Chapter 11
The weather was nice.
After the tearful embrace with the Jurne Marquis—no, with Father—we had grown much closer. Though we had been family, the faint distance that lingered between us had completely disappeared. It finally felt like we had gone from being merely closer than strangers to becoming a real family.
I resolved never to hurt Father again after all the emotional pain he had endured, and decided to become a better person. Of course, if I suddenly turned over a completely new leaf, it would seem suspicious, so I lowered my Harna acting mode to about fifty percent.
I lost my temper less often and only occasionally wore an irritated expression.
I forbade servants and maids from kneeling in front of me, and even when they made mistakes, I merely glared and let things pass without making an issue of it. Thanks to that, I could feel myself gradually growing closer to the household staff.
Since I’d already changed, I planned to behave like a gentle, kind noble lady at social gatherings whenever I received invitations—just to make Father happy. But strangely, ever since Seiara’s tea party, no invitations had arrived.
Well, it can’t be helped.
Even without attending social gatherings, I was busy and enjoying my life, so there was nothing to regret.
“Hans, what do you think about planting flowers here?”
“I think they’d get more sunlight if we planted them over there.”
“Really? Then plant them there. And when do you think the tree swing I mentioned will be finished?”
“I heard from Thomas that it’s almost done. Once the work is complete, he’ll bring it to show you.”
“Great! I’m looking forward to it!”
I smiled at Hans the gardener, telling him to keep up the good work, and looked around the garden. Seeing how presentable it had finally become, I smiled in satisfaction.
The weak grass had been replaced with lush green turf, and a table I had personally chosen was set up in the once-empty garden. Cushions were placed on the chairs so they’d be comfortable even for long periods of sitting.
A canopy had been installed over the table to shield us from rain and harsh sunlight. Colorful flowers were planted all around, and thanks to Hans’s excellent skills, the trees had been trimmed into the round shapes I wanted.
As I smiled contentedly at the garden—which now rivaled Seiara’s in beauty—I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“You’re here again today.”
“Oh—Father! You’re here?”
I ran over and hugged him, smiling as brightly as my orange hair.
This kind of physical affection had become completely natural. I used to worry that Father’s perpetually furrowed brow would leave deep wrinkles, but now he smiled so often that I was more concerned about the lines around his eyes and mouth.
Our handsome father can’t get wrinkles…
As I was thinking something so silly, the sight of Father opening his arms to hug me made me laugh.
Right—this was hardly the time to worry about his wrinkles.
At this rate, he really will get them from smiling too much.
I should probably worry about my own wrinkles first.
“Did you visit the imperial palace?”
“Yes. I had something to attend to briefly. Did you have a good day today as well?”
“Yes! The garden finally looks quite nice.”
I stepped out of his arms and gestured around the table.
“You did an excellent job. You must have worked hard.”
“Oh, not at all. I did it because I enjoyed it.”
“I see. Shall we have dinner together tonight? There’s something I’d like to talk about.”
“Sure! Shall we eat here in the garden?”
“That sounds wonderful. Having a meal in the beautiful garden my daughter decorated… I’m looking forward to it.”
When Father—radiating middle-aged handsomeness—smiled so charmingly, I unconsciously pressed a hand to my chest.
Whoever’s father he was, he was truly impressive. Yes, absolutely.
* * *
I picked a few roses I had grown myself and placed them in a vase on the garden table. Delicious dishes were laid out atop a neatly spread tablecloth.
“Thank you, everyone.”
“It’s nothing at all.”
I thanked the maids who had prepared the meal, and they smiled before stepping away. As I waved lightly in farewell, I noticed the pleased smile on Father’s face as he watched.
Feeling shy, I lowered my hand and began eating.
“Isn’t it boring, staying at home all the time?”
“I have you, Father, and Vera, and decorating the garden is fun too. I’m fine.”
Despite my answer, Father’s expression darkened.
“If that’s the case, then I’m relieved.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
I nodded exaggeratedly to reassure him. Only then did his expression brighten slightly, but it seemed he still had more to say as he spoke cautiously.
“Haren will be returning soon.”
“……”
I couldn’t answer right away and simply rolled my eyes around.
Okay, stay calm. The fact that he used his name meant they were close. And the word returning meant—
Ah! Haren is Harna’s biological older brother.
As I arrived at this detective-worthy conclusion, Father—who had been watching me closely—lowered his eyes with concern.
“It seems you’re still upset. Is it because Haren disposed of your jewelry?”
I looked at him in confusion, thinking of the three large jewelry boxes in Harna’s room. Misinterpreting my gaze, he continued.
“You remember, don’t you? You took the necklace that was a maid’s mother’s keepsake. That’s why Haren acted as he did. I know it must have hurt and made you angry, but it was all for your sake.”
My slightly parted lips snapped shut like a clam.
I had absolutely nothing to say.
Harna—did you really go so far as to covet someone’s dead mother’s keepsake? If you were my younger sibling, I’d shave your head and send you to a temple.
