CHAPTER 02…………………………………….
“You.”
The Duke stammered, as if he hadn’t expected a positive response.
“Anything you want—anything at all.”
Even though he wouldn’t really grant it.
The smell of the old cabin I had lived in for the past three years tickled my nose—the damp scent of wood, and the olive-green eyes of Alicia staring at me, brimming with tears.
“Irina, when you return to the ducal mansion, you must always put yourself first.”
“Don’t let yourself be hurt. Live thinking only of yourself. And…”
Alicia, glancing at Lian who stood behind me, spoke again:
“Don’t trust anyone in the Rize household.”
If anyone distrusted the Rize family more than I did, it was Alicia.
I recalled how Alicia had refused to speak about my father’s death to the very end.
No matter how much the Duke had summoned me back, he would not publicly recognize me as his daughter.
Even if I lived as April, or as her stand-in, the name “Irina” was never meant to see the light of day.
In the Rize household study, where it was so silent it felt as if time had stopped, someone exhaled sharply, as if surfacing after being underwater for a long time.
“Then let’s take our time considering the terms. It’s not a long period anyway.”
“……”
“Just one year, after all.”
“Are you really… sure about this?”
I couldn’t discern the purpose behind the question. Anyone thinking even a little would know it wasn’t fine at all—but perhaps he just wanted to hear the words “It’s fine.”
I cast my gaze slightly downward, then looked at Duke Alexis.
I gave a faint smile at my gaunt reflection.
“Please prepare yourself to grant my request.”
It was as I expected, and the reason I had come here was clear, so I accepted the offer.
Had they known my thoughts, they wouldn’t have dared make such a cruel proposal.
“As I said before, I can grant anything you want.”
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
I lightly arched my eyes in satisfaction.
The reason I had been summoned back was likely because something had happened to April. But my reason for coming wasn’t simply because they had cast me out.
It was revenge for the Rize household never keeping their promise to my father.
“But if I’m here, won’t Miss April be displeased?”
“……”
“She claims that I pushed her down the stairs.”
It would be unreasonable for the victim and the perpetrator of that incident to live under the same roof.
That was why I had been driven from the mansion in the first place—because the fake young lady had wanted to become the real one and had tried to harm her.
Hence, as punishment, I had been confined to a separate building where no one visited.
“April is currently staying at the villa.”
Duke Alexis answered calmly.
“For the year, she will remain at the villa, so you won’t cross paths.”
“She’s at the villa?”
It wasn’t strange at all that April would stay there.
What I was curious about was why she would be there for a full year.
“Did something happen to her—or to Miss April?”
The phrasing made it seem less like a simple vacation and more like she was being sent away to reflect or hide.
Seeing that no answer came immediately, it seemed he had no intention of telling me.
Rather than wait, I decided to change the question.
“Then, could you answer this?”
“……”
“Why do you suddenly need a stand-in for Miss April?”
Duke Alexis moved his lips but bit his lower lip again.
It seemed he still had no intention of answering.
The need for a stand-in was likely related to April staying at the villa for a year.
I briefly wondered whether he simply didn’t want to answer—or couldn’t.
“…Because of Miss April’s engagement to His Highness Perfone.”
After a long hesitation, Duke Alexis spoke calmly.
“That’s why I am asking this of you.”
Of course—everyone in the mansion knew that April had fallen for Crown Prince Perfone at first sight and desperately wanted a connection.
I nodded lightly in understanding. Even though she would be at the villa for a year, it seemed he genuinely cared about her.
Well, April’s affairs weren’t important to me right now.
As I glanced at Lian, who neither confirmed nor denied anything, the Duke continued quietly:
“For this year, everyone in the household, including myself, will treat you as a proper noblewoman.”
Their promise to treat me well wasn’t for my benefit—it was for theirs.
If anyone discovered a stand-in existed, it would cause them trouble. But the promise to grant me anything I want wasn’t a bad deal for me either.
“Irina, thank you… and I’m sorry.”
It was almost comical to be called Irina in this situation.
I had lived as April for six years, had been stolen from my father’s hands, and yet they hadn’t called me by my real name until now, after finding the real April.
Even refusing to easily send me to my rightful home was because I was needed for April to integrate into noble society.
These were the people who had ignored my pleas to be called by my original name—yet now they called me Irina.
Acknowledging me as someone else again, I bowed slightly and quietly left the study.
“I will show you to your room.”
Patrick, the head butler, who had been guarding the study, walked quickly ahead of me.
The hall was extravagantly decorated, but the study floor, where Duke Alexis spent most of his time, reflected his nature: neat, classic, and orderly.
The hall reflected April’s taste.
I hadn’t imagined her having such a flamboyant style. Narrowing my eyes, I recalled the times spent with her.
Though a bit of an unreasonable comparison, when she first arrived at the mansion, we had lived like sisters—closely together.
Our clothes were similar, even identical at times, and we shared manners lessons and tea times.
Other than meeting friends or sleeping, we shared nearly all our time together.
I thought we had gotten along fairly well.
Even after they found the real daughter, I had vaguely hoped I might remain with April as a sister in the family.
Things began to change once April became the perfect noble lady.
“Irina!”
Lian’s voice calling from behind snapped me out of my thoughts.
Startled, I turned to see Lian Hill Rize running toward me, his face urgent.
Even in his usual calm, he never ran—so seeing him like this was strange and refreshing.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t expect it to come to this.”
I quietly asked, noticing his lower lip pressed as if it would bleed.
“What did you not expect?”
“I thought Father would bring you back as his daughter…”
I let out a small smile at Lian, who, as the eldest son of the Rize household, had such an innocent expectation.
It was laughable how he judged things for his own benefit.
Even with a little rational thought, he would have known the Duke wouldn’t act that way.
The sunlight streamed strongly through the large windows of the corridor.
When I had left the mansion, it had been a rainy winter; now, returning, it was a cloudless summer day.
It felt as though the weather reflected the situation.
Of course, returning to the mansion did not feel as refreshing as the summer day itself.
“If you are treated as a noblewoman for a year, it might improve your mood.”
“……”
“And Father will provide compensation fitting for you. That would be good, wouldn’t it?”
It was amusing how naïve he was—who could be happy being treated well by a family that had once abandoned them?
“I do not expect much from the Rize household.”
They were not the kind to regret abandoning me, and even if they did, nothing would change.
“Just…”
I exhaled in disdain and lightly massaged my shoulders.
The long carriage ride had left me exhausted.
Even though it was a luxurious carriage, I had nearly suffocated from being trapped with Lian.
“While I am here, I would appreciate it if you could keep Prince Barak in check.”
I already knew how he would have acted like a barking mad dog the moment he saw me.
“I’d be grateful.”
I walked down the long corridor, leaving Lian behind. Glancing back, I shook my head slightly at his statue-like stance, as if nailed to the spot.
