Chapter 4 –
“L-Lady?”
With her brown hair braided in twin plaits and freckles sprinkled across her skin, Lize, wearing her round glasses, stared at Odette with wide eyes.
“Lize.”
For the first time since returning, a genuine smile spread across Odette’s lips.
“Milady, are your legs alright? That awful Paula was mean to you again today, wasn’t she? Should I bring some medicine?”
Odette’s room had been neatly cleaned, and warm tea and sweet tarts were set on the table by the sofa.
‘In my previous life, I used to resent her for preparing this every morning.’
She had thought it was torture to have food brought before her when she couldn’t even eat—how foolish.
‘This meal you made was the only thing in this mansion ever truly meant for me.’
“Don’t worry. I’m not hurt at all.”
Her throat tightened with emotion. Odette clumsily changed the subject, not wanting to alarm Lize.
“It looks delicious, Lize. Did you make this?”
“Yes. Will you have some?”
“Mm. I want to.”
A laundry maid who had tried to testify in her favor at the trial but was murdered by her own brother.
‘Just her duties alone must’ve been exhausting.’
A clean room, warm water prepared for her to wash—none of it could’ve been easy. The head maid would never have allowed such behavior, so she must’ve faced severe bullying for it.
“It looks delicious. Thank you.”
Odette took a bite of the tart. Lize poured her a cup of warm tea.
‘Seeing her alive makes it all feel real. I really have returned.’
The despair she had felt, realizing only at Lize’s unmarked grave that this girl had been the only one who truly cared for her… Compared to that day, her heart now felt full.
After finishing every last bite, Odette made a request.
“Lize, from today on, I want you to serve as my personal maid. You won’t need to do laundry anymore.”
Lize’s eyes widened.
As a laundry maid—among the lowest-ranked maids—she handled all sorts of menial chores. In contrast, being a personal attendant to the lady of the house was a prestigious position, second only to a lady-in-waiting.
“Really? Are you sure someone like me is okay?”
“Of course. You’re more than enough, Lize. In fact, you’re perfect.”
Lize broke into a wide smile at Odette’s gentle tone.
‘You don’t know… how much I cried at your grave.’
In her past life, Lize had been the only one who showed her genuine care. Odette had bitterly regretted it all in front of the cold, abandoned body that had no proper grave.
In this life, she wouldn’t let her die. She now knew who was truly worth cherishing and protecting.
“I’ll help you get dressed, Milady.”
After the meal, Lize brought over a full-length mirror. Odette looked at her reflection and let out a dry laugh.
‘Habits really are terrifying. I was wearing this like it was normal.’
She was in a fluttery lace nightgown, cinched tightly with a metal corset—just like always.
‘In this situation… I was still dressed according to that bastard’s taste?’
Her reflection filled with cold rage.
“What are you wearing? That dull, gloomy thing? A woman should be vibrant. Wear the yellow one, the one with lace.”
‘Disgusting bastard.’
Just remembering Ferdinand’s voice made her want to scrub her ears clean.
“Milady, what would you like to wear today?”
She glanced coldly at the open wardrobe. Every piece was decorated with absurdly childish lace and excessive frills, like candy wrappers.
“Lize, bring me a pair of scissors.”
“Scissors?”
“The sharpest ones. Quickly.”
That wardrobe didn’t belong to her. It belonged to Ferdinand’s doll. She could no longer tolerate the discomfort.
Odette used the scissors Lize brought to shred every dress in the wardrobe.
Dresses two sizes too small—because that bastard liked delicate bone structures.
“Milady!”
Lize was startled but didn’t try to stop her. Once every dress was in tatters, Odette spoke.
“There’s not a single thing I like in here. If there are any dark-colored clothes in the laundry room, bring them. Even a maid uniform is fine.”
“…Pardon? Yes! Right away, Milady!”
Once Lize left, Odette removed the silk nightgown she was wearing and cut through the leather laces of the metal corset that had clung to her ribs.
