t let you off the hook.”

“B- but you said it bothers you?”

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake. Did I offend you?”

“No, it’s just that……”

I was trying to think of a response, wondering what the hell was wrong with him, when
Lize stepped in and broke up our awkwardness.

“It’s been a long time, Edith!”

“Ah, Lize, it’s been a long time. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, I’ve gained a few pounds from all that lying around and eating all the yummy stuff.”

Lize pouted her lips cutely and pinched her side with her hand.

It barely caught anything, though.

“Lize. How many times have I told you that you need to gain some weight?”
Cliff laughed and patted Lize on the back, and Killian nodded in agreement.

Then Lize looked at me enviously. “No matter how much I eat, I’ll never get a mature
woman’s body like Miss Edith’s; I just get flabby on the sides.”

“Well, Miss Edith has her own charms, and you have your own. You’re pretty on your
own.”

“Thanks, Cliff. But sometimes I’m jealous of Edith, and she’s better looking than me, isn’t
she?”

Hmm? Is it just me, or is there something about this conversation that seems off?

Why is she suddenly making comparisons to me?

‘What am I supposed to do when she asks that question? I’m sure Killian would take her
side.’

I forced a smile through clenched teeth.

Lize’s all well and good, but she’s just a little too clueless.
Killian stiffened slightly and said nonchalantly, “I don’t want to make my wife’s body a
topic of conversation in front of another man.”

His answer must have cracked Cliff up.

He continued to laugh, his shoulders heaving as he stood next to an apologetic Lize.

“Ahahaha!”

“What?”

“Ahem, no, sorry, sorry.”

“Stop laughing so hard and say something.”

Killian continued to glare at Cliff, but Cliff laughed, looking completely unaffected.

“You and sister-in-law are having a good time these days, huh?”

Killian’s brow creased even more at the tone, which he couldn’t tell was mockery or
praise.

“What do you mean?”

“No, nothing. Don’t put my sister-in-law in an uncomfortable situation. Let’s have some
tea.”

“You’re the one who put her……”

Seeing Lize’s troubled face, Killian kept his mouth shut, but I knew what Cliff was talking
about.

In the original, no, not even the original, months ago, Killian would have responded in
praise of Lize.

But his answer earlier was more like covering for me.

Even Cliff seemed to feel awkward looking at me……

And as I watched Lize’s expression, I realized that she was also surprised by Killian’s
answer.

‘No way, did she say that because she thought Killian would naturally praise her?’

Did she know that I would be humiliated in front of him? Or did she…… just want to check
Killian’s heart?
But Lize quickly wiped her surprised expression off her face and smiled as if she were
pleased.

“You two look so good together, like a real couple……!”

From the blush on her cheeks, I had a rough idea of what she meant by “a real couple”.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it.

‘Right, there’s no way Lize would have had such a nefarious idea. She’s just a bit clueless,
but she’s a good girl.’

It’s a fact that the original book openly proclaims. Lize Sinclair is bright, good, and
righteous.

There’s no way she’d intentionally try to screw me over.

“Edith, I have mandarin black tea and strawberry black tea, which do you prefer?”

I smiled brightly as I heard Lize’s sweet voice asking for my tea preference.
“I like strawberry black tea.”

“You also like strawberry tart, so you must like strawberries.”

Killian spoke to me this time, again causing Lize and Cliff’s slightly surprised gazes to turn
in our direction.

Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised.

CHAPTER 62

“Raw strawberries are a bit tart, so I prefer sweetened or just strawberry scent.”

“Your perfume doesn’t smell like strawberries, it smells like roses.”

“When I wear perfume on my body, I like it to be flowers rather than smell like food.”

Killian nodded, a look of new-found information on his face, then leaned toward me and
sniffed the scent.

“Not bad.”

Ugh, what’s wrong with him today?

Huh? Wait…… is he trying to stir up Lize’s jealousy, and do I need to help him with this?
I had mixed feelings, but I didn’t have time to dwell on them.

For now, I decided to pretend to be friendly with Killian. Even if I’m wrong, there’s no
harm in pretending to be friendly.

“Are you saying it’s not bad but not good either?” I asked in a low, flirtatious voice.

Killian stared at me before answering, “I think…… it’s good.”

“I’m glad to hear that the scent I wear all the time appeals to you, too.”

Lize and Cliff’s stares stung, but I feigned ignorance and kept my eyes on Killian.

Killian kept his eyes locked on me and smiled softly.

As if to lighten the mood, Lize began pouring tea into the teacups.

“This is a strawberry black tea I got from Martinez’s. I don’t know if it will suit Edith’s
taste.”

“The tea you gave me last time was delicious. I trust your taste.”

As I praised Lize, I heard her laugh again.

With that, the four of us made light small talk and leisurely enjoyed our tea and light
snacks.

All the while, my mind was racing, trying to figure out how the story would flow.

‘If there are things happening that aren’t in the original story…… and there’s a three-level
exception condition, doesn’t that mean that the ending of the original story doesn’t
change if I don’t pass those levels?’

If I can avoid dying without fulfilling the third condition, then there is no reason for the
third condition to exist.

While I was thinking about that, Lize said to Killian in an apologetic voice, “By the way,
Killian. I’m sorry, but I was wondering if you could come with me to Le Belle-Marie next
Friday? I got a call that the shoes I customized with you the other day are finished.”

“Oh! I can’t believe it’s already been that long.”

“Yes. If you’re busy, that’s okay……”

“No, no, I’ll come with you.”

Killian accepted lightly, and Lize smiled brightly.

Then she caught sight of me a moment too late.

“Oh, if it’s something Edith doesn’t like, Killian doesn’t have to come with me! I- I can go
alone.”

The way she waved her hands in the air was cute.

But I found her attitude strangely off-putting.

I saw Lize and Cliff make eye contact before she made this offer, so I wondered why she
asked Killian to go with her and not Cliff.

I mean, I know she ordered the shoes with Killian, but why does she have to go with Killian
to pick them up?

‘Weird…… I can’t stop feeling that something is off whenever I see Lize Sinclair…… or is it
just me?’

Now, I couldn’t even tell if I was having these thoughts because of her weird behavior or
because I was feeling inferior to her.

Worse, not long ago, I was able to pat Killian on the back and say, “Yeah, have fun with
Lize!” but now I can’t do that.
‘Why do I feel so bad……’

Killian didn’t seem to put much meaning into the outing with Lize. I know that.

I know, but it still makes me feel a little sad.

It broke my heart to think that Killian would be as sweet to Lize as he was to me when we
went to the opera, or even more so.

‘I…… think I’m in trouble……’

There’s nothing I can do about my jealousy of Lize, and I’m sure I’ll be treated like a
prostitute again if I act like I’m seducing Killian.

I can’t do anything about it, and I’m just waiting for Killian to dispose of me.

It was bitter.

***
It was three days after the outdoor tea that the strange happiness I had been enjoying
lately began to take an uneasy turn.

The Count of Sinclair and his eldest son, Damien Sinclair, who should hardly appear in
volume four of “I Refuse Your Obsession”, were visiting the Duke of Ludwig.

‘What’s going on? Why is the Earl of Sinclair suddenly appearing?’

There had been a few temper tantrums between the extras who were close to the Count
of Sinclair, but I didn’t expect him to show up so directly.

‘This is the Duke of Ludwig, who would not make an occasion of meeting with the Count of
Sinclair, even for Lize’s sake. So what on earth is going on?’

I was curious, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask what was going on.

Then Anna came and informed me that the guests were leaving, so I put on my best
nonchalant face and went down to the ground-floor parlor.

In the parlor stood the Duke and Duchess, as well as Cliff and Killian, seeing off Count
Sinclair.
“Please stop by sometime. My wife is looking forward to serving the Duke and Duchess.
Hahaha!”

The slim man, who must have been quite handsome in his youth, smiled gently at the
Duke of Ludwig.

His eyes seemed to share a similarity with Lize’s, but the impression was completely
different.

Where Lize was a ray of sunshine or an innocent blonde angel, Count Sinclair reminded
me of a gargoyle or a rat.

“I’ll be sure to stop by when I have time, and thank you for your visit today.”

The Duke of Ludwig didn’t look all that displeased.

In fact, he looked a little harmless.

I stepped quietly to Killian’s side. I looked around to see if Lize hadn’t come down after all,
and my eyes locked with Damien Sinclair.

‘What? Are you looking at me now?’

It was only a moment, but Damien gave me a very unpleasant look.

‘Are the aristocrats of this world only going to acknowledge you if you’re not polite,
what’s wrong with you all?’

I wanted to run over and grab him by the collar and tell him to watch out for his eyeballs.

But I knew that if I showed my displeasure here, I’d be attacked again.

“Goodbye.”

“……goodbye.”

In the end, I swallowed my pride and smiled. Of course, I couldn’t help but glare at
Damien.

As they pulled away in the carriage, I tugged on the end of Killian’s sleeve and asked in a
low voice, “Why did they come?”

Killian looked around as if he hadn’t heard my question, then answered slowly as he led
me to my room.

“I have a feeling that you or Count Riegelhoff are going to be in some trouble.”
That’s not a good start to the conversation.

“It looks like Count Sinclair will be signing a distribution rights deal with a northern iron
ore miner soon, and it looks like the groundwork has already been done.”

What do they have to do with me, I thought, and then I remembered why I was able to
marry Killian in the first place.

‘It was because Count Riegelhoff had the southern iron ore distribution rights.’

If he were just a wealthy count, the Duke of Ludwig wouldn’t have cared much whether
the Riegelhoffs sided with Archduke Langston or not.

But the Riegelhoffs were almost the only family with a steady supply of iron ore, and they
were a hard nut to crack for the Duke of Ludwig, who was active in creating new weapons.

It would be unsettling if such a family sided with the Langstons.

‘That’s why Duke Ludwig has been turning a blind eye to what Count Riegelhoff is doing,
but if suddenly Count Sinclair gets the rights to distribute iron ore……!’

Needless to say at length, I would be a duck egg in the Nakdonggang River [1].
[1] An expression to describe someone’s miserable situation because he/she is deserted
or alienated from a group of people.

But I suspected there was more to it than that.

“And he’s already here to talk about iron ore distribution rights that he doesn’t even have
yet?”

Killian opened my door and pushed me in first, then closed it quietly.

“The Sinclairs are trying to unseat the Riegelhoffs.”

“Then I’m sure I’m very intrusive in their eyes, but they didn’t tell you about me?”

“They probably didn’t think it was time yet, but they will eventually.”

I felt a little bitter as I watched Killian talking like it was someone else’s business.

‘Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with him.’

I was growing increasingly uneasy with Killian’s reaction to this, coupled with his casual
acceptance of Lize’s offer to go out.

“Edith. What’s with the look on your face?”

“No, it’s nothing. Damien Sinclair gave me a rather nasty look earlier.”

“Were you thinking about taking revenge?” Killian asked playfully.

“I’d do it any day if I could.”

“I look forward to that day.”

If only I could joke around with Killian like this for the rest of my life.

‘But I can’t just count on Killian.’

He’s the one who loved Lize and yet accepted to marry me. How easy it would be for him
to toy with me, a woman he doesn’t love.

I smiled at Killian as he walked away, but inside I mulled over my thoughts.

***

I don’t usually let myself get depressed.

It’s a habit I have had since my second year of middle school, when I realized that if I’m
depressed, there’s no one to take care of me.

I can still clearly remember the day I realized this.

CHAPTER 63

Adolescent girls’ emotions run the gamut several times a day.

They can be overjoyed and saddened by the slightest trigger.

But at the time, I wasn’t in a position to be swayed by small triggers.

“Oh, it’s leukemia, Mr. Hai. I don’t have any money in the house, and my daughter’s got
this weird disease.”

The day I came home from the leukemia diagnosis, my dad was irritably talking to
someone on the phone, right in front of me.
I was suffering from unexplained headaches and dizziness, so I went to the clinic and the
doctor told me to go to the hospital, where I found out I had leukemia.

I was in pain all over, and my mom and dad just sighed heavily with grim faces, which
didn’t ease the fear and anxiety I was feeling.

Feeling like a sinner, I was depressed and sad the entire time I was hospitalized,
undergoing treatment, and receiving my brother’s bone marrow transplant.

To be honest, I can’t tell you how many times I wished I could just die.

Even when I found out that my brother’s bone marrow was a match for me, I wasn’t
happy.

“Oh, no, that’s gonna fucking hurt!”

“But she’s your sister, you have to do it.”

“Oh, just tell her to go to hell!”

“Ha…… Soo-chan, if you do this, I’ll buy you that laptop or something you’ve been
wanting……”
“……really? Really?”

“Of course.”

My brother’s voice, telling me to go to hell even though I was right there with him, would
come to life in my head every time I looked at him.

After a bone marrow transplant that was traded for a gaming laptop, I was exhausted
from several procedures and no one was by my side.

My parents were standing by my brother who donated the bone marrow, complimenting
him on a good job, and I was lying alone, staring at the white ceiling.

I felt so sad and depressed that tears streamed down my face, and I realized that I was
crying to get their attention.

‘It’s all for nothing, so why are you crying?’

I cried, but they didn’t look back at me. I was lucky if they didn’t call me a crybaby.

Once I realized that, I was able to get out of depressive moods quickly because I knew it
was pointless.
That realization from my previous life has come in handy now.

‘It’s not the time to be depressed. It’s dangerous to rely on Killian when I don’t know if
he’s going to give me his heart or not.’

I’d been doing my best to say hello to the extras, and I’d gotten a few servants to know
me, but I needed to do something more practical.

‘Money! I need to raise more money!’

I still only have nine million sennas in my safe at the Mallen Central Bank.

That’s a lot of money by the standards of this world’s commoners, but it’s far from enough
to prepare for an unknown future.

I scrambled to my feet and began pulling out the jewelry I could sell.

‘Let’s sell everything that came off my dress, and the accessories I brought with me when I
got married…… hm, let’s sell everything that’s not my style.’
I went through all the drawers and accessory cases to see what I could sell, but there
wasn’t as much jewelry as I thought.

The large gems adorning the dresses are colored minerals that look like rubies or
sapphires, and while they are considered jewelry, they don’t fetch much money.

‘Let’s sell the dresses I don’t wear!’

Noblewomen’s dresses are also expensive.

I wonder if anyone would buy my dresses if I sold them, but it turns out there’s a thriving
second-hand dress market because some people don’t wear their dresses again after one
or two wears.

I sorted through the dresses I’d brought with me when I got married, the glamorous,
provocative ones that I was afraid would look out of place if altered.

There are only three of them.

“Anna, can you find a dress buyer for me?”

“Sure.”

I was glad she didn’t ask.

I didn’t have to rush to make up a lame reason.

Anna, a paragon of a competent maid, brought a man in late that afternoon.

He is the owner of a very popular dress shop on Le Belle-Marie Street.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I laid out three dresses in front of him.

“I’d like to sell these three dresses.”

“Oh, they’re in great condition, how many times have you worn them?”

“This one maybe once, the other two I’ve never worn.”

“Sorry? You’re selling a brand new dress? Why don’t you wear them at least once before
you sell them? Even if they’re brand new, they’ll always be second-hand when I buy them,
isn’t that a waste?”

He seemed to have a conscience for a merchant.

“It is a waste…… but I don’t want to wear another dress that might offend the dignity of
House Ludwig.”
“What do you mean, offend their dignity? I’m sure these dresses will look very good on
you. This amount of revealing is nothing these days.”

I know. I know these dresses would look amazing on me.

It was a design that Count Riegelhoff would have chosen with great care to make Edith
look her best, though how she would do it was the question.

“That’s very kind of you to say, but I’ll probably never wear it, so I’m selling it before it
goes out of style.”

“If that’s what you want to do, okay, then…… I’ll pay 300,000 sennas for this dress,
400,000 sennas for this one, and 180,000 sennas for this one.”

The dresses, which would have cost close to one million sennas to make, dropped to less
than half price.

“Can’t you give me a little more? I’ve only worn this once, and the other two are brand
new……”

“Actually, I’d be happy to do so, but there are only a few people who are willing to pay for
a dress with such an unconventional design, so it’s difficult to sell them……”
The merchant’s words made sense. There aren’t many people who can wear such a
design.

In the end, I accepted his offer and sold three dresses.

The next day, I took Anna to a jewelry store on Darsus Street.

This time, I didn’t bother to compare a few places and went straight to Amabile.

I thought they would be more accommodating since I had done business with them
before.

However, when the jewelry store owner took a closer look at the jewelry I brought in, I
was nervous inside.

“Hmm…… I’ll pay you 10,000 sennas each for the diamond beads, 30,000 sennas for the
topaz, 50,000 sennas for the tourmaline, and 30,000 sennas for the garnet……”

He sorted through the gems with a stern face, calculating the total with an abacus.
Apparently, the price of semi-precious stones dropped a lot the larger they were, and the
diamond beads I’d saved just in case fetched a good price.

I was a little disappointed, but the jewelry store owner’s voice brightened slightly as he
checked out my accessories.

“That’s a nice emerald. Hmm…… I think I can buy it for 3 million sennas.”

A necklace of emeralds and diamonds that was so dazzling that it made my eyes hurt went
for 3 million sennas, a pair of ruby earrings that were equally dazzling went for 1.5 million
sennas, and a bracelet of diamonds and semi-precious stones went for 1.8 million sennas.

“That makes a total of 6.91 million sennas, then.”

He turned the statement toward me, showing me the calculations.

I tried to haggle some more, but the jewelry store owner repeated that he couldn’t go any
higher.

“Okay. I’ll sell them all.”

“Thanks for coming back every time with good stuff.”

The store owner looked satisfied, put the jewelry away, and handed me straight cash.

The money from the sale of the dress and jewelry totaled 7.79 million sennas.

‘Combined with the money in the safe, it’s still only 16.79 million sennas.’

That’s not enough to live on the run, and it’s not enough to bribe the people around me.

I don’t know if I’d be able to escape the flow of the story or not, but I’d need a lot more
money to try anything.

‘Even as the daughter-in-law of a powerful man, a woman can’t get much money.’

Of course, I am grateful that I wasn’t reincarnated as a poor commoner, but I am still a

little bitter that I don’t have as much money as I had hoped.

When I got home and was resting, Killian came to visit. Judging by the fine lines between
his brows, he is here to scold me.

“Killian. I’m a little tired right now, so I’m going to–”

“What are you up to?”

“What?”

“I heard you sold your jewelry and dresses.”

“Oh……”

That was fast.

Anna kept her mouth shut, but less than a day later the news reached Killian’s ears.

Then again, maybe he’s keeping a watchful eye on me.

“I was just getting rid of some useless stuff.”

“Even if it was useless, haven’t you thought about how it would look in the eyes of others
if you sold off your things?”

Oh, is that how it goes again?

Killian seemed to think I had disgraced House Ludwig.

But I couldn’t help it.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think of it that way, I only sold the useless stuff because I didn’t have
any cash to spend……”

“No cash?”

“Yeah.”

Killian looked puzzled.

“You have a monthly allowance coming to you, don’t you?”

“What? I’ve never heard that before.”

“Obviously when we got married…… ah!”

As if to clarify, Killian suddenly put his hand to his forehead.

“Oh no…… I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be the one who’s responsible for your monthly
allowance, but I guess I just forgot.”

“Huh?”
Are you fucking saying you didn’t give me the money you were supposed to give me? God,
my blood pressure is rising!

Killian, you idiot! How could you forget, I thought you were so smart, but you forgot……!

“I’m so sorry. I’ll give you everything I haven’t been able to give you so far, all at once.”

As expected Killian. You are still a human.

I quickly regained my peace of mind.

CHAPTER 64

“Oh, thank you, Killian.”

“If you’d like, I’ll buy back the things you sold.”

“No! The things I sold are things I really don’t need.”

Instead of buying them back, I’d like you to buy me something else or give me money, but
it’s really hard to say.

“I wish you would have said something to me before you sold them.”

Killian looked quite upset, probably because he thought I was short of money enough to
throw away my aristocratic pride.
I felt the need to comfort him.

“It’s all stuff I should have gotten rid of when I went down to the estate with you later,
anyway. It’s just unnecessary baggage.”

“The estate……?”

Oh, did I say anything wrong?

Well, I’m being insensitive. Leaving for the estate means Killian has to leave his beloved
Lize behind.

“I didn’t know you were already thinking about that.”

“Oh, that’s because……”

What if he says I’m being presumptuous?

It would hurt my feelings if he said, “Who said I’d take you along?”

“No, rather, I’ve been a little too carefree, I suppose, when I should have been preparing
to leave for the estate.”
“No, of course not.”

“I’m glad to hear you’ve gotten rid of your stuff in the spirit of packing, but the truth is,
there’s a lot more to buy here. The Ryzen estate itself isn’t a bad place, but the castle we’ll
be staying in doesn’t have much stuff.”

Huh? He’s surprisingly okay with this topic!

But why am I blushing so hard? Is it because I’m excited to move into a new castle?

“The furniture is all crude, and there’s not a single thing to decorate the castle. There’s no
luxury goods manufactured in the area, so we have to buy everything here.”

“Ah…… I see.”

“We’d better order the furniture in advance, it’ll take a while to get it all made.”

“We can use what we have……”

“No, we’ll have to order everything, starting with the crockery and candlesticks, because
you’ll have to personalize them to your taste as the hostess.”

I was about to say that we can use what we have, but the word “hostess” struck a chord
with me and I stopped myself.
Killian Ludwig, who used to look at me with hate as if he wanted to throw me out at any
time, called me “my wife” and then “hostess”. I can’t tell you how overwhelmed I am!

The struggles of the past few months seemed to flash before my eyes.

But the feeling didn’t last long. The commoner in me was quickly hitting the calculator.

An overwhelming feeling is a thing, but wasting money is a different thing.

“I’d rather just use what I can use.”

“It’s all going to be clunky.”

“It just needs to function properly.”

“So you don’t mind if it’s peasant farmhouse furniture?”

“As long as it’s not inconvenient.”

Killian frowned as if he didn’t understand. “Why on earth would you do that?”

“It’s a waste of money.”

His eyes widened again.

I wondered how many different expressions he could make.

“……I will give your allowance as soon as possible, so please forgive me.”

He must have thought I was sarcastic about him forgetting to pay me.

I didn’t mean that……

But I didn’t need to stop him from giving me the allowance, so I just nodded.

***

A few days later, I got a really huge allowance.

“My parents asked me to make sure I told you they were sorry too.”

Killian apologized again, and I fought to keep my mouth from falling open.

“I’m sure you didn’t do that on purpose. Thank you, Killian.”

I thanked him gracefully and looked down at the money in front of me as soon as he left.

“How much is all this……”

As the daughter-in-law of this family, I am entitled to a whopping 2 million sennas a

month. Including the money I haven’t received in the past eight months and this month’s
money, I have a total of 18 million sennas in front of me.

“Wow…… so easy to get this much money……”

While I was happy to get the money, I was also a little overwhelmed.

Money is so easy for some people, and so hard for others.

I remember taking money out of my emergency fund the month my brother stole my
paycheck.
I felt like I was on an airplane that might crash at any moment, and my parachute was
being gradually reduced in size.

I realized how suffocating it was, how many times I had to think about each withdrawal,
and how my hand was always shaking as I pressed the ‘withdraw’ button.

In my previous life as Choi Soo-na, I lived so hard because every penny was hard to come
by, but now……

‘Well, even though I have a lot of money now, I’m destined to be beheaded sooner or
later, so…… no, no, no, let’s not think about that.’

I cleared my head of the depressing thoughts.

There’s no point in trying to decide who’s more unhappy, Choi Soo-na, who is struggling
for every penny, or Edith, who has a lot of money but might die a miserable death sooner
or later.

For now, I had to focus on finding a way to survive.

“Anna, let’s go out!”

I called out to Anna in an unnecessarily excited voice as I prepared to go to the bank on
Darsus Street.

We were just about to get into the carriage.

“Oh, Edith, are you going out too?”

I heard Lize’s cheerful voice.

At that moment, I realized that today is Friday. The day Lize and Killian are going out
together.

“Lize, you said you were going to Le Belle-Marie Street today, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I’m excited, it’s been a while since I’ve been out.”

Lize looked so innocent, as if she didn’t have the slightest malice.

Behind her, Killian was looking at me with a strange expression on his face.

“You seem to go to Darsus Street often.”

“There are a lot of really good dessert shops there. Perdot is also on Darsus Street.”

“Yes, but……”

Killian looked like he was about to question me about my outing again, but Lize didn’t give
him time to ponder.

“Killian. We’re going to be late.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll be going then……”

Killian looked at me and waved goodbye.

It could have been a courtesy gesture, but I felt unnecessarily excited because it seemed
like he was telling me he would come back to me.

“Bye. I’ll be going too.”

He nodded slightly, and then he and Lize pulled away in the carriage.

I stood silently watching the carriage leave, and only when it was completely out of sight
did I let out a small sigh and climb onto my carriage.
My business on the Darsus Street was quickly finished.

I put all my money in the safe, except for the emergency fund, and was pleased to see a
balance of 32 million sennas.

I was a little disappointed to have to pay a fee to use the safe, but it was a decent amount
of money to get things going.

“Since we’re here, why don’t we have some cake?”

A generous balance makes for a generous heart.

I took Anna to Peridot to make my excuse to Killian true, and to give back a little to Anna,
who always accompanies me.

As expected of a famous bakery, the interior is luxurious.

“Do you have company?”

“No. Just me and my maid, and I’m looking for two seats.”
“I’m sorry if you’re bringing your maid, we can’t seat you on the second floor, only the
first floor.”

“No problem. Show me.”

I felt awkward having to speak informally to an employee of my grandfather’s age, but I

had no choice but to do so in this world.

Anna and I were shown to a seat by a sunny window.

Apparently, the menu is too expensive for commoners to eat, so most of the people on
the first floor are nobles with their maids.

The second floor is only for the nobles, it seems.

“Wow, this place is so nice.”

“Yeah, I’ve never been in here before either.”

Even Anna, who seemed to know everything, looked around in wonder.

After much deliberation, we ordered a smooth, unflavored black tea, a strawberry

shortcake, and three dacquoises.
The weather had turned cooler, and the warmth of the tea was soothing.

What made it even better was the fact that Anna looked so happy.

“Oh my God, I’ve never tasted anything this good!”

“Yeah, it’s really good!”

Anna and I admired the moist strawberry cake.

This bakery’s signature strawberry tart was delicious, but the strawberry cake was just as
good.

In fact, if you like something soft, you’ll probably prefer strawberry cake.

The dacquoise was equally delicious.

The tiny size and wicked prices reminded me of the dessert cafes I couldn’t get into in my
previous life.

‘I can afford this now! I’m rich!’

For a moment, I thought it was a bit petty to feel rich in a place like this, but so what?
Anna and I were enjoying a satisfying tea time, and she, too, was relaxed and said
something she wouldn’t normally have said.

“By the way, miss.”

“What?”

“It’s…… I know I’m being presumptuous, but……”

“It’s okay, tell me.”

Anna looked down into her teacup, hesitated, and then spoke, “I thought you were in love
with Master Killian?”

“What?”

“I’m sorry. That’s not something I dare to say……”

“Oh no! It’s not like that, it’s because I’m surprised. Why were you curious about that?”

Anna seemed a little torn between her position as a maid and her curiosity.
But I secretly patted her on the back, glad that she had finally said something like this to
me.

CHAPTER 65

“I could tell that you were in love with the young master, and I was happy to see that you
two had gotten along so well recently…… but today I saw that only Miss Lize and Master
Killian were going out together……”

“Ah……”

“Why did you let only the two of them go?”

I was more pleased to see that Anna was happy that things had gotten better between me
and Killian.

But seeing Lize and Killian out alone today must have made her uneasy again.

“What can I say?”

“But you are his wife, and no matter how much they’ve been like brother and sister,
they’re still a man and a woman…… no, no, please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

I felt a little comforted that Anna cared about me.

“Killian is not a man who would do anything irresponsible, and while he may be in love
with Lize, he will not cause a scandal with her, at least not while he is still married to me.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust Master Killian; it’s just that I don’t understand you, miss.”

That’s understandable.

What a strange master I must be to Anna.

“I’m sure I’m frustrating and strange to you, but at the end of the day, I’m doing this to
survive.”

I smiled.

Anna’s gaze at me was complicated.

“Do you love Master Killian?”

“……yes. I love him.”

It’s a line I can’t confess to Killian.

“How could I not love him?”

A man I can’t understand.

A man who spits out harsh and cold words, but secretly cares and protects me.

A man who is dazzlingly gorgeous, who awakens a spark in me that I didn’t know I had,
and who calls me “my wife,” the daughter of a political opponent.

Perhaps if someone other than me were to reincarnate as Edith, she would inevitably fall
in love with him, just like the original Edith.

“But why are you making concessions to Miss Lize?”

“I’m not making a concession. A concession is a word you use when something is coveted
by the other side.”

“Sorry……?”

“Lize doesn’t want Killian, because if she does, she’d already be clinging to him when the
subject of me and Killian’s marriage came up. If she showed a single tear in front of him,
he would have fought off the Duke and everyone else to have her.”

But Lize blessed Killian’s marriage to me.

Because his man is Cliff the male lead, not Killian.

“It must be Cliff……”

As if reading my thoughts, Anna nodded. But then she muttered under her breath, “Then
why has Miss Lize been seeing Master Killian lately……?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, no!”

“No, I won’t be angry, so tell me.”

It was obvious that Anna, who had relaxed, was now blaming her mouth.

But you can’t take back words you’ve already spit out, so she hesitated, then mumbled,
“It’s just that Miss Lize has been strangely nice to Master Killian lately.”

“That’s just the way Lize is.”

“Well, yes, but she’s been visiting Master Killian especially often lately, and of course
Master Killian has never done anything dishonorable!”
Anna’s face showed a hint of frustration. Perhaps she realized that she had made a
mistake in even saying this.

Maybe all the hard work I had put into the extras was finally paying off.

“Of course. By the way, when did the ‘these days’ you just mentioned started?”

“Well…… since the day you and the young master went to the opera, I believe.”

It’s kind of weird that it was the day after the second exception condition was met.

“May I ask why you thought so?”

“The truth is that Miss Lize visited Master Killian’s room that night, and while she didn’t
stay long, it was a strange thing for her to stop by at that hour, dressed in a slip……”

If she had something to say, she could do it the next morning. If it was urgent, she would
have sent a maid.

It was a bit odd that she would bother to visit Killian at night.
“And since that day, I’ve seen the two together quite a bit. They used to see each other
often, but unlike before, Miss Lize has been coming to visit him lately.”

I wonder if something is going on.

Or is her setup, which requires her to have Killian as a second male lead, preventing him
from escaping her fishery?

“I just thought that if you love Master Killian…… you’d prevent him from going out with
Miss Lize alone.”

I laughed a little at that. “Anna, as you know, I have no right to do so.”

“But Master Killian has been different lately!”

“It is true that Killian has been visiting me more often lately. But I’m not sure if it’s
because he has a crush on me, or if he’s spying on me. Either way, I don’t care.”

I’m serious.

If he has a crush on me, I’d appreciate it, but if he’s spying on me, I’m fine with that. It just
feels good to be able to see him.

“Anyway, thanks for telling me, Anna, I’m sure you were torn between telling me and
not.”
Anna’s face quickly flushed red.

It means a great deal to me that Anna, whom I had always thought of as the Ludwigs’
person, has told me something that only she knows.

It means she’s finally going to be my maid.

***

Anna is the daughter of a fallen baron family.

Her uncle, Baron Sorel, is a man of decent character who took pity on his brother’s
daughter and took her in after her gambling-addicted father died.

His good character and hard work earned him a monthly stipend from the count’s
business, but the Sorels already had five children, so the money was hardly enough to
support the entire family.
Anna, who had been raised by her gambling father to see the worst of everything, was an
expressionless child, but she was quick on her feet.

“I’m sorry, aunt, but I was wondering if you could find me a position as a maid for a noble
family?”

As soon as Anna turned fourteen, she applied for a job as a maid. She’d been doing
household chores since she was a little girl, so she had no qualms about being a maid.

But Baron Sorel objected.

“No matter what, you have the blood of a baron. You are not a maid!”

Baron Sorel, who had taught his children the knowledge that a noble young lady should
possess without discrimination, insisted that he would give Anna in marriage.

But Anna knew better.

This would lead them all into a quagmire.

She begged her aunt again, “Thank you so much for raising me all these years. I’ll leave a
letter for my uncle, so please find me a position as a maid.”
“……thank you, Anna.”

That’s how Anna got the job as a maid to the count her aunt had introduced her to.

Her life as a maid was hard, but she quickly earned a good reputation for doing the hard
work.

Sending part of her paycheck to Baron Sorel and saving the rest, Anna lived diligently.

Eventually, she became a maid of House Ludwig.

And the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig were quite taken with Anna, who was quiet, sincere,
perceptive, and had good values.

“I want you to take care of Lize from now on. She has a deeply wounded heart and may
not be able to tell you if she is uncomfortable, but I want you to look after her and help
her.”

When a dazzlingly beautiful girl named Lize Sinclair came to live in the Ludwig mansion,
Anna was chosen to be her first maid.

“Anna, you say? Nice to meet you. I’m Lize. Lize Sinclair.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Lize.”

Lize smiled like a ray of sunshine at her as she greeted her, and she was so beautiful that
words could not describe it.

Anna had been the paragon maid she’d always been, watching over Lize with a careful eye
and preparing for her before any possible inconvenience.

But it was in this ‘careful eye’ that she realized Lize was far too lucky.

No, it’s not just about been an illegitimate child, abandoned by her own father yet
receiving affection from the Duke and Duchess, and living in the Ludwig mansion.

Lize was, quite literally, really lucky.

The weather was always nice on the days she wanted to go out, the things she wanted
were always there, and there were an unusually large number of circumstances in her
favor.

‘It’s weird,’ Anna thought, ‘how can a person be so lucky?’

Just as she was thinking this, Anna was suddenly reassigned to a different position.
“I’m sorry to have to reassign you so suddenly, Anna, but you’ve done this before, so it
shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”

“Yes, madam.”

Anna was assigned to work as one of the Duchess’ maids, just as she had done before
becoming Lize’s maid.

She felt no regret at the new position, but strangely enough, she felt somehow more
distant from Lize.

It was an instinct of Anna’s, who had experienced various misfortunes from a young age.
She had never known anyone as fortunate as Lize.

After a few years in the Ludwig mansion, Anna was assigned as a maid to Edith, who was
to become Killian’s wife.

“Anna, I trust you with this job. If Edith seems to be up to no good, if she does anything
strange, come and tell me at once. If she is unkind to you, you must report it.”

The Duke of Ludwig spoke as gravely as if he were sending his favorite knight off to war.

Anna was unimpressed, but as always, she remained silent.

In contrast to the Duke’s fear, Edith was a very ordinary person.

Despite her flamboyant appearance and what must have been quite a raucous gossip, she
was a quiet person in the mansion.

CHAPTER 66

She would read a book, take a walk, bask in the sun, or drink tea, and seem to be at peace
with herself.

If there was one thing that set her apart from other young ladies, it was that there was no
“line” she drew when dealing with her subordinates.

All servants who deal with nobles feel it; they don’t think of commoners as “people” in the
same way they do themselves.

No matter how generous and compassionate they are, they always draw the line.

But not Edith.

“Let’s eat together.”

The first time she and Anna had been out on Darsus Street, Edith had casually shared her
food with Anna at a restaurant for lunch.

Eating from the same plate as a maid would have been an embarrassment to a
noblewoman.
“Why aren’t you eating, Anna? Don’t you like this?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that…… how could I eat a lady’s food.”

“Huh? Then how am I supposed to eat all of this by myself? I want to try this, and I want to
try that, and I can’t eat it all by myself, so it’s nice to eat with you……”

“Aren’t you offended?”

“Huh? Why would I?”

Looking at Edith’s furrowed brow and wide-eyed stare, Anna realized that there was no
such thing as “line” with this young lady.

“If it’s okay with you, young lady, then it’s okay with me.”

“I’m not sick…… and you won’t get sick if you eat with me.”

Anna, who had been a maid for ten years, had never seen a noble who was worried about
a servant’s reluctance to eat with them.

She just thought it was unusual……

“Miss…… why didn’t you say anything until this happened?”

The shock of seeing Edith’s back covered in bruises was still fresh in her mind.

Her back, which should have been as smooth as milk, was a horrible mess.

Probably by the maid sent by her family.

“How could I tell you that?”

Edith replied with a wan smile, as if it were nothing.

‘It’s my fault…… Even though she’s been so quiet about it, how could I not know until this
happened to my lady!’

Anna’s ten years of pride as a maid was shattered.

Barely able to contain the rising tide of emotion, she applied the medicine to Edith’s back,
her shoulders shaking slightly.

‘Miss……’
Edith is not a wicked woman, but rather the most fragile, tolerant, quiet person Anna has
ever known.

And unlike Lize, she’s truly down on her luck……

Anna patted Edith’s hand for the first time. It was a sincere comfort, though she expected
to be called a cheeky maid.

And Edith didn’t get angry, didn’t cry out loud, just let out a shaky breath.

After that, Anna erased the line she had drawn with Edith.

For her, Edith is a vulnerable person she needs to protect.

That’s why she was happy to see Edith and Killian’s relationship improve, and she hoped
that Edith would have a happy married life.

But it was during this crucial time that Lize began to come looking for Killian.
‘After all these years of pretending not to know Master Killian’s love, why now……!’

Despite the fact that she knew it was presumptuous, she told Edith about Lize’s behavior,
and Edith just smiled bitterly.

“As you know, I have no right to do so.”

The “as you know” part broke Anna’s heart.

“Anyway, thanks for telling me, Anna, I’m sure you were torn between telling me and
not.”

Seeing Edith put her maid’s feelings before her own, Anna once again made a mental note
to herself.

‘I’ll help her in any way I can!

Anna, who had never been impressed by anyone, accepted Edith as her master from that
day forward.

***
When I returned from tea and dessert at the Peridot, a maid I hadn’t seen in a while
sought me out.

“Master Cliff would like to see you for a moment.”

“Sir Cliff? Me?”

“Yes, miss.”

It was completely unexpected.

But with no reason or excuse to refuse, I followed the maid, without a change of clothes,
to Cliff’s study.

“There you are.”

Cliff greeted me much more warmly than I expected.

‘What’s with this guy?’

I couldn’t figure out why he was doing this when he didn’t seem to have any good feelings
for me.

“Don’t look so suspicious and nervous. Have a seat.”

Is it too obvious?

As Cliff looked at me, there was an odd, slightly mischievous smirk on his face.

“I’m sorry if I looked that way. Honestly, it’s just so unexpected.”

“We’re family, but I guess we’ve been a little too inward-looking.”

He was nonchalant, as if he understood my puzzlement. His easygoing demeanor had

bothered me before, but he clearly is a capable man.

“You and Killian seem to be getting along much better these days,” he said, pouring tea
into my teacup.

The strong aroma of black tea wafted in.

“I feel like Killian is trying to do something for me, but it’s only been a few days, and we
don’t know what the future holds.”

“That’s right. It’s an interest that may cool off quickly.”

Are you making fun of me now?

Slightly offended, I tried to think of something to say back, but Cliff leaned closer and
lowered his voice.

“I hope Killian’s interest stays with you.”

“What? Why?”

“I think our wishes are aligned, don’t you?”

Cliff’s demeanor as he sipped his tea was graceful, but the curiosity and amusement in his
eyes were hard to ignore.

“What do you want from me?”

“You don’t have to pretend you don’t know. You want Killian, and I want Lize. Are you
going to refute that?”
“I wouldn’t call it a refute, but I don’t think it’s something to get worked up about. I’m
already Killian’s wife, and I don’t see any reason for Lize to seduce him.”

“That’s true, but I don’t like the idea of Lize having her eyes anywhere else now.”

Oh, I forgot.

This guy is just plain crazy.

When it comes to Lize, Cliff Ludwig becomes a man without any common sense……

“So what do you want me to do?”

“I’m going to give you some tips on what Killian likes, and it’s up to you to you to decide
what to do with them.”

“I don’t want to bother–”

“Do you want to make a bet with me, whether you take my advice or not……”

Asshole.

Cliff must have noticed that I’d fallen for Killian.

How the hell did he know that?

“Well, I’ll hear what you say and think about it.”

As I took a step back and put my pride aside, Cliff chuckled amusedly, then said in a
serious voice, “Killian likes to go sailing on the lake. He couldn’t go this summer, though,
because he used to go with Lize every year, but this year Killian became a married man.”

“He could have just gone with Lize.”

“I don’t think so, because there are other eyes watching. How would a newlywed man
going boating alone with another woman look in other people’s eyes?”

“Ah, I see.”

It’s even funnier that someone who cares about such things is the one forced into this
marriage.

It was no secret that Killian was in love with Lize, though most believed it was more of a
feeling of fascination than “love.”
“And he enjoys looking at art, which is why you should actively take advantage of Sistine
Hall in the mansion, and maybe take a trip to see some of the other families’ art.”

I suddenly remembered Killian, who despised me in Sistine Hall.

“I’ve already ruined that one.”

“Oh, you already tried that?”

“Well, unintentionally.”

Cliff chuckled again, then continued, “When you’re with Killian, you better give him a lot of
compliments, because he’s got a complex about always coming in second to me, so he
likes to be praised.”

It’s not Cliff’s fault that he got first place, but it’s still condescending to say it that way.

It didn’t seem very considerate, even though he was aware of his brother’s relative
deprivation.

‘Well, he doesn’t look like a good brother.’

The two would band together in a heartbeat if something happened to their family, but
they weren’t exactly the kind of people you’d expect to get along with.

To this day, if it weren’t for Lize, they wouldn’t even see each other that often.

“By the way, Sir Cliff.”

“Yes, Miss Edith.”

“Why are you doing this now all of a sudden? It’s not like it’s been a day or two since Lize
was kind to Killian.”

The amusement drained from Cliff’s smile.

“There are two reasons.”

“What’s the first?”

“The first is that Killian is now starting to open up to you. In the old days, even if I had
given you these tips, it wouldn’t have done any good.”

I’d already seen that in the Sistine Hall, so I conceded.

“And the second one?”

“It’s because…… Lize seems to be taking an interest in Killian all of a sudden.”

“What?”

“You don’t know? They went out together today, just the two of them.”

For some reason, I feel like I’ve been pointed out several times on that matter……

“I know, but is that something that hasn’t happened before?”

“It’s just that she made the first move, and she’s never done that before.”

“……is that so?”

It’s definitely a subtle thing.

In retrospect, she didn’t need to go with him to pick up the finished shoes.

And Cliff realized it was strange too. He’s even convinced that Lize is taking an interest in
Killian.
When it comes to Lize, Cliff’s word is worth believing.

CHAPTER 67

‘Why is Lize suddenly doing this, and does it really have anything to do with me meeting
the second exception condition?’

While I was thinking about this, Cliff said something out of the blue.

“Oh! Do you happen to know a maid named Sabina?”

“Who?”

“Sabina.”

“No, I don’t. I’ve never heard that name before. What does she look like?”

“……she’s a slightly skinny maid with a mix of blond and chestnut-colored hair. She mostly
carried laundry.”

“Hmm…… I’m sorry, I don’t remember much about her, as Anna or Sophia took care of all
the laundry that went in or out of my room. But what’s with the maid, is something
wrong?”

Cliff smiled slightly when I asked. Something about it felt off.

“Oh, I see. I wish I had known.”

“What?”

“Ah, I was thinking of giving her a promotion if she has a good reputation.”

“I see. I’m sorry, I haven’t gotten to know all the maids’ names yet.”

“Well, that’s okay.”

Cliff finished his tea with an odd smile.

“Anyway, what I said, don’t forget to give it a try. If it works out, it’ll be good for you and
good for me, right?”

“Ha…… do you think so?”

I’m not looking forward to it. I’m just worried I might be stirring up Killian’s memories of
when he was with Lize.

But there isn’t much time left until the episode where my head is beheaded.
I have to try everything I can.

***

“Look at that, Killian! So cute!”

Lize, who he hadn’t been out together in a while, smiled as she pointed to the window of
a common haberdashery shop on Le Belle-Marie Street.

There were music boxes and glass artifacts that were said to be imported from abroad.

“They are cute. Do you want me to buy one?”

In Killian’s eyes, they are overpriced and pretty trash, but if Lize says they are pretty and
cute, then they are.

“No, I’m just saying they’re cute.”

But Killian took Lize inside to buy the things she pointed out.

A music box made by one of the world’s top three craftsmen costs 200,000 sennas, and a
bunny-shaped glass ornament imported from a famous glass producer costs 18,000
sennas.

“I’m really fine……”

Lize, who had been flustered the entire time Killian was paying for it, raised her eyebrows
at the gift.

“I just bought it for you because I wanted to. There aren’t many days left when I can get
you something like this.”

“What? Killian, where are you going?”

“I’m going down to the Ryzen estate.”

“Uh, when are you going?”

“Well…… maybe early next year?”

Killian gave a small laugh at the way Lize seemed to be mourning his departure.
“Is Edith coming with you?”

Her question was a little odd.

Not only was she asking the obvious, but there was a tone of disbelief in her question.

“Isn’t that obvious? Of course Edith will miss life in the capital, but the lord’s wife has no
choice but to follow suit.”

“T- that’s right……”

“What’s wrong?”

“Because I will miss her, I suppose. She’s one of the few friends I have……”

The weirdness quickly dissipated.

Killian remembered that Lize didn’t have many friends her age, and thought she had every
right to feel sad.

As they chatted, they soon reached their destination.

“Ah, here we are.”

The two walked into a high-end shoe store together.

“Welcome– ah, you’re coming for your shoes!”

“Yes.”

The store owner quickly remembered the two dazzlingly gorgeous people.

He pulled out one of the boxes on the shelf and opened it in front of them.

“These are in great shape. Try them on.”

Lize smiled shyly, sat down, and held out her dainty feet.

The shoes are cream-colored satin, with ribbons and diamond buckles on the instep.

Killian vividly remembered the day she’d been fitted for these shoes.

It was a few days before the fake document leak incident.

Edith had stepped up to console Lize, who smiled sadly, saying she was so much smarter
and better at her job than her uneducated self.

I think it was that day that Edith also said she was taking her maid out.

“Good shoes will take you to good places,” Killian said.

It was meant to comfort Lize, but it was also meant to say goodbye to her.

Originally, he wanted to be the “good place” for her and he was saddened by the fact that
he could no longer hold her in his arms.

But the human heart is deceitful.

What had felt like heartbreak to him then, felt like nothing at all now.

‘Maybe I was pushed away easily by Cliff because my love is only this much.’

Come to think of it, Cliff centered his entire being around Lize.

It was scary sometimes.

Maybe even letting Killian fall in love with her was a smokescreen to slowly make her his.
“Things will get better, Killian. I think you and Edith are a good match.”

He remembered his mother’s words, which had once angered him.

At the time, I thought it would never happen, but now it only confirms that she wasn’t
wrong.

‘I wonder what Edith is doing today……’

The image of Edith standing in front of the carriage with only her maid for company kept
coming back to him.

‘I’ll have to get some more shoes and boots for Edith before we go down to the estate.
Now that I think about it, I don’t have much time, do I?’

He couldn’t even remember what shoes she wore.

Chastising himself for his indifference, Killian said to the shoemaker, who was singing his
praises to Lize.
“I’ll drop by with my wife sometime soon. I think we’ll have to order two or three pairs of
shoes and boots each. How long do you think it will take to make them?”

“I- if it’s two or three pairs each for the two of you, um…… I’d say it’ll take three months at
the very least, because we’ll be getting a lot of winter shoe orders soon.”

“I see. I’ll have to get here as soon as possible.”

He nodded, but Lize was looking up at him with a strange look on her face.

“What’s wrong, Lize?”

“Oh, nothing, but I was wondering if you might want to consider…… Edith’s preferences.”

“Edith’s preferences?”

“You know, she likes things a little more glamorous.”

Killian smirked at that. “I thought so too, but her preferences seem to have changed a lot
since we got married. I didn’t realize she was such a pragmatist.”
“Oh, really?”

“She’d probably complain that the shoes here are too fancy and expensive.”

“Really? All her dresses are fancy, and from what I’ve heard, she likes to be fancy, so I
guess I misunderstood, but Edith looks great in them though……”

“That’s right, and the dress she wore on our wedding day, well, it was a little
unconventional, but it did look good on her.”

It was a little embarrassing to even think about the dress, which showed off her cleavage,
but he found himself wanting Edith to try it on again in front of him.

‘Though I’d probably take it off quickly.’

Killian tried to control the smile that kept spreading across his face.

They left the shoes they’d packed at the shoe store with a servant who followed them,
and decided to explore Le Belle-Marie Street again.

Just as they were about to walk away, Killian turned sideways at an unfamiliar sensation
on his forearm.

“Hm? Why?”
Lize was holding onto his arm.

She had never done that before.

“Oh, no…… nothing.”

Killian was a little surprised, but it was nothing to get offended about, so he left it at that.

‘Lize must be in a good mood.’

He was glad.

This could be his last day out with her.

As he and Lize walked down the street, which was full of cute shops and young ladies in
pretty dresses, he suddenly remembered the street he and Edith had walked down after
the opera.

It was connected to Darsus Street, but it was a little shabbier.

A street with cheap candy sellers, a girl selling wildflowers, and a clown who couldn’t get
more than a few coins for his tricks.
It was a place he would have never visited if he hadn’t chosen to go out the back door
because of the crowds at the front door of the opera house.

It was not a place he thought Edith would like.

But for someone born and raised in a noble family, Edith had no problem interacting with
the commoners.

In addition, she smiled happily even after receiving shabby things.

‘Come to think of it, there’s nothing left of what I bought her back then……’

The candy was eaten before they returned, and the flowers probably wilted in less than
two days. Even the juggling balls show had nothing of physical value left.

‘Maybe I should have gotten her something.’

I wish I’d gotten Edith something to remind her of that day every time she saw it.

“Hey, Killian. Look at that, it looks like a new store.”

“Ah……!”

Killian, engrossed in thoughts of Edith, was startled by Lize and turned his gaze in the
direction she pointed.

The store was so full of pink that it was hard to walk past.

He didn’t want to go in there, as he was already getting stares from passersby, but Lize
seemed to want to check it out.

‘I guess since we’re out here, let’s take a look at everything she wants to see.’

Killian followed Lize into the pink bustling store.

It turned out to be an accessories store, selling things like ribbons, headbands, corsages,
and lace.

CHAPTER 68

“Oh, my goodness! Welcome! We are honored to have you in our store.”

The shopkeeper, a young woman, bustled about as if she knew Killian and Lize.

As they looked around the store, an ornate faux chandelier hung from the ceiling,
romantic decorations on all sides, and on the pink carpet were shelves full of accessories
fit for girls.
“Oh, how cute.”

“It’s cute, isn’t it? If you wrap this around your head once like this and put this corsage
next to it……”

“Wow! It’s so pretty! Killian, look at this……!”

Killian, who had been staring out the window at something instead of inside the store,
quickly turned to Lize.

“Killian……?”

“Oh! That’s pretty!”

Killian looked at Lize and immediately said it’s pretty, but it was a far cry from the way
he’d always looked at her, and Killian could feel it himself.

“Isn’t it pretty, sir? Not everyone can pull off such accessories. It looks childish when it’s
worn by the wrong people. It takes a beautiful woman like Lady Lize to make the corsage
and ribbon look their best.”

The shopkeeper complimented Lize’s appearance until her mouth watered.

Killian didn’t seem too bothered by this, and asked to pay for all the things she said were
pretty.

As a result of the shopkeeper’s flattery and compliments, the bag in her hand had quite a
few items in it when she walked out of the store.

“I- I didn’t mean to buy this much……”

“It’s okay, they don’t come out that often, so when they do, it’s not a bad idea to buy
them all at once.”

“I’m sorry, Killian.”

“Don’t be sorry. This isn’t ruining my house, you can buy more.”

Killian encouraged her to spend more, as she still felt bad every time she spent money.

Then he started walking toward the store he’d been looking out the window at earlier.

“Lize, I’m sorry, but let’s stop over there for a minute.”

“Yeah, great! Are you going to buy something too, Killian?”

“Yeah.”

Lize, who had been feeling bad that she had been buying things for herself, seemed
happy.

But the store Killian went into was the same as the one Lize had stopped at earlier, selling
women’s accessories. Although the atmosphere was completely different.

“Killian…… this is, um……”

“Huh?”

“This store has a much different vibe than the last one.”

“Yeah. Right. I’m here to buy some gifts for Edith.”

“What? Edith?”

“Yeah.”

“Aha…… come to think of it, it’s a pretty nice atmosphere that would suit Edith.”
“Isn’t it?”

Killian couldn’t help but notice that Lize was a little flustered. It would have been
ridiculous in the past, but now he was focused on finding something that would look good
on Edith.

“Did Edith want you to get her something?”

“No, but I don’t think I’ve bought her anything fancy before……”

“Really? It seems like you’ve been taking good care of Edith, and you even bought her a
necklace before!”

Lize may have been bringing up the memory to comfort Killian, but Killian’s conscience
prickled at the memory.

“……you mean the day Cliff gave you all the rest of the jewelry?”

“Ah……”

“Honestly, Cliff was a jerk that day. He could have at least let Edit choose. He didn’t think
of my dignity, and he put you in a bad spot.”

At the time, he honestly didn’t think much of it, but as time went on, it became more and
more humiliating.
All the precious jewelry was in front of Lize, and Edith smiled brightly at him with a ruby
necklace no bigger than a pea.

She said she loved it, that she would treasure it, and then she exposed that white,
giddying nape of her neck……

And true to her word, she wore that necklace every day.

Every time I saw it, I felt guilty.

“I’m sorry, I should have said no back then……”

“Why is that your fault? It’s Cliff’s fault. It’s a good thing you picked out Edith’s necklace,
because I wasn’t…… very good at it myself.”

With a small sigh, Killian looked around the store, looking for something that would suit
Edith.

“Is it garnet? It’s less precious than ruby, but it would be nice to have something like this.”

He pointed to a hairpin made of garnet, and the shopkeeper behind him placed it on a
silver tray.
“Women like to wear hair ornaments like this, right?”

His fingers skimmed over several different types of corsages. The shopkeeper busily picked
them up.

“Multicolored satin ribbons are also a must-have……”

One after another, expensive ribbons made of imported fabrics were placed on a silver
tray.

“Ah, I think these will go well too…… What if she says they’re too flashy?”

He pointed to a pair of white and black gloves made of delicate, lavish lace, and hesitated
for a moment, but eventually decided to buy them too.

When he thought of Edith, he saw an endless array of things that would look good on her.

In the pink store earlier, he hadn’t found anything at all that would suit her, but here, with
its elegant yet sensual designs, there were plenty of things that would suit her.

“Is this enough?”

After a long walk through the store, Killian stopped and looked at the shopkeeper, who
was placing what he was pointing at on a silver tray.

The silver tray was piled high with items.

Seeing that, Lize became a bit exasperated and said, “I’m afraid you’ll be scolded by Edith,
Killian.”

“Hmm…… is that so?”

But no matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t put back any of the items he had chosen.

“I wouldn’t be able to buy it once I go to the castle anyway, so this much is good enough.”

“But if you go to the castle, there’s no party hall to wear these things.”

“She can do it at the castle. She can show off the majesty and elegance of a countess.”

“Countess……?”

“Oh, I heard the title that’s going to be bestowed on me is Count.”

Killian hesitated a moment longer, wondering if Edith would actually scold him, but in the
end, he decided to buy everything.

The price was a little more than he’d paid for Lize’s accessories, but since he hadn’t
bought any for Edith before, it didn’t seem like much.

After leaving the store, Lize suddenly felt tired and wanted to go home.

Killian was glad to hear that, as he honestly didn’t like Le Belle-Marie Street all that much,
and they returned to the mansion.

After having a maid carry Lize’s things to her room, Killian knocked on Edith’s door with a
paper bag full of gifts for her.

“Huh? Killian!”

Edith’s light brown eyes sparkled as she greeted him.

He used to think they were a very ordinary eye color compared to Lize’s blue eyes, but
lately, he found this relaxed, warm hue quite elegant. Plus, how attractive they were when
mixed with a bit of boldness……

“I stopped by to see you.”

“Come on in.”

Killian took the seat Edith offered.

“Did you enjoy your…… outing today?”

“Yes! I went to Peridot and had some tea and dessert. Do you know they have a really
good strawberry cake?”

“Strawberry again?”

“Huh? Yeah, I guess I really like strawberries.”

She smiled like she’d just realized something.

Killian smiled back, then awkwardly handed her the bag in his hand.

“Here…… take this.”

“What? What’s this?”

“Nothing much. I just grabbed it while I was out.”

Edith tilted her head, then carefully unpacked the contents of the bag.

“Oh my god……! What is all this?”

“If it’s not your thing, you can go and get something else.”

“No, they’re all beautiful. Who picked these?”

“If it’s not your cup of tea, let’s go and get something else.”

“No, they’re all beautiful. Who chose these?”

“Me. Do you like them?”

“You chose them yourself?”

Edith’s eyes got even wider.

Then she put the hair ornament on her hair from the box she’d just opened.
With a little help from Anna next to her, the pearlized satin ribbon was pinned neatly to
Edith’s hair.

“How is it?”

“……it looks good on you.”

“I think so too, it looks good on me. I’m surprised you had such an eye for it.”

“My eye for quality goods was trained at an early age.”

“Is that so? I love them all. If I were to choose, I couldn’t have chosen anything prettier.
Thank you, Killian.”

There was no hint of sorry or pretense on Edith’s face as she smiled brightly at him.

She was genuinely pleased with his gift.

It was a refreshing experience for Killian, who was used to hearing Lize apologize every
time he bought her something.

Up until now, he’d found Lize’s humility endearing, but honestly, as the giver, he was
much happier to see Edith’s reaction.
“I’m glad you like it, I should have gotten you more if I’d known you’d like it so much.”

“No, it’s not that, there are so many of these. It’s just……”

“Just……?”

“Just, I’m more happy that you were out there thinking about me and choosing things for
me. Thank you, Killian.”

Killian felt a tingle in his stomach as Edith thanked him for thinking of her in exchange for
a modest gift he’d bought to erase his guilt.

‘This woman sure knows how to play on a person’s guilt.’

Killian coughed unnecessarily and tried to act calm as if buying her that much was no big
deal.

“Next time…… let’s go together. We need some shoes and boots before we go to the
estate, and I’ve already told the shoemaker today.”

“Okay. I always have time, so let me know when it’s convenient for you.”
“Sure. Then…… bye.”

“Bye. Thanks for the gift, Killian. Have a good rest.”

Killian stood up from his seat, put his arm around Edith’s waist as she followed him out to
see him off, and kissed her lightly.

Edith naturally accepted his kiss and smiled softly.

“Have a good rest too.”

“Yes.”

Turning on his heel, Killian headed back to his room, a smile tugging at the corner of his
mouth.

He casually asked Edith to come with him, and she accepted it without hesitation.

The stabbing sensation in his chest had improved, and more than anything, he was thrilled
to be going out with her.

He hadn’t been thinking about Lize, who had been out with him today, but with his head
full of thoughts of Edith, Killian hadn’t even realized that fact.
CHAPTER 69

“Wow, what is this?”

“Cliff!”

Cliff feigned admiration as he entered the room of unopened boxes.

Lize, who had come home with a huge pile of gifts today, hadn’t bothered to unwrap them
and was staring blankly out the window.

“You look tired.”

“I guess I pushed myself a little too hard.”

Sitting down in front of Lize, who responded with a perky smile, Cliff scanned the stack of
gifts.

“Killian has been trying to win your favor again today, hasn’t he?”

“It’s not like that. All Killian cares about is Edith, so don’t get that wrong.”

“Really?”
“Yes. I should have just gone out on my own today, I feel like I’ve been bothering Killian
for nothing……”

With a tired look on her face, Lize turned her head again and stared out the window into
the darkness.

Cliff wrapped his arms around her from behind and pressed his lips to the nape of her
neck.

“Lize.”

“Yes, Cliff.”

“Do you care about Killian?”

“I care about Killian, and I care about Cliff all the time. I can’t do anything for you, but–”

“You know that’s not what I’m saying. I mean, can I be your one and only?”

His voice was sweet, but there was a hint of obsession and lust in it that Lize knew he was
trying hard to keep from boiling over.

“What do you mean, Cliff? You know very well that I love you.”
“I know. I know but……”

Cliff’s golden eyes grew as cold as moonlight on a winter’s night.

“I want you to trust me completely and rely on me alone, Lize.”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t. You’re feeling some kind of way toward Killian right now,” Cliff whispered,
nibbling at Lize’s earlobe with his lips.

Lize shrunk her shoulders in embarrassment, but her expression didn’t change much.

“What are you talking about? Why would I……”

“Sabina. Isn’t it because Killian was so nonchalant even after hearing about Sabina’s
story?”

Cliff was referring to the maid who had recently been going around telling the other maids
that Edith had tried to kill Lize.
“Sabina said she saw it with her own two eyes, that Miss Edith poisoned the embroidery
thread she gave to me.”

“Why did you not tell me that before?”

“T- that, I don’t know, for she has suddenly disappeared……”

The maid who came to report Sabina’s disappearance insisted that Edith must have had
something to do with it.

But before Edith could be suspected, Sabina’s behavior was strange.

She’d kept her mouth shut when they were investigating everything inside and outside the
mansion to find the culprit, but now that they’d buried the case, she’d started talking
about it.

Furthermore, there were questions about when and where she’d seen it, how she’d
known what Edith was putting on it was poison, and how she’d known that the object
Edith was putting something on was embroidery thread for Lize.

“I really don’t understand that maid’s story, why did she just show up out of nowhere
and……”

Lize had confided in Killian about Sabina, but in truth, it was almost impossible for her to
do anything without Cliff’s knowledge.
“We don’t even know for sure yet, I’m still investigating the maids around Sabina who said
they heard about it……”

Cliff hugged the confused-looking Lize a little tighter.

“Cliff, I really don’t mind, it’s something I already said I’d cover up, and of course we need
to find the maid, but I don’t want to break Killian’s heart by putting the blame on Edith.”

Cliff thought Lize was firmly heartbroken over Killian.

It didn’t feel good to confirm that Lize still had a little bit of a crush on Killian, but it would
be great if she could definitely take her mind off of him through this process.

“Anyway, what did you do today, Cliff?” Lize asked, trying to change the subject.

“Did you ever wonder what I do to pass the time?”

“Sure. I couldn’t stop thinking about you the whole time I was out. I would have rather
gone out with you.”

“Of course you would, if you were with an indifferent, inconsiderate married man.”
Lize giggled, her shoulders shaking.

Cliff kissed her on the shoulder and said, “I had a quick tea with my sister-in-law earlier.”

“With Edith?”

Lize looked up, surprised.

But Cliff kept his lips pressed to her shoulder with a smile and muttered, “I want my
brother and sister-in-law to be happy, so I gave her a few suggestions on how to win
Killian’s favor……”

“And?”

“Well, whether she’ll try them or not, that’s beyond me.”

Now that it was completely dark outside, the window reflected Lize and Cliff’s figures.

Their faces were shadowed, but their eyes shone brightly, reflecting the candlelight.

“What did you tell her?”

“That Killian likes to go sailing on the lake. I told her that he enjoys looking at art, but she
seemed to have already tried that.”
“Sailing on the lake……”

Lize was mulling over his words when Cliff added quietly, “Lize, I exist only for you, and I’ll
give you anything you want.”

Lize looked up at Cliff at the words spoken in a meaningful tone.

He was still wearing that crooked smile.

She studied his eyes, then asked, “Are you sure…… you’ll do it for me?”

“Of course. I’ll always worship you, my spring goddess.”

Cliff lifted Lize’s hand and kissed the back of it.

Lize met his gaze, not avoiding his intense stare, and spoke softly, “I love you, Cliff. I want
you to look at only me.”

“More than this? It would be a little dangerous……”

With a smirk on his face, Cliff slowly kissed Lize.

It was a kiss of unidentifiable passion and meaning.

***

Killian even bought me a gift, which gave me a little more courage.

It was such an important change to have him think about me, not just when he could see
me, but also when he couldn’t.

‘Okay. I guess it can’t hurt to take Cliff’s recommendation.’

Since Killian was making the effort to find out what I liked, I figured I should make the
effort to find out what he liked, too.

I cautiously broached the subject with Killian as we ate.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t even been to Lake Everton this summer.”
“I haven’t been there this year either.”

“I’ve been wanting to try boating on the lake……”

Killian’s eyes lit up as soon as I dropped the bait.

But Killian, who is naturally a bit of a tsundere, is never one to give in right off the bat.

“You say you’ve never been to an opera, but have you ever been on a boat?”

“Yeah. I think I’ve done that a couple of times,” I replied, tracing Edith’s vague memories.

I think she’s been on a boat a few times with men who were courting her, but they always
drove the boat to a secluded spot and then touched her slender ankles.

Each time, she’d respond flirtatiously, “I don’t want to be on a boat because I’m scared,”
and then she’d extract the information she needed from him and head back to the dock.

To the disappointment of her partners, who were looking forward to a hot night, Edith
was promptly picked up by the Riegelhoff knights and taken home.

Killian’s gaze turned cold as she recalled the memory.

“Yes, it’s a popular activity for lovers, as they can be left alone in a confined space.”
Hey, are you jealous again?

No, I appreciate the jealousy, but I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this one.

I need to get the conversation back to the boat.

“It’s not just for lovers. Who doesn’t love to take a boat out on the lake on a nice day? Of
course, the small boats are a little scary but……”

“Small boats with oars are dangerous. They can easily lead to accidents. Don’t you know
that every year there are accidents in lakes where people fall into the water?”

“Yeah, that’s why I was always so paranoid.”

Killian’s expression became strangely smug as the conversation turned to boats.

“I have a yacht, so I’ve never had an accident like that.”

“A yacht? You have a yacht?”

Apparently, Cliff wasn’t lying when he said Killian liked sailing.

Killian’s eyes lit up and he quickly described the specifications of his yacht.

When, where, and who built it, how luxurious the materials were used, how meticulously
it was finished, who had sailed on it, and what accolades it had received.

It was a feast for the eyes, but as I listened, I started to get a little excited.

“Wow…… that’s a yacht I’d really like to go for a ride on.”

“Well…… then…… would you like to go for a ride?”

“Uh? Are you sure?”

Killian pretended to be nonchalant, but he immediately suggested that we go for a ride on

the yacht.

I did my best to show how happy I was, and Killian looked very satisfied as he sent a
servant to relay the order to the helmsman.

“We’ll go for a ride tomorrow, and tell him to make sure the yacht is in good shape.”

“Yes, sir.”
The servant quickly ran to the helmsman with a brisk demeanor.

At first, I was just trying to win Killian’s favor, but as things progressed, my heart was
pounding.

I had never been on a duck boat in my previous life, let alone a Han River cruise ship.

I thought I’d be on a boat crossing the Jordan River when I died, but I never thought I’d be
on a yacht here.

CHAPTER 70

“The weather is expected to be nice tomorrow. What should I wear? Maybe a simple
outdoor dress? Oh, and should I pack a picnic? Food tastes better outside. Should I bring a
parasol? Won’t the wind make it uncomfortable?”

As I rambled on excitedly, Killian listened without a hint of annoyance.

“Wear clothes that make it easy for you to move around. As for the lunch, do what you
want, and I think it would be better to wear a hat than a parasol.”

“That would be great!”

Excited as a child on the eve of a picnic, I prepared everything I would wear for the next
day before evening fell.
The next day, thankfully, was a beautiful day. It was perfect weather for yachting.

“Did you get a good night’s sleep?”

“Yes! Actually, it took me quite a while to fall asleep, but I slept well.”

“You’re not a kid, what are you so excited about?”

“W- who are you calling a kid? It’s just…… I haven’t been to the lake in a long time, so it
feels good.”

It’s a secret between me and Anna that the first thing I did when I woke up was to hum,
“Let’s go to the lake to get some fresh air.”

In fact, I forgot she was even there, and the look on her face was quite a sight to behold.

While the luggage was being loaded onto the carriage and Killian went in again to get
something he’d forgotten, Lize appeared from the garden, strolling and picking flowers.

She came up to me standing in front of the carriage.

“Hm? Where are you going?”

“Oh…… I’m going to the lake.”

“Lake? Oh, are you going yachting with Killian?”

“Uh, yeah.”

I honestly didn’t want to tell her where we were going.

Regardless of what Anna and Cliff said recently, I don’t like it when Lize pays attention to
Killian anymore.

But Lize didn’t seem to know what I was thinking.

“Killian’s yacht isn’t big, but it’s really beautiful. I’ve been out on it a few times, and I really
enjoyed it.”

“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”

“He also fished when I went with him, do you think he’ll be fishing today?”

“Oh, no. Not really.”

“That’s a shame, because fishing is a lot of fun…… and you should try it sometime.”

“I will.”

Lize, who hadn’t left yet, said to herself, a little grimly, “That would be fun……”

Haa, when she says such a lonely line with such a pretty face, the person listening feels
very sorry for her……

Just as I tried to say something to brighten things up, Killian came downstairs.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go…… Oh, Lize?”

He spotted Lize, too.

She greeted him with a smile as fresh as the pink roses in her hand.

“I hear you’re going yachting on Lake Everton?”

“Yeah. Edith said she’s never been on a yacht before.”

“That would be fun. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a yacht, too.”

“Hmm? Didn’t you go on Cliff’s yacht in the early summer?”

“That was Cliff’s yacht.”

Lize’s point was too clear to ignore.

‘She wants to go too.’

I don’t know if it’s just me but, as I’ve said before, it felt like an odd reaction for Lize
Sinclair, the female lead, to have.

‘Why would Lize Sinclair, whose heart is already set on Cliff, want to join me and Killian on
an outing……?’

While I questioned her behavior, Killian smiled and patted her on the head.

“Maybe next time we can all go together.”

It was a clear rejection of Lize’s request.

I looked back and forth between the two of them inwardly surprised, but Lize just smiled
and nodded.

“Really? I think it would be so much fun for the four of us to go together.”

“I know. Go on in. You’re going to catch a cold.”

“Yeah. Then…… have fun, Edith, and take care of yourself.”

“Thank you, Lize. Bye.”

I waved to her with a forced bright smile, and Killian turned toward me just in time for Lize
to turn away.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, yeah……”

I climbed into the carriage, escorted by Killian.

It was subtle, but everything was different from the beginning of our marriage.
The length of time Lize and Killian held eye contact, the nuances of their conversation, the
way they looked at each other’s backs when they turned, the warmth of their gazes……
none of it was the same as before.

Do Lize and Killian realize that?

For a moment, I thought about the changes I should be happy about, but then I saw Lake
Everton out the carriage window and all my thoughts flew away.

“Killian, it’s a lake!”

“Yes, I know.”

“Oh my God! Wow…… there are so many yachts!”

“That’s because most of the nobles’ yachts are moored here.”

“There are already people on yachts!”

“When you’re yachting, it’s usually early in the day. Don’t stick yourself out there, you’ll
get hurt.”
Killian pulled me, who was about to jump out of the carriage window.

From then on, Killian held my hand tightly, like a father with his little one.

I was frantically looking around. If he hadn’t been holding my hand, I’m sure I would have
fallen hard, again and again.

“Oh my! Aren’t you the second son of House Ludwig?”

“It’s been a long time, Sir Killian.”

The people who recognized Killian stopped to greet him as we made our way to the yacht.
Thankfully, I held on tightly to my mind, which was trying to scatter in all directions, and
flashed a smile befitting a daughter-in-law of House Ludwig.

There was no doubt in my mind that the eyes looking at my hand on Killian’s arm
contained ‘curiosity’.

Well, it must have been surprising to see Killian bring me alone and not Lize. I could
understand their curiosity.

We made our way through the barrage of greetings from the people around us and finally
reached the yacht.
“Wow……! It’s gorgeous……!”

Killian wasn’t exaggerating when he bragged about his yacht.

There were several yachts bigger than his, but none more beautiful.

It’s white and dark wood and looks very sturdy. It was also well maintained, with no
peeling paint or rust spots.

“Once you’re on board, you have to be careful and stay alert, because if you do anything
wrong, you could end up in the water.”

“I understand.”

“……you don’t seem to understand at all.”

“If I do anything wrong, you can catch me, and we’ll be good.”

I smiled teasingly at him and climbed aboard the yacht as he led the way.

“Welcome, lady.”

On the yacht was Samuel, the helmsman.

He looks to be in his mid-fifties, with a bushy beard and a very good impression.

“I hope the yacht is in order?” Killian asked Samuel as he climbed aboard behind me.

Samuel nodded, looking very proud. “Of course, I checked every little thing yesterday and
everything was fine. I’m sure he’s been itching to go for a run for a long time, hahaha!”

From Samuel’s expression, I could tell that he loves his job as a yacht manager.

“Let’s go, then.”

At Killian’s command, Samuel bowed respectfully and entered the cockpit.

A moment later, the yacht was underway, gliding like a swan across the calm surface of
Lake Everton.

“Whoa, it’s move! It’s move, Killian!”

“I ordered the manager to sail, so of course we’re moving.”

“Wow……”
It’s a windless day, but there’s a cool breeze on the moving yacht.

The view of Lake Everton is beautiful, with the forests still in their fall colors and the blue
water, and the laughter of people enjoying boating in the distance adds to this blissful
moment.

I leaned over the side of the yacht with Killian and stared blankly at the beautiful scene.

I never thought I would be able to capture such a beautiful view with my eyes.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Killian draped his jacket over my shoulders, giving me a gentle hug.

I hadn’t realized it in all the excitement, but the air had picked up a bit, and the remnants
of his body heat made the jacket feel really warm.

I turned my head towards Killian and he was looking at me.

‘Hmm…… somehow, now seems like a good time for a kiss……’

Beautiful nature, a happy time, a man and a woman close together.

It makes for a great picture.

I closed my eyes slowly, right in front of his face.

It’s a perfect picture.

Then, I heard a chuckle from right above my head.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Ouch. I thought it was the perfect time to kiss him, but Killian had a different idea.

But it was too embarrassing to open my eyes.

I kept my eyes closed and whispered, “Don’t break the mood, just do it.”

“What do you mean?”

“What kind of man doesn’t know what to do with a woman with her eyes closed in his
arms–”
No sooner had I said that than Killian’s lips were on mine.

Our lips were hot against each other, and I clutched at the hem of his shirt.

Killian’s hands gripped my shoulders and waist, holding me close.

Perhaps it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve kissed him, but I feel ecstatic, like I’m
about to lose my mind.

But we were still on the yacht, and even Samuel was with us.

We barely pulled our lips apart as they continued to stick together.

“This is all for now, but remember, we’ll continue when we get home,” Killian said
wistfully, pressing a short kiss to my lips.

I smiled and nodded lightly.

It was, indeed, a perfect day.

We stopped the yacht in the middle of the lake and called Samuel over for lunch.
Sandwiches and fruit juice in the basket were perfect for a light lunch.

CHAPTER 71

“Shall we take a lap around the lake?”

“Sure.”

As if they’d done this many times before, Samuel and Killian took me for a lap around the
lake in the yacht.

I relaxed and watched the sunlight break on the deep blue water.

Every now and then, a small fish broke the surface.

“Look there, Killian! Oh, there again!”

“Don’t stick your head out too far. It’s dangerous.”

But there was no wind, and the yacht wasn’t tilting in the slightest, so Killian wasn’t
actively trying to stop me.

There was no way one woman was going to cause the yacht to tilt.

I clung to the front of the yacht, stretching out my hand toward the jumping fish.
There was no way I could reach them, but it felt good just to feel the cold water.

Killian watched me, smiling, and then coiled up the rope on the floor.

And then,

“Uh……?”

The surface of the water suddenly seemed to loom over me. It was only then that I
realized my body was tilted.

“Ahh!”

“Edith!”

I could hear Killian’s urgent voice in the distance, but there was no way I could have defied
gravity.

Time seemed to pass so slowly that I wondered if it was real, and then I fell into the cold
lake.

“Gah! Cough, cough! Ki- Killian……!”

What a disgrace.

I was just worried about getting scolded by Killian.

I had no idea how I’d ended up in the water, but I figured I’d get a scolding for not heeding
his warning not to go too far out.

“Edith, hold on tight to this!”

I saw Killian toss a rope in my direction.

I reached for it, swung my leg over, and the end of the skirt of my dress caught in the heel
of my shoe and tangled.

“Ack!”

Suddenly, the dress felt heavy and I sank.

I flailed my limbs, but the more I did, the farther away from the yacht I went.

“Edith! Edith!”
The water was increasingly blocking my vision.

I choked on the lake water as it washed over my nose and mouth, and a cold sense of
dread gripped me.

‘Let’s stay calm, I can’t die here, it’s Killian who’s going to kill me, I can’t die here!’

I repeated the thought and tried not to panic.

In the distance, I saw Killian take off his vest. It looked like he was about to jump into the
water.

‘No! It’s dangerous!’

I had to stop him.

I remember learning that when rescuing a drowning person, you shouldn’t just jump in
blindly.

You have to throw a rope or tube towards me first…… but why is the yacht so far
away……?

I managed to get my shoes off and my feet were free, but the water was cold and I felt
increasingly numb.
I felt the strength drain from my flailing limbs and realized my body was sinking.

My breath caught in my throat.

I was completely submerged, and everything became dark and quiet.

And that’s when I heard the voice of the sister announcer.

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

I heard the words, but I was a beat too late to realize what they meant.

‘What? What the hell is this? This is not fair!

It was an unfair game to begin with, and suddenly the rules have changed!

I wanted to grab anyone by the scruff of the neck and ask them.
‘Why did it suddenly change? Was it a game that didn’t even have rules in the first place?

Was I being too complacent?

I tried to pull myself together and tried to swim, but my soaked clothes felt heavier than I
could have imagined, and my head felt more and more numb from not being able to
breathe.

And the surface I needed to reach was getting farther and farther away.

‘If I was going to die, I’d rather it was killed by Killian……’

Even through my fading consciousness, I missed Killian, and I felt a little ridiculous for
doing so.

If I die, would Killian care about my absence?

No, he wouldn’t.

He wouldn’t……
***

[……has been broken……]

What are you saying?

I think I hear a TV announcer’s voice from somewhere.

Is it a dorm room? Did I fall asleep with the TV on?

Why is my throat and nose so sore? Do I have a cold?

As I dazedly assessed my condition, I realized that I had heard the announcer’s voice many
times before.
[Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention. The original story has been further damaged. The author’s control is
weakening.]

A voice flowing nonchalantly.

I belatedly realized the identity of the voice.

‘Oh, I’ve died and reincarnated as Edith, right?’

With that thought, I gradually woke up.

Not only my nose and throat hurt, but my stomach and ribs hurt, and my whole body felt
like it had been beaten.

‘Surely…… yacht…… yes, I went for a yacht ride and…… fell into the water and……?’

If I can still think like this, I’m definitely not dead yet, thankfully.

I blinked my stinging eyes a little, trying to come to my senses.

As my blurry vision became clearer, I could recognize the person standing next to me
looking at me.

But he was the first to speak.

“Edith? Edith, are you awake?”

“Kil……”

“Oh, Hershan, thank you. Haa……”

Killian held my hand tightly and thanked the God.

“What…… happened……”

I wanted to ask what happened, but my voice didn’t come out right. Perhaps it was an
illusion that I was awake, for my eyes were quickly blurring and I felt dizzy.

“Shh…… get some more sleep, it’s okay now, it’s okay……”

It’s okay?
Oh, I’m alive and Killian is okay. Thank goodness.

I drifted back to sleep, relieved.

***

I slept soundly with no dreams and woke up to find it was the middle of the day again.

“Killian……”

I called out to him in a low voice, but it was Anna who rushed to my side.

“Miss, are you awake?”

“Anna……”

“Would you like some water?”

“Yes……”
Unlike before, I was feeling better now.

I finished the glass of warm water Anna offered me and slowly looked around.

I knew I’d been drowning, but looking at the peacefulness of my bedroom, I had no idea
what had happened.

“Anna…… what happened?”

“They say that the yacht suddenly tilted and you fell into the water, and Master Killian
saved you,” Anna replied, sitting on the side of my bed and holding my hand tightly.

“Killian……? You mean he jumped into the water to save me?”

“Yes.”

“You idiot, what if something bad happened……!”

I raised my voice a little and it made my throat hurt.

I coughed a little and grabbed Anna’s sleeve again. “Killian, is he okay, is he unharmed?”
“Yes. He’s fine. He was really shaken up, though……”

“Hah…… thank goodness. What a disgrace…… I should have listened to him when he told
me not to stick my head out of the yacht,” I mumbled, rubbing my face.

Then Anna patted me on the shoulder and hesitantly said, “Miss, you didn’t fall in by
mistake.”

“Uh? Then?”

“Apparently, the yacht’s rudder malfunctioned at that moment, and all of a sudden, the
boat yacht and moved in a weird way.”

I wasn’t even swimming that hard, so maybe it was the yacht moving away from me.

But it was weird.

Obviously, Samuel said he’d checked the yacht the day before and found nothing
wrong……

“So where is Killian now?”

“That’s…… he’s interrogating Uncle Samuel.”

“What?”

“Uncle Samuel wouldn’t make such a mistake. In all the years he’s been managing the
Ludwig family’s yachts, he’s never done anything like this. Besides, he’s a very nice man,
and I don’t believe he would ever intentionally try to harm you, miss.”

Even without Anna’s defense, I believed Samuel had nothing to do with the incident.

The man who glowed with pride in his profession could not have sullied his honor by
deliberately malfunctioning the yacht.

Besides, the voice in my dream told me how this happened.

‘Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention.’

The author, who was playing with me, had broken the rules of the game, intervened in the
story, and tried to kill me.

At first, I wondered if the rule itself had been changed, but when I heard that the author’s
intervention had broken the flow of the original, I was convinced,

‘Maybe the author got nervous because I met the second condition……’
The fact that the author did so at the risk of weakening his control probably meant that he
was backed into a corner.

‘Then the third exception condition is likely to be the last one.’

Despite my near-death experience, instead of being scared, I found myself smiling.

I was overjoyed to realize that I only needed to meet the third exception condition to get
past this cursed original flow.

But what would be a happy situation for me would be disastrous for Samuel.

I had no intention of letting Samuel, who had only been used by the author, suffer such an
unjust punishment.

“Anna. Go to Killian and tell him I’m awake. Tell him I’m looking for him……”

“Yes!”

Anna seemed to have a personal relationship with Samuel, and she seemed anxious,
unlike her usual demeanor.
Not long after she left, there were urgent footsteps outside, and Killian burst in.

“Edith!”

“Killian……!”

Killian’s complexion was noticeably worse for wear, with dark circles under his eyes.

“Killian…… are you okay?”

“Are you worrying about me right now as soon as you wake up? Do you realize you almost
died?”

I do. I even heard a voice start counting down to my death.

CHAPTER 72

“I’m fine, but your complexion is so bad.”

“Do you think I’ll be okay when you’re on the verge of death?”

I’m touched. He actually seems to have a soft spot for me.

I gently brushed his tousled hair out of his face, trying not to look too pleased.
“How long have I been unconscious?”

“Three days, Edith. You just woke up for the first time in three days.”

“What? Three days?”

My eyes widened.

I didn’t feel like I’d slept that long……

Regardless, I had to get things straightened out.

“Killian. What on earth happened to you? I heard the yacht had a malfunction.”

“We’re looking into it now. Upon examining the yacht, I found that some important
screws in the cockpit had come loose. I’m assuming that Samuel was neglecting his duties,
or that he was paid off by someone.”

“I don’t think so, Killian.”

“Edith……?”
He’s an extra who probably isn’t even mentioned in the original story, but he has already
become known as “Samuel” in this world.

I don’t want him to die for nothing at the hands of the author.

“Why would he do something that would get him caught so quickly, he was even on the
yacht with you. I’m sure the real culprit has been keeping an eye out all this time.”

Killian sighed and hugged me. Then he whispered in a voice only my ears could hear.

“I think so, too. It’s just a warning from whoever it is.”

“Killian……!”

“We’re not neglecting our investigation into Samuel, of course, but we don’t have any
leads yet.”

The frustration of having to investigate a crime that left no evidence behind was evident in
his voice.

But with the intervention of the author, who is no different from god, it would be
impossible to find evidence.

“I don’t think the culprit of this will be caught so easily. On the flip side, it also means that
they’re very determined.”
“Determined on killing you……?”

“That’s what I’m thinking, Killian. You’re a good swimmer, aren’t you?”

Killian nodded. I expected him to.

“That’s why they were probably aiming for me.”

“But why……”

“I think we need to know who did it so we can know why……”

Killian nodded and hugged me tighter. “For now, just focus on recovering yourself.”

In his firm embrace, I let out a sigh of relief for the first time. “I know it’s late, but thank
you for saving me.”

“I’m also thankful you’re alive.”

I enjoyed Killian’s embrace for a moment longer before I lifted my head and said, “Don’t
punish Samuel. It’s not fair for an innocent man to suffer when the real culprit is probably
someone else.”

“I know he didn’t cause the breakdown on purpose or try to hurt you. But it was his fault
that he didn’t double-check the yacht that day, and he should be punished.”

“You’re all so forgiving of the mistakes of nobles, so why are you so harsh on the mistakes
of commoners?”

Killian sighed, his brow furrowed. “Because the unlearned need a good education.”

I couldn’t disagree more. “I understand that mistakes need to be corrected and people
need to be taught the error of their ways, but we should be more forgiving of the
unlearned. Who is more guilty, the person who has been taught and makes a mistake, or
the person who hasn’t been taught and makes a mistake?”

My voice became louder without me realizing it as it reminded me of the master’s

graduates I met while working at the company. They were the ones who made mistakes
themselves and only criticized other employees’ mistakes, saying, “This is why a bachelor’s
graduate shouldn’t do this.” The nobles here look like those master’s graduates.

“You don’t seem like a noble sometimes……”

“I’m just human.”

Killian looked at me grimly, but kept a firm grip on my hand.

“If that’s what you think, then…… okay.”

“Thank you, Killian.”

He told me to get some more rest and laid me down.

I too was getting tired again and wanted to sleep.

“By the way, Killian.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“How are Lize and Cliff doing?”

“Lize and Cliff are fine, why do you ask?”

“I thought they might be surprised.”

Killian fell silent.

He seemed to realize that I was feeling uneasy about them.

I closed my eyes, pretending not to notice his agitation.

‘I can’t help but suspect.’

Cliff, who had recommended me to go yachting, and Lize, who had wanted to come along
the morning of the yacht ride……

Of course, they were both characters who were set up to be ‘righteous,’ but you never
know.

‘The original story is already falling apart……’

I sighed in frustration and drifted back to sleep.

***
Killian got goosebumps all over his body when he thought about everything that had
happened from the moment Edith had fallen into the water.

Edith held out her hand, saying how cute the fish were splashing in the calm waters, the
beautiful weather, the fresh breeze, and the smooth sailing of the yacht to the center of
the lake.

Although brief, Killian felt a surge of happiness.

And then, as if waiting for him to feel that happiness first, the yacht suddenly tilted.

“Uh……?”

He blurted out something stupid in disbelief at the situation, and with a piercing scream,
Edith fell into the lake.

“Edith!”

On the yacht, which seemed to be moving of its own accord, Killian frantically threw the
rope in his hand toward Edith.

But when he lost sight of Edith’s head bobbing above the surface, he didn’t think twice
before taking off his vest and shoes and jumping into the lake. With one hand, he gripped
the rope tightly.
When he spotted Edith sinking into the depths of the lake, he felt his heart freeze.

He couldn’t remember how he’d swum there and saved her.

The next thing he knew, he was swimming toward the yacht, yelling at the unconscious
Edith to wake up.

“Haa……”

Just thinking about it made his heart race and his breath catch in his throat.

As he pressed against Edith’s chest, pale as a corpse and not breathing, Killian begged God
over and over again to save her.

“No, Edith, please! Please live, open your eyes! I’ll never forgive you if you die like this!”

He kept yelling at her, not knowing what he was saying.

Luckily, Edith started breathing again, and after being attended to by a doctor, she opened
her eyes, but that didn’t make her near-death experience go away.

I remember thinking it was just an annoyance when Edith collapsed from the poison in the
peach pie, but now just thinking about her pale, wet face sends shivers down my spine.
No, the peach pie incident was only now becoming horrifying in retrospect.

‘Someone must have targeted Edith.’

Killian could tell even if Edith didn’t say it. He’s a good enough swimmer that if he falls into
the water, he can quickly swim out.

But for Edith, it was a different story. After all, with their heavy dress hems and
uncomfortable shoes, women were always in danger whenever there was a boating
accident.

So whoever was behind the wheel of the yacht must have wanted Edith to be in danger.

But who and why……?

‘Count Riegelhoff, who hates Edith, or Count Sinclair, who hates Lize and the Riegelhoffs,
or someone else……?

It was the Riegelhoffs’ maid who poisoned the peach pie, but she wasn’t the one who
poisoned the embroidery thread.
As for who stole the documents, no suspect has ever been found.

In all three cases, the evidence pointed to Edith, making it difficult to point to anyone
other than her, but also making it all the more suspicious.

But there came a point where a whole new set of assumptions started to creep in.

‘No way, Lize…… No, no, no, it can’t be.’

Lize was the one who defended Edith every time she was accused of being the culprit.

Moreover, she was the one who would marry Cliff and become the Duchess even if she
did nothing.

Just as Edith had no reason to hurt Lize, Lize had no reason to hurt Edith.

But the more Killian denied it, the more he was bothered by the subtle changes in Lize’s
demeanor lately.

‘Why has she suddenly changed?’

She had certainly given him and Cliff their fair share of affection before, but in the months
leading up to his marriage to Edith, he felt that her affections had shifted toward Cliff.
In fact, it was one of the reasons he had accepted to marry Edith.

‘Didn’t you have feelings for Cliff? Why the hell are you just now……!’

Lize, who had remained the same after Killian married Edith, had changed only recently
when Killian began going out with Edith.

With the kind of subtle flirting that’s scary if you are aware of what you are doing……

And ever since he’d felt it, a terrifying assumption had been brewing in Killian’s mind.

‘In addition to the peach pie incident, there was another person who could have been a
suspect in the cases in which Edith was accused of being the culprit.’

It was Lize.

During the document leak incident, Lize was the one who had access to the documents
and was able to draw the tables, albeit clumsy.

She was the one who could have applied the poison directly to the embroidery thread.

That suspicion made Killian suspicious of everything she’d told him about Edith.

CHAPTER 73
“Ugh……!”

As he tried to recall the past, a headache suddenly hit him.

It was the most intense pain he had felt in a long time.

Killian hurriedly reached into his desk drawer and grabbed a headache pill.

Just then, there was a knock on his door.

“Who is it?”

“Young master, Samuel would like to see you.”

“Samuel……?”

Edith had told me to let Samuel go, so I did.

I wonder why he wants to see me again.

“Let him in.”

The painkillers slowly kicked in, and the throbbing headache subsided.
Then, Samuel walked in hesitantly.

“Sit down.”

“Oh, no, you’ll get your precious furniture dirty.”

Killian sighed and flopped into a chair alone.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“T- that……”

“I don’t like talking in circles, I’m sure you know that.”

“I- I’m sorry, I swear it wasn’t me who left those screws loose in the cockpit. I definitely
checked everything the day before.”

“You’re not here to tell me what you’ve been saying for three days, are you?”

“N- no, but…… as I was going back earlier, one thing suddenly occurred to me, and that
was……”
Killian’s eyes widened at that.

“What?”

“The night before the accident…… Master Cliff came to visit. He said he needed to get
something out of his yacht, so I accompanied him out, and in the meantime, I left my
cabin unlocked.”

Samuel was the only one living in his cabin near Lake Everton, and he kept all the keys to
the Ludwig family’s yachts inside.

“I don’t see how anyone could have stolen the key and tampered with the wheelhouse of
my yacht in the meantime…… and how you could be away like that?”

“I- I just remembered that I didn’t mention it, and yes, I’m guilty of not locking the door
properly and not checking before I left. I’m really sorry……”

After confessing his sins, Samuel knelt on the floor, shaking.

“But why are you confessing it? If you had kept your mouth shut, you would have gotten
away with it.”
Samuel wouldn’t have been in this much trouble if he had kept his mouth shut, because
Edith would have forgiven him and let him go.

“I can’t help but feel sorry for Miss Edith, she’s such a kind and compassionate person……
I’m sorry…… I did something so stupid…… hic…… I’m sorry……”

The man in his 50s begged for forgiveness with tears streaming down his face, saying he
was sorry to Edith……

Edith’s forgiveness brought out the “memory” that intimidation and threats had failed to
bring out.

Killian smiled faintly, remembering Edith’s words that commoners are human too, that the
unlearned should be more forgiving.

“Get up, Samuel.”

“Hic, sob……”

“Edith believes you couldn’t have done anything bad on purpose or been bribed by
someone. So…… I’ll believe you too.”

“Master……!”

“Three days of hard labor shall be your punishment for your mistake.”
“T- thank you!”

“Oh, by the way……”

Feeling odd, Killian asked one more question afterward. “What did Cliff take out of his
yacht?”

“He looked for a while for something, and when he couldn’t find it, he said he must have
been mistaken and just left.”

“Is that so? Okay. Go back and get some rest.”

Samuel repeated his gratitude over and over again, as if he were going to bang his head
on the floor, and then staggered away.

Watching him, Killian was sure he hadn’t done it on purpose.

But the new information was creating a strange afterimage.

‘Cliff had stopped by the lake the night before…… and spent a while on his yacht, and then
went back without finding anything……’
I have a strange feeling.

Cliff and I had been at odds over Lize, but it wasn’t a bad relationship.

We are brothers and have each other’s backs.

So he wouldn’t have deliberately touched the wheel in hopes of killing me or Edith.

‘But…… it’s definitely too weird to ignore.’

Asking Cliff would not have gotten me much of an answer.

But it kept coming back to me that the only person who could have gotten the right,
rational Cliff Ludwig was Lize Sinclair.

Even though he knew it couldn’t be, the smoke of disbelief rose in Killian’s chest.

***
I had a sore nose, throat, and stomach for a few days after the drowning incident, but I
recovered quickly.

But Killian couldn’t seem to shake the memory of the moment I stopped breathing.

Thankfully, I had the luxury of savoring the dessert he brought while reclining in bed.

“Samuel came back and told me that he had gone out the night before without locking the
cabin door. Apparently, in the meantime, someone had stolen the key and gotten into the
cockpit of my yacht…… Anyway, Samuel asked me to tell you that he was sorry.”

“You didn’t punish him, did you?”

“I decided to defer to your wishes this time.”

“Thank you.”

I accepted the canelé he forked out to me.

At first, I was going to eat it myself, but after I lost my knife in the process of slicing the
canelé in half, Killian cut it into bite-sized pieces and put it in my mouth himself.
The sweet canelé with its crispy exterior and moist interior was just like Killian’s, and I felt
better with each bite.

But Killian’s expression was not good the whole time.

The accident had been caused by someone’s malicious intent, but there was no evidence
of it.

“Killian. It can’t be helped.”

“I don’t like that phrase.”

Who is to blame?

In an age where fingerprint matching is impossible, eyewitness testimony and evidence

left at the scene are the only things that can support an investigation, and in this case,
there were no eyewitnesses and no evidence.

Samuel’s testimony that he had left his keys unguarded was the best evidence we had,
suggesting that someone had stolen them and sneaked into the cockpit.

