Chapter 02
“Sophie went too far! Even if she’s still young, how could she just push someone like that?”
Leuke huffed in anger. Her voice sounded upset, but her expression showed worry rather than rage. She looked genuinely concerned about me. How could someone be this kind and beautiful at the same time?
Even though I wasn’t the real Melias, having someone like her worry about me made my heart ache. I was nearly in tears.
“Anyway, I’m fine,” I said.
“She’s not really a bad girl at heart,” Leuke muttered, like she was holding back something else.
Sophie was our cousin, the younger daughter of our aunt. She and her older sister Amy liked to tease and bully the two sisters. Still, like Leuke said, Sophie didn’t seem to be born bad—she just copied her mother and sister.
And yes, it seemed I had just woken up after falling into the water. That meant there was still about a year left before Leuke’s marriage. If I could stop that marriage in time, both sisters might be saved.
I can’t let someone this sweet and kind meet such a terrible end!
“Anyway, I’m okay,” I repeated.
Just then, there was a loud stomping sound—someone walking with a heavy, aggressive pace. The door burst open, and a middle-aged woman with a harsh face barged in. It was Aunt Brunel. After marrying Baron Spear, she had only become worse. With a useless husband and two troublesome daughters, she took all her stress out on the Warren sisters.
“So, all that fuss and now you’re up because you’re hungry?” she sneered at me, acting like I had just faked being sick.
I already knew what kind of person she was, but seeing her in person made me dislike her even more.
“Do you know how much work piled up while you were lying around?”
I stared at her, confused. What work? Before I could ask, Leuke stepped in front of me protectively.
“I took care of it all. Nothing’s left undone.”
“Why would you do it? What if you hurt your hands?”
Because Leuke was considered a valuable “product,” she wasn’t allowed to lift a finger. Melias, though, was seen as useless and treated like a servant. Aunt Brunel had already spent their inheritance and still couldn’t stand seeing them rest.
“Oh, and Lord Burtington sent this today,” she added with a greedy glint in her eyes.
Burtington. Leuke’s fiancé. Also the man who would cause her death. A man in his 50s, nearly Aunt Brunel’s age, who hadn’t even proposed properly.
When Leuke was 15 and Melias 13, Aunt Brunel brought them to a late-night party and basically sold Leuke off without her consent. I still remembered how bitter I felt reading that chapter. They planned to squeeze every bit of value out of Leuke’s looks—her dowry, her husband’s money—everything.
Even now, hearing that Burtington had sent something, I could see the greed in her eyes.
“Open it,” she said, throwing the package at Leuke.
Leuke sighed quietly and began opening the wrapping.
“Sighing before opening a gift? How rude,” Aunt Brunel snapped.
“I didn’t sigh, Aunt,” Leuke replied calmly.
She really didn’t. I saw it. She just paused briefly to steady herself. Is this what she put up with all the time? Maybe Melias didn’t die from falling in the lake—maybe it was just emotional stress.
“The atmosphere was sigh-like!”
“I’m sorry, Aunt.”
Leuke quickly opened the package. Inside were two pairs of earrings—one made of pearls, one of sapphires. Leuke glanced at them with no emotion, then handed the box to Aunt Brunel.
“How lovely,” the aunt said, already reaching for the sapphires.
“I think the sapphires are meant for you. That’s probably what he intended.”
Leuke hadn’t even read the letter that came with the gift, but she said what the aunt wanted to hear.
“Did he write that in the letter?”
“Yes.”
Aunt Brunel beamed and picked up the sapphires.
“Well, you’re still young. Pearls are perfect for someone your age. Keep them.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
Leuke’s smile was robotic, almost eerie. Burtington pretended to be thoughtful by sending gifts, but the real recipient was clearly the aunt. Leuke knew how to play along to keep the peace. It was one thing to read it in a book—but seeing it in person hit much harder.
She’s only 19! How has she survived all this?
“Why is the gift for Leuke, but she doesn’t even get to keep it?”
I couldn’t help blurting it out. Leuke jabbed me in the side, trying to stop me.
