I had stayed up the night before. Noevian spent the day at the annex yesterday and went to the cemetery with the coffin containing my body. I wore mourning clothes but did not follow him. I could not bear to see myself buried in the ground.
I sat up for a moment and looked out the window. The huge carriage that had rushed through the front gate had the emblem of the Duke of Piretta clearly engraved on it.
“Wouldn’t it be better to avoid it?”
Marie stamped her feet anxiously. If I were to meet them in the Grand Duchess’ bedroom, it would only make them even angrier, but Bianca would be considerably shocked. To make them even angrier, but also to make Bianca as shocked as possible, it would be best for me to leave Adrienne’s room and meet them outside.
Even as she spoke, Bianca would occasionally look at my face and swallow in vain. She would grab the frills on my arms and shoulders as if she were trying to tear me apart, but she would also bite her lower lip, which would tremble whenever our eyes met.
“I think it’s been about a year since I first met him. Maybe even longer. I understand your feelings, but His Highness the Grand Duke and I... are in love with each other.”
My neatly tied hair was immediately grabbed by Bianca's small, strong hands. I gritted my teeth to keep from screaming.
“Bianca!”
“Madam! Stop it! Madam!”
As soon as I finished saying that it had been over a year since I had met Noevian, Bianca's eyes, which had been shining darkly, seemed to roll back. I had fully expected this from the time I had relayed the news to Piretta. I had even expected that they would bring in troops from the East. However, if that had been possible, Bianca would not have caused such a ruckus by taking such a desperate measure.
“Stop it, ma’am!”
“Bianca!”
Marie, Jonah, and Gregory began to tear at Bianca. The excruciating pain of feeling like my scalp was being ripped off came upon me. It was fortunate, on the contrary. At the sight of Bianca and Gregory's faces, I had an excuse to cry.
“Damn you. You cheapskate! You dare to touch the pride of the East and think you’ll get away with it! You killed Adrienne too, didn’t you? Save Rien! Save her and then die!”
Bianca's voice, almost screaming, pierced my heart. I really missed the way Bianca called me by my nickname.
“How dare you, how dare you, the government, to covet the position of the Grand Duchess! How dare you covet our Rien’s position! Thinking about leaving the sick Rien behind and joining forces with that dog Noevian! Do you know who she is? Do you know how precious she is!!”
The headdress was already torn off and lined up on the floor, and Jonah and Marie were practically hanging on to Bianca's arms. Soon the entrance door opened nearby, and a huge figure came in between Bianca and me, who were barely able to be torn off and dried.
“Please stop.”
It was Rhodnes. The situation was sorted out faster than expected. At the sudden appearance of the Prince, everyone in the East bowed one knee and paid respect, and Gregory was no exception. Even Bianca, whose heart was pounding, bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and lowered her head with a miserable expression.
“Isn’t today the day the Grand Duchess’ funeral ends? The commotion is only appropriate after that.”
My makeup was probably smudged from the tears I had secretly shed. Hiding behind Rhodnes’s wide back, I had to hold back my heart from bursting as I secretly listened to Bianca sobbing softly.
“Just one, let me ask you one thing.”
Perhaps because she thought she couldn’t embarrass herself anymore in front of the Prince, Bianca forced herself to speak up. Rhodnes grabbed my trembling arm with his hand behind his back as if telling me not to come forward. I rested my forehead on his strong, wide back and took a breath for a moment. I couldn’t bear to see Bianca’s crumbling face either, so I could only listen quietly. Bianca’s voice, barely able to swallow her breath as she groaned, was heard low on the floor of the Grand Duke’s palace.
“Did our Rien know about your existence... and die?”
I grabbed the hem of Rodnes's clothes, which were pulled tight. I wanted to scream.
“Our Rien... Did Rien die knowing about your existence?”
I finally broke down. I felt myself staggering, and if Rhodnes hadn't immediately turned around and supported me, I might have fainted. Bianca's face, which I had glimpsed, was so filled with sad anger that I couldn't breathe.
'...Sister.'
The foolish Adrienne died without knowing. That made it even more painful. I buried my face in Rhodnes’s firm embrace and shed silent tears. Bianca’s voice, which took the long silence as an affirmation, grew louder.
“What’s all this noise?”
The entrance door opened again, and this time Noevian entered the lobby. My hair was disheveled and I was lying in Rhodnes’ arms. Noevian’s steps suddenly stopped as he seemed to have figured out the situation after seeing Bianca screaming. My face was soaked, and I made direct eye contact with Noevian. Noevian’s eyes were not normal either.
“No. The Grand Duchess didn’t know of my existence. I really don’t think she knew, not even in her dreams.”
