Episode 38. The Tree You Can't Climb
“There’s already a rumor going around the mansion. That maid will take Rose’s place as Countess.”
“What? How dare a lowly maid like you act like you don’t even know your place!”
The servant flinched at Tercia's scream. He nodded quietly, not denying Tercia's words.
"Yes. She's rumored to be very cunning. I heard the Count is completely smitten with that maid. Not only did she seduce the Count with her half-assed charm, but she's also trying to manipulate the Countess of Wence into doing whatever she wants."
"Ha...!"
Tercia was shocked by the servant's words. She chased away the fox, but a rat crawled in.
“Don’t get excited. We can handle it quietly anyway.”
Cedric was quite calm when he met Tercia.
“Killing a mere maid who is not even a noble is not a thing.”
Cedric's slow voice was laced with murderous intent. But Tercia still couldn't hide her excitement.
"We're known for our extreme zeal, so let's kill that maid. Do you really think Eric won't suspect you?"
At Tercia's words, Cedric squirmed and raised his eyebrows.
“You could kill the maid... but at the same time, I might not be able to restore your relationship with Eric.”
Tercia walked toward Cedric, her voice crackling. She stepped in front of him, sighed deeply, and crossed her arms.
"I told you over and over again: Don't distance yourself from Eric. He's grown up now. He's a grown man, capable of thinking for himself."
Tercia continued speaking, glancing at Cedric with a trembling expression.
"So please stop with the handcuffs. He's past the age to be beaten. If you act like that, Eric will only resent you."
Tercia, who had been speaking as if scolding, soon whispered softly.
“If the woman you love were to die, who would you suspect first?”
“...”
“He will be suspicious of us, as we are the ones who find this most unpleasant.”
“I’m Cedric. What does that guy Eric know...?”
Tercia cut off Cedric's arrogant words and said:
"Eric isn't as stupid as you think. He's been watching you for over 20 years. How can you not know that?"
Tercia's words reminded Cedric of what had happened with Eric the other day.
'Come to think of it, he realized back then that I was behind the poisoned cosmetics.'
Cedric soon spoke with a displeased expression.
"Then what are you going to do? Do you want to see that damned maid take over Count Wence's mistress?"
If we don't kill, what else can we do? He grumbled, asking if there was a better way.
“I need to make people realize firsthand how futile it is to look up at a tree they can’t climb.”
Tercia put the end of the fan to her chin and smiled wickedly.
A week ago, she had placed a marriage proposal with the Marquis of Dikar. This time, she was determined to find Eric a match of his caliber. He could have taken her time in finding a second wife, but Tercia, concerned by the priest's prophecy that he would die young if he didn't marry, moved quickly. She planned to remarry him immediately after the divorce, without any break.
"I'm glad I found a suitable match in advance. They responded positively. They said their youngest daughter, whom they raised well, would be a great match for Eric."
“If she’s the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Dikar... she must be a child who has just become an adult.”
"What a beautiful couple, a man and a woman who look so good together. Now, our Eric will finally find his match."
Tercia looked at Cedric with a mysterious smile.
"Deliver a letter to the Marquis of Dikar immediately. The sooner the better."
How naive of you to think that Rose would become a Countess just because she was kicked out. Tercia chuckled, mocking Doana's vain dreams of upward mobility. She will make Doana thoroughly understand the futility of coveting things beyond her means.
Her smile was so bright and intelligent that it was hard to believe she was a child who had just become an adult. The Marquis of Dikar was moved to tears at the sight of his daughter.
“When will my child grow up? You're so smart!”
The image of the Marquis, who was unwilling to sell his daughter, didn't register in the girl's mind. Her mind was filled with a sense of pressure. She had to imitate the arrogant noblewoman within three days.
'It won't be that hard... If I just do this well, I can meet my little sister. So, I have to do it no matter what.'
The girl's eyes flashed with a firm determination. Three days later, Eric would marry. Not Doana, but this woman. Unaware of this, Doana, convinced she would become a Countess, lived happily ever after.
“There’s already a rumor going around the mansion. That maid will take Rose’s place as Countess.”
“What? How dare a lowly maid like you act like you don’t even know your place!”
