Chapter 122
Riena had long known she resembled the Duchess of Cassius.
But she hadn’t realized she would look this much alike.
She felt deeply wronged. Perhaps, in another circumstance, she might have become the young lady of the Cassius family herself.
She resented her younger self for hiding in fear of the Duke during childhood.
Others, too, seemed unfair. Shouldn’t someone have found her and forcibly brought her out?
Riena even felt a little bitterness toward Idel, but she shook her head firmly.
Idel was the only one who had ever embraced her. She had to repay that kindness.
Yet Riena was not the only one who thought she bore a striking resemblance to the Duchess of Cassius.
Even the three men of the Cassius family, while not openly favoring her, treated her gently.
Some of the household staff, noticing this, whispered among themselves.
“Didn’t she get in thanks to Miss Idel’s recommendation?”
Before entering the academy dormitory, Idel had lived in the Cassius estate, so they referred to her as “Miss.”
“Lucky, too. Usually, they only hire experienced staff here.”
“Yeah, and they only give you easy tasks.”
“Eh, the real luck is that she has the face of the late lady.”
“Don’t even mention it. She’s so elegant, probably thinks she’s a noble lady just because she resembles the mistress.”
“But she really does look like her. When I first saw her, I thought she was the hidden daughter of the Duke.”
Riena, familiar with gossip aimed at her, ignored it.
Instead, something else caught her attention.
‘Me, the Duke’s own daughter?’
Impossible. She had never heard such a claim, and if a family like the Cassius had lost a daughter, the empire would have been in upheaval.
Yet strangely, the thought lingered in her mind.
One day, as Riena grew accustomed to life in the Cassius household, she accompanied the Duke and his two sons on an outing in the park.
“Long time no see, Riena! Is work tiring?”
Idel was there, too. Riena’s task was to assist and serve Idel personally.
Though Idel told her to relax, Riena silently peeled apples for her, enduring the humiliation.
Idel was the one being served; she was the one serving.
As children, they had been equals, playing and laughing together—but now, the difference in status was painfully clear.
While Riena confronted this reality, cheerful conversation continued on the picnic blanket.
“Idel, how’s work lately?”
The Duke asked with a kind smile.
“Oh, it’s mostly the same. There are hard days, but it’s still enjoyable.”
After graduating from the academy, Idel had worked at a small merchant guild.
Iber? Or something like that—it had nearly gone bankrupt due to poor management, but the members pulled together and revived it.
Despite unpaid wages, the employees stayed, showing deep trust in their guild master, Idel explained.
She had also politely declined the Duke’s offer to work at Cassius.
“And I wanted to live on my own. I felt too guilty just taking help.”
Riena couldn’t fully understand this mindset, but somehow, it felt very much like Idel.
“By the way, what’s that guy up to these days?”
The conversation shifted from Idel’s work to memories from the academy, and the young Count Rehaim spoke.
“That idiot who always acted smart…”
“Ah, Elliot?”
Idel repeated a name she hadn’t heard before.
“Yes, that guy! Got expelled for calling a professor an idiot.”
“He said he withdrew on his own.”
“That’s not the point.”
Rehaim chuckled, taking a bite of his sandwich.
“I wonder how he’s living now. Because of that awful personality, no one would accept him. I heard he went somewhere remote.”
“If it’s Elliot, he seems to be doing fine in Miloam. At first, his letters were full of complaints, but lately, he seems to have adapted somewhat.”
“Really? Amazing. By the way, I find you curious, too. How can you stay friends with him?”
“…I wouldn’t call us close friends. At the academy, we only sat next to each other a few times.”
“Then why does he keep writing letters to you?”
“Hmm, he’s surprisingly talkative. But he has no friends besides me, I guess.”
“…Sometimes you’re pretty relentless yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
At that moment, Riandro joined the conversation.
“Rehaim, the reason you care about Elliot Rude is because you got destroyed in debate class, right?”
“Ah, brother! Don’t even bring that up!”
“They say the incident where a commoner scholarship student verbally beat the young Count of Cassius is still legendary at the academy.”
“How could I beat a genius like him?!”
“Honestly, very few students at the academy are worse at debate than you. Everyone else just didn’t bother trying to beat our family.”
“Brother!”
The Duke of Cassius shook his head.