I lifted my lips from Rhodnes' arms, staring intently at Noevian. It was a voice that had been filled with overflowing tears and screams, shoved deep inside.
“Euuuuu-. Euuuuuuk-!”
“But now she knows.”
“Euuuuuuuk! Huuuuuuk! Huuuuuuk!”
“Because during the funeral, she was in the basement and I was here, sharing the same space.”
A scream burst out of Bianca's throat, the sound of resentment boiling over.
But Noevian's half-turned eyes turned to me without a single waver. Bianca collapsed on the cold lobby floor, and Gregory's furious shouting repeatedly moved farther and closer. Judging from the violent shaking of Rhodnes's body, it seemed that several people had rushed toward him, who was protecting me. But at that moment, there was no Bianca, no Gregory, no Rhodnes. I was just receiving Noevian's dazzling and strange gaze.
Gaspard, who was guarding the mansion like me, gave me the emergency key bundle that Noevian had been carrying. It meant that I was allowed to use the Grand Duchess’ office as well as her bedroom. I watched it through the Grand Duchess’ bedroom window as the flower carriage carrying Grand Duchess Adrienne’s body and the procession led by the mourner Noevian left the Grand Duke’s residence. I stayed there for quite some time, even after they left the mansion.
Gaspard hesitated for a long time as if he had something to say, and when my gaze did not leave the outside, he sighed deeply and went outside. As soon as Gaspard left, I opened a newspaper that I had torn from my bosom.
The reason I couldn’t sleep was not simply because of my funeral. This morning. I was tossing and turning while looking at the window where the dawn was breaking, and as soon as Jonah came in quietly and placed a newspaper on my bedside table, and disappeared, I opened it. There was a short note attached to the article about the eve of the Emperor's birthday, which would be held throughout the capital for several days.
[When red fireworks decorate the sky, a blue star will fall.]
Ronta's symbol is blue. According to etiquette, in the event related to His Majesty the Emperor's birthday, blue fireworks would be shot to wish for the prosperity of the empire. Is there even a day when red fireworks are shot? And if it's a blue star...
'Noevian Trovica.'
The only blue star in the empire that Rhodnes could hint at was Noevian. I looked at the white camellia branch that was placed with the newspaper and pressed down my still-pounding heart. It was definitely a signal. Rhodnes would never have acted alone without consulting the Crown Prince. It was definitely something the Crown Prince had agreed to.
“Madam! Madam!”
It was at that moment that I came to my senses, having been lost in thought.
“Oh, there are mourners from the late Grand Duchess’s parents’ home....!”
“Madam! Madam!”
It was at that moment that I came to my senses, having been lost in thought.
“Oh, there are mourners from the late Grand Duchess’s parents’ home....!”
I sat up for a moment and looked out the window. The huge carriage that had rushed through the front gate had the emblem of the Duke of Piretta clearly engraved on it.
“Wouldn’t it be better to avoid it?”
Marie stamped her feet anxiously. If I were to meet them in the Grand Duchess’ bedroom, it would only make them even angrier, but Bianca would be considerably shocked. To make them even angrier, but also to make Bianca as shocked as possible, it would be best for me to leave Adrienne’s room and meet them outside.
***
The moment Bianca and Gregory entered the Grand Duke’s residence, my breath caught in my throat. My death had seemed like a long time ago, but their slightly thin and wounded faces seemed to loudly announce that it had only been a hundred days since I had died, and I came to my senses. I was not the only one who came to my senses.
Gregory and Bianca, who had been dragged in somewhat forcibly, stopped dead in their tracks as I approached the entrance to greet them. Their reactions to seeing my face were honest. Gregory’s face was one of shock, Bianca’s of contempt.
“Madam, madam...”
"Lady?"
I could faintly hear Marie and Jonah trying to stop me.
“Welcome to the residence of Grand Duchess Trovika, the Duke and Duchess of Piretta...”
Clap-!
“Madam, madam...”
"Lady?"
I could faintly hear Marie and Jonah trying to stop me.
“Welcome to the residence of Grand Duchess Trovika, the Duke and Duchess of Piretta...”
Clap-!
I gathered my pounding heart and walked towards them, but my head turned in an instant. The sound of my cheeks being slapped across the air was quite sharp and sharp. It was a strong hit that stopped Gregory’s steps as he approached me as if he was going to grab me by the collar.
Clap-!
My head, which had turned to the right enough to make my neck hurt, turned back to the exact opposite side. My cheeks felt hot as if they had been set on fire. My mouth tasted bloody as if it had been torn apart. Even after slapping both cheeks, Bianca was still breathing heavily, her shoulders shaking as if her anger was not relieved.
