-7-
Over the past week, I couldn’t help but notice that everyone was hiding something from me. They acted casually as if nothing was wrong, but I could tell—they were watching me closely every time I spoke or moved.
At first, I thought maybe it was because my personality was different from the original Tiana’s before I possessed her. But the more I saw the relieved expressions on their faces in response to my behavior, the more I realized something was off.
Even though I had lost my memory and essentially become a different person, no one rejected me. In fact, it seemed like they welcomed the change.
I knew what Tiana’s original personality was like thanks to the side stories. She wasn’t exactly kind. If they were reacting like this to the memory loss, then just how twisted must she have been before I took over?
I had somewhat expected it based on how she treated Lucious in the side stories, but clearly, it was worse than I thought.
Either way, the current issue stemmed from the accident Tiana had suffered.
“That wasn’t in the side stories.”
There was never any mention of Tiana falling off a horse. Something was clearly wrong. Everything was jumbled. I pressed my throbbing forehead with my palm as I tried to think.
If the wedding date were postponed—or worse, the engagement itself canceled—it would severely disrupt the original plotline. Tiana and Lucious needed to marry uneventfully so the two main characters could meet a year later.
Lucious was positioned as a major threat to the male lead, Rayel. Though Rayel was the Emperor, his support was weak. He had no Empress, no heirs to secure his throne. His power was unstable.
Meanwhile, Lucious married early and secured a solid political base, naturally attracting power to his side. The Celeste duchy was one of the most prestigious noble families among the Emperor’s opposition, so their backing gave Lucious a massive advantage.
In response, Rayel decided to marry too, hoping to stabilize his authority through a political union. That marriage partner turned out to be the female lead, Angelica.
So, Tiana and Lucious’s marriage acted as the catalyst that allowed the two main characters to meet. This engagement had to go through.
“Ha…”
As I let out a deep sigh, I sensed Inabel watching me cautiously. She stood by the door, unmoving. Did someone order her to block my way? She was clearly trying to stop me from meeting him.
It wasn’t like I was planning to charge out and meet him recklessly, but still—this was a rare opportunity. If the engagement didn’t fall through, I would see him eventually, but still, it felt like such a waste.
“Young Lady.”
“Hm?”
While I stared out the window in frustration, Inabel suddenly called out to me with a resolute look on her face. She stepped slightly away from the door and said,
“Go ahead. I believe you should meet His Grace.”
“What? Weren’t you trying to stop me?”
“It was the steward and the head maid’s orders. I had no choice. But I truly believe you should meet the Grand Duke.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s your marriage, Young Lady. I understand the steward and the head maid are worried, but this is something the two of you should face together.”
I was surprised by her unexpected words. She had been thinking of my situation more than I realized. With a determined expression, Inabel glanced toward the door.
“The head maid is just outside, but I’ll try to convince her. I’m sure even she doesn’t want to completely prevent you from meeting His Grace. She knows better than anyone the nature of your relationship.”
“My relationship with His Grace? Aren’t we just engaged?”
“No. You may not remember, but before the engagement, you and His Grace were lovers.”
“…What?”
I jumped to my feet in shock at the unexpected revelation.
Me and Lucious? Lovers? No—Tiana and Lucious?
In the original story, their relationship was entirely political, arranged by their families. In the side stories, it was revealed that Lucious had loved Tiana, but the feeling wasn’t mutual. Tiana had loved Rayel, not Lucious.
But they were lovers? That didn’t match the side stories at all. What was going on?
“You’re sure we were lovers?”
“Yes, Young Lady,” Inabel replied with unwavering eyes.
She didn’t seem to be lying. If what she said was true, I had to confirm it myself. I couldn’t just sit here.
I reached for the doorknob past Inabel but froze. Roena was guarding outside. Even if Inabel tried to convince her, she wouldn’t easily budge.
Maybe I could plead with her directly—but time was short. I scanned the room and spotted the large window.
It was easily big enough for one or two people to get through. I rushed over and flung it open. There was a wide ledge outside. Plenty of space.
If the door’s blocked, I’ll just use another one.
With Inabel watching me in disbelief, I stepped onto the window frame.