The servant flinched at Tercia's scream. He nodded quietly, not denying Tercia's words.
"Yes. She's rumored to be very cunning. I heard the Count is completely smitten with that maid. Not only did she seduce the Count with her half-assed charm, but she's also trying to manipulate the Countess of Wence into doing whatever she wants."
"Ha...!"
Tercia was shocked by the servant's words. She chased away the fox, but a rat crawled in.
“Don’t get excited. We can handle it quietly anyway.”
Cedric was quite calm when he met Tercia.
“Killing a mere maid who is not even a noble is not a thing.”
Cedric's slow voice was laced with murderous intent. But Tercia still couldn't hide her excitement.
"We're known for our extreme zeal, so let's kill that maid. Do you really think Eric won't suspect you?"
At Tercia's words, Cedric squirmed and raised his eyebrows.
“You could kill the maid... but at the same time, I might not be able to restore your relationship with Eric.”
Tercia walked toward Cedric, her voice crackling. She stepped in front of him, sighed deeply, and crossed her arms.
"I told you over and over again: Don't distance yourself from Eric. He's grown up now. He's a grown man, capable of thinking for himself."
Tercia continued speaking, glancing at Cedric with a trembling expression.
"So please stop with the handcuffs. He's past the age to be beaten. If you act like that, Eric will only resent you."
Tercia, who had been speaking as if scolding, soon whispered softly.
“If the woman you love were to die, who would you suspect first?”
“...”
“He will be suspicious of us, as we are the ones who find this most unpleasant.”
“I’m Cedric. What does that guy Eric know...?”
Tercia cut off Cedric's arrogant words and said:
"Eric isn't as stupid as you think. He's been watching you for over 20 years. How can you not know that?"
Tercia's words reminded Cedric of what had happened with Eric the other day.
'Come to think of it, he realized back then that I was behind the poisoned cosmetics.'
Cedric soon spoke with a displeased expression.
"Then what are you going to do? Do you want to see that damned maid take over Count Wence's mistress?"
If we don't kill, what else can we do? He grumbled, asking if there was a better way.
“I need to make people realize firsthand how futile it is to look up at a tree they can’t climb.”
Tercia put the end of the fan to her chin and smiled wickedly.
"Do you remember how you suggested remarrying him right after divorcing Rose, so you arranged a marriage proposal in advance?"
“Right. I put it in the Dikar family's house.”
"I'm glad I found a suitable match in advance. They responded positively. They said their youngest daughter, whom they raised well, would be a great match for Eric."
“If she’s the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Dikar... she must be a child who has just become an adult.”
"What a beautiful couple, a man and a woman who look so good together. Now, our Eric will finally find his match."
Tercia looked at Cedric with a mysterious smile.
"Deliver a letter to the Marquis of Dikar immediately. The sooner the better."
How naive of you to think that Rose would become a Countess just because she was kicked out. Tercia chuckled, mocking Doana's vain dreams of upward mobility. She will make Doana thoroughly understand the futility of coveting things beyond her means.
***
Less than half a day later, a letter arrived at the Marquis de Dikar's residence. The Marquis looked at Cedric's letter with cold eyes.
“You’re finally crossing the line. Let’s set the date as soon as possible.”
He crumpled the letter in his hand and carelessly tossed it to the floor. The Marquis, hesitant to refuse his offer, had replied with words he didn't really mean. It was infuriating, but it was okay. He had a plan. Two women sat beside the Marquis Dikar, strikingly similar in appearance, but strikingly different in their attire. The one, with her straight back, exuded a regal air, but it wasn't the other. She was slightly smaller. She was timid, watching the Marquis and the woman of her own age.
"Father. So, Count Wence finally said he wanted me as his daughter-in-law?"
"Yeah. It's only natural that those damned bastards look down on me. How dare you leave your son, a loser, in our family?"
The Marquis Dikar slammed his hand on the desk so hard that it made a loud bang, then ground his teeth.
"You're just a Count, yet you treat me with such contempt. It's not even funny how you act so recklessly, trusting Duke Flice."
