Stella hugged the book tightly to her chest. The small incident from just a moment ago dominated her mind, and her reddened ears refused to go away. She glanced at Sia.
"My ankle is swollen."
The quick-witted Sia had already found the traces of Stella's fall.
"The hem of the skirt was also wrinkled."
Stella ran her hand through her hair for no reason.
"I'll have to refrain from wearing shoes like these in the future. They're hard to balance."
"If Stella gets hurt and goes back, I'll be the one who gets scolded by the Duke."
Stella considered apologizing, then pursed her lips. Sia's attitude was undeniably arrogant, but it was manageable.
"Please be more careful next time."
Stella nodded. Sunset streamed in through the carriage window. Sia's face, tinged with orange, looked somehow youthful.
'Why does this kid hate me?'
There was a time when she spent all day thinking about it, tormented by it. Even after she learned the reason, the pain remained the same. Even though she grew up as the daughter of the Duke of Lanedict in her place, she was filled with anxiety that Sia might take her place at any moment.
'I understand now.'
Sia also hated disappointing anyone. Like Stella, she must have lived desperately to avoid being abandoned.
'Because I see my old self in this child.'
Even Sia, who seemed so pretty and upright, had a subtle shadow. A shadow that wouldn't be noticeable to others, but that stood out only to Stella. Stella turned her gaze and looked out the window. A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
If Sia regains her position as Princess, then...
Can she help her with her divorce?
Stella needed to meet certain conditions to succumb to Sia's temptation. She needed to either build a rapport with Sia or exploit her weaknesses. Neither approach was easy. Stella decided to keep Sia by her side for now and take her time to think things through.
"I got an invitation from Lanedict."
While she was deep in thought, Kendrick handed her an invitation.
<We invite Duke and Duchess Adrian to a celebration of Skyle Lanedict's promotion.>
It came from Stella's parents.
'This invitation...'
A memory came to her. At the same time, a burst of laughter came out. It'd barely been a month since their daughter attempted suicide, and now her parents were throwing a party, huh? It was her second life, but the humor was just as funny.
'It's not like I didn't know this family existed. It's just a new experience.'
She wasn't just preparing for a breakup with Kendrick. Her parents were, too. As she pondered her death date, she found her own childhood behavior incredibly ironic. No one in her family truly loved or cared for Stella. They simply viewed her as a tool for the family. What on earth had she been working so hard for?
"Why are you laughing?"
When Stella visited her parents before she died, when she told them she had been given a terminal diagnosis, if only they had welcomed her warmly, her heart wouldn't have frozen so coldly. They were annoyed with Stella until the very end. It was truly a blessing.
"Just. It's funny."
In her previous life, she read this invitation and cried for a long time. It felt like no one in this world was on her side. Skyle, who had been so desperate to win, ended up succeeding and finding a prestigious job, while Stella was left alone in her room.
'As expected, Skyle is a source of pride.'
In her previous life, Stella was heartbroken by the thought that she was unworthy of love. A chuckle escaped her lips. It was only a few years ago, yet it felt so long ago.
"The Lanedict family is too much. You still need to rest."
Stella's smile seemed sad to Kendrick's eyes.
"I'll be the only one present at this banquet. You rest at home."
Stella suddenly remembered a memory from her previous life.
"I'll tell them that you're not feeling well."
That's right. In her last life, she didn't attend this banquet due to Kendrick's persuasion. As Stella increasingly withdrew from social circles, her standing diminished, and strange rumors began to circulate. She lacked the power or influence to quell them.
"No. I'll go."
Stella vowed to live a different life from before. Her business required her to meet a lot of people. Kendrick frowned at her answer. It wasn't because he hated the sight of her. She was still so beautiful and lovely, almost too beautiful to be seen with the naked eye.
"Aren't you having a hard time with Skyle?"
The reason he frowned was that he could see with his own eyes that Stella had changed.
"I have to be there too. Besides, this is my family's event."
Her lips formed a curve.
"Why? You don't want me to go?"
When Stella asked again, Kendrick took his eyes off her lips.
"No way. I replied that I would go with you."
"Great."
A few things had changed in her second life. Stella had left Adrian and returned, and this time she would attend Skyle's celebration at Lanedict. But that wasn't all. Though it wasn't apparent, Kendrick's perspective on Stella had changed.
'It just flashes.'
Kendrick kept glancing at Stella, but Stella's gaze was elsewhere. The banquet hall sparkled. It seemed the Duke and Duchess of Lanedict had put a lot of effort into celebrating Skyle's promotion. Nobles, scholars, and artists mingled and drank together. The topic, of course, was Skyle. Voices praising him tickled Stella's ears.
'You're still very interested in Skyle.'
Stella mingled with the group with a carefree expression. Then, something caught her attention.
"Have you heard about Young Master Andra? I hear he's very pretty. He's kind and gentle, too!"
"Really? I heard he's a monster. He has a ferocious personality and a beast-like face."
Young master Andra was that novelist. The author of the captivating novel that stole Stella's time at the bookstore.
