I stood a step behind the Duke, lost in recalling the events of the original story, and didn’t even realize that everyone’s eyes were on me.
“!”
Only when Ricardo turned to look at me with a cold gaze did I finally become aware of the gazes directed at me. Even the Emperor was looking at me with curiosity.
The Empress spoke with a smile at her lips.
“Stella, you must be nervous. It’s only natural, since it’s your first time meeting His Majesty.”
The Empress sided with me and addressed the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, this is the girl I mentioned before. The one to become the second prince’s wife.”
As soon as she finished speaking, I quickly stepped forward and bowed with proper etiquette.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. My name is Stella Enrio.”
By some chance, I ended up standing next to Ricardo, and it must’ve looked as though we were already husband and wife.
The Emperor slowly stroked his beard and spoke.
“I heard you’re a distant relative of the Empress. Since you’ll be part of the family now, feel free to treat the palace as your home and visit often. Ricardo hardly shows his face to his own father, always busy with something or other.”
His words caused the atmosphere to turn slightly awkward. Ricardo’s expression subtly stiffened, and even the Empress’s smile seemed a bit strained.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. I will make time to visit more often.”
As I responded to the Emperor and raised my head, I happened to meet the eyes of a young woman standing ahead.
‘That woman…’
She looked to be around my age, but she gazed down at me with a haughty expression, as if she were some kind of queen.
Black hair, pale skin. A slim, elegant appearance that exuded strength on par with the Empress herself.
‘Pania?’
A name suddenly flashed in my mind. How could I not recognize her? In the original novel, she was the one who looked down on Kayla and treated her like a servant—an infuriating character.
Pania Zenkis, wife of the Third Prince Elaine, came from the powerful Count Tragi family, which held significant influence in the empire.
If we were ranking pure wickedness, she might even outclass the Empress. She was a master of pretending to care while skillfully crushing others beneath her heel.
Just like the Empress, Pania considered Ricardo’s marriage the greatest obstacle to her and her husband’s future. That’s why she was already looking at me with those sharp, scornful eyes.
But I already knew the kinds of tricks she would play from the original story, so she didn’t scare me much. When I met her cutting gaze with a smile, she frowned in disbelief, as if she hadn’t expected that reaction.
“Ricardo. You’re aware that people with impure motives are watching your marriage closely, hoping to use the imperial family to gain power. To prevent such unrest, we found you a proper bride. Try to understand your mother’s deep intentions.”
The Emperor’s words might have sounded thoughtful, but in truth, he was mocking both Ricardo and me.
When I glanced at Ricardo, I thought I saw the corner of his stiff lips twitch faintly.
‘Can’t blame him.’
While the other princes were matched with daughters of the most prestigious families in the empire, he got stuck with an illegitimate daughter from a lowborn family—practically a maid.
“I thank Her Majesty the Empress.”
I bowed in gratitude to the Empress, but somehow, I thought I heard a faint grinding of teeth from Ricardo’s direction. To me, it sounded like he was silently declaring war on the Empress.
After our brief meeting with the imperial family ended, we exited the palace and found a crowd murmuring at the foot of the grand central staircase.
Nobles who hadn’t been allowed inside the hall cleared a path for Ricardo and me.
“The Duke doesn’t look too pleased.”
“Is that the young lady the Empress brought in?”
“Shh. They’ll hear you.”
They whispered as if they wanted us to hear, but when Ricardo passed by, they all shrank back. It was a ridiculous sight.
And then, amidst the crowd, I heard the faint sound of someone sniffling.
‘?’
Wondering if I’d misheard, I turned my head.
It wasn’t a mistake. Toward the back, I saw a young noblewoman dabbing at her reddened eyes with a handkerchief. Her maid standing beside her was glaring at me with resentment.
‘Huh? Why…’
The sorrowful look in the young lady’s eyes was directed at Ricardo.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who heard the crying. Ricardo, who was walking in front of me, glanced at her momentarily—then quickly descended the steps.
Her wistful gaze shifted to me next.
Eyes glistening with tears, an air as delicate and pure as a lily in bloom, and golden hair flowing down her shoulders like sunlight.
I instinctively knew—this was Yerena Guiney.
She was even more beautiful than the imagined version I’d seen in my dreams.
She was clearly devastated by the realization that she wasn’t going to marry Ricardo. And now that his fiancée had appeared, it was no wonder she looked heartbroken.
Even though I’d been forced into this situation—possessing Stella’s body and ending up engaged to Ricardo—I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her.
‘Ah… I really hate this situation.’
Silently, I spoke to her in my heart.
Don’t be too sad. After all, Ricardo Zenkis is fated to end up with you in the end. I’m just a fake bride. When the time comes, I’ll quietly step aside.
A few days later, the Duke’s wedding was held in a chapel in the capital.
Since I had possessed Kayla before the original story began, it felt like I had already gone through so much. And yet, the real story was only just beginning.
As the maids busied themselves around me, I thought about what would happen after the wedding.
‘I should go over the original story again before the memories fade.’
Being well-prepared for what’s to come was my greatest weapon.
‘What happened right after the wedding again?’
Trying to recall what came next in Ricardo and Kayla’s marriage, I naturally remembered their wedding night.
After a modest ceremony, they returned to the duke’s mansion—and that was it. The estate felt far too quiet for a wedding day. No, it was practically bleak, and Kayla had felt depressed because of it.
Ricardo had disappeared as soon as the ceremony ended and didn’t visit her on their wedding night. When Kayla cried alone and begged to be sent home, it was Stella who comforted her.
‘The wedding night…’
Of course, there was no reason for him to come to me tonight either. Still, the words “wedding night” made my heart flutter in a strange way.
“All done.”
Just then, while I was deep in thought, the maids surrounding me suddenly stepped back in unison.
‘Huh?’
Feeling the sudden emptiness around me, I lifted my head—and saw my reflection in the mirror.
The maids behind me exchanged satisfied glances, nodding proudly as if they had done their best work.
“I think we’ve done a good job. Do you like it?”
It was more than just “like.” The person in the mirror looked like someone completely different. Dressed in a voluminous gown with her hair beautifully adorned, she looked nothing like the old me.
“This… is me?”
It felt like the wedding dress had some kind of magic.
I was speechless for a while. Strictly speaking, it was Stella’s hidden beauty that had finally come to light.
Her usually neatly braided red hair now flowed gracefully down her back under a golden hairpiece, and the ruby necklace and earrings sparkled brilliantly against her fair skin.
The figure that had always been hidden under a dull maid’s uniform now looked so lovely and elegant in a wedding dress.
I’d thought Stella’s beauty was exceptional ever since I possessed her—but I hadn’t expected such a transformation.
I must have stared at myself too hard, because one of the maids covered her mouth and giggled. I suppose they found it funny that the bride had fallen in love with her own reflection.
They all began stifling their laughter, and I couldn’t help but laugh along. The moment they saw me smile, they laughed too, as if it were contagious.
It was supposed to be a solemn bridal chamber, but anyone who saw us would think we’d all gone mad.
I’d been foolish to be disappointed about possessing a maid. There was a reason I ended up in Stella’s body.
No matter the ending, I was starting to feel like the real heroine of this world wasn’t Yerena—but me.
Among all the people in the room, only Molly seemed disgruntled.
“If Madam were here, she’d scold the bride for being frivolous.”
She rolled her eyes and tried to spoil the mood, making the other maids quickly wipe the smiles off their faces.
At that moment, a servant rushed in from outside.
“It’s time. You must enter the ceremony hall now.”