‘That’s kind of weird too. How could they have expected him to leave the cabin at that
time?’
It was a story that would not benefit Samuel.

But he’d rather confess than keep his mouth shut, so I eliminated him as a suspect.

But then Killian added an unexpected detail, “But strangely enough…… it turns out it was
Cliff who visited Samuel the night before.”

“What? Cliff?”

“He said he was looking for something on his yacht. He and Samuel had been looking for
something on the yacht for a while, and then he said he must have been mistaken and just
left.”

I swallowed hard. “Well, that certainly wasn’t enough time for someone to commit a
crime.”

“I don’t think Cliff would have wanted me or you to die……”

At Killian’s side, lost in thought, I recalled the voice I’d heard when I’d lost consciousness.

[Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention. The original story has been further damaged. The author’s control is
weakening.]
I wonder what form this author’s “excessive” intervention took.

Did he move the character in a way that ignored the original setting?

Given the lack of direct attempts to kill me, I’m guessing the author is moving the
characters around……

‘If that was the case, it would have been a huge problem for the probability, so I
understand that some of the flow of the original story was broken. The good thing for me
is that it weakened the author’s control.’

I think the author took a gamble, and it failed.

‘It’s also worth noting that the character the author moved was Cliff, not Killian, who was
right next to me. Maybe…… Killian is quite a bit out of the author’s control,’ I thought,
squinting at Killian.

For some time now, Killian’s behavior has been far different from the original.
Killian is feeding Edith a canelé cut in half…… It’s a Kaebung! Everyone, it’s a Kaebung! [1]

[1] 캐붕 (Kaebung) is a condition in which a character in a work of fiction behaves in a way

that is completely out of character with their original personality or setting, (Sc: Namu
Wiki).

‘At this rate, I can survive……!’

Not even an author would be able to pull off such a troublesome assassination attempt so
many times.

I shouted to myself, “I can survive,” once again, and grabbed Killian’s hand as he was
about to cut the canelé in half.

“Killian. Thank you for protecting me.”

Killian paused at the unexpected thank you, his ears flushed.

“I should have stayed closer to you…… I’ve felt bad the whole time that I was careless and
caused you to fall into the water.”

“It was an accident, no one could have done anything about it. But Killian……”
“Yes, Edith.”

“Next time it happens again, you can’t just jump into the water to save me, or you’ll get us
both killed.”

Despite her concern, Killian frowned in response.

“So, you’re saying I should just watch you drown?”

“So you’re going to die with me?”

“I won’t let you die, ever.”

Ah! The declaration I was hoping for.

Please don’t change your mind……!

Just as I was about to shed a few tears of joy, Anna announced a visitor.

“Master Cliff is here.”

My and Killian’s gazes met.

I nodded to Anna and straightened up.

Seeing this, Killian pulled the blanket up over my chest.

“Oh dear, did I interrupt your alone time with Killian?”

Cliff approached, his voice thicker and warmer than Killian’s, a playful greeting.

A large bouquet of flowers was in his hand.

I merely smiled, but Killian snorted.

CHAPTER 74

“She was on the verge of death, isn’t it only natural for me, her husband, to take care of
her?”

“Normally so.”

It was hard to find in Cliff’s smiling face any indication that he was up to something
sinister.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, I just thought you might have gotten hurt because of me, so I came to see you.”

Cliff shook the bouquet of flowers in his hand slightly before passing it to Anna.

“What do you mean, hurt because of you?” Killian scanned his brother with a sharp
glance.

“The truth is, I recommended Miss Edith to go sailing because you’re into that sort of
thing.”

“Hey, Sir Cliff!”

Hey, why are you talking about that now, with Killian right in front of you?

“What? Did you two meet in private? Tell me what you talked about, be honest.”

Killian’s scowl deepened as if he was offended that there was something he wasn’t privy
to, and Cliff shrugged at me as I struggled to keep myself together.

“I was just trying to get you and my sister-in-law to get along a little better, so I told her a
little about your interests – you like sailing and looking at art.”

Killian looked at me.

I blushed, feeling like the woman who’d gotten information from Cliff in an attempt to win
his heart.

But to my surprise, he didn’t seem offended.

Killian asked me, “Did you?”

“No, well…… I- I’ve never been on a yacht either, so I was just curious……”

Why do I feel so embarrassed when I’m not guilty?

I don’t need to look in the mirror to know that my face is ripe.

Killian smirked at me as I fidgeted with my hands, unable to answer.

Then he turned to Cliff. “By the way, I heard you went to your yacht the night before too.
What did you do?”

“Oh…… to look for something.”

“What did you look for to go to the lake at night? It’s dangerous. You could have come
with us the next morning.”
Killian asked in a playful voice, but I recognized a hint of sharpness in his eyes.

“Actually, Lize said she lost her favorite earrings, and I think she lost it the last time we
went yachting.”

“……Lize?”

“Yeah. She was really upset that she couldn’t find it, so I went over there, albeit a little
late, but it wasn’t there.”

If Killian’s brain is working properly, he’s probably thinking the same thing I am right now.

‘I wonder if Lize also went to……?’

Lize herself wouldn’t have made the move. She would just have to get someone to.

‘But I guess she didn’t think to shut down Cliff’s mouth.’

Yeah, well, if you accuse her of only saying she lost a pair of earrings, that’s one thing. She
didn’t even ask him to look for it right away, he was just being overly loyal and going out
at that hour to look for it.
‘If it’s really Lize’s doing, it’s really meticulously calculated. It’s a lot of faith to think that
all you had to do was drop a clue and Cliff would do it.’

I chuckled lightly, looking at Cliff, who had changed the subject and started talking about
something else.

A few moments after Cliff left, Lize came by.

Killian, who had just stood up, made eye contact with me at the mention of Lize’s visit and
sat back down.

“Edith!”

Lize approached, looking worried and on the verge of tears, but still dazzlingly beautiful.

Her looks diluted any doubts I had about her, to the point where I thought I’d rather be
blind than see the true colors of her character.

I was a little worried that Killian might as well be swayed by it, but I had to pull myself
together for my life.

“Are you okay now? I thought you were really sick because you kept rejecting my visits.”

Her choice of words was a little off.

The words “kept rejecting” would make anyone think she was being harshly rejected.

Furthermore, “I thought you were really sick” made me feel like she was criticizing me for
rejecting her visit even though I wasn’t really sick. Is it just me?

But to me, it was a bit unfair.

“What? I refused your visit request?”

But I didn’t……

Lize then looked at Killian, confused.

Killian then said to me, “You weren’t in a good enough condition to receive visitors, and I
know you’re not good at saying no, so I did it for your own good.”

……said the person who has been visiting me for days.

“Ah, I see…… it was Killian,” Lize replied hesitantly, and I was a little dumbfounded.

But there’s no need to break the alliance with Killian here.

I put on my best apologetic face and said, “I’m sorry, Lize, you must be disappointed after
all you’ve been through.”

“Oh, no, I’m more concerned about your health. Are you sure you’re okay now?”

“Yep. I was a little sick here and there for a few days, but I’m feeling much better now, and
I think I’ll be able to dust myself off and get up soon.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.”

Lize was tearing up again, and looking relieved like an angel.

I was going to laugh it off, but suddenly, I wanted to see her reaction to this.

“It’s a good thing Killian didn’t hesitate a second to jump into the water to save me. If it
wasn’t for him, I’d be……”

“Edith, let’s not talk about that, it gives me the creeps just thinking about it.”

Thanks to Killian helping by my side, I could clearly see the change in Lize’s expression.

‘She froze for a second.’

In my previous life, I had watched an American TV show about a scientist who studied
microexpressions.

I am not well versed in such psychology, but even from my perspective, the facial
expression at that moment was clearly close to a negative emotion.

‘There’s definitely something there.’

I wonder if Lize is the character who most reflects the will of the author.

“Yes, Edith, don’t imagine such horrible things, I’m so glad you’re so well now.”

Lize smiled her usual benevolent face, and I returned the favor with a smile of my own.

“By the way, Killian. I’m glad you’re both okay, but jumping into the water is a dangerous
thing to do, and I was worried about you too, Killian.”

As if she was done with me, Lize turned to Killian with a worried look on her face.

And I slowly realized something.

‘Lize…… you’re really trying to get Killian back, aren’t you?’

Lize was trying to get the second male lead back.

She was trying to win Killian’s heart, even if it meant deviating from her default
characterization of Lize Sinclair.

I was strangely pleased by that.

Because it was proof that I was doing something right.

“You’re saying the same thing as Edith, but as a husband, I can’t just stand by and watch
my wife die.”

Way to go, my husband!

Why do I feel so refreshed?

As much as I was feeling fresh, Lize was feeling sick to her stomach.

‘Yeah, I bet you’re forcing a smile right now.’

“That’s right,” she said, trying to sound cute, but Lize was clearly offended that Killian
saved my life and took my side.
Thanks to this, Lize’s visit was short-lived.

“I think I’m going to bother Edith if I sit here too long, so I’m going to get up.”

Seeing her off with a smile, I flopped back onto my pillow.

The thought of Lize made me feel both refreshed and horrified inside. Of course, I wasn’t
sure that Lize had tried to kill me.

All of this was paranoia, but…… it was a pretty strong paranoia.

“Edith.”

Killian called out to me, his voice soft as if he was feeling the same way as me.

“Yes, Killian.”

“I guess you’re glad I saved you, huh? Because you acted like you weren’t……”

Huh? Is that what you’re thinking?

Anyway, I don’t know why men…… are so hung up on compliments.

Yeah, yeah. Compliments!

“Of course! I thought you wouldn’t care if I disappeared, but you, my husband, risked your
life to save me. How sweet is that?”

I meant it as a compliment, albeit in a playful way, but the look on Killian’s face was a little
strange.

He stared at me for a moment, then spoke, “I won’t let you disappear.”

“Killian……!”

“I wouldn’t know where you are or what you’re doing if you disappear. I’d rather have you
around to keep an eye on you.”

Well, then.

I started to giggle, and Killian turned his head and smirked.

For now, I’m content with this relationship.

Honestly, even this level of comfort is too sweet for me.

***

A few days later, fully recovered, I headed to Renon’s office for the first time in a long
time.

I thought I was finally getting a normal day back, but then something unexpected
happened.

“Good morning, miss.”

“Oh my, you’re up already, wouldn’t it be better if you got some more rest?”

As I walked by, the occupants of the mansion greeted me with friendly smiles.

And not just one or two.

‘Why is everyone suddenly like this?’

I wondered, feeling both elated and bewildered.

And when no one was around, Anna whispered to me, “It’s because the servants in the
mansion consider Uncle Samuel to be like a father or a friend, and I don’t think there’s a
single one of them who hasn’t been indebted to him at least once.”

“Really? Even though he lives in a separate cabin by the lake?”

“He works both at the mansion and the cabin. He’s been working for a long time, and he
has good connections here and there, so he’s helped people out a lot.”

“Ah, I see……”

Apparently, that warm and generous impression of his wasn’t just made up.

CHAPTER 75

“And word has gotten out that Uncle Samuel is safe because of you, so everyone is
thankful to you.”

“What? Really?”

Anna smiled and nodded.

After all, she had tried to convince me that Samuel couldn’t have had a bad heart.

Then she looked around, tugged on my arm, and headed off into the shadows.

She whispered, “Actually, not long ago, a maid named Sabina disappeared.”

“What? Disappeared?”

The name Sabina sounded vaguely familiar; I’d heard it from Cliff a while back.

He had told me then that he would promote her if she had a good reputation……!

“What do you mean she’s disappeared?”

“Literally. All the stuff is there, but the person is missing.”

“Oh my God…… and she still hasn’t been found?”

“Yes. But more importantly, in the days leading up to her disappearance, she’s been going
around saying that she saw you poisoning Miss Lize’s embroidery thread.”

“What?”
I gasped in surprise, and Anna quickly covered my mouth.

“And she said she was going to tell Master Cliff sooner or later, and then she just
disappeared, so everyone was saying that you had something to do with her
disappearance.”

It was ridiculous.

So Cliff asked me just to test me?

“Well, so, are things different now?”

“Yeah. Apparently, everyone has changed their minds, saying that the lady who saved
Uncle Samuel’s life, even when her own was in danger, would never have anything to do
with a bullshitting maid.”

I just nodded, unable to close my gaping mouth.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t even know what this maid named Sabina looks like. I only
heard her name from Cliff.”

“There’s no way you could have gotten rid of a maid without me noticing, especially since
I’ve been by your side almost the entire time.”
“Would you mind telling that to Cliff?”

“I’ve already told him.”

“Thank you.”

Sighing deeply, I walked into Renon’s office again, pretending to be unaffected.

“Welcome, miss. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.” Renon greeted me, his voice still
emotionless.

“It’s been a long time, Sir Renon. I’ve been absent so often that I don’t think I deserve to
be here, saying I’ll help you with your work.”

“I heard you almost drowned this time. Not a day goes by without wind.” [1]

[1] The stronger the wind blows means your day is getting harder – referring to the
proverb 가지 많은 나무에 바람 잘 날 없다 (No wind blows through a tree with many
branches).

“I know.”
I sighed again.

I didn’t really want to be like this either.

“Actually, so far I’ve only heard a sketchy version of why you can’t come out, so if you
don’t mind, could you tell me in more detail?”

Now, Renon, I think you’re holding back some of your anger……

I mean, from the perspective of a boss, it’s kind of pissing him off.

I’m parachuted in as the new employee, then I miss work on a random day for no
apparent reason, and he can’t find a new employee to replace me, so he ends up doing
double the work.

I broke out in a cold sweat and told him what had happened. I tried to keep my emotions
out of it and just give him the facts, but it was kind of frustrating because it made me feel
like I was the culprit.

‘Is this going to make Renon think I’m weird?’

While I was worrying about that, Renon nodded, then suddenly said, “That’s weird.”

“Well, it’s been weird.”

“It’s not the incident itself, it’s just that I don’t understand the behavior of the people of
this house.”

“Yes? Like what?”

I widened my eyes, even more puzzled that Renon, a longtime vassal of the Ludwig family,
couldn’t understand the Ludwig people.

“Why didn’t anyone think of Miss Lize as a suspect?”

“Yes?”

“Miss Lize could have been the culprit in all of those incidents. No way, you didn’t realize
that either, Miss Edith?”

I looked around the office in a panic in case anyone had heard.

“Renan, is that what you think?”

“Yes. I think it’s what anyone would think.”

“……thank you.”
“I didn’t say this to get a thank you.”

“I know.”

Again, Renon seems to be less affected by the author due to him being an unnamed extra.

Renon makes this simple assumption, one that no one in the Ludwig family would have
thought of.

Conversely, the Ludwig family is closer to the main character, so could it be that they are
controlled by the author?

“I know what you are saying, Renon, but I think it’s best we don’t talk about this, and since
you’re a vassal of the Ludwigs, it wouldn’t do you any favors to offend Sir Cliff or His
Excellency.”

Renon looked shocked for a moment at my words, then broke into a hollow laugh.

“That young lady of the Sinclair family wields a great deal of power in this mansion.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

I tensed, afraid I’d unnecessarily put Renon in a bad light.

“There’s no way Cliff or Killian couldn’t have thought of that, but…… there’s no evidence
anywhere that Lize is the one who did it.”

“So you’re saying she’s innocent.”

“Well, yeah.”

“That principle of presuming innocence in the absence of hard evidence, why didn’t it
apply to you?”

That’s what I said.

I feel like my heart is pounding now that I have someone to communicate with, but I can’t
bring myself to show it.

“Because they found things that seemed to point to me as the culprit, even if the evidence
was flimsy…… and that’s why it’s so easy to think that way.”

I smiled weakly at Renon.

But rational, logical Renon shook his head as if this didn’t make much sense.
“Renon. Don’t even think about it. The Sinclairs could be the culprits, and maybe…… my
own family.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not interested in anything but my own safety.”

“I’m glad to hear that, so let’s get on with today’s work, shall we?”

I smiled and took the documents from him.

It was nice to see the documents after a long time.

“I was going to ask you to do this last time, but things got in the way. In the future, I’d like
you to check the documents for the Ryzen estate.”

“Ryzen?”

“Yes. It’s where Master Killian and you will be going. It’s a bit far from the big city, but it’s
a nice estate.”

At the mention of a place for me and Killian to go, I suddenly felt a surge of affection for
the documents.
“What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to get the tax and production records for the last ten years and organize them
for me. Think of it as a head start for you yourself.”

“Okay. Thank you, Renon.”

I flipped through the ten volumes of thickly bound folders one by one, trying to get a
handle on the situation at the estate where I and Killian would be living.

I have seen the tax receipts of some of the estates before, so I can tell that Ryzen’s
production capacity isn’t bad.

The population is a little disappointing compared to 21st-century Korea, especially Seoul,

but the age distribution, sex ratio, and productivity per capita put a smile on my face.

‘This is where Killian and I are going to live build our territory……’

My heart skipped a beat at the thought.

I should have played some kind of territory development game in my previous life. No,
what’s the point?
Anyway, we’re going to develop this estate that has a lot of potential, but is still a bit
underdeveloped in one way or another.

Just thinking about it made me feel proud and motivated.

By utilizing the memories of my previous life, I might even be able to turn Ryzen into one
of the best estates in the empire.

‘So, please, may I survive and be able to leave for Ryzen with Killian.’

I prayed silently.

***

Today, the Countess of Sinclair’s tea party was in full swing, as House Sinclair has been
trying to expand its power lately.

Leila was there, and she received some unexpectedly upsetting news.
“Did you hear the news? Edith Riegelhoff almost drowned in the lake!”

“Oh, my God, how did that happen?”

“Well, her yacht malfunctioned, and it happened in a flash.”

Up to that point, the story was pretty exciting.

But the gossip monger went on to tell a very disappointing story.

“But Sir Killian jumped into the lake himself and rescued Miss Edith, that’s what they say
was so wonderful!”

“My goodness…… the sons of that family are so brave, they all look like His Excellency the
Duke of Ludwig!”

Leila’s excited face crumpled in disappointment.

But she didn’t give up hope, and cautiously joined in the conversation.

She asked, “So, how is Miss Edith doing now?”

Leila expected to hear that she was on the verge of death, but once again, her hopes were
dashed.

“Oh, it was a scare, she wasn’t even breathing when Sir Killian first got her, they said she
woke up after three days, but she’s doing fine now.”

Leila gripped her fan tighter.

‘It would be nice if she just died right away or was unconscious until the end of the year
with nothing to go on!’

Her breath was ragged with anger, but she couldn’t show it.

Then came an interesting story.

“You know, the yacht malfunctioned…… and they say it was because someone deliberately
tampered with the wheel.”

“Oh, my God! Are you saying someone was trying to hurt Sir Killian?”

“No. Sir Killian is an excellent swimmer, and who usually dies in boating accidents?”

Everyone at the tea party fell silent at the sudden question.

CHAPTER 76
“No way……”

“That’s right, someone tried to kill Miss Edith.”

“Oh, that’s horrible.”

Horrible.

Leila was rather delighted.

‘If someone has tampered with the wheel of the yacht belonging to the Ludwigs, then
there is a force within the Ludwig family that wants to get rid of Edith!’

Who else but members of the Ludwig family could have broken into Killian’s yacht?

Then it occurred to me to consider one hopeful assumption.

‘Maybe Killian was trying to kill Edith……?’

When he lifted her from the water, she wasn’t breathing.

‘He only pretended to save her so that he could make excuses to Count Riegelhoff, but
that worthless wench survived. There were many eyes watching, so he couldn’t kill her
again……’
The rumor of Killian and Edith’s feud has already spread through social circles.

But the two of them going on a yacht?

That’s already weird.

‘Clearly, Killian is trying to get rid of that woman!’

Leila was convinced.

This helped her stay calm and not lose her temper when the subject of Lize came up.

“By the way…… do you know anything about Miss Lize?”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“I mean…… Miss Lize is being treated as an almost future duchess by the Ludwig
family……”

At that, Leila and Countess Sinclair snorted at the same time, especially the Countess, who
even went so far as to actively retort.
“That’s nonsense,” she said, “To put it bluntly, that child has been sold to that house.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been keeping my mouth shut because it’s a disgrace to the family, but apparently
there’s a wild rumor going around. The truth is, that illegitimate child was sold to the
Ludwigs the Ludwigs, and she probably works as a maid there.”

The lady who had mentioned Lize exchanged glances with the lady who had come with
her, shaking her head.

But the Countess spoke boldly, “When Duke Ludwig and my family did business together,
we borrowed some money from the Duke, which is not uncommon in business.”

“Well, yes.”

“Then His Excellency the Duke of Ludwig came to visit us for a while, and apparently he
needed a maid, so he offered to take her in light of our bond.”

“But…… the Duke of Ludwig could have gotten a maid without having to do that……”

“How do you know what he’ll use her for?”

Several of the ladies blushed and their eyes widened.

“I must admit…… Miss Lize is quite a catch.”

“She is not. She’s a lascivious wench who takes after her lascivious mother who can’t be
trusted with a man, and I don’t even want to talk about it.”

The Countess furrowed her brow in displeasure and flapped her fan.

Then the shrewd ladies cursed Lize and her mother in front of them, which made Leila and
the Countess feel better.

But it wasn’t Lize that Leila cared about; she didn’t give a damn about trivialities anyway.

All she cared about was Killian and Edith.

As soon as the tea party was over, Leila headed for the first-floor study where Damien and
Anton were playing billiards.

“Leila! You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“You do. Guess the chatty old ladies didn’t offer any marriage advice today, huh?”
Leila smiled broadly and plopped down on the couch, despite Anton’s mock.

“You were right.”

“I’m always right, but which one?”

“I don’t think the Duke of Ludwig intends to keep Edith Riegelhoff alive for long.”

At the irritating preamble, Damien and Anton stopped playing billiards and turned to look
at Leila.

“What did you hear?”

“Edith went out yachting with Killian and almost drowned, and someone tampered with
the wheel.”

“So?”

“You know they’ve been rumored to be feuding, but doesn’t it strike you as odd that
they’d be on a yacht together?”

“Well……”
Damien nodded, and Leila got even more excited.

“That’s what I’m thinking. Killian faked an accident and tried to kill Edith, and then
pretended to save her, but ended up saving her for real.”

Anton laughed mockingly at Leila’s speculation.

“Haha, if that’s true, the look on Killian’s face would have been something to behold.”

“But if it’s not, it doesn’t make sense. Killian Ludwig’s wife almost died, and the case was
swept under the rug, what does that mean?”

At that, Damien smiled in satisfaction. “Leila, you do realize that the National Day is
coming up soon, right?”

“Yeah. I’ve already ordered my dress.”

“Then that’s your chance. The end of the year is coming, don’t forget.”

Leila’s eyes sparkled.

The end of the year is approaching, the time of Count Riegelhoff’s downfall, and Killian has
become so sick of Edith that he wants to kill her.

She must win him over at the upcoming National Day if she expects him to divorce his wife
next year.

“I’ll try my best.”

Leila’s cheeks flushed with excitement.

***

The yacht incident ended up being a mere misadventure.

A few days later, the body of a maid named Sabina was found in a forest east of the
capital.

It was said that she had been beaten to death with something like a club.
The location was close to Count Riegelhoff’s estate, but the Riegelhoffs were able to pass
by without much suspicion because their men were down at the estate.

It was later discovered that Sabina had been borrowing money from various places in the
neighborhood and giving it to a man.

This led to rumors that her story about me being the culprit was also a ploy to extort
money from me.

‘But a mere eighteen-year-old girl was murdered with a blunt object…… and you all don’t
care?’

Ironically, the only person who cared about the maid’s situation was me, who was almost
falsely accused because of her.

In this world, extras’ circumstances are so trivial that they can be described in one or two
lines, so even the people who asked what to do at first acted as if they had forgotten
about it by the next day.

‘Even if I die…… everyone will forget about it the next day, right?’

I had to try not to think about it.

But I couldn’t dwell on Sabina for long either.

Because the original flow didn’t wait for me to feel better, it immediately announced the
start of the next episode.

“The National Day is already a month away.”

The Duke of Ludwig brought up the topic of the National Day at a family dinner after a
long time.

“I’ve noticed that something’s not quite right with Archduke Langston this time.”

Despite the seriousness of the topic, Cliff said it with a casual smile, as if it were no big
deal.

It was a problem they all knew about, and no one was surprised to hear about it.

“He’ll try to show off his power. He’s foolish and greedy, and probably still believes the
throne should be his.”

I quickly realized that Archduke Langston is a man not much different from Count
Riegelhoff.
Count Riegelhoff also believes that the Duchy of Ludwig should have been his.

‘If it’s National Day when Archduke Langston appears, it’s the ball episode at the end of
volume four. There’s not much left.’

I got goosebumps.

After this ball, events will take place that will put Edith’s life in jeopardy.

After dinner, I went back to my room to think about what was to come, and I realized that
this episode of National Day would be different from the original.

‘Wait a minute, the original Edith is on probation, so she can’t attend the National Day
ball!’

Edith remains at the mansion, and it seems that she and Sophia have been plotting
something.

‘It’s not really clear what Edith is up to because the narrative centers on Lize and Cliff……
but that’s one of the reasons she dies later……’

At the end of the National Day ball episode, a fight breaks out between the Riegelhoffs
and the Ludwigs, during which Shane attacks the Ludwigs’ mansion.
Perhaps Edith and Sophia have come up with a plan to help him?

‘But now I don’t have Sophia, and I’m going to the National Day ball, so this will be a good
change for me, right?’

There were a lot of twists and turns, but somehow I felt like I was getting closer to a better
future.

“Plus, I get to go to the ball in a Rofan world! Oh my God!’

The ball at the imperial palace is one of those things that always comes up when I read
Rofan novels.

Magnificent palace, colorful dresses, thrilling waltzes, and romance!

‘It would be fun just to watch others!’

I smiled, recalling the countless ball episodes I’d read online.

Perhaps in this episode of the National Day ball, Lize will be the center of attention, and
the Langston faction will make a big splash.
All I have to do is put on my 3D glasses and eat popcorn to watch it happen.

The next day, the mansion is in a frenzy.

“Anna, what’s going on outside, it sounds a bit noisy……”

I woke up at the same time as usual, bathed, dressed, drank tea, and finished reading
“Madam Graham’s Secret Flirtation,” only to hear voices coming from somewhere, so I
asked Anna.

“Master Cliff has called the boutique’s people for Miss Lize,” she answered.

“Is Madam Ruayal here?”

“No. He’s summoned the Dwell Robes Boutique, which is used by the Empress, and it’s
twice as expensive as the Ruayal Boutique.”

“Twice? I thought the Ruayal Boutique was expensive enough.”

Although the Duchess is not a person of extravagance, the Ruayal Boutique is also quite
expensive.
If it is twice the price Ruayal Boutique gives, it would be a place that even the most noble
families would have to spend a lot of money to visit.

CHAPTER 77

“Looks like Cliff’s got his mind set on something, huh?”

Anna smiled slightly at my comment, then asked, “Aren’t you going to prepare a dress for
the upcoming ball?”

“Oh, I’ll wear what I have.”

Apparently, Edith had a reputation for never wearing a dress again, but I cannot allow
myself that luxury.

Besides, the dresses in my closet were worn by the past Edith, not by the current Edith,
who is now possessed by Choi Soo-na.

‘There are many dresses I have yet to try on.’

I think I’ll pick one that’s not too noticeable and wear it.

But I must have been the only one thinking that, because shortly after lunch, Killian barged
in.

“Come out with me.”

“What? Where?”

“Boutique.”

“To get fitted for something to wear to the National Day ball?”

I was excited to see if I could watch Killian get fitted.

But he avoided my gaze slightly and replied, “While I’m fitting mine, you’ll be fitting yours
as well.”

“I’ll just wear what I have.”

“This is our first formal event together since we became a couple. I’d like us to go out in
matching outfits to put to rest any rumors of a feud.”

The word “feud” makes me feel like I am a celebrity.

Honestly, I don’t know that it matters, but seeing as how the nobles here live and die by
their reputations, I figured it couldn’t hurt to go along with Killian’s idea.

“Very well. Let’s go. But can we go without a reservation?”

“Such is the power of the Ludwigs.”

“Ah, yes, sure.”

Killian and I exchanged a few lighthearted jokes, and then got ready to go out.

As we walked out of the room, there was a buzz of noise near Lize’s room.

‘Judging by Killian’s sudden insistence on going to the boutique…… is it still bothering him
to see Lize and Cliff together like that?’

Killian seemed to be acting like it didn’t bother him, but I was getting a little irritated with
him.

Sure, I love him, and although his attitude towards me has been quite positive lately, it’s
not easy to give up a longtime crush so quickly.

I decided to be the sunshine version of Edith to cheer him up.

If nothing else, it’s going to be a rainy day today, which could further depress Killian’s
mood.

“Where are we going? Are we going to Ruayal Boutique?”

“Madam Ruayal’s tailoring is second to none, but we’re going somewhere else today.”

“Oh, I’m looking forward to it.”

As the carriage carrying us pulled away from the mansion, I fidgeted with my hands and
moved closer to Killian’s side.

I immediately receive a stare asking what I’m doing, but the sunshine version of Edith is
unfazed by this.

“I’m cold. Aren’t you?”

“……no, not really.”

It’s just that when people are cold, they have more lonely thoughts.

I followed my original route of comforting Killian, snuggling up against his body to keep
him warm.

Somehow it seemed like an act that satisfied my self-interest, but my intentions were
pure. Really!
Luckily, my sincerity paid off, and instead of pushing me away, Killian stayed still.

“You know, you might be a little displeased if you go to the National Day ball this time,” he
said nonchalantly.

“Why?”

“Because the rumors about you have gotten a little bad.”

“When were they good, anyway.”

I said something obvious, but Killian laughed.

“You did know that, didn’t you?”

“Sadly, my ears are still intact.”

Killian chuckled a little longer, then calmed down and said, “Speaking of knowing, I used to
think you were extravagant, vain, boorish, jealous, and……”

“Yeah, yeah, enough about the old days.”

“Hmm! Okay, well, if that’s the case, I’ve heard some bad things about you in a different
direction now.”

“What did they say?”

“That things between us couldn’t possibly get any worse, and that you’re jealous of Lize
and are doing evil things……”

“Wow.”

It’s the same as the original story.

I thought I’d gotten over the flow of the original, but things were still going the same way
outside the Ludwigs’ mansion.

“It’s my fault.”

“What?”

“I rarely talked about you outside, and I was out with Lize quite a bit even after we were
married, so maybe the rumors themselves were started by me…… I’m sorry.”

I didn’t expect to hear an apology like that from Killian.

“That rumor will die down quickly, because it’s not true, right?”

“……it will.”

The way Killian looks at me is quite sweet.

“I’m sure it will. We’re going to get our ballroom attire together.”

I smiled, blushing as if I were a cheerful character without a plan.

It made me feel better, like everything was actually going to be okay.

There are studies that prove that smiling, even if it’s forced, can make you feel better. I
guess this is true.

I saw the corners of Killian’s mouth turn up as he watched me, so maybe the operation to
become the sunshine version of Edith wasn’t so bad after all.

The carriage pulled up in front of a majestic-looking building.

On the wall of the building was a small sign that read “Moffett Dahlia”.
I was referred to this place by someone I know, and I thought it would be a better fit for
you than the Ruayal Boutique.”

“Is that so?”

Curious, I walked in, and the inside of the dressing room was even grander than it looked
from the outside.

The dress samples lined up around the room were much more colorful than the ones I’d
seen in the design books at Ruayal.

“You don’t really like this style…… do you?”

“I think it’s okay as long as it fits, but not too revealing.”

While we were having this conversation, the boutique owner, a male designer,
approached me.

“Oh my goodness, look who is this! I am so honored that you have come to my humble
little boutique!”

The man, who looks to be in his 30s, is lean and well-dressed for a designer, but a little
high-strung.
He brought out dress samples and design books, and his staff brought out new fabrics and
accessories.

It was a hustle and bustle.

“Killian, are you okay?” I asked, leaning in to whisper in his ear, afraid his mood, which I’d
worked so hard to lift, would be knocked down again.

Killian’s shoulder twitched slightly, as if tickled by my nose, and he coughed a couple of

times.

“It’s a pretty prestigious boutique. I think something like this would look good on you……”

Killian pointed to a spot in the design book he’d been flipping through.

I thought he was only pretending to look.

“Excellent choice! That’s exactly the design I was debating whether or not to recommend
to Lady Ludwig. If you want something a little more daring than that, you can go with this
one. If not, this is okay too.”

Moffett Dahlia, the boutique owner, said excitedly. The surname Dahlia was clearly a
pseudonym, but I could see where he was going with it. It would never be as pure and
unpretentious as violets.
Anyway, he flipped through the design book, and I, not really sure what to choose,
decided to follow Killian’s recommendation and try on a dress.

As I tried on the dress he recommended, I once again realized how good his taste was.

‘He has a good eye.’

The dress he chose was a yellow and golden off-the-shoulder dress that looked gorgeous
but didn’t look tacky because of the golden embellishments.

It went well with my spring-warm skin tone and my brown hair, which had reddish
undertones.

‘I hope Killian will like it too.’

I stood in front of Killian, a little embarrassed.

“W- what do you think, do I look good?”

Killian’s gaze flew straight to me.

Not sure why this was so embarrassing, I couldn’t look him in the eye and kept looking
down at the hem of my skirt or glancing around.

But he didn’t say anything for a while.

‘He doesn’t like it……?’

I thought for a moment, because when you don’t like an outfit, you have to think about
how to say it in a way that doesn’t hurt the other person’s feelings.

After a moment, Killian spat out just one word.

“Good.”

Not sure if he really meant it or not, I looked up and made eye contact with him.

‘Uh……?’

Killian was smiling.

It was the kind of smile that made my heart drop.

A smile I thought only Lize, blessed as she is to be the female lead, could see.
A sudden heat rose in the nape of my neck.

“This dress has finally found its owner! I don’t mean to brag, but there were quite a few
people who coveted this dress, but none of them were quite suited to it in my opinion, so
I politely suggested other designs, and to be honest, they all felt like they were being
buried by the dress, but you pull off the opulence of this dress with grace and dignity……”

There was a long pause of praise from the boutique owner, but it didn’t reach my ears.

I was locking eyes with Killian for a long moment.

‘We’ve been married for almost ten months, why is my heart racing like this…….?’

At this rate, my face was going to turn red.

“Well…… I’ll go with this one. Now could you take care of my husband’s clothes?”

See where my words went, the boutique owner clasped his hands together and flashed a
happy smile as he crossed his arms over his stomach.

The clothes in this boutique are good, but the owner is a bit overwhelming, so I don’t
think I can come here often.

CHAPTER 78
“What style would you prefer, my lord?”

“I’d like it to match my wife’s dress……”

“Oh, how romantic!”

“Yeah……”

Seeing Killian’s face hardened at the boutique owner’s comment, I was sure he was
thinking the same thing as me.

But apparently, the reputation of the boutique wasn’t a lie, as the owner skillfully and
earnestly recommended a suit for Killian.

It was a dark blue suit with gold trim on the lapels and cuffs, and looked more ornate than
Killian usually wore.

But when paired with my dress, the suit looked like a couple’s outfit, so both of us liked it.

“I’ll take this one.”

“You’ve made a good choice. It’s a shame I won’t get to see you two go to the ball in this,
I’m sure you’ll look stunning.”
He looked at us with a twinkle in his eye, as if trying to imagine it.

‘This is too overwhelming……’

As I thought that, I looked at Killian and he had the same look on his face.

We burst out laughing at the same time, bowing our heads and giggling before we were
escorted out of the boutique by the entire staff.

“I think you made your decision a little too quickly, you could have tried on a few more
dresses……”

“No, I really liked that dress, and to be honest, I think you have a really good eye.”

“Well, I’ve often been told I have a good eye.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure you do.”

We joked and giggled again.

“While we’re at it, let’s match boots and shoes.”

“Oh, right, we were supposed to do that, right?”

“We were supposed to go earlier……”

Killian’s face turned grim as he recalled the time I nearly drowned again.

I gathered my courage and threw my arm around his.

“Come on!”

Killian looked back and forth between me and my linked arm, then nodded with a smile.

The street where the boutique was located was close to Le-Belle Marie Street, so we took
a stroll and headed for the shoe store.

“Wow!”

As I stepped onto Le-Belle Marie Street, the word “wow” naturally came out.

While Darsus Street is famous for the noblemen and has many luxurious things to see, Le-
Belle Marie Street seems to be a street specially made for women.

There are many cute and pretty shops, and many feminine and elegant shops.
The cafes also seem to put more effort into their appearance than those on Darsus Street.

There are many things to see

But the only thing better than walking down Le-Belle Marie Street was hearing Killian’s
voice, which somehow sounded apologetic.

“If I’d known you’d like it so much, I’d have gotten you out more often.”

I know our relationship back then didn’t make it possible for us to do such a thing, and he
knows that too.

Still, there’s something about him saying that.

Instead of answering, I grinned and followed him into the shoe store.

“Welcome! Ah, you must be Young Master Ludwig, and this is……”

“My wife, as I told you last time. I’d like to order two pairs of boots and a pair of shoes.”

“I see, please have a seat this way. I’ll be right back with the sketch paper.”

The owner greeted us crisply and prepared to make the shoes.

“I have a pair of boots myself, so why don’t we just make one for you?”

“It’s colder and snows a lot more in Ryzen than here, so we need to make winter boots
that are waterproof and warm.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ryzen. If it snows a lot, preparing for winter
would be a big deal, especially with the amount of winter precipitation.

‘Besides, the winter scenery would be beautiful, so we could make it a tourist destination.
We could organize a winter festival……’

While I was smiling to myself as my imagination ran wild, the shoemaker laid down a thick
sheet of paper at my feet and began to mold my feet.

I felt a little embarrassed as Killian stared at my feet and ankles with my skirt slightly up.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because your ankles are really……”

“What?”
“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

Killian shook his head to clear his throat, but the flush in his cheeks told me he’d thought
of something naughty.

Although it may sound like a self-praise, Edith’s slender ankles and shapely calves were
enough to make me drool.

I gestured to Killian to move closer. As he leaned toward me with a questioning look on his
face, I whispered, “I don’t think I’m the lecherous one, you are.”

It was hilarious to watch Killian jump back to his feet and look embarrassed.

I wanted to tease him some more, but the shoemaker kept us sane.

“Pick out the design you want while I model your feet.”

A boy who appeared to be his apprentice handed over a catalog, and Killian and I smiled
from ear to ear as we picked out boot and shoe designs.

The winter boots were so similar in design that it was almost as if they had been purposely
matched for a couple.
After matching shoes and boots, we walked through the chilly streets and stopped at a
fancy cafe for a hot cup of tea.

‘I never thought I’d see a day like this in my life as Edith……’

Compared to the beginning of the possession, when I was ready to give up on my

husband, I feel that I have really succeeded now.

As we sipped our tea in silence, basking in our happy mood, Killian’s expression suddenly
began to harden.

At the same time, my ears picked up the conversation at the table behind us.

“Who will Cliff Ludwig marry? His brother’s already married.”

“Isn’t that Sinclair’s illegitimate daughter? I heard the two brothers are crazy about that
fox.”

My ears perked up at the familiar name.

“Oh, no way. Countess Sinclair said that the Sinclairs sold that illegitimate child to the
Ludwigs. Apparently, Count Sinclair had some money he borrowed from Duke Ludwig.”
“You mean he gave them his daughter in exchange for the money?”

“Not so much a daughter as an illegitimate child, and where do you treat illegitimate
children as your own?”

I hoped their chatter would end here, because up to this point, it was at least true.

But they had crossed the river from which they could never return.

“She’s pretty, but I don’t think the Ludwigs in their right mind would pass on the duchess
title to an illegitimate child.”

“A duchess? That’s ridiculous. She’ll just heat the men’s bedrooms instead.”

Several middle-aged ladies snickered, unaware that behind them sat the son of the very
same Ludwigs.

‘I’ve been trying to cheer him up all day, and those ladies are ruining it.’

I don’t want to think about what Lize and Cliff are doing alone, but there are some things I
can’t say in public.

Their laughter is annoying, and Killian’s face is getting grimmer by the second.
I jumped out of my seat before he could explode and walked slowly toward the ladies.

Killian’s surprised gaze followed me.

“Well, that’s a very interesting story, will you let me join in?”

They looked at me in surprise as they debated which of the Duke of Ludwig and his two
sons had the biggest ‘it’.

“W- who……?”

“Me? You don’t know me?”

They must think I’m a crazy bitch.

I didn’t expect much from people who were so shamelessly gossiping in public, but they
should have at least known the faces of the people they were talking about or their
families. Tsk tsk.

“I happen to share a bedroom with one of the men you just mentioned,” I said, showing
them the ring I wore on the ring finger of my left hand, and they still had no idea who I
am.
Then one of them spotted Killian sitting behind me, let out an inward scream, and slapped
the forearm of the lady sitting next to her.

The other ladies noticed Killian, too, and covered their mouths in contemplation.

“I’m afraid I’ve unintentionally eavesdropped on a conversation that is far from

dignified…… or graceful,” I said, picking up the teapot in the middle of their table and
pouring tea into their teacups.

“Do I look like the kind of person who would live in the same house as the woman who
sleeps with my husband? Oh, you said you had no idea who I was, would you recognize
me if I told you I am Edith Ludwig, no, Edith Riegelhoff?”

The tea overflowed the teacup and spilled over the saucer.

And at the sound of the name “Edith Riegelhoff,” the ladies gasped.

My face may not have been well known, but my reputation must have been notorious.

“I- I- I’m sorry, Miss Edith. You know, we heard that somewhere too!”
The lady who seemed to be the organizer of this gathering apologized profusely, but I
maintained my haughty expression–this too takes considerable patience–and began
pouring tea into her teacup as well.

“Has no one told you that it’s best not to say anything you can’t handle behind your
back?”

The table quieted down to the sound of my pouring tea.

I didn’t put the teapot on the table until it was empty.

The table was a mess of overflowing tea.

“Please be more careful in the future.”

The ladies nodded, unable to move despite the fact that the hem of their dresses was
getting wet from the tea spilled on the table.

I started to turn away, but then stuck my face in front of them again and whispered, “I
don’t know about the others, but I think my husband’s might be the biggest.”

I smirked and returned to my seat.

Actually, the last part was meant to make Killian feel better.

Since this is the world of “I Refuse Your Obsession,” Cliff should be on top of all the specs.
Probably.

As I returned to my seat, the ladies behind me scrambled to their feet and left.

And then Killian let out the laugh he’d been holding in.

CHAPTER 79

“Ahahaha!”

The sound of his laughter drew surprised glances from the people in the cafe.

I’ve been attracting attention ever since I made a scene with the ladies earlier, but I guess
there’s a different kind of shock when the second most handsome man in the world–the
first for me–laughs.

“You’re still laughing?”

“Haha…… haha, ah…… I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve laughed like this.”

Killian kept wiping at his eyes, as if his laughter had brought tears to his eyes.

Fortunately, there was no more displeasure on his face.

“When I heard that the woman who was to be my wife was rumored to be a wicked
woman, I thought my life was in disaster, but I never thought I’d be so refreshed by her.”

“That’s why there’s a saying ‘Live long and see what happens’.” [1]

[1] If you live long enough, you’ll see a lot of different things or you’ll have a lot of
different experiences.

“Do you agree that you are a wicked woman?”

“Let’s just say it’s a matter of perspective.”

Killian’s shoulders shook again, and he finally calmed down and took a sip of his cold tea.

“As I’m sure you’ve heard, those lowlifes at the Sinclairs are desperate to discredit Lize.
They’re spreading ridiculous rumors that will get you slathered with the mud, too.”

“Well, the more famous and successful you are, the more you’re going to be plagued by
rumors like that. Don’t worry too much, they’ll die down quickly.”

They’re doing it because they don’t know. But when they see Lize at Cliff’s side at the
National Day ball, they’ll realize how wrong they’ve been, and they’ll deeply regret it.
And then they’ll destroy themselves by shoveling their own graves.

“You know, you never cease to amaze me.”

“Me?”

“If it were anybody else, the first time they heard the same rumor, they would have
gotten mad at me or tried to hurt Lize.”

“Why?”

“Because…… I was in love with Lize.”

For the first time, Killian admitted his love.

He didn’t look distressed, but there was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“That’s not the same as the rumors those ladies were talking about earlier.”

“It doesn’t matter to them, because they’ll think the fact that you acted in a way that
caused those rumors is the problem.”
Then Killian smirked and shrugged. “No, you don’t love me, so it doesn’t really matter,
does it?”

He is smiling, but somehow he looks even more bitter than he did earlier.

I wonder if he feels unloved, even by a supporting character like me.

“Killian, I……”

I opened my mouth to try to comfort him somehow, but Killian didn’t hear me and called
the cafe staff to ask for the bill.

It’s probably for the best.

If I tell him I love him here, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it.

***
Returning to the mansion after an enjoyable outing, I found that the mansion was still in a
frenzy.

‘I wonder if the boutique people have returned yet?’

It was getting pretty late.

Killian, hearing something whispered to him by a servant, stiffened slightly and tugged on
my arm, leading me to the Duchess’ office.

In the office, the Duke, Duchess, Cliff, and Lize were sitting together in a convivial mood.

“You’re all here. We’ve just returned.”

Killian gave a casual greeting, and the Duke, Duchess, Cliff, and Lize greeted us as well.

But I didn’t miss the puzzled look on the Duke and Duchess’ face.

‘What’s wrong?’

At the same time as I wondered, I noticed something dazzling on the table.

Why did you take out the Light of Lorraine?” Killian asked nonchalantly, as if he hadn't
been looking at it from the beginning.

The Light of Lorraine, a necklace of seven large blue sapphires and hundreds of diamonds.

And I know why that necklace, with its grandiose name, was there.

‘Oh, this is the episode where the Duke and Duchess give Lize permission to wear the
Ludwigs’ most precious jewelry!’

The Light of Lorraine is a necklace so venerable and so emblematic of the Ludwigs that
giving it to Lize to wear is a declaration that the Duke accepts her as one of the Ludwigs,
and that he would regard any attack on her as an attack on the Ludwigs.

I had no more than that impression, but Killian’s eyes were cold.

“Ah, Lize has decided to wear this necklace to the National Day ball,” replied Cliff who
seemed to be aware of Killian’s low mood.

But Killian didn’t seem to mind at all and replied in a cheerful voice, “Well, then, what are
you going to give to Edith, your daughter-in-law?”

Killian smirked, surprising everyone in the office, including me.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Is it because he doesn’t want to lose to Cliff?

But why does he have to bring my name?

I could tell that the Duke and Duchess were as flustered as I was, and they exchanged a
look of confusion between their normally relaxed and gracious selves.

Then the Duchess managed a smile and said, “How about Edith takes the pick? Anything
will do.”

“Oh, yes, that would be great. How about that necklace, Edith?”

“Yes? That one?”

“It’s the Ludwig family’s treasure, so you probably have first dibs on it. Why don’t you
wear that necklace to the National Day ball?”

Why is this guy so pissed off?

Killian, get a grip, it’s Lize who’s going to wear that necklace!
As I stood there speechless, Cliff’s eyes grew fierce, and Lize looked flustered and close to
tears.

‘We’re going to get into a fight here. What’s wrong with him?’

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t do any good by upsetting the male and
female leads.

I don’t want to wear a huge necklace like that, and if I do, it would be a big deal if it got
stolen or lost.

“It’s a beautiful and precious piece of jewelry, but I’m going to have to politely decline this
time. I think it would look better on Lize with her blue eyes than on me.”

“But……”

“And with your good eye, I’m sure you realize that that necklace doesn’t go with the dress
I’ve ordered today.”

Killian gritted his teeth and barely nodded. “Then let’s go to the jewelry room now, and
you can pick out something to go with the dress you’ve ordered today.”

He turned to the Duchess and added, “Is that all right, Mother?”
As the flustered Duchess nodded with an awkward smile, Killian slung his arm around my
shoulders and began to lead me out of the Duchess’ office and into the jewelry room for
real.

“Kil- Killian, wait, why are you so angry?” I asked in a whisper as I looked around.

Killian stood tall and looked down at me. “You’re not angry?”

“Me? Why……?”

I bought an expensive dress today, matched my shoes and boots, drank delicious tea, and
had a great time hanging out, so what do I have to be angry about?

“It is customary for those who become daughters-in-law of our family to wear the Light of
Lorraine on their first event after marriage, signifying that they have become a member of
the Ludwig family. But they gave Lize permission to wear that necklace first, which they
never gave to you, the official daughter-in-law. Can you imagine the comments you would
hear behind your back if Lize were to wear it to the National Day ball?”

Ah, I understood.

I never once wore that necklace.

And now, at a formal event where everyone in the ducal family is going out together, Lize,
who is not a daughter-in-law or anything, is wearing it before me.
I am sure I would be treated as a lesser daughter-in-law than Lize, who is a guest of the
family.

‘But that’s the opinion of someone who doesn’t know.’

Even without the necklace, Lize would be completely identified as a member of House
Ludwig at the upcoming ball.

She would establish herself as Cliff’s mate and the Princess’ confidante, and she would
become a social goddess, pressing the Sinclairs’ nose flat.

If I were to wear that necklace with Lize by my side, what would it mean?

“Killian. I don’t care about that.”

“I’ve always thought you were a little too careless with your reputation, but this is a
different matter!”

“Lize is going to marry Cliff sooner or later, you know it, I know it, everyone will know it.
It’s just that the future Duchess wore that necklace first, what’s the big deal? Wouldn’t it
be rather rude for me, the second daughter-in-law, to do it first?”
“Edith!”

Everyone will be talking about Lize at the ball anyway.

The only thing more embarrassing is standing next to her wearing a necklace that would
give me a headache just by wearing it around my neck.

“And with the dress I chose today, I think it’s best to keep the jewelry to a minimum
because the dress itself is so extravagant. You have a good eye, I mean, you understand
what I am saying, right?”

After reasoning with him, Killian finally sighed heavily and gave up arguing.

“You’re not a greedy person. I never expected that.”

“How generous of you to say that the woman who stole Killian Ludwig is not greedy.”

The words I spoke without much thought seemed to have hit his conscience.

He burst out laughing again and again, suddenly exclaiming, “Ha, indeed.”

Time to lift his mood again.

CHAPTER 80

“I’m just going to wear this ruby necklace.”

“That’s all you’re wearing? I get that you don’t care about other people, but I’m sure
someone is going to object.”

“Well, I wear a piece of my husband’s heart around my neck at all times. What treasure
could be more precious than that?”

Killian blushed. “Y- you can’t say that with a straight face……”

Hmm, you don’t sound very believable when you say that while sounding as cheerful as
you are.

Killian looked around, cleared his throat, and muttered softly, “I’ll call on the jeweler
sometime before we go down to the estate, and you…… buy whatever you want.”

All I wanted from Killian was to leave my head intact before the jewelry, but for now I
nodded, not wanting to spoil the mood.

It wasn’t a bad day, no, it was a pretty good day.

***

“Lize, it’s been a while.”

“Long time no see, Your Highness!”

Lize stood facing Princess Catherine Iberia in the sunny parlor of the Imperial Palace,
which was in the midst of preparations for the National Day.

Catherine, who had had a crush on Cliff since childhood, had been jealous of his love for
Lize and had even tried to harm her at one point.

But she had grown to admire Lize’s innocence and good nature, and now she was jealous
of Lize’s love for Cliff.

“Is that idiot Cliff being nice to you?”

“Everyone at House Ludwigs is good to me. I’ve told you before, every day feels like a
dream since coming to the Ludwigs’ mansion.”
“You deserve better than that. If you don’t like it, you can come and live in the palace as
my handmaiden.”

Lize shook her head. “I don’t want to leave the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig’s side, they’re
like parents to me.”

“Hmm…… I can’t beat that, since the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig saved your life.”

Lize is the most beautiful and good-hearted person Catherine has ever known.

Someone who embraced her warmly, even when she had insulted her with her twisted
heart.

If it weren’t for her, Catherine would still be a problem child in the palace.

‘I’m not going to let those who don’t recognize and torment this angel get away with it.’

The starting point for putting that promise into practice was the Sinclairs.

Count Sinclair, who had played fire with a maid and gave birth to an illegitimate child, only
to have it registered in the family, and the Countess and her children, who had kept Lize
from being able to live with them, would be punished, always and forever, by Catherine.

And she had planned to execute the plan at the upcoming National Day ball.
“How are the worthless Siclair people doing these days?”

“W- what do you mean worthless?”

Lize continued with an awkward smile, “It seems that Brother Damien is taking the Heir
Class and helping my father with his work, and sister Leila is……”

“Who asked you that? I mean, are they doing anything weird to you?”

“Oh, no! Nothing like that……”

“Lize……?”

Catherine’s eyes sharpened as Lize, who had been waving her hands in denial, suddenly
stopped moving and stuttered.

“Something happened, right?”

“Oh, no……no, nothing.”

But Catherine was not one to play dumb.

“Lize. What’s going on? Are you going to make me worry like this?”

Catherine tried to convince Lize, even using the kind of cajoling she never does in front of
other people.

Lize chewed her lip and finally spoke, “I don’t know who did it yet, but…… actually, there
was a reason I couldn’t accept your invitation last time.”

“What? What happened?”

“Well, it turned out that someone…… had poisoned my embroidery thread.”

“What?”

Catherine’s eyes widened, then flared with anger.

“How incompetent are the Ludwigs, how can someone be poisoned and they still haven’t
found the culprit?”

“T- there was no evidence anywhere.”

“No! I’ll listen and judge. Tell me exactly what happened, point by point.”
Lize sighed heavily and then stammered out the details of the incident.

When she was done, Catherine gritted her teeth.

“Are Cliff and Killian idiots? Anyone can see Edith Riegelhoff is suspicious!”

“That’s what they all thought at first, but there’s no reason for her to be, and Edith herself
was adamant about her innocence, and there was no clear evidence……”

“The maid who said she saw that woman poison the embroidery thread was found dead,
so of course she killed her, right?”

“But it’s not right to accuse Edith on that testimony alone……”

Catherine grabbed the back of her neck and let out a harsh breath.

“You’re too kind, Lize. There are some people in this world that your good heart can’t
protect!”

Lize smiled sadly. “If you live your life thinking like that, you’ll only end up being suspicious
of people and afraid of them. I don’t believe that the Sinclairs or Edith would ever do such
a dreadful thing.”
“Oh, dear!”

Catherine slapped her chest as she looked at Lize, who was smiling brightly again.

‘Lize can’t stand the thought of someone being punished because of her, so I have to do it
without her knowing!’

Lize is right, I can’t kill someone without clear evidence.

But there’s always a chance to punch them in the nose.

‘I’ll take this opportunity to teach them that they should bow their heads at Lize’s feet.’

Catherine smiled calmly at Lize, but inwardly she was making a list of the people she was
going to stomp their noses flat at the upcoming ball.

Edith Riegelhoff was a new addition to the top of the list, but she didn’t bother to tell Lize.

***
The long-awaited National Day ball has arrived.

I couldn’t sleep the night before because I was excited to finally see the ball in a Rofan
novel.

Plus, I was in love with my dress, which had arrived three days earlier. My dress was
beautiful, but Killian’s suit was truly beyond words.

“If you’re ready, let’s go downstairs.”

Coming to escort me, Killian flashed me a gorgeous smile and offered me his arm.

Feeling like a fairytale princess, I put my hand on his arm and tugged at the hem of my
skirt as we made our way down to the first-floor entrance.

“Wow……!”

“You look so beautiful, miss!”

A few familiar maids covered their mouths in admiration.

‘I can’t believe they had the presence of mind to compliment me and not Killian. Seems
like I have a good social life.’

I smiled at them and gave a slight nod of my head, then stood at the front door to wait for
the rest of the family.

Cliff and Lize came down behind us.

“Oh my God, Edith, you look so beautiful!”

……said the most beautiful woman in the world.

I looked back at her and my jaw dropped with the first visual shock I’d felt in a long time.

“Oh my God……! You’re unbelievably pretty, Lize!”

Regardless of what I thought of Lize, there’s no denying that she is beautiful.

The dress, made by an exclusive boutique, was worth the price.

The light blue skirt of the dress was delicately embroidered with silver thread and
diamonds that sparkled like stars in the light, and the sleeves, which started at the
shoulders, were sheer and romantic.
In addition, her natural updo revealed her white and thin nape, which made the Light of
Lorraine stand out even more.

“If anyone sees you, they’ll think you have a crush on Lize,” Killian whispered, cupping my
jaw as I stared blankly at Lize.

It’s probably a good thing I didn’t drool.

But my pick for best dressed of the night was neither Killian nor Lize, but the Duchess.

“You all look so beautiful and stunning today!”

The Duchess, accompanied by the Duke of Ludwig, said proudly, giving equal amounts of
attention to Cliff, Lize, Killian, and me.

Then I gasped at the dress she was wearing.

“Huh? That’s……!”

It was the same dress I’d picked out for her when the Ruayal Boutique came.

The brown silk and dark purple underdress looked gorgeous, yet weighty and elegant.
“I knew it would look good on you!”

I clapped my hands at the sight of it, looking even better than I had imagined.

“Thanks to you, Edith, I get to try on a dress like this.”

The Duchess beamed, apparently pleased with how she looked in the dress.

But I was the one who was grateful.

To have a dress of my choosing worn to the most important event of the year was
something that would never have happened in the original story.

Killian asked in my ear, “You picked it out?”

“Yep. I picked it out for her the other day when the Ruayal Boutique came,” I replied
cautiously, not wanting him to criticize my taste again.

But he nodded, looking like a parent whose child had made it to the top of the class.

“Hmm…… your taste isn’t bad after all.”

My goodness, to be told that I don’t have a bad taste by someone who called me vulgar,
I’ve made it in life.

Killian even gave me a glance and said in a nonchalant tone, “You’re looking beautiful
today, too, though not as much as my mother.”

I can’t believe he’s paying me this kind of attention when Lize is right in front of me!

I hadn’t even set foot in the ballroom yet, and I already felt like I’d reached the top of the
world.

Of course, objectively speaking, Lize is probably the most beautiful.

That’s how it was described in the original story, and she’s the main character.

However, the spotlight on Lize was definitely diminished compared to the original story,
which said, “When she appeared, Killian and even the Duke and Duchess were
mesmerized by her beauty.”

To the point that Duke Ludwig, who was only friendly to Lize, complimented me on my
beauty.

CHAPTER 81

“……you look beautiful today, too, Edith.”

I actually liked the fact that he hesitated a bit before speaking.

He could have said nothing, but it meant he worked up the courage to compliment me.

“You look great today, too, father. Your two sons better be on their toes.”

The Duke chuckled in response, and we made our way to the palace in good spirits.

The Duke and the Duchess headed to the palace in a carriage, while Killian, Lize, Cliff and I
traveled together in another.

The weather was a perfect fall day and the air was getting colder.

The fall foliage lining the main road to the palace was as beautiful as the bright spring
flowers, and the nobles seemed to be in good spirits as they headed to the biggest ball of
the year.

I was gazing out of the carriage window with excitement when Killian gently poked me in
the side.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to bring a shawl or something?”

“Yes? Me?”
Killian looked at my exposed shoulders and forearms and nodded.

“This is fine, it’s not like we’re going to be walking around outside.”

“What if you catch a cold?”

“It’s okay. Everyone comes dressed like this, and Lize’s not much different than me.”

Lize’s dress had sleeves, but they were see-through.

Killian remained silent but after a moment he looked at me again and tapped my foot.

The closer we got to the palace, the more the carriage slowed down as many other
carriages were moving, and it seemed he couldn’t wait to play a prank on me.

I found it both surprising and cute that he would play a prank on me, so I tapped his foot
twice.

This childish prank was taking place beneath the width of my wide skirt, so neither Cliff
nor Lize could see it.

“Ahem!”

Killian giggled, feigning a coughing fit, and tapped my foot again.

By the third time, it took quick, light footwork and the ability to pretend it wasn’t
happening.

I pretended to be looking out the window and moved my foot as he tapped.

Killian and I distracted ourselves with childlike antics, biting our lips tightly to keep from
bursting out laughing.

But our prank ended sooner than we thought.

“Don’t you think there’s a weird noise coming from somewhere?” Lize asked Cliff with a
worried look on her face.

“I’m sure it’s nothing, Lize.”

“But maybe it’s the noise of something breaking somewhere in the carriage?”

“Hmm…… well, more likely than that…… it could be two friendly canaries pecking at the
carriage.”

“Yes?”
Lize furrowed her brow, then looked at me and Killian.

“Uh…… I’m sorry if I caused you worry. Did I scare you?”

“Were you really worried that the carriage was going to break?”

I asked with an awkward smile and Killian followed suit, and Lize smiled in response.

“Don’t be nervous, Lize. You’re going to be the star of the ball tonight.”

Cliff, sensing that Lize was nervous, put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her
lightly on the forehead.

I cringed at Cliff’s open display of affection in front of Killian, but Killian only glanced away
and didn’t look hardened or sad.

On the contrary, Lize’s shoulders hunched slightly, as if she was trying to get away from
Cliff.

Perhaps she was embarrassed to do so in front of us.

Meanwhile, we finally arrived at the palace.

‘Wow……! It’s no joke.’

As befits the biggest event of the year, there was a festive atmosphere in and around the
palace.

We were ushered into the huge ballroom by palace servants.

“Oh my! It’s the Ludwigs!”

“My goodness, look over there!”

“Hmm? That one’s…… from the Sinclairs!”

There was chatter here and there.

Normally, that sort of thing would be whispered in hushed tones, but in the world of
Rofan, you have to shout it out within earshot.

‘Yes, they must be surprised that Lize showed up holding Cliff’s hand.’

I looked around quickly, reveling in the joy of seeing the highlights of the fourth volume of
“I Refuse Your Obsession” before my eyes.
I saw a young man and woman with Damien Sinclair standing nearby, their eyes wide with
surprise, and I am sure they are the Sinclairs’ children.

Their gazes seemed to pass over Lize and focus on me, but I was probably mistaken.

‘But it is still too early for them to be surprised.’

I know the event that would cause their faces to become blank.

It’s almost time for her to come out……

“Lize!”

“Oh! Princess Catherine!”

There she is.

Princess Catherine Iberia.

Originally, she was an imperial spoiled brat who had a crush on Cliff, but after several
episodes, she befriended Lize.
However, everyone was surprised to learn that the two were actually friends, as it was
revealed for the first time today.

“Why would the Princess allow that illegitimate child to……!”

“It seems like they two are close?”

“Didn’t you say that she was sold from the Sinclairs to the Ludwigs as a maid or
something?”

They all stammered in puzzlement.

Thanks to this, the Sinclair family’s faces became even paler.

‘Is this where the cider revenge begins?’

But the Sinclairs weren’t the only ones worth watching.

A group of young ladies who clearly had a crush on Cliff were staring in shock at Lize and
Cliff.

“T- that necklace……”

“That’s it, right? The Ludwig’s treasure……”

“Does that mean that she is Sir Cliff’s bride-to-be?”

They shuddered, as if they hadn’t expected to lose to an illegitimate child.

It was so funny, it made me want to grab some popcorn if there was any around.

“There’s a lot of people, so don’t fall off my side,” Killian whispered in my ear as I got more
and more excited with people watching.

Oh, my eardrum is about to melt.

“Okay,” I replied, feeling good.

And at that moment I locked eyes with Count Riegelhoff,

“Ah!”

I hadn’t been paying attention, but this is the biggest ball held in the palace, so it only
makes sense that the Riegelhoffs would be here as well.

Count Riegelhoff, Countess Riegelhoff, and Shane were staring at me in disbelief.

‘Aha! Well, you’ve taken Sophia and abandoned me at the same time, and you never
thought I’d be here, escorted by Killian.’

The sight of their frozen faces gave me a thrill of pleasure.

‘How about a little more surprise?’

I clung to Killian’s forearm more, trying not to grin too wide.

“I’m sorry, Killian. My feet are a little sore, so I’ll…… just lean on you a little bit.”

At this rate, Killian and I must look pretty affectionate from over there.

I was getting a little excited just thinking about it, but then Killian suddenly wrapped his
arms around my waist and tilted his head toward me.

“Are your shoes uncomfortable, I can’t sit down because I haven’t greeted His Majesty the
Emperor yet…… is that all right?”

Oooh, from this angle, it would look like we were kissing!

Even if my feet really did hurt, I would have forgotten about it when I saw Killian’s face.
“Oh, it’s okay, I just slipped a little bit earlier.”

“I- I’m glad to hear that, but…… if you’re in any pain, just let me know.”

Killian has been getting sweeter lately, but today is even sweeter.

‘Come on, this is nice, but it’s hard on my heart.’

I wasn’t sure if I managed to control my facial expression or not, but my face became
relaxed.

But then I realized that there were quite a few people looking in our direction.

‘Oh, right, he told me there was a rumored feud between him and me.’

Apparently, the whole point of matching dresses was to put the rumors to rest.

It’s unclear how much of the rumor was inflated, but Killian seems to have decided it
wasn’t good for the Ludwigs.

‘Gee, I almost didn’t realize it. So you’re telling me this is all a ploy to get rid of the rumors
of our feud? Okay, got it!’
Killian has been so nice to me lately, I have to live up to his expectations, after all, it’s all
for my own peace of mind.

I smiled and whispered into his ear, “Thank you, Killian.”

From a distance, we must have looked like happy newlyweds whispering lovey-dovey
nonsense to each other.

As expected, people’s eyes widened.

Okay, okay, this is going to be more convincing if I make it longer…… hm? But is Killian
catching a cold or something?

“Killian, why are your ears so red? Oh, is it because you suddenly came into a warm
place?”

“Well…… I guess so.”

“Ugh. You should have brought a shawl, not me. What if you get a fever from this?”

“I’ll be fine.”

He looked away, unable to make eye contact with me, embarrassed that he’d been found
out to be more vulnerable to the cold than me with my bare shoulders.
‘No, don’t do that. That would make us look unfriendly!’

I quickly cupped both of Killian’s cheeks in my hands, forcing him to look at me.

“Umm…… I don’t think you have a fever……”

Luckily, Killian caught my meaning and just stared at me.

His throat was moving up and down quite a bit, but he managed to hold back what little
dislike he still had for me and the embarrassment of this situation pretty well.

CHAPTER 82

‘Hang in there, Killian. We’re almost there!’

I glanced around, lifted my chin defiantly, and linked my arm with Killian’s again.

Count Riegelhoff was frozen with his mouth agape, some people were chattering to each
other with their fans over their mouths, and some of the ladies were pale.

As I realized in hindsight, Killian was just as popular as Cliff, and it seemed that the ladies
who had been waiting for Killian’s ‘post-divorce’ were surprised at my intimacy with
Killian.

‘So why was Leila Sinclair looking at me like that earlier?’

It was strange.

She was more surprised to see me holding onto Killian’s arm than she was to see Lize
holding onto Cliff’s.

‘Well, Count Sinclair doesn’t get along with Count Riegelhoff, maybe that’s why.’

Perhaps it was Count Sinclair who had poisoned Lize’s embroidery thread, so it was a
wonder that I, who should have been accused and disgraced, was unharmed.

‘I can quell the rumors of a feud with Killian and screw over a bunch of hateful people at
the same time, so I’m killing two birds with one stone!’

How far I’ve come from my previous life, where I was always getting stabbed in the back!

Leaving the shocked and stunned behind, we followed the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig.

“Your Excellency, the Duke of Ludwig, it’s been a long time!”

“It’s been a long time, too, madam!”

We were soon surrounded by people trying to greet the Duke and Duchess.
“I noticed your dress from afar, you look so good in it, Duchess.”

“That’s what I thought too! I’m too timid to try new styles, but how did you manage to
pull off such a bold style? You’re amazing.”

“I promise you, sooner or later, the Duchess’ dress will be the socialite’s go-to style.”

Luckily, the Duchess’ dress was met with favorable reviews.

Of course, she’s the Duchess, so no matter what she wears, she’s going to get
compliments.

“I’m a bit of a timid myself, and this was picked out by my daughter-in-law, Edith.”

The Duchess glanced back at me and extended her arm in my direction.

I stepped toward her as Killian gently pushed my body forward.

“This is my daughter-in-law, Edith, who is married to my second son Killian. Edith, please
say hello. This is Countess Ethelmann, and this is Viscountess Krause.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Edith Ludwig.”

I bent my knees slightly and bowed to the older ladies.

“Oh, oh my. Hohoho! Nice to meet you, I’m Cecil Ethelmann.”

“I’m Larissa Krause, nice to meet you.”

They looked surprised, but responded graciously to my greeting.

I had a feeling that the feud between me and Killian would be better served by the
Duchess.

As it was, I continued to greet a dozen more ladies and barely made it out of the place
when a dance tune echoed through the ballroom.

“Well done.”

After pulling me out of the way, Killian stood close to me, his hand on my waist.

By then, I already wanted to run away from this ball.

I thought it was supposed to be a place for young men and women to find love, but there
were so many older nobles there, and it was taking forever to be introduced to each one
of them!

Why do I need to know whose cousin he is and which estate he owns when I could forget
his name by the time he says it?!

I confessed in a tired voice as I began to dance with Killian, “I can’t remember any of the
names of the people I was introduced to earlier.”

He chuckled. “They’re the kind of people it doesn’t matter if you forget. Right now, you
just need to remember the steps.”

I guess he was afraid I’d step on his feet.

But I had a lot of dance knowledge in my head. Count Riegelhoff must have taught me to
dance well.

I wondered what would happen if my head and body moved separately, but fortunately, I
could dance smoothly.

“Don’t worry. I’m good at dancing.”

“I’m sure you are.”

I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or joking with me, but I decided to take it all in
stride.

Maybe it’s my ultra-positive mindset that makes Killian’s gaze on me feel a little hot.

The problem is, when I start to think about it, I get a little hot inside.

‘There’s something subtly erotic about dancing.’

The fact that men and women move while hugging each other, or with their lower bodies
almost touching and only their upper bodies moving, is a pretty big deal, and they have to
keep eye contact with each other.

Dancing with an ordinary-looking person can make your heart pound, but when you do it
with a handsome man like this, something might happen.

“You’re not bragging when you say you’re a good dancer,” Killian said admiringly as I
leaned back and turned back to him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done it, so I was a little nervous, but well, it’s not bad.”

I tried to sound nonchalant, but I could feel the heat rush to my face.
“Well, I guess it’s a skill you’ve honed over the years from dancing with all kinds of men.”

He smirked, wrapping his arm around my waist and stepping to the side.

“A man who gets jealous by bringing up things that are already in the past is not
attractive.”

Stepping forward to him, I gently stroked Killian’s muscular bicep, and he raised one
corner of his mouth in disbelief.

It was a seduction technique from Edith’s memory, and even Killian, who was unlikely to
fall for it, flinched at the sudden provocation.

Then he said, in a voice so low that only I could hear it, “Stop being so lecherous.”

In the past, I would have assumed he was saying this because he loathed and disliked me,
but now it was different.

I could feel the lustful gleam in his eyes.

It was both amusing and exciting, and I found myself gently touching Killian’s forearms
and chest throughout the dance.
But as the dance ended and I stepped out of the ballroom, breathing lightly, I saw Count
Riegelhoff walking toward me.

I quickly tugged on the end of Killian’s sleeve.

“Killian. Don’t get away from me.”

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“I- it’s just that there are so many people, and if I lose you, it’s going to be hard to find you
again……”

Killian smirked and then shrugged again as I hesitantly backed away, trying to come up
with some weird excuse.

“You’re not a kid, really……”

Almost at the same time, Count Riegelhoff greeted me.

“It’s been a long time, Edith.”

Only then did Killian notice Count Riegelhoff’s presence.

I was still holding the end of his sleeve.

“Yes, it is.”

I didn’t feel like exchanging pleasantries with Count Riegelhoff.

Even without delving into Edith’s past memories, he was a man unworthy of the name
“father.”

He had sent Sophia to beat me into submission, cared only for her well-being, and had
anticipated my disgrace at House Ludwig and taken no action.

How could I feel any affection for such a man?

But he looked at me with an expression that seemed to be dripping with affection.

Then he turned to Killian. “I’d like to speak with Edith privately for a moment, Sir Killian, if
you’ll excuse me.”

I was nervous inside.

Not many sons-in-law would refuse such a request from their father-in-law, and I doubted
anyone would suspect the look on Count Riegelhoff’s face.
But Killian was not one of them.

“That’s odd. What on earth are you talking about that you’re trying to leave me out of? It
sounds suspicious……”

“That’s a bit of a stretch. I haven’t seen my daughter in a long time, so I’m just trying to
say hello.”

“Then why would you want to leave me out of it?”

Go Killian!

I was cheering him on inwardly, but Count Riegelhoff furrowed his brow as if he didn’t like
either Killian or his refusal to let him go with only me.

“How rude of you. I am your father-in-law, after all, and to dismiss my request like
this……”

“By the way.”

Killian boldly cut Count Riegelhoff off and glared at him.

“How is that maid of yours?”

“W- what?”

“The maid who assaulted my wife and yet you demanded that she be sent back with all
her limbs intact. I was furious and gave her a few slaps, but as you said, she was sent off
nicely in the carriage you sent for her, with all her limbs intact, didn’t she?”

Count Riegelhoff’s mouth tightened at the mention of Sophia.

“I still don’t understand how you, who cared so much for your daughter, could have made
such a decision.”

“T- that’s because…… she’s a maid who has worked in our house for a long time……”

“That’s a great deal of servant love, that you seem to favor her over your daughter.”

I could almost hear Count Riegelhoff grinding his teeth.

And at the same time, I realized that Killian had pretty much figured out my situation.
But Count Riegelhoff was no pushover. “Hah…… you see, my daughter has a bit of a bad
reputation, and it takes a stern talking-to to get her to behave. That maid is kind of like
a…… tutor.”

Ha!

Killian and I let out a short burst of laughter at the same time.

Are you kidding me?

CHAPTER 83

‘Hang in there, Killian. We’re almost there!’

I glanced around, lifted my chin defiantly, and linked my arm with Killian’s again.

Count Riegelhoff was frozen with his mouth agape, some people were chattering to each
other with their fans over their mouths, and some of the ladies were pale.

As I realized in hindsight, Killian was just as popular as Cliff, and it seemed that the ladies
who had been waiting for Killian’s ‘post-divorce’ were surprised at my intimacy with
Killian.

‘So why was Leila Sinclair looking at me like that earlier?’

It was strange.
She was more surprised to see me holding onto Killian’s arm than she was to see Lize
holding onto Cliff’s.

‘Well, Count Sinclair doesn’t get along with Count Riegelhoff, maybe that’s why.’

Perhaps it was Count Sinclair who had poisoned Lize’s embroidery thread, so it was a
wonder that I, who should have been accused and disgraced, was unharmed.

‘I can quell the rumors of a feud with Killian and screw over a bunch of hateful people at
the same time, so I’m killing two birds with one stone!’

How far I’ve come from my previous life, where I was always getting stabbed in the back!

Leaving the shocked and stunned behind, we followed the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig.

“Your Excellency, the Duke of Ludwig, it’s been a long time!”

“It’s been a long time, too, madam!”

We were soon surrounded by people trying to greet the Duke and Duchess.

“I noticed your dress from afar, you look so good in it, Duchess.”
“That’s what I thought too! I’m too timid to try new styles, but how did you manage to
pull off such a bold style? You’re amazing.”

“I promise you, sooner or later, the Duchess’ dress will be the socialite’s go-to style.”

Luckily, the Duchess’ dress was met with favorable reviews.

Of course, she’s the Duchess, so no matter what she wears, she’s going to get
compliments.

“I’m a bit of a timid myself, and this was picked out by my daughter-in-law, Edith.”

The Duchess glanced back at me and extended her arm in my direction.

I stepped toward her as Killian gently pushed my body forward.

“This is my daughter-in-law, Edith, who is married to my second son Killian. Edith, please
say hello. This is Countess Ethelmann, and this is Viscountess Krause.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Edith Ludwig.”

I bent my knees slightly and bowed to the older ladies.

“Oh, oh my. Hohoho! Nice to meet you, I’m Cecil Ethelmann.”

“I’m Larissa Krause, nice to meet you.”

They looked surprised, but responded graciously to my greeting.

I had a feeling that the feud between me and Killian would be better served by the
Duchess.

As it was, I continued to greet a dozen more ladies and barely made it out of the place
when a dance tune echoed through the ballroom.

“Well done.”

After pulling me out of the way, Killian stood close to me, his hand on my waist.

By then, I already wanted to run away from this ball.

I thought it was supposed to be a place for young men and women to find love, but there
were so many older nobles there, and it was taking forever to be introduced to each one
of them!
Why do I need to know whose cousin he is and which estate he owns when I could forget
his name by the time he says it?!

I confessed in a tired voice as I began to dance with Killian, “I can’t remember any of the
names of the people I was introduced to earlier.”

He chuckled. “They’re the kind of people it doesn’t matter if you forget. Right now, you
just need to remember the steps.”

I guess he was afraid I’d step on his feet.

But I had a lot of dance knowledge in my head. Count Riegelhoff must have taught me to
dance well.

I wondered what would happen if my head and body moved separately, but fortunately, I
could dance smoothly.

“Don’t worry. I’m good at dancing.”

“I’m sure you are.”

I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or joking with me, but I decided to take it all in
stride.
Maybe it’s my ultra-positive mindset that makes Killian’s gaze on me feel a little hot.

The problem is, when I start to think about it, I get a little hot inside.

‘There’s something subtly erotic about dancing.’

The fact that men and women move while hugging each other, or with their lower bodies
almost touching and only their upper bodies moving, is a pretty big deal, and they have to
keep eye contact with each other.

Dancing with an ordinary-looking person can make your heart pound, but when you do it
with a handsome man like this, something might happen.

“You’re not bragging when you say you’re a good dancer,” Killian said admiringly as I
leaned back and turned back to him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done it, so I was a little nervous, but well, it’s not bad.”

I tried to sound nonchalant, but I could feel the heat rush to my face.

“Well, I guess it’s a skill you’ve honed over the years from dancing with all kinds of men.”

He smirked, wrapping his arm around my waist and stepping to the side.
“A man who gets jealous by bringing up things that are already in the past is not
attractive.”

Stepping forward to him, I gently stroked Killian’s muscular bicep, and he raised one
corner of his mouth in disbelief.

It was a seduction technique from Edith’s memory, and even Killian, who was unlikely to
fall for it, flinched at the sudden provocation.

Then he said, in a voice so low that only I could hear it, “Stop being so lecherous.”

In the past, I would have assumed he was saying this because he loathed and disliked me,
but now it was different.

I could feel the lustful gleam in his eyes.

It was both amusing and exciting, and I found myself gently touching Killian’s forearms
and chest throughout the dance.

But as the dance ended and I stepped out of the ballroom, breathing lightly, I saw Count
Riegelhoff walking toward me.

I quickly tugged on the end of Killian’s sleeve.

“Killian. Don’t get away from me.”

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“I- it’s just that there are so many people, and if I lose you, it’s going to be hard to find you
again……”

Killian smirked and then shrugged again as I hesitantly backed away, trying to come up
with some weird excuse.

“You’re not a kid, really……”

Almost at the same time, Count Riegelhoff greeted me.

“It’s been a long time, Edith.”

Only then did Killian notice Count Riegelhoff’s presence.

I was still holding the end of his sleeve.

“Yes, it is.”

I didn’t feel like exchanging pleasantries with Count Riegelhoff.

Even without delving into Edith’s past memories, he was a man unworthy of the name
“father.”

He had sent Sophia to beat me into submission, cared only for her well-being, and had
anticipated my disgrace at House Ludwig and taken no action.

How could I feel any affection for such a man?

But he looked at me with an expression that seemed to be dripping with affection.

Then he turned to Killian. “I’d like to speak with Edith privately for a moment, Sir Killian, if
you’ll excuse me.”

I was nervous inside.

Not many sons-in-law would refuse such a request from their father-in-law, and I doubted
anyone would suspect the look on Count Riegelhoff’s face.

But Killian was not one of them.

“That’s odd. What on earth are you talking about that you’re trying to leave me out of? It
sounds suspicious……”
“That’s a bit of a stretch. I haven’t seen my daughter in a long time, so I’m just trying to
say hello.”

“Then why would you want to leave me out of it?”

Go Killian!

I was cheering him on inwardly, but Count Riegelhoff furrowed his brow as if he didn’t like
either Killian or his refusal to let him go with only me.

“How rude of you. I am your father-in-law, after all, and to dismiss my request like
this……”

“By the way.”

Killian boldly cut Count Riegelhoff off and glared at him.

“How is that maid of yours?”

“W- what?”
“The maid who assaulted my wife and yet you demanded that she be sent back with all
her limbs intact. I was furious and gave her a few slaps, but as you said, she was sent off
nicely in the carriage you sent for her, with all her limbs intact, didn’t she?”

Count Riegelhoff’s mouth tightened at the mention of Sophia.

“I still don’t understand how you, who cared so much for your daughter, could have made
such a decision.”

“T- that’s because…… she’s a maid who has worked in our house for a long time……”

“That’s a great deal of servant love, that you seem to favor her over your daughter.”

I could almost hear Count Riegelhoff grinding his teeth.

And at the same time, I realized that Killian had pretty much figured out my situation.

But Count Riegelhoff was no pushover. “Hah…… you see, my daughter has a bit of a bad
reputation, and it takes a stern talking-to to get her to behave. That maid is kind of like
a…… tutor.”

Ha!

Killian and I let out a short burst of laughter at the same time.
Are you kidding me?

CHAPTER 84

“Haha, you really do make me laugh sometimes by saying unexpected things……”

“Is that so? But……”

Suddenly, Killian’s arms tightened around my waist.

And I realized that he had managed to get himself out of trouble.

“Uh, h- how……?”

“Pfft, I didn’t expect you to be so surprised by that. Don’t worry, I have a way to turn off
the desire in most situations.”

Is it by singing a national anthem? Or a patriotic anthem? Oh, by the way, does this
country even have a national anthem?

While I was wondering that, Killian whispered menacingly, “We’re going to finish this
when we get home, so prepare yourself.”

I nodded, blushing.
Come to think of it, something must have happened when I stepped out onto the balcony,
but what was it?

Ah, Count Riegelhoff!

……why did I get so seriously nervous seeing his ugly face? I don’t remember at all.

***

Killian stroked Edith’s back, holding her tightly in his arms as she breathed out what
remained of her sweetness.

The corners of his mouth turned up in pleasure.

‘She’s naughty, unexpected, cute……’

Who would have thought I’d have such feelings for Edith?
When she touched my chest and forearms during the dance, I thought it was a cute
provocation, but I never thought she would say frankly that she was excited.

It was then that Killian forgot about Count Riegelhoff and pounced on Edith.

If this wasn’t the Imperial Palace, he would have eaten her any way he could.

But he couldn’t do anything dishonorable in the palace, so he barely managed to quell his
arousal as he remembered the funeral dirge that had been played at his grandfather’s
funeral.

“Have you calmed down a bit?”

“Yes……”

As Edith’s shaking shoulders calmed, Killian, worried that her body temperature was
dropping, took off his jacket and slipped it on her.

“If we go back into the ballroom, Count Riegelhoff might be hovering around you again.
Will you be okay?”

“Yes, I don’t mind. But I don’t want to see him alone. Will you stay with me?”

“Gladly.”
Killian continued to be bothered by Edith’s stiff reaction in front of Count Riegelhoff.

Earlier, she had excused it as excitement, but Edith must have had a painful past that she
didn’t want to talk about.

A family that cared more about their maid than Edith, who had beaten her to the point
where her back was covered in bruises.

‘Edith is definitely distancing herself from Count Riegelhoff. I don’t know why they
mistreated her, but……’

It was a pity that Edith had such a difficult past, but I would be happy if it led to her cutting
ties with Count Riegelhoff.

Unlike in the past, when Killian had no intention of making this marriage last, now he
wanted to go down to the Ryzen estate with Edith as much as possible.

‘If things continue like this, wouldn’t we be able to live as a good couple?’

I don’t know when I started having these thoughts.

Not so long ago, I was always suspicious and dismissive of her, and now the sight of those
pouty lips makes my mouth water.

In fact, even before I left the mansion today, I couldn’t take my eyes off Edith.

Even when Lize appeared in all her dazzling glory, instead of marveling at her beauty, I was
too busy making sure that Edith wasn’t jealous of the Light of Lorraine, which Lize was
granted first.

Besides, Edith is just as beautiful as Lize.

‘As expected, she looks good in something glamorous.’

In the past, I always assumed that anything Edith wore was tacky. But when I put aside my
prejudices, I realized that Edith was born to be glamorous.

I felt guilty that I’d been so mean to her, causing her to wear plain dresses all this time.

‘I didn’t mean to be pushy……’

Though she hadn’t noticed it until now because it didn’t seem to bother her in the
slightest, Edith had been working hard to blend in with the Ludwigs.
Killian was saddened that he didn’t want her help, but she was the first to ask.

“Will you stay with me?”

It was an oddly touching and pitiful request.

It was a small request, but Killian felt a kind of responsibility.

He had to protect her, his wife, who was rejected by her father no matter how he looked
at it.

He had to protect Edith, who had been all alone all this time.

***

While he was pondering these thoughts, in the ballroom just behind the balcony doors,
many eyes and opinions were exchanged over the disappearance of Killian and Edith.

“What the hell is going on?” Damien Sinclair asked, turning to Leila, whose hands were
shaking as she clutched her fan tightly.
“How do I know that?”

“You told me! Killian Ludwig tried to kill Edith Riegelhoff! Was that what a man who tried
to kill his wife looked like? Honey dripping from his eyes!”

“What honey? We don’t know yet. Didn’t you see the look on his face when he met Count
Riegelhoff earlier? He looked like he was going to stab him to death!”

“……he did.”

It was confusing.

Killian’s look at Count Riegelhoff was definitely ferocious.

But ever since he’d arrived at this ball with Edith at his side, he and Edith had been glued
to each other, looking affectionate.

Anton furrowed his brow and said, “It’s not just Killian that’s weird. Edith, that woman……
has a different impression than before.”

“Impression?”
“Well, she used to look kind of fierce, somewhat evil, and now she looks kind of bright, if
only a little bit.”

“Yeah…… that’s what I was sensing from her earlier!” Damien said with a serious face,
clearly remembering Edith from the days when she was being beaten by his father.

That made Leila even more furious. “What the hell is going on here? Why is that bitch Lize
wearing that necklace around her neck and standing next to Cliff and the Princess?!”

The whole thing was unexpected.

Lize, who had been sold to the Duke of Ludwig and expected to be a plaything for the men
of the house, had come out proudly wearing the Light of Lorraine around her neck as if
she were Cliff’s wife, and to top it off, she was standing right next to Princess Catherine.

In addition, the rumored feuding couple, Killian and Edith, have been inseparable since
they entered the ballroom, whispering in each other’s ears and exchanging private
conversations.

They even danced a sticky-looking dance before stepping out onto the balcony, just the
two of them, and slamming the door behind them.

‘What the hell are they doing in there!’

Leila was furious that she stomped her foot.

Especially since Killian was looking breathtakingly handsome tonight.

‘He should be my man! I’m the one for Killian Ludwig!’

Leila couldn’t believe her eyes, the pink dreams of the National Day ball she’d been having
for nearly a month were being shattered.

While she was in such a whirlwind of anger and confusion, Count Riegelhoff gritted his
teeth and vented his frustration.

“Edith, that wench has really betrayed me! She clings to Killian and doesn’t even treat me
like her father.”

“What did I tell you? She’s changed.”

Shane agreed with his father, remembering Edith’s behavior toward him.

“You’re going to let a traitor to the Riegelhoff family get away with this?”

“Are you out of your mind? I’m more unforgiving of that wench than the Ludwigs are now.
After saving her life and raising her to this day, and she has no sense of gratitude!”
Count Riegelhoff glared in the direction where Killian and Edith had disappeared.

Then he muttered, “Now that she’s become a Ludwig, we should bury her with the rest of
them.”

Beside him, Shane nodded in agreement.

Just then, Archduke Langston approached them.

“How do you do, Count Riegelhoff?”

“Ah, Your Highness!”

Count Riegelhoff smiled brightly, as if he had never been in a grim mood.

“I thought we might as well get down to our business,” said Archduke Langston lightly as
he looked around the ballroom, which was in full swing.

Today is the day they decided to show their power.

It could be risky, but they felt they could turn the tide of their disadvantage if they did it
today, when the most nobles were gathered.

“I will bring our allies here shortly,” said Count Riegelhoff in a serious tone, and then he
and Shane slipped away to a corner of the ballroom.

***

We kissed and made small talk for a long time after the heat had subsided, and finally
opened the balcony door after the air had become unbearably chilly.

The sudden blast of hot air made my cheeks burn.

I don’t know if it was the heat or the fact that I was doing something naughty just one
door away from all these people.

Killian and I made eye contact, smiled at each other, then looked away, then made eye
contact again.

A flutter of excitement like I’ve never felt in my life rushed through me.
“Ah, Killian!”

Cliff approached and called out to Killian.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. Where have you been?”

“Oh, well…… it was too hot in the ballroom, so I got some air. Why?”

Cliff smiled with a certain meaningfulness, then covered his mouth with his hand and
whispered, “You look like you have something on your mouth.”

At that moment, Killian and I both raised our hands to cover our mouths without realizing
it.

‘I wiped it off, but is there a smear of lipstick on it?’

It was so embarrassing.

But Cliff just smirked and turned to me.

CHAPTER 85

“It was a joke. But it’s weird. I said it was on Killian’s mouth, why are you covering your
mouth, sister-in-law?”
Oh…… you got me.

Killian blushed, obviously embarrassed.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than make a stupid joke……”

“You haven’t been able to take your eyes off her since arriving here, so I thought I’d make
fun of you at least for once. Haha!”

Cliff laughed lightly, then whispered in Killian’s ear, “Archduke Langston is here, and his
followers are swarming around him right now, including Count Riegelhoff, so you’d better
keep an eye on your wife.”

The joviality faded quickly, and Cliff and Killian’s faces grew stern.

“And Lize?”

“The Princess took her and refused to let her go.”

“And how is the Sinclairs?”

“They’re still there, but strangely enough, they seem to be watching you and your wife
more closely than Lize.”
Oh, so I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

It makes me even more suspicious that the Sinclairs are the ones behind the embroidery
thread incident.

“Okay. You take care of Lize.”

“You take care of yourself.”

Cliff patted Killian on the shoulder and walked away.

‘It’s so weird to see Cliff wandering around without Lize. He said the Princess is with Lize,
so is it that episode?’

I glanced over to see what was going on in the ballroom, and it turned out to be an
episode from the original story.

Princess Catherine was receiving greetings from the other ladies, with Lize by her side.

‘So this is it, the episode that brought together all the young ladies who had looked down
on Lize as an illegitimate child and caused them to bow their heads!’
They were paying their respects to the Princess, but at the same time, they were bowing
down to Lize.

But no one could say anything. After all, it was the law that a young lady accompanying
the Princess must not bow to anyone other than the Princess herself.

Besides, it was a great metaphor.

Soon to be Cliff’s wife, Lize would not have to bow to any of those young ladies.

‘It was a ‘cider’ event, a way for Lize to step out of her birthright.’

From now on, all Lize will have to do is make more ‘cider’ events.

‘One of which involves Count Riegelhoff, and the beheading of me.’

I could feel the tension in the air, like a knot in my stomach.

But Killian suddenly put his arm around my shoulders. “Don’t be anxious. As long as you
stay by my side, no one will hurt you.”

His warmth radiated through the fabric.

My heart, which had been fluttering in anxiety, calmed down.

“Thank you, Killian.”

I took a deep breath and followed him into the ballroom.

Princess Catherine kept Lize at her side, giving the other young ladies a taste of
humiliation before returning her to Cliff, who had approached them, unhappy but having
no choice.

It was quite entertaining to watch the Princess, who had previously had a crush on Cliff,
get into a cold war with Cliff over Lize.

“Looks like Lize’s had enough of the Princess, she’s going to collapse,” I muttered.

Killian looked at me strangely as I worried about Lize, and then whispered, “If you’d like to
say hello to the Princess, I can do you a favor.”

“What? Oh, no, absolutely not!”

Do I look jealous of Lize? Maybe it’s time to reassure him that my worries are genuine.

But as I was wringing my hands, my gaze locked with Princess Catherine’s.

With a subtle smile, she walked straight toward me.

‘Uh, uh? What’s going on?!’

I fidgeted in panic, then hurriedly bowed as Killian did.

“It’s been a long time, Lord Ludwig.”

“Your Highness.”

“And this is?”

She had grown up as friends with Cliff and Killian, so there should be no ill will toward
Killian.

Still, the coldness in her voice tells me she doesn’t like me.

“This is my wife, Edith Ludwig.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Edith Ludwig.”

I bowed and introduced myself, but Catherine’s clear hostility didn’t fade.

“Hmm…… were you the young lady of the Riegelhoff family?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

That was all she said to me.

Catherine then turned to Killian and spoke only to him, completely ignoring me.

“The marriage itself was an unreasonable demand by the Riegelhoffs, wasn’t it? How
impudent of them……”

“Your Highness……!”

“Oh by the way, I heard about that, too, that Lize was poisoned not long ago. Knowing
how close Lize and I are, why didn’t you tell me?”

“That’s because–”

“Because your wife is a suspect?”

Killian and I sucked in a breath at the same time.

‘What does this mean all of a sudden? Why is Princess Catherine doing this to me?’

Maybe I’m making too light of it, because in the original story, Edith doesn’t even attend
the National Day ball.

The author, or rather the project to make Edith the villain, is not done yet.

“No, we’ve tentatively concluded that Edith wasn’t the culprit, and Lize herself wanted the
case to be buried, because otherwise, would Cliff have stayed put?”

Killian took my side, unexpectedly strongly.

Princess Catherine’s eyes widened in surprise. “Funny, Killian. As if you never loved
Lize……”

It was strange.

I already knew Killian was in love with Lize, but her words were like a knife to my heart.

I’m sure Killian has nothing to say about it……

“Just as you have closed your heart to Cliff because he loves Lize, I have done the same. I
wouldn’t do Lize any favors by clinging to a hopeless love.”

……hm?

I was stunned for a moment.

In the original story, Kilian gave the impression that he could never be with anyone
because of his love for Lize……. but now he’s saying he has closed his heart to Lize?

‘S- should I be happy……?’

If he’s changed his mind about Lize, it means he’s really starting to accept me, which is
good for my survival.

I should be happy, but strangely, my heart ached.

‘How painful it must have been for him to close that big heart of his. No, it must still be
painful now, right?’

I can almost feel the pain of the second male lead.

I’ve only known Killian for ten months, but I kept imagining how hard it must have been
for him, who had been looking at Lize for five years.

The revelation that he’d given up on Lize came as a shock to Catherine, who looked
dumbfounded for a moment before bursting out laughing.

“Ha! Killian Ludwig, you’ve changed so much. Is she that important to you – someone
you’re going to have to get rid of sooner or later anyway?”

W- what? Excuse me?

Why do you have to say such a scary thing? What have I done?

Tears welled up in my eyes as my sentimental heart turned to anger.

But anyone who is not given permission to speak by the Princess must not dare to
interrupt the conversation. I must only trust Killian and wait.

“Your Highness, can you take full responsibility for what you’re saying?”

“What?”

“‘Get rid of’ my wife? Who told you that? If my wife is to be gotten rid of, does that mean
I’ll be gotten rid of as well?”
“No, it’s not like that!”

