Rhodnes stopped reminiscing and stared at Bardenaldo. When his feelings for Adrienne had grown from attraction to friendship, and from friendship to love, and had deepened to the point where they could grow deeper. When he had felt uneasy upon seeing the name Adrienne Swan Piretta among the names of the young ladies who were being mentioned as candidates for the Crown Princess. The one who had quickly noticed it and listened to his confession was also his older brother, Bardenaldo, right in front of him.
'Adrienne is not allowed.'
'Adrienne is not allowed.'
'Hmm? Why?'
Bardenaldo, who smiled playfully but affectionately.
'She's the person I want to be with. There are many other young ladies. Adrienne is not a good choice.'
'Is this your first love?'
A once in a lifetime desire. It was the first wish Rhodnes ever revealed since he was born.
'Yes. I don't know about anything else, but never gives Adrienne in.'
‘...Does the Princess know your heart?’
'That, that... I'll tell her soon. So, no.'
What did Bardenaldo, who had been staring at him, say? He stroked the head of his younger brother, who was as tall as him as if he thought it was cute, and shrugged his shoulders and said,
'Will this guy help me?'
“Roan.”
As Bardenaldo continued to make excuses, Rhodnes’ face became more and more miserable. Bardenaldo’s voice became more desperate as he realized that no words could calm him down.
“What can I do to make you forgive me?”
Rhodnes groaned softly. What if he revived Adrienne's body buried in the ground? He should go to Blie, who was actually Adrienne, and kneel down, bury his head, and apologize by killing himself? Should he turn back time, reverse the way he had trampled on his heart and persuaded Noevian?
The more he thought about it, the more desperate he felt. Who would compensate for Adrienne's despair?
He wanted to ridicule the past when he had been proud that he could compensate for it. Now, he had suddenly become the younger brother of the person who had contributed to Adrienne's death. It felt as if all the days when he had done his best to protect Bardenaldo had become arrows pointed at Adrienne.
Desperate thoughts that every little thing that had nothing to do with him might have been related to Adrienne's death flashed through his mind.
'What do I do now?'
Even after hearing about Adrienne’s situation in someone else’s body, his unwavering heart was shaken and burned black. The heart that didn’t care whether she was a small creature or not changed into the fear that Adrienne would never forgive Bardenaldo’s sins.
Could Adrienne, who even Noevian, whom she loved, had mercilessly abandoned, accept him? Could such a fragile and deeply wounded person not think of Bardenaldo when looking at him?
“Roan, please...”
The more Bardenaldo pleaded, the more his anguish and despair deepened. He wanted to shout and ask why he didn’t say no. Why did he only ask for forgiveness as if Noevian Trovica’s words were true?
"What the hell."
As Rhodnes opened his lips, which had been silent, Bardenaldo's tense face was revealed. Rhodnes' face was not even a hint of a smile.
“How can you repay all this sin?”
But Rhodnes couldn't bring himself to pick up his feelings that were about to crumble.
“I was just coming back from helping finish up the funeral.”
The innocent face of Bardenaldo answering sincerely made Rhodnes despair even more.
“I heard that the Princess was originally weak and could die at any time. I will ask for the Princess’s forgiveness after my death and ask for your forgiveness while I live. If I can comfort your heart, I will not object to that noblewoman becoming the Princess. I will help you.”
'Older brother.'
The two lips were stuck together and would not part.
“Shouldn’t the living continue to live? It’s all my fault... Please don’t stain your hands with the blood of your own kin and give others an excuse to attack you. Blame this older brother.”
'Brother, Adrienne... is not dead.'
“If my mother were alive, she would have said the same thing.”
'I lived without dying, and I saw and felt everything that my brother instigated and my uncle did.'
The words that Adrienne’s soul, who could not even go to Abadelia, had been hurt by this dirty sight, and was still hurting now, welled up like clay. Adrienne cursed the past when she had considered miracles that existed in reality, not in Abadelia, to be blessings. It was not a blessing, for her. For her, Noevian Trovica, Crown Prince Bardenaldo... and for him, his blood relative, it would be despair.
