Today is the day that Celine, the main character and older sister, is kidnapped.
I had it all planned out.
Right now, if I make a fuss or get caught again because I'm being rude, I'll miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm doing odd jobs that weren't in my destiny.
I'm not the type to work hard, so I was just slacking off in the guest room and sneaking out into the hallway when I heard an arrogant voice behind me.
“Hey, clean all the window frames in the mansion.”
Vera, now feeling a little too proud, threw a dry rag at me, hitting me in the face. I warned her again, my face expressionless.
“I told you I would kill you, didn’t I?”
“Before that, you’ll be locked in the stable and freeze to death.”
That bitch! I will definitely get my revenge.
I clenched my teeth and picked up the rag that had fallen on the floor.
I picked it up with my index finger, pretending to clean it, and headed to Celine's room, smelling something fishy. Pushing open the door, the first thing I saw was a large bear skin lying on the floor.
A bear head the size of a large pot was looking this way. It felt like we were making eye contact, and I felt uncomfortable.
It looks like a bear as big as a house that the admiral killed with a hunting rifle.
A room filled with a large bed, exquisite tapestries woven from fine fabrics, and furniture crafted from fine wood, ivory, and gold. There is no room like that of a noble Princess.
Well, it must be because people call her the Admiral's Princess.
“Is Diana here?”
Celine smiled, sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace, covered with a cozy wool blanket.
As expected of a frail female protagonist who is easily affected by the cold, she was wearing a quilted nightgown and a cashmere shawl.
“Yeah. I came to clean the windowsill.”
They said she had the same dazzling platinum hair and vivid, almost lime-green eyes as her mother. Her lips were cherry-red, and her cheeks were rosy and lovely.
Due to her beautiful appearance, she received a flood of marriage proposals, but the admiral's office refused them all and did not allow her to get married until she was old enough to do so.
How great a place are you going to send it to?
I decided to bring it up cautiously, because I thought that Celine in the novel wasn't such a bad person.
Since the protagonist must teach the reader a lesson, he or she is expected to have a righteous and upright personality.
“Sister.”
"Yes?"
“Can you take me to the social gathering today? I’ve never been to one before...”
I put on the most pitiful and pathetic expression I could muster and lowered my gaze to the ornate slippers she was wearing. A moment of silence fell between us.
As if to disprove my stereotype that 'the main character is treated like a Princess and grows up to be good, right?', the corners of her mouth twisted strangely upwards and she began to laugh in a high-pitched voice.
“Diana, do you really want to go to the party?”
“Can’t you take me with you just once?”
"I don't think it'll work out. It's an important place where all the upper-class people gather. I'm sorry. Dad would be upset if he found out. You can't go outside, right? He's worried about you, you know that, right?"
What do you know?
She says she's sorry, but her expression is a blatant sneer. I can see what kind of personality she has. She's someone who only shows her goodness on the surface, but doesn't do any good deeds that are not visible to others.
That is, she is a hypocrite.
Actually, she didn't care at all that her younger sister was being treated like this.
“Oh, then this will do.”
Celine clapped her hands as if a sudden memory had occurred to her and smiled innocently.
"I'll keep it a secret from Dad and go as my maid. Then I can come with you. What do you think? If you don't mind me calling you a maid, then I'll come with you. Nobody knows your face anyway, right?"
"Yes, is that the best we can do? To bring your younger sister along as a maid? You possess a wicked disposition." Still, since this was the only way to go, I nodded, trying to conceal her dismay.
“Yes, Sister. Thank you so much.”
I put on a fake smile and pretended to just wipe the windowsill clean before turning around.
On the way back, another maid was arrogantly questioning me and interrogating me.
“Hey! Did you clean this? It’s still dusty.”
“Then you do it.”
I gave a vague answer and fell into deep thought.
Instead of Celine, I had to keep thinking about how I could be kidnapped.
As time passed and the sun began to set, the whole mansion became bustling.
The servants meticulously dressed the Princess for the party, carrying all kinds of dresses, shoes, and accessories.
Perhaps because it was an important occasion, they gave me decent clothes and allowed me to do some basic grooming. I wore a simple but well-tailored dress and combed my ebony hair.
Since I didn't have any cosmetics, I sneaked into Vera's room, stole some homemade lip balm, and applied it roughly to my lips. Of course, I had no intention of slathering my face with cosmetics laced with lead and mercury.
