Once I had calmed down, I continued to feign amnesia, asking Daisy various questions.

The kind and gentle maid patiently explained my current circumstances, summarising them clearly for her memory-impaired mistress.

I was currently inhabiting the body of a young woman named Brianna Elwin, the only daughter of Baron Elwin. Brianna was twenty years old this year.

The Elwin Barony had never been wealthy, and several years ago misfortune struck when Baron Elwin died in an accident, leaving substantial debts behind. Brianna and her mother had barely been managing to survive since then.

To make matters worse, Brianna’s mother, Baroness Elwin, suffered from a chronic illness that was steadily worsening. To rescue her family from this desperate situation, Brianna had decided to use her beauty to gain entry to high society and marry a wealthy nobleman.

“That was Miss Brianna’s only way out of this hopeless situation.”

Diasy explained, tears welling in her eyes.

Brianna had diligently embroidered handkerchiefs to sell whenever she could, using the money to rent dresses and accessories. She had even spent a large sum of money to secure an invitation to today’s grand event: the Empire’s Foundation Day Banquet. Furthermore, she had hired the renowned high-society matchmaker Lady Eleanor to accompany her.

Despite her meticulous preparation, she collapsed suddenly a month ago and only regained consciousness today.

Upon hearing this brief explanation, I couldn’t help but admire Brianna Elwin’s sheer determination and strength — qualities that I have always lacked.

“All done, my lady!”

Daisy’s cheerful voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Our eyes met in the mirror, and she flashed me a radiant smile. Slowly, my gaze shifted to my own reflection.

“……”

The Brianna in the mirror was undeniably beautiful.

Daisy was certainly a capable maid. The room she called a dressing room was so small that it hardly deserved the name. Looking at myself, however, I realised that I could easily hold my own against any high-ranking noblewoman.

The pale yellow gown was adorned with plenty of lace and cut rather daringly low at the chest. Large topaz earrings and a matching necklace adorned me. Having always favoured plain clothes and minimal decoration, I found this feeling exceedingly unfamiliar.

“You look absolutely stunning, my lady! Thankfully, we’ve finished just in time. You should hurry and leave now. Lady Eleanor is waiting for you in the ballroom.”

After receiving warm farewells from Daisy and the Baroness, who both urged me to take care, I climbed into the waiting carriage. As we drove off, Daisy comforted the Baroness, who was still wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.

In the gently swaying carriage, I stared blankly at the passing scenery. At last, I was alone.

“……”

The forced smile I had maintained until now slowly faded away. I leaned my forehead lightly against the carriage window and closed my eyes.

‘Perhaps, all this time, I’ve actually wanted to die.’

I had thought that I would finally find peace through death. But now that I am alive again, I feel a strange pang of disappointment. After all, death meant eternal rest. Ending my lonely life, filled only with hatred and disdain, had seemed like a sweet release.

Yet here I was, alive.

In the body of a young woman I knew nothing about.

“… hic.”

A tear trickled down my cheek. I didn’t want to cry — especially not after Daisy had carefully applied my make-up — but the tears came anyway. I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand and took a shaky breath.

‘Stop crying.’

I forced myself to calm down. Whether I liked it or not, I had survived, and the original owner of this body was nowhere to be found.

I couldn’t afford to act recklessly.

I slowly steadied my breathing and began to organise everything I had learned so far.

Firstly, three years had passed since the carriage accident.

Second, my original self—Princess Diana—had died three years ago.

Third, I had awakened in the body of Brianna Elwin, the sole daughter of Baron Elwin.

‘But why did I awaken in this body? And what happened to its original owner?’

Those were questions I couldn’t possibly answer at the moment.

“We have arrived, my lady. Please step out.”

I was lost in thought and barely noticed that the carriage had reached the Imperial Palace so smoothly.

It was the Foundation Day banquet. During my life as Diana, I had never attended an event like this before.

Feeling strangely nervous, I took a deep breath. Outside, crowds of people milled about noisily.