As soon as Rhodnes saw the approaching gate, his breath caught in his throat. His hands trembled because he was so afraid of how Adrienne would look at him.
***
The Grand Duchess's residence was in chaos. The Easterners, who were overjoyed at the news that Grand Duke Noevian Trovica was being detained in the border region by the Crown Prince's order, immediately stirred up the Grand Duke's residence. Despite Gaspard's earnest gaze asking me to stop them, I left them alone.
If only the Easterners who had been hurt by Noevian and I could feel better, I would have given them a club in their hands or a torch to light a fire. When I imagined this place, which had burned down to nothing but ashes, I somehow laughed. At that moment, the Grand Duchess's bedroom door opened fiercely. It was Bianca, laughing.
“Your fate is so wicked. You covet other people’s positions, and it’s really not nice.”
The face that had been pouring out accusations hardened as soon as it saw my attire. It was not the mourning clothes like before, but the splendid attire of a Grand Duchess. Bianca strode over to me and grabbed my front apron with force without giving me time to resist.
“How dare you wear something like this on the day Adrienne is buried in the ground. How vulgar do you plan to be?”
I stared at Bianca, whom I missed, without saying a word. Unlike her fierce voice, Bianca's eyes were shaking as if she was about to burst into tears.
“Now that I look at it, I understand why that son of a bitch, Noevian, who was dragged out while crying Adrienne’s name, did that to you. Even the shell alone is eerily similar to our Rien.”
Bianca groaned as she peeled Adrienne's traces from my body.
“...Would you believe me if I told you I was Adrienne?”
Bianca's face changed as if she had been greatly insulted by the words I blurted out impulsively. It was as if she could stab me in the heart if I gave her a sword.
“How dare you...”
Bianca's eyes, which were trembling all over, turned red as if the blood vessels were going to burst. She couldn't control her anger and raised her hand. I gave up and closed my eyes. I heard a thud-! but my cheek didn't hurt. When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Jonah, who had collapsed, clutching her cheek, and Marge in front of the open bedroom door. It seemed like she had come running after hearing the news of the Grand Duke's residence, but the timing wasn't good.
“Hey, Jonah!”
Marge ran towards Jonah, shouting softly. This time, Bianca flinched as well. Bianca clenched her fist with the hand she was still holding, turned away from Jonah, and glared at me.
“Would I believe you? No. Even if you were to name my cousins’ cousins one by one, absolutely not.”
The answer was immediate.
“Don’t you dare ever bring that precious name into your filthy mouth again? I’m not forgiving you, but I know that you can only live like that and eventually, you’ll fall to the bottom, so don’t forget to leave me alone.”
Jonah crawled forward and stood in front of me again, blocking my path as if protecting me.
“Don’t ever show up in front of us again.”
Bianca looked back and forth between Jonah and me, laughing in disbelief before leaving the bedroom. Marge quickly came over and put a coat on me. Even if Bianca's face was despising me, I wanted to engrave it in my heart. As she said, I might never appear before her in the body of Blie again.
“...Jonah, are you okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. Are you not hurt?”
Jonah's cheeks were red and swollen, but she was only worried about me. It felt strange to think that the maid, who had not done anything particularly well for me, would throw herself at me.
“Gyaaaah! Can’t you let this go? Let go of this! What the hell is this?!”
As soon as I reached out my hand anxiously, a sudden scream fell into my ear. I told Marge to take care of Jonah first and quietly went out of the bedroom. The people in the East were desperate to take Grand Duchess Adrienne’s belongings to the East, and Gaspard was running around to collect the belongings to be sent to Grand Duke Noevian.
“Your fate is so wicked. You covet other people’s positions, and it’s really not nice.”
The face that had been pouring out accusations hardened as soon as it saw my attire. It was not the mourning clothes like before, but the splendid attire of a Grand Duchess. Bianca strode over to me and grabbed my front apron with force without giving me time to resist.
“How dare you wear something like this on the day Adrienne is buried in the ground. How vulgar do you plan to be?”
