Chapter 3
Ellen was afraid to sleep because of the nightmares that came every night. That day, she only managed to fall asleep at dawn.
The next morning, she woke up in a strange room.
But it wasn’t her body—it was Anais’s body.
The first thing she remembered was Anais’s words about switching bodies.
Had Anais cursed her? Did such things even exist? What did the terrifying dream mean?
“First, I need to find Anais. She must know what’s going on.”
But how could she find her now? She couldn’t even move…
While Ellen was lost in thought, the wedding had already taken place, and that was why she was here.
Soon after, a maid who had returned from seeing off the steward helped Ellen put a scarf around her neck. This brought Ellen back to the present.
“You should cover yourself.”
“Mm, yes, do that.”
“Did you really spend your first night in that body?”
The maid, Dorothy, looked her over with disapproval.
Ellen had expected it to some degree from reading the newspaper. Because Anais had married the great Duke Debesser, she had become a public target.
‘Duke Debesser is lucky. He even has a loyal maid like this.’
Ellen smiled faintly.
“Tell me the details?”
“Oh, no… it’s nothing like that.”
Dorothy pouted a little. Ellen considered scolding the cheeky maid but decided to ignore her since Anais’s body wouldn’t be hers for long.
‘I’m neither Anais nor the Duchess.’
She nodded toward the wine on the table, her eyes drawn to it.
“Bring me that wine.”
“You want to drink wine?”
She responded calmly to Dorothy, who stomped her foot in protest.
“I’m feeling restless. Could you read the Bible for me? Or just turn the pages—I like reading and could spend all day doing it.”
Being a noble had its perks. She even had a maid who served her wine.
“One more glass.”
“Isn’t that too much?”
“No.”
Once she got her body back, she thought she’d give up the saintly act and just enjoy wine.
Wine made her forget her worries. For this moment, all anxiety and pressure disappeared.
Even though she had to rely on someone else’s hand to drink, she enjoyed it thoroughly.
The maid glared at her, but Ellen didn’t care. She was enjoying this little rebellion.
The room spun, and her body wouldn’t move. Oh, right—she couldn’t move. She giggled alone, and her husband arrived.
“Are you drunk?”
Even with a scowl like she was meeting someone unpleasant, she thought,
‘Looking good.’
His expression moved her. When she blinked and giggled, his annoyance turned to the maid.
“You made her drink two bottles?”
“She insisted, and… if I didn’t, she threatened to kick me out, so I had no choice.”
When did she say that? The maid lied, thinking Ellen was drunk.
‘Naughty maid… but it’s not my problem. I’ll have my body back soon.’
Lisio raised an eyebrow, displeased with her calm attitude amid the commotion.
“You had no choice? Isn’t it your job to care for Anais?”
He gestured to his assistant, Alex. Ellen noticed Alex’s rough grip on the maid and guessed she would soon be kicked out.
“I’m sorry, Duke! Please forgive me! Duchess, help me, please!”
Though the maid had lied, Ellen didn’t want to lose a servant who knew how to serve wine so well. Pretending to be sober, she said,
“Leave the poor maid alone.”
“Could anyone be more pitiable than you?”
Her act of sobriety quickly failed; one eyelid drooped, and she couldn’t help laughing.
“Heh, you’re right.”
Getting drunk wasn’t so bad. Even Lisio’s cold words sounded amusing.
Sighing, Lisio ordered the maid released and sat beside her, unable to stop smiling.
“You can laugh in this situation, and you’ve become a drunk who can’t move. Drink.”
Alex returned with a green liquid, which Ellen smelled suspiciously.
“Does this smell… like poison?”
“Ha? Drink it before I pour it out, Anais.”
Ellen tried to shake her head to avoid it. Alex laughed and explained,
“It’s a hangover cure. You’ll feel better, Duchess.”
“Oh, okay, then I’ll drink it.”
Unlike Lisio’s threat to pour it all at once, Alex made her drink slowly. Eventually, the bottle emptied, and Ellen’s face scrunched. Lisio then put something in her mouth.
“What’s this?”
“You can’t even tell candy when you’re drunk?”
“Ah, candy! I want to see it.”
Unable to move her hands, she rolled it in her mouth. Lisio took the candy out and showed it to her.
It looked even cuter in his large hands.
“Do you think the candy might be poisoned?”
Ellen was too distracted by the candy to care. It was crystal clear with pretty stripes.
“Like a jewel, so pretty. Wait… I think I’ve seen this before.”
“Someone might think you never bought candy before.”
“I haven’t. I was poor as a child, and then I lived a life of discipline as an adult.”
“You talk nonsense when drunk.”
“Tch, don’t scold me. I’ll leave on my own anyway.”
“You’ll leave? You?”
“Yes! I have no choice in this body, but once I get mine back…”
Why is he staring again? His gaze felt sharp.
“Fine. No one will stop you.”
Lisio turned away coldly. Ellen shouted after him,
“Put the candy back in my mouth!”
He tossed one into her mouth, and the sweet taste made her happy.
“It’s so good. Thank you.”
“You should have a doctor check your head.”
Then he threw something to her body. With only her neck able to move, she wiggled to see it—a bag full of candy.
“Wow! Thank you!”
She yelled, but he ignored her. Later, when Dorothy came to help her prepare for bed, Ellen asked for more candy, but after the wine incident, Dorothy refused.
“Then… can you do me a favor instead? I’ll give you one of my accessories if you do.”
“A favor? You can just order me… Hehe, what should I do?”
Her cheeks turned pink. Was it because she was young and innocent?
“Dorothy, you lied before. I covered for you. Remember?”
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
Dorothy bowed deeply.
“Go to the temple and bring Saint Ellen. If you do well, I’ll forgive your mistake and give you an accessory.”
“Really? I’ll go tomorrow!”
Dorothy beamed as Ellen’s lips curved into a soft smile. She carefully washed Ellen’s teeth, helped her lie down, and left the bag of candy on the nightstand with a smile.
Even though the candy was right there, she couldn’t eat it—so frustrating.
If only she had holy power…
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
“I can fix this. Holy power!”
Why hadn’t she thought of it before? If her body healed, everything would be fine! Ellen’s face glowed with a pleased smile.
Later, Lisio returned to Anais’s room after finishing his work.
“Already asleep?”
He was adjusting Anais’s bedding when a thought stopped his hand.
‘She’s a poor girl. Take care of her all her life, Father said.’
Did his father even deserve to say that? Lisio chuckled.
Even while watching his mother go insane with jealousy, his father visited the estate of Duke Marcel, collecting beautiful women like treasures among commoners.
Disgusting.
And yet, his father had unilaterally decided this engagement.
