Chapter 4
I’m not the ordinary citizen Kim Yuna—I’m the Duchess of Stadion. The Duchess. Agatha. Agatha.
I repeated that to myself like a mantra.
“D-Duchess Stadion? I-I heard you were unwell…”
“I’ve recovered. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine now.”
At this point, shouldn’t I win Best Actress or something? My acting is incredible.
I totally looked like a duchess just now, didn’t I?
“Ah… congratulations. But why are you—”
“You were about to abandon that dog, weren’t you?”
The young noblewoman pressed her lips shut. At least she seemed to know it wasn’t the right thing to do.
“I’ll take it.”
I stepped toward the dog slowly—when suddenly the girl screamed.
“Aaaah!”
Then she ran away.
What the—crazy… ahem. Perhaps she was unwell.
I picked up the puppy. It curled up in my arms, small and trembling. I gently stroked its head.
Its eyes, looking up at me, were so gentle. It probably understood its situation.
Just because animals can’t speak doesn’t mean they don’t feel.
Leaning closer to its ear, I whispered softly.
A new beginning deserves a new name.
“Your name is Ttori. Ttori.”
You look smart. You’re scared now, but you’ll be fine soon. I’m here.
Nothing like that will ever happen to you again.
From now on, you’ll live happily—very, very happily—with me.
With its black eyes and snow-white fur, Ttori was charming. Maybe it was because it resembled Mary, but I felt even more drawn to it.
Emma, who had come up behind me, added quietly,
“My lady, are you alright? I’ve heard this kind of thing has been happening a lot lately… but how could anyone abandon such a cute little one…”
“This kind of thing happens often?”
Hmm. If I’ve got nothing better to do… maybe I should do something about it.
“Are you really going to do this?”
Emma asked, wide-eyed.
“Yeah. Isn’t it cool?”
For several days, I stayed in my room, turning my idea into a full plan.
“…It’s certainly unique. Very unique. Extremely unique.”
“You mean you’ve never seen anything like it, right?”
“No noble would ever think of something like this. It’s not considered productive. People might criticize you.”
Emma spoke carefully.
“So what?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m Agatha.”
Agatha—the arrogant, notorious, wealthy villainess with power and status.
So what exactly is there that I can’t do?
“That’s true. You’ve been so kind lately, I almost forgot. Lady Agatha is the duchess, after all!”
Emma giggled.
…Why does that feel like a subtle insult?
Well, whatever.
Agatha’s bad reputation would act as a shield for me anyway.
“Who did I usually call when I wanted to do something like this?”
There was someone who used to handle Agatha’s affairs. I couldn’t quite remember the name.
Feigning ignorance as per my amnesia act, I asked.
“Oh, you mean when you want to do something big? Like spend a large amount of money?”
I nodded.
“Then you would entrust it to your aide—Sir David.”
David?
Oh, I know him.
In the novel, he was the loyal subordinate of the Stadion family—the one who carried out all of Agatha’s schemes.
When I read it, I always wondered why he was so blindly devoted. Many readers thought the same—some even joked that Agatha must have cursed him.
Turns out… that “evil woman” is me.
“Then call David.”
“You’re really going through with this?”
Emma asked again, worried.
“Why else would I be putting in this much effort?”
“…Understood, my lady.”
The next day, David arrived at Stadion.
Scratch, scratch.
The only sound filling the office was David reviewing my business plan.
It felt like waiting for approval from a team leader. Even the way he blinked and moved his pen made me nervous.
Wait—why am I the one feeling pressured? It’s my money!
Even if I wanted to throw it into the sea, that’s my—
“This looks interesting.”
Ah, he’s got good judgment.
My mood flipped instantly at his positive reaction.
“It may face criticism at first, but in time it could improve Stadion’s image. Recently, ever since companion divine beasts lost their powers, abandonment has become common.”
Exactly. I had considered all of that.
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs.
“Now that divine beasts are turning into ordinary animals, they’re being abandoned or causing social issues. This could definitely become a meaningful business. It’s an excellent idea.”
Alright, alright—that’s enough praise.
“Ahem. So, the plan is…”
Excited, I explained everything from A to Z.
David listened attentively.
He had neatly trimmed hair and narrow eyes. When he smiled, he reminded me of a retriever—gentle and harmless, like he smelled faintly of milk.
Not the type to betray anyone.
Yet in the novel, he did all kinds of terrible things for Agatha.
Was it just misguided loyalty?
“I will, of course, support anything you do, my lady. Will you be focusing on this for the time being?”
“Yes. I think I have to, if I want to do it properly.”
“…Then what about His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“The Crown Prince? What about him?”
David’s eyes darkened slightly.
Like a bright sea turning into night.
“You had people assigned to watch him.”
…You did WHAT, Agatha?
That’s a crime!
I mentally screamed.
“That stops now. Absolutely no more of that.”
“…Why?”
“Because I’m not interested in the Crown Prince anymore. So you don’t need to be either.”
Instantly, David’s expression relaxed. He smiled brightly.
“Then… will you also get rid of the secret room?”
Secret room?
What is that? Am I raising a giant snake in there or something?
I glanced at Emma. She nodded.
…So I should get rid of it?
“Ahem. Yes. Of course. That too.”
David looked even happier—like a retriever hearing it’s getting another walk.
After discussing a few more details, he left.
Before going, he repeated several times:
“You’ve made the right decision, my lady. From now on, please do not even speak with the Crown Prince.”
Watching his expression, I realized something.
This wasn’t concern.
It was jealousy.
Agatha hadn’t cursed him.
Nor threatened him.
He simply—
liked her.
That made things a bit awkward.
The Agatha he loved… would never come back.
A couple of days later, I finally remembered the “secret room.”
I had been too excited about my plans to think about it, but David even sent a letter insisting it must be dealt with.
I set the letter down.
Everything you instructed will be handled smoothly. However, my lady, I strongly advise that the secret room be disposed of…
At this point, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
“So what exactly is this secret room?”
Emma flinched.
“W-Why are you asking about it…?”
Why is she reacting like that?
“I don’t even remember what it is, but David insists it must go.”
I waved the letter.
Emma’s expression turned serious. Then even more serious as she paced the room.
“In the romance novels I read, when the amnesiac heroine meets the male lead, she regains her memories…”
“So?”
Where is she going with this?
“What if you go into that room and regain your memories?”
“…What?”
“And then… what if you fall in love with the Crown Prince again?”
Her face looked like someone delivering shocking drama news.
