Chapter 53

From the crack of dawn, the faces of the head maid and maids bustling about were filled with excitement rather than annoyance. 

The head maid had brought in a lot of lilies throughout the mansion. 

She laid a white tablecloth on the tea table in the reception room. 

After laying a golden table runner, which was Isabelle’s taste, she looked around the reception room with satisfaction.

‘Water Palace. It has finally found its true appearance.’

The true owner, Princess Isabelle, was visiting this Water Palace, which had been occupied by those of Ernst. 

Perhaps the Water Palace knew this too, as it exuded more elegance than usual.

Adelina awoke to the bustling noise and threw on a light robe over her pajamas.

She slightly opened the terrace window, letting the cool air into the room.

“Happy birthday.”

She whispered softly as if blowing on a dandelion, then rubbed her arms briskly. 

‘Well done, me! You’re holding up well, me! Just hold on until you’re 20!’

It was like a ritual she performed secretly on the morning of her birthday.

Just as Adelina was about to close the terrace window, the head maid cautiously opened the door and entered.

“Are you up, Madam? We have finished preparing for the afternoon tea time. I will assist you with your attire.”

“Indeed. Has the Duke entered the palace?”

As Adelina sat on the dressing table chair, the head maid instructed the other maids to enter.

“Yes, Madam. He has entered the palace at the Commander’s summons. Would you like to have a light meal before getting dressed?”

The maids placed several finger foods and drinks on the sofa table. 

‘Has the Emperor given up on killing me? Or am I no longer worth killing?’

Adelina moved to the sofa. 

She washed her hands in the finger bowl prepared by the maid and picked up a canapé.

Since there had been no orders from Emperor Grain, the head maid and maids of the Ducal residence treated Adelina courteously. 

They neither poisoned the food nor sprayed toxic perfume.

‘Suspicious.’

Adelina chewed her food and narrowed her eyes at the head maid and maids standing neatly.

+++

“Princess, it is an honor to have you visit.”

At 2 PM, Adelina and the staff of the Ducal residence all greeted Isabelle’s carriage at the entrance.

Other noblewomen, carefully selected and invited by the head maid, had arrived early and were waiting for Isabelle.

“Water Palace. It has been quite a while.”

Isabelle, escorted by the Imperial Knight, alighted from the carriage, glanced at the exterior of the Ducal residence, and headed inside. 

Despite knowing that today was the first official social event for the newlywed bride, she did not mention any congratulations on the marriage.

Wearing a dress embroidered with luxurious gold thread on a white base, Isabelle paused in front of the central staircase of the Ducal residence. 

She slowly turned toward the group of women following her.

“The Water Palace is famous for its beautiful lake. Let’s have a simple tea and continue our conversation in the garden by the lake.”

“Yes, Princess. I remember celebrating your birthday here once. It was around this time, wasn’t it?”

As the noblewomen chattered and agreed, Isabelle looked at Adelina, who was pursing her lips tightly.

‘See, I suit this Water Palace better than you, fake.’

Isabelle turned again and placed her foot on the first step of the staircase.

“This is the Duke of Ernst’s residence, Princess.”

Adelina spoke in a cheeky and sulky voice.

“What?”

“The title of Water Palace is too grand. It is now used by us, the Duke and Duchess of Ernst, having been bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, so please just call it the Duke of Ernst’s residence.”

Adelina lightly placed her right hand over her chest and bowed her head. 

As if she couldn’t be more honored.

“Very well.”

Isabelle climbed another step. 

Unknowingly, she gripped the handrail tightly as she ascended the stairs and entered the reception room.

“I remember holding a birthday banquet here as a child. When is your birthday, Duchess?”

Seated at the head of the reception room, Isabelle lifted her teacup slowly, as if lost in reminiscence.

‘I think it was around this time. That fake’s birthday.’

She recalled briefly seeing the date when she hurriedly reviewed Adelina’s personal details in the noble registry.

“Ah… yes… it’s today. I was so busy with the wedding preparations that I forgot.”

Hearing the flustered voice of Adelina, who was sitting right next to her, improved her mood considerably. 

“Is that so? Make sure to take good care of it next time. Inviting acquaintances on your birthday is an important social event.”

When Isabelle glanced at the maids who accompanied her, they placed a green velvet box next to Adelina’s teacup.

“Consider this a birthday gift.”

Perfect. She didn’t want to give anything under the name of a wedding gift, and this provided a great excuse.

+++

“Thank you very much, Princess.”

Adelina suppressed her annoyance and lifted the box. 

‘I shouldn’t have written my past life’s birthday date on the noble registry application form… ’

She didn’t want anyone to know her birthday. 

She regretted hastily writing her past life’s birthday in her rush to handle things.

‘If it’s a gift from the Princess who dislikes me, it’s obvious.’

Although she received the gift, Adelina opened the box lid out of courtesy, with no expectations, and her eyes suddenly widened.

‘Isabelle?’

She blinked at the overly extravagant jewel inside the box.

“My goodness, Princess. To give such a splendid necklace.”

The noblewomen, who had been glancing at the box, were also surprised and gasped.

Inside the box was a lavish necklace with a large diamond the size of a thumbnail as the main pendant, and the line itself was thickly studded with hundreds of small diamonds.

‘Isabelle! You want to reconcile with me!’

For a moment, Adelina had a strong urge to forgive all of Isabelle’s misdeeds. 