A woman in black and white reflected in the mirror. Her pale face, short, jet-black hair, and slitted eyes looked frosted and cold, utterly unloving. Her skinny body, clearly showing signs of having been looked down upon, gave her a gloomy, even brooding appearance.
It's like a colorless shell that has been left behind after Celine took away all of its affection, beauty, and even color.
As I was following Celine out, I saw a black vehicle and five soldiers in Belford Army uniforms outside the mansion's portico (the space where guests get out of their cars).
Since Celine is the daughter of a naval officer, it seems they came to the party to accompany her and provide security.
Celine, her platinum hair hastily tidied, moved her lips as if practicing a smile. She straightened her back, walked elegantly, and greeted the tall, black-haired officer.
"It's truly reassuring to have Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal providing security. Thank you."
I approached him, thinking I should say hello out of courtesy.
“Thank you...”
I realized something too late. What? Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal? My lips, about to express my gratitude, snapped shut.
He's the original male protagonist, Jeffrey Groenendaal, a ducal descendant, and the lieutenant colonel who commanded the rescue operation for Celine in the original. I don't think there was any mention of him offering to protect her.
“...is.”
As I was about to quickly finish my greeting and turn around to leave, he called me back. He approached me with measured steps and asked me a question.
“What is your name?”
Despite his stiff appearance, his tone was polite. I lifted the hem of my skirt slightly and tilted my head. He followed suit, bowing his head.
“Ah, my maid...”
Celine quickly intervened and tried to make me a maid, but it was no use. I smiled kindly and spoke bluntly.
“My name is Diana Clare.”
As soon as he heard my name, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's brow furrowed slightly, then his expression returned to its original state. He gazed intently at my jet-black hair, which mirrored his own.
“I heard that the Claire family had another daughter, and it was you.”
He looked at me with a tender gaze, as if he were looking at a child. Celine, completely flustered, glanced at me. I hadn't intended to reveal the abuse to the lieutenant colonel, who was connected to Celine in the original, so I told him exactly as it was written.
"Yes. I was staying home because of illness, so you probably didn't know. I'm fine now."
“I see. I am Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Groenendaal.”
“Yes, Colonel. Nice to meet you.”
"I'm glad you're feeling better. Black hair isn't common in Belford, so that's interesting."
Although his face was blank, a smile flickered across his lips.
He was so tall that my neck hurt from looking up at him. His blue eyes were like the sea below on a clear day.
He has a high nose, a chiseled jawline, distinct and three-dimensional facial features, and a sturdy physique, so the uniform suits him well.
In a word, he's cool.
“Do you have a partner?”
The lieutenant colonel asked if I was a party partner. His voice was low, but gentle and kind.
Celine's green eyes, which had been standing like a stone statue, grew round.
Of course, my ambiguous eyes were also blinking in confusion, because the question was directed at me.
"No."
“If you don’t have one, I’ll be your partner.”
“Me? My sister is prettier than I, why...?”
“I am curious about you.”
He, who had been speaking firmly, extended his hand to me as if asking for permission.
I felt Celine's piercing gaze next to me.
Because she had secretly had a crush on him since her days at a private aristocratic school.
Why is the man who is supposed to be Celine's partner interested in me?
If I partner with him, the chances of me being kidnapped decrease, so that's difficult.
A flash of pity flashed through the eyes of the lieutenant colonel as he waited for my answer.
He looked back and forth between me and Celine, then sighed softly.
It's too early to judge whether it's a romantic interest.
In the original, the man was portrayed as a righteous, upright hero who could not pass by the poor.
That expression right now is so similar to the face of someone who sees the famine in a poor country, so unlike my sister, I wonder if he feels pity seeing me in plain clothes and looking like a shabby donkey.
But I, who wanted to give Celine some medicine, readily agreed to the lieutenant colonel's suggestion.
Even if I go with him as a partner, I can just throw Celine at him and go alone.
"Great."
Celine, wearing a gorgeous dress and a wide-brimmed hat, got into the car first, and I followed her.
On the road I took for the first time after being captured, I saw carriages going back and forth busily, and occasionally, I saw cars that I only saw in museums passing by.
Next to it, industrial plants spewed out black smoke and railways rattled past.
What century exactly? It's a vague world, perhaps the late 19th or early 20th century.
In the sky, a biplane, like one from an old war movie, is seen flying along a trajectory.
Oh, right. There's a war going on here.
“Is this your first time outside?”
Celine asked with a small smile, perhaps finding it funny that I was pressing my face against the car window.
“Haven’t I been out for quite some time?”
