~Chapter 2~
Not only had I possessed a side character in a novel, but the original story hadn’t even started yet. Just breathing made my head throb.
According to the original story, Petunia was supposed to fall sick with a lovesick heart for nearly a month.
The worst man in the world, Sonod, didn’t even look at her during that time. But once his plan failed, he acted like he was being generous and took back the breakup.
His “plan,” of course, was to ruin the male lead’s life.
Petunia didn’t even realize she was being used. She gladly let herself be manipulated, all for the man she loved, Sonod.
“Completely crazy,” I muttered as I shook my head and marked today’s date on the calendar with an X.
It was to celebrate the day I got rid of that loser.
I remembered Sonod’s stupid face as he kept yelling “You… you…!” like a parrot. Is that all he knows how to say?
Anyway, that useless guy would definitely come back. For a villain like him, Petunia was a necessary pawn.
But as the saying goes, people don’t change. And I had zero intention of dealing with a villain like him again.
All I wanted was to enjoy this moment of peace and think about how I could meet my favorite character—the male lead.
Ever since the day the breakup documents were approved, the Count and Countess of Incleldove had been watching me carefully. Well, technically, they were watching Petunia, not me.
It didn’t feel good to make these kindhearted elders worry. Every time they looked at me with concern, I felt a twinge of guilt.
That guilt came from knowing I wasn’t the real Petunia.
So, I had to put on an act—showing a sad face at times and a forced smile at others. It was exhausting.
In front of them, I acted like a sweet daughter. Behind the scenes, I was secretly learning manners and etiquette. It was the only way to avoid suspicion.
Thankfully, Petunia’s bookshelf was full of books she’d read as a child, which helped me quickly pick up various rules and basic knowledge. Of course, I wasn’t as perfect as the real Petunia, but I could copy her well enough.
Eventually, people in the household stopped acting so cautiously around me.
These days, my daily routine is basically just lazing around, eating snacks, reading books, or strolling through the estate. If I got really bored, I would pretend to read under a tree and secretly watch the knights training.
As the weather grew hotter, the knights’ clothing became thin, and their abs became noticeable. With shirts off and muscles on full display, the training grounds heated up—literally and figuratively.
“I wouldn’t mind if it got even hotter…”
I mumbled, remembering the short story The North Wind and the Sun. Yep, it wasn’t the wind that made the traveler take off his coat—it was the warmth of the sun.
Even the maids, who used to act all shy and proper, were now joining me in admiring the knights’ physiques.
“Sir Wayne looks so strong and noble, doesn’t he?” said Selena, one of my personal maids, dreamily.
“Wayne? Who’s that?”
“The dark-haired knight on the left.”
“Oh, that one.”
The man with black hair and tanned skin swung his wooden sword with his broad frame. Every time he moved his arms, the muscles on his back rippled.
“I prefer Sir Rohan. Just look at that glowing white skin, even under the sun,” said Renee, blushing.
“Ah, I know Rohan. The one in the front with light pink hair, right?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
Rohan’s pale skin was so bright, it was hard to believe he was a knight. No matter how much sun he got, his skin only turned slightly red before going back to its original milky white.
With his clear eyes and soft lips, he was a truly handsome young man.
But Rohan had a surprising side. Despite his gentle face, his well-toned muscles were strong and defined in all the right places.
“I used to like fragile, sickly-looking guys,” Renee said. “But I’ve changed.”
“To what?”
“To strong and handsome guys!”
Renee let out a scream and hid her face in her hands. The other maids were also stealing glances at their favorites, blushing.
…These girls had once called this behavior shameless. Now they were more into it than I was.
As I smiled at the sight, I noticed a servant running toward me in a panic.
“Milady, Milady!”
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
The servant caught his breath, then handed me a letter. The tulip-shaped seal on the envelope annoyed me right away.
“…Sonod Quinton?”
“Yes.”
I opened the envelope on the spot—or rather, tore it open.
“To my former lover, Petunia.”
Ugh.
Just the first line made me want to vomit. Writing something this cringe-worthy was a skill in itself.
