Chapter 2

‘I should… reply.’  

Since it was a letter she received after two days, replying now would already be late. Karina made up her mind and pressed the pen nib firmly onto the paper.  

The white paper was stained with meaningless black dots. In the end, Karina couldn’t write a single word and put the pen down.  

‘I threw away the medicine, but the fruit syrup should still be there. I should check the kitchen.’  

The other letter looked like an invitation, but it was tossed into the corner without receiving even a bit of attention. Feeling slightly better at the thought of the fruit syrup, Karina suddenly realized her own state and slumped her shoulders.  

After being tormented for days, she was now happy over something as trivial as fruit syrup. She couldn’t help but feel pathetic.  

What’s more, Cornell had attended the dinner she’d missed that day. This was thanks to the suggestion made by both families’ parents earlier that year. For Earl Herwin, who cherished her like a daughter, it must have been quite upsetting over the past few days.

“When did those two become so close?”

Thinking of Phyllis and Cornell standing side by side, Karina muttered as if it didn’t bother her.  

It was meaningless to dwell on it. Phyllis and Cornell had already told her everything, and Karina had accepted it.  

‘I wasn’t completely unaware of it, anyway.’  

In a way, it was something bound to happen. From the moment she first saw Cornell stepping into the Earl’s household.  

Cornell was undoubtedly a fine woman. Her personality, which knew how to be loved, and her ambition, which had achieved in two years what Karina hadn’t in her entire life. She matched well with Phyllis, who was kind to everyone.  

So, Karina had to accept it.  

Rising from her desk, Karina walked to her bed and collapsed onto it. The soup, which she hadn’t taken a single bite of, was growing colder, but her appetite still hadn’t returned.  

Karina decided that she would spend today like this one last time. It was a resolution she wasn’t sure she could keep, but it was the best she could do.  

***

“Have a good time, Karina. Enjoy yourself.”  

Leaving behind the Duchess, who was smiling brightly, the carriage departed. At the same time, Karina let out a small sigh.  

She didn’t know whether it was because of her elaborate attire reflected in the window or because she had to attend an unwanted party.  

‘Did you receive the invitation from the Russell family?’  

The invitation she received a few days ago announced the birthday party of Celine, the only daughter of Duke Russell.  

To Karina, it wasn’t particularly welcome news. Celine had always shown her dislike for Karina since they were young.  

The reason was simple. It was thanks to the seeds of kindness someone had been sowing since a very young age.  

‘Are you okay? Here, take my hand and stand up.’  

It was likely in the garden of some noblewoman. The image of Celine, crying after falling, and the expression she had shown to Phyllis, who extended his hand to her, was still vivid in Karina’s mind.

Even though it was undoubtedly a commendable act, the outcome was far from it. Karina pressed her hand to her throbbing head.  

“So, you’re meeting Phyllis there, right?”  

As soon as Phyllis came to mind, her father, Duke Edelin, asked. Still staring out the window, Karina nodded.  

“Yes.”  

“You two are usually inseparable. I wonder why you’re going separately today… Well, I’m fine with it.”

Asillis crossed his arms and lowered his voice as if dissatisfied. Without saying a word, Karina linked her arm with his. Her father’s face softened immediately, and while she found it endearing, she also felt bitter.  

As they chatted, they soon arrived at the Russell household.  

When the carriage stopped, the attendant accompanying them opened the door. Asillis, who got off first, extended his hand to Karina.  

“Let’s get off.”  

Karina took his hand and stepped out of the carriage. By then, the once-blue sky had begun to pale.  

Soon, other carriages began lining up to enter. With a final remark to enjoy herself, Asillis climbed back into the carriage.  

As her carriage disappeared into the distance, the sound of slightly clumsy hoofbeats reached her ears. Without much thought, Karina turned around.  

A strange carriage stopped on the road. From the open door, a man she had never seen before appeared. For some reason, Karina’s gaze met his for a brief moment. His striking platinum hair gleamed brilliantly.  

“I’ll come to pick you up after the party, Young Master Noah.”  

The man who followed him out of the carriage bowed politely as he spoke. Until then, the man hadn’t taken his eyes off Karina.  

When he turned his head to respond to his attendant, Karina resumed her halted steps.  

The mansion’s windows captured the fading sunlight, casting its final rays. The party was about to begin.  

***

Elegant music filled the hall. Lady Celine stood at the front of the platform, scanning the attendees with a smile.  

Karina walked straight through the center of the party hall toward Celine. The two women faced each other in a peculiar atmosphere.  

“Oh my, it’s Miss Karina.”

“It’s been a while, Lady Russell. Happy birthday.”  

When Karina offered her congratulations, Celine smiled with her eyes. Whether her mouth, hidden behind her fan, was smiling as well was anyone’s guess.  

Behind Celine stood several noblewomen and men who were acquainted with her. None of their gazes were particularly kind.  