"You're not really going to be his partner, are you? He can't just pass by someone he finds pitiful."
“Am I a poor person?”
“You told the lieutenant colonel that you were feeling weak.”
Celine answered with a fresh face, and I nodded slowly.
"But you still want to be his partner? I already said I would."
Celine's eyes narrowed fiercely at my calm tone. It felt so refreshing.
Actually, I don't care, so after I'm gone, you two should take care of yourself and live well.
"I'm kidnapped today, and I'm leaving here. It's a kidnapping ending." Celine, who had been sitting quietly, turned to me and slowly opened her mouth.
“You, why has your speech changed...”
Squeak-.
As we turned onto the dark, tree-lined road, the car we were riding in suddenly came to a screeching halt with a screech of tires.
“What’s going on?”
Despite Celine's words, the driver remained silent and just looked ahead.
As the strange silence began to feel uneasy.
A gunshot was heard from outside.
As if a single gunshot had triggered a fight, the sounds of gunfire thundered through the surroundings.
Celine screamed and lowered her head. Still unable to fully grasp reality, I stared fearlessly out the car window. My only thought was to escape this shitty environment, as if it were my overarching life goal.
If they had come to kidnap me, those bloody gunshots would be like a welcome celebratory sound to me.
As I was trying to suppress my excitement, the passenger door next to the driver's seat opened with a bang, and a tall man in a dark blue coat got in. He looked back at Celine, who was terrified, and at me, who looked indifferent.
“Well, there are two.”
Even though a fierce battle was taking place outside, the man's voice was soft and relaxed.
The car suddenly started running madly somewhere.
“Yes. They are both Admiral Claire’s daughters.”
The answer from the driver who seemed to be the best driver, confirmed my expectations.
This is kidnapping.
“Who is first?”
The man in the passenger seat asked concisely.
Celine, who was quick-witted, raised her head and answered.
“Are you talking about Celine?”
She was casually calling me Celine. What a wicked woman.
“You’re a liar.”
The man let out a hearty laugh, his eyes elegantly arched.
The hair, dyed in the darkness, appeared at first to be gray. The car was passing through a remote area and turning onto a road with streetlights.
The man's hair, like a sheet of paper, melted and disappeared under the passing streetlight. It was clearly silver-white.
I remembered that it was someone's unusual hair color.
I had it all planned out.
Right now, if I make a fuss or get caught again because I'm being rude, I'll miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm doing odd jobs that weren't in my destiny.
I'm not the type to work hard, so I was just slacking off in the guest room and sneaking out into the hallway when I heard an arrogant voice behind me.
“Hey, clean all the window frames in the mansion.”
Vera, now feeling a little too proud, threw a dry rag at me, hitting me in the face. I warned her again, my face expressionless.
“I told you I would kill you, didn’t I?”
“Before that, you’ll be locked in the stable and freeze to death.”
That bitch! I will definitely get my revenge.
I clenched my teeth and picked up the rag that had fallen on the floor.
I picked it up with my index finger, pretending to clean it, and headed to Celine's room, smelling something fishy. Pushing open the door, the first thing I saw was a large bear skin lying on the floor.
A bear head the size of a large pot was looking this way. It felt like we were making eye contact, and I felt uncomfortable.
It looks like a bear as big as a house that the admiral killed with a hunting rifle.
A room filled with a large bed, exquisite tapestries woven from fine fabrics, and furniture crafted from fine wood, ivory, and gold. There is no room like that of a noble Princess.
Well, it must be because people call her the Admiral's Princess.
“Is Diana here?”
Celine smiled, sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace, covered with a cozy wool blanket.
As expected of a frail female protagonist who is easily affected by the cold, she was wearing a quilted nightgown and a cashmere shawl.
“Yeah. I came to clean the windowsill.”
They said she had the same dazzling platinum hair and vivid, almost lime-green eyes as her mother. Her lips were cherry-red, and her cheeks were rosy and lovely.
Due to her beautiful appearance, she received a flood of marriage proposals, but the admiral's office refused them all and did not allow her to get married until she was old enough to do so.
How great a place are you going to send it to?
I decided to bring it up cautiously, because I thought that Celine in the novel wasn't such a bad person.
Since the protagonist must teach the reader a lesson, he or she is expected to have a righteous and upright personality.
“Sister.”
"Yes?"
“Can you take me to the social gathering today? I’ve never been to one before...”
I put on the most pitiful and pathetic expression I could muster and lowered my gaze to the ornate slippers she was wearing. A moment of silence fell between us.
