‘Muse?’

A thud. Ciela’s heart pounded. Instinctively, she turned her eyes to Lilia. Standing with her back straight, Lilia approached Stella. Judging by the beaming smile on her face, it seemed clear that Ciela hadn’t misheard.

Stella’s muse – Lilia. This was part of the early plot of the original story.

‘It was meant to be.’

‘What is this?’

Three days had passed since her return. In that time the atmosphere in the house had changed, Lilia had ended her seclusion and Stella had made Lilia her muse.

Ciela furrowed her brow. The unexpected turn of events hit her like a powerful wave, but instead of being swept away, she took slow, deliberate breaths to assess the situation. It was then that her eyes met Lilia’s in the air. Lilia’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“Oh, come to think of it, you wouldn’t know since you weren’t home. But you do know who Stella is, don’t you, sister?”

Lilia’s expectant gaze, filled with a sense of triumph, waited for Ciela’s answer. Ciela obliged and gave the answer Lilia wanted to hear.

“Of course I know. What noble doesn’t know Stella’s reputation? She’s honoured every year with the task of designing Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday gown, and so many people dream of wearing one of her creations.”

‘You were one of them.’ Ciela held back her words, waiting instead for Lilia to share her boast.

“Actually, I went out yesterday and ran into her. Stella said she wanted to make me her muse and came looking for me. I was just about to go with her to Stella’s studio.”

As Lilia spoke, Stella put her hands on her chest and recalled the moment with a dramatic flair. Her laughter, light and melodious, filled the air.

“Oh dear, I was so distressed when I found a caterpillar on my dress! I had no idea what to do and Lady Lilia came to my rescue. I can’t tell you how grateful I was. It was one of those rare days when I was out alone and there wasn’t anyone around to help me. Looking back now, it feels like fate.”

“Fate?”

“Yes, a sign from the heavens to find my muse. Lady Lilia is my destiny.”

Lilia smiled shyly and rubbed her cheek gently.

“Even if someone else had been there, they couldn’t have ignored someone in need.”

“Oh my… and so humble too!”

Stella exclaimed, clutching her blushing cheeks with both hands, her eyes welling with tears. While Lilia played down her actions, insisting that anyone would have done the same, Stella stressed how special Lilia was.

Ciela half-closed her eyes, letting the words wash over her without interruption.

‘It’s just like in the novel.’

The same encounter. The same reason.

[On the way back to the Arcel estate, Lilia looked out of the carriage window and widened her eyes. A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat was stamping her feet in distress before collapsing to the ground. Although it was only a glimpse, Lilia noticed that the woman was shaking and immediately stopped the carriage.

“Wait a minute!”

She hurried over to investigate and found a caterpillar clinging to the woman’s dress. Oh, so that’s what it was! Using the parasol she was carrying, Lilia carefully removed the insect.

“You’re all right now, ma’am.”

“Th-thank you.”

The woman raised her head, still shaking, and Lilia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Stella?”

“I apologise for not being able to greet you properly. My legs have given out and I’m absolutely terrified of bugs… I’ll pay you back another time.”

Stella mumbled weakly, her face pale and tears streaming down her cheeks. The once tall and commanding Stella, who had always seemed more noble than any noblewoman, now looked so small and vulnerable. Lilia’s chest hurt at the sight of her.

“You don’t have to pay me back. Would you like to join me for a cup of tea instead?”

“My lady…”

Stella’s eyes welled up again, glistening with emotion. Lilia smiled warmly and held out her hand.

“Let me help you up.”]

At that moment, Stella’s startled voice snapped Ciela out of her thoughts.

“Oh dear! Look at the time! We should go, Lady Lilia.”

“All right! But could you go first? I just need to say something to my sister, and then I’ll join you shortly.”

“Hmm… you’re certainly bold, my lady. Very well. I’ll go first.”

Stella replied, glancing at Ciela with a hint of displeasure before heading downstairs. The sharp glance over her shoulder made her meaning clear. Ciela watched her retreat with a calm expression.

‘It must be because of Lilia.’

In the novel, Stella was portrayed as someone who despised the so-called villainess who tormented Lilia. She sang Lilia’s praises at every social gathering and openly denounced the villainess.

‘She’s supposed to be the one who strengthens Lilia’s position in society. My plan was to sever their relationship before that could happen.’

Ciela’s eyes darkened slightly as she considered the new challenge before her.

Ciela stifled a sigh and resigned herself to abandoning her original plan. If their relationship had come this far, she would have to find another way. Absently twirling the ends of her hair, she looked up.

“What do you want to say to me?”

“You gave me a gift, so I thought I’d return it with some advice.”

