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Chapter : 36
The day Lisiansheus was attacked was a day when everyone was joyfully celebrating the New Year.
Lisiansheus herself was watching the fireworks through the window while waiting for Khalid.
But then, a human figure appeared at the window.
“Who… is that?”
Before she could react, the intruder opened the window of the Empress’s palace and approached Lisiansheus.
“Y-you insolent fool! Is there no one outside?!”
Feeling threatened, Lisiansheus called out to the people outside, but there was no response.
Gripping her trembling hands with all her strength, she backed away while speaking to the intruder who was approaching her.
“I am the Empress of the Empire. How dare you enter the Empress’s palace, claiming safety!!”
The intruder said nothing.
They simply came closer to Lisiansheus and stabbed her in the abdomen with a sharp dagger.
“Ugh…! Gah.”
Lisiansheus writhed on the floor in unbearable pain.
“Farewell, Empress.”
The intruder looked at the fallen Lisiansheus and then left through the window they had entered.
“No… I don’t want to die.”
In the fading state of her mind, Lisiansheus struggled to pull herself back, but her eyes only grew heavier and heavier.
“I still feel a chill.”
Lisiansheus clenched her fists tightly and bit her lip as she spoke.
It was her anger at the Kingdom of Etoah, which had sent a princess to the Empire despite having tried to kill her.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought the medicinal decoction.”
The head maid approached Lisiansheus with the herbal medicine.
“How long must I take this?”
“The imperial physician said that Your Majesty’s body has not yet fully recovered. You must continue taking it.”
Lisiansheus frowned sharply and drank the decoction.
The morning at the Grand Duke’s residence was peaceful.
The intruder who had threatened Lisiansheus had been caught and punished, and even Luciano was enjoying a rare day of ease.
“Milady! Please wake up.”
“Mm…”
All of my maids came into the room to wake me.
“The Grand Duke requested that you have breakfast with him today. Please prepare yourself quickly.”
“Breakfast with Luciano?”
My eyes opened fully, and after preparing quickly, I headed straight to the dining room.
“Have you been waiting long, Luciano?”
Luciano was seated at the table, waiting for me.
“Not at all, my lady. Please, have a seat.”
We ate in silence, the only sound being the clinking of utensils.
“You know that the princess of the Kingdom of Etoah is staying in the imperial palace, don’t you?”
“Yes, of course.”
It was the first time he had spoken about Rebecca.
“Unlike the king and queen of Etoah, she seems to be a kind woman.”
My heart seemed to plummet. No, it did plummet.
It was the first time I had seen him praise a woman he was not close to.
Even if the original story’s timeline had been accelerated, Luciano would still be the male protagonist who loves Rebecca, and Rebecca would still be the heroine who overcomes adversity to be happy with him.
‘This feels… strange.’
Just moments ago, the thought of being with Luciano had made me giddy and smile uncontrollably, but now my appetite had vanished, and the corners of my mouth didn’t lift.
“Are you feeling unwell, my lady?”
Luciano looked at my face with concern.
I forced a smile with my eyes, pretending everything was fine.
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Throughout the meal, Luciano kept checking on me, but I left the dining room without eating properly.
‘I can’t look at Luciano.’
If I did, I felt tears would fall from my eyes.
‘I’ve grown attached to him.’
I had no choice but to admit it. At this point, there was no turning back.
I had grown fond of him. I was Luciano’s wife.
Even though we were soon to divorce, I had stayed by his side after the body-switching incident, and recently, every action Luciano showed me made my heart race.
‘If only I were Rebecca…’
If I were Rebecca, I wouldn’t have to think about divorce, and I could approach Luciano freely, without worrying about whether the original story’s timeline was accelerated or delayed.
“Milady, your complexion is not good. Shall I call the physician and give you more decoction?”
My maids watched me wander around the mansion aimlessly, worried.
“Enough. Don’t trouble yourselves with unnecessary concern. Go.”
I sent the maids away and went alone to the terrace, staring at the garden endlessly.
Hoping my chaotic heart would calm down.
‘Yes, I should settle this quickly.’
