Chapter 124…………………………………..
Time flew by like an arrow.
Rieanna grew up in her new family as the beloved and cherished Cassius daughter, adored by everyone around her.
When she realized that her upcoming business venture would require a large amount of magic stones, a memory from her previous life suddenly resurfaced.
The mines that one family had owned—located in the Andala region. At the time, those mines, which produced high-grade magic stones, had drawn some attention.
Though the reserves weren’t vast, the quality of the stones would be quite helpful for her business plans.
When Rieanna expressed her desire to acquire the mines, Leandro readily agreed.
“Alright. I happen to have business in that region; I’ll try to meet the mine owner.”
While Leandro was away, Rieanna contemplated how to obtain the mines without drawing the royal family’s attention.
Mine transactions had always been closely monitored by the crown.
‘If the Cassius family purchases it, the crown will definitely notice. And the Iver Trading Company has grown too large now…’
Even a useless, abandoned mine would draw attention regardless of who bought it.
Yet when Leandro returned from Andala, he surprised her with an unexpected proposal.
“What if I marry Miss Wallis?”
“Huh?”
“Marriage is a perfect distraction. We can take the mine as a dowry.”
“But…”
“People will gossip about the disparity between our families, but no one will pay attention to the mine if everyone is focused on the wedding.”
“You don’t have to marry just for me!”
“It’s not only for you. Miss Wallis seems like a good person… I find myself interested in her.”
“What?”
“Even though I met her for the first time, she felt strangely familiar. I’ve never felt that with anyone else.”
Seeing Leandro blush shyly, Rieanna felt a strange mix of emotions.
As his younger sister, she should have supported her brother’s love—but she couldn’t quite bring herself to.
‘Leandro… in love?’
For some reason, she couldn’t imagine her two brothers directing affection toward anyone other than herself.
Since coming to the Cassius household, the three men of the family had devoted their love solely to her.
Leandro seemed oblivious to Rieanna’s silence.
“I’ll invite Miss Wallis to Cassius soon. You’ll like her too.”
On the day the daughter of Count Wallis visited Cassius, Rieanna was completely taken aback.
It was Idel.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Cassius. As the minor duke said, you are indeed very cute.”
Seeing her friend greet her warmly, Rieanna barely held back a surge of emotions.
Indeed, Rieanna, Idel, and the Cassius family were destined to be bound together as a family.
Otherwise, how could this miraculous coincidence—Idel following Leandro to Cassius despite everything being different from their previous lives—be explained?
Rieanna as the daughter of Cassius, and Idel as Leandro’s wife, forming one family.
What a perfect picture it was.
“Welcome to our home!”
Rieanna genuinely welcomed Idel.
When she heard that the Wallis family’s finances were far worse than expected, her heart ached.
‘Poor Idel… I didn’t even know. I thought you’d been living comfortably in a noble household…’
The guilt Rieanna had buried deep inside—about having taken away Idel’s adoption opportunity—resurfaced.
“You two are really suited for each other!”
Therefore, she intended to match Idel with Leandro so she could live comfortably at Cassius.
It was the best atonement she could offer.
The lingering discomfort in her heart, caused by her own actions, vanished in an instant.
Idel was different. For her, Rieanna was willing to share her brother’s affection.
She no longer feared that her family would abandon her because of Idel.
The past ten years had convinced Rieanna that the love of those around her toward her would never be withdrawn.
At least, that was true—until one day she overheard a conversation among her father and brothers.
“But about Miss Wallis…”
During a family tea gathering, Rehaim suddenly shifted the topic.
“She’s so familiar the more I see her. It’s like I’ve known her forever.”
Leandro agreed.
“Funny, isn’t it? That’s why I asked her out.”
“Oh, did it work? And Father?”
Duke Cassius stroked his chin.
“Surprisingly, the same. She seems dependable, yet somehow familiar. Maybe it’s because she reminds me of Cheryl.”
“My mother? No way, she doesn’t resemble her at all.”
“It’s the aura. Hard to explain, but there’s a resemblance.”
“Father, are you feeling lonely lately? That’s… odd to say.”
Clang! The sound of breaking shattered the conversation.
Rieanna had dropped the teacup she was holding, and it smashed on the floor.
“Rieanna!”
“Are you okay?!”
“Did you get hurt?”