“...Are you done?”
I held onto my heart which was about to collapse and raised my voice. At my words, the servants who had gathered and even the knights who had brought my brother and sister-in-law fell into a heavy silence. When I winked at Sophie, the head maid who was watching from afar, the experienced head maid quickly pushed the servants away or sent them somewhere else. Bianca, who seemed to hate seeing that sight, frowned and strode toward me.
“I’ve already found out everything, so answer me correctly. I’m not asking to confirm, I’m just trying to hear what you have to say with that shameless mouth of yours!”
“...Bianca.”
“You are missing out.”
Gregory stared at my face for a moment, then came to his senses and tried to stop Bianca, but I knew very well that no one could stop Bianca when she was that excited.
“Since when? Since when have you been conspiring with that son of a bitch? What the heck...!”
“...Are you done?”
I held onto my heart which was about to collapse and raised my voice. At my words, the servants who had gathered and even the knights who had brought my brother and sister-in-law fell into a heavy silence. When I winked at Sophie, the head maid who was watching from afar, the experienced head maid quickly pushed the servants away or sent them somewhere else. Bianca, who seemed to hate seeing that sight, frowned and strode toward me.
“I’ve already found out everything, so answer me correctly. I’m not asking to confirm, I’m just trying to hear what you have to say with that shameless mouth of yours!”
“...Bianca.”
“You are missing out.”
Gregory stared at my face for a moment, then came to his senses and tried to stop Bianca, but I knew very well that no one could stop Bianca when she was that excited.
“Since when? Since when have you been conspiring with that son of a bitch? What the heck...!”
Even as she spoke, Bianca would occasionally look at my face and swallow in vain. She would grab the frills on my arms and shoulders as if she were trying to tear me apart, but she would also bite her lower lip, which would tremble whenever our eyes met.
“I think it’s been about a year since I first met him. Maybe even longer. I understand your feelings, but His Highness the Grand Duke and I... are in love with each other.”
My neatly tied hair was immediately grabbed by Bianca's small, strong hands. I gritted my teeth to keep from screaming.
“Bianca!”
“Madam! Stop it! Madam!”
As soon as I finished saying that it had been over a year since I had met Noevian, Bianca's eyes, which had been shining darkly, seemed to roll back. I had fully expected this from the time I had relayed the news to Piretta. I had even expected that they would bring in troops from the East. However, if that had been possible, Bianca would not have caused such a ruckus by taking such a desperate measure.
“Stop it, ma’am!”
“Bianca!”
Marie, Jonah, and Gregory began to tear at Bianca. The excruciating pain of feeling like my scalp was being ripped off came upon me. It was fortunate, on the contrary. At the sight of Bianca and Gregory's faces, I had an excuse to cry.
“Damn you. You cheapskate! You dare to touch the pride of the East and think you’ll get away with it! You killed Adrienne too, didn’t you? Save Rien! Save her and then die!”
Bianca's voice, almost screaming, pierced my heart. I really missed the way Bianca called me by my nickname.
“How dare you, how dare you, the government, to covet the position of the Grand Duchess! How dare you covet our Rien’s position! Thinking about leaving the sick Rien behind and joining forces with that dog Noevian! Do you know who she is? Do you know how precious she is!!”
The headdress was already torn off and lined up on the floor, and Jonah and Marie were practically hanging on to Bianca's arms. Soon the entrance door opened nearby, and a huge figure came in between Bianca and me, who were barely able to be torn off and dried.
“Please stop.”
It was Rhodnes. The situation was sorted out faster than expected. At the sudden appearance of the Prince, everyone in the East bowed one knee and paid respect, and Gregory was no exception. Even Bianca, whose heart was pounding, bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and lowered her head with a miserable expression.
“Isn’t today the day the Grand Duchess’ funeral ends? The commotion is only appropriate after that.”
My makeup was probably smudged from the tears I had secretly shed. Hiding behind Rhodnes’s wide back, I had to hold back my heart from bursting as I secretly listened to Bianca sobbing softly.
“Just one, let me ask you one thing.”
Perhaps because she thought she couldn’t embarrass herself anymore in front of the Prince, Bianca forced herself to speak up. Rhodnes grabbed my trembling arm with his hand behind his back as if telling me not to come forward. I rested my forehead on his strong, wide back and took a breath for a moment. I couldn’t bear to see Bianca’s crumbling face either, so I could only listen quietly. Bianca’s voice, barely able to swallow her breath as she groaned, was heard low on the floor of the Grand Duke’s palace.
“Did our Rien know about your existence... and die?”
I grabbed the hem of Rodnes's clothes, which were pulled tight. I wanted to scream.
