Chapter 7
“Family, huh…”
At Ella’s words, Diasi thought of his own family. His brows furrowed instinctively, but he quickly shook his head and erased the expression.
“No, I’m fine too. Then let’s keep the wedding as simple as you requested.”
“Good. I’ll inform my parents that they don’t need to attend the ceremony.”
Just as Ella reached for her teacup in front of her, she suddenly let out a quiet sigh and set it back down.
“Oh, right. I think the sooner the wedding, the better. What do you think?”
That way, I can leave this house as soon as possible. In this place where I can’t do anything but stare endlessly out of a small window…
Diasi looked momentarily puzzled by Ella’s words but then nodded.
“Well… I don’t mind. I’ll arrange for a priest. Once everything is ready, I’ll send a carriage. I’ll be staying in the capital for the time being, so you can come to the capital residence.”
In the Rasiera Empire, it was customary for the bride to move into the groom’s household before the wedding. So if Diasi sent a carriage, Ella could legally leave the Meyer household.
Ella nodded, satisfied with his response.
“Yes, understood.”
“Do you have anything more to say?”
“…No.”
“That’s good, then.”
As if all matters were settled, Diasi stood up without hesitation. The teacup placed before him remained untouched, exactly as the maid had set it down.
Ella stood up as well to see him off out of courtesy.
Diasi turned his back, not even glancing as she stood up. But as if something had just occurred to him, he suddenly looked over his shoulder.
“Well, judging from the impression you gave today, I doubt this will happen. But just in case…”
Ella stared at him as if urging him to continue. Diasi met her sky-blue eyes, which betrayed no emotion, with an equally unreadable gaze.
“As a husband, and as head of the family, I’ll fulfill my duties. But I will never love you.”
“…”
“Don’t expect any kind of affection from me.”
Such cold words were hard to believe came from a man speaking to his soon-to-be bride, and on their very first meeting at that.
Any ordinary woman would have stormed out, calling him rude. But to Ella, those words were genuinely welcome.
So she smiled.
“That’s honestly the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
It was the first genuine smile she had made since coming into this new body.
After seeing Diasi off and returning to her room, Ella couldn’t stop herself from trembling uncontrollably.
The maid Arianne, who had been waiting for her, anxiously followed after her.
“Miss, how did it go?”
“…Huh? Oh, yeah.”
Ella, deep in thought, replied to Arianne’s question a beat late.
Arianne, sensing something off in her mistress’s behavior, hesitated before asking,
“Would you like a bath first? Or… should I prepare some tea?”
She only asked in hopes of being helpful, but the answer was a cold dismissal.
“Arianne, I’m a bit tired. Can you give me a moment alone?”
“Ah… Yes, of course! Please call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
Arianne left the room with a slightly bitter expression.
Now completely alone, Ella lay down on the bed without even removing her dress.
The worn-out bed creaked loudly beneath her.
It wasn’t much to look at for a noble lady, but the blankets, which Arianne diligently washed and dried every day, smelled faintly of warm sunshine.
Comforted by that scent, Ella turned to her side. Her heartbeat thudded loudly in her ear pressed against the mattress.
It had been several days since she entered this body, yet everything still felt unfamiliar. It was like wearing clothes that didn’t fit—constantly uncomfortable.
…Yes, up until now, it was only uncomfortable. Bearably so.
But…
Remembering her encounter with Diasi just now, a wave of discomfort and revulsion hit her like a storm.
The indifferent tone of her childhood friend, whom she hadn’t seen in so long, was enough to freeze the blood in her veins.
“…He couldn’t have noticed, right?”
That I hate him. That I loathe him.
Facing someone she never expected to see again came as a huge shock. At the time, Ella hadn’t even thought to hide her expression.
The shock of seeing his familiar face gradually turned into hatred and betrayal as the conversation went on.
Hatred and betrayal toward someone who seemed to be living just fine after abandoning her.
“To think I have to marry him, carrying these feelings.”
No—before that—
To think I’d end up marrying you like this…
Ella let out a hollow laugh, overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all.
Seriously, can’t the world just leave me alone?
Lying on her back and staring at the ceiling, she continued her thoughts.