There was nothing more I could do.
The assassination attempt on Lisiansheus had concluded, and soon Estelle would die in the original story, and the story would officially begin.
As an extra in the original story created by the author, I could do nothing.
So it was better to divorce Luciano before my feelings for him turned fully into love, and end everything.
After resolving my thoughts, I summoned Kasiya.
“Kasiya. Do you know where Luciano is?”
“The Grand Duke has gone to the palace to attend the nobles’ meeting.”
“I see. Understood.”
“And milady, the princess of Etoah has sent a letter.”
“The princess of Etoah?”
‘Why would Rebecca send me a letter?’
I couldn’t think of any reasonable reason for Rebecca to do this.
Rebecca and I shouldn’t have any connection.
Her coming to the Empire was supposed to happen after Estelle’s death.
“Give it here.”
I tore open the envelope and began reading the letter inside.
The content was simple, and the letter was short.
‘She just feels lonely and wants me to be her friend.’
I chuckled bitterly and called my maids.
“I will go to the palace.”
“To see the Empress?”
“No. I will go see the princess of Etoah. She asked me to visit.”
My maids frowned slightly at my words.
To them, as true Empire citizens to the bone, the princess of Etoah was someone to distrust.
“Why go see the princess of Etoah? Isn’t she the princess who tried to assassinate the Empress?”
“Enough. How insolent.”
“But milady…!”
“Even if the Kingdom of Etoah bore ill intent, it hasn’t been proven that the princess herself was involved. So stop speaking such insolence.”
“Understood… milady.”
The maids quietly helped me change into a dress.
After putting on a pale pink dress and taking a fan, I got into the carriage.
“I shall return soon.”
“Yes, milady.”
Usually, when going to the imperial palace, I headed for the banquet hall or the Empress’s palace. Today, though, I was heading to the Lily Palace where Rebecca stayed, which felt strange.
“Please disembark, Grand Duchess.”
“Very well.”
As I stepped out of the carriage, the Lily Palace appeared.
‘So antique.’
It was the oldest palace in the imperial residence.
Though it was part of the imperial palace and well-maintained, even the palace staff treated it poorly.
‘I can see Rebecca’s standing in the Empire clearly.’
Khalid must have devised this so everyone could see her being disregarded, without making it too obvious.
‘He holds grudges for a long time.’
Khalid likely knew that Rebecca wasn’t involved.
But she was the only one he could take revenge on, so he acted this way.
“Tell the princess that the Grand Duchess Winforste has arrived.”
“Yes, Grand Duchess.”
As the maids informed Rebecca of my arrival, the palace doors opened.
“Please come in, Grand Duchess.”
“Very well.”
Inside, I noticed the palace was modest, with only what was necessary.
“Welcome! Grand Duchess. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Rebecca ran toward me with a bright smile, not maintaining the dignity of a princess.
“Your Highness.”
“It was lonely here, so it’s good you came. Bring the tea.”
She instructed her maids to bring tea and invited me to sit.
“Before, I didn’t really notice, but the Grand Duchess is truly beautiful.”
That wasn’t something she should say. Anyone would notice such a charming and captivating woman.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“I want to be friends with the Grand Duchess.”
Since Rebecca didn’t know the original story, she probably said this innocently.
Even if she knew the story, would she still say she wanted to be friends with me, knowing that after my death, she would become my husband Luciano’s new lover?
Feeling hollow, I didn’t respond to her words. I simply drank the tea quietly.
“Grand Duchess…?”
“…It’s an honor.”
“Is the Grand Duke doing well?”
My heart dropped.
Unlike before when Luciano had mentioned Rebecca, my blood seemed to freeze rapidly.
“How could you ask about my husband…”
“She only asked because the Grand Duke was the one who cared most for her when she came from the kingdom to the Empire.”
I looked at her face, worried that she might have feelings for Luciano. But on her face, I saw only pure goodwill.
“Yes, he is doing well.”
Rebecca took a sip of tea and said she was glad.
“Oh, and I have something for the Grand Duchess.”
After saying this, Rebecca handed me a letter sealed with a golden emblem.