I stared at Bianca, whom I missed, without saying a word. Unlike her fierce voice, Bianca's eyes were shaking as if she was about to burst into tears.
“Now that I look at it, I understand why that son of a bitch, Noevian, who was dragged out while crying Adrienne’s name, did that to you. Even the shell alone is eerily similar to our Rien.”
Bianca groaned as she peeled Adrienne's traces from my body.
“...Would you believe me if I told you I was Adrienne?”
Bianca's face changed as if she had been greatly insulted by the words I blurted out impulsively. It was as if she could stab me in the heart if I gave her a sword.
“How dare you...”
Bianca's eyes, which were trembling all over, turned red as if the blood vessels were going to burst. She couldn't control her anger and raised her hand. I gave up and closed my eyes. I heard a thud-! but my cheek didn't hurt. When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Jonah, who had collapsed, clutching her cheek, and Marge in front of the open bedroom door. It seemed like she had come running after hearing the news of the Grand Duke's residence, but the timing wasn't good.
“Hey, Jonah!”
Marge ran towards Jonah, shouting softly. This time, Bianca flinched as well. Bianca clenched her fist with the hand she was still holding, turned away from Jonah, and glared at me.
“Would I believe you? No. Even if you were to name my cousins’ cousins one by one, absolutely not.”
The answer was immediate.
“Don’t you dare ever bring that precious name into your filthy mouth again? I’m not forgiving you, but I know that you can only live like that and eventually, you’ll fall to the bottom, so don’t forget to leave me alone.”
Jonah crawled forward and stood in front of me again, blocking my path as if protecting me.
“Don’t ever show up in front of us again.”
Bianca looked back and forth between Jonah and me, laughing in disbelief before leaving the bedroom. Marge quickly came over and put a coat on me. Even if Bianca's face was despising me, I wanted to engrave it in my heart. As she said, I might never appear before her in the body of Blie again.
“...Jonah, are you okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. Are you not hurt?”
Jonah's cheeks were red and swollen, but she was only worried about me. It felt strange to think that the maid, who had not done anything particularly well for me, would throw herself at me.
“Gyaaaah! Can’t you let this go? Let go of this! What the hell is this?!”
As soon as I reached out my hand anxiously, a sudden scream fell into my ear. I told Marge to take care of Jonah first and quietly went out of the bedroom. The people in the East were desperate to take Grand Duchess Adrienne’s belongings to the East, and Gaspard was running around to collect the belongings to be sent to Grand Duke Noevian.
The noisiest place amid the chaos was the bedroom next to mine, Noevian’s bedroom.
***
Annie was full of hope. She had heard that among noblewomen, some pushed their maids or servants into their husbands’ bedrooms and let them do whatever they wanted. Was that really the case?
The position of the next Grand Duchess that the Duke of Castagna had promised her two years ago had already fallen through. The sweet offer of having her adopted as a daughter from one of his vassal families and restoring her status as a noblewoman was also gone. If he had intended to do that, he would have done it a long time ago. Things that seemed to be progressing somehow were all put on hold, and an ambush named Blie Acacia appeared and raided the mansion. Annie also had to find her own way to survive. Thinking of Blie, who had dismissed all the maids who had been staying with her and allowed her to use the dead Grand Duchess’s dressing room as she pleased, she felt grateful.
However, Annie had no intention of simply obeying her wishes. She was confident that she could capture Grand Duke Noevian. Thinking of comforting her master who was missing his dead wife in the bedroom, Annie was thoroughly washing herself in the large bathroom. Unfortunately, the bathroom was so soundproof that she could not hear the commotion inside the Grand Duke’s residence at all.
As soon as she finished getting ready and was struggling to put on her clothes, angry people barged in.
“Gyaaaah! Can’t you let this go? Let go of this! What the hell is this?!”
People rushed into the Grand Duke's bedroom, which was open at will, and dragged her out and beat her up.
“...What’s going on?”
“Madam, madam! Madam!”
"Oh my God."
