Chapter 4

Fate is something people create.

Heila could imagine how pathetic she must have looked in the eyes of the person who had said those words to her back then.

Even after hearing it, she had failed to come to her senses, sinking into self-pity, and in the end, she lost everything.

Only after reaching the very end and losing it all did she realize how much she had still had.

And she regretted not being able to protect what remained.

But now, she had lost nothing.

She felt something warm on her cheek.

The moment she became aware that tears were flowing, Marlin pulled her into an embrace.

Just like in her previous life, her arms were warm and comforting.

“Our Princess, how upset you must be. Go ahead and cry as much as you want. If you keep it all inside, you’ll fall ill.”

At those words, Heila let out a small smile.

She wasn’t crying because she was sad.

No one would know just how joyful and fortunate this moment felt to her.

Fate is something people create.

It was strange how a few words from someone not even close to her could so easily change a heart that had been filled with despair just moments ago.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

When it was opened, a maid stood there.

“What is it?”

Marlin asked, and the maid replied,

“There is a guest at the residence. It is a young lady from the Bettia Count family.”

***

“Heila has woken up?”

Kersian set down the document he had been reading for a moment and asked,

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it seems so. I saw a maid carrying a meal to her room earlier.”

“Then why is it so quiet? What about the physician?”

“It seems one was not called.”

“Why wasn’t I informed?”

If it were Heila, she would have looked for him first the moment she woke up.

She was prone to exaggeration and relied entirely on him.

But this time, it was unusually quiet.

Not like Heila at all.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps she will inform you soon.”

The servant replied with an awkward expression.

He could guess it was because of what had happened on the wedding day, but he didn’t have the courage to say it out loud.

“You may go.”

At Kersian’s command, the servant left the room.

It was fortunate that Heila had woken up, but recalling the whispers he had endured over the past few days did not put him in a good mood.

‘I’ve lived a long life, but I’ve never seen such a ridiculous and disorderly ceremony. It felt less like a wedding and more like watching a play.’

‘Before the ceremony even ended, the bride collapsed, the husband left first, and some woman—perhaps her nurse—was wailing… The imperial knights looked ready to draw their swords at any moment. The atmosphere was so tense, I tell you…’

‘I had some expectations, hearing that a princess was to become the mistress of a declining ducal house, but seeing how things turned out, it was absurd. Even the wedding of a low-ranking noble wouldn’t lack that much dignity.’

It had been the day the emperor’s cherished only daughter was to become the lady of the ducal house.

Even if the ceremony had been forced, it should have been honorable, yet it became a laughingstock.

Because Heila had overreacted to Uriel’s prank, both he and his family had become objects of ridicule.

Some even spread rumors that he had sold himself to the imperial family.

Idle gossip was nothing new, but recalling those words made anger surge within him once more.

Kersian let out a sigh laced with anger.

Moreover, even if the imperial authority had weakened due to the ailing emperor, there was no knowing when someone might seize on it to find fault.

Just imagining Heila chattering away, clinging to him and whining as usual when she woke up made him feel exhausted.

Since she would come to him soon anyway, he returned to reading his documents.

However, contrary to his expectations, she did not come even as evening approached.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Kersian rose to answer it himself.

When he opened the door, it was one of his servants.

“Your Grace, what would you like to do about your meal?”

“And Heila?”

“She is in the garden at the moment.”

At those words, Kersian narrowed his brows and walked toward the window.

Looking out, he saw that she really was standing in one corner of the garden.

Supported by her nurse, Heila stood there, gazing toward the training grounds.

She usually seemed young and lighthearted, but now she looked calm and composed.

The way she stood there alone, creating her own atmosphere, oddly irritated him.

As if she were protesting over what had happened on the wedding day, she hadn’t even informed him that she had awakened.

Kersian clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“Your Grace?”

“I’m not hungry. You may leave.”

“Yes, understood.”

Even after the servant left, Kersian remained standing there for a while.

After quietly watching the training grounds, Heila turned and went back inside.

After a moment of hesitation, Kersian rose from his seat.

Just as he was about to go to Heila, a knock sounded.

“Uriel, what brings you here?”

“What happened that day has been weighing on my mind. You didn’t respond even when I tried to contact you, so I came in person.”

Her large eyes, framed by deep and distinct double eyelids, tilted slightly downward at the corners.

The tip of her nose was flushed red, adding a fragile sorrow to her beautiful face.

“I was wrong. I was just so jealous of the princess… I didn’t think it would turn out like this. I’ll apologize, so won’t you please let go of your anger now?”

As Uriel teared up and threw herself into his arms, Kersian let out a light sigh.

He held her and stroked her hair.

“You’ve put me in a very difficult position because of this. This time, I can smooth things over by appeasing the princess, but from now on, you must not cause anything so noticeable.”

“I won’t.”

Uriel nodded as she clung to Kersian more tightly.

Kersian lifted her chin and wiped away the tears that had gathered.

The next moment, Uriel wrapped her arms around his neck.

As Kersian lowered himself, she kissed him.

Uriel’s skin was warm and soft.

