Chapter 12
The sunlight streaming through the window gently greeted Ella. She slowly lifted her eyelids at that not-so-welcome greeting.
From outside the bedroom, in the sitting room, she could hear Arianne busily cleaning.
‘…The sitting room?’
As soon as she thought of the sitting room, the fog in Ella’s mind cleared instantly.
‘Yesterday, I definitely left Diashi like that and came back to my bedroom, right?’
Without thinking any further, she got out of bed, slipped on the slippers under it, and quickly opened the bedroom door.
Click.
Hearing the door open, Arianne turned her head toward it.
“You’re awake, my lady? Ah—right, I should call you madam now, shouldn’t I? Shall I prepare breakfast for you? Or would you like to wash up first?”
Arianne spoke with a shy little smile.
“Huh? Oh, um… washing up first, please.”
Ella answered absentmindedly, her eyes darting around to check the sitting room.
The table where she and Diashi had shared that awkward drinking session last night was spotless, as if nothing had happened. Of course, Diashi was nowhere to be seen.
‘When did he leave?’
Glancing at the sofa where Diashi had sat, Ella suddenly wondered if she had been too rude yesterday.
Even if she had no intention of keeping good relations with him, wasn’t it still wrong to treat her future husband like that during his first visit to his wife’s room—and just leave him there?
Her thoughts were interrupted when Arianne came in carrying a basin of water.
“Madam, here’s the wash water.”
“Oh, thanks.”
Ella washed her face on the sofa and dried it off with the towel Arianne handed her.
Admiring her mistress’s fresh and delicate beauty, Arianne suddenly spoke.
“I heard the duke came by yesterday?”
“How did you know?”
“How could I not know? The whole mansion is buzzing about it—about how, even though he’s so busy, the duke personally came here to greet his bride, showing his pure devotion!”
“…I see.”
“That’s not all! The duke left for his territory before dawn. If he still came all the way here just to see you, then he must really like you!”
Watching Arianne’s excited expression, Ella gave a faint smirk.
‘Your trip paid off, Diashi.’
Just as he wanted, the image of a loving husband who adored his wife had been perfectly created overnight.
But still—
“You said he left before dawn?”
Though the question lacked a subject, Arianne understood immediately and looked puzzled.
“Yes. Didn’t you know? He stayed in your room right until he left…”
“…Ah, right. I must not be fully awake yet.”
Realizing her slip, Ella covered it up quickly.
‘So he stayed in my room until he left the mansion—even after I went to bed.’
It seemed that Diashi hadn’t cared about her absence and had lingered there alone for quite some time.
That seemingly trivial fact unsettled her. Surely it meant nothing to him—just another move to polish his image.
But the fact that she’d been used as a prop to boost his reputation annoyed her.
She hated being powerless—trapped in an unfamiliar body, still being used by him.
‘I need to figure something out soon. If things keep going like this, nothing will work out.’
Noticing Ella’s darkening mood, Arianne changed the subject.
“What would you like for breakfast? Please tell me anything! I’m so happy that here, your preferences come first!”
At the Mayer household, Ella’s needs had been ignored.
Even when she had requested thin soup out of concern for her health after waking up for the first time in five years, the cook had served her tough bread. If she asked for dessert, she would get a few leftover cookies.
Poor young lady. Arianne, who had always looked after Ella’s meals, had hated that she couldn’t complain.
But this morning, the head chef had called Arianne in to ask about Ella’s food preferences first.
Overjoyed at the thought of finally serving her mistress healthy, delicious food, Arianne had come to ask what she’d like.
But contrary to her bright expectation, Ella shook her head.
“I’m not hungry right now. I’ll tell you if I feel like eating later.”
“…Alright.”
Arianne looked disappointed, but Ella truly had no appetite. Her stomach felt heavy—it was a wonder she had even slept in that state.
She decided a walk in the sunlight might help and got up from the sofa.
“The weather’s lovely.”
“It is.”
“Want to come outside with me?”
Arianne’s expression lit up.
This was something she could never have imagined at the Mayer house—taking a daytime walk in the garden with Ella.
The biting winter wind outside didn’t matter. Arianne felt her eyes grow warm and answered brightly.
“I’d love to!”
During the short walk to the garden, Ella experienced several unfamiliar things.
For example, every servant she passed bowed to her immediately. Younger maids blushed and whispered to each other.
She couldn’t hear every word, but most of it seemed to carry the same meaning:
“I heard the duke is totally smitten with the madam.”
After hearing the same ridiculous rumor repeatedly, Ella didn’t even have the energy to scoff anymore.
So she ignored it all and quietly made her way to the garden.
The sunlight was warm and refreshing.
The cold winter wind slapped against her skin, but it felt invigorating.
‘Finally, I can breathe a little.’
Ever since she’d been bound by the restraint, she’d felt her energy drain even when doing nothing.
Her stomach had been heavy even without eating; her head would spin even without thinking.
‘I need to find a way to break the restraint.’
The hand she had pressed against it in anger last night still ached.
Even if she couldn’t touch it directly, there had to be some way.
Even if she didn’t plan to use magic, trying to take revenge in this state was impossible.
Her condition was clearly getting worse as time went on.
If she wanted to finish her revenge, she absolutely had to remove it.
She was deep in thought when—
“—and then that happened—oh!”
A young maid, chatting with another her age, accidentally bumped into her.
The trowel in the maid’s hand, still dirty with soil, fell onto the hem of Ella’s dress.
Seeing the dirt stain her dress, both maids bowed hastily.
“Oh! Madam! We’re so sorry!”
“We apologize…!”
“…”
Ella said nothing, not because she was angry, but because she wasn’t.
But her silence only frightened them more. The young maids, on the verge of tears, dropped to their knees.
“We’re truly sorry, madam! We’ll accept any punishment!”
“For something this small? That’s enough—stand up. Sitting on the cold ground for too long will be bad for you.”
“…Huh?”
Ella brushed the dirt off her hem, then bent slightly toward them and held out her pale hands.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about the dress.”
The maids, bewildered, took her hands and got to their feet.
“But still…”
“I said it’s fine. More importantly, where were you going?”
Ella gently patted one maid’s head.
The girl forgot to answer, simply staring up at her in a daze.
‘Is she… an angel?’
It was a silly thought, but in that moment, that’s exactly how she looked—golden hair that sparkled like sunlight, large clear eyes, snow-white skin contrasting with rose-red lips, and a kind heart to match.
If that wasn’t an angel, what was?
“Hey… answer her.”
“Oh?!”
If her friend hadn’t nudged her, the maid might have continued staring in silence.
Blushing furiously, she stammered, “S-sorry for the delay, madam! We were on our way to plant flowers.”
“Flowers? In winter?”
“Yes! There are kinds that bloom even in winter! Like this!”
The young maid showed her a bundle of seedlings.
“I see. If you don’t mind, could I join you in planting them?”
“Madam?!”
The two maids widened their eyes in shock. Even Arianne looked startled.
The Myers family was new, but still one of the few ducal families in the empire—on par with the top Mayer family.
For the future duchess of Myers and the daughter of Mayer to do such manual work—it was shocking.
When they didn’t answer, Ella quickly backtracked.
“Oh, I suppose it might make you uncomfortable if I came along. Forget it, I was just saying.”
But hearing the faint regret in her tone, the maids exchanged a look and shook their heads.
“Not at all! It would be an honor!”
Their innocent sincerity made Ella laugh softly.
And in that moment, both maids thought the same thing—
Our madam must be an angel.
