Chapter 06
The marchioness glared at me sharply. The hand holding her glass trembled.
“I’ve always known your mother’s lack of sense would cause trouble like this one day. A noble should have dignity and grace—yet that wretched woman left the estate and dared to carry a lowborn child in her body?!”
Seems like you don’t have much dignity yourself.
Muttering inwardly, I put on a convincing act of fear. If I’d known I had talent for acting, I might’ve applied to an acting department back in school.
Still shouting, her anger rising again, the marchioness tried to throw the water in her glass at me—only to realize it was empty. She immediately poured water from the pitcher into the glass.
“If word of this ever gets out, what do you think will happen to the reputation of House Celluria?! The precious daughter of the family giving birth to a commoner’s child? Ha! The whole world would laugh at us!”
Splash—
Another wave of water hit me.
Droplets ran down my cheeks and dripped from my chin. I closed my eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them, letting the water fall away. Curling myself up like a frightened, insignificant animal, I whispered,
“…I-I’m sorry…”
“You should never have been born!”
“I’m… sorry for being born…”
With my face soaked, I let out quiet sobs.
The room fell into silence, filled only with my sniffles and the marchioness’s heavy breathing. After glaring at me fiercely, she finally turned away.
“…We have raised you, even though you should never have been born. You owe us your life.”
“……”
“Do you understand? From now on, for the rest of your life, you will obey our commands. You are nothing but a pawn who can never betray us.”
“Yes… I will remember that…”
I answered in a trembling voice. Even though it was spring, being drenched like this made it impossible not to shiver.
“Get out.”
With that cold dismissal, the marchioness turned and disappeared into her bedroom connected to the drawing room.
I stayed still for a moment before slowly getting up, brushing my wet hair away from my face.
“…Ha.”
Starving and constantly getting insulted—it was exhausting.
I’d rather go back to being a first-year in high school and prepare for exams again…
The thought made me pause.
Wait. Even if I went back, why would I redo exams? I wouldn’t even have time to make a bucket list and do everything I wanted.
As I seriously considered what I’d do first if I could return, I let out a dry laugh.
The cold, metallic sensation from the final moment I had as “Kim Haesu” resurfaced vividly, making my grip tighten unconsciously.
Honestly… it was a relief that “Erika” was only subjected to emotional abuse.
If it had been physical…
I didn’t know what I might have done.
Once a dam breaks, there’s no telling when it’ll overflow again. I didn’t want that to happen.
That kind of hellish experience—once was more than enough.
As long as there’s no physical violence, I can endure anything.
No matter how unfair it felt, I didn’t want to get entangled with them any more than necessary. Their emotional abuse didn’t really affect me, so I could tolerate this much.
No revenge. I’d simply cut ties with the family as soon as I came of age and live my own life.
That would be enough for me to overlook this injustice.
So please… let things stay like this.
So that I don’t cross the line.
Ignoring the servants’ hostile stares and voices like I always did, I staggered weakly—pretending to be broken—as I made my way back to my shabby room.
* * *
“Shasha, were you good?”
Knowing that someone was waiting for me in my space—it felt… nice.
Shasha, who had been fidgeting on the bed waiting for me, rushed toward me the moment he saw me. Watching his short little body struggle forward made me want to laugh, and I bit my lip to hold it in.
He looked so serious right now—laughing would be rude.
I shut the door tightly and walked toward him.
While it took Shasha ages to crawl across the room, I reached him in just three steps.
“Shasha, I’m okay.”
I crouched down as I spoke, but Shasha only spun around in distress before slumping down, clearly upset at my drenched appearance.
“Shasha, really. I’m fine.”
He lifted his small face and stared at me, his moist eyes almost looking accusing. I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
Why do I feel like I’m the one who needs to comfort him?
First, I should change clothes.
Staying in wet clothes was making me colder by the second.
“This time I’ll have to change even my chemise…”
Last time, when Karie threw tea at me, my outer dress had covered everything. But today’s outfit didn’t—so even my undergarments were soaked.
I absentmindedly rummaged through the wardrobe and grabbed a chemise.
“I’ll just wear this.”
Then I stared at the row of dresses hanging neatly.
“…Should I just not wear one?”
They were such a hassle to put on. Even if they were everyday wear, they were still more uncomfortable than just a chemise.
“I don’t think I’ll get called again anyway…”
But you never know.
After thinking it over, I shrugged.
“Whatever. If I don’t want to wear it, I won’t.”
I kicked the wardrobe door shut and was about to toss the chemise onto the bed—then stopped.
My precious Shasha was on the bed.
What if it lands on him? Absolutely not.
So I carefully placed it on one side of the bed instead.
As I began untying my soaked dress, I noticed Shasha at the far end of the bed—face buried down, body trembling slightly.
…And is the tip of his tail… red?
I paused mid-motion.
Wait…
“Shasha… are you turning away because you’re a male? Because your ‘noona’ is changing?”
His body froze stiff.
So I was right.
His tail was practically glowing red.
“…Ha.”
A laugh slipped out.
This is ridiculous.
I quickly changed clothes, tossed the wet ones near the bathroom, and walked back to him.
He stiffened even more as I approached.
“Shasha.”
“……”
“Why are you so cute?”
At that, his rigid pink tail melted like jelly, collapsing limply. Even so, he stubbornly refused to turn his head.
I burst out laughing and poked him lightly.
“Shasha, you can look now. I’m done changing.”
He slowly lifted his head, hesitating before finally turning toward me.
“How do I look? I’m all dressed.”
I placed my hands on my hips proudly.
“Now that I’ve changed… am I pretty?”
It was just a chemise, basically sleepwear—but still.
I twirled once, then smoothed my wheat-colored hair with a flourish.
Shasha stared at me—and slowly nodded.
“…Huh? I’m pretty?”
Nod.
“Really?”
Nod.
“….”
I froze.
I hadn’t expected him to actually agree.
Being acknowledged like that made me far more embarrassed than being teased would have.
I should restrain myself from now on…
I sat properly in front of him and spoke seriously.
“Shasha, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to react like that. I’ll be more careful.”
Shasha only blinked in confusion, tilting his head.
* * *
This ball seemed more important than I had thought.
I stared blankly at the beautiful dresses laid out before me.
There were seven of them—each displayed on mannequins.
And that wasn’t all.
It was one month and three weeks before the ball, and for once, I was in the main drawing room of the mansion, having my measurements taken by a designer.
During the last national celebration banquet, I just picked a ready-made dress…
But now?
I was choosing from seven custom-made gowns.
From “Ainsia,” the most famous atelier in the capital.
For me.
I glanced sideways at the marchioness, who sat sipping tea at a nearby table.
And she’s here too…
Which meant—
They cared very much about appearances this time.