“Or do you mean that you would get rid of my wife at the pleasure of the imperial family,
and that you think the Ludwigs can be wielded at will by the imperial family?”

“Killian, that is not what I mean!”

“Then what do you mean? I’m thinking of taking Edith down to the estate next year, but
didn’t you say that she would be gotten rid of? Who were you referring to?”

It wasn’t just words, Killian seemed genuinely angry.

It must be serious, because even the nasty Catherine was flustered.

“Killian. Calm down.”

“Calm down? Why would I calm down when I didn’t even get an apology?”

Ouch! Killian’s fierce glare reached me. I feel like a shrimp in a whale fight.

Just then, a brilliant voice called out from somewhere.

“Your Highness! Killian! What are you doing here?”

It was Lize, appearing just in time.

“I was just hoping to uncover the truth about your poisoning……”

Catherine quickly excused herself, but Killian was in no mood to let her off the hook.

“Lize, did you tell the Princess about that incident?”

Killian’s question made both Catherine and Lize flinch.

“I was the one who asked!”

Catherine defended her, but Lize looked like she was about to cry.

“I- I’m sorry, I was explaining why I couldn’t accept Her Highness’ invitation…… but why?”

“I don’t know how you explained the incident, but Her Highness was quick to accuse Edith
of being the culprit.”
“I never said Edith was the culprit!”

Lize was visibly flustered, and Catherine gestured that she was right.

“Then why did you insult my wife like that? I know there are all sorts of vicious rumors
about her, but I would have thought that you, as a wise princess, would not believe them
straight out of the gate……”

Wow, this is really uncomfortable.

I think I’ll step away for a moment, and you guys can sort this out amongst yourselves.

But Killian must have sensed my desire to get away, because he suddenly put a hand on
my shoulder and pulled me closer.

CHAPTER 86

“Despite how she may appear on the outside, she is a soft lady on the inside. No, even if
she isn’t, you shouldn’t be doing this to a Ludwig, should you?”

As Killian continued his stern demeanor, Catherine gritted her teeth.

But she couldn’t argue with Killian, so she kept her molars clenched and said in a very
reluctant tone, “Yes, I am sorry, and I hope Miss Edith will forgive my rudeness.”

Oh dear, what a surprise, to get an apology from the Princess!

“I- I’m fine, Your Highness. I know my behavior in the past was not very wise, so you had
every right to misunderstand. In fact, even Killian has been hearing all sorts of things
about me, so I’m afraid he’s a bit sensitive. I am sorry,” I said as I bowed, hoping that this
situation would end well.

“Are you really sorry?”

“……yes, Your Highness.”

“If you think so much of Killian, why don’t you stop your father?”

“Your Highness……!”

Killian was about to burst out again, and I tried to say something without having the
constraint affect me.

“I’ve tried my best to stop him, but……”

Oh no, apparently that wasn’t enough.

At my reply, Catherine’s sarcastic expression turned to surprise.

“You really tried to stop Count Riegelhoff from joining Archduke Langston? Did I
understand you correctly?”

But I couldn’t just say yes or nod my head to this question. The specificity of the question
seemed to trigger the damn constraint.

But now I know how to convey my thoughts to the other party without any active
behavior.

I glanced in Count Riegelhoff’s direction, then back to Catherine, and smiled wistfully.

My eyes were downcast as if I had run out of energy, and the corners of my mouth were
forced up.

This time, Killian looked shocked.

“Is that why the Riegelhoffs sent that damn maid?”

I was almost proud of myself for having gotten this far without actually telling him the
truth directly.

Despite my excitement, I managed to keep my face in check, dropping my eyes and letting
out a small sigh.
“What does that mean?”

“Well…… there was a thing. All I can tell you is that my wife is completely unrelated to the
Riegelhoffs.”

Killian’s firmness seemed to clear up some of Catherine’s misunderstandings about me.

“R- really? Well, then, I must have misunderstood you.”

Catherine scratched the back of her head and apologized, uncharacteristically of a

princess.

“Um…… sorry, I just thought Killian was living on a leash in a forced marriage, and Lize was
being bullied.”

“Ah, haha.”

That would have been the case in the original story.

And even if the original Edith were able to make it to the National Day ball, she probably
wouldn’t have made it home. Catherine would have made sure of that.
But unlike the original Edith, I had no intention of helping my father or being jealous of
Lize, and the hot-tempered Catherine was quick to admit her mistake.

This cool personality of hers is probably why she was able to put herself in the position of
Lize’s friend instead of the villain.

“I’m sorry I said something hurtful. I’m sorry Killian, and I’m sorry for putting you in a bad
spot, Lize.”

Catherine apologized to me, to Killian, and to Lize.

Lize was just about to say, “No, Your Highness!” but Killian accepted her apology with a
single nod.

“I’m glad you cleared up the misunderstanding. In fact, my wife has been wanting to go
and greet you since earlier, but she was too timid to do so.”

“Eh? Really, there’s no need for that, haha!”

Catherine, who had quickly shed her hostile demeanor, smiled brightly and grabbed my
hand.

“You’re Killian’s wife and Lizes sister-in-law, so you’re also my friend. In the future, don’t
be afraid to come to the palace with Lize often. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Haha!”

I wondered if the conflict had been resolved so abruptly, but Catherine accepted me with
a cheerful expression.

I could feel the stunned gazes of the people around me as I realized that not only was the
Princess holding my hand, but she was also inviting me to visit her often.

‘But it’s a bit strange…… Isn’t it Lize who should be getting all the attention today because
of her friendship with the Princess?’

Of course, the episode earlier when the Princess took Lize and made the other young
ladies bow their heads was going on perfectly, but this situation now is a bit……

‘No, let’s think of it as a good thing. There’s more and more hope for me to live!’

If all else fails, I can at least ask Catherine for help.

As I watched Catherine’s back as she walked away from Lize again, I prayed that the
world’s favors that had been bestowed upon Lize would be bestowed upon me as well.
But I could not dwell on the matter long.

Count Riegelhoff began to speak.

Gosh, there’s a lot going on in the National Day ball episode.

“Originally, the former Emperor was very fond of his younger brother, Archduke Langston,
and I’ve heard that they were very close from a young age. Hahaha!”

Count Riegelhoff, who had been praising the Emperor to those around him, suddenly
raised his voice and inserted the story of Archduke Langston.

Another man chimed in from the side. “Oh my! With all the intrigue going on in the
imperial court, who could be more trustworthy than the closest member of his own blood,
is there not?”

The nobles around him nodded vigorously, as if realizing a great truth.

‘That must be the Archduke Langston’s faction. From the way they’re acting here, they
must have the power to challenge the Emperor.’

What they were saying was clear.

They wanted to cast doubt on the current emperor’s birth and assert that Archduke
Langston was the rightful heir to the throne.
‘Anyway, in order to ascend to the throne, you have to be recognized as a pureblood in
the temple, so is there any meaning in doing that?’

The current emperor, who looked so different from his predecessor from a young age, was
constantly questioned as to whether or not he was of imperial descent.

But here, in order to ascend to the throne, you have to have your blood tested at the
temple, and the current emperor passed that test, so he’s on the throne.

So everything they said was nothing more than reproducing malicious rumors.

But the Duke of Ludwig, the current emperor’s most trusted sword, would not stand idly
by. He said, “Bloodlines are the most reliable. Isn’t Archduke Langston the Emperor’s
uncle and one of his most loyal subjects? Hahaha!”

“I’ve heard that Archduke Langston grew up watching imperial intrigue, so he’s very wary
of fleeting greed. Truly, he is an imperial elder who sets an example for others.”

Ooh, Duke Ludwig is one step ahead.

Although the Archduke of Langston is about to embark on an imperial feud, it would be

difficult for him to directly refute the praise of being a loyal subject in a situation like this.
Then, as if to change the subject, someone from Langston’s side said, “By the way, now
that it’s National Day, I’m reminded of the late His Majesty the Emperor. How good it was
when he reigned, and how I still miss it.”

As expected, this is a statement criticizing the current emperor’s reign.

It’s true that the past is often fondly remembered, but even if it weren’t, it would be hard
to argue with the statement that the late emperor’s reign was a good one.

Now, let’s see what the counter-argument will be!

“You’re right, the late His Majesty the Emperor was indeed a great monarch, and he
thoroughly trained His Highness the Crown Prince to carry on the work he left unfulfilled.”

“Yes. He was so thorough that he didn’t even allow his favorite, Archduke Langston, to
attend his successor’s classes!”

“Isn’t that why it’s said that there’s no one else but the current Emperor who can carry on
the teachings of the previous Emperor?!”

Wow…… this level of verbal spin, it’s almost like a language art.
With generous smiles on their faces, exchanging sharp, cryptic words, they seemed to be
dueling with invisible swords.

‘The biggest drawback to this ballroom is that there’s no popcorn. It would have been
much more of an experience if there was at least grilled squid with butter……’

They say the most fun is watching other people’s houses burn down and fights break out.

This would be so much fun if it weren’t related to my future!

As Killian and I watched the two factions bicker, I felt a sting in the side of my face.

‘Huh?’

I glanced over to see many of the young ladies looking our way, some of whom had turned
their heads to look away, and I was surprised to see Leila Sinclair in the middle of it all.

‘Aha, everyone’s ogling Killian. I didn’t realize that even Leila Sinclair liked him.’

It’s natural to stare at the second most handsome man in the world–the first for me.

As a fellow woman, I could completely understand.

But a few moments later, a young lady walked by us and her eyes fell on me, not Killian.
It wasn’t a coincidence.

She didn’t look away when I stared back in surprise.

‘What, were you looking at me?’

What a stupid thing to do!

If it were me, I’d rather spend a little more time looking at Killian than me!

As I was silently clicking my tongue, Killian patted me on the back.

CHAPTER 87

He said, “I’ll get you something to drink while Count Riegelhoff is distracted. I’ll be right
back, but don’t move from here.”

“Okay. Thank you, Killian.”

“If anyone tries to drag you away, scream. I’ll take care of any trouble.”

Even with that promise, Killian looked back a few times, like he was leaving a child behind.
I stood there, covering my mouth with the back of my hand and laughing at how cute it
was.

It was then that I heard a small but intrusive voice.

“Pretending to be cute, ck……”

For a moment, I thought she was making fun of Killian.

But when I turned my head, the young lady who had been glaring at me earlier, Leila
Sinclair, and a few other young ladies were looking at me with hostile gazes.

‘What is it? Jealousy……? Are you jealous of me?’

Oh my God, jealousy!

I had never received jealousy from anyone else in my entire life, and it was a very
refreshing experience.

It wasn’t something about me, it was just because of Killian, but this was still jealousy!

I felt like my chin went up and the bridge of my nose got about three millimeters higher.
“I’m sure she’s trying to survive even if it means fawning over them. Count Riegelhoff
seems to have completely switched sides to Archduke Langston.”

“I heard she was originally a hostage. Looking at what happened, it looks like the
Riegelhoffs have decided to throw her away.”

Huh? You all know my predicament without me telling you! I guess I don’t have to meet
the third exception condition.

‘But it’s one thing to feel good, it’s another thing to have my reputation and House
Ludwig’s honor damaged.’

I briefly considered letting it slide, since I appreciated the jealousy, but then I remembered
that on this floor, keeping my mouth shut is usually a sign of weakness.

I sighed and said, “Yeah, well, I don’t have a hill to climb [1], and I’m being held hostage.”

[1] Don’t have someone to rely on.

It’s not wrong, so I admit it.

Then they all snickered, covering their mouths with fans.

“How long will that marriage last?”

“How unfortunate to be divorced at such a young age.”

To the mockery and malice in their voices, I replied with a look that said, “What can I do?”

“So what? I’ll be the lady who was married to Killian Ludwig. What’s the big deal?”

One by one, the ladies’ smiles faded.

“Well, if I get divorced, I’ll have alimony and a nice mansion to live in. I’ll get a big alimony
check to live on without thinking about what to eat tomorrow. I’m pretty and in great
shape, and I’ll have a couple of good lovers, and if I can’t be bothered to have them, I’ll
remarry. It’s really not that complicated, is it?”

Then Leila Sinclair shot me a venomous glare. “So you’re nothing more than a leech on the
Ludwig family, after all.”

“Oh my, isn’t that the way you guys live? You’re all insolent and take refuge behind your
father’s name before you got married, and your husband’s name afterward, so I was just
trying to fit in a little bit……”
Actually, it’s probably a structural problem of this society that doesn’t allow women to do
anything unless it’s with a man and a family, and Edith Riegelhoff before I possessed her
wasn’t much better. Anyway, they’re not in a position to call me a leech.

But they quickly turned red and glared at me.

“We’re not like you!”

“Oh, of course we’re different, because I’ll be the woman who at least married Killian
Ludwig, the man you all dream of.”

And just then Killian returned with two glasses of champagne.

The young ladies seemed upset that they couldn’t say something back to me, but that’s
none of my business.

“Thank you, Killian.”

“You’re welcome.”

“By the way, Killian. I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it?”
Glancing over at the young ladies, who were staring at me with burning eyes, I asked
dryly, “Do you think I’m fawning over you?”

“……you?”

At the word “fawning,” Killian gave me a look of incredulity.

“If you think you can do fawning, do it. You’re not going to do that in front of anyone but
me, are you?”

“No, I’m not. Someone told me I was fawning over you, so I thought I had somehow
acquired some kind of advanced skill that I didn’t know about.”

Killian snorted again.

Then he leaned close to my ear and whispered low, “There was a lot of physical
temptation, though.”

Hmm. Most of the time it’s from his misunderstanding, but I’m in a good mood, so I won’t
argue.

And thanks to you telling me so closely, those young ladies are about to break their fans.
I grinned in satisfaction and playfully punched Killian in the forearm.

Killian smiled and sipped his champagne.

Anyone can see that we look like a couple flirting.

‘Even though my life actually depends on this.’

Looking at the current atmosphere, no one would imagine that Killian would behead me.

Although I’m working on making sure that doesn’t happen……

Anyway, despite my unintentional stealing of the spotlight, the rest of the episode, with
Lize as the main character, went well.

It was more shocking for the illegitimate Lize to be the Princess’ closest confidante than
for me to be favored by the Princess. Besides, Lize’s dazzling beauty caught everyone’s
attention.

It was especially entertaining to watch the men fall in love with her, but not dare to
approach her because of Cliff’s presence.
‘If only I could live in this wonderful world of Rofan novel.’

But the problem is always the Riegelhoffs.

‘Sooner or later, they will do something……’

It reminded me of a line from an American drama that I had never seen in person in my
previous life, but had only seen parody memes or clips of it many times.

‘Winter is coming.’ [Game of Thrones reference]

In the original, it’s a very cold winter when the heads of Edith and the rest of the
Riegelhoffs are beheaded.

There’s even a gruesome description of blood spurting out of their throats as they’re
beheaded.

It’s still fall, but Count Riegelhoff seems to be getting warmed up, so perhaps sooner
rather than later.

‘Let’s keep your head up!’

It’s no longer just about surviving and enjoying the future of wealth and glory.
I genuinely want to have a good life with Killian.

I want to be greedy, too.

***

“Aaaah!”

The sound of cracking and shattering came from Leila’s room again.

Damien, who had returned with her from the ball, sighed and watched Leila’s rampage.

“All my fears are coming true.”

Anton said with a grunt, “I know. When I heard Lize had bewitched the young masters of
House Ludwig, I thought she was just being treated like a mistress……”

“She is a pretty girl, though.”

“You think being a mistress of a duchy is just about having a pretty face? If you’re an
uneducated slut who can’t even borrow the power of your own family, you can’t even be
a Viscount’s daughter-in-law, no matter how pretty your face is.”

“Maybe she’s pretty enough to rise above that,” Anton retorted playfully, but Damien’s
expression did not improve.

“Besides, it seemed the rumors of a feud between Killian Ludwig and Edith Riegelhoff
were false……”

“Oh, right. She didn’t seem to flinch at the sight of her father on the opposite faction of
the Ludwig family.”

The whole thing was unexpected.

Lize showed up on Cliff’s arm and flaunted her friendship with Princess Catherine, Edith
made no secret of her affection for Killian, and Killian had no intention of abandoning her.

“I think Edith Riegelhoff was more of a shock to Sister Leila than Lize.” Anton chuckled.

Damien frowned. “Why were you blabbing to everyone you met that Edith was
abandoned by the Riegelhoffs? I told you to keep it to yourself.”
“Shut up!” Leila screeched, even at Damien.

“Who are you to yell at me when you’re the one in the wrong? You’re the one who’s
impatient and short-tempered, that’s why we’re in this mess!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Count Riegelhoff was just blurting out on the spot that he’s actually
on the side of Archduke Langston, do you think other people don’t know that? You think
you’re the only one who’s smart, huh?”

“Wow, what a short-minded little brat. If you’re so good, go find your own place,” Damien
said coldly and walked away.

Anton looked back and forth between his brother and sister, then sighed and left as well.

Leila, left alone, grumbled and broke things for a while longer, then locked herself in her
bedroom.

‘The Ludwigs must be out of their minds! Why would they keep those bitches with them!’

It was Killian who Leila couldn’t understand the most.

Lize is pretty enough to make men swoon, but Edith is not that pretty.

‘Besides, Count Riegelhoff is a complete traitor now, and Killian is going to stay with her?
That’s ridiculous!’
Leila gritted her teeth, still brimming with anger.

She heard a ‘tap-tap’ sound from somewhere.

‘Huh? What is that? Is it raining?’

At first, Leila dismissed it as raindrops, but then she heard it more clearly than before.

Leila jumped to her feet, tensing up.

The sound was coming from the outermost window of her bedroom.

‘W- what’s that? Thief? Robber? Assassin?’

As Leila crept toward it, wondering if she should scream, something darted under the
window sill, and a grown man quickly disappeared outside the window.

Leila stood still for a long moment, but she didn’t hear another strange sound or see any
shadows.

CHAPTER 88

‘What is that?’
Leila slowly approached the window and carefully picked up the envelope slipped through
the window sill.

– Dear Miss Leila Sinclair.

She couldn’t tell who had sent it, but she knew it was for her.

Half worried, half excited, Leila opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside.

– Dear Miss Leila.

……I saw you looking at Killian Ludwig at the National Day ball today, and you looked quite
bewildered.

The truth is, I, too, was beyond bewildered at Edith Riegelhoff’s shameless behavior and
felt outraged.

We can’t let Killian fall for the ploy of such a vicious woman.
I have a very good plan to get rid of Edith Riegelhoff, but I can’t do it alone.

If you, Miss Leila, are also feeling the wrath towards that woman, please show up
tomorrow at the address below.

The letter, which she read after skipping all the formal greetings, was written in a polite
tone with a proposal to get rid of Edith together.

A normal person would have been suspicious of the letter’s sender, but Leila, who had
been burning with rage against Edith all day, was actually delighted.

‘Apparently, I’m not the only one who hates her!’

She felt like her anger had been justified.

Leila was finally able to calm down and get some sleep.

The next day, Leila went to the address in the letter, accompanied by a maid and a knight.
It was one of the many alleys that stretched out on either side of Le-Belle Marie Street.

“This is it?”

Leila checked again and again to make sure the address on the letter was the same as the
number on the building.

The door creaked open before she could knock.

“Come in, Lady Sinclair.”

It was a knight, his face expressionless.

The Sinclair knight escorting Leila tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, but the knight
from inside the building was very polite.

Leila raised a hand to stop her escort, glanced around, and stepped into the building.

The old red brick building looked dreary from the outside, and it was dark inside as well.

“Why is it so dark?”
Despite its shabby exterior, the building was decorated like a home for a wealthy
commoner.

However, unlike its dust-free and clean state, it was devoid of any human warmth.

“I apologize. As this is a private meeting, I’m afraid I’ve brought you to a place that is not
suitable for you, Lady Sinclair, and I ask for your understanding.”

The knight’s still polite demeanor softened Leila’s heart.

The knight led Leila to the second floor of the building, and when he opened the door to
the second-floor parlor, a calm-looking woman in her mid-twenties was waiting for her.

“Welcome, Lady Sinclair.”

Unaware of the woman’s rank or status, Leila gave a slight nod and sat down on the couch
as she suggested.

“I would like to know the identity of the person who wrote to me first,” said Leila with her
chin up.

The woman across from her smiled weakly. “I can’t tell you exactly who it is, but I’m sure
you can guess……”
The woman opened the coat she was wearing slightly to reveal a small badge pinned
above her left chest.

It was a badge worn by those who served House Ludwig.

“So…… you’re saying that both you and that knight are of House Ludwig?”

“Yes.”

“W- why would someone who serves House Ludwig send me a letter……!”

“Did you not read the letter?”

“The letter said to get rid of Edith Riegelhoff– ah……!”

Leila’s eyes widened as if she realized something.

“You also want to get rid of Edith Riegelhoff from House Ludwig, don’t you?”

The woman across from her smiled again. “We only do what our master tells us to do, and
we can’t run our fingers through our own mouths. Our master’s wishes are exactly as
stated in the letter you received.”
Leila smiled, feeling her heart suddenly swell in her chest.

‘So even the Ludwigs were looking for a chance to get rid of her, and they called me in on
it……!’

Hope blossomed in her heart.

She also realized that she could give Damien a slap in the face for ignoring her.

“So, what do you want from me?”

“It’s not a hard thing to do. You know who the son of Viscount Sicily is, don’t you?”

“Young Master Sicily…… ah, the man who was crazy about Edith Riegelhoff?”

“Yes, that’s right. You only have to give him a little nudge.”

“But wasn’t he thrown out of the house?”

The son of Viscount Sicily, or Fred Sicily, was the man who had been following Edith
around for the past year or so.
Edith had seduced him to get information about a railroad project in which Viscount Sicily
was involved, but Fred, who had never been seduced by a woman so beautiful, was
completely smitten with her.

But when he had given up all his information, he was abandoned in a good-natured way,
and he followed her obsessively for some time, until he was sent to the estate by her
father.

“I hear he has been up to the capital lately.”

“I suppose he has been pardoned by Viscount Sicily at last; but if it is only necessary to call
upon Fred, why do you need to borrow my hand?”

“My master wanted everything to look natural, down to the smallest detail. So that it
would all look like an ‘accident’ later on.”

“I- is that so?”

“Yes. I’m sure you’ve received the invitation to the tea party tomorrow at the Viscounty
Sicily?”

“Yes, but……”

“You just need to be there and pass on just one piece of information to the Young Master
Sicily.”
The young woman of House Ludwig handed Leila a small note again.

It contained the information Leila needed to pass on.

“Are you sure…… this is all I need to do?”

“It’s not like the Ludwigs aren’t capable enough to put a lot of pressure on you, young
lady. If you can do this much, the rest will take care of itself.”

Leila was a little nervous, but the execution itself wasn’t the least bit difficult.

Besides, she knew that if anything were to happen, the investigation wouldn’t reach her.

She’d only have to pass on one small piece of information.

‘It can’t hurt.’

Leila nodded slowly. “But I’d like to know what’s going to happen after this…… at least the
plan, because I don’t want to be taken advantage of without knowing the backstory.”

“Not much. We’re going to have Edith Riegelhoff meet up with Young Master Sicily,
somewhere very private.”
“And…… what will happen then?”

“That’s up to Young Master Sicily to decide that day. What do you think will happen, Lady
Sinclair?”

Leila looked at the young woman blankly, then slowly began to laugh.

“Well…… I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m quite looking forward to it.”

The young woman smiled back and asked, “Are you sure you want to take this job?”

“Of course.”

Leila reached out her hand to the young woman, and she clasped it firmly.

It was the moment when something so simple, but with such frightening consequences,
was planned.

***
After returning from the ball, Killian and I spent the night on the balcony catching up on
our unfinished business.

The next day, we spent almost the entire day in bed.

‘He’s got the stamina of an animal, really……’

I felt somewhat annoyed that Killian had a fresh look when I was in pain because of him.

But when he kissed me warmly, tucked me in, and told me to call him if I felt the slightest
bit unwell, I wondered if this was what it felt like to be loved.

Luckily, Edith is very healthy, unlike me in my previous life, so the next day I too was able
to wake up feeling refreshed.

As if she’d been waiting for me to wake up, Lize invited me to tea.

“Edith!”
“Thank you for asking me to tea, Lize.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Lize, who was smiling back at me with a radiant smile on her
face.

“So, it’s just the two of us…… today, huh?”

Cliff and Killian, Lize’s usual teatime companions, were nowhere to be seen.

I’d assumed they’d be there, but……

“I purposely didn’t call them today so that it would be just you and me.”

Yes, let’s hang out alone with my sister……no, no, get a grip!

Lize poured me a cup of tea and placed the delicious tea food in my direction, saying
lightly, “I heard that as soon as the National Day ball is over, the streets will be decorated
for the holidays.”

“It’s already…… the end of the year.”

For me, the image of the word year-end has long since changed from cozy and joyful to
anxious and fearful.

It’s the end of the year…… winter is coming……

But Lize had no idea what I was thinking.

She smiled a little shyly. “Come to think of it, I don’t think we’ve ever been out together,
Edith.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“I like Le-Belle Marie Street. How about you, Edith?”

“Uh…… I haven’t been to Le-Belle Marie Street much, it’s more like a place for girlfriends.
I’ve only been to Dasrus Street a few times.”

“Uh, really? There’s so much pretty stuff on Le-Belle Marie Street…… why don’t you come
to hang out with me sometime? If you go down to the estate with Killian, you’ll never
really get a chance to buy or see anything pretty.”

Hmm…… I wonder if this is a harbinger of things to come.

There is definitely no episode where Edith goes out with Lize alone.

The original Edith would have tried to kill her if she ever went out alone with Lize, and the
original Cliff and Killian would never have let Lize and Edith go out alone.

CHAPTER 89

‘Is the flow of the story weakening and the relationship between me and Lize becoming
more and more like a normal love-hate relationship?’

Is this being too positive?

‘Or is it Lize’s plot?’

Again, I’m thinking too much. What could she possibly do to me in that glittery street…….

As I was spinning in a whirlwind of confusion and doubt, Lize added with a smile,
“Actually, His Excellency the Duke of Ludwig has asked me to take you to the town before
you go down to the estate and let you buy anything you want……”

“R- really?”

“Yes. In fact, I was going to tell you when we’re done shopping, but the Duke is feeling
very sorry for you, and I don’t think he’s quite ready to tell you that, so please bear with
him.”
I was surprised.

The blunt Duke of Ludwig felt sorry for me.

After all, he’d paid me a compliment when we were about to leave for the ball!

‘The flow of the original story has really changed a lot! I thought it would be harder to win
his heart than Killian’s.’

No wonder he asked Lize, not Killian.

If Killian took me out shopping, it would be like he was buying me something.

But if Lize took me out shopping, I’d know that the money was coming from the Duke’s
pocket.

‘And I suppose he hopes I’ll notice that so he can ease up on me.’

My jaw dropped at the thought of the tiger-like man’s nervousness.

‘The Duke of Ludwig wanted me to do this, so I suppose it’s all right?’

If the two of us were to go out, we would be escorted by the Ludwigs’ knights, and we
would be playing under their ‘watchful eye’, so it was unlikely that anything would
happen.

‘I also wanted to see Le-Belle Marie Street, though……’

I didn’t get a chance to explore Le-Belle Marie Street, although I did stop by when I got my
boots done with Killian.

I was curious, though, because it seemed like it would be very Rofan-esque, with lots of
cute little shops.

“Well, shall we?”

“Really? Wow, that would be exciting!”

Lize smiled brightly, clapping her hands together.

“By the way……”

“What?”

“When we go out that day, who else is going with us?”

“My maid and knight.”

Hmm, that’s dangerous.

I’m feeling a little short on people who can testify that I didn’t do anything.

“I’d like my maid and one more knight to come with me, just in case something happens.”

Lize tilted her head. “What do you mean, just in case? Le-Belle Marie Street is a very safe
neighborhood, so no one carries a knight there.”

Ouch, does saying ‘just in case’ make me look like I’m up to something again?

“Oh, if- if that’s the case, I’ll just take Anna then.”

“Sure. We’ll need someone to carry our bags.”

We parted ways, promising to leave in two days.

That night, Killian, who had been to the palace, stopped by my room and asked how my
day had been.

‘Killian asking about my daily life, to anyone who sees it, we must seem like newlyweds
who are deeply in love with each other.’

I giggled and told him about my day.

“The day after tomorrow, I’m going to Le-Belle Marie Street with Lize, to do what the
Duke asked her to do. He told her to buy me everything I want to buy.”

“My father……?”

“Yes. Lize said the Duke felt sorry for me.”

Killian smiled at that.

He seemed quite pleased with himself.

He seemed quite satisfied.

“So, who’s coming with you?”

“Lize and me.”

“Just…… the two of you?”

“I’m going with two maids and a knight.”

I expected Killian to say it was great, but he had a strange look on his face.

“Killian……?”

“Is that okay, that……”

“What?”

“Have you forgotten already that it was Lize who asked Cliff to find her earrings before the
yacht accident?”

I was surprised.

I don’t think I could have forgotten that, but I didn’t expect Killian to remember, much less
suspect Lize.

“I know it’s very strange, but we don’t have any proof that she did it, and it’s not like we
can keep her away forever just because we are paranoid.”
“That’s true.”

“Isn’t it a bit like the time I was accused of harming Lize, but she treated me like nothing
happened, so I shouldn’t either.”

“But……”

“Besides, it was requested by the Duke.”

I can’t say I haven’t had my doubts.

But I couldn’t avoid Lize forever, and I had no good reason to turn down her offer.

But Killian’s attitude puzzled me.

At this point, I’d expect him to say, “Of course she wouldn’t have done that,” but instead
he seemed to be mulling something over, not defending her.

‘Wow, that’s really different.’

Killian was no longer the same man as in the original story, not even close.
“Well, you have maids and a knight, so I don’t think anything will happen, but…… don’t
ever do anything stupid. Do you understand?”

“What makes you think I’m going to do anything stupid?”

“Because I really don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Killian stared at me with some kind of intense heat in his eyes. I felt like I was being
interrogated, so I quickly averted my gaze.

***

The day Lize and I go out is cloudy, but not very cold.

In the carriage are me, Lize, Anna, and Lize’s maid, followed by a knight on horseback.

“I’m going to buy some knitting yarn and some winter gloves today, what are you going to
buy Edith?”
“Umm, I think I’ll buy some underwear, the ones I have are a bit loose and
uncomfortable.”

“That’s great, there’s a really nice underwear shop on Le-Belle Marie Street, and what else
would you like to buy?”

“Uh…… first, I’m going to go and think about it. I don’t really know what’s on Le-Belle
Marie Street……”

“Oh, I see! There are lots of accessory shops and jewelry stores on Le-Belle Marie Street,
lots of pretty cafes, and lots of boutiques on the north side of the street……”

Lize was kind enough to explain to me what is where on Le-Belle Marie Street.

It feels like we’re just friends, and it makes me feel at ease.

‘Yeah…… she’s not the problem, it’s the author. Whether it’s Lize or Cliff, they’re just
following the will of the author, and they don’t have anything against me.’

The person I’m playing against is the author.

He has power in this world, and that’s probably what drives the characters.
This is evident in Killian’s increasingly out-of-character behavior.

‘The failure of the last yacht incident weakened the author’s control, so maybe it’s not
impossible for Lize and I to become friends.’

I’ve already been reducing the author’s power by fulfilling the second exception condition,
and the yacht incident has made him even less powerful.

Maybe…… he is already at the point where he’s almost powerless.

‘We’ll see after today.’

I stepped into the streets with Lize, full of defiance.

“Wow……!”

I exclaimed on my last visit, and the holiday-decorated Le-Belle Marie Street elicited
another exclamation from me.

While 21st-century South Korea has lost some of its holiday pizzazz and excitement with
each passing year, this place is cozy and sparkling like a fairytale winter.
“That’s the shoe shop where Killian bought me my shoes the other day. He said he was
going to take you there too. Did you go?”

“Yes. I ordered a pair of sturdy shoes and two pairs of winter boots.”

“I hear their shoes are really comfortable and sturdy. They’ll be very pretty,” said Lize with
a smile.

Lize didn’t seem at all offended that I’d gone there alone with Killian.

It was a far cry from a few days ago, when she seemed to be trying to reclaim the second
male lead.

“Have you ordered your winter gloves? If you ordered boots, I think you should have some
furry gloves to go with them.”

“Killian said we should order them together next time……”

“Why don’t you order them while you’re at it, I’m going to get some furry gloves too.”

Lize seemed to be suggesting it as a favor.

But I shook my head, remembering Killian, who had seemed to enjoy fitting our shoes
together.

“Still, since Killian suggested we order together, I’ll come back with him later; that pouty
guy might pout again if I said I ordered first.”

“Pfft! Ahahaha! Ahahaha!”

What a surprise. Was that so funny?

Lize laughed so hard that the words “burst of laughter” came to mind.

It’s hard to comprehend this world’s sense of comedy.

“Ha, I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve laughed so hard. You are amazing, Edith.
No one ever says that about Killian. Pfft!”

I mean, yeah, sure, to the rest of the world, Killian would be the perfect man along with
Cliff.

But he’s a prankster.

After a good laugh, Lize took me to some of the most popular shops on Le-Belle Marie
Street.
CHAPTER 90

“Moonlight Bookstore has the fastest turnaround on new releases of popular romance
novels, Fiancée sells really pretty bonnets and lots of couture, and Pink Cake sells a lot of
cute accessories……”

Lize was surprisingly knowledgeable about Le-Belle Marie Street. I assumed she had been
there a lot, and then she told me something surprising.

“Every three months, Le-Belle Marie Magazine comes out, and I’m memorizing the names
of the shops there. One day, when I have a friend, I’ll definitely go there together……”

My heart ached.

Anyone who goes out in social circles under the Duchess or Cliff’s aegis speaks highly of
Lize. The older ladies, in particular, can be quite generous with her.

But not the ladies her own age.

To them, she is just a lowly illegitimate child who has Cliff and Killian hooked.

‘How desperately she wanted a friend that she brought me here.’

Even if it was at the Duke of Ludwig’s request, I was the one who had ‘stolen’ the second
male lead.
As I had sensed, Lize seemed to have given up on getting Killian back. In fact, I’m not even
sure if the things she did that seemed to seduce Killian were her own ideas or the
author’s.

“Lize, let’s go over there.”

I grabbed Lize’s hand and together we headed to Fiancée.

She looked a little confused, but I helped her try on a few things to find the best bonnet
for her, and even spread out a parasol in front of her and twirled it around.

Lize’s expression gradually softened, and later she was clinging to my arm and laughing in
a clear voice.

‘It’s kinda…… nice, isn’t it?’

Thinking about it, I couldn’t remember ever having a friend my own age.

Sure, I had them in college, but as I got into the workforce, I lost them one by one.

I couldn’t help it. Unlike my school days, when I could just go to school and see them, after
graduation, I needed money to see them, and I didn’t have it.
But now, with Lize, I could spend money to my heart’s content. That too with the Duke’s
money!

‘Once again, long live the noble possession!’

While I was happily enjoying my life with money and a friend, Lize whispered, “Edith, by
any chance, do you like romance novels that are a little smutty?”

“Oh, well, I’ve read Madam Graham’s Secret Flirtation?”

“Oh, yes! Have you read that one?”

“Anna recommended it to me. It was very hot, wasn’t it?”

Lize and I giggled again.

“Actually, the Moonlight Bookstore I mentioned earlier is famous for romance novels, but
the Millane Bookstore is more famous for smutty ones, so why don’t you come with me?”

I nodded, trying not to burst out laughing. “That’s very helpful information, Lize. I can’t
wait to go.”

In fact, the last book I read, Madam Graham’s Secret Flirtation, was such a fun erotic
romance novel that I thought it would be a hit if it were published in 21st-century Korea.
The scenes were very, very hot because there was no R-rating rule in this era.

“It’d be a little embarrassing if the maids knew…… so let’s just go by ourselves, because if
Cliff finds out, I’ll be in trouble,” said Lize, clasping her hands together.

What the hell, Cliff, for a character who’s supposed to be so possessive and clingy, is he
jealous that his girlfriend reads erotic romance novels?

It would be just plain mean that noblewomen, stuck in the house all day, couldn’t even
read erotic romance novels!

“Okay, I’ll tell Anna.”

I called Anna over and gave her some pocket money, saying, “I’m going to go buy some
interesting books, so stay nearby with Lize’s maid.”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“It’s a bookstore a little way down the alley, so what’s the danger? Lize’s in a bit of a bind,
so please, Anna, give her a little time.”
“Okay, just don’t go anywhere too dark.”

“Yeah, okay.”

With that, Lize and I walked toward the Millane Bookstore, just the two of us.

The Millane Bookstore is not located on the main street of Le-Belle Marie, but in an alley
off to the side.

“The books they sell are a bit……”

Lize winked, and I nodded and stepped inside.

Inside the bookstore, several young ladies in scarves were carefully selecting books.

‘A love for the erotic genre is timeless.’

If they saw the e-book market in 21st-century South Korea, they would probably be
shocked. If I wasn’t on a budget, I’d be up all night for days.

“Well, let’s take a tour of the bookstore, and when we’ve picked out what we want to buy,
I’ll meet you at the checkout,” Lize asked, looking shy.
“Okay.”

It’s probably not a good idea to share your erotic novel preferences with someone you’ve
just become friends with.

I understood Lize’s shyness.

I watched her back as she walked away, and I scanned the shelves, my heart pounding
with excitement.

‘There’s no keyword system here. It’s all organized by author’s name.’

Frowning, I pulled out the book in front of me and flipped through it, glancing around a bit
before lowering my gaze.

– ……Erphea’s body felt hot and she couldn’t stand it.

“Ah, just a little more……!”

“You look so innocent, Princess, and yet you love to be roughed up.”
The escort knight Raphael teasingly mocked Erphea, then grabbed her waist and thrust
her even faster……

“Whoa……”

Having read that far, I swallowed hard.

‘I need to buy this one.’

I sensed my destiny from the first book I picked up.

I pulled out “Rebel Series 3 – The Princess and the Escort Knight” and held it to my side.

‘Let’s see what else there is.’

I scanned the shelves, looking for a title I liked, and pulled out another, “The Secret
Service of Sarah the Maid.”

‘As expected, it’s a story about a maid and her master’s nightly affairs.’
It was a little clichéd, but I liked it because the male lead was portrayed so sexily.

Plus, it was a single volume, so it was easy to read.

I put the book aside and slowly circled the shelves again.

An hour or so passed.

‘If I stay here too long, I’ll get Anna in trouble. Shall I go back?’

I held four books by my side with embarrassing titles. I wanted to buy more because I
liked them, but I didn’t want to catch Killian or anyone else’s eye.

I walked up to the counter with the books and put them on the table, then scanned the
store for Lize.

‘Huh? Where is she?’

The bookstore was a maze of shelves, but not so much that I couldn’t find a single person.

But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find her.

‘What? Where is she?’

The bookstore owner gave me a strange look as I wandered around the store and asked,
“Are you going to buy all of this?”

“Oh, yeah, give me the price for all that. By the way, did the young lady who came with
me pay first and leave?”

“Who was the young lady who came with you?”

“Uh…… a very beautiful young lady, blond hair, blue eyes. Anyway, she’s beautiful.”

“Hmm…… none of the people who’ve bought books in the last hour have been that
strikingly beautiful.”

If Lize had paid for the book, there’s no way the blunt owner wouldn’t have remembered
her. She’s the most beautiful woman in the world.

‘I’m guessing she went back first, but why didn’t she say anything?’

Maybe Cliff showed up on Le-Belle Marie Street, so Lize’s maid rushed to find her, and Lize
left without me because I was too focused.

Anyway, it didn’t matter, because Anna would be waiting for me.

I paid for the four books and left the somewhat dimly lit Millane Bookstore.

It was a little gloomy outside the bookstore.

‘I didn’t realize it was so dingy when I came here with Lize earlier……’

The weather was overcast, which made the streets look even more dreary, so I walked a
little faster toward the main street of Le-Belle Marie.

I was just about to reach the end of the alley when a man suddenly appeared in front of
me, blocking my path.

“Oh my God…… you are really here.”

The man looked to be in his mid-to-late twenties, with a lean build, a pale, greasy face,
and dark brown hair…… he seemed to be a nobleman.

“W- what?”

“It’s been a while, Edith.”

At first glance, he looked a little shabby, but he seemed to know me.

“Who……?”

“Heh…… heh…… You must have forgotten me, despite how broken I am for you.”

“What? No, I mean, who are you?”

There were people walking by a few steps away, so I got a little bold.

I calculated that if I raised my voice, someone would look my way.

But the man didn’t seem to have the presence of mind to realize that.

“Fred Sicily, son of Viscount Sicily, the man you dumped as soon as you’d gotten all the
information you could out of him about building a railroad in the Armov estate.”

“……what?”

I frantically racked my brain, searching for Fred Sicily in Edith’s memory.

‘Oh, my God.’
Fortunately, I could find him in her memory, but it wasn’t a very hopeful memory for me.

As I see it now, Fred Sicily was not a very attractive man, and he had a timid personality.

There’s no way such a man could have been popular with the ladies.

CHAPTER 91

‘That was the kind of man Edith Riegelhoff had in her sights. Damn it!’

What a thrill it must have been for this man to receive a charming smile and a pat on the
back from a woman he had never dared to look at.

Fred Sicily became Edith’s dog.

He would give her all the information he had about the railroad business.

He also gave her many gifts.

But as soon as Edith had all the information she needed, she cut off contact with him.

Fred, who was addicted to love like a drug, turned insane, and followed her everywhere,
insisting on his love.

‘Then he went down to the estate at the behest of Viscount Sicily…… so why is he here
now?’
I asked as calmly as I could, though I felt myself shaking, “I heard that you went down to
the estate, but when did you come?”

“I was just released from probation not too long ago, and my father let me go because I
pretended to forget about you in front of him. If I’d known this would happen, I’d have
lied and said I’d forgotten about you sooner. Haha.”

This is not good.

“I’m afraid I’m a bit busy at the moment, but if you have anything to say, please put in a
request for a visit to the Ludwig mansion. Then, bye.”

I smiled and tried to walk past him.

“I put in a visitation request all the time, and I get turned down.”

My arm was grabbed and a gruff voice came from right beside me.

“Let go of me!”

“I don’t want to, Edith. I’m not letting go of you this time.”
“Aaaah!”

I screamed, as soon as I realized he was going to do something dangerous to me.

There are people coming and going right in front of me, someone will see this way.

And I made eye contact with a man who glanced this way.

“Help me!”

But as soon as I screamed, Fred clamped his hand over my mouth, and the man who had
made eye contact with me turned away and went on his way.

Even if not him, there’s no way my screams couldn’t have been heard all the way out
there, and no one was even looking this way.

‘W- what? No way, is the author intervening again?’

I shouted in confusion, trying to pry Fred’s hand away.

But Fred was kind enough to explain why no one was paying attention to me.

“Don’t get involved in what goes on in the back alleys, that’s the unwritten rule of this
country. Haha.”
What the hell!

But then Edith’s memory flashed back to a similar piece of advice.

“If you’re walking down the street and you see something going on in the alley, not on the
main street, don’t get involved.”

“Why?”

“Because even if you do, you’re not responsible for it, and it’s none of your business.
Don’t make a name for yourself by meddling.”

Apparently, a tutor or something like that had told her that when she was younger.

‘Why is that just now coming to mind?!’

If it had occurred to me before, I wouldn’t have come to this dingy alley without an escort
in the first place!

And with that, Fred subdued my struggling body with a fearsome force and dragged me
somewhere down the alley.

No one stopped him, even when they saw me struggling.

‘How can the capital of the Empire have such poor security?’

If I can make it to Ryzen with Killian in one piece, I will devote all my energy to improving
the security of Ryzen! I swear!

But none of those thoughts helped me in the current situation.

Even if Edith was healthier than Choi Soo-na in my previous life, I couldn’t resist the
strength of a grown man while wearing an uncomfortable dress.

I kicked Fred in the shins and struggled, but he simply swept me off my feet and into an
empty house down the alley.

He locked the door of the empty house and blocked it with something like a chair, and
only then did he turn toward me.
“I missed you, Edith.”

“Ha, ha, are you kidnapping me?”

“Your answer will determine whether it’s a kidnapping, a love affair, or a murder.”

The word ‘murder’ made my head spin, but I quickly focused on the fact that he had other
options in mind.

‘Yeah, that means there’s room for persuasion.’

I thought back to my part-time job in a call center in my previous life.

All sorts of crazy people would call in, but most of them would calm down if you listened
to them calmly and empathized with them.

Of course, there were some who called just to blow off steam, but I prayed that Fred
wasn’t the worst.

“Fred. What the hell am I supposed to do when you show up after all these years, kidnap
me, and say scary things like that?”

I dropped my eyebrows and sounded like I was about to cry, and Fred looked flustered for
a moment before scratching the back of his head.
“I- I’m sorry about that. It’s just that I was so excited to really meet you that I didn’t
realize……”

I picked up on a strange nuance in his words.

Come to think of it, when he first saw me, he was surprised, saying, “You are really here.”
It was as if someone had explained my location to him.

“Did someone tell you that you could find me here?”

“Oh, not really, I just overheard it.”

“……where?”

“Well, my sister was having a tea party at our mansion the other day, and I heard
someone say something there.”

“You were expecting me to be here?”

Fred nodded obediently.

But it was a really strange story.

It was only two days ago that I’d decided to go out on Le-Belle Marie Street. How could
that have been tipped off at a tea party that would have taken place at noon that day?

‘Unless the person who made the offer had given them a prior notice……’

The thought creeped me out more than the presence of Fred in front of me.

“Fred, do you remember who told you about that?”

“Why? Does it matter?”

“Yes, it does.”

“Then you should pay me to tell you that information. Isn’t that your modus operandi?”
Fred smirked.

Goosebumps rose to the top of my head again, but I clenched my molars and held it in.

“Fred, this is a crime. Aren’t you the heir apparent to the Viscount of Sicily? You should
think about how much of a disgrace you’re bringing to the family name by committing a
crime like this!”
“You sound like my father, but I am not a man who values family obligations. In fact, I
didn’t even know it until I met you……”

As he said this, he pulled a dagger from his belt.

“It turns out I’m a romantic who lives to love and dies to love.”

“W- what?”

“I decided on the ride back to the capital that I couldn’t live without you, so my life was
either going to be about getting you, or dying with you…… There is only one of the two.”

I swear this is driving me crazy.

“Fred. I’m already married, you know that, don’t you?”

“I thought I was going crazy when I heard that, but Duke Ludwig is holding you hostage,
isn’t he? Sooner or later you’re going to be thrown out…… so why don’t you come to me
before then?”

Let me correct two things that are wrong with your statement.

First, you’re already crazy.

And I’m not a hostage anymore!

“You’ve got it wrong, Fred. I am the rightful daughter-in-law of the Ludwigs, and the wife
of Killian Ludwig.”

“Shut up!”

Fred swung the dagger in an instant, and I stumbled backward.

Then, a familiar voice in my head announced,

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

Damn…… is the author intervening again?

I don’t even have Killian to save me this time, and I only have three minutes left.
My heart begins to pound frighteningly. It was already scary, but as the time until my
death became more clear, my heart sank as the reality set in.

“Fred.”

I called his name more calmly, deliberately trying to calm my heart as it squeezed the last
drops of blood from my body.

Then, as if his excitement had subsided a bit, he lowered his dagger.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Edith. I got a little carried away. This isn’t the marriage you wanted, is
it?”

I felt the pressure in the way he asked, “Is it?” – that I had to say yes, so I could survive.

But I knew that wasn’t what this man wanted.

And as I racked my brain for the right answer without provoking him, one thing occurred
to me.

‘I don’t think I’m going to die in three minutes. I survived last time.’
Yes, I did. I heard those words while I was drowning, and I survived.

‘Yes, I can survive.’

I swallowed dryly, took a deep breath, and spoke calmly again, “Fred. First of all, let me
apologize for what happened three years ago. I’m so sorry for hurting you.”

“No, no, no, that’s not necessary, because I’m going to be unconditionally one with you
today, and the past doesn’t matter……”

“If the past is not properly resolved, the present and future will never be okay. I’m sorry
for taking advantage of your heart.”

It wasn’t my doing, but as someone who’s been treated like an object by my boyfriend in
the past, I could understand Fred’s feelings.

The first thing I wanted was a sincere apology from my ex-boyfriend, who had treated me
like an idiot and taken advantage of me.

But then Fred’s expression became strange.

“What are you up to this time, Edith……? You’re not the kind of person to apologize, are
you going to pretend to apologize and then run away?”

He was half right, but I was a bit offended.

CHAPTER 92

“Fred. You’re under no obligation to accept my apology, but calling me ‘not the kind of
person to apologize’ sounds like something I should be apologizing for on my end.”

“What?”

Fred looked genuinely puzzled. What the hell was so incomprehensible about that?

“You’ve always been an arrogant woman who looks down on others, a domineering little
devil, and for you to apologize is ridiculous.”

Ah…… Fred.

Even if you didn’t look like a squid, I would have rejected you.

“So I guess that means you’ve been crying about true love without even knowing me very
well.”

“What?”

“Fred. You don’t know how much I’ve suffered from men like you, all of them jumping at
me based on my looks and my family name. Do you know how awful those covetous eyes
were?”
My blood was boiling.

But then I heard another voice in my head.

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

Yay, the time to death has been extended by three more minutes!

I don’t know how much longer I can extend it, but I’m going to have to hang on for as long
as I can.

“At first, I thought you were different, but in the end, you whispered the same words as
the other guys. Do you remember?”

“W- what words……”

“You said, ‘When are you going to give your body to me?’ As if you shouldn’t have given
me that much information and brought me a gift……”
“Isn’t that a given?”

“It means that…… my body was your purpose from the beginning, and you can’t put the
word ‘love’ on it.”

Fred’s breathing became ragged.

I wondered if I was provoking him, but I needed to set his memory straight. A distorted
memory of a man who saw himself as a pitiful victim.

“I was really disappointed in that, and that’s why I cut off contact with you. I sometimes
wondered if I had misunderstood you, but the way you talked to me today, it seems I
hadn’t.”

Fred didn’t seem to know what exactly he’d done wrong, but his fiery momentum from
earlier had waned.

“I’m sorry I didn’t live up to your expectations. I’m a completely different person from
nicknames such as the little devil or the flower snake of Riegelhoff, I’m just an ordinary
girl.”

“Then why did you do that to men? You used them under the guise of giving them your
heart, took advantage of them, and then abandoned them!”
“I was the one who was taken advantage of by men. They would come up to me and
whisper that they loved me for who I really was, but in the end, they wanted my body,
and I rejected them!”

“No way……!”

“Well, since I got married, I’ve been living my life the way I want to. The only party I’ve
been to this year is the National Day, I don’t care where people gather, I just read my
books and live in peace. Boring, right?”

I smiled at Fred and paced slowly. I walked over to the window and pretended to be lost in
thought as I looked out, even though it was hard to see outside due to the heavy dust on
the windows.

I was pretty nervous about pretending to be nonchalant with a man holding a dagger
behind me.

“Even if you were with me, I guarantee you’d be sick of it in half a year, I’m not the girl in
your fantasies.”

“No…… no……! My Edith is……!”

“Your Edith in your fantasies is probably the kind of woman who seduces men like a
femme fatale, making them grovel at her feet, and then gives them her sweet nothings at
night, right?”

Fred didn’t answer. I must have hit the nail on the head.

“You know what I’ve been reading lately? It’s called ‘Agriculture for the Empire’s North
Central Region,’ and the chapter on distinguishing between sea beans and mung beans
made a big impression on me. Today I had to buy a new pair of stockings because the ones
I usually wear have holes in the toes, and I’ve been a little constipated lately, and I’ve got
gas in my stomach……”

“S- stop! Don’t say it! Don’t damage my Edith!”

As expected, he was just trying to fit me into a woman of his own imagination.

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

Extended three minutes again.

Whoa, this is really hard on the heart.

“Fred. I’m not the woman you wanted, I’m just a meaningless existence that you
projected onto. Don’t you think it’s a shame to end your life with such a meaningless
existence? Don’t you feel sorry for your life?”

If I had put as much energy into my presentation as I did in my previous life, my standing
in the company would have been much higher.

Well, it’s a do-or-die game, so I’ll give it my all.

“That…… I…… I……”

“I know, Fred. You were thirsty for love, and I just happened to look like the girl you
wanted. I was young, too…… and I knew it, but I pretended not to, because it felt good to
be the object of your passionate gaze.”

Fred began to sob.

“Did you ever love me…… even a little?”

“If I care about my safety now, I could lie and say I did. But I’ll be honest with you: the
feelings I had then were not ripe for love; they were curiosity, crush, and self-indulgence.”
Fred hung his head in despair.

I was afraid he’d snap out of it at any moment and lunge at me.

‘Anna! Anna, please notice I’m gone!’

There was only one way out of this damn building, and that was the only way I could get
away.

I could only hope to convince Fred to let me out on my own, or that Anna would realize I
was gone and come looking for me.

The problem was, neither of those options seemed too likely.

“Sorry……”

“Fred……!”

“I realized this while I was down at the estate recuperating, but I like women who trample
on me.”

Ha, that’s creepy……. no, no, I respect your taste.

“That’s far from me.”

“I must have misunderstood…… you.”

I nodded, giving him a benevolent look, hoping he’d come to his senses, and trying to give
him hope.

“I heard somewhere at the party that men like you are rare, and that your type of woman
is never in short supply. So have hope, Fred.”

Fred smiled faintly and nodded. “If you’ll forgive me this once, I’ll never appear before you
again.”

“As an apology for my past, I’ll forget about today, too.”

“Thank you. Oh, and this is the luggage you were carrying out earlier…… huh……?”

Luggage? What luggage?

Uh……? Wait!
[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

At the same time I heard the voice, Fred’s eyes turned toward me as he smiled devilishly.

In his hand was a book I had bought at that bookstore earlier, The Countess’ Pet Dog.

The cover showed a man lying flat on the floor with a dog leash, stepped on by the foot of
a woman in high heels.

“Heh, heh, heh…… I almost got fooled by you again, Edith. My Edith!”

Holy crap!

Why the hell are those books there?!

“Oh, you’re mistaken, Fred. I don’t like all those books!”

“Did you hate me enough to lie to me at such length, when I could be your faithful pet
dog?! Why?!”
He drew the dagger again.

“Because I’m ugly, right? Because I know what women say about me, and since it’s
impossible for me to be handsome…… you’ll have to be ugly.”

What kind of logic is that?!

But I didn’t feel like arguing about it now.

The sharp end of the dagger was already pointed at my face.

“Fred, calm down.”

“Don’t worry, Edith. I’ll come after you, I promise.”

And Fred lunged at me.

“I said calm down!”

I picked up the chair I’d been holding onto earlier and slammed it down on him.
With a whoosh, Fred rolled on the floor.

‘Eh! Is he dead?’

But as if my strength wasn’t strong enough, he jumped back up with a surprised look on
his face, clutching his forearm where the chair had hit him.

I’d unintentionally taken my first chair shot of my life, but it didn’t go so well.

Unlike before, when he had approached me defenselessly, thinking I was a helpless

woman, now he looked like he was facing an armed robber.

“Even my dad never hit me……”

Ah, is that so? No wonder his son looks like this.

“Fred. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I’m going to make you my own queen, Edith, even in death, so…… please accept my love
now.”

He lunged at me again, and I swung the chair again.

But he pretended to swing a knife, then grabbed the chair leg and pulled me roughly
away.

I was almost dragged by the chair, but I quickly let go and ran behind a large table.

What followed was a chase and a fight in the small room.

‘If I get caught here, I’m really dead.’

As I ran, I looked around for anything I could use as a weapon, but there wasn’t a single
thing left in the seemingly abandoned building, not even a fireplace poker.

“Gaah!”

Fred suddenly shouted, leaping over the table to pounce on me as I rummaged around.

“Aaah!”

My vision flipped as I heard a loud crash and the sound of something breaking.

I fell to the floor, and Fred, dagger in hand, was on top of me, laughing maniacally.

CHAPTER 93

“Hahaha! Edith! We’re one now, forever! Forever……!”

“Says who?”

A familiar voice growled at Fred.

The next moment, something hit Fred. There was a loud thud.

“Give me my Edith!”

Fred’s voice faded with another thud.

And a familiar face loomed over me.

“Edith! Edith, can you see me?”

“Kil…… Killian……”

“Hah…… Hershan, thank you……”

It was Killian.

Killian saved me again.

‘How did he know I was here?’

I wondered, even in the midst of the chaos but I didn’t have the strength to ask.

Killian ordered the knights who had come with him to bind Fred, and Anna, who had
followed, burst into tears at the sight of me.

“Miss!”

“I’m sorry, Anna……”

“No, it was my fault, I didn’t……”

“No…… don’t blame yourself. And I’m sorry…… please take care of my stuff over there.”

While Killian was preoccupied with tying up Fred, I asked Anna to pack up my erotic
romance books.

I knew that if Killian saw them, I’d die in shame on the spot.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as Anna packed, and then scrambled to my feet
when Killian turned toward me.
But he scooped me up, refusing to let my feet touch the ground.

“Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?”

“I- I don’t know.”

I think I might have hit my head when Fred lunged for me and I fell. But I was too
disoriented to objectively assess my condition.

“What the hell just happened!”

“That guy was chasing me.”

“This is all your karma for going around flirting with this guy and that guy! When men have
bad intentions, a fragile woman like you can’t handle it! Why on earth would you even
mess with a grimy guy like that……”

Although he was trying to pretend to be rational, it seemed that Killian was also panicking
and frantic right now.

His words were slurred and his voice was louder than usual.
Even though he was scolding me, the scent of his cologne and the feel of his body heat
made me relax.

“Killian…… thank you……”

The moment I consciously realized that the tension had been lifted, the strength drained
from my body at a ridiculous speed, and I barely managed to get the words out to thank
Killian before I blacked out.

‘When I read Rofan novels, I wondered why the female leads always collapsed like that,
but then I realized that the characters in the Rofan world have tough grueling situations.’

Even through my foggy mind, I grumbled out my complaints.

It’s not fair that I got sick to death from poison, almost died in a yacht accident, and nearly
got killed by a crazy stalker…… Isn’t this really too much?

And when I was blacked out and semi-conscious, that sister announcer’s voice was playing
in my head……

[Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention. The original story has been further damaged. The author’s control has been
severely weakened.]
The fact that I can hear that voice means that I am not yet dead in this world, and I am
happy to hear it.

But there was one thing that was different this time.

‘The author’s control has been severely weakened?’

Haha! That’s it!

Perhaps the author thought that this time he could finally kill me.

Last time, I’d drowned in front of Killian, but this time, I’d been dragged away without his
knowledge.

‘I don’t know how Killian knew and came to my rescue, but it must have been an
unexpected interruption for the author, and if his control has been severely weakened, it
will be hard for him to do it again.’

Killian had gotten more and more distant from his original character by the day, and had
all but given up on Lize.
Perhaps the other characters are breaking free of the author’s grip, too.

‘It’s only a few episodes until my head is cut off…… I don’t think the author is going to do
anything more than this.’

Rather than pushing things too far, he would likely try to make sure I didn’t meet the third
exception condition.

‘I’m still at a disadvantage because I’m still like a cow walking backward to catch a mouse.
But the fact that the author tried to kill me and failed means that the range of conditions
the author can put forward is becoming increasingly narrow.’

I’m not 100% sure about that, but that’s how I’ve always defined my game with the
author, and it’s worked for the most part.

And since I can’t know exactly what’s going on, I have to make assumptions and move
forward.

Yeah, moving forward without stopping.

That’s the only way I could beat the author in this game.
***

[Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention. The original story has been further damaged. The author’s control has been
severely weakened.]

The inorganic, yet friendly voice gently informed him of the current situation.

Of course, K already knew all of this.

‘How can this be? This is ridiculous. How can you survive in that situation?!’

K hadn’t given it a second thought that this was going to fail.

He was backed into a corner, and he’d made up any excuse he could think of.

He’d gotten Duke Ludwig involved to allay Edith’s doubts, and the location of the Millane
Bookstore was cleverly chosen.
He also took a character named Fred, one of the men infatuated with Edith, and gave him
a new characterization: a man who blindly worships Edith’s haughty attitude.

The reason Fred didn’t show up was because he was recuperating at the estate, and the
reason he came back was because he lied to his father with the intention of dying with
Edith.

I could feel the original story creaking and twisting because the character was suddenly
brought, but in this situation where I had no idea when or how the third exception
condition would be met, I had to kill Edith somehow and get the flow back on track.

‘And judging by the fact that Killian showed up there, he is now becoming the male lead
for Edith!’

The original story was getting more and more damaged by the day, and now it was
splitting into Lize Sinclair’s story and Edith Ludwig’s story.

It was a situation that only the author, K, could have known, but it frightened him even
more.

‘I can’t believe Killian is becoming the male lead for Edith! Who the hell made up this
story?’
It was the first time he had ever experienced a story he created being out of his control.

The biggest change was that Killian, who was supposed to be the second male lead, was
gradually becoming the male lead for the thirteenth Edith.

He instinctively sensed that Edith was in danger and rushed to her rescue, stopping at
nothing to save her.

‘Now it’s too late to turn Killian back into Lize’s second male lead; he’s just a supporting
character who’s swayed by Edith and becomes devastated when she dies.’

He was a character I had grown attached to, but if he was going to be a world-shattering
character in Lize’s world, I had to write him off with tears in my eyes.

But the problem is, in order for that to happen, Edith must die.

‘I didn’t expect her to verbally persuade Fred to stop.’

I thought she would panic and scream herself to death, but that was unexpected.

Her calm response managed to influence the most powerful force in this world:
probability, and she was able to postpone her death for a while.

‘I didn’t know Killian would find her in those few minutes. I was too complacent.’
When Killian heard that Edith decided to go with Lize to Le Belle Marie Street, he felt
uneasy about it.

So today, he came to Le-Belle Marie Street without Edith and Lize’s knowledge to find
them.

“Lize, why are you alone? Where’s Edith?”

K was surprised to see Killian suddenly appear and ask Lize about Edith’s whereabouts, but
he assumed he couldn’t change Edith’s death.

“I’ve been looking for her, too, because she suddenly disappeared……”

After making Lize utter that line, K had no intention of revealing where Edith had
disappeared.

So he took it easy.

After all, he’d just been informed that Edith would be dead in three minutes.
‘How can you look for her in this wide Le-Belle Marie? Oh, it’s less than two minutes now.’

K was chuckling to himself when suddenly Anna rushed out, grabbed Killian, and urged
him on.

“The ladies went to the bookstore in the back of that alley, and Miss Lize came out alone;
Miss Edith has disappeared, and though we have been standing near here, Miss Edith has
never come out of that alley!”

Hearing this, Killian and his two knights scoured the alley, and in less than ten minutes
they found her.

In the end, it was Anna who saved Edith’s life.

She had narrowed down the search for Edith tremendously.

‘I let my guard down!’

I don’t know when Anna became such a loyal maid to Edith.

I didn’t realize how much the extras, who didn’t even have names in the original story,
had been influenced by Edith.

That was the defeat of the day.

‘Edith’s narration is already on the same level as the female lead’s.’

It’s a cliché that doesn’t make sense in real life, but is acceptable in a Rofan world, for the
male lead to show up and save the female lead in a moment of crisis.

This is a lucky break only for the female lead.

CHAPTER 94

The kind of luck that would never have happened if Edith was still a ‘villainous supporting
character.’

‘When the hell did it get this big? Damn!

I should have seen it coming when I saw Edith survive the yacht incident last time.

I thought it was because it happened right in front of Killian’s eyes that he was able to
save her, but I didn’t realize it was the kind of ‘luck’ that only happens to the main
characters.
No, I don’t want to admit that this world has a female lead other than Lize.

‘It’s really dangerous now.’

This is no time to keep my pride up.

With this failure, K’s control of Killian had dropped to zero, and the others were down to
about 30%.

If he could muster up all his strength, he might be able to pull off one more attempt to kill
Edith, but the risk of failure was too great.

‘The only thing I can count on now is the third exception condition, and I can’t let her
meet it.’

Things got tricky.

I can’t let Edith meet the third exception condition.

But seeing how Edith fought Fred and struggled to survive, I think I’ll win this time.

Edith is human after all, and I don’t think any human can meet the third condition.
K smiled through clenched teeth.

***

Slowly, my vision brightened.

But I wasn’t awake.

‘I’m dreaming.’

I was having a lucid dream.

There was a dark door in front of me. I looked around and realized I was in some sort of
aristocratic mansion.

‘Where am I?’

I wondered, and someone was coming this way.

‘Count Riegelhoff……?’
It was Count Riegelhoff, who looked a lot younger than he is now.

He stepped in front of me, pulled a key out of his pocket, unlocked the door I was looking
through, and walked in.

I followed him into the room.

“Have you done enough reflection?”

“Yes…… I’m sorry, father……”

Oh……

Bloody hell.

This was not a scene I wanted to see.

Young Edith, who couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen years old, was sobbing,
her cheeks puffy and a nasty bruise under her eye.

“Please forgive me. I’ll never do it again.”

As soon as she saw Count Riegelhoff, she dropped to her knees on the floor, rubbing her
hands together and begging. [1]

[1] It’s not uncommon for Koreans to kneel down and rub their hands together to beg for
forgiveness. They do this because the mistake they made was fatal.

I was sure that no matter what she had done wrong, a girl of her age would not have done
anything to deserve such a beating.

But this family was strict only with Edith, and they would beat her severely for the
slightest mistake.

Count Riegelhoff, who had been staring down at the shivering, crying Edith for a long time,
berated her in an irritated voice.

“Edith. I didn’t ask you to sell your body, all I asked was for you to be a little more cute.
What a disgrace, you missed your chance!”

“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry.”

“That man likes little girls, so I created a situation and opportunity for you, but you wasted
it. Once you miss an opportunity, you won’t get it back!”
“Sorry……”

“Tsk. Useless.”

I wondered what the hell he was trying to get her for, but it turned out he was trying to
get her to be cute in front of a pedophile.

Young and innocent, Edith must have frozen in shame and fear at the situation.

‘That scumbag! What did you do to your daughter?’

I can’t believe it.

I know this is set in a time when women were treated as property of the family, but to do
this to your own child is beyond cruel!

While I was outraged, the scene in front of me changed.

Edith, who appeared to be in her late teens, was walking through the garden with a man
who appeared to be in his late twenties.

He kept looking her up and down

He pointed to a bench under a wisteria tree and smiled. “Shall we sit over there for a
moment?”

Edith smiled brightly at him, then nodded to her escort, who was following her ten paces
away, but the man didn’t seem to notice.

Anyway, the two of them sat down on a bench under a wisteria tree, with the escort
keeping a wary eye on their surroundings from a distance.

“Miss Edith, you look more mature than your years; it is rare to find a young lady of your
age who can carry herself so well.”

“I’m not quite mature yet.”

“What’s wrong with being a little immature? You’re still at the age where you can be cute,
hahaha!”

The man said ‘cute’ and patted Edith’s butt playfully.

But even though he was done talking, he didn’t take his hand off her butt.

Instead, he squeezed it a little harder, pulling her closer to him.

“Lord Valentine, there are many eyes.”

Edith slipped away and glanced in the direction of her escort.

The man licked his lips ruefully.

“Next time we meet, let’s do it without an escort. It’s so frustrating to be seen every
time.”

“You’ll get in trouble with my father if you do, he’s too concerned about my safety.”

“Count Riegelhoff is overprotective of his daughter.”

“That’s because I’m still young.”

Edith smiled sweetly, then changed the subject to the current state of House Valentine’s
affairs.

When she thought she’d gotten all she could out of him, she said she had to go, and her
escort put her in a carriage and drove her back to the Riegelhoff mansion.

But inside the carriage, Edith was shivering all over, wiping her bare skin where the man
had touched her with her handkerchief.
“Dirty…… dirty……”

Her behavior was not normal in any way.

She was in a cold sweat, unable to hold herself still for a moment, and wiping herself
hysterically.

But the moment the carriage stopped and the door opened, Edith stepped out as
expressionless and graceful a Count’s daughter as ever.

‘Count Riegelhoff has completely ruined her!’

My heart broke at the sight of something that could only have happened in a novel.

Strangely, very strangely, the image of Edith kept reminding me of myself in my previous
life.

The original Edith Riegelhoff was a mirror image of Choi Soo-na, who was shaken by all
sorts of anxiety, fear, and self-loathing when she was alone, but appeared to be fine in
front of others.

‘It was Count Riegelhoff who ruined Edith, but who ruined Choi Soo-na?’
I felt like I was going to cry.

Then the scene changed again.

This time, Edith, who had grown to look almost exactly like me, was fidgeting nervously.

‘Huh? Isn’t this…… my room?’

She was sitting in the same room I am currently living in.

‘So this must be the Edith after she married Killian.’

Unsurprisingly, she didn’t look happy at all.

Her cheeks were sunken and the circles under her eyes were dark. Her empty-looking eyes
stared into the air, and her lips were parched and thin.

Beside her lay a letter of unknown origin. The four corners of the letter were frayed and
worn, as if she had taken it out many times.
– Dear Edith.

Sooner or later, our family will declare war on House Ludwig. We will win, of course, but
just in case, we plan to attack the Ludwig mansion as well.

All you have to do is stay quiet and place a simple device on the back door of the mansion
on the day I give the order.

The instructions are easy to follow by looking at the illustrations on the next page.

It’s not a difficult task, so you won’t make any mistakes, will you?

The letter was from Shane, and in her hand was something small and black.

‘That must be the simple device Shane mentioned.’

The device is to be inserted into the hole in the door frame where the door lock goes.

And before my eyes flashed scenes that seemed to be Edith’s memories.

Killian always looked at her with disdain, Killian only smiled fondly at Lize, Killian began to
pretend not to see her at all when Count Riegelhoff declared war on House Ludwig……

A single tear rolled down Edith’s cheek.

“It’s your fault……”

In a hushed voice, Edith blamed Killian.

She sat still for a long time, biting her lip, and when darkness fell, she rose like a ghost and
walked out of the room.

Walking in the dark, she opened the back door of the mansion, slipped the black thing in,
and closed it again.

From the outside, the door appeared to be locked.

Suddenly, the scene changed again.

There was banging, the sound of something breaking, a jumble of screams and yells, and
Shane, sword in hand, was dragging the rebellious Lize out.

“Retreat!”
At his word, the black-clad men who occupied the Ludwig mansion made their way out
the back door.

Edith ran after them in a panic, then suddenly turned around and stared at me.

Unlike before, when she hadn’t recognized me, she was looking straight at me.

“Edith! What are you doing!”

Then, startled by Shane’s shout, she turned and disappeared again.

The dream faded just like that.

‘This is…… what happened that night that I didn’t remember.’

It’s what happened in the original story, and it’s why Killian was so enraged that he
slashed Edith’s throat.

‘But Edith didn’t do it because she wanted to.’

I remember the look in Edith’s eyes as she looked back at me at the end.
It was clearly a look asking for help. It was a desperate, sad plea.

‘Don’t worry, Edith. I’m not going to do anything. I won’t die this time.’

I tried to comfort poor Edith, who was unable to squirm against the forces that oppressed
her.

CHAPTER 95

My eyelids were heavy, but I was slowly waking up.

Edith’s eyes stared at me through the scattered remnants of my dreams, holding on to me

until the very end.

“Mmm……”

I let out a small groan and opened my eyes.

For a moment, I couldn’t think of anything. The only thing I could think about was the man
in front of me, his chest heaving.

‘What happened?’

I rolled my heavy eyes from side to side, searching my memory for the moment when I
was nearly killed by a crazy man.
‘How much time has passed since then?’

I wriggled my body, which had seemed stiff for a while, and the arm on top of me hugged
me even tighter.

“Umm.”

“Edith……?”

Killian’s deep voice called my name.

‘Oh, it’s Killian.’

A huge wave of relief washed over me as I realized I was being held by Killian.

“Edith. Are you awake?”

“Killian……”

“Don’t worry. We’re in the mansion, and you’re safe. It’s okay now……”
Killian’s large hand patted my back.

“How long did I sleep?”

“You slept half a day. Luckily, I don’t think you have a concussion, you just passed out
from exhaustion.”

“I can’t believe you’re sleeping with someone who passed out.”

I nudged Killian, but he looked surprisingly pleased.

“You didn’t let me go.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Because you held on to my clothes even when you were passed out, and you kept
looking for me in your sleep.”

That was odd, because I wasn’t dreaming about Killian.

“Is that so……? I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I want you to keep looking for me like that in the future. You’ll get in
trouble if you call anyone else’s name, so you’d better think of me, even in your dreams.”
I thought he was an obsessive second male lead, but he has a steady personality.

Anyway, he kept patting and stroking my back, trying to reassure me.

I was just enjoying his patting like he was soothing a child. It really made me feel more at
ease.

“What happened……?”

That was all I could think to say.

No matter what, I needed to know what happened.

“What should I say first?”

“Um…… start with how you found me?”

Killian let out a long sigh and patted my back, speaking slowly.

“When you told me you were going out with Lize alone…… I had a bad feeling about it.”
“……that’s interesting. Maybe you have a strong premonition?”

“That’s something I don’t know. Actually, yesterday, Lize asked me about my plans for
today.”

“And?”

“I lied and said I had to go out this morning.”

I was momentarily lost for words.

I couldn’t believe that Killian, the second male lead, was suspicious of Lize enough to lie.

Now this world didn’t seem to be part of the story of “I Refuse Your Obsession.”

“Anyway, I pretended to go to the palace in the morning, then came back and went to Le-
Belle Marie Street with my two knights, trying to pretend we’d run into each other by
accident.”

“Do you think three grown men coming to Le-Belle Marie Street can be called a
‘coincidence’?”
“It didn’t matter what it was.”

I laughed, like a sigh, and then nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“It’s easy to find Lize on Le-Belle Marie, just go where people are glancing.”

Ah, the majesty of the most beautiful woman in the world!

“But as I approached, something was off. I could see Lize and her maid, but…… you and
your maid were nowhere to be seen. When I asked Lize where you were, she said she was
looking for you because you had suddenly disappeared.”

I felt my fingertips go cold.

It was obvious she was lying about my sudden disappearance.

No matter how crowded the bookstore was, it shouldn’t have been hard for Lize to find
me. Besides, I hadn’t wandered off the shelves where we’d first parted ways.

But why did she lie?

“So I was freaking out, and then your maid came running up to me and said you hadn’t
been out there, and she pointed to an alley, and I was able to quickly search through it,
and I found you and that madman in an abandoned house at the very end of the alley.”

“I see……”

“If it wasn’t for that maid, you could have been in big trouble…… no, let’s not talk about
this. It’s horrible.”

I nodded again.

“Do you mind if I ask you this time?”

“Sure.”

“How in the world did you end up there?”

“Hah…… sure. It’s a long story, but I should probably start by telling you why I was in that
alley so there’s no misunderstanding.”

Lize asked me to keep it a secret because she would get in trouble if Cliff found out, but I
don’t think I need to keep it a secret after she lied about my whereabouts and subsequent
disappearance.
I calmly recounted how we’d gone into the bookstore she’d recommended and spent
about an hour picking out books, how she’d disappeared when I’d finished, how I’d gone
outside alone and met that crazy man, how I’d been dragged away by him and no one had
helped me.

Killian didn’t say anything the whole time I was talking. He didn’t even flinch.

He just listened to me without making a sound.

“That’s the surface story of how I ended up in the abandoned house with that guy.”

“……you say that as if there’s another story beneath the surface.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of weird how that man ended up there.”

I was still staring at Killian’s sternum, but somehow I could feel his piercing gaze.

“Tell me.”

“I asked him how he knew I was here, and he said he overheard someone talking at the
tea party. But that was only two days ago, and it was only two days ago that I decided to
go hang out with Lize.”
“Did he say who was talking about that?”

“He asked me what I was going to give him in return for telling me, so I didn’t ask.”

Killian gritted his teeth.

“Whoever it was, that’s very odd. Doesn’t that mean that person knew before you even
decided to go to Le-Belle Marie?”

“Yeah. It’s just a guess, but…… isn’t there someone else who could have predicted that?”

“……you mean Lize.”

I didn’t answer.

Killian didn’t say anything either, just hugged me tightly. If this is unbelievable even to me,
it must be confusing to him as well.

“What happened to the man?”

“I don’t know if this is good news or bad news, but Fred Sicily, who was on a rampage in
prison…… committed suicide two hours ago.”
“What?”

I gasped, looking up.

Killian looked down at me, too, and gave me a mixed expression.

“It’s a good thing in that that lunatic can’t hurt you again, but it’s a shame that the chance
to get to the bottom of the case is gone.”

“I guess we’ll never know who he overheard at the tea party.”

Killian nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.

“I’m sorry I blamed you then…… I was so freaked out and nervous that I didn’t realize……
no, no, no, it was just my fault.”

I remember him scooping me up into a princess hug and getting angry that this was all my
karma for going around flirting with random guys.

I was about to say it was okay, but Killian continued, “I don’t know why whenever I stand
in front of you, mean things come out of my mouth. I guess I’ve made it a habit to blame
you. I’m sorry.”
I chuckled softly.

Not long ago, I had cleared up my misunderstandings about Killian.

I think I know why he did that.

“It’s not your fault, Killian.”

“Sure, the people who made up the rumors about you and spread them are the worst, but
I’m just as culpable for believing them and treating you badly.”

‘No. You were just being controlled by the author. How does a mere character stand up to
his creator?’

And I think you’re pretty much free of the author’s grip now, and it’s all thanks to me, of
course.

But I can’t explain this stuff, so I just nodded.

Suddenly, Killian playfully twirled my hair around his fingers.

“By the way.”

Hmmm. That’s a rather ominous opening……

“I’ve been checking your ‘luggage’ that your maid packed.”

My God……

“I didn’t realize you liked such provocative books.”

“Haha…… that’s…… ahem! I mean……”

“Well, I guess you have a lot of different tastes. You have one about a princess being
whipped by her own escort, and another about a countess who makes men kneel at her
feet……”

“T- that’s because…… I don’t know what type you like!”

I couldn’t say I was an omnivore who could read anything, so I said anything as an excuse,
but the hand twirling my hair stopped.

“So what you’re saying is…… that you bought those books for reference when you spend
the night with me?”

“W- what, for reference? Yes, for reference……!”

Then Killian began to chuckle. “You’re a surprisingly studious type, I like that, but……”

His large hand on my back slowly slid down.

“I tend to prefer the practical application, so……”

My whole body tensed up at the slow roam of his hand over my body.

“I hope you get well soon. Because I want to put the theory you’ve learned into practice.”

CHAPTER 96

I’m fine right now, but if I say so, it’ll seem like I’m getting too excited, right? I mean, to
want that as soon as you open your eyes after you almost died is kind of……

Too bad, but I nodded for now.

Killian must have noticed my feelings, because he leaned in and kissed me softly.

“You never know, but you’ll probably be sore all over when you wake up, and you’ve got a
bump on your head from the fall, so you’ll have to be careful for a while. I want to do it so
badly, but……”
“I- I- I didn’t say anything……”

“You look a little wistful.”

Killian smirked again.

If you’re going to do this, don’t provoke me. Sheesh.

***

“Argh! Nothing really works out!”

Leila was pacing frantically, unable to control herself.

She threw everything she could get her hands on, crushed the flowers arranged this
morning, and screamed at the maids.

Every time Leila flared up, the maids would run out to find Damien in tears.
It wasn’t pleasant for Damien, who was dragged along every time, but he had no choice or
the maids would quit.

Damien shouted in an irritated voice, “Why again?!”

Leila, her hair disheveled in a way unbecoming of a noblewoman, turned to look at him.

“I think that bitch Edith is using some kind of…… witchcraft or something.”

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

“If not, how can she be so lucky?”

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

Finally, Leila’s anger subsided and she flopped down on the couch.

Meanwhile, the maids began to clean up the mess.

“Do you know that Edith Riegelhoff almost died?”

“Almost drowned?”
“Not that one. Recently.”

“No. I’ve never heard of it.”

Leila gulped down the cold tea the maid handed her, then spoke again, “The man who was
crazy about her almost killed her.”

Leila told Damien, who looked even more puzzled, everything that had happened.

From the night she’d gotten the letter with the unknown sender to the plan to kill Edith
that had been delivered by someone on behalf of the Ludwigs.

“She really almost died this time, and then, oh my God…… Killian showed up and saved
her again. Can you believe it?”

Damien frowned at Leila, who shook her head in disbelief.

“So what you’re saying is, you don’t know exactly who sent you the letter?”

“Does that matter now?”

“Of course it matters, you idiot, it could have been a trap!”

Damien berated Leila sharply.

It was a shame, because the plan was really designed for Edith but it would have been a
disaster if it had been a trap to prey on Leila.

But Leila paid no heed to her brother’s advice.

“Anyway, it’s not like I did anything special. I just went to the Sicily family’s tea party and
spilled a few words next to that gross man.”

“Spilled what?”

“That Edith would be stopping by the Millane Bookstore on Le-Belle Marie Street around
noon in two days.”

Damien mulled over Leila’s description of the situation, then asked again, “What
happened to that Fred Sicily?”

“He committed suicide.”

“Suicide? Any chance someone had a hand in it?”

“I thought so at first, too, but the guy was even crazier than I thought. He said that if he
killed himself, Edith would remember him forever.”

“Ha……!”

Damien shook his head at the absurdity of the story.

“By the way, are you sure that the people you met to explain the plan to you are those
who work for the Ludwigs?”

“Yes. She wore the badge of the Ludwig, and the knight’s uniform also belonged to
Ludwig.”

“But they could be fake.”

“So what if it’s fake? The information they gave me was solid, and Edith was almost killed.
It’s annoying that they know my identity but it’s was offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Well, no one would want to impersonate Ludwig’s servant while doing such a risky thing.

“Then…… could it be that Duke Ludwig himself ordered them?”

“What?”
“Cliff isn’t interested in her, and Killian didn’t seem to hate her enough to try to kill her
right away, but if it’s Duke Ludwig, that’s a different story.”

At the mention of Duke Ludwig, Leila’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Do you remember the other day when father and I went to talk to him about the iron ore
distribution rights?”

“Yes!”

“Maybe Duke Ludwig wants to get rid of Edith Riegelhoff, because he doesn’t need her
anymore.”

“Really?”

“It’s a guess, but it’s pretty plausible, don’t you think? Who else would want to get rid of
Edith Riegelhoff at this point?”

Count Riegelhoff, who had publicly sided with Archduke of Langston at the National Day
ball, the iron ore distribution rights he no longer wished for, and the useless Edith
Riegelhoff.
“You’re right, my brother. There is no need for Duke Ludwig to keep Edith with him any
longer.”

“On the contrary, if Count Riegelhoff were to join the treason, he would be in trouble for
keeping Edith under his protection, so this is a very good thing for you.”

Leila looked pleased for a moment, then stamped her foot in frustration.

“It would have been so much better if that bitch Edith had died!”

“There’s nothing to be gained by dwelling on the past; sooner or later, after our family
gets the iron ore distribution rights, we’ll have to go see Duke Ludwig again to report. You
should come along too and make a good impression.”

“Great, then I guess I’ll just have to take good care of my skin until then, huh?”

Damien chuckled at his sister, who was instantly in a better mood.

Now that they were taking away everything that Count Riegelhoff had, his sister could
take away the position of Killian Ludwig’s wife.

‘It would be better if it was the position of Cliff’s wife, but…… there’s a good chance that
Lize will be the one to take it. However, if we can persuade Lize well, things will go our
way. It’s only a matter of time before House Ludwig becomes House Sinclair’s best ally.’
Damien clenched his fists as he envisioned a future where House Sinclair would be the
most powerful of the Count families.

***

I may be too young to use the phrase “Live long and see what happens” [1], but for the
first time since I fell into this world, mine and Lize’s positions have been reversed.

[1] If you live long enough, you’ll see a lot of different things or you’ll have a lot of
different experiences.

What happened on Le-Belle Marie Street made me suspect Lize.

It’s really a “Live long and see what happens” situation.

“What did she say?”

I genuinely wondered.
Pure curiosity overrode any feelings of dislike or resentment.

I wanted to know what kind of setting the author had put her in that caused the good Lize
to drive me to my death.

“Lize said she couldn’t find you in the bookstore.”

“What? The bookstore itself isn’t that big, although the shelves were cluttered, and it’s
not like I was moving around. You can find the owner and ask him about that.”

“I’ve already investigated the owner, and she remembers you quite well. She said that
while you were paying for the books, you asked her if she had seen the other girl who
came with you……”

“That’s right, I couldn’t find Lize either.”

Killian smiled bitterly and nodded. “Lize said she went to the bookstore and looked for a
book, but she felt embarrassed and left. She said she felt like she had committed a sin so
she rushed out anxiously and forgot to look for you.”

“W- what? She felt embarrassed and sinful? That’s ridiculous! It was Lize who took me to
the bookstore!”
“Maybe she said that because she was in front of Cliff. Cliff seemed to be displeased with
Lize even reading romance novels.”

“It’s between us but…… I think that’s a bit too much.”

“I agree. Cliff is crazy, no different than the guy who attacked you.”

I agree with Killian here.

“My father is blaming himself, and Lize keeps crying that it’s her fault. They’ve stopped
eating and drinking…… and Cliff said he wants you to comfort my father and Lize.”

“I almost died, and I’m supposed to go comfort them?”

“Cliff asked me to tell you, but I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to
do. If you don’t want to, just tell me. I’ll take care of it from my end.”

It’s kind of annoying.

I was thinking that either Duke Ludwig or Lize was involved in this.

But I have to comfort the person who probably almost killed me……? How does that make
sense?
‘But if I refuse, they’ll say something bad about me again, almost certainly.’

Now that I’ve gotten used to the system of this world, I can see how things are going.

This had to be a ploy by the author to tarnish my reputation.

Ha…… if I don’t go, it will be said that I went too far again. What can I do? I should go and
talk to Lize.

I immediately sent a message to Duke Ludwig and Lize that I would be visiting them.

It’s kind of funny that we live in the same house but I have to leave a message every time I
visit.

Ten minutes later, I was greeted by a somber-looking Duke of Ludwig.

“Are you feeling well?” he asked.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” I said, “thank you for your concern, and I’m very sorry that
something you’ve put your mind to has come to this.”
“I should have sent more escorts, no matter what anyone says, but I was too careless.”

He was genuinely sorry, unable to look me in the eye.

CHAPTER 97

“By the way, Your Excellency…… did you ever mention to anyone else that you suggested
that Lize and I go out?”

“Who would I say such a thing to?”

Admittedly, it was hard to imagine the tiger-like Duke talking about his daughter-in-law
and future daughter-in-law with anyone around.

‘Besides, it was Lize who took me directly to the Millane Bookstore, so…… no, no, no, they
could be accomplices.’

I observed the Duke closely until the end, then bowed politely and left.

Then I went to see Lize, who was lying in bed, looking even more pale than I was.

“E- Edith!”

Lize greeted me with a guilty look, tears pooling in her large eyes.

Beside her stood Cliff, his brow furrowed.

“Are you okay, Lize?”

“I- I’m fine…… but because of me…… sob…… I’m sorry, I really didn’t see that coming.”

“Who would have expected such an accident? I mean, it’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”

I smiled, wiping Lize’s sweaty forehead with the handkerchief beside me.

If anyone were to look at her, they’d think she was the one who almost died. She looks
very unwell.

‘Was it such a shock that I almost died? Well, I’d be shocked if someone I went out with
almost got killed by a stalker.’

I decided to be generous and assume that a normal person would be shocked.

But I still have a question.

“Lize, by any chance, did you plan in advance to go with me to Le-Belle Marie?”

“No! When the Duke asked me to go shopping with you, it just popped into my head,
because Le-Belle Marie is the only place I know.”
“Is that so?”

Cliff’s gaze toward me was becoming colder.

His mouth has been smiling since a while ago, but his eyes seem to have a thin layer of ice.

“You mean you never told anyone?”

“Never.”

“Okay. I’m not hurt, and the person who did this to me killed himself after he went on a
rampage, so…… now dust yourself off and get up.”

I patted Lize on the shoulder and stood up.

Lize pushed herself to her feet, her face as if asking if I was done with my business.

“Edith…… are you sure…… you’re okay?”

“Hmm…… the fear of almost dying doesn’t go away quickly, but with Killian by my side……
I’m trying to get through it.”
“Sob…… I’m sorry.”

“Lize. Don’t cry, Lize. You don’t have to feel so guilty for something you didn’t do on
purpose. Hm?”

I said it playfully, but if Lize was the culprit, or if the author who created this whole
situation was watching, they would get the meaning behind it.

‘I mean, you’re crying because you have your own reasons.’

As I stood up to leave, Cliff was glaring at me, his polite smile gone.

“You made it sound like Lize put you in danger on purpose.”

“When did I?”

“Your words, your every word. Is that all you can say to Lize who is shaking with guilt over
something as small as going to the bookstore together and not finding you and leaving
first?”

Cliff, being the male lead he is, will be the knight who protects Lize until the end.

So even in a situation where Lize is the suspicious one, he glares at me fiercely.

“Cliff, don’t! Please don’t! Don’t do that! Sob……”

Lize grabbed Cliff, almost begging him.

It’s a sight I don’t understand at all.

Not Cliff standing up for Lize, but Lize overreacting to something like this.

It’s as if she’s doing everything in her power to make herself look like a victim. Either that,
or she knows something and is afraid.

But first, I have to reply to Cliff.

“Is that all you can say to me, Cliff? I was the one who almost got killed, and this is the first
time I’ve seen you since it happened, and you haven’t said a word to me about whether
I’m okay?”

Cliff’s eyes widened, as if surprised by the unexpected counterattack.

But he did not give up.

“Think of all the cases you’ve been a suspect in, and Lize never once blamed you!”
“I didn’t blame Lize either, and that’s something you can point out to Lize or me, but not
an excuse for your rudeness, Cliff!”

Only then did Cliff shut up. Of course, he didn’t apologize to me.

“I know you still think I’m the evil woman of the rumors, but I don’t have anything against
you or Lize. The reason I asked Lize wasn’t to blame her, but to find out how that man
could have appeared there.”

Even if I said this, Cliff wouldn’t stop being suspicious and wary of me. Cliff was like that
from the beginning.

On the outside, he’s easygoing and generous, but on the inside, he’s wary of anyone who
could compromise Lize’s well-being. Because he’s the male lead.

I had enough of Cliff and turned to Lize.

“Lize, I think you’re more shocked by the fact that I almost died twice in such a short time,
but don’t worry too much, it’s not like it’s going to happen again.”

“Yes……?”

Lize, her cheeks wet with tears, stared at me in confusion. Cliff stared at me warily,
waiting to see what else I would say to hurt her.
But I simply stated my prediction.

“It’s just, it doesn’t make sense that this happens so often.”

I don’t know how much power the author has left to control this world, if any.

“So don’t worry about it too much, and take care of yourself, Lize. You’re worrying Cliff.”

“Yeah…… thank you, Edith. Thank you.”

Lize wiped her cheeks and smiled weakly.

Yes, you are pretty when you smile.

So keep smiling like an angel like that, and stay put. Please.

***
The incident in which I was nearly killed by Fred Sicily was quietly buried thanks to Killian’s
hard work.

Apparently, Fred’s rampage in prison before his death resulted in the need to rein in the
mouths of the soldiers guarding his cell, which Viscount Sicily was quick to do.

It hadn’t been a day or two since Fred had become the family’s headache because of
Edith, so the Viscount of Sicily, assuming that Fred had gone off on a tangent once again,
paid the soldiers to silence them.

‘Well, he’s not wrong.’

The Viscount Sicily could hardly mourn his son’s death, for if word got out, it would
damage him more than it would the Ludwig family.

Perhaps he thought it was a good thing he was dead.

‘It’s a shame there’s no way to find out who Fred overheard.’

Lize was the most likely suspect, but given that the author was involved in this, the list of
suspects grows.
It’s not just the ever-suspect Count Sinclair or Count Riegelhoff.

When I think of all the young ladies who glared at me during the ball, I can’t count on both
hands the number of people who wanted me dead.

Maybe the author made it sound like a hallucination to Fred Sicily’s ears.

While speculation about who might have tipped off my whereabouts raged, the situation
was changing rapidly.

Count Riegelhoff, who had openly shown his support for Archduke Langston at the
National Day ball, had completely reversed his position as an imperialist and ally of Duke
Ludwig. Now Count Riegelhoff is a representative of the Langston faction.

He began to make small complaints to Duke Ludwig, with whom he had been closely
involved in business.

‘It’s about to come to a head.’

At this point in his confrontation with Duke Ludwig, Count Riegelhoff had crossed the river
of no return.

‘It’s a train to the netherworld without brakes.’

It’s all well and good for you to live your short lives with passion, but I don’t want to be on
that train.

But my will has no effect on the flow of the story.

An ominous letter, like a first-class express ticket to the netherworld, arrived that night.

‘W- w- what is that?!’

I was awakened from a light sleep by a strange noise that went tap, tap, tap, and I
watched in disbelief as a black shadow outside my window pushed something through the
window frame and disappeared.

‘Is there an episode like this in the original story?’

I thought back to the original story and realized that there must have been an episode like
this.

‘Maybe it’s Shane’s letter to Edith……’

I had seen it in my dreams.

Shane’s letter was still fresh in my mind as he sent me a strange device to install on the
back door of the mansion.

It was a letter that didn’t show the slightest concern for his sister’s well-being.

I took a deep breath and slowly walked over to the window and picked up the letter from
the floor.

I tore open the envelope without a letter knife and pulled out the letter inside.

– Sooner or later, you will be abandoned by the Ludwigs.

It’s all your fault for failing to fulfill your role and betraying your family, but you are still a
Riegelhoff, so I’m giving you one last chance.

If you wish to be Edith Riegelhoff again, hang a yellow ribbon on your window.

Death is the only fate for the unrepentant.

The sender of the letter was unknown, but it was obvious who had sent it.

‘It must be Shane, under orders from Count Riegelhoff.’

Every line, every word of the letter is full of lies, falsehoods, and deceit.

CHAPTER 98

‘Why is it my fault that I’m being dumped here? It’s your fault for sending me out here to
do this, you bastards.’

Edith in the original story must have grown up receiving this kind of brainwashing all her
life.

The only thing I’m grateful for about my parents in my previous life is that they were
rather indifferent to me.

I have to take care of myself, look after my brother, and help the family. Otherwise, I’m an
ungrateful person. If they had brainwashed me, I would have lived a much more miserable
life.

‘Then I would have been at the mercy of Count Riegelhoff even after I was reincarnated as
Edith.’

I shuddered at the thought.

I took the letter and approached the fireplace, poking around the ashes with the fireplace
poker.

There were still embers, so I held the letter over them and burned it.

‘It was a letter that would have been better off as firewood.’

When I was satisfied that the letter was completely burnt, I tapped it several times with
the poker to reduce it to ashes. With a long yawn, I returned to my bed and lay down.

I wondered how to avoid arousing suspicion by suggesting that the mansion’s window
security should be strengthened.

The next day, while I was still in a bad mood because of the letter from the Riegelhoffs, an
unexpected and unwelcome guest announced a visit.

“Count Sinclair says he will be visiting this Friday.”

Killian’s brow furrowed in displeasure as he delivered the news.

“Why?”
“He wants to see my father and talk business for next year, I think it’s about the iron ore
distribution rights, but who knows, maybe it’s because Lize has gotten some attention at
the National Day ball.”

Yeah, I think that’s what happened in the original story.

