Her head felt dizzy. Cecilia felt her vision blurring and rubbed her eyelids lightly. She couldn't believe she had gone back in time, but she was sure it wasn't a dream.
Everything that had happened was still vivid in her mind. The bitter betrayal and sorrow she felt toward Eden, who had abandoned the Duke of Lane, were still vivid as if they were engraved in her bones. The despair she felt the moment she jumped off the tower was also the same.
“Cecilia?”
But this was not the time to be reminiscing about that memory. Everyone was paying attention to Eden and Cecilia, the main characters of the wedding party.
And Eden was asking her to dance, with one hand on his waist and the other hand out. Cecilia naturally took his hand as if she had been deliberately holding it.
“The dress suits you well.”
Eden complimented the wedding dress. Cecilia smiled quietly, and the conductor, noticing that the main characters were ready, moved his hands vigorously. The music began.
The sunlight above her head broke into brilliant colors and poured down, and the soft silk dress swept through the air like a flower in perfect bloom.
In her previous life, Eden had complimented Cecilia on how she looked like a fluttering butterfly when she danced, and it was hard to believe that such a compliment was anything but affectionate.
As the music reached its climax, Cecilia spun around, holding Eden's hand. She stepped on the fresh grass and took a few steps away from Eden before hugging him again.
Beneath his chest, which was touching her back, Eden's heart was beating quietly and feebly.
“...”
Yes, it was a warm feeling toward a companion, but it was not love.
So, has your heart towards me ever been love?
The body turned again. Cecilia's light steps moved away from Eden again. The only thing that connected them was their clasped hands.
While a typical wedding banquet lasts until just past lunchtime, Eden and Cecilia's wedding banquet lasts until dinnertime. The Emperor did not leave at all because it was his second son's wedding.
“Get ready to see the guests off.”
“I will do as you command.”
When Eden ordered the butler to do so, he replied politely that he would do so. Cecilia gazed blankly at the carriages, guests, and attendants lined up outside the large window.
“Cecilia.”
It was after hearing Eden's voice that she came back to her senses, which had felt so distant. Cecilia turned her head and looked at Eden.
“Would you like to go together?”
Seeing guests off was always the responsibility of the protagonists, and Cecilia, who had become the Grand Duchess of Burnett, also had a responsibility.
“No. I want to rest.”
But she was more tired. It was even harder to deal with Eden when her mind was still not in order. So Cecilia firmly rejected Eden’s offer.
“Then I’ll go alone.”
Perhaps because he thought Cecilia was already feeling unwell, Eden turned around and went down the stairs without offering any more advice. At that moment, the maid, Lauren, who had been waiting to guide Cecilia to her bedroom, bowed deeply in greeting.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Please call me Lauren.”
“Nice to meet you, Lauren.”
Cecilia greeted her with grace, seeing a familiar face. Lauren treated Cecilia faithfully as her hostess while staying in the townhouse of the capital. But that was all.
“I will show you to your bedroom.”
Cecilia followed behind her, her back straight, recalling her less-than-impressive memories of Lauren.
“Your bedroom is here.”
The master bedroom was decorated just as she remembered, according to Cecilia’s taste. The bedroom, with its wooden table and dressing table, and the appropriate mix of white and green, had a natural feel.
“I’ll go and heat up some bath water while you rest.”
Lauren quickly left the room. Thanks to this, Cecilia, who was left alone, was able to sit on the bed bench without any burden and show her tiredness instead of looking around the bedroom.
“...”
Finally, she was left alone. Cecilia half-closed her eyes, feeling the passage of time that felt distant.
She got engaged to Eden when she was ten, a young age when she didn't know what to do. And when she was about to get married right after she became an adult, Cecilia got seriously ill and the plan was postponed. Eden didn't call off the engagement even when he saw Cecilia gasping for breath as if she was about to die. So when she was twenty, she finally got married to him.
That was today.
“...It was peaceful.”
During her life as an Grand Duchess, she never experienced any major problems. Eden was faithful to their marriage, and everything was peaceful.
Things began to change with the unexpected death of the Crown Prince. When Eden was twenty-two, Crown Prince Aster tragically died in the war, and all peace was shattered.
'His Highness the Third Prince is the legitimate heir!'
The Crown Prince's position was so firmly established that no one could raise an objection. So, after his unexpected death, everything was in chaos.
'His Highness the Second Prince is the second in line to the throne!'
