Chapter 4
‘Fate is something a person creates.’
Haela could imagine how pathetic she must have looked back then to the person who said those words to her.
Even after hearing that, she hadn’t snapped out of it; she had fallen into self-pity and eventually lost everything.
Only after reaching the true end and losing everything did she realize how many things she had actually possessed.
She had regretted not being able to protect what remained.
But now, she hadn’t lost anything yet.
She felt something warm on her cheek.
The moment she realized she was crying, Marlin hugged her.
Her embrace was as warm and cozy as it had been in her previous life.
“My Madam, how upset you must be. Cry as much as you want. If you keep it inside, you’ll get sick.”
At those words, Haela smiled faintly.
She wasn’t crying because she was sad.
No one could know how happy and relieved she felt at this moment.
Fate is something a person creates. It was strange how a heart that had been in despair just moments ago could be so easily transformed by a few words from someone who wasn’t even close to her.
Just then, a knock was heard.
When the door opened, a maid was standing there.
“What is it?” Marlin asked, and the maid replied.
“A guest has arrived at the mansion. It is the young lady from the Betia Count family.”
“Haela has woken up?”
Kersian asked, briefly setting down the documents he was reading.
“Yes. It seems so. I saw a maid carrying a meal to her room earlier.”
“Then why is it so quiet? What about the doctor?”
“It seems they didn’t call for one.”
“Why didn’t she inform me?”
If it were the usual Haela, she would have sought him out the moment she woke up.
She tended to exaggerate her pain and relied on him entirely.
But this time, she was very quiet.
It wasn’t like her.
“Well, perhaps she will inform you soon?” the servant answered with a troubled face.
He guessed it was because of what happened on the wedding day, but he didn’t have the courage to say it out loud.
“You may leave.”
At Kersian’s command, the servant left the room.
It was a relief that Haela had woken up, but he felt unpleasant thinking about the whispering he had to endure over the past few days.
‘In all my life, I’ve never seen such a ridiculous and messy ceremony. I thought I was watching a play, not a wedding.’
‘The bride collapsed before the wedding even ended, the husband left the scene first, and the woman who seemed to be the nanny was wailing… the Imperial Knights looked ready to draw their swords at any moment. The atmosphere was so chilling.’
‘I had high expectations since he was welcoming a Princess into the Dukedom from a fading family, but the way things turned out was appalling. Even a low-ranking noble’s wedding wouldn’t be that undignified.’
It was the day he welcomed the Emperor’s cherished only daughter as the mistress of the Duchy.
Even if it was a forced marriage, the wedding—which should have been honorable—had become a laughingstock.
Because of Haela’s overreaction to Uriel’s prank, he and his family had become objects of ridicule.
Some even gossiped that he had sold his body to the Imperial Family.
While it wasn’t new for gossips to spread groundless nonsense, the thought of it made his anger flare up again.
Kersian let out a sigh mixed with anger.
Furthermore, no matter how much the Imperial Family’s power had declined due to the sickly Emperor, he didn’t know who might use this as an excuse to find fault with him.
He felt exhausted just thinking about how the awakened Haela would chatter, cling to him, and whine.
Since she would likely visit soon anyway, he started reading his documents again.
However, contrary to his expectations, she did not come even as evening approached.
Just then, a knock was heard, and Kersian stood up to answer it himself.
When he opened the door, his servant was standing there.
“Your Grace, what would you like to do about dinner?”
“Where is Haela?”
“She is currently in the garden.”
At those words, Kersian narrowed his eyes and walked toward the window.
Looking around, she was indeed standing in a corner of the garden.
Supported by her nanny, Haela stood looking toward the training grounds.
Usually, she seemed young and flighty, but now she looked calm and serious.
The way she stood there alone, setting a somber mood, was strangely irritating to his eyes.
As if she were protesting the events of the wedding day, she hadn’t even notified him that she was awake.
Kersian clicked his tongue with a displeased face.
“Your Grace?”
“I have no appetite, so you may leave.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Even after the servant left, Kersian stood there for a while.
Haela quietly watched the training grounds and then went back inside the building.
Kersian hesitated for a moment, then stood up.
Just as he was about to go find Haela, a knock was heard.
“Uriel, what are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about that day. You didn’t reply when I contacted you, so I came to see you myself.”
Her large eyes with deep double eyelids were slightly downturned at the corners.
The tip of her nose was tinted red, adding a sense of sorrow to her beautiful face.
“I was wrong. I was just so jealous of the Princess, and I didn’t know things would turn out like this. I’ll apologize, so won’t you please stop being angry?”
As Uriel tearfully clung to him, Kersian gave a light sigh.
He held her and stroked her hair.
“My position has become very difficult because of you. I can pacify the Princess to settle this matter, but from now on, you must not do anything so conspicuous.”
“I will.”
Uriel nodded, hugging Kersian even tighter.
Kersian lifted her chin and wiped away her tears.
The next moment, Uriel reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.
As Kersian lowered his body, she kissed him.
Uriel’s skin was warm and soft.