As if to disprove my stereotype that 'the main character is treated like a Princess and grows up to be good, right?', the corners of her mouth twisted strangely upwards and she began to laugh in a high-pitched voice.
“Diana, do you really want to go to the party?”
“Can’t you take me with you just once?”
"I don't think it'll work out. It's an important place where all the upper-class people gather. I'm sorry. Dad would be upset if he found out. You can't go outside, right? He's worried about you, you know that, right?"
What do you know?
She says she's sorry, but her expression is a blatant sneer. I can see what kind of personality she has. She's someone who only shows her goodness on the surface, but doesn't do any good deeds that are not visible to others.
That is, she is a hypocrite.
Actually, she didn't care at all that her younger sister was being treated like this.
“Oh, then this will do.”
Celine clapped her hands as if a sudden memory had occurred to her and smiled innocently.
"I'll keep it a secret from Dad and go as my maid. Then I can come with you. What do you think? If you don't mind me calling you a maid, then I'll come with you. Nobody knows your face anyway, right?"
"Yes, is that the best we can do? To bring your younger sister along as a maid? You possess a wicked disposition." Still, since this was the only way to go, I nodded, trying to conceal her dismay.
“Yes, Sister. Thank you so much.”
I put on a fake smile and pretended to just wipe the windowsill clean before turning around.
On the way back, another maid was arrogantly questioning me and interrogating me.
“Hey! Did you clean this? It’s still dusty.”
“Then you do it.”
I gave a vague answer and fell into deep thought.
Instead of Celine, I had to keep thinking about how I could be kidnapped.
As time passed and the sun began to set, the whole mansion became bustling.
The servants meticulously dressed the Princess for the party, carrying all kinds of dresses, shoes, and accessories.
Perhaps because it was an important occasion, they gave me decent clothes and allowed me to do some basic grooming. I wore a simple but well-tailored dress and combed my ebony hair.
Since I didn't have any cosmetics, I sneaked into Vera's room, stole some homemade lip balm, and applied it roughly to my lips. Of course, I had no intention of slathering my face with cosmetics laced with lead and mercury.
A woman in black and white reflected in the mirror. Her pale face, short, jet-black hair, and slitted eyes looked frosted and cold, utterly unloving. Her skinny body, clearly showing signs of having been looked down upon, gave her a gloomy, even brooding appearance.
It's like a colorless shell that has been left behind after Celine took away all of its affection, beauty, and even color.
As I was following Celine out, I saw a black vehicle and five soldiers in Belford Army uniforms outside the mansion's portico (the space where guests get out of their cars).
Since Celine is the daughter of a naval officer, it seems they came to the party to accompany her and provide security.
Celine, her platinum hair hastily tidied, moved her lips as if practicing a smile. She straightened her back, walked elegantly, and greeted the tall, black-haired officer.
"It's truly reassuring to have Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal providing security. Thank you."
I approached him, thinking I should say hello out of courtesy.
“Thank you...”
I realized something too late. What? Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal? My lips, about to express my gratitude, snapped shut.
He's the original male protagonist, Jeffrey Groenendaal, a ducal descendant, and the lieutenant colonel who commanded the rescue operation for Celine in the original. I don't think there was any mention of him offering to protect her.
“...is.”
As I was about to quickly finish my greeting and turn around to leave, he called me back. He approached me with measured steps and asked me a question.
“What is your name?”
Despite his stiff appearance, his tone was polite. I lifted the hem of my skirt slightly and tilted my head. He followed suit, bowing his head.
“Ah, my maid...”
Celine quickly intervened and tried to make me a maid, but it was no use. I smiled kindly and spoke bluntly.
“My name is Diana Clare.”
As soon as he heard my name, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's brow furrowed slightly, then his expression returned to its original state. He gazed intently at my jet-black hair, which mirrored his own.
“I heard that the Claire family had another daughter, and it was you.”
He looked at me with a tender gaze, as if he were looking at a child. Celine, completely flustered, glanced at me. I hadn't intended to reveal the abuse to the lieutenant colonel, who was connected to Celine in the original, so I told him exactly as it was written.
"Yes. I was staying home because of illness, so you probably didn't know. I'm fine now."
“I see. I am Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Groenendaal.”
“Yes, Colonel. Nice to meet you.”
"I'm glad you're feeling better. Black hair isn't common in Belford, so that's interesting."
Although his face was blank, a smile flickered across his lips.
He was so tall that my neck hurt from looking up at him. His blue eyes were like the sea below on a clear day.
