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Episode 4
After parting ways with Kael, I felt like I could float all the way home.
I never expected I’d get away from the Grand Duke like this.
I bounced my feet excitedly as I climbed into the carriage, trying to calm myself down.
The coachman, with his stern expression, didn’t bother greeting me before setting the carriage in motion.
Everyone in the ducal household was cold toward me—even the servants.
The only exception was probably Sara, since she didn’t need to worry about Father watching her.
Even if that was how this world was originally written…
Sometimes it still hurts, feeling like everyone around me hates me.
I quietly gazed out the window and waited for the carriage to reach the estate.
Whenever my younger sister Marta returned from banquets, the front of the mansion would be crowded with servants waiting to welcome her home.
But today, as expected, no one was there.
Honestly, that was probably better for me.
The moment I get to my room, I’ll take off my makeup, get out of this dress, throw myself onto the bed, and sleep.
Dreaming of that wonderful evening, I started climbing the stairs.
Then.
“Big sister, you’re finally back. How was the banquet?”
Marta suddenly appeared out of the darkness.
A young girl with beautiful honey-colored hair and plump pink cheeks.
I looked at Marta—the very picture of a child who had grown up showered with love—and felt nothing but annoyance.
“Well? Tell me. How was the banquet?”
“It was fun.”
“You didn’t spend the whole night decorating the wall again, did you? That’s what you always do.”
Technically, it was a terrace this time, not a wall.
I blinked blankly.
Seeing my reaction, Marta excitedly continued.
“You’re not upset, are you? I was worried you might embarrass yourself. If I’d gone with you, I could’ve looked after you.”
Yeah, right.
Instead of helping, she would’ve made little cutting remarks like that all night.
Sisters are supposed to bicker now and then.
But this relationship was completely different.
“Oh, right. Father was looking for you. He’s in his study.”
Ugh.
I decided that not answering her was enough revenge and walked away.
Unfortunately, now I had to go see Father.
One problem after another.
Knock, knock.
When I knocked on the closed study door, Father’s voice permitted me to enter.
“Enrica.”
“Yes, Father.”
His emotionless eyes swept over me from head to toe, as if inspecting merchandise.
“You look acceptable.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Thank you, my foot.
It was time to use the fake smile I’d perfected over two lifetimes.
“Until the wedding, be mindful of your behavior. Learn from your younger sister.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Don’t gain weight. I’ll assign an instructor to teach you proper lessons for becoming a bride.”
“Yes, Father.”
Seriously, he summoned me here just to talk at me.
I was letting his words go in one ear and out the other when he finally asked something different.
“I heard His Grace the Grand Duke attended today’s banquet. Did you greet him?”
The Grand Duke?
I was honestly shocked.
If he’d really been there, then he must have seen Kael holding my hand…
And kissing my hair.
Does that mean a broken engagement notice is arriving tomorrow?
I’d certainly be grateful.
The problem was whether Father would let me stay alive long enough to marry Kael afterward.
There was no way I could admit that I hadn’t even met the Grand Duke, so I vaguely answered,
“Yes, Father.”
“At last, you’re proving that raising you wasn’t a waste, Enrica.”
For the first time, Father’s gaze wasn’t cold.
“Never forget that what’s good for the family is good for you as well.”
It was closer to the look of someone evaluating a valuable item than looking at his daughter.
Still…
It felt different from usual.
“I’m proud of you.”
I stayed silent.
After all, Enrica was his biological daughter.
Before I stabbed him in the back with a broken engagement, there was one thing I wanted to know.
For my own peace of mind.
Finally making up my mind, I spoke.
“Father, what if…”
“Yes?”
“What if I said I don’t want to marry His Grace the Grand Duke?”
The last thing I saw was Father’s expression hardening.
SMACK!
My head snapped to the side.
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what had happened.
Then the burning pain in my cheek dragged me back to reality.
“Hah.”
Father laughed.
“I’ve indulged you too much. You must have gone insane, Enrica.”
The slap had been so hard that my ears were still ringing.
“Get out. If you ever say such nonsense again, a slap won’t be the end of it.”
Holding my aching face, I forced myself to stay composed.
After bowing properly, I left the study.
Yeah.
I was the fool.
I just thought that maybe, since he was her real father…
Maybe there was a chance.
As I dragged myself back toward my room, I ran into Sara.
“Miss, I’ve been looking for you. Why are you so late?”
The only person who genuinely welcomed me was the villainess from the original story.
Honestly…
That wasn’t so bad.
Sara was walking toward me with a lantern and a smile.
Then her face instantly froze.
Completely unaware, I was still enjoying the moment when Sara suddenly said:
“That f***ing son of a.”
“…Huh?! Hey!”
A vicious curse slipped out of her mouth.
Inside the ducal estate!
Shocked, I hurried over and covered her mouth.
Though one look at her sharp, angry eyebrows made me immediately pull my hand back.
