“What on earth… is going on?”

At the sound of his chillingly low voice, everyone who had followed him lowered their heads instinctively. No one dared to speak carelessly.

Refusing to accept her death, Claude summoned every healer and mage he could find. One after another, they attempted the impossible, but nothing worked. His retainers could only watch in uneasy silence as their lord tried everything on the lifeless body, his desperation etched into every line of his face. But he didn’t care.

He couldn’t let Diana die like this. He had to do something. Anything.

The attack was the result of Count Ballesten’s negligence; the protective barrier around the forest had temporarily weakened, allowing the monster to slip through.

Claude acted swiftly and mercilessly. In the name of House Cassel, he destroyed the Ballesten family beyond repair. Every business and asset was ruined under the weight of his power and wealth. He left them gasping for breath, unable to recover; they were stripped of even the barest means to survive.

However, no matter how thoroughly he destroyed them, he could not bring back the dead.

And so, the rumours about Duke Cassel grew darker with each passing day.

He should have held Diana’s funeral long ago. It was the proper thing to do.

But Claude couldn’t bring himself to do it. He simply couldn’t accept that she was gone.

One month passed. Then another.

Only after all that time did he finally accept the truth.

He had loved his wife.

Their marriage had been forced upon him by his father, a man he hated with every fibre of his being. He had believed that he hated his wife, too. He thought she was nothing but a burden. Unbearable. Unwanted.

But deep down, he had always known how lonely she must have been. How much her cold indifference must have hurt.

He knew this, and yet he chose to ignore it.

Now, the agony that consumed him was the price he had to pay for his blindness. It was a cruel realisation that had come far too late.

“……”

Time flowed on mercilessly, yet for him, it remained frozen on that day.

Claude slowly calculated how much time had passed.

Three years… Years had slipped by without him even noticing.

Through the gap in the curtains, he saw Brianna and Prince Louis walking together affectionately. A faint blush coloured her cheeks as she smiled brightly.

The memory of her tears just moments ago overlapped with her current expression, causing his brow to twitch slightly.

She was a woman he could ignore if he chose to. And yet, his gaze kept drifting to her.

“Ah.”

As he watched them indifferently, a soft murmur escaped from Claude’s lips.

Now he understood why seeing that woman constantly reminded him of his late wife, Diana.

“Damn it!”

It was her smile; it was so similar to his late wife’s.

‘How ridiculous to be bothered by a woman so desperate for marriage.’

It had been a long time since he had felt such an unsettling emotion.

Even now, he still didn’t know what to call it.

***

Several days had passed since the party at the Duke’s residence. Thanks to Louis’s careful organisation, the event had ended without any problems.

I was certain that I wouldn’t see Claude again.

I firmly believed that. Even if there were to be other social gatherings in the future, I was determined not to allow us to reconnect.

Three years.

I kept repeating those words over and over again.

To me, the carriage accident felt as though it had happened only a few days ago. And yet, three full years had passed since then.

Claude probably didn’t even remember someone like me.

“……”

After all, humans are creatures of habit. I was gradually growing accustomed to life in Lady Brianna’s body.

I continued to pretend that I had lost my memory, and thankfully neither Daisy nor Madame Elwin seemed to harbour any suspicions.

However, one worry gnawed at me:

What if Brianna never returned?

‘What should I do then?’

If her soul were to return to this body, I would have to leave.

The thought of dying doesn’t frighten me. After all, this body was never mine to begin with, and my life had become no better than death after divorcing Claude.

But what if Brianna never came back? Would I have to continue living in this body?

“……”

Lying in bed, I shook my head at this unanswerable question.

Seeking to clear my mind, I turned my gaze to the window.

Perhaps because spring was approaching, the weather was beautiful once again.

Beyond the window, tender buds swayed gently in the breeze, celebrating the season.

Sigh…

Letting out a small breath, I climbed down from the bed and stood before the mirror.

A face that I still couldn’t quite get used to stared back at me.

‘Brianna Elwin.’