Some even whispered among themselves, smirking mockingly.  

‘Everyone seems to be having fun.’  

Karina calmly endured the gazes directed at her as she handed over her gift. After all, no one could afford to be rude in an official setting.  

When Celine glanced slightly behind her, the group’s energy dissipated. It seemed they didn’t want rumors to spread about a power struggle at the party.  

“Thank you for responding to the invitation. Please enjoy your time here.”  

It was a formal farewell. Before Karina could respond with a smile equally artificial, Celine had already turned her head sharply. Though childish, it was hostility that was easier to deal with. Karina thought it was better this way as she turned to leave.

But she couldn’t leave immediately. Unfortunately, the direction she turned revealed two familiar faces approaching. Phyllis and Cornell. As Phyllis, who had been talking with Cornell, met Karina’s eyes, he froze in his tracks.

“Karina.”  

Phyllis, who had come right in front of her, called her name with a subtle expression. Karina hesitated, unable to speak easily.

The long-overdue reunion didn’t last long. Karina wasn’t the main character of today’s party.  

“Phyllis!”  

A voice, two tones higher than usual, called out from behind. Startled, Karina unconsciously flinched.

She thought it fortunate she hadn’t turned around and was about to step away when Phyllis grabbed her arm.

Karina stopped in her tracks and looked up at him. For some reason, what caught her attention more than the flustered Phyllis was Cornell, standing quietly behind him.

“…You should go. Someone’s calling you.” 

Phyllis’s pretty hazel eyes wavered slightly. Karina gently pulled her arm away and turned to leave.  

Her heart beat faintly from such an insignificant exchange. It wasn’t simply because of the letter she hadn’t replied to a few days ago.  

Only when she could no longer hear the sound of her heartbeat did Karina glance back at the path she had taken. Phyllis, now surrounded by people, was engaged in conversation with Celine.

Cornell still stood quietly by his side. Her glossy olive-green eyes stared blankly at the people who seemed uninterested in her.

‘Why…’  

As Karina gazed at the scene, she frowned slightly and turned her eyes away. She let out a small laugh.

‘What am I even thinking?’  

When Phyllis grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving, Karina had foolishly thought this:  

What kind of feelings would Cornell have, seeing this scene right next to her?  

Of course, it wasn’t out of worry or consideration. If anything, Karina hoped Cornell would feel at least a little upset.  

‘Pathetic.’  

It was, quite literally, a pathetic wish. Especially considering she hadn’t been able to say a single word when Phyllis was taken from her right in front of her eyes.  

Regret came too late. If she had known she would act so pitifully, she shouldn’t have told such an obvious lie.

Unlike Phyllis, who would have believed her words as they were because they were spoken by an old friend, Cornell was a clever woman. On the day she came to reveal her relationship with Phyllis, Cornell must have seen right through Karina’s lie.

‘Phyllis and I are just friends.’  

They were engaged simply as friends. And they had maintained nothing but a hollow relationship up until only one year remained before they came of age.

It was a story that no one but a fool would believe. Especially not someone who, as a fellow woman, also held feelings for the same man.

“Here you are, Miss.”

“Thank you.”  

Karina received the glass from a passing servant and walked toward an empty table in the corner.  

“Oh my, isn’t that Cornell Lawrence?”  

Just as she was about to reach the table, she overheard a whisper. Karina paused and looked toward the source of the sound.  

“It seems so. She usually never shows up at events like these. What a surprise.”  

“Exactly. Could it be that she’s close to Lady Celine?”

“Surely not.”

The two women at a nearby table were chatting. Even considering the relatively sparse crowd around them, their lack of discretion was striking. Whether it was due to a lack of awareness or simply not knowing there was someone right behind them, they enthusiastically gossiped about someone else.

“They don’t seem like they’d get along at all, no matter how you look at it.”

“That’s true. Well, both of them do have noble bloodlines, in a way.”

Karina let out a small sigh and turned her body at an angle where they wouldn’t notice her, even if they looked back.  

No matter how she tried to interpret it, it didn’t seem like they were speaking kindly of Cornell, but there weren’t any empty seats nearby.

After tilting her head slightly and considering her options, Karina eventually gave up and brought the glass to her lips. The smooth wine slid down her throat.

“Still, it seems she came with a gentleman.”

“You mean Young Lord Phyllis? You know, the one who’s freeloading…”

The unexpectedly strong scent of alcohol, combined with the cheap and vulgar remarks coming from behind her, caused Karina’s eyes to narrow.

‘What on earth are they thinking, talking about someone like that?’

It wasn’t the first time she had overheard such things, but it was always surprising when it happened. The fact that people like that existed everywhere was, in itself, fascinating.

Not that it was entirely incomprehensible. It was easier to tear down a woman without family or status than it was to criticize the daughter of a Duke’s household.