CHAPTER 13
“That villainess is finally dead! She probably never imagined it when she was flaunting herself so proudly. That her life would end at just 20!”
“I’m glad the villainess is dead, but still, she died too easily. She should’ve suffered as much as we did.”
“Exactly. She should’ve tasted the bitterness of the world. She died too gently.”
In a hazy state of consciousness…
I could hear all kinds of curses coming from above my head, where I lay collapsed on the floor.
‘Gasp!’
Startled, I opened my eyes wide.
A pure white ceiling with golden vine patterns came into view. Sunlight pouring in from a window that covered the entire wall sparkled dazzlingly on my eyelashes.
‘Where did those maids go just now?’
I groggily got up and peeked through the door.
Several maids were quietly cleaning, dusters in hand.
The ones who seemed to have finished earlier were huddled in a corner, chattering in hushed voices.
They seemed to be comparing the pearl earrings I had given them, saying things like “Mine is bigger and prettier!”
Seeing this peaceful scene finally put my mind at ease.
‘Phew, it was a dream.’
I leaned my head against the doorframe with a thunk.
The door creaked open, and the maids all turned to look at me at once.
“……!”
Realizing I had woken up, they froze in place like mice before a snake. What an ironic situation.
‘You’re the scary ones, not me.’
I couldn’t go on living like this.
Now that I’d returned to the main residence, it was time to start mending my relationship with the maids.
“Everyone, calm down and listen to me.”
I spoke calmly.
“While I was confined, I did a lot of reflection. I can’t ask you to forgive all the terrible things I’ve done, but there’s one thing I hope you’ll understand. I truly regret my past actions, and I swear I’ll never torment you again.”
I poured all my heart into my words, and emotion surged up unexpectedly—even I felt a lump in my throat.
What a moving declaration.
‘Our lady has changed!’
Surely, they would realize my sincerity and cry out in joy, moved to tears.
I looked at them expectantly…
“……!”
But the maids’ faces turned pale.
“My lady! If we’ve done anything wrong, please tell us! We are so dull-witted, we can’t understand you unless you say it plainly!”
They all knelt down, bowing their heads to the floor in terrified apology.
Did they think I was mocking them?
It seemed my sudden transformation had only heightened their fear. A textbook case of backfiring.
‘I didn’t even get my point across!’
Sorry. I’ll just see myself out.
Just as I was about to disappear from their sight at the speed of light…
I felt a heated gaze from one corner. I turned to find—
One of the downstairs butlers anxiously pacing, peeking at me, too afraid to approach.
“Do you have business with me?”
“Ah, yes, um… The Duke would like to have breakfast with you, my lady.”
What?
I was instantly wide awake.
Why would the Duke suddenly want that? As far as I knew, having a meal with his daughter was a rare annual event—especially breakfast.
Nobody wants to start their day with indigestion.
‘What is this about?’
I slowly made my way to the dining hall.
At the far end of the long table sat Duke Canel, reading the newspaper.
Unlike the other family members, he had light blond hair tied back and red eyes that didn’t leave the page.
With his chiseled face and tightly pressed lips, he looked like a sculpture carved from ice.
“……”
I tensed.
Currently, his patience toward his daughter was at rock bottom.
Yes, I had unintentionally done a great service for House Rozen after possessing this body…
But the Duke had no way of knowing that. Nor should he.
So there was no reason for him to show me any leniency.
‘He gave off murderous vibes the first time we met. I’d believe it if someone said he killed his daughter himself.’
Still, he had an alibi—he was in a meeting with his aides at the main estate. And he didn’t seem crazy enough to murder her with his own hands. So for now, he was off the list of prime suspects.
‘But he’s still the most dangerous person in the manor. He could kick me back to the annex any moment…’
One wrong move and my survival rate plummets.
“Why so quiet?”
Finally, the Duke looked up at me.
I had made sure my hair and dress were immaculate—ready to ace a corporate job interview, if needed.
But his icy gaze still made me nervous.
“Hmph.”
Sure enough, Duke Canel turned his head away sharply.
“It seems you think you’re safe now and are already indulging yourself. Shopping is not your priority right now.”
He motioned with his chin, and the chief aide walked over and placed a white envelope on the table.
It wasn’t a voucher for a tea salon…
“It’s a handwritten letter from His Highness the Crown Prince. He wants to meet with us to ease the tension between the imperial family and the Rozen house caused by this incident.”
What?
That’s when I noticed the golden dragon emblem—the symbol of the Crown Prince—boldly stamped on the envelope.
My mind snapped into focus.
‘It’s here.’
The list I’d stayed up late creating flashed clearly in my mind.
Because of the past misdeeds I had racked up, I was surrounded by potential murder suspects.
They were all suspicious, but some stood out more than others.
High-level suspects capable of pulling off a perfect crime with zero evidence.
In my view, there were five.
One was Ruelian Lacroix, the head of the Holy Order.
Another two top suspects were the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
Being of dragon blood, they had abilities that made impossible crimes entirely plausible.
They also had more than enough motive.
Information I’d gathered and memories buried in my mind stirred into chaos. I shivered.
‘They could kill me. They would kill me.’
Aristina’s one-sided love for the Crown Prince was the root of all trouble.
It may have even led to the first death, and could easily cause another.
This was my chance to tie things up for good.
‘Yes.’
I raised my head.
Had I stayed silent too long? Duke Canel looked at me with clear displeasure.
He probably thought I was swooning at the thought of seeing the Crown Prince.
“No!”
I waved my hands quickly.
“That’s not why I was zoning out. You don’t have to worry, Father. You can bring me to the audience without concern. Because I…”
“You were going to say, ‘I’ve given up on His Highness. I won’t chase him anymore,’ weren’t you?”
I was shocked.
“How did you know? Is it that obvious I’ve cooled off? That makes things easier.”
I said with relief.
But behind the Duke, a quiet but intense red aura began to rise.
“Cooled off?”
“Yes. Like a glacier.”
“Aristina.”
My father looked at me coldly, bewildered.
“You’re reusing the exact same trick after only three months. Don’t you think that’s lazy?”
“Trick?”
“I thought you might’ve grown from this ordeal, but here you are scheming again! Last time I believed you when you said your feelings were over, and look how that turned out. I won’t fall for that again. As head of the house, I order you not to say a word during the audience with His Highness. Nothing beyond what’s permitted!”
“……”
I was speechless.
So that’s it. I’ve used this exact excuse before.
Makes sense. This body’s previous owner had pulled every stunt imaginable to get closer to the Crown Prince.
Claiming to have moved on, only to strike again—that was an old strategy.
‘No wonder he’s silencing me completely.’
From the Duke to everyone in the dining hall, they were all giving me looks of total distrust.
And I got it.
If someone asked you to let them hit you on the back of the head, and you said yes—and they did it ten times in a row—would you offer the back of your head again for an eleventh?
I wouldn’t.
Frankly, these people were amazing for putting up with it ten times.
I couldn’t blame them.
“Fine. Don’t believe me. I really have given up, but don’t believe it if you don’t want to.”
I said only what I needed to.
“Do as you wish.”
You go your way, I’ll go mine.
But I’ll make one thing absolutely clear.
I’m no longer the foolish villainess obsessed with the Crown Prince.
‘If words don’t convince them—then I’ll show them through actions!’