I’d heard that she had been bedridden for a month, yet there was no hint of that hardship on her face. In fact, she was so beautiful that she could rival Princess Verche, who is said to be the most beautiful woman in the Empire.

I leaned in to examine her reflection more closely.

When I first awoke in this body, I was too dazed to take a proper look. But the more I studied it now…

‘This face… it feels oddly familiar.’

Where have I seen it before? Was it simply because she was so stunning?

I absentmindedly tugged at my cheek, stretching it, then let go.

The room was small and plain, bathed in warm sunlight. Compared to the Grand Duke’s estate, where I had once lived, it was extremely modest. And yet, it was cosy and strangely comforting.

The Elwin barony wasn’t wealthy. But Brianna was deeply loved by her mother and Daisy. I found myself quietly envious of that.

However, as I basked in that warmth, I felt a creeping sense of guilt. It was my presence that had shattered this peaceful family.

‘Even in death, I’m still a burden.’

I was on the verge of sinking into that familiar sadness again when—

“My lady!”

Daisy’s lively voice rang out from the doorway. She was full of energy and cheerful, even at this early hour. I quickly composed myself and greeted her with a bright smile.

“Daisy.”

She was a wonderful maid and a real asset to the household, more like a younger sister who genuinely cared for Brianna.

Although not much time had passed since I opened my eyes in this place, I had also grown fond of her.

“How are you feeling today? Have any memories returned yet?”

“No, still nothing comes to mind. But physically, I’m feeling much better, thanks to you.”

“I didn’t really do much, but I’m just so glad to see you up and about again — and even going outside!”

Daisy chatted away without pause.

Listening to her always lifted my spirits.

No one had ever been so open with me about their feelings or spoken to me with such enthusiasm.

While her voice filled the room, I basked in the sunlight streaming through the window.

“The weather’s so nice today, my lady. Would you like to go on a picnic?”

“A picnic?”

“Yes! You kept staring out the window, so I thought you might want to go.”

“Oh… did I?”

“You did! Let’s go on a picnic, just like we used to!”

To be honest, it seemed like she was the one who wanted to go.

I couldn’t help but quietly chuckle at Daisy, who was now pouting and whining like an adorable child.

The words “just like we used to” stirred a faint ache in my chest.

Daisy had been with Brianna since the days when the Elwin barony was much richer, and had been her playmate from childhood. Now, with no way of knowing where Brianna’s soul had gone, I was consumed by quiet guilt, although this had never been my intention.

“My lady?”

“Ah, sorry. Yes, let’s go.”

At my answer, Daisy broke into a bright smile, promising she’d have everything ready in no time. She hopped out of the room with light steps.

I chuckled faintly as I looked at the door through which she had just disappeared.

Daisy was a year younger than Brianna and six years younger than me.

Perhaps that’s why she always seemed so endearing to me.

‘I used to wish for a younger sister when I was a child… who would’ve thought that wish would come true like this?’

But I quickly shook my head at the thought.

‘What nonsense. She’s not my sister.’

***

Clear, brilliant sunlight poured through the carriage windows.

Daisy had suggested we visit a place filled with memories in the hope that it might help me regain my lost recollections.

Naturally, I didn’t remember anything wherever we went. This made me feel a little guilty.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of a beautiful lake.

I knew this place. How could I not?

This was Lake Fritasha, connected directly to the back gate of the Imperial Palace.

Though dark rumours surrounded it — that it was so deep no one could measure its bottom, that thick magical energy swirled beneath its surface, and that bodies thrown into the lake would never be found — Lake Fritasha was undeniably beautiful.

Despite the gruesome legends, many nobles loved this place. Its proximity to the palace meant that members of the imperial family often visited, too.

I had come here once as a child with my brother, Prince Louis and our nanny, though I only have a faint memory of it.

“……”

Shaking off my swirling thoughts, I looked around.

As expected on such a fine day, there were lots of noble families enjoying picnics by the lake.

My gaze naturally drifted towards a group of noblewomen gathered together. Suddenly, Daisy grew flustered and caught my attention.

“My lady, shall we head over there instead? The view is much prettier from that side!”