He was nothing more than a hunting dog, ready to be discarded once his usefulness wore off, yet he was completely ignorant of his subject. He had maintained neutrality until then, but he had quietly joined the Duke of Flice's faction. His neutrality wasn't due to loyalty to the Grand Duke of Artaeum or the late Emperor.
“You’re finally crossing the line. Let’s set the date as soon as possible.”
He crumpled the letter in his hand and carelessly tossed it to the floor. The Marquis, hesitant to refuse his offer, had replied with words he didn't really mean. It was infuriating, but it was okay. He had a plan. Two women sat beside the Marquis Dikar, strikingly similar in appearance, but strikingly different in their attire. The one, with her straight back, exuded a regal air, but it wasn't the other. She was slightly smaller. She was timid, watching the Marquis and the woman of her own age.
"Father. So, Count Wence finally said he wanted me as his daughter-in-law?"
"Yeah. It's only natural that those damned bastards look down on me. How dare you leave your son, a loser, in our family?"
The Marquis Dikar slammed his hand on the desk so hard that it made a loud bang, then ground his teeth.
"You're just a Count, yet you treat me with such contempt. It's not even funny how you act so recklessly, trusting Duke Flice."
He was nothing more than a hunting dog, ready to be discarded once his usefulness wore off, yet he was completely ignorant of his subject. He had maintained neutrality until then, but he had quietly joined the Duke of Flice's faction. His neutrality wasn't due to loyalty to the Grand Duke of Artaeum or the late Emperor.
Marquis Dikar simply stayed back, unwilling to be drawn into the imperial power struggle. Until then, it was better to quietly observe, unsure of the fate of the imperial power, but now the tide was turning. He was suspicious of any family that didn't switch to the imperial faction. Count Wence, sensing Marquis Dikar's intentions, had made this outrageous offer: if he gave him his daughter, his future position would be guaranteed. Count Wence's offer was incredibly sweet, but he couldn't bear to give up the daughter he had raised with such care. So he prepared a countermeasure. He looked at the small girl next to his daughter.
'Even I, the father, can see they look alike.'
It wasn't so much that it was hard to tell who was who, but they were quite similar.
“Don’t be angry, Father. What if you collapse again?”
The Marquis' daughter quietly put down her teacup, calming her father's excitement.
“I prepared in advance for times like this.”
She pointed at the shabby girl next to her. The child flinched and flinched at the woman's pointing finger.
'Even I, the father, can see they look alike.'
It wasn't so much that it was hard to tell who was who, but they were quite similar.
“Don’t be angry, Father. What if you collapse again?”
The Marquis' daughter quietly put down her teacup, calming her father's excitement.
“I prepared in advance for times like this.”
She pointed at the shabby girl next to her. The child flinched and flinched at the woman's pointing finger.
"Ha, right. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if I hadn't listened to you and just sat there blankly."
The Marquis stroked his chest and looked at his daughter. Her green eyes, resembling his own, shone with a dazzling brilliance. Her flowing red hair was so short it barely reached her shoulders. The Marquis muttered, looking at her short, wavy hair.
“You cut off your waist-length hair without any remorse... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you ended up like this because I'm weak.”
“It’s okay. If it’s hair, I can just grow it out again.”
The Marquis was making a fuss, tears welling in his eyes, but she remained remarkably composed. She even added that her hair had become lighter because of its shorter length, and she seemed completely unfazed. The Marquis's daughter looked at the woman next to her and spoke.
“You can cut long hair, but you can’t grow short hair long in a short period of time, right?”
The girl flinched at the cold gaze that scanned her.
'As expected... You were planning to sell me out!'
The Marquis of Dikar purchased a slave girl and locked her in solitary confinement. She trembled in fear of the terrible things she would be subjected to, but life there was surprisingly comfortable. They wouldn't let her leave her room. However, she was served plentiful food and was able to bathe in warm water with peace of mind. Treated less than human, she found herself quite at home in the Marquis's mansion. After three days in the mansion, she was finally allowed to leave the room. And upon entering the Marquis's room, she was astonished. The Marquis' daughter sitting there looked remarkably like herself.
'At first...I was looking forward to it.'