I forced myself to keep reading, resisting the urge to crumple it up.
***
[Petunia, I’ve heard news of you. They say you’ve stopped eating because of me? Just hearing that breaks my heart. When I think of the pain you must be feeling, I understand now why you threw coffee at me.
Oh, my poor Petunia. My bluebird, who once meant everything to me. How did we end up like this? If only you had understood me a little more. Maybe we’d be out admiring summer roses together.
The memory of your tear-streaked face makes my heart ache and my eyes sting.
So I’ve decided to forgive you one more time. This will be your last chance.
Surely, no one in this world worries about you as much as I do… blah blah blah…]
***
I ripped the letter in half halfway through. The servant looked at me with wide eyes.
He had written a whole essay begging to meet again. And to top it off, he had the nerve to say he would “forgive” me. That guy really didn’t know when to quit.
“L-Lady Petunia? Wasn’t that a letter from Lord Quinton?”
“It was. You brought the right one.”
“Then why… I thought you were waiting for it?”
“Waiting? For what?”
I looked at the servant with round eyes. Caught off guard, he looked flustered.
I was genuinely confused. Why would I be waiting for a message from that trash?
“Sure, I used to be crazy about Sonod. But that’s ancient history now.”
“…”
“There’s no reason to wait for anything from him. I don’t care if he’s alive or dead.”
“…”
“And honestly, just hearing his name makes me nauseous. From now on, ignore everything that comes from the Quinton family.”
“A-Are you serious?”
“Yup. And please tell them I don’t want anything to do with the Quinton name anymore.”
“…I understand.”
The dazed servant nodded and walked away quickly.
I sipped my tea, ignoring the maids lingering nearby.
I had expected Sonod to contact me eventually, but not this soon. His plans must’ve fallen apart badly.
I could already picture him showing up at the estate, acting all desperate. I’d better prepare some salt to throw in his face when he comes.
I left the maids behind and walked back into the mansion alone. I wasn’t in the mood to bring them with me.
As soon as I entered, I saw the Count—no, my father—talking with a servant.
Calling someone who wasn’t actually my father “Father,” especially a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreign man, wasn’t easy.
It really felt like I was living a Hong Gil-dong life, where I couldn’t call my father “Father.”
Then, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window.
I, too, had blonde hair and blue eyes. I scratched my cheek, feeling a little awkward.
“Father,” I said with a sweet smile as I walked over.
He seemed surprised to see me, then quickly dismissed the servant next to him.
Was it really such a shock to see his daughter at home? His reaction was odd, and my instincts told me something was up.
“O-Oh, Petunia.”
Just as I thought, his eyes shook like there was an earthquake. And he subtly tried to hide the envelope he was holding behind his back.
My suspicion doubled.
Still smiling kindly, I asked, “I heard you had a table placed under the tree near the training grounds. You didn’t even tell me.”
“Haha, it wasn’t a big deal. No need to make a fuss about it.”
“A fuss? Thanks to you, I had a very comfortable rest. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
The Count looked slightly relieved. I didn’t miss the moment and gently pressed further.
“But by the way…”
“…Yes?”
“What’s that envelope you’re holding?”
“…”
“It doesn’t have a seal, so I’m guessing it’s not work-related.”
I tilted my head and asked with a pure, innocent expression.
During the past few weeks in this mansion, I’d learned one important thing—the Count and Countess were incredibly soft on Petunia.
They were naturally kind people and adored their smart, beautiful daughter. They had spoiled her without ever scolding her, yet she still grew up well-behaved. Their love was deep.
Petunia’s older brother, Forte, was the same.
Three years older than her, Forte was kind and gentle like their parents. To him, Petunia was a sweet little sister and someone he could always believe in.
The only reason the family had agreed to Petunia’s engagement to Sonod was because she had wanted it so desperately. They had never seen her so passionate about anything before.
Everyone in the Count’s household loved Petunia—and that love made them weak around her.
I felt a bit guilty using that, but I intended to make the most of it.
If I push just a little more, he’ll spill everything.
With a smile I normally wouldn’t wear, I locked eyes with “Father.”
