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Chapter 16
“Truth”
Heidi believed that everyone loved Heidi Eliana.
Not the real Heidi Eliana, but the sweet, radiant, flawless girl she appeared to be.
That’s why Heidi thought she was unhappy.
She had to pretend to be happy when she wasn’t, to act cheerful when nothing was joyful.
“Heidi, is something troubling you?”
“Go on, tell us. You’re our beloved daughter.”
Even the affectionate concern from her parents made her sick.
She blamed her parents for the way she had become—so miserably unhappy.
Because she had discovered that the two people she believed loved each other more than anything in the world actually… didn’t love each other at all.
From the moment she found that out, she felt cursed.
Because of their false relationship, she could no longer fully trust even the love Delphian expressed for her.
That’s why, even though she didn’t really know who Levelia was, she couldn’t help but be shaken by her words.
“I wonder if His Highness will recognize you even with your changed appearance.”
The moment Levelia whispered that in her ear, Heidi felt a chill.
As if Levelia could see right through her.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
Even though she tried to act casual, she feared that Levelia might discover the deep-rooted mistrust buried inside her.
She was afraid of how Levelia would see her.
Maybe… just maybe, the reason she couldn’t take her eyes off Levelia the first time they met was because—deep down—she knew this day might come.
A day when she would use that resemblance to test his heart—whether playfully or recklessly.
She didn’t want anyone to find out.
That Heidi Eliana doubted others’ feelings for her.
That she wanted to test them.
But she was just that curious.
Whether the feelings people had for her were genuine.
People loved the bright, innocent, sunbeam-like Heidi. So she couldn’t be the one to bring up such doubts.
And yet, Levelia had said exactly what she wanted to hear.
“Don’t worry. After midnight, your hair color will return to normal.”
“And if someone recognizes you before then, it’ll revert even sooner.”
Levelia had smiled while watching Heidi lift the champagne glass, and murmured softly—like a devil tempting her with sweet words.
“If no one notices… it’ll be our little secret.”
“…”
“If they do notice, it means they love you enough not to be fooled by such a trick, right?”
“…”
“Honestly, I’m just curious how long it’ll take His Highness to figure it out.”
Delphian Zeros.
The man who had loved her for the past ten years.
The crown prince of this country.
Heidi hoped that his feelings were sincere.
That her emotions and his were both pure and flawless.
“……”
Slowly, Heidi opened her eyes and looked at the woman in the mirror.
The woman holding the empty champagne glass had hair like violets—or perhaps lavender.
The captivating purple hair and the dress borrowed from Levelia made her feel like she wasn’t Heidi Eliana anymore… but Levelia Piace.
And so, she thought, no matter what she did tonight, no one would hate Heidi for it.
She twirled slightly, checking her reflection, and curled her lips into a slow smile.
“That’s right. It’s fine. Just one day. Just for today.”
But then the door swung open with a loud crash, and she flinched in surprise.
“W-Who…?”
“What on earth are you doing in here?”
A harsh, irritated voice rang out in the lounge. Heidi instinctively recoiled, then caught sight of the man’s face.
…Crocan Piace?
The man she had run into right after changing her dress and hair color—was Levelia’s father.
‘Don’t tell me I’ve been found out even before seeing Delphian?’
Avoiding his gaze in panic, she heard Crocan’s sharp voice again.
“I’ve warned you time and time again, Levelia.”
“……”
“Stop trying my patience.”
There wasn’t a shred of doubt in his voice—he truly believed she was Levelia.
The realization that even Levelia’s father couldn’t tell the difference nearly made her laugh.
‘So it was a good idea to wear Levelia’s dress too…’
But then something strange crept into her thoughts.
‘Wait… is that how a father usually talks to his daughter?’
Heidi, who had always been loved and cherished by the Count and Countess and everyone around her, couldn’t understand the coldness in Crocan’s tone.
‘Why would he speak to his own daughter like that? Could it be… did he see through the disguise?’
Of course, Heidi had no idea that this was how he always treated Levelia.
While she was still trying to make sense of the situation, Crocan approached her.
Heidi flinched back in surprise and protested instinctively:
“T-This is the ladies’ lounge!”
“Did you think there was any place in Zeros I cannot enter?”
Crocan’s shameless attitude left Heidi momentarily speechless. His eyes drifted to the empty champagne glass.
“…Pathetic.”
His voice dripped with contempt, and Heidi’s face turned red with shame.
Crocan turned back to her, speaking in a low voice:
“I told you before, Levelia.”
“……”
“That girl, Heidi—she’s taken everything that should have been yours.”
What…? What does he mean? What did I ever take from Levelia?
His unexpected words made her breath catch in her throat.
And suddenly, Levelia’s whispers returned to her mind.
Her soft, soothing words, coaxing her along.
“If no one notices, it’ll be our little secret…”
“And if someone does, that just means they love you enough not to be fooled.”
“What I’m most curious about is when His Highness will recognize you.”
‘Why are you doing this, Lady Levelia?’
‘Because I want to live.’
‘To live…?’
‘The Marquis is a frightening man. I sometimes play little tricks like this just to catch my breath.’
Words she’d brushed off at the time now echoed with weight.
She remembered the look on Levelia’s face—how it overlapped now with Delphian’s.
She tried to tell herself it was nothing. But a bad feeling had settled in her chest.
And she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Delphian.
Anxiety flooded her all at once. She bit her lip without realizing.
What if Levelia lied to me?
What if my hair doesn’t return to normal after midnight?
What if no one knows I’m really Heidi Eliana?
She had told herself that no one would be fooled by something as simple as a hair color change—but now her mind, eaten up by fear, spun into absurd scenarios.
Each fear fed the next, and Heidi’s face turned pale.
Crocan, seeing the whiteness drain from her face, gave a satisfied smile.
Watching her bite her lip in anxiety, he said:
“But don’t worry, Levelia.”
“……”
“You may still have a chance.”
His smile curled oddly, and her heart began to pound again—unsteadily, uneasily.
“W-What do you mean?”
“Just now, the Grand Duke of Esperos followed that girl—Heidi—out to the terrace.”
Heidi’s eyes flickered.
‘The Grand Duke… Esperos?’
Karlier Esperos was the only Grand Duke in Hestonia—and tonight’s guest of honor.
With hair black as midnight and eyes as red as blood, he was one of the most striking men in Zeros.
He attracted attention just by standing still. And yet… Heidi had always found him difficult to be around.
Despite his refined manner and polished appearance, his eyes sometimes carried a silent menace.
That’s why she had stayed far away from him all night.
“Chances are, you won’t be seeing that girl again for a while.”
“…What?”
“Which means this may be your one shot to seduce that dim-witted crown prince.”
Her heart dropped with a thud.
There was only one crown prince in this empire.
Delphian Zeros!
Crocan leaned closer, his whisper laced with venom:
“So while that girl’s gone, you’d better get into that prince’s bed if you must.”
“……”
“If you want any hope of survival—especially after your mother threw you away—you need to secure some kind of lifeline.”
His uncovered eye slithered over her like a serpent.
Until Crocan finally turned and left the lounge, Heidi couldn’t move a muscle.