The moment she saw her, a twinge of anticipation filled her. She wondered if she might be this family's lost daughter. It was the first time in her life she's seen a woman so similar to herself, almost like looking into a mirror, that she could mistake her for a twin. But after hearing their conversation, she realized her hopes were nothing more than a vain dream.
‘Instead of his real daughter, he’s trying to pass me off as his own daughter..."
Yes, her life couldn't possibly be this easy... Somehow, her stomach felt heavy. The girl lowered her head, trembling with fear. Where was she being sold? Seeing that they were even trying to find someone who resembled her daughter and send her away, it was clear that the person they were dealing with was not normal.
‘Am I going to marry an old nobleman who can’t even walk properly...?’
What if... what if I say no? The girl twiddled her fingers, her mind racing. Then, a voice called out to her.
“Hey.”
The Marquis of Dikar called out to the girl. She lifted her head with force and examined her face.
"Really, it's amazing. How can you look so much like me? Dad, are we really not twins?"
"What are you talking about! Twins! I was right there with your mother when she gave birth. That child is just a slave who resembles you."
The Marquis de Dikar, with a hint of pride, refuted his daughter's words. His words were true. He had witnessed the Marchioness's birth. His daughters weren't twins. That girl was simply a strikingly similar ‘other.’ The daughter's lips lifted, seemingly satisfied with the Marquis's words.
“I don’t have an ordinary face... Are you blessed? To think that a slave would inherit such a face.”
The girl flinched at her words. Beauty was poison to a slave. Not only was she isolated from her group simply because she was beautiful, but she was also the one who suffered harsh treatment from her masters and was reprimanded. Perhaps that well-bred nobleman was ignorant of the situation, and that's why he spoke like that.
“You have a younger sister, right?”
“...!”
The girl, who had been staring dead in the eye the entire time, opened her eyes wide at the young lady's word, "sister." The Marquis's daughter smiled, seemingly satisfied with her reaction.
“Is your younger sister... alive?”
Five years have passed since she was separated from my sister. After their parents died, the sisters, who had relied solely on each other, were sold to different places, forever separated. She lived without knowing if she was alive or dead. Without even the slightest hope of seeing her again, she lived each day in hell.
“Yes. If you listen to us, we’ll let you meet your younger sibling.”
“Can I really meet my younger sibling?”
The Marquis stroked his chest and looked at his daughter. Her green eyes, resembling his own, shone with a dazzling brilliance. Her flowing red hair was so short it barely reached her shoulders. The Marquis muttered, looking at her short, wavy hair.
“You cut off your waist-length hair without any remorse... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you ended up like this because I'm weak.”
“It’s okay. If it’s hair, I can just grow it out again.”
The Marquis was making a fuss, tears welling in his eyes, but she remained remarkably composed. She even added that her hair had become lighter because of its shorter length, and she seemed completely unfazed. The Marquis's daughter looked at the woman next to her and spoke.
“You can cut long hair, but you can’t grow short hair long in a short period of time, right?”
The girl flinched at the cold gaze that scanned her.
'As expected... You were planning to sell me out!'
The Marquis of Dikar purchased a slave girl and locked her in solitary confinement. She trembled in fear of the terrible things she would be subjected to, but life there was surprisingly comfortable. They wouldn't let her leave her room. However, she was served plentiful food and was able to bathe in warm water with peace of mind. Treated less than human, she found herself quite at home in the Marquis's mansion. After three days in the mansion, she was finally allowed to leave the room. And upon entering the Marquis's room, she was astonished. The Marquis' daughter sitting there looked remarkably like herself.
'At first...I was looking forward to it.'
The moment she saw her, a twinge of anticipation filled her. She wondered if she might be this family's lost daughter. It was the first time in her life she's seen a woman so similar to herself, almost like looking into a mirror, that she could mistake her for a twin. But after hearing their conversation, she realized her hopes were nothing more than a vain dream.
‘Instead of his real daughter, he’s trying to pass me off as his own daughter..."
Yes, her life couldn't possibly be this easy... Somehow, her stomach felt heavy. The girl lowered her head, trembling with fear. Where was she being sold? Seeing that they were even trying to find someone who resembled her daughter and send her away, it was clear that the person they were dealing with was not normal.
