~Chapter 2~
Delfina’s eyes turned to the marriage proposal letter on the Duke’s desk.
It had the seal of the Grand Duke of Rohaim.
The Duke spoke again.
“Delfina, you know how much we have done for you.”
Delfina looked at him with an emotionless face.
“Go to the North. By order of His Majesty the Emperor, our family must form a marriage alliance with the Grand Duke.”
Everyone knew the relationship between the North and the Lycaeon family was bad.
“The Emperor wants someone from our family sent to the North.”
The Duke smiled kindly as he said that. The Duchess added softly,
“Delfina, can’t you go for your sister’s sake?”
“For Evelina…?”
“Yes, Evelina is your precious sister. She can’t handle the cold North. You’re her older sister. If you’re worried about your engagement… Huat family has sent a letter to cancel it.”
“Ah, I see.”
“They said they can no longer keep the engagement.”
The Duchess spoke these cruel words with a gentle smile.
‘Strangely, I don’t feel anything.’
Maybe it was because she remembered her past life. She felt no sadness at all.
She no longer wanted her uncle’s approval.
Normally, she would have felt great sorrow and still forced herself to obey her uncle. But now, it felt like she had awoken from a spell.
Delfina just listened quietly.
“Do you think there will be another marriage offer for a lady who has been rejected?”
“……”
“This is a good opportunity for you too. You can repay us for our kindness and get married.”
The Duke added,
“My wife is right. You will not get a proper marriage now. Don’t you see what a big chance this is? We are suggesting this for your sake.”
“……”
“Because we are family.”
Everything they said was nonsense. She knew the North would never welcome her.
The Duke always told her no one would ever like her.
‘The carriage accident happened because of me.’
Her parents rushed home because Delfina was sick, and they died in the accident.
‘The Empress and Grand Duke of Rohaim also died in that accident.’
Since then, the relationship between House Lycaeon and House Rohaim became worse.
Delfina knew the North wouldn’t welcome her, but she didn’t mention it. They wouldn’t care anyway.
“Hmm. Are you so sad you can’t answer, Delfina?”
“No, I’m just so happy.”
If she hadn’t remembered her past life, she would have simply obeyed.
Since childhood, she was told to repay the Duke and Duchess who raised her after her parents’ death, treat Evelina like a sister, and treat Dianco like a brother.
Maybe that’s why she felt forced to obey them all her life.
‘But now, I don’t want to do that anymore.’
She no longer believed their words.
But she didn’t plan to refuse the marriage either.
As she obediently listened, a system window appeared in front of her.
<New Quest>
You, the neglected child of the family!
Your cousin stole your fiancé, and now you’re being sent to the North.
Will you just endure this sad fate?
Go to the North and revive it.
Show your family your greatness and make them regret it.
Reward: A wish that can make anything come true.
Fail: Live as a miserable neglected child forever.
Seeing this, she thought there was no need to oppose them.
‘It’s basically like having no choice anyway.’
Instead of staying with this family, following the quest seemed better.
‘If the wish is real, I can achieve the dream I couldn’t in my past life.’
She still didn’t know why she could see the system window, but she decided to act as usual until she left House Lycaeon.
It was better if the Duke saw her as a foolish girl desperate for love.
That way, he wouldn’t see her as a threat.
Just like always.
With a sad smile, Delfina said,
“I will go to the North. If it’s for Evelina.”
Delfina sat in the carriage, looking at the sky.
After she accepted the quest, everything moved quickly.
Even without the quest, she would have been sent to the North. Her opinion was never needed.
‘They planned this thoroughly.’
She realised the Duke was always ready to kick her out.
Even before she agreed, knights from the Grand Duke had already come to pick her up.
And so, she was now in the carriage heading North. Outside, she could hear the Grand Duke’s knights whispering.
“What is the Duke thinking?”
“Sending her in such a shabby carriage… Is he mocking us?”
The knights looked tired.
They hadn’t been treated well or given time to rest at House Lycaeon before leaving again.
Their faces were full of complaints. For Delfina, this wasn’t good.
The carriage stopped.
The knights began preparing camp to rest before entering the North.
Alex frowned.
He smelled food.
Nearby, House Lycaeon’s knights and maids were cooking.
‘How hateful.’
The Grand Duke’s people only had a few pieces of jerky left.
They planned to restock supplies at House Lycaeon before leaving, but the Duke rushed them out immediately.
So the Grand Duke’s group had almost no food left.
Meanwhile, House Lycaeon’s people cooked rich meals and mocked them.
Even if relations were bad, this was rude.
‘They’re showing off because they’ll return home tomorrow.’
Only a few maids would follow Delfina to the North. The rest would return home after today.
Maybe because it was their last day, they openly mocked the Grand Duke’s people.
Alex’s eyes turned cold.
‘They’re as petty as their master. Truly vile.’
He looked at his men.
They were swallowing saliva at the smell of stew.
He sighed deeply.
The road to Rohaim was long and harsh. They planned to stop at villages for supplies, but seeing his hungry men pained him.
‘We can’t get food unless… she helps us.’
Without help from Lady Delfina, who stayed quietly inside the carriage, they could do nothing.
