Since arriving in this world, the number of days I’ve lived in peace could be counted on one hand. That one week under house arrest had been the most restful time I’d had.
When I took off my shoes, my heels throbbed with pain. A raw wound had formed on the back of my foot.
“When did I start bleeding…?”
I frowned at the sight. It must’ve been the new shoes—I’d worn them for barely a few hours, and already the skin was scraped off.
Well, I was walking so much in these…
Trying to keep up with Milan’s brisk pace, I’d hurried along, and then wandered for who-knows-how-long after losing him. No wonder my feet ended up in this state.
“This is seriously too much.”
Today’s outing with Milan left me feeling upset in more ways than one.
If it were really my brother, he wouldn’t have gotten so angry.
If it were my real brother, he’d have asked where I’d been, clearly worried. He wouldn’t have yelled like that.
Seeing that same face act so differently—it just made everything feel worse.
If not for that strange incident, I wouldn’t have been scolded like this.
What exactly happened back in that alley? Milan said he searched with the knights, which must mean I’d somehow been separated from them, alone.
But how did something like that even happen?
Since coming to this world, strange events had been piling up. But then again, the very fact that I’d ended up in another version of myself’s body made no sense to begin with.
Should I just chalk today up as another one of those unexplainable, bizarre moments?
There was still so much I didn’t understand about this world.
If only someone would appear again to explain it all to me. I was desperate for answers I couldn’t find on my own.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢. _________
Surprisingly, the incident passed quietly this time. Not only was I not sent away to the estate, I wasn’t even placed under house arrest.
It seemed my willingness to accept punishment had left a good impression on Father. For the first time, I’d shown a hint of remorse.
Well… Staying here is better than going to the estate, anyway.
Now that I was allowed to remain at the mansion, I decided to follow through on what I’d been planning.
“Milady, the informant you requested has arrived.”
“Oh, really?”
What I’d sought out was an informant.
If I thought about it, every time I went outside, something happened.
The auction house. The masquerade. Even the recent trip with Milan.
Maybe all this was the universe’s way of telling me to just stay indoors. So, instead of wandering the capital again, I called in one of the Empire’s most reputed informants.
He wasn’t someone easily summoned, but with the duke’s family name, it wasn’t impossible.
“I’d like to try finding the tiara the family is searching for,” I told him in the drawing room.
“You mean that tiara?”
“Yes. I’m sure you’ve already heard.”
The disappearance of the family’s tiara had already made its rounds through the social circles, so of course a top informant would know.
If I could just delegate the job like this from the start, why had I risked myself by running around in person?
“Here’s an advance. If you succeed, you’ll get the rest.”
“It’s a tricky matter, so I can’t guarantee anything… but I’ll do my best.”
“Good.”
After commissioning him, I felt much lighter. Even if there weren’t immediate results, just knowing someone was working on it gave me peace of mind.
I should’ve done this from the start.
Running around like that only drew suspicion from the First Prince.
At least he didn’t seem to be suspicious of “Vanessa Burkel”—which was a small mercy.
I’ll stay inside the mansion for a while.
But just one week later, I ended up going out again.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢. _________
“Am I really necessary every single time?”
It was another outing with Milan.
“You think I enjoy this? It’s the same situation as last time—so cooperate.”
We had just stepped out into the shopping district. Apparently, my lack of enthusiasm was written all over my face, because Milan looked equally displeased.
“I could’ve just gone with other knights, couldn’t I?”
“I don’t trust you.”
He said it flatly.
“When you’re given instructions, do you ever follow them obediently? You even wandered off last time while I was watching.”
That wasn’t on purpose…
“In two days, we’ll have guests at the mansion,” he said as we walked.
“What kind of guests?”
“Nobles who are close to Father. It’s been a while since we’ve hosted anyone, so don’t make any mistakes.”
“Got it.”
What could I possibly mess up?
After that, the distance between us widened again.
It’s that stride!
With his long legs and brisk walk, how was I supposed to keep up?
As I hurried to match him, Milan suddenly came to a halt.
“Whoa!”
A small child running by had bumped into him. A second child was chasing after him and hadn’t been looking ahead.
The one who hit Milan stumbled back and fell hard on his rear.
“I’m sorry!”
The boy must’ve been in pain, but when he looked up and saw Milan’s face, he quickly apologized.
