"It's a memory of a precious person. Perhaps the reason that a person's death is so painful is because the memories we had with that person were so beautiful. When sadness disappears, joy also disappears."
Compared to my previous life, I am enjoying a surprisingly comfortable life.
Nevertheless, the reason I wanted to return to Oliver's side at all costs was because he was an irreplaceable family member to me.
Because every moment, even the painful or sad ones, was full of affection.
"Ma'am, don't you have moments that were happy enough to push away the painful memories you want to forget?"
It may not be possible to undo the events of the day when everything was lost, but that doesn't mean that it can't be resolved by 'pretending' not to know as if nothing had happened.
Because deep wounds fester from within.
Her face stiffened at my question.
After a while, Madam's tightly closed lips were about to open.
"Aunt!"
A lively voice coming from somewhere broke the silence that had settled in the greenhouse.
As I turned my head, I saw a cute girl in a bright yellow dress walking towards me at a slow pace.
The butler, Alfred, follows in her footsteps and looks flawless.
Calm eyes looked at me sitting on a bench in the greenhouse.
The coolness in his blue eyes penetrated me.
'The hidden hostility has finally revealed itself.'
The woman next to me looked puzzled as she looked at the young lady running towards the greenhouse
“Aileen?”
Eileen Vernon.
Baron Vernon's youngest daughter and a cute niece often visit Viscountess Mancini's mansion.
She opened the door to the greenhouse with an innocent look on her face, completely ignoring all manners of etiquette, and came in, smiling and falling into the arms of the Viscountess.
"It's been a while, right? I wanted to meet you so much!"
The face of the woman patting the child who was crawling into her arms with a devastated face was awkward.
As I was quietly looking at her, I looked at Alfred who politely bent down and handed me an apple.
"I'm sorry. I should have let you know in advance that the lady was visiting..."
"It's okay. It's not the butler's fault. This child must have visited me on het own without even contacting me."
No. That won't necessarily be the case this time.
As she entered the greenhouse triumphantly, her eyes glanced at me.
I could tell by looking at the gaze that instantly swept from head to toe.
She was brought in by my butler Alfred to push away the uncomfortable and annoying me. As I faced the cute-looking girl, Eric's evaluation of her came to mind.
'She's greedy and smart, but she doesn't know how small the world he lives in is.'
Looking at the triumph in her eyes as she looked at me, I couldn't help but admit that Eric Berker definitely has an excellent eye for people.
But it's not a chick, rather Is it just a jealous and foul-tempered dog?
***
I looked at her with her back to me as if she still had no intention of saying hello to me, and calmly opened my mouth.
"Madam, due to circumstances. I think it would be difficult for me to Introduce myself first. Can you introduce me to the person in Madam's arms?"
Madam Mancini sighed and called out to the pampered lady.
"Aileen, baby. That's excessively rude in front of guests."
Only then did she stand up and look back at me with a bright smile.
Although the corners of her mouth were raised, her eyes were full of caution when she looked at me.
It was so blatant that even Madam Mancini could feel it.
“Aileen.”
She greeted me with soft but firm words as if she had no choice.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Aileen Vernon. I am the youngest daughter of Vernant Nam, and the niece of Aunt Phoebe here."
"Yes. Nice to meet you, Miss Aileen. My name is Isabella."
"What about your family?"
Her words made me stop as I was getting up from my bowed body. Madam Mancini's eyebrows narrowed.
“Aileen!”
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's such a natural thing to ask."
She slightly covered her mouth and apologized with a smile.
It was a soulless remark by anyone's standards, but in the end, her words reminded Madam Mancini that as long as my memories have not returned, I am a woman with no roots who doesn't even know her family and doesn't know whether she is noble or not.
Should I say it's fun?
It was an attack I was fully aware of, but it was so blatant that I had nothing more to say.
If I don't go over this situation leniently, it won't live up to the image of 'Isabella' I've shown so far, and she'll probably continue to scratch me starting with this.
'Scratching doesn't really hurt, but it's annoying.'
Instead of smiling brightly, I lowered my head with a bitter smile.
"Ma'am, since you have a guest, it would be best to stop walking. Can I go up to my room, change my clothes, and come down for dinner?"
Madam Mancini, who was looking at me apologetically, nodded.
As I slowly turned around, I heard a pounding voice behind me.
I could tell that the woman who was so strict about manners cared for her a lot just by ending her rudeness with a slap at best.
"It's definitely a bit annoying."
The look in his eyes was quite pitiful.
As I slowly walked down the hallway, playing with my hair, I heard the sound of laughter.
[Do you mind if I listen to their conversation?]
I shook my head in response to Windy's question.
"There won't be any great content anyway."
That's why Alfred summoned her.
"She is a screen that covers Madam's eyes and ears so that she can get rid of the annoying and painful things that hurt the more she thinks about them."
The box of memories that had been tightly closed remained deep in Madam Mancini's heart. Without even being resolved.
"That's foolish."
While Aileen did her best to keep her aunt by her side, Alfred coordinated the movements of Madam and me.
Thanks to this, Madam Mancini and I were able to live in the same mansion and rarely see each other except during meal times.
As time passed, the Madam's face, which had been anxious, regained its sense of stability.
After three days, she seemed to have forgotten her pain and returned to being an undisturbed lady who was an elegant and excellent example to others.
I spent my time comfortably, not trying to take the seat next to her or trying to escape Alfred's clumsy tricks.
I pretended to try to recall my memories by visiting the stables and stopping by the study often.
"Isabella, may I come in?"
In the end, the cat with little patience and a lot of jealousy found my room first.
I greeted her with a faint smile.
"Welcome, Aileen."
Welcome.
***
"A play?"
"There is a new play started by an actress who is in the spotlight these days. Everyone visits the theater a lot because the direction and story are attractive."
"Yes. But I..."
"She's my aunt's favorite actress!"
Aileen raised her voice as if she would not tolerate words of rejection.
She had round eyes and a cute appearance, which combined well with her innocence and recklessness, so she didn't seem that unpleasant.
Perhaps this was her way of being loved.
It crosses the line to the point where it's dangerous, pretending to be foolish and innocent.
"My aunt praised the talent of this young actress. She was on her way from the play the other day when Isabella jumped into her carriage and had an accident."
I looked at her who naturally pretended that 'I jumped into the carriage and caused the accident' and then calmly put down the teacup.
"Are we going together?"
Hesitating at the forceful tone in her irritated voice, I reluctantly nodded.
She got up excitedly and opened the door, then turned her head slightly and smiled.
"Oh, the name of the play. It's called 'Foolish Woman.'"
"Yes."
"It will definitely be fun."
I nodded at the meaningful voice. It must be fun.
"I feel a little tired."
I never thought I would fall into the trap that Eric had made, just as I expected without any deviation.
I looked at Aileen's untouched tea and smiled at Annie, who had come in and was standing there with a restless look on her face.
"Are you okay, Miss?"
"Then. The film. I think I'll have to leave soon, so get ready."
While Madam Mancini and Aileen stayed together, I became closer to the maids who stayed by my side every night.
No matter how great a butler Alfred was, he couldn't monitor the behavior of the maids who served me.
"Foolish and greedy Aileen."
Her foolishness is minor, but those who suffer from it are the employees.
Wrinkling expensive silk, breaking teacups, and complaining about food.
The only ones who value her for trying to imitate a child even though she is not a child are the nobles who are not harmed by her actions. To employees who have to take responsibility for themselves even before they become adults, the pampered girl...
"Well. Is she really that lovely?"
This isn't even her mansion. It's Viscount Mancini's.
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