At the National Day ball, with the Ludwig family’s treasure around her neck, Cliff as her
partner, and Catherine’s support, Lize becomes a social hot potato.

When Count Sinclair realized that Lize, whom he thought he had sold well, was worth far
more than he had realized, he approached Duke Ludwig to claim parental rights.

‘It was, of course, futile.’

Count Sinclair had already signed an agreement to relinquish all rights to Lize when he
gave her to Duke Ludwig in exchange for a debt of 30 million sennas.

Duke Ludwig is not a man to be trifled with, and there’s no way he’s going to be fooled by
the ‘A thousand miles between parent and child’ line.

“How is Lize?”

On my last visit, Lize was still shivering in her room. This time, she was probably even
more frightened.
“She says she’s okay, but I don’t know if she is. She’s not looking too good, and Cliff is with
her right now trying to comfort her.”

In the original story, Killian also became Lize’s protector and kept Count Sinclair’s bullshit
at bay, but now Killian is by my side, not hers.

While I’m grateful for this change in reality, I still can’t help but feel like my life is a lantern
in the wind.

‘I hope I can keep Killian’s favor from waning until the last possible moment.’

I prayed fervently that I could make it through the coming winter and into next spring.

***

“It’s been a long time, Your Excellency.”

Count Sinclair greeted Duke Ludwig warmly as he entered the room.

The brown-haired, lean man looked younger than his years, but still somewhat wizened.

‘Just by looking at the impression, it’s hard to believe that he is Lize’s father.’

Duke Axel Ludwig coughed as he remembered the angelic Lize.

“It’s been a while, Count.”

“Yes, I had to miss the National Day ball this time due to some business on the estate. Did
my children say hello to you at the ball?”

“Of course, haha.”

The Duke glanced at the Count’s children that he had brought with him.

Bringing Damien, the eldest, was understandable, but bringing his daughter, Leila, was
odd.

Honestly, it was Countess Sinclair and her children who mistreated Lize, especially Leila,
and Duke Ludwig was not pleased to have her here.

But Leila was smiling at the Duke. One would think that the Duke and Leila were already
acquainted.
“What brings you here today?”

Duke Ludwig cut short his lengthy greeting and got to the point.

Count Sinclair flashed him a broad smile and sipped his tea.

“I’m not sure which story I should begin with, so as not to raise any misunderstandings, so
shall I begin with, um…… Count Riegelhoff?”

“What? Why are you bringing up Count Riegelhoff all of a sudden?”

“I know why you had Sir Killian marry the daughter of Count Riegelhoff, Duke. It’s for the
iron ore distribution rights, isn’t it?”

There were a lot of little reasons attached to it, but the most important one was the iron
ore rights.

It would be a problem if Count Riegelhoff, who controlled the largest distributor of the
raw material from which blades could be made, aligned himself with Archduke Langston.

But the external reason was simply ‘strengthening the alliance’, and Duke Ludwig couldn’t
help but nod.
“It’s not just that……”

“I’m not here to question the reason, but rather to lighten your burden.”

Count Sinclair’s face was filled with confidence.

“When we last visited, I only vaguely mentioned that we were likely to obtain the
distribution rights to the iron ore, but now it is all but confirmed.”

“Where’s the iron ore from?”

“Latis, up north. You know that iron ore has been discovered there, don’t you?”

“I am aware. But I thought it would take quite a while for the mine to be developed.”

“No. Count Morento, the lord of Latis, lied because he was afraid that Latis would become
a battleground.”

Duke Ludwig stopped sipping his tea and looked at Count Sinclair with a surprised face.

“Then……!”
“Count Morento’s terms were demanding, but for the next ten years, starting next year,
we, the Sinclairs, will have the right to distribute the iron ore of Latis.”

The iron ore from Latis was already known for its quality, so to have the right to distribute
it under the Sinclair family was a game changer for the Sinclairs.

Especially for the Sinclair family, who have interests related to iron ore rather than mining
rights or gem distribution, in line with the Ludwig family, who hold military positions. Then
the Sinclairs would finally have the power to be a rival to the Riegelhoffs.

‘But where did Count Sinclair get his money from……?’

As far as Duke Ludwig knew, Count Sinclair’s finances weren’t much better than before.

The Count, sensing the Duke’s suspicion, laughed.

“Of course, I’ve had a little help from the imperial coffers, but I’m not defrauding the
Duke; it’s the distribution rights I’ve been able to get because I’ve agreed to give Count
Morento a third of the distribution profits.”

Thirty percent of distribution profits is a hefty price to pay.

For Count Morento, it would be like making a fortune while sitting still.
“I congratulate you on securing the distribution rights to the iron ore of Latis. But why are
you telling me about it?” asked the Duke, trying to sound nonchalant again.

The reason Count Sinclair mentioned Count Riegelhoff before he made it clear that he had
gotten the iron ore distribution rights was obvious.

Now the Duke understands why the Count brought his daughter Leila Sinclair here.

“Your Excellency the Duke of Ludwig. The Riegelhoffs can no longer be called imperialists,
nor are they allies of the Ludwigs.”

“Hmm……”

On that, the Duke agreed. Probably all of the nobles present at the National Day ball knew
that.

“Only Your Excellency and Sir Killian suffered greatly from Count Riegelhoff’s tricks. If it
weren’t for the alliance, he wouldn’t dare to match his daughter with Sir Killian.”

“Ha, that’s……”

The Duke was at a loss for words. Everything was as Count Sinclair had said.
“My poor judgment caused Killian to suffer greatly.”

“Count Riegelhoff is a cunning man, Your Excellency must have known that, but who
would have thought he would betray you, even with his daughter as a hostage, and yet he
pretended to care so much for her outside.”

“Indeed.”

The Duke shook his head and sipped his tea again. His insides felt like they were burning.

“Speaking of which……”

The Count leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly, “How long do you intend on keeping
that worthless hostage?”

So that’s what he’s all about, the Duke thought.

“She’s already married to my son, so what can I do?”

“It’s not the time to insist on such benevolent thoughts, Your Excellency, lest you end up
falling prey to Count Riegelhoff’s machinations.”
Count Sinclair was poking at Duke Ludwig’s sore spot.

“Isn’t Count Riegelhoff the very force you’ll one day have to deal with as well as Archduke
Langston, and yet you choose to let Edith Riegelhoff remain in House Ludwig? Is that the
right way to go about it?”

When Count Sinclair hit the part that was already bothering him, a deep furrow appeared
between Duke Ludwig’s eyebrows.

It was then that Leila spoke up.

CHAPTER 99

“Edith Riegelhoff thinks of House Ludwig as her purse. She said that if she and Sir Killian
divorce, she’ll get a huge mansion and a big alimony check, and that she has nothing to
complain about.”

“What?”

“That’s what Miss Edith herself told me at the National Day ball. I’m not the only one who
heard it, so you can look into it.”

If you listen to the story without the details, it sounds like Edith has been spreading
rumors like that all over the place.
The Duke had been feeling sorry for Edith as of late, but to hear her say such a thing at a
time when Count Riegelhoff was causing him so much trouble, he felt a surge of betrayal
and clenched his molars.

But he didn’t show his feelings hastily. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, after
all, that’s what it says in the contract I signed myself when they got married.”

Again, the Count spoke up, “How long are you going to put up with this cunning, insolent
creature who takes after her father? Count Riegelhoff is no longer with you, and I can
provide you with a solid iron ore distribution network. You know what that means, don’t
you?”

The marriage was made for iron ore distribution rights and an alliance, and since those
two conditions have already lost their meaning, shouldn’t the marriage be broken?

“Hmm……”

Even so, when the Duke didn’t respond, Leila hesitantly spoke up with a pained
expression.

“It’s because of Lize…… isn’t it? Because I was mean to her in the past……”

The words hit the nail on the head, and the Duke turned his gaze to Leila.
“I was too young and immature then, and I was jealous because she was beautiful…… but
I’m not now, and she’s my sister after all.”

Leila pretended to reflect on her past with a sad expression, but the Duke made no
response to that either.

He knew that Leila Sinclair was the source of all the malicious rumors about Lize that had
been circulating for some time.

‘But it’s also true that we need an iron ore distribution network, because sooner or later
we’ll need to place another large order for weapons like swords and spears……’

Of course, the iron ore of the empire would not be controlled by just two families, but
Count Riegelhoff and Count Sinclair have the largest distribution network.

As the Duke thought about it, he was bothered by Killian’s demeanor lately.

‘He seems to be trying to keep Edith by his side, but…… should I tell him to let go of her
now?’

As a duke who doesn’t know the details of what goes on in the mansion, he doesn’t know
exactly how Killian feels.
But he believes that Killian is not in love with Edith. Compared to the Killian who was in
love with Lize, the Killian of today is more of a bluntness towards Edith.

“Hmm, It’s far too early to talk about this. It’s not as if Count Riegelhoff has completely
betrayed me, and it’s not as if I have any control over Killian’s marriage, but I do
understand what you’re trying to say.”

Count Sinclair backed down, albeit with some regret.

“Of course, I didn’t mean for you to decide on the matter of Sir Killian’s marriage right
now, either. Rather, I was just stopping by to assure you that we have the iron ore
distribution rights, so you don’t have to worry too much, Duke.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to deal with Archduke Langston’s faction in a more
measured manner.”

“Hahaha, I’m glad I could be of help.”

They ended the conversation in a friendly mood.

***
Upon hearing the news of the arrival of Count Sinclair, Cliff purposely took Lize out while
Killian and I stayed in the parlor with the Duchess.

The Duchess said, “They’ll probably come out here for a little talk before heading back.”

The Duchess also seemed less than pleased with Count Sinclair’s visit.

After all, this was a family that had harassed Lize, whom she considered a daughter, and
was still harassing her with a steady stream of malicious rumors.

Killian was no different. “I don’t know how thick the faces of shameless humans are, I wish
I could skin them and see.”

He said it in a hushed tone, and I got goosebumps because I knew he could really do it if
he set his mind to it.

‘Come to think of it, killing Edith with a single slash of the sword across her throat is quite
merciful in the original story, at least she isn’t tortured.’

Maybe the original Killian feels some kind of compassion for Edith.
……or because he has to quickly kill all the Riegelhoffs and their people.

While I was pondering these zero-productivity thoughts, the Duke entered the parlor with
Count Sinclair and his children.

The Duchess, who had been looking displeased until just now, greeted them with a smile
as bright and benevolent as ever.

“I hope you haven’t had too much tea,” she said, “because I’ve prepared an abundance of
refreshments.”

At the Duchess’ gesture, the waiting maids set the tea and refreshments on the table.

The black tea steams up fragrantly, and the freshly baked scones with heavy cream and
strawberry jam look absolutely delicious.

But Leila, seated across from me, seems to be more busy staring at Killian than at the
delectable refreshments.

I understand, of course.

Even if it were me, I’d spend the whole time here looking at Killian before going home. I
wouldn’t even blink.
The mood at tea time wasn’t bad.

Killian remained expressionless the entire time, but the Duke and Duchess are more
socialized people, so they led the conversation with their dignity.

But I felt out of the loop and on the periphery of the conversation.

I don’t know if it was intentional or unavoidable, but the topics of conversation were all
about things from the past that I didn’t know about.

I didn’t think it would be helpful to chime in anyway, so I just smiled quietly and sipped my
tea, and somehow made eye contact with Leila.

Contrary to my expectation that she would only give me a quick glance, Leila smiled
brightly and said, “I am sorry, Miss Edith…… but I need to wash my hands.”

She must have needed to use the restroom.

I could have called a maid to take her, but she seemed to have something to say to me, so
I stood up.

“Please come this way.”

“Thank you.”
Leila followed behind me, her expression quite different from when she was at the
National Day ball.

As soon as we entered the hallway to the restroom, she stopped in her tracks and burst
out laughing.

“You hide your true colors very well when you’re inside the Ludwig mansion, huh?”

Expecting some sort of fight, I replied, “I’ve been thinking since last time, Miss Leila, that
you might want to take a look at yourself before saying anything to anyone else.”

“Ha…… what are you talking about?”

“‘I am sorry, Miss Edith, but I need to wash my hands.'” I repeated her words, mimicking
Leila’s innocent expression.

Leila’s face quickly turned red. “We’ll see how long you can keep up that haughty
demeanor. Oh, and by the way, did you hear that my family got the rights to distribute
iron ore from the north?”

“I didn’t know, I’m not interested.”

“Well, since you’re not interested in the way the world works, I suppose you really didn’t.
You do realize that it was the Riegelhoffs’ iron ore distribution rights that allowed you to
marry Sir Killian, right?”

She looks so excited, I can’t believe she’s been waiting all this time to show it off to me.

“It’s not until next year that my family gets the iron ore distribution rights, that’s your
expiration date for your position.”

“An expiration date you say……?”

Leila raised her brow at my snarky tone.

“You see, Duke Ludwig had no choice but to take you as his daughter-in-law because of
the alliance and the iron ore distribution rights, but the alliance is already broken, so what
good are the Riegelhoffs’ iron ore distribution rights? And yet my family, an ally of House
Ludwig, got the iron ore distribution rights. Do you really have no idea what this means?”

I let out a long sigh.

“What is Killian’s opinion?”

“Pfft, my goodness, Miss Edith. How could you say something like that? You’re the one
who forced Sir Killian to marry you against his wishes!”
“So, you’re going to do it this time?”

I felt like I could understand Killian a little bit when he first married me.

How disgusted he must be to have a wife in such a way.

Especially since it meant giving up his love for Lize……

“The restroom’s over there, you’re not stupid enough to lose your way back to the parlor,
are you?”

I pointed nonchalantly toward the end of the hallway.

Apparently not pleased with my condescending attitude, Leila glared at me with the same
venomous glare she had during the National Day ball.

“I’m sure Sir Killian would be happy to divorce you.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean he’ll accept marriage to you.”

“That’s something you don’t know.”

“I know, and don’t look down on Killian Ludwig.”

Don’t make fun of the time I spent trying to change his mind!

“You can wash your hands now.”

I waved and walked toward the parlor, not even looking at Leila.

Even without looking back, I could see Leila gritting her teeth.

But turning away from her, I didn’t feel much better.

‘So this is how it goes……’

I sighed.

On the other hand, I also felt a little bit unfair.

‘No matter what, the Sinclairs are Lize’s main enemies, so is it okay for the story to be
twisted like this?’

In the original story, Duke Ludwig mercilessly tramples on the face of Count Sinclair, who
belatedly realizes Lize’s value and claims parental rights without shame.
CHAPTER 100

Leila, who continues to spread malicious rumors about Lize, is disgraced and her
reputation eventually sinks in social circles.

Suddenly, they have a change of heart, recognizing Lize as Cliff’s wife and targeting Killian
instead.

As I pondered this, I realized something in hindsight.

‘Oh, Edith in the original isn’t even in a position to be attacked. Cliff and Killian both have
their eyes on Lize, which is why she is the only one being attacked!’

But it’s different now.

It would be easier for them to attack me, who has no hill to climb [1], and take a seat next
to Killian, rather than mess with Lize, who appears to be under the Ludwigs’ protection.

[1] Don’t have someone to rely on.

‘Well, then, it’s just a matter of probability.’

And unfortunately, the Sinclairs’ offer created an excellent opportunity for me to fall.

‘Even if I were the Duke, I would still prefer Leila to me.’

There was nothing more to be gained from the Riegelhoffs.

Edith Riegelhoff’s value had already hit rock bottom.

‘Besides, if the Riegelhoffs get into trouble any time soon…… the Sinclairs’ offer will look
very appealing.’

The back of my head was throbbing.

‘I could be divorced even if Killian doesn’t slit my throat.’

Nothing is going to be easy.

It’s not just about saving my life anymore.

Of course, if I do get divorced, I won’t have to worry about money. I’ll have a nice mansion
and a generous alimony payment, just like I said at the National Day ball.

‘But……’

I took a deep breath and walked back into the parlor.

Killian, who hadn’t even looked my way until I approached, leaned in and whispered as I
took my seat.

“Can’t she go to the restroom by herself? Why didn’t you just ask the maid to do it?”

“Still, she’s a guest.”

“You’re being too nice.”

Killian smiled and muttered something that I couldn’t tell was a reproach or a compliment.

The smile that curved his lips looked so sweet.

Seeing that, I came to the realization that I was being greedy.

‘Now, more than the mansion and the money, I want…… Killian.’

Where will the survival story of a villainess who deviates from her principles lead?

‘I wonder, too, really.’

I gulped down my tea to stop myself from sighing.

***

Count Riegelhoff, who had been quiet since the National Day ball, had suddenly declared a
territorial war against House Ludwig.

When Killian dropped by my room to tell me the news with a worried look, I felt a chill run
down my spine, even though I had expected it.

‘Ah, finally……’

The moment I had been dreading had come.

A territorial war against House Ludwig is the same as declaring House Riegelhoff digging
its own grave.

How could a Count who only has money think of declaring territorial war against a Duke
hailed as a war hero……
‘Maybe he believes in the troops that Archduke Langston has, but there’s a whole imperial
family behind Duke Ludwig, you fool!’

Of course, when there’s a territorial war between nobles, the imperial family must remain
neutral.

But search all of history, and you will not find an imperial family that has remained
perfectly neutral.

‘Besides, even without the imperial family’s help, the Duke of Ludwig’s troops are no joke.’

I’ve never seen them with my own eyes, but the author of “I Refuse Your Obsession” has
described well enough, how badly Count Riegelhoff got defeated in the territorial war.

The territorial war was also a prelude to making Archduke Langston the Emperor, so he
was eventually executed without being able to avoid the stigma of being a traitor.

“What’s the reason?”

Killian shrugged in response to my question about their ‘surface reason’.

“They say we have been pressing them to lower the price of iron ore.”
“Did you?”

“No, the price of iron ore was actually lowered by Count Riegelhoff himself, but he said it
was because we forced him, so he had to lower it.”

“Isn’t there a contract or something?”

“Of course there is. They’re arguing over something that can never be justified on paper.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I shook my head.

Count Riegelhoff was completely frenzied in his own mind and endangered his family.

How did he raise his children with such pride and self-centeredness?!

“Are you…… okay?”

“Yes?”
Killian looked at me, a bitter look on his face.

Only then did I remember that the man who had declared a territorial war was my father.

“Ah, well…… it can’t be helped, can it? With this, I suppose the Riegelhoffs and I have
become complete strangers.”

“It’s nice of you to think so, but you’ll have to brace yourself. Depending on the outcome
of the war, Count Riegelhoff will be……”

“I know.”

Killian seemed surprised by my calm answer.

Well, as much as you hate your father, it’s a bit surprising that you’d be this insensitive to
the prospect of his death.

But is that how a father should be? A man who not only abuses his young daughter, but
also forces her to seduce men to get information from them?

Besides, I clearly tried to stop him.

He’s the one who brought about his own destruction.

“My father has taken a step into treason, hasn’t he?”

“……possibly.”

“My father is too greedy. He can’t look at himself and his family objectively. I tried to talk
him out of it, but……”

I put on a pitiful face, playing the victim as best I could.

Killian sighed with me and put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I paused, feeling his warm hand, and then asked, “What is the imperial family’s reaction?”

“Archduke Langston is still feigning ignorance, saying that it has nothing to do with him,
but anyone knows this territorial war will be the starting point of the treason.”

“Archduke Langston is a coward, what the hell did he believe to do this……”

There’s a limit to turning a blind eye.

How could it be a simple family feud when Count Riegelhoff, who had been acting as
Archduke Langston’s representative and had been messing with the imperialist nobility,
had declared territorial war on the Emperor’s right-hand man, Duke Ludwig?
“It’s obvious where Archduke Langston’s beliefs come from: the Empress Dowager, as she
believes that the current Emperor is not the son of the previous Emperor.”

“Nonsense. The temple already recognized his pure blood twenty-seven years ago, which
is why he was able to ascend the throne.”

“The Empress Dowager believes that the temple’s recognition at that time was also due to
pressure from the previous Emperor.”

“Then why is she saying this only now, thirty years after His Majesty the Emperor was
crowned?”

“This is a disrespectful thing to say, but… the Empress Dowager’s seems to be mentally
unstable, she’s 98 years old.”

The Empress Dowager has lived so long.

With her husband and eldest son long gone, she had taken up residence in the private
palace, living in her own little world, and had been showing signs of dementia for several
years now.

“You mean to say that Archduke Langston took advantage of that.”

“Yes.”
Archduke Langston is also a fearless one, trying to fulfill his ambition to ascend the throne
by manipulating an old woman who remembers the events of thirty years ago more vividly
than yesterday.

“A treason that waited thirty years to happen, I don’t know what to call it……”

“He might have been willing to give up the throne at first, but not Danne, the son of the
Archduke, and it was probably Danne who talked the Empress Dowager into it.”

A treason to give the throne to his son.

‘At least he’s better than that man, Count Riegelhoff.’

Better than a man who sent his daughter away as a hostage, and then discarded her as
soon as she was no longer needed. Ha.

“It’s you I’m worried about.”

Yeah. I’m worried about myself, too.

“There are people out there who might want to attack you just because you’re Count
Riegelhoff’s daughter.”

“I’m not Edith Riegelhoff anymore, I’m Edith Ludwig.”

“I know very well. Arm yourself with that thought. If anyone says anything to you, that’s
what you’ll say back.”

“It shouldn’t be hard. I’m more worried about you getting hurt.”

“Do you like me that much to worry about me like that?”

“I don’t want to be a widow already at this age.”

Killian laughed softly. “Well, they say flies swarm around a young widow, and I don’t want
to see that.”

“So you’d better take care of yourself.”

I scowled, and Killian leaned in and kissed me deeply.

His sweet breath and hot tongue melted away my anxiety.

With a gentle peck, Killian then pulled away and looked down at me with his mysterious
gray eyes and whispered, “Let me take this opportunity to show you what a great man
your husband is.”

“I hope you’re not bragging.”

We laughed softly and kissed lightly a few more times.

It was a warm moment that almost made me think he was in love with me.

‘Please God, may nothing bad happen.’

Neither Killian nor I were in the mood for playfulness, though we were trying to make light
of the situation.

I mean, look at Duke Ludwig, who hasn’t even looked at me since Count Riegelhoff
declared territorial war on him.

Perhaps Killian was caught in the middle and in a very difficult situation.

Suddenly, I remembered Leila Sinclair who told me to make the most of my position as
Killian’s wife while I have time.

CHAPTER 101

‘This is Killian, who gave up his love for Lize to marry me, Count Riegelhoff’s daughter. I,
too, could easily be replaced by Leila Sinclair.’
A sigh escaped me.

Killian examined me carefully, then put an arm around my shoulders and said,

“I’m thinking of heading down to Ryzen as soon as the territorial war is over and the
situation in the capital stabilizes. What do you think?”

“I’m in favor of it, otherwise we’ll be getting bombarded with gossip if we stay in the
capital……”

“It might be a bit boring there, but consider it recuperation for the time being.”

I was looking forward to going to the Ryzen estate, but Killian seemed to think I didn’t
want to but had no choice but to go.

I just nodded, not wanting to argue with him about it.

I sincerely hoped that the day would come when I could go down to the estate with
Killian.

***
“Count Riegelhoff has rushed things. It’s a nuisance, but it’s for the best. This time he’ll be
rooted out,” said Duke Ludwig, skimming the current situation report handed to him by
his aide.

Cliff and Killian, seated together in his office, nodded in agreement.

No one was surprised by the sudden declaration of territorial war; it was a little earlier
than they had expected, but it was also to be expected, given Count Riegelhoff’s behavior
at the National Day ball.

“Is His Majesty angry?” asked Cliff.

Duke Ludwig laughed. “Of course he is. I think he might take this opportunity to strike
down Archduke Langston, who is crawling to the end of His rope, or the Empress
Dowager, who has never treated His Majesty as an emperor.”

“Finally!” Killian exclaimed in relief. “We’ve been patient for a long time, so long that it’s
frustrating for anyone watching from the side.”

“His Majesty must have been waiting for a day like this, too. He’s never had a good reason
to purge before, and this time, no one will be able to defy.”
Cliff nodded, and then asked, his voice a little lower this time. “Is the kill list done?”

He was asking if the families involved in the treason had been identified and their level of
punishment determined.

“I think it’s roughly done; Archduke Langston, Count Riegelhoff, and Count Eilert will not
be spared.”

At the mention of Count Riegelhoff, the Duke and Cliff’s eyes turned to Killian.

“Have you not noticed anything…… strange about Edith?”

Killian’s brow creased momentarily at the Duke’s question.

“Edith believes her ties to the Riegelhoffs have already been severed. In fact, isn’t that
true? For the Count has declared war on us without the slightest regard for the well-being
of the daughter he has entrusted with us as a hostage.”

“If that’s what she sincerely thinks, I’m glad to hear it……”

Despite nodding, the Duke didn’t seem to like Killian’s answer.

Though frustrated, Killian couldn’t say anything more.

‘I must get down to Ryzen as soon as possible after this territorial war is over. If Count
Riegelhoff is disgraced, there’s no telling how much more nasty things will be said about
Edith…….’

Killian didn’t want to see Edith suffer any more hurt and pain.

After a few years of living quietly and honorably in Ryzen, people would forget about her
past and her last name, Riegelhoff.

People’s curiosity would be piqued, but it would cool just as quickly.

“We’ll be leaving in a week. Cliff, you’ll be in charge of the knights, and Killian, you’ll be in
charge of the weapons, so that we can leave in a week.”

“Yes, understood.”

The meeting concluded, and Duke Ludwig headed back to the palace, leaving Cliff and
Killian to busily prepare for their respective responsibilities.

It wasn’t until after dark that Killian finally found some time to relax and have dinner with
Edith, and he returned to his room, still needing to document what he had learned about
the armory today.
But even as he worked on the documentation, he couldn’t get Edith out of his head.

‘She’s been eating a little less…… even if she pretends not to, I know she’s worried.’

Edith, who had always exclaimed while eating happily, started not finishing her food a few
days ago.

It was so unusual that Anna, who was clearing the table, asked, “Are you sure you’re done
eating?”

‘Edith will have to endure well until the territory war is over……’

Killian sighed lowly and was just finishing organizing the documents.

Then, a knock was heard.

It was too late for anyone to be visiting, but Killian walked slowly to the door, feeling a
strange sense of déjà vu.

‘It can’t be Edith,’ he thought, ‘she never cames to me first, except that night when she
tried to sneak a kiss on me.’
Killian quietly opened the door.

Standing in the doorway was Lize, as he had somehow guessed.

She was dressed in a chemise, as she had been when she came to tell him about the
missing maid, but unlike her usual chemise, this one is off-the-shoulder like Edith’s.

‘This kind of chemise a trend nowadays but it doesn’t look right for Lize…… she looks like a
child who stole her mother’s chemise.’

When Edith wore it, it was bewitching and dizzying, but when Lize wore it, he was afraid it
would fall off at any moment.

“What brought you here at this hour?” Killian asked, offering Lize a seat.

“I’ve been having a hard time seeing your face lately, so I was wondering if you were still
awake at this hour.”

Lize smiled, the same sunny smile he’d gotten used to seeing over the past five years.

Killian smiled back and sat down across from her.

“Cliff won’t play with you?”

“Cliff is Cliff, and Killian is Killian. Am I interrupting something you’re doing?”

“No, no, come to think of it, I haven’t been paying attention to you lately.”

“You didn’t mean that. You’re busy, and I know it.”

Wriggling her fingers, Lize added, “It’s just…… that you’re leaving soon, and I’m worried
about you…… I just wanted to say goodbye……”

“I’m not going to die. You and Edith worry too much. I guess it’s because you didn’t get to
see Cliff and I fight in the war,” said Killian, pretending to be boastful.

Lize laughed a little but her beautiful light blue eyes looked a little sad.

“Killian, do you remember that? When I first came to the mansion…… and I was running
around the garden and my hair got caught on a twig.”

“Ah! Haha! I do. You were so embarrassed.”

“Yeah, I was thrilled to hear that I could explore the garden as I pleased, unlike at Sinclair,
so I was embarrassed to get my hair tangled on a twig, and even more embarrassed to get
caught by the scary second master. I thought I might get a few spankings.”
Killian and Lize reminisced about what happened five years ago.

***

It was early summer, and Lize was just beginning to get a taste of freedom after being
rescued from the Sinclair family.

She’d been frolicking in the Ludwig family’s garden, which was bigger and more beautiful
than the Sinclair family’s, when the wind had gotten a little too strong and caught her hair
on a twig.

“Ouch! Ouch…… how did this happen?”

She reached out and fumbled, but her clumsy little hands found it difficult to release her
stuck hair.

As she was wondering if she should shout and call for help, lest she get in trouble for being
careless, she heard a rustling behind her.
“What……?”

“Ah, h- hello.”

The cold-looking Killian stood there, a book in his hands.

Twenty-year-old Killian was colder, sharper, and more sensitive than he is now, and Lize
was trying to stay out of his sight as much as possible.

Lize shuddered and desperately tried to make excuses.

“I- I- I didn’t do this on purpose, it was the wind, I really didn’t think it would be like
this…… I’m sorry I didn’t tie my hair up neatly, it was my fault.”

Killian stared at Lize, who was scared of him for no reason, and then handed her the book
he was holding.

When she took it, dumbfounded, he used his free hands to pull her hair away from the
twig.

Lize squirmed in the process, and Killian had to use a knife to cut through some of the
more severe tangles.
When he was done, the twig had tangles of dazzling blonde hair here and there.

“The twig must have liked your blonde hair and wanted to touch it a little,” Killian said,
sheathing his pocket knife and taking his book from Lize’s hand.

It was the first time the two had spoken since the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig had
introduced Lize to their sons.

***

“That’s when I realized, ‘Oh, he’s actually a nice guy.'”

Killian smiled at the memory of the past.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

It was true.
Though he didn’t like Count Sinclair’s illegitimate child his parents had taken in out of the
blue, he hadn’t meant to intentionally scare her.

It was just an annoying and bothersome situation for him.

He doesn’t know when that turned into love.

At some point, his heart skipped a beat when he heard her clear laugh, and his heart sank
when he saw her tears.

He felt jealousy and impatience when she looked at Cliff, and he felt an overwhelming
sense of happiness when she looked at him.

It’s all in the past now……

“Actually……”

“Hm?”

“I knew about your heart, Killian.”

Killian’s mouth, which had been smiling, turned rigid in an instant.

CHAPTER 102

“My heart……?”
“Yes……”

There was silence between them for a moment.

Killian had guessed that Lize knew how he felt. But saying it out loud was another matter
entirely.

Lize looked calm and yet somehow sad.

“I can’t pretend I didnt know,” she said, “but because I am an illegitimate child…… I had
nothing to give you.”

Killian was taken aback.

‘Lize…… are you saying you were in love with me too?’

If this is true, Killian had gotten into a very unjust marriage.

“But you and…… Cliff……”

“I am grateful that Cliff finds me adorable, even if it does scare me sometimes……”

“Ha……”
Killian put a hand to his forehead, feeling his head spin.

Countless moments flashed before his eyes that could have been a sign from Lize.

“If I weren’t an illegitimate child, do you think…… things could have been different?”

The question was tinged with sadness, and Killian stiffened, not knowing what to do.

Really, if Lize weren’t an illegitimate child, if she hadn’t been as insecure, if she could have
accepted my love more openly, would anything have been different?

“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt in this territorial war.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not even something worthy of the name war.”

“But if you get hurt…… I……”

Tears glistened in her eyes.

But in that moment, Killian’s mind flashed back to Edith.

“I don’t want to be a widow already at this age.”

Edith had said she was worried about him, but for the silliest of reasons.

But Killian found Edith’s playful expression more poignant than Lize’s tearful concern.

At the same time, memories of the past replayed in his mind.

There were many moments when I thought to myself that Lize was in love with me, but
there were even more moments when I realized that I was mistaken.

Her smile was brighter with Cliff than it was with me, the two of them were much more
intimate without me, and even with the three of us, I sometimes felt left out.

‘And she loved me? That’s kind of crazy……’

Then Killian realized he’d guessed wrong again.

Lize never told me she loved me, she just said, ‘I knew your heart.’
‘I’ve almost made a stupid mistake again. No, I mean, is this what Lize intended……?’

Killian shook his head, his brow furrowing slightly.

But the moment Lize stepped up to him, even the cool-headed Killian couldn’t help but
panic.

“Lize……?”

“Before you leave, can’t you just kiss me once?”

It was a temptation that was hard to refuse for anyone.

Everything about Lize was tempting: her moist eyes, her exposed shoulders, her hand on
Killian’s forearm.

The ray of sunlight he’d been craving for the past five years was shining on him for the
first time, and it wanted him now. She wants him.

“Lize……”

If Lize had approached him half a year earlier, Killian would have kissed her without a
second thought.
But the Killian of today is not the Killian of the past.

He smiled weakly and flicked Lize’s forehead with his fingertips.

“Killian……?”

“You don’t have to say it like you’re sending someone off to die, you idiot.”

That alone shattered the strange atmosphere between them at once.

“I assure you. It will take less than a month for the war to be won or lost. The only reason
this war happened in the first place is because my father hid our military power so
thoroughly. He waited for them to make the first move.”

“Ah……”

“I think you and Edith are getting a little too anxious at the mention of war.”

Killian’s expression was devoid of the slightest hint of regret, and at the name ‘Edith’ Lize’s
face fell in disappointment.

Killian noticed, but pretended not to.

“Don’t worry, just get some sleep. Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”

“Oh, no, I’ll go back by myself.”

Normally, Killian would have offered one or two more times even if Lize had refused, but
he realized that she might be embarrassed to have her kiss request turned down.

“Good night, Killian.”

“Good night.”

After the goodbye, which didn’t include the usual kiss on the forehead, Killian stared at
the door as Lize walked out, lost in thought.

‘What’s wrong with Lize all of a sudden?’

He’d been suspecting that Lize had been making subtle flirtations for some time.

But today’s provocation was quite bold.

Far too bold for kind, innocent Lize Sinclair……

‘No matter how I look at it, Lize clearly has feelings for Cliff. Why did she make it sound
like Cliff’s feelings were unrequited?’

Immediately after hearing the words “I knew your heart” and “Would it have been
different if I weren’t an illegitimate child,” I was so shocked, but upon reflection, Lize was
clearly in love with Cliff.

That’s why I accepted to marry Edith, and up until that point, she was more of a supporter
of my relationship with Edith.

‘Why is she trying to sway me now?’

No matter how much I thought about it, it was hard to find a reason.

But what’s even more surprising is that I didn’t let Lize’s words sway me.

‘I thought of Edith……’

It wasn’t just the responsibility of ‘like it or not, she’s my wife’.

Killian found himself feeling more comfortable with her, more desirous of her.
Instead of Lize, who is bright as sunshine, kind and friendly, and cautious enough to blame
herself if anything goes wrong and breaks at a moment’s notice, it is Edith, who is blunt,
proud, confident, and unapologetic, who has somehow taken over his heart.

‘Lize was just confused by her own feelings in the run-up to the war. Let’s get over it.’

Killian sighed and smiled at the same time, then suddenly stopped fiddling with the
documents.

‘If Edith were to do this, I would assume she was trying to seduce me to hide something
from me…… But why didn’t I ask Lize the same question……?’

Once I thought about it, I realized how ridiculous my suspicions of Edith had been, and I
realized how biased I had been.

And finally, I questioned whether Lize was really ‘kind and innocent’.

The truth about the day of Edith’s near-murder hadn’t been revealed, and Lize was the
one who was most suspicious.

Killian immediately summoned a servant to fetch Anna, Edith’s maid.

When Anna arrived, he ordered her in a low voice, “Never take your eyes off Edith while I
am gone. Protect her to the best of your ability.”
“Yes, young master.”

“I’m sorry to put such a heavy burden on you, but you’re the only one I can trust.”

“No, it’s my job,” Anna replied trustingly and walked out quietly.

Even when alone, Killian’s frown did not lift.

‘Lize…… what the hell are you thinking?’

The beautiful memories of the past five years with Lize seemed to shine through in an
effort to protect her, but Killian feared something was hidden beneath the glow.

***

-step, step, step.

The sound of weak footsteps echoed down the deserted hallway.

As the footsteps grew more frequent, a low, soft voice came from the darkness.

“You don’t look good.”

“Cliff……”

Cliff, who had been waiting for her at the door, smiled and opened his arms to her.

Lize sank into his arms with a familiarity.

Her cold shoulders were warmed by his body heat.

“It’s late, where have you been?”

“Oh…… I couldn’t sleep, so I took a short walk.”

“In the dark like this……? It’s dangerous.”

With Lize in his arms, Cliff opened the door and stepped inside with her.

“I’m sorry, I just got all worked up thinking about a territorial war going on……”
“I told you, there’s nothing to worry about. We’re prepared for the war.”

Cliff’s response was similar to Killian’s.

Even though Lize had heard it time and time again, her shoulders still shook like an aspen
tree.

Cliff hugged her tightly again, rubbing her back.

“Instead of worrying about me or Killian, I need you to keep an eye on Edith while we’re
gone.”

“Yeah……?”

The shaking shoulders stopped and questioning eyes looked up at Cliff.

“I’m hoping it’s wrong, but you never know. I need you to keep an eye on Edith for
anything strange.”

“And if she does seem strange…… what should I do?”

“Send a hawk. I will order someone to have it prepared.”

Lize meekly nodded.

Cliff pressed his lips to Lize’s forehead and whispered softly, “If it’s for your safety, I’ll be
there in a second. I swear.”

“Thank you, Cliff.”

After being rejected by Killian, Lize regained her composure in Cliff’s arms.

***

The colder it gets, the harder it is to get out of bed.

But it wasn’t just the cold that made it hard to get out of bed today.

“It’s morning,” I muttered to Killian who had just opened his eyes after a long night of
embracing me so warmly.
But he immediately squeezed his eyes shut tightly and shook his head.

“Aren’t you sad that you won’t be able to see me for a few days?” he asked.

“How do you know whether it will be a few days or a few months?”

Killian chuckled. “So you are sad.”

Normally, I would have snorted, calling him self-conscious and delusional, but not this
morning.

“Yeah. I think I will miss you.”

I will miss you. Maybe desperately.

I found it ironic that the man destined to slit my throat is the only person I can lean on,
but for now, Killian is the only one who can protect me.

Who else would protect me now, the daughter of Count Riegelhoff, who dared to declare
war on House Ludwig?

CHAPTER 103

“Edith.”
Killian called my name and pulled me into a hug.

His body scent, an intoxicating mix of musk and something like bark, always made my
heart flutter.

“It won’t be long,” he said, “a month or so. Don’t go outside the mansion as much as
possible, and don’t write to anyone.”

“Are you afraid that I’ll get excited and run outside when my father invades my in-laws’
house?”

I grunted complainingly, and Killian chuckled again.

“It’s not that, it’s just that…… you’re going to have to put up with the occasional outing
into town for a while, much to your chagrin.”

The pat on my back was so sweet it made me want to cry.

“Come on…… do you think I’m a child? Just be careful not to get hit by an arrow.”

I said it jokingly, but the thought of him being hit by an arrow gave me goosebumps.

‘Think about something else, think about something else!’

Trying to vent my growing anxiety, I exclaimed, “Oh, by the way, I made something for
you.”

“For me……?”

I put on the shawl beside me and opened the drawer.

There lay a pair of arm warmers I’d started knitting as soon as I’d heard that a territorial
war had been declared and had only just finished yesterday.

But I noticed a snagged thread in one of the arm warmers that I knitted in a cylinder
shape.

When I tried to fix it by pulling it in the opposite direction, the thread only expanded in
the opposite direction.

In short, it’s a total mess…… a failed product that uses good wool and is expected to keep
you warm once you put it on.

“Um…… it’s not that great, but I think you’ll need it…… no, just, wear it and throw it away
after it gets dirty.

I blushed and held the tattered thing out to Killian.

Walking toward me in his robe, Killian looked like a 21st-century American muscular male
model, and the woolen arm warmers in his hand lent a touch of reality to his otherwise
unreal appearance. Almost too much.

“Pfft!”

Yeah, it’s funny, even to me.

Killian looked back and forth at the arm warmers I gave him, wide-eyed, and then tilted his
head.

“I’ve been thinking about it since I saw those embroidered handkerchiefs at the bazaar,
but I guess you’re not very good with your hands.”

“Oh, did you see them too?”

“I was afraid someone might see them, so I bought all three.”

“I was wondering who bought them, and it was you! Thank you, I was actually afraid they
wouldn’t sell until the end.”

“Ahahaha!”
It was nice to hear his cheerful laughter.

Still, he didn’t let go of the arm warmers I gave him and continued to fiddle with them.

“By the looks of it, it must be pretty warm.”

“Actually, it’s a good one. I’m not very good at it, so I invested in the material.”

“……I’ll use it well, thinking of you.”

It’s kind of cheating to say something like that while looking like you’re about to die of joy.

I was momentarily stunned and at a loss for words.

Killian seized the moment, grabbed me by the nape of the neck, and leaned in to kiss me.

His smiling lips playfully flicked over mine, then devoured it. As soon as our lips parted, he
stuck his tongue in, starting to make slurping noises.

“Ha, Killian……!”

“Mmh, one more time……”

I pushed him away, but Killian grabbed me tighter and led me back to the bed.

“Kil- Killian, you’re going to be late.”

“Just a quick one. Hm?”

I can’t stand it when someone who’s used to being respectful to others all the time is
being so clingy like this.

“Ugh…… no……”

It was a typical “no, no, no……” scene.

[T/N: When you say “No,” but still do ‘it’.]

We glanced at the brightly lit window, nervously but quickly stripped off our clothes and
sought each other’s body heat.

Remembering the heat of the previous night, our bodies quickly warmed up, and Killian
and I impatiently brought our bodies together.

‘If Killian only wants my body, so be it, and I’ll be happy just the way I am.’
I know it sounds like I have too little self-esteem, but Killian is such a sweet and charming
person that I could even think of such a thing.

He disliked me so much, but he took it upon himself to accept me as his wife, and he’s still
trying to appease me to fulfill that responsibility.

The original Edith would not have met such a catastrophe if she had been given a little
more leeway. Killian isn’t the kind of man who can cut off someone who’s clinging to him.

‘If this territorial war ends well…… if I can greet Killian without incident…… I can avoid the
original ending!’

The third exception condition was something I couldn’t figure out, and now I wouldn’t be
relieved to just avoid the original ending, but I would still be able to accomplish my
primary goal of surviving.

“Ha, ha…… we have to stop here or you’re going to be really late.”

After one climax, I grabbed Killian’s shoulders to stop him from running his tongue over
my lips again.

Killian glanced at the alarm clock on my dresser and clicked his tongue in frustration.

“I’m already getting irritated at the thought of not being able to do this for a month.”
“So are the other knights, and you should stop doing this.”

“Do you want to break the mood by talking about unimportant things until the end?”

“Because I don’t think you’re going to let up if I don’t.”

Killian nodded, ruffled his hair, and finally pulled away from me.

From then on, I was in a hurry, like a mother dropping her child off at daycare.

I bathed him with the water I had Anna hurriedly prepare, then attired him. While I was
getting dressed, I asked Anna to shave Killian.

We prepared him like a baked bean over a roaring fire and went downstairs, and
fortunately, the Duke came down late.

As he departed, the Duke looked around at the family and servants gathered in the hall
and spoke in a firm voice.

“Jocelyn, I leave you in charge of this mansion in my absence. Philip, I expect you to help
Jocelyn keep things in order.”
“Understood, Your Excellency.”

“Sir Gordon, I entrust you with the defense of this mansion during this time of territorial
war.”

“I will defend it without fail!”

“Luigi, as the head maid, I will ask you to assist Jocelyn and Philip in maintaining the
smooth running of the household.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Duke Ludwig spoke to each of those in charge of work at the mansion, starting with Philip
the butler, Gordon the leader of the knight guards, and Luigi the head maid.

Then his gaze turned to us.

“Lize, take care of Jocelyn. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Then…… let’s depart now.”

The Duke spat out the last word resolutely, then turned around and walked out.

There was no word of command to me.

Perhaps everyone in the room noticed. For Killian’s face hardened instantly.

“Killian, you really have to go now.”

“……”

Clenching his molars, Killian seemed to struggle to hold back the anger that was bubbling
up inside him. One would think it was Killian who was being ignored, not me.

“……I’m sorry, Edith. When I return, let’s leave for Ryzen.”

“Yeah. I’m fine, so don’t worry about me too much. I’m sure the Duke has a lot on his
mind right now; I’m the daughter of an enemy.”

“No. You are not the daughter of an enemy, you are the daughter-in-law of the Duke of
Ludwig and my wife. Don’t forget your name is Edith Ludwig.”

I will never forget it, because that’s the last thing I have left to beg him to spare my life.
But I just smiled and squeezed his hand one last time.

My fingertips brushed against the snagged thread on his arm warmer.

I’m grateful that he’s willing to wear the raggedy arm warmers I have knitted.

“Come back unharmed, and prove all your bragging about how great you are.”

“With pleasure.”

Killian kissed me one last time, then followed the Duke out the door.

Finally, the curtain had risen on what might be Edith’s last episode.

***

As the territorial war began, the capital’s newspapers saw a rise in sales.
The war between Count Riegelhoff, the richest of the Counts, and Duke Ludwig, the
Emperor’s right-hand man, is sure to pique everyone’s interest.

– The reason for the territorial war is House Ludwig’s unfair pressure on iron ore prices!
But is that the truth?

– Is it a simple family feud or the beginning of treason?

– The imperial family remains silent. What are the Emperor’s honest thoughts?

The front pages of the newspapers were filled with headlines that sounded like something
you’d find in a hairdresser’s magazine.

Even then, the contrast between the newspapers influenced by Archduke Langston and
Count Riegelhoff and those with an eye on the imperial family was palpable.

‘The imperial family is too quiet. Perhaps they are waiting for those involved in the
treason to reveal themselves.’

In “I Refuse Your Obsession,” the current emperor, Byron Iberia, took this opportunity to
purge those who opposed him.
Ever since he ascended to the throne at the tender age of 18, he has had to contend with
a group of people who have looked down on him and belittled him.

But he is by no means an easy person.

A man who grew up seeing all sorts of dirty things from a young age, and who has been
right in the middle of all those nasty power struggles, shouldn’t be.

‘But those who are drunk on their own handful of power don’t see that.’

Duke Ludwig had also been keeping his military forces hidden. It was also the will of the
Emperor.

I could almost see Count Riegelhoff screaming at the top of his lungs, “Those bastards!
They’ve deceived us!”

But that would be in the future.

For now, in the capital’s social circles, some were already predicting a victory for Archduke
Langston and plotting to join him.

CHAPTER 104

“Archduke Langston is said to be constantly attending banquets, large and small, to shape
public opinion.”
Stopping off at the Ludwig mansion to avoid attention, Princess Catherine sipped the tea
the Duchess had offered and said with a hint of annoyance.

The Duchess shook her head. “I’ve been avoiding attending banquets for fear of being
labeled overpowering, but I suppose that gives them an excuse to make a move.”

With the military force showing up so suddenly, House Ludwig has been careful not to
offend the imperial family in the slightest.

But no matter how careful they were with their good intentions, detractors would
somehow twist them into something bad.

“I don’t think it’s anything to be afraid of, Mother…… but I do worry that some people will
get caught up in the atmosphere of the moment and join the Archduke’s faction,” I
expressed my opinion calmly.

To those who don’t know my story, it would seem ridiculous that I, the daughter of Count
Riegelhoff, would say such a thing.

“I’m surprised, Miss Edith.”

As expected, Princess Catherine asked curiously, “Don’t you think that the more people
who join Archduke Langston, the better?”

“Why do you think so, Your Highness?”

“Because that way Count Riegelhoff has a better chance of surviving?”

Princess Catherine had no malice toward me; she merely wanted to know my inner
thoughts.

Of course, I had long since made up my mind.

‘Even if the Riegelhoffs win, I am a traitor to them.’

But not in the eyes of others.

When the war is over, everyone will know that I have completely disassociated myself
from the Riegelhoffs, but those who would criticize me will find a way to do so.

‘It’s certain that the Ludwigs will win, and if I feel the slightest bit sorry for the RIegelhoffs,
they’ll accuse me of being a traitor, and if I rejoice, they’ll accuse me of being a poisonous
bitch who abandoned my family.’

If I’m going to be vilified one way or another, I’d rather it be the latter. I want to live to see
the downfall of those who mistreated me!
“Your Highness, people don’t have just one position. Even you, Your Highness, may find
that your position as Princess and your position as someone’s wife conflict with each
other. What do you think you should do then?”

“Well, I’d have to prioritize the more important one.”

“Who decides which is more important?”

“Ummm…… my father or……”

She’s been called a selfish princess, but it’s times like this that I realize she’s still stuck in
the confines of traditional education.

I shook my head and said, “What if it’s your life that’s at stake? Can you still excuse
yourself for listening to others? It’s your choice, after all.”

“Uh…… hm……”

“I have also made my choice. I chose the Ludwigs, who have protected me all this time,
over my own family, who started a territorial war without a thought for me after marrying
me to House Ludwig. No matter what the outcome, I will take responsibility for my choice
and I will not regret it, even if someone criticizes me for it.”

It was a choice I had no option but to make, but they wouldn’t know that.
“You are surprisingly strong, Miss Edith.”

“Why are you saying this out of the blue?”

“I’m sorry, in fact, when I saw you the other day, I got the impression that you were very
much at the mercy of Count Riegelhoff. Everyone says that Count Riegelhoff raised you
well…… but it seemed to me that you were always under his thumb.”

It seems that the Princess is not just anyone. Everyone else was fooled, but she saw right
through it.

“I was young and immature then.”

And there was nowhere to go but back to Riegelhoff.

The original Edith wouldn’t have lived like that if she’d had a place to run to.

“Well, I’m not judging you for what happened then, I’m just saying you look a lot better
now…… and I’m sorry if I’ve offended you because I’m not very good with words.”

“No, thank you for your honesty.”

If everyone is as honest as she is, I wouldn’t have to worry about it like this.

Nodding and smiling, Princess Catherine turned her attention back to the Duchess.

“Oh, by the way, the Emperor asked me to tell you that he’d like to send some imperial
knights to the mansion, just in case.”

Oh, what a generous offer!

Imperial knights protecting the mansion area would be enough to stop Shane’s raid as it
happened in the original story.

But the Duchess shook her head. “No, I don’t think we should bother the Emperor with
something of this magnitude. Please tell him not to worry too much, we have enough
knights to protect the mansion.”

I looked at the Duchess with a “No, why?” look on my face.

Princess Catherine furrowed her brow and tried to persuade her again. “On the contrary,
your refusal will only increase the Emperor’s anxiety. After all, this was done to deal with a
group of traitors, and the Emperor should bear the responsibility.”

Right!
But the Duchess shook her head again. “When a territorial war breaks out, the imperial
family must remain neutral.”

“Of course, we won’t send word that they’re imperial knights; we’ll dress them up as
mercenaries, appropriately enough……”

“If word gets out, we’ll just be giving Archduke Langston another excuse.”

The ostensible reason for this war was a feud between the two families, and the
appearance of the imperial family taking sides in a war fought for that reason might be
just what they were looking for.

‘But that only becomes a problem if the territory war continues for a long period of time.
By the time it is revealed that it was the imperial knights who protected us, the entire
group of traitors will be executed.’

Of course, this is my opinion based on my knowledge of the original story, so it may be a

matter for the Duchess to consider.

In the end, Catherine sighed and agreed with the Duchess.

Suddenly, the Duchess was startled and took a handkerchief from her pocket and held it
over Lize’s mouth.

“Lize!”
“Oh, Lize, are you all right?”

Lize was bleeding from the nose.

“I- I’m sorry. Why is this happening all of a sudden……”

Lize looked startled, too. The white handkerchief the Duchess handed her quickly turned
red.

“It looks like Lize is too stressed out from the territorial war.”

At my words, the Duchess hastily called for Lize’s maid. It seems that such tension or
worry is enough to make such a slender girl’s nose bleed.

Lize was eventually escorted back to her room by her maid, and tea was ended earlier
than expected.

On my way back from seeing Catherine off, I turned to the Duchess and asked, “Still,
wouldn’t you feel much more at ease if the imperial knights helped defend the mansion?”

“Hmm…… I suppose so.”

“Then why did you refuse, is it really because of the imperial neutrality obligation?”

“I’m sure that’s a good reason……”

There was something strange in the Duchess’ demeanor.

After a moment, she shook her head and muttered, “Why did I do that?”

“Sorry?”

Huh? What kind of reaction is this?

The Duchess was regretting her decision as if she were a completely different person than
she had been just half an hour ago.

“No, no. It’s not like the mansion is under-guarded, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Ah, yes.”

No, it’s not. It wouldn’t be enough to stand up to Shane’s mercenaries.

‘Is the Duchess’ strange behavior also due to the flow of the original story? Even in the
original story, there is no mention of the imperial knights protecting the mansion. That’s
why Shane’s mercenaries attacked…….’

The flow of the original story has become much weaker due to the fact that I met the
second exception condition and overcame the author’s intervention twice, but it hasn’t
completely disappeared.

‘Since this is the most important event where I, the villainess, die, I think it will go
according to the original story, different from the previous minor episodes.’

But I couldn’t just sit back and let it happen.

‘No matter what, I can’t give them an excuse to storm the mansion.’

I clenched my fists.

***
From that day forward, I walked around the mansion every evening, checking for anything
unusual.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease in a mansion even with so many knights and
servants.

‘Is he going to use sleeping incense again?’

The reason Shane can storm the mansion with so many people is because, in addition to
the unlocked back door, he has scattered sleeping incense to make everyone fall asleep or
become dazed.

In the original story, it is of course Sophia and the spies who placed them throughout the
mansion in advance.

‘With Sophia gone, they may not have placed the sleeping incense, but you never
know……’

I don’t know who the spies in the mansion are.

The author probably didn’t set it up properly either.

Therefore, I had to examine the mansion without the knowledge of the unknown spies.
‘I’ll have to check the back door every day.’

I don’t know if the original flow, which cannot use me, might use a spy to install an anti-
lock device on the back door.

I checked the door with Anna, and when we got near the back door, I had her check the
other side.

If there really is a strange device, it would be hard for me if she asked how I saw it coming.

But then I bumped into the least desirable person I could think of.

“Huh……? What is she doing?”

Lize was standing by the doorknob of the back door.

Sensing my presence, she spun around, looking surprised.

CHAPTER 105

“Edith……?”

“Lize. What are you doing here?”

“Just checking the door lock. What are you doing at this hour, Edith?”
“I was about to check the door lock, too. We seem to be very worried.”

I laughed dryly.

I was a little surprised to see Lize in the place where the original Edith installed the anti-
lock, but she said she was just checking the door lock.

‘Is this what they call a thief’s legs go numb[1]?’

[1] A thief’s legs go numb is an idiom that means: A state in which a person automatically
feels uneasy because he or she has done something bad, worried that others will find out.

I walked over to Lize, locked the back door, grabbed the doorknob, and gave it a few
shakes.

The door remained securely locked.

“Looks like things are okay here, Anna and I have already checked the east hallway, now
we’re going to the west hallway.”

“I have checked the west hallway……”

“Then you can check the east hallway and I’ll check the west hallway, because it’ll be more
accurate if we do it twice.”

“I guess so.”

I waved to Lize, who was still pale, and then walked with Anna toward the west hallway.

‘Nothing’s going to happen, nothing’s going to……’

I repeated the words as if they were a mantra.

I refused the Riegelhoffs’ last warning to cooperate with them, and I wouldn’t install any
strange devices on the back door.

Every day, I’ve been checking every corner of the mansion to make sure there’s no
sleeping incense.

It’s been a week since I checked the back door of the mansion every night, I kept telling
myself that everything would be fine.

As usual, I checked the back door while Anna checked the hallway to the warehouse.
‘Huh?’

The back door, which normally locks with a solid click, made a creaking sound, giving me
the feeling that it wasn’t locked properly.

‘No way……!’

My heart suddenly started beating fast.

I opened the back door to see that Anna hadn’t yet emerged from the warehouse-side
hallway, and groped around inside the opening for the lock.

I touched something square and foreign in texture.

‘No, that can’t be……’

Even though I knew it couldn’t be, I pulled the ‘something’ out with my fingernail, stuffed
it in my pocket, and closed the back door again.

-clunk.

The back door locked firmly with the same sound as usual.
I felt a chill run down my spine and my back felt damp with a cold sweat.

“Miss……?”

“Eh! Huh?”

I thought it was Anna, but one of the maids who was carrying the laundry was looking at
me strangely.

“What are you doing here?”

“I- I’m checking the door lock every night. Are you…… still working when it’s so late?”

“No. This is just my personal laundry.”

“I see…… It’s late, go inside and get some rest.”

“Okay, then……”

The maid bowed to me and disappeared into the darkness.

“Ha……”
“Miss?”

“Eh! Y- you’re back?”

Just as I was about to take a breath, I stuttered, startled by Anna’s voice calling out to me.

I was afraid that she would find me strange.

But she didn’t say anything, and we went back to check the door lock.

‘Why do I have to be in trouble for something I didn’t do?!’

It’s a good thing it’s dark now, because if it was daytime, my complexion would look pale.

My face must be covered in cold sweat right now.

But I couldn’t help it. The device that the original Edith installed in the back door was now
in my pocket.

‘If I don’t throw it away, I might get accused again.’

But the fact that the device was still in my pocket was not so pleasant.

I kept imagining someone going through my clothes, finding the device, and accusing me
of being a spy for the Riegelhoffs.

‘It’s quite traumatizing.’

Swallowing hard, I checked the door lock again and hurried back to bed, using the excuse
that I was tired.

‘Who did that?’

The first person that came to mind was the Riegelhoffs’ spy, who must have been in the
mansion. The one who might have been responsible for several unsolved incidents.

‘No matter how much I search Edith’s memories, I can’t figure out who it is.’

Count Riegelhoff didn’t trust Edith enough to let her go alone into the enemy’s lair, so he
didn’t even tell her who the spy was.

‘I don’t know who the spy is, but he must be as competent as Sophia to have escaped
notice so far.’
When the sound of Anna’s pacing outside the bedroom faded, I snuck out the device I had
hidden under my pillow and examined it.

It was hard to see in the small light from the bedside lamp, but it was a simple device with
a spring in the middle.

‘How do I throw this away?’

Keeping it would only prove that I am a spy.

But it’s made of metal, so it won’t burn if it’s set on fire, and if I go so far as to throw it
away it would arouse suspicion.

‘I’ll take a walk in the garden tomorrow and leave it somewhere.’

Even after I thought that, all kinds of bad thoughts started to arise one after another.

Suddenly, the image of the author looking down at me with an evil smile came to mind.

‘How much fun would it be to watch me tremble and get caught in a noose?’

Instantly, my temper flared.

‘What did I do wrong, what did I do in my previous life to deserve this?’

The more I thought about it, the more my anger boiled over.

There were times when I thought this reincarnation was a stroke of luck, but now all I
could think of was that I had been caught by an evil god.

Now the image of a child trapping an ant in a labyrinth, looking down on it from above and
taking pleasure in it, came to mind.

‘Screw you! Do you think I’ll follow your wishes?’

Rather than letting my anxiety get the better of me, I decided to be more proactive.

‘If the spies managed to install this device, they most likely hid sleeping incense
somewhere in this mansion. I must find them.’

I decided to start scouring the mansion the next day.

There is no way I’m letting Shane raid this mansion.

***

“Renon.”

“Miss.”

In the midst of the territorial war, life went on as usual for the occupants of the mansion.

In other words, I was arriving at Renon’s office as usual.

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

“What? W- why?”

“I’m just asking. Your complexion doesn’t look too good.”

The complexion comment had already been pointed out by Anna in the morning.

I’d gotten very little sleep because I’d been up all night gritting my teeth trying to figure
out how to outwit the author.
Worse yet, I couldn’t think of a single thing to do in my sleeplessness.

‘I have no choice but to do the best I can with what’s at hand.’

It was a textbook-type conclusion, but that was all I could do at the moment.

“I need you to take care of the documents for the Ryzen estate again today. You’ve been
working so hard that there’s not much documents left.”

“Sure. I’m just so excited to think that this is the estate I’ll be developing with Killian in the
future……”

I smiled and took the documents for the Ryzen estate from Renon.

“How would you like to develop Ryzen?”

“From a macro or micro perspective?”

“I’d like to hear the macro perspective first.”

I put the papers on my desk and pictured Ryzen in my mind.

“That’s something I’ll have to discuss with Killian, but if you ask me, I’d like to develop it as
a commercial and recreational city.”

“A commercial city? But Ryzen is a bit isolated.”

“On the map, yes, but if we can get rid of Mount Philiac, we can connect it to the port city
of Driburn across the river.”

“How are you going to get rid of Mount Philiac?”

I unfolded the map of the Ryzen estate placed on my desk.

Mount Philiac isn’t very high, and the people of Ryzen are grateful for the many forest
products it provides.

But its presence makes Ryzen feel like an isolated rural area, disconnected from the small
towns and cities beyond.

“I don’t mean to get rid of the mountain literally. It is a valuable resource for the people of
Ryzen.”

“Right.”

“We can just build a road”

“A road?”

Tunneling would be difficult in this day and age, but finding the shortest, flattest path
through the mountain and clearing the surrounding vegetation would be a worthwhile
endeavor.

Maybe there are mountain paths that people still walk on.

“As long as we have good roads to the smaller cities beyond Mount Philiac, and good
facilities for merchants, Ryzen will be transformed.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“And don’t you think it would be pretty cool to build a villa for nobles near Mount Philiac,
as long as it’s well equipped with amenities? It would be a city with convenience while still
enjoying nature.”

Renon looked a little surprised at my explanation, then nodded. “I have a feeling that
Ryzen will be revitalized in ten years.”

“So I’m hoping Killian makes it back safely.”

“Um…… but……”

Renon asked cautiously, showing a hint of worry even in his otherwise expressionless face.
“Count Riegelhoff might be defeated. Are you okay?”

It was the question everyone wanted to ask me, but never dared to ask outright.

I took a deep breath and answered, “I’m fine.”

“But……”

“Leaving me here and provoking House Ludwig means that my ties to them are severed,
and I don’t want to be loyal to a family that might as well have asked me to die.”

But in this world, family honor is more important than life.

Perhaps the sight of me so hastily severing ties with my family would seem frivolous in the
eyes of nobles who live and die by honor.

CHAPTER 106

“I suppose in your eyes, Renon, I’m the kind of woman who would betray her family with
the flip of a palm.”

“No, to be honest, I think you have the courage to turn your back on your family. How
many women are treated like tools because they don’t have that courage? And that’s
wrong.”
If I hadn’t met Killian first, I would have liked Renon.

A sincere man with an expressionless face who says sweet things in a subtle way, he’s a
little less dominant than the male leads, but what a great guy to marry and live with!

“……you are a good person, Renon.”

“This is my first time receiving such an evaluation.”

“That’s because other people don’t know the real you, and I hope you can meet with a
really nice lady.”

“Thank you for thinking so.”

Renon bowed nonchalantly, showing no sign of being flattered.

I went back to organizing the documents for the Ryzen estate, imagining Killian and I
running Ryzen together.

It was such a thrilling imagination that I couldn’t help but smile.

***

Tricia, where the territorial war was taking place, was sandwiched between Ravena,
Ludwig’s territory, and Pizarro, Riegelhoff’s territory.

The lord of Tricia was out for blood, having been forced to surrender his estate to the
Riegelhoffs, but unfortunately for him, the victory had been tilted in favor of the Ludwigs
from the start.

“This time, an armored cavalry corps and an infantry division appeared from behind
Mount Roseto and flanked our troops, resulting in a heavy defeat.”

“Duke Ludwig is probably the best in the Empire when it comes to tactics.”

“Cliff Ludwig and Killian Ludwig are knights beyond their father. It’s hard to believe they’ve
never fought a war.”

As one despairing report after another came in, a grim mood settled over Count
Riegelhoff’s camp.

Count Riegelhoff’s usually immaculately groomed hair was disheveled, a few strands
falling across his frowning brows.
“Bastards! They’ve deceived us so thoroughly. Is this the way to treat your ally?!”

Count Riegelhoff was outraged by the fact that Duke Ludwig had been hiding their military
power from them while he had been deceiving them at the same time.

Even though he should be blaming himself for being confident that he fully understood
the current state of Duke Ludwig before starting the territorial war.

Shane was equally surprised.

He’d always looked down on Cliff for being lucky enough to be the heir to the dukedom,
seeing no difference between him and himself.

But the Cliff they met on the battleground was a monster.

Rumors that he resembles the previous Duke Ludwig, who led the war against the Janok
Kingdom to victory, do not seem to be false.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

Realizing the gap between himself and Cliff as the days went by was not a pleasant
experience at all.

Even Cliff’s brother Killian was far superior to Shane.

In one particular battle, Shane’s entire soldiers had crumbled under Killian’s hooves.

“This is Edith’s brother? I can’t believe it.”

Killian’s scornful voice echoed in his head like a nightmare.

‘You arrogant bastard……! I will bring you to your knees at any cost!’

Shane gritted his teeth along with Count Riegelhoff.

And just then, a letter arrived from Sophia.

– Miss Edith does not seem to be willing to cooperate to the end. Perhaps it would be
better to trust that unknown helper.

His Excellency Archduke Langston has made arrangements for his residence in the capital.

He asks you to hang in there, because sooner or later, the imperial throne will fall into his
hands.

When Count Riegelhoff finished reading the letter, his eyes gleamed conspiratorially.

“I suppose you can find out nothing more about this unknown helper inside the Ludwig
mansion.”

“It appears so. With Duncan kicked out as well, it’s even harder to determine this man’s
identity.”

They were still thinking about the mysterious person who had contacted them, offering to
help them, not long before they had declared war.

Duncan, the spy they had planted in the Ludwig mansion, had been discovered, severely
beaten, and thrown out as soon as the Riegelhoffs had declared war.
It was as if they already knew his identity.

Even Edith had rejected the last offer, and while the Count was wondering what to do, a
letter arrived.

– I work at the Ludwig mansion. If you’re trying to bring down the Duke, I’d like to lend a
hand.

I can’t reveal my identity, but you’d be better off trusting me than your daughter.

At first, the Count was skeptical of the sender’s identity.

But he seemed genuine.

He detailed the number of knights and occupants left at the mansion, and he offered to
install sleeping incense and a door lock prevention device.

However, it is said that the anti-lock device was discovered and removed by someone.
“His Excellency the Archduke Langston is ready, and we can’t put it off any longer. We
must trust this man.”

“Very well, then I will ride up to the capital tonight under cover of darkness.”

“You must not fail, understand?”

“Don’t worry!”

Telling no one, not even the knights, and taking only one of his closest confidants with
him, Shane sneaked off to the capital that night.

Unlike the tense and gloomy Riegelhoff’s camp, Ludwig’s camp was in a relaxed mood.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Is it even worth the trouble? They’re so bad it’s starting to get boring.”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

“Yes! Understood.”
After thanking the knights and returning to his barracks, Cliff took off his heavy armor and
stretched lightly.

He stood still, scanning his surroundings for any sign of presence, then swept his hand
under his bunk.

The envelope dangled from his fingertips.

“It’s already here.”

It was the envelope containing the report from the investigator Cliff had hired and Lize’s
letter.

Cliff opened Lize’s letter first.

– I miss you, Cliff,

How are you doing? All those stories about the territorial war are unsettling, to say the
least.
You really aren’t hurt, are you?

I’m always praying for your health and victory.

The mansion is peaceful.

The Duchess is heading up the duchy with aplomb, and the butler and knight leader are
taking care of the mansion and its defense.

Edith and I have been checking the doors of the mansion every night.

The first time I ran into her, I was a little surprised because I wasn’t expecting it, but now
it’s routine.

Edith is also very anxious, and in addition to checking the doors, she walks around the
mansion to make sure nothing is out of place.

When Cliff finished reading Lize’s letter, he immediately opened the investigator’s report.
– Sophia, Shane Riegelhoff’s closest confidante and former maid to Edith Riegelhoff, has
contracted with a mercenary organization under an assumed name.

The force is likely to operate within the capital, with Shane Riegelhoff presumably
stepping forward to lead the mercenaries.

There are also suspicious movements on the part of Archduke Langston. The target is the
imperial palace.

“That’s why I couldn’t see Shane since the day before yesterday.”

Cliff then sneaked to the Duke’s barracks late at night with two letters in hand.

He’d called ahead to let him know he was coming, and the Duke was waiting for him with
his lantern dimmed.

“What’s the matter, Cliff?”

“First, this.”

Cliff showed the Duke the investigator’s report first.

The Duke’s eyes quickly turned vicious as he read the report that Shane was up to no
good.

“Do you think this mercenary force will outnumber the mansion’s defenses?”

“Shane isn’t stupid, so he’s probably contracted a fairly large mercenary force, but fifty
men at most. The knights I left at the mansion total seventy, and there are quite a few
servants, so they should be able to hold them off…… but if he has any allies inside the
mansion, that’s a different story.”

Cliff handed the Duke the letter from Lize as well.

“Lize doesn’t seem suspicious, but don’t you think it’s a little odd that Edith is wandering
around the mansion?”

“It certainly is……”

“I think they’re trying to target the mansion.”

The Duke clenched his teeth at Cliff’s speculation.

“How shameless. They don’t know a bit about honor as a nobleman, and they’re going to
do it like a pack of wild dogs.”
“It was wrong from the start to allow such men to have the right to distribute iron ore.”

Duke Ludwig, who had never gotten along with the Riegelhoffs, had been keeping an eye
on them ever since they had gotten the iron ore rights.

He deliberately treated them as friends, keeping them close and under surveillance, and
manipulating the forces around them to make sure they didn’t abuse their power.

Nevertheless, the Riegelhoffs succeeded in every investment they made and amassed an
enormous fortune.

“Edith’s contribution to the growth of the Riegelhoffs was significant.”

“Their investments were successful because of the information she collected.”

“Do you know how I felt when I pushed Killian to marry such a woman? I’ll probably carry
that guilt with me until I die. Still, it’s spilled water, and to betray us like this after we tried
to accept her……”

Cliff didn’t bother to mention that Killian was getting along surprisingly well with Edith.

He didn’t want to sway his father’s resolve when it was something he’d have to deal with
anyway.

CHAPTER 107
“I will go back to the mansion. If you send Killian, he might be swayed by a little affection.”

The Duke nodded, granting Cliff’s request. “Sure. Killian has a soft spot in his heart. Even if
she’s the daughter of an enemy, he might pity her.”

He added, “In any case, this territorial war will be over soon. This will be their last stand,
so don’t let your guard down. A cornered mouse will bite a cat.”

“I understand. Don’t tell Killian about this.”

“Okay. I’ll tell him I sent you back because I think there’s trouble brewing with the
imperial family. You must leave quietly, at least for tonight.”

“Yes, father. I’ll see you in the capital later.”

Cliff finished his secret talk with the Duke, and then he and his troops left quietly for the
capital.

***
News of the territorial war varied from newspaper to newspaper, making it difficult to
know exactly what was happening, but it was clear that Duke Ludwig had the advantage.

However, public opinion in society was not all in favor of the Emperor.

There were quite a few agitators on the side of Archduke Langston.

“I did not hope for this to be the result of my long absence from the party.”

The Duchess sighed lowly as she made her way to the venue of today day’s party, the
mansion of Windham.

As Princess Catherine had said, people were more familiar with Count Riegelhoff and
Archduke Langston, whose people popped up here and there, than they were with the
Duke of Ludwig, who was rarely seen in social circles.

This began to sway the neutrals, and eventually the Duchess, Lize, and I decided to attend
the party.

“The Sinclairs will also be there today. So Lize, don’t leave my side.”

“Yes.”
Lize was nervous, but she was trying her best to look nonchalant.

“And Edith…… are you sure you’ll be all right?”

Even before leaving the mansion, the Duchess had been asking if I would be okay.

“Both factions will attack you,” she added.

I know.

“The longer I hide, the more they’ll point their fingers at me. As I’m the daughter of Count
Riegelhoff and the daughter-in-law of Duke Ludwig, I’ll have to face it, sooner or later.”

I repeated what I had been saying since yesterday. If the Duchess keeps asking, even after
hearing the same answer, it must be because she herself is worried.

To be honest, I don’t want to go either.

I don’t think I’d enjoy being in front of a bunch of people who would want to tear me
apart.

‘But it’s about time Shane showed up.’

I don’t want to be alone in the mansion and have to face Shane.

And surely, they’d accuse me of opening the door to the mansion.

‘I feel like I’m going into a fox’s den to escape a tiger.’

I steeled myself, barely holding back the sigh that threatened to escape.

I’m not usually the type of person to just ignore someone who starts an argument with
me, but today I hope I can come up with a more reasonable response.

When we arrived at the mansion of Count Windham, the hall was packed.

It seems like everyone came when they heard Duchess Ludwig would be attending.

“We are honored to have you, Duchess Ludwig.”

Social misfortune does not spell disaster for all members of society.

The Emperor and his uncle are vying for power and somewhere in the empire, there’s a
territorial war going on. Thanks to this, the Windhams, who have Duchess Ludwig at their
party, seem very happy.

“Thank you, Countess Windham, for graciously accepting my presence at such short
notice.”
The Duchess thanked the Countess with dignity and grace, without any hint of arrogance.

With the Duchess’ appearance, the hall became a bit crowded.

It seems that the houses that have yet to take sides are taking notice.

But it seems that I, coming along with the Duchess, was more noticeable to those who had
already taken sides.

“My goodness, she’s bringing Edith Riegelhoff……!”

“What does that mean? Is House Ludwig going to keep Lady Riegelhoff until the end?

“No way, they’ve become complete enemies……”

I had forgotten that in the world of Rofan, one talks behind one’s back within earshot of
the other party.

I couldn’t help but smile nonchalantly, thinking that this evening was going to be very
eventful indeed.

But Duchess Ludwig, contrary to what I had feared when she came here, was not
bothered by the chatter.
Instead, she stood proudly with me and Lize on either side of her.

“You must be worried about your husband and sons.”

“It’s not like they’re going off to fight a big war. It’s just a chance for my sons to get some
hands-on experience.”

The nobles around her clucked their tongues at the casual answer, as if she had sent her
sons on a field trip.

And at the Duchess’ boldness, those who supported the Duke of Ludwig seemed quite
reassured.

‘It’s about time someone strikes back……’

I thought to myself as I enjoyed the banquet, which was so peaceful.

And as if waiting for me to think this, someone pretended to know me.

“Oh, it’s been a long time, Miss Edith.”

From Edith’s recollection, she is the young lady of a Viscount family close to House
Riegelhoff.
“Ah…… It’s been a long time, Miss Clara.”

“How come you haven’t come to any parties all these years? You’ve turned down every
invitation, and…… have you been locked up?”

The question was asked jokingly, but there was a thorn in it.

“Of course not, I’m married to the second son of House Ludwig, so I’ve been busy learning
all sorts of things and haven’t had much time to spare.”

“Oh, I see, I’m so glad to see you. Since it’s been so long, I suppose you’ll at least say hello
to some of your old friends; they’re all waiting for you over there.”

What she was pointing at was a group of young ladies whose families supported Archduke
Langston, smiling in this direction.

‘Oh, how a smiling face can be so eerie.’

Despite the smiling mouths, the eyes were filled with hostility.

They were old friends, but they were a bunch of people who had banded together out of
necessity, and no matter how much I searched Edith’s memories, I knew very little about
them.
“Thank you for greeting me first, Miss Clara.”

“You’re welcome. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to take you over there……”

“This is my mother-in-law, the Duchess of Ludwig, as I’m sure you know.”

I introduced Clara to the Duchess without giving her any room to drag me along.

“Ah, uh, yes. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Excellency.”

“Are you a friend of Edith’s?”

I answered, “Yes. A friend with whom I used to socialize in my maidenhood. Ah! By the
way, you live near Viscountess Boris over there, don’t you? Come this way. I’ll introduce
you to Viscountess Boris.”

“Oh, no, I……!”

I turned a deaf ear to Clara’s protests and pulled her in front of Viscountess Boris.

Viscountess Boris is a zealous follower of the Duchess, and as soon as I took Clara along,
she shot her a fierce glare.

“Oh my, look who it is.”

“Hello, Madam Boris, this is my old friend Clara, daughter of Viscount Sheldon. I see you
live near the Sheldon estate, so perhaps you’re already acquainted.”

Clara, who had tried to drag me towards the faction of the Archduke Langston, now
turned pale.

Sensing my intentions, Viscountess Boris glanced at me with a knowing glance before

turning to Clara and smirking.

“Sure, we are neighbors, aren’t we, Miss Clara?”

“Y- yes…… we are……”

I flashed Clara my brightest smile, then turned to Viscountess Boris.

“I’m a little short on time because I have to take care of my mother, so I was wondering if
Madam Boris could introduce Miss Clara to the other ladies?”

“I- I’m fine!”

Clara protested, but I and Viscountess Boris didn’t even pretend to hear her.
“Oh, very well, then, Miss Clara. Follow me, and I’ll introduce you to some ‘really’
dignified, cultured ladies.”

“Opportunities like this don’t come often, Miss Clara. Don’t forget to thank Madam Boris.”

I lightly dodged Clara’s hand that was trying to grab me, waved to her, and returned to the
Duchess’ side.

I glanced in the direction of the group of people Clara had tried to bring me to, and saw
that they were pacing back and forth, looking quite flustered.

‘Did you think I would let myself be dragged along?’

Perhaps they were trying to piss off the Duchess or indicate that Edith, the Duke of
Ludwig’s daughter-in-law, was on the side of the Archduke of Langston, but it was too
shallow.

When the kids failed, it was time for the older nobles to step up.

“Well, well. Edith, you’ve been through a lot, I can’t believe you’ve become this thin in a
year……”

A gentleman with a pleasant face approached, looked at me pitifully, and took my hand.
According to Edith’s memory, he is a Viscount close to Count Riegelhoff and a man who
had been lusting after Edith for years.

“I appreciate your concern, Viscount Bartlett, but you shouldn’t hold my hand like that
when I’m already another man’s wife.”

She said it with a smile, but firmly withdrew her hand from the old man’s grasp.

He looked surprised for a moment, but then said in a nonchalant manner, “Alas, I see you
are under Duchess Ludwig’s eye; but how many years have I known you? You know well
enough that I regard you as my own daughter.”

Then he tried again, more shamelessly, to take my hand while attempting to put his
around my waist.

All contents are provided by non-affiliated third parties.

CHAPTER 108

‘Wherever you go, there are always shameless old beasts.’

It was a favorite tactic of the “older men” I’d encountered countless times in my previous
life.

The excuses were always the same.

It’s a joke, you are like my own daughter, or my niece……

This one was even trying to disgrace House Ludwig by molesting me in front of Duchess
Ludwig.

‘This is a double hit, huh?’

I grabbed Viscount Bartlett’s wrist, which was now near my waist.

“Once you’ve been warned, Viscount Bartlett, you’ll have to save yourself. Have your ears
gone deaf?”

“E- Edith!”

“Or did you think it was time, now that neither Duke Ludwig nor his sons are here? How
dare you lay a hand on the Duke’s daughter-in-law? Do you want your wrist cut off?”

“What do you mean?! How can you do this to me, an uncle whom you have known so
long?”

“Even my father doesn’t touch me, let alone an uncle, how shameless of you.”

I confronted him head-on, but was careful not to raise my voice.

If I yelled, he would surely accuse me of making a fuss.

Instead, I tried to keep my voice low, but firm and straightforward.

It was probably obvious to those around me what was going on.

And the Duchess did not pretend to be oblivious to my predicament.

“Viscount Bartlett.”

A regal voice, clearly out of my league.

“Du- Duchess. You are mistaken!”

“Don’t worry, I’m not misunderstanding you in the slightest.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Edith has been a bit mentally unstable since she was a little girl, and
she’s been known to make a fuss sometimes.”

There’s nothing this guy can’t say.

I was about to shoot back, but the Duchess held a hand out in front of me, stopping me.
“You misunderstand, Viscount,” she said, “I said that because I saw what you did earlier, I
know all about why Edith was angry.”

“Even the Duchess is doing this? Women these days can’t take a joke……!”

“Didn’t you have some fun with your mills, Viscount Bartlett?”

I quickly added next to her, “We own large mills on the Bartlett estate and in the capital.
They are supplied with wheat from the Magpie estate.”

“Hmm, what if the House Magpie borrowed some money from us, and the reason they
can’t extend repayment is because of Viscount Bartlett?”

She’s not just threatening one person, she’s threatening their entire family, their entire
estate, and their entire business. The alpha female is always right.

“I- I’m sorry about that. I, uh, had a little too much to drink. Hahaha……”

Viscount Bartlett shuffled away, sweating profusely.

The Duchess, who hadn’t taken her eyes off him the entire time, looked at me
sympathetically once he was completely out of sight and said, “You must have had a lot of
men like that bothering you……”
I just sighed lowly and smiled bitterly.

Today is the first time I’ve been directly harassed, but I wonder how many times the
original Edith must have been harassed.

And she wouldn’t have said a word back.

If something like this happened to her, she would have been accused of being lustful.

‘But I’m not going to be taken advantage of in the future.’

I decided to be strong, not just for myself, but for the sake of Edith in the original story.

Fortunately, after the failure of the young lady and the disgraced retreat of the old
viscount, the Archduke of Langston’s faction did not rush to me.

Instead, I could feel several of those Emperor’s faction casting me sneering glances.

“My, my, what courage, to think of coming along with the Duchess.”

And here. One young lady decided to start a fight directly.

“Hello, Lady Sinclair.”

“Hmph.”

Leila Sinclair, who walked past me, smiled brightly and stepped to the Duchess’ side.

She gave the Duchess the most polite curtsy she could muster and asked how she was
doing, as if I was invisible.

‘But I won’t let her get away with it, not when she’s trying to take my place.’

Leila seemed willing to endure the humiliation of bowing to Lize for the sake of being next
to Killian.

“It’s been a long time, Lize.”

She greeted Lize, who stood stiffly at the Duchess’ side.

“……it’s been a long time, Sister Leila.”

“Lize. I know it’s too late, but even now I want to beg your forgiveness. I know I’ve been so
mean to you.”

Of course you know. You meant to be mean, and you did, how could you not realize it?!

“Sister……”
“I was so young and immature then, and I was afraid that you would steal my father’s
love.”

Leila took out a handkerchief and pressed it to the corners of her eyes. If she pressed like
that, tears that weren’t there to begin with would come out.

“I’m not going to ask you to forgive me right away. Slowly is fine…… we are sisters after
all.”

Lize looked at the Duchess hesitantly before giving a small nod.

Of course, it would be hard to shake her head no in this situation.

‘You’re surprisingly clever, Leila.’

She is also good at manipulating Lize.

“But I wonder……”

Leila glanced in my direction, then back to Lize, looking concerned.

“Are you okay? I know I’m late asking how you are, but I heard a rumor that you got in
trouble because of someone.”
“Yes? Who……?”

Lize tilted her head, unable to comprehend at once.

Then Leila took a step closer to her and whispered something in her ear.

Only then did Lize’s gaze dart to me and then away.

‘You decided to use Lize to get rid of me? Isn’t this a too much twist to the original story?’

I can’t believe Leila of House Sinclair, who remained Lize’s enemy until the end, changed
her stance so quickly.

Before I could say anything, I was gritting my teeth but the Duchess spoke up for me again.

“Miss Leila. Where did you hear that?”

“Sorry?”

“I thought you might have gotten it wrong.”

“Well, I don’t think so, for apparently someone said that Miss Edith nearly killed Lize,
though I forget where I heard it.”
“Even if that’s true, it’s a very confidential matter within our family, and it wouldn’t have
reached your ears, unless someone had planted a spy or something.”

The Duchess spoke as if she’d heard a funny joke, and it left Leila speechless.

‘The Duchess is looking very cool today.’

I smiled at Leila with a look that said, ´Where did you hear that? You’re so funny´

Leila’s smug, triumphant face instantly contorted.

‘She needs to work on her facial expressions.’

But as if realizing my thoughts, Leila snorted and attacked again.

“Yeah, I guess the rumor started because the young lady of House Riegelhoff is in a place
where she doesn’t belong.”

She said it a little louder so that the people around her could hear.

The people who were still looking at me with unfriendly eyes nodded in agreement.
‘This atmosphere, isn’t this something that even the Duchess can’t get over in a carefree
manner?’

It wasn’t just one person, but many nobles from the Emperor’s faction were watching.

But then, a savior appeared.

“You should apologize to Miss Edith for saying baseless rumors.”

It was the Princess Catherine.

“Y- Your Highness……!”

“It’s a rumor I’ve heard, too, but from what I’ve been able to ascertain, it was set up by
someone to frame Miss Edith.”

“Is that so?”

“Besides, Miss Edith isn’t a Riegelhoff anymore. She’s Edith Ludwig, isn’t she?”

Leila didn’t answer that question. She just clenched her molars and lowered her gaze.

However, Princess Catherine’s personality was not gentle enough to pay close attention to
other people’s feelings.
“Miss Leila Sinclair. Did you not hear me, or do I need to say it again?”

“N- no, you are right, Your Highness.”

Her voice sounded firmly offended.

Princess Catherine snorted at Leila’s haughty demeanor and leaned closer to her.

“I’ve heard that there’s a force disrupting the cohesion within the Emperor’s faction these
days…… is it Count Sinclair?”

“Sorry? N- no, absolutely not, Your Highness!”

“Then do not be greedy. Killian Ludwig is not a man you can easily touch.”

Princess Catherine already knew that Leila was aiming for the seat next to Killian.

Just as she was about to turn to Lize and me, Leila suddenly asked, “Is Sir Killian Ludwig a
man that Edith Riegelhoff can easily touch?”

Evidently, her ego and pride had overcome her fear.

And to answer that question, no, he’s not an easy man for me, either, so he won’t be any
easier for you.

But Princess Catherine gave a very interesting answer, perhaps to take my side.

“Can’t you see it? He’s in love with Edith. I’ve been friends with him for 18 years, and I’m
still surprised every time I see him.”

I know she’s sticking up for me, but it’s so…… so embarrassing. Especially in front of Lize,
Killian’s longtime crush, and Killian’s mom……!

CHAPTER 109

‘Killian is not really in love with me, he’s just physically attracted to me!’

I am his first woman, his first experience, and he’s feeling a little responsible for me.

It’s probably the first time in Killian’s life that he’s ever done this, so I can understand
Catherine’s misunderstanding to some extent, but it’s embarrassing…… too embarrassing.

“Yes? He’s in love?”

The incredulity in Leila’s voice made me glance over at her, then I locked eyes with the
surprised Lize.
Lize, please stop looking like that……

“Why? You don’t think so? Do you think you know Killian better than I do?”

“I- it’s not like that……”

“Do you know how dirty his personality is? Oh, dear, the Duchess is here.”

“That’s okay. I know Killian’s personality well.”

What does the Duchess know?

“I’m glad to hear you know too, Duchess. Anyway, Killian is not the kind of man to go
around with anyone he doesn’t like, even if it is his wife. He’s even told me that he didn’t
like me, a princess.”

Princess Catherine shook her head and continued, “But that kind of man came forward
against me, a princess, to stand up for his wife, saying I was a bit harsh on her. Do you
know what that means?”

I could see Leila’s clenched fists trembling.

She said nonsense out of nowhere, but I hope she realized that one of the characters in
this story was standing right beside her.

Princess Catherine suddenly turned her head this way. “Why are you so quiet, Edith?”

Princess Catherine asked as if I was waiting for this to happen, when in fact I was very
embarrassed.

“Stop acting like you don’t know, and tell me, how hot is the relationship you and Killian
have?”

Talk about what? What’s hot?

Princess Catherine seemed friendly, but I was a little confused if she was on my side or
not.

“Ha, haha…… I don’t have such low self-esteem that I have to go around talking about it.”

“What? Hahaha!”

Princess Catherine laughed out loud.

Beside her, Lize looked around with an awkward smile on her face, and Leila was shaking
with rage. What a perfect cacophonous trio.
“I’ve been thinking about you since last time, Edith, and I really like you. A man, a woman,
should have the guts and the spirit you have.”

Princess Catherine continued to giggle, and then suddenly her eyes widened. “Ah! Is that
why Killian fell in love with you?”

Well, you’ll have to ask him that when you meet him, but for now, I’d like you to stop
using the word ‘love’.

“Regardless of whether Sir Killian has fallen for her or not, surely we should draw the line
now that we’re fighting the Riegelhoffs.”

As Layla, who had tried to attack me, was ready to retreat, Damien showed up and said so.

“Lord Sinclair, you know, there’s been a lot of intermarriage between noble families
throughout history, and when a family fights, the woman always belongs to her husband’s
side. So by that definition, Edith is already a Ludwig.”

I’ve never been so happy to see how the old-fashioned family ties work.

But Damian didn’t give up.

“Arranged marriages are made when there’s something to be gained from both parties.
But what more do the Ludwigs, and we, the Emperor’s faction, have to gain from House
Riegelhoff? It’s something we need to get rid of before it becomes more complicated.”

Well…… it was very rude of him to say that in front of the concerned person.

And I wasn’t the only one thinking that.

The Duchess frowned for the first time today.

“Sir Damien Sinclair, how many more times are you going to cross the line? I’m here, my
daughter-in-law is here, who do you mean to get rid of?”

“Oh, I apologize, madam. I was referring to Count Riegelhoff. I had no intention of

offending you.”

He bowed her head before the Duchess like a docile lamb.

However, it was clear that it was a great help to Leila.

Leila, who had just been shivering, was now glaring at me with a vicious stare.

‘She may also be a villainess, but I’m a little jealous that she has such a brother.’
At least Leila could lean on her brother.

‘I got pushed down a flight of stairs to my death while being ripped off by my brother, and
even though I was reincarnated in another world, I still have a trashy brother. Sheesh.’

For some reason, I feel jealous.

“You completely treat people like tools and means. You’ve been telling me I’m a hostage,
that I’m about to expire, that I need to be rid of……”

“Ha! I have no intention of hurting the Duchess’ feelings, but I must say what I have to say:
if you are not even worth it, how can you be the House Ludwig’s daughter-in-law?”

“Aha! I suppose that’s why you were so mean to the lovely Lize, too, because you didn’t
think she was worth it?”

“T- that’s……!”

Damien panicked, as if he’d been caught off guard.

And I had no intention of missing that opportunity.

“Okay, let’s say I’m a hostage, as you say. Let’s say I’m no longer of any value to House
Ludwig. But whether or not I’m kicked out is a matter for Killian to decide, not for you to
discuss in public like this!”
“House Ludwig is the centerpiece of the Emperor’s faction! They have a certain amount of
responsibility……!”

“Can you say that directly to Killian?”

For a moment, the whole place fell silent.

It was clear that everyone was thinking of the cold and sharp Killian.

Killian, who had never smiled at anyone but Lize at any banquet, and whose sword skills
were on par with Cliff’s.

“Killian may be a bit prickly, but he’s a very wise and level-headed man. Trust his
judgment, I’m advising you for your own safety.”

Damien glared at me, then said, “Right. So…… I’ll look forward to the day when he makes a
wise decision.”

Afterward, Damien and I clinked our champagne glasses, smiling as if we had never glared
at each other before.

Only then did the people around us let out the breath they had been holding and started
chatting.
I could finally hear the music in the ballroom.

“As expected of the woman Killian chose.”

Princess Catherine slid up beside me, still giggling.

‘Isn’t she close to Lize? Why is she doing this to me?’

I sweat inwardly, smiling at her and thanking her for her help.

“The Sinclairs are being mean to you, for obvious reasons,” she said.

“Because…… Killian is an attractive man.”

“Only that fool Leila Sinclair would have eyes for Killian, but it’s not just Killian that Count
Sinclair or Damien Sinclair are after. It’s the House Ludwig itself.”

As expected, she’s not just a pretty face. Despite her harsh demeanor, Catherine has a
knack for keeping things in perspective.

“House Ludwig? That won’t be easy.”

“I know. I’m talking about the Sinclairs’ delusions. Leila takes Killian, Lize marries Cliff, and
the next thing you know, they’re suddenly claiming Lize as the Count’s daughter.”
I nodded wordlessly.

It’s not wrong, actually. Lize is the daughter of Count Sinclair, after all.

“So I’m counting on you to keep a firm grip on Killian, because I’m not going to let those
same people who persecuted Lize live to tell the tale.”

“I’ll try.”

Catherine and I looked at each other and smiled.

“By the way, I told you to come to the palace often, but why–”

Princess Catherine was about to say something more personal, but the ballroom door
suddenly opened, and the imperial trumpeter blew his trumpet loudly.

However, it was not a sound that announced the arrival of someone.

“Stop the banquet!”

Someone shouted, and the imperial knights rushed into the ballroom, surrounding us on
all sides.
Then a man who looked like an imperial official rushed in and reported to Princess
Catherine.

“An attempted assassination of His Majesty the Emperor has just taken place in the
Imperial Palace.”

“What……?”

Princess Catherine, and everyone around us, were stunned.

“Who? Did you catch the culprit?”

The man whispered in her ear, just enough for her to hear, and her expression turned
cold.

“Okay. I must return to the palace immediately.”

The ballroom quickly descended into chaos, but the imperial knights quickly cleared the
room and made a list of everyone who had attended the banquet, identifying them one by
one.

They told everyone to go home and wait for further instructions.

“Uh, what happened?” Lize asked in an uneasy voice as she clung to the Duchess’ arm.
The Duchess had a serious look on her face. “Everything will be fine, my dear. The imperial
official said it was ‘an attempted assassination’, meaning it failed, and since Princess
Catherine didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave, it doesn’t look like Her Majesty is too
badly hurt.”

I nodded.

‘If anything, they may have gotten proof that Archduke Langston was plotting treason.’

It’s also in the original story.

The assassination attempt was a long tail for Archduke Langston, and with evidence of
treason, Count Riegelhoff’s death sentence was well deserved.

‘In the original story, the attempted assassination of the Emperor and Shane’s raid on the
Ludwig mansion occurred at the same time…… At least I managed to prevent the Duchess
and Lize from being kidnapped. Thank God.’

CHAPTER 110

Maybe, just maybe, Shane would storm the Ludwig mansion like in the original story, but
since the Duchess and Lize weren’t kidnapped, my head wouldn’t be cut off.

I was relieved while everyone else was tense and anxious.

We were ushered into the carriage by the knights after having our identities checked.

I was even more relieved when the knight who had been sent to the mansion during the
identification process confirmed that everything was fine at the mansion.

‘So…… what will happen now?’

The worst was over, but I still hadn’t heard the voice tell me that I met the third exception
condition.

That means it’s not yet clear if I’m going to make it out alive.

“Edith. Don’t worry too much. Everything’s going to be okay.”

The Duchess must have seen the anxiety in my expression, because she soothed me.

I smiled awkwardly and nodded.

The carriage we rode in sped through the dark night.

Since we left the party faster than anyone else, the road back to the mansion was quiet.

The Duchess told me not to worry, but she herself couldn’t stop worrying, and Lize
chewed her lip, shaking with anxiety.
It was very quiet in the carriage, except for the loud squeak of the wheels.

‘That’s odd. Somehow, it seems too quiet……’

If only I could get rid of thoughts.

It was a wonder to me that my bad feelings were never wrong.

“W- who are you?!”

The escort shouted, and the carriage shook violently with a long horse whinny.

“Aahh!”

“W- what’s going on?!”

Lize and the Duchess shouted, hugging each other.

I, sitting across from them, leaned against the carriage wall to keep from falling over and
tried to look out the window.
The sharp sound of swords clashing pierced my ears, and I knew something bad was
happening.