Her perfume was sweet, and her hair, flowing down to her waist, was like silk.

The two of them had been seeing each other for a long time, and because of that, they were very familiar with each other.

Instead of pushing her away, Kersian wrapped an arm around her waist.

Only after a long while did they finally part.

Lowering her gaze, Uriel spoke with a sulking expression.

“Now that you’re married, it feels like there’s distance between us. It hurts.”

Even as she pouted in complaint, her beauty only made her look charming.

Kersian soothed her as he spoke.

“You’re overthinking it. Nothing has changed from before.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel relieved. May I stay here for a few days?”

Uriel added, her eyes sparkling.

“I came quietly so no one would notice. As long as the servants keep their mouths shut, no one will know.”

Kersian did not answer.

Seeing his gaze darken, she clung to his arm and acted coyly.

 “I’ll behave and stay quiet. Please? I’m asking you.”

Kersian gave a reluctant smile.

“If you stay quiet, then it should be fine. Alright, do as you wish.”

***

Heila sat on the sofa, drinking her medicine.

“She must be out of her mind. Otherwise, how could she dare do such a thing?”

Marlin said, watching Heila carefully.

Earlier, a maid had informed them of Uriel’s visit, but Heila had shown no reaction.

Since waking up, all she had done was eat, take her medicine, and take a short walk in the garden.

She hadn’t said anything in particular, so it was impossible to tell what she was thinking, which made it unsettling.

“Right. How could she possibly dare to do something like that?”

Heila muttered with a cold laugh.

Hearing such words come from her usually gentle mouth, Marlin flinched and looked at her.

Looking at Heila’s face, it seemed as though she was suppressing deep sorrow.

A sharp glint she had never seen before flickered in her deeply sunken eyes.

The sight felt unfamiliar.

“She’s just a madwoman. Since she’s from a vassal family, His Grace probably can’t cut ties with her because of her house. It must not mean anything more than that.”

“Marlin, you don’t have to lie for my sake. We need to face reality. Just because we don’t want to believe it and look away, things will only get worse. There’s no one here to look out for us, so we need to come to our senses.”

At those words, Marlin was taken aback.

As her eyes began to redden, Heila handed her a handkerchief.

“Don’t cry. Something like this is nothing. I’m fine.”

“But how can you possibly be fine?”

Marlin asked in a trembling voice.

Heila had grown up receiving much love, an innocent and childlike girl.

She was still young in age as well, a bit immature and prone to acting spoiled.

But seeing her become so composed overnight made Marlin’s heart ache.

“I heard that woman is at the residence right now. Aren’t you going to go?”

“What would I even do if I went? She’ll be with Kersian anyway. If I go now, it’ll only make things worse, so there’s no need to waste my energy.”

Heila was rather calm.

She wasn’t openly angry or shocked—she was coolly assessing the situation.

Marlin clenched her teeth.

If it were up to her, she would have torn the hair out of both of them.

But if the two of them were truly together, Kersian might once again side with Uriel.

Just like he had on the wedding day.

As Heila said, openly confronting Kersian, the master of the ducal house, would only worsen the situation.

“I have something to discuss as well. There’s a banquet coming up, so tomorrow I’ll choose the dress I’ll wear then.”

Heinrich, the reliable escort knight who had participated in the subjugation at Kersian’s request and had met a horrific death.

Like Marlin, he had been someone who had cared for her since childhood, almost like a parent.

She had gone to see him from afar several times while he was still alive.

But just the thought of facing him made her heart pound.

“A banquet?”

Marlin asked, puzzled.

“It’s the birthday banquet of Marquis Hameln. We’ll have to attend as well.”

“I see. When is it?”

“Next month. The second week.”

“Has the invitation already arrived?”

“Yes.”

Only after saying that did Heila realize that the invitation had not yet arrived.

But if things were the same as before, it would surely arrive.

Heila slowly walked and stood in front of a large full-length mirror.

There stood a young girl with a still youthful face.

She looked about sixteen, with soft baby fat still on her cheeks, a pointed chin, large elongated eyes, a small, well-defined nose, and pink lips.

Her delicate impression, the frilly lace-filled nightgown she wore, and the dark, tense gaze that didn’t match her youthful face made her seem strained.

Even after seeing it again, she couldn’t get used to it.

Heila approached Marlin and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Her Grace?”

“I remembered a frightening dream.”

“I don’t know what kind of dream you had, but no one will be able to harm you. I will protect you.”

Remembering how, even in that dream, Marlin had worried about her until the very end while she herself was battered and dying, Heila held her even tighter.

Her eyes grew warm again.

Only after a long while did Heila manage to calm down.

Marlin said she would bring some water for washing and left the room.

Left alone, Heila took several deep breaths, trying to steady her heart.

The shock and fear had settled, but the anger and resentment refused to subside no matter what.

At that moment, the door opened without a knock, and someone entered.

Thinking it was naturally Marlin, Heila lifted her head without much thought—and froze.

Her pupils widened, and her breathing trembled.

Gasping for breath, Heila barely managed to call out a single name.

“Kersian.”