"These days, I fall asleep while reading his novels."
"I heard he recently entered the empire."
"I really want to meet him sometime."
Stella, befitting her status as a Duchess, sat at the head table. But she wanted to approach them and talk about Roy Andra. She shifted restlessly in her seat, but, conscious of Kendrick sitting there with such composure, she couldn’t bring herself to stand up.
"My ankle is swollen."
The quick-witted Sia had already found the traces of Stella's fall.
"The hem of the skirt was also wrinkled."
Stella ran her hand through her hair for no reason.
"I'll have to refrain from wearing shoes like these in the future. They're hard to balance."
"If Stella gets hurt and goes back, I'll be the one who gets scolded by the Duke."
Stella considered apologizing, then pursed her lips. Sia's attitude was undeniably arrogant, but it was manageable.
"Please be more careful next time."
Stella nodded. Sunset streamed in through the carriage window. Sia's face, tinged with orange, looked somehow youthful.
'Why does this kid hate me?'
There was a time when she spent all day thinking about it, tormented by it. Even after she learned the reason, the pain remained the same. Even though she grew up as the daughter of the Duke of Lanedict in her place, she was filled with anxiety that Sia might take her place at any moment.
'I understand now.'
Sia also hated disappointing anyone. Like Stella, she must have lived desperately to avoid being abandoned.
'Because I see my old self in this child.'
Even Sia, who seemed so pretty and upright, had a subtle shadow. A shadow that wouldn't be noticeable to others, but that stood out only to Stella. Stella turned her gaze and looked out the window. A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
If Sia regains her position as Princess, then...
Can she help her with her divorce?
***
Stella needed to meet certain conditions to succumb to Sia's temptation. She needed to either build a rapport with Sia or exploit her weaknesses. Neither approach was easy. Stella decided to keep Sia by her side for now and take her time to think things through.
"I got an invitation from Lanedict."
While she was deep in thought, Kendrick handed her an invitation.
<We invite Duke and Duchess Adrian to a celebration of Skyle Lanedict's promotion.>
It came from Stella's parents.
'This invitation...'
A memory came to her. At the same time, a burst of laughter came out. It'd barely been a month since their daughter attempted suicide, and now her parents were throwing a party, huh? It was her second life, but the humor was just as funny.
'It's not like I didn't know this family existed. It's just a new experience.'
She wasn't just preparing for a breakup with Kendrick. Her parents were, too. As she pondered her death date, she found her own childhood behavior incredibly ironic. No one in her family truly loved or cared for Stella. They simply viewed her as a tool for the family. What on earth had she been working so hard for?
"Why are you laughing?"
When Stella visited her parents before she died, when she told them she had been given a terminal diagnosis, if only they had welcomed her warmly, her heart wouldn't have frozen so coldly. They were annoyed with Stella until the very end. It was truly a blessing.
"Just. It's funny."
In her previous life, she read this invitation and cried for a long time. It felt like no one in this world was on her side. Skyle, who had been so desperate to win, ended up succeeding and finding a prestigious job, while Stella was left alone in her room.
'As expected, Skyle is a source of pride.'
In her previous life, Stella was heartbroken by the thought that she was unworthy of love. A chuckle escaped her lips. It was only a few years ago, yet it felt so long ago.
"The Lanedict family is too much. You still need to rest."
Stella's smile seemed sad to Kendrick's eyes.
"I'll be the only one present at this banquet. You rest at home."
Stella suddenly remembered a memory from her previous life.
"I'll tell them that you're not feeling well."
That's right. In her last life, she didn't attend this banquet due to Kendrick's persuasion. As Stella increasingly withdrew from social circles, her standing diminished, and strange rumors began to circulate. She lacked the power or influence to quell them.
"No. I'll go."
Stella vowed to live a different life from before. Her business required her to meet a lot of people. Kendrick frowned at her answer. It wasn't because he hated the sight of her. She was still so beautiful and lovely, almost too beautiful to be seen with the naked eye.
"Aren't you having a hard time with Skyle?"
The reason he frowned was that he could see with his own eyes that Stella had changed.
"I have to be there too. Besides, this is my family's event."
Her lips formed a curve.
"Why? You don't want me to go?"
When Stella asked again, Kendrick took his eyes off her lips.
"No way. I replied that I would go with you."
"Great."
A few things had changed in her second life. Stella had left Adrian and returned, and this time she would attend Skyle's celebration at Lanedict. But that wasn't all. Though it wasn't apparent, Kendrick's perspective on Stella had changed.
***
'It just flashes.'
Kendrick kept glancing at Stella, but Stella's gaze was elsewhere. The banquet hall sparkled. It seemed the Duke and Duchess of Lanedict had put a lot of effort into celebrating Skyle's promotion. Nobles, scholars, and artists mingled and drank together. The topic, of course, was Skyle. Voices praising him tickled Stella's ears.
'You're still very interested in Skyle.'
Stella mingled with the group with a carefree expression. Then, something caught her attention.
