Chapter 10

“Who would have thought Her Majesty the Empress would send an invitation even to the Grand Duke’s daughter… no, the Marchioness of Winterton? That’s quite unexpected.”

“Exactly. And on the Sun Festival, a day honoring Goddess Ashif, inviting someone with such an unlucky mark…”

“More than that, it’s rather pitiful. She just got married, yet she’s attending such an event without her husband.”

“Grand Duke Middelharnis is truly heartless. Compared to the Grand Ducal family, Winterton’s status is much lower. And on top of that, he married his daughter to a man who’s in a coma. No matter how much he wanted money, honestly…”

I tried to pretend I couldn’t hear them.

But despite my efforts, my face stiffened awkwardly.

Just like in my previous life, their words made me shrink into myself.

My steps slowed.

[They’re saying whatever they please.]

Ash Winterton’s ghost muttered in an irritated tone.

Just then, the chapel doors swung open.

My parents, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Middelharnis, entered along with my sister Seraphina.

My father wore a white ceremonial uniform with cream-colored shoulder straps over his pale platinum-blond hair.

My mother had her golden-brown hair elegantly pinned up and wore a long dress adorned with cream ribbons.

Seraphina wore an expensive mikado silk dress with cream-colored silk draped over her arms.

All three looked completely confident.

Nothing like me, nervously looking around.

After hesitating briefly, I greeted them.

“It’s been a while, Father. Mother. …Hello, Sister.”

My father merely glanced at me and walked right past.

My mother and sister exchanged strange looks before following him.

After being ignored by all three of them, I clenched my teeth.

Even though this was the second time I had experienced it, the humiliation and shame still hurt.

My voice trembled as I spoke to Lake.

“…This won’t do, Sir Lake. Let’s go to the back.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t think I can sit in my assigned seat and attend the service like this. I don’t want to hear people whispering about me anymore.”

So just like in my previous life, I chose to run away.

I knew it was cowardly.

But I couldn’t help it.

I was someone who had always cared more about other people’s opinions than acting confidently.

Dying once and returning to the past wasn’t enough to change my personality overnight.

Feeling a bitter sense of defeat, I turned around.

[Where do you think you’re going?]

Ash Winterton’s ghost suddenly stepped in front of me.

Sorry, but could you move?

[No. If I move, you’ll go sit in the back.]

Looks like you know me well.

I tried walking around him.

If possible, I wanted to walk straight through his body out of spite.

Unfortunately, since I could see him, I could also touch him.

Passing through him wasn’t possible.

The ghost sneered.

[Running away?]

“…”

[If you keep acting like this, they’ll continue looking down on you forever. And you’ll have no right to complain. What are you, an idiot? Someone gets punched and then smiles and asks to be hit again?]

You don’t know anything!

Unable to hold back any longer, I spun around angrily.

The moment our eyes met, his dark gray eyes suddenly turned black.

My mind became hazy.

Strength drained from my body.

Then, before I could react, my body began walking forward on its own.

Away from Lake.

Without my permission.

W-What?! What’s happening?!

I screamed internally.

Or at least, I tried to.

I couldn’t even speak.

I couldn’t control my body anymore.

It was as though someone else had taken over.

I glared at the obvious culprit.

What are you doing?! Give me my body back right now!

But Ash Winterton’s ghost ignored me.

Meanwhile, my body walked straight past the seat reserved for the Marchioness of Winterton.

Then it headed for the very front row.

And sat down directly beside Seraphina.

My sister stared at me in disbelief.

“Ha! Agnes, why are you sitting here?”

I DON’T KNOW!

I screamed internally.

Then my possessed body spoke on its own.

“Why? Am I not allowed to sit here?”

“What…?”

“Aren’t I Father and Mother’s daughter? Aren’t I your younger sister? Does marrying the Marquis suddenly erase all of that?”

Seraphina’s eyes widened.

My mother glared at me coldly.

“Agnes, what are you doing? You’re embarrassing us. Return to your seat immediately.”

“Which seat is mine, Mother? Could you tell me?”

“Agnes, you—!”

“Why? Are you going to say that according to imperial etiquette, a married woman should sit beside her husband? Well, my husband isn’t here today. Doesn’t that mean I can sit beside my parents? Even the etiquette books you love so much say exactly that.”

“…!”

Under Ash’s control, my body answered with infuriating confidence.

Nearby nobles and royals who had been eavesdropping began whispering and laughing.

Some even nodded in agreement.

My mother’s face turned red with anger and embarrassment.

Father frowned deeply.

“You’ve truly made up your mind to disgrace this family.”

“Me? I was simply correcting Mother’s misunderstanding of etiquette.”

His face alternated between red and blue with rage.

If there hadn’t been so many witnesses, it looked as though he might have slapped me.

Then a new voice interrupted.

“It seems the Marchioness is correct.”

A handsome man with reddish-gold hair and vivid green eyes stepped forward.

Despite his beauty, there was a sickly aura around him.

It was Crown Prince Arthur Skientic Harnis.

The Crown Prince of the Empire.

Ash Winterton’s patron and liege lord.

And also the political rival and half-brother of Second Prince Harold, Seraphina’s fiancé.

After a brief cough, he smiled faintly at my father.

“Forgive me for intruding on a family conversation, Grand Duke. But at this rate, it seemed the two of you would still be arguing by the time His Majesty and Her Majesty arrived.”

Father immediately looked embarrassed.

“My apologies for showing such an unsightly scene, Your Highness.”

Then he turned back to me.

Though still furious, he forced himself to remain calm.

“…I understand how you feel. Now stop causing a scene and sit beside your sister.”

“No, that’s alright. My feelings are already hurt. I’ll sit in the seat prepared for me instead.”

Under Ash’s control, my body replied coldly.

Then it turned toward the crowd listening nearby.

“And everyone listen carefully. My husband is not dead. And what happened to him is not my fault. So stop spreading rumors that my mark brought him bad luck or caused this. It’s annoying and exhausting.”

With that, my body calmly walked away and sat in the seat reserved for the Marchioness of Winterton.

Father and Mother both looked completely stunned.

Neither seemed to know how to react.

As for Crown Prince Arthur…

He burst out laughing.

The moment I sat down, Ash released control.

My body was mine again.

I immediately glared at him.

Are you insane?! How dare you take over my body and control me like that?!

[I apologize for that. But admit it. Doesn’t it feel satisfying?]

I flinched.

Because he was right.

It did feel satisfying.

And the number of people whispering about me had noticeably decreased.

Unable to argue, I simply continued glaring at him.

The ghost looked back at me.

[You have no reason to shrink yourself over something that isn’t your fault. If you behave like that again, I’ll take control of your body again.]

Seriously…

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

It was absurd.

Ridiculous.

Yet strangely…

I didn’t feel bad about it.

Meanwhile, members of the imperial family gradually arrived and took their seats.

The High Priest announced the beginning of the service.

And unlike in my previous life, I was able to watch the Sun Festival ceremony with a peaceful heart.

***

After the Service

Once the service ended, the Emperor, the imperial family, and the nobles gradually left the chapel and headed toward the nearby banquet hall.

I quickly rose from my seat as well.

Looking around the area where the Empire’s counts were gathered, I quietly asked Ash’s ghost,

“Which one is Countess Lea Curtis? Is she the woman with the red hair, red dress, and butterfly brooch?”

[No. She’s the woman with brown hair wearing a dress embroidered with two intertwined snakes.]

I nodded.

Then I followed behind her as she walked toward the banquet hall.

At the same time, I deliberately started a conversation with Lake.

The goal was simple.

I wanted Lea Curtis to notice us first…

and approach us on her own.