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[Chapter 4]
I quickly racked my brain.
“What was the party Charlotte attended the day after Ahfwyn was brought in?”
Thankfully, I managed to answer before the Count’s eyebrows met in frustration.
“Of course. There’s a ball to celebrate the birthday of Young Lord Durnarn.”
“That’s right. The young lord, who always stayed in the capital, is finally coming to the East to host a ball. Since it’s a rare event, you must not mess it up. Don’t bring shame to the Rohilton name! You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
At first glance, it sounded like he was just telling me to behave—but what he was really saying was to act like a maid and help Charlotte attract the young lord’s attention.
The young lord, just four years older than Charlotte, was considered a perfect match—both politically and financially.
Of course, thinking about the future, it was laughable.
“Wait a second…”
I was the only one who knew the real reason why Charlotte was expelled from high society.
Only I knew that, after being rejected from the marriage market, she fled to the countryside in shame and hid away.
“So maybe… I can make that happen sooner.”
Right now was the Eastern social season, filled with events and the attention of many nobles.
If I caused “that incident” that eventually got Charlotte kicked out… if I could drive her out of the house and get access to her room—then I could find the key and free Ahfwyn earlier than I did in the previous timeline.
Charlotte wouldn’t take the key outside with her anyway. The restraints and key only worked when they were near each other.
“If I can just make that happen…”
It would also shorten the time Ahfwyn had to suffer in this house, reducing the hatred he would develop toward us.
Two birds with one stone.
As soon as I saw that spark of possibility, I clasped my trembling hands together under the table.
Otherwise, I might get carried away with the thrill of solving this puzzle and do something reckless.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Oh… I-I was just thinking about what I should do there.”
Of course, I had to keep playing the part of the naive, silly Bella—so I laughed awkwardly.
“I’ll do my best to help Charlotte catch the young lord’s attention!”
Charlotte let out a scoffing laugh. I saw her mouth the words “You?” but the Count didn’t notice.
“I’m glad you understand. Now go on, then. You need to get ready, don’t you?”
“…Yes, sir.”
I got up without delay.
What mattered most now was setting my plan into motion.
Later, the maids came in to dress me up, but—
“Can I wash first? I feel dirty… like I smell.”
I used the excuse of wanting to clean thoroughly to stay in the bath longer.
The Count and Countess never missed a chance to insult me about my origins.
They always said my mother was some unknown woman from who-knows-where and that dirty blood ran through my veins. So the maids didn’t like touching my bare skin.
But even that discomfort was overridden by their nervousness.
“You need to come out now!”
“You’re going to be late!”
As always, they barged in without permission and began drying my hair, complaining about how late I was.
I saw one maid carrying a complicated party dress and motioned for her to come over.
“Hey, don’t you think Charlotte would be mad if I waste time trying to wear something so complicated? We’re already late.”
“Huh?”
I pulled out a plain white dress from the closet. It didn’t have any decorations—it was simple, but far better than those tasteless dresses overloaded with random ornaments.
Most importantly, it suited me well.
Next, I waved off the maid with my makeup.
“I don’t need any makeup.”
“Excuse me? But—”
“You know what kind of event this is, right? Charlotte’s the one who needs to stand out. What’s the point of me dressing up?”
The maids looked confused, but once I mentioned Charlotte, they backed off. What worked on them was not my opinion—but Charlotte’s authority.
Once they were done dressing me, I stood in front of the mirror.
I wasn’t some great beauty, but with my delicate features and calm expression, I looked decent.
Only then did the maids realize something was off.
The overdone makeup, the gaudy dresses, and towering heels—they were all part of Charlotte’s plan to make me look ridiculous.
She thought the worse I looked, the better she would appear.
But at this party, that wouldn’t go her way. And after the party, she’d probably cause a scene. The maids would be the ones to suffer her tantrums…
“Not my problem.”
There was no loyalty between us anyway.
“Let’s go.”
I nodded toward them.
As I walked to the entrance, Charlotte, already dressed up, glared at me.
“Who told you to dress like that? Are you trying to embarrass this family? Go change now!”
She scolded me with her mouth, but her eyes—her pupils—were shaking with anxiety.
She was scared. Scared that I might outshine her.
I smiled innocently, pretending not to notice.
“Don’t you think we should hurry? The young lord is holding a rare ball after coming all the way to the East. Lots of noble ladies will be there to meet him. If we don’t arrive early, we might lose a good spot.”
If we showed up late, it definitely wouldn’t leave a good impression.
“You little…”
Charlotte glared at me in disbelief but didn’t argue further. Fuming, she stomped toward the carriage and barked:
“Hurry up!”
“Okay.”
The carriage ride wasn’t long—the Durnarn estate was close to ours.
When we arrived, the mansion was even more magnificent than I remembered. Charlotte looked up at it with wide eyes, clearly overwhelmed by its grandeur.
But just for a moment. She swallowed hard and steeled her nerves. It looked like she was already picturing herself becoming the lady of this place.
Getting out with the escort of a knight, Charlotte pulled out a mirror and practiced her smile.
But the second she turned to look at me, her face twisted again.
“No one expects anything from someone like you. So just keep your mouth shut and don’t do anything stupid. Got it?”
“Mhm.”
I nodded with a frightened expression. That gave Charlotte a little boost of confidence, and she strutted ahead of me.
We reached the ballroom.
At the entrance, the herald announced loudly:
“Charlotte Rohilton and Bella Rohilton have arrived!”
Everyone already inside turned to look at the entrance.
Curiosity, confusion, unfamiliarity.
I welcomed the sharp attention like an electric thrill.
I straightened my shoulders—which I had hunched to make Charlotte look better—and smiled.
“This is the start.”
The chandelier above sparkled like a new life. It felt like I had been reborn.
There were still 30 minutes before the party officially began, so the ballroom was only sparsely filled, and the young lord had not yet arrived.
Still, that didn’t stop people from enjoying themselves. They chatted about the decor or gossiped as they passed the time.
Then they noticed the two new ladies who had just entered and tilted their heads.
“Who is that?”
“I’ve never seen her before.”
“Was there such a beauty in the East?”
Eastern high society was very small. Unlike the capital, which had dozens of debutantes every year, here, it was common to keep seeing the same faces.
People began wondering about the fresh-faced girl with the elegant features.
But then they realized she wasn’t someone new.
“Bella Rohilton? That lady from the Rohilton family?”
“Oh my, you’re right. Charlotte is right next to her. Who else would Charlotte drag around like a maid?”
“Who knew such a face was hiding under all that thick makeup?”