"Have you heard about Young Master Andra? I hear he's very pretty. He's kind and gentle, too!"
"Really? I heard he's a monster. He has a ferocious personality and a beast-like face."
Young master Andra was that novelist. The author of the captivating novel that stole Stella's time at the bookstore.
"These days, I fall asleep while reading his novels."
A young woman said this with a look of rapture on her face. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I really want to meet him sometime."
Stella, befitting her status as a Duchess, sat at the head table. But she wanted to approach them and talk about Roy Andra. She shifted restlessly in her seat, but, conscious of Kendrick sitting there with such composure, she couldn’t bring herself to stand up.
"Hey, Stella. Come here."
Duchess Lanedict, Stella's mother, came and poked her in the ribs.
"All right."
She followed the Duchess.
Stella wondered why her mother was calling her so urgently.
'Are you trying to comfort your daughter who attempted suicide?'
She thought about it a lot, but she didn't have high expectations.
'I never had anything like that in my last life.'
The Duke and Duchess of Lanedict didn't spare Stella. After moving to a deserted building, Stella asked.
"What's wrong, Mother?"
Duke Lanedict was also present. Seeing the banquet's host absent, it seemed this wasn't an ordinary event. The Duchess smiled strangely and poked Stella's ribs again.
"Stella. Any news on the baby yet?"
'Hey, any news?'
To your daughter who came back from the dead, any news about her?
Stella's lips tightened at her words. But the Lanedicts burst into laughter, seemingly oblivious to Stella's expression.
"Thanks to your marriage, the power of our Duke Lanedict family has grown even stronger. Nothing is more ideal for uniting the two families than a child."
"There's no news about the child."
Stella had no desire to sleep with Kendrick at the moment. So, her parents' conversation was just awkward. More than anything, their true intentions were obvious. They were pretending to be concerned about their daughter while satisfying their own greed to strengthen the family.
"I knew it. They say that without children, couples fight more often and their hearts become more open. We need to prepare before it's too late."
As expected, Duchess Sarsia Lanedict handed Stella a package. She knew what it contained without even looking.
"Hey, take this. I prepared it for you."
A drug that is said to increase the chances of pregnancy.
- I thought things would be quiet after she got married, but she's slitting her wrists again? How pathetic. Tsk tsk.
- I really don't know why the kid grew up like that.
She vividly remembered the conversation between the Duke and Duchess when she woke up from her suicide attempt. It was a conversation devoid of the slightest hint of concern.
For me?
"Ha."
She looked at the Duke and Duchess of Lanedict. Their faces were covered in white powder to conceal their wrinkles, and their under-eye area was shiny from the oil they applied. They looked young and beautiful, possessing an aristocratic, old-fashioned beauty. Perhaps it was the constant expense of maintaining their appearance. She wondered if they cared as much about Stella as they did about their own wrinkles.
'No.'
Did they ever think of Stella as their real daughter?
'No way.'
She was not a mother to Stella. Neither was Duke Lanedict.
"Don't be ashamed. If you eat this, you will have a great son in the future. I put in a lot of effort to get this."
Was Duke Lanedict ever a father to Stella? He treated her as Duke Lanedict, never as a father figure.
"Think of it as your father's love."
Now, Stella thought to herself, looking at the Duke of Lanedict, who was laughing so hard his mouth was splitting open, that she didn't even want him to act as her father.
'How long will I have to stay here?'
"No, try eating it here."
The Duchess took the medicine out of the package and thrust it into Stella's face.
"Yes. Drink up. Quick."
She looked at the Duke and Duchess with a blank expression. Then her urging intensified.
"As the host of the banquet, I can't be away for long. Don't be a slacker."
Stella suddenly thought.
'Am I at a disadvantage for saying what I want to say here?'
Probably not. They value their honor and would rather keep their family feud hidden from others. So, speaking out wouldn't hinder the divorce or cause any harm.
"Love?"
She finished her thoughts and smiled. Before, just seeing their faces made her emotional. She'd shed tears and sweat like a burst cherry. Now, she could think rationally.
"A gift for me?"
She gently pushed the hand offering her the medicine envelope. Stella didn't harbor any resentment or desire for revenge for being neglected in her previous life. Her original intention when she came here was to listen to the Duchess's business and then quietly leave.
"It's what my parents want."
But asking a sick daughter, a daughter who had recently attempted suicide, to have a baby? They were crossing the line. Stella was tired of them. She was fed up.
"Stella. Even though you're Adrian's mistress, what's with that habit of speaking?"
The Duchess stopped shoving the medicine and became angry. They were even more agitated by Stella's strange attitude. However, in terms of social standing, Stella was on par with her parents.
‘It’s a habit...’
Duke and Duchess Lanedict and Adrian. As equals, even her parents were not allowed to speak carelessly to Stella in public. Up until then, both Stella and Kendrick had only used formal language to address Lanedict out of respect.
"Duke Adrian has a lot to do as a Duke. What are you doing at home? You should be having a baby!"
Duchess Lanedict and the Duke took turns pecking at Stella.
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