At last, the carriage door swung open, and with the doorman’s assistance, I carefully stepped down. The dress felt so heavy that every movement became unbearably slow.

‘Where might Lady Eleanor be?’

I glanced around, trying to locate my supposed chaperone. At that moment, a mocking voice rang out from nearby.

“Oh, look. Isn’t that the marriage-obsessed young lady?”

I turned towards the voice and met the gaze of some unfamiliar faces. A group of young noblewomen were staring at me openly and giggling mockingly.

Realising that they were ridiculing me directly, I felt my face flush hot with embarrassment. Only then did I notice that countless others were also staring at me, some openly pointing their fingers.

‘What…is going on here?’

‘A marriage-obsessed young lady? Was that Brianna’s nickname?’

I was desperate to leave immediately, but I didn’t know where to go. As I stood there helplessly, someone suddenly cast a shadow over me.

“Brianna Elwin.”

I raised my head. The first thing I saw was an elaborate fan made of flamboyant peacock feathers. Beneath a wide-brimmed, extravagantly flower-decorated navy hat were a pair of grey eyes, faintly lined with wrinkles, gazing down at me.

“…”

It was Lady Eleanor. With a solemn expression, she offered me her hand.

“What are you doing here? Hurry up and follow me.”

“Ah, yes.”

Collecting myself, I took her hand and followed her into the banquet hall. Several people glanced in our direction, but none of them were as openly hostile as before.

When we finally reached a less crowded corner, Lady Eleanor stopped and whispered to me.

“So you’re Brianna. You’re certainly as beautiful as they say. I hear you organised all this by embroidering and selling your own handiwork.”

“…”

“I appreciate that you’re braver than I expected, but stay alert. If you carry on acting as cluelessly as you did a moment ago, you won’t survive long in high society.”

“Thank you.”

I answered quietly. I was curious as to why Brianna had earned such a harsh reputation as a marriage-obsessed girl, but now wasn’t the right moment to ask.

Besides which, it had been a long time since I last visited the Imperial Palace, and I was already feeling tense. Even when I was Diana, I rarely came to this place – I was so isolated in the abandoned palace. After marrying Claude, there were even fewer opportunities. He disliked attending these sorts of events, so I never had the chance to either.

As soon as we passed through the doors, we were greeted by melodious music and countless young noblemen and noblewomen. Though some of them glanced at us and whispered among themselves, that wasn’t my primary concern right now.

I had been nervous ever since I heard that Claude would be here.

Had he really come today? Was he badly hurt in the accident? Would I have the chance to speak with him? Did he mourn my death at all?

“Mind your behaviour. If you keep looking around anxiously, you’ll appear frivolous.”

Lady Eleanor warned softly. True to her reputation, she was strict. I nodded quietly in acknowledgement.

As the ball got underway, the hall filled with guests. The Claude I remembered disliked crowded places and usually avoided large gatherings. Yet Daisy had confidently claimed that Claude would definitely be there.

‘How could she be so certain?’

All I wanted was to see him alive again. Maybe then the weight on my heart would ease a little. After all, in those final moments, it was clear that he had tried to protect me.

Setting aside my love for him, I was overwhelmed by guilt.

“Over there are members of the Imperial family.”

Lady Eleanor whispered. My eyes followed her gesture. I could see them clearly: my father and mother; my half-sister, Berce Isabella Felix; and my half-brother, Louis Edmund Felix. They were conversing warmly and exchanging gentle glances.

My heart sank heavily.

I lowered my gaze.

‘My family… Did they mourn my death at all?’

It was foolish to hope for such a thing. The Emperor had an affair with a maid from the lower classes when he was young, and I was the unfortunate result.

Those weren’t happy memories. Bitterness surged within me and I quickly turned away.

“First, let’s head over there.”

Lady Eleanor said, pointing to a sofa reserved for noble ladies and young women.

Just as I began walking carefully in the direction she indicated, I suddenly caught sight of an impossible face in the distance.

“……!”

It was Claude.