Episode 44. Doana's Situation Is Funny
"Gyaak!"
A dull thud accompanied by a faint scream.
Unable to dodge the sharp object flying towards her face, she stumbled. Then, she carefully brushed her forehead, where the impact had taken place. It was damp. The girl stared down at her hand.
"Blood..."
The thing beading on her forehead wasn't sweat, but blood. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes.
"Hey, are you going to do this?"
The person who had thrown the object at the girl was Beliana, the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Dikar.
She walked toward the girl with a blank expression, her face clattering. She then lifted the girl's face, which was dripping with blood, with one hand.
"Is this how you're supposed to imitate me? Get a grip. The wedding is tomorrow."
Beliana stared at the girl with cold eyes, showing no sign of apology.
Intimidated by Beliana's gaze, the girl remained silent, biting her lip.
"I guess it's because you were raised poorly, but every single thing you do is funny. You didn't mean to make fun of me, did you?"
"...I'm sorry."
The girl muttered, not even wiping the blood from her forehead.
"If you were going to act like this, I would have said you couldn't see your little sister."
Faced with Beliana's threatening attitude, using her little sister as a weapon, the girl simply lowered her head and closed her eyes. The red droplets soon fell to the floor. The girl stared at the blood-soaked carpet with unfocused eyes.
"Hey."
"Ah!"
Beliana shoved her violently to the side. She smiled and stared at the girl.
"Do you know how much this carpet costs? How dare you spill your dirty blood on it?"
Her voice was gentle, but her gaze was fierce.
It seemed that Beliana had cherished this carpet. The girl quickly hugged her forehead and bowed her head in apology.
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry.”
“Are you protesting because you’re bleeding? You’re not even wiping the blood that’s dripping down. You’re campaigning over something so trivial.”
Beliana's eyes were filled with venom as he glared at the girl. She showed no remorse for the blood she had thrown.
The girl still covered her forehead with one hand, clutching the hem of her tattered clothes. She tried to wipe the blood off the floor.
However, instead of erasing it, it only spread more deeply.
“Ha.”
Beliana let out an annoyed voice at the girl’s behavior.
“Stop it. It’s only going to spread more. It’s a luxury item that a slave like you will never be able to touch. I paid more than your own worth for it.”
The girl felt shame at Beliana's giggling voice.
The carpet on her floor. It was a mere interior decoration, and it was somehow sad that it was worth more than her own worth.
The girl bowed her head and stood up at Beliana's words. Then she stepped outside the carpet and stood there in silence.
Beliana was upset by the damaged carpet. But there was no time to dwell on this.
The wedding was tomorrow. Every second was precious if that filthy slave could act like her.
She forced herself to suppress her anger and looked at the girl with cold eyes.
"You have another debt to repay."
Beliana smirked at the frozen girl.
"Do it right. If you don't want to see your innocent sister die because of you."
The girl closed her eyes at Beliana's words. She saw her clenched fists tremble pitifully.
"Why... why do you keep dragging my sister into this!"
It was unfair. But in this situation, there was only one thing she could do.
To perfectly imitate Belliar.
"I can...no, I must. I will... do it."
She reassured herself, reminding herself that she could do it, that she had to.
“I am Beliana Dikar. I am Beliana Dikar...”
She hypnotized herself, telling herself that she would no longer be a slave, that she would imitate the youngest daughter of the arrogant Marquis without anyone noticing.
“Don’t worry. Rose isn’t that weak.”
Daemon was very concerned about his daughter Rose, but he pretended to be calm and spoke.
“Rose needs time to gather her thoughts.”
He was worried about sending her out alone so late at night, but he wanted to give Rose some time alone.
Daemon watched Rose leave the house with a pitiful look in his eyes.
If he knew that Rose was humming along with her light steps, he wouldn’t be so worried.
Rose’s humming resonated cheerfully through the night air.
"Gyaak!"
A dull thud accompanied by a faint scream.
Unable to dodge the sharp object flying towards her face, she stumbled. Then, she carefully brushed her forehead, where the impact had taken place. It was damp. The girl stared down at her hand.
"Blood..."