“Our Rien... Did Rien die knowing about your existence?”
I finally broke down. I felt myself staggering, and if Rhodnes hadn't immediately turned around and supported me, I might have fainted. Bianca's face, which I had glimpsed, was so filled with sad anger that I couldn't breathe.
'...Sister.'
The foolish Adrienne died without knowing. That made it even more painful. I buried my face in Rhodnes’s firm embrace and shed silent tears. Bianca’s voice, which took the long silence as an affirmation, grew louder.
“What’s all this noise?”
The entrance door opened again, and this time Noevian entered the lobby. My hair was disheveled and I was lying in Rhodnes’ arms. Noevian’s steps suddenly stopped as he seemed to have figured out the situation after seeing Bianca screaming. My face was soaked, and I made direct eye contact with Noevian. Noevian’s eyes were not normal either.
“No. The Grand Duchess didn’t know of my existence. I really don’t think she knew, not even in her dreams.”
I lifted my lips from Rhodnes' arms, staring intently at Noevian. It was a voice that had been filled with overflowing tears and screams, shoved deep inside.
“Euuuuu-. Euuuuuuk-!”
“But now she knows.”
“Euuuuuuuk! Huuuuuuk! Huuuuuuk!”
“Because during the funeral, she was in the basement and I was here, sharing the same space.”
A scream burst out of Bianca's throat, the sound of resentment boiling over.
But Noevian's half-turned eyes turned to me without a single waver. Bianca collapsed on the cold lobby floor, and Gregory's furious shouting repeatedly moved farther and closer. Judging from the violent shaking of Rhodnes's body, it seemed that several people had rushed toward him, who was protecting me. But at that moment, there was no Bianca, no Gregory, no Rhodnes. I was just receiving Noevian's dazzling and strange gaze.
***
Noevian's private soldiers took the people from the east to the annex. Gregory glared at us, saying that he couldn't lose his senses in front of Rhodnes, and disappeared, saying that he would see us tomorrow. Rhodnes had to leave the ducal palace because Vincenzo had urgently called him. Before leaving the ducal palace, Rhodnes's gleaming eyes shone sharply as if they would cut Noevian down, but I shook my head firmly.
Rhodnes, barely able to suppress his boiling anger and furrowing his brow, signaled that he would be back soon and took a heavy step. As soon as the situation was resolved, I was helplessly grabbed by Noevian's hand and dragged up the stairs as if I were being dragged.
“Don’t move and wait here.”
Noevian, who had coldly rebuked me, slammed the bedroom door shut and walked away. I was practically thrown into the Grand Duchess’ bedroom, and I sat on the floor and sobbed for a long time.
“Don’t move and wait here.”
Noevian, who had coldly rebuked me, slammed the bedroom door shut and walked away. I was practically thrown into the Grand Duchess’ bedroom, and I sat on the floor and sobbed for a long time.
Gregory’s sighs and Bianca’s screams still lingered in my mind. It was more painful than I thought. I had only tried to provoke them and make them not feel any sympathy for Noevian. I felt like I had caused even greater harm to those who were already suffering and struggling because of my greed.
I glared at the bedroom door that Noevian had left. It was clear that Noevian wanted to have his own government in this space where I had died. Just thinking about those crazy eyes mixed with all sorts of desires made my back sweat. It was that clear. What did he want?
The last day of my funeral. With my screaming family by my side, he pushed Adrienne into the cold ground. He was going to have Blie. The moment I realized that I couldn't shake the feeling that my sanity had snapped somewhere. It was okay. I thought everything was going according to plan. But I couldn't find a way to relieve my anger and resentment, so I kicked the bedroom door open like a crazy woman and ran towards Adrienne's dressing room. The door, which wasn't even locked, opened easily. As soon as I entered, I took out the dress that caught my eye the most.
"Lady!"
The maids who had followed me since I ran out of the bedroom were looking at me with shocked expressions.
“Jonah, go out.”
“Ma’am?”
“Annie, Marie. Come here and dress me up.”
"Yes?"
I threw the dress at Annie, who was standing there dumbfounded. Annie caught it absentmindedly, and even Marie, who was standing next to her, flinched.
“Make me exactly like dead Adrienne, now.”
The real fight was just beginning.
"Lady!"
The maids who had followed me since I ran out of the bedroom were looking at me with shocked expressions.
“Jonah, go out.”
“Ma’am?”
“Annie, Marie. Come here and dress me up.”
"Yes?"
I threw the dress at Annie, who was standing there dumbfounded. Annie caught it absentmindedly, and even Marie, who was standing next to her, flinched.
“Make me exactly like dead Adrienne, now.”
The real fight was just beginning.
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