With jewels like these, she wouldn’t feel ashamed to be called materialistic a hundred times!

“It’s cubic zirconia. Produced in Ernst.”

Pfft. At Isabelle’s words, the noblewomen, who had been staring blankly at the necklace, couldn’t help but snicker.

“Oh. I apologize, Princess.”

“Tsk. People. I deliberately chose this gift. Doesn’t it suit the Duchess well?”

After speaking generously, Isabelle gestured to the maids.

“Duchess, let me put it on for you.”

One maid, clamping her quivering lips shut, slowly lifted the necklace and placed it around Adelina’s neck. 

The moment Isabelle mentioned it was cubic, the necklace’s sparkle seemed to fade entirely.

‘A fake suits a fake.’

Even Adelina’s sparkle seemed to fade as if overshadowed by this cubic.

Isabelle and the noblewomen brought their teacups to their lips to hide their upward-curving smiles.

“Thank you for choosing such a thoughtful gift, Princess.”

Adelina touched the largest pendant of the necklace and bowed her head slightly.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Yes, Princess. I like it very much.”

Isabelle averted her gaze at Adelina’s unexpected reaction. 

Adelina seemed genuinely pleased with the gift, delicately touching the necklace with her fingertips.

‘Why? Isn’t she ignorantly upset or angry?’

Isabelle had expected Adelina to notice her true intentions and react with indignation. 

Having already received reports on Adelina’s behavior, she thought Adelina would charge at her like a ‘mad dog’ today as well.

Meeting Isabelle’s gaze, Adelina moved to the window and opened it. 

“Look. Ernst’s cubic is in no way less beautiful than diamonds.”

The midday sun reflected off hundreds of cubics, creating tiny rainbows.

“Its hardness is also as high as diamonds, making it a gemstone you can comfortably wear every day. I will think of Ernst whenever I wear this necklace. Of my people.”

With every slight movement of Adelina’s body, the cubics sparkled brilliantly, competing with each other.

Isabelle slammed her teacup down. 

Her hands resting on her thighs crumpled the hem of her dress.

‘How insolent! A fake, pretending to be real!’

As the cubic’s sparkle revived, so did Adelina’s.

“Cubic zirconia is quite useful, Duchess.”

“Indeed. Since it’s a gift chosen by the Princess. Especially those produced in Ernst are of excellent quality, Countess.”

The eyes of the noblewomen, who had been mocking Adelina, softened, creating fine wrinkles.

Isabelle’s ears grew hot, realizing that the pink hue on Adelina’s cheeks was not from shame.

+++

“Thank you for visiting today, Princess.”

After the tea party ended, Adelina saw Isabelle and the noblewomen off at the entrance of the Ducal residence.

“We’ll meet again soon.”

As Isabelle noticed Adelina continuously fiddling with the necklace, she quickly turned her head and boarded the carriage.

Led by Isabelle’s carriage, the splendid carriages crossed the only bridge over the lake.

Seeing the summer migratory birds startled by the passing carriages and flying into the sky, Isabelle closed the window.

“Tell them to keep Duke Lexion until late tonight.”

“Yes, understood, Princess.”

Isabelle closed her eyes and leaned her head against the carriage seat. 

The maid slightly opened the carriage window to relay the message to the escort knight.

After all the guests had left, Adelina changed into a simple dress and sprawled on the bedroom sofa.

“Marquis Stephan’s carriage is coming in.”

Hailyn, who had been watching the garden from the terrace, smiled brightly at Adelina.

“Father?”

Adelina got up from the sofa and stood in front of the dressing table mirror. 

She roughly combed her hair and headed downstairs.

‘Goodness. How long has it been since I got married? Did he come because he missed me? We just met yesterday.’

Of course, he probably came to see Lexion. 

Just thinking this way for her mood, she went to the entrance.

“Daughter, happy birthday.”

As soon as she opened the front door, Stephan, incongruously with his large and dark appearance, lifted a pink cake box.

+++

Adelina did not have a lavish dinner today. 

Even when offered her favorite macarons as dessert, she declined and brought Stephan and Hailyn into the bedroom.

“Happy birthday, Lady Adelina.”

Hailyn, having prepared it at some point, placed a cake with flower-shaped sugar cookies on white cream on the sofa table.

“Happy birthday, daughter.”

Stephan placed a cake with a pink teddy bear on top from the pink box onto the sofa table.

Both of them, as if competing, stuck ten candles each into the cakes and slid them toward Adelina.

“Receiving two cakes on my birthday. Such luxury.”

Adelina couldn’t stop her lips from spreading wide. 

She squeezed her eyes shut to hide the tears welling up at the corners of her eyes and blew out the candles divided between the two cakes.

It was the first time. 

Receiving her very own cake on her birthday. 

Having someone genuinely celebrate her birthday. 

Today, she felt a little glad to have been born into this world.

“Sing me a birthday song too.”

Her nose tingled, making her voice sound nasal.

“Hahaha. Of course, daughter.”

Stephan sang a birthday song in a gruff voice with a melody she had never heard before. 

Judging by the lyrics being the same, it seemed to be an Ernst-style birthday song.

“Lady Adelina, never request a song again next year.”

Hailyn whispered to Adelina, slightly covering her ears.

+++

Lexion returned to the Ducal residence only after two in the morning. 

‘Looks like they were waiting for me.’