The thing beading on her forehead wasn't sweat, but blood. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes.
"Hey, are you going to do this?"
The person who had thrown the object at the girl was Beliana, the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Dikar.
She walked toward the girl with a blank expression, her face clattering. She then lifted the girl's face, which was dripping with blood, with one hand.
"Is this how you're supposed to imitate me? Get a grip. The wedding is tomorrow."
Beliana stared at the girl with cold eyes, showing no sign of apology.
Intimidated by Beliana's gaze, the girl remained silent, biting her lip.
"I guess it's because you were raised poorly, but every single thing you do is funny. You didn't mean to make fun of me, did you?"
"...I'm sorry."
The girl muttered, not even wiping the blood from her forehead.
"If you were going to act like this, I would have said you couldn't see your little sister."
Faced with Beliana's threatening attitude, using her little sister as a weapon, the girl simply lowered her head and closed her eyes. The red droplets soon fell to the floor. The girl stared at the blood-soaked carpet with unfocused eyes.
"Hey."
"Ah!"
Beliana shoved her violently to the side. She smiled and stared at the girl.
"Do you know how much this carpet costs? How dare you spill your dirty blood on it?"
Her voice was gentle, but her gaze was fierce.
It seemed that Beliana had cherished this carpet. The girl quickly hugged her forehead and bowed her head in apology.
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry.”
“Are you protesting because you’re bleeding? You’re not even wiping the blood that’s dripping down. You’re campaigning over something so trivial.”
Beliana's eyes were filled with venom as he glared at the girl. She showed no remorse for the blood she had thrown.
The girl still covered her forehead with one hand, clutching the hem of her tattered clothes. She tried to wipe the blood off the floor.
However, instead of erasing it, it only spread more deeply.
“Ha.”
Beliana let out an annoyed voice at the girl’s behavior.
“Stop it. It’s only going to spread more. It’s a luxury item that a slave like you will never be able to touch. I paid more than your own worth for it.”
The girl felt shame at Beliana's giggling voice.
The carpet on her floor. It was a mere interior decoration, and it was somehow sad that it was worth more than her own worth.
The girl bowed her head and stood up at Beliana's words. Then she stepped outside the carpet and stood there in silence.
Beliana was upset by the damaged carpet. But there was no time to dwell on this.
The wedding was tomorrow. Every second was precious if that filthy slave could act like her.
She forced herself to suppress her anger and looked at the girl with cold eyes.
"You have another debt to repay."
Beliana smirked at the frozen girl.
"Do it right. If you don't want to see your innocent sister die because of you."
The girl closed her eyes at Beliana's words. She saw her clenched fists tremble pitifully.
"Why... why do you keep dragging my sister into this!"
It was unfair. But in this situation, there was only one thing she could do.
To perfectly imitate Belliar.
"I can...no, I must. I will... do it."
She reassured herself, reminding herself that she could do it, that she had to.
“I am Beliana Dikar. I am Beliana Dikar...”
She hypnotized herself, telling herself that she would no longer be a slave, that she would imitate the youngest daughter of the arrogant Marquis without anyone noticing.
“Now you have a look in your eyes that I like.”
Beliana smiled with satisfaction at the sight of the girl.
Knock.
“My daughter.”
The Marquis’s voice came from outside the door. Belial smiled and replied.
“Come in, father.”
At Belial’s voice, the Marquis pushed open the door and came in.
“I came because I was worried. I wonder if that lowly child is doing a good job of imitating you.”
The Marquis's cold eyes scanned the girl's body. They were a sharp gaze, completely different from the one he'd used when looking at his own daughter, Beliana.
Beliana smiled mysteriously at the girl beside her.
"Well... It's not bad."
The girl flinched at Beliana's words. Just moments ago, she had been telling her to do it properly, even throwing things at her, but now, at her father, she had said, "It's not bad."
"Is... are you protecting me?"
It might have been an illusion, but she felt grateful that she had protected her.
The Marquis looked at the girl with a bleary gaze, then quickly averted his gaze. Then, he spoke to his daughter, full of concern.
Beliana smiled with satisfaction at the sight of the girl.