“Watch where you’re going when you run.”
Milan spoke to the child, his tone curt, but there was a trace of concern beneath it.
“Clean yourself up.”
He even offered the boy his handkerchief to wipe the dirt off. I caught up in time to see the whole thing.
As he resumed walking, I found myself looking at him differently. He glanced back at me.
“Why are you just standing there?”
“You surprised me.”
My brother always looked cold, but he wasn’t an unkind person.
Sometimes—like now—he really did seem like my actual brother. It was in moments like this that I felt the strange, mirrored nature of this world all over again.
“Why are you so unfriendly only to your little sister?”
“You know the answer better than anyone. I’m not a saint.”
He resumed walking, quickly outpacing me again.
“Wait…”
I stopped myself from calling out to him. It wasn’t like he’d slow down anyway.
Can’t he just walk a little slower?
As I rushed to keep up, my heel began to sting again. I lifted it slightly and saw blood had started to well up.
No wonder it hurt.
“Are you all right, Milady?”
Sir Hans, who’d been walking at my pace, noticed right away. Milan also turned to look.
“Why are you so slow?”
He seemed to understand the situation at once and walked over.
“Is your foot hurting?”
“Yes. My heel’s scraped.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because saying something wouldn’t make it stop hurting.”
I mumbled. Milan stared at me with displeasure for a moment, then spoke bluntly.
“You knew we’d be walking. Why wear heels that high?”
“These are the only shoes I have.”
He crossed his arms and looked at me like he wanted to say something else—but didn’t. Instead, he brought me to a nearby shoe store.
“Isn’t that the Count?”
“We need comfortable shoes for a lady.”
Milan addressed the surprised shopkeeper.
“You’re buying shoes for me?”
“Why? Is that a problem?”
It’s just… not like you.
The Milan of this world wasn’t close enough to me to give gifts, so I was genuinely caught off guard.
“Your feet hurt, and I can’t have that while you’re with me. Just take them.”
Would it kill him to speak more kindly?
While I tried on new shoes, Milan spoke quietly with a knight and received something from him.
“Use this.”
He handed me ointment and bandages. As I treated the wound myself, he asked,
“Is that better now?”
“Much better.”
The pain subsided once I applied the bandage. The lower heel made walking far more comfortable too.
“Thanks for the shoes. I’ll wear them well.”
When I thanked him, his expression grew strange.
“Thanks? You’re actually saying thanks?”
We finished paying and left the shop. I hadn’t even asked him to walk slower, but Milan matched my pace naturally.
No more need to rush—and just that small act made the tension in my chest ease.
If only he’d walked like this from the start…
Still, this was more than I ever expected. It was the first time the Milan of this world had shown me any kindness.
It felt oddly nostalgic—like I’d returned to the world I used to know.
____________.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓆰♕𓆪 ֶָ֢. _________
“I have no idea where it’s gone.”
Two days had passed since that outing with Milan. And just like before, we’d turned up nothing.
Despite all the people we mobilized, the tiara remained out of reach. As we sat for dinner, Father brought it up right away.
“It’s as if it vanished into thin air.”
“I’ve already put in a request with an informant, but… there’s been no word yet.”
“If our family can’t find it, what makes you think a hired informant can?”
I’d meant it seriously, but Milan scoffed. So quick to provoke—it was hard to believe he was the same man from two days ago.
“I just thought they might be able to trace the route it took.”
“There’s nothing wrong with trying.”
To my surprise, Father responded with a hint of approval. He’d never really been hostile to me. Just… indifferent.
I guess that’s something.
No matter how much I tried to remind myself these people weren’t truly my family, it still hurt to be treated coldly.
“They should be arriving soon,” Father said, checking the clock.
Dinner with the guests was about to begin.
“You must behave yourself tonight.”
He emphasized the point with gravity.
“To disappoint them would be unacceptable.”
That seemed excessive to me.
“Don’t worry, Father. I won’t disappoint you.”
I’d always been the one to stand in for Mother during important receptions. His warning felt more like a challenge—and I welcomed it.
It was my chance to prove that there was nothing wrong with my manners.
And besides, we were inside the mansion—the safest place possible. There would be no bizarre incidents here, and no one I wished to avoid.
What could possibly go wrong?
