Chapter 02
Elizabeth Learnet was fairly satisfied with her life.
“I heard the Learnet family once again exterminated all the monsters that appeared in the northeast?”
“When it comes to achievements alone, the ducal title should rightfully belong to their family.”
She came from a prestigious family.
“My goodness, doesn’t Lady Learnet grow more beautiful every time we see her?”
“Once she makes her debut, she’ll undoubtedly become the flower of Icarzan society.”
She possessed extraordinary beauty.
“And it’s not just her looks. She’s so kind-hearted, too.”
“There’s no lady as elegant and refined as Lady Learnet.”
She had an excellent reputation.
“I’m so jealous of Lady Learnet. Did she save an entire country in her past life or something?”
She lived a life admired by everyone.
Everything seemed perfect.
“Leave this empire at once.”
At least, it did until the day she heard those words.
“Please, leave Icarzan. And never come back.”
It was an utterly unexpected demand.
Elizabeth stared at the woman before her, bewildered.
The woman had straight, dark hair with a light brown tint that fell below her chest.
Her acorn-colored eyes glimmered strangely in the sunlight.
Looking into the woman’s solemn eyes, Elizabeth searched her memory.
Was her name Sybilla?
She was the woman Elizabeth had heard so much about lately that she was growing tired of the rumors.
“Have you heard? Apparently, a prophet has appeared at the imperial palace.”
According to the rumors, a woman with black hair had recently fallen into the lake at the imperial palace and had been rescued just before she drowned.
However, even when questioned about her identity, the woman had stubbornly refused to answer. Instead, she had suddenly insisted that she needed to see the Crown Prince.
Naturally, they couldn’t simply bring an unidentified woman before His Highness the Crown Prince.
So the woman had asked them to deliver just one message to him.
“At the upcoming hunting competition, His Highness the Crown Prince’s horse will die of a heart attack.”
No one believed her.
Except for one person.
Empress Sophie advised the Crown Prince that there was no harm in taking precautions and recommended that he ride a different horse.
And sure enough—
After the hunting competition ended, the Crown Prince’s favorite horse was found dead.
The veterinarians who were summoned determined that the cause of death was a heart attack.
“Apparently, she went on to predict all sorts of minor future events correctly, and eventually earned herself a place at the imperial palace as a prophet.”
She had even been given the honor of receiving the name Sybilla directly from Empress Sophie—a name meaning prophetess.
And now, Sybilla had suddenly summoned Elizabeth after appearing at Lady Olden’s tea party.
The first thing she had said was this.
“Leave Icarzan at once? What on earth do you mean by that, all of a sudden…?”
“Of course, I understand how bewildering this must be for you, my lady. I really do.”
As she spoke, Sybilla suddenly grabbed Elizabeth’s hands.
Elizabeth flinched in surprise and looked at her.
Sybilla’s expression was desperately earnest.
“But, my lady, you must not remain in this empire. You’ll bring discord wherever you go, and eventually, you’ll plunge your own life into a pit of misery.”
Was this a curse or a prophecy?
Elizabeth was so dumbfounded by the absurdity of the situation that she couldn’t bring herself to respond.
However, through years of relentless effort, Elizabeth had become accustomed to keeping her emotions hidden.
So when she remained silent, Sybilla seemed to take it as a sign that her plea was working. She grew excited and continued.
“I can’t explain everything in detail, but you’re destined to become a villainess before long. You’ll commit evil deeds and meet a miserable end.”
…That was quite enough.
Elizabeth unconsciously furrowed one eyebrow.
But Sybilla paid no attention and continued speaking.
“It would be best for you to leave Icarzan before such a tragedy occurs.”
It was outrageous. She was suddenly labeling someone who had done nothing wrong a villainess and a source of discord.
But it doesn’t look like she’ll listen, no matter what I say.
In the end, Elizabeth decided to bring the conversation to a close with a polite response, at least in form.
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“My lady, you can’t merely keep it in mind. You must leave at once!”
Realizing that Elizabeth had no intention of taking her words seriously, Sybilla pressed her further.
“I’ll give you one month. Leave within that time.”
Elizabeth was speechless.
In other words, this woman was urging her to abandon her homeland, where her family and friends lived, based on nothing more than a ridiculous accusation dressed up as a prophecy.
…Seriously.
For a moment, a surge of anger washed over her.
What kind of nonsense is she spouting?
Without even realizing it, Elizabeth let a tiny glimpse of her true nature slip through.
“And what if I don’t?”
“You’ll regret it.”
Sybilla answered with an expression even more solemn than before.
Looking at that expression, Elizabeth felt as though she had already become a bad woman despite not having done a single thing wrong.
“I’ll make sure you have no reason to remain in this empire.”
“…Are you threatening me, Lady Sybilla?”
“I’ll protect everyone’s happiness, even if I have to do it this way. And this is for your own good, too.”
It was getting more absurd by the minute. What the hell was she even talking about?
Elizabeth struggled to suppress the curse that nearly escaped her lips.
“I’ve made myself perfectly clear, Lady Learnet. Leave this empire within a month. If you don’t…!”
If I don’t, then what?
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow, silently challenging Sybilla to finish her threat.
“I’ll expose the secret you want to hide until you’re in your grave.”
Elizabeth didn’t return to the Learnet estate from Lady Olden’s tea party until evening.