A fight broke out between the 2nd Prince, who was favored by the Emperor and supported by the Duke of Lane, and the 3rd Prince, who was the son of the Emperor and the current Empress, over the position of Crown Prince.
“The bath water is ready.”
The maid, Lauren, knocked on the door and said. Cecilia, unfazed by the sudden noise, got up from her seat and headed to the bathroom. Perhaps because it was the first night, everything was prepared noisily.
“Is the water temperature okay?”
Cecilia, sitting in the bathtub filled with rose petals, nodded silently.
“I want to be alone, so everyone leaves.”
After the long reception and ceremony, she didn't have time to enjoy a leisurely bath. She hadn't even had time to gather her thoughts.
Lauren rolled her eyes in confusion, unsure whether she should help Cecilia with her bath or respect Cecilia's request to be left alone.
“Please call me if you need anything.”
But since the master said so, she couldn't dare to say anything. Lauren got up, dismissed all the maids, and went out of the bathroom.
Only after hearing the door close did Cecilia rest her head on the edge of the bathtub. The sound of water sloshing echoed softly in the bathroom. Cecilia closed her eyes and continued her thoughts.
'Anyone who dares to disobey the results of the competition and harm the one who will become the Crown Prince shall repay the sin with death.'
Meanwhile, in the competition for the Crown Prince position, the third Prince tried to harm Eden.
'Your Majesty, please. Please spare Damon!'
The Emperor was furious and accused the Third Prince, Damon, of murdering the royal family. No matter how much the Empress cried and begged, it was no use. Eden was the only living child of the former Empress Janet, whom the Emperor still loved.
Just as he had shed tears for Aster, who was the Crown Prince, and sent Eden out of the palace, he executed Damon for Eden, who would become the Crown Prince. Eden became the Crown Prince, and after the Emperor died of illness, he became the Emperor.
'Your Majesty, do not be distressed. I am grateful that I can die for you.'
He had not been educated as a Crown Prince, so he had many burdens. Losing his own people was especially burdensome. Whenever those who were unjustly involved in political strife lost their lives, he felt burdened by his position of having to accept their sacrifices without any hesitation. He was born that way.
'I want to reveal the ugly truth about the Lane family.'
But why wasn't it like that for her?
At some point, Eden called the family that was in love with the Duke of Lane to his side. Meanwhile, the slight warmth in his eyes as he looked at Cecilia disappeared.
'The people of the domain of Bester, ruled by Duke Lane, are dying.'
The Count Nova, an old vassal family of the Duke Lane, accused the Duke Lane of unauthorized taxation and embezzlement with the suspected purpose of exploitation.
Without a moment's hesitation, Eden brought Cecilia's father and his father-in-law, Curtis Lane, to trial.
'It's unfair. It's really not my fault!'
Curtis denied it. No one believed him except Cecilia. Eden recovered all the money Curtis had embezzled and took away the title of Duke of Lane. The title went to Count Nova, who had risked his life to denounce him.
And then came misfortune, and more misfortune. It was discovered that there was a large amount of iron ore in the abandoned mines in Bester. It was reported that Duke Lane, whose honor had been tarnished by the Emperor's decision, was plotting a rebellion.
'There's no way my father would do that, Your Majesty. His daughter is the Empress, so why on earth would my father do that? Yes?'
'I think you'd better go back, Cecilia.'
She wanted to clear up the misunderstanding. Cecilia clung to Eden, crying, and begging him to believe her. She thought Eden would believe her, but the result was disastrous. The Lane family fell, Curtis was executed, and Cecilia killed herself before she could die at the hands of others.
Cecilia's body, leaning against the bathtub, sank deep into the water. Thinking about her past despair, she felt like closing her eyes and sinking to death.
'Why am I dying again?'
But suddenly, Cecilia opened her green eyes as a sense of resistance welled up in her heart. Red rose petals were fluttering on the surface of the water like drops of blood.
I loved him and resented him until the very end. But why, why was he so cruel to me?
'Why do I have to be the only one suffering?'
But even if she understands him, does that change the fact that he abandoned her and that she was pushed to her death?
No.
With a slosh, Cecilia's wet head emerged from the water. Her wet hands held onto the edge of the bathtub, holding up her swaying body.
'I want to go back. Then I won't love him again.'
The wish she had desperately hoped for just before she died came to mind.
'I could have stabbed him in the heart.'
If what she thought was a vain wish became reality. If this life was truly like a second gift.
Cecilia slowly lifted her eyelids. Drops of water fell from the tips of her long eyelashes. Of course, they weren't tears.