‘No way……!’

I gasped, wrapping my arms around the Duchess and Lize as they hugged each other.

Just then, the carriage door burst open.

“It’s been a long time, Edith.”

“Shit……”

All sorts of expletives were running through my head.

It was, of course, Shane Riegelhoff who greeted me.

Even with the mask on, I couldn’t mistake his sinister eyes or his eerie voice.

‘I guess no matter how hard I try, if I can’t meet the third exception condition, major
episodes still happen……!’

It was hopeless.
And in the midst of it all, Shane grabbed Lize’s forearm.

“Come here!”

“Aahh!”

And then the carriage door on the other side from where Shane had entered opened, and
masked men pulled the Duchess and me out.

“Lize! Lize!”

The Duchess reached for Lize as she was dragged away by Shane, but the strength of the
trained mercenaries was no match for the older woman.

“Get your hands off her! Mother!”

I shouted at the Duchess, who was being dragged violently by the mercenaries.

“Let go of Lize! Lize! Lize!”

But the Duchess was looking at Lize, not me. It seems that all she can see is Lize.

Or maybe she realized it was Shane’s people and thought I couldn’t possibly get hurt.
‘I can’t let her think I’m in league with Shane!’

I struggled against the mercenary who held me and screamed, “How dare you do such
disrespectful things to the Duchess, aren’t you afraid of the consequences? Get your
hands off her!”

That’s when I saw Lize collapse to the ground. It didn’t look like Shane had hit her; she
must have fainted from fear.

“What are you doing?! Lize has nothing to do with this! Let her go!”

“Quiet!”

As the Duchess struggled, one of the mercenaries dragging her struck her hard on the back
of the neck, and she crumpled to the ground.

“Mother!”

My cry did not reach her. It only enraged Shane, who was dragging Lize.

“Mother? Haha, have you forgotten who your mother is? You ungrateful bitch!”

My head snapped around with a snap.

My ears were ringing and it felt like lightning had struck before my eyes.

Taking advantage of my staggering, Shane’s mercenaries tried to put the Duchess and Lize
into a carriage they had hidden.

Then, in the distance, I saw a group of knights riding toward us.

“Halt there!”

It was clearly the knights of House Ludwig.

“Help! Let go of me! Get your hands off me, you bastard!”

I struggled with every last ounce of strength I had, hoping to buy a little time.

There was only one mercenary holding me, and he missed my arm in his panic at my
sudden struggle.

But instead of running away, I tugged at the Duchess, who was almost dragged up into the
carriage.

“This bitch! You won’t give up until the end……?!”

Even in the darkness, I could see Shane’s eyes burning with rage.
He pushed Lize into the carriage and then ran straight for me, punching me in the face
with his fist.

“Ack!”

I let out a strange cry and sprawled on the ground.

Shane kicked me in the stomach as if he really wanted to kill me on the spot, and I blacked
out in excruciating pain.

Before I lost consciousness, I thought I heard someone calling me, “Miss!” in the distance.

***

I slowly opened my eyes, feeling very disoriented and frustrated.

My body ached all over as I came to my senses.

“Ugh…… ugh……”
The pain was so intense that I couldn’t help but groan.

But I quickly stopped myself when I noticed someone else next to me.

“You’re finally waking up, I was thinking of splashing water on you.”

My vision was blurry, but I recognized the person beside me. How could I forget that
voice?

“Sophia……”

“You remember me? I thought you’d forgotten all about me after you betrayed your
family so completely.”

“You were too impressive to forget……”

“Hahaha!”

Sophia laughed, sounding more happy than ever. No, actually, it was the first time I’d ever
heard her show her emotions like this. It was a laugh I’d heard before, but now her gleeful
emotion was almost goosebump-inducing.
“You’ll just have to wait a little longer. Once we get everything cleaned up, I’m going to
give you a nice little treat myself.”

I wasn’t looking forward to the ‘treat’ Sophia was going to give me. Now that she was free
from the constraint of having to smack me inconspicuously in areas covered by my
clothes, she would probably break my bones or make me bleed.

‘Please tell me this ‘cleanup’ thing is going to take a while.’

I glanced around to assess the situation.

It was dark, but not impossible to discern, and I could see the sunrise through the small
window.

‘Have I been unconscious all night……? Where the hell am I?’

The place looked like a prison, with high ceilings and stone walls everywhere.

Obviously, it wasn’t inside the Riegelhoff mansion.

It looked like a prison within a castle, probably the castle of an aristocrat of Archduke
Langston’s faction with an estate around the capital.

‘If not, it could have been rented for the purpose of this kidnapping…… Well, I’m sure Cliff
will find out anyway.’
If the episode where Lize and the Duchess are kidnapped occurs, the episode where Cliff
comes to their rescue will also occur without change.

So I am not too worried about Lize and the Duchess.

‘I’m worried about myself.’

I felt a chill run through my bones. My shoulder touching the floor didn’t feel sore from
being hit, but merely from the coldness of the floor.

The Duchess and Lize were still unconscious, and I had my hands tied behind my back.

But they were lying on an old blanket, not on the floor, because they were precious
hostages.

‘One, two, three…… six, with Sophia……’

But the group that attacked the carriage was clearly larger than six.

The rest were probably guarding the outside of the building.

“Ugh……”
The slightest movement of my body brought out a groan. White breath rose and fell in the
dark air.

I tossed and turned, trying to find a more comfortable position, but no matter how I
turned, it hurt.

Just then, the door burst open and Shane appeared. His gaze swept over Lize.

“Is Lize awake?”

“The Duchess and Miss Lize have not woken up yet, but our lady has.”

Shane snapped his head around to look at me as Sophia reported my condition.

“Sophia, watch your language. How is that woman ‘our lady’? She’s no one but a traitor!”

“I made a great mistake, I apologize.”

“In our house, she deserves to be treated no better than a mere laundry maid. And as for
her education, I trust you will take care of it, as always.”

“Leave it to me. Oh, by the way…… at what level shall I do it?”

“I don’t care if she dies or not; but before she does, let her regret it bitterly.”
Damn. I’m screwed.

Torture is a worse punishment than killing in one fell swoop.

“Cliff! Cliff, when the hell are you coming?!’

I don’t think I’ve ever been so desperate for Cliff since I was reincarnated as Edith.

He always comes when the female lead is in danger, but why isn’t he showing up? Is it
because it’s not time yet?

While I was wriggling like an earthworm on the floor, Shane knelt down in front of Lize,
grabbing her chin and lifting it slightly.

I heard a sigh that sounded somehow satisfied.

“You’re finally in my hands.”

The way he cupped her cheek, it wasn’t like he was dealing with a mere hostage.

‘What, what the hell? This guy has a crush on Lize?’

That fact alone was enough for Cliff to kill Shane.

I never once thought of Shane as handsome, because even though he was good-looking,
he always had a scary expression on his face. But for the first time, I saw him smile
pleasantly.

‘Hmm, he doesn’t look all that handsome when he smiles.’

It’s a creepy smile that looks like he’s about to do something bad.

Just then, there was a sound of someone approaching from outside.

CHAPTER 111

“We have finished cleaning up the surrounding area.”

Ah, that’s not good news for me at all.

“Good. Lock the Duchess in the first room. She’s a valuable hostage, so make sure she
doesn’t get hurt.”

A man who appeared to be a mercenary asked, pointing to Lize. “Are you going to lock her
in a separate room?”

“Oh, she’s not a hostage. She’s my booty.”

Ugh. I wonder how Cliff would kill Shane, would he just slit his throat, or split him in half
lengthwise……?

I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure he would split him in half lengthwise if he keeps going
like that.

No, this is not the time for me to be thinking about this.

I’m about to get beaten up by that crazy woman, Sophia.

“What about her?” The mercenary pointed at me.

“Take that bitch to the basement. I don’t want to hear her screaming around here.”

I felt goosebumps break out all over my body, even though I was cold.

From now on, “I Refuse Your Obsession” was going to be a horrifying thriller, not a
romantic fantasy.

“Move.”

At Shane’s command, the men around me picked me up and carried me out of the room.

Once we were out of the stone room, I could see my surroundings clearly.
‘Not a castle, probably an old villa outside the capital……’

There seems to have been a time when it was popular for aristocrats who had never
gotten their hands in the dirt but longed for country life to build farmhouse-style villas.

It looks like it was built at that time, but there were traces of people everywhere, even
though it was abandoned.

‘They must have bought an abandoned villa and used it to house and feed their
mercenaries.’

If we the hostages haven’t been found yet, it’s most likely that this is a fairly remote and
unexpected place.

Will Cliff get here before my bones break?

I sighed.

‘No. The way Shane looked at Lize earlier, he looked like he was about to do something.
But isn’t the rule in this world that the male lead appears right before the female
protagonist experiences something terrible?’

So that means Cliff is going to be here sooner or later.

‘Just hang in there, just hang in there……!’

I soothed my growing anxiety as we descended the stairs to the basement, my body

draped over the mercenary’s shoulder.

The basement was semi-subterranean, with a window at the top, but since it was still
dawn, it was dark.

The mercenary leading the way trudged along with a lantern and opened the door to what
appeared to be a storage room.

While he set one of the lanterns nearby, the mercenary with me strapped me into a chair.

It was a hard wooden chair with a terrible seat.

“Ah, ouch! Tie me up a little…… gently. I’m in pain and can’t move anyway.”

I begged the mercenary with tears in my eyes.

I assumed it was a failure because there was no change in expression on his impassive
face, but he tied me up much more gently than before.

Of course, I wasn’t lying when I said I can’t move.

My hands were tied behind my back, I realized how roughly I’d been handled, and my
shoulders ached. My joints felt like they were all out of alignment.

But this isn’t the time to whine about the pain.

“She’s not as good as the woman the captain took earlier, but she’s pretty good.”

The mercenary who had gently tied me up grinned from ear to ear as he grabbed my chin
and turned it from side to side.

My gratitude for him quickly faded.

‘Ugh, what should I do in times like this?’

The thought of being raped had never occurred to me before. Wouldn’t only the female
lead be spared from such a misfortune? What should I do?

“Ha, haha…… No way, my husband doesn’t even look at me.”

“Why? Does your husband have a lot of lovers? Or is that stunning woman his lover?”

“S- she is not his lover……”

She was his unrequited love.

“People in high positions may have the luxury to complain about the side dishes, but
people like us are good at picking them up unless they are very spoiled.”

His hands groped my neck and ears with increasing intensity, sending chills down my
spine.

Suddenly, the man watching asked, “By the way, do you have any idea who that woman is
who was taking orders from the captain earlier?”

“What? Sophia?”

“Her name is Sophia? The one with the black hair and the scary look.”

“Yes, she’s Sophia.”

“What kind of woman is she? She speaks in a very stern commanding tone, but judging by
her looks, she doesn’t appear to be a noblewoman.”

I braced myself, hoping that the topic of Sophia would be my chance to avoid this crisis.

“Is Sophia in command of you?”

“The captain is in command. Oh, by the way, what’s your relationship with the captain?”
“He’s…… my brother.”

“What?”

The men gasped, and the mercenary who was groping me quickly withdrew his hand.

“Your real brother?”

“Yes.”

“Ha…… I mean, what did you do to your brother that made you end up like this?”

I pressed my lips together and squeezed the tears from my eyes.

“Do any of you…… have siblings?”

The two men looked at each other and then nodded.

“Are you close?”

“Well, not bad.”

“I feed him.”

I felt both envious and angry at the same time.

These mercenaries who treat people’s lives as if they’re nothing more than throwaways
are good brothers to their siblings. Why am I the only one like this?

“You must both be good brothers, I’m envious of your siblings, I’m…… sob……”

More tears came to my eyes as I remembered my brother in my previous life, who kept
asking for my salary.

“That Sophia, she’s my maid, but as you can see, my brother is nicer to her than he is to
me.”

The mercenaries nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, that’s kind of weird, but it doesn’t seem like they’re in a relationship.”

“Sophia has a crush on my brother, and she’s a maid, and she’s also a…… mercenary.”

Both men let out a mocking chuckle at the same time.

“What, so a woman who isn’t even that different from us is playing it so cocky?”
“Oh, this is pissing me off. You know, back when we captured the hostages, she was
ordering people around on with her chin up, telling them to move this way, move that
way, like she was some kind of troop leader.”

The mercenaries didn’t seem to have any good feelings about Sophia.

I sobbed pathetically, hoping to win their sympathy.

“She’s been bullying me ever since I was a little girl, and when she saw that my brother
hated me, she took it upon herself to assault me. You don’t know how much I envied
those reliable brothers from other Houses.”

I didn’t feel tongue-tied or hear tinnitus as I told them about my past.

I don’t know if it’s because they’re insignificant extras or because I’m making up half the
story, but either way, it’s a green light. The mercenaries’ gazes took on a slightly pitying
glint.

“What’s so displeasing about such a pretty little sister……”

“My brother is a bit of a spoiled brat, you know that from experience, don’t you? He only
cares about himself and always speaks harshly.”

“Oh, I got used to that a long time ago.”

“I mean, we’re paid to do it, but it’s kind of offensive.”

Yay, we’re finally on the same page!

“My brother doesn’t even treat me like a sister. I got married for the sake of my family,
but my in-laws and my family suddenly fell out. Then he made some unreasonable
demands, like asking me to get information about them or install something in the
mansion.”

I exhaled once and scanned the mercenaries’ moods. Luckily, they were engrossed in my
story.

“But the Duke family wouldn’t have such lax defenses, and when my brother failed, he
called me a traitor, a worthless bitch…… sob…… and now he’s trying to kill me. How could
a brother do this to his sister?”

“I know. I think the captain is doing something wrong……”

For people whose job it is to kill people, they seemed to have a normal amount of
compassion.

“Sophia is coming to kill me, and I’m going to be tied up like this and brutally beaten to
death, and it’s so…… so unfair.”
They looked at each other and seemed to be contemplating something as I sobbed
helplessly.

Then the man with the lantern began to look outside, and the other man loosened the
rope around me. I could get my hands free.

“You know we can’t do much for you, don’t you? If we let you go now, that woman,
Sophia or whatever she is, will tie you up even tighter.”

“If you’re lucky enough to survive, untie yourself and run. This is Wellesley, south of the
capital, so when you get out, run north.”

The mercenaries were at least much more compassionate than Shane or Sophia, even if
they did briefly consider rapping me.

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you, so I’ll tell you one thing.”

“What?”

“The Knights of House Ludwig are going to be here any minute, so as soon as you get out
of here, run.”

The two men laughed at my advice.

“Come on, young lady. I know you’re desperate, but the knights don’t even know you’re
here.”

“The knights chased us earlier, but they lost us in the middle.”

I shook my head at them.

CHAPTER 112

“No, they’re already coming this way. Don’t take my words lightly, if you want to save
your life, please run. I’m telling you this for your brothers, who are counting on you. Cliff
Ludwig won’t spare…… anyone here, not even you.”

“But we don’t get paid until the job is done. We’ve only gotten a down payment.”

My impatience ran out. At this rate, even those who have done me small favors would fall
under Cliff’s brutal blade.

There were so few people who did me favors in this life or my previous one, and I wanted
to make sure they were spared.

‘Is there anything I can give to them now……?’

It wasn’t a jeweled dress I was wearing, and the hair ornaments were a corsage and
ribbons, so it couldn’t possibly be money.

I looked at what I wore and paused. I remembered the ruby necklace around my neck.
It hadn’t been taken from me yet, thanks to the dress that covered my neck.

It was a shame, since Killian had bought it for me. But if I blacked out, Sophia might take it.

Better to give it to these people than to that bitch.

“Hey, I have this…… necklace around my neck.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a good quality ruby and gold chain, it’ll be worth a lot of money if you sell it, so take it
and run.”

The two men looked at each other again and hesitated.

“It’s over when Sophia gets here, come on!”

At my urging, the man who had tied me up carefully lowered the neck of my dress and
pulled out the necklace.

“Take that and run right away. I don’t want the people who did me a favor to die, so just
go. And don’t argue over who gets what!”
They nodded stiffly and put the necklace into one of the mercenaries’ pockets.

Before they left the basement, they glanced back at me.

“E- excuse me……”

“What?”

“Um…… good luck.”

I smiled weakly at the awkward goodbye.

Nameless extras who wouldn’t even be mentioned in the original story.

But I know they have siblings they get along with, and I’ve just received a favor that might
just save my life.

“Good luck to you two.”

And as soon as they left, I heard another voice in the distance.

Unfortunately, it was a woman’s voice.

“What the hell took you so long?”

Sophia’s voice, openly disparaging of the mercenary, made me realize why the two men
had taken such a liking to me earlier.

‘It’s easy to build empathy when you have a shared enemy.’

I guess I should thank Sophia for that.

“Ah, haha. Don’t be too hard on me, I was just admiring the noble lady’s beauty.”

“Why are you, a hillbilly, fussing over how beautiful such a woman is?”

If I were that mercenary, I would feel bad hearing that.

In any case, the two men thought of me, and quickly disappeared without incurring
Sophia’s wrath.

I prayed they’d run straight without hesitation.

A few moments later, the wooden door swung open.

“Whoa, whoa. You look like shit. You should have taken it when Young Master Shane gave
you your last chance. Stupid wench.”

Perhaps because of Shane’s orders to treat me as less than a laundry maid, Sophia had no
respect for me, even in jest.

‘Anyway, I need to stall for time as long as I can.’

Cliff will be here soon. So if I stalled until then, I could end up without much of a beating.

I chewed my lip, took a small deep breath, and said, “Since this has come to this, let me
ask you something.”

“What?”

“Why do you hate me…… so much?”

Sophia’s face hardened at my question. I brought it up to soften the blow, but had I
offended her?

But then she snorted and laughed.

“I mean, I grew up with nothing but compliments.”

Ugh. Suddenly, Sophia’s narrative has begun, and I’m not so sure I want to know……

“I was the fifth child in a commoner family of three boys and four girls, and I was the
favorite of my parents.”

Why are you suddenly sharing your past……?

“I thought I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it. They say money can buy a noble
title, so I was going to be a noble one day and live a lavish life. I was confident.”

This is the kind of passionate, enterprising person that 21st-century South Korea would
love to have.

Yeah, yeah. Okay, that’s enough……

“But as I grew up, I realized that there are more important factors to success than being
talented.”

I just asked her to tell me why she hates me, but how long do I have to listen to this? Sure,
it’s serving the purpose of stalling, but it’s not really necessary.

Then, as if she noticed my distraction, Sophia pointed a finger at me and asked, “Do you
know what that is?”

“Uh…… I- I don’t know…… I guess, luck or background?”

I don’t think the questioner was looking for a textbook answer, so I blurted out a 21st-
century Korean self-deprecating answer.

The hard worker can’t beat the enjoyer, the enjoyer can’t beat the lucky, and the lucky
can’t beat the good.

“Ha! I guess this dumb bitch can still think, huh?”

Huh? Is that the right answer?

“Exactly. Luck, background, or blood. I’m so much better than you, but I’m just your maid,
and you’re so much dumber and more useless than me, but you’re lucky enough to be a
daughter of a Count.”

“What am I supposed to do for being born like this?”

“No. You were meant to be abandoned. You’re an illegitimate child and an orphan.”

“……what?” I asked, wondering if I’d misheard.

“Oh, by the way, you didn’t know, did you? Your mother is Count Riegelhoff’s dead sister,
and we don’t even know who your father is.”
Sophia looked quite happy, as if she thought I was mentally shocked to learn such a brutal
fact.

But I was just relieved to learn a little more about why Edith had been abused.

‘I am not Count Riegelhoff’s illegitimate child, but his sister’s. That explains why he treated
me so badly!’

That’s why they could say I lived because of “family favor,” because they had graciously
accepted a “family disgrace” into the Riegelhoff family who, in their view, deserved to be
discarded.

In any case, there’s no point in Sophia knowing I am fine with this fact.

I put on my best shocked face.

“S- so that’s why my father and brother were always beating me…… and why my mother
was so indifferent to me?”

“You can’t blame the Count and Young Master Shane, they’re the ones who made you the
daughter of a noble family when you should have been abandoned in an orphanage. You
were only beaten because you were incompetent. Do you understand?”

“I’ve been beaten since before I was fifteen! What kind of competence did they expect
from such a child?”
“Well, maybe it was because they thought of your mother who died giving birth to you.”

Sophia giggled in amusement, then suddenly stiffened, and the temperature drop was so
great that I wondered if she was going to beat me madly again.

“If I were Young Lady of Riegelhoff, I could be of much more benefit to Count Riegelhoff
than you, who can barely understand a word I say.”

“It wasn’t my decision that I became Young Lady of Riegelhoff, and that’s no reason to
hate me, it’s not my fault!”

At those words, Sophia, who had been glaring at me, slapped me across the face.

She slapped me so hard that the corsage on my head fell off.

“If you were competent, I wouldn’t have to feel this way, would I?”

I laughed weakly as I turned my head back toward her.

“Don’t be ridiculous. If that’s the case, you have no reason to hate Lize. You were just in
need of someone to take your anger out on for what you don’t have, so why are you
rationalizing it now?”
Sophia gritted her teeth, not realizing I’d caught her hating Lize.

“You and that girl deserve to be hated for sitting on seats you are not meant for! You’re
both filthy-born bitches!”

A searing pain shot through my cheek again, probably from being hit in the same place
over and over again, my nose was bleeding and I could taste blood in my mouth.

‘Shit, at least slap my cheeks in turn.’

My ears were ringing and my eyes were filled with tears.

But I could tell that the real beating was about to begin now.

Sure enough, Sophia rolled up her sleeves and picked up a horsewhip.

“Young Master Shane doesn’t deserve a lowly slut like that, a whore who lures men in
with her pretty face……!”

“Then…… who do you think suits him?” I asked nasally, lifting my tear-soaked eyelashes.

I continued, “You know all the noble ladies, would you approve of any of them becoming
Shane’s bride?”
Sophia’s hand holding the horsewhip trembled.

“If you can’t decide on one, at least call for a candidate.”

“Shut up!”

The whip swung and struck my forearm.

It hurt like hell, but I gritted my teeth. If I screamed out here that it hurt and stopped
talking, I’d only get whipped endlessly from then on.

“There’s no way you can do that. That’s what love is all about, isn’t it? No matter how bad
you are, you don’t want to see someone else take the person you love, do you?”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, you filthy bitch……!”

“You don’t love Shane? Can you swear to God that you’re okay with him being completely
someone else’s?”

Even in the darkness of the room, I could see Sophia’s glare.

CHAPTER 113

“You are talking nonsense. It’s not about my will.”

“Have you ever confessed? I mean, you’re the one who’s been with him all these years.”
“I’m not stupid enough to do something I know the consequences of.”

“Isn’t love, just the act of confessing it to someone, an absolute joy? To you, anything that
doesn’t work is worthless. I’m disappointed in you, Sophia, if you really think so.”

I said it to buy time, but the more I said it, the more it made me sick.

I added, “I know…… it’s not easy. I haven’t confessed yet either, and I’m hoping to do it
before I die……”

“Then it’s too bad. Because you’re going to die here today.”

“Well…… you should at least try to confess before you die. That’s the only way you’ll have
no regrets.”

I kept seeing Killian’s face before my eyes.

The way he used to look at me with nothing but contempt, the way he used to sneer at
me, the way he used to get angry and impulsive, and the way he used to smile softly at
me……

‘I should have at least confessed that I loved him.’

But I didn’t have the courage.

I always took a step back because I knew the original story. If Edith in the original had
been coldly rejected after begging for his love, I assumed the same would happen to me.

Killian is no longer the Killian of the original story……

‘If I’m rescued from here and see Killian again…… I’ll confess. Even if he rejects me, it’s still
meaningful to tell him how I feel.’

I’d been in a few relationships in my past life, but I’d never confessed my love.

No wonder. I didn’t date men because I loved them, but because I needed them.

I was content with the fact that they liked me, and I drew a line in the sand because I
didn’t know when they would leave.

Now, for the first time in my life, I want to confess.

“But I think you’d rather not confess, even if you had the chance.”

Sophia, who seemed to have regained her composure, smiled wickedly.

“You’re not under any illusions that Killian Ludwig is nice to you, are you? It’s all just a
play, don’t you know?”

“……what?”

“He ‘advertised’ that he was nice to Count Riegelhoff’s daughter so that he could fight
House Riegelhoff later without drawing suspicion.”

“Killian is not like that! Of course, I don’t expect him to love me, but–”

“You’ve been fooled, then. You’re still a fool.”

Sophia giggled. It was a laugh that made it clear she wanted to hurt me.

“We’ve already done the investigation, and the person who made the best use of your
‘billboard’ is Killian Ludwig.”

Sophia clicked her tongue as if she felt sorry for me.

“Sure, he’s handsome enough for you to be fooled, right? How is it now? Do you like the
result of betraying your family by giving in to such carnal desires? Do you like it?”

“No, Killian is–”

“You still haven’t come to your senses. It always takes a beating to wake you up.”

And suddenly the whip swung again.

With a snap, my other forearm tingled.

“Ahh!”

I screamed, but before the pain could fade, the whip was on me again.

“Ack!”

“If only you hadn’t betrayed us, Shane wouldn’t have gotten into so much trouble!”

A searing pain shot up my forearms and thighs at the same time as the nonsense.

‘Cliff, hurry up, please!’

I’ve never wanted to see Cliff this much.

But just as I was thinking of him so desperately, there was a loud crash outside.
The sound of something breaking, the pounding of footsteps, like people running, came
from the ceiling.

Then the door burst open.

“Sophia, we’re in trouble!”

Only then did the whipping, which had not stopped despite the noise upstairs, finally stop.

Sophia was just getting into the swing of things, and she was irritated to be interrupted
and ready to punch the man who had called her.

“I thought I told you not to call me unless it was something serious, what the hell is going
on?”

“They’re raiding!”

“What do you mean they?”

“The Duke of Ludwig’s men!”

My anxiety subsided when the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived.

‘The timing is right this time. Thank God.’

Sophia barely managed to contain her incredulity.

“What do you mean? How do they know where this place is?!”

“I- I don’t know about that!”

“Damn it! Where’s Shane?”

“I don’t know, I’m here to tell you…… so the other guy went to Shane.”

“We have to protect Shane! Hurry!”

Sophia shouted, turning to follow him out the door, then looked back at me.

“There’s nothing to be happy about, Edith, your death will only be delayed a little. Just
wait a little longer. I’ll kill all of them and then I’ll kill you.”

Then she punched me hard across the face.

A flash of light flashed before my eyes, and then I was engulfed in darkness.
***

Wellesley is off the beaten path, even on the outskirts of the capital.

Once upon a time, when the romance of rural life swept social circles, a few farmhouse-
style villas had been built, but since the fad had passed, the place had been deserted.

And the villa Cliff was looking at through the telescope now was just as plain, built in the
old-fashioned way, and seemed to have been abandoned for some time.

But the path in front of the villa, which should have been covered in leaves and bushes,
was clean as if someone had tended to it.

“I guess they didn’t think we’d find it this far out in the middle of nowhere.”

“They were too complacent.”

Cliff waited for the scout’s return, resisting the urge to storm in.

‘If only I had come to the capital a day sooner…… no, an hour sooner……!’
Cliff was already kicking himself for the umpteenth time for not having gotten to the
capital sooner.

When he arrived at the mansion, he was greeted with the news that the Duchess, Lize,
and Edith had been kidnapped.

Renon and a few knights had been outnumbered and missed the kidnappers, and Renon
was badly wounded and unconscious.

Cliff immediately hired informants and set them loose across the capital and waited. Three
hours later, a report came in on the suspected location.

He led the knights in the direction they were headed, and ended up in Wellesley.

He knew he couldn’t change what had happened, but he had to get Lize and his mother
before something happened to them.

“The scout is back!”

Luckily, the nimble and skilled scout managed to get back without being spotted and
quickly assessed the enemy’s situation.

“The building looks to be about two stories above ground and an attic, and there are quite
a few people inside. It looks like about forty to fifty mercenaries.”
“Weapons?”

“Swords, mostly.”

“Did any of them appear to be knights?”

“From what I’ve confirmed, no, sir. They lost a lot of knights in the territorial war, so they
probably couldn’t take them this far.”

After confirming the enemy’s strength, Cliff asked the question he was most curious
about.

“What is the status of the hostages?”

“They seemed to be locked up in different rooms, but……”

“What?”

“The Duchess and Lady Lize’s movements were captured, but Lady Edith was nowhere to
be seen.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. The men in the storage room on the first floor came out of there carrying the
Duchess and Lady Lize, but none of them carried Lady Edith.”

“As expected……”

Cliff clenched his fists. “I shouldn’t have trusted that woman, she was suspicious from the
start……!”

It made his blood boil, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

“Don’t give them a chance to escape with the hostages. They might try to secure their exit
by threatening my mother’s or Lize’s lives, so speed is of the essence.”

Cliff turned to one of the most skilled and stealthy of the knights and said, “You must save
my mother.”

“I will risk my life to save the Duchess!”

“Thank you. I’ll get Lize out of there.”

He turned to the knights around him. “I command you to launch an attack unconditionally
five minutes after I set out.”

“Yes!”
Cliff and the other knights wore black cloaks similar to Shane’s mercenaries, with hoods
covering their heads and faces.

“Let’s go.”

Cliff sped off into the dark woods behind the villa, and the rest of the knights behind him
began nervously timing themselves.

***

At that moment, Shane was happily looking at Lize who had finally come into his hands.

“Don’t do this. You’ll be punished.”

Lize, who had come to her senses shortly after Edith had been dragged to the basement,
was frightened, but she didn’t scream or cry.

Shane was tickled to the core by the sight of those big blue eyes shaking slightly.
“Truly, you are a beauty to gaze upon and I never get bored of it.”

His languid smile was creepy, and Lize pushed herself further into the corner.

But Shane remained calm, studying her carefully.

“The Ludwigs are the ones who stole the dukedom that should have been my family’s,
which means that Cliff is just a lucky bastard who got to be the heir to the dukedom.
Everything he enjoys should have been mine……”

Count Riegelhoff’s brainwashing from a young age, combined with Shane’s inferiority
complex, gave him a reason to rationalize all of his evil deeds.

And it created a little monster called Shane Riegelhoff.

“Of all of them, the one I want the most is you. Lize Sinclair, the most beautiful woman in
the capital.”

Lize crouched down and shook her head.

Shane smiled, finding even that adorable.

“I love you, Lize.”

Lize shook her head again, this time vigorously.

CHAPTER 114

“You don’t love me, you just admire my looks. What do you know about me that makes
you think you love me?”

“I’m sure Cliff falls for your looks anyway, so why are you in denial?”

“Cliff’s different! He knows who I am, he knows my weakest, ugliest self and he loves me
for it.”

Shane shrugged and laughed at Lize. “It doesn’t matter what, you’re going to be mine
today, and Cliff will have no choice but to give you up.”

He stood up and walked over to Lize.

“D- don’t come!”

“I’m in a bit of a hurry to make you mine, and I apologize if the place doesn’t suit you.
Please bear with me for today.”

It was at that moment that Lize went white as she saw his hand reaching out toward her.

-knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.

Shane, who was about to grab Lize’s forearm, frowned and turned toward the door.

“Who is it!”

Someone outside said urgently, “W- we’ve got a bit of a problem. I think you’ll need to
come out for a minute.”

Shane clicked his tongue and turned away from Lize, moving toward the door.

“What’s going on?”

And just as he opened the door, the person standing outside punched Shane hard in the
face.

“Ack!”

As he spun around, the man outside quickly entered the room, locked the door, and
punched Shane in the head as he crawled on the floor, knocking him out cold.

“C- Cliff……?”
Lize looked up from where she was cowering in the corner, shaking.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Lize!”

Cliff pulled down the hood that covered his face and rushed to Lize, wrapping his arms
around her slender body.

“Cliff! Cliff!”

Lize burst into tears and clung to him, her body shaking.

Cliff stroked Lize’s back, blaming Count Riegelhoff, Shane, and himself.

“Are you hurt?”

“N- no, but the Duchess……!”

“My mother will be fine, too.”

“And what about Edith?”

“I don’t know. I doubt if her safety was ever threatened.”

“What?”

Just then, there was a loud crash from outside and it suddenly became noisy.

“Right now, we need to get out of here first. Can you walk?”

“Yes!”

Lize clung to Cliff’s arm and barely stood up. Her legs were weak from the strain, but she
steadied herself as she walked.

Cliff ripped the knocked-out Shane’s cloak into pieces and tied his hands together.

“It must be terrible to be with this guy, but just hold on for a moment.”

He stood by the door, listening to the sounds outside, then burst open the door and ran
out.

Outside the closed door was a noisy jumble of clashing metal, desperate screams, the dull
thud of something hitting the floor, and shouting.

When it died down, the door opened again.

“I’m sorry, you were scared, weren’t you?”

It was Cliff, still sweet.

But the smell of blood wafted around him.

Cliff gestured toward Shane on the floor as a man like a knight of the Ludwig family
entered behind him, and the knight immediately pulled Shane to his feet.

“Let’s go, Lize.”

“Yes!”

Lize did as she was told, closing her eyes tightly and clinging to him.

With Lize in his arms, Cliff led the way outside, through the corridors strewn with bodies.

The soldiers who had finished their work were dragging the bodies outside, and on the
other side, a knight carrying the Duchess was approaching, guarded by other soldiers.

“What about the rest?”

“Perhaps because they were mercenaries, they ran away as soon as they realized the
situation was unfavorable. I captured one woman, but I don’t know what she’s doing.”
Cliff glanced in the direction of the captured woman and frowned. He remembered that
she was the same maid Edith had taken.

“Don’t let your guard down. She seems to be Count Riegelhoff’s favorite maid.”

Once outside, Cliff dropped Lize off at a safe distance and suddenly walked toward Sophia.

He glared at her fiercely and asked, “Where did you take Edith Riegelhoff?”

Sophia smiled wickedly. “I don’t know.”

“Did you even bring her here?”

“Pfft, do you think my lady belongs in a place like this?”

“Wherever you took her, I’ll find her and kill her. Along with her brother.”

“You, you filthy bastard! Let go of my master! Master, master!”

“That’s a lot of loyalty. Or love.”

Cliff broke his attention away from Sophia, who was cursing again.
“I assume you’ve set aside the others for interrogation?”

“Yes! I thought it was odd that they scattered so quickly, so I tackled one of them, and he
said something strange.”

“What did he say?”

“He said some two guys got away before we even arrived. He also saw that they were
talking among themselves about whether they should leave despite not yet being paid.”

“Only the shrewd ones escaped with their lives.”

Cliff smirked, then saw the Duchess coming to her senses and hurried to her side.

“Mother! Mother, are you awake?”

“C- Cliff……?”

“Yes, it’s me. You may rest assured now.”

“Oh, Cliff!”

The Duchess hugged Cliff with tears in her eyes.

“We’re going to go back to the mansion now, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

“I’m fine, but how are Lize and Edith?”

“Lize was rescued safely.”

“And Edith……?”

The Duchess looked back at Cliff, her face full of concern.

But Cliff sighed lowly at her, then said, “I think that woman was…… a spy.”

“No way!”

“She wasn’t even locked up in the first place, like they did to you and Lize. They must have
taken her somewhere else while they were on their way here.”

“No, no, that can’t be!”

The Duchess vividly remembered Edith screaming for her during the attack.

But then Lize beside her added in a melancholy voice, “Now that I think about it, when I
woke up in the place where I was first captured, it was just me and the Duchess.”
The Duchess covered her mouth with her hand in shock.

“Let’s go back to the mansion first and talk, it’s cold. You might have some injuries.”

Cliff helped the Duchess, who was speechless with shock, to her feet and ordered his
knights:

“We will return! See to it that the captives do not escape!”

And with that, Shane’s kidnapping spree came to a swift end.

***

‘Ugh, it’s cold……’

It was bone-chillingly cold.

I slowly opened my eyes to the intense cold and the eerie feeling.

It was pitch black, and for a moment I thought I was blind.

But I was relieved to see a glimmer of light seeping through the crack in the door.

‘The lights must have gone out.’

If it’s been that long, it must have been at least five or six hours, but why am I still here?

‘Why is it so quiet?’

I held my breath and listened to my surroundings, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of
activity.

“Ack!”

I wiggled my stiff, long-neglected body, making all sorts of grunting noises.

My shoulder was so sore I wondered if I’d dislocated it, as were my wrists, which were
bound, and my back and neck, which had been bent for so long.

Of course, the places where Sophia had beaten me, like my face, forearms, and thighs,
throbbed, sending intermittent sharp pains with every movement I made.

I gritted my teeth through it all, trying to pull my hands free of the rope that bound my
wrists.
The mercenary who’d tied me here had loosened it up quite a bit, and I was able to pull
my hands free without getting any serious abrasions.

‘I’m dying, really. Well, I guess I better get out of here first, right?’

I managed to pull myself up, shakily clutching onto a chair.

But even taking a single step was excruciatingly painful.

Apparently, Sophia hadn’t been at full strength when she hit me in the mansion.

I limped up to the door and listened for signs of activity outside again, and only when I
was sure no one was around did I slowly open it.

Thank goodness Sophia hadn’t bothered to lock the door.

The villa is a two-story building when viewed from the entrance, but when viewed from
the other side, it is three or two and a half stories.

Thanks to this, even in the basement, there is a window in the upper part of the wall that
lets in bright sunlight.

When I was brought here, it was just after dawn, so five or six hours must have passed.
‘Then why am I still here?!’

I limped up the stairs to the upper floor, one by one.

As I almost reached the first floor, the smell of blood rushed into my nose.

For a moment, I felt myself stiffen, but I gritted my teeth and continued upward.

The situation on the first floor was dire.

‘Looks like…… this was Cliff’s doing……’

The floor was littered with bloodstains as if bodies had been dragged out, and the walls
were splattered with blood from the fight.

I checked my surroundings, stepping carefully through the bloodstains on the floor, and
slowly made my way outside.

The dirt in front of the villa was littered with horse hoof prints, and bodies lay in a heap to
the right of the villa.

It looked like everything had been done and cleaned up.

“No way……”

I muttered, looking around in disbelief.

“Was I…… abandoned?”

Even as I said it out loud, it didn’t feel very real.

‘No, then…… how does the story go?’

In the original story, Edith is with Shane’s group when they storm the mansion and are
captured by Cliff, who comes to rescue Lize. Along with Shane and Sophia, of course.

But this time, I’m the only one left behind, or rather, abandoned.

CHAPTER 115

‘So…… did they leave me trapped there to die?’

A hollow laugh flowed out.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it.

If they thought I was part of the Riegelhoffs, they should have dragged me out and cut my
throat, and if not, they should have rescued me.
‘They didn’t think I was part of this, but they didn’t want to save me either……?’

That’s all I could think of because they left me there, tied up like a prisoner and beaten.

If they left me there and claimed not to know about it, the Ludwigs would not be held
responsible for my death.

‘Killian…… this, was this something you agreed to?’

In the original story, Cliff’s rescue is something that both Duke Ludwig and Killian know
about. It is something Cliff agreed to do after careful planning.

‘Then Killian must be aware of the plan……’

Thinking about the original story, I stood there for a moment, staring up at the sky, which
was half covered in light gray clouds.

‘It’s winter again…… and it’s only been a year since I married Killian. Edith only appears for
a year in the original story.’

A lot of things had happened in that one year, but when I tried to think of them, all I could
see was Killian’s face.
“The person who made the best use of your ‘billboard’ is Killian Ludwig.”

Sophia’s words cluttered my mind.

She’d said he was being nice to me to show others……

‘Was he being nice to me when others weren’t looking, just to completely deceive me?’

I wanted to believe it wasn’t, but negative imaginations continued to arise one after
another.

If Killian really accepted me as his wife, there was no way Cliff would have abandoned me,
no matter how much he hated me. He’s not the kind of older brother who ignores his
younger brother’s will.

So the meaning of abandoning me like this was clear.

‘You don’t need me anymore?’

I suddenly broke down, remembering how I had tried so desperately to win a piece of
Killian’s heart.

But even in the midst of despair and hopelessness, humans are animals that feel hunger
and cold.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

Shivering in pain, I thought about what to do.

‘Think positive, think positive. I’m still alive anyway.’

My “Plan B” of being nice to the extras ended up saving my life.

If it weren’t for the mercenaries loosening the rope, I would have starved to death or
frozen to death in that dark basement.

‘Now I can finally spend the money I deposited in the bank.’

I had to quickly get the money before the Ludwigs blocked withdrawals from my safe.

I opened the safe under an assumed name, but I assumed Duke Ludwig could easily figure
it all out.
“If you’re lucky enough to survive, untie yourself and run. This is Wellesley, south of the
capital, so when you get out, run north.”

I remembered the mercenary’s words.

I looked at the sun among the clouds, looked down at my own shadow, and started
walking north.

Even getting to the center of the capital from here was not a safe bet right now, and I told
myself to focus on that.

***

The outcome of the territorial war between Duke Ludwig and Count Riegelhoff came
sooner than many expected.
It was a great victory for Duke Ludwig.

Even those who expected Duke Ludwig to win did not expect it to end so quickly.

“Archduke Langston and Count Riegelhoff were too arrogant against Duke Ludwig and His
Majesty the Emperor.”

“How foolish of them to rush in without even knowing the enemy well enough……”

“Don’t say things you don’t know. It’s not that Archduke Langston and Count Riegelhoff
were sloppy, it’s that Duke Ludwig and His Majesty the Emperor are not easy opponents.”

Those who had supported Archduke Langston in social circles now changed their stance as
if they had supported the Emperor and Duke Ludwig from the beginning.

No wonder, for the Houses who had supported Archduke Langston were all in danger of
extinction.

“Attempting to assassinate the Emperor…… is treasonous beyond measure, isn’t it?”

“I feel sorry for Archduke Langston, I heard it was his son who did it.”

“Hey, watch your tongue. Even if it was his son who did it, do you really think the
Archduke didn’t know about it?”
As soon as the assassination attempt failed, the imperial family, as if they had been
waiting, rounded up Archduke Langston and all five of the Houses who had supported
him. Those who ran away were wanted, but with the head of the family and his heirs
captured, exile was almost certain.

Unusually, Duke Ludwig was allowed to execute Count Riegelhoff on his own terms,
especially since he had provoked them by staging a territorial war and kidnapping.

While Cliff held Riegelhoff’s captives in a cell outside the Ludwig mansion and prepared
them for execution, the Duke and Killian returned to the capital.

“Well done, father. Well done, Killian.”

Cliff, waiting at the mansion, greeted his returning father and brother.

Duke Ludwig dismounted and, without a word, walked briskly to embrace the Duchess,
who stood behind Cliff, supported by a maid.

“I’m sorry for the trouble, Jocelyn.”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry, honey.”

Killian dismounted and shook his head as he watched the passionate reunion between his
father and mother.

It seemed like everyone from House Ludwig had gathered, but no matter where he
looked, he couldn’t see the one face he was looking for.

“Brother. Where’s Edith?” Killian asked, still looking for Edith’s reddish-brown hair.

But there was no answer from Cliff.

“Brother……?”

“Killian. That woman helped kidnap our mother and Lize.”

“What……?”

The Duke turned his head around as Killian asked incredulously.

“Are you sure about this? Please explain in detail, Cliff.”

“Apparently they planned on raiding the mansion in the first place; that woman had been
acting suspiciously while wandering around the mansion.”

The Duke knew this, but Killian had never heard it before, and his brow furrowed.
“Suspicious? What did she do?”

“She had been wandering around the mansion at night checking the doors. I think she was
trying to do something to the back door, and there was a maid who saw her open it and
fiddle with the lock.”

“Just a guess, right? Or do you have any proof?”

“That’s not all, she had also been wandering around where there were no doors to
check…… in every corner of the mansion.”

Cliff spoke as if that was some kind of proof, but Killian snorted.

“You can’t just take that as proof, can you?”

“Killian.”

“And who saw Edith wandering around every corner of the mansion like you said?”

“Lize saw her.”

“So you’re saying that Lize also wandered around every corner of the mansion like Edith
did, but you don’t suspect her?”
Lize looked surprised, as did Cliff.

“Lize is like our family.”

“Edith is our family too! We’ve been married for almost a year, how long are you going to
treat her like a stranger?”

Killian could understand a little of the resentment and frustration Edith must have felt
living in this house.

Her every move was assumed to be part of some conspiracy, simply because she was the
daughter of Count Riegelhoff.

But this time, Cliff was stubborn. “Edith wasn’t there when we went to the rescue, and I
think they took her somewhere, but they refused to tell us where.”

It was then that Lize spoke up, cautiously. “When I woke up there, it was just me, the
Duchess, and them. I haven’t seen Edith since she was taken, Killian.”

“The maid of Riegelhoff also admitted that they took Edith.”

Killian’s eyes widened at Cliff’s further explanation.

“The maid? You mean the maid named Sophia?”

“Yes. The maid that Edith had back then.”

Killian felt a subtle twinge of discomfort there.

“Tell me more about what that maid said.”

“She said something like ‘This kind of place is not suitable for my lady,’ I guess.”

“Is that all she said?”

“Yes. Anything else?”

Cliff probably meant, “Is there anything else needed to prove that Edith is a spy for
them?” but Killian sensed something wasn’t right.

‘That maid, Sophia, tried to save Edith’s life? The one who stared maliciously at her as if to
kill her?’

The maid named Sophia was more like hating Edith.

Edith’s bruised back from Sophia’s beatings was still vivid in Killian’s memory.
Even if Edith had decided to be loyal to her family again, Sophia didn’t seem loyal enough
to let her escape on her own.

“This is ridiculous……”

Then Duke Ludwig, who had been listening to Cliff, spoke up, “Killian, I understand your
reluctance to believe. But this is not something that can be forgiven out of sympathy or
affection.”

“So, has the search team been deployed?”

“Yes. We couldn’t send many because they had to defend the mansion, but now that all
the knights are back, we’re going to increase our search force.”

Cliff and the Duke seemed to believe that Edith must have helped Shane, but Killian could
not.

If, if Edith had indeed betrayed House Ludwig and turned against Killian, he wanted to
hear it from Edith herself.

Killian said with a cold face,

CHAPTER 116

“I, too, must find Edith. Even if she is a spy, there is no denying that she is my wife.”

“Killian! Are you saying that you will put your personal feelings above the family name?”
“If Edith is truly guilty, I will punish her. Even if she has to be killed, I will do it myself!”

Killian’s mood was fierce, as if he would draw his sword at any moment.

He turned toward the knights guarding the mansion. “I’m going to check the site where
my mother and Lize were kidnapped right now! Leonard, pick ten men and get them
ready!”

But Cliff’s anger at almost losing Lize was not to be denied.

“Father,” he said, “I’ll send more people. I’ll find Edith Riegelhoff and bring her before
you!”

At the mention of “Edith Riegelhoff,” Killian glared at Cliff.

Unfortunately, there was no time to argue about Edith’s name.

Killian stormed off to the Wellesley’s abandoned villa, ignoring the welcome dinner that
had been prepared for their return from the war.
“Come back unharmed, and prove all your bragging about how great you are.”

I kept thinking of Edith, who smiled steadfastly even though she was ignored by Duke
Ludwig, and that last smile kept coming to my mind.

No, actually, not just at this moment, but throughout the war, I couldn’t stop thinking
about that smile, those warm eyes, and the dizzying scent of roses.

I thought of Edith, who must have struggled night after night knitting the sloppy arm
warmers she gave me. It was a genuine smile that day.

‘Edith, where are you?’

If she really was a spy for the Riegelhoffs, I had to find her first.

‘I must find her and keep her safe and hidden. I will take her secretly to Ryzen and have a
child with her, and neither my father nor brother will be able to do anything about it.’

The cold wind stung his cheeks, but Killian didn’t slow down a bit, and it didn’t take him
long to reach Wellesley.
“There it is!”

The knight who had been with Cliff on the hostage rescue led Killian to the villa where the
incident had occurred.

The air still reeked of something rotting, but Killian didn’t let that stop him from entering
the villa.

Bloodstains on the floor and walls gave him a rough idea of what had happened here that
day.

“The Duchess was at the end of the room over there, and Lady Lize was at the other end
of the room.”

“Did you search every nook and cranny?”

“At- at that time…… the Duchess was not in good condition and we had to return
quickly……”

Without listening to the knight’s answer until the end, Killian ordered the knights behind
him to search each room.

He headed for the storage room on the first floor where Lize had first opened her eyes.

“Turn on more lights!”

He ordered two more lanterns to be lit in the poorly lit area, and then knelt down on the
floor of the empty storage room.

“Y- Young master……?”

The other knights were bewildered, not knowing what he was doing, but Killian scanned
every inch of the floor with the lantern.

“Did you say the mercenaries were all wearing hoods?”

“Yes.”

“Shane is blond, and the maid is dark-haired, right?”

“Yes, they are, but–”

“Then…… who does this reddish brown hair belong to?”

Killian held a few strands of long brown hair in his hands.

“Edith was here.”

Killian scrambled to his feet and headed outside. The knights were searching each room,
but none of them said they had found anything.

“Where did they take her?”

Killian pictured this place that day in his head.

Lize said Edith wasn’t there when she woke up, so she must have been taken somewhere
earlier.

And neither Count Riegelhoff nor Shane would have forgiven her for betraying the family.

‘They probably would have killed her before anyone else.’

Killian scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on a dark passageway in the opposite
corner of the storage room.

“What’s that?”

Killian gestured, but the knight who had come with Cliff looked surprised, as if he’d never
seen it there before.

“I- it looks like a staircase…… to the basement.”

“Did you check the basement back then?”

“I- I’m sorry, we were too busy fighting in this narrow place……”

Killian thought it would be better to check it out for himself rather than listen to more
frustrating answers, so he headed straight down to the basement.

It was underground, but not very deep.

He opened the door that led to the basement and found himself in a passageway that
wasn’t entirely underground.

“It appears to have been used as servants’ quarters or a wine cellar.”

Ignoring the knight’s further explanation, Killian headed straight for one of the rooms.

He headed there for one reason.

Of all the rooms along the passageway, it was the only one with an open door.

“Ah……!”

Killian exclaimed as the lantern illuminated the room.

There, someone was trapped.

A heavy wooden chair sat in the center of the cold stone room, a bundle of unknotted
rope lying behind it.

An extinguished lantern on a rickety wooden table, and a black horse whip lay
haphazardly in front of it.

But what caught Killian’s eye more than anything else was the blood on the floor, and the
corsage he’d bought Edith.

“Edith……”

Edith had been here.

And she had gotten out of here alone.

How far could a wounded woman in a banquet dress and satin shoes travel in this cold
weather?

“I have to find her…… I must find her……”

Killian gripped the corsage tightly and clenched his molars.

He must not allow himself to panic and falter here. He had to move now, for the sake of
Edith, who must be shivering somewhere.

“Leonard.”

“Yes!”

Killian turned to Leonard, the only knight who knew that Edith had been abused by
Sophia.

“I want you to go to the mercenary guild right now and hire searchers. Scour the capital.
She probably hasn’t gotten out of the capital yet.”

“Yes!”

“I’ll start with a sweep around here.”

At that, Leonard paused and spoke cautiously, “Perhaps you should go back to the
mansion and freshen up first; you have not rested for too long.”

But Killian shook his head.

“If it were you, would you be able to rest after losing your wife?”
Then he turned and headed upstairs.

“Two of you will follow Leonard to the capital, and the rest of you will search around
here!”

The knights looked at Killian questioningly, but the corsage in Killian’s hand and the heavy
air of Leonard behind him told them something.

Above all, Killian’s eyes were more desperate than ever.

“Yes! I understand!”

The knights investigating the villa rushed outside and mounted their horses.

Killian looked up at the sky, light snow was falling. He then gritted his teeth and climbed
onto the horse.

***

Walking north from Wellesley, I was lucky to meet a kind-hearted Baron and his wife.
“You look like a noble lady, why are you walking alone?”

“Oh my God, your face……!”

Luckily, they didn’t know who I was and didn’t run away when they saw my miserable
appearance.

I clung to them as if it were a heaven-sent opportunity.

“Help, I was kidnapped by muggers and barely escaped!”

It was not even a lie.

And the baron and his wife also believed me.

“I hear there are a lot of kidnappings for ransom these days. Come on, come on, get in the
carriage!”

I gladly accepted their favor.

The Baron and Baroness Reuben, who had just come up from the countryside to visit
relatives in the capital, were good people, as if they had never done a bad thing in their
lives.
They not only gave me a ride in their carriage, even though I looked suspicious at first
glance, but also offered me water.

This saved me from fainting from exhaustion.

“Which House are you the lady of? Let us take you home!”

“Your favor is very much appreciated. However, I have a matter to attend to first. It is a
matter of family importance, so please forgive me if I do not elaborate.”

I acted like a young lady with a complicated backstory and wiped my face with the
handkerchief the Baroness had given me.

The dried blood was so stubborn that it took me a long time to wipe it off with a wet
handkerchief.

‘Thank goodness. If I had somehow made it to the capital alone with a suspicious
appearance, I would have been taken straight to the police.’

I promised the Baron and Baroness that I would return the favor someday, assured them
not to worry, and headed down Darsus Street to the bank.

I wished I could cover my face, but I didn’t have any money on me.
Fortunately, the bank gatekeeper did not stop me.

“I came to get my money.”

It must have seemed very strange for a woman with a huge bruise on her face to show up
and ask for money as soon as she sat down.

The teller forgot to put on his welcoming smile and just stared at me with his mouth
hanging open, then whispered in a low voice, “Do you want me to call your house?”

“No! Can’t you see the look on my face right now? I just left my house after a fight with
my husband, why would I go back there?”

“Ah……!”

With that, the teller nodded quickly, as if he understood everything, and handed me the
forms for withdrawal.

There were many forms to fill out because I wanted to withdraw a large amount of
money.

I quickly filled out the forms, glancing toward the front door of the bank in case someone
was looking for me at any moment.

If I hadn’t had the experience of helping Renon with his work, I would have gotten lost.
“Are you going to withdraw the full amount?”

“Yes. I’d like it in bills for ease of carrying. I’ll divide the large bills and small bills according
to what I wrote on the forms.”

The teller didn’t seem to notice that I was from the Ludwig family, thanks to the
pseudonym I’d used to open the safe.

He couldn’t imagine that it was Duke Ludwig’s daughter-in-law who showed up looking so
disheveled.

I took the rest of the money–minus the safe deposit box fee–in bills, and divided them in
half appropriately, stuffing them in both pockets.

CHAPTER 117

‘It’s a good thing my dress has pockets.’

I hurried out of the bank, my pockets feeling suddenly heavy.

‘I have to move fast.’

After retrieving the money from the bank, I bought some plain clothes and a scarf on a
street frequented by commoners and stopped at an inn to change.
Thank goodness it’s winter. No one would suspect me with a scarf wrapped around my
face.

Feeling like a completely different person, I walked out of there and into an even
shabbier-looking inn.

“Welcome! Are you by yourself?”

“Yes. I want to stay overnight and get a meal.”

“3,500 sennar for dinner and a room.”

I was inwardly nervous that the innkeeper would look at me strangely, but he took my
money without any question.

And with that, I was able to satisfy my hunger.

I had been starving for about two days, and my stomach was aching with hunger.

Part of me wanted to eat some meat, but my stomach would hurt if I suddenly ate
something heavy on an empty stomach. A big upset stomach would cause me a lot of
trouble, so I ate a creamy stew and bread.

‘Ah, I think I’m going to live now.’

I quickly finished the bowl of hot stew and retreated to my ramshackle single room,
locking the door securely behind me before I could rest my aching body.

But I was so tired that my mind was a mess, filled with anxiety and worry.

‘Did anyone recognize me?’

I kept my face covered as I left the first inn, but I kept wondering if my behavior was
awkward.

‘I can’t get caught until I’m out of the capital.’

I hadn’t completely escaped death yet. Cliff’s men, who hadn’t found my body, might be
looking for me.

And if they caught me, I might not be able to avoid death as in the original story.

‘If I don’t meet the third condition of the exception, is it pointless no matter how hard I
try?’

That would mean that my efforts to run away from the capital would be for naught.
But the only times I met both conditions of exception were when I was trying to survive,
so this time too I have no choice but to make the effort.

‘But where should I run to? I don’t know anything about the countryside outside of the
capital…… No, let’s get some sleep, and tomorrow I’ll buy a map and some other
things……’

My worries were endless, but my energy was completely drained, and at that point, as if a
fuse had blown, I lost consciousness and fell asleep.

After a deep, dreamless sleep, I woke up with a pain in my back, and the room was already
bright.

I rubbed my swollen eyes and looked outside to see that it was already almost noon.

‘At least I woke up feeling better after a good night’s sleep.’

My body was still aching and sore, but I didn’t feel like sleeping anymore.

I gave the inn’s errand boy some coins to get some water and had a quick wash.
The bruises and wounds from Shane and Sophia’s beating were still horrible, so I had to
cover my face with a scarf even indoors.

I went down to the first floor, paid to stay another night, and asked where I could get a
map.

“A map of the capital?”

“No. A map of the entire empire.”

“That would be a bit expensive…… If you go out and go straight to the right, you’ll come to
an intersection with the main street. If you go straight through there, there’s a place on
the left called “Kindra General Store”, you can buy it there.”

It was a good thing the innkeeper didn’t inquire further about my personal circumstances.

I covered my scarf-wrapped head with my shawl once more and stepped outside.

I had bought a cheap coat to dress as a commoner, but the cold breeze seeped in.

‘I have to keep my wits about me.’

I wasn’t sure if it was my skin or my mind that was chilling. I walked hard, blending in with
the crowd of people walking by.
At the intersection with the main street, I pulled up my coat collar, pretending to shiver in
the cold. For in the distance I saw the knights of House Ludwig.

‘Were they ordered to catch me?’

I became nervous.

But I didn’t want to look suspicious to them, so I summoned all the composure I could
muster and walked at a similar pace to everyone else.

It was only when I reached the Kindra General Store that I could finally breathe a sigh of
relief.

The owner was an older man, who didnt ask any question, and simply proceeded with my
purchases: an empire map, a traveling leather bag, a portable lantern, flint, candles, a
utility knife, and a first aid kit.

Although my luggage was already a bit heavy, I bought some underwear, a woolen
cardigan, a thick skirt, and winter stockings.

‘Now, all I have to do is pack and leave.’

Trudging back to the inn, I stuffed my few belongings into my bag and scrambled to my
feet.

‘Should I go to the carriage station right now?’

Search parties had been dispatched, and someone might already be at the train station.

After thinking about it some more while pacing back and forth in my room, I decided to
stay another night.

‘I only have to pay for one more night anyway……’

With that excuse in hand, I ate my meal and went back to bed.

But the next day, I paid the innkeeper for another night.

Because it was raining.

‘I don’t have an umbrella, and if I go out, I’ll catch a cold, which is dangerous at this point.’

Meanwhile, I borrowed an umbrella from the inn, bought two books from a bookstore on
the main street, and bought a slice of fresh cream cake from a nearby bakery.
Then I locked myself in my room, reading a book while nibbling on what might be my last
cake.

The next day I had a fever, the next day I was too cold, and the next day I postponed my
departure because I wanted to eat cake just one more time.

It was a peaceful time, but I was still uncomfortable in the back of my mind.

Only I knew why I was being so unreasonable.

‘If I leave, I’ll never see Killian again, will I?’

Every time I think about it, my heart aches.

When I think back over my life, including my previous life, I can’t think of anyone who has
ever given me more excitement and joy than Killian.

At first, it was simply because of his looks, but as time went on, it was hard not to love him
for believing in me and protecting me.

I didn’t want to believe Sophia’s words about him using me as a ‘billboard’, even now that
I was completely abandoned by the Ludwigs. It was hard to let go of the small hope that
Killian might come looking for me.
But that evening, while eating in the inn’s dining room, I realized I could hold back no
longer.

“I hear Duke Ludwig is looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“Someone from the same family that fought a territorial war last time. The whole family
was captured, but one person got away, a daughter or a daughter-in-law, I don’t really
remember.”

“She must be smart.”

The two men continued to eat and talk.

“Do they have a bounty on her head?”

“Not yet, but it looks like it might be soon.”

“Well, a noblewoman on the run. It won’t be long before the wanted flyer goes out.”
It may have been a casual topic of conversation for them, but for me, listening behind
them, it was eerie news.

‘Wanted……? As expected, I’ve been abandoned by the Ludwigs……’

If they were looking for me, Killian’s wife, they wouldn’t be looking for “someone from a
family that fought a territorial war last time”, but they would be looking for “Duke
Ludwig’s daughter-in-law”.

‘I must run before they put a bounty on my head.’

I returned to my room with half my dinner left.

With my hopes of Killian finding me shattered, I suddenly felt as if the whole world had
gone dark.

‘I can’t hope for a happy ending for me.’

But even so, I couldn’t hate Killian, and I was grateful that he’d been so kind to someone
he would eventually abandon.

‘Even with everything that’s happened…… the past year has been like a dream.’

I smiled weakly.
I am happy that I had the chance to stay with Killian. I felt a joy in life that I hadn’t felt in
the 28 years I’d been Choi Soo-na.

I decided to erase the painful memories and leave behind only the exciting ones.

But I couldn’t sleep well at night.

***

“Carriage to Driburn! Leaving in 30 minutes!”

“Carriage to Apentus! Leaving in 40 minutes!”

Arriving with heavy steps, the stables near the capital’s southern gate were even more
disorganized than I had imagined.
The long-distance traveling carriages lined up side by side looked like covered carriages,
just as Anna had said, and everyone, coachmen and passengers alike, were shouting
loudly.

It was a good thing the weather had turned colder, so I could wrap my scarf and shawl
tightly around my face, but even bundled up, I was still cold and my toes were frozen.

‘Where should I go? Driburn or Apentus?’

After a few days of deliberation, I had narrowed down the choices.

Driburn is a port city with a lot of people and work. There are plenty of opportunities to
make money there, and if I’m lucky, I can escape by ship.

Apentus is a similar city to Driburn in size, but with more commerce and a more awakened
consciousness than the capital, with many shops run by women.

But there is one thing they both have in common: they are close to Ryzen.

‘Maybe someday in my life, I’ll get a chance to see Killian, even if it’s just from a distance.’

I couldn’t let go of that vague hope, so I decided on those two cities.

“To Driburn! We’re leaving soon! Those who haven’t boarded yet, hurry!”

The coachman of the carriage to Driburn shouted as he made his rounds.

I sat on a bench in the carriage station, chewing my lip and thinking.

Eventually, the carriage to Driburn departed.

A few moments later, the coachman of the carriage to Apentus started shouting again.

CHAPTER 118

“Carriage to Apentus, leaving in 5 minutes! Hurry, it’s filling up!”

I’d missed the one to Driburn, so I had to catch the one to Apentus. I knew it in my head.

But somehow my feet wouldn’t move.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

As I stood up and sat back down again, tapping my foot nervously, someone managed to
take the last seat on the carriage to Apentus, and once it was full, the carriage pulled away
without further delay.

I sighed, staring at the empty parking lot where the carriage to Apentus had left.
‘Tomorrow…… I’ll make sure to catch the carriage to Apentus tomorrow.’

With that meager resolve, I booked a room at an inn close to the carriage station.

But the next day, I still couldn’t get on the carriage.

Sitting on the same bench as yesterday, I tapped my foot impatiently on the floor, missed
both the carriage to Driburn and the one to Apentus, and stood up and walked back out of
the station.

I even had a fever that evening, so I had to spend another three days languishing.

‘I’m going to get caught.’

Impatient, I headed back to the carriage station as soon as my fever broke, but this time it
was freezing cold.

As I waited for my carriage under the ramshackle roof of the station, sheltering from the
snow, I could hear the conversations of the people around me.

“Did you see the wanted flyer issued by House Ludwig?”

“Oh, I saw the flyer on my way here. She’s a pretty girl, isn’t she?”
“The bounty is quite large.”

“I wonder if the knights of the Ludwig family will be here sooner or later. They might be
looking for her among the people going down to the countryside.”

“No way, a noblewoman who’s about to die wouldn’t take a carriage in such a place. She’d
probably borrow a relative’s carriage and ride away.”

The noblewoman who’s about to die is right here.

‘This is really the last time.’

I could no longer put off the choices and decisions I’d been procrastinating on.

The carriage to Driburn departed in ten minutes, and the carriage to Apentus in twenty.

‘Don’t be stubborn, don’t have any regrets…… Let’s go to Driburn.’

With that in mind, I bought three freshly baked potatoes from a stall at the carriage
station.

These would keep me warm, and since I hadn’t eaten breakfast, they would make a good
meal.
I filled my canteen with water, so that should be enough for me to make it to my first stop,
Ramolo.

With these calculations in mind, I turned around to head for the carriage to Dribbun, and
my steps halted without me realizing it.

The sight of the other passengers sitting huddled together, not speaking to each other, the
coachmen smoking impassively, and the horses whinnying, their white breath drifting
away with each whinny…… suddenly made my heart ache.

‘I’m alone……’

As if receiving a revelation from God, I suddenly realized this.

Throughout my life as Choi Soo-na, where every moment of my life was lonely, I had never
thought about this. But it was only after I met Killian, who taught me joy, that I truly
understood loneliness.

‘Is there a reason to keep living like this……?’

The sigh that leaked out like a sob turned into a white breath that blurred my vision. No,
maybe those were tears.

This life of just trying not to die was so hard now.

Even after I ran away, I would always be conscious of the fact that I hadn’t met all the
three conditions of exception, and I would never forget Killian.

‘Maybe I’ll find someone else and start a new life, maybe we’ll be a decent enough couple,
but is that…… the life I want?’

I thought of the child who said she envied me when I cried about wanting to die when I
had the chance to live.

The child who lay next to me in the leukemia ward, who eventually closed her eyes while I
received a bone marrow transplant.

But now, when I think of her, I don’t feel so much a sense of obligation to live.

Like an old lamp burning down to its last drop of oil, I am so exhausted.

‘Maybe my reason for being in this world is to be beheaded by Killian so that the story is
complete.’

If my presence had any positive effect, it was that Killian seemed to have freed himself
from his blind love for Lize.

‘Maybe when I’m gone, he’ll be more free to love someone else.’
I sat back down on the bench, holding the warm potatoes wrapped in the paper bag in my
arms.

I watched the carriages, one for Driburn and one for Apentus, pull away.

I no longer felt anxious or sad when I saw the empty parking lot they left behind.

The potatoes in my arms were almost done when a group of knights wearing the insignia
of House Ludwig burst into the station.

“There will be a brief stop and frisk, but we only need to check your faces, so don’t panic
or be afraid and follow the knights’ instructions!”

As people scrambled around at the sudden inspection, I stuffed the paper bag with the
cold potatoes into my bag and straightened my clothes.

My face was still bruised from how hard Sophia had hit me, and I was a little worried that
Killian would look at me in disgust.

‘No use worrying about it when you’re going to die……’

It is said that the late winds are scary, and the first love you fall for only after you’re dead
is about to take out your liver and gallbladder. No, have mine already been taken?
I smiled weakly and slowly removed the shawl and scarf that had been wrapped tightly
around my head and face.

Then I waited for the knight to approach me.

“Uh…… huh……?”

The knight glanced at my face politely, turned to go, then jerked his head again.

“Uh…… excuse me……”

“You’re late.”

“Pardon me?”

The knight who had been sent to catch me looked even more puzzled somehow.

“Why, what’s the matter?”

A man who looked like a knight commander in shining armor asked the knight in front of
me.

“Oh, no, it’s…… I think we found her……”

“What?”

I slowly turned my head to look at the knight commander, who also let out a “Huh!” in
surprise.

“I’ve been waiting, let’s go.”

I stood up from my seat, trying to smile.

But my legs were stiff and wobbly from sitting in the cold for so long.

Fortunately, the knight in front of me caught me, but he grabbed my whipped forearm so
hard that I couldn’t help but scream in pain.

“Ouch, that hurt!”

The knight released his grip in surprise, and I held on to the post next to me as I caught my
breath.

I managed to stand on my own, but my legs kept shaking and I couldn’t walk properly.

“I am sorry if I’m troublesome as a wanted person, but can you help me up? My legs
aren’t moving very well……”
According to the rules, I was supposed to walk to the Ludwig mansion on foot, tied with a
rope.

The knight commander seemed to think about it for a moment, then called for another
knight.

“You two support her on both sides.”

“Is she…… returning like this?”

“We’ll let her walk alone from near the mansion.”

I thanked the knight commander for his decision.

‘Now, I’m going to see Killian!’

I smiled, even though I was on my way to die.

***
It was a stroke of good fortune that Killian encountered a man prowling near Wellesley’s
villa.

“He was prowling around this deserted place, like he knew it well, like he was looking for
something!”

“If he knows this place, he’s most likely one of the mercenaries who ran away!”

The knights who had captured the man shouted, and the man lay flat on the ground,
trembling.

Killian knelt in front of the man, grabbing his hand and getting him to his feet.

He asked, “Do you, by any chance, know the brown-haired woman who was held here?
She’s about this tall and has brown eyes…… and if you can tell me anything about her
whereabouts, I will not hold you guilty.”

At that, the man fidgeted, unable to meet his gaze, as if he were frightened, and barely
broke the silence.

“A- are you going to catch her, sir?”

“I’m desperately looking for her. I must find her!”

“T- that woman…… she said she is the sister of the captain…… but she had nothing to do
with them, she was a good person!”

Killian felt like a ray of light was shining on him at the words of a man who not only knew
Edith, but also cared about her.

“Yes, you’re right, she’s not guilty of anything! Have you seen her? Please tell me
something, I’m her husband!”

The man seemed greatly relieved and continued, “A- actually…… I’m a mercenary who was
ordered to lock her up in a basement but when I heard of her plight, I couldn’t help but
feel sympathy for her. I couldn’t do much to help her…… I just loosened the rope that
bound her.”

Only then did Killian understand how Edith was able to untie herself and get out of there.

“Then she thanked me, and gave me and my companion the ruby necklace she had, and
told us to run, that the Duke’s knights would be here soon. If we hadn’t run away then, we
would have been dead.”

“So you were one of the mercenaries to run away without being paid.”

“Yes. After that, I found out who the captain who hired us was and who the people we
kidnapped were, but no matter how much I listened, I couldn’t hear anything about her,
so I came here in a hurry.”
Killian gripped the man’s hand tighter and said thank you several times. He hadn’t been
able to help Edith in the slightest, but Shane’s mercenary had. What an invaluable help he
had been to Edith.

He had even given her a very important lead.

CHAPTER 119

“I told her to run north if she survived, and I also told her that this is Wellesley, south of
the capital.”

“North? Yes, right, thank you!”

Killian immediately turned around to run north, but the mercenary man stopped him.

“A- and this……”

In his hand was the ruby necklace he’d bought Edith one day.

“I paid a companion of mine to give it to me, but when I found out who she was…… I
couldn’t bear to sell it, so I kept it. I’ll give you this, so please forgive me for once.”

Killian felt like he was on the verge of tears for the man he didn’t know.

Taking the ruby necklace, he ripped off all the gold buttons on his uniform and forced it on
the reluctant man.
“My wife must be alive. She’s not usually a weak woman. But you must be the reason
she’s alive, so you deserve this.”

Then Killian gathered the knights scattered about the Wellesley estate and rode north.

‘If I head north, I’ll reach the main street, and there will surely be other knights who can
help.’

Surely, Edith will be safe, Killian thought with a mixture of hope and anxiety while riding at
full speed.

It was hard for the knights who followed him to work from dawn to dusk, except when it
was pitch black, but they could hardly complain when they saw his eyes getting grimmer
with each passing day.

“We took a break at the mansion, but Young Master Killian hasn’t been able to rest since
the territorial war, has he?”

“Yeah, well. He must really love Lady Edith to be so desperate to find her.”
“But is she still alive? If a woman in a dress was walking down the street, she would surely
have fallen prey to muggers……”

“Be careful what you say. If the young master hears, he won’t let you go.”

There was some chatter among the knights, but Killian was focused solely on finding Edith.

“It’s almost night. Please get some rest!”

The oldest of the knights tried to talk him down, but he refused to listen, muttering
strange words like a man in a daze.

“She must be badly injured…… she has no money and no water with her…… and wild
beasts or robbers might show up after dark……”

It had been days since he’d searched for Edith. Even without listening to what the knights
were saying, his mind was already playing out all sorts of “worst case scenarios”.

And with each passing day, regret and guilt took over Killian’s heart.

‘It’s all my fault. I should have hired a mercenary to protect Edith……’

No one had expected the Duchess, Lize, and Edith to attend the Count Windham’s
banquet. That’s why he had only gotten Anna to protect her in the mansion, but now that
it was happening, he could only think that he had done everything wrong.
‘Edith…… I did it wrong, I…… I did everything wrong, please stay alive. Please……’

All the way back to the capital from the territorial war, Killian hadn’t been able to rest
much, as he had to take care of the knights.

He’d been on the move for days, and his steely stamina was inevitably wearing thin.

Still, he couldn’t stop searching.

‘Edith must be out there somewhere, wounded and starving, shivering, desperately
waiting for me.’

Killian blamed himself so much for not being there for her in her greatest fear and pain
that he would have rather stabbed himself in the chest.

[Killian!]

In his dazed state of exhaustion, he could hear Edith’s voice calling out to him.

“Edith? Edith!”

“What’s the matter, young master!”

“Just now, I heard Edith’s voice, she’s around here!”

“Yes?”

If a woman’s voice could be heard in the quiet night outdoors, there was no way the other
knights couldn’t have heard it.

Seeing their master daze and then suddenly look around and call out for his wife, they
were worried he was losing his mind.

And just as they were beginning to wonder if their fears had been realized, a messenger
from House Ludwig came to Killian.

“The knights sent by Young Master Cliff have found Miss Edith.”

The news was like a bolt from the blue, and Killian was already on his horse without much
thought.

He had to hurry and protect Edith before anything happened to her.

***
It was early in the morning when I was captured, but it was well after noon when I
reached the Ludwig mansion, my pace slowed by my poor physical condition and lack of
stamina.

Nevertheless, I was grateful for the knight commander’s consideration in not rushing me.

The Ludwig mansion, which I had not fully explored, was quite large.

Behind the mansion was a training ground, behind that a forest, and within the forest
were mysterious buildings.

One of them was a dungeon and execution ground.

I had always wondered what it looked like, as it was where Edith met her end, and now I
finally got to see it.

Since it was execution day, the area around the dungeon was heavily guarded by knights
and soldiers.

‘This doesn’t deviate from the original story at all. Even if I were to be caught one way or
another, how could it be exactly on the day of the Riegelhoffs’ execution?’
I smiled weakly and stumbled along behind the knights who had brought me in, when
suddenly someone ran up from the other side.

“Edith!”

It was Lize.

She turned pale and tried to cling to me, but Cliff, who had followed, fortunately caught
her.

“Edith! Why, why did you do that?”

“What?” I asked back, not really knowing what she was asking

Cliff glared at me fiercely. “You can’t seem to figure out if she’s asking if you helped Shane
storm the mansion from the inside or if she’s asking if you helped with the kidnapping.”

I was dumbfounded.

I thought Cliff had left me at the villa after seeing what I looked like, but apparently, he
hadn’t even bothered to come down there to look for me.

And yet, somehow, he still believed that I had helped Shane.

“It’s really the same as the original……”

“What?”

“No, nothing.”

It reminded me of my early days in this world, when no matter what I tried, the episodes
would still play out like the original story.

I thought it had changed a bit in the meantime, but in the end, but it’s back to square one.

‘It doesn’t matter anymore.’

I am tired of refuting the bottomless pit of suspicion and accusations.

Just as I was about to ignore Cliff and move away, Lize came forward again.

“For God’s sake, Edith, say it was a mistake, say you’re truly sorry! Killian has a big heart,
he’s not going to ignore your begging!”

Lize clung to me desperately, as if we were family.

She looked desperate, as if it would be a big deal if I died.

“I can’t do that, Lize. I am innocent.”

“If this is a misunderstanding, explain that it is a misunderstanding!”

“I think I’ve already been labeled a sinner, so who will believe me?”

“No, Edith! Don’t give up!”

Just as Lize was getting frustrated, Cliff tugged on her arm.

“Lize. She’s not worth your time, and she’s not worth worrying about, so come here.”

Cliff glared at me with contempt, but it didn’t do me any harm.

I was more worried about walking into that dungeon and facing the scornful gaze of
Killian, who would slit my throat.

I smirked as I watched Cliff take Lize away, who kept shouting at me not to give up.

‘Eat well and live well together, the main characters. Don’t worry, I’m going to finish this
clean here.’

As I started walking again, I felt momentarily dizzy.

I hadn’t eaten or slept in two or three days, and I was starting to feel my limit.

‘Just hang in there. It’s almost over.’

Soon, Edith’s narrative comes to an end.

In the original story, Edith begs Killian to spare her life as he tries to slit her throat, but I
can barely bring myself to look at his face.

As much as I want to see him, I don’t want his face looking at me in disgust to be my last
memory of him.

‘If Killian slashes me in one go like he did in the original, the pain won’t be as bad, so don’t
be nervous. Let’s not leave a bad image in Killian’s memory.’

I clasped my trembling hands together and moved on to finish my last episode.

***
The Ludwig’s spacious dungeon had never been used since the current duke, Axel Ludwig,
began his reign.

But just as a few days of fine weather does not mean that a storm will never break, so the
Duke, who had been tolerant of opposition for some time, was not always forgiving of
malicious attempts.

Faced with the kidnapping of his own family for nothing else, Duke Ludwig’s anger
exploded.

“Bring out all the prisoners.”

He stood on the dais of the execution ground on the second floor of the execution ground
and ordered all the Riegelhoffs to be hauled out.

A moment later, the prisoners were dragged out with low groans.

Then Cliff approached and whispered in the Duke’s ear.

“Edith Riegelhoff will be here any minute.”

“So she’s been caught, at last.”

“Killian has just returned after hearing that Edith has been captured. He’ll be this way in a
moment.”
At that, the Duke nodded heavily.

Cliff glanced back and forth between the door where Edith was about to enter and Lize,
who was strangely hoping for Edith’s life.

He asked, “Father, what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“The execution of Edith.”

The beheading of the Riegelhoffs is a foregone conclusion, but the final decision for Edith
has yet to be made.

For Killian, whose opinion on her punishment would be essential, has been away,
searching for her.

When the Duke remained silent, Cliff said impatiently,

CHAPTER 120

“Killian may have feelings for that woman, and the punishment our family decides should
not be swayed by such things!”
“Killian may be softer than he seems, but he’s not the kind of man to ruin a major family
affair over petty feelings.”

“But……!”

“You’re the one who seems a bit emotional right now. Lize is back safely, so don’t get
worked up. You’re only going to irritate Killian more.”

Cliff stepped back, unable to push the argument further.

As the Riegelhoffs and their entourage knelt in the center of the execution ground, Killian
entered the execution ground and approached the Duke and Cliff.

“Killian,” the Duke greeted Killian with a heavy voice.

At first glance, Killian didn’t look much better after being away for a few days.

He had dark circles under his eyes and a scruffy beard, and his cheekbones and jawline
were more prominent, as if he had lost weight in the interim.

“Where’s Edith?”

“She should be here any minute.”

Just then, one of the doors to the execution ground opened and Edith walked in, followed
by the knights.

At the same moment, Killian’s shoulders tensed as he spotted her.

‘Edith!’

He couldn’t get a good look at her condition from the distance, but the way she was
shaking as if she was struggling to walk, it was clear she was badly injured.

Edith must have been beaten and tortured from the moment she arrived at Wellesley’s
villa, so it’s a wonder she was standing at all.

Killian wanted to say something right away about Edith’s assault at the hands of
Riegelhoff’s men, but the atmosphere in the execution ground was too heavy for him to
dare.

The Duke turned to the kneeling Riegelhoffs and their entourage and said, “If it had ended
with a territory war, I would not have bothered to kill you with my own hands.”

If so, the Duke would not have been given the right to execute the Riegelhoffs. It was the
Emperor’s authority to deal with families involved in treason.

But they had kidnapped vulnerable women and tried to use them as hostages.
And for that very reason, the Emperor had unusually given the power of execution to
House Ludwig.

“You, who claim to know the honor of nobility, cowardly kidnap women, and then
complain that the dukedom has been taken away from you?”

With a snap, a sword was drawn from the Duke’s scabbard.

“I will decapitate all those who bear Riegelhoff’s name! I will send the severed heads to
the palace to hang on the walls alongside those of the other traitors, and throw the bodies
on the mountain to be torn apart by the beasts!”

As the thunderous order fell, the executioners on one side of the dais gripped their
sharpened axes anew, and screams and cries erupted from the kneeling prisoners.

The Duke, who was looking down at it, turned his gaze to Killian and made one exception.

“However, I will leave the execution of Edith to you, Killian. For while it is true that she is
guilty, she is also your wife.”

At that, Cliff called out again in a low voice, “Father!”

The Duke looked back and forth between Cliff, who looked displeased, and the cold-faced
Killian.
“I think it would be disrespectful to Killian if anyone else decided what to do with Edith,
but if he chooses to keep her alive, I will respect his wishes. Of course, he will have to bear
the responsibility.”

The Duke stepped aside and made way for Killian.

Killian walked slowly toward Edith, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

As if waiting for this moment, the knights who had brought her made her kneel on the
spot.

Apparently, they believed Killian was about to decapitate her.

And Killian finally got a good look at Edith. She was dressed in the ragged clothes of a
commoner, with a cheap scarf roughly wrapped around her head and face.

Only her forehead, eyes, and nose were visible, but he could tell her complexion was pale.

“Edith……”

He called her, but she didn’t look at him.

She just stared off into space, neither crying nor smiling, her hair flowing out of her scarf
to one side, revealing the white nape of her neck.

Her resolute demeanor was not that of a person on the verge of death. She’s been called
vulgar and lascivious, but at this moment she is a noble lady.

“Edith. Say no. Say it’s a misunderstanding. Please say it!”

As Killian took a step closer to Edith, Lize, who was watching from a distance, stomped her
foot and urged her on again.

But Edith didn’t budge.

The sight of her expecting nothing made Killian’s heart sink.

‘Why aren’t you clinging to me?’

Edith has always been like this.

She never asked him to help her, even though he was the only one who could.

‘Am I still so unworthy that you don’t want anything from me?’
Every time he thought about it, his insides boiled over and he felt like he was going to
burst.

‘I feel so miserable to see her bottling up her pain inside, unable to cry out for help, that I
think I’m going to go crazy.’

“Edith! Beg for mercy! Please, Edith!”

“Stop!”

The Duke made a rare effort to stop Lize as she screamed Edith’s name again.

Looking at Edith, who remained unmoved, Killian spoke up.

“Every single one of those Riegelhoffs deserves to be put to death, not only for their
treason, but for their heinous deeds.”

Duke Ludwig nodded in satisfaction, and Edith…… smiled faintly.

Killian’s stomach churned even more at the pale smile, which only he noticed.

So he spoke, as if to break Edith’s reticence.

“My wife’s name, by the way, has been Edith Ludwig ever since she married me. If Edith is
a Riegelhoff, that’s an insult to House Ludwig, isn’t it?”

“Killian!”

Cliff bellowed, but Killian didn’t back down.

“What’s the matter, brother? If you don’t believe me, shall I fetch the vows we made
when we were married and show them to you?”

Then, this time, the Duke spoke in a heavy voice, “Can you take responsibility for your
actions?”

“Why can’t I take responsibility, my father? It was you who forced this marriage on me,
and now you want to take it away from me?”

Killian finally spat the words out.

His father had forced the marriage he hated so much under the pretext of ‘for the sake of
the family and the Emperor,’ and the sealed marriage vows are still in the archives of the
Ludwigs’ residence.

It stated that Edith Riegelhoff’s name would henceforth be Edith Ludwig.

“Why are you sitting on your knees like a sinner? Unless you mean to dishonor me and my
family, stand up, Edith Ludwig.”

Only then did Edith’s gaze snap to Killian.

It was a look that said, “This can’t be happening,” and Killian almost burst out laughing.

Then, all of sudden,

“If you’re going to kill us, kill that woman too!” Count Riegelhoff screamed, still on his
knees.

Shane next to him followed suit. “That’s right! If you’re going to kill all the Riegelhoffs, kill
that bitch too!”

Their outburst stunned everyone on the execution ground except Killian and Edith.

Killian had vaguely realized that Edith was not a beloved daughter, but to the rest of the
world, she was Count Riegelhoff’s beloved ‘foolish daughter’.

The rumor that he had abandoned Edith was true, but the sight of Count Riegelhoff
lashing out like a defeated enemy was completely unexpected.

Even the other prisoners, kneeling behind Count Riegelhoff, were looking at Edith with
poisonous eyes.
Only then did Duke Ludwig realize that something was amiss.

“Silence! I see you haven’t yet realized the reality of the situation. How dare the
condemned prisoners voice their disagreement?”

The Duke of Ludwig, his voice loud, looked at Edith and gave an order.

“I will respect Killian’s decision. However, Edith must be questioned about the kidnapping,
so keep her in the dungeon for now.”

“Father!”

Killian bellowed at the Duke.

***

‘What the hell is going on?’

I looked back and forth between the Duke and Killian, trying to make sense of the
situation.

“I will leave the execution of Edith to you, Killian.”

The Duke’s line was the same as the one in the original story.

Until I was brought to my knees by the knights and Killian approached me, I thought my
narrative was finally over.

Fearing my hair to get in the way of the blade and cause me pain, I quickly pulled my hair
forward, exposing my neck.

I didn’t even dare to look at Killian’s face, for fear of being shaken at the sight of him.

‘If I die here, where will I wake up next? Or is this the end of it all?’

As I was thinking this and waiting for Killian to painlessly kill me in one fell swoop, Killian
said something very different from the original.

“Every single one of those Riegelhoffs deserves to be put to death……”

Yes, up to that point, it was just like the original.

Now the line “Including Edith Riegelhoff, who has never been a Ludwig!” was supposed
to–

“My wife’s name, by the way, has been Edith Ludwig ever since she married me.”

At first, I thought I’d misheard it, then I wondered if I’d forgotten some part of the original
story.

CHAPTER 121

But then Count Riegelhoff and Shane went ballistic, demanding to kill me too.

That wasn’t in the original either. Of course not. Because in the original story, Edith’s head
falls off before this scene happens.

‘What? What happened?’

I was so stunned that I couldn’t help but look up at Killian, and the look in his eyes was
somehow fiery. Is this the same man who said he wouldn’t kill me?

I wondered if Duke Ludwig would try to spare me, and sure enough, he said he would
respect Killian’s decision. But Killian was getting angry again when he was told to take me
to the dungeon for questioning.

‘Anyway…… Edith’s ending has changed, hasn’t it……?’

I was a little confused, since I thought I was going to die.

But regardless of my confusion, the knights ordered by the Duke grabbed me from either
side and pulled me to my feet.

Seeing this, Killian’s temper flared again.

“Get your hands off her!”

The knight standing to my right panicked and raised his hand up, inadvertently catching
my scarf in the button of his coat sleeve and pulling off with him.

“Ah……!”

It was a cheap scarf, but the cold air hit me as soon as the thin scarf came off.

I shivered, then glanced back at Killian who had a very strange expression on his face.

It wasn’t just Killian’s expression, but that of the Duke, Cliff, and everyone else around
him.

It was as if they had seen something very unbelievable……

“Your face……”
Killian said through clenched teeth. But with just those two words, I realized what made
them have shocked faces.

‘Oh, right, my face is a mess……’

My face had been beaten twice by Shane during the kidnapping and three times by Sophia
in the basement of Wellesley’s villa, leaving it extremely bruised, but I was lucky that my
nose and jaw were not broken.

No wonder Baron and Baroness Reuben, who had helped me up to the capital, didn’t
recognize me, or the knights who roamed the streets.

Because my face was swollen and bruised, and it didn’t look like my face at all.

There’s no way such a face could have healed in just ten days.

The purple and green bruises around my cheeks were still clearly visible.

It was Duke Ludwig who spoke first. “Who did this? Was there any harshness in your
capture?”

The knights who had brought me in quickly shook their heads.

“No, she was already in this condition when she was captured!”

“Then what happened? Were you beaten by some thugs while running away?”

At that moment, Killian, who had been staring at me blankly, spoke without turning his
head. “Edith was also held at Wellesley’s villa, where my mother and Lize were kidnapped,
and that’s when she was beaten.”

“What? Cliff, didn’t you say Edith wasn’t at the villa?”

Cliff looked a little flustered at the Duke’s questioning. It was a rare sight to see the male
lead flustered.

“No, she wasn’t there! I searched every room in the two-story villa, and there was no sign
of Edith at all, and her maid also stated that she was not there!”

Killian smirked at that answer. “Did you check the basement?”

“What?”

“That villa has a basement. Didn’t you know?”

Cliff froze, and Lize, standing beside him, looked very pale.
“Leonard. Explain what you saw when you went down to Wellesley’s basement.”

As Killian commanded, the knight who had checked the basement with Killian took one
step forward and spoke in a clear voice.

“When the door leading to the basement was opened, there were several doors on one
side of a long passageway, and only one of them was open. In the middle of the room was
a chair where someone had been tied up, and on the floor was a horsewhip, bloodstains,
and…… part of Lady Edith’s corsage.”

Killian’s fierce gaze flew to Sophia.

“It must have been you, Sophia, who tied Edith up there and tortured her. You kept saying
she wasn’t there until the very end, just to kill her.”

Then Sophia began to giggle. “You have a long life. How the hell did you get out of there?”

Maybe because it was a freezing-cold execution ground, but her giggling was creepy as
hell.

‘Maybe she’s the ultimate villainess in this story.’

For a human being who takes pleasure in tormenting Edith for having something she
doesn’t have……
“We can’t afford to lose any more time, so put Edith in the dungeon for now.”

The Duke, who seemed to be thinking about something, ordered me to be imprisoned

again, his voice softer than before.

Killian tried to protest again, but the Duke firmly turned his head away from him.

Grabbed by the knights again, I began to walk toward the dungeon.

My legs wobbled from the tension, but the knights were much more polite than before,
and I didn’t end up being dragged.

The knights who had led me to the dungeon scurried off again, and I stood there a little
dazed in the silence, listening to the crackle of torches.

‘What happens to me now?’

In the original story, the narrative after this episode is pretty much centered around Lize
and Cliff. I realized that even if I knew that, it wouldn’t help me at this point.

“Ugh, it’s really cold in here.”

Earlier, I hadn’t really felt the cold because I thought I was about to die, but now I
wondered how I hadn’t felt it before.
The aches and pains I had forgotten were back.

I shivered, pulling my coat tightly around me.

Then I heard screams in the distance.

‘The execution has begun.’

I was unmoved by the sound of people being beheaded, knowing that they were the ones
who would die at this point.

Honestly, I just felt like they were being punished by heaven.

‘Oh, I’m sleepy.’

I didn’t mean to do it while listening to people die, but the aftermath of not sleeping for
days was finally setting in.

I am so tired, so sleepy.

‘If I fall asleep in a place like this, I’ll die……’

With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.

But then I woke up to a strangely familiar darkness, like floating in lukewarm water and
seeing the universe……

‘Huh? Isn’t this……?’

As soon as I thought that, I heard a voice I had missed.

[The third exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The third exception condition will be removed.]

It was a notice that I had been wanting to hear for a long time.

But this time, my mind was flooded with question marks.

‘What? What was it? What was the exception condition this time?’

I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t even bother to ask as politely as I had before. But as if
politeness wasn’t important, the announcer-like voice answered,
[The third exception condition: Do not resist your death fate.]

Huh?

I was dumbfounded, and then I asked again,

‘What did you just say?’

[The third exception condition: Do not resist–]

‘No, I didn’t ask you to say it twice! What the hell does that mean?!’

[It means giving up the will to live when you are on the verge of death.]
‘Oh, you mean, like I did earlier? When I saw Killian coming to kill me, I offered him my
neck and hoped it would be done quickly……?’

[That’s right.]

When the AI-like voice confirmed my answer, I felt even more like shit.

I was dumbfounded for a while, even though I was in a dream, and it was funny to feel
that way.

It wasn’t until much later that I felt a surge of anger.

‘That damn author!’

You fucking asshole, are you playing with people’s lives?

Every swear word I knew quickly flashed through my mind, reproducing my anger.
That man, beast, or whatever, the author, must be a crazy psychopath!

This is not a fair or fun game at all.

The third exception condition is tantamount to telling me to die!

“Don’t resist your death fate” means telling me to set my mind to die!

It’s almost impossible for a human being, or any living thing, to do that.

‘And I’ve managed to do the impossible. That’s a real kick in the teeth.’

During my time in the basement of the Wellesley villa, all the way to the capital, until I
arrived in the capital and hid myself, covering my face with a scarf, I thought only of living.

And that’s what brought me to the execution ground.

‘Even if I had taken a long carriage ride, the knights would have chased me down and
captured me, wouldn’t they?’

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

However, the damn announcer-like voice was not yet finished and I heard another notice.
[Congratulations, you’ve survived. The original storyline set up for Edith Ludwig is now
gone. The force that holds this world together has been changed from ‘original flow’ to
‘probability’ as the original flow has become extremely weak.]

I was drained, but somehow I won the battle against the original.

All the author’s efforts to kill me as a villainess have been undone by my immense luck.

‘What I said to Sophia was half true. The hard worker can’t beat the lucky…… I have never
wished for this kind of glory, but……’

Only then was I able to fall into ‘real sleep’ with peace of mind.

***

‘Why did this happen? Why……?’

Lize had been kept out of the execution ground by the Duke and Cliff’s concern, so that
she wouldn’t have to see the gruesome details of the execution.

But Lize’s hands, bundled in her warm fox fur coat, were still shaking.

‘I can’t believe I lost!’

Lize paced back and forth outside the execution ground, chewing on her fingertips.

CHAPTER 122

‘Does it make sense for the author to lose?’

Lize, or rather, K, screamed in her mind.

This outcome had never occurred to her, and now that it had, she didn’t know what to do.

K was a writer whose first web novel, written for fun, became a hit.

Having always been praised for her academic excellence from a young age, she was
depressed after a series of unsuccessful job applications, so she turned to romance novels
to distract herself from her reality and started writing, thinking, “I can write something
like this too.”

She created a female lead named Lize Sinclair who embodied all of her aspirations to the
point where she could forget all about his gloomy reality, and a male lead named Cliff
Ludwig who embodied all of her desires.

Her first work, “I Refuse Your Obsession,” was written by mixing clichés of romantic
fantasy appropriately.

The number of people who read it grew day by day, and soon a major publisher offered to
publish it.

And the first book she published was an instant hit.

A fandom quickly formed, and readers in fiction communities and cafes praised her.

This instantly boosted her confidence…… a little too much.

‘I mean, how many books have I read since I was a kid and how much knowledge do I
have? It’s definitely different from what those kids wrote.’

Quickly immersed in the “successful author” role, K cynically searched for the web novels
of other authors, criticizing them and posting malicious comments in the guise of a reader.
– The characters are flat and the story is childish. It’s like the author didn’t put much
thought into it.

– This reminds me too much of “M* Wo***”. Did you sell your conscience, author?

– Why would I pay to read something like this? I hit the back button immediately after
reading the free chapters. My coins are too precious for this.

At first, she said what she didn’t like about it, but later on, she just wrote malicious
comment after malicious comment.

But K never felt the slightest bit guilty.

‘I’m helping the readers save their money, so they can spend their time reading something
better.’

Meanwhile, she formed a writers’ club with writers she met online.