The sadness from being slapped disappeared.
Now, all I felt was fear from provoking a villainess.
“W-Wait. Did you just curse at me?”
“Of course not!”
Sara shouted in disbelief.
Startled by her raised voice, I quickly grabbed her hand and dragged her into my room.
A few minutes later, after she’d finally calmed down, Sara spoke.
“You remember I once told you about a dog I used to raise?”
“Oh.”
I nodded.
“I said before, didn’t I?”
“Miss, you remind me of Lili, someone I knew when I was young.”
“R-Really? Who’s that?”
“I found a dog on the street and raised it.”
“Yeah, I remember.”
Thinking back on it, I nodded.
“One day, Lili went out for a walk alone and came back covered in wounds. Some neighborhood punks were angry because I wouldn’t smile at them, so they took it out on an innocent dog.”
Sara’s expression slowly hardened.
“She was so small. How could they hurt something like that?”
Her voice became cold enough to send a chill down my spine.
“Do you know where those bastards are now?”
People who hurt animals deserve whatever punishment a villainess gives them.
Expecting a satisfying ending, I asked,
“Where are they?”
Sara smirked.
“They’re gone.”
“Gone…?”
“They don’t exist anymore.”
Suddenly, she raised a hand and gently touched my bruised cheek.
“Ow.”
I winced from the sting.
Sara immediately withdrew her hand and lowered her head.
“Ugh… this is so upsetting. Seriously…”
Then she suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.
I blinked in confusion while trapped in Sara’s arms.
Wait.
Was she really this angry because I’d been slapped?
Awkwardly, I patted her back.
“Sara, there’s some good news.”
“What is it?”
“I’m getting married.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“Not to the Grand Duke. To someone else.”
Silence.
Sara’s entire body went stiff.
She immediately pulled away.
Ah.
It was warm and nice.
I looked at her regretfully.
Sara stared back at me with an even more stunned expression than before.
“What did you just say?”
Let me make one thing clear.
I’m not usually a coward.
But anyone would shrink back in front of a beautiful red-haired woman who was obviously furious.
Especially since I knew every terrible thing Sara did in the original story.
Sure, she treats me well now, but I can’t exactly forget that.
And yes, I was scared.
Just a little.
“Don’t get mad and hear me out! I really didn’t want to marry the Grand Duke!”
“So marrying a man you met for one day is fine?”
Well.
That is a very reasonable argument.
“He seemed like… a good person. It’s not like I’m in love with him. It’s just a contract marriage to avoid the Grand Duke.”
I nervously swallowed.
“Who is he? Where does he live? What’s his job? How old is he? What does he look like? What do his parents do? Does he have siblings? Any hereditary diseases?”
“Ow, my cheek suddenly hurts again. Maybe I should go to sleep first.”
Sara’s expression became even scarier.
She wasn’t about to cast magic on me, right?
Pretending not to know she was a dark mage, I gave her the most innocent look I could manage.
Of course, a cheap trick like that didn’t work on a villainess.
“You don’t know, do you?”
“No, no. Of course I do. His name is Kael Belbrington. He’s a Count. He’s… around twenty-one years old, I think.”
Sara frowned.
“That’s three years older than you. Rejected already.”
“What kind of reason is that?! My head only reaches his shoulder, and he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Thinking of Kael made me smile happily.
Sara looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Tall men are annoying. And handsome men are all con artists.”
“As for his parents, siblings, and medical history… There wasn’t enough time to ask.”
“Good. Because I’m going to make sure there won’t be enough time in the future either.”
The tension between us was unbelievable.
“Sara, I understand why you don’t trust him. But what choice do I have right now?
“When I see him again, I’ll introduce you first. If you still oppose it after meeting him, then I’ll reconsider.”
After trying my hardest to persuade her, Sara finally let out a long sigh.
“Fine. I’m going to sleep for now. I’ll bring medicine for your cheek.”
“O-Okay.”
“This conversation isn’t over.”
“I know.”
“We’ll talk about it again tomorrow.”
Even though we’d been arguing…
Knowing she was getting this worked up because she cared about me didn’t feel bad at all.
For some reason, Sara was starting to feel less like a villainess and more like a dependable older sister.
Watching her walk away, I couldn’t help smiling.
“Wow…”
The next morning, I looked in the mirror and grimaced.
The cheek I’d been slapped on was swollen and bruised blue.
I looked awful.
“If you cover it with makeup, it’ll only make it worse. Leave it alone today.”
“Okay.”
“And use a cold compress.”
I nodded.
Sara placed a hand on my shoulder and gently wrapped an arm around me.
“It’s okay.”
She spoke softly.
“Later, I’ll make them pay back a hundred times over.”
“Thanks. Even just hearing that helps.”
I mean, please don’t do it.
But Sara merely gave me a meaningful smile—the kind only a true villainess could manage.