Knock.
“My daughter.”
The Marquis’s voice came from outside the door. Belial smiled and replied.
“Come in, father.”
At Belial’s voice, the Marquis pushed open the door and came in.
“I came because I was worried. I wonder if that lowly child is doing a good job of imitating you.”
The Marquis's cold eyes scanned the girl's body. They were a sharp gaze, completely different from the one he'd used when looking at his own daughter, Beliana.
Beliana smiled mysteriously at the girl beside her.
"Well... It's not bad."
The girl flinched at Beliana's words. Just moments ago, she had been telling her to do it properly, even throwing things at her, but now, at her father, she had said, "It's not bad."
"Is... are you protecting me?"
It might have been an illusion, but she felt grateful that she had protected her.
The Marquis looked at the girl with a bleary gaze, then quickly averted his gaze. Then, he spoke to his daughter, full of concern.
"You'll have to board a ship bound for a foreign land in the morning. Why don't you get a few hours of sleep?"
"It's okay, Father. I can sleep on the ship."
Beliana's calm words brought tears to the Marquis's eyes.
"The thought of you suffering alone in a foreign land makes me feel uneasy."
“No, don’t think so. I’ve always said I wanted to travel there. I’ll enjoy myself to the fullest, so don’t cry.”
The Marquis nodded at Beliana's words and wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.
Meanwhile, Rose entered her room and lay on the bed.
“Beliana...”
She muttered to herself the name of the woman Eric was to marry.
She’d seen it briefly in a book, but somehow she couldn’t quite remember it.
“Who was it?”
Rose tilted her head and looked at Eric’s wedding invitation.
Rose stared blankly at the invitation, then burst out laughing.
Daemon and Rivera, who were downstairs, looked worried upon hearing Daemon’s voice.
“I guess she’s really shocked. How can she laugh like a lunatic?”
“Didn’t I tell you not to say anything?”
Daemon sighed in response to Rivera’s words.
“No. Rose knew everything, didn’t she? She was the one who asked me if Eric was remarrying...”
“But there was no need to show her the wedding invitation, right? Even if you divorced because you felt no affection for him, it’s quite shocking that your former husband would marry another woman just three days later.”
Rivera nodded sullenly at Daemon’s words.
“That’s right... I shouldn’t have shown her. I really didn’t know she would react like that.”
Daemon and Rivera felt sorry for Rose’s laughter echoing throughout the mansion.
It sounded like the voice of someone with a missing screw.
But that wasn’t the case at all.
Rose was incredibly happy.
It was a shame she couldn’t witness the expression on Doana’s face when she saw the invitation, who must have been so excited.
“Ha... Really.”
Rose laughed and laughed, oblivious to the worrying voice downstairs. She finally caught her breath after laughing so hard she almost cried.
“What a cruel fate,”
She muttered, fiddling with the invitation.
Rose thought back to what Gyeo-ru had done to her in her previous life.
The wedding invitation she'd been holding out so proudly.
There, her husband, Lee Do-hyun, was the groom, along with Gyeo-ru. The thought of her husband marrying someone else was an unspeakable shock. Furthermore, Gyeo-ru hadn't hidden it, but had mocked her by giving her the invitation.
If Gyeo-ru hadn't gone that far, she might not have left her family and friends. Rose let out a laugh.
"It's okay, Father. I can sleep on the ship."
Beliana's calm words brought tears to the Marquis's eyes.
"The thought of you suffering alone in a foreign land makes me feel uneasy."
“No, don’t think so. I’ve always said I wanted to travel there. I’ll enjoy myself to the fullest, so don’t cry.”
The Marquis nodded at Beliana's words and wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.
***
Meanwhile, Rose entered her room and lay on the bed.
“Beliana...”
She muttered to herself the name of the woman Eric was to marry.
She’d seen it briefly in a book, but somehow she couldn’t quite remember it.
“Who was it?”
Rose tilted her head and looked at Eric’s wedding invitation.
Rose stared blankly at the invitation, then burst out laughing.
Daemon and Rivera, who were downstairs, looked worried upon hearing Daemon’s voice.