Everything that had happened was still vivid in her mind. The bitter betrayal and sorrow she felt toward Eden, who had abandoned the Duke of Lane, were still vivid as if they were engraved in her bones. The despair she felt the moment she jumped off the tower was also the same.
“Cecilia?”
But this was not the time to be reminiscing about that memory. Everyone was paying attention to Eden and Cecilia, the main characters of the wedding party.
And Eden was asking her to dance, with one hand on his waist and the other hand out. Cecilia naturally took his hand as if she had been deliberately holding it.
“The dress suits you well.”
Eden complimented the wedding dress. Cecilia smiled quietly, and the conductor, noticing that the main characters were ready, moved his hands vigorously. The music began.
The sunlight above her head broke into brilliant colors and poured down, and the soft silk dress swept through the air like a flower in perfect bloom.
In her previous life, Eden had complimented Cecilia on how she looked like a fluttering butterfly when she danced, and it was hard to believe that such a compliment was anything but affectionate.
As the music reached its climax, Cecilia spun around, holding Eden's hand. She stepped on the fresh grass and took a few steps away from Eden before hugging him again.
Beneath his chest, which was touching her back, Eden's heart was beating quietly and feebly.
“...”
Yes, it was a warm feeling toward a companion, but it was not love.
So, has your heart towards me ever been love?
The body turned again. Cecilia's light steps moved away from Eden again. The only thing that connected them was their clasped hands.
While a typical wedding banquet lasts until just past lunchtime, Eden and Cecilia's wedding banquet lasts until dinnertime. The Emperor did not leave at all because it was his second son's wedding.
“Get ready to see the guests off.”
“I will do as you command.”
When Eden ordered the butler to do so, he replied politely that he would do so. Cecilia gazed blankly at the carriages, guests, and attendants lined up outside the large window.
“Cecilia.”
It was after hearing Eden's voice that she came back to her senses, which had felt so distant. Cecilia turned her head and looked at Eden.
“Would you like to go together?”
Seeing guests off was always the responsibility of the protagonists, and Cecilia, who had become the Grand Duchess of Burnett, also had a responsibility.
“No. I want to rest.”
But she was more tired. It was even harder to deal with Eden when her mind was still not in order. So Cecilia firmly rejected Eden’s offer.
“Then I’ll go alone.”
Perhaps because he thought Cecilia was already feeling unwell, Eden turned around and went down the stairs without offering any more advice. At that moment, the maid, Lauren, who had been waiting to guide Cecilia to her bedroom, bowed deeply in greeting.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Please call me Lauren.”
“Nice to meet you, Lauren.”
Cecilia greeted her with grace, seeing a familiar face. Lauren treated Cecilia faithfully as her hostess while staying in the townhouse of the capital. But that was all.
“I will show you to your bedroom.”
Cecilia followed behind her, her back straight, recalling her less-than-impressive memories of Lauren.
“Your bedroom is here.”
The master bedroom was decorated just as she remembered, according to Cecilia’s taste. The bedroom, with its wooden table and dressing table, and the appropriate mix of white and green, had a natural feel.
“I’ll go and heat up some bath water while you rest.”
Lauren quickly left the room. Thanks to this, Cecilia, who was left alone, was able to sit on the bed bench without any burden and show her tiredness instead of looking around the bedroom.
“...”
Finally, she was left alone. Cecilia half-closed her eyes, feeling the passage of time that felt distant.
She got engaged to Eden when she was ten, a young age when she didn't know what to do. And when she was about to get married right after she became an adult, Cecilia got seriously ill and the plan was postponed. Eden didn't call off the engagement even when he saw Cecilia gasping for breath as if she was about to die. So when she was twenty, she finally got married to him.
That was today.
“...It was peaceful.”
During her life as an Grand Duchess, she never experienced any major problems. Eden was faithful to their marriage, and everything was peaceful.
Things began to change with the unexpected death of the Crown Prince. When Eden was twenty-two, Crown Prince Aster tragically died in the war, and all peace was shattered.
'His Highness the Third Prince is the legitimate heir!'
The Crown Prince's position was so firmly established that no one could raise an objection. So, after his unexpected death, everything was in chaos.
'His Highness the Second Prince is the second in line to the throne!'
A fight broke out between the 2nd Prince, who was favored by the Emperor and supported by the Duke of Lane, and the 3rd Prince, who was the son of the Emperor and the current Empress, over the position of Crown Prince.