“A-Ah! Young Lady?!”
Her shocked voice rang out as I climbed out. My room was on the third floor, but a terrace was connected nearby. The ledge was wide enough to safely walk across.
The terrace even had an emergency ladder. Climbing down led straight to the garden path.
Once I reached the ground, I looked up and saw Inabel’s face had gone pale as she stared down at me. Her wide eyes were shimmering. Maybe I’d startled her too much.
Still, I couldn’t waste time. If I didn’t go now, Lucious might leave. I had just found out that Tiana had been his lover—of course I had to confirm it. And hey, this was my one chance to see my favorite character. I couldn’t let it slip away!
From the way things felt, this might be the only chance I’d get. The two families didn’t have a weak bond, so the engagement likely wouldn’t fall through easily, but if by some chance it did—that would be a disaster.
I had possessed this body, after all. I finally had a valid excuse to marry my favorite character and live sweetly ever after. Why waste it?
Sure, Tiana was secretly a villainess who used Lucious to torment the heroine—but that’s something I could change.
Isn’t rewriting the original story the fate of someone who’s possessed a character?
*
Lucious stood alone at the entrance of the garden, hesitating whether to leave.
Would he at least see her shadow in the window today? As he took a few steps deeper into the garden to get a better view, a panicked voice rang out above him.
“A-Ah! Young Lady?!”
There was only one person in this mansion who’d be called “Young Lady.” He looked up and saw a maid turning pale as she stared at a window.
“That’s her room…”
Following the maid’s gaze, he saw Tiana walking along the ledge toward the terrace.
“……!”
Before Lucious could even shout in surprise, she had already crossed over to the terrace. Seemingly unaware of the danger, she began climbing down the emergency ladder with a calm face.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she dashed straight into the garden.
The whole situation had happened so fast, Lucious could barely process it.
She had used the window, crossed the ledge, and climbed down—all when the door was right there. Was there some reason she had to sneak out like a thief?
Her actions had been strangely fluid—like a seasoned burglar.
Whatever the reason, he had to follow her. He stepped into the garden, heading in the direction she’d gone.
*
“I managed to get out… but now what?”
I stood there, overwhelmed by the massive garden before me. As expected of a ducal household—it was magnificent. The scale made me feel like I might lose my sense of direction. I wiped the sweat from my brow and took a deep breath.
I headed toward the flower fields that stretched out deeper into the garden. As I walked along the path, I was met with a breathtaking sight. Rather than just a flower bed, this was more like a full-blown botanical garden.
The flowers, swaying in the gentle breeze, looked like they were basking in the joys of spring.
“Oh wow…”
Petals fluttering in the playful wind captured my attention. I reached out and caught one in my palm.
The pale yellow petal shifted in color under the sunlight. Transparent, yet some areas sparkled vividly. I stared in fascination.
Did flowers like this even exist? Forsythia? No, this petal was rounder and smaller. Did any flowers change color in sunlight like this?
There were many familiar flowers around—forsythia, azaleas, tulips, dandelions… even red pansies and peonies had their place.
There were flowers I could name, and others I couldn’t—but they still looked familiar. However, the yellow petals floating lightly in the breeze were new to me.
I didn’t know their name, nor had I seen flowers with petals like these before. But somehow, this golden yellow looked oddly familiar.
“Where have I seen this color before?”
It wasn’t a common shade of yellow. More like… sparkling under the sun…
“Gold…”
Yes, like gold. As if sunlight had sprinkled golden dust over the thin petals, dyeing my palm with flower-shaped light.
As I studied the thin, gold-leaf-like petals, it struck me—this glow, this mesmerizing brilliance—I had seen it before.
The petals in my hand fluttered away with the wind. As I watched them swirl into the sky, a voice suddenly called out behind me.
“…Tiana.”
I turned slowly, half afraid it might not be real.
Through the golden petals drifting before my eyes, I saw black hair and golden eyes as bright as the sun. I couldn’t tear my gaze away.
That familiar feeling—it came from those eyes.
Not just gold. But something deeper, like a molten lake of pure gold, warm and rich, with no trace of impurity.
As our eyes met, I instantly knew who he was.