“I guess she’s really shocked. How can she laugh like a lunatic?”
“Didn’t I tell you not to say anything?”
Daemon sighed in response to Rivera’s words.
“No. Rose knew everything, didn’t she? She was the one who asked me if Eric was remarrying...”
“But there was no need to show her the wedding invitation, right? Even if you divorced because you felt no affection for him, it’s quite shocking that your former husband would marry another woman just three days later.”
Rivera nodded sullenly at Daemon’s words.
“That’s right... I shouldn’t have shown her. I really didn’t know she would react like that.”
Daemon and Rivera felt sorry for Rose’s laughter echoing throughout the mansion.
It sounded like the voice of someone with a missing screw.
But that wasn’t the case at all.
Rose was incredibly happy.
It was a shame she couldn’t witness the expression on Doana’s face when she saw the invitation, who must have been so excited.
“Ha... Really.”
Rose laughed and laughed, oblivious to the worrying voice downstairs. She finally caught her breath after laughing so hard she almost cried.
“What a cruel fate,”
She muttered, fiddling with the invitation.
Rose thought back to what Gyeo-ru had done to her in her previous life.
The wedding invitation she'd been holding out so proudly.
There, her husband, Lee Do-hyun, was the groom, along with Gyeo-ru. The thought of her husband marrying someone else was an unspeakable shock. Furthermore, Gyeo-ru hadn't hidden it, but had mocked her by giving her the invitation.
If Gyeo-ru hadn't gone that far, she might not have left her family and friends. Rose let out a laugh.
"How funny."
Unlike the slightly upturned corners of her lips, her gaze had sunken deeply. With that, Rose stood up. She placed the invitation on the desk and left through her room. Upon hearing Rose coming downstairs, Daemon and Rivera, who had been whispering, quickly shut their mouths.
"...Do you think it's okay?"
"I'm not sure," they whispered, studying Rose's appearance. Rose spoke brightly to the Serviat couple.
"I'm going to take a quick walk."
"At this hour? Isn't it too late?"
Rivera was startled by Rose's words and answered. It was already pitch black outside; the sun had set.
"Yes, I just wanted to take a walk."
Normally, she would have told her to wake up and go in the morning, but in a situation like today, it was difficult to say 'no' so easily. Rivera paused and then spoke carefully.
"Then do you want to walk with Mom?"
Rose shook her head at Rivera's question.
"No. I just want to walk alone."
Rose smiled faintly. Her expression was meaningless, but in Daemon and Rivera's eyes, Rose was incredibly wistful.
“Yeah. It’s dangerous, so don’t go too far.”
Daemon spoke to Rose in a low voice.
“Yes, I will. Don’t worry.”
Rose nodded to Daemon and Rivera and grabbed the creaking door.
Daemon spoke to Rose in a low voice.
“Yes, I will. Don’t worry.”
Rose nodded to Daemon and Rivera and grabbed the creaking door.
“I’ll be right back.”
Rose quickly left the mansion without any hesitation.
“Our Rose... will she be okay?”
Rose quickly left the mansion without any hesitation.
“Our Rose... will she be okay?”
“Don’t worry. Rose isn’t that weak.”
Daemon was very concerned about his daughter Rose, but he pretended to be calm and spoke.
“Rose needs time to gather her thoughts.”
He was worried about sending her out alone so late at night, but he wanted to give Rose some time alone.
Daemon watched Rose leave the house with a pitiful look in his eyes.
If he knew that Rose was humming along with her light steps, he wouldn’t be so worried.
Rose’s humming resonated cheerfully through the night air.
The Serviat mansion was located in a remote area, so aside from the chirping of insects, the only sound was Rose's humming.
"Hmm, I really want to go and see Doana's expression."
What should I do? I already have a prior engagement tomorrow.
The wedding time overlapped with her prior engagement with the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
She had to get my business going in earnest, so there was a lot to do.
She had to tell Gwen that she brought him in as the CFO, and there were mountains of things to discuss, like selecting a department store site and listing brands.
In Korea, she could have contacted Gwen by cell phone, apologized, and changed the time, but in the novel, that wasn't possible.
