Chapter 8 – Part 2

“So, you had feelings for that man all along. That’s why you avoided me at the wedding?”

“That’s not it…”

Raphael began to think he was strangely going mad. He hadn’t loved her to the point of obsession before, but now he felt strangely angry and feverish all over his body.

Was it because Winston was involved that he felt tormented?

But it was too ambiguous to simply call this emotion jealousy. It was an emotion he had never experienced before, making it hard to pinpoint exactly what it was.

Therefore, Raphael decided to redefine this emotion as anger and wariness towards the Marquis.

Since he had also been killed while investigating Kristin’s death, he now needed her.

She was someone he couldn’t let go of, someone he couldn’t afford to lose. In his previous life, he had kept her close to use her, but now, he needed her to uncover the truth about his death.

But expressing such sentiments with that mindset felt somehow lacking.

Raphael decided to ask Kristin one more thing to clarify his complicated feelings.

“Alright, let’s put it that way. But there’s something I need to ask you, Kristin.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Why are you acting so differently now? I don’t understand why you’ve changed from the person who used to look at me with love.”

Kristin silently answered in her heart.

‘Because this life is a precious life I’ve regained from death.’

However, she couldn’t say that, so she gave another reason.

“I can’t just whisper sweet nothings all the time. I have to somehow protect my family and our declining house.”

“Wouldn’t that have been easily solved if you had taken my hand and become the Duchess? There was no need for you to go to the mine in such an unnecessary manner.”

Kristin was exasperated by Raphael’s arrogant remark, which showed he only thought of himself.

“Does my existence become nothing if I’m not by your side, Your Grace? You still think of me that way. If I could ask something of you, it would be to stop judging me so easily.”

“Are you saying I looked down on you?” Raphael asked, unable to deny he might have done so in the past.

Kristin, on the other hand, clearly felt he had looked down on her at every turn. His current approach only increased her resentment, so she gave him a cold look.

“Furthermore, not only am I acquiring the mine, but I also plan to attend the upcoming debutante ball to make my debut in society for the sake of my family. So don’t interfere. And don’t act as if you know me so well. That’s arrogance. That’s what it is.”

As Kristin spoke to him, Raphael could no longer stand there.

“Kristin…” he began.

Beatrice and Lenci, along with everyone else in the boutique, turned pale.

This was the first time they had seen anyone embarrass the Duke in such a manner.

Beatrice couldn’t fully understand why Kristin was acting this way but tried to empathize with her. She had heard enough about Raphael’s arrogant and self-centered nature.

If Kristin, who rarely showed anger, was reacting this strongly, something significant must have happened between them.

“Okay, I see. We’re not getting anywhere with this conversation. Well, there’s always next time,” Raphael said, unable to take his eyes off Kristin before abruptly turning away.

What he had never shown before was this reluctance to pursue a woman he liked.

Being cold and calm, and having wealth and honor, he was not the kind of person who would devote himself entirely to a woman, even if he had one.

“Yes. I hope not to see you again in the future. I don’t want to see you anymore,” Kristin said to him, causing Lenci’s face to flush.

Standing on thin ice that could break at any moment, Lenci was unsure how to act.

Should she say something to match the lady’s mood, or should she stay silent like a proper maid? She decided to maintain her silence.

The bell rang softly as Raphael left, and Kristin could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

In her previous life, Kristin had never spoken to Duke Raphael so coldly.

She had loved him deeply, relied on him, and wanted to give him everything. When he had sent her a love letter and asked her out on a date, she had often stayed up all night until that day came.

He was her first love, and she had never felt such strong emotions for anyone else. But in the end, all she got in return was betrayal and death.

Kristin couldn’t fully suppress the pain she had endured. Even if she couldn’t exact revenge, she didn’t want to face him anymore.

Besides, he would eventually choose Princess Rebella of the neighboring Praga Empire as his lover. She knew why he was clinging to her now.

‘It must be because of Marquis Winston. He always saw him as a rival. I’m just a tool for him.’