‘I stuffed myself into that thing.’
She had never removed it except to bathe.
In her past life, she had feared taking it off more than having her ribs broken—never realizing it was destroying her body.
She found a plain, fresh chemise in the corner of the wardrobe and slipped it on. Her reflection now showed a natural silhouette, unlike the warped one she had forced into dresses before.
‘Breathing feels so easy, it’s strange.’
Wearing a chemise that gently wrapped her body, Odette no longer looked like a grotesque fairy.
‘Why is she asking for dark-colored clothes today?’
Thump, thump. Lize’s heart pounded.
She had always admired Odette.
The lady’s elegant demeanor gave her an indescribable thrill.
Excited, Lize dashed down the narrow stairs to her underground room and fumbled with the trunk above her wardrobe.
‘The dress Madam said was too plain and discarded after only a few wears.’
She had altered it once but found it too beautiful to throw away—yet too fine to dare wear herself.
A basic navy dress, adorned with neat white frills and a black ribbon. It was elegant and refined, yet didn’t make one look like an old dowager.
‘Now that I think of it, even when I altered it, I must’ve had Milady in mind.’
She had always pitied the lady for being forced into candy-wrapper-like lace dresses that didn’t suit her.
“I thought she’d choose one of those again today… but this is amazing!”
With nervous anticipation, Lize carried the dress to Odette.
“This was something Madam discarded, and I altered it a little. I hope it’s alright?”
“Really? Lize, you’re so talented. This is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. I love it.”
“Really?”
Encouraged, Lize shyly offered a pair of shoes she’d brought just in case.
“These are mine, but I’ve never worn them. I’d like you to have them. Your heels are always so high, they must hurt your ankles…”
“…”
Odette suddenly fell silent. Her expression grew thoughtful.
‘Did she not like them? Well, of course. They must seem cheap to her…’
Just as Lize began to worry—
Odette threw her arms around her.
“…It’s so beautiful. I’ve never received such a precious gift, Lize.”
It was something the ever-formal Odette would never normally do.
Lize was surprised but returned the hug. She thought she could feel the lady trembling.
“Lize, I have something I want to ask of you.”
“What is it, Milady?”
Still holding her, Odette whispered a few tasks into her ear.
Upon hearing the instructions, Lize nodded firmly.
“Of course! It’s not even difficult. I’ll move quickly!”
“I knew you would. You’ve always been clever.”
The lady’s voice sounded distant, like recalling a long-lost memory—something faint and out of reach.
Lize tilted her head for a moment but quickly rushed off to fulfill her tasks.
This was the first time in both lives that Odette had ever worn comfortable clothes.
After her family abandoned her, she had only ever worn rags made of plant fibers.
“So clothes can be this comfortable.”
No lace, gold thread, or organza that prickled her skin—just garments made to fit her body.
The dark colors highlighted her pale face, enhancing her natural elegance and dignity.
‘Ferdinand would probably throw a fit, saying I look gloomy. Perfect.’
Dressed in her flawless battle attire, Odette descended to the first floor.
She did not hesitate for a second before opening the door to her father’s study.
‘In my past life, I didn’t even dare think of entering.’
Why had this room seemed more terrifying than the imperial palace?
Typical of a fool who feared her parents’ hatred more than death.
“…”
One wall of the study held a mid-sized portrait—of her father, mother seated on a sofa, and Ferdinand.
The three of them looked cheerful and harmonious. Perfect.
‘I wanted to be in that picture so badly.’
That same portrait, in varying sizes, hung all over the mansion. The largest one adorned the central staircase.
How badly she had wanted to join that picture. Even if it wasn’t a real family, even if it was just make-believe.
Just to be part of it—to love, to be loved. Just imagining it had once filled her heart with longing.
‘Now? Even if they begged me to be a real family, I’d refuse.’
She placed her hand on the frame. Behind it was a hidden safe.
As she moved to tilt the frame upward—
Creak.
The study door opened behind her.