Her perfume smelled sweet, and her hair, flowing down to her waist, was like silk.
The two had been seeing each other for a long time, so they were very skillful.
Instead of pushing her away further, Kersian wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close.
They only pulled apart after a long time.
Uriel looked down and said with a pouting face, “It hurts my heart because it feels like a distance has grown between us since Your Grace got married.”
Even as she pouted and showed her dissatisfaction, she only looked cute because of her beautiful face.
Kersian comforted her, saying, “That’s a useless thought. Nothing has changed from before.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that. Can I stay here for a few days?”
Uriel added with sparkling eyes, “I came quietly so as not to be seen by others, so if we keep the servants’ mouths shut, no one will know.”
Kersian didn’t answer.
Seeing his gaze darken, she hugged his arm and acted charmingly.
“I’ll stay quietly. Yes? Please.”
Kersian smiled as if he had no choice.
“If you stay quiet, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fine. Do so.”
Haela was sitting on the sofa drinking medicine.
“She must be a woman who has lost her mind. Otherwise, how could she dare do such a thing?”
Marlin said while watching her reaction.
Earlier, the maid had announced Uriel’s visit, but Haela hadn’t reacted at all.
Since waking up, all she had done was eat, take her medicine, and take a short walk in the garden.
Since she didn’t say anything specific, Marlin was anxious because she didn’t know what she was thinking.
“Indeed. How could she dare do that?”
Haela muttered cynically.
Hearing such words from the usually gentle girl, Marlin flinched and looked at her.
Looking at Haela’s face, it seemed she was suppressing deep sadness.
In her deeply sunken eyes, there was a sharp light she had never seen before.
That appearance felt unfamiliar.
“She’s just a crazy woman. Since she’s from a vassal family, His Grace probably left her alone because he couldn’t afford to be on bad terms with her family; there’s no other meaning to it.”
“Marlin, you don’t have to lie for my sake. We have to face reality. If we ignore it just because we don’t want to believe it, the situation will only get worse. There is no one here to take care of us, so we have to stay sharp.”
Marlin was flustered by those words.
As her eyes began to redden, Haela handed her a handkerchief.
“Don’t cry. This much is nothing. I’m okay.”
“But how can you be okay?” Marlin asked in a trembling voice.
Haela had been a young and innocent girl who grew up receiving much love.
Since she was actually young in age, she was a bit immature and acted spoiled.
But seeing her act so mature overnight made her heart ache.
“I heard that woman is in the mansion right now, shouldn’t you go see her?”
“What would I do if I went? He’ll be with Kersian anyway. If I go now, it will only make the situation worse, so there’s no need to waste my energy.”
Haela was actually calm.
Without being greatly angry or shocked, she was coolly assessing the situation.
Marlin grit her teeth.
In her heart, she wanted to pull out both of their hair.
However, if the two were really together, Kersian might protect Uriel again.
Just as he did on the wedding day.
As Haela said, if she openly clashed with Kersian, the master of the house, in the Duke’s mansion, the situation would only worsen.
“More than that, I want to rest. There’s a banquet soon, so tomorrow I’ll choose the clothes to wear then. I also have things to discuss with Sir Heinrich.”
The reliable escort knight who had been brutally killed after participating in a subjugation at Kersian’s request.
Like Marlin, he was like a parent who had looked after her since she was a child.
She had seen him alive from a distance several times.
But her heart pounded at the thought of facing him properly.
“A banquet?” Marlin asked, puzzled.
“It’s the birthday banquet for the Marquis of Hameln. We’ll have to attend.”
“Is that so? When is it?”
“Next month. The second week.”
“Has the invitation arrived already?”
“Yes.”
Only after saying that did Haela realize the invitation hadn’t arrived yet.
However, if it were the same as before, it would certainly come.
Haela walked slowly and stood in front of a large full-length mirror.
There stood a girl with a still-youthful face.
She looked about sixteen, with baby fat still on her cute cheeks, a pointed chin, large and long eyes, a small and straight nose, and pink lips.
She had a somewhat fragile impression; her dark gaze, which didn’t match her youthful face or her cute pajamas full of frills and lace, seemed full of tension.
Even seeing it again, she couldn’t get used to it.
Haela approached Marlin and hugged her tightly.
“Madam?”
“A scary dream came to mind.”
“I don’t know what kind of dream you had, but no one can harm you. I will protect you.”
Remembering how Marlin had worried about her until the moment she died, even in her dreams, looking battered and broken, Haela hugged her even tighter.
Her eyes grew hot again.
Only after a long time could Haela calm down.
Marlin went out, saying she would bring water to wash her face.
Left alone, Haela tried to control her heart by taking several deep breaths.
Her surprise and fear had subsided, but her anger and resentment would not go down no matter what she did.
Just then, the door opened without a knock and someone entered.
Haela, who naturally thought the person was Marlin, raised her head without much thought and froze.
Her pupils dilated and her breathing trembled.
Gasping for breath, Haela managed to call out one person’s name.
“Kersian.”
