Chapter Seven

May continued to question me on the carriage ride back to the mansion. “You’re really not up to anything?”

“Relax,” I told him. “I’m not planning anything.” I turned my gaze out the window.

“That dress,” he continued. “Don’t wear it just anywhere. Keep it in a safe place when we get back.”

“I’ll take care of it. Mind your own business.”

After I’d ignored his every inquiry and bit of advice, May finally closed his mouth with a stern jaw, clearly holding back his anger.

In the novel, Mary verbally attacked May whenever he spoke to her. Whether out of concern for his family or a sense of determination to do the right thing, he never gave up and continued to give her advice.

“Lady Mary, Lord May, welcome back.” The old butler of the Bell family came out to greet us. After seeing my different dress, he carefully asked, “My lady, did anything untoward happen at the celebration?”

“Can’t you see—”

“There was a small accident at the party,” May said. “She had to change her dress. It was a gift from the Emperor, so make sure to store it well.”

The real Mary would have started a fight for interrupting her midsentence, but not me. In fact, I was glad for May’s explanation. If possible, I would have preferred that he’d always interrupt me to speak on my behalf.

I gently pushed him aside and addressed the maids who had helped me before. “Let’s go inside. I’m tired. You, go draw a bath. I’m going to turn in early today, so no one is to disturb me. Leave me alone.” I followed the dark-haired maid as the others scuttled off. “And if a lady with platinum hair comes looking for me in a day or two, let me know.”

“Platinum hair,” May exclaimed. “So something did happen between you and Lady Peridot!”

“Did you forget the promise I made in front of His Imperial Majesty?” I mentioned the Emperor to put him at ease, but he continued to glare suspiciously. Since there was no proof that I was up to something, he had no choice but to back down.

“All right, all right. I tried to stop you.”

“Who asked you to? Let’s go.”

Putting May’s remark behind me, I strode to my chambers and eased into the steaming bathtub. I let out a small sigh. Finally alone. I recalled Aria’s song—the cool breeze, Aria’s heavenly voice echoing out into the empty garden, and her face swelling with emotion. Just thinking about it refreshed my soul.

I let out a faint laugh. If I wanted a comfortable life, I had to lie low and try my best not to get involved with Aria. But at the same time, I ached to hear her sing again. You really shouldn’t get involved, I warned myself. Nothing like today could ever happen again. I wouldn’t be near the Emperor again, and without his presence to moderate my speech, I would only end up offending Aria.

I let out a quiet sigh. My own fair skin felt so alien to me. Why did it have to be Mary Bell?

“Mary Bell, Mary Bell, the kindest and most beautiful person in the world,” I said in a singsong voice. Apparently, my lips disobeyed me not only around other people but even when I was alone.

My behavior wasn’t as limited as my speech, I’d noticed, but strange things still happened on that account as well, such as being forced to shove someone with full force when all I intended was to nudge gently.

Let’s live as quietly as possible. Quietly and peacefully. I tried to stay as positive as I could. I was a villainess, yes, but I was also the daughter of a wealthy Marquess. I could live a comfortable life without ever worrying about money. And since I knew every part of the novel, I could avoid any dangers that came my way. I would become truly free once the storyline ended with Aria marrying Prince Edville.

I only had to lie low until then.

***

Betraying Mary’s desire for freedom and peace, the news about the Marquess’ daughter and her dress from the Emperor spread rapidly. It took less than two days for word of the events of that night to travel throughout the empire. Those with better connections got the news even before the moon set.

Duke Frangert rummaged through a pile of documents. “The Emperor bestowed a dress upon the daughter of Marquess Bell?”

“Yes, Your Grace, he did,” his secretary replied.

“It’s been long since news of that lady hasn’t infuriated me.” In the Duke’s mind, Lady Mary Bell was a reckless person with no regard for the fact that she was to be engaged to the Duke’s son, the subject of so many social rumors. He wasn’t even sure that she was aware of the need to behave like a noble.

“When did Ethen last visit the Marquess’ estate?” he asked.

“About two weeks ago.”

“Did he say anything unusual?”

“Nothing that I know of.”

The Duke tapped the desk with a quill and fell deep into thought. Lady Bell, whom he had never heard anything good about, had apparently behaved quite uncharacteristically at the Emperor’s celebration. “It would be nice if she would grow up and behave more maturely.”

Considering their age, it’s about time to decide whether to hold a public engagement ceremony or to break off their engagement—from that oral agreement before they were born. If that reckless girl had decided to clean up her act, it spells good news for everyone concerned.

“Tell Ethen to pay a visit to the Marquess’ estate as soon as possible. Have him meet Lady Mary. Also, tell him to keep an eye on her for the time being.”

***

“My lady, a letter Dukefrom Duke Frangert’s estate has arrived.” The brunette maid, Annie, approached and handed me a letter. I had just managed to memorize the names of the maids.