Of course, there wasn’t a single writer in that club who was better than K.
And in the name of the club’s development, K evaluated each member’s work once a
month.

“I think you’re using too few vocabulary words, you should read more books.”

“Don’t you think the plot is too far-fetched? You’ll be criticized if your plot is this bad.”

“I don’t think you have the skills to write yet.”

K’s criticisms were harsh, but the Writers’ Club members expressed their gratitude, saying
that her sound advice had brought them to their senses.

So there was no need for K to be humble.

Then something unpleasant happened.

A work written by one of the members of the Writers’ Club had become a huge hit. It was
a success that surpassed “I Refuse Your Obsession.”

The members of the club congratulated the new hit author and asked her to evaluate their
work.
‘What the hell? She only got a hit because she got a good promotion, but she’s so
arrogant.’

K was furious at the member for stealing her spot and immediately started leaving hateful
comments in the comment section.

She used her mother, father, and brother’s identities to create new accounts and criticized
the author with all sorts of malicious comments, and eventually, she told the author to
stop writing.

And in the end, the author sued K.

When the author confronted K in court, she was outraged to learn that K was the head of
the Writers’ Club, so she even revealed K’s true colors to all the members of the Writers’
Club and other online communities.

K was eventually forced to abandon her original pen name and start writing under a new
one.

However, her second web novel under the new pen name was a disastrous failure.

From then on, K went downhill.

Under pressure to write a new web novel that would be as successful as “I Refuse Your
Obsession,” she couldn’t write as well as she wanted, and her anxiety and depression
grew worse by the day.

She ran away from home after a big fight with her parents, who suggested she go to
counseling, and became obsessed with “I Refuse Your Obsession” the further she fell.

She enjoyed reading “I Refuse Your Obsession” many times, and her love for the female
lead, Lize Sinclair, grew stronger by the day.

At some point, the wish of “I wish I could be Lize” turned into a thought: “Lize is a
character modeled after me.” Eventually, a single thought took over K’s mind.

‘I am Lize.’

Slowly eroded over the years, K’s mind couldn’t distinguish between reality and delusion,
and one day she decided to go back to where she belonged.

In a small studio apartment with no one to talk to, she popped a handful of sleeping pills
without a second thought.

Finally, she was reincarnated as Lize Sinclair, just as she had always hoped.

As a female lead, as an author. K felt an overwhelming sense of joy in that moment.

All the inferiority complexes she’d felt in her previous life were instantly gone, and she
was happy every day.

Moreover, as an author, she could control the main characters and change the plot as long
as it didn’t contradict the original story, so there was no crisis in her life. There were just
triggers for events that looked like crises.

‘This is getting a little boring after repeating it so many times.’

After living this life a few times, K decided to add a little thrill to her life instead of
accepting that living the same life over and over again was hell.

So she came up with ‘Edith’s reincarnation’. As a one-off villainess who appears and
disappears in the middle of the story, Edith is the easiest character to play as she
confronts Lize directly and shows her viciousness.

The result was exactly what she thought it would be. How refreshing it was to have a
villainess who didn’t act like the one in the original story.

It breathed new life into a character who had fallen into a behavioral pattern that was
always the same, and every time she won a game against a human reincarnated as Edith,
K was thrilled.

It was going to be like that forever.

It was supposed to be forever, and she never imagined that she would be defeated by the
thirteenth Edith.

‘What happens now?’

The 13th Edith met the third exception condition that K thought she would never be able
to do.

Despite all her urging, “Ask Killian to save you,” Edith did not listen, as if she had given up
on her life altogether.

[The third exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The third exception condition will be removed.]

The voice in her head was terrifying. She didn’t know who it was, but she wanted to run
over and shut it down.

But the gods of this world were not on her side, the author.
[The original storyline set up for Edith Ludwig is now gone. The force that holds this world
together has been changed from ‘original flow’ to ‘probability’ as the original flow has
become extremely weak.]

Hearing that, K felt like being struck by lightning.

Now there is no power left for K to wield in this world.

What’s more, the flow of the original story has also been weakened, so the future of Lize’s
happy ending has also become uncertain.

“No…… no……!”

As she trembled and faltered in a small panic, one of the knights around her cleared his
throat and soothed her.

“Lady Lize is soft-hearted. It must be hard for you to listen to these terrifying screams but
there is a world order that must be upheld, even with such drastic measures.”

At that moment, Lize’s trembling stopped.

“Lady Lize……?”
The knight examined Lize’s complexion with worry, but she smiled brightly, as if she had
never trembled before.

“You’re right, for the sake of world order…… there are some things that must be done.”

The knight was inwardly proud that he had calmed her down, and Lize was genuinely
grateful to him.

The knight’s advice had helped her realize what she needed to do.

***

How long have I been asleep?

I opened my eyes feeling deadly cold.

I didn’t seem to have been asleep as long as I thought, as I could still hear the screams
from the execution ground.
I shivered and gently patted my numb cheeks.

The gash in my mouth had healed somewhat, but the bruises were still sore with the
slightest pressure.

‘How long am I going to be here?’

If they’re going to keep me alive, they should put me somewhere better than this. I’m
going to freeze to death in here.

As if on cue, I heard someone open the dungeon door and descend the stairs.

It didn’t seem to be the knight or Killian, as the footsteps were too soft.

“Edith!”

“Huh? Lize……!”

It was Lize, clutching something in her arms.

“You’re cold, aren’t you? I brought you a hot-water bottle to warm you up.”

Oh! As expected, you have the heart of a female lead!

I pushed my stiff body to my feet and stepped closer to the bars.

“Thanks, Lize. I thought I was going to freeze to death.”

Lize’s smile hardened a bit.

“If you don’t want to die so badly, why didn’t you say a word to Killian to save you
before?”

“What?”

“You could have died a moment ago, and I told you to ask Killian to save you, but you
didn’t even pretend to listen……”

For some reason, Lize’s tone seemed a little different from that of the original character.

Moreover, I couldn’t understand why I was being criticized in this way at the moment
when I was in despair and lost even the will to live.

“Thank you for worrying about me, but earlier, I really didn’t think there was any point
in…… living. I felt like they wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said. You, too, thought I
helped Shane, didn’t you?”

Lize clenched her jaw, saying nothing.

All is well and good, I hope she quickly hands the hot-water bottle to me first, but I’m a
little embarrassed to even say it.

I sighed deeply.

CHAPTER 123

“I’m so tired. Tired of insisting on my innocence, tired of being labeled a liar……”

“And now you want to live again?”

I’m not sure if she’s angry because I wanted to die or because I wanted to live.

Something didn’t feel right, but I replied nonetheless. I need that hot-water bottle.

“Because Killian believed in me.”

“Killian…… yeah, Killian was the problem, always has been……”

“Lize……?”

That was really weird.

It was so unlike Lize that it gave me goosebumps.

“So what? You’ll be labeled a liar and suspected of being a villainess again.”

“Liz–”

“So, just think about dying. You should die here today.”

What the hell does this mean?

Why is Lize saying such strange things?

No, why is she suddenly pulling a dagger out of her pocket?

“Lize, why, why are you like this?”

I stepped back from the bars as Lize slashed her arm with the dagger and screamed.

“Aaah!”

She threw the dagger she was holding into my cell.

‘Why are you giving me that when I asked for a hot-water bottle?’
I just stared at the scene in disbelief, because this situation didn’t feel real at all.

‘Am I still asleep, or is this a lucid dream?’

That’s the more plausible speculation. For the good and righteous Lize Sinclair to try to
frame me so brazenly would have turned the world of “I Refuse Your Obsession” upside
down.

But contrary to my vain hopes, she didn’t hesitate for a moment and began to play the
victim.

“Get a grip, Edith! Why are you doing this!”

“N- no, what are you……”

As I stammered, not knowing what to say, Cliff, Killian, and a couple of knights burst in as
if they’d been waiting.

“What’s going on? Lize!”

Cliff was the first to come, quickly wrapping his arms around her like a true male lead.

Then, through her torn sleeve, he noticed that her forearm was bleeding.
For a moment, I thought I saw sparks fly out of Cliff’s eyes.

“E- Edith tried to stab me all of a sudden. I- I was just trying to give her a hot-water
bottle……”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Lize looked deeply hurt.

I was almost mesmerized by her amazing acting skills.

“I…… I didn’t. I didn’t do it……” I stammered, saying such a stereotypical thing.

At that moment, Killian, who was watching from afar, snatched the key from the knight,
unlocked the door to my cell, and came inside.

I missed Killian so much, and I was afraid that he would be disappointed in me, that the
little favor he had for me would fade away.

If I’d known this would happen, it would have been better to die a moment ago……

Once inside the cell, Killian picked up the dagger lying on the floor without even bothering
to look at me.
He examined it back and forth, had the knights guarding the dungeon touch it once, and
then handed it to Cliff.

Cliff took the dagger, looked at me, and gritted his teeth.

‘I’m pretty sure he wants to stab me with it now.’

As I stared at him blankly, my mouth half open, Killian stormed over to me and grabbed
my hand.

“Killian……?”

“You’re cold.”

Of course I am. Didn’t you notice it when you came in here earlier? Not just my hands, but
my whole body is frozen.

Even though I had those thoughts, I just shrugged my shoulders.

What else could I do?

“What about that dagger, brother? Isn’t it too warm?”

“What?”
“The dagger you’re holding, isn’t the blade and hilt all warm? More than human body
temperature.”

“Come to think of it……”

“Edith’s hands are ice cold. If the hand that just held that dagger is this cold, how can the
dagger be that warm?”

And before Cliff could retort, Killian’s hand slipped inside my coat.

“Kil- Killian! What are you doing!”

I squealed in surprise, but my voice was too weak to come out loud.

“Moreover, these clothes Edith is wearing don’t keep her warm at all, so her body is cold
too. That’s not a dagger someone with this body condition would have, that’s for sure.”

Killian’s gaze shifted to Lize.

“But if it belongs to someone with a hot-water bottle in her arms, no wonder the dagger is
so warm. Don’t you think?”

“Killian!”
This time, Lize shouted Killian’s name like a scream.

But no one in the room responded to her cry. Even Cliff was frozen in shock.

“Edith. You tell me. What happened?”

Killian gave me a chance to defend myself. My breath caught in my throat with emotion,
but I took a deep breath and told the truth.

“Lize said she was here to give me a hot-water bottle…… and she asked me why I wanted
to die before…… and then she suddenly said I should die here…… and she took that dagger
out of her pocket and slashed her own arm and threw it through the bars, and then she
screamed…… and you and Cliff came right after.”

“You’re lying!” Lize screamed again.

Then Killian gave Lize a dry stare. “Then why don’t you explain what happened, Lize?”

“I came to hand Edith a hot-water bottle, and she took out her dagger and stabbed me
with it……!”

“Then why is the dagger so warm? You can tell when you touch it, it’s too warm.”
“T- that’s because……”

“And there was one more important mistake, Lize.”

Killian had completely concluded that Lize was the culprit.

I found that a little surprising, but the way Killian handed Cliff the dagger made me realize
that he’d realized it was Lize the moment he’d come down here.

“Look at this, Lize. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to cut your arm that deep.”

Killian stretched out his arm through the bars and swung it around, and Cliff and the
knights standing next to him had an “ah-ha” moment of realization.

The cell has several rows of bars, very close to each other.

My arms, wrapped in a winter coat and winter wool cardigan, could barely fit through the
bars.

It would be difficult for me to extend the hand holding the dagger out, but even if I
managed to do so, the gap between the bars was so narrow that I would have to use only
my wrist strength to move the dagger.

To cut through several layers of winter clothing and slash into her bare skin with such
force? It doesn’t make sense.
‘She must have made the crucial mistake of using too much force to slash her arm, the
wound was really deep and the blood did not stop.’

I marveled at Killian’s ability to see the truth where I hadn’t.

Caught off guard, Lize could only gape, and Cliff looked bewildered.

Then Killian asked again with a cold face. “Lize, why did you try to frame Edith?”

But Lize burst into tears and insisted. “Why don’t you believe me, when it’s obvious that
Edith tried to kill me?”

“If you feel wronged, try to explain what happened in a way that makes sense, Lize. At
least Edith, whenever something happened at the mansion, tried to prove that she didn’t
do it. Why can’t you do the same?”

At that, a thumping sound seemed to come from my chest, not Lize’s.

‘You remembered all of that…… Killian.’

I was so happy and grateful that it made my body tremble.

But Killian was fiercely pushing Lize, as if he were angrier than I was.
“Edith has endured such injustice all this time! While all of us foolish Ludwigs, including
me, have protected you like glass that could break at any moment, Edith has endured it
without even telling us she was in pain!”

“Killian. Lize’s scared, so you need to calm down……!”

“Same goes for you, brother!”

Killian’s arrow quickly turned to Cliff.

“You blindly accused Edith of cooperating with Shane without even checking out the
Wellesley’s villa! If Edith hadn’t been able to free herself from the ropes and run away,
she could have frozen to death there or lost the use of her limbs!”

“That was…… my fault.”

“What was so urgent that you couldn’t be bothered to look in the basement? It was
because of Lize, right?”

Cliff didn’t answer, even as Killian shot him a hateful glare. Because it was probably true.

“You know, brother, you’re kind of an idiot when it comes to Lize. I don’t mind that in
other things, but when the cost of your stupidity is the death of my woman…… you should
be prepared to turn on me. Or do you think I’m too easy?”
Killian clenched his fists so hard his knuckles were white and shaking.

Killian’s words, every single one of them, sent a warm feeling through me, but I knew I had
to stop him. As winter gets colder, you need to be careful about your blood pressure.

“Killian…… that’s enough.”

I gingerly took his hand, and his teary eyes met mine.

His eyes, as gray as a cloudy winter sky, held a mixture of emotions, and I realized he was
feeling the most guilty of them all.

“Edith…… what can I, what can I do for you? Don’t just stop me, ask me to help you.
Please!”

That was nice of him.

But I got everything I wanted out of this situation.

I was cleared of wrongdoing for something I didn’t do, and it was also because of Killian,
who I feared had taken his mind off of me.
The knights were also witnesses to all of this, so neither Lize nor Cliff would be able to
twist the case.

And I found out who the main character who had been driving me as a villainess all this
time was. It’s a bit funny that she is literally the main character.

CHAPTER 124

“I appreciate your kind words. Then let me ask you a favor.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“C- can you please take that hot-water bottle Lize brought me? I’m so cold……”

Perhaps because I was so moved that my eyes filled with tears, now my nose is running.

Killian seemed to have finally realized my condition.

“Take off your coat! No matter how much you try to disguise yourself, where did you get
something like this from……!”

Killian made me take off my coat, then took off his own fur coat.

He put it on me and grabbed my forearm to steady me as I stumbled.

“Ow!”
I let out an involuntary scream. It was where Sophia had whipped me, and the pain was
excruciating.

I was panting with pain that was making me break out in a cold sweat, and I could tell
Killian’s complexion was worse than mine.

“Call the doctor now! Hurry up!”

At his shout, what appeared to be the youngest of the knights standing in the distance
rushed outside.

Lize, tears streaming down her face, stared at Killian in disbelief.

Sure, she slashed her own arm, but Killian already saw that it was bleeding.

“Lize, you should go see the doctor.”

Cliff put his arm around her and spoke soothingly, but Lize’s devastated expression didn’t
improve.

Suddenly, my vision flipped and I felt dizzy.

Thankfully Killian held me in his arms.

“How badly are you hurt……”

That was all I could hear, unable to tell if he was complaining or worried.

Because my whole body felt like it was dropping to the floor, and then I blacked out again.

But unlike before, I felt a sense of relief.

I knew that Killian would protect me while I blacked out.

I relaxed myself and drifted into a deep sleep.

***

The whole time he was carrying the collapsed Edith out of the cell and into his room,
Killian was plagued by a terrible feeling of regret and self-blame.

‘I am so stupid. The stupidest person in this Ludwig family!’

I am so angry at myself for being so ignorant of Edith’s situation that I want to punch
myself in the face.

I am also angry at Lize.

I don’t understand why Lize wanted to frame Edith, but if I hadn’t been able to clear
Edith’s name right then, she might have been dragged back to the execution ground.

No, if Cliff believed that Edith had almost caused something terrible to happen to Lize, he
would have done anything to cut her head off.

As Killian stared at Edith’s pale face, lost in his own horrible thoughts, one of the knights
who had captured Edith came in with a cheap leather bag.

“This is the bag Lady Edith was carrying when we found her at the carriage station.”

“Did someone rummage through it?”

“No, I brought it with me.”

“Very well. Leave it there.”

The knight bowed and left, and the room fell silent again.
Killian glanced at Edith, then cautiously opened the bag.

When he saw what was inside, he gasped.

“Oh, my God……!”

He couldn’t hold back the tears.

Three small, cold potatoes, wrapped in paper, are in the upper part of the bag.

Even Killian, who doesn’t know much about the lives of commoners, knows that these are
the kind of potatoes they sell for snacks at the carriage station.

“You packed this for a meal? Something like this……?”

Killian’s heart sank.

Here is a woman who had been mercilessly beaten, cold, and hadnt had a proper meal
because she was too worried about getting caught.

To think of her holding a paper bag of cheap potatoes, the kind that beggars can eat and
warm their hands with its warmth, made Killian’s breath catch in his throat.

“Fuck……!”
Killian’s heart sank further as he examined the contents of her bag.

It contains the rough clothing of a commoner–probably because she tried not to stand
out–and traveling tools like a portable lantern, flint, and utility knife.

Each item was flimsy, and Edith would have suffered indescribably hardship if she had to
rely on them to start a long journey.

‘What went through Edith’s mind when she packed this?’

I feel like I’ve figured it out without having to think about it for long. Perhaps, she was so
lonely that she wanted to die.

She was already at the long-distance carriage station but chose to return here to die.

Killian squeezed his chest tightly as he imagined Edith’s lonely, heartbroken heart.

My heart ached.

‘There wasn’t a soul in the world who stood up for her. Her own family wanted her dead,
and I, her husband, pushed her and took the other woman’s side at every turn…….’

I have nothing to blame the Riegelhoffs for. The Ludwigs have done worse to her.
They had never once treated her as their daughter-in-law, Edith, with more respect than
Lize, and I was busy suspecting everything.

There were reports that even the servants of the mansion were distancing themselves
from Edith because of the way the Ludwigs treated her.

At the time, I thought it was all her own doing. How foolish of me……

Suddenly, Anna came to mind.

“……in the meantime, Young Master Cliff had interrogated all the occupants of the
mansion, and the atmosphere was so murderous that everybody either said what he
wanted to hear or said they didn’t know. There was only one, Miss Anna, Lady Edith’s
maid, who stood by her to the end.”

According to the report of the warden who had brought Edith out of the dungeon, Anna
had been interrogated for several days as Edith’s maid, but had stood by her to the end;
she had been faithfully carrying out the orders Killian had given her before he left for the
territorial war.
“Call Anna.”

Killian ordered urgently to the servant waiting outside.

Anna had been brought here and there for days for questioning, and had been placed on
probation for not testifying against Edith.

I wanted to give her a break, but Anna was the only one I could entrust with Edith’s care
right now.

A few moments later, Anna came running in, neatly dressed as always in her maid’s
uniform.

“Young master.”

She may have been acting casual, but her sunken cheeks spoke volumes about the
hardship she’d been through.

“I’m sorry for calling you so suddenly, but once again, there’s something I can only entrust
to you.”

“Give me your orders, young master.”

“Edith……”
Anna’s head snapped up at the name ‘Edith’.

“Miss Edith? Has Miss Edith come?”

The longing and anxiety in Anna’s eyes made Killian once again sure he could trust her.

“Yes. She needs to see a doctor soon, but she’s very banged up. I need to clean her body
and change her clothes……”

“I’ll have them ready in a moment, but first, may I see Miss Edith……. for a moment?”

Killian nodded, allowing Anna to come closer to the bed.

Anna approached nervously and covered her mouth with her hand as she sucked in a
breath at the sight of Edith’s bruised, lean, sleeping form.

“That bitch Sophia tried to kill Edith. I should have crippled her instead of just kicking her
out then……”

Killian muttered with regret, and Anna clenched her molars to stifle her surging emotions.

“I’ll get a change of clothes and a towel to clean her up.”

“Please.”

Anna stepped out of the room, and Killian gently stroked Edith’s cheek.

She was so cold he wanted to rub her limbs, but judging by her reaction when he’d
grabbed her forearm, he suspected she had a lot of bruises all over her body, so he didn’t
dare.

And that prediction was unfortunately correct.

As he and Anna undressed Edith, his and Anna’s eyes widened at the same time.

“I should have torn her to death! I should have torn her to pieces, not cut off her head!”

Purple bruises spread across Edith’s forearms and thighs.

Her forearms, where the whipping had been particularly severe, were still raw and
blistered from the cold. Her feet, which had been walking in uncomfortable shoes for a
long time, had two purple toenails.

“How could this happen…… miss……!”

Anna, who had a reputation for being the most unemotional maid in the mansion, could
not control the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
Killian was losing it, too.

It was as if he could see the weight of life that Edith’s slender body was carrying.

I don’t know why everything seems so clear to me now, why only now……!

‘I drove her to hell, and I didn’t even bother to find out more about her because she
appeared to be okay, it’s no wonder she didn’t lean on me!’

Killian’s heart ached as if it were being crushed.

He had failed to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband and had hurt Edith by judging her
based on what he could see.

He arrogantly thought he knew everything and was smarter than her.

‘I’m disgusted with myself, I’m horrible!’

Killian kept cursing himself as he and Anna cleaned Edith’s body.

They were extremely careful, as if they were cleaning a newborn baby, for fear that the
slightest touch would cause Edith pain.
They had barely gotten Edith dressed when they heard the news that the doctor had
arrived.

“Bring him over here now. If Cliff tries to take him away first, tell him I’ll kill him.”

With Killian in a more murderous mood than ever before, the servants rushed out to fetch
the doctor.

And as soon as the doctor saw Edith’s condition, he looked at Killian in horror.

CHAPTER 125

“You didn’t do this, did you?”

“You seem to view me as no better than an animal.”

“I- I’m glad you didn’t. How on earth did she end up like this……!”

“Don’t try to find out the whole story. You should value your life.”

“Y- yes……”

Startled, the doctor sat up straight and examined Edith’s body.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t look like any of her bones are broken. From now on, every
morning and evening, compress her body with warm water before applying the ointment I
prescribed.”

“Will that be all? Shouldn’t you give her some medicine or something?”

“I’ll decide on medication once I’ve examined her after she’s awake. I don’t think she’s
been resting or eating properly, so she should take absolute rest for the time being.”

“I see.”

Despite being told twice more that the bruises themselves were no big deal, just that they
looked bad, Killian asked the doctor to wait for him at the mansion.

But a few moments later, Duke Ludwig summoned Killian and Cliff, saying he wanted to
see what had happened inside the dungeon.

Killian gritted his teeth and rose to his feet.

“Take care of Edith while I’m gone, Anna.”

“Don’t worry, young master. If you need my testimony, I can talk for hours, so just call
me.”
“Thank you.”

Killian made his way to the Duke’s office, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the maid he
had never paid attention to before.

When he entered, the Duke was wiping his bloodied hands on a towel.

All of the Riegelhoffs and their minions had apparently been executed.

“Sit.”

As soon as Killian sat down, Cliff arrived.

Sensing the icy mood of his two sons, the Duke sighed deeply and sank back into his seat.

“Who should I ask…….?”

When the Duke muttered in a troubled tone, Killian spoke without looking at his brother.

“Do you have anything to say about what happened earlier, brother?”

“……”
“Let me tell you, father. I’m a little angry, so I might come off as a little harsh, but you can
correct me later.”

“Okay.”

For the first time, the Duke gave Killian the floor, not Cliff.

And that day in the Duke’s office, there was a long talk about the truth they didn’t know.

***

So warm.

I no longer felt the bone-chilling cold that made me shiver.

‘I’m…… alive……’

I slowly opened my eyes, brushing the soft surface of the bedding beneath my palms.
As my blurry vision cleared, I stiffened briefly at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings,
but I quickly realized that this was Killian’s room.

‘Where is Killian?’

I sat up, my body aching from the slightest movement, and looked around. But there was
no one there, not even Killian.

‘I’m scared……’

I suddenly feared that I might be dead, and I got goosebumps.

I crawled out of bed with a groan.

I had nothing to put on over my nightgown, but I couldn’t wait to find someone besides
myself.

“Killian……”

I called out to Killian in an unsure voice and opened the door connecting the bedroom to
the parlor.

The eyes of the three people sitting around the table in the parlor turned to me at the
same time.
Killian, Anna, and a man who appeared to be a doctor.

“Edith!”

Surprised, Killian sprang to his feet and rushed toward me, his hand pausing in mid-air, not
sure where to put it.

“What are you doing up? You’re still not fully recovered.”

Killian eventually put his arm around my shoulders, very carefully, and said in a low voice,
studying my complexion.

Instantly, I felt the anxiety that had been building inside me ease.

“I was scared because there was no one here. I thought I was…… dead.”

At that, Killian froze like a paused video, staring at me.

“I’m sorry. I should have had one of us standing by your side……”

“No, it’s just that I wasn’t fully awake and had some strange thoughts.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for leaving you scared and alone.”
Killian gave me a quick hug.

He seemed to be extremely careful, as if he was afraid he might press hard somewhere on

my body.

I wondered why he was so protective, and then I realized he was particularly careful not to
touch my forearm.

‘He must have seen I was hurt.’

It must have been quite a shocking sight. The bruises were intense enough to freak me out
when I first got dressed, because they were so foreign to my body.

I looked at the purple bruises on my forearms and thighs and wondered if they would ever
go back to skin color.

“First, lie down again. I’ll be by your side.”

Killian soothed me in a voice that made my heart tickle, and after telling Anna to stay
behind and take good notes on the doctor’s words, he led me back into the bedroom.

“Killian, what day is it? How long have I been asleep?”

“Don’t worry, you’ve been sleeping for ‘barely’ three days.”

“Why ‘barely’?”

“Cause you woke up occasionally, though you don’t seem to remember.”

“Huh? Really?”

I don’t remember waking up at all, as Killian said.

“You ate soup once in the middle, drank water a few times, and went to the bathroom
once.”

“I don’t remember that at all.”

“I guess so, because you looked like you were half asleep.”

I nodded dazedly.

“Is it okay for me…… to lie here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I wonder if His Excellency the Duke might be angry…… that you got me out of the
dungeon,” I said, genuinely worried.

Killian seemed to be holding back his anger. “You don’t have to worry about my father or
brother anymore. On the contrary, those people will have to take care of you.”

“What happened?”

Killian looked me in the eye for a long moment, then let out a long sigh and told me what
had happened.

***

When Edith was thrown into the dungeon and the execution of the Riegelhoffs began,
Count Riegelhoff was the first to fall to his knees.

“Do you have any last words?” Duke Ludwig asked in a last act of mercy.

But Count Riegelhoff, already seized with rage, fear, and madness, glared at the Duke with
bloodshot eyes and smirked.
“If I die, you must kill my daughter Edith too. It would be a dishonor for her to be left alive
when we are all dead.”

It was Killian who answered. “Funny. She’s not your daughter, she’s my wife.”

“Hahaha! When did you ever care so much for her that you’re acting like this?”

“I don’t know why you only now care about the daughter you abandoned.”

“When did I abandon her?”

“If you don’t remember abandoning her, then you never considered her a daughter in the
first place.”

Count Riegelhoff’s face hardened strangely at that.

Killian’s mood worsened as he realized that this was as close to a correct answer.

Count Riegelhoff shouted, “Betrayers are never to be spared. That’s a House Riegelhoff
rule!”

Duke Ludwig, who was listening next to him, glared at him and then said, bored. “That’s
Riegelhoff’s problem.”
“You can’t even respect the traditions of other families……!”

“Your last words were too long. Execute the sentence!”

Then the executioner raised his well-sharpened axe.

“Aaaaah!

“Father!”

The screams of the Riegelhoffs echoed through the execution ground.

As the axe cut through the freezing air, the two eyes that had been glaring at Duke Ludwig
went blank and hot blood sprayed into the air.

It was a miserable end for a man who had allowed envy and jealousy to consume his life.

After Count Riegelhoff’s execution, the rest of the family followed suit one after another.

Shane’s throat, in particular, was cut by Cliff himself, ‘slowly’.

Even as the execution ground was filled with the horrific screams of death, Killian’s mind
was on Edith, probably shivering in the dungeon.
‘I can’t take her back to the mansion?! Does my father still doubt her? Does he not believe
me?’

Killian couldn’t understand the Duke’s insistence on keeping Edith in the dungeon, even
though he had told him she had been trapped in the basement of Wellesley’s villa and
nearly died.

As the minutes ticked by, it was Sophia’s turn.

“That bitch……!”

Killian’s eyes flared with anger and he took a step forward.

Just then, a soldier guarding the entrance to the execution ground rushed over and
reported to the Duke.

“Your Excellency! Sir Renon Filch says he has something to tell you!”

“Renon? Is he awake?”

“I believe he came running this way as soon as he woke up.”

It was Renon, who had been knocked unconscious by a mercenary’s club while trying to
stop the kidnapping.

He wasn’t usually one to panic or act impatient, so if he came running as soon as he woke
up, it must be a very important report.

“Let him in.”

Renon was brought into the execution group at the Duke’s command, his head bandaged,
his face anxious as he scanned the remaining prisoners.

“Renon. What’s the matter?”

“Where is Lady Edith?”

“Edith? Why are you looking for Edith?”

“I heard that she was captured and brought to the execution ground.”

“So?”

“She is innocent! No, was she already executed……?!”

The shouting made his head hurt again, and he staggered back, rubbing his temple.
Killian steadied him. “Renon, do you know something?”

Killian was desperate for someone to speak up for Edith’s innocence.

Seeing the calm Killian, Renon immediately knew that Edith was still alive.

CHAPTER 126

“Lady Edith did not assist the Riegelhoffs in their dastardly deed; I saw it with my own
eyes; rather, it was her who was most assaulted by them!”

Duke Ludwig had already heard Killian’s testimony and realized his own misunderstanding,
but he wanted to hear more from the man who had ridden ahead of the knights on the
day of the kidnapping.

“Tell me in detail.”

“On that day, I heard that there had been an attempted assassination of the Emperor at
the palace, and that all parties in the capital had been stopped because of it. I had a bad
feeling about it, so I told Sir Gordon that we’d better go and see the Duchess. I was in a
hurry, so I set off first.”

It was the same story he heard from Gordon, the knight who guarded the mansion.
“From a distance, I saw three women in gowns being dragged away by men in black. Two
of them had already fainted and were being put into the carriage, but the third resisted to
the end. Having succeeded in pulling away from the captors, she did not run away, but
fought to free the Duchess, who was being carried up into the carriage.”

Renon recalled the moment with a somber expression. The moment when he had felt so
helpless.

“Our knights were closing in fast, and if she had held on a little longer, the kidnapping
would not have been so easy, but one of the men got out of the carriage and beat her
mercilessly. The woman who fell had reddish-brown hair, and the man who beat her was
unmistakably…… Shane Riegelhoff.”

“Are you sure?”

“I swear on my honor.”

Puzzlement flashed across the Duke’s face.

If it was true, he should be treating Edith like a hero, not a sinner.

But for Killian, who was listening, the more important question was where and how Edith
was injured.

“Do you remember where and how Shane hit her?” he asked.
“He punched her in the face with his fist, kicked her in the stomach with his foot……”

“How could he hit a fragile woman? Not to mention she’s his sister.”

Not only Killian, but even the Duke asked in surprise.

“I was so surprised that I ran over, but the mercenaries were more numerous than I
expected, and I was quickly surrounded. While I was struggling with them, Shane managed
to escape with Lady Edith in the carriage.”

“Damn it……”

Killian gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t imagine where or how badly Edith was hurt.

“Why the hell did she get treated so badly? No matter what, she’s still a blood relative……”

“I think it’s because Lady Edith has completely turned her back on the Riegelhoffs. She was
very much looking forward to going down to the Ryzen estate, and had dreams of
developing it; there is no way that someone like her would have betrayed House Ludwig.”
“You mean she did……”

Duke could not finish his words, a regretful look on his face.

Killian felt his heart sink. He wondered how long Edith had been looking forward to that
day, mulling over her plans for the estate.

And he felt so foolish for not knowing any of that, for thinking only of what would happen
if she went to Ryzen estate and whined about being cold.

“So, you came running as soon as you woke up because you were afraid Edith was going
to be executed?” Killian asked, smiling faintly.

Renon nodded, bluntly and with some embarrassment.

“Do you think I’d let my wife die? But thank you, Renon. Thanks to you, my father finally
seems to believe me.”

Just then, hysterical laughter came from the center of the execution ground.

All eyes turned to Sophia at the eerie sound.

“I see you are all very impressed with Lady Edith, a virtuous daughter-in-law who has
forsaken her own family to serve her in-laws…… I am moved to tears.”
Sophia, who had let out an even more agonizing scream when Shane was screaming and
dying, appeared to be already half out of her mind.

Her eyes blazed as if she were seeking revenge, and then she revealed Edith’s secret.

“But what? The wife that the son of the great Duke of Ludwig has taken is actually an
illegitimate child, not of the Count’s blood, but of someone whose lineage we don’t even
know. Hahaha!”

The words drew a collective gasp, and Killian and the Duke exchanged glances.

But Killian wasn’t surprised by the fact. Instead, he felt like a puzzle had finally been
solved.

“Is that why you abused Edith?”

“When a dog doesn’t recognize the grace of its master for giving it back what it deserved,
it needs a good beating to bring it to its senses.”

“A dog……?”

“Yes! That bitch Edith was Count Riegelhoff’s dog. If you let a female dog in heat loose, a
bunch of male dogs with valuable information will flock to it.”
Everyone was stunned by Sophia’s attitude, referring to the woman who had been her
master as a ‘dog’. Or, more accurately, Edith had never been Sophia’s master in the first
place.

“She was quite useful until she got married, and then she couldn’t recognize her master
and kept doing stupid things. If it weren’t for that bitch’s betrayal, you’d be the ones
sitting in the execution ground right now.”

Sophia scoffed sarcastically, but Killian spoke the truth to her, his voice cold.

“So you’re saying that the most important person in the Riegelhoff family was Edith. If I’d
known the family was doomed without her, I would have married her sooner.”

He walked down to the execution ground, snatched the axe from the executioner’s hand,
and ordered Sophia’s hands chained to the frame.

“I will slaughter this dog of Riegelhoff, who has been tormenting my wife, myself. First, the
hands that dared to hit my wife.”

The chained hands fell to the floor.

“Aaaaaahhh!”

“Shut up. My wife was the one who took a beating from you and still held her chin up in
front of me. If you’re going to be so cocky, why don’t you take a lesson from Edith?”
Killian frowned, then smirked. “Well, I guess you’re too stupid to learn from Edith, and……
too late.”

He swung his axe wildly, slicing through the noisy wailing Sophia in one fell swoop.

“If Edith is a dog, then you are nothing more than a dog flea that owes your life to her.”

Spitting the last word with contempt over Sophia’s mutilated body, Killian handed the axe
back to the executioner and turned to the Duke.

“I will take Edith to the mansion right now and summon a doctor, even if you need to
interrogate her, her treatment comes first.”

The Duke nodded, unable to say anything more.

But then the soldier standing next to Killian spoke up, “By the way, just now, Lady Lize
went to the dungeon with a hot-water bottle.”

The soldier looked at him with an expression that said, “Don’t worry too much, Lady Lize is
taking care of her.”

But Killian felt a strange sense of unease at that moment.

It was the same uneasiness he’d felt when he’d heard that Edith was going out for a walk
and shopping with Lize.

“Just now?”

“Yes. I saw her go downstairs earlier……”

As soon as Killian heard that, he turned toward the dungeon, but Cliff grabbed him.

“The execution aren´t over yet. Lize went to deliver a hot-water bottle, so you stay where
you are.”

“No. I’m just that she’s gone.”

“What?”

Killian turned toward the dungeon, and Cliff followed, frowning.

As they stood in front of the stairs leading down to the dungeon, they heard Lize’s
screams coming from the dungeon.

Killian and Cliff ran down the stairs to the dungeon without a second thought.
***

“And then, as I’m sure you remember, Lize tried to frame you.”

I nodded slightly, listening to Killian’s story.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on Lize’s face for a long time to come. She didn’t
seem like the Lize I knew, or maybe I’ve known her wrong all these years……”

Killian seemed to lean more toward the latter.

“What’s Lize doing now?”

“She’s locked herself in her room. She doesn’t even remember what she did to you. The
doctor says she may have been traumatized by the gruesome sight of the execution
ground and acted out without realizing it……”

“What?”

“That’s ridiculous, I know. Cliff and my father probably know it too, but they’ll probably
just bury it.”
Smirking, Killian leaned in closer, his voice low. “But that’s their idea. What do you want
me to do? Just tell me honestly, without worrying about what others may think.”

“Why? If I want something, you’ll make it happen?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I ask you to kill Lize?”

“Yes.”

……I wonder what happened to him during this whole time that made him change so
much.

Excuse me, wasn’t Lize the girl you were desperately in love with?

My incredulity must have shown on my face, because Killian smiled bitterly.

“I know I must seem shameless. I know I’m shameless to even pretend to be your husband
now, but…… I mean it, I want to be your supportive husband from now on.”

Killian held my hand a little tighter. “I don’t know why I’m seeing everything about you so
clearly now, and I’m regretting why I didn’t see your pain sooner. I’m sorry, Edith.”
“Why are you acting so strange all of a sudden, so unlike you,” I asked, half-jokingly,
because he looked so serious and distressed.

But he didn’t smile.

“I know it’s hard for you to accept my change right away, too. Doubt me all you want,
blame me all you want. I’ll be waiting forever, until you’ve made up your mind.”

It was a little over the top, but I could tell he meant it.

But the truth is, it wasn’t Killian’s fault that he’d been suspicious and distant from me all
this time.

CHAPTER 127

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Killian.”

“This is a guilt I’ll have to carry with me until I die.”

“No, you really don’t have to beat yourself up about it……”

He was just a character in this novel, so he couldn’t go against the flow of the story.
The reason he’s only seeing all of this now is because I’ve met the third exception
condition, and the flow of the original story has become extremely weak.

It’s not just Killian, but probably Cliff and the Duke as well.

So the future is more important.

‘From now on, probability, not the flow of the original story, will be the main force holding
this world together.’

It’s not that I suddenly become the protagonist of this world because all the causality of
the original story is gone.

Rather, what’s going to happen from now on is that even I, who have read the original
story, can’t see a single step ahead.

But I am not afraid.

‘On the contrary, it means that I can finally create my own life!’

For me, this is the beginning of the main story!

But first, I had to confess everything I hadn’t been able to tell Killian.
I wanted to tell him who I was without hiding anything from him anymore, so that he
could understand and love me for who I am.

“I know it’s late, but I need to tell you something too.”

I pulled my hand out of his grasp and placed it on the back of his hand.

And this time, I held his hand tightly.

“I don’t know if you’ve already figured it out, but I– I mean, Edith Riegelhoff……”

“You’re Edith Ludwig.”

Oh my, look at his face. He said it with a straight face.

“Yeah, well, anyway, I was, uh, abused from a young age in the Riegelhoff family, and all
the disgraceful things I did at parties were forced upon me by my father.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“There are two reasons: first, I wasn’t sure if you and the Ludwigs would accept me if they
knew the truth. I was a hostage for the allegiance of the Riegelhoffs, and if they knew I
was an empty suit who couldn’t fulfill that function……”
“Edith……”

Killian looked devastated, for he couldn’t refute what I said.

But that mattered little now, because the second reason was more important and harder
to explain.

“And the second reason is……”

I’d been wondering until this moment if I should reveal my truth, and if so, how I should
explain it.

“Killian.”

His head snapped up, as if he was surprised to be called out so abruptly.

“Do you, by any chance, believe in the supernatural?”

“Why are you asking me that out of the blue?”

“Because that’s the second reason I haven’t told you everything about myself.”

“Tell me so I can understand.”

I took a deep breath. “I have all of Edith’s memories, and at the same time…… I have the
memories of a woman named Choi Soo-na.”

“Choo Soo-na?”

I laughed briefly at his pronunciation.

“No, no. Choi Soo-na. I was a 28-year-old woman, living in a country called South Korea.
My parents farmed in the countryside, and I worked in the capital to make money, but my
asshole brother kept taking it away from me, so I never had any money to save, and I had
a major illness when I was younger, so I wasn’t healthy…… It was a pretty difficult life, but I
kept trying to look like I was living as well as everyone else.”

Just a year ago, I was Choi Soo-na, and it seemed like a long, long time ago. I wonder if this
is a side effect of reincarnation.

“Actually, my life wasn’t that different from Edith’s. My parents were my biological
parents, but you know what? Even biological parents can’t love their own children. My
parents were like that. They didn’t hit me, but they pretty much neglected me and my
brother, and my brother was worse than Shane Riegelhoff.”

Killian listened blankly, unable to control his mouth that had been gaping since I
mentioned the name ‘Choi Soo-na’.
“Do you think I’m crazy?” I asked, smiling.

Killian closed his mouth and shook his head. “No. Not at all.”

“Well, I’m glad you think I’m still sane, because I’ve got some more weird stuff to tell
you……”

“Please do.”

Killian poured me a glass of water from the bottle on the bedside table as soon as I
coughed.

He’s a good listener.

“I was reincarnated as Edith a week before I married you. The original me died in an
accident in a world different from this one.”

“Reincarnated……?”

“Yes. It’s when another spirit enters one’s body and reincarnates as that person. It’s also
called transmigration……”

“Are you saying you’re a…… witch?”

“Oh, no, no, I don’t have any powers or anything like that, I just…… woke up and I was like,
“I didn’t ask for this.”“

Did I mention it for no reason?

Is “I Refuse Your Obsession” also a world where witch hunts and burnings exist……?

Killian stared off into space while I fidgeted, then sighed softly and changed the subject.

“What was the accident that killed you?”

“Uh…… my brother was drunk as hell and he was waiting for me, right on my doorstep
when I got home from work.”

The memory was still vivid.

The narrow staircase of the old multi-family house, smelling damp.

Every time I got home from work, I often wondered if there was a mugger waiting for me
on those stairs.

Little did I know that the mugger would be my brother……

“He wanted me to give him some money, but I wasn’t in a good mood that day, so I
insisted that I couldn’t.”

“So?”

“Then he…… slapped me hard on the cheek.”

For a moment, Killian’s fists tightened.

“Unfortunately, I had just finished climbing the stairs…… and the slap sent me tumbling
backward. I think I rolled down the stairs…… and landed somewhere hard on my head,
and I blacked out, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in Edith’s body.”

Killian began to open his mouth again.

“……voila!”

I added a childish sound effect, stretching my arms from side to side like a magician does
after a successful trick.

“Anyway, so, I was a little reluctant to bring up Edith’s past as if it was something I’d
experienced. I don’t know if I’m qualified to sell someone else’s misery.”

“Ha……”
Killian made a sound I couldn’t tell if it was a laugh or a sigh.

The truth was, I’d been under a constraint that prevented me from revealing Edith’s
hidden settings, even if I wanted to. But in order to bring that up, I’ll have to explain that
this world is a book, and that its god-like author had imposed all sorts of limitations on
me.

But I decided not to talk about that. I don’t want to confuse Killian too much, and anyway
it’s not like I can say it’s a book anymore.

“You don’t have to believe me. Since I started living as Edith, I’m just Edith, and my
mysterious experiences aren’t important. I just don’t want to hide anything from you.”

“To be honest……”

Killian remained thoughtful for another moment after he spoke.

I get it. This must be the first time he’s ever heard anything like this in his life.

All sorts of things must have gone through his mind like: is she crazy, is she having a vivid
dream and confusing it with reality, is she making fun of me?

I waited patiently for his response.

“I don’t believe everything you’re saying, but it’s too specific to not believe at all, and
there’s no reason why you’d bother deceiving me with such a story.”

“I don’t intend to confuse you, but…… when you go to Ryzen, let me help you with your
work. Choi Soo-na’s memories will be quite helpful to you, and the world I came from is a
bit more developed than this one.”

“I heard you had dreams of developing Ryzen, it seems to be true.”

Killian smiled, finally.

Not all of it made sense, not all of it was believable, but he seemed to respect my story.

He took my hand gently and kissed the back of it.

A tickling sensation traveled from the back of my hand, up my arm, and straight to my
heart.

“Don’t worry. I’ll listen to whatever you say from now on, and I’ll try to understand it. I
don’t want to make the same mistakes I made before.”

“Even if I say something that sounds ridiculous?”

“Even if you tell me that you are the reincarnation of a spirit from another world.”
Maybe what I really wanted to hear from Killian wasn’t that he loved me, or that he would
do anything for me, but that he would try to understand me.

Maybe that’s why I feel so content and relieved right now.

“Oh, by the way…… are all the misunderstandings about me cleared up? Duke, Duchess,
and Cliff……?”

“Mostly, yes. My father, especially, is very sorry for you.”

“Well…… as the head of the family, His Excellency the Duke had to be careful about every
little thing, I understand.”

“You shouldn’t let them off the hook so easily. You’ll get what you deserve when we get to
the castle, so be prepared.”

I chuckled with Killian, then he told me a little more.

That the heads of those involved in this treasonous conspiracy, including the Langstons
and the Riegelhoffs, had been hanged this morning at the Imperial Palace; that Anna
would be going to Ryzen as a maid in my entourage; that the Duchess, who had been in
bed almost every day since the kidnapping, had only gotten up yesterday, and that Renon
would be convalescing for another week.
When he had finished, Killian said in conclusion,

CHAPTER 128

“As soon as you’re well enough, we’ll go straight to Ryzen. To an estate where you won’t
be hurt anymore, and where we can grow together.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with me?”

“I don’t know what you’re asking, a lord takes his wife to his estate, do I have to meet any
other criteria?”

“No, well, fine then.”

As far as I was concerned, I’d given Killian plenty of chances.

If he regrets it later, that’s his own fault.

***

A long sigh came from the far side of the dark room.
The room was dark not because the sun had set. It was because Lize, looking like she was
having a nervous breakdown, had demanded that all the curtains be drawn.

“Maybe I should have asked you before, Lize. Why did you want to get rid of…… Edith?”

Cliff, the one who sighed, asked in a low voice to Lize, who was covering herself with a
blanket.

“……you don’t understand,” Lize replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cliff sighed deeply again.

It had been a week since Lize had locked herself in her room.

As for what happened in the dungeon, she cried and asked why no one believed her, and
later said she didn’t know why she did it. Then, when the Duke came and questioned her,
she changed her story, saying she didn’t remember.

Lize’s behavior was obviously suspicious, and the Ludwigs, no longer subject to the flow of
the original story, did not give her the unconditional support they had before.

The same suspicions that had been directed at Edith were now directed at Lize, and she
was unable to answer their point-by-point questioning.
Duke Ludwig, who had loved Lize like his own daughter and trusted her unconditionally,
felt betrayed and shocked. He couldn’t even tell the Duchess for fear she might collapse
from shock.

But Cliff was a fervent believer in Lize, no matter how the world was reordered.

“You don’t need my understanding to help you; if I had only known you wanted me to, I
would have gladly helped you. Why didn’t you tell me?”

The sobbing subsided.

“Do you think you would have loved me and been there for me even if you had known
what I wanted?”

“Of course I would. The night before Edith fell into the lake, do you really think I went
there without knowing anything?”

At that, Lize’s head finally poked out of the blanket.

“You…… knew?”

She believed it was all in her power to send Cliff out there to distract the helmsman while
she sent someone to break the wheelhouse of Killian’s yacht.
“You suddenly said you had dropped an earring on my yacht the night before Killian and
Edith were to go boating, and even I, the dumbest man in the world, could figure out that
you were up to something.”

Lize was stunned.

But Cliff’s confession didn’t end there.

“The truth is, the whole reason I suggested Edith go boating, and the whole reason I told
you about it…… was to see what you thought.”

“What?”

“Well, I didn’t know you wanted to kill Edith, of course, but I expected something to
happen.”

Anyone would be surprised to learn that the person they thought they had under control
was not only aware of their intentions, but also willing to play along.

“Then why didn’t you say anything to me?”

“Because if I did, you would have completely hidden yourself, even from me.”

Seeing Lize refuse to share her truth with him, even though he’d given her everything
she’d ever wanted, Cliff thought she was like a bird, always ready to fly away.
A clever, beautiful bird that would sing gloriously on your shoulder, pretending to be
vulnerable and innocent when she felt like it, but would take flight at the slightest hint of
danger.

“I knew from the moment I met you that you weren’t like everyone else, because you
seemed to anticipate everything. Even your misfortune seemed to be of your own
making.”

Whenever Lize was framed or faced with unknown threats, she always managed to turn
the situation to her advantage.

Even if she didn’t do it herself, someone around her would help her, or there would be a
lucky coincidence.

“At first, I just thought you were lucky, then I thought you had good connections with the
right people, then I thought you were special because the coincidences and connections
kept repeating themselves, without exception, and you took the results so graciously……
that’s when I realized you were special.”

Lize was surprised that Cliff had seen through her so long ago.

All this time, she’d thought she was in a god-like position and that everyone, including
Cliff, was just a creature she’d created that couldn’t surpass her……
‘That means I never knew all the characters I created, never had complete control over
them. Then I…… who was I? No, who am I?’

As Lize clamped her hand over her mouth, still reeling from the shock that was slowly
washing over her, Cliff cautiously approached her and pulled her into his arms.

“I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you’re up to, I just want Lize, I want you. Can’t
you just lean on me from now on?”

“I’m…… going to get old, and I’m going to get ugly and weak.”

“Isn’t it natural for people to grow old? I want to grow old with you.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in the future. All those lucky coincidences you
thought were weird, it’s not going to happen. I’m not special anymore.”

“I’ll be with you. I’ll be your sword and your shield. If there’s anything you want, I’ll gladly
lay it at your feet.”

Lize shook her head at Cliff’s vow. She refused to believe that it was okay to be old and
ugly, to stumble into failure. Who could love someone who wasn’t beautiful or capable?

Lize dismissed his vows as mere rhetoric to get through this moment.
“Don’t put it so easily. If I take you at your word, lean on you, and then later on you
abandon me, who will be responsible for me?”

Lize, who could only look at her own wounds, didn’t realize she was hurting Cliff.

But Cliff, who had fallen for her enough to be called half-crazy, loved her even for this
selfishness.

“I’ll write you a contract if you want. I’ll give you my leash. You will be a special person
who can control Cliff Ludwig as you please.”

Lize, the embodiment of virulent narcissism, felt the limits drawn on her by Cliff’s
confession and vow of love for her.

She realized she could no longer be special on her own.

‘He doesn’t want me to stand out as Lize Sinclair. He only wants me to be special as his
lover and wife. Cliff is selfish!’

But Lize has no desire to struggle like Edith to be special as her whole self.

She just wants to shine without a wrinkle, like she’s a genius, like she’s been chosen by
heaven.
‘My golden days are not coming back, and when I die after living this life, will I be able to
see the beginning of the story again?’

Wanting nothing but glory without a price, Lize felt like she was getting the short end of
the stick, so she accepted Cliff’s offer.

Little did she realize that this was the limit she had set for herself.

***

[The story of Edith Ludwig begins, separated from the story of Lize Sinclair. The ending of
this story is undetermined.]

It was only a few days after I was informed that I had met the third exception condition
that I heard that announcer-like voice again.

I was having a lucid dream, as usual, and at that moment I felt completely confirmed that I
had won the game against the author.
‘My life is no longer a side story in Lize Sinclair’s story. It’s my own story!’

When I opened my eyes, intoxicated by this euphoric feeling of victory, I felt the warmth
of Killian’s body on my back, hugging me tightly as he slept, and I smiled triumphantly
again.

‘The most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life is my husband, and I’ll live to see him.’

If I consider it the price of a miserable death and going through all the hardships while
living as a villainess, as well as considering the estate I’ll soon head as a lord’s wife, well, I
guess it’s okay to say so.

As I chuckled to myself, the hand that had been cradling my stomach shifted and began to
stroke my skin.

“Are you awake?”

“Mhm……”

His voice was sleepy, as if he wasn’t quite awake yet.

“How are you feeling…… today?”

It was the same question he asked me every morning when I woke up. How am I feeling?
“Just as your question is the same every day, so is my answer…… I’m better than
yesterday.”

It wasn’t just an answer to reassure him, I was quickly regaining my stability and health.

Originally, Edith’s body was much healthier than Choi Soo-na’s, but I felt like I was healing
faster than when I was beaten by Sophia before.

‘Is this because I’ve become the protagonist of my own life?’

It’s a good feeling, even if it’s an illusion.

I choose to believe that I am the main character of a story.

I thought it would be a penance and a consolation for my previous life, where I was always
worried about what others thought of me and didn’t live my life properly.

“You better get well soon, so we can leave for Ryzen……”

“I’m getting better quickly. I eat everything that’s good for my body, I might gain some
weight.”

“It’s going to be a long trip, so you might as well put on some weight.”
Killian kissed me lightly on the neck, shoulder, and cheek before getting out of bed.

After some light calisthenics, Killian put on his clothes and called for Anna.

Anna soon appeared with warm water and a towel, and she and Killian worked together to
clean my face and body.

Even though I said I could do it myself now, they never backed down.

CHAPTER 129

“The doctor said you should be careful for a month, so make yourself comfortable and let
me take care of you.”

Anna spoke in a businesslike voice as she pulled my clothes off with her skillful hands.

But I know the sincerity behind that voice.

Because when everyone else was saying bad things about me, or saying they didn’t know,
or didn’t see, she was the one who stood up for me through all the grueling
interrogations.

‘When we get to Ryzen, I’ll keep you as my personal maid for a few years and then
promote you to head maid.’
I thought it would be too much to ask of her, given her young age. But she’s bright and
perceptive, so it won’t be long before she becomes a head maid.

After cleaning me up, Anna went straight to preparing my breakfast. We usually eat
breakfast and lunch around 11 or 12, but Killian insisted on a light soup breakfast.

Of course, the soup wasn’t ‘light’, it was often made with precious ingredients that Killian
had scrounged up here and there.

“Today’s soup has mushrooms and minced beef.”

From Anna’s description, it sounded like the Ottogi Soup [1] I had occasionally eaten in my
previous life, but the beef in this soup was from a famous production area, and the
mushrooms must have been even more expensive than the beef.

[1] A brand name of instant soup.

“I’ll enjoy it.”

As I scooped up spoonful after spoonful, Killian walked into the bathroom to take a bath
and change.
And Anna would stay by my side while Killian did what he needed to do the day, and then
when he came back and was by my side, she would go and do something else…… and it
just kept repeating.

But today, when Killian came back a little earlier than usual and joined me for breakfast,
he didn’t look happy.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just……”

“Just……?”

Killian gave me a look that seemed even more complicated than it already was, and then
sighed heavily.

“I realized that I was a human being who couldn’t see people and be objective.”

“All of a sudden? What do you mean?”

“I don’t know how all these years I’d been thinking of Lize as some kind of angel. Besides, I
thought my father and brother were morally unblemished people, really……”
That’s because you had to go with the flow of the original story……

I knew I couldn’t say this to Killian, though, so I just laughed.

“Why are you doing this again?”

“Lize’s still playing dumb about what happened that day. Even though there are so many
witnesses…… and my mother and Cliff are feeling sorry for her.”

Looking at him again, Killian seemed pretty pissed off. He must have been trying to keep
his temper in check in front of me.

“My father is distancing himself from Lize, but I think Cliff has been coaxing my mother,
who doesn’t know the whole story, and she asked me…… if I could forgive Lize just once. I
got pissed off and said it’s not something that’s up to me, so she asked me to ask you……
once.”

I nodded.

Cliff aside, it wasn’t like I couldn’t understand the Duchess’ feelings.

No matter how sorry she was for me, she had only known me for a year, and Lize had
been like a daughter to her for the past six years.
If I think back to the original Lize, she must have been a very good, bright, and supportive
person before I came into this house.

And since the Duchess doesn’t know the whole truth about what happened at the
execution ground and what happened in the recent past, there’s no way she could hate
Lize enough to throw her out of the house, even if she’s done some strange things.

So if I say I can’t forgive her, it’s only going to hurt our feelings.

“Killian. As the Duchess or Cliff said, let’s just pretend it never happened, at least on the
surface.”

“I knew you’d say that, which is why I didn’t want to ask.”

Killian gritted his teeth.

“It’s so heinous, I can’t forgive myself. I don’t know how you expect me to forgive
someone who has deceived us all this time. I can’t even forgive myself!”

Ugh, I still can’t get used to this coming from the person who once wanted to kick me out
the most.

Of course, I understand how Killian feels, just as much as I understand the Duchess and
Cliff.
To begin with, Cliff is a bit crazy, a man who will use any amount of denial or conspiracy as
a means to an end.

But there is something rather pure about Killian, beneath his harsh façade.

And as much as he takes great pride in the name Ludwig, he despises dishonesty.

‘But as long as Cliff’s obsessed with Lize, we can’t kick her out anyway; it’ll only make
Killian look awful.’

Of course, I was also annoyed with Lize.

The fact that she’d been smiling like an angel all this time, deceiving me and trying to kill
me, sent chills down my spine and made every hair on my neck stand on end.

But I could understand it to some extent. She was the female lead who was most affected
by the author.

In the end, I decided to take the pragmatic route of seizing this opportunity rather than
protecting my pride by fighting a losing battle.

“Why kick out someone who’s been a caring daughter to your mother for the last six
years? Besides, she has nowhere else to go.”

“That’s true, but……”

“And no matter how we get out of this, Cliff’s going to marry Lize, who’s going to be your
sister-in-law.”

Killian clenched his fists. “If only I had been born before my brother……”

“Because you would have taken the heir position? Then you wouldn’t have married me,
right?”

“Um…… no way……”

I don’t know if he said it to make me feel better, but I couldn’t help but laugh at his
irritated tone.

“To be honest, I’ve been jealous of Lize too, maybe she was too. Maybe she just wanted to
get your attention back after it was all on me.”

“Why? She said she loves my brother.”

“There’s a lot of people who think that money and love are the more the better.”

Killian still looked confused, but he didn’t look like he was going to disagree with me.

I smirked at his disgruntled look and made a condition.

“Instead……”

“Hm?”

“On the surface, we can pretend nothing happened, but I’d like to have a word with the
person responsible. If you want to end this quietly, don’t say no to this.”

Killian smirked, his mood suddenly lifted.

“I certainly seem to like that smirking gaze of yours.”

“You have dangerous tastes.”

We’re laughing right at each other like we’re the villains in a con job.

But here is the victim, the one with the generous heart!

***
The evening after Killian spoke to me, the haggard Lize came to Killian’s room with Cliff
where I was lying down.

“Long time no see, both of you.”

I greeted them, smiling as brightly as I could.

Of course, they weren’t so stupid as to not recognize the sarcasm.

“I apologize for the late visit.”

The person who should be apologizing to me was avoiding my gaze, and Cliff apologized
on her behalf.

“First of all, I’ve been misunderstanding Miss Edith all this time……”

“Cliff.”

I boldly cut him off. I didn’t want to stall with the obvious.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t really have any questions for you. I’d like to speak with Lize alone.”

Cliff and Killian looked worried at the same time.

Cliff was worried about Lize, but Killian was clearly worried about me.

Because Lize had tried to hurt me.

“It’s okay, Killian. It’s not going to happen twice, is it, Lize?”

Lize nodded reluctantly, looking extremely anxious.

In the end, it was just me and Lize in the bedroom.

Killian and Cliff decided to wait just outside the bedroom, just in case.

Once Killian and Cliff were gone and the bedroom was quiet, I stared at Lize for a long
time.

She is still a dazzlingly beautiful woman, but she no longer has the radiance I felt when I
first laid eyes on her.

It isn’t because I’ve gotten used to her beauty.

She herself has lost her luster.

“No one will hear what we’re talking about here, so let’s be honest.”
“……well, we’re here anyway, so, yeah, let’s do it.”

Lize’s tone was so unlike the woman I had known before.

I felt my heart skip a beat at the prospect of finally getting to know her for who she really
is.

“Let me ask you one by one. Let’s start with the document leak from about a year ago. Did
you forge my handwriting?”

Lize sighed heavily and nodded.

I had guessed it, but the answer that came out without any resistance was a bit bizarre.

“Then the poisoning of the embroidery thread was also done by you……?”

Again, Lize nodded lightly.

“You applied the poison yourself, and poisoned yourself……?”

“It was not that hard to do.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

But suddenly someone came to mind.

“Are you…… the one who killed the maid who saw you poisoning that embroidery
thread?”

This time she nodded easily.

CHAPTER 130

“Are you crazy?”

“I did it because I’m not crazy.”

The first consonants of a harsh expletive threatened to leap out of my mouth, but I tried
my best not to sound angry.

“And the yacht incident was also you, then?”

As expected, Lize nodded.

She replied so obediently that it made me feel even angrier.

“So tell me, why on earth did you do that, and why me?” I asked, giving her a half-hearted
smile.
She had probably been controlled by the author, but I hoped she would give me a more
plausible answer.

Lize, who had been staring at the floor, suddenly burst out laughing.

“You’re the best Edith of all the Ediths I’ve ever played against, I didn’t expect I’d lose.”

“What……?”

Something was off.

“All of the Ediths?”

“You’re the 13th Edith.”

“What?”

I was confused by her strange phrasing.

What is she talking about? Does she mean that I’ve been reincarnated 13 times without
my knowledge?

“No, before we talk about the ‘Ediths,’ tell me about you. Who are you?”
With an ominous and uncanny sense of foreboding, I asked Lize’s identity on a whim.
Somehow, it felt like I had to.

And my hunch wasn’t wrong.

“I’m the author of “I Refuse Your Obsession.” I was reincarnated as the female lead of the
novel I wrote.”

Apparently, it’s a reflex to be so surprised that your eyes widen and your mouth drops
open. I realized I was making that expression without realizing it.

“The author? The author who’s been trying to frame me as a villainess and kill me all this
time, you’re the one?”

“Yeah,” she replied dryly, as if it didn’t matter.

“Why…… did you do that?”

“Why? Because I’m supposed to be the female lead of this world forever, and you’re
supposed to be the villainess who gets jealous of me and dies trying to get in my way, isn’t
that what the original story was about?”

She answered so shamelessly that my anger boiled over.

However, I calmed myself down by pressing my forearm where the bruise had not
completely gone.

“Earlier, you said I was the thirteenth Edith, so you mean there were more Ediths before
me?”

“There were twelve more before you.”

“Uh, how could……?”

“I made them transmigrate into this world and they reincarnated as Edith.”

It was hard to keep my head above water at Lize’s shocking confession. This
transmigration was not accidental, it was intentional!

“Why?” I asked in a shaky voice.

Lize replied rather brazenly, “You’re dead anyway, shouldn’t you be thanking me for giving
you one more chance to live?”

“Who asked you that, I asked you why you made me transmigrate to this world!”

As my voice rose, Killian knocked on the door from outside.

“Are you okay, Edith?”

“Whew…… I’m fine, don’t come in.”

While I could barely contain my outburst, Lize looked toward the door and gave me a
wistful look before obediently answering.

“I’ve been living this story ever since I was reincarnated as Lize, and it’s been fun, but I’m
getting a little bored of hearing the same thing over and over again.”

When I heard that, I think I had a rough idea of why I was reincarnated as Edith.

But Lize didn’t bother to look at me and continued her confession shamelessly again.

“So after much pondering, I decided to make my book readers reincarnate as Edith, so
that life would be more thrilling and the story would be richer, and I would stand out
more…… until you came.”

“So you’re telling me…… that the twelve people before me, all of them, died, just like in
the original story?”

“Yeah.”

It was the kind of “yeah” that doesn’t come with a hint of guilt.
“Ha……! I’ve never seen such a crazy bitch in my life.”

“Why are you saying such harsh things?”

“So you think you’re normal now, driving other people to miserable deaths for your own
gratification?!”

“They’re dead anyway, they’re going to live a bonus life as a supporting character in an
interesting novel, and they should be thanking me for it.”

“By that logic, you’re already dead, and you should be grateful for living the same life over
and over again in Lize’s body, so why are you looking for a thrill?”

“That’s because…… I’m not like you, I’m the author!”

I’m about to die of blood pressure, should I call Killian?

But Lize said things that made me more pissed off, like she was really going for my
cerebral blood vessels.

“Besides, I gave Edith a system to win, the exception conditions, and you’re alive because
of it.”
“Oh, the exception conditions, under which I have to hope that a cow can catch a mouse
while walking backward? If that’s fair game, how about we reverse it? I set the conditions,
you try to meet them with your life on the line, how’s that?”

She glared at me like she was about to punch me in the face, but quickly looked away.

I spoke in a firm voice, as if passing judgment. “You’re the same as me from the beginning,
and the last twelve Ediths, people you toyed with and then brutally murdered just
because you had the slightest advantage.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m different! I am a god here!”

This is the behavior of a child throwing a tantrum.

I can’t believe this is the author of a novel I’ve been enjoying.

“A god? Yes, you’re a god, and what can you do now?”

Lize’s face turned bright red at my sarcasm. “If it weren’t for you, I’d still be perfect!
Everyone in this world would be happy! Because of you, I have no idea where this story is
going now! How are you going to take responsibility?”

The back of my head throbbed.

How did this monster ever get born?

I slowly slid off the bed.

Lize hesitantly stepped back, but I grabbed both of her forearms.

“This is normal, Lize. Life is about not knowing what’s ahead, and living a life like this is
what it means to be human!”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

“Don’t be silly! Everyone else is living through the unknown future every day, even the
characters in this novel. You looked down on them because you already knew the future,
but you know what?”

I spun Lize around to face the mirror on my vanity.

“You, who have already forgotten how to fight an unknown future, may have the mental
capacity of a minor extra in this novel. Everyone but you is used to this, and everyone
knows that there is no set ending.”

Lize’s eyes fluttered frantically. “It’s not fair…… I wrote this story…… I’m the main
character!”
“You must be thinking like that because you’ve been taking the test called life while glued
to the answer sheet. I’m sorry to throw cold water on that illusion, but I’ve always been
the main character in my own life, not an extra for you!”

A thought that would never have occurred to me as Choi Soo-na in my previous life came
out of my mouth.

If only I could have thought of this back then.

If I had done this back then, I wouldn’t have kept my mouth shut when I was unfairly
treated at work, I would’ve slapped my ex-boyfriend for betraying me, and I would’ve left
my brother in a heartbeat.

‘Maybe I was reincarnated as Edith because I had been living my life in a vacuum.’

As much as I felt guilty, it was also the reason I couldn’t push Lize harder.

If it weren’t for Lize, if it weren’t for my experience as Edith, I would have taken
everything, even my death, with a heavy heart.

I turned to face Lize again.

She is just a child, stubbornly trying to deny this reality.

“‘I Refuse Your Obsession’ was an entertaining novel, sure, but the world won’t fall apart if
you don’t get the ending you’ve set for yourself; if anything, a funnier, happier ending
might come your way.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no happier ending than the original one, and besides, I’m
going to be old and ugly from now on, and it’s all your fault!”

“Have you ever been old?”

“What?”

“Have you ever gotten old enough to say something like that?”

Lize shook her head reflexively.

“Then stop saying that. I plan to have fun even when I’m old.”

“But with a wrinkled and ugly face……”

“You’ll look beautiful to Cliff forever. As long as you don’t keep trying to be everyone’s
sweetheart like this. If you can’t let go of that in the end, you’ll never be everyone’s
sweetheart…… and you’ll miss out on even Cliff.”

I released my grip on Lize’s arms.

“You were an author in your previous life, right? Maybe you should think of a happier
ending. That’s all the advice I can give you.”

My blood pressure was rising, and I was pretty tired from all the talking.

“Killian!”

Killian opened the bedroom door at my call.

“Lize says she’s going back now. Goodbye, Lize.”

I gritted my teeth and smiled at Lize, who looked like she was about to cry.

Lize, as much as I despised you right now, I prayed that you would come to your senses
and get a real life.

***
Once Edith had recovered enough and Lize was able to regain her composure, the Duke of
Ludwig opened the gate to the mansion.

Duke Ludwig was inundated with congratulatory gifts, invitations, and requests for visits
as a result of his victory and his official status as one of the Emperor’s closest confidants.

Among them was Count Sinclair, who was given permission to visit the Duke quite early
on.

That alone made Sinclair’s siblings’ arrogance soar to the sky.

“Congratulations on your victory in the territorial war, Your Excellency, and your sons also
have done admirably!”

Count Sinclair greeted Duke Ludwig with a wide smile.

In response to the greeting, which praised his sons more than himself, the Duke glanced at
Cliff and Killian, who were seated next to him, and nodded proudly.

“These gentlemen have had a hard time.”

Pausing for a moment at the sight of the proud-looking Duke of Ludwig, Count Sinclair
deliberately brought up something that would irritate the Duke.

CHAPTER 131
“I heard that the Duchess almost got into trouble because of the cowardly machinations
of the Riegelhoffs. How can so-called noblemen commit such moral shenanigans, what a
bunch of cowards they are!”

Despite his grave expression, Count Sinclair was actually cheering when he heard the
news.

‘This is good news for us!’

His prediction came true wonderfully.

He had just heard that the Emperor had given the disposal of the Riegelhoffs to Duke
Ludwig, and that the entire Riegelhoff family had been decapitated and their heads hung
in the Imperial Palace.

He was trying not to laugh too hard now.

“Well, it’s not a very pleasant memory, so enough of this.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just so enraged that I couldn’t take it anymore, Your Excellency.”

Despite his profound apology, Count Sinclair thought things were going very well.

He glanced at Leila, who had accompanied him as he began to talk about the northern
iron ore distribution rights he had recently acquired outright.
Leila glanced at Killian, then quickly feigned a look of concern at her father’s gaze.

“By the way, Your Excellency, have you thought about the talk back then?”

“What do you mean the talk back then?”

“The matter of Sir Killian’s…… marriage.”

Killian’s eyes widened at that.

“What do you mean by that?”

Count Sinclair gave him a kind, sympathetic look, as if he understood everything.

“I’ve heard that you’ve had a lot of trouble because of your sham marriage to the young
lady of Riegelhoff.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“It doesn’t matter where I heard it. It is true that Count Riegelhoff offered his daughter to
you in exchange for iron ore distribution rights and loyalty to the Emperor.”
“That is true, but……”

“Rufus Riegelhoff, that man has been so devious from the beginning!”

Count Sinclair interrupted Killian when he tried to say something more.

“Now that the Riegelhoffs have been dealt with at last, it is time for you to take a new
wife, and that is why I recommended Leila as your wife to the Duke the other day, with all
due respect.”

Leila’s cheeks flushed, and she locked eyes with Killian before bowing her head slightly.

She tried to hold it in, but a happy smile was spreading across her face.

Killian, however, was having none of it.

He frowned and turned slowly to the Duke. “Father, is that true?”

“It is true that I have been offered such a deal.”

“And you would have me listen to it? I already have a wife.”

Then Count Sinclair spoke up again. “I can understand your dislike of arranged marriages.
But more than half of all marriages among the nobility are arranged, and you are the scion
of a duke, so you must put the interests of the family first.”

“Do you mean to say that my feelings are worth nothing?”

“Oh, of course not! My dear Leila has always admired you, and she will make a fine wife,
faithful to you, and no match for that prostitute of Riegelhoff!”

Count Sinclair’s words were meant to discredit the Riegelhoffs, the enemies of the
Ludwigs, but they only made Killian more irritated.

Looking at Count Sinclair, who had no time to stop himself, Duke Ludwig put his hand to
his forehead.

“How dare you insult the daughter-in-law of the House of Ludwig, Count Sinclair?”

Killian’s increasingly fierce mood baffled Count Sinclair and Leila.

“Why are you suddenly like this, Sir Killian? Isn’t she already dead!”

“Who’s dead? Edith Ludwig, now Countess Ryzen, is alive and well. What did you say, a
prostitute?”

Killian’s fists were shaking.

Only then did Count Sinclair realize that Edith was not dead, and that she was still Killian’s
wife.

But that didn’t mean he could back down.

“Well, first of all, my apologies. I certainly didn’t mean to insult the Ludwigs. But, Sir
Killian, think well of it.”

“Think well of what?”

“You are the second son of Duke Ludwig, but soon to be a loyal servant of the Emperor
and a new Count. Does it make sense for such a man to have the daughter of a traitor as
his wife?”

Killian felt like he could draw his sword right then and there and cut this man’s head off.

“Killian. Be patient. He is, after all, an ally of our house and a loyal servant of the
Emperor.”

Before he knew it, Cliff’s hand was over Killian’s, resting on the hilt of his sword.

Killian let out a long breath and then spoke in a voice that was heavy and cold, “I love
Edith deeply. I’m crazy about her, she’s my only wife.”
“W- what?”

“I don’t think you’ve gotten the point yet, so I’m going to take the liberty of turning a blind
eye just this once, but if you pull one more stunt like this…… you’ll have to be prepared to
turn me into an enemy, Count Sinclair.”

Seeing Killian like that, Duke Ludwig sighed and shrugged. “I’m sorry, Count, but this is
where we’ll have to end our discussion.”

It was a great loss for Count Sinclair and Leila.

But the bad news didn’t end there.

“Oh, and by the way, I don’t think we’ll be bothering you with iron ore distribution rights.”

“Sorry?”

“The Emperor confiscated their southern iron ore distribution rights when the Riegelhoff
family was executed, and he was kind enough to give them to us.”

It was the worst of all worlds for Count Sinclair.

In order to attach himself to Duke Ludwig, he’d risked great losses to gain control of the
northern iron ore distribution rights.
‘If the biggest buyer of iron ore is gone, what good does it do to control the distribution of
iron ore?’

This time, Count Sinclair’s hands began to tremble.

At this point, he had to hold on to something.

“I- I see, but, Your Excellency, I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now……”

“What?”

“No matter what the contract says, the relationship between parent and child is
unbreakable, and it’s time for you to give me back my Lize.”

And that was the worst thing Count Sinclair could have said.

“Are you…… trying to play games with me?”

A gravitas that Killian couldn’t match emanated from the Duke.

“You must think that contract you made with me is a joke.”

“But is there any law in the world that prohibits a father from taking care of his own
daughter?”

The Duke glared. “Not the words of a man who willingly handed over his daughter in
exchange for a debt, are they, Count?”

This time Killian spoke up, taking Cliff’s hand in his own. “Hold on, brother. Weren’t you
the one who stopped me from killing him?”

Cliff’s hand clutched the letter knife on the table.

Count Sinclair and Leila, who had assumed he was just fiddling with the letter knife,
flinched back when they heard Killian’s words.

In the end, Count Sinclair’s frustration at having to return home with nothing was
palpable.

On his way out of the parlor, he spotted Lize sitting by the fire in the first-floor parlor.

Count Sinclair’s eyes widened and he rushed toward her.

“Lize! Lize!”

At his urgent call, Lize turned around with a puzzled look on her face.
“Lize, come home now. I don’t care what anyone says, you’re my daughter, and you need
to live with your family!”

“Family……?”

“Yes, family! Your family is us, not those people whose blood you don’t have a drop of!
Forget about your childhood. From now on, this father of yours will raise you……”

“Pfft!”

Count Sinclair, who had tried to woo Lize by appealing to her emotions, since she was so
innocent, was stunned into speechlessness by her obvious mockery.

“Not only did you make me born into the world as you please, snatch me away from my
mother as you please, and then abuse me as you please, but now you’re telling me to
forget the past as you please?”

“Lize……?”

“Family…… well, let’s call it family, as you say, then you’ll have to settle your debt to the
Duke again, and have you got the 30 million sennas ready?”

Count Sinclair’s jaw dropped at the mention of money.

Lize smiled sardonically, as if she knew he would.

“Listen carefully,” she said, “I don’t accept people like you as my family, not even if you
are a Sinclair”

Count Sinclair’s eyes widened at that, not at all like Lize.

“The world won’t fall apart if you don’t get the ending you’ve set for yourself; if anything,
a funnier, happier ending might come your way.”

Lize remembered what Edith had said.

It hurt, but she had to accept it for now.

And with that, she decided to say goodbye to her frustrating past of pretending to be nice.

She’d always trembled and cried in front of Count Sinclair because of her fake good
behavior, but she’d always wanted to verbally assault him.

“Li- Lize…… my God, you’ve lost your character since you’ve been living here!”
“What a rude thing to say to my fiancée!”

Cliff, who had come up behind Count Sinclair, said in a low voice.

“Y- your fiancée?”

“Yes, she is my fiancée, not your daughter.”

“Then I shall soon be your father-in-law, hahaha!”

“Do I need to show you the contract again? You have no rights, no ties, no claim on her.”

At those words, Count Sinclair, who had been frowning at Lize’s behavior, spoke up.

CHAPTER 132

“You’re being fooled by this kid’s mask! Do you know what she said to me earlier?”

Then Cliff looked at Lize and asked softly, “Lize, what did you say to this man?”

“He thought he was a father just because all he did was move his lower body. So I told him
that I don’t accept him as a father, not even if he’s a Sinclair.”

Cliff didn’t raise an eyebrow at the harsher phrasing.

“She said exactly the right thing, so what’s the problem?”

Count Sinclair huffed and puffed, then snapped, “Then you shouldn’t take the name
Sinclair!”

“Oh, I won’t have to, the temple finally allowed me to ditch the surname,” Lize replied as
if she had been waiting.

The only reason she still wore the surname Sinclair until now was because the Temple did
not allow her to disassociate herself from her family. The contract says they can’t claim
ties, but religion is a separate matter.

But even religion can’t keep you out of reality.

It was hard for the Temple to withstand the pressure of Duke Ludwig, who was so close to
the highest power in the Empire, and at last, Lize was able to part with her surname,
Sinclair.

“Farewell, then, Count Sinclair.”

Lize flashed that angelic smile of courtesy and took Cliff’s arm, heading for her room.
***

At the same time, Leila ran into Edith, who was walking slowly, holding onto the railing.

The Duke and Killian didn’t pay much attention to Count Sinclair, who ran to Lize, and Cliff,
who followed slowly behind.

This made Leila feel a little bolder. Truth be told, she was blinded by the fact that her
plans had been blown to smithereens.

“Oh my, who is this? Isn’t this ‘the one who survived’?”

“Ah, Young Lady Sinclair.”

Killian shot a sharp glance in her direction, but Edith waved a hand dismissively.

“I’ve been thinking about it before, but you have a great deal of mental strength; you’ve
survived alone with all your blood relatives dead, and there’s not a hint of guilt or fear in
you. I know you’ve always been a little shameless, but……”

Edith just smirked at Leila who made fun of her openly.

“I thought you were here to take my place now that my ‘expiration date’ is over, but
seeing as you didn’t say anything about it, you must have failed, right?”

Tilting her head at an angle, Edith looked pleasantly arrogant.

As Leila gritted her teeth, Edith quickly wiped the smile off her face. “I told you not to look
down on my husband. He’s not for the faint of heart.”

Then she slowly walked over to Leila and lifted her chin with the tip of her forefinger. “And
my husband has a good eye. You can’t do much with this.”

As soon as she said that, she flicked her finger to the side, causing Leila’s head to snap in
that direction and then quickly return to its original position.

“You, how rude……!”

“‘Rude’ is when a mere Count’s daughter does this to me, the Countess of Ryzen.”

Leila couldn’t argue with Edith’s words, which were even more outrageous than before.

It was as if Edith, who had been a mere nuisance before, now held a knife in her back.
It felt like she was going to stab her in the heart if she crossed any more lines, so Leila
finally backed away, hesitant.

“You’d better go back to your father or he’ll anger the Duke again…… and even you won’t
be able to get away with it.”

Smiling, Edith pointed with the tip of her chin at Count Sinclair, who stood in a daze on the
first floor.

Cliff, who had come up to the second floor with Lize, looked at Edith and shook his head in
disbelief. “I suppose it won’t be long before Ludwig’s daughters-in-law are rumored to be
wicked.”

“That’s not a bad thing, since I think we’ve been taking things a little too easy.”

Killian responded to Cliff’s comment, and Edith smirked again as she watched Lize look
away.

***
“I heard that Cliff asked Lize to marry him, so I guess we’ll have to wait until after the
wedding, is that okay?”

“They just got engaged, and they’re already getting married?”

“Cliff seems to be in a hurry.”

The news came as Killian and I were preparing to head down to Ryzen.

It was surprising that the heir to the dukedom had announced his engagement so casually
and without much fanfare, but to have a wedding less than two months later seemed a bit
rushed.

“Well, that’s probably for the best. It’s one thing to go back and forth, but if we just do it
all at once and then go there, we can focus on the estate for the next while.”

I said it because I meant it, but Killian had been watching me for some time, and suddenly
he came up behind me and hugged me, pressing his lips to my neck.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

He’s thanking me for something like this? It’s truly overwhelming compared to before.

“You’re so kind, I worry about you sometimes.”

“I thought I heard that I was going to be known as the wicked woman of the Ludwigs at
some point?”

“No, I’m telling you to be a little bit like that. You have too much heart.”

“Me?”

“If it were me, I would have slapped Leila Sinclair’s face.”

Killian was still pissed off about the incident, which was almost two months ago.

“You spread those rumors around the social circle because you weren’t happy with my
response, that’s what you did, no?”

Since the return of Count Sinclair and Leila, there have been no malicious rumors about
me or Lize in the capital’s social circles, but rather mocking rumors about Leila.

Rumors that Leila Sinclair had tried to seduce a married man and failed miserably……
rumors that weren’t exactly untrue.

“Well, I’m not really into socialite rumors, so I don’t know.”

“I thought you were well aware of the rumors about me…”

“I guess I was a little interested in you even then.”

“Well said.”

We shared a light kiss and sat back down to go over the list of things to furnish the castle
on the estate.

I felt excited, like I was getting married and moving into my new home.

“I think we have almost all the furnishings for the bedrooms and parlor, some of which
were sent off to Ryzen the other day.”

“What about the silverware and candlesticks?”

“That should be almost there too. But only in such quantities? Is that enough?”

“That’s more than enough! Honestly, if it wasn’t for hosting guests, I wouldn’t buy
silverware that’s hard to maintain.”

I can still remember my hands shaking as I commissioned expensive silverware.

“You don’t want expensive tapestries or carpets, you don’t buy ornaments, you keep the
furniture to a minimum…… don’t you intend to stay long in Ryzen?”
“That much is more than enough but if we need anything else, we can order it when we
go.”

“You make me want to give you all the luxuries…….”

Killian shook his head.

He’d argued with me about all sorts of ‘dowry’ items, even going so far as to call every
famous jeweler in the capital, but the ruby necklace he’d bought me back then was
enough for me.

The certainty that a piece of his heart would always be with me was truly enough.

My happiness with Killian would not be defined by the contents of the castle or the
number of jewels I owned.

***
Half a year later, the wedding of Cliff and Lize took place in the halls of the Ludwig
mansion.

‘What a grand wedding for the main characters.’

In truth, as grand as it seemed at the time, everything about our wedding had been all
about keeping things simple. The guests on both sides were in a bad mood, and the
reception was over quickly.

But whether it’s because Cliff is the heir to the dukedom, or because they’re the main
characters in the original story, this wedding feels like they took everything they could out
of the treasury and poured it in.

‘It’s a good thing my wedding wasn’t like this. By the end of the evening, the bride is
dead.’

But Lize, who loves to be the center of attention, may actually like this wedding.

I don’t know if that privilege still exists even though the author’s powers are gone, and
even though the full extent of what she’s done to me has been revealed, she’s still Cliff’s
lover and bride, and she hasn’t been ‘punished’ for it.

It’s a bit unfair that I was almost punished for something I didn’t do, but I figured if Lize
died or disappeared and Cliff became the villain, it would be a bit of a headache for Killian
and me, so I decided to think positively.
But contrary to what I thought, Cliff and Lize’s relationship has gotten a little more
complicated over the past half year.

Lize, who had lost the power of the female lead Lize, wanted to be in the spotlight as
much as the original Lize, so she made all sorts of demands on Cliff, who initially complied,
but by the time of the wedding, he was getting pretty tired of her.

‘I don’t know how the hell you took my advice, or if you ever did.’

I don’t mind that she’s stopped playing the angel, but the increasingly venomous look in
her eyes is a little unsettling.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who notices, but even the Duchess, who used to think her
lovely, hasn’t seen much of her lately.

The Duke was even skeptical about Cliff and Lize’s marriage, but the past of giving Lize the
‘Light of Lorraine’ held him back.

Perhaps it was the Duke’s attitude that made Cliff rush to marry her.

‘Maybe this is Lize’s punishment. I wonder if she still doesn’t realize how much it means to
lose the people who love her.’
If Lize doesn’t change, she’ll spend the rest of her life watching the affection of others, and
the good fortune she built on their affection, slip away like dust.

CHAPTER 133

‘Well, Cliff, Lize, the Duke and Duchess can live on their own just fine. From now on, all I
care about is my own happiness.’

While I was just thinking about such things, Killian misunderstood my expression as I
looked around the wedding hall and said something scary.

“If…… you ever want to have another wedding……”

“Are you crazy?”

“……there’s nothing crazy about it.”

“I’m sorry for the harsh words, but I really had a hard time getting through our wedding.
Can you imagine trying to get through a day in high heels, wearing a dress that shows your
boobs if you bend over the slightest bit?”

I break out in a cold sweat just saying the words.

“I thought…… you liked dressing like that back then.”

“I told you, everything I’ve ever done to deserve criticism was ordered by ‘he whose name
I refuse to mention’. I thought I was going to snap my spine on our wedding day.”

At the annoyed tone in my voice, Killian began to giggle.

Just then, the guests began to trickle in, and Killian and I stood at the entrance with the
Duke and Duchess to greet them.

“My goodness, Miss Edith, no, you’re the Countess of Ryzen now, aren’t you? I’m late, but
I’ve heard you’ve been through a lot.”

An older, unfamiliar woman clasped both my hands in comfort.

The rumors about Leila weren’t the only ones that had been circulating in society.

The story that I had fallen out of favor in the family while trying to stop Count Riegelhoff’s
treasonous plot, and that I had suffered ill treatment for it, had won the sympathy of
many.

“Thank you for your concern, madam. I’m fine now, thanks to the good care of Killian and
my in-laws. I hope you have a good time today.”

I smiled brightly and let her into the wedding hall.

I wasn’t sure how many more times I’d have to do this greeting, but it was my duty, so I’d
do my best until my facial muscles went paralyzed.

‘Still, I don’t think there would have been such an amicable atmosphere before, is it
because the original flow has been gone……?’

It hadn’t been rumored that I was the illegitimate child of Count Riegelhoff’s sister.

It was said that at the execution, Sophia screamed her last revenge and revealed the
secret of my birth, but it wasn’t much of a shock, as there were many illegitimate children
like me in other families, and they were often adopted by already married brothers.

Still, the fact that I was a part of the Riegelhoff family was not forgotten, but people
unexpectedly saw me as a victim.

‘So, the flow of the story had been treating me badly all this time.’

Once again, I felt a sense of relief that I’d won the game with the author, but also a sense
of defeat.

“Edith?”

“……ah, I’m sorry, did you call me?”

“Just in case you’re not feeling well……”

“No, I’m fine.”

I smiled wholeheartedly at Killian, who looked at me worriedly.

Now I have Killian by my side.

I’m able to shake off the slightest sense of helplessness just by having the person I love by
my side.

I feel like I’ve grown as a person.

As we near the end of the reception, I see a middle-aged couple off to the side, fidgeting
around and checking their invitations over and over again.

They seemed to be dressed in the best clothes they had, but for a wedding with so many
high-ranking nobles, they looked a little shabby in comparison.

I greeted them with a broad smile. “Baron and Baroness Reuben!”

They looked startled at the voice calling them.

“Oh, hello. We’re here by invitation, but…… I’m afraid we don’t actually have any
connections in the capital, so we don’t know who you are……”
They’re probably puzzled.

Not only has someone from House Ludwig they don’t know sent them an invitation to a
wedding out of the blue, but also offered to pay for their travel and provide them with a
place to stay.

But they deserved all of this and more.

“Don’t you know me?”

“I- I’m sorry.”

“You gave a ride out of the goodness of your heart to an unidentified, battered woman,
and I’m that woman.”

“Sorry?”

As expected, they stared at me, even more surprised than they had been earlier.

I introduced Killian to Baron and Baroness Reuben. “When I escaped from Wellesley’s
villa, they gave me a ride in their carriage to the center of the capital, and if it weren’t for
them, I would have died on the road.”
“You were my wife’s lifesaver! I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. I am Killian, second son of
the Duke of Ludwig, Count of Ryzen.”

“Then…… t- this is your……”

“This is my wife, Edith Ryzen. When you helped her back in the day, she was kidnapped by
an opposing faction of the family.”

Baron and Baroness Reuben were stunned, not knowing what to do.

I held their hands and said, “I told you that I would repay your favor, but first, let me
introduce you to some people who might be able to help you at today’s wedding.”

I had already done my research on them.

Baron Reuben’s small estate grew mostly olives but he was not very business savvy and
was not getting a good price for them, even though they were of high quality.

I purposely sat them down next to Viscount Mohr, who had a large fruit distribution
business.

I introduced them, of course.

‘He’s a shrewd man, he’ll quickly realize why I introduced him to the country baron.’
Besides, he won’t make a fool of the man I introduced him to.

As the baron couple were very interested in their children’s education, their children
would be able to attend the capital’s academy under the auspices of Count Ryzen.

Of course, Baron Reuben could always remain a friend of Count Ryzen, unless he changed
his mind.

‘I’m glad I could repay the favor.’

I also found comfort in seeing the dazed yet happy faces of Baron and Baroness Reuben.

***

Cliff and Lize’s wedding has begun.

As a large band played a gorgeous tune that dwarfed the wedding of Killian and Edith, Cliff
in white attire took the hand of the dazzling Lize and together they walked to the altar.
“My God…… so pretty.”

“Miss Lize’s beauty has always been famous, she used to look so young, but now she looks
quite grown up.”

People were still favorable to Lize.

The word hadn’t gotten out yet that she had left her path of pretending to be a good girl.

‘Whatever, I don’t care.’

Killian thought to himself. She was a woman he’d once loved, and yet he found her
wedding bland.

If there was any sentimentality, it was the ‘wedding’ itself, not ‘Lize’s’ wedding.

He couldn’t stop thinking about his and Edith’s wedding.

‘Edith was pretty……’

Edith looked beautiful that day, even though the gorgeous cleavage of her ample breasts
peeked out through her dress and all eyes were on them.
Her reddish-brown hair was pulled up in an intricate braid, and her exposed white nape
was smooth and tempting to bite.

Despite the less-than-ideal wedding atmosphere, Edith was not the least bit intimidated.

‘It was stupid and childish, and…… I’m almost embarrassed to death to think of it now.’

Killian turned bright red as he remembered the rudeness of his behavior as they
exchanged rings.

He didn’t even take Edith’s outstretched hand and slipped the ring on her finger using only
two fingers. He snatched the ring from her hand and put it on himself.

‘Edith didn’t get angry or show any signs of being offended.’

Unlike my childish behavior, she kissed the kids who brought in rings to make sure none of
them were uncomfortable. I was impressed by her thoughtfulness.

At the wedding, where everything went wrong, Killian’s impression of Edith was, in a
word, vulgar.

But on the other hand, he couldn’t deny that she was beautiful and mesmerizing.

Imagine his horror when he was forced to enter the bridal chamber at Lize’s insistence.
There was nothing but an empty bed and a dress that looked like it had been thrown off
by a bride.

And when he followed the wisps of steam behind the curtain, his breath caught in his
throat.

The sight of Edith, naked and asleep in the large tub, ignited his dormant lust.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Edith poked him in the side.

He smiled to himself, remembering how she’d woken up and, unperturbed by his taunts,
had asked, “Are you going to sleep here tonight?”

The priest’s ceremony was dragging on boringly. Edith must have poked Killian out of
sheer boredom.

“I just realized what a fool I was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”
Killian kissed the corner of Edith’s eye as she glared at him.

Before we were married, I heard rumors that Edith had been bragging about marrying me.

So naturally, I thought she had a lot to look forward to and that she liked me.

But then I remembered how puzzled I was to see her so different from my expectations.

Of course, according to Edith, the Edith who was rumored to be marrying me and the
Edith who was on the wedding day were two different souls, so it’s no wonder that their
vibes were so different.

But if I hadn’t been interested in Edith, I wouldn’t have cared how she turned out.

CHAPTER 134

‘I had already fallen for Edith by then, and on that subject, I wanted to believe that I was
different from other men.’

I was stupid, childish, and arrogant.

‘I wish I had talked to her more seriously back then…… I think I’ve hurt her too much over
the years, for such a sweet girl……’
Killian let out a long sigh as he watched Edith celebrate the wedding of the woman who
had tried to hurt her.

‘If she’s left alone, she’ll probably pretend to be strong and never say a word to anyone
else, but no, I’ll protect her.’

She lifted her chin in defiance and said what she had to say, but in the end, she was the
one who embraced him.

“Lize’s so beautiful today, it’s almost unreal.”

“You’re prettier.”

Lowering his face to Edith’s ear as she clapped her hands, Killian pretended to answer,
then kissed her cute little auricle and nibbled on it.

Ears are Edith’s weak spot.

“Aw! Killian!”

Just looking at Edith flinching made Killian drool.

“How long will the wedding last?”

“I don’t know, but the reception will go until midnight.”

“……shit.”

Edith smirked at Killian’s low swearing.

“Do you know how eager a bride is to take off her heavy dress immediately?”

“Is it just me who can’t get you undressed right now?”

Cringing at the lewd whisper of Killian’s voice, Edith glanced playfully at Killian and slapped
him on the forearm.

Then she whispered in his ear, “After the luncheon, we can disappear for an hour and no
one will know.”

“That’s nice to hear. Your room, or mine?”

“……or the balcony on the third floor where no one ever goes?”

“Ha…… really, you’re going to torture me.”

“Remember your grandfather’s funeral, Killian. Oh! Our turn to clap.”

Killian and Edith clapped along with the others, putting on the dignified faces of a count
and countess again, but inside they were just a pair of newlyweds drunk in love.

***

Killian’s creation as Count of Ryzen had been decided while I lay convalescing.

At the time, it was apparent that Killian would be going down to Ryzen any day now, so
Duke Ludwig hastened to report to the imperial court, and on paper, Killian was Count
Ryzen from then on.

Cliff and Lize’s wedding had delayed our departure, but we did not neglect our
preparations, and soon after Cliff and Lize’s wedding, we were on our way to Ryzen.

“Take care of yourself.”

“Please stay in good health, mother and father. I will write to you as soon as I arrive.”
On the day we left Ludwig Mansion, the Duchess could hardly contain her tears, and the
Duke, too, was in a mood of sadness and remorse.

But since Cliff was already the heir apparent, it was only natural that the second son
should receive another title and leave for the estate after marriage.

“I’m jealous that you’re one step ahead of me,” Cliff said wistfully as he shook Killian’s
hand goodbye.

“Come to think of it, I am. I guess it’s been that way since I got Edith.”

“Who’d have thought you’d be this talented?”

Oh, right.

Killian was bragging about me everywhere, embarrassing me.

Now that I think about it, I remember Cliff saying that Killian had a complex because he
had never beaten him.

Whether it was thanks to me or not, I’m happy that Killian has gotten over his complex
about his brother.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while longer, we hurried out of the capital; time was of
the essence if we were to reach our stopover town before nightfall.
“All right, let’s go!”