“Melias must still be dazed after falling into the lake. Are you saying I don’t deserve a thank-you gift after raising you two orphans so well? Even from your future brother-in-law?”
That man is barely older than her and she’s already calling him her in-law? Ugh.
“Did I take it from you? Your sister was being thoughtful. Don’t make her look bad!”
“Sorry! It’s her gift, of course she can do what she wants! I just thought… if Lord Burtington wanted to thank you, maybe he should’ve sent diamonds instead!”
That was nonsense, even to me. But the aunt seemed happy just hearing me back down.
“Your sister is so beautiful and you’ve raised her so well. You deserve more appreciation!”
“Hmm. Yes. That’s true.”
Wow, how could someone be this simple?
I bowed deeply. “I’ll make sure all the chores are done properly. Thank you so much for checking on us!”
I’ve never been this polite in my life. It felt like I was squeezing every last drop of social skill from my soul.
“Just behave until your sister gets married. That way, you’ll still have a place here.”
I nodded quickly. The aunt turned to leave—then paused.
“And you. Stop pretending to be sick. Are you saying you pushed Melias into the water to play nursemaid again?”
“No! It was Sophie—”
“Sophie?”
Her voice grew sharp.
“I fell in while playing with Sophie! How could Leuke push me?”
It was Sophie who pushed Melias into the fountain in the original story. Even Leuke had hinted at that earlier. But everything here was being twisted to fit Aunt Brunel’s version of the truth.
“Still, last month you went out with Lord Burtington.”
Leuke added softly, “Please don’t worry. Without him, I wouldn’t have any future.”
You’d be better off without him.
What a horrible woman. I couldn’t believe she visited just to do this regularly.
Leuke nodded and smiled stiffly.
“Yes, I’ll remember that.”
“Yes, Aunt,” I echoed.
Aunt Brunel looked around, making sure she hadn’t missed anything to complain about, then clicked her tongue and finally left.
Both Leuke and I let out deep sighs at the same time, our stiff posture collapsing with relief.
“Hey.”
Leuke waved at the maid.
“Yes?”
“You can go now.”
The maid hesitated like she was waiting for something. Leuke opened a drawer and pulled out a pearl earring, just like the one from the gift box. She handed it to the maid.
“Thank you, Miss!”
The maid bowed and left happily.
Leuke slumped by my bed, resting her head on the edge.
“Haaah…”
A deep sigh. I gently placed my hand on her back, patting her. She reached up and held my hand.
“Don’t worry. The wedding’s still a year away. Once we leave together, you’ll be a little freer.”
She had always wanted to give Melias a better life. But right now, more than feeling afraid or frustrated about the aunt, I just felt sorry. Sorry that I couldn’t do anything to help her.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault…”
Leuke shook her head, still holding my hand.
“No. You actually helped today. But don’t make yourself say those kinds of things next time. It breaks my heart.”
She cupped my cheeks gently.
“Just leave it to your big sister.”
Trying to lighten the mood, she squished my cheeks. I laughed awkwardly, not knowing how to respond, and she finally smiled—a little softer.
Then her next words broke my heart again.
“Maybe I should just get the wedding over with sooner. He’s over 50, but at least I’ll eat well, right?”
I looked at her in shock. She was only 19. That’s like a high school senior! And she’s already thinking like this?
“Lord Burtington… he’s had three wives. All of them died young. But I’m healthy, so I’ll probably be fine.”
She tried to laugh. But that smile was so heartbreaking it made my chest tighten.
No. There’s no way I can let this marriage happen.
Burtington’s previous wives probably weren’t sick. He likely abused them until they died. Just like he would with Leuke if I let things play out.
“No. You can live without marrying him.”
In fact, she had to. For both our sakes.
“And how exactly would that work?”
I’ll figure it out. Somehow, within this one year, I’ll save Leuke. We’ll become independent, and we’ll both survive.
With that face, if she’d become an idol, she would’ve made a fortune just selling photo cards…
“Melias, what are you thinking about over there?”
Leuke looked at me, confused.
Just look at her. Even her confused face is beautiful!
Then, an idea popped into my head.
“Oh! I got it—selling her face!”