“Who could she resemble? Not me, not Cheryl either.”
“Even Father?” Rehaim huffed.
Yet the other three were laughing heartily, enjoying the moment.
To Riena, it felt like a world apart, even though she was nearby.
‘…I wish I had a family like that.’
Time passed, and the picnic was coming to an end.
“Huh, where did Father and Idel go? I don’t see them.”
“I’ll go look.”
Not wanting to tidy up herself, Riena hurried to find them.
By the lakeside, a short distance away, she spotted them. But then…
“Idel, will you marry me?”
Hearing Riandro’s question carried by the breeze, Riena froze behind a nearby tree, eavesdropping.
“Marry me? What a sudden, strange question.”
Idel, receiving a proposal from Riandro Cassius—the empire’s most eligible bachelor—responded casually.
“Haha, yes. It is a strange question. But I mean it sincerely.”
Riandro, sitting on the grass, spoke seriously to Idel.
“Will you marry me?”
Idel’s answer was simple.
“No.”
“…That’s harsh. Think about it a little.”
“No thanks. You don’t actually like me.”
“I do.”
“Love, I mean. I can tell the difference after all these years we’ve known each other.”
“….”
“Riandro, don’t confuse closeness with love.”
Riandro fell silent, then sighed in defeat.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess I’ve been a little impatient lately.”
“Because of marriage?”
“Yes. As heir, I’ll eventually have to marry. Ideally, I’d like to marry someone I love like Father did… but…”
The young Marquis of Cassius was famous for having no romantic experiences, nor any close noble ladies around him.
“So that’s why you asked me?”
“No. Many couples live together without love. If I could do the same, you’d be the only one.”
“I will marry someone I love, who loves me in return. I haven’t met them yet.”
“I envy you. I’m not sure I’ll ever meet someone like that.”
“Who knows? Even someone like the Duke, uninterested in love, might meet his destined woman one day.”
“I hope so.”
Then, suddenly, Idel exclaimed, “Oh?”
“Your hand—did you hurt it? There’s blood.”
“Oh, this? I nicked it earlier with a kitchen knife while cutting something.”
“You shouldn’t do things you’re not used to.”
“I didn’t want to ask the servants for every little thing. I thought I’d be fine since I can handle a sword.”
“A knife and a sword aren’t the same! Don’t let it touch anything dirty—here, wrap it with my handkerchief. There, clean now.”
“I’m fine.”
“Not fine at all.”
“…Thanks, Idel. You’re a really good friend.”
“Just realizing that now?”
Against the red-stained lake at sunset, the two smiled at each other.
To Riena, they looked like a perfect pair.
That day, the Duke gave Riena some time off, telling her to spend it with her friend.
Returning to Idel’s house after a long time, Riena confronted her indignantly.
“Why did you reject the young Marquis’s proposal?!”
“Oh, you heard that?”
“It was a great chance to become part of the Cassius family, without betraying your mother—a wonderful opportunity.”
“I don’t love Riandro.”
“You’re too idealistic. Everyone else is desperate to be noticed by the young Marquis or Rehaim.”
“Stop, Riena. Who I marry is my business. I don’t understand why you’re so worked up.”
“That’s…”
Riena swallowed her words. She was someone who longed for something she couldn’t have, yet Idel had twice rejected it willingly.
Moreover, setting aside Riena’s own envy, Idel and Riandro’s relationship was perfect.
They respected and trusted each other, and even shared similar interests.
Riena genuinely believed that marrying Riandro would make Idel happy.
A few months later, Idel said she had someone she was seeing and promised to introduce Riena.
She seemed mindful of the conversation she’d had with Riena that day.
On the day Riena was to meet Idel’s lover, she felt uneasy, thinking her friend might be heading down the wrong path.
Then, she met Riandro gazing up at the enormous portrait of the late Duchess of Cassius.
“Miss Riena.”
“Please, speak comfortably, young Marquis.”
“I know it’s not easy. You are Idel’s friend, and you also resemble my mother.”
Hearing the topic she had long kept in mind, Riena’s heart began to race.
Riandro’s kindness gave her courage.
“I’ve heard rumors among the servants…”
So she asked:
“Could it be that I’m the young Marquis’s lost sister?”
Hearing this, Riandro stared at her blankly, then immediately contorted his face.