He has a high nose, a chiseled jawline, distinct and three-dimensional facial features, and a sturdy physique, so the uniform suits him well.
In a word, he's cool.
“Do you have a partner?”
The lieutenant colonel asked if I was a party partner. His voice was low, but gentle and kind.
Celine's green eyes, which had been standing like a stone statue, grew round.
Of course, my ambiguous eyes were also blinking in confusion, because the question was directed at me.
"No."
“If you don’t have one, I’ll be your partner.”
“Me? My sister is prettier than I, why...?”
“I am curious about you.”
He, who had been speaking firmly, extended his hand to me as if asking for permission.
I felt Celine's piercing gaze next to me.
Because she had secretly had a crush on him since her days at a private aristocratic school.
Why is the man who is supposed to be Celine's partner interested in me?
If I partner with him, the chances of me being kidnapped decrease, so that's difficult.
A flash of pity flashed through the eyes of the lieutenant colonel as he waited for my answer.
He looked back and forth between me and Celine, then sighed softly.
It's too early to judge whether it's a romantic interest.
In the original, the man was portrayed as a righteous, upright hero who could not pass by the poor.
That expression right now is so similar to the face of someone who sees the famine in a poor country, so unlike my sister, I wonder if he feels pity seeing me in plain clothes and looking like a shabby donkey.
But I, who wanted to give Celine some medicine, readily agreed to the lieutenant colonel's suggestion.
Even if I go with him as a partner, I can just throw Celine at him and go alone.
"Great."
Celine, wearing a gorgeous dress and a wide-brimmed hat, got into the car first, and I followed her.
On the road I took for the first time after being captured, I saw carriages going back and forth busily, and occasionally, I saw cars that I only saw in museums passing by.
Next to it, industrial plants spewed out black smoke and railways rattled past.
What century exactly? It's a vague world, perhaps the late 19th or early 20th century.
In the sky, a biplane, like one from an old war movie, is seen flying along a trajectory.
Oh, right. There's a war going on here.
“Is this your first time outside?”
Celine asked with a small smile, perhaps finding it funny that I was pressing my face against the car window.
“Haven’t I been out for quite some time?”
"You're not really going to be his partner, are you? He can't just pass by someone he finds pitiful."
“Am I a poor person?”
“You told the lieutenant colonel that you were feeling weak.”
Celine answered with a fresh face, and I nodded slowly.
"But you still want to be his partner? I already said I would."
Celine's eyes narrowed fiercely at my calm tone. It felt so refreshing.
Actually, I don't care, so after I'm gone, you two should take care of yourself and live well.
"I'm kidnapped today, and I'm leaving here. It's a kidnapping ending." Celine, who had been sitting quietly, turned to me and slowly opened her mouth.
“You, why has your speech changed...”
Squeak-.
As we turned onto the dark, tree-lined road, the car we were riding in suddenly came to a screeching halt with a screech of tires.
“What’s going on?”
Despite Celine's words, the driver remained silent and just looked ahead.
As the strange silence began to feel uneasy.
A gunshot was heard from outside.
As if a single gunshot had triggered a fight, the sounds of gunfire thundered through the surroundings.
Celine screamed and lowered her head. Still unable to fully grasp reality, I stared fearlessly out the car window. My only thought was to escape this shitty environment, as if it were my overarching life goal.
If they had come to kidnap me, those bloody gunshots would be like a welcome celebratory sound to me.
As I was trying to suppress my excitement, the passenger door next to the driver's seat opened with a bang, and a tall man in a dark blue coat got in. He looked back at Celine, who was terrified, and at me, who looked indifferent.
“Well, there are two.”
Even though a fierce battle was taking place outside, the man's voice was soft and relaxed.
The car suddenly started running madly somewhere.
“Yes. They are both Admiral Claire’s daughters.”
The answer from the driver who seemed to be the best driver, confirmed my expectations.
This is kidnapping.
“Who is first?”
The man in the passenger seat asked concisely.
Celine, who was quick-witted, raised her head and answered.
“Are you talking about Celine?”
She was casually calling me Celine. What a wicked woman.
“You’re a liar.”
The man let out a hearty laugh, his eyes elegantly arched.
The hair, dyed in the darkness, appeared at first to be gray. The car was passing through a remote area and turning onto a road with streetlights.
The man's hair, like a sheet of paper, melted and disappeared under the passing streetlight. It was clearly silver-white.
I remembered that it was someone's unusual hair color.
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