IGBD 07

Chapter 7

The sound of birds chirping made Serelet frown.

Another dreadful day was beginning. How was she supposed to endure today? She didn’t even have the strength to start the day and didn’t want to open her eyes.

Would she get to see her child today? If she begged Yuwan, pleaded with him to let her see the child, would he grant her that once?

Half-asleep, the thought crossed her mind—and Serelet’s eyes shot open.

It was an unfamiliar place. No, not unfamiliar—just not entirely familiar. It was the guest room of the capital mansion.

Serelet sat up.

“Why am I…?”

Muttering to herself, Serelet let out a weak groan as the flood of memories returned. She remembered being poisoned by her husband and returning to the past.

Realizing she was living her second life, Serelet turned her gaze toward the window with a deep sigh.

The grief and suffering she had experienced in her past life flickered across her face. She would never endure such pain again.

Just then, a knock came at the door, and Hanna entered. She approached with a brighter face than the day before.

“You’re awake, my lady?”

“Hanna.”

“Is your foot alright now?”

Hanna asked about the injury from the glass shard yesterday.

“It’s fine.”

It hadn’t been a deep cut, so after a day had passed, it felt completely fine. It hadn’t even hurt enough to stop her from walking yesterday.

“Thank goodness. Oh, the Duke says he’d like to have breakfast with you. Please get ready.”

“I’d rather not.”

Serelet frowned at Hanna’s words. Just the thought of seeing Yuwan’s face this early made her head pound. Facing the man who had poisoned her was a painful, tormenting task.

“You still need to eat.”

“…Fine.”

Serelet reluctantly agreed.

Serelet, now dressed, stepped into the dining room. Yuwan was already there, reading the newspaper. He lifted his gaze to her as she entered.

After greeting him, Serelet took the seat pulled out for her by the butler.

“How was your sleep?”
Yuwan folded his newspaper as he asked.

“It was fine.”

“That’s good.”

He gave a slight nod and handed the newspaper to the butler, then instructed him to bring the meal.

Once the butler left the room, Yuwan looked at Serelet again and spoke.

“Lady Innoheter’s personal maid will arrive this morning. She’ll attend to you during your stay in the capital.”

“Thank you.”

As she responded, Serelet’s eyes drifted to the wound on Yuwan’s forehead.

That morning, she had noticed how vivid the cut was. It was a wound she had inflicted. Looking at it, she asked,

“Is your forehead alright?”

Her tone and expression were completely different from when she’d swung the flower vase at him yesterday.

But her heart hadn’t changed. The fury she felt toward the man who had killed her would not fade so easily.

“It’s fine.”

“What if it scars?”

“I don’t care.”

Yuwan replied bluntly.

Whether he truly didn’t care or was pretending not to, he looked away from Serelet.

As for her, she couldn’t care less whether his face scarred or not and didn’t ask further.

Just then, the servants began bringing in the food. The table was soon filled with an appetizing spread.

Breakfast passed in silence. Neither of them spoke; they simply ate.

They both had impeccable table manners, so not even the sound of cutlery clinking was heard.

The servants glanced at each other nervously. That’s how tense the atmosphere was between the two.

It’s nothing new, Serelet thought as she cut into her omelet.

It had always been like this in her past life. In fact, it had been rare to even share a meal with Yuwan.

No matter how she looked at it, they had never been a real couple. A small, bitter smile escaped her lips.

Perhaps hearing her laugh, Yuwan looked up at her.

When their eyes met, Serelet set down her fork and knife.

“I must have an upset stomach from the long train ride yesterday. If you don’t mind, may I excuse myself?”

“As you wish.”

Yuwan gave a curt nod.

Forcing a smile, Serelet rose and turned her back on him.

Once the royal ball was over, she would return home immediately.

And once she was back, she would pester her father to send a letter of annulment to Yuwan. She would never be with that man again.

With that firm resolve, Serelet climbed the stairs to her room.

Later that morning, a guest arrived. Serelet softened her expression as she looked at the young woman entering the room.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Eve from Baron Lashing’s household. I’ve been assigned as Lady Innoheter’s personal stylist.”

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Serelet Innoheter.”

Serelet had expected someone older, but Eve looked younger than anticipated—only two or three years older than herself.

Serelet smiled and offered her a seat.

“It’s an honor. I look forward to working with you.”