Just exchanging letters could take two or three days, and now that the stores were all closed, she couldn't even accept applications.
Thump, thump.
"Is there nothing I can do?"
Rose, who had been walking at a steady pace, suddenly stopped and muttered to herself.
Thump.
Then, the footsteps came again.
It felt strange. She was clearly stopped, so what was this sound?
Rose's once calm expression hardened with anxiety.
'What is this...?'
A chill ran through her.
She'd thought she was alone... but the sound of footsteps was heard again.
Rose lowered her gaze to the ground. Then, her face immediately turned pale.
Rose's shadow faintly reflected on the ground.
But it wasn't just one shadow. Less than a meter away, another shadow was also cast.
Beads of sweat began to form on Rose's forehead.
'Since when have you been following me? I never noticed.'
The fact that he was so close and yet no footsteps were heard suggested that he must have intentionally hidden himself.
Moreover, when he remained motionless, the person behind her also remained motionless.
Rose swallowed hard and clenched her fists. Sweat had already soaked her palms.
'Should I run? Or... should I scream?'
The mansion was right behind her. If he caught her while running away, it would be over, but if she screamed, the Serviats might hear them.
Rose made up her mind and opened her trembling lips. Then she shouted loudly.
“Fire!!”
There’s a saying in Korea: when you’re being chased by a stranger, don’t shout “Save me!”
Did he seem surprised by Rose’s sudden scream? The stranger suddenly approached her and covered her mouth.
“Ugh! Ugh!!”
Rose fought fiercely against the stranger who had gagged her mouth.
But that was only for a moment, as a voice stopped her resistance.
“Madam, calm down. It’s me.”
Only then did Rose look at the stranger’s face.
Pitch-black hair and deep, sunken red eyes.
It was her escort knight, Serun.
He smiled playfully when his eyes met Rose’s.
"Hmm, I really want to go and see Doana's expression."
What should I do? I already have a prior engagement tomorrow.
The wedding time overlapped with her prior engagement with the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
She had to get my business going in earnest, so there was a lot to do.
She had to tell Gwen that she brought him in as the CFO, and there were mountains of things to discuss, like selecting a department store site and listing brands.
In Korea, she could have contacted Gwen by cell phone, apologized, and changed the time, but in the novel, that wasn't possible.
Just exchanging letters could take two or three days, and now that the stores were all closed, she couldn't even accept applications.
Thump, thump.
"Is there nothing I can do?"
Rose, who had been walking at a steady pace, suddenly stopped and muttered to herself.
Thump.
Then, the footsteps came again.
It felt strange. She was clearly stopped, so what was this sound?
Rose's once calm expression hardened with anxiety.
'What is this...?'
A chill ran through her.
She'd thought she was alone... but the sound of footsteps was heard again.
Rose lowered her gaze to the ground. Then, her face immediately turned pale.
Rose's shadow faintly reflected on the ground.
But it wasn't just one shadow. Less than a meter away, another shadow was also cast.
Beads of sweat began to form on Rose's forehead.
'Since when have you been following me? I never noticed.'
The fact that he was so close and yet no footsteps were heard suggested that he must have intentionally hidden himself.
Moreover, when he remained motionless, the person behind her also remained motionless.
Rose swallowed hard and clenched her fists. Sweat had already soaked her palms.
'Should I run? Or... should I scream?'
The mansion was right behind her. If he caught her while running away, it would be over, but if she screamed, the Serviats might hear them.
Rose made up her mind and opened her trembling lips. Then she shouted loudly.
“Fire!!”
There’s a saying in Korea: when you’re being chased by a stranger, don’t shout “Save me!”
Did he seem surprised by Rose’s sudden scream? The stranger suddenly approached her and covered her mouth.
“Ugh! Ugh!!”
Rose fought fiercely against the stranger who had gagged her mouth.
But that was only for a moment, as a voice stopped her resistance.
“Madam, calm down. It’s me.”
Only then did Rose look at the stranger’s face.
Pitch-black hair and deep, sunken red eyes.
It was her escort knight, Serun.
He smiled playfully when his eyes met Rose’s.
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