Chapter 78 …

“Interesting…”

There was something about her that was different from everyone else. The appearance that seemed to have lost its color, her calm way of speaking, and the kindness contained within it.

Reina helplessly fell for Laila. Meeting her felt like fate. She hoped Laila would like her too.

A desire that didn’t suit her station bloomed instantly.

“An angel…? On the contrary, it was the opposite. That’s why I was worried when you came, Miss Reina. I wondered if it might turn out like before.”

“You treated me well from the start, didn’t you?”

“Exactly. You must have really caught her heart, Miss Reina.”

Embarrassment colored Reina’s cheeks red. She lowered her eyes slightly, but couldn’t hide her joy.

“I hope we can get closer.”

She knew she would eventually be sold. Still, she wished they could become close enough to meet even if they were apart.

“Miss! The lady is calling you!”

The breathless maid cut off that hope. Reina instantly sensed something ominous. The emotions that had been floating on clouds plunged into the mud in an instant.

“…I’ll go now.”

Yet Reina moved as if nothing had happened. She took off her apron and followed the maid.

After taking a short, deep breath, she opened the door. Joy was no longer visible on her face. Only anxiety, fear, and resignation remained.

Even though the liveliness had vanished, it did nothing to hide Reina’s beauty. The baron and his wife still welcomed the stunning Reina with satisfaction.

“Come, sit here.”

Reina, her platinum hair tucked behind her ears, sat awkwardly. On the table was a letter—the likely reason she had been called.

Unlike the nervous Reina, Kena’s lips were stretched into a wide smile, her bright red lipstick accentuating it.

“So our eyes were right after all.”
“To have caught such a remarkable person… worth all the teaching!”

Gederick grabbed Reina’s hand, patting it in praise. The gesture made her stomach churn. Shrinking her shoulders, Reina lowered her gaze.

‘A remarkable person… that must be a high-ranking noble…’

Certainly, Reina was beautiful. But lacking rank and refinement, she was hardly a suitable bride for a top-tier noble.

Besides, Reina had always been a wallflower in social circles. There was no way someone of such noble standing would have formed a friendship with her.

‘We’ve never even talked.’

Some had shown interest, but she always avoided them. So who on earth would propose to someone like her?

“You’ve received a proposal. From a duke’s family, no less!”
“…A duke?”

Her eyes widened at the unimaginable. She had never even seen the face of the duke’s family.

Her expression stiffened. Gederick made no effort to hide his displeasure at her reaction.

“Even now, you’re like stone.”
“…I was too surprised.”
“It was a heartfelt confession. Didn’t you notice at least a little?”

Kena’s eyes sparkled as she pressed Reina. She had clearly misunderstood the situation as a serious romantic involvement.

To be proposed to by someone she had never seen, and even confessed to… the letter on the table now felt terrifying.

She had never built any special relationships. She wanted to delay being sold as long as possible.

‘There’s no way he would propose to me.’

But Reina had no right to refuse. She ended up gripping her dress, unable to act.

She didn’t even realize how the rest of the day went. When she came back to herself, she was walking down the corridor.

Her previously blurred focus sharpened. She stopped abruptly, recalling the past.

It had gone smoothly this time. She would meet the person soon, and even discuss how much dowry she would receive.

‘…Is it over just like that?’

Reina bit her lip tightly. She had expected this, but it was even more miserable than she imagined.

Perhaps she could never get used to the beginning. She was someone who had to leave before becoming accustomed.

‘I felt like it was okay for me to stay…’

Her life was a cycle of hope and disappointment. Yet even the hopes she had were pathetic. Why was she always so pitiful? Reina kept blaming herself.

She was drawn into the familiar swamp of contempt. In that moment, she hated herself even more.

A shadow quietly fell over her, offering some solace. It appeared silently, taking the shape of a person.

‘…I can’t be found out.’

Reina hurriedly smoothed her tense expression. She couldn’t show weakness. But before she could even lift her head, her wrist was caught. Unlike Gederick, this hand was gentle.

