Chapter 2
Grace shivered as she recalled the future that awaited her. Seeing her tremble, Benjamin asked with concern:
“Madam, is something wrong?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong.”
“Are you cold, perhaps? Shall we go inside? Since it’s been a while since your last outing, you might feel uncomfortable.”
“No, really, I’m fine.”
As Grace had remembered earlier, she never made a direct appearance until the end of the story.
*‘Can a character who never appears even once really be called an extra? They’re just part of the setting.’*
Because of that, her death was never described in detail; the only mention was Benjamin saying she had “died of illness” at the duke’s funeral. He had made sure no one dared speak about the duchess’s death.
After Grace’s death, Benjamin began to show his true nature.
Though people said the brown-haired, green-eyed Benjamin was a kind, trustworthy man, it seemed the author wanted to shock readers—he ultimately became the final villain, facing off against both the heroine and the hero.
*‘He even tried to kidnap the heroine and later intended to kill her.’*
Obsessive to the extreme, he died in the heroine’s arms in the end.
Given who he was, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to feign the death of his own wife to claim the heroine. Although the novel never explicitly stated it, Grace—who had loved Benjamin the most—couldn’t help but suspect it.
*‘He was my favorite.’*
When reading the novel, Grace had always believed Benjamin would never be a secondary male lead.
He would casually bring up his wife even when speaking to the heroine, Aria.
Grace had liked Benjamin for his domestic side and kindness—not for the obsessive, mad version of him that clung to the heroine.
She recalled Benjamin’s confession to Aria before he died:
*”I just want to be happy with the one I love…”*
Even though Grace felt betrayed, she accepted it cleanly.
*‘Of course he couldn’t truly love a wife like me.’*
Yet, her heart still beat uneasily—a feeling she had always had for Benjamin.
Despite being married, Grace and Benjamin lived apart.
Not just separate rooms, but entirely different buildings: Benjamin in the main residence, Grace in the annex.
*‘Better than having no memory at all…’*
The fragments of her original memory were tantalizingly incomplete, yet the essential details remained.
For instance, she knew Benjamin would never enter the annex.
*‘This is hard.’*
After a brief walk, Grace collapsed onto the sofa as if dead.
She had wanted to walk longer, but Benjamin had followed her persistently, like goldfish waste, making it impossible.
*‘Maybe I should have told him not to follow me since I just wanted to walk alone…’*
But Grace couldn’t reject him outright. It wasn’t about her liking him or not.
*‘I don’t want to upset him and make the period of him “dying from illness” come sooner…’*
*‘Not that it’s certain Benjamin is the one who killed Grace…’*
Shivering at thoughts of her uncertain cause of death, she shook.
“Madam, shall I light the fireplace for you?”
“If you’re very cold, I can use a magical device for a moment.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Grace shook her hand and glanced at the maids.
Even though she lay on the sofa without dignity, the maids said nothing and showed no sign of displeasure.
*‘They’re not that harsh…’*
Grace held the titles of both “lady of the annex, not the main house” and “lady who doesn’t handle household affairs.”
She rarely saw Benjamin, secretly admired him, and almost never appeared outside the annex.
*‘Whenever it was time to fulfill marital duties, Benjamin was always absent from the estate.’*
Grace stared blankly at the ceiling.
There was no need to guess or recall her memories. She had read *The Saint’s Wish* countless times.
Even the other characters murmured about how unfair and unreasonable Benjamin’s marriage had been. Rumors about the duchess reached the ears of the original protagonists, Aria and Sylvester.
*‘And yet Grace never appeared even once.’*
It was known that they never spent nights together, and many whispered about it behind her back.
“Was she so ugly that he found it horrifying to touch her?”
“……”
Even though she knew she wasn’t the real Grace, her heart still ached.
*‘At least he was always the one to leave the estate…’*
According to her memories, Benjamin always left the estate for some excuse when the day came.
Since he was the one leaving, there were few critical glances directed at Grace—apart from external causes, that is.
As negative thoughts continued, Grace felt as if a bad odor was emanating from her body.
She lifted her arm and sniffed.
She hadn’t been dirty, and she had walked in a blooming garden, so her body naturally smelled pleasant.
*‘Just my imagination.’*
Grace lifted her heavy body.
“I’m hungry.”
Even while criticizing her body, her stomach grumbled.
Hearing her say this, the maids brightened.
“Shall we prepare a meal in the dining room?”
“If Madam wishes, we can prepare it so you may eat in your room.”
“…Can I eat in my room?”
Grace asked cautiously, eyes wide, and a maid nodded. Her gaze drifted toward the window.
“…Then can I eat over there?”
“Anything Madam wishes is possible.”
The maids left, and Grace stood blankly. She stared at the closed door for a moment, then went to the window seat.
She looked down at her plump hands in the shadow of the window.
*‘Plump… or chubby?’*
Either way, others would probably see her as fat. Grace almost sank into gloom, then forced herself to think positively.
She reminded herself, for example, that this body was much better than her previous life.
“….”
She clenched her hands tightly.
The smell of chemicals, the sound of machines, people walking in the hallway, and…
“Ah.”
She stopped her thoughts.
Trying to think positively, she had instead spiraled into sadness.
*‘Did my original self die as she was?’*
Her original life could have ended at any time.
Then, she heard someone else’s breathing.
Grace’s body stiffened, and she raised her head sharply.
*‘Did I hear wrong?’*
The room was still empty.
Yet her heart pounded with anxiety.
*‘No, I definitely heard it…’*
Breathing, followed by laughter, came from somewhere.
*‘Definitely…’*
A disgusting, mocking laugh, as if tearing her apart.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
“Madam, your meal has arrived.”
The knock interrupted Grace’s thoughts.
She gasped and looked at the door.
“…Alright.”
Her reply was barely audible, but the maid, not missing it, opened the door.
A tray held a basket of warm soup and bread.
“It’s light since you’re on an empty stomach.”
“Thank you.”
For several days after possessing Grace, she hadn’t left her room or eaten properly.
The maid thoughtfully brought light food for her.
*‘I managed to move around well in this body…’*
Noticing the maid’s consideration, Grace faintly lifted the corners of her mouth in gratitude.
“Shall I put it here?”
“Yes.”
The maid placed the tray next to Grace and stepped back.
Grace picked up a piece of bread and tore it. Freshly baked, it smelled of fragrant butter.
*‘Delicious.’*
As she chewed, the sweet, rich taste melted softly in her mouth.
It was as if she was trying to digest all her thoughts as she chewed.
When she dipped the remaining half into the soup and took a bite, she saw a carriage being prepared outside.
*‘That is…?’*
Dressed more neatly than before, Benjamin hurried from the main gate and boarded the carriage.
Grace chewed her bread, staring at the carriage he was in.
“….”
The carriage left through the main gate, and the door closed.
“Do you know where His Excellency is going?”
“Ah.”
The maid looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected the question.
“You know?”
“W-well…”
“You do know.”
Grace turned her head toward the maid standing there.