As soon as I removed the wax seal with a knife, the envelope spat out the letter inside.

“It’s from Lord Frangert,” I muttered, surprised.

Ethen Frangert. He was a secondary character in the novel, Mary Bell’s fiancé since before birth. I knew he didn’t like Mary that much, so why had he sent this letter? I read the first sentence: “Lady Bell, please forgive me for failing to escort you to His Imperial Majesty’s birthday celebration.”

I had yet to meet him in person, but the Ethen Frangert in the novel wouldn’t have sent a letter to Mary for such an insignificant reason as this. He wasn’t interested in Mary at all and wouldn’t ask how she was doing, let alone send a letter, without good reason. But his father, Duke Frangert, was another matter. The Duke was interested in power, connections, and money, which meant that he was also very interested in Mary Bell. After hearing about what happened last night, he must have ordered Ethen to contact me.

I continued reading. Ethen used elegant prose, but as someone who knew the entire storyline, I saw it as empty, soulless flattery: “Therefore, I wish to meet with and talk to you soon. If you could tell me when you’d be available, I’d be happy to adjust my schedule.”

This was his true intent.

Mary Bell was brimming with vanity. Unlike Ethen, who wasn’t interested in her, she liked him. The real Mary Bell would wear the dress given to her by the Emperor on the day of Ethen’s visit and tell him endless stories he hadn’t asked to hear.

“Ha, it says the young lord wishes to meet me,” I said without a hint of embarrassment.

Annie and Anna came running and began to sing my praises.

“It’s been almost two weeks since Lord Frangert visited the mansion,” Annie said. “I’m sure he misses you tremendously.”

“And not to mention, the story of your kindness toward that other lady at the celebration last night has already spread all over the capital,” Anna added. “Imagine how proud he will be.”

“Surely he will arrive with his hands full of gifts for you.”

It was a little sad to watch them praise me endlessly for their own survival. I put the letter down on the table. “Bring me some letter parchment. I wish to write a reply.”

“Yes, my lady.” Annie rushed out of the room at my request.

Now alone with me, Anna gulped in fear. “L-last time, Lord Frangert brought a bouquet of roses that went so well with the color of your hair. I wonder, uhm, what gift he will bring you this time.”

It wouldn’t be polite to ignore her effort. I decided to reply in kind. “Yes, Lord Frangert always brings a gift for me. I don’t mind if he comes empty-handed, but how could I possibly refuse his affection for me? I have no choice but to accept.”

With that, I burst into laughter. The real Mary had never imagined, not for one second, that Ethen might despise her. But I already knew it was so. In fact, I was a bit worried about meeting him, but I couldn’t let my feelings show. “I’ve been his fiancée since birth, yet he still treats me with such care. Can’t you see how much he cherishes me?”

I couldn’t tell her that I knew. I gave up trying to voice my thoughts and changed the subject. I was beginning to wonder whether Annie had gone to fetch the paper or make some herself.

She finally returned after a long while. “I wanted to bring the finest paper, so it took a while to decide. I’m sorry, my lady, but they all looked the same to me.” That’s a lie. You just didn’t want to come back. It was transparent as glass, but I let it pass.

Yet the letter parchment she’d brought was—well, I didn’t know if it was the finest, but it certainly caught the eye. It was a shade of green with roses in one corner, a design a young child might like.

“I brought the ones with roses on them, since I know you like roses.”

Her remark tormented me. Mary Bell, I criticized you for your childish behavior, but I had no idea that your taste was so childish as well. But I couldn’t bring myself to voice my disapproval to Annie, whose eyes shone with pride. I knew I’d end up saying something offensive, no matter how hard I tried to be gentle.

Hence, I kept my mouth shut and began to write a reply to Ethen.

“Dearest Lord Frangert,” I began. My hand shook from writing that one sentence. I continued. “I received your letter. It has been too long since we last met, and I was also beginning to miss you. Now that you have requested to meet me, I think it only right that I grant your wish. Since you miss me so much, is it not my obligation as your fiancée to make time for you? Hence, you may visit whenever you wish.”

Just like my speech, my hand moved of its own accord, expressing my true thoughts in obnoxious terms. Well, I had nothing to lose in my relationship with Ethen, so what the hell.

I folded the letter, short as it was and filled with groundless confidence, and handed it to Annie. “There. Go and deliver this to Lord Frangert. I’m sure he is eagerly awaiting my reply.”

She ran out of the room with the letter in hand.

I was looking forward to one thing: seeing Ethen’s face in person. According to the novel, he was swooningly handsome. He must be better-looking than most celebrities from the real world.

Come to think of it; I’d also asked Aria to visit soon. What was the chance they might happen to visit on the same day? I took a sip of tea, holding back a sense of foreboding.