Eve said as she sat down.

“Likewise. It seems today will be busy with preparations for the ball. The tailor is supposed to visit.”

“Then I’ll do your hair first. It might be best to braid it—something neat and simple.”

“That sounds good, Lady Lashing.”

“Please, just call me Eve.”

“Then call me Serelet.”

Serelet smiled warmly.

She had never met Eve in her previous life. Perhaps that’s why she felt more comfortable around her.

As Serelet sat at the vanity, Eve began brushing her hair with a smile.

“How is your hair so lovely? It’s like baby chick fluff—both in color and texture.”

“Is that so?”

Serelet smiled awkwardly at the compliment.

She was weak to praise. Especially after her marriage, where she had received none.

Eve continued to compliment her as she expertly braided Serelet’s hair. Her skill was clearly better than Hanna’s—more natural and beautiful.

“How is it?”

Eve asked, meeting Serelet’s eyes in the mirror.

“I love it. You’re really talented, Eve.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Eve replied with a shy smile.

Just then, Hanna entered to inform them that the tailor had arrived.

“Let them in.”

Serelet left the vanity and moved to the couch. As Hanna opened the door wide, Madame Barne, the tailor, entered the room.

With a bright smile, she introduced herself and laid out a variety of dresses before Serelet.

Since there wasn’t enough time to make a new dress for the ball, they planned to pick one of Barne’s pre-made pieces and alter it as needed.

“Oh no, I forgot to bring one of the dresses.”

As she was laying things out, Barne made a distressed face.

Being from the artistic nation of Lua, her expressions were wonderfully dramatic.

“That one would have suited you best. How could I make such a dreadful mistake?”

She lamented like an opera singer.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll choose from what’s here.”

“No, no. I’ll have it brought immediately.”

Barne shook her head, as if the idea of not showing the dress was unthinkable.

“Then how about this—we go to your boutique to see it? I wanted to look around the capital anyway.”

“Oh, would you like that?”

Barne laughed brightly at Serelet’s suggestion. And so, the two of them headed to the boutique together.

Barne chattered nonstop in the carriage, mostly about capital nobility.

Where did she hear all of this? Serelet was genuinely impressed by her gossip skills.

Before she knew it, the carriage arrived at the boutique. Barne peeked out the window and smiled.

Soon, the coachman opened the door. Barne stepped down first, followed by Serelet and Eve.

“This is my boutique. It’s an honor to welcome you.”

Barne beamed at Serelet.

“It has such a strong Lua aesthetic. The building is beautiful.”

Serelet recalled Barne’s pride in her homeland and offered the compliment.

Pleased, Barne laughed joyfully.

“Please, come inside.”

She gestured toward the open boutique door.

Just as Serelet was about to step in, an unforgettable voice called out.

“Madame Barne, you’ve returned.”

Lydia. Her husband’s mistress. The woman who had killed her alongside him.

Serelet slowly turned around. The face she had last seen in her previous life came into view.

Her fists clenched. Her heart thundered like crashing waves, and her breath caught in her throat. She swayed as the pain of the poisoning returned to her body.

“My lady—!”

Hanna quickly supported her.

Serelet nodded to Hanna’s worried question and looked at Lydia, who was chatting with Barne.

She hadn’t expected to run into her like this. She thought they’d meet at the royal ball. Unprepared, Serelet found it hard to control her emotions.

“I came to look at some evening dresses.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Innoheter has a reservation today.”

Barne laughed as she turned to Serelet. At the mention of her name, Lydia’s gaze sharpened.

Serelet understood what that look meant: hatred and disgust. Just like what she felt toward Lydia and Yuwan.

She forced the corners of her lips into a smile.

“Lady Innoheter?”

The sharpness in Lydia’s eyes vanished, replaced by a dazzling smile as she approached Serelet.

Voluminous brown hair, blue eyes, pale flawless skin—Lydia was as beautiful as ever. Glamorous, radiant.

She was nothing like a country girl like Serelet. That beauty had always made her shrink back.

“You must be Duke Frectuster’s fiancée, yes? Lovely to meet you. I’m Lydia Elliott.”

She greeted her with a warm, friendly smile.

I was such a fool to be taken in by that smile, Serelet thought bitterly.

But now, she too could wear a fake smile—a beautiful one, capable of deceiving the enemy.