“The bath water is ready.”
The maid, Lauren, knocked on the door and said. Cecilia, unfazed by the sudden noise, got up from her seat and headed to the bathroom. Perhaps because it was the first night, everything was prepared noisily.
“Is the water temperature okay?”
Cecilia, sitting in the bathtub filled with rose petals, nodded silently.
“I want to be alone, so everyone leaves.”
After the long reception and ceremony, she didn't have time to enjoy a leisurely bath. She hadn't even had time to gather her thoughts.
Lauren rolled her eyes in confusion, unsure whether she should help Cecilia with her bath or respect Cecilia's request to be left alone.
“Please call me if you need anything.”
But since the master said so, she couldn't dare to say anything. Lauren got up, dismissed all the maids, and went out of the bathroom.
Only after hearing the door close did Cecilia rest her head on the edge of the bathtub. The sound of water sloshing echoed softly in the bathroom. Cecilia closed her eyes and continued her thoughts.
'Anyone who dares to disobey the results of the competition and harm the one who will become the Crown Prince shall repay the sin with death.'
Meanwhile, in the competition for the Crown Prince position, the third Prince tried to harm Eden.
'Your Majesty, please. Please spare Damon!'
The Emperor was furious and accused the Third Prince, Damon, of murdering the royal family. No matter how much the Empress cried and begged, it was no use. Eden was the only living child of the former Empress Janet, whom the Emperor still loved.
Just as he had shed tears for Aster, who was the Crown Prince, and sent Eden out of the palace, he executed Damon for Eden, who would become the Crown Prince. Eden became the Crown Prince, and after the Emperor died of illness, he became the Emperor.
'Your Majesty, do not be distressed. I am grateful that I can die for you.'
He had not been educated as a Crown Prince, so he had many burdens. Losing his own people was especially burdensome. Whenever those who were unjustly involved in political strife lost their lives, he felt burdened by his position of having to accept their sacrifices without any hesitation. He was born that way.
'I want to reveal the ugly truth about the Lane family.'
But why wasn't it like that for her?
At some point, Eden called the family that was in love with the Duke of Lane to his side. Meanwhile, the slight warmth in his eyes as he looked at Cecilia disappeared.
'The people of the domain of Bester, ruled by Duke Lane, are dying.'
The Count Nova, an old vassal family of the Duke Lane, accused the Duke Lane of unauthorized taxation and embezzlement with the suspected purpose of exploitation.
Without a moment's hesitation, Eden brought Cecilia's father and his father-in-law, Curtis Lane, to trial.
'It's unfair. It's really not my fault!'
Curtis denied it. No one believed him except Cecilia. Eden recovered all the money Curtis had embezzled and took away the title of Duke of Lane. The title went to Count Nova, who had risked his life to denounce him.
And then came misfortune, and more misfortune. It was discovered that there was a large amount of iron ore in the abandoned mines in Bester. It was reported that Duke Lane, whose honor had been tarnished by the Emperor's decision, was plotting a rebellion.
'There's no way my father would do that, Your Majesty. His daughter is the Empress, so why on earth would my father do that? Yes?'
'I think you'd better go back, Cecilia.'
She wanted to clear up the misunderstanding. Cecilia clung to Eden, crying, and begging him to believe her. She thought Eden would believe her, but the result was disastrous. The Lane family fell, Curtis was executed, and Cecilia killed herself before she could die at the hands of others.
Cecilia's body, leaning against the bathtub, sank deep into the water. Thinking about her past despair, she felt like closing her eyes and sinking to death.
'Why am I dying again?'
But suddenly, Cecilia opened her green eyes as a sense of resistance welled up in her heart. Red rose petals were fluttering on the surface of the water like drops of blood.
I loved him and resented him until the very end. But why, why was he so cruel to me?
She wanted to know the reason. If it was her fault, she thought she would be able to understand his choice.
'Why do I have to be the only one suffering?'
But even if she understands him, does that change the fact that he abandoned her and that she was pushed to her death?
No.
With a slosh, Cecilia's wet head emerged from the water. Her wet hands held onto the edge of the bathtub, holding up her swaying body.
'I want to go back. Then I won't love him again.'
The wish she had desperately hoped for just before she died came to mind.
'I could have stabbed him in the heart.'
If what she thought was a vain wish became reality. If this life was truly like a second gift.
Cecilia slowly lifted her eyelids. Drops of water fell from the tips of her long eyelashes. Of course, they weren't tears.
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