Chapter 6
If it had been Laura, she would have come in cheerfully calling, “My lady.”
Puzzled, Elizabeth turned her head.
“Huh?”
Standing casually by the door was that man—Isaac.
With a faint smile, he looked at her.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just now. Have you been well?”
He slowly approached and lowered his body.
Then, he lightly placed a bird kiss on the back of Elizabeth’s hand.
A large hand full of calluses.
Warm lips that brushed against her skin so gently before pulling away.
And even the smile he gave as he slightly lifted his head to look up at her.
Did he have this side to him?
Well… when they first met, she hadn’t been in her right mind, so her memory was hazy.
Feeling awkward for no reason, Elizabeth slowly withdrew the hand he was holding—deliberately moving slowly so it wouldn’t look like she was snatching it away.
Watching her movement, Isaac laughed silently.
“What were you looking at so intently?”
“Pardon?”
“You were staring only at the mirror even after someone came in. It seems you’re well aware of your own beauty.”
Isaac said it playfully, but Elizabeth couldn’t laugh along.
She turned her gaze back to the mirror.
The face of a woman who had always lived surrounded by praise for her elegance and beauty—
now held a dry expression and ugly eyes stained with hatred.
“…Beautiful, you say.”
A self-mocking smile formed on her lips.
If that were really true, I wouldn’t have gone through such things.
Silence lingered for a moment.
“Lady Elizabeth?”
Isaac called her cautiously.
Elizabeth nodded and looked at him.
“I’m fine. I just… remembered something from the past for a moment.”
She gestured toward the sofa.
“You must have been somewhere far.”
“I had something to take care of.”
Sitting across from her, Isaac watched her closely.
“Have you organized your thoughts?”
Elizabeth slowly nodded.
“…For now, I won’t step forward. I’ll remain as a dead person—so they let their guard down.”
“That is possible.”
A sharp edge appeared in her gaze.
Now that the Lamor Duchy had absorbed her natal family, the Hayes Duchy, it had become the largest single family in the empire.
To strike such a formidable opponent, she had to catch them off guard.
“I’ll move like a shadow. I’ll infiltrate without anyone noticing and slowly bring down their core.”
Elizabeth’s eyes burned red.
Cold, unwavering determination pierced through Isaac.
“Revenge… is more powerful the more discreet it is.”
At last, she declared:
“And everything that was taken from me—my rights—I will reclaim them.”
Such resolve. Such boldness.
The corner of Isaac’s lips slowly curled upward.
An old memory surfaced in his mind—
that day, over ten years ago, which had changed his life.
Back then, Elizabeth had been a young girl—kind and gentle, yet her eyes had been clear and unwavering.
Just like now.
“I… will make that happen for you. Without fail.”
At Isaac’s firm words, Elizabeth looked at him silently.
Why was this man going so far for her?
He said it was because she had helped him—but she had no memory of it.
To that unspoken question, he had once answered:
[This time, it’s my turn.]
A vague, incomprehensible answer.
But what did that matter now?
Thinking of her situation, Elizabeth let out a bitter laugh.
And decided to be shameless.
Because right now, she desperately needed help.
“I’ve also chosen a new name.”
“What name is it?”
“Lizette.”
“Isn’t that… your nickname?”
A trace of confusion appeared in Isaac’s eyes.
“No. My nickname is Elise. Or Eli.”
“That name would remind people of you. You’ll be suspected.”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“That’s why I’ll use it. It will make them uneasy. Like a thorn in their throat… or a pebble in their shoe.”
Her eyes gleamed meaningfully.
Isaac looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
“…Very well. Lizette.”
It was the first time the name “Lizette” was spoken from his lips.
Elizabeth—no, Lizette—smiled faintly.
Her revenge had already begun.
***
A few months later.
“Extra! Extra!”
A flying newspaper landed at Bianca’s feet.
She casually picked it up.
“A historic entry procession… Will the princess, said to be the beauty of the century, reveal her face?”
Her red-painted nails crumpled the paper.
Bianca scoffed and threw it to the ground.
“Hah. What nonsense. Beauty of the century, my foot.”
She had come out for shopping.
But the main road was blocked off, and crowds gathered like clouds all around.
“If this was going to happen, they should have told us in advance. There are way too many people.”
Bianca snapped irritably.
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t know…”
Beside her, the maid holding a parasol—Lizzie—trembled.
“Can’t you even hold a parasol properly? Acting all proud just because you’re from a ducal household—look at you. Elly must have trained you terribly. Tsk.”
“I’m sorry…”
At the harsh words, Lizzie lowered her head deeply.
Bianca frowned and clicked her tongue.
“Why do you look like you’re about to die just because I said one thing? People might think I’m eating you alive.”
“N-not at all! Everyone knows you treat us well!”
As Lizzie shook her head frantically to explain, Bianca clicked her tongue again and resumed walking.
At that moment—
The entire street suddenly grew noisy.
“They’re here! They’re here!”
With someone shouting, the dense crowd began to surge.
Thud!
A boy running wildly crashed straight into Bianca’s side.
Losing her balance, she fell flat onto the ground.
“Ah! I-I’m sorry!”
The boy bowed in shock, but upon noticing her luxurious clothing and the maid beside her, he immediately ran off.
People glanced at Bianca and began whispering.
“C-catch that kid! Right now!”
At her furious shout, one of her escort knights moved in the direction the boy had fled.
But in the sea of people, finding him was impossible.
“Hey, over there!”
“Move! Move!”
Shouts erupted from all directions.
Then—
Thump. Thump.
Heavy footsteps, as if shaking the ground, grew closer.
“My lady—ah, I mean, madam! Please get up!”
Lizzie grabbed Bianca’s arm in panic.
The crowd pressed in from all sides.
And the moment Bianca lifted her head—
Bwooo!
A massive creature filled her view, letting out a loud cry.
Gasps of awe and shock spread around.
“My goodness, what is that? Isn’t it bigger than a bear?”
“It looks so strange.”
It raised a long appendage—neither quite a nose nor a beak—high into the air, crying out repeatedly.
On either side, large fan-like ears flapped.
With every step of its enormous body—
Thump. Thump.
The ground trembled.
People stood mesmerized.
Then lively music filled the air.
The unfamiliar rhythm spread an exotic atmosphere throughout the street.
To that music, dancers appeared and began a group performance.
Thump—clap clap!
Thump—clap clap!
With veils covering their faces, they wore flowing garments entirely different from Levantis Empire fashion.
The men exposed their upper bodies, showing off their toned physiques.
The women wore outfits that emphasized their slim waists and long silhouettes.
Thump—clap clap!
Thump—clap clap!
Bright, colorful fabrics fluttered in the wind, and the bells on their wrists and ankles rang cheerfully.
They spun gracefully, leapt powerfully through the air—each movement precise and beautiful.
“Woooow! That’s amazing!”
“Waaaah!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Behind them, enormous elephants marched in line, adorned with golden cloth and decorations.
“Look! That must be the princess!”
Someone pointed.
At the very front of the procession—on the largest and most magnificent elephant—
Inside a high palanquin draped with golden curtains fluttering in the wind—
A woman reclined lazily on large silk cushions.
Her face veiled, she captivated everyone with her elegant yet free-spirited presence.