Annie crawled towards Blie, who was coming out of the bedroom next door. Blie was wearing an underdress with only her coat draped over her shoulders, but she was too flustered to properly examine her.
“Hey, there are some strange people all of a sudden!”
“They are not strange people. They are relatives of the late Grand Duchess.”
The people’s cold gazes poured out on Annie. They were the same cold gazes that had been fixed on that woman just a few hours ago. Only then did Annie look around the chaotic surroundings. The easterners who were rummaging around as if it were their own home, and the heavily armed knights... She had a bad feeling about this.
“What the hell is this woman? What the hell is going on in this family!”
“What on earth were you thinking! Wearing clothes that only our Adrienne would wear and coming to the Grand Duke's bedroom!”
Annie, who had become dumbfounded by the commotion of the eastern nobles, looked at Blie Acacia. She clasped her hands together earnestly.
“Annie, I ordered you to help finish the funeral, so why on earth are you coming out of His Highness’s bedroom?”
"...Ma'am?"
“What is that outfit...”
“Th, what is that! Madam clearly said to me..."
“Could it be that on the last day of Her Highness the Grand Duchess’ funeral... you were trying to seduce His Highness?”
“Gyaaaah! Can’t you let this go? Let go of this! What the hell is this?!”
People rushed into the Grand Duke's bedroom, which was open at will, and dragged her out and beat her up.
“...What’s going on?”
“Madam, madam! Madam!”
"Oh my God."
Annie crawled towards Blie, who was coming out of the bedroom next door. Blie was wearing an underdress with only her coat draped over her shoulders, but she was too flustered to properly examine her.
“Hey, there are some strange people all of a sudden!”
“They are not strange people. They are relatives of the late Grand Duchess.”
The people’s cold gazes poured out on Annie. They were the same cold gazes that had been fixed on that woman just a few hours ago. Only then did Annie look around the chaotic surroundings. The easterners who were rummaging around as if it were their own home, and the heavily armed knights... She had a bad feeling about this.
“What the hell is this woman? What the hell is going on in this family!”
“What on earth were you thinking! Wearing clothes that only our Adrienne would wear and coming to the Grand Duke's bedroom!”
Annie, who had become dumbfounded by the commotion of the eastern nobles, looked at Blie Acacia. She clasped her hands together earnestly.
“Annie, I ordered you to help finish the funeral, so why on earth are you coming out of His Highness’s bedroom?”
"...Ma'am?"
“What is that outfit...”
“Th, what is that! Madam clearly said to me..."
“Could it be that on the last day of Her Highness the Grand Duchess’ funeral... you were trying to seduce His Highness?”
The woman's face in astonishment was like that of a demon.
“Butler, this child seems to want to serve His Highness the Grand Duke. Please let her do as she wishes.”
Before Gaspard, who was standing there with his mouth wide open as if at a loss for words, could say anything, the knights who had been occupying and stirring up the Grand Duke's mansion grabbed Annie's arms.
“Nonsense! Let go of me! What the hell is this! Where, where is His Highness the Grand Duke? How dare you come into His Highness the Grand Duke’s mansion...!”
“Annie, you poor thing. The Grand Duke has committed a crime and is now heading to a corner of the north.”
It felt like the world was falling apart. Only then did the sounds of the easterners chattering around her begin to bother her ears.
'The sinner Noevian Trovica.'
'Even the Crown Prince had no choice but to abandon him...'
'How many women have he brought into his bedroom...?'
Annie stared blankly at Blie Acacia walking towards her. The woman, with her eyes filled with pity as if looking at the most pitiful thing in the world, brought her face closer to Annie, who was holding onto her by both arms.
“...You want to be by the Grand Duke's side?”
“!”
“I’ll grant your wish, what’s wrong with that?”
The woman's lips drew a curve as she whispered creepily and left her ear. Annie slowly looked up at the woman who was moving away from her with trembling eyes. At first glance, the woman, wearing only an underdress and a disheveled coat, looked pitiful. However...
'...Madwoman.'
The woman's green eyes, shining blue, were brimming with the determination to send Annie to the fires of hell.
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