As she entered the mansion, exhausted, a middle-aged woman stepped in front of her.
“What on earth is that appearance?”
The sharp voice belonged to Bailey, the head maid. She had once been Elizabeth’s governess.
With her stern, gaunt features and slender frame, she always wore dark clothing, giving her an air of coldness and severity.
At Bailey’s scolding, Elizabeth instinctively tensed and reflexively smoothed her clothes.
“Is something wrong? There shouldn’t have been anything today that could have disturbed my appearance…”
“I’m not talking about your dress. I mean your hair.”
Bailey interrupted her in an irritated tone.
“The hair I tied up halfway has come loose.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Elizabeth reach up to touch her hair. Sure enough, the hair that had been half-tied with a ribbon had come slightly undone.
Only slightly.
Besides, half-tied hair was bound to come loose naturally as one went about one’s day.
…You can’t even tell unless you look closely.
“Are you intending to damage the dignity of the Learnet family like this?”
Her doubts lasted only a moment.
The moment Bailey uttered the words the dignity of the Learnet family, Elizabeth flinched and instinctively shrank back.
“I’ve told you before, haven’t I? You are someone who has a duty to uphold the honor of the Learnet family.”
“…”
“You must never allow even the slightest imperfection. You understand why better than anyone, don’t you?”
“…Yes. I’ll be more careful.”
Elizabeth finally managed to respond, once again out of habit.
Only then did Bailey look satisfied and issue her next instruction.
“Go and take a bath first.”
After Elizabeth finished bathing and came out, Bailey personally helped her into a corset.
“Breathe in a little more.”
Elizabeth felt dizzy as the corset tightened around her waist, squeezing so firmly that it seemed there wasn’t room for even a breath of air.
“That will do. This is how a daughter of the great Learnet family should look.”
The words she had heard relentlessly for ten years were even more suffocating than the corset.
Nevertheless, she showed no sign of discomfort and went downstairs to the dining room.
Usually, everyone was so busy that they rarely had dinner together.
But that day was different. The men of the Learnet family were scheduled to depart the following day to exterminate the monsters that had appeared in the northwest, so they had gathered for a meal.
When Elizabeth entered the dining room, she saw three men seated around the table.
The man with dark gray hair sitting at the head of the table was her father, Marquis Learnet.
To his left sat her eldest brother, Andrick, followed by her second brother, Bernard.
Like all descendants of the legendary giant Learnet, all three men were tall and powerfully built, even while seated.
They possessed the kind of imposing presence that would make most people feel intimidated simply by standing before them.
It had taken Elizabeth a long time to get used to their overwhelming presence, too.
Upon seeing the three men, Elizabeth became even more careful with her steps, moving with the utmost delicacy.
Compared to her enormous family, she was like a tiny chick. Her footsteps were so quiet that they were barely audible.
Yet Marquis Learnet somehow sensed her presence and turned around.
“You’re here, Eli.”
“I’m sorry I’m late. Did I keep you waiting long?”
“No. Sit down.”
Elizabeth took the seat to her father’s right, opposite Andrick and Bernard.
At the same time, both brothers turned their gazes away from Elizabeth and lowered their heads.
It happened all the time, but…
It still hurt every time she experienced it.
Calm down. Keep your expression under control.
As always, Elizabeth concealed her feelings and began to eat.
“…”
“…”
Silence hung over the table throughout the meal.
Elizabeth moved her cutlery, feeling as though the food might get stuck in her throat.
In truth, she was still troubled by what Sybilla had told her earlier.
“I heard you attended the tea party at the Olden estate today.”
At the sound of her father’s voice, Elizabeth flinched. She had been thinking about that very thing.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
His face was as expressionless as ever, and the sight of it felt like a dagger piercing Elizabeth’s heart.
…The secret I want to hide until I’m in my grave.
The moment anyone else discovered it, everything she had worked so hard for would become meaningless.
Her family would never forgive her. They would cast her aside without mercy.
At the thought, she felt as though cold sweat were running down her entire body.
“Eli?”
…Oh no. Her expression.
Elizabeth turned to Marquis Learnet with a start, her face betraying her alarm.
“Are you all right?”
By then, both her brothers had turned their attention toward her as well.
Suppressing the feeling that she might regurgitate everything she had just eaten, Elizabeth forced the corners of her mouth upward.
“Yes. I’m fine. I had a lovely time.”
“I see. That’s good to hear.”
“Please return safely tomorrow, Father.”
Elizabeth desperately maintained her smile as she turned toward her brothers, who had once again averted their gazes.
“And you, too, brothers.”
“…We will.”
After a brief pause, all three men gave the same answer simultaneously.
As dry and curt as ever.
With that, silence descended upon the dining table once more.
Elizabeth resumed eating, the food tasting bitter in her mouth.
A prestigious family. Extraordinary beauty. An excellent reputation…
Elizabeth was fairly satisfied with her life.
But she wasn’t happy.
In reality, her family was nothing more than a hollow shell. Her extraordinary beauty was not something she had inherited from them, and her excellent reputation was the result of suppressing her true nature to the point of self-abuse.
Even so, she had spent more than half her life convincing herself that she was satisfied with all of it.
And perhaps that was why the tragedy that would unfold a month later was, in its own way, the greatest stroke of fortune she could ever have received
