Prologue – Part 2

When Rose spoke in a low, angry tone in response to Kristin’s words, Kristin looked surprised at her expression.

“I meant my actions have been too foolish all this time. I should have used it more instead of treasuring it so much. Right, Lenci?”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“Get this mug cleared away too. And about these ceramic cups, I can’t use them anymore. How can I use them when it’s so dangerous to be this broken? Go to the market street today and get a sturdy wooden cup that Mother can use. Got it?”

“Kristin.”

“Oh, and please take care of mine as well. Just because we’re nobles doesn’t mean we have to use expensive things, right? Mother clearly called this pottery teacup just a piece of junk, so she won’t need an expensive cup.”

After finishing her words, Kristin smiled at Rose.

Lenci didn’t know how to respond and was fidgeting, but Kristin gently pushed her shoulder and whispered to her.

“You really don’t need to buy it, Lenci. Go and do your job.”

Kristin looked at Rose, whose face had turned red with anger, and with a natural smile, she spoke to ignite the fire within her.

“But, Mother, what exactly is the good news for me?”

At Kristin’s words, a letter envelope in Rose’s hand slipped to the floor.

It was something that could be guessed without even opening it.

It was the proposal letter from Duke Raphael Rodney.

That’s exactly what it was.

“Who sent this letter?”

Using the same words as she did back then, Kristin provoked Elena and Rose.

Seeing them with an innocent gaze as if she didn’t know anything, Elena was clutching the letter paper with both hands, her shoulders trembling thinly with what seemed like genuine anger and jealousy.

The recipient of the letter was none other than Kristin Edith herself.

Ordinary nobles wouldn’t easily tear open a letter sent by another noble, even if it was addressed to their own daughter. A dedicated maid would typically take the letter and deliver it, or it would be read aloud in the presence of the recipient.

However, Elena and Rose completely disregarded such etiquette. The wax seal on the letter had already been forcibly torn off, and the paper was so crumpled from being tightly gripped that it was almost torn apart.

Even though Kristin knew they had already checked her letter, she once again spoke to them.

“If you’ve seen the contents of the letter, you could tell me. I’m really curious about who sent me the letter.”

“Oh my, mischievous girl.”

Rose blurted out what she had been keeping to herself. Her words surprised herself, and she looked around.

It was because of Viscount Vernon’s presence. Rose had no one else but Viscount Vernon, so she had to be mindful of her husband’s presence.

For the past few years, being able to live as the Viscountess was largely due to his influence. She had heard rumors that she had risen in status by marrying a well-off man, but Rose believed that becoming the Viscountess was also her own ability.

Regardless of the outcome, what mattered was her position and current appearance.
If there was one thing that didn’t sit well with Rose, it was Kristin Edith receiving a marriage proposal letter from Raphael Rodney.

At the debutante ball, she had received a dance request from Duke Winston Zenon, and now, she had even received a proposal from Duke Raphael Rodney, who was the most famous and influential figure in the empire.

Although Rose didn’t want to convey it, she deliberately smiled and said it to Kristin.

“Kristin, you’ll be surprised when you find out.”

It was because Viscount Vernon was walking towards Kristin, chuckling behind her.

He looked at his own daughter, Kristin, his stepdaughter, Elena, and his lovely new wife, Rose, with affectionate glances.

“Having the three of you gathered together in the morning is a lovely sight. But what were you discussing without me? You might as well include me in the conversation.”

As Viscount Vernon tried to sit on the sofa and noticed Kristin holding the letter, he curiously spoke again.

“What’s this? Have you received a letter? Kristin had good news at last year’s debutante ball. Elesia did well in making Winston and Kristin playmates.”

Lord Vernon unhesitatingly mentioned his previous wife’s name in front of his new wife. This was the most irritating and annoying moment for Rose. Despite that, she replied to Vernon in a soft tone, hiding her own wickedness and malice.

“Yes, the late Viscountess did very well indeed. If you know what news has come for our Kristin this time, you will surely be pleased, My Lord.”

“What is it? Kristin, tell us.”

Kristin knew the content of the letter without reading it, but she had to act as if she were seeing it for the first time in front of them.

She deliberately widened her eyes and began to read the letter in front of her father with a rather loud voice. Then, she approached Viscount Vernon, knelt down, and shyly spoke with her face against his leg.

“It’s the first time I’ve received a proposal letter, and it’s from Lord Raphael Rodney.”

“Who would’ve thought that cold-blooded Duke would send such a letter? Life really throws us some surprises.”

“It could be a very fortunate thing. If Kristin does well, not only Elesia but also the Edith family will gain more prestige.”

“The Edith family may not be very wealthy, but your mother reputation is undeniable. So, I can still live without worries.”

In reality, his words were true. The household of Elesia Bennett, Kristin’s birth mother, had a great influence.

Elesia Bennett grew up in a wealthy family and served as the head of the imperial lady-in-waiting. Her intellect attracted many nobles who sought connections with the Bennett household.

However, Elesia Bennett chose to marry Viscount Vernon because he was the only noble indifferent to gambling and debauchery.

But that was the wrong choice.

He was deluded into thinking he could hold onto his power for a lifetime and was slowly walking the path of ruin.

It was the private gambling and meeting Rose that led to his downfall. Those were the two things that put the worst possible conditions in his hands, ruining his life.

But Kristin had no intention of rescuing her father from that pit.

He married Rose, a commoner who ran a general store, shortly after her mother passed away. That alone made him deserving of punishment.

Kristin, concealing such resentment, handed the letter to the viscount.

“If I ever marry, my father will be so bored.”

“Hahaha, it seems it’s time for Kristin to get married. You’ve changed so suddenly overnight. You used to be a bit coquettish when you were young, but who knew you’d change so much from just one letter?”

Seeing the interaction between Rose and Elena, Kristin realized there was no room for her to intervene and overheard their whispered conversation. Even though she couldn’t hear it, she was certain it was about her.

How could someone change so drastically overnight? They would discuss such matters.

Seeing them like that, Kristin silently said to them in her mind.

‘I haven’t shown anything properly yet. I’ll repay everything I’ve suffered so far. In this new life, there will be no more compromise or sacrifice. I won’t be like the foolish and kind Kristin anymore.’

After leaning against Viscount Vernon’s leg, Kristin stood up and spoke to her father before going up to her room.

“I think I should write a reply letter to Lord Raphael Rodney.”

“Are you planning to respond so quickly? Well, I won’t stop you if you want to marry the Duke. After all, a Duke has enough money to last a lifetime.”

“You’re right, Father.”

With that, Kristin ascended to her room.

Once inside, she retrieved Raphael’s letter from her sleeve and began tearing it to shreds furiously.

After almost completely destroying the paper to the point where the writing was unrecognizable, she put the torn paper into an envelope she had as a spare in a drawer, and then took out a blank sheet of paper and began to write slowly.