Surely, it couldn’t be that she still had feelings for Raphael.

But then, why didn’t she feel at ease?

Kristin shook her head.

“My Lady, are you alright?” Lenci asked.

She had never seen Kristin push someone away like this. Yet, lately, she had become colder, more aloof, and had rarely smiled.

It was as if the lady before her had become a different person.

‘Has the Duke ever made things difficult for you?’

It was a question she had wanted to ask many times over.

It was impertinent for a maid to inquire about her master’s private affairs, but the young Lenci couldn’t help but wonder.

Kristin smiled at Lenci.

“Lenci, don’t worry too much. It’s nothing.”

“I just hope you don’t have any more troubles. Honestly, it’s been worrying me that you seem like a different person lately,” Lenci said, her concern evident.

Lenci, who was quite perceptive, had likely noticed that Kristin had changed a long time ago. After all, Lenci had always been by Kristin’s side and looked after her in their previous life as well.

“Just because someone acts differently doesn’t mean there’s something wrong. Don’t worry,
Lenci.”

Kristin said this and then turned to Beatrice Charlotte.

“Now that we’ve picked out the dresses, I think I should go back to the mansion and check on my father and stepmother. If they are involved in my mother’s death, I can’t continue to play the role of the ignorant young lady anymore.”

“Kristin, don’t act suspiciously or confront them directly. If you suddenly start questioning them, it could put you in danger.”

Beatrice Charlotte paused for a moment before continuing.

“I’ll be your sanctuary, Kristin. If you need my help, come to me. Sharon Boutique will always be open for you, so come here if you need a place to hide.”

Kristin barely managed a smile and nodded in agreement to the lady’s words.

* * *

Kristin returned to the Viscount’s mansion.

As she rode back to the mansion in the carriage, her thoughts were solely on revenge against Rose and her father.

Kristin had never looked down on her stepmother and Elena for being commoners.

Since Elena had entered the Edith mansion, Kristin had genuinely tried her best to treat her well. But Elena had always been displeased with everything Kristin did, often displaying jealousy and envy.

Whenever Kristin wore a nice dress, met with someone, or adorned herself with the heirlooms left by her mother Elesia, Elena would frown and make comments like:

“It must be nice to be a young lady of the Viscountess’s family. Surrounded by gold and silver treasures since birth, I don’t know if it’s because of that, but they seem to have it so easy in the world. You’re one of them, aren’t you?”

Moreover, Rose would add fuel to her daughter’s words by saying,

“Leave her be, Elena. Your sister is such a pitiful creature. Even when we’re kind to her, she barely responds, doesn’t she?”

They had always mocked Kristin in this way.

If those two had purposely insinuated themselves into the Viscount’s household after her mother’s death, just to gain wealth and luxury, Kristin would never be able to forgive them.

The prosperity and comfort they had obtained due to her mother’s death. Despite hating and envying nobles before, now that they were treated like nobility themselves, it seemed their greed had grown even more – to the point of looking down on other nobles as well, thinking themselves superior in intelligence and capability.

Kristin no longer wanted to see them in the Viscount’s mansion.

“My Lady.”

“Yes, Lenci?”

As Kristin sat silently in the carriage, Lenci cautiously spoke to her.

“Shall I prepare a bath for you as soon as we arrive, so you can rest?”

“Will you do that? I’m a bit tired today.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

After answering, Lenci looked at Kristin, who had her eyes closed. Her heart was filled with concern for Kristin.

Kristin had overexerted herself more than usual today, which worried Lenci deeply.

“My Lady.”

“Yes, Lenci?”

“Thank you so much for taking me to Sharon Boutique today.”

Kristin smiled and opened her eyes slightly at Lenci’s words. Then, she spoke kindly to her.

“Let’s go to the debutante ball together this time. But, you must keep it a secret until the day we go. If you brag to the other servants, Mother might not let you go, so you must keep it a secret. Understood?”

“Yes, My Lady.”

When Lenci responded, Kristin gently patted her shoulder affectionately.

* * *