‘Am I going to marry an old nobleman who can’t even walk properly...?’
What if... what if I say no? The girl twiddled her fingers, her mind racing. Then, a voice called out to her.
“Hey.”
The Marquis of Dikar called out to the girl. She lifted her head with force and examined her face.
"Really, it's amazing. How can you look so much like me? Dad, are we really not twins?"
"What are you talking about! Twins! I was right there with your mother when she gave birth. That child is just a slave who resembles you."
The Marquis de Dikar, with a hint of pride, refuted his daughter's words. His words were true. He had witnessed the Marchioness's birth. His daughters weren't twins. That girl was simply a strikingly similar ‘other.’ The daughter's lips lifted, seemingly satisfied with the Marquis's words.
“I don’t have an ordinary face... Are you blessed? To think that a slave would inherit such a face.”
The girl flinched at her words. Beauty was poison to a slave. Not only was she isolated from her group simply because she was beautiful, but she was also the one who suffered harsh treatment from her masters and was reprimanded. Perhaps that well-bred nobleman was ignorant of the situation, and that's why he spoke like that.
“You have a younger sister, right?”
“...!”
The girl, who had been staring dead in the eye the entire time, opened her eyes wide at the young lady's word, "sister." The Marquis's daughter smiled, seemingly satisfied with her reaction.
“Is your younger sister... alive?”
Five years have passed since she was separated from my sister. After their parents died, the sisters, who had relied solely on each other, were sold to different places, forever separated. She lived without knowing if she was alive or dead. Without even the slightest hope of seeing her again, she lived each day in hell.
“Yes. If you listen to us, we’ll let you meet your younger sibling.”
“Can I really meet my younger sibling?”
The girl looked at the Marquis's daughter with longing eyes. At her words, the Marquis's daughter smiled and nodded. Hope filled the girl's once-yearning eyes.
“Please... let me see my little sister! I’ll do anything you say!”
She clung to the Marquis's daughter's arm and began to beg. The Marquis's daughter was delighted that everything was going according to plan. However, she couldn't tolerate a filthy slave touching her body. She pushed the slave away from her hand and gave her a warning look.
“Ah... I’m sorry.”
The girl also quickly apologized, as if she realized her mistake.
"Don't get excited. Do you think you can do what I ask you to do? You have to do everything I ask perfectly so you can see your little sister?"
Was it an illusion if her words sounded like a threat? The girl swallowed hard at the chilling sound of the Marquis's daughter's voice.
The girl listened quietly, as she had expected.
"You mustn't get caught as a fake. Play me perfectly. You have three days. If I'm not satisfied, you're dead meat—no matter what. Better get it right."
“Please... let me see my little sister! I’ll do anything you say!”
She clung to the Marquis's daughter's arm and began to beg. The Marquis's daughter was delighted that everything was going according to plan. However, she couldn't tolerate a filthy slave touching her body. She pushed the slave away from her hand and gave her a warning look.
“Ah... I’m sorry.”
The girl also quickly apologized, as if she realized her mistake.
"Don't get excited. Do you think you can do what I ask you to do? You have to do everything I ask perfectly so you can see your little sister?"
Was it an illusion if her words sounded like a threat? The girl swallowed hard at the chilling sound of the Marquis's daughter's voice.
“In three days, you will marry in my stead.”
"You mustn't get caught as a fake. Play me perfectly. You have three days. If I'm not satisfied, you're dead meat—no matter what. Better get it right."
Her smile was so bright and intelligent that it was hard to believe she was a child who had just become an adult. The Marquis of Dikar was moved to tears at the sight of his daughter.
“When will my child grow up? You're so smart!”
The image of the Marquis, who was unwilling to sell his daughter, didn't register in the girl's mind. Her mind was filled with a sense of pressure. She had to imitate the arrogant noblewoman within three days.
'It won't be that hard... If I just do this well, I can meet my little sister. So, I have to do it no matter what.'
The girl's eyes flashed with a firm determination. Three days later, Eric would marry. Not Doana, but this woman. Unaware of this, Doana, convinced she would become a Countess, lived happily ever after.
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