Rieanna managed to nod.
“Y-Yes, I’m fine. Sorry, Father. I was careless.”
“…Your face is pale.”
Though she reassured them multiple times, the three men were concerned and laid her down on the bed.
Yet even the next day, and the day after, Rieanna’s expression remained somber.
They soon realized her concern was not illness.
After persistent questioning, Rieanna finally revealed her thoughts.
“I’m afraid that if Miss Wallis becomes family, Father and Brother will no longer love me.”
Duke Cassius responded, flustered.
“What are you talking about? How could it come to that?”
Rehaim added, “Exactly! Miss Wallis is Miss Wallis, and you’re you!”
“…But we’re not related by blood. The love I receive could just as easily be given to Miss Wallis, and then I might end up neglected.”
The three men fell silent.
Rieanna, usually so confident, sometimes felt insecurity about bloodlines.
That made her the “sore spot” of the Cassius household.
A moment later, the Duke looked at his eldest son.
“I’m sorry for Miss Wallis, but my daughter comes first. If Rieanna feels anxious, I cannot approve your marriage, so step back.”
“But we’re already engaged…”
Leandro swallowed his words. He valued his sister, with whom he had lived for over a decade, more than a woman he had known for only a few months.
“I agree too.”
Hearing Rehaim’s agreement as well, Rieanna hurried to stop her father.
“No! Brother must marry. If you cancel now, what will happen to Miss Wallis?”
“Rieanna, but you…”
“I’m fine. I understand how much Father and my brothers love me.”
Rieanna didn’t want her brother to cancel the engagement; she only wanted assurance that her family would never love Idel more than her.
That answer was enough. Rieanna still wanted Idel as part of the family.
In the end, the Duke once again yielded for his daughter’s sake.
That night, Rieanna, thirsty, left her room and noticed the Duke’s study still lit.
Pressing her ear to the door, she overheard her father and brothers.
“The marriage will proceed as planned, but Rieanna probably won’t treat Miss Wallis warmly.”
“Agreed.”
The Duke and Rehaim spoke in turn.
“I’ll keep my interactions minimal,” Leandro said, his voice low.
“Since I’ll mostly come here alone after marriage, I won’t see Idel often.”
“Treat her well, as if for us.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
Rieanna considered entering the study to clarify, but she remembered what Miela had told her and froze.
“The Cassius bloodline carries demon blood. It’s natural that my blessing works imperfectly.”
This was the goddess’s explanation to Rieanna, who had asked why the three men changed more slowly than the staff.
She asked what “imperfectly” meant and what variables might arise, but the goddess remained silent.
The goddess was kind to Rieanna but only gave guidance rarely, due to unavoidable circumstances.
Rieanna trembled with unease but soon buried the memory.
Though the process was slow, her father and brothers eventually loved her like anyone else.
However, seeing them discuss Idel as if recalling their previous life stirred a fresh unease.
‘Let it be. Leandro will handle it well, and I just need to treat Idel kindly.’
Rieanna walked back to her room, determined.
A short time later, Idel and Leandro held their wedding.
Whenever the family gathered, Rieanna tried to grow closer to Idel, now part of the family.
Yet something felt off.
“Shopping? Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass. I prefer being alone.”
Anyone else would have been completely captivated by Rieanna’s warmth, but Idel’s response remained lukewarm.
Rieanna tried to console herself, noting that even blessings could have varying effects on individuals.
Still, two years passed after the marriage, and Idel’s attitude did not change.
In fact, she had grown even colder.
In this new life, the Idel that had first met Rieanna had been the most favorable toward her.
Just as Rieanna seriously considered taking some action, the event occurred.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
Idel declared her intent to Leandro.
A few days later, when Rieanna visited, Idel delivered the cutting words:
“I don’t like you. If you must know, I actually dislike you. So please disappear from my sight, and never come here again. Understood?”
In that instant, Rieanna felt the ground fall from beneath her.
She had never imagined being hated by Idel.
Yet now, the Idel in front of her genuinely hated her.
“The truth is simple.”
After the long recollection, Rieanna finally spoke.
“Idel, if you truly hate me, if you came in this life to take my family because of our previous lives…”
Rieanna finally accepted that Idel was rejecting her of her own free will.
“You are my enemy.”
There was only one course of action left.
