SWMD 25

Chapter 25

“…I look so pretty.”

After her bath, Icel got dressed with Lisa’s help. She stood in front of a tall mirror, seeing her whole reflection.

Though she was still skinny and looked a little plain, just being clean and wearing a nice dress made her look very different.

She gently touched the soft fabric, amazed by the girl in the mirror—she looked like someone else.

Her clothes before had always been rough and hand-me-downs. Catherine and Alicia hadn’t even let her wear proper maid clothes. Only after other maids had worn them until they were falling apart did Icel get them.

It wasn’t just the quality—this was the first time she wore anything clean.

Lisa then added a big ruby brooch to the white ribbon on her dress. Icel felt so happy, she thought she might float.

“The Marquis is waiting for you. Let’s go to the dining room.”

“The Marquis?”

“He probably didn’t sleep at all. He was too excited to eat with his granddaughter.”

Lisa hid a laugh with that last part.

Nervous but curious, Icel followed her to the dining room.

Inside, the Marquis was already waiting. Stroking his white beard, he looked very strict and noble.

His deep frown made him look even scarier.

“You’ve come.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Icel answered carefully, shrinking a bit under his deep voice.

The Marquis frowned even more.

Did I say something wrong?

Icel blinked and quietly took her seat, trying not to make a sound.

“You look much better now.”

“I really like it. Thank you, sir.”

“…It’s nothing. There were just a few old dresses lying around.”

He lied while frowning, but Icel already knew the truth from Lisa. She barely held in a laugh.

Her grandfather was clearly shy. It made him seem a little more human, though Icel still wasn’t completely comfortable.

Soon, a grand feast was served. Icel’s eyes sparkled at the sight.

There were roast pork, buttered steak, and other rich foods—everything to help her gain weight.

The Marquis usually didn’t eat greasy food, but he had planned this meal just for Icel.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes!”

Even though she’d had dessert the night before, her mouth watered, and her stomach growled. She wanted to grab a drumstick with her hands and eat it all.

But she held back. She didn’t want to seem rude.

She stared blankly at all the different utensils in front of her.

She had seen Catherine eat before and knew the forks and knives changed depending on the food.

But she didn’t know which was which.

Her hand hovered awkwardly in the air.

Then, the Marquis did something surprising—he picked up a saucy chicken leg with his hand and offered it to her.

A noble like him, touching food with his bare hands—even with a napkin—was unthinkable.

It was as if he could read her mind.

“Here. Eat comfortably.”

Icel looked at him with teary eyes and accepted the drumstick.

The Marquis truly cared about her.

“Strangely hungry today.”

He even bit into his own chicken with gusto. Icel’s jaw dropped. He kept eating like he didn’t notice her at all.

He was trying to make her feel comfortable.

She had been treated horribly due to Alicia’s schemes, and he wanted to make up for it.

She could learn table manners later. For now, he just wanted her to eat well.

“You’ll learn everything over time. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

He said this casually while chewing.

“…Thank you. I’ll enjoy the meal.”

Icel fought back tears and took a bite. The meat was so tender it melted in her mouth.

“…Grand…”

The Marquis muttered something quietly, but Icel didn’t hear it.

She quickly finished her food and wiped her hands with the napkin Lisa gave her. Then she asked:

“…Sorry, what?”

The Marquis cleared his throat and mumbled shyly.

“Ahem. ‘Marquis’ sounds too formal.”

“Then…”

“You’re my only granddaughter, Icel.”

His sharp-looking eyes softened.

“…Call me Grandpa.”

Lisa covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

That’s all he had wanted—to hear her call him Grandpa.

“…Yes. Gran…pa.”

Icel said it awkwardly but sweetly. The Marquis’s lips twitched into a smile, though he tried to hide it.

Everyone in the room could tell he was very happy.

After that, Icel ate everything on the table. It was all so delicious she couldn’t stop.

The Marquis watched her fondly.

When she noticed her empty plate and looked up, their eyes met.

She blushed, embarrassed—she had eaten most of the food herself. But she smiled brightly and thanked him.

“Thank you for the food, Grandpa.”

“As long as it suited your taste.”

He answered gruffly but looked at her thin arms again. She clearly needed more food.

That look in her eyes… she probably wasn’t full yet.

I underestimated things.

Feeling guilty, the Marquis frowned and spoke.

“We’ll increase your meals starting tomorrow.”

Icel looked at him in shock—how did he know what she was thinking?

“Double the portions from lunch onward.”

“Yes, sir,” the maids replied cheerfully.

“I’m okay! I’m already full…”

“I must be getting old. I feel hungrier these days—guess it’s not enough.”

Icel wiped her mouth and looked at him carefully. She had something she wanted to ask.

The Marquis waited, but she hesitated. So he asked first:

“Do you have something to say?”

“…I have a request.”

“A request?”

His eyebrows rose. Icel finally spoke what she had been thinking:

“For these two weeks… please make me a perfect lady. I don’t care if I have to stay up all night.”

Her determined eyes reminded him of Diana when she talked about revenge.

But the Marquis didn’t want to see his precious granddaughter suffer. He sighed deeply.

“Isn’t your mother’s revenge enough?”

He had already felt uneasy when Diana told him her plan. Now Icel wanted the same?

“Grandpa, I…”

Icel looked straight at him.

“I want to protect Mother. No—I have to.”

She was still just a child, but her eyes were full of deep sadness, like someone who had seen too much.

The Marquis couldn’t fully understand their pain. He didn’t have the right to stop them.

It was their choice.

He frowned deeply, then slowly nodded.

“…Alright. I’ll help you.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

So for the next two weeks at the Marquis’s house, Icel trained nonstop to become a proper noble lady.

It wasn’t easy—she had to learn everything from scratch and memorize a lot.

But she was smart—just like Diana—and she learned quickly, as if she’d been raised noble from the start.

She ate big meals every day to gain weight.

She got massages with expensive oils and creams—products Catherine would’ve been jealous of.

As time passed, Icel changed more and more.

Two weeks later, she stood in front of a mirror.

She smiled slowly at the girl staring back.

It was time to go back.

Back to where she truly belonged.