Honestly, your brother taking your jewelry wasn’t even much of a punishment.
After thoroughly scolding Harna in my head, I smiled awkwardly at Father, who was waiting for my response.
“I was wrong. It won’t happen again.”
“Oh, I wasn’t blaming you. I was just worried you might still be angry at Haren… I know you’ve matured, but I felt the need to say it.”
Father gently patted my head. His expression showed how proud and fond he felt seeing me apologize so readily.
* * *
When news spread that Haren would be returning to the marquis’s estate in a few days, the servants became extremely busy cleaning the mansion.
According to Vera, it had been three months since the incident where Haren took all of Harna’s jewelry boxes after she committed an unforgivable act toward a maid.
Hearing about Harna’s shameful misdeeds again made my cheeks burn.
Harna was like an onion—peel her layer by layer, and more bad deeds just kept coming out.
“What happened to the maid whose necklace was taken?”
“I believe the Marquis and Young Master Haren personally apologized and gave her a large sum of money before sending her away.”
“Oh, right. I must have forgotten.”
If she had stayed in the Jurne household and caught Harna’s eye again, she wouldn’t have been left alone. That really had been the best decision.
“Miss, the embroidery here is crooked.”
“Ah…”
At Vera’s words, I stopped my busy hands and glared at the embroidery hoop.
“This is so frustrating.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dared to point it out—”
“No, no! I’m not annoyed at you, Vera. I’m annoyed at myself for being so clumsy… Ah, forget it. I’ll take a short break.”
I felt bad watching Vera leave while carefully gauging my mood, but I rationalized it by telling myself that I needed to show some villainess-like behavior from time to time. Then I lay down on the bed.
I was currently embroidering a handkerchief to give to my brother, Haren.
Even back when I was Yoon Seung-ah, I had been a genius at acting—but in contrast, I had absolutely no manual dexterity. Whenever I played a professional character, even just mimicking skills required immense effort.
“I may lack talent, but my perseverance is top-tier. Let’s try again!”
After staring at the ceiling for a while, I sat back down. Fortunately, Harna herself had never been good at embroidery either, so my clumsy stitches wouldn’t raise suspicion.
As I resumed stitching one careful stitch at a time, I thought about Haren, whom I would soon meet.
My relationship with Father had improved, and I was getting along fairly well with the servants. I also wanted to reconcile with my brother after so long, apologizing for the past. When I 고민ed about how to do that, Vera suggested giving him a handkerchief.
Like Father, the captain of the Second Knight Order, Haren was a knight who escorted the imperial family at the palace. Apparently, it was currently fashionable for knights to tie a handkerchief gifted by family or a beloved woman to the hilt of their sword as a charm.
Knowing full well how unskilled I was, I still willingly picked up needle and thread. I practiced diligently under Vera’s guidance, but the crooked flower that emerged made me shake my head.
“It’s fine. These things are about sincerity anyway.”
I tried to console myself as I embroidered the stem and Haren’s name. On the white handkerchief, the red rose petals stuck out unevenly to either side, and the stem thickened and thinned irregularly—an incredibly unique handkerchief.
After glaring fiercely at it for a moment, I folded it neatly and placed it into the box Vera had prepared.
“As I said before, it’s the thought that counts, right?”
I deliberately set the box far away and went back to lie down on the bed.
* * *
“It’s been a long time, Young Master.”
Haren, having exited the imperial palace, was about to mount his horse when he turned at the sound of a familiar voice. Behind him stood the marquis’s carriage and a familiar coachman.
“Did Father send you?”
Haren asked in a low voice, his mood sour.
“Yes. He asked me to escort you back.”
“You look cheerful.”
“Oh, do I? I suppose it’s because my heart has been at ease lately. Hoho.”
The coachman smiled deeply, his wrinkled face creasing as he opened the door. Haren boarded the carriage in silence and leaned back against the seat.
Watching the coachman tend to his horse through the window, Haren muttered,
“At ease?”
He repeated the words and fell into thought.
The servants of the marquis’s household had always lived in anxiety. Because of Harna, who rampaged like an unbridled horse, every day had felt like walking on thin ice.
Suddenly, the memory from three months ago surfaced—Harna playfully stealing a young maid’s necklace.
“Even if it’s your mother’s keepsake, you’re still my maid, aren’t you? If your master wants it, shouldn’t you give it to me?”
“Miss, please, you can’t. Please give it back.”
The moment Haren saw Harna twirling the stolen necklace around her wrist while playing, and the maid kneeling on the floor, begging, his reason snapped.
He subdued Harna by force and took the necklace from her.
Ignoring Harna as she screamed with a scowl, he returned the necklace to the maid. Then he entered Harna’s room and carried out the jewelry boxes she treasured.
Harna chased after him to reclaim her treasures but tripped and fell. Her image—screaming endlessly, spewing curses—was his last memory of her.