Can I really survive this?
With you—the son of the man who killed my parents. You—who deceived me.
“…No.”
Shaking her head, Ella sat up on the bed.
“What are you even saying, Louise?”
I have to do this. Of course I have to. There is no other option.
When she stood before Diasi, she could have thrown a fit and walked away. But she didn’t.
Because in that brief moment, she had already calculated what would benefit her more.
Just wanting to avoid seeing Diasi’s face wasn’t enough to forfeit the advantages that came with this marriage.
The biggest gain was the access to Mason and the Pope—through the Meyers family.
By marrying Diasi, she unintentionally made Mason her father-in-law, which gave her the opportunity to trace his whereabouts and avenge her parents’ deaths.
And now, disguised as a noblewoman from the Pope’s faction, she might even find a way to strike back at the most powerful figure in the empire—the Pope himself.
On top of that, leaving this house meant saying goodbye to being locked in a shabby room, under her parents’ contemptuous gaze.
If she could just go out freely, gathering intel and pursuing her revenge would become so much easier.
Whatever the case, going to the Meyers household was better than rotting away in this prison of a house.
I can do this. I will do this. Hiding a few emotions? That’s nothing.
Clutching her trembling hands together, she forced herself to stay strong.
It had already been several days since Ella’s uncomfortable meeting with Diasi.
Ella had expected Logan and Lilia to come rushing in after Diasi left, demanding to know if she had messed anything up. But surprisingly, they had remained silent.
Ella now sat near the window of her room, where just a sliver of sunlight peeked in, savoring the calm before the storm.
The room was filled with the bittersweet aroma of the black tea Arianne had made for her.
Click.
As Ella gently sipped her tea and set the cup down—
Knock knock—
Hearing that heavy knock, Ella immediately thought,
So much for peace.
Since entering this body, the only one who had knocked on her door was Arianne. But Arianne was right next to her now.
Which meant—it had to be an unwelcome guest.
Sensing Ella’s discomfort, Arianne tiptoed to the door and opened it.
With a creak, the door revealed Lilia and a maid.
The maid, having knocked, respectfully stepped aside as Lilia entered.
You really made a maid knock just for that? Ella barely held back a scoff.
Seeing who it was, Ella rose slowly from her seat, and Arianne quietly left, saying she’d bring more tea.
“To think you’d come all the way here, Mother. I suppose the sun will rise in the west tomorrow.”
“Watch your mouth. You insolent girl.”
Standing before Lilia now, Ella ignored the mockery and asked coolly,
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to such a humble place?”
Without replying, Lilia handed her what appeared to be a letter.
Ella took it, puzzled, and opened it when she saw the seal of the Meyers family.
As she expected, the contents were brief.
It was a letter saying they were ready to receive her, and that a carriage would arrive tomorrow to take her to the Meyers estate in the capital.
The capital estate…?
The mention of the capital estate made Ella tilt her head in confusion.
It made sense—Ella’s family governed the eastern territory, while the Meyers governed the west.
Why the capital, then?
That’s when Diasi’s words came to mind.
Oh, right. He said he’d be in the capital for a while and asked me to come there.
Ella, who didn’t particularly enjoy carriage rides, figured that was a relief.
However, the thought of seeing Diasi again tightened her chest with unease.
“They’re sending a carriage from the Meyers estate tomorrow,” Lilia said flatly.
Ella raised her gaze from the letter.
“Yes, that’s what the letter says. Is that why you came all this way?”
Her slightly annoyed tone made Lilia’s brow furrow deeply.
“You’ve become quite arrogant.”
Even before, Lilia had noticed that the Ella who woke after five years was nothing like the girl she used to know. She had once trembled like a frightened mouse just from meeting her eyes.
They say near-death experiences change people.
“I never thought that applied to you as well.”
“…?”
With a strange look in her eyes, Lilia turned to the knights who had silently appeared behind her.
“Seize her,” she ordered arrogantly.
“What is this…?!”
Two knights firmly grabbed Ella by the arms and dragged her back into the room.
Lilia followed them in—her first time ever stepping foot into her daughter’s room. The moment she did, the door slammed shut with a loud bang.