At Killian’s command, the carriage I was riding in rattled and began to move.

I squeezed Anna’s hand as she sat next to me.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

“Nervous and…… excited.”

I flashed Anna a nervous smile.

But I don’t feel scared or anxious.

This all feels very good.

“It’s going to be a lot different, Anna. Not just for me and Killian, but for you.”

“Thank you for this opportunity, ma’am.”

“It’s very awkward to be called ma’am.”

I laughed out loud with Anna.

But the ride to Ryzen was far from comfortable.

The carriage ride over poorly maintained roads gave me a headache, and the area under
my eyes seemed to grow darker by the day as I had to relieve myself in the grass and had
difficulty bathing properly.

However, the fatigue disappeared as soon as we arrived at Ryzen.

“This is…… Ryzen!”

“What do you think? It’s still a small town, but there’s a lot of potential for development.”

“I love it, I really do.”

While my heart was pounding at the view of Ryzen from the carriage’s window, the
carriage carrying us entered the castle.

“Welcome to the new owners of Ryzen. I’m Vincent, the castle’s butler.”

Vincent, the butler who had been managing the castle for years, looked a little younger
than Philip at Ludwig Mansion.
But he looks like he’s got a good head on his shoulders, and the castle, which hasn’t had
an owner in years, is very clean and tidy.

Moreover, the furniture and other items that had been ordered and sent in advance were
all in their places, indicating that he had organized them upon arrival.

“Well…… it’s a lot less than the Ludwig Mansion, but……”

“I like it.”

It’s hard not to like the things I’ve picked out and ordered to be made, discussing each one
with Killian.

But even that seemed insufficient to Killian.

“If there’s something you need, don’t worry, just tell me, and I’ll get it ordered right
away.”

I wonder if this is how a young master feels, who has never known a lack since childhood.

What else is there to buy when the castle is filled with all the right things?

“No, this is enough to live on. If you need something, you’ll have to ask my permission to
buy it. You have a tendency to waste money.”
“Do I……?”

“Yes. You got mad at me for selling things I didn’t need.”

“That’s not what I was angry about……!”

“If we’re going to develop the estate, we’re going to have to tighten our belts,” I said,
balling my fists.

Killian smirked. “Well, I guess the roles are reversed from what I thought, but…… I’ll have
to work hard to keep up with you.”

“Of course! If you’re lazy, I won’t let you off the hook just because you’re my husband, I’ll
scold you!”

“Hahaha! I guess I’ll just have to work harder because I’m afraid of you.”

Are you laughing now?

Can you really keep up with the schedule of a Korean office worker who is accustomed to
working overtime?
I smiled at Killian like a boss who smiles nicely in a job interview even though he has a dark
intention to exploit his workers.

No need to intimidate him already.

After our tour of the castle, we bathed and changed into comfortable clothes, then
climbed up to the ramparts for some fresh air.

A cool breeze blew through and dried my still-damp hair.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is the most beautiful of my father’s estates.”

Not-so-rugged mountains surrounded the estate, and wide open fields grew wheat and
barley.

There were some orchards in the distance, and there were quite a few private houses.

“The market has been growing in recent years.”

“Once we make it easier for people to travel through Mount Philiac, Ryzen will grow
explosively.”
“Before that happens, we need to increase security and develop roads.”

“Oh, and we need a clinic and a school! If the commoners have a clinic they can go to if
they’re sick or injured, the population of the estate will increase, and if we teach the
children properly, there will be fewer thieves and beggars.”

“Right, then we’ll have to find good doctors and teachers, and to pay for their labor, we’ll
have to tighten our belts…… as you say.”

We talked for a while more about what it would take to develop Ryzen, and then I took a
deep breath.

It wasn’t because I had nothing to say.

My heart was pounding in my chest and I needed to calm it down a bit.

Originally, there was hardly any fine dust in this world, but Ryzen had cleaner air than the
capital.

Then I smiled and said, “You know, I was honestly scared. If it wasn’t for our physical
intimacy……”

“……what do you mean?”

“I actually didn’t think you’d bring me here, thank you.”

“If I don’t bring you…… who do I bring?”

“Well, like Count Sinclair said, you could have divorced me and remarried a woman from a
real decent family.”

I was grateful in my own way, but Killian’s expression was growing grimmer by the minute.
His eyes seemed to be burning with fire as he stared at me.

“Killian……?”

“So, you’re saying that the reason I brought you here is because of…… physical intimacy?”

“No?”

“Physical intimacy? Physical intimacy you say? Ha……! Is this woman really……!”

I was confused, not knowing what I had done wrong, when Killian suddenly and forcefully
wrapped his arms around my waist and smiled ominously.

“You’re going to pay a heavy price for degrading the love of Killian Ryzen to lust. Don’t you
think?”

“W- what?”
“I love you, you silly girl! I love you!”

At that moment, I was a little dazed. I wondered if I had just heard something from
Killian……

Then Killian scooped me up.

“Aah! Killian!”

“Save your throat, Edith. You’re going to be screaming in bed from now until tomorrow
morning.”

It wasn’t until later that I realized what had offended Killian, but it was too late.

I buried my face in my hands, feeling so embarrassed as the maids around me widened

their eyes and urgently lowered their heads.

Of course, there’s no way I’d hate a situation where my male lead loves me.

CHAPTER 135. A Life on the Estate Starting from Zero

As punishment for degrading Killian’s love to lust, I had to suffer at his hands for days on
end.

During the day, if I said anything, he would give me a sullen look, saying, “We’re in a
relationship because of our physical intimacy.” At night, he would ask me……

‘Why do I need physical confirmation that Killian’s love isn’t lust? It doesn’t make any
sense!’

Even as I climaxed in the arms of Killian, who thrust himself into me, I was still thinking
about it.

“Because I can’t show you in any other way. Even when I tried to buy you gifts, you
refused them all……”

To my half-joking question, Killian replied with another grunt.

Killian was desperate to get me something, but I really didn’t need anything more.

Choi Soo-na, who had been living in a dilapidated one-room apartment and keeping track
of every penny, is now the owner of a huge castle.

“You already bought me some things in the capital.”

The ruby necklace I’d given to the mercenaries was still around my neck, thanks to Killian’s
reclaiming of it, and my jewelry box was filled with jewelry of my own taste.

My closet was also filled with practical and pretty dresses, and I had no shortage of
accessories, cosmetics, and shoes.

“No, I mean, those were necessary things, of course. Well…… music boxes, glass figurines,
fine scented candles…… don’t you like that kind of thing?”

“How are you going to use that kind of thing?”

“Ha……”

Killian seemed to think I liked the ‘pretty trash’ that Lize coveted, but I’d rather spend the
money on improving the roads on the estate than on such things.

‘But first, we’ll have to take care of the castle.’

I’m not talking about the castle’s furnishings and equipment, which were already in
abundance.
The problem I was facing was a hierarchy of the workers.

Having been without a master for so many years, they had strong personalities, and in a
bad way, arrogance.

They treated Killian with respect while treating me like an outsider for about a month.

Perhaps a rumor had been spread about me.

‘Rumors from the capital take a long time to spread in the countryside, so I suppose they
still think I’m a wicked woman.’

I don’t need to hear the rumors about me to know that.

They must think that the innocent Killian had no choice but to marry a lascivious wench by
the machinations of the Riegelhoffs, and that good-hearted Killian killed all the Riegelhoffs
but couldn’t kill his wife, so he brought her here.

“Anyway, there is something wrong with their attitude. There’ll be hell to pay if Killian
finds out.”

“Probably……” Anna replied with a sigh. “The workers here are good-natured and diligent,
but they also seem to have a lot of pride and stubbornness.”

“They do seem that way. They say hello to me, but their expressions are not pleasant.”
As I walked down the hall, wondering what to do about this, two maids walked by from
the opposite direction.

They avoided eye contact and just walked by, bowing their heads in a nonchalant manner.

The sight of them made Anna feel even more grim than I did.

“I’ll give them a good scolding.”

“No. If you do, you will become an outcast among the maids, so leave it at that for now.”

“But ma’am.”

“A person’s heart is not something you can force.”

I was stumped, too, but I didn’t want to force a hierarchy by whipping or punishing the
workers.

Luckily, Killian gave me a way out.

“We have a problem.”

“What is it?”

“The artisan we commissioned for the tapestry…… has died of old age.”

I was a bit worried from the beginning.

I wondered if he’d be able to weave a tapestry of the size we requested, but it turns
out……

“But don’t worry. I’ll find someone else to do it in no time.”

Killian seemed worried that I would be disappointed, but I really didn’t think much of it.

Honestly, I wasn’t even sure why I should pay that much money for a tapestry to hang on
the castle wall……

‘Wait a minute. But why do we have to pay that much money to an artisan in the capital?
There are plenty of people who need money in our territory!’

A light bulb seemed to flicker on in my head.

“It’s for the best.”

“You mean the artisan died?”

“No. That’s a shame, but I’ve been thinking about it and wondering if we really need to
entrust the tapestry to an artisan in the capital.”

Killian shook his head. “But the workshops in the countryside aren’t as good. They use
local married women as laborers to weave the tapestries.”

“Exactly, Killian!”

“What are you trying to say……?”

I said with a smile, “A large tapestry costs five million sennas to make, and if we leave that
to the tapestry makers of our estate, I’m sure they can make one large and one medium,
right?”

“They could probably make more than that, but……”

“Very well, then we’ll put the local artisans in charge of the tapestry weaving, and use the
women of our estate for the labor!”

“But the quality won’t be very good.”

“It’s just something to hang on the wall, and if it provides an income for the women of our
estate, then that’s more meaningful, isn’t it?”
Killian was silent for a moment.

I wondered if my attitude was a little too pompous for a man who had been born and
raised in the capital, but Killian eventually spoke up.

“Thank you, Edith.”

“What? For what?”

“For thinking of the residents of our territory when you buy luxuries.”

Killian took my hand and kissed the back of it. “I consider myself lucky to have a wife as
kind and wise as you.”

Wow, I’m getting goosebumps……

I thought the term “kind and wise” had disappeared since Shin Saimdang [1].

[1] Mother of Joseon Dynasty scholar Lee Yulgok, who was revered as a model of a wise
mother and a kind wife.

“Killian. You seem to often forget, but just as you are the lord of this estate, I am the lord’s
wife, and it is natural for me to think of our people.”
Killian smiled. “Well, you seem to have more ambition for the development of the estate
than I do.”

“Of course! One day I’ll make it the best estate in the Empire, so everyone will want to
come and live in Ryzen.”

After that conversation, I met with the tapestry artisans in the estate to discuss the
creation of a tapestry, and we agreed to begin production once the fall harvest was over.

But the work was unexpectedly well received.

“The maids in the castle have been asking about you lately.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“I think it’s because of the tapestry thing.”

“Why?”

According to Anna, there’s always a shortage of work in Ryzen.

Especially when the harvest is over and winter comes, they have to live off of what they
have stored up, and since the winters are cold and long, there’s nothing left when spring
arrives.

“That’s why they’re grateful that the castle’s luxuries aren’t commissioned from artisans in
the capital, but are made by the local women.”

“Then I’m glad for them.”

Even though I hadn’t done anything great, I felt proud that I had made a difference in
people’s lives.

At the same time, I began to think about the meaning of ruling people.

If I lived in the capital and received news from the estates, I wouldn’t know any of these
details.

I want to know how people survive the winter, what they need in the spring, what the
customs are, and what help they really need.

So the next day, I started visiting places where people were doing their work.

“Ma- ma’am!”
“What are you doing here……”

When I showed up, the tanned men at work jumped to their feet in surprise. They were
chopping and stoking firewood to heat the castle.

“Good work,” I said, “I just wanted to check in on you.”

“You don’t have to come by yourself to this shabby place……”

“Do you have all the equipment you need to chop wood and chop firewood?”

“We- we use what we have.”

“How much of what?”

I went downstairs, just in case, and sure enough, the axes, the saws, the pokers, and the
ash buckets were all worn out.

“Tell me what you need.”

At my words, the workers glanced at the butler behind me.

“You’ll only get what you really need if you tell me when I’m here.”
They exchanged glances, then spoke with difficulty.

“The axes are all worn out, but……”

“There’s a certain limit to the sharpening of the blades……”

As expected, they weren’t comfortable with their old axes either.

“Vincent. Did you hear that?”

“Yes, ma’am. But what they’re using is still usable.”

“It’s usable, but not comfortable to work with. Let’s make it more efficient, shall we?
Clean it up and give it away to those in need in the village.”

“Got it.”

“And add a first aid kit and a pair of leather gloves. They’ll need those since there’s always
a risk of getting hurt.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I was thanked by the workers and made my way to the laundry room.
It was just as busy and just as bad as the firewood chopping place, and they were all so
surprised by my arrival that their eyes popped out of their sockets.

“Ma- ma’am!”

I looked down at them as they bowed their heads, sure they thought they’d done
something wrong, and then I glanced around the entire laundry room.

‘This is…… where do I start to make it right?’

The dark room, the damp, musty smell of the air, the constantly wet, eczema-stricken
hands doing laundry……

I can see why a laundry maid is the lowest ranking of maids.

“Vincent.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Let’s change the laundry room.”

“Sorry?”
“They bound to get sick if they keep working here. We need to move the laundry room to
a better-ventilated and sunnier place.”

“There’s no such place on the first floor of the castle.”

“Well, if there isn’t, make one.”

Vincent’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

“We’d better build it right, so bring two of the best laundry maids and the architect to my
room tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Vincent’s voice trembled, but the laundry maids’ faces brightened.

In that way, I toured everywhere: the kitchen, the bedrooms, the wine cellar and pantry,
the workers’ quarters.

Vincent has done a good job of getting the most out of the least, but I don’t want the
comfort that comes with compromising the comfort of others.

I want to live happily with everyone here.

‘I never thought the day would come when I’d look back on my previous life and think it
was a good thing I was at the bottom of the labor market.’

Killian, the lord of the estate, will lead Ryzen well, but he needs me, a humble citizen, to
help him pull the reins.

Tomorrow’s Ryzen will be a different place than today’s Ryzen.

CHAPTER 136. The Lord’s Wife

Killian and I decided to make an inspection of the estate before winter set in.

The hierarchy in the castle was getting better and more organized, and we had gotten
used to life in Ryzen, so it was a good time to go.

If Killian was the only one out, he’d be on horseback, but I wanted to see every inch of the
estate with my own eyes.

Killian wasn’t about to leave me behind either, so he had like an open car to ride with
me…… no, is it an open carriage?

We traveled around the estate in the little carriage, which was open overhead and in the
front.

“Right now, the wheat sowing and fall vegetable harvest is in full swing.”
“The estate’s biggest production is wheat, and it’s quite good quality.”

Killian’s aide pointed out the different parts of the estate as we passed.

It was beautiful to see the ground neatly tilled after sowing, and the vegetable gardens full
of sprouts.

In some places, villagers were gathered, hard at work harvesting pumpkins and carrots,
while children not yet old enough to work ran around them, giggling and laughing.

As we passed by, the workers took off their hats and bent down to greet us.

‘Huh? What’s that……?’

I noticed something that bothered me, but I kept my mouth shut because we weren’t
done touring the entire estate yet.

The carriage drove through the open fields and into the urban center of the estate where
private houses were clustered.

It wasn’t as densely built up as the capital, and the market was a bit rudimentary.

However, it was not a small market.

“50% of the population of the estate lives here, on Mazuka Street, which is the main city
center of the estate.”

True to the aide’s introduction, the street was quite crowded and full of life.

I couldn’t help but smile just watching.

Vendors shouting at the top of their lungs to buy their wares, people bargaining and
paying for things in what felt like a fight, children wandering in front of steaming food
stalls, neighbors greeting each other as they passed by……

But even there, I noticed something that bothered me.

‘Why are they doing that?’

Even in the fields, busy with harvesting and sowing, and even in this noisy market, I saw
children sitting in wooden crates with blank faces.

Their mothers glanced over at them from time to time, but they were too busy working to
really pay attention.

“Excuse me, Sir Altens. Who are those children? I saw some people earlier with their kids
in boxes like that……”
At first, I thought the children were young and they were using them as cribs, but when I
got closer, I realized that the children in the boxes were all different ages.

Sometimes they were looking enviously at the other children playing, and sometimes they
were just looking blankly.

“Those are sick children. During the farming season, even the children have to work, so
there’s no one to take care of them at home.”

“Ah……!”

“It’s not a plague, no plague has been reported on the estate yet, they’re just kids who
probably were born disabled somewhere, or have a disease we don’t know the cause or
cure for, like Crusoe’s disease.”

Only then did I realize why my eyes were drawn to those children.

Their faces looked like…… the faces of children I had seen in pediatric cancer wards in my
previous life.

“Is there no hospital they can go to?”

“Hospital? You mean a clinic?”

“Yes. A clinic where there is a doctor. Or at least a pharmacist……”

Sir Altens, Killian’s aide, gave my question a repentant look. “Doctors are too expensive
for commoners, and the best they can do is go to the pharmacists who deal in herbs.”

“But the medicine the pharmacists give them won’t be enough to cure what ails them, will
it?”

“It’s hard for commoners from all over the Empire, not just Rhyzen, to get to a doctor. I
don’t know about the wealthy commoners in the capital, though.”

I nodded.

It wasn’t Sir Altens’ fault that the commoners couldn’t get to the doctors.

Killian just stared at me, then smiled. “I’m sure you’ll have a lot to tell me when we get
back to the castle.”

“You’re surprisingly perceptive.”

“It’s a strange feeling to be complimented on my perceptiveness by someone as

unobservant as you.”

I wanted to protest, but I knew that if I said anything, he’d probably say something along
the lines of, “You’ve degraded my love to lust,” so I kept my mouth shut.
As soon as we got back to the castle, I grabbed Killian and started the meeting.

“We must have a clinic available to the people of the estate. If the estate is to grow, the
population must increase, and more important than increasing the birth rate is increasing
the survival rate of the children and mothers who have already given birth.”

“I agree. But as Sir Altens said earlier, building a clinic doesn’t mean that the people of the
estate will be able to use it, because doctors’ fees are expensive.”

“That’s why the lord should subsidize it.”

I was thinking of national health insurance.

It was because of the healthcare system in South Korea that I was able to continue my life
even though I was poor and sick.

Of course, it was impossible to replicate that system here. People here would rather buy
another loaf of bread with their money than pay a premium that would cost them their
life savings.

“I told you I remember my previous life, right? In my previous life, we had something
called ‘national health insurance,’ and everyone paid a certain amount of money into it,
depending on their income level. Those with more money paid more, and those with less
paid less.”
“So you save it up and then use it when you get sick?”

“It’s more complicated than that, but in a nutshell, yes. The government invests the
premiums collected and makes a profit, and people can go to the hospital when they’re
sick for less money.”

Of course, this only works when there are a lot of people with health insurance. It also
required the cooperation of doctors.

But I really wanted to establish a similar system in Ryzen.

“The people of Ryzen probably don’t have the money to pay for insurance right now, so
we’re going to substitute paying for medical care by doing public service, and the lord will
cover 70% of the cost.”

Killian rubbed his jaw. “But if people flock to the clinic, we can’t cover all the costs.”

“No. We’re going to have to build a road across Mount Philiac, remember? Considering
the wages of the laborers, it’s not a losing proposition, and besides, 30% is paid by the
people themselves, so no one’s going to go to the clinic if they’re not sick.”

Hiring people was going to happen anyway, and paying their wages in one lump sum was a
burden even for Killian.
If we called it “paying for health insurance,” and hired people for free, then covered their
medical expenses over time as they went to the doctor, we could do both at the same
time without hurting our finances.

“Hmm…… that sounds good, I guess we should start thinking about getting a doctor.”

“We’ll need to design the system in more detail, so we’ll need competent administrators,
and we’ll need to spread the word to the people quickly, so we can minimize the backlash
when we start working.”

Killian grinned. “My wife, apparently, is the goose that lays the golden eggs.”

“Please don’t dissect my stomach for the eggs.”

“Come here, Edith.”

I had never been able to resist Killian’s sudden, informal calls to me.

Because that’s when a respectful guy is hot.

I stiffened and slowly walked over to him, and he swept me up in his arms. He sat me on
his lap and kissed me everywhere.

On my lips, on the tip of my nose, on my cheeks, on my forehead……

I wonder if one day I’ll be able to accept Killian’s outpouring of affection as a matter of
course, and give it back to him?

While I was thinking about that and enjoying his warm embrace, Killian asked me quietly.

“In your previous life, were you ever…… very sick?”

Killian hadn’t quite processed my previous life story yet, but he was at least making an
effort to believe me.

“Um…… I had a disease that would have caused me to die.”

Killian swallowed hard, not answering.

“I was fifteen, and I was saved because I had health insurance, because we had high
medical technology, and because I was lucky enough to get a matching organ from my
brother’s body, but at the time…… I didn’t really want to live.”

“Why……?”

“My parents found it annoying that I was sick, and my brother told me to go to hell.”

Killian’s hand wrapped around my shoulder twitched.

“Did Shane happen to be your brother in your previous life?”

“Not really, but when I was first reincarnated as Edith, I was creeped out because Shane
was just as much of an asshole as my previous life brother.”

Killian slowly stroked my shoulders and back.

It was a warm touch, like he was comforting Choi Soo-na, who had never been able to say
she was in pain.

“Now that I think about it, my brother was the one who saved my life, and he was the one
who killed me. He always told me to think that I was alive thanks to him.”

“If I had been with you in your previous life, I would have cut his throat.”

“Hahaha! In my country, it was a felony to slit someone’s throat no matter how wrong
they were. No matter how high up you are, you can’t do that.”

“……that sounds like an unreasonable world to me.”

I giggled and told him some more stories about law and order in my previous life.
Killian was intrigued, but couldn’t relate to how the death penalty was almost never
carried out.

I continued to talk about health insurance and the healthcare system.

Killian kept asking, “Is it magic?” and was left speechless when I explained that it wasn’t
magic or anything, just human knowledge and technology.

“I was someone who was indebted to that medical technology and healthcare, and I knew
how lonely and unhappy it was to be sick, so I wanted to give a little bit of hope to the sick
people here.”

Killian nodded and hugged me tightly again. “Every time I hear about your story of your
previous life, it breaks my heart that I wasn’t there for you.”

“Thank you for making me feel better. In my previous life, no one would have cared that I
was gone, but with you here to comfort me, it doesn’t matter.”

I meant it.

I had once been heartbroken, wondering if anyone would care about my disappearance,
but now I am okay.

Because I have my own person by my side who cares about me whose heart aches for me.
CHAPTER 137. Jealousy

After coming to Ryzen, we started developing the estate with great enthusiasm.

The tapestries woven by the local women in the winter were hung in the castle’s main hall
and corridors, making the castle more beautiful, and the workers’ expressions improved
with the greatly improved working conditions.

Many times, they would come up to me and talk to me or give me something.

“Ma’am! T- this is……”

“Good morning, Theodore. What is that?”

Anna, who was at my side, took what Theo, a servant, handed me.

“T- this morning, I- I went to the mountains this morning, t- to get some wood, b- but the
dog started digging, and……”

Theo is a wood-chopping and firewood-hauling servant, someone who is shy and stutters,
but who often talks in front of me.

I couldn’t really make out much of what he was saying, but I did my best to smile.

“Oh, look at this!”

Anna opened the thing wrapped in a cotton towel and looked into it with a little
admiration, and there were two small clay-like objects lying there.

“What are these?”

“Truffles, ma’am. They’re hard to find, so they’re precious……”

“Huh? These are truffles?”

I was amazed.

In my previous life, I had eaten “truffle chips” that contained about 0.00001% truffle oil,
but I had never seen a real truffle.

“You can’t just give me something so precious, I’ll buy it from you.”

“Oh, n- no, no! I just wanted to give them to you as a gift…..”

Theo stammered and ran away.

‘To be able to actually eat something that I’ve never even smelled in my entire life is
worth the price of reincarnation.’
As I smelled the unusual aroma of the truffle wafting upward, I took it back to the kitchen
and told them to prepare it for dinner.

That evening, it was Killian who first noticed the truffle on top of the veal.

“Truffles,” he said, “has there been a mushroom monger in the castle?”

“No. These were picked by Theo. He went to the mountains to do some wood chopping,
and the dog he took with him suddenly dug up the roots of a tree, so he picked two of
them, and he gave them to me to eat.”

“……Theo?”

Killian’s eyes narrowed.

“Yep. Theodore, the servant who chops wood for the fire in the castle.”

“Is he a young man?”

“Uh…… late twenties, maybe?”

Killian’s hand tightened around his fork.

“Killian, what’s wrong? Does this not suit your taste?”

“No…… it’s nothing. Ahem.”

Killian continued to eat, looking uncomfortable, then suddenly asked, “Does this kind of
thing happen often?”

“This kind of thing? What kind of thing?”

“I mean, well…… the workers giving you gifts……”

“Yeah, this is all the result of my hard work!”

“Your hard work……?”

Killian’s expression got even weirder.

I lifted my chin in inward pride and said, “I didn’t tell you, but when I first came to the
castle, the workers of the castle had an antipathy towards me.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Because I didn’t want you to get all worked up about it.”

Killian flinched, as if he hadn’t expected to be pointed out.

“It must have been disconcerting for them to suddenly have a new master, and I didn’t
want to create loyalty by bossing them around, so I went around the castle and made sure
they had a good place to work.”

“Oh, you mean things like building a new laundry room?”

“Yeah, and I’ve gotten better relationships with the workers, and they bring me gifts like
this.”

Honestly, I’ve never felt this sense of being accepted, not in my previous life, not in this
life.

That made it all the more gratifying.

“But the guys……”

“You know what makes me so happy?”

“What?”

“Well, in my…… previous life, I was kind of an outsider at work, and even after being
reincarnated, you know how it was at the Ludwig mansion. So, it’s just so nice to have
people greeting me and smiling at me and giving me gifts.”
“Ah……”

Killian trailed off, looking apologetic as he remembered the days at the Ludwig mansion.

“Weren’t you going to say something earlier? I think I cut you off mid-sentence……”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Let’s finish our meal, it’s a precious gift from Theo……”

“Yes!”

I said happily and ate my dinner that night.

The people working at the castle weren’t the only ones to make me happy.

“All hands, left, left! Stab forward!”

Training was in full swing on the training ground every day.

The Knights of Ryzen, which Killian had been meticulously improving since last year, were
now in good shape.

As I watched Killian lead the knights from the castle, my curiosity was piqued, and I went
down to the training ground.
“Killian!”

“Edith? Is something wrong?”

“No. I just thought I’d like to see the knights in training up close, too.”

It may seem a little patronizing, but the lord’s wife also needs to show her authority to the
knights in the castle.

After all, I’m also someone they have to protect.

“Greetings, Countess!”

The knight commander stepped in front of me, knelt down on one knee, and asked for my
hand. When I held it out, he lightly kissed the back of my hand, bowed once more, and
stepped back.

And at his beckoning, the entire knights shouted loudly.

“Loyalty! For the glory of Ryzen!”

As they raised their swords and spears high in unison, then slammed them to the ground
and fell to their knees, my heart suddenly pounded in my chest.
‘My and Killian’s Knights!’

I felt a surge of affection as I realized that these were our knights, protecting us.

“You’re all having a hard time. I think Killian is making the training too hard. If there’s
anything that’s too much for you to bear, just tell me.”

“Thank you for your kind words, ma’am.”

The knight commander bowed, but the knights and soldiers behind him chuckled softly as
Killian and the knight commander exchanged glances.

“Anyone who visits my wife’s office in private will be hung upside down from a tree.”

If Killian hadn’t been so intimidating, the mood would have been much better, though he
was joking, of course.

I stole a quick glance at Killian, said goodbye to the knights, and headed back to the castle.

My heart pounded as I thought of the endless things I had to do in the future.

***
Killian was recalling how much of a social butterfly his wife was these days.

‘Theo…… Theodore…… Who is that?’

The day after the truffle veal dinner, Killian found a worker named Theodore.

He suspected that it was not loyalty alone that had prompted the poorly paid firewood
chopper to give his wife a gift of the precious mushrooms, which could fetch 150,000
sennas at a time.

“Y- y- you called for me, my lord?”

“……is your name, Theodore?”

“Yes, it is.”

Killian sighed.

Theo is a man that Killian also knows. He is a late bloomer and has a stutter after suffering
from a fever as a child.

Because of his kind and diligent character, Killian also looks at him favorably. He even has
a wife and children already, and they are also humble and kind.
‘I don’t think Theo coveted Edith.’

Killian was a little embarrassed that he hadn’t even known his name until now and offered
him two gold coins worth 100,000 sennas.

Despite his repeated refusals, Killian forced the coins into his hand.

“You’ve done the hard work,” he said, “but we shouldn’t be the only ones eating. Go buy
your wife and children something delicious.”

With that, Theo bowed several times in gratitude and left.

‘Am I overreacting? I mean, it’s not like every man in the world covets Edith……’

It was two days ago that he had such thoughts.

But Killian’s suspicions were rekindled when he saw Edith receiving a rousing welcome
from the knights.

‘Where are those bastards looking right now? Should I tell them to close their eyes?’

Killian was unhappy with his wife’s sudden arrival on the training ground.

‘And why is she wearing such a neck-baring dress today?’

Even though she was dressed appropriately for the warmer weather, Killian was bothered
by the way the knights were staring at her.

And he didn’t like the sight of Edith holding out her hand just because the knight
commander was kneeling down.

He didn’t want the knight commander to stick his snout in there.

‘How dare you put your mouth on my wife’s hand while I’m looking at you with my eyes
wide open?’

It was the kind of greeting any nobleman would do, but Killian felt a thousand fires
burning inside.

“You’re all having a hard time. I think Killian is making the training too hard. If there’s
anything that’s too much for you to bear, just tell me.”

Edith’s smile was as bright as a spring breeze as she encouraged the knights and soldiers.

It was clear that Killian was not the only one thinking this.

All the eyes of the men lined up at the training ground were on her.
And in that moment, Killian realized.

‘Edith was always this beautiful and sweet, I just didn’t realize it……’

When Edith first arrived at the Ludwig mansion, it never occurred to him that she was
beautiful. No, he consciously tried not to think about it.

But Edith has always been beautiful, and there must have been many eyes on her, even if
Killian himself didn’t realize it.

‘She was always the talk of men at the social club.’

He knows now that their lascivious words were all bluff, but their desires could not have
been lies.

Killian glanced at Edith, who was smiling at the knights.

Her dazzling eyes and full lips were lovely.

‘Isn’t it natural to think that I wouldn’t want to let anyone see such a beautiful woman?’

But at the same time, he realized that if he did, he would be hated by Edith.

Frustrated, Killian thrust Edith to climax that night, more vigorously than usual.
Nervous and anxious that Edith might set her eyes on someone other than him, he thrust
into her as if to imprint himself on her.

“K- Killian, please, stop……!”

“No…… I don’t want to let you go……”

“Killian…… what are you so afraid of? I’m always by your side……”

Edith could instantly read Killian’s mood.

Burying his face in Edith’s chest, Killian made a small confession. “I think I’m crazy. I’m
jealous of every man in the world, and I want to hide you from them.”

“My God, Killian.”

Edith’s warm hands caressed his back and the back of his head.

“I love you.”

“Say it one more time.”

“I love you, Killian. Don’t you ever forget that the reason I came back from the long-
distance carriage station was because I would rather die at your hands than live without
you.”

For a moment, Killian’s mind flashed back to Edith, sitting expressionless in the cold
execution ground, her white neck bare.

At the time, I thought she wanted nothing from me, and it broke my heart to realize that
what she really wanted was to die at my hands.

I shouldn’t have doubted her.

“I’m sorry. I acted like an idiot again.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay to be worried, it’s okay to doubt. I’ll let you know every time, how
much I love you.”

Killian pulled Edith’s delicate body into a tight embrace.

“I love you, Edith.”

A contented smile came from Edith, and only then did Killian settle down.

CHAPTER 138. In Front of a Warm Fireplace

After a hectic year, winter has come.

I don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for winter since the wind started getting chilly.

This is because I planted sweet potatoes in the castle’s small field this year.

The plump, ripe sweet potatoes dried well and were stacked in the pantry.

“It’s snowing a lot,” Killian said as he drew the curtains and peered outside for a moment,
lighting a lantern in the dark room despite the morning.

He added, “I feel like I’ve been lied to by my dad. He said it was going to snow ‘a little bit,’
but this isn’t ‘a little bit.'”

Mount Philiac, already turned into a white snow mountain, was faintly visible through the
blizzard.

“Well, we can all have a bit of a rest period, I guess.”

I stretched, got up, and called for Anna.

After washing our faces with the water Anna had brought, and drying ourselves off with a
towel, we changed into warmer, more comfortable clothes and took a walk around the
castle.
We checked to see if there was any snow damage to the castle, if any of the stored food
had spoiled, if there were any problems with the heating, and if anyone was sick or
struggling.

“No problems today, thankfully.”

“It would be nice if the snow would just come and go.”

We always have to be careful about whether there will be problems in the estate due to
heavy snowfall, but this year we have done quite a bit of construction work for
winterization, so I don’t think there will be any major accidents.

“Let’s roast some sweet potatoes.”

“Okay.”

I sat down in front of the large fireplace in the parlor on the first floor of the castle and
gently swept the ashes from beneath the blazing firewood.

Then I buried some dried sweet potatoes.

“Hmm, I think you’re obsessed with roasted sweet potatoes these days.”
“Actually, I love sitting here with you and talking to you more than I love sweet potatoes.”

“For something like that, you eat way too many sweet potatoes.”

“……I’m not saying sweet potatoes don’t taste good.”

The first time I started roasting sweet potatoes, Killian wondered why a Countess would
rummage through the ashes in the fireplace.

Of course, that fuss subsided when I popped a hot roasted sweet potato into his mouth.

“How on earth did you know how to grow sweet potatoes? Is that also knowledge you had
in your previous life?”

“Oh, no. That was…… something I learned from the farming books in the library at the
Ludwig mansion.”

Killian, who was carefully using a poker to spread the ashes over the sweet potatoes,
looked back at me.

“What did the would-be Countess have to do with knowing how to grow sweet potatoes?”

“Well…… I thought that one day I might have to run away at night, and then I might have
to grow something for a living, so I learned how to grow some things, mostly tubers.”
Killian’s hand paused. “Run away?” he asked.

“Yeah. Looking back, it was really serious back then, because the Riegelhoffs were ready
to do something even if I tried to stop them, and the Ludwigs were always suspicious of
me.”

Killian’s expression hardened again.

But I didn’t mean for him to feel guilty.

“I didn’t blame you or the Ludwigs,” I said, “I just happened to be reading an agricultural
book at the time, thinking I might be able to use it someday……”

“I’m sorry, but no matter what happened, you would never have succeeded in running
away.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I would have chased you down and caught you.”

Apparently, it wasn’t guilt that caused Killian’s face to harden earlier, but anger.

Either way, the ‘obsessive second male lead’ setting is still there.
“But if I hadn’t changed my mind at the last minute, I might be in Driburn or Apentus right
now.”

“No, I would have searched all those places and found you, so you’d be here right now,
next to me, even if you hadn’t changed your mind.”

“Ah…… yeah, well, whatever.”

For some reason, the obsession that should have been directed at Lize has completely
shifted to me.

As I chuckled at Killian’s affectionate rant, I walked over to the fireplace to check if the
sweet potatoes were done.

‘Ow!’

I suddenly felt a pain in my stomach.

‘I think I ate too many sweet potatoes and my intestines are too active.’

Sweet potatoes are a great constipating food.

Thanks to them, I’ve been going to the bathroom a lot lately, but sometimes my stomach
would cramp up from too much intestinal activity.

‘Still, I can’t give up sweet potatoes.’

I put on thick gloves and took out a well-roasted sweet potato and placed it on a plate.

“Wow!” I exclaimed, peeling it off and sharing it with Killian.

Killian was quite cute as he ate the sweet potato, oblivious to the soot on his cheeks.

***

After a long winter, the spring breeze is slowly blowing in Ryzen.

“Sweet potato season is over, and there’s no denying it’s spring.”

While everyone else was excited about the arrival of spring, I was a little sad to see winter
go, having just enjoyed roasted sweet potatoes in front of a fireplace.
Killian hugged me from behind and made a shocked comment.

“With all those roasted sweet potatoes as a snack on top of your main meals, you’ve
gotten a little chubby in the belly.”

“You’ve been eating and sleeping like a bear, no wonder you’re getting chubby.”

“Uh…… I didn’t realize that.”

“Don’t starve yourself to lose weight, you’re still so pretty,” Killian said playfully, rubbing
my belly.

I swatted his hand away in frustration, but Killian instead kissed my cheeks and lips
without any hesitation.

“I have to check out the southern part of the estate today. I’ll be back quickly.”

“Don’t just think about coming quickly, make sure you check thoroughly so you don’t miss
anything.”

“Ha…… you seem to love the estate more than you love me.”

I gave the pouting Killian a deep kiss on the lips and sent him on his way.
After I made sure he was out the gate, I called for Anna.

“Anna, fetch the doctor.”

“Yes, ma’am. Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’ll have to check that out, but for now, bring the doctor in quietly and without alerting
anyone.”

Anna never questioned my orders, unless it was about my health.

She ran like the wind, looking nervous.

‘I’m nervous too,’ I thought to myself, touching my chubby lower belly.

Come to think of it, I haven’t had my period in four months how didn’t I notice?

Killian and I had been busy all last year, and over the winter we’d made up for not being
together.

We spent all day together, reading books, eating sweet potatoes, chatting, and looking at
the snow.

We had so much fun that I forgot I hadn’t had my period in four months.
It wasn’t until this morning when Killian told me I had a slightly chubby belly that I
realized.

‘I didn’t eat anything weird, did I?’

I felt anxious because I sometimes drank a sip or two of wine during meals.

‘No, really, it could have been the sweet potatoes that made me gain weight, and my
periods have always been a little irregular.’

Yes, it was only delayed by a couple of months, but then again, I might have pushed
myself a little too hard last year and that might have made it worse.

As I waited anxiously, Anna brought the doctor in quickly.

“What makes you uncomfortable, ma’am?”

“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable, but…… I want you to check if I’m pregnant.”

The doctor’s and Anna’s eyes widened at the same time.

“Ma’am!”
“Don’t freak out just yet, Anna, it could just be irregular periods.” I quickly buried her
hopes, afraid that she would be disappointed.

But as the doctor examined me, he smiled brightly and gave me good news.

“Congratulations. You’re pregnant, and it looks like it’s been a while.”

“I haven’t had my period…… in about four months. But I’ve always been a little irregular”

“Let me have a quick check on your stomach.”

The doctor placed a thin towel over my stomach and carefully examined it, asking
questions and nodding.

“I believe it’s well over three months old. I’m sure good news will be spreading through
the estate by this summer.”

I smiled in relief.

“You’re a filial piety. You didn’t give your mother morning sickness to make it easier on
her.”

“Come to think of it, I did feel like I ate too many sweet potatoes, no matter how much I
liked them. Is that why I didn’t have morning sickness? I heard that easy-to-digest foods
can help with morning sickness.”
“That’s possible, but you weren’t feeling sick, were you?”

“I guess so. I didn’t have much to do, so I just ate and slept”

The doctor looked pleased, but Anna slumped her shoulders.

“It’s my fault. I’m your maid, and I didn’t even know you were pregnant.”

“Why is that your fault? Neither I nor Killian knew. Maybe the baby is a quiet one.”

I comforted Anna and waited for Killian’s return with a mixture of anticipation and
nervousness.

True to his word, Killian returned to the castle before dinner time.

We set the table in our room as usual and ate dinner in private.

“Was the southern part of the estate okay?”

“Yes. One of the bridges across the river looked like it needed some work, but nothing
major.”
“Good to hear.”

Killian nodded and took a sip of wine, then glanced at me and smiled.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Just…… I’m so happy with life the way it is now, and sometimes I get such a rush of
happiness that I can’t believe……”

I’m happy that I made Killian happy.

“What are you going to do, Killian? I think sooner or later…… your happy life is going to
come crashing down a bit.”

Killian’s face suddenly stiffened, like he’d been hit in the back of the head.

“What’s going on, Edith?”

I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking of all the worst things.

I decided to tell him the truth before it got too serious.

“So…… you know I’ve gotten fat……”

“You’re not that fat, I’m sorry, I misspoke, I was wrong.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that…… I called the doctor earlier……”

At the mention of calling a doctor, Killian dropped the cutlery he was holding. Then he
came over to me, knelt down, and took my hand in his.

“Edith…… no matter what happens, I’ll be by your side, don’t be scared. I will do whatever
it takes to get any medicine……”

“No, it’s not that…… I’m having a baby.”

You all should have seen the look on Killian’s face at that moment.

I’ve never seen him look so stupid.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“You mean, we’re going to have a kid?”

“Yeah.”
Suddenly, a tear slid down his cheek.

“Killian……?”

“Thank you…… thank you, Edith…… thank you……”

Still kneeling, he kissed the back of my hand, saying thank you repeatedly.

My eyes filled with tears, and I ended up crying along with him.

But the emotional moment was short-lived. The next day, I was semi-imprisoned, treated
like glass that could break at any moment.

I shouldn’t belittle the obsessive second male lead……

CHAPTER 139. Renon Filch’s Diary

The news that Renon wanted to leave his job at the Duchy of Ludwig came as great news
to us, as we were in need of competent people.

Killian and I succeeded in recruiting him by promising him the best treatment we could
give and emphasizing the potential of Ryzen.
After wrapping up the work at the Ludwig mansion and finally arriving at the castle, we
greeted Renon, happy to see him after so long.

“Good for us, Renon, but wasn’t it a shame you had to quit the Duchy? I mean, other than
the Imperial Palace, there’s no other place that pays that much.”

“Well, maybe it’s because I’d already saved up quite a bit, but money wasn’t the main
issue.”

Renon was still stingy about showing his emotions, but he looked somewhat drained as he
said it.

“Why? Is there something going on at the Ludwig mansion?” Killian asked worriedly.

After some thought, Renon pulled his diary out of his bag and handed it to Killian.

“It would be a long story for me to tell you, so you might as well read my diary and see for
yourself.”

Killian and I were puzzled by his behavior, pulling out his diary as if it were a report, but he
didn’t seem to mind.

We began to look through the diary from the day we left the Ludwig mansion.
***

「– September 15, 1825

As soon as Master Cliff’s wedding was over, Master Killian and Lady Edith left for Ryzen.
They took Anna with them, and it seems as if every trace of them is gone from the
mansion.

I didn’t think much of it at first, but the atmosphere in the mansion has changed a lot
since they left.

The Duke and Duchess’s relationship with Lady Lize, which was always harmonious before,
seems to have grown cold.

The Duchess rarely meets Lady Lize, and His Excellency the Duke has been drinking
increasingly and sighing often.

At the wedding not long ago, Master Killian and Lady Edith were present, and the
atmosphere was outwardly good, but now it can hardly be said to be good.

Master Cliff has begun to make arrangements for his succession in earnest.
– November 10, 1825

Lady Lize, who has been keeping to herself in her room, has been making more of a
presence lately.

She started attending parties and her clothes became more luxurious as time went on.
This time, she announced that she would organize the year-end party in December
herself.

It seems that she and Master Cliff have had a bit of a falling out over the matter, but it
seems that Lady Lize has decided to organize the December party.

The Duchess has yet to confirm, but there are many gossipy rumors that her daughter-in-
law is already trying to take over as the family’s hostess.

The Duchess seems to be in a bad mood and doesn’t say much.

I don’t feel the same as before either. Perhaps it is time to prepare to leave this place.
– December 31, 1825

The year-end parties held at the Ludwig mansion yesterday and today were the most
lavish and extravagant I’ve seen since I’ve been here.

Lady Lize said that the Duke of Ludwig’s status as one of the Emperor’s closest confidants
should be known by everyone, and well…… even without all the fanfare, there’s no
denying that House Ludwig is the most powerful family in the Empire.

The Duke and Duchess were as calm and unperturbed as ever, but judging by the deep
sighs of the butler as he escorted them to their chamber late at night, they were probably
not in a very good mood.

Lady Lize, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy herself immensely.

She received a lot of attention because Her Highness Catherine also attended and graced
the party, showing their close relationship.

Lady Lize danced several times with men other than Master Cliff, but the more she
danced, the worse Master Cliff looked, and I became increasingly uncomfortable.

In the end, I left early and never returned.

Am I the only one who longs for the old days of the dignified House Ludwig?
– January 15, 1826

It’s already been 15 days since the new year dawned.

After sending out letters to each of the estate lords at the beginning of the month asking
them to submit the tax collection details from the second half of last year, it’s been a quiet
time.

So, over tea, I read Lady Edith’s letter from yesterday.

Lady Edith was sending New Year’s greetings not only to the Ludwigs, but also to her close
workers.

She said that she and Master Killian are doing very well.

They’ve been inspecting Ryzen and considering various options for development, and I’m
very curious to see what the future holds for Ryzen.

I also received a letter of greetings from Anna, and was able to learn more about the
hardships that Lady Edith had not told me about.

In the evening, I took out my letter paper for the first time in a long time and wrote a
reply, secretly mentioning my desire to resign.
I hope Lady Edith will notice my intentions.

– February 5, 1826

I’m tired.

In all my years working at the Ludwig mansion, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this tired.

It would be better if it were due to the accumulation of work, but lately, Lady Lize has
been picking on me in strange ways.

It all started the day I went to the post office.

I was out and about when I bumped into Lady Lize, and when she asked me where I was
going, I simply replied, “To mail some letter.”

And then I saw how sharp Lady Lize’s eyes became……

She must have noticed that I was going to send letters to Ryzen.

I didn’t realize Lady Lize still held a grudge against Miss Edith.
No, wasn’t she the perpetrator herself?

I don’t understand why Lady Lize hates Lady Edith when Lady Edith has been quite
forgiving about it.

Anyway, since then, she’s been taking on tasks that aren’t hers, or barging into my office
and arguing with me over trivial matters.

It’s not something I can’t handle, but I’m a little worried about the days ahead.

– March 1, 1826

Spring is in the air, but the cold winds of mid-winter are still blowing at the Ludwig
mansion.

The Duke’s anger finally exploded yesterday.

Not long ago, Lady Lize came to see the Crown Prince without telling either the Duke or
Master Cliff.
She claimed it was for House Ludwig, but in the eyes of the Emperor, it was an attempt to
make a connection with His Highness the Crown Prince.

Not only that, but the Emperor himself summoned the Duke and asked him what he was
plotting.

In the end, the Duke scolded Lady Lize, but instead of reflecting, she yelled at the Duke.

Master Cliff seems to be caught in the middle, hearing unpleasant comments from both
sides.

It is unlikely that House Ludwig will collapse over something like this, but I can’t help but
feel bittersweet as I recall how powerful it once was, both internally and externally.

– March 26, 1826

Lady Lize has been placed on probation for slapping Viscountess Mohr on the cheek.

In the past, one would have said that the angelic Lady Lize could not have done such a
thing, but now no one doubts it.

As I was passing through the hall to see the Duchess, I heard Master Cliff and Lady Lize
arguing.
Lady Lize shouted, “Liar!” and Master Cliff, looking fed up, replied, “For God’s sake, just do
it in moderation.”

Their personal circumstances are none of my business, but if they’re arguing like that in
front of people, I’d say their love is over.

– May 2, 1826

I have decided to quit my job soon.

Lady Edith has written to say that she wishes to employ me as a financial manager at
Ryzen, if I am willing. I am grateful that she seems to have noticed my intentions.

I spoke to the Duke and Duchess about it and asked for their permission, and they were
both sad to see me go, but were willing to give me their blessing, saying it would be better
for me.

But not Master Cliff and Lady Lize.

Master Cliff tried to stop me one more time, mentioning the honor of being a vassal of
House Ludwig and the larger salary.
But I beg to differ.

I’d rather do work that I enjoy and find rewarding, even if it means less pay.

Lady Lize’s reaction was even worse.

She must have wanted to kick me out for helping Lady Edith in the past, but she didn’t
know I was really going to Ryzen, and she accused me of trying to steal the duchy’s
information for County Ryzen.

But the Duke refused to listen to Lady Lize.

Lady Edith, you should have seen the look on Lady Lize’s face at that moment……

I no longer find Lady Lize beautiful.

It breaks my heart to think that a family that has been devoted to dignity and loyalty for so
many years is being ruined by one person.」

***
“I can’t believe this happened……”

When Killian finished reading the diary, he muttered in a low tone.

“I’m sorry I didn’t bring you good news.”

“Why is it your fault? It’s all my family’s fault.”

Killian, who had once considered his parents and brother to be without moral blemish and
Lize to be nothing short of angelic, smiled weakly at the irony of it all.

I patted Killian’s hand, then turned to Renon and thanked him again.

“I’m glad you chose us, Renon, though it must have been hard for you to give up your
capital life and your status as a vassal of House Ludwig. Things have gotten quite hectic,
and I was in desperate need of a competent financial manager.”

“As I wrote in my diary, I’ve wanted to come to Ryzen for some time. You have my thanks
for inviting me, Countess.”

“I can promise you that you will enjoy your work here.”
I looked at Renon, who looked the same as before, and tried to visualize the organization
of the administrative offices at Ryzen Castle in my head.

How fortunate I am that Renon came just in time, as I was already worried about my
pregnancy and lack of manpower.

I already had a few people in place, and it would be perfect to put him as a manager.

‘Anyway, I hope the Duchy situation isn’t as dire as Renon thinks……’

It’s pathetic that Lize still hasn’t come to her senses. I knew it was all the Ludwigs’ fault,
but I’m a little worried because they’re still Killian’s family.

‘Surely…… they’ll be fine. They are Ludwigs after all.’

I shrugged it off and moved on.

CHAPTER 140. Dream

I’ve been sleeping more since I got pregnant, and I dream a lot.
But even so, I rarely remember them, until one day when I was nearing my due date, I had
a really vivid dream.

‘Huh? This smell……’

It was a smell I’d long forgotten, but couldn’t quite put out of my mind.

It was the dank, damp smell of the stairs of an old multi-family house.

“Fuck, ahhh, really, shit!”

Someone was muttering.

And somehow I thought I knew who it was.

“Is she really dead? Oh, I’m going crazy!”

As expected, it was my brother.

His breath reeked of alcohol every time he opened his mouth.

He ran down the stairs and put his hand under my nose on the floor, then ran back up the
stairs and paced around.
“Calm down, calm down. For now, I have to…… run.”

My brother’s eyes scanned the area to make sure there were no witnesses, and his gaze
fell on my bag on the floor.

‘You can’t just run away.’

I watched from above as he rummaged through my bag.

Despite his shaking, he found my wallet, shoved it into his arms, and ran off.

I didn’t feel the slightest bit of affection for him.

But as expected, he was quickly caught.

He’d made cash withdrawals using my card at various places, so there was no way his tail
wasn’t going to be traced. He was caught on CCTV at every convenience store he went to.

He even used my card to buy cigarettes at a local convenience store at dawn after a night
of gambling……

‘Ugh, that idiot.’

My brother ran away from the police, but when he was caught, he was dragged away
obediently as if he had given up on everything.

The scene changed and I saw a familiar place in front of me. It was the company I used to
work for.

“What the hell is going on? This is the first time in my life that I know the person involved
in an incident that made the news.”

One coworker whispered to another, but the expressions on their faces were more of
interest and curiosity than pity or sadness.

If anything, the complexions of Ahn Young-eun, who had hit me in the back of the head,
and Manager Park, who had shown his annoyance at me, were worse.

– I feel so bad. I was really mean to Soo-na the day she died.

– What? What did you do?

– Something mean. I didn’t realize it would be the last time I would see her.

– Hey, it’s already in the past, and regretting it won’t change anything. Just get over it.
Ahn Young-eun sighed as she was talking to someone in the company via internal
messenger.

Just then, Manager Park got off the phone with someone and slowly stood up from his
seat.

He looked around and said,

“Attention. After work today, I want two or three of us to go to Soo-na’s funeral as a

representative…… Anyone want to go?”

Then Ahn Young-eun raised her hand.

“I’ll go.”

“Okay, Young-eun. Then, Young-eun and I will go…… Anyone else want to go?”

But everyone looked at each other and didn’t raise their hands.

Eventually, a newcomer who didn’t know me very well raised her hand.
‘This is funny. None of the people I thought I was closest to came.’

I half-expected it, but seeing it with my own eyes was devastating.

They didn’t say anything the whole way to my funeral.

Then Manager Park spoke up, his voice heavy.

“Why was I so annoyed that day?”

“Yes? Manager? When?”

The newcomer, who had no idea, seemed to be trying to look good in the manager’s eyes.

“The day Choi Soo-na died…… I got really mad at her over something really insignificant. I
could tell that I hurt her, but at the time, I was just annoyed……”

“Manager……”

Sitting next to him, Ahn Young-eun was chewing on her lip.

“Who could have thought it would be like this…… haa…… and that was the last thing I said
to someone who has worked so hard since joining the company…… I feel terrible.”
Manager Park’s face looked really grim. At that moment, a sobbing sound was heard from
the side.

Ahn Young-eun was about to burst into tears.

“I feel terrible too…… I feel so sorry for Soo-na…… sob……”

Manager Park nodded in understanding and patted Ahn Young-eun on the shoulder a
couple of times, while the newcomer, who had no idea what they were talking about,
remained silent with a confused expression.

As expected, my funeral had few mourners. I didn’t have many friends, so the mourners
were mostly relatives.

My dad was puffing away on his cigarette, my mom was whimpering to my aunt with tears
in her eyes.

“I don’t know why my fate is like this. I only have two children, one is sick since childhood,
and the other is a troublemaker…… Oh, what should I do, sister?”

“Soo-na is already gone, but what will happen to Soo-chan?”

“If the family pleads for leniency, the sentence will be reduced, but I don’t know how
much……”
No one mentioned the fact that my brother had killed me; they were just concerned for
him as he awaited trial.

‘I wasn’t expecting much, but…… this still hurts.’

I sighed, and the scene before me blurred to reveal another familiar place. It was my
room.

The funeral was already over, and my mom and dad were packing up my things.

“Oh, Soo-na…… Soo-na……”

“Poor girl……!”

My mom was crying as she looked at my expense book, and my dad was opening my
closet, his eyes reddening.

I wrote down when and how much my brother stole from me and how I spent my money.
On the occasional days when I couldn’t resist myself and ordered something, I’d
highlighted it with an asterisk because I felt so guilty……

“Sob…… you’ve only eaten out once a month and it was a 10,000 won pizza……!”

My mom sobbed, wiping her face with her handkerchief.

A few of my clothes hung in my closet, which my dad was opening.

“Soo-na…… when did you last buy clothes……”

My dad cried as he looked at the coat he bought me for my middle school graduation.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been wearing that for over a decade……’

The khaki coat, which I purposely chose in an extra-large size because I knew I’d grow, was
something I took great care of and wore sparingly.

It was the first and last expensive thing my dad bought me back then.

It was a plain design that I found still wearable, but it did look a little unflattering on me,
especially with the puffy sleeves and hips.

“Oh, Soo-na! I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m not a good mother, Soo-na!”

My mom hit the floor and cried bitterly, and my dad turned away, covering his eyes with
his hands.

My parents seemed to finally feel my absence.

I felt rather relieved at the sight of them.

‘Thank God, at least……my existence means something to them.’

I felt sorry for my parents, but I felt like I had finally gotten over my previous life.

As I smiled in satisfaction, the scene before me changed again.

‘Huh?’

It was my ex-boyfriend, who broke up with me right before I died.

He was sitting dazedly in his room, looking distraught.

His phone kept beeping incoming message notifications.

– Hey! I heard that Ms. C, who lives in Building X, died. Isn’t your girlfriend also in Building
X? She’s not your girlfriend, is she?

– She was killed by her brother. But doesn’t your girlfriend have a brother too? It’s a little
creepy.
– Hey, what are you doing today? I heard you quit your job.

His friends joked about the story of “Ms. C killed by her brother” that had spread across
the internet.

It never occurred to them that Ms. C could be me.

But my ex-boyfriend seemed to be slowly realizing that it was me.

“Soo-na…… please pick up your phone, please……”

He grabbed his phone again and dialed me.

At first glance, the screen read “Choi Soo-na (42)”. He must have called me about 42
times.

[The phone you are calling is out of range, you will be connected to voicemail……]
He hung up after hearing an automated notification he must have heard many times, and
then opened the last message I’d sent him.

– Baby~ I got the weekend shift and will be working overtime today. I’m sorry ㅠㅗㅠ See
you next week. I’ll buy you something tasty ♡ (6:08 PM)

– PrettySoona♥: Hmm, okay, I’m fine, don’t push yourself too hard. (6:09 PM)

– Mhm! Thank you for your understanding. (6:09 PM)

– PrettySoona♥: Speaking of working overtime, the woman you’re holding hands with
must be your boss at work. You two look like you’re really working hard. Just bury your
bones at work and don’t contact me in the future! (7:42 PM)

Tears dripped on his phone.

“Soo-na, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…… I was really wrong…… Soo-na…… sob, what should I do,
what should I do, sob, Soo-na……”

He clutched the phone tightly, shaking and sobbing.

I had never seen him cry like this before.

Admittedly, if I had gone on my date with him that day as planned, I might have
temporarily escaped my fate at the hands of my brother. He seemed to think that my
death was his fault.

But it could have always happened at any time unless my brother came to his senses.

I stood there for a long time, listening to him apologize over and over again.

‘Thank you for being sorry. I’m doing fine, so you can move on and forget about me.’

For some reason, tears welled up in my eyes.

But I know, these people will eventually get over the sadness of this moment and move
on.

Just as I am doing.

When I woke up and opened my wet eyes, Killian was asleep next to me.
He massaged my limbs and legs until I fell asleep, which was not easy to do after a long,
tiring day.

But Killian never missed a day of massage.

‘Yes. This is the man I’ve got.’

Perhaps if it weren’t for my previous life experiences and memories, I would have missed
this man.

I never dreamed of this kind of ecstatic love in my previous life.

Now that I have received this kind of love, I have no regrets left over from my previous
life.

I kissed Killian’s cheek lightly.

“Um……? Edith……?”

I loved the way he called my name in his deep voice.

“I love you, Killian.”

“I love you, too, Edith.”

Without waking up, Killian said he loved me and hugged me warmly.

‘I’m really going to live this life with no regrets, not even a hint of Choi Soo-na’s regrets
from my previous life.’

I vowed, feeling a wave of exhilaration wash over me.

CHAPTER 141. Ryzen Castle Full of Love

In early August of that year, I gave birth to a child, thinking, ‘Is this the end of my life?’

I really thought I was going to die.

But fortunately, Edith’s body type, with its wide pelvis, made the birth easy (though not at
all easy in my opinion).

For the record, that day, Killian cried again.

“Good job, Edith. You really did a great job and…… thank you. Thank you, Edith. I love
you.”

I managed to get my lips to move, even in my exhausted state. “You’re a crybaby……”

Killian laughed despite his tears.

I’d never seen him laugh so happily before.

It seems I have brought him even more happiness.

The baby was a boy, and we chose “Erdin” as his name from a list of potential names that
we had already chosen.

Erdin was a beautiful child, inheriting Killian’s dark hair and my light brown eyes.

“The Ludwigs’ beauty doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. How come he’s so handsome?”

“He’s handsome because he looks like you; he’s got your eyes.”

“But his lips are like yours. Oh my, oh my! He’s pursing his lips!”

“Is he hungry?”

“He just had a lot of milk. It looks like he’s dreaming of drinking milk.”

We looked at Erdin without even noticing the passage of time.

He is a baby, swaddled from head to toe, unable to move his limbs, and we were all
excited that he was moving his lips, that he was laughing, that he was yawning with
dimples in his cheeks.

In fact, in my previous life, it was so hard to keep my own body healthy that I couldn’t
even think of getting married, let alone having children, but when I finally gave birth to a
child, my heart was so full that I felt like my happiness was finally complete.

Of course, this was only because I had a nanny to take care of my child.

‘If I were a single parent, I’d be working hard with all my hands and feet.’

Before the 100-day miracle [1], it wasn’t a hell of a parenting situation where mom and
dad got very little sleep.

[1] Back in the day, medical care wasn’t as advanced as it is today, and babies often died
shortly after birth. That’s why people used to celebrate when a baby reached 100 days of
health, hoping that the baby would grow up to be even healthier. The tradition of
celebrating a baby’s 100 days of health has continued into the modern era.

With the help of a nanny, I got a good night’s sleep, ate well, and recovered.

Erdin didn’t give me morning sickness and was a quiet big boy, so even after he was born,
he was quieter compared to other babies.
The bigger Erdin gets, the more I think he looks like Killian, which is funny because Killian
says he looks like me every time he sees Erdin.

“He looks half and half like you two. This side he looks like the Count, and this side he
looks like you, ma’am.”

Anna, who has been showing affection for Erdin since he was born, beamed today.

And every time I saw her like that, I felt sad, sorry, and responsible all at once.

“Anna…… don’t you ever want to get married?”

Anna’s already twenty-six.

In 21st-century South Korea, she would still be enjoying her youth, but in this world, she
would be labeled an old girl.

“Don’t worry, ma’am, I’m quite happy with the life I have now.”

Anna seemed genuinely happy, but after taking care of me all day, I couldn’t help but feel
uneasy knowing that when she returned to her room, there would be nothing but silence
to greet her.

Of course, I’m not saying that being single is a bad thing.

Maybe it was just my own spontaneous sympathy for Anna.

But just in case.

‘It’s okay if Anna is truly happy living alone, but if she feels lonely only after she’s wasted
all her youth because of me……’

Then I would have a hard time shaking the guilt. I would support her for the rest of her
life, but there are some things that money can’t fill.

After some deliberation, I decided to help Anna.

‘Maybe she’s been alone all this time because she hasn’t had the chance to meet a man.’

There is a huge difference between meeting someone and saying no and giving up without
even meeting them.

Besides, you can’t see the stars until you look at the sky, and you can’t know if you want
to be in a relationship or get married until you meet a man.

If Anna wants to stay single after meeting the right guy, then I can feel at ease supporting
her decision.
That evening, I sat down with Killian and began to discuss the matter.

“If we were in the capital, we might be able to find some candidates, but in Ryzen, it’s
hard to find a man who is a suitable match for Anna. Besides, people here tend to marry
earlier than in the capital……”

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t find a divorced or widowed man to match her with, and
honestly, where else can you find a bride as good as Anna in Ryzen?”

After a long moment of pondering and shaking our heads, we finally narrowed it down to
two candidates.

Neither of them appealed to me, of course, but maybe it would be different if Anna met
them in person.

As I was taking a breather, Killian spoke up again, this time with a troubled look on his
face.

“Anna is one thing, but Renon is another. He’s already over thirty.”

“Does Renon…… ever think about getting married?”

When I think of Renon, whose expression never changes, I can’t imagine him meeting a
woman, loving her, and starting a family.

It’s as if he’s always going to be Renon as he is.

“I don’t think so. Even during his time in the duchy, my mother tried to introduce him to a
young lady several times, but he refused each time.”

As expected.

“His father, Sir Theo Filch, must be burning up inside.”

“I’m sure that letter he asked you to give to Renon has a lot of marriage talk in it.”

A letter from Lord Filch had come to my office the other day, with a little note enclosed,
asking me to give it to his son.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined how nonchalant Renon would be when he saw it.

“If he hates marriage that much, I guess we can’t help it.”

“Yeah, well, he rejects women, but then again, I don’t think there’s a woman out there
who would like him. He’s a dull guy who only knows work.”
We sighed with concern, nodded, and went to bed.

The next day, before Killian could ask the two candidates about their willingness to be
matched, I persuaded Anna first.

“I know you said you wanted to stay single, Anna, but I thought you should at least have a
chance to meet a man.”

“Ma’am, I……”

“I know, I know, you’re happy with your job and you’ve been saving hard so you don’t
have to worry about retirement. I know all that, but why don’t you meet a man just for
the experience? If you don’t like him, I’ll say no on your behalf.”

Anna looked confused, but eventually nodded.

Just then, Renon stopped by my room to report.

I was in many ways relieved that he was doing his part to help me recover while I was
taking care of Erdin.
“The winter wheat harvested in the spring and summer totals five thousand tons; the
spring wheat, which will soon be harvested, will be a little less than that, but we should
have no problem with our winter food supply.”

“What about other fruit and vegetable harvests?”

“Similar to last year. But we’ve started growing a variety of fruit tree seedlings, so in a few
years, different fruits will fill the estate in different seasons.”

Renon handed Anna a stack of papers with the whole thing neatly organized.

It was only natural, since she was doubling as my secretary.

“Would you like to take a look at the crop production of the surrounding estate as well?”

“Oh, sure, that would be great! Do you have anything organized?”

“Uh, yes. I just don’t have it with me right now……”

As Renon trailed off, Anna stepped forward.

“If you don’t mind, ma’am, I’ll go to the administration office and get it for you; Lord Filch
is busy.”
“Would you do that, then?”

Anna nodded lightly with a faint smile and followed Renon out the door.

With similar demeanors, facial expressions, and speech patterns, they are like the same
person, just of different genders.

‘I’m lucky to have such hard-working and sincere people around me.’

I watched them slowly walk away with a sense of pride, until I forgot to give Renon the
letter from his father.

‘I forgot to give it to him when he came to visit today. I’ve been forgetting a lot since I had
the baby.’

Anna wasn’t around, so I rummaged through my desk drawer myself and found the letter,
then headed out after Renon and Anna.

In the distance, I saw them turn a corner.

I almost reached the corner after a while of walking, unable to run because of my position
as the Countess.

“So, who did the Countess want you to meet?”

Renon’s voice came from around the corner, sounding somewhat impatient.

‘Huh? What is he talking about?’

Without realizing it, I hid in the corner and pricked up my ears. It was so rare to hear his
voice with such emotion.

“The butler’s nephew and the knight commander. I’ve told her several times that I’m fine,
but she’s always worried about my situation……”

At Anna’s words, Renon let out a long, rueful sigh.

“This morning, the Count asked me bluntly if I intended to marry someone, and if I had
known he was talking about you, I would have told him……”

Anna smiled shyly.

I swear I’ve never seen Anna smile so shyly. Not even once!

“Do you want me to tell the Countess again?”

“No, I’ll go tell her. I was going to tell her at the end of the year when it’s quieter……”
“I’m sorry.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m sure I’ve put you on edge.”

Renon smiled softly, then gently cupped Anna’s cheek.

Anna’s cheeks instantly flushed, and she quickly pulled away, flustered.

With no one watching (except me), the two of them were busy clearing their throats
unnecessarily and pretending that nothing had happened.

Oh, my God…… you two are dating, aren’t you?’

I smirked happily from behind the corner and rushed to Killian’s office.

I need to cancel all these plans before Killian calls the candidates.

‘I guess I shouldn’t have worried about competent people. I just caused a nuisance for no
reason.’

Or maybe I just poured oil on a small fire. Hohoho.

CHAPTER 142 (1). Flashback

How did I end up like this?

Lize leaned against the cold stone wall of the imperial prison, trying to make sense of the
situation she still couldn’t believe.

She had lived this life over and over again, as Lize Sinclair, and then as Lize Ludwig, but
never once had she seen the imperial prison. This life was supposed to be the same.

But the dank air she felt now was too creepy to be a dream, and her forearms still tingled
from the guards’ grasp.

‘What did I miss? Why the hell did I end up like this?’

A single tear slid down her cheek and onto her dress.

But Lize didn’t even realize she was crying.

She was just racking her brain, desperately trying to figure out what went wrong.

‘Yeah, it’s been since that bitch Edith came.’

That same day that had been so exciting and thrilling at the time, but looking back, it was
the beginning of all her misfortunes……

Lize began to recall the events from ‘that day’.

***

The majestic strains of the pipe organ spread out in concentric circles.

Edith, Count Riegelhoff’s daughter, walked slowly down the center of the wedding hall, as
formal and stately as a duke’s wedding could be, despite its simplicity.

‘It’s finally happening.’

Lize, who had been watching the wedding next to the Duchess, smiled inwardly.

The 13th Edith had finally entered Lize’s narrative.

‘How will this one go wild and entertain me again?’

This was the thirteenth time she had made someone else’s soul possess Edith, but this
moment was always a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
And every time she felt this thrill, she felt alive.

‘This one started out like the others.’

After quickly accepting that she had transmigrated into a Rofan novel, the 13th Edith was
moving in the opposite direction from the original story, trying to avoid the evil the
original Edith had done.

At the dinner a week earlier, not only did she pretend to be nice and accept Lize, but she
also declared that she would not bring a Riegelhoff maid to the Ludwig mansion.

‘But on average, I think she’s a little on the bold side. There were some kids who froze in
their tracks at the Riegelhoff when they realized Edith’s hidden settings.’

Lize’s heart skipped a beat as she realized this wasn’t going to be a dull game.

The wedding went off without much fuss.

Killian made no secret of his dislike for Edith, and the reception was over quickly.

‘She’s holding up pretty well. This one’s going to be fun.’

Edith was unfazed by Killian’s rudeness, and it was a pleasure to see her fulfill her role as
bride with a smile on her face throughout the chilly reception.
It is the funniest thing to see someone so persistent in the midst of a struggle when all
that awaits them is destruction.

“Lize. The reception is drawing to a close, will you please escort Edith to her chamber?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lize approached Edith at the Duchess’s request.

“Miss Edith. I will escort you to the bridal chamber.”

“Oh, God! Thank you, no, I mean, t- thanks, Miss Lize.”

Escorting Edith, who nearly threw off her mask for a moment, to the bridal chamber, Lize
helped her change her dress and then told her a story that would scratch her insides.

“I apologize on behalf of Killian for his rudeness to Miss Edith today, and I hope you don’t
hate him too much.”

This scene, where Lize looked more like a bride than the real bride and asked the bride to
understand Killian’s behavior, was a good way to understand Edith’s character.
Either Edith was uncomfortable with Lize, frowning or giving short answers, or Edith was
determined to impress Lize by being too sympathetic.

And this Edith……

“I completely understand. Killian was forced into a marriage he didn’t want to be in, and
I’m sure he’s unhappy about it, but that doesn’t mean I hate him; after all, he’s my
husband.”

As expected, she seemed to be trying to break out of her villainous character.

She even complimented Lize’s dress, even though she knew from reading the original
story that this was the dress Killian had bought her with ‘The Bride’ in mind.

Seeing Edith answering with a smile, Lize smiled again.

‘I look forward to the days to come.’

The thought of her wagging her tail excitedly at every word she said was enough to make
her chuckle.

But it turns out that was a premature judgment.

Lize had expected Killian to come out of the bridal chamber early, but his answer was a
surprise.
“I had no expectations for tonight, and neither did she. Though it was a bit of a surprise.”

“What do you mean? Obviously, a while ago……”

“She was already in the bathtub by herself, dozing off.”

“……yes?”

I’d never seen such an Edith before.

‘The 13th Edith…… is off to a pretty interesting start, isn’t it?’

Although Lize was a little surprised by that friendly attitude, she quickly regained her
composure.

The game was on, and Lize had to use the new Edith to create a situation where she could
make herself look the best, and that’s what she does best.

“What’s wrong, Lize?”

“No, well…… after listening to your words, I wonder if Miss Edith was angry with me
before……”
“What?”

Lize arched her eyebrows and bit her lip thoughtfully, her best ‘I really didn’t want to
offend you’ expression.

Then she slipped in a comment about Edith complimenting her on her dress, and Killian
quickly took offense, thinking Edith was putting her down.

‘Yeah. It’s just fun, nothing difficult. It’s a game I’m going to win in the end.’

Lize smiled softly as she watched Killian stumble away from her, unsuccessfully trying to
kiss her.

And that night, Lize set the first level exception condition.

It was the same condition that she had set for the last 12 times, for the previous 12 Ediths.

[The first exception condition has been set. The first exception condition: Follow what
Edith failed to do in the original story.]
It was a friendly voice, a familiar one.

‘Will this Edith make it past level one?’

Lize eagerly awaited another story in which she would be the main character.

***

As expected, Edith tried to score points with Lize and the other main characters.

This was evident in her eagerness to pick out the Duchess’ and Lize’s dresses, but not her
own, and in her behavior at tea with Lize, Cliff, and Killian.

While it’s admirable that she didn’t flounder or appear cowardly, there were several
Ediths who chose this route.

‘She thought she could avoid the misdeeds of the original Edith and avoid death by being a
good girl.’

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be that simple.

The “flow of the original story” is the most powerful force that drives this world, and until
Edith meets a total of three exceptions, no matter what she does, the story will continue
to play out the way it was written.

In particular, this Edith was going in the opposite direction, like someone who was
determined not to imitate the original Edith at all.

‘At this rate, she’ll die without even meeting the first exception.’

But Edith’s behavior was far from what she expected. It wasn’t until tea time that Lize
realized she wasn’t the only one.

That night, Lize was relaxed until she found Killian on the moonlit balcony looking out.

It was obvious that he was sad about his situation of being pushed aside by Cliff, and Lize
saw it as a way to comfort him and increase his affection for her.

“Killian? What are you doing there?”

“Ah, Lize……”

“What’s wrong?”
Lize asked anxiously, expecting to see Killian looking at her affectionately.

But she wasn’t the one occupying his mind.

“It’s not even worth your time.”

“Is this about Edith……?” she asked, incredulous, but Killian didn’t deny it.

Verbally, Killian was annoyed and disliked Edith, but he was angry at the fact that Edith
never talked about him at all.

‘I can’t believe it’s changing already! How did she create the probability?’

Lize couldn’t help but admire Edith.

The strongest force that holds this world together is the ‘flow of the original’, but as long
as the original is not damaged, you can use probabilities to create situations that work in
your favor.

I don’t know if Edith knew what she was doing, but I think the flow of the original is still
unaffected.

‘Okay, I guess I’ll have to deal with her properly.’

Lize told Killian that Edith called someone from the boutique, cleverly framing Edith as the
villainess.

Not to mention making herself look weak and good.

“She’s got a way of putting people down, she is indeed the daughter of that snake man.”

As planned, Killian seemed to hate Edith again.

But Lize didn’t know exactly what was happening inside Killian.

She had underestimated the fact that, like it or not, Edith had taken root in Killian’s mind.

***

“This is the beginning of the real thing.”

Lize muttered to herself in the mirror and then headed out to help the Duchess with her
work.
Today is the day that Edith would get her hands on the ‘fake document’.

And this is where Edith’s ‘villainous saga’ really begins.

I wonder how she’ll react this time.

Lize went to the Duchess’ office to observe Edith in anticipation.

“Starting today, I need you to organize the documents in there and write up a nice list of
what we need to buy, in what quantities, and at what prices.”

The Duchess casually handed the documents in question to Edith, and as she flipped
through them, Edith smiled with a hint of pride.

CHAPTER 143 (2) Flashback

‘She seems to know what it means to be responsible for the weapons documents, but she
doesn’t seem to realize that this is the part of the episode that’s going to strangle her.’

Lize, who had a keen sense of Edith’s psychology, glanced at her as she worked, though
she pretended not to.

She’d thought it before, but Edith was a good worker.

She was unfazed by the important documents she was suddenly entrusted with, and with
just a quick glance, she had them organized into categories.

‘What on earth did she do in her previous life?’

Lize did her best to hide her discomfort with the seemingly more competent Edith than
her.

But then something Edith did caught her attention.

She was organizing information in a table that wasn’t in any of the other documents.

‘Huh? Yeah, that’s it!’

At that moment, Lize had an idea of how to make Edith the culprit in this document leak.

‘Because the original story doesn’t mention anything about using tables to organize
documents……!’

She hastily added a setting to this world that said, “No tables are used for formatting.”

Now that nobody knew about the concept of tables, Edith would be framed if the
Riegelhoffs found any documents with tables in them.
Unaware of Lize’s true intentions, Edith completely ignored Lize’s explanation that she
was helping out because she was new to the job, and even went so far as to try to impress
the Duchess with her capabilities, which further ruined Lize’s mood.

‘She’s acting like she’s an expert for doing something so simple, not realizing that it’s going
to trip her up.’

Lize smiled innocently at Edith, but inside she was sharpening her knives.

‘Sooner or later, Count Riegelhoff will send Edith a letter to steal the documents.’

Lize timed it so that she could take Edith’s organized documents, forge her handwriting,
make copies, and send them to the Riegelhoffs.

It was so easy, so simple.

And just like in the original story, Edith was immediately framed for the incident.

‘She didn’t do it, and it happened just like in the original story. Now what is she going to
do?’

Lize waited for Edith’s panicked response.

However, there was a pause, and then Cliff and Killian began to investigate Lize’s
movement radius and alibi.

This had never happened before.

‘What the hell? Why are Cliff and Killian interrogating me when they should be
interrogating Edith?!’

She was perplexed, but she played it cool until the end.

After waiting a few days, the original flow took place, and the document Lize sent to the
Riegelhoffs was now in Duke Ludwig’s hands. Of course, it was ‘proof that Edith was the
culprit.’

‘Now she won’t even be able to make a defense, how crazy will she be?’

This episode was the first hurdle that most Ediths fell into.

Lize came to the office on the Duke’s call, expecting the 13th Edith would also fall this
time.

The atmosphere in the office as she was called to testify was somber, as expected, and
Lize feigned surprise and studied Edith’s expression.

‘She’s still alive, isn’t she?’

But soon she would fall on her face.

Lize answered the Duke’s questions, faithfully framing Edith like a criminal.

But instead of being intimidated, Edith looked mocking.

Lize glanced back one last time, hoping she had seen it wrong, but Edith’s chin was still
lifted in defiance.

‘What in the world is she thinking? Isn’t she afraid to sit as a suspect before the Duke?’

Lize was so curious about this that she waited for her outside Edith’s room. When Edith
was escorted back to her room by the knight and maid, she planned to feign concern and
ask her what she was thinking.

But it wasn’t the knight and maid who escorted her.

“Lize……?”

“Ah! Killian…… Edith……!”

Lize was so surprised that she almost made a weird face again.
But she skillfully feigned concern and gave them a look.

Edith looked a little more distraught than she had earlier, but for someone who had
almost been kicked out of the house, she seemed pretty nonchalant.

But Edith wasn’t the only one who seemed odd.

“Lize. Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

“Killian?”

“Don’t dig up what’s done. Forget about it. Okay?”

Killian wasn’t thrilled to hear something that could be used against Edith.

Instead, he urged Lize to forget about it.

Edith hadn’t even met the first exception condition yet, and Killian’s feelings for her were
already changing.

‘What’s going on? Isn’t this character change threatening the flow of the story? Edith
Riegelhoff, what the hell are you doing?’

For the first time, Lize felt a shiver run down her spine.
***

‘It’s time to stop relying on exception conditions and the flow of the original story. I need
to crack down on Killian.’

While Lize was thinking this, the word came that Edith had fainted. Killian rushed over,
picked her up, and carried her away.

Lize ran to the door of Edith’s room and found Killian, who looked as if he’d just had a
heart attack.

Lize grabbed his hand.

She was able to determine Killian’s “contamination level” from his hand.

‘This is so different from the original Killian at this point!’

He was feeling guilty about Edith, who had now fainted.

The phrase “Killian Ludwig feels guilty about Edith Riegelhoff” was something K had never
written.

And now he was suffering from an excruciating headache from the effects of his deviation
from the original story.

“Killian. It’s not your fault.”

Lize comforted Killian, giving him a surge of the author’s power.

It was her way of reducing his headache while reinforcing the character’s setting, and
subconsciously making him lean to her.

But Killian’s resistance was unexpectedly strong.

“I think Edith was more anxious than she looked. She was so anxious that she fainted……”

For some reason, Killian was defending Edith, even though he still seemed to dislike her.

“Maybe it hurt her so much when no one believed her even though she was innocent.”

A chill ran down Lize’s spine.

‘I’ve never seen anything like this before……’

It didn’t take long for that uneasiness to reveal itself.

[The first exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The first exception condition will be removed.]

Lize, who had been sleeping for a while, was startled awake by the voice in her dream.

‘What? Already?’

There had been many Ediths who had met the first exception condition, but never this
quickly.

‘Which part of the original story did she follow?’

Lize asked, and the world’s system showed her an image of a part of the original story in
her dream.

It was the part where Edith, backed into a corner by the document leak incident, entered
Killian’s bedroom in the middle of the night and seduced him.
‘She followed this part?’

Lize hurriedly checked what happened last night.

“I Refuse Your Obsession: 13th Revision” unfolded before her eyes. As it was being revised
in real time, there were still many blank pages at the back.

Lize quickly turned the pages, searching for the scene from last night.

But she was forced to close the book before she got halfway through Edith’s revised
version.

There was 19+ content she had never written.

‘This can’t be…… happening!’

The idea of Killian and Edith having a physical relationship was unthinkable.

It was as if Killian, who had never been more than a second male lead to Lize, had
completely given up on her and accepted Edith.

Never before had such an unthinkable thing happened, even when the first condition was
met.
‘How on earth……!’

It was absolutely ridiculous, but she had no idea where to start to fix it.

***

For a while, Lize observed Edith and tried to build a relationship with her.

Fortunately, Edith didn’t hate Lize, despite the animosity from the Sinclairs.

In fact, Edith sometimes acted like her protector.

This was the case when she encountered Countess Breen, who seemed to find Lize an
eyesore, at the bazaar taking place at the Ermenias’ residence.

In front of Countess Breen, who was sneering at Lize in a cold, sarcastic voice, Edith
stepped forward, hiding Lize behind her.
“I can’t seem to fit in with society these days. A bunch of village hicks wandering around
the bazaar.”

Even Lize was stunned by her bold words.

Edith, who had been dealing with Countess Bryn’s clique for some time, glared at them as
they moved away as Cliff appeared.

She then whispered to Lize, “Are you okay?”

There was genuine concern in her eyes.

‘I don’t understand.’

It was understandable that she wanted to look good in front of the female lead because
she knew the original story, but still, how could Edith save Lize without a second thought?

This was hard for K, who can’t stand people who are better than her, to understand.

That’s not to say that Edith was a clueless fool or an innocent child.

Edith was always proud of herself, and she never showed any signs of trying to please
Killian.
It was unclear what part of Edith was making a difference in Killian, but at the bazaar,
Killian’s demeanor was a far cry from the original.

Lize greeted him first, but his gaze fell on Edith.

“What have you been up to?”

“No big deal, I was just a little…… bored.”

“Why? Because I wasn’t there?”

“Ha! Aren’t you being overconfident?”

Edith and Killian didn’t seem to realize it, but there was already a subtle pink current
flowing between them.

Gazes met briefly and then turned away, but with a coy smile spreading across the corners
of their mouths, sneaky glances at each other while pretending to look elsewhere, clearing
their throats to mask the smile……

The flow of the original would retain its power if Edith fails to meet all three exception
conditions, but once the narrative between the two of them is solidly established, there’s
no telling what the ending would be.

CHAPTER 144 (3) Flashback

‘No, this can’t be ignored. It’s a little early, but I think I’ll have to use Sophia.’

Nervous, Lize tweaked the original flow to have Edith and Shane run into each other.

As expected, Edith rebelled against Shane, and a few days later, Shane stormed into the
Ludwig mansion with Sophia in tow.

‘If she rebels, Sophia will never let her go, and she’ll end up helping the Riegelhoffs, just
like Edith in the original story.’

There hasn’t been Edith who hasn’t cowered in the face of violence, and eventually
succumbed.

So Lize tried to wait until the very end to have Sophia appear, but Killian’s change in
character was more significant than she expected, so she had to insert her into the story
earlier.

But to her surprise, Edith didn’t give in to Sophia.

‘Is she crazy?’

Lize was shocked by Edith’s defiance, even to the point of being beaten by Sophia and
starving herself of food.

‘What the hell is she trying to do?’

Even though she was going through such a hard time, she wasn’t trying to reveal her
situation.

She’s always been arrogant in front of Killian.

‘Well, that won’t change the original story.’

Lize smiled like an angel as she watched the starving Edith stare at the peach pie.

The original “cake poisoning incident” could easily turn into a “peach pie poisoning
incident”.

When Edith woke up after eating the poisoned peach pie, Sophia pointed to Lize as the
culprit, even though Edith said she was only nauseous until the end. But the episode has
just begun.

Cliff, as per the original story, searched Edith’s room and found the poison bottle, and
Edith was suspected of staging her own poisoning.

‘Now, give up, Edith.’

Lize put on her angel mask and saved Edith’s life, expecting her to despair at the situation
being no different from the original.
To despair at her situation, even though she had met the first exception condition.

So when Edith brought her the embroidery thread as a gift, Lize thought it was poisoned,
just like in the original story, though she was soon to be disappointed.

‘I know you’re trying, but I’m sorry, it’s no use. You’ll die a villainess, and I’ll live forever as
a female lead.’

Laughing at Edith inwardly, Lize poisoned the embroidery thread and laid it out in front of
the maids who were to be her witnesses, and soon collapsed with a pale face.

Cliff and the Duke of Ludwig were very angry, believing it to be a plot by Edith, but Killian
rushed to her first.

Lize pitied Killian’s change of heart, for he had never set his eyes on a woman other than
her, but she knew he would soon return to her.

But then another twist happened.

“Edith is adamant that she didn’t do it, and it’s actually a pretty convincing rebuttal.”

Cliff returned from a meeting about the case with a frown.

He added, “It’s just that the ‘revenge’ was so immediate after the poison pie incident that
it’s rather odd. Edith obviously knew very well she would be the one suspected.”

In the original, Edith is still under suspicion, but it was the logical way in which the 13th
Edith had maintained her innocence all along that moved the hearts of the Ludwigs.

Cliff continued, “What’s more, Edith asked to have a maid from our family assigned as a
watcher to help her prove her innocence. Killian immediately reassigned Anna to be
Edith’s maid again, and the way she’s defending herself, I don’t think she’s the one who
did it.”

Edith even tried to find a way to stop Sophia’s assault.

‘This isn’t worth the poison I’ve taken!’

While her power as the author greatly alleviated her pain, her radius of action was greatly
reduced, to Lize’s detriment in more ways than one.

Then again, after another few days, the Duke, Cliff, and Killian tentatively concluded that
Edith was not the culprit.

Count Sinclair, who shouldn’t be out in the story yet, was suspected as the mastermind,
and Lize had no choice but to beg for this incident to be swept under the rug, lest the
original story be damaged further.
***

It’s unclear what happened between Killian and Edith after the first exception condition
was met, but whatever happened, Killian kicked Sophia out back to the Riegelhoff.

The lack of backlash from the Riegelhoffs showed that Killian had noticed something.

Furthermore, as if realizing that the less significant supporting roles were less likely to be
affected by the original story, Edith began to involve extras.

That wasn’t the only thing that made Lize anxious.

[Please specify the second exception condition. If you do not do so by the deadline, Edith
Ludwig is automatically deemed to have met the third exception condition.]

The system had been warning her for some time.

Lize had held out until the end of the deadline because she couldn’t arbitrarily specify the
second exception condition for this Edith.

Lize gritted her teeth as her hands shook slightly.

‘This is fun…… yeah, this is a fun situation.’

Her fears over, Lize began to think of a condition that Edith would never be able to meet,
and then she remembered Killian.

‘I think Edith’s biggest weakness…… is that she loves Killian.’

Smiling happily, Lize set the second exception condition.

[The second exception condition: Reject Killian Ludwig’s offer ten times.]

It was a condition she’d never set before, but she was confident.

No one could turn down a generous offer from the love of their life.
To Killian, who stopped by to break the news that Sophia had been kicked out, Lize said,
“Please take good care of Edith.”

“……what?”

“Take her for tea, take her for a walk, talk to her, just like you did when you comforted
me……”

Killian, who she thought would be surprised and confused, nodded easily.

As much as she hated the change, it meant that Edith would never be able to meet the
second exception condition and would continue to do the opposite of the condition,
reinforcing the flow of the original story.

Lize sent her condolences to Edith in advance, who would never be happy with Killian
thanks to her.

But things didn’t go her way.

“I think Edith’s been avoiding me lately.”

Killian muttered bitterly as he came to visit.

“What’s going on, Killian, is Edith avoiding you?”

“As you said, I’ve been asking her to do this and that.”

“I see. And?”

“Well, she turned me down……”

“What?”

Lize was so surprised she almost jumped up.

‘This is ridiculous. Did he say that he got turned down?’

By gently reassuring Killian, Lize was able to figure out what he had offered to Edith.

It was a series of offers after offers.

“Killian. A woman’s heart is delicate, and I’m sure Edith thought you said something you
didn’t mean.”

“What? Why?”
“Think about the offers you made, and you’ll realize that they don’t give any indication
that you want to be with Edith.”

“……is that so?”

“You’ve never offered anything like that to me. Not once.”

Killian looked inwardly shocked.

“Why don’t you try saying it like you really want to be with Edith, not like, ‘I’ll hang out
with you.'”

“Uhm…… okay. Thanks for the advice, Lize.”

Killian walked out with a rather bright face.

‘Phew. That almost got me in trouble. No, no, no. It’s not time to rest on our laurels. I
need to get Edith and have a word with her.’

Lize hurried to call Edith.

Edith rushed over, looking unperturbed and concerned about Lize’s health.

Lize could only smile at Edith’s incomprehensible jokes, and then she looked at her.
“By the way, Edith, is there something upsetting about Killian…… no, of course there is, I
mean…… are you angry with him……?”

“No! I’m not angry at Killian, not even a little bit, not even a fingernail-sized bit.”

When asked if she was angry at Killian, Edith hurriedly shook her head.

“Killian is a poor man…… he’s offering me things now only because he’s being forced to
because of his position.”

But Lize thought Edith was being hard on Killian.

‘She’s pretending to be nice. She’s just trying to get back at Killian for all the times he’s
made her feel bad, and she’s taking this opportunity to do the opposite.’

She could understand wanting to strike back, but not like this.

Lize squeezed Edith’s hand and tried to convince her.

“That’s not true, Edith. Killian is opening up to you, and he’s trying to get to know you a
little better.”

Lize’s persuasive words seemed to have Edith half-convinced.

But instead of paying off, Lize’s efforts brought out the worst outcome.

[The second exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The second exception condition will be removed.]

It happened faster than she could have imagined.

Edith, who Lize thought would never be able to resist Killian’s offer, rejected him ten times
without knowing what would result from her actions.

‘Why did Killian made continuous offers without giving her a break?!’

Lize tried to blame Killian, but it was pointless to assign blame in this situation.

More importantly, for the first time since K reincarnated as Lize, the second exception
condition was met, and Killian was about 70% free from Lize’s control.

The ‘headache’ that had been a hindrance whenever he tried to deviate from the original
story had also become much less likely to occur.
‘No. I have to be the female lead here, and I’m not going to let the story I wrote fall apart!’

Lize clenched her fists and vowed to herself.

From now on, it was a fight with no margin for error.

Not only would she have to set up the third exception condition that Edith could never
meet, but she would also have to intervene and twist the story so that Edith died a
villainess.

‘A condition that Edith will never be able to meet……’

Lize thought long and hard.

It was a long agonizing process of exploring the system, the characters, and the soul in
Edith’s body.

Eventually, she realized that it was not coincidence and luck that she had to rely on, but
the nature of existence.

CHAPTER 145 (4) Flashback

‘She is a soul who was once dead, yet is still alive in this world. A living being would
instinctively try to avoid death……’
Pondering, Lize slowly decided on the third exception condition.

[The third exception condition has been set. The third exception condition: Do not resist
your death fate.]

It’s a terrible paradox, if you try to live, you die, and if you try to die, you live.

‘The only problem is that Edith might give up at the last moment……’

Actually, Lize wanted to make a condition like, “Accept your death gladly,” or something
even more impossible, but there are constraints on this ‘condition’.

That’s exactly what it means to not deviate from probability.

There is a slight possibility of Edith’s desperation in the story so that she could put the
condition on not resisting the fate of death.

So, there’s just that much risk probability.

‘But I can’t think of a condition stronger than this.’

Lize felt triumphant and vowed that in the future she would try to kill Edith herself.

***

But Killian, so far freed from Lize’s control, acted like a character who existed to love
Edith.

When he brought Edith to tea, Killian was no longer “the second male lead with a crush on
Lize Sinclair.”

His eyes were glued to Edith the entire time.

They exchanged intimate glances, seemingly oblivious to Lize and Cliff.

Then, Lize turned to Killian with an innocent look on her face.

“By the way, Killian. I’m sorry, but I was wondering if you could come with me to Le Belle-
Marie next Friday? I got a call that the shoes I customized with you the other day are
finished.”

“Oh! I can’t believe it’s already been that long.”

“Yes. If you’re busy, that’s okay……”

“No, no, I’ll come with you,” Killian replied casually, not looking at Edith.

‘Yeah, there is still room to bring back Killian.’

The remaining 30% of control did not seem completely useless.

Lize smiled as she looked at Edith, who did her best to hide her disappointment.

Then, a few days later, there was an unexpected visit from Count Sinclair at the mansion,
also aiming for Edith’s position.

‘Why are the Sinclairs becoming Edith’s enemy instead of mine?’

This is a very bad sign.

In order for Lize to be a female lead, she needs a clear villain to attack her, and that power
is waning.

The fact that they had shifted to targeting Edith also meant that Edith was becoming the
female lead.

Lize pressed down her impatience and waited for her outing with Killian.

She had to win Killian’s heart that day.

Lize urged Killian, who kept hesitating in front of Edith, to head to Le-Belle Marie Street,
showing him a lot of smiles and charms that she did not show him often.

“Look at that, Killian! So cute!”

“They are cute. Do you want me to buy one?”

This is where Killian differs from the male lead, Cliff.

Cliff never asked, “Do you want me to buy it?” He would just smile and nod, and then later
send all the things Lize pointed out as gifts to her room.

But Killian’s attitude now wasn’t so bad. He’d certainly never bought Edith a present like
this before.
But as their time at Le-Belle Marie continued, Lize became increasingly annoyed with
Killian’s words and behavior.

She didn’t like that he was already thinking about taking Edith to the estate, and she didn’t
like that he’d said in the shoe store, “I’ll drop by with my wife sometime soon.”

‘What? I’m trying on shoes right now, you should be focusing on me!’

Feeling in a bad mood, Lize said, “I was wondering if you might want to consider……
Edith’s preferences. You know, she likes things a little more glamorous.”

“I thought so too, but her preferences seem to have changed a lot since we got married. I
didn’t realize she was such a pragmatist.”

The smile on Killian’s face as he thought of Edith was a far cry from the one he’d smiled at
Lize earlier.

Lize finally had enough and wrapped her arm around Killian’s.

However, Killian only glanced down at her and didn’t say anything.

In fact, he even looked bored in the accessory store he went into for her, further ruining
her mood.
She was quite pleased when Killian suddenly took the initiative to stop somewhere, but it
wasn’t Lize’s gift that he picked out, but Edith’s.

“Did Edith want you to get her something?”

“No, but I don’t think I’ve bought her anything fancy before……”

“Really? It seems like you’ve been taking good care of Edith, and you even bought her a
necklace before!”

“……you mean the day Cliff gave you all the rest of the jewelry?”

Lize never expected to receive this kind of attack from Killian.

Of course, the old Killian wouldn’t have remembered that day at all, although he seemed
to think it was Cliff’s fault, not hers.

After a while, Lize finally gave up and went home, claiming to be tired.

When Killian returned, he didn’t even walk her to her room, instead heading to Edith’s
room with Edith’s gift.

‘How could he have changed so much?’

Lize could no longer say she knew Killian as a character. He was a complete stranger.

But she has a strong ally by her side.