“Follow me.”

Reina stared blankly at the wrist holding hers. The voice, though soft, was kind. Her large, rabbit-like eyes blinked. Laila led Reina into an empty room.

“Uh… um…”

For some reason, Laila said nothing. Even when she finally opened her mouth, she seemed unsure how to act.

Ominous thoughts clouded Reina’s mind. She fidgeted, only bothering her own hands in anxiety.

“The proposal came?”
“Yes…”
“Do you want to accept it?”

Laila glanced briefly, indifferent. That allowed Reina to be honest. No matter her answer, Laila wouldn’t blame her.

“I don’t… want to.”
“The baron will want it. You’ll meet soon enough.”

It was exactly as Laila had said. The baron and his wife went shopping for dresses and jewels, determined to appear more beautiful than anyone else.

“B-but they say they’ll give plenty of money. As much as I want…”
“If you’re going to say that, just shut up.”

Laila cut Reina off sharply.

‘…She’s not happy.’

Instead, Laila looked displeased. Reina felt some relief from the cold gaze.

She had been uneasy all along. Perhaps Laila didn’t want her to disappear.

It was a brief encounter, and not a pleasant one. She only got in Laila’s way, so there was no reason to welcome her. Reina, who had fallen for her at first sight, found it strange.

Yet Laila showed anger on her behalf, preventing Reina from resigning herself.

“Why do you treat me well?”
“Me?”
“I’m just a tool. You need me to exchange for money, that’s all.”

Reina didn’t even know where or when she was born. She had been alone since the moment she opened her eyes.

Though exceptionally beautiful, it was a curse in her life. She had faced countless threats since childhood. Whenever she closed her eyes, she feared someone would take her away.

Her life had never been happy, yet she had survived because she wanted to live, because she felt she had to.

Even knowing she would be sold, she endured. The future held only despair, but Reina shut her eyes. Ignoring it, she could survive. That was her daily life, which made Laila special.

“…If I act like this, it’s misleading.”

Laila brought constant change to her. She made Reina believe there might be even a slightly better future. Despite knowing it was a pitiful hope, Reina allowed herself to embrace it again.

Reina reminded her of young Helion. A child familiar with resignation, who accepted a hopeless life as normal.

‘There’s no need to resemble that.’

Couldn’t even one person grow up normally? Reina didn’t cry. Though she wandered and blinked, there were no tears.

Her dry gaze, as if she had never cried, was striking. She knew the reason well. In moments where crying solved nothing, one simply stopped crying.

‘We’ve barely met.’

Like Helion, Reina was wary. She wasn’t naïve enough to follow blindly. Yet she easily showed goodwill. She immediately knew Laila liked her.

‘She could kill me and it would be fine.’

She was merely a subject under watch, a potential obstacle to Helion. Yet Reina innocently trusted her.

“You’re foolish too.”
“…Laila made me this way.”

She muttered, seemingly aggrieved.

‘I was going to solve this anyway…’

Perhaps I could help more decisively. There’s nothing wrong with building rapport with Lady Reina.

Leaning against the door, she sorted her thoughts. She hadn’t expected the proposal to arrive so soon. Forgetting the original story, by the situation, perhaps it was just the beginning. The system would interfere more severely later…

“I’ll go.”

Whatever happens, it doesn’t matter.

No interference could kill her. As long as she survived, she had won.

‘If it keeps going like this, maybe I don’t need to worry.’

There were many questions she wanted to ask…

“Laila, that’s your place, right?”
“You’re meeting her alone?”
“Well, yes, but…”

Reina’s round eyes trailed off at the end. The worry in her expression was obvious.

Such behavior isn’t typical of a villainess.

The system likely thought the same, though it probably only wished to believe it.

‘Why is this not villainous behavior?’

Perhaps, jealous of Reina marrying someone high-ranking, the villainess went instead.

Not typical villainess behavior.
‘Don’t judge on your own.’