The distance between them grew uncomfortably close. Their eyes were filled with nothing but each other. For the first time, the dynamic had shifted – Ciela, who had always looked down at Lilia because of their height difference, now had to tilt her head up, while Lilia, who had always looked up at Ciela, now looked down.

Enjoying the change in perspective, Lilia tilted her head and leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper near Ciela’s ear.

“They say that those who covet what isn’t theirs will eventually burst from their greed.”

Lilia reached out and tucked a strand of Ciela’s golden hair, tinged with a faint red, behind her ear. Her fingers brushed lightly over the skin before she continued.

“Destiny flows as it’s meant to.”

Lilia let out a girlish, clear laugh and walked down the stairs, passing Ciela. Her laughter, like glass marbles rolling across a surface, lingered unusually long in Ciela’s ears.

—

Back in her room, Ciela sat on a chair, drying her damp hair with a towel. A maid who had helped her with the bath offered to dry her hair, but Ciela dismissed her with a simple reassurance. Being alone was something she was used to, and right now she had too much on her mind.

The Marquis of Arcel had treated her warmly of late, which seemed to make the maids wary, casting nervous glances in her direction. But Ciela wasn’t generous enough to worry about a maid who hadn’t fulfilled her duties properly so far.

Her hair, still wet, clung to her fingers like the cool scales of a water snake. Leaning her head back, she was running her fingers randomly through her tangled locks when a knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Excuse me, miss. I’ve brought the light refreshments you requested.”

Sarah’s voice came as she entered the room carrying a tray. Their eyes met briefly before Sarah lowered her gaze and dipped her head.

Ciela wiped the moisture from her hands and casually picked a grape from the tray and popped it into her mouth. As she slowly ate the grape, Sarah approached and picked up the towel.

“May I dry your hair while I tell you about the events of the last three days?”

“Go ahead.”

Sarah’s careful hands touched Ciela’s hair with precision, drying the damp strands as her voice, steady and unyielding, recounted the events. Each word sank deep into Ciela’s ears.

“Lady Lilia Arcel left her room five hours after you and Lord Calix left.”

‘Five hours.’

That meant she had left her room a week after Theodoro’s visit. The difference was that she had only come out of her room then, whereas now she had ventured outside the estate.

“When I heard the Marchioness of Arcel speak, it seemed that she intended for Lady Lilia to take part in social activities again. I also heard that she was to meet Lady Dianys today.”

“What was the Marchioness’ reaction to Lilia’s sudden change?”

After Sarah had informed the Marchioness of Arcel of Ciela’s visit to the Marquis, she had been given the opportunity to get closer to the Marchioness. Rolling a grape between her fingers, Ciela waited for Sarah’s reply.

“When everyone was surprised by Lady Lilia’s sudden change, the Marchioness of Arcel was the only one who remained calm.”

“The only one who stayed calm…”

“Yes.”

The grape stopped rolling as her thumb and forefinger came to a halt. Did they have a conversation about it? That would make sense. No one was closer to Lilia than the Marchioness.

‘It would be stranger if she didn’t know.’

Accepting this as likely, Ciela bit into the grape and swallowed, her thoughts racing.

“And I overheard the Marchioness talking to one of her maids about a hunting competition and a masquerade ball.”

“It’s that time of year again.”

The Hunt and Masquerade was one of the most important national events in the Empire. During the day, brave knights and noble participants ventured into the forest to hunt game, and at night, a grand masquerade ball was held. Originally, the event was meant to pray for a bountiful harvest, but its meaning had changed over the past decade.

“Hmm…”

With a low hum, Ciela began to piece together the information she’d just learned. Lilia was leaving the estate. Stella, the most celebrated designer in the realm. The hunt and the masquerade.

It wasn’t enough to conclude that Lilia would attend these events. Ciela wasn’t interested in such a simple answer. What she was looking for was the cause of Lilia’s transformation and why events from the original story were already unfolding. But with the current information, it was difficult to get a clear picture.

Rubbing her sticky fingers together, Ciela furrowed her brow slightly.

‘There was also an episode with the hunting competition in the original story…’

In the original story, a noblewoman jealous of Lilia hired a mage to forcibly transport her into the forest during the hunting competition. Lilia found herself in danger, only to be rescued by Calix, deepening their bond.

Ciela’s fingers pressed tightly together as her mind raced. After a moment, she parted her lips.

“Understood. Was there anything else that you found strange?”

Sarah, who had neatly folded the towel and combed Ciela’s hair, fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. She paused briefly before resuming her combing and spoke hesitantly.

“There is… one thing, though I’m not sure if it’s something strange or not. It’s a bit ambiguous.”