“Wow, what is this?”

“Cliff!”

That’s right.

Cliff, the male lead, is a character that’s only for Lize.

He seemed upset by the fact that Lize had gone shopping with Killian, and surprisingly, he
even foresaw an incident that could lead to Edith’s death.

“I want my brother and sister-in-law to be happy, so I gave her a few suggestions on how
to win Killian’s favor……”

“What did you tell her?”

“That Killian likes to go sailing on the lake.”

“Sailing on the lake……”

The episode of the “yacht capsized” incident quickly unfolded in Lize’s mind.

Cliff whispered to her, “Lize, I exist only for you, and I’ll give you anything you want.”

“Are you sure…… you’ll do it for me?”

“Of course. I’ll always worship you, my spring goddess.”

Lize smiled as she shared a kiss with Cliff, but inside she had a disturbing thought.

‘I know. Because you are a character I created to be like that.’

That’s why she no longer liked Killian, as he was acting against his creator’s will.

***

The day before Killian was to go sailing with Edith, Lize slowly put her plan into action as it
grew dark outside.

“Geez, where did it go?”

“What’s wrong, Lize?”

“Oh, Cliff!”

Lize sat Cliff down at the table for tea and continued to search every inch of the dressing
table.

“What are you looking for?”

“Oh, it’s just that…… my favorite earrings are missing.”

“Earrings?”

“Yes. It’s a pair of pearl earrings that the Duchess bought me……”

Lize looked nervous and anxious, and Cliff began to show interest.

“When was the last time you wore them?”

“When was it…… ah, the last time we went on the yacht!”

“You mean the time we were on my yacht?”

“Yes. I wonder if I lost it there……”

Lize fidgeted and pulled out the jewelry box she had already rummaged through once
before.

“I’ll go to the yacht and look for it.”

“Oh, no! It’s too late and dark……”

“It’s okay.”

Lize thanked Cliff several times before sending for the mercenary she had hired in
advance.

He’d know which screws to loosen, so it seemed unlikely that the job would fail.

The next morning, Lize expressed a desire to go along for the sail. If she could go along,
she’d be more certain of killing Edith.

But Killian drew a clear line in the sand.

“Maybe next time we can all go together.”

Lize smiled and waved, a little disappointed, but nonetheless nonchalant.

‘Still, there’s no way she’ll survive. Goodbye, 13th Edith.’

Hopefully, the body would be found later and it would be a horrible, water-damaged
mess.

Lize spent the morning leisurely, waiting for news of Edith’s death.

As noon approached, she heard the system’s voice in her head.

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

‘Just as planned.’

Lize smiled and looked out the window.

It was a beautiful day.

It couldn’t have been a better day for Lize Sinclair to get her life back on track as a female
lead.

But……

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Five minutes
to go until death.]

‘Huh? Why is there another notice?’

It must have been three minutes since the last one. And the time to death has been
extended.

‘Something is preventing…… Edith from dying……!’

It was obvious what that ‘something’ was.

‘Killian!’
The man who had once been Lize’s most ardent admirer was now struggling to save Edith.

A moment later, an unexpected notice was heard.

[Edith Ludwig survived.]

‘What? No, no way……!’

[Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention. The original story has been further damaged. The author’s control is
weakening.]

It was a scary notice.

She hadn’t expected this to fail, and because she had poured so much power into it, her
control was already weakening, even though the third exception condition hadn’t been
met.

Soon, the mansion was in an uproar.

The drenched Killian returned carrying an unconscious, but still alive, Edith.

“Get a doctor, now! Now!”

The sight of Killian shouting in desperation while holding a woman who wasn’t her was so
unfamiliar.

CHAPTER 146 (5) Flashback

‘Killian is getting too different…… from the original.’

Lize swallowed dry saliva.

She’d never been in a situation like this before and didn’t know what to do, but she had to
do something.

‘I need to save the author’s power, so I have to involve the extras.’

Lize decided to use Princess Catherine to get Edith into trouble during the National Day
ball.

The preparations for the ball went much like the original story, and Lize found a sense of
stability.

Cliff ordered a beautiful dress from the most expensive boutique in the capital, and the
Duke and Duchess of Ludwig made her wear the “Light of Lorraine” necklace.

‘Yes, I’m the female lead!’

But before she could think that, the door to the Duchess’ office opened and Killian and
Edith walked in.

“You’re all here. We’ve just returned.”

Killian was smiling, but Lize noticed that he was firmly angry, his gaze fixed on the Light of
Lorraine.

“What are you going to give to Edith, your daughter-in-law?”

The Duchess replied, perplexed by his stern glare, “How about Edith takes the pick?
Anything will do.”
“Oh, yes, that would be great. How about that necklace, Edith?”

“Yes? That one?”

“It’s the Ludwig family’s treasure, so you probably have first dibs on it. Why don’t you
wear that necklace to the National Day ball?”

This was ridiculous.

She’d lived in the world of “I Refuse Your Obsession” many times over, but she’d never
been in danger of having the Light of Lorraine stolen from her.

But Edith calmed Killian down.

“It’s a beautiful and precious piece of jewelry, but I’m going to have to politely decline this
time. I think it would look better on Lize with her blue eyes than on me.”

“But……”

“And with your good eye, I’m sure you realize that that necklace doesn’t go with the dress
I’ve ordered today.”

Edith’s calm demeanor finally made Killian take a step back.

But Lize felt defeated.

‘I can’t believe I saved the Light of Lorraine because of Edith’s sympathy……!’

Looking down from above should always be me. I, the author and female lead of this
story, shouldn’t be pushed aside by a mere foreign soul.

With her pride firmly bruised, Lize brought up the poisoned embroidery thread incident
when she met with Princess Catherine, saying that she suspected Count Sinclair of being
behind it, but cunningly phrased it in such a way as to put the blame on Edith.

As Lize had hoped, Catherine suspected Edith.

‘This will at least humiliate her at the ball.’

Lize waited for the National Day ball, hoping to see Edith embarrassed in front of
everyone.

***
-tap.

-tap, tap.

On the carriage ride to the Imperial Palace to attend the National Day ball, Lize’s attention
was drawn to the strange sounds she’d been hearing.

‘What is that? By any chance, does this mean the story will be twisted?’

She looked around nervously, finally turning to Cliff.

“Don’t you think there’s a weird noise coming from somewhere?”

But Cliff seemed to already know what the sound was.

“It could be two friendly canaries pecking at the carriage.”

“Yes?”

Lize looked at Edith and Killian, who were now looking at her apologetically.

‘How dare you show affection in front of me?’

They’d been showing signs of it before, but now they were too obviously in love to hide it.

‘Damn it. If I had a little more power, I would have done something about this……’

Unfortunately, Lize didn’t have much left to spare. She had to keep some power in reserve
just in case.

In the end, Lize entered the palace, trusting only Princess Catherine.

Princess Catherine led the episode exactly as she did in the original story, making sure Lize
stood out.

The Sinclair siblings’ faces hardened at the sight of Lize being escorted by Cliff and her
closeness to Princess Catherine.

‘Yeah, the Sinclairs are still villains for me.’

Behind the Princess, Lize was making calculations, even as she wore an innocent and
humble expression.

This episode of the National Day ball seemed to flow similarly to the original on the
surface, but in fact, it was actually a separate narrative for Edith.

The Duchess arrived wearing the dress Edith had picked out for her.
‘She wore the dress that I picked out to a bazaar, and she wore the dress that Edith picked
out to a ball. I feel like I’ve been cheated.’

Both were praised by people, but the scale of the event was different, and in the end, it
was Edith who won.

Not only that, but Killian and Edith were showing more affection than Lize and Cliff, which
drew a lot of attention.

Not only did they dance a passionate dance that was sure to turn heads, but they also
managed to shoo away Count Riegelhoff and then went out onto the balcony.

The young ladies who have a crush on Killian had their eyes on them the entire time, so
they paid less attention to Lize than in the original story.

Even Leila Sinclair’s jealousy, which should have been directed at Lize, was entirely
directed at Edith.

‘But Catherine would do well in her role. She hadn’t met Edith yet, and there was no room
for her to be influenced by her.’

So Lize trusted only Catherine.

Sure enough, Catherine walked straight up to Edith, made eye contact with Lize, and
insulted her right to her face.

“Were you the young lady of the Riegelhoff family? The marriage itself was an
unreasonable demand by the Riegelhoffs, wasn’t it? How impudent of them……”

“Your Highness……!”

“Oh by the way, I heard about that, too, that Lize was poisoned not long ago. Knowing
how close Lize and I are, why didn’t you tell me?”

“That’s because–”

“Because your wife is a suspect?”

Lize cheered inwardly for Catherine, wondering when she should approach.

This time, however, Killian stepped forward.

After Catherine’s insult to Edith, Killian had come to her defense.

“Funny, Killian. As if you never loved Lize……”

“Just as you have closed your heart to Cliff because he loves Lize, I have done the same. I
wouldn’t do Lize any favors by clinging to a hopeless love.”

It was the first ‘declaration of giving up’ to come out of Killian’s mouth.

Lize felt even more frustrated with Killian, who had completely lost his second male lead
role.

She had no choice but to intervene in an episode she had originally intended to leave to
Catherine alone. She realized that if she left Killian alone with his anger, something much
worse would happen.

But even Lize couldn’t calm Killian’s anger.

“Lize, did you tell the Princess about that incident?”

Lize felt a chill run down her spine at Killian’s cold gaze.

‘Why is this happening? Does the problem lie in Catherine’s hot-tempered personality?’

Killian continued to protest against Catherine despite Lize’s presence, forcing Catherine to
grit her teeth and apologize to Killian and Edith.

It would have been better if it had ended there.

“If you think so much of Killian, why don’t you stop your father?”

“I’ve tried my best to stop him, but……”

“You really tried to stop Count Riegelhoff from joining Archduke Langston? Did I
understand you correctly?”

Edith lowered her eyebrows and smiled faintly. She was skirting the constraint and
revealing her predicament.

Then even Catherine began to change her attitude.

“Um…… sorry, I just thought Killian was living on a leash in a forced marriage, and Lize was
being bullied.”

After apologizing, Catherine laughed heartily at the story of how Edith had wanted to go
and say hello to her, but had been too timid.

At that laugh, the faces of the nobles, who had been glancing over, turned in surprise.

Lize realized that the title of ‘Princess’s Confidant’ that should have been hers had been
split in half.
‘Edith is becoming more and more of a female lead, and I need to do something about it
before she becomes harder to kill.’

Feeling backed into a corner, Lize planned to assassinate Edith, even though she didn’t
have much of the author’s power left.

Luckily for her, the novel mentioned a nameless man who had been following Edith.

She quickly gave him the name “Fred Sicily” and added the idea that he was half-crazy
about Edith.

The rush of creating a setting that didn’t exist drained her energy.

Using all the plausibilities she could muster, even including Leila Sinclair and Duke Ludwig,
Lize herself took Edith to the scene of the crime.

She’d even made sure Killian was out that morning.

‘There’s no one else around who can help her, so I’m sure I’ll succeed this time.’

Unaware of the situation, Edith treated Lize as if she were a close friend.

Lize would have had a great time too, if Edith hadn’t tried to ruin the flow of the original
story.
But all that mattered to Lize was her own world.

Lize baited the hook in a low voice. “Edith, by any chance, do you like romance novels that
are a little smutty?”

Edith jumped at the bait like she was seizing a chance to befriend her.

“The Millane Bookstore is more famous for smutty ones, so why don’t you come with
me?”

Unaware that she was being led to her death, Edith accepted Lize’s offer and stepped into
the dingy alley.

The time was approaching noon.

‘Sooner or later, Fred Sicily will show up.’

Fred Sicily hadn’t slept for two days after picking up on the information Leila had
deliberately leaked at a tea party at his home the day before.
“Edith Riegelhoff says she’s going to the Millane Bookstore, near Le-Belle Marie Street,
around noon the day after tomorrow. For her to go to a bookstore that sells such obscene
books says a lot about what kind of woman she is.”

That bit of information was all that was needed to send a stalker with a twisted desire to
find Edith.

CHAPTER 147 (6) Flashback

About an hour later, a woman’s piercing scream rang out near the Millane Bookstore,
then quickly faded away.

Of course, no one paid attention to it, not wanting to be involved in any trouble.

‘That’s it, haha…… please die quickly……’

When Anna asked Lize, “Where is Miss Edith?”, she told her that she was also looking for
Edith.

In her urgency, Anna ran down the alley to the Millane Bookstore, but her strength would
not enough to stop Fred Sicily.
[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

It was the notice she’d been waiting for.

And as soon as Lize heard it, Killian appeared in front of her.

‘What’s going on? Why is Killian here?’

Lize was surprised, but Killian was even more surprised.

“Lize, why are you alone? Where’s Edith?”

“I’ve been looking for her, too, because she suddenly disappeared……”

Although surprised, Lize took it easy. Edith would be dead soon, and dead people don’t
talk.

Just then, Anna, who had been searching the alley, burst out and grabbed Killian.

“Miss Edith has never come out of that alley!”

At the same time, the system repeated the notice.

[Edith Ludwig’s death as a villainess puts the story back on its original flow. Three minutes
to go until death.]

The time until death has been extended.

It was like a déjà vu of the yacht accident.

‘How the hell did she buy time?’

While Lize’s eyes widened in surprise, Killian quickly began to search the alley.

As Lize prayed for Edith’s death, and Killian and Anna prayed for her to hold on just a little
longer, the time to death was extended twice more.

Finally, a loud bang echoed down the alley.

Killian and the knights ran into the abandoned house at the far end of the alley.
“No……!”

Lize groaned lowly, but the system mercilessly declared her defeated.

[Some of the flow of the original story has been broken by the author’s excessive
intervention. The original story has been further damaged. The author’s control has been
severely weakened.]

Lize was devastated.

After listening to the system’s notice, she realized that her control over Killian had
dropped to zero, and the other characters were down to about 30%.

When she returned to the mansion, frustrated, she heard the story behind the scenes, and
it seemed that Edith had convinced Fred Sicily with ‘words’.

The kind of luck that would never have happened if Edith was still a ‘villainous supporting
character.’
In reality, Edith would have died before she could properly rebel.

But this is a Rofan world, and Rofan’s clichés don’t allow the main characters to die easily.

It was evidence that Edith was becoming more and more of a female lead.

‘There can’t be two female leads in one story……’

Lize’s hands shook at the thought.

‘I must kill her before she meets the third exception condition!’

Feeling like she had a knife pointed at her throat, Lize began to prepare for the final
episode: the territorial war and the kidnapping.

Just before declaring war, Shane had written to Edith, offering her one last chance, but
she had refused.

Furthermore, the Riegelhoff spy had been whipped and kicked out as soon as the
territorial war was declared.

The spy was the one who stayed at the mansion and plotted with Sophia until the end of
the original story, but was discovered this time because Edith met the second exception
condition.
So now it’s up to Shane to storm the mansion.

‘But I can’t just rely on Shane.’

The Riegelhoffs had failed in the original, and now that Edith’s narrative was stronger,
they were no longer reliable.

Lize sent a letter to the Riegelhoffs, with the sender unknown.

– I work at the Ludwig mansion. If you’re trying to bring down the Duke, I’d like to lend a
hand.

Count Riegelhoff and Shane had no choice but to accept the offer, despite their suspicions.

Having set the stage, Lize made one last attempt to seduce Killian before he left for war.

She purposely wore an off-the-shoulder, risqué chemise that Edith would probably wear
to visit him in the middle of the night, but Killian frowned at the sight of her round, white
shoulders.
‘What? I thought you liked this kind of thing?’

Momentarily flustered, Lize summoned memories of a beautiful past to lighten the mood,
and slowly approached Killian.

“Actually…… I knew about your heart, Killian.”

Naturally, Killian looked surprised.

After seducing him with a sad smile for a while longer, Lize spoke, intent on shaking him to
the core.

“Before you leave, can’t you just kiss me once?”

Killian paused.

Lize was sure there was no way Killian would refuse this.

Kilian’s hand came closer to her, but instead of cupping her cheek, his fingertips flicked
her forehead.

“Killian……?”
“You don’t have to say it like you’re sending someone off to die, you idiot.”

Killian laughed merrily, his face devoid of all emotion. Lize realized something.

‘Killian is…… no longer mine……’

Even the smallest part of him was no longer hers.

Feeling abandoned by the character she’d created, Lize returned to her room feeling
depressed.

At the front of the room stood Cliff.

“You don’t look good.”

“Cliff……”

He seemed to already know where Lize had been.

But he didn’t criticize her or show any open displeasure.

‘Yeah, I still have Cliff.

Cliff kept trying to get Lize to be honest with him in subtle tones, but she couldn’t bring
herself to reveal her true feelings, even to her most faithful admirer.

‘If you know what I’m thinking, you’ll abandon me, won’t you?’

Finally, it was time for them to set off for territorial war.

Edith’s appearance, not even received a farewell from Duke Ludwig. It was pathetic, but
Lize rejoiced in such a simple thing.

Princess Catherine came to visit and offered to send them unsolicited imperial knights,
and Lize mustered what little power she had left to make the Duchess reject the offer.

Her power had waned to the point where her nose was dripping with blood and she had
to rest for a while.

‘Now, I can’t even use my power.’

After losing her seemingly omnipotent power, Lize had no choice but to make her own
moves. But even that didn’t come easily.

She’d hidden sleeping incense and installed an anti-lock device to make it easy for the
Riegelhoffs to raid the mansion, but Edith had found and destroyed them all like someone
with an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Eventually, Lize wrote a letter to Cliff about Edith’s strange behavior.

‘The raid on the mansion is unlikely to succeed at this point. I need to change tactics.’

Lize pondered, then wrote to Count Riegelhoff.

– The mansion is too heavily guarded, especially with Miss Edith in the way.

Perhaps we should change our tactics.

The Duchess and Miss Lize will be at Count Windham’s party on the day Archduke
Langston makes his grand entrance.

I suggest you make your move when they ride home from there.

As expected, Count Riegelhoff and Shane decide to follow Lize’s advice.

At the Windhams’ party, Lize met Leila, who apologized to her, and waited for the time
when the Emperor’s assassination would fail and the party would be stopped.
When the imperial knights finally arrived and she was hurried into the carriage, she
chewed her lip nervously, afraid that she would fail again.

‘I have to succeed this time, I don’t know about anything else, but Edith’s death is the only
way……!’

There was no way that Shane or Sophia would let Edith slip through their fingers,
especially since her letters had emphasized that she had completely abandoned the
Riegelhoffs.

Suddenly, she heard the knights’ voice, the horses’ braying, and the carriage shook.

‘That’s it!’

Lize screamed, but inside she was celebrating.

But instead of killing Edith immediately, Shane burst into the carriage and dragged all
three of them to the Wellesley’s abandoned villa.

Even there, he wasted time by locking Edith up separately.

‘You stupid bastard! Why don’t you kill Edith? Hurry up and kill her!’

Cliff will be here any minute, and you must kill Edith before then.
That was all Lize could think about as she dealt with Shane trying to rape her.

So when there was a knock on the door and Shane was sprawled out on the floor, she was
a little annoyed.

‘It’s too early…… what happened to Edith?’

Of course, even as she thought that, she didn’t forget to cry and cling to Cliff, who walked
in with a worried look on his face.

But Sophia did the right thing until the end.

She refused to reveal Edith’s location, even as she was being captured and dragged away.

“Pfft, do you think my lady belongs in a place like this?”

Despite her words, which were meant to hide Edith, there was a venomous malice in her
eyes.

‘Yeah, you would freeze to death or starve to death if you were locked up in an
abandoned place in this weather.’
To the Duchess, who cried out that Edith could not have betrayed her, Lize said, “When I
woke up, she was not there,” urging the knights to hurry home.

But time passed, and no notice from the system was heard.

At this point, the system should have notified her that Edith had only minutes to live, but
it did not until the Duke and Killian returned to the capital.

‘Edith Riegelhoff, where the hell are you and what are you doing?’

CHAPTER 148 (7) Flashback

As Lize chewed on her fingertips, Killian left to lead the knights in search of Edith, and Cliff
increased the number of knights looking for her.

It was clear that Edith would be captured sooner or later.

‘So the only thing I can count on now is the third exception condition?’

Lize hadn’t been able to kill Edith in her last scheme.

Now she had to make sure that Edith begged Killian to spare her life.

Lize grew thinner by the day until the day of the Riegelhoff’s execution.
‘What if…… the third exception condition is met? What then?’

The future Lize knows will disappear, yet time goes on.

Facing an unknown future and becoming old and ugly would be a disaster for Lize.

‘I don’t want that! What should I do?’

For the first time in her life as Lize, she felt helpless. As helpless as a soldier standing on an
execution ground.

“Edith Riegelhoff has been captured!”

“She’s being led this way now!”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Edith was caught first by Cliff’s knight, not Killian.

‘Please struggle and ask for mercy when you are brought in…… please……’

Lize had hoped that Edith would have one last hope to live, but as had been the case since
the thirteenth Edith had been possessed, her hope was dashed.
As she trudged along behind the knights, there was not the slightest hint of will to live on
her face.

Lize rushed to her side.

“Edith! Why, why did you do that?”

“What?”

Edith looked genuinely puzzled.

“For God’s sake, Edith, say it was a mistake, say you’re truly sorry! Killian has a big heart,
he’s not going to ignore your begging!”

Lize had never made such a wholehearted appeal before.

She begged, desperately, for Edith to rebel against death even a little.

But Edith shook her head.

Ignoring Lize’s pleas to clear up the misunderstanding, Edith finally bared her pale, slender
neck to Killian, who now was supposed to behead her.

‘Please! Please!’
Lize’s internal scream was cut short by the system’s voice.

[The third exception condition has been met. An exception has been granted and the
author’s control has been reduced. The third exception condition will be removed.]

Lize froze in place.

“Every single one of those Riegelhoffs deserves to be put to death, not only for their
treason, but for their heinous deeds.”

Opening his mouth as if he were about to slit Edith’s throat, Killian added with a faint
smile.

“My wife’s name, by the way, has been Edith Ludwig ever since she married me. If Edith is
a Riegelhoff, that’s an insult to House Ludwig, isn’t it?”

Lize was stunned by the ‘exception’ that the fulfillment of the third exception condition
had created.
‘Everyone wants to kill Edith, and Killian saves her……’

The last twelve Ediths had died here, in this place, under Killian’s blade.

There was not a single exception.

This was an exception Lize had never seen before.

‘No, everything about the thirteenth Edith was new to me.’

Lize stepped outside as the execution of the Riegelhoffs began, pacing back and forth
nervously and biting her lip.

‘I can’t believe I lost.’

This would mean the existence of this world would cease to exist. Because this is the
world where Lize Sinclair must be the main character.

At that moment, one of the knights by her side stepped forward.

He said, “Lady Lize is soft-hearted, so it must be hard for you to listen to these terrifying
screams. There is a world order that must be upheld, even with such drastic measures.”

Lize’s head seemed to light up as she heard these words.

‘Yeah, there is a world order that must be upheld, even with such drastic measures.’

She couldn’t admit that she had lost.

‘It’s just that the condition for the third exception has been met. As long as Edith dies,
Lize’s narrative can remain untouched!’

With Edith’s death, the stories that had become Edith’s narrative would disappear, and
there would be nothing to interfere with Lize.

Even if Lize doesn’t have control over the characters, it’s a life she’s lived many times
before, and she can control the changes within reason.

‘Edith must die. Right here, as a villainess.’

Lize thanked the knight for his advice and ran back to the mansion to get a hot-water
bottle. The sharpened dagger was with her.

“Lize, there’s nothing to see here.”

Cliff stopped Lize as she entered the execution ground.

“I’m not here to watch the execution, I’m here to give…… a hot-water bottleto Edith.”
“Lize……”

“It’s going to be cold, and it was decided not to execute Edith anyway, so you’ll have to
allow me this, Cliff.”

The soldiers beside him looked touched by Lize’s warm words.

Finally, Cliff sighed and nodded.

Lize clutched the hot-water bottle and the dagger tightly in her arms and made her way
down to the dungeon where Edith was being held.

She had to hurry, she didn’t know what Killian would do.

When she got downstairs, Edith was shivering and blue from the cold.

Glad to see that there was no way she would turn down the hot-water bottle.

Lize called out to her in a cheerful voice, “Edith!”

“Huh? Lize……!”

“You’re cold, aren’t you? I brought you a hot-water bottle to warm you up.”
However, hearing Edith’s answer, Lize’s face hardened without her realizing it.

“Thanks, Lize. I thought I was going to freeze to death.”

Lize couldn’t believe that the woman who had just bared her neck to make it easier to cut
off her head was now happily accepting a hot-water bottle because she was freezing to
death.

“If you don’t want to die so badly, why didn’t you say a word to Killian to save you
before?”

Edith seemed to find Lize’s demeanor odd, to say the least. But she found it funny that she
was answering Lize’s questions one after the other.

“And now you want to live again?”

Edith’s final answer was simple: she had given up hope because she didn’t think anyone
would believe her, and she was tired of insisting on her innocence and being labeled a liar.

“Because Killian believed in me.”

Lize finally realized where everything had gone wrong.

“Killian…… yeah, Killian was the problem, always has been……”

She’d been so focused on Edith’s actions that she’d taken Killian’s changes for granted,
and that’s what had caused this whole fiasco.

‘I should have kept a firm grip on him from the beginning, then this would never have
come to this……’

Feeling enraged at Killian, Lize drew her dagger and slashed wildly at her own forearm.

The feeling of the sharp blade slicing through her skin was unpleasant, but it was a small
price to pay for getting everything back.

“Aaah!”

Lize screamed as she tossed the dagger into the bars, and Cliff and Killian descended as if
they’d been waiting.

‘That’s it. It’s done!’

Lize cried in fear, but inwardly felt relieved. If she got hurt in a place where there was only
her and Edith, it was obvious that Edith was at fault.

Until Killian picked up the dagger and handed it back to Cliff, Lize had no doubt that Edith
would be dragged away.
But it was Lize, not Edith, who Killian suspected.

“What about that dagger, brother? Isn’t it too warm?”

“What?”

“The dagger you’re holding, isn’t the blade and hilt all warm? More than human body
temperature.”

“Come to think of it……”

At that moment, Lize realized her mistake, but it was so unexpected that she couldn’t
think of a good excuse.

All she could do was repeat that Edith was lying and that she had only come to give her a
hot-water bottle.

But Killian’s eyes grew colder.

“And there was one more important mistake, Lize.”

He slipped his hand through the bars and swung the dagger.
The dagger couldn’t make a deep cut with a hand that could barely get through the
latticed bars.

“Lize, why did you try to frame Edith?”

“Why don’t you believe me, when it’s obvious that Edith tried to kill me?”

Lize, who had never been backed into a corner like this before, screamed in frustration.

But Killian yelled at her even more, and as if that weren’t enough, he blamed Cliff who had
his arm around her.

It was Edith who calmed him down.

“Killian…… that’s enough.”

There was no anger, no resentment, no superiority complex, just a calm voice.

‘What the hell? Why is she acting like a female lead!’

With tears of frustration, Lize could only watch as Edith was carried out of the dungeon by
Killian.
***

What happened next was too horrible to recall.

Lize was unable to retort to Edith’s admonishment, and Duke Ludwig, who had stood by
her until now, turned away in great disappointment.

As the Duke and Duchess of Ludwig showered Edith with boxes of gold bullion, furs, and
an enormous amount of jewelry for feeling sorry for her, Lize had to face what it was like
to be a normal human being instead of a female lead for the first time in a very long time.

To see Edith in the center of the stage, beaming in the spotlight, and herself standing just
outside of it, clapping her hands……

The memories of her previous life were already fading, but she remembered the sensation
of dropping the K pen name and falling into oblivion.

‘I’ll never go back to that crappy life.’

The life of being praised by everyone is addictive, and even taking a step away from it was
followed by an unbearable feeling of deprivation.
To escape that deprivation, and to turn the tables on Edith, Lize first decided to have a
dazzling, extravagant wedding.

But what had happened without her asking for it in the original story, now, with the power
of the author gone, she had to ask for it.

CHAPTER 149 (8) Flashback

In the weddings they had over and over again, the flowers that filled the wedding hall,
without exception, were white roses of the highest quality.

But the flowers listed on the budget Cliff brought with him were white hydrangeas.

Hydrangeas are large, so they would look abundant even if only a few were placed, but
such ‘efficiency’ is far from the ‘main character’ that Lize wanted.

“I want white roses to adorn the wedding hall, as well as the petals to be sprinkled.”

“But white roses in that quantity are hard to come by these days. White hydrangeas are
also popular as wedding flowers……”

“Cliff. You can’t be serious, you too are ignoring me?”

“Of course not, Lize!”

“Then do what I say. Can you do it?”

Lize suppressed her irritation and smiled.

“……yes, if that’s what you want.”

Cliff complied with her request, but Lize found the small sigh that preceded his answer
unbearably offensive.

‘At some point, you seemed ready to put the empire under my feet.’

All her life, Cliff had been craving a handful of her affection, and before she could say a
word, he’d given her what she wanted.

But the more they talked about the wedding, the more they clashed, and the more he
sighed.

Of course, that didn’t make her back down, but then the Duchess, in charge of the family
budget, came to see her.

“Lize. I need to speak to you for a moment.”

Lize didn’t think much of it, she was rather happy, because the Duchess couldn’t possibly
refuse anything she wanted.
But the next words out of her mouth were unexpected.

“Cliff’s been planning a wedding, and I’m afraid it’s not quite right.”

“Yes? How did he plan it?”

“He’s so excited that he’s marrying you. He’s got all kinds of luxuries planned.”

The Duchess shook her head and showed Lize the wedding plans and budget Cliff had
drawn up.

It was exactly everything she had asked for.

“If the wedding continues like this, it will be rumored that the Ludwigs are show-offs and
spendthrifts. Cliff loves you, no one doubts that, but this is too different from Killian’s
wedding, so……”

She seemed to have no doubt that the whole plan was the result of Cliff’s over-affection
for her, and that Lize would eliminate some things to make the budget more frugal.

‘You all are supposed to throw me a wedding like this even if I don’t want to!’
Lize replied in a sobbing voice, barely suppressing her anger, “Do you think it’s a waste to
spend this much money on me, madam?”

“Li- Lize……?”

“Yes, I’m an illegitimate child and a lowly woman, but what about Cliff? This is the
wedding of Cliff, the heir to the Duke, and it shouldn’t be shabbier than any other
nobleman’s wedding.”

The Duchess was at a loss for words, her eyes wide with surprise.

In the end, the wedding went exactly as Lize had hoped, but at the cost of Lize never being
able to be with the Duchess again.

But Lize didn’t regret it one bit.

‘There’s no point in getting involved with extras.’

In fact, it was Edith’s attitude that bothered her more than the Duke and Duchess’s distant
behavior.

Whether she had no balls or had already moved on from Lize, Edith was smiling and
applauding at the wedding of the woman who had tried to kill her.
Killian and Edith seemed much happier than Cliff and Lize, the two main characters of the
day.

And Lize hated it so much.

One of the purposes of this fancy wedding was to draw out Edith’s envy and jealousy.

But once Edith and Killian left for Ryzen, her mood improved a bit.

‘Okay, Edith is gone, and I’ll create a new narrative for Lize from now on!’

A glimmer of hope seemed to shine through.

Besides, there was nothing to stop her from becoming the next Duchess.

‘It’s a good thing I signed a prenup with Cliff before we got married.’

– Cliff Ludwig will never ask Lize Ludwig for a divorce.

Cliff Ludwig will defend and protect Lize Ludwig no matter what.
These two clauses alone were enough to put Cliff on a leash and give her a free pass on
everything.

‘Nothing difficult. After all, I am the next Duchess of Ludwig.’

But there was one thing she was missing.

Even as she vowed to make her future “better than the original story,” all she could think
about was the success and glory of the original story.

Rather than blazing a new trail, it seemed more promising to follow the path she already
knew, even if it was a path that had been lost.

That’s why she felt uneasy when the episodes she knew were not happening.

‘Why are there no invitations?’

In the original story, Lize, who is married to Cliff, receives dozens of invitations a day.

Of course, there were several invitations this time around. But they were fewer than in
the original story, and most importantly, none of them were what she wanted.

‘Why are all the invitations only from unimportant extras?!’

However, she couldn’t even send a letter asking for an invitation.

‘I’ll have to go to a lot of parties and make friends with important characters.’

She couldn’t let the original episodes disappear.

And if she was going to attend a party, she needed to stand out more than anyone else.

There were plenty of dresses the Duchess or Cliff had bought her, but honestly, none of
them were exactly to her taste.

She’d always chosen dresses that were more modest and innocent than her actual tastes
in order to fit in with her character of being a good girl.

‘Now that I don’t have to be looked at like that anymore……’

Lize began ordering extravagant, sensual dresses that she knew the original Edith would
love.

‘I should have made Lize’s breasts as big as Edith’s when I first created her character.’

She’d created a slender, innocent Lize, in contrast to the voluptuous body of that stupid
villainess, but now she was unhappy with it.
Until now, she had not forgotten how Killian had frowned seeing her wearing a chemise
that exposed her shoulders.

But when Lize looked at her beautiful reflection in the mirror, she regained her
confidence.

She’s still the most beautiful woman in the world.

***

‘Why isn’t this going back to the original?’

Even though she knew the power of the author was already gone, Lize kept asking herself
that question.

It turned out to be harder than expected to get close to the important characters.

‘In the original story, they are the ones who send out invitations and beg to meet me……!’
My pride wouldn’t allow me to approach them and pretend to be friendly.

I succeeded in manipulating the people around me to open up, but the relationship never
progressed beyond that.

‘No, I have to create a situation where they have to come up to me and say hello.’

Lize considered several options, and eventually settled on the one that would get her the
most attention.

She decided to be the host of the annual year-end party.

As the weather began to grow cooler and talk of the year-end party began to creep in, Lize
beamed at the dinner table.

“I’d like to host the year-end party this year.”

But instead of what she expected to be lighthearted words of approval, the Duke and
Cliff’s faces hardened a bit.

“It’s probably too much for you yet. Watch and learn from Jocelyn, and in five years or so,
try to host one yourself.”

Despite the Duke’s grim face, Lize was determined that it had to be this year. Because the
final episode had to happen early next year.
“I’ve watched and learned how to host a party for the past five years, and this year, after
my marriage to Cliff, I’d like to try my hand at it.”

“Lize.”

“You know, Duke, that there are still many people who laugh at me as a lowly illegitimate
child, and then there are those who laugh at Cliff for marrying me.”

A sigh escaped both the Duke’s and Cliff’s lips at the same time.

The excuse of being an illegitimate child had been used by Lize time and time again.

But Lize pretended not to hear their sighs.

“To host the year-end party will be to prove that I am a member of House Ludwig.”

The Duke started to open his mouth to say something more, but the Duchess stopped
him.

“Very well, Lize. Do as you wish.”

“Thank you, mother.”

Unlike Lize, who thought she had won, Cliff was left disappointed.

Later that evening, Cliff raised his voice and said, “You should’ve listened to my father!”

Lize snapped, “How long do I have to hide behind you people?”

“You people?”

“Everything I do is for House Ludwig, so stop treating me like an ornament.”

Lize turned away from Cliff, who was shocked by the way she ended her sentence with
‘you people’.

‘I should have set him up to be more subservient to Lize.’

Her irritation towards Cliff was growing by the day.

His appearance was no longer special to Lize, who had lived the same life over and over
again.

In fact, it was sometimes boring. So much so that she dreamed of escapism with another
character.
‘So at this year-end party, I’m going to meet the heir to Count Liebermann, get introduced
to the Crown Prince, and maybe even have a little romance!’

In the original story, the young lord of Liebermann is a miserable extra who falls in love
with Lize’s beauty and invites her to join his “celebrity club,” but is frustrated that he can’t
win her heart because of Cliff.

However, since he’s the main character of an episode, his appearance is quite acceptable.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince, who is already married, is also a handsome man and is
described as being captivated by Lize’s beauty.

In the midst of her same, boring, and this time even more disappointing marriage to Cliff,
such handsome men were enough to spark Lize’s desire to deviate.

‘The more men who love me, the better.’

Lize began preparing for the year-end party, imagining all the other men who would be on
their knees, thrilled by her every gesture.

CHAPTER 150 (9) Flashback

The year-end party organized at the Ludwig mansion was like never before.

Crystal chandeliers, the finest champagne, expensive gifts, and food with rare
ingredients……
The budget was enough for three previous year-end parties.

Cliff and the Duchess had tried to talk her out of it time and time again, but Lize had found
them frustrating.

“The Duke of Ludwig has become one of the Emperor’s closest confidants, and we need to
make sure everyone knows it, so that no other family is as frivolous as the Riegelhoff ever
again.”

It was an excuse she’d added in hopes of belittling Edith, but despite her intentions, the
Duchess sighed as she remembered the thrifty, no-nonsense Edith.

In any case, the year-end party was dazzling and extravagant, just as Lize had planned.

Lize successfully threw a big party in her first year of marriage, and even Princess
Catherine attended, elevating her stature.

‘Yeah, this is it!’

Lize felt like she was finally breathing for the first time in a long time, surrounded by
admiration and envy.

‘I don’t think a single person thought of Edith.’

She was even able to get closer to the man who was the purpose of the year-end party,
Young Lord Liebermann.

“Would you like to dance a song with me, my lady?”

Lize rejoiced inwardly at his somewhat nervous offer of a dance.

The thought of dancing with him and sharing a glass of champagne made her heart flutter
for the first time in a long time.

Cliff’s expression hardened by the second, but Lize ignored him completely.

‘It’s a fish I caught anyway, so what?’

On that day, Lize believed that her life would bloom as brightly as in the original story.

Because the heir to Young Lord Liebermann brought up the subject of the Crown Prince to
her, just like in the original story.

“Did I mention that I was a classmate of His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Yes? With His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Yes. In fact, my father was His Highness the Crown Prince’s history teacher, haha!”

Even the slight arrogance in his tone was pleasant.

“That’s wonderful! I’ve only ever met His Highness from a distance.”

“Well, then why don’t you come with me to the Crown Prince’s palace sometime? I’m sure
His Highness would be delighted to have you visit.”

“Are you sure…… I can come?”

“Of course, I’ll make arrangements for you, hahaha!”

Seeing the smiling face that seemed to be smitten with her, Lize was relieved.

‘Indeed, even though my power is gone, the major episodes still happen!’

Now, if she could meet the Crown Prince and solve his problems, and then find the
Emperor’s lost nephew, she would be able to win the Emperor’s favor.

A few days later, while she was happily anticipating a future that would continue as in the
original story, something annoyed her.

“There’s a New Year’s greeting from Lady Edith, no, I mean Countess Ryzen!”
Butler Philip beamed, handing out letters from Edith to the Duke and Duchess, Cliff, and
even Renon. Not only Philip, but the head maid, the head gardener, and the yacht’s
helmsman seemed to have received a letter as well.

The atmosphere in the mansion, which had been somber lately, was suddenly lightened
by the letters.

Even Cliff smiled brightly and handed a letter to Lize.

“Sister-in-law also sent one for you, Lize.”

Lize nervously accepted the letter, which was full of details about her busy and challenging
life in Ryzen and how they were doing.

– ……how are you doing, Lize? After marrying Cliff, I’m sure you’ve been helping the
Duchess more, but I’m worried that you’re putting too much strain on your slender body.

I used to be confident in my physical strength, but being a Countess here has really put a
strain on my body.

You won’t gain weight no matter how much you eat, so I hope you eat better and take
more care of your health……

She sounded as if she was worried about her best friend.

However, Lize could not take those words literally.

‘Is she being sarcastic?’

She gritted her teeth.

She had lost her power because Edith had met all the conditions, and she was having a
great time in Ryzen.

Even the people of the Duchy, who had been on her side in the original story, seemed to
miss her.

“Where are you going, Renon?”

Lize asked lightly as a hello, rarely seeing Renon out, but the answer that came out of his
mouth pissed her off.

“I’m going to the post office to mail some letters.”

Judging by the different types of envelopes, they couldn’t have been written by one
person, and if he was sending letters from multiple people to one place, it was obvious
that their destination was Ryzen.
“……I see. Take care.”

Lize didn’t have time to pay attention to what her expression looked like or what her voice
sounded like.

‘I heard Renon also helped save Edith’s life. I won’t leave him alone.’

The burning hatred extended to Renon.

From that day on, Lize began to criticize Renon for every little thing. Of course, not once
did Renon shrink back or give in.

But Lize didn’t let up either. Soon, she would have the Crown Prince on her side.

***

Maybe I shouldn’t have assumed success so early.

‘Nothing works.’

In the carriage ride home from the Crown Prince’s palace, Lize nervously bit her lip.

The introduction to the Crown Prince by the heir to Count Liebermann had gone as
smoothly as in the original story.
The Crown Prince she met today should have blushed a little in front of Lize, then warmed
to her character and wisdom.

But his demeanor was a little different from the original.

“I have heard about you from Isaac. Actually, even if not from Isaac, I could have heard
about you, the most beautiful woman in society, anywhere.”

The Crown Prince’s smiling face was a subtle departure from the one in the original story.

‘What do you mean, what stories have you heard about me?’

He said it was about her being ‘the most beautiful woman’, but there was a hint of
mockery in his slightly smirking smile.

‘Am I being overly sensitive?’

She tried to dismiss it as such, but the crown prince didn’t say much as he rose to his feet.

“I’ll see you next time.”

That was it.

In the original story, he invited me to his private social gathering with a hopeful look in his
eyes……

‘At this rate, I won’t be able to get along with the Crown Prince’s confidants!’

In the original story, Lize interacts with the Crown Prince and his confidants to show off
her wisdom.

This is how the nobles, who were still resentful of the fact that she was an illegitimate
child, were able to change their attitudes towards her.

‘No, let’s not get too anxious. There are other ways to change their attitudes.’

It’s been a few days since Lize’s episode didn’t go as planned, and she’s been pondering
other options.

But the restlessness that had been plaguing her all along made itself known one day at
noon.

“Call Lize!”

Duke Ludwig, who had just returned from a visit to the Imperial Palace, barked the order,
his face red with anger.

It was the first time he had ever called for Lize in such a state of anger.
And when the bewildered Lize entered his office, the Duke asked her without looking at
her, “Have you ever been to see His Highness the Crown Prince?”

The day Lize went to see the Crown Prince, she kept it a secret.

That way, later, when she received the Crown Prince’s support, the Ludwigs would be
more surprised by her hidden capabilities.

But the Duke seemed to already know everything.

“Yes. Not long ago, with the introduction of the heir to Count Liebermann……”

“And you didn’t even say a word to me or Cliff that you were going to see the imperial
family?”

Lize’s brow wrinkled slightly at that. “The meeting was arranged through the generosity of
the Young Lord of Liebermann. It was merely a casual cup of tea. Do I really need to brief
you on my going to tea?”

“It would not be a problem if it was a tea with other ladies, but it was with the Crown
Prince! Have you no idea how that would look in the eyes of the Emperor?”

Lize grew even more confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The daughter-in-law of House Ludwig came out of the Crown Prince’s palace flirting. It
would be easy for someone to think that the Duke of Ludwig is siding with the Crown
Prince.”

“Isn’t that a bit of a leap? It’s not like His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t meet with
people in private.”

At Lize’s protest, the Duke let out a long sigh as if to melt away his boiling anger.

“The problem is that you are a Ludwig, not someone else. Because you threw last year’s
year-end party so lavishly that the whole empire knew about it, everyone thought our
family had finally entered the political arena!”

“What……?”

Duke Ludwig continued that the Emperor himself summoned him and asked him, “What
are you up to that you stepped over me and met the Crown Prince in private?”

The Emperor began to worry that the sword that Duke Ludwig had wielded to protect him
would now be pointed at him.

“I did it for the Ludwigs, I didn’t expect the Emperor to take it in such a bad way!”

Lize shouted angrily, but inwardly she was perplexed.

‘It wasn’t like this in the original story……’

Her mind went blank.

From then on, Lize lost her cool for a while.

Even though she knew that the original story had already been destroyed, the reality of
the situation was different from her expectations, and a fear she had never felt before
engulfed her entire body.

Lize’s nerves sharpened, as if she were standing on sharp thorns.

She’d slapped a certain young lady at the party who seemed to be ignoring her, and she’d
gotten into a big fight with Cliff because she resented him for letting her be put on
probation.

Everything was a mess.

In the meantime, Renon, who was an eyesore, had quit his job and left for Ryzen.

Lize felt like she was going crazy because everything seemed to revolve around Edith.

CHAPTER 151 (10)

‘This is my last chance, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll……’

One day in her fourth year of marriage to Cliff.

Lize has been waiting for this day, even as she feels herself going crazy.

The day of the final episode of the original story, the one where Lize wins the heart of the
imperial family.

“Where are you going?”

“I thought you decided not to care where I go?”

Lize was fed up with Cliff making expressionless faces and asking questions mechanically,
as if he did so because he had little sense of obligation left to fulfill the prenuptial
agreement.

She slammed the carriage door as if to erase the dry look on Cliff’s face from her mind and
ordered them to set off.

‘A month before the National Day ball, a slave auction on the outskirts of the capital……’

In the original story, Lize is trying to buy a gift for the Duke and Duchess to celebrate
National Day, but mistakes a shop for a slave auction, and finds a lost relative of the
imperial family.
Of course, she didn’t know his identity at first.

She just impulsively brought him along because she felt sorry for the way he was being
treated.

The boy claims to have no memory of his past, but is surprisingly intelligent and
knowledgeable about aristocratic etiquette.

Lize is so impressed with the boy that she makes him her errand boy, until Princess
Catherine arrives at the mansion and is surprised to see him.

‘It’s a top secret that the Emperor’s nephew has been kidnapped.’

Recognizing her cousin at once, Catherine invites Lize and the boy to come with her to the
palace, where the boy’s biological mother, whom Catherine had called in advance, has an
emotional reunion with her long-lost son.

The ending of the original story is that Lize, having found the lost imperial relative, is
instantly favored by the imperial family, and she and Cliff live happily ever after.

‘I don’t want to lose anymore. This time I must succeed.’

Lize’s shoulders trembled, even though it was still hot outside.

Thinking of all she’d lost over the past few years, she felt like getting rid of the 13th Edith
and replacing her with a new one wouldn’t make her feel any better.

The affection of the Duke and Duchess, which she had thought she no longer needed, only
after she had lost it completely did she realize how warm and comforting it had been, and
Cliff’s love, which she had thought tiresome, could never be replaced by anyone else’s.

There were many men who professed their love for Lize, but they all admired her
appearance and her position as the next Duchess of Ludwig.

The more she listened to others profess their love, the emptier her heart became.

‘If I can win the imperial family’s favor, they’ll all love me again. I have to.’

Lize clutched her hands, which were trembling with anxiety, as she made her way to the
outskirts of the capital.

She wrapped herself in the hooded cloak she had prepared in advance, shielded her face
with a fan, and waited for the boy’s turn at the slave auction house she had entered.

She was nervous as if it were the first time, even though she had done this many times in
her life.

‘This is the last auction. He’ll show up this time, right?’

Lize clutched the bidding board tightly in her hands, her eyes never leaving the stage.

“Alright, the last auction of the day! This time it’s a rare beauty boy, his age is thirteen,
and in my fifteen years of slave auctioning experience, I’ve never seen one so pretty!”

The auctioneer’s words were exactly the same as in the original.

However, Lize’s hand stiffened as she hurriedly raised the bidding board.

‘W- what?!’

The boy on stage is a handsome boy with fair skin and dazzling blond hair, just like in the
original story, but he is not the Emperor’s nephew.

Instead of the boy who, even at his young age, held his head high and clenched his teeth
in pride, this one stood trembling with fear and glancing uneasily around him.

Lize’s heart sank.

‘There’s really nothing left of the original story……’

She felt like my life was over.

‘So I’m just going to grow old as a mere duchess isn’t even loved by her husband?’
Horrible. Like an extra in a novel whose name won’t even be mentioned.

In the midst of Lize’s panic, she suddenly heard the auctioneer’s voice.

“5 million pesos! It’s gone up to 5 million pesos! Hehe, a beauty like this must have a lot of
uses. Is there anyone who’s willing to pay more?”

At the word ‘use’, a plan quickly flashed through Lize’s mind.

She quickly raised the bidding board.

“8 million pesos! 8 million! Anyone else?”

Funnily enough, just like in the original story, which is no longer in existence, Lize was able
to bid on a boy for 8 million pesos.

***

“Your name?”
“I- I’m called Peryl.”

“No, from now on, your name is Johann.”

“J- J- Johann?”

Lize frowned at the boy, who continued to stutter.

“Yes. Johann. You’ll have to work on that stuttering habit.”

“I- I will. I’m sorry.”

“And you don’t remember anything before last year, do you understand? You only
remember your name, Johann.”

Peryl, now Johann, widened his eyes at the sudden order.

“No matter what anyone asks you, you say you can’t remember it. That’s not hard, is it?”

“Yes, I- I can do that……”

“Good. Then I’ll give you a tutor starting tomorrow, and you’ll learn aristocratic etiquette
and speech. Even the smallest gesture must be perfect, so that you look like a noble.”
Johann seemed insecure, but Lize knew that humans are capable of anything when
pushed to their limits.

Like the last twelve Ediths did until the end.

Lize summoned a servant to bathe the boy and gave him one secret order, “Put a sleeping
pill in his dinner, and while he’s asleep, tattoo a butterfly near his collarbone.”

The red, butterfly-shaped dot on his collarbone would be conclusive proof that he’s the
Emperor’s nephew.

The kidnapping had been five years ago, so if he bore so many similarities to the lost boy,
the Emperor and the boy’s biological mother would be fooled.

‘Well, if the original story can’t help me, I’ll have to make my own.’

From that day forward, Lize took care of Johann’s every move, making sure to pass him off
as the Emperor’s lost nephew.

This led to another big fight with Cliff.

“What did you buy a slave for?” he asked.

“I needed an errand boy for myself.”

“Why would you need an errand boy? Your maids do it all.”

“What do you think you know?”

“Aren’t you afraid of what rumors might arise if you let a handsome young boy always be
around you?”

“To hell with you!”

After that big fight, she locked the door.

Annoyed and angry, Lize struggled to regain her composure. She couldn’t afford to stay
angry like this.

‘I have to do something about this before Edith comes up to the capital.’

Killian and Edith will be coming to the capital with their son for the National Day ball.

Before that, I have to reclaim my rightful position as the female lead.

***

“It’s been a long time, Lize.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness.”

Lize greeted Catherine graciously, who had invited her to the palace for the first time in a
very long time.

Catherine, who used to send invitations every single day, also hadn’t heard from her for
some time.

However, perhaps because Lize managed her image better outside the Ludwig family than
inside, Catherine welcomed her without any significant difference from before.

And then, as Lize had intended, Catherine turned her gaze to the boy behind her.

“Who’s that?”

“Oh, he’s the boy I have as an errand boy. I rescued him because of his miserable
condition, but he’s surprisingly good at aristocratic etiquette.”
“Is that so?”

Catherine furrowed her brow as she studied the immaculately attired boy.

Then she stood up abruptly and stepped in front of him.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Johann.”

“Johann?”

Hearing the name, Catherine’s expression grew more serious.

That’s when Lize stepped forward.

“Princess, is there a problem? I rescued this boy from a slave auction, and unfortunately,
he doesn’t remember much of his past.”

“S- slave auction? Goodness……!”

“He does remember a few things, though, Johann, what were they?”
Johann bowed his head and replied, “I remember living in a very big, very nice house
when I was younger. I don’t know what I was doing in that house, but I remember there
was a rug or something hanging on the wall with a sun in the middle of it.”

“And?” Catherine asked, her hands shaking.

“All I remember is that a beautiful woman with hair the same color as mine called me
‘Johann’, and that I had a white dog with black spots, and that the dog’s name was
Othello.”

Catherine was now pale as if she were about to faint, and she hastily called for her maid.

“Send for Aunt Sierra! Hurry! Tell her I think I’ve found Johann!”

The maid scrambled to fulfill Catherine’s urgent orders, and Lize looked at her in
bewilderment.

“Your Highness……? Suddenly, what is this……”

“Lize, where did you find this boy?”

“At a slave auction house on the outskirts of the capital, I mistook it for a store and went
in and found him…… but, what’s wrong?”

Catherine clasped Lize’s hands in hers, tears welling in her eyes. “You saved Johann.”
“Yes?”

“I think he’s my cousin Johann, who went missing five years ago.”

“Yes?”

Lize’s eyes widened, feigning surprise.

But in the back of her mind, she was thanking the heavens.

‘That’s it! All my hard work to maintain friendship with Catherine has paid off.’

It felt like all the headaches she had been enduring had paid off at once.

Moments later, Catherine’s door burst open without a knock, and a despondent-looking
woman rushed in, followed by the Emperor and the Marquis of Theroux, the Emperor’s
brother and the woman’s husband.

“Johann!”
Rushing into the room, the woman stood tall as soon as she spotted the boy, then slowly
approached him and knelt down in front of him, her eyes searching his face as if looking
for something.

Her face was already wet with tears.

“Johann, do you remember me?”

The boy glanced at Lize, then shook his head awkwardly.

“He says he doesn’t remember much of the past, but he remembers the tapestry hanging
in the Marquis’ office, or Othello, the dog he had as a child. That’s something he could
never remember if he isn’t Johann.”

At Catherine’s explanation, the woman burst into tears again.

CHAPTER 152 (11) Flashback

But the Marchioness of Theroux cried too much.

When she heard that the boy was found at the slave auction, and that he must have
suffered greatly, she almost fainted.

“This is going to get Sierra in serious trouble. I’ll call a doctor to make sure Johann is okay,
and I’ll try to calm Sierra down.”
The Emperor looked at Lize as he calmed his brother and sister-in-law who had found their
lost son.

“So, it was Lady Ludwig who found Johann?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She said she stumbled upon him at a slave auction when she walked
into the wrong place. Lize saved Johann’s life!”

Catherine emphasized the part that Lize was Johann’s savior.

Lize waved her hand away. “It was a coincidence, I just helped him because I felt sorry for
him, I didn’t know any of this.”

“Of course you didn’t. It was a top secret matter.”

The Emperor smiled and nodded. “I know you must be surprised, but your errand boy
seems to be my nephew. Go home for now, I will contact you to reward you accordingly.”

“My pleasure, Your Majesty.”

Lize bowed, confused but polite, and returned to the Ludwig mansion.
‘Good. If things are going according to the original story, I’ll be announced as a recipient of
the Imperial Medal before Edith comes up.’

Once that happens, Lize believed with an ironclad certainty that the Duke and Duchess,
who had closed their hearts to her, and Cliff, would come back to her.

***

Five years ago, Marquis Theroux, the Emperor’s youngest brother, and his wife, Sierra,
suffered what felt like being torn limb from limb.

At an outdoor banquet at the palace, their beloved youngest son, Johann, had
mysteriously disappeared.

At first, they thought the child must have wandered off and taken a wrong turn, so they
focused their efforts on finding him inside the palace.

But when soldiers searching the gardens came up with nothing but Johann’s shoes and
clothes and a note that said, “If you speak of this, I will kill your son,” they realized it was a
kidnapping.
Anxiously, they waited to hear from the kidnappers, but to their horror, they didn’t get
any word for over a week.

Since then, Marquis Theroux and the Emperor had hired people to search for Johann, but
they found no clues about the missing child.

Johann’s disappearance was kept a secret for fear that ill-minded people would try to pull
a scam or that Johann’s kidnappers would harm him.

Then, after five long years, Lize found him at a slave auction.

Marquis Theroux felt as if a stone that had been weighing him down had been lifted.

“My lord, he is well. His lack of memory of the past is more likely due to the trauma of his
kidnapping than a head injury. Besides, five years is a long time for a child to forget the
past.”

He felt a pang of sadness at the doctor’s words, but decided to be grateful that he was still
in good health.

“And Sierra?”

“She’s with Young Master Johann, talking to him.”

“I see. She’s been suffering the most.”

A mother who had lost her young son, barely eight years old, must have been devastated.

For the first time in a long time, Marquis Theroux felt relaxed and happy.

But when Sierra returned to her room after her conversation with Johann, her expression
was less cheerful. He could tell something was wrong.

“Sierra……?”

“Honey. Something’s not right.”

“What do you mean?”

Sierra stared off into space, as if trying to recall a memory.

“Johann had a butterfly-shaped mole on his neck, remember?”

“Of course. Why? He doesn’t have a mole?”

“He has a mole on his neck.”

“And?”
Sierra said slowly, locking eyes with the Marquis. “It’s in a different place.”

“What? That can’t be……! How could that boy remember Othello or the tapestry that hung
in the mansion if he’s not Johann?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

***

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the capital,” Edith said, looking out the window of the
moving carriage.

Across from her, Killian, carrying Erdin, smiled at Edith who looked excited.

“I feel like it was just yesterday that we left for Ryzen, we’ve been so busy I don’t know
where the time has gone.”

“I know. I hope everyone is doing well.”

“I hope so too.”

The conversation and smiles were as peaceful as ever in the lightly rocking carriage.

But then, suddenly, the carriage jolted violently.

“Aah!”

“Edith, calm down, it’s nothing.”

Killian calmed Edith, who had been freaking out whenever the carriage came to a sharp
stop since Shane’s kidnapping.

Edith smiled embarrassedly and patted her chest, and Killian opened the carriage door.

“What’s going on!”

“I’m sorry, some kid ran out in front……”

Edith stuck her head out the door at the knight’s reply.

“The kid wasn’t hurt, was he?”

“The kid is fine, but I think he jumped in on purpose to beg. I’ll chase him away in a
moment.”

Edith stopped the knight escort who was about to get off his horse.

“No, no, bring him in so he can get some money.”

“But madam……”

“Come on.”

Since having her child, Edith has never been able to walk past a beggar on the street.

Even if the money she hands over ends up in the hands of the head of a group of beggars,
at least the child will get through the day without being beaten.

A few moments later, the knight returned, dragging the sullen boy by the hand.

“Let go of me, I can walk on my own two feet!” he shouted.

“You brat, you have the audacity to raise your voice to the person who helped you?!”

The boy, who hadn’t bothered to hide his displeasure even in front of a knight of the
noble family, bowed as he was brought to stand in front of Edith.
“I apologize for stopping the carriage of a noble family. I tripped over a stone and fell.”

“Are you hurt?”

“My knee is a little scratched up, but otherwise I’m fine.”

The boy’s knee, which was exposed through a hole in his pants, was dotted with blood
from where it had been hit by the stone, but he didn’t seem to be in any pain.

Feeling sorry for him, Edith took out a generous amount of coins and handed them to the
boy.

But when the boy saw her about to give him the money, he suddenly made a face.

“I didn’t mean to beg!”

That was a pretty cocky thing for a boy who looked like a beggar to say in front of money.

“I’m not giving it to you for that reason, just buy some medicine.”

“It’s better to leave it at that, then I’ll take my leave.”

The boy bowed with the grace of a nobleman to a lady, and was about to turn and walk
away. If only Edith hadn’t caught him.

“Hey, wait. Do you have somewhere to go?”

“I’m just going wherever my feet take me, I guess.”

Edith could see that the boy, who looked to be in his early teens at most, was trying not to
be looked down upon by the adults.

His shabby clothes and lanky body didn’t suggest he had a parent or caring adult by his
side.

Edith felt sorry for the boy, who pretended to be tough in order to survive in the rough
back alleys.

“I have to get a job by the end of the day, so I’m busy! Goodbye!”

“Well, that’s good, then, because I think I can give you a job.”

The boy, who was about to turn away, turned his head quickly.

“Really?”
Killian, who was across from Edith, raised his eyebrows and asked, “Suddenly?”

Edith beckoned the boy to sit beside the coachman, and they set off.

***

At the inn where they stayed for the night before entering the capital, Edith sat down with
the boy.

After he had bathed and eaten, his features were more clearly visible, he was a handsome
boy, fair-skinned and blond-haired.

To the boy whose stiff expression had slightly eased, Edith asked a few questions.

“What’s your name?”

“……just call me whatever you want.”

“Do you have parents?”

“No.”

Edith asked him where he lived, if he had any peers, and how he managed to feed and
house himself, but he only gave vague answers.

Then his eyes narrowed and he said, “Are you sure you’re giving me a job? If you’re
thinking of selling me somewhere, you’d better stop, because I just ran away from a
vicious slave trader.”

“You must have been through a lot.”

Edith’s soothing reply was unexpected, and the boy flinched.

“I am the Countess of Ryzen. I’m on my way to the capital for the National Day
celebration.”

“And?”

“If you have nowhere else to go, would you consider coming to Ryzen with us to work?
Our castle is always in need of labor.”

The boy furrowed his brow and thought about it, then asked in a more polite manner,
“What kind of work would you like me to do?”
“The most likely position would be as a servant in the castle, but if you want to wield a
sword, you could grow up to be a soldier in the Order of the Knights, or if you have a mind
for learning, you could work as an assistant in the administrative office.”

The boy’s eyes sparkled a little more. But at the same time, there was a hint of perplexity
in his expression.

“By the way, is Ryzen…… far from the capital?”

“It’s about ten days by carriage, what’s the matter?”

The boy stammered, rubbing his palms together on his pants. “It’s nothing, I’ll follow you,
madam.”

Edith sensed that there was something he couldn’t tell her, but she didn’t push.

“We’ll be staying in the capital for the fall and winter, and I’ll introduce you as my
husband’s errand boy, and all you have to do is stand by us and run small errands.”

“Understood,” he answered dutifully, his sulk gone.

Edith had been watching his behavior since earlier.

‘He’s got a certain politeness about him, not like a child who grew up on the streets. Is he
a descendant of the fallen nobility?’
The way he greeted her at the front of the carriage was too natural to be considered
imitating aristocratic etiquette.

His demeanor is gruff, but he hasn’t once uttered a single expletive or profanity.

The fire in his eyes told her he would learn his job quickly.

‘If I entrust him to Renon, I might get a very capable assistant.’

Edith named the boy Daniel, envisioning a future where he would follow her around as
her assistant and learn the trade.

CHAPTER 153 (12) Flashback

After ten days of carriage travel, Killian and Edith arrived at the Ludwig mansion.

But unlike their expectations of a warm long-awaited reunion, the mansion was in
disarray.

“Killian! Edith!”

Only the Duchess greeted them, and she looked worried despite seeing her long-awaited
grandson.
With the Imperial Knights occupying the mansion and searching every room, it was only
natural for her to be in such a state.

“Mother, what’s going on?”

“Sob…… I don’t know what’s going on either, Killian.”

She finally let out the tears she had been holding back.

“Lize…… has been taken away, accused of disgracing the imperial family.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you know that Marquis Theroux lost his youngest son five years ago?”

“If you are referring to the Marquis Theroux’s youngest son, isn’t he raised on an estate
from a young age because of his weak body?”

The Duchess shook her head. “That’s what everyone thought, but it turns out he was
actually kidnapped and kept secret for one reason or another, until Lize…… found him and
brought him back.”
“Then why not reward her, and why is she being accused of disgracing the imperial
family?”

“Sob…… because the child was a fake.”

“What?”

Edith looked like she’d been punched in the back of the head, as well as Killian.

“No, I mean, how on earth could that be……?”

“Because the child Lize brought in knows things that you wouldn’t know unless you were
the Marquis Theroux’s son, and they were all told to him by Lize.”

“What?”

“How did Lize know that…… so now your father and brother have been taken to the
Imperial Palace, and the imperial knights are searching the mansion.”

This was enough to send the duchy reeling.

Then, something clicked in Edith’s mind.

‘Now that I think about it, the last episode of the original story was about finding the
missing child, wasn’t it? And that child is a relative of the imperial family. Could it be that
Lize forced that episode to happen?’

The last episode of “I Refuse Your Obsession,” which I had forgotten for a while, came to
mind.

However, since most of the flow of the original story had already been broken, there was
no way the story could go on as it was.

I realized it when I read Renon’s diary about Lize’s meeting with the Crown Prince.

In the original story, Lize’s status changed drastically after the Crown Prince who met her
introduced her to his confidants.

This time, however, the Crown Prince did not do so as in the original story, and Lize was
even scolded by Duke Ludwig for it.

‘That’s enough to know that the original story has already crumbled, yet she can’t let go of
her obsession with it?’

Edith grabbed the back of her neck.

‘You idiot, you should have thought of the suspicion you’d attract if it failed!’
She had the audacity to bring in a fake child, knowing all about what the imperial family
kept secret.

The imperial family would naturally assume she was behind the kidnapping.

“It’s my fault. All of this is my fault.”

“Mother, why do you say that!”

“I shouldn’t have raised Lize the way I did, I just gave her everything out of pity, and I
guess that ruined her.”

The Duchess trembled with anguish.

But Edith knew they couldn’t have done that; they had existed to give Lize everything.

Of course, they are not completely blameless.

Lize’s control over them must have weakened when I met the third exception condition,
and I wonder why they hadn’t noticed something odd about Lize then……

‘Well, even I didn’t realize she was the author until I met all the exception conditions, so
who am I to blame?’
I sighed.

It’s easy to judge after everything has happened, but it’s not easy to doubt someone
you’ve lived with and loved as much as your own family.

Just then, another carriage pulled up outside. It bore the imperial crest, so the imperial
knights who guarded the outside of the mansion moved in unison to open the carriage
door.

Marchioness Theroux stepped out of the carriage, her face cold and stern, and Princess
Catherine looking perplexed.

“Marchioness Theroux!”

The Duchess hastily wiped her tears and greeted her, but Sierra’s face remained cold.

“I’ll be supervising the investigation at the Ludwig mansion, I’m sure you’ll understand,
right?”

“Of course. But are you all right? I hear you’re not feeling well.”

“I’m afraid I’ll get sick if I just lie down.”

Her two lean fists balled up. “How is it possible that neither Duke Ludwig nor his heir
didn’t know what Lady Lize knew? I assume you would say that you didn’t know either?”
“I swear to Hershan we did not know. But…… we are guilty of knowing nothing that would
allow Lize to do such a thing. I am sorry, madam.”

At the apology from Duchess Ludwig, whose complexion was as pale as her own, Sierra
could only grit her teeth and tremble, unable to say anything more.

Just then, a servant unloading luggage from the carriage approached Edith and asked
what he should do.

Edith went outside the mansion to check on the situation and approached the carriage.
Fortunately, they hadn’t unloaded much.

“Stop, for now, until the imperial knights have finished their investigation.”

As the servants, who had heard her command, reloaded the luggage back into the
carriage, Edith approached Daniel, who stood dazedly beside the carriage.

“I’m sorry you had to go through this so soon after arriving in the capital, Daniel. Are you
okay?”

Edith assumed that Daniel was frightened by the presence of the imperial knights, but he
shook his head.

“No, rather…… I got my wish. Thank you, madam.”

“Your wish?”

“There’s someone I wanted to see just once before I left for Ryzen, and now that I have, I
can leave for Ryzen with peace of mind.”

At those words, Edith looked around.

There were so many imperial knights and servants of the mansion milling about that she
couldn’t tell who Daniel was talking about.

“If you can tell me who it is, I’ll arrange for you to meet.”

“No. I don’t think she’ll want to meet with me, so no thanks.”

The boy’s eyes were filled with sadness.

“Okay. I won’t ask any more questions. There’s nothing else to do right now anyway, so
let’s go inside and get something to eat. Follow me.”

Edith walked into the mansion with Daniel, who looked like he was about to burst into
tears.
As they entered, Killian, who was standing by the side of the Marchioness and Duchess,
approached.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, the unloading has stopped anyway, and Daniel looks very tired, so I’d like to give
him some warm milk and cookies.”

“He must be surprised.”

Seeing Daniel’s head bowed, Killian felt sorry for him. Since he was a boy living on the
streets, he was probably afraid of the knights coming to investigate.

Killian nodded, and Edith was about to take Daniel away again.

“Wait. Who is that child again?” Sierra reacted sharply.

The fact that he was the same age as the boy Lize had brought, and a blond one at that,
seemed to arouse her suspicions.

“He’s our errand boy. He seems to be afraid of the knights, so I’d like to give him some
warm milk.”

But Edith’s explanation didn’t seem to allay Sierra’s suspicions, and she approached Edith
and the boy.
As she approached, Daniel ducked his head further, hiding behind Edith’s back.

“Did you tell him various things about the Theroux family too?”

“Sorry? That’s impossible, because it was only yesterday that we met him.”

“Yesterday?”

“Yes. He almost got run over by our carriage, and he said he had nowhere to go and
needed to find a job, so we decided to take him to Ryzen…… wait a minute, madam!”

Edith tried to stop her, but Sierra tugged at the collar of Daniel’s shirt at the back of his
neck as he bowed his head. On the nape of Daniel’s neck was a small, red mole, shaped
like a butterfly at first glance.

“He’s scared! He has nothing to do with this!”

Edith protected Daniel from the Marchioness. In Edith’s arms, Daniel only tried to hide
further.

But Sierra’s expression was strange.

“No way, are you…… Johann? No, no way……”

“I’m…… Daniel.”

The boy replied in a small voice, not even looking up.

“Your name is Daniel?”

“He didn’t tell me his name, so I named him,” Edith said, still hiding Daniel in her arms.

Feeling safe in Edith’s arms, Daniel slowly turned his head to glance at the Marchioness.

“No, no! That mole on the nape of his neck……!”

“Madam!”

Sierra suddenly lunged at the boy and wrapped her arms around his cheeks.

“Johann! You are Johann, right?”

Edith tried to stop Sierra, but she cupped Daniel’s cheeks without backing down an inch,
wondering how such strength could come from such a slender body.

“I- I’m…… not Johann. I’m Daniel,” Daniel protested, pulling out of Sierra’s grip.
But Sierra’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Daniel’s face.

“Johann……”

Tears filled her eyes. But before she could say another word, Sierra collapsed in a heap.

“Madam! Are you okay?!”

Only after Edith let go of him to support Sierra’s body did Daniel turn his attention back to
her.

He looked at the unconscious Sierra and screamed in alarm.

“Mom!”

Killian, the Duchess, and Catherine, who had rushed to Sierra’s side, widened their eyes at
his cry.

But Daniel clung to Sierra as if he couldn’t see anything around him.

“Mom! I’m sorry, Mom!, Mom!”

He then grabbed Edith’s hand and begged, “Please save my mom, I’ll do anything, please
save my mom!”

Edith seemed to be losing her mind.

CHAPTER 154 (13) Flashback

While the doctor was examining Sierra in the guest room, Edith, Killian, the Duchess, and
Princess Catherine listened to the shocking story of the sobbing Daniel.

“So, you’re Johann?”

“Yes……”

“And Marchioness Theroux recognized you, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you pretend not to know at first?”

Johann sobbed and fidgeted with his hands, then finally answered, “I heard that my mom
abandoned me, that she secretly threw me away because I was useless…… and I thought
she’d hate me even more if she found out I was here……”

Catherine got angry at those words. “Who? Who told you that?”
“My- my aunt…….”

“Your aunt?”

Johann remembered clearly what had happened five years ago.

***

On the day of the outdoor banquet at the imperial palace, Johann was playing in the
garden with his cousins.

It was the happiest day of his life: great weather, plenty of food, and fun with peers he
hadn’t seen in a long time.

But then his Aunt Avery waved from the other side.

“Auntie!”

“It’s been a long time, Johann.”

She beamed, picked him up in a hug, and walked deeper into the garden

“Auntie, where are you going?”

“Um, your mom asked me to do something for you, so I’m taking you with me.”

Hearing that his mom asked her to, Johann clung to her, not suspecting anything. She was
an aunt who often came to visit the Theroux mansion and was very close to him.

But as she carried him into the secluded garden, a man was waiting for them with the
shabby clothes and wig typical of a commoner.

“Let’s change your clothes.”

“Why?”

“It’s a disguise game. We’re going to play hide and seek in disguise.”

“Wow, that sounds like fun!”

Johann excitedly changed his clothes and put on the wig.

“How about it, Auntie? No one will know it’s me, right?”

“Sure. You won’t get caught.”

Avery’s smile was a little odd, but Johann let it go.

This time, however, the man waiting for them picked Johann up, looked around, and set
him down in a carriage.

“Huh? Why am I in a carriage?”

“Listen, Johann. What your mom asked me to do was to get rid of you, because you’re no
use to her.”

“What?”

“Think about it. She’s already got two other healthy sons above you, and there’s no
reason she should have to keep you.”

“But!”

Avery pulled a pouch from her arms and waved it around. “Look at this. This is the money I
got from your mom for getting rid of you. You remember this silk pouch, don’t you?”

It was one of the gifts Johann had given his mom for Mother’s Day this year.

“She said she didn’t need it and gave it to me. Your mom has had a hard time raising you.
She was even suspected of having an affair because you didn’t look like your father.”
When Johann was at a loss for words, the man in the carriage said, “If you don’t want to
give your mother any more trouble, you’d better behave yourself, because if you run
amok, she’ll be in even more trouble.”

Then he slammed the carriage door.

Suddenly thrown from the midst of happiness to the depths of misery, Johann could not
recover from his despair.

Later, he cried and struggled, only to be beaten by the man.

The man took him somewhere in the countryside and sold him to the owner of an inn.

***

“I can’t believe the kidnapper was Aunt Sierra’s sister……!”

Catherine gaped.

Johann was smart enough to remember all of this, but he was only eight years old at the
time.

And when he didn’t hear any rumors about the Therouxs looking for him, he believed
Avery’s words.
“No, Johann! They were afraid that if word got out that they were looking for you, the
kidnappers would hurt you. Your parents did everything they could to find you!” Catherine
cried, pulling Johann into a hug.

Just then, they heard the sound of something falling down behind them.

They spun around in surprise to find Sierra on the floor, trembling, with a devastated look
on her face.

“Johann……!”

“Mom……”

“My baby, there hasn’t been a moment since the day I lost you that I haven’t thought of
you, and the hope that you might be alive has kept me from dying.”

“Mom!”

Johann jumped to his feet and ran to Sierra.

The mother and son, who hadn’t seen each other in five years, burst into tears as they
embraced.
For a moment, everyone was overwhelmed with emotion, except for Edith.

‘That’s great, but…… why was I the one to find him?’

In the original story, it was Lize who found the boy, so Edith was confused by the current
situation.

The feeling of being robbed because she lost a promising talent was a bonus.

Anyway, judging from her memories of the original story, the Emperor would soon call her
and offer to give her something in return.

‘Tsk. No matter how much I hate her, I have to save human lives, right?’

Of course, there was no telling if the Emperor would really forgive her.

Duke Ludwig or Cliff, who had nothing to do with this, would most likely be released, but
death by hanging was probably being discussed to punish Lize, who had dared to bring in a
fake and cause even more pain to the Therouxs.

***

The news that the real Johann had been found, this time, sent the imperial family into
both shock and happiness.
Sierra’s sister Avery was quickly arrested, and an interrogation team was set up to convict
her.

She denied it, but when the innkeeper who bought Johann and the man who sold him
were brought in to testify, she finally gave up.

“She had everything,” she said, “and she was always pretending to be noble and elegant! I
wanted to see her arrogant face crumble just once!”

She always thought she was prettier and more popular than her sister, but when Marquis
Theroux chose Sierra as his bride, she was devastated.

The more she saw of her sister’s happy family, the more her hatred for her grew, and she
kidnapped their youngest son, whom they loved so dearly, hoping to destroy their
happiness.

The kidnapping of the youngest son, which had tormented the Marquis and Marchioness
of Theroux for five years, came to a happy and bittersweet end.

The Emperor summoned Killian and Edith, having not yet decided what to do with the
Ludwigs.
“It was indeed a coincidence, the will of Hershan, but it is true that you saved Johann and
kept him safe. If it were not for you, my brother and sister-in-law might have suffered until
they died.”

“Your Majesty.”

“From what I’ve heard, the Countess was the one who saved Johann’s life, so go ahead,
Edith Ryzen. Tell me what you wish. I will reward you on behalf of Marquis Theroux.”

Edith, who had her head down, took a deep breath and gathered her courage.

“The Ryzens have nothing more to ask for, as we are already well endowed with Your
Majesty’s grace. Nevertheless, if I may dare to ask, please forgive my sister-in-law, Lize
Ludwig, for once.”

“What?”

The emperor’s brow twitched. “Your saving Johann’s life has nothing to do with Lize
Ludwig’s bringing in a fake and disgracing the imperial family.”

“I am aware of that. But if that hadn’t happened, Marchioness Theroux would never have
come to the Ludwig mansion, and then she wouldn’t have recognized Johann, and we
would have taken him to Ryzen without knowing anything.”

A sigh was heard from the Emperor.

Edith added, “Isn’t all this Hershan’s will to return the missing son to the Marquis and
Marchioness of Theroux? Please think of it that way and forgive my sister-in-law for once.”

The Emperor thought for a long time, and finally, with a long sigh, came to an unpalatable
conclusion.

“Now that you mention it, I’m at a loss for words. I see. I will spare Lize Ludwig’s life.”

That meant Lize had avoided the worst of it, but it didn’t mean she was completely off the
hook.

“In exchange for sparing her life, I revoke her noble title and order her to serve in a
monastery for the rest of her life and do penance for her sins. Her marriage to Cliff Ludwig
is also annulled as of this day.”

The Emperor’s decision left the Ludwigs speechless for a time. But they couldn’t ask for
more forgiveness from the Emperor.

Lize, who tried to protect her status as the “future Duchess Ludwig” by signing a
prenuptial agreement with Cliff, was ultimately stripped of her position as Cliff’s wife by
order of the Emperor.

***
‘Yeah, it all went to shit when Edith appeared. I don’t know why I had to get caught up in
that……’

Leaning against the cold stone wall of the prison and reminiscing about the past, Lize
regretted it over and over again. She wished she hadn’t made that soul possess Edith,
wished she hadn’t ignored Killian’s change in demeanor.

But it was all for naught now.

‘What will happen to me now?’

All she had in mind at the time was how to make the fake look like the real Johann. She
hadn’t realized that the location of the mole, which she had written “above the
collarbone,” was actually on a different side.

The punishment for disgracing the imperial family was second only to treason. She could
be executed or imprisoned forever.

In all her years of writing the punishments of villains, she had never considered their fears
or suffering, so she couldn’t think of what to do in this situation.

Suddenly, an attendant burst in.

“The prisoner Lize Ludwig, you are hereby ordered by the Emperor!”
Lize went into a daze, thinking that her execution had finally been decided. But the
Emperor’s orders were not what she expected.

“Your life will be spared, but your Ludwig surname and noble title will be revoked, and you
are ordered to serve in a monastery for the rest of your life and do penance for your sins!”

Before she could react to the unexpected notice, Lize heard something even more
shocking.

“You should be thanking your sister-in-law. Countess Ryzen found the real Young Master
Johann and asked the Emperor to reward her with your salvation.”

“Edith? Edith found Johann?”

“Yes. She found the real Young Master Johann, not the fake one. As soon as you’re
released from prison, you’ll leave for Rodanthe Monastery. Stand by.”

The attendant gave Lize a dry stare and walked out the door.

But even with the good news that her life had been spared, Lize felt utter despair.

For it was clear that she had met an end befitting a villainess.

CHAPTER 155. What Goes Around Comes Around

A bountiful fall and a cold winter have passed.

In the meantime, the Ludwigs were the hot potato of social circles, and we spent the fall
and winter in a state of inexplicable emptiness and a stifling silence.

We skipped the National Day ball and declined all invitations.

But we couldn’t stay like that forever.

When the buds began to bloom everywhere, and the bees’ wings could be heard buzzing
around the budding flowers, the Ludwigs slowly began to shake off their pain and rise.

It was Erdin who supported the Duke and Duchess.

“Gampa~”

“Yes, yes. I am your grandpa. Hahaha!”

“Kyaah!”

Erdin was so excited when the Duke picked him up and gave him a big hug that he
drooled, but the Duke didn’t mind getting his fine cravat soaked with Erdin’s drool.

“Erdin, look at this!”

Beside him, the Duchess waved all sorts of rattles and dolls.

Erdin’s eyes twinkled as he reached down to pick them up, and the Duke and Duchess
giggled at how cute he was.

That added to Erdin’s growing list of things to take to Ryzen.

In truth, it was Cliff I was more worried about than the Duke and Duchess.

“Thank you so much for saving Lize’s life.”

Two seasons later, I still can’t forget the look on Cliff’s face as he greeted me with such a
forlorn expression as we watched the prisoner wagon carrying Lize leave.

It would have been hard for him to shake off his feelings for Lize, no matter how much
they had grown apart.

In fact, last fall and winter, he barely left his room unless it was absolutely necessary.
But by spring, Cliff seemed to have made up his mind.

“My brother invited us to tea.”

“Do you think he’s feeling better now?”

“On the outside, he’s the same as ever, though I don’t know what he’s like on the inside.”

Killian smiled bitterly.

Even the place he’d invited us to tea was on the balcony of the Great Hall, where he,
Killian, and Lize often used to drink tea.

There, in the warm sunshine, Cliff was waiting for us with fine refreshments.

“The tea smells wonderful. Thank you for inviting me to tea time, Cliff.”

“Welcome. I’m embarrassed to be thanked for this, it’s nothing special, haha!”

True to Killian’s word, he was wearing his old, confident, carefree smile.

But I could tell from his lean cheeks, rough skin, and slightly thinner physique than before
that he was deeply in pain.
He looked like he couldn’t have eaten, much less slept.

And what were the thoughts that occupied his sleepless mind throughout the silent winter
night?

Self-blame, regret, sadness…… I wonder if he was tormented by those feelings.

I had a vague idea of how hard it must have been for him, but I smiled brightly, as if I had
no idea. As he does.

“When is Erdin’s baptism?”

“March 20, on St. Rufello’s Day.”

“That’s just around the corner. Do you intend to return as soon as the baptism is over?”

“I thought about it, but I think mother and father need Erdin to be with them a little
longer, so I’m staying for another month.”

“Good thinking. Thank you, Killian. Thank you, sister-in-law.”

He thanked us, his eyes wistful again.

Killian took this opportunity to ask, as if to get Cliff’s confirmation.

“What are you going to do, brother? You can’t live like this forever.”

“Killian!”

I poked him in the side, but he didn’t back down.

And Cliff didn’t avoid answering.

“You’re right. I can’t live like this forever. I’m the eldest son of the Ludwigs.”

“I don’t want you to stand up just out of a sense of duty. I want you to be happy.”

Cliff looked a little surprised, then smiled softly and said, “Thanks.”

He stared down at the courtyard for a long moment, then slowly spoke, “But do I have the
right to be happy?”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Did you eat something wrong for
breakfast?”

Killian tried to break the heavy atmosphere with a joke.

But Cliff said in a heavy voice, “I’ve been thinking about my relationship with…… Lize. I
blindly cared about her, and I would do anything for her, even put you and my sister-in-
law in danger.”

Guilt flashed in his eyes as he continued, “To stand by someone you love unconditionally,
to give them more than they need…… I thought that was love, but now I can’t help but
think that I’m the one who made her do that, so I deserve to be punished.”

“Brother!”

Killian and I tried to comfort him, but it was hard to find the right words. Because when
you think about it, he was right.

Cliff glanced at me, then bowed his head in apology.

“I was in such a hurry to cover for Lize before that I didn’t apologize properly. I’m really
sorry, Edith.”

“Oh, come on. It’s all in the past.”

“No matter how far in the past it is, it doesn’t change the fact that I did something
shameful.”

He sighed and added, “In hindsight, my relationship with Lize was so abnormal…… I don’t
know why I didn’t think of it then.”
I suddenly wondered if Cliff had finally broken free of the author’s control.

If such intense emotions in a human being disappear in an instant just because they are no
longer under the control of their creator, perhaps that is what is called the power of
probability.

“When you’re in the grip of an emotion, you don’t realize you’re in the grip of it, and it’s
only when you’re out of the grip that you see things properly,” Killian said, sounding
somewhat rueful, and he glanced at me.

He’d been mean to me before, too, because of his feelings for Lize.

But I didn’t feel the same way about Cliff or Killian.

Rather, I was suffering from an inexplicable sense of emptiness because of Lize.

Now, no one on the main stage of “I Refuse Your Obsession” was from another world like
me.

‘Maybe that’s why I was so lenient with Lize.’

When I realized that Lize was behind every attempt to harm me, I could have driven her
away if I’d only wanted revenge.
But somehow I didn’t want to.

Only she and I know that this world is a fiction. If she left, I would feel alone in this world.

But as Killian said, I couldn’t immersed in this mood forever.

“Even with regrets and heartache, we have to look ahead and move on. There’s too much
we have to get through to dwell on the past.”

I don’t know if what I just said was something I, too, needed to hear.

Nodding, Cliff set his teacup down and said, “So…… I’ve been thinking about my future,
and I’m not lying when I say I deserve to be punished.”

“What are you trying to say? You’re making me anxious……”

“I’m saying that it’s better for you, Killian, to be the heir to the dukedom than for me, a
flawed–”

“Shut up!” Killian snapped, cutting Cliff off before he could finish his sentence.

“I’m serious. You already have an heir and–”

“Is that the kind of punishment you’re talking about, turning my life upside down at your
whim? Do you think the work that Edith and I are putting into Ryzen right now is so
insignificant that it should be overturned because of your sentimental thoughts?”

“……I didn’t mean that.”

Killian let out an exasperated breath to calm himself down. And I found myself agreeing
with Killian.

Ryzen has only just taken the first steps toward change, and if we suddenly leave, our
efforts will be lost without ever seeing the light of day.

“We understand what you mean, Cliff,” I said, “but if you feel responsible for what’s
happened with Lize, then you should remain heir to the dukedom. Take responsibility and
make House Ludwig as strong as it was before–no, stronger than it was before.”

It’s always more painful to stand and endure than to give up and run away. I don’t know if
Killian and I were being cruel to him in that way.

But if Cliff was going to pay for what he’d done, he had to.

Cliff’s brows furrowed as if in pain, but he finally nodded. “I’m sorry, Edith, I almost made
a fool of myself again. I’m sorry, Killian.”

“For the Duke and Duchess’ sake, and for your own, Cliff, please be strong.”
“Edith’s right. I know it’s a bit early, but you should think about marriage.”

Cliff’s lips twitched into a thin smile, half perplexed, half bittersweet at Killian’s addition.

It would certainly be a blemish for the heir to the Dukedom of Ludwig to grow old without
a wife or children, but that didn’t mean it would be easy for him.

“It must be, for any delay in my marriage and birth of an heir would be a burden to my
parents and to you.”

By the standards of a true Rofan novel, Cluff’s first and only love is Lize.

For him, marrying another woman would be like a world-changing event, and would mean
the end of the “I Refuse Your Obsession” world entirely.

But in a world that has already become a reality, you can’t pick up the pieces of a broken
novel.

I decided to support his determination. “I sincerely hope that you can get out of Lize’s
shadow, and that you can build a warm family from the heart, not just marry out of duty.”

“I’ll keep your advice in mind. Though I doubt I’ll ever be as happy as you and Killian.”
We didn’t laugh out loud or pretend to be cheerful, just sipped our hot tea, hoping that
this too would be something we could look back on as a memory.

CHAPTER 156. This Is a common transmigration

“Haa……! As expected, I love Ryzen so much.”

We stayed in the capital for another month, even after Erdin’s baptism, before returning
to Ryzen.

Breathing in the fresh air blowing from Mount Philiac, I felt like I was back home.

The capital had all sorts of conveniences, and we could buy all sorts of things, but it was in
Ryzen that Killian and I felt truly attached.

But it wasn’t just the crisp breeze of the Mount Philiac that awaited us.

“I expected it, but…… work piled up like a mountain.”

“That’s because we’ve been in the capital longer than expected.”

Killian and I let out a small sigh, but we weren’t about to complain.

We’ve been promoting health insurance and finished building the road crossing Mount
Philiac.
We set up guard posts in every village to keep the estate safe, and recruited doctors and
nurses for the medical clinic available to residents.

Even those who had initially complained about the young lord and his wife’s futile
endeavors began to hope for a better life on the estate.

Everything was still in its infancy, but I was happy every day that I was getting closer to my
dreams.

I’ll never forget the day I went to check on the progress of the medical clinic.

“Thank you, madam.”

A skinny girl held out a yellow flower to me, freshly picked from somewhere. It was a
weed that resembled a rape flower, but it was as pretty as the girl’s smile.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. Are you giving it to me?”

The child nodded shyly.

She’s a sickly child no matter how you look at her, but there’s a sparkle in her big eyes. I
think I’ve seen such clear, pretty eyes somewhere before.

“Thank you, I’ll be sure to put it in the vase.”

With that, the little girl blushed and turned away, running back to her mom.

As I stood watching, Killian’s aide, Sir Altens, spoke in a low voice, “This is a child who is
dying of Crusoe’s disease. Thanks to her parents actively participating in the health
insurance program, she was able to be cured as soon as the medical clinic was built.”

“Ah……!”

“It’s too soon to say she’s cured, but she’s much healthier, and after seeing her case,
people around her are responding positively to health insurance.”

Perhaps hearing Sir Altens’ explanation, the child’s mother approached, bowed her head,
and spoke in a trembling voice,

Bowing her head, she said in a trembling voice, “My daughter is the reason we live. If it
weren’t for the health insurance, we would never have been able to pay for her
treatment, and I will never forget your grace, my lord and lady.”

Those words brought tears to my eyes.

And then I remembered where I had seen those pretty eyes of hers.

Poking her head out from behind the bustle of her mother’s skirt and smiling, I caught a
glimpse of the child who had said she envied me because I received my brother’s bone
marrow transplant.

“Edith, what’s wrong, why are you crying……?!”

Killian, who had just come to my side, asked, surprised to see me. I really had some tears
in my eyes.

But I couldn’t have been happier.

I felt like I could finally let go of a long-held guilt.

***

“Mom! Lilia keeps trying to……!”

“Oppa~”
With two kids, there’s never a quiet day at home. Even today, when we’re busy preparing
to leave for the capital.

Erdin, who was gentle from the womb, grew up to be a gentle and affectionate son.

But my daughter Lilia, has a tomboyish side to her that is evident even before she can
speak.

Behold, even today, Erdin, who had just begun to run, came running to me with a pouty
face.

“What’s wrong with Lilia?”

“She keeps climbing on my back and pulling my hair! Here, I’ve got saliva on it, and it’s
brand new……”

Erdin’s eyebrows furrowed as if he was about to cry, and he pointed to his wet shoulder.

Erdin’s hair, which I’d combed neatly in the morning, was messy as a bird’s nest, and the
shoulders of his light green jacket were darker in color.

His cheeks were scratched by fingernails.

It was one of Erdin’s sweet, good-natured traits that, after all he’d been through, he’d
come running slowly to match his sister’s pace.

“Lilia loves you so much. That’s why she follows you around every day.”

“Yeah, I know, but……”

Erdin stamped his foot in frustration.

Erdin is five and Lilia is three, and in a castle with no peers, Erdin and Lilia have no choice
but to play with each other.

Normally a mother would worry about her daughter getting hurt because of the difference
in strength with her older brother, but in my family, the opposite is true.

Lilia, who was always full of energy, would spend all day clinging to Erdin, who preferred
to read books and play quietly.

Erdin usually tolerated his sister’s playfulness, but as time went by, Lilia’s behavior
became more aggressive, but lately Erdin often ran away from her, coming to me looking
like he was going to cry like this.

Erdin’s face was so cute as he held back his tears, probably thinking, “What if my mom
doesn’t take my side?”
He might really cry if I pretended not to notice. I don’t want to teach him to accept his
sister’s behavior unconditionally.

I scooped Lilia into my arms with a stern face. “Lily. No matter how much you love your
brother, you can’t do this, you’re making him suffer.”

When Lilia realized that she was being scolded, she shut her babbling mouth and started
fiddling with the buttons on my dress. The look of innocence on her face was pure angelic.

But I wasn’t about to fall for it. “Lilia Ryzen! Are you listening? You didn’t suddenly forget
what I just said, did you?”

“Mmm…… I just, got bored……”

“You’ll have plenty of friends your own age in the capital, Lilia.”

It was Killian who answered the sulking Lilia.

“When did you get here?”

Killian, who had gone to see the knight commander, entered the room and walked over.

“Just now. Looks like Erdin lost to Lilia again today.”

“I didn’t lose! Lilia is a baby, and I’m a big brother!”

“Yeah, well done, Erdin. You should always be careful and gentlemanly, especially with
someone weaker than you.”

Killian gently stroked Erdin’s head as he angrily protested, smoothing out his messy hair.

Erdin was instantly in a better mood, and a smile slipped through his tightly clenched lips.

Of course, it wasn’t just Killian’s compliments that made Erdin smile.

We’re leaving for the capital’s mansion today, and Erdin is excited to meet many of his
peers.

“It’s a little bit daunting, having to juggle life in the capital and Ryzen.”

“But that’s what most nobles do, and with the children’s education, we can’t completely
ignore the social circle.”

In the capital, we’ll be staying in a newly bought mansion. It’s a pretty nice one, and it’s
been ownerless for a long time, but we bought it and have been fixing it up inside and out
for the past year.

It’s not far from the Ludwig estate, so it wouldn’t be hard to take the kids to meet the
Duke and Duchess.
Once the preparations were done, we headed for the capital, receiving farewells from the
castle workers.

The ten-day trip to the capital would have been daunting, but the children were excited.
The nonstop barrage of questions about this, that, and the other was enough to drive
Killian and me crazy.

But I was also a little excited. The weather was nice too, it would be great if we could have
a picnic.

“Has it been two years since Cliff’s wedding?”

“That’s about right. We attended it at the same time as Lilia’s baptism.”

“I assume he’s doing well?”

“I believe he’s doing well, because when I saw him at the wedding, and in his letters since
then, I’ve gotten the sense that he’s gotten more at ease.”

I nodded.
Cliff had married a very different type of young lady than Lize, a viscount’s daughter with
dark chestnut hair, clear green eyes, a round face, and a gentle demeanor.

She wasn’t a great beauty, nor did she have any eye-catching charms, so there was quite a
bit of gossip about their unexpected marriage at the time.

But after meeting her and exchanging a few words, I quickly realized why they were
getting married.

She had a personality that put people at ease, she was very wise and most of all, she loved
Cliff, not as the heir to House Ludwig, but as Cliff himself.

Cliff, too, was madly in love with her.

It wasn’t a burning love like he had with Lize, but that made it all the more “long and
happy.”

Lize……

“Is there any news from Rodanthe Monastery?”

“Yes. Lize seems to be more at ease now.”

Lize, who had been acting strangely for a while, as if she had lost her mind, had quieted
down since hearing about Cliff’s marriage.
The abbot’s letter said she had laid aside all her earthly burdens.

I prayed that her soul would be saved in return. Even if it was by a god we don’t believe
in……

“Mom, Mom, I see a village over there!”

Erdin’s shout brought me out of my reverie.

The two children poked their heads out of the carriage window, their eyes sparkling.

Killian half leaning toward them to keep them in check in case they got hurt.

The fresh spring breeze, the glorious sunshine.

Suddenly, I laughed.

“Killian. I think this is…… a common transmigration.”

“What do you mean?”

Killian looked at me, tilting his head.

“It’s…… there is such a thing.”

The story of the female lead overcoming the hardships of the flow of the original and
eventually finding happiness with her husband is a common trope.

It may be a cliché for readers, but for me, it’s a life that is neither cliché nor common. It’s a
life that I’ve risked my life to achieve.

I’m here, and I will continue to work hard for my happiness and the happiness of my
people.

Even beyond the word ‘end’, until the day we take our last breath, forever.