Chapter 37 …………………………………………………………
‘They even considered being affiliated with Berkshire an honor greater than belonging to the imperial family.’
If I tried to translate it into Earth terms…
Would it be like getting hired by the world’s number one company by market value?
‘No… maybe it’s different since this is a rigid class-based society…’
Just then, Ramiel spoke shyly.
“Miss, aren’t you more comfortable with us? It must have been difficult for the duke’s servants to cater to your tastes as well as we do.”
“…Ah. Speaking of preferences… at the duke’s estate, they asked me whether I wanted grape juice or apple juice.”
A sudden chill swept through the tulip garden.
“…Which juice did you drink, Miss?”
Ariana had only mentioned it casually, but Ramiel lowered her posture dramatically as she asked.
The maids all seemed to focus at once on Ariana’s lips.
“Well, you know… that juice… I mean…”
‘It was just a random choice, but they’re acting like it means something huge.’
Ariana hesitated over whether she should tell the truth, but when she saw their tense expressions, she couldn’t continue.
If they were genuinely happy to serve her, she didn’t want to ruin their enthusiasm.
“…I don’t remember.”
“Ah, Miss. Of course. That’s perfectly understandable.”
“Mmm… I’m tired.”
Ramiel seemed to pick up on Ariana’s desire to be alone, and naturally guided her toward the bedroom.
“You worked so hard today. Please rest.”
“If you need anything, just pull the bell cord, Miss.”
“Good night, everyone.”
It had already been nine months since she possessed this body.
You’d think she would be used to it by now, but the excessive care still felt unfamiliar.
She had learned to accept it calmly, but it still made her feel strangely ticklish inside.
‘Ah… so soft.’
Wrapped in warm blankets, Ariana stared into the air.
The blanket felt softer than marshmallows, and it made her feel oddly comforted.
‘My plan to attend Chloe’s tea party and run into Perez, even by accident, failed.’
Still, it wasn’t a complete loss.
Not intentionally, but she had met Duke Adrian at the tea party.
They even kissed each other on the cheek.
That was… pretty close, right?
But the most important person to Ariana was always Perez.
‘If I can’t win Perez over, everyone dies anyway.
After getting closer to Grandfather, and now even Father… I want even more sincerely to prevent Berkshire’s destruction.’
Maybe she had grown attached to the servants.
She didn’t want to see these people die either.
Of course, Schwaben was also important to Ariana.
To clear the possession quest, she not only had to struggle to seduce Perez, but also had to work toward inheriting Berkshire.
Still, unlike her grandfather, who seemed to cherish her, she hadn’t even had a proper meeting with Perez yet.
So naturally, her attention kept drifting toward the male lead.
‘My eldest brother, Cherdicas, was friends with Perez… should I cling to that setting?’
Come to think of it, she had made a pinky promise with Father at the duke’s estate.
She would approach her brothers first.
“…I should go see them tomorrow.”
She still hadn’t overcome the trauma of being bullied by her half-brothers at school.
But maybe… if she faced them directly, they might be kind to her, just like Adrian had been.
Her consciousness slowly blurred.
Before she knew it, Ariana was dreaming.
Or rather… it felt less like a dream and more like vividly reliving a memory from the past…
***
“…Senior?”
“Jiyeon. Long time no see.”
As dreams often go, Ariana—no, Jiyeon—couldn’t tell whether this was reality or not.
When she looked down, she was wearing a high school uniform she could never forget.
Second year of high school.
The worst time of her life.
She slowly lifted her head, stunned.
The wind blew fiercely.
Her two half-brothers weren’t much older than her.
The eldest had repeated a year due to illness.
The second brother had entered school early.
So both of them—one twenty years old, the other eighteen but actually the same age—were in their third year of high school, one grade above her.
“……”
The rooftop of Imperial High School, the country’s only aristocratic-style private school managed by the Empire Group.
It was a prestigious institution attended by the children of chaebol families and influential politicians.
Because of its countless privileges, public outrage often flared up demanding it be nationalized, claiming it worsened inequality.
But nothing ever changed.
The students here continued to reign like nobles.
No matter how much Jiyeon begged her mother to let her transfer, her mother only talked about how hard she had worked to get her admitted.
“…Do I really have to jump off here for you to stop? Is that what you want? My death?”
“Jiyeon. I’ve told you again and again. Our anger will never fade for the rest of our lives.”
The eldest drew a harsh line with his voice.
His gentle tone contrasted cruelly with the icy content.
The second brother stepped forward.
Jiyeon instinctively stepped back, keeping her distance.
They paused.
“What are you trying to do?”
A voice colder than falling snow.
Jiyeon was known for rarely crying, even while being bullied.
Maybe that only made it more entertaining for her tormentors, stirring their sadism further.
But keeping a composed face was Jiyeon’s last shred of pride.
Pretending she was fine.
Pretending it didn’t hurt.
Trying to endure their childish cruelty like an adult confronting immature teasing.
But no matter how calm she acted, the damage had continued to pile up.
And on the day she stood on that rooftop…
She could feel her eyes growing red.
It was winter.
Snow was falling heavily.
Even the teachers didn’t intervene, even though the violence was openly led by her brothers.
“…Is it because of money? That I’m treated like this?”
“What?”
Had tears already fallen down her cheeks?
In the bitter cold, the trails of tears felt burning hot.
Her brothers, meeting her emotionless gaze, seemed to frown slightly.
It was the first time she had ever seen them shaken.
“Why did Mom even give birth to me?
Did she think having me would earn her money?
She should’ve erased me the moment she conceived me.
If she was only going to curse me, saying I ruined her life…”
“Stop whining.”
Her emotions surged uncontrollably, and informal speech slipped into her words.
The eldest brother, born rich and handsome, was well-liked by others.
But God was fair in one way.
He gave them everything…
Except decency.
“So, seniors… think about it.
You were born with silver spoons in your mouths, in such a perfect environment.
You can’t even imagine a disgusting dirt-poor life like mine…”
Jiyeon spoke blankly.
How long did she have to remain miserable?
She was sick of even this misery itself.
